How marijuana helps with tics

Tics are involuntary, spasmodic contractions of the muscles, and cannabis, interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) of the body, successfully stops them. EX is a group of proteins and receptors. Provides cell communication and is responsible for pain, mood, memory, appetite and other signals.

Anticonvulsant effects of cannabis

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, is responsible for the anticonvulsant effect, which interacts with the GPR55 protein. It is involved in the transmission of signals between neurons during synaptic transmission. Convulsions occur with excessive activity of this process, respectively, cannabidiol, which blocks the GPR55 protein, also reduces convulsive contractions. The effect has been studied in rodents that have been modified to produce this protein. Only on them did the anticonvulsant effect of cannabis work, in the rest of the animals - without GPR55 - convulsions continued.

Another explanation for the effectiveness of cannabidiol is the blocking of the TRPV1 protein, which is involved in the transport of ions and calcium. This is also the reason for the antispasmodic effect of CBD. And another mechanism for suppressing seizures is the effect on adenosine. It is an anticonvulsant that our body produces.

Cannabis and Tourette Syndrome

Tics are one of the main symptoms of this disease, and cannabis has been proven effective in reducing the frequency of their manifestations. In the 2000s, in Expert Opinion on Pharmacology, Dr. Müller-Wohl outlined the need for a more effective alternative to the existing symptomatic treatment of Tourette's syndrome. She cited two cannabis studies conducted at the Medical University of Hannover in 2002 as an example. In the first study, 9 out of 12 participants noted improvements after taking a dose of THC, the effectiveness of this cannabinoid was confirmed in the second study, which already included 24 patients with Tourette's syndrome. No serious side effects were noted.

In 2018, a study on the effectiveness of cannabis in reducing tics was carried out with the support of the American Turret Association based at the University of Toronto. According to its results, 18 out of 19 participants with regular use of cannabis noted a decrease in the frequency of tics by an average of 60%.