Cannabis-in-brief: Zürich launches adult-use pilot, Israel’s medical cannabis reforms and global health economic study

We bring you the news you might have missed from the week just gone.

The top lines this week: The Swiss city of Zürich launches its adult-use cannabis pilot, Israel’s major reforms aim to make medical cannabis a ‘first line treatment’, and a global study will explore the health economic benefits of medical cannabis.

Plus, the UK is named as the country home to the second highest number of cannabis-related clinical trials in the last decade and the family of an Irish cannabis ‘caregiver’ serving five years, welcomes his move to an open prison. 

Catch up below:

Switzerland launches Zürich  cannabis pilot

The Swiss city of Zürich has marked a significant milestone with the official launch of its cannabis pilot trial ‘ZüriCan’ this week. 

The trials represent a major development in the legalisation and regulation of cannabis in Switzerland. 

The second pilot, which began on Tuesday 22 August, will see participants permitted to buy controlled cannabis products from selected dispensaries.

The three-year study aims to examine how the sale of cannabis products under regulated conditions affects the consumption and health of participants.

Read more 

Global study to explore health economic benefits of medical cannabis

Researchers in Australia will explore whether treatment with medicinal cannabis can ease the economic impact of chronic health conditions.

Australians living with one of 200 chronic conditions may now be eligible to participate in what is expected to become the world’s largest study into the impact of medicinal cannabis treatment on health economic outcomes and quality of life for patients suffering from chronic health conditions.

The QUEST Global study will be conducted by researchers at Curtin University and is sponsored by medicinal cannabis supplier Little Green Pharma (LGP), with the support of the Health Insurance Fund of Australia (HIF)  – the first Australian health fund to publicly declare support for medicinal cannabis treatments and provide rebates on these products.

Read more 

Report reveals countries leading the way in cannabis-related clinical trials

After the US, the UK saw the second highest number of clinical trials carried out on cannabinoids in the last decade, according to a new report. 

The upcoming report, due to be published this month by Prohibition Partners and Cannabiscientia, explores the progression of cannabis research over the last 13 years, with an in-depth account of all activity in the context of the global pharmaceutical landscape.

The overwhelming majority of these trials took place in the US (54%), however, the UK saw the second highest amount of activity, responsible for 13% of all clinical trials during this time period.

This topped Canada (7.7%) and Israel (6.8%), two countries which are widely thought to be progressing quickly in the field of cannabis research.

Read more

Irish cannabis ‘caregiver’ serving five-year sentence moved to open prison

A dad-of-two, serving five years for supplying cannabis to help severely ill patients, has been moved to an open prison as his family prepare to launch an appeal against his sentence.

The family of Patrick Moore, who was sentenced to five years for the cultivation and supply of cannabis, have welcomed his move to an open prison just eight months into his sentence.  

In December 2022, Moore, from County Limerick in Ireland, pleaded guilty to the charges and is expected to serve three years behind bars, the final two suspended. 

Moore, who has been described as a cannabis ‘caregiver’, admitted to selling cannabis flower to friends and acquaintances, the funds of which were being used to produce oil which he provided to sick patients free of charge.

Read more 

Israel to see major reforms to medical cannabis 

Israel could soon see a dramatic increase in the number of medical cannabis patients as the government publishes proposals for sweeping reforms aimed at streamlining access.

On Monday 7 August, The Health Ministry published its highly anticipated proposals for medical cannabis reform in Israel. 

These reforms, which are expected to begin being rolled out from December this year, are ‘great news for tens of thousands of Israeli citizens and the economy’, according to Health Minister Moshe Arbel.

Perhaps the most significant upcoming change outlined by the government is the transition of medical cannabis from a ‘last resort treatment’ to a ‘first-line treatment’.

Read more