Q: What is the endocannabinoid system and what does it do? I first heard the term endocannabinoid system (ECS) in 2008 from a colleague doing research. It wasn’t something we learned about in medical school and residency training. Even though its discovery was in the late 1980s to early 1990s, many medical schools today do…
Q: What are terpenes, and do they have medicinal benefits? A: Terpenes are the essential oils produced in many different types of plants including cannabis. They are found in the flowers, fruits, leaves, and sap of plants. They are called aromatic compounds because of their chemical formulas which are responsible for the aroma and fragrance of the plant.…
FEELING DEPRESSED OR THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE? HELP IS AVAILABLE ANY TIME: National Toll-Free Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255 or online at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org Q: Can cannabis help with anxiety and depression? A: According to the CDC, anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health conditions seen in the US, seen in about 20 percent of the population. Symptoms of anxiety can include excessive worry, fear,…
This month President Biden signed into law the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, and it’s a good first start. But as a board-certified emergency physician working directly with medical cannabis patients in Maryland since our medical cannabis law passed, I know we need to do more. First, the bill still does not allow…
Q: Can cannabis help with my seizures? A: Epilepsy is a condition that often leads people to seek out cannabis as a treatment. Epilepsy is a broad term for a brain disease that causes seizures. A seizure is a change in normal brain activity which results in a sudden uncontrolled abnormal burst of electrical activity resulting in changes in behavior…
In the midterm election this November there are five states voting to legalize adult-use cannabis: Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and my state of Maryland. I am getting inundated with questions about it, from patients, family, friends, and colleagues. And while many of my colleagues are starting to come around and accept the beneficial…
Q: Will cannabis help my attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? A: This is an interesting question. While there is not a lot of research on the subject, some patients with ADHD say it can help. ADHD is listed as a mental health condition in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) but it is…
Q: As more states legalize cannabis I worry that my kids will start to see commercials and advertisements that might entice them to try cannabis. What protections exist around advertising cannabis to minors? A: Most states that have legalized cannabis have very strict laws on advertising to consumers, especially those with medical cannabis. Remember it’s only been…
Q: My grandmother is asking about medical cannabis. Before I ask her doctor about it, I’m wondering: What should seniors consider when deciding whether to use medical marijuana? A: The fastest growing segment of medical cannabis patients is in fact, senior citizens, with a 75% increase over a three-year period as more states started passing legislation allowing it. And this number…
Q: What is the difference between cannabis legalization and decriminalization, and how does it impact medical marijuana users? A: Many people mistakenly think that decriminalization and legalization are interchangeable terms when it comes to cannabis law, and they are not. Decriminalization removes criminal penalties for personal use of small amounts of cannabis, which still remains an illegal…