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CANNIBINOID STUDY
BY ESTHER SCHOLEM
 An article in Nature reported on research being conducted at Hebrew University in Israel. The research demonstrated that marijuana may have some benevolent effects on the brain. Cannibinoid, one of marijuana's active ingredients, showed a surprising effect when given to mice. Cannibinoid defended the mice against brain injury.
In studying mice that had recovered from brain injuries, it was discovered that these mice had higher levels of 2-Arachodonyl glycerol (2-AG). 2-Arachodonyl glycerol is a cannabinoid. Noticing the elevated levels of this compound in mice that coped well with brain injuries, the researchers provided more of the cannabinoid to mice with neurological injuries. They concluded that this helped fortify the brains of the mice against worsening effects of injury or future brain injuries.
At present, traumatic brain injury has no effective course of drug therapy. In the United States alone per annum, there are a little more than 50,000 cases that result in death on account of traumatic brain injury, and another 80,000 cases in which traumatic brain injury results in serious disabilities. Over 5.3 million people in this country suffer disabilities as a result of traumatic brain injury. These cases greatly outnumber those reported for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.
"Brain injury is not a one-shot deal. The primary injury occurs from the initial hit. Neurochemical injuries can cause secondary damage," Temple University Dr. Ken Strauss commented.
According Dr. Esther Shohami, lead author of the study, release of toxic chemicals and swelling, have the potential to be cause worse complications than the initial injury to the brain.
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