Medical Cannabis for Tourette Syndrome Patients in Florida

For many individuals with Tourette syndrome (TS), available medications do not help with their symptoms, or cause significant side effects. Two small controlled trials have investigated the effect of oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a principal psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, in TS patients. While these trials have shown promising results, the effect sizes were not as large and consistent as those reported by patients with regards to inhaled cannabis (smoked or vaporized). Indeed, based on anecdotal evidence, patients have much greater improvement in their symptoms using inhaled cannabis than using cannabinoid pharmaceuticals. However, there have been no controlled trials of inhaled medical cannabis for Tourette syndrome to date. Furthermore, various medical cannabis products are authorized in Canada with different contents of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), another primary cannabinoid. No data exists regarding the dosing, efficacy and safety of these products in the treatment of TS.  Despite cannabis’ history in folk pharmacopoeias, clinical studies of its medicinal impact remain limited in many areas. Based on some promising early results, researchers are now calling for a closer look at its applications for certain mental health conditions for which more ‘traditional’ treatments have come up short says Florida marijuana doctors. According to recent studies, the cannabis-derived chemical cannabidiol (CBD) may offer meaningful relief with schizophrenia, a frequently chronic condition which can significantly interfere with how we think, feel, and behave. In a release, one commented that CBD could provide direct neurological support for a range of conditions affecting the brain, from schizophrenia to dementia says medical marijuana doctors in orlando florida. “From this review, we found that CBD will not improve learning and memory in healthy brains, but may improve aspects of learning and memory in illnesses associated with cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease, as well as neurological and neuro-inflammatory disorders,” including hepatic encephalopathy, meningitis, sepsis, and cerebral malaria. 

If you or a loved one has Tourette syndrome and could use the health benefits of medical marijuana, please contact our offices today or visit our website for more details.