“Analyses failed to support any significant relationship between marijuana use in the third trimester and a variety of maternal and infant outcomes. Preliminary results indicate that marijuana exposure in the third trimester does not complicate the pregnancy or the delivery process.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28917206 http://www.drugandalcoholdependence.com/article/S0376-8716(17)30443-X/fulltext]]>
Category Archives: Addiction
Endocannabinoid mechanism in amphetamine-type stimulant use disorders: A short review.
“Recent evidence shows that the endocannabinoid system is involved in amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use disorders. To elucidate the role of the endocannabinoid system in ATS addiction, we reviewed results of studies using cannabinoid receptor agonists, antagonists as well as knockout model. The endocannabinoid system seems to play a role in reinstatement and relapse of ATS addiction and ATS-induced psychiatric symptoms. The molecular mechanisms of this system remains unclear, the association with dopamine system in nucleus accumbens is most likely involved. However, the function of the endocannabinoid system in anxiety and anti-anxiety effects induced by ATS is more complicated. These findings suggest that the endocannabinoid system may play an important role in the mechanism of ATS addiction and provide new idea for treating ATS addiction.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28912087 http://www.jocn-journal.com/article/S0967-5868(17)30989-X/fulltext]]>
Cannabidiol inhibits priming-induced reinstatement of methamphetamine in REM sleep deprived rats.
“Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused and a severely addictive psychostimulant. Relapse is the main cause of concern when treating addiction. It could manifest after a long period of abstinence. Previous studies showed that there is a strong connection between sleep impairment and relapse. Also, it has been reported that cannabidiol might be a potential treatment for drug craving and relapse. In this study, we used conditioned place preference (CPP) to investigate whether Cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid, can prevent METH-induced reinstatement in Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Deprived (RSD) rats. In conclusion, the administration of CBD 10μg/5μl effectively prevents METH-induced CPP, even in a condition of stress. CBD can be considered an agent that reduces the risk of the relapse; however, this requires more investigation.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28870635 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027858461730218X?via%3Dihub]]>
Cannabis use among two national samples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tobacco smokers.
“There is a concern that cannabis use is an important barrier to reducing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking. We investigate the associations of cannabis use and tobacco smoking and quitting in two large national samples. We did not find consistent evidence in this setting that cannabis use is an obstacle to quitting tobacco smoking.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28868760 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.12609/abstract]]>
Rationale for cannabis-based interventions in the opioid overdose crisis.
“North America is currently in the grips of a crisis rooted in the use of licit and illicit opioid-based analgesics. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in Canada and the US, and the growing toll of opioid-related morbidity and mortality requires a diversity of novel therapeutic and harm reduction-based interventions.
Research suggests that increasing adult access to both medical and recreational cannabis has significant positive impacts on public health and safety as a result of substitution effect. Observational and epidemiological studies have found that medical cannabis programs are associated with a reduction in the use of opioids and associated morbidity and mortality.
The growing body of research supporting the medical use of cannabis as an adjunct or substitute for opioids creates an evidence-based rationale for governments, health care providers, and academic researchers to consider the implementation and assessment of cannabis-based interventions in the opioid crisis.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28821296Effects 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.”“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]]>Effects of Cannabidiol on Morphine Conditioned Place Preference in Mice.
“This study sought to determine whether the cannabis constituent cannabidiol attenuates the development of morphine reward in the conditioned place preference paradigm. Separate groups of mice received either saline or morphine in combination with one of four doses of cannabidiol using three sets of drug/no-drug conditioning trials. After drug-place conditioning, morphine mice displayed robust place preference that was attenuated by 10 mg/kg cannabidiol. Further, when administered alone, this dose of cannabidiol was void of rewarding and aversive properties. The finding that cannabidiol blocks opioid reward suggests that this compound may be useful in addiction treatment settings.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28793355 https://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0043-117838]]>
Placebo Effects of Edible Cannabis: Reported Intoxication Effects at a 30-Minute Delay.
“Previous research has demonstrated the ability of non-active smoked cannabis cigarettes to induce subjective effects of intoxication (i.e., placebo effect). No studies have been conduced to test whether edible forms of cannabis, which are associated with a significant delay in onset of effect, are able to induce a placebo effect. In the present study, 20 participants were told that they would receive an edible cannabis lollipop containing a high dose of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but were instead given a placebo control. Measures of intoxication and mood were taken at baseline, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes post-ingestion of the placebo lollipop. Results of four repeated-measures ANOVAs found significant and quadratic changes across time in cannabis (ARCI m-scale) intoxication (F(2,18) = 4.90, p = .01, η2 = .22) and negative mood (F(2,18) = 3.99, p = .05, η2 = .19). Changes in positive mood and the overall measure of general intoxication (ARCI) failed to reach significance. The present study provides preliminary evidence that a placebo effect can be induced with inert edible agents when participants are told that they are receiving active THC. This is the first known study to demonstrate an edible cannabis intoxication placebo effect.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28771093
“Studies in healthy volunteers show that even placebo cannabis results in reports of “high feeling”” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5152762/
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