The medical value of cannabis has been hotly debated for years. Its use as a relaxant or a pain reliever is widely accepted now.
Alastair Leithead reports from California.
Alastair Leithead reports from California.
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Monday, 23 March 2015
States ban on medical cannabis to be challenged in court?
Two Islanders saw their petitions to allow them access to the drug, or cannabis-based drugs, rejected by the Assembly last year.
JEP readers overwhelmingly support legalising cannabis
A DECISION by the States not to allow Islanders with chronic illnesses to use cannabis for medicinal purposes could be challenged in court.
Islander who was denied access to cannabis were seeking a judicial review to overturn the decision made by the Assembly in December.
The States to deny three chronically ill Islanders special licences to the use the class B drug for pain relief as 'irrational'.
Two Islanders saw their petitions to allow them access to cannabis or cannabis-based drugs rejected by the Assembly last year.
Ann Hill who suffers from painful muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis
And a 72-year-old widow suffering from multiple-sclerosis also had her petition to be prescribed the cannabis-based drug Sativex withdrawn after it emerged the Health Minister did not have the power to issue such a licence.
Now, the pro-cannabis campaigner said people needed to move away from a 'fear' of making cannabis legal and added that due the Island's autonomy from the UK it had the chance to be a pioneer in the legalisation of the drug.
Continue reading: http://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2015/03/06/states-ban-on-medicinal-cannabis-to-be-challenged-in-court/
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Doctor explains how medical cannabis relieves pain and reduces anxiety
Dr. Ian Mitchell says knowledge of CBD and THC is essential in properly
prescribing cannabis to patients suffering from pain linked to cancer,
AIDS, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. He points out that some
people’s stomachs can’t tolerate traditional anti-inflammatory
medications, which can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
“I have a few little old ladies in my practice,” he reveals. “They have a cookie every night and say, ‘I don’t take my Percocet anymore.’ I would consider that a success because that’s a far less harmful way to treat their pain.”
Dr. Ian Mitchell (pictured) says that in an ideal world, physicians would learn about the medicinal properties of cannabis in medical school. Doctors would be trained about different extracts from marijuana plants, including cannabidiol, aka CBD, and tetrahydrocannabinol, aka THC.
Mitchell says that CBD is normally about one to two percent of a marijuana plant, whereas the psychoactive agent THC is over 10 percent and getting closer to 20 percent.
Drug prohibition has led to plants being grown with a higher THC percentage because that’s what buyers prefer. The downside, he says, is that plants with higher THC levels often have drastically lower levels of CBD.
“You don’t have the antipsychotic and anti-anxiety properties,” Mitchell explains. “So all of the sudden, you’re smoking this very intense stuff that in the U.K. they call skunk. That probably does make people a bit psychotic and probably does make people very anxious, but this is because of prohibition.
“That’s part of the argument for proper regulations—so that you could choose stuff to have cannabidiol,” he adds. “I consider that essential in a medical-cannabis situation. I want to know what my patients are getting as far as the THC and CBD content.”
Research planned into PTSD and cannabis
He's part of a team awaiting approval from UBC and Health Canada to launch a study into the effect of different preparations of cannabis on posttraumatic stress disorder. He points out that PTSD is taking a tremendous toll on military families in particular.
"This is a huge deal in America," Mitchell says. "Right now, there are 22 veterans a day who commit suicide."
Paxil is the only medication that's approved for treating PTSD, but according to Mitchell, it doesn't work for most people. He says that there is "very good preliminary evidence that cannabis can be effective".
"Some of the synthetic cannabinoids like nabilone have been shown effective for nightmares associated with PTSD," Mitchell states.
He reveals that in the pending research study—the first trial of its kind—one group of research subjects would receive cannabis with CBD but no THC. Another group would consume cannabis with CBD and THC. Another would get cannabis with THC but no CBD and others would receive a placebo.
continue reading: http://www.straight.com/news/413971/kamloops-physician-ian-mitchell-explains-how-cannabis-relieves-pain-and-reduces-anxiety
“I have a few little old ladies in my practice,” he reveals. “They have a cookie every night and say, ‘I don’t take my Percocet anymore.’ I would consider that a success because that’s a far less harmful way to treat their pain.”
Dr. Ian Mitchell (pictured) says that in an ideal world, physicians would learn about the medicinal properties of cannabis in medical school. Doctors would be trained about different extracts from marijuana plants, including cannabidiol, aka CBD, and tetrahydrocannabinol, aka THC.
Mitchell says that CBD is normally about one to two percent of a marijuana plant, whereas the psychoactive agent THC is over 10 percent and getting closer to 20 percent.
Drug prohibition has led to plants being grown with a higher THC percentage because that’s what buyers prefer. The downside, he says, is that plants with higher THC levels often have drastically lower levels of CBD.
“You don’t have the antipsychotic and anti-anxiety properties,” Mitchell explains. “So all of the sudden, you’re smoking this very intense stuff that in the U.K. they call skunk. That probably does make people a bit psychotic and probably does make people very anxious, but this is because of prohibition.
“That’s part of the argument for proper regulations—so that you could choose stuff to have cannabidiol,” he adds. “I consider that essential in a medical-cannabis situation. I want to know what my patients are getting as far as the THC and CBD content.”
Research planned into PTSD and cannabis
He's part of a team awaiting approval from UBC and Health Canada to launch a study into the effect of different preparations of cannabis on posttraumatic stress disorder. He points out that PTSD is taking a tremendous toll on military families in particular.
"This is a huge deal in America," Mitchell says. "Right now, there are 22 veterans a day who commit suicide."
Paxil is the only medication that's approved for treating PTSD, but according to Mitchell, it doesn't work for most people. He says that there is "very good preliminary evidence that cannabis can be effective".
"Some of the synthetic cannabinoids like nabilone have been shown effective for nightmares associated with PTSD," Mitchell states.
He reveals that in the pending research study—the first trial of its kind—one group of research subjects would receive cannabis with CBD but no THC. Another group would consume cannabis with CBD and THC. Another would get cannabis with THC but no CBD and others would receive a placebo.
continue reading: http://www.straight.com/news/413971/kamloops-physician-ian-mitchell-explains-how-cannabis-relieves-pain-and-reduces-anxiety
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Turmeric Extract Kills Highly Lethal Pancreatic Tumors, Preclinical Study Reveals - If tumeric can do this - imagine what medical cannabis does and can do
Considering that the conventional treatment of advanced
stage pancreatic cancer can result in as little as a 1% 5-year survival
rate, new preclinical research on a liposomal turmeric extract that
inhibits pancreatic tumor growth by 42% is all the more amazing.
A promising new study published in the journal Anticancer Research, a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the International Institute of Anticancer Research, reveals a unique turmeric extract known as liposomal curcumin may provide an ideal chemotherapy alternative in the treatment of highly lethal pancreatic cancers.[1]
Curcumin is the primarly polyphenol in turmeric, and has been the subject of extensive research demonstrating its ability to kill cancer cells, with over 1,500 studies available to view on Greenmedinfo.com relevant to over 100 distinct cancer types, including 24 studies demonstrating its anti-pancreatic cancer properties. [View all the curcumin studies.]
Liposomal curcumin utilizes a successful lipid-based drug delivery system, with some liposomal formulations having already received FDA approval. Owing to curcumin's low water solubility and subsequent low systemic bioavailability, its encapsulation into liposomes (artificially-prepared vesicle composed of a lipid bilayer) greatly improves its ability to gain entry into the body by passing through the 'glucoronidation barrier' in the liver.
Continue reading: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/curcumin-extract-kills-highly-lethal-pancreatic-tumors-preclinical-study-revealed
A promising new study published in the journal Anticancer Research, a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the International Institute of Anticancer Research, reveals a unique turmeric extract known as liposomal curcumin may provide an ideal chemotherapy alternative in the treatment of highly lethal pancreatic cancers.[1]
Curcumin is the primarly polyphenol in turmeric, and has been the subject of extensive research demonstrating its ability to kill cancer cells, with over 1,500 studies available to view on Greenmedinfo.com relevant to over 100 distinct cancer types, including 24 studies demonstrating its anti-pancreatic cancer properties. [View all the curcumin studies.]
Liposomal curcumin utilizes a successful lipid-based drug delivery system, with some liposomal formulations having already received FDA approval. Owing to curcumin's low water solubility and subsequent low systemic bioavailability, its encapsulation into liposomes (artificially-prepared vesicle composed of a lipid bilayer) greatly improves its ability to gain entry into the body by passing through the 'glucoronidation barrier' in the liver.
Continue reading: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/curcumin-extract-kills-highly-lethal-pancreatic-tumors-preclinical-study-revealed
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Welsh conference calls for drugs to be decriminalised
A national drug conference held in Swansea will hear later how the war
on drugs is failing, and that the UK should consider changing drug
policies.
Supplying medical cannabis can currently result in a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
Supplying medical cannabis can currently result in a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
It follows calls last week from the deputy Prime Minister Nick
Clegg and entrepreneur Richard Branson for most drugs to be
decriminalised.
Speakers at the conference, including a former policeman and drug worker, will say current drug policies are ineffective and are failing to keep the public safe.
Instead they are echoing the call for decriminalisation, arguing that it wouldn't increase drug usage and it doesn't mean using substances is legal.
Advocates of decriminalisation say it simply means it is possible to deal with drug users outside of the criminal system, meaning young people are less likely to get criminal records and those with drug problems are more likely to ask for help.
They also say decriminalisation would reduce the level of profits criminals are able to make from illegal drugs.
Continue reading: http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-03-12/swansea-conference-calls-for-drugs-to-be-decriminalised/
Speakers at the conference, including a former policeman and drug worker, will say current drug policies are ineffective and are failing to keep the public safe.
Instead they are echoing the call for decriminalisation, arguing that it wouldn't increase drug usage and it doesn't mean using substances is legal.
Advocates of decriminalisation say it simply means it is possible to deal with drug users outside of the criminal system, meaning young people are less likely to get criminal records and those with drug problems are more likely to ask for help.
They also say decriminalisation would reduce the level of profits criminals are able to make from illegal drugs.
Continue reading: http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2015-03-12/swansea-conference-calls-for-drugs-to-be-decriminalised/
Monday, 16 March 2015
Treat cannabis the same as alcohol and tobacco, says British MP Stephen Williams
Bristol West MP Stephen Williams says it's his personal wish to give cannabis the same legal status as alcohol and tobacco.
Stephen Williams MP
He argues that if you look at the hierarchy of harm caused by substances, you could not say cannabis was more harmful than alcohol.
"It terms of the damage alcohol does, in terms of domestic violence and crime, its far more harmful than cannabis," he says.
On whether this could lead to an increased culture of drug use, comparable to alcohol, he said that the main problem behind binge drinking was a pricing issue, with supermarkets able to sell alcohol too cheaply.
Stephen Williams MP
He argues that if you look at the hierarchy of harm caused by substances, you could not say cannabis was more harmful than alcohol.
"It terms of the damage alcohol does, in terms of domestic violence and crime, its far more harmful than cannabis," he says.
On whether this could lead to an increased culture of drug use, comparable to alcohol, he said that the main problem behind binge drinking was a pricing issue, with supermarkets able to sell alcohol too cheaply.
Friday, 13 March 2015
Limited bill to let medical cannabis extract be used to treat sick kids clears panel on 5-4 vote
The latest version of the bill to allow a non-psychotropic marijuana
extract, cannabidiol oil, to be used to treat children with a rare and
severe form of epilepsy in Idaho has narrowly cleared the Senate State
Affairs Committee on a 5-4 vote this morning, and headed to the full
Senate for amendments. Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, the committee
chairman and the bill’s sponsor, said amendments he’s contemplating
include narrowing the possible uses to just intractable seizure
disorders; requiring that anyone stopped with the oil prove that they
suffer from intractable epilepsy or are the parent or guardian of
someone who does; have a written recommendation from a doctor to use the
oil; and have verification from an independent lab that the oil is
cannabidiol oil and contains little or no THC, the intoxicating
ingredient in marijuana.
McKenzie said the bill, SB 1146, wouldn’t legalize the oil, but would provide an “affirmative defense” for those found with it that it’s used to treat the child’s seizure disorder. The bill wouldn’t allow the extract to be produced in Idaho; parents would have to procure it from out of state. “There’s 14 states that have legalized cannabidiol oil but rejected medical marijuana,” McKenzie said. “There are limited supplies, but at least it gives them an opportunity to try to get it.”
Continue reading: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2015/mar/13/limited-bill-let-cannabis-extract-be-used-treat-sick-kids-clears-panel-5-4-vote/
McKenzie said the bill, SB 1146, wouldn’t legalize the oil, but would provide an “affirmative defense” for those found with it that it’s used to treat the child’s seizure disorder. The bill wouldn’t allow the extract to be produced in Idaho; parents would have to procure it from out of state. “There’s 14 states that have legalized cannabidiol oil but rejected medical marijuana,” McKenzie said. “There are limited supplies, but at least it gives them an opportunity to try to get it.”
Continue reading: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2015/mar/13/limited-bill-let-cannabis-extract-be-used-treat-sick-kids-clears-panel-5-4-vote/
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