Conversations about cannabis policy are heating up. So it's no surprise that we suddenly seem immersed in claims and counterclaims on a slew of topics related to cannabis use and regulation.

Myalgic encephalopathy (ME) is a complex and controversial disorder characterized by chronic symptoms of fatigue that have no apparent cause and are not relived by rest. Although there is very little empirical research into the potential for cannabis to treat ME, countless sufferers report feeling subjective relief.

What causes myalgic encephalopathy?

The underlying cause of ME is still unknown, and it is generally thought that a combination of genetic, environmental, infectious and psychological factors may be involved.

With medical marijuana legal in 23 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, millions of Americans can now legally obtain cannabis to treat chronic pain and other health conditions.

But many pain patients are leery about asking their doctors for a medical marijuana card or about visiting a marijuana dispensary in some shady part of town.

By combining compounds from cannabis and vitamin A, a team of Australian researchers has uncovered a promising new approach to fat-busting medication. The team's work may pave the way for obesity treatments with fewer side effects than current medications and negate the need for invasive surgeries.

An active compound of cannabis is known to regulate appetite and influence fat formation in humans, but researchers have baulked at the effect it can have on the brain. Researchers at Deakin University have now found a way to nullify these adverse effects.

Cannabis patients comprise 1% of over 100 million US residents with qualifying conditions such as chronic pain, PTSD, cancer induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), cachexia, neurodegenerative disorders, seizure disorders, spasticity disorders, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and glaucoma. This “therapeutic gap” exists in large part due to the lack of credible, clinically useful information about cannabis for patients and health care professionals. A 1% prescription rate for medical marijuana corresponds to the prescription rate observed in surveys of physicians practicing in specialties where cannabis is part of the treatment armamentaria. The fact that between 5-7% of surveyed physicians prescribed a synthetic cannabis analog quantifies the potential for broadening usage of medical cannabis.

AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on global research, development and production of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food and cosmetic products derived from industrial hemp, has announced commencement of clinical development of its leading patented pharmaceutical chewing gum, MedChew RX, for registration as a drug for relieving pain and/or spasticity in patients suffering from with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Marijuana is not a gateway drug and legalization does not result in a massive spike in cannabis use, according to the International Centre For Science In Drug Policy (ICSDP).

ICSDP released two papers Tuesday examining the state of the evidence surrounding marijuana use and regulation. The first paper serves to debunk a host of common claims made against cannabis use and legalization. The second seeks to guide the public on how to use evidence when talking about cannabis.

One of the myths ICSDP tackles is the claim that cannabis is a gateway drug. The evidence thus far points out that cannabis does precede the use of other illicit substances, but there is no causal link between marijuana use and the use of harder drugs.

A patient suffering from angina has admitted growing his own cannabis to help with the pain.

Stephen Smith-Chappell was sentenced for producing the class B drug at Cambridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The 65-year-old, of Walpole Road, Cambridge, denied growing cannabis and told police he had not smoked it in three years.

But officers had already searched his home and found more than 25 grams (worth between £1,400 and £4,200) of the drug, and the paraphenalia associated with it.
 

Smith-Chappell then said cannabis was "beneficial for his agina" and that it treated the condition quicker than the various medications he was on.

United Kingdom — Kent and London-based company UK CBD has become the first U.K. distributor of the increasingly sought after cannabis oil, which is made by the Stanley Brothers from Colorado Springs. Although it is not the first company in the U.K. to sell cannabis oil, the “Charlotte’s Web” brand will now be distributed in the U.K. for the first time. The product is already legal as an alternative treatment in several states in the U.S.

The National Institutes of Health through its National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded $115,714 in taxpayer funds to Washington University to study the influence of genetics on cannabis use.

“Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in developed nations and both cannabis use and misuse have undergone increase in the past 2 years. Yet, far too little is known of the genetic underpinnings,” the grant stated.