Psychosis

• This policy allows over-18s to possess a maximum of 25 grams of cannabis for personal use and grow up to three plants at home.
• The UK government cites concerns about the risk to mental health associated with using cannabis as a justification for supporting prohibition.

Cannabis and mental health

• There is extensive research exploring the relationship between cannabis and mental health problems, such as psychosis.
• The evidence suggests that some people may be more vulnerable than others to developing psychosis through cannabis use.
• The risk to mental health associated with cannabis, then, is relatively low.

Alcohol and tobacco: regulated but riskier

• Unlike cannabis, alcohol is regulated in the UK.
• As with cannabis, there are risks to mental health as a consequence of using alcohol.
• The risk of developing depression among heavy alcohol use is significant: one in two will experience depression.
• So despite alcohol being regulated or legal, the risks to a person’s mental health are greater than those posed by cannabis.

Public health

• In contrast, German policy reform includes a public health education programme which aims to reduce the risks of using cannabis.
• In 2007, when the Labour government introduced a ban on smoking in public areas, this wasn’t supported by many people.
• The risks to health from using cannabis, then, are relatively small compared to regulated drugs such as alcohol and tobacco.
• As the UK public finances continue to be squeezed, particularly around the NHS, persisting with the prohibition of cannabis is a missed opportunity for the nation’s health and a costly policy for its public services.

Mark Monaghan receives funding from UK Government, Cabinet Office and the ESRC. He has in the past received funding from the Nuffield Foundation. Ian Hamilton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. (“Newron”) (SIX: NWRN, XETRA: NP5), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for patients with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, today announced its financial results and operational highlights for the business year ended December 31, 2023, and provided an outlook for 2024.
• Results from the first 100 patients to complete six months (30 weeks) of treatment with evenamide were reported in January, followed by results in February 2023 from the same 100-person cohort at the one-year (52 weeks) timepoint.
• These data were further strengthened, post-period in January 2024, with the final results from study 015 reviewing all study participants after one year of treatment.
• Patient enrollment has completed and results from this study are expected in April 2024.

• The full text of the announcement from Bristol Myers Squibb is as follows:
  Bristol Myers Squibb Completes Acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics, Strengthening Neuroscience
  PRINCETON, N.J.-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that it has successfully completed its acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. (“Karuna”).
• With the acquisition's completion, Karuna shares have ceased trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and Karuna is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Bristol Myers Squibb (“BMS”).
• “We are excited to expand our neuroscience portfolio as we welcome Karuna to Bristol Myers Squibb,” said Chris Boerner, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb.
• Gordon Dyal & Co. and Citi are serving as financial advisors to Bristol Myers Squibb, and Covington & Burling LLP is serving as legal counsel.

• OTTAWA, ON, March 21, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the independent Expert Panel conducting the review of the Cannabis Act welcomed the tabling of its final report in both houses of Parliament.
• The report, a legislative requirement under the Act, reviews progress toward meeting the Act's objectives and recommends changes to the Act and its supporting regulations and policies.
• "The Cannabis Act is a dramatic departure from prohibition, which had been the approach to controlling cannabis for the past century.
• The Expert Panel appreciates the opportunity to have undertaken this critical review of the cannabis framework in Canada.