Increased public access to cannabis calls for a deeper understanding of cannabis's constituents and how they interact to induce clinical effects. Whereas trans-D 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered the main psychoactive component in cannabis, producing the associated "high" or "euphoria," various findings demonstrate medical potential for cannabidiol (CBD), from anxiolytic to antiepileptic implications. This has translated into a public optimism and given way to the popular opinion that CBD can provide countless other therapeutic benefits, including the potential to mitigate some of the adverse side effects of THC, such as intoxication, psychomotor impairment, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms. This is particularly relevant for patients seeking to garner therapeutic benefits from cannabis without experiencing the burden of a significant subjective high. Thus, this article analyzes the scientific evidence available to support or disprove the idea that presence of CBD is beneficial and can exude a protective effect against THC. A thorough review of relevant literature, a basis from which to interpret such evidence through a critical mechanistic discussion, and the implications for patients are presented in this article.

Background and aims: The effects exuded by cannabis are a result of the cannabinoids trans-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and is dependent upon their pharmacological interaction and linked to the two cannabinoids’ concentrations and ratios. Based on current literature and trends of increasing cannabis potency, we postulate that most medical cannabis products with THC and CBD have ratios capable of producing significant acute intoxication and are similar to recreational products. We will test this by organizing products into clinically distinct categories according to TCH:CBD ratios, evaluating the data in terms of therapeutic potential, and comparing the data obtained from medical and recreational programs and from states with differing market policies.Methods: We utilized data encompassing online herbal dispensary product offerings from nine U.S. states. The products were analyzed after being divided into four clinically significant THC:CBD ratio categories identified based on the literature: CBD can enhance THC effects (THC:CBD ratios ≥1:1), CBD has no significant effect on THC effects (ratios ∼ 1:2), CBD can either have no effect or can mitigate THC effects (ratios 1:>2 < 6), or CBD is protective against THC effects (ratios ≤1:6).Results: A significant number of products (58.5%) did not contain any information on CBD content. Across all states sampled, the majority (72–100%) of both medical and recreational products with CBD (>0%) fall into the most intoxicating ratio category (≥1:1 THC:CBD), with CBD likely enhancing THC’s acute effects. The least intoxicating categories (1:>2 < 6 and ≤1:6 THC:CBD) provided the smallest number of products. Similarly, the majority of products without CBD (0%) contained highly potent amounts of THC (>15%). These results were consistent, regardless of differing market policies in place.Conclusions: Despite the distinct goals of medical and recreational cannabis users, medical and recreational program product offerings are nearly identical. Patients seeking therapeutic benefits from herbal cannabis products are therefore at a substantial risk of unwanted side effects, regardless of whether they obtain products from medical or recreational programs. Efforts are needed to better inform patients of the risks associated with high potency cannabis and the interaction between THC and CBD, and to help shape policies that promote more therapeutic options.

Background and AimsThe U.S. legal cannabis market is saturated with products containing high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), with no distinction between medical and recreational programs. This omnipresence of potent cannabis products seems to be driven by the recreational realm, where cannabis with the highest THC content is prized. This prevalence of highly potent cannabis is conveyed to medical programs, which places consumers (patients) at higher risk for over consumption and cannabis use disorder. Thus, understanding what factors influence the market that patients face in medical cannabis programs could shed light on the risks of legal cannabis. The supply and demand dynamic of the US for-profit cannabis market could explain the current market composition; therefore, we postulate that a financial gain could influence the perpetuation of the prevalence of high THC products in legal cannabis dispensaries. We investigate whether THC content in popular cannabis products correlates with higher prices and assess whether some attributes (type of product, chemovars, or presence of cannabidiol (CBD) affect the association of THC with price.MethodsWe focus on the world's largest cannabis market, California. We randomly selected dispensaries across the state, screened for a web presence and product menu, determined the most prevalent product type, and collected THC and CBD concentration, price, and other product attributes.ResultsWe observed that herbal products were more common, they had THC concentrations greater than 10%, and THC concentrations positively correlated with price. This correlation existed in flower and preroll presentations, all chemovar, and independently of the level of CBD. CBD did not correlate with price; however, the presence of CBD diminished the THC and price correlation particularly in products with high THC (>15%).ConclusionsOverall, highly potent herbal cannabis products (>15% THC) are the majority of products offered and more expensive regardless of product type or chemovar in California dispensaries, suggesting that a financial gain contributes to the current market composition. Efforts to limit the availability of highly potent THC products and educate consumers about potential harms are needed.

Zidovudine delays the progression of infection and prolongs the survival of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but these benefits are limited by dose-related toxicity and the cost of the drug.Dipyridamole, in micromolar concentrations, acts synergistically with zidovudine, reducing the anti-HIV 95% inhibitory concentration of zidovudine 5-to 10-fold in vitro. We sought to establish a well-tolerated dose of dipyridamole for use in combination with zidovudine and to detect clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions. Both objectives are essential for planning studies of the efficacy of the zidovudine-dipyridamole combination. Eleven asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects (median CD4+ cell count, 311 cells per mm3), 10 of whom had been on zidovudine at 500 mg/day for at least 6 months, were admitted to the study. Zidovudine pharmacokinetics were measured on day 1. Dipyridamole was then begun at 600 mg/day (subjects 1 to 3) or 450 mg/day (subjects 4 to 11), and zidovudine and dipyridamole pharmacokinetics were measured on day 5. All subjects given 600 mg of dipyridamole per day developed headache or nausea, or both. Six of eight subjects given dipyridamole at 450 mg/day developed headache or mild nausea that resolved after a median of 2 days. The area under the zidovudine concentration-time curve was not significantly different on day 1 in comparison with that on day 5 (P = 0.11). Symptoms were significantly correlated with the maximum zidovudine concentrations, which were achieved when dipyridamole was dosed concomitantly (p = 0.03). Total (free and protein-bound) dipyridamole trough concentrations were near those demonstrating synergy with zidovudine against HIV in vitro. Dipyridamole was highly protein bound, with a median free/total dipyridamole ratio of 0.7%; the percent free/total dipyridamole ratio was inversely correlated with alpha, acid glycoprotein concentrations (r2 = 0.66).Results of the study indicate that adjustment of the zidovudine dose was not required to achieve equivalent zidovudine concentrations when zidovudine was administered in combination with dipyridamole at the doses studied. In the short study described here, the zidovudine-dipyridamole combination was well tolerated in asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects after the occurrence of mild transient symptoms.

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