Marijuana can be an effective treatment for people suffering from migraine headaches, based on a new study's findings. Sufferers of the severe headache had a noteworthy drop in their migraine frequency after receiving a treatment of medical cannabis.

The study was published in the journal Pharmacotherapy. It was conducted by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in the United States.

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Researchers studied migraine patients who received medical marijuana therapy from 2010 to 2014. They discovered that the migraine frequency fell an average of 10.4 to 4.6 headaches each month, according to NDTV.

University researchers examined the medical charts of patients created at Gedde Whole, a private medical practice that recommends marijuana for various conditions. Around two-thirds of the patients in the study had used pot before.

The study included 121 patients. A total 103 people (85 percent) reported a drop in monthly migraines, 15 (12 percent) had the same number, and three (2 percent) had an increase.

Various types of cannabis were used in the study. Inhaled marijuana was often used to treat acute migraines, but edible cannabis was used more often to prevent headaches as it takes longer to affect a body, according to EurekAlert.

Senior author Laura Borgelt works at the Anschutz Medical Campus. She shared that medical marijuana helped the migraine patients to feel and function better.  

However, Borgelt pointed out that marijuana has benefits and risks like other drugs. Thus, it is important for people to be aware of the negative effects.

The senior author explained that cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the human body including the immune system and brain, and have pain-relieving features. Cannabinoids are active compounds contained in marijuana.

Borgelt explained that scientists are not certain about the exact effect of cannabinoids on migraine headaches. However, they seem to affect important neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.

The researchers were amazed by the study's findings. However, they believe that more controlled studies are needed in the future.

Borgelt shared that an ideal study would be random, include a placebo (non-drug substance), and require participants to be pot-free before the clinical trials. It would also require a standard amount and strength of medical cannabis.