Specific Chemicals in Cannabis Plants and Products That Cause Harm to the Human Body and Brain: A Scoping Review

Abstract The past two decades have witnessed a dramatic transformation of the cannabis policy landscape, with legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis progressing across the globe. This regulatory shift has led to increased research and innovations in the cannabis industry that have given rise to superior analytical methods to extract chemicals from plants and multiple cannabis products, the activity and safety of which remain unknown. This scoping review is intended to map the literature on harmful chemicals in cannabis and their adverse effects on human health. The review will follow the methodological guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute and adhere to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science will be searched along with hand searches and bibliography searches to identify potential articles. Both primary and secondary studies will be included. Independent and parallel review will be conducted with a third reviewer resolving any discrepancies. Data extraction will focus on study characteristics, chemical components, harmful effects, and key findings. The data will be synthesised descriptively. Given the rapidly expanding cannabis industry, the findings will shed light on the risks, thereby guiding programmes and policies to reduce harm and to make informed policy decisions for better public health outcomes.