The Top Medical Cannabis Research of 2017

The Top Medical Cannabis Research of 2017

Ron Lipsky
MGC Pharmaceuticals
4 min readFeb 20, 2018

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A word from Ron Lipsky, Manager of Business Development and International Relations at MGC Pharmaceuticals

MGC Pharma is still riding off the success of 2017 as we progress into 2018, with many exciting developments on the horizon. One of the reasons that 2018 could be very exciting for MGC Pharma is all the positive Medical Cannabis research that took place last year, with many new findings being made that could positively affect the future of the industry.

In this blog, I will explore some of the top Medical Cannabis Studies of 2017 and discuss what the findings mean for the future of the Medical Cannabis industry.

Cannabis is an effective tool for the treatment of topical skin conditions

In a recent study by undertaken by MGC Pharma, our dermatologists found that CBD is effective in providing relief for relief for dry, red, flakey, oily and acne prone skin through CBD skincare.

These studies were undertaken in preparation for the release of the clinically trialled TopiCann skincare product.

Researched and developed by Slovenia’s leading dermatologist, Dr Rok Devjak, MD PhD, over an 80 day period, Dr Devjak tested three of MGC Pharma’s upcoming products.

The three products tested showed a strong improvement in these topical skin conditions, helping to reduce the appearance of dry, red and flakey skin within 4 weeks*. Additionally, Dr Devjak observed an 80% improvement of irritated skin and over 70% improvement in the visual appearance of itching and dry skin.

CBD passes Stage 3 clinical trial for the treatment of epilepsy in children

A study published last year in The New England Journal of Medicine saw scientists studying the effects of CBD on epileptic seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome, a severe epileptic disorder leading to frequent and uncontrollable seizures in children.

The researchers found that CBD oil reduced the number of seizures in children by 39% and these results were achieved with minimal side effects.

This is the largest and most successful clinical trial to-date to demonstrate the medicinal benefits of CBD, and it will likely convince many clinicians to consider CBD for treating the 20% of epileptic disorders that are poorly controlled by traditional anti-epileptic drugs.

Autism was added to the list of CBD’s medicinal benefits

Last year, scientists at the University of Washington looked at CBD’s impact on autistic-like social deficits, and their research revealed that CBD normalises social behaviour in mice.

The scientists found that CBD increased the mice’s preference for spending time interacting with other mice and reduced the number of social anxiety-like behaviours.

Cannabis is a powerful weapon against the opioid epidemic

One of the biggest health news stories of 2017 has been the escalating need to address the opioid crisis taking place across the world.

Association studies over the last couple of years have identified that there are fewer opioid-related overdoses in states with access to Medicinal Cannabis.

One study surveyed 271 Canadian patients who were seeking prescription drug treatment for a variety of ailments including pain, anxiety, and depression; among these, 63% reported that Cannabis substituted for their prescription medications. Specifically, among pain patients, 30% reported that they swapped out their prescription opioids for Cannabis. Patients reported that one of their greatest reasons for switching from opioids to Cannabis wasn’t necessarily because of better symptom management, but because there were fewer side effects associated with Cannabis use.

University of New Mexico scientists researched the substitutability of Cannabis for opioids to the test in a cohort of chronic pain patients. The study compared prescription opioid use, mostly to treat back pain, between patients enrolled or not enrolled in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program. They found that 84% of patients who received access to Medical Cannabis reduced their opioid prescriptions, compared to 45% in the comparison group. Notably, 41% of the Cannabis users stopped using opioids altogether.

These studies are the latest to support Cannabis’ benefits in reducing opioid use. They find that Cannabis can either substitute for prescription pain medication or supplement its effect, thus requiring fewer opioid pills to be consumed.

Cannabis reduces the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

Cannabis cannot cure Parkinson’s disease, but there’s now evidence that Cannabis can relieve many of the devastating symptoms associated with the disease.

In a study of 40 Parkinson’s disease patients, scientists from Tel Aviv University in Israel found that Medicinal Cannabis improved many of the symptoms associated with the disease.

82% of participants reported that Medical Cannabis improved their overall symptoms. Cannabis reduced the number of falls, provided pain relief, reduced tremors, soothed muscle stiffness, and improved sleep. Nearly 75% also reported that Cannabis enhanced their mood, suggesting that Cannabis may be an effective palliative care strategy for Parkinson’s disease patients.

The results of all the above research are very exciting for MGC Pharma, as they reveal the potential for an expanded market in the future for Medical Cannabis products. We will continue to follow these findings with great interest, and help to create a healthier world through the use of Medical Cannabis.

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Ron Lipsky
MGC Pharmaceuticals

Vice President, Business Development & International Relations