Researchers concluded, “This meta-analysis of structural MRI findings specific to youth regular cannabis users suggests no [brain] volume alterations” attributable to marijuana exposure.
Region: Australia
The studies’ findings add to the growing body of literature establishing that various formulations of cannabis and cannabinoids safely and effectively mitigate hard-to-treat pain conditions.
Researchers affirmed, “Blood THC concentrations and oral fluid THC concentrations … are relatively poor indicators of cannabis-induced impairment.”
Study participants reported that cannabis improved their pain, mood, and mitigated gastrointestinal issues.
The adjunctive use of cannabis extracts was associated with reductions in patients’ nausea and vomiting, and also with improvements in subjects’ overall quality of life.
In patients with glioma, cannabis “may be a valuable potential therapy for maintaining the best quality of life for this poor prognosis population.”
Compared to placebo, cannabis extracts were associated with “significantly lower” Insomnia Severity Index scores. No serious adverse events were reported.
These changes in performance were less pronounced in subjects who were either regular consumers of cannabis or who were using it to treat a chronic medical condition.