In this latest study, the researchers examined the cognitive effects by THC.
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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 chief psychoactive ingredient in cannabis goes by the name of THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol, if you prefer).
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. Treatments for reducing 5HT2AR, however, were not found to alter the other beneficial effects of THC such as pain relief. However, it is also known to induce numerous undesirable side effects such as memory impairment, anxiety, and dependence.
When they blocked the pathway in mice, the THC still showed medical benefits like pain relief and reduced nausea, the researchers said in a statement.
Past research conducted by these universities, along with many other studies, has found that THC can reduce tumor growth in patients suffering from cancer.
Tests on mice showed that the cannaboid 1 receptor – the receptor THC normally binds to – is in the same area of the brain as the serotonin receptor.
“We found that specific effects of THC such as memory deficits, anxiolytic-like effects, and social interaction are under the control of 5-HT2AR, but its acute hypolocomotor, hypothermic, anxiogenic, and antinociceptive effects are not”, the researchers wrote in their study, which was published in the journal PLOS Biology on July 9. It is hoped the new findings can aid the development of cannabis for medical use, without the risk of its unwanted side effects.
However, Dr. McCormick was quick to warn of the dangers of individuals self-medicating, but stated he hopes the research would lead to a “safe synthetic equivalent being available in the future”.
“This research is important because it identifies a way to reduce some of what, in medical treatment, are usually thought of as THC’s unwanted side effects, while maintaining several important benefits including pain reduction”.
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McCormick concluded by warning patients that though their study proves promising for the future of cannabis in medical settings, patients should refrain from self-medicating.
