When a new medication is created inside the pharmaceutical model, that one very specific medication for a very specific diagnosis must be the entire scope of the study. So, when a new medication is introduced, it generally has millions of dollars of research behind it and years and years of study, clinical trials and FDA approval.
So, with Sativex, a whole plant cannabis medicine from GW Pharmaceuticals, they are going through final stages in the US of approval for use in relief of cancer related pain. The medicine, similar to extracts available in California, are whole plant and each spray is just over 2 mg of CBD and 2 mg of THC. That is, it is a 1:1 ratio.
The 1:1 ratio turns out to be great for a lot of disorders, but is awful for many others. Could GW create extracts that span the ratios and cannabinoid types available? Sure. They could and they are making them, but it will be years before a THCV rich extract for obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and more will be approved. In California, the “herbal” or “neutraceutical” market is creating anything that makes sense.
With my own work with regard to consulting on dosage and administration, the various strains and ratios and doses are all taken into account. I would really be sad if I ONLY had a 1:1 whole plant extract. I would feel defeated if I could not soon work helping with THCV/CBD dosed medicine. This should???? be available from some groups by the end of the year.
Cannabis must be de-classified; not re-classified. It should be grown like vegetables and every cannabinoid ratio and terpene profile possible should be made into dosed extracts and tried. Truly nothing else makes any sense for these plants.
It seems to me that treating it as a nutritional supplement or neutraceutical will ultimately lead to its being accepted for that use. It is rare, if ever, that pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals can make virtually the same medication. I am fine with pharmaceuticals making anything they wish; I just really don’t want to lose our ability to move far beyond and much faster than pharmaceuticals thereby gaining a secure foothold. I hope.
