Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Description: The American College of Physicians’ Population Health and Medical Science Committee (PHMSC) developed this best practice advice to inform clinicians about what is currently known about the benefits and harms of cannabis or cannabinoids in the management of chronic noncancer pain and to provide advice for clinicians counseling patients seeking this therapy. Methods: The PHMSC considers areas where evidence is uncertain or emerging or practice does not follow the evidence to provide clinical advice based on a review and assessment of scientific work, including systematic reviews and individual studies. Sources of evidence included a...

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Abstract Background: E-cigarettes, initially designed for nicotine consumption, are now increasingly being used to smoke cannabis, resulting in a growing trend known as “dual vaping”. This term describes individuals, referred to as “dual users”, who use e-cigarettes for both substances. This study aims to review and analyze existing research on dual vaping, with a focus on the associated health risks and behavioral patterns. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed. Studies focusing on individuals who use electronic cigarettes for vaping tobacco and cannabis, either chronically or episodically, were examined. Relevant articles were identified and thematically synthesized to provide a comprehensive...

Abstract Aims Since 2016, more than one million new patients with chronic health conditions have been prescribed medicinal cannabis in Australia. We aimed to assess overall health-related quality of life (HRQL), pain, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, and motor function in a large real-world sample of patients prescribed medicinal cannabis. We previously found all patient-reported outcomes improved in the first 3-months and hypothesised that improvements would be maintained to 12-months. Methods The QUEST Initiative, a multicentre prospective study, recruited adult patients with any chronic health condition newly prescribed medicinal cannabis oil between November 2020 and December 2021. Participants identified by 114 clinicians across Australia completed...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Cannabis is the most widely used drug in the world, and the therapies proposed to help withdrawal are moderately effective. The MACBETH project is a pilot study in France. It evaluates the effectiveness of the mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) protocol for active cannabis users. Methods It comprises of two groups, an MBRP group and a Treatment As Usual (TAU) group, each with twenty participants. The primary endpoint reflects the frequency of cannabis use, and some secondary endpoints were evaluated (signs of withdrawal, adherence to treatment, and changes in consumption). Results We found no significant difference between...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Aim From a public health perspective, the provision of information on low-risk consumption is highly relevant for behavior with addictive potential and negative health, psychological or social consequences. This article provides an overview of the effectiveness and benefits of such recommendations for alcohol, cannabis, gambling and gaming. Methods An overview based on a narrative review. Results The recommendation for alcohol consumption limits can no longer be upheld on the basis of current evidence. Instead, abstinence is recommended. In the case of cannabis, it is currently not possible to determine thresholds for the frequency and quantity of use...

Abstract Cannabis use disorder is particularly prevalent and impairing among young people, and evidence-based treatments are limited. Prior trials of N-acetylcysteine, added to contingency management as a platform behavioral intervention, yielded positive findings in youth but not in adults. This trial sought to rigorously evaluate whether N-acetylcysteine is efficacious in youth when not paired with a robust behavioral treatment platform. Treatment-seeking youth with cannabis use disorder (N = 192, ages 14–21) were randomized to receive a double-blind 12-week course of oral N-acetylcysteine 1200 mg or placebo twice daily; all received weekly medical management and brief behavioral counseling. The primary efficacy outcome was the proportion of negative urine...

Abstract Purpose Patients with cancer commonly access cannabis hoping to relieve their symptoms. This study assessed whether a 1:1 10 mg/ml THC:CBD combination oil could improve total symptom burden in patients with advanced cancer over that provided by palliative care alone. Methods Participants were randomised to medicinal cannabis (MC) or placebo oil; dose escalated over 14 days according to tolerance and efficacy and continued to day 28. Symptoms assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were summated to give a total symptom distress score (TSDS). The primary outcome measure was the change from baseline in TSDS at day 14. Secondary outcomes included individual symptom scores,...