Articles tagged with Cannabis
Dronabinol significantly reduced agitation in 66% of Alzheimer's patients and improved functional status in 69%, while also addressing weight loss. These findings suggest dronabinol as a potential treatment option for managing behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
A randomized, controlled study involving medical marijuana found no harmful changes in HIV virus levels or immune system function in patients with HIV. Participants experienced weight gain, but no change in their undetectable status.
Research reveals that obese individuals are more likely to develop symptoms of acute mountain sickness at high altitudes, with lower blood oxygen levels. In contrast, smoking marijuana or taking synthetic cannabinoids in HIV patients did not affect key treatment indicators, according to a new study. A no-fault medical malpractice syste...
A recent study found that while opinions on cannabis are more liberal, attitudes towards other drugs like heroin and ecstasy remain strong. Most people support prescribing cannabis for medical purposes, but strict laws still apply to these substances.
A study published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society found that chronic cannabis use has a small impact on learning and forgetting, suggesting selective memory defects. The research team suggests that heavy marijuana users often abuse other drugs with potential long-term neurological effects.
Researchers found that exposure to synthetic cannabinoids can disrupt attention and performance in tasks requiring sustained focus. The study's findings suggest that cannabis users may experience serious long-term attention problems.
Researchers found lasting cognitive deficits in individuals who started smoking marijuana before age 17. Those who began using marijuana at a younger age performed significantly worse on tests assessing verbal functions compared to those who started later or used it sparingly.
Researchers found that cannabis compounds have previously unknown qualities, potentially enabling the discovery of new treatments for neurological disorders. The study suggests that tailored varieties of cannabis may be used to prevent neurodegeneration and manage conditions such as Alzheimer's and motor neuron diseases.
Recent marijuana use was more predictive of continued tobacco smoking than marijuana use months prior. Participants who used daily marijuana were over three times more likely to still smoke tobacco. Approximately 66% of recent marijuana users tried to quit tobacco during the following 13 years.
A study by Bettina M. Beech of the University of Memphis found that low-income young adult blacks light up to relieve stress due to various life challenges. Smoking rates among black high school students have increased 80% in the past decade, contrary to lower rates among white peers.
A Canadian Medical Association Journal study found that 15% of Ontario students with driver's licenses reported driving under the influence of alcohol, and 20% admitted to driving after using cannabis. These findings are particularly concerning given the high incidence of alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions among adolescents.
A large Australian twin study found that early marijuana users were two to five times more likely to develop problems with other drugs and alcohol. The study controlled for genetic and familial factors, suggesting a complex relationship between early marijuana use and later substance abuse.
A 22-year study tracked the health histories of 736 youths from childhood into early adulthood, finding that moderate to heavy tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana use during adolescence was associated with an increased risk of depression and psychiatric disorders in young adulthood. The study suggests a complex relationship between drug abu...
A study found that teens who engage in extreme dieting are more likely to smoke, use marijuana, and experience suicidal thoughts. Moderate dieters were less likely to exhibit these behaviors, suggesting a link between extreme dieting and underlying issues of self-esteem or peer influence.
Researchers at the University of California - Irvine have discovered two new compounds, URB532 and URB597, that relieve anxiety by inhibiting the breakdown of natural neurotransmitters, similar to Prozac. These gentler biochemical approaches may lead to more effective and side-effect-free treatments for anxiety and depression.
Research reported in this supplement describes how marijuana affects nearly every organ system, including cognitive function, heart rate, and respiratory health. The findings add to evidence that marijuana use is linked to various health hazards.
A USF/UCLA study shows that healthy humans who smoke marijuana alter the expression of marijuana receptors on immune cells in their blood. The findings suggest that cannabinoids might benefit someone with chronic inflammatory disease but not those with a chronic infectious disease like HIV infection.
A study found that certain alleles or genotypes of the CNR1 gene may confer a susceptibility to schizophrenia, especially of the hebephrenic type. The presence of specific polymorphisms in the CNR1 gene was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.
Following the 9/11 attacks, a study found that nearly one-third of respondents increased their use of alcohol, marijuana, or cigarettes, with the largest increase in alcohol consumption. The study also found that people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were more likely to engage in substance abuse.
A large randomized clinical trial found that synthetic THC and plant-extract marijuana derivatives were safe but showed no improvement in spasticity symptoms for multiple sclerosis patients. Side effects, particularly with the plant-extract, were common and may limit potential dosages.
A study of over 40,000 young participants found that marijuana smokers are more likely to have the opportunity and try hallucinogens. By age 21, nearly half of marijuana smokers had tried a hallucinogen, compared to one in 16 who had never smoked.
A Canadian study found that heavy marijuana use is associated with decreased IQ scores, but light and former use are linked to modest gains. The research, which followed 70 subjects over several years, suggests that the effects of marijuana on intelligence may be more complex than previously thought.
A one-year pilot study will examine the effects of smoked cannabis on chronic neuropathic pain, with a focus on dosing and side effects. The trial will recruit 32 patients and use four strains of cannabis to assess pain intensity and quality of life.
Researchers found that TV PSAs targeting teens with high sensation-seeking traits reduced their marijuana use by at least 26.7%. The campaigns also reversed the trend of more teens using marijuana as they get older.
Researchers find that higher prices and perceived risks of harm lead to lower marijuana use among high school seniors, while declining risk leads to increased use. The study utilizes nationally representative data to explore the relationship between price, perceptions, and marijuana use trends.
The University of California has established the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) to conduct rigorous scientific studies on medicinal cannabis. The center aims to assess the safety and efficacy of cannabis in treating specific medical conditions, such as severe appetite suppression, chronic pain, and nausea associated with...
A new study by University of Washington researchers shows that firm parental rules can prevent or delay teen use of alcohol and marijuana. The study found that clear family rules, consistent discipline, and knowing where kids are with can make a big difference in preventing early substance use.
A comprehensive study of HIV patients taking protease inhibitors found that marijuana use did not alter viral loads, with subjects who smoked or took oral dronabinol experiencing slightly greater declines in HIV RNA levels than those taking placebos. Adverse effects were minimal and not statistically significant.
Recent UI studies found that frequent marijuana users have substantially lower blood flow to certain parts of their brains, indicating altered brain function. However, smoking the illicit drug does not affect brain size or structure, contradicting previous claims.
A recent study found that smoking cannabis regularly may increase the risk of developing emphysema, a disease that damages lung tissue and reduces surface area. The study examined four young men who smoked heavily and found large areas of their lungs had disappeared and been replaced with cysts.
A Boston study found that marijuana smoke increases the risk of a heart attack by nearly five-fold within the first hour, but the effect decreases rapidly over time. The study used a multicenter design and included 3,882 patients who survived heart attacks.
Middle-aged and elderly marijuana smokers increase their risk of a heart attack by more than four and a half times during the first hour after smoking, according to a recent study. The study found that the risk of a heart attack is highest in the first hour after use, but drops significantly after two hours.
Researchers from Clemson University and UK scientists found that synthetic cannabinoids reduce spasticity and tremor in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. The discovery may lead to treatments without psychoactive side effects.
A study of over 7,000 people found that job complexity affects substance use, with those in complex jobs using more substances and those in simpler jobs using less. The researchers suggest assessing workers' cognitive abilities and reassigning or restructuring jobs to match their skills.
A new study found that cliques and social sets, as well as marijuana use, are predictors of violent behavior among teenagers. The research also identified other factors such as being male, having been victimized by violence, or feeling vulnerable to violence as risk factors. These findings have significant implications for understandin...
Recent research suggests that marijuana impairment does not increase driving accidents, but rather affects judgment. Drivers who consume marijuana slow down and drive more cautiously to compensate for their impairment.
Recent fluctuations in teen marijuana use are driven by changes in student attitudes about the drug. The new analysis found that teen disapproval of marijuana and perceptions of its hazards have mirrored usage patterns, indicating a shift in young people's concerns about risk.