The Green LightMedicinal Cannabis in New York

Authored/Presented by Dave Porter, Pharm.D Candidate

via Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Thursday, February 12th, 2015

Presentation Outline

• Background

• History

• A Case Study: Charlotte’s Web

• Science and Studies

• Proposed NYS Regulations

• Legal Challenges

• Other Schedule I Research

• Q&A Session

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But First…

• Things I WILL NOT be doing in this presentation:

– Arguing for the legalization of recreational cannabis

– Supporting use of medicinal cannabis by non-patients

– Using street slang like pot, bud, kush, dope, chronic, etc.

• Things I WILL be doing in this presentation:

– Presenting a professional evidence-based viewpoint, supporting a reclassification of cannabis to Schedule II

– Reviewing published clinical studies

– Reviewing New York’s proposed regulations (2014)

– Withholding personal opinions, unless prompted3

General and Historical Background

• The cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa, C. indica and C. ruderalis) is an annual flowering herb

– It has more than 60 unique compounds (~480 total)

– Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is psychoactive

– Cannabidiol (CBD) is not; may oppose some THC effects

• Earliest recorded use of medicinal cannabis (“ma”) dates back to 2900BC – Emperor Fu Hsi

– Emperor Shen Nung discovers healing property (2700BC)

• Used as sacramental, medicinal or recreational drug

– Arab physician Ibn Wahshiyah – potentially poisonous?4

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History in the USA

• 1851 – United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) lists Cannabis sativa as a legitimate drug with many uses

• 1864 – USP described methods of extracting alkaloids

• 1911 – Massachusetts is first State to ban cannabis outright

• 1937 – Marijuana Tax Act placed a tax on cannabis products

• 1970 – Controlled Substances Act; Schedule I classification

• 1996 – California legalizes cannabis for medicinal purposes

• 1998 – 105th Congress upholds Schedule I classification

• 1999 – IOM’s Marijuana and Medicine report

• 2002-2005 – Gonsales vs. Raich trial

• 2012 – WA and CO legalize recreational cannabis

• 2014 – New York passes the Compassionate Care Act6

Case Study – Charlotte Figi

• Charlotte is a 5 year old female with Dravet Syndrome, a rare and severe form of profoundly treatment-resistant epilepsy. She suffers ~300 grand mal seizures per week. Unable to walk, talk and eat independently. Parents have tried all anti-seizure drugs indicated for Charlotte’s condition, as well as some experimental ones, to little or no effect. Brain damage and cognitive decline noted. Last-line brain surgery or induction of a medical coma?

• Parents found a video of a boy with severe epilepsy treated and controlled with an oil high in cannabidiol (CBD)

• Parents met with >100 doctors before they found two who would recommend medicinal cannabis to treat Charlotte

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Case Study – Charlotte Figi

• Charlotte’s Parents obtained oil (“R4”) high in CBD

– Seizure rate decreased from 300/week to 1-2/week

• High CBD/Low THC cannabis was rare in Colorado

• Parents contacted the Stanley family, who own one of the largest cannabis dispensaries in Colorado

– They modified one of their existing strains of product to be even higher in CBD

Case Study – Charlotte Figi

– They called it “Charlotte’s Web”

– Extracted into oils called “Alepsia” and “Realm Oil” (~30:1 CBD:THC)

– Realm of Caring Foundation

Case Study – Charlotte Figi

• Charlotte today:

– Only has 2-3 seizures/month and regained the ability to walk, talk, eat, and lead a normal life

• “Charlotte’s Web” is now nationally known

– Featured by Dr. Sanjay Gupta (CNN’s Weed)

– 9,000 patients on the waiting list as of September 2014*

Prevalence of Use and Legal Status

• 23 States (plus the District of Columbia and Guam) have legislature in place for medicinal cannabis

– Some States have legalized it recently, but have no programs implemented yet (MD, MN, NH, NY)

• Estimates of over 2,000,000* medicinal cannabis patients in the USA in October 2014

– * Some States have voluntary registration (CA, ME) or do not have any registration policies (WA)

• 11 States (AL, FL, IA, KY, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, UT, WI) have passed laws legalizing some aspect*

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ProCon. Medical Marijuana Pros and Cons. Last updated 11/13/2014. Available from: <http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/>.

Marinol® (Dronabinol, THC) Review*

• MOA:

– Agonist at endogenous cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2

– Signal transduction effects through GPCR in the PAG, RVM and dorsal horn, decreasing excitability of neurons

– May act in the vomiting center to oppose the effects of serotonin to block the release of NTs that cause emesis

– Acts in lateral hypothalamus to increase appetite13

• FDA-Approved Indications:

– CINV refractory to first-line antiemetics

– Appetite stimulant for AIDS/cancer-related anorexia

Marinol® (Dronabinol, THC) Review*

• Dose:

– CINV: 5mg/m2 PO 1-3h prior to chemo, then every 2-4h after.

– AIDS/cancer anorexia: 2.5mg PO before lunch and dinner

• Contraindications, Warnings and Precautions:

– CI: allergy to sesame oil

– History of addiction or drug abuse, mental illness*

• Adverse Drug Reactions:

– Psychoactive effects (24% for CINV), dizziness/drowsiness, hallucinations, anxiety, altered mental state

• Major DDI’s:

– Ethanol (↑absorption, ↑ADR’s), amphetamines (↑BP, ↑HR)

The Institute of Medicine Report (1999)

• The Clinton Administration tasked the IOM with investigating alleged “gateway effects” of cannabis

– Published a 170 page report – Marijuana and Medicine

– “Gateway effect” greatly questioned (tobacco/alcohol)

– Cannabis treats chronic pain and physical symptoms with a different MOA in the brain than current drugs

– A lack of concrete recommendations and conclusions, but many statements calling for additional research*

• 15 out of 18 total recommendations!

– “The acute side effects of marijuana use are within the risks tolerated for many medications”

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Clinical Trial Evidence

• “Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy” – Abrams et al. (2007)

• Prospective, randomized placebo-controlled trial

– Adults with HIV and an average baseline daily pain score of 50mm on the 100mm visual analog scale (VAS)

• 223 screened, 55 randomized, 50 completed (25/25)

– Primary outcome: >30% reduction in VAS pain intensity

– Patients were randomly assigned to smoke 3.56% THC cannabis cigarettes or placebo cigarettes lacking alkaloids TID x 5 days

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Clinical Trial Evidence

• Results:

– 50 patients completed the trial

– >30% reduction in pain variables reported by 53% in the cannabis group vs. 24% in the placebo group (p=0.04)

– Median reduction of pain on the VAS was 34%, compared to 17% in placebo group (p=0.03)

– Median 72% pain reduction with the first cannabis cigarette vs. 15% with placebo (p<0.001)

– No serious adverse events were reported

• Mild: Anxiety, sedation, disorientation, confusion, dizziness

• No patients left the study due to adverse effects17

18Abrams DI, Jay CA, Shade SB, Vizoso H, Reda H, Press S, Kelly ME, Rowbotham MC, Petersen KL. Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Neurology (2007)68:515-521.

Clinical Trial Evidence

• “Low-Dose Vaporized Cannabis Significantly Improves Neuropathic Pain” – Wilsey et al. (2013)

– Double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover RCT

• 382 assessed for eligibility, 59 screened, 39 randomized

– Vaporized cannabis (3.53%/1.29% THC) vs. placebo

– Vapor collected in a vaporizer bag with a specially-designed mouthpiece that allowed repeated, willful inhalation interruption without loss of vaporized cannabis

– Primary outcome: 30% decrease in VAS-assessed pain

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Clinical Trial Evidence

• Patients received either low or medium dose or placebo cannabis at 3 total visits, served as own control

• Dosing was standardized* as much as possible with the “Foltin Puff Procedure”

• Results:

– 10/38 (26%) of placebo group had VAS reduction of 30%

– 21/37 (57%) of LOW dose group had 30% VAS reduction

• P value = 0.0069; NNT = 3.2

– 22/36 (61%) of MEDIUM dose group had 30% VAS reduction

• P value = 0.0023; NNT = 2.9

– No significant difference between medium and low dose20

21Wilsey B, Marcotte T, Deutsch R, Gouaux B, Sakai S, Donaghe H. (2013). Low-Dose Vaporized Cannabis Significantly Improves Neuropathic Pain. J Pain, 14(2):136-48.

Clinical Trial Evidence

• “Smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis” – Corey-Bloom et al. (2012)– Randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial

• 196 screened, 37 randomized, 30 completed trial

• Patients could be cannabis-naïve or experienced

– Primary outcome: change in spasticity on the modified Ashworth scale (a sum of 6 individual joint scores)• 0 = no increase in muscle tone• 1 = slight increase (catch and release during motion)• 2 = slight increase (catch and minimal resistance)• 3 = more marked increase during motion• 4 = considerable increase in tone; passive movement difficult• 5 = rigid flexion and extension

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Clinical Trial Evidence

• Participants smoked either a placebo or a cannabis cigarette, using the Foltin Puff Procedure

– 3 visits per treatment phase

• Phase 1 was followed by 11-day washout, then patients crossed over to opposite group for phase 2

• Results:

– Cannabis use decreased spasticity an additional 2.74 points vs. placebo on the modified Ashworth scale

– Cannabis reduced VAS scores by 5.28 points

– 7 dropouts did not affect results in sensitivity analysis*23

Clinical Trial Evidence

24Adapted from Corey-Bloom J, Wolfson T, Gamst A, Jin S, Marcotte T, Bentley H, Gouaux B. Smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. CMAJ (2012);184(10):1143-50.

25Corey-Bloom J, Wolfson T, Gamst A, Jin S, Marcotte T, Bentley H, Gouaux B. Smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. CMAJ (2012);184(10):1143-50.

Study Limitations

• Small sample sizes in all studies

– Restrictive nature of Schedule I research

• Difficult to blind the subjects

– Not difficult for patients to realize they ingested THC…

• Most studies haven’t included patients who were cannabis-naïve at onset of trial

– Abrams et al. (2007) and Wilsey et al. (2013) have NIH authorization to expose naïve patients to cannabis

• Difficult to standardize the cannabinoid doses

– Foltin Puff Procedure used in most clinical trials26

Compassionate Drug Use

• “Compassionate drug use” refers to the treatment of seriously ill patients using new, unapproved drugs when no other treatments are available

– Drugs being tested but not yet approved are investigationaldrugs and generally only available to clinical trial participants

• “Expanded access programs” (EAP)

– A company sponsoring a drug in late stage clinical trials can offer an EAP for patients who can’t enroll in a trial

• “Single patient access programs”

– Doctor contacts drug company and inquires about use for one patient. If the company agrees, the doctor works with the company to ask the FDA to approve the drug for use 27

New York State Bills and Regulations

• New York Assembly Bill A06357

– Introduced 3/26/2013, passed 6/19/2014

– Introduced by Assembly member Richard Gottfried (D)

– Passed Senate on 6/20/2014

– Signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on 7/5/2014

– Regulations drafted 12/18/2014

• Title 10 of Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York was amended to include §80-1: Medical Use of Marihuana

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Requirements for Prescribers

• Must have a medical license in good standing in NYS

• Must complete a NYSDOH-approved 4 hour course– This course WILL NOT count for CE credit

– Course must include pharmacology, CI’s, W/P’s, ADR’s, OD/abuse prevention, DDI’s, dosing, and the approved products and their routes of administration

– Course would be somewhat similar to a buprenorphine prescribing course to treat opioid dependence

• Eligible Prescribers may issue Certifications to eligible Patients and/or Caregivers– Must include a statement saying other treatment

options have not provided adequate relief to the Patient

Requirements for Prescribers

• Prescribers must be qualified to treat ≥1 of the following chronic health conditions:1. Cancer2. HIV/AIDS3. Epilepsy4. Neuropathies5. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)6. Huntington’s disease7. Parkinson’s disease8. Multiple sclerosis (MS)9. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)10. Damage to spinal cord nervous tissue with intractable spasticity

• The Commissioner may add or remove approved conditions and must decide by January 2016 to add PTSD, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s, dystonia, and rheumatoid arthritis

Disease-Accompanying Symptoms

• One or more of the conditions must include:

1. Severe or chronic pain causing a substantial limitation of function

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2. Severe nausea

3. Seizures

4. Cachexia or wasting syndrome

5. Severe or persistent muscle spasms

• The Commissioner may add or remove disease-accompanying symptoms

Prescribing or Recommending?

• Prescribers can’t prescribe medicinal cannabis on an Official New York State Prescription Blank, but they can “recommend” it on separate forms

• On the recommendation form must be written:– Patient-specific information (like a regular prescription)

– Authorized cannabis brand and formulation

– Dosing information for patient’ proper use

– Any limitations to the use of the approved product

– The total amount of product that can be dispensed

• Quantity can NEVER exceed a 30 day supply!

• Prescriber must retain records for 5 years32

33Grant I, Atkinson JH, Gouaux B, Wilsey B. Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke. The Open Neurology Journal (2012);6:18-25.

Requirements for Patients or Caregivers

• Prescriber-issued Certifications expire in ONE year

– Terminally ill certifications last until death or revocation

• Patients or Caregivers must register with NYSDOH to be added in registry and pay annual fee of $50*

• Dependent Patients may appoint TWO Caregivers

– Each approved Caregiver can have FIVE Patients

– Persons under 18 require approved Caregivers ≥21

• Patient may not vaporize Products in public places or any place that has banned smoking cigarettes

• Purchasing party must pay cash to buy products34

Example Registration Cards (New Jersey)

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Requirements for Manufacturer Applications

• Each Applicant must pay fees to submit Application

– Application fee is a nonrefundable $10,000

– Registration fee is a refundable $200,000, if approved

• Each Manufacturer must submit:

– Standard operating procedures (SOPs)

– Disposal, security and control procedures

– Product details

– Architecture plans

– Quality assurance plans

– Lab test protocols36

Requirements for Manufacturer Applications

• Must renew Certification every 2 years (same fees)

– Renewal must be received no less than FOUR months before Manufacturer Certification expiration

– Applicant must include all complaints received, SOPs changes, lab test reports and theft/loss reports

– Applicant must include quality assurance summary for all Products tested in prior year, and shortage dates

• The Commissioner can reject or void Certifications, Applications (including renewals) at any time and without advance notice if NYSDOH believes that medicinal cannabis endangers public health!

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Requirements for Manufacturers

• FIVE Manufacturers will be established in New York

– NYSDOH expects over 100 Applications

• Each Manufacturer can produce up to FIVE Products

– Samples of which must be retained for future testing

– Must have at least one cannabis Product that is high in CBD and low in THC (think “Charlotte’s Web”)

– Must have at least one cannabis Product that has an approximately 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD.

• A Manufacturer may have up to FOUR contracted Dispensaries, setting a maximum of 20 in the State

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Requirements for Manufacturers

• Manufacturer must be able to ensure the availability of a ONE YEAR supply of all Products

• All records must be readily available for inspection

• Manufacturers can ONLY hire union workers ≥21!

• Manufacturers must recertify every 2 YEARS!

• Manufacturer may work with banks to manage taxes and money accounts*– In Colorado, suitcases or strong-

box safes stuffed with cash are delivered to government offices

Some Difficulties With Banking

• Financial institutions disallow payment for illegal drugs

– Federal Law states the businesses cannot deposit their cannabis revenues at their banks (money laundering?)

• 2009 – Deputy AG David Ogden stated companies in states with legal cannabis won’t be prosecuted

– 2011 – Deputy AG James M. Cole stated this memo wasn’t intended to shield cannabis companies from the Feds

• 2014 – AG Eric Holder stated banks could work with cannabis industries and won’t be prosecuted

– Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: banks may choose

– Must still file Federal “suspicious activity reports”40

Approved Medicinal Cannabis Products

• Each brand must have a total THC and CBD concentration within 5% of labeled value (mg/dose)

• Brand names must be alphanumeric combinations

• Maximum of 10mg THC per dose!

• Approved dosage forms:

– Extract in oil for SL administration

– Extract for vaporization (metered and uniform doses)

– Extract in a capsule for ingestion

– Edible food product only by Commissioner approval

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Approved Products*

Approved Medicinal Cannabis Products

• Product label must include ALL these alkaloids:– Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

– Tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA)

– Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)

– Cannabidiol (CBD)

– Cannabinadiolic acid (CBDA)

– Cannabidivarine (CBDV)

– Cannabinol (CBN)

– Cannabigerol (CBG)

– Cannabichromene (CBC)

– Any other cannabinoid component at >0.1% 43

Auxiliary Labels

• “Medical marihuana products must be kept in the original container in which they were dispensed and removed from the original container only when ready for use by the certified patient”;

• “Keep secured at all times”;

• “May not be resold or transferred to another person”;

• “This product might impair the ability to drive”;

• “KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN (unless medical marihuana product is being given to the child under a practitioner’s care”); and

• “This product is for medicinal use only. Women should not consume during pregnancy or while breastfeeding except on the advice of the certifying practitioner, and in the case of breastfeeding mothers, including the infant’s pediatrician.”

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Unapproved Medicinal Cannabis Products

• NO RAW PLANT MATERIAL FOR SMOKING!

– NYS is trying to cut down on statewide smoking rates!

• NO RAW PLANT MATERIAL FOR INGESTION!

– Edibles must be premade and prepackaged

• NO FLASHY BRAND NAMES OR ADVERTISEMENTS!

• NO REFERENCES TO 420 CULTURE!

• NO MOLD OR CONTAMINANTS!

• NO ADDITIVES UNLESS PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE!

• NO STATING YOUR PRODUCT IS MOST EFFECTIVE!45

Unapproved Cannabis Products

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Dispensing Facilities (Dispensaries)

• NYS PHARMACIST MUST BE ON SITE WHEN OPEN!

– Must counsel all Patients, like in a pharmacy

– Medication information sheets must be given

• Dispensaries cannot sell non-cannabis products without prior NYSDOH approval

• No Product, food or drink may be consumed within

• Patients/caregivers must show certification to enter

– May only fill a 30 DAY SUPPLY at a time, and may NOT break manufacturer packaging

• Must report all sales to NYSDOH47

Dispensary Exterior (New Jersey)

Dispensary Interior (California)

Dispensing Facilities (Dispensaries)

• Sufficient security measures must safeguard Staff, Facilities and Products and must include the following:– Perimeter alarm– Motion detectors– Lighting around the perimeter of the facility– Video cameras at all entries/exits and at product storage– 24 hour recording capability (≥90 days of storage space)– A duress alarm (for forced shut down of security)– A panic alarm (to alert police of emergency situation)– A hold-up alarm (to signal police to the robbery)– Automatic voice dialer, that will send prerecorded message– Failure notification for security (notification within 5 minutes)– Backup generator for power outages– Capability to take clear, color photos with 9600dpi resolution– Back-up alarm system for non-operational hours

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Other States Involve Pharmacists

• Connecticut (2012)– Only pharmacists can have dispensary licenses

– Pharmacists must check and send records to the PMP

– Dispensary workers must be registered pharmacy techs

• Minnesota (2014)– Only pharmacists can dispense cannabis to Patients or

Caregivers and counsel on its proper use

• Rhode Island (2006)– Legal literature safeguarding RPh licensure (counseling)

• Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire– Must have a pharmacist sitting on advisory boards

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Miscellaneous Points

• Under NO circumstances can cannabis products manufactured in New York be taken out of NYS!

• These proposed regulations would sunset SEVENyears after the approval date if not reapproved

• Cannabis tax of 7% (paid by Facilities)

• Manufacturers can NOT give free samples

• NY Manufacturers can’t dispense from same facility

– AK, HI, MI, MT, NE, OR & WA don’t allow Dispensaries

• No Product may be delivered without DOH approval

• Only female plants can be used for extraction 52

So Can I Get Medicinal Cannabis Now?

• NO! These are just proposed regulations, and although they are expected to pass with minor changes, infrastructure is currently unimplemented

• Since the passage of the Compassionate Care Act, three children have died from treatment-resistant epilepsy complications

– Acting Commissioner of Health Howard A. Zucker has petitioned the DEA and DOJ to allow for the interim importation of high CBD cannabis Products into NYS

– Requests in August and September have been ignored

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Some Dollars and Cents

• Medicinal cannabis programs have mixed success

• Successes:– Arizona received $7.9 million in taxes and fees from April

2011 – June 2012 (cost the state just $2.4M to run)

– Michigan took in $9.9M in 2012, spending just $3.6M

– Oregon siphoned $900K in 2005, Nevada proposed siphoning $700,000/year for substance abuse education

• Disappointments and failures-to-launch:– Rhode Island took in $566,655 in fees but spent

$589,086 in the 2011-2012 fiscal year

– New Jersey approved laws in 2010; in 2013, Greenleaf Compassion Center was the only operating dispensary

Summary of Legal Challenges

• Information vs. misinformation

– Fear-mongering (“gateway drug”)

– Supporters sensationalizing benefits

– Internet shock sites and blogs

– Inherent and persistent biases

– YouTube® and Reddit® “activists”

• Topic is very politically charged

– Federal vs. State

– Democrats vs. Republicans

– Boomers vs. Gen X/Millennials55

Summary of Legal Challenges

• Large-scale trials require approval from the FDA

– The FDA is hesitant to allow studies using Schedule I controlled substances

– The resulting paucity of data prevents the potential rescheduling of cannabis into Schedules II-V

• Obtaining product for studies is very prohibitive

– National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is the ONLY legal body authorized to cultivate large amounts

– Extension site located at the University of Mississippi

– This single site cannot supply enough product for a large-scale clinical trial (ex. Phase III)

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Summary of Legal Challenges

• California

– Gonsales vs. Raich landmark trial

– SCOTUS ruled that even with favorable State law, the Federal Government can criminalize medicinal cannabisproduction under the Federal Commerce Clause

• Massachusetts

– As recently as 9/2014, DEA agents have visited MDs to give an ultimatum: sever ties with medicinal cannabis or have their DEA licenses permanently revoked

• US Attorney General Eric Holder said the Feds will be laissez-faire (he’s announced his resignation)

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Food for Thought

• Medicinal cannabis is a legal labyrinth

– Using a Schedule I for medical purposes in the USA

– Once a Schedule I, always a Schedule I?

– Surveillance studies are being done to track changes in cannabis use, gauge side effects from medical treatment, and judge effectiveness of State programs

• It has catalyzed renewed interest in medical research with other classes of Schedule I drugs

– MDMA (“ecstasy”)

– Psychedelics

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Budding Research Areas

• Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)– Potential PTSD treatment, original research halted in

1985

– Physicians, therapists, researchers opposed the DEA

– Currently being used as unauthorized therapy in USA

• Renewed research in PTSD– A 2010 treatment-resistant PTSD trial (Mithoefer et al.)

• 20 patients, mean 19 years of TR-PTSD, mean 4.2 drug trials

• 2 introductory sessions, then all day/night MDMA or placebo session (CAPS 4 days later), repeat, then placebo cross over.

– 2013 long-term follow-up with the same patients• 17/19 patients had long term decrease in CAPS, no serious ADR

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Mithoefer MC, Wagner MT, Mithoefer AT, Jerome L,Doblin R. The safety and efficacy of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Psychopharmacology (2011);25(4):439-452.

• Clinical response = >30% reduction in CAPS

• Stage 1 – Clinical response was 83.3% (10/12) in MDMA group versus 25% (2/8) in placebo group

• Stage 2 – 100% clinical response rate with former placebo group members

• All 3 PTSD-disabled subjects returned to work

• F/U: 89% reported increased wellbeing, 79% reported less avoidance of people or places

• Average time since last MDMA session = ~3.5 years

• Potential for enduring, clinically meaningful benefit to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for TR-PTSD?

• No long-term neurocognitive decline (opposite?)

• No development of substance abuseMithoefer MC, Wagner MT, Mithoefer AT, Jerome L, Doblin R. The safety and efficacy of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Psychopharmacology (2011);25(4):439-452.

Budding Research Areas

• Psilocybin (Psilocybe sp. mushrooms)

– Treatment of anxiety in terminal illness, PTSD, drug and tobacco addiction and depression

– The potential use in depression therapy was featured in a CNN article recently

• Lysergic acid diethylamide/LSD

– Renewed research interest as alcohol and drug abuse therapy and for anxiety brought on by terminal illness

• Ibogaine (Tabernanthe iboga)

– Anti-addictive properties discovered by NYC heroin circle

– Stimulant; cardiac and CNS effects and long duration 62

Budding Research Areas

• Mescaline (Peyote & San Pedro cacti)

– Studied in alcohol treatment in Native Americans

– The United States Indian Health Service acknowledges it as the best treatment for alcoholism in Native Americans

• Dimethyltryptamine/DMT (Ayahuasca)

– Potential for treatment of depression and alcoholism

– Santo Daime and União do Vegetal church members have lower rates of alcoholism than the general public

• Salvinorin A (Salvia divinorum)

– In animal models, seems to treat opioid addiction63

Schedule I vs. Schedule II Requirements

• Schedule I Controlled Substance– The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse

– The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States

– There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision

• Schedule II Controlled Substance– The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse

– The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions

– Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence

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Conclusions

• There is a universally acknowledged lack of large scale, long term medicinal cannabis clinical trials!

• Politics continue to prevent cannabis research

– Reclassification to Schedule II is paramount for more research to be approved and completed

• New York’s medicinal cannabis regulations, when approved, will be the strictest in the nation

• Medicinal cannabis paves the way for a renewed investigation into the medical accuracy and current application of the Controlled Substances Act (1970)

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Resources

• New York State Department of Health– www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/

• The Marijuana Policy Project– www.mpp.org

• The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies– www.maps.org

• ProCon– www.medicalmarijuana.procon.org

• Dave Porter, Pharm.D candidate– David.Porter@acphs.edu

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1. Abrams DI, Jay CA, Shade SB, Vizoso H, Reda H, Press S, Kelly ME, Rowbotham MC, Petersen KL. Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Neurology (2007)68:515-521.

2. Ahmet Ulugöl. The Endocannabinoid System as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Pain Modulation. Balkan Med J (2014);31:115-20.

3. Alan Zarembo. Exploring therapeutic effects of MDMA on post-traumatic stress. LA Times: Mar 15, 2014. Available from: < http://articles.latimes.com/2014/mar/15/local/la-me-mdma-20140316>.

4. Basch E, Prestrud AA, Hesketh PJ, et al. Antiemetics: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline update. J Clin Oncol2011;29(31):4189-98.

5. Baumeister D, Barnes G, Giaroli G, Tracy D. Classical hallucinogens as antidepressants? A review of pharmacodynamics and putative clinical roles. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol (2014);4(4):156-69.

6. Carhart-Harris RL, Leech R, Williams TM, Erritzoe D, Abbasi N, Bargiotas T, et al. Implications for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: functional magnetic resoinance imaging study with psilocybin. British Journal of Psychiatry (2012);200:238-44.

7. Clark PA, Capuzzi K, Fick C. Medical marijuana: Medical necessity versus political agenda. Med Sci Monit (2011);17(12):249-261.

8. Compassionate Care New York. Frequently Asked Questions about New York’s Medical Marijuana Bill. (2014). Compassionate Care New York. Available from <www.compassionatecareny.org>.

9. Corey-Bloom J, Wolfson T, Gamst A, Jin S, Marcotte T, Bentley H, Gouaux B. Smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. CMAJ (2012);184(10):1143-50.

10. Dronabinol, THC. In: Clinical Pharmacology [database on the Internet]. Tampa (FL): Gold Standard; 2008 [updated 6Jan 2014; cited 26 Jan 2015]. Available from: www.clinicalpharmacology.com. Subscription required to view.

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