Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract BackgroundWorldwide, cannabis is the most used illegal substance, and the use of cannabis has increased over the years. An increase in the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis has also been seen. It is currently unclear whether this has led to an increase in the incidence of cannabis-induced psychosis. We aimed to investigate (1) the development of incidence of cannabis-induced psychosis over time compared with other substance-induced psychoses and (2) the development of incident cases of cannabis-induced psychosis over time compared with dual diagnosis defined as schizophrenia and a cannabis use disorder. MethodData on psychiatric...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract This observational study examined the acute cognitive effects of cannabis. We hypothesized that cognitive performance would be negatively affected by acute cannabis intoxication. Twenty-two medical cannabis patients from Southwestern Ontario completed the study. The majority (n = 13) were male. Mean age was 36.0 years, and mean level of education was 13.7 years. Participants were administered the same brief neurocognitive battery three times during a six-hour period: at baseline (“Baseline”), once after they consumed a 20% THC cannabis product (“THC”), and once again several hours later (“Recovery”). The average self-reported level of cannabis intoxication prior to the second assessment (i.e., during THC) was 5.1...

Abstract Inhalation by vaporization is a useful application mode for medical cannabis. In this study, we present the disposition of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), their acidic precursors, and their metabolites in serum, oral fluid, and urine together with the acute pharmacological effects in 14 healthy individuals treated with vaporized medical cannabis. THC and CBD peaked firstly in serum and then in oral fluid, with higher concentrations in the first biological matrices and consequent higher area under the curve AUCs. Acidic precursors Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) showed a similar time course profile but lower concentrations due to the fact that vaporization...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Issues The Cannabis sativa L. plant contains hundreds of phytocannabinoids, but putatively of highest importance to public health risk is the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is associated with risk for cannabis use disorder, affective disturbance, cognitive harm and psychomotor impairment. Recently, there has been an increase in the use and availability of concentrated cannabis products (or ‘concentrates’) that are made by extracting cannabinoids from the plant to form a product with THC concentrations as high as 90–95%. These products are increasingly popular nationwide. The literature on these widely available high potency concentrates is limited and there...

Abstract Many US states now embrace the medical and recreational use of Cannabis. Changes in the laws have heightened interest and encouraged research into both cannabinoid products and the potential harms of Cannabis use, addiction and intoxication. The major active ingredient of Cannabis sativa (marijuana), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and it powerfully stimulates the type-1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor. When used in the form of the plant marijuana, because of the many compounds that exist in the plant form they could inhibit the activity of the CB1 receptor thereby reducing many of the effects of THC. While this mechanism seems correct, in our opinion, Vallee., et al. incorrectly suggest that blocking...

Abstract Aim: Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is a potentially addictive cannabinoid. Its impact on the activity of liver arylamine N-Acetyltransferase (NAT) has not been reported. This study investigated the rewarding effects of Δ9-THC in mice and whether Δ9-THC had any impact ex-vivo and in-vitro on NAT activity. Methods: Thirty-six Swiss albinomice randomly assigned to six groups (n = 6) completed a biased, 8-week Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) paradigm. Mice exhibiting ~80% preference for the black chamber at pre-conditioning were selected. Treatment groups were administered Δ9-THC (0.10, 0.50 or 2.0 mg/kg/mL, ip) or amphetamine (AMP, 5.0 mg/kg/mL, ip); while untreated groups (controls) received vehicle solutions (coconut oil or 0.9% saline). Entries and time spent in the...

Abstract Cannabis sativa is the most widely used illicit drug in the world. Its main psychoactive component is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of over 100 phytocannabinoid compounds produced by the cannabis plant. THC is the primary compound that drives cannabis abuse potential and is also used and prescribed medically for therapeutic qualities. Despite its therapeutic potential, a significant subpopulation of frequent cannabis or THC users will develop a drug use syndrome termed cannabis use disorder. Individuals suffering from cannabis use disorder exhibit many of the hallmarks of classical addictions including cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Currently, there are no efficacious treatments for cannabis use disorder or withdrawal...

Abstract Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a pain disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance, in the absence of any well-defined underlying organic disease. The exact pathophysiology and the mechanism which links different factors related to the disease is still unknown. Due to unknown precise pathogenesis, the coexistence of other diseases, and overlapping clinical features, FMS diagnosis may be laborious. Various treatment strategies are used, only a few Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, still we are facing challenges regarding effective treatment. Recently, medicinal cannabis has proven to be effective in chronic pain conditions such as osteoarthritis, neuropathic pain, and other non-cancer...

Abstract Cannabis is widely used for both recreational and medicinal purposes on a global scale. There is accumulating interest in the use of cannabis and its constituents for athletic recovery, and in some instances, performance. Amidst speculation of potential beneficial applications, the effects of cannabis and its two most abundant constituents, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), remain largely un-investigated. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the literature describing the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD, on athletic performance and recovery. While investigations of whole cannabis and THC have generally shown either null or detrimental effects on exercise performance in strength...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background An innovative naturalistic at-home administration procedure was used to investigate sex differences in subjective drug effects and verbal memory errors after ad libitum use of high potency state legal market Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrate. Methods Regular concentrate users were randomly assigned to ad libitum administration of one of two cannabis concentrate products (70 % or 90 % THC) that they purchased from a dispensary. 65 participants (N = 34 men, N = 31 women) were assessed in a mobile pharmacology lab before, immediately after, and 1 -h after ad libitum concentrate use. Plasma cannabinoids (THC, 11-OH-THC, CBD), subjective drug effects, and verbal memory errors were assessed...