Luxembourg will use cannabis coming from Canada

Photo: Michel Thiel

Cannabis for medical use has been made legal in Luxembourg.

The government unanimously passed the draft law to decriminalise the use of cannabis for patients suffering from diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis or neurodegenerative diseases.

Under the draft law, all general practitioners who have undertaken specific training will be able to prescribe the drug.

This came as a result of an opinion submitted by the Council of State which overturned the initial draft of the text allowing only specialised medical professionals such as oncologists or neurologists.

Luxembourg will use cannabis coming from Canada and will only be available on prescription from a hospital pharmacy. Within the European Union only Austria and Germany have a cannabis agency.

The draft law states the law will be reviewed in two years to look at the number of patients who have benefited from the new measures and to consider whether the list of diseases should be expanded.

During parliamentary discussions a number of MPs suggested additional diseases, including HIV, should be included.

Health minister Lydia Mutsch described the approval of the law as an "important step in the context of our efforts to reduce the pain and suffering of certain patients where standard treatment does not allow it".</s>While the original draft of the Luxembourg medical pot law allowed only specialists to prescribe treatment, the final version permits accredited general practitioners to offer patients cannabis for chronic pain.

"I am pleased that the House has agreed with the bill to legalize access to cannabis for medical purposes," Mutsch noted, according to the Luxembourg Times.

"The medical use of cannabis is an important step in our efforts to reduce the pain and suffering of some patients, where usual treatments do not allow it," she observed.

The pain-relief substance will be imported from Canada in the form of oils and capsules, and will be available only by prescription from pharmacies located within a hospital, cited by the Luxembourg Times.

As the new law will certify only four hospitals within the 98.6-square-mile nation to provide the treatment, some legislators have criticised the legislation for being too restrictive, pointing out that rural residents without access to delivery resources may have difficulty receiving the medicine.

The new rules are also noted as potentially benefiting only those patients in the later stages of a terminal illness, and does not provide for the many other kinds of relief that medical cannabis has been clinically shown to offer.

Physician and current member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies Dr. Jean Colombera, noted that he was given "the impression it will only be used for people whose illnesses are too advanced. […] For me it should be used well before they reach this stage," cited by Delano magazine.

"Cannabis medicines can be used to treat a far larger number of illnesses […] for example if you've problems sleeping or depression or pain," he added.

Other EU countries that have shifted to using medical cannabis include Portugal, which approved the substance this month; Greece, which did so in March, and Germany, which in early 2017 legalized pain-relief treatments using cannabis.</s>As well as the bunting, union flags and other wedding memorabilia which temporarily appeared on shop shelves for the recent royal wedding, the nephew of Meghan Markle announced his own tribute to the new royal bride.

Tyler Dooley, who grows cannabis in Oregon in America, revealed he had created his own potent hybrid of the drug named Markle’s Sparkle.

Whether his aunt, the new Duchess of Sussex, will ever sample his tribute is debatable, although at least one half of the newly-wed couple has experience of smoking the drug - Prince Harry was famously hauled off to a drugs rehabilitation centre by his irate father, after it was revealed the prince had smoked the cannabis when he was 16.

But then, his experience would not have been unusual.

According to Home Office statistics, more than one third of adults, 35%, have taken illegal drugs at some point in their lifetime, and cannabis is the most common, with 6.5% of adults having used it in the last year, around 2.1million people. The true figure may well be higher.

Coincidentally, just days before the royal union, members of the Royal College of Nursing voted overwhelmingly in favour of lobbying the UK Government to change the law around the drug.

They argue patients should be allowed to take the drug if it helps reduce pain or controls symptoms of conditions like epilepsy.

Knifeman was seen 'stabbing bushes' next to Burger King drive-thru

Theirs is one of a growing number of voices calling for the legal status of cannabis to be reconsidered, in addition to health experts, campaigners, academics, and even politicians.

And last week Canada’s parliament passed a law legalising the recreational use of marijuana (another name for cannabis) nationwide, the first of the G7 countries to do so, and the second in the world.

The move is the latest example of the increasing decriminalisation, legalisation and toleration of cannabis in countries across the world, as well as some states in America, such as Oregon, which has enabled Tyler Dooley to create his unique tribute to his now royal aunt.

Uruguay was the first country to fully legalise cannabis in 2013, and Germany, Italy and Australia have recently relaxed their laws, while other countries including Israel, Italy, Denmark and Finland allow it for medicinal use.

Even former Conservative party leader William Hague has added his voice to calls for the Government to reconsider the legal status of the drug, while Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said his party supported the legal sale of cannabis for recreational use.

The UK government, however, seems steadfast in its position.

Earlier this year, it slapped down an online petition for a referendum on cannabis, before it could even reach 15,000 signatures.

And a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said this week there were no plans to legalise or decriminalise the drug and underlined the “serious harm” medical studies had shown it caused.

But Home Secretary Sajid Javid has told MPs there will be a review of the medical use of cannabis in the UK.

His announcement followed the case of Charlotte Caldwell from Castlederg, County Tyrone, who had attempted to bring cannabis oil into the country which was confiscated at Heathrow Airport. It was later returned.

If there is to be a change in the law, it can’t come quick enough for Chris Reilly.

The service veteran from Loughor served for almost ten years in the RAF, including in the second Gulf War.

The father-of-two was a man used to physical exercise, sometimes mountain biking 100 miles or more a week.

But at some point, he found he had started struggling physically, and four years ago, his difficulties came to a head when one day he began to cross the road, but found he couldn’t move.

Medical diagnosis revealed he was suffering from primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

The condition disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate, resulting in a range of symptoms, including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems. Sufferers can experience double vision, blindness, muscle weakness, trouble with sensation and coordination.

It can also be painful.

“Pain is sh**,” he said.

“Primary progressive MS means there is no let up in my symptoms, so my disease gets progressively worse.

“I have ups and downs, but when I get a disability I am left with it because it is basically brain and spinal cord damage.”

Prescription medication from his doctor, however, did not work the way he would have liked.

“I tried through panic and pain the pharmaceutical option, and it left me in a drug-induced coma.

“I slept for three days and I can’t function like that.”

What did work, he found, was cannabis. Prescription drug Sativex, a spray derived from cannabis leaf, for their controlled proportions of the active compounds delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

Intended to treat symptoms, it was nonetheless more than three years before he could get it prescribed.

In the meantime, he turned to self-medication with cannabis.

“Sativex only treats spasticity in my muscles,” he said.

“It is very, very weak but for me it means if I’m having a real bad pain day, that relieves the tensions in my muscles, but it doesn’t take away nerve pain.

“It means I can function the best I can, but for the rest of it, I take cannabis. It is easy to refer to medicinal cannabis. For me, cannabis has great medicinal properties.

“The whole plant extract is what I need for my neuropathic pain. It also treats spasticity, bladder problems, cognitive functioning. When I am not medicated I can be unable to string two words together.

“And I want to live the best life I can.”

Chris’s experience has led him to become involved with campaigning for the legalisation of cannabis.

He gave his support to the United Patients’ Alliance, which represents the interests of medical cannabis patients in the UK, as well as the online Red Dragon Cannabis Club, which supports people with chronic conditions who use the drug.

“Cannabis is my medicine,” he said.

“I should not be stigmatised for treating myself when the pharmaceutical regime I could possibly be on could potentially kill me, and I have too much life to live.

“Cannabis allows me to do that as pain-free as I can and with as much dignity as I can. It is not a cure, although it has been proven to treat a myriad of medical conditions.

“And it is the same plant the world over. Cannabis is used medicinally in over thirty countries, and half the states in the US. If it is medicine there, it doesn’t stop being medicine here.

“If someone wants to use it for medicine, that’s fine. If someone wants to consume it for giggles, that’s fine too. No-one has the right to tell you what to do with your own body.

“When I was in the military I signed my being over to the Queen to do with as she wants, I was there to do her bidding. I accepted that because I was getting paid to do a job. When I left the military, I took back control of that; nobody owns me. Cannabis helps me.

“If you have primary progressive MS, which I have, you have to have tried their cocktail of drugs and it has to be proven it is detrimental to you before they prescribe it (Sativex).

“The only thing that is stopping me consuming cannabis legally is prohibition and as we know prohibition is an out-date political ideology.

“I believe anyone has the right to consume cannabis. Alcohol and tobacco are legal and they are taxed. People are encouraged to go out and drink. You see ads for alcohol, non-stop. If you legalise drugs, people have access to information and education.

“If you are using a heroin or drug consumption facility, people coming to use that facility are asked, 'what do you need?', 'do you need a home?', 'do you need a job?', 'do you need money?', 'why are you here?'.

“You can tax and regulate it. It is win win for everyone. The only people who benefit from drug prohibition are drug dealers. I am as far removed from the black market as you can possibly get. I don’t have a daily interaction with drug dealers, this is why I try and educate people.

“I didn’t choose MS, and I didn’t choose to be a cannabis activist. And in the history of recorded cannabis use, it has killed no-one ever.”

The government, meanwhile, said it took its advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) which it said maintained that the use of cannabis was a “significant public health issue and can unquestionably cause harm to individuals and society”.

But the government’s own treatment of the ACMD’s former chief governmental drug adviser raises questions over exactly what it wants to hear from the advisory body.

In 2009 it sacked Professor David Nutt who held the post, after he claimed in a paper that alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than many illegal drugs, including cannabis.

But even in the Palace of Westminster, not everyone shares the government’s belief.

Tonia Antoniazzi was elected MP for Gower at the last general election. She also happens to be an old friend of Chris Reilly’s.

She said: “There is so much evidence out there that shows the medicinal qualities of cannabis.

“I have known Chris Reilly since we were youngsters, and I have seen how he has been crippled by MS. He is criminalised because he uses cannabis to ease his pain. There is no over the counter medication, that is how he finds pain relief. It is wrong for us to play god.

I think the word ‘cannabis’ scares a lot of people off. Alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous drugs.

“I am not saying all use of cannabis should be legalised, but we have to be having the discussion in the UK. We need to change our approach. It is a big discussion and we can’t hide from it.

“I want to inform myself, and see other practices from around the world. It is a very multi-layered argument.

“If I, or my mother, or someone close to me needed it [for medicinal use] they should not be criminalised for it.

“I am not saying that it should be used instead of conventional medicine, but you should consider what treatments could be complimented by it.

“And of course, criminal gangs are funded by drugs.”

It is a recurring argument for the legalisation of cannabis to take the trade out of the hands of the criminal.

Human trafficking is an issue in Wales as it is in the rest of the UK.

Last year, for instance, police uncovered a cannabis farm in Mount Pleasant, Swansea, where the yield of plants once harvested was estimated at around £100,000.

Two Vietnamese nationals, Yen Nguyen and Troung Nguyen, were prosecuted for their role in the enterprise, receiving 13 and 16 months in custody - at a cost to the taxpayer of approximately £80,000 a year per prisoner.

Trying to circumnavigate the criminal element is also fraught.

Earlier this year, Port Talbot scaffolder Gareth Clement found himself in the dock after trying to import cannabis from California.

The parcel was intercepted at a Royal Mail sorting office, and the 28-year-old pleaded guilty to importing cannabis illegally.

He told Swansea Crown Court the reason he had done so was to help it control his epilepsy - but also because he did not want to deal with street dealers following an “unfortunate experience” with one on an earlier occasion.

One argument for legalisation is that it could be taxed and regulated.

It has been estimated that legalising the class B drug could raise the UK Government £3.5 billion a year, which could be used to fund the NHS.

It’s an argument which makes sense to Newport West MP Paul Flynn, who has long called for the law around cannabis to be rewritten.

He said: “We have always had drugs in society, and the most dangerous are alcohol and tobacco. They are toxic and addictive, and they cause harm, but we have been successful in reducing it.

“In 1971 there were about one thousand people addicted to heroin in the UK, and virtually no-one was using cocaine, except for cannabis.

“The result of prohibition means there are now around 390,000 people addicted to heroine and cocaine, from one thousand. And that means there are costs; policing costs, prison costs.

“The Netherlands has an intelligent policy of decriminalisation.

“We have a greater percentage of the population in prison, and the great difference is our drug policy."

He said cannabis was out of reach of people who needed it for their ailments.

"I am impressed by the evidence - people who look me in the eyes, people who suffer from spasms, who say it works for them.

“We need political guts to do it. In 2001, Portugal. After a few years it cut drug deaths in half.

“I am astonished politicians say drug laws are not working, but do not change them.

“The police have no interest for cannabis use, unless people flaunt it in front of them. Parliament has failed.”

The Government’s drug policy demonstrates enormous hypocrisy, according to former UK Health Secretary Norman Lamb, who suggested half of the Cabinet had probably used cannabis.

And it would be difficult for the Government’s drugs minister to avoid the accusation of a conflict of interest, after it was revealed her husband’s business was farming the drug.

Despite the Government’s position, her spouse Paul Kenward is managing director of British Sugar, which was granted a Home Office licence to grow cannabis in Norfolk, to be used in medicine.

What else might cannabis be used for?

In the UK, it is only the THC-containing oral spray Sativex that is licensed as a cannabis medicine – for adult MS patients.

But research has suggested cannabis’s medicinal properties could also help in treating a range of conditions, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, arthritis, glaucoma, and multiple sclerosis.

Some studies have shown it may kill certain cancer cells.

Media worker Steve Harrison’s wife began using cannabis oil after being diagnosed with stage IV cancer in November 2016.

She began chemotherapy in December last year, but began using cannabis oil shortly afterwards - forcing him for the first time to source the drug on the black market.

He said: “The Government is certainly not listening to the many thousands of people suffering from debilitating illness, whose lives would be made infinitely more bearable by the passage of this legislation.

“For many of them there is an extremely uncertain future ahead if cannabis is not legalised and they find themselves living in a country that really doesn’t work for them during the darkest period of their lives when they need its support most.

“They are depriving patients of a plant and its extracts which they know would help to ease their suffering.

“What the Government can do to make our country a better place is to legalise cannabis for medical purposes now, not in 100 years.

"The longer they take to heed the stacks of scientific evidence that other governments around the world are acting on, the more people will die when a treatment is out there that could help prolong their lives.

“I accept that for a number of people cannabis may be inappropriate, but for many more suffering debilitating illness it has immense healing power.

“The medical evidence is out there, scientific and anecdotal, but the Government maintains it has no worth, which is sheer ignorance.

“I would not disagree that for some people marijuana can have undesirable effects, as can nuts, shellfish, soy, eggs, fruit, corn, wheat and garlic. But I see no call for nuts to be taken off the shelves because a child has experienced an acute anaphylactic shock.

“Because some people experience adverse reactions to something or abuse it, that should not be a reason to deprive thousands of people suffering debilitating illness access to it if they believe it can help them.

“Not everyone who drinks becomes an alcoholic. Not everyone who eats nuts has an acute reaction to them and most people will not develop any serious mental problems from taking marijuana, especially those chronically ill from MS, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy or cancer. For them there is absolutely no downside.”

If there are health benefits, there are also risks

NHS advice suggests the risk of developing a psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia, is high if you begin smoking at a young age, or use the stronger types, such as skunk, or have a family history of the illness.

Skunk, the genetically modified strain of cannabis, became prevalant in the UK during the 1990s. One argument is it did so precisely because of prohibition.

When alcohol was the subject of prohibition in America, it witnessed the illegal trade in distilling spirits, because of the high alcoholic content.

Instead of carrying a barrel of beer, it could be concentrated in a bottle, making it easier to move, sell and to make.

And because cannabis users wanted to get their high, but didn’t want to be caught with large amounts of the drug, they instead turned to the high-strength strain.

Comparing cannabis in its natural form to skunk has been likened to comparing a grandmother’s glass of sherry to a litre bottle of absinthe.

This is what a substance misuse charity thinks

Rob Barker, service manager with substance misuse charity Barod, formerly Drugaid Cymru, said: “As a service, we get a lot of referrals for cannabis use.

“It is having some form of impact, but it can vary in terms of effects. The long-term association with mental health issues is hotly debated, but we see potential mental health issues possibly being there already - it is the chicken and the egg situation; it is difficult to see what is the cause and what is the effect.

“There is a schizophrenic association with cannabis, but there is not a correlation to suggest cannabis causes schizophrenia.

"It is difficult in terms of mental health impact. Cannabis is not so special as we see it with other drugs. We see it with alcohol and other substances.

“We see the effects vary. People have issues with memory, and implications with appetite, which has a knock-on effect with physical issues.”

Rob dismissed the use of cannabis as a gateway route to other drug usage.

He said: “There is no evidence to suggest that. But a lot of individuals who use other substances use cannabis as well. Some people who present to our service who use heroin may use cannabis as well, but do not see that as an issue, although that is subjective.

“For some people, it may not have an impact on their use.

“The majority of recreational users have high strength, higher level THC (tetrahydrocannabinol - the active element in cannabis), which is more psychoactive and potentially detrimental.”

Another argument for the legalisation of drugs is that it criminalises many who would otherwise be of clean character.

Anyone caught in possession of cannabis, a Class B drug, can get a fine or prison sentence of up to five years, rising to 14 if involved in the supply and production.

It has prompted Alun Michael, Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales to suggest government ministers could learn from the experience of Portugal.

And it is the fear of criminalisation, which has prompted one recreational cannabis user to speak on condition of anonymity.

The nurse, who has used cannabis for the past thirty years, said: “There has been a lot of research on the medical impact of cannabis on the human body, and the full extent has yet to be fully discovered.

“The biggest potential use under research is that it could inhibit cancer cells and tumours from uptaking proteins, so therefore it can’t reproduce and it could halt their progress.

“In 20 years of nursing I have never cared for more than two people because of cannabis, and those that I did were because they were not used to it and did not know how much to use.

“I simply gave them a Mars bar to sort out their blood sugar.

“Alcohol, however, causes thousands of pounds of problems every day, and that is because of abuse and addiction. There are issues with drink driving, there are long term problems, and end of life care issues are massive.

“There is nothing worse than aspirative pneumonia - or choking on vomit.

“But if someone comes up to you and says they have a drug problem and fear they may overdose on cannabis, everyone laughs at you. It is not possible.

“You’ll only die from cannabis if someone drops a 4kg block of it on you from a three-storey building.”

Announcing his review of the medicinal use of cannabis, Sajid Javid told the House of Commons the ban would continue, but the time had come, “to review the scheduling of cannabis.”

Even Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt acknowledged that the current laws on medicinal cannabis were not right, and said it was time to look for ‘a different way’.

To paraphrase Bob Dylan, the man who introduced The Beatles to pot, the times seem finally to be changing - even if it might be some time before Markle’s Sparkle receives a royal warrant.</s>When Toronto resident Anne Wisdom was first prescribed medical cannabis last year, her mother was against it. Wisdom is 57 and her mother is 93.

“A lot of older people still equate medical cannabis with a party substance,” says Wisdom. “I was even a little reluctant to consider medical cannabis when I didn’t yet have all the answers I needed.”

Wisdom was born with cerebral palsy and had controlled pain and muscle spasms with a variety of medications, including opioids. Investigating the possibilities of medical cannabis, she landed on the website of WeedMD, a licensed Canadian medical cannabis producer.

“The website had a lot of answers and even explained the right way to apply for a medical cannabis licence,” she says. “I’m still taking medications, but I believe that medical cannabis has allowed me to take fewer drugs to control my symptoms, and I’m experiencing fewer overall side effects.”

Wisdom adds that people who are interested in exploring cannabis as a potential therapy should first educate themselves. She herself did so much research to educate herself that she is now a proponent of medical cannabis and volunteers with Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana (CFAMM).

Providing that education has become a passion for Dr. Jonas Vanderzwan, clinical director at WeedMD. He’s been a primary care family physician for 15 years and has been practising cannabis medicine for the last three years. Over that time, he has assessed and treated some 1,200 patients with medical cannabis and, more recently, he’s noted a shift in the types of patients seeking information.

“While seniors seemed initially reluctant to consider cannabis as a treatment, we’ve seen a recent shift in the demographic and they are now curious and more accepting of medical cannabis,” he says.

WeedMD has taken a special interest in the seniors’ demographic, having formed partnerships with 29 long-term care and retirement communities across the country. Additionally, the company has developed a line of cannabis oils that contain active compounds such as CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). WeedMD mixes naturally extracted CBD and THC from legally-grown cannabis with medium chain triglycerides (MTC) oil – a pharmaceutical-grade natural oil used widely in food that is flavourless and odorless – to produce the company’s AXISTM and ENTOURAGETM Cannabis Oil lines.

Dr. Vanderzwan and his team of educators provide educational sessions to both patients and medical practitioners in the partnering facilities to ensure that cannabis is being incorporated safely and responsibly into the care plan of interested residents.

Here are the top questions he’s asked at information sessions, along with his answers:

Q: What is the difference between medical and recreational cannabis?

A: They’re both derived from the same plant, but the difference is in the goals of the user. The medical patient uses the therapeutic compounds in the product in search of medical relief, while the recreational user generally uses it to become intoxicated or “high.” Generally speaking, that “high” is not the desired outcome for a medical cannabis user, and can often be quite distressing.

Q: Is medical cannabis safe and will it make me stoned or high?

A: Like any medication, medical cannabis can have side effects. If taken in excess, products containing THC—the psychoactive component of cannabis—could make you high, whereas the active compound known as CBD does not. However, medical cannabis encompasses a wide range of products that can be a hybrid of CBD/THC or it could be a strain that is dominant in either compound, depending on the patient’s needs.

Q: Will taking medical cannabis make senior patients more likely to become dizzy or fall?

A: As with many conventional medications that seniors take, dizziness could be a potential side effect; however, we would monitor and adjust dosage where needed. Even so, interesting to note that a study recently published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine reports that after six months of medical cannabis treatment, the number of reported falls in elderly patients was actually significantly reduced.

Q: I don’t want to smoke cannabis. How else can it be consumed?

A: As a doctor, I’m pleased to see there are alternative forms to consume cannabis. Patients can use a vapourizer, or consume cannabis in edible oil form. According to Health Canada, cannabis oil sales are outpacing dried flower sales. Additionally, we are seeing increased research and development on alternative delivery systems including creams, nasal sprays and transdermal patches.

Q: Why do some Canadian doctors decline to provide medical cannabis information to patients?

A: For many, I would suspect it’s based on a lack of familiarity, as there is little training on its use in medical school. Also, doctors are trained to practise medicine in an evidence-based way. Although it continues to grow, the evidence base for medical cannabis is only now getting support with R&D initiatives and partnerships. Thankfully, clinical research into the therapeutic effects of cannabis is growing at a rapid rate, leading to more acceptance in the medical community

Q: If cannabis becomes recreationally legal, why should I seek out a medical professional?

A: Many older Canadians, especially those who have no experience with it, are only willing to use medical cannabis under the guidance of a physician. Continued physician involvement will help drive further research in the field, as well, and help ensure that the industry will continue to produce cannabis strains with the medical patient in mind.

Q: How can we improve access to medical cannabis for patients?

A: We would like to see insurance companies and governments address the costs of medical cannabis, which typically aren’t covered by provincial or private insurance plans. We can also do a better job of educating doctors and nurse practitioners on the options of using medical cannabis as an alternative therapy.

Q: How can I become eligible to be a medical cannabis patient?

A: Your primary care practitioner needs to do the assessment to determine whether you’re a suitable candidate. If they’re uncomfortable making that determination, you can contact WeedMD’s Client Services Team at 1-844-WEEDMD-6 and they will connect you with a practitioner or ask your practitioner for a referral to a cannabis clinic. Regardless of who performs the assessment, you should always bring along supporting documentation regarding your diagnosis and a record of conventional therapies you’ve already tried.

To learn more about medicinal cannabis oils and seniors, plus WeedMD’s diverse product lines including AXIS, ENTOURAGE and a variety of dried flower strains, go to www.weedmd.com.

This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of WeedMD.</s>On Tuesday, voters at the polls in Oklahoma approved a ballot measure to legalize medical cannabis, according to a CNBC report. After nearly a two-year-old signature drive, cannabis activists were finally successful in bringing State Question 788 to the Oklahoma ballot earlier this year.Oklahoma's medical marijuana rules are some of the most progressive medical cannabis rules adopted to date and will allow an individual to possess up to 8 ounces of cannabis, six mature plants, and six seedlings. The law would also permit cannabis edibles and concentrates.- there is not currently a list of qualifying conditions that must be satisfied, patients only need a doctor's recommendation. Oklahoma will offer many types of licenses for different businesses and individuals in the medical cannabis chain of care, including caregivers, sellers, growers, transporters, packagers, lab testers, and researchers.There was a push against the measure by an organization named "SQ 788 is Not Medical," chaired by Dr. Kevin Taubman, previous president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association. The group spent $500,000 on a media campaign against the initiative.Oklahoma is one of the most conservative states to approve medical cannabis. Gov. Mary Fallin was against the measure, claiming that it was too loose to be a proper medical cannabis law. She said she would call on legislators to return for a special session to better regulate medical marijuana.</s>More physicians are turning to naturopathic therapeutic options to treat their patients. Ninety two percent of seniors have at least one and 77% have at least two chronic diseases. Our bodies ability to maintain homeostasis as we age becomes more challenging especially when pharmaceuticals are added into the mix. Through precise genetic mechanisms of cell fate determination, many different varieties of excitatory and inhibitory neurons are generated from different kinds of neural stem cells. The process of making new neurons, neurogenesis can improve learning and memory. As we age, the neural stem cells and their progenitors exhibit reduced proliferation and neuron production, which is thought to contribute to age-related cognitive impairment and reduced plasticity. In the early 1990s, it was discovered that our body produces endocannabinoids that activate our endocannabinoid regulatory systems which are similar in structure to phytocannabinoids from the Cannabis sativa, otherwise known as marijuana. These substances can induce neurogenesis.

Cannabidiol, CBD is one of the cannabinoids in Cannabis with enormous medicinal benefits without the psychoactivity or “high”. When CBD is taken, it enhances the endocannabinoid system and the body responds by making more CB receptors. CBD is a neuroprotectant, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that decreases oxidative stress, nitric oxide synthase, lipid peroxidation, free radicals and mitochondrial dysfunction. Examples of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, MS which may stem from an autoimmune response.

For example, someone with Alzheimer’s dementia or an athlete with a traumatic brain injury may medicate with CBD, a part of the cannabis plant to help focus, decrease anxiety, or normalize sleep patterns. CBD maintains calcium homeostasis and inhibits glutamate therefore decreasing excitotoxicity. Preclinical animal studies published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology show CBD promotes brain growth in the hippocampus of mice. The anxiolytic effect of CBD on chronically stressed mice depends on hippocampal neurogenesis and the involvement of the endocannabinoid system. Scripps Research Institute published, “Cannabis may also slow the progression of dementia.”

THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis should not be feared. “Delusions, agitation, aggression, irritability, apathy, sleep and caregiver distress, were decreased when THC was added in an attempt to relieve symptoms of dementia in a recent 2016 Israeli study. Studies conducted at University of Bonn and Hebrew University published in Nature Medicine show THC inhibits the enzyme responsible for aggregation of amyloid plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s Dementia. THC rejuvenates cognitive function in older animal brains.

In the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry in 2013, THC was found to be useful in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease by assisting in the prevention of damage caused by free radicals. New research from the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas reveals that levels of THC directly correlates to changes in how the brain utilizes oxygen. Chronic cannabis users have higher cerebral blood flow and extract more oxygen from blood brain flow than nonusers. Blood flow in the putamen, an area in the brain associated with reward, learning and habit formation was greater in users as well. Similarly, because cannabis can dilate blood vessels, the mechanism for which its used in glaucoma, it can also develop additional circulatory pathways and is currently being studies in stroke and heart attack patients.

Cannabis is a safe therapy for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, for those who want to enhance their endocannabinoid system (ECS) and promote wellness and anti-aging. This evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway called the ECS has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory abilities. Given cannabis’ favorable safety profile, with increased research, it has the potential to lead to novel therapies to prevent disease or progression of symptoms by modulating the ECS.

Dr. Michelle Weiner is an interventional pain management physician for spine and wellness centers of America. She completed her residency and fellowship training at the University of Miami. She individualizes medical cannabis treatments based on patient specific factors with the goal of maximizing quality of life, decreasing overall pharmaceutical use and side effects. She is knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies and uses nutraceuticals and IV vitamin therapy to enhance one’s immune and nervous system and boost energy. Dr. Weiner’s practice also treats various other sources of pain. Dr. Weiner has offices throughout South Florida, including locations in Miami, Hollywood, & Boca.

 For more information, visit drmichelleweiner.com or call (305) 974-5533</s>and MCLEAN, Va., /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A study published today by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), Perthera, Inc., and colleagues in the AACR journal Clinical Cancer Research found for the first time that precision medicine can improve outcomes and provide clinically meaningful information to pancreatic cancer patients. Specifically, patients who underwent molecular profiling and were found to have an “actionable” alteration, who then went on to receive a targeted, matched treatment, had significantly increased progression-free survival.

“There has been a longstanding notion that precision medicine cannot benefit pancreatic cancer patients,” said , PhD, MBA, chief science officer at PanCAN and an author on the study. “We now have to rethink that position as this research exemplifies a changing tide in the way we should treat pancreatic cancer patients, ensuring molecular profiling is an integral part of their treatment journey.”

Pancreatic cancer is the world’s toughest cancer, with a five-year survival of just 9 percent. The disease is currently the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in , but in just two years, pancreatic cancer is expected to surpass colorectal cancer to become the second.

The published multi-omic molecular profiling results underscore the value of precision medicine in a complex, often misunderstood disease.

“We are extremely excited to report these findings to both the medical and patient communities and especially proud to have published real-world evidence that shows precision medicine helps patients improve their outcomes,” said , president and CEO of Perthera. “Though we are eager to expand upon our findings, it’s important to celebrate the lives that were impacted, and the improved health that was given to patients, because of this collaborative research effort.”

The multi-site study included 640 patients treated at 287 academic and community practices across between 2014 and 2017. All the molecular profiling was done through PanCAN’s Know Your Tumor® program and Perthera Precision Medicine.

Among patients with highly “actionable” alterations, progression-free survival was a median of 4.1 months when patients received a matched, or targeted, therapy, compared to 1.9 months for patients who received an unmatched therapy.

Through Know Your Tumor, patients and their healthcare providers receive a detailed report from Perthera, Inc., of the genetic and protein changes present in their tumor and a list of treatment options that may align with their tumor’s characteristics, including clinical trials. The report is provided within weeks of a biopsy and is a result of years of cancer data mining and structuring from over 450 journals, websites and databases, plus, the collection and structuring of the patient tumor’s genomic, proteomic and other molecular analyses and extensive medical history.

“We strongly recommend all pancreatic cancer patients undergo molecular profiling to help determine their best treatment options,” added Matrisian.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

 The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve patient outcomes today and to double survival by 2020.

Patients can learn more about Know Your Tumor, as well as receive free, in-depth and personalized resources and information on the disease through Patient Central. Follow the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About Perthera, Inc.

 Perthera is the leading Therapeutic Intelligence Company advancing precision medicine through its Perthera Report, which precisely matches cancer patients with multiple therapeutic options ranked by highest probability of best outcome. To find out more about the Perthera Report and Perthera Precision Medicine or obtaining a Perthera Report go to www.perthera.com.</s>A study published today by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), Perthera, Inc., and colleagues in the AACR journal Clinical Cancer Research found for the first time that precision medicine can improve outcomes and provide clinically meaningful information to pancreatic cancer patients. Specifically, patients who underwent molecular profiling and were found to have an "actionable" alteration, who then went on to receive a targeted, matched treatment, had significantly increased progression-free survival.

"There has been a longstanding notion that precision medicine cannot benefit pancreatic cancer patients," said Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA, chief science officer at PanCAN and an author on the study. "We now have to rethink that position as this research exemplifies a changing tide in the way we should treat pancreatic cancer patients, ensuring molecular profiling is an integral part of their treatment journey."

Pancreatic cancer is the world's toughest cancer, with a five-year survival of just 9 percent. The disease is currently the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, but in just two years, pancreatic cancer is expected to surpass colorectal cancer to become the second.

The published multi-omic molecular profiling results underscore the value of precision medicine in a complex, often misunderstood disease.

"We are extremely excited to report these findings to both the medical and patient communities and especially proud to have published real-world evidence that shows precision medicine helps patients improve their outcomes," said Neal Koller, president and CEO of Perthera. "Though we are eager to expand upon our findings, it's important to celebrate the lives that were impacted, and the improved health that was given to patients, because of this collaborative research effort."

The multi-site study included 640 patients treated at 287 academic and community practices across the United States between 2014 and 2017. All the molecular profiling was done through PanCAN's Know Your Tumor® program and Perthera Precision Medicine.

Among patients with highly "actionable" alterations, progression-free survival was a median of 4.1 months when patients received a matched, or targeted, therapy, compared to 1.9 months for patients who received an unmatched therapy.

Through Know Your Tumor, patients and their healthcare providers receive a detailed report from Perthera, Inc., of the genetic and protein changes present in their tumor and a list of treatment options that may align with their tumor's characteristics, including clinical trials. The report is provided within weeks of a biopsy and is a result of years of cancer data mining and structuring from over 450 journals, websites and databases, plus, the collection and structuring of the patient tumor's genomic, proteomic and other molecular analyses and extensive medical history.

"We strongly recommend all pancreatic cancer patients undergo molecular profiling to help determine their best treatment options," added Matrisian.​</s>Cancer patients should fight, never give up hope

It truly makes me very sad when doctors tell their patients they have only a few months to live after being diagnosed with a disease. I am referring to the recent passing of Brittany Maynard, a cancer patient who took her own life.

I have two dear friends who were diagnosed with cancer. The first friend had stage four ovarian cancer at 49 years old. They told her she had six months to a year to live – devastating news for a single mom with three children. With the help of Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the doctors treating her, she lived for 19 years and was able to see her children married and have grandchildren. What a blessing.

My second friend has a rare form of breast cancer. The doctors gave her three months and told her to get her affairs in order. That was four years ago. She is alive and is back to work. She also had treatment at a cancer hospital.

I wish Maynard had given herself more time. There’s always the chance of a miracle.</s>Cancer patients who get emotional and social support through group therapy may survive up to twice as long as patients on medical treatment alone. That's according to a new study that adds fuel to the debate over the role of psychological factors in disease.

The 10-year study of women with metastatic (spreading) breast cancer by researchers from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, was reported on at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.
Luxembourg legalizes the use of medical cannabis for patients suffering from diseases such as cancer.