Cannabinoid system and neuroinflammation:therapeutic perspectives in multiple scleros

Cannabinoid system and neuroinflammation:therapeutic perspectives in multiple sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION. The endocannabinoid system consists of cannabinoid receptors, endogenous ligands and the enzymatic elements involved in their synthesis and breakdown. AIM. To report on currently held knowledge about the functioning of the system as a modulator of the neuroinflammatory processes associated with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis. DEVELOPMENT. Cannabinoids are synthesised and released on demand and their production increases in times of neuroinflammation and neural damage. In this context then, their actions in the microglial cells and in the astrocytes are characterised by a lowered expression of inflammatory mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, cannabinoids can play a role as neuroprotectors by means of different types of mechanisms and, in experimental models of multiple sclerosis, they slow down the symptoms, reduce inflammation and can favour remyelination. CONCLUSIONS. The clinical use of cannabinoids or pharmacological agents that affect the endogenous cannabinoid system during inflammation of the central nervous system and in multiple sclerosis is currently under consideration and subject to debate. Detailed analysis of the results obtained over the past decade has made it possible to establish the existence of several mechanisms of action of cannabinoids in pathologies affecting the central nervous system that are accompanied by chronic inflammation. Likewise, they also clearly show that the cannabinoid system is an interesting proposal as a new therapeutic tool.

PMID: 17072810 [PubMed - in process]

[Pie]

[Beestie]

He said pot.

[Griff]

I say prophylactic pot. You can't be too careful.

[Shawnee123]

How the hell do you smoke pot out of a condom? Do you get better effects?

[barefoot serpent]

THC: tetra hubba-hubba condominol

[Shawnee123]

It's funny that there is an H in THC, considering when you pass a big old hooter the only thing you say is "ere"

[barefoot serpent]

... and don't Bogart it.

[Sundae]

The case for cannabis as pain relief and in cases on Multiple Sclerosis has been used in British courts to avoid custodial sentences for a few years now. One of the first to hit the headlines was Lezley Gibson, and this 2005 link from the BBC gives information on what she is doing now.

I also remember hearing about a cannabis nasal spray which is legal in Canada, but don't want to be searching too many cannabis related items right now....

In the meantime, groups who supply MS sufferers with cannabis, however well-meaning, are still at risk of prosecution.

In early 2005, THC4MS, the group supplying the chocolate cannabis, was raided by the Police.

Cannabis and chocolate-making equipment were seized. Two people were arrested and are currently on bail.

There are 83,000 people with MS in the UK - and research has shown that up to 2/3 may already be using cannabis to relieve their condition.

But in future, groups like THC4MS could be immune from prosecution depending on a ruling expected any day by the Court of Appeal.

Sorry, just found this - more recent & therefor more relevant
From here:

Sativex, a cannabis-derived medicine which can be sprayed under the tongue, has been available in Canada since 2001. In March 2003, GW Pharmaceuticals submitted a product licence application for Sativex to the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

But despite evidence in small-scale clinical trials that the cannabis derivative THC relieves pain, no licence has been forthcoming. A three-year trial to test whether cannabis derivatives slow the progress of MS as well as alleviating symptoms is just getting under way...

...But the Crown Prosecution Service has continued to prosecute both users and suppliers of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Some have been convicted. But others were found not guilty after successfully raising the defence of "necessity", which allows an illegal act to avert a greater harm - in their cases, severe pain.

Those acquitted included a man with spinal injuries who set up a medical marijuana cooperative, and a doctor who supplied her daughter, whose illness was not specified.

But the appeal court closed off the defence of necessity last year, ruling in six test cases that it did not apply to the use of cannabis to relieve chronic pain.

[Shawnee123]

Back in my day...I had a friend who said her boyfriend drove halfway to Florida holding a burned out joint in his hand . Of course, you could get the good shit back then, or so I've been told!

I don't see decriminalization happening any time soon around here. Our state just passed an issue where they can shoot you if you light up a cigarette while standing within a mile of a public place.

For those in need of additional cannoids, we do not get high when using... our bodies assign those cannoids to where they are needed. They do not get stored in the brain, your body uses them.
There are cannoids in mother's milk to help growing bodies deal with pain and nervous system growth. Marinol only helps 40% of those who take it (I am in the 60% it makes more nauseous). There is NO medication that helps with muscle spasms and/or nervous system pain. The AMA spends a lot of money and time keeping that out of the press.

[Flint]

So glad the Feds have their priorities straight on this one, "knowing what's best" for the States, and all. [/sarcasm]

[Sundae]

The case of Lezley Gibson mentioned above has come to trial. Initial article from Times Online

Highlights:

Cannabis chocolate 'made to ease MS'
Russell Jenkins

Multiple sclerosis sufferers around the world swore by the chocolate bars made at Mark and Lezley Gibson’s gift shop in the Lake District...

...But that ingredient was to lead Mr and Mrs Gibson into the dock at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday, where both are accused of conspiring to supply cannabis.

Along with a family friend, Marcus Davies, 36, they set up the campaign group Therapeutic Help from Cannabis for Multiple Sclerosis and on their website, www.thc4ms.org, offered their “Canna-Biz” chocolate bars, the court was told.

Mrs Gibson, who suffers from MS, her 42-year-old husband and Mr Davies made no secret of their campaign to legalise cannabis for therapeutic pain relief.

They made no charge but there was a request that each “buyer” establish that they were an MS sufferer and that they make a donation to meet production costs.

Over a period throughout 2004 and up to February last year about 22,000 of the 150g (5oz) bars were despatched, each one of them laced with 3.5g of cannabis. A mailing list with 460 addresses was later found by police.

Jeremy Grout-Smith, for the prosecution, told the jury that while the trio might be well intentioned, they had no defence against the charges which carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment.

“To supply cannabis, even if you believe it is doing some good, is not a defence,” he said.

The court was told that police became involved in January when the duty manager at the Royal Mail sorting office in Carlisle contacted them about a package which had spilled open during sorting. Officers seized 33 Jiffy bags containing the Canna-Biz product. Each of the packets carried a PO box address in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, as the return address. The wrappers also carried the website address which was later found to be run by the three defendants.

Mr Grout-Smith said that they were not conventional drug dealers but believed their actions would help to alleviate the pain of a debilitating illness. MS is a progressive disease which attacks the central nervous system.

“So this seems to be distribution on quite a large scale and, to some extent at least, the defendants may have benefited financially, although the Crown does not claim this was their main motivation.”

A juror who made it known to the judge that she had a relative in the family with MS was told this was no bar to deciding guilt or innocence in the case.

The trial, expected to last seven days, continues.

[DanaC]

I really really see no reason whatsoever for cannabis to be prohibited. It makes absolutely no sense to me at all.

It does if you are in the textiles or pharmaceuticals industries...

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Back in my day...I had a friend who said her boyfriend drove halfway to Florida holding a burned out joint in his hand . Of course, you could get the good shit back then, or so I've been told!

I don't see decriminalization happening any time soon around here. Our state just passed an issue where they can shoot you if you light up a cigarette while standing within a mile of a public place.

Yeah... I posted about that, and you guys have absolutely no meth problems to be taking those cops away from when calling cops on smokers strolling down the sidewalks, riiiiiiigt?