Alzheimer’s, spinal cord neuropathy, cancer & personality traits
WNBA stops banning cannabis & Alabama finally completes a medical cannabis sale
Cannabinoids & The People,
or; Drugs & Drug Wars
🌟 This Week 🌟
(#hashtags for jumping to articles by searching for them with your browser)
Cannabinoids for the agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
CBD for children with autism & for the neuropathic of a spinal cord injury
Cannabis for the chronic pain of hypermobility
For cancer, one study on CBD & one on cannabis
On personality traits & cannabis usage, neurotics use it to cope & those with openness use it to explore
Effects of cannabis smoking on the lungs
Profile of endocannabinoid hero Rita Levi-Montalcini (#rita)
Preclinical: CBD for cognitive decline for chemotherapy, age-related muscle decline, enhancing the painkilling effects of oxycodone & improving the efficacy of antibiotics
Ketamine for substance use disorders
Psychedelics: ibogaine for opioid dependence & psilocybin for long-term antidepressant effects
War on Drugs: deep-dive on 2 sitting Mexican governors under US investigation
[numbers for C&P#190: ~6.5k words, ~17 minutes reading time, 124 papers]
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 190th edition of Cannabinoids & the People, Lex Pelger’s free weekly digest of all the new cannabinoid science, assorted canna-news + the War on Drugs, harm reduction & other psychoactives. Support this work with a paid subscription or by buying me a coffee. If you purchase one of my canna-graphic novels based on Moby Dick, proceeds go to Americans for Safe Access to support medical cannabis patients.
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Canna-edu videos sponsored by the National Cannabis Study (join & get paid $100 to talk about your use of our favorite plant)
- nothing new this week. working on a big one on CBD & the EU’s declaration of it as a reproductive toxicant
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And as always, at the bottom is the album of the week: our hero Mose Allison!
💖 Ways to support this work 💖
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📣 A request to spread the word 📣
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🍃 BEST OF CANNABINOID SCIENCE 🍃
(most of the phytocannabinoid data is here & most of the ECS data is in the ‘Canna-Science Archive’ at the bottom)
A capsule biography of endocannabinoid hero Rita Levi-Montalcini, the discoverer of the mechanisms used by the endocannabinoid PEA & a recipient of the Nobel Prize
From the Scientific Underground to the Height of Recognition: The 40th Anniversary of Rita Levi-Montalcini’s Nobel Prize and the Promising Horizon in Psychiatry
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11064-026-04769-9
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
For the agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, a meta-analysis of 7 studies found cannabinoids lowered neuropsychiatric symptoms & agitation scores
Cannabinoids Treatment for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Bayesian and Sequential Trial Analyses
https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(26)00400-8/abstract
For neuropathic pain from a spinal cord injury, a trial of high-dose CBD isolate found it significantly reduced the self-reported intensity of neuropathic pain & was generally well tolerated
High-dose cannabidiol for chronic neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury: a randomised clinical trial
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(26)00234-8/fulltext
In children with autism, CBD isolate improved irritability, tantrums, restricted & repetitive behaviors, sociality, anxiety & sleep problems
A Phase-2 Open-Label Trial of Cannabidiol to Treat Core and Associated Symptoms of Autism in Children and Adolescents Without Intellectual Disability
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10445463261452514
For chronic pain from hypermobility, a case series from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry found that the initiation of cannabis-based medicines improved all patient-reported outcomes with significant improvements in pain severity & interference
UK Medical Cannabis Registry: an updated analysis of clinical outcomes of medicinal cannabis therapy for hypermobility-associated chronic pain
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10067-026-08166-z
For severe, drug-resistant pediatric epilepsies, a meta-analysis of 46 studies found CBD reduced seizures in ~ half of patients
Cannabidiol Use in Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies: A Syndrome- and Age-Stratified Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40263-026-01301-z
In people with cancer using cannabis for their symptoms, more than half reported significant relief across all symptom domains
Association of iterative cannabis care plans with rates of symptom relief and side effect burden in oncology patients
https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.12070
For cancer survivors using CBD, a survey found that they used it for pain, insomnia, stress, depression & neuropathy
Cannabidiol and Cancer Survivors: Utilization and Experiences
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10966218261448666
For people with cancer, one-third of them used cannabis for symptom management & their household income & neighborhood disadvantage caused different effects on the help for their pain, sleep & anxiety
Associations between neighborhood disadvantage, cannabis use, and patient-reported outcomes among patients with cancer
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772724626000429
For cannabis use & PTSD symptoms in combat veterans, this thesis project hypothesized that decreased use would improve mental health outcomes but in fact, “decreased cannabis use was associated with worsening PTSD symptoms, reduced quality of life, and decreased satisfaction with concentration”
Effects of Cannabis Use Reduction on PTSD Symptoms in Combat Veterans: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study
https://www.proquest.com/openview/14beb7335d6ffca4d4a4356b09e3c76e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
For personality traits & cannabis usage, neuroticism was associated with greater usage & related problems though coping motives, while openness was associated with greater usage through expansion motives
The mediating role of motives in the associations between the big five personality traits and marijuana outcomes: A cross-national study across four countries
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853226000489
In cows experiencing heat stress, they had significantly reduced levels of the endocannabinoid 2-AG
Effect of environmental temperature on oxidative status, inflammatory response and endocannabinoid system at oestrus in dairy cows
https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/vro2.70037
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
For calls to the US Poison Center, there are more cases for cannabis than any other drug besides except for alcohol, benzodiazepines & heroin, with many cases involving adolescents, plus a 10x increase in unintentional exposures in children
U.S. Poison Center Exposure Cases Involving Marijuana and Selected Comparator Substances
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871626001857
In European cannabis users, a review of public health data found rising use in Central & Eastern Europe, with consistent links to psychosis, anxiety, panic symptoms, derealization episodes & cannabis use disorder
Mental Health Consequences of Contemporary Cannabis Use in Europe: Potency, Patterns of Use, and Health System Context
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1778831/abstract
For preventing heart failure, a constellation of cardiology organizations put cannabis at the bottom of the risk-chart for cardiac risks from the most commonly used drugs
Prevention of heart failure: A scientific statement of the Heart Failure Association, the European Association of Preventive Cardiology, and the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions of the ESC, and the ESC Council on Hypertension
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag362/8698338
“Substance misuse, including alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and stimulants, is linked to higher HF prevalence and hospitalizations.132,133 Alcohol intake exceeding 70 g/week increases the risk of HF progression by 4.9 times,30 while cannabis, opioid, and stimulant users exhibit a 2.52-, 3.48-, and 3.35-fold higher HF prevalence, respectively.”
For cannabis smoking & the lungs, a review of effects compared to electronic cigarettes
Puff or pass? The truth about vaping, marijuana, and tobacco safety
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/ocean/jprm/2026/00000009/00000001/art00002
“Regular cannabis smoking is associated with chronic bronchitis symptoms, airway inflammation, and impaired mucociliary function, although its long-term impact on COPD or lung cancer risk remains less clearly established than that of tobacco.”
In cannabis-induced first-episode psychosis, the 3 trajectories identified were rapid recovery, gradual recovery & persistent impairment, with dissociative symptoms representing the most powerful predictors of functional recovery
Functional recovery trajectories in cannabis-induced first-episode psychosis: The role of dissociative symptoms in the discrepancy between symptomatic improvement and functional outcomes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178126003008
In men with cannabis use disorder as well as methamphetamine use disorder, they had higher scores for anxiety, affective lability (intense shifts in emotional states) & impulsivity
2D:4D ratio, affective lability, and impulsivity in men with cannabinoid and methamphetamine use disorders: A comparative analysis with healthy controls
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037837822600112X
For edibles causing prolonged neurological depression, a case report where the symptoms began 3 hours after ingestion & progressed to slurred speech & mental stupor by 12 hours
Prolonged Neurological Depression, Bradycardia, and Gastroparesis Following Acute Oral Cannabinoid Ingestion: A Case Report
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/case_report/pdf/495587/20260526-156211-bkddct.pdf
For cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a case report with special considerations for comorbidities like seizure disorders & poor mental health
Special Report: Clinical Considerations of Cannabis Use in the Inpatient Medical Setting
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2026.06.6.6
For prenatal cannabis use links to birth defects, public health data found the risks to be greatest among African Americans, American Indians & Alaskan Natives
Cannabinoid impacts on ethnic modulation of atrial septal defect prevalence USA
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-026-02717-7
In a fetus with a heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), a case report with a potential link to cannabis
Transient Fetal Nonimmune 2:1 Atrioventricular Block Possibly Secondary to Cannabis Exposure
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468644126000940
In a rat model of prenatal THC exposure, the persistent deficits in synaptic plasticity & memory formation were caused by an imbalance of excitation & inhibition in the hippocampus (a memory center of the brain) via changes to GABA (the brain’s most common inhibitory neurotransmitter) & glutamate (the brain’s most common excitatory neurotransmitter)
Prenatal cannabinoid exposure alters excitation-inhibition balance through glutamate and GABA receptor-mediated signaling
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021925826020685
📑 Reviews 📑
For CBD & the mucosa (linings of the insides of organs & body cavities), a review on CBD for targeting a range of diseases (good charts)
Cannabidiol for Mucosal Diseases: Therapeutic Potential and Advanced Delivery Strategies
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/18/6/638
For medical cannabis knowledge & the risk for infections, a practical guide for clinicians
Current state of knowledge on medical cannabis use and risk for infections: A practical guide for clinicians
https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciag343/8698442
For sleep physicians, a guide to what they need to know about the complexities of cannabis & slumber
What sleep physicians need to know about cannabis use for sleep
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44470-026-00095-7
For anesthesia & medical cannabis users, a review of an integrated approach for managing pain, pharmacology & anesthesia
Anesthesia and medical cannabis: an integrated approach
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42187203/
On using endocannabinoid levels to predict clinical states, a review of the benefits of measuring endocannabinoid ratios instead of absolute levels
Ratio-based cannabinoid signalling – limitations of absolute endocannabinoid levels in predicting clinical states
https://www.jpccr.eu/pdf-221732-140080?filename=Ratio-based-cannabinoid-s.pdf
For cannabinoids & PTSD, a review of 26 studies found insufficient evidence
Efficacy, effectiveness and safety of medical cannabis in PTSD: a scoping review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-026-00451-7
In skin melanocytes (that produce the melanin to color your skin) & melanoma (cancer) cells, UVA radiation increased oxidative stress while the cannabinoids CBG & CBD attenuated those changes & enhanced antioxidant defense
Metabolic Responses of Melanocytes and Melanoma Cells to UVA Radiation and Phytocannabinoids Exposure
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/15/6/690
For treating psychiatric disorders, a review of enhancing anandamide levels by inhibition of the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide)
Enhancing anandamide signalling through fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition: An update on the pharmacological strategy for treating psychiatric disorders
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-026-04120-4
For neuropsychiatric disorders & GPR55 (which may one day be known as CB3), a review of its interactions with dopamine & glutamate (the brain’s most common excitatory neurotransmitter) in preclinical models
Role of GPR55 in glutamatergic and dopaminergic signalling: a review of preclinical evidence in neuropsychiatric disorders
https://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/article/S0026-895X(26)00031-3/abstract
A new book with an intriguing array of articles on drugs & society
Research Handbook on Drugs and Society
https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/research-handbook-on-drugs-and-society-9781802209136.html
I’m still waiting to become influential enough to get books like these sent to me for free…
🐁 Preclinical 🐁
In older & younger mice, exposure to cannabis smoke caused increased inflammatory markers in the prefrontal cortex (highest area of brain), while in the hippocampus (a memory center of the brain), it caused increased inflammation in the younger mice but lowered inflammation in the older mice
Effects of sub-chronic cannabis smoke exposure on inflammatory markers in serum and brain in younger and older mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S019745802600093X
In a mouse model of cognitive decline from chemotherapy, one month of CBD caused significant neurocognitive improvements in learning, memory, executive function & memory consolidation while mitigating the loss of neuronal plasticity, synaptic density & neurogenesis (the birth of new brain cells)
Cannabidiol alleviates chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline and neuropathology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383526003757
In rats taking oxycodone for pain, CBD enhanced the painkilling effect without increasing the symptoms of addiction
Selective opioid-sparing effects of cannabidiol on opioid analgesia in rats
https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(26)00156-2/abstract
In a mouse model of age-related muscle decline, CBD reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA damage & muscle aging with benefits for the gut microbiome
Cannabidiol alleviates D-galactose-induced muscle tissue aging in mice by modulating oxidative stress and is associated with alterations in gut microbiota
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212429226008990
For bacteria resistant to antibiotics, the combination of CBD & the antibiotic diclofenac caused synergistic & additive effects
Combining Diclofenac and Cannabidiol to Enhance the Antibacterial Capacity of Nonantibiotics Drugs Through Potentiation
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/928f120ab7cb59f7635e6a868a6aac24/download_pub
In blood immune cells of people with HIV, both THC & CBD suppressed inflammation & the formation of inflammasomes
Inflammasome formation and IL-1β secretion are reduced in peripheral blood monocytes from HIV+ cannabis users
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022356526011511
In a tissue model of diabetes, THC, CBG & CBD inhibited the enzyme α-glucosidase (helps with control of type 2 diabetes)
Potent α-Glucosidase Inhibition by a Non-Psychoactive CBG/CBD-Rich Cannabis Extract
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A1%3A31129329/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Acrawler-gcd&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A193898239&crl=c&jrnl=26160684&link_origin=none
🆕 Novel Studies 🆕
(a grab bag section for cool & new stuff)
For imaging the enzyme MAGL (which breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-AG), the first study in humans using PET scans
First-in-Human PET Study with [18F]MAGL-2102 for Neuroimaging of Monoacylglycerol Lipase
https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/67/supplement_1/261369.abstract
AHHH. After last week’s beautiful trilogy of endocannabinoids in cool animals, I’m distraught to see that in this paywalled paper, I can’t even tell which long-distance migrant they’re talking about: Bird? Whale? Butterfly? Fish? Ungulate? Reptile?
Fattening physiology in a long-distance migrant: interplay between baseline corticosterone, diet and the endocannabinoidome
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/742374
Lex’s roundup of fav newsletters:
#Canna: Marijuana Moment, Cannabis Law Report, Cultivated, Cannabis Musings (oy vey), Talking Joints Memo, Sticky Bits, Highly Objective, Cannabitch, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, Dr. Peter Grinspoon, Doctor Approved, Medical Marijuana Memory Blog (by Dame Alice O’Leary Randall)
#DrugWar: InSight Crime, Marshall Project, Students for Sensible Drug Policy
#HarmReduction: Filter, Drug Data Decoded, International Drug Policy Consortium, National Harm Reduction Coalition, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
#Psychoactives: Psychedelic Alpha, Ecstatic Integration, ICEERS, Substance, The Microdose
📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles
In the WNBA, cannabis now removed from the banned substances list & players can endorse hemp CBD products
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/wnba-removes-marijuana-from-banned-substances-list-and-sets-rules-for-player-endorsements-of-hemp-cbd-products/
In Alabama, 5 years after the legalization of medical cannabis & a shitstorm of lawsuits, the first legal medical cannabis purchase ever was made
https://www.wsfa.com/2026/06/03/historic-day-patients-first-medical-marijuana-purchase-made-alabama-history/
In Louisiana, you can now go to jail for a year for smoking cannabis within 2000 feet of a school, even a college campus (apparently because the governor is tired of “being inundated with the smell of marijuana” at football games)
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/louisiana-governor-signs-bill-that-will-send-people-to-jail-for-smoking-marijuana-near-college-campuses/
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/louisiana-governor-is-tired-of-being-inundated-with-the-smell-of-marijuana-at-football-games-so-he-signed-a-bill-to-jail-people-for-it/
In Hawaii, the leading reason for being denied a gun permit is because of being a medical cannabis patient
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/more-people-are-denied-gun-permits-over-medical-marijuana-in-hawaii-than-for-any-other-reason-attorney-generals-report-shows/
In New York, medical cannabis operators are pleading with the state to not make them pay a $15M conversion fee to begin also serving the adult-use market, with 3 of the 10 businesses having already gone under
https://mjbizdaily.com/news/new-york-medical-cannabis-operators-owe-the-state-millions-they-claim-they-cant-afford/616246/
In detective fiction, a thesis project on their use of drugs
Detectives on Drugs: Contamination and Containment in U.S. Crime Fiction
https://www.proquest.com/openview/75c2b86281fe80072509e0fa7d549e94/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
This project focuses on modern US crime fiction, but the main thing I know is that Sherlock Holmes was super into cocaine.
For images of mushrooms in contemporary literature, a thesis project on the fungal imaginary
The Fungal Imaginary: Mushroom Motifs in Contemporary Literature
https://www.proquest.com/openview/99e96148e1c18fb16f6b55f77a140e58/1
🌐 International Updates 🌐
A deep-dive on a secret guideline from the International Narcotics Control Board in 2024 that CBD is not covered by international drug treaties & the extraction of uncontrolled cannabinoids falls into the category of industrial hemp
https://cannareporter.eu/en/2026/05/20/Exclusive-letter-from-INCB--kept-secret--reveals-that-CBD-is-outside-international-control./
Last year Germany imported 218+ tons of legal cannabis (but as Sean points out from my cannabis smuggling video linked there, that’s what San Francisco in the 1960s would use in just a few weeks)
https://cannabislaw.report/article-germany-imported-over-218-tons-of-legal-cannabis-in-one-year/
Across the 195 countries in the World Health Organization, this analysis compared their health warnings for alcohol, tobacco & cannabis, with the main finding being to strengthen warnings for alcohol
A comparison of labelling requirements for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis across WHO regions and implications for alcohol labelling policy in Canada
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395926001921
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education ⚖️
On the RobinHood stock trading app, a few of the big cannabis companies showed up for the first time
https://app.moby.co/home/news/news-robinhood-is-opening-the-door-to-us-cannabis-with-reform-on-the-horizon
https://mjbizdaily.com/news/us-cannabis-stocks-are-trading-on-robinhood-what-does-it-mean/616260/
In California elected officials, a survey found that the top priorities were tax revenue, economic development & youth cannabis use, with low support for social equity
Cannabis policy priorities and public health: a survey of elected officials in California
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-27889-x
For intellectual property in the cannabis industry, a new book analyzing branding
A high-level analysis of the role of IP in the cannabis industry
https://academic.oup.com/jiplp/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jiplp/jpag060/8698124
For the American Disabilities Act & a case involving hemp extracts, a law thesis project on the complex question of chemical synthesis
High on Uncertainty: ADA Accommodation and Hemp-Derived Substances After Anderson v. Diamondback Investment Group, LLC
https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1124&context=endnotes
In Thailand, a case study of integrating hemp into the value chain
Integration of the hemp value chain into local creative economy policy: A case study of Mae Hong Son, Thailand
https://academicjournals.org/journal/JDAE/article-full-text-pdf/1CF7E6074613.pdf
For mystery shoppers at cannabis retailers in 5 US states, the majority of stores requested ID, warned about driving post-use & made health claims such as help for anxiety & insomnia, while on use during pregnancy, some warned against it but the majority said it helps or it depends
Mystery shopper assessments of cannabis retailer practices and regulatory compliance in five U.S. states, 2025
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871626001997
Across 11 US cities, despite prohibitions, many sold hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids and/or hallucinogenic mushrooms
Retail Availability of Intoxicating Cannabis and Mushroom Products Across Eleven U.S. Cities: Sales Persist Despite Prohibitions
https://www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/jsad.26-00013
For perceptions of cannabis edibles, packaging with flavor imagery showed greater appeal, safety & healthiness, outdoor & medical imagery conveyed healthiness, animal imagery had greater appeal to children & product descriptors like all natural, organic or handcrafted were associated with less appeal
The Impact of Product Packaging on Perceptions of Cannabis Edibles: Results from Two Randomized Experiments
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2026.2670605
🚗 Driving 🚗
In Chile after the 2014 strengthening of alcohol-impaired driving laws, driving under the influence of alcohol declined substantially while driving under the influence of cannabis increased modestly, suggesting potential substitution
Alcohol- and cannabis-impaired driving in Chile, 2012–2022: trends in the context of alcohol policy changes and substitution theory
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15389588.2026.2664669
🚓 The War on Drugs 🚓
In Mexico, 2 more sitting governors are being investigated by the US for connections to cartels
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-06-03/u-s-is-investigating-two-more-mexican-governors-for-connections-to-cartels
This was an excellent deep dive on the situation that gives both sides of the story. I have to say that I was suspicious when one of the accused governors said that he was so honest “I practically sweat holy water” (as Gertrude said, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”). Both governors are within President Sheinbaum’s party & the accusations, as well as more potential charges against allies, change her political calculus for elections next year. But she is circling the wagons & declaring the charges to be politically motivated US attacks against a leftist administration.
In Guatemala, the president denied reports that there is a deal with the US on anti-drug trafficking strikes
https://apnews.com/article/guatemala-us-drug-trafficking-agreement-trump-arevalo-cba80c7fddba03d69a35a3670d29498d
In Barcelona, a cannabis smuggling organization was dismantled with 5 arrested & 1.7 tons seized
https://cannabislaw.report/an-organization-that-smuggled-marijuana-from-the-port-of-barcelona-has-been-dismantled-and-1-7-tons-have-been-seized/
But meanwhile, the police patrol boats along the coastline are so thinly spread that narco gangs wave for the cameras in marinas
https://cannabislaw.report/spain-narco-gangs-wave-cheekily-at-cameras-in-marinas-as-spains-guardia-civil-has-one-functioning-boat-to-police-200km-of-costa-del-sol-coastline/
In Mexico, a list of officials accused of working with organized crime
https://insightcrime.org/news/most-notorious-mexico-officials-accused-organized-crime/
In New Zealand, a mob boss’s daughter sentenced for dealing cannabis
https://cannabislaw.report/nz-operation-highwater-daughter-of-late-gang-boss-steven-taiatini-sentenced-for-dealing-cannabis/
In California, a man alleged he was forced to work for 2 years without pay at a cannabis farm
https://cannabislaw.report/media-report-forced-labor-alleged-at-illegal-mendocino-county-marijuana-farm-for-2-years/
In South Africa, a drug lab bust arrested 11 people, including 4 Mexican nationals
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/11-suspects-arrested-major-north-west-drug-lab-bust
In Greece, a mountain cannabis farm using solar power was busted for growing 1400+ plants
https://cannabislaw.report/in-the-land-of-the-gods-greece-mountain-cannabis-farm-using-solar-power-busted/
In Israel, a cannabis nursery was raided with hundreds of plants seized & 2 suspects arrested
https://cannabislaw.report/israel-police-arrest-two-in-raid-on-rehovot-cannabis-nursery-seize-hundreds-of-plants/
In the Netherlands, a man faces 9 years in prison for growing cannabis in a rental house
https://cannabislaw.report/dutch-citizen-faces-9-years-in-prison-for-growing-cannabis-in-a-denpasar-rental-house/
In Nigeria, a 63-year-old grandma from China was arrested with 31 kg of cannabis
https://cannabislaw.report/ndlea-arrests-63-year-old-at-logos-airport-for-bringing-in-31-kilos-of-canadian-loud/
In Oman, a passenger arrested after trying to smuggle 6 kg of cannabis
https://cannabislaw.report/oman-arrests-passenger-for-trying-to-smuggle-more-than-6kg-of-marijuana-through-muscat-airport/
In Australia, 5 kg of cannabis seized during a traffic stop
https://cannabislaw.report/outlaw-country-police-allege-27000-cannabis-haul-found-along-the-road-to-gundagai/
In Egypt, a hotel employee & guest who served a cannabis-infused cake to an unknowing tourist were sentenced to 3 years in prison with hard labor
https://cannabislaw.report/egypt-three-years-in-prison-for-egyptian-hotel-employee-and-brazilian-guest-following-hashish-cake-prank/
WoD Research
In Lebanon & Syria, a report on the changing landscape of drug trafficking
The Changing Landscape of Drug Trafficking Within the Emerging Political Context in Lebanon and Syria
https://www.aub.edu.lb/ifi/Documents/The-Changing-Landscape-of-Drug-Trafficking-Lebanon-Syria.pdf
On the use of drones by the Sinaloa cartel
The Drones of CDS
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1154&context=ncitereportsresearch
For cartel recruitment of juveniles, a thesis project on the political economy of violence
Big Trucks and Plated Guns: A Political Economy of Violence and Juvenile Mexican Cartel Recruitment
https://www.proquest.com/openview/22a94f88f240f0c24936e67ab37a9e57/1
🛡️ Harm Reduction News 🛡️
When a teen died after asking ChatGPT for drug mixing advice, his parents sued OpenAI
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/open-ai-chatgpt-drug-overdose-lawsuit/
In general, do not mix kratom with benzodiazepines. Two downers is too much downing
Harm Reduction Research
In East Africa, this thesis project analyzed the effects of drug policy on overdose mortality
Drugs, Development, and the State: Understanding Addiction Policy Variation in East Africa
https://www.proquest.com/openview/60d6d4f05702fefc390770908c7b9e9e/1
“My key findings are that while harm reduction coverage is associated with lower overdose mortality in the aggregate, this relationship is significantly weakened and reversed as corruption increases. MAT [medication-assisted treatment] is particularly vulnerable to corruption. Higher-level regime corruption exhibited the strongest influence on overdose rates.”
🍄 Psychoactives, Psychedelics & Plant Medicines 🍄
For women’s drug use in Latin America, a review of the last 24 years of research
Twenty-Four Years of Research on Women’s Drug Use in Latin America: A Scoping Review (2000-2024)
https://repositorio.cedes.org/handle/123456789/4833
Psychedelics & MDMA
For difficulties in psychedelic integration, interviews on therapist on themes of integration strategies
Symptom-Specific Nuances in Psychedelic Integration: A Qualitative Study of Insights from Therapists Supporting Extended Difficulties in Naturalistic Settings
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9448195/v1/6c20a261-caa8-4056-b82a-e026c0551576.pdf
For plant medicines in Indigenous mental health care, a review for respectful integration
Plant Medicines in Indigenous Mental Health Care: Traditional Knowledge, Contemporary Evidence, Ethical Principles, and Pathways for Respectful Integration
https://lonestarhealing.org/papers/plant-medicines-indigenous-mental-health.pdf
For US psychedelic facilitation training, an analysis of the 13 organizations
A landscape analysis of psychedelic facilitation training in the US
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0350037
For people with opioid dependence, a collective case study on the use of ibogaine
Exploring the Use of Ibogaine in Opioid Recovery: Insights from Lived Experience
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02791072.2026.2673843
For treatment-resistant major depression, psilocybin caused meaningful antidepressant effects for up to 12 months
Long-Term Efficacy of Psilocybin with Adjunct Psychotherapy in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression (EPIsoDE): 6- and 12-Month Naturalistic Follow-Up of a Phase 2b Trial
https://karger.com/pps/article-pdf/doi/10.1159/000552272/4541533/000552272.pdf
For people who took 5-MeO-DMT, voice journal analysis of their speech markers “revealed increased cognitive language, decreased social words, and altered voice quality (increased jitter/shimmer) [and] baseline speech patterns predicted psychedelic preparedness, emotional breakthrough, and post-experience well-being”
Speech markers of psychological change following a psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT retreat
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/02698811261443690
For anxiety & psilocybin, a meta-analysis of 25 studies found heterogeneous results that show promise for anxiety reduction
Effect of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy on anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/aop/article-10.1556-2054.2026.00507/article-10.1556-2054.2026.00507.xml
For psychedelics & mania, a meta-analysis of 23 studies of euphoria, hypomania & mania
Psychedelic-induced hypomania and mania: a systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-026-03657-6
For the classic psychedelics, a review of how they move through the human body
A systematic review of the pharmacokinetics of classical serotonergic psychedelic compounds in healthy adult subjects
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02698811261453938
For psilocybin, a case report of somebody passing out due to low blood pressure
Psilocybin-induced neurocardiogenic syncope: a case report
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-026-07079-8
Ketamine
For substance use disorders, a meta-analysis of 15 trials found ketamine significantly increased abstinence rates
Ketamine for substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1835709/abstract
In people treatment resistant depression & suicidal ideation, the majority had improvements after ketamine IV treatments
Early suicidal ideation change and suicidality-associated emergency department utilization after ketamine or esketamine treatment in treatment-resistant depression
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/20451253261450747
For major depressive episodes, a meta-analysis of 26 trials found a single ketamine injection significantly reduced depressive symptoms
Meta-Analysis: Ketamine Injections Rapidly Reduce Major Depressive Episode Symptoms
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2849868
For people undergoing ketamine detoxification, a case series found that all reported urological symptoms
Management of ketamine use disorder and associated urological complications: an inpatient detox case series
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14659891.2026.2679106
For PTSD, a case study of using ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of an Asian American patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a case study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773021226000258
For ketamine, both neurotoxic & neuroprotective effects were reviewed across 55 animal & 21 human studies
Structural Neurotoxic and Neuroprotective Effects of Ketamine and Esketamine in Preclinical and Human Studies: A Systematic Review
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9827580/v1/a432eff6-09a3-48d7-9d8b-f535ef0549ee.pdf
For depression in cancer patients, a review of ketamine’s efficacy & safety
The Use of Ketamine for Depression in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Applications
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15360288.2026.2679720
🍃 The Plant & its Products 🍃
🌱 Growing 🌱
For fertilizing hemp, a case study from Poland on the energy efficiency of different types of fertilization
Energy efficiency of industrial hemp biomass production under recycled organic and mineral fertilization: A case study from Poland
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S116103012600198X
For weed control & industrial hemp, an analysis of 19 different treatments & their effects on growth
Effects of Weed Control Strategies on Fiber Yield and Yield Components in Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10343-026-01352-8
For cannabis pests in Pennsylvania, a thesis project found that they were more abundant but less diverse than natural enemy communities & looked at the possibility of using biological control methods
Understanding the Potential for Biological Control and Pest Management in Industrial Hemp Cropping Systems
https://etda.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/20035jlj5655
For hemp & borer pests, a thesis project assessing their resistance
Assessing Host Plant Resistance of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) to Borer Pests
https://agroecology.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/75/2026/05/Final-Agroecology-MS-Thesis.pdf
In 3 Chinese hemp varieties, an analysis of their cannabinoid & terpenoid levels
Cannabinoids and Terpenoids in Hemp Inflorescence and Leaves of Three Varieties in Yunnan China
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42185735/
For the AHL gene family, a genome-wide analysis of on its effects on cannabis flowering
Genome-wide identification of the AHL gene family in hemp and the role of CsAHL15 in delayed flowering
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669026009192
⚙️ Extracting, Analyzing & Formulating ⚙️
On creating a set of rules for identifying cannabinoids with mass spectrometry
A MassQL-Based Framework for Rule-Guided MS/MS Class-Level Retrieval and Analog Discovery of Cannabinoids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42175698/
For finding toxic elements in cannabis, on using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES)
Determination of potentially toxic elements (Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead) in Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) from using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP OES)
https://academic.oup.com/jaoac/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jaoacint/qsag044/8698150
On improving CBD solubility by creating micro- & nanoparticles via the electrospray method
Development and characterization of electrosprayed cannabidiol micro/nanoparticles with improved solubility and drug release
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1773224726005071
🍞 Food & Nutrition 🍞
For strawberries, on applying a CBD-based edible coating to protect from bacteria
Evaluation of Phytocannabinoid-Based Edible Coating as a Natural Antimicrobial Solution to Improve Strawberry Quality and Shelf life
https://www.cetjournal.it/cet/26/124/050.pdf
When feeding dogs hempseed byproducts, they had an increase in the species richness of their microbiome
Longitudinal Assessment of the Canine Fecal Microbiota in Response to Dietary Hempseed By-Product and Oil: A 90-Day Nutritional Intervention Study
https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/13/6/534
For feeding hemp byproducts to animals, an analysis of the nutritional components
Valorization of By-Products Resulting from Hemp Processing in Order to Formulate Feed for the Livestock Sector
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A2%3A1700370/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Acrawler-gcd&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A193696758&crl=c&jrnl=15842665&link_origin=none
🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber 🏗️
For hemp biodiesel, on optimizing for a compression ignition engine
Hybrid Response Surface Methodology--Extreme Gradient Boosting Optimization of a Hemp Biodiesel--Diesel Fueled Compression Ignition Engine.
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A13%3A10866381/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Acrawler-gcd&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A193842463&crl=f&jrnl=20885334&link_origin=none
On creating supercapacitors electrodes with manganese dioxide & hemp-derived activated carbon
Hydrothermal Synthesis of MnO2 and Hemp-Derived Activated Carbon Composites for Tailored Electrochemical Performance
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adem.70924
On creating an epoxy composite reinforced with hemp fiber coir & eggshells for good biodegradability
Sustainable Hybrid Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Hemp Fiber Coir and Nano Egg Shell Particle for Biodegradability Evaluation
https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2026/26/epjconf_iemphys-26_01008.pdf
For hemp concrete walls, on developing a model of hot air moisture flow for lessening temperature fluctuations & moisture variations
Influence of Insulation Placement on the Hygrothermal Performance of Hemp Concrete Walls
https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2026/27/epjconf_amt2026_01015.pdf
On the potential of using hemp for insulation & board materials
Innovative Hemp-Based Building Materials: Technical Properties and Ecological Potential
https://ndibv-building.com.ua/index.php/Building/article/view/589
For mortars using hemp & starch, an analysis of their mechanical, thermal & durability properties
Mechanical, Thermal, and Durability Performance of Bio-Based Mortars with Hemp and Starch
https://hal.science/hal-05633020/
For hemp-lime composites, on the effects of compaction & water-to-binder ratios on thermal conductivity & compressive strength
Effect of Technological Variables on Thermal Conductivity and Compressive Strength of Hemp–Lime Composites
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4109/7/2/33
🌿 THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE 🌿
🏥 Public Health & Bioassays 🏥
Among indigenous populations, a review of 40 studies on the prevalence of cannabis use, with Australia having the highest levels
Prevalence of Cannabis Use Among Indigenous Populations – A Systematic Review
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10826084.2026.2670614
For cannabinoids seized in northern Italy, a profile of the semi-synthetic cannabinoids found
Comprehensive Profiling of Phytocannabinoids and Semisynthetic Cannabinoids in Seized Materials from Northern Italy
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.6c00941
Among US healthcare professionals, a survey about cannabis found their highest self-reported knowledge to be for the risks of cannabis, followed by therapeutic indications & mechanisms of action, but their objective knowledge check scores were generally low
Knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about medical cannabis among U.S. healthcare professionals
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-026-00450-8
For cannabis nurses, interviews on their themes for integration in the mainstream healthcare
Lessons learned from an academic and clinical partnership to address barriers and facilitators of cannabis education and practice
https://www.psychiatricnursing.org/article/S0883-9417(26)00096-8/abstract
In Washington state, a greater density of cannabis stores was associated with greater parental cannabis use frequency, acceptability of use & lower perceived addictiveness
Local availability of cannabis retail outlets on parents’ cannabis use, acceptability, and perceived addictiveness: A longitudinal study in Washington State
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0348182
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, a survey found the majority felt positively about the therapeutic effects of cannabis
Public Opinion Survey on Cannabis Legalization
https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/501568
For cannabis & cigarette consumption, a review of their impact
Investigating the Impact of Cannabis and Cigarette Consumption: A Systematic Review
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/405221011_Investigating_The_Impact_Of_Cannabis_And_Cigarette_Consumption_A_Systematic_Review
🧒 Adolescents & Young Adults 🧒
In adolescents with cannabis use disorder (CUD) & a co-occurring internalizing and/or externalizing disorder, the psychiatric comorbidity was associated with a doubled likelihood of repeating a grade or dropping out of school while CUD was not a predictor of school impairment
Adolescent with cannabis use disorder and other mental health disorders: does dual disorder worsen school impairment?
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-026-00449-1
In transgender & gender diverse youth, greater gender minority stress was linked to greater use of alcohol & the co-use of alcohol & cannabis
Characterizing Alcohol and Cannabis Co-use and Related Harms Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11121-026-01931-1
For Queer young adults during the 2024 presidential election, discrimination had associations with alcohol & cannabis use
Psychological pathways linking discrimination to alcohol and marijuana use among LGB young adults during the 2024 presidential election
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42186182/
For young adults, a trial of an app for promoting lower-risk cannabis use appeared “promising, acceptable, and scalable”
Acceptability, Feasibility, and Outcome Responsiveness of the Joint Effort Mobile App for Promoting Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Among Young Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
https://mhealth.jmir.org/2026/1/e71957
In young adults co-using alcohol & cannabis, they were less likely to engage in protective behavioral strategies around their alcohol use
Are alcohol protective behavioral strategies associated with simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis among young adults?
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14659891.2026.2678167
🧠 The Brain & Neurological Disorders 🧠
On GABA (the brain’s most common inhibitory neurotransmitter), on its potential control by endocannabinoid signaling
The endogenous cannabinoid system gates plasticity of tonic GABA inhibition
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1113/JP289183
💭 Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder 💭
For the co-use of cannabis & nicotine, a double-blind trial found that recent cannabis use was associated with a greater aversive response to an IV dose of nicotine
Recent Cannabis Exposure and Acute Nicotine Effects: Insights from Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Intravenous Nicotine Studies
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/405404213_Recent_Cannabis_Exposure_and_Acute_Nicotine_Effects_Insights_from_Randomized_Double-Blind_Placebo-Controlled_Intravenous_Nicotine_Studies
🧬 Reproduction & Hormones 🧬
In a small sample of pregnant cannabis users, cannabis use in early pregnancy was not significantly associated with preterm birth or small for gestational age
Cannabis use, preterm birth, and small for gestational age: findings from the national birth defects prevention study
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-026-02729-3
🦠 The Immune System & Microbial 🦠
In people with & without HIV in a tobacco smoking cessation trial, they had similar levels of cannabis use & pain-related sleep issues
Exploring Tobacco, Cannabis, and Pain-Related Sleep Disturbance Among People With and Without HIV Enrolled in a Tobacco Smoking Cessation Trial
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871626002012
For protecting against COVID-19, on a combination of cannabinoids & Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood)
Selected Cannabinoids, Cannabimimetic Agents and Artemisia Combinations as Theoretical Adjunct Strategies Against COVID-19
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/19/6/869
In a microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain) model of HIV, this thesis project found that CBD & THC significantly reduced HIV replication as well as modulating inflammation & immunomodulatory signaling
Exploring the Effect of CBD/THC on a Primary Microglia-like Cell Model During HIV-1 Infection
https://www.proquest.com/openview/4f14db0609a45fd2c51fc27a4d742315/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
🦴 Pain, Musculoskeletal, Inflammation & Surgeries 🦴
In older adults with chronic pain, those who intended to start medical cannabis reported more severe short-term pain, greater pain interference & lower subjective sleep quality
Baseline factors associated with intention to initiate medical cannabis among older adults with chronic pain in a prospective cohort
https://karger.com/mca/article-pdf/doi/10.1159/000552277/4542436/000552277.pdf
In people with arthritis, a survey found that cannabis users reported higher pain & stress as well as worse self-rated health
Cannabis use in arthritis: impact on health-related quality of life
https://karger.com/mca/article-pdf/doi/10.1159/000552591/4542073/000552591.pdf
🍽️ The Guts, Nutrition & the Microbiome 🍽️
In mice with no gut microbiome, on the differences in the levels of their endocannabinoid machinery across their organs
Intestinal colonization of germ-free mice with indole-producing E. coli modulates the central and peripheral endocannabinoidome
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227526000969
💧 The Genitourinary System 💧
In a guinea pig model of bladder pain, activating both the CB1 & CB2 receptor abolished the hypersensitivity to pain
Combined peripheral cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor activation abolishes cystitis-induced bladder hyperalgesia
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1566070226000664
🖐️ The Skin & Topicals 🖐️
For transdermal delivery of CBD for diseases of skin inflammation, on creating an amorphous solid on a hydrogel platform
Amorphous Solid Dispersion Hydrogel Platform for Transdermal Delivery of Cannabidiol with Therapeutic Potential for Dermatitis
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/18/6/666
🎗️ Cancer & Chemotherapy 🎗️
In veterans using anticancer drugs, over one-third acknowledged the use of cannabis products within the previous 3 months
Cannabis Use by Veterans and Potential Interactions With Antineoplastic Agents: Analysis and Literature Review
https://cdn.mdedge.com/files/s3fs-public/issues/articles/0526FED%20AVAHO%20Cannabis.pdf
In breast cancer cells resistant to tamoxifen, CBD significantly enhanced cell death & apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Cannabidiol enhances tamoxifen efficacy via CREB-mediated suppression of ERα signaling in ER-positive breast cancer cells
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13578-026-01588-x
For treating prostate cancer with CBD & its major metabolite, on developing liposomal methods for better bioavailability
Liposomal CBD and 7-OH-CBD for Prostate Cancer Treatment: Physicochemical Characterization and Efficacy Across Multiple Lipid Compositions
https://www.ba.ic.cnr.it/nanomedicine2026/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Commito_Francesca_NM26.pdf
💊 Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids 💊
Characterizing the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-5′Br-PINACA & its metabolites
Physicochemical Characterization and Metabolites Identification of the Synthetic Cannabinoid MDMB-5′Br-PINACA Using In Silico and In Vitro Approaches
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6c00107
🔬 Biochemical Discoveries & Research Tools 🔬
On creating drugs that are activated by fluorescent light to inhibit the enzyme MAGL (which breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-AG) for anti-inflammatory & liver protecting effects
A Rationally Engineered MAGL-Activatable Fluorogenic Probe Enables Efficient Discovery of Anti-Inflammatory and Hepatoprotective Agents
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6c01300
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For one of the greatest songwriters of the last century, here is the first Mose Allison album of only vocals, ‘Mose Allison Sings’ (1963). I’ve been excited to tell you about Allison ever since I discovered him & he’s the reason that I’ve been listening religiously to my Spotify Discover Weekly for the a number of years now. Because when he showed up on there 3 years ago, I listened to this album on loop for 2 months & I still play it often enough that my kids know exactly what’s coming. Honestly, I don’t know how to describe what makes him so magical. He famously suffered from a categorization problem because even though he might sound like boogie-woogie piano mixed with blues & jazz, he wrote some of the most fun, poetic, ironic & sometimes dark songs. Van Morrison called him “the jazz version of Lenny Bruce.”
Born on his grandfather’s farm in Tippo, Mississippi in 1927, Allison was playing piano by ear by the age of 5, wrote his first song at 13 & was figuring out the boogie-woogie tunes he heard on the local jukebox. He led bands during his university years & there met his wife of 65 years. They moved to New York in 1956 where he began recording with Prestige Records, but mostly instrumental pieces of Mississippi Delta blues & jazz standards released to unanimous critical acclaim. He released albums for Columbia before meeting the great Nesuhi Ertegun of Atlantic Records, a record producer who he prized for really getting what he was trying to do. Allison recorded with them for over a decade with a string of successes & by the 70s was playing more & more in Europe & Japan. His last album was 2010’s ‘The Way of the World’ & it went to #1 on the CMJ jazz chart. He passed away 6 years later in his home in Hilton Head, South Carolina. And for any Pixies fans out there, their song ‘Allison’ is a tribute to our beloved Mose.
This newsletter is the backbone of my work & I hope it brings you a measure of value. If so, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription & support my sharing all of the new cannabinoid science each week.