Pharmaceuticals
June 29, 2026
Dilorom Begmatova, Liudmila Vinnikova, Natalya Zemliana et al.
Background: Adolescence is a sensitive period for brain maturation during which exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can induce long-lasting neurobehavioral alterations. Yet, preclinical and clinical studies report inconsistent long-term outcomes of adolescent THC exposure, ranging from clear impairments to apparently normalizing effects. We hypothesize that these discrepancies reflect...
Substance Use & Misuse
June 27, 2026
I. Janezic, Marie-Ève Levasseur
BACKGROUND In the wake of cannabis legalization in Canada, daily use among young adults remains insufficiently understood. This study explores the motivations, consumption practices, and self-regulation strategies of young adults who use cannabis daily in the region of Capitale-Nationale, Québec. METHODS Forty-six individuals aged 18-34 who consume cannabis daily participated in semi-structured...
Molecular Psychiatry
June 27, 2026
David R. Roalf, Tyler M Moore, Jacquelyn Stifelman et al.
Abstract Cannabis use is linked to elevated psychosis risk, yet the neurobiological mechanisms that couple use to symptom expression remain unclear. Because glutamatergic dysregulation has been implicated in both cannabis effects and psychosis vulnerability, we examined whether brain glutamate relates to dimensional symptoms as a function of cannabis use across the psychosis spectrum....
PsyArXiv Preprints
June 25, 2026
preprint
Importance: Cannabis use (CU) in adolescence is linked to increased risk of developing psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) that can lead to lifelong impairment. A candidate mechanism may be disruptions in reward processing supported by dopamine but this association has not yet been tested in adolescents with CU and PLEs. The objective of the study was to assess the interrelation between CU, PLEs,...
Qualitative Sociology
June 23, 2026
Eduardo Durán
Abstract In this paper, I critically engage with Becker’s seminal work on marijuana consumption, challenging the notion of “becoming” a user as a straightforward process of taste acquisition. Drawing on the personal narratives of 38 current and former marijuana users, I show that “becoming” a marijuana user constitutes a dynamic state of tension rather than a linear trajectory with a terminal...
bioRxiv
June 19, 2026
Zhong Chen, Wanqiu Chen, Yun Seok Lee et al.
preprint
Prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) is increasingly prevalent and has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, yet its molecular impact on brain reward circuitry remains poorly defined. Here, we investigated transcriptional and epigenomic alterations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) following prenatal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure in a rat model using snRNA-seq and snATAC-seq...
Nature Mental Health
June 19, 2026
A. Hyatt, M. Flores, Lindsay N. Overhage et al.
Recreational cannabis legalization and commercialization are expanding rapidly in the USA, with potential negative effects for individuals with psychotic disorders. Here, to assess potential health risks associated with the opening of cannabis retail outlets, we conducted a longitudinal cohort study using a nationally representative survey to evaluate trends in emergency department utilization...
Journal of Women's Health
June 19, 2026
Michelle Nazareth, Victoria Paone, Mary Elizabeth Yaden et al.
Despite increasing interest in the medical use of substances such as cannabis and psychedelics, little is known about their use to manage premenstrual symptoms. This study assessed self-reported use of substances to manage premenstrual mood and physical symptoms, including among those with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and in perimenopause. Inclusion criteria were age 18 and older with...
Social History of Medicine
June 18, 2026
Jamie Banks
Abstract During the mid-1980s, British psychiatry erupted into a vehement debate about the disproportionate use of ‘cannabis psychosis’ as a clinical diagnosis amongst young Black men admitted into psychiatric care. Assessing contemporary suggestions that these unequal rates of diagnosis reflected elevated rates of drug use in Black communities more generally, this article uses sources such as...
Research Square
June 11, 2026
Sarah A Limbacher, Sarah Bird, Julia Wrobel et al.
preprint
Abstract Introduction: Studies have shown that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption can acutely increase heart rate (HR) regardless of the percent concentration of the product consumed, mode of consumption (e.g. flower, edibles, concentrate), and tolerance. Prior studies have found that the magnitude of this effect is slightly larger in inhaled products, however few purposeful studies on HR...