The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature review
IntroductionThere is growing recognition of the potential of cannabis to treat various medical conditions and symptoms, such as chronic pain, spasticity, and epilepsy. However, one of the biggest challenges is the assurance of a standardized cannabis product that contains a consistent amount of its...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1411631/full |
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| author | Nadia A. Leen Mikael A. Kowal Albert Batalla Matthijs G. Bossong Matthijs G. Bossong |
| author_facet | Nadia A. Leen Mikael A. Kowal Albert Batalla Matthijs G. Bossong Matthijs G. Bossong |
| author_sort | Nadia A. Leen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThere is growing recognition of the potential of cannabis to treat various medical conditions and symptoms, such as chronic pain, spasticity, and epilepsy. However, one of the biggest challenges is the assurance of a standardized cannabis product that contains a consistent amount of its main psychoactive substances delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and which is compliant with predetermined specifications for these compounds. This is crucial not only to ensure consistent cannabis quality and dosage for patients but also to effectively translate research findings into clinical practice.MethodsThis systematic literature review provides an overview of the effects of standardized cannabis products from Bedrocan, a leading Dutch producer of pharmaceutical-quality standardized medicinal cannabis.ResultsCannabis administration to healthy volunteers induces dose-dependent acute effects, such as rapidly rising THC and CBD blood concentrations, the subjective experience of high and anxiety, slower reaction time and impaired attention, learning and working memory. Patient studies suggest that treatment with medicinal cannabis reduces pain intensity across a broad range of chronic pain-related medical conditions. Medicinal cannabis showed a mild safety profile, with minor and transient side effects, such as feeling high, coughing and mental confusion. The strength of acute effects, the experience of side effects and the drop-out rate in patient studies may depend on cannabis dose, cannabis composition (CBD:THC ratio), and cannabis use history of participants.ConclusionSafety and efficacy of standardized medicinal cannabis products should be further investigated in randomized clinical trials with sufficient sample size, with particular focus on cannabis dose and composition, age and differences between males and females. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-262c211fb47540c0bc2cb51d7727edf8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj-art-262c211fb47540c0bc2cb51d7727edf82025-08-20T02:17:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122024-10-011510.3389/fphar.2024.14116311411631The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature reviewNadia A. Leen0Mikael A. Kowal1Albert Batalla2Matthijs G. Bossong3Matthijs G. Bossong4Bedrocan International BV, Clinical Research Unit, Utrecht, NetherlandsBedrocan International BV, Clinical Research Unit, Utrecht, NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NetherlandsBedrocan International BV, Clinical Research Unit, Utrecht, NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NetherlandsIntroductionThere is growing recognition of the potential of cannabis to treat various medical conditions and symptoms, such as chronic pain, spasticity, and epilepsy. However, one of the biggest challenges is the assurance of a standardized cannabis product that contains a consistent amount of its main psychoactive substances delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and which is compliant with predetermined specifications for these compounds. This is crucial not only to ensure consistent cannabis quality and dosage for patients but also to effectively translate research findings into clinical practice.MethodsThis systematic literature review provides an overview of the effects of standardized cannabis products from Bedrocan, a leading Dutch producer of pharmaceutical-quality standardized medicinal cannabis.ResultsCannabis administration to healthy volunteers induces dose-dependent acute effects, such as rapidly rising THC and CBD blood concentrations, the subjective experience of high and anxiety, slower reaction time and impaired attention, learning and working memory. Patient studies suggest that treatment with medicinal cannabis reduces pain intensity across a broad range of chronic pain-related medical conditions. Medicinal cannabis showed a mild safety profile, with minor and transient side effects, such as feeling high, coughing and mental confusion. The strength of acute effects, the experience of side effects and the drop-out rate in patient studies may depend on cannabis dose, cannabis composition (CBD:THC ratio), and cannabis use history of participants.ConclusionSafety and efficacy of standardized medicinal cannabis products should be further investigated in randomized clinical trials with sufficient sample size, with particular focus on cannabis dose and composition, age and differences between males and females.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1411631/fulltetrahydrocannabinol (THC)cannabidiol (CBD)Bedrocanmedicinal cannabischronic painside effects |
| spellingShingle | Nadia A. Leen Mikael A. Kowal Albert Batalla Matthijs G. Bossong Matthijs G. Bossong The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature review Frontiers in Pharmacology tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabidiol (CBD) Bedrocan medicinal cannabis chronic pain side effects |
| title | The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature review |
| title_full | The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature review |
| title_fullStr | The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature review |
| title_short | The effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients: a systematic literature review |
| title_sort | effects of standardized cannabis products in healthy volunteers and patients a systematic literature review |
| topic | tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabidiol (CBD) Bedrocan medicinal cannabis chronic pain side effects |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1411631/full |
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