Can we make cannabis safer?

Englund, Amir; Freeman, Tom P.; Murray, Robin M.; McGuire, Philip

doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(17)30075-5

Cited by 136 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 81 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

120

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…CBD is non-intoxicating and does not influence ratings of ‘stoned’ following the administration of THC or cannabis 2,16 . However, CBD can produce opposite effects to THC across a range tasks and functional neuroimaging assessments 26–28 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, most people who try cannabis do not experience prolonged adverse effects. Several factors predict vulnerability, including the rs2494732 locus of the AKT1 genotype 3–5 , adolescent exposure 6,7 , frequency of use 8–10 , schizotypy or schizophrenia 11–15 and the type of cannabis used 2,16 . Although it is typically classified as a single drug, the cannabis plant can contains over 100 unique ‘cannabinoids’, with diverse and sometimes opposing pharmacological actions 17 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Individual and combined effects of acute delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on psychotomimetic symptoms and memory function

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The main active ingredient in cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can acutely induce psychotic symptoms and impair episodic and working memory. Another major constituent, cannabidiol (CBD), may attenuate these effects. This study aimed to determine the effects of THC and CBD, both alone and in combination on psychotic symptoms and memory function. A randomised, double-blind crossover design compared the effects of (i) placebo, (ii) THC 8 mg, (iii) CBD 16 mg and (iv) THC 8 mg + CBD 16 mg administered by inhalation through a vaporiser. Using an experimental medicine approach to predict treatment sensitivity, we selected 48 cannabis users from the community on the basis of (1) schizotypal personality questionnaire scores (low, high) and (2) frequency of cannabis use (light, heavy). The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI), immediate and delayed prose recall (episodic memory), 1- and 2-back (working memory) were assessed on each day. Results indicated that THC increased overall scores on the PSI, negative symptoms on BPRS, and robustly impaired episodic and working memory. Co-administration of CBD did not attenuate these effects. CBD alone reduced PSI scores in light users only. At a ratio of 2:1, CBD does not attenuate the acute psychotic and memory impairing effects of vaporised THC. Frequent cannabis users may show a blunted anti- psychotic response to CBD, which is of concern due to the high rates of cannabis use disorders in patients with schizophrenia.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual and combined effects of acute delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on psychotomimetic symptoms and memory function

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Alternatively, we could engineer strains of cannabis that have a gentler ratio of CBD to THC. In other words some of cannabis's harmful effects could be managed with less THC and more CBD [22]. It is clear that there is tremendous enthusiasm and momentum in both loosening the marijuana laws and developing an industry around legal marijuana.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Data Raises Toxicity and Safety Concerns about Today’s High THC Content Cannabis

Brucato¹

2017

MOJT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

rats PO is 800 mg/kg, 1270 mg/kg depending upon vehicle [4]. This is comparatively weak compared to cocaine. The LD50 for cocaine is 95.1 mg/kg, Swiss mice IP [5]. The weak marijuana LD50 is often used to argue for cannabis' comparative safely and general benign nature as a drug. We will discuss respiratory depression and the myriad of indirect ways with which cannabis can cause harm below. There is much focus on today's high THC concentration. It is common to find much more THC and much less CBD per plant [6,7]. The problem of pesticide-contaminated marijuana also requires more research [8]. Pesticide has been detected on cannabis plants intended for commercial sale. Smoked marijuana reaches Cmax much faster than orally consumed cannabis. Smoked marijuana enters the bloodstream quickly, exerts its effects via CB 1 CB 2 receptors in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system respectively. Marijuana constricts blood vessels, affecting the cardiovascular system, pulmonary system and brain vasculature. It also binds to CB 1 receptors that are in the brain, in areas central to cognitive performance such as the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and striatum. It's been demonstrated that the physiology of experienced smokers differs from that of new smokers. THC maximum concentrations (Cmax) in blood were higher in frequent smokers compared to occasional smokers. A study reports that, because THC has a high degree of liphillicity, its half-life (T1/2) is 7 days and can be detected for up to 30 days [9]. Marijuana, opiates and the gateway effectThere are many new concerns regarding today's potent marijuana. Some of the old concerns that applied to less potent marijuana are being revisited. When we think back to the '70s and '80 to the days of less potent marijuana, we could not have envisioned a rampant and extensive heroin and opiate crisis among adolescents and young adults, including in suburban areas. The gateway hypothesis describes the potential for marijuana to open the door to harder drugs. It is still hotly debated [10]. However science is starting to catch up. First, there has been much work on marijuana addiction alone [11]. Scientists at NIDA have been working hard to understand marijuana's reward system. Second, credible research has shown marijuana leads to an increase in prescription drug abuse by young people, such as oxycontin [12]. We know from research [13] and accounts from heroin addicts themselves, that once hooked on oxycontin, kids will resort to less expensive heroin to achieve their opiate high. Now investigators have demonstrated that, by dosing adolescent rats with THC, allowing these F 1 animals to breed at maturity, the offspring's mRNA expressed an altered reward system and receptors in the striatum. Alterations in cannabinoid, dopamine, and glutamatergic receptors in dorsal striatum has implications for compulsive and goal directed behaviors such as drug seeking and drug addiction. In fact, offspring of animals exposed to THC, showed increased self-administration and...

show abstract

“…However, the exact mechanism of how it originates remains controversial (Hall 2008;2000). A higher risk of psychosis may involve the use of highly potent cannabis varieties (Englund et al 2017). Both areas are the subject of current research.…”

Section: Health Risks Of Cannabis Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Self-Medication with Cannabis in the Czech Republic from an Anthropological Perspective

Bláhová¹,

Horák

Verter

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Th is article is focused on the self-medication with cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) in the Czech Republic, exploring subjective perception of this treatment by ill persons and its sociocultural framework. It describes a situation when the state fails to eff ectively regulate medical cannabis and patients oft en seek practices of self-medication, which remains illegal in the country. An online questionnaire was done from January 1, 2017 to May 1, 2017, in deliberately selected volunteers approached via organizations providing comprehensive information about the issue. Th e study sample consists of 107 subjects, who used cannabis and its derivatives for self-medication. Using the Grounded theory approach, the results indicate that people who seek cannabis for self-medication in the Czech Republic consider it current legal regulation objectionable. Cannabis plants for self-medication are usually grown at home and people gain information about the treatment primarily online. Considering the experience of respondents, there are common practices of cannabis self-medication described in this article and their impact on the health status of the participants. It contains information useful for the organizations working with medical cannabis patients.KLÍČOVÁ SLOVA samoléčba; medicínská antropologie; léčebné konopí; cannabis; marihuana ABSTRAKT Tento článek se zabývá samoléčbou konopím (Cannabis sativa L.) v České republice se zaměřením na subjektivní rovinu jejího prožívání nemocnými a širší společenský rámec této terapie. Nahlíží aktuální situaci, kdy stát selhává v efektivní regulaci konopí jako léku a nemocní často přistupují k ilegální samoléčbě. Od 1. 1. 2017 do 1. 5. 2017 byl realizován on-line dotazníkový průzkum mezi záměrně vybranými dobrovolníky, jež byli osloveni prostřednictvím organizací, které poskytují souhrnné informace o této problematice. Výzkumný vzorek tvoří 107 nemocných, kteří užívali konopí a jeho deriváty za účelem samoléčby. Získané výpovědi byly analyzovány metodou zakotvené teorie. Výsledky výzkumu ukázaly, že nemocní, kteří v České republice vyhledávají konopnou samoléčbu považují současnou legální regulaci konopí za nevyhovující. Rostlinu si pro vlastní potřebu nejčastěji opatřují pěstováním a informace o léčbě získávají primárně na internetu. Článek se podrobněji zabývá specifiky konopné samoléčby a jejími dopady na zdravotní stav participantů výzkumu. Obsahuje informace užitečné pro organizace, které se věnují práci s pacienty užívajícími konopí k léčbě.

show abstract

Can we make cannabis safer?

Cited by 136 publications

References 81 publications

Individual and combined effects of acute delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on psychotomimetic symptoms and memory function

Individual and combined effects of acute delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on psychotomimetic symptoms and memory function

Current Data Raises Toxicity and Safety Concerns about Today’s High THC Content Cannabis

Self-Medication with Cannabis in the Czech Republic from an Anthropological Perspective

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About