Bone tissue is continuously being broken down and replaced with new tissue. This remodeling process occurs through bone cells, which are called osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are responsible for the formation of bone and bone mineralization. While in a person’s younger years, the body produces new bone tissue faster than it breaks it down and thus causes bone mass to increase, after the age of 30, the body begins to break down bone slightly faster than it builds new bone, causing bones to weaken.
There are many kinds of bone diseases, and the most common is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis develops when bones weaken as a result of the tissue being broken down faster than it’s replaced. When bones are weaker, they’re more susceptible to breaking. Osteoporosis can make bones so brittle and weak that even mild-intensity activities like coughing and bending over can be stressful enough to cause a fracture. Women are particularly susceptible to osteoporosis due to hormonal changes that occur during menopause that cause bone tissue to break down at a faster rate.
Besides age, there are other risk factors than affect bone density. According to Mayo Clinic, the amount of calcium in the diet, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, gender, body size, race and family history, hormone levels, the presence of eating disorders, and the consumption of certain medications, can all increase the risk of bone disease.
FINDINGS: EFFECTS OF CANNABIS ON BONE HEALTH
Research suggests that cannabis can help boost bone density, thus strengthening bone tissue and lowering the risk of osteoporosis. Within osteoblasts of bones are CB2 receptors, which are responsible for handling the building and breakdown of bone tissue6. Studies indicate that the activation of CB2 receptors both stimulates the building new bone and inhibits old bone breakdown1,7. In one study, one of the major cannabinoids found in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), was shown to activate the CB2 receptor, in turn stimulating bone formation and inhibiting bone breakdown2. Even low concentrates of cannabinoids have been shown to be effective at activating human osteoclasts, thus boosting bone density and offering therapeutic benefits to bone disease9.
Other studies suggest that CB1 receptors are also involved in the regulation of bone mass8. One study found evidence that CB1 receptors are responsible for regulating trabecular and cortical bone5.
These findings suggests that those with higher risk factors of experiencing bone weakness or those already diagnosed with osteoporosis may benefit from regular cannabis treatment.
While research is currently limited in this area, this recent discovery demonstrates that cannabinoids could potentially offer additional bone health benefits4.
STATES THAT HAVE APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR BONE HEALTH
No states have specifically approved medical marijuana for bone health. Connecticut, however, allows medical marijuana for those diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta (“brittle bone disease”).
However, some states do consider other conditions and may approve medical cannabis for bone health treatments on a case-by-case basis. These states include: California (any debilitating disease where medical marijuana recommended by physician), Connecticut (other medical conditions may be approved by the Department of Consumer Protection), Massachusetts (other conditions as determined in writing by physician), and Nevada, Oregon and Rhode Island (other conditions subject to approval).
In addition, Washington D.C. allows medical marijuana to be used for any debilitating condition as recommended by DC licensed doctor.
RECENT STUDIES ON CANNABIS’ EFFECT ON BONE HEALTH
THC stimulates bone formation and protects against age-related bone loss.
Cannabinoids and the skeleton: from marijuana to reversal of bone loss.
(http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07853890903121025?needAccess=true)
References:
Bab, I., and Zimmer, A. (2008). Cannabinoid receptors and the regulation of bone mass. British Journal of Pharmacology, 153, 182-188. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2219540/.
Bab, I., Zimmer, A., and Melamed, E. (2009). Cannabinoids and the skeleton: from marijuana to reversal of bone loss. Annals of Medicine. 41(8), 560-7. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07853890903121025?needAccess=true.
Bone Health: Tips to Keep Your Bones Healthy. (February 9, 2013). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/bone-health/art-20045060.
Idris, A.I., and Ralston, S.H. (2012). Role of cannabinoids in the regulation of bone remodeling. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 3, 136. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3499879/.
Khalid, A.B., Goodyear, S.R., Ross, R.A., and Aspden, R.M. (2016, October). Mechanical and material properties of cortical and trabecular bone from cannabinoid receptor-1-null (Cnr1(-/-)) mice. Medical Engineering & Physics, 38(10), 1044-54. Retrieved from http://www.medengphys.com/article/S1350-4533(16)30148-5/fulltext.
Ofek, O., Karsak, M., Leclerc, N., Fogel, M., Frenkel, B., Wright, K., Tam, J., Attar-Namdar, M., Kram, V., Shohami, E., Mechoulam, R., Zimmer, A., and Bab, I. (2006). Peripheral cannabinoid receptor, CB2, regulates bone mass. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(3), 696–701. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1334629/.
Sun, Y.X., Xu, A.H., Yang, Y., Zhang, J.X., and Yu, A.W. (2015). Activation of cannabinoid receptor 2 enhances osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow derived from mesenchymal stem cells. BioMed Research International, Article ID 874982, 8 pages. Retrieved from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2015/874982/.
Tam, J., Trembovler, V., Di Marzo, V., Petrosino, S., Leo, G., Alexandrovich, A., Regev, E., Casap, N., Shteyer, A., Ledent, C., Karsak, M., Zimmer, A., Mechoulam, R., Yirmiya, R., Shohami, E., and Bab, I. (2008, January). The cannabinoid CB1 receptor regulates bone formation by modulating adrenergic signaling. FASEB Journal, 22(1), 285-94. Retrieved from http://www.fasebj.org/content/22/1/285.long.
Whyte, L.S., Ford, L., Ridge, S.A., Cameron, G.A., Rogers, M.J., and Ross, RA. (2012, April). Cannabinoids and bone: endocannabinoids modulate human osteoclast function in vitro. British Journal of Pharmacology. 165(8), 2584-97. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3423262/.
Cannabis, was used as a go-to medical remedy by societies around the world
for centuries. But the therapeutic use of marijuana was banned in most countries in the
1930s and ’40s due to a growing awareness of the dangers of addiction. The significant
medical benefits of marijuana in alleviating symptoms of such diseases as Parkinson’s,
cancer, and multiple sclerosis have only recently been reinvestigated.
A new study by Tel Aviv and Hebrew University researchers explores another promising new
medical application for marijuana.
According to the research, the administration of the nonpsychotropic
component cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) significantly helps heal bone
fractures, possibly even preventing them in the future.
The study, conducted on rats with mid-femoral fractures, a serious fracture in the thigh bone,
found that CBD — even when isolated from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major
psychoactive component of cannabis — markedly enhanced the healing process of the bone
fractures after just eight weeks.
Undeniable clinical potential
In earlier research, the same research team discovered that cannabinoid receptors within
our bodies stimulated bone formation and inhibited bone loss. This paves the way for the
future use of cannabinoid drugs to combat osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases.
“The clinical potential of cannabinoid-related compounds is simply undeniable at this point,”
said Dr. Yankel Gabet of TAU’s Bone Research Laboratory. “While there is still a lot of work
to be done to develop appropriate therapies, it is clear that it is possible to detach a clinical
therapy objective from the psychoactivity of cannabis. CBD, the principal agent in our study,
is primarily anti-inflammatory and has no psychoactivity,” meaning they do not results in
alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness.
According to Dr. Gabet, our bodies are equipped with a cannabinoid system, which
regulates both vital and non-vital systems. “We only respond to cannabis because we are
built with intrinsic compounds and receptors that can also be activated by compounds in the
cannabis plant,” he said. The researchers found that the skeleton itself is regulated by
cannabinoids. Even the addition of a non-psychogenic compound acting outside of the brain
can affect the skeleton.
“We found that CBD alone makes bones stronger during healing, enhancing the maturation
of the collagenous matrix, which provides the basis for new mineralization of bone tissue,”
said Dr. Gabet. “After being treated with CBD, the healed bone will be harder to break in the
future.”
The researchers injected one group of rats with CBD alone and another with a combination
of CBD and THC. After evaluating the administration of THC and CBD together in the rats,
they found CBD alone provided the necessary therapeutic stimulus.
“We found CBD alone to be sufficiently effective in enhancing fracture healing,” said Dr.
Gabet. “Other studies have also shown CBD to be a safe agent, which leads us to believe
we should continue this line of study in clinical trials to assess its usefulness in improving
human fracture healing.”
The research, published in the “Journal of Bone and Mineral Research,” was led jointly
by Dr. Yankel Gabet of the Bone Research Laboratory at the Department of Anatomy and
Anthropology at TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the late Prof. Itai Bab of Hebrew
University’s Bone Laboratory
Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects
Ethan B Russo
Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer
Abstract
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been the primary focus of cannabis research since 1964, when Raphael Mechoulam isolated and synthesized it. More recently, the synergistic contributions of cannabidiol to cannabis pharmacology and analgesia have been scientifically demonstrated. Other phytocannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabivarin, cannabigerol and cannabichromene, exert additional effects of therapeutic interest. Innovative conventional plant breeding has yielded cannabis chemotypes expressing high titres of each component for future study. This review will explore another echelon of phytotherapeutic agents, the cannabis terpenoids: limonene, myrcene, α-pinene, linalool, β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, nerolidol and phytol. Terpenoids share a precursor with phytocannabinoids, and are all flavour and fragrance components common to human diets that have been designated Generally Recognized as Safe by the US Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies. Terpenoids are quite potent, and affect animal and even human behaviour when inhaled from ambient air at serum levels in the single digits ng·mL−1. They display unique therapeutic effects that may contribute meaningfully to the entourage effects of cannabis-based medicinal extracts. Particular focus will be placed on phytocannabinoid-terpenoid interactions that could produce synergy with respect to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial infections (including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Scientific evidence is presented for non-cannabinoid plant components as putative antidotes to intoxicating effects of THC that could increase its therapeutic index. Methods for investigating entourage effects in future experiments will be proposed. Phytocannabinoid-terpenoid synergy, if proven, increases the likelihood that an extensive pipeline of new therapeutic products is possible from this venerable plant.