Coursera

Cannabis, Chronic Pain, and Related Disorders (Coursera)

Offered by University of Colorado Boulder,

This Cannabis, Chronic Pain, and Related Disorders course is designed to have you think critically about the health effects of cannabis (i.e., marijuana) in the context of chronic pain, opioid use disorder, obesity, sleep dysfunction and cancer. We'll learn about the epidemiology and etiology of these conditions, the harms/benefits of current treatments, and learn how to evaluate the literature on cannabis for these conditions.

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We will discuss special considerations for using cannabis for these conditions, such as dose, timing, side effects, and drug interactions. Lastly, we'll discuss how it is being used in the context of palliative care. Obtaining this knowledge will be helpful in terms of informing public policy, public health, and personal decisions regarding the use of cannabis products.
Course 2 of 4 in the Medical Cannabis: The Health Effects of THC and CBD Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Chronic Pain and Cannabis
In this module, we will review the different types of chronic pain. We will also discuss the costs and epidemiology of pain, as well as the current treatments used to treat pain. Lastly, it will cover the research on the effects of cannabis on chronic pain.

WEEK 2
Opioid Epidemic and Cannabis
In this module, we will review the symptoms and risk factors for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). We will also discuss the costs and epidemiology of OUD, as well as the current treatments used to treat OUD. Lastly, it will cover the research on the effects of cannabis on OUD.

WEEK 3
Obesity/Type 2 Diabetes, Sleep, and Cannabis
In this module, we will review the symptoms and risk factors for obesity, type II diabetes, and sleep dysfunction. We will also discuss the costs and epidemiology of these conditions, as well as cover the research on the effects of cannabis on these conditions.

WEEK 4
Cancer and Cannabis
In this module, we will review the different types of cancer. We will also discuss the etiology and risk factors for cancer, as well as the common symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment. Lastly, it will cover the research on how cannabis may impact the symptoms of cancer.

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