#NORML #News Source: @norml @WeedConnection Posted By: norml@weedconnection.com media :: news - Thu, 05 Nov 2020 04:20:21 PST
Study: Medical Cannabis Use Associated with Long-Term Pain Mitigation
Haifa, Israel: Israeli patients authorized to use cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain report long-term overall improvements in their condition, according to observational data published in The European Journal of Pain.
Investigators affiliated with the University of Haifa repeatedly surveyed federally licensed medical cannabis patients over a one-year period regarding their use of medical cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain.
They reported: "At one-year, average pain intensity declined from baseline by 20 percent. All other parameters improved by 10 to 30 percent. A significant decrease of 42 percent from baseline in morphine equivalent daily dosage of opioids was also observed. Reported adverse effects were common but mostly non-serious." Reports of adverse effects declined over the course of the study period.
The findings are consistent with those of numerous other studies reporting that the use of cannabis is associated with pain relief and a reduction in the use of opioids by chronic pain patients.
Authors of the study concluded: "This prospective, comprehensive and large-scale cohort demonstrated an overall mild to modest long-term improvement of all investigated measures, including pain, associated symptoms and importantly, reduction in opioid (and other analgesics) use. It seems likely that MC [medical cannabis] treatment can be safe for most patients."
Full text of the study, "Medical cannabis treatment for chronic pain: Outcomes and prediction of response," appears in The European Journal of Pain.
Study: Seniors Report Using Cannabis Products to Mitigate Symptoms Associated with Older Age
La Jolla, CA: Fifteen percent of seniors report having used cannabis products within the past three years, primarily for therapeutic purposes, according to data published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
Investigators affiliated with the University of California at San Diego surveyed 568 respondents at a geriatric clinic in southern California. All of the study's participants were at least 65 years of age, and 73 percent of respondents were older than 75.
Fifteen percent of those surveyed reported consuming either cannabis or CBD within the past three years; over half of those who responded affirmatively reported using cannabis products either daily or weekly. Seventy-eight percent of consumers described their use as medical, primarily to mitigate pain, improve sleep, or to reduce anxiety. Some three-fifths of users in the survey acknowledged initiating their use of cannabis products as older adults. Fewer than half of all elderly consumers reported ever having spoken to their health care provider about their cannabis use.
Several recent studies have similarly reported that marijuana use is growing in popularity among older adults. Other studies – such as those here, here, here, and here – have determined that medical cannabis use by seniors is relatively safe and effective at mitigating pain and improving self-reported quality of life.
The study's authors concluded: "Our study has augmented what is known about cannabis use in older adults by identifying distinct patterns and characteristics of cannabis use among them, with older adult cannabis users using cannabis primarily for medical reasons and to treat specific conditions. ... Most older adults in the sample initiated [their] cannabis use after the age of 60 years and used it primarily for medical purposes to treat pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and/or depression. Cannabis use by older adults is likely to increase due to medical need, favorable legalization, and attitudes."
Full text of the study, "Cannabis: An emerging treatment for common symptoms in older adults," appears in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
Minority Leader Pledges to Advance Marijuana Descheduling Legislation if Democrats Take Control of U.S. Senate
Washington, DC: Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) has promised to advance legislation to remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act in a Democratically-controlled Senate.
In remarks made earlier this week, Schumer said that he "will put [legislation] in play" if the Democrats win majority control of the US Senate on November 3rd. Specifically, Schumer spoke of the prospects of advancing legislation he is sponsoring, the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, which deschedules cannabis and provides grant funding to encourage states to review and expunge past marijuana convictions. "I think we'll have a good chance to pass that [legislation,]" he said.
House leadership has pledged to hold a floor vote on separate descheduling legislation, the Marijuana, Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Act, shortly following the election. If voted, the measure is anticipated to pass. Members of the House on three separate occasions have passed legislation to permit banks and other financial institutions to partner with state-licensed marijuana businesses, but the Senate has failed to take up the issue. Senate leadership has also killed amendments that sought to expand medical cannabis access to military veterans.
Senator Schumer added: "I'm a big fighter for racial justice, and the marijuana laws have been one of the biggest examples of racial injustice, and so to change them makes sense. And that fits in with all of the movement now to bring equality in the policing, in economics and in everything else. Our bill is, in a certain sense, at the nexus of racial justice, individual freedom and states' rights."
In a recent interview with the marijuana-themed website Leafly.com, Sen. Schumer similarly promised, "My commitment is that if I am leader [of the US Senate], I am going to do everything I can to put the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act on the floor of the Senate. The odds are very high it will pass."
In response to Sen. Schumer's statements, NORML Political Director Justin Strekal said: "The stark contrast among Senate party leaders on the issue of reforming our failed marijuana laws could not be any more dramatic. On one side of the aisle, you have Republican Leader McConnell – who refuses to act on even ancillary reforms such as the SAFE Banking Act. On the other hand, you have Democratic Leader Schumer who now is eager to force the upper chamber to consider legislation ending the nation's cruel experiment with marijuana criminalization. In short, the future of marijuana policy reform is on the ballot in every state with a Senate race."
Survey: One-in-Five Cancer Patients Report Using Medical Cannabis
Royal Oak, MI: An estimated one-in-five cancer patients residing in a state where medical cannabis is legally accessible report using it therapeutically, according to data published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology.
A team of investigators affiliated with Beaumont Hospital, Office of Hematology and Oncology in Michigan surveyed 188 cancer patients about their use of medical cannabis. (Surveys were completed in 2018, prior to the state's enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization. Michigan legalized medical marijuana access to qualifying patients in 2008.)
Twenty-five percent of survey respondents, a percentage that researchers acknowledged is consistent with prior studies, reported having used cannabis. Investigators reported that "the vast majority of patients believe MC [medical cannabis] use to have resulted in improvement of the symptoms that were assessed, especially pain, poor appetite, and anxiety."
Authors concluded: "This survey adds to the growing body of evidence that MC is a safe and potentially effective adjunct to conventional medications for the palliation of cancer patients. ... Given the increasing prevalence of MC use among cancer patients, it is imperative that hematologist and oncologists become comfortable with discussing this topic with patients."
Full text of the study, "Medical cannabis in cancer patients: A survey of a community hematology oncology population," appears in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Survey Data: Women More Likely Than Men to Report Decreasing Prescription Medications Following Initiation of Cannabis Therapy
Chicago, IL: Women enrolled in a state-licensed medical cannabis access program are more likely than men to report either reducing or discontinuing their use of prescription medications, according to data published in the Journal of Women's Health.
Investigators with DePaul University in Chicago and John Hopkins University in Baltimore surveyed 361 patients registered with Illinois' state-sponsored medical marijuana access program.
Researchers reported that women acknowledged using cannabis to address a greater variety of medical conditions than did men, and that they were also more likely to report having either reduced or ceased their use of prescription medicines following enrollment in the program. Female respondents were also less likely than male respondents to report having their decision to use medical cannabis supported by either their primary care provider or by a physician specialist.
They concluded: "The results from our cross-sectional study describe a number of gender-associated patterns within the use and outcomes of MC [medical cannabis] among patients with chronic conditions. Women appear to be more likely than men to use MC for a range of symptoms (specifically, pain, anxiety, inflammation, and nausea), to have increased use of cannabis since qualifying for MC, and to subsequently have reduced or completely discontinued their prescription medications. In addition, the women in our sample reported marginally lower levels of support from their primary care provider, and significantly less support from specialist physicians than the men in our sample, and significantly more of them received certification for their state MC card from MC practices."
The findings are consistent with those of numerous other studies finding that patients enrolled in medical cannabis access programs typically reduce or eliminate their use of prescription medicines, particularly opioids.
Full text of the study, "Gender differences in medical cannabis use: Symptoms treated, physician support for use, and prescription medicines discontinuation," appears in the Journal of Women's Health.
South Dakota: Oglala Sioux Enacts Ordinance Legalizing Marijuana Use on Tribal Lands
Pine Ridge, SD: Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council voted 11 to 8 this week in favor of the enactment of a new, 80-page ordinance regulating the possession and use of marijuana on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Members of the tribe in March initially passed a referendum in support of changing tribal marijuana laws.
The ordinance permits the use of cannabis for both patients and adults (non-patients age 21 or older). It permits tribal members to cultivate and dispense cannabis, and also allows for the establishment of social consumption facilities – which may be accessed by both tribal members and non-members.
This week's vote comes just days before South Dakota voters will decide on a pair of statewide ballot initiatives: Constitutional Amendment A — which legalizes the possession and use of marijuana by adults, and Initiated Measure 26, which establishes a medical marijuana program for patients diagnosed with serious health conditions. The most recent polling available, conducted days ago by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, finds the medical cannabis measure winning easily, with some 74 percent of South Dakotans endorsing it. By contrast, pollsters report that 51 percent of likely voters back Amendment A, with 44 percent opposed and five percent undecided.
Under state law, the possession of any amount of marijuana is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a criminal record. In 2018, an estimated one out of every ten arrests made in the state was marijuana-related, according to data compiled by campaign proponents South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws. Ninety-five percent of all cannabis arrests in South Dakota were for possession.
The new Pine Ridge Reservation ordinance will take effect in 30 days. The Oglala Sioux Tribe is the first Native American tribe to move forward to legalize marijuana use in a state that has yet to similarly regulate it.
Commenting on the timing of the ordinance's finalization, NORML Legal Committee member Leland Berger of Portland, Oregon – who assisted in drafting the ordinance – said, "I am most hopeful that the timing of the passage of this ordinance will have a positive influence on the medical and legalization initiatives on the ballot next week in South Dakota."
South Dakota: Oglala Sioux Enacts Ordinance Legalizing Marijuana Use on Tribal Lands
Pine Ridge, SD: Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council voted 11 to 8 this week in favor of the enactment of a new, 80-page ordinance regulating the possession and use of marijuana on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Members of the tribe in March initially passed a referendum in support of changing tribal marijuana laws.
The ordinance permits the use of cannabis for both patients and adults (non-patients age 21 or older). It permits tribal members to cultivate and dispense cannabis, and also allows for the establishment of social consumption facilities – which may be accessed by both tribal members and non-members.
This week's vote comes just days before South Dakota voters will decide on a pair of statewide ballot initiatives: Constitutional Amendment A — which legalizes the possession and use of marijuana by adults, and Initiated Measure 26, which establishes a medical marijuana program for patients diagnosed with serious health conditions. The most recent polling available, conducted days ago by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, finds the medical cannabis measure winning easily, with some 74 percent of South Dakotans endorsing it. By contrast, pollsters report that 51 percent of likely voters back Amendment A, with 44 percent opposed and five percent undecided.
Under state law, the possession of any amount of marijuana is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a criminal record. In 2018, an estimated one out of every ten arrests made in the state was marijuana-related, according to data compiled by campaign proponents South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws. Ninety-five percent of all cannabis arrests in South Dakota were for possession.
The new Pine Ridge Reservation ordinance will take effect in 30 days. The Oglala Sioux Tribe is the first Native American tribe to move forward to legalize marijuana use in a state that has yet to similarly regulate it.
Commenting on the timing of the ordinance's finalization, NORML Legal Committee member Leland Berger of Portland, Oregon – who assisted in drafting the ordinance – said, "I am most hopeful that the timing of the passage of this ordinance will have a positive influence on the medical and legalization initiatives on the ballot next week in South Dakota."
Massachusetts: Court Denies Reimbursements for Medical Cannabis-Related Costs
Boston, MA: An insurer is not obligated to cover expenses resulting from an employee's use of medical cannabis while recovering from a job-related injury, according to a decision by Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.
Justices opined that explicit language included in the state's medical cannabis access law fails to require "any health insurance provider ... to reimburse any person for the expenses of the medical use of marijuana."
They concluded: "It is one thing for a state statute to authorize those who want to use medical marijuana or [to] provide a patient with a written certification for medical marijuana, to do so and assume the potential risk of federal prosecution; it is quite another for it to require unwilling third parties to pay for such use and risk such prosecution. The drafters of the medical marijuana law recognized and respected this distinction."
State courts have issued inconsistent verdicts on the issue of medical cannabis reimbursement, with courts in New Jersey and New Hampshire ruling in favor of a worker's right to compensation while a Delaware Superior Court recently ruling against it.
The case is Wright v. Central Mutual Insurance Company.
Study: Subjects Report Reduced Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Following Cannabis Inhalation
Pullman, WA: The inhalation of herbal cannabis is associated with temporary reductions in symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), according to data published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
A team of investigators affiliated with Washington State University analyzed data from 87 subjects who self-identified as suffering from OCD. Study participants used a smartphone application to track the severity of their symptoms immediately before and shortly following their use of cannabis over a 31-month period.
Authors reported: "Using a large dataset of medical cannabis users self-medicating for symptoms of OCD, we found that for the vast majority of cannabis use sessions individuals reported reductions in intrusions [unwanted thoughts or impulses], compulsions, and anxiety. ... [R]esults indicated that after inhaling cannabis, ratings of intrusions were reduced by 49 percent, compulsions by 60 percent, and anxiety by 52 percent." Decreases in compulsive behavior were most closely associated with the consumption of cannabis containing higher concentrations of CBD.
Subjects' baseline severity ratings for anxiety declined over the course of the study. Baseline ratings for other symptoms, however, were unchanged – indicating that cannabis' impact on OCD-related intrusions and compulsions was likely short-lived.
Authors concluded: "Results from the present study indicate that inhaled cannabis may acutely reduce symptoms of OCD. While the symptom severity ratings were reduced by approximately 50 to 60 percent from immediately before to after cannabis use, there was evidence that cannabis-associated reductions in intrusions may diminish over time. Collectively these results indicate that cannabis may have short-term, but not long-term beneficial effects on symptoms of OCD."
Commenting on the study's findings, NORML's Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "Few studies have assessed the potential efficacy of cannabis for the mitigation of symptoms of OCD. As such, these findings, though somewhat limited by the study's design, indicate that cannabis – and, in particular, varieties high in CBD – holds promise as a therapeutic option for OCD patients and should be furthered examined in a more rigorously designed controlled setting."
Full text of the study, "Acute effects of cannabis on symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder," appears in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
