Researchers have found that marijuana users have lower fasting insulin levels compared to non-users, besides healthier waist sizes and BMI scores. Some also purport cannabis to be an anti-inflammatory.

In 2018, a friend told me about The Sacred Plant, a series of videos that explained cannabinoids, especially endocannabinoids, which is vital to understanding how and why medical cannabis works, so I’m listing this reference below. There’s an article first, followed by a short video: “Cannabis sativa L. is the correct botanical term; marijuana is a North American colloquialism. Some have even suggested that the word ‘marijuana’ itself is racist, derived from the Spanish words for ‘Mary’ and ‘Jane’.”

“Visualization of the endocannabinoid signaling system” is a 5-minute YouTube video prepared by Leanne Chan as part of her master’s research project submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto in 2012. The URL is given in the References below.

References

Amberznectarz. “How and Why Your Brain Makes Its Own Cannabinoids,” Hemp Edification (August 6, 2016). https://hempedification.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/how-and-why-your-brain-makes-its-own-cannabinoids/ (accessed on 8/3/2020).

Chan, Leanne. “Visualization of the endocannabinoid signaling system,” YouTube (uploaded by CCICannabinoids on May 7, 2012). https://youtu.be/jznQfMj9RWM [5:08]
A Master’s Research Project submitted for Master of Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Developed in collaboration with Biomedical Communications, Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, The Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids and with funding provided in part by the Quebec Pain Research Network. Copyright Leanne Chan 2011.

Other Articles of Interest

Presented alphabetically by title.

Big Pharma Tries to Monopolize CBD Oil Market
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/12/11/big-pharma-tries-to-monopolize-cbd.aspx

Can Marijuana Improve Blood Sugars in Type 2 Diabetes?
https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/2015/10/can-marijuana-improve-blood-sugars-in-type-2-diabetes/

Cannabidiol (compound of cannabis)
https://www.who.int/features/qa/cannabidiol/en/

Cannabis and Diabetes
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/recreational-drugs/cannabis.html

Diabetes and Marijuana: A Possible Treatment?
https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-and-marijuana-a-possible-treatment/

Guide to using medical cannabis: Cannabis 101
https://www.safeaccessnow.org/using_medical_cannabis

HOW AND WHY YOUR BRAIN MAKES ITS OWN CANNABINOIDS
https://hempedification.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/how-and-why-your-brain-makes-its-own-cannabinoids/

How to Reduce the Risks of Diabetes with CBD Oil
https://thecbdreviewer.com/how-to-reduce-the-risks-of-diabetes-with-cbd-oil/

Marijuana and Diabetes – An In-depth Look
https://www.medicalcannabisdispensary.co.za/marijuana-and-diabetes-an-in-depth-look/

Marijuana Decreases Insulin Resistance, Improves Blood Sugar Control
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/policy-marijuana-use-helps-with-blood-sugar-control-and-bmi-051613#1

Marijuana Research Supports Its Safety and Benefits
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/05/16/research-supports-marijuana-benefits.aspx

Marijuana: The Next Diabetes Drug?
https://healthland.time.com/2013/05/21/marijuana-the-next-diabetes-drug/

Marijuana Use Linked to Prediabetes
A recent University of Minnesota study has uncovered 49-65% higher odds for prediabetes in current smokers and former “heavy” users.
https://www.endocrineweb.com/news/diabetes/17657-marijuana-use-linked-prediabetes

Medical Marijuana for Older Adults
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-03-16/medical-marijuana-for-older-adults?src=usn_fb

Revolutionary Cannabis Patch Successfully Treats Fibromyalgia and Diabetic Nerve Pain
https://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/revolutionary-cannabis-patch-successfully-treats-fibromyalgia-diabetic-nerve-pain/

Study: Why Pot Smokers Are Skinnier
Marijuana users had smaller waists and scored higher across several measures of blood sugar regulation.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/05/study-why-pot-smokers-are-skinnier/275846/

The impact of marijuana use on glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance among US adults
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23684393

The Sacred Plant: Healing Secrets Exposed​
https://thesacredplant.com/

Top 5 benefits of cannabis for diabetes
The researchers found that current users of cannabis had 16% lower fasting insulin levels than respondents who had never used cannabis, as well as having 17% lower levels of insulin resistance and higher levels of HDL-C.
https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/top-5-benefits-cannabis-diabetes/

Treating Diabetes with Cannabis?
https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/treating_diabet#1

What Are Cannabis Flavonoids and What Do They Do?
https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/what-are-marijuana-flavonoids

WHAT IS HEMP-DERIVED CBD?
https://www.hempworx.com/whatIsCBD

Videos

Episode 1: The Sacred Plant…Revealed [1:20:24]
https://thesacredplant.com/docuseries/episode1ege/

Visualization of the endocannabinoid signaling system. [5:08]
https://youtu.be/jznQfMj9RWM

Demystifying the endocannabinoid system. | Ruth Ross | TEDxMississauga
https://youtu.be/8GsmTFytBYI [17:35]