Smoking marijuana may reduce certain symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis, according to a new small study Researchers from the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine conducted a double blind, controlled clinical trial that included 30 participants who had multiple sclerosis. The scientists hoped to understand whether smoked cannabis reduces symptoms of spasticity, a common symptom of the disease that refers to stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms. While most past trials have focused on the effects of a pill-form of cannabis, researchers wanted to see specifically whether a smoked form of the drug has a beneficial effect."Smoking cannabis was indeed superior to the placebo in reducing spasticity and pain, but that certainly came at a price," said Dr. Judy Corey-Bloom, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at UC San Diego and lead author of the study. Patients experienced less pain after smoking, but also experienced fatigue, impairment of cognitive function, attention and concentration. "There can be a lot of sources of pain with MS, from that pins and needles and burning feeling, but also the pain from muscle stiffness," said Corey-Bloom. "It's important for patients to know that pain can be treatable