#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.
Identifying missed prevention opportunities: maternal and congenital syphilis in hospital records and birth certificates in California from 2011 to 2021.
Frankeberger Jessica et al.
Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association • 2026
# Clinical Summary Among California births from 2011 to 2021, congenital syphilis occurred in 0.06% of cases where mothers had syphilis, with public insurance identified as a risk factor for transmission. The study identified missed prevention opportunities by examining gaps between maternal syphilis documentation and actual congenital syphilis cases, suggesting inconsistent screening or treatment during pregnancy.
Cannabis Use for Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease: A Scoping Review.
Jackson Simone B et al.
Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses • 2026
# Clinical Summary This scoping review examined available evidence on cannabis and cannabinoid use for pain management in adults with sickle cell disease, searching multiple databases to identify relevant studies and assess treatment effectiveness. The review aimed to evaluate what types of cannabis products have been studied, how well they work for pain relief in this population, and identify gaps in current research.
A National Survey of Marijuana Use Among U.S. Adults According to Obesity Status, 2016-2022.
Merrill Ray M
Cannabis and cannabinoid research • 2026
# Clinical Summary This national survey found that marijuana use among U.S. adults was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) across the 2016-2022 period. The study analyzed data from a representative sample of over 18,000 adults using telephone surveys to examine how marijuana use varied across different weight categories and demographic groups.
Effect of Nonmedical Cannabis Legalization and Exposure to Retail Stores on Cannabis Harms : A Quasi-experimental Study.
Friesen Erik Loewen et al.
Annals of internal medicine • 2026
# Clinical Summary After Canada legalized nonmedical cannabis in 2018, researchers found that higher exposure to cannabis retail stores was associated with increased emergency department visits related to cannabis use in Ontario. The study suggests that limiting the density of cannabis retail locations could be an effective public health strategy to reduce cannabis-related harms in the community.
Substance use and menopausal hormone therapy: Treatment initiation and interruption among US women with and without HIV, 2008-2019.
Knittel Andrea K et al.
International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics • 2026
# Clinical Summary Women with substance use were less likely to initiate menopausal hormone therapy for moderate-to-severe hot flashes compared to those without substance use, regardless of HIV status. Treatment interruptions were more common among women with active substance use, suggesting that substance use may be a barrier to consistent management of menopausal symptoms.
Neuroprotective Role of Cannabinoid CB1 and GPR55 Receptors in a Cell Model of Multiple Sclerosis.
Martínez-Pinilla Eva et al.
Molecular neurobiology • 2026
# Clinical Summary Researchers found that CB1 and GPR55 receptors, which are part of the body’s endocannabinoid system, protect nerve cells and support oligodendrocytes (the cells that insulate nerve fibers) in cell models simulating multiple sclerosis. These receptors represent a potential new treatment approach since current MS medications mainly suppress the immune system but do not effectively repair nerve damage or restore the protective myelin coating.
CBD, cannabis, or both? Examining use patterns and associated factors among U.S. youth and adults.
Dai Hongying Daisy et al.
Addictive behaviors • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study found that cannabis and CBD use patterns vary significantly between U.S. youth and adults, with some individuals using cannabis exclusively, CBD exclusively, or both products together. The research identified specific demographic and behavioral factors associated with each use pattern, which could help inform public health approaches to cannabis and CBD products among different age groups.
Correlates of Derived Cannabis Product Awareness, Knowledge, Use, and Use Intentions Among Young Adults.
LoParco Cassidy R et al.
Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education • 2026
This study found that awareness and knowledge of chemically synthesized cannabis products (like delta-8 and delta-10 THC) vary among young adults based on demographic factors, with certain groups showing higher awareness and use patterns. The research identified specific demographic characteristics and knowledge levels that predict both current use and intentions to use these derived cannabis products in the future.
Insights Into Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Chemical Properties, Legal Perspectives, and Therapeutic Applications.
Vihal Samar et al.
Chemistry & biodiversity • 2026
Cannabis contains over 500 chemical compounds, with cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids showing potential therapeutic effects for conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, cancer, mental health disorders, and inflammation. The review synthesizes historical use, chemical composition data, and clinical evidence while considering the regulatory landscape surrounding cannabis and its therapeutic applications.
Rates and predictors of postdischarge opioid-free analgesia after elective colorectal surgery: A prospective cohort study.
Pook Makena et al.
Surgery • 2026
This study found that a significant proportion of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery can manage postdischarge pain without opioids, though rates and predictors of opioid-free analgesia vary based on patient and care characteristics. The research identified specific patient and clinical factors associated with successful opioid-free pain management after colorectal surgery, providing insights to guide safer postoperative pain control strategies.
UK Medical Cannabis Registry: a case series analysing clinical outcomes of medicinal cannabis therapy for fibromyalgia.
Varadpande Madhur et al.
Clinical rheumatology • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study found that patients with fibromyalgia who received cannabis-based medicinal products showed improvements in pain and quality of life measures based on patient-reported outcomes. The research provides real-world evidence from UK medical practice that cannabis treatment may be beneficial for fibromyalgia symptoms, though the study was observational in design and larger controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
The Impact of Dual Cannabis and Tobacco Smoking in Young Patients With Lung Cancer: Results From the Prospective “Environment and Lung Cancer” Study.
Pradère Pauline et al.
Chest • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study examined young patients (age 60 or under) with lung cancer to determine how often they smoked cannabis and how cannabis use affected their cancer characteristics. The research aimed to clarify the relationship between cannabis smoking and lung cancer development in younger populations, filling a gap in medical knowledge as cannabis use becomes more common globally.
Reducing severe breathlessness with dronabinol in the group of patients with severe and very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (BONG): a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study in an outpatient clinic in Denmark – a study protocol.
Wolsing Sofie Krogh et al.
BMJ open • 2026
This is a study protocol describing a planned clinical trial rather than completed research with results. The study will test whether dronabinol, a synthetic cannabinoid, can reduce severe breathlessness in patients with advanced COPD who remain symptomatic despite standard treatments, using a randomized double-blinded design with 30 participants in Denmark.
A longitudinal quasi-experimental study of a pedagogical approach to supporting undergraduate well-being and mental health: digital interdisciplinary accredited elective mental health literacy university course.
Duffy Anne et al.
BJPsych open • 2026
# Summary I cannot provide a summary of the key findings because the abstract does not include a results section or conclusions. The abstract only describes the study background, aims, and methods, but does not report what the researchers actually found regarding the course’s impact on student well-being and mental health.
Cannabis Use in a Community-Based Sample of Adults Diagnosed With ADHD: Prevalence, Impact on Symptoms, and Stimulant Side Effects.
Ryan Jennie E et al.
Journal of attention disorders • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study of 900 adults with ADHD found that a significant proportion used cannabis, with the research examining how this use correlated with ADHD symptom severity, other medical conditions, and side effects from prescription stimulant medications. The findings help clarify the prevalence and potential impacts of cannabis use in the adult ADHD population, which is important for clinical decision-making and patient counseling.
Machine learning identifies traumatic experiences as being associated with auditory verbal hallucinations in both a non-clinical population and individuals diagnosed with psychosis.
Ostojic Dijana et al.
Psychiatry research • 2026
# Clinical Summary Researchers used machine learning to analyze data from over 130,000 UK Biobank participants and found that traumatic experiences were the strongest predictor of hearing voices (auditory verbal hallucinations) in both people with psychosis and the general population. This finding suggests that trauma is a significant shared risk factor for voice-hearing experiences across different groups, regardless of psychiatric diagnosis.
Lifetime Adversity Among Individuals With Early Phase Psychosis and Comorbid Substance Misuse.
Patterson Victoria C et al.
Early intervention in psychiatry • 2026
# Clinical Summary This study examined how often people experiencing early psychosis face both traumatic life events and substance misuse problems, finding that these challenges frequently occur together in this population. The research expanded the definition of adversity beyond childhood trauma to include psychosis-related experiences like threatening hallucinations, providing a more complete picture of the hardships these patients endure.
Talking About Cannabis: Perspectives of First Episode Psychosis Care Participants and Parents.
Lucksted Alicia et al.
Journal of dual diagnosis • 2026
This study explored how young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis and their parents communicate about cannabis use, finding that conversations about this topic need improvement. The research identified four themes for optimizing these discussions, suggesting that better communication strategies could help address the important link between cannabis use and psychosis in early intervention care settings.
ACMT Position Statement Revision: Preventing Cannabis Exposures in Children.
Hendrickson Robert et al.
Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology • 2026
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Adolescents: A Single Institution Case Series.
Vega Castellvi Claudia et al.
Pediatric emergency care • 2026
This case series documents cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a condition causing repeated vomiting in adolescents who use cannabis frequently and long-term, which is often missed or misdiagnosed leading to unnecessary testing and increased hospital visits. The study examined treatment effectiveness, healthcare costs, and associated mental health and medical conditions in pediatric patients with this syndrome.
Digest generated March 19, 2026 at 10:09 PM