Answer Addiction

Tag: CBD

  • Failed Drug Test Prompts Woman To Warn About CBD Product Use

    Failed Drug Test Prompts Woman To Warn About CBD Product Use

    “I wanted to make sure that other people could learn [about THC content in CBD] and not have to go through what our family has.”

    After taking hemp protein and CBD oil for their calming effect, an Oregon resident was shocked to learn that her prospective new job had been rescinded after a mandatory drug test revealed trace amounts of THC.

    Suzan Chandler doesn’t blame her employer for taking back the job offer, but told an Oregon news outlet that individuals who buy CBD products may not know that certain ones contain THC.

    The designation of which products contain the cannabinoid THC, which produces a euphoric response in users, and which do not, may not be immediately known to consumers like Chandler, who urged buyers to ask questions about and read labels on their CBD purchases.

    According to the Portland-based Fox affiliate KPTV, Chandler, a nurse practitioner, was up for a new job at a local urgent care, and passed all of the preliminary requirements before taking a urine drug test to complete the process. Though her CBD intake was limited to the aforementioned products and no marijuana use, she was surprised to discover that she had tested positive for THC, which resulted in the loss of the job offer.

    “I never used a product knowingly with THC,” she said. “I wouldn’t.”

    The loss of the job offer had what Chandler described as a “significant” impact on her family’s financial status.

    “Our family, all of a sudden, doesn’t have my income,” she said. “I decided that I wanted to make sure that other people could learn [about THC content in CBD] and not have to go through what our family has.”

    Broad Spectrum CBD vs. Full Spectrum CBD

    To explain how THC can be found in CBD products, KPTV spoke with Renee Barnes, co-owner of CBD-lish, which makes and sells CBD products in Portland. She told the news outlet that customers need to be aware of whether the item they’re buying contains either full spectrum or broad spectrum CBD.

    Full spectrum CBD contains all compounds that naturally occur in cannabis, including essential oils and cannabinoids, including THC. Federal law only allows 0.3% THC in CBD products; any product containing a higher percentage is considered marijuana and a Schedule I drug, which is illegal under federal law. 

    Broad spectrum CBD also contains compounds found within the plant, but THC is completely absent from products with that designation. Medium.com describes it as a combination of full spectrum CBD and CBD isolate, which is often extracted from hemp and contains no compounds.

    If You Are Being Drug Tested, Play it Safe

    Barnes told KPTV that using a full spectrum CBD product doesn’t guarantee that one would fail a drug test, but she advises being safe in regard to such products if drug testing is a regular element of a job.

    “We’ve had firemen, we’ve had policemen, we’ve had people doing jobs that are very, you know, essential that they don’t [test positive for THC], and you know, we’ll talk to them about it,” she said.

    Chandler bears no ill will towards the company that turned her down.

    “We get drug screened for a reason, and those are good reasons,” she explained to KPTV. And she said that she still stands by the merits of CBD for health, but doesn’t plan to use any products in the foreseeable future.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Kim Kardashian West Ditches Xanax, Ambien For CBD To Help Her Sleep

    Kim Kardashian West Ditches Xanax, Ambien For CBD To Help Her Sleep

    It’s the only way the mogul can wind down and sleep through the stress.

    Kim Kardashian West is a busy person. Between Keeping Up With the Kardashians, managing several businesses, raising four kids with musician Kanye West, and even meeting with Trump to speak on behalf of non-violent drug offenders, some may wonder how she handles all the stress.

    “How do I do it all? It is exhausting. I just say CBD. [laughs] But I do. I really that has gotten me through a lot,” Kardashian, 38, told People.

    CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical compound extracted from the same marijuana plants that many people smoke, eat, and vape to get high. However, CBD products lack the ingredient in marijuana that gets people high, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which CBD users, including Kardashian, actually don’t want to consume.

    “That’s not my thing. I got into CBD a few months ago. It’s saved my life. Even to sleep at night. I like the gummies,” confessed Kardashian. “I will just use a little bit and fall asleep [laughs].”

    In fact, she’s ditched some traditional stress management and sleep aid medications in favor of the stuff. “I don’t think I would take a Xanax or an Ambien again,” she proclaimed.

    The Rise Of CBD

    CBD has gained steam as of late, with many claiming that not only can it relax people’s weary minds, it can also help suppress cravings for people in addiction recovery. Even CVS is planning to carry CBD products in 800 locations.

    It would have been easy for Kardashian to stand by and reap the benefits of public, and government, opinion turning towards the legalization of marijuana and its extracts, but she did not. Kardashian has personally fought for the freedom of not one, but two low-level drug offenders.

    In June 2018, she personally met with Trump to commute the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, who served time for passing messages on the phone to help drug suppliers and dealers communicate. Even Kardashian was surprised by the magnitude of her own success.

    “I spoke to the president… He let me know what was going to happen [with Johnson] and he was going to sign the papers right then and there and she could be released that day,” she recounted. “I didn’t know, does that happen right away? Is there a process? What is it? So he was going to let her go. He told me she can leave today.”

    She did it again for Jeffrey Stringer in May this year as a part of her vow to affect greater change in U.S. drug policy.

    “It started with Ms. Alice, but looking at her and seeing the faces and learning the stories of the men and women I’ve met inside prisons I knew I couldn’t stop at just one,” West wrote on a Twitter. “It’s time for REAL systemic change.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Microdosing Marijuana at 9 Years Sober

    Microdosing Marijuana at 9 Years Sober

    I got a nice buzz from microdosing marijuana, but a buzz no more intense than a glass of wine sipped slowly and on a reasonably full stomach. Despite this buzz, I had no craving for more pot and I did not pick up a drink.

    Microdosing. All the cool kids in Silicon Valley are doing it, and anyone who got sober before 2015 has been left out of the fun. At least, anyone with an all-or-nothing recovery plan, which is most people, but definitely not yours truly. Anecdotally, it looks like it’s better to have Silicon Valley hooked on low doses of LSD and psilocybin than abusing Adderall, but more empirical data on the therapeutic benefits of this trend is needed. Though I’m not going near psychedelics without a doctor’s note, I have dabbled in some microdosing on weed, and I still consider myself 100% sober.

    Alcohol was my problem. It was a gnarly problem. I put the kibosh on that problem in 2009 and haven’t looked back.

    Google piqued my interest in microdosing on weed by feeding me a headline that claimed one puff of it could blast away depression. I double-clicked. Since I deal with bipolar disorder and have benefited from using CBD (the non-psychoactive component in marijuana), the article seemed relevant.

    According to the study, one drag of low-THC and high-CBD dose of weed can knock out depression immediately, unlike traditional antidepressants that often take a few weeks to kick in. But, there’s a catch: Continual use of THC could worsen depression, so this had to be an every-now-and-again smoke. I stored that information in my brain for future reference, noting that if I ever experienced an intense depression that didn’t abate I could give it a try since I’m fortunate enough to live in Los Angeles (pot shops on nearly every major street).

    About two months after I read about the study, I got stuck in a morass of negativity and self-deprecation and self-doubt for about a week. Everything was out of alignment, and no matter how much meditation I did, I just couldn’t snap out of it. Sure, I have bipolar II, but because I take meds, 90% of the time the symptoms are manageable. Still, there are those days when stress or neurochemistry or hormones or a bad fight with a boyfriend can throw me off.

    Sometimes I find relief in jogging or dancing, calling my therapist or going to a meeting, but there are times where I don’t have the energy or ability to do the very things I know will help (Depression 101). Since I’ve dealt with the condition for so long, I know when I’m dealing with a chemical imbalance and when I’m dealing with a psychological imbalance.

    This time it felt like both.

    I was curious to see how the weed would work, especially since I’d heard so much about the benefits of microdosing on psychedelics from friends. Because the CBD succeeded in quieting my anxiety and smoothing out my thoughts, I figured why not try something with a bit of THC.

    Anyone who smokes pot can tell you that it triggers euphoria, thereby alleviating depression; you don’t need a study to tell you that. But I’ve never been a huge fan of weed, for several reasons.

    For starters, my sister smoked way too much of it when she was 18, and she wound up with a permanent case of acute paranoid schizophrenia right after a three-month-long binge. Her doctor said the weed probably triggered a dormant case of the illness inherited from my schizophrenic grandfather, one that would have emerged with or without the pot, it was just a matter of time. So, that instilled in me a well-warranted dose of fear.

    After staying far away from weed until my early 20s, I started smoking it every now and then, but not very often, and I certainly never purchased any or had it around. You’re probably wondering why I’d even risk smoking pot at all given my sister’s condition. Well, the doc also pointed out that she displayed many early signs of the disorder from childhood, and that my emotional and expressive–albeit mood-disordered–personality was opposite of what you’d typically see in a child predisposed for schizophrenia.

    I also had passed adolescence by the time I started smoking, and the science says adolescents are the ones most at risk. Strength and frequency also play a huge role, and my sister admitted that she holed herself up in her dorm room smoking bowl after bowl after bowl all day long for months until she literally couldn’t think anymore. I had no intention of smoking more than a hit or two off a blunt.

    My highs were a total mixed bag: Sometimes they relaxed me, sometimes they brought on unstoppable fits of giggles; one time I had waking dreams about dancing tortilla chips, and a few times I found myself in the midst of very uncomfortable paranoia. The one and only time I smoked way more than two hits, I wound up with full-blown psychosis that ruined an entire Halloween for multiple people. Even when smoking did bring on an enjoyable high, I still had to endure those moments of not remembering the last word I spoke, which I found, and still find, utterly horrifying. Plus my head felt like it weighed 100 pounds and my face felt like it was going to burn off.

    Pot just didn’t provide an alluring buzz. I never developed a craving for or addiction to it.

    If the weed I smoked had had even a small percentage of CBD, those episodes of paranoia would likely have not occurred since CBD actually curbs the anxiety-inducing effects of THC. In fact, in a bizarre twist of irony, studies have shown CBD effectively treats schizophrenia.

    Sadly, whoever bred weed in the 90s and early 2000s grew strains that had little or no CBD because it decreases the psychoactive effect. (Remember chronic?) Now, CBD is making a comeback among health-conscious, microdosing millennials who are sensible enough to want a more balanced high. This is good news for a paranoid Gen Xer.

    Now, you can walk into the local dispensary and see a smorgasbord of pot goodies that include CBD, from all-CBD vanilla bean cookies to 1:1 taffies to 100% CBD oil cartridges. There are salves and gums and pre-rolls and mints and a white CBD dust that looks just like cocaine, and all of them are labeled with the milligrams and the percentages of THC and CBD. This is heaven for someone like me who might want to try some pot without getting paranoid or stoned.

    I have to say, I love budtenders. Mitch, who manned the shop by my house, was extremely sympathetic to my terror of coming down with pot-induced paranoia. He emphasized that dosing, strain, and CBD content made a world of difference when trying to avoid it and pointed me in the direction of 1:1 taffies. Each taffy had 5 mg of CBD and THC, which sounds low, but it’s no microdose for someone like me. According to Mitch, 5 mg of CBD and THC can lead to a strong high for someone with zero pot tolerance, and I wasn’t looking to get stoned — I just wanted that mild euphoria, for the bell jar to lift.

    I ended up buying the taffies and slicing them into thirds, which Mitch suggested. In the end, I was ingesting about 1.5 mg of THC and 1.5 mg of CBD, which a lot of doctors would consider an ineffective dose, but not for me! My brain is super sensitive. After two hours, I ended up feeling a very small effect, but of course it grew.

    Ultimately, the high — if you’d call it that — was a powerful feeling of ease and positivity. My thoughts quieted, and yes, a mild euphoria fell over me. It was, without a doubt, a nice buzz, but a buzz no more intense than a glass of wine sipped slowly and on a reasonably full stomach. Despite this buzz, I had no craving for more pot. I was so pleased to not be paranoid or forgetting my thoughts as they spilled out of my head, the last thing I wanted was more. More might have induced those adverse effects. (Oh, the benefits of legalization!)

    I am not ashamed of that pot buzz nor do I think it nulls my sobriety in any way. My sobriety is just that — my sobriety, and it’s not some stringent moral code that demands I never feel any psychoactive pleasure whatsoever just because I used to drink myself into rages, sobs, and blackouts. If the pot buzz was harmless and actually beneficial for my mental health, why not embrace it? One of the main reasons I got off the booze is because how seriously destabilizing it is for my mood given my bipolar diagnosis. When I drank too much, it sent me crashing down into suicidal depressions.

    Normal drinkers get a slight buzz — if not a big buzz — from their drinks, and they’ll admit it. It’s a social lubricant and a relaxant that well-adjusted and healthy folks leverage all the time to take the edge off and have fun. When they manage to leverage these positive aspects of alcohol without destroying their lives, we tip our hats to them.

    Being out of AA for nearly three years no doubt helped me take the microdosing plunge with zero guilt.

    Now, if I wanted to gorge myself on those taffies after this experience, that would be problematic, at least for me. Someone else might not care if they engage that behavior, but I’m not in the mood to pick up any new addictions.

    I’m still very wary of using weed on the regular given my familial history of schizophrenia, though at this age my chances of developing the illness are low. Some studies have shown that heavy and regular use can fry your short-term memory, and I’m not down for that either: I need all the synapses I can get as I push 40. So, I don’t plan on using it very often.

    After having the weed, the positive mood lasted for a few days without ingesting any more taffies. I basically just returned to baseline. I didn’t eat any for weeks after that episode. Since then, I’ve probably had two or three, each time cutting them in thirds or halves. After a while, the package just sat there in the fridge, and eventually I ended up tossing them when I moved out of the apartment.

    So, now I have no taffies, and I could frankly care less. If I feel like one might help me in the future, I’ll take it. If I go out to the desert, maybe I’ll take some for recreational use. Either way, I know my limitations, and I know I don’t want to do it often. Because I don’t experience a craving, I doubt this will be a problem. I experienced a craving for alcohol from Day One. From the very beginning, I needed more.

    “Marijuana maintenance,” or smoking pot in recovery, is generally frowned upon by your standard AA member. Historically referred to (incorrectly) as “the gateway drug,” 12-step philosophy looks at it in the same way, cautioning that if you start smoking it in recovery it will open up the floodgates toward drinking again.

    The problem with this thinking is that it doesn’t take into account the vast differences that exist between all of us, be they physiological or psychological, or, hell, even spiritual. After reading much about recovery, from Lance Dodes to Marc Lewis to Gabrielle Glaser to Bill Wilson and all the stories in the rest of the Big Book, I feel that it’s unconscionable to argue that we are not unique, as so many people do in 12-step programs. We are highly unique, and observing this and tailoring treatment plans for each individual will increase success at recovery. One-size-fits-all recovery modalities are, according to my research, quite dangerous.

    Imagine if a woman with breast cancer walked into a doctor’s office and the doctor said, “Well, there’s no reason to take any additional imaging because all breast cancer patients are the same. You’re not unique. Mastectomy it is!”

    Even in the dark ages medicine was probably more sophisticated than this. So why are we in the dark ages when it comes to addiction treatment? If our bodies are this unique, then so are our minds. The field of psychiatry also takes our differences into account, with medication and other treatment prescribed according to individual circumstances.

    I am not encouraging anyone to microdose, but I am trying to encourage the sober community to keep an open mind about new psychotherapeutic treatments and to accept the fact that some people can stay away from their drug of choice while indulging in a substance that wasn’t and isn’t problematic. Studies have shown that marijuana can benefit our mental health; let’s continue to study this promising medicine instead of closing ourselves off to it out of fear.

    Microdosing on anything while in recovery is a very nuanced topic, and drawing blanket conclusions won’t do anyone a bit of good. But in order to make room for these conversations, we have to be open and accepting. We have to be willing to say, “Okay, she can take a little THC every now and then and enjoy it. I know it’s not a good idea for me since I smoked too much pot in the past, so I won’t do it.” We all need to be in touch with our own limits and accept them while not imposing them on others; otherwise, we resort to reductive fear-mongering that has no basis in reality.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How to Taper Off Suboxone: A Survival Guide

    How to Taper Off Suboxone: A Survival Guide

    “Fear is common and normal for a number of reasons, but the fear usually gives way to a sense of confidence and optimism when a taper is done correctly…Be patient.”

    Note: This article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice. This is merely the experience of 21 people interviewed by the author who have successfully tapered off buprenorphine-based medications (Suboxone, Zubsolv, Bunavail, Subutex, etc.) or significantly reduced their dose. Please consult your doctor before beginning a taper. 

    After two and a half years of taking Suboxone, I’ve decided that it’s time to start the tapering process. I don’t like having to rely on this little orange film strip each morning to get out of bed, the tidal wave of nausea, being constantly hot, the restless legs, and the constipation. This is an incredibly difficult decision because Suboxone has saved my life. Additionally, studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Suboxone and found it’s reduced overdose death rates by 40 percent. 

    Some people decide that it is best for them to take Suboxone for life. Shannon has been taking 16 milligrams of Suboxone for 17 years and has no intention of tapering. She said: “I’m never getting off, why fix something that isn’t broken? I love life now. I’m a great mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and trustworthy friend to all those that know and love me. I have absolutely no shame being a lifer. I’ve been to the depths of hell and now I’m in heaven. I believe without subs, I would be dead.”

    Like Shannon, fear of relapse and withdrawals makes me terrified of coming off Suboxone. I imagine waking up panicked and glazed in sweat, running to the bathroom to puke and worst of all, the black hole of depression and existential dread that is common with opioid withdrawal. These are common fears for people coming off opioid addiction treatment medications. In order to help others like me who are interested in tapering, I researched this topic and surveyed 21 people: 13 have successfully tapered off Suboxone and eight have significantly lowered their doses and are currently at or under six milligrams per day.

    Slow Taper

    Sixteen of 21 people I surveyed reported using a slow taper to come off or lower their dose. Dr. Jeffrey Junig of the Suboxone Talk Zone Blog suggests that the optimal dose to “jump” or quit taking Suboxone is .3 mg (about 1/3 of 1 mg).

    Junig writes: “I have had many patients taper successfully off buprenorphine. Fear is common and normal for a number of reasons, but the fear usually gives way to a sense of confidence and optimism when a taper is done correctly…Be patient. Tapering by too much, or too quickly, causes withdrawal symptoms that lead to ‘yo-yos’ in dose.”

    Amanda* agrees with Junig’s advice not to try to jump from too high of a dose. She said that when she jumped from 2 mg cold turkey it was “40 days of hell.”

    To avoid a hellish experience like Amanda’s, Junig advises reducing your dose by 5% or less every two weeks or 10% every month. Sound confusing? Junig simplifies: Use scissors to cut half of an 8 mg film. Then cut half of that, then half again. Put the doses in a pill organizer so they don’t get lost or accidentally consumed by children or pets.

    Holistic Remedies

    There are a handful of holistic remedies that can help with the tapering process. Folks I surveyed said that yoga, meditation, and healthy eating are pillars of their recovery. Studies have confirmed the benefit of yoga for improving quality of life in those withdrawing from opioids as it alleviates anxiety, restless legs, insomnia, and even nausea.

    Sarah said: “I tapered with a clean diet with digestible nutrient-dense food and smoothies and stayed hydrated. I got plenty of sun, used yoga and exercise too.”

    Others recommended vitamins and other supplements including: L-Tyrosine, DLPA, Vitamin C, Omega 3 Fish Oil, and ashwagandha. They used melatonin for sleep and Kava tea for relaxation. (Consult your physician before taking any supplements. Even benign substances may interact with other medications or have unintended side effects.)

    Marijuana

    Four out of 21 people polled used marijuana to deal with the difficult side effects of tapering off Suboxone. Barry said: “I know that some people may not see marijuana as a way that should be used to taper, but for me I was desperate to try anything that worked. I consider marijuana a lesser of evils. It helped with restless legs, nausea, pain, and anxiety.”

    Marijuana may now be a viable option for those who wish to try it, because it’s now legal for medical use in 29 states and for recreational use in nine states plus Washington DC. Unlike opioids, marijuana provides pain relief with a lower risk of addiction and nearly no risk of overdose. Plus, comprehensive studies like this one from the American Pain Society found that medical cannabis use is associated with a 64 percent decrease in opiate medication use.

    While studies have supported the use of marijuana to reduce opioid use, further research needs to be done as reported in the The Daily Beast. Dr. Junig also advises that patients should not start new mood-altering, addictive substances in order to taper off Suboxone.

    CBD Oil

    Three of the Suboxone patients polled were able to taper with the help of cannabidiol, also known as CBD oil. Experts emphasize the distinction between marijuana and CBD oil: CBD oil is not psychoactive, meaning that it doesn’t make patients feel “high” like the THC in marijuana. CBD oil may be a more viable option for people in states where marijuana has not been legalized and also for those who do not want mood altering affects, but strictly relief from physical symptoms. “I used CBD oil during the taper because pot isn’t legal in my state and it helped with restless legs, sleep, and anxiety,” Pablo said.

    A 2015 study in Neurotherapeutics examined the therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol as a treatment for opioid addiction. They found that CBD oil is effective in reducing the addictive properties of opioids, mitigating withdrawals, and lessening heroin-related cravings. Specifically, it relieved physical symptoms such as: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, runny nose, sweating, cramping, muscle spasm. Additionally, it treats mental symptoms like anxiety, agitation, insomnia, and restlessness. The study states CBD oil is effective with minimal side effects and toxicity.

    Kratom

    In our survey, the people who tried kratom claim that the herb is a controversial yet effective way for tapering from Suboxone. Some experts agree. According to the Mayo Clinic: “In Asia, people have used kratom in small amounts to reduce fatigue or treat opium addiction. In other parts of the world, people take kratom to ease withdrawal, feel more energetic, relieve pain, or reduce anxiety or depression.”

    Four of the individuals surveyed used kratom for tapering off Suboxone. Christine said, “I was very tired when coming off Suboxone, so kratom helped give me the energy to work, clean my house, and take care of my kids.”

    Cristopher R. McCurdy, PhD, a professor of medicinal chemistry at University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy in Gainesville, studies kratom. McCurdy told WebMD: “I definitely believe there is legitimacy to using kratom to self-treat an opiate addiction.”

    Despite these positive reviews, the Mayo Clinic and Web MD caution that kratom can also lead to addiction and withdrawal. According to an article on WebMD, “There’s little research on the herb’s effects on people, and some experts say it also can be addictive. The herb is illegal in six states and the District of Columbia, and the Drug Enforcement Administration is considering labeling it as a Schedule I drug…For now, the agency calls it a ‘drug of concern.’”

    Pharmaceutical Remedies

    Five of the people surveyed said that they tapered with the support of medications prescribed by their doctors to treat individual withdrawal symptoms. It is best that patients talk with their doctors and addiction professionals to see if a particular medication is right for their situation.

    Happy tapering! I plan on writing more in the future about my experience and progress tapering off Suboxone. If you’re embarking on this journey, I wish you luck!

    The names of some individuals have been changed to respect their privacy.

    Have you successfully tapered off Suboxone or methadone? Or are you a “lifer” like Shannon? We’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and tips in the comment section.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Feds Reschedule CBD Drugs But There's A Catch

    Feds Reschedule CBD Drugs But There's A Catch

    The rescheduling does not apply to all CBD drugs.

    Following the approval of CBD-based epilepsy drug Epidolex by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US federal government has decided that, going forward, it will reschedule all CBD medications that the FDA approves.

    As of Friday, the rescheduling order has been published to the official register. While CBD medications becoming legalized is good news for advocates, the excitement was somewhat dampened by just how narrow the order is.

    “Specifically, this order places FDA-approved drugs that contain CBD derived from cannabis and no more than 0.1% tetrahydrocannabinols in schedule V,” reads the order.

    While this may not read like a big deal, the problem is that the FDA approval process is costly and lengthy, greatly limiting who can actually bring CBD products to market. So far, only Epidolex, made by GW Pharmaceuticals in the United Kingdom, has approval.

    “What this does not do is legalize or change the status of CBD oil products,” said a DEA spokesperson. “As of right now, any other CBD product other than Epidiolex remains a Schedule I controlled substance, so it’s still illegal under federal law.”

    The DEA takes this tough stance on CBD despite the fact that it carries many medicinal benefits while not providing any of the trademark “high” that marijuana does. Epidolex was deemed by the FDA to be safe enough to be used as treatment for debilitating epilepsy for children as young as or younger than one year old.

    Advocates argue that such strict criteria for CBD products means that any medicine, no matter how popular or effective, cannot qualify for FDA approval if it has any trace of THC.

    “We anticipated that Epidiolex will be the first of many potential FDA-approved medicines based on the cannabis plant. These are welcome alternatives,” said Paul Armentano, the Deputy Director of NORML. “But these products should not be regulated in such a manner that patients no longer have ready access to herbal cannabis — a product that humans have used safely and effectively as a medicine for thousands of years and is approved today by statute in 31 states.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • FDA Approves First Cannabis-Based Drug For Debilitating Seizures

    FDA Approves First Cannabis-Based Drug For Debilitating Seizures

    The DEA must re-classify cannabidiol (CBD) before the medication can be available to patients.

    On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a cannabidiol (CBD) treatment for debilitating epilepsy beginning in children as young as 1 or even younger.

    Cannabidiol is a chemical compound (cannabinoid) of the cannabis plant known for its pain-relieving and anti-seizure properties, among others. However, it differs from THC, another cannabinoid, by not producing the “high” that marijuana is known for.

    Epidiolex was approved for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, both characterized by frequent and debilitating seizures that severely delay or limit a child’s development.

    Lennox-Gastaut syndrome can appear in children as young as 3-5 years old, while Dravet syndrome appears during infancy.

    According to STAT News, Epidiolex was shown to reduce the number of seizures by about 40% in patients with either disorder.

    “The FDA is committed to this kind of careful scientific research and drug development,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. “Controlled clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy of a drug, along with careful review through the FDA’s drug approval process, is the most appropriate way to bring marijuana-derived treatments to patients.”

    However, drug maker GW Pharmaceuticals will have to wait until the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) decides whether to re-classify cannabidiol before it can be available to patients.

    Currently CBD is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning that, by the federal government’s definition, it has no medical value and a high potential for abuse. STAT News reports that the DEA will make a decision in the next 90 days.

    Drugs that mimic the anti-nausea and appetite-inducing properties of THC have long been FDA-approved for treating chemotherapy patients and HIV/AIDS patients.

    Over a dozen U.S. states have passed legislation specifically to allow CBD for debilitating epilepsy, many of them to help children.

    The FDA’s decision gives hope to families living in non-medical marijuana states who have struggled to legally obtain and use CBD products for these conditions.

    Alexis Bortell is one patient who could have benefited from legal CBD in all 50 states.

    Bortell made headlines last year for being the 12-year-old girl who sued Attorney General Jeff Sessions for promoting the anti-marijuana policy that made it difficult for her to treat her intractable epilepsy that she’s suffered since she was 7 years old.

    Her family ultimately moved from Texas to Colorado—where cannabis is legal for both medical and adult use—so they could legally access CBD medication, which she says has allowed her to be seizure-free for about three years now.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Using Marijuana to Treat Opioid Addiction

    Using Marijuana to Treat Opioid Addiction

    When I’m on marijuana, the thought of injecting toxic drugs into my body seems totally unhealthy and unappealing.

    If you believe that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) is wrong because it’s “just substituting one drug for another,” then you’re really not going to like this article. It’s not about one of the three major forms of MAT approved for opioid addiction: buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone. It’s about another medication, which does not cause a physical dependency, nor does it contribute to the 175 drug overdose deaths that take place each day in the United States. It has fewer harmful side effects than most other medications, and has even been correlated with a reduction in opioid overdose rates. Nonetheless, it is more controversial than MAT and, in most states, less accessible. In fact, Pennsylvania is the only state that has approved its use for OUD—and only as of May 17, 2018. In New Jersey, it was recently approved to treat chronic pain due to opioid use disorder.

    The medication I’m describing is, of course, marijuana.

    Abstinence-based thinking has dominated the recovery discussion for quite some time. Since Alcoholics Anonymous began in the 1930s, the general public has associated addiction recovery with a discontinuation of all euphoric substances. Historically, that thinking has also extended to medication-assisted treatment, even though MAT is specifically designed not to produce a euphoric high when used as prescribed by people with an already existing opioid tolerance. The bias against MAT is finally beginning to lift; there is now even a 12-step fellowship for people using medications like methadone or buprenorphine. But marijuana, which is definitely capable of producing euphoria, is still under fire as an addiction treatment.

    In addition to the ingrained abstinence-only rule, another reason that most states don’t approve the use of marijuana for OUD is that there is little to no research backing its efficacy. Even in Pennsylvania, the recent addition of OUD to the list of conditions treatable by marijuana is temporary. Depending in part on the results of research performed by several universities throughout the state, OUD could lose its medical marijuana status in the future. And other states that have tried to add it have failed, including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Mexico. It’s not that any research has shown marijuana doesn’t work for OUD. There simply has not been much—if any—full-scale research completed that says it does.

    But street wisdom tells a different story. Jessica Gelay, the policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance’s New Mexico office, has been fighting to get OUD added as a medical marijuana qualifying condition in New Mexico since 2016. Although she recognizes that research on the topic is far from robust, she believes cannabis has a real potential to help minimize opioid use and the dangers associated with it.

    “Medical cannabis can not only help people get rest [when they’re in withdrawal],” says Gelay, “it can also help reduce nausea, get an appetite, reduce anxiety and cravings…it helps people reduce the craving voice. It helps people gain perspective.” I can relate to Gelay’s sentiment, because that’s exactly what marijuana does for me.

    I am five years into recovery from heroin addiction. I don’t claim the past five years have been completely opioid free, but I no longer meet the criteria for an active opioid use disorder. Total abstinence does not define my recovery. I take one of the approved drugs for OUD, buprenorphine, but as someone who also struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the result of physical and sexual assault, I experience emotional triggers that buprenorphine doesn’t address, leaving me vulnerable to my old way of self-medicating: heroin. But what does help me through these potentially risky episodes? Marijuana. For me, ingesting marijuana (which I buy legally from my local pot shop in Seattle, Washington) erases my cravings for heroin. It puts me in touch with a part of my emotional core that gets shut down when I am triggered. When I’m on marijuana, the thought of injecting toxic drugs into my body seems totally unhealthy and unappealing—probably the way it seems to someone who doesn’t have an opioid use disorder. It’s not a cure-all, but it stops me from relapsing.

    High Sobriety is a rehabilitation program based out of Philadelphia that provides cannabis-based recovery for addiction, with a focus on addiction to opiates. Founder Joe Schrank, who is also a clinical social worker, says that treatment should be about treating people where they are, and for people with chronic pain or a history of serious drug use, that can often mean providing them a safer alternative—one that Shrank, who does not personally use marijuana, says is not only effective, but even somewhat enjoyable.

    “[Cannabis forms] a great therapeutic alliance from the get-go. Like, we’re here with compassion, we’re not here to punish you, we want to make this as comfortable as we possibly can, and the doctor says you can have this [marijuana]. I think it’s better than the message of ‘you’re a drug addict and you’re a piece of shit and you’re going to puke,’” says Schrank.

    People have been using this method on the streets for years, something I observed during my time in both active addiction and recovery. Anecdotally, marijuana’s efficacy as a withdrawal and recovery aid is said to be attributed to its pain-relieving properties, which help with the aches and pains of coming off an opioid, as well as adding the psychological balm of the high. The difference between opiated versus non-opiated perception is stark, to say the least. The ability to soften the blow of that transition helps some users acclimate to life without opioids. Even if the marijuana use doesn’t remain transitional—if someone who was formerly addicted to heroin continues to use marijuana for the rest of his or her life instead—the risk of fatal overdose, hepatitis C or HIV transmission through drug use, and a host of other complications still go down to zero. Take it from someone who has walked the tenuous line of addiction: that’s a big win.

    Marijuana may also be able to help people get off of opioid-based maintenance medications. Although there is no generalized medical reason why a person should discontinue methadone or buprenorphine, many people decide that they wish to taper off. Sometimes this is due to stigma; friends or family members who insist, wrongly, that people on MAT are not truly sober. Too often, it’s a decision necessitated by finances.

    For Stephanie Bertrand, detoxing from buprenorphine is a way for her to fully end the chapter of her life that included opioid addiction and dependency. Bertrand is a buprenorphine and medical marijuana patient living in Ontario, Canada. She is prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone, which she is currently tapering from, and 60mg monthly of marijuana by the same doctor. She says that marijuana serves a dual purpose in her recovery. It was initially prescribed as an alternative to benzodiazepines, a type of anxiety medicine that can be dangerous, even fatal, when combined with opioids like buprenorphine. The anxiety relief helps her stay sober, she says, because she’d been self-medicating the anxiety during her active addiction. She now also uses a strain that is high in cannabidiol (CBD), the chemical responsible for many of cannabis’ pain relieving properties, to help with the aches and discomfort that come along with her buprenorphine taper. She says the marijuana has gotten her through four 2mg dose drops, and she has four more to go.

    Bertrand would not have the same experience if she were living in the United States. MAT programs in the States tend to disallow marijuana use, even in states where it has been legalized. But studies tell us this shouldn’t really be a concern. Two separate studies, one published in 2002 and the other in 2003, found that MAT patients who used cannabis did not show poorer outcomes than patients who abstained. Although this reasoning alone doesn’t mean marijuana helps with recovery, these findings set the groundwork for future research.

    Do the experiences of people like me and Bertrand represent a viable treatment plan for opioid use disorder? It will likely be a few years before we have the official data. Until then, it’s high time we stop demonizing people in opioid recovery who choose to live a meaningful life that includes marijuana.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Store That Sold Hemp Chews, CBD Oils For Pets Shuttered By E-Commerce Site

    Store That Sold Hemp Chews, CBD Oils For Pets Shuttered By E-Commerce Site

    “We all know that it’s completely asinine that CBD is a controlled substance at all. It doesn’t even get you high, and it absolutely has medical value.”

    A couple of months ago, Shopify shuttered the account of Treatibles, a company that sells popular hemp chews and CBD oils for pets, claiming the company sold products in jurisdictions where marijuana is illegal.

    Treatibles, which is based out of San Francisco, was founded by Julianna Carella. As Carella tells The Daily Beast, she began creating hemp products (which have the medical benefits of cannabis and extremely low amounts of THC) when she found out her clients were feeding the company’s marijuana products to their sick pets, which can be dangerous.

    Carella thought she could sell her hemp pet products across state lines and in Canada because they contained less than 0.3% THC, until Shopify closed down her account this April.

    As Carella explains, “The biggest problem with Shopify cutting us off like that is that suddenly it made it impossible for our customers to purchase the product, when, in many cases, they need it for their animals’ health and well-being. Many of our customers are using this product to help eliminate seizures.”

    The head of corporate communications for Shopify told The Daily Beast in response: “We investigate material reported to us and take action if it violates the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). In Canada, only licensed producers are authorized to produce and sell cannabis for medical purposes.”

    With marijuana slowly becoming legal, there is still a lot of misinformation about feeding cannabis treats to your pets. Some people who take medical marijuana think they can give it to their cats and dogs, but THC can be harmful to them.

    A 2012 study showed that many pets living in Colorado suffered from marijuana toxicity after medical marijuana became legal, and last year, the ASPCA’s poison control line saw a sizable increase in handling pets who ate marijuana.

    While CBD oil has reportedly had positive effects in treating epilepsy in kids and pets, it is still considered a Schedule I drug, which Carella finds absurd.

    “We all know that it’s completely asinine that CBD is a controlled substance at all,” she says. “It doesn’t even get you high, and it absolutely has medical value. We’re not out there getting teenagers stoned. We’re getting dogs with seizures to stop having seizures. We’re getting cats with high anxiety to stop freaking out on anybody who comes to the door. We’re doing nothing but good for these animals.”

    There’s still hope on the horizon for Carella and Treatibles. Marijuana should become legal in Canada soon, and the Hemp Farming Act is trying to take hemp off the Schedule I list as well. 

    View the original article at thefix.com