Can Medical Marijuana Help Treat Epilepsy? Does Medical Marijuana Stop Seizures?
Around 50 million people from all over the globe suffer from the challenges of epilepsy. Of those, over 70% could live seizure-free if accurately diagnosed and treated. That is a staggering statistic that demonstrates even though we know epilepsy is a serious condition and have the evidence to support common sense treatment, many are left out in the cold.
A revolutionary method for treating epilepsy is by introducing medical marijuana into the treatment plan of patients. This is a safe, effective, and easy-to-cultivate treatment that doesn’t expose patients to unnecessary chemicals, additives, pharmaceuticals, or nasty side effects.
So, with this evidence as clear as day, can medical marijuana be an olive branch to those managing epilepsy?
What are Epilepsy and Seizures?
Epilepsy is a well-known and studied group of neurological disorders that tend to cause or instigate seizures in the brain. These are often reoccurring and without warning, meaning you could be sitting at breakfast in your favorite café and suddenly go into an epileptic shock.
If you think this is a rare instance, keep in mind that epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disease after migraines, strokes, and Alzheimer’s. When these attacks occur, it is like getting a lightning storm in the brain, causing your body to convulse. That can and will result in unwanted behaviors, movement, and varying levels of consciousness. Any time you have two or more of these episodes in a 24-hour period without a reasonable cause, you are considered in the grouping of epilepsy.
Seizures are those electrical storms. They can be generalized where the entire brain is involved, focal, meaning only on one side or the other, or unknown. The unknown category means you may never know for sure what is happening, but the storm still occurs.
What is Medical Marijuana?
Marijuana is a natural plant that has cannabis inside its structure. This is the same plant you see in the news being argued back and forth over its legality by various legislatures. Medical marijuana is the healthcare application of this plant for a wide range of diseases, ailments, and conditions – including epilepsy.
What makes medical marijuana different from recreational or “regular” marijuana is that state regulators tightly control it. There is usually a dosage recommendation, and you have to receive a medical marijuana card and diagnosis from a professional and legally recognized medical provider like our team at South Carolina Marijuana Doctors.
How Can Medical Marijuana Help with Epilepsy?
One of the most effective uses of medical marijuana is the CBD (cannabidiol) found inside its structure. When used properly, this CBD can block signals carried by LPI (lysophosphatidylinositol). That is just a big scientific term for the neurons that are used as part of your normal body functions.
The way it works is like this: whenever your brain hits one of those electrical storms from an epileptic seizure, the CBD blocks those LPI neurons from amping up the signals sent to the brain. Instead of an electrical storm, you get back to more typical brain function and avoid the seizure episode.
The goal here is to remove the neurons that “fire” the brain into those epileptic triggers. Even though this doesn’t cure the disease, it does make it far more manageable and allows those suffering from epilepsy to live an everyday life.
Further Evidence Supporting Medical Marijuana in Treating Epilepsy
That single study is nowhere near the only evidence that CBD and other substances found in medical marijuana are transforming the world of epilepsy. The New England Journal of Medicine published a peer-reviewed study supporting using CBD in combination with traditional seizure medication to decrease the frequency of atonic seizures (generalized onset seizures that result in muscle laxity). These are the seizures you most hear about whenever someone appears to fall to the ground – often called “drop seizures.”
Another study in that same journal demonstrated that CBD was found to decrease the number of convulsive seizures in those dealing with Dravet syndrome. That is a rare genetic epilepsy that has a high mortality rate and is resistant to traditional pharmaceuticals. The other downside to Dravet syndrome is that it often occurs in children more than anyone else.
Even the British have researched the effects of CBD and medical marijuana through a recent 2012 study in the British Journal of Pharmacology. This demonstrated that medical cannabinoids are effective as an anticonvulsant. So, even if a patient suffers a seizure from epilepsy, medical marijuana can reduce convulsions of the body. That reduces the risk of further harm and embarrassment.
Are there Any Risks to Medical Marijuana with Epilepsy?
Right now, there are some minor risks for medical marijuana if used alongside certain traditional medications. If they are only used under the guidance of professional and legal healthcare providers, the overwhelming result is an improvement in seizure control and a reduction in epilepsy symptoms.
That positive result is why President Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabis Research Expansion Act into law on December 2, 2022. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle recognize that further research is required because the results have been so positive. That added research could be all it takes to transform the current industry to marijuana becoming more available for patients across the nation.
Access is a serious challenge in helping patients with epilepsy. In South Carolina, we have what is known as “Julian’s Law.” This allows those with severe epilepsy to use cannabis-derived, low-THC CBD oils. That has to have at least 15% CBD and under 0.9% THC to be permitted for sale.
The Future of Medical Marijuana and Epilepsy in South Carolina
While Julian’s Law and the national efforts of digging into more research are certainly positive steps, those patients with epilepsy need help right now. This neurological disease can occur to anyone. From small innocent children trying to manage elementary school to post-war veterans trying to reintegrate into society.
Yes, South Carolina is working hard to make this substance more accessible, but we need action now. That is why our team at South Carolina Marijuana Doctors is already pre-registering patients with epilepsy as well as a long list of other maladies and sicknesses. We know the legalization of medical marijuana is just around the corner, and we want to help as many people as possible with this transformative treatment plan.
Our team is full of legal, educated, and specialized medical providers, having helped over 25,000 satisfied medical marijuana patients since our inception in 2016. Our goal is to make medical marijuana more accessible to patients through the use of legally recognized cards. All it takes is to schedule a face-to-face evaluation so you get the treatment you deserve.
Epilepsy is a scary situation. Even with all the modern innovations in medication and treatment available in our country, there are side effects and dangerous outcomes that occur regularly. An excellent way to reduce these effects is through the regular and safe application of medical marijuana and CBD products.
While more research is happening and public support is gaining for legalization, we want to do our part at South Carolina Marijuana Doctors by pre-registering patients all over the state. That way, when the floodgates open access to the powerful treatment of medical marijuana, you’ll be ready. Sign up today, and let’s find a pathway for your safe and effective treatment.