“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid of the cannabis plant devoid of intoxicating effects. It may be of therapeutic value in a large number of diseases, including epilepsy, anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenic psychosis, inflammatory diseases, dystonia, nausea, and vomiting without causing relevant or severe side effects. No biosynthetic enzyme or pathway exists in the human body to convert CBD to THC. This short communication examines the question whether the experimental data presented in a study by Merrick et al. are of clinical relevance. These authors found that cannabidiol (CBD), a major cannabinoid of the cannabis plant devoid of psychotropic effects and of great interest for therapeutic use in several medical conditions, may be converted in gastric fluid into the psychoactive cannabinoids delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC to a relevant degree. They concluded that “the acidic environment during normal gastrointestinal transit can expose orally CBD-treated patients to levels of THC and other psychoactive cannabinoids that may exceed the threshold for a positive physiological response.” They issued a warning concerning oral use of CBD and recommend the development of other delivery methods. However, the available clinical data do not support this conclusion and recommendation, since even high doses of oral CBD do not cause psychological, psychomotor, cognitive, or physical effects that are characteristic for THC or cannabis rich in THC. On the contrary, in the past decades and by several groups, high doses of oral CBD were consistently shown to cause opposite effects to those of THC in clinical studies. In addition, administration of CBD did not result in detectable THC blood concentrations. Thus, there is no reason to avoid oral use of CBD, which has been demonstrated to be a safe means of administration of CBD, even at very high doses.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28861499 http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/can.2016.0036 “A Conversion of Oral Cannabidiol to Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Seems Not to Occur in Humans.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28861507]]>
Tag Archives: marijuana
Confirmed marijuana use and lymphocyte count in black people living with HIV
“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/28850903CB1 and CB2 Receptor 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
“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]]>How Does Marijuana Effect Outcomes After Trauma in ICU Patients? A Propensity Matched Analysis
“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.
“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
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Use of medical cannabis to reduce pain and improve quality of life in cancer patients.
“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.
