An Australian study has demonstrated that cannabis-based medication helps tackle dependency on cannabis, one of the most widely used drugs globally.
A paper about the University of Sydney and NSW Health clinical trial provides the first strong evidence that so-called cannabinoid agonist medication -- which targets receptors in the brain -- could reduce the rate of relapse.
The paper published today in the American Medical Association's JAMA Internal Medicine.
Lead author Conjoint Professor Nick Lintzeris -- of the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health and Director of Drug & Alcohol Services, South East Sydney Local Health District -- said the study should give hope to people with dependency on cannabis, which is a leading cause of drug treatment episodes in Australia.*
"We've never had the evidence before that medication can be effective in treating cannabis dependency -- this is the first big study to show this is a safe and effective approach," Professor Lintzeris said.
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