ADAI News

Anytime is the Right Time: Cannabis Ad Content in Freely Distributed Magazines in King County, WA

Thursday, March 14, 2019
12:00 – 1:00 pm PDT

In this free webinar, Dr. Beatriz Carlini will present a recently concluded content analysis study that looks at how cannabis products, legal stores, and vaping devices are portrayed in print media ads and the implications of these findings for prevention and education.

Dr. Carlini is a Senior Research Scientist at the UW Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, and an Affiliate Associate Professor at the School of Public Health. Her research career has been dedicated to understanding the public health impact of legal psychoactive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, inhalants and more recently, marijuana.

Sponsored by Washington Healthy Youth Coalition; Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention; and PreventionWorksinSeattle.org

Register Here.  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

What Is CBD and Can it Really Help Your Anxiety?

In an interview for the UW School of Medicine's Right as Rain, Dr. Bia Carlini discusses the growing popularity of CBD (cannabidiol), a compound found in marijuana.  Unlike the THC-laced joints and edibles that typically come to mind when you think of cannabis, CBD is not psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t give you the high you might get from marijuana with standard levels of THC.

Proponents say CBD can instead treat seizures that don't respond to traditional medications, and may help treat anxiety, pain and inflammation. You can find a slew of CBD-infused wellness products everywhere from recreational pot shops to your neighborhood drugstore, hair salon or spa. There are CBD oils, lotions, bath bombs, coffees, candies, and even pet treats.

According to Carlini, a senior research scientist at the UW Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute and affiliate associate professor in the School of Public Health, “. . . when adult cannabis use was legalized in Washington in 2012, it opened a dialogue and curiosity about using a plant that was so vilified in the public. Coupled with an industry that is for-profit, and therefore very interested in mainstreaming cannabis, CBD was brought to people’s attention.”

Read "What Is CBD and Can It Really Help Your Anxiety?" by Angela Cabotaje in Right as Rain.

Washington State Academy of Sciences Symposium on Conducting Cannabis Research in Washington

On September 13, 2018, the Washington State Academy of Sciences held a 1-day symposium on "The Highs and Lows of Conducting Research on Cannabis in Washington State" at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. Researchers from the University of Washington, Washington State University, and elsewhere participated, including Dennis Donovan of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute.

The symposium outlined the history of cannabis use and the data supporting its utility for improving the human condition, as well as its linkage to deleterious impacts.  Presentations ranged from foundational medical experimentation to work in highly applied real-world settings, and strategies to allow research to be conducted while remaining compliant with the regulatory environment.

WATCH Part 1:

WATCH Part 2:

WATCH Part 3:

 

UW & WSU Symposium on Marijuana Research in Washington

On May 18, 2018, the University of Washington’s Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute hosted its 3rd Symposium on Marijuana Research in Washington, this year in collaboration with colleagues from Washington State University.

Keynote speaker Bob Ferguson, Washington State Attorney General, spoke about issues of federal vs. state marijuana laws, and about Washington’s law protecting local jurisdictions’ right to exclude marijuana retail stores even if the product is legal in the state.

Bob Ferguson, WA State Attorney General | Photo by Colleen Boyce, @uwgov

Scientists from the UW and WSU presented in three areas:

• Marijuana and Vulnerable Populations
• Cannabinoids: Therapeutic Potential
• Marijuana Use & Other Substances: Substitution, Combination, or Both?

The event drew approximately 200 researchers, state and local officials, and community partners.

Video, slides, and speaker information are available at: http://adai.uw.edu/mjsymposium/.

ADAI received funds from Washington’s Marijuana Dedicated Fund to support marijuana research and information dissemination, described in a report covering activities from July 2015-June 2017.

Marijuana Research Info Job - Great for iSchool or Information-savvy UW Student

The UW Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute has a great job for a UW student to work on a Marijuana Research Information Project!  This job is part-time (10-19.5 hrs/week) for one academic quarter or more. We're starting a project to identify and track research studies, publications, and people with expertise on marijuana -- especially in or about Washington State.

This individual will perform lit searches, index and annotate citations, update bibliographic databases to track publications and expertise on marijuana (cannabis); assist with the creation and update of a newsletter and other communications to inform research, policy, community, and other stakeholder communities about marijuana research relevant to Washington State.

This would be a fun and interesting job for a student with mad skills in information retrieval, management, and presentation! Contact [email protected] if you have questions.

For a full description and application instructions: http://bit.ly/MJ_info_job

Interviews & Webinars with ADAI Researchers

TOMORROW (Feb. 28, 12:00-1:00pm): The 2nd in a series of monthly webinars from ADAI's Northwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NWATTC) will feature psychologist Michelle Peavy, who will examine patient-centered care in an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) setting.  Find out about future NWATTC webinars

ADAI Principal Research Scientist Caleb Banta-Green appeared on the KBTC TV program Northwest Now on Feb. 16, to talk about the epidemic of opioid use and overdose, and what can be done to stop the alarming addiction and death rate related to these drugs.  WATCH NOW
 

Dennis Donovan, ADAI Director, was interviewed by KING TV about the comparative risks of marijuana and heroin, and the fear that legalization will lead to increased use of marijuana. WATCH NOW

Beyond Brownies and Joints: Product Development and Advertising in the Legal Era was the topic of a webinar by ADAI Senior Research Scientist Bia Carlini, for the Washington Association of Prevention Coalitions and Prevention WINS.  VIEW on YouTube

Marijuana vs. Heroin: What Does Science Tell Us? An Interview with Dr. Dennis Donovan

During his years as a U.S. Senator and now as Attorney General, Jeff Sessions has repeatedly stated that marijuana is only "slightly less awful than heroin," a claim that is rebuked by scientific experts.  His office recently revoked the federal Cole Memo, under which states that legalized marijuana were allowed to sell pot under the strict conditions laid out in the memo.

On January 4, KING 5 interviewed Dr. Dennis Donovan, Director of the UW's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute about the comparative risks of marijuana and heroin, and the fear that legalization will lead to increased use of marijuana.

WATCH the interview.

ADAI Funds Marijuana Research Studies with I-502 Monies

Using funds from the I-502 Dedicated Marijuana Fund intended for marijuana research at the University of Washington, ADAI awarded two marijuana research grants in October, 2017. The goal of the Small Grant program is to stimulate research by providing initial funding for promising pilot projects which may ultimately be developed into full research studies with outside grant support.   

• Jason Ramirez, PhD, Acting Assistant Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Cannabis Identity as a Cognitive Behavior Risk Factor for Young Adult Cannabis Misuse
  
  
• Natalia Kleinhans, PhD, Associate Professor, Radiology. Brain and Behavioral Correlates of Prenatal Marijuana Exposure
  

You can read abstracts of these projects here.

New! E-Learning Series about Marijuana

New on ADAI's Learn About Marijuana website is a set of 5 short modules created to answer frequently asked questions about marijuana.

The modules are interactive, with links to added resources of interest to helping professionals, teachers, parents, and anyone interested in learning about marijuana.  The 5 modules cover:

• Our Bodies & Marijuana: learn about the endocannabinoid system, the effects of THC and CBD on the human body, and the difference between plant-based and synthetic cannabinoids. (10 min.)
• Concentrates, Edibles, & Flowers: learn about the different products and methods of use, and how they differ in terms of potency and adverse effects. (15 min.)
• Marijuana Law in Washington State: what is the current law in our state, for both recreational and medical use of marijuana? (10 min.)
• Helping Someone Quit/Cut Back: especially for those in the helping professions (counselors, health care providers) and also for friends, parents, and family members. (25 min.)
• Other Questions: learn about workplace testing, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, whether marijuana is a “gateway drug,” and more. (10 min.)

The educational series was developed by Beatriz Carlini, PhD, MPH; Sharon Garrett, MA, MPH; and Meg Brunner, MLIS, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington with support from the Washington State Marijuana Dedicated Fund.

View the series on the Learn About Marijuana web site!

ADAI Marijuana Research Report: 2015-2017 Biennium

I-502 directed a portion of the tax revenue from marijuana production and sales in Washington to support prevention, treatment, public health, and public education related to marijuana use and misuse in Washington. Funds are also directed to the UW and WSU for research on the short and long-term effects of marijuana use and for the dissemination of such research.

For the 2015-2017 biennium, ADAI received $454,000 from the Dedicated Marijuana Fund.  Our new marijuana research report describes the projects and products that resulted, including:

• A peer-reviewed marijuana small grants program for UW investigators, emphasizing research on the short and long term consequences of marijuana use and misuse, prevention, treatment, and public health.
• ADAI’s Cannabis Workgroup to conduct and publish intramural research, conduct scientific literature reviews, develop research-based fact sheets and policy briefs, and develop collaborative research opportunities with researchers at the University of Washington, Washington State University, state agencies, and other research groups.
• Dissemination efforts through its marijuana-related website LearnAboutMarijuanaWA.org, workforce training, marijuana-related symposia; public and professional presentations; and distribution of marijuana-related informational materials at statewide substance-related conferences and through the ADAI Clearinghouse.

Full Report: http://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/marijuanaresearchreport20152017.pdf