Natural cannabis extracts proven superior to THC alone for intractable cancer pain

Plymouth, United Kingdom–(ENEWSPF)–December 2, 2009. The administration of Sativex, an oral spray consisting of natural cannabis extracts (primarily THC and cannabidiol aka CBD), significantly reduces cancer pain compared to placebo or THC alone, according to clinical trial data published online in the Journal of Pain Management.

Authors concluded, “The results of this study show that the THC/CBD extract [Sativex] is an efficacious adjunctive treatment for cancer-related pain in patients who are not achieving an adequate analgesic response to opioids.”

They added: “[I]n this study, the THC/CBD extract showed a more promising efficacy profile than the THC extract alone. This finding is supported by evidence of additional synergy between THC and CBD. CBD may enhance the analgesic potential of THC by means of potent inverse agonism at CB2 receptors, which may produce anti-inflammatory effects, along with its ability to inhibit immune cell migration. … These results are very encouraging and merit further study.”

An estimated 25 percent to 40 percent of cancer patients experience some type of neuropathic pain for which conventionally available analgesics are not consistently effective.

Well, if the whole natural extracts of THC + CBD are superior to THC alone, what about the whole natural plant compared to the extracts?  Does it seem strange to anyone else that they hate the weed so much they made a THC-only pill called Marinol, and then to improve that they make a THC+CBD spray called Sativex?  And when they find the other cannabinoids have beneficial effects, will they then extract those to further improve the Sativex?  It seems to me a lot of effort to try to make a perfect substitute for a plant rather than just use the plant.

I can see the benefits of standardization, of knowing the THC/CBD ratios and the dosage.  I’m actually not even upset at the corporations that seek to make a profit off of these cannabis-derived drugs, more power to them.  These studies help them realize the profit in cannabis and help the public realize the medical power of cannabis.  That’s going to spur more research.  For that to happen in the US, cannabis will have to be moved out of Schedule I.  This moves us toward our goal.

However, on this path, we must always stand firm on the right of medical users to grow and use the raw plant.  Denying suffering people the right to grow their own low-cost natural non-toxic pain remedy so that pharmaceutical corporations or non-profit organizations can stay in business is flat out immoral.  As we move from protection for a few to relegalization for us all, the same ethics apply to the right of the cannabis consumer to grow.