Tag: Weed Connection

Study: Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Anxiety, Improved Sleep Quality in Older Adults
Cannabis use is associated with short-term reductions in pain, depression, and anxiety, as well as with improved sleep quality the following night.

a graph line indicating a decrease overlaid on a background with a stethoscope, notepad, pen, and cannabis leaves
Analysis: Cannabis-Related Hospitalizations Fall Among Underage Youth Following Adult-Use Legalization
“The total effect, 3.5 years after legalization, was a 34 percent reduction in hospitalizations for those below relative to those above the minimum legal age,” investigators determined.

A senior woman reads the label on a cannabis CBD bottle
Preclinical Data Finds “Compelling” Evidence That CBD Offers a “Comprehensive Treatment Approach” to Alzheimer’s Disease
“These data present CBD as a potential target to combat not only molecular deficits in AD but also cognitive impairment,” the study’s authors concluded.

A voter in Nebraska casts a vote for marijuana
Nebraska: Lawmakers Kill Bill Facilitating Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Access
The bill’s failure will likely delay patients’ ability to access cannabis products.

Study: Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Anxiety, Improved Sleep Quality in Older Adults

Orlando, FL: Older adults’ use of cannabis is associated with reduced anxiety and improved sleep, according to data published in the journal Psychiatry.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Central Florida assessed the impact of cannabis use on anxiety, sleep quality, depression, and pain in a cohort of older (ages 55 to 74) medical cannabis consumers.

Researchers reported that cannabis use was associated with short-term reductions in pain, depression, and anxiety, as well as with improved sleep quality the following night. Subjects’ improved sleep was directly related to their reductions in anxiety, the study’s authors determined.

“These findings provide evidence of momentary improvements in pain, anxiety, depression, and indirect benefits for sleep quality,” they concluded. “The results of this study contribute to a growing body of research evaluating the utility of MC [medical cannabis] for older adults and serve to help inform moderate use guidelines for this population.”

Survey data provided by AARP reports that more than one in five older adults have consumed cannabis over the past year, with some two-thirds of older consumers acknowledging having used it “to improve or manage a physical health condition,” such as chronic pain, anxiety, or sleep disturbances. Industry-backed survey data finds that an estimated 16 percent of US adults say that they use cannabis products to help them sleep.

Full text of the study, “Impact of medical cannabis on anxiety and sleep quality in older adults,” appears in Psychiatry.

Analysis: Cannabis-Related Hospitalizations Fall Among Underage Youth Following Adult-Use Legalization

Ottawa, Canada: The legalization of the adult-use cannabis market in Canada resulted in a significant decline in the rate of underage youths requiring hospitalization for marijuana-related incidents, according to data published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Researchers affiliated with the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto assessed nationwide rates of cannabis-related hospitalizations among those ages 15 to 44 years old in the years immediately prior to and following legalization.

They reported that hospitalization rates increased by two percent annually among both underage youth and adults during the three years prior to legalization. Following legalization, hospitalization rates fell among underage youth, but not among adults.

“The total effect, 3.5 years after legalization, was a 34 percent reduction in hospitalizations for those below relative to those above the MLA [minimum legal age],” the study’s authors concluded. “The results suggest that cannabis legalization may … prevent such increases for at-risk young people in regions pursuing cannabis legalization.”

Survey data from Canada and the United States have consistently failed to identify an uptick in young people’s use of marijuana following legalization.

Full text of the study, “Minimum legal age of nonmedical cannabis purchase laws and cannabis-related hospitalizations in Canada, 2015-2022,” appears in the American Journal of Public Health.

Nebraska: Lawmakers Kill Bill Facilitating Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Access

Lincoln, NE: State lawmakers killed legislation (LB 677) that sought to provide a regulatory framework for the production and dispensing of medical cannabis. Some 70 percent of Nebraskans approved a pair of ballot measures in November legalizing the use of medical cannabis by authorized patients.

Despite that public support, lawmakers filibustered the measure – which sought to facilitate the law’s implementation while also imposing various changes to its provisions. The failure of the bill will likely delay patients’ ability to access cannabis products. Regulations governing the law will now be left to members of a yet-to-be-appointed commission.

Numerous elected officials, including Republican Attorney General Mike Hilgers and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts, have publicly opposed adopting the voter-approved law, and the AG is asking the state’s Supreme Court to nullify the election result.

Additional information is available from Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.

Preclinical Data Finds “Compelling” Evidence That CBD Offers a “Comprehensive Treatment Approach” to Alzheimer’s Disease

Madrid, Spain: CBD treatment is neuroprotective and is associated with improved memory in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to data published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.

Spanish researchers assessed the impact of CBD in in vitro and in vivo models of AD. They reported that CBD reduces neuroinflammation, reduces the build-up of proteins associated with the onset of AD, significantly improves long-term and short-term spatial memory, and promotes neuronal repair and regeneration.

“These multifaceted effects of CBD, ranging from molecular-level modulation to behavioral improvements, underscore its potential as a comprehensive therapeutic approach for AD,” the study’s authors concluded. “These data present CBD as a potential target to combat not only molecular deficits in AD but also cognitive impairment, offering a promising therapeutic approach that could potentially slow disease progression and improve quality of life for AD patients.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabidiol as a multifaceted therapeutic agent: Mitigating Alzheimer’s disease pathology and enhancing cognitive function,” appears in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.

Analysis: Alcohol Sales Dip Following Marijuana Legalization

St. Catherines, Canada: Alcohol sales decline following the adoption of adult-use marijuana legalization, according to data published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

A researcher with Brock University in Ontario analyzed alcoholic beverage sales in the province of Nova Scotia during the 17 months immediately prior to and following Canada’s legalization of the adult-use marijuana market.

He determined that alcohol sales declined slightly (2.2 percent) immediately following legalization. Alcohol sales remained below average throughout the study period (1.2 percent below pre-legalization levels).

“Nova Scotia’s alcohol sales declined slightly after cannabis legalization,” the study’s author concluded. “The net decrease in alcohol sales implies … that … after cannabis became legal to use, consumers substituted it for alcohol more often than before.”

The result is consistent with data recently provided by Statistics Canada, finding that alcohol sales experienced a significant decline in 2023/2024 while adult-use cannabis sales increased nearly 12 percent.

Survey data published last year in The Harm Reduction Journal found that 60 percent of cannabis consumers acknowledge using the substance to reduce their alcohol intake.

Full text of the study, “Alcohol sales change in a Canadian province after recreational cannabis legalization,” appears in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

Clinical Trial: Daily Use of Hemp-Derived CBD Reduces Alcohol Cravings

Aurora, CO: The daily consumption of hemp-derived CBD is associated with reduced cravings for alcohol in subjects diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to clinical trial data published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus assessed the use of CBD versus placebo in a cohort of 44 adults with AUD. Participants consumed 15 mg capsules containing hemp-derived CBD either with or without THC or a placebo for eight weeks. Patients were assessed at baseline, four weeks, eight weeks, and 16 weeks.

Researchers reported that daily CBD consumption reduced participants’ alcohol cravings with “minimal side effects.” Participants who consumed CBD with trace amounts of THC “demonstrated stronger improvements in AUD symptoms” relative to those who consumed CBD only. However, CBD dosing didn’t directly influence the number of drinks participants consumed per day.

“Results suggest good tolerability, low potential for adverse effects, and potential clinical efficacy, supporting the rationale for additional investigations,” the study’s authors concluded. “Future studies should prioritize large, well-powered RCTs [randomized clinical trials] to validate these preliminary findings in individuals with varying AUD severity and treatment histories.”

The results of a 2024 randomized clinical trial similarly concluded that the oral administration of 800 mg of synthetic CBD significantly reduces subjects’ cravings for alcohol.

A 2021 observational study also determined that the consumption of CBD-dominant cannabis is associated with reductions in subjects’ alcohol intake. That study reported that participants who ingested CBD-dominant cannabis during the trial period “drank fewer drinks per drinking day, had fewer alcohol use days, and fewer alcohol and cannabis co-use days” compared with those who did not.

Separate studies also suggest that CBD dosing can reduce cravings for other psychoactive substances, including tobacco, methamphetamine, and heroin.

Full text of the study, “A preliminary randomized trial of the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of hemp-derived cannabidiol in alcohol use disorder,” appears in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Survey: Most Veterans Say Feds Should Provide Medical Cannabis Services

Washington, DC: Military veterans and their family members believe that the Department of Veterans Affairs should provide medical cannabis treatment to eligible patients, according to survey data compiled by the non-profit group Mission Roll Call.

Representatives from the advocacy group compiled responses from nearly 2,000 veterans and their family members regarding how the Veterans Affairs department could better expand its services. Fifty-seven percent of respondents supported allowing the agency to provide medical cannabis.

Under federal law, VA-affiliated doctors are forbidden from authorizing veterans to use medical cannabis, even if they live in jurisdictions where the substance is legal.

Nonetheless, some 40 percent of veterans suffering from chronic pain acknowledge using cannabis products. Most say they improve their health-related quality of life and reduce their reliance on prescription medications.

Additional information is available from the NORML Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana and Veterans Issues.’

Preclinical Study: Topical Application of Hemp Seed Oil Accelerates Wound Healing

Banda Aceh, Indonesia: The twice-daily topical application of hemp seed oil accelerates the wound healing process, according to animal data published in the Indonesian scientific journal Narra J.

A team of Indonesian researchers assessed the efficacy of hemp seed oil on animal (mice) wounds over 21 days. Investigators compared the effects of hemp seed oil to those of another active treatment (chloramphenicol ointment) or a placebo.

Researchers reported that hemp seed oil “demonstrated superior effectiveness in accelerating wound size reduction compared to chloramphenicol ointment during days 14 and 21, indicating its potential as a supportive therapy for prolonged wound healing phases.” Hemp seed oil also demonstrated superior results with respect to vascularization and promoting angiogenesis (stimulating the formation of new blood vessels).

“Hemp seed oil demonstrated significant potential in accelerating wound healing processes, particularly in promoting wound size reduction, epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and vascularization, indicating a superior effect compared to chloramphenicol ointment,” the study’s authors concluded. “Hemp seed oil may be considered a promising adjunct or alternative treatment for wound management, particularly for patients seeking natural and cost-effective options.”

The topical application of cannabinoids, and CBD in particular, has demonstrated benefits in the treatment of a variety of skin-related conditions, including eczema, leg ulcers, skin ulcers of the fingertips, psoriasis, erythema, pruritus, and acne. It has also been associated with wound healing in patients with refractory leg ulcers and with the rare skin blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa.

Full text of the study, “Effect of hemp seed oil on accelerating wound healing: Evaluation of wound size reduction, epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and vascularization in murine models,” appears in Narra J.

Analysis: Few Changes in Patients’ Cognitive Performance Following Their Use of Medical Cannabis Products

Brisbane, Australia: Patients’ cognitive performance is largely unaffected following their consumption of either medical cannabis oil or flower, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.

Australian researchers assessed the acute effects of either vaporized cannabis or the ingestion of cannabis oil on cognitive functions relevant to driving in a cohort of 78 patients. (Australian physicians may prescribe cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.) Participants’ performance was tested at baseline and then again 15 minutes following the vaporization of herbal cannabis and 90 minutes following the ingestion of cannabis oil.

Consistent with prior studies, subjects exhibited tolerance to the acute effects of cannabis dosing. Specifically, participants’ cannabis use “did not measurably affect information processing speed, divided and sustained attention, or inhibitory control performance.”

By contrast, investigators reported that cannabis may negatively influence patients’ “mental flexibility” (the capacity for switching attentional focus) and “visuomotor attention” skills. However, researchers said it is unclear “whether such changes would translate into temporary functional changes to driving capacity.”

The study’s authors concluded: “The absence of measurable change on multiple measures of attentional processing, reaction time, and simple information processing speed suggests that tolerance to THC may mediate the known acute effects of cannabis on neurocognitive function in medicinal cannabis patients. … As the use of medicinal cannabis continues to expand globally, research investigating the acute effects of prescribed THC remains a high priority.”

Full text of the study, “Elucidating the acute effects of medically prescribed oral and vaporized delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on cognitive functions important for driving,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Review.

Study: Cannabis Use Has No Significant Adverse Impact on Sperm Motility

Boston, MA: Men who use cannabis do not have lower sperm counts, according to data published in the scientific journal Andrology.

Researchers affiliated with Boston University’s School of Public Health assessed semen samples from a representative cohort of 921 male subjects, 23 percent of whom currently consumed cannabis.

Investigators reported no significant differences in sperm concentration, volume, or motility in cannabis consumers versus non-consumers.

“In this North American preconception cohort study, current cannabis use was not appreciably associated with semen quality,” the study’s authors concluded.

Studies assessing the potential impact of cannabis use on male reproductive health have yielded inconsistent results. For instance, a 2019 Harvard study linked cannabis use with higher sperm concentrations, while a 2015 review paper cautioned that heavy cannabis use could pose detrimental effects on male reproductive potential. More recent papers have concluded that a history of cannabis use likely doesn’t have any significant adverse effects on either male sexual function or fertility rates.

Full text of the study, “A North American preconception cohort study of cannabis use and semen quality,” appears in Andrology.

Study: FDA-Approved CBD Formulation Significantly Reduces Seizure Frequency in Young People With Refractory Epilepsy

New Orleans, LA: Nearly half of pediatric patients prescribed CBD in the form of Epidiolex achieve a ≤25 percent reduction in seizures, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior.

Investigators affiliated with Tulane University’s School of Medicine assessed the adjunctive use of Epidiolex in 208 patients with treatment-resistant childhood epilepsy.

Researchers reported a significant decrease in seizure frequency across all diagnostic categories, with an overall median reduction in monthly seizures from 30 to eight. Forty-nine percent of patients experienced a greater than 25 percent reduction in seizure frequency following CBD treatment. Twenty-one percent of participants experienced a 51 to 75 percent reduction in seizures.

“Our study demonstrates that cannabidiol offers significant benefits in reducing seizure frequency across a variety of epilepsy etiologies in pediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy,” the study’s authors concluded. “While CBD’s efficacy in conditions like Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome is well-documented our findings underscore CBD’s broader potential in managing other types of DEEs [developmental and epileptic encephalopathies], focal/multifocal epilepsy, and primary generalized epilepsy.”

In 2018, regulators at the US Food and Drug Administration granted market approval to Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol for the explicit treatment of Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, two rare forms of childhood epilepsy.

Full text of the study, “Adjunctive use of cannabidiol for pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy: A retrospective multicenter analysis,” appears in Epilepsy & Behavior.

Texas: Austin Police Unlikely To Pursue Low-Level Marijuana Possession Cases Despite Appellate Court Ruling

Austin, TX: Austin police officers are unlikely to begin citing or arresting minor marijuana violators, despite a recent appellate court ruling striking down the city’s voter-approved depenalization ordinance.

“For now, we’re still going with the way we were policing before,” acknowledged Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis.

Austin is one of several Texas cities that have approved citizen-sponsored ordinances prohibiting local law enforcement from making low-level marijuana-related arrests. (Voters in Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos have also approved marijuana depenalization measures.) However, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to nullify those laws. In March, the newly formed Fifteenth Court of Appeals ruled that state law preempts the adoption of Austin’s and San Marcos’ ordinances.

State law defines marijuana possession of two ounces or less as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a criminal record.

In addition to the Attorney General’s legal efforts, Texas lawmakers are moving forward with legislation prohibiting localities from placing any future marijuana-related measures on the ballot. Senate lawmakers recently approved SB 1870, which forbids voters from deciding upon local ordinances that seek to decriminalize marijuana. The measure also prohibits cities and towns from adopting policies that do not “fully enforce” the state’s criminal marijuana laws.

Analysis: Cannabis Use by Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Associated With Reduced In-Hospital Mortality, Lower Hospitalization Costs

New York, NY: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who consume cannabis are less likely to die while hospitalized and they incur fewer hospital-related expenses as compared to non-users, according to data published in the journal Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.

Researchers affiliated with St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City assessed the relationship between cannabis use and inpatient outcomes in a cohort of more than 3.3 million RA patients over five years.

After adjusting for age, gender, race, and comorbidities, cannabis use at the time of hospitalization was linked to decreased mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.50), depression (OR: 0.47), chronic pain (OR: 0.45), and anxiety (OR: 0.55). Cannabis consumers also incurred nearly 10 percent fewer hospital-related charges per visit.

“While these findings suggest potential benefits of cannabis use for symptom management, it is important to recognize that the current evidence is observational,” the study’s authors concluded. “Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to develop strategies that maximize the benefits of cannabis use while minimizing the risks.”

Other studies have similarly linked cannabis use with decreased in-hospital mortality, specifically among patients with acute myocardial infarction, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, HIV, burn-related injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and various other types of severe trauma.

Survey data reports that as many as one in five arthritis patients use cannabis products to mitigate their symptoms and reduce their use of prescription opioids.

Full text of the study, “Inpatient outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis in hospitalized patients using cannabis: Data from the National Inpatient Sample,” appears in Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.

Study: Chronic Pain Patients Report Improvements Following Use of CBD

Dothan, AL: Most patients who consume CBD say that it significantly reduces their chronic pain, according to data published in the scientific journal Cureus.

Researchers affiliated with the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine surveyed the efficacy of CBD in 121 chronic pain patients. Participants rated their pain at baseline and following CBD treatment on a scale of zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain they have ever felt).

Over 98 percent of respondents reported pain mitigation following their use of CBD. On average, patients’ baseline pain fell 2.6 points on the 10-point numerical rating scale. Most participants (55 percent) reported no adverse side effects from CBD treatment.

Investigators reported: “CBD has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of chronic pain in study respondents, regardless of the cause. Over 98 percent of participants self-reported an improvement to some extent of their chronic pain, ranging from a minimal reduction in pain (i.e., 1/10), to a complete resolution of chronic pain (i.e., 10/10), through CBD treatment.”

The study’s authors concluded: “The findings from the current project indicate that a majority of participants believe their chronic pain has improved with the usage of a CBD supplement. Most subjects used CBD between one and three times a day, with many finding relief with a dose of 100 mg or less. Furthermore, most respondents experienced either mild side effects or no side effects at all. Altogether, these findings may be comforting to individuals concerned about taking pain medication too frequently, at high doses, or about its associated adverse effects. While our research is certainly not exhaustive, it is a clear indication that the possibility of great benefit of CBD treatment exists in treating chronic pain.”

A placebo-controlled study performed by researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in Los Angeles previously reported that the use of commercially available CBD products is associated with “clinically meaningful” improvements in patients’ pain, anxiety, and sleep quality.

Full text of the study, “A survey on the use of cannabidiol isolate, its perceived benefits, and associated side effects among subjects with chronic pain,” appears in Cureus.

Study: Cannabis Use Not Associated With Sedentary Lifestyle

Ghent, Belgium: Younger and middle-aged adults who regularly consume cannabis are no less likely than non-users to engage in physical activities, according to data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Belgian researchers examined the relationship between past-month cannabis use and physical activity in a cohort of adults between the ages of 15 and 64.

After controlling for potential confounders, investigators reported that past-month cannabis consumption had “no effect” on participants’ levels of physical activity. “The stereotypical image of cannabis users having more sedentary lifestyles should be critically reevaluated in light of our and other research,” the study’s authors concluded.

Their findings are consistent with those of a 2024 study that similarly determined, “Marijuana … use [is] not associated with low exercise rates among adults in the United States.”

Their conclusions are inconsistent with those of other recent studies finding that adults with a history of marijuana use, and older adults in particular, typically exercise more frequently than their non-using peers.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use is not associated with altered levels of physical activity: Evidence from the repeated sectional Belgian Health Interview Survey,” appears in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Nebraska: Lawmakers Advance Legislation Amending Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Measures

Lincoln, NE: Legislators on the General Affairs Committee amended and passed legislation, LB 677, regulating the distribution of medical cannabis to authorized patients. Over 70 percent of Nebraskans approved a pair of citizen initiatives in November, legalizing the use and dispensing of cannabis to those with a physician’s recommendation.

Changes to LB 677, which had previously stalled in the Committee, include prohibiting patients from smoking botanical cannabis and imposing a limited list of qualifying conditions. Neither restriction exists in the voter-approved ballot measures. As amended, LB 677 also reduces the amount of cannabis patients may possess from five ounces to no more than two ounces. Lawmakers also added new rules narrowly defining which healthcare practitioners can issue medical cannabis authorizations and under what circumstances.

The amended measure now heads to the floor for further debate. The 2025 state legislative session is scheduled to end in June.

Following the passage of the initiatives, the state’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify the election results. Although a district court judge rejected the suit, the AG is appealing the ruling to the state’s Supreme Court. A separate lawsuit filed on behalf of a former state senator is also pending. That suit argues that the state’s medical cannabis measures should be preempted by federal law, a position the AG also endorses.

Additional information is available from Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana.