Tag Archives: medical marijuana

Medical cannabis and mental health: A guided systematic review

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“This review considers the potential influences of the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes (CTP) on areas of interest to mental health professionals, with foci on adult psychopathology and assessment. We identified 31 articles relating to the use of CTP and mental health, and 29 review articles on cannabis use and mental health that did not focus on use for therapeutic purposes. Results reflect the prominence of mental health conditions among the reasons for CTP use, and the relative dearth of high-quality evidence related to CTP in this context, thereby highlighting the need for further research into the harms and benefits of medical cannabis relative to other therapeutic options. Preliminary evidence suggests that CTP may have potential for the treatment of PTSD, and as a substitute for problematic use of other substances. Extrapolation from reviews of non-therapeutic cannabis use suggests that the use of CTP may be problematic among individuals with psychotic disorders. The clinical implications of CTP use among individuals with mood disorders are unclear. With regard to assessment, evidence suggests that CTP use does not increase risk of harm to self or others. Acute cannabis intoxication and recent CTP use may result in reversible deficits with the potential to influence cognitive assessment, particularly on tests of short-term memory.

Cannabis use does not appear to increase risk of harm to self or others.”

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735816300939

“Marijuana could help treat drug addiction, mental health, study suggests”  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161116102847.htm

“Marijuana may help combat substance abuse, mental health disorders”  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314159.php

“Medical cannabis may help treat mental health problems and opioid addiction”  http://www.news-medical.net/news/20161116/Medical-cannabis-may-help-treat-mental-health-problems-and-opioid-addiction.aspx

Splendor in the Grass? A Pilot Study Assessing the Impact of Medical Marijuana on Executive Function

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“To date, few studies have investigated the potential impact of MMJ use on cognitive performance, despite a well-documented association between recreational marijuana (MJ) use and executive dysfunction. The current study assessed the impact of 3 months of MMJ treatment on executive function, exploring whether MMJ patients would experience improvement in cognitive functioning, perhaps related to primary symptom alleviation.

Results suggest that in general, MMJ patients experienced some improvement on measures of executive functioning, including the Stroop Color Word Test and Trail Making Test, mostly reflected as increased speed in completing tasks without a loss of accuracy.

On self-report questionnaires, patients also indicated moderate improvements in clinical state, including reduced sleep disturbance, decreased symptoms of depression, attenuated impulsivity, and positive changes in some aspects of quality of life. Additionally, patients reported a notable decrease in their use of conventional pharmaceutical agents from baseline, with opiate use declining more than 42%.

Data from the current investigation provide preliminary evidence that after 3 months of treatment, MMJ users did not experience executive functioning deficits, which are often observed in regular, recreational MJ users. In fact, MMJ patients evidenced improvement in certain aspects of performance on these measures, particularly with regard to time required to complete tasks.”

http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphar.2016.00355/full

Effect of medical cannabis on thermal quantitative measurements of pain in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

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“Cannabis can alleviate pain of various etiologies.

This study assessed the effect of cannabis on motor symptoms and pain parameters in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

CONCLUSIONS:

Cannabis improved motor scores and pain symptoms in PD patients, together with a dissociate effect on heat and cold pain thresholds. Peripheral and central pathways are probably modulated by cannabis.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Quantitative sensory test results are significantly altered following cannabis consumption in patients with PD. Cannabis probably acts on pain in PD via peripheral and central pathways.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27723182

Acute and chronic effects of cannabidiol on Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC)-induced disruption in stop signal task performance.

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“Recent clinical and preclinical research has suggested that cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) have interactive effects on measures of cognition; however, the nature of these interactions is not yet fully characterized.

To address this, we investigated the effects of Δ9-THC and CBD independently and in combination with proposed therapeutic dose ratios of 1:1 and 1:3 Δ9-THC:CBD in adult rhesus monkeys performing a stop signal task (SST).

These results indicate that CBD, when combined with Δ9-THC in clinically available dose ratios, does not exacerbate and, under restricted conditions may even attenuate, Δ9-THC’s behavioral effects.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27690502

Use of marijuana for medical purposes.

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“Cannabis is the most popular illicit drug on the European market. Over 16 million young Europeans have used it at least once in the last few years. The recent trends in the consumption of marihuana differ between countries. Some countries face an increase in the prevalence of cannabis use, including Poland, where the level cannabis use has been systematically increasing since the 1990’s. According to a recent ESPAD study, 19% of Polish adolescents aged 15-16 have used cannabis in the last year. Marihuana is also a leading substance when analyzing the data of seizures and crimes. The recent EMCDDA Annual report on the drug situation in Europe notes the increasing potency in cannabis available on the market. Some countries face an increasing number of emergencies caused by marihuana, which was unlikely to have happened previously. In almost all European countries there is an ongoing discussion about loosening marijuana laws or its complete legalization. There is also ongoing discussion on the use of marihuana in therapy as a medicine. Many scientific studies are being conducted in this field. Some of the results are promising; however, there is no well-designed human trial which would unequivocally confirm that medical cannabis is effective as a medicine, or more effective than other medicines on the market. The problem is that the debate on the medical use of marihuana becomes more ideological and less professional. The medical use of marihuana is strongly supported by organizations lobbying for the legalization of cannabis use. Research on the medical use of cannabis should be continued, as there are some promising results supporting therapy in different medical conditions. However, the use of cannabis as a medicine should be discussed only among professionals. If marihuana is to be used for medical purposes, the fact that it is the most popular illicit drug in Europe is irrelevant.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27660881

Medical Marijuana: Just the Beginning of a Long, Strange Trip?

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Physical Therapy Journal

“Medical marijuana continues to gain acceptance and become legalized in many states. Various species of the marijuana plant have been cultivated, and this plant can contain up to 100 active compounds known as cannabinoids.

Two cannabinoids seem the most clinically relevant: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which tends to produce the psychotropic effects commonly associated with marijuana, and cannabidiol (CBD), which may produce therapeutic effects without appreciable psychoactive properties.

Smoking marijuana, or ingesting extracts from the whole plant orally (in baked goods, teas, and so forth), introduces variable amounts of THC, CBD, and other minor cannabinoids into the systemic circulation where they ultimately reach the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Alternatively, products containing THC, CBD, or a combination of both compounds, can also be ingested as oral tablets, or via sprays applied to the oral mucosal membranes. These products may provide a more predictable method for delivering a known amount of specific cannabinoids into the body.

Although there is still a need for randomized controlled clinical trials, preliminary studies have suggested that medical marijuana and related cannabinoids may be beneficial in treating chronic pain, inflammation, spasticity, and other conditions seen commonly in physical therapist practice.

Physical therapists should therefore be aware of the options that are available for patients considering medical marijuana, and be ready to provide information for these patients.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27660328

State Medical Marijuana Laws and the Prevalence of Opioids Detected Among Fatally Injured Drivers.

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“To assess the association between medical marijuana laws (MMLs) and the odds of a positive opioid test, an indicator for prior use.

State-specific estimates indicated a reduction in opioid positivity for most states after implementation of an operational MML,

CONCLUSIONS:

Operational MMLs are associated with reductions in opioid positivity among 21- to 40-year-old fatally injured drivers and may reduce opioid use and overdose.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27631755

pain in Extrapyramidal Neurodegenerative Diseases.

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“Pain is one of the most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) and other Parkinson plus syndromes, with a major effect on quality of life.

The aims of the study were to examine the prevalence and characteristics of pain in PD and other Parkinson plus syndromes and patient use and response to pain medications.

The most beneficial analgesics were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and medical cannabis.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27623111

Maternal Marijuana Use and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

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“To estimate whether marijuana use in pregnancy increases risks for adverse neonatal outcomes and clarify if any increased risk is attributable to marijuana use itself or to confounding factors such as tobacco use.

CONCLUSION:

Maternal marijuana use during pregnancy is not an independent risk factor for adverse neonatal outcomes after adjusting for confounding factors.

Thus, the association between maternal marijuana use and adverse outcomes appears attributable to concomitant tobacco use and other confounding factors.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27607879

“Using Pot While Pregnant Not Tied to Birth Risks. Smoking marijuana during pregnancy doesn’t appear to increase the risk of preterm birth or other harmful birth outcomes, a new review study suggests.” http://www.livescience.com/56036-marijuana-pregnant-preterm-birth-risk.html

“Marijuana Is Safe During pregnancy, Experts Do Not Encourage. Marijuana does not increase pregnancy risk according to new research. It does not have a negative outcome when it comes to premature birth and low birth weight. Still, experts do not encourage marijuana use during pregnancy.” http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/47194/20160910/marijuana-safe-during-pregnancy-experts-encourage.htm

Medical Marijuana-Opportunities and Challenges

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“Over the recent years, public and political opinions have demonstrated increasing support for the legalization of medical marijuana.

To date, 24 states as well as the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for medical use, 4 states have legalized the recreational use of Marijuana.

Marijuana is derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the major psychoactive constituent of cannabis, while cannabidiol (CBD) is the major non-psychoactive constituent. THC is a partial agonist at CB1 and CB2 receptors, while CBD at high levels is an antagonist CB1 and CB2.

CB1 is abundantly expressed in the brain, and CB2 is expressed on immune cells (expression of CB2 on neurons remains controversial). The brain also produces endogenous cannabis-like substances (endocannabinoids) that bind and activate the CB1/CB2 receptors.

There is tremendous interest in harnessing the therapeutic potential of plant-derived and synthetic cannabinoids.

This Editorial provides an overview of diseases that may be treated by cannabinoids.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4948749/