UNLV Students Explore Cannabis Impact at Evidence-Based Showcase

On September 5, 2023, students from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) presented their research at a showcase organized by the UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute. Their projects focused on addressing critical questions surrounding the cannabis industry, including its medical potential, impacts on youth, and the challenges posed by illegal markets. Despite the legal status of cannabis in Nevada, federal restrictions continue to hinder comprehensive research.

Representative Dina Titus (D-NV), who attended the event, emphasized the necessity of studying cannabis’s varied impacts. “There’s just such a range of sociological, economic, psychological and biological impacts that cannabis can have and that we are missing the boat on if we are not studying it,” she stated.

Potential Medical Uses of Cannabis

Student researcher Adriana Carrillo focused her study on cannabis sativa, one of the primary strains of marijuana. Carrillo’s investigation examined its classification as a controlled substance, which limits research opportunities despite its potential therapeutic benefits. She specifically highlighted cannabis’s effectiveness in treating conditions such as nausea, anxiety, chronic pain, and particularly, epilepsy.

Traditional treatments for epilepsy often involve benzodiazepines, which can lead to adverse side effects. Carrillo’s research identified cannabidiol (CBD) as a promising alternative that does not share these side effects. However, due to federal restrictions on cannabis-derived research, she sought another source: the caraway plant. By extracting carbon molecules from caraway seeds, Carrillo created a synthetic structure that mimics CBD. Her preliminary tests on mice indicate that this synthetic CBD could serve as an effective anticonvulsant, potentially paving the way for safer epilepsy treatments.

Addressing Nevada’s Illicit Cannabis Market

Sophomore Mia Tschan presented findings on Nevada’s illicit cannabis market, which generates an estimated $370 million in untaxed revenue. Tschan noted that since 2021, tax revenue from legal cannabis sales—part of which supports K-12 education—has declined, while illicit sales have risen. Data from the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research organization, supports these claims.

Tschan highlighted a troubling statistic: as of 2022, nearly 16% of youths aged 12 to 17 in Nevada reported using cannabis within the past month, making the state second in the nation for youth usage rates. She pointed out the lack of dedicated health campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of the illicit market and synthetic cannabinoids like SPICE or K2. Tschan advocates for informational campaigns that could guide consumers towards legitimate products, thereby reducing access to cannabis among young people and potentially increasing funding for Nevada schools.

Understanding Cannabis Use Disorder

Graduate student Frankie Nieblas directed his research towards understanding Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), which is a form of marijuana addiction. According to Nieblas, approximately 15% of adults in the United States have used cannabis in the past 30 days, and about 2.5% meet the criteria for CUD. He stressed the importance of recognizing that many cases of CUD are linked to underlying mental health issues.

Nieblas surveyed 2,806 adults and found that only 3.5% reported daily cannabis use, while 71.1% had never used it. This extensive sample allowed him to create a demographic model predicting cannabis use and the risk of developing CUD. He concluded that vulnerable communities require targeted attention and that further research is essential to develop harm reduction strategies.

The showcase highlighted the urgent need for more comprehensive research into cannabis, particularly given its complex impacts on health and society. As students at UNLV delve into these significant issues, their findings may contribute to shaping future policies and understanding related to cannabis use and regulation in Nevada and beyond.