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Aug 26 2017

FDA Requests Public Comments on the Benefits of CBD

Patients using CBD-rich cannabis products to treat their conditions regularly share their positive experiences with our staff, including reductions in anxiety, inflammation, chronic pain, seizures and more. We’ve been excited to hear about the benefits our patients have discovered and we’re excited to report that the FDA is now requesting public comment regarding CBD as it prepares to submit policy recommendations to the World Health Organization:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting interested persons to submit comments concerning abuse potential, actual abuse, medical usefulness, trafficking, and impact of scheduling changes on availability for medical use of 17 drug substances. These comments will be considered in preparing a response from the United States to the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the abuse liability and diversion of these drugs. WHO will use this information to consider whether to recommend that certain international restrictions be placed on these drugs. This notice requesting comments is required by the Controlled Substances Act (the CSA). … Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the active cannabinoids identified in cannabis. CBD has been shown to be beneficial in experimental models of several neurological disorders, including those of seizure and epilepsy. In the United States, CBD-containing products are in human clinical testing in three therapeutic areas, but no such products are approved by FDA for marketing for medical purposes in the United States. CBD is a Schedule I controlled substance under the CSA. [Regulations.gov]

Anyone wishing to participate can do so by clicking here. If you’ve benefitted from using CBD products, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to share your perspective. The site has already received hundreds of testimonials from patients discussing their experience with the medicinal benefits of CBD:

“CBD has been very effective in treating my anxiety. I am a more productive and happy person as a result. I have not experienced any side effects and am still very alert. More people need access to CBD.” “I have been using CBD to treat mild anxiety and severe chronic stomach pain. It’s almost like magic with how it makes me feel. The pain or anxiety is lifted and I’m felt feeling back to normal. The best thing about CBD is that it doesn’t alter my state of mind, it just makes my mind at ease and pushes all my symptoms aside.” “I have been using CBD oil for my anxiety and depression for two years now, and CBD has done nothing but positives for me. Any time I feel anxious I have been consuming the oil and within the hour feel almost completely relieved. There have been absolutely no side effects no matter how much CBD oil is consumed. My mother also tried CBD oil for her back and neck pain at my recommendation. Typical pain medications did not alleviate her back pain, her doctor could not identify the source of her pain or treat it and her chiropractor could only help so much. A few days after taking the CBD tincture she reported almost no back pain and could move her neck freely again without pain.”

If you’re interested in participating, you must submit your comments by September 13, 2017. Also, please note that your online comments can be submitted anonymously if you prefer. Sharing your experiences as a patient is an important step towards demonstrating the public health benefits of well-regulated medical cannabis programs.

Aug 03 2017

Research Shows How Dispensaries Help Reduce Crime

As new states work to implement medical marijuana programs, providers frequently perform extensive community outreach to address questions and concerns about newly proposed facilities. The topic of how dispensaries might impact public safety in their neighborhoods comes up frequently and operators work especially hard to ensure that medical marijuana is dispensed in a way that promotes safety for both patients and the community. An encouraging new study helps demonstrate the positive role that well-regulated facilities can play when it comes to crime prevention:

A new study published in the July issue of the Journal of Urban Economics finds that contrary to popular belief, medical marijuana dispensaries (MMDs) reduce crime in their immediate areas.

In the study, titled, “Going to pot? The impact of dispensary closures on crime,” researchers Tom Y. Chang from the USC Marshall School of Business, and Mireille Jacobson from The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine, examined the short-term mass closing of hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles that took place in 2010.

“Contrary to popular wisdom, we found an immediate increase in crime around dispensaries ordered to close relative to those allowed to remain open,” said Jacobson.
…
“Our results demonstrate that the dispensaries were not the crime magnets that they were often described as, but instead reduced crime in their immediate vicinity,” said Jacobson. [Science Daily]

This result may come as a surprise to some, but to anyone familiar with professional dispensary operations, it makes a great deal of sense. The researchers note that the public safety benefits dispensaries create are similar to those of restaurants in that they attract customers and this added street presence helps deter crime. Empty storefronts, in contrast, contribute to crime because there are fewer people monitoring activity in the area.

Dispensaries also offer the added benefit of extensive security features that other retail businesses often don’t provide. Sophisticated security systems, 24-hour cameras, and trained security personnel all contribute to public safety and serve to deter criminal activity in the area surrounding dispensary locations. Operators also frequently keep in touch with local law-enforcement and work collaboratively to prevent crime before it happens.

As a business that takes safety very seriously, we’re encouraged to see researchers confirm our belief that medical marijuana dispensaries can contribute to public safety as well as public health. We’ll continue working hard to ensure that growing support for medical marijuana is well-deserved.

Jul 25 2017

Can Cannabis Medicines Replace Opioids for Pain Relief?

Opioid-based medicines exist for the well-intended purpose of helping patients treat severe and chronic pain, but their drawbacks are becoming a cause of serious concern. Widespread problems with dependency, abuse, and overdoses are leading many to reconsider these commonly prescribed medications and seek safer alternatives. It should come as no surprise that medical cannabis is playing a prominent role in the conversation about how to create healthier and more sustainable solutions for patients in pain:

A handful of drugmakers are taking their first steps toward developing marijuana-based painkillers, alternatives to opioids that have led to widespread abuse and caused the U.S. health regulator to ask for a withdrawal of a popular drug this month.

The cannabis plant has been used for decades to manage pain and there are increasingly sophisticated marijuana products available across 29 U.S. states, as well as in the District of Columbia, where medical marijuana is legal.

There are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved painkillers derived from marijuana, but companies such as Axim Biotechnologies, Nemus Bioscience and Intec Pharma have drugs in various stages of development. [Fortune]

Though medical cannabis is widely viewed as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, there exists tremendous potential for cannabis to become a pivotal factor in the development of future prescription medications. The expanding availability of medical cannabis products through state-regulated programs has demonstrated a range of benefits, including a reputation for safety among patients that contrasts sharply with that of prescription opioid drugs. Rather than viewing cannabis as competition, it makes sense that pharmaceutical companies are beginning to embrace its positive reputation and potential to replace medicines whose dangers are becoming increasingly clear.

Through our own experience working with patients suffering from severe pain, it’s easy to understand why so many are seeking alternatives to opioids. Chronic conditions require long-term treatment and patients frequently report to us that extended use of strong prescription pain relievers created serious consequences for them. We’ve heard from patients who developed problems with dependency and others whose doctors recommended medical cannabis because their continuing use of opioids was becoming hazardous to their health. Moreover, many patients have observed that they simply feel healthier and more alert when using medical cannabis to treat their pain.

As new states continue to launch regulated medical cannabis programs and pharmaceutical companies begin to explore cannabis-based approaches, new opportunities emerge to examine what roles cannabis medicine can play in providing a safer treatment option for patients in pain. As always, we’ll be following these events closely and sharing the latest news here as it develops.

Important Note: It is critical for patients using opioids and other medications to consult closely with their doctors before making any changes to their treatment plan. While many have reported positive outcomes through medical cannabis treatment, we strongly recommend that patients discuss their plans with their recommending physician and any other medical professionals involved in their ongoing care.

Jul 12 2017

Medical Marijuana Patient Survey Shows Encouraging Results

Minnesota’s medical marijuana program is smaller than most and is sometimes overlooked due to limitations on qualifying medical conditions and permitted product options. Nevertheless, patients in need are happy to participate and reporting very positive health outcomes. Recent survey data collected by the Minnesota Department of Health provides helpful evidence that patients are finding medical marijuana to be a safe and effective treatment option:

“Based on this evidence from the first year, Minnesota’s approach is providing many people with substantial benefits, minimal side effects and no serious adverse events,” Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said in a statement.

Patients were asked how much benefit they believe they received from using medical cannabis on a scale from 1 to 7, with 1 meaning no benefit and 7 meaning a great deal of benefit. Across all patients, 64 percent indicated a benefit rating of 6 or 7. Nine percent indicated little or no benefit. Most patients also reported clinically meaningful reductions in symptoms for conditions including seizures, Tourette syndrome, Crohn’s disease and muscle spasms. [TwinCities.com]

The full report is available here and includes a range of interesting data and insights generated by surveying participating patients and recommending physicians. Particularly moving are the direct comments from patients and caregivers themselves:

“Almost all muscle spasm and pain associated with spasms are gone. I used to have constant nerve triggered pain that is minimal now. Results were almost immediate. I am sleeping way better now also.”
“[NAME] has passed away. I am her daughter and was her care giver. She was open to trying medical cannabis and we got the liquid form. It was a saving grace. She was in a lot of pain and when prescribed medications did NOT work – we started this and it kept her calm and relaxed. I am very thankful that we were able to have this option available. It helped to make her last months more bearable and truly it would have been miserable without it.”
“I am getting enough sleep for the first time since about 2011. My absence seizures have gone from 3-4 a day to almost 0. It also has lessened the severity of grand mal seizures. The recovery time after has gone from around 12 hours to around 4.”

Personal testimonials like these are an important reminder of how regulated medical marijuana programs impact the lives of the people they were established to serve. Furthermore, the survey data itself provides critical insights to providers, policymakers and other stakeholders working to ensure that medical marijuana programs are managed safely and responsibly. For that very reason, we’ve long been committed to tracking health outcomes through our own data collection efforts and partnering with the scientific community to better understand the role of cannabis medicine in promoting public health.

As a growing number of states work to implement regulated medical marijuana programs, we’re faced with an important opportunity to document outcomes and collect empirical data that can inform public policy. SWC Arizona strongly supports such efforts and we immensely appreciate the participation of patients who’ve completed our surveys and shared their experiences with us.

Jul 04 2017

Anniversary Sweepstakes Rules for SWC Arizona

OFFICIAL RULES FOR SWC TEMPE & SWC PRESCOTT ANNIVERSARY SWEEPSTAKES: July 5-31 2017 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. RECEIVE ADDITIONAL ENTRIES EACH TIME YOU MAKE A PURCHASE OF SPECIFIED PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS. OPEN TO ARIZONA RESIDENTS WHO HAVE VALID ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGISTRY IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND ARE 18 YEARS OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. SUBJECT TO ALL APPLICABLE LAWS. EMPLOYEES OF SWC TEMPE, SWC PRESCOTT, AFFILATED COMPANY EMPLOYEES, ITS ADVERTISING OR PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES AND MEMBERS OFTHEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES OR HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO ENTER. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the interpretations and decisions, which are binding and final on matters relating to the Official Rules and this Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. HOW TO ENTER: Visit the SWC Tempe or SWC Prescott store locations during the Entry Period, complete an entry form available in the store, and deposit the completed entry form in the Sweepstakes entries box between open of business on Wednesday 7/5/17 and the prize drawing period at close of business on Monday 7/31/17 (the “Entry Period”). Entries received before or after the Entry Period will not be eligible. Limit one entry per patient per day. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO RECEIVE FREE ENTRY. Customers may receive additional entries through other in-store promotional efforts. Entries generated by script, macro, or other automated means are void. All entries become the property of SWC Tempe & SWC Prescott and will not be acknowledged or returned. DRAWING: One winner at each dispensary will be selected at from all eligible entries received at that dispensary during the Event Days. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. NOTICE TO WINNERS: SWC Tempe & SWC Prescott will notify the potential winner by telephone or email if the potential winner is not present at the time of the drawing. If a potential winner declines, or does not fulfill the requirements for the award of the prize, an alternate potential winner will be selected by random drawing. PRIZE: The prize winners will receive in-store credit equivalent to one free ounce per month for 12months (August 2017 through July 2018.) RETAIL VALUE OF PRIZE IS ESTIMATED AT $308 PER MONTH PER WINNER, TOTALING $3696 TOTAL PRIZE VALUE. The winner may not substitute, assign, or transfer prize or redeem prize for cash. Credits are valid for in-stock merchandise. No cash value and no cash will be issued if full credit is not used.The winner is responsible for all taxes in connection with his/her prize. SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott reserves the right to substitute the prize with a prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize becomes unavailable. USE OF INFORMATION: SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott will use data about entrants obtained in connection with the entry into the Sweepstakes for the administration of the Sweepstakes and otherwise in accordance with SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott’s privacy policy. By submitting an entry, entrant agrees to such use of personal data. GENERAL CONDITIONS: Releasees (as defined below) are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, stolen, misdirected, undelivered, garbled, or illegible entries; failures or difficulties, or other errors of any kind, whether human, mechanical, electronic, or network; or the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry or other information, or the failure to capture any such information. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Sweepstakes, as solely determined by SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott, will be disqualified. Should any portion of the Sweepstakes be, in SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott’ sole opinion, compromised by unauthorized human intervention or other causes, which, in the sole opinion of SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of entries, SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify, or terminate the Sweepstakes and select the winner from all eligible, non suspect entries received prior to action taken or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott. Entrants, by participating, agree that SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott and its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotional agencies, and all their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, and agents (collectively, the “Releasees”) will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against, any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind, including death, to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse, or use of the prize or participation in this Sweepstakes. Each winner, by acceptance of the prize, except where legally prohibited, grants permission for SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott and its designees to use his/her name, address (city and state), photograph, voice, and/or other likeness and prize information for advertising, trade, and promotional purposes without further compensation, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide and on the Internet and World Wide Web, in perpetuity, without notice or review or approval. SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott may require the potential winner to sign separate written agreements confirming the agreements, releases, and permissions described above. In addition, the winner agrees to sign releases, assumption of risk, and other agreements and documents required by SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott. WINNER’S NAME: For privacy purposes, we do not publish the name of the Sweepstakes winner. For further questions, please contact SWC Tempe and SWC Prescott.

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