Health Consequences of Marijuana Use
John Brick in Handbook of the Medical Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, 2012
This chapter summarizes the scientific literature on the effects of cannabis on physical health, cognitive and behavioral functioning, and mental/behavioral health. Data relevant to the addictive potential of cannabis use are also presented. We focus on areas with a substantial research base that have provided some indication of definitive findings. The space provided to each topic corresponds somewhat to the scope of the literature in that area. We comment on the strength and quality of data supporting the connection between cannabis use and specific effects, but, generally, detailed critical analyses of individual studies or purported causal mechanisms are not provided. Rather, the reader is referred to original sources and previous reviews. In particular, detailed reviews and recent updates on each topic area are available in Kalant (1999; 2004).
Global policy initiatives and strategy on alcohol and drugs
G. Hussein Rassool in Alcohol and Drug Misuse, 2017
The use of medical marijuana as a therapeutic intervention has implications for health care professionals in the fields of medicine, psychiatry and pharmacology. The recommendations for the prescription and treatment with medical marijuana should be based in accordance with accepted standards of medical responsibility. This would entail a comprehensive review of the patient’s substance use history, physical condition, co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions and family history. The health care professionals should develop a treatment plan in conjunction with the patient and document the use of medical marijuana in the patient’s record. Health information should be provided on the physical and psychological effects of cannabis, how medical marijuana may interact with prescribed medication, particularly CNS depressants, not to drive after using medical marijuana and warn of risk of accidental ingestion in children/pets and to keep medical marijuana in a safe place.
Inhalational Durg Abuse
Jacob Loke in Pathophysiology and Treatment of Inhalation Injuries, 2020
The pulmonary effects of cannabis smoking have been well described (Vachon et al., 1973;Tashkin et ah, 1973, 1980). Controlled studies have established that marijuana, either inhaled or ingested orally is a bronchodilator. In one study, 32 healthy experienced male marijuana smokers were found to have an immediate significant increase in specific airway conductance, achieving peak levels at 15 min that lasted as long as 60 min following use of a single marijuana cigarette (Tashkin et al, 1973). These findings indicate dilatation of airways. Bronchodilator effect are prolonged (up to 6 hr) with oral ingestion of marijuana. An increase in flow rates and normal ventilatory response to carbon dioxide inhalation has been shown (Vachon et al., 1973). In contrast, Zwillich et al, (1978) showed that marijuana is both a respiratory and metabolic stimulant, causing a significant increase in the ventilatory response to hypercapnia and no change in the ventilatory response to hypoxia.
Cannabis and Epilepsy
Published in Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 2020
Alexander Doyle, Jay Harvey
Marijuana is from the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the plant Cannabis sativa L. and includes two varieties or strains, Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. Cannabis contains more than 100 chemical compounds of which the most notable include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychotropic ingredient, and cannabidiol (CBD) which will be discussed in further detail in the following sections. Acute effects of cannabis include euphoria, relaxation, perceptual alterations, time distortion, and intensification of ordinary sensory experiences and can lead to the impairment of short-term memory, attention, motor skills, and reaction time (Hall & Salowij, 1998). The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported an estimated 26 million Americans aged 12 or older were current users of marijuana, with 3 million people aged 12 or older having used for the first time in the preceding 12 months (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018).
Motives for Recreational Cannabis Use among Mental Health Professionals
Published in Journal of Substance Use, 2021
Amar Ghelani
The National Cannabis Survey reports 16.7% of Canadians used cannabis at least once in the last quarter of 2019 (Statistics Canada, 2020). The acute effects of cannabis intoxication can include anxiety, panic, suspiciousness, and cognitive impairments in some users, while high dose or long-term use may increase risk for dependence, depression, psychosis, and prolonged cognitive problems (World Health Organization, 2016). Mental health professionals provide therapeutic services for cannabis users with psychosocial difficulties, though little is known about cannabis use among the professionals. The purpose of this study was to understand motivations for recreational cannabis consumption among a sample of Canadian mental health professionals. The secondary objective was to reduce stigma toward cannabis users through illuminating the insights of professionals with insider perspectives on the risks and motives associated with cannabis use.
Tetrahydrocannabinol – friend or foe? – Debate
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2020
Leslie Mendoza Temple, Jerrold B. Leikin
A number of studies have documented adverse effects of cannabinoids, especially with THC. In one study in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, involving inpatients between 2007 and 2011, 10% of male and 5% of female inpatients between 18 and 25 years of age had a cannabis use disorder. Patients with pain, particularly at low levels, increased their cannabis use and were associated with more negative consequences from marijuana [14]. A number of articles in the Journal of Addiction Medicine have documented adverse effects to cannabis use over the past two years [15–19]. Women who use marijuana and tobacco may have a shortened luteal phase than women who use tobacco alone [18]. Medical cannabis users are more likely to use prescription drugs medically at a relative risk of 1.62, and non-medically at a relative risk of 2.12 in the past 12 months [20]. A problem is that virtually all the articles that investigate medical cannabis don’t look at CBD alone; it’s usually in combination with THC. So, we don’t really have good clinical data, and certainly there’s no analytical data, on CBD alone.