2013: An Excellent Year For Cannabis Research

By Anthony Martinelli

Only five full months into the year, and 2013 has already been one of the best in regards to meaningful and impactful cannabis-related studies and research. As time goes by science continues to crush decades of absurd propaganda, in addition to finding benefits of cannabis and ending its prohibition that even advocates may not have expected. The more cannabis science that’s released, the easier it becomes to get the public to understand and pay attention to its vast benefits.

Here’s a list of some of the most important cannabis studies to come out this year. We look forward to the studies yet to be released.

Study Shows Cannabis May Reverse Symptoms of Dementia - February, 2013: A group from Neuroscience Research Australia has found early evidence that cannabidiol – one of the main ingredients in cannabis – may reverse some of the symptoms of dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease. “It basically brings the performance of the animals back to the level of healthy animals,” said Tim Karl, one of the study’s researchers.

Study: Health of a Child Unaffected by Living in a Cannabis Grow Op - March, 2013: A study conducted by the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia has found that “there was no significant difference between the health of the children living in cannabis grow operations and the comparison group of children”. Thestudy was published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, as well as online by theUS National Library of Medicine..
Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Finds Vaporized Cannabis Helpful in Treating Neuropathic Pain - March, 2013: A double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study found that patients who suffered from neuropathic pain, and didn’t get much relief from traditional medication, benefited from vaporized cannabis. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California Davis Medical Centerand published in The Journal of Pain, was given the title “Low-Dose Vaporized Cannabis Significantly Improves Neuropathic Pain”.
UNICEF Report Indicates that Decriminalizing Cannabis Reduces Youth Usage Rates – April, 2013: The United Nations Children’s Fund released its annual report on child well-being, titled “Report Card 11” – a comprehensive paper that details the specifics of child welfare, examines things from drug use to how many eat breakfast regularly, studying these topics across the globe – which found that children in nations such as Portugal and the Netherlands which have decriminalized cannabis consume marijuana at much lower rates than country’s like America which continue their full-blown prohibition on the plant.
Study Finds THC Helpful in Combating HIV - May, 2013: A new study published inThe Journal of Leukocyte Biology has found exciting, albeit preliminary research which indicates that THC, one of the main compounds in marijuana, may have HIV fighting capabilities.
University Study Finds Marijuana May Combat Depression and Lead to Higher Self-Esteem - May, 2013: A comprehensive four-part study conducted at the University of Kentucky has found marijuana to be helpful in reducing the pain associated with social exclusion, and that it may combat against depression, and may lead to higher self-esteem.
Marijuana Consumption May Combat Diabetes - May, 2013: New researchpublished in the recent issue of the American Journal of Medicine has found that the body of those who consume marijuana may be better at controlling blood sugar, making it a potential combatant against diabetes.
Cannabinoids May be Best Medicine for Those with PTSD - May, 2013: A study by researchers at the New York University School of Medicine, and funded by the National Institute of Health, has found a connection between the number of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the study, cannabinoids, a compound of cannabis, may help combat the symptoms of PTSD by bringing equilibrium to these receptors.
Marijuana Consumption Reduces Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease, May Lead to Remission - May, 2013: Marijuana consumption reduces the symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, and can even lead to its remission, according to new researchpublished on the website of the National Institutes of Health, which will be in print soon in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Marijuana Use Connected With Lower Risk of Bladder Cancer - May, 2013: Astudy conducted by Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in California, and presented at the American Urological Association annual meeting in San Diego, has found promising results indicating that marijuana use may significantly lower an individuals risk of developing bladder cancer.
Research Finds Habitual Marijuana Consumption Not Linked to Lung Cancer - May, 2013: A study reported on at the annual meeting for the American Association of Cancer Research has found that habitual marijuana consumers have no more increased risk of lung cancer than casual consumers, or those who don’t consume at all. This was found to be true regardless of how many times a day a person consumes cannabis, and regardless of how long they’ve been a consumer.
New Research Finds Marijuana May Combat Brain Damage - May, 2013: New research published in the journals Behavioural Brain Research and Experimental Brain Research has found that even minimalistic amounts of marijuana may help fight brain damage.