Legal marijuana is now giving fibromyalgia patients hope to regain control and quality of their life again. There is a growing number of studies supporting the benefits of weed for fibromyalgia. In one of the latest studies out of London, researchers analyzed the efficacy of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) which were either oil extracts or flower, on 148 fibromyalgia patients from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. As is the standard for patients in the United Kingdom who are enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, these patients have been unresponsive to traditional medications.

In a recent study out of Boulder, Colorado, researchers found that THC-rich cannabis edibles worked very well for patients who suffered from lower back pain. Investigators from the University of Colorado at Boulder analyzed the impact of three edible products: high THC, high CBD, and edibles with similar amounts of CBD and THC.

Conventional treatments prescribed to treat autoimmune conditions are focused on taming inflammation; these usually include steroids but also some non-steroidal drugs. These drugs often come with unwanted side effects, but research has shown that cannabis can work with the endocannabinoid system through THC and CBD, as well as other cannabinoids, to simulate similar results. In one study for example, we can see the clear association of the endocannabinoid system for neurodegenerative and inflammatory processes seen in Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

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A significant percentage of the 900 respondents acknowledged using marijuana, and most of them said that it was beneficial in helping with symptoms. “Seventeen percent of the respondents used cannabis or cannabis-related products as a self-management method,” said the researchers. “Cannabis was rated as the most effective self-management strategy to reduce symptom intensity (self-rated efficacy 7.6 out of 10).

However, psilocybin or magic mushrooms have been promising for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Recent studies have shed light on the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin for alcoholism, specifically its efficacy and quick-acting mechanisms. A recent study conducted by investigators at the University of Copenhagen together with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism revealed that just one dose of psilocybin taken from magic mushrooms was successful in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Researchers at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College in London found that taking magic mushrooms were more successful at treating depression compared to the widely prescribed SSRI antidepressants. For the study, they focused on escitalopram, an SSRI antidepressant, and psilocybin.

 A landmark observational study conducted in Brazil involved 60 adolescents diagnosed with moderate to severe ASD. Participants were administered CBD-rich extracts for six months. The results were encouraging, with 70% of participants showing clinical improvements in areas such as attention, communication, and overall behavior. Notably, 74% of participants were able to reduce or discontinue at least one prescription medication, highlighting the potential of CBD as an adjunct or alternative treatment.

Pioneering research from Columbia University in New York suggests that psilocybin, the key component in magic mushrooms, may help people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The study, published in Psychedelics, looked at how psilocybin affected brain activity in BDD patients, and it found significant alterations in brain connections that might help lessen the disorder's obsessive thinking patterns.

A recent study by the Rowett Institute took a look into the potential value of specific fibers added to the diet of patients with prostate cancer, and its effect, if any, on tumors. The NHS Grampian Charity has invested £90,000 into this research, which has been led by Professor Anne Kiltie, who is a member of Friends of ANCHOR Clinical Chair in Oncology, at the University of Aberdeen.