C&P#46: CBD for blood pressure & nerve pain + the CB2 receptor for everything
Hello everyone,
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Welcome to the 46th edition of Cannabinoids & the People. This newsletter collects all the new cannabinoid science each week. You can check out last week’s issue here & if you haven’t subscribed yet, please do.
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The Living Glossary of Cannabinoid Terms.
This week…
CBD to reduce blood pressure
So much on cannabis & CBD for pain (have you ever heard of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease?)
CBG, PEA & CBD for protecting neurons & nerves
A dozen papers on why activating the CB2 receptor is a good thing for a variety of diseases
Cannabis use linked to more depression & sleep problems
CBD for killing cancer & a review of cannabis/cancer patents
Is prenatal THC linked to later problems? Yes
Lots of negative case studies on the synthetic cannabinoids
Cannabis oil for your cats & dogs
CBD for your horses & CBDA for your Amazonian parrots!
Nano nano nano cannabinoids
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Best Of Cannabinoid Science...
The excellent Dr. Dustin Sulak on using cannabis for anxiety & PTSD
Cannabis for Anxiety and PTSD
https://www.cannapatientcare.com/view/cannabis-for-anxiety-and-ptsd
On THC & CBD for fibromyalgia by Nate Seltenrich
https://www.projectcbd.org/thc-and-cbd-rich-cannabis-fibromyalgia
Clinical
In patients with frontotemporal dementia, PEA & the flavonoid luteoline improved their functional impairment & their cortical brain wave oscillations
EFFECTS OF PALMITOYLETHANOLAMIDE COMBINED WITH LUTEOLINE ON HIGH FREQUENCY OSCILLATIONS AND GABAERGIC TRANSMISSION IN PATIENTS WITH FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA
https://www.brainstimjrnl.com/article/S1935-861X(23)00329-7/pdf
In 54 patients with hypertension, five weeks of CBD reduced their blood pressure via the sympatho-chromaffin system (neuro/hormonal cells of the adrenal glands)
CBD supplementation reduces arterial blood pressure via modulation of the sympatho-chromaffin system: A substudy from the HYPER-H21-4 trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36780785/
In patients with mastocytosis (a painful overabundance of mast cells), CBD allowed a third of the patients to discontinue their other pain medicines
The Effectiveness and Safety of Pharmaceutical-Grade Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Mastocytosis-Associated Pain: A Pilot Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36831056/
In patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a genetic disease of nerve damage in the arms and legs), nearly all of them reported that cannabis helped with their pain as well as lessening the use of opiates, sleep medications & anxiety/antidepressant medications
Patient Reported Outcomes Using Medical Cannabis for Managing Pain in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36793224/
Three German pain centers pooled their data on chronic pain & found that cannabis based medicines contributed “to a clinically relevant reduction in pain, sleep problems and muscle tension and can improve daily functioning”
Benefits and harms of cannabis-based medicines from the viewpoint of patients with chronic pain and their physicians : A cohort study in three pain centers of the German federal state Saarland
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36662296/
A case study of using cannabis assisted psychotherapy for complex PTSD
Cannabis-assisted psychotherapy for complex dissociative posttraumatic stress disorder: A case report
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36846226/
In patients with severe mental health issues, the frequency of their cannabis use was significantly linked to more violent behavior
Is There a Dose-Response Relationship Between Cannabis Use and Violence? A Longitudinal Study in Individuals with Severe Mental Disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36787482/
Nobody wants to hear this, but like most entheogenic drugs, cannabis brings out what's already there. In people predisposed to violence or who want to use it for violence, cannabis enhances that feeling. We see this in rat studies from the 50s, in the use by the Sikhs & other people groups in warfare & in all the kids during the Reefer Madness campaign who smoked a joint before a fight because they were told it would give them berserker abilities.
For horses, using CBD to help stop them from crib-biting
The use of cannabidiol as a novel treatment for oral stereotypic behaviour (crib-biting) in a horse
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36824298/
For more on what crib-biting is, a clip of Tom Waits on Letterman that I’ve never forgotten in my entire life…
Reviews
For migraines, this review of nine studies finds cannabis to cause a significant clinical reduction in their length & frequency
Efficacy and Safety of Medical Marijuana in Migraine Headache: A Systematic Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36660507/
For endometriosis & its pain, a paper on how we need to start seeing cannabis as a treatment
Cannabis for endometriosis-related pain and symptoms: It's high time that we see this as a legitimate treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36691911/
A review on how the antioxidant effects of CBD probably underlie much of its benefit for many diseases
Cannabidiol: Bridge between Antioxidant Effect, Cellular Protection, and Cognitive and Physical Performance
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36830042/
For cancer, a review of using cannabinoids to change their epigenetics (the genes turned on & off)
Cannabinoids Transmogrify Cancer Metabolic Phenotype via Epigenetic Reprogramming and a Novel CBD Biased G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling Platform
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36831374/
And a review of how the cannabinoid receptors evolved into a target for the treatment of cancer
The evolution of cannabinoid receptors in cancer
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36750231/
Preclinical
In Alzheimer's disease, the ability of CBD to prevent the aging of the astrocytes (important immune/support cells of the brain) seems to be mediated by parkin (a protein used by the cell for recycling old components) as well as its ability to protect the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Parkin Mediates Cannabidiol Prevention of Amyloid-Beta-Induced Senescence in Human Astrocytes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36695672/
In a brain tissue & mouse model of multiple sclerosis, CBG lowered inflammation, improved clinical scores & protected from brain cell loss
Therapeutic Potential of Phytocannabinoid Cannabigerol for Multiple Sclerosis: Modulation of Microglial Activation In Vitro and In Vivo
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36830745/
In a mouse model of cognitive decline & Alzheimer’s disease, PEA protected memory & lessened shrinking of the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Chronic administration of palmitoylethanolamide counteracts cognitive decline in Tg2576 Mice
https://iris.uniroma1.it/handle/11573/1669443
In a mouse model of neuropathic pain from cancer chemotherapy, CBD balls sourced from human umbilical cord stem cells reduced pain levels as well as the dysfunction of their mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Cannabidiol-Loaded Extracellular Vesicles from Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36839877/
In a mouse model of nerve injury, a cannabis extract sped up muscle function recovery
Comparative evaluation of ethyl acetate and n-Hexane extracts of Cannabis sativa L. leaves for muscle function restoration after peripheral nerve lesion
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/fsn3.3255
The effects of CBD on GABAA receptors (a target of the benzodiazepines like Valium)
CBD specific action on GABAA receptor alpha subunits
https://www.cell.com/biophysj/pdf/S0006-3495(22)03062-4.pdf
For more, see my ProjectCBD article, Taking It Slow with GABA.
CBD & CBN have different effects on the membranes of cells
Cannabidiol and cannabinol have distinct effects on membrane structure
https://www.cell.com/biophysj/pdf/S0006-3495(22)01569-7.pdf
This speaks to the old debate in the cannabinoid science world of the ‘80s. Everyone wondered whether cannabis caused its effects by distinct cannabinoid receptors or whether the plant’s cannabinoids altered the entire structure of the cellular membranes & that's why they caused such a wide array of effects.
With the discovery of the cannabinoid receptors in the early 90s, Team Receptor thought they had won. But as is usually the case in science, when the question is either/or, the answer is yes/and.
Now, we learn more every year about how the very presence of cannabinoids alters the structure of the membrane, hence leading to a wide array of downstream effects.
How endocannabinoids regulate the potassium channels that underpin the excitability of cardiac, neuronal & immune cells
Endocannabinoid regulation of inward rectifier (Kir2.1) channels
https://www.cell.com/biophysj/pdf/S0006-3495(22)03024-7.pdf
In cells, activating the M3 muscarinic receptor (best known from the red-capped amanitas muscaria mushrooms) greatly increased the levels of the CB1 receptor via promotion of the CNR1 gene that codes for it
M3 Receptor Pathway Stimulates Rapid Transcription of the CB1 Receptor Activation through Calcium Signalling and the CNR1 Gene Promoter
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36674826/
In prostate cancer cells, a molecule from the cabbage family activates the CB2 receptor to cause cell death
The Plant Derived 3-3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) Behaves as CB2 Receptor Agonist in Prostate Cancer Cellular Models
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36835033/
One more helpful plant ingredient that seems to help via the endocannabinoid system.
Luckily, it appears safe to give CBD & CBDA extracts to your Amazonian parrot
Twice-daily oral administration of a cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid-rich hemp extract was well tolerated in orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica) and has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36795552/
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
Biden ends Black History Month with a speech touting his mass marijuana pardons - which have yet to release a single person from prison
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/biden-highlights-marijuana-pardons-at-black-history-month-event
The US Office of Personnel Management has asked the White House for changes to its hiring practices that would treat past cannabis use more leniently
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/white-house-approval-sought-for-changes-to-marijuana-questions-in-federal-hiring-process
A review with excellent charts showing what federal agencies are funding the cannabis research in the US
The cannabidiol and marijuana research expansion act: Promotion of scientific knowledge to prevent a national health crisis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36777382
No surprise. It’s mostly NIDA looking for harm…
An in-depth report on why the cannabis laws of the US make it so dreadfully difficult to be a patient
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/27/medical-marijuana-america-cannabis-00083846
Even the Guardian is covering how US hemp is so tangled up in red tape
https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/24/hemp-green-crop-red-tape-agriculture-livestock
Why can't this be used as a livestock feed?
Almost every week I post positive science about how feeding hemp to farm animals helps them.
Las Vegas approves rules for cannabis consumption lounges
https://twitter.com/CityOfLasVegas/status/1631014563683667968
Solving one of the great problems of legalization: you can buy it, but where can you use it?
The status of a state's cannabis laws are not linked to its levels of utilization of healthcare for psychosis
State Cannabis Legalization and Psychosis-Related Health Care Utilization
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36696111/
And in a funny contrast, a paper complaining that most of these studies on cannabis & psychosis suffer from the biased views of the appraisers
Minimizing policy-biased appraisals of the evidence on cannabis and psychosis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36699475/
“Blind spots? I don’t see any blind spots!”
In the UK, a majority of doctors report formal training on medical cannabis but few consider themselves sufficiently informed to make cannabis related clinical recommendations
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellows’ Clinical Discussions, Perceived Knowledge, and Formal Training Regarding Medical Cannabis Use: A National Survey Study (TH108B)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0885392422010624
While in Denmark, after four years of medical cannabis, a survey finds the doctors have little knowledge of it & an overall negative attitude about it
GPs' prescription patterns, experience, and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis-a nationwide survey at the early stage of the Danish test scheme
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36650442/
Ric Flair reportedly to be the spokesperson for a cannabis product that treats erectile dysfunction
https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ric-flair-they-re-going-have-cannabis-erectile-dysfunction-guess-who-will-be-face-it
Jackie Bryant of Cannabitch is launching a podcast! ‘The Plant Lady’ debuts next week…
https://cannabitch.substack.com/p/the-plant-lady-a-podcast-by-jackie
Jackie is one of my favorite journalist in the space & I'm excited that she'll be starting an interview style podcast about cannabis.
The War on Drugs & Prohibition
In Jamaica, the terrible legacy of cannabis criminalization
Ganja and the Laws of Men: Cannabis Decriminalization and Social (In)Justice in Jamaica
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00914509231156608
In an analysis of EU laws, the lessening of penalties for cannabis use was usually linked to a small increase in use by adolescents
Deterrence effect of penalties upon adolescent cannabis use
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36794356/
For driving, more frequent cannabis users report less impairment & often do not wait at all after consumption before driving
Self-reported impacts of recreational and medicinal cannabis use on driving ability and amount of wait time before driving
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36787207/
I think two hours is a reasonable window to wait. That being said, it’s clear that for old time stoners, they develop a tolerance to the psychomotor deficits experienced by newbies. And I’ve heard from plenty of patients that they’re better drivers after cannabis because they’re not as sick.
Liberalized cannabis laws are linked to a significant reduction in daytime driving fatalities involving alcohol
Marijuana laws and pedestrian fatalities in the United States
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0386111223000067
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
The great Shayla Love on psychedelic patents
https://www.lucid.news/psychedelics-innovative-approach-to-patents
‘Avoid Taking What Ayahuasca “Tells” You Literally’: good advice from ICEERS
https://www.iceers.org/avoid-taking-ayahuasca-tells-literally
‘From Opium To Meth: How Myanmar Became The World’s Leading Producer Of Methamphetamine’
https://www.talkingdrugs.org/from-opium-to-meth-how-myanmar-became-the-worlds-leading-producer-of-methamphetamine
Former MMA fighter Ian McCall tells how psychedelics helped him heal after experiencing traumatic brain injury
https://doubleblindmag.com/ian-mccall-psychedelic-athletes
Andrew Gallimore on why LSD lasts so long…
https://alieninsect.substack.com/p/why-is-lsd-so-potent-and-why-does
On psychedelics & gender identity by Rowan Zeoli
https://tripsitter.com/gender-identity
Psychoactive science
[This isn’t a deep dive into all of the science of psychedelics & other psychoactives like I do for the cannabinoids. If a newsletter with all that new science would be of interest to your company or organization, reach out to me]
A fascinating case study from the Amazon of using tobacco in a traditional manner for a woman's mental health
Indigenous-Amazonian Traditional Medicine's Usage of the Tobacco Plant: A Transdisciplinary Ethnopsychological Mixed-Methods Case Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36679060/
A review of using psilocybin for addiction
Therapeutic effect of psilocybin in addiction: A systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36846225/
In rats, how psilocybin enhances cognitive flexibility
Acute psilocybin enhances cognitive flexibility in rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36712091/
A review on ‘The costs and benefits of psychedelics on cognition and mood’
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36681076
Business & Law
In California, having a dispensary within two miles of your house increases the likelihood of your cannabis use & reduces your risk perception of cannabis
Associations of recreational cannabis dispensaries' availability, storefront signage and health benefit signs with cannabis use: findings from a representative adult sample in California, United States
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36680550/
The Plant & the History
Characterizing the cannabis roots of northeastern Brazil
Phytochemical Characterization of Cannabis sativa L. Roots from Northeastern Brazil
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36662379/
Growing & Farming
For cannabis micropropagation, an analysis of growth medium & culture vessels
A Comparison of Two Media Formulations and Two Vented Culture Vessels for Shoot Multiplication and Rooting of Hemp Shoot Tip Cultures
https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/33/2/article-p233.xml
In water stress conditions, the fungi around the cannabis roots helps with their efficiency of light & water consumption
Radiation and Water Use Efficiencies of Mycorrhizal Inoculated Hemp Under Water-Deficit Stress
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42729-023-01173-y
Distinguishing high cannabinoid strains of cannabis using microsatellites (repeated genetic sequences that can be used as tags)
Evidence of the Ability of Microsatellite Method to Distinguish Cannabis Strains with High Cannabinoid Content
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36695671/
Finding bacteria to breakdown the hard outer hemp hurds
ISOLATION AND SCREENING OF INDIGENOUS MICROORGANISMS CAPABLE OF DEGRADING CELLULOSE TO TREAT HEMP HURD IN THANH HOA PROVINCE
https://tckh.daihoctantrao.edu.vn/index.php/sjttu/article/view/876
On using ozone treatments to breakdown your hemp
Simultaneous Eco-friendly Bleaching and Retting Wastewater Treatment of Hemp Fiber with Ozone Application
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12221-023-00021-1
A genetic analysis of the response to cold by cannabis & its DGAT (diacylglycerol acyltransferase) enzymes
Genome-Wide Identification, Classification, and Expression Analyses of the CsDGAT Gene Family in Cannabis sativa L. and Their Response to Cold Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36835488/
Hemp as a food
In female rats, hempseed oil improved their fatty acid profile & overall health
Hemp Seed Oil Effects on Female Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet and Modulating Adiponectin, Leptin, and Lipid Profile
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/2/449
A study of the composition & nutritional value of hemp proteins
Hemp bioactive peptides: Nutrition, functional properties and action mechanisms to maximize their nutraceutical applications and future prospects
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36808030/
“It is concluded that HPs [hemp proteins] present excellent functional ingredients as nutraceuticals targeting hypertension and other degenerative diseases, which have yet to be capitalized upon for commercial uses.”
On using CBD to keep your pomegranate juice from degrading
Effects of thermal processing on cannabidiol degradation in cannabidiol-infused pomegranate juice and evaluation of its antioxidant property
https://ph04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JCST/article/view/209
There's a whole robust field of research on using the cannabinoids as food preservatives.
The size of your hemp flour particles changes the quality of your hemp pasta
Hemp Flour Particle Size Affects the Quality and Nutritional Profile of the Enriched Functional Pasta
https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/4/774
In hempseeds, an analysis of the protein levels from seven different hemp cultivars (strains)
Composition and functional properties of hemp seed protein isolates from various hemp cultivars
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36694405/
A data set of cannabis seeds for machine learning
Dataset of cannabis seeds for machine learning applications
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36798594/
Veterinarian Uses & Animal Feed
A review of using CBD for the diseases of your dogs & cats
Scientific Validation of Cannabidiol for Management of Dog and Cat Diseases
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36790884/
“In companion animals, CBD appears to have good bioavailability and safety profile with few side effects at physiological doses. Some dog studies have found CBD to improve clinical signs associated with osteoarthritis, pruritus, and epilepsy. However, further studies are needed to conclude a therapeutic action of CBD for each of these conditions, as well as for decreasing anxiety and aggression in dogs and cats.”
On using cannabis oil against fleas on your pets
Insecticidal activity of essential oil of Cannabis sativa against the immature and adult stages of Ctenocephalides felis felis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36651425/
Industrial Uses
Producing nanocrystals from hemp waste
Cellulose Nanocrystals Derived From Hemp Agrowaste: A Value-Added Biomass Product for Sustainable Hemp Farms
https://www.iastatedigitalpress.com/itaa/article/id/15957/
On using hemp waste to make furniture upholstery
Recycling of Nonwoven Waste Resulting from the Manufacturing Process of Hemp Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Polypropylene Composites for Upholstered Furniture Products
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/4/3635
Recommended for You
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
A review of 22 studies on looking at the social media discourse around cannabis as a medicine
Social media discourse and internet search queries on cannabis as a medicine: A systematic scoping review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36662832/
I never seem to learn much from these, but researchers sure do love scraping Twitter & Reddit to find out that a lot of people are into cannabis.
Clinical Studies & Surveys
For older adults, a review of 133 studies finds mixed results (though it feels like these researchers were looking for harms)
Impacts of medical and non-medical cannabis on the health of older adults: Findings from a scoping review of the literature
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36800328/
In university students, cannabis users had a 45% increased chance of insomnia as well as other sleep complaints
Study of the association between cannabis use and sleep disturbances in a large sample of University students
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36842936/
In 24 adults & adolescents, they had similar mental effects from cannabis & the vaporization of CBD did not mitigate these effects
The acute effects of cannabis with and without cannabidiol in adults and adolescents: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover experiment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36750134/
Brain scans of cannabis users & their visuospatial processing
Altered functional connectivity and oscillatory dynamics in polysubstance and cannabis only users during visuospatial processing
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36752815/
A scale for linking the molecules present in a cannabis chemovar (strain) & the experiential effects
Systematic combinations of major cannabinoid and terpene contents in Cannabis flower and patient outcomes: a proof-of-concept assessment of the Vigil Index of Cannabis Chemovars
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36755303/
A survey of patients on how they liked using the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (a key source of data that we're often quoting around here)
UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A Patient Evaluation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36762986/
Using 4 mobile video games to crowdsource data on the effects of cannabis on cognition & psychomotor skills
Data crowdsourcing on psychomotor and cognitive effects of cannabis via mobile app
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36757962/
On using machine learning & data from the Strainprint app to see if mental health profiles & baseline symptom severity play a role in the perceived responses to cannabis
Predictors of perceived symptom change with acute cannabis use for mental health conditions in a naturalistic sample: A machine learning approach
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36787672/
“The factors that were most strongly associated with perceived symptom change following acute cannabis use were pre-symptom severity, age, gender, and the ratio of CBD to THC. Further examination on the impact of baseline severity for the most commonly reported symptoms revealed distinct responses, with cannabis being reported to more likely benefit individuals with lower pre-symptom severity for depression, and higher pre-symptom severity for insomnia. Responses to cannabis use also differed between genders.”
Ingestion, Bioavailability & Biochemical Effects
More & more young adults in the US are smoking cannabis out of hookahs
High on Hookah: Smoking Marijuana from a Hookah among Adults in the United States, Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, 2015-2019
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36786640/
The stability of THC
Short-term stability of a small amount of neat Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36652063/
A safety study of CBD & CBG in rats
Safety Assessment and Redox Status in Rats after Chronic Exposure to Cannabidiol and Cannabigerol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36796712/
A review of using nanotechnology to increase the bioavailability of cannabinoids
Nanoformulations as a strategy to overcome the delivery limitations of cannabinoids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36748949/
And an update on these nano delivery systems
An update of nano-based drug delivery systems for cannabinoids: Biopharmaceutical aspects & therapeutic applications
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36803924/
Note: when we say nano in this context, it’s more of an industry buzzword for making lipid balls out of the cannabinoids. It’s not nano in the Richard Feynman / 100 nanometers / direct manipulation of atoms kind of way.
Mental Health & Addiction
In a review of Canadian public health data, medical cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of depressive disorders
Risk of depressive disorders associated with medical cannabis authorization: A propensity score matched cohort study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36638694/
In California adolescents, mixed support for cannabis use being linked to depression
Directional associations between cannabis use and depression from late adolescence to young adulthood: the role of adverse childhood experiences
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36648021/
In adolescent rats exposed to THC, individual differences in their dopamine transmission may lead to different outcomes in their likelihood of developing schizophrenia-type symptoms
The Effects of Peripubertal THC Exposure in Neurodevelopmental Rat Models of Psychopathology
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36835313/
In a mouse model of depression, a stable variant of CBDA caused antidepressant effects but with differences between the genders
Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Blockade Prevents Anti-Depressive-like Effect of Cannabidiol Acid Methyl Ester in Female WKY Rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36835237/
In a mouse model of food addiction, the overexpression of the CB2 receptor made them more vulnerable to chocolate pellet addiction
Role of CB2 cannabinoid receptor in the development of food addiction in male mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36775043/
The Brain & its Diseases
An editorial on targeting the endocannabinoid system for neurodegenerative disorders
Editorial: Targeting the endocannabinoidome in neurodegenerative disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36688166/
In rats, chronic administration of THC changed their brain’s glucose uptake & improved their ability to not act impulsively
Chronic Administration of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Alters Brain Glucose Uptake and Improves Waiting Impulsivity in the Rat
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36800226/
In a study of mice versus young mice, chronic THC administration causes different effects on their synaptic plasticity, especially in the ventral tegmental area (linked to rewards & addiction) via dopamine & GABA, suggesting a reason that adult mice are less likely to become dependent on THC
Chronic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol impact on plasticity, and differential activation requirement for CB1-dependent long-term depression in ventral tegmental area GABA neurons in adult versus young mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36699526/
In a mouse model of neuropathic pain from cutting a nerve, activating the CB1 receptor lowered pain via glutamate & GABA
Activation of Cannabinoid Receptor 1 in GABAergic Neurons in the Rostral Anterior Insular Cortex Contributes to the Analgesia Following Common Peroneal Nerve Ligation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36773215/
In a zebrafish model of epilepsy, CBD combined well with CBN, CBC, THC & CBG to reduce seizures, partially via the GPR55 receptor (which may one day be known as CB3)
CBD can be combined with additional cannabinoids for optimal seizure reduction and requires GPR55 for its anticonvulsant effects
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.15.528525v1
Harms, Cannabis Use Disorder & Street Synthetics
In Canada, they experience an average of ~80 cannabis pediatric hospitalizations per year
Pediatric Hospitalizations for Unintentional Cannabis Poisonings and All-Cause Poisonings Associated With Edible Cannabis Product Legalization and Sales in Canada
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36637814/
In adolescents with cannabis use disorder, a chapter on using cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy for cannabis use disorder: A focus on adolescents
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323857574000134
2 brothers fatally poisoned by a combination of alcohol with a synthetic cannabinoid
Simultaneous fatal poisoning of two victims with 4F-MDMB-BINACA and ethanol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36652056/
Four case studies of children exposed to delta-8 THC
Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure and Confirmation in Four Pediatric Patients
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36757578/
And a case report of a new synthetic cannabinoid poisoning in a child
Methyl (S)-2-(1-7 (5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (5F-MDMB-PICA) intoxication in a child with identification of two new metabolites (ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36652054/
In the Netherlands, two case reports of synthetic cannabinoid intoxication
Intoxications with synthetic cannabinoids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36752668/
A toxicology study on the common cannabinoid WIN55, 212-2
Behavioral, biochemical and histopathological toxic profiles induced by sub-chronic cannabimimetic WIN55, 212-2 administration in mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36750905/
In mice, the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 caused heart & respiratory problems
The Old and the New: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Alterations Induced by Acute JWH-018 Administration Compared to Δ9-THC-A Preclinical Study in Mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36675144/
On the interactions between the synthetic cannabinoid AMB-FUBINACA & a piperazine analog
The piperazine analogue para-fluorophenylpiperazine alters timing of the physiological effects of the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist AMB-FUBINACA, without changing its discriminative stimulus, signalling effects, or metabolism
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36805861/
In rats, the effects of the synthetic cannabinoid ‘Strox’ (I’ve never heard of this one. Seems to be a regional name around Egypt)
Cytotoxicity associated with acute and chronic administration of synthetic cannabinoids “Strox” in the brain, liver, heart, and testes of male albino rats: histological and immunohistochemical study
https://ejfs.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41935-023-00331-8
The Immune System & Pathogens
In the B cells of the immune system, a mixture of cannabinoids cause detrimental effects to inflammatory cytokine levels, the membrane of the mitochondria (powerhouse cell) as well as increased cellular suicide
Cannabinoid Mixture Affects the Fate and Functions of B Cells through the Modulation of the Caspase and MAP Kinase Pathways
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36831255/
Hormones, Reproduction & Maternal Effects
On how to discuss cannabis consumption with pregnant people experiencing extreme vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum)
Addressing cannabis consumption among patients with hyperemesis gravidarum
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666577823000217
A poster review of using cannabis to treat postpartum depression
Using Medical Marijuana to Treat Postpartum Depression: A Scoping Review
https://www.cureus.com/posters/2355-using-medical-marijuana-to-treat-postpartum-depression-a-scoping-review
A review of public health data in Europe links higher levels of cannabis use to more congenital anomalies in infants
Patterns of Cannabis- and Substance-Related Congenital General Anomalies in Europe: A Geospatiotemporal and Causal Inferential Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36810339/
And a big review from these two researchers who have been putting out these reports about why Camden oils may be causing this genotoxicity & cancerogenesis
Clinical Epigenomic Explanation of the Epidemiology of Cannabinoid Genotoxicity Manifesting as Transgenerational Teratogenesis, Cancerogenesis and Aging Acceleration
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36834053/
A review on how prenatal exposure to THC & its ability to predispose the male offspring to schizophrenia can be reversed by pregnenolone (a neurosteroid)
Sex-specific susceptibility to psychotic-like states provoked by prenatal THC exposure: Reversal by pregnenolone
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36810840/
In rats with prenatal exposure to THC, as adolescents they had deficits in spatial & object recognition memory, increased locomotor activity & changes in the neuroplasticity of their hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Prenatal Exposure to Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Affects Hippocampus-Related Cognitive Functions in the Adolescent Rat Offspring: Focus on Specific Markers of Neuroplasticity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36840014/
In the placenta, the distribution of PEA, AEA and other endocannabinoid-like fatty acids
Distribution of an analgesic palmitoylethanolamide and other N-acylethanolamines in human placental membranes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36638082/
In rats with ovarian damage, increasing their 2AG levels decreased inflammation & cell death as well as preserving the eggs in their ovaries
2-Arachidonoylglycerol Activity in Over Ischemia Reperfusion Damage: Can Endocannabinoids Protect Ovarian Reserve?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36749133/
Pain, Inflammation & Surgeries
In patients having shoulder surgery, cannabis use disorder was not linked to medical complications or heart events
Cannabis Use Disorder is not a Risk Factor for Thrombotic Events or Medical Complications Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1045452723000226
In chronic pain patients, their mental health status was not a predictor of whether cannabis pain treatments would be helpful
Mental disorders are no predictors to determine the duration of cannabis-based treatment for chronic pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36684012/
In French patients with arthritis, a look at their frequency of cannabis use
Frequency of cannabis use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthropathies: a single-centre study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36689208/
Just kidding. There is no look. This paper doesn't even have an abstract available.
And it’s a 4 hour drive away, so I’m not going there to ask.
In adolescent rats undergoing morphine withdrawal, activating their CB1 receptor change their brain glucose levels, with a greater effect on females
Neuroimaging revealed long-lasting glucose metabolism changes to morphine withdrawal in rats pretreated with the cannabinoid agonist CP-55,940 during periadolescence
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36780817/
Guts, Metabolism, the Microbiome & Oral Health
In human pancreas cells, a drug that binds to the CB1 receptor & blocks other molecules from binding there (an inverse agonist) protected the pancreatic immune cells & increased insulin secretions, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic for both type 1 & type 2 diabetes
A peripherally restricted cannabinoid-1 receptor inverse agonist promotes insulin secretion and protects from cytokine toxicity in human pancreatic islets
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36773683/
For the bacteria that causes cavities, a combination of CBD & the antibiotic triclosan disrupted their formation of biofilms & caused an antibacterial effect
Improved Anti-Biofilm Effect against the Oral Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans by Combined Triclosan/CBD Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36831057/
The Musculoskeletal System
In a severe genetic muscular dystrophy, activating the CB2 receptor lowered inflammation by the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines & caused the macrophages (immune cells) to be in a more anti-inflammatory state
CB2 Receptor as Emerging Anti-Inflammatory Target in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36834757/
The Genitourinary System
In a tissue study of pelvic pain of the bladder, a mixture of PEA, hempseed oil & maritime pine bark extract reduced inflammatory cytokines
Micronized Palmitoylethanolamide, Hempseed Oil, and Maritime Pine Bark Dry Extract (Pelvipea®) for Pelvic Pain: An In Vitro Study for Urothelial Inflammation Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36831284/
The Skin
A look at how CBD nanoparticles penetrate the skin & help with topical inflammation
The Fundamental Role of Lipids in Polymeric Nanoparticles: Dermal Delivery and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cannabidiol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36838759/
The Liver
In a mouse model of liver failure, activating the CB2 receptor reduced the level of white blood cells & inhibited the release of inflammatory factors
CB2R agonist GW405833 alleviates acute liver failure in mice via inhibiting HIF-1α-mediated reprogramming of glycometabolism and macrophage proliferation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36697976/