Cannabis and Science Discoveries
Every day, scientists and researchers try to prove a new benefit of cannabis. But who are they and what do we already know so far?
Published on 07/08/2022
By Jacqueline Passos
Today, July 8th, we celebrate the National Day of Science and Scientific Researcher. This date was chosen because in 1948, the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science (SBPC) was created. The objective of the celebration is to stimulate young people's interest in science and disseminate scientific knowledge to society. Therefore, it is important to highlight what is known so far about cannabis and its effects on the human body, as well as to praise the work of some scientists and researchers who tirelessly study this plant.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Little was said about the endocannabinoid system until the mid-20th century, as it was elucidated in the 1990s by Raphael Mechoulam, known as the 'father of cannabis.' Mechoulam, in fact, was responsible for studying the existence of the ECS in the human body since 1960.
For those who do not know, the endocannabinoid system is responsible for maintaining balance in all other body systems - such as the digestive and immune systems, directly interacting with the plant's cannabinoids, hence its name in homage to cannabis.
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Within this system, there are two main receptors - not the only ones, but the first to be discovered and the most studied - known as CB1 and CB2. They are responsible for transmitting information, alerting cells to changes in conditions, so that there is an appropriate cellular response. These receptors, in fact, bind to the plant's cannabinoids, with CB1 being the channel through which THC reaches cells and is responsible for most of the psychotropic effects. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, are more associated with the immune response and are predominantly present in the immune system.
Entourage Effect
Another important discovery by the 'father of cannabis' and his team was the Entourage Effect. In 1998, the study 'An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity,' by Raphael Mechoulam, showed that by combining cannabis components - cannabinoids, terpenes, polyphenols, flavonoids, among others - a broader therapeutic effect can be achieved in the treatment of a range of diseases. This effect became known as the 'entourage effect.'
According to the 2009 study 'Synergy research: approaching a new generation of phytopharmaceuticals,' when THC and CBD are used together, they can be up to 10 times more potent in treating diseases. Additionally, CBD has the power to regulate the psychoactive effects of THC, reducing potential negative effects.
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In other words, the entourage effect of cannabis can be extremely advantageous for patients, as it provides a more effective result, allowing for the combination of lower doses of Full Spectrum medication - one that contains various cannabinoids and plant components - which consequently helps reduce side effects for the patient.
In addition to these, other discoveries have been made by scientists worldwide regarding the - beneficial or not - effects of cannabis on the human body. Many of them are portrayed daily on Sechat.
Important Brazilian Researchers for Cannabis
It is worth noting that it was not only international scientists who made important discoveries about cannabis. Some Brazilians have been key figures in advancing the medicinal use of this plant.
Elisaldo Carlini
Also known as Professor Carlini, Elisaldo Luiz de Araújo Carlini was a Brazilian physician, psychopharmacologist, university professor, and researcher. He is considered a global reference and one of the pioneers in pharmacological studies on the therapeutic potential of cannabis and other psychotropic substances. The researcher and his team made relevant discoveries in the use of cannabis to treat epilepsy when he published the study 'Chronic administration of cannabidiol to healthy volunteers and epileptic patients,' a pioneering work worldwide on the benefits of CBD for seizure control.
The research by the professor and researcher was conducted at the Paulista School of Medicine in São Paulo and involved names such as Wilson Luiz Sanvito, full professor of Neurology at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, and the team from the Hebrew University of Israel, including Raphael Mechoulam.
Renato Filev
Another Brazilian who has been standing out in the cannabis field is the researcher Renato Filev. In addition to participating in various studies related to the therapeutic use of cannabis, he was also responsible for being one of the arms of Professor and Psychopharmacologist Elisaldo Carlini, acting as a postdoctoral researcher linked to Cebrid.
Currently, Filev holds a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences: Medical Modality and a Ph.D. in Neurosciences, both from the Federal University of São Paulo. He is also a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology at the same institution.
Sidarta Ribeiro
One of the prominent names related to cannabis in Brazil is the neuroscientist Sidarta Ribeiro. In addition to dedicating himself to the study of the plant, Ribeiro is also a biologist, full professor of Neuroscience, and vice-director of the Brain Institute at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN).
Due to the extensive knowledge of the neuroscientist, many of the phrases he has said are echoed in the cannabis world. One of them was the comparison made between cannabis and antibiotics in an interview with journalist Marcelo Tas on the Provoca program on TV Cultura. According to Ribeiro, 'Marijuana is to 21st-century medicine as antibiotics were to 20th-century medicine.'
Also on TV Cultura, but on the Roda Viva program, the neuroscientist stated: 'Marijuana is safe, it is a medicine, it is a commodity, and it is changing the economy of many countries.'
May today encourage these and many other scientists to study this ancient plant.
