Cannabis has been at the center of one of the most exciting and under-reported developments in modern science. Research into the effects of marijuana has directly led to the discovery of a previously unknown biochemical communication system in the human body, the Endocannabinoid System , which plays a crucial role in regulating our physiology, mood and daily experience.
The discovery of receptors in the brain that respond pharmacologically to cannabis – and the subsequent identification of endogenous cannabinoid compounds in our bodies that bind to these receptors – has significantly improved our understanding of human biology, health and disease.
It is an established scientific fact that cannabinoids and other components of cannabis can modulate many physiological systems in the human brain and body . Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that activate cannabinoid (and other) receptors. More than 100 cannabinoids have been identified in the marijuana plant. Of these marijuana molecules, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have been studied most extensively. In addition to plant-produced cannabinoids, there are endogenous cannabinoids (such as anandamide and 2AG) that occur naturally in the brain and body of mammals, as well as synthetic cannabinoids created by pharmaceutical researchers.
Extensive preclinical research, much of it sponsored by the U.S. government, indicates that CBD has potent anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-spasmodic, anti-psychotic, anti-convulsant, and neuroprotective properties . CBD directly activates serotonin receptors, also causing an anti-anxiety effect.
In recent years, scientists associated with the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) have elucidated a number of molecular pathways through which CBD exerts a therapeutic impact . For example, a preclinical study by Dr. Sean McAllister and his colleagues at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco reports on how CBD destroys breast cancer cells by downregulating a gene called ID-1, which is implicated in several types of aggressive cancer. Silencing the ID-1 gene is, therefore, a potential strategy for treating cancer.
“Cannabidiol offers hope for a non-toxic therapy that could treat aggressive forms of cancer without any of the painful side effects of chemotherapy,” McAllister says.
Synergies between CBD and THC
According to McAllister's laboratory, the best results were obtained when CBD was administered together with THC. Several studies highlight the therapeutic benefits of combining CBD and THC, particularly for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, a painful condition associated with cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, arthritis, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Clinical research conducted by GW Pharmaceuticals, a British company, has also shown that CBD is the most effective as a pain reliever even when administered in combination with THC.
We at MamaMary are convinced that an intelligent policy must exploit resources for the benefit of its citizens, which is why we are committed to the fight against the legalization of Cannabis considering its powerful healing effects and the versatility with which the highest quality products are derived .