First-Episode Psychosis and Cannabis: What Changes, and What Does Not
A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry compared cognitive, electrophysiological, and behavioral presentation between people experiencing first-episode psychosis with and without cannabis exposure. Dr. Caplan reviews this first episode psychosis…
Cannabis Use and Early Psychiatric Rehospitalization in Young Adults With Bipolar or Psychotic Disorders
medical cannabis research: A 200-patient historical cohort links cannabis use at psychiatric admission with higher early readmission risk, especially during the first month after discharge. It keeps the evidence readable for patients and clinicians. The…
THC and Social Behavior in Rodents Shows Dose, Timing, and Model Dependence
medical cannabis research: A systematic review of 49 rodent studies found THC often reduced normal social behavior, while low doses sometimes improved deficits in selected impairment models, with reporting quality limiting confidence. It keeps the…
Frequent Cannabis Use Linked With Higher Seizure Burden in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
medical cannabis research: A small EMU cohort found frequent cannabis users with drug-resistant epilepsy had more focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures and greater medication burden, but the study cannot prove cannabis caused worse epilepsy. It keeps…
Virtual Family Coaching for Young Teens at Substance Use Risk Shows Feasibility, Not Proven Prevention
medical cannabis research: A tiny single-arm pilot found that a virtual 2-hour family session was acceptable and mostly completed, but it cannot yet prove reductions in teen cannabis, alcohol, tobacco use, or SUD risk. It keeps the evidence readable for…
Beyond THC and CBD: What a New Review Says About Cannabis's Other Compounds
A systematic review in the journal Plants examined the pharmacological activity of non-cannabinoid phytochemicals in Cannabis sativa, the terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds beyond THC and CBD. Dr. Caplan reviews this cannabis minor compounds…
New Headache Drug Targets Beyond CGRP: PACAP, Endocannabinoids, Sex Specific Pathways, and More
medical cannabis research: A 2025 narrative review maps emerging headache therapies beyond CGRP, including PACAP antibodies, endocannabinoid modulation, prolactin, orexin, PAR2, and nitroxidative stress targets. It keeps the evidence readable for…
High-THC Cannabis and Inflammation: What the New Metabolic Trial Actually Found
A quasi-randomized trial published in Scientific Reports tested acute inflammatory and metabolic effects of inhaling high-THC cannabis. Dr. Caplan reviews this high THC cannabis inflammation trial, which found inflammatory markers rose after use while…
CBD for Epilepsy Needs Evidence, Monitoring, and Better Trial Precision
medical cannabis research: A PubMed indexed review argues that cannabidiol has meaningful antiseizure potential in select refractory epilepsies, but its dosing, interactions, mechanisms, and long term safety still require careful clinical structure. It…
1 in 3 Cannabis Users in Treatment Had ADHD: What the New Meta-Analysis Shows
A systematic review and meta-analysis in the Journal of Dual Diagnosis produced the first sex-specific prevalence estimates for ADHD among people who use psychoactive substances and alcohol, including cannabis. Dr. Caplan reviews this cannabis use…
