Tag: Weed Connection

Study: Cannabinoid Ointment Relieves Eczema Symptoms

Katowice, Poland: The topical administration of an ointment containing standardized percentages of CBD and CBG (cannabigerol) mitigates symptoms and improves the health-related quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis (eczema), according to observational data published in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.

Polish investigators assessed the transdermal use of cannabinoids in nine patients diagnosed with AD. Study participants applied a cannabinoid-infused ointment containing 30 percent CBD and five percent CBG daily for eight weeks.

Cannabis treatment led to the remission of skin lesions and other changes in skin parameters, including improved hydration and less itching.

“Our results demonstrate that topical cannabinoid therapy is effective in reducing itching and improving the quality of life of patients with AD, leading to symptom remission in some cases,” the study’s authors concluded.

The results are consistent with those of prior studies finding that the topical application of cannabinoids provides benefits in treating various skin-related conditions, including psoriasis, erythema, pruritus, and acne. Cannabinoid treatment is also associated with wound healing in patients with refractory leg ulcers and has demonstrated positive results in patients suffering from the skin blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa.

Full text of the study, “Evaluation of biophysical parameters of the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis after application of an ointment containing 30% cannabidiol and 5% cannabigerol,” appears in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.

Analysis: Fewer Than One-Third of Legal Cannabis States Have Appropriated Funding for Marijuana Research

Oakland, CA: Less than one-third of states that regulate marijuana for either medical or adult use have allocated funding for cannabis-related research, according to an analysis published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

A team of investigators headed by the University of California reviewed state-level funding opportunities for cannabis-related research. They reported that 17 states have adopted legislation providing funding mechanisms for research. However, to date, only 12 states have allocated funding for marijuana-related research protocols.

“Without federal participation or support, states are carrying the bulk of responsibility for regulatory oversight of cannabis,” the study’s authors wrote. “This lack of investment is a missed opportunity for states to foster research about the impact of legalization and to increase understanding of the risks and benefits of cannabis use within their state. There is also a missed opportunity for collaborations between researchers and cannabis regulators to inform legislative discussion and develop future evidence-based cannabis laws.”

While federal grants remain the largest source of marijuana research funding, federal appropriations for cannabis-related research are well below those allocated for alcohol and tobacco. “The amount of federal funding allocated to cannabis research is considerably less than the funding provided for other research areas that have similar public health and public policy importance,” researchers wrote. They also acknowledged that federally funded research projects tend to focus on potential marijuana-related harms and adverse effects.

The study’s authors concluded: “Though cannabis products are legal in 39 states for medical use and 24 states for non-medical adult use, only 12 states have provided direct funding for cannabis research. … States have much to gain from greater scientific understanding of cannabis and the impacts of legalization, and lawmakers should consider adopting mechanisms that would support research in parallel with legalization. This funding is important for investing in state infrastructure needed to support public agencies and academic institutions alike over time.”

Full text of the study, “State funding for cannabis research: An analysis of funding mechanisms and levels,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Study: Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Not Associated With Changes in Early Childhood Development

Montreal, Canada: Prenatal cannabis use does not impede infants’ cognitive development, according to longitudinal data published in Maternal and Child Health Journal.

Canadian investigators assessed the prevalence of prenatal cannabis use and its impact on early childhood development in a cohort of 1,489 mothers and infants.

They reported that instances of prenatal cannabis use were low (below three percent) and that most mothers who acknowledged using it ceased doing so after their first trimester. Prenatal cannabis use was associated with lower socioeconomic status, prenatal use of alcohol and tobacco, and more distress symptoms during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Investigators reported no association between prenatal cannabis use and developmental indicators at age two, including fine motor skills and language development. However, researchers did not rule out the possibility of such changes developing later in life.

“We found that cannabis use during pregnancy was not significantly associated with cognitive, fine motor, gross motor and language development of 2-year-old children,” the study’s authors concluded. “This [null finding] might suggest that associations of low magnitudes are more likely to appear at developmental stages when higher developmental functions emerge.”

Prior studies assessing the potential impacts of in-utero cannabis exposure on early childhood health have yielded inconsistent results. While some observational studies have identified a link between exposure and low birth weight or an increased risk of preterm birth, other studies have not. A literature review published in the journal Preventive Medicine concluded, “Although there is a theoretical potential for cannabis to interfere with neurodevelopment, human data drawn from four prospective cohorts have not identified any long-term or long-lasting meaningful differences between children exposed in utero to cannabis and those not.”

Full text of the study, “Longitudinal associations between cannabis use during pregnancy and child cognitive, motor, and language development at 2 years old,” appears in Maternal and Child Health Journal.

Analysis: Commercially Available Hemp Products Often Exceed Legal THC Limits, Lack Proper Labeling

Salem, OR: Most products labeled as hemp sold either online or in unregulated retail stores contain THC percentages exceeding legal limits, and few provide links on their packaging to verifiable test results, according to a preliminary analysis of commercially available products by Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) and the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

State officials analyzed 101 flower and edible products marketed as hemp. Products were purchased either in person or online from companies operating in various states.

Consistent with the results of numerous prior analyses of commercially available hemp products, most products contained THC percentages exceeding legal limits and provided misleading labeling on their packaging. Few products provided verifiable COAs (certificates of analysis). Several products included chemically synthesized cannabinoids. Age verification was rarely required prior to the products’ sale.

Researchers said the results indicate “widespread noncompliance” with state and federal laws.

“Retailers within Oregon and in other states continue to sell prohibited products to … consumers, often without adequate age verification to ensure potentially intoxicating products stay out of the hands of minors,” the study’s authors concluded.

A recent analysis provided by the San Diego/Imperial Counties Joint Labor Management Cannabis Committee determined that over 90 percent of commercially available hemp-derived intoxicating products are infused with synthetically produced cannabinoids.

NORML and other groups have urged the FDA to establish regulatory guidelines governing the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. In 2021, NORML issued a report on delta-8-THC and other novel synthetically derived cannabinoids that cautioned consumers to avoid these unregulated products because they are often mislabeled and may contain impurities.

Full text of the report, “Evaluating Compliance, Potency, and Pesticides in Oregon’s Marijuana and Hemp Markets Ten Years After Legalization,” is available from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission.

California: NORML Chapter Lobbies at the Capital Opposing Marijuana Tax Hike

Sacramento, CA: Marijuana law reform advocates participated in a press conference and lobby day in Sacramento on Tuesday to voice their support for legislation to halt a pending tax hike on legal cannabis products.

California NORML hosted the event, which featured state assembly member Matt Haney, sponsor of AB 564. The bill, which is backed by California NORML, the United Food and Commercial Workers – Western States Council, the California Cannabis Industries Association, and other groups, halts efforts to increase the excise tax on adult-use cannabis products from 15 percent to 19 percent. Absent legislative action, the tax increase takes effect on July 1st.

“This bill would do something very simple,” Rep. Haney said. “It simply says, ‘Let’s not put a 25 percent tax increase on an industry that is still struggling to survive.’ Let’s invest in them and support them, not tax them to force them all to close. It’s not a sustainable approach … This bill will provide a critical lifeline to give this industry at least a fighting chance to survive.”

California is among several states that are considering plans to increase taxes on retail marijuana products. Lawmakers in Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio have also proposed significant tax hikes.

NORML opposes excessive taxes on cannabis products because artificially high prices drive consumers away from the legal marketplace and into the unregulated market.

An action alert in support of AB 564 is available from NORML’s Take Action Center.

Study: Patients With Hypermobility Disorders Report Sustained Improvements Following Cannabis Treatment

London, United Kingdom: Patients suffering from hypermobility disorders report sustained symptomatic improvements following their use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs), according to observational data published in the journal of the American College of Rheumatology, ACR Open Rheumatology.

British researchers assessed the use of botanical cannabis or oil extracts in 161 patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or similar hypermobility disorders enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (British specialists may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Researchers assessed changes from baseline in patient-reported outcomes at one, three, six, 12, and 18 months.

Patients reported sustained improvements in pain-specific metrics, as well as improvements in sleep and anxiety following cannabis therapy. The most reported adverse effects associated with cannabis treatment were headache and lethargy.

“This case series found improvements in perceived pain severity and interference, general HRQoL [health-related quality of life], sleep quality, and anxiety in patients with HSD [hypermobility spectrum disorder] or hEDS [hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome] after CBMP prescription,” the study’s authors concluded. “At 18 months, between 18.01 percent and 25.47 percent of individuals reported a clinically significant improvement in their pain depending on the assessment measure used. … [T]hese findings may help guide current clinical practice and shared decision‐making between patients and physicians.”

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among patients enrolled in the UK Cannabis Registry have reported them to be effective for those diagnosed with cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “UK Medical Cannabis registry: An analysis of outcomes of medical cannabis therapy for hypermobility-associated chronic pain,” appears in ACR Open Rheumatology.

Longitudinal Study: Childhood Depression, Suicidal Ideation Precede Cannabis Use

Los Angeles, CA: Emotional problems in early childhood are predictive of teen marijuana use – particularly among females, according to longitudinal data published in the Open Journal of Medical Sciences.

Investigators affiliated with the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles assessed the relationship between early childhood depression and marijuana use by mid-adolescence. Participants’ baseline emotional problems, including feelings of hopelessness, depression, and suicide attempts, were assessed at ages 9-10. Substance outcomes (marijuana and tobacco initiation) were tracked from baseline to follow-up at ages 14-15.

Researchers reported that childhood depression and other psychological factors significantly predicted future initiation of tobacco and cannabis. This relationship was especially significant among women.

“This study underscores the significant role of childhood depression, hopelessness, and suicidality in predicting the initiation of tobacco and marijuana use during adolescence,” researchers concluded. “Childhood depression, hopelessness, and suicidality may contribute to substance use through interconnected psychological, neurobiological, and social mechanisms. … The findings [of this study] emphasize the urgent need for policies that prioritize early mental health screening and intervention. … Investing in early mental health interventions, equitable policies, and multi-level approaches is critical for breaking the cycle of mental health challenges and substance use.”

The findings are consistent with those published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, which reported that adolescents who suffered from depression are more likely to use cannabis later in life, not vice-versa.

Full text of the study, “Childhood depression, hopelessness, and suicidal attempts predict earlier tobacco and marijuana use initiation during adolescence,” appears in the Open Journal of Medical Sciences.

Analysis: Historic Drop in Alcohol Sales as Legal Cannabis Sales Spike

Ottawa, Ontario: Sales of alcohol and cannabis in Canada are on opposite trajectories, according to data provided by Statistics Canada, the national statistical agency of the Canadian government.

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, sales of alcoholic beverages experienced historic declines, with beer sales experiencing the largest overall decrease. In comparison, “Sales of recreational cannabis by provincial cannabis authorities and other retail outlets increased 11.6 percent or $0.5 billion from one fiscal year earlier, reaching $5.2 billion in 2023/2024.” Sales of cannabis products had previously grown nearly 16 percent in 2022/2023.

Canada legalized the adult-use marijuana market in 2018.

Separate data published in February in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reported that fewer young adults in the US acknowledge consuming alcohol following the opening of licensed marijuana retailers.

While survey data finds that many consumers acknowledge substituting marijuana for alcohol, observational data gathered from jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis is mixed – with some studies reporting dips in alcohol sales post-legalization and others reporting no significant changes at the population level.

Complete data sets are available from Statistics Canada.

Analysis: Most ‘Hemp-Derived’ Intoxicating Products Sold Online Contain Synthetically Produced Cannabinoids

San Diego, CA: Most commercially available hemp-derived intoxicating products are infused with synthetic cannabinoids, including novel cannabinoids like THCP and HHC, according to an analysis of 104 products by the San Diego/Imperial Counties Joint Labor Management Cannabis Committee.

Investigators assessed the composition and potency of 104 distinct products from 68 brands. All the products were available online and delivered to California by the US Postal Service. (Hemp-derived intoxicating products are not currently subject to federal regulations or oversight.) No age verification was required when purchasing any of the products. Most of the products were categorized as either vape products or gummies.

Researchers determined that 95 percent of the products sampled, including 97 percent of vape products, contained cannabinoids produced through a chemical synthesis rather than naturally extracted from the plant. While delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC were the most frequently identified synthetically derived cannabinoids, investigators also identified highly potent novel cannabinoids such as THCP and HHC in nearly one-third to one-half of products. Some products also tested positive for the presence of kratom, hallucinogenic mushrooms, or similar psychoactive substances.

The study’s authors cautioned that exposure to either synthetic cannabinoids or byproducts produced during the chemical conversion process can pose potential risks to consumers’ health.

They wrote: “The presence of synthetic cannabinoids in these products doesn’t just challenge their classification as ‘hemp’ – it also fundamentally distorts consumer expectations around potency. Many of the lab-made cannabinoids found in our analysis are far more potent than natural delta-9 THC, meaning a product’s psychoactive effects may be dramatically understated if potency is assessed solely by delta-9 THC content. … Novel and unknown isomers associated with chemically synthesized cannabinoids, like delta-8 THC, may present significant risks due to their unpredictable chemical and physical properties.”

They concluded: “To restore order to the market and bring clarity and certainty to consumers, all THC-containing products should be regulated as cannabis within California’s established framework. This will protect consumer safety, ensure tax compliance, and uphold the intent of the state’s cannabis laws.”

NORML and other groups have urged the FDA to establish regulatory guidelines governing the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. In 2021, NORML issued a report on delta-8-THC and other novel synthetically derived cannabinoids that cautioned consumers to avoid these unregulated products because they are often mislabeled and may contain impurities.

Full text of the white paper, ‘The Great Hemp Hoax,’ is available from the San Diego/Imperial Counties Joint Labor Management Cannabis Committee.

Survey: Nearly Half of Military Veterans Use Cannabis for Pain Relief

San Francisco, CA: An estimated 40 percent of veterans suffering from chronic pain consume cannabis products to mitigate their symptoms, according to survey data published in the journal Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health.

A team of investigators affiliated with the University of California at San Francisco and Yale University surveyed pain patients enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration primary care services program.

Forty percent of respondents acknowledged using cannabis products to manage their symptoms. However, the study’s authors suggested that this percentage may reflect under-reporting because cannabis use is discouraged within the Veterans Administration. Respondents were most likely to report using cannabis to manage pain or mobility (81 percent), sleep (62 percent), PTSD or anxiety (43 percent), stress (43 percent), and depression (29 percent).

Prior surveys indicate that veterans frequently consume cannabis to improve their health-related quality of life and to reduce their reliance on prescription medications.

Full text of the study, “Natural product use for chronic pain: A new survey of patterns of use, beliefs, concerns, and disclosures to providers,” appears in Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health.

Idaho: Voters May No Longer Be Able To Amend State’s Marijuana Policies

Boise, Idaho: State lawmakers have approved a resolution asking voters to provide legislators with the exclusive authority to amend state laws specific to the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana and other controlled substances.

Lawmakers in both chambers passed House Joint Resolution 4 along party lines. It asks voters to decide next year on the following ballot question: “Shall Section 26, Article III of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended to provide that only the Idaho Legislature shall have power and authority to legalize the growing, producing, manufacturing, transporting, selling, delivering, dispensing, administering, prescribing, distributing, possessing, or using of marijuana, narcotics, or other psychoactive substances?”

If enacted by voters, no future initiatives pertaining to how marijuana or other controlled substances are regulated will be permitted to appear on the Idaho ballot.

While the majority of Idahoans have expressed support for various drug policy reforms, such as the legalization of medical cannabis, GOP lawmakers who dominate the legislature remain steadfastly opposed to liberalizing the state’s marijuana laws. In February, Republican Gov. Brad Little signed legislation into law, making Idaho the only state to impose mandatory minimum penalties for low-level marijuana possession. That law takes effect in July.

North Dakota: Lawmakers Advance Competing Bills Permitting Edible Forms of Medical Cannabis

Bismarck, ND: Members of the House and Senate have passed competing bills through their respective chambers providing for the use of “cannabinoid edible products” by qualified medical cannabis patients. Under current law, state-registered patients may possess either herbal cannabis or infused tinctures, capsules, or topical patches.

Both measures – House Bill 1203 and Senate Bill 2294 – define “cannabinoid edible products” as “soft or hard lozenges in a geometric square shape into which a cannabinoid concentrate or the dried leaves or flowers of the plant of the genus cannabis is incorporated.” The Senate version of the bill limits edible products to no more than 5 mg per serving, while the House version imposes a 10 mg limit.

Edible cannabis products possess a longer duration of effect compared to inhaled or vaporized herbal cannabis.

Voters approved the state’s medical cannabis law nearly a decade ago. Nearly 10,000 North Dakotans are currently registered to access medical cannabis.

Separate legislation (HB 1596) fully decriminalizing low-level marijuana possession by adults was passed by the House in February and awaits further action by the Senate.