Author: Frank Schuler

Cannabis Use Common For Canadian Patients Recovering From Work-Related Injuries

Written by Frank Schuler on October 21, 2023. Posted in Science.

Cannabis use as it pertains to employment is often a sore subject with consumers and patients due to the societal stigma surrounding cannabis, and in some cases, outright discrimination towards people in the workplace.

Unfortunately, many employers around the world prohibit cannabis use during off-work hours, even when the use is medical in nature. To be clear, no one is advocating for on-the-clock intoxication. However, workplace testing policies need to be based on science and recognize how long metabolized THC stays in a person’s system after the intoxication has worn off.

Ironically, cannabis is a popular choice when it comes to treatment regimens for employees who are recovering from work-related injuries, as determined by a recent study in Canada. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Canada: Nearly one-quarter of Canadians with a painful work-related disability use cannabis during their recovery, according to data published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Toronto surveyed 1,650 adults who were disabled due to a physical work injury or illness. They reported that 22.4 percent of those who suffered from a work-related injury that involved “severe pain symptoms” used cannabis as part of their treatment. (Cannabis is legal for both medical and adult-use in Canada.)

Overall, 11.5 percent of all disabled employees reported using cannabis “to manage conditions associated with the work-related injury,” a finding that is consistent with prior studies.

Those who used cannabis products to assist in their recovery generally did not differ from their non-using peers with respect to their disability expenditures or health care benefit expenses.

Authors concluded: “This study is one of a limited number of studies [assessing] the association between cannabis use and disability benefit expenditures in a representative sample of work disability episodes. The evidence presented in this study of working-age adults recovering from a work-related injury or illness does not find a substantial association of cannabis use with disability benefit expenditures and health care benefit expenditures that would suggest either concerning harm, or significant benefit. These findings contribute information to support decision making among clinicians and disability insurance authorities on the potential benefits and risks associated with cannabis use in settings that have legalized cannabis use.”

By contrast, US data reports declines in the number of workers’ compensation filings following the adoption of either medical cannabis legalization or adult-use legalization.

State courts in the United States have issued contradictory opinions regarding whether medical cannabis-related costs are eligible for reimbursement under workers’ compensation laws. Six states — Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania — currently allow for reimbursements. By contrast, seven states (Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Florida, North Dakota, Ohio, and Washington) expressly prohibit workers’ compensation insurance from reimbursing medical marijuana-related costs. Other states are silent on the issue.

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano recently weighed in on the issue in an op-ed. He wrote:: “Most patients, most physicians, and most state laws view cannabis as a legitimate therapeutic option. Therefore, the millions of Americans who rely upon medical cannabis products ought to be afforded the same entitlements as those who use other conventional medications and therapies. Those privileges should include insurance-provided reimbursement for medical cannabis treatment.”

Full text of the study, “An observational study of pain severity, cannabis use, and benefit expenditures in work disability,” appears in the Canadian Journal of Public Health.

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Radiation Therapists Are “Unprepared” To Discuss Cannabis With Cancer Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on October 21, 2023. Posted in Science.

Humans have used cannabis for medical purposes going back thousands of years. In the grand scheme of things, cannabis was not prohibited until fairly recently and only for a short duration of time compared to how long humans have used cannabis.

Unfortunately, even though cannabis prohibition is a blip on the human/cannabis timeline, it has had a dramatically negative impact on human healthcare as it pertains to medical cannabis. In addition to research and safe access being hindered, knowledge of the cannabis plant was suppressed within the medical community.

That dynamic can be found in the results of a recent study conducted in Canada in which researchers determined that radiation therapists are “unprepared” to even discuss cannabis with cancer patients. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Canada: Radiation therapists working in Canada, where the use of medical cannabis has been legal for more than two decades, acknowledge being unprepared to discuss the use of medical cannabis with their cancer patients, according to survey data published in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences.

Investigators surveyed 282 radiation therapists. Just under one-fifth (19 percent) said that they frequently received inquiries from their patients about the use of medical cannabis. However, nearly 100 percent of those surveyed “believed that their radiation therapy training did not prepare them to support patients using cannabis.”

Authors concluded, “The findings of this study strongly advocate for the development of educational tools to meet Therapists clinical needs.”

Healthcare professionals in the United States and abroad – including nurses, pharmacists, clinicians, and nurse practitioners – consistently acknowledge that they are inadequately trained to counsel patients on matters specific to medical cannabis.

Survey data published in September reported that nearly one-third of US cancer patients turn to cannabis for symptom management, but most fail to inform their healthcare providers that they are using it.

Full text of the study, “Therapeutic cannabis use by patients with cancer in Canada: A national survey of the experiences, opinions, and information needs of Radiation Therapists,” appears in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences.

Clinical Trial Finds Nighttime Use of Cannabinol Reduces Sleep Disturbances

Written by Frank Schuler on October 15, 2023. Posted in Science.

Getting proper sleep is vital to human health. When someone doesn’t get proper sleep, either due to not being able to initially fall asleep, or because they cannot remain asleep, it can have a significantly negative effect on a person’s mental and physical health.

Researchers estimate that as many as 1 out of every 3 adults suffer from insomnia worldwide. The condition can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and/or depression.

Researchers in Canada recently conducted a clinical trial in which they administered cannabinol (CBN) to people experiencing frequent sleep disturbances and the results were favorable. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Smith’s Falls, Canada: The oral consumption of the phytocannabinoid cannabinol (CBN) results in fewer sleep disturbances, according to placebo-controlled trial data published in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.

Investigators assessed the use of CBN versus placebo in a cohort of 321 participants who self-rated their sleep quality as either “poor” or “very poor.” Subjects consumed either 20 mgs of CBN, a combined dosage of CBN and CBD, or placebo for seven days. Participants consumed cannabinoids in the form of gummies 90-minutes prior to bedtime.

The study’s authors reported, “Individuals receiving 20 mg CBN demonstrated reduced nighttime awakenings and overall sleep disturbance relative to placebo.” The combined use of CBD with CBN did not positively augment CBN treatment effects. Subjects reported only mild side-effects, including headache.

“The present study provides evidence to support the use of 20 mg CBN alone for the improvement of some sleep difficulties, including nighttime awakenings and overall sleep disturbance,” authors concluded. “[F]uture studies should continue to examine this potential side effects of CBN and compare it to the side effects of other pharmacological interventions for sleep.”

Prior placebo-controlled trials have reported that the use of cannabis extracts containing THC, CBD, and CBN is safe and effective for patients with chronic insomnia. Separate data published in 2018 also reported that the inhalation of herbal cannabis prior to bedtime is associated with “clinically significant improvements” in patients with insomnia.

Full text of the study, “A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the safety and effects of CBN with and without CBD on sleep quality,” appears in Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. Additional information on cannabis and insomnia is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Study Finds No Significant Changes In Cannabis Use Post-Canadian Legalization

Written by Frank Schuler on October 9, 2023. Posted in Policy.

In every jurisdiction where cannabis reform is being pursued, both historically and currently, cannabis opponents use the similar, unfounded talking point that cannabis reform will lead to doomsday scenarios as it pertains to youth cannabis consumption.

The ‘what about the children’ talking point is used early and often when cannabis policy modernization efforts are announced in an area, including when only limited medical cannabis reform is being pursued.

Canada was the first G-7 nation to legalize cannabis nationally and is home to the most robust nationwide consumer offerings on earth. As such, it provides the best data regarding legalization’s impact on youth consumption rates. A recent study was published in Canada on this topic, and the results are favorable. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Hamilton, Canada: The adoption of cannabis legalization in Canada has not been associated with significant upticks in either marijuana use by young people or in the percentage of people experiencing adverse cannabis-related consequences, according to longitudinal data published in the journal JAMA Open Network.

A team of investigators from Canada and the United States assessed cannabis consumption trends in a cohort of at-risk young adults (ages 19 to 23) during the years immediately preceding and following legalization. Canada legalized the use and retail sale of marijuana products to those ages 18 and older in 2018.

Researchers reported, “Individuals who used cannabis more frequently pre-legalization significantly decreased their use and cannabis-related consequences post-legalization.” By contrast, those who had no history of cannabis use prior to legalization typically reported engaging in the limited use of marijuana use following legalization. However, this use was not associated with adverse consequences.

Authors concluded: “This study examined changes in cannabis use and consequences following recreational cannabis legalization in Canada in a sample of high-risk young adults, addressing the common concern that legalization may precipitate increases in use, particularly in this age group. Rather than detecting increases, however, the results revealed decreases overall, which is broadly consistent with substance use trajectories that might be expected among this age group in the absence of any policy change. … This study aligns with research from US jurisdictions which have largely found that legalization has not drastically altered consumption patterns among youths and young adults.”

State and federal data from the United States consistently has reported overall declines in self-reported marijuana use by young people over the past decade. During that time, nearly half of all states have adopted adult-use marijuana legalization.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use frequency and cannabis-related consequences in high-risk young adults across cannabis legalization,” appears in JAMA Network Open. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana Regulation and Teen Use Rates.’

Many MS Patients Experience Less Spasticity After Cannabis Treatment

Written by Frank Schuler on October 9, 2023. Posted in Science.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a serious health condition that affects many people around the world. It is estimated that as many as 2.8 million people suffer from MS globally and that someone new is diagnosed with the health condition every 5 minutes.

MS is a progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, numbness, impairment of speech and muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue.

Cannabis has been found by a growing number of MS patients to help effectively and safely treat their condition, and according to a recent study in Italy, it is associated with patients experiencing less spasticity. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Catania, Italy: Some 80 percent of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients suffering from severe spasticity experience dramatic reductions in their symptoms following treatment with a proprietary cannabis spray (aka Sativex) containing near equal rations of THC and CBD, according to an analysis of clinical trial data published in the journal Therapeutic Advancements in Neurological Disorders.

A team of Italian researchers analyzed trial data from three studies involving over 2,300 patients. They reported, “In all three studies, over 80 percent of assessed patients with severe spasticity at baseline reported a shift into a lower category of spasticity after 12 weeks.” This shift was most dramatic in those patients suffering from “severe spasticity” at baseline.

Sativex is available as a prescription medication in a number of countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It is not approved for treatment in the United States. A separate cannabis extract drug, Epidiolex, which primarily contains CBD, is FDA-approved for the treatment of pediatric seizures.

Full text of the study, “A post hoc evaluation of the shift in spasticity in individuals with multiple sclerosis-related spasticity treated with nabiximols,” appears in Therapeutic Advancements in Neurological Disorders. Additional information on cannabis and multiple sclerosis is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Drug Sniffing Dogs False Alert 75% Of The Time According To Australian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on October 9, 2023. Posted in Science.

Cannabis prohibition enforcement strategies involve a number of tactics, many of them proving to be extremely costly and ineffective. One of the many examples can be found in the use of drug-sniffing dogs to ‘detect’ the presence of cannabis.

For those who may be unfamiliar with how dogs are used for this purpose, a dog is typically paraded around a vehicle or structure, and if it ‘alerts’ its handler, that is all the law enforcement entity needs to basically do whatever they want to the person being subjected to the drug dog search.

According to a recent study in Australia that examined nearly 100,000 search cases, the dogs provided false alerts 75% of the time. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Sydney, Australia: Drug sniffing dogs provide false alerts approximately seventy-five percent of the time, according to an analysis of ten years of data recently provided to members of the Australian Parliament.

The analysis reviewed over 94,000 searches. The overwhelming majority of those searches failed to identify the presence of illegal substances.

According to reporting in The Sydney Morning Herald, “The worst year for drug-detection dogs was 2014, when only 21 percent of the 14,213 searches resulted in illicit drugs being found; the best was two years later in 2016, where 32.5 percent of the 8746 searches were accurate.”

The findings of the analysis are consistent with those of prior studies. An analysis conducted by reporters at The Chicago Tribune similarly reported that drug sniffing dogs false-alerted over half of time, and that they were most likely to do so in instances where the suspect was Latino. Another study, this one published in the journal Animal Cognition, reported that drug dogs frequently falsely alert when their handlers perceive that illicit substances are present. “Handler beliefs affect outcomes of scent detection dog deployments,” the study’s authors concluded.

Nonetheless, the US Supreme Court has previously ruled that an alert from a police dog during a traffic stop provides a constitutional basis for law enforcement to search the interior of the vehicle.

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Cannabis Consumers Less Likely To Suffer From Kidney Stones Per China Researchers

Written by Frank Schuler on October 2, 2023. Posted in Science.

Kidney stones are not new to humans. In fact, references to kidney stones go as far back as ancient Mesopotamia, with references made in medical texts dating as far back as 3200 BC. Kidney stones involve the formation and occasional passage of crystal agglomerates in a person’s urinary tract.

The condition is associated with being a risk factor for other health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, bone problems, and chronic kidney disease. Conversely, these conditions and others also serve as risk factors for developing kidney stones.

Men are more likely to develop kidney stones than women, with elderly men being the most likely to develop the condition. Researchers in China recently examined kidney stone rates among men who use cannabis versus those men who do not consume cannabis. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Sichuan, China: Men who consume cannabis are far less likely than non-users to experience kidney stones, according to data published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.

A team of Chinese investigators assessed the relationship between cannabis use and kidney stones in a representative sample of over 14,000 US subjects between the ages of 20 and 59.

After adjusting for potential confounders, researchers reported that marijuana use among men was inversely correlated with kidney stones (OR = 0.72). Men who consumed cannabis most frequently experienced the lowest risk (OR = 0.62). Similar trends were not identified among females.

Authors concluded: “To our knowledge, this study is the first cross-sectional study to explore the association between marijuana use and the risk of kidney stones from the population-based NHANES [National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey] dataset. Taken together, our findings suggested that regular marijuana male users were related to a lower risk of kidney stones. Further studies are warranted to investigate the dose and type associations of marijuana with kidney stones.”

Full text of the study, “Association between marijuana use and kidney stones: A cross-sectional study of NHANES 2009 to 2018,” appears in Frontiers in Pharmacology.

Study Demonstrates That Cannabis Is An ‘Exit Drug’ Not A ‘Gateway Drug’

Written by Frank Schuler on October 2, 2023. Posted in Science.

Arguably the most popular talking point among cannabis opponents is the false claim that ‘cannabis is a gateway drug.’ Cannabis opponents have gone to great lengths and dedicated enormous resources to spreading that false narrative.

The fact of the matter is that cannabis is not a gateway drug. Numerous studies have found that people often use other substances before they ever use cannabis including alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, and the misuse of everyday household items such as aerosols.

Furthermore, a vast majority of cannabis consumers do not go on to use more harmful substances. All someone has to do is look at the cannabis consumption rate in a given jurisdiction and compare it to the usage rates for more harmful substances and it’s blatantly obvious that cannabis is not a gateway drug.

A growing body of evidence is actually finding that cannabis is an ‘exit drug,’ meaning that consumers of more harmful substances are successfully incorporating cannabis into their harm-reduction strategies. Below is information about a recent study in Canada that highlights the research surrounding this topic via a news release from NORML:

Vancouver, Canada: Polydrug users frequently engage in the use of cannabis in order to decrease their consumption of stimulants like crystal methamphetamine, according to data published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Canadian researchers surveyed a cohort of 297 polydrug users who engaged in the use of cannabis and unregulated stimulants. Nearly half (45 percent) of those surveyed reported having consumed cannabis to manage their stimulant cravings. Of those, 78 percent “reported decreasing their stimulant use during periods of cannabis use.”

Investigators reported that cannabis was frequently associated with reductions among those who used methamphetamine. They reported no decrease in use among those who engaged in the daily use of cocaine.

Prior studies have reported inconsistent findings with respect to the use of cannabinoids as a substitute for cocaine. For example, a pair of longitudinal trials from Brazil and Canada reported that the use of cannabis is associated with the decreased use of crack cocaine in dependent subjects. By contrast, a 2021 study reported that the daily administration of CBD failed to reduce cocaine cravings any better than placebo in subjects with a history of moderate to severe cocaine abuse.

The study’s authors concluded: “These findings indicate that cannabis use to manage stimulant cravings is a common harm reduction strategy and suggest that this may be an effective strategy to reduce stimulant use among some PWUD [people who use unregulated drugs]. … In the absence of established pharmacotherapies for the treatment of stimulant use disorders, further investigation of the harm reduction and therapeutic applications of cannabis use is warranted to address the harms of stimulant use.”
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Numerous other studies have previously reported that cannabis consumers often substitute it in place of other substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and prescription opioids.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use to manage stimulant cravings among people who use unregulated drugs,” appears in Addictive Behaviors.

CBDV Moderates Fragile X Syndrome Progression According To French Study

Written by Frank Schuler on October 2, 2023. Posted in Science.

The cannabis plant is made up of dozens of cannabinoids, with two of the most well-known examples being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Both cannabinoids are the focus of a growing body of peer-reviewed research, and rightfully so.

However, in recent years other lesser-known cannabinoids have risen in popularity within the international research community, including cannabidivarin (CBDV). CBDV, much like CBD, does not induce intoxication.

Researchers in France recently examined CBDV and its potential as a treatment for Fragile X Syndrome. Below is more information about the study via a news release from NORML:

Bordeaux, France: The administration of the cannabinoid cannabidivarin (CBDV) moderates the progression of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), according to preclinical data published in the journal Cells.

An international team of researchers from France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States assessed the efficacy of CBDV treatment in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. FXS is a genetic disorder resulting in developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems, such as aggression and attention deficits.

Investigators reported that CBDV administration during adolescence prevented cognitive and behavioral changes in a manner similar to other pharmacological treatments. By contrast, CBDV’s effects were “marginal” when the compound was administered during adulthood.

They determined: “Overall, these data demonstrate that CBDV, when administered chronically and starting at juvenile age, holds a solid therapeutic potential for FXS as it prevented the most relevant behavioral alterations shown by … mice. Early timing and chronic duration of treatment appear as critical determinants to ensure the beneficial effects of CBDV.”

The study’s authors concluded, “These results thus encourage future clinical studies using phytocannabinoids for treating not only FXS but also other neurodevelopmental disorders.”

Parents and caregivers of children with FXS patients report using CBD for symptom management. The administration of a transdermal gel containing CBD has been shown to be safe and effective in FSX patients in randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Full text of the study, “Early administration of the phytocannabinoid cannabidivarin prevents the neurobehavioral abnormalities associated with the Fmr1-KO mouse model of Fragile X syndrome,” appears in Cells.