Weekly Stories, Studies, Surveys, Poll Results, Laws, etc.
Analysis: Alcohol Sales Dip Following Marijuana Legalization
St. Catherines, Canada: Alcohol sales decline following the adoption of adult-use marijuana legalization, according to data published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.
A researcher with Brock University in Ontario analyzed alcoholic beverage sales in the province of Nova Scotia during the 17 months immediately prior to and following Canada’s legalization of the adult-use marijuana market.
He determined that alcohol sales declined slightly (2.2 percent) immediately following legalization. Alcohol sales remained below average throughout the study period (1.2 percent below pre-legalization levels).
“Nova Scotia’s alcohol sales declined slightly after cannabis legalization,” the study’s author concluded. “The net decrease in alcohol sales implies … that … after cannabis became legal to use, consumers substituted it for alcohol more often than before.”
The result is consistent with data recently provided by Statistics Canada, finding that alcohol sales experienced a significant decline in 2023/2024 while adult-use cannabis sales increased nearly 12 percent.
Survey data published last year in The Harm Reduction Journal found that 60 percent of cannabis consumers acknowledge using the substance to reduce their alcohol intake.
Full text of the study, “Alcohol sales change in a Canadian province after recreational cannabis legalization,” appears in the International Journal of Drug Policy.
Clinical Trial: Daily Use of Hemp-Derived CBD Reduces Alcohol Cravings
Aurora, CO: The daily consumption of hemp-derived CBD is associated with reduced cravings for alcohol in subjects diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to clinical trial data published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus assessed the use of CBD versus placebo in a cohort of 44 adults with AUD. Participants consumed 15 mg capsules containing hemp-derived CBD either with or without THC or a placebo for eight weeks. Patients were assessed at baseline, four weeks, eight weeks, and 16 weeks.
Researchers reported that daily CBD consumption reduced participants’ alcohol cravings with “minimal side effects.” Participants who consumed CBD with trace amounts of THC “demonstrated stronger improvements in AUD symptoms” relative to those who consumed CBD only. However, CBD dosing didn’t directly influence the number of drinks participants consumed per day.
“Results suggest good tolerability, low potential for adverse effects, and potential clinical efficacy, supporting the rationale for additional investigations,” the study’s authors concluded. “Future studies should prioritize large, well-powered RCTs [randomized clinical trials] to validate these preliminary findings in individuals with varying AUD severity and treatment histories.”
The results of a 2024 randomized clinical trial similarly concluded that the oral administration of 800 mg of synthetic CBD significantly reduces subjects’ cravings for alcohol.
A 2021 observational study also determined that the consumption of CBD-dominant cannabis is associated with reductions in subjects’ alcohol intake. That study reported that participants who ingested CBD-dominant cannabis during the trial period “drank fewer drinks per drinking day, had fewer alcohol use days, and fewer alcohol and cannabis co-use days” compared with those who did not.
Separate studies also suggest that CBD dosing can reduce cravings for other psychoactive substances, including tobacco, methamphetamine, and heroin.
Full text of the study, “A preliminary randomized trial of the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of hemp-derived cannabidiol in alcohol use disorder,” appears in Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Survey: Most Veterans Say Feds Should Provide Medical Cannabis Services
Washington, DC: Military veterans and their family members believe that the Department of Veterans Affairs should provide medical cannabis treatment to eligible patients, according to survey data compiled by the non-profit group Mission Roll Call.
Representatives from the advocacy group compiled responses from nearly 2,000 veterans and their family members regarding how the Veterans Affairs department could better expand its services. Fifty-seven percent of respondents supported allowing the agency to provide medical cannabis.
Under federal law, VA-affiliated doctors are forbidden from authorizing veterans to use medical cannabis, even if they live in jurisdictions where the substance is legal.
Nonetheless, some 40 percent of veterans suffering from chronic pain acknowledge using cannabis products. Most say they improve their health-related quality of life and reduce their reliance on prescription medications.
Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Veterans Issues.’
Banda Aceh, Indonesia: The twice-daily topical application of hemp seed oil accelerates the wound healing process, according to animal data published in the Indonesian scientific journal Narra J.
A team of Indonesian researchers assessed the efficacy of hemp seed oil on animal (mice) wounds over 21 days. Investigators compared the effects of hemp seed oil to those of another active treatment (chloramphenicol ointment) or a placebo.
Researchers reported that hemp seed oil “demonstrated superior effectiveness in accelerating wound size reduction compared to chloramphenicol ointment during days 14 and 21, indicating its potential as a supportive therapy for prolonged wound healing phases.” Hemp seed oil also demonstrated superior results with respect to vascularization and promoting angiogenesis (stimulating the formation of new blood vessels).
“Hemp seed oil demonstrated significant potential in accelerating wound healing processes, particularly in promoting wound size reduction, epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and vascularization, indicating a superior effect compared to chloramphenicol ointment,” the study’s authors concluded. “Hemp seed oil may be considered a promising adjunct or alternative treatment for wound management, particularly for patients seeking natural and cost-effective options.”
The topical application of cannabinoids, and CBD in particular, has demonstrated benefits in the treatment of a variety of skin-related conditions, including eczema, leg ulcers, skin ulcers of the fingertips, psoriasis, erythema, pruritus, and acne. It has also been associated with wound healing in patients with refractory leg ulcers and with the rare skin blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa.
Full text of the study, “Effect of hemp seed oil on accelerating wound healing: Evaluation of wound size reduction, epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and vascularization in murine models,” appears in Narra J.
#cReatoR @RussellRope
Subscribe To WC Channel