Weekly Stories, Studies, Surveys, Poll Results, Laws, etc.
Analysis: Consumers Engage in Greater Levels of Physical Activity on Days They Consume Cannabis
Oklahoma City, OK: Middle-aged adults are more likely to engage in physical activities on days when they also consume cannabis, according to data published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.
Researchers affiliated with the University of Oklahoma assessed the relationship between cannabis use and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a cohort of 98 healthy middle-aged adults.
They found that participants typically engaged in 31 more minutes of physical activity on days they consumed cannabis. Participants also tended to consume more alcohol on days they were most physically active.
“The observed positive … associations between cannabis use and MVPA aligned with our hypothesis and prior cross-sectional observations,” the study’s authors concluded. “As the current study’s sample was composed of healthy middle-aged adults, it may be that cannabis use increased PA [physical activity] enjoyment and/or subsequent feelings of psychological reward. … Future studies may also consider including an assessment of whether cannabis was used pre- or post-PA and for what reasons.”
The findings are consistent with those of other studies concluding that adults with a history of marijuana use typically exercise as much or more than their non-using peers. Among those age 60 and older, marijuana use has been associated with increased exercise frequency.
Full text of the study, “Associations between cannabis use and same-day health and substance use behaviors,” appears in Addictive Behaviors.
Study: Patients Report Significant Reductions in Pain Following Cannabis Use
Hamilton, Canada: Cannabis products provide short-term relief for patients suffering from chronic muscle, joint, or nerve pain, according to data published in the journal Cannabis.
Canadian investigators assessed the short-term effects of cannabis on chronic pain in a cohort of 741 individuals over a 3+ year period. Study participants self-administered cannabis products at home and reported symptom changes in real time on a mobile software application (Strainprint). Most participants inhaled botanical cannabis. Twenty-one percent ingested cannabis oil extracts. Changes in participants’ pain scores were assessed using a 10-point scale.
On average, subjects reported a three-point reduction in their pain scores following cannabis use. Male participants were more likely than females to experience greater pain relief. Greater efficacy was associated with products either dominant or balanced in THC content as compared to CBD-dominant products.
“Our analysis of observational data from chronic pain patients who use medical cannabis found large reductions in pain, and that men were more likely to experience greater pain relief than women,” the study’s authors concluded. “Our findings require confirmation in rigorously conducted randomized trials that include a placebo control to account for non-specific effects.”
Separate data published in 2023 in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that nearly one in three patients with chronic pain use cannabis as an analgesic agent and many of those who do substitute it in place of opioids.
Full text of the study, “Predictors of response to medical cannabis for chronic pain: A retrospective review of real-time observational data,” appears in Cannabis.
Survey: CBD Dosing Associated With Symptom Improvements in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Boston, MA: Women diagnosed with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis report symptom improvements following the ingestion of CBD products, according to survey data published in the journal Medicina.
Investigators affiliated with Simmons University in Boston surveyed 25 women who consumed CBD to mitigate IBD symptoms. Most participants obtained CBD products from state-licensed dispensaries. Participants typically consumed oral doses of 25 mg or less of CBD daily.
Researchers reported, “CBD users reported decreases in IBD-related pain and nausea (76 percent and 64 percent, respectively), and improvement in appetite (60 percent).”
The study’s authors concluded: “This study … suggest[s] that CBD could lead to improvements in IBD-related pain and nausea, increased appetite, and overall increased quality of life in this understudied and vulnerable cohort. … Additional investigations that include larger sample sizes, more variation among disease severity, and an interventional study design could further elucidate the results currently indicated.”
IBD patients enrolled in the United Kingdom’s Medical Cannabis Registry report sustained improvements in their health-related quality of life following their use of medicinal cannabis products, according to data published earlier this year in the journal Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
Prior survey data reports that an estimated one-half of IBD patients have tried cannabis, and that nearly one-third of current consumers use it to mitigate disease symptoms.
Full text of the study, “The perceived effectiveness of cannabidiol on adult women with inflammatory bowel disease,” appears in Medicina.
Tallahassee, FL: Backers of a 2024 statewide initiative that sought to legalize adult-use retail marijuana sales are considering running another legalization campaign in 2026.
The campaign behind the Amendment 3 effort, Smart & Safe Florida, filed paperwork with state officials last week to place another ballot question before voters. Although the 2024 campaign received 56 percent of the vote, that total was below the 60 percent threshold required to pass a constitutional amendment in Florida. (Florida is the only state that requires citizen-initiated measures to gain more than a simple majority.)
The newly proposed measure is similar to last year’s amendment. However, the updated language explicitly prohibits any public use of cannabis and stipulates that nothing in the initiative prevents lawmakers “from providing for the home growing of marijuana by adults for their personal use and the reasonable regulation thereof,” among other changes.
Amendment 3 was vigorously opposed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who allocated millions of dollars in state funds to air anti-marijuana ads on television. Most recently, Gov. DeSantis called on lawmakers to convene a special legislative session to discuss options to impose new restrictions on ballot initiative access.
Historically, Florida has been among the states with the highest number of annual marijuana-related arrests. Under state law, possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana is a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Possessing greater amounts is a felony offense, punishable by up to five years in prison.
In 2016, 71 percent of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment legalizing the production and distribution of medical cannabis to qualified patients. Over 850,000 Floridians are now registered with the state to access medical marijuana.
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