New Tips for Bridging the "Information Gap" on New Medical Cannabis Products

A clinical journal, published today for the BMJ, provides new interim advice to physicians and clinicians on the prescription of cannabis products and cannabinoids to treat certain conditions.

Since the policy change in November 2018, medical specialists registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) have been authorized to prescribe new cannabis-derived drugs. Yet research on these products has been limited so far, creating an "information vacuum" about these drugs, their benefits or their drawbacks.

A new journal written by renowned scientists and clinicians from the University of Bath and University College London (UCL) highlights the range of cannabis-based products and cannabinoids available, as well as the obvious need to educate patients and clinicians about the use of these different products. to do and how they could help.

In particular, it highlights important differences between products containing THC (the main psychoactive component and cannabis intoxicant) and CBD (the non-intoxicant element). Although in some drugs, CBD and THC are combined for clinical benefit, in others, these components can function independently, playing different roles in improving certain symptoms.

For example, several studies have shown that a combination of THC and CBD can alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain, while CBD alone can be effective against treatment-resistant epilepsy. In contrast, THC alone may be effective in treating nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. THC and CBD are "cannabinoids" that act in different ways on the endogenous cannabinoid system of the body.

The cannabis plant produces more than 144 different cannabinoids such as THC or CBD. Some medicines contain THC and / or CBD derived from the cannabis plant, while others contain cannabinoids produced by synthesis. CBD is also available in non-medicinal products such as oils and dyes.

Lead author, Dr. Tom Freeman of the Addiction and Mental Health Group of the University of Bath, explains: "In this complex and rapidly evolving field, there are several cannabis-based drugs and Cannabinoids differ in their content of THC and CBD and can prescribe them and the conditions under which they can be treated.We are proposing an update for clinicians here before the next NICE guidelines.

"A key message is that CBD products widely sold online and in health food stores do not meet quality standards and should not be treated as drugs."

Cannabis research was previously restricted because it was listed in Schedule 1, which implied that it had no medical value. Cannabis has recently been transferred to Schedule 2 of the United Kingdom.

Dr. Freeman added, "The research on unlicensed cannabis products has been limited so far, and the redevelopment of cannabis and the allocation of dedicated research funds in the UK will improve the evidence we have. to guide clinical decision-making. "

The co-author, Michael Bloomfield, director of translational psychiatry at University College London (UCL), added: "Our scientific knowledge has made giant strides in recent years, which, combined with Confusing claims about the medicinal uses of these drugs can be confusing for doctors and patients, and we hope that our new guidelines will be helpful to doctors and patients around the world, and further research is needed on this new class of drugs. "

The co-author, Chandni Hindocha, of UCL's clinical psychopharmacology unit, added: "Resources must be made available to inform and inform clinicians about cannabis and drug-based medicines. Cannabinoids We encourage physicians to maintain a compassionate and evidence-based approach when engaging with their patients in this burgeoning field, in order to provide the best quality care. "