14 DAY TRIAL // In a recent paper in the journal PLOS Biology, a team of researchers detail their work separating the medical effects of cannabis from unwanted side effects like hallucinations, memory trouble, alterations in mood and faulty perception.
Basically, what the scientists did was find a way to take the high out of cannabis, making it possible to use the plant for medicinal purposes without having to worry about side effects.
Putting THC on a tight leash
The chief psychoactive ingredient in cannabis goes by the name of THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol, if you prefer). Studies have shown that it can offer pain relief, address nausea and anxiety, and even reduce tumor size in cancer patients.
The trouble is that, health benefits aside, THC need also be blamed for the memory impairment and the alterations in mood and perception that cannabis users often experience.
In a series of experiments, scientists at the University of East Anglia in the UK and the University Pompeu Fabra in Spain found that, by blocking specific receptors and pathways, the unwanted side effects of THC can be eliminated.
The researchers experimented on lab mice and discovered that, when removing a particular serotonin receptor, THC no longer affected the rodents' memory but still offered pain relief.
“This new research demonstrates how some of the drug's beneficial effects can be separated from its unwanted side effects,” University of East Anglia specialist Peter McCormick explained in a statement, as cited by Science Daily.
Big plans for the future
The research team plan to further investigate this way of separating the medical benefits of cannabis from the negative side effects that can come with exposure to THC, thus paving the way for better and safer cannabis-based therapies.
The scientists are even considering developing a THC analogue that would treat various conditions without altering patient's memory, perception or mood. “I hope that our research will lead to a safe synthetic equivalent being available in the future,” said researcher Peter McCormick.