Medical

Scientists separate medical benefits of THC from "unwanted side effects"

Scientists separate medical benefits of THC from "unwanted side effects"
THC without the unwanted side-effects? (Credit: Shutterstock)
THC without the unwanted side-effects? (Credit: Shutterstock)
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Buy isolating a specific pathway of certain serotonin receptors, researchers believe they can maintain the pain relief and tumor-inhibiting qualities of THC, whilst ridding the user of any cognitive impairment (Credit: Shutterstock)
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Buy isolating a specific pathway of certain serotonin receptors, researchers believe they can maintain the pain relief and tumor-inhibiting qualities of THC, whilst ridding the user of any cognitive impairment (Credit: Shutterstock)
THC without the unwanted side-effects? (Credit: Shutterstock)
2/2
THC without the unwanted side-effects? (Credit: Shutterstock)

Scientists in Spain believe they have found a way to separate the "medical benefits" of cannabis from the "unwanted side effects". By isolating a specific pathway of serotonin receptors (namely 5-HT2AR), the researchers believe they can maintain the pain relief and tumor-inhibiting qualities of THC, whilst ridding the user of any cognitive impairment.

The potential medical uses of cannabis’ psycho-active ingredient THC have long been discussed in the medical community, with some researchers touting a long list of benefits including pain relief, cancer inhibition, glaucoma, treatment of epilepsy and Chron’s disease, delay of Alzheimer’s disease, and many more. However, advances in this area have long been impeded by cannabis’ illicit drug classification, as well as the social stigma and cognitive drawbacks associated with "getting high" including memory loss, anxiety and dependance.

Buy isolating a specific pathway of certain serotonin receptors, researchers believe they can maintain the pain relief and tumor-inhibiting qualities of THC, whilst ridding the user of any cognitive impairment (Credit: Shutterstock)
Buy isolating a specific pathway of certain serotonin receptors, researchers believe they can maintain the pain relief and tumor-inhibiting qualities of THC, whilst ridding the user of any cognitive impairment (Credit: Shutterstock)

The research involved behavioral studies carried out in mice lacking the serotonin receptor, but should it continue past animal and clinical trials, an interesting array of questions could arise: How much of cannabis’ medical benefits rely on the dissociating cognitive qualities of THC? Just how "unwanted" are the cognitive side effects of cannabis use? And would the legalization movement have quite so many vehemently passionate advocates if cannabis use didn’t make them giggle so much?

The findings were published this month in the journal PLOS Biology.

7 comments
7 comments
Charles Jones
I do not agree that marijuana causes dependency. This seems to have been proven as another falsehood and has been documented over and over again by real people who have used marijuana for years. When a real person stops using marijuana, the real people show no ill effects, no convulsions, no mood swings, no withdrawn symptoms of any kind. This cannot really be considered a dependency, but rather a reluctant parting of a pleasurable experience.
science ninja
Wow, the BS keeps rolling in, real truth is THC derived under cryogenic circumstances is dihydro THC and a cup of it will not get you high, but all the benefits will be helping you. The rest of these stories are a load of steaming horse hocky. heating it up or decarbing it then trying to seperate them is like trying to get good stuff out of shit.
Wolf0579
Just watch big pharma steal everything that nature provides for free, and sell it for obscene profit.
hdm
The only weed stigma lies only with non-using conservative zealots...everyone else doesn't think or worry about weed. Science is doing its thing, mostly in a push to monetize a freely available plant. Good luck with your stigma thing...
HarryScrotum
If the government had not so effectively suppressed THE TRUTH about marijuana research of the past, then most of it wouldn't be being done again. Oh, and the research done back in the 70's indicated that removing the THC from it ruined the mechanism which made it beneficial in the treatment of many maladies. One can't help but believe that the big pharmaceutical companies are the ones behind all the B.S. packaged as fact about Marijuana for over 30 years now. If you want to know why, do a little research on the decline of various prescriptions for various, ailments in areas where marijuana is legal.
sliceofpi
I understand the dissatisfaction with pharma's cannabis involvement. However, if cannabis could provide pain relief without the high/side effects that would be life-changing for many. I have significant pain and the head high that I get from cannabis (even 50/50 THC/CBD oil capsules) means I rarely take it. An alternative to opiates like this is welcomed by me.
*SCIENCE NINJA*: can you tell me more about this cryogenic THC that provides health benefits without the high? I just googled it and don't see anything relevant. Please, if anyone is familiar with cannabis sources/extracts that don't provide much head high (and hopefully pain relief) let me know. Thanks.
science ninja
HarryScrotum, if you googled dihydro THC you have the answers you need otherwise a few shops in SF area carry it.