Seniors Who Smoke Weed & Drive Are Road Hazards: Study

• Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
• January 18, 2024
• Full Page

Many studies have found that getting high on weed and then getting behind the wheel is dangerous for young drivers, and now new research finds it's no different for seniors.

In a driving-simulator experiment, seniors who were long-term marijuana smokers were weaving in a...

Marijuana Has No Role in Taking Up or Quitting Opioids: Study

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 16, 2024
• Full Page

There's no link at all between weed use and a person's use of illicit opioids, one way or the other, a new review concludes.

Cannabis isn't a gateway drug that can spark a person's desire to try narcotics, results show.

On the other hand, weed also isn't effective ...

FDA Review Supports Reclassifying Marijuana as Less Risky Drug

• Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
• January 15, 2024
• Full Page

Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conclude in newly released documents that marijuana has less potential for abuse than other drugs with the same restrictions and it should be reclassified as a less dangerous drug.

Not only that, the review found ther...

Could Medical Marijuana Be Bad for Heart Patients?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 11, 2024
• Full Page

Medical marijuana might help ease chronic pain, but it also slightly increases a patient's risk of a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm, a new study says.

Patients treated with medical cannabis had a nearly 1% increased risk of being diagnosed with a heart rhythm problem th...

Will Weed Help Your Workout?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• January 8, 2024
• Full Page

Using marijuana can help folks better enjoy a good workout, but it's not going to boost their athletic performance, a new study has found.

A small group of runners reported greater enjoyment and a more intense “runner's high” when they exercised after using marijuana...

Marijuana Use Increasingly Linked to Addiction, Psychosis

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• December 27, 2023
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2023 (HealthDay news) -- A rising tide of cannabis-related mental health problems is resulting from the widespread legalization of recreational weed in the United States, warns a new evidence review.

Nearly one in five Americans aged 12 and older used...

Many Young People at Risk for Psychosis Are Torn About Using Marijuana

• Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
• December 26, 2023
• Full Page

Even after they've experienced episodes of psychosis, many young people who use marijuana are unsure they want to quit the drug, new research shows.

Cannabis has long been linked to a heightened risk for psychosis -- a dangerous psychiatric state in which people lose the...

Using CBD & Other Hemp Products? You're Not Alone, Study Finds

• Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
• December 14, 2023
• Full Page

The market for cannabidiol (CBD) and other products derived from the hemp plant is now wide open in the United States, but that could bring danger to consumers, the authors of a new report warn.

Many people may not realize it, but there's a largely legal market for produ...

Why Teens Use Marijuana: Study Finds It's Not Just About Getting High

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• December 13, 2023
• Full Page

Teens who avidly use weed typically use it either for enjoyment or to cope, but both uses have a dark side to them, new research finds.

Teenagers who use marijuana for enjoyment or to forget their problems have more demand for it, meaning that they are willing to both co...

Using Marijuana While Pregnant Raises Complications Risk

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• December 12, 2023
• Full Page

Marijuana use by expecting moms is associated with unhealthy pregnancy outcomes, especially low birth weight babies, a new study finds.

Further, heavier weed use is associated with higher risks for the pregnancy, the researchers added.

“Cannabis use is not safe,�...

Smoking Tobacco Plus Weed Greatly Raises Odds for Emphysema

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• November 28, 2023
• Full Page

Folks who smoke weed along with cigarettes are doing serious damage to their lungs, a new study warns.

People who do both are 12 times more likely to develop emphysema than nonsmokers, due to the damage they're doing to the lung's air sacs, researchers report.

“T...

First Asthma-Linked Death Highlights Hazards at Marijuana-Processing Plants

• Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
• November 17, 2023
• Full Page

A young woman working at a Massachusetts cannabis-processing facility who developed new-onset asthma and later died of a fatal asthma attack is the first such fatality in the burgeoning industry, a new report finds.

Researchers believe large amounts of allergen-laden dus...

Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Ups Risk of Premature Birth, Low Birth Weight Babies

• Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
• November 16, 2023
• Full Page

THURSDAY, Nov. 16, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Using cannabis during pregnancy may not be as benign as some think, with a new review showing it raises the risk for both premature and low birth weight newborns.

In turn, that raised the chances of these infants winding up in ...

Marijuana Use Could Raise Odds for Heart Attack, Heart Failure

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• November 6, 2023
• Full Page

People who regularly smoke medical marijuana may be increasing their risk for a heart attack, heart failure or stroke, new research suggests.

One study found that cannabis use among older patients increases the risk of heart attack or stroke by 20%. The second study foun...

Georgia To Be First State to Let Pharmacies Sell Low-Dose Cannabis

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• October 23, 2023
• Full Page

Four years after the state of Georgia approved the distribution of low-dose THC, medical marijuana may be sold at local pharmacies.

That will make Georgia the first U.S. state where pharmacies sell medical cannabis, CNN reported.

By year's end, patients wh...

Drug-Linked Disciplinary Actions by Schools Spiked After Oregon Legalized Marijuana

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• October 23, 2023
• Full Page

New research suggests a link between middle school students being disciplined for marijuana use and legalization of recreational weed, particularly when schools are close to dispensaries that sell the drug.

Researchers studied this in Oregon, where recreational marijuana...

Heavy Marijuana Use May Harm the Heart

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• September 28, 2023
• Full Page

People who abuse marijuana may be setting themselves up for heart problems down the road, Canadian researchers report.

The new study found that people with so-called cannabis use disorder may have a 60% higher risk for a heart attack, stroke or other major heart-related ...

More Women Using Cannabis to Help Ease Menopause Symptoms

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 27, 2023
• Full Page

Women over 50 are turning to weed in droves, and menopause symptoms may be one big reason why, new research suggests

These women may not necessarily be getting the results they're looking for, however. That's according to menopause experts who say it's not clear from lim...

Buying Marijuana Online Easy for Minors, Study Finds

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 26, 2023
• Full Page

The lax enforcement of age limits by many online marijuana dispensaries makes it easier for minors to buy weed, claims new research that looked at online weed sales in 32 states.

“It is imperative to require strict age-verification procedures prior to cannabis purchase...

Using a CBD Product? Be Sure to Tell Your Doctor

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 17, 2023
• Full Page

Cannabinoid products may interfere with some prescription medications, so people who use them should add these to the list of supplements they tell their doctors about.

This interference could have serious health consequences, according to Penn State Health, which offere...

Depression Risk Rises in Folks Who Use Both Marijuana & Tobacco

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• September 13, 2023
• Full Page

Using both tobacco and marijuana is tied to significantly higher odds for depression and anxiety, a new study suggests.

Among nearly 54,000 U.S. adults, those who used both substances experienced anxiety or depression at nearly twice the rate of nonusers, researcher...

Booming Sales of Legal Marijuana Linked to More Car Crashes

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 7, 2023
• Full Page

Emergency room visits for injuries related to driving under the influence of cannabis skyrocketed in Canada after the drug was legalized there, a new study reports.

In October 2018, Canada became the second country to nationally legalize recreational or nonmedical cannab...

Marijuana Edibles Are Sending Kids to the ER: Here's Tips to Keep Them Safe

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• September 4, 2023
• Full Page

Drugs and children don't mix, so it's important to keep little ones safe by storing any marijuana edibles out of reach from small hands.

The New Jersey Poison Control Center is offering warnings that can apply anywhere, after aiding in the medical treatment of 30 childre...

Marijuana Should Be Moved to Lower-Risk Drug Category, U.S. Health Officials Say

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 31, 2023
• Full Page

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug under the Controlled Substances Act, a move that could potentially expand acceptance of the drug.

The DEA confirmed receiving an A...

Higher Levels of Toxic Metals Found in Blood, Urine of Regular Marijuana Users

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• August 30, 2023
• Full Page

Marijuana users may be building up high levels of toxic metals in their blood, a new study suggests.

According to researchers, people who use marijuana exclusively have significant levels of lead and cadmium in their bodies. These are the same toxic metals found in some ...

1 in 5  Marijuana Users Struggle With Dependency on the Drug

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 30, 2023
• Full Page

Cannabis use disorder is a very real problem for a significant percentage of people who use marijuana, new research suggests.

About 21% of those who use weed struggle with dependency, including recurring problems socially and with work, the study published Aug. 29 in the...

It Only Takes a Bite of a Marijuana Edible to Send a Child to the Hospital

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• August 28, 2023
• Full Page

Brightly colored "edibles" can be tempting for young kids and are more widely available now that many U.S. states have legalized cannabis for recreational and medical use.

Unfortunately, it doesn't take much of an edible to make a small child very sick, new research...

Are Cannabis-Based Medicines Safe for Children With Cancer?

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 28, 2023
• Full Page

Nineteen scientific studies have failed to answer a big question: Are cannabis-containing products safe or effective for kids with cancer?

A new analysis of the studies found the evidence just isn't there to determine dosing, safety and efficacy of medical marijuana or c...

Los estadounidenses de mediana edad usan marihuana y se dan atracones de bebida a niveles récord

• Hola Doctor and Cara Murez HealthDay Reporters
• August 21, 2023
• Full Page

Los atracones de bebida y el consumo de marihuana han alcanzado niveles históricamente altos entre los adultos de EE. UU. de 35 a 50 años, anunciaron el jueves los Institutos Nacionales de la Salud (NIH) de EE. UU.

Entre estos adultos de mediana edad, las drogas favori...

Middle-Aged Americans Are Using Marijuana, Binge-Drinking at Record Levels

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 18, 2023
• Full Page

Binge-drinking and marijuana use have reached historically high levels among U.S. adults aged 35 to 50, the U.S. National Institutes of Health announced Thursday.

For these middle-aged adults, the drugs of choice are marijuana, hallucinogens and alcohol, with nearly...

More Americans Than Ever Believe Marijuana Smoke Is Safer Than Cigarette Smoke. They're Wrong

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 14, 2023
• Full Page

As cannabis use has become legal in many U.S. states for medical or recreational use, Americans' views on the drug may have gotten rosier.

In fact, a new report finds that over 44% of adults now believe smoking weed each day is safer than inhaling tobacco smoke.

T...

Marijuana Use by Youth: After Legalization, Education Seems to Matter

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• August 3, 2023
• Full Page

After their U.S. states legalize marijuana, young adults who aren't in college are more likely than college kids to use the drug and progress to cannabis use disorder, a new study finds.

Prior to legalization, 23% of non-college young adults reported using cannabis ...

With Marijuana's Legalization, Cannabis Poisonings Are on the Rise

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• July 27, 2023
• Full Page

In recent years, the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana has become the new normal across much of North America.

The problem: New research finds that as legalization has spread, so have cases of cannabis poisoning.

“We did a systematic re...

Strong Marijuana Habit Could Raise Odds for Complications During Surgery

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• July 11, 2023
• Full Page

Using marijuana regularly might increase the risk for complications during and after surgery, and doctors should address this when planning operations, a new study suggests.

People with a cannabis use disorder are 20% more likely to have serious complications, such as s...

Monkey Study Suggests Hazards of Marijuana Use During Pregnancy

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 11, 2023
• Full Page

Marijuana use during pregnancy may impact the baby's brain development and long-term health, according to new research with monkeys.

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) -- the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis -- altered the placental an...

FDA Sends Warning to Companies Selling THC Products That Look Like Candy, Cookies

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• July 5, 2023
• Full Page

Several companies are selling copycat food items that have the potential to trick people, including children, into consuming dangerous quantities of cannabis.

On Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission warned six companies about s...

Access to Medical Marijuana Won't Lower Use of Opioid Painkillers: Study

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• July 5, 2023
• Full Page

Medical marijuana is touted as a pain reliever, but in U.S. states where it's legal, prescriptions for opioid or non-opioid painkillers haven't decreased, a new study finds.

According to researchers, this means that people aren't switching to cannabis for pain relie...

Legalizing Marijuana Tied to More Binge Drinking in Folks Over 30

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• June 21, 2023
• Full Page

A growing number of states are legalizing marijuana for recreational use, and it may be leading to an unexpected side effect among millennials and Gen Xers: binge drinking.

Binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks at a time for men or four or more drinks for wome...

Heavy Marijuana Use Might Raise Risk of Bipolar Disorder, Depression

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• May 26, 2023
• Full Page

Heavy users of marijuana might face an increased risk of bipolar disorder and depression, a new study suggests.

The analysis of more than 6.6 million Danish individuals found that having cannabis use disorder doubled or even tripled the odds for most forms of depression ...

'Complex' Genetic Links Between Marijuana Use, Psychiatric Ills

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• May 23, 2023
• Full Page

A subset of people may be at high risk for both psychiatric disorders and for using marijuana, based on their genetics, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Oslo in Norway have found that some of the genetic variants associated with cannabis use ...

Vaping Could Up Teens' Odds for Marijuana Use, Binge Drinking

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• May 18, 2023
• Full Page

Teens who use electronic cigarettes are significantly more likely than non-vapers to binge-drink and use cannabis, new research finds.

Surveys of teens ages 13 to 18 revealed that vapers were 20 times more likely to use marijuana than teens who used no nicotine prod...