Abstract Background The use of cannabis has been associated with both therapeutic and harmful effects. As with cigarette smoking, cannabis smoking may affect the epigenetic regulation (e.g., DNA methylation) of gene expression which could result in long term health effects. The study of DNA methylation in cannabis smoking has to date been restricted to young adults and there remains yet no evaluation of whether cannabis smoking cessation can reverse epigenetic disturbances. Here, we aimed to investigate the relationship between genome-wide DNA methylation and cannabis smoking. Methods We used peripheral blood from a subset of older adults within the Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease...

Abstract Background and aim Video gaming (VG) and cannabis use are two behaviors that are particularly prevalent among adolescents and young adults, as they can both be sedentary activities that are used to help decompress. As such, this raises questions about the possible relationship between VG and cannabis use. The aim of the present review is to document the relationship between VG and cannabis use. Methods A scoping review identified 25 articles published between 2000 and February 2025, and presenting original findings on the relationship between VG and cannabis use. Results Results demonstrate that existing literature is heterogeneous in its methods and measures. Nonetheless,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Epidemiological data have provided evidence that psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) occur in the general population without clinical impairment. According to the psychosis continuum hypothesis, PLEs are subject to multiple risk factors. This review synthesizes current research on biological, substance use-related, and environmental risk factors for PLEs in non-clinical populations. PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies published until January 2024 investigating risk factors for PLEs in non-clinical samples. Following PRISMA guidelines, 38 full-text articles were analyzed after title/abstract and full-text screening (PROSPERO registration ID: N 1001,807). Four main risk factor categories emerged. Biological vulnerabilities...

Abstract Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit substance worldwide, with rising use particularly among adolescents and young adults. Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic cannabis use may negatively impact several domains of cognition, yet findings across studies remain varied and fragmented. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on the long-term cognitive consequences of cannabis use, focusing on attention, executive functioning, learning, memory, language, motor coordination, and social cognition. Consistent impairments have been observed in domains such as attention, executive function, memory, and learning; however, most evidence derives from studies of acute or residual effects. Evidence of long-lasting deficits after extended abstinence remains more limited...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective: Amid continuously rising concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis (i.e., potency), high-potency cannabis is a major topic in contemporary cannabis policy discussions, yet its impact on health is not well understood. The authors conducted a systematic review of observational and experimental studies examining the relationship between high-potency cannabis use and a range of health outcomes. Methods: Records were obtained from a systematic search of five biomedical research databases. The authors developed ecologically relevant potency (percent THC) exposure-comparison categories (1%–9%, 10%–19%, 20%–30%, kief/resin [∼30%–50%], concentrates [≥60%]) and used a landmark scientific report on cannabis and...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Purpose of review This review examines the literature associating cannabis with schizophrenia, glutamate dysregulation in schizophrenia, and cannabis involvement in glutamate pathways. Cannabis use is widespread among adolescents world-wide and is sold legally in many countries for recreational use in a variety of forms. Most people use it without lasting effects, but a portion of individuals have negative reactions that manifest in acute psychotic symptoms, and in some, symptoms continue even after the use of cannabis has ceased. To date, there is a huge gap in our understanding of why this occurs. Recent findings Recent...

ABSTRACT Background: Growing bodies of evidence suggest that cannabis may play a significant role in both oncological palliative care and as a direct anticarcinogenic agent, but classification as a Schedule I substance has complicated research into its therapeutic potential, leaving the state of research scattered and heterogeneous. This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the scientific consensus on medical cannabis’ viability in cancer treatment. Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to systematically assess the existing literature on medical cannabis, focusing on its therapeutic potential, safety profiles, and role in cancer treatment. Methods: This study synthesized data from over 10,000 peer-reviewed research papers, encompassing 39,767 data points related...

Please use this link to access this publication. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether cannabis use during pregnancy was associated with depressive symptoms and whether ongoing use beyond the first trimester and higher amounts of cannabis use were associated with increased depressive symptoms. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the nuMoM2b (Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers to Be) study with participants enrolled from October 2010 to September 2013 at eight academic centers. Individuals with pregnancy outcome data who completed the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) in the first and third trimesters and had available frozen stored urine samples were included. Cannabis exposure was...

ABSTRACT Introduction: Adolescence and young adulthood are simultaneously periods of significant brain development and the ages in which people often initiate cannabis use. This has led to significant interest in researching the effects that cannabis use in this period might have on the brains of users. This scoping review aims to summarize existing neuroimaging research on the effect of cannabis use in adolescence and/or young adulthood (ages 14-25) on brain structure, function, and metabolite concentrations. Methods: Following scoping review methodology, databases containing neuroimaging studies assessing the effects of cannabis use between the ages of 14 and 25 on brain structure, function, and metabolite concentrations were searched....

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis is the most commonly used recreational drug in the United States and use among adolescents is prevalent. Its availability and potency have increased significantly in the past decade, as a growing number of US states have legalized its use for medicinal or recreational purposes. Meanwhile, adolescent perception of the risk of harm from cannabis use has declined over time. However, there are well-established risks associated with prolonged cannabis use in adolescence. Cannabis has a strong link to the development of psychosis and psychiatric diagnoses, negative neurodevelopmental and school performance outcomes, poorer sleep, and gastrointestinal...