New York, NY: Cannabis inhalation influences subjects' sensitivity to pain, according to clinical data published online ahead of print in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Investigators at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York assessed the effects of cannabis versus placebo in subjects exposed to a laboratory-induced pain model. Participants in the trial immersed one of their hands in cold water. Researchers assessed subjects' pain sensitivity and pain tolerance based on he length of time they were willing to keep their hand submerged.
Researchers reported that the administration of cannabis decreased pain sensitivity and increased pain tolerance in men, while producing a more modest response in female subjects.
"These results indicate that in cannabis smokers, men exhibit greater cannabis-induced analgesia relative to women," authors concluded. "As such, sex dependent differences in cannabis's analgesic effects are an important consideration that warrants further investigation when considering the potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoids for pain relief."
Separate clinical trials evaluating the impact of inhaled cannabis in patients with chronic pain conditions, such as neuropathy, report that the treatment is associated with reduced analgesia and opioid use.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Sex-dependent effects of cannabis-induced analgesia," appears in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Study: Oral THC Safe And Effective For Treatment Of Spasticity In Pediatric Patients
Dusseldorf, Germany: The administration of oral, synthetic THC (dronabinol) is safe and effective for the treatment of refractory spasticity in pediatric patients, according to clinical data published online ahead of print in the European Journal of Pediatric Neurology.
Researchers from the University of Dusseldorf in Germany assessed the palliative treatment of dronabinol in 16 adolescent subjects with complex neurological conditions. Subjects received dosing twice daily and the median duration of treatment was 181 days.
Oral THC administration was associated with reduced spasticity in the majority of subjects treated. No serious or enduring side effects were reported. "Our data show evidence that dronabinol can effectively be administered over a longer period of time to ... young children ... without severe side effects or aggravation of pre-existing concurrent conditions," authors concluded.
The study is one of the first trials to specifically assess the safety and efficacy of THC in an adolescent patient population.
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the prescription use of oral, synthetic THC as an anti-emetic and as an appetite stimulant in the mid 1980s. A liquid version of dronabinol was FDA approved for similar purposes earlier this year.
Full text of the study, "Effective treatment of spasticity using dronabinol in pediatric palliative care," appears in the European Journal of Pediatric Neurology.
Case Report: Cannabinoid Extracts Safe And Effective In Tourette Syndrome Patient
Tauranga, New Zealand: The administration of standardized cannabinoid extracts (Sativex) is safe and effective at mitigating symptoms of Tourettes, according to a case report published online ahead of print in the journal Australasian Psychiatry.
Investigators at the Tauranga Hospital, Department of Psychiatry in New Zealand evaluated the impact of twice-daily Sativex administration in a patient with treatment-resistant Tourette syndrome (TS). Sativex is a spray containing an equal 1:1 ratio of THC to cannabidiol (CBD).
Following treatment, researchers reported an 85 percent reduction in the subject's motor tics and a 90 percent reduction in vocal tics.
Authors concluded, "Our results support previous research suggesting that cannabinoids are a safe and effective treatment for TS and should be considered in treatment-resistant cases."
Randomized clinical trials assessing the use of oral THC capsules in patients with TS have similarly reported the treatment to be safe and effective.
Full text of the study, "Severe motor and vocal tics controlled with Sativex," appears in Australasian Psychiatry.
Study: Epileptic Patients Report Subjective Benefits From Cannabis
Ontario, Canada: Patients with epilepsy frequently experiment with cannabis and most report experiencing subjective benefits following their use of the substance, according to data published online ahead of print in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior.
Canadian researchers surveyed the experiences of over 300 adult patients admitted to an epilepsy monitoring unit over a 14-month period. More than half of the respondents acknowledged having tried cannabis and over a third reported having used it in the past year.
Cannabis use was associated with perceived reductions in seizure frequency, reduced stress, improved sleep and better memory/concentration.
Clinical trial data reports that cannabinoids, in particular cannabidiol (CBD), possess anti-convulsant activity in patients with intractable forms of the disease.
Full text of the study, "Marijuana use in adults admitted to a Canadian epilepsy monitoring unit," appears in Epilepsy & Behavior. A summary of relevant research specific to cannabis and epilepsy appears online at: https://norml.org/library/item/epilepsy.
