Science Category
Expanding Mind
Imagine that you are reborn into a world where everything is completely unknown to you. How would you react to the people, places and events that happen around…
Do we need to reform international drug treaties as more countries legalize cannabis?
The future of international drug control treaties is in doubt because of recent treaty-violating decisions to legalize cannabis use in Canada, the United States and…
CBD may protect against psychiatric risk from high-THC cannabis strains
A study by neuroscientists finds that a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis called cannabidiol, or CBD, appears to protect against the long-term negative psychiatric effects of…
Marijuana use associated with cognitive dysfunction in people with HIV who have substance abuse disorder, study finds
Marijuana use is associated with cognitive dysfunction in people with HIV infection who have an alcohol or other drug use disorder, according to a new…
Regular marijuana use linked to more sex, study finds
Despite concerns among physicians and scientists that frequent marijuana use may impair sexual desire or performance, the opposite appears more likely to be the case,…
Up to one-quarter of cancer patients use marijuana
A new study conducted in a cancer center in a state with legalized medicinal and recreational marijuana found that approximately one-quarter of surveyed patients used…
Cannabis, 'spice' – better think twice
Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in the world, and the advent of synthetic cannabinoids creates additional challenges to the society because of their…
Pre-clinical study suggests path toward non-addictive painkillers
A pre-clinical study reports that the use of the positive allosteric modulator GAT211 enhances the effect of pain-relief chemicals produced by the body in response…
Medical students not trained to prescribe medical marijuana
More than half of the states in the US now allow some type of legal marijuana use, primarily medical marijuana. But, in a survey of…
Marijuana may produce psychotic-like effects in high-risk individuals
Marijuana may bring on temporary paranoia and other psychosis-related effects in individuals at high risk of developing a psychotic disorder, finds a preliminary study.
Reversing the negative effects of adolescent marijuana use
Researchers have identified a specific mechanism in the prefrontal cortex for some of the negative mental health risks associated with adolescent marijuana use. By demonstrating…
A new target for marijuana
Cellular-level changes to a part of the brain’s reward system induced by chronic exposure to the psychoactive component of marijuana may contribute to the drug’s…
Limited data on medical cannabis use in children
A systematic review of published studies on the use of medical cannabis in children and adolescents finds a notable lack of studies and a minimal…
A quarter of problematic pot users have anxiety disorders, many since childhood
About a quarter of adults whose marijuana use is problematic in early adulthood have anxiety disorders in childhood and late adolescence, according to new data.
Cannabis consumption increases violent behavior in young people in psychiatric care
A new study on cannabis use that involved 1,136 patients (from 18 to 40 years of age) with mental illnesses who had been seen five…
Antidote to synthetic cannabis ‘Spice’ intoxication could be found in slimming drug
Early research has potentially found an antidote that can rapidly stop the intoxicating effects of cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids.
Booze and pot use in teens lessens life success
Young adults dependent on marijuana and alcohol are less likely to achieve adult life goals, according to new research.
Synthetic cannabis-like drug reduces sleep apnea
A synthetic cannabis-like drug in a pill was safe and effective in treating obstructive sleep apnea in the first large multi-site study of a drug…
More adults use marijuana in states where it is legal
Daily use of marijuana as well as past month rates rose for both men and women aged 26 and older in states with medical marijuana…
Can cannabinoids be used to treat cancer?
When cannabinoids activate signaling pathways in cancer cells they can stimulate a cell death mechanism called apoptosis, unleashing a potent anti-tumor effect.
Cannabis linked to bipolar symptoms in young adults
Cannabis use in youth is linked to bipolar symptoms in young adults, finds new research.
Medical marijuana for children with cancer? What providers think
Most providers willing to consider medical marijuana use in children with cancer, but those with legal eligibility to certify are less likely to approve.
Marijuana use may not aid patients in opioid addiction treatment
New research finds that frequent marijuana use seems to strengthen the relationship between pain and depression and anxiety, not ease it.
Marijuana may help HIV patients keep mental stamina longer
A chemical found in marijuana, known as tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, has been found to potentially slow the process in which mental decline can occur in…
Developing a roadside test for marijuana intoxication isn't as easy as it sounds
As marijuana legalization gains momentum in the United States, researchers worry about keeping the public safe, particularly on the roads. Recent studies have identified new…
Study questions link between medical marijuana and fewer opioid deaths
Several studies have shown an association between legalizing medical marijuana and lower death rates from opioids. A new study finds that link is more complex…
Recreational marijuana legalization: Do more youth use or do youth use more?
Recent results indicate that the effects of recreational marijuana legalization on Oregon teens’ use depends on whether the teens were already using marijuana when legal…
Cigarette smoking is increasing among Americans with drug problems
While cigarette smoking has declined in the US for the past several decades, since 2002 the prevalence of smoking has increased significantly among people with…
Marijuana use does not lower chances of getting pregnant
Marijuana use — by either men or women — does not appear to lower a couple’s chances of getting pregnant, according to a new study.
New cannabis products highly potent, pose mental health risks
With states rapidly legalizing cannabis for medicinal and recreational use, physicians will be increasingly pressed to counsel patients on their frequency of use and dosage,…
Evidence that medical marijuana outlets sell to other users
A study of four medical marijuana outlets in California suggests that many of their customers don’t fit the profile expected for businesses focused on sick…
Medical cannabis significantly safer for elderly with chronic pain than Opioids
A new study found cannabis therapy is safe and efficacious for elderly patients who are seeking to address cancer symptoms, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder,…
Risk of fatal traffic crash higher during annual 4/20 cannabis celebration
US drivers are more likely to be in a fatal traffic crash during the annual April 20 cannabis celebration. Twenty-five years’ worth of data from…
New guideline warns pain benefits of medical cannabis overstated
A new medical guideline suggests Canada’s family physicians should take a sober second thought before prescribing medical cannabis to most patients.
Experts challenge claims about medical marijuana's impact on teen recreational use and opioid deaths
Two papers published today look at the current evidence of the effects of medical marijuana laws and conclude there is little support that such laws…
How does resolving cannabis problems differ from problems with alcohol or other drugs?
Individuals who report having resolved a problem with cannabis use appear to have done so at younger ages than those who resolved problems with alcohol…
Smoking heightens risk of psychoses
Smoking at least ten cigarettes a day is linked to a higher risk of psychoses compared to non-smoking young people. The risk is also raised…
Coffee affects cannabis and steroid systems
Coffee affects your metabolism in dozens of other ways besides waking you up, including your metabolism of neurotransmitters typically linked to cannabis, a study reports.…
Millions of Americans seek and find illicit marijuana online
Researchers found marijuana shopping searches nearly tripled in the United States from 2005 to 2017, peaking between 1.4 and 2.4 million searches each month. Mail-order…
Marijuana may lead non-smokers to cigarettes
While cigarette smoking is declining, marijuana use is rising and, disproportionately, marijuana users also smoke cigarettes. Our new study reports that cannabis use was associated…