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Articles on Marijuana

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One in three adults have smoked pot at some point in their lives. Philippa Willitts/Flickr

Does cannabis cause mental illness?

Peter Gates, UNSW

The potential harms associated with using cannabis depend, above all others, on two things: the age at which you first begin to use cannabis and the frequency, dose and duration of use.
Packets of synthetic cannabinoids illegally sold in New York City. Sebastien Malo/Reuters

Labs make new, dangerous synthetic cannabinoid drugs faster than we can ban them

Samuel Banister, Stanford University; Iain S McGregor, University of Sydney, and Roy Gerona, University of California, San Francisco

Synthetic cannabinoids – drugs that mimic the psychoactive effect of cannabis – have been linked to injuries and deaths. And when one is banned, another rises to take its place.
Men are more likely to use cannabis because of external factors such as peer use, and women for internal factors such as anxiety. Iriana Shiyan/Shutterstock

Men and women use cannabis for different reasons

Valentina Lorenzetti, Monash University and Adrian Carter, Monash University

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug with more than 181 million consumers worldwide, three quarters of whom are men. Why do men and women use cannabis?
Heavy cannabis use is consistently associated with poorer attention and memory, and increased rates of metal health problems. Pe3k/F/Shutterstock

Remind me again, how does cannabis affect the brain?

Murat Yücel, Monash University; Aaron Kandola, Monash University, and Adrian Carter, Monash University

The legislative changes poised to increase the availability of cannabis are outpacing our understanding of the impact that the drug has on the brain.
The three states will collaborate on the development of medicinal cannabis, its regulatory framework and clinical research. Prensa 420/Flickr

Trials a step forward for medicinal cannabis but what comes next?

David Penington, University of Melbourne

Queenslanders and Victorians with particular chronic illnesses will be eligible to join New South Wales medicinal cannabis trials, due to start mid next year.
Easier access to marijuana doesn’t necessarily lead to more addicts. Image of person smoking via Stanimir G.Stoev/Shutterstock

Will legal marijuana lead to more addicts? Probably not

J. Wesley Boyd, Harvard University

At present, cannabis is fully legalized in Colorado and Washington and will soon be fully legalized in Oregon and Alaska. Additionally, medical cannabis is legal in 23 states. The writing is on the wall…
Will the feds raid this Christmas tree? Rick Wilking/Reuters

Goliath vs. 24 Davids: federalism and legal marijuana

J Herbie DiFonzo, Hofstra University

Abraham Lincoln said that those who shape public opinion exert an even greater influence than judges and lawmakers. In recent years popular sentiment – on issues like marriage equality and legalization…
Many people simply don’t know what legalization means. Gary Cameron/Reuters

Not just potheads: a look at who supports legal marijuana

Joseph Palamar, New York University Langone Medical Center

The United States is experiencing a drastic change in attitudes towards marijuana and marijuana policy. Four states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana use and more than…
Prop 91 - just one of three ballot initiatives on marijuana decriminalization Steve Dipaola/Reuters

Ballot initiatives take the pulse of the nation

Jonathan F Will, Mississippi College; Ian Partridge, University of Texas at Austin; Kevin Lang, Boston University; Rachel Volberg, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Robert A. Mikos, Vanderbilt University

Editor’s note: There were 146 state-wide ballot measures up for consideration by voters in this week’s midterm elections, covering all manner of controversial issues – from abortion and guns to minimum…
Marijuana is legal in some states, but that doesn’t mean that banks can deal with the proceeds. Rick Wilking/Reuters

Why won’t banks dance with Mary Jane?

Julie Andersen Hill, University of Alabama

In nearly half of US states, marijuana business is booming. Although marijuana is illegal under federal law, 23 states have legalized some marijuana use. Colorado and Washington even allow recreational…
Using industrial hemp for the production of bioenergy has been promoted by enthusiasts for a long time. Shutterstock

Is industrial hemp the ultimate energy crop?

Thomas Prade, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Bioenergy is currently the fastest growing source of renewable energy. Cultivating energy crops on arable land can decrease dependency on depleting fossil resources and it can mitigate climate change…
THC stimulates dopamine. Gareth Fuller/PA

Targeting cannabis reward-effect could help treat addiction

Matt Field, University of Liverpool

A new drug that targets the rewarding effects of cannabis could help some to overcome their addiction. If promise becomes a reality after clinical trials, it could join medications that are used in the…

Related Topics

  1. Addiction
  2. cannabinoids
  3. Cannabis
  4. Drugs
  5. Marijuana legalization
  6. Medical cannabis
  7. Medical marijuana
  8. Medicinal cannabis
  9. tetrahydocannabinol
  10. THC

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