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Bulletin .

A newsletter about cannabis and cannabinoids as medicine

2006
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    IACM-Bulletin of December 24, 2006

    🌐 Switzerland — Parliament adopts the possibility of certificates of exemption for the medical use of cannabis

    According to a proposal by the Health Committee of the parliament (Nationalrat) of 4 May 2006 the Swiss Parliament decided on 20 December to relax prohibition of the medical use of natural cannabis products. The decision allows the Health Ministry to issue exemptions for the medical use of cannabis and the approval of cannabis-based medicines .

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    IACM-Bulletin of December 10, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Moderate cannabis use has a positive effect on treatment for cocaine dependence in patients with comorbid ADHD and cocaine dependence

    According to a study of the New York State Psychiatric Institute moderate/intermittent cannabis users were more successful than other patients in abstaining from cocaine use in a sample of 92 cocaine dependend patients diagnosed with current ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) aged 25 to 51. They participated in a clinical trial of methylphenidate for treatment of ADHD and cocaine dependence in an outpatient setting. The study investigated the effects of cannabis use on treatment retention and abstinence from cocaine.

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    IACM-Bulletin of November 26, 2006

    🌐 Holland — The governments of Canada, Germany and Italy are interested in medical cannabis from the Netherlands

    According to a letter by Mr. H. Hoogervorst, the Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands, to the Dutch Parliament of 31 October the Canadian, the German and the Italian governments are interested in medical cannabis produced under supervision of the Health Ministry and sold in pharmacies of the country for distribution to patients in their countries.

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    IACM-Bulletin of November 12, 2006

    🌐 USA — Narrow defeat of a measure that would have legalized the medical use of cannabis in South Dakota

    A measure that would have made South Dakota the 12th state with a medical cannabis law got a support by only 48 per cent of voters at the elections on 7 November. This is the first defeat of a medical cannabis measure presented to voters in the United States. Measures that would have legalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis by adults in Colorado and Nevada got support by 40 and 44 per cent, respectively.

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    IACM-Bulletin of October 29, 2006

    🌐 Italy/Switzerland — Governments plan legal use of cannabis for medicinal purposes

    The Italian government has decided that in the future cannabis may be used for the treatment of pain. The parliament has still to hold a vote on this issue. The meassure has "nothing to do with joints" Health Minister Livia Turco stated. The reform can only become into effect after the House of Representatives and the Senate have approved it. The opposition is devided on this question. While the right-wing nationalists accused the government to legalize a soft drug, Chiara Moroni of the party "Forza Italia" of opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi supported the decision of the cabinet.

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    IACM-Bulletin of October 15, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Sativex effective in spasticity and bladder problems of patients with multiple sclerosis

    Results of two studies with the cannabis extract Sativex conducted in the United Kingdom were presented at the 22nd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), which took place in Madrid, Spain, from 27 - 30 September.

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    IACM-Bulletin of October 1, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Nabilone reduces pain in patients with spasticity

    Researchers of the University of Innsbruck, Austria, conducted a crossover study with the synthetic cannabinoid nabilone in 13 patients who suffered from chronic pain related to spasticity in chronic upper motor neuron syndrome. Participants received both 1 mg nabilone per day in one treatment phase and a placebo in another phase. 11 patients completed the study. Nabilone caused a significant decrease of pain, while spasticity, motor function and activities of daily living did not change. Side effects were generally low. Of the two patients who did not complete the study, one patient experienced moderate transient weakness of the lower limbs and one experienced an acute relapse of multiple sclerosis.

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    IACM-Bulletin of September 17, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Cannabis use improves outcome of antiviral treatment in patients with hepatitis C

    Drug addicts who are infected with hepatitis C virus may continue their medication until the planned treatment end more often if they use cannabis and may have a better treatment outcome, scientists of the University of California reported in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Cannabis may help them tolerate the side effects of the antivirals, which can clear the virus but often cause fevers, chills, and muscle and joint aches, the researchers said.

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    IACM-Bulletin of September 3, 2006

    🏷️ Science — New phase III trials of GW Pharmaceuticals in Europe and North America, including for this first time in the USA

    It is expected that phase III clinical trials with Sativex, a cannabis extract produced by the British company GW Pharmaceuticals, will begin in the United States later this year. GW was supported by the consulting firm Apjohn Group, hired by GW in early 2005 to help bring the drug closer to clinical trials in the US. Current trials are targeted at patients with advanced cancer whose pain has not been relieved by opioid medications like morphine, according to GW.

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    IACM-Bulletin of August 20, 2006

    🌐 Belgium/Spain — Cannabis clubs in Spain legal, first formation of a club in Belgium

    Recently several charitable cannabis clubs were founded in Spain, whose lawfulness was now confirmed by courts in Catalonia and the Basque region. People join to grow cannabis together and distribute it to members of the club at cost price. Only members have access to the growing rooms and the cannabis. In Spain trade with cannabis is prohibited, but possession for personal use is legal. A court in Bilbao, the biggest city of the Basque region, cleared four defendants of a cannabis club with 66 members from the prosecution of illegal cultivation of 150 kg of cannabis (fresh whole plants that resulted in 17.4 kg dried cannabis). 39 members use cannabis for medical purposes.

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    IACM-Bulletin of August 6, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Nabilone effective in the treatment of chronic pain in clinical study

    Physicians at a hospital in Vienna, Austria, conducted a placebo-controlled clinical study with nabilone in 30 patients who suffered from chronic therapy-resistant pain. During a 14 week period patients received nabilone and placebo each for four weeks in addition to their standard medication. Participants chose the dosage of the study drug themselves, between 1 and 4 capsules corresponding to 0.25-1 mg nabilone or placebo per day. In the following 16 weeks patients were allowed to freely choose their prefered drug (test drug A or B).

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    IACM-Bulletin of July 23, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Low doses of THC and cannabis ineffective in appetite and weight loss due to cancer in large clinical study

    Results of a clinical study on the effects of THC and an oral cannabis extract (Cannador) on anorexia and weight loss in cancer patients conducted in 25 study centres in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands in 1999 until 2002 was published now. Recruitment of patients was stopped in 2002 after an interim analysis showed that there were no relevant differences between patients who had received 5 mg THC daily in a cannabis extract, 5 mg isolated THC or a placebo with regard to appetite and quality of life after six weeks of therapy.

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    IACM-Bulletin of July 9, 2006

    🏷️ Science — THC tested against brain tumour in pilot clinical study

    Results of a clinical study with THC in nine brain cancer patients conducted in a hospital on Tenerife, Spain, were published in the British Journal of Cancer. Patients suffered from a gioblastoma, a very aggressive brain tumour, and had previously failed standard therapy (surgery and radiotherapy). Median survival was 24 weeks. Two patients survived nearly one year.

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    IACM-Bulletin of June 25, 2006

    🌐 Germany — Majority supports medical use of cannabis

    There is widespread support among the German population for the use of natural cannabis products in the medical treatment of the severely ill. A large majority also favours that the costs of treatment with dronabinol, the active component of cannabis, are covered by health insurances. This is the result of a study by the Institute for Opinion Polls Allensbach, which was conducted in June. The highest support was found among the better educated and among supporters of smaller parties, i.e. of the Liberals (FDP, Free Democratic Party), the Greens and the Socialists (Left Party). But also among the respondents who completed secondary school and among devotees of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU/CSU) this proportion was above 70 per cent.

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    IACM-Bulletin of June 11, 2006

    🏷️ Science — THC reduces pain due to fibromyalgia in pilot study

    The effect of oral THC was investigated in nine patients with fibromyalgia in a study at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine of the University Hospital in Mannheim. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome of unknown origin. In the four participants who completed the three-month study pain was reduced by 67 per cent on average. All four experienced a pain reduction by more than 50 per cent.

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    IACM-Bulletin of May 28, 2006

    🏷️ Science — A combination of THC and prochlorperazine effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in women following breast surgery

    Researchers of the University of Arkansas and the Central Arkansas Veterans Hospital System investigated the effects of 5 mg oral THC and 25 mg rectal prochlorperazine on the rate of nausea and vomiting in women following breast surgery under general anaesthesia. The rate of nausea decreased from 59 per cent to 15 per cent and the rate of vomiting from 29 per cent to 3 per cent compared to non-treated patients.

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    IACM-Bulletin of May 14, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Cannabis effective in reducing postoperative pain

    The efficacy and safety of a capsulated cannabis extract (Cannador) to treat postoperative pain was investigated in a multi-centre study of twelve British centres. Cannador is standardized on the content of THC and other cannabinoids. Three single doses (5, 10 and 15 mg THC) were administered after post-surgical patients had decided to stop patient-controlled analgesia and if oral pain treatment was indicated. Patients were allowed to ask for additional pain treatment if the cannabis extract was not effective enough.

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    IACM-Bulletin of April 30, 2006

    🌐 USA — Medicinal drug agency FDA looses credibility after a statement on the medical value of cannabis

    In a statement issued on 20 April the US medicinal drug agency FDA (Food and Drug Administration) said that "no sound scientific studies supported medical use of marijuana for treatment in the United States, and no animal or human data supported the safety or efficacy of marijuana for general medical use."

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    IACM-Bulletin of April 16, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Cannabinoids reduce inflammation of the bowel in animal model

    In a mouse model for inflammatory bowel disease cannabinoids reduced inflammation and diarrhoea. Mice received oil of mustard that caused a severe colitis. Both a CB1 receptor agonist and a CB2 receptor agonist reduced colon shrinkage, colon inflammation, and diarrhoea, with the CB1 receptor agonist being somewhat more effective.

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    IACM-Bulletin of April 2, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Cannabis and THC reduce incontinence in multiple sclerosis in large clinical trial

    Clinical study data published in March 2006 show that both a cannabis extract and isolated THC caused a significant reduction in incontinence compared to placebo. The study was part of a multicentre trial on cannabinoids in 630 multiple sclerosis patients (CAMS study) conducted in the UK, whose main results had already been published in 2004.

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    IACM-Bulletin of March 19, 2006

    🏷️ Science 🌐 UK — Mixed results in study with Sativex in spasticity due to multiple sclerosis

    On 17 March GW Pharmaceuticals reported disappointing results from a phase III trial with the cannabis extract Sativex with 335 people with spasticity due to MS. The company said multiple sclerosis patients who stuck to the trial’s protocols did benefit. But an analysis of all study participants - whether or not they complied to the protocol – found no statistically significant advantage compared with a placebo.

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    IACM-Bulletin of March 5, 2006

    🏷️ Science — Cannabis and THC effective in the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension

    Scientists of the New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York City presented a case report on a woman diagnosed with a longstanding history of idiopathic intracranial hypertension reported improvement of headaches, photosensitivity, transient blindness, enlarged blind spots, and tinnitus after smoking cannabis. All these symptoms and signs, including papilledema (swelling of the optic nerves where they enter the eyes), were associated with increased intracranial pressure. This means that the use of cannabis effectively decreased intracranial pressure. Treatment with THC at a dose of 10 mg twice a day, then reduced to 5 mg twice a day, was also effective.

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    IACM-Bulletin of February 19, 2006

    🏷️ Science — THC protects heart cells in the case of lowered oxygen supply

    Israelian researchers at the Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan demonstrated that THC protects heart cells (cardiomyocytes) against the damage caused by hypoxia (reduced oxygen concentration in the blood) in experimental studies. Pre-treatment of cultures of cardiomyocytes with THC for 24 hours prevented leakage of LDH induced by hypoxia. Leakage of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) from cells is a sign of cell damage.

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    IACM-Bulletin of February 5, 2006

    🌐 Holland — Cannabis pharmacy planned in Groningen

    Patients seeking pain relief may soon be heading for the Dutch city of Groningen to buy affordable and potent medical cannabis in the country's first pharmacy specializing in the drug. Although cannabis is readily available in the country's famous coffee shops, the foundation for Medicinal Cannabis Netherlands wants to launch a pharmacy in the northern Dutch city so patients can buy high-grade cannabis at affordable prices.

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    IACM-Bulletin of January 22, 2006

    🌐 UK — Cannabis will not be reclassified

    Home secretary Charles Clarke said on 19 January that cannabis would not be reclassified as a Class B drug again. While pledging to launch a public information campaign on the dangers of cannabis use, Mr Clarke said that reclassification had not led to an increase in use. He told members of parliament that he had been guided by a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).

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    IACM-Bulletin of January 8, 2006

    🌐 USA — Rhode Island became the 11th state to legalise the medical use of cannabis

    On 3 January Rhode Island became the 11th state to legalize medical cannabis. The state House of Representatives voted 59-13, with one abstention, to override a veto by Governor Don Carcieri, allowing people with illnesses such as cancer and AIDS to grow up to 12 cannabis plants or buy 2.5 ounces (about 70 grams) of marijuana to relieve their symptoms. The law requires them to register with the state and get a photo identification card.

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