Acta Theologica
June 30, 2026
Norman Nyazema, Jo Nel
As cannabis decriminalization and legalization evolve globally, this article examines the relationship between Cannabis sativa and religion. It covers the plant's ancient origins, chemical structure, historical medicinal uses from ancient China to modern applications, and its criminalization, questioning the constitutionality of current legal frameworks. The article also explores cannabis's role in selected religions. The authors suggest future research, including a questionnaire to investigate how religious beliefs shape attitudes toward cannabis.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 17, 2026
F. van Dalen, S. C. Tap, S. D. Venema et al.
Mental healthcare professionals generally hold cautiously optimistic views about psychedelic-assisted therapy for substance use disorder, though a minority express hesitancy due to concerns about safety, efficacy, and practical integration challenges. A systematic review of six studies with 966 participants found that greater knowledge and familiarity with psychedelic-assisted therapy predict more positive attitudes. The limited knowledge among professionals highlights a need for targeted education and training to support the responsible integration of this treatment into clinical care.
Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry
June 16, 2026
Daniel B.a. Prado, Matheus T. Rossignoli, Rafael N. Ruggiero et al.
In a rat model of schizophrenia-like symptoms induced by ketamine, the combination of cannabidiol and sodium nitroprusside given during brain development prevented hyperactivity and memory problems in both sexes, while each drug alone had limited effects. The model produced different symptoms in males and females: females showed greater hyperactivity and long-term memory deficits, whereas males showed reduced pleasure-seeking and short-term memory impairments. The combined treatment was more effective in females, and distinct behavioral patterns were seen between sexes. This suggests that a combination of these two compounds may offer a sex-specific preventive strategy for schizophrenia symptoms.
Psychoactives
June 8, 2026
Fizza Mitter, Anton Sheptooha, Janni Leung et al.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often not well treated by current medications or talk therapies, leading to interest in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials with 358 participants examined MDMA, ketamine, and cannabidiol. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy produced a moderate-to-large reduction in PTSD symptoms, with more participants achieving clinical response and loss of PTSD diagnosis. Ketamine showed a small, non-significant effect, and one trial of cannabidiol found no clear benefit. All agents were generally well tolerated. The evidence is dominated by MDMA trials, and safety data remain insufficient for strong comparisons. More studies with standardized outcomes and direct comparisons are needed.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
June 5, 2026
Belay Sitotaw Goshu, M; Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Ridwan
Spirituality is central to health and healing in Ethiopia, but the evidence base is narrow and fragmented. A scoping review of 31 studies (1968–2026) found the literature is predominantly qualitative (55%) and focused on mental health (74%). Ethiopian Orthodox Christian contexts dominate (71%), while Muslim (33% of population) and indigenous spiritual traditions are severely underrepresented. Five themes emerged: spiritual causal frameworks for illness, spiritual healers as primary mental health providers, holy water (tsebel) as a central healing modality, spirituality as a coping resource, and profound gaps in healthcare integration—moderate nursing spiritual care competence (mean 3.45/5), only 21.5% of nurses trained in spiritual care, and no national collaboration policies. Ethiopia’s formal healthcare system operates parallel to, not in partnership with, spiritual healing systems.