University of Toronto

It seems as though everyday new research is released proving the efficacy of marijuana as a medicine. The most recent example of this is a study published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience that confirms marijuana can be used to treat Tourette’s Syndrome and the symptoms associated with it. Why Study New Treatments For Tourette's Syndrome? There are over 100,000 Americans who currently suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome. Tourette’s brings many undesired symptoms such as: obsessive-compulsive symptoms, tics, impulsivity, anxiety, irritability, and rage outbursts. The traditional treatment for Tourette’s is some form of anti-tic medication or anti-psychotic medication that comes with side effects such as: mood/personality changes (depression), headaches, light-headedness, nausea and nightmares. With a litany of side effects and very low rates of success, its clear why people are searching for an alternative to traditional Tourette’s medications. This fact alone makes the success of this trial so vital to treatment of Tourette’s in the future. Opinions of the Researchers Involved The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto, treated 19 Tourettes patients with orally consumed cannabis. When speaking about the study’s findings, researchers stated, “Overall, the study’s participants experienced substantial improvements in their symptoms.” They went on to say, “In conclusion, cannabis seems to be a promising treatment option for tics and associated symptoms.” Clear Statistical Success Of the 19 people involved in the study, 18 stated that their conditions had "much improved.” Also, the amount of tics being suffered by participants decreased on average by 60%. These are not small changes in condition that barely outweighs the success of placebo, these results are astonishing and for sufferers of Tourettes, this news could be life changing. We have an obligation as a society to treat disease and injury with the most effective and safe medicine we can find. As new studies continue to be released every day proving that marijuana can be or already is that medicine, we must not deny its medicinal properties, we must accept and pursue them.

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University of Toronto

Marijuana Is Highly Effective In Treating Tourette's Syndrome