Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Although studied in a few randomized controlled trials, the efficacy of medical cannabis (MC) for chronic pain remains controversial. Using an alternative approach, this multicentre, questionnaire-based prospective cohort was aimed to assess the long-term effects of MC on chronic pain of various aetiologies and to identify predictors for MC treatment success. Methods Patients with chronic pain, licensed to use MC in Israel, reported weekly average pain intensity (primary outcome) and related symptoms before and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months following MC treatment initiation. A general linear model was used to assess outcomes...

Abstract Cannabis sativa L. has long been exploited for multiple purposes. Whereas all parts of the shoots are extensively used and well investigated, the roots have always received less attention. The phytochemical spectrum of the roots differs significantly from the rest of the plant, as no significant amounts of cannabinoids are found, whereas triterpenes as well as phytosterols are abundantly present. To shed light on the unique phytochemistry of hemp roots and the related industrial potential, three chemovars were investigated for the secondary metabolite composition and antioxidant activities by using in vitro and in vivo methods. Five triterpenes, ten phytosterols and five aliphatic compounds were identified by GC–MS analysis. Glutinol, ß-amyrone, stigmastanol, fucosterol,...

Abstract This paper demonstrates that cannabis can evoke “peak-experiences”—the name psychologist Abraham Maslow gave to fleeting moments of expanded perception indicative of self-transcendence—when used alongside more traditional religious practices such as meditation, fasting, contemplative prayer, and sacramental ritual. For that reason, religious seekers around the globe have deployed cannabis as a deliberate psychoactive to trigger the peak-experiences that stir feelings of ecstasy, wonder, and awe and resolve the “dichotomies, polarities, and conflicts of life.” As such, peak-experiences exemplify a form of spiritual revelation that has played a pivotal role in the history of religion, and because of its ability to elicit unitive consciousness at...

Abstract Cannabis is one of the most versatile genera in terms of plant uses and has been exploited by humans for millennia due to its medicinal properties, strong fibres, nutritious seeds and psychoactive resin. Nowadays, Cannabis is the centre of many scientific studies, which mainly focus on its chemical composition and medicinal properties. Unfortunately, while new applications of this plant are continuously being developed, some of its traditional uses are becoming rare and even disappearing altogether. Information on traditional uses of Cannabis is vast, but it is scattered across many publication sources in different formats, so synthesis and standardization of these data are increasingly important. The CANNUSE database...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Prevalence of cannabis use has been increasing among select subgroups in the US; however, trend analyses typically examine prevalence of use across years. We sought to determine whether there is seasonal variation in use. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a repeated cross-sectional survey of nationally representative probability samples of noninstitutionalized populations age ≥12 in the US. Quarterly trends in any past-month cannabis use were estimated using data from 2015–2019 (N = 282,768). Results Prevalence of past-month cannabis use increased significantly from 2015 to 2019 from...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Research exploring patterns and predictors of problematic cannabis use behaviors among young adults is limited. This knowledge is essential for intervening to prevent abuse and dependence outcomes. Methods Young adult cannabis users (Mage = 19.2[SD = 0.8]) in Southern California (N = 1007) were classified by patterns of problematic cannabis use from the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test, using Latent Class Analysis. Multinomial regression evaluated the association of frequency of use (no past 30 day use, infrequent [use on 1–2 of past 30 days], semi-frequent [use on 3–9 of the past 30 days], and frequent [use on 10...

Abstract Cannabis accounts for the largest share of the illicit drug market, with a high prevalence of use even among adolescents. To tackle this longstanding problem, many kinds of reforms to national cannabis control policies have been implemented in Europe, but their effectiveness is still unclear. This paper analyses the association between selected categories of cannabis policy reforms and changes in perceived cannabis availability and patterns of use among adolescents. Data from 20 European countries across 15 years were drawn from a novel database of the European school Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD). Our analysis is based on a Difference-in-Differences design,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction: Although the recreational cannabis use is expressive worldwide, the literature about medical potential of cannabis extracts, including its anti-inflammatory properties, remains inconclusive. Methods: We screened all articles, published on the PubMed database, on inflammatory mediators and any information about cannabis use from 1980 to March 2019. Results: Six studies were included, and the main findings were as follows: (i) among healthy volunteers and cannabis users, cannabinoids seemed to decrease the inflammatory response, thus decreasing the immune response, which led to a higher risk of infections; (ii) among patients with multiple sclerosis, cannabinoids seemed to have little impact on the...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis is one of the world's most widely used recreational drugs and the second most commonly smoked substance. Research on cannabis and the lungs has been limited by its illegal status, the variability in strength and size of cannabis cigarettes (joints), and the fact that most cannabis users also smoke tobacco, making the effects difficult to separate. Despite these difficulties, the available evidence indicates that smoking cannabis causes bronchitis and is associated with changes in lung function. The pattern of effects is surprisingly different from that of tobacco. Whereas smoking cannabis appears to increase the...

Abstract Importance  Animal studies have shown that the adolescent brain is sensitive to disruptions in endocannabinoid signaling, resulting in altered neurodevelopment and lasting behavioral effects. However, few studies have investigated ties between cannabis use and adolescent brain development in humans. Objective  To examine the degree to which magnetic resonance (MR) imaging–assessed cerebral cortical thickness development is associated with cannabis use in a longitudinal sample of adolescents. Design, Setting, and Participants  Data were obtained from the community-based IMAGEN cohort study, conducted across 8 European sites. Baseline data used in the present study were acquired from March 1, 2008, to December 31, 2011, and follow-up data were acquired from...