Clinical Trial: Topical Cannabis Cream Mitigates Pruritus
Pathum Thani, Thailand: The topical application of a cream containing CBD and THC reduces itch severity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated pruritus, according to placebo-controlled clinical data published in the journal Kidney Medicine.
Investigators associated with Thammasat University in Thailand assessed the use of a cannabis-infused cream versus placebo in pruritus patients. Subjects were administered either the cream or the placebo for four weeks. Patients were assessed at baseline and at two weeks and four weeks.
Compared to the placebo group, kidney disease patients using the cannabis-infused cream experienced less itching and improved quality of life.
The study’s authors concluded: “This study demonstrated that a cannabis-containing cream might be an effective treatment for CKD-associated pruritus in hemodialysis patients with limited adverse side effects. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations of follow-up are suggested to ensure the reliability of the results, especially regarding itch-related quality of life.”
Full text of the study, “Cannabis-containing cream for CKD-associated pruritus: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial,” appears in Kidney Medicine.
US Territory Halts Pre-Employment Marijuana Testing
Saipan, CNMI: The Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a US territory with a population of approximately 56,000 people, has signed legislation into law ending pre-employment marijuana screening as a requirement for most government jobs.
Public Law 23-27 eliminates pre-employment testing for most public jobs. However, the ban does not apply to those seeking safety-sensitive positions or those subject to federal drug testing regulations.
The US territory legalized the retail sale and use of cannabis in 2018.
In recent years, lawmakers in three states – Michigan, Nevada, and Washington – and numerous other municipalities and counties nationwide – including Atlanta, Cleveland, the District of Columbia, Philadelphia, and St. Louis – have similarly ended pre-employment marijuana screening for most public employees. Several other states — including California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island — have enacted broader workplace protections limiting employers’ ability to either test or sanction workers for their use of cannabis use while off the job.
Clinical Trial: Oral THC Significantly Reduces Agitation in Alzheimer’s Patients
Baltimore, MD: The twice-daily administration of dronabinol capsules (FDA-approved, synthetically produced THC) significantly mitigates agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to placebo-controlled clinical trial data presented at the 2024 International Psychogeriatric Association conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Investigators affiliated with John Hopkins University in Baltimore and Tufts University in Boston assessed the safety and efficacy of dronabinol versus placebo in 75 patients with severe Alzheimer’s-associated agitation.
Compared to the placebo group, subjects who consumed 5-milligram doses of dronabinol experienced a 30 percent reduction in agitation. Researchers said that the efficacy of oral THC was similar to that of traditional antipsychotics, but that dronabinol possessed a superior safety profile.
Several clinical trials dating back to the 1990s have similarly shown positive results for the use of dronabinol in patients with AD. More recent studies have also reported that the use of cannabis plant-derived extracts reduces AD-related symptoms, including agitation, irritability, and sleep disturbances.
Preclinical data has shown that both THC and synthetic THC agonists can modulate neuroinflammation and the formation of amyloid plaque in the brain – both of which are believed to play a key role in the development of AD.
Case Report: CBD Dosing Mitigates Pain Due to Spondyloarthritis
São José do Rio Preto, Brazil: The daily administration of plant-derived CBD oil is associated with reduced spondyloarthritis-related pain and increased physical activity, according to a case report published in the journal Cureus.
A Brazilian researcher documented improvements in a 72-year-old male patient with neuropathic pain from spondyloarthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease that predominantly affects the spinal column. The patient suffered from chronic pain, numbness, diminished muscle strength, and limited movement due to his condition.
Treatment with CBD oil resulted in initial improvements within 20 days. These improvements became more pronounced over time. “After 90 days of treatment, the patient reported the absence of pain, the return of physical activity (walking and swimming), and the suspension of the use of analgesics. Muscle strength increased considerably and tremors in the left arm had diminished by 90 percent.”
The study’s author concluded, “Based on this result and considering scientific evidence of the effectiveness of CBD in the treatment of patients with chronic pain due to different illnesses, this therapeutic option may be beneficial to such patients when conventional medicinal treatment is unsatisfactory.”
Full text of the study, “Cannabidiol for the treatment of spondyloarthritis-related pain: A case report,” appears in Cureus.
