The post US Medical Cannabis For Migraines Trial Seeks Participants appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>Around 20 participants are already enrolled in the trial, with the aim to reach 90 participants aged 21-65. The participants are provided four different treatments to be self-administered for four separate migraine attacks – one based on THC, another on CBD, one with a THC/CBD combination and one a placebo. All treatments will be administered using a vaporiser.
Participants will be self-administering the treatments at the onset of a migraine or as early as possible into the attack – one treatment per attack. Among the outcomes to be measured are freedom from pain and pain relief, and the presence or lack thereof of photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound) and nausea. These will be reported at 1 hour, 2 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after administration.
Those enrolling will need to agree to a number of conditions, including not using cannabis outside of the study, abstinence from the use of opioids or barbiturates and not driving a motor vehicle within 4 hours of self-administering treatments provided in the course of the study.Advertisement
Many migraineurs are already turning to cannabis products containing THC and/or CBD. Last year we reported on survey indicating 30 percent of migraine sufferers in the U.S. and Canada have used cannabis to relieve migraine pain; with most finding it useful. In 2019, we mentioned a Washington State University study indicating inhaled cannabis may reduce the intensity of headaches and migraines; based on information submitted by more than 1,300 patients
However, more solid scientific evidence is needed to establish cannabis’s efficacy.
The UC San Diego Health clinical trial kicked off in November last year and is expected to run until December this year. Further information on the trial can be viewed here.
The study is certainly needed. It is being funded by the Migraine Research Foundation, which states migraine is the third most prevalent illness in the world and the sixth most disabling. As well as being incredibly painful for patients, healthcare and lost productivity costs associated with the condition are put at as high as $36 billion annually just in the U.S according to the Foundation.
Fuente: https://hempgazette.com/news/cannabis-migraine-trial-hg1448/
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]]>The post Overwhelming Support For Medical Marijuana In Kentucky appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>Medical marijuana is yet to be legalised in the state, although this hasn’t been through a lack of trying. However, cannabidiol derived from industrial hemp (cannabis with not more than 0.3% THC) is legal assuming it meets the conditions under KRS 218A.010, which state:
“when transferred, dispensed, or administered pursuant to the written order of a physician practicing at a hospital or associated clinic affiliated with a Kentucky public university having a college or school of medicine.”
While the state’s lawmakers continue to resist medical marijuana, support among residents to embrace it continues to grow.
The Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP) provides a snapshot of Kentuckians’ views on various health related topics. The latest poll was focused on cannabis and found support for medical marijuana among adults in the state increased from 78 percent in 2012 to 90% in late 2019.
As for legalizing marijuana under any circumstances, support rose to 59% (38 percent in 2012) and for recreational purposes, that jumped from 26 percent in 2012 to 49 percent in 2019.
The legalizing of medical marijuana could have a positive impact on the opioid crisis in Kentucky.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse noted last year Kentucky was among the top ten U.S. states with the highest opioid-related overdose deaths, which was nearly double the national rate in 2016.
Andy Beshear, who became Kentucky’s Governor late last year is a glimmer of hope.
“I support placing medical marijuana legalization on the ballot as a constitutional amendment and would vote in its favor. I would vote for it because I’ve seen the impact opioids have had on every Kentucky community,” he stated in 2019. “If medical marijuana is an alternative and gives people the chance to get pain relief without being subjected to opioids, I think it’s something we’ve got to explore.”
In other cannabis related news out of Kentucky, the local hemp sector was rocked after U.S. hemp giant GenCanna’s bankruptcy filing last week. While there’s a lot of sympathy for farmers and others left owed money, there doesn’t seem to be much for GenCanna itself.
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]]>The post Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill Introduced in Alabama appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>Alabama Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) is sponsoring Senate Bill 165, titled “The Compassion Act,” and the legislation is scheduled for a Feb. 19 hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to a local CBS 42 report.
Melson sponsored a medical cannabis legalization bill last year, as well. While the Senate approved the legislation, it ultimately stalled in the House when the bill morphed into a proposal to create a commission to develop legislation and regulations for a medical cannabis market in the state.
That proposal earned the legislature’s approval at the end of last year’s legislative session and the Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission was born. The group launched discussions on medical cannabis legalization last fall.
The resulting draft bill outlines the process for patients to enroll in the program and establishes a commission to oversee the patient registry and business licensing process, according to CBS 42. The legislation decriminalizes cannabis possession for qualified patients, the news outlet reported, and allows physicians to recommend medical cannabis for 15 qualifying conditions.
Efforts to legalize medical cannabis in the state face an uncertain path forward, however, as Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall submitted a letter to lawmakers last month to voice his opposition to the issue.
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]]>The post Why Do You Get the Munchies? appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>Aside from relaxation, euphoria, and total bliss, the increase in appetite is probably cannabis’ best-known effects. But while known and joked about for decades, the munchies’ causes and mechanisms remained largely unknown. But new research is starting to change that. And aside from solving a long-standing curiosity, this new knowledge could help provide more options for people struggling with appetite loss and other illness-induced eating disorders.
But before getting into all of that, we first need to understand what it is about cannabis that so commonly influences appetite. In this article, we’ll look at the special relationship shared between cannabinoids and hunger to try and explain why it can make cannathusiasts transform from level-headed consumers into binge-eating gluttons.
What are the munchies?
Whether you eat or smoke it, some of the compounds found in cannabis really can stimulate your appetite. Those who have tried cannabis can attest, one of the after-effects is a sudden and strong desire for food, especially sweets. And if you decide to invite some friends over for a little “puff, puff, pass,” it’s considered a sin to not have your pantry stocked up with an assortment of sweet and savory delights.
With the rise of cannabis legalization and erosion of the stigma tied to the drug, understanding the munchies’ effect has become even more important. Now, scientists and researchers are just beginning to understand the phenomenon, and it all seemingly comes down to the body’s endocannabinoid system.
In addition to coughing fits, a hit of marijuana triggers a bunch of cellular switches in the body, some of which are linked to sudden food cravings. One of the most important and long studied of these are the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, which are mainly found along the nervous and immune systems. These receptors play a key role in human metabolism, nutrient transport, and, you guessed it, appetite. But just how do these findings correlate with cannabis’ most referenced side effect?
What are the munchies caused by?
Appetite receptors in the body usually shut off when a person feels full. However, cannabinoids in cannabis, like THC, are still able to induce the munchies through their interaction with CB1 receptors. These receptors can affect the olfactory cortex, a region of the brain that receives direct input from smell senses. One 2014 study showed that through their interaction with THC, these CB1 receptors were essentially ‘used’ by the cannabinoid to manipulate the olfactory system and produce chemicals that temporarily increase the sense of smell. And, boom, your appetite gets ramped up. But that’s not all.
Thanks to a 2015 study, we now know that THC can ‘trick’ the brain into making it think the body needs food by activating pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, which signal fullness. POMC neurons fail to turn off this hunger signal while under the influence of THC. In fact, they do the exact opposite and actually go into overdrive, sending a large amount of these signals directly to the brain.
Increased appetites and cannabis
Current evidence suggests that regular consumption of cannabis might be useful for increasing body weight in those who suffer from anorexia nervosa, cancer-related weight loss, and HIV wasting. According to a 2011 study published in the Biological Psychiatry Journal, eating disorders such as anorexia may even be linked to a deficient endocannabinoid system, and could possibly be treated by introducing cannabinoids into the body.
But, of course, an induced appetite is not necessarily a treatment, and should still be considered as a side effect. So the advice of your doctor should always be sought before turning to an appetite-boosting cannabis strain.
Final thoughts
In the cannabis community, the munchies are something cannathusiasts often laugh about. But with so much more left to discover about cannabis, along the way, researchers are bound to find out a lot more about the plant’s effects on appetite.
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]]>The post Australian Medicinal Cannabis Approval Statistics appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>Below are the numbers of approvals for unapproved products during 2019 via Category B of the Special Access Scheme (SAS).
The important point to note with the figures above is they represent prescription approvals – not patients. A single patient may have had multiple approvals over the course of 2019.
The figures do not include patients accessing medicinal cannabis outside the SAS via the Authorised Prescriber scheme or a clinical trial. As at the end of last year, there were just 22 Authorised Prescribers across the country.
An issue of concern is approval doesn’t necessarily result in medicines winding up in the patient’s hands. We mentioned last week that a survey by the Medical Cannabis Users Association of Australia (MCUA) found 45% of 200 respondents said while they had received approval, they were unable to fill the script because of the cost involved.
Issues including accessibility and cost are part of a wide-ranging Australian Senate inquiry into current patient access barriers. Submissions to the inquiry closed last week and the inquiry reporting date is 26 February 2020. By the end of the submission period last Friday, 17 had been lodged; up by 6 from the day before closing.
Hopefully the results and subsequent actions of the Senate inquiry will help more Australians that could benefit from medicinal cannabis gain access to affordable and locally grown and manufactured products.
Up to 31 December 2019, the total number of approvals by the TGA of SAS Category B applications for unapproved medicinal cannabis products was more than 28,000. That number refers to total approvals since 1992 – 28 years ago. However, the TGA notes a majority of the approvals have occurred since 2016, the year Australia’s Narcotics Act was amended.
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]]>The post Can CBD Help You Sleep? Here’s What The Research Tells Us appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>How tired are you right now? If you’re like many Americans, your answer probably leans more toward the sleep-deprived side.
Fifty to 70 million of us suffer from sleep problems, according to the National Sleep Foundation. And it’s not just falling asleep that vexes us. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that one-third of the U.S population — 100 million people — aren’t staying asleep during the night.
“As a nation, we are not getting enough sleep,” says Dr. Wayne Giles, M.D., the standing director of the CDC’s Division of Population Health. To compound its importance, lack of sleep negatively affects overall health. A recent study found that individuals with insomnia are five times more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression and have double the risk of congestive heart failure.
It comes as no surprise that finding remedies for sleep is a lucrative industry. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year are spent on doctor visits and medical costs related to sleep disorders.
Unfortunately, over-the-counter sleep aids have well-known negative side effects, including drowsiness and creating chemical dependency. In 2019, the FDA required new “boxed warnings” for sleep pharmaceuticals Ambien and Lunesta for their negative side effects like sleepwalking and even “sleep driving”.
In recent years, CBD products have hit the market offering promises of sleep relief with little-to-no side effects. There are capsules, tinctures, gummies. Brookestone has even advertised a CBD-infused pillow.
Sounds dreamy, but do these products work?
While more research is needed to back the current published findings, several hopeful studies have begun to emerge that show CBD as an aid for insomnia and sleep.
CBD is one cannabinoid that has been found to interact indirectly with CB1 and CB2 receptors in your endocannabinoid system (ECS). These two receptors are considered by current research to be the part of the ECS that aids with pain relief, inflammation, relaxation, and therefore sleep.
One study published in January of 2019 called “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series,” points to CBD as a hopeful sleep aid. While it looked at a small pool of only 72 adults, the study found “sleep scores improved” within the first month of CBD use in 66.7 percent of the patients, 48 adults. It attributes sleep relief can to CBD’s “calming effect in the central nervous system.” Over time, the benefits fluctuated. 56 percent reported improvement in sleep after about two months of continued use.
Another notable survey conducted by Project CBD examined a larger pool of 1,521 people who used CBD for issues falling and staying asleep. It found that CBD reduced the average time it took these individuals to fall asleep from 62 to 20 minutes. Users also reported waking up less throughout the night, from 4 times on average to just once with CBD. It also concluded that 75 percent of non-CBD users reported waking up tired; that number dropped to 9% for people using CBD.
“The evidence is admittedly limited at this point,” said Scott Christ, CEO and Founder of Pure Capsules Company told Green Entrepreneur. Christ speaks to CBD’s benefit as a business owner as well as from his decade-long personal experience with insomnia.“I’ve had trouble falling asleep and issues with waking up multiple times throughout the night. I’ve been tracking my sleep for a couple of years, so I had some good baseline data of how much time I took each night to fall asleep, how much I spent in Light, REM, Deep sleep, and how much time I spent on week awake each night.” FitBit is one app that tracks sleep which would make the discovery of your dose also more easy to find.
“CBD has helped me fall asleep much faster, within 5 minutes most nights versus 30 to 45 minutes previously,” says Christ. “I spend significantly more time in REM sleep, and fall back asleep easier after waking up during the night.” Christ has found through clientele who take PureCapsules, that the magic number hovers around 25 milligrams for sleep
Data is piling up showing that CBD’s benefit is in its ability to help you remain asleep for longer. A 2012 study comparing CBD with a sleep aid called nitrazepam found that high-dose CBD at 160 milligrams increased the subject’s duration of sleep.
It continues to suggest that higher doses of CBD are therapeutic for anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, and that CBD allows for, “mental sedation.”
How does the entourage effect, so the combination of two or more cannabinoid, affect sleep? Does CBD need to be mixed with the cannabinoid THC to be effective, like it is often advertised in dosist products?
One 2018 study performed on 409 adults over the course of two years looked at insomnia and each individual’s level of symptom relief. It concluded the cannabinoids CBD and THC both showed a “statistically and clinically significant improvement” for insomnia. This improvement on sleep and reduction of negative symptoms was stronger for Indica than Sativa strains.
The study also parsed apart the effect of varying THC and CBD percentages. It found that, “THC potencies tend to be much higher than CBD potencies across all levels of symptom relief. This may indicate an interaction effect or that the optimal ranges may differ for the two cannabinoids.” The study also suggests general improvement in symptom relief for those suffering from insomnia worked best with “higher CBD levels and lower THC levels.”
When it comes to the entourage effect, one study conducted in 2007 called “Cannabis, Pain and Sleep” found the effects of both cannabinoids THC and CBD in concert to be positive. The study measured CBD and THC for sleep aid and found results that indicate “a mild activating effect of CBD, and slight residual sedation with THC-predominant extracts.” This is particularly solid when it comes to “symptom reduction permitting better sleep.” The study’s author says it’s not “a hypnosis effect,” but that individuals who experience less pain, inflammation, and anxiety is in fact what will help improve sleep.
Improvements on overall sleep are hopeful but not yet conclusive. Credible studies looking at CBD (PubMed lists 6,810 at the time of this writing) do not find negative side effects for sleep when it comes to CBD use. One 2018 study from the Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, administered 300 milligrams of CBD to 27 healthy adults. The study found it did “not effect the sleep-wake cycles” of healthy adults. It’s a small pool, and the study didn’t focus on people with sleep issues to begin with. So take it with a grain of salt.
Another trend in CBD sleep aids is the combination of CBD with melatonin as well as other natural sleep aid mixtures. Those mixtures are beginning to include lesser-known cannabinoids like CBN.
What does the science behind these combinations, and are they safe?
When it comes to the combination of CBD and natural sleep aid melatonin, it appears to be. There are no known negative interactions between CBD and melatonin. Both are recognized as “endogenous”, which means they occur naturally in the body. The body already makes both CBD and melatonin, which is another reason they exhibit significantly fewer side effects.
CBN is a cannabinoid that may hold untapped sleep aid potential. Dr. Jeremy Riggle is the Chief Scientist for all of Mary’s Brands. In this leadership role, Dr. Riggle oversees a quality control laboratory, research, development, and innovation of new products, in-house and third-party testing of raw material and finished products, as well as an internal team of biochemists.
“Unfortunately, and as is the case for most of the minor cannabinoids, the research is very limited, particularly studies on human subjects,” Dr. Riggle told Entrepreneur. “There is a study from 1976 by Musty, et al. in which they administered CBN to human volunteers and found that it produced greater sedation than THC. Another study using an animal model found that CBN extended the sleep cycle of rodents.”
“CBN has also been shown to be more effective when combined with other cannabinoids,” Dr. Riggle explained. It’s for this reason Mary’s Medicinals launched a combination product that contains both CBD and CBN, focused on sedation.Dr. Riggle said Mary’s customer feedback has been, “effective for helping them fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.” He adds the company’s consumers have also reported: “no residual grogginess that sometimes occurs after using other common sedatives.”
“An interesting thing about CBN is that the plant doesn’t make very much of it naturally.” Dr. Riggle says. “It is part of the Mary’s Medicinals line because the CBN is indirectly sourced from THC. CBN is a degradation product of THC. So, we start with crude THC extract and expedite the degradation of the THC to CBN. A great thing about the process Mary’s uses is that we do it without using any additional chemicals such as oxidizers, acids or solvents. As I mention above, it is a degradation product of THC. Over time, when THC is exposed to heat or light it will slowly convert to CBN. We just accelerate this process.”
Your endocannabinoid system is naturally occurring, all cannabinoids including THC, CBD and CBN are simply plugging in to those receptors. When looking at how CBD and CBN may interact with one another, the short answer is, they don’t. “They won’t really interact with each other, nor will they compete for receptor binding sites. In fact, they actually have quite different pharmacologies… different effects on the body have completely different biochemical mechanisms.”
The psychoactive effect of THC is believed to be due to it binding to CB1 receptors. “CBN is a weaker agonist at CB1 and CB2 receptors than THC,” said Dr. Riggle. This means CBN has a lower affinity for binding to the CB1 CB2 receptors. “CBN, because it does bind to these receptors albeit to a lesser degree than THC, could potentially exhibit psychoactive effects. This would be more likely in a less experienced consumer than in one who consumes more frequently, but the possibility certainly exists,” Dr. Riggle explained.
Hemp-derived CBN materials are starting to become available, slowly, Dr. Riggle explained. But there is a downside. Typically, hemp-derived CBN is isolated using chemicals and some type of oxidation. That’s why CBN products, like Mary’s, are sold in dispensaries because of they are cannabis-derived.
In July of 2019, the FDA warned CBD companies that they cannot make unsubstantiated health claims in order to market and sell their products. This warning pointed to specific claims that CBD could “cure” or help with cancer, Alzheimer’s, anxiety, pain relief. This warning does not mention sleep.
Meanwhile, the FDA has also not made any substantial moves in its own research and claims to support or deny. Unregulated CBD is, unfortunately, being sold online so be cautious and only purchase from trusted manufacturers. Consult a doctor and listen to your body when it comes to the dosage and the use of CBD
While any CBD tincture or capsule from a trusted brand can work for sleep, here are five different brands we have found to be effective.
The Remedy CBN: CBD from Mary’s Nutritionals
Mary’s Brands, both of their sister companies Mary’s Nutritionals CBD line and Mary’s Medicinals cannabis line, offer tinctures called The Remedy. In particular, the company’s CBN:CBD combination tincture is a good option for those seeking some sleep relief. The company told Entrepreneur their hope was to create a product with the potential to help reduce common causes of sleep disturbances. More cannabinoid research is emerging to prove it as an effective option.
Tranquility from White Fox Remedies
The company White Fox Remedies makes a sleepy, sedative tincture called Tranquility. Ingredients in this relaxing coconut-oil based mixture include kava kava, skull cap, vanilla beans, and chamomile. Their flavor is subtle, a slight taste of coconut oil is welcomed. Each bottle contains 300 milligrams of CBD and each dropper at 10 milligrams. White Fox says to expect a 15 to 20 minute onset time.
PureCapsule’s CBD Tincture from PureCapsule Company
The PureCapsule Company A new company has a trusted and well-manufactured lineup of tincture and capsules worth trying for sleep aid. PureCapsule’s mint CBD Oil features full-spectrum CBD, meaning it contains more than the cannabinoid CBD but other beneficial cannabinoids as well. This is what constitutes the “full-spectrum” of the hemp plant’s natural cannabinoids. “The tincture is great for insomniacs because it works faster than other administration methods,” says Pure Capsule Company’s founder Scott Christ. The bottle contains 750 milligrams total, with 25 milligrams per dropper, which is his personal recommended dose for nighttime. From his own experience with insomnia, Christ says tracking your sleep is crucial; “You can’t improve what you don’t measure.” Adding the time period for noticing differences should be at least three to four weeks, for some people even months.
Gravity PM from Mellowment
Mellowment has a popular series Sleep Aid capsules that contain, inside each, 25 milligrams of what Mellowment has called “nano CBD”: plus 1 milligram of melatonin, 1 milligram of chamomile. What is “nano CBD” you ask? Gravity says it extracts CBD from hemp using a unique process of “water-soluble cannabinoid-rich nanoemulsion”. Gravity PM gets its namesake from production partner Gravity Blankets, the inventor of those popular weighted blankets you keep hearing about.
Drops+ Sleep from Plant People
Another combination of CBD and CBN mixture can be found in this popular tincture line from Plant People called Drops+ Sleep. The formulation contains CBD, a small ratio percentage (about 1:6) of CBN and CBC, plus terpenes Myrcene, Linalool, Humulene, Geraniol, Terpineol, Delta-3-Carene, Nerolidol. The offering comes in two different options for potency: 720 milligrams and 1440 milligrams. A company focused on transparency, Plant People lists its complete lab report online for its most recent batch. For even more good karma, the company donates a percentage of every single sale to environmental protection organization American Forests.
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]]>The post How can medical marijuana help people lose weight? appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>Using marijuana and losing weight might seem like a contradiction. One of its most well-known effects is causing “the munchies”. In fact, this appetite increase is one reason why it became medically-approved in the first place. People on chemotherapy often lose all appetite without the help of marijuana.
We all know that eating too much is the main cause of weight gain. So why would anyone ever recommend marijuana as a weight loss drug? Well, some new studies are revealing that the reality is more complicated than it seems.
Marijuana, cannabis to be more scientific, has a number of different compounds called cannabinoids. THC is the most famous because that is the one that makes you high. You might also know about CBD because that’s the one getting the most research for medical uses. CBD use doesn’t seem to cause weight gain. It’s not an appetite stimulant either.
So people using CBD oil alone without THC shouldn’t have to worry about gaining weight while using it. In fact, CBD can also counteract the effects of THC to balance out the hunger sensation. However, CBD alone doesn’t seem to help with weight loss.
But there are other cannabinoids. One in particular, THCV, may actually help you to lose weight. While THC increases appetite, THCV suppresses it. It also seems to have an effect on blood sugar regulation. Finding a strain with a higher amount of THCV could be the key to finding a strain that keeps your appetite down.
Marijuana is a plant, it’s not like a drug you get over the counter. This means that different strains of the plant have different proportions of cannabinoids. This is why dispensaries have lab results on their strains to show the proportions of different cannabinoids. Before you load up your dry herb vaporizer with flower, check these results first so you’ll get the effect you want.
There are other factors involved in weight loss besides what you put into your mouth. You also have to watch how much you burn. It may surprise you to know that we burn a lot of calories when we sleep. Thus, good sleep is important for losing weight. Poor sleep also increases hunger, as any insomniac or midnight snack lover will tell you.
If you suffer from poor sleep, you may want to seek out strains that have high CBD levels. CBD is responsible for the relaxation sensations from marijuana use. A 2017 study also said that it can help improve REM sleep and excessive feelings of sleepiness
Some people need to take THC-heavy strains to function. Does this doom them to obesity? One study in obese mice showed a paradoxical effect for using THC that may make the munchies not as bad as it seems. A 2015 study treated obese mice with THC for four weeks. Surprisingly, the heavier mice lost weight. But there was a difference in how it was administered.
Humans usually inhale marijuana, like through a vape pen. But these mice were fed THC orally. The researchers theorize that ingesting THC changed the gut flora of the mice so that they lost weight. Our intestinal microbiome is a topic of intense research by scientists because it seems to control so many things about our behaviour and our bodily functions.
Indeed, it appears that long-term users of marijuana, despite the munchies phenomenon, do have a lower rate of obesity than non-smokers. They also have a lower rate of metabolic syndrome. This is a set of symptoms that pushes people toward obesity, diabetes, and other health problems caused by weight gain.
In the study, 8500 people responded about obesity and their marijuana use. 14% of the users had metabolic syndrome compared to 22% of the non-smokers. The question is now how much and how long would you have to take marijuana before you see a change in metabolic syndrome. More research is needed.
CBD also has another effect besides calming you down. CBD also makes you more focused on whatever task you’re doing. If you’re having trouble pushing yourself to do exercise, CBD could give you the focus you need to overcome your reluctance. It’s probably best to use it for repetitive cardio exercises like treadmill or cycling, and not resistance exercises like weightlifting.
We are in a golden time for cannabis research, but more study will be needed to see which combinations of cannabinoids will be the most effective for weight loss applications. But if you live in a state where you can use it, talk with your doctor and dispensary on experimenting with high THCV or heavy CBD strains for your weight loss goals. Avoid the ones with high THC because they increase appetite, or if you must take THC, you can counteract the appetite increase with CBD drops.
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]]>The post Women with Cancer Use Medical Marijuana Mostly for Pain, Not Nausea appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>We know that cannabis can treat a variety of ailments, but the most widely-accepted use of medical marijuana is to alleviate nausea brought on by chemotherapy. The majority of US states allow cancer patients to use weed to help deal with nausea, but a recent study found that this accepted usage may not be as popular as it seems.
Dr. Marisa Weiss, oncologist, breast cancer specialist, and founder of non-profit BreastCancer.org, conducted a study to determine the main reasons why women with breast cancer use medical marijuana. Dr. Weiss began incorporating cannabis into her practice in 2018, after her home state of Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana. During the first ten months of this practice, Dr. Weiss surveyed 34 of her patients, asking them specifically why they were using medical cannabis.
“I wanted to know and be able to share with other people in the field — doctors and patients — what the symptoms are for which women are seeking medical cannabis, and if they align with the evidence showing its efficacy,” Dr. Weiss explained to Forbes. “Basically, is there a good match between why people are seeking cannabis, and what it has to offer? And there is.”
Surprisingly, nausea was one of the least popular reasons people sought out medical marijuana. Out of 22 women with early stage breast cancer, 73 percent used marijuana to treat pain, 45 percent used it for anxiety, 50 percent for insomnia, and only 4 percent for nausea. Among 9 patients with metastatic cancer, 89 percent used weed to treat both pain and anxiety. A third of these later-stage patients turned to medical cannabis to treat insomnia, nausea, or anorexia.
Most of these patients suffered an average of three symptoms at once. Neuropathy, or pain in the hands and feet, is a common side-effect of chemotherapy, and is often experienced in combination with other symptoms. Patients suffering from anxiety were also likely to experience insomnia. Dr. Weiss also observed that patients in her practice were able to lower their dose of opioid medications by using medical cannabis to treat their pain, an observation that has been backed up by prior research.
The results of this study are limited by the small size of the subject pool, but Dr. Weiss is already working to expand upon her research. BreastCancer.org is currently conducting a new nationwide survey to discover breast cancer patients’ knowledge about and attitudes towards medical marijuana. The survey will also ask women about their interactions with doctors regarding cannabis.
The results of this survey could help oncologists better understand how to communicate with their patients about medical marijuana. A recent study found that, although 73 percent of oncologists recognize the therapeutic value of cannabis, 53 percent of these doctors feel uncomfortable talking to their patients about weed.
Dr. Weiss is currently collaborating with researchers from Columbia University on a trial to test cannabinoids as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. She is also about to launch a clinical trial to investigate a new hemp-based treatment for neuropathy among patients suffering from breast, ovarian, or colon cancer.
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]]>The post New Cannabinoids Identified – THCP And CBDP appeared first on Investing in Cannastocks.
]]>A cannabinoid is a chemical compound that acts on cannabinoid receptors in the body. Endocannabinoids are produced in the body of animals, including humans, and assist with various functions. Cannabinoids produced by plants are called phytocannabinoids, and are thought to offer plants a level of protection against threats such as ultra-violet rays and pestilence.
Phytocannabinoids can cause various effects when ingested by animals. As the name suggests, cannabis is rich in phytocannabinoids, the best known being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC has intoxicating effects pursued for recreational purposes, but also is used medicinally. CBD is non-intoxicating and is proving to have a number of therapeutic/wellness applications.
Cannabis contains many other cannabinoids aside from CBD and THC. Estimates vary – anything up to 150 different types. You can see a number of these compounds noted in our list of cannabinoids.
Two more we’re going to need to add to that list are the recently identified compounds tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP) and cannabidiphorol (CBDP). These were discovered by a group of researchers predominantly from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and the National Council of Research in Italy.
It’s very early days, but it’s thought THCP may impact on intoxication and medicinal aspects of THC, while testing is being carried out on CBDP in relation to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-epileptic activity.
The researchers’ study report, which was recently published in the journal Nature, can be found here. For the chemistry boffins among you, you’ll probably be able to read it and nod sagely as you do so. Unfortunately for this mere mortal, my head started spinning as I tried to read it, followed by a brief period of unconsciousness (no THC required).
However, the discovery certainly reaffirmed with me that the more we glean about this amazing plant, the more we realise there’s so much we don’t know. No doubt there are still many amazing discoveries ahead; some of which could be of huge benefit to humanity. And those discoveries could come sooner with the proper policies and support from governments.
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]]>Now, in a bid to tackle the risks associated with these vape products, the United States and Canada are cracking down hard on the vape industry, but what might this mean for cannabis?
Canada prepares to assess vape health effects
Last month, Health Canada said it would be preparing to test the emissions from cannabis vape products, amidst health and safety fears.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says that it has been informed of 15 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses, the majority linked to illicit vape products. But because Canada legalized cannabis vape products recently as a part of its ‘Cannabis 2.0’ rollout, Health Canada is now scaling up its vape research.
Agency spokesperson Eric Morrissette told CBC News that Health Canada has “research underway” studying the emissions produced by nicotine e-cigarettes and vapes, and will now be “expanding” its “laboratory capabilities” to begin testing the cannabis vape products that appear on the market.
The decision from Health Canada appears to follow revelations published in a CBC News report last December, which revealed that the agency had not carried out any testing on the health effects related to cannabis vaping, despite the imminent legalization of the products.
Vape products will continue to be sold in Canada while research continues, though the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec have individually taken measures to ban the sale of all cannabis vape products within their borders. Nova Scotia has also decided to not allow the sale of flavored cannabis vape products, in keeping with their policy that also prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco e-cigarettes.
US FDA wants to remove flavored tobacco vapes from the market
Nova Scotia isn’t the only authority deciding to crackdown on flavored vape products in the wake of the vape illness outbreak.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week announced that it would be bringing in new restrictions on these products, ordering companies to remove their flavored vape products from the market within 30 days. Tobacco and menthol flavored vape cartridges will still be allowed. The FDA has promised that companies will face tough regulatory action if they fail to follow this new rule.
In a statement, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn explained the decision, saying, “we believe this policy balances the urgency with which we must address the public health threat of youth use of e-cigarette products with the potential role that e-cigarettes may play in helping adult smokers transition completely away from combustible tobacco to a potentially less risky form of nicotine delivery.”
To put this decision in its full context, the vape-related injuries that have been reported to US officials have mostly been linked to vapes containing the cutting agent vitamin E acetate. While this ingredient isn’t exclusive to cannabis vapes, it has been seen more commonly in THC-containing vape products, specifically in black market cannabis vape products.
The introduction of a ban on flavored vapes appears to be geared towards repressing the rates of vape use across the board, rather than directly addressing the problem of dangerous vape products.
The flavored vape ban has been introduced at the federal level, where cannabis still remains a controlled substance, and so the FDA’s actions will not apply to legal cannabis products as these are regulated at the state-level. Still, it’s possible that the move might encourage more states to introduce their own restrictions on cannabis vapes within their own legal markets – just as Washington state, Massachusetts, and Michigan have done, or have recently tried to do.
Many people involved in the cannabis industry have lambasted bans like these as backwards measures that would “only exacerbate the problem.” By legalizing cannabis and properly regulating the industry at the federal level, they say, the US could more properly ensure a supply of legal cannabis products that do not contain the harmful vitamin E acetate additive.
Social media gets tough on vape promotion
And it isn’t just countries who are tightening up on vape promotion, the digital space is too.
The Facebook-owned social media platform Instagram has revealed it will begin harsher enforcement of policies that prohibit the promotion of vaping by social media influencers. The policies also prohibit the promotion of tobacco use and weapons by these influencers, and the production of branded content focusing on alcohol and diet supplements.
“Our advertising policies have long prohibited the advertisement of these products, and we will begin enforcement on this in the coming weeks,” Instagram wrote in a blog post.
While the social media platform had always prohibited vape companies from producing advertisements, companies had begun to skirt these restrictions by having popular influencers on the platform endorse their products. Instagram says it’s now “updating our policies to include clearer rules for the paid promotion of certain goods and services” in order to have appropriate “tools and policies that provide transparency and protect our community.”
The photo-sharing social media platform also says that the promotion of cannabis products has always been banned, and that the new enforcement action is intended to focus on tobacco vaping.
“Content that attempts to buy, sell or trade marijuana, including marijuana vape products, is not allowed on Instagram,” a Facebook spokesperson told Benzinga.
“Our policy prohibits any marijuana seller, including dispensaries, from promoting their business by providing contact information like phone numbers or street addresses. We do allow marijuana advocacy content as long as it is not promoting the sale of the drug.”
But the cannabis entrepreneurs and influencers who are still active on Instagram believe the stricter policy enforcement will impact their use of the platform.
Bentley Rolling, who is an California-based photographer and filmmaker with focus on cannabis, told reporters that “with the extreme uproar around vaping-related illnesses, it was only a matter of time.”
“As a community, we’ve gotten used to living in a perpetual gray area. What we’ve come to learn over the years is to never give up. They can try to silence our community, but we’re here and we’re not going anywhere. The key to legalization is education.”
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