Another thoughtful piece by Abbie Rosner at Forbes, reviewing the healing of chronic wounds with topical cannabis treatments.
Self-reported Medical and Nonmedical Cannabis Use Among Pregnant Women in the United States
An observational study has revealed that the prevalence and frequency of cannabis use in pregnant women have increased over the past two decades.
No trends were seen although except a slight decrease in fetal growth in women who frequently used during the first two trimesters. The data concerning fetal growth, such as length and weight, were not statistically significant and would require further studies to appropriately indicate a correlation between cannabis use and decreased fetal growth.
The authors acknowledge that cannabis use may suffer from recall bias as women may underestimate the amount of cannabis they consumed or purposely withheld some information due to stigma, although some of the surveyed women were using recommended medical cannabis.
This article highlights the large issue surrounding women consuming cannabis while expecting. Cannabinoids are able to cross the placenta and therefore affect the fetus during development. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommend the cessation of any cannabis consumption while pregnant although there has been limited data discussing the actual effects on fetal development. A previously featured article on this blog stated that cannabis use had no effect on birth outcomes but also noted uncertainty in the possible effect on fetal growth. Considering this uncertainty, physicians should push for more research so that women who take medical cannabis can accurately discern whether or not to cease consumption while pregnant.
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Opioid-Sparing Effects of Cannabinoids on Morphine Analgesia- Participation of CB1 and CB2 Receptors
Researchers have recently provided evidence that synthetic cannabinoids are able to work synergistically with morphine to provide maximum pain relief while limiting opioid doses.
In an effort to control the current opioid epidemic researchers have been looking into the possible benefits of cannabinoids due to the interaction of the opioid and endocannabinoid systems. The results of this study showed that various synthetic cannabinoids (WIN and GP1a) were able to work synergistically with morphine in two separate pain models to maximize analgesic effects. Further evidence is still needed to validate these claims before patient use, but this paper provides further evidence that medical cannabis may help put an end to the opioid crisis.
Highlighted in this paper is the lingering uncertainty of exact mechanisms within the endocannabinoid system. The authors of this article are left without definite answers as to whether or not the analgesic effect is mediated completely through cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) or if cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) is also involved. Research into cannabinoids is slow within the United States, as there are currently only privately funded studies. This severely limits the medical community from a full understanding. The better a system is understood, the more concrete answers can be found. Critics may never support the rescheduling of cannabis but without moving cannabis to a Schedule II or III, it remains impossible to back even their claims.
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Characteristics of Daily E-Cigarette Use and Acquisition Means Among a National Sample of Adolescents
From 2017 to 2018 the amount of middle school and high school electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users increased by 48% and 78% respectively. One of the first studies examining the association between e-cigarette characteristics and daily use among US adolescents is calling for comprehensive tobacco control efforts to reduce e-cigarette and nicotine addiction among adolescents. 38% of adolescent users report using their e-cigarette devices for cannabis which can be hazardous due to the lack of regulation. The potential risks associated with nicotine use and the dangerous misuse of these devices for other substances is putting youth’s health at risk.
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Dr. Ernest found that 82% of her epileptic patients found cannabis treatment helpful, but she also found that many of them were unaware of the doses they were taking or the levels of THC and CBD. Doctors and patients alike need to learn about dosing to maximize their health benefits http://bit.ly/2J29kkB
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Some believe that it is difficult to compete with industry giants, such as Tilray and Cronos. But, Israel’s long history of cannabis research and its innovative companies, leading tech and strong agricultural climate make it a likely region to attract many in the global cannabis market. http://bit.ly/2IPXbz8
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Tennessee is yet another state looking to regulate hemp effectively, and a proposed solution to this is on-the-go testing kits to determine THC levels in hemp products. If executed well, this could prevent many from being charged with possession of cannabis and save money in the courts and prison systems http://bit.ly/2ISjm7V
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According to anthropologists, Cannabis plants were burned in wooden braziers (circa 500 BCE) during ceremonies at the Jirzankal Cemetery in the eastern Pamirs region.
This suggests that cannabis was smoked as part of ritual activities in western China at least 2,500 years ago. Interestingly, phytochemical analyses reveal that these cannabis plants produced high levels of psychoactive compounds, suggesting that people used cannabis not only for medical purposes but also to get intoxicated.
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Many think medical marijuana laws will ultimately lead to adult-use, but this is not necessarily true, and for good reason. The medical industry recognizes that cannabis is a powerful medication and prioritizes its safety and health benefits, while so-called “recreational” or “adult use” cannabis seems to focus more on making money and supporting the pleasurable aspects of the plant.
Interestingly, at CED Clinic, we’re seeing more and more patients come in from the “adult-use.” Whether it’s a desire for comprehensive education (anything we put into our bodies has effects), personalizing a medical plan that considers short-term and long-term impact, or simply having a knowledgeable person to support individual choices and empowerment on an individual journey, we find that our patients enjoy learning and riding the cutting edge of the science of cannabis! http://bit.ly/2INDGY7
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