Medmonitor

A randomized, controlled Phase 3 clinical trial compared VER-01, an experimental cannabis-derived drug, with opioids in 384 patients with chronic low-back pain. VER-01 was found to be superior to opioids in terms of pain reduction over 6 months of treatment. Throughout the 6 months of treatment, mean pain reduction using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) was 2.50 NRS points with VER-01 versus 2.16 with opioids. These benefits were particularly pronounced in participants with severe pain, with greater pain reduction and sleep improvement compared to opioids. Furthermore, patients receiving VER-01 were four times less likely to develop constipation.

The DEA announced plans to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Rescheduling marijuana would not make it legal for recreational use, as Schedule III drugs are still controlled substances and subject to rules and regulations. However, this proposal recognizes the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledges that cannabis has less potential for abuse than other drugs. Clinical research has found that marijuana has the potential to assist with the treatment of chronic pain, neuropathic pain, spasticity, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Much opposition to the use of medical marijuana in workers’ comp has been tied to federal restrictions, which will soon be lifted; this could result in greater utilization of medical marijuana. The DEA’s proposal will first be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Once the White House signs off on the proposal, the DEA will hold a 60-day public comment period, after which it will be reviewed by an administrative judge. After this, the DEA would publish the final rule.