Readable research linked to original sources
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Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
Loading articles data…
Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
39 articles
Newest firstBACKGROUND: The United Kingdom legalized medical cannabis in 2018, yet little is known about people using cannabis medically with and without a prescription. This study aimed to estimate: 1) the percentage of people reporting using cannabis medically with and without a prescription; 2) the sources; 3) products used; and 4) associations between frequent product use and medical cannabis status. METHODS: Data were fr…
Open article record in new tab ↗Substance use has been associated with blunted brain responses to non-drug rewards, but findings in people who use cannabis are mixed. Adolescents may be uniquely vulnerable to cannabis-related disruption to reward processing due to ongoing neuromaturation, but longitudinal research is lacking. In this longitudinal fMRI study, we compared brain measures of reward anticipation in 46 adolescents (16–17 years) and ad…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background In recent decades, the potency of cannabis resin increased globally, raising concerns, as higher potency has been associated with increased risk of psychiatric harms at the individual level. The aim here was to examine whether changes over time in the potency of seized cannabis resin samples were associated with psychiatric harms at the population level. Methods Data on ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) co…
Background Population data on cannabis use-beyond prevalence and frequency of use-in the UK is lacking, yet needed to inform harm reduction messaging about cannabis. This study examined (a) recreational and medical cannabis use; (b) cannabis product use; (c) cannabis risk perceptions via three different routes of administration; (d) how product use and risk perceptions vary by reasons for use and higher risk use.…
Open article record in new tab ↗In patients with schizophrenia, cannabis use exacerbates symptoms and can lead to a relapse of psychosis. Some experimental studies in healthy volunteers suggest that pre-treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) may reduce these effects, but others do not. Here, we investigated whether pre-treatment with CBD ameliorates the acute adverse effects of cannabis in patients with schizophrenia. Participants (n = 30) had schizop…
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are novel psychoactive substances (NPS) that are highly potent and associated with a range of severe toxicities. SC use, which is common in UK prisons and homeless communities, typically involves combustion of SC-soaked herb or paper material. Recently, e-cigarettes (or vapes) have emerged as popular delivery vehicles for SCs, and consumption among the general population has risen sign…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Adolescence is a key developmental period associated with an increased risk of experiencing cannabis-related problems. Identifying modifiable risk factors prior to the onset of cannabis use could help inform preventative interventions. Method Analysis nested within a UK prospective birth cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Participants (n = 6,049) provided data on cannabis…
Open article record in new tab ↗In Europe, concentrations of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis resin (also known as hash) have risen markedly in the past decade, potentially increasing risks of mental health disorders. Current approaches to international drug monitoring cannot distinguish between different types of cannabis resin which may have contrasting health effects due to THC and cannabidiol (CBD) content. Here, we compared concent…
ABSTRACT Background and Aims The use of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) in e-cigarettes represents a significant public health threat to young people. Our previous research in the 2023-2024 academic year established a high prevalence of SCs in e-cigarettes seized from English schools and suggested that many of these were sourced through social media. This study provides a crucial update of drug occurrence in secondar…
Open article record in new tab ↗Rationale Attentional bias to drug-related stimuli is hypothesised to contribute towards addiction. However, the acute effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on attentional bias to cannabis cues, the differential response in adults and adolescents, and the moderating effect of cannabidiol (CBD) are unknown. Objectives Our study investigated (1) the acute effects of vaporised cannabis on attentional bias to canna…
Open article record in new tab ↗Aims To test how attentional bias and explicit liking are influenced by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and whether these effects are moderated by cannabidiol (CBD). Design Double-blind, randomised, within-subjects cross-over study. Setting NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility at King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Participants/cases Forty-six infrequent cannabis users (cannabis use <1 pe…
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), colloquially spice or K2, are the most common drug to be found in prisons in the UK, where they are associated with nearly half of non-natural deaths. In the community, SCs are associated with poly-drug users who are also likely to be homeless. People who use SCs report debilitating side effects and withdrawal symptoms, coupled with dependence. Until now, SC use was believed to be lar…
Open article record in new tab ↗Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown promise in treating psychiatric disorders, including cannabis use disorder - a major public health burden with no approved pharmacotherapies. However, the mechanisms through which CBD acts are poorly understood. One potential mechanism of CBD is increasing levels of anandamide, which has been implicated in psychiatric disorders including depression and cannabis use disorder. However, th…
With synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) use still prevalent across Europe and structurally advanced generations emerging, it is imperative that drug detection methods advance in parallel. SCRAs are a chemically diverse and evolving group, which makes rapid detection challenging. We have previously shown that fluorescence spectral fingerprinting (FSF) has the potential to provide rapid assessment of SCRA…
Rationale Chronic cannabis use is associated with impaired cognitive function. Evidence indicates cannabidiol (CBD) might be beneficial for treating cannabis use disorder. CBD may also have pro-cognitive effects; however, its effect on cognition in people with cannabis use disorder is currently unclear. Objectives We aimed to assess whether a 4-week CBD treatment impacted cognitive function. We hypothesised that C…
Open article record in new tab ↗Co-occurring cannabis use is common among those with opioid use disorder (OUD), but the extent to which it is harmful may be due to its preparation and concentration of various cannabinoids. The current study aimed to examine the prevalence of, and long-term associations with, the use of varying cannabis products among a naturalistic longitudinal cohort of people with heroin dependence. A total of 615 people, most…
EDM event attendees are a high-risk population for substance use and associated adverse effects. The aim of this study was to examine substance use at EDM events, focusing on associations between attendance motives and substance use. Sociodemographic characteristics, event specifics, past-year use, and attendance motives were assessed through an online survey. Participants were 1345 Belgian EDM event attendees (69…
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) make up a class of novel psychoactive substances (NPS), used predominantly in prisons and homeless communities in the U.K. SCs can have severe side effects, including psychosis, stroke, and seizures, with numerous reported deaths associated with their use. The chemical diversity of SCs presents the major challenge to their detection since approaches relying on specific molecular recogn…
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are one of the fastest growing classes of recreational drugs. Despite their growth in use, their vast chemical diversity and rapidly changing landscape of structures make understanding their effects challenging. In particular, the side effects for SCRA use are extremely diverse, but notably include severe outcomes such as cardiac arrest. These side effects appear at…