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Haifa, Israel: Patients’ use of cannabis oil extracts is associated with long-term improvements in their pain intensity and related symptoms, according to data published in the journal Pain Reports.

Israeli researchers assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis extracts in a cohort of 218 middle-aged chronic pain patients (mean age: 54) over six months. Patients consumed sublingual extracts containing standardized THC and CBD concentrations.

Cannabis treatment was associated with sustained reductions in pain intensity, opioid use, anxiety, depression, and sleep deprivation. Though some subjects did report “mild to moderate” side effects from cannabis, these events did not interrupt their “continuous use” of marijuana extracts throughout the study period.

“Cannabis seems to have an impact on the ‘disease burden’ of chronic pain,” the study’s authors concluded. “It also has a positive effect on functioning and health-related quality of life.”

The researchers’ findings are consistent with those of other larger observational studies involving thousands of pain patients enrolled in medical cannabis access programs.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis oil extracts for chronic pain: What else can be learned from another structured prospective cohort,” appears in Pain Reports.

Senate Leadership Reintroduces Legislation Repealing Federal Cannabis Prohibition

Washington, DC: Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), and 15 other Democrats have reintroduced legislation, S. 4226: The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (aka CAOA), to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act – thereby empowering states to regulate marijuana primarily as they see fit.

NORML’s Political Director Morgan Fox said: “NORML is pleased to once again support this comprehensive bill that deschedules cannabis federally and emphasizes repairing the harm and injustices caused by decades of prohibitionist policies. We strongly encourage senators on both sides of the aisle to support and cosponsor this legislation so that Congress can finally bring about an end to the conflict between state and federal marijuana laws and to the ongoing damage being done to communities across the nation because of cannabis criminalization.”

Said Leader Schumer in a prepared statement: “It’s past time for the federal government to catch up to the attitudes of the American people when it comes to cannabis. That’s why we’re reintroducing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, legislation that would finally end the federal prohibition on cannabis while prioritizing safety, research, workers’ rights and restorative justice.”

Added Sen. Wyden: “Our comprehensive Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act doesn’t tell states what to do – but it provides them with the tools to effectively implement the laws their voters and legislators choose. Public health, public safety, opportunity, and social justice must be at the core of any cannabis reform proposal, and it is crucial stakeholders continue to have a seat at the table. I look forward to working with my colleagues and advocates across the country to make these priorities a reality.”

A previous version of CAOA was introduced in the 117th Congress. That version of the bill only gained four co-sponsors and it failed to receive a hearing.

Additional information on The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act is available from Senator Booker.

Analysis: THC Dosing Associated With Increased Survival Time In Palliative Cancer Patients

Berlin, Germany: The daily use of 5mg of oral THC is associated with increased survival times in palliative cancer patients, according to data published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

German researchers evaluated the impact of THC dosing in a cohort of 9,419 advanced cancer patients enrolled in Specialized Palliative Outpatient Care (SAPC). SAPC offers team-based home care for patients with advanced and progressive diseases whose life expectancies are limited to days, weeks, or months.

Researchers reported that patients’ daily use of 4.7mg of THC was associated with significantly increased survival time, whereas lower doses were not.

The study’s authors concluded: “The data … show a significant impact of THC on survival in ambulatory palliative care patients [who] … use more than 4.7 mg/day. Median survival time was prolonged by 15 days – from survival time of 25 days without THC therapy to 40 days with a daily THC dose higher than 4.7 mg per day. This prolongation by more than two weeks can be considered substantial. In addition to mere survival, patients [treated] with THC become more mentally and physically active. … The increased activity and improved quality of life might enable the patients to renew social contact with relatives and friends and to settle essential affairs before dying.”

The study’s findings are consistent with data published in 2021 that similarly reported that THC was associated with increased survival times in German hospice patients, particularly among women ages 75 and older.

Full text of the study, “The use of tetrahydrocannabinol is associated with an increase in survival time in palliative cancer patients: A retrospective multicenter cohort study,” appears in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Florida: Republican Party To Formally Oppose Marijuana Legalization Initiative

Orlando, FL: The Republican Party of Florida is calling upon voters to reject Amendment 3, a proposed constitutional initiative legalizing adult-use marijuana sales. Voters will decide on the amendment this November.

Members of the Party’s Executive Board voted to formally oppose the amendment at its quarterly meeting, resolving that it “[puts] children at risk and endanger[s] Florida’s family-friendly business and tourism climates.”

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has also committed to raising money to assist ‘counter-messaging’ efforts to defeat the amendment.

Speaking at a recent press conference, the Governor claimed that passing Amendment 3 would “reduce [Floridians’] quality of life.”

Amendment 3 amends the state Constitution to allow existing medical cannabis facilities to engage in adult-use marijuana sales. Under the proposal, those 21 and older may legally possess up to three ounces of cannabis, of which not more than five grams may be in the form of concentrate. Home cultivation of marijuana for one’s own personal use is not permitted. The majority of funding for the measure was provided by the multi-state cannabis company Trulieve.

Because the ballot proposal is in the form of a constitutional amendment, it requires approval from a supermajority of voters (60 percent) to become law.

Florida law defines the possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana as a felony offense, punishable by up to five years in prison. Those who possess lesser amounts are guilty of a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by a year in jail.

For the past several years, state agencies have failed to provide comprehensive marijuana-related arrest data to the FBI. Historically, Florida was among the leading states in the nation in marijuana-related arrests. Additional information on Amendment 3 is available from Smart & Safe Florida.