Health

By Erin Brodwin An experimental drug derived from cannabis to treat epilepsy is on the brink of becoming the first of its kind to win US government approval. The drug is called Epidiolex, and its active ingredient is cannabidiol, or CBD, the compound in marijuana thought to be responsible for …

By Joel Banner Baird Suppose you smoke a joint. Suppose you’re abruptly scheduled for a test upon which your career depends. When is it appropriate to panic? Scientists are still struggling to pin down the metabolic timetables for THC, the compound in cannabis that most actively promotes a high. Read …

By Paul Armentano Is state-level medical cannabis access mitigating or fueling America’s opioid crisis? Testifying before Congress last week, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) acting administrator Robert Patterson claimed the latter. But when he prompted to provide evidence in support of the agency’s position, he acknowledged that he could not. His …

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, May 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most cancer doctors say they don’t know enough about medical marijuana to provide an informed opinion to patients. Nevertheless, many go ahead and give its use their blessing, a national survey reveals. Seven out of 10 oncologists surveyed …

By David Robinson Some states allowing medical marijuana and recreational pot saw declines in opioid prescribing as authorities pushed urgent efforts to combat the historic American drug crisis. Medicaid patients, for example, are getting about 5.9 percent fewer prescription painkillers in medical marijuana states. Further, the opioid prescription declines are deeper where recreational pot is …

By Rick Sallinger DENVER (CBS4) – A bill is now sitting on the desk of Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper which, if signed, would legalize the use of medical marijuana by those with autism. It has been passed by both the House and Senate with strong support, but the head of …

By Aaron E. Carroll The benefits and harms of medical marijuana can be debated, but more states are legalizing pot, even for recreational use. A new evaluation of marijuana’s risks is overdue. Last year, the National Academies of Sciences, Medicine and Engineering released a comprehensive report on cannabis use. At …

By Eyal Ballen As the legalization of medical marijuana becomes more common worldwide, medical cannabis is being prescribed by doctors and caretakers to help treat cancer-related side effects—either from the cancer itself or from treatments like chemotherapy. Countless scientific studies have shown that medical cannabis offers palliative care benefits, including …

By Laura Geggel A growing number of clinical trials are looking into whether compounds in marijuana can be used to treat some of the symptoms of autism. One of these clinical trials was just announced at the University of California, San Diego, and others are slated to take place in …

By Bahar Gholipour Stoners may not be as forgetful and absent-minded as the stereotype suggests. A new study finds that heavy marijuana users are just as good as everybody else at remembering tasks they need to do in the future. This ability, called prospective memory, is the brain’s internal calendar, …