#NORML #News Source: @norml @WeedConnection Posted By: norml@weedconnection.com media :: news - Tue, 26 Jan 2021 04:20:21 PST
Study: Cannabis Use Associated with Reduced Alcohol Intake Among Treatment-Seeking Drinkers
Boulder, CO: Cannabis use is associated with a decrease in the amount of alcohol consumed by individuals seeking alcohol treatment, according to data published this week in the journal Addiction.
A team of investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado at Boulder and with Colorado State University assessed the relationship between cannabis use and alcohol intake in 96 cannabis-using subjects enrolled in an alcohol treatment program. Researchers reported that on days when participants consumed cannabis, their alcohol intake fell significantly. This trend was consistent among those who used heavy amounts of cannabis as well as among those who used only light amounts of cannabis occasionally.
They determined: "Across the sample, individuals drank approximately 29 percent fewer drinks and were 2.06 times less likely to have a binge-drinking episode on days that cannabis was used compared with days cannabis was not used. These patterns were observed in males, females and the infrequent and frequent cannabis use groups."
Authors concluded, "Heavy drinkers engaged in treatment to reduce their alcohol consumption who also use cannabis appear to increase their cannabis use on days when they reduce their alcohol consumption."
Commenting on the study's findings, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "Several previous studies have examined whether cannabis is more likely to act as either a substitute or as a compliment for alcohol and, thus far, they have yielded mixed results. This study's findings are an important addition to this growing body of literature and offer strong evidence that cannabis can act as an intervention for certain persons seeking to reduce their alcohol consumption."
The researchers had previously reported similar findings in 2020 before the Research Society on Alcoholism. Statewide ecological data has also reported dips in alcohol sales in jurisdictions following the enactment of marijuana access laws.
Separate data published by Harvard researchers in December reported that coerced cannabis abstinence results in increased alcohol intake among younger subjects. Participants' alcohol intake returned to baseline following the completion of the abstinence period.
Full text of the study, "Effects of cannabis use on alcohol consumption in a sample of treatment-engaged heavy drinkers in Colorado," appears in Addiction.
Study: Medical Marijuana Treatment Associated with Significant Declines in the Use of Opioids at Six Months
Victoria, Canada: The use of medical cannabis by qualified patients over a six-month period is associated with significant decreases in the use of prescription opioids and other medications, according to data published in the journal Pain Medicine.
Investigators with the University of Victoria in Vancouver assessed prescription drug use patterns over a six-month period in a cohort of 1,145 authorized medical cannabis patients.
Researchers reported that 28 percent of subjects acknowledged using opioid medications at the initiation of the trial. This fell to 11 percent six months later. Participants' mean opioid dosage fell by 78 percent over the trial period - a finding consistent with prior studies.
Researchers also reported declines in subjects' use of prescription anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, and anti-seizure medications. Prior studies have similarly reported declines in patients use of benzodiazepines and other prescription medications following the initiation of medical cannabis.
Study subjects also reported improvements in their overall quality of life, including changes in their physical and psychological health, over the course of the trial.
Authors concluded, "The high rate of cannabis use for chronic pain and the subsequent reductions in opioid use suggest that cannabis may play a harm reduction role in the opioid overdose crisis, potentially improving the quality of life of patients and overall public health."
Full text of the study, "Cannabis significantly reduces the use of prescription opioids and improves quality of life in authorized patients: Results of a large prospective study," appears in Pain Medicine. Additional information is available from the NORML fact sheet, "Relationship Between Marijuana and Opioids."
Legal Marijuana Sales Spiked Dramatically in 2020
Seattle, WA: Sales of legal marijuana products rose by more than $7 billion in 2020, according to an analysis of state revenue data compiled by Leafly.
In all, customers purchased an estimated $17.9 billion in cannabis products from legal retailers in 2020 - up from a total of $10.7 billion in 2019. Leafly's analysis includes sales from both medical-use and adult-use retailers.
The spike in sales was in large part due to customers purchasing greater quantities of cannabis per retail transaction than ever before. This shift began in March, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and held steadily throughout the remainder of the year.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, regulators in several states designated marijuana retailers as ‘essential businesses,' which permitted them to stay open under relaxed or, in some cases, new emergency rules intended to facilitate expanded customer access. As a result, several states reported an unprecedented volume of retail sales in the spring and summer.
According to Leafly's analysis, the largest marijuana sales markets in 2020 were: California, Colorado, Washington, and Florida. Nine states more than doubled their 2019 sales totals.
Commenting on the totals, NORML's Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "The dramatic rise in retail marijuana sales is not only a reflection of increased consumer demand, but also the result of many consumers shifting from the illicit market to the above-ground legal marketplace. As these state-legal markets continue to mature and become more accessible, consumers are going to continue gravitate toward it and away from the underground marketplace."
Survey: Most Americans Say Marijuana Possesses Less Abuse Potential Than Alcohol
Newark, DE: Most Americans perceive cannabis to possess less abuse potential than alcohol, according to survey data published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.
A pair of researchers affiliated with the University of Delaware and with Michigan State University surveyed a nationally representative sample of US adults (ages 18 to 75+) regarding their views on cannabis and CBD.
Investigators reported, "The results show that the majority of U.S. consumers perceive cannabis (as CBD, hemp, marijuana, and THC) as having medical uses and view the potential for abuse of cannabis as less than for commonly prescribed medications and alcohol."
Under federal law, the cannabis plant is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance with "a high potential for abuse" and "no currently accepted use in treatment in the United States." By contrast, alcohol is not scheduled within the US Controlled Substances Act. Cocaine and methamphetamine are classified under the law as Schedule II substances.
Among those survey respondents who acknowledged having personally used either cannabis and CBD, just under half said that they did so "as a replacement for other medications." Most frequently, respondents said that they replaced anti-anxiety medications and opioids with cannabinoids - a finding that is consistent with prior studies.
NORML's Deputy Director Paul Armentano said that he was not surprised by the survey's findings. "The overwhelmingly majority of Americans have long abandoned the federal government's ‘Flat Earth' position that marijuana is highly dangerous substance without any therapeutic efficacy. It is time for Congress to jettison this intellectually dishonest position as well and remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act in a manner similar to alcohol — thereby ending the existing state/federal conflict and permitting state governments, not the federal government, to be the primary arbiters of cannabis policy."
Full text of the study, "Homegrown perceptions about the medical use and potential abuse of CBD and THC," appears in Addictive Behaviors. Additional information is available from the NORML fact sheet, "Relationship Between Marijuana and Opioids."
Mississippi: Medical Organizations Join Legal Fight to Overturn Election Result Legalizing Medical Cannabis Access
Jackson, MS: The American Medical Association (AMA) and its state affiliate have filed a joint amicus brief urging the state's highest court to reject a voter-approved ballot measure legalizing and regulating cannabis access to qualified patients. On Election Day, 73 percent of voters decided in favor of Measure 65, which establishes a system of state-licensed dispensaries to engage in the retail dispensing of cannabis and cannabis products to patients who possess a doctor's authorization.
Just prior to the vote, officials representing the city of Madison - including the town's Mayor - filed suit arguing that the legislature's failure to update guidelines for petitioners with should invalidate the initiative vote. Specifically, state statutes call for petitioners to gather an equal percentage of signatures from five congressional districts. However, following redistricting in 2000, there are only four congressional districts in the state. Lawmakers since that time have failed to update the statute. Nonetheless, litigants have not similarly challenged the validity of a separate initiative that also appeared on the 2020 ballot or the validity of prior ballot measures, despite the fact that petitioners for those initiatives acted no differently than did those who advocated for the marijuana measure.
Justices on the state's Supreme Court have agreed to hear the case. Separate lawsuits in Montana and South Dakota are also seeking to overturn marijuana legalization election outcomes in those states. South Dakota's litigation was filed at the behest of the state's Republican Governor, Kristi Noem.
Commenting on the litigation, NORML State Policies Coordinator Carly Wolf said: "These are cynical attempts to undermine the democratic process. Legalization opponents have shown time and time again that they cannot succeed in either the court of public opinion or at the ballot box. Thus, they are now asking judges to set aside the votes of over a million Americans in a desperate effort to override undisputed election outcomes. Whether or not one supports marijuana legalization, Americans should be outraged at these overtly undemocratic tactics."
In the AMA's joint filing, the association argues, "[C]annabis for medicinal use should not be legalized thorough the state legislative, ballot initiative or referendum process ... [because] without question, the public health risks are immense." Their brief further highlights marijuana's Schedule I status under federal law - which classifies the plant as possessing "no currently accepted medical use on treatment in the United States" - as a justification for throwing out the election result.
"The AMA's position is woefully out of step with both public opinion and scientific consensus, as well as with the opinions of the majority of physicians," NORML's Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. "It is regrettable that this organization would go on record in attempting to nullify the vote of a supermajority of Mississippi voters."
Review: Oral Cannabinoids Reduce Feelings of Acute Pain
Hamilton, Canada: The administration of oral preparations of THC and other agonists reduces sensations of acute pain, according to a review of placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Investigators with McMaster University in Ontario, Canada reviewed the results of six clinical trials involving 678 participants. Subjects in the trials primarily received oral preparations of synthetic forms of THC (e.g., nabilone) or placebo. None of the studies included in the review assessed the efficacy of inhaled cannabis - which has been shown repeatedly to mitigate pain symptoms in controlled clinical settings.
Authors of the review concluded that cannabinoids possess "a statistically significant treatment effect" in acute pain patients compared to placebo. "Our review highlights the need for further research to investigate the optimal route and composition of cannabinoids in the acute pain setting, including large, high-quality randomized clinical trials to better understand the risks and benefits of cannabinoids in this patient population."
Full text of the study, "Cannabinoids in the management of acute pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis," appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Additional information on cannabis and chronic pain management is available from NORML online.
Survey of Medical Cannabis Patients Finds Self-Reported Reductions in Pain, Prescription Medications
Tallahassee, FL: Patients enrolled in Florida's medical cannabis access program typically report reductions in their pain and anxiety, as well as in their use of prescription medications - specifically opioids, according to data published in the journal Complimentary Therapies in Medicine.
A team of researchers affiliated with Florida A&M University's Institute of Public Health surveyed 196 registered medical cannabis patients.
Eighty-nine percent of respondents said that medical cannabis provided them with "great relief" for their medical condition. Respondents were most likely to cite cannabis' effectiveness for reducing anxiety, improving pain management, improving sleep, addressing post-traumatic stress, stimulating appetite, and enhancing their overall quality of life. Participants also reported that they "ceased using several prescription drugs for pain, anxiety, and mental problems" - a finding that is consistent with those of prior studies. Respondents "frequently cited reductions in opioid use," a finding that is also consistent with other studies.
Authors concluded: "Both the interview findings and survey results indicated a wide swath of patients sought medical cannabis for the relief of chronic pain from various medical conditions and were able to reduce their use of prescription medications. ... Medical marijuana patients were very willing to participate in both the surveys and interviews and took an active interest in wanting to learn about the outcomes from this research study. This finding bodes well for future research on understanding patient perspectives of the use of cannabis-based medicines."
Full text of the study, "Mixed methods study of the potential therapeutic benefits from medical cannabis for patients in Florida," appears in Complimentary Therapies in Medicine. Additional information is available from the NORML fact sheet, "Relationship Between Marijuana and Opioids."
