Author: Frank Schuler

Pakistan’s Ministry Of Science And Technology Is Forming Cannabis Authority

Written by Frank Schuler on June 29, 2022. Posted in Policy, Science.

Industrial hemp is legal in Pakistan, with the country harvesting its first legal hemp crop late last year. Unfortunately, all other forms of cannabis are still prohibited in the conservative country.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology wants to change that. Despite Pakistan never allowing cannabis consumption in the modern era, the Ministry is ramping up a push to reform the country’s cannabis laws to permit some type of use. Per Pro Pakistani:

The Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) said that Pakistan can generate $8 billion in revenue within four years by implementing a policy on cannabis.

He stated this during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology under the chairmanship of Senator Shafiq Tarin.

The committee discussed that the government could earn $2 billion in revenue in a matter of months by developing a policy on cannabis use.

Based on the experiences of other nations, the projections and timelines being floated in Pakistan are likely a bit too ambitious. It will take time to successfully transition Pakistan from complete prohibition to a thriving industry capable of yielding billions in public revenue.

However, the fact that Pakistan is pursuing cannabis reform in any fashion is a good thing. Just as prohibition has failed everywhere else on earth, it’s a failed public policy in Pakistan as well.

Switzerland Consumes About 56 Tons Of Cannabis Annually

Written by Frank Schuler on June 26, 2022. Posted in Business, Policy.

The European continent is undergoing a significant shift when it comes to cannabis policy, and in many ways, Switzerland is at the forefront of it. Low-THC cannabis products (less than 1%) have been legally bought and sold nationwide in Switzerland since 2017.

Switzerland is also one of a handful of countries in Europe that is home to a relatively new concept known as localized cannabis pilot programs. Essentially, the programs allow limited adult-use industries to operate in certain cities as part of a research program.

A team of researchers with the UNIGE and the consulting firm EBP recently conducted a survey looking at the economic impact of Switzerland’s current regulations and policies.

“The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) in coordination with the cantons of Geneva, Basel-Stadt as well as the cities of Berne and Zurich have financed a study that adds previously unavailable information to this discussion from an economic perspective.” the researchers stated.

One of the main findings of the study is that Switzerland consumes an estimated 56 tons of cannabis annually. As of 2020, Switzerland’s usage rate was estimated to be outsdie of the top 10 usage rates globally, and it will be interesting to see if these new estimates shift Switzerland’s ranking within the global community.

This recent study found that the cannabis industry’s ‘total gross value added’ to Switzerland’s economy was comparable to that of the nation’s production of cars and car parts, and that the cannabis industry’s workforce “is similar to the employment generated by the Swiss accident insurance.”

“The study comes precisely at the right time as the commission for social and healthcare issues of the national assembly has recently started a legislative proposal regarding the legalisation of cannabis. The results show that both the current illicit market as well as a liberal commercial market inflicts costs on the public while individuals generate big profits. We thus need a well-regulated market that ensures both protection for children and adolescents as well as health protection measure.” stated Adrian Gschwend, head of policy and implementation at the FOPH.

“During the heroin prescriptions in the 1990s the deciding element was the suffering of people which led to a public indignation and a discussion on the solution of the drama. Subsequently, evaluations led to a stabilisation of this policy approach. For cannabis policy the same elements are relevant even though the suffering was not visible for a long time. Only recently the public discussion has started to pay attention to the suffering caused by prohibition. This study does not specifically address the suffering and also does not show, which regulation is preferable from a moral point of view. Instead, it provides welcome and necessary information on the economic effects of current and alternate regulatory scenarios which will add a new quality to the legislative process on cannabis regulation.” stated Dr. Sandro Cattacin, Full Professor at the Department of Sociology of the University of Geneva.

Medical Cannabis Coming To Pharmacies In Spain?

Written by Frank Schuler on June 22, 2022. Posted in Business, Policy.

Spain has long been home to one of the most vibrant and amazing cannabis communities on earth. Cannabis is relatively easy to acquire, and it’s some of the best cannabis on earth.

Unfortunately, Spain’s cannabis policies have yet to catch up to what is actually happening in society in the European country. Despite cannabis clubs being located in many parts of the country, they are still considered to be operating in a legal gray area at best, or outright illegal at the national level at worst.

Medical cannabis policy is particularly wonky in Spain, in that there are licensed medical cannabis producers, however, they are currently only allowed to export their products or use them to supply research.

Completely legal safe access has remained elusive in Spain, however, that appears to be changing soon, at least to some extent. Per LaCerca:

The medical cannabis subcommittee of the Congress of Deputies has given its endorsement this Tuesday to the regulation of this substance for therapeutic purposes with the votes in favor of PSOE, United We Can, Citizens, PNV and PDeCAT, the abstention of ERC and Bildu, and the vote against PP and VOX.

One of the most important novelties in the conclusions of the subcommittee is that the door is opened to the dispensing of medical cannabis in community pharmacies, as demanded, for example, by United We Can and more groups on the left.

The PSOE has had to give in on this point, since they limited it to hospital pharmacies. The final text establishes that the distribution will be with magisterial formulas with standardized cannabis extracts or preparations, which should be delivered “from the health system pharmacy network, preferably in hospital pharmacies and exploring the alternative of community pharmacies that can meet the requirements.

What is currently being proposed in Spain will serve as a band-aid versus being a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s approach to medical cannabis.

Even if medical cannabis products were available at every pharmacy in the country, the types of products being proposed, ‘standardized cannabis extracts and preparations,’ are only helpful to a small percentage of suffering patients.

Furthermore, the list of qualified conditions currently being floated out there is very limited. A vast majority of patients are likely to keep going the same route that they have in the past when it comes to acquiring medical cannabis in Spain.

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Cannabis Inversely Associated With Obesity In Hepatitis C Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on June 21, 2022. Posted in Science.

It is estimated that as many as 58 million people suffer from hepatitis C worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 1.1 million deaths occurred in 2019 due to hepatitis B and C, and their effects include ‘liver cancer, cirrhosis, and other conditions caused by chronic viral hepatitis.’

Hepatitis C is spread by contact with contaminated blood, such as from sharing needles or from people using unsterile tattoo equipment. Researchers in France recently examined the effects of cannabis use among hepatitis C patients. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Paris, France: Cannabis use is inversely associated with obesity in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

A team of French researchers assessed the relationship between lifetime cannabis use and obesity in a cohort of over 6,300 HCV patients.

Authors reported, “[F]ormer and, to a greater extent, current cannabis use were consistently associated with smaller waist circumference, lower BMI, and lower risks of overweight, obesity, and central obesity in patients with chronic HCV infection. … To our knowledge, this is the first time that such associations have been highlighted for HCV-infected patients.”

The study’s findings are consistent with those of analyses of other cohorts – such as those here, here, and here - reporting that marijuana use is typically associated with lower BMI and with lower rates of obesity.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use as a factor of lower corpulence in hepatitis C-infected patients: Results from the ANRS C022 Hepather cohort,” is available in the Journal of Cannabis Research. Additional information on cannabis and HCV is available from NORML.

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Cancer Patients Reduced Prescriptions, Improved Symptoms After Long-Term Cannabis Use

Written by Frank Schuler on June 21, 2022. Posted in Science.

If you have battled cancer, or know someone that has, then you are completely aware of how awful of a condition it can be. To make matters worse, many of the current treatments for cancer come with a number of terrible side effects.

The cannabis plant has helped many cancer patients over many years in various ways, and according to a recent study in Israel, it is associated with reduced prescriptions and improvements in symptoms. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Haifa, Israel: The use of cannabis products over a six-month period is associated with statistical improvements in cancer-related symptoms as well as significant reductions in subjects’ use of prescription painkillers, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research.

Israeli researchers assessed the long-term use of cannabis in a cohort of several hundred oncology patients.

Consistent with studies of other patient cohorts, cannabis use was associated with symptom mitigation, improved quality of life, and reduced prescription drug use. Among those participants who completed the trial, nearly half ceased their use of analgesics.

Authors concluded: “The main finding of the current study is that most cancer comorbid symptoms improved significantly during six months of MC [medical cannabis] treatment. … Additionally, we found that MC treatment in cancer patients was well tolerated and safe. … In conclusion, this prospective, comprehensive and large-scale cohort demonstrated an overall mild to modest long-term statistical improvement of all investigated measures including pain, associated symptoms and, importantly, reduction in opioid (and other analgesics) use.”

Full text of the study, “The effectiveness and safety of medical cannabis for treating cancer related symptoms in oncology patients,” appears inFrontiers in Pain Research. Additional information is available from the NORML fact sheet, “Relationship Between Marijuana and Opioids.”

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CBD-Rich Cannabis Extracts Are Safe For Pediatric Autism Patients According To Brazilian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on June 15, 2022. Posted in Science.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the subject of a growing number of studies as researchers and medical professionals continue to work to unlock the healing properties of the cannabinoid.

One condition that researchers seem to be focusing on more and more is autism. CBD is thought to be able to effectively treat autism, including among younger patients.

Researchers in Brazil recently conducted a study that looked specifically at CBD’s safety as it pertains to pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

João Pessoa, Brazil: The administration of CBD-rich cannabis extracts is safe and effective in mitigating symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial data published in the journal Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.

Brazilian researchers evaluated the use of CBD extracts versus placebo in 60 children (ages 5 to 11) with ASD over a 12-week period.

Compared to the placebo group, subjects receiving CBD extracts experienced significant improvements in their ability to engage in social interactions. They also experienced reduced anxiety and agitation. Only a minority of subjects administered CBD exhibited adverse events, namely dizziness and insomnia.

The study’s findings are consistent with those of other trials similarly reporting improvements in patients’ ASD symptoms following their use of cannabinoid products. Survey data published in October by the publication Autism Parenting Magazine reported that 22 percent of US caregivers or parents have provided CBD to an autistic child. Survey data from the United Kingdom recently reported that autistic adults were nearly four times as likely as controls to report having used CBD within the past year.

Full text of the study, “Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of cannabidiol-rich cannabis extract in children with autism spectrum disorder: Randomized, double-blind and controlled placebo clinical trial,” appears inTrends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Additional information on cannabis and ASD is available from NORML.

One In Five Canadian Arthritis Patients Acknowledge Using Medical Cannabis

Written by Frank Schuler on June 15, 2022. Posted in Science.

It is estimated that as many as 350 million people around the globe suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is defined as painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.

The condition is particularly prevalent in North America. In the United States alone it is estimated that 1 out of every 4 adults suffers from arthritis to some degree, with some cases being extreme.

More and more arthritis patients are turning to the cannabis plant for relief, as demonstrated by the results of a recent study in Canada. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Ontario: Arthritis patients frequently reported consuming cannabis for symptomatic relief, according to survey data published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

A team of Canadian investigators surveyed 799 patients at eight rheumatology clinics in Ontario. (Cannabis is legal in Canada for both medical purposes and for adults.)

Just over 20 percent of those surveyed acknowledged either having consumed cannabis within the past two years or being current users of cannabis products. Compared to non-users, those who consumed cannabis were more likely to be younger and were more likely to report suffering from severe pain.

Cannabis consumers reported using it to treat pain, anxiety, and to promote sleep. Seventy-eight percent of them reported medical cannabis to be “at least somewhat effective” at mitigating their symptoms.

The study’s findings are consistent with French survey data, published in 2021, which reported that “nearly 20 percent of patients suffering from rheumatologic diseases actively consume cannabis.”

Longitudinal data published in April reported that osteoarthritis patients decrease their daily opioid intake and experience improvements in their overall quality of life following the initiation of medical cannabis therapy. Authors of the study concluded: “Our findings indicate that providing access to MC [medical cannabis], helps patients with chronic pain due to OA [osteoarthritis] reduce their levels of opioid usage in addition to improving pain and QoL [quality of life]. Furthermore, a majority of patients did not feel intoxicated or high from MC, and of those who did, only a small percentage said it interfered with their daily activities. … Our findings support the literature in that MC reduces the use of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain.”

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis use by rheumatology patients in routine clinical care: Results from the Ontario Best Practices Research Initiative,” appears in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. Additional information on cannabis and rheumatoid arthritis is available from NORML.

Ukraine Moves Closer To Legalizing Medical Cannabis

Written by Frank Schuler on June 15, 2022. Posted in Policy.

Days ago Ukraine’s cabinet approved a draft medical cannabis bill, sending it to Parliament for consideration. Compared to other countries in the region, Ukraine has been very slow to reform its medical cannabis policies.

“The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the bill that will regulate the circulation of cannabis plants for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific-technical activities. This bill will expand patients’ access to the necessary treatment for a number of diseases, including cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder.” Ukraine’s Ministry of Health stated in a news release.

“We understand the negative consequences of war on the state of mental health. We understand the number of people who will need medical treatment as a result of this impact. And we understand that there is no time to wait. Therefore, we have already prepared a legislative basis to ensure a full cycle of cannabis-based drug production in Ukraine: from cultivation and processing to full-fledged production.” Minister of Healthcare Viktor Liashko wrote in a Facebook post about the measure.

“At the same time, we still propose to establish strict control over the cultivation, production and implementation of drugs, understanding the sensitivity of this issue in society and are ready to gradually develop this industry, showing the results of treatment and help oh to Ukrainian patients. Not to import, but to do ours, Ukrainian! Historically, cannabis-based drugs have been used to reduce pain, spasms and muscle strains, treat anorexia, PTSD, and anxiety disorders. In addition, they are used in the treatment of individual types of epilepsy, glaucoma, psoriasis, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis. An important purpose of this medication is to alleviate the pain and suffering of seriously ill and palliative patients, including cancer patients and HIV patients.” Liashko went on to write.

According to the Ukraine Ministry of Health’s news release, the measure would ‘License economic activities for the cultivation of varieties of plants of the genus Cannabis for medical purposes’ as well as ‘authorize the cultivation of varieties of plants of the genus Cannabis for medical, industrial purposes, in scientific and scientific-technical activities.’

The measure now moves to Ukraine’s Parliament for consideration.

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Study: CBD Does Not Impact Cognitive Function, Simulated Driving Performance

Written by Frank Schuler on June 13, 2022. Posted in Science.

Every responsible cannabis consumer on the planet recognizes that operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway while being intoxicated by any substance, cannabis included, is not safe.

With that being said, just because someone has cannabis in their system does not automatically mean that they are too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle.

That is demonstrated in the results of a recent study conducted in Australia. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Sydney, Australia: The oral administration of up to 1500 mg of CBD does not induce feelings of intoxication and is not associated with changes in simulated driving performance, according to data published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

A team of Australian researchers assessed the impact of varying dosages of CBD (ranging from 15 mg to 1500) versus placebo in 17 subjects. Study participants engaged in a series of simulated driving tests at approximately one hour and four hours after dosing. Investigators separately assessed subjects’ cognitive performance via their completion of a variety of computerized tasks. Participants were also asked whether they felt either “stoned” or “sedated” at any time during the trial.

Consistent with prior research, authors reported that CBD administration was not associated with either weaving or any other significant changes in simulated driving performance. Participants also failed to show any significant differences in either cognitive function or in their subjective feelings of well-being following CBD dosing.

Authors concluded: “The results of this study suggest that acute, oral CBD treatment at doses up to 1500 mg does not induce feelings of intoxication and is unlikely to impair cognitive function or driving performance. However, further research is required to confirm no effect of CBD on safety-sensitive tasks in the hours immediately post-treatment and with chronic administration.”

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabidiol on simulated driving and cognitive performance: A dose-ranging randomized controlled trial,” appears in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Additional information is available from NORML’s fact sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.’