Abstract In patients with schizophrenia, cannabis use exacerbates symptoms and can lead to a relapse of psychosis. Some experimental studies in healthy volunteers suggest that pre-treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) may reduce these effects, but others do not. Here, we investigated whether pre-treatment with CBD ameliorates the acute adverse effects of cannabis in patients with schizophrenia. Participants (n = 30) had schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder plus a comorbid cannabis use disorder. In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, participants received oral CBD 1000 mg or placebo three hours before inhaling vaporised cannabis (containing Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 20–60 mg). The primary outcome was delayed verbal recall measured with the Hopkins Verbal...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition characterized by recurrent episodes of severe nausea and vomiting associated with chronic cannabis use. This case report describes a 16.5-year-old male patient who presented with a 2-year history of recurrent vomiting episodes lasting up to 10 days, accompanied by abdominal pain and weight loss. After extensive diagnostic workup and exclusion of other causes, CHS was diagnosed based on the temporal relationship between cannabis use and symptom onset. The patient's symptoms resolved with supportive care and cessation of cannabis use. This case highlights the importance of considering CHS in...

ABSTRACT Objective: The use of electronic vaporisers to deliver cannabis (‘cannabis vaping’) has increased rapidly among young people. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarise current evidence on the psychosocial characteristics of adolescents and young adults who vape cannabis. Method: PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for original publications since 2003. We summarised and meta-analysed studies on adolescents (12-18 years) and young adults (19-34 years) that reported sociodemographic, mental health, and other substance use correlates of cannabis vaping. Results: Thirty-one studies from the U.S., Canada, England, New Zealand, and Switzerland met eligibility criteria (n=568,304): twenty-six on adolescents (12-18 years; n=554,934), five...

Abstract Background Cannabis use during pregnancy is increasingly common and is associated with adverse health outcomes for pregnant individuals and their offspring. Identifying preconception factors that are associated with prenatal cannabis use is critical to inform early prevention and intervention. This study tested whether frequency of preconception cannabis use was associated with cannabis use during early pregnancy using data from a large healthcare system with universal screening for cannabis use. Methods This observational study included pregnant individuals in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) who self-reported any cannabis use (daily, weekly, or monthly or less) during the year before pregnancy from 2011 to 2022 (excluding...

Abstract Aims: We measured the effects of public health-oriented cannabis access compared with the illegal market on cannabis use and related mental health outcomes in adult cannabis users. Design: This was a two-arm, parallel group, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Follow-up outcome measurement took place after 6 months. Setting: The study was conducted in Basel-Stadt, Switzerland. Participants: A total of 378 adult (aged ≥18 years) cannabis users were enrolled and randomized between August 2022 and March 2023, although only 374 users who completed baseline measures could be included. Intervention and comparator: Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group with public health-oriented recreational cannabis access in pharmacies (regulated cannabis products,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction Cannabis use and misuse have mental health implications, particularly affecting mood and anxiety symptoms. Vortioxetine, a potent serotonin partial agonist/antagonist reuptake inhibitor antidepressant, has well-established effects in treating depressive and anxiety disorders and may serve as a potential treatment for individuals with cannabis use disorder and comorbid mood symptoms. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of vortioxetine for cannabis users with anxiety and depressive symptoms alongside their cannabis dependence. Methods This 6-month prospective, randomized controlled interventional pilot study investigated if vortioxetine could improve cannabis dependence, comorbid anxiety and/or depressive symptoms,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract The aim of this work was to assess the effectiveness of full-spectrum cannabis (THC and CBD) extracts as adjuvants in the treatment of chronic pain. This is a prospective, open label, longitudinal study. Major cannabinoids were analyzed in herbal preparations using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Subjects were included when chronic pain diagnosis criteria was met according to physicians’ diagnosis. A patient stratification protocol was developed using a visual analogue scale to measure pain, a numerical scale for life quality parameters and a self-administered health survey. Eighty-eight patients aged between 35 and 88 years were included....

Abstract Although cannabinoids have proven therapeutic benefits, they are increasingly known for their capacity to disturb cardiac electrophysiology, particularly in individuals with hidden genetic issues such as channelopathies. This review consolidates molecular, clinical, epidemiological, and forensic findings linking cannabinoid exposure to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. It examines how phytocannabinoids, synthetic analogs, and endocannabinoids influence calcium and potassium currents through cannabinoid receptor-dependent and -independent pathways, affect autonomic regulation, and contribute to adverse conditions such as oxidative stress and inflammation in heart tissue. Genetic variants in key genes linked to SCD (SCN5A, KCNH2, KCNQ1, RYR2, and NOS1AP) can reduce repolarization reserve, transforming otherwise subclinical mutations into lethal substrates when...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Momentum towards legalization of medical and recreational cannabis drives a convergence between natural cannabinoids and their synthetic counterparts, creating new clinical challenges in a second wave of exposures. This review critically examines the emerging challenges posed by synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) and semi-synthetic cannabinoids, emphasizing their clinical implications. SCRAs are potent full agonist activity that have been identified as adulterants in several recreational substances, including cannabis and opioids. Adulteration often leads to unpredictable clinical outcomes and exacerbates the potential for drug interactions. Drawing parallels with other drug epidemics, this paper highlights the urgent need for clinical preparedness to address the nuanced...