Sequoiacrone
June 23rd, 2008, 07:10 AM
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IACM-Bulletin of 22 June 2008
--------------------------------------------------------
Two articles in CANNABINOIDS discuss the potential of
cannabinoids in the treatment of depression. An article by Dr.
Regina Mangieri of the Department of Pharmacology at the
University of Texas in Austin, USA, with the title "Animal
research highlights a therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for the
treatment of depression" summarizes basic research on this
issue. Dr. Kurt Blaas, operating a practice for general medicine
in Vienna, presents his 10-year experience with the use of
dronabinol (THC) in depression and burnout syndrome including
two case reports under the title "Treating depression with
cannabinoids." The articles are available on the IACM website
at:
http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/home.htm (http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/home.htm)
* Science: Medical use of cannabinoids does not cause an
increase in serious adverse health effects
* Science/USA: Controversies on the consequences of the
increase of cannabis potency in recent decades
1.
Science: Medical use of cannabinoids does not cause an
increase in serious adverse health effects
Researchers at McGill University Health Centre, the McGill
University in Montreal and the University of British Columbia in
Vancouver, Canada, said that as the use of cannabinoid
medications increases, so do concerns about their potential to
cause "adverse events." Dr. Mark Ware of the McGill University
Health Centre said that their analysis reported about 31 separate
clinical studies of cannabinoid medications conducted between
1966 and 2007. Adverse events were categorized as either
serious or non-serious; with serious adverse events defined as
those leading to death, hospitalization or disability.
"Overall, we found an 86 percent increase in the rate of non-
serious adverse events among the patients treated with
cannabinoids compared to the patients in the control groups,"
Ware said in a statement. "The majority of events were mild to
moderate in severity." The majority of non-serious adverse
events observed involved dizziness and drowsiness, the
researchers said. The findings were published in the Canadian
Medical Association Journal and are available online including a
comment by Australian researchers.
More at:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/cmaj;178/13/1669 (http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/cmaj;178/13/1669)
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/178/13/1685 (http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/178/13/1685)
(Sources: UPI of 17 June 2008; Wang T, Collet JP, Shapiro S,
Ware MA. Adverse effects of medical cannabinoids: a
systematic review. CMAJ 2008;178(13):1669-78; Degenhardt
L, Hall WD. The adverse effects of cannabinoids: implications
for use of medical marijuana. CMAJ 2008;178(13):1685-6.)
2.
Science/USA: Controversies on the consequences of the
increase of cannabis potency in recent decades
According to a report released by the American White House
the average THC (dronabinol) concentration of cannabis seized
in the United States increased from about 4 per cent in 1983 to
9.6 per cent in 2007. "Marijuana potency has grown steeply
over the past decade, with serious implications in particular for
young people," John Walters, director of the White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy, said. He cited the risk of
psychological, cognitive and respiratory problems, and the
potential for users to become dependent on drugs such as
cocaine and heroin.
However, an increase of cannabis potency within the past 25
years of about two and a half refute claims of a dramatic
increase in recent decades and confirm results by Australian
researchers, who investigated the development of dronabinol
concentrations of cannabis in several countries. The researchers
at the Australian National Drug and Alcohol Research Center
and the National Drug Research Institute also noted that the
claims that increased strength of cannabis is driving the
occurrence of mental health problems is not supported by
studies. Due to the enormous variation between samples
cannabis users may be exposed to a greater variation in the
strength of the cannabis they use in a single year than that over
years or decades.
More at
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MARIJUANA_POTEN (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MARIJUANA_POTEN)
CY?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=news
_generic.htm
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/06/18/Pot_potency_ma (http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/06/18/Pot_potency_ma)
y_have_mitigating_factors/UPI-18501213813100/
(Sources: Associated Press of 12 June 2008, UPI of 18 June
2008; McLaren J, Swift W, Dillon P, Allsop S. Cannabis
potency and contamination: a review of the literature. Addiction
2008;103(7):1100-9.)
3.
News in brief
***USA: Cannabis use by teens
According to an analysis by researchers of the State University
of New York state medical cannabis laws in twelve states have
not increased teen cannabis use, despite fears that have been
raised when such measures are considered. Teen cannabis use
has consistently declined in states with medical cannabis laws,
and generally more markedly than national averages. The report,
based entirely on data from federal and state government-funded
drug use surveys, is available at http://www.mpp.org/teens/ (http://www.mpp.org/teens/).
(Source: MPP of 16 June 2008)
***USA: Deaths from medical drugs
An analysis of autopsies in 2007 from Florida found that the rate
of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate
of deaths caused by all illegalized drugs combined. According to
a report by the New York Times these findings track with
similar studies by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration,
which has found that roughly seven million citizens of the United
States are abusing prescription drugs. If accurate, that would be
an increase of 80 per cent in six years and more than all citizens
abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, Ecstasy or inhalants.
(Source: New York Times of 14 June 2008)
***Science: Cannabidiol
According to research from Japan cannabidiolic acid, the form in
which cannabidiol (CBD) is present in the cannabis plant, is a
selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (COX-2 inhibitor). Delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) was much less potent.
COX-2 inhibitors have an anti-inflammatory effect. Drugs such
as aspirin (acetysalicylic acid) suppress the production of
prostaglandins and thromboxanes due to its inactivation of the
cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme. However, besides COX-2
aspirin inhibits also COX-1 enzymes, which may result in side
effects such as stomach bleeding. (Source: Takeda S, et al. Drug
Metab Dispos, 2008 Jun 12. [Electronic publication ahead of
print])
***Science: Granulomas
According to research by Italian scientists cannabinoids, which
activate the CB1 or the CB2 receptor inhibit the production of
blood vessels in granulomas and thus reduce inflammation in
conditions associated with granulomas. They are seen in
diseases such as Crohn's disease, tuberculosis and sarcoidosis.
(Source: De Filippis D, et al. Br J Pharmacol, 2008 Jun 16.
[Electronic publication ahead of print])
***Science: Lymphomas
According to researchers of the Karolinska Institute in
Stockholm, Sweden, high CB1 and CB2 receptors levels are
found in most non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Cannabinoids induced
cell death in these cancer cells. Researchers concluded, that "our
results suggest that therapies using cannabinoid receptor ligands
will have efficiency in reducing tumor burden in malignant
lymphoma overexpressing CB1 and CB2." (Source: Gustafsson
K, et al. Int J Cancer, 2008 Jun 10. [Electronic publication
ahead of print])
4.
ONE YEAR AGO:
- Germany: The Federal Institute for Pharmaceuticals and
Medical Products concedes an exemption for the medical use of
cannabis to some patients
- Canada: Cannabis extract receives a qualifying notice for
approval for use in cancer pain
- Switzerland: Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a
clinical study with THC are not allowed to continue to use the
drug after completion of the study
TWO YEARS AGO:
- Germany: Majority supports medical use of cannabis
- Science: Leading pain experts name cannabinoids among most
promising substances to treating neuropathic pain
- USA: Multiple Sklerosis Society funds study on cannabis and
THC in MS at the University of California
- Science: Cannabis use does not increase injury risk
(More at the IACM-Bulletin archives: http://www.cannabis (http://www.cannabis/)-
med.org/)
International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM)
Am Mildenweg 6
D-59602 Ruethen
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2952-9708571
Fax: +49 (0)2952-902651
Email: info@cannabis-med.org (info@cannabis-med.org)
http://www.cannabis-med.org (http://www.cannabis-med.org/)
If you want to be deleted from or added to the IACM-Bulletin
mailing list or if you want to change your e-mail address please
visit
www.cannabis-med.org/english/subscribe.htm (http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/subscribe.htm). You may choose
between different languages (English, German, French, Dutch,
Italian and Spanish).
The articles of the IACM-Bulletin can be printed, translated and
distributed freely for any non-commercial purposes, provided
the original work is properly cited. The source of the IACM-
Bulletin is "IACM, www.cannabis-med.org (http://www.cannabis-med.org/)".
IACM-Bulletin of 22 June 2008
--------------------------------------------------------
Two articles in CANNABINOIDS discuss the potential of
cannabinoids in the treatment of depression. An article by Dr.
Regina Mangieri of the Department of Pharmacology at the
University of Texas in Austin, USA, with the title "Animal
research highlights a therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for the
treatment of depression" summarizes basic research on this
issue. Dr. Kurt Blaas, operating a practice for general medicine
in Vienna, presents his 10-year experience with the use of
dronabinol (THC) in depression and burnout syndrome including
two case reports under the title "Treating depression with
cannabinoids." The articles are available on the IACM website
at:
http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/home.htm (http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/home.htm)
* Science: Medical use of cannabinoids does not cause an
increase in serious adverse health effects
* Science/USA: Controversies on the consequences of the
increase of cannabis potency in recent decades
1.
Science: Medical use of cannabinoids does not cause an
increase in serious adverse health effects
Researchers at McGill University Health Centre, the McGill
University in Montreal and the University of British Columbia in
Vancouver, Canada, said that as the use of cannabinoid
medications increases, so do concerns about their potential to
cause "adverse events." Dr. Mark Ware of the McGill University
Health Centre said that their analysis reported about 31 separate
clinical studies of cannabinoid medications conducted between
1966 and 2007. Adverse events were categorized as either
serious or non-serious; with serious adverse events defined as
those leading to death, hospitalization or disability.
"Overall, we found an 86 percent increase in the rate of non-
serious adverse events among the patients treated with
cannabinoids compared to the patients in the control groups,"
Ware said in a statement. "The majority of events were mild to
moderate in severity." The majority of non-serious adverse
events observed involved dizziness and drowsiness, the
researchers said. The findings were published in the Canadian
Medical Association Journal and are available online including a
comment by Australian researchers.
More at:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/cmaj;178/13/1669 (http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/cmaj;178/13/1669)
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/178/13/1685 (http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/178/13/1685)
(Sources: UPI of 17 June 2008; Wang T, Collet JP, Shapiro S,
Ware MA. Adverse effects of medical cannabinoids: a
systematic review. CMAJ 2008;178(13):1669-78; Degenhardt
L, Hall WD. The adverse effects of cannabinoids: implications
for use of medical marijuana. CMAJ 2008;178(13):1685-6.)
2.
Science/USA: Controversies on the consequences of the
increase of cannabis potency in recent decades
According to a report released by the American White House
the average THC (dronabinol) concentration of cannabis seized
in the United States increased from about 4 per cent in 1983 to
9.6 per cent in 2007. "Marijuana potency has grown steeply
over the past decade, with serious implications in particular for
young people," John Walters, director of the White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy, said. He cited the risk of
psychological, cognitive and respiratory problems, and the
potential for users to become dependent on drugs such as
cocaine and heroin.
However, an increase of cannabis potency within the past 25
years of about two and a half refute claims of a dramatic
increase in recent decades and confirm results by Australian
researchers, who investigated the development of dronabinol
concentrations of cannabis in several countries. The researchers
at the Australian National Drug and Alcohol Research Center
and the National Drug Research Institute also noted that the
claims that increased strength of cannabis is driving the
occurrence of mental health problems is not supported by
studies. Due to the enormous variation between samples
cannabis users may be exposed to a greater variation in the
strength of the cannabis they use in a single year than that over
years or decades.
More at
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MARIJUANA_POTEN (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MARIJUANA_POTEN)
CY?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=news
_generic.htm
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/06/18/Pot_potency_ma (http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/06/18/Pot_potency_ma)
y_have_mitigating_factors/UPI-18501213813100/
(Sources: Associated Press of 12 June 2008, UPI of 18 June
2008; McLaren J, Swift W, Dillon P, Allsop S. Cannabis
potency and contamination: a review of the literature. Addiction
2008;103(7):1100-9.)
3.
News in brief
***USA: Cannabis use by teens
According to an analysis by researchers of the State University
of New York state medical cannabis laws in twelve states have
not increased teen cannabis use, despite fears that have been
raised when such measures are considered. Teen cannabis use
has consistently declined in states with medical cannabis laws,
and generally more markedly than national averages. The report,
based entirely on data from federal and state government-funded
drug use surveys, is available at http://www.mpp.org/teens/ (http://www.mpp.org/teens/).
(Source: MPP of 16 June 2008)
***USA: Deaths from medical drugs
An analysis of autopsies in 2007 from Florida found that the rate
of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate
of deaths caused by all illegalized drugs combined. According to
a report by the New York Times these findings track with
similar studies by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration,
which has found that roughly seven million citizens of the United
States are abusing prescription drugs. If accurate, that would be
an increase of 80 per cent in six years and more than all citizens
abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, Ecstasy or inhalants.
(Source: New York Times of 14 June 2008)
***Science: Cannabidiol
According to research from Japan cannabidiolic acid, the form in
which cannabidiol (CBD) is present in the cannabis plant, is a
selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (COX-2 inhibitor). Delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) was much less potent.
COX-2 inhibitors have an anti-inflammatory effect. Drugs such
as aspirin (acetysalicylic acid) suppress the production of
prostaglandins and thromboxanes due to its inactivation of the
cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme. However, besides COX-2
aspirin inhibits also COX-1 enzymes, which may result in side
effects such as stomach bleeding. (Source: Takeda S, et al. Drug
Metab Dispos, 2008 Jun 12. [Electronic publication ahead of
print])
***Science: Granulomas
According to research by Italian scientists cannabinoids, which
activate the CB1 or the CB2 receptor inhibit the production of
blood vessels in granulomas and thus reduce inflammation in
conditions associated with granulomas. They are seen in
diseases such as Crohn's disease, tuberculosis and sarcoidosis.
(Source: De Filippis D, et al. Br J Pharmacol, 2008 Jun 16.
[Electronic publication ahead of print])
***Science: Lymphomas
According to researchers of the Karolinska Institute in
Stockholm, Sweden, high CB1 and CB2 receptors levels are
found in most non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Cannabinoids induced
cell death in these cancer cells. Researchers concluded, that "our
results suggest that therapies using cannabinoid receptor ligands
will have efficiency in reducing tumor burden in malignant
lymphoma overexpressing CB1 and CB2." (Source: Gustafsson
K, et al. Int J Cancer, 2008 Jun 10. [Electronic publication
ahead of print])
4.
ONE YEAR AGO:
- Germany: The Federal Institute for Pharmaceuticals and
Medical Products concedes an exemption for the medical use of
cannabis to some patients
- Canada: Cannabis extract receives a qualifying notice for
approval for use in cancer pain
- Switzerland: Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a
clinical study with THC are not allowed to continue to use the
drug after completion of the study
TWO YEARS AGO:
- Germany: Majority supports medical use of cannabis
- Science: Leading pain experts name cannabinoids among most
promising substances to treating neuropathic pain
- USA: Multiple Sklerosis Society funds study on cannabis and
THC in MS at the University of California
- Science: Cannabis use does not increase injury risk
(More at the IACM-Bulletin archives: http://www.cannabis (http://www.cannabis/)-
med.org/)
International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM)
Am Mildenweg 6
D-59602 Ruethen
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2952-9708571
Fax: +49 (0)2952-902651
Email: info@cannabis-med.org (info@cannabis-med.org)
http://www.cannabis-med.org (http://www.cannabis-med.org/)
If you want to be deleted from or added to the IACM-Bulletin
mailing list or if you want to change your e-mail address please
visit
www.cannabis-med.org/english/subscribe.htm (http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/subscribe.htm). You may choose
between different languages (English, German, French, Dutch,
Italian and Spanish).
The articles of the IACM-Bulletin can be printed, translated and
distributed freely for any non-commercial purposes, provided
the original work is properly cited. The source of the IACM-
Bulletin is "IACM, www.cannabis-med.org (http://www.cannabis-med.org/)".