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Author: Frank Schuler

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Fewer Incidents Between Youth And Police Following Canadian Legalization

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Policy.

An area of top concern for both cannabis supporters and opponents alike is youth safety. Of course, what motivates each side’s concerns, the talking points used, and the predictions of what the future holds in a post-reform world differ greatly between the two sides, but at the most basic level, everyone should agree that youth safety is important.

Arguably the most popular talking point for cannabis opponents is that, so they claim, if cannabis is legalized for adult use then there will be a spike in youth consumption at levels never seen before in human history, and the consequences of such will be nothing short of catastrophic.

Unfortunately for those opponents, and fortunately for the rest of us that live in reality, such spikes in youth consumption have yet to materialize where cannabis has been legalized. Furthermore, in Canada specifically, there have been fewer recorded incidents between youth and law enforcement following national legalization. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Canada: The legalization of the adult-use marijuana market is associated with reduced incidents between police and juveniles, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Researchers affiliated with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto analyzed police-reported incident data from the years immediately prior to and following the adoption of cannabis legalization in Canada.

They reported that legalization “was associated with significant reductions in both male and female police-reported cannabis-related offenses” for youth ages 12 to 17. (Canadian law permits those age 18 and older to legally possess and use cannabis products.) They estimated that these reductions have led to approximately 21,000 fewer criminal interactions between police and young people in the years following nationwide legalization.

The study’s authors concluded: “The Cannabis Act was associated with sustained and substantial decreases of approximately 50 percent to 60 percent in national patterns of male and female police-reported youth cannabis-related criminal incidents over an approximate three-year post-legalization period.… Given that involvement with the police and Canadian criminal justice system for cannabis-related criminal incidents represents a major social and individual-level harm for young people, it is reasonable to conclude that our findings demonstrate a benefit associated with the implementation of the Cannabis Act.”

Full text of the study, “Canada’s cannabis legalization and police-reported cannabis-related criminal incidents among youth, 2015-2020,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

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Cannabis Associated With Lower Risk Of Fatty Liver Disease Per China Analysis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

The dangers of fatty liver disease may not be well known around the globe, however, it’s a serious health condition. International researchers estimate that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease, with a worldwide prevalence of 25%.

Fatty liver disease involves an increased build-up of fat in the liver, and in extreme cases, it can result in liver failure. Symptoms of fatty liver disease include fatigue, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

Researchers in China recently explored the relationship between cannabis use and fatty liver disease, and the results of the analysis are significant. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Hubei, China: Adults with a history of cannabis use are less likely than non-users to be diagnosed with liver steatosis (abnormal fat retention a/k/a fatty liver disease), according to data published in the journal PLOS One.

A group of Chinese investigators assessed the relationship between marijuana use and the prevalence of fatty liver disease in a cohort of 2,622 US adults. Study participants consisted of current cannabis consumers, former consumers, and lifetime non-users.

Researchers determined that both current and former users possessed lower rates of liver steatosis than did those with no history of marijuana use – a finding that is consistent with numerous other studies.

Authors of the study concluded: “In this nationally representative sample, current marijuana use is inversely associated with steatosis. … Further studies are required to confirm these results longitudinally, and investigations into marijuana compounds and their biological effects are promising for treating and preventing fatty liver disease.”

The results of a 2018 meta-analysis, which reviewed nine studies involving nearly six million subjects, similarly acknowledged “a reduction in the prevalence of NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) in marijuana users.”

Full text of the study, “Marijuana use is inversely associated with liver steatosis detected by transient elastography in the general United States population in the NHANES 2017-2018: A cross-sectional study,” appears in PLOS One.

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Cannabis Associated With Sustained Benefits In Tourette Syndrome Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

International health experts estimate that roughly 0.5-1% of the world’s population is diagnosed with some level of Tourette Syndrome, although the true diagnosis rate of people suffering from the condition could be larger due to gaps in identification and treatment in some parts of the globe.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, repetitive, rapid, and unwanted movements or vocal sounds called tics.” Currently, there is no cure for the condition.

Various treatments for Tourette Syndrome exist, with common ones being dopamine blockers, Botox injections, ADHD medications, anti-depressants, and anti-seizure medications. All of those treatments can yield possible undesirable side effects. Fortunately, a recent study in Israel found that cannabis may help. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Tel Aviv, Israel: Patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) report that cannabis inhalation is associated with sustained improvements in their symptoms, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Israeli researchers assessed the long-term use of cannabis in 25 patients suffering from Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome. On average, patients in the study consumed cannabis for a period of four years, with some participants having used cannabis for up to nine years.

Patients reported sustained benefits in the management of TS and other comorbidities. Most subjects gradually increased their daily THC intake over time.

“Patients using MC [medical cannabis] reported an average 75 percent tic reduction compared with baseline,” authors determined. “A significant effect on comorbid conditions was [also] noted,” with 92 percent of subjects reporting reduced restlessness, 88 percent reporting improved mood, 84 percent reporting better sleep, and 75 percent reporting reduced anxiety.”

Authors concluded: “A subset of people with GTS report long-term significant benefit from continuous MC use with no disturbing side effects; however, they required escalating doses of THC over the years. Additional studies are required to test for objective improvement and for biological reasons that may explain dose escalation.”

Separate data published earlier this year reported that TS patients exhibit short-term improvements in their health-related quality of life as well as reductions in their use of prescription medications following cannabis treatment

Full text of the study, “Licensed medical cannabis use in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome: A retrospective long-term follow-up,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Additional information on cannabinoids and TS is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

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CBD Lowers Blood Pressure In Croatian Patients With Hypertension

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Hypertension occurs when someone’s blood pressure is too elevated, typically above 140/90. The condition is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120.  If left untreated, hypertension can cause serious health conditions, including heart disease and stroke.

International health experts estimate that roughly 30% of the planet’s adult human population suffers from hypertension to some degree, which works out to over one billion people globally.

Fortunately, the cannabis plant may be able to help, as evidenced by the results of a new study out of Croatia which examined the use of oral CBD and how it affects hypertension patients. Below is more information about the new study via a news release from NORML:

Split, Croatia: The oral administration of a proprietary encapsulated dose of CBD reduces ambulatory blood pressure in subjects suffering from either mild or moderate hypertension, according to placebo-controlled clinical trial data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Researchers assessed the efficacy of CBD versus placebo in a cohort of 70 patients. Subjects received daily doses of either CBD or a placebo for five weeks. Patients consumed between 225 mgs and 450 mgs of CBD per day.

“The administration of CBD reduced average 24-hour mean, systolic, and diastolic BP [blood pressure] after 2.5 weeks,” investigators concluded. “There were no changes in liver enzymes of serious adverse events.”

Authors concluded: “The results of the present randomized, triple-blind, crossover study indicate that chronic administration of CBD [capsules] reduces ambulatory BP. … These findings should be confirmed in larger prospective cohorts to apply them into clinical practice.”

The trial’s findings are consistent with those of a 2017 British study finding that the administration of a single oral dose of 600 mgs of CBD reduced blood pressure in healthy volunteers. Another study reported that CBD dosing was associated with sustained lower levels of stress-induced high blood pressure

Israeli data has shown that the use of whole-plant cannabis also modulates blood pressure control. Authors of a 2021 study of elderly hypertension subjects determined, “Cannabis treatment for three months was associated with a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as heart rate.” More recently, an analysis in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports concluded that current and lifetime cannabis use is associated with lower blood pressure levels in men and women.

Full text of the study, “Chronic effects of oral cannabidiol delivery on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in patients with hypertension: A randomized, placebo-controlled, and cross-over study,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Additional information on cannabinoids and blood pressure regulation is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

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Cannabis Associated With Improved Symptoms In Fibromyalgia Patients Per New Study

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.”

Fibromyalgia is a serious problem across the globe, affecting people of all ages. It is estimated that as many as one out of every twenty people on the planet suffers from the condition to some degree.

Unfortunately, there is currently no known cure for fibromyalgia. However, researchers in the United Kingdom recently found evidence that medical cannabis products can be an effective treatment for some fibromyalgia patients. The study also found that patients reduced their use of opioids. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: Fibromyalgia (FM) patients who use cannabis products for at least one month report improvements in their health-related quality of life, according to observational data published in the journal Brain and Behavior.

British investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of plant-derived cannabis products (either oils, flower, or a combination of both) in over 300 FM patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. All of the participants possessed a doctor’s authorization to access cannabis products. (Since 2018, specialists have been permitted to prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Authors assessed the efficacy of cannabis at one, three, six, and 12 months.

Researchers reported: “Statistically significant improvements [were] observed in validated fibromyalgia-specific, pain, sleep, anxiety, and health-related quality of life metrics. Furthermore, a statistically significant reduction in opioid consumption was seen at the end of [the] follow-up. … CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] were generally well-tolerated.”

They concluded, “CBMP treatment was associated with improvements in fibromyalgia-specific symptoms, in addition to sleep, anxiety, and health-related quality of life. … Subgroup analysis suggests that those with prior exposure to cannabis were likely to experience improvements in more domains, as well as fewer adverse events, [as] compared to cannabis-naïve counterparts.”

Prior studies assessing the use of cannabis products in patients enrolled in the UK registry have similarly reported them to be effective and well-tolerated among those suffering from chronic pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression, migraine, inflammatory bowel disease, and other afflictions.

Fibromyalgia patients frequently self-report using cannabis to successfully manage symptoms of the disorder. Israeli data published late last year reported that cannabis therapy is associated with quality of life improvements in FM patients who have previously failed to respond to conventional prescription medications.

Full text of the study, “Assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia: Analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry,” appears in Brain and Behavior. Additional information on cannabis and fibromyalgia is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

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Cannabis Is Not Predictive Of Adverse Cardiovascular Events According To Meta-Analysis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Every so often mainstream media headlines pop up claiming that cannabis increases the risk of various cardiovascular diseases. Typically, when someone dives deeper into the studies behind those headlines they quickly realize that the headlines are based on junk science (at best).

Headlines like that are meant to scare the public, presumably so that they will support continued prohibition. However, prohibition is where the true harm lies and cannabis is not predictive of an adverse cardiovascular event, as demonstrated by a recent study out of Thailand. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Bangkok, Thailand: A history of cannabis use is not associated with a significantly increased risk of suffering from an adverse cardiovascular event, according to review data published in the journal Toxicological Reports.

Investigators reviewed findings from 20 observational studies involving over 183 million subjects. They reported, “Cannabis use was not significantly associated with acute MI [myocardial infarction], stroke, [or other] adverse CV [cardiovascular] events.”

Researchers cautioned, however, that it remains unclear whether certain formulations of cannabis (such as higher THC products) and/or heavier patterns of use might potentially be associated with a more elevated risk. Therefore, they opined that their results should be interpreted with caution.

“To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first meta-analysis regarding cannabis-related adverse cardiovascular events, including acute MI and stroke, though there are some systematic reviews on this topic,” they concluded. “Contrary to the notions based on previous literature and biological explanations, this meta-analysis found that cannabis use insignificantly predicts all major cardiovascular adverse events. … However, considering the heterogeneity among studies, it is vital to take a cautious stance toward the findings. Specific conditions of cannabis use such as cannabis preparation, route of administration, dosage, duration, and time after exposure can affect outcomes, and further investigations are needed.”

The investigators’ findings are similar to those of a 2021 literature review of 67 studies published in The American Journal of Medicine , which concluded, “[M]arijuana itself does not appear to be independently associated with excessive cardiovascular risk factors.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis and adverse cardiovascular events: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies,” appears in Toxicological Reports.

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Australian Researchers Find Sustained Improvements In Medical Cannabis Patients’ Health-Related Quality Of Life

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

This should be obvious, but the true measurement of something being a medicine or not is if it helps improve someone’s quality of life. Unfortunately, that measurement has not historically been applied to cannabis, and in many countries that is still the case.

Cannabis is not prohibited due to it being an unhealthy substance, but rather, prohibiting cannabis supports various political and non-cannabis industry efforts. The cannabis plant is one of the most versatile plants on earth and is indeed medicine, and that was/is ‘bad for business’ for various people in power around the world.

Thankfully, there is a growing body of research that supports the fact that cannabis is medicine, and slowly but surely cannabis prohibition is eroding. A recent study out of Australia found that medical cannabis patients’ health-related quality of life improved after the use of medical cannabis. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Melbourne, Australia: Patients suffering from pain, cancer, anxiety, and insomnia report significant, sustained improvements in their health-related quality of life following the use of cannabis products, according to observational data published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Australian researchers evaluated cannabis-related outcomes in a cohort of more than 3,100 patients authorized to use medical cannabis. (Under Australian law, physicians may only authorize cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.) Study participants consumed various formulations of cannabis, with most patients using products high in CBD content. Most patients in the cohort were over 50 years old.

Consistent with numerous other studies, authors reported, “Patients using medical cannabis reported improvements in health-related quality of life, which were mostly sustained over time. Adverse events were rarely serious.”

They concluded: “In this retrospective case series, patients reported improvements … after commencing treatment with medical cannabis … on all eight [of the] health-related quality of life domains assessed. … Further high-quality trials are required.”

Observational trial data from a cohort of nearly 3,000 chronically ill patients in the United Kingdom also recently reported that the use of medical cannabis products is well tolerated and improves subjects’ health-related quality of life.

Full text of the study, “Assessment of medical cannabis and health-related quality of life,” appears in JAMA Network Open. Information on medical cannabis use is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Cannabis Use by Older Adult Populations.’

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Is Legalization In Canada Linked To Upticks In Traffic Crashes?

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Policy.

Historically, in every single jurisdiction on earth where legalization was pursued and achieved, without exception, there were cannabis opponents spreading anti-cannabis myths and half-truths to try to deter voters or lawmakers from supporting reform.

One of the most popular areas of focus for cannabis opponents was, and presumably always will be, impaired driving. The talking point can come about in a variety of forms, however, the main premise of the talking point regardless of how it manifests itself is this – that if cannabis laws are reformed there will be terror on the roadways in the form of increased vehicle crashes.

Unfortunately for cannabis opponents, and fortunately for rational-thinking people worldwide, the data does not support opponents’ claims. A recent study out of Canada highlights what really happens (or doesn’t happen) after a nation legalizes cannabis for adult use. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Sherbrooke, Canada: Neither the passage of adult use marijuana legalization nor the growth of retail cannabis sales is associated with any increase in motor vehicle accidents, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

Canadian investigators assessed trends in traffic crashes in Toronto in the years prior to and immediately following the adoption of adult-use legalization.

They reported: “[N]either the CCA [Canadian Cannabis Act] nor the NCS [number of cannabis stores per capita] is associated with concomitant changes in (traffic safety) outcomes. … During the first year of the CRUL’s [cannabis recreational use laws] implementation in Toronto, no significant changes in crashes, number of road victims and KSI [all road users killed or severely injured] were observed.”

The findings are consistent with those of other Canadian studies. One study, published last year in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, “ found no evidence that the implementation of the Cannabis Act was associated with significant changes in post-legalization patterns of all drivers’ traffic-injury ED [emergency department] visits or, more specifically, youth-driver traffic-injury ED presentations.”

Another study, published earlier this year, similarly concluded, “Overall, there is no clear evidence that RCL [recreational cannabis laws] had any effect on rates of ED visits and hospitalizations for either motor vehicle or pedestrian/cyclist injury across Canada.”

Full text of the study, “Did the cannabis recreational use law affect traffic crash outcomes in Toronto? Building evidence for the adequate number of authorized cannabis stores’ thresholds,” appears in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.’

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Canadian Cancer Patients Report Decreased Pain, Fewer Opioids After Cannabis Treatment

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Arguably the top place for cannabis research right now is in Canada, largely due to the fact that the nation currently has the best national cannabis laws on the planet. Canada is one of only three countries to have passed a national cannabis legalization measure, with the other two being Uruguay and Malta.

The favorable laws, in turn, make barriers and hurdles to launching and completing research projects less daunting. Canada’s cannabis consumer and patient populations are considerably larger than that of Uruguay and Malta combined, and the North American country is a wealth of cannabis-focused data, including data pertaining to medical cannabis patients and use.

Researchers in Canada recently conducted a study involving cancer patients who completed medical cannabis treatments. What the study participants reported after their medical cannabis treatments is insightful. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Montreal, Canada: Cannabis is associated with sustained reductions in cancer pain and may be safely incorporated in cancer patients’ treatment regimens, according to data published in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

Canadian researchers affiliated with McGill University assessed the safety and efficacy of plant-derived cannabis in 358 cancer patients. Study participants consumed cannabis as an adjunctive treatment for one year.

Subjects experienced statistically significant decreases in pain within three months. Patients maintained their pain relief throughout the study. Participants who consumed cannabis flower containing nearly equal percentages of THC and CBD experienced greatest relief.

Although some patients reported side-effects from cannabis, most of these episodes were categorized as “non-serious.” Patients were most likely to report experiencing sleepiness or fatigue.

Investigators reported: “We found MC [medical cannabis] to be a safe and effective treatment option to help with cancer pain relief. THC/CBD balanced products appear to perform better as compared with THC-dominant and CBD-dominant products. Furthermore, we observed consistent decreases in medication burden and opioid use in our patient population. Hence, our data suggest a role for MC as a safe and complementary treatment option in patients with cancer failing to reach adequate pain relief through conventional analgesics, such as opioids.”

Dozens of studies document decreases in patients’ consumption of opioids, benzodiazepines, and other prescription medications following their use of cannabis.

Numerous placebo-controlled trials document the ability of either inhaled or vaporized herbal cannabis to significantly mitigate pain in various patient populations, including those suffering from HIV, diabetes, spinal cord injury, or severe treatment-resistant neuropathy (nerve pain). A 2017 review by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that “conclusive or substantial evidence” exists for cannabis’ efficacy in patients suffering from chronic pain, stating, “Patients who [are] treated with cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms.”

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis is effective for cancer-related pain: Quebec Cannabis Registry results,” appears in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. Additional information on cannabis and chronic pain is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.