Abstract Objective Cannabis is associated with psychotic outcomes in numerous studies, an effect that is commonly attributed to Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9-THC). An increasing number of authors identify cannabidiol, another component of the cannabis plant, as an antipsychotic agent. The objective of the current study is to investigate the role of cannabidiol content in the association between cannabis use and psychiatric symptoms in a large non-clinical population of cannabis users. Methods In a web-based cross-sectional study we obtained detailed information about cannabis use and subclinical psychiatric experiences using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE). Different types of cannabis (i.e. marijuana, hashish etc.) have distinctive...

Abstract Rationale Cannabidiol (CBD) is increasingly used as a sleep aid for insomnia; yet neurocognitive and subjective state effects following daily therapeutic use are unclear. Objectives To measure the effect of daily CBD use on neurocognitive performance and daily subjective mood in a population with primary insomnia. Methods This study used a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design incorporating a single-blind placebo run-in week followed by a two-week double-blind dosing period, during which participants consumed 150 mg CBD (N = 15) or placebo (N = 15) sublingually 60-minutes daily before bed. Attention, executive function, reasoning, information processing, working and episodic memory were assessed using the CogPro system at the beginning of...

Abstract Since the discovery of the endocannabinoid system and due to the empirical evidence of the therapeutic effects on several illnesses both in humans and animals that follow the administration of exogenous cannabinoids (i.e., phytocannabinoids), numerous studies have been conducted. These investigations aimed to identify the expression and distribution of cannabinoid receptors in healthy and pathologic organs and tissues of different animal species and to define the interactions of phytocannabinoids with these receptors. In the last decade, pharmacokinetics, efficacy and tolerability of many Cannabis derivatives formulations, mainly containing cannabidiol, in the main species of veterinary interest, have been also investigated. This manuscript summarizes the...

Abstract Background People living with HIV (PWH) with undetectable HIV viral load still have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabis-derived cannabinoid that holds promise for the treatment of many ailments. In the present study, we tested whether oral CBD-rich medication could significantly improve PWH’s HRQoL. Methods Eighty participants with undetectable HIV viral load were randomized to either a placebo or full-spectrum CBD (1 mg/kg twice a day) arm for 12 weeks plus a 4-week follow-up period. HRQoL was assessed at baseline, week 12 and week 16 using the SF-36 questionnaire. Primary outcomes were physical and mental component...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Rationale The interactions between Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) during chronic treatment, and at equivalent doses, are not well characterised in animal models. Objectives The aim of this study is to examine whether the behavioural effects of THC, and blood and brain THC levels are affected by pre-treatment with equivalent CBD doses. Methods Adolescent rats were treated with ascending daily THC doses over 21 days (1 then 3 then 10 mg/kg). Some rats were given equivalent CBD doses 20 min prior to each THC injection to allow examination of possible antagonistic effects of CBD. During dosing, rats were...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Community-based studies suggest that cannabis products that are high in Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but low in cannabidiol (CBD) are particularly hazardous for mental health. Laboratory-based studies are ideal for clarifying this issue because THC and CBD can be administered in pure form, under controlled conditions. In a between-subjects design, we tested the hypothesis that pre-treatment with CBD inhibited THC-elicited psychosis and cognitive impairment. Healthy participants were randomised to receive oral CBD 600mg (n=22) or placebo (n=26), 210 min ahead of intravenous (IV) THC (1.5 mg). Post-THC, there were lower PANSS positive scores in the CBD group,...

Abstract This study compared the efficacy of a tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol (THC:CBD) extract, a nonopioid analgesic endocannabinoid system modulator, and a THC extract, with placebo, in relieving pain in patients with advanced cancer. In total, 177 patients with cancer pain, who experienced inadequate analgesia despite chronic opioid dosing, entered a two-week, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Patients were randomized to THC:CBD extract (n = 60), THC extract (n = 58), or placebo (n = 59). The primary analysis of change from baseline in mean pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score was statistically significantly in favor of THC:CBD compared with placebo (improvement of −1.37 vs. −0.69), whereas the THC group showed a nonsignificant...

Summary Objective Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal-dominant genetic disorder with highly variable expression. The most common neurologic manifestation of TSC is epilepsy, which affects approximately 85% of patients, 63% of whom develop treatment-resistant epilepsy. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive compound derived from the marijuana plant, as an adjunct to current antiepileptic drugs in patients with refractory seizures in the setting of TSC. Methods Eighteen of the 56 patients who have enrolled in our current expanded-access study of cannabidiol for patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy carry a diagnosis of TSC. After an initial baseline period of...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Previous studies suggest that cannabidiol (CBD) may potentiate or antagonize Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol’s (THC) effects. The current study examined sex differences in CBD modulation of THC-induced antinociception, hypolocomotion, and metabolism. Methods In Experiment 1, CBD (0, 10 or 30 mg/kg) was administered 15 min before THC (0, 1.8, 3.2, 5.6 or 10 mg/kg), and rats were tested for antinociception and locomotion 15–360 min post-THC injection. In Experiments 2 and 3, CBD (30 mg/kg) was administered 13 h or 15 min before THC (1.8 mg/kg); rats were tested for antinociception and locomotion 30–480 min post-THC injection (Experiment 2), or serum samples were taken 30–360 min post-THC injection to examine CBD modulation of THC metabolism (Experiment 3). Results In...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis use has been associated with an increased risk to develop schizophrenia as well as symptom exacerbation in patients. In contrast, clinical studies have revealed an inverse relationship between the cerebrospinal fluid levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide and symptom severity, suggesting a therapeutic potential for endocannabinoid-enhancing drugs. Indeed, preclinical studies have shown that these drugs can reverse distinct behavioral deficits in a rodent model of schizophrenia. The mechanisms underlying the differences between exogenous and endogenous cannabinoid administration are currently unknown. Using the phencyclidine (PCP) rat model of schizophrenia, we compared the effects on neuronal activity...