Introduction With expanding global cannabis legalization and rising usage rates, elucidating the specific neurocognitive impact of acute cannabis intoxication across biological sexes is critical. Methods Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, we examined 154 adults: 77 individuals who use cannabis regularly (≥ 5 days/week for ≥ 1 year; 46 males, 31 females) and 77 matched controls (32 males, 45...
This chapter examines cannabis, tracing its historical role in human history, concluding that it is one of humanity’s earliest cultivated plants. The chapter then looks at its use in medicine and rituals across ancient cultures. Globally, cannabis ranks as the most used illicit drug, with usage patterns influenced by factors such as age, gender, and geography. Legal and cultural perspectives...
Cannabis and its primary psychoactive component, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are increasingly studied for their pharmacological effects, yet little is known about their pharmacokinetics in non-human primates. This study aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of THC and its metabolites following oral administration in vervet monkeys under both acute and short chronic exposure...
Adolescents experience extensive neurocognitive development, with cannabis use potentially impacting developmental trajectories. Here, we comprehensively assess the influence of adolescent cannabis use onset on neurocognitive trajectories and consider how recent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) may influence neurocognition. We use the large, diverse longitudinal...
Fear and anxiety perform essential protective roles, yet when they become dysregulated, they can trap trauma survivors in persistent hypervigilance and distress. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manifests as intrusive memories, avoidance, and heightened arousal long after the precipitating event. Although current pharmacotherapies - including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,...
Alcohol use disorders are common and contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. The treatment of alcohol dependence includes the acute withdrawal phase and the post-acute rehabilitation phase. The primary goal of post-acute treatment is long-term abstinence, although reduction of alcohol consumption is also recognized as an intermediate goal. In addition to psychosocial and...
Estimates of the population prevalence of chronic pain with neuropathic components range from 6% to 10%. Current pharmacological treatments for neuropathic pain help only a minority. New treatments are needed. Cannabis is increasingly promoted in the media as a treatment for chronic pain. This is an update of a review first published in 2018. To assess the benefits and harms of cannabis-based...
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a semi-synthetic hydrogenated derivative of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). HHC emerged within global markets in 2021and has been detected within unregulated cannabis products. A 32-year-old male presented to hospital 1.5 h following ingestion of a single gummy, which had been sold as a THC product. Symptoms included nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, a...
Ketamine, known for its rapid-acting antidepressant effects, is often coadministered with other psychoactive drugs, including opioids and cannabinoids, in both clinical and recreational settings. We investigated whether ketamine (R-, S-, or racemic R, S-) isoforms alter the subjective effects of morphine or Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and whether the interoceptive effects of ketamine overlap...
Chronic primary pain (CPP) persisting for more than 3 months, associated with significant emotional distress without any known underlying cause, is an unmet medical need. Traditional or adjuvant analgesics do not provide satisfactory pain relief for a great proportion of these patients. Therefore, identifying novel therapeutic targets and determining new treatments is important. In the present...