Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis consumer products are a $4.6 billion industry in the U.S. that is projected to exceed $14 billion by 2025. Despite an absence of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation or clinical data, thousands of nutraceuticals, topical consumer products, and beauty products claim benefits of hemp or cannabidiol. However, a lack of required quality control measures prevents consumers from knowing the true concentration or purities of cannabis-labeled products. Thirteen over-the-counter consumer products were examined for the presence of cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA). Additionally, the efficacy...

Abstract Cannabis is the most widely used recreational drug in the world. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica have been selectively bred to develop their psychoactive properties. The increasing use in many countries has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cannabis can provoke both type 1 and type 4 allergic reactions. Officially recognized allergens include a pathogenesis-related class 10 allergen, profilin, and a nonspecific lipid transfer protein. Other allergens may also be relevant, and recognition of allergens may vary between countries and continents. Cannabis also has the potential to provoke allergic cross-reactions to plant foods. Since cannabis is an illegal substance in many countries, research has been hampered, leading...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Skin inflammatory diseases result from complex events that include dysregulation and abnormal expression of inflammatory mediators or their receptors in skin cells. The present study investigates the potential effect of a Cannabis sativa L. ethanolic extract standardized in cannabidiol as antiinflammatory agent in the skin, unraveling the molecular mechanisms in human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The extract inhibited the release of mediators of inflammation involved in wound healing and inflammatory processes occurring in the skin. The mode of action involved the impairment of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway since the extract counteracted the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced NF-κB-driven...

Abstract Cannabis is increasingly consumed by women of childbearing age, and the reproductive and epigenetic effects are unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential epigenetic implications of cannabis use on the female ovarian follicle. Whole-genome methylation was assessed in granulosa cells from 14 matched case-control patients. Exposure status was determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) measurements of five cannabis-derived phytocannabinoids in follicular fluid. DNA methylation was measured using the Illumina TruSeq Methyl Capture EPIC kit. Differential methylation, pathway analysis and correlation analysis were performed. We identified 3679 differentially methylated sites, with two-thirds affecting coding genes. A hotspot region on chromosome...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Although cannabis use is increasing in general population, their prevalence among young adults is remarkably high. In recent years, their medical use gained a renewed interest. However, it can underline the reputation of cannabis being a harmless drug. Between cannabinoids, uniquely found on the cannabis plant, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the well-studied compound. It is responsible for the psychoactive effects via central cannabinoid receptors. Nevertheless, cannabinoids interact with other chemical signalling systems such as the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. THC indirectly decreases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion by the hypothalamus. The consequences are diverse, and several key hormones are...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background: Endometriosis affects around 10% of women worldwide. Many women with endometriosis struggle with finding adequate pain management, and data from other countries suggest that women use cannabis, either legal or illicit, to help manage their endometriosis symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine use of cannabis where endometriosis was self-identified as a condition that was being treated with cannabis, as well as the impact of cannabis use on the usage on other pharmaceuticals. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of those using cannabis for health-related conditions run between May and July 2019. This...

Abstract Objective Forthcoming legislative changes will legalize and make cannabis widely available in Canada. We conducted an analysis of Ontario’s birth registry to determine recent trends and correlates of cannabis use in pregnancy. Methods We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study assembled from the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario database, covering live births and stillbirths in Ontario between April 2012 and December 2017. Trends in self-reported cannabis use in pregnancy were analyzed according to maternal age and area-level socio-economic status (SES) using log binomial regression analysis. Results A total of 10,731 women reported cannabis use in pregnancy. Prevalence increased from 1.2% in...

Key Points Question  Did rates of cannabis use during early pregnancy change after recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) in California, and did trends differ in jurisdictions that allowed vs banned adult-use retailers? Findings  This time-series study of 300 993 pregnancies universally screened for prenatal cannabis use at entrance to prenatal care in Northern California from 2012 to 2019, there was an increase in self-reported and biochemically verified prenatal cannabis use after RCL implementation in 2018. The increase was observed only among those living in jurisdictions allowing adult-use cannabis retailers. Meaning  The implementation of RCL in California was associated with an increase in prenatal cannabis use, driven by individuals living...

Abstract Background: With recent changes in legislation regulating recreational and medical cannabis use around the globe, increased use in pregnancy is to be expected. Objectives: To investigate the association between cannabis use during pregnancy and birth outcomes. Method: Data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), a prospective pregnancy cohort, were used. Participants were recruited from all over Norway between 1999 and 2008: 9,312 women with 10,373 pregnancies who reported use of cannabis before or in pregnancy. Women reported on their illegal drug use before pregnancy and at pregnancy weeks 17/18 and 30 and at 6 months postpartum. Linear regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Purpose of Review We review recent evidence describing the effects of prenatal exposure to cannabis in pregnant individuals. Recent Findings In the context of changing cannabis policy, more pregnant individuals are using cannabis, despite profound risks. Recent studies show possible perinatal and longitudinal neurodevelopment risks associated with cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation. Healthcare providers are reluctant to discuss this topic with patients for a variety of reasons. Summary With increased access to cannabis comes the possibility of increased adverse effects of cannabis upon pregnant individuals and their children. A concerted effort to educate pregnant...