Title : Clinical evidence supporting cannabis/cannabinoids for treating neurological disorders
Abstract:
Cannabis continues to be the most abused illicit drug in the world with an estimated 2.5% of the world’s population (180 million) using it regularly (World Drug Report 2017)1. Medicinal and/or recreational cannabis use is associated with significant health consequences) (WHO, 20162; Volkow et al.3), its use as medicine remains the subject of extensive reviews and debates around the globe. There is paucity of clinical evidence from placebo controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trials that would support the approval of the whole cannabis plant, whether smoked or as an extract as medicine by the FDA or other regulatory body in any country. FDA has approved THC (Marinol, Dronabinol) for treating chemotherapy-associated nausea, vomiting and as an appetite stimulant in AIDS-wasting, but no other cannabinoid or any combination of cannabinoids has been approved as medicine, except Sativex (THC+CBD) approved for treating neuropathic pain in other countries (excepting the US), while the US FDA has approved it for treating two rare conditions of epilepsy in young children. Further, neither THC, CBD, nor any of the other 125 known cannabinoids have been extensively tested nor have they been approved for the treatment of a wide range clinical indications including neurological disorders being promoted (Khalsa et al., 2018,3 Khalsa et al. 20234), and the findings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017)5, the latter recommending that additional research be conducted with cannabinoids, but not with smoked cannabis, for all other potential clinical indications. This presentation will show if current clinical evidence is adequate to support the use of cannabis, or any other cannabinoid to treat a wide range of clinical conditions including various neurological disorders being promoted.
References: (1) United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report, 2017; (2) WHO Report, 2016; (3) Volkow, et al. Adverse health effects of marijuana use. N Engl J Med. 370(23):2219-27, 2014; (4) Khalsa et al. Medicinal cannabis/cannabinoids, in ASAM Principles of Addiction Medicine, eds: Miller et al. 2018; (4) Khalsa et al. Cur Addict Reports, 2023; (5) National Academy of Sciences Report, 2017.
