Marijuana: Medical Benefits of Cannabis Separated from its Side Effects

Could you have the medical effects of marijuana without the side effects? That may just be the case. Scientists have discovered a way to separate the medical benefits of cannabis from its unwanted side effects.

In this latest study, the researchers examined the cognitive effects by THC. These effects are triggered by a pathway which is actually separate from some of its other effects. In fact, the pathway involves both a cannabinoid receptor and a serotonin receptor. When this is blocked, though, THC can still exert several beneficial effects, including pain relief, while avoiding impairment of memory.

"THC, the major active component of marijuana, has broad medical use-including for pain relief, nausea and anxiety," said Peter McCormick, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Our previous research has also found that it could reduce tumor size in cancer patients. However it is also known to induce numerous undesirable side effects such as memory impairment, anxiety and dependence. There has been a great deal of medical interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms at work in THC, so that beneficial effects can be harnessed without the side-effects."

In this latest study, the researchers conducted behavioral studies in mice and investigated how pathways in their brains operate under THC. They found that the absence of a particular serotonin receptor (5HT2AR) reduced some of the effects of THC, such as its amnesic effect, based on a standard memory test. However, treatment to reduce 5HT2AR did not change other effects of THC, including pain relief.

"This research is important because it identifies a way to reduce some of what, in medical treatment, are usually thought of as THC's unwanted side effects, while maintaining several important benefits including pain reduction," said McCormick.

The findings could be huge for the use of marijuana in the medical field. That said, further experimentation will be needed.

The findings are published in the journal PLOS Biology.

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