Cannabis Research Research Articles

Let's Match: Making Cannabis Policy Guided by Research

PurposeThe growth and increasing sophistication of the legal cannabis industry necessitates further scientific inquiry to establish an evidence-based policy path forward. However, policymakers must balance public demand for cannabis reform with the lack of scientific consensus on key issues. This Commentary discusses Massachusetts’ statutory provisions supporting cannabis research, advances in social equity driven by data, and critical policy issues, which invite questions without clear scientific answers. FindingsAlthough the full breadth of inquiry needed cannot possibly be contained in a single article, this Commentary poses questions in 2 pertinent issue areas that affect adult and medical use. First, we discuss the current limitations on determining the scope and severity of cannabis-impaired driving and detecting impairment at any one point in time. Although experimental studies have found varying levels of impairment on driving ability, observational data have been inconclusive regarding the extent of traffic incidents involving cannabis impairment. A precise threshold for impairment and manner of detection must be established to develop just enforcement measures. Second, we discuss the lack of clinical standardization in medical cannabis use. In the absence of a consistent clinical framework, medical cannabis patients face undue burdens that limit access to treatment. A more well-defined clinical structure is needed to enhance use of and access to therapeutic cannabis treatment models. ImplicationsCannabis policy reform has gone forward at the will of voters despite the status of cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level, which has limited opportunities to research cannabis because it is commercially available. The implication of such limitations is realized by states leading cannabis reform, where unanswered questions present an opportunity for the scientific community to inform an evidence-based path forward in cannabis policy.

The Cannabis sativa genetics and therapeutics relationship network: automatically associating cannabis-related genes to therapeutic properties through chemicals from cannabis literature

BackgroundUnderstanding the genome of Cannabis sativa holds significant scientific value due to the multi-faceted therapeutic nature of the plant. Links from cannabis gene to therapeutic property are important to establish gene targets for the optimization of specific therapeutic properties through selective breeding of cannabis strains. Our work establishes a resource for quickly obtaining a complete set of therapeutic properties and genes associated with any known cannabis chemical constituent, as well as relevant literature.MethodsState-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) was used to automatically extract information from many cannabis-related publications, thus producing an undirected multipartite weighted-edge paragraph co-occurrence relationship network composed of two relationship types, gene-chemical and chemical property. We also developed an interactive application to visualize sub-graphs of manageable size.ResultsTwo hundred thirty-four cannabis constituent chemicals, 352 therapeutic properties, and 124 genes from the Cannabis sativa genome form a multipartite network graph which transforms 29,817 cannabis-related research documents from PubMed Central into an easy to visualize and explore network format.ConclusionUse of our network replaces time-consuming and labor intensive manual extraction of information from the large amount of available cannabis literature. This streamlined information retrieval process will enhance the activities of cannabis breeders, cannabis researchers, organic biochemists, pharmaceutical researchers and scientists in many other disciplines.

A Sociologist and the Problems of Alcohol Studies: The Life and Legacy of Selden D. Bacon.

This article introduces a new comprehensive bibliography of pioneering sociologist of alcohol Selden Bacon and highlights the relevance of his research and administrative career to substance use studies today. This article relies on the works of Selden Bacon assembled for the bibliography project, supplemented by published and unpublished documents and records from the collection of the former Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies (CAS) Library and private archives provided by the Bacon family. Trained as a sociologist, Selden Bacon gravitated toward the burgeoning field of alcohol studies early in his career, joining the Section on (later Center of) Alcohol Studies at Yale and publishing his seminal article "Sociology and the Problems of Alcohol" in 1943. His research stressed the need to better define terms like alcoholism and dependence, and to maintain scholarly independence from all sides of the alcohol debate. As CAS director, however, Bacon felt pressure to forge ties with both anti-alcoholism and beverage industry groups to keep the Center solvent and relevant in the face of a hostile Yale administration, culminating in a successful 1962 relocation to Rutgers University. The career of Selden Bacon is an important window into the history of substance use studies in the mid-20th century, and research on that era appears particularly urgent now: both to preserve historical records before they disperse or disappear and to highlight the post-Prohibition era's relevance for the present moment in both alcohol and cannabis research. The present bibliography is intended to help foster further reappraisal of this important figure and his era.

Professor Raphael Mechoulam.

Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchAhead of Print Free AccessProfessor Raphael MechoulamDaniele PiomelliDaniele Piomelli*Address correspondence to: Daniele Piomelli, PhD, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Gillespie NRF 3101, 3216, Mail Code: 1275, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. E-mail Address: piomelli@uci.eduDepartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:9 May 2023https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.29020.memAboutSectionsPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, a pioneer in the field of cannabis and cannabinoid research. Raphi, as his many friends called him, died on April 6, 2023, at the age of 92 years.Born in Bulgaria in 1930, Dr. Mechoulam later emigrated to Israel, where he began his career as a chemist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. It was there that he started his groundbreaking research on the cannabis plant, which would ultimately lead to some of the most significant discoveries in the fields of pharmacology and neuroscience.Dr. Mechoulam's work on the compounds found in cannabis—including the definitive chemical characterization of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in 1964—was transformative. His groundbreaking research helped to unlock the plant’ secrets, advance our understanding of its medical properties, and ignite the discovery of the endocannabinoid signaling system in the human body. Through his tireless efforts, Dr. Mechoulam paved the way for numerous studies on the therapeutic uses of cannabis, including its potential to treat chronic pain, epilepsy, and other conditions.Over the course of his career, Dr. Mechoulam received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of pharmacology, including the prestigious Rothschild Prize in Chemical Sciences and Physical Sciences, the Israel Prize in Chemistry, and the Wolf Prize in Medicine. But Dr. Mechoulam was more than just a brilliant scientist. He was a wonderful colleague and a compassionate and caring human being who was deeply committed to improving the lives of others. His work on cannabis was driven by a desire to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life for those who suffer from pain and chronic illness. He was a true inspiration to those who knew him, and his legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations of scientists.We are deeply saddened by the loss of this extraordinary man, but we take comfort in the knowledge that his work will continue to make a profound impact on the lives of people around the world.Rest in peace, Raphi, and thank you for everything you did to make the world a better place.Cite this article as: Piomelli D (2023) Professor Raphael Mechoulam, Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research 8:3, 1, DOI: 10.1089/can.2023.29020.mem.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 0Issue 0 InformationCopyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:Daniele Piomelli.Professor Raphael Mechoulam.Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.ahead of printhttp://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.29020.memOnline Ahead of Print:May 9, 2023PDF download

Flavored Cannabis Use and Cannabis-Tobacco Co-use: Patterns In U.S. States With Legalized Nonmedical Adult Use

Little is known about inhaled flavored cannabis use. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and patterns of flavored cannabis use and cannabis-tobacco co-use. This study surveyed adult past 30-day cannabis users in U.S. states and districts that have legalized cannabis for nonmedical/adult use (n=9) (November 2018; n=2,978). By product/behavior (any cannabis, cannabis extract vaporizers, mixed cannabis-nicotine vaporizers, blunts, chasing), the association between flavored (versus non-flavored) use and sociodemographic characteristics, cannabis use disorder symptoms, and tobacco use was estimated using weighted multivariable logistic regression in January 2022. Almost half of adult cannabis users reported using at least one flavored cannabis product (46.5%). Flavored cannabis use was more likely among respondents who were female (AOR=1.2, CI=1.0, 1.4), were Black (ref: White; AOR=2.2, CI=1.5, 3.1), were Hispanic/Latino/a/x (ref: White; AOR=1.6, CI=1.2, 1.9), had cannabis use disorder symptoms (AOR=2.0, CI=1.6, 2.4), or were currently using tobacco (AOR=2.4, CI=2.1, 2.9). Use was less likely among middle-aged/older adults (ref: ages 21-34 vs 35-49 years; AOR=0.6, CI=0.5, 0.7). Observed differences in flavored cannabis use are concerning if flavors raise appeal or dependence. Integrating flavored cannabis and tobacco research and practice is warranted.

In Memoriam of Professor Mary E. Abood.

Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchAhead of Print In MemoriamIn Memoriam of Professor Mary E. AboodEugen Brailoiu, Linda Console-Bram, and Pingwei ZhaoEugen Brailoiu*Address correspondence to: Eugen Brailoiu, MD, Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Linda Console-Bramhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2780-2065Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, USA.Search for more papers by this author, and Pingwei ZhaoCenter for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:19 Apr 2023https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.0043AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View article"In Memoriam of Professor Mary E. Abood." Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, , pp. –FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 0Issue 0 InformationCopyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:Eugen Brailoiu, Linda Console-Bram, and Pingwei Zhao.In Memoriam of Professor Mary E. Abood.Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.ahead of printhttp://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.0043Online Ahead of Print:April 19, 2023PDF download

Cannabis, research ethics, and a duty of care

Despite growing evidence to the contrary, researchers continue to posit causal links between cannabis, crime, psychosis, and violence. These spurious connections are rooted in history and fueled decades of structural limitations that shaped how researchers studied cannabis. Until recently, research in this area was explicitly funded to link cannabis use and harm and ignore any potential benefits. Post-prohibition cannabis research has failed to replicate the dire findings of the past. This article outlines how the history of controlling cannabis research has led to various harms, injustices, and ethical complications. We compare commonly cited research from both the prohibition and post-prohibition eras and argue that many popular claims about the dangers of cannabis are the result of ethical lapses by researchers, journals, and funders. We propose researchers in this area adopt a duty of care in cannabis research going forward. This would oblige individual researchers to establish robust research designs, employ careful analytic strategies, and acknowledge limitations in more detail. This duty involves the institutional recognition by funders, journals, and others that cannabis research has been deliberately misconstrued to criminalize, stigmatize, and pathologize.

Cannabis use among cancer survivors in 22 states: Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2020.

This study identified factors associated with recent cannabis use and cannabis use for medical purposes among cancer survivors relative to individuals without a history of cancer. Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed for the 22 states completing the optional cannabis module in 2020. Weighted multiple logistic regression was performed to explore variables associated with past 30-day cannabis use and cannabis use for medical purposes, stratified by history of cancer. Covariates included state-level cannabis policy, sociodemographic characteristics, health status indicators, and substance use. Cannabis use was lower among cancer survivors compared to individuals with no history of cancer (7.57% vs. 10.83%). However, a higher proportion of cancer survivors reported use for medical purposes (82.23% vs. 62.58%). After adjusting for state-level policy, biological sex, age, educational attainment, self-reported race/ethnicity, home ownership, mental health status and physical health status, current smoking (odds ratio [OR], 5.14 vs. 3.74) and binge drinking (OR, 2.71 vs. 2.69) were associated with cannabis use in both groups. Characteristics associated with medical cannabis use varied for the two groups; however, daily use (20-30days; OR, 1.72 vs. 2.43) was associated with cannabis use for medical purposes in both groups after adjusting for other variables in the model. A high proportion of individuals report cannabis use for medical purposes with higher rates among cancer survivors. Findings support the urgent need for ongoing cannabis research to better understand and inform its use for medical purposes, as well as the development of high-quality standardized education materials and clinical practice guidelines.

Medical Cannabis for Chronic Nonmalignant Pain Management.

Cannabis has been used since ancient times for medical and recreational research. This review article will document the validity of how medical cannabis can be utilized for chronic nonmalignant pain management. Current cannabis research has shown that medical cannabis is indicated for symptom management for many conditions not limited to cancer, chronic pain, headaches, migraines, and psychological disorders (anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder). Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are active ingredients in cannabis that modulate a patient's symptoms. These compounds work to decrease nociception and symptom frequency via the endocannabinoid system. Research regarding pain management is limited within the USA as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies it as a schedule one drug. Few studies have found a limited relationship between chronic pain and medical cannabis use. A total of 77 articles were selected after a thorough screening process using PubMed and Google Scholar. This paper demonstrates that medical cannabis use provides adequate pain management. Patients suffering from chronic nonmalignant pain may benefit from medical cannabis due to its convenience and efficacy.

Experts Reflect on What New Law Might Mean for Cannabis Research

Experts Reflect on What New Law Might Mean for Cannabis Research

Behavioral Effects of Vaporized Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiol, and Mixtures in Male Rats.

Background: The popularity of delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) products has seen a sharp increase in use during recent years. Despite the rise in use of these minor cannabinoids, there are little to no pre-clinical behavioral data on their effects, with most pre-clinical cannabis research focusing on the behavioral effects of delta-9 THC. The current experiments aimed to characterize the behavioral effects of delta-8 THC, CBD, and mixtures of these two drugs using a whole-body vapor exposure route of administration in male rats. Methods: Rats were exposed to vapor that contained different concentrations of delta-8 THC, CBD, or CBD/delta-8 THC mixtures during 10 min of exposure. Following 10 min of vapor exposure, locomotor behavior was monitored, or the warm-water tail withdrawal assay was conducted to measure the acute analgesic effects of the vapor exposure. Results: CBD and CBD/delta-8 THC mixtures resulted in a significant increase in locomotion across the entire session. Although delta-8 THC alone had no significant effect on locomotion across the session, the 10 mg concentration of delta-8 THC had a hyperlocomotion effect in the first 30 min of the session followed by a hypolocomotor effect later in the session. In the tail withdrawal assay, a 3/1 mixture of CBD/delta-8 THC resulted in an immediate analgesic effect compared to vehicle vapor. Finally, immediately following vapor exposure, all drugs had a hypothermic effect on body temperature compared to vehicle. Conclusion: This experiment is the first to characterize the behavioral effects of vaporized delta-8 THC, CBD, and CBD/delta-8 THC in male rats. While data were generally congruent with previous research investigating delta-9 THC, future studies should explore abuse liability and validate plasma blood concentrations of these drugs following administration through whole-body vapor exposure.

Analyzing the Perspectives of Health Professionals and Legal Cannabis Users on the Treatment of Chronic Pain With Cannabidiol: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Medical cannabis is one of the most commonly reported treatments for chronic pain. The wide acceptance and research in alternative medicine have put medical cannabis in the limelight, where researchers are widely examining its therapeutic benefits, including treatment of chronic pain. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the perspectives on cannabidiol as an alternative treatment for chronic pain among health professionals and legal cannabis users. The framework of Arksey and O'Malley guides the design of this scoping review, and the elements reported use the recommended guidelines of the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews). A comprehensive literature search accessed the databases CINAHL Complete and MEDLINE via EBSCO, Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, PsycINFO, Ovid Emcare, Wiley Online Library, Scopus, Informit New Zealand Collection, and Google Scholar for published literature, and then it was extended to include gray literature. Gray literature searches included searching the databases Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, Informit New Zealand Collection, INNZ: Index New Zealand, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, and AUT Tuwhera Research Repository, and the website nzresearch.org.nz. The studies included in this scoping review were assessed for eligibility for inclusion using the following criteria: published in English after 2000, conducted in New Zealand (NZ) or Australia, and aimed to investigate the perspectives of health professionals and medical cannabis users using interviews for data collection. Studies were screened for inclusion using Covidence, a software tool to filter search results, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Although this is not a required step for scoping reviews, it added an element of strength to this scoping review. Data will be analyzed using thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke. The findings from the data analysis will be presented in a table, which will then inform the key themes for discussion. The database search started in October 2021 and was completed in December 2021. The total number of studies included in this review is 5 (n=5). Studies included were conducted in NZ or Australia and examined the perspectives using participant interviews. This scoping review is anticipated to be submitted for publication in December 2022. Using perspectives is a valuable tool to understand the challenges experienced by health professionals and medical cannabis users associated with medical cannabis treatment. Addressing these challenges through interventions that are highlighted through perspectives such as educating health professionals to increase access to medical cannabis in NZ may aid in policy reformulation for medical cannabis in the context of NZ. Thus, this scoping review highlights the importance of medical cannabis research and suggests recommendations to guide and inform medical cannabis policy in the context of NZ. DERR1-10.2196/37697.

Feasibility and acceptability of collecting umbilical cord tissue for prenatal cannabis research: A mixed-methods research study.

Large-scale longitudinal studies with biological samples are needed to examine the associations between prenatal cannabis use and birth and developmental outcomes. The aim of this study was to understand the feasibility and acceptability of collecting umbilical cord tissue for the purpose of cannabis use testing in a community sample. This is a mixed methods research study consisted of a prospective cohort study and a qualitative descriptive study. This study was conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia between January 2021 and August 2022. Participants were recruited during pregnancy, and the umbilical cord tissues were collected at birth and tested for the presence of cannabinoids. After the completion of the study, participants completed an online open-ended questionnaire about their overall experience. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analyses. Among the 85 eligible individuals, 57 people (67%) consented to the study. The cord tissue was collected for 39 participants (68.4%). The collection rates for participants with vaginal, elective, and emergency cesarean delivery were 73.0%, 71.4%, and 53.8%, respectively, and for those with spontaneous and induced labor were 81.5% and 50%, respectively. Four (7.0%) and seven participants (12.3%) reported prenatal cannabis use in direct and probing self-report questions, respectively. The agreement between any self-report and cord tissue test was moderate (kappa 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.06-0.99). Qualitative findings were classified into five themes. The collection of cord tissue was perceived acceptable by most participants. Implementation of collection protocols for complex labors, a central hospital unit to liaise direct communications and active participants' involvement might increase the feasibility of future studies.

Cannabis sativa: Botany, Cross Pollination and Plant Breeding Problems

This review paper highlights about the Cannabis botany, problems of cross pollination, lack of Germplasm collection and absence of Genebank facilities have been discussed. Cannabis is a dioecious species, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The risk of cross-pollination in Cannabis is one of the unique major challenge in Cannabis industry. More research can be conducted to assess the risk of cross-pollination in Cannabis and policy should be created to mitigate that risk. Cannabis research work remains years behind than other crops because of the long legacy of prohibition and stigmatization. However, lack of public germplasm repositories remains an unresolved problem in the Cannabis industry. Therefore, accessible germplasm resources are crucial for long-term economic viability, preserving genetic diversity, breeding, innovation, and long-term sustainability of the Cannabis crop. Germplasm accessions are the building blocks for breeding of new cultivars. However, there are no public seed or Clonal gene banks for Medical Cannabis sativa (marijuana or drug type). On the other hand there are some public hemp collections. Despite its economic, medicinal, and societal importance, Medical Cannabis sativa (marijuana or drug type) is missing from the list of available species in public Genebanks and only exist as private collections. Most of the Cannabis varieties in the market today are hybrids (700 hybrid strains) with both Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica genetics. Hence there should be a public Cannabis Genebanks to play a fuller and more effective role in conservation, sustainable use, and exchange of Cannabis genetic resources.

Dysmenorrhoea: Can Medicinal Cannabis Bring New Hope for a Collective Group of Women Suffering in Pain, Globally?

Dysmenorrhoea effects up to 90% of women of reproductive age, with medical management options including over-the-counter analgesia or hormonal contraception. There has been a recent surge in medicinal cannabis research and its analgesic properties. This paper aims to critically investigate the current research of medicinal cannabis for pain relief and to discuss its potential application to treat dysmenorrhoea. Relevant keywords, including medicinal cannabis, pain, cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol, dysmenorrhoea, and clinical trial, have been searched in the PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library (Wiley) databases and a clinical trial website (clinicaltrials.gov). To identify the relevant studies for this paper, 84 papers were reviewed and 20 were discarded as irrelevant. This review critically evaluated cannabis-based medicines and their mechanism and properties in relation to pain relief. It also tabulated all clinical trials carried out investigating medicinal cannabis for pain relief and highlighted the side effects. In addition, the safety and toxicology of medicinal cannabis and barriers to use are highlighted. Two-thirds of the clinical trials summarised confirmed positive analgesic outcomes, with major side effects reported as nausea, drowsiness, and dry mouth. In conclusion, medicinal cannabis has promising applications in the management of dysmenorrhoea. The global medical cannabis market size was valued at USD 11.0 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.06% from 2022 to 2030. This will encourage academic as well as the pharmaceutical and medical device industries to study the application of medical cannabis in unmet clinical disorders.

Overpoliced and Underrepresented: Perspectives on Cannabis Legalization From Members of Racialized Communities in Canada.

Historically, overpolicing of some racialized and Indigenous groups in Canada has resulted in unequal application of drug laws contributing to disproportionate rates of charges and convictions in these populations. Criminal records severely and negatively impact an individual's life and can perpetuate cycles of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage. On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized cannabis production, distribution, sale, and possession for non-medical purposes. Advocates of criminal justice reform have raised concerns that Indigenous and racialized people may not equitably benefit from legalization due to unequal police surveillance and drug enforcement. These groups are among priority populations for research on cannabis and mental health, but their views on cannabis regulation have been largely absent from research and policy-making. To address this gap, we asked self-identified members of these communities about their lived experiences and perspectives on cannabis legalization in Canada. Between September 2018 and July 2019, we conducted semistructured interviews and focus groups with 37 individuals in Québec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. During this phase of early cannabis legalization, participants responded to questions about anticipated public health risks and benefits of legalization, how their jurisdiction is responding to legalization, and what community resources would be needed to address legalization impacts. We conducted a thematic analysis and identified five major themes in the data related to race and early cannabis legalization: overpolicing of racialized communities, severity of penalties in new cannabis legislation, increased police powers, and underrepresentation of racialized groups in the legal cannabis market and in cannabis research. Participants discussed opportunities to support cannabis justice, including establishing priority licenses, issuing pardons or expunging criminal records, and reinvesting cannabis revenue into impacted communities. This work begins to address the paucity of Indigenous and racialized voices in cannabis research and identifies potential solutions to injustices of cannabis prohibition.

Cannabis research bill clears US Congress

Cannabis research bill clears US Congress

Cannabis research bill clears US Congress

Cannabis research bill clears US Congress

Understanding and Rebalancing: A Rapid Scoping Review of Cannabis Research Among Indigenous People.

Evidence-based perspectives on and patterns of cannabis use are vital to addressing ethical, legal, and regulatory controversies, but have not yet been mapped for Indigenous people. We searched five databases and used a rapid scoping review methodology to analyze empirical studies with a primary focus on cannabis and Indigenous peoples. Studies were examined for year of publication, origin of study and author groups, methods, and thematic foci. We analyzed 68 studies with publication dates between1983 and 2022. Approximately 90% of articles were written by authors in the same geographic location as the study population. Seventy-one percent (71%) of the articles were written by authors of multiple articles. Four articles acknowledged author Indigeneity. None contained author positionality statements. The majority of studies utilized mixed methods that integrated both qualitative and quantitative components. Two major categories of focus that emerged from the analysis are substance use disorders and prevalence rates (n=35) and predictors of and motivators for use (n=27), together representing the majority of articles (n=52/68). Impact on mental health (n=6), treatment, and management of cannabis use disorder (CUD) (n=3), legalization and criminalization (n=2), genomic heritability and dependence (n=2), and economics of cannabis use (n=1) were the focus of the remaining articles in the sample. Mixed methods empirical research largely focuses on risks of cannabis use among Indigenous people worldwide. The small, repeating pool of senior authors represents an opportunity for capacity building. A lack of transparency about author positionality and absence of empirical studies that explore the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples and cannabis are significant gaps poised to be filled for future research and regulation.

Cannabinoids as Immune System Modulators: Cannabidiol Potential Therapeutic Approaches and Limitations.

Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most abundant Phytocannabinoid in Cannabis extracts. CBD has a binding affinity for several cannabinoid and cannabinoid-associated receptors. Epidiolex (oral CBD solution) has been lately licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pediatric epileptic seizures. Methods: In this review, we discussed the most promising applications of CBD for chronic inflammatory conditions, namely CBD's anti-inflammatory effects during inflammatory bowel disease, coronavirus disease (antiviral effect), brain pathologies (neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties), as well as CBD immunomodulatory and antitumoral activities in the tumor microenvironment. Special focus was shed on the main therapeutic mechanisms of action of CBD, particularly in the control of the immune system and the endocannabinoid system. Results: Findings suggest that CBD is a potent immunomodulatory drug as it has manifested immunosuppressive properties in the context of sterile inflammation (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases), and immunoprotective effects during viral infections (e.g. COVID-19) Similarly, CBD has exhibited a selective response toward cancer types by engaging different targets and signaling pathways. These results are in favor of the primary function of the endocannabinoid system which is homeostatic maintenance. Conclusion: The presented evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system is a prominent target for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid diseases, viral infections, neurological and psychological pathologies, and cancer. Moreover, the antitumoral activities of CBD have been suggested to be potentially used in combination with chemo- or immunotherapy during cancer. However, clinical results are still lacking, which raises a challenge to apply translational cannabis research to the human immune system.