Tag: Weed Connection

Analysis: No Uptick in Suicidal Ideation Post-Legalization

Halifax, Canada: Rates of suicide in Canada remained stable following the adoption of adult-use cannabis legalization, according to data published in the journal BJPsych Open.

Canadian investigators assessed the number of hospitalizations related to suicide during the six months immediately following legalization and again two years later. Suicide rates remained stable during the study period. Researchers also acknowledged, “Individuals present to the emergency department with cannabis use less frequently than alcohol.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Post-cannabis legalization, there is not an ongoing increase in emergency department presentations for suicidal ideation and attempts. This is in line with other work in Canadian jurisdictions showing no increases in cannabis-related emergency department presentations overall post-legalization.”

Data from the United States previously reported a correlation between the enactment of state-specific medical cannabis access laws and declining suicide rates. A more recent study determined that suicide rates rose in some states following the adoption of adult-use legalization, but fell in other legal jurisdictions.

Full text of the study, “Understanding the role of cannabis in patients with suicidal ideation presenting to the emergency department: Systematic chart review,” appears in BJPsych Open.

Case Series: Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Report Improvements Following Cannabis Use

London, United Kingdom: Patients with complex regional pain syndrome (chronic neuropathic pain) report improvements in their health-related quality of life following their use of medical cannabis products, according to data published in the journal Brain and Behavior.

British researchers assessed the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in 64 pain patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (British health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients who are unresponsive to conventional medications.) Patients’ outcomes were assessed at baseline and six months later. Study participants consumed either herbal cannabis or oil extracts containing both THC and CBD.

Investigators reported “clinically important” improvements in patients’ pain severity, anxiety, sleep quality, and overall quality of life following cannabis treatment. Participants with prior experience using cannabis “were more likely to experience clinically significant improvements” in their pain scores than were cannabis-naïve subjects.

The study’s authors concluded: “These findings are consistent with existing literature which similarly demonstrates an association between CBMP treatment and consistent improvements in pain severity in chronic or neuropathic pain conditions. … Importantly, the observed changes in pain-specific PROMs in this study may confer opioid-sparing effects in complex regional pain syndrome patients. … This supports further research through high-quality randomized controlled trials to ascertain the efficacy of cannabis-based medicinal products in improving complex regional pain syndrome symptoms.”

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among those enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be beneficial for patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant epilepsy, cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, hypermobility disorders, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, substance use disorders, insomnia, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A clinical outcomes analysis for insomnia,” appears in PLOS Mental Health.

Study: Cannabis Use Promotes Improvements in Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Tel Aviv, Israel: Patients experience reductions in chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CIPN) following the sustained daily use of medical cannabis products, according to data published in the journal Biomedicines.

Israeli investigators assessed outcomes in 751 patients with CIPN. Study participants consumed prescribed medical cannabis products (either herbal cannabis or oral extracts), dominant in either THC or CBD. (Approximately 150,000 Israeli patients receive prescription cannabis from the Ministry of Health.) Patients consumed cannabis daily for six months.

Researchers reported that patients in both cannabis treatment groups experienced significant symptomatic improvements, with those consuming higher doses of THC-dominant products reporting the greatest degree of improvement.

“The significant improvement in CIPN symptoms, ADL (activities in daily living), and QOL (quality of life), particularly in the THC-high cluster, supports the clinical use of medical cannabis as a complementary therapeutic option for patients with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy who experience limited relief from standard therapies,” the study’s authors concluded. “Moreover, the observed improvement in functionality (ADL) underscores the potential of cannabis to improve daily living and overall patient well-being, aspects often overlooked in traditional CIPN management.”

Numerous other studies have similarly reported that cannabis use provides sustained improvements in patients suffering from neuropathy.

Data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that nearly one in three patients with chronic pain use cannabis as an analgesic agent and that many of them substitute it in place of opioids.

Full text of the study, “Comparative effects of THC and CBD on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: Insights from a large real-world self-reported dataset,” appears in Biomedicines.

Maryland: Appellate Court Upholds Ban on Sale of Hemp-Derived Intoxicants

Annapolis, MD: Judges for the Maryland Appellate Court have ruled in favor of a state-imposed prohibition on the retail sale of hemp-derived intoxicants containing delta-8-THC, delta-10-THC, and other synthetically produced cannabinoids.

The decision reverses a lower court’s preliminary injunction halting state officials from taking legal actions against intoxicating hemp providers.

The Court determined that no “common right” exists for retailers to sell hemp-derived psychoactive products because they “are now and have always been illegal in Maryland.” The Court added, “That their prohibition has been the subject of lax enforcement does not make [them] legal.”

Judges further opined that the hemp sales ban is reasonable because it “protect[s] public health and [serves] the public interest.”

Courts have recently upheld similar state-imposed bans in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, and Virginia.

Consumers’ use of hemp-derived products containing delta-8-THC and other synthetically produced cannabinoids has increased in recent years, particularly in jurisdictions where cannabis remains illegal. The synthetic conversion process typically involves the use of potentially dangerous household products. Third-party laboratory testing of these unregulated products often finds that they contain percentages of cannabinoids that differ from what is advertised on the products’ labels. Some products also possess heavy metal contaminants and unlabeled cutting agents. Other novel compounds, like THC-O, have not been tested for safety in human trials.

Nearly half of all US states impose restrictions on the retail sale of delta-8-THC and similar products, according to reporting provided by Courthouse News Service.

The case is Moore v. Maryland Hemp Coalition.

Study: No Evidence of Residual Cannabis Effects on Driving Performance

San Diego, CA: Consumers who abstain from cannabis for 48 hours drive no differently than abstainers, according to driving simulator data published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Researchers affiliated with the University of California at San Diego evaluated driving performance in a cohort of 191 cannabis consumers. Participants completed a 25-minute simulated drive following 48 hours of cannabis abstinence. In phase II of the study, a subset of near-daily consumers was matched against non-using controls.

“The current study showed no evidence of a dose-effect relationship between simulated driving performance following a brief abstinence period,” investigators reported. “The current study also shows no evidence of short-term residual effects on simulated driving performance when comparing frequent cannabis users to a healthy non-using comparison group.”

Despite subjects’ lack of psychomotor impairment, researchers acknowledged that some participants tested positive for THC at levels that would classify them as “under the influence” in states with either zero-tolerant or per se THC blood limits. That’s because THC and its metabolites remain present in bodily fluids for extended periods of time following cannabis abstinence, whereas the acute effects of cannabis on psychomotor skills largely dissipate within a few hours. Accordingly, NORML opposes the imposition of per se THC limits for motorists and has alternatively called for the expanded use of mobile performance technology like DRUID.

The study’s authors concluded: “In regular cannabis users who abstained for ≥ 48 hours, we found no evidence of residual cannabis effects on simulated driving performance. This included no relationship between driving simulator performance and cannabis use intensity, days of abstinence, or cannabinoid concentrations, nor differences on these measures when comparing the most frequent cannabis users to a non-using comparison group. … Results of this study have implications for how future policy might weigh different pieces of evidence in the absence of objective confirmation of acute cannabis intoxication, such as one’s cannabis use history or residual blood THC, in everyday determinations of impaired driving.”

Numerous studies have previously reported no correlation between the detection of either THC or its metabolites in blood, urine, saliva, and breath and impaired driving performance. Nevertheless, several states have enacted laws criminalizing drivers who operate a motor vehicle with trace levels of THC or THC metabolites, regardless of whether the driver is impaired.

Full text of the study, “Short-term residual effects of smoked cannabis on simulated driving performance,” appears in Psychopharmacology.

Study: Patients With Generalized Anxiety Experience Clinical, Cognitive Improvements Following Use of Plant-Derived CBD Extracts

Belmont, MA: Patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) exhibit symptomatic and cognitive improvements following the daily use of full-spectrum CBD-dominant extracts, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Biomedicines.

Investigators affiliated with Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital in Boston assessed the daily use of 30mg of plant-derived CBD in 12 patients with GAD. Researchers evaluated changes in participants’ clinical and cognitive performance over six weeks of treatment.

Patients experienced “dramatic reductions” in anxiety during the first week of the trial, and they exhibited “significant improvements” on assessments of mood, sleep, and quality of life throughout the duration of the study. Participants also “demonstrated significantly improved performance on measures of executive function relative to baseline, evidenced by faster response time[s] … as well as higher accuracy” on neurocognitive assessments.

No participants experienced any serious adverse events during the trial.

“Results from this open-label clinical trial provide evidence that a hemp-derived, full-spectrum, high-CBD product similar to those currently available in the marketplace may be both safe and efficacious for the treatment of anxiety,” the study’s authors concluded. “Given the potential benefits observed in this trial, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of hemp-derived high-CBD products are warranted to obtain robust data regarding the safety and efficacy of CBD-containing products for anxiety.”

Clinical data published in July in the Journal of Affective Disorders reported that the consumption of THC-dominant cannabis products is also associated with sustained reductions in anxiety.

Data published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the adoption of statewide marijuana legalization laws is associated with significant declines in the dispensing of prescription anxiolytic drugs like benzodiazepines.

Full text of the study, “Clinical and cognitive improvement following treatment with a hemp-derived, full-spectrum, high-cannabidiol product in patients with anxiety: An open-label pilot study,” appears in Biomedicines.

Study: Adjunctive Use of FDA-Approved CBD Formulation Reduces Seizures in Pediatric Patients With Rett Syndrome

Milan, Italy: Children and teens diagnosed with Rett Syndrome (RTT) who take Epidiolex experience reductions in seizure frequency, according to data published in the Open Access Journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (aka Epilepsia).

Italian researchers assessed the efficacy of the use of FDA-approved, plant-derived CBD (Epidiolex) in 27 RTT patients with drug-resistant seizures. Participants consumed Epidiolex in conjunction with other medications. The median treatment duration was 14 months.

Following treatment, two-thirds of the cohort exhibited a greater than 50 percent reduction in seizure frequency, with 26 percent of participants experiencing a greater than 75 percent reduction. Many of the patients’ caregivers also observed positive changes beyond seizure control, including better attention, improved sleep, and enhanced motor function. Side effects related to CBD treatment were mild.

“Our findings suggest a strong trend toward the efficacy of CBD in reducing seizure frequency,” the study’s authors concluded. “The consistency of the response, combined with the absence of seizure aggravation and a favorable safety profile, highlights purified cannabidiol (Epidiolex) CBD as a promising therapeutic option for individuals with RTT. Moreover, beyond seizure control, a substantial proportion of patients also showed improvements in behavior, attention, and reactivity – especially among those who responded to treatment – further supporting the potential benefits of CBD in this population.”

A prior study concluded that RTT patients show improvements in alertness, communication skills, anxiety, and other symptoms following the twice-daily use of cannabis extracts containing standardized amounts of CBD and THC.

In 2018, Food and Drug Administration officials granted market approval to Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol for the treatment of Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome – two rare forms of childhood epilepsy.

Full text of the study, “Is purified cannabidiol a treatment opportunity for drug-resistant epilepsy in subjects with typical Rett syndrome and CDKL5 deficiency disorder,” appears in Epilepsia.

Analysis: Vaporizers’ Components May Expose Consumers to Heavy Metals

Karnataka, India: Components within certain cannabis vape cartridges may leach metals such as nickel and cadmium when exposed to high temperatures, according to a literature review published in the journal Scientific World.

A pair of researchers reviewed data from nine previously published studies. Studies identified the presence of heavy metals like nickel, chromium, lead, cobalt, cadmium, and copper in cannabis vape (CV) e-liquids and aerosols. Investigators suggested that “long-term contact between the metal parts of the CV and the acidic liquid may cause metal dissolution.”

They reported: “Metals like Pb [lead], Co [cobalt], Cr [chromium], Ni [nickel], and Cu [copper] are released from the structural components of CVs when operated at high temperatures. Factors like device age and storage, vape liquid composition and pH, operating temperature, and design characteristics of CVs influence metal dissolution. … However, these results cannot be generalized to all CVs, as the studies were primarily experimental.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Regulatory guidelines are needed to prevent CV liquid contamination from accessories or packaging. … Future research is warranted into the adverse health implications of heavy metals released from CVs through animal and human studies.”

NORML has previously cautioned that various components in portable vape cartridges – including heating coils, wicks, metal cores, and mouthpieces – can be sources of elemental emissions.

Separate analyses of the aerosol produced by nicotine-filled e-cigarette devices have similarly detected metal emissions. Metal exposure over time has been linked to a variety of serious health concerns, including lung disease, brain damage, and cardiovascular disease.

Full text of the study, “Heavy metals in cannabis vape and their health implications — A scoping review,” appears in The Scientific World Journal.

Study: Using Cannabis Prior To Drinking Results in Significantly Less Alcohol Consumption

Fort Collins, CO: Subjects drink less alcohol and experience fewer alcohol cravings after consuming cannabis, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Researchers affiliated with Colorado State University assessed adults’ willingness to consume alcohol in a laboratory setting. Participants were offered drinks every fifteen minutes during a one-hour session. During visits where participants were permitted to consume cannabis before the session, subjects reduced their intake of alcoholic beverages by 25 percent.

Investigators reported: “We tested whether cannabis serves as a substitute for alcohol in a sample of community adults who drink heavily and use cannabis regularly. Consistent with our hypothesis, … self-administering cannabis before alcohol significantly reduced alcohol consumption compared to when alcohol was offered without cannabis. Furthermore, we found a trend toward an acute reduction in alcohol craving following cannabis and alcohol co-administration compared to alcohol administration alone, … suggesting that craving reduction may be a plausible mechanism through which cannabis substitution for alcohol could occur in some individuals.”

The study’s authors concluded, “[These findings] provide … support for the idea that legal-market cannabis can serve as substitute for alcohol among some individuals who engage in heavy drinking.”

According to survey data published in 2024 in The Harm Reduction Journal, 60 percent of cannabis consumers say that their cannabis use results in less frequent alcohol consumption.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis administration is associated with reduced alcohol consumption: Evidence from a novel laboratory co-administration paradigm,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Case Series: Insomnia Patients Report Improved Sleep Quality Following Cannabis Use

London, United Kingdom: Patients with insomnia report improvements in their sleep quality and reduced anxiety following their use of medical cannabis products, according to data published in the journal PLOS Mental Health.

British researchers assessed the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in 124 insomnia patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (British health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Patients’ outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Study participants primarily consumed THC-dominant herbal cannabis.

Investigators reported that cannabis use was associated with improved outcomes “across multiple metrics,” including better sleep quality, reduced anxiety, and improved health-related quality of life. Fewer than one in ten participants reported any adverse events from cannabis. The most frequently reported side effects were dry mouth and fatigue.

The study’s authors concluded: “This case series study investigated the outcomes of insomnia patients prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products over an 18-month period. The findings indicate a promising association between cannabis-based medicinal product treatment and improvements in sleep-specific outcomes and general HRQoL [health-related quality of life] measures. … These findings can be used to inform future RCTs [randomized controlled trials].”

Placebo-controlled clinical trial data have previously affirmed the efficacy of plant-derived cannabis extracts in patients with chronic insomnia. Separate data reports that nearly 40 percent of insomnia patients either reduce or eliminate their use of prescription sleep aids following their use of cannabis.

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

Full text of the study, “UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A clinical outcomes analysis for insomnia,” appears in PLOS Mental Health.

Texas: Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill Takes Effect

Austin, TX: Legislation took effect Monday, expanding patients’ access to state-qualified medical cannabis products.

Under the law, patients diagnosed with chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and other newly eligible conditions may enroll in the Texas Compassionate Use Program and obtain state-licensed medical cannabis products.

The new law also expands the pool of cannabis products available for patients, including vaporizers, and it increases the total number of licensed dispensaries that can operate in the state from three to a total of fifteen.

According to data provided by the Texas Department of Safety, over 116,000 patients participate in the Compassionate Use Program.

Delaware: Governor Vetoes Measure That Sought To Relax Cannabis Zoning Restrictions

Dover, DE: Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer vetoed legislation last week (Senate Bill 75) that sought to loosen local zoning restrictions limiting where licensed adult-use cannabis retailers can operate.

The bill would have imposed statewide rules explicitly permitting retailers to operate within 500 feet “of a place of worship, school, licensed child-care, residential treatment facility, park, or library,” and/or “within a one-half mile of another retail marijuana store.” The bill was introduced in response to some municipal lawmakers enacting more restrictive zoning laws, effectively imposing local bans on marijuana retailers.

In his veto message, Gov. Meyer said, “While I fully support the goals of implementing a safe, equitable, and accessible adult-use cannabis market in Delaware, displacing local land use authority without offering any corresponding partnership or support is not how we build durable, effective policy or trust.”

State lawmakers approved legislation legalizing the adult-use marijuana market in April 2023, but retail sales did not begin until last month. Currently, consumers are only able to purchase cannabis at approximately a dozen retail locations — all of which are existing medical cannabis dispensaries that received ‘conversion licenses’ to sell to patients and adults. Proponents of SB 75 say that the Governor’s veto will further delay consumers from gaining access to state-licensed marijuana products.