3. Cannabis in Health Care: Theory and Practice

The lecture is devoted to the history and discoveries of active compounds in the hemp and brain and to its worldwide medical use. Stressed are advantages and possible disadvantages of this medical plant.

Cannabidiol (CBD) holds a greater medical future than Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) although they work synergistically in being effective against many illnesses; CBD has a profound efficacy with only small amounts of THC needed.

The greatest difference between THC and CBD is that THC is psychoactive and can lead to a potentially unpleasant (non-fatal) overdose, whereas this effect does not occur with CBD. Cannabidiol has been shown clinically to be a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory and also brings about pain relief with a marked reduction in anxiety.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is normally recommended as a daytime medicine for mental clarity, focus and anxiolytic properties as well as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-convulsent (epilepsy) effects

Far from equilibrium thermodynamics provides a foundation for understanding life, evolution, and the unique role played by the endocannabinoid system in these processes. The metabolic underpinnings of life can be regulated by cannabinoids in order to promote health and longevity. They do so by regulating the negative effects of excess free radical production through their ability to control fat and carbohydrate metabolism. An increase in cannabinoid activity is necessary for the health modern man and human society. Marijuana has become an essential nutrient.

The use of medical marijuana to treat patients with treatment-resistant Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is supported by a number of sources, including research in lab animals, fMRI imaging in humans, and anecdotal reports from countless health practitioners and patients. Additionally, clinical research in Israel evaluating medical marijuana as treatment for PTSD has been promising. This study will test four strains of smoked marijuana, each containing different concentrations of active cannabinoids, in two three-week stages, as a pharmacological agent to manage PTSD symptoms among 80 American war veterans. This study is a collaboration between me and researchers from Johns Hopkins University, University of Colorado, and University of Pennsylvania. This will be the first randomized controlled crossover clinical trial in the United States testing the therapeutic potential of marijuana for PTSD. The primary measured outcome will be the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), alongside extensive secondary outcomes including sleep patterns, depression, withdrawal symptoms, metabolic and inflammation panels, and self-reporting by the patients.

Marijuana, botanically known as cannabis, has been around for thousands years. The medicinal and recreational uses of the cannabis have been known from the ancient times and marijuana was used as a legal form of the plant medicine till the1937-1941. Since that time, marijuana was included to the upper part (Schedule 1) of the list of controlled substances and its circulation (in any form) was announced as illegal and prohibited.

During the last decade some European (Holland, Spain, Germany, Austria), American (Canada, several States in the USA) and other countries (Israel), agreed to re-acknowledge the positive properties of marijuana and decriminalized it’s usage for some certain medical conditions/indications. Nevertheless, the wide (and growing!) spreading of cannabis consumption among the population, mostly for recreational purposes, enhances the demand for better definition between medicinal and other usage of various forms of cannabis. The international clinical and regulatory experience, accumulated in the countries, already established the Medical Cannabis/Marihuana Programs, should be carefully and systematically studied and critically assessed, in order to elaborate the better (in the means of the Quality Control and Accessibility) model(s) for the reducing of public stigma, proper education of the health care professionals and to promoting medicinal uses of the cannabis.

Based on my large clinical experience in this field, I will review (in short) the current Medical Cannabis/Marihuana Programs and will provide some suggestions and practical tips on wise (careful and safe) usage the Cannabis as a valuable Medical substance, especially for the patients with the various neuropsychiatric disorders.

The workshop will focus on functioning and importance of cannabinoids.

Over the past years the scientific, political and public knowledge have changed quite significantly and recent debates about the classification of certain drugs, especially cannabis, have led to questions about the clarity, reliability and ethics of the current system and whether it remains fit for purpose. The scientific evidence and consensus are growing that the current classification of cannabis in the UN system represents a historical anomaly and should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity. It has been argued that cannabis lacks the high abuse potential required for inclusion among the most dangerous drugs. Also, the discovery of the cannabinoid receptor system in the late 1980s revolutionized scientific understanding of cannabis’ effects and provided further evidence that it has potential beneficial medical effects.

The 2016 UNGASS on drugs provides an opportunity to re-examine these issues. We hope this re-examination will consider the scientific findings regarding cannabis’s safety and efficacy in some medical conditions as well as evidence on the possible health risks associated with cannabis consumption, particularly in its smoked form. The UN should guide national drug control and classification systems to be predominantly science, ethics and human rights informed, including all psychoactive plants and substances (whether licit or illicit), otherwise the credibility of such approaches will be undermined.

At the workshop we will learn about:

• existing/current state of both anecdotal & observation data
• the design of the first ever triple blind randomized controlled trial evaluating use of Marijuana for military-related PTSD.
• about regulatory obstacles to conducting this scientific study and developing medical marijuana
• hypothesized mechanisms of action for use of MMJ in treatment of military-related PTSD.

The workshop will provide insight to whom treatment with cannabis should be suggested and to whom, probably, not.

The workshop is meant for those who wish to learn about legislation on illicit drugs in the Republic of Slovenia. We will discuss the existing legislation, jurisprudence and methods of advocacy.

The workshop will focus on the process and importance of standardization and decarboxylation of cannabis for medical purposes.

The use of cannabis and its derivatives is widespread among the Slovene patients, especially among cancer and neurological patients. Due to the increasing number of reports on “miraculous” healings, we have decided to start monitoring patients who would like to share their experience with us; for the sake of credibility, we have decided to gather their medical records.

The lecture is a set of experiences based on interviews with patients and their testimonies. All this is supported by medical records.