Kaczor, Eric E.Greene, KevinZacharia, JenniferTormoehlen, LauraNeavyn, MarkCarreiro, Stephanie2024-02-132024-02-132022Kaczor EE, Greene K, Zacharia J, Tormoehlen L, Neavyn M, Carreiro S. The Potential Proconvulsant Effects of Cannabis: a Scoping Review [published correction appears in J Med Toxicol. 2022 Apr 21;:] [published correction appears in J Med Toxicol. 2023 Jan;19(1):54-60]. J Med Toxicol. 2022;18(3):223-234. doi:10.1007/s13181-022-00886-3https://hdl.handle.net/1805/38436Introduction: Cannabis' effect on seizure activity is an emerging topic that remains without consensus and merits further investigation. We therefore performed a scoping review to identify the available evidence and knowledge gaps within the existing literature on cannabis product exposures as a potential cause of seizures in humans. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched over a 20-year period from the date of the database query (12/21/2020). Inclusion criteria were (1) English language original research articles, (2) inclusion of human subjects, and (3) either investigation of seizures as a part of recreational cannabinoid use OR of exogenous cannabinoids as a cause of seizures. Results: A total of 3104 unique articles were screened, of which 68 underwent full-text review, and 13 met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Ten of 11 studies evaluating acute cannabis exposures reported a higher seizure incidence than would be expected based on the prevalence of epilepsy in the general and pediatric populations (range 0.7-1.2% and 0.3-0.5% respectively). The remaining two studies demonstrated increased seizure frequency and/or seizure-related hospitalization in recreational cannabis users and those with cannabis use disorder. Conclusions: This scoping review demonstrates that a body of literature describing seizures in the setting of cannabis exposure exists, but it has several limitations. Ten identified studies showed a higher than expected incidence of seizures in populations exposed to cannabis products. Based on the Bradford Hill criteria, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may be the causative xenobiotic for this phenomenon.en-USPublisher PolicyCannabisCannabinoidsSeizuresToxicityAdverse drug reactionArticle