AOCPMR 2024 Mid-Year Meeting-Medical Cannabis 101

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This comprehensive talk delves into cannabis's extensive 10,000-year history, beginning from ancient China where it was first used medicinally, notably as an anesthetic by Dr. Tuo. Cannabis spread globally over millennia, arriving in the U.S. controversially in the early 1900s. Early medicinal uses included treating nausea and pain. Regulatory setbacks occurred with the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act and the 1970 Schedule I classification, which federally deem cannabis without medical use and high abuse risk, akin to heroin. Despite opposition and scientific commissions advocating decriminalization, federal restrictions persist, though many U.S. states have legalized medical and recreational cannabis in recent decades.<br /><br />The presentation explains the body's endocannabinoid system regulating homeostasis via CB1 (central nervous system) and CB2 (peripheral organs) receptors, influenced by cannabinoids like THC and CBD from cannabis. THC binds CB1 receptors, causing psychoactive effects and therapeutic benefits like muscle relaxation, pain relief, and appetite stimulation. CBD, non-psychoactive, modulates endocannabinoid breakdown, aiding seizures, anxiety, inflammation, and pain. Medical cannabis comes in various forms and strains (sativa, indica, hybrid), chosen based on patient needs.<br /><br />In Minnesota, medical cannabis is legal with certified providers assessing patients against qualifying conditions such as chronic pain and muscle spasms. Treatment is closely monitored by pharmacists who tailor cannabinoid ratios and administration methods for efficacy and safety. Cannabis lacks respiratory depression risk, unlike opioids, and may assist some opioid-dependent patients in tapering use. However, potential cognitive, psychiatric side effects, drug interactions, and high cost remain concerns. The future of medical cannabis depends on ongoing legalization, research challenges due to federal regulation, and expanding understanding of its therapeutic potential.

Keywords

breast cancer prevention

plant-based diet

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lifestyle medicine

nutrition and cancer

exercise and cancer mortality

stress management

phytoestrogens

cancer recurrence reduction

cannabis history

medical cannabis

endocannabinoid system

THC effects

CBD benefits

marijuana legalization

Minnesota medical cannabis

cannabinoid therapy

opioid alternative