Can cannabis use help with sleep apnea, weaken immune response and alter breathing tests?

The Lung Association - Ontario and Tetra Bio-Pharma research award recipients hope to help fill gaps in knowledge

TORONTO, April 16, 2019 /CNW/ - With the recent legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, a major gap has been revealed, and that is a lack of scientific research on the health effects of its use ? both on the recreational and medical side.

The research partnership between The Lung Association - Ontario and Tetra Bio-Pharma to better support patients and healthcare providers with evidence-based information about the impact of cannabis use has gotten off the ground with the announcement of the three research grant recipients. The winners were announced at The Lung Association ? Ontario's Breathe! Bash held on March 28th.

The three new research investigations are:

• Dr. Jeremy Hirota from McMaster University will be determining if smoking cannabis increases the risk of viral respiratory tract infections.
• Dr. Tetyana Kendzerska from The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa will be filling the knowledge gap on the effects of recreational cannabis on obstructive sleep apnea, one of the most common disorders of sleep.
• Dr. Nicholas Vozoris from St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto will be examining if smoking cannabis affects breathing tests, and if doctors should be using these tests when seeing patients with lung troubles who smoke cannabis.

These important research projects will ensure there is a larger evidence-base to pull from when educating the public and healthcare providers about the impact of cannabis use on lung health.

"Cannabis is a very polarizing topic, but as scientists we should approach things with data, with experiments to test hypotheses, and then based on the data make an informed decision," said Dr. Jeremy Hirota, Assistant Professor, McMaster University.

"Despite promising initial findings, there is a need for studies comparing the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on respiratory disturbances during sleep and daytime alertness in people with obstructive sleep apnea in order to provide initial insights about potential mechanisms of action and to inform subsequent trials with longer treatment periods," said Dr. Tetyana Kendzerska, Associate Professor, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa.

"While it is known that cannabis smoking can lead to respiratory symptoms and lung tissue damage in a similar manner as cigarette smoking can, many studies so far have curiously failed to show that smoking cannabis negatively affects lung function testing," said Dr. Nicholas Vozoris, Associate Scientist, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto. "Further investigation is urgently needed to clarify if this is indeed the case, and if this is the case, then understanding why the difference between cigarettes and cannabis. I am grateful to The Lung Association for supporting this important area of respiratory research."

According to George Habib, President & CEO, The Lung Association Ontario, "The results of these projects will ensure that healthcare providers and the public have the evidence they need to better inform the decisions they make on behalf of their patients or themselves around the use of cannabis."

"We are delighted by the considerable interest and scope of novel submissions that were received from healthcare professionals for this research grant," said Dr. Guy Chamberland, CEO and CSO of Tetra Bio-Pharma. "Not only are we excited to partner with the Lung Association - Ontario on expanding the scientific data available on the medical use of cannabis, but these projects demonstrate the ingenuity of Canadian investigators in areas that have the potential to impact the lives of many individuals with lung-related health conditions. We can't wait to see what is discovered." 

About The Lung Association ? Ontario                                                      
The Lung Association - Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping all Ontarians breathe. Our community of donors, patients, researchers, volunteers and professional staff work to ensure Ontarians have healthy lungs, bodies and clean air necessary to breathe. We achieve this by promoting healthy breathing, supporting those living with lung disease and finding future solutions. All of this is done with the goal of delivering a future of better breathing for all.

About Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc.
Tetra Bio-Pharma (TSX-V: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF) is a biopharmaceutical leader in cannabinoid-derived drug discovery and development with a Health Canada approved, and FDA reviewed, clinical program aimed at bringing novel prescription drugs and treatments to patients and their healthcare providers. The Company has several subsidiaries engaged in the development of an advanced and growing pipeline of Bio Pharmaceuticals, Natural Health and Veterinary Products containing cannabinoid-derived molecules and other medicinal plant-based elements. With patients at the core of what we do, Tetra Bio-Pharma is focused on providing rigorous scientific validation and safety data required for inclusion into the existing bio pharma industry by regulators, physicians and insurance companies. For more information visit: www.tetrabiopharma.com

SOURCE Ontario Lung Association