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IACM-Bulletin of December 29, 2013
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IACM — Good news for IACM members: Talks of the 2013 Conference and internal IACM Mailing Lists
Many of the talks of the 2013 Conference in Cologne will be made available to current or new IACM members, who have paid their membership fee for 2014, on our website in mid-January. The September 2013 Conference was extremely successful, among others due to the excellent talks and presentations. If you missed them you will be able to see them soon. If you attended the meeting you will be able to see them again and have a closer look at the slides.
The IACM will install three mailing lists, which will start at the end of January. There is one science mailing list for regular members (scientists, doctors, etc.) to exchange new developments in the cannabis and cannabinoid field of research between the conferences. This mailing list will be moderated by Roger Pertwee, Mark Ware and Donald Abrams. There will be two mailing lists for associate members (mainly patients) of the IACM, one in English and one in Spanish. The latter will be moderated by Manuel Guzman and Ricardo Navarrete-Varo. The English mailing list for associate members will be moderated by Ethan Russo and Franjo Grotenhermen. There is already a mailing list in German for patients. These mailing lists will ensure high-level information on the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids and related issues. And it will allow members around the world to get into touch with each other and to participate in the IACM work by sharing their experiences in their countries, ideas and suggestions.
Israel — Government approves new rules on medical cannabis
The cabinet approved new medical cannabis regulations, increasing the number of physicians authorized to prescribe the drug to their patients from 21 to 31. In addition, the new regulations would also change the way medical cannabis is grown, packed and distributed in Israel.
The various distribution locations will be regulated, with grower-based distribution giving way to authorized pharmacies. According to the new regulations, cannabis will be collected from the growers and taken to logistics centres, where it will be packed in doses and weights that will be set by the Health Ministry. The company Sarel will be responsible for collecting and transferring the plant. From the logistics centres, the cannabis will then be transferred, under guard, to authorized pharmacies.
News in brief
Uruguay — President Mujica signs cannabis law
A spokesman for President Jose Mujica says the president has signed into law the government's plan to create a regulated, legal market for cannabis on 23 December. That was the last formal step for the law to take effect. The government now has until April 9 to write the fine print for regulating every aspect of the cannabis market, from growing to selling in a network of pharmacies.
Associated Press of 24 December 2013
USA — Demand for cannabis in Washington state
Researchers found out that demand for cannabis in the state of Washington will be in the range of about 175 metric tons. That's more than 6 million ounces, enough for around 340 million joints, and more than twice what the state estimated before voters approved Washington's legal cannabis law last year.
Associated Press of 18 December 2013
Science/Cells — Ajulemic acid does not influence metabolism of other drugs
Ajulemic acid is a synthetic analogue of delta-8-THC-COOH with potent anti-inflammatory action and minimal psychotropic effects. Cell research shows that it has only minimal effects on the metabolism of other drugs.
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA.
Burstein SH, Tepper MA. Pharma Res Per, 2013. [in press]
Science/Animal — Chronic THC during early adulthood had no effects on hormones
A chronic treatment with THC during early adulthood in female rats produced no hormonally-dependent effects on learning and performance behaviour. Previous research had shown that there were such effects during adolescence.
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, USA.
Winsauer PJ, et al. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2013 Dec 18. [in press]
Science/Human — Blocking of CB1 receptors may be beneficial in Hodgkin lymphoma
There was a high number of CB1 receptors in Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg cells in a vast majority of cases of Hodgkin lymphoma. Inhibition of this receptor by a cannabinoid receptor antagonist (AM251) reduced the viability of these cells. Researchers concluded that “the present study identifies CB1 as a feature of HL, which might serve as a potential selective target in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.”
Institute of Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
Benz AH, et al. PLoS One 2013;8(12):e81675.
Science/Human — Cannabis use is associated with an earlier age of onset of psychosis
In a study with 410 first-episode psychosis patients daily use, especially of high-potency cannabis, drove the earlier onset of psychosis in cannabis users.
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London, UK.
Di Forti M, et al. Schizophr Bull. 2013 Dec 17. [in press]
Science/Human — Cannabis use usually does not enhance physical performance
In a review scientists investigated whether caffeine, nicotine, ethanol and THC have a performance-enhancing effect. Only caffeine has enough scientific evidence indicating an ergogenic effect. There is some preliminary evidence for nicotine as an ergogenic aid, but further study is required; cannabis and alcohol can exhibit ergogenic potential under specific circumstances but are in general believed to be ergolytic for sports performance.
Exercise and Metabolic Disease Research Laboratory, School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.