Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. A seizure is the sudden, excessive discharge of electrical activity in the brain that causes involuntary shaking or convulsions.

Medical marijuana has been found to reduce or eliminate epileptic seizures for some patients with epilepsy. The following are the three benefits of medical marijuana for epilepsy that have been scientifically proven.

A team of researchers from the University of Colorado found that patients with epilepsy who smoke marijuana experience fewer seizures.

The benefits are even greater when medical marijuana is prescribed in conjunction with traditional anti-seizure medication, resulting in what scientists call “a synergistic reduction” in seizure frequency. As a result, it is believed that patients can be more productive and functional when they are on medical marijuana for epilepsy.

Results of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia, PA on April 25, 2010.

“We found that among adults with the most treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy, patients who used cannabis experienced a dramatic reduction in seizure frequency,” lead author Dr. Barbara Warren said in a news release. “Contrary to popular thought, the majority of patients with epilepsy are not opposed to using medical marijuana as an additional treatment option.”

The study also found that benefits were greatest among those who had previously failed on other anti-seizure medications and experienced at least four seizures per month.

The benefits of medical marijuana for epilepsy extend beyond reducing seizure frequency. Medical cannabis has also been found to have beneficial effects on sleep quality in patients with epilepsy, which is important because seizures are more likely during periods of low REM sleep.

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study that compared objective measures of overnight polysomnography for both epileptic patients who smoked marijuana and those who didn’t.

The benefits of medical marijuana for epilepsy were most noticeable in the REM sleep stage, during which seizures are more likely to occur.

“Placing that into clinical terms means improved sleep equals a lowered seizure frequency,” study author Dr. Gregg Jacobs said in a news release about the benefits of medical marijuana for epilepsy. “Not only does it help people fall asleep, but the quality of a patient’s sleep appears to be better.”

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 25, 2010.

Medical marijuana benefits epilepsy patients in more ways than just reducing seizure frequency and improving sleep quality. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine also found that medical cannabis benefits epileptic patients by enhancing their mood and cognition.

Specifically, researchers saw an improvement in memory recall and executive function among study participants who smoked low doses of medical marijuana.

“Patients who took medical cannabis scored better on tests of cognitive function and provided more accurate information about their use of the drug,” researcher Dr. Fatta Nahab said in a news release about the benefits of medical marijuana for epilepsy patients. “This improvement was substantial enough that it could be seen by family members.”

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 25, 2010.