C&P#37: cannabis for persistent viruses + CBD PROTECTS THE BRAIN!
Hello everyone,
Seasons greetings & best wishes!
I’ll take next week off & see you in the new year with a doozy of a big science newsletter.
Book a 1-on-1 cannabis/CBD/psychedelics counseling session with me:
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My work this week: YouTube Shorts
On my YouTube channel, I’m going to start doing a short video every day about a new cannabinoid science study. Subscribe here.
Also, check out my interview about Ireland on Weed Talk News with Martin Condon of the Martin’s World Podcast.
In my EU report, negatives across the board…
This week…
- Cannabis for people with Hep C, HIV or persistent headaches
- CBD PROTECTS THE BRAIN!
- Is your wedding right made out of hemp? Mine neither, but it should be.
- Powerful studies & case reports on cannabinoids for pain
- If your genetic variant of the FAAH enzyme is the slow type, you’re more likely to be drinking harder & faster as a teenager
- A rare case report of psychosis from cannabis withdrawal
- Vaping, vaping, lung poison
- The NYPD planting drugs + more terrible news from the abhorrent War on Drugs
- Hemp for your weaned piglets & the mouthfeel of your yogurt
- Where we learn the real name of the Star Wars cantina song
- Year’s best hemp robot name!
This newsletter collects all the new cannabinoid science each week & is a free offering from my company White Whale Creations.
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<these diapers don’t buy themselves>
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Sponsor: PlusCBD’s unparalleled product selection
I spent 3 years working full-time for PlusCBD before I launched my consulting business so I know from the inside about their commitment to making quality CBD products. But that’s not the most special thing about them. What they do better than any other company in the industry is create a wide range of products.
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- Oils, capsules & gummies of course
- Topicals that come as balms, creams, roll-ons & special formulations for arthritis or athletes that contain menthol & camphor
- The Reserve Collection! Oils, capsules & gummies containing 2.5 mg of THC per serving (I’m constantly being asked how people in non-medical can get THC-rich products & this is always what I recommend to them. Especially because it’s an easy-to-use standard serving size that’s just the right amount for people new to THC)
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- 3 very special formulations with other ingredients:
- Sleep gummies: Includes 3 mg of melatonin + extract of lemon balm & magnolia bark (two old plants for inducing sleep)
- Calm gummies: Includes 5-HTP (the serotonin precursor) & L-theanine (from tea)
- Relief capsules [I can’t find a link to just this item – only the wellness blend bundle]: Includes PEA + CBDA (see the Living Glossary below for why I think these are the ingredients of the future for immune health & gut health)
That’s why I recommend PlusCBD to so many of the clients I consult with: they offer an array of products like no other.
Buy their excellent products today at PlusCBDoil.com.
Best Of Cannabinoid Science...
The cannabis hero Dr. Dustin Sulak on cannabis for children with cancer
https://www.cannapatientcare.com/view/cannabis-for-children-with-cancer
He’s been working closely with cannabis patients for a long time & you can find a wealth of his videos & lectures online.
In long COVID patients, a combination of PEA & luteolin (a flavonoid commonly paired with PEA) helped with neural plasticity in the motor cortex as well as the activity of GABA (the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter)
Co-ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide/luteolin normalizes GABAB-ergic activity and cortical plasticity in long COVID-19 syndrome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36455453
In people with hepatitis C, the cannabis users had fewer metabolic disorders & a lower risk of hypertension
Cannabis Use Is Inversely Associated with Metabolic Disorders in Hepatitis C-Infected Patients (ANRS CO22 Hepather Cohort)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36294456
And in people with HIV, the cannabis users reported more vigorous physical exercise
The relationship between substance use and physical activity among people living with HIV, chronic pain, and symptoms of depression: a cross-sectional analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36260055
A case report of using CBD-rich cannabis for a patient with hypophosphatasia (a rare genetic disorder of impaired mineralization of bones & teeth that includes muscle pain & neurological symptoms) found that it led to a significant pain reduction, a discontinuation of opioids & resumption of her work as a physician
Medical Cannabinoids as Treatment for Hypophosphatasia-Related Symptoms
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36380652
What’s meaningful to me is how many rare diseases I get to learn about only because they pop up as case reports where cannabis or the cannabinoids are the only thing that work after everything everything everything else has failed.
In a survey of people with persistent headaches, the majority of cannabis users reported it helped with the severity of their headaches & a quarter of them said it reduced their frequency
Cannabinoid Use in a Tertiary Headache Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34511153
Using population studies, the liberalization of a state’s cannabis laws was found to be a driving factor in the increase of testicular cancer rates
State Trends of Cannabis Liberalization as a Causal Driver of Increasing Testicular Cancer Rates across the USA
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36232059
“Strong dose-response effects were demonstrated for THC, cannabigerol, cannabinol, cannabichromene and cannabidiol. Cannabinoid genotoxicity replicates all major steps to testicular carcinogenesis including whole-genome doubling, chromosomal arm excision, generalized DNA demethylation and chromosomal translocations thereby accelerating the pathway to testicular carcinogenesis by several decades.”
A review of clinical trials of cannabis for palliative care finds key lessons: patient confidentiality, family dynamics, driving, cost, unfounded beliefs, accessing specific MC products, trial funding & telehealth
Medicinal cannabis in palliative medicine: lessons learnt from randomised controlled trials
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36379690
A review of the clinical trials on cannabis found that the number increased from 30 in 2013 to 103 in 2021
The Characteristics of Clinical Trials on Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Review of Trials for Therapeutic or Drug Development Purposes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36357543
“Clinical research on Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and the oral routes of administration dominate the field. Approximately two-thirds of clinical trials were conducted in five therapeutic areas (i.e., 'Chronic pain,' 'Mental, behavioral or neurodevelopmental disorders,' 'Nervous system diseases,' 'Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic diseases,' and 'Neoplasms'[cancer]).”
A neat look at how the cannabinoids alter the lipid membranes
Molecular study of endo and phytocannabinoids on lipid membranes of different composition
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36399905
If you take a little walk down memory lane with me, you'll remember that in the 80s everyone argued about whether the cannabinoids worked in human cells via receptors on the surface of the membrane or by altering the entire membrane itself. Of course, as is usual in science, the answer turned out to be... both.
Everyone thought victory went to the receptor people in the early 90s with the discovery of the CB1 & CB2 receptors - but the more we learn, the more we realize that the cannabinoids also alter the properties of the membrane & this is one more way that they work their magic.
2021: A review of what we know – and don’t know – about how cannabis produces the cannabinoids
The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33722296
The relevant cartoon.
Funny study in Texas of how retailers are describing delta-8 THC
How are retailers describing Delta-8 THC? A mixed-methods study in Fort Worth, Texas
https://www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/jsad.22-00287
In this history of wedding rings, we find that hemp was often used on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was believed that the vein here ran directly to the heart
The Ring Thing
https://academic.oup.com/book/41780/chapter-abstract/354474206
An evergreen note on reading restricted paper:
First stop for seeing if there’s a free version of a paper, use the Google Scholar Chrome extension (Mac version), Google Scholar itself or try ResearchGate.3 other helpful browser extensions are: Unpaywall, Open Access Button & PaperPanda
For the infamous backdoor, use Sci-Hub – the pirated papers repository (Chrome extension here). This works better for older paper than the stuff that just came out.
For Twitter users, send a Tweet of the paper’s title with the hashtag #icanhazpdf. It works because people are beautiful(ish).
Finally, email the author. They’re almost always happy to oblige because, thanks to the predatory academic publishing system, they don’t make a dollar off of their papers.
the Headlines & Fav Articles
In the latest defense spending bill, Congress pushes the military to consider cannabis & psychedelics
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/congress-pushes-military-to-consider-psychedelics-and-marijuana-therapy-while-other-cannabis-provisions-left-out-of-defense-bill
In NYC, the mayor cracks down on unlicensed cannabis sellers
https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2022/12/mayor-adams-cracks-down-on-unlicensed-nyc-stores-selling-cannabis
The War on Drugs will continue – but now it will be the enforcement of licenses.
Remember kids, if you get caught making meth, you don’t get charged with creating an illegal substance. You get charged with manufacturing Desoxyn without a license.
Meanwhile, in NYC a legal 8th will probably be $75 & an illegal 8th will be less than half of that
New York Cannabis Taxes Will Undercut Legal MarketPrices of legal recreational cannabis across New York will likely be at least twice as much as marijuana sold by unlicensed dealers and smoke shops
The USDA delays its requirement for using DEA labs to test hemp products
https://mailchi.mp/e59c5adeb16d/usda-delays-dea-registered-lab-requirement-for-hemp-testing
The problem with DEA labs is that there aren’t enough of them & hemp testing is not a priority for them. Also, the DEA is an awful dinosaur that should be euthanized.
Switzerland begins the first adult-use cannabis trial in the EU: ‘Weed Care’
https://businesscann.com/europes-first-thc-adult-use-cannabis-trial-set-to-launch-in-january-2023-after-four-month-delay
In Ireland, its High Court ruling that CBD with any trace of THC is illegal may open it up to punishment & sanctions from the EU
https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2022/12/irelands-prohibitionist-approach-to-hemp-and-cbd-exposes-it-to-punitive-sanctions-from-the-eu
On the report about the Pandora’s box of unregulated cannabinoids from the California Cannabis Industry Association
https://www.projectcbd.org/delta-8-delta-10-hhc-thco-pandoras-box-unregulated-cannabinoids
Access the original white paper here:
Pandora's Box: The Dangers of a National, Unregulated, Hemp-Derived Intoxicating Cannabinoid Market
https://members.cacannabisindustry.org/whitepapers/Details/pandora-s-box-the-dangers-of-a-national-unregulated-hemp-derived-intoxicating-cannabinoid-market-131449
On Utah’s Erin Brockovich of synthetic cannabinoids
https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2022/12/utah-synthetic-a-deep-dive-with-the-erin-brockovich-of-cannabis-part-one
On the 7 factions within cannabis:
consumers & home growers, testing labs, small craft businesses, MSOs, investors, pharmaceuticals, people who need their cannabis charges expunged and/or freed from incarceration
https://www-fatnugsmag-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.fatnugsmag.com/daily-nugs/the-seven-cannabis-factions-part-1
The ice hockey team the Chicago Wolves sign a sponsorship deal with a cannabis company
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2022/11/17/chicago-wolves-ink-sponsorship-deal-with-marijuana-firm-verilife
The Wolves are in the American Hockey League, just one step below the big leagues of the NHL.
The War on Drugs & Prohibition
In Ireland, a brutal 5-year prison sentence for a cannabis caregiver supplying cannabis oil to patients (hattip to Becca Williams – cannabis, psilocybin & emotional liberation expert)
https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2022/12/13/five-year-sentence-for-ireland-cannabis-caregiver-is-brutal-wildly-disproportionate
The Sinaloa Cartel is trying to corner Mexico’s legal weed market before it even begins
https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2022/12/the-sinaloa-cartel-is-losing-its-marijuana-business-and-el-chapos-sons-are-going-after-the-premium-weed-market-to-make-up-for-it
A review of the literature finds that liberalizing cannabis policies leads to decreases in violent and property crime, reductions in drug-related arrests & an improvement in crime clearance rates but had mixed results for public health & driving while “all-drug decriminalization is associated with reductions in problematic drug use and criminal justice overcrowding, declines in youth drug use, and other health and social benefits” (see Portugal)
Effects of Drug Policy Liberalization on Public Safety: A Review of the Literature
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4294150
Even though prohibitionists say that decrim is enough to stop cannabis arrests, the American Medical Association released a study showing that full legalization drives down arrests even more
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-legalization-reduces-arrests-even-in-states-that-already-decriminalized-american-medical-association-study-finds
As the ACLU says…
ACLU @ACLUAS A REMINDER: No one should be incarcerated for marijuana. Ever.5:37 PM ∙ Dec 8, 2022
NORML reports that the US expunged or pardoned almost 2M cannabis convictions in the last 5 years
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nearly-2-million-marijuana-convictions-have-been-pardoned-or-expunged-in-the-u-s-in-the-past-five-years-new-report-shows
The feds investigating the NYPD for planting illegal drugs during car stops
https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/12/13/23507834/edny-fbi-investigating-nypd-drug-planting-allegations
Those motherfuckers do this all the time. Any connected journalist in the city knows the stories.
A study of officer discretion in the enforcement of cannabis laws
Marijuana Enforcement since Drug Policy Reform: An Exploration of Officer Discretion in Six States
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12103-022-09704-6
A law review on how the Farm Bill is changing drug sentencing in the US
Changing Drug Schedules and Sentence Enhancements in the Sixth Circuit
https://kb.osu.edu/bitstream/handle/1811/102373/1/OSLJ_SCR_V83_010.pdf
An unsurprising study finds that a state’s legalization of cannabis leads to more seizures of cannabis by the US Post Office
Marijuana Legalization and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seizures: An Exploration of Black Market Activity
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12103-022-09696-3
And to all of you smugglers out there, remember that the only drug that they can readily find in the mail is cannabis. Everything else is smooth sailing.
2019: On the markers cops use to find the country of origin for seized cannabis samples
Determination of Geographical Origin of Cannabis - A Review
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334696225_Determination_of_Geographical_Origin_of_Cannabis_-_A_Review
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
The American Medical Association predicts that most states will legalize psychedelics by 2037
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/most-states-will-legalize-psychedelics-by-2037-analysis-published-by-american-medical-association-predicts
Excellent. Just in time for my kids to be finishing high school…
Quebec becomes the first province to publicly cover the cost of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
https://therapsil.ca/quebec-first-province-to-cover-costs-of-psilocybin-assisted-psychotherapy-done-by-two-physicians
Although many have said they would, Journey Colab becomes the first psychedelic company to publicly pledge to not sue Indigenous groups for patent infringement for traditional uses of their medicine
https://www.journeycolab.com/patent-pledge
In one sense, that’s great. Good for them being the first.
But in another sense, what a fucked up system that it’s even possible to consider suing people for traditional uses of their sacred plants in ceremonies that go back thousands of years on the basis of your patents that go back hundreds of months.
An excellent book on the subject of biomedical patents & the dark looming presence of the US is my buddy Alex Zaitchik’s ‘Owning the Sun: A People's History of Monopoly Medicine from Aspirin to COVID-19 Vaccines’.
On GHB & patents
GHB, Orphans, and REMS: A Regulatory Love Story (Part 1)
On how the harvesting of MDMA precursors is destroying Cambodian forests
https://www.talkingdrugs.org/climate-lessons-from-cambodias-illegal-mdma-market
An essay on how psychedelics helped to birth the radical ecology movement
https://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/the-greening-of-psychedelics
On the entities you might see in the DMT space…
DMT is a unique psychedelic because it induces entity encounters in ~95% of users. These entities have been spotted by multiple people, varying in appearance & motivation. But what are the different types & how do they act? 🧵on the different types of DMT entities
I’ve been getting in arguments online (rare for me) with materialists who think that these things must all be inside their head. What annoys me is how much it ignores the data found in the study of the supernormal as well the history of religion & folklore. See the work of Dr. Jeffrey Kripal, John Keel, Lesley Kean, Charles Fort or Jacques Vallée.
(if you’re into this subject, I cover a good bit of the supernormal on my TikTok channel)
The Science of Psychedelics
[This isn’t a deep dive into all of the science of psychedelics like I do for the cannabinoids. If a weekly newsletter with all the new psychedelic science would be of interest to your organization, reach out to me]
In 30 patients with cancer & depression, psilocybin improved their psycho-social-spiritual healing
Psilocybin-assisted therapy mediates psycho-social-spiritual change in cancer patients as assessed by the NIH-HEALS
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36513161
In a double-blind trial with ayahuasca, measurements two days after the session found reduced depressive symptoms, moderated levels of cortisol (stress hormone) & increased BDNF (a brain growth factor)
Moderators of ayahuasca’s biological antidepressant action
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1033816/full
That classic psychedelics are growing new brain cells is probably what underlies a good deal of their healing power.
In a review of 10 studies of psilocybin on depression, he effects lasted up to 6 months, higher doses & two sessions were linked to stronger antidepressant effects & they displayed a favorable cardiovascular safety profile
Trajectory of Antidepressant Effects after Single- or Two-Dose Administration of Psilocybin: A Systematic Review and Multivariate Meta-Analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35207210
A review discussing how recent computational psychiatry advances can be used to predict individual responses to find patients who might benefit the most from psychedelic treatment through the integration of brain-wide PET or transcriptomic data combined with computational neuroimaging methods
Towards mapping neuro-behavioral heterogeneity of psychedelic neurobiology in humans
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006322322018054
Business & Law
Whew. That FDA is watching your social media closely now…
Asa Waldstein @AsaWaldsteinIf a company engages with a post on its social media wall, this is considered “endorsing the testimonial” and is marketing. Full post 👉 asawaldstein.com/warning-letter… #WarningLetterWednesday #SocialMedia #Cholesterol6:01 PM ∙ Dec 14, 2022
Hemp market projected to reach $18B by 2027
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/report-global-hemp-market-to-exceed-18b-by-2027
The National Labor Relations Board ruled that Curaleaf violated labor law by refusing to bargain with unionized workers
https://www.greenmarketreport.com/nlrb-curaleaf-violated-labor-law-by-refusing-to-bargain-with-union
An editorial calling for the health & safety of workers in the cannabis industry
Cannabis industry worker health and safety: time for action
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1059924X.2022.2148031
The Plant & the History
A robot with a wonderful name who stalks & destroys male hemp plants
STALKer: Terribly Accurate, Horribly Fast, Deep Learning Pipeline for Automatic Hemp Stalks Segmentation and Grasping Point Detection
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365173700_STALKer_Terribly_Accurate_Horribly_Fast_Deep_Learning_Pipeline_for_Automatic_Hemp_Stalks_Segmentation_and_Grasping_Point_Detection
The USDA grants nearly $5M for research on hemp fiber
https://mailchi.mp/9b55e6e54d00/hemp-industry-supported-project-wins-usda-grant-for-climate-smart-fiber-hemp-research
A US Forest Service study on surface water contamination below illegal cannabis grow sites
Passive monitoring of soluble pesticides linked to cannabis cultivation: a multi-scale analysis
https://iwaponline.com/wqrj/article/57/4/233/92051
2021: What’s in your cannabis roots?
Chemical composition and antioxidant potential of Cannabis sativa L. roots
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669021001862
In the history of medicine, there’s a number of references to the medical use of cannabis roots. See the Bangladesh report below.
A higher density of cannabis plants leads to increased yield but decreased uniformity of cannabinoid composition
Too Dense or Not Too Dense: Higher Planting Density Reduces Cannabinoid Uniformity but Increases Yield/Area in Drug-Type Medical Cannabis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36247643
On hemp growing, the effects of plant density & nitrogen fertilization
Variability of cannabinoid yields of fibre hemp cultivars depending on the sowing density and nitrogen fertilization
https://www.agriculturejournals.cz/web/pse.htm?type=article&id=223_2022-PSE
A study of how to best grow hemp in temperate conditions
The Effects of Irrigation, Topping, and Interrow Spacing on the Yield and Quality of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Fibers in Temperate Climatic Conditions
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/11/1923
2021: A study of how different light spectra alter cannabinoid profiles & how this might be used to fine-tune cannabis plant production
Light matters: Effect of light spectra on cannabinoid profile and plant development of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669021001151
With the dreaded Aspergillus fungus, you might use X-rays for irradiation
Use of X-ray irradiation for inactivation of Aspergillus in cannabis flower
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36378669
In propagating the plant via tissue culture, the effect of different sterilization rinses
Effects of Different Sterilization Rinses on Germination of Hemp, Cannabis Sativa, for Tissue Culture
https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/42821
Hemp Seeds, Hemp Oil & Human Consumption
For your yogurt, hemp protein improves the nutritional quality & the mouthfeel
Effect of hemp protein on the physicochemical properties and flavor components of plant-based yogurt
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643822010805
A review of hempseeds and how they are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory & neuroprotective
Agro-industrial potential of Cannabis Sativa L. Seeds as a sourse of biological active substances
http://www.repository.utm.md/handle/5014/21644
In mice being fed a fatty diet, hempseeds modulated their endocannabinoid system, improved the walls of their intestines & decreased inflammation in their guts
Hemp seed significantly modulates the endocannabinoidome and produces beneficial metabolic effects with improved intestinal barrier function and decreased inflammation in mice under a high-fat, high-sucrose diet as compared with linseed
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36238310
Animal feed
A review of using hemp & CBD in your animal diets
Hemp in Animal Diets-Cannabidiol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36230282
In laying hens, hemp seed meal increased their egg production as well as improving yoke color & omega-3 fatty acid content
Evaluation of dietary hemp seed meal as soybean meal substitution on productive performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acid composition of laying hens
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-2214116/v1/521438aa-ea03-4f45-a4f1-982aab62b638.pdf
For your weaned piglets, hemp to help with their antioxidation
Assessment of flax and hemp fibres in terms of their impact on the growth performance and health status of weaned piglets
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36481350
Industrial Use & Inventions
Using hemp to make a pH acidity sensor
Natural dye modified hemp fibrous foam for colorimetric NH3 sensing
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669022014339
On the effects of reinforcing sand for construction projects with hemp fiber
Experimental investigation of the mechanical behavior and engineering properties of sand reinforced with hemp fiber
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12517-022-10966-x
Using hemp biochar to clear heavy metal ions from wastewater
Constructing the vacancies and defects by hemp stem core alkali extraction residue biochar for highly effective removal of heavy metal ions
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36126592
Cannabinoid Science
2021: A review of the traditional medicinal use of cannabis in Bangladesh
A narrative review of the ethnomedicinal usage of Cannabis sativa Linnaeus as traditional phytomedicine by folk medicine practitioners of Bangladesh
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33741060
As always, I maintain that the real wisdom on how widely cannabis can be used rests in the domain of traditional medicinal uses.
“While reviewing over 200 ethnomedicinal plants' survey articles, we found that FMPs [folk medicine practitioners] of Bangladesh from 12 different districts used Cannabis sativa to treat cited ailments like sleep-associated problems (n=5), neuropsychiatric and CNS problems (n=5), and infections and respiratory problems (n=5) followed by rheumatism, gastrointestinal, gynecological (n=4 each), cancer, sexual, and other ailments including hypertension, headache, itch, increases bile secretion, abortifacient, dandruff, fever, and urinary problems (n=1 each). There are a total of 15 formulations identified from the 11 out of 18 ethnomedicinal plant survey reports. The leaf was the main plant part used (53.8%), followed by root (23%), seed (7.7%) and flower, inflorescence, resin, and all parts 3.8% respectively.”
2021: The traditional hallucinogenic plant Mirabilis multiflora (aka Colorado four o'clock) used by the Hopi Indians seems to exert some of its effects via the cannabinoid & opioid receptors
Rotenoids and Other Specialized Metabolites from the Roots of Mirabilis multiflora: Opioid and Cannabinoid Receptor Radioligand Binding Affinities
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33734684
Clinical Studies, Surveys & Ingestion
In people with insomnia & cannabis use disorder, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helped with their sleep & related anxiety as well as reducing cannabis consumption & markers of inflammation
Assessing cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in individuals with cannabis use disorder utilizing actigraphy and serum biomarkers: A pilot study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36244318
In healthy humans, the safety, effects & flow through the body of Spectrum Yellow Oil (20 mg CBD + ~0.5 mg THC per mL)
Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Spectrum Yellow Oil in Healthy Participants
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33710277
In data from Australian clinics, medical cannabis helped with pain & reduce the use of other medications
Longitudinal Relationship between the Introduction of Medicinal Cannabis and Polypharmacy: An Australian Real-World Evidence Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36448002
2021: A safety review of 24 studies on nabiximols (ie: Sativex – a 1:1 THC:CBD spray)
Safety and tolerability of nabiximols oromucosal spray: a review of real-world experience in observational studies, registries, and case reports
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33749480
A review of the methods used in studying cannabis use among youth
Qualitative Research on Cannabis Use Among Youth: A Methodological Review
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00220426221139420
In interviews with cannabis patients, they defined their research priorities as: adverse events, comparison between cannabis-based medicinal products, health conditions, pharmacology of cannabis, types of study, healthcare professionals' attitudes, social environment, agriculture & manufacturing &the cannabis plant
Patient priorities for research: A focus group study of UK medical cannabis patients
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36399996
Recommended for You
In a test of THC & CBD edibles, participants who consumed both THC & CBD had a less strong psychoactive effect & lower levels in their bloodstream
Cannabinoid Exposure and Subjective Effects of THC and CBD in Edible Cannabis Products
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36378267
In a test of CBD patches, only one of them was found to have a level of CBD within 10% of its label
A reliable quantitative method for determining CBD content and release from transdermal patches in Franz cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36372393
In the THC aerosol device SyqeAir, the natural degradation of THC over 2 years did not impair its accuracy (within a range of 25%)
THC degradation does not impair the accuracy of THC doses aerosolized by the metered-dose SyqeAir inhaler: a 24-month stability trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36274184
Mental Health, Addiction & Mental Effects
In a safety study of children with autism, treatment with a 20:1 CBD:THC solution caused no significant differences in the safety biomarkers measured
Medical cannabis for the treatment of comorbid symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder: An interim analysis of biochemical safety
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36249785
A review of autism & why using cannabinoids seems to help with a number of the behavioral, cognitive, social interaction, hyperactivity, anxiety & sleep symptoms
Implications of the endocannabinoid system and the therapeutic action of cannabinoids in autism spectrum disorder: A literature review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36379443
In a meta-analysis of cannabis use & antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia, cannabis use did not seem associated with higher doses of antipsychotics or with poorer symptoms but was associated with a higher risk of relapse
Impact of cannabis use and its cessation on the dosage and the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs in in- and outpatients with schizophrenia taking medication: A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36410310
In fMRI studies of chronic cannabis users, at resting state, they had hyper-connectivity between their major brain areas compared to occasional users – but after ingesting THC, they had less connectivity between certain brain regions
Functional brain connectomes reflect acute and chronic cannabis use
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35165360
“Both methodologies revealed a broad state of hyperconnectivity within the entire range of major brain networks in chronic cannabis users compared to occasional cannabis users, which might be reflective of an adaptive network reorganization following prolonged cannabis exposure. The connICA methodology also extracted a distinct spatial connectivity pattern of hypoconnectivity involving the dorsal attention, limbic, subcortical and cerebellum networks and of hyperconnectivity between the default mode and ventral attention network, that was associated with the feeling of subjective high during THC intoxication.”
In humans, the genetic variant of their FAAH enzyme (which regulates anandamide levels) that caused it to have the slowest activity speed (the A variant) increased their odds of binge drinking at 20 the age, lowered the time to their initiation to drinking & tobacco & was associated with a younger age to start daily drinking
Genetic variation in fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH): Associations with early drinking and smoking behaviors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36403489
2021: In young adults who binge drink, daily cannabis use was associated with less impulse control & more hyperactive ADHD symptoms while this was not true in occasional cannabis users
Daily, but not occasional, cannabis use is selectively associated with more impulsive delay discounting and hyperactive ADHD symptoms in binge-drinking young adults
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33638699
In a mouse model of acute despair [I hate how biomedical research has turned us into monsters], activating the CB1 receptor causes antidepressant effects
Hippocampal CB1 receptor mediates antidepressant-like effect of synthetic cannabinoid-HU210 in acute despair reaction model in mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36372093
Let’s just be fair. Take 10 college freshmen. Murder their cat. Give half of them an experimental drug that mimics THC. Then see who drowns the least when you throw them in a swimming pool for 3 hours & don’t let them touch the sides.
2021: In rats, how THC disrupts memory formation via signaling cascades & the hippocampus
The role of Tetrahydrocannabinol in inducing disrupted signaling cascades, hippocampal atrophy and memory defects
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33689904
In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, the levels of CB2 receptors increased in glial cells (guardian immune cells of the brain) which suggest CB2 as a target for neuroinflammation
Evaluation of cannabinoid type 2 receptor expression and pyridine-based radiotracers in brains from a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36248003
2021: In zebrafish embryos (a common model organism for development), brief exposure to CBD &THC reduced later neural & locomotor activity with CBD causing stronger effects than THC
Medium-throughput zebrafish optogenetic platform identifies deficits in subsequent neural activity following brief early exposure to cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34075141
The Brain & its Diseases
In humans using medical cannabis, six months of use increased the coherence of their white matter while CBD reduced their mean diffusivity (higher water content in their brain, neuroprotective against demyelination diseases like Parkinson’s)
Increased White Matter Coherence Following Three and Six Months of Medical Cannabis Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36367574
A review of 11 patients on using CBD for refractory status epilepticus (seizures of long duration or that occur very close to each other & are not well managed by drugs) shows how powerful it can be compared current options
Cannabidiol in refractory status epilepticus: A review of clinical experiences
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36399869
“Patients were trialed on an average of 9 anti-epileptic drugs prior to CBD administration, after which 9 of the 11 patients experienced a reduction of seizure activity. Dosing of CBD ranged between 5-25 mg/kg/day and was titrated based on patient response to therapy. Adverse effects were relatively benign and were generally limited to gastrointestinal discomfort, reported after seizure cessation.”
In Sturge-Weber syndrome (a rare genetic disorder of the blood vasculature system), CBD helped with seizure control, anxiety, emotional regulation & quality of life
Cannabidiol Treatment for Neurological, Cognitive, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Sturge-Weber Syndrome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36508880
A comprehensive review of using CBD for neurodegenerative disorders
Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: A comprehensive review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36386183
And a literature review of using cannabis & CBD for neurodegenerative disorders
Cannabis sativa and Cannabidiol: A Therapeutic Strategy for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36467781
A common treatment for Alzheimer's disease is the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (slows excitation of nerves) & in this experiment, cannabis extracts caused inhibition of these enzymes
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Standardized Cannabinoids-rich Fractions
https://pbr.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-454-en.html
For inhibiting phosphodiesterases (a drug class investigated for their use against neurodegeneration), computer simulations & assays showed CBD to be a promising option
Virtual screening and in vitro experiments highlight cannabidiol as a drug-like phosphodiesterase 9 inhibitor
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36382587
In a rat model of multiple sclerosis, a combination of exercise & royal jelly (the magic food made by honeybees) improved their pain tolerance probably via the CB1 receptor
The Effect of Exercise Training and Royal Jelly on Hippocampal Cannabinoid-1-Receptors and Pain Threshold in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Rats as Animal Model of Multiple Sclerosis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36235771
In neurons of the hippocampus (memory area of the brain), the neuroprotection caused by glutamate (the brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter) is mediated by the CB1 receptors & GABA (the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter)
The Neuroprotective Effects of mGlu1 Receptor Antagonists Are Mediated by an Enhancement of GABAergic Synaptic Transmission via a Presynaptic CB1 Receptor Mechanism
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36230976
In mice, the novel synthetic cannabinoid mepirapim causes Parkinson's disease-like symptoms via dysregulation of the dopamine system
Mepirapim, a novel synthetic cannabinoid, induces Parkinson's disease-related behaviors by causing maladaptation of the dopamine system in the brain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36355181
Harms, Cannabis Use Disorder & Street Synthetics
A rare case report of psychosis from cannabis withdrawal
Psychotic Cannabis Withdrawal: A Clinical Case
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36523702
A genome association study finds 17 genes associated with a propensity to cannabis use disorder
Transcriptome-wide association study by different approaches reveals candidate causal genes for cannabis use disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36379386
In children with poor executive function, they were more likely to use cannabis weekly or daily in their teen years & parental cannabis use also increased their chances of later use
Ratings of executive function as a risk factor for adolescents' frequent cannabis use: A prospective longitudinal study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36355660
In an examination of the public data on the co-use of alcohol with cannabis, cannabis use frequency predicted alcohol use frequency & individuals who co-used alcohol & cannabis reported more symptoms of alcohol use disorder
Frequency matters: Relations among alcohol and cannabis co-use frequency and alcohol use disorder symptoms in emerging adults
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36355682
2021: On using topical capsaicin for treating cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (uncontrolled cyclical vomiting)
Is capsaicin an effective treatment for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
https://journals.lww.com/ebp/Citation/2021/12000/Is_capsaicin_an_effective_treatment_for.33.aspx
A case report of a bad trip on 5F-ADB
Analytical findings in a non-fatal intoxication with the synthetic cannabinoid 5F-ADB (5F-MDMB-PINACA): a case report
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34921326
The synthesis & effects of various synthetic cannabinoids
Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of newly detected synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists AB-4CN-BUTICA, MMB-4CN-BUTINACA, MDMB-4F-BUTICA, MDMB-4F-BUTINACA and their analogs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36245876
How two major synthetic cannabinoids move through the system: 5F-EDMB-PICA and EDMB-PINACA
Human phase-I metabolism and prevalence of two synthetic cannabinoids bearing an ethyl ester moiety: 5F-EDMB-PICA and EDMB-PINACA
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36366743
2021: Overview of the synthetic cannabinoids ADB-FUBINACA & AMB-FUBINACA
Overview of Synthetic Cannabinoids ADB-FUBINACA and AMB-FUBINACA: Clinical, Analytical, and Forensic Implications
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33669071
Lungs & Vaping
2021: In a study of smoke, cannabis consistently gave off more emissions than tobacco with the greatest emissions coming from joints, than bongs, glass pipes & vapes with the least
Measuring indoor fine particle concentrations, emission rates, and decay rates from cannabis use in a residence
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259016212100006X
It’s true. For some reason, weed smoke puts off more emissions than tobacco smoke. That being said, the dangers of second-hand smoke have been far inflated by the FDA on their anti-tobacco warpath. Like most everything else with cannabis dangers, the issue of secondhand smoke emissions is a real but overly minor public health concern.
In chest scans of cannabis smokers, they had more airway inflammation & emphysema than in non-smokers & tobacco only smokers
Chest CT Findings in Marijuana Smokers
https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/abs/10.1148/radiol.212611
In a test of human lung cells & vape oil, both CBD & vitamin E acetate caused cell toxicity & death
Vaping additives cannabinoid oil and vitamin E acetate adhere to and damage the human airway epithelium
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36372912
A well-done history of cannabis paired with the public health considerations of cannabis vaping
The history, evolution, and practice of cannabis and E-cigarette industries highlight necessary public health and public safety considerations
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022437522001724
In a study of vapes, the illegal ones had higher levels of nickel & zinc while the legal ones had the highest levels of copper
Evidence That Metal Particles in Cannabis Vape Liquids Limit Measurement Reproducibility
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36467951
Pain, Inflammation & Surgeries
A review of 8 studies on humans with chronic neuropathic pain found that it helped with their sleep & pain
Evaluating the impact of cannabinoids on sleep health and pain in patients with chronic neuropathic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
https://rapm.bmj.com/content/early/2022/12/04/rapm-2021-103431.abstract