“Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease… Derivatives of cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) modulate immune functions and therefore have potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
We investigated the effects of THC in a murine model of established atherosclerosis.
Oral administration of THC resulted in significant inhibition of disease progression.
Our data demonstrate that oral treatment with a low dose of THC inhibits atherosclerosis progression in the apolipoprotein E knockout mouse model, through pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects on lymphoid and myeloid cells.
Thus, THC or cannabinoids with activity at the CB2 receptor may be valuable targets for treating atherosclerosis.”
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v434/n7034/full/nature03389.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15815632