MMJ International Holdings Corp. (MMJIH) is expected to begin a phase of clinical studies that will test the potential of cannabis to treat Huntington’s Disease (HD).

The parent company of MMJ Technologies, Inc. has just submitted two applications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) soliciting authorization to study it’s medicinal-grade cannabis treatments in reducing the symptoms of HD.

Not only will MMJ experiment with the efficacy of using cannabis to treat Huntington’s but also, the premier medical sciences research company will investigate the therapeutic properties of cannabis to treat multiple sclerosis (MS).

MMJ, whose vision is to be the leader in prescription cannabinoid medicines, has also made the news for requesting a discussion with FDA officials in regards to developing an investigational new drug (IND).

“The filing of these applications with the FDA brings us one step closer to helping persons suffering from these debilitating diseases. As a company, we are committed to researching and developing cannabis based medicines which will improve the lives of people around the world,” expressed the CEO of MMJ, Duane Boise, in a press release.

“The MMJ team expects many advantages by requesting a pre-IND meeting,” Boise added.

If the FDA accepts MMJ’s request, the timeframe in which the product is introduced to the market will likely be shortened, thus enabling patients with HD to experience relief using pharmaceutical-grade cannabis-based medicines.

Studies spotlight the potential of using cannabis to treat Huntington’s diseasee

Cannabis compounds, A.K.A cannabinoids, have long been studied for their ability to relieve hyperkinetic symptoms. These active chemical compounds of the cannabis plant have been hailed as disease-modifying agents, due to their anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties.

Various experimental models of HD have validated the medical potential of cannabis through the use of numerous kinds of cannabinoid agonists, such as the phytocannabinoids contained in a cannabinoid-based drug called Sativex.

One study titled “Neuroprotective effects of phytocannabinoid-based medicines in experimental models of Huntington’s disease” explored whether cannabinoids and combinations of botanical extracts are able to provide neuroprotection in rat models of Huntington’s disease (HD).

“The administration of Δ9‐THC‐ and CBD‐enriched botanical extracts combined in a ratio of 1:1 as in Sativex attenuated 3NP‐induced GABA deficiency, loss of Nissl‐stained neurons, down‐regulation of CB1 receptor and IGF‐1 expression, and up‐regulation of calpain expression, whereas it completely reversed the reduction in superoxide dismutase‐1 expression,” wrote the researchers.

“Similar responses were generally found with other combinations of Δ9‐THC‐ and CBD‐enriched botanical extracts, suggesting that these effects are probably related to the antioxidant and CB1 and CB2 receptor‐independent properties of both phytocannabinoids.”

MMJ Bioscience stands out from industry competitors with its “unique scientific approach”

A subsidiary of the company that is expected to conduct clinical trials on cannabis for HD has managed to stand out from the crowd with its original approach.

The name of that subsidiary is MMJ Bioscience and it has made its mark on the legal weed industry by becoming the first company to procure a Health Canada license for medical cannabis cultivation in the Great White North.

Moreover, the developer and producer of medicinal-grade cannabis will be permitted to perform cannabinoid extractions that can be used in FDA-approved clinical trials.

“Our unique scientific approach sets us apart from others in the industry, and we are working hard to create new and innovative pathways geared towards helping doctors treat and alleviating the suffering of patients,“ said Boise.

Its parent company, MMJ International, hopes to generate fresh data pertaining to the advantages of using cannabis-derived medicines to treat Huntington’s and MS. The eventual goal is to develop a leading drug that is distributed and sold commercially.