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Bulletin .

A newsletter about cannabis and cannabinoids as medicine

2017
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    IACM-Bulletin of December 24, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Cannabis may slow inflammation of the brain in patients with HIV and may maintain cognitive performance

    Cannabis has been found to potentially slow the process, in which mental decline can occur in up to 50 percent of HIV patients, says a new Michigan State University study, USA. "It's believed that cognitive function decreases in many of those with HIV partly due to chronic inflammation that occurs in the brain," said Norbert Kaminski, lead author of the study, now published in the journal AIDS. "This happens because the immune system is constantly being stimulated to fight off disease."

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    IACM-Bulletin of December 10, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — The legalization of cannabis for medical uses in several states of the USA reduces alcohol sales by 15%

    Alcohol sales decreased in counties of US states, which legalised the medical use of cannabis. This is the result of a study by scientists of the University of Connecticut and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in Atlanta, USA. They analysed alcohol sales in more than 2000 counties in the years 2006 to 2015. Alcohol sales trends in medical cannabis states were compared to sales trends in states where cannabis remained illegal.

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    IACM-Bulletin of November 26, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — The use of cannabis in addition to opioids decreased opioid use and improved quality of life

    In 37 pain patients, who received opioids and in addition were treated with cannabis, use of opioids decreased and quality of life improved compared to 29 patients, who only received opioids. This is the results of research conducted at the University of New Mexico (USA). Over a period of 21 months scientists compared the development of opioid prescriptions.

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    IACM-Bulletin of November 12, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — THC may be effective in the treatment of sleep apnoea according to a clinical study

    In a study conducted at the University of Illinois in Chicago THC was effective in reducing symptoms of patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea. Of 73 adults with moderate or severe sleep apnoea 25 received a placebo, 21 received 2.5 mg THC daily and 27 received 10 mg of THC one hour before bedtime for up to 6 weeks.

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    IACM-Bulletin of October 29, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — The regular use of cannabis is linked to more sex

    The first study to examine the relationship between cannabis use and frequency of sexual intercourse at the population level in the United States shows a positive correlation between the two. The study by investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine, USA, indicates that, despite concerns among physicians and scientists that frequent cannabis use may impair sexual desire or performance, the opposite appears more likely to be the case.

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    IACM-Bulletin of October 15, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Daily cannabis use may protect the liver in people with HIV and hepatitis C

    In a study with 838 patients, who are both infected with HIV and the hepatitis C virus daily cannabis use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of fatty liver, researchers of INSERM in Marseille, France, reported. Fatty liver is common in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) co-infected patients.

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    IACM-Bulletin of October 1, 2017

    🏷️ IACM — Manuel Guzman elected as the new chairman

    During its General Meeting on 30 September 2017 during the Cannabinoid Conference 2017 in Cologne, Germany, the IACM elected a new board of directors and five patient representatives. The following board members were elected: Mark Ware from Canada, Kirsten Müller-Vahl from Germany, Daniela Parolaro from Italy, Roger Pertwee from the UK, William Notcutt from the UK, Donald Abrams from the USA, Ilya Reznik from Israel, Franjo Grotenhermen from Germany, and Raquel Peyraube from Uruguay. Manuel Guzman was elected as the first chairman and Kirsten Müller-Vahl as the second chairwoman.

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    IACM-Bulletin of September 17, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Trauma patients find relief from a treatment with cannabis according to a survey

    Patients with musculoskeletal trauma profit from a treatment with cannabis according to survey data. Harvard Medical School investigators asked 500 patients at two trauma centres. The majority of patients felt that cannabis could be used to treat pain (78%) and anxiety (62%). Most patients (60%) had used cannabis at least once previously, while only 14% reported using cannabis following their injury.

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    IACM-Bulletin of September 3, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Cannabis users had less severe symptoms in alcoholic pancreatitis

    According to a review of patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis at a large hospital cannabis users presented with less severe symptoms. Researchers of Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, USA, analysed data of patients discharged with principle or secondary diagnosis of alcoholic pancreatitis between January 2006 and December 2015.

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    IACM-Bulletin of August 20, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Cannabis use may decrease mortality in trauma patients

    In a large study with 28,813 patients of the Arizona State Trauma Registry, who were admitted to an intensive care unit due to a trauma, screening positive for cannabis use was associated with improved survival. Of these 2,678 patients were included in an analysis, of whom 1,339 were cannabis positive and 1,339 were cannabis negative.

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    IACM-Bulletin of August 6, 2017

    🌐 Poland — A law on the medical use of cannabis will take effect in three months

    On 21 July President Andrzej Duda signed a law previously approved by the Parliament, according to which cannabis-based medicines can be purchased at pharmacies on prescription. "According to the new rules, patients should have simplified access to marijuana to treat symptoms of certain diseases, such as chronic pain, nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy," the law said.

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    IACM-Bulletin of July 23, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — The use of cannabis improves performance during simulated night shift work

    In a study with 10 experienced cannabis smokers moderate cannabis use reversed some of the negative consequences of night shift work on performance, scientists of Columbia University in New York, USA, found. They participated in a 23-day study. They smoked a single cannabis cigarette (0, 1.9 or 3.56% THC) one hour after waking for three consecutive days under two shift conditions: day shift and night shift. Shifts alternated three times during the study, and shift conditions were separated by an 'off' day.

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    IACM-Bulletin of July 9, 2017

    🌐 Greece — Government legalizes medical use of cannabis

    Greece has become the latest European country to legalise cannabis for medical purposes. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that doctors will soon be able to prescribe the drug for a variety of medical conditions.

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    IACM-Bulletin of June 25, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — CBD reduces blood pressure in healthy people

    In a study with nine healthy male volunteers a single dose of 600 mg CBD significantly reduced blood pressure, researchers of the Universities of Nottingham and Oxford, United Kingdom, Royal Derby Hospital Centre, Derby, United Kingdom, wrote in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight. They were given 600 mg of CBD or placebo in a crossover study.

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    IACM-Bulletin of June 11, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Cannabis reduced symptoms of ADHD in a small clinical study

    In a small placebo-controlled study with 30 adults with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) a cannabis extract (Sativex) reduced their symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either cannabis or placebo. Results were published by researchers from King׳s College London and other scientific institutions of the UK.

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    IACM-Bulletin of May 28, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Cannabidiol effective against epilepsy in Dravet syndrome

    A clinical study with 120 children and young adults suffering from Dravet syndrome, which shows that CBD (cannabidiol) is effective in symptom control, was now published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Several centres across the USA participated in the placebo-controlled trial of 14 weeks of treatment.

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    IACM-Bulletin of May 14, 2017

    🌐 Chile — Pharmacies begin to sell cannabis

    Pharmacies in Chile's capital Santiago will start selling cannabis-based medicines this week, the first time such treatments have been offered by drug stores in Latin America, the involved companies said on 10 May.

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    IACM-Bulletin of April 30, 2017

    🌐 Mexico — Parliament approved the medical use of cannabis

    Mexico's Congress passed a bill on 28 April to legalize the use of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes. The bill had already passed the Senate in December 2016 and will now be sent to President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is expected to sign it.

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    IACM-Bulletin of April 16, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Patients who use cannabis reduce their use in medications for pain, anxiety, migraine and sleep disorders

    In an online survey of 1,513 patients, who receive cannabis from dispensaries, researchers from different scientific institutions across the USA revealed that a large number significantly reduced their use of several other medications.

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    IACM-Bulletin of April 2, 2017

    🌐 Argentina — Parliament approves cannabis for medicinal use

    On 29 March the Argentina Senate approved a bill, which allows the medical use of cannabis oil for certain diseases. The House of Representatives already approved it in November 2016. The law allows importation of cannabis products until the country is able to produce it itself. It was approved unanimously. The initiative authorizes the conduction of research by several scientific institutions.

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    IACM-Bulletin of March 19, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — The medical use of cannabis could decrease prescription opiate abuse

    Medical cannabis use is highly under-researched, according to researchers of the University of New Mexico and their recent findings suggest that it could actually help to battle addiction. Professors Jacob Vigil and Sara Stith, along with pain specialist Dr Anthony Reeve, presented their research on how the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program has affected prescription opioid use in patients with chronic pain on 3 March.

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    IACM-Bulletin of March 5, 2017

    🏷️ IACM — Cannabinoid Conference 2017 – Call for abstracts and registration

    The IACM Board of Directors would like to invite you to the Cannabinoid Conference 2017 and present your research. It will be held on 29-30 September 2017 in Cologne, Germany. The conference website with the preliminary program is online now for submission of abstracts and registration of participants. The deadlines for oral abstracts are 31 May 2017 and for poster abstracts 31 July 2017. Please find here sponsors of the up-coming meeting. If you want to sponsor the conference please contact the IACM by sending an e-mail to info@cannabis-med.org.

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    IACM-Bulletin of February 19, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Human — Cannabis improved survival of patients with aggressive brain cancer in controlled clinical study

    A cannabis extract with THC and CBD improved survival of patients with recurrent glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive brain tumour, if given together with standard therapy. This is the result of a placebo-controlled study with 21 patients, which was reported by the producer of the cannabis extract Sativex, GW Pharmaceuticals from the UK. 12 patients were randomized to receive Sativex together with temozolomide and 9 patients received placebo together with temozolomide.

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    IACM-Bulletin of February 5, 2017

    🌐 Israel — The government wants to decriminalize small-scale recreational cannabis use

    Israel plans to decriminalize cannabis use, Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan said on 26 January. He said that if the government approves his new policy, those caught smoking cannabis would be punished by a fine rather than arrested and prosecuted. Criminal procedures would be launched only against those caught repeatedly.

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    IACM-Bulletin of January 22, 2017

    🌐 Germany — Cannabis flowers will be available on prescription for medicinal purposes from March 2017 on according to a law passed by the Bundestag

    The German Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, on 19 January passed a law that legalizes the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. The law was adopted unanimously by the members of the Bundestag without abstention. Those suffering from serious illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and chronic pain could be prescribed cannabis flowers, cannabis extracts as well as cannabis-based medicines such as the cannabis extract Sativex, dronabinol and nabilone by every German doctor. The law does not limit the possibility to prescribe cannabis and cannabis-based medicines to certain illnesses.

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    IACM-Bulletin of January 8, 2017

    🏷️ Science/Animal — An increased intake of olive oil in mice increased the number of CB2 receptors

    A diet enriched with olive oil significantly increased the number of CB2 receptors in fat tissue of mice and reduced inflammation and proliferation of mice adipose tissue. This is the result of research at the National Institute for Digestive Diseases "S. de Bellis" in Bari, Italy, published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. Mice received either a standard diet with soybean oil or one of three other diets enriched with three different oils, one in which soybean oil was replaced with olive oil, one in which it was replaced with salmon oil, and the third in which it was replaced with evening primrose oil.

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