Weekly Stories, Studies, Surveys, Poll Results, Laws, etc.
Study: Cannabis Extracts Relieve GI Symptoms in Fibromyalgia Patients
Baronissi, Italy: Fibromyalgia (FM) patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders experience symptomatic improvements following the sustained use of plant-derived cannabis extracts, according to data published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.
Italian researchers assessed GI symptoms in 46 FM patients prior to and following their use of cannabis extracts containing 19 percent THC and 1 percent CBD. Patients were evaluated at enrollment, at three months, and six months.
Researchers reported that cannabis dosing was associated with significant reductions in patients’ epigastric and abdominal pain. Cannabis treatment was also associated with less intense and frequent symptoms of gastric burning and bloating. A minority of patients (eight percent) experienced complete remission from their symptoms during the study.
“This study supports … medical cannabis as an alternative treatment for FM with a potential effect on FD [functional dyspepsia] and IBS [irritable bowel syndrome] patients,” the study’s authors concluded.
Survey data shows that FM patients frequently consume cannabis to mitigate disease symptoms and to reduce their reliance on prescription medications.
Full text of the study, “The effect of medical cannabis on gastrointestinal symptoms in fibromyalgia and disorders of gut-brain interaction: A patient-centered real-world observational study,” appears in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.
Analysis: Hair Follicle Testing Detects Passive Exposure to Cannabis Smoke
Bologna, Italy: Subjects exposed to second-hand cannabis smoke, even for brief periods, can test positive for THC on a hair follicle test, according to data published in the journal Forensic Science International.
A team of Italian investigators assessed the ability of hair tests to detect THC in subjects exposed to side-stream cannabis smoke. Study participants were exposed to second-hand smoke from a single marijuana cigarette for 15 minutes in a non-ventilated environment.
Subjects’ hair samples tested positive for THC following passive exposure, with male subjects possessing higher THC values than women. All subjects tested negative for THC metabolites in their urine.
“Our study showed that hair contamination could arise in vivo even after short single exposures to cannabis, … underlining the need for a careful interpretation of results of hair analysis in forensic toxicology,” the study’s authors concluded.
NORML has consistently criticized the use of drug detection tests, such as blood testing, oral fluid tests, urinalysis, and hair testing, in the workplace and elsewhere because they cannot accurately determine behavioral impairment or recent drug ingestion.
Full text of the study, “Analysis of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on hair after single and repeated short in vivo passive exposures to low- and high-delta-9-THC cannabis,” appears in Forensic Science International.
Study: Marijuana Extracts Mitigate Chronic Pain in Cannabis-Naïve Subjects
Cologne, Germany: The sustained use of plant-derived cannabis extracts significantly reduces pain and improves mental health in patients with or without a history of marijuana use, according to observational data published in the journal Advances in Therapy.
German investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis extracts containing equal percentages of THC and CBD in a cohort of 64 patients with inadequately treated chronic pain. The cohort included 35 cannabis-naïve patients. Study participants were observed for six months.
Researchers “observed a substantial reduction in patient-reported pain intensity over time in both groups,” with pain scores falling most significantly (by 60 percent) in the cannabis-naïve subgroup. No serious adverse events were reported.
“Our findings indicate that treatment with medicinal cannabis improves both physical and mental health in patients with chronic pain,” the study’s authors concluded. “The results suggest that medicinal cannabis might be a safe alternative for patients who are inadequately treated with conventional therapies.”
Separate data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that nearly one in three patients with chronic pain use cannabis as an analgesic agent and many of those who do substitute it in place of opioids.
Full text of the study, “An observational study on improving pain and quality of life with the Cannamedical hybrid cannabis extract,” appears in Advances in Therapy.
Survey: Many Consumers Substitute Cannabis for Prescription Medications
Los Angeles, CA: Most consumers acknowledge using cannabis in place of pharmaceutical medications, according to survey data compiled by the telehealth platform NuggMD.
Of the 485 subjects surveyed, more than 79 percent said that they consumed cannabis, at least in part, as an alternative to prescription medications. Notably, most respondents did not participate in state-sanctioned medical marijuana access programs. The findings, which are consistent with numerous other surveys, indicate that many consumers use cannabis for therapeutic purposes, even if they do not self-identify as patients.
Many longitudinal studies report a decline in patients’ use of conventional medicines, specifically opioids, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleep aids, following their use of cannabis. Consumers also frequently report substituting cannabis for alcohol, tobacco, and other controlled substances.
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