#85 Research Authority
Peer-reviewed research curated for clinical relevance and evidence quality.
Recent research digest. 20 of 20 most recent studies from our monitored feeds.
Cannabis Use Among Individuals With Psychosis After State-Level Commercial Cannabis Legalization.
Hyatt Andrew S et al.
JAMA psychiatry • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study examined whether recreational cannabis legalization in US states increased cannabis use among people with a history of psychosis between 2014 and 2022. The research aimed to determine if legal access to cannabis led to higher use rates in this vulnerable population that is at greater risk for serious harm from cannabis.
Association of Cannabis Use Disorder Versus Other Substance Use Disorders With Psychiatric Conditions: A Propensity-Matched Retrospective Cohort Analysis.
Nicholson Ryan C et al.
The American journal of psychiatry • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study found that adults and adolescents with cannabis use disorder had significantly higher risks of developing depression, anxiety, psychosis, and suicidal behavior compared to those with other substance use disorders alone. The increased psychiatric risk associated with cannabis use disorder persisted even after accounting for demographic factors and other clinical risk factors through statistical matching techniques.
Canadian real-world evidence: observational 24-week outcomes for health care practitioner authorized cannabis.
Yang Brian et al.
Canadian journal of pain = Revue canadienne de la douleur • 2026
# Clinical Summary This Canadian observational study examined how medical cannabis prescribed by healthcare practitioners affected symptoms of pain, sleep problems, anxiety, and depression in adult patients over 24 weeks. The research aimed to provide real-world evidence about whether authorized cannabis is effective for treating these common chronic conditions in actual clinical practice settings.
Polysubstance Use Disorders in Individuals with Cannabis Use Disorder: Results from a Nationally Representative Sample (National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions).
Wilkialis Linas et al.
Cannabis and cannabinoid research • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study found that adults with cannabis use disorder who also use multiple substances tend to have higher rates of psychiatric comorbidities, including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders compared to those with cannabis use disorder alone. The research demonstrates that the presence of psychiatric conditions significantly increases the likelihood of polysubstance use among individuals with cannabis use disorder, suggesting that addressing underlying mental health issues may be important in treating this population.
New and emerging treatments for anxiety disorders.
Zbozinek Tomislav D et al.
BMJ (Clinical research ed.) • 2026
# Clinical Summary Many people with anxiety disorders do not respond well to standard treatments or experience relapse, indicating a need for new or improved treatment approaches. This review examines emerging standalone therapies such as reward-based psychotherapy and safety behavior reduction, as well as augmentation strategies including floatation-REST, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and transcranial direct current stimulation.
Cannabis and Mental Health: A Review.
Kansagara Devan et al.
JAMA internal medicine • 2026
# Clinical Summary Cannabis is commonly used by people with mental health conditions to manage symptoms, but scientific evidence does not clearly support its effectiveness for these purposes. Clinicians should be aware that cannabis lacks proven benefits for mental health disorders like PTSD and carries potential risks of serious adverse effects.
Cannabidiol-hyaluronic acid combination delivered rectally for attenuating abacterial prostatitis symptoms: Single-arm open-label pilot clinical trial.
Student Vladimir et al.
Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia • 2026
# Clinical Summary This pilot study tested a rectal suppository containing cannabidiol and hyaluronic acid in 16 men with chronic prostatitis and pelvic pain, administering the treatment nightly over a specified duration. The trial was designed to evaluate whether this combination could reduce symptoms measured by the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index in patients with this painful urological condition.
Could the telescoping effect and comorbidity with substance use disorders account for sex differences in the processes and therapeutic outcomes? A latent-class moderation analysis.
Dacosta-Sánchez Daniel et al.
Drug and alcohol dependence • 2026
# Clinical Summary Women with substance use disorders show faster progression to severe addiction (telescoping effect) compared to men, which may explain why standard male-focused treatment protocols produce different outcomes between sexes. When accounting for comorbid conditions like mental health disorders, sex differences in treatment response appear to be driven by how quickly women develop problematic substance use patterns rather than by sex alone.
The Influence of CBD and THC on Hepatic Enzymes of the Human Cytochrome P450 Complex Family: A Systematic Literature Review.
Dos Santos Mariana Candeias et al.
European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics • 2026
# Clinical Summary Cannabis-derived compounds (CBD and THC) are processed by liver enzymes (CYP450) that also break down about 80% of prescription medications, potentially causing significant drug interactions. This systematic review examined how CBD and THC affect the activity and function of these liver enzymes to clarify safety concerns for patients taking multiple medications.
Cannabis Use Among Individuals Treated with Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: Correlates, Patterns, and Motivations for Use.
Leyde Sarah E et al.
Substance use & addiction journal • 2026
# Summary This study found that cannabis use is common among people receiving medication-based treatment for opioid addiction, with frequent users (3 or more days per week) having distinct demographic and clinical characteristics compared to those who use less often or not at all. The research aimed to better understand who uses cannabis regularly during opioid addiction treatment and their reasons for use, which could help providers address this pattern of substance use.
Clinical Outcomes and Patient Profiles in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A k-Means Clustering Analysis.
Erridge Simon et al.
Journal of clinical pharmacology • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study identified distinct patient response patterns to cannabis-based medicinal products using clustering analysis of quality of life data collected over 24 months in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. The analysis revealed specific baseline characteristics that predict which patients are likely to experience improvements in health-related quality of life from cannabis treatment.
Investigating the effectiveness and adverse events of medicinal cannabis for patients with muscle spasticity or spasms.
Nastatos Xenia L et al.
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study examined whether medicinal cannabis could effectively treat muscle spasticity and spasms in 150 patients who reported outcomes through surveys and quality of life questionnaires. The research found that cannabis products showed promise as an alternative treatment for patients whose symptoms were not adequately controlled by standard medications, though the abstract does not specify the exact effectiveness rates or which adverse events were most commonly reported.
The prevalence of cannabis use pre-versus post-cannabis legalization in Canada by mental health status: findings from national repeat cross-sectional surveys.
Rundle Samantha et al.
Lancet regional health. Americas • 2026
# Clinical Summary This Canadian study found that recreational cannabis legalization was associated with increased cannabis use among adults with mental health conditions, with rates rising more steeply in this population compared to those without mental health issues over the five-year period following legalization. The findings suggest that individuals with mental health disorders may be particularly vulnerable to increased cannabis use following policy changes that expand legal access.
Cannabis use among Canadian veterans: associations with the use of other substances, chronic pain conditions, mental disorders, suicide behaviours, and help-seeking.
Taillieu Tamara L et al.
Journal of cannabis research • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study examined cannabis use among Canadian veterans and found significant associations between cannabis use and mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and suicidal behaviors. Veterans who used cannabis were less likely to seek professional help for their mental health issues despite higher rates of psychiatric and pain-related conditions.
Parental sociodemographic profiles in relation to mental health, cannabis use motives, and cannabis use behaviors among a sample of US young adult parents.
Romm Katelyn F et al.
Addictive behaviors • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study identified distinct sociodemographic profiles among young adult parents and found that certain profiles were associated with higher rates of past-month cannabis use and specific patterns of use motives. Mental health symptoms, including depressive and anxiety symptoms, were also examined as factors potentially influencing cannabis use frequency and consequences among different parental groups.
Associations Among Minority Stress, Relaxation and Tension-Reduction Motives, and Cannabis Use Among a Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults in Oklahoma.
Sikora Nadine et al.
Substance use & addiction journal • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study found that sexual and gender minority adults in Oklahoma who experienced higher levels of minority stress (such as discrimination and internalized stigma) were more likely to use cannabis for relaxation and tension-reduction purposes. These findings suggest that cannabis use motives, particularly stress-coping mechanisms, may partially explain why sexual and gender minority individuals show higher rates of cannabis use compared to heterosexual and cisgender populations.
Breastfeeding and Developmental Outcomes in Infants with Prenatal Cannabis Exposure: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Nidey Nichole et al.
Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study found that infants exposed to cannabis prenatally who were breastfed had comparable or potentially better developmental outcomes compared to those who were not breastfed. The findings suggest that breastfeeding may not be contraindicated in infants with prenatal cannabis exposure and may support maternal-infant health despite the mother’s cannabis use during pregnancy.
The relationship between maternal cannabis use disorder diagnosis and the development of retinopathy of prematurity.
Tran Melanie D et al.
Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus • 2026
# Clinical Summary The study compared rates of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a serious eye condition affecting premature infants, between babies born to mothers with and without cannabis use disorder during pregnancy. The research used medical records from very premature infants (born before 31 weeks) or those weighing less than 1500 grams to determine whether maternal cannabis use increased the risk of ROP development.
Accidental cannabis intoxications in toddlers: what to expect? A case report.
Wagnez Lorena et al.
Archives de pediatrie : organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie • 2026
# Clinical Summary Accidental cannabis poisoning in toddlers can present with specific symptoms that healthcare providers must recognize, as the condition is often overlooked without deliberate consideration of toxic exposure. Proper management requires awareness of cannabis intoxication presentation in young children and appropriate clinical assessment to distinguish it from other causes of acute illness.
Sexual diversity, adolescent mental health, and adult cannabis use: Longitudinal associations through cannabis use motives.
London-Nadeau Kira et al.
Addictive behaviors • 2026
# Clinical Summary Adolescent depression symptoms predicted increased cannabis use in early adulthood, with this relationship potentially explained by using cannabis to cope with emotional distress, particularly among sexually diverse youth. Anxiety symptoms in adolescence did not show the same predictive relationship with adult cannabis use, suggesting depression and anxiety may have distinct pathways to substance use outcomes.
Digest generated March 19, 2026 at 10:04 PM