Research Roundup May 2025: Seven Articles on Cannabis Studies

Image | adobe.stock/Feng Yu

1. High Cannabis Use May Be Connected to Increased Mortality Seen in Colon Cancer Patients

A recent study found that high cannabis usage in colon cancer patients may experience increased mortality. To gather data, researchers gathered and analyzed more than 1,000 colon cancer patients electronic health records that received treatment in the University of California Health system between 2012 to 2024.

“Cannabis use disorder and mortality among patients with colon cancer” was published in Annals of Epidemiology in April 2025.

2. Study Explores Impact of THC on Driving-Related Cognitive Skills in Medical Cannabis Users

In this study, the effect of orally ingested cannabis on information processing speed, sustained and divided attention, inhibitory control, and mental flexibility was measured. Tolerance developed from a history of cannabis use was determined to be a significant factor affecting ability and more studies were suggested to further measure impairment effects.

The study, “Elucidating the acute effects of medically prescribed oral and vaporised delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on cognitive functions important for driving,” was published in Drug and Alcohol Review in April 2025.

3. Multiple Sclerosis Patients See Improvement with Vaporized Cannabis Cannabinoids THC and CBD

Researchers in Greece analyzed vaporized cannabis consisting of 13% CBD and 9% THC, with 69 participants. Some of the MS participants were experiencing muscle spasticity, disability progression rate, and bladder dysfunction. These symptoms were measured at baseline and then again at three months and six months. “Significant improvement was observed across all outcome assessments”, researchers commented.

“Evaluating Vaporized Cannabinoid Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis: Findings from a Prospective Single-Center Clinical Study” was published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in March 2025.

4. Study Examines Prevalence of Schizophrenia Cases Associated with Cannabis Use Disorder After Cannabis Legalization

The study analyzed cases of schizophrenia over periods of cannabis policy liberalization and legalization in a Canadian province. This coverage includes additional commentary on interpreting the findings.

The population-based cohort study, “Changes in Incident Schizophrenia Diagnoses Associated With Cannabis Use Disorder After Cannabis Legalization,” was published in February 2025 in JAMA Network Open.

5. Study Highlights Retail Cannabis Sales May Play A Role in Reduced Drinking with Young Adults

Research showed that retail cannabis sales may play a role in reducing drinking seen with young adults. The research team looked through nationally representative data from more than 400,000 respondents from a time period of over 10 years and saw “limited effects on population-wide alcohol and tobacco consumption post-legalization."

“The Effects of Recreational Cannabis Laws on Alcohol and Tobacco Use Among U.S. Adults, 2012–2022” was published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine in February 2025.

6. New Study Finds Cannabinoids May Offer A Safer Pain Relief Option Without Addiction Risks

Yale researchers investigated in a recent study how cannabinoids can be used as an alternative chronic pain treatment without addiction risks and found that they can help lower pain signals in Nav1.8.

“Nav1.8, an analgesic target for nonpsychotomimetic phytocannabinoids” was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) in January 2025.

7. Cannabis Legalization Does Not Lead To Increased Cannabis Use in Youth, Report States

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) examined national and state-level data on percentages of student cannabis use before and after cannabis laws were enacted.It noted that data from 19 of the 21 states included indicated a decrease in percentages of cannabis use.

The MPP published their findings in January 2025, compiling data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Prevention and Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, and data from states individually.