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Low-Dose Cannabis Extracts Could Help Pain Patients

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Science.

Chronic pain is one of the most common and serious health conditions around the world. International researchers estimate that as many as 20% of adults suffer from chronic pain globally, and that percentage could rise in the future with more adults being diagnosed every year.

Common treatments for pain include over-the-counter medications, prescription pharmaceutical painkillers, and, in more extreme cases of chronic pain, injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation.

The potential side effects of the previously listed pain management options are numerous, including but not limited to: constipation, breathing issues, nausea, chest pains, drowsiness, diarrhea, headaches, and even death. Many pharmaceutical painkillers are very addictive.

A team of researchers affiliated with various academic and health institutions based in Argentina and Ecuador recently examined low-dose cannabis extracts as a treatment for chronic pain. Their findings were published in the Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy.

“The aim of this work was to assess the effectiveness of full-spectrum cannabis (THC and CBD) extracts as adjuvants in the treatment of chronic pain.” the researchers wrote. “This is a prospective, open label, longitudinal study. Major cannabinoids were analyzed in herbal preparations using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Subjects were included when chronic pain diagnosis criteria was met according to physicians’ diagnosis.”

“A patient stratification protocol was developed using a visual analogue scale to measure pain, a numerical scale for life quality parameters and a self-administered health survey. Eighty-eight patients aged between 35 and 88 years were included.” the researchers stated about their methodology.

“A significant decrease in both pain and other life quality parameters was observed between time zero and subsequent time intervals, excepting the “appetite” variable. Overall, 51 individuals reported a decrease in pain, 38 a decrease in anxiety and 48 in insomnia, with “decrease” defined as symptom reduction of 50% or more between the first and last consultation. In addition, 23 subjects reduced or discontinued other analgesics and/or anti-inflammatory drugs during the trial.” the researchers found.

“Adverse effects were mild and reversible. These results are consistent with previous studies, supporting effectiveness and safety of cannabis extracts as adjuvants in the treatment of chronic pain.” the researchers concluded.

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Ecuador Sets Hemp THC Limit At 1.0%

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business.

Hemp reform is sweeping across the globe. The hemp plant has always been a versatile, useful plant but prohibition policies kept it from being put to widespread use for several decades in many countries all over the world.

In recent years the walls of hemp prohibition have been crumbling across the planet as more and more nations reform their outdated laws to allow for the mass production of industrial and floral hemp.

Floral hemp has been particularly popular with consumers in the last few years, driven by the rise in demand for CBD products. Nations are finally coming to the sensible realization that farmers should be allowed to benefit from cultivating the hemp plant.

Ecuador is one of those countries. The South American nation is working towards implementing a legal hemp industry, and adopted a THC standard this week. Ecuador followed in the footsteps of a handful of other countries by setting a 1% THC limit. Per Hemp Today:

The Ecuadorian government has set the maximum THC level for industrial hemp at a full 1%, following the lead of Uruguay, Switzerland and Australia.

The limit was set in policy changes outlined during a legislative session this week that legalized industrial hemp by removing it from the Ecuadorian criminal code. The 1% THC limit is based on dry weight of hemp green matter. The reformed criminal code states clearly that hemp under that limit is no longer a prohibited crop, and that regulation of THC levels is the responsibility of the National Agrarian Authority.

A 1% THC limit may not sound like much, but it’s a very progressive standard compared to other countries’ standard, including the United States. The United States has a limit of just 0.3%.

Numerous studies have found that CBD is more effective when consumed with THC. If the studies are correct, it’s better for Ecuador’s future CBD industry to have a higher THC limit because presumably, CBD products would be more effective and thus more desirable to consumers and patients.

A higher THC limit is also better for farmers, which have to destroy their harvests if they are tested and found to exceed THC standards. The higher THC limit allows all hemp farmers, both industrial and floral, more flexibility when looking for genetics to cultivate.

The hemp plant should not be limited to only being processed into CBD products, but consumer demand is going to be a deciding factor in what hemp gets turned into.

Supply and demand is going to drive public policy, and if demand for CBD results in improved policies for industrial hemp that is turned into non-CBD products, so be it.