A study carried out by researchers at the University of New Mexico on cannabis flower use and fatigue came up with some interesting results.
Cannabis consumption, specifically that associated with marijuana and other products containing significant levels of the intoxicating cannabinoid THC, has usually been associated with a mellowing effect rather than an energising one. So, it would be reasonable to assume it wouldn’t be particularly useful in addressing fatigue, which can be a symptom or effect of a wide range of illnesses.
But a study on the self-reported results from users of an app measuring the effects of consuming different types of common and commercially available cannabis flower products on fatigue discovered quite a different effect. Using cannabis resulted in an immediate improvement in the majority of users.
So, was this just about levels of THC and/or CBD in products consumed? It appears not.
“One of the most surprising outcomes of this study is that cannabis, in general, yielded improvements in symptoms of fatigue, rather than just a subset of products, such as those with higher THC or CBD levels or products characterized as sativa rather than indica,” said the study’s co-author and Associate Professor Sarah Stith in the UNM Economics Department.
THC and CBD aren’t the only cannabinoid in cannabis and the researchers’ results suggest other minor cannabinoids and/or phytochemicals such as terpenes may play a role. Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in many plants .
The study was based on data recorded by 1,224 people using the Releaf App, which is designed helps patients track and discover types of cannabis, dosing, and consumption methods that provide the most effective results for the individual.
On average and on a scale of 0 – 10, those users were likely to experience a 3.5 point improvement on feelings of fatigue after using cannabis flower that was combusted. Those who consumed joints reported greater symptom relief than pipe or vaporizer users.
The study’s report, titled “The Effects of Consuming Cannabis Flower for Treatment of Fatigue” has been published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
The investigation was partly funded by private donations from individuals to the University of New Mexico Medical Cannabis Research Fund (MCRF), which was set up in 2016 to support scientifically valid and unbiased research on medical cannabis.
