ene ee ETE ee See FE a Psychiatry Advisor Plus: News CME Drugs Meetings Charts Slideshows Clinical Resources Video Jobs a Infectious Disease Advisor “pana In need of drug information? Check out our drug information database = a JS em Florence Chaverneff, PRD Health Effects and Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis This article origina Share this content ;ppeared on Clinical Pain Advisor + facebook + twitter * linkedin + google + Comments + Email + Print The use of cannabis in medicine has stirred substantial controversy in recent years, mostly stemming from uncertainties concerning the health risks and benefits of cannabis and its derivatives. In January 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a report titled “The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendation for Research,” heralded by the organization as of the most comprehensive studies of recent research on the health effects of recreational and therapeutic cannabis use... offer [ing] a rigorous review of relevant scientific research published since 1999.” The report was released as an effort to summarize relevant research and identify gaps in knowledge and barriers to research in the field" A copy of the full report is available for download. Continue Reading Below http:/;vww. psychiatryadvisor.com/addiction/the-national-academies-of-sciences-reports-on-health-effects-... 2/1/2017legen EitOes and | herapeuiic Dencins of Cannecis Page 2 of 6 Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research." Find the Psychiatrist <2 your team needs Psychiatry Advisor Job Board Conclusions were presented and discussed during a meeting held at the Academies on January 12, 2017, gathering members of NASEM's Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, which produced the report. Members of the committee who worked on the report are expert in fields that include substance abuse, neurodevelopment, epidemiology, cardiovascular health, and oncology. In order to accurately determine the current state of evidence in cannabis, research, a systematic review was initiated in which online medical research databases (including Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) were consulted. Among the initial 24,000 articles identified, 10,000 abstracts were considered. The committee favored recent reviews featuring high-quality research focused on at least | of the 11 health end points considered to be a Priority by the committee, including therapeutic effects, cardiometabolic risk, mental health, respiratory disease, and substance abuse. Continue Reading Below EB . InfectiousDiseaseAdvisor Re me a Onc TEIEUEn ees VES: Evidence was weighed and categorized as conclusive, substantial, moderate, limited, or insufficient by the committee. In addition, biologic plausibility, harms and benefits of cannabis use, and identification of observational studies were all considered in the crafting ‘of the nearly 100 conclusions outlined in the report regarding the therapeutic benefits and health concerns associated with cannabis use, Below are some of the more noteworthy conclusions included in th report. Therapeutic Benefits http://www psychiatryadvisor.com/addiction/the-national-academies-of-sciences-reports-on-health-effects-... 2/1/2017‘Health Effects and Therapeutic Benetits of Cannabis Page 3 of 6 “Conclusive or substantial evidence” was found for therapeutic benefits of cannabis: + As an antiemetic in adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting (orally) + Asa pain reliever in adults with chronic pain + As an antispasmodic agent in adults with multiple sclerosis-associated spasticity (orally, short-term) Evidence was found for the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of sleep disturbances resulting from a number of etiologies (moderate evidence) and improving symptoms from Tourette syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (limited evidence). Conversely, insufficient evidence was gathered to rule out the effectiveness of cannabis in i dementia, glaucoma, and chronic pain-associated depression, proving symptoms associated with Inadequate evidence was available for the committee to assess the therapeutic potential of cannabis in all other conditions evaluated, which included cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, and chorea. Cancer + Lack of association between cannabis use and the incidence of lung, head, or neck cancers (moderate evidence) + Association between frequent and chronic cannabis smoking and nonseminoma-type testicular germ cell tumors (limited evidence) *+ Association between cannabis use and all other types of cancers examined could neither be established nor refuted Respiratory Diseases Statistical associations were found between: + Long-term cannabis smoking and a worsening of respiratory symptoms and a higher frequency of episodes of chronic bronchitis (substantial evidence) + Acute use of cannabis smoking and an improvement in airway dynamics (moderate evidence) + Cannabis smoking and a higher forced vital capacity (moderate evidence) + Cessation of cannabis smoking and improvement in respiratory symptoms (moderate evidence) Injury and Death + Increased risk of death from motor vehicle accident following cannabis use + Risk of unintentional cannabis overdose injuries among children” Cardiometabolic Risk + Lack of “clear evidence” establishing a link between cannabis use and risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes Psychosocial + Impaired learning, memory, and attention-related performance associated with recent cannabis use (in past 24 hours) + Negative impact of adolescent cannabis use on academic performance, future income, social relationships Mental Health + Association between cannabis use (particularly frequent use) and the development of psychoses, including schizophrenia, (substantial evidence) + Lack of association between cannabis use and increased risk of depression, anxiety, and PTSD http://www. psychiatryadvisor.com/addiction/the-national-academies-of-sciences-reports-on-health-effects-... 2/1/2017Health Effects and Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis Page 4 of 6 + Worseiiing of bipolar disorder-associated symptoms and increase in thoughts of suicide with near-daily/heavy cannabis use Barriers and Challenges to Cannabis Research *+ Classification of cannabis as Schedule I substance + Difficulty for researchers in accessing sufficient quality cannabis + Limited diversity of funders for cannabis research, + Substandard research methodology Recommendations 1. Address gaps in knowledge regarding the effects of cannabis on health through funding from a wide variety of sources for clinical and observational research, research on health policy and economics, public health and safety research Establish a workshop to develop research standards and benchmarks to improve the quality of cannabis research ‘Fund and support improvements to federal public health surveillance systems and state-based public health surveillance efforts” 4. Devise strategies to address regulatory barriers to cannabis research. Recommendations 2 to 4 call for action by state, national, and federal agencies that include the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Department of Health and Human Services, The report concludes “This isa pivotal me in the world of cannabis policy and research. Shifting public sentiment, conflicting and .e battles have fueled the debate about what, if any, harms or benefits can be attributed to the use of cannabis or its derivatives. This report provides a broad set of evidence-based research conclusions on the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids and puts forth recommendations to help advance the research field and better inform public health decisions.” Reference 1, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The Health Effects of Canmabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendation for Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/24625, http:/Awww.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/201 7 /health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx. Accessed January 27, 2017. Related http://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/addiction/the-national-academies-of-sciences-reports-on-health-effects-.... 2/1/2017Health Effects and i herapeutic Benelits of Cannabis Page 5 of 6 é Neurological Half of Americans Drug Combo For AHA: Secondhand Usage of Smoking Assessment Have Chronic Quitting Smoking Tobacco Smoke —_ Cessation Benefits Health Condition That Minimizes __ Increases Medication Addiction or Mental lliness Weight Gain Atherosclerosis Influenced By Disorder Risk Medicaid Policies Treatment Explore the Haymarket Medical Network DLS 9 DOs LU Overdose - Drugs Innovative fertility Hepatocellular Putting the Overdose - of Abuse preservation Carcinoma: A Medical into Common strategies and Review Marijuana: Does — Medications programs for Evidence Support young adults with Use? cancer 0 You must be a registered member of Psychiatry Advisor to post a comment. 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