Although the condition is little understood, migraines are thought to be cause by dilation of cranial arteries and may be associated with serotonin release from platelets in blood plasma.[1]Hotdogs and foods full of artificial preservatives are known to cause migraine attacks in some cases.[2]Physical and mental stress also contribute to the condition.  About 20% of the population have experienced migraines, and as many as 20% of migraine sufferers find no relief from conventional medications.

            Delta-9 THC (Marinol) is clinically shown to correct serotonin release in migraine sufferers.[3]Debilitating migraine headaches are also effectively controlled by marijuana in many reported cases.[4][5]Some migraine sufferers use cannabis at the onset of a migraine attack to relieve the severe pain. Others use cannabis as a preventative measure to control migraine attacks before they occur.

            Because of prohibition, only a few clinical studies of cannabis treatment for migraines have been done in recent years. However, there exists a wealth of reliable evidence in historical medical literature indicating that marijuana is effective in suppression of severe migraine headaches.[6[7][8]  Cannabis medications were the most common treatment for migraine headaches until 1937 when the age-old herbal remedy was prohibited in the United States.

            Related sections: Neuralgia, Replacement of Medications.