Bulletin of the International Association for Cannabis as a Medicine

12 April 2009

Abstract deadline for IACM Conference on 2-3 October
2009

Please do not forget to send your abstract in time for the IACM
Conference 2009. The deadline for oral presentations is 15 April
and for poster presentations 15 June. Please make your
submission at the “Call for papers” button on the conference
website at: [http://www.iacm2009.org

 >http://www.iacm2009.org]

Forum for discussion on French site

A new forum for questions and discussions has started on the
French part of the IACM website.

Science: THC induces autophagy in human brain cancer cells

Spanish researchers were able to demonstrate that the cannabis
compound THC (dronabinol) induces death of human brain cancer
cells through stimulation of autophagy. They also showed that
autophagy happens before apoptosis, a form of programmed cell
death, in dronabinol-induced cancer cell death and that this cell
reaction was necessary for the anti-tumour action of cannabinoids
in animals. “Our findings support that safe, therapeutically
efficacious doses of THC may be reached in cancer patients,”
Guillermo Velasco of Complutense University in Madrid and
colleagues reported in their article for a scientific journal.

The term “autophagy” from Greek means literally “self-eating”.
Autophagy can promote cell death, but the exact mechanisms
underlying its role in cancer remains unclear. It involves the
degradation of a cell’s own components and plays a normal role in
cell growth and development, helping to maintain a balance
between synthesis and degradation of cellular products. The most
well-known mechanism of autophagy involves the formation of a
membrane around a region of the cell, separating the contents
from the rest of the cell content, which is then degraded.
Autophagy may play a role in the battle against cancer and in the
defence of infections.

(Source: Salazar M, Carracedo A, Salanueva IJ, Hernández-
Tiedra S, Lorente M, Egia A, Vázquez P, Blázquez C, Torres S,
García S, Nowak J, Fimia GM, Piacentini M, Cecconi F, Pandolfi
PP, González-Feria L, Iovanna JL, Guzmán M, Boya P, Velasco
G. Cannabinoid action induces autophagy-mediated cell death
through stimulation of ER stress in human glioma cells. J Clin
Invest. 2009 Apr 1. [Electronic publication ahead of print])

News in brief

USA: Michigan

On 6 April the state of Michigan started to accept applications for
its medical cannabis program. Medical conditions that qualify for
the new program include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis
C, Crohn’s disease, severe and chronic pain or nausea, seizures
and spasticity. The state issues identification cards for these
patients. In November 2008 voters decided Michigan should join
twelve other states to allow the medical use of cannabis. (Source:
Detroit News of 7 April 2009)

Spain: Mallorca

Doctors on Mallorca should be able to prescribe to their patients
cannabis for therapeutic purposes. On 7 April the parliament of
the Baleares voted in favour of this issue with a large majority. It
is intended first to evaluate results of pilot projects in other regions
of Spain. The decision of the regional parliament of the Baleares
is possible because the responsibility for the health system has
been passed on to the regional government by the central
government. (Source: mallorazeitung.es of 9 April 2009)

Science: New cannabinoids

Nine new cannabinoids were detected in a cannabis variety with a
high dronabinol content by researchers of the University of
Mississippi, USA. Two of them belong to the cannabichromene
type (CBC), one to the cannabigerol type (CBG) and two to the
cannabinol type (CBN) of cannabinoids. One of the new CBN
type cannabinoids (8-hydroxycannabinol) and another cannabinoid
displayed significant antibacterial activities. The number of
cannabinoids ever detected in cannabis now increases to about
80. (Source: Radwan MM, et al. J Nat Prod. 2009 Apr 3.
[Electronic publication ahead of print])

Science: Systemic sclerosis

According to research at the University of Erlangen, Germany, a
synthetic CB2 receptor agonist reduced dermal thickening and
fibrosis, which was induced by a chemical (bleomycin).
Researchers noted that “CB2 might be an interesting molecular
target for the treatment of early inflammatory stages of systemic
sclerosis.” (Source: Akhmetshina A, et al. Arthritis Rheum
2009;60(4):1129-36.)

Science: Stroke

In an animal model of stroke a CB2 receptor agonist reduced the
consequences of reduced blood supply to the brain. Neurological
function was improved compared to a control group. This
protective effect was attributed to the attenuation of dysfunction
of the smallest brain arteries. (Source: Zhang M, et al. Microvasc
Res. 2009 Mar 27. [Electronic publication ahead of print])

Science: Diabetes

South African researchers investigated the effects of a cannabis
extract on insulin sensitivity in insulin resistant fat cells. Insulin-
resistance, i.e. failure of cells to uptake glucose (sugar) despite
the presence of insulin, was induced using TNF-alpha. Insulin-
induced glucose uptake was increased in these cells after
exposure to the extract, which suggests an anti-diabetic effect of
the cannabis extract. (Source: Gallant M, et al. Phytomedicine.
2009 Apr 1. [Electronic publication ahead of print])

Science: Positive affective memory

According to research at the University of Oxford, UK, a single
dose of the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant did not alter
subjective mood in 30 study participants. However, rimonabant
selectively reduced recall of positive self-relevant information, an
effect contrary to that seen following the administration of
antidepressants. Researchers concluded that “these results
suggest that a single dose of rimonabant decreases positive
emotional memory.” (Source: Horder J, et al.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2009 Apr 1. [Electronic publication
ahead of print])

NEW BOOK

Michka. Cannabis Médical : du Chanvre Indien au THC de
Synthèse. Mama Editions. ISBN 978-2-84594-021-5

ONE YEAR AGO:

 Spain: Positive results of a study with the cannabis extract
Sativex in Catalonia

 Science: THC effective in obsessive compulsive disorder
according to case reports

 Science: Preliminary results of a study with Sativex in
neuropathic pain due to multiple sclerosis

 Germany: Lead poisoning due to adulterated cannabis

TWO YEARS AGO:

 Italy: Government wants to allow the use of cannabis-based
medicines

 Science: The use of cannabis does not influence the efficacy of
two anti-cancer drugs, a clinical study finds

(More at the IACM-Bulletin archives)

[International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM)

 >http://www.cannabis-med.org]

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 Email: info@cannabis-med.org

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