BBC breaks some not-terribly-encouraging news from the stoner desk. Neuromedical researchers have found marijuana-based meds don’t slow the progress multiple sclerosis:
Lead researcher, Professor John Zajicek, will present the preliminary results of the Cupid (Cannabinoid Use in Progressive Inflammatory brain Disease) trial to the Association of British Neurologists in Brighton later.
Prof Zajicek said he was “disappointed” the overall effect was not better.
“There’s lots of evidence cannabis has a symptomatic effect – it makes people’s pain, muscle stiffness and spasms better,” he said.
“But what we were doing in this trial was to see if we could slow down the course of the disease.
“There are very, very few treatments for any neuro-degenerative disease, whether it’s Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or progressive multiple sclerosis and we were very much hoping cannabinoid might slow down the progression of the disease as opposed to just ameliorating people’s symptoms.
“I’m very disappointed – not for me – but for people with MS and I think it’s desperately important that we try to find treatments that slow their progression down.”
It *did* ease symptoms, but didn’t fight the disease the way they were hoping.