Study Indicates Marijuana is Effective in Multiple Sclerosis ReliefElizabeth Renter MS can be a debilitating disease, which has a variety of negative symptoms including muscle stiffness and pain and a subsequent difficulty sleeping. According to Medical News Today, about 90% of people diagnosed with MS have muscle pain and stiffness. Its this pain, paired with the fact that many pharmaceutical solutions simply cant relieve it without negative side effects, that a growing number of MS patients have tried out alternative remedies and therapies, including cannabis. The study looking at the effects of marijuana on MS symptoms found that those patients who were given tetrahydrocannabinol in a pill form saw far greater improvements than those given a placebo. In the study, a total of 279 patients were split into two groups: one which received the marijuana extract in pill form and another that received a placebo pill. Those receiving the cannabis extract experienced twice the relief of the placebo group. 15.7% of those on placebo experienced relief from muscle stiffness, compared to 29.4% on the cannabis extract. This isnt the first study that has found marijuana beneficial in the treatment of MS. Just last spring, a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that study participants who smoked marijuana found decreased pain, increased mobility, and improved spasticity. Research has also shown marijuana useful in the treatment of a variety of pain disorders, cancer, migraines, and more. Its been found to slow cancer tumor growth and actually stop cancer in its tracks. Still, the US government maintains it is a drug with no legitimate medical uses, and to this end they keep it classified as a Schedule I substance along with things like heroin. Until it is reclassified at the federal level, federal agencies will continue to have a policy basis for their dispensary raids, as state dispensaries are in violation of federal law. Explore More: This article first appeared at Natural Society, an excellent resource for health news and vaccine information. 