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Prevalence Of Cannabis Use Among Canadian Youth “Unchanged” Per New Data

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Canada is home to the largest cannabis public policy and regulation experiment in history. Canada became the first G-7 nation to pass a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure in late 2018 and still remains the only G-7 nation to do so.

Joining Canada on the list of legalized nations are Uruguay, Malta, and Luxembourg. However, Canada is the only country on the list that permits sales to anyone of legal age regardless of residency status.

Consumers in Canada are afforded the most robust options for obtaining cannabis by legal means, including dispensaries, delivery services, mail delivery, cannabis clubs, etc. Leading up to the implementation of legalization cannabis opponents issued numerous warnings specific to youth consumption. By all measurements, doomsday predictions have not materialized.

One talking point that cannabis opponents touted leading up to legalization in Canada was that ‘legalization would increase youth consumption rates.’ It’s a popular talking point for cannabis opponents everywhere that cannabis reform is being considered, including medical cannabis reform.

But what does the math say? Health Canada conducts a survey every year to gauge, among other things, how many people report having consumed cannabis.

According to the 2019 survey, the results of which were released in 2020 (bold font added for emphasis), “In 2019, 40% (12.0 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported ever smoking cannabis. The prevalence of ever smoking cannabis was 25% (699,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 55% (990,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 39% (10.3 million) among adults aged 25 years and over.”

The results of the 2022 Health Canada survey were recently released. According to the survey’s authors (bold font added for emphasis), “In 2022, 39.5% [95% CI: 38.3, 40.7] (12.7 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported ever smoking cannabis, unchanged from 2021…The prevalence of ever smoking cannabis was unchanged among youth aged 15-19 years at 20.1% [95% CI: 18.4, 21.8] (424,000), and adults aged 25 years and older at 40.2% [95% CI: 38.8, 41.6] (11.1 million).

For contextual purposes, the reference to “unchanged” in the 2022 survey results is in regard to the previous year’s (2021) survey results. According to the Canadian government’s own data, between 2019 and 2022 reported lifetime cannabis use declined by nearly 20% since legalization.

That statistic is significant given the fact that cannabis policy modernization efforts are gaining steam across the world right now, and a big hesitation expressed by many voters and lawmakers relates to concerns regarding youth consumption rates.

Canada provides the best cannabis public policy data to analyze given the robust consumer options in Canada, and as you can see from the survey results, regulation appears to be better at curbing youth consumption rates than prohibition.

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Vaporized Cannabis Associated With Reduced Symptoms In PTSD Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

For many years, medical cannabis patients largely consumed cannabis by smoking flower. However, in recent years the different types of cannabis products and consumption methods have increased considerably.

A popular cannabis consumption method among medical patients that is not new is vaporizing flower. Vaporizers such as the Volcano can provide tremendous relief for patients while limiting the amount of inhaled carcinogens.

Researchers in Canada recently conducted a study involving vaporized cannabis and patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. Below is more information about the study via a new release from NORML:

Vancouver, Canada: The short-term use of herbal cannabis consisting of a balanced ratio of THC and CBD is associated with symptom reductions in patients with post-traumatic stress, according to data published in the journal Trials.

Canadian researchers assessed subjects’ use of vaporized cannabis over a three-week period.

Investigators reported, “Comparison of CAPS [Clinician Administered PTSD Scale] scores pre and post treatment identified a trend toward reduction in PTSD symptoms. … However, under-recruitment resulted in low power and prohibited placebo comparison, making these results more suggestive than persuasive.”

They concluded, “Positive trending results and high patient need mandate future studies of cannabis for the treatment of PTSD.”

Two recent observational studies, one from Australia and the other from the United Kingdom, reported that patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress respond favorably to medical cannabis treatment. By contrast, a 2021 clinical trial reported that the inhalation of marijuana flowers provided limited benefits compared to placebo in treating symptoms of PTSD.

Full text of the study, “A small clinical trial of vaporized cannabis for PTSD: Suggestive results and directions for future study,” appears in Trials. Additional information on cannabis and post-traumatic stress is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

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Survey Finds That Many Canadian Nurses Don’t Receive Medical Cannabis Training

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Humans have consumed cannabis for many centuries. It’s unknown when the first human discovered the therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant, however, we know that it was at least several thousand years ago.

It wasn’t until the last century that medical cannabis was prohibited, and the negative impact of that prohibition cannot be overstated. In addition to making criminals out of patients, cannabis prohibition also significantly hindered medical cannabis research.

Additionally, cannabis prohibition has created a situation in which medical professionals are woefully uneducated on the topic of cannabis. With so many humans consuming cannabis, there’s no excuse for medical professionals to know little to nothing about the cannabis plant.

A recent survey conducted in Canada highlights the problem, with most participating Canadian nurses indicating that they did not receive any training about medical cannabis. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Winnipeg, Canada: Fewer than four in ten Canadian nursing students say that they receive information about the use of medical cannabis during their training, according to survey data published in the journal Nurse Education Today.

Over three hundred nursing students participated in the survey. Only 38 percent acknowledged “receiving any education on cannabis in their nursing program.” Over 90 percent of respondents acknowledged that they would feel uncomfortable discussing cannabis with their patients without further educational training.

“Education on both medical and non-medical cannabis is needed to support future nurses addressing cannabis use in their clinical practice,” the study’s authors concluded. “Nursing institutions must implement and evaluate curricula to ensure nursing students are adequately prepared to address cannabis use in their clinical practice and their own fitness to practice.”

Cannabis has been legally available in Canada via a doctor’s authorization since 2001. The Canadian government legalized marijuana products for adults in 2018.

The study’s findings are consistent with those of prior surveys of health professionals in Canada and the United States which report that most doctors and nurses believe that they receive insufficient training with regard to cannabis.

Full text of the study, “Baccalaureate nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, educational needs, and use of medical and non-medical cannabis at five institutions in Manitoba, Canada: A cross-sectional analysis,” appears in Nurse Education Today.

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Recent Study Highlights The Public Health Need To Regulate Cannabis

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

A team of researchers in Canada recently analyzed testing results for unregulated and regulated cannabis samples, and they described the difference in contamination rates between the two as having a “striking contrast.”

“In this study, we describe an expanded 327 multi-residue pesticide analysis in cannabis inflorescence to confirm if the implementation of the Cannabis Act is providing safer licensed products to Canadians in comparison to those of the illicit market.” the researchers stated about their study.

Canada implemented the Cannabis Act in late 2018, making it the first G-7 nation to pass a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. One of the top goals of Canada’s cannabis policy modernization effort was to enact regulations to reduce contamination rates in the products that people were consuming.

“An extensive multi-residue method was developed using a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) sample preparation method using a combination of gas chromatography—triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) and liquid chromatography—triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for the simultaneous quantification of 327 pesticide active ingredients in cannabis inflorescence.” researchers stated about the testing method used on the samples involved in the study, which was first reported by Marijuana Moment.

“Application of this method to Canadian licensed inflorescence samples revealed a 6% sample positivity rate with only two pesticide residues detected, myclobutanil, and dichlobenil, at the method’s lowest calibrated level (LCL) of 0.01 μg/g.” researchers stated about the regulated samples.

“Canadian illicit cannabis inflorescence samples analysed showed a striking contrast with a 92% sample positivity rate covering 23 unique pesticide active ingredients with 3.7 different pesticides identified on average per sample. Chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, and myclobutanil were measured in illicit samples at concentrations up to three orders of magnitude above the method LCL of 0.01 μg/g.” researchers stated about the unregulated samples.

The difference in contamination rates largely speaks for itself regarding the effectiveness of regulating cannabis products. In an unregulated market, the number one incentive is to make as much money as possible, and that all but guarantees that humans will cut corners at the expense of consumers. That principle is reflected in the results of this recent study.

Compare that to a regulated industry where products must be tested before being sold to ensure that the inputs that went into creating them are not harmful to humans. Sensible regulations boost the safety of all consumables available to purchasers, and cannabis is no exception.

Reducing the rate of contaminated cannabis use is at the heart of current cannabis policy modernization efforts in Europe, largely led by Germany. Whereas various continental agreements apparently prohibit nationwide legalized commerce in Europe (at least according to the EU), reforming cannabis policies to boost public health outcomes is perfectly legal.

The nuanced difference in policy reform approach is why nations like Switzerland are allowed to create regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilots, and why Malta is allowed to permit noncommercial cannabis clubs. Both policy modernization components are geared toward boosting the availability of regulated cannabis to reduce the consumption of unregulated cannabis.

When consumers are afforded the option to purchase regulated cannabis versus unregulated cannabis in Canada, they choose regulated cannabis more often than not according to the results of a study that was published earlier this year. If Canada’s regulations were more sensible, and prices were lower as a result, even more consumers would choose to make their purchases from regulated sources.

Adults are going to consume cannabis whether it is legal to do so or not. Enough time has passed to prove that cannabis prohibition does not lower usage rates. All prohibition does is push consumers to unregulated sources, which as demonstrated in the study at the heart of this article, those unregulated sources are often selling tainted cannabis.

Elected officials and bureaucrats need to recognize reality and choose to prioritize the public health outcomes of nations around the world. Effective cannabis policies involve licensing regulated outlets, as well as educating the public on the benefits of making purchases from regulated outlets, not the least of which is that the cannabis is proven to be safe to consume.

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New Study Highlights How Everyone Benefits From Modernized Cannabis Policies

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Cannabis policy modernization efforts are gaining momentum in many parts of the world. Every continent except Antarctica is now home to a nation that has either legalized cannabis for adult use to some degree or is experiencing ramped-up efforts to do so.

Modernized cannabis policies in nations like Uruguay, Canada, Malta, and Luxembourg have yielded new freedoms for consumers. Additionally, modernized cannabis policies also create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors.

Casual observers often make the mistake of assuming that modernized cannabis policies only affect consumers and people with business pursuits in the emerging legal cannabis industry. However, that is not the case, as highlighted by a recent comprehensive study conducted in Canada.

A team of researchers associated with the University of Northern British Columbia, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the University of Victoria, the University of Guelph, and
Dalhousie University recently evaluated the relationship between legalization, adult cannabis-related, property, and violent crimes.

As part of the evaluation, the researchers examined criminal incident data from the Canadian Uniform Crime Reporting Survey for the period of January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021. A main goal of the Cannabis Act in Canada, implemented in 2018, was to lower the burden on the nation’s criminal justice system. Researchers sought to determine if the legislation was successful in that regard, in addition to seeing if there were any changes to property and/or violent crime rates post-legalization.

“Implementation of the Cannabis Act was associated with decreases in adult police-reported cannabis-related offenses: females, −13.2 daily incidents (95% CI, −16.4; −10.1; p < 0.001) – a reduction of 73.9% [standard error (se), 30.6%]; males, −69.4 daily offenses (95% CI, −81.5; −57.2; p < 0.001) – a drop of 83.2% (se, 21.2%).” the researchers stated.

“Legalization was not associated with significant changes in the adult property-crime or violent-crime series.” researchers went on to state.

“Our findings suggest that Canada’s cannabis legalization was successful in reducing cannabis-related criminalization among adults. There was also a lack of evidence for spillover effects of cannabis legalization on adult property or violent crimes.” the researchers concluded.

Not everyone consumes cannabis, obviously. However, all members of society rely on their nation’s criminal justice system to keep society safe and to properly and equitably hold people accountable when they harm other people.

Criminal justice policy and enforcement is a zero-sum situation, in that there are not unlimited resources to fund such activity. Law enforcement agencies and courts have to decide what matters to prioritize, and what is not worth the resources.

Under prohibition, law enforcement wastes enormous amounts of resources enforcing failed public policy, and at an opportunity cost. Every hour that a member of law enforcement spends enforcing failed cannabis prohibition is an hour that they could have spent fighting actual crime, such as property and violent crime.

The same is true for the court system. Every cannabis case that has to go through the court system wastes docket hours and court resources that should be used instead for prosecuting actual criminal activity. Cannabis prohibition harms every member of society to some degree by wasting limited public criminal justice resources, whether people realize it or not.

Compare that to a country in which cannabis modernization is not only helping save limited tax dollars from being wasted on cannabis prohibition enforcement, but it also generates tax dollars for local and national governments to use to help improve society, such as helping fund schools, parks, and other civic projects. Canada is now a prime example of that on display for the world to see.

All members of society should support cannabis policy modernization, even if they do not consume cannabis and/or never have plans to. Cannabis prohibition is a failed public policy wherever it still exists, and it’s time for governments in those jurisdictions to take a more sensible approach.

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Cannabis Doesn’t Negatively Impact Liver Transplant Patient Survival Outcomes

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

In many parts of the world, if someone consumes cannabis, they are not eligible for a liver transplant. It’s a tough situation, in that patients in need of a liver transplant are obviously suffering, and many use medical cannabis products for relief. However, they are forced to refrain from using their medicine, even if it’s effective, in order to get the transplant.

While it is unknown how many patients around the world are in the previously described situation, even one patient being in that situation is one too many. Members of the medical community often cite ‘potential negative consequences’ as the reason for the transplant prohibition. A recent study in Canada will hopefully help change that. Below is more information via a news release from NORML:

Ottawa, Canada: A history of cannabis use is not negatively associated with survival rates among patients receiving liver transplants, according to data published in the Canadian Liver Journal.

Canadian researchers reviewed the relevant literature on cannabis use and transplantation survival rates. Eight studies involving over 5,500 subjects were included in the review.

Authors determined, “[C]annabis use has not been associated with poor patient outcomes in terms of 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient survivals. Therefore, liver transplant candidates who use cannabis should not be denied access to transplantation.”

Their findings are consistent with those of several other studies concluding that marijuana use is not contraindicated in patients receiving organ transplants. Nonetheless, in several states – including some states that permit medical cannabis access – those with a history of marijuana use are ineligible to receive organ transplants.

Full text of the study, “Review of liver transplantation candidacy and outcomes among patients who use cannabis,” appears in the Canadian Liver Journal.

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Cannabis Use Associated With Self-Reported Reductions In Anxiety Per Canadian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

It is estimated that roughly 4% of the world’s population suffers from some level of anxiety, although, researchers do not know the actual number. The condition often goes undiagnosed for various reasons in certain parts of the globe, so it’s quite possible that the actual rate is much higher.

Anxiety involves intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Physical symptoms can include a fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and 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, CBD may be able to help in those cases. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Edmonton, Canada: Subjects report significant decreases in their anxiety levels following the inhalation of herbal cannabis, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Canadian researchers assessed the effects of cannabis inhalation on feelings of anxiety in 184 subjects over a four-year period. Study participants self-administered cannabis at home and reported symptom changes in real time on a mobile software application. Subjects consumed varieties of cannabis that were both THC and CBD-dominant.

Investigators reported: “Cannabis consumption resulted in a significant decrease in anxiety scores among both males and females (average efficacy of 50 percent) and efficacy was similar across the three cultivars.”

Authors reported greater efficacy among younger (under 40) subjects. Investigators also reported that female subjects typically required lesser doses to achieve similar anxiolytic effects. Study participants reported minimal side effects from cannabis.

The study’s investigators concluded: “Overall, cannabis was effective in relieving anxiety and well-tolerated at the doses consumed, independent of CBD and THC ratios. While one cultivar was not significantly more effective than the others, we did identify some gender and age differences in optimal dosing across the three cultivars. We suggest that the outlined THC:CBD ratios and optimal inhalations may be used as a starting point for patients and healthcare practitioners looking to use cannabis as an anxiolytic in order to mitigate the trial-and-error aspect of initiating medical cannabis treatments. Additionally, we recommend the above dataset be used as the foundation for future clinical trials to fully elucidate the efficacy of cannabis for the management of anxiety under more controlled conditions.”

The results of a 2021 US study using similar methods also reported that cannabis inhalation was nearly always associated with self-reported decreases in distress-related symptoms. Data published in June from the United Kingdom similarly reports that the use of cannabis products is associated with sustained improvements in patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.

Full text of the study, “Naturalistic examination of the anxiolytic effects of medical cannabis and associated gender and age differences in a Canadian cohort,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

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Women Report Using Cannabis To Mitigate Symptoms Of Menopause Per Canadian Study

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Science.

A natural part of biological aging for every woman involves experiencing menopause. Most women experience menopause when they are between the ages of 45 and 55 years old. The menopausal transition is typically gradual.

For many years women have turned to the cannabis plant for relief for all types of conditions, including dealing with menopause. A recent study in Canada examined the reported frequency of use by middle-aged women experiencing menopause. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Edmonton, Canada: Canadian women frequently report consuming cannabis products to ease symptoms related to menopause, according to survey data published in the journal BMJ Open.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Alberta surveyed cannabis use trends in a cohort of nearly 1,500 women aged 35 or older.

Among those respondents who reported being current cannabis users, many indicated that they consumed marijuana products to improve menopause-related symptoms, such as joint achiness and sleep disturbances. Most women said that they had not discussed their use with their health care providers.

“Our survey established that women are using cannabis for symptoms during the menopause transition,” authors concluded. “Information about cannabis was more frequently accessed through online searches and personal contacts, with limited involvement of healthcare providers. … In general, many women in our survey reported cannabis was helpful for their symptoms. … Further research is required to investigate the efficacy and safety of cannabis on menopause symptoms and foster the development of clinical resources for women to use in making informed decisions around cannabis for medical purposes.”

The findings are consistent with those of prior surveys from the United States estimating that nearly 30 percent of middle-aged women who use cannabis do so to mitigate menopause-related symptoms.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use for menopause in women aged 35 and over: A cross-sectional survey on usage patterns and perceptions in Alberta, Canada,” appears in BMJ Open.

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New Canadian Study Demonstrates Why Cannabis Regulation Works

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Policy.

One of the main goals of legalizing cannabis commerce in any given jurisdiction is to battle the unregulated market in a meaningful way. When that topic comes up, it is always worth mentioning that the unregulated cannabis market will never be 100% eliminated, and that the goal is to mitigate it as much as possible by permitting regulated sales.

Canada remains the only country on earth where anyone of legal age can purchase cannabis products with no THC caps, regardless of their residency status. Uruguay also permits nationwide sales, however, sales are limited to residents only.

Researchers in Canada recently conducted a study to try to measure the effectiveness of permitting retail outlets, particularly as it pertained to surrounding areas. The results of the analysis add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating legalization’s success and the need for retail outlets in a legalization model. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Ottawa, Canada: Canadians are more likely to obtain cannabis products from the legal market if they live in close proximity to licensed retailers, according to data published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Investigators with the Canadian Centre of Substance Use and Addictions in Ontario assessed cannabis use trends in a cohort of over 15,000 consumers. Respondents reported that they were least likely to obtain their cannabis from unregulated sources if they lived near a legal retailer. (Canada legalized cannabis sales to those ages 18 and older in 2018.)

The study’s authors concluded: “Legal cannabis stores are increasingly accessible to people living in Canada. … Household proximity to a legal cannabis store was associated with sourcing cannabis from legal retail stores. … Findings suggest that proximity to legal cannabis stores may aid uptake of the legal market.”

Since 2019, the percentage of Canadian consumers transitioning to the legal cannabis market has grown year over year. According to 2022 data, a majority of consumers (58 percent) say they obtain cannabis flowers from licensed retailers.

Full text of the study, “Proximity to legal cannabis stores in Canada and use of cannabis sources in the first three years of legalization, 2019-2021,” appears in theJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.