Abstract Cannabinoids, including those found in cannabis, have shown promise as potential therapeutics for numerous health issues, including pathological pain and diseases that produce an impact on neurological processing and function. Thus, cannabis use for medicinal purposes has become accepted by a growing majority. However, clinical trials yielding satisfactory endpoints and unequivocal proof that medicinal cannabis should be considered a frontline therapeutic for most examined central nervous system indications remains largely elusive. Although cannabis contains over 100 + compounds, most preclinical and clinical research with well-controlled dosing and delivery methods utilize the various formulations of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), the two most abundant...

Abstract The use of Cannabis sativa is currently recognized to ease certain types of chronic pain, reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea, and improve anxiety. Nevertheless, few studies highlighted the therapeutic potential of C. sativa extracts and related phytocannabinoids for a variety of widespread skin disorders including acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, pruritus, and pain. This review summarized the current evidence on the effects of phytocannabinoids at the cutaneous level through the collection of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies published on PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science until October 2020. Phytocannabinoids have demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-acne properties by various mechanisms involving either CB1/2-dependent and independent pathways. Not only...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Purpose of Review With cannabis legalization expanding throughout the world, an unprecedented number of people now have access to legal cannabis. This expanded legalization has also created an extensive retail market that includes a litany of cannabis products, which vary on factors such as chemical profile (i.e., chemotype), formulation, and intended route of administration. Despite increases in cannabis access and product variety, research on the effects of product and user characteristics on drug effect profiles is limited. Recent Findings Controlled laboratory studies are important because they can reveal what factors influence the pharmacokinetic (PK) and...

Abstract Maternal cannabis use during lactation may expose developing infants to cannabinoids (CBs) such as ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). CBs modulate lipid signaling molecules in the central nervous system in age- and cell-dependent ways, but their influence on the lipid composition of breast milk has yet to be established. This study investigates the effects of THC, CBD, or their combination on milk lipids by analyzing the stomach contents of CD1 mouse pups that have been nursed by dams injected with CBs on postnatal days (PND) 1 -10. Stomach contents were collected 2 hours after the last injection on PND10 and HPLC/MS/MS was used to...

Abstract There has been growing interest in developing therapeutic agents and other consumer products derived from cannabis and its components. To date, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved cannabis as a safe and effective drug for any indication. With the progressive state legalization of cannabis for medical use, healthcare providers and consumers must understand what is known about the safety and efficacy linked to cannabis.

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Substantial preclinical evidence demonstrates the antiproliferative, cytotoxic, and antimetastatic properties of plant-derived cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) such as cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol. The cumulative body of research into the intracellular mechanisms and phenotypic effects of these compounds supports a logical, judicious progression to large-scale phase II/III clinical trials in certain cancer types to truly assess the efficacy of phytocannabinoids as anticancer agents.

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis and cannabis-derived products are increasingly used for recreational and medical purposes including anxiety and epilepsy and are often concurrently used with other types of conventional medications. The concomitant use of cannabis with other therapeutic drugs has been shown to increase the likelihood of deleterious drug-drug interactions. Oxazepam is a well-known benzodiazepine used in clinical practice as an anxiolytic, sedative, and anticonvulsant agent. Oxazepam is a racemic mixture of the S-and R-enantiomers and is primarily metabolized via glucuronidation in an enantiomeric-specific manner, where S-oxazepam is mainly glucuronidated by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B15 and R-oxazepam is glucuronidated...

Abstract Cannabis sativa has chemically active compounds called cannabinoids, where Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) are the major ones responsible for the various pharmacological effects. The endocannabinoid system is an endogenous system considered a unique and widespread homeostatic physiological regulator. It is made up of type 1 (CB1) and type 2 (CB2) cannabinoid receptors. CBD, in turn, has a low affinity for CB1 and CB2 receptors, and regulates the effects arising from THC as a CB1 partial agonist, which are tachycardia, anxiety, and sedation. It also acts as a CB2 inverse agonist, resulting in anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, its anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, antipsychotic, antiemetic, anxiolytic,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Neuropathic pain and other pain disorders have received attention as potential indications for use of cannabis-based medicines or medical cannabis (CBM/MC). Evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of CBM/MC for pain disorders is, however, insufficient. Denmark introduced a pilot programme of medical cannabis in January 2018. We aimed to evaluate efficacy, safety, and non-specific effects of CBM/MC used under the pilot programme compared with controls. Methods We conducted a nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark, identifying all individuals redeeming at least one prescription for CBM/MC for either neuropathic pain (n = 1817) or other and unspecified...

Please use this link to access this publication. Purpose of review This review aims to summarize recent updates in the area of cannabis use for insomnia. Recent findings Cannabis products have continued to become more potent, particularly in regard to delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration. Additionally, the use of cannabis has continued to become more accepted with less legal restrictions. The reported use of cannabis for relief of symptoms in sleep disorders appears to be increasing, however the specific effects of cannabinoids on sleep varies with cannabinoid type and concentration. Some evidence supports claims of efficacy of cannabinoids in sleep disorders such as insomnia, while...