This week on Health Matters, Tarah Schwartz speaks with Dr. Carolyn Baglole. Three years after legalization, discover what researchers are learning about cannabis use.
(Time on podcast: 11:55). Cannabis is a controversial topic, despite it being legal in Canada for more than 3 years. Carolyn Baglole is researching how cannabis smoke can affect our lungs. Researchers are actually interested in studying cannabis for its medical properties and benefits. We actually know very little. Cannabis can be beneficial in some conditions, such as for symptoms associated with cancer chemotherapy, epilepsy, or multiple sclerosis. Even though cannabis use has been around for a very long time, the fact that at was illegal, has really hampered many of the scientific discoveries we are now able to make. Legalization has opened the floodgates for research on cannabis. Carolyn Baglole’s lab is working on a number of projects. These include understanding the effects of cannabis inhalation on the lungs. As well as the impact of cannabis on the immune system. Some early results are showing effects on lung immunity. Research on cannabis can better inform policy makers and the public. Research is important because we know so little. We need to know how cannabis works in the body. We need to better identify those that would potentially respond to cannabis-based therapies. We need to know which diseases could actually be treated with a cannabis-based medication. We need basic information on safety. We as scientists are poised to make huge advances in cannabis research and the scientific community across Canada has really come together.
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A COVID patient reflects on care at the MUHC. The MUHC Foundation’s Health Matters. December 12, 2021.
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