Cannabis consumption and the kidney: Caveat emptor!

The growing popularity and emerging legalization of cannabis in various parts of the world should encourage clinicians to carefully consider the evidence of known adverse cannabis effects in contrast to proposed marijuana medicinal merits. Though more research is needed, it is known that smoking cannabis can lead to renal toxic effects in some that is considerably increased by the use of synthetic cannabinoids (spice drugs). The studies in this regard are noted and our conclusions include the critical maxim that clinicians should consider potential renal toxic effects of these substances in their patients especially when confronted with acute kidney injury of unknown etiology in adolescents and young adults