Among the many benefits of marijuana, such as its ability to inhibit
cancer growth and halt seizures, the treatment of glaucoma has been
long-standing and widely accepted. Well, a new study indicates the herb could also work to prevent blindness from another eye disease—retinitis pigmentosa.
Retinitis pigmentosa is a condition
that destroys the light sensors of the eye. This degenerative condition
acts on the millions of microscopic photoreceptors and can lead to
blindness. Currently, there is no known solution. But in this most
recent study, researchers made headway in establishing cannabis as a
potential treatment.
Published in Experimental Eye Research, the study “Neuroprotective effects of the cannabinoid agonist HU210 on retinal degeneration” interestingly used a synthetic cannabinoid known as HU210 to test the value of treating photoreceptor degeneration.
Over a study period of 90 days, the rats treated with HU210 experienced far less damage to their photo-receptors. As a matter of fact, they had 40 percent more of these light sensors left in their eyes when compared with the untreated rats.
In addition, the rats treated with the synthetic cannabinoid had
“improved connectivity between photo-receptors and their postsynaptic
neurons,”—the neurons that receive and process the light signals.
Although the researchers could not identify how the cannabinoid worked and stressed more research is needed, they did say their findings were promising.
via: Collectively Conscious
Prohibition has spurred a lack of education surrounding the cannabis
plant. This has led to countless rumors about what makes hemp
different from cannabis. Everything from “hemp plants are male and
cannabis plants are female” to “cannabis is a drug and the other is not”
are incorrectly being preached as common knowledge to unknowing
bystanders. So, how are these terms supposed to be used? Let’s find
out.
According to a 1976 study published
by the International Association of Plant Taxonomy concluded “both hemp
varieties and marijuana varieties are of the same genus, Cannabis, and the same species, Cannabis Sativa. Further, there are countless varieties that fall into further classifications within the species Cannabis Sativa.”
However, depending on how the plant is grown and utilized will determine which term is correct. For instance, the term cannabis (or marijuana) is used when describing a Cannabis Sativa plant that is bred for its potent, resinous glands (known as trichomes). These trichomes contain high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid most known for its psychoactive properties.
Hemp, on the hand, is used to describe a Cannabis Sativa plant
that contains only trace amounts of THC. Hemp is a high-growing plant,
typically bred for industrial uses such as oils and topical ointments,
as well as fiber for clothing, construction, and much more.
Only products made from industrial hemp (less than 0.3% THC) are
legal to sell, buy, consume, and ship. This single factor (0.3%) is how most
people distinguish between what is classified as “hemp” and what is
classified as “cannabis.” This limit has led to mass controversy (for
good reason), which we will dive into a bit later. But first, let’s take
a look at how hemp is utilized all over the world.
More About Hemp: Medical Jane
