IACM-Bulletin of 18 September 2005
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IACM-Bulletin of 18 September 2005
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* IACM: News at the IACM 2005 Conference at the
University of Leiden
* USA: Cannabis use by young people not increased in states
that legalized the medical use of cannabis
* Canada: The health ministry wants to bring cannabis into
pharmacies next year
1.
IACM: News at the IACM 2005 Conference at the University
of Leiden
On 9-10 September the IACM held its 3rd Conference on
Cannabinoids in Medicine. Here are some excerpts from
presentations.
(1) Cannabis in multiple sclerosis: British researchers presented
results of a long-term study on a cannabis extract (Sativex) in
multiple sclerosis. Patients suffered from at least one of the
following symptoms: spasticity, spasms, bladder problems,
tremor or pain. 137 patients were included in the long-term
study (average duration: 434 days, range: 21-814 days) that
followed a six-week acute study with 160 patients. Average
maximum daily doses were 37.5 mg THC and CBD in the acute
study. 66 patients with spasticity completed 82 weeks of
treatment. At entry to the acute study this group had a mean
spasticity score of 69.5 on a visual analogue scale, which had
reduced to 34.2 on entry into the long-term study and was 31.8
after 82 weeks. In this group average daily doses had reduced
marginally from 30 mg THC to 25 mg in the course of the
treatment. The study demonstrates that beneficial effects of
cannabis on spasticity in multiple sclerosis seem to be maintained
over long-term treatment, with no evidence of tolerance.
(Abstract by Robson et al.)
(2) Cannabis in neuropathy: Researchers of the University of
California presented results of a clinical study of smoked
cannabis in 50 patients with HIV-related painful peripheral
neuropathy. Participants smoked a cannabis cigarette or a
placebo cigarette three times daily for five days. 13 of the 25
patients who had received cannabis cigarettes reported greater
then 30 percent reduction in pain, compared with 6 of the 25
patients receiving placebo cigarettes. The pain reduction was
greater in the group receiving cannabis (34 percent) than in the
control group (16.7 percent). Researchers concluded that the
magnitude of the response of the neuropathic pain is similar to
what is seen with gabapentin, a widely used therapeutic
intervention for HIV neuropathy. (Abstract by Abrams et al.)
(3) Cannabidiol (CBD) in schizophrenia: Researchers of the
University of Cologne presented results of their study that
compared the effects of CBD and amisulpride (an established
antipsychotic) in 42 patients with acute schizophrenia. Half of
them received 800 mg of oral CBD daily for four weeks. CBD
significantly reduced psychopathological symptoms of acute
psychosis, when compared to the initial status. There was no
statistical difference in treatment effect compared to the control
group. Cannabidiol, however, caused significantly less side
effects than amisulpride. (Abstract by Leweke et al., personal
communication)
(Source: Abstract book available for download on the IACM
website, www.cannabis-med.org)
2.
USA: Cannabis use by young people not increased in states that
legalized the medical use of cannabis
The 10 statesthat approved the medical use of cannabis over
the last decade have experiencedsharp declines in cannabis use
among teenagers, according to a new study funded and released
by the Marijuana Policy Project. The authors Mitch Earleywine,
a State University of New Yorkpsychology professor, and
Karen O'Keefe, a legislative analyst withthe Marijuana Policy
Project, analyzed federal and state statistics for their report.
Although debate over medical cannabis is often shaded by
concerns about
increasing drug use among young people, the report does not
support this assumption. The study shows widespread
reductions in cannabis use have occurred generally at the same
rate among all the states, including those allowing medical use.
The key findings of the study are: No state that has passed a
medical cannabis law has seen an overall increase in teen
cannabis use since the law's passage. The decline in teen
cannabis use in states with medical cannabis laws slightly
exceeds the decline seen nationally.
In the United States, compared with 1996, about 43 percent
fewer 8th graders and 9 percent fewer 12th graders reported
they had used the drug in the past 30 days in 2003. In California
that permitted the medical use of cannabis in 1996, past-month
use dropped by half among the state's 9th graders and by one-
quarter among 11th graders. Other states with medical-cannabis
laws also saw varying reductions in youth cannabis use.
The authors of the report noted that in contrast to widely cited
prejudices teenagers may increasingly consider cannabis "a
treatment for serious illness, that requires cautious and careful
handling, not a toy." Tom Riley, a spokesman of the federal
Office of National Drug Control Policy, saidthe drop in teen
drug use across the nation is attributable to the federalanti-drug
advertising campaign in recent years and that all Americans
"should be glad that teen druguse is going down."
(Sources: United Press International of 7 September 2005, Los
Angeles Times of 8 September 2005)
3.
Canada: The health ministry wants to bring cannabis into
pharmacies next year
Health Canada's long-delayed plan to sell government-certified
cannabis in drugstores appears to be back on track for early
next year. The pilot project would stock medicinal cannabis in
some pharmacies for use by authorized patients, making Canada
the second country after The Netherlands to sell cannabis in
pharmacies.
The department is scouting out a handful of urban and rural
pharmacies to begin the pilot project by the first quarter of
2006, said spokesman Christopher Williams. "Ideally, we'd like
to run it in more than one province," Williams said in an
interview. An internal document from Health Canada says it
could take up to three years to implement a national pharmacy
distribution program.
Currently, 943 people are authorized to possess cannabis for
medical conditions, once a doctor has indicated that traditional
remedies are ineffective. Of these, 695 have permission to grow
the plant themselves, while Health Canada has authorized 77
growers to produce it for other patients. Several of authorized
patients receive their cannabis from Health Canada. Thirty-gram
bags of dried buds cost 150 Canadian Dollars (about 100 €).
(Source: Canadian Press of 13 September 2005)
4.
News in brief
***IACM: Roger Pertwee new chairman
Dr. Roger Pertwee, professor at the University of Aberdeen
(Scotland), was elected as the new chairman of the IACM
during the IACM General Meeting on 9 September. The
chairmanship was handed over to Dr. Pertwee by Dr. Raphael
Mechoulam who was chairman for the past two years.
***UK: Respiratory diseases
Researchers from Imperial College London are looking for
volunteers to test whether a cannabis extract (Sativex) can be
used to alleviate the sensation of breathlessness caused by
several respiratory diseases. The team are looking for volunteers
aged between 50 and 70, who don't have breathing difficulties.
The study will take a morning on two different days, during
which time volunteers will be hooked up to a circuit to regulate
and measure their breathing. It will be conducted at Charing
Cross Hospital in west London. People who wish to take part
should call 020 8846 1234 to register their interest. (Source:
ScienceDaily Magazine of 4 September 2005)
***USA: Medical cannabis and workplace
Courts in California and Oregon are deciding on the question
whether employers have the right to fire employees who are
allowed to use cannabis for medical purposes if they test positive
on cannabis in drug screenings. The Oregon Supreme Court
says it will review an appellate court ruling that suggests
employers should tolerate workers who use medical cannabis. In
contrast to this ruling a Californian court of appeal ruled on 7
September that firing an employee who tests positive for
cannabis does not violate the law, even if the employee can
show that he uses cannabis for medicinal purposes. (Sources:
Associated Press of 15 September 2005, Metropolitan News-
Enterprise of 8 September 2005)
5.
ONE YEAR AGO:
- The IACM-Bulletin was not published.
TWO YEARS AGO:
- IACM: Dr. Raphael Mechoulam elected as new chairman
- UK: Government intends to liberalize recreational cannabis use
- IACM: News at the 2nd IACM Conference on Cannabinoids
in Medicine (I)
- Belgium: Belgium may follow the Netherlands in making
cannabis available for patients
- USA: A federal court did not overrule a Californian state court
in medical cannabis case
(More at the IACM-Bulletin archives: http://www.cannabis-
med.org/)
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