“Current treatments for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) are not always effective and can lead to dose-limited adverse events, and new treatments are needed for this condition.
We present a case of a patient with treatment-refractory isolated RBD who had a dramatic and sustained improvement in dream enactment behaviors using oral tinctures containing cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol without adverse events over 5 years of follow-up.”
“Introduction: A growing number of publications are devoted to topical cannabinoid therapies in present-day cosmetology, as they appear to be safe and effective treatment modalities aimed at improving the comfort and quality of life of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). A thorough patient interview, physical examination, clinical picture, and aetiopathogenesis of AD allow for a correct diagnosis and enable the choice of the least invasive pharmacological treatment.
Purpose: In our medical experiment, we found a correlation between the findings of studies by other authors and the validation of our hypothesis that topical cannabinoid therapy is effective in the prevention and management of AD flares. A thorough analysis of the obtained results provided insights into the extent to which the applied ointment influenced the improvement of the skin’s biophysical parameters (hydration, lipid content, transepidermal water loss, and erythema).
Patients and methods: This medical experimental study was conducted from May to July 2022 and included a group of nine patients (five men and four women) aged 20- to 67-years-old were diagnosed with AD. The study involved transdermal delivery of an ointment compounded with cholesterol ointment, 30% cannabidiol (CBD), 5% cannabigerol (CBG), and hemp seed oil, and assessment of biophysical skin parameters, including corneometry (skin hydration), TEWL, sebumetry, and pH (acidity).
Results: A preliminary analysis of our pilot study points to the potential of employing ointments and creams containing 30% CBD and 5% CBG as alternatives to conventional auxiliary therapies during both flare-ups and remission. The results we achieved included improved skin hydration, sebum level, and TEWL as well as reduced erythema in the studied areas (forearms).
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that topical cannabinoid therapy is effective in reducing itching and improving the quality of life of patients with AD, leading to symptom remission in some cases.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40124934/
“The preliminary analysis of the findings of the pilot study based on a review of recent EBM-compliant studies and the results of our experimental study conducted over a period of three months showed that the topical delivery of the ointment compounded with Cannabis Sativa L. var. sativa oil, cholesterol ointment, 30% CBD, and 5% CBG led to the remission of skin lesions on the forearms of the included patients. Furthermore, in the course of the therapy, patients adhering to the topical cannabinoid regimen achieved satisfactory skin parameters, including normal hydration and sebum levels, as well as improved TEWL and erythema, as opposed to patients who reported failure to comply with the regimen owing to the fatty texture of the formulation, despite the instructions they received.”
“Processing hemp seeds into foods generates several by-products that are rich in nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals. This paper presents a thorough plant metabolite analysis and a comprehensive assessment of the nutrient content of 14 hemp seed-based foods and by-products and evaluates their feasibility to deliver dietary needs and daily recommendations.
The protein-85-product was the hemp food and hemp fudge the hemp by-product with the highest content of protein, 93.01 ± 0.18% and 37.66 ± 0.37%, respectively. Hemp seed-hull flour had the richest insoluble non-starch polysaccharide content (39.80 ± 0.07%). Linoleic acid was the most abundant fatty acid across all the hemp seed-based samples (ranging from 53.80 ± 2.02% in the protein-85-product to 69.53 ± 0.45% in the hemp cream). The omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio varied from 3:1 to 4:1 across all hemp seed-based samples.
The majority of hemp seed-based samples were rich sources of potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Gentisic acid, p-coumaric acid, and syringaresinol were the most abundant plant metabolites measured and found mainly in bound form.
Hemp seed by-products are valuable sources of nutrients capable of meeting dietary needs and, therefore, should be re-valorized into developing healthy food formulations to deliver a truly zero-waste hemp food production.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40077578/
“In conclusion, this study shows that hemp seed-based foods and by-products are rich sources of protein and fiber and are particularly rich in micronutrients, including potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, and bioactive phytochemicals, particularly p-coumaric acid, gentisic acid, syringaresinol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, benzoic acid, and ferulic acid. Almost all the hemp seed-based samples have the potential to deliver the recommended daily reference nutrient intake for several micronutrients, including magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, and iron. One hundred grams of all the hemp seed-based samples delivered the recommended daily intake for fatty acids, including linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. Furthermore, the omega-6:omega-3 ratio found in all the hemp seed-based foods and in all the by-products was between 3:1 and 4:1 across all the samples analyzed and was not altered during the food processing of hemp seed. Therefore, the findings of this study support the consumption of hemp seed foods as part of the diet to diversify and help meet dietary recommendations.”
“Background: Oncology providers often lack the confidence to make clinical recommendations about medical cannabis (MC). This study aimed to develop and evaluate the feasibility of implementing an educational curriculum on the use of MC in patient care for oncology trainees.
Methods: A multidisciplinary team designed an educational curriculum for MC use in oncology. The curriculum was piloted as a 1-hour interactive webinar across 8 United States-based hematology/oncology fellowship programs between 2022 and 2023. Incentivized surveys measuring feasibility outcomes, including cultural attitudes/norms, acceptability, compatibility, and self-efficacy (a composite index of self-confidence in discussing MC efficacy, risks, modes of use, and role in symptom management), were distributed before, immediately after, and 12 weeks post-webinar.
Results: Of 103 trainees, 75 (72.8%) completed the pretraining survey and 66 (64.1%) completed the posttraining survey. Most respondents believed discussions about the role of MC in symptom management were valuable (n=56; 74.7%), though few (14.7%) believed trainees were expected to engage in such discussions. Most participants rated the curriculum as helpful (92.4%), beneficial for oncology trainees (84.8%), and likely to be recommended to colleagues (87.9%). Post-webinar, 78.8% of participants reported an increased likelihood of initiating discussions with patients regarding MC. There were significant improvements in the composite self-confidence index from pre- to post-webinar (2.7% vs 65.2%; P<.001), which persisted in the follow-up surveys (n=36; response rate, 34.9%).
Conclusions: This multisite study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a novel curriculum focused on MC for oncology trainees. These findings can guide the design of a prospective, multi-institutional study to evaluate knowledge expansion, retention, and behavioral changes resulting from the intervention.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40073833/
“Our prior work demonstrated that training in MC use for patients with cancer is an area of unmet need among hematology/oncology trainees. The current study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of developing and delivering a virtual webinar curriculum on MC for hematology/oncology fellows. Most trainees enjoyed the format and found the content useful and applicable to their practice and education. We observed sustained improvements in self-reported confidence in conducting clinical discussions across all domains included in the curriculum. Furthermore, participants reported increased discussions about MC with patients following the training, aligning with recent expert consensus guidelines. Future efforts should focus on refining this curriculum based on emerging data in the field, developing similar interventions for other oncology health care professionals, and exploring strategies to sustain these educational initiatives. Such efforts are essential to ensure broad implementation, maximize knowledge retention, and facilitate meaningful behavioral changes in real-world clinical practice.”
“White-Sutton syndrome (WSS), associated with POGZ gene mutations, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a spectrum of phenotypic features, including intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and epilepsy. A case report described a female patient diagnosed with WSS who experienced seizures resistant to conventional antiseizure medications. Despite various therapeutic attempts, including valproate, topiramate, levetiracetam, clobazam, rufinamide, and vigabatrin, the patient’s seizures persisted.
After initiating an off-label treatment with cannabidiol (CBD), the patient achieved complete remission from seizures. Following significant clinical improvement, CBD therapy was discontinued by the parents against medical advice, leading to seizure recurrence. Upon reinstatement of CBD, the patient once again experienced successful seizure control.
This report emphasizes the need for further investigation into the off-label use of CBD, as an adjunctive therapy in pediatric individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy associated with WSS.
Although CBD shows promise in other epileptic syndromes, this case highlights its potential effectiveness in this specific condition. This manuscript aims to contribute to the understanding of WSS and advocate for further research into novel treatments, particularly the role of CBD in managing epilepsy within this complex clinical context.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40051906/
“After numerous antiseizure medications (ASMs), an add-on off-label cannabidiol (CBD) therapy resulted in the patient being seizure-free. CBD, an exogenous compound derived from the cannabis plant devoid of psychoactive properties, has emerged as a prospective adjunctive therapy for refractory pediatric epilepsy and for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE).
Current evidence indicates that patients with a wide variety of epilepsy disorders and underlying causes may experience a positive response to treatment with a highly purified, plant-derived CBD oil solution, constituting this as a feasible off-label therapeutic alternative in many other rare pediatric epilepsies “
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1515304/full
“Background and objectives: Exposure to discrimination stands as a prevalent social stressor and social determinant of health. This study sought to examine mechanisms linking perceived racism and discrimination (PRD) with youth cannabis use.
Methods: Data were drawn from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (n = 7,705). Latent variables were constructed to assess stress and mental health, sleep disorder and lack of physical activity, lack of family and peer support, and financial adversity. Separate mediation analyses were conducted to examine the pathways from PRD to current (past 30-day), and frequent (≥20 days in the past 30-day) cannabis use, adjusted by sociodemographic factors.
Results: Adolescents with PRD (vs. no PRD) reported a higher prevalence of current use (16.2 % vs. 10.9 %, p < 0.0001) and frequent use (4.6 % vs. 2.7 %, p = 0.008). Stress and mental health mediated the pathways from PRD to current (βindirect effect [SE] = 0.02 [0.01], p = 0.02) and frequent cannabis use (βindirect effect [SE] = 0.03 [0.01], p < 0.001). Financial adversity was associated with current (β [SE] = 0.15 [0.06], p = 0.01) and frequent cannabis use (β [SE] = 0.26 [0.08], p = 0.002). Sleep disorder and physical activity did not significantly mediate the relationship between PRD and current or frequent cannabis use. Lack of family and peer support showed no association with cannabis use.
Conclusions: This national study identified important latent factors that are associated with youth cannabis use. Targeted interventions that reduce stress might mitigate the impacts of PRD on adolescent’s cannabis use.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40041242/
“Reducing stress could help lessen the effects of perceived racism and discrimination (PRD) on adolescent cannabis use.”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000082?via%3Dihub
“This chapter will review the basic pharmacology of the canonical cannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoid system is a complex signalling network involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including pain modulation, appetite regulation, and synaptic plasticity. The canonical cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are central in orchestrating this system. CB1 is highly enriched in the central nervous system (CNS), where it plays a crucial role in modulating neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. In contrast, CB2 is predominantly expressed in peripheral tissues and immune cells, participating in anti-inflammatory processes. Here, we focus on cannabinoid receptor distribution, intracellular signalling, and receptor regulation. We describe the intracellular signalling pathways activated by CB1, including the modulation of ion channels, second messengers, and protein kinases. Overall, this chapter provides an overview of the canonical cannabinoid receptors and their role in the regulation of neuronal signalling and plasticity, highlighting the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying their effects in the CNS.”
“Background: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe encephalopathic disease that leads to a decrease in the quality of life, physical injury, psychosocial impairment, and a significant increase in treatment costs. Cannabidiol (CBD) is approved for the adjunctive treatment of tonic-colonic seizures in LGS. This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of CBD compared to the usual treatment in patients with LGS syndrome.
Methods: We developed a lifetime-horizon Markov model to compare the cost-effectiveness of adjunctive CBD versus usual care. Additionally, we performed a budget impact analysis over a 5-year time horizon. The findings were presented as the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for CEA, with a willingness to pay threshold of $18,261 per QALY gained, and as the difference in the overall budget ($) between the scenarios with and without CBD for budget impact assessment.
Results: In the base case scenario, CBD was cost-effective compared with usual care $6573 per QALY. Sensitivity analyses substantiated these results. From a healthcare perspective, there is a 77% probability that CBD is cost-effective at a willingness to pay of $18,261 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Overall, the market access of CBD was associated to an increased budget of about $3,459,846 (+ 33%) in the next 5 years simulated.
Conclusions: Compared to usual care, CBD seems to be cost-effective in LGS patients and sustainable, with less than 34% overall budget increased in the next 5 years. Future studies need to confirm our results in the real word setting and in other countries.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40038638/
“Our study demonstrates that CBD is valuable as an add-on therapy for patients with LGS in Iran. At current list prices in Iran and assuming a WTP threshold of $18,261/QALY, CBD is cost-effective for the treatment of LGS. So CBD has a more advantage of efficacy compared with usual care and its incremental BI for health system is relatively acceptable. The present study also provides a reference for stakeholders to judge the value of cannabidiol.”
https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-025-03972-9
“Introduction: Amidst the opioid overdose crisis, there is interest in cannabis use for pain management and harm reduction. We investigated the relationship between cannabis use and cessation of unregulated opioid use among people who use drugs (PWUD) living with chronic pain.
Method: Data for analyses were collected from three prospective cohort studies in Vancouver, Canada. All cohort participants who completed at least two study visits and reported both pain and unregulated opioid use in the past 6 months were included in the present study. We analysed the association between cannabis use frequency and opioid cessation rates using extended Cox regression models with time-updated covariates.
Results: Between June 2014 and May 2022, 2340 PWUD were initially recruited and of those 1242 PWUD reported chronic pain, use of unregulated opioids and completed at least two follow-up visits. Of these 1242 participants, 764 experienced a cessation event over 1038.2 person-years resulting in a cessation rate of 28.5 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.4-31.9). Daily cannabis use was positively associated with opioid cessation (adjusted hazard ratio 1.40, 95% CI 1.08-1.81; p = 0.011). In the sex-stratified sub-analyses, daily cannabis use was significantly associated with increased rates of opioid cessation among males (adjusted hazard ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.09-2.08; p = 0.014).
Discussion and conclusions: Participants reporting daily cannabis use exhibited higher rates of cessation compared to less frequent users or non-users. Observed sex-specific differences in cannabis use and opioid cessation suggest potential differences in cannabis use behaviours and effects. Our findings add to the growing evidence supporting the potential benefits of cannabis use among PWUD, underlining the need for further research.”
“Pain is highly prevalent among emerging adults (18-25 years old), and rates of cannabis use are increasing among this population. Research indicates pain is a unique risk factor and motivator for substance use. However, evidence for pain-cannabis use relations among emerging adults is largely cross-sectional, and the only prospective evidence focuses on the frequency, quantity, and consequences of cannabis use, not initiation.
Accordingly, this is the first study to examine pain as a prospective predictor of cannabis initiation among emerging adults.
Data were drawn from five annual waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Emerging adults who denied cannabis use at baseline (n = 4,185) were included in the analysis. At baseline, a tenth of emerging adults reported moderate/severe pain (≥4/10). Adjusted Cox regression analysis revealed that emerging adults with moderate/severe baseline pain were more likely to initiate cannabis use, and did so earlier over the subsequent 4 years, than those with no/low baseline pain.
These findings provide initial evidence for pain as a risk factor for cannabis initiation during emerging adulthood. Future research is needed to identify mechanisms by which pain motivates cannabis initiation and to examine the utility of pain-targeted content in cannabis use prevention and intervention efforts among emerging adults.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40009033/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08964289.2025.2465525