Tag Archives: cannabis

The Impact of State Medical Marijuana Legislation on Adolescent Marijuana Use.

Posted on by

“The state-level legalization of medical marijuana has raised concerns about increased accessibility and appeal of the drug to youth. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of medical marijuana legalization across the United States by comparing trends in adolescent marijuana use between states with and without legalization of medical marijuana…

CONCLUSIONS:

This study did not find increases in adolescent marijuana use related to legalization of medical marijuana.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24742758

“Legalizing medical marijuana doesn’t increase use among adolescents, study says” http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140423102754.htm#.U1heqwRkPNA.twitter

[Therapeutic use of cannabis derivatives].

Posted on by

“The therapeutic use of cannabis has generated a lot of interest in the past years, leading to a better understanding of its mechanisms of action…

Cannabinoids such as dronabinol, Sativex and nabilone have been tested for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. These agents are most promising to relieve chronic pain associated with cancer, with human immunodeficiency virus infection and with multiple sclerosis…”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24701869

Can Physical Exercise or Food Deprivation Cause Release of Fat-Stored Cannabinoids in Humans?

Posted on by

“The aim of this study was to evaluate whether physical exercise or food deprivation may increase cannabionoid levels in serum or urine in abstinent chronic cannabis users.

We conclude that exercise and/or food deprivation are unlikely to cause sufficient cannabinoid concentration changes to hamper correct interpretations in drug testing programmes.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24674455

Fasting and exercise increase plasma cannabinoid levels in THC pre-treated rats: an examination of behavioural consequences.

Posted on by

“Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, accumulates in fat tissue where it can remain for prolonged periods.

Under conditions of increased fat utilisation, blood cannabinoid concentrations can increase.

These results confirm that fasting and exercise can increase plasma cannabinoid levels…”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24696079

The detection of THC, CBD and CBN in the oral fluid of Sativex® patients using two on-site screening tests and LC-MS/MS.

Posted on by

“Sativex® is an oromucosal spray used to treat spasticity in multiple sclerosis sufferers in some European countries, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. The drug has also recently been registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia for treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Sativex® contains high concentrations of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), with the former being the subject of random roadside drug tests across Australia to detect cannabis use.

This pilot study aims to determine whether or not patients taking Sativex® will test positive to THC using these roadside screening tests. Detectable levels of THC, CBD and cannabinol (CBN) in their oral fluid were also confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The study was a double-blind, placebo controlled design.

In conclusion, Sativex® users may test positive for THC by roadside drug testing within 2-3h of use. Confirmatory analysis can identify Sativex® treatment through use of THC/CBD ratios, however, these ratios would unlikely be sufficient to differentiate non-medicinal cannabis use from Sativex® use if both are taken concurrently.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24699310

Anandamide Attenuates Th-17 Cell-Mediated Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity Response by Triggering IL-10 Production and Consequent microRNA Induction

Posted on by

thumbnail

“Endogenous cannabinoids [endocannabinoids] are lipid signaling molecules that have been shown to modulate immune functions..

Cannabinoids are compounds derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and exert many effects on the immune system. Cannabinoids have potential as therapeutic agents in several different disease conditions, including experimental autoimmune hepatitis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Graft vs. Host Disease…

This report suggested a role of the endogenous cannabinoid system in regulation of allergic inflammation.

These studies also suggest that endogenous cannabinoid system is one of the homeostatic mechanisms that the body employs to down-regulate immune response to foreign antigens as well as combat autoimmunity.

Targeting of this system could yield valuable therapeutics in the future.”

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0093954

Pharmacology and toxicology of Cannabis derivatives and endocannabinoid agonists.

Posted on by

“For centuries Cannabis sativa and cannabis extracts have been used in natural medicine.

Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active ingredient of Cannabis. THC seems to be responsible for most of the pharmacological and therapeutic actions of cannabis.

In a few countries THC extracts (i.e. Sativex) or THC derivatives such as nabilone, and dronabinol are used in the clinic for the treatment of several pathological conditions like chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma.

Over recent years, alternative approaches using synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists or agents acting as activators of the endocannabinoid systems are under scrutiny with the hope to develop more effective and safer clinical applications.

The present article review recent study and patents with focus on the cannabinoid system as a target for the treatment of central nervous system disorders with emphasis on agonists.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19832688

The Effect of Medical Marijuana Laws on Crime: Evidence from State Panel Data, 1990-2006

Posted on by

thumbnail

“Debate has surrounded the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes for decades. Some have argued medical marijuana legalization (MML) poses a threat to public health and safety, perhaps also affecting crime rates. In recent years, some U.S. states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, reigniting political and public interest in the impact of marijuana legalization on a range of outcomes.

Relying on U.S. state panel data, we analyzed the association between state MML and state crime rates for all Part I offenses collected by the FBI.

Results did not indicate a crime exacerbating effect of MML on any of the Part I offenses. Alternatively, state MML may be correlated with a reduction in homicide and assault rates, net of other covariates.

 These findings run counter to arguments suggesting the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes poses a danger to public health in terms of exposure to violent crime and property crimes.
In sum, these findings run counter to arguments suggesting the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes poses a danger to public health in terms of exposure to violent crime and property crimes. To be sure, medical marijuana laws were not found to have a crime exacerbating effect on any of the seven crime types. On the contrary, our findings indicated that MML precedes a reduction in homicide and assault.”

“No correlation between medical marijuana legalization, crime increase: Legalization may reduce homicide, assault rates”   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140326182049.htm

“Medical Marijuana’s Legalization Doesn’t Raise Crime Rates: Study”  http://consumer.healthday.com/mental-health-information-25/behavior-health-news-56/briefs-emb-3-26-5pmet-medical-pot-crime-plos-one-utd-release-batch-1198-686131.html

“Legalization of medical marijuana does not lead to increased crime, and may even be tied to lower rates of offenses such as assault and murder, a new study suggests.” http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20140326/medical-marijuanas-legalization-doesnt-raise-crime-rates-study

“Marijuana use reduces violent crime: Study”  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Marijuana-use-reduces-violent-crime-Study/articleshow/32777752.cms

“No, legalizing medical marijuana doesn’t lead to crime, according to actual crime stats…In fact, states that have legalized it appear to have seen some reductions in the rates of homicide and assault.”  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/03/26/no-legalizing-medical-marijuana-doesnt-lead-to-crime-according-to-actual-crime-stats/?tid=pm_business_pop

Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol/Cannabidiol (Sativex®): A Review of Its Use in Patients with Moderate to Severe Spasticity Due to Multiple Sclerosis.

Posted on by

“Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)/cannabidiol (CBD) [Sativex®] is an oromucosal spray formulation that contains principally THC and CBD at an approximately 1:1 fixed ratio, derived from cloned Cannabis sativa L. plants.

The main active substance, THC, acts as a partial agonist at human cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2)…

THC/CBD is approved in a number of countries, including Germany and the UK, as an add-on treatment for symptom improvement in adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication and who demonstrate clinically significant improvement in spasticity-related symptoms during an initial trial of therapy.

In the largest multinational clinical trial that evaluated the approved THC/CBD regimen in this population, 12 weeks’ double-blind treatment with THC/CBD significantly reduced spasticity severity (primary endpoint) compared with placebo in patients who achieved a clinically significant improvement in spasticity after 4 weeks’ single-blind THC/CBD treatment, as assessed by a patient-rated numerical rating scale.

A significantly greater proportion of THC/CBD than placebo recipients achieved a ≥30 % reduction (a clinically relevant reduction) in spasticity severity. The efficacy of THC/CBD has been also shown in at least one everyday clinical practice study (MOVE 2). THC/CBD was generally well tolerated in clinical trials. Dizziness and fatigue were reported most frequently during the first 4 weeks of treatment and resolved within a few days even with continued treatment.

Thus, add-on THC/CBD is a useful symptomatic treatment option for its approved indication.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24671907

Characterization of major phytocannabinoids, cannabidiol and cannabinol, as isoform-selective and potent inhibitors of human CYP1 enzymes.

Posted on by

“Inhibitory effects of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN), the three major constituents in marijuana, on catalytic activities of human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1 enzymes were investigated.

These results indicated that CBD and CBN showed CYP1 isoform-selective direct inhibition and that CBD was characterized as a potent mechanism-based inhibitor of human CYP1 enzymes, especially CYP1A1.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20117100

“CYP1A1 regulates breast cancer proliferation and survival. This study supports the notion that CYP1A1 promotes breast cancer proliferation and survival… reduction of CYP1A1 levels is a potential strategy for breast cancer therapeutics.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23576571