Medicine or Myth? The Leaf Cannabis News

The College of Family Physicians of Canada drew the ire of Canadian cannabis advocates in February, when it published a set of guidelines meant to help primary-care physicians decide when to prescribe cannabis.

Cannabis and its chemical constituents, concluded the guidelines published in the medical journal Canadian Family Physician, "are not recommended for most patients and conditions by far."

However, as Soloman Israel reports, there is far more to this story. Read on for some interesting perspectives on cannabis as medicine and why large clinical studies are under-funded.

Montel Williams: Cannabis 'changed my life': Yahoo News

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis around 1999 and struggling with opioid addiction to manage the pain, Montel Williams says that finding cannabis was a game-changer.

Williams shares with Yahoo Lifestyle that he “took a journey down opioid lane for a year and a half, just trying to shut the pain down to the point that I was walking around in a pseudo-suicidal state.”

He said shifting from opioids to cannabis was what that turned his life around. “The journey that I took with cannabis — it changed my life,” he says.  Full article here.

Research: Impact of co-administration of oxycodone and smoked cannabis on analgesia and abuse liability, Neuropsychopharmacology (Feb 2018)

New research published in the Feb 2018 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology journal suggests: "Cannabis enhances the analgesic effects of sub-threshold oxycodone, suggesting synergy, without increases in cannabis’s abuse liability.” Read abstract here.

Canadian companies should assess their marijuana policies before legalization: Globe and Mail

A recent survey by the Human Resources Professional Association released found that 71 per cent of HR professionals believe their workplaces are not prepared to deal with the coming legalization of recreational marijuana, including issues related to impairment, usage on the premises and safety. This article largely focuses on the impact legalization of recreational marijuana will have on employers, but it's also a timely reminder for HR policymakers to think about their stance on medical cannabis, which could help employees get back to work faster and is a safe alternative to many other more addictive medications.

Research: Intractable Pain Patients in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program: Experience of Enrollees during the First Five Months, Minnesota Department of Health (March 2018)

Executive Summary:

In May 2014, Minnesota became the 22nd state to create a medical cannabis program. Distribution of extracted cannabis products in liquid or oil form to qualified, enrolled patients began July 1, 2015. Intractable pain was added to the list of qualifying conditions for the program effective August 1, 2016. Intractable pain is defined in the program as, “pain whose cause cannot be removed and, according to generally accepted medical practice, the full range of pain management modalities appropriate for this patient has been used without adequate result or with intolerable side effects.” This report draws on data from enrollment, purchasing, symptom and side effect ratings at time of each purchase, and survey results to describe the experience of patients newly enrolled in the program for intractable pain during the first five months it was a qualifying condition. Full report here. Helpful summary of results here.

Five most common uses for medical cannabis in 65+ demographic: Strainprint

Seniors are among one of the largest existing and growing demographics of medical cannabis users, evidenced by international trends as well as supported by the data collected from the Strainprint app, a mobile application that helps medical cannabis users track their intake and learn which strains and dosages work best for them. Strainprint also provides doctors and clinics with observational data to improve industry treatment knowledge. Based on their current data, here are the top five conditions for which people aged 65 and over are using medical cannabis. Full article.

Medical cannabis significantly safer for elderly with chronic pain than opioids: Science Daily

A new study found cannabis therapy is safe and efficacious for elderly patients who are seeking to address cancer symptoms, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other medical issues. After six months, more than 18 percent of patients surveyed had stopped using opioid analgesics or had reduced their dosage. Full article.

Research: Medical cannabis in the elderly, European Journal of Internal Medicine (Feb 2018)

Epidemiological characteristics, safety and efficacy of medical cannabis in the elderly

"Our study finds that the therapeutic use of cannabis is safe and efficacious in the elderly population. Cannabis use may decrease the use of other prescription medicines, including opioids. Gathering more evidence-based data, including data from double-blind randomized-controlled trials, in this special population is imperative." Read abstract.

NBA players ready to lift ban on medical marijuana use: San Francisco Chronicle

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that National Basketball Players Association (NPBA) Executive Director Michele Roberts has voiced her support for lifting the league’s ban on marijuana in the near future.

“My own view is that there are substantial signs that support its efficacy and the value that it has for us, especially pain management,” Roberts told SB Nation.” We’re in talks with the league to see where we can go with it.” Full article.