Condition Overview

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system. The immune system of an MS patient attacks the protective sheath covering the nerves in the brain and spinal cord until it deteriorates. When the nerves are no longer protected, the cells become inflamed and damaged. Nerve signals slow down as a result, and this can even eliminate the nerves’ ability to communicate completely.

MS is the most common debilitating neurological disease of young people, typically appearing between the ages of 20 and 40. Women are statistically more likely to develop MS than men, and military veterans appear to be significantly more likely to develop MS than the general population.

Depending on the severity of damage and which nerves are affected, symptoms of multiple sclerosis may vary but include severe pain and tingling in different parts of the body, tremors, fatigue and bladder incontinence. It may also lead to depression.

Real Life Stories

Greg Cooper is a multiple sclerosis and ataxia sufferer who was featured in the documentary The Union: The Business Behind Getting High. Before your eyes, you can see him go through a dramatic transformation after just a few tokes of marijuana. Before smoking marijuana, his muscle spasms are so severe that he can barely say the name of his own disease. Afterwards, he’s relaxed and his sense of humor shines through. “It takes away my discomfort,” he says. “It does enhance my very being.”

RELATED STUDIES

Randomized, controlled trial of cannabis-based medicine in central pain in multiple sclerosis

Delta-9-THC in the treatment of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of an orally administered cannabis extract in the treatment of spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study

Medical Marijuana in Certain Neurological Disorders

Interesting Fact

Higher rates of MS diagnoses are reported in countries farther away from the equator, like Canada, Norway and Sweden.