Journal of cannabis research最新文献

Cannabis sativa L. containing < 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is currently defined as hemp. Many different legal products in the United States now contain hemp and are marketed for their cannabinoid effects, as an alternative to tobacco products, or even as an aid for tobacco smoking cessation. The hemp cigarettes analyzed have similar designs to tobacco cigarettes with a filter and filler wrapped in paper. Cannabis sativa, like tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), is a hyperaccumulator of metals. Currently, no publications have reported analyses of metals in these cigarette-like products. Hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products are increasing in popularity. Thus, reporting the metal concentrations from a variety of hemp cigarette brands can help assess the potential for harmful exposures. We analyzed the hemp filler in 14 commercial brands for beryllium (Be), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and uranium (U) content.The hemp cigarette filler metals concentrations are compared to previously published metals levels in tobacco cigarette and little cigar filler. NIST Reference Material (RM) 8210 Hemp Plant was also analyzed to assess and confirm analytical accuracy. Of note, all hemp cigarette filler cadmium concentrations were below our lowest reportable level, and statistically lower than our previously published U.S. tobacco cigarettes and little cigars filler. The other metal concentration ranges were similar to previous tobacco cigarettes and little cigars results, although mean concentrations were statistically different in many cases. Different states have testing requirements with action limits for selected metals concentrations in Cannabis sativa L. Several hemp cigarette brands had chromium, nickel, arsenic, and lead concentrations that were above some state action limits.

Background: Harm reduction strategies encourage people who use cannabis to adopt lower-risk behaviors, such as refraining from daily or intensive use or limiting simultaneous use with other psychoactive substances. However, little is known about the characteristics of people who use cannabis but are at lower risk of cannabis use disorder (CUD). This study identified sociodemographic, lifestyle, and mental health factors associated with lower-risk cannabis use among adults in their mid-thirties.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from 731 adults in the Nicotine Dependence in Teens study were analyzed from the 2022-2023 data collection. Risk of CUD was assessed with the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST). Sociodemographic, mental health, lifestyle factors, and patterns of cannabis use were compared across participants who did not use cannabis, those with lower-risk cannabis use, and those at higher risk of CUD using cross-tabulations. Among participants who used cannabis, log-binomial regression models adjusted for age, sex, and education were fitted to identify factors associated with lower-risk cannabis use.

Results: Of 731 participants (mean [SD] age = 35.3 [0.6] years; 58% female), 44% reported past-year cannabis use, including 63% classified as lower risk and 37% at higher risk of CUD. Compared with other participants, those at higher risk of CUD were more often male and had lower levels of education. Several mental health indicators were less favorable among participants at higher risk of CUD, who also reported a higher prevalence of cigarette smoking. In multivariable models, being female and simultaneous cannabis and alcohol use were associated with a higher prevalence of lower-risk cannabis use, whereas higher frequency of cannabis use, simultaneous cannabis and tobacco use, cigarette smoking, and GAD-7 scores > 10 were associated with a lower prevalence.

Conclusion: Participants with lower-risk cannabis use resemble participants who do not use cannabis more than participants at higher risk of CUD. While use frequency is key, other factors, such as cigarette smoking, distinguish higher CUD risk from lower-risk cannabis use. Findings underscore the importance of harm reduction strategies and evidence-based education for cannabis-related policies.

Background: Since the passage of the 2018 US Farm Bill there has been a market for cannabinoid products derived from Cannabis sativa L. that contain < 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Understanding the characteristics and motivations of cannabinoid product users is crucial for appropriate regulation of these products.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,523 adults 18 years or older using the probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel, representative of 97% of US households. We assessed lifetime use of cannabidiol (CBD), delta-8 THC, cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), as well as self-reported reasons for using these products (i.e., medical vs. recreational). Using multivariable logistic regression models, we investigated associations of demographic and health behavior characteristics with product use. Lastly, we used the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities to code medical reasons for cannabinoid product use into system organ class and preferred term categories.

Results: Lifetime use of CBD was 35.2% (95% CI 32.7-37.9), compared with 7.7% (95% CI 6.5-9.1) for delta-8 THC, 4.5% (95% CI 3.7-5.6) for CBN, 1.3% (95% CI 0.9-1.9) for CBG, and 1.5% (95% CI 1.0-2.1) for HHC. More adults used CBD for medical purposes (71.9%, 95% CI 68.9-74.7) than recreation (47.1%, 95% CI 43.9-50.3), which was also the case for CBN, CBG and HHC. Conversely, more adults used delta-8 THC for recreation (76.1% 95% CI 67.0-83.3) than for medical reasons (50.9; 95% CI 42.6-59.2). The most cited preferred terms for CBD use were anxiety (14.7%, 95% CI 13.0-16.6), pain (13.1%, 95% CI 11.5-15.0) and arthralgia (11.2%, 95% CI 9.5-13.2), for delta-8 THC use they were anxiety (18.6%, 95% CI 13.3-25.3), pain (15.2%, 95% CI 11.1-20.5) and insomnia (10.7%, 95% CI 7.4-15.3), and for CBN use they were insomnia (15.4%, 95% CI 9.6-23.9), pain (11.1%, 95% CI 6.4-18.7) and anxiety (10.9%, 95% CI 6.0-19.0).

Conclusions: Use of cannabinoid products is appreciable, particularly CBD and delta-8 THC. Most adults use CBD, CBN, CBG, and HHC for medical reasons, but delta-8 THC for recreation. Pain, anxiety, insomnia and arthralgia were common medical reasons for use across the different cannabinoids assessed.

Background: Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid increasingly used during pregnancy, has been proposed to modulate inflammatory processes. However, its effects on human placental immune functions remain poorly characterized. This study investigates the impact of CBD on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in human placenta explants and primary trophoblast cells, focusing on cytokine expression, receptor involvement, and underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Term placental explants and syncytiotrophoblast cells were exposed to LPS with or without CBD. Inflammatory cytokine levels were quantified by ELISA and RT-qPCR. Receptor involvement was assessed using selective antagonists for cannabinoid receptors type 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1). NF-κB activation was evaluated by immunofluorescence, and caspase-1 activity was measured to explore inflammasome-related pathways.

Results: CBD significantly attenuated LPS-induced interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 18 (IL-18) expression in a concentration-dependent manner, without inducing cytotoxicity. These effects were not reversed by CB1, CB2, or TRPV1 antagonists, indicating that other pathways are likely involved. CBD was associated with reduced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation yet did not affect caspase-1 activity or transcript levels, indicating inflammasome-independent suppression.

Conclusion: CBD exerts anti-inflammatory effects in human placenta and trophoblasts, associated with reduced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and independent of CB1, CB2, and TRPV1 signaling, without evidence of canonical inflammasome activation. Given the placenta's role in fetal programming, these findings underscore the importance of evaluating CBD's developmental impact in the context of its growing perinatal use.

Background: On April 1st, 2024, Germany legalized recreational cannabis use under specific conditions. While policymakers extensively debated this change, the perspectives of healthcare providers who will address its consequences remain understudied. This study aims to characterize primary care physicians' experiences with cannabis-consuming patients and their expectations regarding the effects of legalization.

Methods: This is an exploratory cross-sectional survey among general practitioners (GPs) and practice-based anesthesiologists in three German federal states (Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Saarland) from September 2023 to March 2024, preceding cannabis legalization. The 17-item questionnaire assessed physicians' experiences with cannabis-consuming patients, medical cannabis prescribing practices, personal cannabis use experience, and expectations regarding legalization consequences.

Results: Of 946 successfully delivered surveys, 239 physicians responded (25.3% response rate). Most physicians anticipated increased cannabis consumption and disorders post-legalization, with those providers with personal cannabis experience (37.9%) more optimistic about achieving policy goals such as cannabis quality control, compared to those without such experience. Despite 40.3% prescribing medical cannabis in their practice, respondents rarely screened specifically for cannabis use and only few showed interest in additional training.

Conclusion: Our survey reveals that German primary care physicians anticipate increased cannabis consumption and patient inquiries following legalization, yet current screening practices remain limited with modest interest in additional training. Enhanced integration of healthcare providers into cannabis policy implementation could improve patient care and support public health objectives.

Trial registration: NA.

Background: Despite the Netherlands having one of the world's oldest medical cannabis programs, the majority of people who use cannabis for medicinal purposes continue to rely on non-prescribed sources. This study investigates patterns of use, motives for use, perceived effectiveness, and barriers to accessing prescribed cannabis among individuals self-medicating with non-prescribed cannabis.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between January and April 2023, using convenience sampling primarily via social media. Participants (N = 1059) were adults (18 years or older) residing in the Netherlands who self-reported current use of non-prescribed cannabis-based products to manage physical or mental health symptoms.

Results: Cannabis was used to manage a wide range of conditions, most commonly chronic pain, sleep disorders, depression, and ADHD/ADD, with three out of four participants reporting use for multiple conditions. Most participants obtained cannabis from coffeeshops, although one in four also reported home cultivation as a source. Participants typically smoked cannabis with tobacco, reported (near-)daily use for therapeutic purposes, and indicated a monthly expenditure of €100. The majority was not aware of the THC and CBD content of their products. Perceived effectiveness was rated as high, and more than half of those with a history of prescription medication use reported substituting cannabis for these medications. Only a minority of participants had ever used, or were currently using, prescribed cannabis. Commonly cited barriers included perceived lower quality, higher cost, and lower ease of access compared with non-prescribed cannabis.

Conclusions: The widespread use of non-prescribed cannabis for medicinal purposes in the Netherlands reflects both unmet health needs and barriers within the regulated medical cannabis system. Risky use practices - such as smoking cannabis with tobacco and using products without knowing their cannabinoid content - raise public health concerns. The findings highlight the need for harm reduction strategies and policies that better align medical cannabis regulation with patients' real-world behaviours and care needs.

Background: Cannabidiol (CBD) exhibits therapeutic potential due to its analgesic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and anticonvulsant effects. However, its oral bioavailability is limited by poor water solubility and extensive first-pass metabolism. Formulation strategies such as oil-based emulsions and oil-free particles may overcome these limitations by enhancing solubilization and promoting lymphatic absorption. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oil droplet and particle size, and surfactant concentration on CBD bioavailability.

Methods: CBD emulsions were produced using membrane emulsification, high-pressure homogenization, while particles were produced via solvent emulsification-evaporation method. Physicochemical properties were assessed using microscopy and light-scattering techniques. In a randomized, cross-over study, male Wistar rats (n = 75) received single oral doses of ten test formulations, while a CBD solution in sunflower oil served as the reference. Serum concentrations were determined using validated UHPLC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC_last, C_max, T_max) were estimated by non-compartmental analysis and statistically compared using ANOVA.

Results: All tested formulations enhanced CBD absorption relative to the reference, CBD in sunflower oil. Among emulsions, droplet size significantly influenced bioavailability: the 16 μm formulation yielded the highest exposure, with AUC_last and C_max values reaching 291% and 455% of the reference, respectively. Both sunflower and sesame oil emulsions enhanced bioavailability against the oil solution, though sunflower oil showed a slight advantage. Oil-free nanoparticles and microparticles also improved absorption due to their amorphous character, with size exerting minimal effect. Higher concentrations of Tween 20 accelerated absorption but reduced overall exposure, while an excess of lecithin decreased bioavailability.

Conclusions: CBD bioavailability can be substantially enhanced by formulation design. Medium-sized emulsions (≈ 16 μm) provided the most pronounced improvement, while oil-free particles offered additional but less size-dependent benefits. Excessive surfactant (Tween 20) or lecithin content negatively impacted systemic exposure, underscoring the need for balanced formulation strategies. These findings contribute to the understanding of oral delivery of lipophilic compounds and support the rational development of optimized CBD formulations for therapeutic applications.