History of Medical Cannabis

History of Medical Cannabis

This course is part of Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization

Instructor: Kent Hutchison

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

344 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

344 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Learn about the basic pharmacology of cannabis and how cannabinoids effect the body.
Learn about the history of cannabis cultivation and legality.
Learn about the barriers and approaches to cannabis research.
Learn about the epidemiological data on cannabis use in terms of cognition, education, and behavior.

Skills you'll gain

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Assessments

3 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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This course is part of the Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 4 modules in this course

This History of Medical Cannabis course is designed to have you think critically about past, present, and future research on the health effects of cannabis by developing a more nuanced understanding of the barriers to research as well as different approaches to research. You will learn about the history of cannabis cultivation, the legal history of cannabis or "marijuana", and the obstacles that led to the lack of science on its medicinal use. You will also learn how to critically evaluate research on the effects of cannabis and discuss the associated risks of using cannabis in the context of public health and epidemiological research. Finally, you will learn about how to administer cannabis products in ways that minimize risk and maximize any potential benefits. Obtaining this knowledge will be helpful in terms of informing public policy, public health, and personal decisions regarding the use of cannabis products.

In this module, we will discuss the biological characteristics of cannabis and the effect cannabinoids have on the body. Will will cover the basic pharmacology of THC and CBD and the action these cannabinoids have in the brain. Lastly, we will evaluate the evidence for what is called the entourage effect.

What's included

9 videos11 readings

9 videos Total 127 minutes

Introduction to Module 7 minutes
Lecture - Introduction to Professor and Course 6 minutes
Lecture - Why is this topic (and course) important? 20 minutes
Lecture - What is Cannabis? 19 minutes
Interview with Nolan Kane 12 minutes
Lecture - Physiological Effects of Cannabinoids in the Body 17 minutes
Lecture - More on Cannabinoids in the Brain 19 minutes
Lecture - Deep Dive on Cannabinoid Pharmacology 11 minutes
Interview with Meg Haney 15 minutes

11 readings Total 141 minutes

Course Updates and Accessibility Support 1 minute
Lecture PDF - Introduction to Professor and Course 10 minutes
NAS Report (Including link to required materials) 30 minutes
Lecture PDF: Why is this topic important? 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - What is cannabis? 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - What does cannabis do in the body? 10 minutes
Lecture PDF: More on Cannabinoids in the Brain 10 minutes
NAS Report 30 minutes
Lecture PDF -Deep Dive on Cannabinoid Pharmacology 10 minutes
Taming THC – Entourage Effect (Russo, 2011) 10 minutes
The Case for the Entourage Effect (Russo, 2019) 10 minutes

In this module, we will discuss the history of cannabis as an alternative medicine and the legal history of cannabis in both the US and abroad. We will discuss the variety of different product types post-legalization, how products are made, and implications for safety. We will also discuss the cannabis industry and how it compares to other mature industries like the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries.

What's included

7 videos11 readings1 assignment

7 videos Total 97 minutes

Introduction to Module 4 minutes
Lecture - Cannabis History 11 minutes
Lecture - Legal History 16 minutes
Lecture - Legalization in States and Countries 7 minutes
Lecture - History of Products and Formulations 20 minutes
Lecture - Business Models - Are Marijuana Companies Rolling in Cash? 20 minutes
Interview with Mark January 20 minutes

11 readings Total 110 minutes

Lecture PDF - Cannabis History 10 minutes
NAS Report - History of cannabis & its pharmacology 10 minutes
History of Cannabis and Its Preparations in Saga, Science, and Sobriquet (Russo, 2007) 10 minutes
The Pharmacological History of Cannabis (Russo, 2014) 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Legal History 10 minutes
NAS Report - Cannabis policy 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Legalization in States and Countries 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - History of Products and Formulations 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Business Models 10 minutes
Jeffrey Vinik thinks cannabis stocks are a bad idea: ‘Nobody’s going to make money’ 10 minutes
Marijuana is getting cheaper. For some states, that's a problem. 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz #1 30 minutes

In this module, we will discuss the legal barriers to institutional research in the US and how this has impacted conducting much-needed cannabis research. You will learn the difference between high quality, rigorous research design compared to biased sources of information. Lastly, you will learn how the placebo effect works and evaluate how much of a role it plays with regards to the medical benefits of cannabis.

What's included

6 videos8 readings1 assignment1 peer review

6 videos Total 81 minutes

Introduction to Module 4 minutes
Lecture - Barriers to Research 18 minutes
Lecture - End Result of Barriers to Research 18 minutes
Lecture - How to Evaluate Evidence 17 minutes
Lecture - Internal and External Validity 13 minutes
Lecture - Placebo Effect 12 minutes

8 readings Total 80 minutes

Lecture PDF - Barriers to Research 10 minutes
NAS Report - Barriers to cannabis research 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - End Result of Barriers to Research 10 minutes
NAS Report - Research gap 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - How to Evaluate Evidence 10 minutes
Watch these Videos 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Internal and External Validity 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Placebo Effect 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 10 minutes

Quiz #2 10 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Infographic Assignment #1 60 minutes

In this module, we will review the animal and human literature with regards to the effects of cannabis in the brain. We will discuss the epidemiology of cannabis use and review public health data. Lastly, we will discuss the best practices for using it medically, such as to minimize the risks and harms while maximizing the benefits.

What's included

8 videos11 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videos Total 99 minutes

Introduction to Module 3 minutes
Lecture - Cannabis and Brain Morphology 10 minutes
Lecture - Cannabis and the Brain Part II 10 minutes
Lecture - Impact of Legalization on Epidemiology 16 minutes
Interview with Kevin Gray 20 minutes
Lecture - Changes in Potency 11 minutes
Lecture - Public Health Data 13 minutes
Lecture - General Guidelines to Reduce Harm and Maximize Benefits 16 minutes

11 readings Total 110 minutes

Lecture PDF - Cannabis and Brain Morphology 10 minutes
NAS Report 10 minutes
Dr. Carl Hart Debates Bill O'Reilly (Video) 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Cannabis and the Brain Part 2 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Impact of Legalization 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Changes in Potency 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - Public Health Data 10 minutes
Practical considerations in medical cannabis administration and dosing 10 minutes
Lecture PDF - General Guidelines 10 minutes
An observational postmarketing safety registry of patients in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland who have been prescribed Sativex® (THC:CBD, nabiximols) oromucosal spray 10 minutes
THC:CBD in Daily Practice: Available Data from UK, Germany and Spain 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 10 minutes

Quiz #3 10 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 60 minutes

Exercise #1 60 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(124 ratings)

Kent Hutchison

University of Colorado Boulder

4 Courses 29,150 learners

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Reviewed on Aug 14, 2023

Very insightful course, which in my case, helps me to pave the way for higher level courses that can equip me with valuable knowledge on medical cannabis.

Reviewed on Nov 25, 2019

This course was a good review of medical cannabis history and current issues in academia/research. It also offered a brief introduction to the use of medical and recreational cannabis.

Reviewed on Jul 16, 2020

Excellent! A pleasure to learn from Professor Hutchison. Looking forward to the next class.

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