Cannabis for Brain Health: A Review

CANNABIS PLANT CANNABIS PLANT CANNABIS PLANT 9 9 CANNABIS PLANT Name of the student: Name of the university: Author note: Abstract: The purpose of the review is to conduct on extensive research on the background information, the importance of the research, evidence for the benefits of cannabis, side effects, relevance to the society and future direction. The major highlights of the research are the positive impact of the cannabis plant on improved food intake, improved sleep quality along with diminishing

Running head: CANNABIS PLANT
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Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Abstract:
The purpose of the review is to conduct on extensive research on the background
information, the importance of the research, evidence for the benefits of cannabis, side effects,
relevance to the society and future direction. The guiding question of the research was “What
plants are beneficial for brain health”. The major highlights of the research are the positive
impact of the cannabis plant on improved food intake, improved sleep quality along with
diminishing agitation amongst Alzheimer, depression and anxiety (Campbell, Twenge and
Carter 2017). The negative side effects will be lack of self-monitoring, frontal dysfunction,
working memory and learning memory. The significance of this review is that this review will
provide researchers and physicians with an understanding of benefits of the plant in the clinical
field, empower community members in reducing stigma and accept the cannabis as a beneficial
plant.
Introduction:
In the recent era, researchers on the cannabis sativa have gained increased attention in
the field of neurology and neuropsychology. Mason et al. (2017), suggested that Cannabis is a
psychoactive plant containing more than 400 chemical entities where more than 60 of entities are
cannabinoid compounds. The discovery of the cannabis leads to the further discovery of a
significant neurotransmitter system known as the endocannabinoid system. Two of these plants
are subjected to rigorous scientific investigation due to pharmacological properties such as Δ9-
tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). A various epidemiological study
suggested that cannabis is associated with a reduction of risk of cancer, prevention of Alzheimer
and dementia. Therefore, the significance of this review is that this review will provide

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researchers and physicians with an understanding of benefits of the plant, side effects and how it
can be used in the clinical field for treating neurodegenerative disease. It will enable the society
to reduce the stigma associated with cannabis use.
Evidence for benefit of cannabis and side effects:
Ramirez (2016), suggested that the application of C. sativa on medical issues is widely
acknowledged by a range of researchers. The existing literature suggested that C. sativa exhibit
therapeutic effect in reducing the Alzheimer, depression and sensation of chronic pain. Cannabis
terpenoids are widely used as an anti-inflammatory agent since it is effectively reduced the level
of prostaglandin and reduces the inflammation (Ganzer et al. 2016). Moreover, in late-stage
Alzheimer, consumption of cannabis is associated with improved food intake, improved sleep
quality along with diminishing agitation. Many researchers suggested that the anecdotal benefit
of the cannabis is that it is associated high level of increased attention and creativity (Ramaekers
et al. 2016). It provides a psychedelic effect which induces a feeling of happiness amongst
individuals. It may provide neuroprotective effects because of their action on microglial cells.
While it is effective in reducing the rigidity and tremor, cannabis use is considered as the risk
factor for developing schizophrenia, substance abuse disorder and bipolar. Suryadevara et al.
(2017), suggested that it reduces negatively impact decision making, attention, verbal and
working memory and learning. The frontal dysfunction is also evident amongst patients which
resulted in lack of self-monitoring, the inability to alter the behaviour and processing speed
(Schoeler et al. 2016). It reduces the sleeping quality, induces depression, stomach pain and
significant psychomotor dysfunction (Richmond-Rakerd et al. 2016). Therefore, the
contraindication of the cannabis plant is that individuals with mental disorder such as
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and borderline disorder must not as it can induce suicide ideation

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and suicide ideation. Peraza et al. (2019), suggested that common factors that can influence the
use of cannabis include age, experience and cannabis tolerance, sensitivity towards terpenes and
low distress tolerance. The variation in these factors significantly influences the effect of
cannabis on the brain.
Figure: mechanism of cannabis on brain
Source: (Atakan 2012)
Unknown about cannabis:
While a range of researchers has exhibited unique characteristics of the cannabis plant
which is beneficial for the brain, there has been limited evidence present regarding the influence
of cannabis on ADHD patients, patients with autism and autism spectrum disorder (Curran et al.
2019). On the other hand, while cannabis can sooth tremor in Parkinson patients, limited
evidence observed in regarding how cannabis influence the fine motor skills (Richmond-Rakerd
et al. 2016). Extensive research is required to conduct for addressing such issues.

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Relevance in society:
Majority of the adolescents’ and young adults frequently involved in the substance abuse
through cannabis use who experience cannabis induced psychosis, acute depression, mild
paranoia and impairment of learning memory. Consequently, traffic accidents, accidental deaths,
mental disorder, college dropouts and low academic performance are highly prevalent amongst
adolescent. It is also associated with frequent sexual assault, aggression and violence (Reichelt et
al. 2019). Therefore, it is relevant in society to reduce the uncontrollable consumption of
cannabis school and parental practice play an essential role. On the other hand, high stigma and
false belief are associated with cannabis use since the majority of the population consider
cannabis as a product of addiction (Richmond-Rakerd et al. 2016). This research will provide an
insight into the society regarding the benefit in the clinical field and alter the false perspective of
society.
Considering the personal opinion, this review will an excellent insight into the beneficial
impact of cannabis. In the community, the research on cannabis plant will facilitate the
application for patients with Alzheimer, Parkinson and anxiety (Volkow et al. 2016). It will
reduce the social stigma associated with cannabis and empower community members to accept
cannabis as a means of therapeutic use (Whitfield-Gabrieli et al. 2018). For the world, the
research may provide future direction to the researchers for using cannabis as a cost-effective
medicine to treat neurodegenerative and psychomotor disease.

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Figure: cannabis use statistics
Source: (Richmond-Rakerd et al. 2016).
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it can be said that cannabis is a psychoactive plant containing more
than 400 chemical entities where more than 60 of entities are cannabinoid compounds. A
common benefit of cannabis on the patients includes C. Sativa exhibit therapeutic effect in
reducing the Alzheimer, depression and sensation of chronic pain. However, the negative impact
is that negatively impact decision making, attention, verbal and working memory and learning.
However, limited research has been observed for the patients of ADHD, autism and Parkinson.

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Therefore, the research on these diseases and how brain function altered for these patients may
open a new revenue of the research.

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