Tag Archives: medical marijuana

Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the United States: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

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“Synthesis of the current evidence does not support the hypothesis that US medical marijuana laws (MMLs) until 2014 have led to increases in adolescent marijuana use prevalence. None of the 11 studies found significant estimates of pre–post MML changes compared with contemporaneous changes in non‐MML states for marijuana use prevalence among adolescents. In summary, current evidence does not support the hypothesis that MML passage is associated with increased marijuana use prevalence among adolescents in states that have passed such laws up until 2014.”  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/add.14136

“Medical Marijuana Hasn’t Affected Teen Pot Use: Meta-Analysis. Medical marijuana laws have had little impact on recreational pot use among U.S. teens, according to a meta-analysis of 11 studies dating back to 1991. The findings appear to debunk claims by opponents of medical marijuana that the laws have led to greater cannabis use among adolescents, wrote researcher Deborah Hasin, PhD, of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, and colleagues in the journal Addiction.”  https://www.medpagetoday.com/psychiatry/addictions/71342

Marijuana use and mortality following orthopedic surgical procedures.

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“The association between marijuana use and surgical procedures is a matter of increasing societal relevance that has not been well studied in the literature.

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between marijuana use and in-hospital mortality, as well as to assess associated comorbidities in patients undergoing commonly billed orthopedic surgeries.

METHODS:

The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2010 to 2014 was used to determine the odds ratios for the associations between marijuana use and in-hospital mortality, heart failure (HF), stroke, and cardiac disease (CD) in patients undergoing five common orthopedic procedures: hip (THA), knee (TKA), and shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), spinal fusion, and traumatic femur fracture fixation.

RESULTS:

Of 9,561,963 patients who underwent one of the five selected procedures in the four-year period, 26,416 (0.28%) were identified with a diagnosis of marijuana use disorder. In hip and knee arthroplasty patients, marijuana use was associated with decreased odds of mortality compared to no marijuana use (p<0.0001), and increased odds of HF (p = 0.018), stroke (p = 0.0068), and CD (p = 0.0123). Traumatic femur fixation patients had the highest prevalence of marijuana use (0.70%), which was associated with decreased odds of mortality (p = 0.0483), HF (p = 0.0076), and CD (p = 0.0003). For spinal fusions, marijuana use was associated with increased odds of stroke (p<0.0001) and CD (p<0.0001). Marijuana use in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty was associated with decreased odds of mortality (p<0.001) and stroke (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

In this study, marijuana use was associated with decreased mortality in patients undergoing THA, TKA, TSA and traumatic femur fixation, although the significance of these findings remains unclear. More research is needed to provide insight into these associations in a growing surgical population.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29558287

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08897077.2018.1449054?journalCode=wsub20

Marijuana Use and Renal Function Among US Adults.

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The American Journal of Medicine Home

“In recent years, the number of states that have legalized medical marijuana or retail sales has increased, bringing potential changes of marijuana use pattern among the general population. However, health effects of acute and chronic marijuana use on many relevant health outcomes, including renal function, remain largely unexamined.

In this study, we aimed to assess the association between recent and past marijuana use and renal function.

CONCLUSIONS:

We did not observe any clinically significant association between current or past self-reported marijuana use and measures of kidney function.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29291894

http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(17)31193-2/fulltext

“No link between current or previous marijuana use and kidney disease, say researchers” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180301125051.htm

“Marijuana Doesn’t Seem to Harm the Kidneys” https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20180306/marijuana-doesnt-seem-to-harm-the-kidneys

“”Our research provides some reassuring evidence suggesting that there is no detrimental effect of infrequent, relatively light use of marijuana on kidney function among healthy adults under age 60,”” https://consumer.healthday.com/general-health-information-16/illicit-drugs-news-217/marijuana-doesn-t-seem-to-harm-the-kidneys-731632.html

“Pot Won’t Harm Healthy Young People’s Kidneys, Study Suggests”  https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=206375

[Beneficial Effect of Medical Cannabis in the Treatment of a Pharmacoresistant Nausea Associated with a Somatoform Disorder in a Patient with Post-Polio Syndrome].

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“We report a 79-year-old patient with post-polio syndrome (PPS). In the course of this disease, recurrent upper abdominal pain and a therapy-resistant nausea developed without vomiting. In addition, the patient was limited by the combination of muscular weakness, obesity, dietary-treated diabetes and a degenerative spinal cord injury significantly in its mobility and physical capacity.

INVESTIGATIONS AND DIAGNOSIS:

Despite extensive diagnostics, no somatic cause could be found neither for the nausea nor for the upper abdominal pain. Due to the psychological stress within the scope of the PPS, the development of a somatoform autonomic function disorder of the upper gastrointestinal tract may have occurred.

TREATMENT AND COURSE:

Even under combination therapy of antiemetic and pain-modulating drugs, no adequate symptom control could be achieved. In the absence of therapy alternatives and increasing psychological strain the patient was prescribed medical cannabis. Under the therapy there was a relief of the nausea symptoms and decreased pain.

CONCLUSION:

Cannabis is a treatment option for treatment-resistant symptoms as part of a PPS.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29506301

https://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0043-123897

Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the United States: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

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“To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in order to estimate the effect of US medical marijuana laws (MMLs) on past-month marijuana use prevalence among adolescents.

METHODS:

A total of 2999 papers from 17 literature sources were screened systematically. Eleven studies, developed from four ongoing large national surveys, were meta-analyzed. Estimates of MML effects on any past-month marijuana use prevalence from included studies were obtained from comparisons of pre-post MML changes in MML states to changes in non-MML states over comparable time-periods. These estimates were standardized and entered into a meta-analysis model with fixed-effects for each study. Heterogeneity among the study estimates by national data survey was tested with an omnibus F-test. Estimates of effects on additional marijuana outcomes, of MML provisions (e.g. dispensaries) and among demographic subgroups were abstracted and summarized. Key methodological and modeling characteristics were also described. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed.

RESULTS:

None of the 11 studies found significant estimates of pre-post MML changes compared with contemporaneous changes in non-MML states for marijuana use prevalence among adolescents. The meta-analysis yielded a non-significant pooled estimate (standardized mean difference) of -0.003 (95% confidence interval = -0.012, +0.007). Four studies compared MML with non-MML states on pre-MML differences and all found higher rates of past-month marijuana use in MML states pre-MML passage. Additional tests of specific MML provisions, of MML effects on additional marijuana outcomes and among subgroups generally yielded non-significant results, although limited heterogeneity may warrant further study.

CONCLUSIONS:

Synthesis of the current evidence does not support the hypothesis that US medical marijuana laws (MMLs) until 2014 have led to increases in adolescent marijuana use prevalence. Limited heterogeneity exists among estimates of effects of MMLs on other patterns of marijuana use, of effects within particular population subgroups and of effects of specific MML provisions.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29468763

Cannabis for vismodegib-related muscle cramps in a patient with advanced basal cell carcinoma

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Journal of Pain and Symptom Management Home“Vismodegib is a hedgehog inhibitor drug indicated for metastatic or locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) that is not fit for surgery or radiation therapy.

One of the most common side effects of vismodegib is muscle cramps which can cause a decrease in quality of life (QoL) and treatment discontinuation. Cannabis is known to improve spasticity (including muscle cramps) in multiple sclerosis patients.”

http://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(18)30070-8/fulltext

“Medical marijuana for the treatment of vismodegib-related muscle spasm. We report a case of vismodegib-related muscle spasm that was successfully treated with medical marijuana (MM).” http://www.jaadcasereports.org/article/S2352-5126(17)30124-8/fulltext

High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide

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“Our research examines the relationship between medical marijuana laws (hereafter MMLs) and suicides.

Our results suggest that the passage of a MML is associated with an almost 5 percent reduction in the total suicide rate.

We conclude that the legalization of medical marijuana leads to fewer suicides among young adult males.”

https://www.cato.org/publications/research-briefs-economic-policy/high-life-medical-marijuana-laws-suicide

“Study: Medical Marijuana Legalization leads to decrease in suicide rates”   https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/2/26/1068413/-Study-Medical-Marijuana-Legalization-leads-to-decrease-in-suicide-rates

“Legal Weed Appears to Cause a Sharp Reduction in Suicides”  https://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2012/02/07/legal-weed-appears-to-cause-a-sharp-reduction-in-suicides-discuss

“Marijuana Can Help Prevent Suicide, Study Suggests”  http://www.laweekly.com/news/marijuana-can-help-prevent-suicide-study-suggests-2389148

The Grass Might Be Greener: Medical Marijuana Patients Exhibit Altered Brain Activity and Improved Executive Function after 3 Months of Treatment.

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“The vast majority of states have enacted full or partial medical marijuana (MMJ) programs, causing the number of patients seeking certification for MMJ use to increase dramatically in recent years.

In the present study, MMJ patients seeking treatment for a variety of documented medical conditions were assessed prior to initiating MMJ treatment and after 3 months of treatment as part of a larger longitudinal study.

Following 3 months of treatment, MMJ patients demonstrated improved task performance accompanied by changes in brain activation patterns within the cingulate cortex and frontal regions.

Interestingly, after MMJ treatment, brain activation patterns appeared more similar to those exhibited by healthy controls from previous studies than at pre-treatment, suggestive of a potential normalization of brain function relative to baseline.

Moreover, patients in the current study also reported improvements in clinical state and health-related measures as well as notable decreases in prescription medication use, particularly opioids and benzodiapezines after 3 months of treatment.

Further research is needed to clarify the specific neurobiologic impact, clinical efficacy, and unique effects of MMJ for a range of indications and how it compares to recreational MJ use.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29387010

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00983/full

Medical Cannabis for Neuropathic Pain.

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Current Pain and Headache Reports

“Many cultures throughout history have used cannabis to treat a variety of painful ailments. Neuropathic pain is a complicated condition that is challenging to treat with our current medications.

Recent scientific discovery has elucidated the intricate role of the endocannabinoid system in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. As societal perceptions change, and legislation on medical cannabis relaxes, there is growing interest in the use of medical cannabis for neuropathic pain.

We examined current basic scientific research and data from recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating medical cannabis for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

These studies involved patients with diverse etiologies of neuropathic pain and included medical cannabis with different THC concentrations and routes of administration. Multiple RCTs demonstrated efficacy of medical cannabis for treating neuropathic pain, with number needed to treat (NNT) values similar to current pharmacotherapies.

Although limited by small sample sizes and short duration of study, the evidence appears to support the safety and efficacy of short-term, low-dose cannabis vaporization and oral mucosal delivery for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

The results suggest medical cannabis may be as tolerable and effective as current neuropathic agents; however, more studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of medical cannabis use. Furthermore, continued research to optimize dosing, cannabinoidratios, and alternate routes of administration may help to refine the therapeutic role of medical cannabis for neuropathic pain.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29388063

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11916-018-0658-8

Medical Cannabis, a Beneficial High in Treatment of Blepharospasm? An Early Observation.

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“The objective of this study was to observe the effect of medical cannabis in benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) as an adjunct to botulinum toxin.

Three out of four patients (75%) reported symptomatic improvement.

Medical cannabis has made great strides as a treatment modality for symptom relief for many disease processes, including muscle spasms related to multiple sclerosis. Medical cannabis is an accepted therapy for muscle spastic disorders.

We believe that this observational case series provides a backdrop to exploring prospective, double-masked studies to determine the therapeutic effect of cannabis for patients suffering from BEB” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5764009/

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01658107.2017.1318150?journalCode=ioph20

“Blepharospasm is any abnormal contraction or twitch of the eyelid” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blepharospasm

“Cannabinoid agonists in the treatment of blepharospasm – A case report study.  This case study demonstrates that the therapy with a cannabinoid agonist may provide a novel tool in the treatment of blepharospasm and maybe of other multifactorial related movement disorders.”  http://www.nel.edu/userfiles/articlesnew/NEL251204A03.pdf