Tag: Weed Connection

Study: Cannabis Consumption Associated With Opioid Cessation in Polydrug Users

Vancouver, British Columbia: Polydrug consumers are more likely to cease using non-prescription opioids if they consume cannabis, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

Researchers affiliated with the University of British Columbia assessed the relationship between the use of cannabis and unregulated opioids among people who use drugs (PWUD) living with chronic pain.

They reported that the daily use of cannabis was positively associated with opioid cessation, particularly among males.

“Participants reporting daily cannabis use exhibited higher rates of cessation compared to less frequent users or non-users,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our findings add to the growing evidence supporting the potential benefits of cannabis use among PWUD, underlining the need for further research.”

The findings are consistent with prior data suggesting that cannabis use can mitigate opioid-related cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use and illicit opioid cessation among people who use drugs living with chronic pain,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Review.

Clinical Trial: Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids Improve Sleep Quality

Jacksonville, FL: The oral administration of a hemp-derived supplement containing precise percentages of THC, CBN, and CBD is associated with improved sleep quality, according to placebo-controlled trial data published in Health Science Reports.

Researchers affiliated with the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University assessed the impact of an orally administered cannabinoid supplement versus a placebo in 20 subjects with subthreshold insomnia symptoms.

Compared to the placebo, cannabinoid administration was associated with “significant improvements [from] baseline for sleep latency, sleep duration, and global sleep quality.” Participants also experienced “significant improvements in ‘mental health,’ [and] ‘feeling healthy and full of energy’” after using the cannabinoid supplement for ten days.

“The purpose [of this trial] was to examine the effectiveness of a hemp‐based supplement with CBD, CBN, THC, and a standardized terpene blend on sleep quality/quantity, anxiety, perceived stress, mood, pain, and HRQoL (health-related quality of life) in adults with subthreshold insomnia symptoms using a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled crossover pilot trial. We found the CS (cannabinoid supplement) was well‐tolerated and resulted in significant improvements in several sleep quality and health outcomes compared to both baseline and placebo,” the study’s authors concluded. “Improvements in daytime fatigue, pain affected sleep, mood, and anxiety were also associated with CS, though these were nonsignificant condition differences. In conclusion, [hemp-derived cannabinoid] supplementation may be a simple, effective, and well‐tolerated alternative to improve sleep quality and related health outcomes in adults with subthreshold insomnia symptoms.”

The trial’s results are consistent with those of several observational studies finding that patients with insomnia and other sleep disorders experience improvements following their use of cannabis. Studies have also identified a correlation between the adoption of statewide marijuana legalization laws and declining sales of over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aid medications.

Full text of the study, “Effectiveness of a cannabinoid supplement on sleep and mood in adults with subthreshold insomnia: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover pilot trial,” appears in Health Science Reports.

Texas: Judge Denies Effort To Enjoin Dallas’ Voter-Approved Marijuana Depenalization Ordinance

Dallas, TX: A Texas judge has denied a request from the state’s Republican Attorney General to enjoin Dallas’ voter-approved marijuana depenalization ordinance.

On Election Day, voters in Dallas (population 1.3 million) and two other cities (Bastrop and Lockhart) decided in favor of municipal ballot initiatives limiting the ability of local law enforcement to make misdemeanor marijuana possession arrests. Following the election, state Attorney General Ken Paxton filed litigation to prevent Dallas officials from implementing the law. (City officials in Bastrop and Lockhart declined to adopt their ordinances out of fear of litigation.)

In recent months, Paxton has filed lawsuits against multiple cities that have moved to end low-level marijuana arrests. To date, none of his lawsuits have been successful.

State law defines marijuana possession of 2 ounces or less as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a criminal record. According to data compiled by Texas NORML, police made an estimated 219,000 marijuana-related arrests between 2017 and 2021. Ninety-seven percent of those arrested were charged with possession only. Fifty-six percent of those arrested were under 25 years of age.

Additional information is available from Ground Game Texas.

Montana: Opponents of THC Limit Bill Outnumber Proponents by More Than 2 to 1 During Legislative Hearing

Helena, MT: Opponents of legislation imposing a 15 percent THC potency cap on adult-use marijuana products made their voices heard at a legislative hearing last week before members of the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs committee.

Opponents of the bill, Senate Bill 443, outnumbered proponents by a margin of more than two to one. Many witnesses represented state-licensed cannabis businesses, who argued that passage of the measure would recriminalize most of their products. Others argued that the bill sought to unreasonably undermine the state’s marijuana legalization law, which was approved by 57 percent of voters.

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano provided testimony against the bill, stating: “Prohibiting adults from accessing products with more than 15 percent THC from state-licensed retailers will not eliminate consumers’ demand for them. Rather, it will encourage consumers to seek out these products in the unregulated market. It will also move the production of these products exclusively underground – thereby undermining the primary goal of legalization, which is to provide adults with safe, affordable, above-ground access to lab-tested products of known purity, potency, and quality.”

Some witnesses also pushed back against language in the bill equating the availability of higher-THC products with slavery.

In 2021, lawmakers approved legislation imposing a 35 percent THC potency limit on botanical products. They also capped the amount of THC permissible in edible products and concentrates. Montana is one of the only states in the nation to impose limits on the THC content of legally regulated cannabis products.

Following the hearing, committee members moved to table the bill – thereby suspending it from further consideration. A motion to reconsider the bill also failed.

Separate legislation, Senate Bill 255, establishing a mandatory registry for cannabis consumers and tracking their purchases was also scheduled to be debated last week, but it was never brought before the committee.

Study: Adjunctive Use of CBD Mitigates Severe Behavioral Symptoms in Children With Autism

Buenos Aires, Argentina: The adjunctive use of CBD is safe and effective in mitigating severe behavioral symptoms in pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to data published in the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior.

Argentinian researchers assessed the efficacy of purified CBD in young patients (ages three to 17) with autism. CBD was administered as an add-on medication for six to 12 months.

Consistent with prior studies, investigators reported that CBD treatment improved the quality of life of patients and their families. In nearly half of the patients treated, the use of prescription medications decreased following the initiation of CBD therapy.

The study’s authors concluded, “Our results suggest that treatment with purified CBD is effective and safe and could benefit patients with severe ASD by improving some of the core symptoms, including repetitive behaviors and social interaction, as well as associated comorbidities.”

The findings are consistent with those of placebo-controlled trial data showing improvements in ASD-related symptoms following the use of cannabinoid products. Observational studies have also shown that the use of cannabis can provide benefits to young people and adults with autism.

Full text of the study, “Purified cannabidiol leads to improvement of severe treatment-resistant behavioral symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder,” appears in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior. Additional information on cannabinoids and ASD is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Clinical Trial: Concomitant Administration of THCV and CBD Promotes Weight Loss, Improves Cholesterol

St. Petersburg, FL: The daily administration of hemp-derived CBD and THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) is associated with clinically significant weight loss, according to placebo-controlled clinical data published in the journal Cannabis.

An investigator affiliated with the biotechnology company Nex Therapeutics assessed the metabolic effects of the concomitant use of THCV and CBD versus placebo in obese adults. Study participants consumed mucoadhesive oral strips containing either cannabinoids or placebo daily for 90 days, with no additional changes to their diet or exercise routine.

Compared to those consuming the placebo, subjects taking THCV and CBD experienced significant weight loss and other metabolic improvements. Most subjects who consumed cannabinoids reported no adverse effects.

The study’s author concluded, “90-day use of once-daily THCV and CBD-infused mucoadhesive strips was associated with clinically significant weight loss, decreases in abdominal girth, systolic blood pressure, and total and LDL cholesterol.”

A 2023 placebo-controlled study reported that diabetic patients who received a sublingual spray containing CBD and THC improved their blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Clinical trial data has also shown that the cannabinoid THCV decreases fasting glucose levels in type 2 diabetics.
Full text of the study, “Weight loss and therapeutic metabolic effects of tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)-infused mucoadhesive strips,” appears in Cannabis.

Study: Medical Cannabis Dosing Doesn’t Negatively Impact Driving Performance in Experienced Patients

Queensland, Australia: Patients who consume botanical cannabis over extended periods do not exhibit significant changes in their simulated driving performance, according to data published in the Journal of Safety Research.

Australian researchers assessed patients’ simulated driving performance at baseline and 45 minutes after they vaporized prescribed doses of cannabis flowers. (Under Australian law, physicians may authorize cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.)

“After vaporizing one dose of their prescribed cannabis flower, participants exhibited no significant changes in performance on any of the video-based tasks (hazard perception skill, gap acceptance, following distance or speed) compared to baseline,” investigators reported.

The study’s authors concluded, “The findings … suggest that a dose of vaporized cannabis (consumed in accordance with prescription) may not affect hazard perception ability or driving-related risk-taking behavior among medicinal cannabis patients.”

The study’s findings are consistent with those of several others determining that daily cannabis consumers, and patients especially, exhibit tolerance to many of cannabis’ psychomotor-influencing effects. According to the findings of a literature review published in the journal of the German Medical Association, “Patients who take cannabinoids at a constant dosage over an extensive period of time often develop tolerance to the impairment of psychomotor performance, so that they can drive vehicles safely.”

Full text of the study, “The acute effects of vaporized cannabis on drivers’ hazard perception and risk-taking behaviors in medicinal patients: A within-subjects experiment,” appears in the Journal of Safety Research.

Idaho: Governor Signs Law Imposing Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Low-Level Marijuana Possession

Boise, ID: Republican Gov. Brad Little has signed legislation (HB 7) into law imposing new mandatory fines for people convicted of minor marijuana possession offenses.

Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, 2025, those convicted must pay a mandatory fine of at least $300. (Total fines may be as high as $1,000.) Those convicted of possessing marijuana also face up to one year in jail.

NORML issued an action alert opposing HB 7, arguing that it is overly punitive, inconsistent with voter sentiment, and improperly strips Idaho judges of their power.

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “Currently, judges may use their discretion when determining whether it is appropriate to impose fines upon violators. Passage of this bill removes this discretion and mandates judges to impose a fine of not less than $300, even in instances where they believe that such a punishment is inappropriate. House Bill 7 is mean-spirited and its one-size-fits-all approach is inconsistent with our longstanding principles of justice and fairness.”

Between 2018 and 2023, state and local police made over 31,000 marijuana-related arrests. Over 94 percent of those arrests were for marijuana possession, not sales. In total, approximately half of all drug-related arrests in Idaho are marijuana-related.

Separate legislation (House Joint Resolution 3) restricting voters from weighing in on ballot measures specific to the liberalization of marijuana or other controlled substances is currently pending in the state legislature.

New Hampshire: Marijuana Bills Advanced to Senate, Where Their Future Remains Uncertain

Concord, NH: House lawmakers have approved a trio of bills significantly liberalizing the state’s marijuana laws. However, it is uncertain whether Senate lawmakers will take up any of the measures.

House Bill 75 removes criminal and civil penalties for the possession and use of marijuana by adults. (State law currently imposes civil fines for the possession of up to three-quarters of an ounce of cannabis. Possessing greater amounts is punishable by jail time.) House Bill 196 provides for the annulment of certain marijuana-related convictions. House Bill 53 provides qualified patients the option to home-cultivate medical marijuana. (The state’s medical marijuana law mandates patients purchase cannabis products from state-licensed dispensaries.)

All three measures passed the House by voice votes.

The three bills now await action from the Senate, which is more politically conservative than the House. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who has historically opposed any liberalization of the state’s marijuana laws, is likely to oppose all three bills.

Analysis: Marijuana Access Associated With Decreasing Use of Prescription Opioids

Chicago, IL: Opioid prescription rates decline following the opening of licensed marijuana retailers, according to data published in the scientific journal Cannabis.

A team of researchers affiliated with the University of Chicago and the University of Georgia assessed the relationship between the establishment of state-licensed cannabis retailers and the use of prescription painkillers. Researchers tracked opioid prescription trends, as well as prescription rates for NSAIDS and other pain medications, for 13 years.

Consistent with the findings of prior studies, investigators reported declining rates of prescription opioid use following the legalization of cannabis access. However, changes in patients’ use of NSAIDs were not statistically significant following legalization. Researchers speculated that the availability of marijuana retailers may encourage patients to switch from exclusively using opioids to concurrently using cannabis and NSAIDs to manage their pain symptoms.

“Overall, we find recreational cannabis dispensary openings are associated with a significant decrease in opioid fills among commercially insured adults in the US,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our study adds to the growing evidence of the substitutability of cannabis for opioids and non-opioid pain medications. … Importantly, this study provides evidence of potential concomitant use of cannabis and non-opioid pain medications as an alternative to opioids when individuals have easier access to legal cannabis through recreational dispensaries.”

Prior assessments have similarly linked marijuana access laws to declines in the use of other medications, including benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and sleep aids.

Full text of the study, “Recreational cannabis laws and fills of pain prescriptions in the privately insured,” appears in Cannabis.

Study: Cannabis Treatment Provides Sustained Relief for Cancer-Related Pain

London, United Kingdom: Cancer patients report less pain and improved sleep following their use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs), according to observational data published in the Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy.

British researchers assessed the use of botanical cannabis or oil extracts in 168 cancer patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (British specialists are permitted to prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Researchers assessed changes in patient-reported outcomes at one, three, and six months.

Patients’ use of cannabis products was “associated with improvements in all pain-specific PROMs [patient-reported outcome measures] at all follow-up periods,” investigators reported. Study participants also reported improved sleep and less anxiety. No significant adverse effects from cannabis were reported.

The study’s authors concluded: “Initiation of CBMPs is associated with improvements in pain-specific and general health-related quality of life outcomes in CP [cancer pain] patients over six months, with a relatively low incidence of mild-to-moderate AEs [adverse events] and no life-threatening AEs. … RCTs [randomized controlled trials] and longer observational case series are warranted, but this study can help inform their rollout, serving as a valuable pharmacovigilance tool for the use of CBMPs in CP, either as an alternative therapeutic option or as one part of multimodal treatment.”

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 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 clinical outcomes of medicinal cannabis therapy for cancer pain,” appears in the Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy.

Minnesota: Many Patients Experience “Meaningful Reductions” in Pain Following Use of Medical Cannabis

St. Paul, MN: Nearly one-third of patients enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis access program experience significant reductions in their pain symptoms within their first four months, according to data provided by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 10,000 pain patients enrolled in the program. They reported: “Among all pain-related conditions, almost one-third (31.7 percent) of patients experiencing moderate to severe pain at enrollment saw a meaningful reduction in pain symptoms within four months of treatment. Of those patients experiencing a meaningful reduction in pain symptoms, 49.7 percent of them were able to maintain the pain reduction for an additional four months after achieving it.”

Investigators further acknowledged that many patients taking prescription pain medicines upon their enrollment in the program decreased their use of prescribed analgesics at six months.

Most subjects in the study inhaled THC-dominant botanical cannabis. The most frequently reported side effects were dry mouth, mental clouding, fatigue, and increased appetite.

A prior analysis of patients enrolled in Minnesota’s medical cannabis registry reported that those suffering from post-traumatic stress experience “substantial benefits” following cannabis therapy.

Full text of the report, “Chronic Pain Patients in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program,” is available the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management.