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- Research in Australia shows marijuana helps with chronic pain and insomnia
- The rules around getting prescriptions for medicinal cannabis
- A quick look at the winners and losers of ASX weed stocks
Sufferers of chronic pain and insomnia have the most to benefit from consuming marijuana, according to new research published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) last week.
The research shows “significant improvements” in quality of life for people with those conditions, with the positive effects being “largely sustained” over time.
The analysis was conducted in 3,148 people in Australia, who were prescribed medical cannabis for treating certain eligible conditions.
Eight wellbeing indicators were tested, with patients being asked to rate their wellness on a scale of 0-100 at different stages of treatment.
The eight categories were general health, bodily pain, physical functioning, role limitations, mental health, emotional role limitations, social functioning and vitality.
Results from the survey overwhelmingly showed that marijuana helped with the conditions of patients, while adverse side effects were “rarely serious”.
“These findings suggest that medical cannabis treatment may be associated with improvements in health-related quality of life among patients with a range of health conditions,” said the researchers in the study.
How do we get our hands on medical cannabis?
In 2016, the Australian Federal Government legalised the sale and use of medicinal cannabis, which jump-started the domestic industry.
But its use only exploded in 2019, with around 3% of Aussies reportedly using some form of cannabis to treat chronic pain and mental health issues.
While the TGA regulates access, most medicinal cannabis products in Australia are considered to be unapproved medicines – which means they have not been assessed by the TGA for safety, quality or effectiveness.
If you’re wondering whether medicinal cannabis is right for your condition, the TGA advises that your first step is to have a conversation with your doctor.
There are currently no restrictions imposed by the TGA on the conditions for which a doctor may prescribe cannabis.
But an application to the TGA would have to be made for the prescription, which generally takes around two working days for approval.
For privacy reasons, the TGA does not publish a list of Authorised Prescribers who have been authorised to supply medicinal cannabis products.
Psychedelics for mental health
Further progress was made in March, when Australia became the first country in the world to recognise psychedelics as medicine after the TGA approved psychedelic substances used in magic mushrooms and MDMA.
From 1 July this year, medicines containing the psychedelic substances psilocybin and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) can be prescribed by authorised psychiatrists in Australia for treating certain mental health conditions.
Under the new guidance, the TGA says it will permit the prescribing of MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psilocybin for the treatment-resistant depression.
Since that announcement, dozens of clinics with both online and physical locations have sprouted, offering psychedelic-based psychotherapy sessions.
Weed Week: Cannabis helps chronic pain and insomnia, and here's what the TGA rules say - Stockh3ad
