Access to cannabidiol without a prescription : A cross-country comparison and analysis Iain S. McGregor, Elizabeth A. Cairns, Sarah Abelev, Rhys Cohen, Mat Henderson, Daniel Couch, Jonathon C. Arnold, Natalie Gauld International Journal of Drug Policy, 2020, 85, 102935 Doi : 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102935 A B S T R A C T Background : Recent legislative change has allowed increased access to cannabis products in many jurisdictions. In some locations, this includes over-the-counter (OTC) and/or online access to products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid with therapeutic properties. Here we compared the availability of CBD products and the associated legislative and regulatory background in nine selected countries. Methods [...]
Lire la suiteCannabidiol prescription in clinical practice: an audit on the first 400 patients in New Zealand Graham Gulbransen, MBChB, FAChAM, FRNZCGP1*, William Xu2, Bruce Arroll, MBChB, PhD, FRNZCG BJGP Open, 2020, 1-8 DOI : 10.3399/bjgpopen20X101010 Abstract Background : Cannabidiol (CBD) is the non- euphoriant component of cannabis. In 2017, the New Zealand Misuse of Drugs Regulations (1977) were amended, allowing doctors to prescribe CBD. Therapeutic benefit and tolerability of CBD remains unclear. Aim : To review the changes in self- reported quality of life measurements, drug tolerability, and dose- dependent relationships in patients prescribed CBD oil for various conditions at a single institution. Design & setting : An [...]
Lire la suiteCBD (Cannabidiol) Product Attitudes, Knowledge, and Use Among Young Adults Meghann Wheelera, Julie Williams Mertena, Benjamin T Gordonb, and Hanadi Hamadic SUBSTANCE USE & MISUSE, 2020, VOL. 55, NO. 7, 1138–1145 doi : 10.1080/10826084.2020.1729201 ABSTRACT Background : Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis is marketed as a potential treatment for many conditions and widely available to purchase as a dietary supplement. In 2017, sales of CBD exceeded 820 million dollars despite many unconfirmed health claims, murky legality, and limited product efficacy and safety testing. Purpose/Objectives : This study aims to explore cannabidiol (CBD) knowledge, attitudes, and use among young adults. Methods : The anonymous 36-item survey [...]
Lire la suiteDevelopment of Ketamine Administration as a Treatment for Chronic PTSD Abigail B. Collins, BS; Sarah B. Rutter, MA; and Adriana Feder, MD Psychiatric Annals, 2020, 50, (2), 68-76. doi : 10.3928/00485713-20200109-01 ABSTRACT Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent, chronic, and dis-abling condition for which currently available pharmacotherapies are insuf-ficiently effective. Ketamine, which is a glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has emerged as a promising and rapid-act-ing novel treatment intervention for this disorder. Findings from a proof-of-concept, randomized, controlled cross-over study of single-dose intravenous ketamine administration (compared to single-dose midazolam) in patients with chronic PTSD suggest that ketamine is associated with rapid improvement in [...]
Lire la suiteHow Cannabis-Based Therapeutics Could Help Fight COVID Inflammation Liz Scherer Medscape.com, November 03, 2020 Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center. Plagued by false starts, a few dashed hopes, but with perhaps a glimmer of light on the horizon, the race to find an effective treatment for COVID-19 continues. At last count, more than 300 treatments and 200 vaccines were in preclinical or clinical development (not to mention the numerous existing agents that are being evaluated for repurposing). There is also a renewed interest in cannabinoid therapeutics — in particular, the nonpsychoactive agent cannabidiol (CBD) and the prospect of [...]
Lire la suitePsilocybin Delivers 'Remarkable' Relief in Severe Depression Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW Medscape.com, November 05, 2020 Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in "magic mushrooms," rapidly improves symptoms and produces remission in as little as two sessions for patients with major depression, new research suggests. Results of a small randomized trial showed that treatment with psilocybin was associated with a greater than 50% reduction in depressive symptoms in 67% of study participants. In addition, 71% showed improvement at 4-week follow-up, with more than 50% achieving remission. "The finding that the majority of people whom we treated showed efficacy was quite a remarkable and gratifying finding and really sets the [...]
Lire la suiteUse of Genetically Informed Methods to Clarify the Nature of the Association Between Cannabis Use and Risk for Schizophrenia Nathan A. Gillespie, Kenneth S. Kendler JAMA Psychiatry, Published online November 4, 2020 Cohort studies and meta-analyses have documented a robust association between cannabis use, heavy use, and misuse with future risk of schizophrenia.1-3 Despite adjusting for covariates, including current psychotic symptoms, other psychopathology, and social integration,(1) the ability of these models to determine the degree to which cannabis causes schizophrenia is limited and dependent on their ability to capture all relevant confounders. When evaluating efforts to reduce cannabis use as a means of [...]
Lire la suiteEffects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder. A Randomized Clinical Trial Alan K. Davis, PhD; Frederick S. Barrett, PhD; Darrick G. May, MD; Mary P. Cosimano, MSW; Nathan D. Sepeda, BS; Matthew W. Johnson, PhD; Patrick H. Finan, PhD; Roland R. Griffiths, PhD JAMA Psychiatry, 2020, E1-E9. doi : 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285 IMPORTANCE : Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a substantial public health burden, but current treatments have limited effectiveness and adherence. Recent evidence suggests that 1 or 2 administrations of psilocybin with psychological support produces antidepressant effects in patients with cancer and in those with treatment-resistant depression. OBJECTIVE : To investigate the effect of psilocybin [...]
Lire la suiteNeurological Manifestations Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid Use - A Case Series Marwa Elnazeir, Siddharth Narayanan, Pradeepthi Badugu, Abid Hussain, Cody B. Stephens, Riwaj Bhagat, Christopher M. Jones, Wei Liu, Alexi R. Hernandez, Kerri S. Remmel and Adriana E. Palade The Open Neurology Journal, 2020, 14, 53-58. Doi : 10.2174/1874205X02014010053 Abstract : Background : Synthetic Cannabinoid (SC) use has emerged as a growing public health threat in the United States. Several unexpected cases, presenting with a constellation of unrelated symptoms, but all having toxicity linked to SC use, have been reported in the last decade (2010-2019). Methods : We report a cluster of several independent cases where patients were [...]
Lire la suitePharmacological evaluation of new constituents of “Spice”: synthetic cannabinoids based on indole, indazole, benzimidazole and carbazole scaffolds Clara T. Schoeder, Cornelius Hess, Burkhard Madea, Jens Meiler, Christa E. Müller Forensic Toxicology, 2018, 36, 385-403. Doi : 10.1007/s11419-018-0415-z Abstract Purpose : In the present study we characterized a series of synthetic cannabinoids containing various heterocyclic scaffolds that had been identified as constituents of “Spice”, a preparation sold on the illicit drug market. All compounds were further investigated as potential ligands of the orphan receptors GPR18 and GPR55 that interact with some cannabinoids. Methods : The compounds were studied in radioligand binding assays to determine their affinity for [...]
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