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The Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research, a multi-university collaboration established by the state of Florida in the USA, hosted its third annual Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference (CCORC) in May 2023. CCORC was held as a hybrid conference, with a scientific program consisting of in-person sessions, with some sessions livestreamed to virtual attendees. CCORC facilitated and promoted up-to-date research on the clinical effects of medical cannabis, fostering collaboration and active involvement among scientists, policymakers, industry professionals, clinicians, and other stakeholders. Three themes emerged from conference sessions and speaker presentations: (1) disentangling conflicting evidence for the effects of medical cannabis on public health, (2) seeking solutions to address barriers faced when conducting clinical cannabis research - especially with medical cannabis use in special populations such as those who are pregnant, and (3) unpacking the data behind cannabis use and mental health outcomes. The fourth annual CCORC is planned for the summer of 2024 in Florida, USA. Keywords: Mental health, Public health, Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference, Conference proceedings, Medical marijuana, Cannabis, Cannabinoids, Cannabidiol, Marijuana efficacy, Marijuana clinical outcomes, Author(s): Amie J. Goodin [a,b,c]; Phuong T. Tran [a]; Sam McKee [a,c]; Ruba Sajdeya [c,d]; Jeevan Jyot [a,c]; Robert L. Cook [c,d,e]; Yan Wang [c,d]; Almut G. Winterstein [a,b,c] Introduction [...]

We use quantum trajectory theory to study the dynamics of the first step in photosynthesis for a single photon interacting with photosystem II (PSII). By considering individual trajectories we are able to look beyond the ensemble average dynamics to compute the PSII system evolution conditioned upon individual photon counting measurements. Measurements of the transmitted photon beam strongly affects the system state, since detection of an outgoing photon confirms that the PSII must be in the electronic ground state, while a null measurement implies it is in an excited electronic state. We show that under ideal conditions, observing the null result transforms a state with a low excited state population to a state with nearly all population contained in the excited states. We study the PSII dynamics conditioned on such photon counting for both a pure excitonic model of PSII and a more realistic model with exciton-phonon coupling to a dissipative phononic environment. In the absence of such coupling, we show that the measured fluorescence rates show oscillations constituting a photon-counting witness of excitonic coherence. Excitonic coupling to the phonon environment has a strong effect on the observed rates of fluorescence, damping the oscillations. Addition of non-radiative decay and incoherent transitions to radical pair states in the reaction center to the phononic model allows extraction of a quantum efficiency of 92.5% from the long-time evolution, consistent with bulk experimental measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference (CCORC) 2021 was held virtually on April 8 and 9, 2021. The conference was hosted by the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research, a research organization instituted by the state legislature of Florida in the United States. The inaugural annual CCORC 2021 was organized as a scientific meeting to foster and disseminate research on medical marijuana (MM) clinical outcomes, while promoting engagement among MM researchers, patients, clinicians, policymakers, and industry partners. Key conference themes included: (a) the disconnect between policy, practice, and evidence and steps towards reconciliation, (b) approaches to overcome common barriers to MM research, and (c) the use of focused translational approaches utilizing both mechanistic and clinical research methodology to tackle the complexities of MM outcomes. CCORC 2022 is planned for spring 2022 in Orlando, Florida, United States. Keywords: Conference proceedings, Medical marijuana, Cannabis, Marijuana clinical outcomes, Author(s): Amie J. Goodin (corresponding author) [a,b,c]; Debbie L. Wilson [a]; Robert L. Cook [c,d,e]; Yan Wang [c,d]; Joshua Brown [a,b,c]; Almut G. Winterstein [a,b,c,d] Florida is one of 36 [...]

Introduction: Illicit drug use is a significant public health problem. Studies have shown a high prevalence of cocaine and cannabis use in transgender women (TGW). Objective: To describe the consumption patterns of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and variables associated with their use in TGW in Central Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on TGW in Goiás, Brazil. Participants were recruited using a respondent-driven sampling method and were interviewed face-to-face about cannabis and crack-cocaine and the variables associated with them. The Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test was used to assess substance use. Unweighted logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with cannabis and crack cocaine use. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 440 transgender women participated in the study. Their median age was 25 years (interquartile range: 20.5–29.5 years). Most participants were single (85.5%) and had engaged in sex work in their lifetime (58.6%). Cannabis was reported by 68.9% and 53.4% of participants in their lifetime and in the past three months, respectively, and cocaine/crack use was reported by 59.8% and 44.1% of participants in their lifetime and the past three months, respectively. Of the participants, 10.2% reported high-risk cannabis use, and 9.1% reported high-risk cocaine/crack use. Furthermore, 35% of participants reported using both drugs. Previous physical violence (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.37), inconsistent condom uses during anal sex (AOR: 2.17), and moderate-/high-risk cocaine/crack use (AOR: 3.14) were associated with high-risk cannabis use. Previous sexual violence (AOR: 2.84), previous STI (AOR: 2.90), moderate-/high-risk cannabis (AOR: 3.82), and binge drinking (AOR; 3.28) were associated with high-risk cocaine/crack use. Conclusion: Our study found a high frequency, significant overlap in the use of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and violence associated with these drugs consumption among TGW, highlighting the urgent need for health policies for drug disorders among this socially marginalized group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-acting injectable (LAI) cabotegravir/rilpivirine (CAB/RPV) for antiretroviral therapy (ART) could benefit many people with HIV (PWH). However, its impact will largely be determined by providers' willingness to prescribe it and PWH's willingness to take it. This study explores the perceived barriers and facilitators of LAI CAB/RPV implementation among PWH and HIV care providers in Florida, a high prevalence setting. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in English with 16 PWH (50% non-Hispanic White, 50% cis men, and 94% on oral ART) and 11 providers (27% non-Hispanic Black, 27% Hispanic, 73% cis women, and 64% prescribed LAI CAB/RPV) throughout the state. Recruitment occurred between October 2022 and October 2023 from HIV clinics. Interviews were recorded, professionally transcribed, and then double coded using thematic analysis. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided the interview guide and coding. While PWH viewed LAI CAB/RPV as effective, predominant barriers included administration via injection, challenges of attending more clinic visits, and a feeling that this made HIV the center of one's life. Providers additionally expressed concerns about the development of integrase resistance. Barriers noted by PWH and providers outside of the clinic included transportation, stigma, access inequities, and payor issues. Within clinics, providers identified the need for extra staffing and the increased burden on existing staff as barriers. These barriers decreased the perceived need for LAI CAB/RPV among PWH and providers, especially with the high effectiveness of oral ART. Many of the identified barriers occur outside of the clinic and will likely apply to other novel long-acting ART options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used group-based trajectory models to identify 4 distinct trajectory patterns of adherence to preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among 20 696 users. Only 44.5% were consistently PrEP adherent, with younger age, being female, or having substance use disorder or depression associated with early discontinuation. Public health efforts are needed to improve PrEP adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research findings are inconsistent regarding a positive association between the passage of state medical marijuana laws (MML) and the adolescent access and the use of marijuana. We utilized a novel analytical approach to examine this issue with multiyear data from the 1997-2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System of the State of Michigan. After controlling for the historically declining trend in marijuana use prior to the passages of MML in Michigan, we found that marijuana use among adolescents had increased subsequent to the passage of state MML. The study findings suggest the need for considering the increased risk of marijuana use in adolescents, as more states have implemented laws permitting marijuana use.