Multiple Sclerosis

Medical Marijuana and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating and sometimes fatal disorder of the central nervous system, is the most common debilitating neurologic disease of young people. National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) estimates suggest more than 2.3 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, with two hundred new cases diagnosed in the United States every week.

While physicians have options to slow the progression of MS, there is currently no cure. For this reason, many people suffering from MS seek out alternative treatments to slow the progression or relieve the symptoms. Medical marijuana for multiple sclerosis is one such alternative that shows promise in combating the symptoms of the disease. Learn more about how cannabis can help to determine if it is a suitable option for you or a loved one.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the central nervous system, primarily the brain and spinal cord. Specifically, the disease causes the immune system to attack myelin, a fatty substance forming a protective, insulating sheath on nerve fibers. Scar tissue, known as sclerosis, forms due to the myelin damage.

Over time, the damage can spread from the myelin to the nerve fibers. The damage disrupts or distorts the nerve impulses in the central nervous system, which causes a variety of symptoms, primarily pain and difficulty in controlling the body.