Save
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is an herbal drug. It contains chemicals called cannabinoids, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
The cannabinoids in cannabis work by binding to specific sites in the brain and on the nerves. There are over 100 cannabinoids in cannabis, but THC and CBD are the most well-studied. Cannabinoids are found in the highest levels in the leaves and flowers of the plant.
Cannabis is commonly used as a recreational drug. People also commonly use cannabis for multiple sclerosis (MS) and nerve pain. It is also used for nausea, vomiting, migraine, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using cannabis for COVID-19.
Don't confuse cannabis with hemp. Hemp contains very low levels of THC, less than 0.3% according to legal standards. Both hemp and cannabis also contain cannabinoids such as CBD, cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabigerol (CBG), and others. Unlike hemp, cannabis is illegal under federal law in the US. It is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. But some states have legalized or decriminalized recreational use.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS). A foreign prescription drug spray (Sativex) and oral cannabis extract seem to modestly reduce spasticity in patients with MS. It is unknown if inhaled cannabis is beneficial.
Login for details - Neuropathic pain. Inhaled cannabis seems to temporarily reduce neuropathic pain in some patients, although the optimal dose remains unclear.
Login for details
- Alcohol use disorder. It is unclear if smoked cannabis with a high concentration of cannabidiol is beneficial for reducing alcohol use in patients with alcohol use disorder.
Login for details - Alzheimer disease. It is unclear if sublingual cannabis improves behavior in patients with Alzheimer disease.
Login for details - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease). It is unclear if smoking cannabis improves symptoms of ALS.
Login for details - Cachexia. It is unclear if oral cannabis extract improves appetite in patients with cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome.
Login for details - Blepharospasm. It is unclear if oral cannabis extract is beneficial for blepharospasm previously unresponsive to botulism toxin injections.
Login for details - Cancer-related pain. It is unclear if oral or inhaled cannabis products are beneficial for patients with cancer-related pain. The evidence is mixed.
Login for details - Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). It is unclear if oral cannabis or an oromucosal cannabis extract spray is beneficial for the prevention of CINV.
Login for details - Crohn disease. It is unclear if oral cannabis oil or smoked cigarettes containing cannabis flowers can improve Crohn disease symptoms.
Login for details - Fibromyalgia. It is unclear if inhaled cannabis vapor might reduce fibromyalgia pain.
Login for details - Glaucoma. It is unclear if smoking cannabis affects glaucoma risk or severity.
Login for details - HIV/AIDS-related wasting. It is unclear if oral or smoked cannabis might attenuate wasting in patients with HIV.
Login for details - Hypertension. It is unclear if oral cannabis oil lowers blood pressure.
Login for details - Migraine headache. It is unclear if inhaled cannabis reduces migraine severity.
Login for details - Pain (chronic). It is unclear if most oral or inhaled cannabis products are beneficial for patients with chronic pain. Some medical non-inhaled cannabis products seem to be beneficial in patients with chronic pain due to various causes.
Login for details - Parkinson disease. It is unclear if smoking cannabis or taking oral cannabis extract is beneficial for improving Parkinson disease symptoms.
Login for details - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear if smoking cannabis is beneficial for PTSD.
Login for details - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear whether an oromucosal cannabis spray (Sativex) improves RA symptoms.
Login for details - Sickle cell disease. It is unclear if vaporized cannabis is beneficial for reducing chronic pain associated with sickle cell disease.
Login for details - Ulcerative colitis. Small studies suggest that smoking cannabis flower may improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis; however, it is unclear if cannabis improves clinical response.
Login for details
When taken by mouth: Cannabis is possibly unsafe when used in large amounts or long-term. Edible cannabis containing 50 mg or more of THC has been linked with serious side effects. Regularly taking large amounts of cannabis might cause cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). CHS leads to severe nausea and vomiting that doesn't respond to typical anti-nausea drugs. Also, using cannabis for at least 1-2 weeks can cause dependence.
When sprayed into the mouth: A specific cannabis extract (Sativex) is possibly safe. This is a prescription-only product in the UK and Canada. It is not approved in the US.
When inhaled: Cannabis is possibly unsafe when used in large amounts or long-term. Smoking or vaping cannabis can cause breathing problems. Vaping products containing THC have been linked to serious lung injury. Regularly smoking cannabis may cause CHS and/or dependence.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Using cannabis is unsafe during pregnancy. Cannabis passes through the placenta and can slow the growth of the fetus and increase the risk for premature birth, stillbirth, childhood leukemia, abnormalities, or the need for intensive care after birth. It can also lead to lower intelligence and emotional problems in the child when they grow up. It also increases the risk for anemia and high blood pressure while pregnant.Breast-feeding: Using cannabis is likely unsafe while breast-feeding. The chemicals in cannabis pass into breastmilk and stay in breastmilk for longer than 6 weeks, even after cannabis use has been stopped. These chemicals might slow down the development of the baby. Avoid all cannabis use if planning to breastfeed.
Bipolar disorder: Using cannabis might make manic symptoms worse in people with bipolar disorder.
Heart disease: Cannabis might cause fast heartbeat and high blood pressure. It might also increase the risk of having heart attack.
Allergies to fruits and vegetables: Cannabis might increase the risk of an allergic reaction in people with allergies to foods like tomatoes, bananas, and citrus fruit.
Depression: Using cannabis might increase the risk for depression. It can also worsen symptoms of depression and increase thoughts about suicide in those who already have depression.
Diabetes: Cannabis use might make it harder to control blood sugar levels. It might also increase the risk for long-term complications from diabetes. Until more is known, be cautious using cannabis.
Epilepsy: High doses of cannabis might cause seizures in people with epilepsy. There have been several reports where high doses of cannabis have caused seizures.
Weakened immune system: Because cannabis can be contaminated with fungus, there's some concern that using cannabis might put people with weakened immune systems at risk for fungal infections.
Liver disease: It is unclear if cannabis worsens chronic liver disease. Until more is known, be cautious using cannabis.
Lung diseases: Cannabis can make lung problems worse. Regular use might increase the risk of lung cancer. Some people develop a type of lung disease called emphysema.
Irregular heartbeat: Cannabis might increase the risk for dangerous irregular heartbeat in people at high risk for these conditions.
Schizophrenia: Using cannabis might make symptoms of schizophrenia worse.
Quitting smoking: Using cannabis might make it harder to quit smoking.
Stroke: Using cannabis after having a stroke might increase the risk of having a second stroke.
Surgery: Cannabis affects the central nervous system. It might slow the central nervous system too much when combined with anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery. Stop using cannabis at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Alcohol
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Using cannabis with alcohol might increase the effects of alcohol on the central nervous system. This might increase the risk for some side effects, such as drowsiness and mood changes.
Anesthesia
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Using cannabis might increase how much anesthesia your doctor needs to give to you for surgery. Tell your doctor if you regularly use cannabis. If possible, stop using cannabis at least 2 weeks before surgery.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Cannabis might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Cannabis might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Cannabis might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications for dissolving blood clots (Thrombolytic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cannabis might slow blood clotting. Taking cannabis with medications used for dissolving blood clots might increase the chance of bleeding and bruising.
Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Taking cannabis with some medications used for schizophrenia does not seem to reduce how well they work.
Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-glycoprotein Substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are moved in and out of cells by pumps. Cannabis might change how these pumps work and change how much medication stays in the body. In some cases, this might change the effects and side effects of a medication.
Medications that decrease the breakdown of other medications by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) inhibitors)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cannabis is changed and broken down by the liver. Some drugs decrease how quickly the liver changes and breaks down cannabis. This could change the effects and side effects of cannabis.
Medications that decrease the breakdown of other medications in the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cannabis is changed and broken down by the liver. Some drugs decrease how quickly the liver changes and breaks down cannabis. This could change the effects and side effects of cannabis.
Medications that increase breakdown of other medications by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inducers)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cannabis is changed and broken down by the liver. Some drugs increase how quickly the liver changes and breaks down cannabis. This could change the effects and side effects of cannabis.
Medications that increase the breakdown of other medications by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) inducers)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cannabis is changed and broken down by the liver. Some drugs increase how quickly the liver changes and breaks down cannabis. This could change the effects and side effects of cannabis.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cannabis might slow blood clotting. Taking cannabis along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Sedative medications (Barbiturates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cannabis might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking cannabis with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
Sedative medications (CNS depressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Cannabis might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking cannabis with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
Theophylline
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taking cannabis might decrease the effects of theophylline. But there isn't enough information to know if this is a big concern.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Major Do not take this combination.
Using cannabis might increase the effects of warfarin. Smoking cannabis while taking warfarin might increase the chance of bruising and bleeding.
Herbs and supplements that cause sleepiness: Cannabis might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking it along with other supplements with similar effects might cause too much sleepiness and/or slowed breathing in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include hops, kava, L-tryptophan, melatonin, and valerian.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Cannabis might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Cannabis is commonly used in capsules, edible products, sprays, vape products, and cigarettes. Products can vary significantly depending on how much delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids they contain. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
Cannabis is illegal under federal law in the US. It is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Some states have legalized or decriminalized use.
Anashca, Banji, Bhang, Blunt, Bud, Cannabis, Cannabis sativa, Charas, Dope, Esrar, Gaga, Ganga, Grass, Haschisch, Hash, Hashish, Herbe, Huo Ma Ren, Joint, Kif, Marie-Jeanne, Mariguana, Marihuana, Marijuana, Marijuana Médicale, Mary Jane, Medical Cannabis, Medical Marijuana, Pot, Sawi, Sinsemilla, Weed.
Information on this website is for informational use only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While evidence-based, it is not guaranteed to be error-free and is not intended to meet any particular user’s needs or requirements or to cover all possible uses, safety concerns, interactions, outcomes, or adverse effects. Always check with your doctor or other medical professional before making healthcare decisions (including taking any medication) and do not delay or disregard seeking medical advice or treatment based on any information displayed on this website.
© TRC Healthcare 2023. All rights reserved. Use and/or distribution is permitted only pursuant to a valid license or other permission from TRC Healthcare.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2023 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.