For those of you who grew up in the 60’s or went to college or hung out with Bill Clinton, the title to this post seems somewhat contradictory. Really–don’t the munchies and marijuana kind of go hand in hand? Isn’t that why Shaggy and Scoob just never stopped eating?
Turns out there is a receptor on our cells called the canniboid receptor. It has several different forms and is present in several types of cells, but there is a heavy presence in the brain. Our bodies make endocanniboids that activate this receptor, but, as the name might suggest, there are certain plant based compounds that also activate this receptor…
In the brain, this can have a calming effect by affecting GABA pathways. Interestingly, I had an epiliptic patient who kept his seizures managed by regular marijuana use. His neurologist thought the drugs were finally working…
Now, before we look at the results of this particular study, a few things need to be clarified.
There has been much research in the past few years on the canniboid receptor and obesity, but the focus has been on blocking this receptor, NOT stimulating it. Since canniboids normally stimulate appetite, the thought process follows that, if we can block the receptor, we can block hunger and treat obesity with a medication.
On to the study.
Researchers injected mice with organic cannibas extract to see what effect it would have on a diet that promotes obesity. They found that the injected mice actually had less weight gain as well as better pancreatic beta cell function. Since obesity is damaging to the beta cells of the pancreas (the very cells that release insulin and help us fight off diabetes), anything that can protect them is a good thing.
Sooooo….
This does not mean that someone who is prediabetic can run to a marijuana medical card dispensing facility…