#NORML #News Source: @norml @WeedConnection Posted By: news@weedconnection.com media :: news - Tue, 02 Mar 2021 04:20:21 PST
Survey: Most Patients Lack Confidence About Their Physicians' Understanding of Cannabis
Ann Arbor, MI: Most state-registered medical cannabis patients lack confidence that their primary care providers possess a sufficient understanding of cannabis, according to survey data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
A team of researchers affiliated with the University of Michigan Medical School surveyed 275 subjects enrolled in the state's medical cannabis access program.
Consistent with prior research, authors reported, "Only 18 percent of participants rated their PCP's [primary care prover's] knowledge about medical cannabis as very good or excellent and only 21 percent were very or completely confident in their PCP's ability to integrate medical cannabis into their treatment." As a result, most subjects (86 percent) reported obtaining their medical cannabis recommendation from a doctor specializing in cannabis rather than from their primary care provider.
Authors further reported that most subjects (86 percent) acknowledged substituting cannabis in place of other prescription medications - a finding that is consistent with dozens of other studies. However, nearly half (44 percent) of those who did so failed to inform their primary care physician of the changes to their prescription drug treatment regimen.
Investigators concluded, "Our study highlights the need for better integration between medical cannabis and mainstream healthcare, including enhancing PCP education on cannabis, the endocannabinoid system, and the benefits, risks, and harms of cannabis in relevant therapeutic contexts."
Several prior surveys of health care professionals working in the United States and abroad - such as those here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here - have reported that that the majority of respondents do not believe that they possess sufficient knowledge about cannabis' health and safety effects to adequately counsel their patients.
Full text of the study, "Communication between healthcare providers and medical cannabis patients regarding referral and medication substitution," appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
Study: Cannabis Mitigates Symptoms in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Fibromyalgia
Ponderano, Italy: The adjunctive use of cannabis is associated with improvements in pain and other symptoms in patients with refractory fibromyalgia, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
An Italian researcher assessed the long-term use of various types of cannabis preparations (e.g., herbal cannabis, oil extracts, etc.) in a cohort of 38 patients with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia. Participants in the study consumed cannabis for up to twelve months in combination with their prescribed medications.
The author reported that "significant improvements were observed" following the initiation of cannabis therapy in most patients. Participants were most likely to report reductions in pain, as well as declines in their disability index and overall symptom severity scores. Most subjects who were responsive to medical cannabis reported experiencing "no or mild side effects." Subjects also did not appear to develop long-term tolerance to the substance, as patients had no need to increase their dosages of medical cannabis over the duration of the study period. No improvements in patients' anxiety or depression scores were reported.
Similar to the findings of other studies, the majority of trial subjects who responded favorably to cannabis therapy either discontinued or significantly reduced their consumption of prescription medicines.
The study's author concluded: "The current study revealed the positive effects of MC [medical cannabis] therapy in some patients with FMS [ fibromyalgia syndrome] and resistance to conventional treatment. Thus, cannabinoids may be considered for FMS treatment, although several side effects may still occur. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings."
Numerous studies of fibromyalgia patients - such as those here, here, here, and here - have also concluded that cannabis is effective and well-tolerated in patients with FMS.
NORML's Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "A growing number of patients with fibromyalgia are experimenting with cannabis products. This study's findings add to the growing body of literature indicating that cannabis is a promising alternative therapeutic option for many of these patients."
Full text of the study, "Medical cannabis for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome: A retrospective, open-label case series," appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.
New Jersey: Governor Signs Enabling Legislation into Law Ceasing Marijuana Possession Arrests, Licensing Retail Sales
Trenton, NJ: Democratic Governor Phil Murphy signed enabling legislation into law on Monday realizing voters' Election Day demands to legalize adult-use marijuana possession and license retail marijuana sales.
Three bills were signed by the Governor. A21/S21 licenses the commercial production and retail sale of cannabis to adults. Under the new law, those age 21 or older may legally purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis. Retail sales are subject to state sales tax. Seventy percent of the revenue derived from sales taxes will be directed toward reinvestment in designated, lower-income communities. An additional excise tax will also be imposed on commercial sales.
The new law caps the number of state-licensed cultivators at 37 for the first two years. Existing state-licensed medical cannabis producers will be among those eligible to provide to the retail market. It has been estimated that adult-use retailers may be operational within six months.
Murphy also signed A1897, which removes criminal and civil penalties for the private possession of up to six ounces of cannabis by adults, as well as for the possession of personal use amounts of hashish (up to 170 grams). It also depenalizes activities involving the transfer of up to one ounce of cannabis, and reduces criminal penalties for activities involving larger quantities (distribution of more than one ounce, but less than five pounds) of the substance.
Provisions in the law also seek to facilitate the expungement of criminal records involving low-level marijuana crimes. Said Gov. Murphy in a statement, "Starting immediately, those who had been subject to an arrest for petty marijuana possession will be able to get relief and move forward."
Gov. Murphy also signed a third piece of legislation into law, A5342. It provides for a series of written warnings, rather than the imposition of either criminal penalties or fines, for those under the age of 21 who are caught with cannabis. The Governor lobbied for the measure, which was passed by lawmakers just hours before being signed into law. Under the measure, third-time juvenile offenders could receive community service. Provisions in the law also restrict police from conducting searches of juveniles based solely on the odor of marijuana and include punitive measures if law enforcement intentionally do so anyway.
"The enactment of these laws is long overdue," said NORML State Policies Manager Carly Wolf - who emphasized that state and local police have made over 6,000 arrests for marijuana-related violations in the months since New Jersey voters overwhelmingly decided in favor of legalization at the ballot box. Newly issued guidance from the state's attorney general's office has requested that local prosecutors drop those cases. "Now, going forward, tens of thousands of otherwise law-abiding New Jerseyans will no longer be subject to arrest and a criminal record for their personal use of marijuana, and the commercial market will be regulated in a fair and inclusive manner."
An analysis of nationwide arrest data published in 2018 reported that New Jersey ranked third in the nation in total marijuana arrests and second only to Wyoming in per capita arrests.
Provisions in the bill allowing the use and possession of marijuana take immediate effect.
"While we are pleased to see the will of New Jersey voters finally enshrined into approved legislation, it was a grotesque failure on the part of elected leadership that it took so long to do so," stated NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri, "Despite nearly seven in ten New Jersey residents voting in favor of legalization on Election Day, it took lawmakers 111 days following that vote to achieve consensus to enact enabling legislation into law. During this undue delay, over 6,000 citizens faced charges for activities most New Jerseyans demanded be legalized. It is our hope that lawmakers and regulators going forward implement these laws with a renewed sense of urgency."
Governor Murphy acknowledged the delay, stating, "Although this process has taken longer than anticipated, I believe it is ending in the right place and will ultimately serve as a national model."
New Jersey is among the fifteen states where either voters or lawmakers have enacted legislation legalizing the possession and distribution of marijuana to adults.
Study: Adult-Use Marijuana Legalization Laws Associated with Declines in Workers' Compensation Claims
Wayne, NJ: The enactment of state-specific adult-use marijuana legalization laws is associated with a decline in the number of workers' compensation claims filed, according to a new National Bureau of Economic Research paper.
A team of researchers from the RAND Corporation, the University of Cincinnati, Temple University, and Wayne University assessed the relationship between adult-use marijuana access and workers' compensation claims among adults ages 40 to 62. They reported that legalization was independently associated with both a decline in the number of older employees filing workers' compensation claims, as well as a reduction in the total amount of financial benefits paid out in successful claims. Authors emphasized: "These results are not driven by pre-existing trends....
The observed reduction in WC [workers' compensation] benefits [was] not due to a concurrent decrease in labor supply mechanically reducing WC participation or due to industry composition shifts which lead to a higher share of the workforce in safer industries. Instead, we observe an increase in labor supply due to RML [recreational marijuana laws] adoption, which is further in line with RMLs improving work capacity among older adults."
Overall, older workers in states where cannabis access was legalized for adults reported a 20 percent decline in workers' compensation filings as compared to control states (where cannabis had not been legalized). In addition, annual income received from successful workers' compensation claims declined 20.5 percent in states post-legalization.
Authors concluded: "The present study provides empirical evidence on the consequences of marijuana legalization on issues related to the labor market outcomes, in particular, WC claiming of older adults. ... Our findings suggest potentially important benefits to older workers and society at large. Broadly, we show non-trivial improvements in work capacity, which we proxy with WC benefit receipt and various other metrics in our mechanism analysis, among older adults."
Previous research had identified a similar, but not as significant, decline in workers' compensation filings following the enactment of medical marijuana laws. That study, published in 2020, concluded, "On net, the available findings suggest that MML passage may increase work capacity among older adults, reduce work absences, improve workplace safety, and reduce WC claiming and the pain and suffering associated with workplace injuries."
Commenting on the findings, NORML's Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "These findings ought to assuage concerns that liberalizing cannabis' criminal status might somehow negatively impact workplace productivity or safety. The empirical data to date does not substantiate such fears."
Full text of the study, "Does marijuana legalization affect workplace capacity? Evidence from workers' compensation benefits," is available from National Bureau of Economic Research. Additional information is available from the NORML fact sheet , "Marijuana Legalization and Impact on the Workplace."
Study: Cannabis Use Associated with Reduced Fatty Liver Index Scores in Patients Co-Infected with HIV/HCV
Marseille, France: The regular use of cannabis by patients co-infected with HIV and the hepatitis C virus is associated with lower fatty liver index (FLI) scores, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy.
A team of French investigators assessed the relationship between cannabis use and FLI over a five-year period in 997 HIV/HCV co-infected patients. The fatty liver index (FLI) is an algorithm based on waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) for the prediction of fatty liver disease.
Nearly thirty percent of participants in the study reported regular cannabis use. Compared with non-users, those subjects who consumed cannabis near-daily possessed a 55 percent lower risk of elevated FLI.
Authors concluded: "Cannabis use is associated with a reduced risk of elevated fatty liver index in HIV-HCV co-infected patients. Further research is needed to confirm whether and how cannabinoids may inhibit the development of hepatic steatosis or other metabolic disorders in high-risk populations."
Other studies have previously identified an associated between cannabis use and lower BMI as well as a lower risk of steatosis (fatty liver disease). Separate studies assessing its use among HIV/HCV co-infected patients has previously identified an association between marijuana use and reduced rates of diabetes as well as overall mortality.
Full text of the study, "Cannabis use and reduced risk of elevated fatty liver index in HIV/HCV co-infected patients: a longitudinal analysis," appears in Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy.
Michigan: Court of Appeals Strikes Down Restrictions on Use of Medical Cannabis While on Probation
Lansing, MI: Judges can no longer prohibit the use of medical cannabis by patients who are on probation, according to a unanimous decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals.
In a published opinion, justices determined that the state's voter-initiated medical cannabis access law supersedes the authority of judges to limit probationers' use of the substance.
Although the ruling only explicitly addresses the issue of medical cannabis access while on probation, legal experts suggest that the ruling will likely similarly apply to parolees and/or defendants released on bond.
The prosecutor in the case had previously indicated that her office did not intend to appeal the ruling.
Michigan NORML, which donated funds to help pay for the litigation, called the ruling "a huge win for medical cannabis patients."
In 2019, justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court similarly ruled that probationers cannot be prohibited from accessing medical cannabis. Courts in several other states have issued inconsistent rulings on the issue.
Study: Combined Ingestion of Cannabis and Alcohol Possesses Additive Effects on Driving Performance
Toronto, Canada: The simultaneous ingestion of inhaled cannabis and alcohol results in more significant changes in simulated driving performance than does the consumption of either substance alone, according to data published in the journal Psychopharmacology.
A team of investigators affiliated with the University of Toronto assessed simulated driving performance in 28 subjects following their use of placebo alcohol and placebo cannabis (<0.1 percent THC), alcohol and placebo cannabis, placebo alcohol and active cannabis, and alcohol and active cannabis.
Subjects' performance following the ingestion of both alcohol and cannabis together "was significantly greater than the effect of each drug by itself," authors reported - a finding that is consistent with prior research. In particular, simultaneous exposure to both substances appeared to possess additive adverse effects on subjects' ability to maintain lateral positioning and speed. Subjects' reaction time was also significantly influenced by the dual administration of cannabis and alcohol.
Authors concluded, "Previous studies provided some evidence for an additive effect of the combination of cannabis and alcohol on driving measures and the current results ... support these findings."
Full text of the study, "Combined effect of alcohol and cannabis on simulated driving," appears in Psychopharmacology.
