Category Archives: THC (Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Patterns and factors among oncology fellows recommending medical cannabis to adults with cancer

Posted on by
pubmed logo

“Background: Medical cannabis consumption is rising, but limited evidence informs the safety and efficacy of cannabis use in cancer patients. A national survey of oncology trainees found that most fellows felt insufficiently informed to make clinical recommendations about cannabis.

Aim: In this secondary analysis, we aimed to measure how frequently trainees recommend in favor of cannabis and determine factors influencing this clinical practice.

Methods: In this cross-sectional survey study for fellows enrolled in oncology training programs across the United States, an online survey assessing trainee practices regarding medical cannabis was sent to 155 oncology fellowship program directors from January – March 2021; who were asked to distribute it to their fellows. The primary outcome was the frequency with which oncology fellows recommended cannabis in the prior year.

Results: Nationally, 40 programs from 25 states participated, with 189 of 462 trainees across these programs responding (40.9% response rate). 22% (95% CI: 16.3-29.0%) of participants reported recommending medical cannabis to > 5 patients in the past year. 24% (95% CI: 18.4-30.5%) of participants had prior training in medical cannabis. Regarding participant characteristics, only prior training in medical cannabis was significantly associated with recommending cannabis to > 5 patients (RR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4-4.2).

Conclusions: With increasing cannabis use among patients with cancer and given that a substantial number of oncology fellows recommend its use, it is crucial that fellowship training incorporate evidence-based curricula regarding medical cannabis use to guide informed decision-making between patients and their fellow providers.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40660376/

“1 in 5 oncology fellows participating in our study recommended it to > 5 patients in the past year. Prior training in medical cannabis was the sole factor associated with higher rates of discussing and recommending its use to patients. Personalized, patient-centered care for cancer patients—and all patients—is mandatorily founded on understanding and articulating the best available evidence regarding treatment options.

Accordingly, as medical cannabis gains more widespread legal status and is increasingly considered and used by our patients, it will be of critical importance that contemporary fellowship training programs incorporate rigorous, up-to-date curricula on this subject so as to prepare their trainees to engage in well-informed discussions and shared decision-making with those for whom they care.”

https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-025-00293-9

A chronic low dose of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (3 mg / kg / 21 d) reorganizes the disturbed wound healing process and accelerates wound closure in old female mice

Posted on by

“Wound healing in old mice is characterized by disturbed tissue homeostasis, manifested by delayed immune cell infiltration and reduced growth factor secretion, leading to a delayed onset and prolonged duration of the inflammatory phase.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an important regulator of tissue homeostasis and cell migration and is also considered to be subject to aging processes, which may contribute to observable aging phenomena. Therefore, stimulating the aged ECS could represent a therapeutic option to support tissue regeneration in aging.

Female old mice received a low-dose of medical THC daily for 3 weeks, before four excisional full skin wounds were created. At day 1, 3 and 7 post-surgery, the wound closure rate was analyzed and wound samples were examined immunohistochemically for the numbers of granulocytes, M1-macrophages and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and regenerative growth factors were determined by ELISA.

Administration of THC improved the wound healing rate of old mice between day 1 and 7, which was associated with an altered timing and quantity of infiltrating immune cells and decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines in wound tissue on days 1 and 3 post-injury.

THC treatment significantly increased MSC infiltration but had no effect on the growth factor release.

The present study confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of THC in vivo.

The THC-treatment improved wound healing in old mice by coordinating the temporal sequence of immune cell infiltration and cytokine release. Thus, restoration of ECS signaling could be an effective strategy to support age-related skin regeneration.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40653209/

Public Attitudes Toward the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Proposal to Reschedule Marijuana: A Cross-Sectional Mixed-Methods Analysis

Posted on by
pubmed logo

“Introduction: On May 21, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published a proposed rule to reschedule marijuana from schedule I to III under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), followed by a 60-day open comment period. The purpose of this study was to analyze the public attitudes regarding the proposed rule and identify trends based on time of comment submission and recurring arguments throughout the comments.

Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, mixed-methods study. Comments from the proposal were stratified according to the submission date as early (May 21 to June 11), mid- (June 12 to July 2), and late (July 3-22) respondents. Investigators were assigned an equal number of comments to code as in favor of, against, or no clear position on rescheduling. Comments were further coded based on type of comment (form letters, personal anecdotes), rationale for comment (racism, decriminalization, safety, and economic factors), and whether descheduling was favored. Chi-square tests were used to analyze categorical data. A random sample of comments was selected to assure a 5% margin of error.

Results: More than 42,000 comments were submitted. Of these, 380 comments were selected and coded, with 42% (n = 158) in support of rescheduling, 55% (n = 211) against rescheduling, and 2.9% (n = 11) with no clear position. Of all comments coded, 71% wanted to go further and were in support of descheduling. The early responses consisted of a majority in favor of rescheduling, while the mid- and late responses consisted of more comments against rescheduling (X 2 [2, N = 369] = 35.8, p < 0.00001). Of the comments against rescheduling, a large majority supported descheduling (X 2 [2, N = 265] = 32.0, p < 0.0001). As for comment structure, 69% (n = 263) of all comments coded were form letters, while 8.4% (n = 32) were personal anecdotes.

Conclusion: The number of comments in support of rescheduling decreased with time, only dominating the early respondent wave. Despite a larger number of negative attitudes toward the DEA’s proposed rule of rescheduling marijuana from schedule I to III, a majority of comments supported taking a step further to deschedule marijuana all together.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40655530/

“The study’s findings suggest that future cannabis policy discussions may need to address not just rescheduling, but potentially more far-reaching reforms to align with evolving public sentiment. As the conversation around marijuana regulation continues, policymakers will need to carefully balance public health and safety concerns with growing calls for increased access and reduced criminalization.”

https://karger.com/mca/article/8/1/117/928534/Public-Attitudes-Toward-the-Drug-Enforcement

Exploring the Potential of Phytocannabinoids Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

Posted on by
pubmed logo

“The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens poses a critical threat to global health, creating an urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents.

In this study, we evaluated a small library of natural and semisynthetic phytocannabinoids against a broad panel of MDR Gram-positive bacterial strains, evidencing very good activity in the low µM range.

We provide evidence of the antibacterial activity of the two separated enantiomers of cannabidiol, offering novel insights into the stereochemical aspects of their bioactivity.

To investigate the possible molecular targets and clarify the mechanism of action, we employed Inverse Virtual Screening (IVS), a computational approach optimized for predicting potential protein-ligand interactions, on three selected MDR bacterial species. Interestingly, key targets belonging to important bacterial metabolic pathways and defense mechanisms were retrieved, and the results were used to rationalize the observed biological activities.

To the best of our knowledge, this study marks the first application of IVS to microorganisms, offering a novel strategy for identifying bacterial protein targets. The results pave the way for future experimental validation, structure-based drug design, and the development of novel antibacterial agents.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40647911/

“These findings suggest that these phytocannabinoids likely exert their antibacterial effects via multi-target inhibition, interfering with multiple essential bacterial pathways.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1901

Medicinal cannabis for tics in adolescents with Tourette syndrome

Posted on by
pubmed logo

“Medicinal cannabis has been trialled for Tourette syndrome in adults, but it has not been studied in adolescents. This open-label, single-arm trial study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability and signal of efficacy of medicinal cannabis in adolescents (12-18 years), using a Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol ratio of 10:15, with dose varying from 5 to 20 mg/day based on body weight and response.

The study demonstrated feasibility of recruitment, acceptability of study procedures, potential benefits and a favourable safety profile, with no serious adverse events. Commonly reported adverse events were tiredness and drowsiness, followed by dry mouth.

Statistically significant improvement was observed in parent and clinician reports on tics (paired t-test P = 0.003), and behavioural and emotional issues (paired t-test P = 0.048) and quality of life as reported by the parent and young person (paired t-test P = 0.027 and 0.032, respectively). A larger-scale, randomised controlled trial is needed to validate these findings.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40636988/

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/medicinal-cannabis-for-tics-in-adolescents-with-tourette-syndrome/1A788DF6DE778600989CD90AF7A604D0

Acute Effects of Oral Cannabinoids on Sleep and High-Density EEG in Insomnia: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Posted on by
pubmed logo

“Cannabinoids, particularly Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have gained popularity as alternative sleep aids; however, their effects on sleep architecture and next-day function remain poorly understood.

Here, in a pilot trial, we examined the effects of a single oral dose containing 10 mg THC and 200 mg CBD (THC/CBD) on objective sleep outcomes and next-day alertness using 256-channel high-density EEG in 20 patients with DSM-5 diagnosed insomnia disorder (16 female; mean (SD) age, 46.1 (8.6) years).

We showed that THC/CBD decreased total sleep time (-24.5 min, p = 0.05, d = -0.5) with no change in wake after sleep onset (+10.7 min, p > 0.05) compared to placebo. THC/CBD also significantly decreased time spent in REM sleep (-33.9 min, p < 0.001, d = -1.5) and increased latency to REM sleep (+65.6 min, p = 0.008, d = 0.7). High-density EEG analysis revealed regional decreases in gamma activity during N2 sleep, and in delta activity during N3 sleep, and a regional increase in beta and alpha activity during REM sleep. While there was no observed change in next-day objective alertness, a small but significant increase in self-reported sleepiness was noted with THC/CBD (+0.42 points, p = 0.02, d = 0.22). No changes in subjective sleep quality, cognitive performance, or simulated driving performance were observed.

These findings suggest that a single dose of cannabinoids, particularly THC, may acutely influence sleep, primarily by suppressing REM sleep, without noticeable next-day impairment (≥ 9 h post-treatment).”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40631525/

“This study is the first to use high-density EEG to explore the acute effects of oral THC/CBD on objective sleep outcomes in individuals with insomnia. A single oral dose significantly reduced total sleep time and REM sleep, without impairing next-day alertness.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsr.70124

Long-term cannabinoid therapy can ameliorate chronic sleep deprivation-induced behavioral and neuroinflammatory changes in mice

Posted on by
pubmed logo

“Endocannabinoid system is an important contributor to body’s immune responses which are significantly impaired by chronic sleep deprivation (cSD). Although cannabinoids can modulate the endocannabinoid system, most are understudied, especially regarding cSD.

To investigate the therapeutic potential of CBD, CBG, CBC and their combinations, current study analyzed cSD-induced memory impairment, depression, microglial responses, cytokine profile and therapeutic effects of cannabinoid treatments using behavioral test and ELISA. Furthermore, molecular docking of these cannabinoids was performed to deduce the binding affinity with cannabinoid receptors and possible entrouge effects.

The results showed that memory impairment and depression were more evident in cSD groups. Moreover, microglial activation and pro-inflammatory polarization was also more evident and was supported by increased pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in cSD groups.

These changes were significantly reversed the cannabinoid groups but the combination of CBD + CBC was more effective than other treatments in reversing these cSD-induced behavioral and neuroinflammatory changes. Whereas, the molecular docking results also corroborated with the neuroimmunological changes observed in the current study, pointing towards the possible therapeutic role.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Chronic SD employs microglial activation/polarization, to exert behavioral impairments and neuroinflammation.

This study signifies the therapeutic potential of proper sleep and cannabinoid intake.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40628367/

“This study demonstrates the therapeutic efficacy of cannabinoid treatments in ameliorating cSD-induced behavioral and neuroinflammatory alterations. Notably, a multiple-compound treatment of CBD and CBC exhibited superior effectiveness compared to single-compound treatments. These findings suggest potential avenues for developing effective interventions against cSD-induced detrimental changes.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304394025002022?via%3Dihub

Treatment of Migraine With Phytocannabinoids, the Involvement of Endocannabinoids in Migraine, and Potential Mechanisms of Action

Posted on by
pubmed logo

“The American Migraine Foundation estimates that over 39 million Americans and over 1 billion people worldwide suffer from some form of migraine. Treatment of migraine generally falls into two categories: treatment of attacks once they have begun, and prophylactic prevention, including lifestyle changes. The use of phytocannabinoids to reduce both the frequency and severity of migraine is widely documented in scientific, grey, and popular literature. This review provides descriptions of both preclinical and clinical studies involving the treatment of migraines with phytocannabinoids as well as the involvement of endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like compounds in migraine pathology, including the receptors and associated mechanisms. Currently unanswered questions and areas for further exploration are discussed.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40630421/

“The clinical studies published to date strongly suggest that phytocannabinoids are useful for mitigating migraine pain and for migraine prophylaxis. Further, studies show the potential for endocannabinoid and endocannabinoid-like compounds in migraine treatment.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/prm/7181066

“Migraine, fibromyalgia, IBS and related conditions display common clinical, biochemical and pathophysiological patterns that suggest an underlying clinical endocannabinoid deficiency that may be suitably treated with cannabinoid medicines.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15159679/

Acute and chronic effects of medicinal cannabis use on anxiety and depression in a prospective cohort of patients new to cannabis

Posted on by

“Introduction: Medicinal cannabis has mixed evidence for treating anxiety and depression, yet patients frequently use it as a treatment. This observational study evaluated the effects of medicinal cannabis initiation in adults with clinically significant anxiety and/or depression over a 6-month period.

Methods: Adults with clinically significant anxiety and/or depression initiating medicinal cannabis use in Maryland, USA completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and longitudinal follow-up evaluations. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessments were completed at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after medicinal cannabis initiation. EMA measures were completed at baseline and daily for 8 weeks after cannabis initiation with measures collected before each cannabis use and at time of expected peak effect. Changes in anxiety and depression were evaluated using linear mixed effect models.

Results: Significant decreases from baseline in anxiety and depression were observed, with mean scores dropping below clinically significant levels within three months of initiation. EMA data indicated that most participants selected THC-dominant cannabis and acute reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived driving ability along with increased ratings of feeling “high”. Acute effects were dose-dependent: 10-15 mg of oral THC and at least 3 puffs of vaporized cannabis yielded the most robust reductions in anxiety and depression.

Conclusions: Initiation of THC-dominant medicinal cannabis was associated with acute reductions in anxiety and depression, and sustained reductions in overall symptom severity over a 6-month period. Controlled clinical trials are needed to further investigate the efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis for acute anxiety and depression symptom management.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40623642/

“In this prospective, observational study, medicinal cannabis use was associated with significant decreases in self-reported anxiety and depression compared with pre-cannabis use initiation baseline assessments among individuals with clinically significant anxiety and/or depression. Reductions in anxiety and depression were observed acutely following individual episodes of cannabis use and overall symptom reductions were sustained over the six-month period of observation.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032725012716?via%3Dihub

Evaluating the impact of cannabis oil for autistic children with and without concomitant medications: Insights from an open-label study

Posted on by
pubmed logo

“Background: Although only two drugs are FDA approved for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), clinical practice treatment includes off-label use of medications to address the troubling symptoms of ASD. Several trials showed the beneficial effects of medical cannabis for alleviating symptoms of ASD. However, data are lacking regarding its safety and effectiveness as a single agent compared to add-on therapy.

Aims: To compare the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis as a monotherapy and add-on therapy in autistic children.

Methods: An open-label trial recruiting autistic children was performed and treated with medical cannabis oil with a THC:CBD ratio of 1:20, respectively. Tests were conducted at baseline and after 6 months of therapy. A secondary analysis was done to compare physical and behavior parameters, using tests such as Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Wechsler tests in the two groups.

Results: Out of 109 participants, 81 completed the treatment. Thirty received cannabis as add-on therapy to a pre-existing treatment, whereas 51 received cannabis as monotherapy, with no observed differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. The mean maximal CBD dose was 3.1 mg/kg/day in the monotherapy group, compared to 2.8 mg/kg/day in the add-on group (p = 0.40). In patients treated with drugs for psychosis, the mean maximal dose was 2.48 mg/kg/day (p = 0.12). No differences were observed in most physical and behavioral parameters. In addition, no differences in CBD blood levels were observed.

Conclusions: Add-on cannabis therapy is as safe as monotherapy treatment, without significant differences in efficacy.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40613426/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811251332841