Browsing by keyword "marijuana"
Now showing items 1-3 of 3
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Analytical Testing for MarijuanaAs part of the mini-symposium entitled "The Problems with Marijuana and Driving: Medical, Legal, and Public Health Perspectives," Dr. Babu describes the state of the science on measurement of marijuana in the context of driving impairment.
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Cannabinoid toxicity in pediatricsPURPOSE OF REVIEW: The advent of legalized cannabis in multiple regions of the United States has rendered the drug more accessible to pediatric patients. Pediatricians and Pediatric Emergency Medicine Providers face new challenges in counseling both patients and their parents, diagnosing exploratory ingestions of cannabinoids in toddlers, and managing complications of prolonged, heavy cannabis use in adolescents. The purpose of this review article is to provide clinicians a succinct summary of recent literature regarding tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, impacts on development, as well as presentations of acute and chronic toxicity. RECENT FINDINGS: Many young children being admitted to the hospital for cannabis toxicity have been exposed to high concentration products, such as edibles, resins, or vaping fluid. These products contain extremely high concentrations of cannabinoids, and lead to sedation, respiratory depression, and other adverse effects. Chronic toxicity associated with cannabis consumption includes neurocognitive changes and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. SUMMARY: Clinicians should provide guidance for pediatric patients and their caregivers to reduce the risk of accidental cannabis exposure, particularly with high concentration products. In addition, clinicians should consider chronic cannabis exposure when evaluating certain complaints, such as chronic vomiting or educational performance at school.
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Frequent Cannabis Users Have Reduced Odds for Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseBackground: Cannabis is the world's most widely used illicit drug. Though marijuana use has been revealed to impact the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity - established risk factors for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD), it's relationship with NAFLD remains unknown. Aim: We sought to investigate the association between cannabis use and NAFLD. Methods: From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994) survey data, we retrieved data from individuals aged 20 to 60 years who had an abdominal ultrasound for evaluation for hepatic steatosis (n=10,682). We then identified three cannabis use groups: never used before (never users, 62.22%), no use in the past month (infrequent users, 29.76%), and multiple uses in the past month (frequent users, 7.91%). After eliminating gender-specific severe alcohol consumption to recognize individuals with NAFLD (18.12%), we controlled for age, gender, race, BMI, DM to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for having NAFLD on the frequency of cannabis use (SAS 9.4). Results: When compared to never users of marijuana, unlike infrequent users who had no difference in the odds of NAFLD, frequent cannabis users had a 52% reduced odds for the disease (AOR: 0.95[0.76-1.18] & 0.48[0.35-0.66]). Frequent cannabis users also had a 52% lower odds of NAFLD when compared to infrequent users (AOR: 0.51[0.34-0.75]). Compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics respectively had 35% reduced and 58% increased odds of NAFLD (0.66[0.52-0.83) & 1. 58[1.26-1.99]). Females had a 31% lower odds for NAFLD (0.69[0.58-0.82]). Every percentage unit rise in glycated hemoglobin was associated with a 27% increased odds for NAFLD (1.27[1.17-1.38]) Conclusion: Our findings suggest that frequent cannabis use is associated with a lower odds of NAFLD. More powerful longitudinal studies are required to confirm these novel observations and to provide deeper insight into the modulation of NAFLD by cannabis use.
