Daily Dose Q&A
2025-12-12
What are the most common conditions for which medical marijuana is used in the 50+ year old patient population? Check out the answer… the 4th most common reason may surprise you. 
According to a study that examined the data from the 2018-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys, "the most common conditions reported among adults 50+ who use marijuana for medical reasons are arthritis (61%), depression (36%), asthma (20%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (18%)." Your next dose of cannabis education will explore the use of cannabis in COPD patients. What is the effect of cannabis use on acute exacerbation of COPD? - Does it really help?Ailshire, J. Patterns of Marijuana Use in the US Older Population. Innovation in Aging, 2023 Vol 7, No. S1.
2025-12-11
Are there any possible detrimental effects of combining cannabis while undergoing immunotherapy?
"Recent data indicate that there could also be a detrimental effect of combining cannabis while undergoing immunotherapy, which may be related to the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis, similar to the use of steroids during immunotherapy. These preliminary reports provide important questions about the risks associated with cannabis use during active cancer treatment."Gowin K, Muminovic M, Zick S, et al. Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care: An Update on the Guidelines. ASCO Educational Book (asco.ord/edbook) Vol 44, Iss 3. Mar 31 2024.
2025-12-10
CB2 receptors are expressed throughout the immune system and are found in several other systems. What activities do CB2 receptors modulate in systems other than the immune system?
"While CB2 receptors are primarily expressed by immune cells in the body, they are also found in other tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract, hematopoietic cells, bone, reproductive system, and cardiovascular system. In the brain, CB2 expression is increased in areas associated with neurodegeneration and is thought to be involved in the regulation of neuroinflammation. In the gastrointestinal tract, CB2 activation has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve appetite. In the cardiovascular system, CB2 activation has been linked to improved blood pressure, lipid levels, and glucose metabolism."Wilson G, Yang L, Su X, Ding S, Li L, Yang Y, Wang X, Wang W, Sa Y, Zhang Y, Chen J, Ma X. Exploring the therapeutic potential of natural compounds modulating the endocannabinoid system in various diseases and disorders: review. Pharmacological Reports. 31 Oct 2023
2025-12-09
Has the American Society of Clinical Oncology made any recommendations concerning the use of cannabinoids as a cancer-directed treatment?
Yes, according to the article 'Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care: An Update on the Guidelines,' "Clinicians should recommend against using cannabis or cannabinoids as a cancer-directed treatment unless within the context of a clinical trial." Also, "clinicians should recommend against use of cannabis and/or cannabinoids in place of cancer- directed treatment." Gowin K, Muminovic M, Zick S, et al. Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care: An Update on the Guidelines. ASCO Educational Book (asco.ord/edbook) Vol 44, Iss 3. Mar 31 2024.
2025-12-08
What is the half life of CBD? How does it compare to the half life of THC?
The half life of CBD is 18-32 hours, which is similar to the half life of THC of 20-30 hours. Both CBD and THC are distributed to fatty tissues and highly perfused organs such as brain, heart, lung, and liver.Page II RL , Allen LA , Kloner RA , Carriker CR , Martel C , Morris AA , Piano MR , Rana JS , Saucedo JF, et al. Medical Marijuana, Recreational Cannabis, and Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association - Originally published5 Aug 2020https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000883Circulation. 2020;142:e131–e152