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Health Effects of Cannabis Use
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Health Effects of Cannabis Use

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 18909

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lucy J. Troup

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Technology Ave, Blantyre, Glasgow G72 0LH, UK
Interests: cannabis; medical cannabis; EEG; emotion processing; emotion processing disorders; mental health; addiction
Dr. Thorsten Rudroff

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health and Human Physiology, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Interests: brain injury; non-invasive brain stimulation; neuroimaging; fatigue; neurological disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Simon Erridge

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2BX, UK
Interests: medical cannabis; cancer diagnosis; obesity and chronic health conditions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The cannabis plant has a long and sometimes difficult history. Currently there is significant legislation in place in many countries that makes it difficult to understand the potential benefit of cannabis to support a number of health conditions. Even where there is legislation in support of cannabis use for medicinal purposes, access for a wide range of potential patients is still prohibited. To enable researchers to present a case for the positives and understand any possible risks, we need to both create a scientific appreciation for the complexity of cannabis as a medicine and to reduce the stigma that has become attached to the notion of cannabis as a treatment for a number of conditions. The scientific literature is constantly evolving in this area. However, there is still a significant amount of contradiction and lack of consensus in relation to cannabis as a medicine.

This Special Issue aims to bring together researchers across disciplines to present research that expands our understanding of cannabis as a medicine. Further, it will explore the barriers to accepting the potential benefits of both synthetic and phytocannabiniods as treatment options for patients within a sensible legislative model.  

Dr. Lucy J. Troup
Dr. Thorsten Rudroff
Dr. Simon Erridge
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cannabis
  • medical cannabis
  • mental health
  • phytocannabinoids

Published Papers (6 papers)

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15 pages, 400 KiB  
Article
Associations between Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to Cannabis with Cognition and Behavior at Age 5 Years: The Healthy Start Study
by Brianna F. Moore, Kaytlyn A. Salmons, Adrienne T. Hoyt, Karli S. Swenson, Emily A. Bates, Katherine A. Sauder, Allison L. B. Shapiro, Greta Wilkening, Gregory L. Kinney, Andreas M. Neophytou, Cristina Sempio, Jost Klawitter, Uwe Christians and Dana Dabelea
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4880; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064880 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2301
Abstract
Background: Prenatal exposure to cannabis may influence childhood cognition and behavior, but the epidemiologic evidence is mixed. Even less is known about the potential impact of secondhand exposure to cannabis during early childhood. Objective: This study sought to assess whether prenatal and/or postnatal [...] Read more.
Background: Prenatal exposure to cannabis may influence childhood cognition and behavior, but the epidemiologic evidence is mixed. Even less is known about the potential impact of secondhand exposure to cannabis during early childhood. Objective: This study sought to assess whether prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to cannabis was associated with childhood cognition and behavior. Study design: This sub-study included a convenience sample of 81 mother–child pairs from a Colorado-based cohort. Seven common cannabinoids (including delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)) and their metabolites were measured in maternal urine collected mid-gestation and child urine collected at age 5 years. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to cannabis was dichotomized as exposed (detection of any cannabinoid) and not exposed. Generalized linear models examined the associations between prenatal or postnatal exposure to cannabis with the NIH Toolbox and Child Behavior Checklist T-scores at age 5 years. Results: In this study, 7% (n = 6) of the children had prenatal exposure to cannabis and 12% (n = 10) had postnatal exposure to cannabis, with two children experiencing this exposure at both time points. The most common cannabinoid detected in pregnancy was Δ9-THC, whereas the most common cannabinoid detected in childhood was CBD. Postnatal exposure to cannabis was associated with more aggressive behavior (β: 3.2; 95% CI: 0.5, 5.9), attention deficit/hyperactivity problems (β: 8.0; 95% CI: 2.2, 13.7), and oppositional/defiant behaviors (β: 3.2; 95% CI: 0.2, 6.3), as well as less cognitive flexibility (β: −15.6; 95% CI: −30.0, −1.2) and weaker receptive language (β: −9.7; 95% CI: −19.2, −0.3). By contrast, prenatal exposure to cannabis was associated with fewer internalizing behaviors (mean difference: −10.2; 95% CI: −20.3, −0.2) and fewer somatic complaints (mean difference: −5.2, 95% CI: −9.8, −0.6). Conclusions: Our study suggests that postnatal exposure to cannabis is associated with more behavioral and cognitive problems among 5-year-old children, independent of prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco. The potential risks of cannabis use (including smoking and vaping) during pregnancy and around young children should be more widely communicated to parents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Cannabis Use)
11 pages, 335 KiB  
Article
Co-Use, Simultaneous Use, and Mixing of Cannabis and Tobacco: A Cross-National Comparison of Canada and the US by Cannabis Administration Type
by Alanna Chu, Michael Chaiton, Pamela Kaufman, Renee D. Goodwin, Jodie Lin, Chandni Hindocha, Samantha Goodman and David Hammond
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4206; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054206 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1817
Abstract
Introduction: Increasing cannabis legalization raises concerns that the use of tobacco, frequently used with cannabis, will also increase. This study investigated the association between the legal status of cannabis in places of residence and the prevalence of cannabis and tobacco co-use, simultaneous use, [...] Read more.
Introduction: Increasing cannabis legalization raises concerns that the use of tobacco, frequently used with cannabis, will also increase. This study investigated the association between the legal status of cannabis in places of residence and the prevalence of cannabis and tobacco co-use, simultaneous use, and mixing by comparing the prevalence among adults in Canada (prior to cannabis legalization) vs. adults in US states that had legalized recreational cannabis vs. US states that had not as of September 2018. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2018 International Cannabis Policy Study, conducted with respondents aged 16–65 in Canada and the US recruited from nonprobability consumer panels. Differences in the prevalence of co-use, simultaneous use, and mixing between tobacco and different cannabis products were examined using logistic regression models by legal status of place of residence among past-12-month cannabis consumers (N = 6744). Results: Co-use and simultaneous use in the past 12 months were most common among respondents in US legal states. Among cannabis consumers, co-use and simultaneous use were less common in US legal states, while mixing was less frequent in US states with both legal and illegal cannabis compared to Canada. Use of edibles was associated with lower odds of all three outcomes, while smoking dried herb or hash was associated with higher odds. Conclusions: The proportion of cannabis consumers who used tobacco was lower in legal jurisdictions despite higher prevalence of cannabis use. Edible use was inversely associated with co-use, suggesting that edible use does not appear to be associated with increased tobacco use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Cannabis Use)
9 pages, 991 KiB  
Article
Disparity between Perceptual Fall Risk and Physiological Fall Risk in Older Cannabis Users: A Pilot Study
by Craig D. Workman, Jacob J. Sosnoff and Thorsten Rudroff
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010109 - 23 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2492
Abstract
Aging is associated with cognitive decline and increased fall risk. Cognitive impairment is associated with cannabis use, which is increasing among older adults. Perceptual and physiological fall risk are discordant in some older adults, but whether cannabis use influences this association is unknown. [...] Read more.
Aging is associated with cognitive decline and increased fall risk. Cognitive impairment is associated with cannabis use, which is increasing among older adults. Perceptual and physiological fall risk are discordant in some older adults, but whether cannabis use influences this association is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible disparities between perceptual and physiological fall risk in older cannabis users. Eight older medical cannabis users and eight sex- and age-matched non-users provided data on perceptual and physiological fall risk. Group differences were assessed, and perceptual fall risk was correlated with physiological fall risk. Perceptual risk and most of the physiological fall risk variables were equivalent between the groups. However, cannabis users performed significantly worse on unipedal stance than non-users. In addition, perceptual fall risk had weak correlations with physiological fall risk in the users (Spearman’s rho = 0.17–0.41) and moderate-strong correlations in non-users (rho = −0.18–0.67). Cannabis users might have a discrepancy between perceptual and physiological fall risk. Because both concepts play a role in quality of life, identifying strategies to improve them may have significant benefits. Future studies investigating additional perceptual (e.g., cognition, fear of falling, depression, anxiety), physiological (e.g., more challenging static and dynamic balance conditions), and general fall risk are warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Cannabis Use)
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11 pages, 312 KiB  
Case Report
An Individual’s Lived Experiences of Taking Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products (CBMPs) to Treat Anxiety
by Samantha Hurn
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(18), 6776; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20186776 - 18 Sep 2023
Viewed by 2338
Abstract
This report documents the case of a patient (the author) participating in a clinical trial of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)—the Sapphire Access Scheme, run by the Sapphire Medical Clinic as part of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry—to explore the impacts of [...] Read more.
This report documents the case of a patient (the author) participating in a clinical trial of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)—the Sapphire Access Scheme, run by the Sapphire Medical Clinic as part of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry—to explore the impacts of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) on anxiety. For most of my life, I have experienced often very serious bouts of poor mental health arising, in part, from childhood abuse, and have been diagnosed with several mental health conditions which constitute disabilities. I have received various conventional treatments and multiple alternative therapies. However, none of these have enabled me to consistently manage my conditions long-term, and I often suffer relapses. As part of the Sapphire Access Scheme, I complete regular quantitative questionnaires regarding the impacts of the CBMPs on my anxiety and have also obtained the clinic’s permission to qualitatively document and write up the impacts of CBMPs on my mental health. Here, I present a preliminary autoethnographic exploration of my lived experiences of CBMP use over the first four months of the trial, which show that even within such a short space of time, CBMPs have had a positive impact on treating what had previously been treatment-refractive chronic anxiety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Cannabis Use)
9 pages, 301 KiB  
Commentary
Public Health Implications of Cannabis Legalization: An Exploration of Adolescent Use and Evidence-Based Interventions
by Joseph Donnelly, Michael Young, Brenda Marshall, Michael L. Hecht and Elena Saldutti
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3336; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063336 - 11 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5148
Abstract
This article examines the relaxation of state marijuana laws, changes in adolescent use of marijuana, and implications for drug education. Under federal law, use of marijuana remains illegal. In spite of this federal legislation, as of 1 June 2021, 36 states, four territories [...] Read more.
This article examines the relaxation of state marijuana laws, changes in adolescent use of marijuana, and implications for drug education. Under federal law, use of marijuana remains illegal. In spite of this federal legislation, as of 1 June 2021, 36 states, four territories and the District of Columbia have enacted medical marijuana laws. There are 17 states, two territories and the District of Columbia that have also passed recreational marijuana laws. One of the concerns regarding the enactment of legislation that has increased access to marijuana is the possibility of increased adolescent use of marijuana. While there are documented benefits of marijuana use for certain medical conditions, we know that marijuana use by young people can interfere with brain development, so increased marijuana use by adolescents raises legitimate health concerns. A review of results from national survey data, including CDC’s YRBS, Monitoring the Future, and the National Household Survey on Drug Use, allows us to document changes in marijuana use over time. Increased legal access to marijuana also has implications for educational programming. A “Reefer Madness” type educational approach no longer works (if it ever did). We explore various strategies, including prevention programs for education about marijuana, and make recommendations for health educators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Cannabis Use)
18 pages, 376 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Construct of Medical and Non-Medical Marijuana—Critical Review
by Andrzej Silczuk, Daria Smułek, Marcin Kołodziej and Julia Gujska
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2769; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052769 - 27 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3351
Abstract
The rising popularity of medical marijuana and its potential therapeutic uses has resulted in passionate discussions that have mainly focused on its possible benefits and applications. Although the concept itself seems promising, the multitude of presented information has noticeable ramifications—terminological chaos being one. [...] Read more.
The rising popularity of medical marijuana and its potential therapeutic uses has resulted in passionate discussions that have mainly focused on its possible benefits and applications. Although the concept itself seems promising, the multitude of presented information has noticeable ramifications—terminological chaos being one. This work aimed to synthesize and critically analyze scientific evidence on the therapeutic uses of cannabinoids in the field of psychiatry. Emphasis was placed on the anxiolytic effects of cannabis constituents and their effects on post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, and other psychotic disorders. The review was carried out from an addictological perspective. A database search of interchangeably combined keywords resulted in the identification of subject-related records. The data were then analyzed in terms of relevance, contents, methodologies, and cited papers. The results were clear in supporting one common conclusion: while most findings provide support for beneficial applications of medical marijuana in psychiatry, no certain conclusions can be drawn until larger-scaled, more methodologically rigorous, and (preferably) controlled randomized trials verify these discoveries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Cannabis Use)
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