“Cannabis Based Medicine May Cut Seizures in Half For Those With Hard to Treat Epilepsy”

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https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/1544
Summary: In the article “Cannabis Based Medicine May Cut Seizures in Half For Those With Hard to Treat Epilepsy” a study was conducted on people that suffer with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.  The participants in this study use cannabidol which is a molecule from the cannabis plant, to help reduce symptoms of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.  The participants that took the drug had a 85% drop in seizures compared to those who took the placebo had a 17% decrease in seizures. Many of the participants in the study tried endless drugs with no success, cannabidol was the first to reduce symptoms.  Though 94% of participants who received the highest dose experienced mild side effects including decreased appetite and sleepiness.  These mild side effects are a small price to pay for people who suffer from this disease as seizures are very dangerous so any decrease in them is very helpful.
                             

Reflection: I found this study interesting because the researchers use marijuana to help people struggling with this disease.  It raises the question of what other disease could be helped by the use of marijuana?  In 29 states weed has been legalized for medical use, hopefully with more to follow.  I think that more research should be conducted in the healing benefits of weed as it has promising results in more and more medical studies.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 1, 2017 at 5:42 PM

    I find this article to be very interesting as well. I have heard of many reports where cannabidol is used as a treatment for many ailments such as Parkisan's disease as well as many kinds of cancer. It is amazing to me how a natural substance that many people give a bad reputation is able to help treat such harmful, debilitating diseases. One of my friend's mom just beat breast cancer and she is now taking doses of cannabidol because of the many benefits it has been found to have toward cancer. I believe that alot more research should be put toward studying the many health benefits of Cannabis aside from Marijuana being a recreational drug.

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  2. Alexa MendelMay 1, 2017 at 6:35 PM

    I also recently saw a video of a man with Parkinson's disease who was barely able to speak and his body was constantly involuntarily shaking. He used marijuana and while the drug was in his system, his symptoms almost completely subsided. He was able to freely speak and move. I personally believe that the research going into the benefits of using marijuana for medicinal purposes is amazing. It is able to greatly help people with numerous diseases and I think that is very important.

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  3. Justin ArmstrongMay 1, 2017 at 8:30 PM

    I think that an important part of this research that generally goes unclarified is the difference between the compounds that make up cannabis. In terms of CBD use, you're receiving the medicinal value of the plant and not the hallucinogenic effects. That fact alone could be a factor in which way an individual votes on the subject. It's great to see more and more research on this topic and I hope people will take the time to read it!

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  4. Eddie HanleyMay 1, 2017 at 8:33 PM

    Marijuana as a medicine is always something I have had a personal interest in due to an interesting and arguably corrupt history surrounding its illegality. I have seen countless documentaries with marijuana as medicine, even without the THC or synthetic versions of it, doing incredible things to those with Parkinson's and seizures, regardless of its benefits for cancer patients undergoing chemo. I believe unfortunately that marijuana has become a battleground between Federal and State governments, and various corporate interesting in both pharmaceuticals and recreational uses that little research is done. I think this topic should be fully opened for research as early testing indicates very promising futures for medical marijuana studies and medicine synthesis.

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