Science – Page 13 – International Cannabis Business Conference

Clinical Trial In India Finds Oral CBD Is Safe And Effective At Treating Anxiety

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

International health investigators estimate that about 4% of the world’s human population suffers from some form of anxiety, although, researchers do not know the exact number. Anxiety often goes undiagnosed for various reasons in certain parts of the world so the actual rate may be higher than reported.

Anxiety is often described as involving intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Physical symptoms of anxiety can include a fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and/or fatigue.

Many of the pharmaceutical treatments that are commonly prescribed to anxiety patients involve a long list of possible side effects. Some cases of anxiety are so bad that pharmaceutical treatments don’t even work.

Fortunately, orally administered cannabidiol (CBD) products may be able to help in some cases according to a recent clinical trial conducted in India. Below is more information about the trial’s results via a news release from NORML:

Telangana, India: The administration of oral CBD is safe and effective for patients suffering from mild to moderate anxiety disorders, according to clinical trial data published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry.

An international team of investigators assessed the efficacy of 150mg/mL of CBD versus a placebo in a cohort of 178 subjects with anxiety. Patients consumed either CBD or a placebo for 15 weeks.

Researchers reported, “The … CBD oral solution showed therapeutic efficacy, excellent safety, and tolerability in treating not only mild to moderate anxiety disorders, but also associated depression and disturbances in sleep quality with no incidences of withdrawal anxiety upon dose tapering and at the end of the treatment.”

They concluded: “In this Phase III study, … CBD oral solution exhibited superior efficacy in achieving the primary and secondary objectives when compared to the placebo group. … These results pave way for probable prospective use of … CBD … for various psychiatry disorders alone or in conjunction with other drugs.”

The findings are consistent with those of other clinical trials finding that CBD reduces levels of emotional exhaustion, social anxiety disorder, and treatment-resistant anxiety disorders.

Full text of the study, “Evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of nanodispersible cannabidiol oral solution (150 mg/mL) versus placebo in mild to moderate anxiety subjects: A double blind multicenter randomized clinical trial,” appears in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry.

Older UK Patients Respond Favorably To Medical Cannabis Products

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

It is no secret that as humans age they experience health conditions at an increasing rate. As the saying goes, Father Time is undefeated. However, there are therapeutic strategies that older individuals can incorporate to help alleviate some ailments that occur as we age.

Medical cannabis therapies are an option for aging patients, with medical cannabis products increasing in popularity among senior citizens across the globe, including in the United Kingdom.

A team of researchers in the United Kindom recently conducted a study involving older patients and medical cannabis. Many of the study’s participants reported improvements after medical cannabis use. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: Older patients report experiencing better health and well-being following their use of medical cannabis preparations, according to data published in the journal Drugs & Aging.

British researchers assessed the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) consisting of either flower or oil extracts in a cohort of patients ages 65 and older. (British specialists are permitted to prescribe cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Study participants primarily suffered from chronic pain. Patients consumed cannabis products for three months.

Consistent with the findings of other observational studies, older patients reported “significant improvements” following cannabis use, including “substantial reductions” in pain severity.

The study’s authors concluded: “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.”

Israeli data published in 2022 similarly reported quality-of-life improvements in medical cannabis patients. Among patients with post-traumatic stress, 91 percent reported that cannabis treatment was a success, as did 84 percent of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and 78 percent of patients with chronic pain.

According to statistics published in The Journals of Gerontology, more than one-third of those age 65 or older take five or more pharmaceuticals daily.

Full text of the study, “Prescribed medical cannabis use among older individuals: Patient characteristics and improvements in well-being: Findings from T21,” appears in Drugs & Aging. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Cannabis Use by Older Populations.’

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Nearly All Surveyed Australian Patients Report Improvements After Using Medical Cannabis

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

Humans have a long history with the cannabis plant, having harnessed the cannabis plant’s wellness properties for many centuries prior to cannabis prohibition policies taking effect around the world.

Thankfully, cannabis policy modernization efforts have spread across the globe in recent decades, particularly medical cannabis reforms. According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Ukraine and France, and published by the U.S. National Institute of Health, 57 countries have adopted medical cannabis legalization measures.

A recent survey was conducted in Australia in which medical cannabis patients were asked about the effectiveness of their medical cannabis therapies. The results of the survey were encouraging. Below is more information about the results of the survey via a news release from NORML:

Sydney, Australia: Adults who consume cannabis to treat a medical condition overwhelmingly say that it improves their symptoms, according to survey data published in the Harm Reduction Journal.

Researchers surveyed over 3,300 Australian adults who self-identified as medical cannabis consumers. Seventy-three percent of respondents said that they primarily consumed prescription cannabis products. (Australian law permits physicians to prescribe cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional treatments.) Twenty-seven percent of respondents acknowledged accessing cannabis, primarily from the unregulated market.

Survey participants predominantly consumed either cannabis flower or oral extracts. Patients typically used cannabis to address pain, mood disorders, or sleep disorders.

Ninety-seven percent of those surveyed said that their condition “was a little, much, or very much better since starting medical cannabis,” – a finding that is consistent with the results of prior surveys and observational trials.

Those respondents who used authorized cannabis products were more likely to be aware of the percentage of THC and other cannabinoids in their products. They were also more likely to either vaporize cannabis or consume oral extracts.

The most frequently reported side effects from cannabis were dry mouth, increased appetite, and drowsiness.

The study’s authors reported: “The results … further underline the dramatic recent increase in the proportion of people using legally prescribed rather than illicitly sourced medical cannabis. … Among these dual-users, respondents were far more likely to prefer prescribed medical cannabis for its consistency of dose, ease of getting supplies, effectiveness in treating their condition, better side-effects profile, and reduced risk of legal issues. This highlights the benefits to patients of being able to access medical cannabis of known potency through legal channels rather than having to obtain it from illicit sources.”

They concluded: “Both prescribed and illicit users overwhelmingly endorsed the effectiveness of their medical cannabis in treating their main health condition. … Further high-quality clinical trials and stronger research evidence is required to establish the role of different medical cannabis preparations in treating the wide array of conditions for which medical cannabis is being used.”

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis use in Australia seven years after legalization: Findings from the online Cannabis as Medicine Survey 2022-2023 (CAMS-22),” appears in the Harm Reduction Journal.

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Study Finds No Significant Changes In Driving Performance Following Use Of THC-Infused Edibles

Written by Frank Schuler on July 1, 2024. Posted in Science.

If there is one thing that cannabis opponents and responsible cannabis consumers agree on, it is that no one should operate a motor vehicle on a public roadway if they are too impaired to operate the vehicle safely. That is true for cannabis and any other substance, including pharmaceutical drugs.

Cannabis DUI policies should be based on science, and not fear-mongering. Arbitrary per se THC limits, such as the recently approved 3.5 ng/mL threshold in Germany, punish longtime cannabis consumers who may have elevated metabolized THC levels, yet are not impaired at the time of testing.

A study in Canada recently examined the effects of consuming THC-infused edibles and driving performance among a cohort of self-reported ‘frequent’ cannabis consumers. The results of the study, while favorable, are not justification for operating a motor vehicle while impaired.

With that being said, just because someone has THC in their system does not mean that they are impaired, and public policies need to account for that scientific fact. Below is more information about the Canadian study via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Canada: Subjects display few changes in simulated driving performance following the ingestion of THC-infused edible products, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Toronto assessed simulated driving behavior in 22 subjects prior to and following the ingestion of THC-infused edibles. Edibles contained, on average, 7.3 mg of THC. Subjects’ driving performance was assessed at two, four, and six hours. Study participants were primarily “frequent users of cannabis for recreational purposes.”

Researchers reported: “Compared to [baseline], cannabis edibles produced a decrease in mean speed 2 hours after consumption. … No changes in standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP; ‘weaving’), maximum speed, standard deviation of speed or reaction time were found at any time point.” Some participants expressed a lesser willingness to drive following cannabis ingestion.

Researchers theorized that the absence of any significant performance changes may “reflect [subjects’] tolerance to the effects of cannabis” – a phenomenon that has been reported in prior studies. According to one literature review, “Patients who take cannabinoids at a constant dosage over an extensive period of time often develop tolerance to the impairment of psychomotor impairment, so they can drive vehicles safely.”

The study’s authors concluded: “This is the first study of the impact of cannabis edibles on simulated driving. … Future studies will need to control for age and determine any age-related impacts on the effects of cannabis on driving. This is especially important given that participants over the age of 50 years have been overlooked in studies of the effects of cannabis on driving and related outcomes.”

Full text of the study, “The effect of cannabis edibles on driving and blood THC,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.’

No Next-Day Impairment Associated With Nighttime Use Of Cannabis Oil

Written by Frank Schuler on July 1, 2024. Posted in Science.

Cannabis-derived oils are very popular products in legal markets. Consumers and patients around the globe consume cannabis in oil form for various reasons, including that it is a smokeless delivery method.

Unfortunately, a growing list of legal jurisdictions are instituting per se cannabis DUI laws that punish consumers and patients for cannabis use that could be from the night before. A recent example can be found in Germany where the nation has adopted a 3.5 ng/mL threshold for THC in a driver’s system.

A recent study in Australia highlights the problem with per se THC limits, finding that impairment from consuming cannabis at nighttime does not carry over to the following day. Feasibly, a person could consume cannabis oil the night before, and exceed the 3.5 ng/mL for metabolized THC the following day even though they are not impaired. Below is more information about the recent Australian study via a news release from NORML:

Sydney, Australia: Insomnia patients exhibit no next-day impairment following the nighttime use of plant-derived cannabis extracts, according to the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Australian researchers assessed next-day cognitive and psychomotor performance in a cohort of patients diagnosed with insomnia. Subjects in the study consumed either an oral cannabis extract containing 10 mg THC and 200 mg CBD or a placebo.

Investigators identified no differences among those who consumed cannabis or placebo in 27 of 28 performance tests. There were “no impairing effects” on simulated driving performance post-treatment.

The study’s authors concluded: “We found a lack of notable next day impairment to cognitive and psychomotor function and simulated driving performance following evening use of 10 mg oral THC, in combination with 200 mg CBD, in an insomnia population who infrequently use cannabis. … These findings confirm and extend on prior work by employing a randomized controlled trial design, a patient population that infrequently uses cannabis and who are, on average, older than participants in previous studies, and the use of a regulated product containing a higher ratio of CBD to THC.”

Clinical and observational trial data have reported that the use of cannabis products is associated with improved sleep quality in patients with insomnia.

Full text of the study, “Evaluating possible ‘next day’ impairment in insomnia patients administered an oral medicinal cannabis product by night: A pilot randomized controlled trial,” appears inPsychopharmacology. Additional information on cannabis and insomnia is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

CBD-Infused Gel Relieves Osteoarthritic Hand Pain In Australian Clinical Trial

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

International researchers estimate that as many as 595 million people worldwide had osteoarthritis in 2020. It is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 7.6% of the global population.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that often causes pain in the sufferer’s hands. The condition can result in stiffness, reduced range of motion, swelling, and/or difficulty gripping certain objects. In extreme cases, the condition can be completely debilitating.

A team of researchers in Australia recently conducted a clinical trial involving osteoarthritis patients experiencing hand pain and the application of CBD-infused gel. According to the results of the trial, patients reported experiencing relief after treatments. Below is more information about the study via a news release from NORML:

Sydney, Australia: The daily application of a transdermal gel containing CBD relieves pain and improves the quality of life of patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA), according to open-label trial data published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports.

Australian researchers evaluated the self-reported efficacy of transdermal CBD in a cohort of 15 OA patients. Study participants applied CBD-infused gelatin three times a day for four weeks. Self-reported measures were assessed at baseline and throughout the trial via smartphone technology.

CBD application was associated with self-reported improvements in pain, grip strength, fatigue, muscle stiffness, and anxiety.

“Pain, grip strength and QoL [quality of life] measures … were shown to improve over time following transdermal CBD application suggesting feasibility of this intervention in relieving osteoarthritic hand pain,” the study’s authors concluded. “Proof of efficacy, however, requires further confirmation in a placebo-controlled randomized trial.”

The transdermal delivery of CBD has previously been associated with reduced levels of lower back and leg pain in patients with spinal stenosis.

Full text of the study, “An open-label feasibility trial of transdermal cannabidiol for hand osteoarthritis,” appears in Nature: Scientific Reports.

Study Finds No Increase In Hospitalizations Following Legalization In Canada

Written by Johnny Green on June 24, 2024. Posted in Science.

Canada became the first G-7 nation to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure back in late 2018. The only other nation to adopt a national legalization measure prior to Canada was Uruguay in 2013, however, Uruguay still does not permit legal sales to non-residents.

Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa have all adopted national legalization measures to some degree since Canada adopted its measure. Yet, Canada remains the only country on the planet where adult consumers can make legal purchases across the nation regardless of their residence status.

A team of researchers recently examined hospitalization data in Canada before and after adult-use legalization was implemented. The researchers determined that there was ‘no increase’ in hospitalizations post-legalization. Below is more information about the study via a NORML news release:

Toronto, Canada: Policies legalizing the use and sale of cannabis products have not led to an increase in marijuana-related hospitalizations, according to data published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases.

Canadian investigators tracked rates of cannabis-related hospitalizations in Alberta in the years prior to and following legalization. Canadian lawmakers legalized the use and sale of cannabis flowers for those ages 18 and older in October 2018. Retailers began engaging in the sales of cannabis concentrates and edible products in 2020.

Researchers identified an increase in hospitalizations among those ages 18 to 24 in the period immediately prior to legalization, but they acknowledged that there were no increases in hospitalizations following legalization among representatives of any age group.

“Legalization was not significantly associated with immediate or ongoing changes in hospitalization rates … for either younger or older adults,” the study’s authors concluded.

Separate Canadian analyses have failed to identify an increase in either traffic-related hospitalizations or ER visits attributable to cannabis-related psychosis following legalization.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis legalization and hospitalizations in Alberta: Interrupted time series analysis by age and sex,” appears in the Journal of Addictive Diseases.

Study Finds No Link Between Cannabis Use And Sedentary Behavior

Written by Frank Schuler on June 17, 2024. Posted in Science.

The false ‘lazy stoner’ stereotype is as old as cannabis prohibition itself. For decades cannabis consumers were portrayed in mainstream media, film, and on television as lazy burnouts who lacked drive and motivation.

Of course, that stereotype could not be farther from the truth. Many professional athletes consume cannabis and they are some of the fittest humans to ever exist. Titans of the business world consume cannabis, and many other types of successful members of society also consume cannabis. The use of cannabis does not automatically equate to a reduction in motivation.

A team of researchers in Canada recently conducted a study examining cannabis use and the prevalence of sedentary behavior. The study found no link between the two. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Canada: Young and middle-aged adults who consume cannabis are no less likely than non-users to engage in daily physical activity, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Canadian researchers assessed physical activity in a cohort of 4,666 US adults ages 18 to 59 years old. Subjects wore a portable accelerometer that tracked participant’s daily activity levels. Researchers collected data for a minimum of four days.

Investigators reported that cannabis consumers were slightly more likely than non-users to engage in light physical activity. Researchers reported no differences between the two groups with respect to median daily sedentary time, time spent engaging in vigorous physical exercise, or sleeping.

“Recent cannabis use in young to midlife adults was not associated with accelerometer-measured sedentary or MVPA [moderate-to-vigorous physical activity] time, but it was associated with a marginal increase in LPA [light physical activity] time,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our findings provide evidence against existing concerns that cannabis use independently promotes sedentary behavior and decreases physical activity.

“This study provides useful insight into the association between cannabis use and physical activity, which may help inform clinicians and prescribers with patient counseling, patients and their lifestyle choices, as well as policy makers around public health resource allocations.”

The findings are consistent with those of several prior studies “challenging the stereotype that marijuana … users are less active than their non-using counterparts.” Among those age 60 and older, marijuana use has been associated with increased exercise frequency.

Full text of the study, “Recent cannabis use and accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior among young-to-midlife adults: An analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2014,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

U.K. MS Patients Report Quality Of Life Improvements Following Cannabis Therapy

Written by Frank Schuler on June 17, 2024. Posted in Science.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a serious health condition that impacts the lives of many suffering patients around the globe. It is estimated that as many as 2.8 million people suffer from MS worldwide and that a person is diagnosed somewhere on the planet with the health condition every 5 minutes.

MS is a progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include but are not limited to, numbness, impaired speech, impaired muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue.

Studies and personal experiences around the world have found that cannabis may be a helpful form of treatment for MS patients. A growing list of patients have reported that cannabis helps them effectively and safely treat their condition.

According to a recent study in the United Kingdom, MS patients reported improvements in their quality of life after completing cannabis therapies. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients report improvements in their health-related quality of life following the use of medical cannabis preparations, according to observational data published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.

British researchers assessed the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) consisting of either flower or oil extracts in 141 MS patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (Since 2018, British specialists have been permitted to prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Researchers assessed changes in patient-reported outcomes measures at one month, three months, and six months.

Patients reported sustained improvements in their physical and mental health following cannabis therapy. They reported few serious adverse health effects during treatment.

“This case series demonstrates a potential association between [the] initiation of CBMPs and improved patient reported outcomes in sleep, anxiety and general HRQoL [health-related quality of life] measures, over six months,” the study’s authors concluded. “Additional measures for HRQoL, including various physical and mental health subdomains, also exhibit improvements up to six months when compared to baseline.”

A prescription cannabis spray (nabiximols aka Sativex) consisting of specific ratios of THC and CBD is currently available in several countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The drug is not approved in the United States for treatment of any condition.
Full text of the study, “Clinical outcome analysis of patients with multiple sclerosis – Analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry,” appears in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Additional information on cannabis and multiple sclerosis is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.