Stopping Heavy Cannabis Use Was Linked to Poorer Sleep. The Second Night Looked Worse. ↗
In the first 48 hours after stopping heavy cannabis use, lab sleep was shorter, lighter, and more fragmented, with bigger gaps versus controls on night two.
Research library — page 7
Browse more cannabis research, findings, methods, and limitations.
THC and CBD Affected Different Brain Regions During a Self-Control Task ↗
fMRI study found THC weakened brain activation in impulse control regions (right frontal, anterior cingulate) while CBD affected entirely different areas, independent of intoxication.
A Drug That Blocks 2-AG Breakdown Revealed Hidden Cannabinoid Effects in Mice ↗
Blocking 2-AG breakdown with a MAGL inhibitor revealed hidden cannabinoid effects in mice, including evidence for cannabinoid receptors beyond the known CB1 and CB2.
CBD Calmed Inflamed Intestines in Mice Without Affecting Normal Gut Movement ↗
CBD selectively normalized gut hypermotility in mice with intestinal inflammation without affecting normal movement, working through CB1 receptors and the FAAH enzyme.
A Young Man Had a Heart Attack After Smoking Marijuana ↗
Case report of a young man who had a heart attack with acute coronary thrombosis shortly after smoking marijuana, treated successfully with emergency angioplasty.
When Drug Quality Drops, Users Switch to Alcohol and Other Substances ↗
Simulated drug market study found cannabis demand was quality-sensitive, with users switching to alcohol when cannabis quality dropped, while alcohol demand was unaffected by quality changes.
Plant Cannabinoids Activate Pain-Sensing Ion Channels Beyond the Known CB1 and CB2 Receptors ↗
Six plant cannabinoids activated the pain-sensing TRPA1 channel (CBC most potent at 60 nM) and blocked the cold-sensing TRPM8 channel, revealing non-CB1/CB2 mechanisms for pain relief.
Ecstasy Polydrug Users Showed Mild Cognitive Decline Over a Year, With a Paradoxical Cannabis Finding ↗
Year-long study found ecstasy polydrug users showed mild cognitive decline while cannabis was paradoxically linked to faster brain processing speed on EEG measures.
MS Patient With Tics, Dystonia, and Marijuana Dependence Improved on Prescription THC ↗
Case report of an MS patient with tics, dystonia, and marijuana dependence who improved across all symptoms on prescription dronabinol without experiencing the "high."
CB2 Receptors on Immune Cells Can Directly Suppress the Autoimmune Attack in MS ↗
Review showed that the CB2 cannabinoid receptor on immune cells can directly suppress the autoreactive T cells that cause MS nerve damage, offering a potential non-psychoactive therapeutic target.
Olanzapine Reversed THC-Induced Memory Impairment in Rats, but Haloperidol Did Not ↗
Olanzapine reversed THC-induced spatial memory impairment in rats by restoring hippocampal acetylcholine levels, while haloperidol had no effect at any dose tested.
National Survey Found 44% of Frequent Cannabis Users Experienced Withdrawal Symptoms ↗
National survey of 2,613 frequent cannabis users found 44% experienced clinically significant withdrawal symptoms, with identical rates among cannabis-only users, supporting its diagnostic recognition.
High-Dose CBD Amplified THC's Effects in Mice by Increasing CB1 Receptor Levels ↗
In mice, high-dose CBD unexpectedly amplified low-dose THC's behavioral effects by increasing CB1 receptor expression, challenging the assumption that CBD always counteracts THC.
A Review of the Brain Science Behind Cannabis Addiction ↗
Review of brain science behind cannabis addiction found that cannabinoid receptor systems undergo specific neuroadaptive changes with chronic use, overturning the notion that cannabis is non-addictive.
CBD Suppressed Immune Function by Disrupting a Key T Cell Signaling Pathway, Independent of Cannabinoid Receptors ↗
CBD suppressed T cell function through NFAT/AP-1 transcription factor disruption, and this occurred independently of both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors.
Two Adjacent Amino Acids in the CB1 Receptor Work Together to Control How Cannabinoids Activate the Receptor ↗
Mutating two adjacent CB1 receptor amino acids individually caused modest effects, but combining them caused a synergistic 50-fold loss in activation, revealing a critical signal transduction switch.
How the Endocannabinoid System Drives Both Food Craving and Fat Storage ↗
Brief review explained how the endocannabinoid system drives both food craving and fat storage, making CB1 receptor blockers potential anti-obesity drugs.
Meta-Analysis of 30 Trials Found Cannabinoids More Effective Than Standard Anti-Nausea Drugs for Chemotherapy ↗
Meta-analysis of 30 trials found cannabinoids significantly outperformed older anti-nausea drugs for chemotherapy, with nearly half of 1,138 patients preferring cannabinoids despite more side effects.
Scientists Found the Endocannabinoid System in Connective Tissue Cells, With Implications for Pain and Bodywork ↗
Database analysis found fibroblasts and connective tissue cells express a full endocannabinoid system that may help regulate pain, inflammation, and tissue remodeling in muscles and fascia.
Marijuana Smoke Contains Some Chemicals at Higher Levels Than Tobacco Smoke ↗
Systematic comparison found marijuana smoke contained up to 20x more ammonia and 3-5x more HCN than tobacco, but lower levels of some carcinogenic PAHs in mainstream smoke.
Cannabis Use May Worsen Metabolic Problems in Psychosis Patients Already at Risk ↗
Review found limited evidence that cannabis use may worsen metabolic health in psychosis patients already at elevated cardiovascular risk, though long-term effects remain unclear.
Cannabis Users Showed Opposite Brain Activity Patterns During Memory: Too Much in One Region, Too Little in Others ↗
fMRI study found cannabis users showed opposite brain patterns during memory: reduced frontal activation alongside increased parahippocampal activity, suggesting compensation for functional deficits.
Nerve Agents Accidentally Revealed What Happens When Both Endocannabinoid Enzymes Are Blocked at Once ↗
Nerve agents that blocked both endocannabinoid enzymes simultaneously caused 10-fold brain cannabinoid increases and THC-like effects, revealing that dual blockade is fundamentally different from single enzyme inhibition.
Chemists Created Powerful New Tools to Control 2-AG Production and Breakdown ↗
Chemists created compounds that inhibit 2-AG production at nanomolar concentrations with high selectivity, providing precision tools for endocannabinoid research.
Why Cannabis Is an "Atypical" Drug of Abuse: Unusual Patterns in Animal Addiction Models ↗
Comprehensive review found cannabinoids only produce reward in animals under narrow conditions, unlike other drugs of abuse, explaining their classification as "atypical" addictive substances.
13-Year Study Found Cannabis Linked to Suicidal Behavior but Not Depression ↗
13-year Norwegian study found frequent cannabis use linked to nearly triple the suicide attempt risk but not to depression, suggesting distinct pathways to suicidal behavior.
Three Cannabinoids, Three Completely Different Pharmacologies — Why THC, CBD, and THCV Don't Work the Same Way ↗
The definitive pharmacological characterization of THC, CBD, and THCV — showing that three molecules from the same plant have completely different, sometimes opposite, effects at cannabinoid receptors.
THC Reduced Brain Attention Responses, and CBD Didn't Reverse It in This Study ↗
Crossover study found THC reduced the P300 attention brain wave, and a cannabis extract with CBD failed to reverse this effect, complicating the "CBD counteracts THC" narrative.
A Comprehensive Review of Cannabinoids for Difficult-to-Treat Pain ↗
Comprehensive review found strong trial evidence for cannabinoid analgesics in neuropathic, cancer, and inflammatory pain, with Sativex already approved in Canada for two pain indications.
The Theory That Some Conditions Are Caused by an Endocannabinoid Deficiency ↗
Proposed that migraine, fibromyalgia, and IBS may share a common cause: clinical endocannabinoid deficiency, providing a rationale for cannabinoid-based treatments.
How Cannabis, Cocaine, and Ecstasy Each Affect Sleep Differently ↗
Review found cannabis acutely helps sleep onset and deepens sleep but withdrawal causes insomnia and vivid dreams, while cocaine and ecstasy primarily disrupt sleep through arousal.
Why Puberty Is a Particularly Risky Time for Cannabis Exposure ↗
Review assembled evidence that the endocannabinoid system's major changes during puberty make adolescent brains especially vulnerable to lasting harm from cannabis exposure.
Pubertal Rats Showed Worse and More Lasting Effects From Cannabinoids Than Adult Rats ↗
Pubertal rats given cannabinoids for 25 days showed persistent memory and social deficits lasting at least 15 days after stopping, while adult rats showed milder, more reversible effects.
High-Fat Diet Changed How the Endocannabinoid System Works in the Pancreas and Fat Tissue ↗
Mice on high-fat diet showed tissue-specific endocannabinoid changes: increased levels in the pancreas (enzyme redistribution) and decreased levels in subcutaneous fat.
A Catalog of All Known FAAH and MAGL Inhibitors and Their Chemical Characteristics ↗
Comprehensive catalog found extensive FAAH inhibitor families but few selective MAGL inhibitors, highlighting a critical gap in the endocannabinoid research toolkit.
The Promise and Problems of CB1 Blockers for Obesity and Metabolic Disease ↗
Review found CB1 receptor antagonists show metabolic benefits for obesity but psychiatric side effects limit use, proposing "neutral antagonists" as a safer next-generation approach.
The Long History and Emerging Science of Medical Cannabis in the United States ↗
Historical review traced medical cannabis from ancient times through US criminalization (1937, against AMA advice) to modern endocannabinoid science supporting pain, spasticity, and inflammation applications.
Chart Review of 139 Medical Cannabis Patients Revealed Complex Pain and Major Access Barriers ↗
Chart review of 139 medical cannabis patients found 88% had multiple pain conditions (most commonly myofascial and neuropathic pain) and 37% faced significant access barriers despite legal authorization.
Review of Candidate Genes for Cannabis Use Disorders Found Promising Leads and Major Challenges ↗
Review mapped the genetics of cannabis disorders: linkage regions on seven chromosomes and candidate genes in both the cannabinoid system (CNR1, FAAH, MGLL) and general addiction pathways.
Scientists Developed a Heritable Alcohol Consumption Measure That Also Correlated With Cannabis Use ↗
Twin study developed a 50% heritable alcohol consumption measure that correlated with cannabis and nicotine use, supporting shared genetic vulnerability across substances.
Young Women Who Used Cannabis and Tobacco at the Same Time Had Worse Cannabis Outcomes ↗
Among 3,427 young women, those who used cannabis and tobacco simultaneously had 1.6x higher cannabis abuse risk, driven by environment (31%) rather than genetics (0%).
CBD Directly Activated Glycine Receptors Involved in Pain Processing ↗
CBD enhanced glycine receptor function at low micromolar concentrations and directly activated them at higher concentrations, providing a non-cannabinoid mechanism for pain relief.
Critical Assessment Found CB1 Blockers Were No Better Than Existing Weight Loss Drugs ↗
Critical review found CB1 antagonists for obesity achieved weight loss no better than existing drugs while carrying serious psychiatric side effects, questioning the approach's clinical value.
Drug Use Among Nigerian Prison Inmates Was Lower Than Western Countries but Showed Concerning Patterns ↗
Survey of Nigerian prison inmates found 7% current cannabis use with 71% heavy users, rates barely lower than pre-imprisonment, and cannabis was uniquely associated with criminal history patterns.
Sativex Did Not Cause Psychiatric Problems or Cognitive Decline in Cannabis-Naive MS Patients ↗
Crossover trial of 17 cannabis-naive MS patients found Sativex caused no psychiatric problems or cognitive decline at therapeutic doses, though higher THC blood levels correlated with subtle psychological symptom scores.
How THC and CBD Affect Brain Activity During Learning ↗
THC disrupted brain activation in the parahippocampal gyrus and ventrostriatum during verbal learning, with ventrostriatal changes correlating with psychotic symptoms. CBD had no such effects.
How Cannabinoids Fight Inflammation: A Review of Recent Research ↗
A review found that all classes of cannabinoids show anti-inflammatory activity, potentially through promoting inflammation resolution rather than blocking its initiation.
Sativex Did Not Improve Spasticity Measures or Endocannabinoid Levels in MS Patients ↗
In 20 MS patients, Sativex did not improve spasticity on clinical or neurophysiological measures and did not alter endocannabinoid system markers in peripheral blood.
Cannabis both calms and panics — the biphasic dose-response explains why the same drug produces opposite anxiety effects ↗
Frequent use and anxiety often appear together, but this 2009 review could not pin down cause and effect.
Teens Who Kept Smoking Cigarettes Were More Likely to Relapse on Marijuana and Alcohol ↗
Among 1,779 adolescents in substance abuse treatment, those who continued or started smoking cigarettes had significantly higher odds of relapsing on marijuana and alcohol at 12 months.