Cannabis genome project will allow for new crops, better medicine

Marijuana is slowly gaining public and legal acceptance, but there’s still a lot to be learned about the plant. With that in mind, researchers from the University of California Davis have started a project to map the cannabis genome. Hemp and marijuana are two different species, but they’re both strains of the cannabis (Cannabis sativa) plant. The main…

Danish companies queue to grow cannabis

Companies have begun applying to Denmark’s medicines regulator to grow cannabis plants ahead of the drug becoming legalised for medicinal purposes next year, it’s reported. Some 13 companies have already submitted applications for growing cannabis plants to the Laegemiddelstyrelsen, so that they can help treat Danes suffering from painful illnesses such as cancer and multiple…

Irish general practitioner attitudes toward decriminalisation and medical use of cannabis: results from a national survey

Governmental debate in Ireland on the de facto decriminalisation of cannabis and legalisation for medical use is ongoing. A cannabis-based medicinal product (Sativex®) has recently been granted market authorisation in Ireland. Male GPs and those with higher levels of addiction training are more likely to support a more liberal drug policy approach to cannabis for personal use.

Pharmacology of cannabinoids in the treatment of epilepsy

The use of cannabis products in the treatment of epilepsy has long been of interest to researchers and clinicians alike; however, until recently very little published data were available to support its use. As cannabinoids and cannabis-based products are studied for efficacy as anticonvulsants, more investigation is needed regarding the specific targets of action, optimal drug delivery, and potential drug-drug interactions. This article is part of a Special Issue titled Cannabinoids and Epilepsy.