Abstract Cannabis is one of the most widely used psychoactive substances worldwide, with a growing interest in its potential therapeutic applications. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in cannabis use, driven by the progressive legalization and acceptance of recreational usage. Despite the expanding legalization and use of cannabis, the effects of this substance on various physiological systems and behaviors are not fully understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that cannabis exposure may elicit sex-specific effects, highlighting the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in cannabis research. Sex can affect many behavioral outcomes, thus these differences should be considered when looking at...

Abstract Background: Medical cannabis (MC) use is increasing across the USA, with functional MC programs now operating in 38 states. While program policies and practices vary widely, little is known about whether and how states evaluate their programs. Better characterization of state MC program evaluation to date could inform states, program officials, and providers about best practices and provide a roadmap for future program evaluation. Summary: We conducted a narrative review of state MC program evaluations, including peer-reviewed literature and reports produced by independent state-based and non-state-based evaluators. Among 304 abstracts initially screened, seven evaluations met inclusion criteria. Within these evaluations, we report results according to three...

Abstract Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance worldwide. Recent years have seen an increase in cannabis consumption, and with new approvals and therapeutic indications, there are challenges in minimizing the risks and interactions between cannabis-based products, cannabis prescription drugs, other approved prescription drugs, and other substances of abuse. Thus, identifying the enzymes metabolizing cannabinoid drugs and their relationship with other prescription drugs is crucial for understanding the potential interactions and effects of their simultaneous use. This article offers a comprehensive review of cannabis and the pharmacokinetic interactions between cannabis products, cannabis prescription drugs, and other approved prescription drugs, as well as other...

Abstract Background Cannabis use during pregnancy has been increasing and is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, such as low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB). It remains largely unknown whether the association between cannabis use in pregnancy and increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes is impacted by the frequency of cannabis use and whether thresholds exist below which risk is not significantly increased. The objective of this systematic review is to assess whether the association between cannabis use during pregnancy and the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes is dependent on the frequency of use and whether risk thresholds exist. Methods For this systematic review...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract In recent times, several longitudinal studies aimed at clarifying whether cannabis use during adolescence might play a causal role in the subsequent risk of developing bipolar disorder have been published. Although their methodological heterogeneity precludes any meta-analytic approaches, evidence from these studies can be systematically evaluated using the Bradford Hill criteria. A biological gradient is supported by evidence on the dose-response relationship between exposure severity and outcome. As such, the effect of cannabis use on bipolar disorder onset is likely to be strong, coherent, plausible, and based on a clear temporality. In addition, some analogies...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis polysaccharides (CPs) have attracted growing interest due to their diverse structures and potential bioactivities. This review consolidated current knowledge on the CPs extraction, their characterization, molecular properties and biofunctional potentials. Composition of the CPs varied by plant part, cultivar and origin with most studies focused on seed derived polysaccharides. Extraction methods, particularly the hot water and enzyme assisted extractions differ in temperature, duration and solid–liquid ratio influencing the final yield and molecular integrity. Advanced analyses such as HPAEC-PAD, HPSEC, GC–MS and FT–IR revealed monosaccharides such as mannose, glucose, galactose, glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid, along...

Abstract Adolescence is an immature but adventurous time period of exploration. Due to rapid developments of the brain with unbalanced release of neurotransmitters, adolescents are prone to impulsivity that may carry out potentially dangerous behaviors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of high school students have reported the use of cannabis or marijuana in 2019, and the trend has not declined since. Previous studies have shown that cannabis not only affects cognitive and social behaviors, but also produces psychological responses to stress. In this review, we have summarized recent studies on cannabis-produced effects during the unique period of...

ABSTRACT The therapeutic potential of medical cannabis has garnered significant attention in recent years, prompting an urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of its effectiveness across various health outcomes. This article presents an Evidence Map that systematically summarizes clinical evidence on the use of medical cannabis, including the health conditions it addresses, the interventions employed, and the resulting clinical outcomes. The objective is to map the effectiveness of medical cannabis in relation to a wide range of health outcomes. The systematic review process involved two independent, blinded literature researchers who screened the search output using Rayyan software. For studies deemed relevant, full texts were...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract The cannabis gray market poses significant public health concerns and remains a major threat to consumer and/or potential consumer uptake of regulated cannabis markets in jurisdictions with legal state-sponsored cannabis programs. In this perspective, we provide an overview of the cannabis gray market, and describe an integrated epidemiological and regulatory science framework to study the gray market. Using tobacco regulatory science as a guide, we introduce example cannabis regulatory science research activities as a means to improve the field’s understanding of the cannabis gray market. Cannabis regulatory science is a developing field that can improve...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Up to 10% of women may use cannabis during pregnancy; this is of concern because constituents of cannabis cross the placental barrier and potentially influence neurodevelopment by acting on cannabinoid receptors in the developing fetal brain. In this context, a recent meta analysis of 13 observational studies found that gestational exposure to cannabis was associated with a small increase in the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD; relative risk [RR], 1.30) and with an even smaller increase in the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; RR, 1.13); the latter finding was probably supported by publication...