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Study: THC/CBD Combination Therapy Reduces Seizure Frequency in Children with Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy

London, United Kingdom: The daily administration of cannabis products is associated with reductions in seizure frequency among children with treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE), according to observational trial data published in the journal Neuropediatrics.

British investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis-derived products in 35 patients diagnosed with pediatric epilepsy. Study subjects were participants in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, and each of them possessed a doctor’s authorization to consume cannabis. Study participants consumed either CBD-dominant extract oils or a combination therapy containing both CBD and THC.

Researchers reported that over 90 percent of subjects treated with the combination therapy experienced a ≥50 percent reduction in seizure frequency at six months, whereas fewer than one-third of patients receiving CBD-only products did so. Investigators said that cannabis products exhibited an acceptable short-term safety profile in this patient cohort.

"The results show a promising signal toward the effectiveness of CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] in children with TRE, particularly in the cohort of patients treated with delta-9-THC," the authors concluded. They added: "The short term adverse effects appear well tolerated, but the long-term effects of CBMPs on neurodevelopment are still unknown. The results from this study could be utilized in the design of future phase II randomized controlled trials, particularly for dosing regimens."

Subjects enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry who were diagnosed with a variety of other conditions, including post-traumatic stress, depression, and inflammatory bowel disease, have also demonstrated symptomatic improvements following cannabis therapy.

Survey data from Canada estimates that as many as one-third of epileptic patients consume cannabis products therapeutically.

In 2018, regulators with the United States Food and Drug Administration granted market approval for the plant-derived CBD prescription drug Epidiolex in the treatment of two rare forms of pediatric epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome. The drug is categorized as a Schedule V controlled substance. In 2020, FDA regulators expanded the prescription use of Epidiolex to patients with the genetic disorder tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Full text of the study, "Clinical outcomes of children treated with cannabis based medicinal products for treatment resistant epilepsy: Analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry," appears in Neuropediatrics.

Case Series: Cannabis Effective at Treating Borderline Personality Disorder

London, United Kingdom: The use of cannabis products containing THC and CBD are safe and effective in mitigating symptoms in patients diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), according to a case series reported in the journal Brain Sciences. Emotionally unstable personality disorder (a/k/a borderline personality disorder) is a common mental health disorder associated with a range of chronic and debilitating symptoms, including impaired social functioning, unstable mood, and risky, impulsive, or self-injurious behavior.

An international team of researchers assessed the use of cannabis products in a cohort of seven EUPD patients. Subjects consumed products containing both THC and CBD in varying ratios for one month.

Six of the seven participants reported "an improvement in symptoms," and "none of the participants reported any adverse side effects."

The study’s authors concluded: "To our knowledge, this case series represents the first medical evidence of the use of CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] for the clinical management of patients with a diagnosis of EUPD. ... [O]ur results suggest that, when deployed in a rigorously controlled clinical environment, CBMPs can provide substantial improvement in symptoms associated with EUPD thus warranting the need for further research on this therapeutic strategy."

Full text of the study, "Cannabis based medicinal products in the management of emotionally unstable personality disorder: A narrative review and case series," appears in Brain Sciences.

Study: Cannabis Use History Not Associated with Increased Risk of Hypertension

Chicago, IL: Neither current nor past cannabis use is associated with an elevated risk of high blood pressure, according to data published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.

Investigators with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago assessed the relationship between cannabis use and blood pressure in a cohort of 4,565 adults.

They found no correlation between cannabis consumption and the likelihood of receiving a medical diagnosis for hypertension. They reported: "When compared with non-users, respondents who indicated sustained use of cannabis were not found to have an increased likelihood of developing hypertension. Among cannabis users, the frequency of use was not associated with increased odds of hypertension diagnosis. The age that an individual first began regularly using cannabis was also not found to have an association with the odds of hypertension diagnosis. Current users were not more likely than past users to have hypertension."

The authors concluded: "The findings of this study indicate that neither past nor current cannabis use are associated with the likelihood of having clinical hypertension. … Prospective clinical trials are needed to further determine the effects of cannabis on developing or perhaps even mitigating hypertension, particularly regarding long-term outcomes."

The findings are similar to those of a 2021 study, which also reported, "After adjustment for all confounders, neither lifetime cannabis use, 12-month cannabis use nor 12-month cannabis use frequency [at least monthly use and less than monthly use] were associated above chance with the incidence of hypertension."

Cannabinoids may influence blood pressure and other cardiovascular responses, though these effects tend to be short-term in duration and can be inconsistent. Recently, Israeli data reported that elderly subjects with hypertension respond favorably to medical cannabis treatment. Investigators involved with that study concluded, "Cannabis treatment for three months was associated with a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as heart rate."

Full text of the study, "Sustained cannabis use does not predispose clinical hypertension: Findings from a national survey," appears in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.

Analysis: Long-Term Cannabis Use Not Significantly Detrimental to Overall Health

Barcelona, Spain: Adults who regularly consume cannabis products do not report significant differences in their overall health as compared to the general public, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Spanish investigators surveyed a representative sample of regular cannabis consumers on a variety of questions specific to their daily activities and perceived overall health. Their responses were compared to previously compiled data provided by the general public.

Cannabis consumers were more likely than members of the general public to report walking at least ten minutes per day (76 percent to 70 percent), and they were more likely to positively perceive their own health (88 percent to 82 percent). Consumers were also less likely to report having issues with their cholesterol and blood pressure. Consumers were more likely than those in the general population to report experiencing problems sleeping.

One in four respondents reported reducing their need for medical interventions since using cannabis, and nearly one-third acknowledged reducing their use of prescription medications -- a finding that is consistent with prior studies.

Authors reported: "In this study, long-term users of cannabis scored in a similar way as the general population on a list of health indicators. These results were obtained using validated health indicators, especially designed and used by several governments to assess population health and compare this information between countries or specific populations. There was only one indicator associated with poorer health among cannabis users: sleep problems."

They concluded: "[T]hese findings suggest that long-term cannabis use might not play a central role in terms of public health. … We suggest inclusion of cannabis-related items in national surveys of health as they would provide valuable data to support the progress of public debates regarding its regulation."

Full text of the study, "Cannabis and public health: A study assessing regular cannabis users through health indicators," appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.