Therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana: an educational primer for health care professionals
Yara Mouhamed,1,* Andrey Vishnyakov,1,* Bessi Qorri,2,* Manpreet Sambi,2,* SM Signy Frank,1 Catherine Nowierski,1 Anmol Lamba,1 Umrao Bhatti,1 Myron R Szewczuk2 1Graduate Diploma & Professional Master in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/therapeutic-potential-of-medicinal-marijuana-an-educational-primer-for-peer-reviewed-article-DHPS |
| _version_ | 1828487312915300352 |
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| author | Mouhamed Y Vishnyakov A Qorri B Sambi M Frank SMS Nowierski C Lamba A Bhatti U Szewczuk MR |
| author_facet | Mouhamed Y Vishnyakov A Qorri B Sambi M Frank SMS Nowierski C Lamba A Bhatti U Szewczuk MR |
| author_sort | Mouhamed Y |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Yara Mouhamed,1,* Andrey Vishnyakov,1,* Bessi Qorri,2,* Manpreet Sambi,2,* SM Signy Frank,1 Catherine Nowierski,1 Anmol Lamba,1 Umrao Bhatti,1 Myron R Szewczuk2 1Graduate Diploma & Professional Master in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada; 2Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: With the proposed Canadian July 2018 legalization of marijuana through the ­Cannabis Act, a thorough critical analysis of the current trials on the efficacy of medicinal marijuana (MM) as a treatment option is necessary. This review is particularly important for primary care physicians whose patients may be interested in using MM as an alternative therapy. In response to increased interest in MM, Health Canada released a document in 2013 for general practitioners (GPs) as an educational tool on the efficacy of MM in treating some chronic and acute conditions. Although additional studies have filled in some of the gaps since the release of the Health Canada document, conflicting and inconclusive results continue to pose a challenge for physicians. This review aims to supplement the Health Canada document by providing physicians with a critical yet concise update on the recent advancements made regarding the efficacy of MM as a potential therapeutic option. An update to the literature of 2013 is important given the upcoming changes in legislation on the use of marijuana. Also, we briefly highlight the current recommendations provided by Canadian medical colleges on the parameters that need to be considered prior to authorizing MM use, routes of administration as well as a general overview of the endocannabinoid system as it pertains to cannabis. Lastly, we outline the appropriate medical conditions for which the authorization of MM may present as a practical alternative option in improving patient outcomes as well as individual considerations of which GPs should be mindful. The purpose of this paper is to offer physicians an educational tool that provides a necessary, evidence-based analysis of the therapeutic potential of MM and to ensure physicians are making decisions on the therapeutic use of MM in good faith. Keywords: medicinal marijuana, cannabis, endocannabinoid system, Cannabis Act, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders, pregnancy, epilepsy, Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T09:48:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3743e789353463681a4b52954b42a6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1365 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T09:48:28Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3743e789353463681a4b52954b42a6f2022-12-22T01:12:29ZengDove Medical PressDrug, Healthcare and Patient Safety1179-13652018-06-01Volume 10456638753Therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana: an educational primer for health care professionalsMouhamed YVishnyakov AQorri BSambi MFrank SMSNowierski CLamba ABhatti USzewczuk MRYara Mouhamed,1,* Andrey Vishnyakov,1,* Bessi Qorri,2,* Manpreet Sambi,2,* SM Signy Frank,1 Catherine Nowierski,1 Anmol Lamba,1 Umrao Bhatti,1 Myron R Szewczuk2 1Graduate Diploma & Professional Master in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada; 2Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: With the proposed Canadian July 2018 legalization of marijuana through the ­Cannabis Act, a thorough critical analysis of the current trials on the efficacy of medicinal marijuana (MM) as a treatment option is necessary. This review is particularly important for primary care physicians whose patients may be interested in using MM as an alternative therapy. In response to increased interest in MM, Health Canada released a document in 2013 for general practitioners (GPs) as an educational tool on the efficacy of MM in treating some chronic and acute conditions. Although additional studies have filled in some of the gaps since the release of the Health Canada document, conflicting and inconclusive results continue to pose a challenge for physicians. This review aims to supplement the Health Canada document by providing physicians with a critical yet concise update on the recent advancements made regarding the efficacy of MM as a potential therapeutic option. An update to the literature of 2013 is important given the upcoming changes in legislation on the use of marijuana. Also, we briefly highlight the current recommendations provided by Canadian medical colleges on the parameters that need to be considered prior to authorizing MM use, routes of administration as well as a general overview of the endocannabinoid system as it pertains to cannabis. Lastly, we outline the appropriate medical conditions for which the authorization of MM may present as a practical alternative option in improving patient outcomes as well as individual considerations of which GPs should be mindful. The purpose of this paper is to offer physicians an educational tool that provides a necessary, evidence-based analysis of the therapeutic potential of MM and to ensure physicians are making decisions on the therapeutic use of MM in good faith. Keywords: medicinal marijuana, cannabis, endocannabinoid system, Cannabis Act, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders, pregnancy, epilepsy, Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulationshttps://www.dovepress.com/therapeutic-potential-of-medicinal-marijuana-an-educational-primer-for-peer-reviewed-article-DHPSMedicinal marijuanacannabisendocannabinoid systemCannabis Actmultiple sclerosisParkinson’s diseaseTourette’s syndromegastrointestinal disorderspregnancyepilepsyAccess to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations |
| spellingShingle | Mouhamed Y Vishnyakov A Qorri B Sambi M Frank SMS Nowierski C Lamba A Bhatti U Szewczuk MR Therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana: an educational primer for health care professionals Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety Medicinal marijuana cannabis endocannabinoid system Cannabis Act multiple sclerosis Parkinson’s disease Tourette’s syndrome gastrointestinal disorders pregnancy epilepsy Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations |
| title | Therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana: an educational primer for health care professionals |
| title_full | Therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana: an educational primer for health care professionals |
| title_fullStr | Therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana: an educational primer for health care professionals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana: an educational primer for health care professionals |
| title_short | Therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana: an educational primer for health care professionals |
| title_sort | therapeutic potential of medicinal marijuana an educational primer for health care professionals |
| topic | Medicinal marijuana cannabis endocannabinoid system Cannabis Act multiple sclerosis Parkinson’s disease Tourette’s syndrome gastrointestinal disorders pregnancy epilepsy Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/therapeutic-potential-of-medicinal-marijuana-an-educational-primer-for-peer-reviewed-article-DHPS |
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