Prescription opioid abuse in the USA has become an epidemic - but the prevalence of abuse appears to be much lower in states where medical marijuana is legal.According to a report published by Castlight Health, hundreds of millions of opioid medication prescriptions are written up each year and nearly...
Australian Stock Exchange listed MGC Pharmaceuticals announced yesterday it had inked an agreement to acquire Czech-based medical cannabis company, Panax Pharma.The acquisition is valuable to MGC as Panax holds a medical cannabis license and access to 1,000m2 of indoor growing space in the Vukoz Research Institute in Průhonice.This will...
Two recently released market studies look at the potential for industrial hemp sourced food and pharmaceutical products in the European Union.The reports are from Germany's nova-Institute, which collaborated with another German company, HempConsult. They state industrial hemp cultivation in the EU grew from just 8,000 hectares in 2011 to...
A non-profit research group in the USA has been awarded a USD $2.156 million grant to carry out the first clinical trial of whole plant marijuana for PTSD treatment.The trial, funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), has also been given a federal blessing by...
Tasmania's government has announced a medical cannabis program that makes the initiatives of other Australian states look rather weak by comparison.By 2017, all specialist medical practitioners will be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients in the state.Unlike other programs being set up in Australia, which have very narrow...
The Northern Territory government has planted what's believed to be its first crop of industrial hemp.According to an ABC report, the crop was planted at Katherine Research Station, the headquarters for the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries in the Katherine region.Located 4 km east of Katherine on the...
Marijuana use has been linked with lower short-term risks of death and shock among patients admitted for acute MI (myocardial infarction - heart attack) according to University of Colorado Denver research.It needs to make really clear from the outset that it's not being suggested that people should start using...
Children in the Australian state of Victoria who have severe, drug-resistant epilepsy may have access to cannabis-based medications as early as next year.Earlier today, the Victorian State Government announced a $28.5 million package that will help to establish the Office of Medicinal Cannabis and an Independent Medical Advisory Committee.The...
Pennsylvania has become the 24th US state to legalize medical marijuana after Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 3 earlier today. But there's a catch.“I am proud to sign this bill that will provide long overdue medical relief to patients and families who could benefit from this treatment," said Governor...
"Putting patients before politics," is a slogan of a new charity in New Zealand raising awareness of medicinal cannabis and helping patients access it.As we mentioned last week, the only pharmaceutical grade cannabis medication approved for use in New Zealand currently is Sativex - and it's expensive stuff. Only...
