In Germany, the sales of medicinal cannabis was at a steady increase until it boomed in the second quarter of 2019. By comparison to the second quarter of 2018, 74% more medical cannabis was reimbursed by German insurers this year. In May, it had surpassed the 10 million euro mark ever since this framework was implemented in 2017, however it dropped to 9.5 million euro in June.

The types of medicinal cannabis that were sold

This data which is published by the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband) includes all medical cannabis sold until June 2019. These categories include cannabis preparations such as dronabinol, ground flower and full spectrum extracts, finished pharmaceutical products such as Sativex and Canemes, and unprocessed cannabis flower. The unprocessed flowers and flowers used in preparations represent 55% of the total reimbursed cannabis products during the second quarter. However, more flower was sold using private prescriptions which wasn’t applied to the data. Nevertheless, reimbursement among all categories of products grew.

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com

It was always suspected that CBD can reverse the psychiatric side effects of THC, however, researchers at Western University has proven this by showing the molecular mechanisms at work in the hippocampus. 

It wasn’t known why high levels of THC and low levels of CBD caused psychiatric effects such as paranoia, anxiety and even addictive behaviours.  At Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Professor Steven Laviolette and his team were able to identify which cannabidiol may actually block the psychoactive THC by using rats to investigate a molecule in the brain’s hippocampus which triggers the effects of THC, the extra cellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK).

CBD can block THC psychoactive effects

In their study, rats which were given more THC showed higher levels of activated ERK causing higher anxiety like behaviours.  When given only CBD, it had no effect in the ERK pathway. However, with CBD and THC combined it showed normal levels of active ERK, leading to lower anxiety levels.  According to this study, it provides strong evidence that CBD can block the THC’s psychoactive effects, by avoiding overstimulation in the ERK.

This finding shows great importance for prescribing medicinal cannabis by assuring effective and safe THC formulations

Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20190930

The association of cannabis with the reduction of developmental colorectal cancer

Case studies suggest that there is an anti-inflammatory agent in cannabis. 

One study found a link between cannabis use and a lower risk of colon cancer, anaemia and hospitalisation.

The nationwide inpatient sample data sets (2010-2014) were examined to identify adults with crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). 

Recent studies about Crohn’s disease and Cannabis

This is the result of a study conducted by Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, USA:

The study examined 6,002 patients  with CD (2,999 cannabis users & 3,003 non-users) and 1,481 patients with UC (742 cannabis users & 739 non-users). 

In patients with CD, the presence of colorectal cancer, the need for parenteral nutrition, and anemia were lower in cannabis users. 

However, active fistula disease or intra-abdominal abscess formation, non-specific bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract and hypovolemia were higher in recreational cannabis use. 

Additionally, the average hospital stay was shorter with lower hospital costs among cannabis users.

Source: Cannabis-med

Image: AGMG

According to a study published in 2017 by the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers have come to a conclusion that CBD can have a positive effect in patients with schizophrenia.

Studies about medical cannabis efficacy for Schizophrenia

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of CBD as an accompanying therapy for schizophrenia.  In a randomized (1:1 ratio) and double-blinded study, patients received either CBD (1000mg/day; N=43) or a placebo (N=45) as additional therapy to their existing antipsychotic medication for 6 weeks. Participants were assessed for effects of CBD before and after the treatment using the positive and negative Syndrom scale (PANSS), the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF), and the improvement and severity scales of the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI-I and CGI-S).According to the study, the CBD group, compared to the placebo group, showed improvements in cognitive performance, functional range, and overall clinical impression of the patient. 

These results suggest that CBD may be a possible alternative in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29241357

According to a study, patients repeatedly reported that cannabis is used as a substitute for prescription drugs, but little is known about people who legally purchase cannabis through the adult cannabis market. 

The study was conducted in 2016 in Colorado, United States, in which 1000 adults were interviewed about their use of (medical) cannabis, 65% of respondents reported that they used cannabis to relieve their pain and 74% said they used cannabis to promote sleep. All respondents who reported medical certification were excluded. 

Among those who took cannabis to sleep, 84% found it very helpful, and those who took over-the-counter medicines (87%) or prescription sleeping pills (83%) said they either reduced their use or stopped using them completely. 

This suggests that medical use of cannabis is common where cannabis is legally available and also reduces drug use. Laws for adult cannabis use could increase access to cannabis to treat illnesses.

Source:

https://www.cannabis-med.org/

The increased development of obesity and excess weight can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. Recent findings suggest that cannabis use has a protective effect on weight gain and associated metabolic changes in  patients with psychosis.

According to a three year longitudinal study published in 2019, cannabis use can have a protective effect against liver steatosis.

390 patients were examined at two points in time.  Firstly, at the start of the study, and secondly, after 3 years of initiating antipsychotic treatment. Anthropometric measurements and liver, lipid, and glycemic parameters were obtained at both points in time. Patients were treated at the Department of Psychiatry of the University Hospital de Valdecilla in Santander, Spain. 

During the second examination, cannabis users significantly had lower FLI (Fatty Liver Index) values than non-users.

In addition, cannabis users met the criteria for liver steatosis less frequently than non-users. Patients who consistently used cannabis after 3 years of use represented the smallest increase in FLI over time. 

Source:Cannabis-Med