This week…
Positive parenting with cannabis!
Cannabis for fibromyalgia (again)
CBD for children with seizures from Zika
For lower back pain, cannabis edibles
For acne, a cannabis topical & for acne inversa, cannabis
For knee osteoarthritis, a topical hemp seed oil
Good news for cannabis heart health
Skin reactions to topical cannabis
The weed killers CBD & CBDV
Cannabis for killing ticks & your dog’s worms
Two film clips (African Queen & Fight Club – can you find them?)
Cocaine sharks detected in Brazilian waters
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 117th 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.
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CV Sciences Canna-Edu Vids:
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Oleoylethanolamide: the anti-hunger endocannabinoid (very proud of this deep dive)
The isomers of THC (repost of a hit video)
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Best Of Cannabinoid Science...
A big tranche of cannabis research abstracts from the 2024 Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Marijuana
Abstracts from the 2024 Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Marijuana July 19th -21st, 2024
https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/296
Clinical
Parents tend to do more positive parenting when using cannabis (he says with gusto!)
Examining the Context of Cannabis Use and Parenting: An Exploratory Ecological Momentary Assessment Study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15295192.2024.2394656
I am not the emotionally intelligent parent in the house (my wife is a therapist), but if I ‘go to the basement’, I can slow down & better process my kid’s overwhelming feelings with them & keep my own patience while they’re acting out a big emotional discharge.
And on the related topic of marriage, sometimes when I am being … more than my usually ornery self, my wife will ask me, ‘don’t you want to go to the basement?’.
In children with seizures from Zika virus syndrome, CBD reduced seizures, increased motor skills & improved quality of life
Evaluation of The Therapeutic Use of Cannabidiol in Children With Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome
https://rgsa.openaccesspublications.org/rgsa/article/view/8815
In patients with fibromyalgia, a low dose of cannabis lowered pain intensity & improved mental state (also includes a review of 10 previous clinical trials)
Is a Low Dosage of Medical Cannabis Effective for Treating Pain Related to Fibromyalgia? A Pilot Study and Systematic Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39064128/
And in a mouse model of fibromyalgia, electroacupuncture altered the CB1 receptor levels & reduced the hypersensitivity to pain
Electroacupuncture alters cannabinoid receptor 1 and transient receptor potential V1 expression on individual brain regions in a mouse fibromyalgia model
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4653222/v1
In people with Alzheimer's disease, 3 months of CBD oil reduced their neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as caregiver distress
Treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease with a cannabis-based magistral formulation: An open-label prospective cohort study
https://karger.com/mca/article-pdf/doi/10.1159/000541364/4277119/000541364.pdf
In people with rheumatic diseases, switching them to cannabis from their current medications was associated with higher symptom improvements (including pain, sleep, anxiety, and joint stiffness) & fewer adverse effects
Substituting Medical Cannabis for Medications Among Patients with Rheumatic Conditions in the United States and Canada
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39236308/
In people in palliative cancer care, two weeks of CBD made them feel better & THC reduced their pain scores
CLINICAL STUDIES OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN PALLIATIVE CARE – THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RESEARCH PROGRAM
https://spcare.bmj.com/content/bmjspcare/14/Suppl_3/A36.1.full.pdf
In people with lower back pain, two weeks of cannabis edibles led to pain relief with higher THC levels linked to greater pain reduction
Edible cannabis for chronic low back pain: associations with pain, mood, and intoxication
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1464005/full
In people with knee osteoarthritis, a topical hemp seed oil for 2 months improved pain, physical function & perceived knee stiffness
Effect of Topical Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seed Oil on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1524904224002297
In people using medical cannabis for the first time, after three months they reported rapid & significant improvements on quality of life measurements including “physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health problems, emotional well-being, role limitations due to emotional problems, bodily pain, social functioning, energy/fatigue & general health”
Changes in health-related quality of life over the first three months of medical marijuana use
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-024-00245-9
In rare good heart news, public health data showed that for people admitted to the hospital with a heart attack, “cannabis use was associated with lower risks of cardiogenic shock [inadequate blood flow to the organs], acute ischaemic stroke, cardiac arrest, PCI use [percutaneous coronary intervention, a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked coronary arteries], and in-hospital mortality”
Unmasking the cannabis paradox: in-hospital outcomes of cannabis users admitted with acute myocardial infarction over a 20-year period in the United States
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39086618/
In public health data, areas with medical & recreational cannabis access saw significant reductions in benzodiazepine dispensing
Cannabis Laws and Utilization of Medications for the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2823248
In people with acne, a CBD acne cream with benzoyl peroxide performed as well as the standard treatment of clindamycin gel with benzoyl peroxide
Comparative Study on the Effectiveness and Safety of 0.13% CBD Acne Cream with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide versus 1% Standardized Clindamycin Gel with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Randomized Controlled Trial
https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)01695-5/fulltext
In patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa – skin lesions & painful nodules), this review of 6 studies & 34k patients found “efficacy in pain management, sleep, anxiety relief, itch relief, and improved quality of life”
Evaluation of Cannabis-Related Product Use Among Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Narrative Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39082368/
And an analysis of their misuse of cannabis, opioids & alcohol is locked behind a paywall
JAAD Game Changers: Opioid, alcohol, and cannabis misuse among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: A population-based analysis in the United States
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39047983/
In youth at a high risk for psychosis, occasional cannabis use was associated with higher IQ & social functioning
Occasional cannabis use is associated with higher premorbid functioning and IQ in youth at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis: Parallel findings to psychosis cohorts
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39084107/
For chronic pain in a frail dog, a combination of PEA & quercetin improved pain & quality of life
Combining co-ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide and quercetin with physical therapy and acupuncture for chronic pain in a frail patient: a case report in a dog
https://www.cureus.com/abstracts/1323-combining-co-ultramicronized-palmitoylethanolamide-and-quercetin-with-physical-therapy-and-acupuncture-for-chronic-pain-in-a-frail-patient-a-case-report-in-a-dog
Harms
In a study that made headlines, a higher risk for head & neck cancer among people with a cannabis-related disorder
Cannabis Use and Head and Neck Cancer
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39115834/
In vaping devices, the conditions leading to ketene formation (a highly poisonous gas & a potential culprit in the e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) outbreak)
Conditions Leading to Ketene Formation in Vaping Devices and Implications for Public Health
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39078936/
“Our results confirmed the formation of ketene when VEA [vitamin E acetate] was vaped. The production of ketene increased with repeat puffs and showed a correlation to temperatures (200 to 500 °C) measured within vaping devices. Device battery power strength, which affects the heating temperature, plays an important role in ketene formation. In addition to ketene, the organic oxidant duroquinone was also obtained as another thermal degradation product of VEA.”
In a 5 year study of first-episode psychosis, the relationship with cannabis was complex & varied significantly but “persistent and severe cannabis use was associated with worse outcomes”
Joint-trajectories of clinical severity, social functioning and cannabis use in first-episode psychosis: A 5-year longitudinal study in 2 urban early intervention services
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178124004694
Clinical guidelines on the potential liver harms from CBD
Clinical guidance for cannabidiol-associated hepatotoxicity: A narrative review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39228144/
A review of skin reactions from cannabis, classic psychedelics & MDMA
Trips Through the Skin: Reviewing Cutaneous Drug Reactions to Psychedelics and Hallucinogens
https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)02425-3/fulltext
“Among cannabis-related reactions, the most common reaction was type I hypersensitivity (n=8), with contact urticaria occurring in 3 cases, and an additional 3 cases that mimicked contact dermatitis. Three patients reported type IV hypersensitivity reactions to cannabis or cannabis-derived oils, all of whom experienced vesicular contact dermatitis. Two additional patients presented with an erythema-multiforme-like reaction and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis.”
A review of severe presentations of cannabis toxicity in a pediatric intensive care unit
Severe Presentations of Cannabis Toxicity in a PICU
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00099228241278581
In calming herb blends labeled as “blue lotus” or “valerian root”, 65 toxicology cases are linked to them actually containing synthetic cannabinoids
Synthetic Cannabinoid Identification in Cases Associated with Blue Lotus and Valerian Root
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39082147/
Case Reports
A fatal case report of a young woman with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome who died from a cardiac arrhythmia brought on by the vomiting
Death of a young woman with cyclic vomiting: a case report
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12024-021-00410-z
A case report of intense cannabis use leading to acute eosinophilic pneumonia with symptoms of acute chest pain, cough & shortness of breath
A rare discovery of acute eosinophilic pneumonia associated with intensive cannabis use: Case report
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043324008343
A case report of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome when someone switched from cannabis to CBD
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Presumed Secondary to CBD Use: A Case Report
https://journals.lww.com/journaladdictionmedicine/abstract/9900/cannabinoid_hyperemesis_syndrome_presumed.375.aspx
And another case report of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
Emesis Ad Nauseum: A Case Report of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Urgent Care
https://www.jucm.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-181113-18-Case-Report.pdf
A case report of someone with alcohol use disorder & cirrhosis who developed sudden onset shortness of breath while smoking cannabis, probably due to lactic acidosis (excess lactic acid levels)
Possible cannabinoid-induced lactic acidosis requiring emergent dialysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39071201/
A case report of synthetic cannabinoid use leading to seizures & elevated levels of troponin (evidence of heart muscle damage)
Elevated Troponin Levels and Seizures Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid Use: A Case Report
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/2024/talks/12/
A case of rat poisoning from a contaminated batch of synthetic cannabinoids
Management of Rodenticide Poisoning Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoids
https://www.mdedge9-ma1.mdedge.com/content/management-rodenticide-poisoning-associated-synthetic-cannabinoids
Reviews
For THC & terpenes, a review of their synergies
White Paper on Maximizing Therapeutic Outcomes: Synergistic Effects of Terpenes and THC in Medical Cannabis
https://bazelet-tech.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bazelet.Whitepaper_Max.Therp_.Outcomes_AUG24.pdf
A review of CBD for dentistry
Unleashing the therapeutic role of cannabidiol in dentistry
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212426824001258
For drug-resistant pathogens, a review of the cannabinoids
Cannabinoids from C. sativa L.: Systematic Review on Potential Pharmacological Effects against Infectious Diseases Downstream and Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9879/4/3/33
“Findings revealed that cannabinoids, especially CBD, demonstrate significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria like MRSA, Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, various Candida species, SARS-CoV-2, and HIV. Additionally, CBD showed efficacy against parasitic infections like Echinococcus granulosus and Leishmania species. These results suggest that cannabinoids may represent a new class of antimicrobial agents with unique and diverse mechanisms of action, potentially effective in broad-spectrum therapies.”
Relatedly, against MRSA (the antibiotic-resistant staph infection), cannabis essential oil worked better when it also contained the terpene beta-caryophyllene
Cannabis sativa L. essential oil: chemical characterisation and antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14786419.2024.2398733
For treating pain, a review of the cannabinoids & next-generation drugs for modulating endocannabinoid signaling
Analgesic properties of next generation modulators of endocannabinoid signaling: leveraging modern tools for the development of novel therapeutics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39060165/
For Parkinson's disease, a review of the neuroprotective effects via the endocannabinoid system
Potential Neuroprotective Effect of the Endocannabinoid System on Parkinson's Disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39104613/
And in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease, activation of the CB2 receptor was necessary for the neuroprotective effects (though not on the peripheral immune cells)
Activation of central cannabinoid type 2 receptors, but not on peripheral immune cells, is required for endocannabinoid-mediated neuroprotection in Parkinson´s disease
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4752464/v1/645d9cfa-6898-4ff1-ba87-5f7b94cb7f11.pdf?c=1725825063
For stress, nausea & vomiting, the signaling of the endocannabinoid system
Endocannabinoid signaling in stress, nausea, and vomiting
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39223918/
A review of the CB2 receptor in inflammatory disease (with great charts!)
The Impact of the CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor in Inflammatory Diseases: An Update
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39064959/
And a review of targeting the CB2 receptor for nervous system diseases
Emerging roles of cannabinoid receptor CB2 receptor in the central nervous system: therapeutic target for CNS disorders
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-024-06683-w
And a patent review of modulators of the CB2 receptor
Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) modulators: A patent review (2016–2024)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045206824006801
On opportunities & research gaps and cannabinoid signaling by the head of NIDA Dr. Nora Volkow (the granddaughter of Trotsky)
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Signaling: Research Gaps and Opportunities
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39060161/
And a review of protein chaperones for regulating the levels of cannabinoid & opioid receptors
Regulation of cannabinoid and opioid receptor levels by endogenous and pharmacological chaperones
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39103231/
Preclinical
In a rat model of bone loss due to menopause, CBD increased the bone mineral density, increased the bone matrix & improved the mechanical properties
Effects of Cannabidiol on Bone Quality in Ovariectomized Rats
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00223-024-01281-6
And in bone stem cells, activation of the CB1 receptor enhanced their differentiation potential towards bone growth
CB1 Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation Potential of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells by Enhancing Mitochondrial Transfer of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39221983/
In a mouse model of chronic pain, the combination of CBD & the terpene beta-caryophyllene worked synergistically to reduce their hypersensitivity to mechanical & thermal pain
Phytocannabinoids in Combination: Chronic Pain
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/2024/talks/7/
In a mouse model of neuropathic pain, CBD improved the pain & associated depression via changes to five core genes
Neuromolecular and behavioral effects of cannabidiol on depressive-associated behaviors and neuropathic pain conditions in mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028390824003228
In a mouse model of asthma, high-CBD extracts reduced inflammatory cytokine secretion & white blood cells infiltrating lung tissues
CBD-X Extracts in Asthma Management: Reducing Th2-Driven Cytokine Secretion and Neutrophil/Eosonophil Activity
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202409.0963/v1#
And in a mouse model of lung damage from silica, CBD lessened the inflammation & fibrosis (scarring) via inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway
Cannabidiol suppresses silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis through regulating NLRP3/TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1567576924016096
In a rat model of traumatic brain injury, CBD protected their testes from the usual inflammation & apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Cannabidiol inhibits the express of apoptosis-related proteins in the testis of rats with traumatic brain injury
http://wprim.whocc.org.cn/admin/article/articleDetail?WPRIMID=1047125&articleId=1068178
In a mouse model of schizophrenia, CBD reversed behaviors & prevented abnormalities to the hippocampus & prefrontal cortex
Multi-level therapeutic actions of cannabidiol in ketamine-induced schizophrenia psychopathology in male rats
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-024-01977-1
In a rat model of inflammatory pain, PEA combined well with NSAIDs to reduce pain & to allow for a 10x reduction in NSAID levels
Synergistic effect of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide and NSAIDs in inflammatory pain
https://www.cureus.com/abstracts/1324-synergistic-effect-of-ultramicronized-palmitoylethanolamide-and-nsaids-in-inflammatory-pain
In a mouse model of psoriasis, a CBD topical reduced inflammation, skin cell hyperproliferation & psoriasis scores
Cannabidiol Alleviates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis by Inhibiting JAK2–STAT3 in a Mouse Model
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/9/2084
In a mouse model of the mitochondrial disease Leigh syndrome, CBD extended lifespan, delayed motor decline & neurogeneration, improved social deficits & breathing abnormalities, decreased thermally induced seizures & improved neuropathology via the PPAR receptors (regulators of genetic transcription)
Cannabidiol ameliorates mitochondrial disease via PPARγ activation in preclinical models
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51884-8
In a mouse model of fentanyl addiction, the inhalation of CBD lowered their neuroinflammatory response & protected the cells
Cannabidiol reverses fentanyl-induced addiction and modulates neuroinflammation
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.07.20.604441v1.abstract
And in a mouse model of opioid use disorder, negative allosteric modulation of the CB1 receptor (also a function of CBD) by the drug GAT358 decreased intravenous morphine self-administration & relapse
Negative allosteric modulation of CB1 cannabinoid receptor signalling decreases intravenous morphine self-administration and relapse in mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39109814/
In a tissue model of Alzheimer's disease, cannabis extracts caused neuroprotection & inhibition of plaque aggregation
Medicinal cannabis extracts are neuroprotective against Aβ1-42-mediated toxicity in vitro
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39243211/
Novel Studies
(my new grab bag section for stuff I haven’t quite seen before)
In the projected hand illusion for measuring space-time effects (with a potential relationship to schizophrenia), nabilone (a synthetic pharmaceutical analogue of THC) increased the binding window for some but widened it for others
Multi-modal and bi-directional effects of a synthetic Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) analogue, Nabilone, on spatio-temporal binding windows: Evidence from the projected hand illusion
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0309614
To be honest, I don’t quite know what they mean here & didn’t care enough to dig very deep, but unsurprisingly, people’s sense of embodiment & time sensation get altered in different ways from cannabinoids.
In a rat model of aggressive behavior & dental health, the more cannabis they received, the more aggressive & the greater plaque accumulation & gum inflammation
Effects of Cannabis on Aggressive Behaviour and Dental Health An Animal Model
https://esutjss.com/index.php/ESUTJSS/article/view/223
Whoever thought to combine these two research questions?
Against the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus linnaei, a carrier of various diseases), immersing them in cannabis extract erupted their salivary glands
Cannabis sativa (Linnaeus, 1753): The use of its extract against Rhipicephalus linnaei (Audouin, 1826) ticks
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401724002036
For deworming animals, on the potential of cannabis
Perspectives on the Deworming Effect of Cannabis sativa in Companion and Production Animals
https://uniquescientificpublishers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/traditional-medicine/174-179.pdf
As bioherbicides (weed killers), CBD & CBDV showed the most promise
Discovering Novel Bioherbicides: The Impact of Hemp-derived Phytocannabinoid Applications on Zea mays L. and Relevant Weeds
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10343-024-01011-w
The medical leech has the endocannabinoid enzyme FAAH! (maybe that’s why we used them to bleed people for so long?)
Characterization of a Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) in Hirudo Verbana
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39093361/
“If there's anything in the world I hate, it's leeches. Oooh, the filthy little devils.” - Charlie Allnut
Are cannabinoids produced by the Jamaican nettle tree (Trema micranthum)? Probably not, but the controversy continues
Does Trema micranthum (L.) Blume Produce Cannabinoids?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39065478/
the Headlines & Fav Articles
Against the unpopular new California rule banning any cannabinoid products with a detectable amount of THC, a number of hemp industry members filed a lawsuit to overturn the regulation
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/cheech-and-chongs-company-sues-to-overturn-new-california-hemp-product-ban-that-took-effect-this-week
Georgia restricts the sale of CBD & intoxicating hemp derivatives to those 21+
https://hemptoday.net/georgia-law-that-restricts-cbd-and-intoxicating-hemp-products-goes-into-effect-oct-1
The Reason Foundation released a framework for the regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoids
https://reason.org/policy-brief/a-framework-for-federal-and-state-hemp-derived-cannabinoid-regulation/
International
In the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Justice proposed allowing for the personal cultivation of cannabis
https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/domaci-vypestovat-si-tri-kytky-konopi-bude-legalni-navrhlo-ministerstvo-40490138
On the Nepali push towards cannabis decriminalization
Current Status of Cannabis Legalization and Decriminalization Efforts in Nepal
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2147/SAR.S466728
On the considerations of legalizing cannabis in Iran
Considerations before the legalization of recreational and medical cannabis in Iran
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876201824003307
A look at the current state of Switzerland’s cannabis-based medicine where any general practitioner may now be a prescriber
Cannabis-based medicines and medical fitness-to-drive: current legal issues in Switzerland
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39054993/
On the history of marketing cannabis-based food in Sweden
Hemp for Health: A Historical Perspective on the Marketing of Cannabis-Based Foods in Sweden
https://oro.open.ac.uk/99739/
The Laws, The War on Drugs & the End of Prohibition
The epidemiology of drug arrests in the US & the structural racism
Epidemiology of drug arrests in the United States: Evidence from the national survey on drug use and health, 2015–2019
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743524002135
FBI reports 200k arrested in the US for cannabis last year (and that number likely understated)
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/more-than-200000-people-were-arrested-over-marijuana-last-year-in-the-u-s-the-vast-majority-for-possession-new-fbi-report-shows
For driving safety, an analysis of three different cannabis policy designs (pharmaceutical, permissive & fiscal) showed that while permissiveness did not correlate with traffic fatality rate increases, that medicalization & fiscal operations do
Cannabis policy bundles and traffic fatalities in the American States over time
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39107991/
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
A review of the contested Stoned Ape theory (psychedelics playing a key role in the evolution of human consciousness)
Hallucinogenic mushrooms (Psilocybe, Hymenogastraceae) in the evolutive development of man's consciousness
https://www.sidalc.net/search/Record/rev-lilloa-ar-article-1889/Description
Cocaine sharks detected in Brazilian waters (movie surely coming soon…)
“Cocaine Shark”: First report on cocaine and benzoylecgonine detection in sharks
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724049477
Aha, of course, the movie already exists. And it looks ever worse than you’d imagine…
The Psychoactive Research
For people with depression, a comparison of psilocybin versus escitalopram (an SSRI) showed greater improvement in the psilocybin patients for psychosocial functioning, meaning in life & psychological connectedness
Effect of psilocybin versus escitalopram on depression symptom severity in patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder: observational 6-month follow-up of a phase 2, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00378-X/fulltext
For naturalistic psychedelic therapy, how the antidepressant response is linked to relaxation & subjective drug effects
Naturalistic psychedelic therapy: The role of relaxation and subjective drug effects in antidepressant response
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02698811241278873
For processing death, the differences between ayahuasca users & non-users on impermanence acceptance
Embracing Change: Impermanence Acceptance Mediates Differences in Death Processing Between Ayahuasca Users and Non-users
https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/tmeb3
A review of treating Alzheimer's disease with psilocybin
Psilocybin for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1420601/full
For people with severe headache attacks, low doses of psilocybin had limited effects on headache duration & severity but did decrease attack frequency by 50% in two participants
Low-dose psilocybin in short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks: results from an open-label phase Ib ascending dose study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39301810/
On DMT peak experiences & increases in well-being
Autonomic nervous system activity correlates with peak experiences induced by DMT and predicts increases in well-being
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811241276788
A small clinical study on the effects of oral harmine
A Phase 1 single ascending dose study of pure oral harmine in healthy volunteers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39301926/
A review of how classic psychedelics modulate the immune system
The immunomodulatory effects of classical psychedelics: A systematic review of preclinical studies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39251080/
For a case report of canine anxiety, low doses of 1cp-LSD decreased anxiety
Single-dose 1cp-LSD administration for canine anxiety: a pilot study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39287896/
A hypothesis of Haitian zombification being the result of tetrodotoxin intoxication
Is tetrodotoxin intoxication the cause of "zombi voice" in Haiti?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39093422/
In a mouse model of binge eating, a thesis project on the potential of LSD
The Potential of LSD in Treating Binge Eating: Findings from Two Different Experimental Designs in Mice
https://jyx.jyu.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/96982/URN%3ANBN%3Afi%3Ajyu-202409105863.pdf?sequence=1
The Plant & the History
Growing, Farming & Processing
A systematic review of cultivating cannabis
A systematic review of Cannabis sativa L. cultivation techniques: A comprehensive overview of tissue culture innovations and growth optimization
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669024015164
How does cannabis pollen disperse across the US?
Cannabis pollen dispersal across the United States
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-70633-x
Best trimming techniques for enhancing cannabinoid & terpene content
Optimization of Trimming Techniques for Enhancing Cannabinoid and Terpene Content in Medical Cannabis Inflorescences
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39015609/
On the best solvents for hemp processing
Natural deep eutectic solvents for efficient recovery of bioactive compounds from by-product of industrial hemp processing: Pretreatment, modeling and optimization
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669024015942
On changing plant growth by treatment with plasma-activated water, melatonin & nano-zinc
Changes on growth and secondary metabolite production in Cannabis sativa L. by simultaneous treatment of plasma activated water, melatonin and nano-zinc
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-4898263/v1
In micropropagation, the number of accumulated mutations is proportional to the number of subcultures
Somatic Mutation Accumulations in Micropropagated Cannabis Are Proportional to the Number of Subcultures
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39065436/
On an Internet of Things platform for growing cannabis
SmartGrow DataControl: An IoT architecture for the acquisition of environmental physiological parameters in Cannabis sativa cultivations
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352711024002504
Under salty conditions, the oxidative stress response of fiber hemp
Differential Oxidative Stress Management in Industrial Hemp (IH: Cannabis sativa L.) for Fiber under Saline Regimes
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/8/420
Flower development is mediated by the photoperiod & the hormone gibberellin
Inflorescence development in female cannabis plants is mediated by photoperiod and gibberellin
https://academic.oup.com/hr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/hr/uhae245/7748222
On mapping the most important elements in cannabis leaves
Elemental Analysis for the Optimization of Plant Secondary Metabolites Using Cannabis sativa as a Model Organism
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4921004/v1/aeddc18c-6c09-4ddb-a787-b5c4d1cc78db.pdf
An analysis of the growth properties of two THC-rich cultivars
Sink strength, nutrient allocation, cannabinoid yield and associated transcript profiles vary in two drug-type Cannabis chemovars
https://academic.oup.com/jxb/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jxb/erae367/7748251
Analysis of ten Moroccan landrace seeds
Genetic Characterization and Chemical Identification of Moroccan Cannabis sativa (L.) Seeds: Extraction, and In Vitro and In Silico Biological Evaluation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39065465/
And an analysis of South African landraces
Identification of Medicinal Cannabis landraces found in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
https://scholar.kyobobook.co.kr/article/detail/4010069795092
Genetic analysis of hemp for its cannabinoid biosynthesis genes
Genome-wide identification of cannabinoid biosynthesis genes in non-drug type Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivar
https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-024-00246-8
From the 20th European Meeting on Supercritical Fluids:
https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/895
On improving terpene extraction by altering the parameters of supercritical CO2
A systematic supercritical CO2 extraction study to produce terpene-rich and terpene-depleted cannabidiol fractions from hemp flowers
And using machine learning to predict the solubility of cannabinoids in supercritical CO2 extraction
Machine learning for predicting solubility of cannabinoids in supercritical carbon dioxide
A genetic analysis of the lectin receptor-like kinases which are important for stress resistance & plant growth
Genome-wide screening and bioinformatics analysis of Cannabis sativa LecRLK gene family
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39099349/
Food & Nutrition
An updated risk assessment for CBD in foods
Updated Risk Assessment of Cannabidiol in Foods based on Benchmark Dose-Response Modeling
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383143666_Updated_Risk_Assessment_of_Cannabidiol_in_Foods_based_on_Benchmark_Dose-Response_Modeling
“This updated risk assessment confirmed the Health-based Guidance Value (HBGV) of 10 mg/day based on human LOAEL [Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level].”
In cannabis tea, how much cannabinoids could you be getting?
Tea Prepared from Dried Cannabis: What Do We Drink?
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c05940
“Phytocannabinoid acids were transferred generally in a higher extent compared to their counterparts; in the case of Δ9-THC, it was only in the range of 0.4–1.9% of content in the Cannabis used. A dramatic increase of phytocannabinoids, mainly of the neutral species, occurred when cream was added during steeping, and the transfer of Δ9-THC into “tea” achieved a range of 53–64%. Under such conditions, drinking a 250 mL cup of such tea by a 70 kg person might lead to multiple exceedance of the Acute Reference Dose.”
On making canna-beer & the effect of alcohol levels on cannabinoid extraction
Influence of Ethanol Concentration on the Extraction of Cannabinoid and Volatile Compounds for Dry-Hemped Beer
https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/10/3/65
How two components in hemp hull fiber contribute to shaping the human gut microbiome
Hemp hull fiber and two constituent compounds , N-trans-caffeoyltyramine and N-trans-feruloyltyramine, shape the human gut microbiome in vitro
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39113742/
In broiler chickens, adding 3% hemp seed oil to their diets offered critical health benefits
Performance and Some Blood Biochemical Parameters of Broilers Fed Diets Containing Hemp Seed Oil
https://psj.gau.ac.ir/article_6950.html
In grazing dairy goats, supplementing their diet with hemp led to milk with higher levels of a number of fatty acids as well as enhanced milk nutritional characteristics
Diet supplementation with hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) inflorescences: effects on quanti-qualitative milk yield and fatty acid profile on grazing dairy goats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39118475/
A thesis project on hempseed cake & oil for laying hens
Evaluation of Hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.) Presscake and Oil on Production Performance, Amelioration of Fatty Liver Disease, and Feather Pecking in Laying Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)
https://dalspace.library.dal.ca/bitstream/handle/10222/84562/JessicaGill2024.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
Industrial Use
The sound absorption properties of hemp fiber types
Evaluation and Analysis of Sound Absorption across Various Types of Hemp Fibre
https://intapi.sciendo.com/pdf/10.2478/rtuect-2024-0022
Creating recycled concrete reinforced with hemp fiber
Flexural Fatigue Performance of Hemp Fiber–Reinforced Concrete Using Recycled Concrete Aggregates as a Sustainable Rigid Pavement
https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-18367
On using hempcrete & hemp plaster in a Moroccan residential building
Study of The Energy, Economic, Environmental, and Thermal Comfort Impact of The Integration of Hemp Concrete and Hemp Plaster in a Residential Building Envelope in Morocco.
https://semarakilmu.com.my/journals/index.php/arnht/article/view/9816
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
A book on anandamide & health
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Anandamide_in_Health_and_Disease/dmMeEQAAQBAJ
Public Health
On reasons why people tend to prefer legal versus illegal cannabis
Cannabis consumers’ preferences for legal and illegal cannabis: evidence from a discrete choice experiment
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-024-19640-1
“The likelihood of choosing legal cannabis increased with a higher quality, the presence of lab test, a shorter distance to seller, a higher tetrahydrocannabinol level, and a lower price. The likelihood of choosing illegal cannabis increased with a higher quality, a shorter distance to seller, and a lower price.”
Cannabis legalization not linked to increased prescription stimulant use
Recreational Cannabis Legalization: No Contribution to Rising Prescription Stimulants in the USA
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39084319/
For pharmacy students, their knowledge of cannabis use disorder in recreational versus non-recreational states
Understanding of pharmacy students' knowledge of cannabis use disorders in recreational vs non-recreational use states
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877129724002235
Adolescents & Young Adults
In adolescents with bipolar & cannabis use disorders, adding topiramate to their normal treatment (quetiapine & a Motivational Interview & Compliance Enhancement Therapy) caused a greater decrease in cannabis use & less weight gain
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Adjunctive Topiramate in Adolescents With Co-Occurring Bipolar and Cannabis Use Disorders
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949732924000590
Among Queer young adults, a thesis project on the nuances of consent & sex with cannabis
Communication, Consent, and Lube: A qualitative exploration of LGBTQ+ adults’ experiences combining cannabis and sex
https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1870&context=wwu_honors
Among bisexual & homosexual youth, an analysis of their cannabis & tobacco use
An Analysis of Tobacco and Marijuana Use by Middle School and High School Bisexual and Homosexual Students Surveyed by the National Youth Tobacco Survey From 2020 to 2022
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21501319241276790
Beliefs about blunts among young people
Knowledge and beliefs about blunts among youth in the United States
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335524002997
Why young adults used more cannabis during COVID
A qualitative study of experiences among young adults who increased their cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-19886-9
A German study on the success of a 2-hour cannabis prevention workshop for adolescents
School-based cannabis prevention: Results of a cluster-randomised trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39102842/
In adolescent rats, the effects of chronic cannabinoid exposure on schizophrenia-like behavior
Systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of chronic peri-adolescent cannabinoid exposure on schizophrenia-like behaviour in rodents
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39090371/
The Brain & Neurological Disorders
After inhaling THC, a profile of the proteins in the brain’s extracellular vesicles (EVs)
Proteomic Profile of Circulating Extracellular Vesicles in the Brain after Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Inhalation
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/9/1143
“Interestingly, circulating EV-localized proteins were differentially expressed based on acute or chronic THC exposure in a sex-specific manner. Taken together, these findings reveal that THC acts in the brain to modulate circulating EV signaling, thereby providing a novel understanding of how exogenous factors can regulate intercellular communication in the brain.”
In people with drug-resistant epilepsy, cannabis users had better energy scores
Quality of life and cannabis use among patients with drug-resistant epilepsy-An observational study from a Canadian tertiary care referral center
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39235763/
For Alzheimer's disease, a meta-analysis of the endocannabinoid system
The Endocannabinoid System in Alzheimer's Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jnr.25380
For neuroprotection, a review of the mechanisms used by the endocannabinoid system
The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Neuroprotection: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential
https://ecronicon.net/assets/ecne/pdf/ECNE-16-01171.pdf
In KCNT1-related epilepsy, a review on the efficacy of CBD, ketogenic diet & quinidine
Efficacy of anti-seizure medications and alternative therapies (ketogenic diet, CBD, and quinidine) in KCNT1-related epilepsy: A systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39093319/
In a mouse model of Gulf War illness, inhibiting the FAAH enzyme with URB597 corrected behavioral deficits & caused improvements to their microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain)
Targeting dysfunctional endocannabinoid signaling in a mouse model of Gulf War illness
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390824003113
In a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy, low doses of CBD did not change seizures when administered alone but combined well with the treatment drug levetiracetam
Subthreshold Cannabidiol Potentiates Levetiracetam in the Kainic Acid Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: A Pilot Study
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/9/1187
In mice with low levels of GABA, a drug to activate the CB1 receptor did not increase their addiction scores but ketamine did
Different development patterns of reward behaviors induced by ketamine and JWH-018 in striatal GAD67 knockdown mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39231788/
Mental Health & Addictions
In cannabis users, fMRI brain scans showed alterations to neural connectivity
Spatial Craving Patterns in Marijuana Users: Insights from fMRI Brain Connectivity Analysis with High-Order Graph Attention Neural Networks
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383872893_Spatial_Craving_Patterns_in_Marijuana_Users_Insights_from_fMRI_Brain_Connectivity_Analysis_with_High-Order_Graph_Attention_Neural_Networks
And in chronic cannabis users, they had alterations to the oscillations & neural connectivity of their visuospatial processing
Chronic Cannabis users exhibit altered oscillatory dynamics and functional connectivity serving visuospatial processing
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39087306/
Unsurprisingly, people chose to use less cannabis when they had next-day responsibilities such as a job interview or caring for the kids
Exploring the suitability of cannabis use with next-day responsibilities: A behavioral-economic and qualitative study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39251384/
For people with ADHD & cannabis use disorder, a small pilot of using amphetamine salts showed no significant difference in symptom reduction or cannabis abstinence, though they did have less cannabis use days
Extended-Release Mixed Amphetamine Salts for Comorbid Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder: A Pilot, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39051597/
In people with trauma, they had lower levels of CB1 receptors in their amygdala
Amygdala Cannabinoid 1 Receptor, Pain Response, and Emotional Numbing in Trauma-Exposed Individuals
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2823186
A scale for reasons why people quit using cannabis
Validation of the Reasons for Quitting Smoking Cannabis Scale Among People with Cannabis Use Disorder
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2024.2392508
Using AI to predict the moderation of cannabis use
Predicting cannabis use moderation among a sample of digital self-help subscribers: A machine learning study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871624013565
In a test of psychosis risk, those who used cannabis did not have any alterations to their ability to update their beliefs
Exploring the relationship between frequent cannabis use, belief updating under uncertainty and psychotic-like symptoms
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39114739/
In depression, a review of the effects of CBD on the P2X7 receptors & NLRP3 inflammasome pathway
P2X7 receptors from the perspective of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in depression: Potential role of cannabidiol
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354624001315
In a mouse model of insomnia, the terpene beta myrcene acted as a hypnotic sedative & reduced damage to neurons of the hypothalamus (a brain area managing sleep, temperature, hunger & thirst, mood & sex drive)
Beta-Myrcene as a Sedative–Hypnotic Component from Lavender Essential Oil in DL-4-Chlorophenylalanine-Induced-Insomnia Mice
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/9/1161
In a rat model of depression due to periodontitis, they had alterations to their endocannabinoid system
Microglial morphological/inflammatory phenotypes and endocannabinoid signaling in a preclinical model of periodontitis and depression
https://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12974-024-03213-5
Musculoskeletal, Pain & Surgeries
A review of the last three-decade hunt for CBD-derived painkillers
Analogues and Derivatives of Cannabidiol: Pharmacological Insights and Recent Efforts in the Search for Novel Drug Candidates for Inflammation and Pain -a Brief Review Over the Past 3 Decades
https://www.scielo.br/j/jbchs/a/G3jbqqVgXdVMQYYr7n7kz4L/?lang=en
A detailed look at pain patients in Minnesota’s restrictive medical cannabis programs using the lens of Deleuze & Guattari (French thinkers with a political bent)
Painful Subjects, Desiring Relief: Experiencing and Governing Pain in a Medical Cannabis Program
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39086269/
In a survey of Ohio medical cannabis patients, the majority said cannabis reduced their use of prescription painkillers as well as their use of other illicit drugs
Using Marijuana to Reduce the Use of Prescription Painkillers and Other Illicit Drugs: Results from an Ohio Survey
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4881903
An analysis of medical cannabis use in Illinois' Opioid Alternative Pilot Program (OAPP)
The Association of Medical Cannabis Use with Pain Levels and Opioid Use in Illinois' Opioid Alternative Pilot Program
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39069737/
For sedation requirements in endoscopic procedures, cannabis users required more propofol but had no other significant differences
Effects of Cannabis Use on Sedation Requirements for Endoscopic Procedures: A Replication Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39087994/
For people with traumatic injuries to their brachial plexus (an important nerve of the upper extremities), cannabis-based medicine did not improve their neuropathic pain by a clinically important margin
Does Cannabis-based Medicine Improve Pain and Sleep Quality in Patients With Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries? A Triple-blind, Crossover, Randomized Controlled Trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39115545/
In a tissue model of skeletal muscle injury, CBD improved inflammation & reduced oxidative stress
Effects of cannabidiol on AMPKα2/HIF-1α/BNIP3/NIX signaling pathway in skeletal muscle injury
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1450513/abstract
Guts, Metabolism & Oral Health
In young people using cannabis, they did not have greater chances of cavities but they did have greater chances of gingival bleeding
Cannabis use on gingival bleeding and caries experience among students
https://periodicos.sbu.unicamp.br/ojs/index.php/bjos/article/view/8676121
In adults getting fiber from hemp hulls, they experienced improvements to belly pain, gas, bloating & digestion-associated quality of life
An Upcycled Dietary Fiber Rich in Bioactives from Hemp Hulls Supports Digestive Comfort in Healthy Adults: Results from a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202409.0094/v1
In a mouse model of intestinal barrier injury with depression, lignans from the Traditional Chinese medicine Schisandra chinensis lowered depression & improved barrier integrity via the endocannabinoid system
Schisandra chinensis lignans regulate and cooperate with endogenous cannabinoid systems to ameliorate intestinal barrier injury associated with depression
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711324005877
In a tissue & rat model of obesity, THC & CBN inhibited the pancreatic lipase enzyme
The effects of Cannabis sativa and cannabinoids on the inhibition of pancreatic lipase – An enzyme involved in obesity
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332224012423
Immune System & Microbial
In a pilot of oral THC & CBD for people with HIV, they had a lot of trouble getting people enrolled
Feasibility of a Randomized, Interventional Pilot Clinical Study of Oral Cannabinoids in People with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy: CTNPT 028
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39063999/
A book chapter on how cannabis interacts with HIV
Marijuana and HIV
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-57369-9_9
A review of cannabinoids & the thymus gland (a key regulator of the immune system)
Exploring the interplay between cannabinoids and thymic functions
https://academic.oup.com/toxsci/advance-article/doi/10.1093/toxsci/kfae114/7754075
In a mouse model of endometriosis, an analysis of the endocannabinoid system’s involvement in disease progression & immune response
Endocannabinoids and their receptors modulate endometriosis pathogenesis and immune response
https://www.proquest.com/openview/1c2c6050085871f6ec0effdc9d8a9d22/1
Making antibiotic chitosan sponges by adding CBD & the drug violacein
Enhancing the porosity of chitosan sponges with CBD by adding antimicrobial violacein
https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)11420-X
In a mouse model of malaria, a drug to block the CB2 receptor modulated disease course but did not prevent lethality
Preclinical Assessment of a Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor Antagonist in a Murine Model of Cerebral Malaria
https://journal.trialanderror.org/pub/cannabinoid-malaria/release/1
In macrophages (a type of white blood cells), prostaglandin glyceryl esters are linked to higher levels of 2-AG & lower levels of its synthesizing enzyme DAGL
Temporal dissociation of COX-2-dependent arachidonic acid and 2-arachidonoylglycerol metabolism in RAW264.7 macrophages
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39098584/
“Cyclooxygenase-2 converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PGs) and the endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), to PG glyceryl esters (PG-Gs).”
Reproduction & Hormones
In Michigan, around 15% of pregnant people used cannabis during the pregnancy & this was associated with a smaller birth size
Estimating the effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on birth outcomes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39234978/
In early pregnancy, public health data showed psychiatric disorders & substance use disorders associated with elevated odds of frequent cannabis use or cannabis use disorder
Association of psychiatric and substance use disorders with cannabis use and cannabis use disorder during early pregnancy in northern California
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39082097/
On cannabis harm reduction during pregnancy
“I don’t need my kid to be high”: prioritizing harm reduction when using cannabis during pregnancy
https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-024-01046-2
In young adult rats with neonatal exposure to cannabinoids, they had impaired spatial memory & disrupted dendrites (the ‘ears’ of a neuron that listen to incoming signals from other neurons)
Neonatal Cannabidiol Exposure Impairs Spatial Memory and Disrupts Neuronal Dendritic Morphology in Young Adult Rats
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2024.0010
In rats fed diets high in linoleic acid, the offspring had changes to their brain fatty acids & blood endocannabinoid levels
Sex-Specific Changes to Brain Fatty Acids, Plasmalogen, and Plasma Endocannabinoids in Offspring Exposed to Maternal and Postnatal High-Linoleic-Acid Diets
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39063152/
The Heart
A book chapter on treating cardiometabolic diseases with non-psychoactive cannabinoids
Pharmacology of Non-Psychoactive Phytocannabinoids and Their Potential for Treatment of Cardiometabolic Disease
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/164_2024_731
The Lungs
In mice, acute binge alcohol activated the cannabinoid receptors, modulated their levels & increased lung inflammation
Alcohol activates cannabinoid receptor 1 and 2 in a model of pathogen induced pulmonary inflammation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378427424010981
Something about lungs & asthma locked behind a paywall
Impact of cannabinoid use on acute pulmonary outcomes in hospitalized patients with asthma
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39103120/
The Liver
In liver cells, CBD & hemp extracts altered hepatic function & metabolism
Effect of cannabidiol and hemp extract on viability and function of hepatocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887233324001632
In a mouse model of liver fibrosis (scarring), hemp sprout nanovesicles reduced oxidative stress, fibrosis markers & levels of gut barrier proteins & endotoxin levels
Hemp sprout-derived exosome-like nanovesicles as hepatoprotective agents attenuate liver fibrosis
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/bm/d4bm00812j/unauth
The Eyes
Despite growing interest in using CBD for dog eye diseases, there is not much evidence yet
Growing interest but limited evidence on the usefulness of cannabidiol in treating ophthalmic disease in dogs: a review
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/aop/javma.24.06.0360/javma.24.06.0360.xml
The Skin
In CBD & THC gels, the kinetics of their skin penetration
Skin deposition and permeation kinetics of cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol from cannabis extract containing gels
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1773224724008293
Cancer & Chemotherapy
In advanced cancer patients, cannabis use caused improvements in their subjective global assessments & stability in their nutritional scores
Assessing the Nutritional Impact of Cannabinoids in Patients with Advanced Cancer
http://archive.jibiology.com/id/eprint/2519/1/Preethi1692024EJNFS122243.pdf
In newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients (the most aggressive brain cancer), the cannabis users had a higher rate of neurological complications
Cannabis and Craniotomy for Glioblastoma: Impact on Complications and Health Care Utilization
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39111656/
For triple negative breast cancer, a review of treatment with cannabinoids
Exploring the Role of Phytocannabinoids in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Treatment: A Plant-Derived Medicine Approach
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383431284_Exploring_the_Role_of_Phytocannabinoids_in_Triple_Negative_Breast_Cancer_TNBC_Treatment_A_Plant-Derived_Medicine_Approach
In triple-negative breast cancer cells, CBD enhanced the efficacy of the treatment drug atezolizumab
Cannabidiol enhances Atezolizumab efficacy by upregulating PD-L1 expression via the cGAS–STING pathway in triple-negative breast cancer cells
https://aacrjournals.org/cancerimmunolres/article/doi/10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-23-0902/747763
In myeloma cancer cells, a CBD-rich extract reduced growth via regulation of the telomeres & cancer suppressor genes
Inhibition of Myeloma Cell Function by Cannabinoid-Enriched Product Associated With Regulation of Telomere and TP53
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15347354241267979
In leukemia cells, CBD, CBDV & a third cannabinoid termed 331-18A all decreased cell viability & increased apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Cannabinoid combination targets NOTCH1-mutated T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia through the integrated stress response pathway
https://elifesciences.org/articles/90854
In cancer cells, a drug that activates the CB1 & CB2 receptor inhibited cancer progression
Mechanistic insights into the impact of WIN 55, 212-2, a synthetic cannabinoid, on adhesion molecules PECAM-1 and VE-cadherin in HeLa cells: implications on cancer processes
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15376516.2024.2399132
Synthetic Cannabinoids
On the binding activities of cannabidiphorol (CBDP) compared to CBD
CBD Versus CBDP: Comparing In Vitro Receptor-Binding Activities
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39062976/
“A similar activity profile was observed for both CBD and CBDP, with the only notable difference at the CB2 receptor. Contrary to common expectations, CBD was found to be a slightly more potent CB2 antagonist than CBDP.”
On how humans metabolize 3 synthetic cannabinoids: Cumyl-CBMEGACLONE, Cumyl-NBMEGACLONE & Cumyl-NBMINACA
Human phase-I metabolism of three synthetic cannabinoids bearing a cumyl moiety and a cyclobutyl methyl or norbornyl methyl tail: Cumyl-CBMEGACLONE, Cumyl-NBMEGACLONE, and Cumyl-NBMINACA
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39218806/
On detecting the synthetic cannabinoids in the breath using a pig lung model
Development and method validation of a sampling technique for a reproducible detection of synthetic cannabinoids in exhaled breath using an in vitro pig lung model
https://academic.oup.com/jat/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jat/bkae078/7754320?redirectedFrom=fulltext
On detecting synthetic cannabinoids in illegal vapes
Detection and quantification of synthetic cannabinoids in seven illicitly sourced disposable vapes submitted by an individual presenting to a UK drug and alcohol service
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39256058/
Cool Chemistry & Tools
Using fluorescence to measure enzymes that breakdown endocannabinoids
Fluorescence-Based Enzyme Activity Assay: Ascertaining the Activity and Inhibition of Endocannabinoid Hydrolytic Enzymes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39062935/
New inhibitors of the MALG enzyme based on naphthyl amide
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of naphthyl amide derivatives as reversible monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39106652/
Photoswitchable CB2 receptors
Benzimidazole-Based Photoswitches and Photoswitchable Cannabinoid 2 Receptor Ligands
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/opus4-wuerzburg/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/34894/file/Steinmueller_Sophie_Dissertation.pdf
Using the Passerini reaction to make new cannabinoid/vanilloid modulators
The multicomponent Passerini reaction as a means of accessing diversity in structure, activity and properties: Soft and hard vanilloid/cannabinoid modulators
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0223523424007268
For CBD water solubility, improving it with a peptide carrier
Improving the water solubility of cannabidiol using a peptide carrier
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39050498/
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For your entrancing vocalist of the week, the soulful singing of Sabine McCalla on ‘Folk’. Out of New Orleans, this is beautiful old-timey music that I put on loop for my kids. There’s not much info about her online but you can check out her Bandcamp & Instagram.
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