MJNews Network

"The Voice of Legal Cannabis Since 2013"

You are here: Home / Archives for Medical

New WHO Study Shows Tobacco, Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among French Adolescents Went Down During COVID-19 pandemic

by Leave a Comment

FRANCE: Tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use among French adolescents has decreased in the last decade, particularly between 2018 and 2021 and following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, finds WHO/Europe’s collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. 

In France, as across the WHO European Region, measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives of adolescents. School closures between 2020 and 2021 affected their schooling and learning as well as their sociability, distancing them from their peers and their primary social setting at this age.

In the first quarter of 2021, 1972 ninth-grade students from public and private schools responded to the French national adolescent health and substance use survey (EnCLASS). The EnCLASS project is linked to the HBSC survey in France and supported by the Ministry of National Education and the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT). It is conducted in partnership with the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and the National School of Public Health (EHESP).

The survey investigates various health behaviours, including the use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis. It found that the pandemic has had a significant effect on these behaviours among young teens in France.

State of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents

The survey found that alcohol remains the most frequently used substance by French adolescents, with 2 out of 3 ninth-grade students having consumed alcohol at some point in 2021. At the same time, this figure is the lowest recorded since 2010, with 60% of the total decrease occurring between 2018 and 2021.

Most strikingly, the percentage of ninth-grade students who had never consumed alcohol doubled in the last decade.

“These positive trends show how young people’s social interactions can affect harmful substance abuse, as well as the power of targeted policies and campaigns,” explained Dr Emmanuelle Godeau, one of the lead investigators for the EnCLASS survey and the HBSC study in France, and a member of the EHESP.

“The continuous decline in the use of tobacco and alcohol among adolescents in France is also the result of successful public policies and strategies, including the denormalization of smoking,” she added.

“The findings show how the pandemic has accelerated a downward trend in the use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis among French youngsters,” said WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge. “This shows both the importance of smart policies and the role that our environments play in shaping our behaviours. At the same time, the results raise the question of how far the pandemic has affected young people’s overall health; it is crucial that policy-makers continue to study these effects, whether beneficial or harmful to people’s health.”

It is with smoking that the results of the survey are most significant. The use of tobacco and cigarettes has gone down considerably. In 2021, the proportion of adolescents who had ever smoked tobacco cigarettes (at least once in their lifetime) was a little over 29.1%, compared to 37.5% in 2018 and nearly 52% in 2010. Similarly, the proportion of current use of cigarettes (at least 1 cigarette in the past 30 days) dropped from 13.6% in 2018 to 10.2% in 2021.

The new research shows that, unlike tobacco cigarette smoking, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use remained stable between 2018 and 2021. Worryingly, the use of e-cigarettes is becoming increasingly popular among French teenagers, with the proportion of lifetime e-cigarette use now higher than that of lifetime tobacco use.

Like tobacco and alcohol, cannabis use is declining rapidly. In 2021, 9.1% of students in ninth grade experimented with it – almost 3 times less than in 2010 (23.9%).

Targeted policies improve behaviour

The results of this latest survey conducted in France are in part attributable to the wider effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the restrictive social measures that most of the Region saw during 2020 and most of 2021.

“The limitation of opportunities for meetings and festive moments with peers has resulted in lost opportunities for initiation and the use of substances, hence the lower levels of use, even of alcohol, which is rarely drunk alone at this age,” explained Mr Stanislas Spilka of OFDT, one of the other lead investigators for the EnCLASS survey.

Smart policies, taken at the local and national level, can go a long way in ensuring that any gains made in the promotion of well-being and healthier behaviours continue over time.

About the HBSC survey

The HBSC study is a cross-national study of the health and well-being of adolescents across Europe and Canada, conducted in close collaboration with WHO/Europe. The survey is undertaken every 4 years for 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds.

The survey in France was part of a series of national surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in countries across the Region, which WHO/Europe will release over the next months.

 

OPINION: The Medical Community Must Embrace Standard Cannabis Education

by Leave a Comment

By Timothy Byars, Director of Cannabis Programs, Pacific College of Health and Science

On July 21, 2022, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) filed the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), a bill that ends federal cannabis prohibition, establishes federal cannabis tax rates, expunges some cannabis convictions, and enables the FDA to regulate cannabis products. Whether CAOA has enough support to navigate the legislative cycle before the 117th Congress concludes on January 3, 2023 is anyone’s guess. COAO has some similarities to the MORE Act, which already passed in the House in April of this year.  Conservative Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians, however, might not support such broad and comprehensive reform, and might lobby instead for a bill that is more limited in scope, such as the Safe Banking Act or the States Reform Act.

It’s also possible that no federal reform passes in 2022, that Republicans regain control of the Senate in 118th Congress, and that federal cannabis reform stalls. It’s not controversial, however, to suggest that federal legalization of cannabis will happen eventually. Cannabis legalization is one of the increasingly few issues that Americans agree on—a Pew Research survey suggested that 91% of U.S. adults stated that cannabis should be legal for medical or adult use.[1]

How will healthcare organizations respond to federal legalization and an increasing number of patients who want to consider incorporating cannabis into the medical regime? The quotidian model in which healthcare organizations send their patients to cannabis dispensaries for medical advice is no longer tenable. When healthcare professionals refuse to discuss a patient’s cannabis use, and when they remain obstinately uninformed about cannabis administration, drug to drug interactions, potential benefits, and adverse effects, it amounts to a professional and ethical failing.

Currently, cannabis patients lack confidence in their primary care provider’s ability to help these patients navigate the path of medical cannabis use.[2] When patients lack confidence in their medical provider’s ability to direct them about cannabis use, they get advice from cannabis dispensaries, friends, and from the internet,[3] none of which are optimal resources for medical advice.

Researching cannabis use on the internet can be a daunting task, even for savvy consumers. In the U.S., the public was subject to decades of misinformation and research bias that shaped the public’s perception of cannabis use and of cannabis consumers (public opinion about cannabis was low throughout the twentieth century. In fact, in 1990, only about 17% of respondents of the Gallup Poll favored cannabis legalization—the same number as 1969, the first year they asked about cannabis). It wasn’t too long ago when people were terrified of cannabis. As president, Reagan called cannabis “the most dangerous drug in the U.S.”[4] It was billed as highly addictive and destructive. It was a gateway drug.[5] Conversely, if you spend 10 minutes on the internet today, you might think that cannabis cures everything.[6] [7] Informed healthcare professionals can help their patients reconcile these vastly opposing perspectives by providing some insight about cannabis history and policy, and more importantly, by explaining some of the science of cannabis use, especially around its safety and efficacy.

Of course, no patient should be getting their healthcare advice from the internet or from a retail employee. Cannabis health care is a responsibility that must be embraced by healthcare professionals and organizations, and that acceptance begins with a commitment to standardized clinical cannabis education.

Standard cannabis education ensures that healthcare professionals are equipped with foundational knowledge about dosing, routes of administration, side effects, drug interactions, titration, and other facets of cannabinoid medicines. Currently, most medical schools fail to teach their students about the endocannabinoid system or about cannabinoid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics[8] (the number frequently cited is 13% of medical schools mention the ECS in their curricula, which is the outcome of independent research from Dr. David B. Allen who, in 2016, surveyed over 100 accredited U.S. medical schools).

Medical schools will eventually begin to incorporate information about the ECS into their curricula—it’s too vast a physiological system and too important to continue to ignore. In the meanwhile, healthcare professionals will need to continue getting this information through the emerging programs and through self-study (higher education is the perfect place for this type of learning, incidentally, as comprehensive programs can implement specific strategies to ensure a deep learning of program and course objectives). Of course, foundational education alone does not necessarily equate with clinical competency, but education is a critical first step that can help clinicians be confident and competent when they address cannabis patients.

Beyond this foundational knowledge, clinicians must also obtain an understanding about the types of products that available in their state or community. The patchwork of state cannabis laws combined with decades of federal prohibition has resulted in very few national cannabis brands. Every state will have varied cannabis products, and cannabis product selection is bewildering for most patients. There are hundreds of products with varying potencies, multiple cannabinoids to select from, varying terpene profiles, and multiple routes of administrations. Imagine walking into a fully stocked pharmacy, hoping to treat an illness, condition, or disease, and being told to pick out your own products, with no guidance or support from a qualified clinician. That’s the model that currently exists for most cannabis patients.

In 2021, the adult-use markets and medical-only states in the U.S. combined to sell nearly $25 billion worth of cannabis products, which means that US consumers spend more on cannabis products than on energy drinks, milk, and orange juice (for comparison, the US spends nearly 100 billion on beer annually). [9] Furthermore, Whitney Economics calculates that the 2021 total cannabis sales figure—again, just under $25 billion—represents about only 25% of the total potential US cannabis market.[10] In other words, 75% of the nation’s cannabis demand is still being met by illicit growers and sellers. As more states legalize medical and adult use cannabis programs, an increasing number of patients will have access to legal cannabis products.

Patients are using cannabis. Healthcare professionals will treat these patients. It’s now imperative that clinicians begin to understand cannabis pharmacology, especially in the context of impending federal cannabis reform. Cannabis is a tool. It should be in every clinician’s toolbox, and clinicians must know how to properly wield that tool.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Green TV. Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal for recreational or medical use. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/16/americans-overwhelmingly-say-marijuana-should-be-legal-for-recreational-or-medical-use/. Published April 16, 2021. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[2] Boehnke KF, Litinas E, Worthing B, Conine L, Kruger DJ. Communication between healthcare providers and medical cannabis patients regarding referral and medication substitution – journal of cannabis research. BioMed Central. https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-021-00058-0. Published January 24, 2021. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[3] Salter A, Cutter G, Marrie RA, et al. Sources of cannabis information and medical guidance for neurologic use. Neurology Clinical Practice. https://cp.neurology.org/content/12/2/102. Published April 1, 2022. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[4] Moya-Smith S. Marijuana legalization must make war on Drugs’ victims whole before companies profit. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/marijuana-legalization-must-make-war-drugs-victims-whole-companies-profit-ncna981391. Published March 11, 2019. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[5] This is your brain on drugs. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Your_Brain_on_Drugs. Published July 31, 2022. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[6] Freedman D. Pop culture says CBD cures everything-here’s what scientists say. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/2019/09/06/cbd-oil-miracle-drug-science-1456629.html. Published August 29, 2019. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[7] Velasquez-manoff M. Can CBD really do all that? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/14/magazine/cbd-cannabis-cure.html. Published May 15, 2019. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[8] Hartley M. Why isn’t the endocannabinoid system taught in medical schools? Leafly. https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/cannabis-endocannabinoid-system-in-medical-school. Published July 28, 2020. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[9] Barcott B, Whitney B. The US cannabis industry now supports 428,059 jobs. Leafly. https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/cannabis-jobs-report. Published February 23, 2022. Accessed August 15, 2022.

[10] Barcott B, Whitney B. The US cannabis industry now supports 428,059 jobs. Leafly. https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/cannabis-jobs-report. Published February 23, 2022. Accessed August 15, 2022.

 

Oregon State Research Shows Hemp Compounds Prevent Coronavirus from Entering Human Cells

by Leave a Comment

OREGON: Hemp compounds identified by Oregon State University research via a chemical screening technique invented at OSU show the ability to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human cells.

Findings of the study led by Richard van Breemen, a researcher with Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center, College of Pharmacy and Linus Pauling Institute, were published today in the Journal of Natural Products.

Hemp, known scientifically as Cannabis sativa, is a source of fiber, food and animal feed, and multiple hemp extracts and compounds are added to cosmetics, body lotions, dietary supplements and food, van Breemen said.

Van Breemen and collaborators, including scientists at Oregon Health & Science University, found that a pair of cannabinoid acids bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, blocking a critical step in the process the virus uses to infect people.

The compounds are cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, CBDA, and the spike protein is the same drug target used in COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapy. A drug target is any molecule critical to the process a disease follows, meaning its disruption can thwart infection or disease progression.

“These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts,” van Breemen said. “They are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans. And our research showed the hemp compounds were equally effective against variants of SARS-CoV-2, including variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, and variant B.1.351, first detected in South Africa.”

Those two variants are also known the alpha and beta variant, respectively.

Characterized by crown-like protrusions on its outer surface, SARS-CoV-2 features RNA strands that encode its four main structural proteins – spike, envelope, membrane and nucleocapsid – as well as 16 nonstructural proteins and several “accessory” proteins, van Breemen said.

“Any part of the infection and replication cycle is a potential target for antiviral intervention, and the connection of the spike protein’s receptor binding domain to the human cell surface receptor ACE2 is a critical step in that cycle,” he said. “That means cell entry inhibitors, like the acids from hemp, could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and also to shorten infections by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells. They bind to the spike proteins so those proteins can’t bind to the ACE2 enzyme, which is abundant on the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organs.”

Using compounds that block virus-receptor interaction has been helpful for patients with other viral infections, he notes, including HIV-1 and hepatitis.

Van Breemen, Ruth Muchiri of the College of Pharmacy and Linus Pauling Institute and five scientists from OHSU identified the two cannabinoid acids via a mass spectrometry-based screening technique invented in van Breemen’s laboratory. Van Breemen’s team screened a range of botanicals used as dietary supplements including red clover, wild yam, hops and three species of licorice.

An earlier paper in the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry described tailoring the novel method, affinity selection mass spectrometry, to finding drugs that would target the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

In the later research, lab tests showed that cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid prevented infection of human epithelial cells by the coronavirus spike protein and prevented entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells.

“These compounds can be taken orally and have a long history of safe use in humans,” van Breemen said. “They have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2. CBDA and CBGA are produced by the hemp plant as precursors to CBD and CBG, which are familiar to many consumers. However, they are different from the acids and are not contained in hemp products.”

Van Breemen explains that affinity selection mass spectrometery, which he abbreviates to AS-MS, involves incubating a drug target like the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with a mixture of possible ligands – things that might bind to it – such as a botanical extract, in this case hemp extract.

The ligand-receptor complexes are then filtered from the non-binding molecules using one of several methods.

“We identified several cannabinoid ligands and ranked them by affinity to the spike protein,” van Breemen said. “The two cannabinoids with the highest affinities for the spike protein were CBDA and CGBA, and they were confirmed to block infection.

“One of the primary concerns in the pandemic is the spread of variants, of which there are many, and B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 are among the most widespread and concerning,” he added. “These variants are well known for evading antibodies against early lineage SARS-CoV-2, which is obviously concerning given that current vaccination strategies rely on the early lineage spike protein as an antigen. Our data show CBDA and CBGA are effective against the two variants we looked at, and we hope that trend will extend to other existing and future variants.”

Van Breemen said resistant variants could still arise amid widespread use of cannabinoids but that the combination of vaccination and CBDA/CBGA treatment should make for a much more challenging environment for SARS-CoV-2.

“Our earlier research reported on the discovery of another compound, one from licorice, that binds to the spike protein too,” he said. “However, we did not test that compound, licochalcone A, for activity against the live virus yet. We need new funding for that.”

Timothy Bates, Jules Weinstein, Hans Leier, Scotland Farley and Fikadu Tafesse of OHSU also contributed to the cannabinoid study.

Curt’s Cannabis Corner: Cannabis for Inflammation

by Leave a Comment

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 in the multi-media educational series Curt’s Cannabis Corner from technical writer Curt Robbins at Higher Learning LV and MJNews Network.

This series is intended for cannabis and hemp professionals—and the enterprise organizations that employ them—who wish to gain a better understanding of the nuanced biochemistry, volatile business environment, and detailed regulatory oversight of this newly legal herb.

This week, readers learn about how cannabis and its constituent molecules may be of therapeutic value to humans—particularly in the treatment of conditions based in inflammation—from Sunil Pai, MD, a veteran clinical practitioner.

Pai is an internationally recognized expert in integrative medicine based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and author of the critically acclaimed 2016 book An Inflammation Nation. He is a lecturer and a contributing author to a number of medical textbooks and scientific journals.

Pai is a practicing doctor who combines an evidence-based approach with 20 years of clinical experience. Each year, he educates thousands of physicians and medical professionals about the nuanced biochemistry involved in the administration of hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes for the treatment of a variety of disease states and conditions.

CURT’S

CANNABIS

CORNER 

Cannabis

for

Inflammation

By Curt Robbins

In August 2021, Higher Learning LV conducted the following exclusive interview with Pai.

Higher Learning LV: “As a medical expert on the management of inflammation and author of the 2016 book An Inflammation Nation, how can the cannabis/hemp plant species help humans in terms of managing their inflammation and achieving improved health?”

Sunil Pai, MD: “The use of cannabinoids from cannabis and hemp can help with the self-regulatory process of lowering inflammation through a variety of biological mechanisms. These include stimulation of certain endocannabinoid system receptors, such as CB1 and CB2, in many organs. These include the brain, all bones and muscles, the GI tract, and many other areas. Cannabinoids provide immunomodulation by repairing and protecting the tissues in these organs. This, in turn and over time, can balance inflammatory conditions and achieve homeostasis, which is critical for overall health improvement.”

HLLV:  “CBD is being touted for treatment of a range of disease states and ailments. Is limiting one’s therapeutic viewpoint to a single phytomolecule wise?”

SP: “Limiting one’s consumption to one phytochemical has both benefits and disadvantages. The benefit is that, sometimes, using a single molecule can provide a stronger clinical response due to the ability to achieve a more potent and focused dose.

“However, the disadvantage is a lack of biochemical balance. Like a pharmaceutical, CBD can feature side effects and a relatively small therapeutic window before side effects begin to occur. The pharmaceutical industry likes single phytomolecules due to the ability to patent them and own the extraction process or resulting compound. It also allows them to make a medical claim because drug studies employ only single molecules. Like pharmaceuticals, the cannabis and hemp industries also like single molecules such as CBD. They allow them to advertise a new product and increase SKUs with new indirect claims to the general public.”

HLLV: “What other cannabinoids, beyond CBD, should wellness professionals and patients be paying attention to, Dr. Pai?”

SP: “That’s a great question. Here’s a few phytocannabinoids that have my attention currently and that I’m integrating into my clinical practice:

  • CBC (cannabichromene): Possibly helpful for brain health via support of the process of neurogenesis. Reduces inflammation and may target more CB2 receptors in gastrointestinal conditions (such as Crohns or IBS) and neuropathy.

  • CBG (cannabigerol): Interacts with both CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain and indirectly elsewhere. May reduce inflammation and tumor growth.

  • CBN (cannabinol): Possible sedative and anti-inflammatory effects.”

HLLV: “There’s been plenty of talk recently about the THC isomer delta-8. What are your thoughts on the medicinal efficacy and utility of this molecule that is being adopted by many patients and lifestyle consumers, especially in states where delta-9 THC remains prohibited?”

SP: “Many companies are providing delta-8 products for two primary reasons. First, the public wants something close to THC, with aspects that deliver euphoria and pain control, with less feeling of being ‘high.’ This is particularly true in states where delta-9 remains illegal.

“Delta-8 THC is commonly called ‘weed lite’ or ‘diet weed’ because, for most consumers, it features lower potency and fewer side effects than delta-9 THC. Just as important, the industry is now oversaturated with CBD products, which is causing prices to drop really low. To remain competitive, cannabis and hemp companies need new product segments featuring new items.

“Unfortunately, to obtain adequate amounts of delta-8 from hemp, a process of synthesis must take place. This puts delta-8 in a grey zone in terms of regulation.

“Many delta-8 products on the market have been found to contain either delta-9 THC or other adulterants and chemicals. Until better regulations ensure safety and quality and its legal status is clarified, I prefer not to recommend delta-8 to my patients or colleagues. As you are aware, when it comes to hemp, I prefer to use the plant holistically, taking advantage of as many of the entourage mechanisms of these efficacious compounds as possible.”

HLLV: “Terpenes are often hailed for their medicinal properties, including their anti-inflammatory prowess. What are your thoughts about the usefulness of terpenes, particularly in the realm of their effectiveness for treating inflammation?”

SP: “I like the use of terpenes—either that occur naturally in the product or that are added. However, our knowledge of terpenes is still in its infancy. We understand the range of different types of terpenes and, to a certain degree, the effects derived from them. Some are anti-inflammatory, which I naturally appreciate. I believe we should strive to preserve the natural terpenes that occur in loose-leaf cannabis and hemp flower samples and other products. We also have the opportunity to enhance CBD with terpenes, especially those that possess anti-inflammatory effects.

“That said, I must stress that controlling terpene dosage remains a major challenge. Terpenes are sold to manufacturers and processors for addition to their CBD products. However, this must be performed with expertise and caution.

“Terpenes can be dangerous; some consumers are allergic to certain terpenes! When companies in the industry use them, many lack formulation and manufacturing expertise and treat terpenes as merely another casual ingredient. With the growth of the use of terpenes in CBD and other cannabis and hemp products, there is increased danger of adverse responses from some patient and consumer populations to these compounds.

“Unfortunately, many manufacturers and distributors are focused on selling products in bulk and are not seeking safety and true medicinal efficacy. As an integrative medicine physician, I always consider how we can best use natural products like CBD safely and with maximum efficacy. If used properly, terpenes enhance the overall benefits of the other compounds, both directly and indirectly.”

HLLV: “Thanks for your time and sharing your deep clinical experience with our readers, Dr. Pai.”

SP: “Certainly. Thank you for the opportunity to help clarify the real science of how the phytocannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis may aid some patients and lifestyle consumers.”

WATCH THE FULL PODCAST ON MARIJUANA CHANNEL ONE

Curt’s Cannabis Corner: CBD For Epilepsy

by 2 Comments

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 2 of Curt’s Cannabis Corner, an education series from technical writer Curt Robbins at Higher Learning LV and MJNews Network intended for cannabis and hemp professionals—and the enterprise organizations that employ them—who wish to gain a better understanding of the nuanced biochemistry, volatile business environment, and detailed regulatory oversight of this newly legal herb. 

This week, readers learn about the recent scientific investigative work of Dr. Nicolas Schlienz, a research scientist and clinical psychologist. Schlienz was recently appointed to the position of Research Director for Realm of Caring, a pioneering non-profit cannabinoid research organization based in Colorado Springs with ties to the popular vertically integrated brand Charlotte’s Web.  

CURT’S

CANNABIS

CORNER 

CBD

For

Epilepsy

 

By Curt Robbins

 

 

Dr. Nicolas Schlienz & CBD for Epilepsy

In July 2021, Schlienz coauthored a study entitled “Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Evaluation of Cannabinoid (CBD) Product Use and Health Among People with Epilepsy” that was published in the peer-reviewed journal Epilepsy & Behavior. 

“This study represents a refreshing collaboration of scientists, clinicians, patients, and advocates,” said Jay Salpekar, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at Johns Hopkins University. Salpekar said that the study affirms that “cannabinoid products have value in the treatment of epilepsy—as well as associated neuropsychiatric conditions.”

The study observed that cannabis “and select chemicals found in the cannabis plant have received significant clinical attention as evidence accumulates suggesting potential utility for varied health conditions.” It noted that multiple recent studies have “demonstrated the safety and efficacy of CBD in the reduction of seizures for several specific epilepsy syndromes.”

The study stated that the efficacy of CBD for those who suffer epilepsy goes beyond seizure control. “CBD products may prove valuable for their effects on psychosocial function and psychiatric health,” stating that a variety of behavior issues, including psychiatric disorders, are “overrepresented among people with epilepsy.”   

This study is of importance because it was conducted on human participants, not in test tubes or on animal subjects. Participants were “predominantly Caucasian (74 percent) with a roughly even split by gender (55 percent female), an average of 21 years old (51 percent were under 18), and the majority (90 percent) had no history of non-medicinal (‘recreational’) cannabis use.” 

93 percent of the study participants reported epilepsy as their primary medical condition. “The other seven percent reported epilepsy secondary to cancer, autoimmune conditions, neuropsychiatric conditions, chronic pain, insomnia/sleep disorders, or other conditions.” 

How They Did It 

The study participants employed a variety of cannabis-based products in the treatment of their epilepsy, including inflammation-reducing CBD, psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and several other cannabinoids that spanned anti-inflammatory cannabigerol (CBG), relaxant and sedative cannabinol (CBN), anti-nausea agent cannabidiolic acid (CBDA; the acidic precursor to CBD), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV; the varin version of THC), which is known to reduce appetite. 

“For purpose of analysis, it is assumed that these participants were using an artisanal CBD product. A subset of artisanal CBD users reported also using known THC-dominant products containing high concentrations of both CBD and THC or products in which the primary chemical constituent was a minor cannabinoid such as CBG, CBN, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A), CBD-A, or THC-V.”

The study also found the safety profile of CBD to be acceptable for patients and consumers, particularly for those using it to treat epilepsy. “Among the 280 baseline artisanal CBD users, the majority did not report an adverse effect.” 

What They Found

For those who suffer epilepsy and are seeking relief from CBD, the results of this scientific investigation reveal potentially limited efficacy of this popular cannabinoid for seizure management specifically. “No group differences were observed in seizure control based on self-reported number of past month seizures,” concluded the study’s authors.

Elaborated the scientists: “Seizure control did not differ based on artisanal CBD product use in this study. This may be related to a number of factors, including those that could not be controlled in [an] observational setting.”

Significant CBD Benefits Identified

However, the researchers noted that participants enjoyed a range of significant benefits from CBD, including “generally higher quality of life, lower psychiatric symptom scores, and improved sleep.” The study also reported that “artisanal CBD users” displayed considerably “better epilepsy medication tolerability.”    

Concluded the study, “Compared with controls, artisanal CBD users had greater health satisfaction.” It also found that the CBD-using epilepsy patients who participated in the research displayed “lower anxiety and depression.”

Despite its efficacy for many of the symptoms that accompany epilepsy, including psychological disorders like anxiety, depression, and insomnia, this particular study did not find that the cannabinoid CBD lowered the incidence or severity of seizure activity as experienced by those with epilepsy. 

Based on the observational and participant self-report nature of the study, the scientists noted that their results may be influenced by the loss of control that is inherent in observation research of this type. 

New Study Finds People Turned to Cannabis During the Pandemic to Feel Happier

by Leave a Comment

COLORADO: A 2021 survey finds a positive correlation between the number of COVID-19 cases and demand for medical cannabis; more than half of patients said they used cannabis “to feel happy.”

— 55% of medical cannabis patients primarily use to feel ‘happy’

— Patient desire to feel ‘happy’ via medical cannabis use grew 46% in the past year

— Study suggests exogenous shocks like COVID-19, elections, protests and riots positively influence medical cannabis demand

Did the stressors of COVID-19 drive more Americans to use medical cannabis as an alternative tool for managing their mental health? A new national study exploring this question found a positive correlation between national demand for medical cannabis and the national number of COVID-19 cases; in other words, as cases increased, so did medical cannabis use. And whereas the most common reason for obtaining a medical card has historically been for chronic pain, the majority of medical cannabis patients who applied for medical cards over the past year cited psychological purposes, with 55% of patients saying their main reason for using cannabis was “to feel ‘happy.”

These findings are part of a national study conducted by Veriheal, the healthcare enterprise behind the nation’s largest medical marijuana application platform, in partnership with graduate research scholars from the London School of Economics, University of Southern California and University of Maryland; and the CREA (Cultivating Research Education and Advocacy) Group, a business development and research firm dedicated to psychoactive drugs like cannabinoids, psychedelics, and entheogens. The findings were officially presented to the American Chemical Society, a congressionally chartered non-profit leading research in the global chemical enterprise, at their April 2021 national conference.

Conducted between January 2020 and March 2021, the study investigated medical cannabis interest and adoption by desired effect across region, sex and age group, in relation to COVID-19 cases in America as reported by the official COVID-19 CDC data tracker.

Patient data was obtained from surveys on the Veriheal telemedicine platform, which connects prospective cannabis patients to state-certified cannabis doctors to facilitate and streamline the medical marijuana (MMJ) card application process.

How CBD Can Help with Skin Problems

by Leave a Comment

Anyone who’s suffered throughout their life with uncooperative skin has probably looked at many solutions to their troubles. Once they’ve exhausted other more obvious solutions, they may then cast a jaded eye towards skin cream that includes CBD as a significant ingredient.

What they may not understand clearly is whether a cream containing CBD will be helpful to them or not. Therefore, this article is aimed at providing some clarity on this issue.

One Itch or Three?

While it’s natural for the skin to itch when it is healing, it’s not as common or comfortable when that’s not the root cause. In which case, you’re trying to not scratch the area, but the itching is driving you’re a bit nutty!

If you’ve already tried antihistamine tablets and it didn’t do anything for you, then perhaps a cream with CBD will be worth trying now?

How will CBD help in this situation? Good question. What it does is disable the signal that’s communicating from the brain to your skin to create the itchy sensation. As a result, it’s felt less or removed entirely.

Protect the Skin from Damage

When out and about in the spring and summer months, being exposed to sunlight is almost inevitable. UV rays can cause cellular damage to the skin that’s irreversible and will eventually catch up with you. This is why sunbathing is detrimental, no matter how attractive a tan is.

The use of CBD cream can assist in preventing free radicals from UV rays that cause damage to the skin. When there’s no sun cream to hand, this alternative is great.

Remedy for Skin Breakouts

Chronic skin problems including minor to major breakouts are a real bugbear. Even if you’re a woman and able to cover over them with makeup, it’s still far from perfect. It’s also possible that the makeup will cause further skin irritation that won’t help either.

CBD cream helps with skin issues because it can reduce the build-up of oils on or below the surface that cause blocked pores in the first place. For people who suffer from an excess of oil on the skin that frequently creates fresh skin dilemmas, the use of CBD creams can reduce the frequency and severity of skin problems.

Avoid Aging as Rapidly

Avoiding aging is important to all of us. While we cannot stop the passage of time, we can at least try to stop our skin from looking significantly older.

CBD contains many antioxidants that shield the skin from harm including environmental-related damage. UV rays and air pollution are prevented from prematurely aging the skin when the cream is applied. Dark areas, fine lines, and pronounced wrinkles may be delayed as a result.

While no treatment is a cure-all for the way that the environment, pollution, and UV rays can ravage the skin, CBD cream provides added defense against them. Along with an effective cleaning and cleansing regimen, it can prove effective in keeping the skin looking its best.

 

 

Cannabis Reduces Blood Pressure In Older Adults, According To Ben-Gurion University Of The Negev Researchers

by Leave a Comment

ISRAEL:  A new discovery by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and its affiliated Soroka University Medical Center shows that medical cannabis may reduce blood pressure in older adults.

The study, published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, is the first of its kind to focus on the effect of cannabis on blood pressure, heart rate and metabolic parameters in adults 60 and above with hypertension.

“Older adults are the fastest growing group of medical cannabis users, yet evidence on cardiovascular safety for this population is scarce,” says Dr. Ran Abuhasira of the BGU Faculty of Health Sciences, one of Israel’s leading medical faculties, and the BGU-Soroka Cannabis Clinical Research Institute. “This study is part of our ongoing effort to provide clinical research on the actual physiological effects of cannabis over time.”

Patients were evaluated using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, ECG, blood tests, and body measurements ─both before and three months after initiating cannabis therapy.

In the study, researchers found a significant reduction in 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, with the lowest point occurring three hours after ingesting cannabis either orally via oil extracts or by smoking. Patients showed reductions in blood pressure in both daytime and nighttime, with more significant changes at night.

The BGU researchers theorize that the relief from pain, the indication for prescription cannabis in most patients, may also have contributed to a reduction in blood pressure.

“Cannabis research is in its early stages and BGU is at the forefront of evaluating clinical use based on scientific studies,” says Doug Seserman, chief executive officer of American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. “This new study is one of several that has been published recently by BGU on the medicinal benefits of cannabis.”

Additional researchers who participated in the study include: Prof. Victor Novack, director of the BGU-Soroka Cannabis Clinical Research Institute and BGU-Soroka Clinical Research Center and Research Authority; Prof. Yosef Haviv, director of the Department of Nephrology at Soroka; Prof. Merav Leiba, Prof. Adi Leiba and Dr. Larisa Ryvo of the Assuta Ashdod Academic Medical Center.

Over Half Of Cannabis Users With Parkinson’s Disease Report Clinical Benefits

by 1 Comment

A survey in Germany found over 8% of patients with Parkinson’s disease are using cannabis products and more than half experienced beneficial clinical effects, reports the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease

NETHERLANDS:  With medicinal cannabis now legalized in many parts of the world, there is growing interest in its use to alleviate symptoms of many illnesses including Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to results of a survey of PD patients in Germany in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, over 8% of patients with PD reported using cannabis products and more than half of those users (54%) reported a beneficial clinical effect.

Cannabis products containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound of cannabis) can be prescribed in Germany when previous therapies are unsuccessful or not tolerated, and where cannabis can be expected with not a very unlikely chance to relieve disabling symptoms. CBD (pure cannabidiol, derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of the marijuana plant) is available without a prescription from pharmacies and on the internet.

“Medical cannabis was legally approved in Germany in 2017 when approval was given for therapy-resistant symptoms in severely affected patients independent of diagnosis and without clinical evidence-based data,” explained lead investigator Prof. Dr. med. Carsten Buhmann, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. “PD patients fulfilling these criteria are entitled to be prescribed medical cannabis, but there are few data about which type of cannabinoid and which route of administration might be promising for which PD patient and which symptoms. We also lack information about the extent to which the PD community is informed about medicinal cannabis and whether they have tried cannabis and, if so, with what result.”

Investigators aimed to assess patient perceptions of medicinal cannabis as well as evaluate the experiences of patients already using cannabis products. They performed a nationwide, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey among members of the German Parkinson Association (Deutsche Parkinson Vereinigung e.V.), which is the largest consortium of PD patients in German-speaking countries with nearly 21,000 members. Questionnaires were sent out in April 2019 with the association’s membership journal and were also distributed in the investigators’ clinic.

Over 1,300 questionnaires were analyzed; results showed that interest in the PD community in medical cannabis was high, but knowledge about different types of products was limited. Fifty-one percent of respondents were aware of the legality of medicinal cannabis, and 28% were aware of the various routes of administration (inhaling versus oral administration), but only 9% were aware of the difference between THC and CBD.

More than 8% of patients were already using cannabinoids and more than half of these users (54%) reported that it had a beneficial clinical effect. The overall tolerability was good. Over 40% of users reported that it helped manage pain and muscle cramps, and more than 20% of users reported a reduction of stiffness (akinesia), freezing, tremor, depression, anxiety, and restless legs. Patients reported that inhaled cannabis products containing THC were more efficient in treating stiffness than oral products containing CBD but were slightly less well tolerated.

Patients using cannabis tended to be younger, living in large cities, and more aware of the legal and clinical aspects of medicinal cannabis. Sixty-five percent of non-users were interested in using medicinal cannabis, but lack of knowledge and fear of side effects were reported as main reasons for not trying it.

“Our data confirm that PD patients have a high interest in treatment with medicinal cannabis but lacked knowledge about how to take it and especially the differences between the two main cannabinoids, THC and CBD,” noted Prof. Dr. med. Buhmann. “Physicians should consider these aspects when advising their patients about treatment with medicinal cannabis. The data reported here may help physicians decide which patients could benefit, which symptoms could be addressed, and which type of cannabinoid and route of administration might be suitable.”

“Cannabis intake might be related to a placebo effect because of high patient expectations and conditioning, but even that can be considered as a therapeutic effect. It has to be stressed, though, that our findings are based on subjective patient reports and that clinically appropriate studies are urgently needed,” he concluded.

Bastiaan R. Bloem, MD, PhD, Director, Radboudumc Center of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and Co-Editor-in Chief of the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, added: “These findings are interesting in that they confirm a widespread interest among patients in the use of cannabis as a potential treatment for people living with PD. It is important to emphasize that more research is needed before cannabis can be prescribed as a treatment, and that guidelines currently recommend against the use of cannabis, even as self-medication, because the efficacy is not well established, and because there are safety concerns (adverse effects include among others sedation and hallucinations). As such, the present paper mainly serves to emphasize the need for carefully controlled clinical trials to further establish both the efficacy and safety of cannabis treatment.”

NIH Study Suggests Using Cannabis While Trying To Conceive May Reduce Pregnancy Chances

by Leave a Comment

MARYLAND:  Women who use marijuana could have a more difficult time conceiving a child than women who do not use marijuana, suggests a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. Marijuana use among the women’s partners—which could have influenced conception rates—was not studied. The researchers were led by Sunni L. Mumford, Ph.D., of the Epidemiology Branch in NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The study appears in Human Reproduction.

The women were part of a larger group trying to conceive after one or two prior miscarriages. Women who said they used cannabis products—marijuana or hashish—in the weeks before pregnancy, or who had positive urine tests for cannabis use, were around 40% less likely to conceive per monthly cycle than women who did not use cannabis. The authors noted that although the findings suggest cannabis could affect women’s fertility, they should be tempered with caution as the study observed a relatively small number of cannabis users. However, the authors say their results suggest that women trying to conceive should exercise caution with cannabis use until more definitive evidence is available.

The researchers analyzed data from a broader study of more than 1,200 women ages 18 to 40 with one or two pregnancy losses. The women participated in the study for up to six monthly cycles while attempting pregnancy and throughout pregnancy if conception occurred. After enrolling in the study, the women responded to a questionnaire asking if they had used marijuana, pot, or hashish in the past 12 months, with responses ranging from never, rarely, occasionally, sometimes, often, to daily. Each woman also provided urine samples for analysis when they first entered the study and after six months if they did not conceive or at the time of positive pregnancy test if they conceived.

A total of 62 women (5%) either had a positive urine test or responded that they had used cannabis before conception.

For each monthly cycle, women who had used cannabis while trying to conceive were 41% less likely to conceive than non-users. Similarly, a smaller proportion of cannabis users than non-users became pregnant during the study—42% versus 66%. The authors found no differences in miscarriage rates between users and non-users who had achieved pregnancy.

The authors noted that, compared to non-users, cannabis users also had differences in reproductive hormones involved in ovulation. These differences could potentially have influenced their likelihood of conception. Specifically, users had higher levels of luteinizing hormone and a higher proportion of luteinizing hormone to follicle stimulating hormone.

The authors also noted that animal studies had found that cannabis use could alter the lining of the uterus, making it less likely an embryo to implant and establish a pregnancy. Until more information is available, the authors said, women trying to become pregnant should be aware that cannabis could potentially affect their pregnancy chances.

Reference
Mumford SL et al. Cannabis use while trying to conceive: a prospective cohort study evaluating associations with fecundability, live birth, and pregnancy loss. Human Reproduction. 2020. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deaa355

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD leads research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. For more information, visit https://www.nichd.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit https://www.nih.gov.