Poor sleep quality as a risk factor for lapse following a cannabis quit attempt

Treatments for cannabis dependence are associated with high rates of lapse/relapse, underscoring the importance of identifying malleable risk factors that are associated with quit failure. Whereas research has demonstrated that poor sleep quality following cannabis discontinuation is related to subsequent use, there has yet to be an examination of whether poor sleep quality prior to a quit attempt results in a similar pattern of lapse. The present study addressed this gap by examining the role of pre-quit sleep quality on early lapse to cannabis use following a self-guided quit attempt, among 55 cannabis dependent military veterans. Results indicated that participants who experienced poor pre-quit sleep quality had greater risk for lapse within the first 2 days (out of 7) following their quit attempt. Findings are discussed in terms of improving treatments for individuals who report poor sleep quality prior to a cannabis quit attempt.     

A ‘community enterprise’ model for recreational cannabis: Lessons from alcohol licensing trusts in New Zealand

The legalisation of cannabis on the American continent in recent years has reinvigorated calls for cannabis law reform in many countries. Yet researchers have described potentially negative public health and social impacts of profit driven commercial markets for cannabis. Consequently, they have suggested exploring a number of alternative regulatory options, such as “not-for-profit” or “for-benefit” organisations. However, many of these new models are yet to be developed in detail. This paper presents a “community enterprise” model for recreational cannabis based on the alcohol licensing trusts which have existed in New Zealand for many decades. Alcohol licensing trusts are community-owned entities which operate alcohol retail outlets and return a portion of their profits back to local communities in the form of grants, loans and donations. The principal benefits of the “community trust” model are suppressing the commercial incentive to expand the market, establishing statutory obligations to distribute revenue back to the community, and establishing community governance over alcohol sales. The removal of a strong commercial incentive and community accountability may also contribute to lower levels of availability, higher prices and less harm. A further benefit is providing the local community with some oversight of a trust’s commercial activities via community elections of the trust board and the ability to call a “community poll” to vote on the future existence of the trust. Our proposed community cannabis licensing trust model seeks to address some of the challenges experienced by alcohol licensing trusts in New Zealand, including the lack of general oversight and balancing the commercial and social aims of the trusts. A limitation of this model includes a lack of research and evaluation of the existing alcohol licensing trusts and further research in this area would inform the application of the model to cannabis.     

Attitudes,beliefs, and changing trends of cannabidiol (CBD) oil use among caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease

ObjectivesWith the increasing popularity of CBD-based products, especially CBD oil, it is increasingly important to understand what motivates caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to use CBD oil as part of treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify the attitudes and beliefs of caregivers of individuals with AD toward CBD oil in Poland, to identify factors that might be associated with the decision to use CBD oil among caregivers, and to explore whether such a decision was discussed with a healthcare professional.MethodA cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Poland. Participation in the study was entirely voluntary and completely anonymous. Caregivers (n = 73) were asked about their practices and attitudes regarding CBD oil.ResultsThe most common source of knowledge about CBD oil was an online support group for caregivers. The vast majority of caregivers found CBD to be effective in managing behavioral symptoms of AD and believed that healthcare professionals should offer CBD oil as a part of treatment. However, only 63 % (n = 46) reported consulting with their physician about using CBD oil. The study also demonstrated that some caregivers thought that CBD oil use was illegal in Poland and that their care-recipient may develop a dependence and withdrawal symptoms if they stopped using it.ConclusionsThe results of the study highlight the positive and negative perceptions among caregivers of people with AD. The study also emphasizes the importance of enhancing communication between caregivers and healthcare professionals to discuss the use of CBD oil in the treatment of individuals with AD.