Tag: Media

Analysis: Some Retail Cannabis Products Contain Lower Levels of THC Than Advertised

Aurora, CO: The THC potency of many retail cannabis flower products is lower than what is advertised on the products’ packaging, according to data published in the journal PLOS One.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical School randomly purchased 23 cannabis flower products from ten different state-licensed dispensaries. Each of the purchased products were then reanalyzed by a single certified testing lab.

“Sixteen of 23 samples (69.56 percent) had observed values that were more than 15 percent lower relative to the lowest reported THC percent by dry weight [as reported on the product’s label], and 13 of those samples (56.52 percent) were more than 30 percent lower than the reported value,” researchers determined. “These results make clear that consumers are often purchasing cannabis that has a much lower THC potency than is advertised.”

Several studies assessing the potency of unregulated CBD products have reported similar discrepancies.

A 2021 study assessing trends in the THC potency of cannabis flower products sold in Nevada and Washington identified “a statistically unusual spike in the frequency of products reporting just higher than 20 percent THC in both states.” The study’s authors suggested that both cannabis growers and labs may be manipulating the testing process in a manner that inflates products’ purported potency.

Authors of the latest study concluded: “Overall, approximately 70 percent of the samples were more than 15 percent lower than the THC potency numbers reported on the label, with three samples having only one half of the reported maximum THC potency. Although the exact source of the discrepancies is difficult to determine, a lack of standardized testing protocols, limited regulatory oversight, and financial incentives to market high THC potency likely play a significant role. Given our results it is urgent that steps are taken to increase label accuracy of cannabis being sold to the public. The lack of accurate reporting of THC potency can have impacts on medical patients controlling dosage, recreational consumers expecting an effect aligned with price, and trust in the industry as a whole. As the legal cannabis market continues to grow, it is essential that the industry moves toward selling products with more accurate labeling.”

NORML has long called for greater standardization and oversight among cannabis testing labs, opining, “[T]esting and labeling ensure that adult consumers have consistent access to a standardized product and have the information necessary to make an informed decision prior to purchasing.”

Full text of the study, “Uncomfortably high: Testing reveals inflated THC potency on retail cannabis labels,” appears in PLOS One.

Study Fails to Identify Cannabis Exposure as a Risk Factor for the Development of Psychosis

London, United Kingdom: A history of cannabis use is not associated with an increased risk of developing psychosis, even among those predisposed to the disorder, according to data published in the journal Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.

A team of investigators from Australia, Europe, and the United Kingdom examined the association between cannabis use and incidences of psychotic disorders in clinically at-risk subjects. Researchers assessed subjects at baseline and then followed them for a period of two years.

They reported: “There was no significant association between any measure of cannabis use at baseline and either transition to psychosis, the persistence of symptoms, or functional outcomes.”

Authors concluded, “Our primary hypothesis was that cannabis use in CHR [clinically high risk] subjects would be associated with an increased rate of later transition to psychosis. However, there was no significant association with any measure of cannabis use. ... These findings are not consistent with epidemiological data linking cannabis use to an increased risk of developing psychosis.”

Although the use of cannabis and other controlled substances tends to be more common among those with psychotic illnesses, studies indicate that lifetime incidences of acute marijuana-induced psychosis are relatively rare among the general population.

Data published last year in the New Zealand Medical Journal reported that those with a history of cannabis consumption do not typically exhibit more severe symptoms of psychosis than do those with no history of regular use.

Full text of the study, “Influence of cannabis use on incidence of psychosis in people at clinical high risk,” appears in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.

Study: Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Report Symptom Relief, Use Fewer Opioids Following Cannabis Treatment

Buffalo, NY: Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients exhibit improved symptoms and reductions in their use of prescription opioids following their use of medical cannabis, according to data published in the journal Clinical Neuropharmacology.

Researchers with the University of Buffalo School of Pharmacy assessed the use of cannabis products in a cohort of 69 PD patients. All of the study’s participants possessed an authorization from their doctor to access state-licensed medical cannabis products. Most subjects consumed cannabis in the form of a tincture containing a 1 to 1 ratio of THC and CBD.

Investigators reported: “Eight-seven percent of patients exhibit[ed] an improvement in PD symptoms after starting MC [medical cannabis]. Symptoms with the highest incidence of improvement included cramping/dystonia, pain, spasticity, lack of appetite, dyskinesia [involuntary movements], and tremor. After starting MC, 56 percent of opioid users were able to decrease or discontinue opioid use with an average daily morphine milligram equivalent change from 31 at baseline to 22 at the last follow-up visit. MC was well-tolerated with no severe AEs [adverse events] reported and low rate of MC discontinuation due to AEs.”

Nearly 25 percent of US patients with Parkinson’s disease report being active cannabis consumers, according to survey data compiled by the Parkinson’s Foundation. Separate survey data compiled last year by researchers with the University of Colorado reports that PD patients who use either CBD or whole-plant cannabis products frequently acknowledge improvements in their sleep, pain, anxiety, and agitation.

Dozens of studies involving patients with chronic pain and other conditions find that subjects typically decrease or cease their use of prescription opioid medications following the initiation of cannabis therapy.

Full text of the study, “Medical cannabis in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease,” appears in Clinical Neuropharmacology.

Literature Review: Cannabis Promising in Treating Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Old Westbury, NY: Patients with IBD (inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease) typically respond favorably to cannabis therapy, according to a review of studies published in the journal Cureus.

Investigators affiliated with the New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine and other universities reviewed results from 29 selected studies published between 2012 and 2022. Most studies reported “reduced clinical complications” following cannabis treatment.

“Following treatment with cannabis cigarettes, ... there tends to be a better patient perception of their general health, proving statistically significant and reflecting the promising effects of using cannabinoids in addressing IBD,” the study’s authors wrote. “Simultaneous improvements … suggest that the use of cannabinoids yields notable improvements in IBD patients’ social functioning, as well as improvements in the parameters of depression, body pain, and the ability to work.”

They concluded: “[C]annabis ... yields promising outcomes. ... It is recommended that in the future, more and more in vivo and in vitro studies are conducted ... to foster a better understanding of the extent to which cannabinoids could play a protective role in IBD patients.”

Survey data published earlier this month reported that nearly one in four patients with IBD acknowledge using medical cannabis and over 85 percent of consumers say that it improves their symptoms.

Full text of the study, “The use of cannabinoids in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): A review of the literature,” appears in Cureus.

Study: Topical Application of CBD Provides Significant Relief from Pain in Former Elite-Level Athletes

Shreveport, LA: The twice-daily use of topical CBD is well-tolerated and alleviates chronic pain in former elite-level (professional) athletes, according to observational data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Researchers with Louisiana State University assessed the safety and efficacy of a proprietary topical CBD product in a cohort of former athletes suffering from chronic pain. Study subjects took 10mg of CBD twice daily via a controlled dispenser for six weeks.

Patients reported significant decreases in pain and improvements in their quality of life during the course of the study. CBD treatment was well-tolerated and only minor adverse effects (e.g., skin dryness) were reported.

Authors concluded: “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study testing the efficacy of CBD treatment on elite athletes. ... The current findings support the continued development of topical CBD with all participants reporting relief from pain and almost all participants seeing a decrease in disability related to pain during the 6-week study period.”

Prior studies assessing the efficacy of topical CBD treatment have reported that it can mitigate arthritic pain and stimulate wound healing. The topical application of cannabinoids, and of CBD in particular, has also demonstrated benefits in the treatment of a variety of skin-related conditions, including psoriasis, erythema, pruritus, and acne.

Full text of the study, “Topical cannabidiol is well tolerated in individuals with a history of elite physical performance and chronic lower extremity pain,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.