Health Care Professional Education

Medicinal Cannabis Clinical Data and Research

In New Zealand, Health Care Professionals can prescribe medicinal cannabis products registered under the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, which have been assessed as meeting the New Zealand Minimum Quality Standard for any condition that the prescriber feels is appropriate.

Besides developing medicinal cannabis products, Cannasouth supports Health Care Professionals by providing prescriber education and access to clinical data for specialists, doctors, and clinicians.

The Cannasouth Clinical Fact Finder™ is where you can quickly and easily find clinical evidence on the use of medicinal cannabis. You can search and find open source studies on the most common symptoms for which medicinal cannabis is used. There are also reviews undertaken by Heath Agencies worldwide on medical cannabis and its use in clinical practice.

These tools provide an opportunity for clinicians to increase their understanding of the endocannabinoid (ECS) system and how phytocannabinoids can support the ECS functionality. We aim to help Health Care Professionals gain essential knowledge on these subjects to give them confidence in prescribing medical cannabis for patients.

Clinical Fact Finder

Select a topic to view research:

+ Pain

Indication

Title

Cannabinoids

Type

Patients

Year

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Pharmacotherapeutic considerations for use of cannabinoids to relieve pain in patients with malignant diseases

Cannabinoids THC, THC:CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Medical Cannabis for Neuropathic Pain

Cannabinoids THC (plant)

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Efficacy of Cannabis-Based Medicines for Pain Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, Nabilone, Dronabinol, THC:CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients 1,334

Year 2017

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Cannabinoids for treatment of chronic non-cancer pain; a systematic review of randomized trials

Cannabinoids THC, THC (plant), Nabilone, Dronabinol, THC-11-oic Acid

Type Systematic Review

Patients 766

Year 2011

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Low Dose Vaporized Cannabis Significantly Improves Neuropathic Pain

Cannabinoids THC (plant)

Type DB, PC, CO

Patients 39

Year 2013

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Smoked cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain: a randomized controlled trial

Cannabinoids THC (plant)

Type R, DB, PC, CO

Patients 21

Year 2010

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial of Cannabis Cigarettes in Neuropathic Pain

Cannabinoids THC (plant)

Type DB, PC, CO

Patients 38

Year 2008

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Efficacy of Dronabinol as an Adjuvant Treatment for Chronic Pain Patients on Opioid Therapy

Cannabinoids Dronabinol

Type R, DB, PC, CO, Phase 1

Patients 30

Year 2008

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Initial experiences with medicinal extracts of cannabis for chronic pain: Results from 34 ‘N of 1’ studies

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, THC:CBD

Type R, DB, PC, CO

Patients 34

Year 2004

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Effect of Inhaled Cannabis for Pain in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Cannabinoids THC+CBD, THC/CBD, THC:CBD

Type Clinical Trial

Patients 23

Year 2020

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Matched pilot study examining cannabis-based dronabinol for acute pain following traumatic injury

Cannabinoids Dronabinol

Type

Patients 66

Year 2020

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Myorelaxant Effect of Transdermal Cannabidiol Application in Patients with TMD: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial

Cannabinoids CBD

Type R, DB

Patients 60

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Effectiveness of THC:CBD oromucosal spray in patients with chronic pain

Cannabinoids THC+CBD, THC/CBD, THC:CBD

Type Review

Patients 1,310

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title Effects of cannabinoid administration for pain

Cannabinoids THC

Type Meta-Analysis

Patients N/A

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title A Study to Evaluate the Effects of Cannabis Based Medicine in Patients With Pain of Neurological Origin

Cannabinoids THC:CBD

Type Clinical Trial

Patients 70

Year 2012

Open Source

Indication Fibromyalgia

Title An experimental randomized study on the analgesic effects of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis in chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, THC:CBD

Type R, DB, PC, CO

Patients 20

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Fibromyalgia

Title Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Fibromyalgia

Cannabinoids THC, CBD

Type Observational Study

Patients 211

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Fibromyalgia

Title Ingestion of a THC-Rich Cannabis Oil in People with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Cannabinoids THC

Type R, DB, PC, Clinical Trial

Patients 18

Year 2020

Open Source

Indication IBD

Title Medical Cannabis: An Option for the Treatment of IBD & Colon Cancer?

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, THC/CBD

Type Review

Patients N/A

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication IBD

Title Cannabis Induces a Clinical Response in Patients With Crohn’s Disease: A Prospective Placebo-Controlled Study

Cannabinoids THC

Type PC, Prospective Cohort Study

Patients 21

Year 2013

Open Source

Indication Multiple

Title Role of the cannabinoid system in pain control

Cannabinoids THC/CBD

Type Mode of Action

Patients N/A

Year 2006

Open Source

+ Palliative Care

Indication

Title

Cannabinoids

Type

Patients

Year

Open Source

Indication Cancer

Title Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version (National Cancer Institute)

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, Dronabinol, THC:CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2020

Open Source

Indication Cancer

Title Efficacy, tolerability and safety of cannabis-based medicines for cancer pain

Cannabinoids THC, THC:CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Cancer

Title Prospects for the Use of Cannabinoids in Oncology and Palliative Care Practice: A Review of the Evidence

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, THC:CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Cancer

Title Results of a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Nabiximols Oromucosal Spray as an Adjunctive Therapy in Advanced Cancer Patients with Chronic Uncontrolled Pain

Cannabinoids THC:CBD, Nabiximols

Type R, DB, PC, Phase 3

Patients 397

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication Cancer

Title Nabiximols for Opioid-Treated Cancer Patients With Poorly-Controlled Chronic Pain: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Graded-Dose Trial

Cannabinoids Nabiximols

Type R, DB, PC

Patients 263

Year 2012

Open Source

Indication Cancer

Title Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of THC:CBD Extract and THC Extract in Patients with Intractable Cancer-Related Pain

Cannabinoids THC, THC:CBD

Type R, DB, PC, PG

Patients 177

Year 2010

Open Source

Indication Cancer

Title Nabilone Versus Prochlorperazine for Control of Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced Emesis in Children: A Double-Blind, Crossover Trial

Cannabinoids Nabilone

Type R, DB, CO

Patients 30

Year 1987

Open Source

Indication General

Title Cannabis in palliative care: current challenges and practical recommendations

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, Dronabinol, THC:CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication HIV

Title Smoked Medicinal Cannabis for Neuropathic Pain in HIV: A Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial

Cannabinoids THC (plant)

Type DB, PC, CO, Phase 2

Patients N/A

Year 2009

Open Source

Indication HIV

Title Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy

Cannabinoids THC

Type R, PC

Patients 50

Year 2007

Open Source

Indication Summaries

Title Cannabidiol prescription in clinical practice: an audit on the first 400 patients in New Zealand

Cannabinoids CBD

Type Review

Patients 400

Year 2020

Open Source

Indication Summaries

Title Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, THC/CBD

Type Review

Patients N/A

Year 2017

Open Source

+ Neurological

Indication

Title

Cannabinoids

Type

Patients

Year

Open Source

Indication Anxiety

Title Effects of Marijuana on Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, THC:CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2017

Open Source

Indication Anxiety

Title CBD as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety

Cannabinoids CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2015

Open Source

Indication Anxiety

Title Dose related effects of THC on responses to psychosocial stress

Cannabinoids THC

Type R, DB, PC

Patients 42

Year 2017

Open Source

Indication Anxiety

Title Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients

Cannabinoids CBD

Type R, DB, PC

Patients 24

Year 2011

Open Source

Indication Anxiety

Title Effects of ipsapirone and cannabidiol on human experimental anxiety

Cannabinoids CBD

Type DB, PC

Patients 40

Year 1993

Open Source

Indication Dementia

Title Prescription of a THC/CBD-Based Medication to Patients with Dementia: A Pilot Study in Geneva

Cannabinoids THC/CBD

Type Observational Study

Patients 10

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Epilepsy

Title Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Efficacy and Security in Clinical Trials

Cannabinoids CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Epilepsy

Title Efficacy and Safety of GWP42003-P for Seizures Associated With Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in Children and Adults (GWPCARE3)

Cannabinoids CBD

Type Clinical Trial Results

Patients 225

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication General

Title Nabilone for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease

Cannabinoids Nabilone

Type R, DB, CO

Patients 39

Year 2020

Open Source

Indication Multiple Sclerosis

Title Smoked cannabis for spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Cannabinoids THC

Type R, DB, PC, CO

Patients 30

Year 2012

Open Source

Indication Multiple Sclerosis

Title Efficacy, safety and tolerability of an orally administered cannabis extract in the treatment of spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study

Cannabinoids THC:CBD

Type R, DB, PC, CO

Patients 57

Year 2004

Open Source

Indication Psychiatric Disorders

Title Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review

Cannabinoids THC, CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2020

Open Source

Indication Psychiatric Disorders

Title Cannabidiol (CBD) use in psychiatric disorders: A systematic review

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, THC:CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Psychiatric Disorders

Title Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for psychosis

Cannabinoids CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Psychiatric Disorders

Title Effect of Cannabidiol on Medial Temporal, Midbrain, and Striatal Dysfunction in People at Clinical High Risk of Psychosis

Cannabinoids CBD

Type R, DB, PC, PG, Clinical Trial

Patients 33

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication Psychiatric Disorders

Title Opposite Effects of THC and CBD on Brain Function and Psychopathology

Cannabinoids THC, CBD

Type DB, PC

Patients 15

Year 2009

Open Source

+ Tolerability

Indication

Title

Cannabinoids

Type

Patients

Year

Open Source

Indication Adverse Events

Title Adverse effects of medical cannabinoids: a systematic review

Cannabinoids THC, CBD

Type Systematic Review

Patients N/A

Year 2008

Open Source

Indication Adverse Events

Title Cannabis for the Management of Pain: Assessment of Safety Study (COMPASS)

Cannabinoids THC (plant)

Type Prospective Cohort Study

Patients 431

Year 2015

Open Source

Indication Adverse Events

Title Nabiximols as an Agonist Replacement Therapy During Cannabis WithdrawalA Randomized Clinical Trial

Cannabinoids CBD:THC (Nabiximols)

Type R, DB, PC, Clinical Trial

Patients 51

Year 2014

Open Source

Indication Adverse Events

Title Medicinal Cannabis – Potential Drug Interactions

Cannabinoids THC, CBD

Type Review

Patients N/A

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication Driving Impairment

Title Cannabis Effects on Driving Skills

Cannabinoids THC

Type Review

Patients N/A

Year 2014

Open Source

Indication Drug-drug interactions

Title Potential Adverse Drug Events and Drug–Drug Interactions with Medical and Consumer Cannabidiol (CBD) Use

Cannabinoids CBD

Type Summary

Patients N/A

Year 2019

Open Source

Indication Pregnancy

Title Cannabis Abuse or Dependence During Pregnancy: A Population-Based Cohort Study on 12 Million Births

Cannabinoids THC

Type RS

Patients 12.5m

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication Pregnancy

Title Effects of Maternal Marijuana and Cocaine Use on Fetal Growth

Cannabinoids THC

Type PS

Patients 1,226

Year 1989

Open Source

+ Health Agency Reviews

Agency

Title

Cannabinoids

Type

Patients

Year

Open Source

Indication Canada

Title Information for Health Care Professionals: Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and the cannabinoids

Cannabinoids THC, CBD

Type Position Paper

Patients N/A

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication Chronic/Neuropathic Pain

Title The Role of Medicinal Cannabis in Clinical Therapy: Pharmacists’ Perspectives

Cannabinoids THC, CBD

Type Position Paper

Patients N/A

Year 2016

Open Source

Indication Europe

Title European Pain Federation (EFIC) position paper on appropriate use of cannabis‐based medicines and medical cannabis for chronic pain management

Cannabinoids THC, CBD

Type Position Paper

Patients N/A

Year 2018

Open Source

Indication Referenced by Medsafe

Title Cannabis: The Evidence for Medical Use

Cannabinoids THC, CBD, Dronabinol, THC:CBD

Type Position Paper

Patients N/A

Year 2016

Open Source

The Cannasouth Clinical Fact Finder™ is an online, searchable database which enables prescribers to search for clinical data involving medical cannabis. This was compiled from searches of the following online libraries, MEDLINE®, PublMed®, Scopus®, SciFinder®, Google Scholar® and Science Direct®.

We encourage health care practitioners to share and bookmark this page to help them gain knowledge and confidence in prescribing.

The Abbreviated Medicinal Cannabis Guide

This is a handy, abbreviated guide for HealthCare Professionals, and should be used in conjuction with other sources of information and the HealthCare Professionals best judgement.

For an A4, print friendly version, please click here.
For a mobile friendly version, please click here.
For an e-book version, please click here.

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing resources, training, and medicinal cannabis prescriber education, here is a link to the Goodfellow Institute’s course about medicinal cannabis and chronic pain.

Once you have completed this short course you can print your certificate for one Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hour.

Click on the link below to view the misuse of drugs (medicinal cannabis) regulations, which were released in December 2019 by the Ministry of Health.
Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations