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Cannabis has been used for religious, spiritual, industrial, therapeutic, and other purposes for thousands of years. It has a complex, colorful, and culturally significant history throughout the world. During the past several decades, social perspectives on the recreational and medicinal use of cannabis have evolved. The business of cannabis has also evolved, and with it, there are important considerations for those involved in every aspect of it to ensure that individuals who use cannabis can be assured a safe and effective product.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the physical components of cannabis, as well as important aspects of the history of its use, and elements of the business of cannabis, including aspects that address environmental and human health.

The use of medicinal plants by humans has occurred since prehistoric times. As a result of changes in social and legal perspectives, there has been a surge in cannabis legislation during the last few decades that has outpaced the research available on the use of cannabis and how it impacts the body. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex biological system comprised of chemical signals and cellular receptors present in the brain and throughout the body. It interacts with cannabis and its compounds and can result in a variety of psychological and physiological effects. If overused, cannabis can also result in many disorders, including the cannabis use disorder (CUD).

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the endocannabinoid system, the effects of cannabis on the human body, and various use disorders related to cannabis.

Evolving cannabis legalization across the United States and globally is changing the way individuals live with these new laws. While cannabis is still illegal at the U.S. federal level, hemp and its extractions (such as cannabidiol, or CBD) are legal. Cannabis consumers and their reasons for using cannabis are diverse, and they challenge the stereotypes typically associated with cannabis use. While cannabis laws are evolving, there are still social, ethical, and legal issues associated with its use that present both challenges and opportunities for healthcare providers, legislators, as well as employers, and employees of all industries.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to identify key state and federal laws related to the use of cannabis, identify key demographic characteristics of cannabis users, and explain issues related to cannabis as it affects healthcare, employment, social justice, ethics, and legislative advocacy.

Because of the long history of cannabis as a medicinal plant, there are many who view it as effective in treating a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions. Currently, the research about the effectiveness of cannabis remains diverse, with a few conditions having some credible evidence of benefit for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and neuroregenerative processes. There are many considerations about what health conditions could benefit from its use, and there are many routes of cannabis administration that influence the decision to use it.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the various health conditions for which cannabis may, or may not be effective, as well as to describe the routes of administration, and clinical concerns about drug interactions and monitoring its effectiveness.