When most people hear the term “Parkinson’s Disease,” they often associate the condition with actor and activist Michael J. Fox. For over thirty years, Fox has lived with the disease and as part of his activism, has championed for more medical marijuana research. His foundation has expressed continued support for medical marijuana research as an beneficial supplement to a patient’s healthcare regime.
Parkinson’s Disease is a neurologically-based disease with symptoms affecting movement and characterized by tremors. The progressive nature of the disease makes it difficult for patients to receive a PD diagnosis. There is no cure for PD and although there are pharmaceutical medications and therapies available, many patients find relief from supplementing with medical marijuana. Parkinson’s Disease affects about one million people in the United States and ten million worldwide. According to The Parkinson’s Foundation, “the main finding in brains of people with PD is loss of dopaminergic neurons in the area of the brain known as the substantia nigra.”