Photo: Dr. Jason McDougall, is a professor in the department of pharmacology and anesthesia at Dalhousie University. McDougall is using a three-year research grant from the Arthritis Society to study how cannabis compounds can manage arthritis pain.
Arthritis Society Bringing Together Medical Cannabis Experts
The Arthritis Society is bringing together a panel of experts to delve into the topic of medical cannabis. The society says the majority of patients authorized to use medical cannabis in Canada use it to manage their arthritis, a painful inflammation of the joints.
The nerves of an arthritis sufferer are like “wires that have been stripped of their coating,” according to McDougall. “They’re all bare; they’re all raw and responsible for feeling a lot of pain. What we hypothesize is that by locally administering these cannabis-like molecules to those nerves, we’d actually be able to repair them and reduce the pain of arthritis.”
His research is breaking down how cannabis molecules are easing pain for patients. He says it appears cannabis is not just dampening the pain in the brain; it’s actually working on the joint itself. “There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence associated between use of cannabis and alleviation of joint pain, but let’s have hard science behind this,” he explained.
The Forum event will also feature panelists to discuss different aspects of the topic and answer audience questions. Dr. Christopher Blue, a Windsor area doctor who does prescribe cannabis as a treatment, will provide general medical information focused on access. Lauren Meadows is young professional suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis who is using cannabis as a prescribed treatment. Fabio Costante is a Windsor lawyer who will speak of the rights and regulations of employees using the treatment. President and CEO of the Arthritis Society, Janet Yale, will round out the panel to discuss the Society positions and provide more context.
The January 31 forum is free of charge and open to the public. Click HERE for more information or to register.
