Authors:
Deiana S
Abstract:
The medical properties of cannabis have been known for many centuries;
its first documented use dates back to 2800 BC when it was described for
its hallucinogenic and pain-relieving properties. In the first half of
the twentieth century, a number of pharmaceutical companies marked
cannabis for indications such as asthma and pain, but since then its use
has sharply declined, mainly due to its unpredictable effects, but also
for socio-political issues. Recently, great attention has been directed
to the medical properties of phytocannabinoids present in the cannabis
plant alongside the main constituent Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC);
these include cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol
(CBG), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). Evidence suggests an
association between cannabis and schizophrenia: schizophrenics show a
higher use of marijuana as compared to the healthy population.
Additionally, the use of marijuana can trigger psychotic episodes in
schizophrenic patients, and this has been ascribed to THC. Given the
need to reduce the side effects of marketed antipsychotics, and their
weak efficacy on some schizophrenic symptoms, cannabinoids have been
suggested as a possible alternative treatment for schizophrenia. CBD, a
non-psychoactive constituent of the Cannabis sativa plant, has been
receiving growing attention for its anti-psychotic-like properties.
Evidence suggests that CBD can ameliorate positive and negative symptoms
of schizophrenia. Behavioural and neurochemical models suggest that CBD
has a pharmacological profile similar to that of atypical
anti-psychotic drugs and a clinical trial reported that this cannabinoid
is a well-tolerated alternative treatment for schizophrenia.