WHY IT MATTERS: If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and currently use cannabis, this research underscores why having an honest, judgment-free conversation with your physician about timing, risks, and alternatives is essential for both your care and your baby’s long-term neurodevelopmental health. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Emerging research is exploring how prenatal cannabis exposure may alter genetic markers in the placenta, particularly in pregnancies associated with low birth weight, and whether those placental changes could serve as early indicators of neurodevelopmental risk including schizophrenia. This builds on what we already know clinically about the endocannabinoid system’s critical role in fetal brain development and placental function.
A huge study finds a link between cannabis use in teens and psychosis later – KUOW
WHY IT MATTERS: If you are a parent, caregiver, or young adult considering cannabis use, this research reinforces that delaying use until the brain is more fully developed, generally past age 25, is one of the most important harm reduction strategies available. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Large-scale longitudinal research continues to reinforce the clinical concern that adolescent cannabis exposure is associated with elevated risk of psychotic disorders and other serious mental health conditions in adulthood. From a neurobiological standpoint, the adolescent brain is undergoing critical endocannabinoid system maturation, and exogenous cannabinoid exposure during this window may disrupt neurodevelopmental trajectories in ways that increase vulnerability to psychosis, particularly in genetically predisposed individuals.
The Brain Science Behind the Munchies – Nautilus Magazine
WHY IT MATTERS: If you use cannabis medicinally and experience unwanted appetite changes or, conversely, rely on cannabis to maintain healthy weight during illness, emerging brain science research may help your physician fine-tune your cannabinoid formulation and dosing to better control these effects. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: The neuroscience of cannabis-induced appetite stimulation involves complex interactions between cannabinoids and the brain’s endocannabinoid system, particularly through CB1 receptor activation in the hypothalamus and olfactory regions that heighten sensory perception of food and override satiety signals. In clinical practice, this appetite-stimulating effect is one of the most well-established therapeutic applications of cannabis, benefiting patients with cachexia, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and wasting syndromes.
IGC Pharma Adds Visionary Investigators Network as Clinical Site to Phase 2 CALMA Trial
WHY IT MATTERS: If you or a loved one is living with Alzheimer’s-related agitation, the expansion of this clinical trial means more opportunities to access investigational cannabinoid therapy and brings us closer to having FDA-reviewed evidence for cannabis-based treatment options in dementia care. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: The expansion of clinical trial sites for IGC Pharma’s Phase 2 CALMA trial investigating cannabinoid-based therapy for Alzheimer’s-associated agitation represents a meaningful step in building the evidence base for cannabis medicine in neurodegenerative disease. Alzheimer’s-related behavioral symptoms like agitation and aggression are notoriously difficult to manage with conventional medications, and cannabinoid therapies have shown early promise in addressing neuroinflammation and behavioral dysregulation through endocannabinoid system modulation.
Munchies Phenomenon: WSU Study Looks into Benefits of Cannabis Use and Appetite
Scientists have now proven that cannabis-triggered appetite is a real brain response that could be harnessed to help patients with HIV/AIDS and cancer who struggle to eat enough to maintain their health. A Washington State University and University of Calgary study published in PNAS confirmed that cannabis-induced appetite stimulation is a real, brain-mediated phenomenon that occurs universally regardless of sex, age, BMI, or recent food intake. In a randomized clinical trial of 82 volunteers, participants who vaped cannabis ate significantly more food within 30 minutes than the placebo group.
Full-Spectrum Cannabis Extract Shows Significant Pain Reduction in Chronic Neuropathic Pain
If you live with chronic nerve pain, this study provides clinical evidence that full-spectrum cannabis extracts can deliver meaningful relief with fewer side effects than many conventional pain medications. A clinical study found that a full-spectrum cannabis extract containing a balanced ratio of THC and CBD produced statistically significant reductions in chronic neuropathic pain compared to placebo. Patients reported meaningful improvements in pain intensity, sleep quality, and overall quality of life with minimal adverse effects.
New Study in Pullman Shows ‘Munchies’ Might Help Those with Loss of Appetite
If you grow cannabis at home or buy from cultivators, this research on common weed killers and cancer risk highlights why clean, organic growing practices and rigorous testing matter for your safety. NBC Right Now’s local coverage of the WSU/Calgary PNAS study conducted in the Pullman community. The trial recruited 82 volunteers ages 21-62 and used a whole-plant vapor approach rather than synthetic THC to better reflect real-world use.
The Munchies’ Are Real and Could Benefit Those with No Appetite
This Pullman-based study using real cannabis—not synthetic THC—provides the most realistic evidence yet that cannabis appetite effects can be translated into treatments for seriously ill patients. WSU’s official press release on the PNAS munchies study. Prof.
Study Challenges Negative Cannabis Stereotypes, Claiming Link to Brain Benefits
Researchers confirmed that cannabis universally increases appetite regardless of your body type, gender, or how recently you ate—knowledge that could help develop better treatments for patients who can’t eat due to illness. Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus analyzed cannabis usage, brain scans, and cognitive test results for over 26,000 adults ages 40-77 using UK Biobank data. Moderate lifetime cannabis users showed larger volumes in brain regions rich in CB1 receptors—areas involved in memory, information processing, and emotion regulation.
Satiety Bypass: How Cannabis Overrides the Brain’s ‘I’m Full’ Signal
A massive study tracking over 460,000 teens found that cannabis use during adolescence doubled the risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders, underscoring why age restrictions and youth prevention are critical. Neuroscience News deep-dive into the WSU/Calgary PNAS study on cannabis-induced appetite. THC activates CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus to override natural satiety signals, creating a feeling of starvation even in recently fed subjects.