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Up In Smoke: Myths & Facts About Cannabis, University Of Maine Counseling Center, University Of Maine Student Wellness Resource Center

General University of Maine Publications

Please join the Counseling Center, Student Wellness Resource Center, and our expert panelists for a lively discussion about cannabis - myths, facts, & how cannabis impacts your brain & mental health. This salon will be moderated by Angela Fileccia, LCSW, Director of the Counseling Center, and Kevin Hudson, MA, Student Wellness Educator.

Panelists: Robert Glover, PhD, Political Science & Honors; John Hudak, Director, Maine Office of Cannabis Policy; Krutika Rathod, Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology; Peter Sparks, PhD, Department of Psychology.

A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Healthcare Professionals Who Are Experts In Cannabinoid Therapy And The Endocannabinoid System (Ecs), Courtney Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis is a prevalent alternative treatment for many symptoms and conditions given its medicinal qualities and few side effects. As legalization for both medical and recreational purposes continue to develop quickly across the United States of America, there is serious discrepancy between legalization and clinical research. Clinical data is difficult since the U.S. federal government still classifies cannabis as a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Schedule I drug with no clearly established medical value. This lag in evidence-base data has affected cannabinoid therapy and endocannabinoid system education (ECS) for healthcare professionals. There are gaps in medical school and continuing medical education …

Better Budtender Training, Vincent Mcdonald Castillo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

A survey conducted by the cannabis education program in the Monterey County Health Department (MCHD) concluded that around 57% of users in the county do not feel educated enough in the subject to form their own educated opinions about cannabis use (Cannabis Education Survey 2022). The MCHD decided to address this concern by collaborating with local dispensaries to provide an educational course in video form for budtenders. This video provides factual information on consumption methods, how differently they may affect people and the recommended time to wait before operating a vehicle. Following this education, consumers of cannabis will have reliable …

Adolescent Use And Co-Use Of Tobacco And Cannabis In California: The Roles Of Local Policy And Density Of Tobacco, Vape, And Cannabis Retailers Around Schools, Georgiana Bostean, Anton M. Palma, Alison A. Padon, Erik Linstead, Joni Ricks-Oddie, Jason A. Douglas, Jennifer B. Unger

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Adolescent tobacco use (particularly vaping) and co-use of cannabis and tobacco have increased, leading some jurisdictions to implement policies intended to reduce youth access to these products; however, their impacts remain unclear. We examine associations between local policy, density of tobacco, vape, and cannabis retailers around schools, and adolescent use and co-use of tobacco/vape and cannabis.

We combined 2018 statewide California (US) data on: (a) jurisdiction-level policies related to tobacco and cannabis retail environments, (b) jurisdiction-level sociodemographic composition, (c) retailer locations (tobacco, vape, and cannabis shops), and (d) survey data on 534,176 middle and high school students (California Healthy Kids …

Adolescent Thc Usage In Virginia: Post-Legalization Challenges And Strategies For Schools, David Naff, Meg Sheriff, Jill Flynn, Marzia Farhana, Kris Herakovich-Curtis, Gerron Scott, Fred Gatty, Priyadarshini Pattath, Diane Williams, Kiana Bradford, Reena Desai, Lauren Powell, Lisa Gwyn

MERC Publications

Recreational marijuana was legalized for anyone over the age of 21 in Virginia in 2021. This research and policy brief explores evidence of the impact of such legalization on Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) usage in PK-12 aged youth, including smoking, vaping, edibles, and dabbing. It addresses the following questions: 1) What are the recent trends in marijuana usage among PK-12 aged youth? 2) What are the impacts of THC usage in schools, particularly after legalization? 3) How can schools and school systems effectively respond to THC usage? 4) What are relevant federal, state, and school division policies that guide responses to youth …

Changes In Mental Health As A Predictor Of Cannabis Coping Motives And Consequences: Examining The Impact Of Covid-19 Among College Students, Rebecca Dunaief, Adrian Jorge Bravo, James Henson

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: Cannabis use is common among college students and many students use cannabis to cope with negative affect. The COVID-19 pandemic was a particularly stressful time for college students. Subsequently, the present study compared college students who reported increases in anxiety/depression symptoms since COVID-19 stay at home orders to those who reported no change in anxiety/depression symptoms on cannabis coping motives, use frequency, and negative consequences. Specifically, we examined whether self-reported changes (i.e., group that indicated increases) in poor mental health during COVID-19 were associated with problematic cannabis use via higher cannabis coping motives. Method: College students (analytic n = …

The Nonprofit Sector And Cannabis Industry: Creating Cross-Sector Partnerships For A Sustainable And Equitable Future In New Jersey And Beyond, Abigail Rose Perl

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Cannabis industry is currently rolling out a legal industry, medical and recreational, across the United States. While some state legislators are celebrating legalization as a success alongside Multi-State Operators (MSOs), Legacy operators, or those involved in the Cannabis industry prior to legalization, have yet to bask in the benefits of legalizations as their corporate successors. Even more so, those who have faced adversities or have been criminalized by Cannabis have yet to see the benefit of Cannabis than many MSOs do. While legislators try to reverse the wrongdoings of the War On Drugs set out by our own government, …

The Green Wave: Effects Of Legal Marijuana On The Labor Market., Sara Varon

Honors Theses

In this paper I examine the relationship between the introduction of recreational marijuana laws and the labor market. First, using Google Trends data I find evidence that states that undergo the treatment of recreational marijuana legalization will likely experience a large and significant increase in search volume terms related to marijuana demand following the implementation of marijuana regulations. Using this same data set, I find support for the theory that as marijuana legalization becomes more entrenched within each individual state, public interest for marijuana also increases which allows for the use of Google Trends data as a proxy for legalization …

Cannabis And Cannabidiol Use In Active Individuals: A Survey Of Timing And Reasons For Use, Matthew M. Schubert, Jamie E. Hibbert, Richard Armenta, Erik A. Willis, Whitney Ogle

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes is widespread across the globe. However, relatively little is known regarding the use of cannabis and its constituents among athletic populations. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine timing of cannabis use relative to exercise, reasons for use, forms of consumption, and sources of information in active adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was administered electronically beginning in September 2020. Participants were recruited through social media advertisements, email blasts, and word of mouth. Data were collected on health and exercise habits, use of cannabis/cannabidiol (CBD), reasons for use, …

Washington Cannabusiness: Washington’S Durational Residency Requirement Should Be Eliminated On Economic, Social, And Constitutional Grounds, Alejandro Monarrez

Seattle University Law Review SUpra

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Effects Of Prolonged Cannabidiol Treatment On Psychological Symptoms And Cognitive Function In Regular Cannabis Users: A Pragmatic Open-Label Clinical Trial, Nadia Solowij, Samantha J. Broyd, Camilla Beale, Julie-Anne Prick, Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Hendrika H. Van Hell, Chao Suo, Peter Galettis, Nagesh B. Pai, Shanlin Fu, Rodney J. Croft, Jennifer H. Martin, Murat Yucel

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Chronic cannabis use has been associated with impaired cognition and elevated psychological symptoms, particularly psychotic-like experiences.

Prolonged Cannabidiol Treatment Effects On Hippocampal Subfield Volumes In Current Cannabis Users, Camilla Beale, Samantha J. Broyd, Yann Chye, Mark M. Schira, Peter Galettis, Jennifer H. Martin, Murat Yucel, Nadia Solowij

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Cannabis Use In People With Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Prescribed Opioids: Findings From A 4-Year Prospective Cohort Study, Gabrielle Campbell, Wayne Hall, Amy Peacock, Nicholas Lintzeris, Raimondo Bruno, Briony K. Larance, Suzanne Nielsen, Milton Cohen, Gary Chan, Richard P. Mattick, Fiona Blyth, Marian D. Shanahan, Timothy Dobbins, Michael P. Farrell, Louisa Degenhardt

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background Interest in the use of cannabis and cannabinoids to treat chronic non-cancer pain is increasing, because of their potential to reduce opioid dose requirements. We aimed to investigate cannabis use in people living with chronic non-cancer pain who had been prescribed opioids, including their reasons for use and perceived effectiveness of cannabis; associations between amount of cannabis use and pain, mental health, and opioid use; the effect of cannabis use on pain severity and interference over time; and potential opioid-sparing effects of cannabis. Methods The Pain and Opioids IN Treatment study is a prospective, national, observational cohort of people …

The Inkwell, Armstrong State University

The Inkwell

No abstract provided.

The Neurobiology Of Cannabis Use Disorders: A Call For Evidence, Valentina Lorenzetti, Janna Cousijn, Nadia Solowij, Hugh Garavan, C Suo, Murat Yucel, Antonio Verdejo-Garcia

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Using cannabis is perceived by many as relatively harmless, but the adverse effects of problematic cannabis use are significant.

Mismatch Negativity And P50 Sensory Gating In Abstinent Former Cannabis Users, Samantha J. Broyd, Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Hendrika H. Van Hell, Rodney J. Croft, Hannah Coyle, Benjamin Lee-Bates, Juanita Todd, Stuart J. Johnstone, Patricia Michie, Nadia Solowij

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Prolonged heavy exposure to cannabis is associated with impaired cognition and brain functional and structural alterations. We recently reported attenuated mismatch negativity (MMN) and altered P50 sensory gating in chronic cannabis users. This study investigated the extent of brain functional recovery (indexed by MMN and P50) in chronic users after cessation of use. Eighteen ex-users (median 13.5 years prior regular use; median 3.5 years abstinence) and 18 nonusers completed (1) a multifeature oddball task with duration, frequency, and intensity deviants and (2) a P50 paired-click paradigm. Trend level smaller duration MMN amplitude and larger P50 ratios (indicative of poorer sensory …

The Role Of Cannabinoids In Neuroanatomic Alterations In Cannabis Users, Valentina Lorenzetti, Nadia Solowij, Murat Yuecel

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The past few decades have seen a marked change in the composition of commonly smoked cannabis. These changes primarily involve an increase of the psychoactive compound Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and a decrease of the potentially therapeutic compound cannabidiol (CBD). This altered composition of cannabis may be linked to persistent neuroanatomic alterations typically seen in regular cannabis users. In this review, we summarize recent findings from human structural neuroimaging investigations. We examine whether neuroanatomic alterations are 1) consistently observed in samples of regular cannabis users, particularly in cannabinoid receptor-high areas, which are vulnerable to the effects of high circulating levels of THC, …

Clinical Trials Of Medicinal Cannabis For Appetite-Related Symptoms From Advanced Cancer: A Survey Of Preferences, Attitudes And Beliefs Among Patients Willing To Consider Participation, Tim Luckett, Jane Phillips, Nicholas Lintzeris, David J. Allsop, J Lee, Nadia Solowij, Jennifer H. Martin, L Lam, R Aggarwal, Nikki Mccaffrey, David C. Currow, R Chye, Melanie Lovell, Iain Prof Iain Mcgregor, Meera Agar

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Australian clinical trials are planned to evaluate medicinal cannabis in a range of clinical contexts. Aims: To explore the preferences, attitudes and beliefs of patients eligible and willing to consider participation in a clinical trial of medicinal cannabis for poor appetite and appetite-related symptoms from advanced cancer.

Hippocampal Harms, Protection And Recovery Following Regular Cannabis Use, Murat Yucel, Valentina Lorenzetti, C Suo, Andrew Zalesky, Alex Fornito, Michael J. Takagi, Daniel Lubman, Nadia Solowij

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Shifting policies towards legalisation of cannabis for therapeutic and recreational use raise significant ethical issues for health-care providers seeking evidence-based recommendations. We investigated whether heavy cannabis use is associated with persistent harms to the hippocampus, if exposure to cannabidiol offers protection, and whether recovery occurs with abstinence. To do this, we assessed 111 participants: 74 long-term regular cannabis users (with an average of 15.4 years of use) and 37 non-user healthy controls. Cannabis users included subgroups of participants who were either exposed to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but not to cannabidiol (CBD) or exposed to both, and former users with sustained abstinence. …

Reflection Impulsivity In Adolescent Cannabis Users, K Jones, N Solowij, M Rozman, S Davis, Joseph Ciarrochi, Patrick Heaven, Daniel Lubman, M Yucel

joseph Ciarrochi

Abstract of a conference paper presented at the 2010 summer meeting of the British Association for Psychopharmacology.

Verbal Learning And Memory In Adolescent Cannabis And Alcohol Users, N Solowij, K Jones, M Rozman, S Davis, Joseph Ciarrochi, Patrick Heaven, Daniel Lubman, M Yucel

joseph Ciarrochi

Abstract of a conference paper presented at the 2010 summer meeting of the British Association for Psychopharmacology.

Are Cannabis Expectancies Related To Subjective Drug Experiences And Schizotypy?, Emma Barkus, Tahlia Muddle, John Stirling, Shon Lewis

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: There is an established literature on cannabis expectancies and how these relate to patterns of cannabis use and clinical outcomes. However increasingly we are becoming interested in how cannabis expectancies shape the subjective experiences people have during drug use, and vice versa. Here we present data reporting how cannabis expectancies relate to subjective experiences after cannabis. Additionally we will determine whether an index of psychosis proneness (schizotypy) is related to cannabis expectancies. Method: A sample of recreational cannabis users (n=137) completed the brief Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, the Cannabis Experiences Questionnaire and the Marijuana Effects Expectancy Questionnaire. Results: Cannabis expectancies …

Gross Morphological Brain Changes With Chronic, Heavy Cannabis Use, Valentina Lorenzetti, Nadia Solowij, Sarah Whittle, Alex Fornito, Daniel Lubman, Christos Pantelis, Murat Yücel

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

We investigated the morphology of multiple brain regions in a rare sample of 15 very heavy cannabis users with minimal psychiatric comorbidity or significant exposure to other substances (compared with 15 age- and IQ-matched non-cannabis-using controls) using manual techniques. Heavy cannabis users demonstrated smaller hippocampus and amygdala volumes, but no alterations of the orbitofrontal and anterior- and paracingulate cortices, or the pituitary gland. These findings indicate that chronic cannabis use has a selective and detrimental impact on the morphology of the mediotemporal lobe.

An Investigation Of Mismatch Negativity In Current And Ex-Cannabis Users Using A Feature Controlled Method, Felicity Webster, Samantha Broyd, Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Rodney J. Croft, Juanita Todd, Patricia Michie, Stuart Johnstone, Benjamin Lee-Bates, Hannah Coyle, Nadia Solowij

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the 23rd Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Conference, 20-22 Nov 2013, Wollongong, Australia

Chronic Effects Of Cannabis On Sensory Gating, Samantha J. Broyd, Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Rodney Croft, Anna Dalecki, Juanita Todd, Patricia T. Michie, Stuart J. Johnstone, Nadia Solowij

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Chronic cannabis use has been associated with neurocognitive deficits, alterations in brain structure and function, and with psychosis. This study investigated the effects of chronic cannabis use on P50 sensory-gating in regular users, and explored the association between sensory gating, cannabis use history and the development of psychotic-like symptoms. Twenty controls and 21 regular cannabis users completed a P50 paired-click (S1 and S2) paradigm with an inter-pair interval of 9. s. The groups were compared on P50 amplitude to S1 and S2, P50 ratio (S2/S1) and P50 difference score (S1-S2). While cannabis users overall did not differ from controls on …

Familial Analysis Of Mmn In Cannabis Users: A Case Study, Felicity Webster, Samantha Broyd, Rodney J. Croft, Hendrika H. Van Hell, Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Stuart Johnstone, Juanita Todd, Patricia Michie, Nadia Solowij

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the 23rd Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Conference, 20-22 Nov 2013, Wollongong, Australia

Smoking Mull: A Grounded Theory Model On The Dynamics Of Combined Tobacco And Cannabis Use Among Men, A Banbury, Avigdor Zask, Stacy M. Carter, Eric Van Beurden, R Tokley, Megan Passey, Jan Copeland

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Issue addressed Australians' use of cannabis has been increasing. Over a third of Australians (35.4%) have used cannabis at some time in their lives and 10.3% are recent users. Almost two‐thirds of cannabis users combine cannabis with tobacco. The aim of this study was to understand the process of mulling - smoking tobacco and cannabis together - using a grounded theory approach. Methods Twenty‐one in‐depth semistructured interviews were conducted with men aged 25-34 and living on the North Coast of New South Wales. Interviews explored participants' smoking practices, histories and cessation attempts. Results A model describing mulling behaviour and the …

Alteration To Hippocampal Shape In Cannabis Users With And Without Schizophrenia, Nadia Solowij, Mark Walterfang, Daniel I. Lubman, Sarah Whittle, Valentina Lorenzetti, Martin Styner, Dennis Velakoulis, Christos Pantelis, Murat Yuecel

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abnormalities in hippocampal morphology are characteristic of schizophrenia and have also been reported in chronic cannabis users. There is a paucity of research investigating potential additive effects of cannabis use on brain pathology associated with schizophrenia. In this study, we performed hippocampal shape analysis in cannabis-using and non-using patients with schizophrenia, healthy cannabis users and healthy non-using controls. Hippocampal shape changes were observed in each group relative to controls, with the greatest degree of alterations (i.e., deflations across the hippocampus, and with an anterior predisposition), in cannabis-using schizophrenia patients. These alterations were associated with cannabis use patterns and psychotic symptoms.

The Effects Of Regular Long-Term Cannabis Use On Auditory Mismatch Negativity (Mmn), Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Samantha J. Broyd, Rodney J. Croft, Patricia T. Michie, Juanita Todd, Stuart J. Johnstone, Robyn Murray, Nadia Solowij

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the 3rd Biennial Schizophrenia International Research Conference Florence, Italy 14-18 April 2012

Does Cannabis Cause Lasting Brain Damage?, Nadia Solowij, Murat Yucel, Valentina Lorenzetti, Dan Lubman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Until recently, it was possible to state with some confi - dence that there was no evidence of cannabis-related brain damage in humans. There was some support from the animal literature, but few human studies had been conducted where the findings could not be explained by methodological or other confounding factors. Recent evidence for gross morphological, connectivity and microstructural changes has now emerged that warrants further consideration. If cannabis were found to alter the structural integrity of the brain, then this may assist us to understand the mechanisms by which cannabis triggers psychotic symptoms or overt psychosis in vulnerable individuals.