Author: Frank Schuler

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Canada: Alcohol A “Greater Threat To Road Safety” Than Cannabis

Written by Frank Schuler on May 4, 2025. Posted in Science.

When it comes to cannabis policy modernization efforts, two of the most popular talking points within the cannabis opponent community are that ‘cannabis reform will harm children’ and that ‘cannabis reform will result in less safe public roadways.’

Historically, in every jurisdiction where cannabis policy reform is being proposed, those two talking points are almost always offered up by cannabis opponents. What cannabis opponents fail to recognize is that responsible cannabis advocates also want to ensure that children and public roadways are safe, which is why we advocate for sensible regulation over prohibition.

Alcohol is an intoxicating substance that is popular all over the world, and just as alcohol can be permitted and regulated, the same should also be true for cannabis. A recent analysis in Canada found that alcohol poses a greater threat to road safety. Below is more information about the analysis via a news release from NORML:

Vancouver, Canada: Alcohol is among the most frequently detected controlled substances identified in drivers following a motor vehicle accident and it “remains the greatest threat to road safety,” according to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

Canadian researchers reviewed bloodwork data for over 8,300 drivers involved in a motor vehicle accident. Over half of the study’s participants tested positive for the presence of a controlled substance. Drivers were most likely to test positive for either depressants, cannabis, or alcohol – with cannabis being more common among younger drivers (ages 19 to 24).

However, most drivers who tested positive for the presence of THC in blood did so at nominal levels – indicating that their exposure may have been several hours or even days beforehand. (THC may remain present in the blood of more habitual consumers for several days following past exposure.) Only about three percent of participants tested positive for THC at elevated levels (THC ≥ 5 ng/mL).

“These statistics suggest that although more drivers test positive for THC, alcohol remains the greater threat to road safety,” the study’s authors concluded.

A prior Canadian study reported that drivers treated for traffic-related injuries are over three times as likely to test positive for elevated levels of alcohol (BAC ≥ 0.08 percent) than elevated levels of THC (THC ≥ 5 ng/mL).

Driving simulator studies report that cannabis administration is typically associated with compensatory driving behavior, such as decreased mean speed and increased mean following distance, whereas alcohol administration is associated with more aggressive driving behavior. Nevertheless, cannabis exposure can influence certain psychomotor skills necessary for safe driving, such as reaction time and drivers’ ability to maintain lane positioning.

A study conducted by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that drivers who test positive for any amount of THC possess, on average, a far lower risk of being involved in a traffic collision than do drivers who test positive for alcohol at or near legal limits.

By contrast, drivers who test positive for the presence of both THC and alcohol in their system tend to possess significantly higher odds of being involved in a motor vehicle accident than do those who test positive for either substance alone.

Full text of the study, “Prevalence of impairing substance use in injured drivers,” appears in JAMA Network Open. Additional information on cannabis, psychomotor performance, and accident risk is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.‘

Australian Study Finds Medical Cannabis Use Improves Sleep

Written by Frank Schuler on April 27, 2025. Posted in Science.

To some people, insomnia may not seem like a serious health condition, however, anyone who suffers from major insomnia will be the first to point out that it can have a negative and significant impact on a person’s life and their overall well-being.

The Mayo Clinic defines insomnia as “a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep.” Chronic insomnia occurs when the sleep condition lasts longer than a month.

In addition to making a person feel tired and drained throughout the day, insomnia can also be an indicator of a person experiencing one or more other potentially serious health conditions. A team of researchers affiliated with the University of Sydney recently conducted a study that found that after one year of medical cannabis use, subjects experienced improved sleep.

The results of the study were published in the academic database PLOS One earlier this month.

“We aimed to assess overall health-related quality of life (HRQL), pain, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, and motor function in a large real-world sample of patients prescribed medicinal cannabis. We previously found all patient-reported outcomes improved in the first 3-months and hypothesised that improvements would be maintained to 12-months.” the researchers stated.

“The QUEST Initiative, a multicentre prospective study, recruited adult patients with any chronic health condition newly prescribed medicinal cannabis oil between November 2020 and December 2021. Participants identified by 114 clinicians across Australia completed validated questionnaires at baseline, then 2-weeks titration, and 1-,2-,3-,5-,7-,9- and 12-months follow-up.” the researchers stated about their study’s methodology.

“Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in overall health-related quality of life, fatigue, and sleep disturbance were maintained over 12-months in patients prescribed medical cannabis for chronic health conditions. Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and pain also improved over time for those with corresponding health conditions.” the researchers concluded.

PTSD Patients Experience Sustained Improvements After Medical Cannabis Use

Written by Frank Schuler on April 27, 2025. Posted in Science.

International health researchers estimate that roughly 4% of the world’s total population suffers from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is one of the most common mental health conditions around the globe.

PTSD is typically treated via several different therapies, with common examples including different types of trauma-focused psychotherapy as well as pharmaceutical medications. Many of the pharmaceutical medications commonly used to treat PTSD can yield undesirable side effects.

A recent study conducted in the United Kingdom examined medical cannabis therapies and PTSD, with the researchers finding that the study’s subjects experienced sustained improvements following medical cannabis use. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: Patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress experience significant long-term benefits following their use of medical cannabis preparations, according to data published in the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

British researchers assessed changes in patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs). (British health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Two hundred and sixty-nine patients with post-traumatic stress enrolled in the United Kingdom’s Medical Cannabis Registry were enrolled in the trial. Participants’ symptoms were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months.

Consistent with other observational studies, “significant improvements in post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, sleep quality, and HRQoL were observed at all follow-up points.” Symptomatic improvements were sustained for the entire study period (18 months).

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be effective for those diagnosed with cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, hypermobility disorders, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “UK Medical Cannabis Registry: An updated clinical outcomes analysis of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder,” appears in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. Additional information on cannabis and post-traumatic stress is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

Brazilian Study Finds Cannabis Extracts Are Effective For Pediatric Autism Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on April 21, 2025. Posted in Science.

When it comes to administering medical cannabis to pediatric patients, safety and caution are paramount. Doing so should always involve the advice, guidance, and approval of a licensed medical doctor who specializes in pediatric care.

While cases of medical cannabis being prescribed to pediatric patients are rare compared to prescriptions for non-pediatric patients, such cases do exist and rightfully so. Cannabis is medicine, as a growing list of peer-reviewed studies and individual patient cases demonstrates.

A team of researchers in Brazil recently conducted a study involving cannabis extracts and pediatric autism patients, finding that the extracts were both safe and effective. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:

São Paulo, Brazil: The use of cannabis extracts containing standardized percentages of CBD and THC safely mitigates autism symptoms in children, according to a systematic review of trial data published in the journal Cureus.

Brazilian researchers reviewed findings from seven studies (three randomized clinical trials and four observational studies) involving 494 younger patients with autism spectrum disorder. Study participants consumed extracts dominant in cannabidiol.

Researchers reported, “CBD-rich formulations may hold promise for managing certain ASD symptoms. Improvements were noted in anxiety, sleep quality, social effects, and behavior, although these findings varied across studies. Importantly, adverse events were generally mild and occurred at similar rates in cannabinoid and placebo groups, supporting the intervention’s safety profile.”

The study’s authors concluded, “More rigorous, well-designed RCTs [randomized controlled trials] are necessary to confirm these results and establish clear treatment guidelines for cannabinoid use in ASD.”

Full text of the study, “Efficacy and safety of cannabinoids for autism spectrum disorder: An updated systematic review,” appears in Cureus. Additional information on cannabinoids and ASD is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Poland Study Finds Cannabinoid Ointment Relieves Eczema Symptoms

Written by Frank Schuler on April 21, 2025. Posted in Science.

Eczema is a common skin condition that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin in people who suffer from it. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. Researchers estimate that roughly 10% to 20% of children and 2% to 10% of adults worldwide have eczema.

Common treatments for eczema include over-the-counter products that may help to some degree. Pharmaceutical drugs are also sometimes prescribed for eczema sufferers, including non-steroid topical creams, steroid topical creams, and daily pill prescriptions.

A team of researchers in Poland recently conducted a study examining the application of cannabinoid-based ointments and eczema. Below is more information about the study and its findings via a news release from NORML:

Katowice, Poland: The topical administration of an ointment containing standardized percentages of CBD and CBG (cannabigerol) mitigates symptoms and improves the health-related quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis (eczema), according to observational data published in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.

Polish investigators assessed the transdermal use of cannabinoids in nine patients diagnosed with AD. Study participants applied a cannabinoid-infused ointment containing 30 percent CBD and five percent CBG daily for eight weeks.

Cannabis treatment led to the remission of skin lesions and other changes in skin parameters, including improved hydration and less itching.

“Our results demonstrate that topical cannabinoid therapy is effective in reducing itching and improving the quality of life of patients with AD, leading to symptom remission in some cases,” the study’s authors concluded.

The results are consistent with those of prior studies finding that the topical application of cannabinoids provides benefits in treating various skin-related conditions, including psoriasis, erythema, pruritus, and acne. Cannabinoid treatment is also associated with wound healing in patients with refractory leg ulcers and has demonstrated positive results in patients suffering from the skin blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa.

Full text of the study, “Evaluation of biophysical parameters of the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis after application of an ointment containing 30% cannabidiol and 5% cannabigerol,” appears in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.

Study Finds Canadian Legalization Is ‘Displacing Illegal Cannabis Market’

Written by Frank Schuler on April 14, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

Canada became the second country to ever adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure in 2018 and was the first G-7 nation to adopt the public policy change. The first country to adopt a national recreational cannabis legalization measure was Uruguay in 2013.

Since 2018, Canada’s recreational cannabis market has served as the international leader in size and scope and has also served as the top cannabis commerce public policy model for international researchers to examine.

A team of researchers affiliated with the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, and the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research at McMaster University conducted a study analyzing legalization’s impact on Canada’s unregulated cannabis market. The study’s findings were recently published in the academic publication International Journal of Drug Policy.

“We used interrupted time series analysis to evaluate whether recreational cannabis legalization (legislative passage in October 2017/implementation in October 2018) was associated with changes in quarterly national household expenditures on medical cannabis, illegal cannabis, and all cannabis types combined (licensed, illegal, and medical) in Canada from 2001 to 2023, adjusting for price fluctuations.” the researchers stated about their study’s methodology.

“When recreational cannabis legalization was passed, medical cannabis represented 11.8% of the market and illegal cannabis 88.2%. At five years post-recreational cannabis legalization implementation, medical cannabis decreased to 3.7%, illegal cannabis decreased to 24.3%, and licensed cannabis took over 72.0% of the market. The overall cannabis market increased in size by 75% over these 5 years.” the researchers stated about their findings.

“Recreational cannabis legalization in Canada appears to be achieving one of its primary goals by displacing the illegal cannabis market, and medical users also appear to be transitioning to the recreational market.” the study’s authors concluded.

Cannabis is currently legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted recreational cannabis legalization measures, and adult-use commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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Vaporized Cannabis Provides “Significant Improvements” For MS Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on April 12, 2025. Posted in Science.

Cannabis consumption has evolved in recent decades. For many years, cannabis was typically eaten or it was combusted with a flame, and the resulting smoke was inhaled. These days, cannabis is vaporized by more and more medical cannabis patients for various reasons.

According to SNS Insider, the cannabis vape market “was valued at USD 5.06 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to USD 17.11 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 14.53% over the forecast period of 2024-2032.”

Researchers in Greece recently conducted a study involving vaporized medical cannabis and multiple sclerosis patients. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:

Athens, Greece: Vaporized cannabis containing standardized percentages of CBD and THC is associated with sustained improvements in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to longitudinal data published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Greek researchers assessed the efficacy of a vaporized cannabis formulation containing 13 percent CBD and 9 percent THC in a cohort of 69 MS patients. Study participants’ symptoms – including bladder dysfunction, muscle spasticity, and disability progression rate – were assessed at baseline, at three months, and six months.

“Significant improvement was observed across all outcome assessments” following patients’ adjunctive use of cannabis, researchers reported.

“This study represents an initial step toward understanding the real-world application of vaporized THC: CBD formulations in MS management,” the study’s authors concluded. “The findings … highlight the potential benefits of CBD 13 [percent] | THC 9 [percent] vaporized formulations in managing MS symptoms, particularly when integrated into the existing treatment framework of DMTs [disease modifying therapies] and other MS symptomatic therapies.”

In 2010, British health officials granted regulatory approval to an oromucosal spray (nabiximols) containing standardized percentages of CBD and THC for the treatment of MS. That product is now available by prescription in various countries – including Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan, and Spain – but remains unavailable in the United States.

Full text of the study, “Evaluating vaporized cannabinoid therapy in multiple sclerosis: Findings from a prospective single-center clinical study,” appears in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Additional information on cannabis and MS is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

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Medical Cannabis Associated With “Meaningful Improvements” In Patients’ Quality of Life

Written by Frank Schuler on April 12, 2025. Posted in Science.

Nearly five dozen nations now permit some form of legal access to medical cannabis. Tens of thousands of peer-reviewed studies have focused on the medical benefits of cannabis, finding that it is an effective form of medicine. Legal medical cannabis is big business, too.

According to Persistence Market Research, “the global medical marijuana market is expected to grow from USD 33.1 Bn in 2025 to USD 83.1 Bn by 2032, registering a CAGR of 14.0% during the forecast period.”

A team of health researchers in Australia recently conducted a study examining medical cannabis’ impact on the health-related quality of life of patients who use it. Below is more information about the study via a news release from NORML:

Sydney, Australia: The use of physician-authorized medical cannabis products is associated with “statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements” in patients’ health, according to observational study data published in the journal PLOS One.

Researchers assessed the efficacy of cannabis oil extracts containing standardized ratios of THC and CBD in more than 2,000 patients over one year. (Under Australian law, physicians may authorize cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.)

Consistent with prior studies, patients reported sustained improvements following cannabis therapy.

“Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements were observed in HRQL [health-related quality of life], fatigue, pain, and sleep for people with chronic health conditions,” investigators concluded. “Similar improvements were found in pain outcomes for participants with chronic pain; sleep disturbance for participants with insomnia; depression scores for patients with depression; and anxiety scores in patients with anxiety. … The findings from this study contribute to the emerging evidence-base to inform decision making both in clinical practice and at policy level.”

Similarly designed studies involving patients enrolled in the United Kingdom’s medical marijuana access program have shown cannabis products to be safe and effective for those suffering from cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, hypermobility disorders, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “Improvements in health-related quality of life are maintained long-term in patients prescribed medicinal cannabis in Australia: The QUEST Initiative 12-month follow up observational study,” appears in PLOS One. Additional information about the therapeutic use of cannabis is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Application for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Improved Mental Health Reported In Swiss Cannabis Study

Written by Frank Schuler on March 31, 2025. Posted in Science.

Switzerland is home to a somewhat unique set of cannabis commerce public policy experiments. The research experiments are known as regional adult-use cannabis commerce ‘pilot trials’ and involve permitting legal sales at a local level to help government officials gather data.

Multiple markets have trials operating in Switzerland, including in Basel, where recently examined data found that pilot trial participants report ‘improved mental health’ after consuming legal recreational cannabis products.

“Over the course of the two-year “Weedcare” recreational cannabis study, depressive symptoms and anxiety decreased among the participants, Basel City’s Department of Health reported on Friday. They also showed less addictive behaviour.” Swiss Info stated in its local coverage.

“The study is being led by Basel City’s Department of Health, together with the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, the Psychiatric Services Aargau and the University of Basel.” the outlet also reported.

Basel’s pilot trial was the first to launch in Switzerland. In addition to Switzerland’s research trials, cannabis pilot trials are also operating in multiple jurisdictions in the Netherlands and are expected to launch soon in Germany.

In the first two years of Basel’s study, which involves a reported 300 participants, 87 kilograms of cannabis products were sold. The pilot trial in Basel is slated to continue until January 2027, at which point government officials will publish a final report.