First Of Its Kind Study Shows Cannabis Could Be Used in ER to Treat Stroke and Cardiac Arrest

CBD, a prominent compound found in cannabis, is becoming known across the globe as a substance that can effectively treat a wide range of health issues including but certainly not limited to chronic pain, inflammatory bowel disease, pharmaceutical dependence, painful side effects of terminal illnesses, and epilepsy. A recent study indicates that CBD’s benefits may also be broadened to treat sufferers of strokes and other cardiovascular-related issues.

The study, from Fudan University in Shanghai, has claimed to be “the first to document the neuroprotective effects of CBD against OGD/R insult” and is centered around CBD’s effects on a condition known as cerebral ischemia, which is a deficiency of blood flow to the brain and is related to a host of health problems such as stroke, brain damage, and cardiac arrest.

The study noted that cerebral ischemia often results in additional damage known as “secondary injury” when blood flow resumes.

“Cerebral ischemia is one of the commonest clinical conditions, and is involved in many serious diseases, including stroke, cardiac arrest, and respiratory arrest,” the study stated.

“The treatment for this condition usually involves the restoration of blood flow as quickly as possible. However, this can entail secondary injury to the ischemic area, referred to as ‘ischemia/reperfusion injury’. The restoration of the blood circulation causes inflammation and oxidative-stress-induced damage in the area affected by the absence of oxygen and nutrients during the period of cerebral ischemia.”

“CBD treatments will most certainly exist in emergency rooms for stroke and cardiac patients in the future,” said cardiac specialist Dr. Sean McCormick. “Not only will CBD extracts prevent inflammatory damage but they may also heal existing damage.”

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The study’s conclusion noted that “more in-depth studies are required to investigate the precise mechanism underlying the success of CBD treatment and to determine the actual role of CBD in cerebral ischemia.”

The study in its entirety can be read here. 

CBD is one of at least 160 cannabinoids found in cannabis. CBD stands notably in stark contrast to another cannabinoid known as THC. CBD is valued by patients for being a form of cannabis that can be consumed as a medicine while receiving very little, or none at all, of the mood-altering effects that one would receive by consuming THC.

While earlier research has already suggested positive findings related to CBD’s effects on the heart and the brain, this study provides more focused insight regarding CBD’s potential to ease, or perhaps even block, the crippling effects that remain following a stroke or similar injury. 

Despite the fact that medical uses of cannabis have become quite expansive over recent years and scientists continue to discover various benefits of CBD, the United States federal government still serves as an obstacle to many individuals seeking non-pharmaceutical relief.

In August 2016, the DEA refused to move cannabis from Schedule I and continues to define it as more dangerous than Schedule II drugs like cocaine and meth. And in December, the DEA doubled down on its stronghold by assigning new codes to cannabis extracts including CBD. The codes were described by the DEA as a way to better track cannabinoid research, but has been viewed as a threat to cannabis patients.

However, the DEA did reportedly advise that it would allow additional licensing of cannabis farms for scientific research. Regardless of past interference in the benefits of cannabis, it remains to be seen how the current presidential administration will handle the inevitable growing popularity of medical cannabis stemming largely from vital and continuous scientific research.

Landmark Study: Pot Smoke Doesn’t Cause Strokes, But Tobacco Does and Weed Can Stop It

We know it may seem counter-intuitive to what we already know about tobacco, but a steady stream of scientific research is revealing some surprising conclusions about cannabis. The latest research, published on December 27^th, 2016, indicates that marijuana use does not run the same risk of stroke that tobacco does.

The study used a sampling of 49,321 Swedish men, born between 1949 and 1951 and were conscripted to military service at the age of 18 and 20. Their medical health questionnaire, completed upon conscription, served as the baseline data for the soldiers. And since Sweden’s healthcare system is nationalized, the national database was accessed to compare initial conscription data with longitudinal health data decades later.

Stroke data was analyzed from the 49,321 participants. The researchers concluded, “We found no evident association between cannabis use in young adulthood and stroke, including strokes before 45 years of age. Tobacco smoking, however, showed a clear, dose–response shaped association with stroke.” The conclusions may be a surprise to some, but probably not to cannabis users, whom many consider marijuana to be a good medicine.

In one related double-blind study, cannabidiol (CBD) was demonstrated to have helped research study participants reduce the number of cigarettes smoked daily. The study was conducted using 24 smokers. Twelve smokers were given a CBD inhaler and told to inhale the substance whenever they felt the urge to smoke. They were also not prevented from smoking. The other 12 were given a placebo inhaler and told to do the same.

The results were promising. The group which received the CBD inhaler, reportedly smoked 40 percent fewer cigarettes weekly. CBD, which is oil derived from hemp, is arguably much safer than the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) currently prescribed to some smokers who choose to quit. The SSRIs are required by the FDA to carry what is known as a “black box warning label” warning consumers of suicidal and homicidal ideations and actions. CBD, however, is all natural, and is apparently a threat to the DEA.

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Just last month, in December of 2016, the DEA made the highly controversial move to classify CBD oil as a Schedule I narcotic along with heroin, and cocaine. Good luck getting high on CBD as it does not and cannot get anyone high. The disgusting move on the part of the enforcement wing of the drug war should be immediately reversed on the grounds the DEA is heavily influenced by Big Pharma and is not making a clear headed decision and certainly not one which is best for the American people.

The aforementioned research studies show promise, not only for users of marijuana to feel more comfortable about the use of their medicine, but also for smokers of tobacco, those who are the highest risk for stroke, cancer, and emphysema. According to the American Cancer Society, “Tobacco use kills more than 6 million people annually, 30 percent of whom will die from cancer-related diseases due to smoking. If current trends continue, tobacco use will kill 8 million people annually by 2030, 83 percent of whom reside in low- and middle-income countries.”

So, we at The Free Thought Project continually ask the common sense line of questioning. Why is tobacco legal and marijuana illegal? Why isn’t tobacco on the list of schedule I narcotics? Why, if after decades and decades of research on Tobacco, is it allowed for purchase in all 50 states by those 18 and older?

Of course, no one is advocating for outlawing a substance that makes people happy — regardless of the health effects — however, the hypocrisy in this scenario is rife.

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The logic that marijuana needs to be criminalized and users kidnapped, caged, and some even killed in police raids, all smacks in the face of common sense. It’s about time that the government heeds the published research on the study, ends the war on marijuana, and declassifies CBD as a narcotic. Enough is enough and we’re fighting back with information. Thanks to the latest research studies, we once again have more than enough evidence to show that marijuana is not only safe, and healthy, but has the potential to help others quit lifelong bad habits such as smoking cigarettes.