Cannabinology: the Cannabis plant and the Endocannabinoid System
Lifelong learning course
Scientific director: Gastone Zanette
Course period:from 23 October 2023 to 28 February 2024. 28.5 hours of recorded video lectures, in-depth reading materials and tests (As the video lectures are recorded, the student will be able to access and follow the lectures throughout the entire period during which the course is open, at any time)
Application deadline: 30 September 2023
Aims:
- To learn the ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological characteristics of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, with a view to its use in the pharmaceutical and medicinal, agro-industrial and food sectors;
- To learn the evolutionary history of the Endocannabinoid System, its functions and the pathophysiology of endocannabinoid deficiency or overproduction;
- To learn the clinical assessment of the patient and of the risk associated with particular pathological conditions in relation to the possible therapeutic uses of Medicinal Cannabis (MC);
- To learn the regulations governing the cultivation, production, prescription and dispensing of MC;
Target participants: Primary: doctors, pharmacists, chemists, CTF graduates, biologists, agronomists, pharmacologists, laboratory and analysis technicians; secondary: entrepreneurs.
Teaching methods: Distance learning: video lectures delivered asynchronously, written interaction with lecturers in the event of student doubts and questions.
Enrolment fee: 900 €
How to enrol: To enrol in the course, connect to the website https://apex.cca.unipd.it/pls/apex/f?p=308:2::::2:P_MERCHID,P_LANG:252,ITA
Payment of the fee is required in a single instalment. The fee will be refundable only if the course does not start due to failure to reach the minimum number of 5 enrolments - maximum 50 enrolments.
For information:
- Mara Salerno, University of Padua: mara.salerno@unipd.it;
- Prof. Gastone Zanette, University of Padua: gastone.zanette@unipd.it, +39 339 6982231
- Andrea Cristofoletto, Cannabiscienza: andrea@cannabiscienza.it, +39 375 5058303
Facilities for the course: Cannabiscienza Srl's cannabiscienza.it e-learning platform; the University will receive from Cannabiscienza the instructions to be forwarded to participants in order to register on the above-mentioned platform and access the content; the scientific director Prof. G. Zanette will receive administrator access to the control panel.
Lecturers:
University lecturers: Gastone Zanette; Stefano Bona; Stefano Dall'Acqua
Retired University lecturers: Enrico Facco
External lecturers:
- Davide Fortin - Economist - Center d'Economie de la Sorbonne
- Annarita Eva - Social communications - Cannabiscienza
- Federica Pollastro - Pharmaceutical Chemistry - Università del Piemonte Orientale
- Viola Brugnatelli - Neuroscientist - Cannabiscienza
- Luigi Romano - Biologist - Cannabiscienza
- Giorgio Faggiana - Biologist - Istituto Farmaceutico Militare
- Lorenzo Calvi - Medical Doctor - Cannabiscienza
- Livio Luongo - Pharmacologist - Università della Campania Vanvitelli
- Massimiliano D'Imperio - Nutrition biologist - CNR Alimentazione Bari
- Marco Ternelli - Compounding pharmacist
- Arno Hazekamp - Biochemist – Cannabiscienza
Programme:
MODULE 1 - AGRO-PRODUCTIVE AND BOTANICAL ASPECTS
- Origin, evolution and botany of Cannabis S (L. Romano)
- Biosynthesis of phytocannabinoids (V. Brugnatelli)
- Decarboxylation and oxidation (F. Pollastro)
- THC and CBD: varieties of Cannabis S. from around the world and in Italy (L. Romano)
- Cannabis: botany, propagation and cultivation techniques (S. Bona)
- Genetic characteristics: variations in chemotypes and metabolomics (G. Faggiana)
- Manufacturing under Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) (A. Hazekamp)
MODULE 2 - LEGAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS
- History and Anthropology of Cannabis: Homo Sapiens and Cannabis. Medicinal Cannabis from prehistory to the present day. The study of MC over the centuries, scientific societies and patient associations (G. Zanette)
- Placebo and nocebo effect. The mind-brain-reality relationship (E. Facco)
- Cannabis: a guide to creative experiences and support for expanding awareness (A. Eva)
- Italian legislation: Cannabis as a medicine (L. Romano)
- How MC prescription works in Italy (L. Calvi)
- MC: economic aspects (D. Fortin)
MODULE 3 – THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM
- Evolution and functions of the Endocannabinoid System (V. Brugnatelli)
- CB1 and CB2 receptors (L. Luongo)
- CB2 and neuropathic pain (L. Luongo)
- Other receptors of the Endocannabinoid System (V. Brugnatelli)
- Endocannabinoids and the Enzymatic System (L. Luongo)
- The microbiota and the EC System (L. Luongo)
MODULE 4 - CLINICAL ASPECTS
- MC in clinical practice: Medicinal uses of Cannabis (V. Brugnatelli); The varieties of MC that may be prescribed in Italy (Calvi L); Principles of pharmacokinetics applied to MC (Brugnatelli V.); Routes of administration (Calvi L.)
- Medicinal uses of THC (L. Luongo)
- Medicinal uses of CBD in pain medicine, rheumatology and endocrinology (V. Brugnatelli); Medicinal uses of CBD in neurology and psychiatry (V. Brugnatelli); CBD cream for autoimmune encephalomyelitis (F. Pollastro)
- History of the entourage effect (V. Brugnatelli); Approach to personalised medicine (V. Brugnatelli); Personalised medicine in clinical practice (L. Calvi)
- Dosages and contraindications (Biphasic effects of cannabinoids (Pollastro F.); Titration of MC (Calvi L.); Tolerance, sensitisation and dependence (Calvi L.); Contraindications, pharmaceutical interactions and side effects (Calvi L.)
MODULE 5: - PHARMACEUTICAL AND FOOD ASPECTS
- Cannabis: phytochemistry and analytical techniques (S. Dall'Acqua)
- Lab practice: HPLC analysis of MC (M. Ternelli)
- Cannabis for food use (M. D'Imperio)
- Cannabinoid solubility and solvent choice (F. Pollastro)
- Methods and galenical preparations (Romano L.)
- MC in the pharmacy (M. Ternelli)
- Comparison of CBD oil macerates (Calvi L.)
Lifelong learning courses