2026-2027 | On-Demand Session | Cannabis Use Disorder, Cannabis-Related Disorders, and Board Review | October 2026-Cannabis Use Disorder, Cannabis-Related Disorders, and Board Review Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Drs. Greg Schwartzentruber and Ian Klancik present a board-review session on cannabis, emphasizing cannabis use disorder (CUD), intoxication, withdrawal, associated disorders, and treatment.<br /><br />They review cannabis’s history, changing legal landscape, rising THC potency, and the difficulty of researching a complex plant with many active compounds. Products vary widely in regulation and risk, particularly hemp-derived cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC, which have been linked to accidental exposures and hospitalizations. Harm-reduction advice includes using regulated sources, avoiding high-potency products and synthetic cannabinoids, and reducing lung exposure; tinctures or dry-herb vaporizers are discussed as lower-risk options than smoking.<br /><br />The lecture explains how the endocannabinoid system affects reward, mood, memory, appetite, and other functions. Frequent use can lead to tolerance, withdrawal, and changes in this system. CUD is diagnosed by impaired control and consequences—not moral judgment—and risk is greater with earlier, more frequent, and higher-potency use. Withdrawal commonly involves irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbance, appetite changes, and cravings; it is usually not medically dangerous but can prompt return to use. Cannabis may also be associated with anxiety, psychosis, sleep problems, and delirium, though causal relationships are often uncertain.<br /><br />Treatment centers on psychosocial approaches: cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and contingency management. Evidence for medications remains limited, and no medication is established as reliably promoting abstinence. Screening and individualized, nonjudgmental conversations can support risk assessment and harm reduction.

Keywords

cannabis

cannabis use disorder

CUD

intoxication

withdrawal

endocannabinoid system

THC potency

delta-8 THC

synthetic cannabinoids

harm reduction

cognitive behavioral therapy

motivational enhancement therapy

contingency management

psychosis

screening