Despite a long history of legal and social barriers to scientifically sound research and clinical trials on the benefits of medical cannabis, evidence-based research into the mysteries of the cannabis plant continues to grow in recent years. Dr. Jahan Marcu, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine, recently interviewed researcher Dr. Philippe Lucas, Ph.D. (c), in a piece titled “What is the Role of Medical Cannabis in Substance Use Disorders?” Dr. Lucas is an experienced researcher with expertise on the implications of cannabis for public health. They explored the implications of cannabis as a substitute for highly addictive drugs and as a treatment for a host of conditions and health ailments.
How Does Medical Cannabis Help Those with Addiction?
The conversation between Dr. Marcu and Dr. Lucas sheds light on the sometimes controversial evidence that medical cannabis may be a viable treatment for opioid dependency. In their discussion, Dr. Lucas pointed to past studies suggesting that medical cannabis may be as effective at treating chronic pain as highly addictive opioid prescription medications. Study participants reported that cannabis helped relieve their cravings for opioids and helped them decrease their opioid use.
Common Conditions Treated with Medical Cannabis
Dr. Marcu and Dr. Lucas also discussed medical cannabis as a substitution for drugs treating other conditions, such as chronic pain, alcohol dependence, benzodiazepines addiction, anxiety, and sleep disorders. On the growing opportunities for medical cannabis research and treatments for patients, Dr. Lucas looks forward to future possibilities: “I’m optimistic that as more funding becomes available to examine the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, entirely new modalities will develop in regards to cancer care, and the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, arthritis, anxiety and many other serious conditions.”
You can read the discussion between cannabis researchers Dr. Marcu and Dr. Lucas in detail on the blog. 💚 🌱
