Media mentions

World-first trial to examine whether cannabidiol could make chronic pain sufferers more comfortable

The Lambert Initiative is researching if cannabidiol - a non-intoxicating component of cannabis - could help treat symptoms of people living with chronic pain, particularly from spinal cord injuries. Campbell Higgins (pictured), 25, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury two years ago and as a result now lives in permanent pain, said that if the treatment works, it would be life-changing for him. 27 January 2023, 9NEWS Australia.

The Lambert Initiative in the news

April

Melbourne scientists out to cure insomnia – 7NEWS, 17 April 2023
Medicinal cannabis course for pharmacists gets seal of approval – Cannabiz, 17 April 2023
Legalising cannabis in Australia: how would it work and is there a catch? - The Guardian Australia, 9 April 2023
Does weed help you sleep? - The Washington Post, 3 April 2023

March

Research Shows Medical Cannabis Treating 2.7 Percent Of Population – India Education Diary, 24 March 2023
Talkback: how do we make our roads safer? – ABC Radio National, Dr Tom Arkell reviews Lambert Initiative driving research, 19 March 2023
A new study led by CAN-ACT allows backyard cannabis growers in the ACT to send samples of their crops to the University of Sydney for testing – ABC Canberra, Instagram Reel, 15 March 2023
A new study led by CAN-ACT allows backyard cannabis growers in the ACT to send samples of their crops to the University of Sydney for testing – ABC News Canberra, 7pm News TV segment, 12 March 2023
Companies racing to prove that marijuana extracts can help with sleep – Cosmos Magazine, 3 March 2023

December

[Podcast] Cannabis and Driving – Dr Tom Arkell on Episode 22 of Cannter Cannabis Podcast, December 2020
Medicinal cannabis closer to mainstream acceptance – Prof Iain McGregor appeared on ABC Radio’s ‘Late Afternoon’ segment with Narelle Graham, 16 December 2020

The study investigating cannabis’ effects on driving has been referenced in over 200 media items, with an expected international reach of 500,000,000 people. Some of those media items are featured below:

Does CBD Impair Driving Ability? Study Finds No Evidence Cannabis Derived CBD Impairs Driving – Forbes, 2 December 2020
Does CBD Impair Your Driving Abilities? Experts, Researchers Disagree – Healthline, 2 December 2020
CBD-only cannabis doesn't appear to affect driving ability, unlike THC – Insider, 2 December 2020
CBD does NOT impair driving - but cannabis products with THC can affect abilities for up to four hours, study reveals – Daily Mail, 2 December 2020
Can You Drive Safely While Using CBD? Study Says Yes. – Green Entrepreneur, 2 December 2020
Vaping CBD May Not Impair Your Driving Ability, Latest Research Confirms – Science Alert, 2 December 2020
Cannabis component CBD doesn't impair driving skills, Australian study finds – 9 News, 2 December 2020
Drivers using medicinal cannabis are SAFE on the roads, Aussie study reveals – 7 News, 2 December 2020
Medically active component of cannabis does not impact driving ability, study shows – News Medical, 2 December 2020
CBD-only cannabis doesn't appear to affect driving ability, unlike THC – Business Insider, 2 December 2020
Cannabis game changer: CBD safe for driving, THC effects fade in hours, landmark study finds – The New Daily, 2 December 2020
Drug-Driving Discovery – Dr Tom Arkell was interviewed for The Project Network 10, aired 2 December 2020
Cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis does not impair driving, landmark study shows – University of Sydney News, 2 December 2020. This article was the most viewed USYD article for 2020.

November

Medicinal Cannabis - Professor McGregor appeared on Cassie McCullagh’s Focus segment on ABC radio to discuss medicinal cannabis and the Cannabis As Medicine Survey (CAMS20), 26 November 2020
‘I used to get anxiety attacks going into Coles, but medicinal cannabis changed my life’ – Professor Iain McGregor featured in a Body + Soul article explaining what the medicinal cannabis landscape currently looks like in Australia, 23 November 202
Cannabis as medicine - Professor McGregor appeared on Narelle Graham’s Late Afternoons show on ABC radio to discuss medicinal cannabis and the Cannabis As Medicine Survey (CAMS20), 13 November 2020
Has legalising medicinal cannabis made a difference? – An article on the launch of the Cannabis As Medicine Survey (CAMS20), University of Sydney News, 10 November 2020

October

CBD Interactions – Dr Lyndsey Anderson discusses her research on the interactions between cannabidiol and clobazam in issue 28 of Epilepsy Action’s magazine, Epilepsy Professional, 30 October 2020
CBD oil: Can medicinal marijuana help cure your migraines? - Professor Iain McGregor is featured in an article by Body+Soul exploring the potential of cannabidiol for migraines, 21 October 2020
How long does cannabis stay in your system? – Dr Tom Arkell spoke with Honahlee about how long cannabis stays in your system and some of the current issues around roadside drug testing, 5 October 2020

September

New Australian Medicinal Cannabis Company - Professor McGregor featured in a segment by 10 News First, 28 September 2020 (Twitter)
Why more people are turning to medicinal cannabis - Professor McGregor featured in an article by Sydney Morning Herald on the current landscape of medicinal cannabis in Australia, 28 September 2020
Three ways we can make cannabis testing more rigorous – Dr Richard Kevin wrote an article with Rhys Cohen explaining the analytical testing of cannabinoids and provides insight into the controversy of the TGA’s recent audit of the popular medicinal cannabis products in Australia, Cannabiz, 28 September 2020
NSW Police increases roadside drug testing - Dr Tom Arkell featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, 21 September 2020
A new clinical trial aims to provide new hope to people who are suffering and probe whether medicinal cannabis could help – A segment on the research project being conducted by Lambert Initiative researchers to investigate if cannabidiol could improve pain caused by spinal cord injury by 10 News First, 20 September 2020
Global CBD report underscores need for low-dose clinical trials – Lambert Initiative’s research on cross-country comparisons of cannabidiol availability without a prescription and Professor Iain McGregor feature in Mugglehead, 15 September 2020
Australia unprepared for over-the-counter medical cannabis sales – University of Sydney News, 16 September 2020
Over-the-counter medicinal cannabis plan not what it seems, experts warn – Lambert Initiative’s research on cross-country comparisons of cannabidiol availability without a prescription and Professor Iain McGregor feature in the Sydney Morning Herald, 14 September 2020
Over-the-counter medicinal cannabis plan not what it seems, experts warn – Lambert Initiative’s research on cross-country comparisons of cannabidiol availability without a prescription and Professor Iain McGregor feature in The Age, 14 September 2020
Medical cannabis study for spinal injury pain wins NSW Health funding – University of Sydney News, 8 September 2020

August

Athlete collabs propel CBD to sports nutrition fame – Dr Danielle McCartney featured in an article on CBD use in sports in Nutrition Insight, 14 August 2020

July

An interview with Lyndsey Anderson, 2020 Epilepsia Prize Winner for Basic Science Research – An editorial interview with Lyndsey Anderson on her prize for Epilepsia, 1 July 2020
What’s the deal with getting and using CBD oil in Australia? – Professor McGregor featured in an article by Triple J, 9 July 2020

June

CBD epilepsy research wins international award – an article on Dr Anderson’s prize. The limbic, Neurology, 10 June 2020
How Australians use medical cannabis since legislation: new survey – University of Sydney News, 17 June 2020
Medicinal cannabis, lessons from your Dad, and reciprocating play dates - Prof Nick Lintzeris featured on Radio National discussing the CAMS18 survey, 19 June 2020
Coadministered cannabidiol and clobazam: Preclinical evidence for both pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions – Dr Lyndsey Anderson presented at the ILAE Journals Virtual Prize Symposium, 17 June 2020
From bench to beach: Award-winning epilepsy researcher furthers understanding of how cannabidiol stops seizures – an article on Dr Anderson’s prize. ILAE Newswise, 23 June 2020
Calls renewed for NSW Police to ditch faulty roadside drug tests amid detection quotas – Our roadside drug testing study from last year being revisited in a Sydney Morning Herald article featuring comments from Tom Arkell, 28 June 2020

May

Controversial move to free up access to medicinal cannabis – Professor McGregor featured in an article on down-scheduling of low dose CBD. Daily Telegraph, 16 May 2020

April

Professor McGregor contributed to news segments on our Survey on inflammatory bowel disease with radio stations 2GB and 2SM on 21 April 2020

March

Cannabis & Sleep: From prehistory to the 21^st century – Anastasia Suraev appeared on the SleepJunkies podcast to talk about her research on cannabinoids for sleep, 8 March 2020
Cannabis medicine could help stop insomnia aired on Channel 9 News on 13 March 2020