What research says about marijuana use during pregnancy ↗
Review finds prenatal marijuana exposure is linked to growth restriction and neurodevelopmental effects, but most evidence comes from an era of lower-potency cannabis.
Research library — page 43
Browse more cannabis research, findings, methods, and limitations.
A new type of CB1 drug reduces THC withdrawal symptoms in mice ↗
Mouse study found a CB1 positive allosteric modulator reduced THC withdrawal signs without sedation or rewarding effects, suggesting a potential new treatment approach.
How drugs of abuse, including cannabis, are linked to stroke ↗
Review describes how cannabis can cause stroke through vasospasm, particularly in young people, alongside similar risks from other drugs of abuse.
Cannabis in cancer care: what works, what might work, and what we don't know yet ↗
Review confirms cannabis helps with cancer symptoms like nausea and pain but notes that promising antitumor effects in lab studies remain unproven in humans.
Current and upcoming cannabis-based pharmaceuticals for pain ↗
Review of cannabis-based pharmaceuticals for pain, including nabiximols for MS and cancer pain and newer synthetic cannabinoids targeting neuropathic pain.
Cannabis-impaired fatal crash drivers were most likely to lack a valid license ↗
Analysis of 772 fatally injured drivers in Norway found cannabis impairment linked specifically to driving without a valid license, unlike alcohol which was linked to speeding and no seatbelt.
Single cannabis inhalation showed limited pain relief in fibromyalgia patients ↗
Rigorous crossover trial in 20 fibromyalgia patients found single cannabis inhalation had limited pain effects, with a surprising finding that CBD reduced THC's analgesic benefit.
Untangling cyclic vomiting syndrome from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome ↗
Review examines whether cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is distinct from cyclic vomiting syndrome, finding the evidence unclear and proposing revised diagnostic criteria.
School experiences linked to marijuana use differ for Black male and female teens ↗
National survey found school disengagement predicted marijuana use in Black teens of both sexes, but perceived peer use was 8x risk for females vs 3.5x for males.
Children exposed to cocaine/cannabis before birth had more health problems over 4 years ↗
Four-year follow-up found children prenatally exposed to cocaine/cannabis had more ER visits, hospitalizations, and family disruption than unexposed children.
CBD shows no signs of abuse potential in mouse behavior tests ↗
Comprehensive mouse behavioral testing found CBD produced no rewarding effects, no withdrawal, and no self-administration motivation, supporting its lack of abuse potential.
Higher aerobic fitness may protect against cognitive effects of cannabis use ↗
Study of 79 young adults found aerobic fitness moderated cognitive deficits associated with cannabis use, with fitter users performing better after 3 weeks of abstinence.
CBD restores brain network disruption caused by THC ↗
Brain imaging study found THC disrupted key brain networks, with feeling "stoned" linked to disruption of the posterior cingulate cortex, while CBD restored salience network changes.
Attention problems in young cannabis users are from cannabis, not subclinical ADHD ↗
Study of 72 young people found cannabis use predicted slower attention, and subclinical ADHD symptoms did not explain this deficit.
Computer-based motivational intervention reduced marijuana use via concerns about relationships ↗
Computer-delivered ED intervention reduced marijuana use at 6 months, with relationship concerns predicting up to 5.5 fewer use days per month.
College students in medical marijuana states used more, but didn't perceive more risk ↗
Survey of 7,105 college students found higher marijuana use in medical marijuana states, with less than 30% of all students viewing it as a health risk.
More than a third of MS patients used cannabis in a state where it's legal ↗
Survey found 38% of MS patients in Colorado used cannabis, mostly for pain and sleep, reporting over 60% relief with minimal side effects.
Does marijuana legalization reduce opioid abuse? Evidence is mixed. ↗
Review of 10 studies found mostly positive associations between marijuana legalization and reduced opioid use, but the one individual-level study found increased adverse outcomes.
CBD has strong evidence for seizures but weak evidence for most other claims ↗
Review of CBD evidence found strong support only for seizures, with promising but unproven data for anxiety and schizophrenia, and weak evidence for most marketed uses.
Pediatric cannabis poisoning calls jumped 140% after Massachusetts legalized medical marijuana ↗
Cannabis poison control calls for children and teens in Massachusetts increased 140% after medical marijuana legalization, with rising edible exposures.
People who drive high think they are safer drivers than others who drive high ↗
Interviews with impaired driving offenders found widespread belief that driving stoned is safer than driving drunk, with optimism bias about personal crash risk.
Rhesus monkeys develop physical dependence on THC with daily use ↗
Rhesus monkeys given THC twice daily showed 20-fold activity spikes during withdrawal, while those dosed every 3 days showed no dependence signs.
Regular cannabis use linked to asthma, COPD, and pneumonia even without tobacco ↗
Analysis of nearly 9,000 cannabis users found elevated risk of asthma, COPD, and pneumonia even among those without tobacco use disorder.
Parents in more permissive marijuana states see less risk for their medically vulnerable teens ↗
Survey of 595 parents of chronically ill teens found those in more permissive marijuana states perceived less risk and were more likely to report their child had used marijuana.
Synthetic cannabinoids tripled seizure risk in ER drug cases, while cannabis was protective ↗
Large European ER dataset found synthetic cannabinoids nearly tripled seizure risk while natural cannabis was associated with lower seizure odds.
Unintentional cannabis ingestion in children can cause coma and respiratory depression ↗
Review of pediatric cannabis toxicity finds rising unintentional exposures with potential for serious effects including coma and respiratory depression.
A cannabis compound showed strong anti-nicotine effects in rodent addiction models ↗
Cannabis-related compound delta-8-THCV reduced nicotine addiction across all seven rodent models tested, including self-administration, relapse, and withdrawal.
Adding medical cannabis to standard pain treatment improved outcomes in fibromyalgia patients ↗
In 31 fibromyalgia patients, adding medical cannabis to standard analgesics improved pain, function, and range of motion beyond what standard treatment alone achieved.
Medical cannabis dispensary users had high rates of mental illness when properly assessed ↗
Structured clinical interviews of 100 dispensary users found high rates of anxiety disorders and substance abuse, with many endorsing psychological symptoms.
Delayed cannabinoid hyperemesis diagnosis cost an average of $77,000 per patient ↗
Patients with cannabinoid hyperemesis averaged nearly 18 ER visits and $77,000 in costs before being diagnosed, highlighting the need for clinician awareness.
Severe lung injury in adolescent from vaping cannabis oil ↗
Case report of an adolescent with severe lung injury from vaping cannabis oil, highlighting emerging respiratory risks.
Comprehensive guide to Epidiolex (CBD) for treating childhood epilepsy ↗
Review of FDA-approved Epidiolex for childhood epilepsy details its seizure-reducing benefits alongside important drug interactions with clobazam and valproate.
Cannabis vaping can cause acute respiratory failure requiring ventilation ↗
Review of cannabis vaping lung injury cases found acute respiratory failure as a serious complication, identifying key cannabis oil ingredients as potential causes.
How non-THC cannabinoids like CBD might fight cancer ↗
Review of non-THC cannabinoids in cancer finds preclinical evidence of anti-tumor effects through multiple mechanisms, but no clinical confirmation yet.
Stressful life events linked to cannabis use before, during, and after pregnancy ↗
Analysis of 6,061 women found stressful life events like partner incarceration and job loss predicted cannabis use before, during, and after pregnancy.
Synthetic cannabinoids and THC kill placental cells through programmed cell death ↗
Lab study found synthetic cannabinoids and THC all triggered programmed cell death in human placental cells, with synthetics being more potent than THC.
Cannabis in cancer: helpful for symptoms, but could it interfere with immunotherapy? ↗
Review finds cannabis helps cancer symptoms but raises concern that its immune-dampening effects could interfere with immunotherapy and bone marrow transplants.
Comprehensive guide to synthetic cannabinoids: from chemistry to toxicity ↗
Review covers the 190+ synthetic cannabinoids reported in Europe, explaining why they are more potent and dangerous than natural cannabis as full receptor agonists.
Regular cannabis users with stronger motives for using have worse mental health ↗
Latent class analysis of 329 weekly cannabis users found those with stronger use motives had more psychosis symptoms, depression, anxiety, and reckless behavior.
Living closer to cannabis outlets linked to more missed methadone doses ↗
Study found opioid treatment patients living closer to cannabis outlets missed more methadone doses, while proximity to the treatment center improved adherence.
Two-thirds of NYC public housing residents reported secondhand marijuana smoke exposure ↗
Survey of 1,030 NYC subsidized housing residents found 67% experienced secondhand marijuana smoke in their homes, exceeding cigarette smoke exposure.
CBD side effects: mostly mild, but dangerous when combined with certain epilepsy drugs ↗
CBD is mostly well-tolerated but can cause life-threatening reactions when combined with valproate or clobazam, commonly used in epilepsy patients who take CBD.
Brain network patterns may predict who will respond to CBD for epilepsy ↗
EEG brain network analysis distinguished CBD responders from non-responders in refractory epilepsy, with key differences in the beta frequency band.
Low-dose THC plus CBD helped seizures in Dravet mice, but chronic combination increased mortality ↗
In Dravet mice, acute low-dose THC plus CBD was anticonvulsant, but chronic combination unexpectedly increased seizure severity and mortality.
Medical cannabis in children: what we know about epilepsy, autism, and safety ↗
Review finds strong evidence for pure CBD in specific childhood epilepsies but notes most pediatric use involves artisanal products with less evidence.
THC impaired driving for about 4 hours but CBD did not, in on-road driving test ↗
JAMA trial with actual on-road driving found THC impaired lane-keeping for up to 100 minutes but not at 4 hours, while CBD had no measurable effect.
How Australia's medical cannabis prescribing system works in practice ↗
Australia issued over 28,000 medical cannabis approvals by 2019, mostly for chronic pain and anxiety, with 100+ products available but many doctors still hesitant.
Moroccan immigrants with first psychosis in Spain showed lower functioning but less cannabis use ↗
Study of 83 first-episode psychosis patients found Moroccan immigrants had lower functioning and education but less cannabis use than Spanish-born patients.
CBD and its precursor CBDA had different anti-anxiety effects in mice ↗
Mouse study found CBD reduced conditioned fear while CBDA reduced generalized anxiety after trauma, suggesting complementary therapeutic roles.
What synthetic cannabinoid users report about effects and motivations online ↗
Analysis of 1,660 online posts revealed detailed user experiences with synthetic cannabinoids, providing insights into motivations, effects, and toxicity.