meta-analysis Archives - CED Foundation

Adolescent Use is not Increased by Cannabis Legalization

May 2, 2020 Adolescents, Adult, Cannabis

Does liberalization of cannabis policy influence levels of use in adolescents and young adults_ A systematic review and meta-analysis

In summary

A recent meta-analysis and systematic review has shown that the liberalization of cannabis use has not increased the amount of reported cannabis use in adolescents. There appeared to be a slight increase in adult cannabis use post-recreational cannabis legalization but not a significant amount to clearly report that trend. These reports may be skewed due to the social stigma that continues to surround cannabis use and therefore prevents participants from accurately reporting their history, but further research in an area where cannabis legalization is likely to occur but hasn’t yet would provide an interesting opportunity to confirm these findings.

Medical cannabis use has been legalized in 33 states at the time of this blog and legalized for recreational use in 11 states, highlighting the importance of looking into current demographics and legal activity. Some studies have suggested a decrease in adolescent cannabis use as illicit dealers are replaced by state-regulated dispensaries implying that legalization and regulation may actually provide a safer environment for cannabis use and allow better prevention practices for adolescents. Further research would be needed to confirm these hypotheses and previous findings but prove promising for future legalization.

The study is available for review or download here

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Further Evidence for Cannabis as an Adjunctive Therapy to Opioids

April 4, 2020 cannabinoid, Cannabis, Opioids

Effects of cannabinoid administration for pain- A meta-analysis and meta-regression

In Summary

A recent meta-analysis provided further evidence that cannabis can be used as a replacement and adjunctive therapy option for opioids. Across all of the studies, it was found that cannabis had a medium-to-large effect on the subjective pain felt. The included studies included a range of given doses, all reported in milligrams and were conducted in various pain models, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Cancer, Neuropathic Pain, Diabetes, and more. Further research is needed to standardize an appropriate dose for each condition and ensure the validity of such medications.

The authors take care to emphasize the need for alternative pain therapies for opioids that are safer and more economically responsible. Currently, pain-related costs from patients, caretakers, and healthcare facilities continue to grow beyond $600-billion annually, as more people grow dependent on opioids. Cannabis is much more cost-effective, and even if it does not entirely replace opioid therapies and is simply an adjunct therapy, it has the potential to greatly reduce the amount of opioid prescribed and lower the necessary dose. Opioids are highly addictive whereas cannabis has a much better safety profile, yet cannabis is still deemed medically irrelevant by the federal government. More research needs to be conducted to reduce the chance of addiction, the opioid crisis in general, and reduce the economic burden of pain-related costs in the United States.

The study is available for review or download here

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Certain Cannabinoids may be Effective Co-Therapies for Neuropathic or MS pain

June 5, 2019 Cannabinoids, Cannabis Education, Cannabis Science, Neuropathy, Pain

In a systematic review of studies investigating cannabis therapy for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), evidence pointed to cannabinoids primarily effecting change with respect to neuropathy or MS-related pain. For CNCPs, it is unlikely that cannabinoids can be used as a single therapy, but rather in conjunction with other therapies. The quality of evidence in many of the studies reviewed was low, so further research needs to be completed in order to evaluate the efficacy of cannabinoids as a long-term treatment option for CNCPs.

A systematic review of the effect of cannabidiol on cognitive function: Relevance to schizophrenia

June 1, 2019 Alzheimer's Disease, Cannabis Science, CBD, Schizophrenia

CBD Shows Promise for Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and Brain Injury Patients

A meta-analysis of previous studies investigating cannabidiol’s (CBD) potential to improve cognitive function among schizophrenia and brain injury patients offers hope to doctors and patients. In experiments on both human patients and rat models of schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s Disease, hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, hepatic encephalopathy, sepsis, pneumococcal meningitis, and cerebral malaria, the administration of CBD reduced neuroinflammation and resulting deficits in spatial learning and memory, recognition memory, and associative learning. Read more or download PDF on the CED Foundation Archive: http://bit.ly/2W1PpW8

In this same review, further investigating the effect of the non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) on cognitive function suggests CBD counteracts the cognitive deficiencies induced by the psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Studies performed on humans and rat models demonstrated that CBD can improve episodic and recognition memory, verbal and visual learning and memory, and working memory, all skills which are usually impaired by THC content. For patients looking to reduce the aforementioned undesirable effects of cannabis, strains or products with high CBD and low THC content may be a viable solution.