Are CBD and THC Valid Medicines?

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(Maternal cannabis use is associated with suppression of immune gene networks in placenta and increased anxiety phenotypes in offspring)

PNAS November 23,2021; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2106115118

Significance: Cannabis use is becoming more prevalent, including during developmentally sensitive periods such as pregnancy. Here we find that maternal cannabis use is associated with increased cortisol, anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity in young children. This corresponded with widespread reductions in immune-related gene expression in the placenta which correlated with anxiety and hyperactivity. Future studies are needed to examine the effects of cannabis on immune function during pregnancy as a potential regulatory mechanism shaping neurobehavioral development.

Abstract: While cannabis is among the most used recreational drugs during pregnancy, the impact of maternal cannabis use (mCB) on fetal and child development remains unclear. Here, we assessed the effects of mCB on psychosocial and physiological measures in young children along with the potential relevance of the in utero environment reflected in the placental transcriptome. Children (∼3 to 6 y) were assessed for hair hormone levels, neurobehavioral traits on the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC-2) survey, and heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and during auditory startle. For a subset of children with behavioral assessments, placental specimens collected at birth were processed for RNA sequencing. Hair hormone analysis revealed increased cortisol levels in mCB children. In addition, mCB was associated with greater anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity. Children with mCB also showed a reduction in the high-frequency component of HRV at baseline, reflecting reduced vagal tone. In the placenta, there was reduced expression of many genes involved in immune system function including type I interferon, neutrophil, and cytokine-signaling pathways. Finally, several of these mCB-linked immune genes organized into coexpression networks that correlated with child anxiety and hyperactivity. Overall, our findings reveal a relationship between mCB and immune response gene networks in the placenta as a potential mediator of risk for anxiety-related problems in early childhood.

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CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Considerable growth was observed in the prevalence of CUD diagnoses among individuals hospitalized prenatally and in the prevalence of depression, anxiety, nausea, and other conditions in individuals with CUD at hospitalization. This study  highlights the need for more screening, prevention, and treatment, particularly in populations with co-occurring CUD and psychiatric disorders. Research on the determinants and outcomes associated with CUD during pregnancy is needed to guide clinicians, policy makers, and patients in making informed decisions.

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By Emma Koehn September 2021

ASX-listed cannabis companies are racing to get low-dose medicinal pot products onto shelves, with hopes they will be available through pharmacies by the end of next year.

In February, the country’s medicines regulator - the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - agreed to change the classification for certain products containing small amounts of cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient in the cannabis plant that does not get the user high but is used in therapeutic products.

Under the new rules, cannabis medicines in this category are classified as “schedule 3” medicines and can be sold in pharmacies without the need for a prescription. However, no Australian products currently fit the criteria for an over-the-counter medicine, meaning drug developers must set up clinical trials for new products and show that they work before anything can be sold to consumers.

“The interest in medicinal cannabis is strong, and it continues to grow,” said chief executive of ASX-listed cannabis company Cann Group, Peter Crock.

“The schedule 3 [pharmacy] product is going to take things to another level.”

The TGA says there is scientific evidence to support the use of CBD capsules to treat chronic pain, anxiety and sleep issues, but any over-the-counter medicines will have to provide robust evidence that they work for one particular ailment.

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• Cannabis is NOT a good ‘Medicine’, but let’s not let ‘facts’ get in the way of a good propaganda juggernaut!
• Cannabis as ‘Medicine?’: Pot Propaganda, Emotive Anecdote, Marketing Manipulation, and the Side Stepping of Science
• For more evidence-based data go to Cannabis as ‘Medicine’?