C&P#115: new edu series! + endometriosis, sleep & wound closing + cannabis as an anesthetic
C&P#115: new edu series! + endometriosis, sleep & wound closing + cannabis as an anesthetic
Make your cannabis grow better by swearing at it
This week…
Once again, cannabis for endometriosis
CBD for sleep (2x)
For closing your wounds, cannabinoids
Opening cannabis dispensaries leads to lower prescription levels of high-dose opioids
A breakout section on cannabis users doing worse in surgeries
Cannabis as a surgical anesthetic? Hua Tuo said yes!
A breakout section on treating cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
Queer Kids & Cannabis: 4 new articles this week
Indigenous perspectives on cannabis use
In rats, CBD for Gulf War Illness
Cannabis effects on the gambling experience
Hemp for skateboards, drone propeller guards, biodiesel & battery anodes
#PornForBiochemists
HistoryCorner: hemp grows best when sown with swear words + Nixon still a weasel
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 115th edition of Cannabinoids & the People, Lex Pelger’s free weekly digest of all the new cannabinoid science + assorted canna-news & psychedelic updates. Upgrade to a paid subscription here to support my work sharing canna-science. On the cannabinoids, ask me anything.
Editor’s notes:
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CV Sciences Canna-Edu Vids:
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CBD & Aging (with a joke for my Dad)
For the pain of anal sex, cannabis suppositories & mindfulness
My Vids:
(on TT @lexpelgerandhisbooks or on YouTube)
The baobhan sith (a banshee Halloween-type anecdote for you)
Poetry Corner: Hafiz's 'Cast All Your Votes for Dancing'
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Best Of Cannabinoid Science...
A rather unique paper from Roche on their projects & partnerships targeting the endocannabinoid system
Enhancing Drug Discovery and Development through the Integration of Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Academia-Industry Partnerships: Insights from Roche’s Endocannabinoid System Projects
https://www.chimia.ch/chimia/article/view/2024_499
Clinical
In a survey of people with endometriosis, the cannabis users rated it as “the most effective self-management strategy to reduce symptom intensity” with 90% reducing their pain medication levels
Cannabis use in endometriosis: the patients have their say—an online survey for German-speaking countries
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-024-07652-6
“The greatest improvement was observed in sleep (91%), menstrual pain (90%), and non-cyclic pain (80%). Apart from increased fatigue (17%), side effects were infrequent (≤ 5%).”
And a review of eight papers on cannabis for endometriosis-related pain
Evaluating the Current Evidence for the Efficacy of Cannabis in Symptom Management of Endometriosis-Associated Pain
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/imr.2024.0017
In people with insomnia, one month of a combination of CBD with terpenes (1 mg each of linalool, myrcene, phytol, limonene, α-terpinene, α-terpineol, α-pinene & β-caryophyllene) increased the time spent in slow wave sleep & rapid eye movement sleep (up to 48 minutes per night)
Effects of a cannabidiol/terpene formulation on sleep in individuals with insomnia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study
https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/abs/10.5664/jcsm.11324
And in people using 150 milligrams of CBD for insomnia, they had no alterations to their next day’s cognitive performance
The effect of nightly use of 150 mg cannabidiol on daytime neurocognitive performance in primary insomnia: a randomized controlled pilot trial
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-024-06674-x
“From baseline to trial conclusion, those receiving CBD reported greater experience of calmness, clear-headedness, coordination and were more likely to report side-effects of dry mouth relative to placebo (all p < 0.05).”
In Australians with cancer, they used cannabis to treat the symptoms of pain, poor sleep & low mood
Stigma, risks, and benefits of medicinal cannabis use among Australians with cancer
https://arr.angliss.edu.au/jspui/handle/20.500.12270/581
For obesity, public health data once again shows that cannabis use is correlated with a lower body mass index
A National Survey of Marijuana Use Among U.S. Adults According to Obesity Status, 2016–2022
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2024.0069
I used to think that this was a good thing but a decent amount of data is now pointing towards this being explained by a dysregulation of the adipose (fat) system. As in, cannabis use causes a disruption to your normal fat storage & energy metabolism.
For long COVID, pushback advocating for the therapeutic potential of cannabinoid-based medicines
Authors' response to letter ‘On the use of open-label studies for the evaluation of cannabis-based products for the treatment of long-COVID’
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.16174
And in COVID patients, they had higher levels of 2-AG & lower levels of anandamide & PEA
Circulating endocannabinoid levels in SARS-CoV-2 infection and their potential role in the inflammatory response
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-70172-5
In humans with chronic kidney disease causing pruritus (intense itching), a cannabis cream reduced the severity of itching symptoms
Cannabis-Containing Cream for CKD-Associated Pruritus: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial
https://www.kidneymedicinejournal.org/article/S2590-0595(24)00105-5/fulltext
On opioid usage & medical cannabis laws, the authors found that the opening of medical cannabis dispensaries led to pharmacies seeing a reduction in the highest dosages of opioids prescribed but an increase in low-to-moderate dose opioids “consistent with patients using cannabis concomitantly with opioids in order to achieve a lower opioids dose”
The Association Between Medical Cannabis Laws and Flows of Opioids by Dosage Strength to US Pharmacies – Evidence From Detailed ARCOS Data, 2006–2014
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S0573-855520240000297009/full/html
On how cannabis alters the experience of gambling
Expectations of How Acute Cannabis Use Affects Gambling Experiences and Behaviors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975592/
“Most participants agreed with positive expectations of gambling; they expected that they would feel calmer when under the influence of cannabis (61.4%), that gambling would be more enjoyable (61.0%), and that their gambling skills would increase when GUIC (60.6%). At the same time, most participants also agreed with negative expectations of GUIC. They expected cannabis use would make them more careless (56.4%), more anxious (54.8%), and less able to concentrate (53.7%) while gambling.”
Of course, for the best analysis ever done of gambling use disorder, Dostoevsky’s ‘The Gambler’ (based on his own experiences).
In regular cannabis users, they had lower spontaneous gamma activity in their left primary motor cortex
Regular cannabis use modulates gamma activity in brain regions serving motor control
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02698811241268876
And in currently abstinent male cannabis users, they had significant differences in tests of their frontal lobes
Assessment of frontal lobe functions in a sample of male cannabis users currently in abstinence: correlations with duration of use and their functional outcomes
https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-024-00244-w
Case Reports
For a refractory migraine (resistant to treatment), a case report of one month of CBD resolving the symptoms
Cannabidiol in the treatment of migraine: studies and future perspectives
https://headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/1270
And in a female rat model of migraines, CBD/THC reduced pain & photosensitivity to light with some benefits with the addition of CBG
Potential antinociceptive effects of cannabinoid compounds on migraine-associated responses in an experimental model in female rats
https://www.headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/1062
In a case report of someone with nausea & vomiting from cancer chemotherapy treatments, inhalation of cannabis along with the standard medication improved sleep quality, appetite, nausea & vomiting, overall mood & quality of life
NHS-Reimbursed Cannabis Flowers for Cancer Palliative Care and the Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: An Autobiographical Case Report
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975420/
A case report of cannabis helping with major depressive disorder
The Effect of Cannabis Use on Depression
https://www.proquest.com/openview/91de3dd584a676c56de0c5e274410dc6/1
Queer Kids
For transgender, non-binary & gender non-conforming youth, how smoking cannabis can be transformative & emancipatory
“To smoke feels gender”: Exploring the transformative and emancipatory capacities of cannabis among transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395924002147
“First, participants used cannabis purposefully and strategically to enact diverse gender expressions and embodiments. Second, participants leveraged cannabis to support introspection whilst mobilizing identity discovery and development. Finally, participants mobilized cannabis as a vehicle for accessing moments of gender euphoria and affirmation.”
A big review of 29 papers on why Queer kids are using drugs
Evaluating the Determinants of Drug Use in LGBTQIA+ Adolescents: A Scoping Review
https://sciety.org/articles/activity/10.20944/preprints202408.0853.v1
“The articles reported that the main determinants of drug use among LGBTQIA+ adolescents include homelessness, peer-peer interactions, mental health, and protective factors. The articles reported that mental health issues, which are mainly triggered by rejection, were the main determinants of drug use among LGBTOIA+ adolescents.”
In sexual minority young adults, the role of parenting behaviors in their cannabis usage
Disparities in Cannabis Use among Female and Male Sexual Minority Young Adults in the US: The Role of Parenting Behaviors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975593/
And in sexual minority young women, how their emotional regulation moderated their association between discrimination & cannabis use
Emotion Regulation Moderates Associations between Discrimination and Cannabis Use Patterns among Sexual Minority Young Adult Women
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975591/
Harms
For treating cannabis use disorder, transcranial direct current stimulation (tiny electrodes placed on your head) reduced the cannabis cravings, improved levels of depression & enhanced working memory
Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Reducing Craving, Depression, and Improving Working Memory in Patients with Cannabis Use Disorders: A Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled
https://brieflands.com/articles/ijpbs-142498
In young adults with vascular disease, those with cannabis use disorder had an increased prevalence of acute coronary syndrome but a decrease in overall mortality
Premature acute coronary syndrome-related hospitalizations and mortality in young PVD patients with vs. without cannabis use disorder: A nationwide propensity-matched analysis, 2016-2020
https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(24)00753-6/fulltext
In US public health data, there's been a rise in the diagnosis of cannabis use disorder & a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder was associated with greater odds of treatment for other substance use disorders
Cannabis use disorder and substance use treatment among U.S. adults
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S294987592400198X
The French warn cannabis use associated with depression & bipolar disorder
Troubles liés à l’usage de cannabis associés à un risque accru de troubles dépressifs et bipolaires majeurs ultérieurs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38961786/
For delta-8 THC, US poison centers report a rise in exposures but this is significantly lower among states where delta-8 THC was banned or in states where cannabis is legal
Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposures Reported to US Poison Centers: Variations Among US States and Regions and Associations with Public Policy
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13181-024-01030-z
Cannabis & Surgeries
On surgical considerations for cannabis users, a review of the potential effects on anesthesia levels, postoperative pain management, nausea, wound healing & drug-drug interactions
Surgery-Related Considerations in Treating People Who Use Cannabis
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2822893
In people with aortic aneurysms or surgeries, cannabis users had a higher likelihood of emergency surgeries, postoperative stroke & postoperative respiratory complications
Outcomes after open repair of aortic aneurysms and dissections in cannabis consumers
https://www.jtcvsopen.org/article/S2666-2736(24)00223-7/fulltext
In breast reconstructive surgery, active cannabis users had higher levels of infection, emergency department visits, readmission & major complications
Marijuana’s Impact On Implant-based Breast Reconstruction: A Retrospective Cohort Study
https://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/2024/08000/marijuana_s_impact_on_implant_based_breast.62.aspx?context=latestarticles
In patients having a cervical fusion surgery, cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of opioid use, emergency department visits, hospitalizations & anesthesia events but not critical care utilization or death
The impact of cannabis on opioid use and postoperative complications in cervical fusion: a population-based longitudinal cohort study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1529943024007538
And in spinal surgery patients, those with cannabis use disorder had an associated increased risk of continued lower back pain but a reduced risk of overall medical complications
Cannabis use disorder is associated with an increased risk of persistent low-back pain in patients following posterior lumbar decompression and fusion surgery: a propensity score-matched analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S152994302400442X
In adults with spine deformity, those using cannabis before their operations reported worse baseline pain, anxiety, physical activity & self-image
Preoperative recreational marijuana users report worse baseline pain, anxiety, physical activity, and self-image compared to nonusers with adult spine deformity (ASD)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1529943024004820
However, this can just as easily be explained by the fact that for most diseases, the people in the worst shape are the most likely to be using cannabis. They're the ones turning to any & all tools to help.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
A review of the patterns of cannabis use associated with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
Cannabis use patterns and association with hyperemesis: A comprehensive review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39164887/
On cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, pushback on the new AGA Clinical Practice Update saying that ondansetron is useless
Comments on the AGA Clinical Practice Update on Diagnosis and Management of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38945498/
An acute care guide for stopping cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome episodes
Acute care of cyclic vomiting syndrome and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in the home and emergency department for: Special supplement/proceedings of 3rd international symposium
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39155452/
“Systemic pharmacologic agents often used as abortive therapy include triptans, antiemetics, anxiolytics, NK-1 receptor antagonists, antipsychotics, sedatives in general, and various analgesic / anti-inflammatory medications. Nonsystemic, nonpharmacologic approaches include reducing external stimuli (quiet room, dim lights, etc.), and hot water bathing or the application of topical capsaicin cream.”
On differentiating cyclic vomiting syndrome from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, recovery occurs with the cessation of cannabis for the latter but not for the former
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Recovers Completely When the Use of Cannabis or Synthetic Cannabinoids Is Permanently Discontinued-Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Does Not
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38945497/
On trends of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome over 11 years in Northern California
Prevalence and trends of suspected cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome over an 11-year period in Northern California: An electronic health record study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871624013437
Reviews
For schizophrenia & addiction, a clinical guide for using CBD that reviews 24 papers
Cannabidiol Therapy for Comorbid Schizophrenia and Addiction: A Guide for Clinical Practice
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4857098
For treating cognitive impairments, a review of 16 trials showed CBD’s benefits for anxiety and & cognition
Cannabidiol, a plant-derived compound, is an emerging strategy for treating cognitive impairments: comprehensive review of randomized trials
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1403147/full
For Parkinson's disease, a review of the mechanisms CBD uses to help
The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol in Parkinson's Disease: A Review of Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Effects
http://article.journalrepositoryarticle.com/id/eprint/1519/1/Paiva2152024INDJ121842.pdf
And a review of how cannabinoids help with Parkinson's disease in animal models
Use of phytocanabinoids in animal models of Parkinson's disease: Systematic review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161813X24000986
For wound care, a review of 18 studies on using cannabinoids
Cannabinoids in Integumentary Wound Care: A Systematic Review of Emerging Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/16/8/1081
And a study in rats on cannabis improving wound healing
Therapeutic potential of cannabis for surgical wound healing in rats
https://ideas.repec.org/a/caa/jnlvet/vpreprintid21-2024-vetmed.html
For athletes, a review of using CBD in professional sports
Cannabinoid Therapy in Athletics: A Review of Current Cannabis Research to Evaluate Potential Real-World Cannabinoid Applications in Sport
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-024-02094-1
A review of using THC & CBD as an anesthetic
Approaches to Utilizing Cannabis for Anesthesia
https://publication.npru.ac.th/jspui/handle/123456789/2164
This usage goes back to 200AD when the famous Chinese physician Hua Tuo used mafeisan (hemp dissolved in wine) as an anesthetic for performing abdominal & thoracic (chest) surgeries on his patients. Unfortunately, his execution by a warlord led to the irreplaceable loss of his methods.
For eating behaviors, a review of how cannabinoid signaling works in the hypothalamus (a regulator of homeostasis, including hunger & thirst, body temperature, sleep, mood & sex drive)
Hypothalamic cannabinoid signaling: Consequences for eating behavior
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39155548/
Relatedly, in a mouse model of the social learning of food preferences, CBD enhanced their memory for the foods enjoyed by the other mice
Cannabidiol enhances socially transmitted food preference: a role of acetylcholine in the mouse basal forebrain
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-024-06670-1
For veterinary uses, a review focused on cannabinoids for dogs, cats & horses
Endocannabinoid system and phytocannabinoids in the main species of veterinary interest: a comparative review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11259-024-10509-7
And a review of the use of cannabis in animals
Cannabis sativa in veterinary medicine: Foundations and therapeutic applications
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/cvma/cvj/2024/00000065/00000009/art00016
Preclinical
In a rat model of Alzheimer's disease, combining CBD with high-intensity exercise improved cognitive impairment
High-intensity interval training combined with cannabidiol supplementation improves cognitive impairment by regulating the expression of apolipoprotein E, presenilin-1, and glutamate proteins in a rat model of amyloid β-induced Alzheimer’s disease
https://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_24768.html
In a rat model of Gulf War Illness, isolated CBD improved cognition, reduced hypersensitivity to pain, lowered inflammation & protected the tissues of the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
FDA-approved cannabidiol [Epidiolex®] alleviates Gulf War Illness-linked cognitive and mood dysfunction, hyperalgesia, neuroinfammatory signaling, and declined neurogenesis
https://mmrjournal.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40779-024-00563-2.pdf
For those too young to know, Gulf War Illness is a constellation of unexplained health problems occurring in more than 25% of the veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War. It's probably due to the many neurotoxins that were being thrown around there by the US military but they've always dragged their feet on possible explanations. The same thing happened with Agent Orange in the Vietnam War.
In a mouse model of sickle cell disease, THC lowered the hyperalgesia (abnormally increased sensitivity to pain)
Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol alleviates hyperalgesia in a humanized mouse model of sickle cell disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38955494/
In a rat model of kidney damage from sepsis, CBD lowered renal abnormalities, reduced inflammation & protected by regulating relevant genes
The renoprotective effects of cannabidiol on lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation model of rats
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00210-024-03391-2
In a mouse model of morphine withdrawal, PEA reduced the negative emotions & lowered the levels of relevant neurotransmitters
N-palmitoylethanolamide attenuates negative emotions induced by morphine withdrawal in mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39154843/
In a rat model of inflammatory pain, ultramicronized PEA performed better than regular PEA at lowering inflammation, sensitivity to pain & tissue damage
Oral Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide: Plasma and Tissue Levels and Spinal Anti-hyperalgesic Effect
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29615912/
In a mouse model of HIV, CBD decreased anti-inflammatory biomarkers
HIV-Induced Modulation of TREM2 Expression Is Reversed by Cannabidiol: Implications for Age-Related Neuropathogenesis in People with HIV
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202408.0904/v1
In a mouse model of inflammation from a high-fat & high-cholesterol diet, CBD reduced the levels of oxidized lipids & lowered inflammation via 49 core targets
Integrating Lipidomics, Metabolomics, and Network Pharmacology to Reveal the Mechanism of Cannabidiol against Inflammation in High-Fat, High-Cholesterol Diet-Induced Mice
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c04994
On how THC altered mTOR (a major signaling molecule related to brain aging & cellular metabolism) (with a nice chart of the effects)
Bidirectional Effect of Long-Term Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Treatment on mTOR Activity and Metabolome
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00002
In a comparison in mice between the carrier oils of DHA, EPA/DHA & sesame oil, the sesame oil resulted in greater concentrations of CBD & CBD across all tissue types
Orally consumed cannabinoids: the effect of carrier oil on acute tissue distribution in male C57BL/6 mice
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4783415/v1/66b42e8d-bcf7-4910-9d86-095ea09840fa.pdf
“SES oil resulted in a significantly greater concentration of CBD and THC (p<0.05) across all tissues and times compared to n-3 PUFA oils. The ratio of EPA:DHA in the carrier oils modestly affected distribution of cannabinoids to tissues, notably, DHA oil resulted in a greater concentration of CBD in the brain. Heart tissue had the highest concentration of CBD at 1 and 2H post-oral gavage, and adipose tissue had the highest concentration at 3H which was consistent across all three carrier oils.”
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the Headlines & Fav Articles
MMJ BioPharma Cultivation sues the DEA for unnecessary delays in processing their cannabis clinical trials for multiple sclerosis & Huntington’s disease
https://businessofcannabis.com/biopharma-company-sues-dea-for-unjustified-delays-in-approving-cannabis-research/
Americans for Safe Access released a consumer safety guide after several high-profile product recalls
https://www.safeaccessnow.org/amid_recent_cannabis_recalls_asa_releases_consumer_guide
As I said last week, ASA is a great org to support because they focus on the medical cannabis patients who often get left behind in the push towards commercialization.
A new OSHA program for worker safety in the cannabis industry
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-federal-program-from-osha-focuses-on-marijuana-industry-workplace-hazards-in-colorado/
Bloomberg suggests cannabis as a ‘significant threat’ to the alcohol industry
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-legalization-is-a-significant-threat-to-alcohol-industry-because-people-substitute-cannabis-for-beer-and-wine-analysis-finds/
New Jersey bans intoxicating hemp products
https://eu.app.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/marijuana/2024/09/12/phil-murphy-signs-hemp-law-bans-delta-8-thc-seltzers-in-new-jersey/74765930007/
On the history of cannabis in the Emerald Triangle
Introduction to the Northern Californian Situation : From Counterculture to Legalization – Cannabis in the “Emerald Triangle ”
https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04675774/document
Nixon’s History Corner: Two years after his 1971 declaration of the War on Drugs, new tapes capture Nixon saying cannabis was “not particularly dangerous” & calling a recent 30-year sentence “ridiculous”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/14/us/nixon-marijuana-tapes.html
Even more damningly, the now infamous lines from Nixon henchmen John Ehrlichman, who in a later interview with the excellent journalist Dan Baum, said:
“You want to know what this [war on drugs] was really all about? The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I’m saying?
We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news.
Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”
History Corner: According to Reginald Scot’s The Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584), hemp grows best when sown with swear words
“Cummin or hempseed sowne with curssing and opprobrious words grow the faster and the better.”
https://archive.org/stream/discoverieofwitc00scot/discoverieofwitc00scot_djvu.txt
International
A thesis project on the Indigenous perspectives of cannabis on Turtle Island (North America)
“It’s a plant and that’s why I think it’s a medicine” : Indigenous perspectives of cannabis use on Turtle Island
https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0445114
Japan releases their new THC limits for CBD products & they're the strictest in the world
https://businessofcannabis.com/japan-issues-update-on-new-thc-limits-in-cbd-products-which-remain-strictest-in-the-world/
An Italian court suspends the ban on CBD oil but Meloni’s government plans to continue pushing forward with their crackdown
https://businessofcannabis.com/italian-court-suspends-ban-on-cbd-oils-but-threat-to-wider-hemp-sector-remains-as-sector-protests-across-country/
Himachal Pradesh, India's northernmost state, amends their drug laws to allow for the production of industrial hemp & medical cannabis
https://hemptoday.net/indian-state-of-himachal-pradesh-opens-markets-for-industrial-hemp-medical-marijuana/
In Colombia, the treasure trove of cannabis diversity
Unveiling Colombia's medicinal Cannabis sativa treasure trove: Phenotypic and Chemotypic diversity in legal cultivation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39169651/
Rwanda's first cannabis production site to be ready in September
https://www.newsweed.fr/premiere-production-cannabis-rwanda-septembre/
Zimbabwe hopes to be a world leader in cannabis
https://www.talkingdrugs.org/can-zimbabwe-reach-its-billion-dollar-cannabis-dream/
The Laws, The War on Drugs & the End of Prohibition
Economist Jeffrey Singer argues that you reduce teen cannabis consumption by legalizing it for adults
To Reduce Teen Marijuana Consumption, Legalize It for Adults
https://policycommons.net/artifacts/14639233/to-reduce-teen-marijuana-consumption-legalize-it-for-adults/15539154/
In crime data from Florida, high-volume dispensaries were associated with reductions in larceny, vehicle burglary & motor vehicle theft but for low-volume dispensaries, an increase in larceny
The Heterogeneous Effects of Cannabis Dispensaries on Crime: The Importance of Foot Traffic
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4862368
In US prison data, a state’s cannabis legalization laws did not alter the chances of a person returning to prison within one year of release
The Effects of Recreational Cannabis Legalization on Recidivism
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24751979.2024.2390367
A thesis project on how campus police officers act like street-level bureaucrats in enforcing cannabis laws
LEGALIZATION, MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS, AND DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA LAWS. AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND POLICING PRACTICES IN RESPONSE TO NEW MARIJUANA LAWS
https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/2834/
A review of regulations for electronic nicotine delivery systems & the lessons for cannabinoid regulation
Lessons for cannabinoid regulation from electronic nicotine delivery system product regulation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39206436/
On the Dark Web’s drug culture
Characteristics of the Dark Web's Online Drug Culture
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003277675-38/characteristics-dark-web-online-drug-culture-ari-haasio-piotr-siuda-tuomas-harviainen
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
On using ketamine for phantom limb syndrome
https://www.lucid.news/ketamine-therapy-offers-hope-for-healing-phantom-limb-syndrome/
A Berlin clinic for treating hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD)
https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/article/2024/sep/06/psychedelics-side-effects-risks-clinic-berlin
A BBC article making the rounds about the ancient history of psychedelics & what we moderns might learn from it
What Western medicine can learn from the ancient history of psychedelics
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240910-the-ancient-history-behind-healing-trauma-with-psychedelics
Cocaine found in Italy almost two centuries earlier than previously thought
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/cocaine-was-in-europe-nearly-two-centuries-earlier-than-previously-thought-new-study-shows/
Good reporting on the underground mushroom market by DoubleBlind’s Webb Wright
Notes From the Underground Mushroom Market
https://doubleblindmag.com/notes-from-the-underground-mushroom-market/
The infamous Beat poet Gerd Stern on meeting Allen Ginsberg & Carl Solomon in a psychiatric hospital
https://doubleblindmag.com/gerd-stern-allen-ginsberg-carl-solomon/
Winkleman on the social evolution of Siberian shamans
An Ethnological Model for Assessing Social Evolution of Siberian Shamans
https://www.sociostudies.org/upload/socionauki.ru/journal/seh/2024_1/pdf/003_Winkelman.pdf
The Psychoactive Research
A meta-analysis of adverse events in psychedelic studies
Adverse Events in Studies of Classic Psychedelics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39230883/
“SAEs [serious adverse events] were reported for no healthy participants and for approximately 4% of participants with preexisting neuropsychiatric disorders; among these SAEs were worsening depression, suicidal behavior, psychosis, and convulsive episodes. NSAEs [nonserious adverse events] requiring medical intervention (eg, paranoia, headache) were similarly rare. In contemporary research settings, there were no reports of deaths by suicide, persistent psychotic disorders, or hallucinogen persisting perception disorders following administration of high-dose classic psychedelics. However, there was significant heterogeneity in the quality of AE monitoring and reporting.”
But yes, as these authors points out, the adverse event reporting systems are often not very good & there seems to be a general tendency to sweep them under the carpet.
Predictors of the LSD experience
Pharmacological and non-pharmacological predictors of the LSD experience in healthy participants
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39231959/
“LSD dose emerged as the most influential predictor, exhibiting a positive correlation with most response variables. Pre-drug mental states such as "Well-Being", "Emotional Excitability", and "Anxiety" were also important predictor for a range of subjective effects but also heart rate and body temperature. The trait "Openness to Experiences" was positively correlated with elevated ratings in "Oceanic Boundlessness" and mystical-type effects. Previous experiences with hallucinogens have been negatively associated with the overall altered state of consciousness and particularly with "Anxious Ego Dissolution".”
On other effects of psychedelics besides mystical experiences
Clinically relevant acute subjective effects of psychedelics beyond mystical experience
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44159-024-00345-6
A brain scan study of how ketamine altered high-order brain interactions
High-order brain interactions in ketamine during rest and task: A double-blinded cross-over design using portable EEG
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38562802/
For nitrous oxide, on the dangers of recreational use
Recreational nitrous oxide use and its clinical implications
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S135730392400183X
Interest in microdosing psychedelics rises with new laws decriminalizing or legalizing cannabis & psychedelics
State Cannabis and Psychedelic Legislation and Microdosing Interest in the US
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38941086/
On cognitive functioning, a review of the changes caused by the classic psychedelics & MDMA
Cognitive functioning associated with acute and subacute effects of classic psychedelics and MDMA - a systematic review and meta-analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38926480/
A review of the clinical evolution of psychedelics in clinical trials
A rapid narrative review of the clinical evolution of psychedelic treatment in clinical trials
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38956330/
The Plant & the History
Growing, Farming & Processing
In Florida, the estimated cost & returns of hemp flower production is not great
Estimated Costs and Returns of Hemp Flower Production
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG479
“The total cost to produce and market one acre of hemp for CBD is estimated at $15,175/acre/year. Based on an average marketable yield of 15,200 pounds %CBD/acre (1,520 pounds of plant dry matter with projected 10% CBD oil content) and the average estimated price of $1.00/pound %CBD oil, total income would be $15,200/acre/year… The net return of a CBD hemp farm in Florida is estimated to be approximately $24/acre. This return makes this crop not as attractive as other crops, although there have been times where pricing was exceptionally favorable.”
Hemp in the US Farm Bill of 2018 was presented as a boon to farmers but anyone could have seen that was not the case. Two or three big farms in the Midwest could manufacture all of the yearly US CBD needs. So after the first boom years, the price quickly plummeted & USDA data shows acres of hemp planted falling every year since the peak of 2019.
On the relation between chemical fertilization practices & the responses of cannabis
Correlation between Chemical Fertilization Practices, Phytochemical Response, and Biological Activities of Cannabis sativa L
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39143879/
On optimizing red & white light for cannabis production
The role of red and white light in optimizing growth and accumulation of plant specialized metabolites at two light intensities in medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38957608/
The effects of paclobutrazol & tannic acid on cannabis floral development
Investigating the impact of paclobutrazol and tannic acid on floral development of in vitro -grown cannabis plantlets
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024127995
On stabilizing the recessive traits of cannabis with rapid generation cycling
Possibilities of rapid generation cycling of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) for the stabilization of recessive traits
https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/pdf/2024/44/bioconf_abs2024_01012.pdf
On nutrient use differences between hemp & drug-type cannabis
Same, Yet Different: Towards Understanding Nutrient Use In Hemp- And Drug-Type Cannabis
https://academic.oup.com/jxb/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jxb/erae362/7740504
On using NMR for assessing cannabis crop health
Beyond cannabinoids: Application of NMR-based metabolomics for the assessment of Cannabis sativa L. crop health
https://www.limsforum.com/beyond-cannabinoids-application-of-nmr-based-metabolomics-for-the-assessment-of-cannabis-sativa-l-crop-health/107359/
Using infrared for real-time monitoring of CBDA decarboxylation
Real-time monitoring of CBDA decarboxylation in solid state and cannabis flowers using mid infrared spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092420312400081X
Characterizing the polyphenols of cannabis
Metabolic characterization and transcriptional profiling of polyphenols in Cannabis sativa L. inflorescences with different chemical phenotypes
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00425-024-04505-z
In Germany, on classifying cannabis cultivars based on their chemical fingerprint
Classification of Cannabis Strains Based on their Chemical Fingerprint—A Broad Analysis of Chemovars in the German Market
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/can.2024.0127
In Lebanon, it's profitable to replace tobacco with hemp
Replacing Tobacco with Hemp in the Beqaa Is Financially Rewarding for Farmers and Government in Lebanon
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/8/1349
Food & Nutrition
In pâté, on using hemp oil as a fat replacer
Innovative formulation in pâté using a gelled emulsion of hemp oil (Cannabis sativa L.) as fat replacer
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643824009095
I hesitate to ask my French in-laws about their thoughts on this subject. Unsurprisingly, they often find my American food habits horrifying worrisome.
In chickens, hempseed feed caused them to have a higher daily weight gain & final live weight as well as improvements in fatty acid profiles & antioxidant content
Dietary inclusion of hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa var. Carmagnola) affected live weight, quality, and oxidative status of breast, thigh and liver of Naked-neck Kabir chickens
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2383787
A thesis project on feeding hemp to livestock & poultry
Spent Hemp Biomass in Livestock and Poultry Diets: Effects on Animal Health, Performance and Meat Quality Attributes
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/m039kd512
For hemp seed oil, the effects of different enzyme extractions
Combined Effect of Protease, Hemicellulase and Pectinase on the Quality of Hemp Seed Oil (Cannabis sativa L.) Obtained by Aqueous Enzymatic Extraction as an Eco-friendly Method
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38945925/
Industrial Use
Hemp fiber for skateboards
Exploring the strength and durability of hemp fiber reinforced moringa bioresin composites for skateboard applications
https://pubs.aip.org/aip/adv/article/14/8/085119/3308031
And for drone propeller guards
Mechanical Properties of Hemp Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites for Drone Propeller Guard Application
https://macs.semnan.ac.ir/article_8937_c69f6092629078ae4cbef54973fd68b5.pdf
And for the anodes of batteries
From Natural Fibers to High-Performance Anodes: Sisal Hemp Derived Hard Carbon for Na-/K-Ion Batteries and Mechanism Exploration
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39169737/
On using hemp biodiesel blends in diesel engines
Evaluation of engine characteristics of diesel engines fuelled with MWCNT nano additive doped hemp biodiesel blends
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10751-024-02048-z
On 3D printing with a mixture of fungi & hemp herds
A Preliminary Experimental Study on Biodegradation of 3D Printed Samples from Biomass-Fungi Composite Materials
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383343871_A_Preliminary_Experimental_Study_on_Biodegradation_of_3D_Printed_Samples_from_Biomass-Fungi_Composite_Materials
A review of industrial hemp material includes 109 papers
The Emerging Hemp Industry: A Review of Industrial Hemp Materials and Product Manufacturing
https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/6/3/167
A review of hemp-reinforced concrete
Exploring innovative resilient and sustainable bio-materials for structural applications: Hemp-fibre concrete
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352012424012487
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
A bibliometric analysis of all of the new cannabis papers since 2012 (with a focus on Morocco)
Bibliometric analysis of beneficial cannabis research: Performance analysis and science mapping from 2012 to 2022 and focus on Morocco
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750024000969
On the many benefits of cannabis
Cannabis-A Bespoke for Multi Medicinal Values
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383094358_Cannabis-A_Bespoke_for_Multi_Medicinal_Values
Public Health
A genetic analysis found two genetic loci (areas) associated with lifetime cannabis use & frequency: near CADM2 & GRM3
Genome-wide association studies of lifetime and frequency cannabis use in 131,895 individuals
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38947071/
There is now a movement towards calling these areas COOLKID1 & COOLKID2.
In a comparison of opioid safety versus the safety of nabilone (a synthetic cannabinoid), the opioid users had higher rates of pneumonia, falls or fractures, & all- cause mortality but the nabilone users had higher rates of mental or behavioral disorders
Comparative Safety Analysis of Nabilone Versus Opioids: A Population-Based Cohort Study
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-024-08978-2
In the UK, a survey of why people self-treat chronic health conditions with illicit cannabis
Illicit Cannabis Use to Self-Treat Chronic Health Conditions in the United Kingdom: Cross-Sectional Study
https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e57595
“The most reported condition was anxiety… the following were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting illicit cannabis use for health reasons—chronic pain, fibromyalgia, posttraumatic stress disorder, multiple sclerosis, [and] other mental health disorders.”
In Uruguayan trauma patients admitted to intensive care, they had a high prevalence of cocaine & cannabis use
Prevalence of cocaine and cannabis use in trauma patients admitted to intensive care
http://www.scielo.edu.uy/scielo.php?pid=S1688-03902024000301201&script=sci_abstract&tlng=en
In Mexico, a survey of people's opinion on legalization as well as medical & recreational cannabis use
Opinions on the Medical and Recreational Use and Legalization of Marijuana in Mexico: Results of a National Survey
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383261092_Opinions_on_the_Medical_and_Recreational_Use_and_Legalization_of_Marijuana_in_Mexico_Results_of_a_National_Survey
For stigma around cannabis, there was more stigma towards cannabis consumption when it “was used recreationally, by smoking joints, more frequently, and purchased from the neighborhood”
The highs and lows of cannabis stigma: a vignette study of factors that influence stigma toward cannabis consumers
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09687637.2024.2392546
For healthcare providers of medical cannabis, a look at the confusion & inconsistencies surrounding the programs
Addressing Confusion and Inconsistencies Surrounding the Provider Role in Medical Cannabis Programs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38949204/
An analysis of Germany’s cannabis prescriptions
The Prescribing of Cannabis Drugs to Self-Payers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38973404/
Public health data on the characteristics associated with cannabis use
Statistical Analysis of Past-Year Marijuana use in U.S. General Population: A Negative Binomial Regression Model
https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/pdf/2024/43/bioconf_icfsb2024_02005.pdf
In US adults, the co-use of cannabis & tobacco is on the rise except among young adults aged 18 to 25
Trends in cannabis and tobacco co-use in the United States, 2002–2021
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460324001783
And the use of cannabis was associated with decreased odds of quitting cigarettes
Cannabis Use and Subsequent Cigarette Discontinuation Among U.S. Adults in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, Waves 1–5
https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntae202/7739978
On why people in Papua New Guinea are using cannabis
Qualitative Study: Motivation, Social Aspects and Environmental Stressors in Cannabis User Patients Admitted to Abepura Regional Mental Hospital, Papua Province
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383895260_Qualitative_Study_Motivation_Social_Aspects_and_Environmental_Stressors_in_Cannabis_User_Patients_Admitted_to_Abepura_Regional_Mental_Hospital_Papua_Province
Adolescents & Young Adults
In adolescents using cannabis, a meta-synthesis of 22 studies on their perceptions of cannabis use
Perception of cannabis use in the adolescent population: metasynthesis of qualitative studies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38987157/
“The most common discourse among adolescents was related to the feeling of social and emotional well-being, fewer adverse effects than drugs, and the influence of peers on consumption.”
In adolescents with special needs, a review of six papers found that they consume alcohol & cannabis at higher rates
Alcohol and Cannabis Use by Adolescents with Special Educational Needs: A Systematic Review Focused on Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10826084.2024.2392501
In college students, the co-use of alcohol & cannabis led to better odds of substance-related pleasure
Alcohol and cannabis use in daily lives of college-attending young adults: Does co-use correspond to greater reported pleasure?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460324001795
I mean, yeah, if you hit that sweet spot of just enough of each, it's pretty perfect.
But oh ye youngsters, mark my words & beware of combining too much booze with that last joint before bed. It leads to the dreaded spins…
In college students, the relationship between eating disorders, alcohol use disorder & cannabis use disorder
Alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and eating disorder symptoms among male and female college students
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajad.13634
Among US young adults, why they use cannabis for medical or recreational purposes
Use of Cannabis for Medical or Recreational Purposes Among US Young Adults: Correlates and Implications for Problematic Use and Interest in Quitting
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975600/
In young adults, the relationship between high-risk sexual behaviors & simultaneous alcohol & cannabis use
Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabis Use and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975601/
In adolescent cannabis users, having higher distress intolerance is associated with lower levels of glutathione (the brain's most abundant antioxidant)
Lower distress intolerance is associated with higher glutathione levels in adolescent cannabis users
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305724001552
In first-year college students, how the amount of communication with their parents predicted cannabis use & simultaneous use with alcohol
Changes in Parent-Student Text Message and Phone Call Communication During the Transition to College as Predictors of Cannabis and Simultaneous Use During the First Year
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975595/
In college students, cannabis use may increase procrastination & therefore lower GPA
Cannabis Use and Academic Performance in College Students: The Role of Procrastination
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38975598/
In California high school students, recreational cannabis laws & higher densities of retail cannabis stores was associated with increased cannabis & alcohol co-use
Recreational Marijuana Legalization, Local Retail Availability, and Alcohol and Marijuana Use and Co-Use Among California High School Students
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370879187_Recreational_Marijuana_Legalization_Local_Retail_Availability_and_Alcohol_and_Marijuana_Use_and_Co-Use_among_California_High_School_Students
The Brain & Neurological Disorders
In a mouse model of stroke, the terpene beta-caryophyllene lowered damage to the white matter
β-Caryophyllene mitigates ischemic stroke-induced white matter lesions by inhibiting pyroptosis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014482724003057
In a mouse & neural tissue model of Alzheimer's disease, this thesis project looked at the protective effects of THC & CBD
Elucidating the Cytoprotective Effects of the Phytocannabinoids, Cannabidiol and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, and the Role of Epigenetics in Models of Alzheimer’s Disease
https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/797f4e74-014c-4fa4-bea0-94eab628eeb9/content
In a neural assay, CBD was neuroprotective but there was no help from adding the other drugs valproate, furosemide, metformin & bilobalide
Preliminary evaluation of the neuroprotective activity of Cannabidiol in combination with some current medicinal drugs in vitro
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383305011_Preliminary_evaluation_of_the_neuroprotective_activity_of_Cannabidiol_in_combination_with_some_current_medicinal_drugs_in_vitro
In neuronal tissue, how a synthetic cannabinoid stimulated angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels)
Effect of EMB-FUBINACA on brain endothelial cell angiogenesis: Expression analysis of angiogenic markers
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00210-024-03322-1
For long-term synaptic plasticity (a vital brain mechanism of learning), activating the CB1 receptor modulated synaptic plasticity via the actomyosin cytoskeleton
Actomyosin-mediated inhibition of synaptic vesicle release under CB1R activation
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-024-03017-4
Epilepsy
In children with convulsions, the high efficacy of very low doses of CBD
Use of Cannabinoids Without Psychotropic Effect on Treatment of Neurological Disorders
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-63677-6_8
For refractory (hard-to-treat) epilepsy, a meta-analysis of six randomized control trials found the optimal dosage to be ~20 mg/kg/day
Comparison of various doses of oral cannabidiol for treating refractory epilepsy indications: a network meta-analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38994494/
In a meta-analysis of epilepsy, CBD use was linked to meaningful reductions in seizure frequency but also an increased risk of adverse events & a higher incidence of treatment withdrawal
Exploring the efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in individuals with epilepsy: an umbrella review of meta-analyses and systematic reviews
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10787-024-01523-x
Huge levels of CBD can cause lethargy & gut upset. For some people it's worth it & for others, it's not. But CBD certainly does seem worth trying...
In a mouse model of epilepsy, a drug that activates the CB2 receptor lessened seizures, neuroinflammation & epilepsy-associated depression
Cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist AM1241 alleviates epileptic seizures and epilepsy-associated depression via inhibiting neuroinflammation in a pilocarpine-induced chronic epilepsy mouse model
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1044743124000435
In a rat model of tremors, activating the CB1 receptor exacerbated the electrophysiology function while blocking the CB1 receptor protected it
Modulation of CB1 cannabinoid receptor alters the electrophysiological properties of cerebellar Purkinje cells in harmaline-induced essential tremor
https://www.ibroneuroreports.org/article/S2667-2421(24)00075-7/fulltext
Mental Health & Addictions
In people with PTSD & chronic pain, a predictor of adverse cannabis outcomes was higher levels of PTSD symptoms
Posttraumatic stress symptoms moderate the relationship between chronic pain and adverse cannabis outcomes: A pilot study
https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/241
In people with early psychosis, ways of helping them reduce cannabis usage
The Whys and Wherefores of Reducing Cannabis Use in Early Psychosis: A Qualitative Study of Service Users’ Experiences of Quitting and the Support
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15504263.2024.2369517
Public health data showed higher THC levels linked to increased diagnoses of harmful cannabis use or cannabis use disorder
Can the THC concentration predict the number of patients with cannabis-related diagnoses?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39164975/
In a survey of people's harms from the alcohol or drug use of others, the most prevalent was for alcohol but those using cannabis had higher odds of reporting secondhand alcohol & opioid harms
Prevalence and correlates of alcohol and drug harms to others: Findings from the 2020 U.S. National Alcohol Survey
https://www.jsad.com/doi/10.15288/jsad.23-00387
“Lifetime prevalence of secondhand harms from alcohol, cannabis, opioid, or other drugs was 34.2%, 5.5%, 7.6%, and 8.3%, respectively. There was substantial overlap among lifetime harms: almost 30% of those reporting secondhand alcohol harms also reported secondhand drug harms… Those reporting family history of alcohol problems had significantly higher odds of reporting secondhand harms across substance types. Individuals who reported frequent cannabis use had higher odds of reporting secondhand alcohol and opioid harms compared to those with no cannabis use,… but lower odds of reporting secondhand cannabis harms.”
In Egyptians addicted to strox (smoking herbs sprayed with a variety of narcotics), they had higher levels of CB1 receptors, lower levels of the FAAH enzyme & genetic polymorphisms linked to the genes for FAAH & CB1
Relationship Between Cannabinoid Receptor one and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Genes Polymorphism, and Strox Abuse in an Egyptian Addict Sample
https://www.afjbs.com/uploads/paper/3724144fa8138c203f2fd18862bc8ea0.pdf
On barriers to seeking treatment for the problematic use of cannabis, alcohol or gambling
A mixed method study exploring similarities and differences in general and social services-specific barriers to treatment-seeking among individuals with a problematic use of alcohol, cannabis, or gambling
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-024-11304-5
“The qualitative data resulted in five general barriers: stigma, ambivalence, accessibility, fear of consequences, and lack of knowledge about addiction and its’ treatments, and three barriers specifically towards social services: social services reputation, fear of meeting acquaintances, and lack of knowledge.”
In Canadian healthcare providers, they reported the positive impacts of legalization relating to clinical care & cannabis safety but concerns with increased rates of cannabis use & risks to mental health
“Like the Wild West”: Health care provider perspectives on impacts of recreational cannabis legalization on patients and providers at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Ontario, Canada
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949875924001991
In a case report on ethical dilemmas, balancing confidentiality with a case of schizophrenia & cannabis use disorder with homicidal thoughts
The Ethical Dilemma of Balancing Confidentiality and Duty to Protect: A Case Report of Comorbid Schizophrenia and Cannabis Use Disorder with Homicidal Thoughts
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38974070/
In young adult rats, using CBD or ketamine to delay early drug or alcohol initiation
Cannabidiol or ketamine for preventing the impact of adolescent early drug initiation on voluntary ethanol consumption in adulthood
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1448170/full
In a rat model of fear, a thesis project showed that high doses of oxytocin or low doses of THC reduced their freezing
Impact of Oxyt Impact of Oxytocin and T ocin and Tetrahydrocannabinol on signs of f ocannabinol on signs of fear in the rat
https://dc.ewu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1920&context=theses
In a mouse model of depression from maternal separation, the terpene beta-caryophyllene improved depressive behaviors & lowered oxidative stress & inflammation in the hippocampus
Antidepressant potential of β-caryophyllene in maternal separation-induced depression-like in mice: A focus on oxidative stress and nitrite levels
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266703132400099X
Pain & Surgeries
In the chronic pain patients of Maine, an analysis of their cannabis usage since legalization
Characterization of Cannabis Usage in Individuals with NonCancer Chronic Pain in the State of Maine Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4739436/v1/69be356c-7b4d-4736-ad30-adb93add4ea8.pdf
Guts, Metabolism & Oral Health
For two major oral pathogens (S. mutans & P. gingivalis), a thesis project on CBD's antibacterial activities against them
Antibacterial Activities of Cannabidiol Against Two Major Oral Pathogens
https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/items/35c865f4-28db-4c5e-b57e-1eebe576252b
In a zebrafish model of toxic exposure to di-n-hexyl phthalate, probiotics helped to modulate the endocannabinoid system & the gut-brain axis to counteract the harmful alterations
Investigating the modulation of the endocannabinoid system by probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC513 in a zebrafish model of di-n-hexyl phthalate exposure
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-70053-x
In a model of the intestines, eating the terpene limonene caused protective effects via blocking of the CB1 receptor
Dietary limonene promotes gastrointestinal barrier function via upregulating tight/adherens junction proteins through cannabinoid receptor type-1 antagonistic mechanism and alters cellular metabolism in intestinal epithelial cells
https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/biof.2106
Immune System & Microbial
Against MRSA (the staph infection that kills more people than AIDS each year), a nano-complex with CBD enhanced antimicrobial efficacy & promoted the repair of damaged tissues via antioxidation, angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) & cellular proliferation & migration
Multifunctional Chi-Ag@HMPB@CBD nanocomposites for eradicating multidrug-resistant bacteria and promoting diabetic damaged tissue repair
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1385894724065264
Against the parasite Leishmania tropica transmitted by the sand fly, an extract of cannabis & St. John's wort caused toxicity
Semen Cannabis and Oleum Hyperici: Antileishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383576924001016
Reproduction & Hormones
A survey on why pregnant people are using cannabis to self-treat health conditions
Reasons pregnant people use cannabis to self-treat health conditions during pregnancy: Results from a US population-based survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39169554/
And on cannabis screening practices around pregnancy & labor
Perceptions, barriers, and facilitators of cannabis screening during pregnancy and labor: A qualitative study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772724624000581
On cannabis & breastfeeding, an examination of the data to support health equity
Reconsidering Breastfeeding Recommendations in the Context of Cannabis Use to Support Health Equity
https://www.jognn.org/article/S0884-2175(24)00256-9/fulltext
In pregnant & breastfeeding women, their health problems mediate the effects of adverse childhood experiences on the frequency of cannabis use
Health Problems Mediate the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on the Frequency of Cannabis Use in a Sample of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/08862605241270084
In mice with prenatal CBD exposure, they had alterations to their adult insular cortex
Gestational CBD shapes insular cortex in adulthood
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38979171/
The Heart
In people with methamphetamine-associated psychotic disorder, cannabis users had a higher risk for cardiovascular disease
Ten-year cardiovascular disease risk and related factors in lifetime marijuana use with comorbid methamphetamine-associated psychotic disorder: a QRISK®3 study
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-024-06018-1
In a mouse model of heart problems from diabetes, the terpene beta-caryophyllene (which activates the CB2 receptor) significantly improved glucose tolerance, insulin resistance & protected the heart
Cannabinoid 2 receptor activation protects against diabetic cardiomyopathy through inhibition of AGE/RAGE-induced oxidative stress, fibrosis, and inflammasome activation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38955492/
The Genitourinary System
In a mouse model of kidney damage from arsenic poisoning, pretreatment with CBD reversed the kidney inflammation, oxidative stress & apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Cannabidiol attenuates arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity via the NOX4 and NF-κB pathways in mice
https://journals.lww.com/rips/fulltext/2024/19040/cannabidiol_attenuates_arsenic_induced.8.aspx
Cancer & Chemotherapy
A review of the complicated literature on health care providers communicating about cannabis use to adults with cancer
State of the Science: Health Care Provider Communication of Cannabis Use Among Adults Living with Cancer
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13187-024-02484-z
In lymphatic cancer cells, CBD, CBG & CBDV all caused genotoxic effects
Genotoxicity of selected cannabinoids in human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00204-024-03826-y
In melanoma cells, a drug that inhibits both anandamide reuptake & the FAAH enzyme (which would raise anandamide levels) increased the toxicity power of the common cancer treatment drugs docetaxel, paclitaxel & mitoxantrone but not cisplatin
Antiproliferative effects of LY-2183240 combined with various chemotherapeutic drugs in an isobolographic in vitro model of malignant melanoma
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299924006265
In eye cancer cells (uveal melanoma), lowering levels of the MAGL enzyme (which produces 2-AG) inhibited proliferation, invasion & migration
The role of monoglyceride lipase gene in promoting proliferation, metastasis, and free fatty acid accumulation in uveal melanoma cells
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13577-024-01120-8
In cervical cancer, the terpene beta-caryophyllene inhibited their proliferation & autophagy (cellular recycling)
Beta-Caryophyllene can inhibit the proliferation and autophagy of HPV16-infected immortalized cervical epithelial cells
https://oss.ejgo.net/files/article/20240815-1626/pdf/EJGO2024031101.pdf
Synthetic Cannabinoids
When synthesizing hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHCP), an analysis of the side products produced
Isolation and characterization of synthesis intermediates and side products in hexahydrocannabiphorol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38948934/
A new way to test for the indazole family of synthetic cannabinoids
Generation of High-Affinity Aptamers for Indazole Synthetic Cannabinoids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38970811/
And a new synthesis method using methyl indazole-3-carboxylate
Direct and selective alkylation of indazole-3-carboxylic acid for the preparation of synthetic cannabinoids and metabolites
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468170924000559
Cool Chemistry & Tools
Using hemp seed oil to create CBD oleosomes (lipid droplets)
Encapsulation of cannabidiol in hemp seed oleosomes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996924010184
Creating a CBD/alcohol hydrogel for extended-release
Design, characterization, and release profile of a cannabidiol (CBD)-rich polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/ma/d4ma00398e
On making a bioelectric sensor for detecting cannabinoid binding
Bioelectronic sensing platform emulating the human endocannabinoid system for assessing and modulating of cannabinoid activity
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956566324006924
And on creating a liver-on-chip system for analyzing the toxicology of CBD-rich cannabis extracts
Human quad liver-on-chip system as a tool toward bridging the gap between animals and humans regarding toxicology and pharmacology of a cannabidiol-rich cannabis extract
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01480545.2024.2388292
On producing different analogs of CBD & THC with the Diels-Alder reaction (is this your flashback to organic chemistry?)
Asymmetric Synthesis of (-)-Cannabidiol (CBD), (-)-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and Their cis Analogs Using an Enantioselective Organocatalyzed Diels-Alder Reaction
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38990710/
Or how about the old Pickering catalysis of a THC scaffold?
Modified Pickering Catalysis: Green Transfer Hydrogenation of the Trisubstituted Olefin of Tetrahydocannabinol
https://chemrxiv.org/engage/api-gateway/chemrxiv/assets/orp/resource/item/66c4eb0af3f4b05290819aa0/original/modified-pickering-catalysis-green-transfer-hydrogenation-of-the-tri-substituted-olefin-of-tetrahydocannabinol.pdf
For inhibitors of the MAGL enzyme (which produces 2-AG), a study of how changing their structure altered their activity
Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Aryl Sulfoxides as Reversible Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38988250/
The dynamics of the CB1 & CB2 receptors binding with CBD
Computationally Rationalising the Conformational Dynamics of Pseudo-Endocannabinoid Receptors CB1 and CB2 with Cannabidiol
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202408.0976/v1
#PornForBiochemists
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For this week’s enchanting baritone, ‘The Best of Frank Nagai’. A Japanese singer who rose to fame in the ‘50s, he spent decades pumping out hit albums until 1985. But then he suffered brain damage from an attempted suicide after his lover bore an illegitimate child. So it goes. Check out his cover of ‘16 Tons’.
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