Pfizer officially opened the new Center of Excellence in Precision Medicine (CEPM) on July 8 in Santiago, Chile. 

Precision medicine is a form of healthcare where disease treatments are customized for individual patients based on their genetic profile. 

CEPM’s goal is to create and validate new technology platforms that can precisely diagnose cancer through genomic sequencing without resorting to invasive procedures.

A company planning to grow medical marijuana in Seneca County has unveiled plans to offer aid to help families purchase the drug. 

Citiva Medical, which was founded by Colorado medical marijuana pioneer Josh Stanley, announced its intent to donate at least 2 percent of its net income to Strains of Hope, a non-profit organization established by Stanley, to assist patients pay for medical marijuana treatment. 

The contributions to Strains of Hope will at least partially cover the costs of medical marijuana prescriptions for families who can't afford the drug, which typically isn't covered by health insurance plans and could cost as much as $250 a month. 

Dr Peter McCormick of the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich is in the news again for his ongoing research on cannabis extracts and cancer.  The latest work is aimed at making a case for developing a synthetic alternative to cannabis which would have the same cancer treating properties but without any of the "unwanted side effects" of THC.

Dennis Cathcart is no fan of the full-blown medical marijuana movement in Florida, but he believes his Tropiflora nursery could successfully produce a certain type of cannabis for needy patients.

Six commercial nurseries, including the 40-year-old Tropiflora in southern Manatee County, are vying for state approval to cultivate and sell non-euphoric cannabis in Southwest Florida.

“When we first heard about it, we were pretty much opposed,” Cathcart said. “But then we discovered that the product is a derivative of the cannabis plant, not something that can be smoked or used to get high in any way. We feel like it’s a worthy thing.”

Alex Renton died on July 1 in Wellington Hospital, following a battle with a prolonged form of seizures known as epileptius.

He was granted special access by the Government to use medicinal cannabis in a bid to stop him suffering more seizures.

The 19-year-old’s mother, Rose, told Seven Sharp that she was heartbroken to lose her son who had a “presence like no one else … and it made you feel strong and safe”.

Alex was the first Kiwi to have the treatment, and the initial signs were promising, as he came off life support and started breathing on his own.

“It's got incredible properties for stopping seizures and controlling epilepsy,” Rose said.

But the teen, who has six siblings, took a turn for the worse and died shortly after.

Every morning, Katie Marsh starts her day with a green smoothie— infused with cannabis.

Marsh, of Madawaska, Maine, blends up yogurt, fruit and thawed, juiced cannabis.

“To drink it straight is kind of bitter, but it’s not at all objectionable in a smoothie,” she said.

Marsh’s unusual recipe stems from being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, three years ago. The autoimmune disease causes painful swelling in the hands and feet. She was prescribed prednisone and a low-dose antibiotic. The latter only made her symptoms worse.

Her doctor suggested she take disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), but she knew the risk of side effects, including liver damage, was too severe.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of tobacco's relationship with pshchosis

Summary

Background

In the past year or so, the federal government has taken a number of steps towards easing the crackdown on state-legal medical marijuana patients that began shortly after California passed Prop 215 in 1996.

Andrew Collins no longer has a cocktail of 17 prescriptions coursing through his body.

The Army combat veteran stared death in the face while serving two tours of Iraq in the 2000s. He now battles post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his wartime experiences.

The Olympia veteran has tried medications, meditation and hypnosis while adapting to the stresses of life in the civilian world. But more than any other treatment, Collins says marijuana has helped him cope with the psychological trauma he carries around — trauma that at times has filled his head with aggression and suicidal thoughts.

“I smoke a joint and the thoughts are gone,” said Collins, 30.

Runners support legal medical marijuana use to ease PTSD

TAMPA, FL (WFLA) – Steps away from MacDill Air Force Base, runners hit the pavement in support of veterans legally being allowed to use medical marijuana to ease PTSD. Organizers boast it’s “Florida’s first-ever Cannabis-centered 5K run/walk.”

The Florida Cannabis Coalition hosted the event at Gasden Park. The organization “promotes the legalization of Cannabis as a medication for multiple debilitating disorders.” Peter Sessa, CEO of the organization, understands people don’t usually correlate running with cannabis.