Category Archives: THC (Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Recreational cannabis and opioid distribution

Posted on by
Reply

“Twenty-one U.S. states have passed recreational cannabis laws as of November 2022. Cannabis may be a substitute for prescription opioids in the treatment of chronic pain. Previous studies have assessed recreational cannabis laws’ effects on opioid prescriptions financed by specific private or public payers or dispensed to a unique endpoint.

Our study adds to the literature in three important ways: by (1) examining these laws’ impacts on prescription opioid dispensing across all payers and endpoints, (2) adjusting for important opioid-related policies such as opioid prescribing limits, and (3) modeling opioids separately by type. We implement two-way fixed-effects regressions and leverage variation from eleven U.S. states that adopted a recreational cannabis law (RCL) between 2010 and 2019.

We find that RCLs lead to a reduction in codeine dispensed at retail pharmacies. Among prescription opioids, codeine is particularly likely to be used non-medically. Thus, the finding that RCLs appear to reduce codeine dispensing is potentially promising from a public health perspective.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36653623/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hec.4652

“When recreational cannabis is legal, codeine demand drops”

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/01/when-recreational-cannabis-legal-codeine-demand-drops

Oral THC: CBD cannabis extract in main symptoms of Alzheimer disease: agitation and weight loss

Posted on by
Reply
pubmed logo

“Objectives: Ten million new cases of dementia are recorded annually worldwide, with agitation and idiopathic weight loss being the most common symptoms. Several pharmacological therapies have emerged in recent years, but the clinical use of cannabis extracts in older patients with AD is constantly growing. This retrospective, analytical, observational, spontaneous trial aimed to enhance the clinical action of THC: CBD cannabis extract administration in AD patients with severe symptoms such as agitation, weight loss, cognitive impairment, and sleep disturbance.

Methods: Thirty patients (9 men and 21 women) diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe AD, aged 65-90 years, appealing to our Second Opinion Medical Consultation (Modena, Italy), were enrolled and required to use oil-diluted cannabis extract, Bedrocan® (22% THC, 0.5% CBD, Olive Oil 50 ml), twice a day for 12 weeks. The efficacy of cannabinoid therapy was evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks after therapy, employing three self-administered questionnaires completed by the parents of the enrolled patients: NPI-Q, CMAI, and MMSE.

Key findings: The NPI-Q demonstrated a reduction (p<0.0001) in agitation, apathy, irritability, sleep disturbances, and eating disturbances, consequently improving caregiver distress. Levels of physically and verbally aggressive behaviours, measured using the CMAI questionnaire, were lower (p<0.0001) in all patients. The MMSSE questionnaire confirmed a significant decrease (p<0.0001) in cognitive impairment in 45% of the patients.

Conclusion: Our anecdotical, spontaneous, and observational study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of oil-diluted cannabis extract in patients with AD. The limitations of our study are: 1) small patient cohort, 2) absence of control group, 3) self-administered questionnaires that are the most practical but not objective instruments to assess the neurologic functions of AD patients.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36655645/

Efficacy and Safety of Medical Marijuana in Migraine Headache: A Systematic Review

Posted on by
Reply

“Medical marijuana treatment for migraine is becoming more common, although the legality and societal acceptance of marijuana for medical purposes in the United States have been challenged by the stigma attached to it as a recreational drug.

These substances function to reduce nociception and decrease the frequency of migraine by having an impact on the endocannabinoid system.

Our study reviewed the clinical response, dosing, and side effects of marijuana in migraine management. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, and nine studies were included in the systematic review.

The studies demonstrated that medical marijuana has a significant clinical response by reducing the length and frequency of migraines. No severe adverse effects were noted. Due to its effectiveness and convenience, medical marijuana therapy may be helpful for patients suffering from migraines. However, additional clinical trials and observational studies with longer follow-ups are required to study the efficacy and safety of the drug.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36660507/

“The main objective of this article is to assess the efficacy and safety of medical marijuana for the treatment of migraine headaches. All the studies showed encouraging findings on the therapeutic effects of medicinal marijuana in migraine treatment. Additionally, medical marijuana is well-tolerated with fewer side effects and is safe to use in migraine patients.”

https://www.cureus.com/articles/118190-efficacy-and-safety-of-medical-marijuana-in-migraine-headache-a-systematic-review

The effects of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, alone and in combination, in the maximal electroshock seizure model

Posted on by
Reply
Epilepsy Research

“In the present study, cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and combinations of CBD and THC, were evaluated in the mouse maximal electroshock (MES) seizure test – an animal model of generalized-onset seizures. Male CF-1 mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with either CBD, THC or a combination of CBD and THC. The MES test was conducted 2 h after the injection of CBD and 1 h after the injection of THC. A wide range of doses was tested to allow the construction of dose-response curves. Toxicity was assessed using a behavioral rating scale.

It was found that: 1) the ED50 for THC alone was 52 mg/kg and its therapeutic index (TI) was 1.7; 2) the ED50 for CBD alone was 190 mg/kg and its TI was 2.4; and 3) the ED50 for a 15:1 combination of CBD+THC was 130 mg/kg + 8.6 mg/kg (CBD + THC). Thus, CBD and THC were both effective in the MES model, and CBD was somewhat more effective in the presence of low (non-therapeutic) doses of THC.

The improvement in CBD’s effect, however, was less dramatic than that seen in past experiments with the amygdala-kindling model (Fallah et al., 2021). Both CBD alone and CBD+THC in combination might be useful in the treatment of generalized-onset seizures. The advantage of adding THC to CBD, however, might be less than in the treatment of focal-onset seizures.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36646020/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920121123000128?via%3Dihub

Cannabis as antivirals

Posted on by
Reply
Issue Cover

“Cannabis is a plant notorious for its psychoactive effect, but when used correctly, it provides a plethora of medicinal benefits. With more than 400 active compounds that have therapeutic properties, cannabis has been accepted widely as a medical treatment and for recreational purposes in several countries.

The compounds exhibit various clinical benefits, which include, but are not limited to, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.

Among the vast range of compounds, multiple research papers have shown that cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, have antiviral effects. Recently, scientists found that both compounds can reduce severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infection by downregulating ACE2 transcript levels and by exerting anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds also act as the SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors that block viral replication.

Apart from cannabinoids, terpenes in cannabis plants have also been widely explored for their antiviral properties. With particular emphasis on four different viruses, SARS-CoV-2, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and herpes simplex virus-1, this review discussed the role of cannabis compounds in combating viral infections and the potential of both cannabinoids and terpenes as novel antiviral therapeutics.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36626776/

“Recently, scientists have discovered the potential medical roles of cannabis compounds in viral diseases. Cannabinoids such as CBD and Δ-9-THC, as well as essential oil such as terpenes extracted from the cannabis plants, were reported to have therapeutic effects in several virus infections such as SARS-CoV-2, HIV, HCV, and HSV.”

https://academic.oup.com/jambio/article/134/1/lxac036/6902073?login=false

Selected Seeds as Sources of Bioactive Compounds with Diverse Biological Activities

Posted on by
Reply
nutrients-logo

“Seeds contain a variety of phytochemicals that exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Plant-derived compounds are often investigated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-platelet, anti-apoptotic, anti-nociceptive, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, hepatoprotective, or neuroprotective properties.

In this review, we have described the chemical content and biological activity of seeds from eight selected plant species-blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.), black raspberry (Rubus coreanus Miq.), grape (Vitis vinifera L.), Moringa oleifera Lam., sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis Sprenger), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), and sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L). This review is based on studies identified in electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SCOPUS.

Numerous preclinical, and some clinical studies have found that extracts, fractions, oil, flour, proteins, polysaccharides, or purified chemical compounds isolated from the seeds of these plants display promising, health-promoting effects, and could be utilized in drug development, or to make nutraceuticals and functional foods. Despite that, many of these properties have been studied only in vitro, and it’s unsure if their effects would be relevant in vivo as well, so there is a need for more animal studies and clinical trials that would help determine if they could be applied in disease prevention or treatment.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36615843/

“In conclusion, seeds are a source of many promising compounds that have the potential to be implemented in the prevention or treatment of diseases in the future, but the process of introducing them in conventional medicine must be preceded by a thorough in vivo investigation of their effectiveness and safety.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/1/187

Is marijuana a foe of male sexuality? Data from a large cohort of men with sexual dysfunction

Posted on by
Reply

“Background: Although it has been assumed that chronic cannabis use may have an unfavorable impact on male sexual function and its metabolic correlates, evidence from clinical studies remains inconclusive.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between cannabis use and sexual behavior, anthropometrics and metabolic/vascular profiles in a large series of men evaluated for sexual dysfunction.

Methods: 4800 men (mean age 50.8 years) attending an andrology outpatient clinic for sexual dysfunction were studied. Sexual symptoms, hormonal, metabolic and instrumental (penile color Doppler ultrasound, PCDU) parameters were evaluated according to the reported habitual use of recreational substances (no use, 1-2 joints/week, >2 joints/week, and use of illicit drugs other than cannabis).

Results: When compared to nonusers, cannabis users were younger and exhibited a lower prevalence of comorbidities as well as better PCDU parameters, despite reporting higher alcohol and tobacco consumption. After adjustment for confounders, cannabis use was associated with a greater instability in the couple’s relationship and a higher frequency of masturbation. In addition, the group smoking >2 joints/week showed significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than both controls and users of substances other than cannabis. Men who reported using recreational drugs (either cannabis or other) exhibited significantly lower levels of both total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than nonusers. At the PCDU, smoking 1-2 joints/week was associated with significantly higher dynamic peak systolic velocity than both non-drug use and use of >2 joints/week. Prolactin levels were significantly higher in individuals smoking 1-2 joints/week and in those who used substances other than cannabis when compared to controls, whereas no difference in total testosterone levels was observed.

Discussion: In men with sexual dysfunction, mild cannabis consumption may be associated with a more favorable anthropometric and lipid profile and with a better penile arterial vascular response to intracavernous prostaglandin injection.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36617843/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/andr.13382

Cannabis Bioactive Compound-Based Formulations: New Perspectives for the Management of Orofacial Pain

Posted on by
Reply
molecules-logo


“The management of orofacial pain to alleviate the quality of life of affected patients is becoming increasingly challenging for scientific research and healthcare professionals. From this perspective, in addition to conventional therapies, new alternatives are being sought, increasingly looking at the use of both natural and synthetic products.

Cannabis sativa L. represents an interesting source of bioactive compounds, including non-psychoactive cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes, many of which are effective in improving pain intensity.

Here, we aim to analyze the possible mechanisms of action of the bioactive natural and synthetic hemp-derived compounds responsible for the modulatory effects on pain-related pathways. The ability of these compounds to act on multiple mechanisms through a synergistic effect, reducing both the release of inflammatory mediators and regulating the response of the endocannabinoid system, makes them interesting agents for alternative formulations to be used in orofacial pain.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36615298/

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/1/106

Effects of cannabinoids in Parkinson’s disease animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Posted on by
Reply
pubmed logo

“Objectives: Cannabis has been proposed as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to its neuroprotective benefits. However, there has been no rigorous review of preclinical studies to evaluate any potential treatment effect. This systematic review was undertaken to provide evidence in support or against a treatment effect of cannabinoids in animal models of PD.

Methods: Databases were searched for any controlled comparative studies that assessed the effects of any cannabinoid, cannabinoid-based treatment or endocannabinoid transport blocker on behavioural symptoms in PD animal models.

Results: A total of 41 studies were identified to have met the criteria for this review. 14 of these studies were included in meta-analyses of rotarod, pole and open field tests. Meta-analysis of rotarod tests showed a weighted mean difference of 31.63 s for cannabinoid-treated group compared with control. Meta-analysis of pole tests also showed a positive treatment effect, evidenced by a weighted mean difference of -1.51 s for cannabinoid treat group compared with control. However, meta-analysis of open field test demonstrated a standardised mean difference of only 0.36 indicating no benefit.

Conclusion: This review demonstrates cannabinoid treatment effects in alleviating motor symptoms of PD animal models and supports the conduct of clinical trials of cannabis in PD population. However, there is no guarantee of successful clinical translation of this outcome because of the many variables that might have affected the results, such as the prevalent unclear and high risk of bias, the different study methods, PD animal models and cannabinoids used.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36618606/

“Overall, this systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence of the benefit of cannabinoid treatment in PD animal models, which warrants further investigations. This review supports clinical trial of cannabis or cannabis-based treatments in humans with PD.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9812814/


Phytochemical Constituents and Derivatives of Cannabis sativa; Bridging the Gap in Melanoma Treatment

Posted on by
Reply
ijms-logo

“Melanoma is deadly, physically impairing, and has ongoing treatment deficiencies. Current treatment regimens include surgery, targeted kinase inhibitors, immunotherapy, and combined approaches. Each of these treatments face pitfalls, with diminutive five-year survival in patients with advanced metastatic invasion of lymph and secondary organ tissues. Polyphenolic compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids; both natural and synthetic, have emerging evidence of nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmacological potential, including specific anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and palliative utility. Cannabis sativa is a wellspring of medicinal compounds whose direct and adjunctive application may offer considerable relief for melanoma suffers worldwide. This review aims to address the diverse applications of C. sativa‘s biocompounds in the scope of melanoma and suggest it as a strong candidate for ongoing pharmacological evaluation.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36614303/

“In conclusion, there is a complex array of effects that polyphenolic and cannabinoid compounds elicit in relation to melanoma. Multiple biochemical and genetic cascades are regulated through the presence of these natural substances. Polyphenolic compounds emergingly demonstrate a significant capacity to mediate many of the impacts of cancer, including pain, inflammation and invasiveness. Combined administration of polyphenol compounds has shown existing promise for improvement of potency and bioactivity of these substances. To combat the complexity of cancer, new pharmacological perspectives are necessary. Accordingly, plant polyphenols, particularly those of cannabis provide a deep well of structural potential for the emergence of novel drugs with multi-applicability to the total sphere of cancer treatment. This is merely the budding tip of biocompounds available for exploration in plant-based medicine and is a substantive base for future research.”

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/1/859