Patients living with Parkinson's Disease are in dire need of a new course of treatment and recent studies have shown that cannabis drastically reduces PD symptoms.
Parkinson’s (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by a lack of dopamine production in the region of the brain called substantia nigra. This region is responsible for basic motor control of the human body. For patients with PD, the lack of dopamine in substantia nigra can cause loss of motor control symptoms such as tremors, limb rigidity, involuntary muscle spasms, and bradykinesia (Parkinson's Foundation). In addition to motor control symptoms, many patients suffer from “apathy, depression, constipation, sleep behavior disorders, loss of sense of smell and cognitive impairment” (Parkinson's Foundation). Each patient is treated according to the various symptoms that he or she displays, which ultimately requires a unique treatment plan with numerous medications. As of 2021, there is no standard treatment for PD, because there is no medication that has been proven to reverse the effects of PD.
With medical marijuana now legalized in 33 states and Washington, DC, in the United States, it is obvious that there is strong interest in its therapeutic properties for Parkinson's. Courtesy of Parkinson's Foundation
While there are many medications that can address specific symptoms of PD, the severe side effects of common medications leave many patients “worse than the disease itself” (Psychedelic Times Staff). The greatest challenge for patients with PD is the lack of available medication. As of 2021, medication for PD cannot slow or stop the progression of the disease, and can only ease various symptoms with the risk of severe side effects. Today, Levodopa is the most common prescribed medication for patients with PD. Levodopa acts as a dopamine supplement that is chemically transformed into dopamine when consumed as an oral medication. However, long-term treatment with dopamine supplements often causes hyperactivity of dopamine production in the brain, which ultimately results in severe cases of dyskinesia (Psychedelic Times Staff). This is often the case for younger adults, who most especially struggle with its long-term effects early in life (Psychedelic Times Staff). With nearly 1 million Americans living with PD today, (Parkinson's Foundation), a new course of treatment is in dire need to reduce increasing statistics. In recent studies, however, a hopeful and promising course of treatment with cannabis has been shown to drastically reduce the symptoms of PD and dyskinesia.
Cannabis, or more commonly known as marijuana, is an entheogen that contains two main components: cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health). The effects of CBD have been proven to reduce the severity of dyskinesia and involuntary muscle spasms during seizures and epilepsies, such as in Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) (Grinspoon). According to The World Health Organization, officials state that by itself, CBD does not “exhibit [any] effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential… To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD” (Grinspoon). For patients with PD, involuntary muscle spasms are considered high-risk symptoms that can endanger his or safety in everyday environments. With further research, it is possible that cannabis may offer a new solution to patients suffering from PD and the severe side effects from common prescriptions. In a 2017 survey of 595 participants with a history of motor control issues, 59% reported reduced usage of prescription medicine after taking cannabis (Kindred). The same group rated the efficiency of cannabis a 6.4 out of 7 scale (Kindred). These results demonstrate that cannabis may be the key to future medications that can reduce severe neurodegenerative disorder symptoms. PD patients, as well as other patients with involuntary muscle spasm symptoms, may start to benefit from the natural properties of cannabis.
Today, cannabis is now legal in 33 states, including Washington D.C. (Parkinson's Foundation). With more than half of the United States shifting towards a new generation of innovative and explorative science, the future of cannabis in medicine can bring suffering patients of PD and other motor control disorders closer to effective treatments and more comfortable ways of living. Although cannabis is unorthodox in the medical community, the recent research surrounding its natural healing properties should not be overlooked. The natural chemical properties of cannabis have demonstrated that it can be a useful agent against motor control disorders, which will foster new solutions and medications that can be used to treat these terrifying disorders.
-Stephanie Tam