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People With A History Of Cannabis Use Do Not Exhibit More Severe Symptoms Of Psychosis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Just because someone has consumed cannabis and suffers from mental health struggles, that does not automatically mean that the cannabis consumption caused the mental health issues that the person is unfortunately experiencing.

That may seem like a logical statement, however, cannabis opponents do everything that they can to try to skirt that fact. To make matters worse, the reefer madness mental health propaganda efforts that cannabis opponents pursue is often assisted by mainstream media coverage that echoes their talking points without any context, which is a huge disservice to society.

Mental health is a very serious issue, and it should be treated as such. Facts and science should lead the way, and with that in mind, the results of a new study out of New Zealand further debunks the ‘cannabis makes you crazy’ talking point of opponents. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Christchurch, NZ: Those with a history of cannabis consumption do not exhibit more severe symptoms of psychosis than do those with no history of regular use, according to longitudinal data published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

A team of New Zealand researchers assessed the relationship between marijuana use and the severity of psychotic symptomology in a cohort of over 1,200 subjects born in 1977. Investigators compared the symptom profile of cannabis consumers and non-consumers at age 18, 21, and at age 25.

Researchers reported that cannabis-consuming subjects were more likely than non-users to report experiencing a greater variety of psychotic symptoms overall. However, investigators acknowledged that consumers were not more likely to report experiencing severe symptoms.

Authors reported: “The present analyses sought to determine whether there was a qualitative difference in the kind of symptoms being reported by the two groups. … Both groups tended to report common, low-level symptoms (such as “having ideas or beliefs that others do not share”), and neither group was likely to report what would be considered as more severe positive symptoms of psychosis.”

They concluded: “Collectively, the results suggest that while those who were regular cannabis users reported a significantly greater number of symptoms than non-users, the symptom profile between the two groups did not differ, showing that there was no evidence of greater ‘severity’ among regular cannabis users.”

Although the use of cannabis and other controlled substances is more common among those with psychotic illnesses, studies indicate that lifetime incidences of marijuana-induced psychosis are relatively rare among those who do not already have a prior diagnosis of a psychiatric disease.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use and patterns of psychotic symptomology in a longitudinal birth cohort,” appears in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

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Europe’s Most Cannabis-Friendly Country

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

By Alex Rogers

Not long ago, just the mention of the words ‘Europe’ and ‘cannabis’ conjured up one name and image only – Amsterdam. While the police were busting down doors and arresting people left and right in most other countries around the world, Holland was a cannabis Valhalla of sorts. A place where you could be left alone to smoke your weed in peace, sans disruption, sans incarceration. For the last ten years Spain has, by some people’s assessment, taken over Holland’s venerable spot as the number one cannabis destination in Europe, as coffeeshop style venues have popped up all over the country, particularly in the city of Barcelona.

That all being said, neither The Netherlands nor Spain are Europe’s most cannabis friendly country. In fact, the irony is that Dutch and Spanish cannabis users are still looked down upon by the majority of their fellow citizens. Only deep in these countries’ urban enclaves is the culture of using cannabis looked upon as ‘no big deal.’

The Dutch and Spanish cannabis clubs are frequented by tourists, and the locals that hang out in the coffeeshops/clubs are often looked upon by their respective societies as ‘fringe.’ If a colleague from work catches them coming out of a coffee shop, it could be a slight embarrassment. Cannabis, though quasi-legal in Holland and Spain, is still stigmatized to a high degree.

There is one little gem of a country in Europe, tucked between the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps, where most of the entire country seems to be OK with cannabis use. That country is Slovenia. I have spent extensive time in Slovenia, as I have in Holland, and I have never seen a place in Europe where cannabis use was not only de-stigmatized, but also seemingly promoted by the majority of society in some way or another. Many family households in Slovenia even grow a few plants outside in the summer. Oftentimes Slovenians have even shown me pictures of their grandmas in the garden tending to cannabis. Slovenia is a green land (literally) with 65% of the country covered by forest. It looks like Switzerland, but has half the population density.

It is an agricultural society, and cannabis is looked at merely as another product that the Slovenians get from their beautiful mother earth, along with their wine, olives, honey, wild mushrooms and herbs, ubiquitous home vegetable gardens and abundant fruit trees. Slovenia is a literal garden of Eden, and if you like cannabis, it is in abundance and not expensive. Rick Simpson oil is known by the entire country. They don’t necessarily see it as a miracle cure for cancer, but rather, an aide to help the healing process ensue. The oil is readily available in Slovenia, and the government turns a compassionate eye to it, as it is used mainly for very sick people that need non-invasive treatment with non-detrimental side effects.

The capital city of Ljubljana feels like a little Prague with ever so slight hints of Berlin. It is a small city, but jammed packed with things to do. There are more outdoor cafes here per capita than almost any other European city. And, as far as I can tell, weed is effectively legal in Slovenia, or at least it feels that way. Almost every bar I have ever been to in Slovenia’s Capital allows smoking cannabis, or at least turns a blind eye to it. Is cannabis technically legal in Slovenia? No. However, small amounts are decriminalized, and it seems like it’s only a matter of time until Slovenia opens up a taxed and regulated adult use-market.

Being in Slovenia is like being dropped into a fairy tale, as it is consistently rated a top-ten “safest country in the world” by all the major indices. One would be hard pressed to find a more intelligent, vibrant, rational and sophisticated nation than the tiny, quaint and civilized, 2 million person mountain-nation of Slovenia. There is no doubt that the citizens of Slovenia are ready to legalize cannabis. It makes perfect sense.

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Israel Study Finds CBD Is “Highly Effective” In Adults With Refractory Epilepsy

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

When it comes to medical cannabis, arguably the most effective way that cannabis can be used is in cannabidiol (CBD) form to treat refractory epilepsy. Cannabis can effectively treat a number of conditions, however, it seems to be particularly useful among epilepsy patients.

CBD’s ability to successfully treat refractory epilepsy among child patients has received a lot of media attention in recent years, and for good reason. When pharmaceutical medications fail parents turn to CBD which is non-toxic and does not induce intoxication, and in a vast majority of cases, it proves to be a tremendous form of treatment.

Cannabidiol is also effective at treating adult patients that suffer from refractory epilepsy according to a new study out of Israel. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Tel Aviv, Israel: Adults with treatment-resistant focal epilepsy (epilepsy characterized by seizures arising from a specific part of the brain) respond favorably to the adjunctive use of plant-derived CBD dominant cannabis extracts, according to data published in the journal Neurological Sciences.

A Colombian investigator assessed the efficacy of high CBD/low THC extracts in a cohort of epileptic patients. Of those who maintained a cannabis-treatment regimen for at least three months, 80 percent experienced a greater than 50 percent reduction in seizure frequency at 12 weeks. Only a minority of patients reported any side-effects.

“The reduction in seizures frequency is maintained over time.” the study’s author concluded.  “The CBMF (cannabis-based magistral formulation) is a highly effective and safe therapy to treat adult patients with DRFE (drug resistant focal epilepsy).”

Israeli data published in June similarly reported that children with refractory forms of epilepsy experience significant reductions in seizure frequency following the long-term use of plant-derived CBD extracts.

In 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration granted market approval to Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol for the treatment of two rare forms of severe epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Shortly after approval, the US Drug Enforcement Administration reclassified Epidiolex to Schedule V of the US Controlled Substances Act — the lowest restriction classification available under federal law.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis based magistral formulation is highly effective as an adjuvant treatment in drug-resistant focal epilepsy in adult patients: An open-label prospective cohort study,” appears in Neurological Sciences. Additional information on cannabis and epilepsy is available from NORML.

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CBD Extracts Reduce Agitation In Dementia Patients According To Israeli Study

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Science.

According to the World Health Organization as many as 55 million people worldwide live with some level of dementia. That number is expected to increase to 78 million by 2030 and up to 139 million by 2050.

Dementia is a syndrome that involves the deterioration of cognitive function among those that suffer from the condition. The deterioration goes beyond what is expected as a result of typical human biological aging.

The condition disturbs multiple higher cortical functions including but not limited to learning and memory, focusing, language, motor perception, and social cognition. Cases range from mild symptoms all the way to cases in which the patient is completely debilitated because of the condition.

Heightened agitation among patients suffering from dementia is common, as patients are often disoriented and become frustrated by their surroundings and interactions with people they are unfamiliar with. Fortunately, a recent study in Israel found that cannabidiol (CBD) may help. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Tel Aviv, Israel: The administration of plant-derived extracts containing high levels of CBD and low levels of THC reduces agitation in patients suffering from behavioral disturbances related to dementia, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.

Israeli researchers assessed the safety and efficacy of CBD-dominant extracts (30 to 1 ratio of CBD to THC) compared to placebo in a cohort of seniors (mean age: 79 years) with dementia. Subjects in the trial received sublingual drops of either cannabis extracts or a placebo (olive oil) three times daily for a period of 16 weeks.

“Patients in the investigational group experienced a significantly greater reduction in sleep disturbances, and in agitation and aggression sub-score using two different measurement tools. The improvements were accompanied with non-serious side-effects,” authors reported. ”We recommend conducting a large scale randomized controlled trial on behavioral disturbances related to dementia and to compare clinical sub-types of dementia.”

The findings are consistent with those of other studies – such as those here, here, and here - reporting that the use of either cannabis flowers or extracts mitigates agitation in dementia patients.

Full text of the study, “Effects of rich cannabidiol oil on behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia: A placebo controlled randomized clinical trial,” appears in Frontiers in Medicine.

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Study Finds Cannabis Is Associated With Quality Of Life Improvements In Adults With Autism

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

It is estimated that as much as 1% of the world’s population has autism spectrum disorder, although many cases go undiagnosed so it’s quite possible that there are more people out there that have autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental condition that affects how people communicate with others and how they learn and behave. The severity of autism spectrum disorder varies widely among those with the condition, which may contribute to any disparities in diagnosis rates.

Researchers in the United Kingdom recently examined the relationship between cannabis use and adults with autism spectrum disorder. The findings from the study are very insightful. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: The use of cannabis flowers and extracts is associated with symptom improvements in adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to data published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology.

British investigators affiliated with Imperial College in London assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis products in a cohort of autistic adults (mean age: 32) enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Subjects in the study either inhaled cannabis flowers or consumed sublingual extracts for a period of up to six months. Subjects primarily consumed cannabis preparations that were elevated in THC content and lower in CBD.

Consistent with prior studies, investigators reported that patients experienced symptomatic improvements following cannabis therapy. They also reduced their use of prescription medications. Specifically, there was “a 33.3 percent and 25.0 percent reduction in the concomitant prescribing of benzodiazepines and neuroleptics, respectively, within this cohort.” Authors further acknowledged that cannabis preparations were “well tolerated” by over 80 percent of the participants.

“In this first published experience of clinical outcomes in adult patients with ASD treated with CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products], there were associated improvements in general health-related quality of life, in addition to sleep- and anxiety-specific outcomes,” they concluded.  “Moreover, there was a reduction in the administration of concomitant medications, some of which are associated with serious adverse events with long-term use. … These results … provide scientific justification for further evaluation within the context of randomized controlled trials while also providing guidance for clinical practice in the interim.”

Numerous trials have previously identified clinical improvements in autistic children who consume plant-derived CBD extracts. Survey data published in 2021 by the publication Autism Parenting Magazine reported that 22 percent of US caregivers or parents have provided CBD to an autistic child.

Full text of the study, “Clinical outcome analysis of patients with autism spectrum disorder: Analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry,” appears in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. Additional information on cannabis and ASD is available from NORML.

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Canadian Study Finds That Medical Cannabis Products Are Safe And Effective

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Humans have used cannabis and derivatives of cannabis for medical purposes for thousands of years. The cannabis plant is arguably the most versatile plant on earth and provides a number of wellness benefits.

Unfortunately, a number of governments around the globe still prohibit cannabis, even for medical use. For whatever reason, those governments cling to the false claim that cannabis has no medical value. Whereas cannabis’ wellness properties have been around for a very long time, cannabis prohibition is a relatively new thing.

Thankfully, the cannabis plant is being researched now more than ever before, and the results of many of those studies are providing key insight which can then be used to debunk prohibitionist talking points, including that cannabis is not safe for medical use.

A study in Canada determined recently that medical cannabis products are indeed safe and effective. Below is more information about it via a NORML news release:

Ontario, Canada: Medical cannabis products are safe and effective for older adults with chronic pain conditions, according to data published in The Journal of Cannabis Research.

Researchers assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis products in a cohort of medically authorized Canadian patients age 65 or older. Subjects in the study used cannabis for at least three months.

Consistent with other studies assessing the use of cannabis by seniors, investigators reported that marijuana treatments were safe, well-tolerated, and associated with meaningful reductions in pain. “No serious AEs (adverse events) were reported, and non-serious AEs were experienced in less than 12 percent of the cohort,” they acknowledged.

Most patients in the study reported no prior experience with cannabis. Most initially purchased cannabis products either high in CBD or containing equal ratios of CBD and THC. Participants typically preferred cannabis oils over other formulations.

Authors concluded, “Our findings inform the underexplored area of medical cannabis use in this population and suggest that medical cannabis is associated with therapeutic effects on pain in older adults with an acceptable safety profile.”

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis authorization patterns, safety, and associated effects in older adults,” appears in The Journal of Cannabis Research. Additional information is available in NORML’s fact sheet, ‘Cannabis Use by Older Adult Populations.’

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Artisanal CBD Extracts Display Long-Term Efficacy In Kids With Epilepsy

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 50 million people worldwide suffer from some level of epilepsy, from mild cases to severe. Nearly four out of every five patients diagnosed with epilepsy live in developing countries.

Epilepsy is a chronic, noncommunicable disease within the brain that affects people of all ages. Unfortunately, many cases go undiagnosed, especially cases involving child patients. Undiagnosed cases make it extremely difficult to provide proper care for the suffering patient.

Fortunately, cannabidiol (CBD) has been found to be effective at treating epilepsy. It’s likely the only form of medicine that can be cultivated and processed all over the globe via the hemp plant. Yet another study has found CBD to be effective at treating kids with epilepsy, this time out of Israel. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Tel Aviv, Israel: Children with refractory epilepsy respond favorably to long-term treatment with plant-derived CBD extracts, according to data published in Pediatric Neurology.

Israeli researchers assessed the safety and efficacy of artisanal CBD-rich extracts in a cohort of adolescents with treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy. Among patients administered extracts for a period of at least one year, 51 percent experienced a significant decline in seizure frequency. Patients reported only nominal side-effects associated with CBD treatment.

Authors concluded, “Artisanal cannabidiol-enriched cannabis may be an effective and safe long-term treatment for refractory epilepsy.”

In 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration granted market approval to Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol for the treatment of two rare forms of severe epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Shortly after approval, the US Drug Enforcement Administration reclassified Epidiolex to Schedule V of the US Controlled Substances Act — the lowest restriction classification available under federal law.

Full text of the study, “The long-term effectiveness and safety of cannabidiol-enriched oil in children with drug-resistant epilepsy,” appears in Pediatric Neurology. Additional information on cannabis and epilepsy is available from NORML.

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International Researchers Determine Cannabis Rarely Induces Psychosis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

One of the oldest and most-popular talking points among cannabis prohibitionists is that cannabis is ‘bad for the brain.’ Cannabis prohibitionists, aided by mainstream media and film, have historically portrayed cannabis users as being completely insane.

Arguably the best example of that is via the 1936 film Reefer Madness, in which many of the actors in the film try cannabis and are instantly thrust into a full-blown psychotic episode. One character even commits suicide in the film ‘due to consuming reefer.’

To be sure, mental health issues are a major concern and not to be taken lightly. With that being said, it’s an enormous disservice to people experiencing mental health issues to falsely place blame on cannabis and essentially issue a misdiagnosis.

Suffering patients of all types deserve to have safe access to effective medicine and to have their health advice based on science, not politics. Several studies have debunked the ‘cannabis makes you crazy’ myth, including a recent one involving a team of international researchers. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Lausanne, Switzerland: Cannabis consumption rarely triggers episodes of acute psychosis in those without a pre-existing psychiatric disorder, according to data published in the journal Translational Psychiatry.

An international team of researchers from Australia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom assessed lifetime occurrences of “cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms” (CAPS) requiring hospitalization in a cohort of 233,000 European marijuana consumers.

Authors reported that less than one-half of one percent of subjects reported ever having had such an experience. Those at higher risk for such incidences included younger aged subjects, as well as those with a prior diagnosis of bipolar, anxiety, or depressive disorder, or psychosis.

“Our findings are in line with the idea of a common (genetic) vulnerability representing risk that is shared across psychiatric disorders,” authors determined. They concluded, “Rates of CAPS as observed here are comparable to rates of other drug-induced psychosis, such as alcohol-associated psychosis (around 0.4 – 0.7 percent).”

The study’s findings are consistent with those of a separate paper, published in July in the journal Substance Use & Misuse, which reported that medical cannabis patients are at “low” risk for psychiatric hospitalizations resulting from their marijuana use. In that trial, investigators assessed marijuana-related hospitalizations among a cohort of over 23,000 subjects over a median period of 240 days. During that time, only 26 patients were hospitalized explicitly because of “mental or behavioral disorders due to the use of cannabis.”

The findings push back against high-profile claims from some cannabis reform opponents that marijuana exposure is a frequent trigger for psychosis and other mental health disorders.

Full text of the study, “Rates and correlates of cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms in over 230,000 people who use cannabis,” appears in Translational Psychiatry. Additional information on cannabis and mental health is available from NORML’s white paper, ‘Cannabis, Mental Health, and Context: The Case for Regulation.’

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University Of Sydney To Offer Free Cannabis Testing

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

The University of Sydney is launching a fairly robust study in an attempt to, as the university describes it, “investigate cannabis consumption, behaviours and attitudes among users.” Part of the study involves offering free, anonymous cannabis testing for people that cultivate their own cannabis in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Cannabis was decriminalized in 2020 in the ACT and the university is researching any societal issues that may have arisen from the public policy change, as well as gain insight into the potency and varieties of cannabis that patients and consumers are using.

Free cannabis testing is available to both medical patients and non-medical patients, although only people that are current residents of the ACT can participate.

“The cannabis collected from growers’ homes will be analysed for cannabis content, including its main psychoactive components – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and non-intoxicating cannabidiol  (CBD) –  as well as a range of other cannabinoids and biologically active molecules, free of charge.  Participants will be able to view, anonymously, the analysis results from their cannabis samples online.” the university stated in a news release.

Initial results from the University of Sydney study are expected to be released in early 2023 and will presumably be used by lawmakers and regulators to craft regional and national cannabis policies and industry regulations. International cannabis observers will likely also benefit from reviewing the results.

Studies like this one can be very insightful because it involves cannabis that is actually being cultivated and consumed by people in real life versus cannabis that is cultivated by the government that often does not resemble the cannabis that people are actually consuming. Results from the latter types of studies always have to be taken with a grain of salt.