cannabis research

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Cannabis and Heart Health: Clinical Evidence, Cardiovascular Mechanisms, and the JAMA Study Critique

  • June 6, 2025

Following widespread media coverage of a UCSF study published in JAMA Cardiology linking cannabis to potential cardiovascular risks, board-certified family physician Dr. Benjamin Caplan provides an evidence-based clinical appraisal of cannabinoid hemodynamics. While acute delta-9-THC inhalation can trigger transient tachycardia, peripheral vasodilation, and sympathetic nervous system activation, broad observational registries frequently conflate combustion-related toxins with pure cannabinoid pharmacology. This comprehensive clinical guide examines the physiological mechanisms of CB1 and CB2 receptors in vascular tissue, identifies high-risk cardiac contraindications, and details safe monitoring protocols for patients and physicians.

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Cannabis and Pregnancy: Clinical Evidence, Endocannabinoid Physiology, and Risk-Benefit Decision-Making

  • February 15, 2025

While major medical organizations caution against cannabis use during pregnancy due to theoretical neurodevelopmental risks and potential associative links with low birth weight, millions of pregnant individuals experience debilitating nausea, hyperemesis gravidarum, and severe pain unresponsive to conventional therapies. Because ethical constraints prevent randomized controlled trials, available clinical literature relies almost entirely on retrospective observational datasets heavily confounded by polysubstance exposure, socioeconomic stressors, and unverified self-reporting. Board-certified family physician Dr. Benjamin Caplan provides an evidence-grounded review of placental endocannabinoid physiology, methodological study limitations, and compassionate clinical decision-making for patients and healthcare providers.