Cannabis Conundrum

(Medscape and JAMA Psychiatry)  June 15, 2018 Cannabis use directly increases the risk for psychosis in teens, new research shows. A large prospective study of teens shows that “in adolescents, cannabis use is harmful” with respect to psychosis risk, study author Patricia J. Conrod, PhD, professor of psychiatry, University of Montreal, Canada, told Medscape Medical News. The study included […]

I heard the news that Canada became the second country in the world to legalise the recreational use of cannabis and, in all honesty, it shocked me. Mums are smoking weed while pregnant to get rid of morning sickness The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, believes that legalising the drug will help keep marijuana away from

The acute and long-term effects of THC on the brain and behavior are mediated via the vast endocannabinoid system (ECS), which was not discovered until the early 1990s and remains poorly understood. However, addiction is addiction and the psychopathology associated with marijuana, especially the high potency products, amid the drumbeat for full legalization in the absence

BY THE PARTNERSHIP First things first — how is marijuana vaped? Vaping refers to the inhalation of an aerosol produced by heating a liquid/oil or substance in a compact electronic portable vaporizer. While many young “vapers” say they inhale flavored liquids like Gummy Bear, German Chocolate Cake and Cotton Candy, youth can vaporize marijuana – either

A new study published in Biological Psychiatry indicates that THC, the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, can increase false recollections when trying to remember words and images “Previous work from our group had found that THC can impair the encoding (i.e., the acquisition or learning) of new emotional experiences…” For complete article

There were 27,501 admissions linked to cannabis in England in 2016/17, a 15 per cent rise in just two years from 23,866 in 2014/15 Medical journal The Lancet takes unprecedented step of branding cannabis a ‘huge risk to health’ Tens of thousands of people are ending up in hospital with cannabis-related health problems, official figures

Abstract STUDY OBJECTIVE: Cannabis and its principal active constituent, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are increasingly available as edibles resembling commercially available food products. In this case series, we describe a population of predominantly paediatric patients who were inadvertently exposed to a THC-containing product in San Francisco. METHODS: Twelve children and 9 adults were identified, with 16 patients having detectable

Prevention: Avoiding exposure to marijuana is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction to the plant or drug. A person who is using medical marijuana and suspects that they may be allergic to it should speak with their doctor to find an alternative treatment.  Read More

Longitudinal Data From a Representative Sample of US Adults J Clin Psychiatry 2018;79(2):17m11522; 10.4088/JCP.17m11522 © Copyright 2018 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. Objective: The current study prospectively investigated the relationship between cannabis use and cigarette smoking initiation, persistence, and relapse during a 3-year period among adults in the United States. Methods: Analyses included respondents who completed Waves 1

Author: Mark Gold, MD A continued effort to legalize the unrestricted access and use of marijuana in the U.S., primarily through voter initiatives, continues in spite of clinical trial evidence of lack of efficacy, increasing teen use, and reports of serious consequences from accidents to mental illness. As marijuana is currently viewed by the public as