Please use this link to access this publication: https://rapm.bmj.com/content/early/2023/11/03/rapm-2023-104833 Abstract Introduction Most Americans live in a state that has legalized cannabis as a medical treatment for pain, but it is unclear how chronic pain intensity relates to cannabis use. Our objective was to examine the association between patient-reported pain measures and cannabis among adults with chronic pain. Methods This cross-sectional study of a representative sample of adults reporting chronic non-cancer pain in 36 states and DC with active medical cannabis programs from March to April 2022 assessed cannabis use for chronic pain, categorized as active (within 30 days), past (>31 days), or never use (referent). Measures were pain...

Please use this link to access this publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352007823003244 Summary The therapeutic properties of cannabis have been recognized for thousands of years. The main active compounds in cannabis that have been scientifically proven to possess pharmacological properties are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabinoids have been found to serve diverse functions in physiological processes and are recognized for their properties including but not limited to, appetite stimulation, pain relief, anticonvulsant effects, bronchodilation, sedation, hypnotic effects, and muscle relaxation. In general, cannabinoids exhibit a favorable safety profile as pharmaceutical agents. However, interaction with drug-metabolizing enzymes, including the cytochrome P450 (CYP) family and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), alters the metabolism of co-administered drugs that are also metabolized by these enzymes. This article...

Abstract It has been reported that cannabis consumption affects the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a structure with a central role in mediating the empathic response. In this study, we compared psychometric scores of empathy subscales, between a group of regular cannabis users (85, users) and a group of non-consumers (51, controls). We found that users have a greater Emotional Comprehension, a cognitive empathy trait involving the understanding of the “other” emotional state. Resting state functional MRI in a smaller sample (users = 46, controls = 34) allowed to identify greater functional connectivity (FC) of the ACC with the left somatomotor cortex (SMC), in users when compared to controls....

Abstract Background and objectives Medical cannabis use is increasing in Australia and other jurisdictions, yet little is known about the effects of medical cannabis on cognitive function. Findings from studies of non-medical (‘recreational’) cannabis may not be applicable to patients using prescribed medical cannabis to manage a health condition. Methods In this semi-naturalistic, open-label trial, patients with various health conditions attended a single laboratory session in which they self-administered a standard dose of prescribed medical cannabis as per instructions on the pharmacy label. We assessed cognitive performance using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and Druid application (app) prior to and following (CANTAB:...

Abstract Cannabis is the most widely used recreational drug in the United States and regular use has been linked to deficits in attention and memory. However, the effects of regular use on motor control are less understood, with some studies showing deficits and others indicating normal performance. Eighteen users and 23 nonusers performed a motor sequencing task during high-density magnetoencephalography (MEG). The MEG data was transformed into the time-frequency domain and beta responses (16–24 Hz) during motor planning and execution phases were imaged separately using a beamformer approach. Whole-brain maps were examined for group (cannabis user/nonuser) and time window (planning/execution) effects. As expected, there were...

Please use this link to access this publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0254629923006804 Abstract Cannabis Sativa L. (Cannabaceae) exerts biological effects through its bioactive compounds. Cannabis Sativa L. essential oil (CSEO) is known to have antibacterial properties that can accelerate wound healing. The present study aimed to evaluate the wound healing efficacy of freshly extracted essential oils from Cannabis Sativa L. hydrodistillated from the leaves of the plant. CSEO was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Neurobehavioral, histological, and biochemical analyses were performed to examine the effects of CSEO application in an incisional wound model. CSEO demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity by reducing neutrophil levels in blood and skin tissue. CSEO acts by accelerating re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation. Furthermore, CSEO restored incision-induced neurobehavioral...

Abstract Working memory is an executive function that orchestrates the use of limited amounts of information, referred to as working memory capacity, in cognitive functions. Cannabis exposure impairs working memory in humans; however, it is unclear if Cannabis facilitates or impairs rodent working memory and working memory capacity. The conflicting literature in rodent models may be at least partly due to the use of drug exposure paradigms that do not closely mirror patterns of human Cannabis use. Here, we used an incidental memory capacity paradigm where a novelty preference is assessed after a short delay in spontaneous recognition-based tests. Either object or odor-based stimuli were used in test variations with...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background and objectives Cancer-related pain management in advanced stages presents a significant challenge that often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Although advancements in pharmacological and interventional therapies, a considerable number of patients still suffer from refractory pain, leading to unmet clinical needs. This study shares our experience with medical cannabis (MC) as a potential therapy for this specific population of patients with cancer-related refractory pain. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 252 consecutive refractory cancer-related pain patients (mean age=61.71, SD=14.02, 47.6% males) filled out detailed self-report questionnaires. Of these, 126 patients (55%) were treated with MC and 105 patients...

Please use this link to access this publication: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2023.0056 Abstract Introduction: Legal access to and attitudes toward cannabis are changing rapidly. Most of the United States and territories allow adults to use medical and/or recreational cannabis. Recent trends demonstrate increasing cannabis use among older U.S. adults. However, little research has examined cannabis use among older adults since 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in patterns of substance use. Methods: The National Poll on Healthy Aging is a nationally cross-sectional survey that asked U.S. adults ages 50–80 in January 2021 about their cannabis use in the past year. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify demographic...

Abstract Neuroinflammation, which is mainly triggered by microglia, is a key contributor to multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Natural products, and in particular Cannabis sativa L., due to its richness in phytochemical components, represent ideal candidates to counteract neuroinflammation. We previously characterized different C. sativa commercial varieties which showed significantly different chemical profiles. On these bases, the aim of this study was to evaluate essential oils and aqueous distillation residues from the inflorescences of three different hemp varieties for their anti-neuroinflammatory activity in BV-2 microglial cells. Cells were pretreated with aqueous residues or essential oils and then activated with LPS. Unlike essential oils, aqueous residues showed negligible effects in terms...