Author: Frank Schuler

Cannabis Oil Mitigates Osteoarthritis Knee Pain In Clinical Trial

Written by Frank Schuler on December 22, 2024. Posted in Science.

Unfortunately, knee injuries are common worldwide, especially within the sports community and among older individuals. Researchers estimate that knee injuries account for as much as 41% of all sports-related injuries for athletes.

Many knee injuries result in the affected patient developing osteoarthritis in the injured knee. An estimated 365 million people worldwide suffer from knee osteoarthritis, which can be very painful for the individual suffering from the condition.

A team of researchers in Thailand recently conducted a clinical trial involving the use of cannabis-infused oil among patients suffering from osteoarthritis knee pain. Below is more information about the clinical trial and its results via a news release from NORML:

Sukhothai, Thailand: The sublingual administration of oil extracts containing plant-derived cannabinoids significantly reduces knee pain in subjects suffering from treatment-resistant osteoarthritis, according to clinical data published in the Journal of Southeast Asian Orthopaedics.

A team of Thai investigators conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 32 patients diagnosed with severe osteoarthritic knee pain. All the participants in the study were awaiting total knee arthroplasty. Participants consumed either oral extracts containing THC (4.59 mg/drop) and CBD (24.25 mg/drop) or a placebo (coconut oil) for 30 days in addition to traditional prescription medications.

Patients’ pain scores “demonstrated a statistically significant improvement” following cannabis treatment, researchers reported.

The study’s authors concluded: “Cannabis oil significantly reduced pain intensity and improved the QOL [quality of life] in patients with knee OA, as reflected by improvements in the NRS [Numeric Rating Scale]and KOOS [Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome] scores. … Future research with optimized dosages, larger sample sizes, and longer follow-up periods is needed to evaluate its true clinical relevance.”

Full text of the study, “Effectiveness of cannabis oil as an adjuvant therapy in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind study,” appears in the Journal of Southeast Asian Orthopaedics. Additional information on cannabis and arthritis is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

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Transdermal Cannabis Mitigates Diabetic Neuropathy In Clinical Trial

Written by Frank Schuler on December 21, 2024. Posted in Science.

Diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that can happen in patients who suffer from diabetes. International researchers estimate that roughly 536.6 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Health investigators around the world are researching how medical cannabis products and diabetes interact at an ever-increasing rate, and many studies are finding that medical cannabis can help treat diabetes to some degree.

A team of researchers in Thailand recently conducted a clinical trial focusing on transdermal cannabis products and patients who suffer from diabetic neuropathy. Below is more information about the results of the study and its findings via a news release from NORML:

Khon Kaen, Thailand: The transdermal application of oil extracts containing plant-derived cannabinoids significantly reduces diabetic neuropathy, according to clinical data published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

A team of Thai investigators conducted a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 100 patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities. Participants received either transdermal formulations containing THC (3.20 mg/drop), CBD (0.32 mg/drop), and CBN (0.65 mg/drop) or a placebo (coconut oil) for 12 weeks. Subjects’ pain levels were assessed at baseline and at four, eight, and 12 weeks.

“Mean total NPSI-T (Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory) scores decreased markedly from 25.60 to 5.57 in the treatment cohort, contrasting with minimal reduction from 25.24 to 22.85 in the placebo group,” researchers reported. “GEE (Generalized Estimating Equation) analysis revealed significant pain amelioration at weeks 4, 8, and 12. The cannabis formulation exhibited an excellent safety profile, with only 10 percent of participants reporting mild adverse events, comparable to placebo group outcomes.”

The study’s authors concluded: “This novel transdermal medical cannabis formulation (consisting of THC, CBD, and CBN) demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy in ameliorating painful DPN [diabetic peripheral neuropathy] symptoms while maintaining a favorable safety profile. These findings provide robust clinical evidence supporting its potential as an innovative therapeutic option for managing painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.”

Prior studies have similarly shown that a wide range of cannabis formulations, including vaporized cannabis flower, oral CBD extracts, and aerosolized THC can mitigate neuropathic pain.

Full text of the study, “Efficacy and safety of transdermal medical cannabis (THC: CBD: CBN formula) to treat painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities,” appears in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

UK Study Finds Cannabis Provides Quality Of Life Improvements In Pain Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on December 8, 2024. Posted in Science.

A team of researchers affiliated with several different healthcare and academic institutions in the United Kingdom found that chronic pain patients reported sustained improvements in their symptoms after medical cannabis use. The researchers published their observational data in the journal Pain Practice.

“Chronic pain (CP) affects 35.0%–51.3% of the UK population, with 67%–88% reporting sleep disturbances. Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) have shown therapeutic potential in managing CP. Evidence suggests poor sleep worsens pain perception; therefore, this study aimed to assess patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following CBMP treatment in CP patients with and without co-morbid sleep impairment.” the researchers stated about their study.

“The sleep impaired cohort showed improvements in all PROMs at each follow-up (p < 0.010). The sleep unimpaired cohort showed similar results (p < 0.050), except in SQS and ED-5Q-5L: self-care and anxiety/depression scores (p > 0.050). However, the sleep impaired cohort observed greater improvements in BPI pain severity (p < 0.050) and SQS (p < 0.001) than the sleep unimpaired cohort at all follow-ups.” they reported about the results of the study.

“Whilst these results show promise for the effects of CBMPs on CP, they must be examined within the limitations of the study design. These findings provide further evidence to support the design of subsequent randomized controlled trials to verify causality between CBMPs and pain outcomes.” the authors concluded.

Starting in 2018, health specialists in Britain are permitted to prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to suffering patients unresponsive to conventional medications.

A separate study conducted earlier this year in the United Kingdom found that older patients reported experiencing better general health and well-being following their use of medical cannabis products.

“There were consistent improvements across measures of general health and well-being after three months of treatment. … These findings accord with a growing body of observational and real-world evidence from jurisdictions that have legalized medicinal cannabis that cannabis is effective for improving sleep, mood and quality of health across multiple primary conditions.” the authors of that particular study reported.

International Hemp Sector Seeks Science-Based Animal Feed Regulations

Written by Frank Schuler on December 6, 2024. Posted in Policy, Science.

Members of the global hemp sector are calling for uniform international science-based regulations for animal hemp feed. Hemp-derived animal feeds are increasing in popularity as countries worldwide move to modernize their hemp policies and regulations.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Association of American Feed Controls approved hemp seed meal as feed for laying hens. The regulatory entities set a threshold of 2 parts per million (ppm) of THC and a threshold of 20 ppm for CBD, which hemp sector members in other nations have reportedly taken issue with.

“The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) is concerned regarding the current application from the Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC) to AAFCO to register hempseed meal as a livestock feed ingredient for laying hens with maximum cannabinoid limits of 2 ppm for total THC and 20 ppm for total CBD.” EIHA stated in an open letter in response to the then-proposed cannabinoid thresholds.

“We believe this feed ingredient definition does not reflect current research on feed-based cannabinoid risk, would needlessly exclude most commercially available hempseed meal, and therefore create a market that would not be commercially viable. We also believe that moving forward with this registration would create precedent that will complicate commercially viable hemp livestock feed ingredient registrations in Europe and other important global markets.” the letter also stated.

Members of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) also issued their own public letter earlier this year calling for an increase in cannabinoid thresholds.

“While we are optimistic for the new market opportunities, we do have concern that the proposed limits of 2 ppm of total THC and 20 ppm of total CBD are too low when the hempseed meal is
produced from hemp varieties that are commonly grown in North America. The observed variation of these natural constituents after decades of food manufacturing shows that most lots
will not meet these low levels.” members of CHTA stated in their letter.

“We feel that the established limit of 10 ppm for total THC for hempseed-derived food products in Canada is more appropriate in that it will not require separate testing of lots to qualify for feed, an effort in cost and time that the feeding industry will not be prepared to incur.” the letter also stated.

According to original reporting by FeedNavigator, the Federation of International Hemp Organizations is “working to harmonize global hemp regulations” and the organization is “collating the expertise of over 100 hemp professionals” to advocate for “policies that reflect hemp’s agricultural and industrial potential.”

A recent study conducted in China using hemp seed cake (HSC) to feed chickens found that “adding 20% HSC in the feed had a notable effect on the growth, antioxidant and immune capabilities, blood lipid metabolism, and meat performance” of the chickens in the study.

In addition to hemp increasingly being used as a source of animal feed, cannabinoids are also being increasingly used by veterinarians as medicine for suffering pets. For example, Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency recently decided to amend Ordinance SVS/MS 344/1998 to allow the regulation of medical cannabis products for animals by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

According to a recent market analysis by Global Market Insights, the global cannabidiol (CBD) pet market was worth an estimated $693.4 million in 2023. The CBD pet product market is projected to grow at an estimated 18.2% CAGR from 2024 to 2032.

Market growth will be driven by “growing pet ownership coupled with increasing awareness and acceptance of the potential therapeutic benefits of hemp-derived CBD for pets” the researchers stated.

“The dogs segment is set to lead the market, accounting for the largest revenue of USD 416.1 million in 2023, anticipating its dominance throughout the forecast period with a significant growth rate.” Global Market Insights reported.

Colombian Review Of Clinical Trials Finds Cannabis Improves Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Written by Frank Schuler on December 6, 2024. Posted in Science.

The use of cannabis-based medications by patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome, including the use of unprocessed cannabis flower, is associated with symptomatic improvements according to a systematic review of clinical trials previously published in the journal Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy.

“There is a need to explore pharmacological options for syndrome (FMS), such as medical cannabis. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize and analyze the available information about the effectiveness/efficacy and safety of cannabis-based products for medical use (CBPMs) and cannabis-based medicines (CBMs), in patients with FMS.” the researchers stated about the goal of the review. The team of researchers conducting the review were affiliated with:

Research Group on Pharmaceutical Promotion and Prevention, University of Antioquia, UdeA, AA 1226, Medellin 050010, Colombia
2El Dorado Botanical, Independent Researcher and Advisor in Bioinformatics and Precision Medicine, Medellin, Colombia.
3Research Group on Pharmaceutical Care, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

“Interventional or observational studies, systematic reviews and meta-analysis regarding the effectiveness/efficacy and safety of CBPMs and CBMs in patients with FMS were retrieved from the PubMed/Medline database until April 2024. Then, the information was summarized in tables, with the type of CBPM and CBM, the method used in the study and the effective-ness/efficacy and safety outcomes.” the researchers stated about their methodology.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic musculoskeletal condition that is estimated to affect as much as 5% of the world’s population. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome compared to men.

“19 publications were selected from the search or form the relevant references. Different CBPM and CBM were used across the studies. Also, different instruments for measuring the effectiveness were used. In general, the use of CBPMs and CBM showed an important improvement in pain, quality of life, and sleep habits. There were no serious adverse events.” researchers stated about the systematic review of clinical trials.

“The results show that CBMPs and CBMs could be effective and safe in patients with FMS; however, the evidence is limited and there is a need for high-quality clinical studies conducted with improved methodological design.” the review authors concluded.

According to a recent market analysis by S&S Insider, the global medical cannabis market was valued at $16.84 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach an estimated $86.04 billion in value by 2032 with CAGR of 19.89% from 2024 to 2032.

CBD Mitigates Symptoms In Alzheimer’s Patients In Colombian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on November 24, 2024. Posted in Science.

Alzheimer’s disease is a serious health condition that results in a brain disorder that slowly destroys a patient’s memory and thinking skills. Eventually, the condition impedes the patient’s ability to carry out simple daily tasks.

Global researchers estimate that every 3 seconds someone develops dementia somewhere on Earth, and that there were over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia as of 2020. The number of sufferers will roughly double every 20 years, reaching a projected 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.

A team of investigators in Colombia recently conducted a study in which they examined the use of CBD oil by Alzheimer’s patients experiencing neuropsychiatric symptoms. The study was published in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

“Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) may be disruptive and problematic for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and for their caregivers. Cannabidiol (CBD) may be a safer alternative. The objective was to evaluate whether CBD-rich oil was effective, and safe in adults with NPS secondary to AD.” the researchers stated about their study.

“An open-label, prospective cohort, single-center study in patients with AD onset after the age of 65 with untreated NPS. A CBD-rich oil was administrated 0.1 mL sublingually every 8–12 h, up-titrated weekly. The primary outcome was to establish a reduction in the NPI-Q severity score of >30% at 12 weeks compared with the baseline. A p value of <0.05 was statistically significant.” the researchers stated about the study’s methodology.

“Between July 2020 and July 2023, 59 (93.5%) patients completed ≥3 months of follow-up. The patients were under treatment for a mean of 23.2 months, the median dose of CBD was 111 mg/day. The median NPI-Q severity and caregiver’s distress scores at baseline were 24 and 29, respectively. At 3 months, the median NPI-Q severity score shifted to 12 (p < 0.001) and 14 (p < 0.001), respectively. The proportion of patients who achieved a reduction in the NPI-Q severity score of >30% was 94.9%, while a reduction of >50% was achieved by 54.2%. The improvement was maintained for up to 24 months,” they stated regarding the study’s findings.

“This study shows that CBD-rich oil is an effective and safe therapy for treating NPS in AD patients, while also reducing the caregivers’ distress.” the researchers concluded.

According to a recent market analysis by Insightace Analytic, “the global CBD oil market is poised for significant growth, projected to reach $3.12 billion by 2030, with a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.65% from 2022 to 2030.”

60% In New Zealand Survey Indicated Cannabis Decreased Their Alcohol Use

Written by Frank Schuler on November 15, 2024. Posted in Science.

A recent survey of more than 23,000 New Zealanders found that 60% of respondents reported that they consumed less alcohol after beginning cannabis use. The survey also found that of people who report using cannabis and other substances, 60% of respondents reported consuming less synthetic cannabinoids, 44% reported using less morphine, and 40% reported using less methamphetamine.

“To explore the co-use of cannabis with alcohol and other drugs within demographic subgroups of a large sample of people who use cannabis. Specifically: (1) whether cannabis is being substituted for other drugs, and (2), whether cannabis use leads to more, less or the same level of other drug use.” the survey’s authors stated about the aim of their research. The findings of the survey were originally published in the Harm Reduction Journal.

“Online convenience survey promoted via Facebook™ completed by 23,500 New Zealand respondents. Those who had used cannabis and any of eight other substances in the same six-month period were asked if their use of cannabis had any impact on their use of each other substance (“a lot more”, “little more”, “no impact/same”, “little less”, “a lot less”). Frequency and quantity used of each other drug was compared by co-use group. Generalised logistic regression models were developed to predict co-use categories.” the researchers stated about their methodology.

“Young adults (21–35-years) were more likely to report cannabis use led to “less” drinking and methamphetamine use.” the researchers reported. “Māori were more likely to report cannabis use resulted in “less” alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine, and LSD use.”

“Cannabis and other drug co-use patterns are moderated by life stages, lifestyles, cultural perspectives, and urbanicity. Harm reduction initiatives and policy reforms should take account of these moderating factors.” the investigators concluded.

The results of the New Zealand survey add to a growing area of research that is finding that cannabis can be an ‘exit drug’ for many consumers. For example, according to data from Health Canada, nearly one-quarter of surveyed Canadians report that they are consuming less alcohol after consuming cannabis.

Separate survey data from the U.S. found that 36 percent of U.S. consumers report consuming less alcohol following state-level cannabis legalization. Polling data previously published by Gallup found that most U.S. adults believe that cannabis use poses fewer risks to health than alcohol. A study conducted in 2015 found that alcohol is 114 times more harmful to humans than cannabis.

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UK Study Finds Cannabis Provides Sustained Improvements In PTSD Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on November 12, 2024. Posted in Science.

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

Common treatments for PTSD include different types of trauma-focused psychotherapy as well as pharmaceutical medications. Many of the pharmaceutical medications used to treat PTSD can yield undesirable side effects.

A recent study conducted in the United Kingdom examined medical cannabis therapies and PTSD. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: Patients with post-traumatic stress report symptom improvements following their use of cannabis, according to observational data published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

British researchers assessed the use of THC-dominant cannabis flower in 58 patients with post-traumatic stress. (Since 2018, British specialists have been permitted to prescribe either cannabis or cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Researchers assessed changes in patient-reported outcomes measures at three months and at six months.

Participants, on average, attained a 16.8-point reduction in their symptom severity scores following six months of cannabis treatment. Patients also reported significant enhancements in general health, mood, and sleep quality.

The study’s authors concluded: “Results from this observational study suggest an association between treatment with THC-predominant cannabis flowers and symptomatic improvement for up to six months in a cohort of UK civilians diagnosed with PTSD. The treatment was safe and well tolerated and characterized by marked effects on quality of sleep, general mood, and severity of PTSD-associated symptoms. … However, further research is needed to evaluate the long-term safety and outcomes of controlled inhalation of CBMP in patients naïve to cannabis.”

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products in patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be effective for those suffering from chronic pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Full text of the study, “Controlled inhalation of tetrahydrocannabinol-predominant cannabis flowers mitigates severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and improves quality of sleep and general mood in cannabis-experienced UK civilians: A real-world, observational study,” appears in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Additional information on cannabis and post-traumatic stress is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

Brazil Approves Medical Cannabis For Animals

Written by Frank Schuler on November 6, 2024. Posted in Policy, Science.

Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency recently decided to amend Ordinance SVS/MS 344/1998 to allow the regulation of medical cannabis products for animals by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Veterinarians who are approved by the nation’s Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine may prescribe registered cannabis-based medications to animals.

“Veterinarians may only prescribe these products through special prescriptions from pharmacies, as is already the case with other controlled medications and products, in accordance with current legislation, guaranteeing their strictly therapeutic use.” stated Feedstuffs about the policy change.

A study from December 2022 conducted by researchers in Brazil found that, at the macro level, cannabis appears to be safe for pets, especially cannabidiol, as long as it’s administered in the right dosage level.

“The review was systematically performed in Medline (via Pubmed^®) and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) databases, with period restriction (between 1990 and 2021). The qualified articles (n=19), which met the previously established inclusion criteria, were critically evaluated.” stated the researchers about their study.

“Based on the literature review, it is possible to infer safety in the administration of cannabis-based products for the treatment of dogs, especially products rich in cannabidiol (CBD), free or with low concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol, under the conditions evaluated. In addition, CBD products potentially promote improved quality of life and reduce pain perception in animals affected by canine osteoarthritis.” the researchers also stated.

“Finally, owing to the lack of large-scale and robust clinical research studies, the performance of clinical trials, considering the individual characteristics of each cannabis-based product (composition, concentration, nature of adjuvants, dosage form, route of administration), is strongly encouraged.” the researchers concluded.

Market growth will be driven by “growing pet ownership coupled with increasing awareness and acceptance of the potential therapeutic benefits of hemp-derived CBD for pets” the researchers stated.