MA effectively outlawed the sale of any food products with CBD or products which make therapeutic claims. This is the result of FDA saying that CBD cannot be added to food or dietary supplements. In a state where cannabis is legally accessible, consumers and hemp farmers are very unhappy. What do you think? http://bit.ly/2IOtTRm
Benjamin Caplan, MDIn MA, despite being state-legal, FDA says CBD cannot be added to food or dietary supplements. What now?
Massachusetts has come one step closer to a pilot program involving cannabis cafes across the state. This will also bring about more licenses for cannabis delivery and social consumption, as a less capital-intensive option for entrepreneurs to enter the industry. http://bit.ly/2IOjOUz
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Crossing the Line: Care of a Pediatric Patient with Intractable Seizures and Severe Neuropathic Pain in Absence of Access to Medical Marijuana
A recent case report discussing a six-year-old patient suffering from a seizure disorder has exposed the difficulty is receiving treatment across state lines. The patient was prescribed medical marijuana that alleviated the severity and duration of her seizures but was weaned off that medication when traveling to Nebraska for a therapeutic surgery due to the legal status in the state. This case study exposes the difficulty of treating patients across the country due to the legal variability of cannabis across states.
An interesting question brought up in this case study is how to handle palliative care in the absence of opioids and without synthetic products. A combination of massage, essential oils, and salt light therapies were able to compensate for medical marijuana, but not without great effort. Natural therapies like the ones administered here are costly and highlight the simplicity and effectiveness of medicinal cannabis.
State laws in Florida allow card-holding seniors to use cannabis, but federally-subsidized senior homes must go against status-quo to allow this. The benefits are not being denied, but if they want to participate in Medicare then cannabis use comes with great risk. http://bit.ly/2LmKJZg
Benjamin Caplan, MDSeniors, in assisted living, and Cannabis
Some people are concerned that Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS,) a rare condition involving cyclical vomiting, may be caused by neem oil or pesticides. However, symptoms are more consistent with an overload of CB1 receptors, circumstances that occur primarily with habitual, large-volume consumers. Here, an interesting review of the ongoing public conversation: http://bit.ly/2LepwAV
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Benjamin Caplan, MDNeem Oil vs Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
Kudos to Kyle Jaeger for a helpful summary of last week’s US House’s vote on an amendment to block the Department of Justice from interfering in states’ legal cannabis programs. His work outlines which representatives stand where, with regard to #cannabis. Interesting to see, and how times change! http://bit.ly/2LgKO0P
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Benjamin Caplan, MDUS House of Representatives votes to support state legal cannabis
Preliminary testing shows positive results towards using CBD as an antibiotic topically, but also potentially to deal with systematic infections, such as pneumonia, using oral dosing. One of the present concerns is the struggle of getting permits to handle these cannabinoids to do further testing.
While these specific findings have not yet been published in a peer-review journal, this is far from the first time we have seen antimicrobial activity associated with plants or with cannabis. Evolutionarily, this trait is believed to be adaptive for the plant, and within cannabinoid, terpenoid, and flavonoid compounds, this activity has been demonstrated reproducibly, both in the lab and in clinic. http://bit.ly/2LbTwxm
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Benjamin Caplan, MDCBD antibacterial properties, topically
Exciting note to Massachusetts medical cannabis patients: Beginning July 1, medical patients will have the opportunity for an “Initial Access Certification” once they have seen their certifying physician. This access is good for 14 days, so patients will no longer have to wait for the state approval process before having access to medication. More info: http://bit.ly/2LmFY1Q
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In October 2018, recreational cannabis became legal in Canada. And in 2019, researchers asked nearly 20 thousand Canadians over the age of 15 about their cannabis habits. The survey found that 1 in 5 Canadians plan on trying or increasing cannabis use following legalization for non-medical purposes, particularly those who are younger, who have used cannabis in the past 3 months, and who have a higher income. To ensure responsible cannabis use and informed decision-making, clinicians and policy-makers should pay close attention to these higher risk populations.