Abstract The treatment of patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder poses a challenge for clinicians. Continued use of cannabis and cocaine can exacerbate psychotic symptoms and worsen the course of disease. To date, no pharmacotherapy is available for patients with cannabis use disorder (CUD). Cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the main active constituents in Cannabis sativa, with the latter being linked to an increased risk of psychosis. We describe a clinical case of a male patient diagnosed with schizophrenia, combined personality disorder, CUD and cocaine use disorder. Over the course of 8 years, he was hospitalized 30 times due to psychotic relapses and...

Abstract Introduction: Several studies have found that cannabinoids, particularly delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (CBD), have the ability to reduce cancer cell viability. An ongoing debate regarding the use of medical Cannabis revolves around the effectiveness of pure compounds versus intact plant material for treatment. Proponents for the use of intact plant material or botanical extracts argue that there is a synergistic effect between the different cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids; this is commonly referred to as the “entourage effect.” Our study was designed to test the validity of the proposed entourage effect in a narrow application using a cancer cell viability model. Materials and Methods: Six cancer cell lines,...

Abstract Background: Despite the lack of evidence on the use of cannabis for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the growing perception that cannabis is safe has led more patients and caregivers to self-medicate. Some psychiatrists now authorize medicinal cannabis for patients with ADHD with features of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) to curtail the unregulated (ie, self-medicated) use of recreational cannabis or to offer a therapeutic option to those who continue to experience symptoms after exhausting all other treatment options. Objective: This protocol aims to explore the perceived effectiveness and pharmacokinetics of cannabis in youth and young adults, who are currently taking it as...

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. It has effects at different levels: physical, emotional, psychological, cognitive and social, with a great variety of signs and symptoms. In particular, spasticity contributes to reducing the motor performance of patients with MS, causing pain, reduction in distance walked and limitations in social life. We present the case of a 39-year-old woman with MS. She was treated with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol and the outcome was assessed with the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health core set framework. LEARNING POINTS The clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS) is heterogeneous but...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases worldwide. In the United States alone, 13.8 million Americans are predicted to develop AD by 2050. The neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of dementia affect up to 97% of AD patients over the course of their disease. A common NPS is agitation, characterized by problem behaviors that include combativeness and restlessness. Agitation is commonly associated with greater caregiver burden, shorter time to institutionalization, and anxiety. Anxiety symptoms affect 25-70% of the dementia population, and this wide range speaks to the inability to...

Abstract Cannabis has been used for both recreational and medicinal purposes for more than 4 millennia. Cannabis has been studied in various medical disorders including neurological disorders. There are well-known risks of long-term use of cannabis, including low motivation, lowered cognitive capabilities, and diminished IQ and brain mass. Cannabinoids are compounds in cannabis that are known to have therapeutic potential. The most abundant chemicals in cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol has psychotropic effects that limits its use as a pharmacotherapeutic agent. Cannabidiol is a nonpsychotropic chemical and therefore has become a compound of interest for clinical researchers to study its therapeutic potential. This...

Abstract The recent legalization of medicinal cannabis in several jurisdictions has spurred the development of therapeutic formulations for chronic pain. Unlike pure delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), full-spectrum products contain naturally occurring cannabinoids and have been reported to show improved efficacy or tolerability, attributed to synergy between cannabinoids and other components in the cannabis plant. Although ‘synergy’ indicates that two or more active compounds may produce an additive or combined effect greater than their individual analgesic effect, potentiation of the biological effect of a compound by related but inactive compounds, in combination, was termed the ‘entourage effect’. Here, we review current evidence for potential synergistic and entourage...

Abstract Background Older adults (≥50 years) represent the fastest-growing population of people who use cannabis, potentially due to the increasing promotion of cannabis as medicine by dispensaries and cannabis websites. Given healthy aging and cannabis use are both associated with cognitive decline, it is important to establish the effects of cannabis on cognition in healthy aging. Objective This systematic scoping review used preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines to critically examine the extent of literature on this topic and highlight areas for future research. Method A search of six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Family and Society Studies Worldwide, and...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract: Background: Little is known about the patients’ view on treatment with medical cannabis (MC) for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective:To assess the PD community’s perception of MC and patients’ experience with MC. Methods:Applying a questionnaire-based survey, we evaluated general knowledge and interest in MC as well as the frequency, modalities, efficacy, and tolerability of application. Questionnaires were distributed nationwide via the membership journal of the German Parkinson Association and locally in our clinic to control for report bias. Results:Overall, 1.348 questionnaires (1.123 nationwide, 225 local) were analysed. 51% of participants were aware of the legality of MC...

Simple Summary Phytocannabinoids Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have been demonstrated to exhibit anti-cancer activity in preclinical models of brain cancer leading to new clinical trials for adults with glioblastoma. We describe here the first report that has investigated a role for THC and CBD in pediatric brain cancer. Cannabinoids had cytotoxic activity against medulloblastoma and ependymoma cells in vitro, functioning in part through the inhibition of cell cycle progression and the induction of autophagy. Despite these effects in vitro, when tested in orthotopic mouse models of medulloblastoma or ependymoma, no impact on animal survival was observed. Furthermore, cannabinoids neither enhanced nor impaired conventional...