Parkinson’s Patients Report Subjective Relief From Cannabis, Finds New Study
By Paul Armentano, NORML
AURORA, CO — Patients
with Parkinson’s self-report cannabis to be a highly efficacious alternative medicine in the treatment of the disease, according to survey data published online ahead of print in the journal Evidence-Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.
Investigators reported that cannabis use remains comparatively uncommon among patients with Parkinson’s disease. However, those respondents who acknowledged using the plant rated it as one of the “most effective” alternative treatment therapies available.
“Cannabis was rarely used in our population but users reported high efficacy, mainly for non-motor symptoms,” authors concluded.
Clinical data has previously reported that inhaled cannabis is associated with significant improvement in PD-related pain and tremor, among other symptoms.
Full text of the study, “Self-reported efficacy of cannabis and other complimentary medicine modalities by Parkinson’s disease patients in Colorado,” appears in the journal Evidence-Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.