The International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines - by c.a. riley
Since its creation in Ruethen, Germany in March 2000, the mission of the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM) has been to expand knowledge about cannabis and cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system, concentrating primarily on the therapeutic potential of these compounds within the endocannabinoid system. This scientific society accomplishes its mission largely through the following activities:
- Support for continuing research
- Promotion of the exchange of information among researchers, health care practitioners, patients and the public
- Presentation of accurate pharmacology and toxicology information and the therapeutic possibilities of cannabis within the endocannabinoid system
- Observation and certification of national and international research developments
- Cooperation with other research organizations having similar goals
Members of the IACM sincerely believe that physicians should have the right to discuss with their patients the medicinal use of cannabis as pertains to that patient’s care.
The organization is a non-profit group and does not ask for funding, although donations are accepted. Membership fees and donations finance operations of the group. Members do not receive any share of profits or other benefits from association funds. Members do receive the IACM-News, the newsletter, which is published online in several languages.
Two types of members comprise the IACM: regular and associate. Regular members must have completed a degree in medicine or pharmacy or have been a cannabis/cannabinoid researcher holding a different degree. Regular members can also be individuals having special knowledge of cannabis/cannabinoids, or students of medicine or pharmacology. Medical institutions and organizations are also considered to be regular members, while other people or institutions outside the medical professions are considered to be associate members.
A board of directors of up to ten regular members, including a first and second chairperson, is elected by regular members, who are the only members with the right to vote. Regular members also establish the guidelines of the association, but all members have the right to participate in meetings, to speak, or to make proposals.
Associate members are responsible for electing two patient representatives. Associate members who would themselves qualify as patients may also serve as patient representatives, and all patient representatives have equal rights in meetings of the Board of Directors.
The activities of this outstanding organization are essential to increasing knowledge of medical cannabis and the endocannabinoid system for the benefit of patients, doctors, and everyone else with an interest in or need for medical cannabis.
Who's Who in Medical Cannabis - Professor Roger G. Pertwee - by c.a. riley
At Oxford University In 1968, post-doctoral scholar Roger G. Pertwee began research on the pharmacology of cannabinoids with Professor Sir William Paton. Their preliminary work focused on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol extracted from tincture of cannabis, which at that time was still legal medicine in the UK.
In 1974, Pertwee moved to Aberdeen and continued his cannabinoid research, investigating the hypothermic properties of THC and discovering that it enables animals to maintain a lower-than-normal core temperature. He also discovered during this time that the globus pallidus, located deep within the brain, is one of the locations at which cannabinoids affect motor function.
At a cannabinoid gathering in Palm Beach in 1991, research presented by Pertwee attracted the attention of another attendee, Professor Rafael Mechoulam, and resulted in a collaborative effort, based on work by Graeme Griffin, which led to some of the first evidence that anandamide—a naturally-occurring substance produced by the human body—binds to and activates cannabinoid receptors within the body. This exciting discovery lent credence to the argument that anandamide is actually an endogenous cannabinoid, or endocannabinoid.
In 1992, Pertwee joined with some of his colleagues in founding the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS). He is currently International Secretary of the group and has twice been elected its president. Professor Pertwee has also served as First Chairman of the IACM (2005-2007), and is a current member of the Board of Directors of the group and its Second Chairman. Pertwee is an invited member of the Faculty of 1000 and a member of another group, the Endocannabinoid System Network (ECSN), whose mission is to help other scientists understand the pharmacology and clinical significance of the endocannabinoid system.
Working with Drs Rik Musty and Paul Consroe in 1997, Pertwee helped to conduct the first large survey of self-medicating MS patients. In 1998, Professor Roger Pertwee personally presented evidence on cannabis to the Science and Technology Committee at the House of Lords. He is Professor of Neuropharmacology at the University of Aberdeen and co-chair of the International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR) Subcommittee on Cannabinoid Receptors, as well as coordinator of the British Pharmacological Society's Special Interest Group on Cannabinoids, and is a visiting Professor at the University of Hertfordshire.
In 2002, Pertwee received the Mechoulam Award for his “outstanding contributions to cannabinoid research," is listed by ISI Web of Knowledge as an “ISI Highly Cited Researcher,” and is widely regarded as one of "the world's most cited and influential researchers." He served on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society group that helped to design clinical trials with cannabis and THC that were funded by the Medical Research Council and conducted in the UK.
As if all of the above activities would not occupy all of Professor Pertwee’s time, he is also Director of Pharmacology for GW Pharmaceuticals and he heads GW’s Institute of Cannabinoid Research at Aberdeen. There is much more in Roger Pertwee’s long list of accomplishments, including authorship of numerous articles on the cannabinoids, and frequent speaking engagements. He was a contributing author of Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis, a publication of the British Medical Association.
Pertwee’s current research on the pharmacological actions of plant cannabinoids is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (part of NIH) and by GW Pharmaceuticals.
What's New
Alabama: Considering a medical marijuana law.
HB642 - The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act of Alabama
Arizona: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Arkansas: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Connecticut: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Delaware: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Florida: Medical marijuana petition drive underway.
Idaho: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Illinois: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Bill Status of SB1381
Iowa: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Kansas: Medical marijuana petition drive underway.
Marijuana Bill Reaches House
Maryland: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Bill Status of SB 627
Massachusetts: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Minnesota: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Missouri: Considering a medical marijuana law.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1670 - An Act relating to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes
Cottleville Mayor Don Yarber hopes Missouri legislature passes medical marijuana law
New Hampshire: Considering a medical marijuana law.
New York: Considering a medical marijuana law.
North Carolina: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Ohio: Considering a medical marijuana law.
HB 478
Pennsylvania: Considering a medical marijuana law.
HB 1393
South Carolina: Considering a medical marijuana law.
South Dakota: Medical marijuana petition drive underway.
Tennessee: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Texas: Considering a medical marijuana law.
Wisconsin: Considering a medical marijuana law.
The Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act
Featured Recipe - Oils Well That Ends Well - A guide to Canny Cooking Oils
You may know all about cannabutter, tincture, and even elixir but how about oil? We’re talking now about oil extracts from whole cannabis (bud, trim, and leaf) that are wonderful in baking, sauces, and marinades.
Most folks think of hash oil when the term oil is mentioned. That is the subject of another entirely different preparation that this author still thinks is problematic.
Just as Cannabinoids go into solution in dairy fat (cannabutter and "mothers milk"), they also go into solution into a variety of oils, most particularly olive oil and canola. These oils are healthy all by themselves. Olive oil is a mono saturated fat while canola is largely unsaturated. Olive oil will give any dish a "flower" like aroma and taste while canola is largely tasteless. I prefer olive oil in stews, sauces, and marinades while canola works best for any baking recipe that calls for oil. Look soon for "Zoot Suit Zucchini Bread" using Canny Canola. Both oils make for a great spread substitute for butter. Ever tried "Canny Toast"? Just dip a small brush into the cannaoil, "paint" your bread and pop into the toaster!
The principles of making "cannaoil" are the same as with making cannabutter. Low and slow is the key. I use a crock pot set on low. I would not try to make oil on the stove since the temperatures get too high and the risk of ruining the Cannabinoids is too great.
Ingredients:
500 ml of extra virgin olive oil or canola
100-300 grams of chopped bud trim or 300-600 grams of chopped leaf depending upon the potency and availability of the cannabis.
Using more cannabis can produce stronger oil. The oil will both taste more "canny" and be more potent.
10-20 grams fresh chopped basil and/or thyme (optional for stews and marinades). Be creative. Depending upon the intended use of the oil you can customize your oil. Personally, I love to add dried New Mexico Red Chili flakes.
Directions:
Heat the oil in a crock pot set on low. Once the oil is mildly hot add the cannabis (and other herbs like basil or thyme) with frequent stirring. Keep the lid covered and continue to stir with a wood spoon every 15 minutes for the next 4-6 hours.
Strain the oil through two layers of cheese cloth into your container squeezing the oil through the cloth. Repeat one or two more times to make sure most if not all of the plant material is gone.
Store the cannaoil in an airtight glass oil jar with a cork stopper or screw top. Keep out of sunlight. Use just as you’d use regular oil. Enjoy!
