Cannabis safety

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Cannabis for Pediatric Autism: Clinical Evidence, Mechanisms, and Safety Guidelines

  • May 1, 2026

Clinical trials and real-world registries demonstrate that cannabinoid therapies may help modulate severe behavioral dysregulation, anxiety, and sleep disruption in pediatric autism spectrum disorder. Because children possess distinct neurodevelopmental sensitivities and hepatic metabolic profiles, cannabinoid treatment requires specialized physician supervision, precise whole-plant formulation selection, and gradual micro-titration. Board-certified family physician Dr. Benjamin Caplan provides a comprehensive breakdown of clinical mechanisms, peer-reviewed evidence, and strict safety guidelines for families and clinicians.

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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: What Doctors Aren’t Saying

  • May 16, 2025

Clinical Update: This editorial interview has been consolidated into our comprehensive gold-standard monograph: Cannabis and Pregnancy: Clinical Evidence, Endocannabinoid Physiology, and Risk-Benefit Decision-Making. When Suffering, Pregnancy and Cannabis Collide: What...

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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.

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Medical Cannabis for Seniors: Clinical Evidence, Polypharmacy Reduction, and Policy Reform

  • February 13, 2025

With over thirty percent of American adults over sixty-five taking five or more daily pharmaceuticals, medical cannabis offers a scientifically validated pathway to reduce high-risk polypharmacy and alleviate chronic pain. Clinical research demonstrates significant reductions in dangerous opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions among older adults, mitigating fatal falls and adverse drug interactions. Board-certified family physician Dr. Benjamin Caplan outlines the clinical evidence, geriatric pharmacology safeguards, and urgent Medicare policy reforms necessary to expand safe access for seniors.

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Mold in Cannabis: Clinical Health Risks, Mycological Dangers, and Safety Guidelines

  • February 5, 2025

Inhaling or consuming mold-contaminated cannabis poses severe medical risks, ranging from acute respiratory inflammation and allergic sinusitis to life-threatening invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. Fungal spores and hazardous mycotoxins—including aflatoxins and ochratoxin A—frequently survive combustion and vaporization, making proper post-harvest curing and strict analytical laboratory testing essential. Board-certified family physician Dr. Benjamin Caplan provides an evidence-based clinical guide on identifying common cannabis molds, evaluating Certificate of Analysis (COA) safety thresholds, and protecting vulnerable patients.

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The Truth About Cannabis Misinformation: 7 Common Myths Debunked by Clinical Science

  • January 27, 2025

Widespread cannabis misinformation—fueled by commercial dispensary marketing, anecdotal internet folklore, and historical medical training omissions—frequently misleads patients seeking safe, evidence-grounded therapeutic care. From the unverified commercial hype surrounding CBN as a primary sedative to obsolete Indica-versus-Sativa classifications, misleading narratives prevent patients from achieving predictable clinical outcomes. Board-certified family physician Dr. Benjamin Caplan debunks seven prevalent cannabis myths using clinical pharmacology, real-world registry observations, and modern endocannabinoid science.