Medical cannabis trial will target 20,000 UK patients Jamie Doward and Lily Gordon Brown The GUARDIAN, Published on Sun 3 Nov 2019 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/nov/03/medical-cannabis-uk-clinical-trial-patients-nhs Project backed by Royal College of Psychiatrists aims to be largest on drug’s use in Europe • Medical cannabis: Why are doctors still not prescribing it? Tilray medicinal cannabis growing facility in Canada. Photograph: Tilray Up to 20,000 patients in the UK are to be given medical cannabis over a two-year period in an initiative that aims to create the largest body of evidence on the drug in Europe. The move, to be unveiled on Thursday, is [...]
Lire la suiteMedicinal Cannabis on Prescription in The Netherlands : Statistics for 2003–2016 Bas de Hoop, Eibert R. Heerdink, and Arno Hazekamp Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2018, Volume 3.1, Doi : 10.1089/can.2017.0059 In 2003, the Netherlands started one of the first National medicinal cannabis programs in the world, where patients are provided with pharmaceutical-grade cannabis of standardized cannabinoid composition. The program is overseen by the Office of Medicinal Cannabis (OMC), which is part of the Ministry of Health, while cultivation, packaging, lab testing, and distribution are performed by contracted specialized companies. Medicinal cannabis is available on prescription only and can be dispensed by all Dutch pharmacies. [...]
Lire la suiteMyorelaxant Effect of Transdermal Cannabidiol Application in Patients with TMD : A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial Aleksandra Nitecka-Buchta, Anna Nowak-Wachol, KacperWachol, KarolinaWalczynska-Dragon, Paweł Olczyk, Olgierd Batoryna, Wojciech Kempa and Stefan Baron Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2019, 8, 188, 1-17. doi : 10.3390/jcm8111886 Abstract Background : The healing properties of cannabidiol (CBD) have been known for centuries. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the myorelaxant effect of CBD after the transdermal application in patients with myofascial pain. Methods : The Polish version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD Ia and Ib) was used. A total of 60 patients were enrolled [...]
Lire la suiteEffects of CBD-Enriched Cannabis sativa Extract on Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms : An Observational Study of 18 Participants Undergoing Compassionate Use Paulo Fleury-Teixeira, Fabio Viegas Caixeta, Leandro Cruz Ramires da Silva, Joaquim Pereira Brasil-Neto and Renato Malcher-Lopes Frontiers in Neurology, October 2019, Volume 10, Article 1145 doi : 10.3389/fneur.2019.01145 Autism Spectrum Disorders comprise conditions that may affect cognitive development, motor skills, social interaction, communication, and behavior. This set of functional deficits often results in lack of independence for the diagnosed individuals, and severe distress for patients, families, and caregivers. There is a mounting body of evidence indicating the effectiveness of pure cannabidiol (CBD) and [...]
Lire la suiteEmerging from the dark side : new therapeutic applications of scheduled psychoactive substances Edward James, Thomas L Robertshaw & Andrew D Westwell Future Medical Chemistry, 2019 Doi : 10.4155/fmc-2018-0447 C - ISSN 1756-8919 “Public and mainstream scientific perceptions of these substances are shifting, and it is not difficult to envision a future in which MDMA and psilocybin play a role in contemporary medicine.” Keywords : harm reduction • healthcare • MDMA • positive psychology • psilocybin • psychoactive • psychotherapy The discovery and development of new medicines occupies years of painstaking and expensive scientific work, with multidisciplinary teams working together in the hope of developing a [...]
Lire la suiteStudy protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the Efficacy of cannabis-based Medicine Extract in slowing the disease progression of Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis or motor neurone Disease : the EMERALD trial Berzenn Urbi, Simon Broadley, Richard Bedlack, Ethan Russo, Arman Sabet British Medical Journal Open, 2019, 9, e029449. doi : 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029449 Abstract Introduction : Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no known cure and with an average life expectancy of 3–5 years post diagnosis. The use of complementary medicine such as medicinal cannabis in search for a potential treatment or cure is common in ALS. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy [...]
Lire la suiteAyahuasca : Psychological and Physiologic Effects, Pharmacology and Potential Uses in Addiction and Mental Illness Jonathan Hamill, Jaime Hallak, Serdar M. Dursun and Glen Baker Current Neuropharmacology, 2019, 17, 108-128. Doi : 10.2174/1570159X16666180125095902 Abstract Background : Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian decoction with psychoactive properties, is made from bark of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine (containing beta-carboline alkaloids) andleaves of the Psychotria viridis bush (supplying the hallucinogen N,N-dimethyltryptamine, DMT). Originally used by indigenous shamans for the purposes of spirit communication, magical experiences, healing, and religious rituals across several South American countries, ayahuasca has been incorporated into folk medicine and spiritual healing, and several Brazilian churches use [...]
Lire la suiteEmerging Evidence for Cannabis’ Role in Opioid Use Disorder Beth Wiese and Adrianne R. Wilson-Poe Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2018, Volume 3.1,179-189. Doi : 10.1089/can.2018.0022 Abstract Introduction : The opioid epidemic has become an immense problem in North America, and despite decades of research on the most effective means to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), overdose deaths are at an all-time high, and relapse remains pervasive. Discussion : Although there are a number of FDA-approved opioid replacement therapies and maintenance medications to help ease the severity of opioid withdrawal symptoms and aid in relapse prevention, these medications are not risk free nor are they successful for [...]
Lire la suiteThe Impact of Ayahuasca on Suicidality : Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial Richard J. Zeifman, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Jaime Hallak, Emerson Arcoverde, João Paulo Maia-Oliveira, Draulio B. Araujo Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2019, Volume 10, Article 1325, 1-10. doi : 10.3389/fphar.2019.01325 Suicide is a major public health problem. Given increasing suicide rates and limitations surrounding current interventions, there is an urgent need for innovative interventions for suicidality. Although ayahuasca has been shown to target mental health concerns associated with suicidality (i.e., depression and hopelessness), research has not yet explored the impact of ayahuasca on suicidality. Therefore, we conducted secondary analyses of a randomized placebo-controlled trial in [...]
Lire la suitePsilocybin-assisted therapy for depression : How do we advance the field ? Sally E Meikle, Paul Liknaitzky, Susan L Rossell, Margaret Ross, Nigel Strauss, Neil Thomas, Greg Murray, Martin Williams, David J Castle Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2019, 1–7 Doi : 10.1177/0004867419888575 Abstract In the quest for new treatment options for depression, attention is being paid to the potential role of psychedelic drugs. Psilocybin is of particular interest given its mechanism of action, its benefits in early trials and its relatively low side effects burden. This viewpoint outlines a number of key issues that remain to be elucidated about its potential use [...]
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