Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research最新文献

Introduction: This study explores whether the cannabis edibles industry uses brand names that might impact consumer appeal and harm perceptions. Materials and Methods: An exploratory thematic text analysis of brand names for 1344 cannabis edible products from 250 brands advertised online between June and November 2022 was performed. Brands marketing only delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products (n = 80), THC and cannabidiol (CBD) products (n = 130), and only CBD products (n = 40) were compared. Results: Five core themes emerged: cannabis culture (42% of brands, n = 106), product characteristics (30%, n = 76), medicine and health (23%, n = 58), environment and nature (20%, n = 51), and identity and culture (14%, n = 34), with 15 subthemes. Brands only marketing CBD products more often had names with medicine and health (45%, n = 18) themes with subthemes of health and wellness (30%, n = 12) and expected effects (18%, n = 7) in contrast to brands marketing THC products (18%, n = 14; 2%, n = 2; 11%, n = 9 THC-only; 20%, n = 26; 5%, n = 6; 13%, n = 17 THC and CBD). Brands marketing THC products more often had names with cannabis (12%, n = 10 THC-only; 18%, n = 23 THC and CBD; 8%, n = 3 CBD-only) and spiritual/mystical (9%, n = 7 THC-only; 9%, n = 12, THC and CBD; 0%, CBD-only) subthemes. Food type subthemes were also more common among brands marketing THC products (19%, n = 15 THC-only; 21%, n = 27 THC and CBD; 8%, n = 3 CBD-only). Unconventionality (6%, n = 5 THC-only; 2%, n = 2 THC and CBD; 0% CBD-only) and names and places (16%, n = 13 THC-only; 5%, n = 8 THC & CBD; 5%, n = 2 CBD-only) were subthemes more common among brands only marketing THC products. Conclusions: This study identified distinct cannabis edibles brand name marketing strategies for THC versus CBD products that may affect consumer appeal and perceptions of harm, underscoring the need to monitor and potentially regulate cannabis edibles marketing to ensure that it does not mislead consumers or downplay potential risks.

Introduction: With the changing legal landscape, the acceptance and availability of cannabis products have increased. Cannabis products are generally considered "natural" and relatively safe by consumers. However, growing empirical evidence from humans and other animals indicates that cannabis negatively affects human health. In contrast to the well-known teratogenic effects of alcohol and tobacco products, the safety of cannabis product use during pregnancy has not yet been established. The goal of this systematic review was to determine the patterns that exist in human and rodent literature on the effects of prenatal exposure to cannabis products and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on birth outcomes. Methods: A systematic review of rodent and human studies was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Rodent search strategy used PubMed and Scopus with terms "prenatal OR perinatal OR in utero OR maternal exposure AND cannabis OR THC or cannabinoids AND exposure NOT review NOT Human." Human search strategy used PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus with terms "cannabinoids OR cannabis OR THC OR marijuana" AND "pregnancy OR pregnant OR prenatal AND "infant outcome OR infant health." After deleting duplicates and studies that did not fit the inclusion criteria, 21 rodent and 36 human studies were selected for review. Rodent studies focused on birth weight, litter size, mortality, and gestation length. Human studies have focused on birth weight, gestational age, and infant health at delivery. Results: In both human and rodent studies, prenatal exposure to cannabis was significantly associated with lower birth weight; however, it was not significantly associated with gestational age in rodents or humans. In most rodent studies, prenatal exposure to cannabis did not affect mortality or litter size. In human studies, there was a tendency for infants exposed to cannabis during pregnancy to have worse health at delivery. Findings indicate that cannabis exposure in utero may be associated with worse birth outcomes; however, the results are mixed and vary by species and outcome. Discussion: Methodological differences and scant existing research may have contributed to this inconsistency. Given the legalization of cannabis product use for recreational and medicinal purposes is growing, additional research is necessary to determine its influence on fetal and infant health outcomes.

Introduction: As opioid-related drug overdoses remain a public health crisis, there is a critical need for innovative approaches to developing safer analgesics with improved safety profiles. BDH-001 is a fixed-dose combination of low-dose buprenorphine (BUP) and cannabidiol (CBD) being developed as a safer analgesic than currently available opioids. The purpose of this study was to examine the analgesic and opioid-sparing effects of BDH-001 and to complete an in vivo safety assessment in rats. Methods: Analgesic effect of BDH-001 was assessed using the chronic constriction injury model of chronic neuropathic pain with pain threshold assessed via Von Frey testing. Drug-drug interaction effects on pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were assessed in a single dose PK study in rodents. The effects on respiratory depression were also assessed and confirmed in two separate rodent studies performing blood gas analysis and measuring O₂ saturation. Results: BDH-001 (combination of subanalgesic BUP dose and CBD) resulted in statistically significant increases in pain threshold compared to saline (p < 0.001), CBD alone (p < 0.01), and BUP alone (p < 0.05). The half-life of BUP was significantly shorter in the presence of CBD compared to BUP alone (p = 0.008), with no significant changes in any other BUP pharmacokinetic parameter assessed. CBD was found to attenuate BUP-induced respiratory depression in rats when assessing blood gases (p < 0.05) and O₂ saturation (p < 0.05) over several time bins. Conclusions: Data obtained in the present study indicate the addition of CBD to BUP was opioid-sparing and attenuated BUP- but not morphine-induced respiratory depression. There was no evidence these findings were the result of a PK interaction. Results support the hypothesis that BDH-001, a fixed-dose combination of BUP and CBD, may provide effective analgesia with a more favorable safety profile.

Background: Cannabis use among older persons has been increasing relative to younger populations, and persons over 50 years old are more likely to use cannabis for age-related therapeutic purposes. We suspected that spouses, adult children, and other older informal care partners (ICPs) of older adults are using cannabis as a form of self-care to address physical and/or mental health needs. Objectives: We described ICPs over 50 years old who used cannabis in the past year, contrasted them with those who did not, and determined if cannabis use was associated with health care service use. Research Design and Methods: We obtained 2019 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) public use files and linked base survey responses with caregiving and cannabis questions answered by 9,984 Californians aged 50 and over. We used survey data to measure background characteristics, health behaviors, physical health status, psychological status, caregiving characteristics, and cannabis use. We differentiated among older ICPs using logistic and multivariate regression models. Results: We identified a total of 2,802 (28.1%) CHIS respondents over 50 who provided care to an older adult. ICPs were more likely to have used cannabis in the past year compared with noncaregivers (odds ratio [OR] 1.4; confidence interval [CI]: 1.2, 1.7). When compared with those ICPs who did not use, we did not observe differences in self-reported physical distress but found cannabis users were more likely to report being diagnosed with asthma (OR 2.0; CI: 1.2, 3.2) and diabetes (OR 1.80; CI: 1.1, 3.0). ICPs who used cannabis also were more likely to report feeling nervous (OR 2.1; CI: 1.3, 3.8). ICPs who provided care to someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia (ADRD) were more likely to use cannabis (OR 1.50; CI: 1.1, 2.0). Discussion: Nearly one out of every three older Californians including those who serve as ICPs used cannabis in the past year. We found older ICPs were more likely to use than non-ICPs, especially if they were providing care to someone with ADRD. Given the demand currently placed on spouses and adult children over 50 years old to assume care for an older adult in need, further research should determine if cannabis serves as a benefit or harm.

Background: Cannabinoid-based medicines (CBMs) have garnered attention due to their anti-inflammatory potential in people with HIV (PWH), whose comorbidities are driven by chronic inflammation. The expanded endocannabinoid system (or endocannabinoidome, eCBome) is an important target of cannabinoids that cross talks with gut microbiota and regulates many homeostatic processes and inflammation. In a prospective, pilot clinical trial, PWH on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were randomly assigned to receive cannabidiol (CBD) ± Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) capsules for 12 weeks, titrating doses as tolerated, to examine the impact of cannabinoids on plasma eCBome mediators and gut microbiota. Methods: Ten individuals were randomized, five to the CBD+THC arm and five to the CBD-only arm. Eight individuals completed the study. Plasma was collected at each visit and measured in batches by liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrophotometry (MS). The eCBome mediators were measured at each visit by LC-MS-MS, whereby fecal microbiota composition was assessed by 16S rDNA sequencing at the initiation and end of treatment. Results: Plasma concentrations of THC and CBD metabolites varied throughout the course of the study. Capsule administration resulted in a significant decrease in monoacylglycerols 2-eicosapentaenoylglycerol (2-EPG) and 2-oleoylglycerol (2-OG) after treatment. No changes were observed in the levels of other mediators measured. PWH in the distinct treatment arms had different fecal bacterial taxa at baseline. These differences persisted through the course of the study and were not altered by cannabinoid administration. However, Coprobacillus and Lachnospiraceae UCG001 relative abundance was lower, while Collinsella was higher, in the THC/CBD compared with the CBD arm. Conclusion: 2-EPG and 2-OG were both reduced following cannabinoid administration. No changes in fecal bacterial taxa were observed following 12 weeks of treatment. Larger studies are needed to understand if these changes reflect adaptation of the eCBome to the beneficial effects of CBM in PWH. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT0355035.

Introduction: The effect of cannabis use on health is likely to depend on individual differences. In particular, there is a growing need to understand the impact of cannabis and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on brain and behavioral health across the lifespan. Materials and Methods: We conducted a narrative review summarizing the effects of cannabis and THC across three stages of life: in utero, adolescence, and late adulthood. We also provide an up-to-date report on past 30-day cannabis use and risk perceptions from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH; 2002-2023) during pregnancy, adolescence, and late adulthood. We note that NSDUH data collected during 2020 and since 2021 are not directly comparable to earlier years due to shifts in data collection methods. Results: Recent epidemiological data indicate a potential reversal of both the escalating rates of cannabis use and low perceptions of risk among pregnant women and adolescents. Findings across preclinical and clinical studies support high perceptions of risk for individuals in utero and adolescence, when alterations in brain development indicate potential for susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders. The escalating rates of cannabis use and associated low perceptions of risk have shifted to the late adulthood population, which may face unique health risks associated with cannabis use. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the necessity for clinical and policy recommendations to mitigate the risks associated with cannabis use and to enhance public understanding of its implications on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Continued research and educational strategies are essential to address these evolving trends and reduce harm.

Introduction: In recent years, the impact of recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) on road safety and motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) has become a growing area of research, given increasing cannabis legalization and the impact of cannabis on motor control and attention. In 2023, Connecticut legalized recreational cannabis, and this study explored changes in MVAs both in a statewide analysis and in the local vicinity of recreational cannabis dispensaries. Materials and Methods: We conducted an ecological study to assess the impact of recreational cannabis dispensaries on MVAs in Connecticut after legalization on January 10, 2023. Using crash data from Connecticut and Maryland (as a control) for two 24-week periods before and after legalization, we performed a difference-in-differences analysis with negative binomial regression, controlling confounders. At the dispensary level, we compared MVAs within an 800-m radius 8 weeks before and after opening, employing interrupted time series analysis with negative binomial mixed-effects regression models. Results: In the statewide analysis comparing Connecticut with Maryland over two 24-week periods before and after RCL in Connecticut, no significant effect on MVAs was found after adjusting for autocorrelation and seasonal variations (interaction term coefficient = -0.0391, p = 0.0696). In the local analysis, examining accident rates within an 800-m radius of 13 dispensaries over 8 weeks before and after their openings, the negative binomial mixed-effects model showed no significant change (incidence rate ratio = 1.10, 95% confidence interval: 0.74-1.64, p = 0.63). Discussion: These findings suggest that cannabis legalization and dispensary openings did not significantly impact motor vehicle accident rates during the study period.

Background: The chronic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) supplementation on factors that could impact the quality of life (anxiety, sleeping quality, memory, etc.) are poorly explored. Hence, the aim of this study was to establish whether chronic CBD supplementation will improve self-reported outcomes related to quality of life. Methods: In this randomized crossover trial, 64 patients with primary hypertension were assigned to receive CBD (225-450 mg) for 5 weeks followed by 5 weeks of placebo or vice versa, with a 2-week washout in-between the two. Self-reported outcomes were assessed using short form-36 (SF-36), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), memory complaint questionnaire (MAC-Q), and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). Results: Five-week administration of CBD, but not of placebo, resulted in improvement of ESS score (F = 6.738, p = 0.011), as well as fatigue/vitality (Δ_CBD = 5.0, p < 0.001) and psychological well-being dimensions of SF-36 (Δ_CBD = 7.4, p = 0.039). No overall benefit of CBD on quality of life was noted (p = 0.674). No changes were seen in total scores of MAC-Q, PSQI, or STAI (p = 0.151, p = 0.862, p = 0.702, respectively). No significant correlations were found between plasma CBD concentrations and any of the scores. Conclusions: Chronic CBD administration reduced excessive daytime sleepiness, despite the fact that no change was observed in self-reported quality of sleep. Furthermore, self-reported fatigue and psychological well-being dimensions of quality of life also improved following chronic CBD use.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted billions of people worldwide, particularly those with chronic health conditions, and has been associated with increases in substance use, including cannabis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cannabis use for symptom management of chronic health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study is an ongoing study among adults ≥18 who self-report cannabis use. Analyses included 1,466 responses received between March 21, 2020, and March 23, 2022, from participants who self-reported cannabis use and a chronic health condition. We examined comorbidities, symptoms managed with cannabis during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fear regarding COVID-19 diagnosis and transmission using the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Chi-squared, and T-tests were conducted. Results were stratified by those who reported using cannabis to manage a chronic health condition (medicinal cannabis user, n = 1,333) and those who did not use cannabis to manage chronic health condition (non-medicinal cannabis user, n = 133). Results: Most (90.9%, n = 1,333) of the total sample (mean age: 47.1 years [standard deviations {SD} = 15.0]) reported using cannabis to manage a chronic health condition, of which 46.1% (n = 615) reported having a medical card/recommendation, and 4.6% received recommendations to use cannabis to manage COVID-19 from health professionals. There were significant differences in age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education by medicinal cannabis use status. Comorbidities prevalent among medicinal cannabis consumers were mental health-related (66.1%), pain (58.5%), cardiometabolic-related (30.5%), immune-related (21.9%), and respiratory-related (20.8%). The most reported symptoms self-managed with cannabis during the pandemic were sleep (69.2%), chronic noncancer pain (49.7%), acute pain (46.5%), headaches/migraines (39.0%), muscle spasms (33.6%), nausea/vomiting (30.6%), and appetite stimulant (29.9%). There were no statistical differences in COVID-19 testing, fear of diagnosis, fear of transmission, or isolation due to COVID-19 between medicinal and nonmedicinal cannabis consumers in this sample. Conclusions: The perceived therapeutic benefit of cannabis during the COVID-19 pandemic is evident by the high prevalence of adults who reported using cannabis for medicinal reasons despite no recommendation from their health provider. Research is necessary to understand the prospective impact of cannabis use for self-management of chronic disease, especially within the context of COVID-19.

Introduction: Anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol are endogenous agonists of the cannabinoid receptors and regulate and control many cellular functions. Their activities are governed by enzymes and proteins that regulate their synthesis, receptor binding, transport, and degradation, which are known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The aim of this study was to investigate the regulation of endocannabinoid activity in the endometrium by studying the RNA and protein expression of the ECS within endometrial cell types and during different menstrual cycle stages and the impact of endometriosis. Materials and Methods: The RNA expression of 70 ECS genes was assessed using RNA sequencing of isolated endometrial epithelial and stromal cells. Subsequent immunofluorescence-stained endometrial samples on ECS components of interest were objectively analyzed via an agnostic and automated image analysis pipeline to extract quantitative information. Differential gene and protein expression was investigated between the two cell types, menstrual cycle phases, and endometriosis cases and controls. Results: Sufficient RNA expression was detected for 45 genes, and 17 (38%) genes were significantly different between epithelial and stromal cells. FAAH RNA was significantly higher in epithelial cells compared with stromal cells. Protein expression analysis of the main synthesizing (NAPE-PLD) and catabolizing (FAAH and NAAA) enzymes of AEA revealed a significantly stronger epithelial expression compared to stromal cells. The RNA and protein expression of CB1 receptors was very low with no significant difference between epithelial and stromal cells. Eleven ECS genes were regulated across the menstrual cycle, and there was no gene with significant difference between endometriosis cases and controls in epithelial cells. Discussion: Differential expression of ECS genes supports a cell type-specific endocannabinoid activity in the endometrium. As endocannabinoids are short-lived signaling molecules, higher RNA and protein expression of FAAH in the epithelial cells suggests an active regulation of endocannabinoid activity in epithelial cells within the endometrium.