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Cannabis use and its multifaceted impact on the genitourinary system: A scoping review of the literature

March 12th, 2024

Cannabis is a commonly used recreational and therapeutic substance in our society. There are a variety of established physical, social, and mental health impacts associated with cannabis use. However, there is no overview of the impact cannabis use has on the genitourinary system. Thus, this scoping review aims to present data on the impact of cannabis on the genitourinary system.

A scoping review search was undertaken on Embase, Medline, and Web of Science. There were no date restrictions applied. Studies that included data from humans, exposure to cannabis, and outcomes related to the genitourinary system were included. Opinion pieces, commentaries, perspectives, and studies not available in English were excluded.

A total of 50 articles met this review's inclusion criteria. The various studies were thematically organized into four themes: adverse outcomes related to cancer (n = 4), non-cancerous urogenital illness (n = 31), kidney transplant (n = 4), and therapeutic use of cannabis (n = 11).

There were several non-cancerous urogenital illnesses associated with cannabis use, including acute kidney injury, urinary retention, rhabdomyolysis, and renal infarcts. The data found in this review suggest that cannabis use may not be a contraindication to receiving a kidney transplant. Finally, several studies highlighted some of the therapeutic applications cannabis may have on the genitourinary system.

In conclusion, this scoping review has synthesized data on the impact that cannabis use has on the GU system. Synthetic CBs may be linked to AKI and other urogenital illnesses, highlighting potential health risks. However, the impact of cannabis on urogenital health is complex, with emerging evidence indicating a therapeutic role in certain urological conditions.

Data from this review supports the notion that cannabis use should not be a contraindication for receiving a kidney transplant. Moving forward, additional rigorous, long-term research is needed to understand the true impact that cannabis has on the GU system.

The findings are published in the Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology.

More information:
Nilanga Aki Bandara et al, Cannabis Use and Its Multifaceted Impact on the Genitourinary System: A Scoping Review of the Literature, Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology (2024). DOI: 10.14218/JERP.2023.00057

Provided by Xia & He Publishing Inc.

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