More than 30 states now allow their residents to purchase and even grow medical cannabis to treat several allowed conditions. Even though cannabis users typically tend to be younger, a decent portion of medical marijuana patients are older people dealing with conditions such as insomnia and chronic pain from arthritis.
For a lot of medical marijuana patients, especially older ones, the “high” that comes with consuming THC cannabis isn’t always welcome. Some patients have taken to using cannabis alongside CBD (cannabidiol) to reduce the high, while some researchers have even developed a cannabis strain that delivers the benefits without the high.
However, a recent study from the University of New Mexico (UNM) has revealed that feeling high after taking medical marijuana is associated with greater symptom relief. The research’s findings, which were published in the “Frontiers in Pharmacology” journal, found that patients who feel high after medicating tend to feel greater relief from their respective symptoms.
University of New Mexico associate professor of psychology and senior study author Jacob Vigil explains “feeling high” as feelings of euphoria and impairment. While this mental state is usually the goal for recreational users, some medical marijuana patients see it as a hindrance.
Vigil and his colleagues sought to determine whether the state of impairment and euphoria limited marijuana treatment or is simply an unavoidable part of treatment. The research team partnered with the cannabis-tracking treatment app ReLeaf to examine data from an estimated 2,000 medical marijuana patients collected during some 16,000 sessions with medical cannabis.
They found that 49% of the patients experienced the telltale signs of marijuana high with side effects such as red eyes and dry mouth. Furthermore, 7.7% of the patients saw greater symptom relief and higher levels of peace and relaxation while 20% experienced side effects. Although feeling high was associated with feelings of confusion, clumsiness, and even paranoia, it also caused feelings of happiness, optimism and gratitude.
The researchers surmised that feeling high may be a “fundamental aspect” of taking therapeutic marijuana rather than a hindrance to avoid.
Regarding the proliferation of high-THC products in the market, the research team noted that high THC levels had no correlation with greater symptom improvement. Rather, the researchers suggested that high-THC products only increased relief from symptoms if patients were feeling high. The effect was especially pronounced in participants suffering from fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression.
Researchers say the study highlights the complicated way marijuana interacts with human bodies and points to a future where cannabis treatments are highly customized for each patient.
With this mounting evidence of marijuana’s medicinal effects, it is highly likely that the drug development pipelines of companies such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) will yield viable formulations that meet the FDA’s requirements.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC
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