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Research providing the breakdown of all of the chemicals in marijuana and their specific physiological and psychological effects is scarce. When analyzing the medicinal effects of marijuana on spasticity, researchers focus primarily on two main active ingredients in the marijuana plant: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoids (chemicals related to THC) (http://www.marihemp.com/marimed.html). Recently, scientists discovered that cannabinoids closely resemble a chemical in the body called anandamide. Anandamide “turns on” nerve receptors throughout the Central Nervous System that effect motor functioning, nausea, and various other biological functions (http://www.marijuanamyths.com/med-myths.php3). This development suggests that cannabinoids have similar effects to anandamide and justifies further research on the therapeutic value of marijuana for muscle spasms attributed to MS.
Scientific Research:
Medical Marijuana and Its Effects on Spasticity
There are a limited number of scientific studies specifically related to the effect that marijuana has on spasticity in patients with MS. The following four studies, listed in chronological order from the most recent, illustrate the positive correlation found between medical marijuana and reduced spasticity in patients with MS.
Meinch, Schonle, and Conrad found that cannabinoids might have beneficial effects on spasticity (Meinch et al, 1989). They performed a case study of a 34 year old male diagnosed with MS. The patient suffered from ataxia and spastic tetraparesis. The goal of their research was to determine a relationship between smoking marijuana and levels of spasticity and ataxia in multiple sclerosis victims. The patient was hospitalized from 17 October to 25 October. On 22 October the patient was given one experimental marijuana cigarette. There were a number of different research methods implemented in this study. The researchers used quantitative clinical and electrophysiological assessments to determine the effects of the smoked marijuana. They repeated each evaluation five to ten times before and after the patient smoked the marijuana cigarette (Meinck et al., 1989).