Hemp & Cannabis Research

Marijuana has been employed for its therapeutic uses as early as 2737 B.C. It was thought to help those suffering from gout, rheumatism, malaria, and poor memory. Five thousand years later, we are trying to find the most efficient way to deliver the metabolites. Current data on the capability of cannabis for medical use is mostly anecdotal. Patients use cannabis for muscle spasms, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD. The majority of scientific research that is available on medical cannabis focuses on its alleviation of symptoms related to Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, the specific MS symptoms that cannabis effectively alleviates has had conflicting results. Studies have also examined the role of cannabis in Parkinson’s, nausea, and epilepsy. However, these studies are limited in data and have varying results. The absence of consistency can in part be due to the lack of understanding of the components of cannabis. Cannabis has over 500 constituents, and at least 113 of them are cannabinoids. In addition, there isn’t consistency in the chosen method of delivery. This contributes to variability in bioavailability and may explain the disparities in therapeutic outcomes.

A popular method of delivery is smoking the herb form. However, the impact it has on respiratory and pulmonary function is not well understood. In contrast, there are a variety of delivery methods that utilize cannabis oil, which is gathered through CO₂ extraction. The oil is then incorporated into delivery forms, such as tinctures, creams, and cartridges. Although there is a range of delivery methods, there is no verification system in place to ensure consistency of bioavailability and composition. Cannabis continues to be listed under Schedule 1 in the Federal Register. Many drugs currently used in place of cannabis are schedule 2 or 3 - the difference is an accepted medical use. For cannabis to be rescheduled, specific criteria need to be met. One of these being the drug’s chemistry is known and reproducible. The Department of Justice recognizes that while many cannabinoids have been characterized, there is no complete scientific analysis of all the chemical components. For this reason, we aim to isolate and characterize the components produced from vaporization for comparison with mixtures produced by solvent extraction (similar to the method used in the production of nutraceuticals and medical marijuana tinctures and tablets). This will allow us to better understand the bioavailability and different components produced from various delivery methods. From there, we will examine the different pharmacological and physiological properties of the major constituents with the long term goal of designing semi-synthetic derivatives that have a more consistent and defined therapeutic use.

With its potential and long history as a therapeutic as well as its ability to treat a variety of diseases, while exhibiting minimal side effects, cannabis has been used to manage a condition or minimize side effects by other medications. Therefore, it is important to formulate medications that display safety, efficiency, and consistency for patients.