Daily Dose Q&A

2024-12-26

How many people in the US have reported symptoms of cannabis use disorder?

"About 18 million people — nearly a third of all users ages 18 and up — have reported symptoms of cannabis use disorder", according to estimates from a unique data analysis conducted for The Times by a Columbia University epidemiologist. "That would mean they continue to use the drug despite significant negative effects on their lives. Of those, about three million people are considered addicted. The estimates are based on responses to the 2022 U.S. national drug use survey from people who reported any cannabis consumption within the previous year. The results are especially stark among 18- to 25-year-olds: More than 4.5 million use the drug daily or near daily, according to the estimates, and 81 percent of those users meet the criteria for the disorder."

Twohey, Ivory and Kessler. (2024 Oct 7, 2024). As America’s Marijuana Use Grows, So Do the Harms. The New York Times.

2024-12-24

During the cold and flu season, some medical marijuana patients may take cough suppressants and decongestants, including Mucinex Nightshift Cold & Flu (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / triprolidine). Does this Mucinex medication interact with cannabis?

Yes, according to drugs.com the interaction is classified as moderate: Central nervous system depressant effects may be additively or synergistically increased, especially in elderly or debilitated patients." Sedation and impairment of attention, judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills may increase... Cautious dosage titration may be required, particularly at treatment initiation."

https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/cannabis-with-mucinex-nightshift-cold-flu-2758-0-4118-19352.html?professional=1 Accessed October 20, 2024.

2024-12-23

According to a 2024 article, "California has far more dispensaries than any state: 3,659 at the time of this analysis, more than double the amount in the second-highest ranking state. A quarter of all marijuana dispensaries in the U.S. are in California, and nearly all Californians (99.5%) have a dispensary in their county. Los Angeles County alone has more dispensaries (1,481) than any state other than California itself." Does California have the most marijuana dispensaries per capita?

No. "Oklahoma has the most marijuana dispensaries per capita of any state: 36 dispensaries for every 100,000 residents."

Chapekis and Shah. Most Americans now live in a legal marijuana state – and most have at least one dispensary in their county- Pew Research Center - Feb 29, 2024. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/29/most-americans-now-live-in-a-legal-marijuana-state-and-most-have-at-least-one-dispensary-in-their-county/ last accessed 10 26 2024

2024-12-20

The oral administration of Δ9-THC may lead to a decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP). Does the oral administration of CBD lead to a decrease in IOP?

In contrast to oral Δ9-THC, orally administered CBD failed to lower IOP. "In a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled four-way crossover study, patients with ocular hypertension or early primary open-angle glaucoma received a single sublingual dose of 5 mg Δ9-THC, 20 mg CBD, 40 mg CBD, or placebo. In this study, CBD did not exert an IOP-lowering effect, and the higher dose of 40 mg CBD resulted in a transient increase in IOP 4 h after administration."

Tomida I., Azuara-Blanco A., House H., Flint M., Pertwee R.G., Robson P.J. Effect of sublingual application of cannabinoids on intraocular pressure: A pilot study. J. Glaucoma. 2006;15:349–353. doi: 10.1097/01.ijg.0000212260.04488.60. Lindner T, Schmidl D, Peschorn L, Pai V, Popa-Cherecheanu A, Chua J, Schmetterer L, Garhöfer G. Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids in Glaucoma. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 Aug 14;16(8):1149. doi: 10.3390/ph16081149. PMID: 37631064; PMCID: PMC10460067.

2024-12-19

Have clinical studies evaluating the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids in the treatment of glaucoma found that cannabinoids are efficacious and impart significant benefits such that cannabinoids should be considered a 2nd or 3rd line option?

No. According to a 2024 literature review, "The studies so far have not been able to provide evidence of an unequivocal benefit large enough to place cannabis derivatives as a second- or third-line option in the treatment of glaucoma."

Joshi, N., Mariam, H., & Kamath, A. (2024). Cannabinoids for the treatment of glaucoma: A review. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids, 7(1), 183–192. https://doi.org/10.1159/000541461