As medicinal cannabis becomes more widely used, Rutgers Health is examining the potential physical and mental health effects on patients. After receiving a $686,376 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, researchers recently kicked off a five-year study on therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana as well as side effects and possible harms to health.
According to Rutgers Health, the project will examine risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD), a complex condition involving a problematic pattern of cannabis use.
Roughly 1-in-10 individuals who consume marijuana will develop CUD, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. After alcohol, heroin and other opiates, marijuana was also cited as a reason for substance abuse treatment admissions in New Jersey in 2022, according to the state Department of Health. Prior research has found that nearly 20% of individuals who use medicinal cannabis will find themselves hooked within three months. To read the full story.