Custom Strain for Multiple Sclerosis Being Crafted by Nemus Bioscience

Nemus Bioscience, a company out of California, is aiming to create and supply condition-specific strains of cannabis. Currently, they are working on such a strain for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

They are up against an age-old debate: Is medical cannabis legit or is it just a veiled way for stoners to get easy access to grass?

Now, those among us who have used/do use cannabis for medical purposes are not on the fence at all. We know that cannabis-as-a-medicine has played a key role in our wellness and that for people seeking relief, there is so much more to this plant than simply getting high.

A large factor in why this debate persists, despite tons of anecdotal evidence and growing national acceptance, is the fact that cannabis is still a Schedule I substance, seen as a horribly addictive drug with no medical value by the federal government. Because of its designation, researchers are largely banned from getting their hands on enough cannabis to properly conduct their studies.

Nemus Bioscience is hoping to bridge that knowledge gap.

It seems that part of their drive for custom strains is to help people get off pharmaceuticals. Current MS treatment drugs like medtronic, clonazepam, diazepam, and benzodiazepines are either highly addictive with bad withdrawal symptoms or come with a litany of side effects like slurred speech, stomach problems, lowered sex drive, erratic heartbeats and muscle spasms.

Looking at cannabis, these problems and side effects simply do not occur. And, considering how much cannabis could potentially help with the side effects alone, I’d be willing to bet that more than a few MS patients are using cannabis already.

The idea of custom, condition-specific strains seems incredibly promising. Personally, I don’t know which compound in my weed helps and I don’t really care. I just know that I feel better when I use it. But there are many people out there who would like to use cannabis, but don’t want some of the effects. Custom strains can go a long way to finding a middle ground.

I’m glad that private companies are proceeding with this meaningful research despite the government’s lack of participation.