Skip to main content
driving-driver-car-dui-road-duii-intoxicated

THC Levels Not Correlated With Changes In Driving Performance

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Public policies related to driving under the influence as they pertain to cannabis is an extremely important topic. All cannabis consumers should want to keep roadways safe and treat driving while intoxicated by any substance as a very serious matter.

With that being said, just because someone consumes cannabis does not automatically mean that they are too impaired to drive. Also, just because someone has cannabis in their system it doesn’t mean that they are impaired, and for that matter, it doesn’t mean that the cannabis in the person’s system indicates that they consumed recently.

Cannabis can stay in a person’s system for a very long time, and due to how fast the body metabolizes cannabis, having cannabinoids in the system could mean that the person consumed cannabis just hours prior, or a month prior – there’s no scientific way to know for sure once cannabinoids have been metabolized.

Researchers in Canada recently examined THC levels in subjects’ blood and whether or not it correlated to changes in driving performance. Below is more information about the results of the study via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Canada: The presence of THC in blood is not predictive of detriments in psychomotor performance, according to driving simulator data published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Toronto assessed subjects’ simulated driving performance at baseline and then again 30 and 180 minutes after smoking cannabis. Participants were between the ages of 65 and 79 years old and smoked cannabis (mean THC potency: 19 percent) ad libitum prior to driving.

Subjects exhibited “small changes in SDLP [weaving]” 30 minutes after cannabis inhalation. Investigators described these changes as less pronounced than those associated with drivers with a BAC below 0.05 percent.

Consistent with the results of prior studies, participants decreased their speed after smoking and were more likely to self-assess their performance as “impaired.” Cannabis use did not impact participants’ reaction times.

Subjects’ simulated driving performance returned to baseline within three hours.

The study’s authors concluded: “The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between cannabis and driving and blood THC levels in older adults. … There was no correlation between blood THC concentration and SDLP [standard deviation in lateral positioning] or MS [mean speed]. … The lack of correlation between driving and blood THC fits within emerging evidence that there is not a linear relationship between the two.”

That conclusion is consistent with numerous studies reporting that neither the detection of THC nor its metabolites in blood and/or other bodily fluids is predictive of impaired driving performance. As a result, NORML has long opposed the imposition of per se THC limits for motorists and has alternatively called for the expanded use of mobile performance technology like DRUID.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis and driving in older adults,” appears in JAMA Network Open. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Psychomotor Performance.’

Classroom

Cannabis Use Not Independently Linked To Poorer Educational Outcomes

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

One of the most serious areas of cannabis public policy pertains to youth consumption. Aside from limited instances of medical use, no responsible cannabis consumer ever advocates for youngsters to be able to consume cannabis.

Unfortunately, cannabis opponents have spread so much misinformation over the years, and in some cases outright lies, that it can seem impossible at times to have a constructive conversation about youth cannabis use and its potential impact.

As with all cannabis public policies, science and facts should lead the way. A recent study in Finland examined cannabis use in adolescents and its potential impact on educational outcomes. It helps provide important context for ongoing discussions. Below is more information about it via NORML:

Helsinki, Finland: The use of alcohol, but not cannabis, in adolescence is independently associated with poorer educational attainment, according to longitudinal data published in the journal BMC Public Health.

Finnish investigators assessed the relationship between the use of cannabis and alcohol by adolescents and lifetime educational attainment in a cohort of more than 6,500 subjects.

They reported that the frequent use of alcohol during adolescence was significantly associated with poorer lifetime educational attainment after controlling for confounders. By contrast, early-onset cannabis use was not a statistically significant risk factor after researchers controlled for other variables.

The study’s authors concluded: “In this large birth cohort study with a 17-year follow-up, younger age at first intoxication, higher frequency of alcohol intoxication, and high self-reported alcohol tolerance at age 15/16 years were associated with poorer educational outcomes by the age of 33 years. These adverse associations were evident regardless of a range of potential confounders, such as behavioral/emotional problems at age 7/8 years and parental education level. The association between adolescent lifetime cannabis use and educational attainment in adulthood was no longer statistically significant after adjusting for potential confounders including alcohol use. Our finding that inherent alcohol tolerance in adolescence was associated with subsequent educational attainment has not been previously reported.”

Full text of the study, “Adolescent alcohol and cannabis use in early adulthood educational attainment in the 1986 Finland birth cohort study,” appears in BMC Public Health.

cannabis plant cannabis plant

German Patients Report Major Depression Improvements After Cannabis Use

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

International researchers estimate that as much as five percent of adults around the globe suffer from depression. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression compared to men, and a diagnosis can happen at any age.

Depressive disorder involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time, including activities that a patient used to enjoy. Clinical depression, often referred to as major depressive disorder, is a severe form of depression.

Researchers in Germany recently conducted a study involving medical cannabis and patients suffering from major depressive disorder. The results of the study were favorable. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Essen, Germany: The use of medical cannabis products is associated with reduced levels of depression, according to data published in the journal Pharmacopsychiatry.

German investigators assessed medical cannabis use in a cohort of 59 outpatients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). (Plant cannabis and cannabinoid treatments, such as dronabinol, were legalized by prescription use in Germany in 2017; however, such products are typically only authorized when patients are unresponsive to traditional therapies.) Study participants used cannabis products for 18 weeks.

“Mean severity of depression decreased from 6.9 points at entry to 3.8 points at week 18,” they reported. “A treatment response (>50 percent reduction of the initial score) was seen in 50.8 percent [of study subjects] at week 18.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Medical cannabis was well-tolerated and [the] dropout rate was comparable to those in clinical trials of antidepressant medication. Patients reported a clinically significant reduction of depression severity. Further research on the effectiveness of medical cannabis for MDD seems warranted.”

The study’s findings are consistent with recently published data from the United Kingdom, which determined, “Medicinal cannabis was associated with improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as health-related quality of life, and sleep quality after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment.”

Full text of the study, “Effectiveness of medical cannabis for the treatment of depression: A naturalistic outpatient study,” appears in Pharmacopsychiatry.

anxiety depression

Cannabis Associated With Sustained Improvements In Anxiety Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Researchers estimate that about 4% of the planet’s human population suffers from some level of anxiety, although, they 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 much higher.

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 medications that are currently commonly prescribed to patients for anxiety involve a long list of possible side effects. Some cases of anxiety are so bad that pharmaceutical treatments don’t even work. Fortunately, medical cannabis products may be able to help in some cases.

Below is more information about a recent study via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: Patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) exhibit sustained improvements in their symptoms following the use of cannabis products, according to data published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology Reports.

British investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of plant-derived cannabis products (either oils, flower, or a combination of both) in over 300 patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Cohort participants possessed a doctor’s authorization to access cannabis products. (Since 2018, specialists have been permitted to prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Authors assessed the efficacy of cannabis at one, three, six, and 12 months.

Consistent with prior studies, cannabis treatment was associated with persistent improvements in patients’ anxiety, sleep, and health-related quality of life. Patients presenting with severe baseline anxiety were most likely to experience a clinically significant improvement in anxiety symptoms at 12 months.

Researchers concluded: “The findings from this cohort study demonstrate that treatment with CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] is associated with statistically significant improvements across anxiety-, sleep-, and HRQoL-specific PROMs [patients-reported outcome measures] after 12 months in patients with GAD. … Results also indicated CBMPs were well tolerated throughout the study. … Patients were prescribed either oils, dried flower, or a combination of both, and this study identified no difference in outcomes at 12 months between treatment groups.”

Other studies assessing the use of cannabis products in patients enrolled in the UK Cannabis Registry have reported them to be effective for those suffering from chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, depression, migraine, inflammatory bowel disease, and other afflictions.
Full text of the study, “A cohort study comparing the effects of medical cannabis for anxiety patients with and without comorbid sleep disturbance,” appears in Neuropsychopharmacology Reports.

Pharmacy Pharmacy Pharmacy

German Patients Say Cannabis Is “More Effective” Than Conventional Medications

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Germany is home to a robust medical cannabis program, with patients having various options from which to source their medicine. Prescriptions for medical cannabis products became permitted in Germany in 2017.

Comparatively, many other countries that permit medical cannabis have far more restrictive policies and regulations. In many ways, Germany’s medical cannabis patient base serves as a great source for research and data, as it is more reflective of what a medical cannabis program should involve.

A survey of pain patients in Germany recently found that many patients report cannabis as being “more effective” compared to other conventional medications. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Berlin, Germany: Patients with chronic pain and other conditions report that cannabis is often more effective than conventional treatments, according to survey data published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.

German researchers surveyed patients’ experiences with cannabis products. (Plant cannabis and cannabinoid treatments, such as , were legalized by prescription use in Germany in 2017; however, such products are typically only authorized when patients are unresponsive to traditional therapies.) Over 200 patients participated in the survey. Most respondents suffered from chronic pain and over two-thirds of the survey’s participants consumed cannabis flowers or plant-derived extracts.

Consistent with numerous other studies, patients reported reductions in their daily pain following cannabis therapy. Patients also said that they were less likely to be either anxious or depressed while using cannabis. Participants reported “greater satisfaction” with cannabis and said that it was “more effective” than their prior therapies. Ninety-four percent of those surveyed reported holding more positive attitudes toward cannabis following treatment.

“The results of this cross-sectional survey suggest that most surveyed outpatients treated with prescription cannabinoids in Germany subjectively experience health benefits and symptom reduction associated with these therapies,” the study’s authors concluded.

Full text of the study, “Patients’ perspectives on prescription cannabinoid therapies: A cross-sectional, exploratory, anonymous, one-time web-based survey among German patients,” appears in Frontiers in Medicine. Additional information on cannabis and chronic pain is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

nurse doctor hospital

Physicians Endorse Cannabis-Based Treatments For Young Cerebral Palsy Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Arguably the most sensitive area of cannabis research and policy pertains to young people, for a multitude of reasons. The history of cannabis propaganda and targeting young people is complicated, to say the least.

However, in limited and controlled instances, emerging research is demonstrating that cannabis use for medical purposes can be effective in treatment strategies for younger patients. Young patients with severe epilepsy and medical cannabis are a particularly promising area of research.

A recent survey in Switzerland found that a growing number of physicians are endorsing cannabis-based treatments for young patients with cerebral palsy. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Bern, Switzerland: Physicians are recommending cannabis-based treatments for children suffering from cerebral palsy (CP), according to survey data published in the journal Children.

Swiss researchers surveyed 70 physicians with experience treating children with cerebral palsy. Physicians participating in the survey resided in Europe, North America, and Australia.

Forty-seven percent of respondents reported having authorized cannabis-based therapies (e.g., Dronabinol, Epidiolex, whole-plant cannabis extracts, or CBD) to their pediatric patients, typically as an adjunctive therapy. Doctors were most likely to recommend cannabinoids for treating seizures, spasticity, and pain. Sixty-nine percent of respondents reported that cannabis-based treatments provided either “strong” or “moderate” effects on CP symptoms.

The study’s authors concluded: “This international online survey assessed the prescribing practices of cannabinoids in children with CP by their treating physicians. The participating physicians acquired their knowledge about cannabinoids mainly outside their medical training. The physicians frequently prescribed differing formulas of cannabinoids for various indications in children with CP. The most common indications were epilepsy, spasticity, and pain, and treatment was initiated as co-medication or second-line treatment. Overall, physicians perceived a moderate efficacy of cannabinoids and no long-term side effects.”

Survey data published last year in the journal Orthopedics reported that 17 percent of US pediatric patients with CP are using CBD supplements to mitigate disease symptoms.

Full text of the study, “Prescription practices of cannabinoids in children with cerebral palsy worldwide – A survey of the Swiss cerebral palsy registry,” appears in Children.

hemp seed

Is Hemp Protein An Overlooked Sector Of The Industry?

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Protein consumption is one of the most important parts of the human diet. It is a nutrient that all humans need to grow and repair cells, particularly cells in muscles and bones. Daily protein consumption is necessary for humans to perform life functions properly.

When some people think of protein, they probably get visions of bodybuilders and powder mixes, or huge slabs of meat. However, as previously stated, all humans need protein in their diets, not just athletes who are trying to increase their muscle mass, and protein can be found in many different foods.

Protein is comprised of various amino acids, with amino acids often being referred to as ‘the building blocks of life.’ There are roughly 20 different amino acids, 11 of which human bodies create naturally. Those are referred to as ‘non-essential amino acids.’ Nine other amino acids cannot be made by the human body, and are referred to as ‘essential amino acids.’

Meat, while not the only source of protein on earth, is the most popular choice in many parts of the world. Plant-based proteins are becoming more popular for various reasons, which is a good thing from a sustainability standpoint.

Large-scale livestock operations, which is where much of the world’s meat comes from, collectively produce a significant carbon footprint. Whereas farming operations that produce plant-based proteins have a lower carbon footprint.

In recent years, as more humans have transitioned away from meat protein sources to plant-based ones, researchers have tried to figure out which plants are the best for producing protein, both from an output standpoint and a sustainability standpoint.

Soy is a popular plant-based protein, as are peas. Beans, nuts, and whole grains are other non-meat-based proteins that are commonly incorporated into human diets and protein products. But one plant, the hemp plant, may prove to be the best protein source of them all one day.

Hemp seed as a protein source for humans is not a new phenomenon, with evidence of its use for nourishment purposes going back at least 3,000 years. Although, the push to ‘optimize’ hemp seed and research how to get the most out of it is still a relatively new thing.

Popular plant-based proteins were never prohibited like hemp was, and in some areas, hemp is still prohibited. Prohibition has greatly hindered hemp research compared to other crops, including from a cultivar standpoint, as well as protein solubility.

Last year researchers associated with Cornell University in the United States analyzed multiple hemp cultivars to see which one possessed the best traits for various measurables.

“Hemp seed protein isolates (HPI) were extracted from seven commercial hemp cultivars, a Cornell breeding line, and a commercial hemp heart product, and their composition and functional properties were investigated. HPI contained different ratios of edestin, vicilin, and albumin proteins, which affected protein solubility and functionality.” the researchers stated.

“Higher protein solubility was associated with cultivars that contained more vicilin and albumin, which influenced the subsequent functional properties of HPI. Significant differences in water holding capacity (0.83-1.05 g water/g protein isolate), oil holding capacity (1.28-1.81 g oil/g protein isolate), foam capacity (52.9%-84.9%), and foam stability (68.1%-89.4%) were observed across HPI.” the researchers also stated.

“The relationship identified between hemp seed protein composition and functionality, in conjunction with the demonstration of an on-going hemp breeding line, suggest that continued, targeted development of hemp cultivars can improve its seed protein functional properties for ingredient utilization in plant-based foods.” the researchers concluded.

Hemp seed protein is very versatile from a product development standpoint, as many things can be created with hemp protein as a key ingredient, including butter, milk, powders, and breads. With demand for organic, plant-based proteins increasing, and hemp seed research also increasing, the future is bright.

It’s quite likely that hemp seed protein will supplant other popular protein sources someday, especially when considering the sustainability concerns associated with various crops and livestock operations that do not apply to the hemp plant.

Joint doobie cannabis Joint doobie cannabis Joint doobie cannabis Joint doobie cannabis Joint doobie cannabis

Legalization Is Not Associated With Spikes In Cannabis-Related Psychosis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

One of the most common mainstream media hit jobs in modern times involves opponents implying that cannabis reform alone has led to a spike in incidents of cannabis-related psychosis among consumers and patients.

Cannabis legalization, by every reasonable measure, has been an overwhelming success in jurisdictions that have allowed it, including in Canada where cannabis was first legalized for adult use in late 2018.

Researchers in Canada examined data involving incidents of cannabis-related psychosis and determined that legalization is not associated with spikes in such incidents. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, Canada: The legalization of the Canadian marijuana market is not associated with increases in rates of cannabis-related psychosis, according to data published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

A team of Canadian researchers examined regional changes in health services use and incidences of psychotic disorders during the months immediately following legalization. (Canada legalized marijuana possession and retail sales in October 2018.)

They reported, “We did not find evidence of increases in health service use or incident cases of psychotic disorders over the short-term (17 month) period following cannabis legalization.” They cautioned, however, that “a longer post-legalization observation period … is needed to fully understand the population-level impacts of non-medical cannabis legalization.”

The finding is consistent with the conclusions of a 2022 study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Its authors similarly determined that the “implementation of Canada’s cannabis legalization framework was not associated with evidence of significant changes in cannabis-induced psychosis or schizophrenia ED [emergency department] presentations.”

In the United States, state-level marijuana legalization laws have not been associated with a statistically significant increase in psychosis-related health outcomes. Specifically, a 2022 paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open found no association between the adoption of marijuana legalization and overall rates of psychosis-related diagnoses or prescribed antipsychotics.

Although the use of cannabis and other controlled substances tends to be more common among those with psychotic illnesses, studies indicate that lifetime incidences of marijuana-induced psychosis are relatively rare among those who do not have a prior psychiatric diagnosis. According to one recently published study, fewer than one-half of one percent of cannabis consumers had ever reported experiencing psychotic symptoms requiring medical intervention – a percentage that is lower than the rate associated with alcohol.
Full text of the study, “Impact of non-medical cannabis legalization with market restrictions on health service use and incident cases of psychotic disorder in Ontario, Canada,” appears in the International Journal of Drug Policy. Additional information is available from NORML’s op-ed, ‘Concerns surrounding cannabis and mental health must be placed in context, not sensationalized.‘

doctor medical hospital

Medical Cannabis Use Associated With ‘Few Serious Adverse Events’

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Canada first legalized cannabis for medical use in 1999, and then for adult use in 2018. Since that time, numerous suffering patients have benefitted from Canada’s modernized cannabis policies and the increased safe access that reform has created.

Meanwhile, many other nations still prohibit cannabis for medical use to some degree, although several of those nations are considering reforming their policies to permit such use. Opponents in those countries try hard to portray medical cannabis as being harmful, however, what does the science say?

Researchers in Canada recently conducted an analysis in which they examined medical cannabis use’s impact on the patients who consume it. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Montreal, Canada: Few patients authorized to consume medical cannabis products report experiencing serious side effects, according to data published in the journal Drug Safety.

McGill University researchers analyzed data from a cohort of nearly 3,000 authorized Canadian medical cannabis patients. Data regarding adverse events was collected by enrollees’ attending physicians over a period of several years.

A total of 108 patients (about four percent of the cohort) reported experiencing marijuana-related adverse events. The most frequently reported side effects were dizziness, somnolence, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Patients with mental health disorders were no more likely than others to report side effects from cannabis treatment. The latter finding is consistent with data from a 2022 study, which found that authorized Canadian patients were at low risk for psychiatric hospitalizations resulting from their medical cannabis use.

The study’s authors concluded: “This is the first comprehensive, population-level prospective study to contribute evidence that MC [medical cannabis] is safe for a wide variety of symptoms. … No new safety concerns were identified relative to the published literature, although notable differences in AE [adverse events] profile between modes of administration and cannabinoid content ratios should be considered by health professionals.”

Full text of the study, “A descriptive analysis of adverse event reports from the Quebec Cannabis Registry,” appears in Drug Safety.