New research paves the way for a new schizophrenia treatment, by testing the effect of a cannabis compound on rats. The study suggests that the cannabis-derived substance may improve schizophrenia-specific cognitive impairment, with none of the side effects that current medication has. 

Cannabis use declined significantly in Australia between 2001 and 2013, according to a new report out of the University of New South Wales. But while the use-rate data seem solid, the underlying reasons for the decline are harder to pin down.

Between 2001 and 2013, consumption fell dramatically, especially among  young people. Among individuals aged 14 to 19, past-year use dropped from 24.4% to 14.8%. Among those in their 20s, past-year use declined from 29.1% to 20.8%. The only recorded uptick was a slight rise in consumption among those in their 40s.

An active compound in cannabis plants, once isolated, could be used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia according to findings of a new study.

Researchers at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) have been investigating what effect Cannabidiol has on the mental illness.

Cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia include social withdrawal and blunted emotional expression.

Previous studies have shown the isolated compound can improve cognition in illnesses like Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

Regular visitor to Nimbin’s MardiGrass and medical cannabis advocate, Dr Andrew Katelaris, will appear in the Hornsby Local Court today after being arrested yesterday.

Chief Inspector David Hogg confirmed to Echonetdaily that Dr Katelaris had been charged with a number of offences including drug possession, having an indictable quantity of cannabis, and having proceeds of crime.

On Sunday Dr Katelaris featured in a Channel Seven report in which he was shown giving cannabis oil to a four-year-old boy, who has since been taken from his parents.

He had spent the weekend at a Hemp Industry forum at Rosehill in Sydney, where police arrived on the final day after reports that a large crop of cannabis was on display.

or the first time, scientists have demonstrated that a component of cannabis reduces seizures in children with a rare form of epilepsy, marking a significant step in efforts to use marijuana and its derivatives to treat serious medical conditions.

Fewer than 150 people in Australia have ever been given approved access to medicinal cannabis products and there are only 25 authorised prescribers of the drugs, according to evidence at a Senate estimates committee.

Officials from the Health Department told the hearing that figure had only increased by two since February, and most of those doctors were in New South Wales. 

"We now have 25, it would have been good to have a greater increase but we are responsive to what applications we receive from ethics committees, so we can't write these things ourselves," said the department's deputy secretary in charge of drug regulation, adjunct Professor John Skerritt.

The Cann Group has been given a permit by the Office of Drug Control to grow medicinal cannabis at a secret location in Melbourne.

The company, which listed on the ASX earlier this month after raising $13.5 million, has been issued permits for one medicinal cannabis permit and two cannabis research permits.

The first plants are expected to be harvested by early August.

A short time ago, Cann shares were down 4.4% to $0.535.

Harvested material from the plants is being supplied under a commercial agreement, the terms of which, including manufacturer details, volume, and price, will be kept confidential.

A DESPERATE couple accused of snatching their severely disabled four-year-old son from a Queensland Hospital last month are living in a controversial church, where the youngster is being given cannabis oil by a deregistered doctor.

Cini Walker and Marc Steven made national headlines when they were accused of taking little Chase Walker from hospital where he was being treated for spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Ms Walker and Mr Steven stopped vaccinating their son after the age of two, believing the injections were causing him seizures.

The parents advocate the use of medicinal marijuana and an organic diet, which they say has vastly improved his condition and reduced his epileptic seizures.

Phoenix Life Sciences is pleased to announce that it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Australia-based medicinal cannabis company Canndeo Ltd (100%-owned subsidiary of The Hydroponics Company ASX:THC) to cooperatively research, develop, manufacture, distribute and sell medicinal cannabis products in Australia and internationally.

MGC Pharmaceuticals are on track to launch their dermatological product range in Europe in the third quarter of 2017 after producing a solid set of results from a final clinical trial.

Three products in the company’s DermaPlus product range were tested on 90 volunteers over a threemonth period with the independent trial conducted by Dr Rok Devjak at a leading dermatological clinic in Solvenia.

According to the company the results were very positive and the latest endorsement of MGC Pharma’s claims of the medicinal and healing powers of cannabis.