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UrduIn a study led by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Tufts University School of Medicine, researchers show that a pill form of the drug dronabinol, an FDA-approved synthetic version of marijuana’s main ingredient, THC, reduces agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s by an average of 30%.
Tag: Cannabis
Cannabis and older adults: Poll shows current use patterns, beliefs and risks
One in 5 older adults used cannabis products that include THC in the last year. Among them, 20% said they drove within 2 hours of using cannabis, and a similar percentage said they experience at least one potential signs of addiction.
Boosting Cannabis Production: The Science Behind Bud Abundance
Scientists have identified a crucial gene, CsMIKC1,that controls the number of flowering sites in Cannabis sativa, a finding that could significantly enhance both medicinal and grain yields. The study reveals how CsMIKC1 drives inflorescence development, offering new pathways to boost productivity in Cannabis cultivation.
Cannabis Exposure during Pregnancy Had Sex-dependent Effects on Rats’ Breathing in Adult Offspring
Article title: Long-term effects on cardiorespiratory and behavioral responses in male and female rats prenatally exposed to cannabinoid Authors: Luis Gustavo A. Patrone, Alana T. Frias, Gabriel T. Fantinatti, Angelita M. Stabile, Wilfried Klein, Kênia C. Bicego, Luciane H. Gargaglioni From the…
Cannabis Use Linked to Workplace Absenteeism
A new analysis of 46,499 employed adults in the United States, completed with data from the 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), found that recent and frequent cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) were associated with…
Novel study reveals that a surprising number of pregnant people are using cannabis — and need to be informed of its risks
Breaking research shows that rates of cannabis use during pregnancy are far higher than previously thought, a finding that could improve efforts to identify pregnant cannabis users and inform them of potential risks.
ACP Calls for Evidence-Based Public Health Approach to Cannabis Regulation
A public health approach is necessary to address the legal, medical, and social complexities of cannabis use, says the American College of Physicians (ACP) in a new policy paper, “Regulatory Framework for Cannabis: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians.”
Cannabis use tied to increased risk of severe COVID-19
A study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that people with COVID-19 who used cannabis were more likely to be hospitalized and require intensive care than those who did not use the drug.
Nearly 3% of Healthy Adolescents use Commercial CBD Products, Study Finds
Researchers at UC San Diego have found that nearly 3% of healthy adolescents use commercial CBD products, many of which contain higher levels of THC than advertised.
60% of Women with Disabilities View Cannabis as a ‘Harmless’ Drug
In women of childbearing age, cannabis use may increase the risk of adverse reproductive and perinatal health outcomes. A study in a sample of 20,234 women ages 18 to 49 by disability status showed that about 60% of women with disabilities who used cannabis in the past 12 months perceived no risk of harm from weekly cannabis use.
Tip Sheet: Funding awarded to two ovarian cancer research projects, progress towards liquid biopsies for lung cancer — and cannabis and alcohol use in patients
Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutch Cancer Center research findings, patient stories and other news.
Toxic metal particles can be present in cannabis vapes even before the first use
Vapes are thought to be a “safer” way to consume cannabis, but they present their own risks. Researchers have discovered toxic metal particles in vaping liquids even before first use of the device, and this toxicity was worse in illicit products. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.
CBD shown to ease anxiety without the risks that can come with THC
Cannabis products high in the nonintoxicating compound CBD can quell anxiety better than THC-dominant products— and without the potential side effects, new University of Colorado Boulder research suggests.
A closer look at cannabis use and binge eating
New research from Drexel University’s Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center), examined how often people experiencing binge eating are also using cannabis recreationally, and whether patients who use cannabis experience more severe eating disorder symptoms or symptoms of struggling with mental health.
High school students who report using alcohol, cannabis or nicotine at higher risk for suicidal thoughts and other mental health disorders
High school students who reported using cannabis, alcohol, or nicotine were more likely to have thoughts about suicide, feel depressed or anxious, have unusual experiences, and exhibit inattention or hyperactivity, according to recent survey-based study conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Minnesota.
Five years of legal cannabis in Canada: mixed success
Five years after cannabis legalization in Canada, it appears to be a mixed success, with social justice benefits outweighing health benefits, write authors in a commentary published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.230808.
Factors associated with marijuana use among high-risk college students
The past decade has seen a significant increase in marijuana use among U.S. college students. This increase has coincided with notable changes in national and local cannabis laws and policies, and perceptions of the associated drug’s risk over the same period.
SAFER Act would be ‘game changer’ for NY cannabis farmers, businesses
The SAFER Banking Act is advancing in the Senate. If passed, it could give registered cannabis businesses access to small business loans and financial protections. This development comes as New York’s Office of Cannabis Management expects to issue up to…
Cannabis use disorder may be linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease
A new study has found that Canadian adults with cannabis use disorder appear to have an approximately 60% higher risk of experiencing their first heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular event than those without cannabis use disorder.
Marijuana use leads to lost sleep for half of Americans
A new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows that almost half (49%) of Americans have lost sleep due to staying up past their bedtime to use marijuana, and a quarter of people occasionally or regularly use marijuana to help them fall asleep or stay asleep.
Medical cannabis use in Australian patients with chronic health issues linked to significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue levels
Cannabis therapy also linked to improvements in anxiety, depression, and pain levels—though no changes in sleep disturbance levels reported.
30 Kids in 30 Days: Accidental Ingestions of Marijuana Edibles
In July, the New Jersey Poison Control Center assisted in the medical treatment of 30 children ranging from 1 to 12 years old who accidentally ate marijuana edibles. The experts give safety tips.
Understanding the Surge in Cannabis Use among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the US
Rutgers researcher leads effort to map associations between mental health disorders, cannabis use and cannabis use disorder during pregnancy and postpartum in the United States
Concurrent use of alcohol and cannabis leads to higher levels of drinking in the longer term
Co-existing use of alcohol and cannabis can lead to negative outcomes such as the development of a substance-use disorder, poor academic and occupational performance, and psychiatric disorders when compared to use of either drug alone. New research that examines simultaneous alcohol/cannabis use has found higher levels of drinking after 18 months. These results and others will be shared at the 46th annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) in Bellevue, Washington.
New research may explain why, despite “the munchies”, frequent cannabis users are leaner than non-users
Despite getting “the munchies”, people who frequently use cannabis are leaner and less prone to diabetes than those who don’t. University of California, Irvine researchers have now uncovered a possible explanation for this paradox – and it’s not good news.
Science-focused messaging could help reduce cannabis use during pregnancy
In a new study published in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, researchers at Washington State University found that conveying simple, scientific facts about how THC can harm a fetus was associated with reduced intentions to use cannabis while pregnant.
Occasional cannabis use during pregnancy may be enough to impact fetal growth significantly
As more people use cannabis for recreational purposes, attitudes towards the drug have changed. For example, research has shown that dispensaries often recommend cannabis – also referred to as marijuana – to pregnant women to ease pregnancy symptoms, especially morning sickness.
Cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia connection: expert says the drug, “seems to be amplifying some of the consequences that we are seeing”
What: A new study in Psychological Medicine found an association between young men with cannabis use disorder and a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. Furthermore, intense cannabis use may trigger and/or worsen schizophrenia. Who: Katharine Sperandio, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, NCC, assistant professor of…
Cannabis knocks down pain, improves sleep and lifts brain fog in cancer patients
Cancer patients who use cannabis to address their symptoms have less pain and sleep better, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research. But they also experience another, unexpected, benefit: After a few weeks of sustained use, they seem to think more clearly.
Research Reveals THC Concentration in Colorado Retail Cannabis Products is Lower than Advertised
While legal cannabis products in the United States are required to report THC potency levels on their packaging those levels aren’t necessarily accurate, which can have important implications for cannabis consumers. According to a new study from the University of Northern Colorado’s Department of Biological Sciences, researchers Mitchell McGlaughlin and Anna Schwabe found that the THC potency values reported on the packaging of cannabis samples from dispensaries across Colorado’s Front Range are substantially over-reported.
Can Cannabis Use Disorder Be Accurately Diagnosed?
Tammy Chung, director of the Center for Population Behavioral Health at Rutgers Institute for Health, explains cannabis use disorder and the challenges of diagnosing the disorder in the context of cannabis used for therapeutic purposes.
Saint Louis University’s Cannabis Science Certificate Wins Outstanding Program Award
Saint Louis University’s Cannabis Science and Operations Certificate program was named the 2023 Outstanding Program by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA). The award recognizes outstanding professional and continuing education programs allowing students to earn academic credit.
Multiple substance use disorders may share inherited genetic signature
New research led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis identifies a common genetic signature that may increase a person’s risk of developing substance use disorders. The work eventually could lead to universal therapies to treat multiple substance use disorders and potentially help people diagnosed with more than one.
Cannabis use in adolescent years may create reproductive complications in women, according to a UC Irvine study
In a new study, University of California, Irvine researchers found that exposure to the compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a component of cannabis, at a young age could lead to depleted ovarian follicles and matured eggs in adulthood by nearly 50 percent.
First-of-its-Kind Study Examines the Impact of Cannabis Use on Surgical Patients’ Post-Procedure Healthcare Needs
In patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery in Boston between 2008 and 2020, those with a diagnosed cannabis use disorder more often required advanced postprocedural healthcare compared to non-users. However, patients whose use of cannabis was not classified as a disorder had lower odds of requiring advanced healthcare after surgery compared to patients who never use cannabis.
Study First to Show Statewide Cannabis-related Deaths in Florida
There has been a 1,107.01 percent increase in the number of people with medical cannabis cards in Florida (2018 to Jan. 27). One key reason is because many people believe cannabinoids – plant derived, medicinal, and synthetic or chemically engineered – are safe to use. A study shows that 386 people died in Florida as a result of cannabis use; of these, 258 cases were caused by synthetic cannabis. Nearly 88 percent were men; 28 percent of deaths were in those ages 45 to 54, compared to 9 percent in those ages 8 to 24. Nearly 99 percent of individuals using cannabis and synthetic cannabis died from accidents.
Cannabis has same effect on adolescents and adults, and CBD doesn’t dampen effects
The short-term effects of vaporised cannabis do not differ between adolescents and adults, while cannabidiol (CBD) does not dampen the effects of the drug, finds a new study led by UCL and King’s College London researchers.
Codeine demand drops when recreational marijuana is legal
States that permit recreational use of cannabis see a reduction in demand for prescription codeine, an opioid with a high potential for misuse.
Cannabis and the oral microbiome: Exploring their impacts on the brain
Inspiration strikes when you least expect it. For Wei Jiang, M.D., a professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), inspiration came in 2018 on a smoke-filled boat tour around Amsterdam during an international conference.
Nearly 1/3 of people with chronic pain turn to cannabis
According to a new study published in JAMA Network Open, almost a third of patients with chronic pain reported using cannabis to manage it.
All Patients Should be Screened for Cannabis Use Before Surgery, First U.S. Guidelines Recommend
All patients undergoing procedures requiring anesthesia should be asked about cannabis use, according to guidelines released by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA Pain Medicine). The first U.S. guidelines on cannabis use in relation to surgery also notes regular use may worsen pain and nausea after surgery and increase the need for opioids.
Children are ditching alcohol for marijuana, as 20-year national US study shows a 245% increase
Adolescent cannabis abuse has increased 245% since 2000 in the US, while alcohol abuse has steadily declined over the same period.
Positive media coverage of cannabis studies regardless of therapeutic effect
In cannabis trials against pain, people who take placebos report feeling largely the same level of pain relief as those who consume the active cannabinoid substance.
Cannabis users had worse bypass outcomes, increased amputation and opioid use
The use of cannabis may have a negative impact on outcomes for a common bypass surgery, a study suggests. Patients who used cannabis prior to lower extremity bypass had decreased patency, meaning the graft had a higher chance of becoming blocked or occluded, higher rate of amputation and opioid use after discharge.
Both types of THC get you high–so why is only one illegal?
One is an illegal drug found in marijuana while the other is marketed as a safe herbal alternative.
Legalizing recreational cannabis in the U.S. has increased frequency of use by 20%
A new study published in the scientific journal Addiction has found that the legalization of recreational cannabis in U.S. states appears to have caused a 20% average increase in cannabis use frequency in those states.
People Who Use Therapeutic Cannabis Are More Likely to Use Nicotine, Too
People who use therapeutic cannabis are more likely to also use nicotine products than the general population, according to a Rutgers study.
Cannabis prescribed for pain linked with small risk of heart problems
Cannabis prescribed for chronic pain is associated with an elevated risk of heart rhythm disorders, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2022.
Researchers ID the high-efficiency hacks cannabis cells use to make cannabinoids
For the first time, plant biologists have defined the high-efficiency “hacks” that cannabis cells use to make cannabinoids (THC/CBD).
Clemson University and Curio Wellness partner to advance research on cannabis tissue culture
The study aims to increase production efficiency and protect cannabis strains from plant diseases. The two-year research project will advance plant tissue science for the medical cannabis industry.