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Major clinical trial will assess whether CBD can help cut opioid need after knee replacement.
The Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) is working with researchers at Henry Ford Health to launch the “largest clinical trial yet to determine whether administering cannabidiol (CBD) before and after surgery can reduce the need for opioids following total knee replacement.”
The study has implications for other surgeries, too.
“This study could be a significant step forward in exploring additional pain management strategies and assessing the potential for CBD to reduce opioid consumption following surgery,” said Lara Zador, co-investigator, in MSA’s announcement.
Opioids are often necessary after surgeries like knee replacements, but their use at this time can also lead to problematic use or addiction.
The trial begins this month and is expected to wrap up in 2028.
ABA survey: consumers want Congress to tackle cannabis banking.
This week, the American Bankers Association released a consumer survey conducted by Morning Consult for the Association.
The results showed that 63% of respondents support Congress passing a bill that would open up access to banking for legal cannabis businesses, including checking accounts and business loans.
“Americans have made it clear that Congress should resolve the ongoing conflict between state and federal law on cannabis banking issues by passing legislation that will enhance public safety, tax collection and transparency,” Rob Nichols, ABA president and CEO, said in a statement.
It’s worth noting that ABA surveys have found such support for reform in the past, and ABA is a loud supporter of cannabis banking.
What’s next for cannabis in Canada?
When Canada legalized cannabis for adults in 2018, the law mandated a review of the rollout after three years.
Fast forward nearly six years later, and that review is complete. The nearly 100 page report should be required reading for every policymaker, regulator, and, really, just about any cannabis stakeholder, considering Canada is the largest and most populous country in the world with legal cannabis.
However, as the report itself notes, “it has been difficult to fully assess the impacts of legalization, given the limited time to collect data and evaluate outcomes and ongoing barriers to research.”
Nonetheless, the expert panel that authored the report has several findings and recommendations. Here are just a few:
On public health: the report suggests that while youth use has remained steady, “more needs to be done” to reduce use. Also, there is a “trend toward higher-potency cannabis.” If this continues, “Health Canada should be ready to restrict or prohibit certain products.”
On First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities: the report authors “call for amendments to the Cannabis Act, facilitating a collaborative process with Indigenous communities that would allow those who wish to exert more control over cannabis-related activities in their territories to enter into nation-to-nation agreements with the Government of Canada.”
On the industry: the report suggests that “Health Canada should reduce the financial and administrative burden it places on participants in the legal industry.”
Further, the report notes that “industry players have repeatedly called on the Government of Canada to reform the excise tax regime, particularly for dried cannabis where price decreases have substantially increased the tax burden for industry.” Therefore, they “see an opportunity to update tax policy to reflect the current reality and to encourage positive changes in cannabis use behaviour by developing a progressive excise tax regime. This would involve higher-potency products being subject to more tax than lower-potency products.”
On diversity in the industry: the report notes that “Health Canada and its partners should take a comprehensive approach that looks beyond the issuance of a licence, to include pre- and post-licensing supports.”
On adult access: the report notes that despite calls to increase allowable THC in edibles, they “believe Health Canada should maintain the current limit of 10 milligrams of THC per package in edible cannabis products and continue to develop the knowledge base in this area to determine whether there are conditions under which the limit could be raised without unduly impacting public health.”
On enforcement: the report notes that “there needs to be more collaboration between regulators and police forces to develop a comprehensive strategy to address illicit activity. Canadians also need information about the broader social harms they unintentionally encourage when they purchase from the illicit market.”
On medical access: the authors write that they “appreciate that there are still significant gaps in the evidence base and recognize that cannabis is not a suitable treatment for all individuals and all health conditions, nor is its use risk-free. At the same time, there is a need to continue to support patients to access cannabis for medical purposes.”
Further, they suggest that “an important improvement to the medical access regime would be the establishment of an in-person pharmacy access channel.”
They continue: “We recognize that establishing a pharmacy access channel cannot happen overnight. It would require regulatory changes from Health Canada and consultation with interested provinces and territories and regulatory authorities for pharmacists. Pharmacy access would have benefits for patients by addressing concerns about delays with mail delivery and product shortages and would allow patients to consult with a pharmacist and discuss potential drug interactions or side effects.”
