American researchers have developed medical marijuana that works as a painkiller, but without the side effects like hallucinations and impaired mobility, reports New Scientist.
Medical marijuana is often not appropriate for everyone because of its adverse hallucinogenic effects. Composed of more than 400 chemicals, it can help alleviate chronic pain, seizures, depression and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis, according to lead author Li Zhang in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.
From 70 known varieties of marijuana, the researchers’ goal was to help identify or develop a drug that possessed the painkilling properties without the side effects, added the Zhang.
Through experiments on mice, the researchers confirmed that the drug’s pain-relief and psychotropic effects can be decoupled.
Last year, UK’s GW Pharmaceuticals launched a cannabis-based medicine in Europe called Sativex to help relieve painful muscle spasms in patients with multiple sclerosis. The medicine is released into the body 20 to 40 times more slowly than smoking cannabis, which the company believes helps to alleviate side effects.
As well, the remedy contains cannabidiol, a component of marijuana believed to decrease psychotic reactions to THC. Currently, no psychotic effects been recorded in the U.S., where drug trials are underway to help combat pain in cancer patients.