Scientists in New Zealand are planning to run a Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) micro-dosing trial with late-stage cancer patients to see if the drug improves their quality of life.

Dr. Lisa Reynolds, the Director of the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Psychology at the University of Auckland, will lead the trial.

“The research I’ve seen so far suggests that psychedelics such as LSD might have the potential to improve quality of life, reduce fear of death, reduce anxiety and depression, increase spirituality,” Dr. Reynolds told Radio New Zealand. “There’s a whole lot of early-stage findings that are pretty compelling.”

The University first announced the trial in May. The study seeks to understand if micro-dosing LSD holds similar benefits to large doses, which have shown to significantly reduce psychological distress in advanced patients, but can also lead to ‘bad trips.’

The micro-doses will not lead to altered perceptions and may hold similar benefits in reducing anxiety, depression and existential distress.

A promising new study involving patients in Canada—most of them over the age of 50—found they experienced improvements in the symptoms caused by chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep disorders after starting therapy with medical cannabis.

The study backs up past research that has shown cannabis has a positive impact, especially managing pain and improving sleep. It also provides scientific evidence why more seniors than ever are turning to medical marijuana to treat various ailments.

The study, conducted by Canadian and Italian researchers and published in the journal Frontiers of Public Health, found that more than 60 percent of patients reported improvements in their medical conditions after using cannabis.

 "This real-world data shows that a large proportion of medical cannabis patients report moderate to substantial benefits from cannabis, both in terms of their overall condition and general wellbeing," the researchers wrote.

Chronic pain sufferers saw significant relief when treated with cannabis and CBD.

The study involved 214 patients in Canada who self-completed web-based surveys between January 2020 and August 2020. After an initial survey that recorded their medical information, each patient began a six-week trial period of cannabis treatment. In follow-up visits, they reported any changes and what, if any, cannabis products they felt caused those changes.

A syndrome that appears to affect some regular users of cannabis is making headlines again  – “scromiting”. So, what is it?

The USA’s NBC news is reporting the case of a young man who presented to hospital 11 times for the same issue: severe vomiting that lasted for hours accompanied by screaming. The teen was a cannabis user.

Scenarios such as this among heavy cannabis users are apparently becoming increasingly common and the condition has a name – Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, or CHS. It shares many clinical similarities with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). But more recently it has gained a new name – “scromiting”; which is a portmanteau of screaming and vomiting.

Since we first reported on it back in 2017, aside from the screaming aspect there doesn’t appear to be a lot of new information – but there have been a couple of deaths attributed to CHS. Relief from the condition may be gained by hot baths or showers, but it appears the only “cure” is cessation of cannabis use. Recovery is usually within 2 weeks of stopping use and if the patient takes it up again, symptoms often return.

This is not a new syndrome – there are references to it going back as far as 2004. But what has changed a lot since then is marijuana becoming increasingly potent and accessible for both medicinal and recreational purposes – particularly in the USA.

You’ve got to be prepared to come face-to-face with numerous options of medical marijuana products to choose from.

After some thorough discussion and debate, many states are now recognizing the viability of medical marijuana to help treat and alleviate the symptoms of several health problems. Of course, this isn’t to say the use of medical marijuana is absolute. There are metrics that have to be observed, such as limits in terms of dosage, sources, and the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Once you’ve been given a prescription by a qualified doctor, you have to be very cautious about all your decisions and choices related to using medical marijuana. You must make sure that the medical marijuana you use will complement other medications and will not affect its effectiveness.

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With that in mind, here’s a handy guide for first-time medical marijuana patients so you can stay safe and healthy as possible when using it.

Why are players using it?

Rugby is one of the most physically demanding sports there is. And, with players getting bigger and stronger all the time, the pressure on their bodies continues to grow, particularly in a crowded calendar.

Strength and conditioning, nutrition, and sleep are the main methods of recovery. But often that's not enough, so players turn to painkillers ranging from common anti-inflammatory tablets, to powerful opioids such as tramadol.

Kaino, who won the World Cup with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015 and is known for his thumping tackles, "always" used anti-inflammatories to back up training sessions and matches.

“This isn’t trivial — a decline in opioid-related emergency department visits, even if only for six months, is a welcome public health development."

A new study out of the University of Pittsburgh has found U.S. states with legal recreational cannabis witness a short-term decline in opioid-related emergency department (ED) visits.

Data from California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada indicated a 7.6 per cent reduction in opioid-related ED visits for six months after legalization of adult-use marijuana compared to non-legal states, the university reports in a statement.

And though the decline was not dramatic, investigators emphasize that any reduction in opioid use should be fostered.

“This isn’t trivial — a decline in opioid-related emergency department visits, even if only for six months, is a welcome public health development,” says Coleman Drake, Ph.D., the study’s lead author and an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management.

Multiple sclerosis is both a neurological disease (affecting the nerves) and an autoimmune disease (affecting the immune system).

Common symptoms of multiple sclerosis include, but are not limited to: fatigue, pain, vision loss, and degrading coordination.

Symptoms of the condition and the severity and duration involved vary from patient to patient. Some multiple sclerosis patients experience mild symptoms and many, sadly, experience extreme symptoms and are completely debilitated.

It is estimated that nearly 3 million people suffer from multiple sclerosis worldwide. Fortunately for those patients, a set of studies have found that cannabis may help.

Improved Bladder Symptoms

One symptom of multiple sclerosis that is particularly problematic is bladder disorder. As many as 80% of multiple sclerosis patients experience bladder disorder.

An Australian trial involving patients with glioma found medical cannabis preparations containing THC and CBD were well tolerated and provided a number of benefits.

Glioma is a type of tumor that can occur in the brain and spinal cord – it’s the most common primary brain tumour. There are several different types of glioma – astrocytomas, ependymomas and oligodendrogliomas.

A single-centre Phase II double-blind randomised clinical trial by researchers from the Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine and other institutions investigated the tolerability of two different ratios of medicinal cannabis oil, taken orally, in patients who have been diagnosed with high grade gliomas* (GBM or astrocytoma AA3r) as an addition to their standard treatment.

We originally reported on this trial when it was announced back in late November 2018. It kicked off that month and continued through to December 2019.

The researchers concluded THC-containing medicinal cannabis was safe, involved no serious adverse effects and was well tolerated.

Timo Bongartz, General Manager at Fluence EMEA, explains how the company is helping to transform medical cannabis cultivation across Europe with its innovative LED lighting solutions.

In recent years, cannabis has been legalised for medical purposes across most of Europe. However, the European market is still in its infancy and it is therefore essential for players in this sector to be highly reliable with the thorough knowledge, cultivation experience, and scientific guidance needed to produce the highest possible standard of product.

The current and future direction of European cannabis markets

Currently, most growers of cannabis in Europe are fairly new adopters of LED lighting and so may have limited awareness of strategies to optimise yield and quality in their operations. However, this newcomer status within the European market comes with its advantages—such as, the existing proven expertise available to draw upon from other horticultural areas. As the European medical cannabis market gathers pace, it is expected that experts in other crops will diversify into growing cannabis also. To provide an example, chrysanthemums are short-day plants similar to cannabis, so ornamental growers with a proven track record could use their experience and knowledge to make a successful move over to cannabis production. At Fluence, our experts can be available on the ground to facilitate this transition further, offering sound guidance backed by thorough research. Drawing on a combination of their own horticultural knowledge and the long-established cannabis cultivation techniques seen in North America, European growers have all the potential for the success.

Personalised service

At Fluence, we are currently focusing on controlled environments in countries like Switzerland, Portugal, Israel, Netherlands and Denmark that are becoming hotbeds for medical cannabis production. As the markets here are still relatively new, demand for expert insight and best practice is high and this is where we come in. We have a vast install base of over 325,000 square meters of cannabis canopy under our LED lights, which provides us with a wealth of knowledge and experience for cultivators to draw from.

Our skilled horticulture services team across Europe but also in the US and Canada is positioned to provide guidance in cannabis production, speak the growers’ languages, understand the nuances of the local markets and support growers every day in their facilities. No two facilities are the same, so it is essential to provide a bespoke service to suit each customer’s individual operational needs. This is why we emphasise in-person partnerships with growers to adapt the right lighting strategy for each environment, whether that’s a warm-climate greenhouse with a high daily light integral or a cold-climate warehouse that uses 100% supplemental light. We value growers who want data and analytics to understand highly tactical and operationally specific needs like photo acclimation, seasonal production, and compressed cultivation cycles.

South Dakota has (finally) joined the growing list of US states with a medical cannabis program – sort of.

South Dakota Initiated Measure 26 (IM-26), the Medical Marijuana Initiative, was on the state’s ballot on November 3, 2020. 69.92% of voters supported establishing a medical marijuana program  for individuals with a debilitating medical condition.

In what has been an excruciating process, voters have finally had their wishes respected.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who wanted to delay implementation of the program until July 1, 2022, failed in her effort to do so. Governor Noem has demonstrated significant opposition to medical cannabis, and challenged it every step of the way. However, in a recent interview, the Governor was keen to indicate otherwise, stating:

“I think there’s people that have misconstrued my position on medical marijuana,” Noem said. “For years, I’ve said I’ve supported medical marijuana.”

We talk about cannabis being good for lots of medical issues, like spastic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, wasting away disorders, anxiety, microbial diseases, sleep disorders, blood pressure and blood sugar regulation, and so on. One of the more interesting points of research is with cancer, with a recent study coming out to show that specific cannabis compounds can kill cancer cells.

Marijuana is a powerful tool, both medically and recreationally. Whether you’re using the right mixture of cannabis compounds to kill cancer, or just taking it easy after a long day at work, having your product of choice is important. For many, using delta-8 THC is preferable to delta-9, since it comes with less psychoactive effect, and less anxiety and couch locking. For those trying to treat a problem, delta-8 is therefore often the primary choice. We support this newer brand of THC, and have a selection of delta-8 THC deals to get you started, whether you’re a medical patient, or just want to kick back.

New research into cannabis and cancer

The idea of cannabis as a medicine to treat cancer has been relevant for quite some time, but the world often moves slow in acceptance. As such, the case for cannabis against cancer has been built over many years, with a recent study showing the ability for specific parts of the cannabis plant to kill cancer cells. Though this doesn’t make it a medical rule just yet, this last study is powerful ammunition in the general debate about cannabis and cancer.

In March, 2021, this study was published: Specific Compositions of Cannabis sativa Compounds Have Cytotoxic Activity and Inhibit Motility and Colony Formation of Human Glioblastoma Cells In Vitro. The study looks at the effects of specific cannabinoid fraction combinations to fight glioblastoma multiforme cells (GBM), a type of brain cancer. While it has been established that certain phytocannabinoids can trigger the death of these cells, finding the exact configuration of cannabinoids for optimal effects, is a bit harder, and thus, being explored now.

The reason the term ‘phytocannabinoids’ is used here, and not ‘cannabinoids’, is that this study is specifically looking at the compounds directly out of non-decarboxylated plant material. Decarboxylation is the chemical process (generally accessed through heat) which makes a compound lose a carboxyl group, and shift to another compound. The version we are most familiar with, is the decarboxylation of THCA to THC. THC is a cannabinoid, THCA is a phytocannabinoid.

South Dakota’s voter-initiated medical cannabis law took effect today. Seventy percent of voters approved the ballot initiative, Measure 26, on Election Day.

Although patients are not anticipated to begin receiving state-issued identification cards or to be able to access cannabis products from state-licensed dispensaries until at least this fall, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety issued guidelines today for law enforcement requiring them to cease arresting those persons who identify as patients and meet certain qualifications.

Specifically, the guidelines stipulate that members of the Highway Patrol “will not, at the scene of a stop or interaction, arrest a South Dakota resident who is unable to present an unexpired medical cannabis card,” as long each of the following apply:

In addition, Highway Patrol personnel will no longer arrest nonresident cardholders for the possession of cannabis, nor will they seize the cannabis or any associated paraphernalia, if the following applies:

Under the state’s nascent program, patients with “a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition,” including AIDS/HIV, ALS, cancer, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, or post-traumatic stress, are eligible to receive an authorization from their doctor to possess medical cannabis.

Rwanda has passed a new order that legalises medical use of Cannabis, also known as marijuana, as the country moves closer to mass production and export of the multi-billion-dollar cash crop.

The consumption of Cannabis products for recreational purposes remains illegal in Rwanda. The country maintains harsh penalties for illegal production, distribution and consumption of Cannabis.

A new Ministerial Order governing Cannabis and its products in Rwanda gazetted on Monday lists guidelines for the growing, processing, exporting and medical use of marijuana.

Under the signature of the Minister of Health Daniel Ngamije and the Minister of Justice Johnston Busingye, the new law clarifies that recreational use of marijuana remains illegal and punishable by law.

The new Ministerial Order No 003/MoH/2021 of 25/06/2021 Relating to the Cannabis and Cannabis Products stipulates that “any investor or person who is committed to perform any activity of cultivation, processing, importation, export and use of Cannabis and Cannabis products, for medical or research purposes” is eligible to do so.

Insomnia is a major problem across the globe.

In fact, it is estimated that as many as 60% of people on earth suffer from a sleeping disorder.

The lack of sufficient sleep can be caused by many factors. Insomnia comes in two forms. 

The first is “primary insomnia in which the sleep disorder is not related to another condition.

Secondary insomnia occurs when a person’s inability to sleep is due to one or more other conditions such as asthma, heartburn, or cancer.

Pennsylvania lawmakers approved legislation last week that makes temporary changes to the state’s medical marijuana program enacted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic permanent under state law. The measure, House Bill 1024, also adopts recommendations from the state’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board for new regulations that govern the program. A proposed amendment to allow home cultivation of medicinal cannabis by patients and caregivers, however, was not included in the final version of the legislation.

Under House Bill 1024, medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to continue offering curbside pickup of patient orders, a practice that was put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Other temporary measures including increases in the daily purchase and personal possession limits from a 30-day supply to enough medicine for 90 days and the authority to certify medical marijuana patients via telemedicine appointments are also made permanent by the legislation.

Republican state Rep. Paul Schemel, the sponsor of the legislation, told local media that his bill puts medical marijuana “more in line with pharmaceuticals in a pharmacy. I’m supportive of that.”

The bill also opens up eligibility for employment in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana industry to those with prior criminal convictions. Restrictions against those with misdemeanor convictions holding jobs in the industry are eliminated and those with felony convictions would be eligible for employment 10 years after the offense was committed.

Another provision of House Bill 1024 allows medical marijuana manufacturers to put cannabis products that fail safety tests through remediation processes that make them safe for consumption.

The industry for medical cannabis for pets is magically blossoming. The number of dogs and/or cats parents looking into the use of cannabis for their pets is growing each day.

Each day, at least one parent walks into a dispensary to enquire about the perfect CBD products for their pets, while a significant number of these parents are actively researching the testing policies, right ingredients, and consumer stories related to the use of medical cannabis for dogs and cats.

As more pet owners are being drawn into the cannabis world for pets, more companies are springing up to meet the increased demand for medical marijuana for pets. These businesses are selling CBD oils, capsules, topical and other treats that appeal to dogs and cats. Many of these products are developed with dog-safe or cat-safe ingredients. Coconut oil is an example of such an ingredient.

Is it safe?

Like humans, pets also get sick. Studies show that CBD is a potential treatment for managing ailments in cats and dogs.

Marijuana plants have a lot of different cannabinoids, the two major compounds, THC and CBD offer a wealth of therapeutic benefits, most of which have not been fully researched.

On June 8th, a commission formed between the NFL and the league’s players’ union, announced that it would award up to $1 million in grants for researchers to investigate the therapeutic potential of marijuana, CBD, and other alternatives to opioids for treating pain.

The cannabis industry has long looked to major league sports as a hallmark for revenue comparison. At the end of the day, major league sports are mainstream businesses. On average, the NFL generates $15-$18 billion annually. The cannabis industry in the United States alone has far surpassed that benchmark.

What the NFL says about cannabis matters. The NFL’s awarding of $1 million in research grants to investigate the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids echoes Amazon’s recent announcement nudging the federal government to get its act together.

The cannabis industry has long looked to major league sports as a hallmark for hitting a revenue ... [+]

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A small U.S. study involving 45 gynecologic cancer patients prescribed medical marijuana (MM) for symptom management found 71 per cent self-reported improvement in at least one symptom.

Investigators considered patients prescribed MM from May 2016 to February 2019 and reviewed the formulation prescribed, usage patterns, length of use, symptom relief and side effects. Patients were given MM for less than a month to 25.4 months, notes the study published on June 24 in Gynecologic Oncology Report.

About 55 per cent of patients were prescribed formulations with a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio, inhaled and sublingual formulations were prescribed in more than 70 per cent of women and many patients were prescribed more than one formulation.

These patients “commonly experience nausea, vomiting, pain, anorexia and fatigue related to cancer-directed therapy or to their cancer itself, that may be treated with medical marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids,” authors write.

Specifically, the study notes that 56 per cent of the patients used MM for pain, 47 per cent for nausea/vomiting, 33 per cent for anorexia and 27 per cent for insomnia.

Degenerative disc disease is a general term used to describe a range of spinal conditions. It comes with both physical and psychological factors.

There are several spinal conditions, and thanks to the evolving medical systems around the world, medical marijuana has been incorporated into the recommended drugs for these conditions in some countries.

Research shows that cannabinoids might play a vital role in treating the mental stress and physical injuries that come along with degenerative disc conditions.

What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?

DDD refers to a group of spinal illnesses that results in the degeneration/degradation of the spinal discs. These intervertebral discs are found in all major areas of the human spine. From the cervical to the thoracic, and the lumbar region.

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