As the U.S. attorneys and the Department of Justice continue to press for the closure of medical cannabis clubs in San Francisco and the bay area, new studies from the UK indicate that two compounds found in marijuana leaves could offer effective treatment for overweight patients at risk for heart disease and stroke.
According to a new British study on mice, marijuana leaves contain two compounds that boost metabolism, and increase the amount of energy used, decreasing fat and cholesterol levels in the body.
The first study, in September of last year, researchers found that pot smokers had lower levels of obesity than people who do not smoke pot, though the reasons for this remain unclear.
A second study in March found that a brain chemical with a structure similar to one of the active compounds found in cannabis might actually help people lose weight.
The findings are just the latest addition to a growing body of evidence that marijuana may be useful in countering ailments related to obesity.
The researchers leading these studies are affiliated with the UK’s GW Pharmaceuticals have begun to test the two compounds on humans. In their mice studies, the researchers found that the two compounds, THCV and cannabidiol, boosted metabolism, and reduced levels of liver fat, and blood cholesterol.
They also made the mice more sensitive to insulin and protected the cells that produce insulin. This allowed those cells to work better and for longer. The combined effects improved the ability of the mice to burn energy. Interestingly, rather than making the mice hungry, the compounds were found to suppress the rodents’ appetites, though only for a short time.
As clinical trials continue, researchers hope to uncover better methods for treating what is known as “metabolic syndrome,” in which ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity combine to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
So, can we look forward to marijuana-derived anti-obesity drugs in the near future?
GW Pharmaceuticals already produces a cannabinoid drug that treats cancer pain and symptoms of multiple sclerosis. However, even though researchers expect to have results from their second round of clinical trials later this year, but it will likely be a while before any drug related to this study hits the market.
In the meantime, medical marijuana dispensaries and cooperatives in San Francisco and the bay are face ongoing pressure to close from the office of the US attorney. Numerous landlords who rent space to medical cannabis clubs have been served with notices to evict the clubs or face seizure. Recent victims of this tactic have included San Francisco’s Vapor Room and Oakland’s Oaksterdam University. Harborside Health Center is also facing closure, though the officials with the City of Oakland and other bay area cities are rallying in their support, and recently wrote letters of support, condemning the US attorney’s approach.
