AM Study Update: March 16, 2026

Evidence Watch  |  Nature medicine (2025)

Full-spectrum extract from Cannabis sativa DKJ127 for chronic low back pain: a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial.

# Study Summary This phase 3 trial evaluated full-spectrum Cannabis sativa extract for chronic low back pain, addressing a significant clinical need where conventional pharmacologic treatments have limited efficacy and safety concerns.

Evidence Watch  |  Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) (2025)

Cannabinoids for Medical Purposes in Children: A Living Systematic Review.

# Study Summary This living systematic review continuously tracks safety and efficacy data of medical cannabinoids in pediatric populations, providing clinicians with updated evidence synthesis across multiple medical databases through April 2023.

Evidence Watch  |  British journal of sports medicine (2026)

Influences on the mental health and well-being of retired professional athletes from high contact team sports: a mixed methods systematic review.

# Study Finding Summary This systematic review examines mental health outcomes in retired professional athletes from high-contact sports, providing evidence on prevalence and risk factors relevant to understanding cannabis use patterns in this population.

Evidence Watch  |  Journal of medical Internet research (2024)

Effectiveness of the Minder Mobile Mental Health and Substance Use Intervention for University Students: Randomized Controlled Trial.

# Study Summary The study evaluated Minder, a mobile mental health intervention for university students experiencing mental health and substance use challenges during a critical developmental transition period.

Evidence Watch  |  Journal of anxiety disorders (2024)

Cannabis use and trauma-focused treatment for co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders: A meta-analysis of individual patient data.

# Study Finding Summary Cannabis use did not significantly impair efficacy of trauma-focused PTSD treatments in individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders, suggesting these evidence-based interventions remain viable for this population.

Evidence Watch  |  BMJ open (2026)

Research on Eating and Adolescent Lifestyle (REAL) 2.0: 15-year follow-up study of eating disorders and weight-related trajectories, mental health and substance use health from early adolescence to early adulthood-a Canadian cohort profile.

# REAL 2.0 Study Summary for Cannabis Clinicians The abstract provided is incomplete and contains no findings or results to summarize. A complete abstract with outcome data is needed to generate a clinically relevant sentence for cannabis practitioners.

Evidence Watch  |  Annals of the rheumatic diseases (2026)

Cannabidiol versus placebo in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, single-centre trial.

# Study Finding Summary **This randomised controlled trial evaluated cannabidiol’s efficacy versus placebo for fibromyalgia pain, providing evidence to inform clinical cannabis prescribing decisions for this condition.** (44 words)

Evidence Watch  |  International journal of environmental research and public health (2026)

Therapeutically Motivated Cannabis Use for Anxiety: Daily and Longitudinal Reductions Vary Between Flower and Edible Products.

# Study Finding Summary Cannabis flower use showed greater daily anxiety reduction than edibles among therapeutically motivated users, with effects varying longitudinally—informing product-specific clinical recommendations for anxiety management.

Evidence Watch  |  Journal of sleep research (2026)

Acute Effects of Oral Cannabinoids on Sleep and High-Density EEG in Insomnia: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.

# Study Summary This pilot trial examined how a single oral dose of THC and CBD affects sleep architecture and daytime function using high-density EEG, providing clinicians with objective data on cannabinoid effects beyond subjective sleep reports.

Evidence Watch  |  Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (2026)

Cannabidiol Lacks Direct Effect on Cortical Excitability: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, 3-Way Crossover Trial.

CBD showed no direct effect on cortical excitability in this controlled trial, suggesting its anti-seizure mechanism may involve pharmacokinetic interactions rather than direct neuronal modulation.

Evidence Watch  |  Journal of psychiatric research (2025)

Pre-trauma insomnia and posttraumatic alcohol and cannabis use in the AURORA observational cohort study of trauma survivors.

# Study Finding Summary Pre-trauma insomnia predicted increased post-trauma cannabis use in trauma survivors, suggesting insomnia assessment and sleep intervention may reduce problematic cannabis use in this vulnerable population.

Evidence Watch  |  JAMA health forum (2026)

Adolescent Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychotic, Bipolar, Depressive, and Anxiety Disorders.

# Study Finding Summary Adolescent cannabis use is associated with increased risk of psychotic, bipolar, depressive, and anxiety disorders, informing clinicians’ risk assessment and counseling for youth patients regarding long-term mental health outcomes.

Evidence Watch  |  Drug and alcohol dependence (2016)

Anxiety, depression and risk of cannabis use: Examining the internalising pathway to use among Chilean adolescents.

# Study Summary for Cannabis Clinicians Adolescents with internalising symptoms (depression, anxiety disorders) may use cannabis as self-medication, suggesting clinicians should screen for and address comorbid mental health conditions when treating young cannabis users.

Evidence Watch  |  Journal of clinical pharmacology (2025)

Therapeutic Use of Cannabis Derivatives and Their Analogs for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.

# Study Summary Cannabis derivatives showed promising therapeutic effects for autism spectrum disorder symptoms, providing clinical evidence relevant to practitioners considering cannabinoid treatment for this patient population.

Evidence Watch  |  The Journal of clinical psychiatry (2024)

Maternal Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Offspring.

# Study Finding Summary Maternal cannabis use during pregnancy was investigated for associations with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring, given cannabinoids’ ability to cross the placental barrier and affect fetal neurodevelopment.

Evidence Watch  |  Cannabis and cannabinoid research (2026)

A Randomized, Open-Label Trial to Assess Feasibility and Tolerability of Topical Cannabis Balms for the Treatment of Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Syndrome (AIMSS).

# Study Summary This feasibility trial examines whether topical cannabis balms can safely treat AIMSS symptoms (joint pain, stiffness, bone pain) in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors.

Evidence Watch  |  Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging (2026)

A single dose of cannabidiol modulates the relationship between hippocampal glutamate and learning-related prefrontal activation in individuals at Clinical High Risk of Psychosis.

# Study Finding Summary A single CBD dose altered the relationship between hippocampal glutamate levels and prefrontal brain activation during learning in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, suggesting a potential neurobiological mechanism for CBD’s therapeutic effects.

Evidence Watch  |  Medicine and science in sports and exercise (2026)

Daily Use of a Broad-Spectrum Cannabidiol Supplement Produces Detectable Concentrations of Cannabinoids in Urine Prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency: An Effect Amplified by Exercise.

# Study Finding Summary Broad-spectrum CBD supplements contain detectable levels of WADA-prohibited cannabinoids in urine, with exercise amplifying this effect, raising concerns for athletes despite CBD’s legal status.

Evidence Watch  |  Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders (2025)

Long-term safety and tolerability of transdermal cannabidiol gel in children and adolescents with Fragile X syndrome (ZYN2-CL-017): an interim analysis of an ongoing open-label extension study.

# Study Summary ZYN002 transdermal cannabidiol gel demonstrated long-term safety and tolerability in pediatric Fragile X syndrome patients, providing clinical data on cannabidiol’s safety profile in a vulnerable population requiring specialized delivery.

Evidence Watch  |  Complementary therapies in clinical practice (2025)

Challenges in conducting a feasibility randomized controlled trial of medicinal cannabis for endometriosis pain in Australia.

# Study Summary The study assessed feasibility and safety of conducting a randomized controlled trial of medicinal cannabis for endometriosis pain in Australia, addressing a gap between patient use and clinical evidence.