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According to an analysis of data from 306 fibromyalgia patients in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry the treatment with cannabis was associated with a global health-related improvement of quality of life. The research was conducted by investigators of the Medical Cannabis Research Group from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, UK.
Delaware will become the 22nd state to legalize recreational cannabis after its governor allowed two bills already passed by the legislature to become law. Governor John Carney said he would not veto a bill that will allow private citizens over the age of 21 to possess up to one ounce (about 28 g) of cannabis for personal consumption, and a second bill that would see the state issue 30 retail business licenses over the next 16 months through a bidding process.
The German government on 12 April presented plans to legalise cannabis, presenting legislation that would allow private cultivation and distribution through non-profit groups but not widespread sales of the drug in shops.
According to a survey with 162 adults suffering from inflammatory bowel disease 37% reported use of cannabis. Investigators of the Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, USA, found out that 63% use it to relieve their symptoms and many patients did not inform their physician of their cannabis use.
A retrospective analysis of data from 157 Australians, who were prescribed medicinal cannabis for different diseases, showed that the medication is safe and effective. Investigators of the University of New South Wales in Sydney and other academic institutions in Sydney, Australia, published the results according to which cannabis was perceived beneficial by 53.5% of patients.
On 9 March 2023, Raphael Mechoulam, professor emeritus of medicinal chemistry at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, passed away at his home in Jerusalem at the age of 92. He is often referred to as the father or grandfather of cannabinoid research because of his ground-breaking discoveries. He had first determined the exact chemical structure of the cannabis active ingredient delta-9-THC in 1964, together with Yehiel Gaoni, and his research group discovered the first endocannabinoid in 1992, which he named anandamide.
Cannabis users suffering from inflammatory bowel disease are less likely to be hospitalised then non-users. Investigators at the Department of Internal Medicine of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, USA, compared hospitalised adult patients in Colorado and Washington before (2011) and after (2015) recreational cannabis legalization.
A case series of 35 children (<18 years old) with treatment resistant epilepsy from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry was analysed. Data were presented by investigators of the Department of Surgery & Cancer of Imperial College London, UK. Patients received either CBD isolate oils (n = 19), CBD broad-spectrum oils (n = 17), and CBD/THC combination therapy (n = 17).
A retrospective, observational trial aimed to investigate the clinical action of THC: CBD cannabis extract administration in patients with Alzheimer’s disease on severe symptoms such as agitation, weight loss, cognitive impairment, and sleep disturbance. Thirty patients (9 men and 21 women) diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe Alzheimer’s disease, aged 65-90 years, were enrolled by the Second Opinion Medical Network in Modena, Italy. They used olive oil-diluted cannabis extract twice a day for 12 weeks.
Using data from a longitudinal study with 4043 twins from the USA, investigators from the Universities of Minnesota and Colorado, USA, and the University of Helsinki, Finland, found that the legalisation of cannabis in the USA had no relevant effects on a wide range of adult psychiatric and psychosocial outcomes. The participants were first assessed in adolescence and now at the age of 24-49 residing in states with different cannabis policies (40% resided in a recreationally legal state).
According to a study with 201 lung cancer patients by the Oncology Institute of the Tel Aviv Medical Center, and the Sackler School of Medicine, Israel, the use of cannabis had no negative effects on a treatment with pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, for metastatic disease. 102 (50.7%) patients received licence for cannabis within the first month of treatment. The most common indication for cannabis was pain (71%) followed by loss of appetite (34%).
A case-series of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry was analyzed. Investigators from Imperial College Medical Cannabis Research Group from the Department of Surgery and Cancer of Imperial College London, UK, observed an improvement of health-related quality of life, which was assessed at 1-, 3-, and 6-months using validated patient reported outcome measures.
A study with 14 participants conducted at Melbourne's Monash Children's Hospital, Australia, has supported the benefits of using medicinal cannabis as a treatment for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The phase I trial, which was designed to assess product safety, discovered "significant changes" in the symptoms and behaviours of the 14 participants.
On 8 November residents of five U.S. states voted on whether to legalize cannabis for adults. A growing number of states have legalized cannabis in recent years despite the drug remaining illegal under federal law. The proposals passed in Maryland and Missouri.
Six out of 7 patients diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder showed symptom improvement with cannabis-based medicines. They were treated at Zerenia clinics in the United Kingdom and Colombia receiving either cannabis extracts or cannabis flowers with varying THC and CBD content. Patients had trialled at least one medication and one form of psychotherapy.
At the Cannabinoid Conference 2022 which took place in Basel, Switzerland, the IACM honoured four persons for special achievements regarding the re-introduction of cannabis and cannabinoids as medicine. The IACM Award 2022 for Clinical Research went to Philip McGuire, the IACM Ester Fride Award for Basic Research 2022 went to Andreas Zimmer, the IACM Award 2022 for Young Researchers went to Arnau Busquets Garcia, and the IACM Special Award 2022 went to Allyn Howlett.
President Joe Biden took steps to overhaul U.S. policy on cannabis on 6 October by pardoning thousands of people with federal offenses for simple cannabis possession and initiating a review of how the drug is classified. He said thousands of people with prior federal convictions could be denied employment, housing or educational opportunities and his executive action would relieve such "collateral" consequences.
On October 20-21, the leading international conference on the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids will be held at the Congress Center Basel, Switzerland.
In a study with a cannabis extract containing a ratio of THC to CBD of 1 to 20 children with autism spectrum disorder showed significant improvement. The study was conducted by investigators of Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva, Israel, and other Israelian universities. “Parents were instructed to start with one drop daily (each drop contains: 0.3 mg THC and 5.7 mg CBD) and increase the dosage gradually until they perceived improvements in their child’s behavior such as decreased irritability, aggressiveness, hyperactivity, and/or sleep disturbances.” Patients received the extract for 6 months in an open study, which was completed by 82 participants.
Attendees at the upcoming Cannabinoid Conference 2022 on Oct. 20-21 in Basel, Switzerland, will receive a free membership to the new IACM. The IACM is undergoing a restructuring. The old IACM has been dissolved, and the successor organization is nearing completion of its new formation. IACM members who have already paid their dues this year will receive a code in a few days that will give them a reduction in their normal individual rate.
In a study at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, USA, with 24 patients suffering from gastroparesis both isolated THC and cannabis improved symptoms. Gastroparesis is characterised by delayed gastric emptying due to weak muscle constructions of the stomach. Six patients were prescribed pure THC, ten cannabis and eight pure oral THC followed by cannabis.
In a study with 285 women with menopause-related symptoms many participants used cannabis. It was conducted by researchers of the Department of Psychiatry of Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA. Participants (perimenopausal, n = 131; postmenopausal, n = 127) completed assessments of menopause-related symptomatology and cannabis use
On 20 to 21 October the leading international conference on medical uses of cannabis and cannabinoids takes place in the Congress Centre Basel, Switzerland. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the leading researchers in the field, learn from their experience, exchange with others and get first-hand and latest information! This year we are holding the conference in cooperation with the Swiss Society for Cannabis in Medicine. In Switzerland, the medical use of cannabis was recently legalised.
Investigators of the Federal University for Latin American integration in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA, presented a case report of a 75-year-old man in an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, who profited from very low doses of THC rich cannabis. He presented with main symptoms of memory deficit, spatial and temporal disorientation, and limited daily activity. The treatment was carried out for 22 months with microdoses of a cannabis extract containing THC and CBD. The patient received it daily for 22 months with the daily dosage never exceeding 1 mg of THC per day.
The Swiss government on 22 June decided to lift the ban on cannabis for medical use from 1 August. Patients who are medically prescribed the drug will no longer need to seek exceptional permission from the health ministry. The sale and consumption of cannabis for non-medical purposes will remain prohibited.
A top court in Brazil on 14 June authorized three patients to grow cannabis for medical treatment, a decision that is likely to be applied nationwide in similar cases. A five-judge panel of the country’s Superior Court of Justice unanimously agreed that the three patients can grow cannabis and extract its oil for use in pain relief. Brazilian law currently limits the medical use of cannabis derived products to imported goods.