Abstract Introduction Varying public views on cannabis use across countries may explain the variation in the prevalence of use, policies, and research in individual countries, and global regulation of cannabis. This paper aims to describe the current state of cannabis use, policies, and research across sixteen countries. Methods PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for studies published from 2010 to 2020. Searches were conducted using the relevant country of interest as a search term (e.g., “Iran”), as well as relevant predefined keywords such as “cannabis,” “marijuana,” “hashish,” “bhang “dual diagnosis,” “use,” “addiction,” “prevalence,” “co-morbidity,” “substance use disorder,” “legalization” or “policy” (in English and non-English languages). These keywords were used in multiple combinations to create the search string for studies’ titles and abstracts. Official websites of respective governments and international organizations were also searched in English and non-English languages (using countries national languages) to identify the current state of cannabis use, policies, and research in each of those countries. Results The main findings were inconsistent and heterogeneous reporting of cannabis use, variation in policies (e.g., legalization), and variation in intervention strategies across the countries reviewed. European countries dominate the cannabis research output indexed on PubMed, in contrast to Asian countries (Thailand, Malaysia, India, Iran, and Nepal). Conclusions Although global cannabis regulation is ongoing, the existing heterogeneities across countries in terms of policies and epidemiology can increase the burden of cannabis use disorders disproportionately and unpredictably. There is an urgent need to develop global strategies to address these cross-country barriers to improve early detection, prevention, and interventions for cannabis use and related disorders.

OBJETIVO: analisar o perfil clínico e epidemiológico, o desfecho da gestação e a transmissão vertical de gestantes infectadas pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) atendidas no pré-natal do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (HUSM). MÉTODOS: foi realizado um estudo prospectivo na população de 139 gestantes portadoras do vírus HIV que foram atendidas no Ambulatório de Pré-natal de Alto Risco do HUSM durante o período de agosto de 2002 a agosto de 2007, e que tiveram pelo menos duas consultas de pré-natal neste serviço. A coleta de dados foi efetuada por meio de entrevista e preenchimento do protocolo de pesquisa durante a consulta de pré-natal. O protocolo era mantido anexado ao prontuário da paciente e mantido até o desfecho da gestação. Realizou-se análise descritiva das variáveis quantitativas utilizando-se o programa SPSS versão 15.0. RESULTADOS: dentre as 139 gestantes, a média de idade foi de 25,6 anos (±5,8), 79 (56,8%) eram brancas, 81 (58,5%) eram casadas ou viviam em união estável e 90 (65,0%) tinham menos de oito anos de escolaridade. Cinquenta e um por cento das gestantes já tinham dois ou mais filhos, apresentando número de filhos superior à média estadual. O diagnóstico da infecção foi realizado em gestação atual ou anterior em mais de 70,0% das vezes. Houve exposição sexual em 97,7% e, destas, o parceiro era sabidamente infectado em 59,6%. No período, dos casos adequadamente acompanhados, apenas um recém-nascido (0,7%) contraiu a infecção pelo HIV. CONCLUSÕES: mulheres jovens em situação socioeconômica de vulnerabilidade, com baixa escolaridade e multíparas constituem a maioria da população de gestantes HIV-positivo atendidas no serviço. Avaliações realizadas durante o pré-natal foram relevantes para o diagnóstico da infecção na maioria dos casos. O diagnóstico precoce, associado ao adequado acompanhamento clínico, obstétrico, psicológico e cuidados de enfermagem, são importantes para prover a apropriada adesão ao tratamento e a redução das taxas de transmissão vertical.

PURPOSE: to analyze the clinical and epidemiological profile, the outcome of pregnancy and the vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women receiving prenatal care at the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 139 HIV-infected pregnant women attended at the High-Risk Prenatal Care Outpatient Clinic of HUSM, during the period from August 2002 to August 2007, with at least two prenatal visits in this service. Data were collected by an interview and by filling out a research protocol during a prenatal visit. The protocol was attached to the medical records of the patient and kept until the outcome of gestation. Descriptive analysis of quantitative variables was performed using the SPSS software, version 15.0. RESULTS: The mean age of the 139 pregnant women studied was 25.6 years (±5.8), 79 (56.8%) were white, 81 (58.5%) were married or lived in a stable union, and 90 (65.0%) had less than eight years of schooling. Fifty-one percent of the pregnant women already had two or more children, with a number of children higher than the mean for the state. The infection was diagnosed during the present or a previous pregnancy in more than 70.0% cases. Sexual exposure occurred in 97.0%, and in 59.6% of cases the partner was known to be infected. During the study period, among the cases properly monitored, only one newborn (0.7%) was infected with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Young women in a socioeconomic situation of vulnerability, with low schooling and multiparous represent the majority of HIV-positive pregnant women attended at the service. Evaluations performed during the prenatal period were relevant for the diagnosis of infection in most cases. An early diagnosis associated with proper clinical, obstetrical and psychological monitoring and with nursing care is important to provide appropriate treatment compliance and a reduction of the rates of vertical transmission.