Pot smoking may ease symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Marijuana may ease the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study says.

Smoking pot can relieve muscle tightness, contractions, pain and other disabling symptoms related to the advance multiple sclerosis in patients.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine studied 30 patients with those who were given marijuana had a 50 percent decrease in pain, reported the Toronto Star.

Those given marijuana also had a decrease in spasticity or contractions related to MS.

Read more on GlobalPost: Jack Osbourne diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS)

"We found that smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in reducing symptoms and pain in patients with treatment-resistant spasticity, or excessive muscle contractions," said Jody Corey-Bloom, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at UC San Diego, reported Science Daily.

Reuters reported that it is possible the cannibinoid, found in both marijuana and naturally produced by the human body, helps regulate muscle spasticity, translating into less contractions.

Patients who used the drug also experienced dizziness and feelings of "being high."

Multiple scleroris is a chronic disease that destroys the protective coating around the nerves causing pain, and a deterioration of motor skills.

Approximately 400,000 people in the United States have the disease.

The study is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.