Smoking marijuana provides not only a relaxed "high" to its users, but it can have medicinal benefits as well. Medical marijuana is used to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, nausea, glaucoma, seizure disorders, cancer, diabetes and muscle spasms. However, marijuana use can damage the lungs, heart and brain, causing cognitive impairment. Finding alternatives to marijuana is vital so that people seeking symptom relief do not harm the same body they are trying to treat.
CB1 Agonists
Marijuana exerts its effects by binding its active chemical, called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, to sites in the brain and peripheral nervous system called cannabinoid, or CB1, receptors. CB1 receptors are also activated by other substances already present in our brains called endogenous cannabinoids. One way to produce a similar biological effect as marijuana without marijuana's negative qualities is to find another way to stimulate the CB1 receptors. A study published in the "British Journal of Pharmacology" found that several synthetic compounds activated the CB1 receptors in frog eggs. While it is unclear whether use of these compounds in humans will also be effective and safe, this and other animal studies provide encouraging results.
Organophosphorus Agents
Activated CB1 receptors produce neurotransmitters, or chemical signals, that cause the euphoric feelings associated with marijuana use. These neurotransmitters disperse and degrade over time, leading to the wearing off of the "high" one feels after smoking marijuana. Agents that block the natural breakdown of neurotransmitters produced by activated cannabinoid receptors may provide another alternative to medical marijuana. A study published in the journal "Nature Chemical Biology" discovered that drugs called organophosphorus agents can inhibit the degradation of these chemical signals. By prolonging the effect of endogenous cannabinoids in the brain, organophosphorous agents may be able to serve as an effective alternative to medical marijuana. However, as of 2010, they have only been studied in animals and are not yet approved for use in humans.
Common Pain Medications
For pain control, over-the-counter and prescription medications such as codeine serve as alternatives to medical marijuana. In fact, a review of nine trials that compared marijuana with other pain medications published in the "British Medical Journal" reported that cannabinoids are no more effective than codeine in controlling acute, chronic non-malignant or cancer pain. Because pain medications may interact with other medications and because certain medications are not recommended for certain conditions, their use should always be cleared with a doctor or pharmacist.
Common Anti-Nausea Medications
Medical marijuana is often used by cancer patients suffering from nausea due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. However, many anti-nausea alternatives, such as Zofran, are available and effective without the damaging risks of marijuana. As with pain medications, anti-nausea medications should be cleared by a doctor before use.
References
- PubMed Central: Activation of the Endocannabinoid System By Organophosphorus Nerve Agents
- Pain Management of America: Medical Marijuana
- PubMed Central: Identification of a Potent and Highly Efficacious, Yet Slowly Desensitizing CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist
- PubMed Central: Are Cannabinoids an Effective and Safe Treatment Option in the Management of Pain? A Qualitative Systematic Review
