Science Category
Cannabis legalization and link to increase in fatal collisions
Legalization of recreational cannabis may be associated with an increase in fatal motor vehicle collisions based on data from the United States.
Heritable traits that appear in teen years raise risk for adult cannabis use
Study finds that a small portion of the risk for repeated cannabis use into adulthood can be attributed to the genetic effects of neuroticism, risk…
Medical cannabis can reduce essential tremor: Turns on overlooked cells in central nervous system
Medical cannabis can reduce essential tremor in mice. By injecting a specific synthetic cannabinoid into the spinal cord of mice suffering from essential tremor, researchers…
Sharp reductions in costs of producing cannabis, fentanyl likely to spur widespread changes in use, dependence
A new analysis explores the effects of these changes on use. The analysis concludes that sharp declines in production costs for cannabis and opioids could…
Frequent cannabis use by young people linked to decline in IQ
A study has found that adolescents who frequently use cannabis may experience a decline in Intelligence Quotient (IQ) over time. The findings of the research…
Legal cannabis stores linked to fewer opioid deaths in the United States
Access to legal cannabis stores is associated with a reduction in opioid related deaths in the United States, particularly those linked to synthetic opioids such…
The dangers of drugged driving are outpacing drunk driving
A recent study of drugged driving shows that a sizable percentage of individuals reported the use of marijuana and other illicit drugs while operating behind…
Cannabis use both helps and hurts entrepreneurial creativity
When entrepreneurs dream up ideas for new businesses, cannabis use might help, and hinder, their creativity, according to a new study.
Drink and drug risk is lower among optimistic pupils with 'happy' memories
Teenagers with happy childhood memories are likely to drink less, take fewer drugs and enjoy learning, according to new research.
Marijuana use typically drops at the beginning of the year, then climbs in summer and fall
Marijuana use increases throughout the calendar year, with use up 13 percent on average at the end of each year compared to the beginning.
More than half of people using cannabis for pain experience multiple withdrawal symptoms
More than half of people who use medical marijuana products to ease pain also experience clusters of multiple withdrawal symptoms when they’re between uses, a…
Cannabis use blunts stress reactivity in female rats
Female rats that inhaled vaporized cannabis daily for a month developed a blunted physiological response to stress, according to a new study. In contrast, male…
Experimental vaccine can counter dangerous effects of synthetic cannabinoids
Made in clandestine laboratories and sold widely across the United States, the diverse class of drugs known as synthetic cannabinoids presents a growing public health…
Cannabis strength soars over past half century
Largest study on how cannabis has changed over time finds increased strength putting consumers at greater risk of harm.
Cannabis reduces OCD symptoms by half in the short-term
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) report that the severity of symptoms was reduced by about half within four hours of smoking cannabis. After smoking cannabis,…
Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to cognitive deficits, altered behavior
Regular cannabis exposure in rats during pregnancy may cause their offspring to have long-term cognitive deficiencies, asocial behavior, and anxiety later in adulthood.
More young adults are abstaining from alcohol
Fewer college-age Americans drink alcohol, compared to nearly 20 years ago, according to a new study.
Cannabis use appears to encourage, not replace, non-medical opioid use
Contrary to some claims, people in the US may not be substituting cannabis for opioids, New research examined the direction and strength of association between…
Older adults using cannabis to treat common health conditions
Researchers report that older adults are increasingly using cannabis to treat a variety of common health conditions, including pain, sleep disturbances and psychiatric conditions like…
Cannabis ads and store location influence youth marijuana use
States may want to consider the proximity of cannabis retailers and cannabis advertising to neighborhoods to prevent underage use of the drug, according to new…
It is time to embrace cannabis for medicinal use, say experts
Attitudes towards cannabis products for medicinal use need to change with much greater appropriate use of such products to help alleviate patients’ pain, suggests new…
Study of siblings finds moderate cannabis use impacts cognitive functioning
A new study compares adolescent siblings to determine the impact of early and frequent use of marijuana on cognitive function. This study contrasts with previous…
Pain tolerance among cannabis users
A recent study examining pain among cannabis users suggests that — unlike long-term opioid use — regular cannabis use does not appear to increase pain…
Rates of e-cigarette and marijuana use not associated with vaping-related lung injuries, study finds
Higher rates of e-cigarette and marijuana use in U.S. states did not result in more e-cigarette or vaping-related lung injuries (known as EVALI), a new…
Cannabinoids may affect activity of other pharmaceuticals
Cannabinoid-containing products may alter the effects of some prescription drugs, according to researchers. They published information that could help medical professionals make safe prescribing choices…
Legal marijuana may be slowing reductions in teen marijuana use
A longitudinal study of more than 230 teens and young adults in Washington state finds that teens may be more likely to use marijuana following…
Marijuana use while pregnant boosts risk of children's sleep problems
As many as 7% of moms-to-be use marijuana while pregnant, and that number is rising fast as more use it to quell morning sickness. But…
Marijuana concentrates spike THC levels but don't boost impairment
A study of 121 regular users of legal market cannabis found that higher potency does not necessarily mean greater intoxication. It also found that while…
Cannabis temporarily relieves PTSD symptoms, study suggests
People suffering from post-traumatic distress disorder report that cannabis reduces the severity of their symptoms by more than half, at least in the short term,…
Users of high-potency cannabis four times more likely to report associated problems
Users of high-potency cannabis are four times more likely to report associated problems, and twice as likely to report anxiety disorder, than users of lower-potency…
Legal cannabis hemp oil effectively treats chronic neuropathic pain
Researchers examine the effectiveness of consuming hemp oil extracted from the whole cannabis plant using a chronic neuropathic pain animal model. Researchers showed that legal…
Minimum legal age for cannabis use should be 19, study suggests
The optimal minimum legal age for non-medical cannabis use is 19 years of age, according to a new study.
Researchers develop chemistry needed to create marijuana breathalyzer
Chemists report the key chemical discovery necessary for the creation of a small, electronic marijuana breathalyzer.
How much does it cost California cannabis growers to safety test?
The high cost of testing cannabis in California leads to higher prices for the consumer, which could drive consumers to unlicensed markets. A new study…
Frequent cannabis users are way too high … in their estimates of cannabinoids
Researchers surveyed nearly 500 Hash Bash attendees, asking them to fill out a 24-item questionnaire. Participants were asked to fill in, in milligrams, the amounts…
Whether marijuana helps with pain is unclear
Medical marijuana users who say they have high levels of pain are more likely than those with low pain to say they use cannabis three…
Saliva test for cannabis could someday help identify impaired drivers
Those who consume alcohol and drive are often subjected to roadside stops, breathalyzer tests and stiff penalties if their blood alcohol content exceeds certain limits.…
Marijuana may impair female fertility
Female eggs exposed to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, have an impaired ability to produce viable embryos, and are significantly less likely to result…
New research sheds light on potentially negative effects of cannabis
Coughing fits, anxiety and paranoia are three of the most common adverse reactions to cannabis, according to a recent study.
Legal marijuana products too strong for pain relief
More than 90% of the legal marijuana products offered in medical dispensaries are much stronger than what clinical studies have shown that doctors recommend for…