Back To Search Results

Marijuana

Editor: Suneil Agrawal Updated: 8/22/2022 8:02:21 PM

Indications

The major medical indications of marijuana are to relieve symptoms rather than cure disease. Medical marijuana is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat any medical condition. However, cannabidiol is the first FDA-approved drug that contains a purified drug substance derived from marijuana. Additionally, the FDA has approved analogs of marijuana as follows.[1]

FDA-approved Analogs of Marijuana

  • Cannabidiol
  • Dronabinol
  • Nabilone

Cannabidiol 

  • Cannabidiol(CBD) oral solution is approved for treating seizures associated with severe forms of epilepsy in patients ≥1 year of age in the following conditions.
  • Lennox-Gastaut syndrome[2]
  • Dravet syndrome[3]
  • Tuberous sclerosis[4]

Dronabinol

  • Treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS[5]

Nabilone

  • Refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting[6]

Off-label Clinical Uses(Marijuana)

  • TCH(tetrahydrocannabinol) has been shown to decrease intraocular pressure, yet no major ophthalmology organizations support medical cannabis use for glaucoma at this time.
  • Improvement in muscle spasms and pain related to multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. The use of cannabis and cannabinoids for chronic pain is controversial, but it is commonly used for this purpose.[7][8]
  • Marijuana is used to treat neuropathic pain, spasticity related to Parkinson disease, nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy, anxiety disorder, sleep disorder, Tourette syndrome, and Crohn disease.
  • To increase appetite in AIDS or AIDS-related wasting and psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder.[9]

Mechanism of Action

Register For Free And Read The Full Article
Get the answers you need instantly with the StatPearls Clinical Decision Support tool. StatPearls spent the last decade developing the largest and most updated Point-of Care resource ever developed. Earn CME/CE by searching and reading articles.
  • Dropdown arrow Search engine and full access to all medical articles
  • Dropdown arrow 10 free questions in your specialty
  • Dropdown arrow Free CME/CE Activities
  • Dropdown arrow Free daily question in your email
  • Dropdown arrow Save favorite articles to your dashboard
  • Dropdown arrow Emails offering discounts

Learn more about a Subscription to StatPearls Point-of-Care

Mechanism of Action

Marijuana is a complex of more than 400 compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are the active ingredients and appear to have individual interactive effects that contribute to the net effect of marijuana. Cytochrome p450 enzymes metabolize cannabinoids in the liver. The principal cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), responsible for both the psychoactive effects sought by recreational users and the drug's therapeutic effects. Although the mechanism of action is still being researched, it is known that there are widespread cannabinoid receptors in the brain and peripheral tissues known as the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system regulates metabolism, appetite, blood pressure, glycemic control, immune response, and sense of reward. Although the receptors are located throughout the body, the central nervous system interactions arise from the most prominent effects. Since it has a high lipid-soluble profile, it circulates through the body efficiently and causes various effects based on the receptors and dosage.[10]

The primary action is on the cannabinoid receptors, which are G-protein-linked receptors(GPCR). There are two known cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptor is found in the central nervous system. It modulates the release of several neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA). The CB2 receptor is located in the immune system. Therefore, it is assumed that it performs a function in the modulation of immune and inflammatory responses. However, CB2 expression is highly inducible on the microglia in the CNS following inflammation.[11][12]

Administration

Marijuana can be administered in many different ways - orally, sublingually, or topically. It can also be smoked, mixed into foods, and brewed as tea.

  • Typically cannabis is smoked, which has the advantage of rapid onset and easy titration and rapidly delivers it to the brain and circulation. However, smoked cannabis has had difficulty being approved for medical use for multiple reasons, an important one being the variable mixture of THC, other cannabinoids, carcinogens, and other toxic substances to the lungs. 
  • When ingested orally, the pharmacokinetics vary greatly. The onset of action is delayed with maximum blood levels reaching up to six hours post-ingestion and a half-life of 20-30 hours.[13]
  • The topical route, such as making it into a liniment, has been used for arthritic pain with varying success.
  • Routes such as lozenges, sublingual tablets, skin patches, or suppositories have been attempted for medical purposes but have had difficulty obtaining standardized effects. In addition, the combinations of cannabinoids in each preparation can vary substantially, which makes precise dosing difficult.[14]

Adverse Effects

The most common emergency caused by marijuana ingestion is a panic attack.[15] The most common adverse effects include dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, disorientation, euphoria, confusion, sedation, increase heart rate, and breathing problems.[16][17][18][19]

  • Marijuana use has also been linked to acute reversible psychotic reactions and 24% of new psychosis cases in adolescents. Marijuana use has also been linked to acute reversible psychotic reactions and 24% of new psychosis cases in adolescents. It has also been shown to increase the risk of psychotic disorders and exacerbate or relapse symptoms in those with psychotic disorders.[20]
  • Some studies suggest an increased risk of lung cancer from inhalation of marijuana, as well as an association between inhalational marijuana and spontaneous pneumothorax. It is also linked to bullous emphysema and COPD complications, such as increased wheezing, cough, and phlegm production.[21]
  • Long-term use has also been associated with periodontal disease, pre-term birth if used at 20 weeks gestation, and more frequent pain crises in sickle cell patients.[22]
  • Approximately one in 10 adult users of marijuana develop an addiction, with higher rates reported in adolescents.[23]
  • Studies have shown that adolescents who used marijuana were significantly less likely than their non-using peers to finish high school or obtain a degree and were more likely to develop dependence, use other drugs, or attempt suicide. Marijuana has also been shown to worsen verbal memory, some cases of depression, anxiety disorders, and pre-existing schizophrenia.[24]
  • Chronic use has also been well documented as a cause of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome(CHS), first described in Australia by Allen et al. in 2004. This syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of nausea and vomiting relieved by hot showers.[25] 
  • There have also been complications linked to the abrupt cessation of marijuana after chronic use. Cannabis withdrawal typically requires no treatment. Symptoms may include irritability, poor sleep, poor appetite, and restlessness.[26][27]
  • Impaired spermatogenesis[28]

Contraindications

There is minimal information available about contraindications with cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals and medical cannabis. Known contraindications to dronabinol, a synthetic THC and DEA schedule 3 drug, include hypersensitivity to the drug, allergy to cannabinoids/propylene glycol/peppermint oil, as well as concomitant use of ritonavir, which may lead to potential toxicity.[29]

Medical contraindications are cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, poorly controlled hypertension, severe heart failure, history of psychotic disorder, patients under eight years old, pregnant women, or nursing women.[30]

One study showed that marijuana could worsen preexisting heart disease, resulting in up to a five-fold increase in heart attacks one hour after smoking marijuana.[31][32]

Monitoring

Clinicians can detect marijuana use up to 2–5 days after exposure for infrequent users and up to 1-15 days for chronic or heavy users.  Those with high body fat may have positive tests from 1 to 30 days. The actual detection times vary based on many factors, including the method of use, metabolism, and volume of distribution.  It also depends on the type of THC metabolite being tested for. False positives have been triggered by several medications and materials, although more detailed and expensive tests can differentiate further if necessary.

Assess ALT, AST, and total bilirubin before initiating treatment, with dose changes or the addition of or changes in hepatotoxic medications.[33]

Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance by the FDA, and therefore is not accepted for medical use and has a high abuse potential from a federal point of view. As a result, doctors cannot prescribe marijuana, but doctors may certify its use in states that allow its use to treat medical conditions.  Both dronabinol (synthetic THC) and nabilone (a synthetic cannabinoid receptor antagonist) are individual oral agents registered for use in the US available commercially but have been difficult to titrate to receive therapeutic effects. As of now, it is not known to what extent a physician who certifies a patient for medical marijuana is liable for negative outcomes or whether medical insurance will cover liability.[34][35]

Toxicity

Clinical Features

  • Tachycardia
  • Postural hypotension
  • Tachypnea
  • Nystagmus
  • Ataxia
  • Euphoria/dysphoria
  • Conjunctival injection 
  • Hypotonia
  • Seizures(associated with ingestion of cocaine)
  • Impaired cognition[36]
  • Respiratory depression[37]

Management

  • Maintain airway, breathing, and circulation.
  • Administer benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam or midazolam) for seizures.
  • Administer intravenous fluid, antiemetics (e.g., ondansetron) for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. In refractory cases, consider using haloperidol.[38]
  • Following stabilization, psychiatry consultation is necessary for patients with cannabis use disorder.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

There is a vast amount of literature on marijuana and its health benefits. Unfortunately, the majority of these are anecdotal reports. Without clinical trials and a lack of a universal formula for marijuana, there appear to be significant controversies in the clinical benefits of marijuana. All healthcare workers, including nurse practitioners and pharmacists, should educate patients that marijuana may not be the panacea for all medical disorders. To date, marijuana has been shown to improve appetite and reduce mild nausea. Until data from randomized clinical trials are available, the prescription of marijuana should be limited as more evidence seems to indicate that this product may not be entirely safe for long-term consumption.[39][40][41]

In acute intoxication, triage nurses and emergency department physicians should maintain patent airway breathing and circulation. Psychiatrists should evaluate for the signs of psychosis and administer proper treatment. Similarly, critical care physicians should take care of the patient while in ICU. Finally, clinicians should refer patients with cannabis dependency to social workers. As depicted above, clinicians(MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs), pharmacists, specialists, nurses, and other healthcare providers are involved in taking care of the patient and an interprofessional team approach will minimize the risk of substance use disorder. [Level 5]

References


[1]

Eichhorn Bilodeau S, Wu BS, Rufyikiri AS, MacPherson S, Lefsrud M. An Update on Plant Photobiology and Implications for Cannabis Production. Frontiers in plant science. 2019:10():296. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00296. Epub 2019 Mar 29     [PubMed PMID: 31001288]


[2]

Auvin S, Damera V, Martin M, Holland R, Simontacchi K, Saich A. The impact of seizure frequency on quality of life in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B. 2021 Oct:123():108239. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108239. Epub 2021 Aug 7     [PubMed PMID: 34375802]

Level 2 (mid-level) evidence

[3]

Strickland JC, Jackson H, Schlienz NJ, Salpekar JA, Martin EL, Munson J, Bonn-Miller MO, Vandrey R. Cross-sectional and longitudinal evaluation of cannabidiol (CBD) product use and health among people with epilepsy. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B. 2021 Sep:122():108205. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108205. Epub 2021 Jul 27     [PubMed PMID: 34311183]

Level 2 (mid-level) evidence

[4]

Schubert-Bast S, Strzelczyk A. Review of the treatment options for epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis complex: towards precision medicine. Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders. 2021:14():17562864211031100. doi: 10.1177/17562864211031100. Epub 2021 Jul 17     [PubMed PMID: 34349839]

Level 3 (low-level) evidence

[5]

Badowski ME, Yanful PK. Dronabinol oral solution in the management of anorexia and weight loss in AIDS and cancer. Therapeutics and clinical risk management. 2018:14():643-651. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S126849. Epub 2018 Apr 6     [PubMed PMID: 29670357]


[6]

Hesketh PJ, Kris MG, Basch E, Bohlke K, Barbour SY, Clark-Snow RA, Danso MA, Dennis K, Dupuis LL, Dusetzina SB, Eng C, Feyer PC, Jordan K, Noonan K, Sparacio D, Lyman GH. Antiemetics: ASCO Guideline Update. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2020 Aug 20:38(24):2782-2797. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.01296. Epub 2020 Jul 13     [PubMed PMID: 32658626]


[7]

Rice J, Hildebrand A, Spain R, Senders A, Silbermann E, Wooliscroft L, Yadav V, Bourdette D, Cameron M. A cross-sectional survey of cannabis use by people with MS in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders. 2021 Oct:55():103172. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103172. Epub 2021 Jul 25     [PubMed PMID: 34332457]

Level 2 (mid-level) evidence

[8]

Pantoja-Ruiz C, Restrepo-Jimenez P, Castañeda-Cardona C, Ferreirós A, Rosselli D. Cannabis and pain: a scoping review. Brazilian journal of anesthesiology (Elsevier). 2022 Jan-Feb:72(1):142-151. doi: 10.1016/j.bjane.2021.06.018. Epub 2021 Jul 16     [PubMed PMID: 34280454]

Level 2 (mid-level) evidence

[9]

Spanagel R, Bilbao A. Approved cannabinoids for medical purposes - Comparative systematic review and meta-analysis for sleep and appetite. Neuropharmacology. 2021 Sep 15:196():108680. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108680. Epub 2021 Jun 26     [PubMed PMID: 34181977]

Level 2 (mid-level) evidence

[10]

Premoli M, Aria F, Bonini SA, Maccarinelli G, Gianoncelli A, Pina SD, Tambaro S, Memo M, Mastinu A. Cannabidiol: Recent advances and new insights for neuropsychiatric disorders treatment. Life sciences. 2019 May 1:224():120-127. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.03.053. Epub 2019 Mar 22     [PubMed PMID: 30910646]

Level 3 (low-level) evidence

[11]

Borgelt LM, Franson KL, Nussbaum AM, Wang GS. The pharmacologic and clinical effects of medical cannabis. Pharmacotherapy. 2013 Feb:33(2):195-209. doi: 10.1002/phar.1187. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 23386598]

Level 3 (low-level) evidence

[12]

Benito C, Núñez E, Tolón RM, Carrier EJ, Rábano A, Hillard CJ, Romero J. Cannabinoid CB2 receptors and fatty acid amide hydrolase are selectively overexpressed in neuritic plaque-associated glia in Alzheimer's disease brains. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 2003 Dec 3:23(35):11136-41     [PubMed PMID: 14657172]


[13]

Grotenhermen F. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids. Clinical pharmacokinetics. 2003:42(4):327-60     [PubMed PMID: 12648025]


[14]

Steigerwald S, Wong PO, Khorasani A, Keyhani S. The Form and Content of Cannabis Products in the United States. Journal of general internal medicine. 2018 Sep:33(9):1426-1428. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4480-0. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 29770952]


[15]

Degenhardt L, Coffey C, Romaniuk H, Swift W, Carlin JB, Hall WD, Patton GC. The persistence of the association between adolescent cannabis use and common mental disorders into young adulthood. Addiction (Abingdon, England). 2013 Jan:108(1):124-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04015.x. Epub 2012 Oct 18     [PubMed PMID: 22775447]


[16]

Posis A, Bellettiere J, Liles S, Alcaraz J, Nguyen B, Berardi V, Klepeis NE, Hughes SC, Wu T, Hovell MF. Indoor cannabis smoke and children's health. Preventive medicine reports. 2019 Jun:14():100853. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100853. Epub 2019 Mar 16     [PubMed PMID: 30976488]


[17]

Freeman TP, Hindocha C, Green SF, Bloomfield MAP. Medicinal use of cannabis based products and cannabinoids. BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2019 Apr 4:365():l1141. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l1141. Epub 2019 Apr 4     [PubMed PMID: 30948383]


[18]

Ugradar S, Manta A, Flanagan D. Unilateral cilioretinal artery occlusion following cannabis use. Therapeutic advances in ophthalmology. 2019 Jan-Dec:11():2515841419838661. doi: 10.1177/2515841419838661. Epub 2019 Mar 27     [PubMed PMID: 30944891]

Level 3 (low-level) evidence

[19]

Drummer OH, Gerostamoulos D, Woodford NW. Cannabis as a cause of death: A review. Forensic science international. 2019 May:298():298-306. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.03.007. Epub 2019 Mar 14     [PubMed PMID: 30925348]


[20]

Mustonen A, Niemelä S, Nordström T, Murray GK, Mäki P, Jääskeläinen E, Miettunen J. Adolescent cannabis use, baseline prodromal symptoms and the risk of psychosis. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science. 2018 Apr:212(4):227-233. doi: 10.1192/bjp.2017.52. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 29557758]


[21]

Stefani A, Aramini B, Baraldi C, Pellesi L, Della Casa G, Morandi U, Guerzoni S. Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax and bullous lung disease in cannabis and tobacco smokers: A case-control study. PloS one. 2020:15(3):e0230419. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230419. Epub 2020 Mar 30     [PubMed PMID: 32226050]

Level 2 (mid-level) evidence

[22]

Meier MH, Caspi A, Cerdá M, Hancox RJ, Harrington H, Houts R, Poulton R, Ramrakha S, Thomson WM, Moffitt TE. Associations Between Cannabis Use and Physical Health Problems in Early Midlife: A Longitudinal Comparison of Persistent Cannabis vs Tobacco Users. JAMA psychiatry. 2016 Jul 1:73(7):731-40. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0637. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 27249330]


[23]

Callaghan RC, Sanches M, Kish SJ. Quantity and frequency of cannabis use in relation to cannabis-use disorder and cannabis-related problems. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2020 Dec 1:217():108271. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108271. Epub 2020 Sep 11     [PubMed PMID: 32977043]


[24]

Auer R, Vittinghoff E, Yaffe K, Künzi A, Kertesz SG, Levine DA, Albanese E, Whitmer RA, Jacobs DR Jr, Sidney S, Glymour MM, Pletcher MJ. Association Between Lifetime Marijuana Use and Cognitive Function in Middle Age: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. JAMA internal medicine. 2016 Mar:176(3):352-61. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.7841. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 26831916]


[25]

Lapoint J, Meyer S, Yu CK, Koenig KL, Lev R, Thihalolipavan S, Staats K, Kahn CA. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Public Health Implications and a Novel Model Treatment Guideline. The western journal of emergency medicine. 2018 Mar:19(2):380-386. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2017.11.36368. Epub 2017 Nov 8     [PubMed PMID: 29560069]


[26]

Chadi N, Levy S. What Every Pediatric Gynecologist Should Know About Marijuana Use in Adolescents. Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. 2019 Aug:32(4):349-353. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2019.03.004. Epub 2019 Mar 26     [PubMed PMID: 30923025]


[27]

Giano Z, Hubach RD, Currin JM, Wheeler DL. Adverse childhood experiences and MSM marijuana use. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2019 May 1:198():76-79. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.024. Epub 2019 Feb 27     [PubMed PMID: 30878770]


[28]

Gundersen TD, Jørgensen N, Andersson AM, Bang AK, Nordkap L, Skakkebæk NE, Priskorn L, Juul A, Jensen TK. Association Between Use of Marijuana and Male Reproductive Hormones and Semen Quality: A Study Among 1,215 Healthy Young Men. American journal of epidemiology. 2015 Sep 15:182(6):473-81. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwv135. Epub 2015 Aug 16     [PubMed PMID: 26283092]

Level 2 (mid-level) evidence

[29]

Watanabe K, Yamaori S, Funahashi T, Kimura T, Yamamoto I. Cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in the metabolism of tetrahydrocannabinols and cannabinol by human hepatic microsomes. Life sciences. 2007 Mar 20:80(15):1415-9     [PubMed PMID: 17303175]


[30]

. Cannabis. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). 2006:():     [PubMed PMID: 30000647]


[31]

Cavazos-Rehg PA, Krauss MJ, Cahn E, Lee KE, Ferguson E, Rajbhandari B, Sowles SJ, Floyd GM, Berg C, Bierut LJ. Marijuana Promotion Online: an Investigation of Dispensary Practices. Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research. 2019 Feb:20(2):280-290. doi: 10.1007/s11121-018-0889-2. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 29629505]


[32]

Kahan M, Srivastava A. New medical marijuana regulations: the coming storm. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne. 2014 Sep 2:186(12):895-6. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.131821. Epub 2014 Jun 23     [PubMed PMID: 24958833]


[33]

. Cannabidiol. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. 2012:():     [PubMed PMID: 31644197]


[34]

Wolfe CE, Wood DM, Dines A, Whatley BP, Yates C, Heyerdahl F, Hovda KE, Giraudon I, Dargan PI, Euro-DEN Research Group. Seizures as a complication of recreational drug use: Analysis of the Euro-DEN Plus data-set. Neurotoxicology. 2019 Jul:73():183-187. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.04.003. Epub 2019 Apr 8     [PubMed PMID: 30974132]


[35]

Koltai H, Poulin P, Namdar D. Promoting cannabis products to pharmaceutical drugs. European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2019 Apr 30:132():118-120. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2019.02.027. Epub 2019 Mar 7     [PubMed PMID: 30851400]


[36]

Ashton CH. Pharmacology and effects of cannabis: a brief review. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science. 2001 Feb:178():101-6     [PubMed PMID: 11157422]


[37]

Appelboam A, Oades PJ. Coma due to cannabis toxicity in an infant. European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine. 2006 Jun:13(3):177-9     [PubMed PMID: 16679885]

Level 3 (low-level) evidence

[38]

Hickey JL, Witsil JC, Mycyk MB. Haloperidol for treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. The American journal of emergency medicine. 2013 Jun:31(6):1003.e5-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2013.02.021. Epub 2013 Apr 10     [PubMed PMID: 23583118]

Level 3 (low-level) evidence

[39]

Wisk LE, Levy S, Weitzman ER. Parental views on state cannabis laws and marijuana use for their medically vulnerable children. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2019 Jun 1:199():59-67. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.12.027. Epub 2019 Feb 14     [PubMed PMID: 30999251]


[40]

Artukoglu BB, Bloch MH. The Potential of Cannabinoid-Based Treatments in Tourette Syndrome. CNS drugs. 2019 May:33(5):417-430. doi: 10.1007/s40263-019-00627-1. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 30977108]


[41]

Friedman D, French JA, Maccarrone M. Safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of cannabinoids in neurological disorders. The Lancet. Neurology. 2019 May:18(5):504-512. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30032-8. Epub 2019 Mar 22     [PubMed PMID: 30910443]