Cannabis and Cannabinoids as Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Inflammation is now implicated in many health-threatening conditions -  arteriosclerosis and heart disease; arthritis and  fibromyalgia; neurodegenerative diseases such as MS and ALS; gastro-intestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis; and more. The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis have been known for a long time.  Could cannabis be a safer alternative to commonly prescribed NSAIDs such as aspirin or steroids such as prednisone?

Faculty Presentations on Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabis

Cannabinoid System in Neuroprotection, Raphael Mechoulam, PhD -
Professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Dr. Mechoulam gives a brief history of Medical Cannabis, then describes the role of Cannabinoids as anti-inflammatory for arthritis, as neuroprotectant for brain injury and as a possible treatment for PTSD. Dr. Mechoulam first isolated THC in 1964.

Suggested Reading:

Cabral GA & Griffin-Thomas L. (2008). Cannabinoids as Therapeutic Agents for Ablating Neuroinflammatory Disease.  Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders – Drug Targets. 8:159-172.

Centonze, D., Finazzi-Agro, A., Bernardi, G., & Maccarrone, M. (2007).  The endocannabinoid system in targeting inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases.  Trends in Pharmacological Science, 28(4) 180-187.

Ehrhart, J, Obregon, D, Mori, T, Hou, H, Sun, N, Bai, Y, Klein, T, Fernandez, F, Tan, J & Shytle, RD. (2005).  Stimulation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) suppresses microglial activation.  J. Neuroinflam., 2(29),  doi:10.1186/1742-2094-2-29.

Croxford & Yamamura (2005). Cannabinoids and the immune system: Potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.  Journal of Neuroimmunology. 166: 3-18.