Education

In the November 2025 webinar, Professor Ryan Vandrey, PhD, a leading researcher in psychopharmacology at Johns Hopkins University, delivered a comprehensive examination of delta-H and emerging cannabinoid formulations, with a particular focus on the rapidly evolving science and policy landscape surrounding delta-8 THC. Drawing from a series of controlled laboratory studies funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Dr. Vandrey detailed how product composition, dosage, and route of administration shape the pharmacokinetic and behavioral effects of cannabis products—insights that are increasingly important as new cannabinoids enter commercial markets.

One of the central findings he shared was the striking similarity between delta-8 and delta-9 THC. Despite delta-8 THC producing roughly half the concentration of the 11-hydroxy metabolite, participants reported nearly identical subjective effects and impairments across both oral and inhaled routes. Notably, these impairments—particularly in driving performance and cognitive functioning—went undetected by standard field sobriety tests, underscoring the need for updated public-safety tools capable of accurately identifying cannabis-related intoxication.

Beyond pharmacology, Dr. Vandrey contextualized his findings within the broader regulatory environment. He discussed the implications of recent legislation targeting delta-8 THC, warning that restrictive policies may unintentionally push products toward the black market or accelerate state-level legalization efforts. These shifts, he noted, have the potential to reshape the cannabis industry and complicate efforts to establish evidence-based standards for product safety and labeling.

Looking forward, Dr. Vandrey outlined upcoming analyses that aim to deepen the scientific understanding of these compounds. His team will revisit participant data to determine whether individuals who believed they could distinguish delta-8 from delta-9 THC were accurate in their perceptions, offering potential insights into dose discrimination and experiential variability. In parallel, a newly powered dataset will allow investigators to examine sex-based differences in responses to delta-8 THC, an area where empirical evidence remains limited.

By integrating pharmacological data, behavioral outcomes, and policy considerations, Dr. Vandrey emphasized the urgent need for rigorous regulation, improved impairment assessments, and continued scientific inquiry into emerging cannabinoid products—particularly as they continue to proliferate across consumer markets.

In the October 2025 webinar, Professor Marta Di Forti, MD, MRCPsych, PhD, presented an in-depth exploration of the complex relationship between cannabis use and psychosis, drawing from large-scale meta-analyses and cross-European research. Her presentation examined how cannabis potency, frequency of use, and genetic vulnerability interact to influence psychosis risk, highlighting that high-potency products can significantly increase the incidence of psychotic disorders—particularly in cities like Amsterdam and London.

Dr. Di Forti also shared groundbreaking findings on the biological underpinnings of this relationship, including evidence of cannabis-associated DNA methylation changes affecting immune and mitochondrial systems. Expanding beyond risk, she discussed the development and success of the Cannabis Clinic for Patients with Psychosis, which has demonstrated notable improvements in dependence, psychiatric symptoms, and social functioning through patient-centered care and peer support.

The session further addressed the interplay between cannabis use, childhood trauma, and gender differences in psychosis vulnerability, emphasizing that both early and adult exposure carry unique risks. By integrating epidemiological, genetic, and clinical perspectives, Dr. Di Forti underscored the urgent need for harm-reduction strategies, individualized interventions, and policy approaches informed by rigorous scientific evidence.

In the August 2025 webinar, Dr. Hilary Marusak explored the critical role of the endocannabinoid system in neurodevelopment, with a focus on two sensitive windows: the prenatal period and adolescence. As cannabis potency and use rise among youth and pregnant women, Dr. Marusak highlighted growing concerns about the impact of exposure during these vulnerable stages. Drawing on a broad range of studies—including her own research—she presented evidence linking prenatal cannabis use to adverse birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes, as well as findings on adolescent anxiety, PTSD, and suicide risk in relation to endocannabinoid signaling.

Her presentation also featured updates from clinical and translational research, including an FDA-approved trial of cannabis flower for veterans with PTSD, pilot work on cannabidiol (CBD) for pediatric epilepsy and anxiety, and randomized studies on the effects of exercise on endocannabinoid signaling and fear extinction in teenagers. Dr. Marusak further emphasized the public health risks of secondhand cannabis smoke, citing evidence that particulate exposure exceeds that of tobacco. By integrating basic, clinical, and population-level data, she underscored the endocannabinoid system’s central role in shaping brain development and resilience—and the urgent need for continued research to inform safe practices, interventions, and policy.

In the July 2025 webinar, Dr. Emma Johnson presented findings from the Cannabis Use During Development and Early Life (CUDDEL) study, which investigates the biological impact of prenatal cannabis exposure. With cannabis use during pregnancy on the rise, Dr. Johnson highlighted the limited understanding of its effects on child behavioral outcomes. Supported by a BBRF Young Investigator Grant, her team analyzed placental DNA methylation in 192 participants, including 121 with prenatal cannabis exposure. While no individual methylation sites reached significance after correction, 12 differentially methylated regions were identified and linked to outcomes such as preterm birth, inflammation, cognition, and maternal alcohol use. Enrichment analyses also pointed to key neurodevelopmental and immune pathways. Dr. Johnson discussed these findings, proposed mechanisms through which in utero cannabis exposure may affect child development, and outlined directions for future research.

Leveraging approximately 10 years of prospective longitudinal data, we examined the effects of adolescent versus young adult cannabis initiation on MRI-assessed cortical thickness development and behavior. Dr. Matthew Albaugh discusses the results of brain development timing and cannabis exposure in this revolutionary multiyear study.

Alongside increasingly permissive social attitudes and laws, cannabis use has increased, especially among pregnant women. However, little is known about potential adverse outcomes associated with prenatal cannabis exposure. Using data from the ongoing Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (n=11,489), we find that prenatal cannabis use is associated with broad spectrum childhood psychopathology, early cannabis use initiation, and variability in brain, and in particular white matter, structure. Aprils 2025's webinar featuring Dr. Ryan Bogdan discusses findings regarding the ABCD study.

It is now a ‘common wisdom’ that dopamine excess has a role in psychosis. Over the years, many researchers and clinicians have developed a somewhat ‘uncommon wisdom’ that cannabis use increases the risk of psychosis. Perhaps unwisely, 5 years ago we set out to connect these two wisdoms and now find that cannabis and psychosis are systematically linked to each other via dopamine excess. This observation raises several questions about the neurochemical link between cannabis and psychosis.

February 2025’s webinar lecture presented by Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (YC-SCAN2), is the continuation of our monthly webinar series designed to support our center's mission of advancing research, dissemination of information, and education in the field of cannabis and cannabinoid science.

Through this series, we aim to invite leaders in the basic, clinical and translational science of cannabis and cannabinoids.

We are deeply honored to have Dr. Romina Mizrahi as the February speaker. Dr. Mizrahi uses Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to study the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis and addiction, in particular cannabis use.

The Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids, introduces its inaugural webinar featuring Dr. Yasmin Hurd as speaker. Dr. Hurd presents her research on the effects of prenatal and adolescent cannabis exposure on brain development, behavior, and long-term health outcomes. This discussion covers topics such as epigenetic changes, potential treatments for opioid use disorder, and the need for further research in this field.