Healthcare
Does Cannabis Work for Glaucoma? – What the Lastest Studies Say!
Does medical marijuana help with glaucoma?
Cannabis for Glaucoma – An Ongoing Debate In The Medical Community
Glaucoma is a name used to refer to conditions affecting the eye, specifically the optic nerve which we rely on heavily for good vision.
Glaucoma is usually associated with a gradual increase of pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure. When intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve, this can lead to vision loss and even permanent blindness within the span of a few years if it isn’t treated. It can be tricky to diagnose it because during the early stages of glaucoma, many people don’t experience any pain or symptoms. The best way to diagnose it early to prevent loss of vision is to have regular checkups with your eye doctor.
Once you have glaucoma, you will likely need lifelong treatment. However, with early diagnosis, vision loss can be slowed down and permanent blindness can still be prevented.
Currently, treatment methods for glaucoma include prescription eyedrops which are designed to reduce eye pressure and improving fluid drainage from the eye. If intraocular pressure is severe, more than one type of eyedrop may be recommended. In addition, depending on how severe the glaucoma is, some patients may be prescribed oral medications and eye surgery on top of lifestyle changes.
However, cannabis has been shown to be promising in the treatment of glaucoma.
What The Latest Studies Say
At the moment, the medical community is still divided when it comes to the benefits of cannabis for glaucoma. Some agree that it does work because of the evidence, while others are still on the fence.
The studies backing up how cannabis can naturally reduce intraocular pressure dates back as far as 1971. In this study, 11 healthy participants were asked to go through eye exams before and after smoking 2 grams of marijuana. Researchers discovered that the changes observed varied from 4% increase to as much as 45% decrease in intraocular pressure. Further studies showed that some 65% of glaucoma patients experienced 30% pressure decrease after inhaling cannabis, and its positive effects lasted 3-4 hours. It should also be noted that the benefits of cannabis for glaucoma were dose-dependent.
According to Dr. Nick Andrew, a specialist eye surgeon, THC is the primary cannabinoid that works to reduce intraocular pressure by reducing the fluid that fills up the eye. He adds that THC eyedrops are recommended as the ideal administration route since the THC compounds only need to reach the eye, without having to pass through the nervous system.
Furthermore, the American Association of Ophthalmology says that since the effects last 3-4 hours, they don’t advise using cannabis to treat glaucoma for people who need to be sober in order to drive, operate heavy machinery, or go to work.
But this hasn’t stop people and dispensaries from recommending it. A 2020 study that was published in Ophthalmology Glaucoma journal revealed that 51% of dispensaries surveyed recommended marijuana use while others said they were either unsure or deferred recommendations. Additionally, they also found that 2.6% of glaucoma patients admitted to using cannabis. These figures show that even though many cannabis advocates are working hard to prove the benefits of the plant for glaucoma, many Americans are still not receiving the information and care that they need for a condition that’s difficult to treat.
“Few glaucoma specialists have recommended marijuana as a treatment for glaucoma and an even smaller percentage of patients report its use as a treatment for glaucoma,” wrote the authors. “In contrast, many dispensary employees endorse its use. As legal access and public acceptance of marijuana escalates, physicians should be aware of these perceptions when educating patients,” the authors concluded.
According to Dr. Bret A. Hughes, MD, many glaucoma patients are seeking alternative treatments for glaucoma. He explains how it works in the human body for treating this eye condition: “Humans have an endocannabinoid system with receptors that are stimulated by THC and CBD. The body also has naturally occurring cannabinoid receptor ligands, i.e., arachydonoylethanolamine and 2 arachydonoylglycerol, which mimic the effects of THC and CBD in the body.”
“Natural and synthetic cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system to produce aqueous production, increase outflow, and provide neuroprotection,” he explained.
It’s also interesting to note that while cannabidiol (CBD), another powerful anti-inflammatory compound in cannabis that doesn’t get you high, has been used widely for treating many life-threatening conditions, this cannabinoid is not recommended for treating glaucoma. An animal study in 2019 found that CBD and THC has varying effects on eye pressure; while THC was beneficial in reducing eye pressure by as much as 30%, CBD could actually increase eye pressure, which is not good news for glaucoma patients.
Conclusion
Many patients around the country already use cannabis as part of their glaucoma treatments. If your glaucoma is still in its mild stages, cannabis can be of great help though it’s not meant to substitute all medication and treatment entirely.
Cannabinoids have shown potential in reducing the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. They also have neuroprotective properties, and we anticipate the development of THC eye drops that will greatly benefit glaucoma patients. There is still ongoing research to see how this can be executed because it’s a challenge considering the eye’s surface may not be able to absorb the cannabinoid eye drops. Water and oil-based eye drops didn’t work based on previous research, so scientists are further investigating which methods of administration will be more feasible in the future.
Education News
AIIMS Gorakhpur Reservation Controversy: FIR Alleges Fake OBC Certificate Used Despite ₹80 Lakh Income
A major controversy has emerged at AIIMS Gorakhpur after allegations surfaced that reservation benefits were misused to secure a postgraduate medical seat. A criminal case has been registered against former AIIMS Gorakhpur Executive Director Dr. G.K. Pal and his son, Dr. Oro Prakash Pal, over the alleged use of a forged Other Backward Class (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer certificate for admission to an MD course.
The case has triggered widespread debate within medical and administrative circles, raising serious questions about transparency and oversight in admissions to premier medical institutions.
FIR Filed on Court’s Direction
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the AIIMS police station following directions from Chief Judicial Magistrate Tvishi Srivastava. According to the complaint, the alleged offence took place on August 30, 2024, when forged documents were purportedly used to obtain an MD seat under the OBC reservation quota.
Sources indicate that the matter was subsequently brought to the attention of the Union Ministry of Health, prompting internal reviews and administrative action.
Alleged Income Far Above Eligibility Threshold
Central to the allegations is the claim that Dr. G.K. Pal and his wife Parvati Pal have a combined annual income exceeding ₹80 lakh. Under existing reservation rules, families with such income levels are not eligible for OBC Non-Creamy Layer benefits.
Following the emergence of the controversy, Dr. Pal was first removed from his position at AIIMS Gorakhpur and later relieved of responsibilities at AIIMS Patna. He is currently posted at JIPMER Puducherry. With the registration of the FIR, officials suggest that further legal and departmental action may follow, depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Complaint Highlights Systemic Concerns
The complaint was filed by Ashutosh Kumar Mishra, a resident of Divyanagar in the Cantonment area. He alleged that the events related to the case occurred between January and September 2024. The complainant argued that misuse of reservation provisions by individuals in senior positions undermines the integrity of public institutions and erodes trust in the medical education system.
The case has reignited concerns over whether verification mechanisms for reservation certificates are robust enough, particularly in high-stakes admissions.
Impact on Medical Community
The allegations have sent shockwaves through the medical fraternity. Experts believe that if the claims are substantiated, the case could prompt a broader review of admission procedures and lead to stricter scrutiny of category certificates across institutions like AIIMS.
Authorities have stated that all relevant documents will be carefully examined before taking further steps. The outcome of the investigation is expected to have far-reaching implications for accountability and compliance in medical admissions.
Questions Await Answers
As the probe continues, several key issues remain unresolved: whether reservation norms were deliberately violated, how verification processes failed, and whether similar cases may surface in the future. For now, the focus remains on the investigation and its potential consequences.
New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.
The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.
The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.
After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.
In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.
The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.
At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.
Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.
Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.
The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:
- Regulators alleged in August that Albuquerque dispensary Sawmill Sweet Leaf sold out-of-state products and didn’t have a license for extraction.
- Paradise Exotics Distro lost its license in July after regulators alleged the company sold products made in California.
Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/
Alabama regulators are targeting Dec. 1 to award the first batch of medical cannabis business licenses after the agency’s first two attempts were scrapped because of scoring errors and litigation.
The first licenses will be awarded to individual cultivators, delivery providers, processors, dispensaries and state testing labs, according to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC).
Then, on Dec. 12, the AMCC will award licenses for vertically integrated operations, a designation set primarily for multistate operators.
Licenses are expected to be handed out 28 days after they have been awarded, so MMJ production could begin in early January, according to the Alabama Daily News.
That means MMJ products could be available for patients around early March, an AMCC spokesperson told the media outlet.
Regulators initially awarded 21 business licenses in June, only to void them after applicants alleged inconsistencies with how the applications were scored.
Then, in August, the state awarded 24 different licenses – 19 went to June recipients – only to reverse themselves again and scratch those licenses after spurned applicants filed lawsuits.
A state judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Chicago-based MSO Verano Holdings Corp., but another lawsuit is pending.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/alabama-plans-to-award-medical-cannabis-licenses-dec-1/
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