Resource Hub
The latest medical cannabis research in one place.
Last updated: 17 March 2025
How to Use This Resource
- The Resource Hub contains a collection of the latest medical cannabis research articles curated from reputable journals and scientific publications. Browse available articles by topic, listed in alphabetical order.
- This resource is updated frequently. The latest discoveries are highlighted at the top, ensuring you're always informed about the latest advancements in medical cannabis research.
- The SAGED Resource Hub is exclusive to members on a premium membership plan only.
Search articles by topic ↓
Vaporized Cannabis versus Placebo for Acute Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Trial
18 February 2024: Acute migraine treatment with 6% THC+11% CBD was superior to placebo at 2 hours post-treatment with sustained benefits at 24 and 48 hours.
Cannabis use to manage stimulant cravings among people who use unregulated drugs
January 2024: These findings indicate that cannabis use to manage stimulant cravings is a common harm reduction strategy and suggest that this may be an effective strategy to reduce stimulant use among some PWUD.
21 May 2019: Acute CBD administration, in contrast to placebo, significantly reduced both craving and anxiety induced by the presentation of salient drug cues compared with neutral cues. CBD also showed significant protracted effects on these measures 7 days after the final short-term (3-day) CBD exposure. In addition, CBD reduced the drug cue–induced physiological measures of heart rate and salivary cortisol levels. There were no significant effects on cognition, and there were no serious adverse effects.
Cannabis use in Attention - Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A scoping review
January 2023: Given the current evidence, cannabis is not recommended for people with ADHD. Limitations of the literature include the absence of objective measurements for cannabis exposure and ADHD symptoms, heterogenous definitions, oversampling, and small sample sizes.
6 December 2023: An association between CBMP treatment and improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, and general HRQoL was observed in patients with ADHD. Treatment was well tolerated at 12 months. Results must be interpreted with caution as a causative effect cannot be proven. These results, however, do provide additional support for future evaluation within randomized controlled trials.
12 July 2022: This report addresses the beneficial effect of cannabinoids in microdoses on improving memory and brain functions of a patient with mild-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The patient is a 75-year-old white man presenting with main symptoms of memory deficit, spatial and temporal disorientation, and limited daily activity. The experimental therapeutic intervention was carried out for 22 months with microdoses of a cannabis extract containing cannabinoids. Clinical evaluations using Mini-Mental State Examination and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale were performed.
Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Nabilone for Agitation in Alzheimer's Disease
November 2019: We examined the efficacy and safety of nabilone as a treatment for agitation in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease. Nabilone was shown to improve agitation, overall behavior, and caregiver distress compared to placebo. While sedation was greater in nabilone treatment group, there were no between-group differences in treatment-limiting sedation. A larger/longer trial is needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of nabilone for agitation.
22 January 2024: This study provides novel information on the impacts of legal market cannabis with varying ratios of THC to CBD in individuals with anxiety symptoms. Findings suggest that THC did not increase anxiety and that CBD-dominant forms of cannabis were associated with acute tension reduction that may translate to longer-term reductions in anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety severity and prescription medication utilization in first-time medical marijuana users
December 2023: Results suggest that a significant number of MM patients with anxiety and/or PTSD diagnoses are currently being prescribed antianxiety medications and that MM may help to reduce their use of these medications.
14 June 2023: Prescription of CBMPs in those with GAD is associated with clinically significant improvements in anxiety with an acceptable safety profile in a real-world setting. Randomised trials are required as a next step to investigate the efficacy of CBMPs.
1 April 2024: D-limonene selectively attenuated THC-induced anxiogenic effects, suggesting this terpenoid could increase the therapeutic index of THC. Future research should determine whether this effect extends to oral dose formulations and evaluate the interactions between other cannabis terpenoids or cannabinoids and THC.
Cannabidiol as a treatment for arthritis and joint pain: an exploratory cross-sectional study
24 August 2022: Clinicians and patients should be aware of the various alternative therapeutic options available to treat their symptoms of arthritis, especially in light of the increased accessibility to cannabidiol products. The present study found associations between CBD use and improvements in patient's arthritis symptoms and reductions in other medications. Future research should focus on exploring the benefits of CBD use in this patient population with clinical trials.
Medicinal cannabis for Australian patients with chronic refractory pain including arthritis
17 April 2023: Medicinal cannabis was observed to improve pain intensity scores and HRQoL outcomes in patients with chronic, refractory pain, providing real-world insights into medicinal cannabis' therapeutic potential.
Real life Experience of Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy
17 January 2019: The aim of this study is to characterize the epidemiology of ASD patients receiving medical cannabis treatment and to describe its safety and efficacy. Cannabis in ASD patients appears to be well tolerated, safe and effective option to relieve symptoms associated with ASD.
Cannabinoid treatment for autism: a proof-of-concept randomized trial
3 February 2021: This interventional study provides evidence that BOL-DP-O-01-W and BOL-DP-O-01, administrated for 3 months, are well tolerated. Evidence for efficacy of these interventions are mixed and insufficient. Further testing of cannabinoids in ASD is recommended.
11 September 2024: This study identified three cannabinoids—cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidivarin (CBDV), and a newly characterized compound termed 331-18A—that synergistically induce apoptosis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells with NOTCH1 mutations. These cannabinoids activate the integrated stress response pathway by depleting intracellular calcium levels, leading to increased expression of ATF4, CHOP, and CHAC1, which in turn inhibits Notch1 maturation and reduces cell viability. In vivo experiments demonstrated that treatment with these three cannabinoids reduced tumor size and slowed leukemia progression in mouse models, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for NOTCH1-mutated cancers.
20 December 2023: The possible therapeutic properties of marijuana have been up for debate and research for a long time. Some THC-based medications, including dronabinol (Marinol®) and nabilone (Cesamet®), have already been approved for use in pill form by the FDA for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea. Various other cannabinoid medications are currently being studied or approved for use in treating cancer or related symptoms. However, the impact of long-term use on those with health- and/or age-related vulnerabilities is not well understood.
Cannabis use among cancer patients and survivors in the United States: a systematic review
1 February 2024: It appears that cannabis may help cancer patients and survivors manage symptoms. However, more longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether positive experiences of cannabis use outweigh adverse experiences over time in this vulnerable population.
26 October 2023: Here, we outline a rationale for how, based on its already documented effects on the gastrointestinal microenvironment, medicinal cannabis could be used to control mucositis and prevent the constellation of symptoms with which it is associated. We will provide a brief update on the current state of evidence on medicinal cannabis in cancer care and outline the potential benefits (and challenges) of using medicinal cannabis during active cancer therapy.
20 May 2022: The results of this study suggest that MC treatment is generally safe for oncology patients and can potentially reduce the burden of associated symptoms with no serious MC-related adverse effects.
The heterogeneity and complexity of Cannabis extracts as antitumor agents
25 June 2019: Our results show that specific Cannabis extracts impaired the survival and proliferation of cancer cell lines as well as induced apoptosis. Our findings showed that pure (-)-Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) did not produce the same effects on these cell lines as the whole Cannabis extracts. Furthermore, Cannabis extracts with similar amounts of Δ9-THC produced significantly different effects on the survival of specific cancer cells. In addition, we demonstrated that specific Cannabis extracts may selectively and differentially affect cancer cells and differing cancer cell lines from the same organ origin. We also found that cannabimimetic receptors were differentially expressed among various cancer cell lines and suggest that this receptor diversity may contribute to the heterogeneous effects produced by the differing Cannabis extracts on each cell line. Our overall findings indicate that the effect of a Cannabis extract on a specific cancer cell line relies on the extract’s composition as well as on certain characteristics of the targeted cells.
1 April 2024: Policy-related reductions in specialty CUD treatment were concentrated in states with cannabis dispensary provisions in 2004–2014, but not 2015–2019, and partly driven by reductions among people without past-year CUD. Other mechanisms (e.g., CUD symptom identification, criminal-legal referrals) could contribute to decreasing treatment trends.
June 2024: Our hypothesis that genotypes associated with slow THC metabolism would be associated with increased CUD risk was not supported in the overall sample; however, females with slow metabolizer genotypes were more likely to be in the CUD group than the control group. Thus, reduced CYP2C9 or CYP3A4 activity may be a sex-specific risk factor for CUD in females. We also did not find support for our hypothesis that slow metabolizers would report more early positive effects.
1 April 2024: The prevalence of CUDs in people who use medicinal cannabis is substantial and comparable to people who use cannabis for recreational reasons, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to monitor the prevalence of CUDs in people who use medicinal cannabis.
4 March 2024: Current psychosocial and behavioural treatments for CUD indicate that over 80% of patients relapse within 1-6 months of treatment. Pharmacological treatments are highly effective with other substance use disorders but there are no approved pharmacological treatments for CUD. CBD is a promising candidate for CUD treatment due to its potential efficacy for this indication and excellent safety profile. The anxiolytic, antipsychotic and neuroprotective effects of CBD may have added benefits by reducing many of the mental health and cognitive impairments reported in people with regular cannabis use.
Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults
28 February 2024: Patients should be screened for cannabis use and advised to avoid smoking cannabis to reduce their risk of premature cardiovascular disease and cardiac events.
January 2021: Amongst older adults with hypertension, cannabis treatment for 3 months was associated with a reduction in 24-hours systolic and diastolic blood pressure values with a nadir at 3 hours after cannabis administration.
7 March 2024: A symptom matrix (SMX) composed of different symptoms seems to play a special role in CAM therapy to improve the quality of life of chronically ill patients, regardless of the underlying disease. The SMX could contribute to the identification of an indication and to targeted treatment monitoring.
2 July 2021: In summary, using a modified Delphi process, expert consensus-based recommendations were developed on how to dose and administer medical cannabis for the treatment of patients with chronic pain.
09 September 2021: Moderate to high certainty evidence shows that non-inhaled medical cannabis or cannabinoids results in a small to very small improvement in pain relief, physical functioning, and sleep quality among patients with chronic pain, along with several transient adverse side effects, compared with placebo.
Medical Cannabis Use and Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines Among Adult Chronic Pain Patients
February 2024: This study provides further support for the patient-perceived effectiveness of cannabis in managing CP symptoms and reducing analgesic medication consumption. The results suggest a potential sex difference in metabolizing cannabinoids, and the varying immune marker concentrations may support a possible immunomodulatory effect associated with patient sex and cannabis product type. These preliminary findings provide grounds for further validation using larger, well-designed studies with longer follow-up periods.
Medicinal Use of Different Cannabis Strains: Results from a Large Prospective Survey in Germany
March 2024: Up to now, it is unclear whether different medicinal cannabis (MC) strains are differently efficacious across different medical conditions. In this study, the effectiveness of different MC strains was compared depending on the disease to be treated. Patients self-reported very good efficacy and tolerability of MC. There was no evidence suggesting that specific MC strains are superior depending on the disease to be treated.
6 December 2023: There was an associated improvement in self-reported anxiety, sleep quality, and HRQoL in patients treated with the CBMPs. Those prescribed treatment formulations including dried flower were most likely to show a clinical improvement. However, these results must be interpreted with caution given the limitations of study design.
9 November 2023: These findings suggest that prescribed medical cannabis may have minimal acute impact on cognitive function among patients with chronic health conditions, although larger and controlled trials are needed.
23 February 2024: The reason for cannabis use, but not frequency and method, is associated with SCD. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms that may contribute to the observed associations between non-medical cannabis use and decreased odds of SCD.
April 2024: While data collection is still ongoing, patients who have completed this trial have exhibited reductions in anxiety symptoms. These improvements are most evident on scales that primarily rely on reports from study partners, namely the NPI-C anxiety domain, and the caregiver-rated BAI. This highlights the importance of having a multiple-reporter system in studies involving patients with mild to moderate AD, though it should be noted that broadly similar patterns are evident on our patient self-report scales as well. Results from this study will help inform a planned, randomized, placebo-controlled trial aimed at assessing the clinical efficacy and safety of high-CBD products in older adults with AD.
Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis for the Treatment of Depression: A Naturalistic Outpatient Study
11 January 2024: Medical cannabis was well tolerated and dropout rate was comparable to those in clinical trials of antidepressant medication. Patients reported a clinically significant reduction of depression severity. Further research on the effectiveness of medical cannabis for MDD seems warranted. Risks of this medication, such as sustaining or inducing a cannabis use disorder, or side effects such as poor concentration, must be taken into consideration.
Epidemiological characteristics, safety and efficacy of medical cannabis in the elderly
March 2018: This study finds that the therapeutic use of cannabis is safe and efficacious in the elderly population. Cannabis use may decrease the use of other prescription medicines, including opioids. Gathering more evidence-based data, including data from double-blind randomized-controlled trials, in this special population is imperative.
30 January 2023: Due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antiangiogenic effects, CBD might be a therapeutic agent candidate for endometriosis.
13 June 2022: Endometriosis affects 5%-10% of women of reproductive age and is often associated with painful symptoms like dysmenorrhea, dyschezia, dyspareunia, and even non cyclical pain. The disease is diagnosed in at least 20% of women with dysmenorrhea and/or non-menstrual pelvic pain, reaching a prevalence of 50% pain among adolescents. There is an alignment among international societies3,4 that the pre- sumed diagnosis of this disease is enough to start clinical treatment. Moreover, there seems to be a consensus that first-line treatment should be hormonal contraceptives since the efficacy is similar to that of surgery but with lower complication rates and costs. However, these drugs are effective in only approximately two-thirds of patients, have limited long-term efficacy and may occasionally lead to undesirable side effects. Additionally, there are serious limitations in the interpretation of clinical trials.
Highly purified cannabidiol in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsies: A real-life impact on seizure frequency, quality of life, behavior, and sleep patterns from a single Italian center
6 September 2023: In our study, CBD reduced seizure frequency in half of the cohort and caused only mild adverse events over a median treatment period of 9 months. The percentage of seizure responders is similar to recently reported data [4], [5]. Our results provide further evidence that CBD is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated ASM for long-term use in both children and adults.
Real-Life Experience With Purified Cannabidiol Treatment for Refractory Epilepsy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
20 October 2023: Purified CBD is well-tolerated and effective in reducing seizure frequency in children and young adults with DRE.
The association between marijuana and e-cigarette use and exercise behavior among adults
April 2024: These findings challenge the stereotype that marijuana and e-cigarette users are less active than non-users, and future research should examine the potential mechanisms of these findings.
Is Medical Cannabis a Solution for Controlling Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
April 2024: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) presents challenges in diagnosis and management due to its complex nature, but recent research suggests medical cannabis (MC) could offer relief, particularly in alleviating chronic pain and improving sleep quality. Studies indicate positive patient experiences with MC, though larger clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety for FMS treatment, amidst evolving social, political, and medical attitudes towards cannabis use.Is Medical Cannabis a Solution for Controlling Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
A Survey of Cannabis Use among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
15 March 2023: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic conditions of unknown cause or cure. Treatment seeks to reduce symptoms and induce and maintain remission. Many patients have turned to alternatives, such as cannabis, to alleviate living with IBD. This study reports the demographics, prevalence, and perception on cannabis use of patients attending an IBD clinic.
Cannabis use in the United States and its impact on gastrointestinal health
23 December 2023: In recent years, the legalization and social acceptability of cannabis use have increased in the United States. Concurrently, the prevalence of cannabis use has continued to rise, and cannabis products have diversified. There are growing concerns regarding the health effects of regular and high‐potency cannabis use, and new research has shed light on its potentially negative effects. Here, we review evidence of the gastrointestinal (GI) effects of cannabis and cannabinoids.
17 April 2024: Practitioners face multiple pervasive barriers to prescribing medicinal cannabis. Beliefs about clinical utility appear to be highly influential in shaping prescribing behaviours. Moreover, our findings suggest that a medicinal cannabis ‘specialisation’ has emerged within the Australian medical community. Findings demonstrate that a range of complex and multifaceted factors influence practitioners' medicinal cannabis prescribing behaviours. We highlight several considerations for policy and practice to support safe and appropriate patient access to medicinal cannabis in this emerging area of clinical practice.
Recreational Marijuana Laws and Teen Marijuana Use, 1993-2021
April 2024: This cross-sectional study uses data from the Youth Risk Behavior surveys to assess the association of state-level recreational marijuana laws and youth marijuana use.
Evaluating the Mechanism of Cell Death in Melanoma Induced by the Cannabis Extract PHEC-66
31 January 2024: In conclusion, we have shown that PHEC-66 impedes the growth of MM418-C1, MM329, and MM96L melanoma cells. This inhibitory effect arises from interactions with CB1 and CB2 receptors. PHEC-66’s impact extends to the modulation of cell cycle progression, particularly evident in the sub G1 and sub G1/G1 phases. Furthermore, PHEC-66 influences metabolic pathways by inducing the accumulation of ROS within these cells, thereby tilting the balance toward pro-apoptotic signalling pathways while diminishing anti-apoptotic ones. All these actions together start the process of apoptosis and slow down the growth of melanoma cells. Further studies are required for a comprehensive understanding of its potential use in advanced-stage melanoma treatment, preferably involving more sophisticated models and assessing its viability within combination therapies.
Acute Illness Associated With Cannabis Use, by Route of Exposure: An Observational Study
16 April 2019: Visits attributable to inhaled cannabis are more frequent than those attributable to edible cannabis, although the latter is associated with more acute psychiatric visits and more ED visits than expected.
Characterizing Cannabis Use and Perceived Benefit in a Tertiary Headache Center Patient Sample
6 March 2024: This is the largest study to date to document cannabis product usage patterns and perceived benefits for migraine management in a clinical headache patient sample. A majority of patients surveyed reported using cannabis products for migraine management and cited perceived improvements in migraine characteristics, clinical features, and associated risk factors. The findings warrant experimental trials to confirm the perceived benefits of cannabis products for migraine prevention and treatment.
December 2020: Cannabis use is common among patients receiving medication-based treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD). We summarize findings from 41 studies that documented cannabis use during MOUD (methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone). In most studies, cannabis use did not significantly predict treatment outcomes (opioid use, adherence, retention). A small number of studies documented poorer outcomes, and a small number documented better outcomes for cannabis users. While experimental research is warranted, current evidence suggests cannabis use is unlikely to undermine MOUD progress.
April 2024: This study examines the effects of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) on osteoarthritic chronic pain management, using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and safety assessments. Results indicate improvements in pain severity, interference, anxiety, sleep quality, and overall well-being in patients using CBMPs, though adverse events were recorded in a subset of participants. The findings suggest the need for further randomised controlled trials to establish the efficacy and safety of CBMPs for osteoarthritis pain management.
Cannabis in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence
12 June 2022: While positive treatment effects have been reported for some MC products in the palliative care setting, further high quality evidence is needed to support recommendations for its use in clinical practice.
Palliative Medicine Fellows' Discussions, Perceptions, and Training Regarding Medical Cannabis
26 February 2024: Most HPM fellows report formal training in the use of medical cannabis. Over half of trainees reported discussing medical cannabis with patients, but few considered themselves sufficiently informed to make cannabis-related clinical recommendations. These results suggest both a need for expanded high-quality evidence for medical cannabis in palliative care and for improved formal education for HPM fellows.
12 March 2024: Depression is common among individuals seeking CBMPs to treat PTSD and is associated with greater symptom severity and poorer quality of life. Effectiveness of CBMPs for treating PTSD does not appear to be impaired in people with comorbid depression.
Observational Analysis of the Influence of Medical Marijuana Use on Quality of Life in Patients
20 February 2024: This study contributed valuable insights into the effects of medical marijuana on quality of life and highlighted potential benefits associated with its use. Moreover, ongoing research aims to assess the observed sustained improvements beyond 90 days, investigating potential long-term trends. While further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of action and long-term effects of medical marijuana, clinicians and patients can gain a better understanding of medical marijuana’s therapeutic potential, enabling more informed decisions regarding its use in clinical settings.
Assessment of Cannabis Use Before Partnered Sex on Women who Experience Orgasm Difficulty
4 March 2024: Fifty years of sexuality research support use of cannabis for sexual difficulties. This is the first study to look at FOD specifically, demonstrating significant benefit. Randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate cannabis’ efficacy on FOD sub-types, mental health and physical health conditions and other clinical implications; evaluating dosage, strain, timing, and method of intake.
Daily associations with cannabis use and sleep quality in anxious cannabis users
31 May 2023: Among individuals with affective symptoms, naturalistic use of cannabis was associated with better sleep quality, particularly for those using edible and CBD dominant products.
3 July 2023: The sleep-wake cycle and CRs are both likely modulated by the ECB system, potentially resulting in effects on cognition, however this area is critically understudied.
UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with insomnia
9 February 2024: Patients with insomnia experienced an improvement in sleep quality following the initiation of CBMPs in this medium‐term analysis. Fewer than 15% of participants reported one or more adverse events. However, due to the limitations of the study design, further investigation is required before definitive conclusions can be drawn on the efficacy of CBMPs in treating insomnia.
Use of Medical Cannabis in Patients with Gilles de la Tourette's Syndrome in a Real-World Setting
12 February 2024: Subjective reports from TS patients suggest that medical cannabis may improve their quality of life and comorbidities. More studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis.
Assessment of Cannabis Use Before Partnered Sex on Women who Experience Orgasm Difficulty
4 March 2024: Fifty years of sexuality research support use of cannabis for sexual difficulties. This is the first study to look at FOD specifically, demonstrating significant benefit. Randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate cannabis’ efficacy on FOD sub-types, mental health and physical health conditions and other clinical implications; evaluating dosage, strain, timing, and method of intake.
30 January 2023: Due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antiangiogenic effects, CBD might be a therapeutic agent candidate for endometriosis.
Cannabis and Vulvodynia Symptoms: A Preliminary Report
3 July 2020: Medical marijuana has a long history of use as an analgesic for chronic pain disorders, including dyspareunia (pain during intercourse), a hallmark of the rare chronic pain disorder vulvodynia. Many women's health topics remain under investigated. Few studies address cannabis's potential to treat vulvodynia symptoms despite their dramatic impact on quality of life.
13 June 2022: Endometriosis affects 5%-10% of women of reproductive age and is often associated with painful symptoms like dysmenorrhea, dyschezia, dyspareunia, and even non cyclical pain. The disease is diagnosed in at least 20% of women with dysmenorrhea and/or non-menstrual pelvic pain, reaching a prevalence of 50% pain among adolescents. There is an alignment among international societies3,4 that the pre- sumed diagnosis of this disease is enough to start clinical treatment. Moreover, there seems to be a consensus that first-line treatment should be hormonal contraceptives since the efficacy is similar to that of surgery but with lower complication rates and costs. However, these drugs are effective in only approximately two-thirds of patients, have limited long-term efficacy and may occasionally lead to undesirable side effects. Additionally, there are serious limitations in the interpretation of clinical trials.
Disclaimer: The links provided on this website page lead to research articles sourced from various publishers and repositories. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, we cannot guarantee the completeness or current status of every article. Users are encouraged to critically evaluate the information and consult professional advice where necessary. Additionally, the inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement or affiliation with the respective authors or publishers. We accept no responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of the information contained in these articles. Please contact our support team at hello@saged.com.au if you have any questions, feedback or concerns.
CONTENT EXCLUSIVE TO MEMBERS
LOG IN OR SIGN UP