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Cannabis Associated With Improvements In Patients With Chronic Pouchitis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Roughly 5 million people around the globe suffer from ulcerative colitis, some of which will endure at least one surgery in their lifetime due to the condition. Of the patients that require surgery, roughly 20% of them will develop a condition known as chronic pouchitis.

Chronic pouchitis involves inflammation in the lining of a pouch created during surgery to treat ulcerative colitis, in addition to surgery from a small list of other diseases. Symptoms of the condition include diarrhea, abdominal pain, joint pain, cramps, and fever.

Researchers in Israel recently examined cannabis’ ability to help treat symptoms of chronic pouchitis. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Tel Aviv, Israel: The daily use of herbal cannabis provides sustained relief to patients diagnosed with chronic pouchitis, according to data published in the journal ACG Case Reports. (Pouchitis is an inflammatory condition that frequently occurs in patients following surgery to treat ulcerative colitis.)

Israeli researchers assessed the use of cannabis in nine patients with treatment-resistant pouchitis. Patients inhaled one gram of herbal cannabis (16 percent THC) daily in addition to their regular medications. Patients were monitored for one year.

Investigators reported: “Symptom improvement was reported by eight of nine patients, including improvements in abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, appetite, and general well-being. Mood, memory, concentration, sleep, alertness, and daily function were also improved. Patients reported no events of hallucinations, negative behavioral effects, restlessness, or confusion. None reported IBD [inflammatory bowel disease] exacerbation.”

They concluded: “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the effect of cannabis consumption among patients with chronic pouchitis. … Cannabis use led to significant symptomatic improvement and better quality of life in this group of patients with refractory pouchitis. Larger, controlled studies are needed to further evaluate the role of cannabis in the treatment of chronic pouchitis.”

Prior studies have shown that cannabis can mitigate symptoms associated with a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and gastroparesis.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis improves clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with chronic pouchitis,” appears in ACG Case Reports. Additional information on cannabis and GI disorders is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

CBD cannabis leaf plant

CBD Associated With Sickle Cell Disease Patient Pain Alleviation

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Sickle cell disease is a condition involving a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that affect hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen throughout the body. International researchers estimate that as many as 20 million people have the condition globally.

For people that do not suffer from sickle cell disease, their red blood cells move easily through blood vessels due to their disc-like shape. However, the red blood cells of sickle cell disease patients are crescent or “sickle” shaped. They do not move through blood vessels easily and can block blood flow in a patient’s body. That blocked blood flow can lead to serious health conditions including stroke and chronic pain.

A team of researchers in France recently examined CBD administered orally and how it make affect sickle cell disease patients. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Paris, France: The daily consumption of oral CBD is associated with dramatic improvements in chronic pain due to sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a case report published in the American Journal of Hematology.

French researchers reported on the use of synthetic CBD in a 15-year-old SCD patient suffering from chronic refractory pain in his spine, thorax, and knee. Prior to CBD treatment, the patient had required prolonged hospitalizations due to chronic pain.

Following two weeks of CBD treatment, the patient experienced “a complete regression of pain.” During 10 months of treatment, the patient did not require any further hospitalizations.
Authors concluded: “We report here for the first time a case of refractory chronic pain with dramatic improvement after CBD treatment in an adolescent with SCD. … As it seems to be a well-tolerated drug, CBD could represent a promising therapeutic perspective for patients with SCD suffering from chronic pain.”

Survey data indicates that patients with SCD often consume cannabis for symptom management. Clinical trial data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the short-term use of vaporized cannabis in SCD patients is associated with improved mood and may also mitigate symptoms of SCD-related pain. Other studies have reported that SCD patients who consume cannabis are less likely to require hospitalization as compared to those who do not.

Full text of the study, “Dramatic efficacy of cannabidiol on refractory chronic pain in an adolescent with sickle cell disease,” appears in the American Journal of Hematology.

zurich switzerland

Zurich Launches Cannabis Pilot Trial

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

With a population of roughly 400,000 people, Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. Zurich also serves as the capital of the canton of Zurich, and as of this month, is now home to Switzerland’s largest regional cannabis commerce pilot trial.

Switzerland approved adult-use cannabis pilot trials in recent years, although the concept is still largely in its infancy. Back in February, Switzerland’s first pilot trial launched in Basel. The Basel pilot involves a total of 374 people.

By comparison, the pilot in Zurich will involve roughly 2,100 people. Participants will be able to sign up with one of the 21 outlets that are part of the recently launched Zurich pilot.

Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot projects are, in theory, designed to give national governments the ability to permit commerce on a small scale in order to gain insight and data to be better suited to implement laws and regulations at the national level. Switzerland’s pilots are slated to last for five years, and similar pilots are being considered in other European nations.

One of those nations is obviously Germany, which is pursuing a multi-phased legalization plan. The first phase involves legalizing personal cultivation, possession, and consumption along with permitting noncommercial cannabis clubs. The second phase would involve the launch of regional pilot programs.

While it will be a while before we know for sure, Germany’s pilot program is expected to be much larger and more widespread compared to what is going on right now in Switzerland. Still, Switzerland beat many European nations to the punch so to speak, and for participants of the pilots in Basel and Zurich, cannabis is essentially legal.

The speed at which cannabis laws are being modernized in Switzerland is understandably frustrating for advocates. With that being said, cannabis politics is often a game of incremental gains, and successful pilot trials will do wonders to build momentum for national reform. It’s important to keep things in context.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Supports Cannabis Reform Despite Not Being A Consumer

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

People do not need to be cannabis consumers in order to recognize the harms of cannabis prohibition and the benefits of cannabis policy modernization. An example of that can be found in recent comments made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Chancellor Scholz made it clear that he has “never” consumed cannabis, “not even a single puff.”

Yet, despite refraining from consuming cannabis, Chancellor Scholz expressed his direct support for Germany’s current cannabis policy modernization effort, describing it as “doing exactly the right thing.” Chancellor Scholz’s comments were made during an interview with the German TV stations Sat.1 and ProSieben.

Chancellor Scholz’s position on cannabis reform highlights that modernizing cannabis policies does not just benefit cannabis consumers and entrepreneurs. Cannabis prohibition is a failed public policy that wastes enormous amounts of limited public resources; resources that would be better allocated to many other things such as schools and infrastructure.

The recent comments made by Chancellor Scholz are not unique. At least one other policymaker, United States Congressman Earl Blumenauer, proudly supports cannabis reform despite having never consumed cannabis during his lifetime. Cannabis legalization is sensible public policy, and it’s refreshing to hear sitting lawmakers stating as much.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s comments come in the midst of a historic push in Germany to update the nation’s cannabis policies. Medical cannabis is already permitted in Germany, however, many suffering patients still do not have safe access for various reasons.

The German plan in its current form involves essentially three phases for legalization. The first, which was recently approved by Germany’s federal cabinet as previously mentioned, would legalize personal cultivation, possession, and use along with permitting noncommercial cannabis clubs.

Components of the first phase, which were largely driven by restrictive conversations at the European Union level, have received pushback from advocates inside and outside of Germany. Members of the Bundestag have already expressed a strong desire to make changes to the phase one plan, and only time will tell if they are successful in doing so.

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The World Anti-Doping Agency Is Wrong About Cannabis

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Earlier this month members of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List Expert Advisory Group published an editorial article in the journal Addiction, as first reported by Marijuana Moment. In the editorial, members of WADA tried to ‘justify’ their position that “cannabis should remain a banned substance in sport.”

“For any substance or method to be considered for inclusion in the Prohibited Substances List as per the World Anti-Doping Code, two of the following three equally-important criteria must be met: (1) it enhances or has the potential to enhance sport performance, (2) it represents an actual or potential risk to the health of the athlete and (3) it violates the spirit of the sport as defined in the Code.” the editorial stated.

In regards to the first criterion, the WADA members stated, “while there may be benefits perceived by some athletes, there were no scientific data to support performance enhancement.”

“There was far more agreement on the second criterion—actual or potential risk to the health of the athlete.” the editorial also stated. “There is a comprehensive historical literature as well as a rapidly growing body of contemporary literature supporting the assertion that cannabis use can negatively impact the health, safety or wellbeing of the athlete.”

I will not subject you in this article to the reefer madness talking points offered up as examples of ‘harm’ to athletes in the editorial article, but trust me, it’s basically every run-of-the-mill cannabis prohibitionist talking point. To be fair, there were citations offered up, but also to be fair, the editorial’s talking points are easily refuted by real living examples in the form of a laundry list of elite athletes who have responsibly consumed cannabis during their successful careers. As I have long stated, cannabis doesn’t ruin an athlete’s career; cannabis prohibition does.

Arguably the most ridiculous part of the WADA editorial article involved their discussion of the third criterion – violating the ‘spirit of sport.’ The WADA editorial listed four sub-criteria and their ‘justification’ for how cannabis use violated each one:

  • Excellence in performance: this could be undermined by consumption of cannabis during the in-competition period.
  • Character and education: the role model aspect is not compatible with use of a substance that is still illegal in most parts of the world.
  • Respect for rules and laws: its use violates the law in most countries in the world, in addition to Anti-Doping Organization rules in some instances.
  • Respect for self and other participants: the welfare and safety of other participants may be compromised by impaired judgment associated with the presence of cannabis in an athlete in-competition.

WADA goes on to describe how it has raised its THC threshold, and that its goal is to only prohibit “in-competition” use. However, as long as there is an arbitrary THC threshold, there’s always the possibility, if not likelihood, that there will be people with high tolerances who are in no way impaired, yet have too much metabolized THC in their system to pass a test.

If WADA’s true goal is to only prohibit in-competition use, then field sobriety-equivalent tests are a much more effective and accurate way to go about it, particularly when considering that these are elite athletes who are surrounded by other elite athletes. Impairment of any kind would stand out like a sore thumb.

Despite what WADA seems to be implying, no one is advocating for athletes to show up stoned out of their minds to what amounts to the biggest moment in the athletes’ entire lives when they need to be as razor-sharp as possible.

Elite athletes can have large amounts of metabolized THC in their system and still excel “in performance.” NBA players are set to do exactly that this upcoming season, with Kevin Durant presumably having more metabolized THC in his system than ever before from previous use, and yet dominating as hard as ever the day of the game.

Claiming that someone who consumes cannabis cannot be a role model is peak modern-day reefer madness stigma, and WADA should be ashamed of that statement, if for any reason because it does not calculate for compassionate medical cannabis use whatsoever and is blatantly ableist against potential athletes that suffer from conditions that they treat with cannabis instead of more harmful substances like many pharmaceutical drugs.

“Respect for rules and laws” goes both ways, in that there are now many countries in the world where cannabis use is permitted in some manner, or in the case of the United States, local laws that permit cannabis use. Cannabis policies around the globe are being modernized, and WADA knows that (or at least has no excuse for not knowing that). To say that this WADA talking point is disingenuous is an understatement.

The fourth talking point, “respect for self and other participants,” makes it sound like if an athlete were to have too much metabolized THC in their system they would automatically start harming other competitors. That insinuation is blatant nonsense.

Athletes want to be able to make the safer choice when relaxing and/or treating their ailments/conditions ‘off the clock.’ They are not going to risk everything that they have worked so hard for by taking gravity bong hits an hour before a major competition, and even if they did, it’s not as if they would then go stumbling around the competition punching their competitors.

The topic of cannabis policy and professional sports is worthy of a serious discussion, and unfortunately, WADA did the entire discussion a huge disservice by publishing what amounts to an anti-cannabis propaganda hit job. Hopefully they do better in the future.

bundestag berlin germany bundestag berlin germany

Will Germany’s Current Legalization Measure Evolve?

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Earlier this month Germany’s federal cabinet approved a long-awaited cannabis legalization measure that was largely led by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. The measure in its current form would, among other things, legalize the personal cultivation, possession, and consumption of cannabis for adult-use purposes.

The announcement of the measure’s updated provisions, which occurred several months ago, was received with mixed reactions from Germany’s cannabis community, as well as by cannabis community members abroad. Everyone seems to agree that the measure is better than outright prohibition, however, some of the provisions are better than others, as captured in a recent press release from the German Hemp Association:

The German Hemp Association welcomes the cabinet draft as a milestone on the way to reforming cannabis policy in Germany. With the debate now starting in the Bundestag, the passage of the law is within reach. Hundreds of thousands of consumers have been the subject of criminal proceedings for consumption-related offenses in recent decades. This senseless repression could come to an end at the turn of the year.

The DHV hopes that the participation of the MPs will bring a breath of fresh air to the discussion about the details. Because since the draft bill, no major improvements are discernible. All of the main criticisms of the DHV are still relevant:

  • The ban on consumption in cannabis cultivation clubs is unrealistic.
  • The distance regulation will make it unreasonably difficult for clubs to find suitable locations.
  • The distance regulations for consumption cannot be observed. They violate the principle of certainty of the Basic Law. Neither consumers nor the police can know exactly where consumption is permitted and where it is not.
  • The threat of penalties and fines for small violations of the already arbitrary limits is completely exaggerated. Possession of 25 grams is perfectly legal, possession of 26 grams carries a prison sentence of up to three years. A fine of up to 100,000 euros can be imposed for consumption within a distance of 199 meters from a school.
  • A total of three plants for home cultivation is not enough. An upper limit of 25 grams is unrealistic for the storage of home-grown cannabis in your own home.

The DHV is confident that these and many other problems will now be addressed in detail in the parliamentary process. However, the current plans cannot remain the same. A large-scale suppression of the black market is only possible with the nationwide introduction of cannabis specialty shops for adults.

“Today is a good day, above all, because Parliament now has sovereignty over further decisions and no longer Karl Lauterbach,” said DHV spokesman Georg Wurth.

It does appear that changes to the measure will at least be attempted by domestic lawmakers in Germany now that the process has transitioned over to the Bundestag, as reflected in a recent social media post by Bundestag member Kristine Lütke (FDP):

It’s a safe bet that changes are on the way. It’s not a question of ‘if,’ but rather ‘what?’ Will the changes amount to minor tweaks, or will they be a fairly substantial overhaul of major components of the measure, such as those listed in the DHV’s recent press release? Will attempts to change the measure derail the process? Only time will tell.

The domestic political process is not occurring in a vacuum. All the while the European Union and various treaties loom over the process, and needless to say, it will be interesting to see what the EU’s reaction is to any changes made during the domestic political process.

It’s also worth noting that the current measure being considered does not encapsulate everything involved with Germany’s cannabis policy modernization effort. It’s merely the first of what will ultimately prove to be three phases of the effort.

This first one involves components related to personal freedoms and noncommercial cannabis clubs, which is what is being considered now. Phase two will involve the launch of regional commerce pilot programs, and that will require a separate measure. Lastly, and this third phase is currently out of the scope of Minister Lauterbach’s plan, is the launch of nationwide sales.

Given how long the first phase is taking, cannabis observers inside and outside of Germany should be ready for a lengthy process. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ as the saying goes, and the same is true for modernizing the cannabis policies of Europe’s largest economy.

ptsd pain headache migraine ptsd pain headache migraine

Plant-Derived Cannabinoids Effective For Anxiety And PTSD According To Australian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two of the most common health conditions found around the globe. International researchers estimate that hundreds of millions of people live with anxiety to some degree every day.

Additionally, hundreds of millions more people around the world suffer from PTSD to some degree, with many PTSD patients also being diagnosed with anxiety. Both conditions on their own can be unbearable, and suffering from both of them at the same time can be debilitating in extreme cases.

More and more anxiety and PTSD patients are turning to the cannabis plant for relief, and according to a recent study in Australia, plant-derived cannabinoids are an effective form of treatment. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Sydney, Australia: Patients diagnosed with anxiety and/or post-traumatic stress respond favorably to medical cannabis treatment, according to observational study data published in the Journal of Pharmacy Technology.

A team of Australian investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of oral cannabinoid formulations (either tinctures or capsules) containing various ratios of THC and CBD in 198 patients with anxiety disorders. The median doses consumed by study participants were 50.0 mg/day for CBD and 4.4 mg/day for THC. (Australian law permits physicians to authorize cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.)

Researchers reported, “The total participant sample reported significantly improved anxiety, depression, fatigue, and ability to take part in social roles and activities.”

Among the subset of subjects diagnosed specifically with post-traumatic stress, cannabis therapy similarly “improved anxiety, depression, fatigue, and social abilities,” with CBD-dominant formulations exhibiting the greatest efficacy.

The most common adverse events experienced by participants were dry mouth, somnolence, and fatigue.

The findings are consistent with those of recent observational studies from the United Kingdom which similarly showed that cannabis therapy was safe and effective for patients with generalized anxiety and post-traumatic stress.

Full text of the study, “The effectiveness and the adverse events of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol used in the treatment of anxiety disorders in a PTSD population: An interim analysis of an observational study,” appears in the Journal of Pharmacy Technology. Additional information on cannabis and post-traumatic stress is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

cannabis genetics panel International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin 2023

Big Opportunities In The Cannabis Genetics Sector

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Science.

Cannabis breeding is an essential part of the industry, as it allows for the development of new strains and products that can be tailored to meet the needs of different consumers and patients. As the cannabis market continues to grow and evolve, so does the potential for genetics to play an even greater role in the industry.

In the embedded International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin 2023 panel video below, experts discuss the latest trends in cannabis genetics and explore the future of breeding, from identifying new traits to using CRISPR technology. Panelists also delve into the question of how human DNA and cannabis DNA might be connected, and what implications this could have for the future of the industry. Panelists include:

  • Marcus Richardson (moderator) – Hashish aficionado and creator of Bubblebags
  • Dave Auger – Commissioner, Big League Genetics
  • Manny Dasilva – COO, Green Boyz Craft Israel
  • Jameson Welbourn – Founder and Managing Director, The Banyan Tree
  • Steven Tan – Principal Consultant, 4Plant

We look forward to seeing you in Berlin in 2024, as well as at our upcoming science and technology event in Slovenia this September!

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The Global Significance Of German Cannabis Policy Modernization

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Earlier today members of Germany’s government announced that the nation’s federal cabinet had approved a draft cannabis legalization measure that would serve as the first phase of an ongoing cannabis policy modernization effort largely led by Germany’s Health Minster Karl Lauterbach. The measure now heads to the Bundestag for consideration by members of the legislative body.

The proposal, as it currently stands and subject to further potential changes, would allow adults to legally cultivate, possess, and consume cannabis for personal use in Germany. The measure would also create noncommercial clubs that would provide cannabis to members. Purchasing limits would be involved, as would ‘buffer zones,’ limits on the number of clubs per jurisdiction, and a limit of 500 members per club. Minister Lauterbach made an appearance later in the day, during which he defended his measure:

The German Hemp Association stated the following regarding today’s federal cabinet approval and the transition of the process over to the Bundestag:

The German Hemp Association welcomes the cabinet draft as a milestone on the way to reforming cannabis policy in Germany. With the debate now starting in the Bundestag, the passage of the law is within reach. Hundreds of thousands of consumers have been the subject of criminal proceedings for consumption-related offenses in recent decades. This senseless repression could come to an end at the turn of the year.

The DHV hopes that the participation of the MPs will bring a breath of fresh air to the discussion about the details. Because since the draft bill, no major improvements are discernible. All of the main criticisms of the DHV are still relevant:

  • The ban on consumption in cannabis cultivation clubs is unrealistic.
  • The distance regulation will make it unreasonably difficult for clubs to find suitable locations.
  • The distance regulations for consumption cannot be observed. They violate the principle of certainty of the Basic Law. Neither consumers nor the police can know exactly where consumption is permitted and where it is not.
  • The threat of penalties and fines for small violations of the already arbitrary limits is completely exaggerated. Possession of 25 grams is perfectly legal, possession of 26 grams carries a prison sentence of up to three years. A fine of up to 100,000 euros can be imposed for consumption within a distance of 199 meters from a school.
  • A total of three plants for home cultivation is not enough. An upper limit of 25 grams is unrealistic for the storage of home-grown cannabis in your own home.

The DHV is confident that these and many other problems will now be addressed in detail in the parliamentary process. However, the current plans cannot remain the same. A large-scale suppression of the black market is only possible with the nationwide introduction of cannabis specialty shops for adults.

“Today is a good day, above all, because Parliament now has sovereignty over further decisions and no longer Karl Lauterbach,” said DHV spokesman Georg Wurth.

The second phase of Germany’s current cannabis policy modernization effort, if it succeeds in making it through the political labyrinth, will involve the launch of regional cannabis pilot projects. Germany’s pilot projects will be generally similar in principle, but likely not in size and scope, to the pilot projects currently operating in Switzerland.

Due in large part to limitations at the EU level, Germany’s current policy modernization effort does not involve the legalization of large-scale cultivation and national sales. However, that is not to say that those components will never be passed and implemented.

Today’s approval by the federal cabinet is one of the many steps along the way. It’s a significant one to be sure, although, it needs to be seen as a milestone, and not a final destination. Now that the process for approving the phase one bill has been turned over to domestic lawmakers, it will be interesting to see what evolutions the political process may yield.

It’s vital for cannabis observers to consistently keep Germany’s legalization efforts in the proper global context. Germany is trying to modernize its cannabis policies and stand up an adult-use cannabis industry for its population of over 83 million people. By comparison, the combined population of all four current legal nations (Uruguay, Canada, Malta, and Luxembourg) is only roughly half that of Germany’s population.

Furthermore, Germany shares more borders with other countries than any other nation in Europe, and all of those countries currently prohibit adult use. It’s logical that Germany’s cannabis policy modernization effort is taking longer given how ‘heavy the lift is,’ and that is also why German legalization will prove to be more significant than its predecessors. Germany is ushering in the modern cannabis policy era.

Criticisms for larger reform are absolutely valid, but the fight is also not over. A recent study by the Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics found that comprehensive legalization in Germany would net the country 4.7 billion euros per year via cannabis taxes, fees, and savings from no longer enforcing failed cannabis prohibition. That is significant, and clearly worth fighting for, in addition to fighting to prevent lives from being needlessly ruined by draconian public policies.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is currently headed to India for a meeting of G-20 health ministers. Given that he just held a press conference today and made international headlines, again, it’s a safe bet that cannabis will be a popular topic of discussion between Minister Lauterbach and his peers.

While it’s unclear how many will be sympathetic to Germany’s efforts, one has to assume that at least some of Minster Lauterbach’s peers will be curious and want to learn more about the topic, and that is a good thing. As a long-time cannabis activist friend used to say in regard to cannabis reform, “If we are talking, we are winning,” and Germany has the whole world talking right now.

When legalization inevitably becomes a reality in Germany, and it inevitably succeeds, other nations are going to surely follow suit and that will, in turn, result in cannabis policies being modernized on a much larger scale globally than they are right now. The legalization process in Germany has been frustrating up until this point to be sure, however, today is a big milestone that is worth celebrating, both within Germany’s borders, and beyond.