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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.

Weight Loss BMI Scale

Cannabis Is Associated With Weight Loss, Lower BMI Per Meta-Analysis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

For many years cannabis opponents have tried very hard to portray cannabis as being unhealthy, and that those who consume cannabis are lazy couch potatoes. Cannabis stigma comes in many forms, with ‘lazy shaming’ cannabis consumers being a particularly common version of it.

The fact of the matter is that cannabis can absolutely be a part of an active lifestyle. All a person needs to do to see that on display is to take into account how many elite athletes around the globe report consuming cannabis and that it has no negative impact on their health.

A new meta-analysis out of Brazil examined cannabis consumption as it pertains to weight loss and body mass index (BMI). Below is more about it via a news release from NORML:

Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Subjects who consume cannabis or cannabis-related products in clinical trials typically experience weight loss, according to a meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Brazilian researchers reviewed results from randomized controlled trials involving subjects’ use of cannabis or cannabis-related products.

They reported: “In general, cannabis use reduced weight … and WC [waist circumference]. When examining subgroups, longer follow-up periods were associated with a more pronounced BMI [body mass index] reduction.”

The study’s authors concluded, “These findings suggest that cannabis and sub-products could be considered adjuncts in obesity treatment by helping to reduce relevant anthropometric measurements.”

A 2022 ecological analysis published in the journal Health Economics reported that the adoption of state-licensed marijuana sales is associated with a decrease in state-level obesity rates.

Case-control studies have consistently reported that those with a history of marijuana use are less likely than abstainers to be obese or to suffer from type 2 diabetes. Studies have also previously linked cannabis use to greater rates of physical activity.

Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabis and sub-products on anthropometric measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” appears in the International Journal of Obesity.

Cannabis plant flower bud garden

5 Uses For Cannabis Plants That You May Not Know About

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Science.

The cannabis plant is very popular for recreational purposes among consumers. It is also very popular among suffering patients for medical use. However, there are several other ways that the cannabis plant can be used to benefit society. Below are some notable examples.

Soil Remediation

It is no secret that various industries, including the steel industry, produce toxic chemicals. Every steel plant on earth produces toxic byproducts during the steel-making process, including a steel plant in Italy that was, at one time, the largest one in Europe. The soil in the area (Taranto, Italy) is contaminated after decades of production at the plant. Farmers in the Taranto region have taken an intriguing approach to cleaning up the soil – planting hemp.

The hemp plant, and other varieties of cannabis, have a significant ‘uptake’ capability, particularly as it pertains to heavy metals. Whereas other methods are cost and labor-intensive, planting hemp on a large scale is relatively cheap and easy compared to other strategies. Innovators are still trying to come up with ways to use the harvested hemp in a safe manner, however, the benefit to the contaminated soil from planting hemp is undeniable, as a growing number of jurisdictions are finding out as they deploy the sustainability strategy.

Batteries

According to academic researchers, batteries made from hemp last up to eight times longer compared to lithium-ion batteries. Scientists are using hemp bast fiber, which is often thrown away historically, to make batteries that can be used for almost anything that currently relies on lithium-ion batteries.

Economists estimate that the lithium-ion battery market was worth roughly $70 billion in 2022, which provides context to just how much an emerging hemp battery sector could be worth someday. Most lithium-ion batteries end up in landfills, so transitioning consumers and businesses to hemp-based batteries would be exponentially more sustainable. It’s a concept that would benefit all members of society.

Construction Material

One of the best uses for the cannabis plant is making hempcrete. Hempcrete is a bio-composite building material made from the inner woody core of the hemp plant. That woody core material is mixed with a lime-based binder to create the final hempcrete product. The ‘shiv’ of the hemp plant is high in silica content, allowing it to bind well with lime. It’s a very unique property of hemp that is not found in other all-natural fibers.

Hempcrete is primarily used as an insulating material, and for good reason. It weighs only roughly one-eighth of what concrete weighs, it is fire resistant, and it is also carbon negative, meaning that it pulls more carbon out of the atmosphere than it needs in order to be created in the first place. Hempcrete is being used in more areas of the world now than in past years, particularly in Europe.

Livestock Feed

Cannabis is being used more and more as a livestock feed around the globe, but perhaps not in a manner that most people realize. Obviously, no farmer is giving their animals cannabis flower that is high in THC. Not only would that be cruel to the livestock, but it would also be very cost-prohibitive.

What farmers are feeding their livestock is the benign, undesirable parts of the cannabis plant that are left over from other processes. Many companies around the world are extracting cannabinoids from harvests, leaving behind branches, stems, and other plant parts. Those plant parts can then be used directly to feed livestock or as an added feed ingredient.

Biofuel

Similar to livestock feed, cannabis plant material that is deemed not suitable for recreational or medical purposes, such as branches and stems, can still be used as a source of biofuel. Researchers estimate that the “energy yield of solid fuel from industrial hemp is very high, approximately 100 GJ/ha/y [115], which is superior to Lucerne and clover grass ley.”

“The low requirements for growing hemp allow it to be competitive with higher yield crops, and hemp’s versatility opens many opportunities for co-production.” the researchers stated.

This article first appeared at TheTalmanGroup.com and is syndicated with special permission

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What Is The Difference Between Hemp And Cannabis?

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy, Science.

In the legal arena, as well as in the political arena, there is a difference between hemp and cannabis, even if hemp is essentially just a scientific botanical class of cannabis. Many governments around the world have passed measures to distinguish hemp from cannabis by establishing a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) threshold for harvests.

Typically, the threshold is between .2% and 1% THC depending on the jurisdiction.

The legal and regulatory distinction between hemp and cannabis is a relatively new phenomenon in the grand scheme of human history. For centuries humans have made use of the hemp plant, regardless of what percentage of THC a particular plant contained.

Cannabis opponents try to lead people to believe that the cannabis plant is useless to humans, and that could not be farther from the truth. Humans harnessing the cannabis plant for a number of reasons pre-dates prohibition by several thousands of years.

Plant fibers were used historically to make various things, from rope to clothing, and other parts of the plant were used for medical and recreational purposes. It was those uses that presumably drove how humans looked at the cannabis plant for many years.

In the 1900s governments started to prohibit cannabis in all of its forms, including low-THC hemp. In recent years, governments have started to lift prohibition for low-THC hemp so that farmers, entrepreneurs, and medical companies can legally cultivate and make use of hemp crops.

The rise in popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) has largely driven low-THC policy modernization efforts across the globe. Lawmakers are seemingly far more likely to embrace reform measures that are narrowly tailored to boost the CBD industry than they are to embrace modernization efforts involving what is legally defined as cannabis (higher THC).

Ultimately, the current difference between hemp and cannabis is largely a legal one based on semantics. However, as time goes by and two different industries continue to rise, one focused on low-THC hemp and one focused on harvests that exceed regulatory THC limits for hemp, the confusion between the two may subside to some degree.

And yet, an emerging third sector of the industry could make the entire discussion moot faster than some observers think. It did not take long for innovative entrepreneurs to incorporate methods to extract enough euphoria-inducing cannabinoids from low-THC hemp to make products such as delta-8 and delta-9 products.

Government regulators were already struggling to regulate CBD, and that is now further compounded by the rise of hemp-derived non-CBD products in markets across the globe, particularly in North America and Europe.

It highlights the inefficiency of arbitrarily putting cannabis into hemp and non-hemp categories based only on a harvest’s THC content. If a farmer can legally cultivate what a government considers to be ‘hemp,’ then it should also be legal for products to be made from the harvests, even if the end products contain a high level of THC.

Furthermore, if products that are high in THC can be created from low-THC hemp harvests, then it logically follows that cannabis that is high in THC should be permitted to be cultivated as well. It is the only way that regulations can be consistently applied, and regulators should want that to happen just as much as the industry should want that to happen.

This article first appeared at TheTalmanGroup.com and is syndicated with special permission

symposium panel lecture presentation

Summary Of Slovenian Cannabis Presentation At The Medical Faculty, University Of Zenica 2023

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy, Science.

By Prof. Tamara Lah Turnšek

Invited by Semine Djeraković Siniković, nurse from the Zenica Cantonal Hospital, Vice-Dean for Scientific and Research Work, Assoc. dr. sc. Mirza Oruča and the dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Zenica, prof. dr. sc. Harun Hodžić.

Content of the Symposium:

David Neubauer presented his lecture on Use of cannabinoids and medicinal cannabis in severe neurological disorders of children. First he presented the trajectory of medicinal cannabis through centuries/millenia since it has been first used in Chinese pharmacopeia some 5000 years back, and until the recent events when cannabis was prohibited for nearly 100 years and nowadays when again his excellent treatment properties are being scientifically studied. Then he presented some new studies (some of them evidence-based) on use of cannabinoids in children with severe, resistant epilepsies/developmental encephalopathies in children and some other severe problems during childhood, like cerebral palsy and autism. In the last part of his talk he has presented own experiences with such treatment; namely the publication of cannabidiol (CBD) treatment for resistant epilepsies from 2018, where 20% of children were completely seizure-free after add-on introduction of cannabidiol and compared his study with some similar studies in systematic review articles, where other authors presented similar results. At the end he has presented some new on-going studies where medicinal cannabis with a ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) and 9-delta tetra hydro-cannabidiol (THC) – CBD:THC 10:1 has been used for severe forms of cerebral palsy (level IV and V) and severe behavioural problems in autism and neurodevelopmental syndromes, where also very good results are promising that this will be in the future one of the best therapy for such cases, where no other treatment option is available and effective.

David Neubauer, MD, PhD, Paediatrician and Child Neurologist, University of Ljubljana, Medical Faculty and University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Children’s Hospital, Department of Child, Adolescent & Developmental Neurology, Bohorićeva 20, 1000 Ljubljana

Tamara Lah Turnšek lectured on Cannabinoids in Cancer Treatment and presented the research, carried out at National Institute of Biology on the potential treatment of brain tumors, specifically on most aggressive glioblastoma with cannabinoids.

She started with the introduction on the discoveries of the “Godfather” of cannabinoid discovery, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam saying that the research on Cannabis, thousands of years old plant, opened are an undiscovered pharmacological treasure cannabinoids, and revealed physiologically important endocannabinoids system(ECS) that regulated our normal functioning- homeostasis. Endocannabinoids, synthetic and plant cannabinoids, the most important components of various species of Cannabis Sattiva L. bind to various body cells through specific receptors CB1 and CB2 and less specific ion transport receptors to influence cellular processes autophagy, apoptosis, the immune response, and stimulate neurological response.

The second part of the talk addressed the development, progression and hallmarks of cancer, how these processes are related to the disease and affected by cannabinoids that specifically kill cancer cells, moreover most malignant cancer stem cells. Trying various cannabinoids and their combinations on isolated cells from patients fresh tumours – glioblastoma, the scientist at NIB found a novel activity of less known cannabinoid, cannabigerol CBG, that alone and even more so in combination with cannabidiol (CBD) represents a novel, yet unexplored adjuvant treatment strategy for glioblastoma. Not being hallucinogenic, this cannabinoid can replace psychoactive 9 delta tetra hydro-cannabidiol (THC), having potential side effects on normal brain activity in complementary therapy of brain and possibly other tumours.

Prof. Tamara Lah Turnšek,PhD, Chief Science Officer The Talman Group.com. Cigaletova 7, 100 Ljubljana.

Jasna Kovač, lectured on “What and why a nurse should know about the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids”. She showed the “Guidelines for Nursing Care of Patients Using Medical Cannabis the MEDCA association – an association of Slovenian nurses and other medical professionals, published by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in the USA.” As the Chair of the “MEDCA association – an association of Slovenian nurses and other medical professionals” she introduced the association and the field of cannabis treatment. The MEDCA association updated the American Guidelines for Nursing Care of Patients Using Medical Cannabis Slovenian nurses. The first guideline is that the nurse shall be acquainted with the current state of legalization of medical and recreational cannabis use. In Slovenia from 2014, cannabis was re-categorized within the Decree on the classification of illicit drugs Stage II and has been permitted to be used for medical purposes. Other guidelines she mentioned were: (1) The nurse should have a general understanding of the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoid receptors, cannabinoids, and the interactions between them. (2) The nurse should have an understanding of the research associated with the medical use of cannabis. (3) The nurse must be familiar with the possibilities of prescribing and administering medical cannabis in their country. (4)The nurse should know the signs and symptoms of medical cannabis side effects on patients. (5) The nurse should report findings related to cannabis(6=is therapy to other healthcare providers and record them in the patient’s documentation. (6) The nurse should approach the patient without judgment regarding the patient’s choice of treatment or preferences in managing pain and other distressing symptoms. She ended the lecture by explaining why a nurse should have this knowledge. Here, she highlighted the importance of patient integrity, autonomy – the ability to make decisions, and the role of the nurse as their advocate, protector, and teacher.

Jasna Kovač, nurse at Clinics of Cardiology University Medical. Centre, Zaloška 2, 1000 Ljubljana

Roman Štukelj, presented his lecture on “Active compounds in cannabis; extraction and analytics.” First, in the introduction to the lecture, he presented the current activities (organization of educational seminars and research work) related to cannabis at the Faculty of Health. In the second part, he explained the potential therapeutic applications of cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as the methods for extracting them to obtain full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolated products. In the last part, he presented the analytical results of the “Slovenian monitoring of cannabis product.” The samples for monitoring and cannabinoid analysis were collected by the Research Nature Institute. These samples were labeled and taken to the Faculty Analytical Laboratory for cannabinoid profiling. A total of 290 samples were collected over two years. For the study, 286 samples were used, as four of them were excluded due to their small quantity. The samples were categorized according to the recommendations of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Statistical calculations revealed that the majority of the analysed samples were cannabis oil (74%), followed by dried herbal cannabis (11%), and 3% were cannabis resin (sometimes referred to as “pollinators” or “ice-o-lators.”Additionally, suppositories, tinctures, and salves were received and grouped as “other” (12%). The origin of the monitored samples showed that the vast majority were from the self-sufficiency group of unknown origin (referred to as the “black market”) and the industry (72%, 23%, and 5% respectively). The average total concentrations of Δ-9-THC and CBD in the samples from the industry were all CBD-rich samples. Seven of them were in herbal form, while six were oils. The average values of the total Δ-9-THC in this group of samples were 18.8 mg/g, and 129.7 mg/g for the total CBD. In the population of unknown origin (referred to as the “black market”), the average value of the total CBD was 117.2 mg/g, and the average total Δ-9-THC was 371.1 mg/g. Samples from self-sufficient patients were in the form of oils, herbal products, and others (151, 23, and 34, respectively). Out of these, 34 of the samples had CBD as the dominant cannabinoid, three samples had a ratio of 1:1, while the others had Δ-9-THC as the dominant cannabinoid present in the sample. In conclusion, it was found that in Slovenia, the majority of cannabis patients prefer THC as their primary option, often in the form of extracts. Since the contamination by unwanted substances and potency of the products varies greatly, there is a need for further monitoring at a national level.

Roman Štukelj, Ph.D, Researcher at Analytical Laboratory Faculty of Health Sciences at University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, p.p. 397, 1000 Ljubljana

Božidar Radišič, the founder of the Research Nature Institute, an institution known for organizing scientific conferences in Slovenia and overseas for over a decade, emphasized the pivotal role of education in the integration of cannabis into medical practice. This underscores the importance of medical faculties and other professional organizations taking the lead in educating individuals in this field. The packed auditorium at the college stands as a testament to the enthusiastic desire among young people to acquire knowledge about cannabis in the context of medicine. Furthermore, it’s noteworthy that cannabis is experiencing a significant resurgence in Šharmacopoeias and medical practices worldwide, USA, Canada, Australia also including some states in the European Union, i.e. Germany. With any luck, thanks to today’s event, this resurgence will also extend to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Lastly, it’s crucial to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of individuals such as Semine Djeraković Siniković, a nurse from the Zenica Cantonal Hospital, Assoc. Dr. Sc. Mirza Oruča, the Vice-Dean for Scientific and Research Work, and Prof. Dr. Sc. Harun Hodžića, the dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Zenica. We express our sincere gratitude to them.

Božidar Radišič. the Research Nature Institute. Mala ulica 8, 1000 Ljubljana

This article first appeared at TheTalmanGroup.com and is syndicated with special permission

International Cannabis Business Conference Exhibitors Berlin Germany 2023

Annual International Cannabis Business Conference In Berlin To Be Biggest Ever

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy, Science.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is once again bringing its signature blend of industry, policy, and entertainment to Berlin’s iconic Estrel Hotel. The two-day B2B conference, which is the largest of its type in Europe, will be held on April 16th and 17th, 2024.

Over 5,000 global cannabis entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, regulators, and industry service providers from over 80 different countries are expected to attend the annual conference in 2024. In addition to the two-day curriculum portion of the event, which is sponsored by The Talman Group, there will be an infamous event after-party. The International Cannabis Business Conference after-party is sponsored by Advanced Nutrients and is sure to be an amazing time.

Germany is currently leading the effort to modernize Europe’s outdated cannabis policies. It is no secret that lawmakers in Germany are working through the legalization process right now, as well as taking the lead in cannabis policy discussions with the European Union.

Germany is the metaphorical crack in the prohibition dam, and when it bursts, it will open the policy modernization floodgates. That all makes Berlin the perfect backdrop, and the place to be, in mid-April 2024 at the International Cannabis Business Conference.

If you have a cannabis industry product or service that you want to get in front of a truly international cannabis audience, and at a better time than ever before, consider exhibiting and/or sponsoring the 2024 International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin.

Early bird ticket pricing is in effect through December 6th. Get your tickets today before the event sells out. Click here to see a video with more information about the upcoming conference.

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Cannabis Commonly Used As A Sleep Aid By Cancer Survivors

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Insomnia, the inability to fall asleep and/or remain asleep, is a major health problem around the world. Whether patients suffer from insomnia as a primary condition, or if insomnia is caused by a different health condition, insomnia can have a massively negative impact on a person’s overall health. That negative impact can affect both physical and mental health.

When a human is sleep deprived, they become more irritable, and handling daily tasks becomes more difficult. A lack of sleep impairs brain functions such as memory and decision-making, and it can lead to depression. Physically, insomnia can impair patients’ immune systems, among other concerns.

Cannabinoids within the cannabis plant have served as a sleep aid for many insomnia patients over many years. A recent study in Canada looked at cannabis and sleep among cancer survivors specifically. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Halifax, Canada: Nearly a quarter of Canadian cancer survivors acknowledge consuming cannabis as a sleep aid, according to data published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice.

Investigators surveyed over 1,400 cancer survivors. Twenty-four percent of respondents said that they used cannabis prior to bedtime, “with reported benefits including relaxation, reduced time to fall asleep, fewer nocturnal awakenings and improved sleep quality.” (Cannabis is legal for both medical and adult use in Canada.)

Over two-thirds of consumers said that they initiated cannabis use following their cancer diagnosis. Over one-third of consumers said that they used marijuana daily.

Adults frequently report using cannabis and CBD products as sleep aids. Data published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine reported that the enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization laws is associated with a significant reduction in the sales of over-the-counter sleep aids among the general public.

Full text of the survey, “A cross-sectional survey of the prevalence and patterns of using cannabis as a sleep aid in Canadian cancer survivors,” appears in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice.

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CBD May Provide Potential Improvements To Cognitive Performance

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Cannabis opponents have spent a great deal of time and effort over many years trying to convince society that cannabis is bad for the human brain. While human biology is complex, particularly the human brain, at the macro level a growing body of evidence is proving that cannabis opponents are wrong.

The fact of the matter is that cannabis can be healthy for the human brain in certain instances. The research surrounding cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids is still largely in its infancy, and scientists are unlocking new knowledge every week.

Researchers in Brazil recently examined CBD and cognitive performance and the results are favorable. Below is more information about the study via a news release from NORML:

São Paulo, Brazil: The therapeutic use of CBD doesn’t adversely impact cognitive performance and may potentially improve it in certain subjects, according to a literature review published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Brazilian investigators reviewed 59 studies, including 23 clinical trials, assessing the cognitive safety of CBD. They reported a lack of cognitive deficits associated with CBD dosing. They further reported that CBD administration in animal models may be associated with cognitive improvements.

Authors concluded: “The results demonstrate that the chronic and acute administration of CBD seems not to impair cognition in humans without neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, preclinical studies report promising results regarding the effects of CBD on the cognitive processing of animals. Future double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials with larger, less selective samples, with standardized tests, and using different doses of CBD in outpatients are of particular interest to elucidate the cognitive effects of CBD.”

A 2022 open-label trial performed by doctors at Harvard Medical School reported that patients with moderate-to-severe anxiety experience symptom improvements and better cognitive performance following the daily administration of full spectrum CBD extracts. Data published earlier this year reported that cancer patients taking CBD-infused edible products report subjective improvements in their cognitive functioning.

Full text of the study, “Effects of the acute and chronic administration of cannabidiol on cognition in humans and animals: A systemic review,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

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Study Finds That Cannabis Reduces Pain And Depression In Elderly Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Chronic pain and depression are two of the most common health conditions found around the globe. Researchers estimate that roughly 1.5 billion people around the world suffer from chronic pain to some degree.

Additionally, it is estimated that more than 280 million people suffer from some level of depression globally. Obviously, there is some level of overlap between the two groups, with many people suffering from both chronic pain and depression.

Elderly patients are much more likely to suffer from one or both of the conditions. Fortunately, a recent study found that the use of medical cannabis products is associated with symptom reductions in elderly patients experiencing pain and/or depression. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Tel Aviv, Israel: The sustained use of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products is associated with significant reductions in pain, depression, and opioid use among elderly patients, according to observational data published in the journal Biomedicines.

Israeli investigators assessed self-reported outcomes in a cohort of 119 elderly (mean age: 79) patients prescribed medical cannabis products. (Israeli law permits qualified patients to access state-regulated cannabis products, and an estimated 100,000 Israelis are currently authorized to use them.) Most of the study’s participants suffered from chronic pain and consumed cannabis via tinctures. Subjects utilized cannabis products for at least six months.

Authors reported that medical cannabis use was associated with clinically significant reductions in patients’ chronic pain scores. They also reported that patients reduced their use of opioids by nearly half following cannabis treatment – a finding consistent with other studies.

Cannabis use was also associated with reduced symptoms of depression and overall improvements in patients’ daily living, especially among those over the age of 80. The latter finding is consistent with several prior studies reporting health-related quality of life improvements among older adults who initiate cannabis treatment.

Researchers concluded: “Cannabis contributes to the amelioration of depressive symptoms …while also achieving discernible pain alleviation. … Our findings also demonstrate the relatively favorable safety profile of cannabis therapy” in the elderly patient population.

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis is not associated with a decrease in activities of daily living in older adults,” appears in Biomedicines. Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Cannabis Use by Older Adult Populations.’