"A Survey of The Attitudes, Beliefs and Knowledge About Medical Cannabis Among Primary Care Providers"

Healthcare providers play a critical role in facilitating patient access to medical cannabis. 
However, previous surveys suggest only a minority of providers believe that medical cannabis confers benefits to patients. 

Significant new knowledge about the potential benefits and harms of medical cannabis has recently emerged. Understanding current attitudes and beliefs of providers may provide 

insight into the ongoing challenges they face as states expand access to medical cannabis.

The survey

This study was funded by the Mayo Clinic and the resercers conducted an electronic survey of primary care providers in a large Minnesota-based healthcare system between January 23 and February 5, 2018 published online in January 22,2019.

They obtained information about providers characteristics,attitudes and beliefs about medical cannabis, the provider comfort level in answering patient questions about medical cannabis, and whether providers were interested in receiving additional education.

"Study Appears the Bennefits of CBD To Healthy Volunteers & Epileptic Patients"

Anecdotal reports on the antiepileptic properties of marihuana (Cannabis sativa) are known since ancient times. Rosenthal in 1971 mentioned medieval Arab manuscripts in which cannabis is describedas a treatment for epilepsy, as diuretic, anti-emetic, anti-epileptic, antiinflammatory, painkilling and antipyretic properties, among others. During the 19th century several medical reports were published on the ameliorative effects of cannabis extracts on several forms of convulsions.

In spite of promising results and its low toxicity,the use of cannabis preparations for medical purposes progressively decreased.  This was due to the absence of standardized preparations, the unknown chemical composition, and the psychotropic secondary effects produced by cannabis. 

This study supported from the US National Institutes of Mental Health and published on acsalaska.net.

"About CBD Oil..."

With all the talk of Medical Marijuana and it’s many benefits, and  legalizing or decriminalizing Marijuana use both medically and for private use, it’s a wonder that CBD oil is still in its infancy.

A lot of people would never think about taking CBD oil. Others simply they just stay away from “dangerous” things like CBD. In fact, less than 5% of the public actually knows that there are very potent forms of CBD Oil derived from the hemp plant that have an incredible impact on human health and are legally available. Bottom line, is that the most of these reasons stem from lack of knowledge concerning CBD oil.

CBD Oil from the hemp plant will be the king of the Hemp and Cannabis world very soon, and it looks like we are all going to be a lot healthier because of it.

CBD Oil should be part of everyone’s daily health regimen!

CBD Oil also proving to be the ultimate “anti-disease” supplement that can boost the immune system and human endocannabinoid system… helping to promote better health and fend off disease and illnesses. There are a ton of scientific studies which have been performed on CBD, and a lot of them have specific results you will appreciate. 

So,when you think about CBD in a botanical sense, and you understand how your body reacts positively to something Mother Nature made, the decision becomes an easy one to make. CBD can be an effective wellness option for your body. Many health minded people are adding CBD Oil to their daily routine and reporting great benefits from doing so.

"Statement on Medical Cannabis by the IACM for the European Parliament"

February 2019

Dear esteemed member of the European Parliament,

We are European members of the Board of Directors of the IACM (International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines). We are basic researchers working in laboratories at universities andclinicians working in a medical practice or at a University.

In our laboratories we investigate the broad therapeutic potential of cannabis compounds and related molecules and in our medical practices we see how many seriously ill people benefit from a treatment with cannabis-based medicines. The spectrum of diseases ranges from chronic pain of various origins to chronic inflammatory diseases, from neurological disorders to diseases associated with loss of appetite or nausea, from psychiatric conditions to many other medical conditions.

"CBD For Muscle Recovery? Here’s What You Need To Know"

CBD is everywhere these days, and in a variety of forms. You can find it in capsules, gummies, tinctures, oils, balms, cocktails, cookies—even coffee sold at small-town bakeries. Its market share in the health and wellness space will likely only continue to grow, with some analysts estimating its value will hit $2 billion by 2022.

CBD has a lot of purported benefits with a lot of anecdotal (and some scientific) evidence to back those claims. Everything from helping cancer patients fight nausea, to acting as a sleep aid for people with insomnia, to reducing seizures in children with a severe form of epilepsy known as Dravet Syndrome.

While those seem like potentially huge breakthroughs, CBD is also said to help with smaller stuff, like helping you recover faster from workouts thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Before you dive into a pool of CBD oil, here’s everything you need to know.

"A Review on Cannabis Schedule I Status"

Despite the nearly century-long prohibition of the plant, cannabis is nonetheless one of the most investigated therapeutically active substances in history.
There are more than 26,000 published studies or reviews in the scientific literature referencing the cannabis plant and its cannabinoids, according to a keyword search on the search engine PubMed Central, the US government repository for peer-reviewed scientific research, with over 1,000 new studies published annually.

The scientific conclusions of the majority of modern research directly conflicts with the federal government’s stance that cannabis is a highly dangerous substance worthy of absolute criminalization.

"Unique treatment potential of CBD for the prevention of relapse to drug use: preclinical proof of principle"

Cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-psychoactive constituent of Cannabis sativa, has received attention for therapeutic potential in treating neurologic and psychiatric disorders. 
Recently, CBD has also been explored for potential in treating drug addiction. 

Substance use disorders are chronically relapsing conditions and relapse risk persists for multiple reasons including craving induced by drug contexts, susceptibility to stress, elevated anxiety, and impaired impulse control. This study from NCBI was published online in 2018 Mar 22 and evaluate the “anti-relapse” potential of CBD  in animal models of drug seeking, anxiety and impulsivity.
The Study...

For the study, rats with alcohol or cocaine self-administration histories received transdermal CBD at 24 h intervals for 7 days and were tested for context and stress-induced reinstatement, as well as experimental anxiety on the elevated plus maze. 

"Study Focused on Deaths from Marijuana Compared With 17 FDA-Approved Drugs"

Much of the medical marijuana discussion has focused on the safety of marijuana compared to the safety of FDA-approved drugs. On 24 June 2005 ProCon.org sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to find the number of deaths caused by marijuana compared to the number of deaths caused by 17 FDA-approved drugs. 

Twelve of these FDA-approved drugs were chosen because they are commonly prescribed in place of medical marijuana, while the remaining five FDA-approved drugs were randomly selected because they are widely used and recognized by the general public. 

ProCon.org chose:

-1 January 1997 as starting date as it is the beginning of the first year following  November 1996 approval of the first state medical marijuana laws (such as California's Proposition 215). 

-The FDA reports from 13 September 2005 to 14 Octomber 2005 included drug deaths "to present", which was the date each report was compiled for our request. We cut off the counting as of 30 June 2005 to provide a uniform end-date to the various reports. 

"Hemp Oil Vs. Fish Oil"

Most of us have heard that fish oil is good for us. It contains Omega-3 fatty acids that our bodies need but can’t produce: ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosa-pentaenoic acid), and DHA (docosa-hexaenoic acid). ALA is converted to EPA and DHA in the body. 

Since they cannot be produced by the body, they need to be obtained through the consumption of foods or supplements.

Omega-3 fatty acids are important because they interact with our Endocannabinoid System, the regulatory system within our bodies known to bring us back to homeostasis (a.k.a. balance). They support many bodily functions and boost immunity as well. Deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to multiple health issues such as heart disease, mental illness, and arthritis.

Although there is enough evidence proving that the human body may benefit from the Omegas in fish oil, there is another option:

"The Antineoplastic Activity of Cannabinoids"

Article History: This study was received on 26 December 1974, accepted on 

30 May 1975 and published on 01 September 1975  in the JNCI 

(Journal of the National Cancer Institute),Volume 55, Issue 3, Pages 597–602, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/55.3.597

The Summary Of The Study...

Lewis lung adenocarcrnoma growth was retarded by the oral administration of Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC, and CBN, but not CBD. 

Animals treated for 10 consecutive days with Δ9-THC, beginning the day after tumor implantation, demonstrated a dose-dependent action of retarded tumor growth. 

-Mice treated for 20 consecutive days with Δ8-THC and CBN had reduced primary tumor size. 

-CBD showed no inhibitory effect on tumor growth at 14, 21, or 28 days.

-Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC, and CBN increased the mean survival time 36% at 100 mg/kg, 25% at 200 mg/kg, and 27% at 50 mg/kg, respectively, whereas CBD did not. 

-Δ9-THC administered orally daily until death in doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg did not increase the life-spans of  mice hosting the murine leukemia. 

However, Δ9-THC administered daily for 10 days significantly inhibited Friend leukemia virus-induced splenomegaly by 71% at 200 mg/kg as compared to 90.2% for actinomycin D.

Experiments with bone marrow and isolated Lewis lung cells incubated in vitro with Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC showed a dose-dependent inhibition 80–20%, respectively, of tritiated thymidine and14C-uridine uptake into these cells.

CBD was active only in high concentrations.

so.... 

As we all can understand, we dont have to do with a plant whose magical /medical benefits appeared suddenly in our lives but with a plant that is known for decades for the medical uses and in "modern life"... if you search at internet, you will find that from ancient years until today the researchers always discover something new about the benefits of Cannabis...

So the next logical thought is, who and  why they try to stay, all these studies, in the "back stage" of the knowlege...

Source: https://academic.oup.com

"Most Medical Schools Don’t Cover the ECS..."

"When will more medical schools include the second largest neurotransmitter system, the endocannabinoid system (ECS), into medical school curriculum?" article in Huffingtonpost by Dr. David Bearman

In 2013, Cardiologist Dr. David Allen did a preliminary survey to determine which schools teach the ECS and found that only a total of 13 percent of U.S. medical schools even mentioned it. Now, we’re not talking about cannabis here, but a neurotransmitter system that was discovered in the late 1980s, almost 30 years ago. We know that it is critical for homeostasis, yet few medical schools have seen fit to train medical students about it.

" Can CBD Converted to THC???"

In a pre-review report by W.H.O we can found some evidence that CBD can be converted to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a Schedule 1 substance under the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971. 

Two main methods have been reported and there has been some investigation into whether this occurs spontaneously in vivo.

Conversion in the laboratory

Under experimental conditions, it has been demonstrated that heating CBD in solutions of some acids catalyses cyclizations within the CBD molecule resulting in delta-9-THC.

Gaoni and Mechoulam have published several papers regarding methods of converting CBD to other cannabinoids including THC, however the yields vary and purity is unclear. 

"Trends in Publications on Medical Cannabis from the Year 2000"

The aim of this study was to compare trends in scientific publication for papers on medical cannabis, papers on cannabis in general, and all papers between the years 2000 and 2017. 

A search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted. The overall number of scientific publications in PubMed increased 2.5-fold. In contrast, the number of publications on cannabis increased 4.5-fold and the number of publications on medical cannabis increased almost 9-fold. The number of publications on medical cannabis in Web of science increased even more (10-fold).

"The Study On THC and Lung Cancer That Disappeared In The 1970s"

It is frankly shocking that the evidence was emerging in the 70s about the positive effect of the cannabis treatment on cancer and it was not utilized until recently. This may be due to some external factors not really related to science and technology, if you understand what I mean.

THC and lung cancer have been bitter foe since the beginning of time, but we have only officially known about this since 1975.  Unfortunately, soon after the results passed muster of peer review, it all just poofed away. Not a mention, barely a publication, nary an epic news story.

In the early 70s of last century, Richard Nixon ordered a study on the effects of ‘marijuana’ for human health. Things went pretty much in the opposite direction to what he had hoped to reveal. The human lung cancer cultures exposed to cannabis smoke showed detrimental alterations to their DNA synthesis. This was measured by the appearance of chromatin bridges. These bridges make it more likely that a chromosome will break. Researchers hypothesized that THC was interfering  with some crucial cell biochemical process that was damaging lung cancer cells.

"From September 29th, 2014 FDA Had Approved Cannabis For Brain Cancer Treatment... "

On September 29th, 2014, Insys Therapeutics  announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration had granted orphan drug designation to its proprietary cannabidiol product for the treatment of glioma. (A glioma is a type of tumor that starts in the brain or spine.)

CEO of Insys, Michael Babich stated: “We will most likely focus initially on pontine glioma, or PG, which has multiple similarities with glioblastoma multiforme, for which our pharmaceutical CBD was granted ODD last month. We believe that this product has excellent potential as treatment for PG, and look forward to advancing its development and offering a potential efficacious treatment for patients.”

Insys, which has more than seven years of research and development experience in the pharmaceutical cannabinoid space, manufactures pharmaceutical CBD and pharmaceutical dronabinol (THC), both of which are cannabinoids, at its FDA-inspected and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approved facility in Round Rock, Texas. 

The company recently submitted a Drug Master File (DMF #28255) for its CBD active pharmaceutical ingredient and believes that it is the only U.S.-based company with the capacity to produce pharmaceutical cannabinoids in scalable quantities.

Insys was previously granted ODD to its pharmaceutical CBD for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, and two rare forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. 

Insys is also evaluating the potential use of pharmaceutical CBD in several additional indications, including: adult epilepsy, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and addiction in cocaine, amphetamines and opioids. Insys intends to pursue orphan drug designation for other indications that may qualify.

Orphan drug designation is granted by the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) to novel drugs or biologics that treat rare diseases or conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 patients in the U.S. The designation provides the drug developer with a seven-year period of U.S. marketing exclusivity, as well as certain financial incentives that can help support its development.

This progress is impressively significant, but there is still much to be desired.

First, cannabinoids work best when used together, so a CBD-only treatment will probably yield poorer results than a formula with CBD, THC, and the dozens of other cannabinoids. We all know that the CBD being used by Insys is synthetic. While organic whole-plant, full-spectrum cannabis extracts are best, the FDA approval for CBD alone is still a major step.

The scientific and anecdotal evidence supporting glioma treatment with cannabis is quite strong.

Dr.Manuel Guzman from Spain is well known for his study showing how THC induces programmed cell death in glioma cells. CBD has also been shown to kill some types of glioma cell lines in addition to inhibiting migration, proliferation, growth, invasion,and angiogenesis. With such powerful properties, it’s no surprise that anecdotal evidence is supportive.

Sophie Ryan, an optic pathway glioma patient, has been featured in the journal O’Shaughnessy’s, with documentation supporting amazing anticancer effects of cannabinoids (THC & CBD) against her tumor. While she was also on chemotherapy, the traditional treatment was only expected to stabilize the tumor, not shrink it. 

Another observational study in the same journal documents an optic pathway glioma reducing more than 95% in 16 months; in this case, cannabis oil was the sole treatment.

For years, many other people have reported amazing success against brain cancers with cannabis oil. It is undeniable that this is working, at least in some cases. Given this reality, cannabis extracts should be made available to any brain cancer patient who desires it, and clinical testing should begin immediately to optimize cannabis treatment. 

Source: https://patientsoutoftime.org
            https://insysrx.gcs-web.com

‘Medical cannabis keeps my epileptic son alive’

When 12-year-old Billy Caldwell's medicinal cannabis was confiscated by British border forces last month, his life-threatening seizures returned almost immediately. His case sparked a fierce debate and access to his medicine hangs in the balance. In an exclusive interview, his mother, Charlotte, calls for urgent changes to UK drug laws...

Is Cbd a Promising Substance for New Drug Development? A Review of its Potential Therapeutic Applications.

The pharmacological importance of cannabidiol (CBD) has been in study for several years. CBD is the major nonpsychoactive constituent of plant Cannabis sativa and its administration is associated with reduced side effects.

Currently, CBD is undergoing a lot of research which suggests that it has no addictive effects, good safety profile and has exhibited powerful therapeutic potential in several vital areas.

"Study Reviews The Effects of Cannabinoids in Glioblastoma Therapy"

This review article summarizes the latest findings on the molecular effects of cannabinoids on GBM, both in vitro and in (pre-) clinical studies in animal models and patients.
These findings underline the importance of elucidating the full pharmacological effectiveness and the molecular mechanisms of the cannabinoid system in GBM pathophysiology.
The therapeutic effect of cannabinoids is based on reduction of tumor growth via inhibition of tumor proliferation and angiogenesis but also via induction of tumor cell death. Additionally, cannabinoids were shown to inhibit the invasiveness and the stem cell-like properties of GBM tumors.Recent phase II clinical trials indicated positive results regarding the survival of GBM patients upon cannabinoid treatment. 

What is Glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor and one of the deadliest types of solid cancer overall. GBM is an extremely aggressive type of cancer. These tumors are characterized by high cellular proliferation and angiogenesis resulting in rapid tumor growth and, consequently, necrosis. GBM cells also exhibit high migration and invasive properties, which allow them to produce metachronous lesions and even to spread through the brain parenchyma. Furthermore, GBM tumors contain a subpopulation of glioma stem-like cells (GSCs), which, at least partially, account for the high resistance to therapy and recurrence rates of these tumors.

"Can CBD Help You With Hangovers"?

Family gatherings, company work parties, and holiday celebrations with friends can lead to drinking more than you typically might…which can make you feel like death the following day... and if you don’t normally drink, even 2-3 drinks can make you feel like terrible the next day.  

Let’s not forget that alcohol is basically poison. Not to knock a fun night of drinking or getting your drink on during the holidays, but alcohol consumption can do some serious damage to the brain and body…especially if you’re a heavy drinker.

What Causes Hangovers?

Alcohol is literally poisonous to the human body. It's your liver's job to filter that poison out of your bloodstream. When your liver is working overtime to filter toxins it can cause your blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels making you feel sick and tired all over. On top of that, alcohol causes dehydration resulting in low electrolytes. Dehydration can cause severe headaches. 

"Clinical Study Assessing Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Supplementation In Recovery From Traumatic Brain Injury Begins"

The Flowering HOPE Foundation and Clover Leaf University have just announced sponsorship and collaboration on the first US clinical study to be approved to investigate plant-derived cannabinoid supplements in recovery from brain injury. 

The study will analyze quantitative EEG brain activity and a cannabinoid-sensitive salivary biomarker in 40 subjects with mild traumatic brain injury and controls who currently take hemp-derived botanical supplements on a regular basis (i.e. phytocannabinoids).The study is recruiting adults age 18 to 55 to participate in the year-long trial.

"Cannabis Can be Used As An Effective Alternative to Traditional Anti-Anxiety Medications"

"Researchers discovered that nearly half of patients discontinued their use of anti-anxiety meds after starting with medical cannabis"

Findings in a new study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research suggest that cannabis can be used as an effective alternative to traditional anti-anxiety medications.

A team of Canadian researchers assessed the relationship between cannabis and benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that work in the central nervous system and are primarily used for treating anxiety. Common benzodiazepines include Xanax, Ativan, and Valium.

"Neurological Aspects of Medical Use of Cannabidiol"

The aim of this review from NCBI was to describe the state of art about the pre-clinical research, the potential use and when existing, the clinical evidence related to CBD in the neurological field. 

It is important to notice that in this research, 6 Italian

university departments took part 

BACKGROUND:

Cannabidiol (CBD) is among the major secondary metabolites of Cannabis devoid of the delta-9-tetra-hydrocannabinol psychoactive effects. It is a resorcinol-based compound with a broad spectrum of potential therapeutic properties, including neuroprotective effects in numerous pathological conditions. CBD neuroprotection is due to its antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities and the modulation of a large number of brain biological targets (receptors, channels) involved in the development and maintenance of neurodegenerative diseases.