Cannabis anticonvulsants

Cannabinoid receptors are expressed throughout the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, and a subpopulation of these cells appear to show an unusually high level of activity. It is possible that cells in these areas modulate the sensory effects of cannabis, particularly the effects on perception, task performance and memory. In addition, the anticonvulsant properties of cannabis are believed to be mediated here. Parts of the hypothalamus show high levels of receptor sites for cannabinoids this may be related to hypothermia effects. High levels in the cerebellum may be related to mediating the property of cannabinoids that produces the reduction in ataxic (muscle co-ordination) symptoms in certain disorders (Herkenham et al., 1991). 

Various preparations of the plant Cannabis saliva have been used since ancient times for their behavioral and pharmacological properties. R. Mechoulam, The Pharmohistory of Cannabis Saliva, 1-19 (1986). More recently, it has been demonstrated that the active plant constituents, known as cannabinoids, produce a variety of effects including bronchodilation, increased heart rate, reduced intraocular pressure, analgesia, antiemesis, alteration in body temperature, as well as anticonvulsant and psychotropic activities. (W. L. Dewey, Cannabinoid Pharmacology, Pharmacol. Rev., 38 45 (1986)). 

Cannabis was introduced into the modern Western world as a medicine by O Shaughnessy in 1830, who recommended it to cure menstrual disorders (in Crawford 2002), probably not because of its effects on hormonal secretion but as an anticonvulsive smooth muscle relaxant. 

Human research data are almost non-existent. There are anecdotal reports of beneficial effects of cannabis in human epileptics (Grinspoon and Bakalar 1993) and a couple of published single case reports. A man with grand mal epilepsy stopped taking his anticonvulsants and suffered no fits for 6 months. He then... 

Several of the traditional medicinal uses of cannabis have been substantiated by intense research in recent years. As a result two cannabinoids, a natural and a synthetic one, A -THC and nabilone, have become official drugs. We strongly believe that in the future we shall see cannabinoid analgetics, anticonvulsants,... 

Anti-Epileptic, Anticonvulsant Action - The anticonvulsant properties of marijuana and A -THC have been recognized for several years. Now cannabi-diol and cannablnol have also been found to be effective anticonvulsants using a maximal electroshock test in mice ,... 

---