Get a Clue - Weed

Details: Published: 24 May 2022; Hits: 1235

Key points

Activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) by endocannabinoids or synthetic ligands mediates acute haemodynamic effects and might contribute to pathology in cardiovascular disease; activation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) exerts anti-inflammatory effects
The psychoactive constituent of marijuana, Δ9‑tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), exerts its cardiovascular effects via CB1R activation; at low doses it might have beneficial properties via partial activation of CB1R and CB2R, and unrelated mechanisms
The composition of marijuana (THC–cannabidiol ratio, terpenoids) can influence its therapeutic and cardiovascular adverse effects, with marijuana smoke being as harmful as tobacco smoke
Most synthetic cannabinoids used for recreational use are full agonists of CB1R (THC is a partial agonist) with up to several hundred-fold higher potency and efficacy than THC, causing more dangerous adverse effects
In parallel with a tenfold increase in the THC content of marijuana and the widespread availability of synthetic cannabinoids for recreational use, the number of serious cardiovascular adverse effects reported has markedly increased
Clinicians should be vigilant to recognizing potential cardiovascular effects of marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids; controlled clinical trials should determine the long-term consequences of the use of medical marijuana on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Also see Handbook of Cannabis and Related Pathologies – 1st Edition (elsevier.com)

Details: Published: 24 May 2022; Hits: 1125

Frequency of adolescent cannabis smoking and vaping in the United States: Trends, disparities and concurrent substance use, 2017–19 - Cannabis use without vaping appears to be declining among adolescents in the United States, while cannabis use with vaping is accelerating; frequent cannabis vaping is especially increasing, with consistent increases across almost all adolescent demographic groups. Cannabis use among US adolescents remains highly associated with other substance use.

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Details: Published: 17 May 2022; Hits: 1411

Children eating the grown-ups ‘medicinal marijuana’ Gummy Bears, being not only sedated but experiencing a disease that affects brain structure and/or function. Encephalopathy causes altered mental state and confusion – Welcome to THC – and its analogues – use!

Sedation and Acute Encephalopathy in a Paediatric Patient Following Ingestion of Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol Gummies

Abstract

BACKGROUND Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) is an isomer of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC), the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in the marijuana plant. Typically found at lower concentrations in marijuana, delta-8 THC exhibits psychoactive properties similar to delta-9 THC. Products containing delta-8 THC are readily available across the US and currently there is a lack of available confirmatory testing specific to delta-8 THC as there is cross-reactivity to other naturally occurring cannabinoids in standard immunoassays. Paediatric exposures to this substance are on the rise.

CASE REPORT We present a case with laboratory confirmation of a previously healthy 2-year-old girl ingesting approximately 15 mg/kg of delta-8 THC gummies. The patient arrived minimally responsive and requiring intubation for encephalopathy. Laboratory confirmation of delta-8 THC exposure is not routinely available with common testing modalities. A urine drug screen preformed in the hospital was positive for delta-9 THC. With the collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Toxicology Testing Program, detection and confirmation of delta-8 THC was performed in the serum and urine using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of delta-8 THC-containing products in the illicit drug market is increasing rapidly. Delta-8 THC products are now available in gas stations and in headshops. The clinical presentation of delta-8 THC exposure is similar to known effects of delta-9 THC exposure. These similarities limit the clinicians' abilities to determine the specific substance ingested. Symptomatic and supportive care remains an effective treatment for cannabinoid toxicity.

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(also Read FDA Issues Warning Letters to Companies Illegally Selling CBD and Delta-8 THC Products Violations Include Marketing Unapproved New Drugs, Misbranding, Adding Delta-8 THC to Food Products)

Details: Published: 13 May 2022; Hits: 1242

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16214149

Abstract: Evidence for an association between cannabis and psychosis has been documented in literature in many forms including experimental studies, epidemiological data, and case series. The association has implications for psychotic outcomes ranging from mild to severe and occurring over minutes to years. Due to the huge variety of exposures and outcome measures reported, creating a coherent account of all the available information is difficult. A useful way to conceptualize these wide-ranging results is to consider the association between cannabis and psychosis as it occurs within the context of widely used DSM-5 diagnoses. In the present review we examine cannabis/psychosis associations as they pertain to Cannabis Intoxication, Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder, and Schizophrenia. This allows for an understanding of the cannabis and psychosis association along something approaching a continuum. Cannabis intoxication becomes Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder once certain severity and duration criteria are met and Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder is heavily associated with future schizophrenia diagnoses.

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Other Associated Research

Details: Published: 03 May 2022; Hits: 1327

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2022.03.004 Get rights and content

Highlights

Many states and District of Columbia in the United States have legalized marijuana.
One reason is to expect marijuana to help reduce opioid dependence and mortality.
However, opioid deaths have increased more where marijuana was legalized.
This correlation is highly statistically significant for all opioids and fentanyl subgroup.
The COVID-19 pandemic increased marijuana use and worsened opioid mortality

Conclusion: Instead of supporting the marijuana protection hypothesis, ecologic associations at the national level suggest that marijuana legalization has contributed to the U.S.’s opioid epidemic in all major races/ethnicities, and especially in blacks. If so, the increased use of marijuana during the 2020–2022 pandemic may thereby worsen the country's opioid crisis.

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