Cannabis is not all about smoking, inhaling, or vaping
The other day, I received a referral to our medical cannabis clinic from one of the Pediatric Gastroenterology doctors at the children’s hospital, where I work as a Pediatric ICU doctor. They follow a 16-year-old female with chronic gastrointestinal (GI)…
The endocannabinoid system and the placebo effect: Molecular mechanisms of placebo responses in humans
Pain and the placebo effect “The placebo effect” has become somewhat of a buzz word in modern pain management, but what systems actually regulate this effect, and can they be utilized to decrease the need for drugs in a clinical setting?This paper…
Pain, pleasure, and placebo: Cannabinoids in reward processing and the perception of pain
Cannabinoids could be a tool to reduce opioid doses when treating chronic pain When treating chronic pain, there is a constant dilemma between adequately relieving pain while also preventing addiction to painkillers. Unfortunately, many of the most…
Blunted highs: Cannabis tolerance behavioral models and pharmacodynamics
Chronic daily cannabis use builds tolerance to some but not all of the effects of cannabis With the increase of cannabis legalization, chronic cannabis use is expected to rise in the coming years. How might this chronic cannabis use affect us differently…
The roles of THC and CB1 receptors in cannabis reinforcement and dependence
Cannabis reinforcement and dependence occur through cannabinoid type 1 receptors Cannabis is the most commonly used drug worldwide, and chronic cannabis use can lead to dependence. Of the users who seek treatment for cannabis dependence, only 10%…
Illicit drug use: Dependence and contributions to the global burden of disease
In 2009, an estimated 149–271 million people worldwide used illicit drugs. 125–203 million were cannabis users. These numbers likely undercount actual illicit drug use because of the illegality of many illicit drugs. This paper summarizes the prevalence…
Endocannabinoids and stress: Effects of indirect agonists and comparison of male and female mice
Cannabis has stress reducing effects in females as well as males The potential of cannabinoids to treat stress and anxiety is well established, however, previous studies have primarily looked at this effect in males. Here, researchers looked at the…
Is cannabis an antibiotic savior in antibiotic-induced bacteremia?
New research shows that cannabis use is linked to decreased incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) linked to 220,000 hospitalized patients Clostridioides difficile (CD) is a gram-positive bacillus…
Do sex and steroid hormones affect cannabis outcomes? A review of the endocannabinoid system
Sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) substantially impact sexual differentiation, maturation, and adult sexual behavior. The effect of poorly regulated sex hormones affects a significant part of American society, with symptoms ranging…
Cannabis Interactions with Drugs and Clinical Considerations
Cannabis Interactions with Drugs and Clinical Considerations Cannabis use has become more prevalent in recent years. With increasing legalization of cannabis, it is crucial for both medical and recreational users to be aware of the possible drug…