Clinical Trial: CBD/THC Combination Controls Blood Sugar, Lowers Cholesterol in Type 2 Diabetics
Tehran, Iran: Diabetic patients administered a sublingual spray containing CBD and THC show improvements in their blood sugar and cholesterol levels, according to placebo-controlled data published in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.
A team of Iranian investigators evaluated the efficacy of a proprietary formulation of plant-derived CBD/THC compared to placebo in a cohort of 50 patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients utilized the spray twice daily for eight weeks. The sublingual formulation contained a ten-to-one ratio of CBD to THC.
Compared to placebo, cannabinoid therapy was associated with a “statistically significant decline in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, FBS [fasting blood glucose levels], Hb [hemoglobin] A1C, and insulin secretion … at the end of the 8-week treatment period. ... [T]here were no statistically significant differences in reported adverse effects between the two groups.”
Researchers concluded: “In the present study, we demonstrated that sublingual administration of [a CBD/THC] spray, ... twice daily through an eight-week treatment period could effectively improve the patient’s lipid profile and glucose tolerance. ... Based on these observations, the combination of CBD/Delta9-THC regimen could be a new therapeutic regimen for controlling the lipid profile and glycemic state of DM [type 2 diabetic] patients.”
Clinical trial data has previously shown that the administration of the cannabinoid THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) decreases fasting glucose levels in type 2 diabetics.
Population-based studies have reported that cannabis consumers typically possess lower BMI and other favorable indices related to diabetic control. Observational studies have also shown that the past use of cannabis is significantly associated with lower odds of diabetes in adults.
Full text of the study, “A phase I randomized, placebo-controlled study on efficacy and safety profile of a sublingually administered cannabidiol/delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (10: 1) regimen in diabetes Type 2 patients,” appears in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.
Fewer Federal Offenders Charged with Marijuana-Related Offenses in 2022
Washington, DC: Federal officials in 2022 charged fewer people with marijuana-related offenses than they had in previous years, according to data compiled by the US Sentencing Commission in its latest Sourcebook of Federal Sentencing Statistics.
Just over 800 people were charged with violating federal marijuana laws in 2022. Ninety-nine percent of those charged were indicted for drug trafficking. Overall, those charged for marijuana-related violations comprised just four percent of all federal drug offenders.
Those totals represent a significant decrease from a decade ago, when federal officials charged nearly 7,000 people for violating federal marijuana laws. At that time, more people were federally indicted for marijuana offenses than for any other drug-related offense. However, since 2012, the number of people federally prosecuted for marijuana-related violations has fallen steadily.
In total, 32 percent of all people federally prosecuted in 2022 were charged with drug law violations.
Full text of the 2022 Sourcebook of Federal Sentencing Statistics is available from the United States Sentencing Commission.
Survey: One in Ten Veterans Acknowledges Using Cannabis
Fort Worth, Texas: An estimated one in ten US military veterans report having consumed cannabis within the past year, according to data published in the journal Substance Use & Misuse.
A pair of researchers affiliated with the University of North Texas and the University of Illinois assessed cannabis use trends among a nationally representative cohort of over 16,000 veterans over the years 2013 to 2019.
Investigators reported that ten percent of those sampled acknowledged past-year cannabis use. Consumers were most likely to define their consumption as medical-only if they were age 65 or older.
Only a minority of the study’s respondents acknowledged having received an authorization to use cannabis from a healthcare provider. This is likely because federal law prohibits providers affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs from issuing recommendations, even in states where the medical use of cannabis is legal.
The study’s authors concluded: “Our findings, taken in context with current federal policy, point toward a need for enhanced care coordination among veterans who may benefit from marijuana, but are unable to access it through the VA. ... Additional research is needed to better understand veterans’ use of a marijuana in the context of federal VA restrictions, including the examination of how veterans obtain marijuana, what affect this has on their care coordination and health outcomes, and whether or not marijuana can play a role in reducing other drug use and drug-related harms among veterans.”
According to nationwide survey data compiled by the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, 75 percent of military veterans “would be interested in using cannabis or cannabinoid products as a treatment option if it were available.”
Full text of the study, “National trends in past-year marijuana use among veterans in the United States, 2013-2019,” appears in Substance Use & Misuse.
Utah: Governor Signs Bill Establishing State-Sponsored Cannabis Research Program
Salt Lake City, UT: Republican Gov. Spencer Cox has signed legislation into law establishing a cannabis-specific medical research center within the University of Utah.
House Bill 230 appropriates $650,000 in funding for the creation of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. The Center “shall facilitate and support funding for research related to the efficacy and potential health effects of various cannabis delivery methods, including vaporizing, ingesting, topical application, and combustion; shall support researchers in applying for and securing federal and private research grant funding for expanding medical cannabis research; shall review current and future cannabis research literature, clinical studies, and clinical trials; [and] shall educate medical providers, lawmakers, and the public about medical cannabis research advances.”
Several states -- including California, Colorado, Florida, and Pennsylvania -- have similarly established state-sponsored institutions to conduct clinical trials and other research specific to the safety and efficacy of cannabis. Those programs have conducted several FDA-approved clinical trials documenting cannabis’ efficacy in various patient populations.
Utah lawmakers enacted legislation permitting for the limited use and distribution of cannabis and cannabis products in 2018.
South Dakota: Governor Signs Bills into Law Amending Medical Cannabis Access Rules
Pierre, South Dakota: Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has signed several bills into law amending the state’s medical cannabis regulations.
Senate Bill 1 expands the pool of patients eligible to receive medical cannabis authorizations to include those diagnosed with AIDS/HIV, ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease), multiple sclerosis, cancer (or who are undergoing chemotherapy), Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, and/or post-traumatic stress. However, the legislation repeals provisions that previously provided patients and others the ability to petition health department officials to add additional qualifying conditions. Going forward, lawmakers will have the sole discretion to add new qualifying conditions.
Another bill, House Bill 1053, prohibits health practitioners from providing patients with an authorization to access medical cannabis if they are either pregnant or breastfeeding. No other state explicitly imposes similar restrictions. NORML opposed HB 1053 on the grounds that it unduly interferes with doctor/patient relations.
Governor Noem signed a third bill into law, House Bill 1154, which prohibits recommending physicians from offering discounts or other financial incentives in exchange for their services.
The Governor also vetoed legislation, House Bill 1209, which sought to increase the amount allowable THC levels in state-legal hemp products.
South Dakotans approved a citizens’ initiative legalizing cannabis for medical purposes in 2020. At that time, Gov. Noem campaigned against the initiative effort.
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