ENCORE #154! – Marijuana and Alzheimer's In Minnesota

From the first moment my wife discovered she had breast cancer in March of 2011, there was a deafening silence from the men I knew. Even ones whose wives, mothers or girlfriends had breast cancer seemed to have received a gag order from some Central Cancer Command and did little more than mumble about the experience. Not one to shut up for any known reason, I started this blog…That was four years ago – as time passed, people searching for answers stumbled across my blog and checked out what I had to say. The following entry first appeared in December 2018.

Odd this…referencing the article below, published in July of 2017, over a year ago, has this to say: “The currently available examined evidence is weak and limited. It would be premature to say that the cannabis and related compounds have any effect on dementia symptoms or progression. Robust study designs with larger samples are needed to clarify the utility of Cannabis in AD.”

So why the rush (no pun intended)? Why the stampede to give cannabis to Alzheimer patients when this review of two (2) studies specifically targeted Alzheimer’s and “were predominantly used for the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). Two studies on THC reported no change in NPS and no severe side effects. The other three studies reported variable and inconsistent improvements in NPS.”

Oh! I missed this from the Alpha News article: “State officials say there is some evidence the use of medical marijuana may improve the quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s by improving their mood, sleep and behavior.”

That sounds like a ringing endorsement, a reason to rush to dope seniors who have Alzheimer’s.

Surely there must be a more solid foundation, a larger study that exhibited startling or even clear results that cannabis resulted in improvement of moods, sleep, and behavior. How MUCH of an improvement? What were the parameters of the study that caused this bill to be passed?

Oh! I missed this definitive research in the StarTribune: “The Minnesota Department of Health announced Monday that it was adding the degenerative neurological disorder to the program, despite limited evidence on the effectiveness of treatment with cannabis.”

Honestly? I don’t understand this – patients who have been diagnosed with “hepatitis C, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, opioid use disorders, panic disorder, psoriasis and traumatic brain injury” will get no relief from MaryJane.

Irritatingly, the state I live in seems to be the target of some exciting business growth opportunities: “Nic Easley, a national cannabis consultant and CEO of Denver-based 3C Consulting, said that based on market growth, the industry in Minnesota soon could prove lucrative for two to three players.”

Hmmm…I’m not convinced this is a good thing. But what do I know? I’m just a bofwhig and a Christian and not a terribly important demographic. While I understand it may alleviate some of the conditions of Dad’s Alzheimer’s, “Some studies have found that cannabis disrupts the tau proteins that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s and inhibit brain function. But they were only in animal models, said Petersen, who directs the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and serves as a science adviser to the Alzheimer’s Association.”

In a coda that didn’t make it to the headlines, Peterson added, “‘We have cured Alzheimer’s disease time and time again’ — in lab and animal models, he said. ‘But that hasn’t translated to humans yet.’”

Resources: http://alphanewsmn.com/republicans-applaud-addition-of-alzheimers-to-medical-marijuana-list/, https://www.alzheimersanddementia.com/article/S1552-5260(17)30907-X/fulltext, http://www.startribune.com/alzheimer-s-added-to-minnesota-s-medical-marijuana-list/501803661/, https://mjbizdaily.com/what-are-the-medical-marijuana-business-hurdles-in-minnesota/
Image: https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5527/10893068965_1d328e8f71_b.jpg