Emerging Health Effects and Implications of Cannabis

State legalization has expanded access and acceptance in the use of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. It has also created a novel and rapidly expanding market for food products containing marijuana and hemp derivatives. 

Evidence on the Health Effects of Cannabis

A lack of conclusive evidence regarding the short- and long-term health effects of cannabis use has challenged the health community. No accepted standards exist to guide individuals to use cannabis safely and, in therapeutic uses, effectively.

At ASN’s annual meeting, Nutrition 2019, leading researchers presented a review of the current evidence regarding the health effects of using cannabis and cannabis-derived products. With a focus on nutrition-related issues, the speakers delved into the effects of cannabis on appetite and energy balance, neurodevelopment implications, and challenges of cannabis in the food supply.

As part of ASN’s monthly webcast series featuring presentations from Nutrition 2019, you can access this popular session free for August.

Topics at this popular session included:

• Introduction by Susan Weiss, PhD of NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Clinical Indications and Role in Metabolism, Daniele Piomelli, PhD, MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
• Neurodevelopment Implications of Cannabis Exposure, Peter Pressman, MD, PhD, Polyscience Consulting
• Effects of Cannabis on Sensory Function, Appetite, Food Intake and Body Weight, Richard Mattes, PhD, MPH, RD, Purdue University
• Challenges of Cannabis in the Food Supply, Roger Clemens, DrPH, USC School of Pharmacy

Following the presentation, members of the audience posed questions related to the following:

• Collaboration of industry, academic, and government leaders to advance the science surrounding cannabis
• CB1 (Cannabinoid receptor type 1) receptors and hunger cues