Gender Differences in Medical Cannabis Use: Symptoms Treated, Physician Support for Use, and Prescription Medication Discontinuation

Medical cannabis (MC) utilization continues to expand in the United States, as a growing body of evidence supports the use of cannabis and cannabinoids in the treatment of a range of chronic conditions. To date, gender-related differences in MC use are not widely reported, and little is known regarding physicians’ support of patients’ use of MC to address symptoms associated with chronic conditions.

Preferences for Medical Marijuana over Prescription Medications Among Persons Living with Chronic Conditions: Alternative, Complementary, and Tapering Uses

Despite expanded legalization and utilization of medical cannabis (MC) internationally, there is a lack of patient-centered data on how MC is used by persons living with chronic conditions in tandem with or instead of prescription medications. This study describes approaches to use of MC vis-à-vis prescription medications in the treatment of selected chronic conditions.

Daily Cannabis Use is Associated With Lower CNS Inflammation in People With HIV

Recent cannabis exposure has been associated with lower rates of neurocognitive impairment in people with HIV (PWH). Cannabis’s anti-inflammatory properties may underlie this relationship by reducing chronic neuroinflammation in PWH. This study examined relations between cannabis use and inflammatory biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma, and cognitive correlates of these biomarkers within a community-based sample of PWH.

CBD Promotes Oral Ulcer Healing via Inhibiting CMPK2-Mediated Inflammasome

Oral ulcer is a common oral inflammatory lesion accompanied by severe pain but with few effective treatments. Cannabidiol (CBD) is recently emerging for its therapeutic potential in a range of diseases, including inflammatory conditions and cancers. Here we show that CBD oral spray on acid- or trauma-induced oral ulcers on mice tongue inhibits inflammation, relieves pain, and accelerates lesion closure

An Observational, Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Medical Cannabis Patients over the Course of 12 Months of Treatment: Preliminary Results

Cannabis use has increased dramatically across the country; however, few studies have assessed the long-term impact of medical cannabis (MC) use on cognition. Studies examining recreational cannabis users generally report cognitive decrements, particularly in those with adolescent onset. As MC patients differ from recreational consumers in motives for use, product selection, and age of onset, we assessed cognitive and clinical measures in well-characterized MC patients over 1 year. Based on previous findings, we hypothesized MC patients would not show decrements and might instead demonstrate improvements in executive function over time.

Long-term safety and efficacy of add-on cannabidiol in patients with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome: Results of a long-term open-label extension trial

Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is an epileptic encephalopathy that is often treatment resistant. Efficacy and safety of add-on cannabidiol (CBD) to treat seizures associated with LGS was demonstrated in two randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Patients who completed the RCTs were invited to enroll in this long-term open-label extension (OLE) trial, GWPCARE5 (NCT02224573). We present the final analysis of safety and efficacy outcomes from GWPCARE5.

Cuando el conocimiento empírico indígena se encuentra con la ciencia del cannabis

Dr. Yesid Ramirez creó un programa intensivo gratuito de un día de duración en la Universidad ICESI de Cali (Colombia) para miembros de comunidades indígenas históricamente discriminadas.

Cannabinoids in the landscape of cancer

Cannabinoids are a group of terpenophenolic compounds derived from the Cannabis sativa L. plant. There is a growing body of evidence from cell culture and animal studies in support of cannabinoids possessing anticancer properties.

Cannabis and Cancer Care with Dr. Katia Tonkin [PODCAST]

Oncologist and Society of Cannabis Clinicians board member Dr. Katia Tonkin talks with Dr. Vaughn about the changing role of cannabis in cancer care, pain management, and best practices in clinical care.

Large-scale whole-genome resequencing unravels the domestication history of Cannabis sativa

Cannabis sativa has long been an important source of fiber extracted from hemp and both medicinal and recreational drugs based on cannabinoid compounds. Here, we investigated its poorly known domestication history using whole-genome resequencing of 110 accessions from worldwide origins. We show that C. sativa was first domesticated in early Neolithic times in East Asia and that all current hemp and drug cultivars diverged from an ancestral gene pool currently represented by feral plants and landraces in China.

The impact of cannabis use on male sexual function: A 10-year, single-center experience

Despite increasing consumption rates in much of the world, the impact of cannabis use on various components of male sexual function remain poorly established. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate the relationship between cannabis use and reproductive and sexual function using a large patient cohort from a single academic andrology clinic.

Indigenous Empirical Plant Knowledge Meets Cannabis Science

Dr. Yesid Ramirez created a free, day-long intensive program on cannabis science at ICESI University in Cali, Colombia for historically discriminated indigenous groups.