“Good and bad in every group.” O’Shaughnessy’s $5.95 The Journal of Cannabis in Clinical Practice Summer 2010 Doctors to Study Effectiveness of CBD By Fred Gardner Tod Mikuriya, MD, did not live to see “Placeholder” Questionnaire it, but his dream of investigating the Why is this plant different medical potential of compounds in the from all other plants? INTRODUCING PROJECT CBD cannabis plant other than THC is now within the grasp of his successors. Our collective is involved in a research project to assess the The Society of Cannabis Clinicians, effects of strains relatively rich in cannabidiol (more than 4% the group Mikuriya founded in 1999, has CBD). Collective members who medicate with CBD-rich can- drafted a “Strain Evaluation Survey” to nabis are encouraged to take part in this research by report- collect data from patients who medicate ing your observations on the back of this form with cannabis in which cannabidiol Is CBD-rich Cannabis right for you? (CBD) is predominant Research suggests that CBD could be effective in easing CBD-rich cannabis will be available the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, nausea, and at California and Colorado dispensaries inflammatory bowel disorders, among other difficult-to-con- by late summer —and soon thereafter, trol conditions. CBD is non-psychoactive and may counter inevitably, in other states where patients certain effects of THC. Patients who want the anti-inflamma- can legally use cannabis as medicine. tory, anti-pain, anti-anxiety, or anti-spasm effects of cannabis Twelve strains rich in cannabidiol delivered —possibly— without disconcerting euphoria or se- (CBD) have been identified in the year dation might prefer CBD-rich Cannabis. and a half since an analytic chemistry How to conduct an N=1 Trial lab began testing cannabis samples pro- CBD-RICH CANNABIS PLANT is A simple way to collect information about effects is called vided by California dispensaries, grow- held lovingly by Ralph Trueblood of the “N-of-1” trial, in which one patient is both the test subject ers, and edible makers. Buds from five the Wo/men’s Alliance for Medical and the control. All you have to do is medicate with a CBD- of these strains have been available in- Marijuana. It was cloned from a True rich strain for a set period of time —say, a week— and then termittently at Harborside Health Cen- Blueberry/OG Kush cross found to medicate with your regular high-THC strain for the same pe- ter in Oakland. Herbal Solutions in Long contain approximately 10% CBD and riod. Use this form to describe any differing effects that you Beach also has provided CBD-rich can- 6 percent THC by weight. The strain notice: “less anxiety,” “more stoney than I want,” “less sedat- nabis to patients. was developed by Wendell Lee of Full ing,” “better sleep,” “no difference,” etc., etc. Eight of the CBD-rich strains are cur- Spectrum Genetics. rently being grown out. The others can- not be reproduced because the growers Various studies published in the medi- INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS appears on front page of a form developed hadn’t saved or couldn’t regain access cal and scientific literature suggest that to involve dispensaries in data collection. Patients getting CBD-rich strains to the genetic material that yielded their CBD could be effective in easing the are asked to describe their dose and use pattern, as well as “Conditions/symp- buds of interest. symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, dia- toms used to treat” and “Effects observed.” A more detailed and formal ques- More than 9,000 samples have been betes, nausea, and inflammatory bowel tionnaire is being developed by the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. tested to date by the Steep Hill lab in disorders, among other difficult-to-con- Oakland. Other start-up labs in Califor- trol conditions. CBD also has demon- Inside this issue nia, Colorado, and Montana have begun strated neuroprotective effects, and its testing for the burgeoning industry. The anti-cancer potential is being explored Martin Lee and Gregory Gerdeman Full Spectrum lab in Denver has tested at several academic research centers. On The Endocannabinoid System some 4,500 strains and identified seven An even wider market would emerge CBD-rich strains. if the reduced psychoactivity of CBD- A strain that is roughly 6% CBD and rich cannabis makes it an appealing treat- The O’Shaughnessy’s Review 6% THC, “Cannatonic,” has been devel- ment option for patients seeking anti-in- of Books oped by Resin Seeds in Barcelona and flammatory, anti-pain, anti-anxiety, and/ is being grown from seed by several col- or anti-spasm effects delivered without lectives. Its name may be misleading, disconcerting euphoria or lethargy. since CBD supposedly cancels the se- The Blue-Ribbon Plant dating effects of THC. The plant richest in CBD is a “True For purposes of the data collection Blueberry/OG Kush” cross grown in the OVEL REATMENT FOR UTISM being planned by the Society of Can- A N T A mountains south of Yreka by Wendell nabis Clinicians, “CBD-rich” cannabis Lee of Full Spectrum Genetics (not to BY LESTER GRINSPOON is being defined as more than 4% can- be confused with the lab in Colorado). nabidiol by weight (without respect to Dried buds of TB/OGK have been sent THC content) or more than 2.5% CBD for testing on four occasions by The Changing Nature of My Practice if CBD exceeds THC. Harborside, the dispensary with which By Christine Paoletti Potential Usefulness of CBD Lee is associated. Samples were consis- Until testing for cannabinoid content tently found to contain about 10% CBD On Issuing Cannabis Recommendations began, it was widely assumed that CBD, (with THC levels around 6 to 7%). On which is non-psychoactive, had been the only occasion that a crop grown out- By Stacey Kerr bred out of all the cannabis in California doors by Lee was tested by Steep Hill by generations of growers seeking maxi- lab, it was found to contain 13.9% CBD. mum THC content. Two other labs have confirmed the Dale Gieringer: CBD content of Lee’s TB/OGK. What Would “Legalization” Mean? What benefits did G.W. sci- Lee is now working to “stabilize the genetics” and produce TB/OGK seeds. entists expect a CBD-rich ex- Several plants he provided to Project plus tract to confer? CBD (a nonprofit organized by writer/ ROBERT C . CLARKE: HASHISH!! activist Martin Lee to promote research) Doctors in the SCC have watched are being grown out by experienced Jorge Cervantes Walks Into a Bookstore... with great interest in recent years as a hands. Processed medicine and clones British company, G.W. Pharmaceuticals will be available at dispensaries in the Louis Armstrong: More a Medicine Than a Dope conducted clinical trials of cannabis- months ahead. Details will be available plant extracts. G.W. has a license from on ProjectCBD.com, a website that will PREVIEWS FROM BLOCKBUSTERS IN MANUSCRIPT the British government and backing from be launched by mid-August, according Otsuka, a Tokyo-based multinational. to Martin Lee (no relation to Wendell). Excerpts from forgotten classics, & much more G.W.’s flagship product, Sativex, is The California strain richest in CBD a plant extract that contains approxi- proportionally, “Women’s Collective mately equal amounts of CBD and THC. Stinky Purple,” tested at 9.7% CBD and David West: A Call From Nebraska What benefits did G.W. scientists expect 1.2% THC. It was brought to Harborside a CBD-rich extract to confer? continued on page 41 O’Shaughnessy’s • Summer 2010 —41— Project CBD from front page by Grower #1 who also grows a strain not have the typical ‘high’ that goes with Yreka! called “Cotton Candy/Diesel” that was these therapeutic effects.” found to contain about 6% CBD and 6% But patient 10, who has been smok- THC. Grower #1 gets her starter plants ing TB/OGK reported, “I enjoy the herb, from friends in Northeastern Mendocino enjoy being able to use during the day County. Is there something in the ge- without getting too spaced out, but have nome of plants that have been swapped to watch out for memory lapses. I do stu- over the years by growers in those hills pid things like forget where I put stuff that encourages expression of CBD? because I think I’m not affected, but I Another strain containing more than am affected.” 8% CBD, grown indoors in the East Bay, CBD CONTENT of True Blueberry/OG HIGH-THC STRAIN, typical of the >9,000 was brought to Harborside in late April. “Dose level is going to be Kush is indicated by large spike at left of tested to date in California, has virtually “Omrita Rx3” is the name the grower very, very important.” chromatogram from Steep Hill lab. Spike no CBD. Scale at bottom gives amount of has given it after learning that it was of to its right shows THC. Small spike shows time heating in the urn of the gas special interest Patient Four in the Project CBD da- level of Cannabinol (a breakdown product chromatograph. Vertical scale indicates of THC). Spike at right in both chromato- amount of specific compounds evaporating to SCC doctors. tabase, a 70-year-old man with arthritis, grams is the lab’s internal standard. at known temperatures. A few weeks responded in detail: “Definitely anti-pain later a strain and anti-inflammatory. I would not call The Doctors’ Hopes re CBD that it has many medicinal uses and may called “Harle- the effect a ‘high’ but I’m not sure it’s The wide range of variables and “con- afford relief from their symptoms with quin” was found non-psychoactive.