PM Study Update: March 17, 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 evaluates full-spectrum Cannabis sativa extract for chronic low back pain, addressing a significant clinical need where current pharmacologic treatments demonstrate 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 evaluates safety and efficacy data of medical cannabinoids in pediatric populations, providing clinicians with updated evidence to inform prescribing decisions in children.

Evidence Watch  |  Cannabis and cannabinoid research (2026)

Short-Term Low Dose Cannabidiol Does Not Influence Glucose Tolerance or the Gut Microbiome in Sedentary Adults with Overweight and Obesity: Pilot Study.

# Study Finding Summary Short-term low-dose CBD supplementation did not improve glucose tolerance or alter gut microbiota in sedentary overweight/obese adults, questioning potential diabetes-protective mechanisms proposed for cannabis use.

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 for Cannabis Clinicians This systematic review examines mental health prevalence and factors in retired professional contact sport athletes, potentially relevant for understanding cannabis use patterns among this population experiencing post-career mental health challenges.

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 a mobile mental health intervention (Minder) for university students experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, relevant to clinicians treating cannabis use in young adult populations.

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 Summary This meta-analysis examines whether evidence-based PTSD treatments remain effective for individuals with co-occurring cannabis use and substance use disorders, directly informing clinical outcomes for this comorbid population.

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 Summary This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated cannabidiol’s efficacy and safety for fibromyalgia pain management, providing evidence relevant to clinical cannabinoid prescribing decisions.

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.

Cannabis flower users reported greater daily anxiety reductions than edible users, suggesting product type influences therapeutic efficacy for anxiety management in clinical cannabis practice.

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 single oral doses of THC and CBD affect sleep architecture and daytime function using high-density EEG, providing clinicians evidence-based data on cannabinoid efficacy for insomnia treatment.

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 randomized controlled trial, suggesting its anti-seizure mechanisms may operate through indirect pathways rather than direct neuronal effects.

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 posttraumatic cannabis use in trauma survivors, suggesting clinicians should screen for and treat sleep disturbance as a potential modifiable risk factor for problematic cannabis use in this 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, relevant for clinicians assessing mental health screening and prevention strategies in cannabis-using youth populations.

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 This research examined whether adolescent internalising symptoms (depression, anxiety) predict cannabis use as a coping mechanism, informing clinicians’ understanding of psychological risk factors underlying youth cannabis initiation.

Evidence Watch  |  Journal of clinical pharmacology (2025)

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

# Study Summary This systematic review examines clinical evidence for cannabis derivatives’ therapeutic potential in treating autism spectrum disorder symptoms, including social difficulties, behavioral patterns, and emotional regulation challenges.

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 Summary Maternal cannabis use during pregnancy was examined for associations with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD in offspring, with implications for counseling pregnant patients about neurodevelopmental risks.

Evidence Watch  |  Cannabis and cannabinoid research (2026)

Drug Interactions in People on Cannabidiol: Is There Cause for Concern?

# Study Summary This study examines potential drug-drug interactions between CBD oil and concomitant medications in cancer patients on polypharmacy, providing evidence to guide safe prescribing practices for clinicians.

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 for Cannabis Clinicians This feasibility trial investigates topical cannabis balms as a potential treatment option for aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal pain in postmenopausal breast cancer patients, addressing a common side effect affecting approximately two-thirds of users.

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 tasks in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, suggesting potential neurobiological mechanisms relevant to psychosis prevention.

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 Broad-spectrum CBD supplements contain prohibited cannabinoids that accumulate in urine detectable by WADA testing, with exercise amplifying this effect—clinicians should counsel athletes about doping risks.

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 for Cannabis Clinicians This interim analysis evaluated the safety and tolerability of transdermal cannabidiol gel in pediatric Fragile X syndrome patients, providing clinical data on cannabidiol’s long-term use in a neurodevelopmental disorder population.