It is utterly mind-blowing that people have no idea that Cannabis has been part of the medical prescription landscape for over 20 years. That’s right T. G. A (Therapeutic Goods Administration) trialled and approved cannabis based medicines have been available as an option to alleviate, if only in small ways, some of the symptoms of a couple of diseases or help with recovery from treatment. However, the claims of this plant being a ‘miracle cure’ for just about everything, have existed for of 100 years… yet in no credible and advanced research has any of the properties of the Cannabis plant ‘cured’ anything, ever! There is no argument that some components of this incredibly complex plant can have some therapeutic benefit, be it ever so small, but deriving such from the plant with out co-opting some of the more detrimental components has proven incredibly difficult. On top of that, the evidence emerging from latest science, sees that some of these therapies, do more harm than good, with the temporary alleviating of a symptom on one hand, and incurring along term genetic harm on the other! Again if facts and evidence matter to your best-practice health care, then this is the space for you. Make informed decisions based on science, and not quackery!
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening condition most commonly observed in immunocompromised individuals. We describe a daily cannabis smoker without evidence of immunodeficiency presenting with confirmed Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis. An investigation of cannabis samples from the patient's preferred dispensary demonstrated contamination with several varieties of Cryptococcus, including C. neoformans, and other opportunistic fungi. These findings raise concern regarding the safety of dispensary-grade cannabis, even in immunocompetent users.
KEYWORDS:
disease and health outcomes; drugs misuse (including addiction); exposures; healthcare improvement and patient safety; infectious diseases
This review provides an overview of the changing US epidemiology of cannabis use and associated problems. Adults and adolescents increasingly view cannabis as harmless, and some can use cannabis without harm. However, potential problems include harms from prenatal exposure and unintentional childhood exposure; decline in educational or occupational functioning after early adolescent use, and in adulthood, impaired driving and vehicle crashes; cannabis use disorders (CUD), cannabis withdrawal, and psychiatric comorbidity. Evidence suggests national increases in cannabis potency, prenatal and unintentional childhood exposure; and in adults, increased use, CUD, cannabis-related emergency room visits, and fatal vehicle crashes…more limited literature suggests that Medical Marijuana Laws (MMLs) have led to increased cannabis potency, unintentional childhood exposures, adult cannabis use, and adult CUD. Ecological-level studies suggest that MMLs have led to substitution of cannabis for opioids, and also possibly for psychiatric medications. Much remains to be determined about cannabis trends and the role of MMLs and RMLs in these trends. The public, health professionals, and policy makers would benefit from.
Conclusion: Medical marijuana laws appear to have contributed to increased prevalence of illicit cannabis use and cannabis use disorders. State-specific policy changes may also have played a role. While medical marijuana may help some, cannabis-related health consequences associated with changes in state marijuana laws should receive consideration by health care professionals and the public.
The World Health Organisation has announced its findings after a months-long study into cannabidiol, or CBD, declaring the medicinal cannabis component to be well tolerated and an effective treatment for some forms of epilepsy. The WHO also recommended CBD not be a scheduled drug.
According to the report, the non-psychoactive component of cannabis does not exhibit any effects indicative of abuse or dependence. Adverse side effects were put down to drug-drug interactions between CBD and a patient's existing medications.
"In general, clinical studies have reported that even high doses of oral CBD do not cause those effects that are characteristic for THC and for cannabis rich in THC," said the report.
"CBD has been found to have relatively low toxicity, although not all potential effects have been explored."
Cannabidiol, a major component of marijuana, is in high demand these days for its purported health benefits. But a study published on Tuesday discovered that people trying to treat themselves with cannabidiol products likely aren’t getting what they’re paying for.
The study, led by the University of Pennsylvania, tested 84 cannabidiol products purchased online from 31 companies and found that less than a third were properly labeled. Nearly 43 percent of the products — which included oils, tinctures, and vaporization liquid — contained less cannabidiol than their labels promised, indicating that they weren’t potent enough to give their users the medicinal treatment they sought. Another 26 percent of the products contained more.
JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes: February 20, 2019 - Volume Publish Ahead of Print - Issue - p doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001998 Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) commonly report marijuana use for chronic pain, though there is limited empirical evidence to support its use. There is hope that marijuana may reduce prescription opioid use. Our objective was to investigate whether marijuana use among PLWH who have chronic pain is associated with changes in pain...
The private Medical Cannabis Clinic (MCC) opened in Manchester last week Further branches are scheduled for Birmingham and London’s Harley Street Doctors now claim the drugs pain-relieving qualities have been exaggerated Britain’s first dedicated medical cannabis clinic has been accused by doctors of making unfounded claims for the drug’s pain-relieving qualities. For complete article
JAMA. 2019;321(7):639-640. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0077 The evidence that cannabis is an efficacious treatment for opioid use disorder is even weaker. To date, no prospective evidence, either from clinical trials or observational studies, has demonstrated any benefit of treating patients who have opioid addiction with cannabis. If Cannabis Is Recommended Medicine, It Should Be Held to Medical Standards Conclusions For chronic pain, there are numerous alternatives to opioids aside from cannabis....
Cannabis oil sold as a health product in Britain can get users 'high', study finds Researchers found driving under the influence of CBD cannabis ‘may be harmful' The products have soared in popularity amid claims they help combat ailments By JONATHAN BUCKS FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY 17 February 2019 The legal version of cannabis sold as a health product in the UK can get users ‘high’ and even make it dangerous to drive, a study has found. Cannabis oils and capsules said to help reduce anxiety and...
Cannabinoids could help manage spasticity in motor neuron disease A very similar drug already exists as a trailed, tested and approved pharmaceutical; if fact has been in on the register for decades… Sativex (nabiximols) is the first cannabis-based medicine to be licensed in the UK. The drug can prescribed for the treatment for MS-related spasticity when a person has shown inadequate response to other symptomatic treatments or found their side effects intolerable. Sativex can be used in...
“In the world of healthcare, a medication is a drug that has endured extensive clinical trials, public hearings and approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration,” Medical Director says. “Medications are tested for safety and efficacy. They are closely regulated, from production to distribution. They are accurately dosed, down to the milligram. Medical marijuana is none of those things!
Watchdogs are set to ban High Street CBD 'cannabis' oil for up to 18 months as experts probe whether it has any real health benefits The CDB oil is derived from cannabis but does not contain 'active' THC drug The oil is promoted as a cure for anxiety, insomnia and joint and muscle pain The Food Standards Agency says it counts as a 'novel food' and needs approval So Trading Standards will be instructed to pull items from shops for 18 months
2018 European Pain Federation Cannabis Position 2018 PAIN-Cannabis and cannabinoids for the treatment of People With Chronic Non Cancer Pain “There really is nothing, zero, in the literature which would support dispensary cannabis in any chronic non-cancer pain condition.” K. Finn, MD
Dear Doctors, who are mandated to do 'No Harm'! My name is Karen Randall. I am an emergency physician (also residency trained in pediatrics and family medicine). I spent numerous years as an academic teaching physician at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. I moved to Colorado to be back home. I moved here in 2013. I moved just in time to see this town I live in, Pueblo, go from a blue collar working town to a drug infested town that is not safe. I appreciate your article about brain sizes, view...
The documents offer unprecedented insight into the challenges of establishing and regulating an industry where the product is traditionally illegal. Picture: AFP SEAN PARNELL 12:00AM JANUARY 7, 2019 High demand for a stake in Australia’s medicinal cannabis industry — including from people with links to organised crime — has caught the regulator unprepared and under-resourced, an internal audit has found. Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws show independent auditors hired by...
Abstract Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidivarin (CBDV) are natural cannabinoids which are consumed in increasing amounts worldwide in cannabis extracts, as they prevent epilepsy, anxiety, and seizures. It was claimed that they may be useful in cancer therapy and have anti-inflammatory properties. Adverse long-term effects of these drugs (induction of cancer and infertility) which are related to damage of the genetic material have not been investigated. Therefore, we studied their DNA-damaging...
Med J Aust || doi: 10.5694/mja17.01099 bPublished online: 12 November 2018 Although medicinal cannabis can now be prescribed for CINV, high quality clinical trial evidence is required to determine its efficacy and safety Access to medicinal cannabis in Australia is a rapidly evolving and controversial field that is relevant to clinicians across a range of medical disciplines. There is widespread community interest in allowing access to medicinal cannabis for a variety of unapproved...
What is COPD? Symptoms of COPD can include wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. COPD describes a group of long-term lung diseases that includes bronchitis and emphysema . These diseases cause inflammation , which impairs airflow in and out of the lungs, making breathing difficult. COPD is progressive, meaning that a person's symptoms tend to get worse over time. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Symptoms of COPD can vary in severity but typically...
Cannabis oil will become available on the NHS next Thursday, November 1 A group of 166 pain consultants has written a letter slating the plans They say it is being done for political reasons, not based on medical advice And patients are already demanding cannabis, losing interest in other treatment For complete article
The ‘claims’ on cannabis often reach legendary status, particularly as the pro-drug lobby hijack the market place communications and create ‘feeding frenzy’ headlines! We have always said that a 140 character Tweet is mightier than 10,000 hard evidence-based research journals, in our current information rich, but knowledge poor social media culture! This webpage Snake Oil Cannabis? Scientific evidence for the medical benefits Scientific evidence for the medical benefits , is at least one...
Whilst much research has focussed on the effects of endocannabinoids in the adult brain relatively little research has looked at the impact of these same effects in the developing brain of the foetus and neonate. Whilst the brain stem is almost devoid of type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs) they are in high concentration in many parts of the midbrain, limbic system, subcortical regions and cerebral and cerebellar cortices 3. Foetal CB1Rs have been shown to play key roles in virtually all...
Men's Health October 18, 2018 Instead of endlessly ruminating on these hypothetical scenarios, I tested whether CBD supplements could help me relax and take my stress level down a notch. CBD, or Cannabidiol, is one of roughly 100 chemical compounds called cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant — and unlike its brother THC, it doesn't get you high. Among its many purported health benefits, researchers are studying whether CBD could be a viable treatment for a variety of ailments including...
PAIN: October 2018 - Volume 159 - Issue 10 - p 1932–1954 doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001293 This review examines evidence for the effectiveness of cannabinoids in chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) and addresses gaps in the literature by: considering differences in outcomes based on cannabinoid type and specific CNCP condition; including all study designs; and following IMMPACT guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and clinicaltrials.gov were searched in July 2017. Analyses were...
Abstract We provide a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabinoids in palliative medicine. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and http://clinicaltrials.gov , and a selection of cancer journals were searched up until 15th of March 2017. Of the 108 screened studies, nine studies with a total of 1561 participants were included. Overall, the nine studies were at moderate risk of bias. The...
New research, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, shows that a dose of the cannabis extract cannabidiol improves brain function in people living with psychosis. A cannabis extract known as cannabidiol could be the 'ideal treatment' for psychosis. The new study was conducted by scientists at King's College London (KCL) in the United Kingdom. It was spearheaded by Sagnik Bhattacharyya, Ph.D., from KCL's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. Cannabidiol has already been proven...
The Marijuana Policy Project promotes their drug as a substitute for opiate pain pills. Like the worst offenders in the opiate industry, the cannabis lobby follows an addiction-for-profit business model. Their master plan needs 80% of the demand to be met by 20% of the users. Science shows no evidence for using medical marijuana as a substitute for pain pills. Governor David Ige of Hawaii wisely refused to cave to lobbyists, and he vetoed a measure that would have allowed medical marijuana to...
Jumping the Gun on ‘Marijuana as medicine’! At What Price? It is no accident that in almost the same week both Australia and UK have decided that cannabis is to be recommended for a host of medical disorders mostly in advance of gold standard clinical trials. This is a direct product of the organized transnational global drug liberalization movement orchestrated from New York 1. I wish to most respectfully disagree with the points made by BMJ editor Dr. God lee. Diarrhoea and colic occur in...
Medical research has confirmed that the body’s endocannabinoid system is a finely regulated and highly complex system which is involved in the detailed regulation of essentially all body systems including the brain and cardiovascular systems and stem cell niches. Studies have shown that the rate of use of cannabis by expecting mothers closely parallels that in the wider community. In fact given the long half-life of cannabis in tissues even were a maternal habitual smoker to stop when she...
We wanted to make sure you had seen four key studies just into play A groundbreaking study in The Lancet found that marijuana use over four years actually made it harder for patients to cope with chronic pain, and did not reduce their use of opioids. A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that increasing self-exposure to non-medical marijuana was a predictor of greater odds of opioid dependencediagnosis. A study in the International Review of Psychiatry found an increased rate of serious...
Cannabidiol is a chemical that occurs in hemp plants and marijuana. It is possible that cannabidiol oil could help to treat the symptoms of menopause. Researchers have looked at other herbal and natural remedies as treatment options but have not yet proved that any of them are consistently effective…At present, there is very little reliable evidence to suggest that CBD oil can treat the symptoms of menopause. Researchers have only just started to understand how the endocannabinoid system works...
KRISTEN NICHOLS, Hemp Industry Daily May 4, 2018 On Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, the Cosmic Grind Coffee Shop on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont, started offering CBD hemp oil shots in their drinks. But don't worry, CBD is a 'non-psychoactive' extract, not to be confused with THC in marijuana. RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS DENVER (AP) — A federal appeals court sided with the Drug Enforcement Administration and upheld its decision that CBD is a Schedule 1 controlled substance — a major setback for the...
A New Study on Medical Marijuana by Researchers from the University of California–Davis Reveals That Mold, Bacterial and other Toxic Contaminants Were Discovered in Samples from 20 out of 20 Licensed Dispensaries in Northern California. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered that medical marijuana from 20 dispensaries contain multiple fungal and bacterial contaminants that are highly toxic and can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections among cannabis users....
April 20, 2018 A Food and Drug Administration panel recommended approval of a drug made of cannabidiol on April 19 to treat two types of epilepsy. The FDA is expected to decide in June whether to accept the panel’s 13-0 recommendation to approve Epidiolex, which would would become the first drug made of cannabidiol, a compound in the cannabis plant, to gain approval from the FDA. While the panel’s unanimous decision is not binding, the action will no doubt heighten public debate about the use...
Objectives : Previous studies have found a negative population-level correlation between medical marijuana availability in US states, and trends in medical and nonmedical prescription drug use. These studies have been interpreted as evidence that use of medical marijuana reduces medical and nonmedical prescription drug use. This study evaluates whether medical marijuana use is a risk or protective factor for medical and nonmedical prescription drug use. Conclusions : Our findings disconfirm...
Patrick D. Skosnik, Jose A. Cortes-Briones, and Mihály Hajós ABSTRACT Evidence has accumulated over the past several decades suggesting that both exocannabinoids and endocannabinoids play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The current article presents evidence suggesting that one of the mechanisms whereby cannabinoids induce psychosis is through the alteration in synchronized neural oscillations. Neural oscillations, particularly in the gamma (30–80 Hz) and theta (4–7 Hz) ranges,...
EDMONTON and VANCOUVER, March 13, 2018 Aurora Cannabis Inc. and PreveCeutical Medical Inc. today announced the grant of three permits by the Australian Government, Department of Health, for the importation of cannabis into Australia for research purposes (the "Permits"). The Permits were granted to the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence ("PACE") at the University of Queensland ("UQ") and allow PACE to import shipments of cannabis plant material for research purposes. Aurora, in turn, has...
Summary Research is expanding for the use of cannabidiol as an anticonvulsant drug. The mechanism of cannabidiol in paediatric epilepsy is unclear but is thought to play a role in modulation of synaptic transmission. Evidence for its efficacy in treating epilepsy is limited but growing, with a single pharmaceutical company-funded randomised double-blind controlled trial in children with Dravet syndrome. Progress towards the use of medicinal cannabinoids incorporates a complex interplay of...
Roger Ladouceur – Canadian Family Physician February 2018 “The evidence indicates the most consistent effects of medical cannabinoids are adverse events. A variety of adverse events have a greater magnitude of effect than the potential benefits for the conditions targeted. 1 The conclusions drawn by this analysis are not surprising. Study after study, analysis after analysis, and review after review 2 , 3 have all reported the same findings: cannabis has little place within current therapeutic...
New medical guidelines have been issued in Canada, where cannabis is legal They warn the effects of the drug outweigh minor benefits for most conditions And for some, it states it most often is only marginally better than a placebo The new document will be distributed to 30,000 doctors in Canada New medical guidelines issued in Canada, where cannabis has been legal for medicinal use since 2001, warns that the effects of the drug outweigh any minor benefits for the vast majority of conditions....
By Ariana Eunjung Cha January 24 A new class of epilepsy medications based on an ingredient derived from marijuana could be available as soon as the second half of 2018 in the United States, pending Food and Drug Administration approval. Officials from GW Pharmaceuticals, the company that developed the drug, on Wednesday announced promising results from a study on 171 patients randomized into treatment and placebo groups. Members of the group, ages 2 to 55, have a condition called...
Abstract Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening condition most commonly observed in immunocompromised individuals. We describe a daily cannabis smoker without evidence of immunodeficiency presenting with confirmed Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis. An investigation of cannabis samples from the patient's preferred dispensary demonstrated contamination with several varieties of Cryptococcus, including C. neoformans, and other opportunistic fungi. These findings raise concern regarding...
This review provides an overview of the changing US epidemiology of cannabis use and associated problems. Adults and adolescents increasingly view cannabis as harmless, and some can use cannabis without harm. However, potential problems include harms from prenatal exposure and unintentional childhood exposure; decline in educational or occupational functioning after early adolescent use, and in adulthood, impaired driving and vehicle crashes; cannabis use disorders (CUD), cannabis withdrawal,...
Conclusion : Medical marijuana laws appear to have contributed to increased prevalence of illicit cannabis use and cannabis use disorders. State-specific policy changes may also have played a role. While medical marijuana may help some, cannabis-related health consequences associated with changes in state marijuana laws should receive consideration by health care professionals and the public. View PDF
The World Health Organisation has announced its findings after a months-long study into cannabidiol, or CBD, declaring the medicinal cannabis component to be well tolerated and an effective treatment for some forms of epilepsy. The WHO also recommended CBD not be a scheduled drug. According to the report, the non-psychoactive component of cannabis does not exhibit any effects indicative of abuse or dependence. Adverse side effects were put down to drug-drug interactions between CBD and a...
By Carter Sherman Nov 8, 2017 Cannabidiol, a major component of marijuana, is in high demand these days for its purported health benefits. But a study published on Tuesday discovered that people trying to treat themselves with cannabidiol products likely aren’t getting what they’re paying for. The study, led by the University of Pennsylvania, tested 84 cannabidiol products purchased online from 31 companies and found that less than a third were properly labeled. Nearly 43 percent of the...
Published Monday 4 December 2017 By Ana Sandoiu Fact checked by Honor Whiteman Sleep apnea is estimated to affect 1 in 5 American adults, and there are currently no drugs available to treat it. But a large-scale clinical trial now offers hope, proving that a drug that uses a synthetic version of the main psychoactive substance in cannabis is effective for treating the disorder. For More
20 November 2017 The best way to use cannabis to treat psoriasis is as a tincture or oil applied to the skin. Cannabis smoke should be avoided, as it can aggravate skin conditions by releasing skin-damaging chemicals into the air. For more
Abstract BACKGROUND : medical cannabis refers to the use of cannabis or cannabinoids as medical therapy to treat disease or alleviate symptoms. In the United States, 23 states and Washington DC (May 2015) have introduced laws to permit the medical use of cannabis. Within the European Union, medicinal cannabis laws and praxis vary wildly between Countries. OBJECTIVES : to provide evidence for benefits and harms of cannabis (including extracts and tinctures) treatment for adults in the following...
For Immediate Release November 1, 2017 As part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers from health fraud, the agency today issued warning letters to four companies illegally selling products online that claim to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure cancer without evidence to support these outcomes. Selling these unapproved products with unsubstantiated therapeutic claims is not only a violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, but also can put...
“I am not pro-cannabis; I think 90% is placebo.” “LAST YEAR DEDI MEIRI, A CANNABIS RESEARCHER AT THE TECHNION, ISRAEL’S OLDEST UNIVERSITY, RECEIVED A “BEFORE AND AFTER” VIDEO OF AN AUTISTIC BOY. The before showed the boy helmeted, hands tied behind his back, butting his head against a wall. The after showed him calmly sitting at a table, sketching. The difference: two drops of cannabis oil administered below the tongue. The video had been sent to Meiri by Abigail Dar, an Israeli champion for...
Alex White, EXCLUSIVE, Herald Sun October 28, 2017 MEDICINAL cannabis is no better than conventional drugs for treating children with severe epilepsy, according to a top Victorian doctor. After months of treatment, none of the 29 Victorian children accessing $1 million worth of medicinal cannabis product, imported from Canada, has been seizure free. Paediatric neurologist Professor Ingrid Scheffer told the Sunday Herald Sunmedicinal cannabis had been effective in some of the cases by reducing...
Some of the samples contained a petroleum derivative and household disinfectant. Graphic: Simon Rankin EXCLUSIVE Christiane Barro Seriously ill patients who are turning to medical cannabis for life-saving treatment are being sold fake, poisonous and intoxicating products manufactured in backyard laboratories across Australia. The unlicensed suppliers are sending cannabis oil that contains dangerous chemicals that could lead to cancer, and then charging people $6000 for up to three months’...
Alicia Wallace - The Denver Post October 6, 2017 Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive cannabis compound touted for its medicinal promise, but marijuana and hemp-derived extracts rich in CBD and low in intoxicating THC are facing a future yet to be determined. This time next year, an investigational drug hailed as a breakthrough in the science of cannabidiol could be prescribed to children suffering from treatment-resistant epilepsy. The prospect of its success, however, has caused some unease in...
By JAY BARMANN IN NEWS 2017 Cannabis sold at Bay Area dispensaries is regularly referred to as "medicine," however a lack of regulation and testing around the product has led to significant supply of marijuana on dispensary shelves being tainted and/or toxic to the people who consume it. Following the recent HempCon at the Cow Palace in August, an array of medical marijuana products underwent testing by Hunters Point-based Anresco Laboratories. As San Francisco Magazine reports , some 80...
The Bill and the report The Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 passed through the Dáil on 1 December when the government chose not to oppose it. The bill would allow for the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes. It proposes the establishment of a Cannabis Regulation Authority which would manage and licence the sale of cannabis for medicinal use. The bill also contains provisions for cannabis to be prescribed by general registered doctors and for cannabis to be removed...
Rachel Worsley 30th May 2017 None of WA’s 10,679 doctors have applied to prescribe medical cannabis since it was legalized in November. According to the AMA WA, the lack of interest is because doctors do not believe there is evidence to prescribe medical cannabis for anything other than in paediatric epilepsy and MS. https://www.australiandoctor.com.au/news/latest-news/wa-doctors-shun-medical-cannabis AMA cautious about medicinal cannabis But the Australian Medical Association of WA said it...
Abstract We report the cases of two young German male patients with treatment-resistant Tourette syndrome (TS), who suffer from incapacitating stuttering-like speech disfluencies caused by vocal blocking tics and palilalia. Case 1: a 19-year old patient received medical cannabis at a dose of 1 × 0.1 g cannabis daily. Case 2: a 16-year old patient initially received dronabinol at a maximum dose of 22.4-33.6 mg daily. Both treatments provided significant symptom improvement of vocal blocking...
21 July 2017 University of Queensland researchers are concerned the recent legalisation of medicinal cannabis in Australia may give rise to super-potent cannabis concentrates with associated harmful effects. UQ Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research’s Dr Gary Chan, who led the butane hash oil study, said a significant proportion of cannabis users used the concentrate. “Butane hash oil is a cannabis concentrate that is over 10 times more potent than herbal cannabis,” Dr Chan said. “Although...
Uncovering the therapeutic potential of CBD New research paves the way for a new schizophrenia treatment, by testing the effect of a cannabis compound on rats. The study suggests that the cannabis-derived substance may improve schizophrenia-specific cognitive impairment, with none of the side effects that current medication has…CBD can affect learning, memory, and attention, which suggests that the compound could help manage cognitive symptoms more effectively and with fewer side effects than...
13 May 2017 ‘’False hope’’ driving claims medicinal cannabis is ‘’magic pill’’ for chronic pain relief. Prescribing medicinal cannabis for patients with chronic non-cancer pain is not going to revolutionise their treatment and should not be supported until there is substantial proof of its effectiveness, according to a leading pain specialist. Professor Milton Cohen is presenting Medicinal cannabis for chronic non-cancer pain: promise or pothole? at the Australian and New Zealand College of...
Written by Honor Whiteman Published:19 April 2017 For individuals with a severe form of epilepsy, a new study finds that the occurrence of seizures could be significantly reduced with a daily dose of cannabidiol - a chemical component of cannabis. Researchers say that cannabidiol - an active chemical in cannabis - could help to reduce seizures for patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Researchers from the Ohio State University found that individuals with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) who took...
Written by Honor Whiteman Increased legalization of marijuana for medical purposes may be fueling illicit use of the drug, as well as increasing the number marijuana use disorders, according to the results of a new study. Researchers have identified a greater increase in illicit marijuana use and disorders in states that have legalized medical marijuana. An analysis of data from three national surveys in the United States revealed a higher increase in illicit marijuana use and marijuana use...
Deborah S. Hasin, PhD1,2,3 ; Aaron L. Sarvet, MPH1,2 ; Magdalena Cerdá, DrPH4 ; et al Katherine M. Keyes, PhD1,3 ; Malka Stohl, MS2 ; Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH5 ; Melanie M. Wall, PhD1,2,6 JAMA Psychiatry. Published online April 26, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0724 Question Are US state medical marijuana laws one of the underlying factors for increases in risk for adult cannabis use and cannabis use disorders seen since the early 1990s? Findings In this analysis using US national survey...
Valdeolivas S1,2,3, Sagredo O4,5,6, Delgado M7,8, Pozo MA9,10, Fernández-Ruiz J11,12,13. Author information Abstract Several cannabinoids afforded neuroprotection in experimental models of Huntington's disease (HD). We investigated whether a 1:1 combination of botanical extracts enriched in either ∆⁸-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆⁸-THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), which are the main constituents of the cannabis-based medicine Sativex®, is beneficial in R6/2 mice (a transgenic model of HD), as it was...
Rossignoli MT1, Lopes-Aguiar C2, Ruggiero RN3, Do Val da Silva RA4, Bueno-Junior LS5, Kandratavicius L6, Peixoto-Santos JE7, Crippa JA8, Cecilio Hallak JE9, Zuardi AW10, Szawka RE11, Anselmo-Franci J12, Leite JP13, Romcy-Pereira RN14. Abstract The prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala and hippocampus display a coordinated activity during acquisition of associative fear memories. Evidence indicates that PFC engagement in aversive memory formation does not progress linearly as previously thought....
Naftali T1,2, Mechulam R3,4, Marii A5, Gabay G6,7, Stein A6,7, Bronshtain M6,7, Laish I6,7, Benjaminov F6,7, Konikoff FM6,7. Author information Abstract BACKGROUND: Cannabidiol (CBD) is an anti-inflammatory cannabinoid shown to be beneficial in a mouse model of IBD. Lacking any central effect, cannabidiol is an attractive option for treating inflammatory diseases. AIM: To assess the effects of cannabidiol on Crohn's disease in a randomized placebo-controlled trial. CONCLUSION: In this study of...
“Citizens Commission on Human Rights International is opposing the world-first study that could lead to millions of Australian and American teens being doped with prescribed marijuana.” By CCHR International The Mental Health Industry Watchdog March 15, 2017 Australian psychiatrist Patrick McGorry, renowned for his debunked and dangerous theory that pre-drugging adolescents with antipsychotics can prevent psychosis, now plans to prescribe medical cannabis to treat “anxious” 12 year olds. His...
By Jacqueline Howard, CNN Mon April 3, 2017 A rise in the use of medical marijuana has spurred a debate about organ transplantation, and it's changing some laws across the nation. Garry Godfrey found out in 2010 that he was removed from an organ transplant waiting list in Maine due to a health risk associated with his use of medical marijuana, CNN affiliate WGME reported . Now Godfrey is speaking out in support of a bill in Maine that would prohibit hospitals from determining a patient's...
On September 26, 2016, GW Pharmaceuticals, a British company, announced a second positive Phase 3 pivotal trial for Epidiolex (cannabidiol) in the treatment of Lennon-Gastaut Syndrome, a rare and severe form of childhood-onset epilepsy. According to GW’s website: “In this trial, Epidiolex, when added to the patient’s current treatment, achieved the primary endpoint for both dose levels with high statistical significance. During the treatment period, patients taking Epidiolex 20mg/kg/day...
Why the rush for unregulated cannabis oils as medicine? The current push for the NSW and Federal Governments to abandon testing strictures on the medical use of cannabis oils is likely due to recreational cannabis users seeking quicker access to medical cannabis for their recreational use. Legislators must recognise that the latest form of recreational use of cannabis is via cannabis oils and tinctures being used with e-cigarettes or vaporiser pens. This form of smoking emits an odourless...
GW intends to advance oncology research and development efforts LONDON , Feb. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq:GWPH) (“GW,” “the Company” or “the Group”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform, today announced positive top-line results from an exploratory Phase 2 placebo-controlled clinical study of a proprietary combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)...
BY CLAUDIA BUCK In uneasy news for medical marijuana users, UC Davis researchers have identified potentially lethal bacteria and mold on samples from 20 Northern California pot growers and dispensaries, leading the doctors to warn patients with weakened immune systems to avoid smoking, vaping or inhaling aerosolized cannabis. "For the vast majority of cannabis users, this is not of great concern," said Dr. George Thompson, professor in the UC Davis Department of Medical Microbiology and...
Written by Jayne Leonard Reviewed by Alana Biggers, MD, MPH Studies in the area of marijuana use for the treatment of fibromyalgia are lacking. The findings among the existing literature are mixed. Research into the use of marijuana for treating fibromyalgia has produced mixed findings so far. Some research indicates that the use of cannabis is associated with beneficial effects on some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. On the other hand, a 2016 review of studies found insufficient evidence to...
"Putting patient safety at risk is unacceptable, and for a government department that is supposed to take care of people's safety, I think they've fallen down on the job," said Percy. He said he's written to the health minister and to members of Parliament. He believes Health Canada should test marijuana for more than 13 compounds to ensure it's safe for consumption. Percy said he and other licensed medical marijuana patients have discussed starting a class-action lawsuit. Read More
I had my recreational marijuana card for 10 years and was a daily smoker/dabber/edible eater/etc etc etc. I’m ashamed to admit that I was very much a part of the cannabis scene, what a complete and utter waste of time. With that said, the best decision I ever made in my life was ripping my California “medical” marijuana doctor’s recommendation to shreds and making the decision to never touch that garbage again. In my early 20s, I was really struggling with mental health issues that were...
In a study of 268 separate online discussion threads, 25 percent of people said they believed that marijuana was useful. The researchers point out, however, that research proving a connection between marijuana and positive therapeutic outcomes is limited. Other limited studies have suggested that marijuana would improve cognitive ability and impulse control, so it may be useful for ADHD. Other research shows that marijuana use had no effect on cognitive abilities, or possibly made them worse,...
EXCERPT: "The families and children coming to Colorado are receiving unregulated, highly variable artisanal preparations of cannabis oil prescribed, in most cases, by physicians with no training in pediatrics, neurology or epilepsy. As a result, the epilepsy specialists in Colorado have been at the bedside of children having severe dystonic reactions and other movement disorders, developmental regression, intractable vomiting and worsening seizures that can be so severe they have to put the...
The cannabinoids dronabinol (Marinol, and generics) and nabilone (Cesamet) are effectivefor treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, for which they have been approved in the US. Cannabinoid products may also be effective for second-line treatment of cancer pain and the neuropathic pain and spasticity of multiple sclerosis, but none are currently approved for these indications. Cannabidiol (CBD) alone, which is not psychoactive, may be effective for treatment of epilepsy, but more...
Conclusion : "Our data indicate that infrequent users have a stronger relationship with negative mood. Our data suggested that those that use cannabis casually scored higher on the CES-D scale for depression, and consequently could be at greater risk for developing pre-depression symptomology compared to both chronic users and controls." For more
By Will Boggs MD (Reuters Health) – Pregnant women who use marijuana to treat their nausea may be harming their unborn children, according to a warning from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). "Although more research is needed, there is strong reason to believe marijuana could be harmful to fetal development,” NIDA director Dr. Nora D. Volkow told Reuters Health by email. “Women who are pregnant should avoid using marijuana, even though it might seem like a 'natural' solution to their...
Written by Marie Ellis Published: Friday 9 December 2016 Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurological illness in the United States, causing tremors, slowness of movement, postural instability, and impaired balance and coordination. But findings from a new review suggest symptoms of the condition could be improved with marijuana. A new review suggests medical marijuana could improve symptoms of Parkinson's disease, but more research is warranted. The review was led by Prof. Zvi...
At the 70th annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Houston this week, GW Pharmaceuticals announced results of the first ever randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of CBD. The company’s proprietary CBD drug is called Epidiolex. In the Dravet syndrome study, 43 percent of patients taking Epidiolex had a greater than or equal to 50 percent reduction in convulsive seizures compared to 27 percent of patients taking placebo. Seven patients taking Epidiolex achieved total...
Δ9-THC Intoxication by Cannabidiol-Enriched Cannabis Extract in Two Children with Refractory Epilepsy: Full Remission after Switching to Purified Cannabidiol José A. S. Crippa 1 *, Ana C. S. Crippa 2 , Jaime E. C. Hallak 1 , Rocio Martín-Santos 1 , 3 and Antonio W. Zuardi 1 1 Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil 2 Department of Clinical Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil 3 Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic,...
London, UK; 26 Sept 2016: GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: GWPH, AIM: “GWP,” “GW,” “the Company” or “the Group”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform, announces positive results of the second randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical trial of its investigational medicine Epidiolex® (cannabidiol or CBD) for the treatment of seizures associated with...
States have passed so-called “medical marijuana” laws under the theory that pot has medicinal benefits that can’t be produced by other, legal means. But what if there was a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug that gave you all the benefits of the active ingredients in marijuana, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol? What if that drug had been rigorously tested through clinical trials to make sure that it worked as promised, was properly dosed, and had no unanticipated side...
A new study demonstrating the conversion of oral cannabidiol (CBD) to the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the presence of gastric fluids could explain why children given CBD to treat epilepsy had an unexpectedly high rate of adverse effects such as sleepiness and fatigue . The study, "Identification of Psychoactive Degradants of Cannabidiol in Simulated Gastric and Physiologic Fluid," is published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, a new peer-reviewed journal from Mary...
However, what most people do not know is that the Cannabis Australia is allowing to be imported for the first time includes GMO Cannabis. GMO or Genetically Modified Organism Cannabis has been around since 2011 due to breakthroughs in research and Biotechnology by Ethan Russo and GW UK helping in the process. In 2014 even newer GMO Cannabis strains has been introduced. In early April 2016 as we speak, an Australian delegation is traveling to Asia to look at GMO Cannabis with no THC, and in...
Epilepsy sufferer, 13, who became poster child for medical marijuana after moving to Maine to access alternative treatment has died in her father's arms Cyndimae Meehan, 13, sparked media attention and changed policy. She moved to Maine from Connecticut as FDA drugs had failed her. Only cannabis oil effectively treated her habitual seizures, family claimed. Last year her family was driving force behind Maine bill that approved housing in schools for kids who need round-the-clock medical...
Nicole MacKee - Monday, 30 May, 2016 THE importance of building a solid evidence base for the role of medicinal cannabis products must not be lost in moves to make the drug more widely available, say researchers. In a Perspective published online by the MJA today , researchers have called for “considered management” in the wake of federal reforms to enable the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes in Australia. Sussan Ley, federal Minister for Health, described the...
Published: Thursday 5 May 2016 According to new research at Western University, marijuana is the ultimate contradiction; at least when it comes to schizophrenia . This first-of-its-kind study, published in the journal Neuroscience, demonstrates that a chemical found in marijuana called cannabidiol, or CBD, affects the brain in a way that makes it an ideal treatment option for schizophrenia. This research comes just months after the same lab found that adolescent exposure to THC, the other...
By Bertha Madras April 29 2016 Each week, In Theory takes on a big idea in the news and explores it from a range of perspectives. This week, we’re talking about drug scheduling. Need a primer? Catch up here. Bertha Madras is a professor of psychobiology at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, with a research focus on how drugs affect the brain. She is former deputy director for demand reduction in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Data from 2015 indicate that 30...
For those who are still concerned about ‘evidence based science’ and ‘best medical and pharmaceutical practice’…the following ‘open letter’ with attachments was sent to all Federal Senators, NSW and Victorian Premiers last week.
Scott E. Hadland, MD, MPH,1,2 John R. Knight, MD,1,3 and Sion K. Harris, PhD1,2,3 Author information ► Copyright and License information ► The publisher's final edited version of this article is available at J Dev Behav Pediatr See other articles in PMC that cite the published article. Abstract Marijuana policy is rapidly evolving in the United States and elsewhere, with cannabis sales fully legalized and regulated in some jurisdictions and use of the drug for medicinal purposes permitted in...
Wilkinson ST1, Stefanovics E, Rosenheck RA. Abstract OBJECTIVE : An increasing number of states have approved posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, although little evidence exists evaluating the effect of marijuana use in PTSD. We examined the association between marijuana use and PTSD symptom severity in a longitudinal, observational study. METHOD : From 1992 to 2011, veterans with DSM-III/-IV PTSD (N = 2,276) were admitted to specialized...
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