Colorado Researchers Investigate Cannabis for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable or involuntary movements, stiffness, and difficulties with coordination. Currently, there is no cure for this condition. Day Three Labs, a Colorado-based company, has announced the launch of research into the use of cannabis for treating Parkinson’s disease.

Day Three Labs, a developer and manufacturer of cannabinoid ingredients for consumer products, became the first company to pass the selection stage and receive funding from CanNegev, a cannabis-based medical technology incubator. Notably, CanNegev is the world’s first cannabis incubator officially sponsored by the Israeli government.

The first stage involved developing and approving the project concept. Now, Day Three Labs has received funding to begin the second stage, which will involve the actual research. There are more than a trillion possible combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes, but only a few are optimal for treating Parkinson’s disease. The goal of the research is to find the right combination and determine the exact ratio at which all active ingredients interact effectively.

“Research shows that cannabis can alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in patients, but so far, no one has decoded the exact combination of cannabinoids and terpenes for a consistent, reliable, and reproducible medication,” commented Dr. Shimon Lecht, Chief Medical Officer and Director of Innovation at Day Three Labs.

As part of the research program, the company plans to study cannabis compounds delivered to the human body using its proprietary Unlokt technology. This technology “packs” cannabinoids into a natural protein that bypasses the liver and delivers the compounds directly into the bloodstream, protecting them and allowing them to be fully released only in the blood. This process enables the body to receive the necessary amount of cannabinoids to achieve the desired effect.

The company is confident that this method of cannabinoid delivery is safe and provides a predictable effect for patients using the medication.

If the research is successful, the company is eligible for a grant of $360 million for product development. Seventy percent of the grant is sponsored by the Israeli government, while the remaining 30% comes from private companies—Creath of Life, Our Crowd, and Padagis, who are partners of the cannabis incubator.