Recent legalization of cannabis use: effects on sleep, health, and workplace safety

Bowles, Nicole; Herzig, Maya X.; Shea, Steven A.

doi:10.2147/nss.s152231

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Occupational health and safety issues also exist in consideration with medicinal cannabis users. Workplace safety concerns have been raised in relation to the potential for medicinal cannabis use to impair judgement and psychomotor skills, especially in relation to motor vehicle use, operation of fixed and mobile plants particularly heavy industrial machinery, and the potential for risk-taking behaviors and those working in safety sensitive positions [115,116]. Employers have a 'duty of care' to provide safe and healthy workplaces, which includes the management of alcohol and drug use and their potential to create unsafe workplaces or practices.…”

Section: Occupational and Public Health Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review

et al. 2020

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Background: Medicinal cannabis has received increased research attention over recent years due to loosening global regulatory changes. Medicinal cannabis has been reported to have potential efficacy in reducing pain, muscle spasticity, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and intractable childhood epilepsy. Yet its potential application in the field of psychiatry is lesser known. Methods: The first clinically-focused systematic review on the emerging medical application of cannabis across all major psychiatric disorders was conducted. Current evidence regarding whole plant formulations and plant-derived cannabinoid isolates in mood, anxiety, sleep, psychotic disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is discussed; while also detailing clinical prescription considerations (including pharmacogenomics), occupational and public health elements, and future research recommendations. The systematic review of the literature was conducted during 2019, assessing the data from all case studies and clinical trials involving medicinal cannabis or plant-derived isolates for all major psychiatric disorders (neurological conditions and pain were omitted). Results: The present evidence in the emerging field of cannabinoid therapeutics in psychiatry is nascent, and thereby it is currently premature to recommend cannabinoid-based interventions. Isolated positive studies have, however, revealed tentative support for cannabinoids (namely cannabidiol; CBD) for reducing social anxiety; with mixed (mainly positive) evidence for adjunctive use in schizophrenia. Case studies suggest that medicinal cannabis may be beneficial for improving sleep and post-traumatic stress disorder, however evidence is currently weak. Preliminary research findings indicate no benefit for depression from high delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) therapeutics, or for CBD in mania. One isolated study indicates some potential efficacy for an oral cannabinoid/ terpene combination in ADHD. Clinical prescriptive consideration involves caution in the use of high-THC formulations (avoidance in youth, and in people with anxiety or psychotic disorders), gradual titration, regular assessment, and caution in cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, pregnancy and breast-feeding. Conclusions: There is currently encouraging, albeit embryonic, evidence for medicinal cannabis in the treatment of a range of psychiatric disorders. Supportive findings are emerging for some key isolates, however, clinicians need to be mindful of a range of prescriptive and occupational safety considerations, especially if initiating higher dose THC formulas.

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Section: Occupational and Public Health Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review

et al. 2020

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“…The National Drug Master Plan (2013-2017) has been fully revised and has worked with the Inter Ministerial Committee on Alcohol and substance abuse in a bid to fight these challenges. On this account, the Inter Ministerial Committee has vigorously worked with different policies, legislations, and other strategic ways that can be used to reduce the supply and demands for illicit drugs (Bowles, 2017).…”

Section: The National Drug Master Plan 2013-2017mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire on the Mountain: Reinvigorating Legislative Measures to Quench the Flame of Illicit Drug Use in South Africa

Olofinbiyi

Mtambo

2020

Asian J. Interdiscip. Res.

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South African societies have been characterized by the prolific incidence of illicit drug use in recent times. The paper attempts to examine the legislations implemented on the use of illicit drugs in South Africa. The study adopts a review of the literature to identify and describe the most common illicit drugs used around South Africa communities, placing emphasis on the policies developed by the South African government in combating these situations. The research follows a critical discussion on the issues associated with drug use, its causes, as well as its effects on humans and the environment. The study recommends relevant initiatives to combat all intricacies associated with drug use within the country. This approach will be appropriate in facilitating a clear-cut understanding of the possible remedies to quench the burning flame of illicit drug use across a broad range of South African communities.

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“…As the projected number of cannabis users continues to increase, there is a growing demand to understand the drug's effects on daily functional activities. However, current scientific research regarding the effects of cannabis, specifically the ability to quantify levels of intoxication and associated impairment, has not kept pace with legalization trends (Bowles et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While there are a variety of ways to measure THC levels in blood and urine, correlations to impairment are hard to define (Beckson et al 2020;Grotenhermen et al 2007). The inability to quantify whether these levels of impairment are from past use (days to months) versus the actual time of assessment is a major limitation in current testing procedures (Bowles et al 2017). Additionally, cannabis has been found to have varying effects across individuals, with some showing higher vulnerability to cognitive impairment than others (Atakan 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, there is heightened potential for incidences of marijuana-related risk behavior (Aston et al 2016). This raises concerns regarding workplace performance and safety, as cannabis intoxication can involve memory deficits, perceptual changes, and impaired cognitive and psychomotor performance (Bowles et al 2017;Ramaekers et al 2016). Few studies currently exist that examine cannabis exposure and workplace accidents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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EEG biomarkers acquired during a short, straight-line simulated drive to predict impairment from cannabis intoxication

Brown

Richard

Meghdadi

et al. 2020

Traffic Injury Prevention

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Objective: As cannabis use becomes more widely accepted, there is growing interest in its effects on brain function, specifically how it may impact daily functional activities such as driving, operating machinery, and other safety-related tasks. There are currently no validated methods for quantifying impairment from acute cannabis intoxication. The objective of this study was to identify neurophysiological correlates associated with driving simulator performance in subjects who were acutely intoxicated with cannabis. These signatures could help create an EEG-based profile of impairment due to acute cannabis intoxication. Methods: Each subject completed a three-visit study protocol. Subjects were consented and screened on the first visit. On the second and third visits, subjects were administered either 500 mg of cannabis with 6.7% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or placebo using a Volcano# Digit Vaporizer in a counterbalanced fashion. EEG was acquired from subjects as they performed a series of neurocognitive tasks and an approximately 45-minute simulated drive that included a rural straight-away absent of any other cars or obstacles during the final 10 minutes. EEG data was acquired using a STAT X24 wireless sensor headset during a simulated driving scenario from 10 subjects during the THC and placebo visits. Metrics of driving performance were extracted from the driving simulator and synchronized with EEG data using a common clock. Results: A within-subjects analysis showed that the standard deviation of lane position (SDLP) was significantly worse and heart rate was elevated during the dosed visit compared to the placebo visit. Consistent with our prior findings, EEG power in the Theta frequency band (4-7 Hz) in the dosed condition was significantly decreased from the placebo condition. Theta power was negatively correlated with the SDLP driving performance metric, while there were no significant correlations between any EEG measure and SDLP in the placebo condition. Conclusions: These results, in combination with prior work on the effect of cannabis intoxication during neurocognitive tasks, suggest that neurophysiological signatures associated with acute cannabis intoxication are robust and consistent across tasks, and that these signatures are significantly correlated with impaired performance in a driving simulator. Taken together, EEG data acquired during a short neurocognitive testbed and during a simulated drive may provide specific profiles of impairment associated with acute cannabis intoxication. Further research is needed to establish the impaired cognitive processes associated with these EEG biomarkers.

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Recent legalization of cannabis use: effects on sleep, health, and workplace safety

Cited by 18 publications

References 36 publications

Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review

Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review

Fire on the Mountain: Reinvigorating Legislative Measures to Quench the Flame of Illicit Drug Use in South Africa

EEG biomarkers acquired during a short, straight-line simulated drive to predict impairment from cannabis intoxication

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