The Psychiatric Consequences of Cannabinoids Joao P. De Aquino, Mohamed Sherif, Rajiv Radhakrishnan, John D. Cahill, Mohini Ranganathan and Deepak C. D’Souza Clinical Therapeutics, 2018, 40, (9), 14481456 Doi : 10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.03.013 ABSTRACT With rising rates of cannabis use in the general population and an increasing number of US states legalizing both recreational and medical cannabis use, it is important to be informed about the adverse consequences of cannabinoids. This Commentary provides an overview of the psychiatric effects of plant-based and synthetic cannabinoids, differentiating acute effects from effects associated with persistent use. Cannabinoids produce multiphasic and dose dependent effects on anxiety, mood, and perception, in addition [...]
Lire la suiteThe epidemiology of 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) use: Benefits, consequences, patterns of use, subjective effects, and reasons for consumption Alan K. Davis, Joseph P. Barsuglia, Rafael Lancelotta, Robert M. Grant, and Elise Renn Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2018, 32, (7), 779–792. doi : 10.1177/0269881118769063 Abstract Background/Aim : 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a psychoactive compound found in several plants and in high concentrations in Bufo alvarius toad venom. Synthetic, Toad, and Plant-sourced 5-MeO-DMT are used for spiritual and recreational purposes and may have psychotherapeutic effects. However, the use of 5-MeO-DMT is not well understood. Therefore, we examined patterns of use, motivations for consumption, subjective effects, and potential benefits and consequences [...]
Lire la suiteIntensity of Mystical Experiences Occasioned by 5-MeO-DMT and Comparison With a Prior Psilocybin Study Joseph Barsuglia, Alan K. Davis, Robert Palmer, Rafael Lancelotta, Austin-Marley Windham-Herman, Kristel Peterson, Martin Polanco, Robert Grant and Roland R. Griffiths Frontiers in Psychology, 2018, Vol 9, Article doi : 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02459 5-MeO-DMT is a psychoactive substance found in high concentrations in the bufotoxin of the Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius). Emerging evidence suggests that vaporized 5-MeO-DMT may occasion mystical experiences of comparable intensity to those occasioned by more widely studied psychedelics such as psilocybin, but no empirical study has tested this hypothesis. Data was obtained from 20 individuals (Mage = [...]
Lire la suiteThe effects of cannabinoid 1 receptor compounds on memory : a meta-analysis and systematic review across species Faith Borgan, Katherine Beck, Emma Butler, Robert McCutcheon, Mattia Veronese, Anthony Vernon, Oliver D. Howes Psychopharmacology, 2019 Doi : 10.1007/s00213-019-05283-3 Abstract Rationale : While cannabis-based medicinal products have been shown to be effective for numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders, the evidence base regarding their adverse cognitive effects is poorly understood. The cannabinoid 1 receptor modulates memory performance via intracellular and extracellular mechanisms that alter synaptic transmission and plasticity. While previous literature has consistently shown that chronic cannabis users exhibitmarked cognitive impairments,mixed findings have been reported in the context [...]
Lire la suiteSpecies-specific susceptibility to cannabis-induced convulsions Benjamin J Whalley, Hong Lin, Lynne Bell, Thomas Hill, Amesha Patel, Roy A Gray, C Elizabeth Roberts, Orrin Devinsky, Michael Bazelot, Claire M Williams and Gary J Stephens British Journal of Pharmacology, 2018, 1-18. Doi : 10.1111/bph.14165 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Numerous claims are made for cannabis’ therapeutic utility upon human seizures, but concerns persist about risks. A potential confounder is the presence of both Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), variously reported to be pro- and anticonvulsant, and cannabidiol (CBD), widely confirmed as anticonvulsant. Therefore, we investigated effects of prolonged exposure to different THC/CBD cannabis extracts on seizure activity and associated measures of endocannabinoid [...]
Lire la suiteCannabinoids in Pain Management and Palliative Medicine An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Prospective Observational Studies Winfried Häuser, Mary-Ann Fitzcharles, Lukas Radbruch, Frank Petzke The Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 2017, 114, 627–634. Doi : 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0627 SUMMARY Background : There are conflicting interpretations of the evidence regarding the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabinoids in pain management and palliative medicine. Methods : We conducted a systematic review (SR) of systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCT) and prospective long-term observational studies of the use of cannabinoids in pain management and palliative medicine. Pertinent publications from January 2009 to January 2017 were retrieved by a selective search in the Cochrane [...]
Lire la suiteCannabis in Chinese Medicine : Are Some Traditional Indications Referenced in Ancient Literature Related to Cannabinoids? E. Joseph Brand and Zhongzhen Zhao Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2017, vol 8, Article 108, 1-11. doi : 10.3389/fphar.2017.00108 Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae) has a long history of utilization as a fiber and seed crop in China, and its achenes (“seeds”) as well as other plant parts have been recorded in Chinese medical texts for nearly 2000 years. While the primary applications of cannabis in Chinese medicine center around the use of the achenes, ancient indications for the female inflorescence, and other plant parts include conditions such as pain [...]
Lire la suiteEuropean Commission proposes unified EU vote on WHO cannabis scheduling recommendations Published January 15, 2020 | By Alfredo Pascual https://mjbizdaily.com/european-commission-proposes-unified-eu-vote-on-who-cannabis-scheduling-recommendations/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=INTL_20200115_NEWS_Weekly In advance of the March session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the European Union’s executive branch has proposed that EU member nations vote in favor of three of the six World Health Organization (WHO) cannabis scheduling recommendations. The European Commission “Proposal for a Council Decision” is meaningful because – if adopted by the Council of Europe – the EU countries would vote as a block at the CND session in Vienna and the three motions [...]
Lire la suiteCannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep : a Review of the Literature Kimberly A. Babson, James Sottile, Danielle Morabito Current Psychiatry Reports, 2017, 19, 23 Doi : 10.1007/s11920-017-0775-9 Abstract Purpose of Review : The current review aims to summarize the state of research on cannabis and sleep up to 2014 and to review in detail the literature on cannabis and specific sleep disorders from 2014 to the time of publication. Recent Findings : Preliminary research into cannabis and insomnia suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of insomnia. Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may decrease sleep latency but could impair sleep quality long-term. Novel studies investigating [...]
Lire la suiteMarijuana use and coronary artery disease in young adults Jeremy R. Burt, Ali M. Agha, Basel Yacoub, Aryan Zahergivar, Julie Pepe PLoS ONE, 2020, 15, (1), e0228326, 1-8. Doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0228326 Abstract Background Marijuana is the most popular drug of abuse in the United States. The association between its use and coronary artery disease has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aims to determine the frequency of coronary artery disease among young to middle aged adults presenting with chest pain who currently use marijuana as compared to nonusers. Methods In this retrospective study, 1,420 patients with chest pain or angina equivalent were studied. Only men between 18 [...]
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