ALS Case Studies

ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, typically affects people in the age group of 40 to 70 years. It is a degenerative motor neuron disorder that according to the ALS Association, “affects the motor neuron cells in the brain and the spinal cord.” Once the motor neurons die, the brain will no longer be able to initiate or control the movement of muscles.
Around 5600 people are diagnosed with ALS per year and 30,000 Americans reportedly suffer from ALS at any given time. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that went viral in 2014 helped to raise more than $50 million for research on this dreadful disease. However, till date there are hardly any pharmaceuticals that provide good relief to the ALS patients and there is no remedy to slowing down or stop the development of the disorder.
Does cannabis help ALS patients?
As recorded in the U.S federal government’s patent on this plant, cannabis or marijuana is an anti-oxidant and a neuroprotectant. This is significant for ALS disease as the neuroprotectant and anti-oxidant properties of cannabis can help in slowing down the progress of the disease. It protects the motor neurons that the disease attacks and kills (as mentioned in Gregory T. Carter 201). The anti-oxidant properties of cannabis also help in reducing the oxidative stress at a cellular level that leads to
death of cells.
Research has revealed that both synthetic and plant derived THC (which is one of the many active elements of the cannabis plant and the chief psychoactive constituent) can work against neuro-degeneration.
This research is yet to be conducted in clinical experiments on human beings but a study by Dr. Mary Abood did earlier show that symptomatic respite was recorded with regards to appetite, insomnia and spasticity in ALS patients. Both these studies and a comprehensive collection of scientific work that has been conducted before authenticate the safety of cannabis. This in turn warrants additional investigation of cannabis and cannabinoids to treat ALS
victims.
The table given below has been sourced from Gregory T Carter 201 and it summarizes the different properties of marijuana (more common name of cannabis) as they apply to managing the symptoms of ALS disease: ALS Symptom Marijuana Impact
Pain Nonopioid analgesia and anti-inflammatory
Spasticity Muscle relaxant
Wasting Appetite stimulant
Dyspnoea Bronchodilation
Drooling Dry mouth
Depression Euphoria
Dysautonomia Vasodilation
Neuronal Oxidation Neuro protective anti-oxidant

It is good to talk to a physician before you take cannabis for ALS. The two popular methods for intake of this medicine include the following:
Edibles: Most patients prefer marijuana edibles to intake by inhalation as the former have stronger effect and provide sustained relief. It is to be remembered that as marijuana is ingested it has to be metabolized in the liver and this can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 3 hours as per one’s digestion abilities, the power of the edible and the amount of marijuana taken. Each patient is different and their therapeutic dose will therefore differ.
Inhalation: An advantage of using inhaled marijuana to treat painful symptoms is that the patient will experience relief almost immediately. The patient will also be able to titrate the medicine as required. A well known way of using inhaled marijuana is through a marijuana cigarette which is referred to as a joint, a pipe or a bong. However, these methods directly burn the plant material and create undesired bi-products like smoke and tar that cause inflammation of lungs. Hence, a device called vaporizer is a better alternative for anyone inhaling marijuana for medical reasons. It warms up the plant material to a particular temperature and activates the cannabinoids releasing them and their complementary terpenes into a clean vapour. These vapours can be inhaled with significantly less potential for inflammation.