HIGHLIGHTS
The evidence is still contradictory and weak on many aspects of adverse effects.
Increased knowledge about the extraction, purification, and synthesis of cannabinoids, as well as the pharmacology of these substances, has shed light on the mechanisms involved in their effects.
There are an estimated 1 million and 10 million daily (or near-daily) cannabis users in Canada and the United States, respectively, making the issue a public health priority.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Interest in the use of marijuana (Cannabis sativa) for medicinal purposes has increased exponentially in recent decades, and the plant and its derivatives are becoming more frequently found in prescriptions for patients with chronic pain. All prescription drugs and illicit substances have adverse effects, even those from plants, fruits, and flowers, as has been well established with the use of tobacco, alcohol, and opium. Marijuana is no exception. The purpose of this study was to review and synthesize the evidence related to the adverse effects promoted by plant-derived cannabinoids, and the implications for the safety of using these substances in pain patients.
CONTENTS:
A narrative review was conducted based on articles published in scientific journals indexed in Pubmed and Scielo between the years 2000 and 2022.
CONCLUSION:
The evidence is still contradictory and weak on many aspects of adverse effects and clearly there is a need for further research and advances towards a more detailed elucidation of these effects for both non-medical and medical cannabis use. Screening and monitoring of such use, identifying situations of vulnerability to mental illness and dependence, with careful surveillance for adverse effects, is critical.
Keywords:
Cannabis; Drug-related side effects and adverse reactions; Medical marijuana