Medical marijuana: emerging applications for the management of neurologic disorders.
Marijuana contains over 60 different types of cannabinoids, which are its medicinally active ingredients. Cannabinoids have the capacity for neuromodulation--through direct, receptor-based mechanisms--at many levels within the nervous system, providing therapeutic properties that may be applicable to the treatment of neurologic disorders. These include antioxidation, neuroprotection, analgesia, anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, modulation of glial cells, and tumor growth regulation. This article reviews the current and emerging research on the physiologic mechanisms of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids and their applications in the management of neurologic disease.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific Avenue, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. gtcarter@u.washington.edu
Gregory T
GT
Carter
Vivian
V
Ugalde
D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D002188:Cannabis; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug / Q000639:trends; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations