Cannabis as a Painkiller: German Startup Explores its Potential

So far, research into cannabis as a medicinal plant with beneficial ingredients has been repeatedly hindered by politics in Germany. And yet, a number of companies are now looking into its potential as a highly effective medicine.

The focus is of course on the cannabinoids contained, particularly THC and CBD. Experts are already talking about a new class of therapeutics, naturally effective and at the same time fitting, safe and effective. Currently, a German startup is dedicating itself to cannabis as a painkiller and, if everything goes well, they would like to offer it in the future as a natural alternative to notoriously unpleasant and addictive opiates.

Of course, Germans aren’t the only ones making progress with cannabis research. We keep on top of it all and post regular updates to our free cannabis news app.

World’s Largest Clinical Study on Cannabis as a Ready-to-Use Medicine

There are opportunities for patients who are not helped by the chemical club, or who suffer from the usual side effects of such preparations. Cannabis interacts with the body’s own processes and is therefore well tolerated. It also has a long history as a medicinal plant, being a perennial favorite for thousands of years.

The makers of the cannabis study are looking at indications such as irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatism, nerve pain and the infamous twinge in the back. Specifically, they don’t want to bring just another cannabis pill with THC to market. Instead, a fresh, new, versatile class of painkillers is what they’re looking for.

For decades, there has been no progress in the area of medicinal cannabis and, more often than not, patients have just been prescribed opiates. Up to 20 million prescriptions for these therapeutics are counte. Cannabis is supposed to offer relief and  options from naturopathy and a corresponding ready-to-use drug is being researched.

Cannabis research on the verge of a breakthrough?

With more than 800 participants from Germany and Austria and the involvement of a good 100 pain centres, the study emphasises evidence and empiricism. Tests will be double-blind and controlled with placebos, which should lead to initial results in spring 2022. On board, by the way, are a lot of experts who know a lot about pain medicine, and who have recognized the potential of cannabis for a long time. This is in contrast to the politicians who, as usual, favor the pharmaceutical industry and have still not managed to legalize cannabis for adults in the Federal Republic.

Decisive are the cannabis varieties and thus their genetic profile: Not every weed is really the same and it is about the composition of the ingredients, which we know as cannabinoids. A good 500 profiles have already been evaluated, which originate from more than 1000 plants, and at the end there will be a strain, a variety, which in all probability will be particularly suitable for relieving chronic pain. Planned are drops with THC, which will incorporate terpenes as secondary ingredients for the entourage effect and the dosage will then be determined by the treating physician.

By the way, the researched weed is cultivated in Denmark, because in our country, as mentioned, Merkel and her people rule and do nothing for progress. In the vicinity of Copenhagen, cannabis is cloned and genetically cultivated in the same way, which currently amounts to a volume of a good ten tons of cannabis. In Portugal, too, they are planning a cultivation facility for the Medical Hemp first quality. Ready for the market as a therapeutic, the weed in drop form could be available in two to three years and the company is investing a good 100 million euros in the study.

Global use as blockbuster drug planned

Preparations with a minimum turnover of one billion dollars per year circulate under this name, but experts estimate the potential turnover for the cannabis drops to be many times that! In order to hopefully make opiates superfluous in many cases, the company is also investing a good 40 million euros in comparative studies and is focusing primarily on the USA, where it is known that a lot of people become addicted through quite uncritical prescriptions of painkillers.

With Epidiolex against severe cramps in epilepsy, there is already an approved preparation overseas. We are curious how the research can start in other countries and will report about the progress of cannabinoids as a suitable treatment alternative.

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(Featured image by Mohamed Hassan via Pixabay)

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