Short- and Long-Term Effects of Cannabis on Headache and Migraine: Journal of Pain

Although cannabinoid-based medicine has been a common treatment for headache and migraines for some time, research has been relatedly limited up until this point. A study recently published in the Journal of Pain sheds new light to cannabinoids benefits, and the findings are quite compelling.

The study set to show whether inhalation of cannabis decreased headache and migrate ratings, as well as which type of cannabis (whether concentrated in oil form or in dried flower form) was proven to be most effective.

The findings showed that headache and migraine ratings were reduced by 50% after the use of cannabinoid-based medicine; with cannabinoids in their concentrated form (oil) being related to larger reductions in headache than flower form.

The body of evidence to support the benefit of cannabinoid-based medicine is beginning to grow and we look forward to seeing more studies like this come forward.

Read the full article here.

Reflections on Australia Visit: Canada and Australia have More in Common than you May Think

Did you know that Canada is the largest per capita consumer of prescription opioids? We are closely followed by the USA, which is no big surprise, but the countries rounding out the top 5 may be surprising: Denmark, Australia and Switzerland.

Unfortunately, we have a lot more in common with our Australian compatriots than having the Queen on our money: they too are facing an opioid crisis with opioid-related deaths up 114% since 2006.

Encouragingly, the Australian Government appears to be taking steps to explore reasonable opioid-alternatives and recently announced a $3 million research grant to investigate the use of cannabinoids to help cancer patients. Building on this momentum, I was excited to be invited to Australia for two weeks, where I met with pain, cancer, addiction and geriatric specialists, as well as primary care physicians, pharmacists and nurses in Sydney and Melbourne. Together we shared learnings and best practice and I provided in-depth training in cannabinoid-based medicine to help increase understanding amongst the Australian medical community.

Sharing my experiences with other practitioners, so that more patients can benefit, is one of the best parts of my job. I’m proud to be playing a small role in the evolution of medical cannabis in another part of the world and can’t wait to get back there and see how everyone’s making out.

The Sydney Harbour, October 2019

The dangers of unregulated CBD

You’ve heard me say it before and I will say it again: If you have a condition that could benefit from medical cannabis, please speak to your physician…and most importantly, stay away from illegal cannabis and unregulated CBD products.

In less than six years CBD has gone from virtually unknown, to part of the common dialogue heard every day.

In CNN’s latest special investigation, “Weed 5,” Dr. Sanjay Gupta said: "It is really discouraging to see the results of a recent study in the medical journal JAMA where researchers analyzed 84 CBD products from 31 companies and found 69% were mislabeled. Some of the products had no CBD at all, some had too much CBD, some too much THC."

"Other studies showed that some CBD products contained dangerous synthetics that have been responsible for outbreaks of illness all over the country."

This is just one of the many reasons it is essential that you do not self-medicate and why it is so important to see a licensed practitioner and obtain regulated products.

In Canada, we are fortunate that both the (legal) recreational and medical cannabis streams are tightly regulated to ensure that all products are safe and free from harmful substances. Despite this, there are still products that are sold out of local corner stores, gas stations and of course, the internet, that are not regulated. At best these are a waste of your money and couldn’t possibly offer any health benefit. At worse, they could be potentially harmful, especially if combined with other medications.

If you missed the CNN special on Sunday night, check out this very insightful article from Dr. Sanjay Gupta himself.

The cannabis-psychosis debate is being driven by fear mongering, not facts: Globe and Mail

One of the most debated health concerns regarding cannabis is its association with psychosis – particularly for young people. Frustratingly, both sides often resort to cherry picking data or confusing correlation with causation. Anecdotes, rather than science often prop up these arguments.

Not only does this misinformed understanding restrict patients who could potentially benefit from cannabinoid-based medicine’s effects, but as the authors explain, "By ignoring these important contexts, we are framing the onset of mental-health issues as a result of someone's personal choices, and thereby further perpetuating stigma around these conditions for individuals experiencing psychosis or with schizophrenia."

As the conversation continues, it is important to recognize the importance of research over an easy narrative; facts over fear-mongering.

Read full article here.

The new grey market: As older users warm up to cannabis, pot companies want to learn more: Financial Post

Cannabis companies hoping to expand the medical market will have to overcome the conservatism towards cannabis amongst medical associations — both the Ontario Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association support the dismantling of the medical cannabis regime altogether, arguing that with legalization, there remains no need for medical professionals to serve a “gatekeeper role.”

This kind of opposition, said Pearson, is what makes is so difficult to obtain funding to really understand how cannabis can improve the lives of seniors. “I treat seniors in a long-term care setting and I’m weaning down their use of anti-psychotics and opioids. To just say leave it up to themselves, that means you’re saying they should self-medicate, which is absurd.” Read full article here.

Surgeon General Believes It's High Time For Marijuana Reclassification: Forbes

At the close of 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams made a bold move, and called on the federal government to rethink marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I substance. 

His belief– and that of researchers around the world– is that the current U.S. classification of marijuana inhibits research for medical advancements that include cannabis and cannabinoids.

This is long over-due and will have wide-reaching benefits for patients all over the world: "Reversing the excessively harsh and prohibitive laws for cannabis in the United States remains essential for making cannabis chemistry real human medicine." Read full article here.

The Medical Practice of Dr. Blake T. Pearson is hiring!

Greenly Medical Consulting’s founder, Dr. Blake T. Pearson, is expanding his medical practice and is currently seeking an experienced Adminstrative Coordinator/Front Desk Manager for full-time and part-time positions. Two roles are available: 1 full-time, 1 part-time. Click here for full job description and how to apply.

Local opioid prescription rate too high, says Doctor Blake Pearson

By now, we all know that the opioid epidemic is widespread. Unfortunately, right here in my own small community, we still have one of the highest rates of opioid prescriptions in Ontario. In my new role as the Primary Care Lead, Addictions and Opioid Strategy, with the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network, I am looking forward to collaborating closely with doctors, other health care professionals and experts across the region to develop a progressive strategy to make a real impact on the addiction problems afflicting our community. Read more here.

What can medical cannabis be prescribed for in the UK?

From time to time, I like to share what is happening in other countries regarding access to medical cannabis. This article dives into the historic, recent changes to the laws in the UK.

The condition at the forefront of the campaign to legalize medical cannabis in the UK is childhood epilepsy, specifically, the cases of 13-year-old Billy Caldwell and 7-year-old Alfie Dingley. 

Both children have severe epilepsy and were initially prevented from using cannabis oil treatments that helped improve their condition. Their heartbreaking stories made international news and the outcry fueled the recent changes in the UK. Real progress has been made in Britain - but some argue that access is still too restrictive.

Read full story from Bustle.com here.

Cannabis worth exploring in stroke treatment: Ottawa Citizen

From the Ottawa Citizen, November 1, 2018: A decade ago, Dr. Taylor Lougheed would never have imagined standing up in front of a crowd of people at a conference and talking about the potential benefits of cannabis for people recovering from stroke.

Lougheed is a family physician who works in sports, emergency and cannabinoid medicine. He’ll be one of the speakers on Friday at this year’s Ottawa Stroke Summit, an event that will bring together about 250 researchers, medical professionals and stroke survivors to hear about new frontiers in stroke treatment and prevention.

“I think this might be at the edge of their comfort zone,” said Lougheed, a physician at the Canabo Medical Clinic. “Scientists and physicians are taught to be skeptical. We’re taught to look under stones. But maybe some of my colleagues haven’t looked under these stones for some time. Science evolves.”

Full article here.