Confirmed marijuana use and lymphocyte count in black people living with HIV

Posted on August 30, 2017 by David

“Marijuana is a commonly used recreational substance with purported analgesic and mood enhancing properties. Many people living with HIV identify marijuana as a palliative substance.

However, through its main psychoactive component, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is known to influence the immune system. The effects of marijuana use in people with HIV are still controversial, with very scant literature in Black adults.

The current study determined the differences in the lymphocyte count, specifically the number cluster differentiation 4 and 8 (CD4+ and CD8+), among patients who urine drug tested negative for THC (n = 70) and those who tested positive for THC (n = 25).” HTTP://WWW.SCIENCEDIRECT.COM/SCIENCE/ARTICLE/PII/S037687161730412X

“After adjusting for demographic and HIV-related covariates, THC-positive patients had significantly higher CD4+ and CD8+ counts than their THC-negative counterparts.” http://www.drugandalcoholdependence.com/article/S0376-8716(17)30412-X/fulltext

“These results extend previous HIV-related immunity findings in an underrepresented group, and suggest that THC use does not reduce immune function as measured by CD count. Further research is warranted on the overall effects of THC on immune function in HIV positive patients.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28850903

CB1 and CB2 Receptor Pharmacology.

Posted on August 23, 2017 by David

Advances in Pharmacology

“The CB₁ and CB₂ cannabinoid receptors (CB₁R, CB₂R) are members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family that were identified over 20 years ago. CB₁Rs and CB₂Rs mediate the effects of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), the principal psychoactive constituent of marijuana, and subsequently identified endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol. CB₁Rs and CB₂Rs have both similarities and differences in their pharmacology. Both receptors recognize multiple classes of agonist and antagonist compounds and produce an array of distinct downstream effects. Natural polymorphisms and alternative splice variants may also contribute to their pharmacological diversity. As our knowledge of the distinct differences grows, we may be able to target select receptor conformations and their corresponding pharmacological responses. This chapter will discuss their pharmacological characterization, distribution, phylogeny, and signaling pathways. In addition, the effects of extended agonist exposure and how that affects signaling and expression patterns of the receptors are considered.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28826534

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054358917300340?via%3Dihub

Effects of Legal Access to Cannabis on Scheduled II-V Drug Prescriptions

Posted on August 19, 2017 by David

“Legal access to cannabis may reduce the use of multiple classes of dangerous prescription medications in certain patient populations.”

http://en.ahau.findplus.cn/?h=articles&db=edselp&an=S1525861017304292

“Medical Cannabis and Reduced Prescription Use. 71% of medical cannabis program enrollees either ceased or reduced their use of scheduled prescriptions within 6 months of enrolling. The findings of this study indicate that once a patient enrolls in the medical cannabis program there is an increased likelihood that the patient will decrease their usage of scheduled medications. These medications include many drugs of abuse such as opiates, benzodiazepines, and sleeping medications.” http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/Medical-Cannabis-and-Reduced-Prescription-Use-1001600526

“Medical Cannabis and Reduced Prescription Use. Breakthrough Study Indicates Strong Association Between Medical Cannabis and Reduced Prescription Use.” http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medical-cannabis-and-reduced-prescription-use-300506774.html

“Effects of Legal Access to Cannabis on Scheduled II-V Drug Prescriptions. Legal access to cannabis may reduce the use of multiple classes of dangerous prescription medications in certain patient populations.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28899660

“Legal access to cannabis may reduce the use of multiple classes of dangerous prescription medications in certain patient populations.” http://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610(17)30429-2/fulltext

How Does Marijuana Effect Outcomes After Trauma in ICU Patients? A Propensity Matched Analysis

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David

“Unlike several studies that focus on the effects of marijuana on the outcomes of diseases, our aim was to assess the relationship between a positive toxicology screen for marijuana and mortality in such patients.

A positive marijuana screen is associated with decreased mortality in adult trauma patients admitted to the ICU.

This association warrants further investigation of the possible physiological effects of marijuana in trauma patients.”

https://insights.ovid.com/pubmed?pmid=28787375

Smoking Marijuana Can Reduce Risk Of Stroke, Study Finds.

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David

Image result for university texas dallas

“Smoking marijuana can reduce the risk of a stroke to a large extent, a new study has found. In the states where marijuana use is legal, strains of the drug are prescribed to cure chronic pain, anxiety, and epilepsy. A new study conducted by the University of Texas at Dallas has found cannabis can improve a person’s health by enhancing the blood and oxygen flow, thus reducing the risk of blood clots and the possibility of a stroke.” http://www.ibtimes.com/smoking-marijuana-can-reduce-risk-stroke-study-finds-2579489

“Study Connects Chronic Cannabis Use to Oxygen Changes in Brain” http://www.utdallas.edu/news/2017/8/14-32651_Study-Connects-Chronic-Cannabis-Use-to-Oxygen-Chan_story-wide.html?WT.mc_id=NewsHomePage

“Residual Effects of THC via Novel Measures of Brain Perfusion and Metabolism in a Large Group of Chronic Cannabis Users” https://www.nature.com/npp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/npp201744a.html

“Could cannabis PROTECT you from a stroke? People who smoke marijuana every day have better blood flow and oxygen to the brain, controversial study claims. A study by the University of Texas at Dallas has found the drug can improve oxygen and blood flow to the brain, reducing the risk of clots that cause a brain attack. In fact, the research team found chronic cannabis users have the most efficient brain blood flow of all, suggesting their stroke risk is lowest.” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4797444/Cannabis-PROTECTS-stroke-study-claims.html

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/stroke-2/

Use of medical cannabis to reduce pain and improve quality of life in cancer patients.

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David

“Early attention to pain and symptoms in those with cancer improves both quality of life and survival. Opioid medications are the mainstay treatment of cancer-related pain.

Cannabinoids are increasingly used as adjunctive treatments for cancer pain, but clinical evidence supporting their use as an “opioid sparing agent” or to improve quality of life is as yet unknown.

Our study sought to determine if the addition of cannabinoids (medical cannabis) resulted in the reduction of the average opioid dose required for pain control, and improve self-reported quality of life indices.

Patients with cancer pain benefited from the addition of cannabinoids.

The average opioid dose decreased following access to medical cannabis.

Self-reported ratings of several quality of life indicators showed statistically significant improvement.

Our study shows a signal that cannabinoids may reduce cancer patients’ reliance on opioids to control pain.

Further prospective controlled studies are needed to further elucidate the role of cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer pain.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28148191

http://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/jco.2015.33.29_suppl.198

Cumulative Lifetime Marijuana Use and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Middle Age: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

Posted on August 12, 2017 by David

“To investigate the effects of marijuana in the development of incident cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes.

Compared with no marijuana use, cumulative lifetime and recent marijuana use showed no association with incident CVD, stroke or transient ischemic attacks, coronary heart disease, or CVD mortality.

Marijuana use was not associated with CVD when stratified by age, gender, race, or family history of CVD.

Neither cumulative lifetime nor recent use of marijuana is associated with the incidence of CVD in middle age.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28207342

http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303654

Perioperative Patient Beliefs Regarding Potential Effectiveness of Marijuana (Cannabinoids) for Treatment of Pain: A Prospective Population Survey.

Posted on August 11, 2017 by David

“Cannabinoids have an expanding presence in medicine.

Perioperative patients’ perceptions of the effectiveness of these compounds, and acceptance if prescribed for pain, have not been previously described. Our primary objective was to describe patients’ beliefs regarding the potential effectiveness of cannabinoids for the treatment of acute and chronic pain, as well as gauge patient acceptance of these compounds if prescribed by a physician.

More than 80% of this cohort of preoperative patients believed that marijuana could be at least somewhat effective for the treatment of pain after surgery and would be willing to use cannabinoid compounds if prescribed by their physician.

Patients generally believe that marijuana could be at least somewhat effective for the management of pain and are willing to use cannabinoid compounds for this indication, if prescribed by a physician.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28796754

https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00115550-900000000-99321

Blunted stress reactivity in chronic cannabis users

Posted on August 3, 2017 by David

Psychopharmacology

“One of the most commonly cited reasons for chronic cannabis use is to cope with stress.

Consistent with this, cannabis users have shown reduced emotional arousal and dampened stress reactivity in response to negative imagery.

Chronic cannabis use is associated with blunted stress reactivity.” https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-017-4648-z?no-access=true

“WSU study: Regular marijuana users more calm under stress” http://komonews.com/news/local/wsu-study-regular-marijuana-users-more-calm-under-stress

“Potheads don’t stress easily, say WSU researchers” http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/jul/31/potheads-dont-stress-easily-say-wsu-researchers/

Going to pot? The impact of dispensary closures on crime☆

Posted on July 31, 2017 by David

Journal of Urban Economics

“Jurisdictions that sanction medical or, more recently, recreational marijuana use often allow retail sales at dispensaries. Dispensaries are controversial as many believe they contribute to local crime. To assess this claim, we analyze the short-term mass closing of hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles.

Contrary to popular wisdom, we find an immediate increase in crime around dispensaries ordered to close relative to those allowed to remain open.

The increase is specific to the type of crime most plausibly deterred by bystanders, and is correlated with neighborhood walkability. We find a similar pattern of results for temporary restaurant closures due to health code violations. A likely common mechanism is that “eyes upon the street” deter some types of crime.”

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094119017300281?via%3Dihub

“Closing medical marijuana dispensaries increases crime, according to new study. Contrary to popular belief, medical marijuana dispensaries (MMDs) reduce crime in their immediate areas, suggests a new report.” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170711125704.htm