Evolution of marijuana research at the biopsychosocial level: a general view Articles uri icon

publication date

  • September 2023

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1557-1874

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1557-1882

abstract

  • In recent years, there have been important changes related to marijuana use at the therapeutic, legislative, and social levels. Our goal is to know how they have infuenced scientifc
    research through the articles published in the Health Sciences journals in the last two decades (2001–2020). Marijuana articles included in the Web of Science Core Collection were
    retrieved, including their PubMed identifer (PMID) which was used to check whether
    these articles were also indexed in PubMed, obtaining a total of 36,982 documents. After,
    their descriptive terms (MeSH) on the specifc branches of Chemicals and Drugs, Psychiatry and Psychology, and Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena were
    extracted to (1) conduct a correspondence analysis between terms and years to know the
    temporary evolution and (2) study the frequency per years of the terms “marijuana abuse,”
    “marijuana use,” and “medical marijuana.” The temporary analysis of the three branches
    showed a change in the use of terms from those more punitive to others more generic, more
    related to therapeutic issues, or more normalizing. The analysis of frequency showed that
    the most recent terms “marijuana use” and “medical marijuana” have gained weight on
    “marijuana abuse.” Starting with research on the negative consequences and ending with
    elements related to legislation and the therapeutic possibilities of marijuana shows a trend
    that has not been observed for any other drug. It would be advisable for scientifc research
    and policy actions to take this into account in the development of prevention programs.

subjects

  • Library Science and Documentation