Very excited about this announcement of the first randomized controlled clinical trial in the U.S. to investigate cannabis as a treatment option for migraine headaches. Clinically, I have seen numerous patients benefit from cannabinoid-based medicines when other migraine treatments have failed, so this is a huge step forward in advancing our understanding.
Opinion: AU/NZ College of Anaesthetists Position Statement On the Use of Medicinal Cannabis
My opinion on the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists position statement on the use of medical cannabis for non-cancer chronic pain: Unbalanced, uninformed and hypocritical.
Last week, the Faculty of Pain Management at the Australian and New Zealand’s College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) published guidance for health practitioners recommending against the prescription of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). We’ve seen a number of similar reviews over the last few years in both Australia and Canada and they continue to follow the same playbook. I weigh-in on the latest one in this video. I also encourage you to check out the balanced and very well-researched analysis written by Rhys Cohen here: https://www.cannabiz.com.au/medicinal-cannabis-and-chronic-pain-absence-of-evidence-is-not-evidence-of-absence/
Remember: “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”
CBD Reduces Plaque, Improves Cognitive Function in Model of Familial Alzheimer's
There is a dire need for novel therapies to improve outcomes for patients with Alzheimer’s Disease, which is considered one of the fastest-growing health threats of our time.
In a promising new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, investigators reported that a two-week course of high dose CBD helped reduce plaque and improve cognitive function in an experimental model of early onset familial AD.
Familial disease is an inherited version of Alzheimer’s in which symptoms typically surface in the 30s and 40s and occurs in about 10-15% of patients.
Next steps include determining optimal doses and giving CBD earlier in the disease process. They also are exploring delivery systems including the use of an inhaler that should help deliver the CBD more directly to the brain.
See article below for more information. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210309192548.htm Citation for journal article, available here https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33612548/
Landmark Study Proves CBD Has No Impact on Driving
A landmark study published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that CBD does not impair driving, while moderate amounts of THC (the main intoxicating component) produce mild driving impairment lasting up to four hours.
This is the first study to illustrate the lack of CBD effects on driving and to also provide a clear indication of the duration of THC impairment.
Why this is so important: “With cannabis laws changing globally, jurisdictions are grappling with the issue of cannabis-impaired driving. These results provide much needed insights into the magnitude and duration of impairment caused by different types of cannabis and can help to guide road-safety policy not just in Australia but around the world. These results should allow for evidence-based laws and regulation for people receiving medical cannabis,” said Dr. Thomas Arkell, lead author on the study.
The study was led by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney (Australia). Summary is available here and the full study is available in the current issue of JAMA here.
Recent Trends in Cannabis Use in Elderly Americans
I wanted to share a quick update with you on some research I’m doing, investigating medical cannabis use & effectiveness in older adults.
Its excellent safety profile and multimodality make medical cannabis particularly appropriate and beneficial in the senior population -- especially as polypharmacy is the number one cause of hospitalizations due to adverse drug reactions amongst this group.
Have a watch of this short video for more info.
For the full article referenced click here.
Could cannabis extracts help in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19?
Could cannabis extracts help in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19? Researchers at the University of Lethbridge say their data looks promising.
New research coming out of Alberta shows “cannabis extracts can modulate the levels of the receptors in highly relevant tissues, such as the mouth, lungs and intestinal cells,” which are target areas for the COVID-19 virus.
This early research (which still requires further investigation) draws conclusions that high CBD cannabis extracts can ultimately help to slow the virus by restricting their entry points into the body. I’ve shared more of my thoughts on this in this short video.
Full article available here.