Tag: Weed Connection

Study: No Evidence of Residual Cannabis Effects on Driving Performance

San Diego, CA: Consumers who abstain from cannabis for 48 hours drive no differently than abstainers, according to driving simulator data published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Researchers affiliated with the University of California at San Diego evaluated driving performance in a cohort of 191 cannabis consumers. Participants completed a 25-minute simulated drive following 48 hours of cannabis abstinence. In phase II of the study, a subset of near-daily consumers was matched against non-using controls.

“The current study showed no evidence of a dose-effect relationship between simulated driving performance following a brief abstinence period,” investigators reported. “The current study also shows no evidence of short-term residual effects on simulated driving performance when comparing frequent cannabis users to a healthy non-using comparison group.”

Despite subjects’ lack of psychomotor impairment, researchers acknowledged that some participants tested positive for THC at levels that would classify them as “under the influence” in states with either zero-tolerant or per se THC blood limits. That’s because THC and its metabolites remain present in bodily fluids for extended periods of time following cannabis abstinence, whereas the acute effects of cannabis on psychomotor skills largely dissipate within a few hours. Accordingly, NORML opposes the imposition of per se THC limits for motorists and has alternatively called for the expanded use of mobile performance technology like DRUID.

The study’s authors concluded: “In regular cannabis users who abstained for ≥ 48 hours, we found no evidence of residual cannabis effects on simulated driving performance. This included no relationship between driving simulator performance and cannabis use intensity, days of abstinence, or cannabinoid concentrations, nor differences on these measures when comparing the most frequent cannabis users to a non-using comparison group. … Results of this study have implications for how future policy might weigh different pieces of evidence in the absence of objective confirmation of acute cannabis intoxication, such as one’s cannabis use history or residual blood THC, in everyday determinations of impaired driving.”

Numerous studies have previously reported no correlation between the detection of either THC or its metabolites in blood, urine, saliva, and breath and impaired driving performance. Nevertheless, several states have enacted laws criminalizing drivers who operate a motor vehicle with trace levels of THC or THC metabolites, regardless of whether the driver is impaired.

Full text of the study, “Short-term residual effects of smoked cannabis on simulated driving performance,” appears in Psychopharmacology.

Study: Patients With Generalized Anxiety Experience Clinical, Cognitive Improvements Following Use of Plant-Derived CBD Extracts

Belmont, MA: Patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) exhibit symptomatic and cognitive improvements following the daily use of full-spectrum CBD-dominant extracts, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Biomedicines.

Investigators affiliated with Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital in Boston assessed the daily use of 30mg of plant-derived CBD in 12 patients with GAD. Researchers evaluated changes in participants’ clinical and cognitive performance over six weeks of treatment.

Patients experienced “dramatic reductions” in anxiety during the first week of the trial, and they exhibited “significant improvements” on assessments of mood, sleep, and quality of life throughout the duration of the study. Participants also “demonstrated significantly improved performance on measures of executive function relative to baseline, evidenced by faster response time[s] … as well as higher accuracy” on neurocognitive assessments.

No participants experienced any serious adverse events during the trial.

“Results from this open-label clinical trial provide evidence that a hemp-derived, full-spectrum, high-CBD product similar to those currently available in the marketplace may be both safe and efficacious for the treatment of anxiety,” the study’s authors concluded. “Given the potential benefits observed in this trial, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of hemp-derived high-CBD products are warranted to obtain robust data regarding the safety and efficacy of CBD-containing products for anxiety.”

Clinical data published in July in the Journal of Affective Disorders reported that the consumption of THC-dominant cannabis products is also associated with sustained reductions in anxiety.

Data published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the adoption of statewide marijuana legalization laws is associated with significant declines in the dispensing of prescription anxiolytic drugs like benzodiazepines.

Full text of the study, “Clinical and cognitive improvement following treatment with a hemp-derived, full-spectrum, high-cannabidiol product in patients with anxiety: An open-label pilot study,” appears in Biomedicines.

Study: Adjunctive Use of FDA-Approved CBD Formulation Reduces Seizures in Pediatric Patients With Rett Syndrome

Milan, Italy: Children and teens diagnosed with Rett Syndrome (RTT) who take Epidiolex experience reductions in seizure frequency, according to data published in the Open Access Journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (aka Epilepsia).

Italian researchers assessed the efficacy of the use of FDA-approved, plant-derived CBD (Epidiolex) in 27 RTT patients with drug-resistant seizures. Participants consumed Epidiolex in conjunction with other medications. The median treatment duration was 14 months.

Following treatment, two-thirds of the cohort exhibited a greater than 50 percent reduction in seizure frequency, with 26 percent of participants experiencing a greater than 75 percent reduction. Many of the patients’ caregivers also observed positive changes beyond seizure control, including better attention, improved sleep, and enhanced motor function. Side effects related to CBD treatment were mild.

“Our findings suggest a strong trend toward the efficacy of CBD in reducing seizure frequency,” the study’s authors concluded. “The consistency of the response, combined with the absence of seizure aggravation and a favorable safety profile, highlights purified cannabidiol (Epidiolex) CBD as a promising therapeutic option for individuals with RTT. Moreover, beyond seizure control, a substantial proportion of patients also showed improvements in behavior, attention, and reactivity – especially among those who responded to treatment – further supporting the potential benefits of CBD in this population.”

A prior study concluded that RTT patients show improvements in alertness, communication skills, anxiety, and other symptoms following the twice-daily use of cannabis extracts containing standardized amounts of CBD and THC.

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

Full text of the study, “Is purified cannabidiol a treatment opportunity for drug-resistant epilepsy in subjects with typical Rett syndrome and CDKL5 deficiency disorder,” appears in Epilepsia.

Analysis: Vaporizers’ Components May Expose Consumers to Heavy Metals

Karnataka, India: Components within certain cannabis vape cartridges may leach metals such as nickel and cadmium when exposed to high temperatures, according to a literature review published in the journal Scientific World.

A pair of researchers reviewed data from nine previously published studies. Studies identified the presence of heavy metals like nickel, chromium, lead, cobalt, cadmium, and copper in cannabis vape (CV) e-liquids and aerosols. Investigators suggested that “long-term contact between the metal parts of the CV and the acidic liquid may cause metal dissolution.”

They reported: “Metals like Pb [lead], Co [cobalt], Cr [chromium], Ni [nickel], and Cu [copper] are released from the structural components of CVs when operated at high temperatures. Factors like device age and storage, vape liquid composition and pH, operating temperature, and design characteristics of CVs influence metal dissolution. … However, these results cannot be generalized to all CVs, as the studies were primarily experimental.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Regulatory guidelines are needed to prevent CV liquid contamination from accessories or packaging. … Future research is warranted into the adverse health implications of heavy metals released from CVs through animal and human studies.”

NORML has previously cautioned that various components in portable vape cartridges – including heating coils, wicks, metal cores, and mouthpieces – can be sources of elemental emissions.

Separate analyses of the aerosol produced by nicotine-filled e-cigarette devices have similarly detected metal emissions. Metal exposure over time has been linked to a variety of serious health concerns, including lung disease, brain damage, and cardiovascular disease.

Full text of the study, “Heavy metals in cannabis vape and their health implications — A scoping review,” appears in The Scientific World Journal.

Study: Using Cannabis Prior To Drinking Results in Significantly Less Alcohol Consumption

Fort Collins, CO: Subjects drink less alcohol and experience fewer alcohol cravings after consuming cannabis, according to data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Researchers affiliated with Colorado State University assessed adults’ willingness to consume alcohol in a laboratory setting. Participants were offered drinks every fifteen minutes during a one-hour session. During visits where participants were permitted to consume cannabis before the session, subjects reduced their intake of alcoholic beverages by 25 percent.

Investigators reported: “We tested whether cannabis serves as a substitute for alcohol in a sample of community adults who drink heavily and use cannabis regularly. Consistent with our hypothesis, … self-administering cannabis before alcohol significantly reduced alcohol consumption compared to when alcohol was offered without cannabis. Furthermore, we found a trend toward an acute reduction in alcohol craving following cannabis and alcohol co-administration compared to alcohol administration alone, … suggesting that craving reduction may be a plausible mechanism through which cannabis substitution for alcohol could occur in some individuals.”

The study’s authors concluded, “[These findings] provide … support for the idea that legal-market cannabis can serve as substitute for alcohol among some individuals who engage in heavy drinking.”

According to survey data published in 2024 in The Harm Reduction Journal, 60 percent of cannabis consumers say that their cannabis use results in less frequent alcohol consumption.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis administration is associated with reduced alcohol consumption: Evidence from a novel laboratory co-administration paradigm,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Case Series: Insomnia Patients Report Improved Sleep Quality Following Cannabis Use

London, United Kingdom: Patients with insomnia report improvements in their sleep quality and reduced anxiety following their use of medical cannabis products, according to data published in the journal PLOS Mental Health.

British researchers assessed the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in 124 insomnia patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. (British health care providers may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products to patients unresponsive to conventional medications.) Patients’ outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Study participants primarily consumed THC-dominant herbal cannabis.

Investigators reported that cannabis use was associated with improved outcomes “across multiple metrics,” including better sleep quality, reduced anxiety, and improved health-related quality of life. Fewer than one in ten participants reported any adverse events from cannabis. The most frequently reported side effects were dry mouth and fatigue.

The study’s authors concluded: “This case series study investigated the outcomes of insomnia patients prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products over an 18-month period. The findings indicate a promising association between cannabis-based medicinal product treatment and improvements in sleep-specific outcomes and general HRQoL [health-related quality of life] measures. … These findings can be used to inform future RCTs [randomized controlled trials].”

Placebo-controlled clinical trial data have previously affirmed the efficacy of plant-derived cannabis extracts in patients with chronic insomnia. Separate data reports that nearly 40 percent of insomnia patients either reduce or eliminate their use of prescription sleep aids following their use of cannabis.

Other observational studies assessing the use of cannabis products among those enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry have reported them to be effective for patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant epilepsy, cancer-related pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, hypermobility disorders, depression, migraine, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, substance use disorders, and inflammatory arthritis, among other conditions.

Full text of the study, “UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A clinical outcomes analysis for insomnia,” appears in PLOS Mental Health.

Texas: Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill Takes Effect

Austin, TX: Legislation took effect Monday, expanding patients’ access to state-qualified medical cannabis products.

Under the law, patients diagnosed with chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and other newly eligible conditions may enroll in the Texas Compassionate Use Program and obtain state-licensed medical cannabis products.

The new law also expands the pool of cannabis products available for patients, including vaporizers, and it increases the total number of licensed dispensaries that can operate in the state from three to a total of fifteen.

According to data provided by the Texas Department of Safety, over 116,000 patients participate in the Compassionate Use Program.

Delaware: Governor Vetoes Measure That Sought To Relax Cannabis Zoning Restrictions

Dover, DE: Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer vetoed legislation last week (Senate Bill 75) that sought to loosen local zoning restrictions limiting where licensed adult-use cannabis retailers can operate.

The bill would have imposed statewide rules explicitly permitting retailers to operate within 500 feet “of a place of worship, school, licensed child-care, residential treatment facility, park, or library,” and/or “within a one-half mile of another retail marijuana store.” The bill was introduced in response to some municipal lawmakers enacting more restrictive zoning laws, effectively imposing local bans on marijuana retailers.

In his veto message, Gov. Meyer said, “While I fully support the goals of implementing a safe, equitable, and accessible adult-use cannabis market in Delaware, displacing local land use authority without offering any corresponding partnership or support is not how we build durable, effective policy or trust.”

State lawmakers approved legislation legalizing the adult-use marijuana market in April 2023, but retail sales did not begin until last month. Currently, consumers are only able to purchase cannabis at approximately a dozen retail locations — all of which are existing medical cannabis dispensaries that received ‘conversion licenses’ to sell to patients and adults. Proponents of SB 75 say that the Governor’s veto will further delay consumers from gaining access to state-licensed marijuana products.

Review: CBD Dosing Reduces Systolic Blood Pressure

São Paulo, Brazil: CBD administration reduces blood pressure levels, according to a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials published in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy.

Brazilian researchers reviewed data from four clinical trials involving 104 participants. Study results “demonstrated a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure after acute cannabidiol.” CBD dosing also resulted in reductions in diastolic blood pressure, although these changes were not statistically significant.

“These findings suggest that cannabidiol may benefit blood pressure control, specifically with prolonged use in hypertensive patients,” the study’s authors concluded. “But further high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to approve its efficacy, safety, and clinical applicability in cardiovascular care.”

Longitudinal data published earlier this month concluded that the cumulative lifetime cannabis use is not associated with an elevated risk of high blood pressure.

A prior analysis of over 91,000 French adults, published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports, reported that both current and lifetime cannabis use is associated with lower blood pressure. Another study, published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, noted that the use of medical cannabis products is associated with decreases in hypertension among elderly subjects.

Full text of the study, “Systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of cannabidiol on blood pressure: Examination of randomized double-blind and triple-blind placebo trials,” appears in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy.

Case Report: Vaporized Cannabis Reduces Severity of Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

New York, NY: Cannabis use is associated with less severe symptoms in a patient undergoing naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, according to a case report published in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.

Researchers affiliated with Columbia University in New York and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore assessed the effects of vaporized cannabis pre-treatment on naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal in a 52-year-old patient. The patient had a history of heroin and fentanyl use. Investigators assessed the patient’s withdrawal symptoms following the use of naloxone, with and without using cannabis.

They reported that vaporized cannabis reduced the severity and onset of opioid withdrawal symptoms in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, the patient required “three rescue doses of morphine” when naloxone was administered alone, but he needed only “a single rescue dose” when cannabis use preceded naloxone treatment.

“These results support the continued investigation into combined naloxone + cannabinoid formulations as overdose reversal agents for improved tolerability,” the study’s authors concluded.

Their conclusion is consistent with survey data reporting that opioid-dependent subjects frequently acknowledge consuming cannabis to mitigate drug cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Full text of the study, “The effects of vaporized cannabis on the severity of naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal,” appears in Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.

Clinical Trial: CBD-Infused Gel Improves Sleep Quality, Reduces Migraine-Related Disability in Patients With Bruxism-Associated Pain

Katowice, Poland: Patients with bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching) and other temporomandibular disorders experience improved sleep and fewer migraines following the topical application of CBD, according to data from a placebo-controlled clinical trial published in the journal Pharmaceuticals.

Polish investigators assessed the topical application of CBD-infused gel versus placebo in 60 patients with bruxism-associated muscle pain. Twenty patients received a placebo, 20 patients received a gel containing five percent CBD, and 20 patients received a gel containing 10 percent CBD. Participants administered the gels daily for 30 days.

Both CBD treatment groups “demonstrated statistically significant improvements in PSQI [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index] and MIDAS [the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale] scores compared to the control group.” Both treatment groups experienced similar improvements, regardless of CBD concentration. No serious adverse events or treatment-related complications were reported during the study period.

“This study demonstrates that topical application of cannabidiol (CBD) gel, at both five percent and 10 percent concentrations, significantly improves sleep quality and reduces migraine-related disability in patients with bruxism-associated muscular pain. These effects were observed alongside reductions in muscle tension and pain, suggesting a broader therapeutic impact of CBD beyond localized symptom relief,” the study’s authors concluded. “The findings support the use of topical CBD as a well-tolerated, non-invasive adjunct in the multimodal management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), especially in patients experiencing comorbid sleep and headache disturbances.”

The transdermal delivery of CBD has previously been associated with reduced levels of lower back and leg pain in patients with spinal stenosis, as well as with improved outcomes in patients with hand osteoarthritis.

Full text of the study, “Expanding the therapeutic profile of topical cannabidiol in temporomandibular disorders: Effects of sleep quality and migraine disability in patients with bruxism-associated muscle pain,” appears in Pharmaceuticals.

Analysis: Alcohol Use, but Not Cannabis, Associated With Elevated Risk of Unwanted Pregnancies

San Francisco, CA: Alcohol use, but not cannabis use, is linked to significantly higher rates of unwanted pregnancies, according to data published in the journal Addiction.

Researchers affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco tracked outcomes in a cohort of 936 women who expressed a strong desire not to become pregnant.

Those who acknowledged drinking heavily were 50 percent more likely to become pregnant over the course of the study (13.5 months) as compared to those who drank little or no alcohol. By contrast, those participants who used cannabis did not possess an elevated pregnancy risk compared to non-consumers.

“Heavy drinking, but not cannabis use or other drug use, appears to be associated with elevated pregnancy risk among those who most desire to avoid pregnancy,” the study’s authors concluded. “This study is continuing to follow participants through pregnancy, which will enable further examination of whether people with less desired pregnancies are more likely than those with more desired pregnancies to continue alcohol and/or drug use during pregnancy.”

Full text of the study, “Alcohol and drug use and attainment of pregnancy preferences in the southwestern United States: A longitudinal cohort study,” appears in Addiction.

Analysis: No Rise in Teen Cannabis Use Following Legalization

New York, NY: The adoption of state-specific cannabis legalization laws is not associated with rising rates of marijuana use by adolescents, nor is it associated with increases in problematic cannabis use among adults, according to data published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.

Researchers affiliated with Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health assessed changes in cannabis consumption patterns following the enactment of adult-use legalization laws.

Consistent with other studies, they found no increase in marijuana use among young people (those ages 12 to 20) following legalization. Investigators also failed to identify any increases in either daily use or problematic use “among men and women who used cannabis in any age group.”

Rates of past-year cannabis use did increase among those ages 21 and older, with greater increases reported among women.

The study’s authors concluded: “No increases in past-month daily cannabis use and past-year DSM-5 CUD [cannabis use disorder] among those using cannabis were observed after RCL [recreational cannabis laws] enactment. There were no increases in any cannabis outcomes after RCL enactment among those 12–20 years old. RCL enactment may contribute to narrowing of the cannabis gender gap. Ongoing surveillance is essential to ensure that the social justice aims of legalization are achieved without negative public health consequences.”

Full text of the study, “Gender differences in cannabis outcomes after recreational legalization: A United States repeated cross-sectional study, 2008-2017,” appears in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.

Study: Lifetime Cannabis Use Not Associated with Increased Risk of Hypertension

San Diego, CA: Cumulative lifetime cannabis use is not associated with an elevated risk of high blood pressure, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Hypertension.

Investigators affiliated with the University of California at San Diego assessed the relationship between cannabis use and hypertension in a cohort (the CARDIA study) of over 2,800 participants. Subjects were assessed at baseline and repeatedly over the following 35 years.

Consistent with other studies, researchers identified “no association … between cumulative lifetime use of cannabis … and incidents [of] hypertension.”

Other assessments of CARDIA study participants have failed to identify links between long-term cannabis use and increased risks of heart abnormalities, hardening of the arteries, or other cardiovascular diseases.

A prior analysis of over 91,000 French adults, published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports, reported that both current and lifetime cannabis use is associated with lower blood pressure. Another study , published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, reported that the use of medical cannabis products is associated with decreases in hypertension among elderly subjects.

Full text of the study, “Lifetime cannabis use and incident hypertension: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study,” appears in Hypertension.

Study: Pain Patients Reduce Their Opioid Use Following Adjunctive Use of Medical Cannabis

Perth, Australia: Chronic pain patients receiving prescribed cannabis extracts significantly reduce their opioid consumption, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Pain Management.

Australian investigators assessed opioid consumption patterns over 12 months in two similar cohorts of chronic pain patients. One group of patients was prescribed cannabis extracts containing standardized quantities of THC and CBD as an adjunctive treatment. (Australian physicians may prescribe cannabis products to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.) The other group did not receive cannabis therapy.

Patients who received cannabis decreased their average opioid intake to 2.7mg/day after one year of treatment. By contrast, patients who did not receive cannabis consumed an average of 42.3 mg/day of opioids at follow-up.

Patients who consumed cannabinoids were also more likely than controls to experience decreases in depression, anxiety, insomnia, and disability. However, those in the cannabis treatment group were more likely to drop out of the study prior to its completion, indicating that some patients were unable to tolerate the long-term use of cannabis extracts.

The study’s authors concluded: “These findings indicate that the introduction of cannabinoids can produce useful reductions in opioid consumption in real-world settings. … However, this treatment is tolerated by only a subgroup of patients.”

Similarly designed studies in the United States have also reported that cannabis products are associated with substantial reductions in patients’ daily consumption of opioids. Ecological studies from the U.S. and Canada also report significant overall declines in the volume of opioid prescriptions following cannabis legalization.

Full text of the study, “Opioid reduction in patients with chronic non-cancer pain undergoing treatment with medicinal cannabis,” appears in Pain Management.

Analysis: Marijuana Retailers Not Associated With Increased Prevalence of Motor Vehicle Accidents

New Haven, CT: The opening of marijuana retailers is not associated with any immediate increases in motor vehicle accidents, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Yale University researchers assessed motor vehicle crash data for the weeks prior to and after the adoption of adult-use marijuana legalization in Connecticut. They also compared motor vehicle crash data during the same period with that of a control state (Maryland).

Researchers reported “no significant changes” in the prevalence of either statewide accidents (compared to Maryland) or local (within proximity to dispensaries) accidents.

“Here we show that the introduction of recreational cannabis dispensaries in Connecticut did not lead to a significant rise in MVA [motor vehicle accident] rates statewide or at the local level near cannabis dispensaries,” the study’s authors concluded. “The lack of substantial differences in crash rates within the eight weeks before and after recreational dispensary openings suggests that dispensaries may not be a relevant determinant of traffic safety in the proximity of these outlets.”

The study’s findings are consistent with those of a three-year analysis of motor vehicle crash data from Washington state, which reported “no statistically significant impact of cannabis sales on serious injury/fatal crashes” following retail commercialization. By contrast, assessments from other states evaluating longer-term trends in traffic safety following legalization have yielded mixed results.

Full text of the study, “Changes in local community spatial trends of motor vehicle accidents near cannabis dispensaries after recreational cannabis legalization,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.