title: Cannabis: old medicine with new promise for neurological disorders.
abstract: Marijuana is a complex substance containing over 60 different forms of cannabinoids, the active ingredients. Cannabinoids are now known to have the capacity for neuromodulation, via direct, receptor-based mechanisms at numerous levels within the nervous system. These have therapeutic properties that may be applicable to the treatment of neurological disorders; including anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions; immunomodulation, modulation of glial cells and tumor growth regulation. This article reviews the emerging research on the physiological mechanisms of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids in the context of neurological disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98531, USA. gtcarter@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weydt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents