Medicinal Cannabis

Significant changes have taken place in the policy landscape surrounding cannabis legalization, production, and use. During the past 20 years, 25 states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis and/or cannabidiol (a component of cannabis) for medical conditions or retail sales at the state level and 4 states have legalized both the medical and recreational use of cannabis. These landmark changes in policy have impacted cannabis use patterns and perceived levels of risk. However, despite this changing landscape, evidence regarding the short- and long-term health effects of cannabis use remains elusive. While a myriad of studies have examined cannabis use in all its various forms, often these research conclusions are not appropriately synthesized, translated for, or communicated to policy makers, health care providers, state health officials, or other stakeholders who have been charged with influencing and enacting policies, procedures, and laws related to cannabis use. Unlike other controlled substances such as alcohol or tobacco, no accepted standards for safe use or appropriate dose are available to help guide individuals as they make choices regarding the issues of if, when, where, and how to use cannabis safely and, in regard to therapeutic uses, effectively. Shifting public sentiment, conflicting and impeded scientific research, and legislative battles have fueled the debate about what, if any, harms or benefits can be attributed to the use of cannabis or its derivatives, and this lack of aggregated knowledge has broad public health implications. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids provides a comprehensive review of scientific evidence related to the health effects and potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis. This report provides a research agendaâ€"outlining gaps in current knowledge and opportunities for providing additional insight into these issuesâ€"that summarizes and prioritizes pressing research needs.

At the last Annual Representative Meeting of the British Medical Association a motion was passed that `certain additional cannabinoids should be legalized for wider medicinal use.'' This report supports this landmark statement by reviewing the scientific evidence for the therapeutic use of cannabinoids and sets the agenda for change. It will be welcomed by those who believe that cannabinoids can be used in medical treatment. The report discusses in a clear and readable form the use and adverse effects of the drug for nausea, multiple sclerosis, pain, epilepsy, glaucoma, and asthma.

Some people suffer from chronic, debilitating disorders for which no conventional treatment brings relief. Can marijuana ease their symptoms? Would it be breaking the law to turn to marijuana as a medication? There are few sources of objective, scientifically sound advice for people in this situation. Most books about marijuana and medicine attempt to promote the views of advocates or opponents. To fill the gap between these extremes, authors Alison Mack and Janet Joy have extracted critical findings from a recent Institute of Medicine study on this important issue, interpreting them for a general audience. Marijuana As Medicine? provides patientsâ€"as well as the people who care for themâ€"with a foundation for making decisions about their own health care. This empowering volume examines several key points, including: Whether marijuana can relieve a variety of symptoms, including pain, muscle spasticity, nausea, and appetite loss. The dangers of smoking marijuana, as well as the effects of its active chemical components on the immune system and on psychological health. The potential use of marijuana-based medications on symptoms of AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and several other specific disorders, in comparison with existing treatments. Marijuana As Medicine? introduces readers to the active compounds in marijuana. These include the principal ingredient in Marinol, a legal medication. The authors also discuss the prospects for developing other drugs derived from marijuana's active ingredients. In addition to providing an up-to-date review of the science behind the medical marijuana debate, Mack and Joy also answer common questions about the legal status of marijuana, explaining the conflict between state and federal law regarding its medical use. Intended primarily as an aid to patients and caregivers, this book objectively presents critical information so that it can be used to make responsible health care decisions. Marijuana As Medicine? will also be a valuable resource for policymakers, health care providers, patient counselors, medical faculty and studentsâ€"in short, anyone who wants to learn more about this important issue.

This book functions as a clinician’s guide to the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in the treatment of mental health conditions. It conveys the scientific evidence of efficacy of CBD as well as THC and addresses the social stigma attached to its medical use. The book describes the endocannabinoid system, how stress and the endocannabinoid system interact and key constituents, pharmacokinetics and safety aspects of medicinal cannabis, focusing on CBD and THC. Chapters on specific mental health conditions describe the underpinning pathomechanisms including how the endocannabinoid system is involved, and summarises the scientific evidence including animal and human research for the use of CBD and THC in treatment of such conditions. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, Alzheimer's Disease and autism spectrum disorder. Chapters also discuss treatment guidelines and case studies. Unique and focused, Medicinal Cannabis and CBD in Mental Healthcare is an invaluable reference for medical practitioners seeking to adopt CBD-use in their treatment plans.

This book provides instruction for health professionals wanting to gain knowledge about the clinical aspects of cannabis medicine. How to use cannabis with real patients, not just theoretically, its pitfalls and challenges, as well as rewards, is a vastly under-covered topic. Now that some form of medical cannabis is approved in almost all US states, health care providers and patients Need to Know how to achieve maximum benefits by best use of this versatile herbal medicine. Medicinal Cannabis: Pearls for Clinical Practice introduces the scientific background of how cannabis acts medicinally, its components and how cannabis affects a specific condition. Key Features: Provides instruction for health professionals wanting to understand the clinical practice of cannabis medicine Reviews the chemistry, physiology and mechanisms of action of cannabinoids, endocannabinoids and cannabis with a focus on clinical relevance Presents information on practice management of specific patient populations, including pediatric, youth, adult, elderly and pets Features over 150 case reports with learning "Pearls" from the author’s clinical practice for 35 medical conditions Discusses specifics of dosing and delivery of cannabis in detail, with strategies to promote the benefit/risk ratio About the Author Deborah Malka, MD, PhD, is a holistic physician with certification in Integrative Holistic Medicine. Prior to clinical practice, Dr. Malka completed her PhD in Human Genetics from Columbia University, and studied both natural and traditional medicine, with degrees from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the Santa Fe College of Natural Medicine. She has specialized in cannabis medicine for the past 15 years, treating over 30,000 patients.

The Medical Cannabis Guidebook is the most exhaustive guide to medicinal cannabis produced to date, with information regarding the types of illnesses and diseases that can be helped by cannabis, real case studies from medical users, grow information, legal advice and more. With many recipes for extracts, descriptions of administration techniques, and discussions of the therapeutic uses of cannabis throughout the ages, it serves as a handbook for cannabis use and also allows patients to make and grow their own medicine, dose correctly and educate themselves.

Unlock the healing power of cannabis medicine and discover the cutting-edge science behind its remarkable impact on human health. Millions of people around the world are healing illnesses with cannabis. Nonetheless, many physicians remain reluctant to discuss cannabis medicine with their patients. And with so much conflicting misinformation from unreliable sources, finding out if cannabis could be an effective treatment for you or a loved one can feel nearly impossible. This book is the comprehensive resource for people who have not found relief from conventional medicines. Bonni Goldstein, MD, has helped thousands of patients suffering from chronic, difficult-to-treat conditions improve with cannabis. In this revelatory book, she explains the current state of scientific research on how cannabis interacts with human physiology to create homeostasis -- balance -- leading to good health. Many of the plant's compounds, including CBD and CBG, and their therapeutic effects are explained in detail. Readers will learn how to best navigate the multitude of available cannabis-based products, with detailed guidance on safety and usage, and how to customize a personalized cannabis regimen. And Dr. Goldstein presents 28 common conditions for which patients have found cannabis treatment to be effective, including cancer, insomnia and gastrointestinal disorders. As medical cannabis laws continue to evolve, it is more vital than ever for struggling patients to understand the benefits of this plant from an honest, medicine-based perspective. Educational, practical, and thorough, Cannabis Is Medicine empowers patients to make informed decisions about this natural medicine and improve the quality of their lives.

The essential book on CBD as medicine This practical, accessible guide to using CBD-dominant cannabis contains a wealth of information for both first-time explorers and experienced patients who want to know more about safely treating a number of health conditions with remarkable results and low to no psychoactivity or negative side effects. CBD (cannabidiol) is a component of cannabis that can provide relief for conditions such as seizures, pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, arthritis, and a number of other issues. This book offers guidance on various forms of the medicine such as oil infusions, alcohol-based tinctures, capsules, and CO2 concentrated extracts. The information is organized by health condition and also by recommended CBD-rich strains, which do not produce the "highs" associated with THC. With dosage suggestions, potential side effects and contraindications, and the pharmacology of the plant, this is an essential guide for both doctors and patients looking for a nontoxic alternative to opiate-based pain medications and other pharmaceuticals. While cannabis has been used for medicinal and recreational purposes for thousands of years, only in the last fifty years have scientists begun to shed light on the chemistry of the plant and its interactions with the human body. Research has led to the discovery of a whole new system in the body, the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in mediating functions such as appetite, immunity, mood, pain response, and memory. The authors present case studies, interviews with doctors who prescribe cannabidiol products, and the latest research regarding other active phytocannabinoids and terpenoids present in cannabis that are being studied for medical use. They also address the difference between CBD products derived from industrial hemp or in a lab, versus those made from medical marijuana using the whole plant. In addition to offering the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on CBD-dominant cannabis therapy for humans, this book is the first to offer guidance for using the medicine for animals, with suggestions for dosage and delivery and useful forms and strains for common health issues in pets. Finally, the authors take a look at the future of cannabis medicine, charting trends in the legalization movement and suggesting how CBD might be used to fight the opioid epidemic.