Simple Summary Symptom management is a key goal of palliative cancer care. There is growing interest in the use of cannabis-based medicines or products for the management of physical and psychosocial symptoms associated with cancer or cancer treatment, including pain, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, and mood disorders. However, research on medical uses of cannabis has been limited because of legal restrictions and stigma. The goal of this review is to explore the potential role of cannabis and cannabinoids in the management of cancer-related symptoms. Limited evidence suggests that cannabis may improve cancer-related pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, appetite and chemosensory changes, insomnia, and mood...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background: As medical cannabis availability increases, up-to-date trends in medical cannabis licensure can inform clinical policy and care. Objective: To describe current trends in medical cannabis licensure in the United States. Design: Ecological study with repeated measures. Setting: Publicly available state registry data from 2020 to 2022. Participants: People with medical cannabis licenses and clinicians authorizing cannabis licenses in the United States. Measurements: Total patient volume and prevalence per 10 000 persons in the total population, symptoms or conditions qualifying patients for licensure (that is, patient-reported qualifying conditions), and number of authorizing clinicians. Results: In 2022,...

Abstract Background: Despite increasing medical cannabis use, research has yet to establish whether and to what extent products containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) impact driving performance among patients. Stable doses of prescribed cannabinoid products during long-term treatment may alleviate clinical symptoms affecting cognitive and psychomotor performance. Aim: To examine the effects of open-label prescribed medical cannabis use on simulated driving performance among patients. Methods: In a semi-naturalistic laboratory study, 40 adults (55% male) aged between 23 and 80 years, consumed their own prescribed medical cannabis product. Driving performance outcomes including standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), the standard deviation of speed (SDS), mean speed and steering variability...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective Despite pharmacological treatments for osteoarthritis (OA), more individuals are choosing medical cannabis for OA symptom management and for mitigating opioid prescriptions for OA. This systematic review examines the global evidence of medical cannabis use on OA pain and function. Methods The search was completed in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and CINAHL within the past 10 years (2012-2022). We limited the search to English language articles. We did not include grey literature or case studies. Participant demographics included all adult individuals with OA who were using medical cannabis for OA. Study quality and risk of bias were...

Abstract Cannabis has long been stigmatized as an illicit drug. Since legalization in Canada for both medical and recreational purposes, older adults’ cannabis consumption has increased more than any other age group. Yet, it is unclear how the normalization of cannabis has impacted perceptions of stigma for older adults consuming cannabis medicinally. Qualitative description was used to elucidate the experiences of older Canadians aged 60+ related to stigma and their consumption of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews. Data analysis examined how participants managed stigma related to cannabis use. Perceived stigma was evident in many participants’ descriptions of their perceptions of...

Abstract Importance: Many studies have evaluated whether in utero cannabis exposure is associated with fetal and neonatal outcomes, yet little is known about whether prenatal cannabis use is associated with maternal health outcomes during pregnancy. Objective: To evaluate whether prenatal cannabis use is associated with maternal health outcomes during pregnancy. Design, setting, and participants: This population-based retrospective cohort study included pregnancies in Northern California from January 2011 to December 2019 that lasted 20 weeks or longer and were screened for prenatal cannabis use. Exposures: Prenatal cannabis use was defined as any self-reported use during early pregnancy or a positive toxicology test result based on universal screening at entrance...

Abstract Emerging research has revealed a complex bidirectional interaction between the gut microbiome and cannabis. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the gut microbiota can significantly influence the pharmacological effects of cannabinoids. One notable finding is the ability of the gut microbiota to metabolise cannabinoids, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This metabolic transformation can alter the potency and duration of cannabinoid effects, potentially impacting their efficacy in cancer treatment. Additionally, the capacity of gut microbiota to activate cannabinoid receptors through the production of secondary bile acids underscores its role in directly influencing the pharmacological activity of cannabinoids. While the literature reveals promising avenues for leveraging the gut...

Abstract The endocannabinoid system (ECs) is composed of multiple signaling compounds and receptors within the central and peripheral nervous system along with various organs, including the gut, liver, and skeletal muscle. The ECs has been implicated in metabolism, gut motility, and eating behaviors. The ECs is altered in disease states such as obesity. Recent studies have clarified the role of the gut microbiome and nutrition on the ECs. Exogenous cannabinoid (CB) use, either organic or synthetic, stimulates the ECs through CB1 and CB2 receptors. However, the role of CBs is unclear in regard to nutrition optimization or to treat disease states. This review briefly...

Abstract Introduction: Cannabis potency and its use during pregnancy have increased in the last decade. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of antenatal cannabis use on fetal growth, preterm birth and other perinatal outcomes. Material and methods: A propensity score-matched analysis was performed in women with singleton pregnancies attending a tertiary care site in Barcelona. Women in the cannabis group were selected based on the results of a detection test. Primary outcomes were small for gestational age at birth (SGA), low birthweight and preterm birth. Secondary outcomes were other biometric parameters (neonatal length and head circumference), respiratory distress, admission to the neonatal...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objectives: Both sleep and cognition are partially modulated by the endocannabinoid (ECB) system. Cannabis has been reported to have effects on sleep and cognition. This review aims to summarize the recent literature on the ECB system, the role of cannabis and the ECB system on sleep regulation and cognition. Further, this review will identify existing gaps in knowledge and suggest potential targets for future research. Methods: We performed this review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Reports were identified by searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO...