Cannabis Use in MS Patients Linked to Higher Pain and Fatigue the Next Day ↗
Daily tracking in 258 MS patients found cannabis use predicted worse fatigue and pain the next day, paradoxically worsening the symptoms patients likely use it to manage.
Research library — page 127
Browse more cannabis research, findings, methods, and limitations.
Patterns of Nicotine and Cannabis Vaping Among Young Adults in the US ↗
National survey finds 8.1% of US young adults co-vape nicotine and cannabis, with mental health distress, other substance use, and medical cannabis legalization as key risk factors.
How Fear of Judgment Shapes Cannabis Disclosure in Healthcare Settings ↗
Concept analysis reveals that anticipated stigma around cannabis use prevents honest patient disclosure in nursing settings, with consequences including concealment and reduced healthcare engagement.
Does Cannabis Use Before Surgery Affect Pain and Opioid Needs Afterward? ↗
Review of 42 studies finds cannabis users may need more opioids after surgery, particularly for spine procedures, though results vary significantly by surgical type and study design.
How German Cannabis Laws Drove Surges in Medical Cannabis Searches ↗
Google Trends analysis shows German medical cannabis searches surged 203% after the 2017 medical law and 216% after the 2024 legalization act, with significant regional variation across states.
CBD Protects Brain Cells from Iron-Driven Damage After Oxygen Loss ↗
Preclinical study shows CBD protects neuron-like cells from ferroptosis (iron-dependent cell death) during oxygen deprivation by modulating antioxidant defenses, Nrf2 signaling, and iron metabolism.
Prenatal THC Activated Schizophrenia-Linked Genes in Rat Placentas ↗
Prenatal THC in rats altered placental expression of genes previously linked to schizophrenia in human studies, with sex-specific effects and fetal growth restriction.
CBD May Help Prevent Fatty Liver Disease from Progressing to Inflammation ↗
Rat study shows CBD supplementation reduces early inflammatory lipid markers in diet-induced fatty liver disease by shifting the balance from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory pathways.
What Can CBD Do for Dental and Oral Health? ↗
Systematic review of 57 studies finds CBD shows dental promise for pain, oral inflammation, and radiation-induced mucositis, with emerging but limited evidence for regenerative applications.
Religious Israeli Nursing Students Hold More Negative Views on Medical Cannabis ↗
Survey of 221 ultra-Orthodox and religious Jewish nursing students in Israel finds more negative medical cannabis attitudes than secular peers, with low knowledge levels and support for curriculum education.
CBD Shows Antibacterial Activity Against Drug-Resistant Hospital Bacteria ↗
Lab study finds CBD inhibits all 20 tested clinical strains of drug-resistant Enterococcus bacteria at very low concentrations (MIC ≤ 1 μg/mL), with pure CBD outperforming CBD oils.
What Motivates Chronic Pain Patients to Consider Medical Cannabis? ↗
Theory of Planned Behavior study finds current pain, past relief experience, and prior cannabis use explain 51% of chronic pain patients' intention to use medical cannabis.
Cannabis Beverages May Help People Drink Less Alcohol ↗
Survey of 438 cannabis users finds those who use cannabis beverages reported cutting weekly alcohol consumption roughly in half and significantly reducing binge drinking frequency.
How Cannabinoids Could Protect the Heart from Scarring and Remodeling ↗
Comprehensive review finds that CB2 receptor activation and peripheral CB1 receptor blockade show the most promise for preventing harmful cardiac scarring through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.
Targeting the Endocannabinoid System May Help Social Withdrawal in Schizophrenia ↗
FAAH inhibitor reverses social withdrawal in a schizophrenia rat model while identifying the insular cortex as a key brain region, with pCREB levels correlating with social behavior.
Cannabis Use Didn't Prevent Methadone Patients from Keeping Take-Home Privileges ↗
Small study of 33 methadone patients finds that continued THC use did not prevent maintaining take-home medication privileges for 10 months under relaxed COVID-era regulations.
Cannabis Users Face Higher Opioid Use and Reoperation Rates After Spinal Fusion ↗
Meta-analysis of 1,920 spinal fusion patients finds cannabis users needed 59 more morphine milligram equivalents in hospital and had nearly 4 times the reoperation rate.
A Smartphone-Based System Could Make Medical Cannabis Safer and More Effective ↗
Commentary proposes a 'Smart Cannabis' model integrating medical cannabis with smartphone digital therapeutics for real-time monitoring, personalized dosing, and evidence generation.
Cannabis Use Not Linked to Heart Rhythm Problems in People Living with HIV ↗
Decade-long cohort study of 3,610 people finds cannabis use is not associated with ECG abnormalities regardless of HIV status, though sex and HIV independently affect cardiac findings.
THC, CBD, and CBN Activate a Key Drug Metabolism Receptor — Especially in Humans ↗
Lab study reveals THC, CBD, and CBN all activate the human PXR receptor (which controls drug metabolism) at much lower concentrations than rodent versions, suggesting underestimated drug interaction risks.
Oral THC Makes Rewards Taste Better and Alcohol Less Unpleasant in Rats ↗
Rat study shows oral THC dose-dependently enhances pleasure from sucrose and alcohol while reducing bitterness aversion, with CB1 receptor downregulation specifically in the hippocampus.
Cannabinol Shows Mixed Results for Insomnia in First Rigorous Clinical Trial ↗
First rigorous clinical trial of CBN for insomnia shows 300 mg improved subjective sleep quality and time to fall asleep but missed the primary endpoint of reducing nighttime wakefulness.
Cannabis May Be an Overlooked Risk Factor for Leg Artery Disease ↗
Narrative review suggests cannabis may be an underrecognized risk factor for peripheral arterial disease through vasospasm, endothelial damage, and platelet changes, particularly affecting younger patients.
How Much THC Per Week Raises Your Risk of Cannabis Use Disorder? ↗
Longitudinal study estimates cannabis use disorder risk thresholds: about 8 standard THC units per week for adults and 6 for adolescents, providing the first evidence-based foundation for safer-use guidelines.
Why Young Adults Use Cannabis During Sex: Pleasure, Anxiety Relief, and Gender Dynamics ↗
Qualitative study finds young adults use cannabis during sex for enhanced pleasure, reduced anxiety, and as routine — with distinct gender patterns shaping motivations across all categories.
Who Supports — and Who Actually Grows — Cannabis at Home After German Legalization? ↗
Representative German survey (n=1,500) finds support for cannabis legalization is driven by broad expectations while actual home cultivation depends on personal cannabis experience, revealing a belief-behavior gap.
The Most Detailed Look Yet at What Cannabis Smoking Does to the Lungs ↗
Multi-modal Canadian study found heavy cannabis smokers had worse lung function, airway structural changes, and overproduction of mucus-related genes in airway cells.
Designing a Text-Based Intervention to Help Young Adults Use Cannabis and Alcohol More Safely ↗
Researchers used focus groups and interviews with young adults to develop an 8-week text-messaging intervention promoting daily protective behavioral strategies for safer alcohol and cannabis use.
Nearly Half of Patients on Opioid Treatment Use Cannabis — Mostly to Manage Symptoms ↗
Study finds 47.5% of patients on opioid treatment medication use cannabis, mostly to self-manage stress, anxiety, pain, and insomnia, without apparent worsening of treatment outcomes.
How CBD and THC Affect Fat Buildup and Inflammation in Immune Cells ↗
Cell study shows THC promotes fat uptake and inflammation in macrophages via CB1/NFκB pathway while CBD partially counteracts these effects, with implications for atherosclerosis risk in cannabis users.
When During Pregnancy Matters: Cannabis, Alcohol, and Tobacco Have Different Risk Windows ↗
ABCD Study analysis of 7,777 children found prenatal cannabis risk was specific to post-awareness exposure, while alcohol risk was linked to pre-awareness use — timing matters differently for each substance.
CBD May Protect the Brain from Methamphetamine Damage by Targeting a Key Receptor ↗
Preclinical study shows CBD reverses methamphetamine-induced brain damage by suppressing sigma 1 receptor expression, validated through three independent experimental approaches in cells and mice.
Cannabis Vapor Weakens Traumatic Fear Memories Long-Term, with Sex-Specific Effects ↗
Rat study finds single cannabis vapor exposure before fear learning prevents fear memory return two weeks later in both sexes, with opposite effects on extinction learning between males and females.
Two Years of Medical Cannabis for Depression: UK Registry Shows Sustained Improvement ↗
UK registry study of 698 medical cannabis patients with depression shows sustained improvements in depression, anxiety, sleep, and quality of life over 24 months, with 91% experiencing no adverse events.
Australia's Medical Cannabis System: Growth, Gaps, and Global Lessons ↗
Review of Australia's medical cannabis evolution shows explosive growth (231 to 1M+ prescriptions) but persistent barriers in cost ($200-600/month), access, provider training, and regulatory complexity.
The Hidden Risks of Delta-8, Delta-10, and Other Unregulated Cannabinoids in Vapes ↗
Review highlights that delta-8, delta-10, and other hemp-derived cannabinoids in vaping products pose uncharacterized health risks to youth, exploiting the 0.3% THC regulatory loophole.
Not All Days of Using Alcohol and Cannabis Together Are Equal ↗
Daily survey study identifies four types of simultaneous alcohol-cannabis use days among college students, with 'Heavy Use' days (14% of occasions) carrying the most same-day harm.
Cannabis Changes Brain Network Organization — But Depression Complicates the Picture ↗
Brain imaging study of 395 people shows cannabis users have more efficient brain networks, but co-occurring depression weakens these effects, revealing a complex neurobiological interaction.
Cannabis Use Among Middle-Aged and Older Americans Is Higher Than Previously Thought ↗
National study finds 18.5% of US adults 50-64 and 5.9% of those 65+ used cannabis in the past year, mostly by smoking and largely without medical oversight.
CBD Reduces Cocaine Use in Female Mice — But Dose Matters a Lot ↗
Low-dose CBD reduced cocaine self-administration in female mice by altering reward pathways, while higher doses showed paradoxical effects. Males showed no response, highlighting critical sex differences.
CB1 Receptor in Sperm Does More Than Control Movement — It Affects DNA Packaging ↗
Advanced microscopy reveals CB1 cannabinoid receptor distribution in sperm across species, with activation improving DNA packaging in abnormal human sperm samples to normal levels.
Why Depression Leads to Cannabis Problems Specifically in LGBTQ+ Youth ↗
Longitudinal study finds depression at 17 predicts cannabis problems at 23 only in sexually diverse youth, driven entirely by using cannabis to cope — a targetable pathway for prevention.
The Body's Own Cannabis-Like Chemical Controls How We Switch Between Freeze and Flight ↗
Preclinical study shows the endocannabinoid 2-AG controls the switch between freezing and fleeing in response to threats, with implications for understanding and treating anxiety and PTSD.
Cannabis Marketing and Law Enforcement Target Minority Communities Differently ↗
Survey of 4,031 young adults reveals Black, Hispanic, transgender, and sexual minority individuals perceive more targeted cannabis marketing and unfair law enforcement, with intersectional identities amplifying disparities.
How Cannabis Laws and Advertising Shape Young Adults' Use Patterns Over Time ↗
Longitudinal study of 3,437 young adults traces how cannabis laws and digital advertising shape use through risk perceptions and motives, revealing a full chain from policy to consequences.
Nearly Half of Young Cannabis Users Also Use Delta-8 Products — With More Consequences ↗
Study finds 45.6% of young adult cannabis users also use delta-8 and similar products, driven by enhancement and coping motives, with co-use linked to more consequences in a bidirectional cycle.
Brain Scans Reveal How Cannabis Cues Hijack Attention in People with Use Disorder ↗
fMRI study shows people with cannabis use disorder have heightened brain responses to cannabis cues across salience, motivation, and attention circuits, with activity correlating with arousal and withdrawal.
New Scale Measures Why People with ADHD Symptoms Use Cannabis ↗
New validated 28-item scale measures five cannabis use motives related to attention and affect, finding people at higher ADHD risk use cannabis specifically for attention enhancement and anxiety reduction.
How to Talk About Cannabis with Young People Experiencing Psychosis ↗
Interviews with 15 young people in first-episode psychosis treatment and 16 parents reveal both want non-judgmental cannabis conversations with good information, but struggle to understand each other.
Cannabis Use Raises Concerns for Bone Surgery: Higher Opioid Needs, Possible Healing Problems ↗
Comprehensive review finds cannabis use associated with lower bone density, higher fracture risk, increased postoperative opioid needs, and potential healing complications in orthopedic surgery.