Dutch officials have announced that the country’s cannabis legalisation experiment will begin its pilot phase before the end of the year. Initially approved by the senate in 2019, the Wietexperiment [Weed Experiment] will see a select number of cultivators permitted to supply legal cannabis to coffee [...]

New findings related to how the body’s endocannabinoid system responds to stress could open a new avenue of drug development to treat psychiatric disorders, say researchers.  Scientists believe that when an individual is under stress the brain may release its own cannabinoid molecules to calm them [...]

UK medical cannabis company, Lyphe Group, has announced a new partnership to enhance how patients receive their cannabis prescriptions.  In what is thought to be an industry first, Lyphe Group’s dispensing pharmacy, Dispensary Green, has partnered with Boveda Inc, a global leader in two-way humidity control, [...]

Approaching five years since medical cannabis was legalised in the UK, a new BBC documentary accuses the government of misleading the public over its availability on the NHS.  On 1 November, 2023 medical cannabis will have been legally available on prescription in the UK for five [...]

Researchers have received a $3.69 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to study how genetic differences influence behavioural and physiological responses to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Increased legalisation of medical and/or recreational cannabis and more favourable public perspectives has led to an increase in [...]

Researchers behind a new study say medicinal cannabis is not only effective and fast-acting in the treatment of neuropathic pain, but also has fewer side-effects than conventional medicines.  A retrospective study, conducted by scientists from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE Hamburg) in Germany in cooperation [...]

After years of pain medication and antidepressants, Kerry Davies came off all her NHS prescription drugs when she started consuming cannabis medicinally. Here, she shares her journey so far. Kerry Davies battles daily with the symptoms of fibromyalgia and PTSD, as well as her history of [...]

Researchers in Germany have shed new light on how cannabinoids could potentially reduce inflammation in the body, with CBD found to be particularly effective. Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena in Germany, have been investigating how certain compounds found in the cannabis plant work to counteract inflammation in the body.  [...]

We bring you the news you might have missed from the week just gone. The top lines: Health officials in the US have recommended that cannabis be rescheduled to a ‘lower risk’ drug, while the UK Home Affairs Committee called for wider access to cannabis on [...]

Via Business of Cannabis  As Switzerland sees the launch of its second cannabis pilot, Cannavigia co-founder Philipp Hagenbach, shares his insights on the country’s approach to reform. Recent weeks have seen the launch of ZüriCan, Switzerland’s second cannabis pilot set to give over 2,000 Zurich inhabitants [...]

Employers may be breaching the Equality Act over their approach to prescription cannabis patients in the workplace, according to a new report. What are your rights as an employer and an employee? Published by the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC), ‘The Use of Prescription Cannabis at Work’, [...]

Australian patients with chronic health issues showed significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue in the first three months of treatment with medical cannabis, a new study has found. The paper, published in the journal PLOS ONE, also noted that participants reported improvements [...]

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects 10% of all women between the ages of 12 and 80 years old and for which there is an urgent need for new treatment options. Here, experts at SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals explore how cannabis could be part of the [...]

With cannabis use reaching its highest recorded levels among older adults in the US, this generation may finally be recognising its potential enhancing health and wellbeing. Insights from a recent federally-funded survey in the US suggest that cannabis use has risen significantly in the last decade, [...]

The role of cannabis-based medicines in treating the symptoms of Long Covid warrants further investigation, according to a new review. UK researchers say existing evidence supports the use of cannabis as a potential treatment for Long Covid, including for symptoms of sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain and [...]

In its latest report on drugs, the UK Home Affairs Committee recommends that the government widens access to cannabis medicines on the NHS, but cites ‘concerns’ over non-medical use.  The new report, published by the Home Affairs Committee on Thursday 31 August, sets out a number [...]

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has recommended that cannabis be classed as a lower risk drug. Here’s what this means for research, industry and consumers. A leaked letter, seen by Bloomberg News and dated Tuesday 29 August, reveals that the HHS has [...]

Cannabinoids may be beneficial for managing symptoms in children with cancer, a new review finds, but more extensive research is needed.  A recent analysis of existing research suggests that while cannabinoids are increasingly being used to manage symptoms in childhood cancer, there is a lack of [...]

Representatives of the UK CBD industry are urging the Home Office to protect the sector, and reassure millions of consumers, with greater clarity and stricter regulation. A new campaign, led by the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI), is calling on the Home Office to implement [...]

In a new study, cannabis was not associated with increased rates of psychosis or other adverse health outcomes among adolescents classed as ‘high risk’ for the disorder. Researchers at Hofstra University in New York and Stanford University in California, assessed the relationship between cannabis use and [...]

We bring you the news you might have missed from the week just gone. The top lines this week: The Swiss city of Zürich launches its adult-use cannabis pilot, Israel’s major reforms aim to make medical cannabis a ‘first line treatment’, and a global study will [...]

Via Business of Cannabis  Israel could soon see a dramatic increase in the number of medical cannabis patients as the government publishes proposals for sweeping reforms aimed at streamlining access. On Monday 7 August, The Health Ministry published its highly anticipated proposals for medical cannabis reform in [...]

A new study highlights the myriad of benefits medical cannabis can have on patients’ quality of life, from reducing symptoms to boosting energy levels and job performance.  Researchers in Greece studied a group of patients receiving medical cannabis treatment to try to understand how it impacted [...]

After the US, the UK saw the second highest number of clinical trials carried out on cannabinoids in the last decade, according to a new report.  The upcoming report, due to be published this month by Prohibition Partners and Cannabiscientia, explores the progression of cannabis research [...]

Researchers in Australia will explore whether treatment with medicinal cannabis can ease the economic impact of chronic health conditions. Australians living with one of 200 chronic conditions may now be eligible to participate in what is expected to become the world’s largest study into the impact [...]

We bring you the news you might have missed from the week just gone. The top lines this week: The German Cabinet approved a bill to implement the first phase of adult-use cannabis legalisation, while Malta moves to issue its first cannabis association licences. In the [...]

A new study has found that states which have legalised medical cannabis have seen a drop in the average cost of individual healthcare premiums. Researchers from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and Illinois State University looked at the impact of state-specific medical cannabis legalisation laws [...]

Via Business of Cannabis The head of Malta’s cannabis regulatory body has confirmed reports that the country’s first two cannabis associations have been granted licences, ‘in-principle’. Two years after Malta first moved to allow the consumption and cultivation of cannabis for adult-use, the Authority for the Responsible [...]

NHS Scotland is funding a six-figure clinical trial to explore the effects of CBD on pelvic pain related to endometriosis.  The Chief Scientist Office, part of the Scottish Government Health Directorate responsible for funding research in NHS Scotland, will provide £300,000 for the trial, Ananda Developments, [...]

A new study by researchers in the US is the first to shed light on how HHC binds to receptors in the body – and proposes a safer, more consistent way to produce them. The new paper takes a closer look at hexahydrocannabinol, or HHC, an [...]

New research suggests a growing awareness and interest in medical cannabis as an alternative to opioid medications among GPs practising in the UK. Almost two-fifths (37%) of GPs believe that medical cannabis has the potential to reduce patient dependency on other medications and improve quality of [...]

As CBD becomes increasingly popular among athletes, Scott Mazza, COO and co-founder of Vitality CBD, shares some tips for using it safely in sport. CBD is taking the fitness world by storm. With evidence showing the compound helps to reduce inflammation, improve recovery and promote focus [...]

Ahead of National CBD day on Saturday 8 August, we explore some of the key differences between CBD wellness products and prescribed medical cannabis. While legalisation of recreational cannabis is far off in this country, medical cannabis has been legal since 2018 – yet over half [...]

Althea’s cannabis-based oil has been given the green light from Ireland’s regulators to be prescribed free of charge through the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP).  The global manufacturer of cannabis-based medicines has successfully secured approval from The Republic of Ireland’s Primary Care Reimbursement Service for its [...]

Via Business of Cannabis  A ‘landmark’ Court of Appeal ruling in the UK has set a new legal precedent for businesses in the UK importing and selling CBD or low-THC hemp flower. Crucially, the Court of Appeal has made it clear that it does not consider hemp flower [...]

Researchers have found little evidence of a link between high potency cannabis and an increased risk of psychosis and other mental health symptoms. A team of researchers at the University of Bath have explored the association between cannabis potency and the likelihood of developing cannabis dependence [...]

In a new study of the CBD content in products on sale in the UK, the majority were found to contain significantly lower concentrations than what was advertised. Researchers analysed the actual concentrations of CBD in a sample of products on sale in the UK and [...]

We’ve rounded up some of the most recent research in the field of cannabis medicine, including its potential therapeutic effects in a number of debilitating chronic conditions. While more studies are needed, new findings indicate potential for cannabis as a tool to manage symptoms of amyotrophic [...]

A clinical trial investigating the efficacy of cannabis-based medicines in up to 5,000 patients with chronic pain has been given the green light from UK regulators. Celadon Pharmaceuticals, a licensed producer of cannabis-based medicines in the UK and is private pain clinic, LVL Health, have received [...]