Archives: Research

Cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating constituent of cannabis, has been implicated as a possible anxiolytic and anti-epileptic with the FDA recently approving a drug to treat epilepsy with cannabidiol as its primary ingredient. The present study aims to examine cannabidiol’s effect on methamphetamine addiction using a rat model. The results showed that CBD at a dose of 80 mg/kg decreased the rats’ motivation to self-administer methamphetamine. Despite such exciting result, one must be careful interpreting this finding because the mechanism for this effect is still unknown. Consequently, further research is warranted to discover the mechanism underlying this effect.

Over 12 million births in the US were analyzed to identify pregnant women who use cannabis and to assess obstetric and neonatal outcomes. The results showed that the incidence of cannabis dependence in 2013 is two-times more than in 1999 and that cannabis use is associated with adverse outcomes such as preterm labor, lower birth weight and longer hospital stay. Though other variables may have confounded these results, it is still worthwhile taking them into consideration to ensure the safety of expecting mothers and their offspring.

This review provides insights on three clinical trials that showed cannabidiol’s efficacy in reducing seizure episodes by at least 38%. More importantly, this review highlights the need for further research to fully elucidate CBD’s mechanism of action as an antiepileptic which is of utmost importance since the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Epidiolex, an antiepileptic drug with cannabidiol (CBD) as the main active ingredient.

Despite increasing evidence of cannabinoids’ analgesic properties, concerns regarding its potential for abuse limit its utility in pain management. The present study posits a solution to such valid and thoughtful concern. GAT211 is a novel compound that positively acts on CB1 receptors to decrease pain. Unlike other cannabinoids, treatment with GAT211 did not produce tolerance or dependence despite alleviating pain.

With the legalization of cannabis in many states, it is imperative that policies are adopted based on scientific findings. This study, conducted in Canada, where recreational use of cannabis recently became legal, sought to determine how cannabis inhalation (100 mg dose) affects driving-related performance as measured by Useful Field of View test and Driving Simulation 1-, 2-, and 5 hours after use. The results showed significant impairment that lasts 5 hours after use when performing a novel driving-related task.

The study used positron emission tomography to show that men may have a greater number of CB1-type cannabinoid receptors than women do. This interesting finding may help in designing future studies regarding the health impact of cannabis in men and women.

This study examined the anti-anxiety effect of cannabidiol using the Simulated Public Speaking Test to induce anxiety and the Visual Analogue Mood Scale to assess subjective ratings of anxiety. The authors also sought to identify the optimal dose of cannabidiol that would elicit the greatest anti-anxiety effect. The results show that an intermediate dose of cannabidiol (300 mg) produces a stronger anti-anxiety effect compared to either the lower (150 mg) or higher (600 mg) dose.