Sequoiacrone
October 1st, 2008, 10:36 AM
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IACM-Bulletin of 28 September 2008
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* Sri Lanka: Ministry of Indigenous Medicine wants to grow
cannabis for medical purposes
* The Netherlands: Supreme court allows cannabis cultivation for
therapeutic use
* Science: Cannabidiol effective against psychotic symptoms in
patients with Parkinson's disease in a pilot study
1.
Sri Lanka: Ministry of Indigenous Medicine wants to grow
cannabis for medical purposes
Facing a lack of fresh cannabis for use in traditional Ayurvedic
medical preparations, the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine this
month announced a plan to grow 4,000 kg a year of cannabis. The
ministry wants to be excepted from laws that have made cannabis
illegal in Sri Lanka. "We are interested in getting some approval to
grow some cannabis with government sponsorship, but there must
be controls. It is under study," Asoka Malimage from the Ministry,
said.
Ayurveda is a traditional medical system which makes wide use
of herbs and natural remedies. In Sri Lanka, ayurveda
practitioners outnumber Western-trained doctors. Fresh cannabis
fried in ghee, a form of clarified butter, is used in about 18
different traditional medicines for treating a wide variety of
ailments, Malimage said. Currently, cannabis seized by the police
is used. But this cannabis is old and dried out, said Dr. Dayangani
Senasekara, head of the state-run Bandaranaike Memorial
Ayurvedic Research Institute in Colombo. The institute is making
preparations that use cannabis to treat diabetes, rheumatoid
arthritis and other diseases.
More at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSCOL342932 (http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSCOL342932)
(Source: Reuters of 25 September 2008)
2.
The Netherlands: Supreme court allows cannabis cultivation for
therapeutic use
On 16 September the Supreme Court upheld an appeal court
ruling from October 2006 that made it legal for a patient with
multiple sclerosis to grow cannabis for therapeutic use. Citing the
"exceptional circumstances", the court said it was acceptable for
the man to grow the drug without a licence. The man suffered
some negative side-effects after taking pharmacy cannabis, and
then decided to grow his own cannabis, the supreme court said in
a statement.
The judgement followed a decision by the public prosecutor's
office to challenge the appeal court's ruling which allowed MS
sufferer Wim Moorlag and his wife Klasiena Hooijers to grow
cannabis in order to alleviate his symptoms. In the Netherlands
the sale and consumption of small quantities of cannabis are
permitted in licensed coffee shops. Dutch citizens can legally
purchase up to five grams of cannabis per day and be in
possession of up to 30 grams for their own personal use without
being prosecuted. Growing of cannabis, however, is illegal.
More at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080916/hl_afp/netherlandsdrugshea (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080916/hl_afp/netherlandsdrugshea)
lth_080916153500
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSLG139872 (http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSLG139872)
0080916
(Sources: AFP of 16 September 2008, Reuters of 16 September
2008)
3.
Science: Cannabidiol effective against psychotic symptoms in
patients with Parkinson's disease in a pilot study
In an open pilot study at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the
natural cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) was effective in
the treatment of psychotic symptoms of patients with Parkinson's
disease. Six consecutive patients (four men and two women) with
the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and who had psychosis for at
least 3 months were selected for the study. All patients received
CBD in flexible doses (starting with an oral dose of 150 mg/day)
for 4 weeks, in addition to their usual therapy.
The psychotic symptoms showed a significant decrease under
CBD treatment. CBD did not worsen the motor function. No
adverse effect was observed during the treatment. Authors
concluded that "these preliminary data suggest that CBD may be
effective, safe and well tolerated for the treatment of the
psychosis in PD."
(Source: Zuardi A, Crippa J, Hallak J, Pinto J, Chagas M,
Rodrigues G, Dursun S, Tumas V.Cannabidiol for the treatment of
psychosis in Parkinson's disease. J Psychopharmacol. 2008 Sep
18. [Electronic publication ahead of print])
4.
News in brief
***Science: Pain
According to research at the Medical University of Warsaw,
Poland, the anti-inflammatory pain medication indomethacin
increased the anti-hyperalgesic activity of low doses of
cannabinoids in an animal model of neuropathic pain. (Source:
Bujalska M. Pharmacology 2008;82(3):193-200.)
***Science: Bipolar disorder
At the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil,
the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on bipolar affective disorder
(BAD) was investigated in two patients. Both patients received
CBD with a dose up to 1200 mg/day for 24 days without any
symptom improvement or side effects. Researchers noted that
"these preliminary data suggest that CBD may not be effective
for the manic episode of BAD." (Source: Zuardi A, et al. J
Psychopharmacol. 2008 Sep 18. [Electronic publication ahead of
print])
5.
ONE YEAR AGO:
- Science: THC normalized impaired psychomotor performance in
a patient with hyperactivity disorder
- USA: The state of Washington tries to define a standard dosage
for cannabis
TWO YEARS AGO:
- Science: Nabilone reduces pain in patients with spasticity
- Germany: A summary of one year of work of the Cannabis
Pharmacy
- Science: THC reduces intraocular pressure in patients with
glaucoma
(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 28 September 2008
--------------------------------------------------------
* Sri Lanka: Ministry of Indigenous Medicine wants to grow
cannabis for medical purposes
* The Netherlands: Supreme court allows cannabis cultivation for
therapeutic use
* Science: Cannabidiol effective against psychotic symptoms in
patients with Parkinson's disease in a pilot study
1.
Sri Lanka: Ministry of Indigenous Medicine wants to grow
cannabis for medical purposes
Facing a lack of fresh cannabis for use in traditional Ayurvedic
medical preparations, the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine this
month announced a plan to grow 4,000 kg a year of cannabis. The
ministry wants to be excepted from laws that have made cannabis
illegal in Sri Lanka. "We are interested in getting some approval to
grow some cannabis with government sponsorship, but there must
be controls. It is under study," Asoka Malimage from the Ministry,
said.
Ayurveda is a traditional medical system which makes wide use
of herbs and natural remedies. In Sri Lanka, ayurveda
practitioners outnumber Western-trained doctors. Fresh cannabis
fried in ghee, a form of clarified butter, is used in about 18
different traditional medicines for treating a wide variety of
ailments, Malimage said. Currently, cannabis seized by the police
is used. But this cannabis is old and dried out, said Dr. Dayangani
Senasekara, head of the state-run Bandaranaike Memorial
Ayurvedic Research Institute in Colombo. The institute is making
preparations that use cannabis to treat diabetes, rheumatoid
arthritis and other diseases.
More at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSCOL342932 (http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSCOL342932)
(Source: Reuters of 25 September 2008)
2.
The Netherlands: Supreme court allows cannabis cultivation for
therapeutic use
On 16 September the Supreme Court upheld an appeal court
ruling from October 2006 that made it legal for a patient with
multiple sclerosis to grow cannabis for therapeutic use. Citing the
"exceptional circumstances", the court said it was acceptable for
the man to grow the drug without a licence. The man suffered
some negative side-effects after taking pharmacy cannabis, and
then decided to grow his own cannabis, the supreme court said in
a statement.
The judgement followed a decision by the public prosecutor's
office to challenge the appeal court's ruling which allowed MS
sufferer Wim Moorlag and his wife Klasiena Hooijers to grow
cannabis in order to alleviate his symptoms. In the Netherlands
the sale and consumption of small quantities of cannabis are
permitted in licensed coffee shops. Dutch citizens can legally
purchase up to five grams of cannabis per day and be in
possession of up to 30 grams for their own personal use without
being prosecuted. Growing of cannabis, however, is illegal.
More at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080916/hl_afp/netherlandsdrugshea (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080916/hl_afp/netherlandsdrugshea)
lth_080916153500
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSLG139872 (http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSLG139872)
0080916
(Sources: AFP of 16 September 2008, Reuters of 16 September
2008)
3.
Science: Cannabidiol effective against psychotic symptoms in
patients with Parkinson's disease in a pilot study
In an open pilot study at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the
natural cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) was effective in
the treatment of psychotic symptoms of patients with Parkinson's
disease. Six consecutive patients (four men and two women) with
the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and who had psychosis for at
least 3 months were selected for the study. All patients received
CBD in flexible doses (starting with an oral dose of 150 mg/day)
for 4 weeks, in addition to their usual therapy.
The psychotic symptoms showed a significant decrease under
CBD treatment. CBD did not worsen the motor function. No
adverse effect was observed during the treatment. Authors
concluded that "these preliminary data suggest that CBD may be
effective, safe and well tolerated for the treatment of the
psychosis in PD."
(Source: Zuardi A, Crippa J, Hallak J, Pinto J, Chagas M,
Rodrigues G, Dursun S, Tumas V.Cannabidiol for the treatment of
psychosis in Parkinson's disease. J Psychopharmacol. 2008 Sep
18. [Electronic publication ahead of print])
4.
News in brief
***Science: Pain
According to research at the Medical University of Warsaw,
Poland, the anti-inflammatory pain medication indomethacin
increased the anti-hyperalgesic activity of low doses of
cannabinoids in an animal model of neuropathic pain. (Source:
Bujalska M. Pharmacology 2008;82(3):193-200.)
***Science: Bipolar disorder
At the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil,
the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on bipolar affective disorder
(BAD) was investigated in two patients. Both patients received
CBD with a dose up to 1200 mg/day for 24 days without any
symptom improvement or side effects. Researchers noted that
"these preliminary data suggest that CBD may not be effective
for the manic episode of BAD." (Source: Zuardi A, et al. J
Psychopharmacol. 2008 Sep 18. [Electronic publication ahead of
print])
5.
ONE YEAR AGO:
- Science: THC normalized impaired psychomotor performance in
a patient with hyperactivity disorder
- USA: The state of Washington tries to define a standard dosage
for cannabis
TWO YEARS AGO:
- Science: Nabilone reduces pain in patients with spasticity
- Germany: A summary of one year of work of the Cannabis
Pharmacy
- Science: THC reduces intraocular pressure in patients with
glaucoma
(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/)".