Abstract Cannabis is one of the most widely consumed recreational drugs among reproductive aged adults around the globe. It is known that Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, can interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) via cannabinoid receptor 1. Components of the ECS are highly involved in regulating mammalian reproductive processes such as oocyte, sperm, and embryo development by modulating gene expression, apoptosis, and several intracellular pathways. Previous research in our lab demonstrated that THC exposure to bovine oocytes, the ideal translational model for human, was detrimental to in vitro maturation, increased apoptosis in blastomeres and altered gene expression (Misner et al., 2021)....

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Neuropathic pain and other pain disorders have received attention as potential indications for use of cannabis-based medicines or medical cannabis (CBM/MC). Evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of CBM/MC for pain disorders is, however, insufficient. Denmark introduced a pilot programme of medical cannabis in January 2018. We aimed to evaluate efficacy, safety, and non-specific effects of CBM/MC used under the pilot programme compared with controls. Methods We conducted a nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark, identifying all individuals redeeming at least one prescription for CBM/MC for either neuropathic pain (n = 1817) or other and unspecified...

Please use this link to access this publication. Purpose of review This review aims to summarize recent updates in the area of cannabis use for insomnia. Recent findings Cannabis products have continued to become more potent, particularly in regard to delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration. Additionally, the use of cannabis has continued to become more accepted with less legal restrictions. The reported use of cannabis for relief of symptoms in sleep disorders appears to be increasing, however the specific effects of cannabinoids on sleep varies with cannabinoid type and concentration. Some evidence supports claims of efficacy of cannabinoids in sleep disorders such as insomnia, while...

Abstract Inflammation often develops from acute, chronic, or auto-inflammatory disorders that can lead to compromised organ function. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) has been used to treat inflammation for millennia, but its use in modern medicine is hampered by a lack of scientific knowledge. Previous studies report that cannabis extracts and inflorescence inhibit inflammatory responses in vitro and in pre-clinical and clinical trials. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a modulator of immune system activity, and dysregulation of this system is involved in various chronic inflammations. This system includes cannabinoid receptor types 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), arachidonic acid-derived endocannabinoids, and enzymes involved in endocannabinoid metabolism. Cannabis produces...

Abstract Nonmedical (“recreational”) cannabis use and cannabis laws have changed over the past two decades in the United States (1) and the rest of the world (2). Increasing use, especially among the young, coupled with the increasing potency of cannabis (higher delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] content) during this period (3), has raised concerns about the long-term health impact of cannabis exposure, especially among adolescents and young adults. There is recognition of an association between cannabis use and psychosis, but whether the relationship is causal continues to be debated. One rebuttal raised in this debate is that if cannabis caused psychosis, then the increases in the rates...

Abstract Background Cannabis products, including the cannabinoids CBD and THC, are rising in popularity and increasingly used for medical purposes. While there is some evidence that cannabinoids improve cancer-associated symptoms, understanding regarding appropriate use remains incomplete. Purpose To describe patient experiences with medical cannabis with focus on use contexts and patients’ reported benefits and harms. Methods A standardized intake form was implemented in a dedicated medical cannabis clinic at an NCI-designated cancer center; data from this form was abstracted for all initial visits from October 2019 to October 2020. We report descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and multivariate logistic regression. Results Among 163 unique new...

Abstract Introduction: As cannabis use continues to increase in popularity, it is important to investigate how it impacts public health in all sectors of the population, including patients undergoing anesthetic management. This retrospective study focuses on the orthopedic trauma population presenting through an emergency department (ED) and receiving a urine drug screen (UDS) with subsequent urgent surgical intervention. We aimed to evaluate differences in response to general anesthesia in patients with exposure to THC, a major cannabinoid, compared to controls that screened negative for THC. Materials and Methods: All ED visits at UC Irvine, a level 1 trauma center between November 4, 2017 and January 7,...

Abstract Substances from the Cannabis sativa species, especially cannabidiol (CBD) and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), have attracted medical attention in recent years. The actions of these two main cannabinoids modulate the cholinergic nervous system (CholNS) involving development, synaptic plasticity, and response to endogenous and environmental damage, as a characteristic of many neurodegenerative diseases. The dynamics of these diseases are mediated by specific neurotransmitters, such as the GABAergic nervous system (GNS) and the CholNS. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an important experimental model, which has different neurotransmitter systems that coordinate its behavior and has a transgene strain that encodes the human β-amyloid 1–42 peptide in body wall muscle, one of the...

Abstract Due to differences in potency, efficacy, and affinity for CB1 receptors, similarities and differences in psychoactive effect profiles of natural cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) cannot reliably be derived from equipotent dose comparisons. Instead, the current study proposes to compare the intrinsic psychoactive effects of natural cannabis (THC) and an SC, JWH-018, at psychotropic dose equivalence. Participants from two placebo-controlled studies were matched for their levels of subjective high to compare neurocognitive and psychotomimetic effects of THC and JWH-018. At equal subjective intoxication levels, both drugs impaired psychomotor, divided attention, and impulse control, with no significant difference between the two drugs. Both drugs...

Abstract Marijuana and hashish, from the plant Cannabis sativa L, are the illicit drugs most frequently used worldwide. Cannabis is well known for its recreational effects being popular among adolescents and young adults and is often perceived as harmless. Cannabis, however, impairs working and short-term memory and is associated with decline in academic functioning, impaired driving skills, cognitive impairment, and progression to other illicit substance use. Cannabis use has also been linked to a propensity for developing psychotic events while neuroimaging studies indicated brain volume changes in heavy and chronic users. Cannabis effects are ascribed to its major psychoactive constituent delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) acting...