Cannabis, hemp, marijuana and their many other names are commonly associated with burning joint or bong filled with white smoke as ‘recreational drug’. Cannabis is mostly used for its mental and physical effects, to boost mood, relaxation, and increase the appetite. Yet, there are side effects which are short-term memory loss, eye redness, anxiety, paranoia, motoric impairment and dry mouth.
Cannabis has a main psychoactive part of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and some others, such as cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). CBD is one of the chemical compound found on cannabis plant which is also a major constituent – up to 40% or the cannabis plant extract. Unlike the other part of cannabis THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD is does not have an psychoactive effect – or on simpler words CBD does not cause high.
Based on the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, CBD possess some medical properties:
- Anti-inflammatory. Reduce inflammation or swelling.
- Anticonvulsant. Suppress seizures.
- Anti-oxidant. Prevent or delay cell damages.
- Anti-emetic. Treat nausea and vomiting.
- Anxiolytic. Inhibits anxiety.
- Antipsychotic agent. Treat mental health illnesses, severe depression and severe anxiety.
These CBD medical properties are not thoroughly tested on human yet, but some UK based company GW Pharmaceuticals has made announcements about doing trials on schizophrenia and epilepsy seizure treatment on human using CBD based drugs.
There are also some concept about using CBD as cure to cancer. Dr. Sean McAllister, of the California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) has spent nearly 10 years doing research on the effects of CBD on aggressive types of breast and brain cancer. His research has already shown that CBD can reduce the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. Although there’s only study on animal and cell culture models applied, Dr. Sean McAllister says his team is ready to test it on humans.
Sources :
- British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
- Marijuana-Epilepsy Drug Cuts Seizures In Half
- Drug Made From Cannabis Could Treat Schizophrenia
- Cancer Researchers Are On The Verge Of Human Trials With Cannabis
