Journal of cannabis research最新文献

Background: Several ecological momentary assessment studies have examined event-level associations between motives for cannabis use and cannabis use outcomes (e.g., duration of intoxication, consequences), and endorsing multiple motives during the same observation has been linked to heavier cannabis use and more consequences. However, it remains unclear whether specific combinations of motives are differentially associated with cannabis use outcomes above and beyond the effect of endorsing more motives.

Methods: We utilized ecological momentary assessment data from 571 young adult females who regularly used cannabis to conduct a multilevel latent class analysis of observations during which multiple motives for cannabis use were endorsed and compared results to those derived from a count of the number of motives endorsed.

Results: Endorsing more motives (operationalized as a count of motives) was associated with heavier cannabis use and more consequences of use at the event-level. Six common combinations of motives (i.e., classes) were identified in the latent class analysis of observations with multiple motives. Results indicated differences among motive classes with the same number of motives. For example, the two classes characterized by the endorsement of three motives displayed different patterns with one (coping, social, enhancement) being consistently associated with heavier use than most classes characterized by endorsing two motives, while the other (coping, enhancement, medical) was not consistently associated with heavier use. Further, one class characterized by endorsement of two motives (coping and medical) was consistently associated with lighter use and fewer consequences compared to other classes characterized by endorsement of two motives.

Conclusion: Results indicate that specific combinations of motives are associated with differences in cannabis use outcomes above and beyond the effect of simply endorsing more motives.

Background: Recent global policy shifts have greatly expanded access to and the market for medicinal cannabis, broadening its availability for therapeutic use. These changes have led to a notable increase in off-label prescriptions of cannabidiol (CBD) based products, particularly for conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain. Despite its growing popularity, clinical studies investigating the efficacy of CBD for insomnia remain limited, raising questions about its suitability for decision support. In this scenario, sentiment analysis provides an additional, low-cost, and measurable outcome of patients' perceptions, which has proven valuable in offering an additional layer of understanding regarding the perceived effectiveness of treatments. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess patients' perception regarding off-label CBD use for insomnia through sentiment analysis.

Methods: English-language tweets related to CBD use for insomnia were collected from June 25, 2018, to January 9, 2023. The data was cleaned, and a representative subset of comments was manually labeled by experts. Then, a ROBERTA-based model was trained to automatically classify the remaining tweets in the database as either signals or noise. Finally, topic modeling and sentiment analysis were performed on the database of signal tweets.

Results: From the 74,562 unique comments retrieved, 25,005 were classified as relevant based on both manual labeling and predictions made by the validated model. Topic modeling revealed eleven major themes, including the perceived efficacy of CBD for anxiety, pain, and insomnia, as well as practical considerations regarding treatment routines and preparation preferences. Sentiment analysis revealed positive feedback regarding CBD's use for insomnia, indicating that most users perceive it as an effective treatment for this condition.

Conclusions: This study offers valuable insights into patient perceptions of off-label CBD use for insomnia, suggesting that CBD may indeed be beneficial for this condition, which aligns with existing, albeit limited, experimental evidence. Consequently, further research is necessary to confirm its efficacy. In this scenario, the application of sentiment analysis emerges as an effective tool for assessing patient perceptions, providing a richer context that complements the still limited evidence from traditional clinical trials on CBD use for insomnia.

Trial registration: Not applicable.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is essential for energy hemostasis, obesity, and other metabolic disorders. Cannabidiol and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are found in hemp seed oil (HSO), have been found to regulate adipose tissue through the ECS. Thus, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were differentiated into pre-adipocytes and then treated with cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 0.05% HSO, or 0.1% HSO for 3 days (72 h). The mixture was subsequently maintained in maintenance media for 14 days, after which the condition media (CM) was collected. In addition, THP-1 cells were used to assess the inflammatory response upon exposure to CM collected from different groups of experimental cells. Quantification for lipid accumulation (Oil red O), gene expression (RT‒qPCR), and protein levels (Western blot) were performed. We found that HSO-treated cells matured toward brown-like adipose tissue with a spindle shape and decreased intracellular lipid accumulation. HSO treatment decreased the expression of genes associated with fat accumulation and browning (BAT), with the exception of UCP-1, which leans toward brown-like adipocytes. HSO treatment upregulated the cannabinoid receptors 2 (CB2), TRPV1, and GPCR55 mRNAs and leptin mRNA found with lower expression; no alterations were observed in cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1), FAAH, and MGL mRNAs. In THP-1 macrophage, HSO treated CM decreased the expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and leptin mRNAs significantly when compared to CBD and THC. The potential of HSO in promoting brown fat characteristics through the CB2 and its effect on inflammation status offers an intriguing area for future research and therapeutic interventions.

Background: Cannabis use has been identified as a risk factor for depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. However, the direct relationship between cannabis use and suicide death has not been adequately investigated due to data and methodological challenges. We assessed the association between cannabis use and suicide using the case-control design and integrative data analysis techniques.

Methods: Cases consisted of suicide decedents aged 16 years and older, selected from the 2013 National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). Controls were respondents from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). To mitigate potential misclassification in the NSDUH respondents' self-reported cannabis use, we employed a data fusion approach by integrating the NSDUH data with data from the 2013 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers (NRS), which included both toxicological testing and self-reported data on cannabis use. For statistical analysis, adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of suicide associated with cannabis and alcohol use were estimated using weighted multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: Multiply imputed toxicological testing data indicated that 17.1% of the cases, and 7.2% of the NSDUH controls used cannabis as indicated by testing positive for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Weighted multivariable logistic modeling revealed that cannabis use was associated with 83% increased odds of suicide (aOR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.36, 2.31) and that alcohol use was associated with 20-fold increased odds of suicide (aOR = 20.53; 95% CI: 11.83, 29.24). Other factors associated with significantly increased odds of suicide were male sex, White race, being 35-49 years of age, and having less than a high school education.

Conclusions: Cannabis use is a significant risk factor for suicide, independent of alcohol use and demographic characteristics. Policy makers should take into consideration the excess risk of suicide associated with cannabis use when assessing the externalities of legalizing cannabis.

Background: Precision water stress, achieved via osmotic stress, has the potential to control plant size and improve crop quality without reducing yield, but results across species and cultivars have been inconsistent.

Methods: This study examined the effects of elevated salinity on two diverse Cannabis sativa cultivars, Trump and Cherry. One group (control group) was grown at 4 mS cm⁻¹ (-0.14 MPa), one group at 8 mS cm⁻¹ (-0.28 MPa), and a third (hybrid) group at 8 mS cm⁻¹ (to reduce vegetative growth) until flowering and then reduced to 4 mS cm⁻¹ to minimize effect on flower yield.

Results: Plant height was reduced 15% in both the high and hybrid treatments. Flower yield decreased by 20% in cv. 'Trump' in the hybrid treatment, but the decrease in yield in the high salinity treatment was not statistically significant. In cv. 'Cherry', flower yield declined by approximately 20% in both the constant high salinity and hybrid treatments. There was no difference in cannabinoid concentrations among treatments in either cultivar.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that Cannabis sativa is highly tolerant to osmotic stress, but the response varies by cultivar. It is difficult to reduce plant size without reducing yield. There is no evidence that increased salinity altered cannabinoid concentration.

Among the myriad components found in marijuana, cannabis, and hemp, cannabidiol (CBD), delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and other cannabinoids have long been utilized. However, controversies persist regarding the addictive and hallucinogenic effects of Δ9-THC, CBN, and hexahydrocannabihexol (HHCH) in various countries, contrasting with the positive attributes associated with CBD and CBG. Ongoing debates and sudden regulatory shifts pose challenges for the medical and industrial utilization of hemp, despite the UN's favorable stance persisting in many countries. Despite the widespread use of hemp seeds or oils in the food and medical sectors, many countries also negatively evaluate hemp product use due to the ambiguity of the Δ9-THC content analysis methods and corresponding standards. These difficulties arise from concerns regarding economic viability, regulatory restrictions on Δ9-THC levels, and the lack of stable processing and analysis techniques. To address these issues, a mathematical model based on hemp seed density was initially proposed. This model aims to analyze husk thickness and Δ9-THC concentration, thereby improving the stability and production efficiency of hemp seeds and making their utilization economically feasible. By expanding upon the mechanical peeling model, chemical extraction was conducted to control cannabinoids in hemp seeds using oil roasting and aqueous solutions such as ethanol based on the difference in the solubility of cannabinoids in hydrophilic and hydrophobic solutions. Different techniques were examined within a mathematical framework. THC removal was confirmed through repeated experiments and analysis of the residual THC content. PK-16 analysis revealed that the husk components contained 300 mg/kg THC, and the nut kernels contained 2 mg/kg THC. THC was selectively removed without physically eliminating husks, establishing a simplified, efficient, and economically viable method for future hemp seed oil production and analysis.

Background: Cannabis use patterns have evolved over time, with increasing persistence into adulthood. This study aims to identify cannabis use trajectories from adolescence to adulthood and to examine the influence of early individual and family factors on these trajectories.

Methods: This study included 622 participants from the French TEMPO cohort who reported cannabis use between 1999 and 2021, based on 14 measurements points. Cannabis consumption from adolescence to adulthood (ages 15 to 46) was assessed using Group-Based Trajectory Modelling (GBTM). Associations with early individual and family factors were examined using multinomial logistic regression.

Results: We identified three distinct cannabis use trajectories: declining consumption (69.9%), fluctuating consumption (13.7%), characterized by an initial increase followed by a decrease, and persistent consumption (16.4%). The fluctuating use trajectory was associated with being male (OR = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.31-3.54), having parents who smoked (OR = 2.18 95%CI = 1.18-4.02), and experiencing parental conflict, stress, or frequent absence before age 17 (OR = 1.93, 95%CI = 1.15-3.23). The persistent use trajectory was associated with being male (OR = 3.66, 95%CI = 2.19-6.09), academic difficulties (OR = 2.47, 95%CI = 1.45-4.22), and early initiation of cannabis (OR = 2.31, 5%CI = 1.11-4.79) or both tobacco and cannabis (OR = 3.07, 95%CI = 1.57-6.02).

Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of early prevention and intervention strategies, particularly in populations where cannabis use persists despite legal restrictions. Given the potential health and social consequences of prolonged cannabis use, it is essential to identify early-life risk factors to inform targeted policy measures aimed at reducing consumption and preventing cannabis use disorders.

Background: Reviews on cannabis use have been conducted in high-income countries, but limited data exist in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, cannabis use is widespread, but systematic reviews summarizing the available data to generate robust evidence that can facilitate interventions have not been conducted. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized results from studies highlighting the patterns, prevalence, risk factors and motivations for cannabis use in Nigeria.

Methods: Databases searched include PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ProQuest, African Journal Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar, for articles published in English between January 2000 and December 2023. Search terms were developed and slightly modified for each database. The primary outcomes were studies that examined the patterns, prevalence, risk factors, or motivation for cannabis use in Nigeria. The PECO framework guided the review, and all of the studies included were assessed for methodological rigor using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for prevalence studies.

Results: The search yielded 1,911 research articles, which were screened, resulting in 72 studies being included in the review, with a total sample size of 45,968. Among adolescents, lifetime and past one-month prevalence of cannabis use were 3.90% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.99-7.51; I² = 97.6), and 2.34% [95% CI = 1.17-4.61; I² 96.1). Among adults, lifetime and past one-month prevalence of cannabis use were 8.28% (95% CI = 4.60-14.46; I² = 99.3) and 6.51% (95% CI = 3.48-11.87; I² = 97.2). Lifetime and one-month prevalence of cannabis use were 9.93% (95% CI = 4.36-21.08; I² = 99.6) and 3.56% (95% CI = 1.65-7.54; I² = 96.2) in the Northern region, and 5.59% (95% CI = 2.78-10.91; I² = 96.9) and 2.90% (95% CI = 1.27-6.47; I² = 97.2) in Western regions. Being a male was a risk factor for cannabis use and was mostly reported by studies of adults, and secondary school and university students. Cannabis was obtained from different sources, including peers, vendors and open markets.

Conclusion: Cannabis use prevalence is high in Nigeria, and several factors that may increase cannabis related harm are the motivating factors. The findings show the need for prevention programs targeting young people and treatment services for problematic users.