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Clinical Trial: Cannabis Oil Effective at Improving Sleep in Adults with Insomnia

Melbourne, Australia: The short-term use of plant-derived cannabis extracts is well-tolerated and effective in patients diagnosed with insomnia, according to placebo-controlled trial data published in the Journal of Sleep Research.

Australian researchers assessed the use of a proprietary cannabis oil product (Entoura-10:15) versus placebo in 29 subjects with chronic insomnia. Extracts contained 10mg of THC and 15mg of CBD. Participants consumed either extracts or placebo for a period of two weeks.

Investigators reported that those receiving cannabis extracts experienced improved sleep quality by up to 80 percent, and that "60 percent of participants no longer classified as clinical insomniacs at the end of the two-week intervention period."

They concluded: "Our short-term trial suggests Entoura 10:15 medicinal cannabis oil, containing THC:CBD 10:15 and lesser amounts of other CBs and naturally occurring terpenes, to be well tolerated and effective in significantly improving sleep quality and duration, midnight melatonin levels, quality of life, and mood within 2-weeks in adults with insomnia. … Long-term studies are needed to assess whether chronic medicinal cannabis intake can restore natural circadian rhythm without the need for ongoing cannabis intake."

The results are similar to those of a prior placebo-controlled clinical trial, published in 2021, that also reported that plant-derived cannabis extracts are "well tolerated and improve insomnia symptoms and sleep quality in individuals with chronic insomnia symptoms." Observational trials similarly report benefits in patients' sleep quality following the inhalation of cannabis flowers prior to bedtime.

Full text of the study, "Medicinal cannabis improves sleep in adults with insomnia: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial," appears in the Journal of Sleep Research.

Review: Cannabis Safe and Effective in Migraine Treatment

Fairfield, CA: The inhalation of cannabis flowers is effective and well-tolerated among patents with migraine, according to a systematic review of the literature published in the journal Cureus.

A team of researchers affiliated with the California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology reviewed nine recent studies involving over 5,600 subjects.

They reported: "All the studies showed encouraging findings on the therapeutic effects of medicinal marijuana in migraine treatment. Additionally, medical marijuana is well-tolerated with fewer side effects and is safe to use in migraine patients."

Authors concluded: "The studies demonstrated that medical marijuana has a significant clinical response by reducing the length and frequency of migraines. No severe adverse effects were noted. Due to its effectiveness and convenience, medical marijuana therapy may be helpful for patients suffering from migraines."

Survey data published earlier this year reported that an estimated one-third of patients suffering from headache disorders acknowledge using cannabis products for symptom management.

Full text of the study, "Efficacy and safety of medical marijuana in migraine headache: A systematic review," appears in Cureus.

Study: Oral Cannabis Products Show Long-Term Safety and Efficacy in Patients

Western Australia, Australia: Patients authorized to consume plant-derived oral cannabis products show sustained improvements in their symptoms, according to longitudinal data published in the journal PLOS One.

Researchers assessed the long-terms safety and efficacy of oral cannabis products in a cohort of nearly 4,000 Australian patients authorized to use them. Study participants were naïve to cannabis prior to their enrollment in the trial. The majority of the study's subjects (64 percent) suffered from chronic pain conditions. All of the study's participants consumed oral cannabis products for a period of two years.

Investigators reported: "This is the largest and longest real-world analysis of the efficacy and safety of GMP [good manufacturing practices]-like oral medicinal cannabis (MC) in a continuous enrolment cohort registry. 3,961 heterogenous, cannabis naïve patients with a wide range of ages, clinical and complex conditions, and concomitant medications, prescribed oral MC, demonstrated a rapid and significant improvement across all measured patient and clinical reported validated outcomes. … Oral MC was well tolerated. … This safety is particularly salient in contrast to the safety and tolerability of prescribed long-term opioids."

They concluded, "This large Australian longitudinal cohort registry of cannabis naïve, complex chronic disease patients treated with oral MC for over 24 consecutive months, demonstrates safety of oral generic medicinal cannabis, and demonstrated oral MC improves patient and clinician reported impact of pain, sleep and well-being."

An estimated 100,000 Australians have been prescribed cannabis products following the enactment of legal changes in 2016 providing patients with regulatory access to medical marijuana products.

Full text of the study, "A large Australian longitudinal cohort registry demonstrates sustained safety and efficacy of oral medicinal cannabis for at least two years," appears in PLOS One.

Study: No Adverse Events in Stroke Survivors Taking Cannabis Spray

Genova, Italy: The daily consumption of a proprietary oromucosal spray containing equal ratios of plant-derived THC and CBD (nabiximols aka Sativex) is not associated with cardiovascular complications in stroke survivors, according to clinical data published in the journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.

A team of Italian researchers assessed the safety of nabiximols in a cohort of 34 spasticity patients that had previously suffered from strokes.

Investigators reported: "No cardiovascular treatment-emergent adverse drug effects emerged during nabiximols treatment, namely no significant fluctuation of blood pressure and heart rate, nor ischemic or hemorrhagic events occurred. During nabiximols treatment, self-assessed blood pressure and heart rate did not change compared to the baseline condition. No patients showed significant acceleration or decrease in heart rate or change in rhythm and none required an additional ECG or cardiological evaluation during the study."

They concluded, "These data support the cardiovascular safety of nabiximols."

Analyses of nationally representative samples of recreational marijuana consumers have reported inconsistent results regarding the relationship between cannabis and adverse cardiovascular events. A 2021 study of 57,000 US adults concluded, "After controlling for several confounding variables, we found that there was a decrease in the prevalence of cardiovascular events with marijuana use (Odds Ratio: 0.74)." By contrast, a 2020 review of nearly 134,000 US adults reported, "Frequent marijuana smoking is associated with significantly higher odds of stroke and myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease, with a possible role in premature cardiovascular disease."

More recently, the results of a literature review of 67 studies published in The American Journal of Medicine concluded, "[M]arijuana itself does not appear to be independently associated with excessive cardiovascular risk factors." Authors did caution, however, that "it can be associated with other unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol use and tobacco smoking that can be detrimental" to cardiovascular health.

Similarly, a separate review published last year of 46 randomized clinical trials involving 2,800 patients concluded that consumption of either purified or synthetic cannabinoids, including THC, is not associated with any increased risk of serious cardiovascular events.

Full text of the study, "Nabiximols effect on blood pressure and heart rate in post-stroke patients of a randomized controlled study," appears in the journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.

New Mexico: Regulators Approve Changes Expanding Medical Cannabis Access

Santa Fe, NM: State regulators have expended the pool of patients eligible to access medical cannabis products to include those with anxiety disorders. Members of the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Advisory Board approved the policy expansion, which takes effect on January 1, 2023.

A pair of physicians petitioned regulators to expand the scope of the program, opining that alternatives to conventional medications are needed to address the needs of those with treatment-resistant anxiety disorders.

Survey data indicates that those who consume cannabis for purposes of self-medication are most likely to do so to mitigate symptoms of pain, anxiety, and to improve sleep.

According to data compiled by the state's Department of Health, over 130,000 New Mexicans are registered to access medical cannabis products.