#NORML #News Source: @norml @WeedConnection Posted By: norml@weedconnection.com media :: news - Tue, 27 Oct 2020 04:20:21 PST
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.
Canada: Medical Cannabis Enrollees Often Report Reductions in Alcohol Use
Victoria, Canada: Many of the patients enrolled in Canada's medical cannabis program report reducing their alcohol intake, according to data published in The International Journal of Drug Policy.
A team of researchers with the Canadian Institute for Substance Abuse Research and the University of Victoria, School of Public Health and Social Policy surveyed nearly 1,000 federally authorized medical cannabis patients. Survey participants reported on their use of alcohol prior to and following their enrollment in the nation's medical cannabis access program.
Investigators reported that 44 percent of respondents reported "decreases in alcohol frequency" following their participation in the cannabis access program. Of those, 85 percent reported decreasing the number of drinks they consumed per week, while 18 percent reported consuming no alcohol during the 30-day period prior to taking the survey.
Those respondents who were younger than 55 years of age and/or those who engaged in higher rates of alcohol consumption prior to their enrollment were most likely to report either reducing or ceasing their use of alcohol.
Authors concluded: "Our findings suggest that medical cannabis initiation may be associated with self-reported reductions and cessation of alcohol use among medical cannabis patients. Since alcohol is the most prevalent recreational substance in North America, and its use results in significant rates of criminality, morbidity and mortality, these findings may result in improved health outcomes for medical cannabis patients, as well as overall improvements in public health and safety."
The findings are consistent with those of several prior studies - such as those here, here, here, and here - reporting that many patients limit their use of alcohol following their enrollment in medical cannabis access programs. By contrast, other studies of non-patients report mixed results with respect to whether alcohol and cannabis are likely to act as either potential substitutes or complements.
Full text of the study, "Reductions in alcohol use following medical cannabis initiation: results from a large cross-sectional survey of medical cannabis patients in Canada," appears in The International Journal of Drug Policy.
USDA Approves Several More States' Hemp Production Plans
Washington, DC: Officials with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are continuing to approve states' plans regulating commercial hemp production.
As per federal law, states wishing to license and regulate commercial activities specific to hemp must submit their plans for approval from the federal agency.
Over the past two months, the agency has approved plans submitted by regulators in Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah, according to reporting compiled by MarijuanaMoment.com.
Regulators have previously granted approval to programs in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Last fall, the agency issued interim rules governing the commercial production of cannabis containing no more than 0.3 percent THC and products containing cannabinoids derived from hemp.
Additional information regarding state-specific hemp production laws is available from votehemp.org.
Texas: Analysis Estimates Legalizing the Cannabis Market Could Create 40,000 Jobs, Save $311 Million in Criminal Justice Costs
Austin, TX: The legalization of marijuana use and sales in Texas would yield over a billion dollars in new tax revenue, create tens of thousands of new jobs, and lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in criminal justice savings, according to an analysis by the law firm Vincente Sederberg LLP.
The analysis estimates that regulating the commercial market in the state would yield biennium tax revenue of more than $1.1 billion dollars, create up to 40,000 jobs, and allow for the reprioritization of $31 million in criminal justice costs.
Texas police in 2018 made nearly 100,000 arrests for marijuana violations - the highest total of any state in the nation.
"A regulated cannabis market would be an economic boon for the Lone Star State," said Shawn Hauser, a partner at Vicente Sederberg who heads the firm's Austin office. "Hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue and tens of thousands of new jobs would be especially helpful in overcoming the losses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas is leaving an enormous amount of money on the table by keeping cannabis illegal."
For more information, contact Texas NORML. Text of the report, "The Economic Benefits of Regulating and Taxing Cannabis in Texas: An analysis of potential new revenue, job growth, and savings," is online.
Illinois: Cook County State's Attorney Expunges Over 1,000 Cannabis Convictions
Chicago, IL: The office of the Cook County (population: 1.5 million) State's Attorney is moving to automatically review and expunge the criminal records of hundreds of citizens with marijuana possession convictions.
In recent weeks, State's Attorney Kim Foxx has vacated the criminal records of over 1,000 minor marijuana offenders. Foxx said: "As we work to reform the criminal justice system and develop remedies to systemic barriers, I am proud that justice continues to be served in Cook County, for one, by vacating these low-level cannabis convictions to help move individuals and communities forward."
Those eligible for relief do not have to take any action to initiate the expungement process. They will receive a notice from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County when their record has been expunged.
Under a 2019 state law, those with past convictions for offenses involving the possession of up to 500 grams of cannabis are eligible to have their records expunged.
Additional information on statewide expungement laws is available from NORML.
