28 November, 2017
NSW patients to get faster access to medicinal cannabis
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Cannabis as Medicine? Overview
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!
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2018 Papers
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Cannabis Exports Dried Cannabis Flower and Oils to Australia for Novel Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery Research by PreveCeutical
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Cannabis for paediatric epilepsy: challenges and conundrums
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The Cannabis Paradox
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Cannabis does more harm than good: Health officials warn doctors against prescribing the drug for ailments as the effects outweigh the minor benefits
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Marijuana-based anti-seizure drug could hit U.S. market in 2018 after strong study results
Thursday, February 01, 2018 153By 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... -
Cryptococcal meningitis in a daily cannabis smoker without evidence of immunodeficiency.
Thursday, February 01, 2018 175Abstract 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... -
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US Adult Illicit Cannabis Use Disorder & Medical Marijuana Laws:
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CBD products are a rip-off for medical marijuana users, study finds
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 209By 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... -
Cannabinoid drug found effective for treating sleep apnea
Thursday, December 07, 2017 184Published 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 -
NSW patients to get faster access to medicinal cannabis
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 21928 November, 2017 View Article -
Can cannabis help treat psoriasis?
Wednesday, November 22, 2017 28420 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 -
Systematic review of safeness and therapeutic efficacy of cannabis in patients with multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and in oncological patients treated with chemotherapy].
Thursday, November 16, 2017 215Abstract 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... -
FDA warns companies marketing unproven products, derived from marijuana, that claim to treat or cure cancer
Thursday, November 02, 2017 201For 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... -
The bad science of medical cannabis
Tuesday, October 31, 2017 300“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... -
Medicinal cannabis not miracle epilepsy drug, says professor treating Victorian children
Monday, October 30, 2017 263Alex 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... -
The cannabis [Snake] oil ‘healers’ preying on Australia’s sick and dying
Monday, October 16, 2017 434Some 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’... -
Race for CBD medication breakthrough: Is pharmaceutical firm’s boon the hemp industry’s doom?
Friday, October 13, 2017 215Alicia 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... -
80 Percent Of Medical Marijuana Tested At Recent NorCal Conference Is Tainted With Mold, Other Toxins
Monday, October 09, 2017 269By 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... -
Ireland: The medicinal cannabis bill passed through the Dáil last year, but now it's on the shelf
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 254The 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... -
An entire state's doctors have shunned medical cannabis
Friday, September 22, 2017 383Rachel 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... -
Speechlessness in Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: [Existing, trialled and approved] Cannabis-Based Medicines Improve Severe Vocal Blocking Tics in Two Patients.
Thursday, September 07, 2017 205Abstract 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... -
Concern with potential rise in super potent cannabis concentrates
Monday, September 04, 2017 20721 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... -
Cannabis-derived compound may help treat schizophrenia
Monday, July 03, 2017 230Uncovering 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... -
False hope driving claims medicinal cannabis is magic pill
Thursday, May 18, 2017 30913 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... -
Cannabis compound may halve seizures for patients with severe epilepsy
Thursday, May 11, 2017 258Written 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... -
Medical marijuana laws linked to greater increase in illicit use, disorders
Monday, May 08, 2017 241Written 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... -
US Adult Illicit Cannabis Use, Cannabis Use Disorder, and Medical Marijuana Laws1991-1992 to 2012-2013
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 241Deborah 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... -
Effects of a Sativex-Like Combination of Phytocannabinoids on Disease Progression in R6/2 Mice, an Experimental Model of Huntington's Disease.
Monday, April 24, 2017 216Valdeolivas 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... -
Selective post-training time window for memory consolidation interference of cannabidiol into the prefrontal cortex: Reduced dopaminergic modulation and immediate gene expression in limbic circuits.
Monday, April 24, 2017 209Rossignoli 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.... -
Low-Dose Cannabidiol Is Safe but Not Effective in the Treatment for Crohn's Disease, a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Monday, April 24, 2017 298Naftali 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... -
Australian Psychiatrist Patrick McGorry Plans to Dope “Anxious” 12 Year Olds with “Medical” Cannabis
Wednesday, April 05, 2017 358“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... -
A 'Catch-22' of medical marijuana and organ transplants
Tuesday, April 04, 2017 279By 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... -
Epidiolex Trails Advancing – Good news for legitimate trailed and tested CBD Medicines.
Monday, April 03, 2017 310On 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... -
Medical Marijuana Brief to Australian Parliamentarians
Monday, February 27, 2017 265Why 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 Pharmaceuticals Achieves Positive Results in Phase 2 Proof of Concept Study in Glioma
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 318GW 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)... -
Is your medical marijuana safe? UC Davis doctors say dangerous bacteria, fungi can lurk in pot
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 289BY 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... -
Can Marijuana Help Treat Fibromyalgia?
Wednesday, February 01, 2017 309Written 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... -
Medical marijuana user 'shocked' by recall over hydrogen cyanide risk
Wednesday, February 01, 2017 278"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 -
Freedom from the ['Medicinal'] Marijuana Trap
Friday, January 20, 2017 316I 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... -
Does marijuana affect ADHD?
Thursday, January 19, 2017 295In 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,... -
American Epilepsy Society's Letter On Marijuana And CBD 2016
Thursday, January 19, 2017 326EXCERPT: "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 Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics : Cannabis and Cannabinoids
Thursday, January 05, 2017 355The 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... -
Casual cannabis use: Is there a link to depression?
Thursday, December 22, 2016 299Conclusion : "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 -
Marijuana for morning sickness can harm your unborn child
Tuesday, December 20, 2016 326By 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... -
Cost Recovery Implementation Statement: Regulation of Medicinal Cannabis
Tuesday, December 20, 2016 327Download Document -
Marijuana: Could it slow Parkinson’s Disease Progression?
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 341Written 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... -
GW Announces New Epidiolex® (CBD) Positive Phase 3 Data in Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Thursday, December 08, 2016 325At 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... -
THC Intoxication by Cannabidiol-Enriched Cannabis Extract in Two Children with Refractory Epilepsy:
Friday, October 21, 2016 369Δ9-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,... -
GW Pharmaceuticals Announces Second Positive Phase 3 Pivotal Trial for Epidiolex in the Treatment of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 321London, 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... -
Why Marijuana Is Not Medicine
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 360Check out this article For full article -
The Dirty Little Secret Pot Pushers Don’t Want You to Know About
Tuesday, August 16, 2016 365States 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... -
Does oral cannabidiol convert to THC, a psychoactive form of cannabinoid, in the stomach?
Thursday, June 30, 2016 568A 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... -
Australia legislates for 100% GMO Biotech Cannabis not Marijuana
Thursday, June 30, 2016 741However, 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... -
Poster child for medical marijuana dies
Tuesday, June 21, 2016 441Epilepsy 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... -
Slow and steady on medicinal cannabis
Tuesday, June 07, 2016 425Nicole 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... -
Chemical in marijuana shows promise in treating schizophrenia
Friday, May 13, 2016 411Published: 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... -
5 reasons marijuana is not medicine
Friday, May 06, 2016 449By 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... -
OPEN LETTER TO ALL AUSTRALIAN POLITICIANS REGARDING ‘NEW’ VERSION OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS
Thursday, May 05, 2016 408For 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. -
Medical Marijuana: Review of the Science and Implications for Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Practice
Tuesday, May 03, 2016 475Scott 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... -
Marijuana use is associated with worse outcomes in symptom severity and violent behavior in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Tuesday, May 03, 2016 342Wilkinson 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... -
Narrative review of the safety and efficacy of marijuana for the treatment of commonly state-approved medical and psychiatric disorders
Monday, May 02, 2016 505• Katherine A Belendiuk, • Lisa L Baldini and • Marcel O Bonn-MillerEmail author Addiction Science & Clinical Practice201510:10 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-015-0032-7 © Belendiuk et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2015 Published: 21 April 2015 Abstract The present investigation aimed to provide an objective narrative review of the existing literature pertaining to the benefits and harms of marijuana use for the treatment of the most common medical and psychological conditions for which it has been...
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