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211 Marijuana Essay Topics & Examples

Should marijuana be legalized? This question is controversial and worth discussing!

🔝 Top 10 Marijuana Research Topics

🌱 marijuana essay: how to write, 🏆 best marijuana essay examples.

• 💡Interesting Cannabis Topics to Write about

🥇 Exciting Marijuana Essay Topics

🎓 controversial weed topics, 🔎 marijuana research paper topics, ❓ marijuana research questions.

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a psychoactive drug made from a plant and used for recreational and medical purposes. Being fully prohibited in some countries, it is fully legalized in others. In your essay about marijuana, you might want to focus on the pros and cons of its legalization. Another option is to discuss marijuana dependence. One more idea is to compare and contrast marijuana laws in various US states. Finally, you can discuss the business aspects of the issue.

Whether you have to write an argumentative, descriptive, or cause and effect essay, our article will be helpful. It contains marijuana topics to research and write about. You can use them for a paper, speech, or any other assignment. Best marijuana essay examples are added to inspire you even more.

• Mental and physical effects of cannabis
• Marijuana and mental ability: the correlation
• Cannabis consumption: the key modes
• Marijuana: short-term and long-term effects
• Cannabis and reproductive health
• History of cannabis
• Legal status of marijuana in various countries: compare and contrast
• Should cannabis be legalized?
• Cannabis as a gateway drug
• The use of marijuana for medical purposes

With the current-day process of drug legalization and the popularization of cannabis, writing a marijuana essay becomes more than a one-track, anti-drug endeavor.

Whether your stance is for or against recreational drug use, you should be able to call upon credible sources to form a well-rounded and informed opinion that may sway your readers toward your cause.

Starting from your pre-writing process and bibliography and until you write your conclusion, you need to keep in mind particular points that will make tackling any marijuana essay topics easy. From a structural and pre-writing viewpoint, you should:

• Brainstorm your ideas. Doing so will allow you to decide on a particular approach to your subject.
• Do your research, compiling your bibliography, and perusing various book and journals titles, as well as research papers, interviews, and statistics.
• Utilizing authoritative sources to support your argument will make your writing more academic and respectable.
• Write a marijuana essay outline, which should help you better your essay structurally.
• Compose an eye-catching title. Marijuana essay titles are already intriguing, so do your best not merely to draw your readers in but to prepare them for your argument by demonstrating your stance on the topic.

If you are still not sure how to begin your paper, look for sample ones online. Searching for good examples will help you understand the tools that work in essay writing, which ones you can apply to your issue, and which bore the audience.

Just remember that plagiarism is a punishable offense. However, gaining some inspiration from the work of others is not!

Now you are ready to begin, having carried out the research and created guidelines for your writing process. However, an intriguing title and an issue that may easily excite people is not enough to convince your readers of your subject’s validity.

Nonetheless, the potentially provocative nature of your paper provides you with the ability to write a fail-safe marijuana essay hook. Your introduction should build upon the sentiment expressed in your title and give your audience an initiative to read further.

You can start by providing surprising statistics or describing a present drug scenario. The goal of writing an introduction is to give your readers a brief understanding of your issue and present them with partial facts, making them want to continue reading.

Do not be afraid to expand your topics and link various data together while keeping in mind an academic approach.

Adverse societal effects of marijuana use may include an increase in the number of car accident cases, especially if there is no culture of safety around recreational drug use. However, trying to link it to society’s degradation may require more evidence than mere statistics.

Understand which approach is more likely to convince your audience and be ready to respond to potential counterarguments to your facts. Treating your audience as knowledgeable is one of the central characteristics of a good essayist.

Remember to write only sentences that are relevant to your argument. A sound mental practice when writing an essay is to continuously ask yourself, whether each phrase relates to your thesis statement.

If yes, does it help advance it forward? If the answers for these questions is no, you may have to rephrase, remove, or even re-research your facts to demonstrate a compelling understanding of the issue.

Need more essential tips to get your essay started? Use IvyPanda for all your academic needs!

• Reason Why Marijuana Should Be Legal This is an important consideration since data on the prevalence of Marijuana indicates that the US is still the world’s largest single market for the drug.
• Alcohol and Drugs Effects on High School Students According to Martin, “society also advertises the image of individual and social happiness for alcohol and drug users; this misconception results in the societal decrease of achievement, especially, of high school age students”.
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Marijuana Countries including Netherlands, Israel and Canada have lenient laws regarding the use of marijuana, cases in point that proponents of its legalisation have used to highlight the merits of legalising it.
• Legalization of Marijuana: Arguments For and Against It will therefore be difficult to regulate the use of marijuana among young people and other unauthorized people if it is legalized. It should be noted that marijuana has various negative effects to the health […]
• How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain? One of the profound findings of the studies is on the negative effects of marijuana on the brain. Research findings on the brain show that abuse of marijuana for a long time affects the brain […]
• Legalizing Marijuana: Pros and Cons The focus of this paper will be on the impact of the legalization of the U.S.economy with possible positive and negative sides of the matter.
• Marijuana and Its Effects on Mental Health The effects of the use of marijuana can be comparable to those exhibited by the removal of this important part of the brain.
• Marijuana Legalization and Crime Rates The possible outcome of this effort will be the safe consumption of the drug, easy monitoring, and creation of awareness to the public on the dangers of excessive use of the drug and lastly the […]
• Usage and Effects of Marijuana In the modern world, more and more countries are recognizing the role of cannabis in bringing benefits to the population. For the purposes of better understanding the drug and navigating the modern realities, it is […]
• Political Opinion on Legalization of Marijuana On the other hand, the case introduces the man as a member of the Methodist Church, and this community is known for its strict opinion about marijuana as a gateway drug.
• Discretion Powers Regarding Marijuana Laws Albeit, marijuana laws in New York are favorable for the users as marijuana was fully legalized in March of 2021, allowing for both medical and recreational use.
• Marijuana as an Alternative Medication for Pain Relief The PICOT question for the identified health care issue is the following: in a patient population requiring pain relief, does marijuana represent a viable alternative medication as compared to opioid-based prescription drugs for alleviating the […]
• Marijuana: Properties, Effects, and Regulation At the same time, a regulated cannabis industry slowly emerges, with companies attempting to profit off of the legalization and destigmatization of marijuana.
• Preventing Negative Effects of Marijuana Use The aim of the study is to ascertain specific interventions that would allow reducing cannabis use within the framework of the environment where marijuana is legal.
• Analysis of Arguments: Should Marijuana Be Legalized? Pro Arguments: The majority of Americans agree on the necessity to legalize marijuana. This initiative is accompanied by concerns regarding the actual use of marijuana.
• Risks and Benefits of Medical Marijuana The use of marijuana in the medical sphere is a highly debated and discussed topic. Patients with epilepsy claim that the use of marijuana prevents seizures and provides immense relief.
• Medical Marijuana: Issues & Ethical Considerations The use of medical marijuana in anxiety disorders and PTSD has many concerns. Prescribing medical cannabis can potentially benefit a patient but can cause additional health and legal issues.
• The Benefits of Medical Marijuana This paper aims to discuss that medical marijuana is helpful in the treatment and management of chronic pain conditions such as cancer and epilepsy.
• The Issue of Legalization of Marijuana The issue of the legalization of marijuana in the territory of the state is not unambiguous, therefore it is analyzed by a large number of specialists.
• Synthetic Marijuana: Physiological and Social Factors The report generated by Drug and Alcohol Dependence article in the year 2010 showed that the majority of the people who used synthetic marijuana were between the ages of 12 to 29.
• Cannabis or Marijuana for Medical Use In the West, for the first time, medical use became known thanks to the work of Professor O’Shaughnessy, who personally observed the process of her treatment in India.
• Marijuana Research: Personal Connection and Medical Use In the United States, military marijuana is prohibited, but initially, it was used for recreation and as a form of medicine in the twentieth century.
• Marijuana Possession in a High-School Student Case Her participation in the program will be an educational experience and put the juvenile offender in touch with professionals who can understand the motives of her behavior instead of giving Jane Doe an actual criminal […]
• Marijuana Legitimization and Medical Controversy The proponents of the legitimization of marijuana for medical use argue that it has numerous medical uses. Currently, in the US, there is a rather peculiar situation with the legalization of marijuana for medical use.
• Workplace Policy on Marijuana Use in Michigan The legalization and decriminalization of marijuana use in 23 states of the US lead to complicated issues when it comes to the consideration of workplace policies.
• Law: Legislation Regarding Marijuana Farming To evaluate the applicability of the proposed marijuana farming bill, the current marihuana production legislation needs to be reviewed, and the changes in social norms regarding criminal behavior are to be analyzed.
• Marijuana Legalization: Controversial Issue in Canada Canada became the second country in the world to legalize the cultivation and consumption of cannabis in 2018. Besides, the substance is addictive, and it is challenging to stop consuming it.
• Marijuana: Myths and Legal Justification Over the past decades, much attention has been drawn to the question of the categorization of marijuana in terms of the national systematization of drugs controlled by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
• Marijuana Legalization and Issues to Consider If marijuana is fully legalized, there might be a rise in use among youth, which is dangerous from the physiological point of view, and there will be no legal justification to end it.
• Hip-Hop and Marijuana Use in College Students It has been estimated that over half of the college student population regularly use marijuana, while over 25% used it during past month.
• Marijuana Use among American and Bolivian Students The study is a perfect example of the use of theory in a research. As such, it is possible for college students in Bolivia to have a similar deviant behavior, which in this case is […]
• The Relationships Between Marijuana and the Legal System The most common ideas discussed within a framework of this debate are connected to the issues of permission to keep marijuana at home for personal needs such as medical needs, and a total ban on […]
• Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option? Medical marijuana is used to refer to the use of marijuana as a physician-recommended form of medication in its natural or synthetic form.
• Use of Marijuana for the Medicinal Purposes It is therefore quite evident that even though the marijuana legalization will go hand in hand with a set minimum age within which individuals will be allowed to use it, at the long run the […]
• The Medicinal Value of the Marijuana: There Are Potential Benefits to a Patient Other Than Risks This article provides an insight to the effects of chemotherapy treatment to the body of the cancer victims. It defines the drug in a lengthy way including what the drug is, the effects of taking […]

💡 Interesting Cannabis Topics to Write about

• Pros and Cons of Legalization of Medical Marijuana It is evident that medical treatment with the use of marijuana would be beneficial for both: patients and the government because of the opportunity to earn on taxation.
• Legalization of Recreational Use of Marijuana The role of the Supreme Court in the specified case boils down to stating the conditions, in which the prescription and the following use of marijuana by the patient, can be deemed as legitimate.
• The Chances of a Successful Appeal by a Marijuana Convict The Superior Court ruled that the Fourth Amendment rights of the defendant were violated; a decision that was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
• Marijuana Legalization: Chronic Seizure Treatment With that said, despite numerous states already having legalized one or both applications, the federal government remains opposed to either form of legalization, and marijuana possession and use remain federal offenses.
• Adverse Effects of Marijuana Use This paper aims to provide an analysis of the article that gives a perspective on the adverse health effects and harm related to marijuana use. Thus, the academic article on the adverse effects of marijuana […]
• “Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use” by Volkow et al. Based on national marijuana studies and DSM-IV, the researchers conclude that addiction to marijuana is a non-debatable statement and that starting marijuana use in adolescence doubles or even quadruples the risks of cannabis use disorder.
• Marijuana Use May Double the Risk of Accidents for Drivers According to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the number of Americans driving under the influence of illegal substances has risen drastically. The risk of a crash is also related to the number of […]
• Legalized Marijuana: Negative and Positive Sides The economy and finance from the very beginning were anticipating that this law will bring the largest income to the state’s budget and create plenty of job opportunities under the rule of law.
• Marijuana: Legislative History and Future The focus of the legislation in many states is to end the illegal sale of cannabis and monetize it for tax purposes and so that distribution can be controlled.
• Ethical Perspective of the Legalization of Marijuana In spite of a popular view of the medical benefits of marijuana, doctors insist that the use of marijuana provides the same dangerous effect as other drugs.
• Marijuana Legalize: Advanatages and Disadvantages The truth that marijuana is illegal and prohibited is suitably caused by the number of funds invested in the war against drugs.
• Arguments for Banning the Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana is a dangerous drug that should not be legalized even if it is in the context of it containing the medicinal value.
• Federalism and Medical Marijuana Needless to say, United States faced political and social challenges as well, and the disputes over federalism and over the legal use of marijuana in medicine are still the most burning and controversial issues in […]
• The Effects of Marijuana on the Body, Mind and Brain Cells A drug is a substance that changes the bodily function of a body when consumed, there are several definitions of the word drug but it is believed that the most important function of a drug […]
• College Students in UK and Marijuana The reasons for the punishments are very different but the result remains the same: marijuana is still used by the majority of students and is available for everyone.
• Decriminalizing Marijuana for Medicinal Use Because of inconsistent and problematical data, it is impracticable to access quantitatively to what extent that drugs encourage the incidence of crime.
• Psychological Effects of Marijuana Some people experience panic reactions, which tend to be temporary and often are triggered by a feeling of not being in control Marijuana’s psychological effects include a sense of euphoria or well-being, relaxation, altered time […]
• Logical Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana This will be a source of revenue to the government; when the revenues increase, it means that gross domestic product for the country increases. It will be a source of income not only to the […]
• Social Effects of Marijuana Research has shown that the use of marijuana affects the smoker’s day-to-day lifestyle in relation to society, the environment, and day-to-day activities.
• Federal vs. State Law: Medical Marijuana in the US The main problem is that these laws and regulations have not reduced the number of people who use marijuana for medical purposes.
• Medical Marijuana: Pros of Legalizing It must be admitted that at the time of the passage of these laws, histories from some, but not all, heroin users indicated that the use of marijuana had preceded the use of heroin.
• Marijuana: To Legalize or Not to Legalize? Marijuana, which is also known under dozens of nicknames such as weed or pot, is now the most widespread illegal drug across the US. Moreover, the vast majority of marijuana abusers claim pot to be […]
• Marijuana Legalization and Consumption Among Youth The most popular excuse among drug consumers is the instrumental use of the drug. As long as the drug influence is undermined, the number of college students willing to experience the marijuana effects will be […]
• Legalization of Medical Marijuana: Help or Harm? Nowadays, a majority of people worldwide support the legalization of marijuana, and it is possible to predict that this support will keep getting stronger in the future.
• Medical Marijuana Legalization Concerns This change raises political concerns and requires the government to review its economy to adapt to the use of MM. The representation of the legal process highlighted the history of previous legislations and reported on […]
• Medical Marijuana: Legal and Research Concerns However, while the purpose of recreational marijuana is often disconnected from its long-term effects on people’s health in scholarly discussions, the use of medical marijuana is viewed from the point of patient’s health and the […]
• Medical Marijuana in the Army: Addressing a Problematic Issue Denying the use of medicinal marijuana as one of the fastest and the most efficient ways of relieving pain in the military setting, one will inevitably infringe upon the rights of American troops.
• Should Marijuana Be Legalized? Marijuana legalization is a topic of social trends and beliefs that are based not only on health but political and economic factors as well.
• Marijuana Legalization and Its Benefits for Society The example of several states that have already introduced the appropriate law provides the ground for vigorous debates about the absence of the expected deterioration of the situation and emergence of multiple problems associated with […]
• Marijuana Legalization in 5 Policy Frameworks The legalization of marijuana is still one of the debatable issues at the federal and state levels. For instance, the use of marijuana is prohibited at the federal level while the recreational and medical use […]
• Marijuana Legalization in California The muscle relaxation effect of marijuana also appears to be a positive effect that should be used to argue for its legalization.
• Legalization of Marijuana in the United States It should not be forgotten that it is a cause of numerous tragedies. Also, some studies show that the use of marijuana is especially dangerous for young people.
• Medical Marijuana Legalization by National Football League However, it must be realized that some of these players are usually in excruciating pain to the point that some may have lost consciousness.
• Marijuana: Users, Desired Effects and Consequences The frequent users consist of youths and adults who have abused Marijuana to the extent they have become dependent on it.
• Effects of Marijuana on Memory of Long-Term Users The pivotal aim of the proposed study is to evaluate the impact of marijuana use on long-term memory of respondents. The adverse impact of marijuana after the abstinent syndrome refers to significant changes in prefrontal […]
• Trends in the Use of Marijuana The researchers claim that the legalization of marijuana in California led to the development of the acceptance of marijuana use as well as the increase in this drug consumption.
• Medical Marijuana Legalization Rebuttal The claim of fact is that A.C.A.continues to be beneficial despite the arguments of Republican politicians and current challenges. The claim of policy is the appeal to Republicans and Democrats to work together on the […]
• Marijuana Legislation and Americans’ Contribution To identify whether patients with intractable pain hold more favorable views regarding legislation of marijuana use than the general public, it is necessary to determine various inclusion and exclusion criteria that might influence the society’s […]
• Medical Marijuana Policy and Framing Approach This is a clear indication that different arguments can be presented by these actors to support the legalization and use of medical marijuana.
• Policy Analysis: Rules for Growing Medical Marijuana Overall, the main goal of the document is to address the health needs of people requiring marijuana to relieve the manifestations of their illness as well as the implications of growing marijuana for medical purposes.
• Marijuana Crime in California State and Federal Courts To compare the severity of the punishment that could be imposed by a federal court to what was announced at a state institution, it should be remembered that the investigation process would not take long […]
• Legal Marijuana Market Analysis and Taxes Impact Consequently, the primary goal of this paper is to understand the impact of taxes on the financial stability of the market for legal marijuana with the help of the law of supply and demand and […]
• Controversy Around Medical Marijuana Legalization The consideration of the problem of marijuana legalization from the perspective of public safety involves such points as crime rates and traffic accidents. The fact of economic benefits of the Cannabis legalization is also apparent: […]
• The Legalization of Marijuana: Regulation and Practice It is imperative to note that legalization of marijuana is a topic that has been quite controversial and has led to numerous discussions and disagreements.
• Marijuana History, Medical Purposes and Threats Although many people believe that marijuana is harmless and the access to it should be unlimited, it has a number of negative health effects and might lead to addiction.
• Marijuana Use and Serious Mental Illnesses 21% of the respondents of 18 years and above claimed to have used marijuana for the first time prior to their 12th birthday.
• Marijuana as an Unjustifiable Pain Reliever The debate on whether to legalize the use of marijuana has been there for the last 20 years. In addition to this, it causes panic and anxiety hence causing the user to hallucinate.
• The Safety of Using Medicinal Marijuana for Pain Relief Speaking about the introduction section of the study, it is important to note that it is rather short if compared to other parts of the article as the researchers were paying more attention to presenting […]
• Should Marijuana Be Treated Like Alcohol? Considering the benefits that would accompany the legalization of marijuana and its treatment like alcohol, I strongly agree with Buckley’s comparison; marijuana should be treated like alcohol. First, the use of marijuana affects the body […]
• Political Issues of Marijuana in America The largest demographic groups against the legalization of marijuana include the Republicans and the southerners. Most of the Democrats continue to support the legalization of marijuana in the country.
• Changes in Laws of Marijuana Regulation In addition, the study intends to uncover the impacts of the said laws and the accompanying changes. The case studies will be compared to assess the impacts of legislations on marijuana in the society.
• Concepts of Legalizing Marijuana Although in most cases, most individuals associate Marijuana with numerous health complications and social problems, for example, brain damage, and violent behavior hence, supporting its illegalization, such individuals take little consideration of its significance in […]
• Marijuana Legalization in Illinois The case for legalization of marijuana in Colorado evidences the need to alter federal laws prohibiting marijuana for its legalization law to have both statutory and federal backing in the state of Illinois.
• Public Safety and Marijuana Legalization Some of the states have failed to tax marijuana. Hence, it is difficult to get the precise figures in terms of tax values that states could collect from marijuana.
• Heroin and Marijuana Abuse and Treatment The success in the process of drug addiction treatment is only possible when the patient is willing to co-operate and has a desire to recover and defeat the habit.
• The Marijuana Usage Legislation This research paper is aimed at discussing the effects that can be produced by the changes in the legislation on the use, storage, and distribution of marihuana.
• Medical Marijuana Program in California The physicians should also do a periodic review of the treatment and how the patients respond to the medical marijuana. The medical marijuana is only restricted to patients who are qualified and recommended by a […]
• History and Effects of Legalization of Marijuana As predicted, the legalization of marijuana in several states has led to an increase of marijuana abuse among youngsters Studies have shown a pattern of the use of cannabis and risky behavior of the individuals.
• Debates Around Legalization of Medical Marijuana The supporters and opponents of the legalization of marijuana have opted to focus on either the positive or the negative aspects of the effects of the drug to support their views on policies to legalize […]
• Federal Drug Laws vs. State Medical Marijuana Acts A senate bill for the case of Los angeles is on the process of considering the use of marijuana for medical purpose.
• Should Marijuana Be Legal? It is perhaps very essential to be acquainted with an account of laws that surround marijuana in order to understand the reasons why the drug ought to be legalized.
• The Use of Marijuana and Its Benefits Criminalization of the use of marijuana and negative reviews as well as negative exposure from the media has driven marijuana use to the black markets with often negative consequences to the economy and society.
• Medical Marijuana use for Terminal Colon Cancer The author hopes to use this paper to highlight the uses of marijuana in management of colon cancer at its terminal stage.
• How New York Would Benefit From Legalized Medical Marijuana The arrests resulting from possession of marijuana in New York is quite huge compared to those in California and New Jersey states in America.
• Should Be It Legal to Sell the Marijuana in the United States? What I want to know is the reasons of why so many people use such serious psychoactive drug as marijuana of their own accord and do not want to pay special attention to their activities […]
• Supporting of Marijuana Legalization Among the Adult Population Proponents argue that legalization of marijuana will lead to increased revenues for the government amid economic challenges. Legalizing marijuana will not lead to cancer and deaths but will spark the debate for apparent effects of […]
• Marijuana: The Issues of Legalization in the USA To understand all the possible effects of the marijuana legalization, it is necessary to pay attention to the definition and classification of the drug with references to determining the most important social and legal aspects […]
• Reasons for Legalization of Marijuana The legalization of the drug would bring to an end the discrimination of the African Americans in marijuana-related arrests, reduce the sales of the drug and its use among teenagers, encourage the development of hemp […]
• Legalizing Marijuana: Arguments and Counter-Arguments On the other hand, many groups have outlined that the legalization of marijuana would lead to an increase in the rate of crime in addition to opening up of the gateway to the abuse of […]
• Drug use and misuse in western society: Effects of chronic marijuana use among young women and girls It is also based on the fears of the impacts of the drug use, concerns over the reduced productivity that’s likely to cause harm to the user and the society and so on.
• Medical Marijuana Policy in the United States The importance of legalization of medical marijuana is that, the government will be able to monitor and control marijuana in the country.
• The Arguments For and Against Marijuana Decriminalization The production, preparation, trade and use of marijuana has been prohibited in most parts of the world and a lot of resources are used every year to combat it.
• The Illegal Use of Marijuana Canada is among the leading nations in the percentage use of illegal marijuana as stated in the World Drug Report of the year 2007.
• Marijuana and Its Economic Value in the USA The grim reality of the economic performance of the United States of America lies in the lengthy debate over the legalization of marijuana.
• Should We Legalize Marijuana For Medical Use? In addition to that, the use of Marijuana especially by smoking either for medical reasons or to heal ailments, is a social activity that will help bring them together and improve their social ties.
• Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized? The government should save that money it uses in prohibiting the use of marijuana as it has no proved harm to the users.
• Arguments on Why Marijuana Should Be Illegalized The greater part of the population believes that the sustained use of this product is beneficial in numerous ways. Therefore, it is clear that the negative effects of the drug outdo the constructive ones.
• A Case for Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana is one of the drugs that the government policy targets and as it currently stands, the government uses a lot of resources in prosecuting and punishing marijuana consumers through the legal system.
• The Marijuana Industry and Its Benefits Marijuana use also slows down the growth of cancerous tumors in the brain, lungs, and breasts; thus, it is valuable in the management of cancer.
• The Decriminalization of Marijuana One of the main reasons that the supporters of this argument have progressed is that by decriminalization of marijuana, the government would save huge amounts of money that it uses on enforcing laws that relate […]
• The Use of Marijuana in California The US government ensures that its use is limited to a minimum by enforcing harsh punishments to the dealers and users of marijuana.
• Federal Government Should Not Legalize the Use of Marijuana On the other hand the use of marijuana actually increased in the country. It is not only the DEA or the federal government that is reluctant in the legalization of marijuana.
• Issues with Marijuana Legalization in the United States This is the reason why the debate on the legalization of marijuana has been on the increase since the past 10 years.
• The history of marijuana According to the new set of legislation, it was considered illegal to be found in possession of 25 grams of marijuana.
• Does Legalizing Marijuana Help or Harm the United States? The latter measure is not merely being advocated by the proponents of marijuana use since the legalization of marijuana has been supported by NAACP not because it fully backs the smoking of marijuana.
• Marijuana, Heroin and Prescription Opiate Abuse and How Are They Related to the Society The core issues mentioned in the article revolves around addiction and abuse of opioid agents as well as its relation to the use of heroin and marijuana.
• Increasing Marijuana Use in High School The author’s concerns in the article are that the usage of marijuana is becoming prevalent among the American youth. It is evident that the author is against the publication and marketing of the medical marijuana […]
• The Union: The Business Behind Getting High by Brett Harvey Some other reasons advanced by the documentary include the ability of the government to control the sale of such drugs to minors and also collection of tax revenue. The documentary espouses a number of reasons […]
• The Debates on the Legal Status of Marijuana This means that the use of marijuana encourages the consumption of other drugs such as alcohol and cigarettes. Additionally, the use of marijuana is associated with increase in crime and consumption of other illicit drugs.
• Marijuana Is a Healthier Alternative to Cigarettes Cigarette smoking has also been reported to cause respiratory infections due to the damage caused in the cells that prevent entry of microorganisms into the respiratory system hence reducing the immunity of the system.
• Marijuana’s Negative Effects and Advantages Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug among the youths and adults in the United States and other countries in the world.
• Use of Marijuana and Its Consequences The plant was grown in the United States of America for agricultural purposes during the colonial period up to the beginning of the 20th century.
• Should Marijuana Drugs Be Decriminalized? The production, preparation, trade and use of marijuana has been prohibited in most parts of the world and a lot of resources are used every year to combat it. Thus, decriminalization of marijuana is likely […]
• Argument About Legalizing Marijuana in America Therefore, if at all the government of the United States is to prohibit the use of marijuana in the country, it should be ready to cater for the high costs that come in hand with […]
• Marijuana’s Positive and Negative Effects The main aim of creating these institutions is to evaluate the impact and the effects of marijuana on the abusers and on the environment.
• Limited and Controlled Use of Marijuana The question of legalizing marijuana refers to the legal use of marijuana both in private and public places for medical use or otherwise.
• The Moral and Ethical Reasons Why Marijuana should be legal It is my humble opinion that the billions of dollars being spent on the war against marijuana should be diverted to more useful projects like feeding the less fortunate in the society.
• The Problem of Legalization of Marijuana and Hemp Many individuals tend to believe that the use of Marijuana is morally wrong as it alters the mental state of the user and leads to dangerous addictions and actions in the end.
• Minor and Major Arguments on Legalization of Marijuana Premises 1: If marijuana were to be legalized it would be impossible to regulate its’ sell to, and use by the minors. Making marijuana illegal is denying them a right to the use of this […]
• The Reasons Why Marijuana Should be Made Legal Among the reasons that support the legalization of marijuana include: the medical basis that marijuana has some benefits and that the state could gain revenue from the trade of marijuana as opposed to the costs […]
• Why Is Marijuana Legalized In Some States And Not Others? I consider the legalization of marijuana to be a positive step as its prohibition entails intrusion of personal freedom and just like any other substance it is only harmful when it is not taken in […]
• The Effect of Legalization of marijuana in the Economy of California It has been predicted that if the government legalizes the drug, there will be a lot of changes pertaining to the demand for the drug in the market and as a result, there will be […]
• Marijuana Must Not Be Legalized According to the national institute of drug abuse, the active chemical in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, act on the region of the brain responsible for time awareness, sensory, attention, thoughts, memory and pleasure.
• Decriminalization of Marijuana The decriminalization of marijuana resulted due to public outcry over the effects of marijuana. Among the disadvantages include the saving of money and time for other businesses, promotion of the judicial justice as the centre […]
• Policy Brief: Why Marijuana Use Should Be Legalized in the Us In this perspective, it is valid to argue that marijuana users may be undergoing long incarcerations in US jails due to the misconceived fantasies that took root in the public mind in the 1930’s, and […]
• Medical Uses of Marijuana The feelings of hallucination make one to lose consciousness and feel as though in very different world that is full of bliss.
• Should Marijuana Be Legalized in Canada?
• Drug Testing and Legalization of Marijuana
• Has the Time Come to Legalize Marijuana?
• Framing the User: Social Constructions of Marijuana Users
• Drugs and Legalization Drug Marijuana Dealing
• Decriminalization and Marijuana Smoking Prevalence
• Has Marijuana Become More Accepted in Today’s Culture?
• Get Ready for Americas Fastest-Growing Industry: Marijuana
• Clearing the Smoke Between Cigarettes and Marijuana
• Key Findings and Decriminalization of Marijuana
• Facts That Most People Don’t Know About Marijuana
• Issues Hampering the Legalization of Marijuana
• Economical Argument for the Legalization of Marijuana
• Juvenile Smoking and Marijuana Use
• All the Reasons Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized for Medical Purposes
• Exploring the Effects and After Effects of Marijuana
• Factors That Influences Teenagers to Use Marijuana
• College Students Attitude Toward Marijuana Use on Campus
• Drugs Case for Legalizing Marijuana
• Logical Reasoning for the Legalization Marijuana
• Future Trends and Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes
• Countering Anti-Medical Marijuana Efforts in Massachusetts
• Abnormal Psychology Problem: Excessive Use of Marijuana and Alcohol
• Food and Drug Administration Bans Use of Marijuana in the US
• Addiction and Smoking Marijuana Plays
• Analyzing Affordable Care Act and Marijuana
• Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana is Hazardous
• America Requirements Medicinal Weed: Marijuana Legalization
• Comparing and Contrasting Marijuana and Alcohol
• Many People Believe That Marijuana Should Be Legalized
• How Media Framing Effects Marijuana Prohibition and Legalization?
• How Can Legalize Marijuana Help the United States?
• How Does Military Jurisdiction Deal with Marijuana Now Would Legalization?
• How America Will Benefit from Legal Marijuana?
• How Legalizing Marijuana Will Impact Society?
• Does Marijuana Cause Brain Damage?
• How Marijuana Will Not Work in the US?
• Does Marijuana Have Any Medicinal Uses?
• How Many Individuals Smoke Marijuana in the United States?
• Does Previous Marijuana Use Increase the Use of Other Drugs?
• How Medical Marijuana Works?
• How the Social Contract Theory Prevents the Legalization of Marijuana?
• How Marijuana Affects Hauora?
• Why Do Americans Enjoy Marijuana?
• What are the Positive and Negative Effects of Legalizing Marijuana?
• What are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Legalising Marijuana?
• Does Legalizing Marijuana Make Sense?
• What Are the Medical Causes and Effects of Marijuana Use?
• How Are Employers Coping with Medical Marijuana Legislation?
• Does Marijuana Work the Treatment of Diseases?
• Does Marijuana Have Medicinal Purposes?
• How Does Marijuana Law Work in District of Columbia Class?
• Does Increasing the Beer Tax Reduce Marijuana Consumption?
• How Legalizing Marijuana Could Help Boost the Economy?
• Does Marijuana Have More Harmful or More Beneficial Effects?
• How Will Marijuana Legalization Affect Public Health?
• Does Marijuana Use Impair Human Capital Formation?
• How Gender and Age Effects Marijuana Usage and Brain Function?
• How Marijuana Affects Our Society?
• How American Children Start to Smoke Marijuana and Why?
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171 Marijuana Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on marijuana, ✍️ marijuana essay topics for college, 👍 good marijuana research topics & essay examples, 🌶️ hot marijuana ideas to write about, 🎓 most interesting marijuana research titles, ❓ research questions about marijuana.

• The Legalization of Marijuana
• Legalization of Marijuana in Canada
• Legalization of Marijuanas: Essay Example
• Adverse Effects of Smoking Marijuana on Probation
• Marijuana Legalization: PREPARE and IMAGINE Models
• The Pros of Legalizing Marijuana
• Legalization of Marijuana and Other Illegal Drugs
• The Legalization of Marijuana in Canada Legalizing marijuana improves the Canadian economy, allows the government to control marijuana sales, and increases the criminal justice system’s inequalities.
• Marijuana Use: The Impacts Among College Students The significant impacts of marijuana use include mental challenges which inhibit cognitive development and psychological growth among college students.
• Legalization of Recreational Marijuana In recent years, the United States public has seen a strong debate about the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.
• Should the Federal Government Legalize the Use of Marijuana? Such fear and the need to exploit the numerous benefits of marijuana are what have triggered a very controversial debate on whether the government should legalize its use.
• Why Marijuana Should Be Legal? There are many arguments in favor of legalizing marijuana, including that marijuana is used for medicinal purposes, it is safer than other drugs.
• Pot for Pain: Medical Marijuana for Veterans This paper argues the idea of medical marijuana for veterans should be encouraged by the US government and society only in cases where patients are under medical supervision.
• Arguments Against the Legalization of Marijuana I am persuaded to state that legalizing marijuana is a serious mistake if committed by a state and it’s not only morally wrong but it’s a time bomb.
• The Legalization of Marijuana The nationwide legalization of marijuana is not a positive option since it can contribute to motor vehicle crash fatalities, does not reduce crime rates, and affects teenagers’ health.
• New York City Marijuana Legal Policy Issuing tickets to people smoking marijuana in public places will free up police resources and will decrease racial disparities.
• Legalization of Marijuana as Controversial Topic The paper determines whether or not marijuana should be legalized. It is a very controversial topic, and many factors must be considered before deciding.
• The Controversy Surrounding Marijuana Legalization Hashish, weed, marijuana, and hemp are all common names for a plant from Central Asia, which today is used not only in textile production and medicine.
• Supporting and Opposing Recreational Marijuana Legalization Approximately 28 million years ago, on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, the cannabis plant underwent evolution, as revealed by a pollen study released in May 2019.
• The Marijuana Use Impact on the Brain Activity Marijuana exposure has a severe effect on the structural parts of the brain, transforming the functioning of receptors and changing the natural work of individual parts.
• Marijuana Effects on Risk of Anxiety and Depression The current paper aims to find out whether medical cannabis can positively affect anxiety and depression and the process of their treatment.
• Legalization of Marijuana in the US The legalization of marijuana is one of the longest-running debates in the United States that has attracted public attention.
• Marijuana and Its Use in Healthcare The research suggests considering the use of marijuana as a medication for treatment because it can help to stop certain diseases and help reduce the risk of mental illness.
• The Marijuana Impact on Biopsychology of the Brain The influence of marijuana on the neurobiology and biopsychology of the brain is one of the critically significant issues in the field of biological psychology.
• The Marijuana Use Effects on the Human Brain This paper explores the theory that marijuana use causes structural changes in the human brain hemispheres, amygdala, and hippocampus.
• Why Marijuana Should Not Be Legalized The paper is designed for adolescents and adults who are concerned with the issue of whether marijuana legalization is needed in the USA.
• The Impact of Marijuana Studies The impact of marijuana has been researched for a long time, yet society’s perceptions of its practicality vary because of cannabis’s unclear effects.
• Legalization of Marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia This paper focuses on marijuana legalization in the Commonwealth of Virginia compared to the states of Colorado and Washington and the advantages and disadvantages.
• Legalizing Marijuana: Analysis of Arguments Marijuana legalization has negative and positive impacts on the health of the people and society. This paper analyzes both sides of the argument.
• Discussion of Legalization of Marijuana From View of Law The review discusses and evaluates some of the existing perspectives on the legalization of marijuana, as well as to argue in favor of the initiative.
• The Marijuana Legalization Arguments Analysis Despite the increased debate about marijuana legalization, countries should not pass laws that permit its medical and recreational use.
• Discussion: Marijuana and the Federal Law There is a need for the federal government to establish laws that aim at regulating cannabis use in states where the drug is legalized.
• Marijuana Legalization in Texas The problem of marijuana legalization in Texas is a recurring public discussion that includes various and sometimes polarized opinions.
• Legalizing Medical Marijuana Marijuana has medical and scientific importance for patients suffering from such health issues as chronic pains, cancer symptoms, and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Medical Marijuana and Governmental Policies in the US Permitting the administration of medical marijuana is a necessary policy that should be sustained on various governmental levels.
• Marijuana Abuse: Annotated Bibliography Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that the COVID-19 pandemic had a highly negative impact on the nation’s overall health and well-being.
• Marijuana Legalization Issues in the USA Recreational use of marijuana should still be considered an unreasonable solution due to the harm that uninhibited consumption of marijuana will entail.
• Legalization of Marijuana in the United States The main objective of this study is to look at the problem of legalizing marijuana in the United States from different angles.
• Prohibiting Legalization of Marijuana in the US The purpose of this paper is to define the conditions under which the legalization of marijuana should be prohibited regardless of its potential help.
• Issue of Legalizing Marijuana Legalizing marijuana is a necessary step for the United States to provide people with the medical and recreational means they need.
• Marijuana: Benefits of Legalization The government’s control can help to monitor the composition of the drug and reduce the number of health problems linked to it.
• Marijuana Legalization Study with Probability Sampling McGinty et al.’s study used a random sampling method to analyze the news media content on the internet and television broadcasted over the country.
• Discussion of Marijuana Legalization The paper argues that legalizing marijuana has some advantages and disadvantages and analyzes its effects on society.
• Marijuana Addiction: A Sociological Perspective Marijuana use issues are frequently connected with reliance in which an individual feels withdrawal manifestations when not taking the medication.
• Marijuana Use: Positive and Negative Effects Marijuana has both positive and negative effects – it can both help to relieve chronic pain and can make certain people uncontrollable and violent.
• The Position Concerning the Legalization of Marijuana The paper argues in different ways for the position concerning the legalization of marijuana. They differ in the approaches to the analysis of this problem.
• Marijuana: Limitations of Individualistic Explanations Medicinal Marijuana its wide use and the fact that the drug is addictive, several studies have been undertaken by scholars to have a deeper understanding of marijuana.
• Legalization of Marijuana and Prostitution Every state should develop ways of controlling the influence of selling marijuana and prostitution before establishing a conclusion on legalizing it.
• A Controversial Issue About Using the Marijuana The issue connected with the use of marijuana has passed through many generations and has been discussed in many cultures from different points of view.
• Marijuana Legalization and Its Use Among American Teenagers Opponents against the liberalization of marijuana counter that marijuana is not a munificent drug and that its use can attract various problems to an individual.
• National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws This paper is about the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which advocates for the legalization of the use of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes.
• Benefits of Medical Marijuana Over Other Prescription Medications The article is dedicated to ascertaining the extent of legal marijuana use in the United States in relation to other drugs after the subsequent law went into effect.
• Does Marijuana Use and Misuse Cause Cancer? The purpose of this paper is to review two studies that have attempted to define the possible link between marijuana use/misuse and lung cancer.
• Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado and Washington The legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington has raised a lot of controversy in American society in the recent past.
• Rhetorical Qualities of the 1969 Marijuana PSA This mini-essay will assess the anti-marijuana PSA from 1969. Due to the presence of several logical fallacies in it, presently produces the exact opposite effect of the intended one.
• The Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act The Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, which will unify the rules for the use of marijuana and promote the development and price reduction of this healthcare service.
• Perspectives of Legalizing Marijuana in Texas Marijuana has the capability of becoming an important substance in the world today. The government must take the responsibility to legalize it.
• Analysis of Legalization of Marijuana A focus on the reasons for marijuana legalization and its integration into medical practice. The first reason for cannabis legalization is its efficiency in relieving fibromyalgia pain.
• The Use of Medical Marijuana in the Fight Against Various Diseases The use of medical marijuana can have a significant positive impact on the health of people with chronic pain. They can reduce anxiety, get rid of depression, and overcome insomnia.
• Is Marijuana Consumption Allowed for Medical Purposes? In the United States, the use of marijuana has been subjected to critics from the government and social organizations. Today, it is prohibited by the U. S. law.
• The Challenges and Benefits of Medical Marijuana Cultivation The paper aims to discuss medical marijuana and analyze the challenges and benefits of medical marijuana cultivation.
• Miami-Dade Marijuana Abuse The project was interesting and practical, providing me with useful insights regarding community health centers.
• Marijuana Legalization in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota The current essay discusses how federalism relates to the legalization of marijuana and argues that the legalization of marijuana is an example of the states as “laboratories of democracy.”
• Reasons for Banning Marijuana Use The primary argument against the legalization of Marijuana is the common belief that it may lead to psychological disorders.
• Policy Brief: Marijuana Policy The purpose of this paper is to give a detailed analysis of the marijuana policy, why it matters, and the importance of encouraging more people to be involved.
• Decriminalization of Marijuana: Advantages and Disadvantages This research paper discusses different sides of the problem through the profound study of certain marijuana cases, and the drug-related laws were also used as examples.
• Opioids and Marijuana for the Chronic Pain Conditions Treatment Chronic pain accompanying a variety of conditions is an important issue when it comes to the provision of healthcare services.
• Opposing the Use of Medical Marijuana Arguments on the benefits of medical marijuana can be negated by many research studies concerning the harmful effects of its use, whether for medicinal or recreational purposes.
• Legalization of Marijuana: The Pros and Cons of the Drug From an evaluation of the pros and cons listed in the paper, it is clear that marijuana holds more harm than the risk to society.
• Remedies for Marijuana Addiction Every community has a given limit of tolerance that is accorded to the behavior and conduct of its people and this is guided by moral, spiritual and legal principles.
• Should Marijuana Be Legalized? This paper analyzes two research articles in an attempt to present arguments for the legalization of cannabis.
• Opposition Towards Legalization of Marijuana The international community has not yet come to the consensus as to the legalization of soft drugs, and marijuana, in particular.
• Attitudes in South Dakota about Medical Marijuana: Recreational Use The question of marijuana legalization is a topical one in the world. The essence of the difficulty is that there are too many contradictive opinions concerning legalization.
• Decriminalization of Marijuana Laws Decriminalization of marijuana law is replacing “current criminal penalties for marijuana processions with civil penalty and fines”.
• Economic Effects of Legalizing Marijuana The paper will concentrate on looking at the economic benefits of legalizing the drug and also the possible negative effects that may result.
• Decriminalizing Marijuana: Pros and Cons It has been suggested, that legalizing or at least decriminalizing marijuana can help to reduce violent crimes and significantly decrease the number of people incarcerated for drug use.
• Contradiction for Universal Legalization of Marijuana Some people insist on marijuana legalization not only in medical sphere but also in every day life. The legalization of marijuana should never be allowed.
• Marijuana Should Be Legalized in the United States It can be clearly seen how the legalization of Marijuana if only for medical purposes can bring the United States some much-needed revenue in these dire economic times.
• Recreational Marijuana Consumption and Acceptance Marijuana use is generally associated with younger people, but people of any age may employ the drug for recreation.
• The Controversy Over Marijuana Legalization The topic of marijuana legalization has been debated at the global level for numerous decades. It is important to have a certain idea about the subject of discussion.
• Marijuana Legalization Controversies: Arguments For and Against The topic of marijuana legalization has always been a subject of numerous heated debates for decades. The legislative measures and methodological tools to study both positive and negative effects are present.
• Recreational Marijuana Should Be Legal and Regulated This argumentative paper offers powerful reasons that explain why the federal government should legalize and regulate recreational marijuana.
• Recreational Marijuana Is Beneficial in America The debates over whether recreational marijuana should be legalized provide various arguments that were propounded by both supporters and opponents.
• Marijuana Use Education: Policy Brief Discussions about cannabis and its legalization within the state have been prolonged and resulted in several states declaring the use of marijuana legal.
• Marijuana Legalization and Possible Effects The media discusses the necessity of legalizing marijuana to be used for medical purposes and to help patients deal with chronic illnesses.
• Concepts of Legalizing Marijuana Considering the many economic, health, and social gains, which may result as a product of legalizing Marijuana, it is very important for the federal government to weigh such gains, hence legalize its usage.
• Marijuana Convictions Reversal: Innovative Policy This paper proposes a policy that the government may adopt to reverse marijuana conviction among those who were sent to prison for distribution or possession of marijuana.
• Marijuana Legalization and Criminalization The government can introduce awareness programs to sensitize the citizens on the dangers of excessive use of the drug.
• Medical Marijuana: Treatments and Legislative Change Medical marijuana can be listed among controversial drugs that are viewed through the prism of negative stereotypes.
• Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative This paper at hand will analyze the Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Amendment 2, which was passed in the state of Florida on November 8, 2016, and came into legal force on January 3, 2017.
• Marijuana Legalization: Adverse Health Effects Legalization of recreational marijuana consumption has garnered much support in recent years as the movement spread across several states in the US.
• Legalization of Marijuana: Reasons Marijuana is a psychoactive substance that is classified as an illegal drug in the United States. This study analyzes the reasons why should legalize marijuana.
• Marijuana Social and Health Effects on Teenagers Consumption of illegal drugs among teenagers or adolescents is a problem that has serious health and social concerns.
• Medial Use of Marijuana in Texas: Pros and Cons Medical marijuana is a topic that has gained much attention in Texas. It should be observed that the policy has attracted both supporters and opponents.
• Marijuana Use and Governmental Regulation in the US Most of the US population has felt that the use of marijuana should not be under government regulation. But, until now any unauthorized handling of marijuana is illegal.
• Should Marijuana Be Legal in United States? Most Studies reported that around 60% of all Americans consider that marijuana should be legalized, and the remaining 40% considers that marijuana should be prohibited.
• Marijuana Popularity, Its Causes and Consequences The primary cause of marijuana’s popularity is its availability due to legalization and advancements in production.
• Legalization of Marijuana: Pain Management Media discusses the necessity of legalizing marijuana to be used for medical purposes and help patients deal with chronic illnesses.
• Medical Marijuana Bill, Its Pros and Cons This paper reviews the pending of Bill 1397, concerning particular issues associated with the medical use of marijuana, which has already been declined several times.
• Bioethics: the Use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes Bioethicists should use the best ideas in order to deal with the controversies associated with medical marijuana. Some health practitioners support the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
• Marijuana Legalization Debate: Arguments Against Legalization Article posted by the Editorial Board of the Washington Post newspaper, the rush to legalize the use of marijuana should be rejected by Washington D.C voters.
• Legalizing Marijuana in Washington and Colorado Legalizing marijuana will definitely make it cheaper in the market in spite of the associated taxes that will be levied by the respective state authorities.
• Marijuana Rules and Regulations in Colorado Marijuana legalization has been a major issue in the U.S. for quite a while. The arguments of both proponents and those opposed are very legitimate.
• Health Law: Legalization of Marijuana in the US Marijuana is a useful drug that can have a lot of benefits to the society contrary to the common belief that it is a harmful drug.
• Why Should Marijuana Be Legalized and Crack or Cocaine Remain Illegal Marijuana (cannabis) has varied medicinal uses, and many States in the Americas have allowed the possession and use of small quantities of marijuana for medicinal purposes only.
• Abnormal Psychology Problem: Excessive Use Of Marijuana And Alcohol
• What are the Medical Causes and Effects of Marijuana Use
• War Against Marijuana Legalize it
• The Benefits and Advantages of the Legalization of Marijuana
• The Long Term Effects Of Marijuana
• United States Government’s False Portrayal of Marijuana
• United States Senate and Medical Marijuana Card
• The Controversy Surrounding the Legalization of Marijuana in the U.S
• State vs. Federal Marijuana Legalization
• Reasons for the Legalization of Marijuana
• The Top Ten Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legalize
• Argument for the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Use
• Speech: Drug Addiction and Marijuana Law
• Good and Bad Efficacy of Marijuana
• The Uncommon Facts That People Don’t Know About Marijuana
• Smoke Signals and Mixed Messages: Medical Marijuana & Drug Policy Signalling Effects
• The Pros and Cons of the Legalization of Marijuana and the History of the Criminalization of Marijuana
• Should States Have Legal Control of Medicinal Marijuana
• Hemp and Marijuana Eliminating the Confusion
• Differences Between Hemp and Marijuana
• Drug Addiction and Responsible Marijuana
• How Gender and Age Effects Marijuana Usage and Brain Function
• Physical, Emotional and Social Impairment Caused by Marijuana
• The Positive and Negative Impacts of the Legalization of Marijuana
• Rogerian Argument for Marijuana Legalization
• Justin Trudeau and the Reasons Why Teens Should Have Access to Legal Marijuana
• The History and Possible Legalization of Marijuana
• Recreational Marijuana Should NOT Be Legal
• Decriminalization Policy And Marijuana Smoking Prevalence: A Look At The Literature
• Historical Context Paragraph for Marijuana
• The Cross-Border Spillover Effects of Recreational Marijuana Legalization
• Perceived Racial Discrimination and Marijuana Use a Decade Later; Gender Differences Among Black Youth
• The Green Need for the Fight for Marijuana Reform
• Modern Liberalism and Marijuana Legalization
• The Fight for Marijuana Legality
• Medical Marijuana Packaging Market – Global Industry Analysis
• The Economic, Medical and Industrial Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana
• Marijuana Prohibition Has Failed United States
• The Debate Concerning the Legalization of Marijuana
• Late Adolescent Development Should Marijuana Be Legalized
• Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes Should Be Legalized in the United States of America
• What Is the Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization?
• What Are Some Misconceptions About the Usefulness of Marijuana?
• What Is the Rebuttal Argument Against Legalization of Marijuana?
• Should Canada Legalize the Use of Recreational Marijuana?
• Should Governments Legalize and Tax Marijuana?
• Should the Medical Use of Marijuana Be Legal in the US?
• What Are the Benefits and Advantages of the Legalization of Marijuana?
• What Are the Common Symptoms and Side-effects of Medical Marijuana?
• What Are Cardiovascular System Effects of Marijuana?
• What Are the Acute and Chronic Effects of Marijuana on Individuals?
• What Types of Marijuana Users Are There by Longitudinal Course?
• Why Synthetic Marijuana Is Considered as the Legal Way to the Grave?
• What Form of Treatment of Marijuana Dependence Are There in Medicine?
• Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use?
• What Are the Dangers and Consequences of Marijuana Abuse?
• Why the Demand for Cocaine and Marijuana by Youth Is So High?
• What Are the Differences Between the Recreational Drug Marijuana and Its Medical Oil?
• What Will Federal Marijuana Reform Look Like?
• What Are the Primary Effects of Marijuana?
• Is Effective Treatment of Tourette’s Syndrome With Marijuana Even Real?
• What Are Dose-related Neurocognitive Effects of Marijuana Use?
• What Is the Relationship Between Marijuana Initiation and Dropping Out of High School?
• What Should Marijuana Prohibition Was Racist From the Start?
• What Health Problems Are Derived From Marijuana?
• Why Some Countries Will Never Legalize Using Marijuana?

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StudyCorgi. (2021, September 18). 171 Marijuana Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/marijuana-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "171 Marijuana Essay Topics." September 18, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/marijuana-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "171 Marijuana Essay Topics." September 18, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/marijuana-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Marijuana were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 8, 2024 .

Journal of Cannabis Research

Aims and scope.

The Journal of Cannabis Research  is an international, fully open access, peer-reviewed journal covering all topics pertaining to cannabis , including original research, perspectives, commentaries and protocols. Our goal is to provide an accessible outlet for expert interdisciplinary discourse on cannabis research.

We are recruiting!

Journal of Cannabis Research is recruiting Associate Editors. As the growth of the journal continues, we are looking to expand our editorial team. If you have experience in any form of cannabis research, we would like to hear from you. Please follow the link below to find out more about the role and apply.

The Two Sides of Hemp

Do you have an idea for a thematic series? Let us know!

About the institute.

The Journal of Cannabis Research is the official publication of the Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR), which was established in June 2016 through an innovative partnership between Colorado State University Pueblo, the state of Colorado, and Pueblo County.

The ICR is the first US multi-disciplinary cannabis research center at a regional, comprehensive institution. The primary goal of the ICR is to conduct or fund research related to cannabis and publicly disseminate the results of the research, which it does so in partnership with the Journal. It also advises other Colorado-based higher education institutions on the development of a cannabis-related curriculum and supports the translation of discoveries into innovative applications that improve lives. 

Find out more about the the Institute via the link below, as well as the Colorado state University–Pueblo website and Institute's research funding outcomes .

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An official publication of the  Institute of Cannabis Research

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Annual Journal Metrics

2022 Citation Impact 3.7 - 2-year Impact Factor 3.4 - 5-year Impact Factor 0.741 - SNIP (Source Normalized Impact per Paper)

2023 Speed 21 days submission to first editorial decision for all manuscripts (Median) 211 days submission to accept (Median)

2023 Usage  596,678 downloads 1,834 Altmetric mentions 

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ISSN: 2522-5782

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The current issue of the journal can be found here!

Cannabis  is an open access peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the scientific study of marijuana/cannabis from a multidisciplinary perspective. Consistent with the mission of the Research Society on Marijuana (RSMj), the journal publishes empirical research of the determinants, correlates, consequences, contexts, and assessment of marijuana use as well as the treatment of problematic marijuana use, including cannabis use disorder. The journal covers research across the human spectrum (note that we currently do not accept animal model research).

The journal seeks to publish the following (but not limited to these topics specifically):

Etiological mechanisms of use

Issues related to clinical factors (i.e., diagnosis)

Medical relevance (i.e., treatment effects/implications)

Clinical trials

Social and behavioral aspects of use (both positive and negative)

Sociopolitical, economic, legal, ethical, and regulatory issues

Editorial Board

Editor-in-chief.

Eric R. Pedersen

Associate Editors

Adrian Bravo

Anita Cservenka

Julie Johnson

LaTrice Montgomery

Mark Prince

Managing Editor

Keegan Buch

Consulting Editors

Shanna Babalonis

Robert Dvorak

Caislin Firth

Nioud (Neo) Gebru

Jordan Gette

Rachel Gunn

Lauren Micalizzi

Yifrah Kaminer

Jamie Parnes

Godfrey Pearlson

Kristina Phillips

Katelyn Romm

Dr. Pedersen is a member of the International Society of Addiction Journal Editors.

The Journal is open access and publishes under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY) license. This allows broad global dissemination while also ensuring the author maintains appropriate credit for their work.

CALL FOR PAPERS : Special Issue Cannabis in Canada in the Post-Legalization Period

Guest editor: james mackillop, ph.d., cpsych, fcahs.

October 2023 marks the 5-year anniversary of Canada’s legalization of recreational cannabis, and it remains the only G7 nation to have taken this step. To coincide with this milestone and further expand Cannabis’s international scope, we are announcing the publication of a special issue focused on cannabis in Canada during the post-legalization period. For this national natural experiment, the impacts of legalization and post-legalization patterns of recreational and medical use are important for Canadian public health but also can help to inform other countries as they consider legalization policies. 

We will consider original reports, brief reports, reviews, and opinion pieces that focus on cannabis use in Canada during the 2018 to 2023 time period. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

Empirical evaluations of impacts of recreational cannabis legalization

Empirical evaluations of impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis use

Changes in recreational and medical use over time

Cannabis use in special populations, including veterans, indigenous individuals, and older adults

Patterns of overlap between cannabis use and other psychoactive drug use, as well as psychiatric co-morbidities

Sex/gender differences in cannabis use

Research with underrepresented populations (e.g., sexual and gender minority individuals, racial and ethnic minority individuals, intersections of identities)

Innovations in prevention and treatment of cannabis misuse and cannabis use disorder

SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE PASSED EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: NOVEMBER 2024

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• What’s New in Cannabis Research

Monthly updates on cannabis and cannabinoid research, by…

June 4, 2021

An original investigation conducted by Arkell et al. assayed the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) compared to ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC) on driving performance. The study investigated the effects of vaporized THC-dominant versus CBD-dominant cannabis o …

March 1, 2021

Regular use of cannabis high in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is associated with increased risk of psychotic symptoms among young people. This finding has not been explored as deeply in adults who use cannabis-based medications. Velayudhan et al. …

February 12, 2021

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by intrusive memories of life-threatening events accompanied by severe anxiety and sleeplessness that often adversely affect quality of life. PTSD has been reported to have a life-time prevalence o …

January 25, 2021

Cannabinoid receptor activation is known to ameliorate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in animal models, but the contributions of other factors in combination with receptor activation remain unstudied. Cannabinoids bind to G protein coupled receptors …

December 10, 2020

This study assesses cannabidiol, which inhibits the reuptake of endocannabinoids, as a treatment for cannabis use disorder. Freeman et al. (2020) conducted a phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo, controlled, clinical trial investigating the heal …

July 20, 2020

Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans. It is a genetic disease characterized by chronic pain and extremely painful episodes, which usually require treatment with large doses of opioids for extended periods of time. Opioids have a …

March 2, 2020

With increasing availability of cannabis products and its decriminalized status in many states, understanding its acute and residual effects on driving is important in promoting public health and in guiding law enforcement with implementations of legal …

January 31, 2020

Cannabis has shown promise in treating several medical conditions but its effects on pregnant women and developing fetuses is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association of self-reported cannabis use by pregnant women and unfavorable mater …

This review article analyzed nine peer-reviewed studies focused on the effects of cannabinoids on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Due to the increasing life expectancy in society aging related Alzheimer’s disease onset has continued to increase since …

December 4, 2019

Cannabidiol’s anxiolytic effects have been demonstrated in several studies. However, the mechanism for this effect remains to be elucidated. The present paper offers additional data that may aid in future research in understanding endocannabinoids’ rol …

October 15, 2019

Benzodiazepines (BDs) like Xanax, are a class of medications used for anxiety, seizures, insomnia, and a variety of other neurological/psychiatric conditions. The adverse side effects of BDs are well documented and include dependence, addiction, withdr …

September 11, 2019

This paper reports that incidences of pediatric cannabis exposure in Massachusetts increased following medical marijuana legalization. The study analyzed cannabis exposure cases amongst individuals aged 0-19 reported to the Regional Center for Poison C …

August 27, 2019

The issue of JAMA published on August 09, 2019 includes an entire section on cannabis curated by Kevin Hill. Topics include cannabis use for medical purposes such as chronic pain and cancer treatment.

August 10, 2019

Currently, there is not enough significant data to conclude that THC or any other cannabinoid is harmful to a developing fetus. This study of 367,403 pregnancies among women in Northern California, reports that the relative rates of daily, weekly, and …

Up to 7.5% of pregnant women in the United States use cannabis during their pregnancy. The concentration of THC in cannabis is increasing as is the number of pregnant women who use cannabis. It is critical that the developmental risk of THC and its mai …

Approximately 35% of Americans suffer from obesity and its related health effects. The activation of cannabinoid 1 receptor [CB1R] has been shown to increase body weight, appetite, insulin resistance, and fat cell production. Thus, overactivity of CB1R …

June 21, 2019

Adolescence is a critical period marked by complex neurological processes and is frequently associated with mood fluctuations and impulsivity. Consequently, understanding the effects of cannabis use during this developmental stage is essential in order …

May 28, 2019

Due to the increasing rates of tobacco and cannabis use co-occurrence among individuals seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder (CUD), appropriate timing of tobacco intervention (TI) initiation is important in maximizing the effects of both the CUD …

February 6, 2019

Cannabis’ increasing popularity is paralleled by growing concerns about its habit-forming propensity along with other important public health concerns including but not limited to driving under the influence and availability to adolescents. This double …

As the cannabis market expands, consumers face a wide variety of products with different methods of consumption such as vaporizing, smoking, edible formulations, etc., Thus, rigorous analyses of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for each route of c …

Cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating constituent of cannabis, has been implicated as a possible anxiolytic and anti-epileptic with the FDA recently approving a drug to treat epilepsy with cannabidiol as its primary ingredient. The present study aims to exam …

December 16, 2018

Over 12 million births in the US were analyzed to identify pregnant women who use cannabis and to assess obstetric and neonatal outcomes. The results showed that the incidence of cannabis dependence in 2013 is two-times more than in 1999 and that canna …

This review provides insights on three clinical trials that showed cannabidiol’s efficacy in reducing seizure episodes by at least 38%. More importantly, this review highlights the need for further research to fully elucidate CBD’s mechanism of action …

Despite increasing evidence of cannabinoids’ analgesic properties, concerns regarding its potential for abuse limit its utility in pain management. The present study posits a solution to such valid and thoughtful concern. GAT211 is a novel compound tha …

December 14, 2018

With the legalization of cannabis in many states, it is imperative that policies are adopted based on scientific findings. This study, conducted in Canada, where recreational use of cannabis recently became legal, sought to determine how cannabis inhal …

The study used positron emission tomography to show that men may have a greater number of CB1-type cannabinoid receptors than women do. This interesting finding may help in designing future studies regarding the health impact of cannabis in men and wom …

This study examined the anti-anxiety effect of cannabidiol using the Simulated Public Speaking Test to induce anxiety and the Visual Analogue Mood Scale to assess subjective ratings of anxiety. The authors also sought to identify the optimal dose of ca …

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Benefits and harms of medical cannabis: a scoping review of systematic reviews

Misty pratt.

1 Knowledge Synthesis Group, Ottawa Methods Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8 L6 Canada

Adrienne Stevens

2 TRIBE Graduate Program, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia

Micere Thuku

Claire butler.

3 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4 Canada

Becky Skidmore

4 Ottawa, Canada

L. Susan Wieland

5 Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA

Mark Clemons

6 School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8 M5 Canada

7 Division of Medical Oncology and Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

Salmaan Kanji

8 Department of Pharmacy, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada

9 Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada

Brian Hutton

Associated data.

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

There has been increased interest in the role of cannabis for treating medical conditions. The availability of different cannabis-based products can make the side effects of exposure unpredictable. We sought to conduct a scoping review of systematic reviews assessing benefits and harms of cannabis-based medicines for any condition.

A protocol was followed throughout the conduct of this scoping review. A protocol-guided scoping review conduct. Searches of bibliographic databases (e.g., MEDLINE®, Embase, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library) and gray literature were performed. Two people selected and charted data from systematic reviews. Categorizations emerged during data synthesis. The reporting of results from systematic reviews was performed at a high level appropriate for a scoping review.

After screening 1975 citations, 72 systematic reviews were included. The reviews covered many conditions, the most common being pain management. Several reviews focused on management of pain as a symptom of conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), injury, and cancer. After pain, the most common symptoms treated were spasticity in MS, movement disturbances, nausea/vomiting, and mental health symptoms. An assessment of review findings lends to the understanding that, although in a small number of reviews results showed a benefit for reducing pain, the analysis approach and reporting in other reviews was sub-optimal, making it difficult to know how consistent findings are when considering pain in general. Adverse effects were reported in most reviews comparing cannabis with placebo (49/59, 83%) and in 20/24 (83%) of the reviews comparing cannabis to active drugs. Minor adverse effects (e.g., drowsiness, dizziness) were common and reported in over half of the reviews. Serious harms were not as common, but were reported in 21/59 (36%) reviews that reported on adverse effects. Overall, safety data was generally reported study-by-study, with few reviews synthesizing data. Only one review was rated as high quality, while the remaining were rated of moderate ( n = 36) or low/critically low ( n = 35) quality.

Conclusions

Results from the included reviews were mixed, with most reporting an inability to draw conclusions due to inconsistent findings and a lack of rigorous evidence. Mild harms were frequently reported, and it is possible the harms of cannabis-based medicines may outweigh benefits.

Systematic review registration

The protocol for this scoping review was posted in the Open Access ( https://ruor.uottawa.ca/handle/10393/37247 ).

Interest in medical applications of marijuana ( Cannabis sativa ) has increased dramatically during the past 20 years. A 1999 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine supported the use of marijuana in medicine, leading to a number of regulatory medical colleges providing recommendations for its prescription to patients [ 1 ]. An updated report in 2017 called for a national research agenda, improvement of research quality, improvement in data collection and surveillance efforts, and strategies for addressing barriers in advancing the cannabis agenda [ 2 ].

Proponents of medical cannabis support its use for a highly varied range of medical conditions, most notably in the fields of pain management [ 3 ] and multiple sclerosis [ 4 ]. Marijuana can be consumed by patients in a variety of ways including smoking, vaporizing, ingesting, or administering sublingually or rectally. The plant consists of more than 100 known cannabinoids, the main ones of relevance to medical applications being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) [ 5 ]. Synthetic forms of marijuana such as dronabinol and nabilone are also available as prescriptions in the USA and Canada [ 6 ].

Over the last decade, there has been an increased interest in the use of medical cannabis products in North America. It is estimated that over 3.5 million people in the USA are legally using medical marijuana, and a total of USD$6.7 billion was spent in North America on legal marijuana in 2016 [ 7 ]. The number of Canadian residents with prescriptions to purchase medical marijuana from Health Canada–approved growers tripled from 30,537 in 2015 to near 100,000 in 2016 [ 8 ]. With the legalization of recreational-use marijuana in parts of the USA and in Canada in October 2018, the number of patients using marijuana for therapeutic purposes may become more difficult to track. The likely increase in the numbers of individuals consuming cannabis also necessitates a greater awareness of its potential benefits and harms.

Plant-based and plant-derived cannabis products are not monitored as more traditional medicines are, thereby increasing the uncertainty regarding its potential health risks to patients [ 3 ]. While synthetic forms of cannabis are available by prescription, different cannabis plants and products contain varied concentrations of THC and CBD, making the effects of exposure unpredictable [ 9 ]. While short-lasting side effects including drowsiness, loss of short-term memory, and dizziness are relatively well known and may be considered minor, other possible effects (e.g., psychosis, paranoia, anxiety, infection, withdrawal) may be more harmful to patients.

There remains a considerable degree of clinical equipoise as to the benefits and harms of marijuana use for medical purposes [ 10 – 13 ]. To understand the extent of synthesized evidence underlying this issue, we conducted a scoping review [ 14 ] of systematic reviews evaluating the benefits and/or harms of cannabis (plant-based, plant-derived, and synthetic forms) for any medical condition. We located and mapped systematic reviews to summarize research that is available for consideration for practice or policy questions in relation to medical marijuana.

A scoping review protocol was prepared and posted to the University of Ottawa Health Sciences Library’s online repository ( https://ruor.uottawa.ca/handle/10393/37247 ). We used the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews checklist to guide the reporting of this report (see Additional file 1 ) [ 15 ].

Literature search and process of study selection

An experienced medical information specialist developed and tested the search strategy using an iterative process in consultation with the review team. Another senior information specialist peer-reviewed the strategy prior to execution using the PRESS Checklist [ 16 ]. We searched seven Ovid databases: MEDLINE®, including Epub Ahead of Print and In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, and the Health Technology Assessment Database. The final peer-reviewed search strategy for MEDLINE was translated to the other databases (see Additional file 2 ). We performed the searches on November 3, 2017.

The search strategy incorporated controlled vocabulary (e.g., “Cannabis,” “Cannabinoids,” “Medical Marijuana”) and keywords (e.g., “marijuana,” “hashish,” “tetrahydrocannabinol”) and applied a broad systematic review filter where applicable. Vocabulary and syntax were adjusted across the databases and where possible animal-only and opinion pieces were removed, from the search results.

Gray literature searching was limited to relevant drug and mental health databases, as well as HTA (Health Technology Assessment) and systematic review databases. Searching was guided by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health’s (CADTH) checklist for health-related gray literature (see Additional file 3 ). We performed searches between January and February 2018. Reference lists of overviews were searched for relevant systematic reviews, and we searched for full-text publications of abstracts or protocols.

Management of all screening was performed using Distiller SR Software ® (Evidence Partners Inc., Ottawa, Canada). Citations from the literature search were collated and de-duplicated in Reference Manager (Thomson Reuters: Reference Manager 12 [Computer Program]. New York: Thomson Reuters 2011), and then uploaded to Distiller. The review team used Distiller for Levels 1 (titles and abstracts) and 2 (full-text) screening. Pilot testing of screening questions for both levels were completed prior to implementation. All titles and abstracts were screened in duplicate by two independent reviewers (MT and MP) using the liberal accelerated method [ 17 ]. This method requires only one reviewer to assess an abstract as eligible for full-text screening, and requires two reviewers to deem the abstract irrelevant. Two independent reviewers (MT and MP) assessed full-text reports for eligibility. Disagreements during full-text screening were resolved through consensus, or by a third team member (AS). The process of review selection was summarized using a PRISMA flow diagram (Fig. ​ (Fig.1) 1 ) [ 18 ].

PRISMA-style flow diagram of the review selection process

Review selection criteria

English-language systematic reviews were included if they reported that they investigated harms and/or benefits of medical or therapeutic use of cannabis for adults and children for any indication. Definitions related to medical cannabis/marijuana are provided in Table ​ Table1. 1 . We also included synthetic cannabis products, which are prescribed medicines with specified doses of THC and CBD. Reviews of solely observational designs were included only in relation to adverse effects data, in order to focus on the most robust evidence available. We considered studies to be systematic reviews if at least one database was searched with search dates reported, at least one eligibility criterion was reported, the authors had assessed the quality of included studies, and there was a narrative or quantitative synthesis of the evidence. Reviews assessing multiple interventions (both pharmacological and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions) were included if the data for marijuana studies was reported separately. Published and unpublished guidelines were included if they conducted a systematic review encompassing the criteria listed above.

Context for the use of cannabis-related terms during the review selection process

We excluded overviews of systematic reviews, reviews in abstract form only, and review protocols. We further excluded systematic reviews focusing on recreational, accidental, acute, or general cannabis use/abuse and interventions such as synthetic cannabinoids not approved for therapeutic use (e.g., K2 or Spice).

Data collection and quality assessment

All data were collected electronically in a pre-developed form using Microsoft Excel software (Microsoft Corporation, Seattle, USA). The form was pilot tested on three included reviews by three people. One reviewer (MP or CB) independently extracted all data, and a second reviewer (MT) verified all of the items collected and checked for any omitted data. Disagreements were resolved by consensus and consultation with a third reviewer if necessary. A data extraction form with the list of included variables is provided in Additional file 4 . All collected data has also been made available in the online supplemental materials associated with this report.

Quality assessment of systematic reviews was performed using the AMSTAR-2 [ 20 ] tool. One reviewer (MP or CB) independently assessed quality, while a second reviewer (MT) verified the assessments. Disagreements were resolved by consensus and consultation with a third reviewer if necessary. The tool consists of 16 items in total, with four critical domains and 12 non-critical domains. The AMSTAR-2 tool is not intended to generate an overall score, and instead allows for an overall rating based on weaknesses in critical domains. Reviews were rated as high (no critical flaws with zero or one non-critical flaw), moderate (no critical flaws with ≥ 1 non-critical flaw), low (one critical flaw with/without non-critical weakness), or critically low (> 1 critical flaw with/without non-critical weakness) quality.

Evidence synthesis

We used a directed content analytic approach [ 21 ] with an initial deductive framework [ 22 ] that allowed flexibility for inductive analysis if refinement or development of new categorization was needed. The framework used to categorize outcome data results is outlined in Table ​ Table2. 2 . Where reviews had a mix of narrative and quantitative data, results from meta-analyses were prioritized over count data or study-by-study data. The extraction and reporting of data results was performed at a high level and did not involve an in-depth evaluation, which is appropriate for a scoping review [ 14 ]. Review authors’ conclusions and/or recommendations were extracted and reported narratively.

Outcome result categorization

Changes from the study protocol

For feasibility, we decided to limit the inclusion of systematic reviews of only observational study designs to those that addressed adverse events data. All other steps of the review were performed as planned.

Search findings

The PRISMA flow diagram describing the process of review selection is presented in Fig. ​ Fig.1. 1 . After duplicates were removed, the search identified a total of 1925 titles and abstracts, of which 47 references were located through the gray literature search. Of the total 1925 citations assessed during Level 1 screening, 1285 were deemed irrelevant. We reviewed full-text reports for the 640 reviews of potential relevance, and of these, 567 were subsequently excluded, leaving a total of 72 systematic reviews that were included; the associated data collected are provided in Additional file 5 . A listing of the reports excluded during full-text review is provided in Additional file 6 .

Characteristics of included reviews

There were 63 systematic reviews [ 4 , 19 , 23 – 83 ] and nine guidelines with systematic reviews [ 84 – 92 ]. Overall, 27 reviews were performed by researchers in Europe, 16 in the USA, 15 in Canada, eight in Australia, two in Brazil, and one each in Israel, Singapore, South Africa, and China. Funding was not reported in 29 (40%) of the reviews, and the remaining reviews received funding from non-profit or academic ( n = 20; 28%), government ( n = 14; 19%), industry ( n = 3; 4%), and mixed ( n = 1; 1%) sources. Five reviews reported that they did not receive any funding for the systematic review. Tables ​ Tables3, 3 , ​ ,4, 4 , ​ ,5, 5 , ​ ,6, 6 , ​ ,7, 7 , ​ ,8, 8 , ​ ,9, 9 , ​ ,10, 10 , ​ ,11, 11 , ​ ,12, 12 , and ​ and13 13 provide an overview of the characteristics of the 72 included systematic reviews.

Multiple sclerosis

MS multiple sclerosis, NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, No . number, NR not reported, NRS numerical rating scale, QoL quality of life, RMI Rivermead Mobility Index, SBS study-by-study, VAS visual analog scale

*A colon indicates that there were separate analyses for each comparator

Movement disorders

HD Huntington’s disease, MS multiple sclerosis, NR not reported, PD Parkinson’s disease, SBS study-by-study, SCL-90R Symptoms Checklist-90 Revised, QoL quality of life, STSSS Shapiro Tourette Syndrome Severity Scale, THC tetrahydrocannabinol, TS-CGI Tourette Syndrome Clinical Global Impressions, TSSL Tourette’s Syndrome Symptom List (patient rated), VAS visual analog scale, YGTSS Yale Global Tic Severity Scale

AE : adverse effect, NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NNT numbers needed to treat, NP neuropathic pain, NR not reported, QoL quality of life, QST quantitative sensory testing, SBS study-by-study, VAS visual analog scale

*A colon indicates that there were separate analyses for each comparator; a “+” sign indicates placebo was combined with another comparator

AE adverse effect, NP neuropathic pain, NR not reported, NRS numerical rating scale, QoL quality of life, THC tetrahydrocannabinol, SIGN Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, SBS study-by-study

Rheumatic disease

AE adverse event, FM fibromyalgia, NR not reported, NRS numerical rating scale, OA osteoarthritis, RA rheumatoid arthritis, SBS study-by-study

NP neuropathic pain, NR not reported, QoL quality of life, SBS study-by-study

Mental health

PTSD posttraumatic stress disorder, SBS study-by-study

NP neuropathic pain, NR not reported, SBS study-by-study

Neurological conditions

AE adverse effect, ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, CADTH Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, NR not reported

Various conditions

AE adverse effect, AD Alzheimer’s disease, ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, CADTH Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, CGI-C Clinical Global Impression of Change scale, COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, FIQ fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, FM fibromyalgia, HD Huntington’s disease, IBD inflammatory bowel disease, MS multiple sclerosis, NP neuropathic pain, NR not reported, PD Parkinson’s disease, PTSD posttraumatic stress disorder, RA rheumatoid arthritis, SBS study-by-study, SCI spinal cord injury

Other conditions

CADTH Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, IBS irritable bowel syndrome, NR not reported, QoL quality of life, SBS study-by-study, VAS visual analog scale

The reviews were published between 2000 and 2018 (median year 2014), and almost half (47%) were focused solely on medical cannabis. Four (6%) reviews covered both medical and other cannabis use (recreational and substance abuse), 19 (26%) reported multiple pharmaceutical interventions (cannabis being one), six (8%) reported various CAM interventions (cannabis being one), and nine (13%) were mixed pharmaceutical and CAM interventions (cannabis being one). Multiple databases were searched by almost all of the reviews (97%), with Medline/PubMed or Embase common to all.

Cannabis use

Figure ​ Figure2 2 illustrates the different cannabis-based interventions covered by the included reviews. Plant-based cannabis consists of whole plant products such as marijuana or hashish. Plant-derived cannabinoids are active constituents of the cannabis plant, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), or a combination of THC:CBD (also called nabiximols, under the brand name Sativex) [ 3 ]. Synthetic cannabinoids are manufactured rather than extracted from the plant and include drugs such as nabilone and dronabinol.

Review coverage of the various cannabis-based interventions

Twenty-seven reviews included solely interventions from plant-derived cannabinoids, 10 studied solely synthetic cannabinoids, and eight included solely studies on plant-based cannabis products. Twenty-four reviews covered a combination of different types of cannabis, and the remaining three systematic reviews did not report which type of cannabinoid was administered in the included studies.

The systematic reviews covered a wide range of conditions and illnesses, the most notable being pain management. Seventeen reviews looked at specific types of pain including neuropathic [ 31 , 42 , 62 , 69 , 85 , 90 ], chronic [ 26 , 32 , 52 , 58 , 80 ], cancer [ 84 , 87 ], non-cancer [ 41 , 68 ], and acute [ 38 ] types of pain (one review covered all types of pain) [ 65 ]. Twenty-seven reviews (38%) also focused on management of pain as a symptom of conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) [ 6 , 23 , 27 , 43 , 46 , 52 , 63 , 85 , 92 ], injury [ 29 , 35 , 36 , 69 ], cancer [ 37 , 43 , 65 , 88 ], inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [ 28 ], rheumatic disease (RD) [ 49 , 51 , 73 ], diabetes [ 68 – 70 ], and HIV [ 48 , 53 , 67 ]. In Fig. ​ Fig.3, 3 , the types of illnesses addressed by the set of included reviews are graphically represented, with overlap between various conditions and pain. Some systematic reviews covered multiple diseases, and therefore the total number of conditions represented in Fig. ​ Fig.3 3 is greater than the total number of included reviews.

Conditions or symptoms across reviews that were treated with cannabis. IBD inflammatory bowel disease, MS multiple sclerosis, RD rheumatic disease

One review included a pediatric-only population, in the evaluation of marijuana for nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy [ 54 ]. Although trials in both adult and child populations were eligible for thirteen (18%) reviews, only two additional reviews included studies in children; these reviews evaluated cannabis in cancer [ 60 ] and a variety of conditions [ 25 ]. Many of the reviews ( n = 25, 35%) included only adults ≥ 18 years of age. Almost half of the reviews ( n = 33, 46%) did not report a specific population for inclusion.

Cannabis was prescribed for a wide range of medical issues. The indication for cannabis use is illustrated in Fig. ​ Fig.4. 4 . Pain management ( n = 27) was the most common indication for cannabis use. A number of reviews sought to address multiple disease symptoms ( n = 12) or explored a more holistic treatment for the disease itself ( n = 11). After pain, the most common symptoms being treated with cannabis were spasticity in MS, movement disturbances (such as dyskinesia, tics, and spasms), weight or nausea/vomiting, and mental health symptoms.

Indications for cannabis use across included reviews

Figure ​ Figure5 5 summarizes the breadth of outcomes analyzed in the included reviews. The most commonly addressed outcomes were withdrawal due to adverse effects, “other pain,” neuropathic pain, spasticity, and the global impression of the change in clinical status. Many outcomes were reported using a variety of measures across reviews. For example, spasticity was measured both objectively (using the Ashworth scale) and subjectively (using a visual analog scale [VAS] or numerical rating scale [NRS]). Similarily, outcomes for pain included VAS or NRS scales, reduction in pain, pain relief, analgesia, pain intensity, and patient assessment of change in pain.

Quality of the systematic reviews

Quality assessments of the included reviews based upon AMSTAR-2 are detailed in Additional file 7 and Additional file 8 . Only one review was rated as high quality [ 45 ]. All other reviews were deemed to be of moderate ( n = 36) or low/critically low ( n = 35) methodological quality. Assessments for the domains deemed of critical importance for determining quality ratings are described below.

Only 20% of reviews used a comprehensive search strategy; another 47% were given a partial score because they had not searched the reference lists of the included reviews, trial registries, gray literature, and/or the search date was older than 2 years. The remaining reviews did not report a comprehensive search strategy.

Over half of the reviews (51%) used a satisfactory technique for assessing risk of bias (ROB) of the individual included studies, while 35% were partially satisfactory because they had not reported whether allocation sequence was truly random and/or they had not assessed selective reporting. The remaining reviews did not report a satisfactory technique for assessing ROB.

Most reviews (71%) could not be assessed for an appropriate statistical method for combining results in a meta-analysis, as they synthesized study data narratively. Approximately 19% of reviews used an appropriate meta-analytical approach, leaving 10% that used inappropriate methods.

The final critical domain for the AMSTAR-2 determines whether review authors accounted for ROB in individual studies when discussing or interpreting the results of the review. The majority of reviews (83%) did so in some capacity.

Mapping results of included systematic reviews

We mapped reviews according to authors’ comparisons, the conditions or symptoms they were evaluating, and the categorization of the results (see Table ​ Table2). 2 ). In some cases, reviews contributed to more than one comparison (e.g., cannabis versus placebo or active drug). As pain was the most commonly addressed outcome, we mapped this outcome separately from all other endpoints. This information is shown for all reviews and then restricted to reviews of moderate-to-high quality (as determined using the AMSTAR-2 criteria): cannabis versus placebo (Figs. ​ (Figs.6 6 and ​ and7), 7 ), cannabis versus active drugs (Figs. ​ (Figs.8 8 and ​ and9), 9 ), cannabis versus a combination of placebo and active drug (Figs. ​ (Figs.10 10 and ​ and11), 11 ), one cannabis formulation versus other (Figs. ​ (Figs.12 12 and ​ and13), 13 ), and cannabis analyzed against all other comparators (Fig. ​ (Fig.14). 14 ). Details on how to read the figures are provided in the corresponding figure legends. The median number of included studies across reviews was four, and ranged from one to seventy-nine (not shown in figures).

Cannabis vs. placebo. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorization shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

Cannabis vs. placebo, high and moderate quality reviews. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorizations shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

Cannabis vs. active drugs. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorizations shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

Cannabis vs. active drugs, high and moderate quality reviews. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorizations shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

Cannabis vs. placebo + active drug. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorizations shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

Cannabis vs. placebo + active drug, high and moderate quality reviews. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorizations shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

One cannabis formulation vs. other. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorizations shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

One cannabis formulation vs. other, high and moderate quality reviews. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorizations shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

Cannabis vs. all comparators combined. Authors’ presentations of the findings were mapped using the categorizations shown in Table ​ Table2. 2 . According to the reviews’ intended scope for the condition being treated, outcomes were mapped into “pain,” “non-pain outcomes,” and “adverse events.” For each condition and outcome pair (i.e., each row in the grid), the number of reviews reporting findings is shown according to the results categorization. For pain, reviews numbered in different categories signal discordant findings across those reviews. For non-pain outcomes, reviews presenting findings in the different categories would signal different results for different outcomes, as well as discordant findings within and across reviews. Adverse events are grouped as a whole and “favors intervention” would be interpreted as a decrease in events with cannabis when compared with the control group. Favors int = favors intervention; Favors Ctrl = favors control; Not stat sig = not statistically significant

Cannabis versus placebo

Most reviews (59/72, 82%) compared cannabis with placebo. Of these reviews, 34 (58%) addressed pain outcomes and 47 (80%) addressed non-pain outcomes, with most outcomes addressed by three reviews or fewer (Fig. ​ (Fig.6). 6 ). Some reviews had a mix of quantitative syntheses and study-by-study data reported (13/59, 22%), while another group of reviews (14/59, 24%) only reported results study-by-study. Overall, 24% (14/59) of the cannabis versus placebo reviews had only one included study.

• i. Reviews focused on addressing pain across conditions. In most cases, findings were discordant across reviews for the pain outcomes measured. For chronic non-cancer pain, however, two reviews favored cannabis over placebo for decreasing pain. One review assessing acute pain for postoperative pain relief found no difference between various cannabinoid medications and placebo. The distribution of findings was similar when restricting to moderate-to-high-quality reviews.
• ii. Reviews focused on treating a condition or family of related conditions . Various results were observed for pain. For MS and HIV/AIDS, one review each reported quantitative results favoring cannabis for decreased pain but with other reviews reporting results study-by-study, it is difficult to know, broadly, how consistent those findings are. For cancer, two reviews reported results favoring cannabis for decreased pain. For rheumatic disease, findings are discordant between two reviews, and another two reviews reported results study-by-study. One review that included studies of MS or paraplegia found no difference in pain between groups. For treating injury, one review showed that the placebo group had less pain and one review reported data study-by-study. No reviews addressed pain in movement disorders, neurological conditions, and IBD.

For those reviews assessing pain as part of a focus on treating a range of conditions, two showed cannabis reduced pain [ 43 , 52 ], but one showed mixed results depending on how pain was measured [ 43 ]. These reviews covered several different conditions, including injury, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and MS or paraplegia.

When restricting to moderate-to-high-quality reviews, only one review each in multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS with a study-by-study analysis on pain remained. One review on cancer favored cannabis for pain reduction. Findings remained the same for MS or paraplegia and rheumatic disease. No review for injury and paint outcomes was of higher quality.

• 2. Non-pain outcomes

The types of non-pain outcomes included in the reviews varied by condition/illness. The most commonly reported outcomes (see Fig. ​ Fig.5 5 for overall outcomes) when comparing cannabis to placebo included muscle- or movement-related outcomes ( n = 20), quality of life ( n = 14), and sleep outcomes ( n = 10).

There was no consistent pattern for non-pain outcomes either within or across medical conditions. Many ( n = 24, 33%) reviews assessing non-pain outcomes reported the results of those analyses study-by-study. Conflicting results are observed in some cases due to the use of different measures, such as different ways of quantifying spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis [ 56 , 91 ]. One review each addressing neurological conditions [ 50 ] (outcome: muscle cramps) and MS/paraplegia [ 27 ] (outcomes: spasticity, spasm, cognitive function, daily activities, motricity, and bladder function) showed no difference between groups.

• 3. Adverse effects

Adverse effects were reported in most reviews comparing cannabis with placebo (49/59, 83%). Most adverse events were reported study-by-study, with few reviews ( n = 16/59, 27%) conducting a narrative or quantitative synthesis. Serious adverse effects were reported in 21/59 (36%) reviews, and minor adverse effects were reported in 30/59 (51%) reviews. The remaining reviews did not define the difference between serious and minor adverse events. The most commonly reported serious adverse events included psychotic symptoms ( n = 6), severe dysphoric reactions ( n = 3), seizure ( n = 3), and urinary tract infection ( n = 2). The most commonly reported minor adverse events included somnolence/drowsiness ( n = 28), dizziness ( n = 27), dry mouth ( n = 20), and nausea ( n = 18). Many reviews ( n = 37/59, 63%) comparing cannabis to placebo reported both neurocognitive and non-cognitive adverse effects. Withdrawals due to adverse events were reported in 22 (37%) reviews.

Of the moderate-/high-quality reviews, adverse effect analyses were reported in reviews on pain, multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, movement disorders, rheumatic disease, and several other conditions. Two reviews on pain showed fewer adverse events with cannabis for euphoria, events linked to alternations in perception, motor function, and cognitive function, withdrawal due to adverse events, sleep, and dizziness or vertigo [ 58 , 90 ]. One review on MS showed that there was no statistically significant difference between cannabis and placebo for adverse effects such as nausea, weakness, somnolence, and fatigue [ 91 ], while another review on MS/paraplegia reported fewer events in the placebo group for dizziness, somnolence, nausea, and dry mouth [ 27 ]. Within cancer reviews, one review found no statistically significant difference between cannabis and placebo for dysphoria or sedation but reported fewer events with placebo for “feeling high,” and fewer events with cannabis for withdrawal due to adverse effects [ 40 ]. In rheumatic disease, one review reported fewer total adverse events with cannabis and found no statistically significant difference between cannabis and placebo for withdrawal due to adverse events [ 51 ].

Cannabis versus other drugs

Relatively fewer reviews compared cannabis with active drugs ( n = 23/72, 32%) (Fig. ​ (Fig.8). 8 ). Many of the reviews did not synthesize studies quantitatively, and results were reported study-by-study. The most common conditions in reviews comparing cannabis to active drugs were pain, cancer, and rheumatic disease. Comparators included ibuprofen, codeine, diphenhydramine, amitriptyline, secobarbital, prochlorperazine, domperidone, metoclopramide, amisulpride, neuroleptics, isoproterenol, megestrol acetate, pregabalin, gabapentin, and opioids.

• i. Reviews focused on addressing pain across conditions. When comparing across reviews, a mix of results are observed (see Fig. ​ Fig.8), 8 ), and some were reported study-by-study. One review found no statistically significant difference between cannabinoids and codeine for nociceptive pain, postoperative pain, and cancer pain [ 65 ]. Another review favored “other drugs” (amitriptyline and pregabalin) over cannabinoids for neuropathic pain [ 90 ]. The distribution of findings was similar when restricting to moderate-to-high-quality reviews.
• ii. Reviews focused on treating a condition or family of related conditions. One review on cancer compared cannabinoids and codeine or secobarbital and reported pain results study-by-study. Another review on fibromyalgia comparing synthetic cannabinoids with amitriptyline also reported pain data study-by-study [ 39 ].
• Non-pain outcomes

Two reviews on cancer favored cannabinoids over active drugs (prochlorperazine, domperidone, metoclopramide, and neuroleptics) for patient preference and anti-emetic efficacy [ 40 , 60 ]. Non-pain outcomes were reported study-by-study for the outcome of sleep in neuropathic pain [ 90 ] and rheumatic disease [ 39 , 49 ]. In a review covering various conditions (pain, MS, anorexia, cancer, and immune deficiency), results were unclear or indeterminate for subjective measures of sleep [ 46 ].

Adverse effects were reported in 20/24 (83%) of the reviews comparing cannabis to active drugs, and only 6/20 (30%) reported a narrative or quantitative synthesis. Many reviews that reported narrative data did not specify whether adverse effects could be attributed to a placebo or active drug comparator.

Of the moderate-to-high-quality reviews, two pain reviews found no statistically significant difference for cannabis compared to codeine or amitriptyline for withdrawals due to adverse events [ 65 , 90 ]. Results from one cancer review were mixed, with fewer adverse events for cannabis (compared to prochlorperazine, domperidone, or metoclopramide) or no difference between groups, depending on the type of subgroup analysis that was conducted [ 40 ].

Cannabis + active drugs versus placebo + active drugs

Two reviews compared cannabis with placebo cannabis in combination with an active drug (opioids and gabapentin) (Figs. ​ (Figs.10 10 and ​ and11). 11 ). Both were scored to be of moderate quality. Although one review showed that cannabis plus opioids decreased chronic pain [ 80 ], another review on pain in MS included only a single study [ 81 ], precluding the ability to determine concordance of results. Cannabis displayed varied effects on non-pain outcomes, including superiority of placebo over cannabis for some outcomes. One review reported withdrawal due to adverse events study-by-study and also reported that side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, and dizziness were more frequent with higher doses of cannabinoids (data from two included studies) [ 80 ].

Cannabis versus other cannabis comparisons

Six (8%) reviews compared different cannabis formulations or doses (Figs. ​ (Figs.12 12 and ​ and13). 13 ). Almost all were reported as study-by-study results, with two reviews including only one RCT. One review for PTSD found only observational data [ 33 ] and another review on anxiety and depression combined data from one RCT with cross-sectional study data [ 19 ]. A single review on MS reported a narrative synthesis that found a benefit for spasticity. However, it was unclear if the comparator was placebo or THC alone [ 56 ]. Four reviews reported adverse effects study-by-study, with a single review comparing side effects from different dosages; in this review, combined extracts of THC and CBD were better tolerated than extracts of THC alone [ 56 ].

Cannabis versus all comparators

One review combined all comparators for the evaluation (Fig. ​ (Fig.14). 14 ). The review (combining non-users, placebo and ibuprofen) covered a range of medical conditions and was rated as low quality [ 30 ]. No adverse effects were evaluated for this comparison.

Mapping the use of quality assessment and frameworks to interpret the strength of evidence

Although 83% of reviews incorporated risk of bias assessments in their interpretation of the evidence, only 11 (15%) reviews used a framework such as GRADE to evaluate important domains other than risk of bias that would inform the strength of the evidence.

Mapping authors’ conclusions or recommendations

Most reviews (43/72 60%) indicated an inability to draw conclusions, whether due to uncertainty, inconsistent findings, lack of (high quality) evidence, or focusing their conclusion statement on the need for more research. Almost 15% of reviews (10/72) reported recommendations or conclusions that included some uncertainty. One review (1%) provided a statement of the extent of the strength of the evidence, which differed according to outcome.

Eleven reviews provided clearer conclusions (14%). Four indicated that cannabis was not effective or not cost-effective compared to placebo in relation to multiple sclerosis, acute pain, cancer, and injury. Three reviews addressing various conditions provided varying conclusions: one stated cannabis was not effective, one indicated it was modestly safe and effective, and one concluded that cannabis was safe and efficacious as short-term treatment; all reviews were of low quality. The three remaining reviews stated moderate or modest effects for improving chronic pain, compared with placebo or other analgesia; two of those reviews were of medium AMSTAR-2 quality, and one used the GRADE framework for interpreting the strength of the evidence.

The eight remaining included reviews (11%) did not provide a clear conclusion statement or reported only limitations.

Mapping authors’ limitations of the research

Several of the reviews indicated that few studies, small sample sizes, short duration of treatment, and issues related to outcomes (e.g., definition, timing, and types) were drawbacks to the literature. Some reviews noted methodological issues with and heterogeneity among studies as limitations. A few authors stated that restricting eligibility to randomized trials, English-language studies, or full publications may have affected their review results.

With the increasing use of medical cannabis, an understanding of the landscape of available evidence syntheses is needed to support evidence-informed decision-making, policy development, and to inform a research agenda. In this scoping review, we identified 72 systematic reviews evaluating medical cannabis for a range of conditions and illnesses. Half of the reviews were evaluated as being of moderate quality, with only one review scoring high on the AMSTAR-2 assessment tool.

There was disparity in the reported results across reviews, including non-synthesized (study-by-study) data, and many were unable to provide a definitive statement regarding the effectiveness of cannabis (as measured by pain reduction or other relevant outcomes), nor the extent of increased side effects and harms. This is consistent with the limitations declared in general across reviews, such as the small numbers of relevant studies, small sample sizes of individual studies, and methodological weaknesses of available studies. This common theme in review conclusions suggests that while systematic reviews may have been conducted with moderate or high methodological quality, the strength of their conclusions are driven by the availability and quality of the relevant underlying evidence, which was often found to be limited.

Relatively fewer reviews addressed adverse effects associated with cannabis, except to narratively summarize study level data. Although information was provided for placebo-controlled comparisons, none of the comparative effectiveness reviews quantitatively assessed adverse effects data. For the placebo-controlled data, although the majority of adverse effects were mild, the number of reviews reporting serious adverse effects such as psychotic symptoms [ 25 , 42 ] and suicidal ideation [ 68 , 85 ] warrants caution.

A mix of reviews supporting and not supporting the use of cannabis, according to authors’ conclusions, was identified. Readers may wish to consider the quality of the reviews, the use of differing quality assessment tools, additional considerations covered by the GRADE framework, and the potential for spin as possible reasons for these inconsistencies. It is also possible that cannabis has differing effects depending on its type (e.g., synthetic), dose, indication, the type of pain being evaluated (e.g., neuropathic), and the tools used for outcome assessment, which can be dependent on variations in condition. Of potential interest to readers may be a closer examination of the reviews evaluating chronic pain, in order to locate the source(s) of discordance. For example, one review was deemed of moderate quality, used the GRADE framework, and rated the quality of evidence for the effectiveness of cannabis for reducing neuropathic pain as moderate, suggesting that further investigation of cannabis for neuropathic pain may be warranted [ 80 ]. The exploration aspects outlined in this paragraph are beyond the purview of scoping review methodology; a detailed assessment of the reviews, including determining the overlap of included studies among similar reviews, potential reasons for the observed discordance of findings, what re-analysis of study-by-study analyses would yield, and an undertaking of missing GRADE assessments would fall outside the bounds of a scoping review and require the use of overview methodology [ 14 ].

Our findings are consistent with a recently published summary of cannabis-based medicines for chronic pain management [ 3 ]. This report found inconsistent results in systematic reviews of cannabis-based medicines compared to placebo for chronic neuropathic pain, pain management in rheumatic diseases and painful spasms in MS. The authors also concluded that cannabis was not superior to placebo in reducing cancer pain. Four out of eight included reviews scored high on the original AMSTAR tool. The variations between the two tools can be attributed to the differences in our overall assessments. Lastly, the summary report included two reviews that were not located in our original search due to language [ 93 ] and the full-text [ 94 ] of an abstract [ 95 ] that was not located in our search.

This scoping review has identified a plethora of synthesized evidence in relation to medical cannabis. For some conditions, the extent of review replication may be wasteful. Many reviews have stated that additional trials of methodologically robust design and, where possible, of sufficient sample size for precision, are needed to add to the evidence base. This undertaking may require the coordination of multi-center studies to ensure adequate power. Future trials may also help to elucidate the effect of cannabis on different outcomes.

Given authors’ reporting of issues in relation to outcomes, future prospective trials should be guided by a standardized, “core” set of outcomes to strive for consistency across studies and ensure relevance to patient-centered care. Development of those core outcomes should be developed using the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) methodology [ 96 ], and further consideration will need to be made in relation to what outcomes may be common across all cannabis research and which outcomes are condition-specific. With maturity of the evidence base, future systematic reviews should seek and include non-journal-published (gray literature) reports and ideally evaluate any non-English-language papers; authors should also adequately assess risk of bias and undertake appropriate syntheses of the literature.

The strengths of this scoping review include the use of an a priori protocol, peer-reviewed search strategies, a comprehensive search for reviews, and consideration of observational designs for adverse effects data. For feasibility, we restricted to English-language reviews, and it is unknown how many of the 39 reviews in other languages that we screened would have met our eligibility criteria. The decision to limit the inclusion of reviews of observational data to adverse effects data was made during the process of full-text screening and for pragmatic reasons. We also did not consider a search of the PROSPERO database for ongoing systematic reviews; however, in preparing this report, we performed a search and found that any completed reviews were already considered for eligibility or were not available at the time of our literature search. When charting results, we took a broad perspective, which may be different than if these reviews were more formally assessed during an overview of systematic reviews.

Cannabis-based medicine is a rapidly emerging field of study, with implications for both healthcare practitioners and patients. This scoping review is intended to map and collate evidence on the harms and benefits of medical cannabis. Many reviews were unable to provide firm conclusions on the effectiveness of medical cannabis, and results of reviews were mixed. Mild adverse effects were frequently but inconsistently reported, and it is possible that harms may outweigh benefits. Evidence from longer-term, adequately powered, and methodologically sound RCTs exploring different types of cannabis-based medicines is required for conclusive recommendations.

Supplementary information

Acknowledgements.

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

Authors’ contributions.

MP, AS, and BH drafted the initial version of the report. BS designed and implemented the literature search. MP, MT, and CB contributed to review of abstracts and full texts as well as data collection. MP, AS, and BH were responsible for analyses. All authors (MP, AS, MT, CB, BS, SW, MC, SK, BH) contributed to interpretation of findings and revision of drafts and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health of the National Institutes of Health under award number R24AT001293. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Availability of data and materials

Ethics approval and consent to participate, consent for publication, competing interests.

BH has previously received honoraria from Cornerstone Research Group for provision of methodologic advice related to the conduct of systematic reviews and meta-analysis. All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Contributor Information

Misty Pratt, Email: ac.irho@ttarpim .

Adrienne Stevens, Email: ac.irho@snevetsda .

Micere Thuku, Email: ac.irho@ukuhtm .

Claire Butler, Email: ac.irho@reltublc .

Becky Skidmore, Email: moc.sregor@eromdiksb .

L. Susan Wieland, Email: moc.liamg@dnaleiwsl .

Mark Clemons, Email: ac.hot@snomelcm .

Salmaan Kanji, Email: ac.hot@ijnaks .

Brian Hutton, Email: ac.irho@nottuhb .

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s13643-019-1243-x.

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The 7 most important cannabis research studies of 2023

2023 saw tons of new research come out related to cannabis. Below is a selection of some of the studies that caught my attention, with brief summaries of each. The first two studies are in the realm of public health. After that, three studies on commercial cannabis followed by two basic research studies on the endocannabinoid system.

This year, we saw a nice review of the public health research done over the past few years, finding little evidence that legalization promotes marijuana consumption among teens, together with evidence that does promote lower teen alcohol consumption. There was also interesting research done on the Cannabis plant itself, including non-terpene volatiles that drive its aroma and its susceptibility to Hop Latent Viroid , a devastating infection that’s spreading across North America. There was also interesting basic research, shedding new light on how the endocannabinoid system works.

Here’s a brief summary of a selection of studies from 2023.

The Public Health Effects of Legalizing Marijuana

As of the publication of this paper, 36 states had legalized medical marijuana and 18 had legalized recreational adult-use cannabis. This review paper summarizes studies that have come out to do with public health consequences of legalization. The major outcomes they reviewed the literature on included: youth marijuana use, alcohol consumption, the abuse of prescription opioids, traffic fatalities, and crime.

• “Little credible evidence to suggest that legalization promotes marijuana use among teenagers.”

Topics with a strong level of agreement across studies included:

• “Convincing evidence that young adults consume less alcohol when medical marijuana is legalized.”

For other topics, the authors found a lower level of agreement across studies preventing firm conclusions from being drawn. Those included:

• “For other public health outcomes such as mortality involving prescription opioids, the effect of legalizing medical marijuana has proven more difficult to gauge and, as a consequence, we are less comfortable drawing firm conclusions.”

For more detail on the literature they reviewed, check out the paper itself .

State Cannabis Legalization and Psychosis-Related Health Care Utilization

The question this study sought to address was whether state cannabis legalization was associated with increased rates of psychosis-related health care claims. This cohort study looked at claims data from over 63 million beneficiaries between 2003-2017. They found no statistically significant differences in the rates of psychosis-related diagnoses or prescribed antipsychotics in states with legal medical or adult-use cannabis compared to those without legal cannabis.

Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis

Following up on previous work showing that the “skunky” aroma of some strains comes not from terpenes, but from a class of compounds called, “volatile sulfur compounds,” a team from Abstrax dug deeper into the chemistry of cannabis aroma. They found that a variety of nonterpene volatile compounds are the main drivers of many of the “exotic” aromas that give strains various sweet or savory scents. 

To learn more about this particular study, check out this Leafly article and listen to the video lecture by Abstrax chemist Dr. Iain Oswald.

Symptomology, prevalence, and impact of Hop latent viroid on greenhouse-grown cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) plants in Canada

Hop latent viroid is a virus-like infection that’s been devastating cannabis crops throughout North America. We have previously written about what HLV is and how it affects marijuana growers. This was a key study from 2023 showing what HLV does to Cannabis plants and how prevalent it already is in some locations. Given the enormous impact HLV is already having, expect to hear more about this bug in 2024.

Comparison of the Cannabinoid and Terpene Profiles in Commercial Cannabis from Natural and Artificial Cultivation

Some cannabis is grown indoors, some outdoors. Many consumers have strong opinions on which is better. In this 2023 study , researchers did a head-to-head comparison of two genetically identical cultivars grown indoors vs. outdoors, looking at their cannabinoid and terpene content. Main findings included:

• Significantly higher levels of oxidized and degraded cannabinoids in indoor-grown samples.
• Significantly more “unusual cannabinoids” such as C4- and C6-THCA in outdoor-grown samples.
• Significant differences in terpene profiles for outdoor- vs. indoor-grown samples, with outdoor-grown samples generally showing higher levels of sesquiterpenes like caryophyllene, humulene, etc.

Disruption of tonic endocannabinoid signaling triggers cellular, behavioral and neuroendocrine responses consistent with a stress response

The endocannabinoid system regulates many different systems in the brain and body. As we covered in this article , endocannabinoids play an important role in regulating pain perception, fear, and anxiety. At any given moment, there is a certain level of “endocannabinoid tone” in your brain. As this rodent study showed, endocannabinoid tone “gates” the stress response generated in the hypothalamus of the brain. In general, endocannabinoids restrict activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the key brain system regulating stress levels. Higher endocannabinoid tone had the effect of lessening stress levels in rodents. 

Cannabinoid CB1 Receptors Are Expressed in a Subset of Dopamine Neurons and Underlie Cannabinoid-Induced Aversion, Hypoactivity, and Anxiolytic Effects in Mice

Endocannabinoid receptors are one of the most abundant proteins in the brain, found in many different brain regions and types of neurons. This is one reason why the effects of THC can be so diverse. Depending on the dose of THC consumed, different neurons and brain regions can be affected to different degrees, generating different effects. In this rodent study , neuroscientists studied the effects of a specific subset of dopamine neurons in the brain which express CB1 receptors. They found that this particular subset of neurons has some of the negative side effects that cannabinoids like THC can induce (especially at high doses), including anxiety. This highlights how specific subsets of neurons in the brain can control specific effects that cannabinoids generate.

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Marijuana Research Paper Topics

• Essay Topics

• Should Marijuana Be Made Legal in Canada?
• Marijuana Legalization and Drug Testing
• Is It Time to Legalize Marijuana?
• Marijuana Facts Most People Do Not Know
• The Issues Preventing Marijuana Legalization
• The Economic Justification for Marijuana Legalization
• The Prevalence of Juvenile Marijuana Use and Smoking
• Investigating Marijuana Side-Effects
• Factors Influencing Teenage Marijuana Use
• College Students’ Perceptions of Marijuana Use on Campus
• Marijuana for Medical Purposes and Future Trends
• Defying Anti-Medical Marijuana Campaigns in Massachusetts
• An Abnormal Psychology Issue: Excessive Marijuana and Alcohol Use
• Why the Food and Drug Administration Mostly Prohibits the Use of Marijuana in the United States
• Why Marijuana Legalization Is Required in the United States
• Comparing and Contrasting Alcohol and Marijuana

Marijuana Research Questions

• How Does the Media Frame Marijuana Prohibition and Legalization?
• How Will Legalizing Marijuana Benefit the United States?
• How Does Military Jurisdiction Handle Marijuana Now That It Is Legal?
• How Will Legal Marijuana Benefit America?
• How Will Marijuana Legalization Affect Society?
• Is Marijuana Harmful to the Brain?
• Is Marijuana Used for Medical Purposes?
• How Many People in the United States Smoke Marijuana?
• Does Previous Marijuana Use Increase the Use of Other Drugs?
• How Does Medical Marijuana Function?
• How Does the Social Contract Theory Prevent Marijuana Legalization?
• Why Do Americans Like Marijuana So Much?
• What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Legalizing Marijuana?
• What Are the Benefits and Risks of Legalizing Marijuana?
• Is Legalizing Marijuana a Good Idea?
• What Are Marijuana’s Medical Causes and Effects?
• How Do Employers Handle Medical Marijuana Legislation?
• Is Marijuana Effective in the Treatment of Diseases?
• How Could Legalizing Marijuana Aid the Economy?
• Does Marijuana Have More Negative or Positive Effects?
• What Impact Will Marijuana Legalization Have on Public Health?
• Is Marijuana Use Harmful to Human Capital Formation?
• What Effects Do Gender and Age Have on Marijuana Use and Brain Function?
• How Does Marijuana Impact Our Society?

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

• Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
• Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
• How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
• How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
• How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

• What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
• How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
• How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
• Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
• How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
• How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
• How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
• What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
• What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
• What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
• Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
• Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
• Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
• Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
• Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
• Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
• What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
• Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
• Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
• How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
• Should graduate students be able to form unions?

• What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
• How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
• Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
• How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
• How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
• Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
• Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
• Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
• Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
• Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
• Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
• Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
• Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
• Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
• How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
• Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
• What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
• What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
• Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
• Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
• Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
• What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
• How does stress affect the body?
• Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
• How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
• Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
• What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
• What were the causes of the Civil War?
• How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
• Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?
• Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
• What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
• How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
• What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

• Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
• Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
• How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
• How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
• What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
• What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
• How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

• How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
• How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
• Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
• Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
• How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
• How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
• What are the pros and cons of fracking?
• What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
• What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
• How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
• Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
• Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
• What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
• What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
• How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
• Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
• How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Has social media made people more or less connected?
• What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
• Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
• When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
• Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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The Effect of E-cigarette Taxes on Substance Use

Public health advocates warn that the rapid growth of legal markets for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) may generate a “gateway” to marijuana and harder drug consumption, particularly among teenagers. This study is the first to explore the effects of ENDS taxes on substance use. We find that a one-dollar increase in ENDS taxes (2019$) is associated with a 1-to-2 percentage point decline in teen marijuana use and a 0.8 percentage point reduction in adult marijuana use. This result is consistent with e-cigarettes and marijuana being economic complements. We find no evidence that ENDS taxes affect drug treatment admissions or consumption of illicit drugs other than marijuana such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or opioids over this sample period.

We thank Monica Deza and Kyu Matsuzawa, and seminar participants at the University of Kentucky, Southern Economic Association Annual Conference, Western Economic Association Annual Conference, and IHEA Virtual Seminar on the Economics of Risky Health Behaviors for very helpful comments. Dr. Sabia acknowledges research support from the Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies (CHEPS) at San Diego State University, which includes grants received from the Charles Koch Foundation. All errors are the authors’. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

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Alcohol Vs. Marijuana

This essay about the comparative merits of alcohol and marijuana provides a comprehensive examination of their health implications, social consequences, and legal considerations. It discusses how alcohol’s legal status contrasts with its significant health risks and social issues, while marijuana’s illegal status obscures its potential benefits. The essay emphasizes the need for nuanced perspectives and informed decision-making, advocating for harm reduction strategies and public health-focused policies.

How it works

In contemporary society, discussions surrounding substance use often revolve around the comparative merits and demerits of alcohol and marijuana. As students, we find ourselves at the crossroads of exploration, where decisions about indulgence are paramount to our well-being. Within this discourse, the debate on whether weed is better than alcohol echoes loudly. This essay endeavors to delve into this debate with a critical lens, considering aspects ranging from health implications to social consequences, aiming to shed light on the complexities inherent in making informed choices regarding substance use.

Health Implications:

The health ramifications of alcohol and marijuana use are multifaceted and deserve meticulous examination. Alcohol, a legal and socially accepted intoxicant, is associated with a plethora of adverse health effects. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases, neurological impairments, and addiction, culminating in alcoholism—a debilitating condition with dire consequences for individuals and society as a whole.

Conversely, marijuana, although illegal in many jurisdictions, has garnered attention for its purported medicinal properties and relatively lower health risks compared to alcohol. While chronic marijuana use may impair cognitive function and respiratory health, it lacks the acute toxicity and risk of fatal overdose associated with alcohol. Moreover, certain cannabinoids found in marijuana have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of chronic pain, epilepsy, and nausea, further complicating the narrative surrounding its health implications.

Social Consequences:

Beyond individual health, the social ramifications of alcohol and marijuana use shape communal dynamics and cultural norms. Alcohol, deeply ingrained in social rituals and festivities, often serves as a facilitator of social interaction. However, its disinhibiting effects can lead to a myriad of social issues, including aggression, violence, and impaired judgment, contributing to accidents and interpersonal conflicts.

Contrastingly, marijuana’s social impact varies widely depending on cultural norms and legal frameworks. In regions where it is decriminalized or legalized, marijuana consumption may be normalized and integrated into social settings akin to alcohol. Proponents argue that marijuana fosters relaxation and camaraderie without the aggression and volatility often associated with alcohol. However, in conservative societies or jurisdictions where marijuana remains illegal, its use may carry stigma and legal repercussions, exacerbating social inequalities and reinforcing punitive approaches to drug policy.

Legal and Policy Considerations:

The legal landscape surrounding alcohol and marijuana is a testament to the complexities of substance regulation and public health policy. Historically, alcohol prohibition in the early 20th century in the United States underscored the limitations of outright prohibition, leading to its eventual repeal due to rampant illicit production and organized crime. In contrast, marijuana prohibition persists in many jurisdictions despite shifting public attitudes and mounting evidence of its comparatively lower societal harm.

Recent efforts to legalize marijuana in various jurisdictions have sparked debates on regulation, taxation, and harm reduction strategies. Proponents of legalization argue for the implementation of stringent regulatory frameworks to mitigate underage access, promote public education, and redirect resources from enforcement towards treatment and prevention. Conversely, opponents raise concerns regarding the normalization of drug use, potential increases in youth consumption, and conflicts with international drug control treaties.

Conclusion:

In navigating the discourse surrounding alcohol versus marijuana, it becomes evident that simplistic dichotomies fail to capture the nuances inherent in substance use and regulation. While alcohol’s legality and cultural acceptance belie its profound health and social repercussions, marijuana’s illicit status obscures its potential therapeutic benefits and comparatively lower harm profile. As responsible students and members of society, it behooves us to critically evaluate the evidence, challenge prevailing norms, and advocate for harm reduction approaches that prioritize public health and social equity. Ultimately, the journey towards healthier choices necessitates an ongoing dialogue informed by science, compassion, and a commitment to collective well-being.

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Is it dangerous to smoke weed? What you need to know about using marijuana.

Using marijuana at a young age can have lifelong consequences. the drug interferes with the development of the brain..

The push to legalize marijuana at the federal level has gained ground ever since California legalized it for medical use nearly 30 years ago.  Recreational marijuana is now permissible  in 24 states and Washington, D.C. Only four states still outlaw marijuana with no medical exceptions. 

In 2022, President Joe Biden ordered a review of the drug's status as a Schedule I substance, which denotes that a drug has no accepted medical use and has high potential for abuse. If marijuana is reclassified, a renewed push for national legalization will surely follow. 

We aren't here to tell you whether to vote for or against legalizing marijuana. But as a doctor and mental health professional, we're concerned that many Americans may come away from this legalization push with a belief that marijuana is harmless − if not healthful.

That's not quite right, as a growing body of scientific literature shows, including a new landmark study in the Journal of the American Heart Association .

Marijuana can help relieve symptoms of illness

Let's be fair: Marijuana has been shown to alleviate the symptoms and side effects of certain conditions.

Scientific research suggests that the drug can reduce vomiting and nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy, reduce muscle spasms in patients with multiple sclerosis and provide short-term relief for adults with chronic pain. 

Your quality of life: Do I have to get chemo to treat my cancer? That answer is changing as treatments evolve.

There's some evidence that marijuana might reduce tics in people with Tourette syndrome , increase appetite and reduce weight loss in people with HIV and improve sleep quality for people with sleep apnea. 

But because medical marijuana is federally illegal, there have been relatively few comprehensive and scientifically rigorous studies on its potential benefits. All these areas require further research, including whether benefits actually outweigh risks. 

And let's not get suckered into the cannabis industry's focus on medical utility. For the majority of users, marijuana is a recreational drug that brings pleasure, pure and simple.

Risks of marijuana use include heart attacks and strokes

Unfortunately, that's not all it brings. The risks are real. 

An  American Heart Association study  analyzed data from more than 430,000 adults collected over four years. Researchers found that marijuana use is linked to a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke, with the risk increasing with frequency of use. Daily users had a 25% higher chance of heart attack and a 42% higher chance of stroke than non-users. And the increased danger exists whether users smoke, vape or eat their cannabis products. 

It's also important to note that thanks to advances in agricultural technology, the potency of marijuana's psychoactive ingredient – tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC − has dramatically increased. 

Today's marijuana is nothing like the flowers and leaves that filled the joints smoked at Woodstock in 1969. At that time, marijuana contained less than 2% THC. By the '90s, that had doubled to about 4%. Today, THC content in the most popular strains of weed falls between 17% and 28%. Concentrated oils or "dabs," meanwhile, can contain upwards of 95% concentration.

The higher the potency, the greater the risk of addiction − despite the common misconception that marijuana is not addictive.

Not your grandma's weed: Why potency limits must be part of any push to legalize cannabis

A 2014 study from the New England Journal of Medicine showed that nearly 10% of people who try out marijuana get hooked . That figure increases to 17% among those who first try weed in adolescence and to 25% among those who get high every day. 

Marijuana is not a harmless substance, especially for adolescents whose brains have yet to fully develop. Yet teenage marijuana use is also at its highest level  this century. 

Nearly 80% of cannabis users  try the drug for the first time as a teenager . In the years following its legalization in Colorado via a 2012 referendum, marijuana use among 12- to 17-year-olds  increased 65%.

Using marijuana at a young age can have lifelong consequences. The drug interferes with the development of the brain . Impaired attention, problems with memory and difficulty learning are all potential side effects of early exposure to marijuana. 

Studies have shown that  frequent marijuana use can fundamentally alter the brain's prefrontal cortex (our brain's "personality center"), the cerebellum (which controls movement and balance) and the amygdala (which processes emotions and memories).

Recognition of the mental health risks of marijuana use is also growing. A six-year study found that teenage girls are five times more likely to develop depression or anxiety if they smoke weed every day. Because many use marijuana as a coping mechanism for anxiety and depression, they can get themselves into a vicious cycle of dependency and worsening mental health.

Recent research from the National Institutes of Health has linked cannabis use disorder − which afflicts more than 1 in 5 users − to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.Among men in their 20s, as many as  30% of schizophrenia cases would have been prevented but for marijuana use.

Once people get hooked, marijuana can be incredibly difficult to quit.  Withdrawal symptoms  include depression, insomnia, anger, irritability and, of course, intense cravings to get high again.

Against all this data, it's a dangerous folly to think that getting high poses no health risks. 

At a time when social acceptance of marijuana and access to the drug have skyrocketed, even as youth mental health indicators are plummeting, it's more important than ever to reexamine the notion that weed is harmless. 

Phil McGraw, Ph.D., of daytime TV's "Dr. Phil," is one of the most well-known mental health professionals in the world and founder of Merit Street Media cable network, where he hosts " Dr. Phil Primetime ." Dr. John Whyte is chief medical officer of WebMD .

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A new way to detect radiation involving cheap ceramics

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The radiation detectors used today for applications like inspecting cargo ships for smuggled nuclear materials are expensive and cannot operate in harsh environments, among other disadvantages. Now, in work funded largely by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with early support from the U.S. Department of Energy, MIT engineers have demonstrated a fundamentally new way to detect radiation that could allow much cheaper detectors and a plethora of new applications.

They are working with Radiation Monitoring Devices , a company in Watertown, Massachusetts, to transfer the research as quickly as possible into detector products.

In a 2022 paper in Nature Materials , many of the same engineers reported for the first time how ultraviolet light can significantly improve the performance of fuel cells and other devices based on the movement of charged atoms, rather than those atoms’ constituent electrons.

In the current work, published recently in Advanced Materials , the team shows that the same concept can be extended to a new application: the detection of gamma rays emitted by the radioactive decay of nuclear materials.

“Our approach involves materials and mechanisms very different than those in presently used detectors, with potentially enormous benefits in terms of reduced cost, ability to operate under harsh conditions, and simplified processing,” says Harry L. Tuller, the R.P. Simmons Professor of Ceramics and Electronic Materials in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE).

Tuller leads the work with key collaborators Jennifer L. M. Rupp, a former associate professor of materials science and engineering at MIT who is now a professor of electrochemical materials at Technical University Munich in Germany, and Ju Li, the Battelle Energy Alliance Professor in Nuclear Engineering and a professor of materials science and engineering. All are also affiliated with MIT’s Materials Research Laboratory

“After learning the Nature Materials work, I realized the same underlying principle should work for gamma-ray detection — in fact, may work even better than [UV] light because gamma rays are more penetrating — and proposed some experiments to Harry and Jennifer,” says Li.

Says Rupp, “Employing shorter-range gamma rays enable [us] to extend the opto-ionic to a radio-ionic effect by modulating ionic carriers and defects at material interfaces by photogenerated electronic ones.”

Other authors of the Advanced Materials paper are first author Thomas Defferriere, a DMSE postdoc, and Ahmed Sami Helal, a postdoc in MIT’s Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Modifying barriers

Charge can be carried through a material in different ways. We are most familiar with the charge that is carried by the electrons that help make up an atom. Common applications include solar cells. But there are many devices — like fuel cells and lithium batteries — that depend on the motion of the charged atoms, or ions, themselves rather than just their electrons.

The materials behind applications based on the movement of ions, known as solid electrolytes, are ceramics. Ceramics, in turn, are composed of tiny crystallite grains that are compacted and fired at high temperatures to form a dense structure. The problem is that ions traveling through the material are often stymied at the boundaries between the grains.

In their 2022 paper, the MIT team showed that ultraviolet (UV) light shone on a solid electrolyte essentially causes electronic perturbations at the grain boundaries that ultimately lower the barrier that ions encounter at those boundaries. The result: “We were able to enhance the flow of the ions by a factor of three,” says Tuller, making for a much more efficient system.

Vast potential

At the time, the team was excited about the potential of applying what they’d found to different systems. In the 2022 work, the team used UV light, which is quickly absorbed very near the surface of a material. As a result, that specific technique is only effective in thin films of materials. (Fortunately, many applications of solid electrolytes involve thin films.)

Light can be thought of as particles — photons — with different wavelengths and energies. These range from very low-energy radio waves to the very high-energy gamma rays emitted by the radioactive decay of nuclear materials. Visible light — and UV light — are of intermediate energies, and fit between the two extremes.

The MIT technique reported in 2022 worked with UV light. Would it work with other wavelengths of light, potentially opening up new applications? Yes, the team found. In the current paper they show that gamma rays also modify the grain boundaries resulting in a faster flow of ions that, in turn, can be easily detected. And because the high-energy gamma rays penetrate much more deeply than UV light, “this extends the work to inexpensive bulk ceramics in addition to thin films,” says Tuller. It also allows a new application: an alternative approach to detecting nuclear materials.

Today’s state-of-the-art radiation detectors depend on a completely different mechanism than the one identified in the MIT work. They rely on signals derived from electrons and their counterparts, holes, rather than ions. But these electronic charge carriers must move comparatively great distances to the electrodes that “capture” them to create a signal. And along the way, they can be easily lost as they, for example, hit imperfections in a material. That’s why today’s detectors are made with extremely pure single crystals of material that allow an unimpeded path. They can be made with only certain materials and are difficult to process, making them expensive and hard to scale into large devices.

Using imperfections

In contrast, the new technique works because of the imperfections — grains — in the material. “The difference is that we rely on ionic currents being modulated at grain boundaries versus the state-of-the-art that relies on collecting electronic carriers from long distances,” Defferriere says.

Says Rupp, “It is remarkable that the bulk ‘grains’ of the ceramic materials tested revealed high stabilities of the chemistry and structure towards gamma rays, and solely the grain boundary regions reacted in charge redistribution of majority and minority carriers and defects.”

Comments Li, “This radiation-ionic effect is distinct from the conventional mechanisms for radiation detection where electrons or photons are collected. Here, the ionic current is being collected.”

Igor Lubomirsky, a professor in the Department of Materials and Interfaces at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, who was not involved in the current work, says, “I found the approach followed by the MIT group in utilizing polycrystalline oxygen ion conductors very fruitful given the [materials’] promise for providing reliable operation under irradiation under the harsh conditions expected in nuclear reactors where such detectors often suffer from fatigue and aging. [They also] benefit from much-reduced fabrication costs.”

As a result, the MIT engineers are hopeful that their work could result in new, less expensive detectors. For example, they envision trucks loaded with cargo from container ships driving through a structure that has detectors on both sides as they leave a port. “Ideally, you’d have either an array of detectors or a very large detector, and that’s where [today’s detectors] really don’t scale very well,” Tuller says.

Another potential application involves accessing geothermal energy, or the extreme heat below our feet that is being explored as a carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels. Ceramic sensors at the ends of drill bits could detect pockets of heat — radiation — to drill toward. Ceramics can easily withstand extreme temperatures of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit and the extreme pressures found deep below the Earth’s surface.

The team is excited about additional applications for their work. “This was a demonstration of principle with just one material,” says Tuller, “but there are thousands of other materials good at conducting ions.”

Concludes Defferriere: “It’s the start of a journey on the development of the technology, so there’s a lot to do and a lot to discover.”

This work is currently supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the government. It was also funded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

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After being insulted, writing down your feelings on paper then getting rid of it reduces anger

A research group in Japan has discovered that writing down one's reaction to a negative incident on a piece of paper and then shredding it or throwing it away reduces feelings of anger.

"We expected that our method would suppress anger to some extent," lead researcher Nobuyuki Kawai said. "However, we were amazed that anger was eliminated almost entirely."

This research is important because controlling anger at home and in the workplace can reduce negative consequences in our jobs and personal lives. Unfortunately, many anger management techniques proposed by specialists lack empirical research support. They can also be difficult to recall when angry.

The results of this study, published in Scientific Reports , are the culmination of years of previous research on the association between the written word and anger reduction. It builds on work showing how interactions with physical objects can control a person's mood.

For their project, Kawai and his graduate student Yuta Kanaya, both at the Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, asked participants to write brief opinions about important social problems, such as whether smoking in public should be outlawed. They then told them that a doctoral student at Nagoya University would evaluate their writing.

However, the doctoral students doing the evaluation were plants. Regardless of what the participants wrote, the evaluators scored them low on intelligence, interest, friendliness, logic, and rationality. To really drive home the point, the doctoral students also wrote the same insulting comment: "I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university."

After handing out these negative comments, the researchers asked the participants to write their thoughts on the feedback, focusing on what triggered their emotions. Finally, one group of participants was told to either dispose of the paper they wrote in a trash can or keep it in a file on their desk. A second group was told to destroy the document in a shredder or put it in a plastic box.

The students were then asked to rate their anger after the insult and after either disposing of or keeping the paper. As expected, all participants reported a higher level of anger after receiving insulting comments. However, the anger levels of the individuals who discarded their paper in the trash can or shredded it returned to their initial state after disposing of the paper. Meanwhile, the participants who held on to a hard copy of the insult experienced only a small decrease in their overall anger.

Kawai imagines using his research to help businesspeople who find themselves in stressful situations. "This technique could be applied in the moment by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and then throwing it away when one feels angry in a business situation," he explained.

Along with its practical benefits, this discovery may shed light on the origins of the Japanese cultural tradition known as hakidashisara ( hakidashi refers to the purging or spitting out of something, and sara refers to a dish or plate) at the Hiyoshi shrine in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, just outside of Nagoya. Hakidashisara is an annual festival where people smash small discs representing things that make them angry. Their findings may explain the feeling of relief that participants report after leaving the festival.

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Materials provided by Nagoya University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Yuta Kanaya, Nobuyuki Kawai. Anger is eliminated with the disposal of a paper written because of provocation . Scientific Reports , 2024; 14 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57916-z

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About 1 in 4 u.s. teachers say their school went into a gun-related lockdown in the last school year.

Twenty-five years after the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado , a majority of public K-12 teachers (59%) say they are at least somewhat worried about the possibility of a shooting ever happening at their school. This includes 18% who say they’re extremely or very worried, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to better understand public K-12 teachers’ views on school shootings, how prepared they feel for a potential active shooter, and how they feel about policies that could help prevent future shootings.

To do this, we surveyed 2,531 U.S. public K-12 teachers from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14, 2023. The teachers are members of RAND’s American Teacher Panel, a nationally representative panel of public school K-12 teachers recruited through MDR Education. Survey data is weighted to state and national teacher characteristics to account for differences in sampling and response to ensure they are representative of the target population.

We also used data from our 2022 survey of U.S. parents. For that project, we surveyed 3,757 U.S. parents with at least one child younger than 18 from Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, 2022. Find more details about the survey of parents here .

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

Another 31% of teachers say they are not too worried about a shooting occurring at their school. Only 7% of teachers say they are not at all worried.

This survey comes at a time when school shootings are at a record high (82 in 2023) and gun safety continues to be a topic in 2024 election campaigns .

Teachers’ experiences with lockdowns

About a quarter of teachers (23%) say they experienced a lockdown in the 2022-23 school year because of a gun or suspicion of a gun at their school. Some 15% say this happened once during the year, and 8% say this happened more than once.

High school teachers are most likely to report experiencing these lockdowns: 34% say their school went on at least one gun-related lockdown in the last school year. This compares with 22% of middle school teachers and 16% of elementary school teachers.

Teachers in urban schools are also more likely to say that their school had a gun-related lockdown. About a third of these teachers (31%) say this, compared with 19% of teachers in suburban schools and 20% in rural schools.

Do teachers feel their school has prepared them for an active shooter?

About four-in-ten teachers (39%) say their school has done a fair or poor job providing them with the training and resources they need to deal with a potential active shooter.

A smaller share (30%) give their school an excellent or very good rating, and another 30% say their school has done a good job preparing them.

Teachers in urban schools are the least likely to say their school has done an excellent or very good job preparing them for a potential active shooter. About one-in-five (21%) say this, compared with 32% of teachers in suburban schools and 35% in rural schools.

Teachers who have police officers or armed security stationed in their school are more likely than those who don’t to say their school has done an excellent or very good job preparing them for a potential active shooter (36% vs. 22%).

Overall, 56% of teachers say they have police officers or armed security stationed at their school. Majorities in rural schools (64%) and suburban schools (56%) say this, compared with 48% in urban schools.

Only 3% of teachers say teachers and administrators at their school are allowed to carry guns in school. This is slightly more common in school districts where a majority of voters cast ballots for Donald Trump in 2020 than in school districts where a majority of voters cast ballots for Joe Biden (5% vs. 1%).

What strategies do teachers think could help prevent school shootings?

The survey also asked teachers how effective some measures would be at preventing school shootings.

Most teachers (69%) say improving mental health screening and treatment for children and adults would be extremely or very effective.

About half (49%) say having police officers or armed security in schools would be highly effective, while 33% say the same about metal detectors in schools.

Just 13% say allowing teachers and school administrators to carry guns in schools would be extremely or very effective at preventing school shootings. Seven-in-ten teachers say this would be not too or not at all effective.

How teachers’ views differ by party

Republican and Republican-leaning teachers are more likely than Democratic and Democratic-leaning teachers to say each of the following would be highly effective:

• Having police officers or armed security in schools (69% vs. 37%)
• Having metal detectors in schools (43% vs. 27%)
• Allowing teachers and school administrators to carry guns in schools (28% vs. 3%)

And while majorities in both parties say improving mental health screening and treatment would be highly effective at preventing school shootings, Democratic teachers are more likely than Republican teachers to say this (73% vs. 66%).

Parents’ views on school shootings and prevention strategies

In fall 2022, we asked parents a similar set of questions about school shootings.

Roughly a third of parents with K-12 students (32%) said they were extremely or very worried about a shooting ever happening at their child’s school. An additional 37% said they were somewhat worried.

As is the case among teachers, improving mental health screening and treatment was the only strategy most parents (63%) said would be extremely or very effective at preventing school shootings. And allowing teachers and school administrators to carry guns in schools was seen as the least effective – in fact, half of parents said this would be not too or not at all effective. This question was asked of all parents with a child younger than 18, regardless of whether they have a child in K-12 schools.

Like teachers, parents’ views on strategies for preventing school shootings differed by party. 

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

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‘Back to school’ means anytime from late July to after Labor Day, depending on where in the U.S. you live

Among many u.s. children, reading for fun has become less common, federal data shows, most european students learn english in school, for u.s. teens today, summer means more schooling and less leisure time than in the past, about one-in-six u.s. teachers work second jobs – and not just in the summer, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .