Surprising Finding in Cannabis Research: The Drug Improves Cognition in Cancer Patients

Can using over-the-counter cannabis products help cancer patients cope with issues like pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression?

That’s what University of Colorado Cancer Center researcher Angela Bryan, PhD, set out to discover in a study published in April in the journal Exploration in Medicine. And while she found that cannabis improved daily life for study participants in those areas, she also found an effect of the drug that she wasn’t expecting to see: improved cognition.

“Participants’ subjective cognition — feeling like they could think clearly — actually got better with cannabis use,” says Bryan, co-director of the Center for Health and Neuroscience, Genes, and Environment at the University of Colorado Boulder (CUChange for short).

“Part of why we think that might be is that the other thing that got better is pain. We know that being in pain can compromise cognition tremendously, so we think there might be a connection there. We don’t think cannabis itself was causing people’s cognition to improve, but if it reduces pain and makes people feel better, that makes it easier to think more clearly.”

Studying acute and longer-term effects

Bryan, herself a former breast cancer patient who used cannabis to control her pain throughout her treatment, has devoted much of her research over the past few years to studying the effects of legalized cannabis in Colorado (voters approved the measure to legalize in 2012). For the study in Exploration in Medicine, she and her team observed 25 cancer patients over two weeks, starting off by getting their baseline sleep patterns and pain and cognition levels, then asking them to go to a dispensary to purchase any product they wanted to help ease their symptoms.

Once participants had their products in hand — everything from gummies and baked goods to pills and tinctures — the researchers retested their physical and cognitive levels immediately after ingestion of the cannabis product, as well as after two weeks of sustained use. The researchers found the improvements they were expecting in pain levels, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression, but the cognitive improvement was a surprise.

“There’s a lot of concern about compromised cognition in patients undergoing treatment for cancer,” Bryan says.” Even after treatment is over, patients describe things like brain fog and slowing of their cognition. There was a concern that if they use cannabis to treat these other concerns, it could compromise their cognition. But the opposite turned out to be the case.”

Quest for more data

At the heart of the cannabis research being conducted by Bryan and her colleagues at CUChange is giving oncologists more data around recommending cannabis products for their patients. Because cannabis is still a Schedule 1 drug at the federal level, it is difficult for researchers to conduct the types of trials that result in solid data. The study that showed improved cognition from over-the-counter products was the pilot for a larger study from the center that will look at the effects on cancer patients of hemp-derived CBD — a product that is legal on the federal level. Cognition will again be one of the areas studied.

“Because it’s hemp-derived CBD, it allows us to do a randomized controlled trial with a placebo, which is far more rigorous than what we were able to do in the pilot,” Bryan says. “I love that in the pilot, participants got to pick the product that they used, because that’s how it works in the real world. The pilot project has a lot of external validity, but it doesn’t have the rigor of a randomized controlled trial with placebo and random assignment and experimental dosing control.”

Bryan knows she has no time to waste, as a large number of cancer patients already are using cannabis to control their symptoms, and oncologists have very little information to guide them as far as which products to recommend, and in what doses.

“We know that 30% to 40% of cancer patients are already using cannabis, so it’s not like people are waiting for the studies to start,” Bryan says. “It’s the wild West, and people are making their best guess about what they think might help them. We’re way behind, and I feel like we have a moral imperative to try to get this work done as quickly as we can.”

The Axea team recently had the chance to attend the 2023 Lift Expo in Toronto. Since their first event in 2016, Lift has established a reputation as one of the best Canadian conferences for cannabis industry professionals – and this year was no exception!

We had a fantastic time connecting with some of the top leaders in the industry and meeting other entrepreneurs with new and innovative ideas. We always appreciate an opportunity to share our brand’s story and educate others on the many benefits of cannabis wellness products.

A huge congratulations to the team at Lift for another successful event – we can’t wait to see everyone again at the next show!

 

Cannabis isolate and distillate are two popular forms of cannabis extracts. While both are derived from the cannabis plant, they differ in their composition and properties. In this article, we’ll explore why cannabis isolate is often considered better than distillate.

Our team was thrilled to be able to attend the first-ever CannExpo in Toronto last weekend.

It was great to have the chance to meet with consumers, budtenders, retailers, and members of the community to talk about how Axea’s line of cannabis oils and topical products can help people live better and embrace true wellness!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth – we very much look forward to attending more community-focused events in the months to come!

As more and more people turn to natural remedies for their own health, it’s no surprise that pet owners are also interested in alternative treatments for their furry friends. One such alternative treatment that has gained popularity in recent years is CBD, or cannabidiol.

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants, including hemp. Unlike THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, CBD does not produce a “high” when consumed. Instead, it has been shown to have a variety of potential health benefits for both humans and animals.

So, how can CBD be used to help treat conditions in pets? Here are a few potential applications:

  1. Pain relief: CBD has been shown to have analgesic, or pain-relieving, properties. This makes it a potential treatment option for pets suffering from chronic pain, such as arthritis or back problems. CBD may also be helpful in managing acute pain, such as after surgery or an injury.
  2. Anxiety and stress: Many pets, particularly dogs, suffer from anxiety and stress. This can manifest as destructive behavior, excessive barking, and even aggression. CBD has been shown to have anxiolytic, or anti-anxiety, properties, which may help calm anxious pets.
  3. Epilepsy and seizures: Some pets, particularly dogs, suffer from epilepsy and seizures. CBD has been shown to have anticonvulsant properties, which means it may be helpful in managing seizures.
  4. Appetite and nausea: Some pets may have a decreased appetite or suffer from nausea due to various conditions, such as cancer or gastrointestinal problems. CBD has been shown to have antiemetic properties, which means it may help reduce nausea and vomiting. It may also stimulate appetite in pets who are not eating enough.
  5. Skin conditions: CBD has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may make it a potential treatment option for pets with skin conditions, such as dermatitis or allergies. It may also help reduce itching and scratching.

It’s important to note that while CBD has potential health benefits, it is not a cure-all and should not be used as a replacement for traditional veterinary care. If you are considering using CBD to help treat your pet’s condition, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian first. They can help you determine if CBD is a safe and appropriate treatment option for your pet, as well as help you determine the proper dosage.

 

The Axea team had an amazing time last week attending the @kind_magazine winter fair in Toronto… and our Nighttime CBN+CBD Oil definitely helped us to recover, get a good night’s sleep, and ensure a fresh start for day 2!

That you to KIND Media & Events for hosting such an amazing experience and for all the budtenders who showed up despite the cold to learn more about the latest cannabis products!

The Grow Up Conference and Expo has been serving the Canadian cannabis grower’s community since 2017 with one of the largest annual conferences focused on the education, collaboration and growth of the cannabis industry. This year, our Axea team had the opportunity to attend the convention to connect with leading experts in the field as well as visit and meet with a number of dispensary owners, managers, and budtenders in the Niagara Falls area.

The show was a huge success and our team had a great time seeing many of our industry colleagues and friends. Thank you to the Grow Up team for another fantastic event!

Research relating to the medicinal benefits of marijuana is still ongoing, but studies are impressive. In fact, an estimated two million Americans are currently using medical cannabis, to alleviate some of the most common mental and physical ailments, and the numbers are rising. Many cannabis consumers refer to the cannabis plant as a medicinal elixir and swear that it treats mild to serious illnesses such as relieving pain and fighting cancer.

In Canada, many consumers have turned to medical cannabis to help with dozens of health concerns such as migraines, sleep disorders, and mental health afflictions. Right now in Canada, medical cannabis is authorized by a prescriber who provides a medical document allowing individuals to access dried marijuana for medical purposes. Meanwhile, cannabis remains federally illegal in the USA and the FDA still classifies it as a schedule 1 drug. Yet, in 2018 the FDA approved epidiolex, a CBD-based medicine for treating seizures associated with rare and severe forms of epilepsy. In addition, it also approved nabilone and dronabinol, which are synthetic forms of THC, to alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. So what other illnesses are people using medical cannabis to treat? Read to discover how this medicinal green plant is helping to heal people suffering from everything from minor headaches to migraines, to chronic pain.

What is Medical Cannabis?

The cannabis plant contains approximately 400 naturally occurring compounds. More than 60 of these compounds are cannabinoids, with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) being the most prevalent.

THC is the psychoactive and intoxicating cannabinoid that is popular for getting users “high” and delivering euphoric effects. On the other hand, CBD is non-psychoactive, and in rare cases, it can deliver mild intoxicating effects. Studies have shown that both CBD and THC can provide an array of medicinal benefits.

Medical cannabis, also widely known as medical marijuana, is the use of these cannabinoids by medical experts to help patients relieve and treat various symptoms. Experts suggest that when CBD, THC, and terpenes are consumed together, they work in synergy to produce an entourage effect. The entourage effect is said to provide more potent and effective medicinal benefits. So what are some of the other medical health benefits of marijuana that have been backed by research? Check them all out below.

15 Medical Cannabis Health Benefits

  1. Alleviating Chronic Pain
  2. Fighting Cancer
  3. Treating Stress And Depression
  4. Reducing Seizures
  5. Helping With Anxiety
  6. Helping With Weight Loss
  7. Treating and Preventing Diabetes
  8. Helping With PTSD
  9. May Help in Autism Treatment
  10. Helping With Alcohol and Drug Addiction
  11. Helping With Multiple Sclerosis
  12. May Improve Lung Capacity

The Bottom Line

Marijuana is not a new drug. Studies show that it has been used as a medicine since the 19th century. Recent research and anecdotal reports prove the effective use of medical cannabis in treating and alleviating numerous symptoms. And while stigma still remains surrounding the effectiveness and use of medical cannabis for mental and physical afflictions, studies are promising that cannabis will spread its therapeutic properties to consumers looking to alleviate suffering from common illnesses.

Cannabinoids overall are likely to be helpful for headache sufferers due to their ability to penetrate the part of the brain involved in migraine pathophysiology.

Did you know that 23 million Americans suffer from severe migraine headaches, and 25% have four or more episodes per month?

In fact, this epidemic costs businesses between 1.2 billion to 17.2 billion dollars annually, through lost productivity and sick time.

But can cannabis provide relief?

Though the United States classifies medical cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug (meaning it has the high potential for abuse and has no accepted medical use and lack of safety for use under medical supervision), there have been numerous case studies surrounding the use of medical cannabis for headaches. And it would be a natural derivation of those studies to at least consider CBD oil, another closely related cannabinoid.

This woman experienced resolution of her headache within five minutes of smoking cannabis. Though anecdotal, case studies such as this suggest further evaluation be considered for headache sufferers.

Cannabinoids overall are likely to be helpful for headache sufferers due to their ability to penetrate the part of the brain involved in migraine pathophysiology, offering migraine sufferers with endocannabinoid (naturally appearing pain modulators) deficiency or receptor activation dysfunction possible relief. (If you’re suffering with headaches or migraines, you may want to read that sentence a few more times, because it offers HOPE.)

While also being entwined with the central nervous system’s serotonin, the endocannabinoid system mechanism of action can be similar to drugs already in use for migraine sufferers such as triptans, like Sumatriptan, Imitrex, Maxalt and Amerge which act through serotonin activation.

Cannabis has been found to be most effective in treating patients with:

  • Migraines
  • Anxiety (prior to the onset of migraines)
  • Migraines concurrent with fibromyalgia
  • Endocannabinoid deficiency in pain disorders
  • Variation with the CNR1 gene
  • Female migraine sufferers due to the accelerated degradation fo endocannabinoids

Why do we care?

Look, current migraine medications fall far short, whether from side effects, failed response to triptans, or simple intolerance to the medications.

In these situations it is perfectly reasonable to consider an alternative treatment with the use of medical cannabis or even CBD.

When medications have failed, a patient’s medical team might want to consider cannabis or CBD.

These might very well present a logical alternative therapy to finding relief.

The legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada in 2018 has led to many patients being curious about the benefits of taking cannabis in conjunction with their cancer treatment. We investigated the perceptions among genitourinary cancer (GUC) patients regarding cannabis use as part of their care plans.

METHODS: A survey was created to explore current cannabis use behaviors, reasons for cannabis use, and the beliefs of cannabis usefulness towards cancer-related care, including cancer treatment, among GUC patients. The survey was distributed across Canada online via RedCAP through social media platforms, email, and patient advocacy groups. The survey was active from August to December 2020.

RESULTS: Of eighty-five responses, fifty-two met inclusion for analysis. Participants included 11 bladder, 26 kidney, and 15 prostate cancer patients. Many (48.1%) participants used cannabis daily and 75% had been using it for more than one year. Cannabis was consumed through oil-based products, edibles, and smoking. The most common reasons for using cannabis were cancer-related anxiety, to prevent cancer progression, cancer-related pain, recreational use, and other non-cancer-related illness or symptoms. Participants believed cannabis improved their sleep (70.2%), anxiety (65.9%), and overall mood (72.3%). Most participants were either unsure (38.3%) or neutral (31.9%) in the belief that cannabis might decrease their cancer progression.

CONCLUSIONS: GUC patients use cannabis for a variety of cancer- and non-cancer-related symptoms. Many patients believe cannabis has benefited their cancer-related symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of healthcare providers remaining familiar with current evidence on cannabis to support patient conversations about cannabis use.