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Published in Neurology Journal Scan / Research · June 29, 2024 Epilepsia
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- Cannabidiol-enriched oil (CBDO) can reduce the risk of seizures in some patients with drug-resistant epilepsy but may worsen seizure control in others. In this study involving 19 patients treated with ≈260-mg CBDO and ≈12-mg THC daily, pre- and post-treatment evaluations for seizures, gait, cognition, mood, sleep, and electrophysiological changes were performed. Overall, 43.75% of the patients responded to CBDO, with an average reduction of 82.4% in seizure frequency, and 56.25% noted an average seizure frequency increase of 30.1%. Response to CBDO was associated with no clear baseline clinical or electrophysiological characteristics. Responders showed improved dual-task walking and MoCA scores.
- Multiple forms of cannabidiol are available, and questions about their use are common in epilepsy practice. This small trial provides some insights into CBDO use, suggesting that it could improve seizures but also has the potential of worsening the seizure control. Based on these initial data and lack of other evidence regarding CBDO use in patients with epilepsy, probably avoiding CBDO use may be the best approach till more controlled trials are available.
Commentary: Of course, this above recorded experimenting with this revisiting of non-trialled self-medicating ‘Charlotte’s Web’ tinctures in a non-pharmaceutical configuration is not necessary as GW Pharma (now JAZZ Pharmaceutical) conducted the thorough and exhaustive clinical trials, manufactured and had registered their product for a genre of non-cannabis drug resistance epilepsy labelled Epidiolex ® In this context, these new ‘trials’ are not only redundant, but a little concerning if best-practice pharmaceutical health is still valued.
(For complete research - Source: Practice Update)
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A Guide for Employers – Marijuana in the Workplace (DFAF) PDF filesize 3mb)
Marijuana & The Workplace Webinar – NDASA
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Intoxication due to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is characterized by disrupted prefrontal cortex activity
Conclusions: In summary, we used portable fNIRS to demonstrate that acute THC intoxication causes significant changes in brain activity within the prefrontal cortex that include (a) reduced correlations and anticorrelations at rest that correlated with severity of intoxication, indicating reduced top-down attention control and engagement of compensatory mechanisms, (b) more variability in dRSFC over time, that may contribute to a disruption of executive function by reducing the ability of cortical networks to efficiently adapt or reconfigure to salient stimuli, and (c) reduced spectral power, indicating THC disrupts the brain’s normal function in this area, as decreased power is generally associated with neural suppression or inhibition. These neurobiological correlates of THC intoxication severity were measurable using fNIRS and could potentially be incorporated into objective roadside impairment testing. Future study is warranted to investigate how these brain effects of acute THC intoxication relate to cognitive performance and operational impairment. (Source Neuropsychopharmacology (nature.com)
A new study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital reveals that the main psychoactive component in cannabis or marijuana disrupts the normal connections and activity of the brain's prefrontal cortex, a region that is crucial for decision-making and self-control.
THC was associated with decreased functional connectivity within the prefrontal cortex relative to placebo, with the weakest connections among those who reported greater severity of intoxication.
Also, THC was associated with increased variability (or reduced stability) of functional connectivity of the prefrontal cortex, which could indicate a reduced ability of the brain to efficiently adapt or reconfigure to changing stimuli. Finally, THC was associated with lower overall activity within the prefrontal cortex.
"We were able to measure these effects of THC intoxication using portable imaging, which could potentially be incorporated in impairment testing scenarios, for example at the roadside," (Source: Medical Xpress Neuroscience 5th June 2024thMedical Xpress Neuroscience 5th June 2024)
Also see
- McLean Hospital Study Finds Marijuana Use Impacts Driving Even When Sober
- 'Medicinal’ Cannabis & Driving – Is it an Issue? (DRR)
- Victorian government to trial the impacts of medicinal cannabis use on driving – Hmmm, but who is overseeing the trial, and what outcomes will emerge?
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The study’s findings shed light on the sex-specific impact of heavy cannabis use on mortality, particularly underscoring the elevated risk of CVD mortality for women engaged in intensive cannabis consumption. These revelations underscore the importance of further research endeavours aimed at unravelling the intricate interplay between cannabis use and mortality, with a specific focus on understanding the unique vulnerabilities faced by female cannabis users.
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Senate report rejects proposed laws to legalise recreational cannabis use in Australia June 3, 2024
Australia won’t see any cannabis cafes selling brownies anytime soon, despite agreement that the use of marijuana should be prioritised as a health issue.
A push to legalise the recreational use of cannabis on a national scale has been knocked back after experts expressed concerns it would lead to more use of the drug among young people.
A Senate committee rejected a bill introduced by Greens senator David Shoebridge on Friday, which calls to allow for cannabis possession for personal use in Australia, as well as the establishment of a national agency to regulate the growing of plants.
After receiving over 200 submissions the committee noted evidence from peak medical bodies including the Australian Medical Association (AMA) that warned wider access could exacerbate health risks, particularly for adolescents.
“Ultimately, the committee is concerned that the legalisation of cannabis for adult recreational use would create as many, if not more, problems than the bill is attempting to resolve,” the report said.
“While endeavouring to do so, the bill does not address several significant concerns, for example, ensuring that children and young people cannot access cannabis (particularly home-grow), managing risky cannabis use, and effective oversight of THC content.”
Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia, according to the latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey, with more than 2.5 million people having used it recently.
In 2019, about 11.7 per cent of people aged 14 years reported having had used the drug at least once it in the past 12 months. The figure was higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, at 16 per cent.
Under the Greens model, adults in Australia could legally grow six cannabis plants but it would remain a crime to sell the drug to anyone under the age of 18.
The bill also proposes the creation of licensed Amsterdam-style ‘cannabis cafes’ that sell marijuana products, such as edibles.
He said despite the committee’s findings the Greens plan to introduce the bill into parliament this year.
“The majority report in this inquiry reasonably fairly covers the evidence we had in the inquiry, although it does not detail the hundreds of individual submissions to the inquiry that, almost unanimously, asked us to vote this into law and to finally legalise cannabis,” he added.
Medical cannabis was legalised in Australia in 2016 and last year around 700,000 people reported having used cannabis for medical purposes.
(D.I. Comment - The Dalgarno Institute not only made a successful submission to this inquiry but presented evidence to it in February this year. As we expected from out previous sojourn into this space back in 2018, we saw the cliché, gratuitous, and often erroneous memes presented as ‘data’ by pro-cannabis punters. Sadly, this often was largely unchallenged in the hearings. Cleverly couched claims were often presented along with anecdotes of legal hardships for the hapless weed user, as to present them as victims, not villains in the illegal consumption of a psychotropic toxin. Concerningly, one such anecdote had a retired magistrate, academic and now pro-cannabis lobbyist, speak of the need to legalise and regulate because it will be safer. However, we want you to note the confession he makes, recorded in Hansard…
“…for example, about eating cannabis. I'm sure we have all had the experience of seeing friends and people that we know who have eaten cannabis and gotten really, really affected, way more than they wanted to be. There are safety measures that can be put in place to ensure that any use is safer use…”
This law official emeritus speaks blithely about illegal recreational cannabis use in his presence as if it were not only normal, but the majority of Australians are okay with this, all in an attempt to garner support for this society unravelling addition. Such is the manifestation of the new #ReeferMadness.
This should give you a hint as to who is attempting to control drug policy interpretation and implementation.
However, the review of such claims, along with the evidence of inevitable harms saw sanity prevail, again.
This will not stop some State actors, like the ACT continuing their experimental march to ‘cannabis-ify’ their jurisdictions – health, safety and well-being of our families and communities be damned.)