Pulse - March 2023 - 15

TOOLS FOR SUCCESS
Cannabis: Can You?
Jeff Pollard, DVM, DABVP & Eleanor Green, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP
A
very short, but very important,
pre-read: Hemp ≠ Cannabis.
Legal Status
California veterinarians are unclear about the
status of cannabis & hemp CBD in veterinary
medicine. Many are not familiar with the current
legislation, AB18851, that was passed in
September 2022. This law now permits California
veterinarians to discuss & recommend
cannabis.
The term " cannabis " in AB1885 refers to
marijuana. Legally, " hemp " & " marijuana " are
distinguished by the 0.3% THC threshold.
Hemp, legal at the federal level since Congress
passed the 2018 Farm Bill (yes, also for
veterinary use), is CBD & other cannabinoids
that contain less than or equal to 0.3% THC.
This THC threshold was first proposed in
1976.2
The THC limit of 0.3% was chosen
randomly to define hemp. That number stuck,
and today it is used as the threshold for THC
in hemp in its legal definition under the Agricultural
Act of 2018.
Guidelines for Veterinarian Discussion
of Cannabis Within the Veterinary-ClientPatient-Relationship
can be found on the
California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB)
website.3
include rules veterinarians need to follow regarding
medical records, financial relationships
& advertising.
1) Conflicts: can't have a financial interest
with a cannabis licensee
2) Must establish & document a VCPR.
(a rather low bar - client is already in
your exam room)
3) Document history, physical exam findings,
& indication for cannabis
4) Advertising for cannabis is prohibited
Note the carve out that distinguishes
hemp from cannabis. Hemp ≠ Cannabis.
(Industrial) hemp is not a controlled substance:
" if a veterinarian administers, dispenses,
furnishes, recommends, or discusses the use
of (industrial) hemp...the veterinarian would
not be subject to the statutory provisions regarding
cannabis. " 3
At its April 2022 meeting, the VMB explicitly
stated that since hemp CBD is an
over-the-counter product, there is no need or
legal precedent requiring the board to establish
guidelines for it. If a complaint is filed about
the use of hemp CBD, the board will approach
the case as it would any other OTC product.4
Use in Humans and Animals
In 2017, the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)
published a comprehensive review of existing
scientific literature on the medicinal effects of
cannabinoids.5
The review found there is " conclusive
or substantial evidence " that cannabinoids
are effective in the treatment of chronic
pain, nausea and vomiting, and for improving
multiple sclerosis symptoms in humans.
A 2019 Pew Research Poll found over 90%
of Americans support legalizing medical cannabis
and a 2020 Gallup poll found that 68%
support legalizing cannabis for recreational
use.6, 7
These guidelines, currently in place,
As cannabis use expands in the U.S.,
issues that require the guidance of scientists
and clinicians are rapidly arising. Both human
patients & animal owning clients are looking
to their medical providers for information on
cannabis safety, potential for interactions with
pharmaceuticals, and therapeutic applications.
This is increasingly becoming the case in veterinary
medicine also. An unplanned result of
AB1885's passage is elucidating how poorly
prepared veterinarians, as a group, are to address
questions from clients about the clinical
use of cannabis & hemp in animal patients.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
" Endocannabinoid " simply means cannabislike
substances that naturally occur within the
bodies of all mammals.8
Experts believe that
maintaining homeostasis is the primary role of
the ECS. It is made up of three parts:
* Endocannabinoids which are neurotransmitters,
aka, messenger molecules
* Receptors in the body that bind with endocannabinoids
and cannabinoids
* Enzymes that help break down endocannabinoids
and phytocannabinoids
Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids produced
by plants. The word, cannabis, refers to
all products derived from the plant, Cannabis
sativa. The best-known phytocannabinoid is
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and is
found primarily in marijuana. The other major
At its April 2022 meeting, the VMB explicitly stated that since
hemp CBD is an over-the-counter product, there is no need or legal
precedent requiring the board to establish guidelines for it.
PULSE
MARCH 2023
15
Pulse - March 2023

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