Please see my recent blog regarding the US patent in 2003 by the Federal government for CBD. In addition, the patent boldly also states the many benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids.

The application was applied for April 21, 1999 and was finalizing in 2003. The findings were published in Drugs R D. 2003;4(5):306-309 which is almost 10 years ago and I have wondered why this happened at that time. Well, this article, explains very clearly that GW was looking for and obtained support and I presume a lot of cash from Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Bayer was involved with GW before 2003 and the patent by the Feds in 2003 is no coincidence. Please read here, the abstract of GW Pharmaceuticals actions.

Here is the text of the abstract from the study:

Cannabis-Based Medicines – GW Pharmaceuticals: High CBD,
High THC, Medicinal Cannabis – GW Pharmaceuticals, THC:CBD

Drugs R D. 2003;4(5):306-309

ABSTRACT

GW Pharmaceuticals is undertaking a major research programme in the UK to develop and market distinct cannabis-based prescription medicines [THC:CBD, High THC, High CBD] in a range of medical conditions. The cannabis for this programme is grown in a secret location in the UK.It is expected that the product will be marketed in the US in late 2003. GW’s cannabis-based products include selected phytocannabinoids from cannabis plants, including D9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The company is investigating their use in three delivery systems, including sublingual spray, sublingual tablet and inhaled (but not smoked) dosage forms. The technology is protected by patent applications. Four different formulations are currently being investigated, including High THC, THC:CBD (narrow ratio), THC:CBD (broad ratio) and High CBD. GW is also developing a specialist security technology that will be incorporated in all its drug delivery systems. This technology allows for the recording and remote monitoring of patient usage to prevent any potential abuse of its cannabis-based medicines.GW plans to enter into agreements with other companies following phase III development, to secure the best commercialisation terms for its cannabis-based medicines. In June 2003, GW announced that exclusive commercialisation rights for the drug in the UK had been licensed to Bayer AG. The drug will be marketed under the Sativex((R)) brand name. This agreement also provides Bayer with an option to expand their license to include the European Union and certain world markets.GW was granted a clinical trial exemption certificate by the Medicines Control Agency to conduct clinical studies with cannabis-based medicines in the UK. The exemption includes investigations in the relief of pain of neurological origin and defects of neurological function in the following indications: multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, central nervous system damage, neuroinvasive cancer, dystonias, cerebral vascular accident and spina bifida, as well as for the relief of pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and also pain relief in brachial plexus injury. The UK Government stated that it would be willing to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to permit the introduction of a cannabis-based medicine.GW stated in its 2002 Annual Report that it was currently conducting five phase III trials of its cannabis derivatives, including a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a sublingual spray containing High THC in more than 100 patients with cancer pain in the UK. Also included is a phase III trial of THC:CBD (narrow ratio) being conducted in patients with severe pain due to brachial plexus injury, as are two more phase III trials of THC:CBD (narrow ratio) targeting spasticity and bladder dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients. Another phase III trial of THC:CBD (narrow ratio) in patients with spinal cord injury is also being conducted. Results from the trials are expected during 2003.Three additional trials are also in the early stages of planning. These trials include a phase I trial of THC:CBD (broad ratio) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, a phase I trial of High CBD in patients with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, and a preclinical trial of High CBD in various CNS disorders (including epilepsy, stroke and head injury).GW Pharmaceuticals submitted an application for approval of cannabis-based medicines to UK regulatory authorities in March 2003. Originally GW hoped to market cannabis-based prescription medicines by 2004, but is now planning for a launch in the UK towards the end of 2003.Several trials for GW’s cannabis derivatives have also been completed, including four randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trials conducted in the UK. The trials were initiated by GW in April 2002, to investigate the use of a sublingual spray containing THC:CBD (narrow ratio) in the following medical conditions: pain in spinal cord injury, pain and sleep in MS and spinal cord injury, neurop spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain in MS and general neuropathic pain (presented as allodynia). Results from these trials show that THC:CBD (narrow ratio) caused statistically significant reductions in neuropathic pain in patients with MS and other conditions. In addition, improvements in other MS symptoms were observed as well.Phase II studies of THC:CBD (narrow ratio) have also been completed in patients with MS, spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain and a small number of patients with peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus or AIDS. A phase II trial of THC:CBD (broad ratio) has also been completed in a small number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as has a trial of High CBD in patients with neurogenic symptoms. A phase II trial has also been evaluated with High THC in small numbers of patients for the treatment of perioperative pain. The phase II trials provided positive results and confirmed an excellent safety profile for cannabis-based medicines.GW Pharmaceuticals received an IND approval to commence phase II clinical trials in Canada in patients with chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury in 2002.Following meetings with the US FDA, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Office for National Drug Control Policy, and National Institute for Drug Abuse, GW was granted an import license from the DEA and has imported its first cannabis extracts into the US. Preclinical research with these extracts in the US is ongoing.

When these two women started using as little as 1 mg BID of CBD, their pains were significantly improved. One of them restarted exercising within a day.

I will be following these women and am communicating with their oncologists and will post more on this topic as more experience is gathered.

We recently saw a “goo” where there was just over 26% CBD. These people should come up with a pretty good rich CBD tincture. Although much more complex, using CO2, there is a much better cannabinoid extration.

So, here it is:

As the CO2 extraction process is nearly 100% efficient, the cost ends up being not much different than making it yourself. Also, unless you find some rich CBD or flowers, it will just be a THC extraction, which is good, but just not great. It is well worth checking into if you are dealing with anxiety or pain. For Multiple Sclerosis and many degenerative neurological disorders, CBD is truly a miracle.

For the cost of a movie, popcorn and a drink you can now give it a go. I really think it is well worth few bucks and trip.

At the same time, I do want to make available to as many patients possible methods to create their own very high quality tincture, as independence from any legal restrictions may at some times, interfere with availability. To that end, have fun and don’t burn the stuff. Also, consider dropping by a couple of cc’s for testing. I can help get your sample tested for THC/CBD and the efficiency of decarboxylation for $50. I wish it were free, but this is a very fair price and we will all learn much.

Ingredients:
1 oz shake – select either sativa or indica
8 oz vegetable glycerin

Steps

1. Grind shake in coffee grinder
2. Mix ground shake into the glycerin. If overly thick, add water as necessary. They will easily mix.
3. Place into oven at 200 degress for 45 min DON’T GO ANY HIGHER TEMP THAN THIS
4. Take out of oven and let sit and cool for one hour
5. Place into crock pot and set on “keep warm”. MAKE SURE YOUR CROCK HAS A KEEP WARM SETTING.
6. “Keep warm” for 12 hours
7. Remove and strain thru cheese cloth as many times as needed (usually around 3 strainings)
8. DON’T BURN YOUR MOUTH. MAKE SURE IT IS COOL BEFORE BOTTLING into spray or dropper bottles
9. Generally 1/2 dropper bottle or 3 spritzes are adequate.
10. If too strong, dilute with water.

1. The city of LA is broke

2. The city of LA is not always on the best terms with the Medical Cannabis Community regarding “standards”

So, how about if we setup a committee to consider the following:

Standards for the dispensing of Medical Cannabis are jointly (pun intended) determined in a non “partisan” manner. To help ensure this, a city cannabis tax might be introduced within the dispensary system. A portion of this money would be to create standards which might become national standards. The balance and the lion’s share would go directly to the city of LA.

Thoughts?