British researchers launch study into the effects of weed on the brain

Researchers in the UK are currently recruiting volunteers for a study designed to examine the effects of cannabis on the human brain. Subjects selected for the full study will be paid for their participation in research being conducted as part of King’s College London’s Cannabis & Me project.

The researchers who conducted the study said the research is “of paramount importance” to understanding the science behind cannabis, which they say is used by approximately 200 million people worldwide every day and is the subject of legalization efforts in countries around the world is. dr Marta Di Forti, a leading cannabis and psychosis researcher and leader of the new study, noted that “cannabis is used daily by many for recreational as well as medicinal reasons.”

“But in the UK, prescription of medicinal cannabis remains rare,” added Di Forti, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “Our study aims to provide data and tools that may make doctors in the UK and around the world more confident in prescribing cannabis safely.”

To conduct the two-part study, researchers are recruiting 6,000 volunteers aged 18 to 45 living in London. Participants selected for the study must either be regular cannabis users who have never tried the drug or have used cannabis less than three times.

The first part of the study consists of a 40-minute online survey. Those who fill out the first survey will be entered into a prize draw. Researchers then select participants to conduct an in-person assessment. Those who complete the in-person assessment will receive £50 (almost $60).

The preliminary questionnaire asks participants about their experiences with cannabis and why they use it, including use because of trauma, illness, or social situations. The survey will also explore how mood and anxiety can change how participants think and feel and affect their cannabis use, particularly in social settings.

Personal assessments for some participants

From the survey participants, the researchers will select a sub-group of volunteers to conduct an in-person assessment at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. This part of the study consists of three parts, including a more detailed survey, a blood test, and a real-life virtual reality scenario. The second questionnaire looks at participants’ experiences of situations such as trauma or adversity. The volunteers are also asked if their cannabis use has changed since the original survey was completed.

The blood test is used to determine the participants’ THC and CBD levels. The blood test is also used to quantify similar compounds naturally produced by the body, known as endocannabinoids, to determine if levels of these substances vary between cannabis users and non-users. In addition, blood analysis provides researchers with data on gene structure and epigenetics, i.e. changes in the way genes are expressed. Di Forti noted that other research suggests that tobacco smokers have epigenetic changes, but there is no research examining whether cannabis can cause similar changes.

The last part of the study will use virtual reality technology to put the participants in an everyday scenario such as visiting a supermarket. Study participants also answer questions before and after the virtual reality experience to determine how they respond to social interactions.

A separate study will collect the same information from people undergoing treatment for psychosis thought to be caused by cannabis. Di Forti said the goal of this piece of research is to determine if there are biological factors that might make a person more susceptible to the cannabis-use-induced psychosis that has been observed in some patients. With the information, it is hoped to identify those who are safe to use cannabis.

London residents interested in participating in the study can complete an initial screening survey online.