The number of exposures to Delta 8-THC increased by 79% from 2021 to 2022, with reports ‘significantly lower’ in states with access to legal cannabis.  Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the availability of synthetic cannabinoids with similar effects to the naturally-occurring Delta-9 THC.  [...]

A new peer-reviewed study is one of the first to examine medical cannabis use among those under the age of 21 in the United States.  The findings show that under-21 patients are accessing medicinal cannabis for most of the same reasons as adults – with almost [...]

A new study, based on the experiences of endometriosis patients in Europe, has found cannabis to have a significant impact on wellbeing and quality of life, leading to ‘substantial improvements’ in symptoms. Researchers surveyed over 900 patients based in Germany, Switzerland and Austria about their use [...]

Long-term treatment with THC has been found to have cognition enhancing and anti-ageing effects, according to new research.  Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn together with a team from Hebrew University (Israel) have demonstrated in animal studies that a low-dose, [...]

Last week, Ukraine’s law officially legalising medical cannabis came into effect, eight months after initially being passed. Despite the positive progress, the list of diseases for which it will be prescribed, currently being decided upon by the Ministry of Health, does not yet include Post-Traumatic Stress [...]

An incident on board a British Airways flight has sparked further calls for police and other organisations to be better informed of medical cannabis laws. The British Airways flight travelling from London City Airport to Amsterdam on 28 June, was grounded for hours by armed police [...]

A recent survey has found that over a third of patients with Parkinson’s disease are turning to natural remedies, including cannabis, coffee and turmeric, to help manage their symptoms.  The study, published in the Journal of Parkinson’s, also revealed that a large number of these patients [...]

Earlier this month, the Philippine House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bill that would legalise medical cannabis, marking a significant step forward for cannabis liberalisation in Southeast Asia. House Bill 10439, which was initially submitted in May, 2024, received its third and final [...]

A new study highlights how cannabis can be a helpful tool for reducing opioid use and providing ‘rapid relief’ from symptoms of withdrawal. The study, which received funding from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), comes following a surge in overdose mortality rates over the [...]

Written by Releaf To establish whether medical cannabis is the right option for you, you need to know whether it’s within your budget. Here, Releaf breaks down how much it all costs and the different plans available. Market research has shown that one of the most [...]

Blue Light Card holders, including emergency service workers and health and social care staff can now access medical cannabis at a reduced cost, following the expansion of a UK initiative. Medical cannabis distributor, Grow Pharma, has announced the expansion of its access scheme, the Grow Access [...]

As the UK medical cannabis industry reaches a ‘tipping point’, experts are urging clinics to follow best practice guidelines, as regulators look to crackdown on what has been described as a ‘pseudo-recreational market’.  Health and social care watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently reported a [...]

The independent drug policy foundation, Transform, is fundraising to launch a national campaign to accelerate cannabis reform in the UK. The charity is hoping to raise £50,000 to support its work in bringing “responsible cannabis regulation” to the UK. Polls show that more than half of [...]

Written by Releaf With medical cannabis showing promise among elderly patients, UK cannabis clinic, Releaf, examines its efficacy, safety profile, and other things to consider when exploring this treatment option for yourself or a loved one. Since medical cannabis was legalised in the UK almost six [...]

Germany’s Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has proposed significant changes to the medical cannabis prescription process, set to have a major impact on the country’s already booming market. Germany’s private or ‘self funded’ medical cannabis market has exploded since the introduction of CanG on April 01, which [...]

Minor cannabinoids CBG, CBC, CBN, and CBDV have shown promise as anti-cancer agents in the treatment of blood cancer. Cannabinoids are now widely prescribed to palliative cancer patients to help manage symptoms, as well as the side-effects of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy.  They have also [...]

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued its first positive safety assessment for a consortium application in its CBD Novel Foods approval process, seeing the European Industrial Hemp Association’s (EIHA) RP427 application progress to the ‘risk management’ phase. Coming just months after the first two [...]

In one of the first human trials investigating CBG, the cannabinoid has shown promise in reducing anxiety and enhancing memory, without any negative side-effects. Alongside CBD and THC, cannabigerol (CBG) is thought to have its own therapeutic effects, including potential anti-anxiety and antidepressant benefits, although the [...]

The Czech government looks to be pursuing a full commercial adult-use cannabis market as part of its ‘Cannabis Management Act’, according to leaked documents seen by Business of Cannabis.  It came just days after the architect and driving force behind the cannabis legalisation project, National Drug Coordinator [...]

Six months on from the opening of Europe’s first legal cannabis stores in Switzerland, experts are reporting trends towards regulated sales and ‘lower-risk’ consumption methods, such as edibles and extracts. The first data collected from the Grashaus Project in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, which launched at [...]

Three years ago the toppling of a conservative Government in Germany led to a seminal moment for European cannabis – but there appears to be little chance of a repeat in the continent’s second most populous nation. The UK General Election has seen the Labour Party [...]

While CBD is generally considered to be safe, new animal studies have shown alterations in brains and behaviour in offspring exposed to the cannabinoid during pregnancy. The International Cannabis Policy Study recently reported that one in five pregnant women may be using CBD products, believing that [...]

Experts examine how Medical Cannabis may have the potential to improve the quality of life for individuals with Muscular Dystrophy. The article is an excerpt from Cannabiscientia’s handbook, Principles of Clinical Cannabinology, by Viola Brugnatelli and Fabio Turco. Muscular dystrophy (MD) brings a unique set of [...]

As legal cannabis becomes increasingly available across Europe, the first commercial brainwave analysis device is expected to advance understanding of its effects. Canadian AI neurotechnology company, Zentrela, announced the launch of its brainwave analysis device on the European market at the end of June. The Cognalyzer® [...]

UK life sciences company, Ananda Developments, has announced that its CBD-based drug demonstrated “cardioprotective effects” in a pre-clinical study and may hold promise as a potential treatment for heart failure.  The company recently shared results from preclinical studies investigating the efficacy of its Patent Pending formulation, [...]

Cannaray Limited, its medical cannabis subsidiary Therismos, and Canadian ‘aquaponics’ cannabis cultivator Aqualitas are set to merge to create a new international vertically integrated cannabis company. Officially launching at Cannabis Europa this week, the newly combined entity, which reportedly saw combined sales of £40m last year, [...]

A new study suggests that adults aged 65 and older experience “considerable improvements” in their health and wellbeing when prescribed cannabis-based medicines. The use of medical cannabis is said to be on the rise among older individuals, yet little research has been done to understand the [...]

A pilot scheme introducing the legal sale and production of cannabis in the Netherlands is due to be expanded to eight more cities across the country. In December 2023, the Dutch government embarked on a pilot scheme to regulate the production of cannabis to supply the country’s  ‘coffeeshops’. [...]

A new research paper has highlighted how many people are still accessing cannabis illegally for medicinal purposes in the UK, over five years on from the law change. Despite medical cannabis being legalised in the UK in 2018, previous reports indicate that a large number of [...]

Script Assist has announced that its medical cannabis technology platform, which aims to enable an efficient medical cannabis journey for clinics, doctors and patients, will be available on a software as a service (SaaS) basis for the first time. With its platform now expanding from a [...]

Lyphe is proud to announce the launch of its new low-cost medical cannabis line, Noidecs Vital, designed to address affordability issues for medical patients. Recognising the financial barriers many patients face in accessing cannabis treatments, the Noidecs Vital line will provide a cost-effective option that does [...]

One in six patients in primary care reported cannabis use, with most using it to manage a symptom or health condition, according to new research. The findings, to be published in JAMA Network Open, by researchers at UCLA, suggest that most patients reported using cannabis for symptom [...]

The first patient to receive medical cannabis flower through the NHS has shared how it helped him manage debilitating side-effects of cancer treatment.  In April 2023, Mike Roberts secured the first NHS reimbursement for medical cannabis flower prescribed through a private clinic to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea [...]

A new study using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health on men in the US has found a possible association between cannabis use and rates of prostate cancer.  Researchers behind the study, published in the journal Biomedicines, observed that individuals who were [...]

A new study has found that cannabis terpenes were as effective as morphine at reducing chronic neuropathic pain, and a combination of the two analgesics enhanced pain relief without negative side effects. Some prior studies have shown that the Cannabis sativa plant and its two primary cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol, [...]

A new study offers some of the first insights into the prevalence of CBD use among adolescents. Since cannabidiol (CBD), the non-intoxicating component of cannabis, was legalised in the United States by the 2018 Farm Bill, products containing the compound have flooded the consumer health sector. [...]

Next month, Slovenian citizens will vote on two referendum measures aimed at changing national cannabis policies. The referendum questions, approved by the Slovenian National Assembly in April, represent potential steps towards comprehensive cannabis reform.  Although neither measure is legally binding, their approval could significantly influence future [...]

As the first EU country to legalise adult-use cannabis, Malta is looked on as a frontrunner of European reform, but consumers are still being prosecuted for importing CBD flower due to a legal “grey area”. In February 2022, a Maltese doctor was arrested for drug trafficking. [...]

The results of a newly-published survey show that more than one in five police officers in the UK think medical cannabis is still illegal— and most have received ‘inadequate’ training.  Despite medical cannabis being legalised on prescription in the UK in November 2018, the survey highlights [...]

A daily dose of THC was associated with increased survival time in palliative care cancer patients, according to the results of a recent study. Researchers investigating the effects of THC in advanced cancer patients say it could be associated with not only increased survival time, but [...]

Avata Biosciences is developing solid dose cannabinoid medicines for epilepsy and other neurological disorders, with a number of former GW Pharmaceutical bosses on board.  The clinical stage biopharma company, formerly known as Sapient Therapeutics, announced its new name, meaning ‘to unlock’, in a press release on [...]

Sponsored  The international Cannabis scene dazzles aficionados with its variety of UK cannabis strains. Connoisseurs remain on a quest, aiming to discover cannabis strains that offer a transcendent experience. These strains are not just a manifestation of superior horticultural achievements. They also symbolise the peak of [...]

The latest UK research points to the potential benefits of medical cannabis in the long-term conditions osteoarthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS). New findings using data collected through the UK Medical Cannabis Patient Registry support the use of medical cannabis in the treatment of osteoarthritis, as well [...]