Arno Hazekamp

Dr. Arno Hazekamp (1976) studied at Leiden University, the Netherlands, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in the field of Molecular Biology, followed by an MSc in Biopharmaceutical Sciences. After finishing his research on Thai traditional medicine, he graduated with honours in 2000.

Subsequently, Arno started his PhD, focused on the medicinal properties of the cannabis plant, and on the practical obstacles that stand between this plant and its development into a modern medicine. Arno was able to work closely with the official grower of medicinal cannabis in the Netherlands, Bedrocan BV, and was involved in numerous projects regarding the chemical analysis, quality control, and product development regarding medicinal cannabis. He was actively involved in setting up the medicinal cannabis program of the Dutch Health Ministry, and became a strong advocate of a more science-based approach on the medicinal use of cannabis in the Netherlands and abroad.

After finishing his PhD, Arno continued to set up his own consultancy lab for analysis of medicinal plants, while keeping a special interest in cannabis. As an independent researcher, Arno worked closely with government agencies, universities and pharmaceutical companies. Some relevant experiences during this period (2005-2011) include his involvement in the early phase of Echo Pharmaceuticals (a Dutch pharmaceutical company developing a sublingual administration form of THC and other cannabinoids) and validation studies for the German company Storz&Bickel (basis for the successful development of the Volcano Medic, a vaporizer device specifically designed for inhalation of medicinal cannabis).

Arno is considered an expert on standardized growing, quality control, and product development. He is an active traveller and medicinal cannabis advocate. In 2011 Arno became the head of Research and Development (R&D) of Bedrocan BV, where he currently works on the preparation of clinical trials with medicinal cannabis.

Cannabis: on its way to modern medicine

The medicinal use of Cannabis is increasingly gaining acceptance worldwide. Canada (since 2001) and The Netherlands (since 2003) have government-run programs, where quality-controlled herbal cannabis is supplied by specialized and licensed companies. Many other countries are setting up legal ways to deliver medicinal cannabis to patients. In this presentation a review is presented of all aspects of the cannabis plant, with special attention for the results obtained through the Dutch medicinal cannabis program over the last decade. The presentation will cover topics such as: botanical information and varieties of cannabis; chemical composition; analytical aspects; the endocannabinoid system; pharmaceutical development of natural cannabinoids; clinical trials; and the practical aspects of performing scientific studies. The final goal is to better understand the status-quo of cannabis research, and to identify current opportunities for further studies into the medical applications of cannabis.