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Patients Do Not Exhibit Neurocognitive Performance Changes After Cannabis Use

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uruguay Secretary Provides Update On Nation’s Cannabis Policy Approach

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Uruguay will always hold the distinct title of being the first nation on the planet to pass a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. Since Uruguay passed its measure in 2013, three other nations have also passed measures, with Malta and Luxembourg having more restrictive models and Canada having a less restrictive model.

Canada’s legalization model allows all adults, regardless of residency status, to make legal purchases from regulated outlets, whereas Uruguay limits legal sales to adult residents only. Still, Uruguay’s cannabis policy modernization effort has yielded tremendous insight.

Daniel Radio, Secretary General of Uruguay’s National Drug Authority, recently spoke about his nation’s pursuits at an academic forum organized by the Drug Authority titled “IV Academic Forum: The regulation of cannabis in Uruguay and the region: progress and challenges”.

Kraut Invest translated the Secretary’s speech from Spanish to English, a transcript of which can be found on their website. Secretary Radio describes cannabis use as “innate to humanity” and suggests that prohibition policies are to blame for issues of the past, not the substance itself.

“And under the pretext of some damage to the health of some users, our societies have shifted the problem and tried to solve it through criminal law. And as a result, they have given the bulk of the resources that might be useful to research and address some of these unfortunate circumstances of problematic use to the institutions responsible for maintaining public safety in a useless, impossible fight to lead that is demoralizing for those who lead it.” Secretary Radio stated.

“The Uruguayan experience had a peculiarity. Unlike other states where the regulation of cannabis was discussed in the context of its medical use, in Uruguay, throughout the period before the adoption of the regulatory law, the focus of the discussion was always on the regulation of adult (or recreational) use.” he also stated. Secretary Radio’s speech can be found in the embedded video below:

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Grenada Expected To Pass Cannabis Decriminalization Measure In 2024

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Grenada may not be the first nation that you think of when contemplating cannabis policy modernization efforts, however, the Caribbean nation is expected to pass a cannabis decriminalization measure next year.

While the measure is being described domestically as ‘decriminalization,’ perhaps a more proper way to describe the measure is that Grenada is seeking to legalize the production of limited forms of medical cannabis products, in addition to decriminalizing personal possession and cultivation in some cases. Per Telesure English:

According to official reports, with this initiative, the Caribbean country seeks to diversify its economic base and create new engines to drive growth.

This should result in the elaboration and commercialization of products made with cannabis (as it is also known), but also allow the possession of only five plants or 24 grams, especially for members of the Rastafarian movement.

In many countries around the world, governments have launched robust medical cannabis programs that permit most or all forms of cannabis to be produced and sold via various means such as through dispensaries and/or pharmacies.

What is being proposed in Grenada on the medical side appears to be the legalization of pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis products involving isolated cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol. If that is the case, there are many nations around the world already doing that.

The personal possession and cultivation provisions, if implemented, would be more significant from a public policy standpoint. The cultivation of five plants and the permitted possession of 24 grams is more than what is currently in place in Luxembourg where adults are permitted to cultivate up to four plants and possess up to three grams.

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Cannabis Improves Ability To Cope With Cancer According To Survey

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Vote On Updated German Legalization Measure Expected This Week

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Over the course of the last week, lawmakers in Germany reportedly reached an agreement to make changes to an adult-use legalization measure that is working its way through the Bundestag process.

According to comments made by members of the Bundestag, the SPD, Greens, and FDP factions of the governing coalition have agreed with Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health to change various aspects of the measure that was first introduced by German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach earlier this year.

Minister Lauterbach’s measure was introduced earlier this year after a lengthy drafting process that incorporated several meetings with members of the European Union. Minister Lauterbach was abundantly clear throughout his discussions that European Union approval would be needed before a measure could be submitted for consideration by domestic lawmakers in Germany.

Some of the provisions of Minister Lautebach’s initial measure were not well-received by domestic lawmakers due to the limitations that appeared to be imposed by the discussions with the European Union, not the least of which is the continued prohibition of national, regulated adult-use sales.

What was included in the initial measure were provisions that, if implemented, would legalize personal cannabis cultivation, possession, and use by adults in Germany, as well as permit the licensing of noncommercial cannabis clubs.

While the overall concept of national adult-use sales remains off the table for now, there are reported changes to certain provisions, as well as an expected vote on the updated measure to take place next week. Bundestag member Kirsten Kappert-Gonther detailed the changes in a social media post:

Translated from German to English, Kirsten Kappert-Gonther stated, “The #Cannabis law is coming! Finally: Finally we end this failed ban policy! After intensive negotiations, there is now a law that focuses on youth and #Gesundheitsschutz , which has ended #Kriminalisierung and is practicable.”

The social media thread went on to state, “I am very pleased about the changes achieved in the parliamentary procedure: Reduction of consumption bans to 100M; Allowed amount for home cultivation: 50 g of dried cannabis; Change to the driving license regulation with an appropriate limit through @BMDV by spring 2024. No gaps between cannabis clubs; No criminal penalties (only administrative offenses) with small amounts of 25-30 G in public and 50-60 G in private spaces. Easier #Cannabis cultivation to med. purposes. These changes made now make the law even better!”

“Communal consumption in cannabis clubs and edibles is not (yet) implemented. But what we were able to agree on together is a big step forward. Thank you to everyone who has campaigned for this law for decades! Next step: Decision in #Bundestag and then continue working together on Pillar 2.” Kirsten Kappert-Gonther also stated in the thread.

“…the law is to be discussed in the lead health committee in the week of the meeting in mid-December (calendar week 50) and then finally passed in the Bundestag in the same week. The regulations on decriminalization should apply from April 1, 2024, but the regulations on the new cultivation associations in which members can purchase cannabis will only apply from July 2024.” Legal Tribune Online stated about expected implementation dates.

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EMCDDA And Europol Release 2023 EU Cannabis Market Analysis

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) recently published an analysis, ‘EU Drug Market: Cannabis.’ The analysis details consumption rates, production, seizures by law enforcement, how Europe’s cannabis market compares to other regions, and other key findings. The analysis was produced in conjunction with Europol.

EMCDDA is an agency of the European Union located in Lisbon, Portugal, and was established in 1993. Europol, officially the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, is the law enforcement agency of the European Union.

The analysis reports that “about 84 million adults (aged 15-64)” have consumed cannabis at some point in their lives and “22.6 million have used it in the last year.” For context, Worldmeter estimates that there are roughly 742 million people in Europe.

“The illicit cannabis retail market remains the largest drug market in the EU and most of the herbal cannabis detected in the EU appears to be cultivated in the EU.” the report’s authors stated.

“The minimum estimated annual value of this market in the EU is EUR 11.4 billion. Herbal cannabis represents roughly 77 % of the market value (with an estimated value of at least EUR 8.8 billion, equivalent to about 1 028 tonnes), while cannabis resin accounts for close to 23 % (with an estimated value of at least EUR 2.6 billion, equivalent to about 362 tonnes).” the authors also stated.

Europe’s legal cannabis market is still developing, with the legal industry currently being based on medical cannabis product sales and low-THC cannabis product sales. Low-THC products are often referred to as ‘cannabis light’ in Europe.

As of the publishing of the EU Drug Market: Cannabis report, only two nations in Europe have passed a national adult-use legalization measure, neither of which permits nationwide commercial sales, such as what is found in Canada and Uruguay.

Malta passed a national measure in late 2021 that legalized personal cultivation, possession, and consumption, in addition to permitting the operation of noncommercial cannabis clubs. Luxembourg passed an adult-use measure earlier this year, however, only cultivation, possession, and consumption are permitted, and even possession can still result in a fine in certain instances.

“Spain is among the key EU countries where cannabis is illicitly produced, accounting for 75 % of the total number of cannabis plants seized in 2021.” the report stated. “Spain is also the key EU entry point for cannabis resin coming from Morocco, as seen in the large quantity of resin seized annually, amounting to more than 650 tonnes in 2021.

“In 2021, seized quantities of herbal cannabis and cannabis resin in the EU reached their highest levels in a decade, at 256 tonnes and 816 tonnes respectively. In addition, over 4.3 million cannabis plants were seized in the EU in 2021.” the report also stated.

The report touched on the environmental impact of the unregulated cannabis industry in Europe, largely due to indoor cultivation facilities trying to avoid detection by authorities. The report’s authors estimate that “the carbon footprint of indoor cultivation has been estimated to be 16 to 100 times higher than outdoor cultivation.”

“A large share of the cases involving violence between criminals in recent years has been connected to the cannabis market. The diversity and the profitability of the business has led to violent confrontations between groups.” the EU Drug Market: Cannabis report stated.

The EU report indicated that “heterogeneity” in approaches to cannabis policy modernization in Europe could lead to larger issues for law enforcement. However, a study in 2021 involving data from legal markets in the United States found that heterogeneity in policy approaches resulted in an “underestimated” effect of reform’s impact on crime.

“We estimate significant reductions in violent crime rates in states that legalize medicinal marijuana. Moreover, we find evidence that ending marijuana prohibition results in larger reductions in violent crime rates in states that border Mexico and in urban counties. We also find evidence that medical marijuana legalization reduces property crimes, with larger reductions in states that border Mexico.” the 2021 study’s authors stated.

Furthermore, data from Canada’s legal market (2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey) indicates that consumers transitioned away from unregulated sources, with “legal storefronts being the most common source since 2019.”

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Parliamentary Assembly Of Bosnia And Herzegovina Host Medical Cannabis Meeting

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Medical cannabis reform has swept the European continent, with many countries already having medical cannabis programs up and running in some form. European medical cannabis programs fall on a spectrum ranging from limited access to CBD pharmaceutical products all the way up to robust high-THC options via various safe access points.

One region that has been slower to modernize its medical cannabis policies is the Balkan region. However, that is changing as lawmakers in the region are seemingly making a more concerted effort to catch up to some of their European counterparts.

Lawmakers in Bosnia And Herzegovina recently held a meeting dedicated to exploring medical cannabis policy modernization efforts, as well as the efficacy of cannabis as a medical treatment strategy. Per excerpts from Sarajevo Times:

The conference “Legalization of cannabis for medical purposes – how to speed up the process?” for the first time on this topic in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina brought together representatives of numerous institutions in the country.

Saša Magazinović, a member of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and the strongest proponent of this initiative in that institution, said that all sick people who use cannabis oil expect to be able to use it in a legal way.

“They expect to be treated by doctors instead of dealers and to buy cannabis oil in pharmacies instead of in dark parks. If it is not clear to anyone, we are talking, and it is important to emphasize this, about a large number of people who suffer from great pain, who suffer from autoimmune diseases diseases, malignant diseases, neurological disorders… we are talking about people whose quality of life is significantly impaired. We are all here because of these people,” said Magazinović.

Cannabis opponents have spent a great deal of time and effort over the course of several decades convincing voters that cannabis reform is bad and that cannabis does not possess any meaningful medical value. That harmful rhetoric has prevented suffering patients from obtaining products that could very well help treat their condition(s).

Hopefully the meeting in Bosnia and Herzegovina that was hosted by the nation’s Parliamentary Assembly was productive and yields meaningful action sooner rather than later.

Caracas Venezuela

Venezuela’s AG Is Wrong To Criticize Cannabis Reform Efforts

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Cannabis modernization efforts are spreading across the globe, and where adult-use policies are already in place cannabis legalization is succeeding by every measure. Humans will always consume cannabis, and regulating cannabis products is a superior approach to public policy compared to cannabis prohibition.

Unfortunately, not all elected officials see it that way. Many cannabis opponents who are in public office still cling to cannabis prohibition talking points, presumably to try to maintain the status quo and keep policy modernization efforts from succeeding.

One such official is Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab, who recently bashed lawmakers in other countries who are trying to modernize their nations’ cannabis policies. Per excerpts from World Nation News:

“Who will become a millionaire? Who gave the marijuana that was legalized? You are dividing the profit between a morally criminal group and a legitimately constituted Government,” said Saab during a forum held in Caracas on the prevention of use. on drugs in children and adolescents.

In his opinion, the global trend towards the decriminalization of marijuana consumption, in some cases only for therapeutic purposes, focuses on the legalization of other substances and the economic benefit of “world powers”, although he did not give details about it.

Tarek William Saab is not the only opponent of cannabis reform that is short on details. For decades all cannabis opponents had to do was toss around unfounded talking points that cannabis was bad and that was enough, as there was no counterbalance in the form of social media or elected officials favorable to cannabis reform.

Fortunately, those days are over. The truth about cannabis is now readily available via a number of platforms, peer-reviewed studies demonstrating cannabis’ wellness benefits are piling up, and regulated cannabis sales are generating revenue for public coffers and projects instead of funding criminal enterprises.

Bern Switzerland

Registration Opens For Cannabis Pilot Projects In Bern And Biel

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Switzerland is home to a very interesting public policy experiment. In May 2021, an amendment to Switzerland’s Federal Narcotics Act went into effect which permitted adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects. Eventually, such projects would launch in Basel and Zurich.

In theory, adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects are designed to serve as a study, gathering data about various consumer-focused areas of commerce at a local level to help national lawmakers and regulators be better suited to craft national policies and regulations.

The projects in Switzerland are limited in scope and size, although for program participants cannabis is effectively legal as long as they stay within the parameters of the adult-use cannabis commerce pilot program that they are enrolled in.

Pilots in Basel and Zurich have experienced no reported issues to date, and the nation’s network of pilot programs is set to expand with registrations opening up in Bern and Biel. Per Nau:

The cities of Biel and Bern have started the pilot project for cannabis distribution. Registration opened on Wednesday, as the University of Bern announced. The study participants are expected to be able to purchase various products such as cannabis flowers, cannabis resin or liquids with different THC and CBD content in selected pharmacies from February 2024.

According to the statement, the names of the pharmacies will not be published due to security reasons. The study will be carried out in the three cities of Bern, Biel and also in Lucerne. A total of around 1,000 participants will be accepted, including around 700 in Bern and 170 in Biel.

For a population of well over 8 million people, the number of participants in Switzerland’s pilot program is not substantial. However, the fact that at least some people are legally purchasing cannabis for recreational use in Switzerland is worth celebrating, and it is great to see that more pilot programs are on the way.

Pilot programs can be a two-edged sword, in that it gives lawmakers an excuse to drag their feet and delay taking meaningful action toward passing national legislation. Whether or not that proves to be the case in Switzerland will take some time to determine.