Simple Summary Cancer is a major disease and a leading cause of death worldwide. Improving treatment and management strategies for cancer is critical. This article explores cannabis and its pharmacological properties as a promising tool in cancer care, especially in easing symptoms like appetite loss, pain, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia. Moreover, it examines the anti-tumor properties of cannabis, highlighting that, although some evidence suggests benefits, more research is necessary to confirm these effects. The article addresses the evidence concerning the clinical challenges of using cannabis, such as its psychoactive effects, and potential side effects. The article aims to clarify the current understanding of cannabis...

Abstract Background: Evidence for long-term effectiveness of commercial cannabis products used to treat medical symptoms is inconsistent, despite increasingly widespread use. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the effects of using cannabis on self-reported symptoms of pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and cannabis use disorder (CUD) after 12 months of use. Methods: This observational cohort study describes outcomes over 9 months following a 12-week randomized, waitlist-controlled trial (RCT: NCT03224468) in which adults (N = 163) who wished to use cannabis to alleviate insomnia, pain, depression, or anxiety symptoms were randomly assigned to obtain a med ical marijuana card immediately (immediate card acquisition group) or to delay obtaining a card for 12...

Key Points Question  What are the risks and benefits of obtaining a medical marijuana card for adults who seek medical marijuana for pain, insomnia, and anxiety or depressive symptoms? Findings  In this randomized clinical trial involving 186 participants, immediate acquisition of a medical marijuana card increased the incidence and severity of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and resulted in no significant improvement in pain, anxiety, or depressive symptoms, but improved self-reported sleep quality. Meaning  Findings from this study suggest the need for further investigation into the benefits of medical marijuana card ownership for insomnia symptoms and the risk of CUD, particularly for those with anxiety or depressive symptoms....

Abstract Introduction The primary aim of this study was to assess changes in sleep-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for those prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) for insomnia. Methods A case series of UK patients with insomnia was analyzed. Primary outcomes were changes in the Single-Item Sleep-Quality Scale (SQS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and EQ-5D-5L at up to 6 months from baseline. Statistical significance was identified as a p value < .050. Results 61 patients were included in the analysis. There was an improvement in the SQS from baseline at 1, 3, and 6 months (p < .001). There were also improvements in the EQ-5D-5L Index value...

Summary Insomnia is highly prevalent among military veterans, with rates nearly double that of civilian populations. Insomnia typically co-occurs with other psychological problems, including substance use (e.g. cannabis) and perceived stress. Much of the research focused on insomnia, stress and cannabis use explores cannabis as a sleep aid and a mechanism for stress relief. However, recent theoretical and empirical evidence suggests a dynamic interplay between insomnia, cannabis use and perceived stress, yet few longitudinal studies exist. Using a sample of 1105 post-9/11 veterans assessed over four time points across 12 months, we used latent difference score modelling to examine proportional change between insomnia, perceived stress...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective This study aimed to evaluate the published data on the effect of cannabis use in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women to alleviate menopausal symptoms, insomnia and anxiety. Methods Databases searched included Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, LILACS and AMED. Selected studies assessed perimenopausal or postmenopausal women, cannabis use impact and menopausal symptoms. Results A total of 564 studies were retrieved. Three studies met the inclusion criteria. One study controlled for participant cannabis use and reported on the effects of cannabis and placebo cigarette smoking on mood in 10...

Summary Objective To assess the benefits and harms of cannabis-based products for pediatric epilepsy. Methods We identified in this living systematic review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized studies (NRSs) involving children with epilepsy treated with cannabis-based products. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and gray literature (April 25, 2018). The primary outcome was seizure freedom; secondary outcomes were seizure frequency (total, ≥50% reduction), quality of life, sleep, status epilepticus, death, gastrointestinal adverse events, and visits to the emergency room. Data were pooled by random-effects meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed for each study, and GRADE was used to assess the quality of...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the unique explanatory role of cannabis use motives above the effects of each other, for the relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptomatology and different aspects of cannabis misuse among young adults. The transitional years of young adulthood are characterized by new opportunities for experimentation as well as novel external stressors. Collectively, this makes this developmental epoch a sensitive time for manifestations of cannabis misuse. Methods: Bivariate correlations were conducted to examine the association between obsessive-compulsive symptomatology and risky cannabis use, cannabis use problems, and the average quantity of cannabis...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction Cannabis use has been linked to many psychological disorders. There is, however, a paucity of research investigating the link between cannabis use and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study sought to examine this link by exploring associations between severity of OCD symptoms, cannabis use, and cannabis misuse; determining whether these associations exist above and beyond symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress; and testing the mediating role of cannabis coping motives (i.e., using cannabis to cope with negative affect and other problems). Methods A large sample of young adult cannabis users (n = 430) completed an online survey containing measures...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background There is an increasing prevalence of marijuana use in the general population yet clinical studies on marijuana's effect on surgical outcomes remain limited. Marijuana's effect on wound healing, venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to endothelial inflammation, and bleeding due to inhibited platelet function have been cited based on animal models but have not been evaluated clinically in patients undergoing microsurgical reconstruction. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction in a single institute from August 2018 to December 2022. Patient self-reported marijuana use, demographics, total narcotic use during hospitalization...