Abstract Background and Purpose Cannabis has been used to treat epilepsy for millennia, with such use validated by regulatory approval of cannabidiol (CBD) for Dravet syndrome. Unregulated artisanal cannabis-based products used to treat children with intractable epilepsies often contain relatively low doses of CBD but are enriched in other phytocannabinoids. This raises the possibility that other cannabis constituents might have anticonvulsant properties. Experimental Approach We used the Scn1a+/− mouse model of Dravet syndrome to investigate the cannabis plant for phytocannabinoids with anticonvulsant effects against hyperthermia-induced seizures. The most promising, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), was further examined against spontaneous seizures and survival in Scn1a+/− mice and in electroshock seizure models....

ABSTRACT Several observational studies have shown that cannabis use has negative effects on the cardiovascular system, but the causality of this relationship has not been confirmed. The aim of the current study was to estimate the effects of genetically determined cannabis use on risk of cardiovascular diseases. Ten single-nucleotide polymorphisms related to cannabis use were employed as instruments to estimate the association between genetically determined cannabis use and risk of cardiovascular diseases using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Summary statistics data on exposure and outcomes were obtained from different genome-wide association meta-analysis studies. The results of this MR analysis showed no causal effects...

Abstract Males and females show different patterns of cannabis use and related psychosocial outcomes. However, the neuroanatomical substrates underlying such differences are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to map sex differences in the neurobiology (as indexed by brain volumes) of dependent and recreational cannabis use. We compared the volume of a priori regions of interest (i.e., amygdala, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, insula, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), anterior cingulate cortex and cerebellum) between 129 regular cannabis users (of whom 70 were recreational users and 59 cannabis dependent) and 114 controls recruited from the ENIGMA Addiction Working Group, accounting for intracranial volume, age, IQ, and...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background: Legislative change in recent years allows the prescription of medicinal cannabis for patients receiving palliative care. There appears to be widespread community support of its use in this context. Objective: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of current research on the use of medicinal cannabis within the palliative care context for both children and adults. Discussion: The evidence needed to support the use of medicinal cannabis for symptom control is limited and still emerging. It is unlikely that medicinal cannabis will be used as a first-line agent for the management...

Please use this link to access this publication. ABSTRACT Regulatory approvals for Epidiolex (purified cannabidiol) in the treatment of childhood drug resistant epilepsy have set a precedent for the use of cannabinoids as a prescribed medicine. Two common reasons cited for the use and prescription of cannabis-based products are pain and insomnia. Unlike drug resistant epilepsy, the level of evidence of efficacy in pain is poorly developed. The lowest quality trials with the greatest methodological shortcomings suggest some benefit, a level of evidence that is inconsistent with widespread prescribing. The evidence in insomnia is scant. Ongoing trial development and critical review of the literature should not be overshadowed by increasing permissiveness...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Current research on drug use emphasizes harms and often neglects its pleasures and benefits. This one-sided view has supported policies that criminalize personal drug use. This study explores nuanced understandings of cannabis use from the perspectives of marginalized users in Nigeria. Methods This study is based on qualitative research conducted with street-involved young adults (n = 97) recruited through time-location sampling in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Data were collected through in-depth, individual interviews, transcribed, coded and analyzed thematically. Results Cannabis offered corporeal and social pleasures, which were shaped by the socio-spatial context of use....

Abstract While cannabis is among the most used recreational drugs during pregnancy, the impact of maternal cannabis use (mCB) on fetal and child development remains unclear. Here, we assessed the effects of mCB on psychosocial and physiological measures in young children along with the potential relevance of the in utero environment reflected in the placental transcriptome. Children (∼3 to 6 y) were assessed for hair hormone levels, neurobehavioral traits on the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC-2) survey, and heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and during auditory startle. For a subset of children with behavioral assessments, placental specimens collected at birth were processed...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Emerging data suggest cannabis use is a component cause of psychotic disorders; however, the sequence of processes accounting for this association is poorly understood. Some clues have come from studies in laboratory settings showing that acute cannabis intoxication is associated with subclinical hallucinations and delusional thinking, i.e., “psychotic experiences”. Although psychotic experiences are relatively common, those that are severe and distressing are linked to an increased risk of developing a psychotic disorder. This study aimed to investigate the association between the frequency of cannabis use and psychotic experiences in young adults. Methods 1034 U.S. college students completed...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract In the present work, Cannabis sativa L. cv Futura 75 inflorescences, cultivated in the Abruzzo territory, were characterized for their volatile fraction through SPME-GC-MS. In addition, the essential oil extracted from these inflorescences was investigated for the antioxidant potentialities and for the terpenic profile. The antibacterial activity of hemp essential oil (HEO) against some pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms isolated from food was also evaluated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The results showed significant antioxidant capacity (DPPH: 63.38 ± 0.08 mg TE/g HEO; FRAP: 438.52 ± 6.92 mg TE/g HEO) alongside good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive...

Please use this link to access this publication. ABSTRACT Introduction: Research has established a link between cannabis use and adverse psychotic outcomes in psychosis patients. However, we have yet to determine if this relationship is maintained when controlling for important confounding variables. The following systematic review aims to investigate if the association between cannabis use and psychotic outcomes is preserved when accounting for important confounders, and if discontinued use mitigates any potential negative impacts. Areas covered: The authors conducted an exhaustive search of the MEDLINE database and Google Scholar to identify articles pertaining to the systematic review. Thirty-three articles were retained for meeting the...