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BMC Public Health Oct 2023Marijuana is legal in many Western countries and Thailand. In Taiwan, Marijuana remains a category-2 narcotic; however, some legislative candidates recently advocated...
BACKGROUND
Marijuana is legal in many Western countries and Thailand. In Taiwan, Marijuana remains a category-2 narcotic; however, some legislative candidates recently advocated legalization of medical marijuana. This study surveyed a large sample of Taiwanese to gain a better understanding of the public's knowledge and attitudes towards legalizing marijuana.
METHODS
This cross-sectional mixed-methods study included demographic data and responses to a survey questionnaire, "Knowledge and Attitudes of Legalizing Marijuana" (KALM). The survey included 15 statements about four categories: public health, social impact, medical applications of THC (Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol), and legal and tax consequences; and two yes/no questions about medical use and legalization of marijuana. Knowledge was scored as disagree = 0, no knowledge = 2, or agree = 4; attitude was scored from 0 = very unimportant to 4 = very important. Responses to an open-ended question asking for additional comments/concerns were analysed with content analysis. The survey was conducted from February 15 to March 1, 2023.
RESULTS
Data were analysed from 38,502 respondents, aged 15 to > 56 years. Most were female (67.1%) and parents (76.4%). Scores were higher for respondents who were parents, religious, ≥ 36 years of age, had a high-income status, no history of substance abuse, knowledge of medical marijuana, and did not support legalization of marijuana. Medical personnel had greater knowledge of marijuana, but their attitude indicated they viewed legalization as less important. In the open-ended question, many respondents requested more information about marijuana be provided to the public before considering legalization.
CONCLUSIONS
Taiwanese respondents considered legalization of marijuana a significant concern, especially as it relates to impacts on public health.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Cannabis; Medical Marijuana; Marijuana Smoking; Taiwan; Cross-Sectional Studies
PubMed: 37814243
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16834-x -
Marijuana Use, Vaping, and Preoperative Anesthetic and Surgical Considerations in Clinical Practice.Anesthesiology Clinics Mar 2024In recent years, marijuana and vaping have acquired widespread popularity, with millions of people using them for a variety of reasons, including recreational purposes.... (Review)
Review
In recent years, marijuana and vaping have acquired widespread popularity, with millions of people using them for a variety of reasons, including recreational purposes. However, these practices have often overlooked the implications on surgery and the preoperative anesthesia considerations. Marijuana can influence a patient's response to anesthesia, alter postoperative pain management, and increase the risk of complications, whereas vaping can have negative effects on the respiratory system and hinder the body's ability to recover after surgery.
Topics: Humans; Marijuana Use; Cannabinoids; Vaping; Marijuana Smoking; Cannabis; Anesthetics; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 38278592
DOI: 10.1016/j.anclin.2023.09.001 -
Annals of the American Thoracic Society May 2024In study after study, marijuana use has been found to be associated with increased forced vital capacity (FVC). This is puzzling, because marijuana is commonly consumed... (Review)
Review
In study after study, marijuana use has been found to be associated with increased forced vital capacity (FVC). This is puzzling, because marijuana is commonly consumed by inhalation of its smoke, and smoke exposure of any kind is not generally considered a cause of increased FVC. Although this observation was first made decades ago, a satisfactory explanation remains elusive. In this review we survey the evidence supporting the relationship between marijuana use and increased FVC, discuss potential threats to validity when inferring causation, and, presupposing a possible causal relationship, pose two key questions. First, what are possible physiologic or pathophysiologic mechanisms by which marijuana use might increase FVC? Second, why might this effect be consistently observed with marijuana use but not with tobacco use? Explanations for the first question include lung and chest growth and remodeling from strenuous marijuana smoke inhalation and reductions in lung elastic recoil from marijuana smoke exposure. Explanations for the second include differences between marijuana and tobacco in smoke composition and patterns of consumption, such as smoking topography. Finally, the possibility that smoke, whether from marijuana or tobacco, might have nonmonotonic effects on FVC depending on the degree of exposure is explored. In synthesizing a curated breadth of epidemiologic and physiologic science, we leverage a perplexing observation to generate potential insights and avenues for further research into the biological effects of smoke, from marijuana or otherwise, on the respiratory system.
Topics: Humans; Vital Capacity; Marijuana Use; Lung; Marijuana Smoking; Cannabis
PubMed: 38271695
DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202312-1010CME -
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs Sep 2023This study examined whether recreational marijuana legalization (RML) and local retail availability were associated with marijuana and alcohol use and co-use among...
OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether recreational marijuana legalization (RML) and local retail availability were associated with marijuana and alcohol use and co-use among adolescents.
METHOD
We investigated associations between RML and past-30-day marijuana and alcohol use and co-use, and moderating effects of retail availability of marijuana and alcohol, using data from the 2010-2011 to 2018-2019 California Healthy Kids Surveys (CHKS) of 9th and 11th grade students in 38 California cities. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were conducted, controlling for secular trends and student and city demographics. Additional analyses examined associations of RML and retail availability with co-use among subgroups of drinkers and marijuana users.
RESULTS
For the full sample, RML was inversely associated with alcohol use but was not significantly associated with marijuana use or co-use with alcohol. However, significant interactions between RML and marijuana outlet density showed that there were increases in marijuana and alcohol co-use and alcohol following legalization in cities with higher densities of marijuana outlets. RML was positively associated with co-use among non-heavy and heavy drinkers, but inversely related to co-use among occasional and frequent marijuana users. A significant positive interaction between RML and marijuana outlet density indicated that RML was associated with increases in co-use for occasional marijuana users in cities with higher densities of marijuana outlets.
CONCLUSIONS
RML was associated with increases in marijuana and alcohol co-use and alcohol use among California high school students, particularly those in cities with higher densities of retail cannabis stores, although this varied across alcohol and marijuana use subgroups.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Marijuana Use; Cannabis; Marijuana Smoking; California; Students
PubMed: 37219033
DOI: 10.15288/jsad.22-00277 -
Addiction (Abingdon, England) Nov 2023We provide a narrative summary of research on changes in cannabis arrests, cannabis products and prices, cannabis use and cannabis-related harm since legalization. (Review)
Review
AIMS
We provide a narrative summary of research on changes in cannabis arrests, cannabis products and prices, cannabis use and cannabis-related harm since legalization.
METHODS
We systematically searched for research on the impacts of cannabis legalization in Canada in PubMed, Embase, Statistics Canada and government websites and Google Scholar, published between 2006 and 2021.
RESULTS
Cannabis legalization in Canada has been followed by substantial reductions in cannabis-related arrests and cannabis prices. It has also increased adults' access to a diverse range of cannabis products, including edibles and extracts. The prevalence of cannabis use among young adults has increased, but there have been no marked increases or decreases in use among high school students or changes in the prevalence of daily or near-daily use. Legalization has been associated with increased adult hospital attendances for psychiatric distress and vomiting, unintentional ingestion of edible cannabis products by children and hospitalizations for cannabis use disorders in adults. There is conflicting evidence on whether cannabis-impaired driving has increased since legalization. There is suggestive evidence that presentations to emergency departments with psychoses and cannabis use disorders may have increased since legalization.
CONCLUSIONS
Legalization of cannabis in Canada appears to have reduced cannabis arrests and increased access to a variety of more potent cannabis products at lower prices. Since 2019, recent cannabis use in Canada has modestly increased among adults but not among adolescents. There is evidence of increased acute adverse effects of cannabis among adults and children.
Topics: Adolescent; Young Adult; Child; Humans; Cannabis; Public Health; Government; Legislation, Drug; Canada
PubMed: 37380613
DOI: 10.1111/add.16274 -
Journal of Child Health Care : For... Mar 2024Little is understood about the unintended consequences of cannabis liberalization on children. Subsequently, this scoping review aimed to map and identify evidence... (Review)
Review
Little is understood about the unintended consequences of cannabis liberalization on children. Subsequently, this scoping review aimed to map and identify evidence related to acute cannabis intoxication in children. We searched three medical literature databases from inception until October 2019. We identified 4644 information sources and included 158 which were mapped by topic area relating to 1) public health implications and considerations; 2) clinical management; and 3) experiences and information needs of HCPs and families. Public health implications were addressed by 129 (82%) and often reported an increased incidence of acute pediatric cannabis intoxications. Clinical information was reported in 116 (73%) and included information on signs and symptoms ( = 106, 92%), clinical management processes ( = 60, 52%), and treatment recommendations ( = 42, 36%). Few sources addressed the experiences or information needs of either HCPs ( = 5, <1%) treating children for acute cannabis intoxication or families ( = 1, <1%) seeking care. Increasing incidence of acute cannabis intoxications concurrent with liberalization of cannabis legislation is clear, however, evidence around clinical management is limited. Additionally, further research exploring HCPs and families experiences and information needs around cannabis intoxication is warranted.
Topics: Child; Humans; Cannabis
PubMed: 35532228
DOI: 10.1177/13674935221099158 -
Anesthesia and Analgesia Jan 2024Cannabis use is increasingly common, and with a growing number of jurisdictions implementing legalization frameworks, it is likely that providers will encounter more... (Review)
Review
Cannabis use is increasingly common, and with a growing number of jurisdictions implementing legalization frameworks, it is likely that providers will encounter more patients who use cannabis. Therefore, it is important for providers to understand the implications of cannabis use and practical considerations for the perioperative period. Cannabis affects multiple organ systems and may influence intraoperative anesthesia, as well as postoperative pain management. The effects of cannabis and key anesthetic considerations are reviewed here.
Topics: Humans; Anesthetics; Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; Cannabinoids; Cannabis; Perioperative Period
PubMed: 35551150
DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006070 -
The Psychiatric Clinics of North America Dec 2023Research examining associations between frequent cannabis use in adolescence and brain-behavior outcomes has increased substantially over the past 2 decades. This review... (Review)
Review
Research examining associations between frequent cannabis use in adolescence and brain-behavior outcomes has increased substantially over the past 2 decades. This review attempts to synthesize the state of evidence in this area of research while acknowledging challenges in interpretation. Although there is converging evidence that ongoing, frequent cannabis use in adolescence is associated with small reductions in cognitive functioning, there is still significant debate regarding the persistence of reductions after a period of abstinence. Similarly, there is controversy regarding the replicability of structural and functional neuroimaging findings related to frequent cannabis use in adolescence. Larger studies with informative designs are needed.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Cannabis; Brain; Cognition; Neuroimaging; Longitudinal Studies
PubMed: 37879830
DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2023.03.012 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2023Regular cannabis use during adolescence can lead to cognitive, psychological, and social consequences, causing significant distress. Although psychological interventions... (Review)
Review
Regular cannabis use during adolescence can lead to cognitive, psychological, and social consequences, causing significant distress. Although psychological interventions are the mainstay type of treatment for cannabis use disorder, the results remain mixed among youths. The objective of this review is twofold: to identify the existing psychological interventions for cannabis use among youths, and to assess the evidence regarding the effectiveness of those interventions. Randomized controlled trials focused exclusively on cannabis use among adolescents and young adults were included. Three databases-Embase, PsycInfo, and PubMed-were searched to identify relevant peer-reviewed manuscripts published before February 2022 in English and French. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Twenty-five randomized controlled trials were included. Fourteen studies reported a significant outcome related to cannabis use. These were mainly non-intensive, online interventions that aimed to improve the patients' relationships and emotion regulation. This review highlights the need to conduct additional randomized control trials that target cannabis use disorder specifically among adolescents. These randomized control trials should also aim to reduce the risk of bias related to psychiatric comorbidities as well as detection and attrition problems.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Young Adult; Cannabis; Psychosocial Intervention; Marijuana Abuse; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37510578
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146346 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Jun 2024Cannabis is widely used for medicinal and recreational purposes. As a result, there is increased interest in its chemical components and their physiological effects....
Cannabis is widely used for medicinal and recreational purposes. As a result, there is increased interest in its chemical components and their physiological effects. However, current information on cannabis chemistry is often outdated or scattered across many books and journals. To address this issue, we used modern metabolomics techniques and modern bioinformatics techniques to compile a comprehensive list of >6000 chemical constituents in commercial cannabis. The metabolomics methods included a combination of high- and low-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography-MS, and inductively coupled plasma-MS. The bioinformatics methods included computer-aided text mining and computational genome-scale metabolic inference. This information, along with detailed compound descriptions, physicochemical data, known physiological effects, protein targets, and referential compound spectra, has been made available through a publicly accessible database called the Cannabis Compound Database (https://cannabisdatabase.ca). Such a centralized, open-access resource should prove to be quite useful for the cannabis community.
Topics: Cannabis; Metabolomics; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Plant Extracts; Mass Spectrometry; Computational Biology
PubMed: 38181219
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c06616