Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at a major study on legalization and mental health, a proposal to have the DEA reschedule Cannabis, a decision by the FDA to develop new guidelines for using CBD as a dietary supplement and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Mental Health
Those who oppose the legalization of cannabis often promote the idea that legalization will lead to anarchy, rampant insanity, cats and dogs sleeping together, the advent of the metric system and the collapse of civilization as we know it. (cue the Garland Jeffreys song “Wild in the Streets.”)
Now, it appears at least one of those things is not true.
According to Anthony Martinelli, reporting for the online publication The Marijuana Herald, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry has found that “states with legalization policies experienced no statistically significant increase in rates of psychosis-related diagnoses.”
The study, conducted by researchers at Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) analyzed more than 63 million health insurance claims from 2003-2017. Commercial and Medicare Advantage claims data for beneficiaries aged 16 years and older in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia, 2003 to 2017 were used in the analysis. In particular, the researchers looked at rates of psychosis-related diagnoses and prescribed antipsychotics.
The study found that “states with legalization policies experienced no statistically significant increase in rates of psychosis-related diagnoses.”
To be fair, the study looked at broad trends in a large population, not at individual reactions to cannabis-based substances. So when someone tells a sad story about their cousin’s friend who smoked a joint and “never came back,” we are not denying that can happen, particularly if an individual is predisposed to having mental health problems.
As we have often said, despite its potential benefits, cannabis is not for everyone.
For example, Kyle Jaeger, who covered the story for Marijuana Moment, noted that a secondary evaluation of the data that relied on a “much smaller” sample did indicate an uptick in psychosis-related diagnoses among men, people aged 55 to 64 years, and Asian beneficiaries “in states with recreational policies compared with no policy.” The authors said that the secondary findings “are not easily explained and warrant further consideration.” While it may turn out to be a matter of a bigger ripple in a smaller pool, it still bears watching.
Jaeger noted that in a blog post, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano described the findings as “reassuring,” though he cautioned that it’s important to recognize that certain populations that are predisposed to psychosis may be more vulnerable than others to experiencing negative impacts from cannabis use.
We think it’s fair to say that a study of 63 million anything—dollars, doughnuts, prescriptions—constitutes a significant sample size. So a research study that examines 63 million health insurance claims is likely, we believe, to provide a valuable window into the kinds of medical problems individuals are experiencing and reporting to health care institutions —and hopefully, give an indication of whether or not legalization creates an environment in which certain psychological problems are more apt to occur.
So far, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Thanks to Dave Ruth for sending the story our way.
To learn more, we suggest reading Anthony Martinelli‘s article in the January 26, 2023 issue of the Marijuana Herald.com.
As always, Kyle Jaeger’s reporting on the story is stellar. You can read his article in the January 26, 2023 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Cannabis News and Notes
A Republican member of the House of Representatives has introduced legislation that would change the status of cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.
The proposal, by Representative Greg Steube (R-FL), is called the Marijuana 1-to-3 Act (See what they did there?). It directs the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to make the change. Steube’s office said the legislation—if passed—would allow “researchers to access federal funds to determine its [cannabis] medical value.”
According to TG Branfalt, who covered the story for Ganjapreneur, under federal law “a Schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; that has no currently accepted medical use; and that is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.”
On the other hand, a Schedule III controlled substance “is a drug, substance, or chemical that has less potential for abuse than a schedule I or II substance; that has a currently accepted medical use; and that has low or moderate risk of dependence if abused.”
While several steps short of legalization or decriminalization, changing the status of cannabis to a Schedule III drug would, by definition, put the Federal government in the position of acknowledging that cannabis has accepted medical uses and a low potential for abuse—a far cry from the days of “Reefer Madness” and the war on drugs.
From a practical standpoint, it could also plant the seed for a wave of new research proposals, which is always good news.
You can learn more by reading TG Branfalt’s article in the February 1, 2023 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
www.ganjapreneur.com/republican-rep-introduces-bill-to-reschedule-cannabis/?
To read the bill itself, simply click on the link that follows.
www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/365
Regulating CBD
For a while, CBD was like Zelig. It was everywhere and in everything that could be consumed, from muffins to smoothies, from lattes to latkes.
Then the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—the agency charged with regulating substances such as CBD—decided to put the brakes on that trend so it could decide if CBD should be considered a dietary supplement and if putting it in everything was actually beneficial, in the long term.
After much study, the FDA has decided to kick the well-known can down the road and ask Congress for guidance so it can develop “a new regulatory pathway for CBD” that balances individuals’ desire for access to CBD products with the regulatory oversight needed to manage risks.
The FDA believes such a regulatory pathway would benefit consumers by providing safeguards and oversight to manage and minimize risks related to CBD products. Some risk management tools could include clear labels, prevention of contaminants, CBD content limits, and measures, such as a minimum purchase age, to mitigate the risk of ingestion by children.
Said Janet Woodcock, M.D., Principal Deputy Commissioner, “The use of CBD raises various safety concerns, especially with long-term use. Studies have shown the potential for harm to the liver, interactions with certain medications and possible harm to the male reproductive system. CBD exposure is also concerning when it comes to certain vulnerable populations such as children and those who are pregnant.”
“For example,” said Woodcock, “We have not found adequate evidence to determine how much CBD can be consumed, and for how long, before causing harm. Therefore, we do not intend to pursue rulemaking allowing the use of CBD in dietary supplements or conventional foods.”
Bruce Barcott and David Downs, commenting on the decision for Leafly, believe the announcement and strategy are significant—in a good way. Said Barcott and Downs, “Today’s announcement marks a historic acknowledgment from a major federal government agency. Cannabidiol, like cannabis itself, is a substance that refuses to sit easily within the strict definitions and pathways created for most regulated substances. But instead of simply outlawing CBD, and creating a dangerous illicit market, FDA officials have acknowledged that existing regulatory structures need to be expanded in order to safeguard public health.”
They also noted, “The FDA has the power to halt all CBD sales nationwide. They chose not to do so. CBD sales and possession will remain legal, and FDA officials will work with Congress to create a new type of safety protocol for cannabidiol (CBD).”
If you want to learn more—much more—we urge you to read the article by Bruce Barcott and David Downs in the January 26,2023 issue of Leafly.com.
If you want to read the FDA’s statement on its decision, simply click on the link that follows.
CBD Spotlight
Nothing lasts forever and that includes CBD oil. That’s the word from Keegan Williams writing for the online publication Hi There.
Williams notes that CBD oil does not have an infinite shelf life. That’s because CBD oil usually contains coconut oil or palm oil that functions as what he calls a “carrier oil.” This is a medium that is infused with the CBD. Such an infusion will degrade over time and that means that the product you use for relief or as part of a wellness routine can eventually lose its effectiveness.
To be fair, we’re not talking about a matter of weeks. Typically, with proper storage palm oil should last at least 12 months without becoming rancid and coconut oil can last much longer without going bad.
However, the cannabinoids in CBD oil will degrade over time, which means the product you have come to rely on will lose its effectiveness.
To help, Williams offer these tips:
• CBD oil could be clear, white, dark brown or dark green. If your CBD oil looks thick and/or dark at room temperature, or if you’ve noticed any shift in its texture and color, that’s a sign that it’s probably “on its way out.” If your CBD oil smells skunky or unpleasant, that’s also an indication that it’s past its prime. In addition, Williams makes the point that expired or expiring CBD oil often acquires a bitter or less than palatable taste.
• Avoiding direct sunlight is key when storing CBD oil, so make sure you have your oil stored in a dark place, such as a cupboard or cabinet. Also, storing it in an environment or container that’s 60 to 70°F is recommended.
• You should also avoid storing your CBD oil near anything that generates heat, such as a heater, stove or oven.
• After each use, make sure your container is fully closed and airtight. This helps to preserve your oil for an extended period, since exposure to air can also degrade your CBD oil’s shelf life over time.
Williams also makes the point that if you’ve had CBD oil for longer than two years, it’s probably time to replace it.
To learn more, we suggest reading Keegan Williams article in the January 26, 2023 issue of HiThere.com.
highthere.com/learn/cbd/does-cbd-oil-expire-what-tips-to-extend-shelf-life
Cannabis and Driving
A state legislator in Ohio has decided to take on the thorny issue of what it takes to prove that a driver is impaired after consuming cannabis.
According to Haley BeMiller, writing for The Columbus Dispatch, State Senator Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, has sponsored a bill that would give drivers the chance to argue they were sober, even if they tested positive for marijuana and thus avoid a citation for Operating a Vehicle while Impaired (OVI).
In her article, BeMiller notes the legislation addresses what she calls “the complicated science of marijuana consumption and how long it stays in the body after any effects have subsided.”
Said Manning, “We really want to get a good law in place where people are being punished if they are impaired, but they’re not being unfairly punished just because they have a certain amount of the drug in their system.”
BeMiller makes the point that presently, in Ohio, officers can arrest drivers if they have probable cause that the person is impaired, a standard typically reached through roadside tests. That person then gets a blood or urine test for drugs and alcohol and if a driver has a certain level of the substance—such as THC— in their system, they’re automatically guilty.
Defense attorney Blaise Katter, who specializes in OVIs, told BeMiller urine drug tests can detect THC compounds that the body already metabolized, meaning the driver is no longer intoxicated or, presumably, impaired.
BeMiller says Manning’s bill would allow people to challenge the presumption that they were driving while impaired. A jury or judge would make the final call on an OVI conviction.
To learn more, we suggest reading the article by Haley BeMiller in the January 25, 2023 issue of the Columbus Dispach.com.
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.
