The Construct of Medical and Non-Medical Marijuana—Critical Review

Abstract

The rising popularity of medical marijuana and its potential therapeutic uses has resulted in passionate discussions that have mainly focused on its possible benefits and applications. Although the concept itself seems promising, the multitude of presented information has noticeable ramifications—terminological chaos being one. This work aimed to synthesize and critically analyze scientific evidence on the therapeutic uses of cannabinoids in the field of psychiatry. Emphasis was placed on the anxiolytic effects of cannabis constituents and their effects on post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, and other psychotic disorders. The review was carried out from an addictological perspective. A database search of interchangeably combined keywords resulted in the identification of subject-related records. The data were then analyzed in terms of relevance, contents, methodologies, and cited papers. The results were clear in supporting one common conclusion: while most findings provide support for beneficial applications of medical marijuana in psychiatry, no certain conclusions can be drawn until larger-scaled, more methodologically rigorous, and (preferably) controlled randomized trials verify these discoveries.

Exploring the Link Between Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorders: A Review

“…Cannabis sativa (ie, cannabis) contains over 144 differing cannabinoids, of which CBD and D9-THC are the most frequently studied [9,18]. The effects of these 2 substances are distinct; D9-THC has psychotomimetic properties, while CBD has non-psychomimetic properties [9,18]. Numerous clinical studies have linked ADHD pathophysiology with the ECS, revealing impaired ECS signaling through the CB1R [19].…”

“…Medical marijuana (MM) has gained popularity in recent years [ 15 ]. However, discussions about its potential therapeutic application often lack systematization [ 18 ]. Moreover, increasing cannabis use may be rooted in inaccurate perceptions of the compound as safe and non-addictive [ 20 , 21 ].…”

“…Cannabis sativa (ie, cannabis) contains over 144 differing cannabinoids, of which CBD and Δ9-THC are the most frequently studied [ 9 , 18 ]. The effects of these 2 substances are distinct; Δ9-THC has psychotomimetic properties, while CBD has non-psychomimetic properties [ 9 , 18 ]. Numerous clinical studies have linked ADHD pathophysiology with the ECS, revealing impaired ECS signaling through the CB1R [ 19 ].…”

“…The topic of cannabis and its potential therapeutic form, medical marijuana (MM), has been gaining popularity in recent years [ 15 ]. However, discussions about its potential therapeutic application often lack clarity and differentiation between various forms, such as dry cannabis inflorescence, derivatives like oils or hashish, or synthetic constructs [ 18 ]. Moreover, these discussions have serious ramifications, as research indicates that increasing cannabis use may be rooted in inaccurate perceptions of the compound as safe and non-addictive or as a self-medication strategy [ 20 , 21 ].…”

“…The literature emphasizes the need for more methodologically rigorous clinical studies that distinguish between the ratio of Δ9-THC and CBD in cannabis [ 18 , 19 ]. A narrative review of selected studies was conducted to explore the association between ADHD and cannabis use.…”