HOW MARIJUANA HELP CONTROL EPILEPTIC SEIZURES

Stories of cannabis’s abilities to alleviate seizures have been around for about 150 years but interest in medical marijuana has increased sharply in the last decade with the help of legalization campaigns.

Charlotte Figi, an eight-year-old girl from Colorado with Dravet syndrome, a rare and debilitating form of epilepsy, came into the public eye in 2013 when news broke that medical marijuana was able to do what other drugs could not: dramatically reduce her seizures. Now, new scientific research provides evidence that cannabis may be an effective treatment for a third of epilepsy patients who, like Charlotte, have a treatment-resistant form of the disease.

Last month Orrin Devinsky, a neurologist at New York University Langone Medical Center, and his colleagues across multiple research centers published the results from the largest study to date of a cannabis-based drug for treatment-resistant epilepsy in The Lancet Neurology. The researchers treated 162 patients with an extract of 99 percent cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive chemical in marijuana, and monitored them for 12 weeks. This treatment was given as an add-on to the patients’ existing medications and the trial was open-label (everyone knew what they were getting).

The researchers reported the intervention reduced motor seizures at a rate similar to existing drugs (a median of 36.5 percent) and 2 percent of patients became completely seizure free. Additionally, 79 percent of patients reported adverse effects such as sleepiness, diarrhea and fatigue, although only 3 percent dropped out of the study due to adverse events. “I was a little surprised that the overall number of side effects was quite high but it seems like most of them were not enough that the patients had to come off the medication,” says Kevin Chapman, a neurology and pediatric professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine who was not involved in the study. “I think that [this study] provides some good data to show that it's relatively safe—the adverse effects were mostly mild and [although] there were serious adverse effects, it's always hard to know in such a refractory population whether that would have occurred anyway.”

Stories of cannabis’s abilities to alleviate seizures have been around for about 150 years but interest in medical marijuana has increased sharply in the last decade with the help of legalization campaigns. In particular, both patients and scientists have started to focus on the potential benefits of CBD, one of the main compounds in cannabis. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for its euphoric effects, CBD does not cause a “high” or pose the same type of risks that researchers have identified for THC, such as addiction and cognitive impairment. Rather, studies have shown that it can act as an anticonvulsant and may even have antipsychotic effects.

The trial led by Devinsky is currently the most robust assessment of CBD’s effect on epilepsy (prior studies included less than 20 patients) but many questions remain. In a subsequent commentary published this January, also in The Lancet Neurology, Kamil Detyniecki and Lawrence Hirsch, neurologists at the Yale University School of Medicine who were not involved in the research, outlined the study’s major limitations, which include possible placebo effects and drug interactions.

Because the trial was open-label and without a control group, a main concern is the placebo effect, which previous studies have shown might be especially strong with marijuana-based products. For example, an earlier 2015 study carried out by Chapman and his group at the University of Colorado revealed that 47 percent of patients whose families had moved to Colorado for cannabis-based epilepsy treatment reported improvement, compared with 22 percent in people who already lived there.

The other major issue is the possibility of drug interactions—because CBD is a potent liver enzyme inhibitor it can increase the concentration of other drugs in the body. This means that when administered with other compounds, consequent effects on patients may be due to the increased exposure to those other drugs rather than the CBD itself.

Despite these limitations, both commentary authors agree the study is an important step in establishing CBD as a safe and effective epilepsy treatment. “This is a first step, and it's great,” Detyniecki says. Despite the large number of adverse events, he says that overall “there were no surprising side effects—we can conclude that CBD appears to be safe in the short term.”

Evidence suggesting that CBD is effective against treatment-resistant epilepsy may be growing but scientists still know very little about how it works—other than the likelihood that it is “completely different than any other seizure drug we know,” as Devinsky puts it. That’s a good thing, he notes: “One fear is that because of the way that the drugs are tested and screened, we've ended up with a lot of ‘me-too’ drugs that are all very similar.”

Researchers, including those who were involved in the study published last December, hope to address these limitations in currently running blind and placebo-controlled clinical trials testing CBD on Dravet sufferers as well as Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, another drug-resistant form of epilepsy. In the meantime most clinicians and researchers, including those involved in the trial, advise “cautious optimism” when considering CBD as an epilepsy treatment.

“I think, based on the evidence that we have, if a child has tried multiple standard drugs and the epilepsy is still severe and impairing quality of life, then the risks of trying CBD are low to modest at best,” Devinksy says. “[But] I do feel it is critical for us as a scientific community to get [more] data.” Cannabis may be the much-needed treatment for a handful of people with epilepsy, but for now, patients should wait for scientists to clear the haze.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-cannabis-treat-epileptic-seizures/

How a Family treat Epilepsy with Marijuana

Treating Epilepsy: One Family’s Journey with Medical Cannabis
With cannabis now firmly in the spotlight, it’s acceptance as use as a medicine is becoming far more common, and it’s not at all surprising.  Medical marijuana has shown time and time again to have amazing effects for patients battling all types of health conditions, from back pain to epilepsy and everything in between.  The negative stigma surrounding this ancient medicine is finally starting to reverse and cannabis is being recognized for it’s wonderful medicinal properties.  There are countless stories of people, who thought they were beyond hope of living a comfortable life, finding themselves back on their feet after discovering the health benefits of medical cannabis.

Logan Cruickshank 

One such story introduced us to the Cruickshank family of St. Thomas, Ontario.  Therese and Tage Cruickshank are the parents of a lovely boy named Logan, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when he was less than a year old.  His parents noticed that as a baby, Logan would continually clench his right hand, prompting them to have tests done through their pediatrician.  When the test results came back, they weren’t good.  The family was devastated to discover Logan’s condition, and were in disbelief when told that he would require 24-hr care for the rest of his life, never even having a chance at a normal life.  After the initial shock, Therese and Tage decided to remain positive and sought a second opinion.
Through further testing, doctors determined that Logan’s condition was not as severe as initially suspected.  This was welcome news, but Logan’s diagnosis of Spastic Asymmetrical Triplegic Cerebral Palsy meant that he would always face challenges using his right arm and both of his legs.  How much he would be limited was unclear, and luckily Logan did a lot better than initially feared.  Things seemed to be looking up for Logan and his family.
That was until one night when, as Therese and Tage were quietly watching a movie while Logan slept, they heard strange noises emanating from Logan’s room.  They rushed to see what was going on and found Logan unresponsive with his eyes slightly open, convulsing to the back of his head.  They attempted to wake him, but that just made things worse.  Logan began to vomit and his body went stiff as a board.  In a panic, they phoned 9-1-1 and had Logan taken to the hospital.
A nerve racking time spent in a separate waiting room led his parents to fear the worst.
Logan’s father, Tage told us he was terrified.  “I had this sick feeling in my stomach that the doctors were going to tell us Logan passed away.”

Diagnosed With Epilepsy

Thankfully this was not the case, but the doctors said Logan had suffered a severe seizure, lasting five hours, and that it was difficult to pull him out of it.  Logan appeared to be ok, but after suffering a further three seizures in the next one and a half months – he was diagnosed with Epilepsy.
Over the course of the following five years, Logan was seen by every specialist possible and tried a variety of medications meant to fight Epilepsy.  The search for a suitable treatment was not going well, as the medications had little to no effect on Logan’s seizures.  He was suffering one grand mal seizure every month, which would require medical intervention to make it cease.  The high doses of medication he was taking also began to induce absence seizures.  Changing medications again seemed to help, but three months later Logan was right back where he started and suffering from severe seizures.
At a loss the family began to look for other options and treatments not found in mainstream medicine.  During their research, medical cannabis came up again and again.  Therese and Tage had heard about all the negative stigma surrounding cannabis and were wary of treating Logan with the “drug”.  However, the more they researched, the more hope they felt that maybe, just maybe, medical cannabis could help Logan find some relief.  They then spoke with a friend, who highlighted many of the benefits of medical cannabis, but it wasn’t until the family was picking up a service dog for Logan in Ohio, that the Cruickshanks journey with medical cannabis truly began.
A couple from Oregon they met in Ohio told them about their successes treating their daughter’s Epilepsy with medical cannabis.  After hearing their stories, Therese and Tage felt more hopeful and optimistic than they had in years.

Medical Cannabis Treatment 

Upon returning home, they got busy trying to get Logan treated with medicinal cannabis, but to no avail.  Their family doctor was against it.  Logan’s neurologist also said no.  Deflated, the Cruickshanks thought that they would not be able to even try the treatment that so many had said might be able to help Logan.
It wasn’t until meeting with Martina, a cannabis coach from Medical Marijuana Consulting, that things started to look up.  Martina was a believer in the power of medical cannabis and offered to help.  She ended up finding someone who would attempt to help Logan.
Logan took his first dosage of cannabis oil in September of 2017, and his journey to a better life began.  As a precaution, and to avoid complications or withdrawal effects, Logan would initially continue taking his pharmaceutical drugs alongside the cannabis oils.  A few weeks into taking the cannabis oil and Logan was already showing signs of improvement.  His seizures were lessening dramatically, so his parents decided to begin weaning him off the pharmaceutical drugs in November.

No More Pharmaceuticals 

Three months later, on February 4^th, Logan celebrated the ending of his taking pharmaceutical drugs by ceremoniously dumping them into the trash bin.  The previous few months had seen his seizures lessen to five or six in total, compared to the five or six he was having every week before.  Logan’s recent run has been 15 days with no seizures, and everyone is ecstatic.
“It’s been pretty remarkable.  I’m not naïve to think he’s never going to have a seizure again, but from what we’ve seen since we’ve started weaning him off the medications, is a boy we’ve really never had the chance to meet,” said Tage.
Logan’s parents are finally meeting their child properly.  He’s developed an engaging personality, and is much more active, doing things he’s never done before.  The high doses of pharmaceutical drugs had been keeping him sedated and dulling his vibrant personality.  Now that Logan is taking only the cannabis oil as treatment, he’s showing everyone the child he really is.
The medical cannabis treatment has worked wonders with Logan’s Epilepsy and has also had a positive effect on his Cerebral Palsy.  With more energy to burn, Logan is up walking more, something which would have left him in pain at night before, but the cannabis oil treatment has helped him remain pain-free.  Logan has become a normal seven-year-old boy, complete with “selective hearing” and unbendable defiance to match.  His family couldn’t be happier with how things have been going and they give credit to medical cannabis.

Cannabis Changed Logan’s Life

After the journey the family has been through, Tage is a man with a changed opinion.  “I have gone from being completely ignorant to cannabis because of the stigma attached to it, to after my research, being cautiously optimistic, and now I’m confident in saying I’m a huge advocate. It’s changed our lives, but most importantly, it’s changed Logan’s life.”

Stories like these are common all over the world.  Medical cannabis is being used successfully to treat Epilepsy, among other conditions, and it’s just the beginning.  Licensed producers in Canada have been paying attention and are doing what they can to act for everyone’s benefit.
Koby Smutylo, COO of London, Ontario Licensed Producer Indiva Limited, is fully onboard, “We’ve heard a lot of similar testimonials and we are looking forward to future peer reviewed studies on cannabis and epilepsy.”
Medical cannabis gives us hope for the future, for families like Logan’s and for people suffering all over the world.  With legalization fast approaching in Canada, we look forward to the widespread availability of all the health benefits this medication can provide.
https://www.liwts.org/blog/treating-epilepsy-one-familys-journey-medical-cannabis/

DO YOU KNOW MARIJUANA CAN IMPROVES YOUR LUNGS FUNCTION?

Marijuana can actually improve lung function

Smoking weed isn’t actually that bad for your lungs, and smokers actually have improved lung function when compared to both cigarette smokers – and people who have never smoked either. The researchers, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, say that the big drags take by weed smokers may actually ‘train’ lungs to be more efficient.

Well, not so fast. It may come as a surprise, but cannabis smoke is significantly less harmful than tobacco smoke, and can help keep your lungs healthy. Those with conditions like COPD and emphysema may even benefit from some forms of the herb. Here’s what you need to know about how cannabis affects your respiratory system and how to keep your lungs healthy with weed.

Does cannabis help or hurt the lungs?

By this point, pretty much everyone knows that smoking is not good for you. Smoke is hot, irritating, and filled with toxic chemical compounds. These compounds can cause serious lung diseases when you smoke plants like tobacco. Yet, for some reason, researchers are hard-pressed to find the same connections between cannabis and lung diseases.

Though the cannabis and lung health debate persists, two pieces of recent research have really shaken things up. The first came out in 2012, from researchers working on a long-term study on the risks of cardiovascular disease. During their 20-year study, the scientists tested the lungs of 5115 young adults.

Their findings were a bit astonishing. Tobacco use was associated with lung decline. But, moderate marijuana smokers had positive results on lung function. Specifically, cannabis-lovers had an increased lung capacity. The study authors conclude

The next groundbreaking study was published in 2015 from Emory University. This study looked at cumulative lifetime cannabis use and lung health. The researchers tested the exhalation capacity of light, moderate, and heavy smokers. They found that cannabis smokers were able to smoke one joint a day for up to 20 years before they showed signs of lung decline.

If you’re a heavy smoker, you might want to consider switching to a vaporizer. So far, the verdict on long-term, heavy cannabis use, and lung cancer is out. Thus far, studies are inconclusive. However, excessive exposure to smoke may cause other lung problems. This is true of any type of inhaled smoke, not just cannabis

BENEFIT OF SMOKING WEE

Anti-drug activists think that a few puffs on a joint will turn you into a red-eyed, unemployed psychopath – probably for life. But is marijuana actually that bad for you? With several American states having decriminalised the herb for personal use, scientists have suddenly had the chance to see what cannabis actually does on a mass scale. And guess what? Cannabis actually has some VERY surprising health benefits. Here’s a few.

Smoking weed makes you thinner – or at least less likely to be obese

You might not think it after you’ve watched a munchie-struck stoner devour an entire KFC family bucket in one go, but dope smokers are less likely to be obese. A study in the journal Obesity found that regular weed smokers are less likely to be obese than non-smokers. The researchers from Conference of Quebec University Health Centers looked at 700 adults aged 18-74 – and found that cannabis users tend to have low body mass index scores (often taken as a sign of good health). People with low BMIs tend to have less body fats and tend to be at lower risk for diabetes.