Spurred by the emergence of the concept of “medical marijuana”, cannabis use is expected to increase over the coming decades. There is hence a great need to fully understand the effects of cannabis on the human brain and body. However, researchers are faced with a number of challenges in trying to elucidate the precise mechanisms and consequences of cannabis use. Firstly, cannabis contains over 500 different chemical constituents including phytocannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids. Secondly, the endocannabinoid system and neurochemical pathways are yet to be fully elucidated. Thirdly, different chemical constituents may have different detrimental effects based on individual vulnerability such as age, genetic vulnerability, pre-existing medical/psychiatric disorders, etc. Fourthly, some constituents of cannabis may have therapeutic potential in treating some disorders.
This Research Topic aims to provide physicians, researchers and policy-makers with an expert perspective and a comprehensive text of the latest research on different aspects of the association between cannabis use and medical/psychiatric disorders, including:
- The pharmacology of cannabis
- The endocannabinoid system
- Laboratory studies using cannabinoids in humans
- Epidemiological studies on the association between cannabis use and medical/psychiatric outcomes
- Neuroimaging studies of the effects of cannabinoids and cannabis on brain function
- Genetic studies of the association between cannabis use and psychiatric outcomes
Spurred by the emergence of the concept of “medical marijuana”, cannabis use is expected to increase over the coming decades. There is hence a great need to fully understand the effects of cannabis on the human brain and body. However, researchers are faced with a number of challenges in trying to elucidate the precise mechanisms and consequences of cannabis use. Firstly, cannabis contains over 500 different chemical constituents including phytocannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids. Secondly, the endocannabinoid system and neurochemical pathways are yet to be fully elucidated. Thirdly, different chemical constituents may have different detrimental effects based on individual vulnerability such as age, genetic vulnerability, pre-existing medical/psychiatric disorders, etc. Fourthly, some constituents of cannabis may have therapeutic potential in treating some disorders.
This Research Topic aims to provide physicians, researchers and policy-makers with an expert perspective and a comprehensive text of the latest research on different aspects of the association between cannabis use and medical/psychiatric disorders, including:
- The pharmacology of cannabis
- The endocannabinoid system
- Laboratory studies using cannabinoids in humans
- Epidemiological studies on the association between cannabis use and medical/psychiatric outcomes
- Neuroimaging studies of the effects of cannabinoids and cannabis on brain function
- Genetic studies of the association between cannabis use and psychiatric outcomes
