Abstract Introduction Medicinal cannabis has mixed evidence for treating anxiety and depression, yet patients frequently use it as a treatment. This observational study evaluated the effects of medicinal cannabis initiation in adults with clinically significant anxiety and/or depression over a 6-month period. Methods Adults with clinically significant anxiety and/or depression initiating medicinal cannabis use in Maryland, USA completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and longitudinal follow-up evaluations. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessments were completed at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after medicinal cannabis initiation. EMA measures were completed at baseline and daily for 8 weeks after cannabis initiation with measures collected before each cannabis use and...

Abstract Background: Providers in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system are caught between two opposing sets of laws regarding cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) use by their patients. As VA is a federal agency, it must abide by federal regulations, including that the Food and Drug Administration classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug and therefore cannot recommend or help Veterans obtain it. Meanwhile, 38 states have passed legislation, legalizing medical use of cannabis. Objective: The goal of this project is to examine how VA providers understand state and federal laws, and VA policies about cannabis and CBD use, and to learn more about...

Abstract Background and aims Impairments in cognition are frequently associated with acute cannabis consumption; on the other hand, controversies persist regarding the residual cognitive impairments of cannabis, with some estimates highlighting significant or mild cognitive impairment. One of the main limitations of the available research syntheses is that little attention has been paid to individuals with cannabis use disorder. Thus, our main objectives are to determine the amplitude of the cognitive deficits associated with cannabis use disorder, and to identify the cognitive domains the most and least impaired. Methods Studies with a patient group with a cannabis use disorder diagnosis and data from at...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract The use of Medicinal Cannabis (MC) for treating chronic pain is increasing, globally, yet the definition of problematic MC use remains unclear. Defining problematic use of cannabis in medical and non-medical contexts may be fundamentally different since individuals prescribed MC often experience physical dependence, which do not necessarily imply pathology. We aimed to conceptualize problematic use of MC and develop a brief questionnaire for identifying and quantifying problematic MC use. Content validation used a broad definition of problematic substance use, adapting and compiling an initial list of 36 items from various sources: (a) screening tools...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Aims Cannabis use is highly prevalent in patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder. Studies have shown mixed results on the association between cannabis use and opioid use as well as the impact of MOUD on cannabis use. The current study aims to investigate the effects of buprenorphine versus naltrexone on cannabis use outcomes in treatment seeking individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Methods The current study was based on data from the CTN-0051 X:BOT trial, which compared the time to return to significant opioid use survival outcomes of two treatment seeking groups, one receiving Extended-Release Naltrexone (XR-naltrexone) (N = 283) versus...

Abstract Background: Chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) affects one in five adults and is commonly managed with long-term opioid therapy. Concerns regarding rare but catastrophic harms associated with opioids, including overdose and death, have generated interest in alternatives including cannabis; however, the comparative cost-effectiveness of these management options is uncertain. Methods: We used findings from a network meta-analysis of 90 randomized trials to develop a 1-year microsimulation model to compare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) between oral medical cannabis and opioids for CNCP. We used a publicly funded health care payer perspective for our analyses and obtained cost and utility data from publicly available...

Abstract Background: Existing scales that measure cannabis use motives have failed to incorporate the full range of motives that underpin cannabis consumption, especially with the increased use of medical cannabis. The current research aimed to develop a novel, psychometrically robust scale that comprehensively measures cannabis use motives. Here, we report the development and validation of the Comprehensive Cannabis Motives Questionnaire (CCMQ). Method: Cannabis users completed a 45-item questionnaire measuring a range of cannabis use motives. A UK English-speaking sample (n = 450) provided data for exploratory factor analysis. A second UK English-speaking sample (n = 200) was used for confirmatory factor analysis. Test–retest reliability was based on a...

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...