Author: Frank Schuler

UK Researchers Examine Cannabis Use And ADHD

Written by Frank Schuler on December 11, 2023. Posted in Science.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders that people are diagnosed with. Diagnosis typically happens in adolescence, with the condition often continuing into adulthood.

According to a study conducted in 2021, “the prevalence of persistent adult ADHD was 2.58% and that of symptomatic adult ADHD was 6.76%, translating to 139.84 million and 366.33 million affected adults in 2020 globally.”

A team of researchers in the United Kingdom associated with various academic institutions recently examined the relationship between human cannabis consumption and the quality of life among ADHD patients.

“This study aims to analyze the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and safety outcomes in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs).” the researchers stated about the intent of the study.

“Patients were identified from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Primary outcomes were changes in the following patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months from baseline: EQ-5D-5L index value, generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, and the single-item sleep quality score (SQS). Secondary outcomes assessed the incidence of adverse events. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.050.” the researchers stated about their methodology.

The United Kingdom has a more restrictive medical cannabis program compared to many other countries, and that is important to keep in mind for any study involving the UK Medical Cannabis Registry.

“Significant improvements were identified in general HRQoL assessed by EQ-5D-5L index value at 1, 3, and 6 months (p < 0.050). Improvements were also identified in GAD-7 and SQS scores at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months (p < 0.010). 61 (89.71%) adverse events were recorded by 11 (16.18%) participants, of which most were moderate (n = 26, 38.24%).” the researchers stated about the results of the study.

“An association between CBMP treatment and improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, and general HRQoL was observed in patients with ADHD. Treatment was well tolerated at 12 months.” the researchers concluded.

Cannabis Use Before Bedtime Associated With Improved Sleep Quality

Written by Frank Schuler on December 11, 2023. Posted in Science.

Insomnia is a major health issue around the globe. Whether people suffer from insomnia as a primary condition, or it is a side effect caused by a different condition or medication, an inability to fall asleep and/or stay asleep can have a significantly negative impact on a patient’s overall health, both physically and mentally.

When a suffering patient is deprived of proper sleep, they can become more irritable, and completing routine activities can become more difficult. Insomnia impairs brain functions such as memory and decision-making, and it can also cause depression. Physically, insomnia can impair a person’s immune system, in addition to other concerns.

The cannabis plant has served as a sleep aid for many insomnia sufferers over many years, and that appears to be the case in Israel according to the results of a recent study. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Haifa, Israel: Cannabis use prior to bedtime is associated with improved sleep quality, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

Israeli investigators assessed the relationship between cannabis and self-reported sleep quality in a cohort of 347 subjects who reported suffering from anxiety. Subjects reported their quality of sleep each morning for 30 days.

Researchers reported: “Cannabis use [was] … linked to higher perceived sleep quality versus non-use. … These findings add to the emerging evidence of cannabis’s sleep-enhancing properties.”

The survey’s findings are consistent with those of others concluding that consumers frequently use cannabis to mitigate sleep disorders, including insomnia, and that moderate doses of cannabis improve sleep quality. Data published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine previously reported that the enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization laws is associated with a significant reduction in the sales of over-the-counter sleep aids among the general public.

Full text of the study, “Daily diary study of associations between alcohol, cannabis, co-use and sleep quality in individuals with intentions to use cannabis to cope with anxiety,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Review.Additional information on the use of cannabis for insomnia is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Argentinian Cannabis Veterinarians Surveyed About Phytocannabinoid Use

Written by Frank Schuler on December 11, 2023. Posted in Policy.

When most people think about cannabis consumption, they tend to think of humans, and rightfully so. After all, humans have a very long history with the cannabis plant. However, humans are not the only creatures on Earth that have endocannabinoid systems.

Two creatures that possess endocannabinoid systems are cats and dogs. Feasibly, just as phytocannabinoids can provide wellness benefits to humans, so too can they do the same for cats and dogs. That theory was at the heart of a recent study in Argentina.

Cannabis research parameters were expanded in Argentina in recent years via “laws 27350 and 27669” as the researchers point out, and that “animals respond to preparations containing phytocannabinoids for treating several conditions.”

“We conducted a web-based survey of Argentinian Cannabis Veterinarians to make a situational diagnosis on the number of veterinary medicine professionals currently developing treatments with cannabinoids focusing on dogs and cats.” the researchers stated about their methodology in the study.

It is estimated that there are as many as 900 million dogs globally, with more than 471 million of them being pets. Germany alone has an estimated 10.3 million pet dogs. It is also estimated that the world has between 600 million and 1 billion cats.

“Among the species treated, 77% corresponded to dogs, while 21% were cats. Pain, seizures, and behavior disorders are the most prevalent conditions in dogs. Seven conditions and combinations were treated in cats. Full-spectrum cannabis extract derived from three different chemotypes was administered alone or with standard medication.” the researchers in Argentina stated regarding the results of their recent study.

“Response to cannabis treatment was characterized based on improvement categorized according to clinical assessment. Both dogs and cats showed different improvement grades in clinical signs.” they also stated.

“This analysis provides promising results regarding the medicinal use of cannabis in dogs and cats. Based on this analysis, we propose to expand the training of professionals, obtain quality preparations, and initiate controlled trials to reinforce knowledge of the use of cannabinoids in veterinary medicine.” the researchers concluded.

Cannabis and animal science is an emerging field of study. With many historical restrictions to research being lifted in various parts of the world, interest and focus on this area will likely increase. The global pet industry is projected to be worth $500 billion by 2030.

Patients Do Not Exhibit Neurocognitive Performance Changes After Cannabis Use

Written by Frank Schuler on December 6, 2023. Posted in Science.

Cannabis opponents have long touted the unfounded claim that ‘cannabis is bad for the human brain.’ Those claims always fail to provide proper context to the subject, which does a huge disservice to such a very important conversation.

To be sure, cannabis can have an effect on the human brain, but to what level and in which ways depends on several factors. That is why one patient can consume cannabis in the same manner as a second patient, the same dosage, and all things being equal, yet have a different experience.

Not all cannabis use results in a change in how the brain functions. Neurocognitive performance after cannabis use was at the heart of a recent study in Australia, and the results are insightful. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Melbourne, Australia: The use of medical cannabis is not associated with significant changes in patients’ cognitive performance or driving abilities, according to data published in the journal CNS Drugs.

Australian researchers assessed neurocognitive performance in a cohort of 40 patients authorized to use medical cannabis products. (Under Australian law, physicians may authorize cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.) Participants’ performance was assessed at baseline and again three hours later. Patients either vaporized herbal cannabis or consumed oral extracts. Study participants had regularly used medical cannabis products for at least ten months prior to enrolling in the trial.

Patients exhibited no changes in simulated psychomotor performance, executive function, memory, or reaction time following their self-administration of a “standard dose of their prescribed medical cannabis.” Results were consistent regardless of the type of cannabis product consumed.

Investigators reported: “We found no evidence for impaired cognitive function when comparing baseline with post-treatment scores on a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery, nor did we observe any change in performance on the DRUID [psychomotor] test battery over time. … These findings are consistent with two systematic reviews published in the last year that suggest that medical cannabis, when used regularly and consistently for a chronic health condition, may have little if any impact on cognitive function.”

The study’s authors concluded, “Medical cannabis may have minimal acute impact on cognitive function when prescribed and used as directed.”

Other studies have similarly determined that habitual cannabis consumers become tolerant to cannabis-induced changes in either cognitive or psychomotor performance. According to a 2018 meta-analysis of 36 studies involving over 1,000 participants: “Available evidence suggests that the effects of acute marijuana or Δ9-THC administration are less prominent in individuals with a regular pattern of cannabis use compared to non-regular users. Cognitive function appears to be the domain most likely to demonstrate tolerance upon repeated exposure, with some evidence of full tolerance indicating a complete absence of acute effect.”

A literature review published in the journal of the German Medical Association concluded, “Patients who take cannabinoids at a constant dosage over an extensive period of time often develop tolerance to the impairment of psychomotor performance, so that they can drive vehicles safely.”
Full text of the study, “A semi-naturalistic, open-label trial examining the effect of prescribed medical cannabis on neurocognitive performance,” appears in CNS Drugs. Additional information is available in the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.’

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Cannabis Improves Ability To Cope With Cancer According To Survey

Written by Frank Schuler on December 6, 2023. Posted in Science.

Battling cancer is one of the worst things that a human can go through. Even if a patient is able to battle and overcome their cancer, the toll it takes on their body and mind is often substantial. Part of that is due to the condition itself, and part of it is the result of the treatment(s) that they have to endure to treat their condition.

Anyone who has battled cancer or watched as a loved one had to battle cancer will often be quick to describe how hard life is to cope with during their battle. Modern medications can only provide a certain level of comfort, and often that comfort is very temporary.

Many patients report using medical cannabis to help them cope with their cancer battles, and according to the results of a new survey conducted in Israel, the strategy seems to help. Below is more information about the survey and its results via a news release from NORML:

Tel Aviv, Israel: The majority of cancer patients suffering from refractory pain say that the use of medical cannabis helps them cope with their illness, according to survey data published in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

Israeli researchers surveyed 138 cancer patients authorized to use cannabis products. (Medical cannabis is legal by prescription in Israel.) Thirty-eight percent of respondents said that cannabis significantly helped them to cope with their illness while 32 percent said that it “partially” helped them.

Authors concluded: “A large majority of patients using cannabis report that the therapy significantly improves their ability to cope with their illness, with almost 40 percent stating it has done so to a large extent. In this cohort of patients with intractable cancer pain that has proved minimally responsive to numerous conventional treatments, including of course powerful opioids, adjuvants and radiotherapy, this seems to be a striking response. … This … seems to suggest that this therapy should be considered in addition to current therapies for cancer-related pain and could be offered to patients even earlier in the course of their illness and treatments than is acceptable now.”

Other studies have documented sustained improvements in pain intensity, cognition, and sleep quality among cancer patients who consume cannabis products. Cancer patients also report decreasing their use of opioids following cannabis therapy.

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis for refractory cancer-related pain in a specialized clinical service: A cross-sectional study,” appears in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

Cannabis Is Associated With Weight Loss, Lower BMI Per Meta-Analysis

Written by Frank Schuler on November 19, 2023. Posted in Science.

For many years cannabis opponents have tried very hard to portray cannabis as being unhealthy, and that those who consume cannabis are lazy couch potatoes. Cannabis stigma comes in many forms, with ‘lazy shaming’ cannabis consumers being a particularly common version of it.

The fact of the matter is that cannabis can absolutely be a part of an active lifestyle. All a person needs to do to see that on display is to take into account how many elite athletes around the globe report consuming cannabis and that it has no negative impact on their health.

A new meta-analysis out of Brazil examined cannabis consumption as it pertains to weight loss and body mass index (BMI). Below is more about it via a news release from NORML:

Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Subjects who consume cannabis or cannabis-related products in clinical trials typically experience weight loss, according to a meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Brazilian researchers reviewed results from randomized controlled trials involving subjects’ use of cannabis or cannabis-related products.

They reported: “In general, cannabis use reduced weight … and WC [waist circumference]. When examining subgroups, longer follow-up periods were associated with a more pronounced BMI [body mass index] reduction.”

The study’s authors concluded, “These findings suggest that cannabis and sub-products could be considered adjuncts in obesity treatment by helping to reduce relevant anthropometric measurements.”

A 2022 ecological analysis published in the journal Health Economics reported that the adoption of state-licensed marijuana sales is associated with a decrease in state-level obesity rates.

Case-control studies have consistently reported that those with a history of marijuana use are less likely than abstainers to be obese or to suffer from type 2 diabetes. Studies have also previously linked cannabis use to greater rates of physical activity.

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabis and sub-products on anthropometric measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” appears in the International Journal of Obesity.

Cannabis Commonly Used As A Sleep Aid By Cancer Survivors

Written by Frank Schuler on November 6, 2023. Posted in Science.

Insomnia, the inability to fall asleep and/or remain asleep, is a major health problem around the world. Whether patients suffer from insomnia as a primary condition, or if insomnia is caused by a different health condition, insomnia can have a massively negative impact on a person’s overall health. That negative impact can affect both physical and mental health.

When a human is sleep deprived, they become more irritable, and handling daily tasks becomes more difficult. A lack of sleep impairs brain functions such as memory and decision-making, and it can lead to depression. Physically, insomnia can impair patients’ immune systems, among other concerns.

Cannabinoids within the cannabis plant have served as a sleep aid for many insomnia patients over many years. A recent study in Canada looked at cannabis and sleep among cancer survivors specifically. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Halifax, Canada: Nearly a quarter of Canadian cancer survivors acknowledge consuming cannabis as a sleep aid, according to data published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice.

Investigators surveyed over 1,400 cancer survivors. Twenty-four percent of respondents said that they used cannabis prior to bedtime, “with reported benefits including relaxation, reduced time to fall asleep, fewer nocturnal awakenings and improved sleep quality.” (Cannabis is legal for both medical and adult use in Canada.)

Over two-thirds of consumers said that they initiated cannabis use following their cancer diagnosis. Over one-third of consumers said that they used marijuana daily.

Adults frequently report using cannabis and CBD products as sleep aids. Data published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine reported that the enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization laws is associated with a significant reduction in the sales of over-the-counter sleep aids among the general public.

Full text of the survey, “A cross-sectional survey of the prevalence and patterns of using cannabis as a sleep aid in Canadian cancer survivors,” appears in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice.

CBD May Provide Potential Improvements To Cognitive Performance

Written by Frank Schuler on November 6, 2023. Posted in Science.

Cannabis opponents have spent a great deal of time and effort over many years trying to convince society that cannabis is bad for the human brain. While human biology is complex, particularly the human brain, at the macro level a growing body of evidence is proving that cannabis opponents are wrong.

The fact of the matter is that cannabis can be healthy for the human brain in certain instances. The research surrounding cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids is still largely in its infancy, and scientists are unlocking new knowledge every week.

Researchers in Brazil recently examined CBD and cognitive performance and the results are favorable. Below is more information about the study via a news release from NORML:

São Paulo, Brazil: The therapeutic use of CBD doesn’t adversely impact cognitive performance and may potentially improve it in certain subjects, according to a literature review published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Brazilian investigators reviewed 59 studies, including 23 clinical trials, assessing the cognitive safety of CBD. They reported a lack of cognitive deficits associated with CBD dosing. They further reported that CBD administration in animal models may be associated with cognitive improvements.

Authors concluded: “The results demonstrate that the chronic and acute administration of CBD seems not to impair cognition in humans without neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, preclinical studies report promising results regarding the effects of CBD on the cognitive processing of animals. Future double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials with larger, less selective samples, with standardized tests, and using different doses of CBD in outpatients are of particular interest to elucidate the cognitive effects of CBD.”

A 2022 open-label trial performed by doctors at Harvard Medical School reported that patients with moderate-to-severe anxiety experience symptom improvements and better cognitive performance following the daily administration of full spectrum CBD extracts. Data published earlier this year reported that cancer patients taking CBD-infused edible products report subjective improvements in their cognitive functioning.

Full text of the study, “Effects of the acute and chronic administration of cannabidiol on cognition in humans and animals: A systemic review,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

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Study Finds That Cannabis Reduces Pain And Depression In Elderly Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on October 23, 2023. Posted in Science.

Chronic pain and depression are two of the most common health conditions found around the globe. Researchers estimate that roughly 1.5 billion people around the world suffer from chronic pain to some degree.

Additionally, it is estimated that more than 280 million people suffer from some level of depression globally. Obviously, there is some level of overlap between the two groups, with many people suffering from both chronic pain and depression.

Elderly patients are much more likely to suffer from one or both of the conditions. Fortunately, a recent study found that the use of medical cannabis products is associated with symptom reductions in elderly patients experiencing pain and/or depression. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Tel Aviv, Israel: The sustained use of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products is associated with significant reductions in pain, depression, and opioid use among elderly patients, according to observational data published in the journal Biomedicines.

Israeli investigators assessed self-reported outcomes in a cohort of 119 elderly (mean age: 79) patients prescribed medical cannabis products. (Israeli law permits qualified patients to access state-regulated cannabis products, and an estimated 100,000 Israelis are currently authorized to use them.) Most of the study’s participants suffered from chronic pain and consumed cannabis via tinctures. Subjects utilized cannabis products for at least six months.

Authors reported that medical cannabis use was associated with clinically significant reductions in patients’ chronic pain scores. They also reported that patients reduced their use of opioids by nearly half following cannabis treatment – a finding consistent with other studies.

Cannabis use was also associated with reduced symptoms of depression and overall improvements in patients’ daily living, especially among those over the age of 80. The latter finding is consistent with several prior studies reporting health-related quality of life improvements among older adults who initiate cannabis treatment.

Researchers concluded: “Cannabis contributes to the amelioration of depressive symptoms …while also achieving discernible pain alleviation. … Our findings also demonstrate the relatively favorable safety profile of cannabis therapy” in the elderly patient population.

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis is not associated with a decrease in activities of daily living in older adults,” appears in Biomedicines. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Cannabis Use by Older Adult Populations.’