Women are taking the hit: Examining the unique consequences of cannabis use across the female lifespan

• Published in: Frontiers in neuroendocrinology 2023-07, Vol.70, p.101076-101076, Article 101076
• Main Authors: Gräfe, E.L., Reid, H.M.O., Shkolnikov, I., Conway, K., Kit, A., Acosta, C., Christie, B.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescence; Cannabis; Cannabis use disorder; Endocannabinoids; Prenatal; Sex differences
• ISSN: 0091-3022; 1095-6808
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101076

Graphical Abstract: Overview of Cannabis Use Throughout the Female Lifespan. ① Cannabinoids can pass through the placenta and cause disruptions in neurodevelopment. Fetal cannabis exposure demonstrate many anatomical and behavioural deficits. ② Adolescent and childhood use of cannabis is associated with many long-term cognitive impairments and development of disorders. ③Women and men have a differential experience of cannabis and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), including different frequency of use, metabolism of cannabinoids, and pattern of CUD development. However, there are instances in which cannabis can be therapeutic, such as in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Cannabis also may have a role in harm reduction, particularly as a substitution mechanism for high-risk substances. CUD: cannabis use disorder, THC: tetrahydrocannabinol, CB1R: Cannabinoid receptor type 1, AD: Alzheimer’s Disease, MS: multiple sclerosis, PTSD: post-traumatic stress disorder. [Display omitted] •Understanding of cannabis use and consequences in women is lacking.•Cannabis use can lead to addiction, known as Cannabis Use Disorder.•Cannabis use can have lasting consequences, especially in vulnerable populations.•There is potential for cannabis to be used medicinally in female-dominant disorders. Cannabis use has risen dramatically in recent years due to global decriminalization and a resurgence in the interest of potential therapeutic benefits. While emerging research is shaping our understanding of the benefits and harms of cannabis, there remains a paucity of data specifically focused on how cannabis affects the female population. The female experience of cannabis use is unique, both in the societal context and because of the biological ramifications. This is increasingly important given the rise in cannabis potency, as well as the implications this has for the prevalence of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). Therefore, this scoping review aims to discuss the prevalence of cannabis use and CUD in women throughout their lifespan and provide a balanced prospective on the positive and negative consequences of cannabis use. In doing so, this review will highlight the necessity for continued research that goes beyond sex differences.