Search

Driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) is a major cause of preventable death and a growing public health concern. News media coverage of DUIC may influence public perceptions of causal factors for DUIC, risks of DUIC, and potential policy solutions. This study examines Israeli news media coverage of DUIC, and contrasts media coverage according to whether news items refer to cannabis use for medical vs. non-medical purposes. We conducted a quantitative content analysis of news articles related to driving accidents and cannabis use (N = 299) from eleven of the highest circulation newspapers in Israel between 2008 and 2020. We apply attribution theory to analyze media coverage of accidents that were linked to medical cannabis, use compared with non-medical use. News items describing DUIC in the context of non-medical (vs. medical) cannabis use were more likely to: (a) emphasize individual causes (vs. social and political); (b) describe drivers in negative terms (vs. neutral or positive); (c) refer to an increased accident risk due to cannabis use (vs. inconclusive or low risk); and (d) call for increased enforcement rather than education. Results show that Israeli news media coverage of cannabis-impaired driving varied significantly depending on whether it referred to cannabis use for medical purposes, or non-medical purposes. News media coverage may influence public perceptions of the risks of DUIC, the factors that are associated with this issue, and potential policy solutions that may reduce the prevalence of DUIC in Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined public perception in Israel of the severity of medical cannabis diversion, its morality, and normativeness. The sample included 380 participants who completed a quantitative questionnaire to respond to four scenarios about diverting medical cannabis to a person with/without a license and with/without a small payment (a 2×2 design). The findings show that although the participants received advance information about the severity of medical cannabis diversion as a drug trafficking offense, they perceived the severity of the offense as moderate, and as an act that is at least moderately moral and normative. The findings are explained based on moral theories. We discuss the implications of the findings in relation to the gap between public attitudes and legal policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: To explore the ways in which stigma is experienced, and what strategies are used to manage stigma among patients using medical cannabis to ease suffering from chronic pain. Background: Various jurisdictions have legalised medical cannabis in recent decades. Despite increasing prevalence and more liberal attitudes towards medical cannabis, it is possible that patients who use medical cannabis experience stigma. Design: A phenomenological qualitative study. Methods: Fifteen patients living with chronic pain and licensed by the Israeli Ministry of Health to use medical cannabis to treat pain symptoms for at least 1 year participated in semi‐structured interviews. Transcribed data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify themes related to stigma. The manuscript is in correspondence to SRQR EQUATOR checklist. Results: Expressions of stigma were more related to 'felt' than 'enacted' stigma. Stigma related to decisions to delay onset of medical cannabis treatment and the ways in which participants managed medical cannabis use during their everyday lives. Participants dissociated themselves from recreational cannabis users, by presenting themselves as responsible normative individuals and engaging in a form of normalisation known as 'normification', emphasising their own discrete and controlled medical cannabis use and cannabis' benefits. Conclusions: Patients experienced 'felt' stigma which had consequences for their self‐presentations and medical cannabis use. This suggests that medical cannabis is not normalised in Israel and interventions may be needed to handle stigma related to medical cannabis. Relevance to clinical practice: The findings emphasise the effects of 'felt' stigma on patients. Aiming to increase the effectiveness of medical cannabis treatment and reducing harms, we suggest that particular focus should be placed on managing stigma at the intrapersonal level. In addition, there may be a need to address stigma at the societal level including social interactions with friends, family and medical personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Illegal drug diversion is a well‐documented social problem that has received little research attention, despite the growing use of medical cannabis (MC) worldwide. This study examines public attitudes towards the punishment of MC diversion in Israel. Method: We used a quantitative method. Participants were 399 Israelis who were given five scenarios of MC diversion to persons with and without a licence, with and without payment, and for personal profit. Results: Respondents' attitudes differed with respect to the guilt and deserved punishment of the traffickers as a function of whether the recipient did or did not have a licence and did or did not pay for the MC. Transfers to individuals without a licence and for payment were judged more harshly than those to individuals without payment, whether or not they had a licence. Discussion and Conclusion: The discussion addresses the findings with reference to Kohlberg's moral development theory. The findings of the study attest to the importance of public attitudes in shaping legal policy in Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaps between physician and patient perceptions may lead to misunderstandings and mismanage of treatment. There are sparse data about the differences in opinions toward medical cannabis (MC) between patients and health professionals. The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes toward MC, its perceived efficacy, side effects and risk of dependency, among patients, nurses and physicians. A cross-sectional study of samples of 430 patients, 65 nurses and 65 physicians in two large medical centers in Israel. Questionnaires were administered on attitudes, perceived efficacy, side-effects and perceived risks of dependency. Compared with nurses and physicians, patients who were using MC had the most positive attitudes toward MC (p <.001). Younger age, high school education, being Jewish and ever using MC, were associated with more positive attitudes toward MC among patients (p <.001). Among nurses and physicians, having an oncology specialty predicted more positive attitudes toward MC. Physicians had a less positive attitude toward MC compared to nurses (p <.01). Our study provides evidence that physicians are less positive in their views toward MC compared to nurses and patients. More information and awareness to MC may reduce the gap in perceptions between physicians and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of health‐care providers' attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis, subjective norms and perceived stigma towards medicinal cannabis users on health‐care providers' intention to recommend medicinal cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions. Methods: A cross‐sectional correlational study included 221 health‐care providers (mean age, 42.2 ± 11.2; 74.2% women and 76.5% nurses) who completed a questionnaire examining theory‐based variables and stigma towards medicinal cannabis users. Results: More positive attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis were associated with lower stigma towards medicinal cannabis users, which, in turn, was associated with a higher intention of recommending medicinal cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions. The relationship between attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis and the intention to recommend medicinal cannabis varies according to subjective norms. Conclusions: Among nurses and physicians, stigma towards medicinal cannabis users mediated the relationship between attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis and the intention to recommend medicinal cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions, whereas subjective norms moderated this relationship. Effective treatment with medicinal cannabis might be compromised by health‐care providers' negative attitudes, stigma and subjective norms. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The use of medicinal cannabis (MC) is considered controversial by health‐care providers. Patients who use MC are still the target of social discrimination.What this paper adds? Stigma towards MC users mediated the relationship between attitudes towards the medical use of cannabis and the intention to recommend MC for patients with qualifying conditions, whereas subjective norms moderated this relationship.The implications of this paper: There is a clear need for educational programmes for health‐care providers on the use of MC and the legitimacy of MC use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: Since 2011, the Israeli Ministry of Health has been working towards increased regulation of its medical cannabis (MC) program by ensuring that MC licensing procedures adhere to the basic principles and practices of the medical profession. The aim of this study is to examine trends in MC licensing in Israel during this period of increasing MC regulation. Design and Methods: Publicly available data on MC licences, collected by the Ministry of Health, were used to examine trends between 2013 and 2018. The number of MC licences, new MC licence requests and rate of MC licence requests accepted were plotted over time. Gender and age distributions and the medical indicators for which MC licences were approved were also examined. Results: Absolute numbers of MC licences and MC licence requests increased during the study period while no parallel increase in the rate at which new MC licences were granted was observed. MC licences for post‐traumatic stress disorder increased substantially during the study period. The majority of MC patients in Israel are male, over the age of 40, and used MC for chronic pain. Conclusions: The observed increase in MC licences is likely driven by an increase in patient demand. This study suggests that social forces (e.g. positive media reporting and public attitudes towards MC), beyond MC regulation, are influencing trends in MC licensing in Israel. Studies that examine the skewed gender distribution of MC licences, and the efficacy of MC for post‐traumatic stress disorder, are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few empirical studies have explored how different types of knowledge are associated with diverse objectivities and moral economies. Here, we examine these associations through an empirical investigation of the public policy debate in Israel around medical cannabis (MC), which may be termed a contested medicine because its therapeutic effects, while subjectively felt by users, are not generally recognized by the medical profession. Our findings indicate that beneath the MC debate lie deep-seated issues of epistemology, which are entwined with questions of ethics and morality. Whereas some stakeholder groups viewed evidence-based medicine and mechanical objectivity as the only valid knowledge base, others called for recognition of a particular experience-based knowledge, championing regulatory, administrative, or strong objectivity. Stakeholders' interpretations of what should be considered as ethical courses of (in)action corresponded to their epistemological views, with most criticizing the regulators for relying on regulatory subjectivity instead of objectivity. Our in-depth mapping of this arena allowed us not only to shed light on the emergence of the new entity called "medical cannabis" but also to reexamine the link between epistemology, ethics, and action and to elucidate how heterogeneous groups view the validity and objectivity of knowledge and the interface between medicine, science, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis is the most widely used recreational drug worldwide and is used by some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to ameliorate their disease. Whereas epidemiological studies indicate that as many as 15% of IBD patients use cannabis, studies inspecting cannabis use in IBD are few and small. We have conducted several studies looking at the use of cannabis in IBD. In Crohn's disease, we demonstrated that cannabis reduces the Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) by >100 points (on a scale of 0–450).Two small studies in ulcerative colitis showed a marginal benefit. However, no improvement was observed in inflammatory markers or in endoscopic score in either disease. Many questions regarding cannabis use in IBD remain unanswered. For example, cannabis is a complex plant containing many ingredients, and the synergism or antagonism between them likely plays a role in the relative efficacy of various cannabis strains. The optimal doses and mode of consumption are not determined, and the most common form of consumption, i.e. smoking, is unacceptable for delivering medical treatment. Cannabis is a psychotropic drug, and the consequences of long-term use are unknown. Despite all these limitations, public opinion regards cannabis as a harmless drug with substantial medical efficacy. In Israel, the number of licenses issued for the medical use of cannabis is rising rapidly, as are the acknowledged indications for such use, but good-quality evidence for the effectiveness of cannabis is still lacking. Further studies investigating the medical use of cannabis are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arabs are a large minority group in the Israeli society. With the increasing use of medical cannabis throughout Israel due to changing governmental policies, the interactions of the Arab society with medical cannabis becomes of scientific and medical relevance. Recreational cannabis use is considered haram (forbidden) in Islam. However, most religious scholars agree that medical cannabis usage might be justified as zarurat (emergency and life-saving, therefore allowed) use. Obstacles to medical cannabis use within the Arabic population may relate to language barrier and/or cultural barriers. There are few Arabic-speaking web-based medical-cannabis support groups, and little official information about it is available in the Arabic language. In order for the full benefits of medical cannabis to reach the entire Israeli population, a government-sponsored web-based educational program is necessary in Hebrew and Arabic, both of which are among the nation's official languages, thereby contributing to the equalization of health resource accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade the phenomenon of cannabis as a legitimate form of treatment for pain has overwhelmed the medical community, especially in the field of pain. From a status of a schedule 1 substance having no currently accepted medical use and being considered to have high potential for abuse, its use has mushroomed to over 50,000 legal medical users per year in Israel alone. There appear to be many reasons behind this phenomenon—medical, sociological, and economical. Thus, what is cannabis? An abusive substance or a medication? Should it be incorporated into current biomedical practice, and how should it be administered? Finally, what is the evidence for the beneficial and detrimental effects of cannabis? This article reviews and discusses the current literature regarding the beneficial and the detrimental effects of medical cannabis in the treatment of pain. We further discuss the problems and challenges facing the medical community in this domain and offer a practical approach to deal with these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the subjective experience of pain relief by cannabis. Design Qualitative data were collected through in-depth semistructured interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Subjects Nineteen patients, aged 28 to 79, who were treated with medical cannabis under the supervision of a pain clinic in Israel. Results Three key themes that emerged from the analysis were explored: 1) the Sigh of Relief, describing the corporal sensation of using cannabis, including a sense of relaxation and reduction in pain; 2) the Return to Normality, describing the comprehensive effect of using cannabis, including an increased ability to sleep, focus, and function; and 3) the Side Effects of using cannabis. Conclusions We propose the term Restored Self to conceptualize the effect of medical cannabis. Restored Self is the experience of regaining one's sense of self, sense of normality, and sense of control over one's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for medical cannabis (MC) is growing among Israeli patients with cancer. The study sought to assess factors contributing to the demand for MC among patients with cancer. Patients applying for a permit to receive MC at a pain and palliative clinic of a university-affiliated cancer center in Israel in 2020–2021 were asked to complete self-report questionnaires assessing attitudes, knowledge, and expectations regarding MC use. Findings were compared between first-time and repeat applicants. Repeat applicants were asked to report their indications for requesting MC, patterns of use, and treatment effect. The cohort included 146 patients: 63 first-time applicants and 83 repeat applicants. First-time applicants were more likely to consult sources other than their oncologist for MC-related information (P < 0.01) and expressed more concern about addiction (P < 0.001) and side effects (P < 0.05). They often erroneously assumed the treatment was subsidized (P < 0.001). Repeat applicants were younger (P < 0.05) and included more smokers (P < 0.05) and recreational cannabis users (P < 0.05); 56.6% were cancer survivors and 78% used high-potency MC. Most patients believed to some degree that MC is more effective than conventional medications for symptom control, and over half thought that MC helps to cure cancer. Misconceptions regarding the effectiveness of MC for symptom management and treatment may explain the motivation of patients with cancer to apply for a permit. There seems to be an association of young age, cigarette smoking, and recreational cannabis use with ongoing use of MC among cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents addiction-related news briefs on topics including the Thailand government's decision to suspend the nation's medical cannabis cultivation licencing application and approval process due to concerns about potential monopolization by international companies. It states that the global use of the death penalty for drug crimes declined by 68 percent between 2017 and 2018. Virginia's drug-induced homicide legislative bill is assessed.

The article presents several studies related to medicine that appeared is different periodical. It mentions a study regarding the role of signaling protein in the development of addiction-related behaviors acts as a positive modulator of oxycodone. It states a study related to analgesic use and risk of hearing loss in women. It also mentions about the announcement made by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reagrding renewal registration.

Objective. To assess prevalence rates and correlates of problematic use of prescription opioids and medicinal cannabis (MC) among patients receiving treatment for chronic pain. Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. Two leading pain clinics in Israel. Subjects. Our sample included 888 individuals receiving treatment for chronic pain, of whom 99.4% received treatment with prescription opioids or MC. Methods. Problematic use of prescription opioids and MC was assessed using DSM-IV criteria, Portenoy's Criteria (PC), and the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) questionnaire. Additional sociodemographic and clinical correlates of problematic use were also assessed. Results. Among individuals treated with prescription opioids, prevalence of problematic use of opioids according to DSM-IV, PC, and COMM was 52.6%, 17.1%, and 28.7%, respectively. Among those treated with MC, prevalence of problematic use of cannabis according to DSM-IV and PC was 21.2% and 10.6%, respectively. Problematic use of opioids and cannabis was more common in individuals using medications for longer periods of time, reporting higher levels of depression and anxiety, and using alcohol or drugs. Problematic use of opioids was associated with higher self-reported levels of pain, and problematic use of cannabis was more common among individuals using larger amounts of MC. Conclusions. Problematic use of opioids is common among chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioids and is more prevalent than problematic use of cannabis among those receiving MC. Pain patients should be screened for risk factors for problematic use before initiating long-term treatment for pain-control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis is used to treat various medical conditions, and lines are commonly classified according to their total concentrations of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Based on their ratio of total THC to total CBD, cannabis cultivars are commonly classified into high-THC, high-CBD, and hybrid classes. While cultivars from the same class have similar compositions of major cannabinoids, their levels of other cannabinoids and their terpene compositions may differ substantially. Therefore, a more comprehensive and accurate classification of medicinal cannabis cultivars, based on a large number of cannabinoids and terpenes is needed. For this purpose, three different chemometric-based classification models were constructed using three sets of chemical profiles. We examined those models to determine which provides the most accurate "chemovar" classification. This was done by analyzing profiles of cannabinoids, terpenes, and the combination of these substances using the partial least square-discriminant analysis multivariate (PLS-DA) technique. The chemical profiles were selected from the three major classes of medicinal cannabis that are most commonly prescribed to patients in Israel: high-THC, high-cannabigerol (CBG), and hybrid. We studied the correlations between cannabinoids and terpenes to identify major bio-indicators representing the plant's terpene and cannabinoid content. All three PLS-DA models provided highly accurate classifications, utilizing six to nine latent variables with an overall accuracy ranging from 2 to 11% CV. The PLS-DA model applied to the combined cannabinoid-and-terpene profile did the best job of differentiating between the chemovars in terms of misclassification error, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The combined cannabinoid-and-terpene PLS-DA profile had cross-validation and prediction misclassification errors of 4% and 0%, respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate the highly accurate classification of samples of medicinal cannabis based on their cannabinoid and terpene profiles, as compared to cannabinoid profiles alone. Furthermore, our correlation analysis indicated that 11 cannabinoids and terpenes might serve as bio-indicators for 32 different active compounds. These findings suggest that the use of multivariate statistics could assist in breeding studies and serve as a tool for minimizing the mislabeling of cannabis inflorescences. [Display omitted] • Classification of major cannabis classes was good for all data sets. • Terpene-cannabinoid–based PLS-DA provided the best chemovar classification. • Eleven potential bio-indicators predicted 32 cannabinoids and terpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical cannabis is a topic of increasing debate. To investigate this issue, we conducted a content analysis of Israeli news coverage of medical cannabis from 2007 to 2013. A deductive framing analysis examined three elite issue frames—medical, policy, and law enforcement. Additionally, inductive analysis revealed a a fourth, nonelite patients’ frame. Each frame was associated with a distinct pattern of textual elements, including portrayal of patients, references to cannabis, opinion about medical cannabis, and salience of scientific research. The most common and most stable frame was the policy frame. Implications for framing theory are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic neuropathic pain is often refractory to standard pharmacological treatments. Although growing evidence supports the use of inhaled cannabis for neuropathic pain, the lack of standard inhaled dosing plays a major obstacle in cannabis becoming a 'main stream' pharmacological treatment for neuropathic pain. The objective of this study was to explore the pharmacokinetics, safety, tolerability, efficacy, and ease of use of a novel portable thermal-metered-dose inhaler (tMDI) for cannabis in a cohort of eight patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain and on a stable analgesic regimen including medicinal cannabis. In a single-dose, open-label study, patients inhaled a single 15.1 ± 0.1 mg dose of cannabis using the Syqe Inhaler device. Blood samples for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 11-hydroxy-Δ9-THC were taken at baseline and up to 120 minutes. Pain intensity (0-10 VAS), adverse events, and satisfaction score were monitored following the inhalation. A uniform pharmacokinetic profile was exhibited across all participants (Δ9-THC plasma Cmax ± SD was 38 ± 10 ng/mL, Tmax ± SD was 3 ± 1 minutes, AUC0→infinity ± SD was 607 ± 200 ng·min/mL). Higher plasma Cmax increase per mg Δ9-THC administered (12.3 ng/mL/mg THC) and lower interindividual variability of Cmax (25.3%), compared with reported alternative modes of THC delivery, were measured. A significant 45% reduction in pain intensity was noted 20 minutes post inhalation ( P = .001), turning back to baseline within 90 minutes. Tolerable, lightheadedness, lasting 15-30 minutes and requiring no intervention, was the only reported adverse event. This trial suggests the potential use of the Syqe Inhaler device as a smokeless delivery system of medicinal cannabis, producing a Δ9-THC pharmacokinetic profile with low interindividual variation of Cmax, achieving pharmaceutical standards for inhaled drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most of the participants had no formal education about medical cannabis (MC). • About half of the participants believed that MC is an effective therapy for Epilepsy. • Prior cannabis use was found associated with beliefs about MC effectivity in Epilepsy. • Efforts to develop curricula and training programs should be promoted. The current study sought: (i) to explore whether health profession students possess formal medical cannabis (MC) education, feel prepared to answer questions about MC, and perceive it as an effective therapy for epilepsy; (ii) to assess students' attitudes and beliefs about MC use; and (iii) to explore the associations between students' background characteristics, MC-related attitudes and beliefs regarding its effectiveness for epilepsy. A sample of 310 students (141 from medicine and 169 from social work) voluntarily participated in the anonymous online survey. The vast majority (92.5%) indicated they had no formal education about MC, and only 11.2 % reported being prepared to answer clients' MC-related questions. Participants reported favorable beliefs about MC benefits, the need for training, and recreational marijuana use legalization. Less supportive attitudes were reported regarding MC risks. Prior cannabis use (e.g., self-use, friends, or family) and individuals from a secular background were associated with more positive beliefs about MC benefits and its legalization for recreational purposes. Prior recreational cannabis use [OR=1.541] and having friends who recreationally use the substance [OR=1.891] were associated with the belief that MC is an effective therapy for epilepsy. These findings indicate an urgent need for students' MC education to provide future physicians and social workers with MC-related capacities. Development of curricula and training programs in Israel are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Cancer patients using cannabis report better influence from the plant extract than from synthetic products. However, almost all the research conducted to date has been performed with synthetic products. We followed patients with a medicinal cannabis license to evaluate the advantages and side effects of using cannabis by cancer patients. Methods. The study included two interviews based on questionnaires regarding symptoms and side effects, the first held on the day the license was issued and the second 6-8 weeks later. Cancer symptoms and cannabis side effects were documented on scales from 0 to 4 following the CTCAE. The distress thermometer was used also. Results. Of the 211 patients who had a first interview, only 131 had the second interview, 25 of whom stopped treatment after less than a week. All cancer or anticancer treatment-related symptoms showed significant improvement (P < 0.001). No significant side effects except for memory lessening in patients with prolonged cannabis use (P = 0.002) were noted. Conclusion. The positive effects of cannabis on various cancer-related symptoms are tempered by reliance on self-reporting for many of the variables. Although studies with a control group are missing, the improvement in symptoms should push the use of cannabis in palliative treatment of oncology patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marijuana has been used by many different civilizations for numerous different purposes, including its use for medical indications. Recently, there has been significant media coverage of the efficacy of medical marijuana in the treatment of seizures in children with Dravet syndrome, and this has led many to search for other possible pediatric indications for cannabinoids, including many different indications in pediatric cancer. However, there is very little evidence on safety or efficacy of cannabinoids in children being treated with cancer. This commentary accompanies a recent paper by a group in Israel who have published their experience of medical marijuana in 50 children and adolescents with cancer, showing excellent satisfaction and better symptom control, and without significant adverse drug reactions. This study from Israel is an excellent first step, but prospective well-designed trials of medical marijuana in pediatric oncology are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Tikun Olam Ltd. in Israel studied the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis treatment on 188 patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for six months. The study examined the efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) through a quality-of-life assessment, global assessment rating, and an ASD symptom severity assessment looking at restlessness, rage attacks, agitation, speech impairment, cognitive impairment, anxiety, incontinence, depression, and more. The safety of CBD was examined by assessing physiological and cognitive side effects. The largest national provider of medical cannabis in Israel employed several of the authors and sponsored this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although researchers, laypersons and policymakers have been debating about the "medicalization of cannabis" for years, few have attempted to unpack this phrase and clarify what it actually means. The present qualitative research addresses this issue by tracing the trajectory of "medical cannabis" (MC) in Israel.Methods: This article draws on multiple sources, including in-depth interviews, parliamentary protocols, conference observations, policy documents, and media coverage.Results: The analysis shows that while patients, growers, and certain physicians advocated for a more inclusive type of cannabis medicalization, other physicians and sick funds strove to curtail this medicalization; for its part, the Ministry of Health (MoH) attempted to find a pathway that would bridge their conflicting standpoints. In the first phase of medicalization patients' and regulators' trajectories coincided; however, they diverged in the second phase as regulators sought to transform MC into a standardized medication in line with the biomedical model. Patients and physicians criticized the new policy reform and highlighted some of its negative effects on patient care. The trajectories of patients and regulators then intersected in a way that led to some alterations in the MC trajectory.Conclusion: This study enhances our understanding of how MC was, and is still being, incorporated into medicine in Israel. The study illuminates the plurality of meanings that have been assigned to the concept of medicalization and the contingent nature of MC. Additionally, this study sheds light on the under-investigated role of regulators as drivers of the medicalization of "solutions," and it shows how different engines of medicalization may drive the process in diverging directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is a growing interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of Cannabis. It is already approved for and used for various medical indications, ranging from relief of chronic pain, treatment of inflammatory diseases, epilepsy, autism, posttraumatic stress disorder etc. During recent years, cannabis use for medical indications ("medical cannabis") has become increasingly used in Israel. At the end of 2018, approximately 35,000 patients held a license to use cannabis for medical indications, most (18,000) for chronic pain, and almost 5000 for PTSD. Objectives: In order to bring a better solution to patients in need for Cannabis to treat several ailments that did not find an answer in traditional evidence-based treatments, the Israeli Ministry of Health promotes a whole new model for Cannabis Based treatment, in an attempt to relate to Cannabis in the closest possible way as to any narcotic medication. Methods: A thorough description of the process that brought to the Medicalization Model for Cannabis in Israel, how it is implemented, number of licences by different indications, and concrete examples on how it is administered in the case of PTSD, from a comunity psychiatrist perspective. Results: The new model aims to bring to a better control of cannabis suply for medicinal porpuses. Conclusions: Israel is one of the leading nations in the research and development of Cannabis Based Treaments. This is a report on the Israeli Experience from a comunity Psychiatry perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing use of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes has augmented concerns about associated poisoning, and specifically pediatric and adolescent poisonings. Synthetic cannabinoids, often marketed as cannabis replacement, have recently emerged and knowledge and awareness of their toxic effects is growing. The objective of this study was to characterize and compare cannabinoid poisonings (medical and recreational cannabis, and synthetic cannabinoids) in Israel during the period 2007-2018.Methods: The three types of cannabinoid exposures reported to the Israel Poison Information Center (IPIC) between 2007 and 2018 were identified. Differences in distribution of the three types of agents with respect to demographic and clinical factors were examined using univariate statistics, and time trends were plotted.Results: Out of the total 615 poison-exposure cases identified, 55% were recreational cannabis cases, 33% were synthetic cannabinoid cases and 12% were medical cannabis cases. Compared to recreational cannabis exposures, synthetic cannabinoid exposures were more likely to be male, to have both gastrointestinal and cardiovascular manifestations and less likely to be called in by the public as opposed to called in by health care professionals and less likely to be treated on-site. Medical cannabis exposures were less likely to be male, more likely to be called in by the public, less likely to present with co-use of other substances and more likely to have gastrointestinal manifestations. Throughout the study period an increase in exposure cases were observed for medical and recreational cannabis cases, whereas synthetic cannabinoid cases showed an increase until 2014 and then a steep decrease.Conclusions: Despite the low toxicity of different types of cannabinoids, training of physicians and other health care professionals related to cannabinoid poisoning is important. This is particularly important in jurisdictions where legal access to cannabis is becoming increasingly available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses medical marijuana research in Israel, noting the history of such research. Topics include the work of chemist Raphael Mechoulam on cannabis research, the negative impact of federal regulations on cannabis research in the U.S., and the involvement of pharmaceutical industry research and development (R&D) in Israeli marijuana research.

Reports that Boaz Lev, deputy director-general for medical affairs of the Israeli Health Ministry, has asked officials to define the medical conditions under which physicians will be permitted to prescribe marijuana. Circumstances under which marijuana may be prescribed in Israel; Conditions that marijuana can relieve; The punishment in Israel for possession or trade of marijuana.