Pot-linked poisoning calls; legal cannabis stores leading to fewer opioid deaths in the US; cannabis use in youth linked to IQ decline, and more
Research regarding cannabis use in youth and legal cannabis dispensaries for Wednesday, June 2, 2021 (1,250 words, 5 minutes)
With the legalization of cannabis in Canada, there has been increased access to recreational and medicinal marijuana. This increased access has led to some unintended consequences concerning cannabis use in youth and opioid use.
This edition of CJMC Fortnightly looks at recent research that explores the link between cannabis dispensaries and cannabis edible poisoning calls in the US. It also covers research on parental cannabis use shaping how youth perceive cannabis and cannabis use in youth and declines in IQ. On a more positive note, today’s issue covers the unintended effect of cannabis dispensaries on the opioid crisis.
Delivering your cannabis news this week is Jeremy Visser, assistant editor for the Canadian Journal of Medical Cannabis (CJMC), a publication for physicians produced in Toronto, Canada. We also host the Real World Medicannabis symposia, which will make an appearance in our insights from the world of medical cannabis research section. Now onto your medical cannabis news:
Research shows link between increased pot-linked poisoning cases and access to edibles
An article published in JAMA Network Open analyzed marijuana-related calls to US poison centres. The researchers found an increase in calls from 2017 to 2019.
Lead researcher Julia Dilley, an epidemiologist at the Oregon Public Health Division in Portland, noted that the increase was due to manufactured products, such as edibles, vapes and concentrates, while flower cannabis exposure calls decreased.
Data breakdown
Marijuana-related calls to US poison control centres increased to 11,100 in 2019 from 8,200 in 2017
Pot plant exposure calls declined to 5,606 in 2019 from 7,146 in 2017
Manufactured product calls increased to 5,503 in 2019 to 1,094 in 2017
Among 28,630 exposure calls, edibles accounted for 19.3% of calls, concentrates for 9.6%, vaporized liquids for 3.8%, and other manufactured products for 1.8%
81% of manufactured product calls involved using the product without other substances, while 62% of pot plant exposure calls involved combining with alcohol or another substance
From 2017 to 2019, there were 2,505 calls involving manufactured products and children younger than 10, as compared to 1,490 calls involving pot plant exposure and children in the same age range
Key take-aways
Manufactured products typically contain large amounts of THC and pose a greater risk for bad reactions. The authors suspect that the increase may be linked to cannabis use legalization and easier access. With edibles linked to a high volume of calls for children under 10, the appealing nature of edibles, such as gummy bears and cookies, may be related to the increase in these calls.
Insights from the world of medical cannabis research
“Recreational cannabis use is very low in Australia, compared to North America.
In the 15 to 25 group, it’s in the 25 to 26% [range], but it drops quite considerably after that.
We have licensed pharmaceutical grade cannabinoid-based medicines either with simply THC or CBD only.
CBD is a prescription only drug at the moment, so it also has that oversight of the Therapeutic Goods Administration.”
-- Dr. Alistair Vickery, Associate Professor of Primary Health Care, University of Western Australia, speaking at the Real World Medicannabis Symposium in December, 2020
Parental cannabis consumption influences teen cannabis use
Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have found a correlation between teen cannabis use and cannabis use by their parents.
Dr. Sarah Dow-Fleisner, an author of the paper and researcher with the School of Social Work at UBC, said that she expected early parental use to impact how their teens perceive cannabis use. She said their findings supported their hypothesis.
Study framework
Data were collected from surveys of approximately 700 students in Grades 7 to 9
Participants completed a cannabis word association task (CWAT) and an open-ended cannabis outcome expectancy liking (COEL) task
Participants were questioned about their cannabis use, cannabis associations and perceptions of their parent’s cannabis consumption
Findings
Participants perceived parental use in Grade 7 was correlated to their own cannabis use two years later
Parental cannabis use was correlated to participants COEL and CWAT scores
COEL and CWAT scores strongly predicted cannabis use in adolescents one year later
Bottom line
While the researchers concluded that perceived parental use did not directly predict cannabis use, it influenced CWAT and COEL scores that were significant predictors in cannabis use by participants over the following year. Participants whose parents used cannabis had more association and positive thoughts in CWAT surveys, which correlated to COEL scores, thus predicting future use.
Legalized cannabis dispensaries in the US linked to fewer opioid deaths
An article published in The British Medical Journal has shown a potential association in opioid-related deaths, such as those caused by fentanyl, and access to legal cannabis stores in the US.
While studies have suggested this correlation previously, the evidence so far has been mixed. The authors state that their study is the first to examine associations between cannabis dispensaries and opioid mortality rates at a county level.
Data breakdown
Data was taken from 812 counties within 23 US states and examined relationships between recreational cannabis stores and opioid-related deaths from 2014 to 2018
An increase from one to two cannabis dispensaries in a county correlated with a 17% reduction in opioid-related mortality
An increase from one to two cannabis dispensaries in a country correlated with a 21% reduction in synthetic opioid deaths, other than methadone
An increase from two to three cannabis dispensaries correlated with a further 8.5% reduction in opioid-related mortality
Bottom line
While the authors do not believe that legalization of cannabis is a solution to the opioid crisis, the correlation suggests that the substitution of illicit opioids with recreational cannabis from dispensaries impacts the opioid mortality rate. The authors suggest a need for further experimental studies to analyze the substitution of opioids with cannabis.
Insights from the world of medical cannabis research
“More than 70 per cent of patients with chronic wounds are currently using opioids.
We’re all aware what overuse of opioids does to patients and our society.”
--Dr. Vincent Maida, President and CEO, VinSan Therapeutics, speaking at the Real World Medicannabis Symposium in December, 2020
Consistent cannabis use in youth linked to IQ decline
Researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences have found a link between frequent cannabis use and a decline in IQ.
Data breakdown
Analysis of seven longitudinal studies
808 youth who used cannabis weekly for at least six months
5,308 youth who did not use cannabis
Followed youth in study to age 18, on average, across studies
One of the seven studies followed youth until age 38
The meta-analysis revealed a decline of approximately two IQ points over time among frequent cannabis users
The decline in IQ points was primarily linked to a reduction in verbal IQ
Key take-aways
While previous research links frequent cannabis use in youth to worse outcomes in life and increased risk of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, this is the first analysis of papers linking frequent cannabis use in youth to IQ decline. While a decline of two IQ points may not seem clinically significant, the authors suggest that losing verbal IQ points early in life could affect school performance and employment prospects.
The next edition of CJMC Fortnightly will be distributed on Wednesday, June 16. Sign up for a free subscription by clicking the link below.
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