High5 with Dr. Igor Grant, MD
High5 with Dr. Igor Grant, MD
Podcast Description
Welcome to High5 with Dr. Igor Grant, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at UC San Diego. Each month, we’ll take you on a fascinating journey into the evolving world of medicinal cannabis. From groundbreaking research to candid conversations with top scientists and clinicians across the globe. In each episode, Dr. Grant poses five thought-provoking questions to his guest, uncovering their personal journey and unique contributions to the field of medicinal cannabis.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into various topics surrounding medicinal cannabis, including its impact on pain management, the role of neuroimaging in understanding substance use, and cardiovascular risks associated with cannabis use, with specific episodes discussing the Cannabis Act in Canada and its implications for the U.S. as well as the relationship between cannabis and driving impairment.

Welcome to High5 with Dr. Igor Grant, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) at UC San Diego. Each month, we’ll take you on a fascinating journey into the evolving world of medicinal cannabis. From groundbreaking research to candid conversations with top scientists and clinicians across the globe. In each episode, Dr. Grant poses five thought-provoking questions to his guest, uncovering their personal journey and unique contributions to the field of medicinal cannabis.
In this episode, Dr. Kent Hutchison discusses how his research on cannabis grew from a background in alcohol and nicotine studies into a broader effort to understand both the risks and potential benefits of cannabis use. He describes findings from large brain-imaging datasets suggesting that lifetime cannabis use was associated with larger regional brain volumes and better performance on some cognitive tests in older adults.
He also discusses why cannabis may affect adolescents and older adults differently, including age-related changes in the endocannabinoid system. The conversation explores possible neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids, the use of cannabis among older adults for pain, sleep, and anxiety, and emerging research on cannabis and exercise. A central message is that cannabis effects depend on the product, dose, route of administration, age, health status, and reason for use.
Chapters
00:54 Introduction to Cannabis Research and Personal Journey
04:04 Exploring Cannabis and Brain Function
09:14 Adolescent Cannabis Use and Cognitive Effects
12:31 Neuroprotective Effects of Cannabinoids
14:25 Understanding the Endocannabinoid System
16:23 Cannabinoids in Older Adults
19:03 Cannabis Use in Relation to Other Medications
20:01 Cannabis and Exercise: Subjective Experiences
24:24 Future Research Directions and Closing Thoughts

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