For skin cancer specifically, it was found that activation of cannabinoid receptors resulted in interfering with cell migration and cell proliferation, and induction of apoptosis in tumorigenic epidermal cells meanwhile leaving the normal epidermal cells untouched (Armstrong et al., 2015). It was reported that tumor growth was decreased upon cannabinoid receptor activation (Armstrong et al., 2015). Furthermore, the application of cannabinoids was shown to alleviate histamine-induced itching in humans when combined into topical creams. When testing for improvements in asteatotic eczema, it was shown that the use of cannabinoids improved skin scaling, dryness, and itching.
It is important to note that the possibility of cannabinoids binding to different receptors may cause an alteration in function and contribute to biological outcomes that have not been accounted or defined for yet (Eagleston et al., 2018). Additionally, some of side effects associated with the use of cannabinoids and cannabis have been noted including anxiety, nausea, mood dysregulation, and abdominal pain. Further research must be conducted to outline limitations and restrictions to the usage of cannabinoids as an alternative method in treating certain skin diseases.
A major concern for the use of cannabinoids as potential therapy for a variety of skin diseases has to do with federal regulations as marijuana remains as a Substance I substance at the Federal level (Eagleston et al., 2018). Because of this, research on the use of cannabinoids is hindered by the extensive application process to receive approval, funding, and obtaining study compounds. Even if this obstacle was overcome and cannabinoids were able to safely be administered without any negative downstream effects, how would qualified people be able to receive access if cannabis is not legalized in their residence?
References:
Armstrong, J. L., Hill, D. S., McKee, C. S., Hernandez-Tiedra, S., Lorente, M., Lopez-Valero, I., … Lovat, P. E. (2015). Exploiting cannabinoid-induced cytotoxic autophagy to drive melanoma cell death. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 135(6), 1629–1637. https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.2015.45
Eagleston, L. R. M., Kalani, N. K., Patel, R. R., Flaten, H. K., Dunnick, C. A., & Dellavalle, R. P. (2018). Cannabinoids in dermatology: A scoping review. Dermatology Online Journal, 24(6). Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7pn8c0sb
I find it really interesting how a lot of people look down on the use of cannabis or cannabinoids, however, medically they help in many situations. My friends younger brother had cancer, and his physicians prescribed him weed to reduce the pain. I had no idea that cannabinoids can help reduce skin cancer as well as eczema. When I first read this blogpost in how it helps people medically with skin, I immediately thought about how it also helps with Parkinson's Disease improve their mood and motor functions. There was a study that found, Cannabis may have positive impacts on mood, memory, fatigue, and obesity status in people with
ReplyDeletePD and MS" (Kindred et al., 2017) and another study that said, "A number of preclinical studies in different experimental Parkinson’s disease (PD) models demonstrated that modulating the cannabinoid system may be useful to treat some motor symptoms" (Bassi et al., 2017). If cannabinoids help medically in different areas of medicine from skin cancer to PD disease, I think more state legislatures should fight for the legalization of medical marijuana.
In addition, you did pose a great question of how qualified people be able to get cannabis if it isn't legal in their residence? I think this is where doctors prescribe them the proper dosage so those who do qualify to have marijuana do not intent to distribute it. However, I could be wrong since I am not an expert.
Kindred, J. H., Li, K., Ketelhut, N. B., Proessl, F., Fling, B. W., Honce, J. M., … Rudroff, T. (2017). Cannabis use in people with Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis: A web-based investigation. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 33, 99–104. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.07.002
Bassi, M. S., Sancesario, A., Morace, R., Centonze, D., & Iezzi, E. (2017). Cannabinoids in Parkinsons Disease. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2(1), 21–29. doi: 10.1089/can.2017.0002
Although I believe cannabis has some great benefits, skin diseases included, I have to wonder if many people are neglecting to keep in my the negative effects of cannabis use. Negative side effects of cannabis particularly in youth is what I have chosen to focus my research paper on. Therefore, I am super interested in this blog post and how the discussion plays out!
ReplyDeleteCannabis more recently has been linked to decreased reproductive abilities by encouraging apoptosis of Sertoli cells, decreasing sperm counts and decreasing sperm motility in men (Payne, Mazur, Hotaling, & Pastuszak, 2019). In women it can activate pathways linked to spontaneous abortion (Karasu, Marczylo, Maccarone, & Kanje, 2011). Cannabis has also been shown to negatively affect the brain. It impairs the mitochondrial respiratory chain (Volkow, Ruben, Compton, & Weiss, 2014). By no means do I want to discourage research being done on the beneficial aspects of cannabis, however, it would be interesting to discuss the ethical responsibility medical professionals have knowing that by prescribing someone cannabis they are activating some harmful physiological pathways. Should medical professionals make patients aware of the risks of cannabis prior to prescribing it to them? If so, do you think it will deter usage of cannabis in a medical setting?
References:
Payne, KS., Mazur, DJ., Hotaling, JM., Pastuszak, AW. (2019 March 27). Cannabis and Male Fertility: A Systemic Review. AUA Journal. https://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000000248
Karasu, T., Marczylo, T.H., Maccarrone, M., Konje, J.C. (2011). The role of sex steroid hormones, cytokines and the endocannabinoid system in female fertility. Oxford Academic. 17(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmq058.
Volkow, Nora D., Ruben, D. Baler., Compton, Wilson M., Weiss, Susan R.B. (2014). Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use. New England Journal of Medicine. 370(10), 2219-2227. DOI:10.1056/NEJMra1402309