C&P#100: Birthday + Neuro Week + Cats & Dogs
C&P#100: Birthday + Neuro Week + Cats & Dogs
Courts, companies & lots of psychedelics
This week…
For neurodegenerative diseases, 3 on the cannabinoids
Whether your surgery is a tummy tuck or for complex cancer, it seems like cannabis use doesn't make a great difference to outcomes
Cannabis for the ease of those dying of cancer
CBD oil for dogs with mobility issues + PEA for chronic pain in geriatric cats
Benefits of cannabis substitution for those in early recovery from opioids or stimulants
People on hormonal contraceptives seem less reactive to cannabis cues
Cannabis use not linked to hearing loss. I said, CANNABIS USE NOT LINKED TO HEARING LOSS
Dismal CBD quality tests + rolling papers with high levels of heavy metals
A traditional Chinese gut health tea with hemp seeds
Marine snail fatty acid kicks ass of fast-growing cancer
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 100th edition of Cannabinoids & the People, Lex Pelger’s free weekly digest of all the new cannabinoid science + assorted canna-news & psychedelic updates. On the cannabinoids, ask me anything.
Birthday note:
Happy 100th birthday to ‘Cannabinoids & the People’! And by some funny timing, this week is also the 200th edition of ‘HempNews’ which I write privately for the brokers of CVSciences.
On top of that, this newsletter just broke 5,000 subscribers. And I got my new Youtube channel (almost) fully organized with 250+ videos.
So lot’s to celebrate.
If you wanted to get me a birthday gift, buy a copy of my Queer book. My illustrator & I make a couple of bucks on each one.
But most of all, thanks for coming along for the ride!
For more…
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As always, here’s the Glossary of Cannabinoid Terms & at the bottom is the album of the week
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My work this week:
My TikToks:
(@lexpelgerandhisbooks or on YouTube)
Lexomancy (divination by new words)
Poetry Corner: Hafiz’s ‘I Want Both of Us’
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The Canna-Science Writeup:
Analysis of the week's best papers, sponsored by CV Sciences
In people with multiple sclerosis, 12 weeks of nabiximols (1:1 THC:CBD spray) improved gait speed, spasticity, pain, sleep quality, urinary bladder dysfunction & overall goals
Patient-reported benefits from nabiximols treatment in multiple sclerosis-related spasticity exceed conventional measures
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38318862/
In this German clinic, the patients with treatment-resistant multiple sclerosis added Sativex sprays to their current treatments. The 68 patients were allowed to set their own goals & then titrate to find their own best dosages of these 1:1 THC:CBD sprays (similar to the PlusCBD Reserve oils). After 12 weeks, the measured scores improved by 46%. These included improved gait speed as well as spasticity control, pain, sleep quality & urinary bladder dysfunction. While 5 of the patients were non-responders (which happens with cannabinoids as well as any other treatment), two-thirds of the patients reported meeting or exceeding their treatment goals. Only 11 adverse events were reported & all of them assessed as mild or moderate (fatigue, dizziness, balance, cardiac insufficiency, mood swings). The average dosage was ~5 sprays per day (~135 mg each THC & CBD).
As always, multiple sclerosis sits at the center of the Venn diagram of the two most proven aspects of cannabinoid treatment: Autoimmune Disorders & Neurodegenerative Diseases. It is so worth trying for anyone in your life with MS. For more research, see the Multiple Sclerosis page of CVResearch.info.
In people with dementia causing aggression & agitation, THC edibles improved their neuropsychiatric symptoms with notably few adverse reactions (and reductions or discontinuations of antipsychotic medications)
“From Stigma to Solution” – Using THC Edibles for the Palliative Treatment of Aggression and Agitation in Dementia
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0885392424003063
In this study of 50 people with dementia experiencing aggression & agitation, they were offered treatment with THC edibles from dispensaries. 70%+ of the caregivers accepted this dispensary source THC & almost 80% reported improvement in neuropsychiatric symptoms (I wish we had more details, but paywalls). Notably, there were very few adverse reactions. Plus, “a significant number of patients achieved reductions in or discontinuation of antipsychotic medications” after the THC treatment. Analysis of the subtypes involved suggested THC to be most effective for vascular dementia. See more studies on the Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia page of CVResearch.info.
In an open-label trial of cannabis use by people with neurodegenerative disorders, the participants experienced reduced pain, improved sleep, less agitation and percent enhanced well-being
Medicinal cannabis in neurodegenerative disorders: an open label, dose finding, safety and efficacy study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38639578/
Unfortunately, another paywalled article but what we can see is quite positive. In this study of 48 people with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, they were allowed to use cannabis & find the dosages that worked best for them. The authors state, “our findings suggest that medicinal cannabis might be useful in patients with neurodegenerative disorders in controlling pain, enhancing sleep, reducing difficult behaviors, [and] controlling unusual and complex symptoms when other treatments have failed.” For more of the many studies on neurodegenerative diseases, see the Nervous System page of CVResearch.info.
Best Of Cannabinoid Science...
Dismal. A test of 40 commercial CBD products found only three to test within 10% of their label claims for CBD levels
Cure-all Cannabidiol? The cannabidiol content of commercial products
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376135075_Cure-all_Cannabidiol_The_cannabidiol_content_of_commercial_products
This one made a lot of press when it came out: Commercially available rolling papers tested high for several elements, especially copper
Elemental Composition of Commercially Available Cannabis Rolling Papers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38708199/
An autistic writer on how cannabis helps her
https://www.greenstate.com/perspective/cannabis-and-autism/
Andrew Huberman slammed for cannabis disinformation
https://www-rollingstone-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/andrew-huberman-cannabis-misinformation-slammed-by-experts-1235016613/amp
And a recent takedown of the man himself
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/andrew-huberman-podcast-stanford-joe-rogan.html
Clinical
In people with advanced cancer receiving palliative care, those who used cannabis most frequently reported improvements to their pain, sleep & mood with fatigue, nausea & cognitive impairment being the most frequently mentioned adverse effect
Preliminary Results from a Phase IV Surveillance Study of Medical Cannabis Use in Australian Patients With Advanced Cancer Receiving Palliative Care
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38608233/
In people with temporomandibular joint disorders (painful condition of the jaw joints & muscles), both CBD cream & a CBD vape improved pain as well as stress & anxiety
Clinical Study of Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Cannabis Derivatives in Patients with Temporomandibular Joint Pathology: Preliminary Study
https://journals.lww.com/ijds/fulltext/9900/clinical_study_of_analgesic_and_anti_inflammatory.1.aspx
In two pilot studies of THC or 1:1 THC:CBD for neuropathic pain, a month of treatment improved pain levels & sleep
Analgesic Effect of delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Alone and of a 1:1 delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol: Cannabidiol Formulation in Chronic Neuropathic Pain: Two Pilot Studies
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1526590024001627
In exercising adults, 100 milligrams of CBD per day helped with pain scores
THE EFFECTS OF A BRAND-SPECIFIC HEMP-DERIVED CANNABIDIOL PRODUCT IN HEALTHY ADULTS
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol16/iss3/158/
In people in early recovery from opioid or stimulant addiction, the benefits of cannabis substitution
"Everything is kind of the same except my mind is with me": exploring cannabis substitution in a sample of adults in early recovery from an opioid or stimulant addiction
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38643152/
“Participants' primary motives for cannabis use included mitigation of psychiatric symptoms, withdrawal/ cravings, and boredom. While cannabis was effective toward these ends, participants also reported some negative side effects (e.g., decreased productivity, social anxiety). All participants described typical benefits of recovery (e.g., improved self-concept, better relationships) while continuing to use cannabis.”
A meta-analysis of CBD bioavailability studies found better absorption after being fed
Cannabidiol Bioavailability Is Nonmonotonic with a Long Terminal Elimination Half-Life: A Pharmacokinetic Modeling-Based Analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38624257/
And in dogs, a comparison of three oil & one semi-solid CBD preparation
Pharmacokinetics behavior of four cannabidiol preparations following single oral administration in dogs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38725584/
In pregnant people undergoing cesarean delivery, higher levels of endocannabinoids in those with low endogenous opioid levels in their spinal fluid were linked to reduced use of opioids afterwards
Interactions Between Endocannabinoid and Endogenous Opioid Systems Prospectively Influence Postoperative Opioid Use in Pregnant Patients Undergoing Cesarean Delivery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38663651/
On treating synthetic cannabinoid toxicity with negative allosteric modulators of the CB1 receptor (a function of CBD)
CB1 Receptor Negative Allosteric Modulators as a Potential Tool to Reverse Cannabinoid Toxicity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38675703/
In people with COVID, the severity of their infection was coordinated to the levels of both their CB2 receptor & their μ-opioid receptor
Beyond prediction: unveiling the prognostic power of μ-opioid and cannabinoid receptors, alongside immune mediators, in assessing the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38609845/
A thesis project on cannabis use not linked to hearing loss
Analyzing the Relationship Between Cannabis Use and Hearing Loss
https://digscholarship.unco.edu/capstones/131/
On using PEA for chronic pain in geriatric cats [Portuguese]
Desenvolvimento de uma pasta veterinária enriquecida com palmitoiletanolamida destinada ao manejo da dor crônica em felinos geriátricos
https://ojs.observatoriolatinoamericano.com/ojs/index.php/olel/article/view/4168
In dogs with mobility disorders, a double-blind placebo study found that those receiving CBD oil improved on both subjective & objective outcome measures & that it combined safely with NSAIDs, though a third of the dogs experienced liver enzyme elevations
Evaluation of the Effect of Cannabidiol Administration with and without Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Dogs with Mobility Disorders: A Prospective, Double-blind, Crossover, Placebo-controlled Study
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0044-1786230
In dogs, 223 cases of cannabis toxicity & the clinical findings
Clinical examination findings and electrolyte abnormalities of dogs with marijuana/tetrahydrocannabinol toxicity: 223 cases (January 2017-July 2021)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38608656/
“Median vitals were normal, but hyperthermia (38/212 [22.6%]), tachycardia [racing heart] (82/222 [37%]), and systemic hypertension (37/61 [60.7%]) were common abnormalities. The most common clinical signs included ataxia {loss of coordination] (197/223 [88.3%]), hyperesthesia [sensitivity to stimuli] (168/223 [75.3%]), urinary incontinence (102/223 [45.7%]), lethargy (140/223 [62.5%]), and vomiting (58/223 [26%]). The most common combinations of neurologic signs included ataxia and hyperesthesia (157/223 [70.4%]) and ataxia, hyperesthesia, and urinary incontinence (81/223 [36.3%]). Mild hyperkalemia [high potassium levels] (39/76 [51.3%]) and mild hypercalcemia [high calcium levels] (53/67 [79.1%]) were common. Twenty-two dogs were hospitalized. Survival was 100%.”
Harms
Attempting to explain the links between cannabis use & aggression
“Weeding out” violence? Translational perspectives on the neuropsychobiological links between cannabis and aggression
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359178924000387
This topic always annoys people because the current thinking of the time is that cannabis makes you more pacific. But in the 40s and 50s, reefer is what teen boys used before a fight. Same for the legendary Sikh warriors of India. And there's plenty of preclinical evidence to back it up as well. If you get a hungry mouse high, it's more likely to beat the shit out of its roommate.
From public health data, treating people with schizophrenia who use cannabis had higher medication costs than patients who did not use cannabis
Comparing the medication costs of treating patients with schizophrenia who use cannabis with those who do not
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38726333/
In cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a retrospective chart review of the clinical features
Distinguishing Clinical Features of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38615942/
A case report of EVALI (E-cigarette-/Vape-Associated Lung Injury)
E-cigarette-/Vape-Associated Lung Injury as a Cause of Interstitial Lung Disease
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/case_report/pdf/240079/20240513-14088-hawiqz.pdf
And a review of the EVALI health crisis history
The Evolution of a Pediatric Public Health Crisis: E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38629169/
In rats exposed to THC vapor in utero, they had reduced body weight gain on regular or high-fat diets as well as complex effects on glucose metabolism & feeding behavior
Effects of prenatal THC vapor exposure on body weight, glucose metabolism, and feeding behaviors in chow and high-fat diet fed rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38528095/
Reviews
A review of studies on athletes using CBD to modulate their inflammation & immune system via microRNA [regulators of genetic expression]
Action of cannabidiol in interaction with microRNAs and exosomes in modulation of inflammatory and immune processes in athletes: a systematic review
https://ijn.zotarellifilhoscientificworks.com/index.php/ijn/article/view/353?__cf_chl_rt_tk=jYN4Q9Kczj99weZvgJTFlqdJV4_Jfti6lUiojJKWCIM-1715677213-0.0.1.1-1685
And a review of aerobic exercise reducing stress via the endocannabinoid system
An Update on Role of Aerobic Exercise and Endocannabinoids Over Stress Controlling Along with Brain Reward System: A Narrative Reviews
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kulvinder-Kochar-Kaur/publication/379757997_An_Update_on_Role_of_Aerobic_Exercise_and_Endocannabinoids_Over_Stress_Controlling_Along_with_Brain_Reward_System_A_Narrative_Review/links/6618e75743f8df018df004ba/An-Update-on-Role-of-Aerobic-Exercise-and-Endocannabinoids-Over-Stress-Controlling-Along-with-Brain-Reward-System-A-Narrative-Review.pdf
A review of why to use cannabinoids for acute pain
Cannabinoids for Acute Pain Management: Approaches and Rationale
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38607548/
And a review on using PEA as a painkiller
Ultramicronized N-palmitoylethanolamine associated with analgesics: Effects against persistent pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38615798/
A review of treating sleep disorders with cannabis
A new approach to treating sleep disorders? - Medical marijuana review
https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/49834
A review of using cannabinoids to treat Parkinson's disease & cancer
Cannabinoids in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer: An updated review
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378816434_Cannabinoids_in_the_treatment_of_Parkinson's_Disease_and_Cancer_An_updated_review
A review of studies of cannabis use across a lifetime suggested links to small cognitive deficits
Cannabis Use and Cognitive Functioning Across the Lifespan
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40429-024-00571-1
#worthit
A review of TRPV1 (the vanilloid receptor activated by both CBD & anandamide) & its modulatory effects on pain & neuroimmune interactions
TRPV1: Receptor structure, activation, modulation and role in neuro-immune interactions and pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38531262/
A review of the terpene α-humulene
The Clinical Translation of α-humulene - A Scoping Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38626911/
Preclinical
In a mouse model of PTSD, cannabis oil improved anxiety & depressive symptoms via the BDNF/TRPC6 signaling pathway
Medicinal cannabis oil improves anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors in CCS mice via the BDNF/TRPC6 signaling pathway
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38641178/
In an animal model of seizures, CBC & CBN from hemp extracts cause anti-seizure effects, the former via the GABA receptors
Cannabichromene from full-spectrum hemp extract exerts acute anti-seizure effects through allosteric activation of GABAA receptors
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667325824001572
In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, both the vaping of cannabis as well as JWH-133 (which binds to the CB2 receptor) reduced anxiety, cognitive deficits & brain plaques
Exploring Cannabinoids with Enhanced Binding Affinity for Targeting the Expanded Endocannabinoid System: A Promising Therapeutic Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38675490/
The molecular pathways of the endocannabinoid system linking COVID-19 to Alzheimer's disease onset/progression
Probing molecular pathways: Illuminating the connection between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease through the endocannabinoid system dynamics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38619024/
A thesis project on how CBD causes its antioxidant effect via the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway
Investigating the Potential Therapeutic Effects of CBD in Vitro
https://bollerreview.tcu.edu/article/download/173/143?inline=true
A new fatty acid from a marine snail uses the CB1 receptor made the fast-growing tetracarcinoma cancer cells commit cellular suicide
A Novel Non-Psychoactive Fatty Acid from a Marine Snail, Conus inscriptus, Signals Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) to Accumulate Apoptotic C16:0 and C18:0 Ceramides in Teratocarcinoma Cell Line PA1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38675558/
And a FAAH enzyme found in the medicinal leech Hirudo verbena
Characterization of a Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) in Hirudo verbena
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38699363/
The ability of cornflower extract to stop muscle wasting is mediated by the cannabinoid receptors & the gut microbiome
Cornflower Extract and Its Active Components Alleviate Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Wasting by Targeting Cannabinoid Receptors and Modulating Gut Microbiota
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38674820/
And adding this to our long list of traditional remedies that help via the endocannabinoid system...
An evergreen note on reading restricted papers:
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.
Three 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.
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
Most people in the US who tried cannabis or psychedelics had positive experiences
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/most-americans-who-have-tried-marijuana-or-psychedelics-had-positive-experiences-survey-finds
Since the opening of legal cannabis markets, states have now collected $20B in tax revenue
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/states-have-generated-over-20-billion-in-marijuana-tax-revenue-since-first-markets-opened-new-report-finds
That being said, taxes are too damn high. Politicians treat cannabis as moneypot & strangle a nascent industry already hampered by federal tax laws & patchwork slipshod regulations.
For instance, Missouri allowing the stacking of taxes from the county & city
https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-judge-rules-local-governments-can-stack-sales-tax-on-marijuana
It’s quarterly reports time & the bloodbath continues: every cannabis company here lost at least millions while Trulieve lost $23M & Curaleaf lost $51M (except for Green Thumb Industries who is up $31M)
https://www.cultivated.news/p/it-s-cannabis-earnings-season-season
And last year, the 20 largest cannabis companies lost $2.3B – with only Green Thumb Industries showing a profit
https://www.greenmarketreport.com/top-public-cannabis-companies-lost-more-than-2b-in-2023-despite-nearly-9b-in-revenue/
And a finance professor blaming bad cannabis regulations for failing cannabis businesses
JUST DON’T DO IT: WHY CANNABIS REGULATIONS ARE THE REASON CANNABIS BUSINESSES ARE FAILING
https://scholars.law.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1935&context=nlj
#word
The Supreme Court ruled that when police seize property, they do not have to provide a quick hearing, even when the property belongs to innocent owners
https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-asset-forfeiture-hearing-sotomayor-d1aafeb7a114d9774210342912e14f44
“Civil forfeiture allows authorities to take someone’s property, without having to prove that it has been used for illicit purposes. Critics of the practice describe it as “legalized theft.””
You can see more about this abhorrent practice of civil forfeiture in an ACLU white paper that highlights the case of Morrow v. City of Tenaha where two East Texas counties stole over $3M of cash & cars from Black & Latinx drivers. To learn more of the rise of this practice under Reagan, read Dan Baum’s incisive ‘Smoke and Mirrors: The War on Drugs and the Politics of Failure’.
In New York, big review of the cannabis program started & some key leaders leaving
https://www.cultivated.news/p/hochul-orders-ny-cannabis-review
Brittney Griner opens up about being arrested in Russia for cannabis oil
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/02/magazine/brittney-griner-book-russia-interview.html
For fucks sake. An Appeals judge upholds a ruling that a pilot will lose their license from the FAA due to flying state-legal cannabis within Alaska
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB11158
Another life ruined by licensing. Less people are going to jail but Amerika’s horrid system of licenses for everything will be one more tool of the dying Drug War.
Meanwhile, the only cannabis grower on Martha’s Vineyard to close because while the island is in the legal state of Massachusetts, any products must cross federal waters to reach the mainland
https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2024/05/03/islands-only-marijuana-grower-close
Cannabis accounts for 1% of US electricity usage & that could rise to 3% within a decade
https://san.com/cc/powering-pot-energy-for-us-cannabis-industry-could-electrify-13-5m-homes
#HistoryCorner
For his large-scale paintings, the famed Spanish painter Francisco Goya, like many of his late 18th century contemporaries, used a canvas woven with raw hemp yarn
Portrait-sketch of the Infanta María Isabel
https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/8997533/
International
The UK publishes its first positive safety assessment of a CBD product to be used as a food supplement
https://www.food-safety.com/articles/9448-uk-fsa-publishes-first-ever-positive-safety-assessment-for-cbd-product-as-novel-food-supplement
It's high Prime Minister ordered all cannabis shops to close by April 2025
https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2024/05/08/cannabis-shops-to-close-by-april-1st-2025-under-pms-order-drugs-crackdown
A legal analysis of medical cannabis use in Indonesia
Exploring Human Rights Perspectives on Medical Cannabis Use in Indonesia: A Legal Analysis
http://www.e-journal.citakonsultindo.or.id/index.php/IJEVSS/article/view/702
The Laws, The War on Drugs & the End of Prohibition
The 9th edition of the European Cannabis Report from Prohibition Partners is out & free to download
https://prohibitionpartners.com/reports/the-european-cannabis-report-9th-edition
Seizures of cannabis at US-Mexico border declining
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-seizures-at-u-s-mexico-border-continue-to-fall-as-more-states-legalize-federal-data-shows
An editorial on the data around cannabis & alcohol involvement in motor vehicle crashes
Cannabis and Alcohol Involvement in Motor Vehicle Crashes: Reflections in the Era of Legalization
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38635944/
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
Neşe Devenot on the covering up of adverse events in psychedelic trials
https://chemicalpoetics.substack.com/p/fda-announces-advisory-committee
And a similar draft report from ICER
https://icer.org/news-insights/press-releases/icer-releases-draft-evidence-report-on-treatment-for-post-traumatic-stress-disorder
And PsychedelicAlpha with a rundown of the response by Lykos & further analysis
https://psychedelicalpha.com/news/industry-and-researchers-respond-to-icer-report-on-mdma-assisted-therapy-which-maintains-lykos-clinical-evidence-is-insufficient
A roundup of allegations of boundary crossing in the John Hopkins psychedelic clergy study
https://www.psychedeliccandor.org/p/an-update-on-the-johns-hopkins-clergy
Oct 1, 1966: Recollections of the Good Friday experiment by Huston Smith
https://www.psilosophy.info/resources/trps-29-97-02-099.pdf
And I just happened to feature his autobiography in a video this week.
Interviews with some of early great psychedelic researchers
https://collections.lib.purdue.edu/psychoactive/media.php
On the dark work & ‘sexual healings’ of the predatory shaman Roger Bardales
https://www.ecstaticintegration.org/p/roger-mukanranko-bardales-international
A classic by Danny Nemu on drugs in the Old Testament
Getting high with the most high: Entheogens in the Old Testament
https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/3/2/article-p117.xml
On using the Bible to help integrate psychedelic experiences
Psychedelics, the Bible, and the Divine
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/5/582
The Psychoactive Research
A meta-analysis of the side effects from MDMA psychotherapy
Side-effects of mdma-assisted psychotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38654146/
A case report of psilocybin causing psychosis in a patient with a predisposition
A Case Report of Psilocybin-Induced Psychosis in a Predisposed Patient
https://www.cpn.or.kr/journal/view.html?uid=1652&vmd=Full
A new scale for psychedelic preparedness
Development and psychometric validation of a novel scale for measuring 'psychedelic preparedness'
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38332334/
And on what meaningful informed consent would look like in psychedelic therapy
Psychedelic Therapy: What Meaningful Informed Consent Looks Like
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/psychedelic-therapy-what-meaningful-informed-consent-looks-2024a10008cl?ecd=wnl_edit_tpal_etid6481350&uac=64736SK&impID=6481350
A clinical trial of treating PTSD with IV ketamine
Rapid and sustained reduction of treatment-resistant PTSD symptoms after intravenous ketamine in a real-world, psychedelic paradigm
https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/78m96
For depression, a review of the benefits & risks of psychedelics
Mind the Psychedelic Hype: Characterizing the Risks and Benefits of Psychedelics for Depression
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/3/2/14
A review of treating seizures with psychedelics
Exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of functional seizures: A review of underlying mechanisms and associated brain networks
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38654554/
In people with personality disorders, results from two cohort studies on the effects of psychedelics
The Effect of Psychedelics on Individuals with a Personality Disorder: Results from two Prospective Cohort Studies
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4203641/v1
A review of psychoactive drugs causing skin reactions
Trips Through the Skin: Reviewing Cutaneous Drug Reactions to Psychedelics and Hallucinogens
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38634840/
When people take psychedelics, a review of the neurocognitive effects
A Systematic Review of the Neurocognitive Effects of Psychedelics in Healthy Populations: Implications for Depressive Disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38539636/
And on the neural effects of psychedelics
Neural effects of psychedelics: Complexity the key word
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38627504/
How psychedelics create visual hallucinations in the brain
Visual hallucinations originating in the retinofugal pathway under clinical and psychedelic conditions
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38648694/
The Plant & the History
Growing, Farming & Processing
The environmental impact of hemp cultivation & seed-based food products
Environmental impact assessment of hemp cultivation and its seed-based food products
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1342330/full
And a review of hemp’s ecological plasticity
Diversity and variability of bioactive compounds in Cannabis sativa: Effects on therapeutic and environmental uses and orientations for future research
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016424001269
An editorial on the agronomic factors that alter the qualities of cannabis extracts
Environmental and agronomic factors affecting the chemical composition and biological activity of cannabis extracts
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38693924/
On the bioengineering of cannabis
Bioengineering of Cannabis Plants from Lab to the Field: Challenges and Opportunities
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-97-0176-6_24
On the effects of light intensity on hemp growth & yield
Dynamics of industrial hemp vegetative growth and metabolite accumulation in response to light intensity
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0254629924002199
How the root fungus modulates hemp’s response to salt or drought
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Mediated Modulation of Physiological, Biochemical, and Secondary Metabolite Responses in Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) under Salt and Drought Stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38667954/
On the benefits of intercropping hemp, cowpea & squash
Intercropping Industrial Hemp and Cowpea Enhances the Yield of Squash—A Pollinator-Dependent Crop
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/4/636
A novel hemp branching mutant
Discovery of A Novel Hemp Branching Mutant
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4250918/v1/f957ab14-cd50-4408-bd6e-dde51ae7f0a6.pdf?c=1713343168
How field retting impacts hemp fibers
Influence of field retting on physicochemical and biological properties of “Futura 75” hemp stems
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669024004643
How the soil conditions change the concentrations of fatty acids in hemp seeds
Variability in fatty acid concentration in hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) seeds depending on soil conditions
https://sites.utu.fi/nuorettutkijat/wp-content/uploads/sites/86/2024/04/kotsiou_michaela_poster.pdf
An analysis of hempseed cell walls
Characterizing the non-starch polysaccharides of hempseed cell walls
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00217-024-04548-2
A genetic analysis of the antisense transcripts (noncoding regulatory elements) in cannabis
Genome-wide view and characterization of natural antisense transcripts in Cannabis Sativa L
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38632206/
A thesis project on using the cannabis microbiome to create a safe bio-fungicide
Exploring the cannabis microbiome to develop safe and sustainable bio-fungicide
https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0441272
A review of hemp from field to fiber
Hemp: From Field to Fiber—A Review
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7248/4/2/11
Food & Nutrition
On techniques to enhance hemp proteins
Recent advances in plant protein modification: spotlight on hemp protein
https://pubs.rsc.org/de-ch/content/articlepdf/2024/fb/d3fb00215b
Impact of extraction method & cultivar on hemp protein quality
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) protein: Impact of extraction method and cultivar on structure, function, and nutritional quality
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38681526/
Industrial Use
On creating antimicrobial fibers by combining hemp hurds with New Zealand flax
Antimicrobial fibres derived from aryl-diazonium cnjugation of chitosan with Harakeke (Phormium tenax) and Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Hurd
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38548496/
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
Public Health
In older adults, they reported using cannabis for pain as well as recreation & relaxation
Marijuana use among community-dwelling older adults: A population-based study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38613138/
On differences in cannabis usage patterns between different age groups
Age differences in patterns of cannabis use among an online US sample of adults who consume cannabis frequently
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38640463/
In flower & edible usage, how expectancy of benefits impacted the subjective effects
Investigating the Relationship Between Cannabis Expectancies and Anxiety, Depression, and Pain Responses After Acute Flower and Edible Cannabis Use
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38608236/
Concerns about cannabis use for stress among nursing students
Nursing student stress and marijuana use
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38640036/
A review of the subjective experience of simultaneous alcohol & cannabis use
The effects of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use on subjective drug effects: A narrative review across methodologies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38641546/
Adolescents & Young Adults
In young adults being treated for early psychosis, those who use cannabis had significantly worse symptom scores two years later
Observed Trajectories of Cannabis Use and Concurrent Longitudinal Outcomes in Youth and Young Adults Receiving Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38608418/
In young adults, they were more likely to hook up on days using alcohol or cannabis but not on days using them together
Examining within-person associations between alcohol and cannabis use and hooking up among adolescents and young adults in the United States
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38657402/
On how movies expose teens to alcohol & cannabis
Cross-substance Effects of Adolescent Exposure to Alcohol Content in Popular Movies on Cannabis Initiation
https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/200
A review of digital methods for reducing cannabis use among young adults
Digital Interventions for Recreational Cannabis Use Among Young Adults: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Behavior Change Technique Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38630515/
A review of how young adults use cannabis during COVID
Cannabis use among adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38682152/
Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders
In people with obstructive sleep apnea, no significant differences if they use cannabis
Association of Cannabis Use and Symptoms Among Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/47/Supplement_1/A213/7654709
In a rat model of heroin addiction, the terpene beta-caryophyllene inhibited self-administration
β-caryophyllene inhibits heroin self-administration, but does not alter opioid-induced antinociception in rodents
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38631564/
A scale for the risk of cannabis-related psychosis
Development and initial validation of the cannabis-related psychosis risk literacy scale (CPRL): a multinational psychometric study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38641784/
Immune System & Autoimmune Disorders
In brain tissue samples from people with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, a drug that activates the CB2 receptor (JWH-133) downregulated inflammatory pathways
Quantitative Proteomics Reveal That CB2R Agonist JWH-133 Downregulates NF-κB Activation, Oxidative Stress, and Lysosomal Exocytosis from HIV-Infected Macrophages
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38542221/
Hormones & Reproduction
Hormonal contraceptive usage seemed to lower drug cue reactivity in cannabis use disorder
Biological sex and hormonal contraceptive associations with drug cue reactivity in cannabis use disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38626562/
In mice, the toxicity of CBD for sperm production seemed to occur in their Leydig cells
Toxicity of cannabidiol and its metabolites in TM3 mouse Leydig cells: a comparison with primary human Leydig cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38630283/
In testicular tissue, cannabinoid exposure altered genetic expression
3D HUMAN TESTIS ORGANOID SYSTEM TO INVESTIGATE DIRECT EFFECTS OF CANNABINOIDS ON DIFFERENT TESTICULAR CELL TYPES
https://www.auajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1097/01.JU.0001009456.01770.91.03
Pain & Surgeries
In people having complex cancer surgery, those with cannabis use disorder overall had no difference in the risk of postoperative death but a slight increase to post-operative kidney injury & a slightly lower in-hospital mortality
Cannabis use disorder and perioperative outcomes following complex cancer surgery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38606521/
In a plastic surgery practice, a review of cases found no differences in outcomes during cannabis & non-cannabis users
Marijuana Use in Aesthetic Surgery Patients: A Retrospective Review of 441 Cases
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11013355/
In people having belly contouring surgery, those who use cannabis had an increased risk of hematoma (bad bruising)
Marijuana Use Increases Risk of Hematoma Formation in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Body Contouring Surgery
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11013399/
In a national sample, frequency of cannabis use was not associated with pain-related outcomes
Relationship Between Cannabis Use Frequency and Pain-Related Outcomes: Results from a National Sample of Patients with Past-Month Cannabis Use
https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(24)00338-9/abstract
Guts & Metabolism
For gut health, on using a traditional Chinese herbal tea containing hemp seeds
Integrative Approach to Gastrointestinal Wellness: Efficacy of a Traditional Chinese Herbal Tea Formula Containing Hemp Seed
https://francis-press.com/index.php/papers/15232
“Central to this formula is the hemp seed, known in TCM for its capabilities to nourish and moisturize the intestines, alongside a blend of mulberry leaves, Polygonatum odoratum, chrysanthemum, and Lycium barbarum.”
In a mouse model of obesity, the class of phytosterols known as 4,4-Dimethylsterols reduced fat accumulation via binding the FAAH enzyme
4,4-Dimethylsterols reduces fat accumulation via inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase in vitro and in vivo
https://spj.science.org/doi/pdf/10.34133/research.0377
In a mouse model of diabetes, activating the CB1 receptor caused increased urine flow
Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 Activation Causes a Water Diuresis by Inducing an Acute Central Diabetes Insipidus in Mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38634131/
Musculoskeletal & Exercise
In a mouse model of knee osteoarthritis, THC helped with pain & disease modification
ORAL GAVAGE OF DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL PROVIDES PAIN AND DISEASE MODIFICATION IN MOUSE MODELS OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
https://www.oarsijournal.com/article/S1063-4584(24)00103-1/abstract
In osteoarthritis, the role of CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus [paywall]
Investigating the Role of Hypothalamic CB1 in age-induced Bone and Joint Phenotypes
https://www.oarsijournal.com/article/S1063-4584(24)00197-3/abstract
In a rodent model of osteoarthritis, cannabis extracts … did something [paywall]
CHONDROPROTECTIVE AND ANALGESIC EFFECTS OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IN MURINE OSTEOARTHRITIS
https://www.oarsijournal.com/article/S1063-4584(24)00925-7/abstract
In a mouse model of spinal cord injury, a drug to inhibit the MAGL enzyme (hence raising levels of 2-AG) improved urinary tract dysfunction
IMPROVEMENT OF LOWER URINARY TRACT DYSFUNCTION BY A MONOACYLGLYCEROL LIPASE INHIBITOR AFTER SPINAL CORD INJURY
https://www.auajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1097/01.JU.0001008552.16893.70.08
A thesis project on muscle regeneration & the crosstalk between the two lipid systems of the endocannabinoids & sphingosine 1-phosphate
Endocannabinoids and Sphingosine 1-Phosphate: a crosstalk between two lipid systems in the regulation of myoblasts metabolism and differentiation
https://usiena-air.unisi.it/handle/11365/1259315
The Heart
In rats with high blood pressure, a drug that activates the CB2 receptor (JWH-133) suppressed their neuroinflammatory cytokines via inhibition of aerobic glycolysis in the microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain)
Activation of Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor in Microglia Reduces Neuroinflammation through Inhibiting Aerobic Glycolysis to Relieve Hypertension
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38540753/
The Eye
In people with glaucoma, they had significantly lower blood levels of anandamide & 2AG
Endocannabinoids and cortisol in plasma, aqueous and tear samples of primary angle closure glaucoma versus controls
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38613316/
The Skin
Improved cannabinoid transdermal patches using ethoxydiglycol
Improved transdermal delivery of novel cannabinoid-loaded patches using Eudragit matrix
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1773224724003666
Cancer & Chemotherapy
In Thai colorectal cancer patients, those with high health literacy had a higher demand for medical cannabis use
Health Literacy and Demand for Medical Cannabis use among Colorectal Cancer Patients in Northern Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38546082/
In a mouse model of the neuroinflammation & mechanical sensitivity from the cancer treatment drug paclitaxel, CBG protected them from these changes
Paclitaxel-Associated Mechanical Sensitivity and Neuroinflammation Are Sex-, Time-, and Site-Specific and Prevented through Cannabigerol Administration in C57Bl/6 Mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38673862/
In colon cancer cells, many of the cannabinoids caused toxicity, most especially CBGA
Phytocannabinoids CBD, CBG, and their Derivatives CBD-HQ and CBG-A Induced In Vitro Cytotoxicity in 2D and 3D Colon Cancer Cell Models
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38666957/
In cancer of the bile duct, CBD inhibited cell proliferation & caused cell death via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway
Cannabidiol suppresses proliferation and induces cell death, autophagy and senescence in human cholangiocarcinoma cells via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411024000506
In epithelial ovarian cancers, CBD inhibited their growth by modulating the gut microbiome & the EGFR/AKT/MMPs signaling pathway
Cannabidiol Inhibits Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Role of Gut Microbiome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38603577/
In neuroendocrine tumors, CBD caused antitumor effects in some cell lines but tumor-promoting effects in other cell lines
Opposing effects of cannabidiol in patient-derived neuroendocrine tumor, pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma primary cultures
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38605427/
In melanoma, bipiperidinyl derivatives of CBD lowered proliferation & increased apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Bipiperidinyl Derivatives of Cannabidiol Enhance Its Antiproliferative Effects in Melanoma Cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38671925/
Synthetic Cannabinoids
How to test for the synthetic cannabinoids in urine & oral fluid samples
Appearance of hexahydrocannabinols as recreational drugs and implications for cannabis drug testing - focus on HHC, HHC-P, HHC-O and HHC-H
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38619215/
A thesis project on urinary biomarkers for synthetic cannabinoid usage
Study of the urinary biomarkers of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) for the forensic unequivocal proof of consumption: medico-legal implications for drug abuse prevention
https://amsdottorato.unibo.it/11257/
Cool Chemistry & Tools
On an alternative reference standard to THC from Embelia ribes (false black pepper, a key ingredient in Ayuruvedic medicine) called emberlin
Embelin as an alternative reference standard for Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannibinol
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380324861_Embelin_as_an_alternative_reference_standard_for_Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannibinol
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For today’s lovely island music, ‘The Seductive Sounds of Hawaii: Polynesian Girl’ by Nani Wolfgramm & his Islanders. A native of the Polynesian island of Tonga & a master of the steel guitar, Wolfgramm made three classic albums & this one is a compilation of their last album as well as 11 additional instrumental tracks.
I’ve been working with this as my background music for a week straight, and when the kids get riled up, this helps to calm them down.
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.