Vaping Marijuana Associated with More Symptoms of Lung Damage than Vaping or Smoking Nicotine

University of Michigan :Adolescents who vape cannabis are at greater risk for respiratory symptoms indicative of lung injury than teens who smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or vape nicotine, a new University of Michigan study suggests.
Adolescents who vape cannabis are at greater risk for respiratory symptoms indicative of lung injury than teens who smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or vape nicotine, a new University of Michigan study suggests.

Synthetic cannabis (‘spice’, ‘k2’) use may boost stroke risk in young users

BMJ: 25 year old prison inmate was left with permanent disability in absence of other traditional risk factors. Synthetic cannabis, also popularly known as ‘spice’ or ‘k2,’ may boost the risk of a stroke in young users, warn US doctors writing in the journal BMJ Case Reports. The warning follows their treatment of a 25 year old prison inmate who had no family history of heart disease or traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and who was left with a permanent disability.

Brainy teens may be less likely to smoke, but more likely to drink and use cannabis

BMJ: Brainy teens may be less likely to smoke, but more likely to drink alcohol and use cannabis, than their less academically gifted peers, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open. These patterns persist into adulthood, and would seem to refute the notion that academic prowess is associated with a greater tendency to ‘experiment’ for a brief period, suggest the researchers. Smoking, drinking, and cannabis use are fairly common among teenagers. And the evidence suggests that these behaviours boost the risk of immediate and longer term health problems. But the data on potential links between cleverness and substance use are somewhat mixed, and no study has tracked patterns with use of all three substances from early adolescence into early adulthood.

Cannabis use increases risk of premature death

Karolinska Institute: Heavy cannabis use at a young age increases the risk of early death, according to the longest follow-up study to date on cannabis use. The new study, which was done by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, is published in The American Journal of Psychology . Cannabis use increases the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders later in life, something that the researchers reported in a previous paper after having followed up all men who were enlisted for military service in 1969–70. At this time, the men answered questions on drug use; today, they are around 60, an age when any harmful long-time effects of cannabis use can start to show. The researchers therefore made a new follow-up to find out if the mortality rate was higher amongst men who reported using cannabis in their youth.

Studies Examine Marijuana Use Among Pregnant and Women of Reproductive Age, and Use For Medical Purposes

JAMA: Two studies published online by JAMA examine trends in marijuana use among pregnant and nonpregnant women of reproductive age, and use for medical purposes among adults in the United States. In one study, Deborah S. Hasin, Ph.D., Qiana L. Brown, Ph.D., M.P.H., L.C.S.W., of Columbia University, New York, and colleagues used data from women ages 18 through 44 years from the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2002 through 2014 to determine whether marijuana use has changed over time among pregnant and nonpregnant reproductive-aged women.

Medical cannabis worth examining

Scimex: There are possible benefits from medicinal cannabinoids that should be explored through a rational discussion, write researchers in a viewpoint article. Doctors should be engaged in the debate about cannabis' use for management of disease and there needs to be sufficient evidence for effectiveness to warrant prescription, they say. However, it would be hard to justify a place for smoking cannabis in light of serious public health harms. In an accompanying editorial, Massey University's Chris Wilkins says it is important New Zealand carefully examines the range of regulatory options available "rather than just adopting at the last minute the default commercial legal market option we are most familiar with from alcohol and tobacco".

Study reports mixed findings on medical efficacy of cannabis

Bristol: A large-scale review that evaluated the medical efficacy of cannabinoids — the active chemical compounds in marijuana — across a range of conditions found there is moderate evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. The meta-analysis, led by the University of Bristol and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, analysed the results of 79 different randomised-controlled studies involving more than 6,400 patients to investigate the benefits and side effects of medical cannabinoids.

Why anti-cancer properties in cannabis must be investigated

TheConversation: Cancer is a word that conjures up many images. It is a varied disease that affects many people and can leave families distraught. There are fortunately treatments for a large number of these cancers, which work by restricting tumour growth and inducing cell death. However, there are cancers which pose more of a challenge, and so finding new drugs that can fight these ones becomes even more important.

Dabbing: A New, More Dangerous Method of Using Marijuana

American Academy of Pediatrics: The practice known as “dabbing” appears to be gaining ground as a novel way to use marijuana. A perspectives article, “Assessing the Dangers of‘ Dabbing’: Mere Marijuana or Harmful New Trend?” in the July 2015 Pediatrics (published online June 15), describes this method of using marijuana and its risks so that physicians are prepared for discussions with parents and adolescents. Dabbing involves inhaling the vapors from heated butane hash oil products made from cannabis trimmings. The production of butane hash oil is uncomplicated and requires few resources, but is extremely dangerous due to the flammable, volatile nature of butane. It has been linked to fires, explosions and severe burns. Compared with smoking flower cannabis, dabbing carries a higher risk of accidental injuries from burns. The potential health outcomes of butane hash oil compared with flower cannabis are largely unknown due to a lack of research. The authors urge physicians to remind patients who have used marijuana of the potential dangers associated with a stronger product. - See more at: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/Dabbing-A-New-More-Dangerous-Method-of-Using-Marijuana.aspx#sthash.u3ginpfG.dpuf

Medical Marijuana 'Edibles' Mostly Mislabeled, Study Shows

Johns Hopkins: In a proof-of-concept study, a team led by a Johns Hopkins researcher reports that the vast majority of edible cannabis products sold in a small sample of medical marijuana dispensaries carried labels that overstated or understated the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Though the scope of the study was small, the researchers say, the results of the study suggest some medical cannabis patients could be unintentionally overdosing or are being cheated by mislabeled products.

Study Finds Inaccuracy in Dosing of Edible Medical Marijuana Products

JAMA: An analysis of edible medical marijuana products from 3 major metropolitan areas found that many had lower amounts of key substances than labeled, which may not produce the desired medical benefit, while others contained significantly more of a certain substance than labeled, placing patients at risk of experiencing adverse effects, according to a study in the June 23/30 issue of JAMA.

No increase in teens smoking pot after legalization

Nature: A new study finds that legalized medical marijuana doesn’t lead to an increase in pot smoking among teens, The Washington Post reports. The scientists examined more than 1 million survey responses stretching from 1991 to 2014 of students—eighth, 10th, and 12th graders from 48 states—asked about marijuana use in the previous month. Although marijuana use was usually higher in the states that would eventually pass medical marijuana laws, no additional spike in use among teens was seen after the laws were adopted, the researchers report online this week in The Lancet Psychiatry. Among eighth graders, they add, marijuana use declined in those 21 states with the new laws.

Poll finds cannabis users ignoring the risks of drug driving

UNSW: An internet poll of more than 4,600 Australians has revealed cannabis users are ignoring the dangers of drug driving with nearly 70% of recent users getting behind the wheel while stoned. The poll, by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) based at UNSW, found more than 2,200 respondents had used cannabis within the past 12 months. Of these, 16% had driven on a daily basis and within five hours of using, while a further 25% had driven weekly or monthly. Dr Peter Gates, NCPIC Senior Researcher, says prevailing attitudes among drug users that cannabis makes for better drivers demonstrates that many remain ignorant of the considerable dangers of driving while high.

70% of cannabis users have driven while still under the influence of the drug

Scimex: A National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) internet poll of over 4,600 Australians has revealed that of those who have recently used cannabis, almost 70% have driven while still under the influence of the drug. With more than 2,200 respondents having used cannabis within the past 12 months, 16% indicated they have driven on a daily basis, within five hours of using. A further 25% have driven weekly or monthly, with some commenting they feel cannabis makes them slower and better drivers.

Cannabis research: The state of the science in an age of weed liberalization

Melbourne: ERIC VAN BEMMEL I'm Eric van Bemmel. Thanks for joining us. Marijuana users have been catching a break lately in parts of the world where old laws prohibiting cannabis use are undergoing review, being softened or rolled back entirely. As political momentum builds towards further decriminalisation or outright commercialization of the once evil weed, what is the state of the science regarding cannabis? It turns out we're still learning about marijuana and the spectrum of positive uses that some of its active ingredients appear to offer us. From cancer patients to epileptic children, to people in chronic pain, possibly to those suffering post traumatic stress disorder, and to others, marijuana has been shown, or at least holds promise, to yield considerable therapeutic advantage.

Cannabis use can be prevented, reduced or delayed

Montreal: Responding to rapidly shifting legal and cultural environments, researchers at the University of Montreal and CHU Sainte-Justine Children's Hospital have found a way to prevent, reduce or delay cannabis use amongst some at-risk youth. Cannabis users are at risk of neurocognitive deficits, reduced educational and occupational attainment, motor vehicle accidents, exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms, and precipitation of psychosis. Adolescents are particularly at risk due to the developing nature of their brain. Youth who have used marijuana have been shown to have less ability to sustain their attention and control their impulse control and have impaired cognitive processes.

Remind me again, how does cannabis affect the brain?

TheConversation: Governments and communities worldwide are softening their views on cannabis use. Trials of medicinal cannabis have been approved in Australia. And the Australian parliament is currently debating legislation to introduce a government regulator of medicinal cannabis. This follows decriminalisation of cannabis in Portugal and its legalisation in Uruguay and several US states. Cannabis is still the product of choice for many illicit drug users in Australia. Five times as many people use cannabis rather than cocaine or methamphetamines.
But debate remains about the long-term effect the drug has on the brain, cognition and mental health. Most cannabis users start as teenagers and there is a widespread perception that this can disrupt critical developmental processes to leave a lasting negative impact on the brain. Let’s look at what the latest research has to say about the long-term harms, whether they can be reversed, and the possibility of making the drug safer.

Smoking cannabis linked to respiratory problems

Otago: People who smoke cannabis as little as once a week are more likely to suffer respiratory symptoms such as morning cough, bringing up phlegm, and wheezing, according to University of Otago research. However, the researchers’ study into the long-term respiratory effects of smoking cannabis found that after reducing or quitting cannabis smoking, these symptoms reduced to levels similar to those found in non-users. In New Zealand, cannabis use is almost as widespread as tobacco with about half of young adults admitting to have used it in the previous year.

Cannabis-extract pills not effective for dementia symptoms

NHS: "Cannabis pills 'do not help dementia sufferers'," reports The Daily Telegraph. Previous research suggested one of the active ingredients in cannabis – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – can have effects on the nervous system and brain, such as promoting feelings of relaxation. In this study, researchers wanted to see if THC could help relieve some of the behavioural symptoms of dementia, such as mood swings and aggression. They set up a small trial involving 50 dementia patients with behavioural symptoms. They found taking a pill containing a low dose of THC for three weeks did not reduce symptoms any more than a dummy pill.

Synthetic cannabis law change decreased psychiatric presentations

Scimex: New Zealand researchers, analysing psychiatric service data in Dunedin, have found that synthetic cannabis-related emergency presentations dropped by almost half after a law change in 2013. The legal update dramatically reduced the number of retailers selling synthetic cannabis products - from thousands to just 50 outlets - and placed greater restrictions on their sale. The authors estimate that, New Zealand-wide, this reduction in emergency care saved the country more than $3 million over three months.