Page 41 - SFHN0920finalUF.qxp_SFHN 0608 Friday 5.0

TM

Back Cover Story: Chronic Pain,

Opioids, and Cannabis

Continued from page 44 the reuptake of ENT1, the concentration
cannabis as a medicine, namely, that it of adenosine in the brain can increase.
may serve as an alternative to or as an In addition to pain relief, CBD offers
adjunct treatment to opioids. several other therapeutic qualities. For
Investigation of the medicinal proper- instance, CBD has shown the potential to
ties of cannabis shows promise as a nat- relieve symptoms of anxiety and depres-
ural approach to pain relief. One illustra- sion, stimulate bone growth, inhibit can-
tion is the phytocannabinoid, cannabidi- cer cell proliferation, and even slow the
ol, or CBD. This naturally occurring progression of neurodegenerative disease
compound found in cannabis plants has states such as Alzheimer’s. Despite the
demonstrated the ability to modulate growing number of medicinal benefits of
numerous receptors throughout the CBD, a need for a more detailed exami-
body in a non-intoxicating manner. In nation of its medicinal benefits still
2018, investigators demonstrated that exists. However, until marijuana is
CBD could act as a natural analgesic in rescheduled by the DEA, advancing clin-
mice models. The same group of ical research and knowledge of cannabis
researchers concluded that CBD limited will continue to wait. Regardless, the
the release of the excitatory neurotrans- results of the investigations referenced
mitter, glutamate. Glutamate contributes previously are promising additions for
to the over-activation of pain sensation patients and health care providers look-
and transmission inside the nervous sys- ing to supplement or modify convention-
tem. Similar research completed in 2019, al pharmaceutical treatments for chronic
suggested that CBD may even reduce pain.
inflammation by limiting the reuptake of
the inhibitory neurotransmitter, adeno- For more information, contact Brit
sine. Researchers propose that CBD can Francis, MS, CC, The Canna Academy,
repress the protein, equilibrate nucleo- at (561) 808-6656 or
side transporter 1 (ENT1). By slowing thecannaacademy@gmail.com.

Cannabis News Florida cannabisnewsflorida.com September 2020 41