Tech

Can a cannabis-based drug combat marijuana dependence?

An estimated 119 to 224 million people worldwide smoke weed. The US National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that 30 percent of recreational users in the country have the symptoms of marijuana dependence. A team Australian researchers shares that use of cannabinoid elements in combination with other therapies might help—essentially combating the use of cannabis with cannabis.

One of the most popular urban myths about marijuana is that there is no marijuana dependence. However, the reality is that people who use it frequently develop pharmacological tolerance. For that reason, they need to consume it in larger amounts.

There are an estimated 119 to 224 million cannabis users worldwide. In Mexico alone, according to the Mexican Academy of Sciences, consumption doubled between 2002 and 2011. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the United States notes that 30 percent of recreational users in the country have the characteristic symptoms of marijuana dependence.

Signs of withdrawal

Abstinence syndrome, according to the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, can occur in a variety of ways:

  • Irritability, anger, or aggressiveness
  • Nervousness or anxiety
  • Difficulty sleeping, insomnia, or restless dreams
  • Loss of appetite and body mass
  • Restlessness
  • Depressed mood
  • Physical signs such as abdominal pain, tremors, chills, excessive sweating, fever, diarrhea, nausea, and muscle pain

NIDA also lists some treatments for marijuana dependence such as:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Contingency management techniques
  • Motivational stimulus therapy

While these types of interventions appear to be promising, in several cases they have proven to be ineffective.

One of the signs of withdrawal from marijuana includes depression, nervousness or anxiety, and even loss of appetite and body mass, among others. (Source)

Combating the use of cannabis with cannabis

Agonist cannabinoids are receptors of the endocannabinoid system, which plays an important role in the synthesis of substances that are part of cannabis.

The compound contains nabiximols, with one part cannabidiol (CBD) and one part tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which are the main psychoactive ingredients in marijuana.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Network, was conducted with 128 participants—30 of which are women and 98 of which are men, with an average age of 35 years old.

The volunteers—all marijuana users—claimed to have treated their dependence on cannabis without success.

The form of administration was oral by means of an atomizer. Furthermore, each individual received a dose of 18 applications per day, each with 0.1 millimeters of the compound.

The specialists followed the participants at the beginning, and then at two, four, eight, and 12 weeks. Along with the trial period, volunteers had cognitive behavioral therapy and other types of support for those who needed it.

The conclusion eventually showed that those who received nabiximols reduced their marijuana use. This is contrary to what happened with the control group that took a placebo.

Long-term quitting

The leader of the research, Professor Nick Lintzeris, said to Medical News Today that the most important thing is to demonstrate that nabiximols can be effective in helping patients achieve their long-term goal of quitting marijuana.

It is also a step towards addressing the lack of effective treatments and finding new solutions.

Finally, it should be mentioned that this is not the first study of Professor Lintzerie and his team on the subject. In 2014, they published an article in which they spoke of nabiximols as an agonist therapy during cannabis abstinence. In it, they also demonstrated their effectiveness in controlling marijuana dependence.

(Featured Image by LexScope)

First published in Cannabis Nation a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.

Valerie Harrison

Valerie Harrison is a mom of two who likes reporting about the world of finance. She learned about the value of investing at a young age upon taking over her family's textile business when she was just a teenager. Valerie's passion for writing can be traced back to working with an editorial team at her corporate job, where she spent significant time working on market analysis and stock market predictions. Her portfolio includes real estate funds, government bonds, and equities in emerging markets such as cannabis, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies.

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