On 5-6 October the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) held its 4th Conference on Cannabinoids in Medicine. Here are some excerpts from presentations.

(1) British researchers evaluated the long-term tolerance and efficacy of a cannabis extract (Sativex) in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. 38 out of 53 eligible subjects entered the long-term study. 70 per cent of patients completed more than three months treatment, and 51 per cent more than six. Improvements in pain and sleep quality similar in magnitude to those noted in the acute study were recorded, and there was no evidence of tolerance to these beneficial effects or escalation of Sativex dosage over time. (Abstract by Robson et al.)

(2) Canadian researchers conducted a pilot study comparing four potencies of herbal cannabis (0, 2.5, 6 and 9.5 per cent THC) in patients with neuropathic pain. 23 patients with chronic neuropathic pain due to trauma or surgery who were not current cannabis users received the four potencies in four five-day periods separated by nine-day periods. Researchers concluded that smoking 25mg (one puff) of 9.5 per cent THC herbal cannabis three times daily for five days has a modest analgesic effect on chronic neuropathic pain and improves sleep. The drug was well-tolerated. (Abstract by Ware et al.)

(3) Spanish researchers showed that cannabinoids prevent the development of peripheral neuropathy and alterations in gastrointestinal transit induced by chronic chemotherapy in the rat. The chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin induced a delay in weight gain and neuropathy and a delay in intestinal transit. When a synthetic cannabinoid was administered together with cisplatin, both neuropathy and delay in intestinal transit were prevented. (Abstract by Abalo et al.)

(4) Israelian researchers presented evidence that endocannabinoid and/or CB1 receptor insufficiency underlies infant failure-to-thrive in mouse models. They concluded that cannabinoid-based treatment should be considered to improve food intake and weight gain in infants with failure-to-thrive or with growth failure.

(5) German researchers presented retrospective data on the effects of oral dronabinol (THC) in 124 patients with chronic pain. Mean pain intensity before treatment was 7.6 and was reduced to 4.2 during treatment with dronabinol. Researchers concluded that treatment of severely ill pain patients with dronabinol in advanced stages of chronicity proved to be highly effective and well tolerated. (Abstract by Konrad et al.)

(Source: Abstract book available for download on the IACM website at: http://www.cannabis-med.org/meeting/cologne2007/reader.pdf)