Abstract Background Legalization of medical and recreational cannabis in US states has been accompanied by increases in availability, acceptability, and diversity in methods of cannabis use, as well as an increase in devices and methods for cannabis-tobacco co-use. Updated and specific survey measures of cannabis and cannabis-tobacco co-use are needed. Methods We employed a mixed-methods approach to identify sources of specification and measurement error in cannabis and cannabis-tobacco co-use measures. We surveyed and interviewed 36 young adult (age 18–29) cannabis and tobacco co-users in California (2017-2018), triangulated with document analysis of online cannabis websites and forums. We investigated how survey reports of cannabis use...

Please use this link to access this publication. ABSTRACT Objectives: Although the rate of cannabis use by older adults is increasing more quickly than all other age groups, little is known about the reasons older adults use cannabis and the outcomes they experience. With this research, we investigated older adults’ perceptions and experiences of medical cannabis use to treat and/or manage chronic conditions, specifically as a substitute for prescription drugs. Methods: Researchers relied on qualitative inquiry in the form of semi-structured, one-on-one interviewing to investigate the phenomenon of medical cannabis use for the management of chronic conditions. Results: Our findings suggest that older adults...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Purpose Prior studies of medicinal cannabis use (MCU) have focused primarily on adults. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of self-reported MCU among adolescents. Methods Secondary school students (grades 9–12; N = 3,221) completed a cross-sectional survey in classrooms across Ontario, Canada, in 2016–2017. Participants reported on cannabis use behavior, cannabis dependence, other drugs use, and general health and sleep. Participants reporting cannabis use in the past year were grouped based on whether they reported MCU or not (i.e., recreational cannabis use only [RCU-only]). Results An estimated 6.89% (95% confidence interval 5.48%–8.63%) of students reported MCU, representing one quarter of the students reporting current...

Abstract Objectives To evaluate medical marijuana patients’ perceptions of therapeutic benefits for self-reported medical conditions. Design The study was a concurrent mixed methods study with adult medical marijuana patients. Survey data were collected using a web-based survey, and interviews were conducted in person or over the phone. Setting The study recruited 196 medical marijuana patients to complete surveys and 13 patients to participate in qualitative interviews in Florida. Measures A validated patient survey was distributed via Florida medical marijuana social media groups to examine the therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant for medical conditions and overall well-being. Concurrently, qualitative interviews were conducted to understand...

Abstract Objective:Cannabis use has increased dramatically across the country; however, few studies have assessed the long-term impact of medical cannabis (MC) use on cognition. Studies examining recreational cannabis users generally report cognitive decrements, particularly in those with adolescent onset. As MC patients differ from recreational consumers in motives for use, product selection, and age of onset, we assessed cognitive and clinical measures in well-characterized MC patients over 1 year. Based on previous findings, we hypothesized MC patients would not show decrements and might instead demonstrate improvements in executive function over time. Method:As part of an ongoing study, MC patients completed a baseline visit prior...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract According to the latest drift in Western countries, many lawmakers are trying to formulate policy to legalize the usage of Cannabis in the case of mentally vulnerable populations such as those suffering from depression, paranoia, and excessive anxiety. This particular trend has been due to short term success in the case of mood upliftment. Cannabis derivatives produce effects on both mood and cognitive function, which can be a double-edged sword if not followed with proper dosage. Beneficial effects, however, are limited and studies documenting those and even more meagre. Detrimental effects, especially those suffering from various hallucinating and delusional...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Cannabis is the most used recreational drug worldwide. Its use can increase the risk of developing psychotic disorders and exacerbate their course. However, the relationship between cannabis use and dissociative symptoms has been scarcely investigated. Aims To examine differences in psychotic and dissociative symptoms, and in functioning in first-episode psychotic patients (FEPp) using cannabis compared with those not using cannabis. Methods Between January 2014 and December 2019, seventy FEPp with cannabis use disorder (N = 35) and without it (N = 35) were recruited in psychiatric inpatient facilities in the Italian regions of Lazio and Piemonte. All subjects were assessed at FEP,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective This study aimed to determine the efficacy and acceptability of pharmacotherapies for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Methods We conducted a systematic review and frequentist network meta-analysis, searching five electronic databases for randomized placebo-controlled trials of individuals diagnosed with CUD receiving pharmacotherapy with or without concomitant psychotherapy. Primary outcomes were the reduction in cannabis use and retention in treatment. Secondary outcomes were adverse events, discontinuation due to adverse events, total abstinence, withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and CUD severity. We applied a frequentist, random-effects Network Meta-Analysis model to pool effect sizes across trials using standardized mean differences...

ABSTRACT Aims: Chronic cannabis users show impairments on laboratory measures of decision making which reflect risk factors for initiation and continued use of cannabis. However, the differential sensitivity of these tasks to cannabis use has not been established. Moreover, studies to date have often lacked assessment of psychiatric histories and use of other illicit substances, both of which may influence decision making outcomes. The current study aimed to address these limitations by (1) including multiple types of decision making tasks, (2) implementing the Probabilistic Reversal Learning Task, a measure of decision making under uncertainty, for the first time in cannabis users, (3) including young adult...