Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at regulating synthetic THC, using cannabis to treat chronic pain, why cancer patients use cannabis and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“Referring to synthetic THC as a “hemp product” misleads consumers.
Unlike natural cannabinoids from marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids are manufactured through chemical processes that convert CBD molecules into a potpourri of chemicals, including several analogs of THC and a host of synthetic byproducts, many of which have never been tested, studied, or consumed until recently.
This distinction matters because calling these products “hemp products” misleads consumers and policymakers into believing they are natural, safe and similar to marijuana products—not something closer to, say, an unregulated designer drug.
Regulation that prioritizes public health and safety over pure profit is indeed the answer, but we should be honest about what delta-8, HHC, THC-O, THC-P and others are: synthetics that should be treated and regulated as such. They shouldn’t be marketed as harmless, healthy or lighter versions of cannabis.”—Michael Bronstein.
Mr. Bronstein is the co-founder and president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp (ATACH), a leading United States 501(c)(6) cannabis industry trade organization that promotes the expansion and protection of legal sales of cannabis and hemp for industrial, medical, and adult use.
His comment is taken from an op-ed he penned for Marijuana Moment. In it he also emphasizes that, “Consumers and patients have the right to know what they’re putting into their bodies.” He contends that not enough is known about how to make synthetic THC drugs from CBD safely and makes the point that there are no health and safety standards that exist for these processes.
Bronstein also takes the position that “the ability to sell marijuana is predicated on public trust,” and that misleading marketing, which frames synthetic THC as a “hemp product,” tricks buyers into thinking they are purchasing something natural and safe—some of whom don’t even know these products are intoxicating—or that they could fail a drug test from ingesting.
He closes his article by stating the government should “do the obvious thing and legalize natural marijuana, which will better protect the public. It’s what consumers actually want in the first place.”
If you care to learn more we urge you to read the op-ed written by Michael Bronstein in the October 27, 2024 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Cannabis Corner
There is hopeful news for older individuals who suffer from chronic pain and mental health issues. A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia has found what’s described as an “association” between cannabis use and symptom improvement.
That’s the word from Ben Adlin, reporting for Marijuana Moment. According to Adlin, the study—which appeared in The Journal of Pain and Palliative Care—evaluated the effects of medical marijuana on 96 patients over the course of the yearlong observational project. Researchers took measurements of pain, depression, anxiety and sleep problems at three, six and 12 months.
Said the authors in the article, “We found that the use of medical cannabis was associated with reduced pain during the first 6 months and improved mental well-being over 12 months. Patients reported not only less pain but also experienced reduced interference from pain in their daily functions. Furthermore, they reported decreased use of pain medications and a large proportion felt that their pain symptoms had significantly improved, as reflected in their reported changes in the severity of pain.”
Some participants did report that “by the end of 12-months, some of these benefits appeared to wane.” However, Adlin does note that the researchers found that even at the 12-month mark, beneficial effects were reported by most patients. More than 9 in 10 (91 percent) said their pain was at least “a little better,” while 3 in 4 said it was either “much better” or “very much better.”
The report also stated that in terms of mental health, participants overwhelmingly reported that cannabis reduced the severity of depression, anxiety and sleep issues at least to some degree, and majorities said even at the 12-month evaluation that marijuana made those symptoms “much better” or “very much better.”
In his article, Adlin makes the point that the greatest reduction in conventional pain medication resulting from the use of cannabis was seen at the midpoint in the study, with effects seeming to lessen in the latter half of the study. But even after 12 months, more than half (55 percent) of participants reported decreases in prescription pain medication use, while nearly half (45 percent) said they were taking less over-the-counter pain medication.
You can learn more by reading Ben Adlin’s reporting in the October 28, 2024 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Spotlight on Lower Back Pain
Cannabis-infused edible products, particularly those that are higher in THC content, can provide acute relief for patients with chronic lower back pain.
That’s the key takeaway from a study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder who assessed the effects of the ad libitum use (use without restriction) of three distinct types of edible products (THC-dominant products, CBD-dominant products, or products containing similar amounts of THC and CBD) in 249 subjects with low back pain.
In the study, participants consumed the products for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks researchers assessed changes in patients’ pain intensity and subjective mood.
The research team wrote in an article that appeared in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, “Pain intensity following edible cannabis use decreased over time across all three broadly defined product groups.” They also found that decreases in pain intensity were most pronounced in patients who consumed THC-dominant edibles. CBD-dominant products were “primarily associated with short-term tension relief” rather than significant reductions in acute pain.
The researchers also concluded that, “These findings support the short-term analgesic effects of THC and anxiolytic effects of CBD … [and] indicate that edible cannabis may be a safe and suitable alternative pain therapy for those looking to substitute more traditional pain medications.”
To learn more, we suggest reading an article prepared by the staff writers at NORML that appeared in the October 22, 2024 issue of Miami Cannabis News. More information on cannabis and chronic pain can also be found in NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.
https://communitynewspapers.com/featured/study-cannabis-edibles-reduce-chronic-lower-back-pain/
Cannabis and Cancer Patients
Increasingly, cancer patients are turning to cannabis to help them manage symptoms stemming from their condition and treatment. Some estimate that is the case with as many as 40 percent of patients.
That’s the key point made in an article posted by the writer 420 Bills on the site Cannabis.net.
Various studies indicate that using cannabis can be beneficial to individuals with cancer. According to the article, here are five reasons cancer patients give for using medical cannabis.
1. Pain Relief: Cancer-related pain can be severe and persistent. Studies have shown that cannabinoids can help alleviate this pain by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system.
2. Nausea and Vomiting: Chemotherapy often induces severe nausea and vomiting. Cannabis has been found to be effective in reducing these symptoms, providing patients with much-needed relief.
3. Appetite Stimulation: Many cancer patients experience loss of appetite due to their illness or treatment side effects. THC has been shown to stimulate appetite, helping patients maintain their nutritional intake.
4. Anxiety and Depression Relief: The psychological toll of a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Some studies suggest that cannabis may help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients.
5. Sleep Aid: Insomnia is common among cancer patients due to pain, anxiety, or other factors. Cannabis may assist in improving sleep quality.
To learn more, we suggest reading the article posted by 420 Bills (We assume that’s not his or her given name.) in the October 21, 2024 issue of Cannabis.net.
Cannabis and Consumer Safety
Some say that even in states where recreational cannabis is legal, the regulations governing its sale and use don’t always make sense, particularly from a consumer’s point of view.
For example, a product that has been popular with consumers who range from fitness buffs to office professionals—cannabis pills that contain caffeine—is no longer legal in New York.
So says Carl Campanile, reporting for the New York Post. According to Campanile, the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has issued a stop order to Hudson Cannabis, an upstate marijuana/hemp farmer and processor that provides the key ingredients for the related cannabis brand 1906. OCM claims that caffeine increases “potency, toxicity, or addictive potential or… create(s) an unsafe combination [with cannabinoids].”
The company sells two different “drops,” or pills, with low doses of THC and higher amounts of caffeine marketed as “Go” and “Genius” in small cylinder containers.
Go, which is marketed as an energy stimulant, contains 80 milligrams of caffeine and 2 mgs of THC-extract and 5 mgs of cannabidiol [CBD]/ extract and other plant-based or herbal ingredients. Touted as a “brain power” supplement to boost focus and memory and calmness, Genius pills contain 20 mgs of caffeine mixed with 2.5 mgs of THC and 5 mgs combined of CBD and Cannabigerol (CBG).
The reason for the “stop order” is that state regulations forbid infusing pure caffeine into cannabis products. Said Melany Dobson, co-founder of Hudson Cannabis, in a statement to The Post, “We are surprised by this decision from the State to quarantine products that have been on the market for over 18 months, are sold legally in States across the nation, and as far as we know have had zero reported adverse effects.”
A lawyer for 1906’s parent firm Nuka Enterprises, Matthew Schweber, said the “crazy” part about the ruling is that state regulators don’t explain why “naturally occurring caffeine” is OK but added caffeine is not. Schweber makes the point that by comparison, OCM permits the sale of Harney Brothers Cannabis-Infused Nitro Coffee, which contains 225 mg of caffeine per serving.
Campanile notes that the company marketing 1906, which has been sold in seven states including New York, is appealing the ruling banning the sale of $1 million of its inventory in New York.
Carl Campanile’s reporting is clear and concise. To learn more, we encourage you to read his article in the October 27, 2024 issue of the New York Post.
https://nypost.com/2024/10/27/us-news/ny-bans-sale-of-caffeine-infused-cannabis/
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-528-8753.
