University of Washington neurologist Ethan Russo postulates that “clinical endocannabinoid deficiency” underlies migraines, fibromyalgia, IBD, and a cluster of other degenerative conditions which may respond favourably to cannabinoid therapies... CB receptor signaling modulates pain and analgesia, inflammation, appetite, gastrointestinal motility, neuroprotection and neurogeneration, along with the ebb and flow of immune cells, hormones, and other mood-altering neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate (213). Cannabinoids (endo [naturally occurring], herbal, and synthetic) are anti-inflammatory; they literally cool the body. But... if the immune system overreacts to chronic stress or mistakes one’s body for a foreign object, then the stage is set for another autoimmune disease or an inflammatory disorder to develop.

MJ also eases peripheral neuropathy, which also affects cancer patients and diabetics (229-230). - Martin A. Lee, Smoke Signals