Addiction, Author Interviews, Cannabis / 21.01.2014
Cannabis Withdrawal: Nabiximols as an Agonist Replacement Therapy
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
David J. Allsop, PhD
National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine
Now with the School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Allsop: We found that administering a botanical preparation of the cannabinoids Tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC - the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) and Cannabidiol (a lesser known component of the cannabis plant that
counteracts the psychotogenic effects of THC with anxiolytic properties) to
dependent cannabis smokers during initial abstinence from cannabis
substantially dampened their withdrawal experience. In essence this is akin
to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) but for cannabis users. It might seem
obvious - sure you give cannabis users a cannabis preparation and they find
it easier to quit - but this is important because it has never been done
before - and we currently have no consensus evidence based medicines to
offer cannabis users who ask for help.
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