As more and more countries move towards the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis, the number of underage cannabis users increases. In fact, cannabis use now exceeds tobacco use among adolescents in the US. Similar trends are also emerging internationally. Initial studies did not find an increase in teen cannabis use after cannabis legalization in the … Read more
Can cannabis be used to effectively treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? That’s the subject of three separate reviews published this month. Like many topics in science, the answer isn’t entirely clear-cut. In this article, we’ll dive into what the current research tells us about treating IBD with cannabis. What is IBD? First things first — … Read more
A wealth of anecdotal evidence suggests medical cannabis can be an effective treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). But what about clinical evidence? A new study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders represents the first attempt to explore the feasibility of using Cannabidiol (CBD) enriched cannabis to treat children with autism. Why … Read more
With the increasing popularity of Cannabidiol or CBD, the issue of safe consumption has emerged as a primary concern. While CBD is generally regarded as safe via anecdotal evidence, little scientific research exists to back up this claim and leaves a lot of unanswered questions: Does CBD have any adverse side effects? How severe are … Read more
Cannabidiol (CBD), processed by the endocannabinoid system, is one of the naturally-occurring cannabinoids in cannabis and has emerged as an effective pharmaceutical therapy. In the last two years, Canada and Sweden approved CBD for multiple sclerosis pain. The United States also approved CBD for treating certain types of epilepsy in June. Research is now emerging … Read more
It is likely that you know of at least one person that was diagnosed with breast cancer. Globally, breast cancer has been reported to be the most prevalent cancer in women, and within America, this cancer affects one in every eight women. Breast cancer is an aggressive and persistent cancer that is affecting women of … Read more
Determining the safety of any new medication is difficult. Generally, willing volunteers are given doses of experimental medications and monitored by medical professionals in a clinical setting. This, of course, after extensive testing in animal models first. While this approach generally works for the population in general, certain groups, like pregnant mothers, are excluded from … Read more
Medical cannabis opponents often point to the addictive potential of cannabis as a reason to oppose its use. Many cannabis users consider it to be non-addictive, but cannabis use disorder (CUD, formerly cannabis dependence) is a clinically defined condition. In 2010, an estimated 13 million cases of CUD were reported worldwide. Over 1.7 million of … Read more
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects the way individuals perceive reality. While it is relatively uncommon (less than 1% of the population), the symptoms are devastating. Those suffering from schizophrenia often lose touch with reality, and may experience hallucinations and delusions. Other symptoms include withdrawing into an internal world, a “flat” affect, an inability … Read more
Anxiety and Depression are the most common psychiatric illnesses in the United States, affecting ~40 million people every year. There are seemingly countless antidepressants on the market, falling into several different categories based on their mechanism of action and particular chemical composition. These drugs are incredibly popular; a study from 2016, summarized here, showed that … Read more