Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract The prevalence of cannabis use among older adults (aged 65 and above) for both recreational and medicinal purposes has significantly increased in recent years. Information regarding the safety of cannabis in this population is important since aging is associated with metabolic changes, multiple morbidities, increases in prescription medication use, and an overall decline in functioning. In this Perspectives article, we review special considerations pertinent to older adults—specifically, the impact of cannabis on cognition and on falls and injuries, its drug interactions, and its potential medicinal applications for treating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia....

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract The global Cannabis Sativa market, including essential oils, foods, personal-care products, and medical formulations has gained much attention over the last years due to the favorable regulatory framework. Undoubtedly, the enormous interest about cannabis cultivation mainly derives from the well-known pharmacological properties of cannabinoids and terpenes biosynthesized by the plants. In this review, the most recently used analytical methodologies for detecting both cannabinoids and terpenes are described. Well-established and innovative extraction protocols, and chromatographic separations, such as GC and HPLC, are reviewed highlighting their respective advantages and drawbacks. Lastly, GC × GC techniques are also reported for accurate identification and quantification...

Abstract Increasing legalization and expanding medicinal use have led to a significant rise in global cannabis consumption. With this development, we have seen a growing number of case reports describing adverse cardiovascular events, specifically, cannabis-induced myocardial infarction (MI). However, there are considerable knowledge gaps on this topic among health care providers. This review aims to provide an up-to-date review of the current literature, as well as practical recommendations for clinicians. We also focus on proposed mechanisms implicating cannabis as a risk factor for MI. We performed a comprehensive literature search using the MEDLINE, Cochrane, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Previous studies based on relatively weak analytical designs lacking contextualization and appropriate comparisons have reported that the legalization of marijuana has either increased or decreased crime. Recognizing the importance for public policy making of more robust research designs in this area during a period of continuing reform of state marijuana laws, this study uses a quasi-experimental, multi-group interrupted time-series design to determine if, and how, UCR crime rates in Colorado and Washington, the first two states to legalize marijuana, were influenced by it. Our results suggest that marijuana legalization and sales have had minimal to...

Abstract Significant changes have occurred in the policy landscape surrounding cannabis legalization, production, and use around the globe and across the United States. With widespread availability of novel cannabis and cannabis-based products, there is an urgent need to understand their safety and effectiveness for medical indications. Three primary barriers contribute to the difficulty in initiating research geared toward answering the most pressing public health questions: the US regulatory status of cannabis and cannabinoids, sources for cannabis and cannabinoid study medications, and limited funding and resources to support studies. Despite these hurdles, research is rapidly increasing, and recent changes in the United States have paved...

Abstract Given varying state-level laws regarding cannabis use, the objective of the review was to summarize contemporary literature on the relationship between adolescent cognitive function and academic performance with cannabis use. Frequency and quantity of cannabis use were associated with decreased functional connectivity of the brain. Earlier age at cannabis initiation and more frequent use was associated with poorer executive control and academic performance. Social determinants such as minimal parental monitoring, peer use and low social cohesion were associated with more frequent adolescent use. Race/ethnicity and residence were other factors influencing cannabis use. To prevent cannabis use disorders among adolescents, interventions should aim to prevent early...

Abstract In this review, state-of-the-art evidence on the relationship between cannabis use, traffic crash risks, and driving safety were analyzed. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and other relevant papers published within the last decade were systematically searched and synthesized. Findings show that meta-analyses and culpability studies consistently indicate a slightly but significantly increased risk of crashes after acute cannabis use. These risks vary across included study type, crash severity, and method of substance application and measurement. Some studies show a significant correlation between high THC blood concentrations and car crash risk. Most studies do not support this relationship at lower THC concentrations. However, no scientifically supported...

Abstract Introduction Existing reviews exploring cannabis effectiveness have numerous limitations including narrow search strategies. We systematically explored cannabis effects on PTSD symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and return to work (RTW). We also investigated harm outcomes such as adverse effects and dropouts due to adverse effects, inefficacy, and all-cause dropout rates. Methods Our search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and PubMed databases, yielded 1 eligible RCT and 10 observational studies (n = 4672). Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool and ROBINS-I. Results Evidence from the included studies was mainly based on non-randomized studies...

Abstract Cannabis continues to be the most used drug in the world today. Research shows that cannabis use is associated with a wide range of adverse health consequences that may involve almost every physiological and biochemical system including respiratory/pulmonary complications such as chronic cough and emphysema, impairment of immune function, and increased risk of acquiring or transmitting viral infections such as HIV, HCV, and others. The review of published research shows that cannabis use may impair immune function in many instances and thereby exerts an impact on viral infections including human immune deficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C infection (HCV), and human T-cell lymphotropic type...

Abstract Although research has only recently started to examine the impact of cannabis use on stress response, there is some evidence that indicates acute and chronic impacts of cannabis on these processes. In this paper, we review processes involved in regulating the stress response and we review the influence of acute and chronic exposure to cannabis on patterns and regulation of the stress response. We also highlight the role of stress as a risk factor for initiation and maintenance of cannabis use. In this context, we examine moderating variables, including sex and life adversity. In light of recent observations indicating increasing prevalence of cannabis...