ABSTRACT: The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, associated with drugs of abuse, may provide a means to treat pain, mood, and addiction disorders affecting widespread segments of society. Whether the orphan G-protein coupled receptor GPR55 is also a cannabinoid receptor remains unclear as a result of conflicting pharmacological studies. GPR55 has ... Continue Reading
Cannabis dependence
STUDY: Non-Smoker Exposure to Secondhand Cannabis Smoke. I. Urine Screening and Confirmation Results
ABSTRACT: Increased cannabis potency has renewed concerns that secondhand exposure to cannabis smoke can produce positive drug tests. A systematic study was conducted of smoke exposure on drug-free participants. Six experienced cannabis users smoked cannabis cigarettes (5.3% THC in Session 1 and 11.3% THC in Sessions 2 and 3) in a sealed chamber. Six non-smokers were seated ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Weeding out the information: an ethnographic approach to exploring how young people make sense of the evidence on cannabis
ABSTRACT: Background Contradictory evidence on cannabis adds to the climate of confusion regarding the health harms related to use. This is particularly true for young people as they encounter and make sense of opposing information on cannabis. Knowledge translation (KT) is in part focused on ensuring that knowledge users have access to and understand best evidence; yet, ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Factors that lead to the use of crack cocaine in combination with marijuana in Brazil: a qualitative study
ABSTRACT: Background In Brazil, crack cocaine use remains a healthcare challenge due to the rapid onset of its pleasurable effects, its ability to induce craving and addiction, and the fact that it is easily accessible. Delayed action on the part of the Brazilian Government in addressing the drug problem has led users to develop their own strategies forsurviving the effects ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Why should Cannabis be Considered Doping in Sports?
ABSTRACT: Recent debate and cases involving elite athletes raised the question whether or not Cannabis sativa (cannabis) should be considered doping in sports. Results from a 2010 report in the United States (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,2011) showed that cannabis is the most used illicit drug, with 17.4 million users smoking cannabis and 6.9 ... Continue Reading