UK: Professor Mike Barnes Hon Professor of Neurological Rehabilitation Pens Article On Medical Marijuana For HippocraticPost.com

Here’s the introduction to his piece

The Pros

First, there is considerable evidence for the efficacy of cannabis in a variety of conditions.  There is certainly quite good evidence of efficacy in spasticity and indeed a cannabis product – Sativex – is legally prescribable for drug resistant spasticity in multiple sclerosis.  However, cannabis has also shown to be useful in chronic pain, particularly non-cancer pain and neuropathic pain.  A whole variety of other conditions have some evidence of usefulness, including reduction of bladder frequency in multiple sclerosis (and other neurological conditions); management of nausea, particularly in the context of chemotherapy; improvement in sleep; as an appetite stimulant in debilitating conditions, such as those with HIV.  There is also some evidence of efficacy in fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, migraine, glaucoma and some forms of dystonia.  There is particularly good evidence of efficacy in childhood drug resistant epilepsy (Dravet’s syndrome).  Some of the cannabinoids (and there are over 70 cannabinoids in natural cannabis) are known to have a whole variety of interesting properties.  Cannabidiol (CBD) is a component of natural cannabis and is known to have anti-anxiety properties and anti-psychotic properties.  It also has efficacy in ‘fear’ memory, such as in post-traumatic stress disorder and in some phobias.  It may have anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective properties.

Overall there is good evidence (see reference list) of the efficacy of cannabis and indeed it has been used as a medicine for over 4,000 years.

Read the full article at

http://www.hippocraticpost.com/medico-legal/medical-marijuana-prescribed-not/

Professor Mike Barnes

Professor Mike Barnes is Honorary Professor of Neurological Rehabilitation.He is also currently Clinical Director of The Christchurch Group.He has previously been Founder President of the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR) and is currently Treasurer.He also Treasurer of the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine (BSRM).He is Chair of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF) and also Chair of the Independent Neurorehabilitation Providers Alliance (INPA). He has a long standing interest in the management of spasticity and a long term advocate of the legalisation of cannabis for medical usage.

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