Neurological uses of cannabis

Abstract

Cannabis preparations have been used as medications since the 19th century in Europe and much longer as a traditional medicine in other cultures. The American Academy of Neurology recently published a position statement and concluded that medical marijuana is “probably effective” for some symptoms of multiple sclerosis (spasticity, central pain, painful spasms, and urinary dysfunction), “probably ineffective” for levodopa-induced dyskinesias of Parkinson's disease, and of “unknown efficacy” in nonchorea symptoms of Huntington's disease. This article is focused on review of the medicinal use of cannabis in neurological disorders.

Keywords

• cannabinoids
• cannabis
• marijuana
• multiple sclerosis
• neurology