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Driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) is a major cause of preventable death and a growing public health concern. News media coverage of DUIC may influence public perceptions of causal factors for DUIC, risks of DUIC, and potential policy solutions. This study examines Israeli news media coverage of DUIC, and contrasts media coverage according to whether news items refer to cannabis use for medical vs. non-medical purposes. We conducted a quantitative content analysis of news articles related to driving accidents and cannabis use (N = 299) from eleven of the highest circulation newspapers in Israel between 2008 and 2020. We apply attribution theory to analyze media coverage of accidents that were linked to medical cannabis, use compared with non-medical use. News items describing DUIC in the context of non-medical (vs. medical) cannabis use were more likely to: (a) emphasize individual causes (vs. social and political); (b) describe drivers in negative terms (vs. neutral or positive); (c) refer to an increased accident risk due to cannabis use (vs. inconclusive or low risk); and (d) call for increased enforcement rather than education. Results show that Israeli news media coverage of cannabis-impaired driving varied significantly depending on whether it referred to cannabis use for medical purposes, or non-medical purposes. News media coverage may influence public perceptions of the risks of DUIC, the factors that are associated with this issue, and potential policy solutions that may reduce the prevalence of DUIC in Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sleep problems and anxiety conditions are common comorbidities and may be influenced by cannabis and alcohol use. This study examined daily within‐person variation in subjective sleep quality among individuals with anxiety symptoms after cannabis or alcohol were used alone, and after co‐use. Methods: A total of 347 individuals with intentions to use cannabis to cope with anxiety reported their cannabis and alcohol use in the previous 24 h and their previous nights' sleep quality for 30 consecutive days. Mixed‐effects models examined whether the within‐person daily variation in use of cannabis and alcohol (alone and co‐use) was associated with subjective sleep quality. Models also examined whether daily cannabis and alcohol use associations with sleep were moderated by frequency of cannabis, alcohol and co‐use during the study period. Results: Compared to non‐use, participants reported better sleep after cannabis‐use‐only and after co‐use, but not after alcohol‐use‐only. People who more frequently use alcohol and cannabis reported sleeping better after cannabis‐use‐only days compared to those who use cannabis and alcohol less frequently. Discussion and Conclusions: The study's utilisation of naturalistic data among individuals with anxiety symptoms replicated previously reported experimental findings among individuals without sleep and anxiety problems that overall, cannabis is associated with higher subjective sleep quality. The results expand upon other research to suggest that more frequent use of alcohol and cannabis may moderate daily associations of cannabis use and sleep, potentially through pharmacokinetics and cross‐sensitisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: In this study, we systematically reviewed qualitative studies concerning patients' experience with medicinal cannabis (MC) use, to gain insight into the negative effects of MC. Background: Over the past decades, the use of MC for therapeutic purposes has increased. However, there is conflicting and insufficient data on possible negative physiological and psychological effects of MC treatment. Design: A systematic review was conducted and the PRISMA guidelines were adopted. Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO and EMBASE. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative checklist used to assess risk of bias in the included studies. Methods: We included studies focusing on conventional medical treatment using cannabis‐based products, approved by a physician for a particular health issue. Results: Of the 1230 articles identified in the initial search, eight articles were included in the review. Following the compilation of themes in the eligible studies, six themes were identified: (1) MC approval; (2) administrative barriers; (3) social perception; (4) MC misuse/widespread effect; (5) adverse effects; and (6) dependence or addiction. These were grouped into two meta‐themes: (1) administrative and social aspects of MC use; and (2) experiences of the effects of medicinal cannabis. Conclusions: Our findings call for specific attention to unique consequences associated with MC use. Further research is needed in order to assess the degree to which negative experiences associated with MC use may affect various aspects of patients' medical condition. Relevance to clinical practice: Describing the complex experience of MC treatment and its spectrum of consequences for patients may enable physicians, therapists and researchers to provide more attentive and accurate MC treatment to their patients. Patient or public contribution: In this review, patients' narratives were explored, yet the research methods did not directly involve patients or the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive school climates and student drug testing have been separately proposed as strategies to reduce student substance use in high schools. However, the effects of drug testing programs may depend on the favorability of school climates. This study examined the association between school drug testing programs and student substance use in schools with different climates. The analysis was based on a nationally representative sample of 943 high school students (48% female) ranging from 14 to 19 years of age (62% identifying as white, 18% Hispanic, 13% African American, and 7% in other categories). Results showed that both male and female students in schools with positive climates reported lower levels of personal substance use. Drug testing was associated with lower levels of personal substance use in positive school climates, but only for female students. There was no relationship between drug testing and male students' substance use. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of considering school climates before implementing drug-testing programs in high schools.

Aims and Objectives: To explore the ways in which stigma is experienced, and what strategies are used to manage stigma among patients using medical cannabis to ease suffering from chronic pain. Background: Various jurisdictions have legalised medical cannabis in recent decades. Despite increasing prevalence and more liberal attitudes towards medical cannabis, it is possible that patients who use medical cannabis experience stigma. Design: A phenomenological qualitative study. Methods: Fifteen patients living with chronic pain and licensed by the Israeli Ministry of Health to use medical cannabis to treat pain symptoms for at least 1 year participated in semi‐structured interviews. Transcribed data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify themes related to stigma. The manuscript is in correspondence to SRQR EQUATOR checklist. Results: Expressions of stigma were more related to 'felt' than 'enacted' stigma. Stigma related to decisions to delay onset of medical cannabis treatment and the ways in which participants managed medical cannabis use during their everyday lives. Participants dissociated themselves from recreational cannabis users, by presenting themselves as responsible normative individuals and engaging in a form of normalisation known as 'normification', emphasising their own discrete and controlled medical cannabis use and cannabis' benefits. Conclusions: Patients experienced 'felt' stigma which had consequences for their self‐presentations and medical cannabis use. This suggests that medical cannabis is not normalised in Israel and interventions may be needed to handle stigma related to medical cannabis. Relevance to clinical practice: The findings emphasise the effects of 'felt' stigma on patients. Aiming to increase the effectiveness of medical cannabis treatment and reducing harms, we suggest that particular focus should be placed on managing stigma at the intrapersonal level. In addition, there may be a need to address stigma at the societal level including social interactions with friends, family and medical personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, the public depends on the media for accurate and up-to-date information. However, frequent use of media for COVID-19-related information may be associated with maladaptive coping, and with increased prevalence of substance use. This study examined indirect associations between the frequency of media use for information about COVID-19 and increases in cannabis use behaviors through maladaptive coping strategies. We use data from an online survey of Israeli adult cannabis users (N = 440), conducted in May of 2020, to test associations between media use frequency for COVID-19 information and three problematic cannabis use behaviors: increased cannabis use, increased use alone, and increased use before midday. Among all respondents, 41% agreed that their cannabis use had increased since the onset of the pandemic. Analyses showed that higher frequency of media use was positively associated with all three indicators of problematic cannabis use, and that associations were partly mediated by maladaptive coping strategies. Higher frequency of media use for information about COVID-19 may be an indicator of difficulty with coping and of increased risk of escalation of cannabis use. These results have implications for assessing and mitigating the risk of coping-motivated cannabis use during a crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]