Lancet Review Warns of Public Health Risks From Cannabis Legalization ↗
Lancet review catalogs adverse public health effects of cannabis legalization including more ER visits, impaired driving, and pediatric exposures.
Research library — page 109
Browse more cannabis research, findings, methods, and limitations.
CBD Shows Promise Against Alzheimer's in Lab and Computer Studies ↗
Review finds CBD targets multiple Alzheimer's pathways in preclinical studies, with computer modeling revealing potential gene targets for future research.
1,052-Person Survey Reveals Heavy Burden of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome ↗
Survey of 1,052 CHS sufferers finds high ER and hospital use, with heavy daily cannabis use and adolescent onset linked to more frequent episodes.
THCV May Help With Diabetes and Weight Management ↗
Review finds THCV, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, shows promise for appetite suppression and blood sugar regulation in preclinical and early human studies.
Cannabis Plant Extract Reduces Pain and Inflammation in Animal Models ↗
Cannabis plant extract reduces pain, inflammation, and menstrual cramp-like symptoms in animal models at low doses, with effects from a mix of cannabinoids and other plant compounds.
Sedentary Screen Time Linked to Cannabis Use Disorder, Largely Through Smoking ↗
Genetic study finds leisure screen time increases cannabis use disorder risk by 43%, with smoking initiation mediating over half the effect. Sedentary desk work was protective.
Cannabis Vape Ads Linked to More Vaping Among Young Adults ↗
Survey of 2,204 young adults finds cannabis vape advertising exposure, especially on social media, is linked to higher use rates and frequency.
28 Synthetic Cannabinoids Tested Show Full Agonism and Unpredictable Activity ↗
Lab testing of 28 synthetic cannabinoids finds most are potent full agonists unlike THC, with unpredictable pharmacological behavior that defies simple structure-activity predictions.
Polish Pharmacists Open to Medical Cannabis but Want More Training ↗
Survey of 422 Polish pharmacists finds broad openness to medical cannabis but significant confidence gaps in advising patients, highlighting the need for targeted education.
Young Adults at Psychosis Risk Describe What Makes Quitting Cannabis Hard ↗
Interviews with 20 young adults at psychosis risk reveal coping motives and social pressure as top barriers to cutting back on cannabis, informing mobile intervention design.
Daily Cannabis Use Amplifies Cognitive Problems in People With Chronic Conditions ↗
National survey of nearly 95,000 adults finds daily cannabis use associated with 145% higher cognitive difficulty in those with chronic conditions and 183% higher in those without.
New Treatment Approaches Emerging for Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome ↗
Updated CHS management review recommends dopamine antagonists for acute episodes and treating underlying mental health conditions alongside THC cessation.
Clinicians Say Nausea Drives Most Prenatal Cannabis Use ↗
Mental health clinicians identify nausea as the top driver of prenatal cannabis use, with patients relying on peers for information more than healthcare providers.
Anxiety and Tobacco Use Predict Cannabis Problems in People With HIV ↗
Among 973 people with HIV, anxiety and tobacco use were the strongest predictors of higher-risk cannabis use, with over a third screening positive for cannabis use disorder risk.
Clinicians Say Parents and Teens Both Downplay Cannabis Risks ↗
Clinicians across four specialties identify risk minimization by both teens and parents as the top barrier to treating adolescent cannabis use.
Cannabis Shows Promise for Autoimmune Diseases, but Evidence Remains Thin ↗
Review finds cannabis shows therapeutic promise for autoimmune and rheumatic diseases, but calls for rigorous clinical trials that legal and social barriers have so far prevented.
Medicinal Cannabis Users Drive More Cautiously After THC, but Can't Judge Their Own Impairment ↗
Medicinal cannabis users showed no hazard perception decline after oral THC and drove more cautiously, but none could accurately judge their own impairment level.
CHS Cases in Massachusetts ERs Surged 14-Fold From 2012 to 2021 ↗
Massachusetts ER data shows CHS cases surged 14-fold from 2012 to 2021, with young adults, Hispanic, and Black populations most affected.
Tobacco and Cannabis Use Linked to Worse Outcomes in Opioid Pain Patients ↗
Among 827 opioid pain patients, tobacco and cannabis use were linked to more pain, psychiatric problems, and opioid misuse concerns, while alcohol showed the opposite pattern.
43% of Australian Medical Cannabis Users Met Criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder ↗
Survey of 1,796 Australian medical cannabis users finds 43% met CUD criteria, with use frequency and mental health mattering more than whether cannabis was prescribed.
Warning Labels on Cannabis Posts Reduce Sharing and Dampen Brain Self-Relevance ↗
Warning labels on cannabis social media posts reduce sharing intentions in 1,776 people and dampen self-relevance processing in the brain, revealing the mechanism behind their effectiveness.
Inattentive and Hyperactive ADHD Create Different Cannabis Problem Pathways ↗
Study reveals two distinct pathways from ADHD to cannabis problems: inattention directly causes functional impairment, while hyperactivity drives heavier consumption leading to dependence.
Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Leads to More Marijuana Use by Age 21, Through Cognitive Pathways ↗
Birth cohort study finds prenatal cocaine exposure leads to more marijuana use by age 21 through a chain of executive function deficits at 12 and substance use at 15.
Cannabis Use Doesn't Reduce Physical Activity in Teens, Unlike Tobacco ↗
Study of 358,391 young people across 45 countries finds cannabis use has no significant link to reduced physical activity, while tobacco use consistently does.
Activating Cannabis Receptors Causes Abnormal Brain Insulation in Developing Zebrafish ↗
Activating CB1 receptors in developing zebrafish causes myelin to wrap around cell bodies instead of nerve fibers, revealing a new way cannabinoids could disrupt brain development.
Regular Cannabis Use Linked to Better Decision-Making in People With Bipolar Disorder ↗
Surprising finding: regular cannabis use in bipolar disorder was linked to decision-making and functioning on par with healthy non-users, while cannabis impaired healthy participants.
Only 37% of Teens Complete Cannabis Treatment, With Stark Racial Disparities ↗
National data on 40,054 teens with CUD shows only 37% complete treatment, with Black adolescents and those experiencing homelessness facing the lowest completion odds.
Cannabis-Positive ER Tests in Israel Rose Modestly Despite Prescription Surge ↗
Israeli ER data shows cannabis-positive urine tests rose modestly from 15.4% to 17.6% over 8 years despite exponential growth in cannabis prescriptions.
Seven Months of CBD Improved Memory and Reduced Brain Inflammation in Aging Mice ↗
Aging mice given oral CBD for 7 months showed reduced brain inflammation and improved cognitive function across multiple brain region-specific tasks.
Cannabinoid Receptors Play Significant Role in Ovarian Function in Mice ↗
Mouse study finds cannabinoid receptors significantly regulate ovarian follicle development, estrogen production, and blood vessel formation, with CB2 receptors playing a key role.
Cannabinoids Show Promise for Dental Pain, but Clinical Evidence Is Lacking ↗
Review finds cannabinoids have properties relevant to dental pain and anxiety, but clinical evidence, standardized protocols, and regulatory clarity are all lacking.
Legalizing Cannabis Edibles Increased Teen Cannabis Use by 26% in Canada ↗
JAMA study of 106,032 Canadian students finds legalizing cannabis edibles increased teen use by 26%, edible consumption by 43%, and cannabis smoking by 34%.
Low-Dose CBD Was Safe for Parkinson's Patients but Showed Limited Cognitive Benefit ↗
Parkinson's RCT finds 26 mg/day CBD was safe but showed limited cognitive benefit beyond naming scores, with the low dose potentially below the therapeutic threshold.
Both Smoking and Eating Cannabis Damage Blood Vessel Function, JAMA Study Finds ↗
JAMA Cardiology study finds both cannabis smoking and THC edibles impair blood vessel function comparably to tobacco, though through apparently different mechanisms.
THC Destabilizes Brain Cell Scaffolding, Offering a Mechanism for Memory Effects ↗
Lab study reveals THC directly destabilizes microtubules by altering tubulin protein structure, proposing a new molecular mechanism for cannabis-related memory impairment.
Could Your Cannabinoid Genes Affect Kidney Disease in Diabetes? ↗
A study of 120 Iraqi subjects explored whether cannabinoid receptor gene variants influence kidney disease in diabetes—finding novel variants but no significant clinical associations.
Does Legalizing Drugs Help or Hurt Mental Health? What 55 Studies Found ↗
A review of 55 studies found drug legalization and decriminalization had mostly neutral effects on population-level mental health outcomes including depression, anxiety, and psychosis.
CBD Oil for Knee Arthritis Pain: A Rigorous Trial Shows No Benefit Over Placebo ↗
A 60-day double-blind trial found CBD-rich cannabis oil (45 mg/day) did not reduce knee osteoarthritis pain more than placebo.
South African Medical Students Hold Diverse Views on Cannabis Decriminalization ↗
Review finds South African medical students hold diverse views on cannabis decriminalization, with gaps in knowledge about health impacts and professional implications.
Recent Cannabis Use Doesn't Worsen Brain Wave Abnormalities in Psychosis ↗
EEG study of 93 psychosis patients finds brain activity abnormalities are equally present regardless of recent cannabis use, suggesting they are core features of psychosis, not cannabis effects.
Synthetic Cannabinoid Improved Memory and Reduced Alzheimer's Plaques in Mice ↗
Alzheimer's mice treated with a synthetic cannabinoid for 42 days showed improved memory and motor function plus reduced brain plaques and inflammation.
Ireland's HHC Problem: What Happened When a Synthetic Cannabinoid Went Mainstream ↗
Over a third of Irish drug users tried HHC before its 2025 ban, with 90% reporting negative effects—a cautionary tale about legal synthetic cannabinoid alternatives.
CBD and the Endocannabinoid System Offer Multiple Paths to Treating Childhood Epilepsy ↗
Review maps endocannabinoid system dysregulation in childhood epilepsy and outlines emerging treatment strategies beyond CBD, including allosteric modulators and enzyme inhibitors.
One in Five Black and Hispanic Men With Chronic Conditions Use Cannabis ↗
National survey finds 21% of Black and Hispanic men over 40 with chronic conditions use cannabis, driven by pain, stress, and disease burden.
CBD Kills Cancer Cells in the Lab While Sparing Normal Cells ↗
CBD selectively killed cervical, breast, and colon cancer cells in the lab while sparing normal cells, with colon cancer cells showing the highest sensitivity.
Cannabis Legalization Cut Drug Seizures and Modestly Reduced Racial Disparities ↗
NIBRS analysis finds cannabis legalization cut overall drug seizures and modestly reduced Black-white disparities in cannabis enforcement, but racial gaps persisted for other drugs.
Prenatal THC Exposure Linked to Smaller Babies Who Then Grow Rapidly ↗
Study of 128 mother-child pairs finds prenatal THC exposure linked to less body fat at birth followed by rapid postnatal growth, with shorter breastfeeding amplifying the pattern.
Female Rats Work Harder for THC Vapor, and Prior Exposure Increases Use ↗
New THC vapor self-administration model shows female rats work harder for THC than males and that prior THC exposure increases later use, revealing sex differences in cannabis reinforcement.
Cannabis Advertising Uses Tobacco Industry Playbook, Review Finds ↗
Review finds cannabis advertising mirrors tobacco marketing tactics including price promotions and social media, with widespread exposure among youth and adults linked to increased use.
Prenatal Infection Plus Adolescent THC Leaves Hidden Brain Changes in Rats ↗
Two-hit rat study finds prenatal immune activation plus adolescent THC causes hidden brain changes visible on imaging and gene expression, even before behavioral symptoms appear.