#NORML #News @WeedConnection

Sydney, Australia: Endometriosis patients frequently report using cannabis preparations to alleviate their symptoms, according to survey data published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Australian researchers surveyed 192 women with a history of cannabis use and endometriosis. Sixty-three percent of respondents said that they had received a doctor’s authorization to use cannabis-based medicinal products. (Under Australian law, physicians may authorize cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.)

Most respondents used THC-dominant products. Consistent with other studies, patients reported symptom improvements following cannabis treatment – including better sleep, less pain, fewer bouts of nausea, and reduced anxiety.

“This study found that THC-predominant CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] are commonly prescribed to Australians with endometriosis,” authors concluded. “Given major issues with symptom management and the self-reported reductions in pain and other symptoms, improving access to medicinal cannabis for this population is important and timely.”

Other surveys have similarly indicated that cannabis use is popular among patients with endometriosis, and that many of them substitute it in place of other medications, particularly opioid-based analgesics.

Full text of the study, “A survey of cost, access, and outcomes for cannabinoid-based medicinal product use by Australians with endometriosis,” appears in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Study: Marijuana Consumers No Less Likely To Exercise

Dallas, Texas: Adults with a history of marijuana use engage in exercise and other physical activities at rates comparable to non-users, according to data published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Texas and Ohio University compared exercise patterns in a nationally representative cohort of cannabis consumers and non-consumers.

They reported no significant differences between the two groups in their frequency of strength training or general activity. However, cannabis consumers were more likely than non-users to walk for exercise.

“Our results indicate that marijuana … use [is] not associated with low exercise rates among adults in the U.S.,” the study’s authors concluded. “These findings challenge the stereotype that marijuana … users are less active than their non-using counterparts.”

The findings are consistent with those of other studies concluding that adults with a history of marijuana use typically exercise as much or more than their non-using peers. Among those age 60 and older, marijuana use has been associated with increased exercise frequency.

Full text of the study, “The association between marijuana and e-cigarette use and exercise behavior among adults,” appears in Preventive Medicine Reports.

Survey: Most Palliative Care Professionals Say They Are Uninformed About Medical Cannabis Issues

Boston, MA: Most physicians specializing in hospice and palliative care believe that they are inadequately prepared to counsel patients about the use of medical cannabis, according to survey data published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

Harvard researchers surveyed 123 HPM [hospice and palliative medicine] fellows regarding their familiarity with medical cannabis.

Consistent with prior surveys of healthcare professionals, most respondents (71 percent) said that they were “insufficiently informed” to discuss medical cannabis options with their patients.

Surveys of nurses, pharmacists, clinicians, and other medical professionals have yielded similar findings.

However, in contrast with other surveys, most HPM fellows (65 percent) acknowledged having received some “formal training regarding medical cannabis.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Few [of those surveyed] considered themselves sufficiently informed to make cannabis-related clinical recommendations. These results suggest both a need for expanded high-quality evidence for medical cannabis in palliative care and for improved formal education for HPM fellows.”

Full text of the study, “Palliative medicine fellows’ discussions, perceptions, and training regarding medical cannabis,” appears in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.