This week…
Cannabis for cancer patients & rheumatoid arthritis sufferers
CBD for oral lesions
CBD cream for severe atopic dermatitis (red itchy skin)
(5x) Cannabis & sleep!
(2x) Glaucoma!
(3x) CBG!
(2x) β-caryophyllene!
Erectile dysfunction & testosterone deficiency linked to cannabis abuse
Viper venom for pain via cannabinoid receptors
Big drop of abstracts from the Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
A novel method for boosting yield: plant stem infusion of sucrose
Lots of harm reduction
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 139th edition of Cannabinoids & the People, Lex Pelger’s free weekly digest of all the new cannabinoid science, canna-news, War on Drugs coverage, harm reduction & psychedelic updates. Upgrade to a paid subscription here to support my work sharing canna-science. As always, ask me anything.
(this week’s numbers: ~6,900 words, ~16 minute reading time, 151 papers)
Editor’s note:
For now, it's the last sponsorship week by Cannabis Europa. I’m very excited to attend this conference in London in June & I encourage anyone on the fence to come check it out. For 15% off, use the coupon code: CATP15
Sponsor: The Cannabis & Health Research Initiative
Want to help expand the knowledge of medical cannabis use in the real world & get paid 100 bucks to do so?
Johns Hopkins University, with support from Realm of Caring, is spearheading the groundbreaking National Cannabis Study to evaluate the benefits, risks & overall outcomes of using cannabis for conditions like pain, insomnia, anxiety & more. If you are an adult in the U.S. considering starting cannabis for health reasons, this is your chance to help shape the future of cannabis research — and get compensated for your time ($100!). Join now to share your experience & contribute valuable data that could revolutionize healthcare for many patients nationwide. To learn more & sign up, visit:
https://ncs.cannabisandhealth.org/
Or follow along on Instagram to keep on learning:
https://www.instagram.com/cannabisandhealthresearch/
Free resources
CVResearch.info: the extensive cannabinoid science archive I maintain for CV Sciences & our new canna-edu video series on YouTube @CVScienceInc & on TikTok @pluscbd
Read my free How-To Guides or watch my 3-Minute Cannabinoid Science videos on YouTube or read my canna-science journalism here
As always, here’s the Glossary of Cannabinoid Terms & at the bottom is the album of the week
For more from Lex… (my Linktree)
Work with my company White Whale Creations to produce content for cannabis & psychedelic companies: writing, science archives, social media content, newsletters & podcasts: my portfolio
My canna-graphic novels based on Moby Dick: On Amazon, check out ‘SUNset’, my Queer cannabis history graphic novel or ‘The CROWN’, the story of the hunt for the structure of CBN. To see more about this continuing series, see lexpelger.com
Listen to the first 2 seasons of my podcast ‘The Lex Files’ on cannabinoids, psychedelics & spirituality
A request to spread the word
This newsletter only spreads by word of mouth,
so please forward to colleagues & tell your friends & relatives.
My work this week:
My interview on Thorapy: ‘Coming Out of the Cannabis Closet - Lex Pelger’
I was feverish from food poisoning & didn’t realize this was the actual interview until a third of the way in, but overall, this was a nice look at my work & my books & some thoughts on the Big Questions.
Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
(on YT @CVSciencesInc & TT @pluscbd)
My Vids:
(on TT @lexpelgerandhisbooks or on YouTube)
I’m backing up the earliest videos from my first days on TikTok to my YouTube account (mostly because these are records for my kids in case I get hit by a bus & I trust YT to stick around more than TT). Here’s some of the recent ones:
The Mahabharata (the longest epic poem of all time & one of the greatest things humans have ever created)
Heinlein's 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress' (my blueprint for using my sentient AI friend to run a revolution)
Ways to support this work:
A paid subscription on Substack
Buy Me a Coffee
Venmo: @Lex-Pelger
PayPal: donate here
Best Of Cannabinoid Science... sponsored by Cannabis Europa!
Join Cannabis Europa on Jun 24-25 in London. For 15% off, use the coupon code: CATP15
Some sponsorship & exhibiting opportunities are still available. For more information & to apply click here.
I’ll see you there!
Abstracts from the International Conference Medical Cannabis 2025
International Conference Medical Cannabis University of Bern 2025 IMCCB-25
https://imccb.org/onewebmedia/e-conf%20booklet_2025-02-05.pdf
Clinical
In Thai palliative cancer patients taking cannabis vs. morphine, the cannabis using group lived longer, had a lower hospital admission rate, had fewer hospital days & a better quality of life
Survival Rates, Quality of Life and Side Effects of Medical Cannabis in Patients with Palliative Cancer in Thailand
https://ph04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JCST/article/view/6991
In people with rheumatoid arthritis, public health data showed cannabis users had lower mortality, depression, chronic pain & anxiety but higher risks of opioid, nicotine & alcohol use
Inpatient outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis in hospitalized patients using cannabis: data from the National Inpatient Sample
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08998280.2025.2473863
In people with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (red itchy skin), a 2% CBD topical cream caused improvements in skin hydration, comfort, inflammation relief & overall skin appearance
Improvement in Atopic Dermatitis Using a Novel Topical 2% Cannabidiol (CBD) Application
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/der2.70024
In people with alcohol use disorder, a full-spectrum CBD product lowered cravings more than a placebo or a broad-spectrum CBD product
A Preliminary Randomized Trial of the Safety, Tolerability, and Clinical Effects of Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol in Alcohol Use Disorder
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1516351/abstract
For a range of rare genetic epilepsies, on the efficacy of CBD
Expanding the therapeutic role of highly purified cannabidiol in monogenic epilepsies: A multicenter real-world study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40126049/
In people with migraines, the combination of PEA & melatonin significantly reduced migraine frequency
Fixed combination of palmitoylethanolamide and melatonin in preventive therapy of migraine: results from a randomized clinical trial
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1560654/abstract
Sleep
In a double-blind trial of people with insomnia, a soft gel with THC, CBN, CBD & a terpene blend significantly improved sleep quality/efficacy, insomnia symptoms & health-related quality of life
Effectiveness of a Cannabinoids Supplement on Sleep and Mood in Adults With Subthreshold Insomnia: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Pilot Trial
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hsr2.70481
In veterans, cannabis use was linked to reduced stress & better same-night sleep quality
Daily associations between sleep quality, stress, and cannabis or alcohol use among veterans
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871625001140
For REM sleep behavior disorder, a case report of oral CBD/THC causing “a dramatic & sustained improvement in dream enactment behaviors”
The use of cannabinoid therapy in treatment-refractory isolated REM sleep behavior disorder: a case report
https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/abs/10.5664/jcsm.11704
In a young adult survey about sleep, there was an inconsistent bi-directional link between sleep trouble & cannabis use
Sleep, psychological symptoms, and cannabis use before, during, and after COVID-19 "stay-at-home" orders: a structural equation modeling approach
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40128821/
In a study of sleep using twins, adult use cannabis laws were associated with more often using cannabis for sleep
Association of Recreational Cannabis Legalization with Frequency of Using Cannabis for Sleep
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.2025.2484379
Harms
For erectile dysfunction & testosterone deficiency, public health data showed an association of cannabis abuse/dependence with erectile dysfunction, prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs (PDE5-i) & lowered testosterone levels
Association of cannabis abuse/dependence on risks of erectile dysfunction and testosterone deficiency using a large claims database analysis
https://academic.oup.com/jsm/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jsxmed/qdaf043/8090552?redirectedFrom=fulltext
In children who had psychotic-like experiences, those with the hallucinatory type were more likely to have prenatal cannabis exposure
Cluster profiles of distressing psychotic-like experiences among children and associations with genetic risk, prenatal cannabis exposure, and social-environmental characteristics
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920996425000982
For the health concerns of high-potency cannabis, a systematic review of 42 papers found most research to be centered in mental health & problematic cannabis use
High-Potency Cannabis Use and Health: A Systematic Review of Observational and Experimental Studies
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.20240269
A case report of adult intussusception (intestine sliding back into itself) potentially caused by cannabis use
Rolling up Trouble: Adult Intussusception Possibly Sparked by Cannabis Use or Pheochromocytoma
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=141476
In adolescent male mice, exposure to THC decreased sperm levels, increased seminiferous tubule degeneration & decreased blood testosterone levels
Adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) impairs testicular function in young adult male mice
https://academic.oup.com/toxsci/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/toxsci/kfaf035/8092562?redirectedFrom=fulltext
In zebrafish embryos (a common model organism for early development), CBD exposure reduced hatching & survival rates as well as impaired larval swimming
Cannabidiol exerts teratogenic effects on developing zebrafish through the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-5960884/v1
Reviews
For headaches & migraines, a review of using the cannabinoids
Cannabinoids in headache: helpful or harmful?
https://journals.lww.com/co-neurology/abstract/9900/cannabinoids_in_headache__helpful_or_harmful_.235.aspx
For mucosal lesions (a common side effect of chemotherapy & a symptom of burning mouth syndrome), a systematic review of seven studies found CBD to reduce inflammation, lower pain & heal lesions
The therapeutic effect of cannabidiol in oral mucosa lesions:
https://periodicos.sbu.unicamp.br/ojs/index.php/bjos/article/view/8675518
For cancer-related pain, a review of nano delivery systems of CBD
Cannabidiol from Conventional to Advanced Nanomedicines for the Management of Cancer-Associated Pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40151084/
And in cancer research, a bibliometric analysis of 3k+ papers on cannabinoids & the endocannabinoid system
Research Mapping of Cannabinoids and Endocannabinoid System in Cancer Over the Past Three Decades: Insights from Bibliometric Analysis
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1540619/abstract
For inflammatory bowel disease symptoms outside the intestines, a review of targeting the endocannabinoid system (good charts)
Targeting the Endocannabinoidome: A Novel Approach to Managing Extraintestinal Complications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/4/478
For glaucoma, a review of the potential of cannabinoid drugs & the involvement of the endocannabinoid system
Role of Endocannabinoids in Glaucoma: A Review
https://jocgp.com/abstractArticleContentBrowse/JOCGP/3/19/1/38953/abstractArticle/Article
And a review on cannabinoids as multidrug targets for treating autoimmunity in glaucoma
Cannabinoids as Multitarget Drugs for the Treatment of Autoimmunity in Glaucoma
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00583
For fibromyalgia, a review of the role of the endocannabinoid system
Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Fibromyalgia
https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/4/230
For dentistry & oral diseases, a review of using cannabis
Multipurpose Implications of Medicinal Cannabis and Related Drugs in Dentistry/Oral Health Related Disorders
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781003616283-145/multipurpose-implications-medicinal-cannabis-related-drugs-dentistry-oral-health-related-disorders-natasha-gambhir-nemisha-sharma-akshay-bhargava-rajiv-ahluwalia-bharti-dua-sumita-giri
Preclinical
(basically, the phytocannabinoid research goes here & the ECS research goes below)
In a rat model of spinal cord injury, a cannabis extract improved locomotor recovery, enhanced the anti-inflammatory response, prevented secondary damage, reduced the number of neurotoxic astrocytes (the most predominant brain support cell) & decreased inflammatory microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain)
Cannabidiol/tetrahydrocannabinol-enrich extract decreases neuroinfalmmation and improves locomotor outcome following spinal cord injury
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306452225002581
In a rat model of diabetes, CBD lowered blood glucose & increased insulin as well as other anti-diabetic effects
Unlocking the Antidiabetic Potential of CBD: In Vivo Preclinical Studies
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/4/446
In a rat model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine, CBD improved behaviors & improved oxidative stress & neuroinflammation
Cannabidiol reverses myeloperoxidase hyperactivity in the prefrontal cortex and striatum, and reduces protein carbonyls in the hippocampus in a ketamine-induced schizophrenia rat model
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920996425000908
In a mouse model of blood loss to the brain, CBG lessened the memory deficits, reduced neuronal loss in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain) & enhanced neuronal plasticity
Cannabigerol Attenuates Memory Impairments, Neurodegeneration, and Neuroinflammation Caused by Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia in Mice
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202503.2124
In a rat model of diabetic kidney disease & inflammation from a high-fat high-sucrose diet, CBG reduced biomarkers of kidney damage & had potential anti-inflammatory properties
The Identification of Novel Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cannabigerol in the Kidney Tissue of Rats Subjected to a High-Fat High-Sucrose Diet
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/7/3114
Against the drug-resistant bacteria Streptococcus iniae, CBG inhibited growth & biofilm formation via DNA leakage, impaired cell membrane integrity, hyperpolarized membrane potential & reduced respiratory chain activity
Evaluation of the antibacterial activity and mechanism of cannabigerol against drug-resistant Streptococcus iniae in vitro
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00203-025-04311-5
In a tissue model of Alzheimer's disease, CBN caused neuroprotection via genetic regulation of mRNA splicing
Cannabinerol Restores mRNA Splicing Defects Induced by β-Amyloid in an In Vitro Model of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Transcriptomic Study
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/7/3113
In a model of neuroinflammation using microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain), CBD as well as full-spectrum THC extracts lowered neuroinflammatory markers with comparable or superior efficacy to the common treatment of dexamethasone sodium phosphate
Assessing neuroinflammation in vitro in a microglial model: advancing cannabinoid-based therapeutic insights
https://f1000research.com/articles/14-346
In a model of Long QT syndrome (a rare & serious heart rhythm disorder involving a prolonged QT interval), this thesis project found that the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyl-L-Serine (ARA-S) reduced the QT interval across a range of mutants
Modulation of the cardiac Kv7.1/KCNE1 channel by endocannabinoids and derivatives in the context of Long QT Syndrome
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1948151&dswid=-395
In a tissue model of liver damage due to arsenic, CBD reduced arsenic uptake into the cells, enhanced cell proliferation & reversed oxidative stress as well as the inflammatory response
Investigating the Efficacy of Cannabidiol Against Arsenic-Induced Liver Cell Damage
http://csj.cumhuriyet.edu.tr/en/download/article-file/4506148
In a mouse model of stroke, the terpene β-caryophyllene alleviated brain damage, inhibited neuronal death & lowered the inflammatory response via suppression of HMGB1/TLR4/RAGE signaling & reducing the expression of IL-1β/IL-6/TNF-α
β-caryophyllene reduces inflammation to protect against ischemic stroke by suppressing HMGB1 signaling
https://molmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10020-025-01171-z
In a rat model of Fragile X Syndrome (a genetic disorder of intellectual disability & a wide range of comorbidities), the terpene beta-carophyllene rescued cognitive deficits via PPAR nuclear receptors (regulators of genetic transcription) in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α and γ in mediating the beneficial effects of β-caryophyllene in a rat model of fragile X syndrome
https://iris.uniroma1.it/retrieve/dfccf7c6-be86-49d9-91e6-d33658389b3d/Rava_Role-peroxisome_2025.pdf
In a chicken model of hair loss from dihydrotestosterone (such as in alopecia), hemp-derived exosomes (small membrane vesicles) caused regeneration, cellular differentiation & immune system regulation
Hemp Seed-Derived Exosomes Protect Against Dihydrotestosterone-Induced Hair Growth Inhibition
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390161772_Hemp_Seed-Derived_Exosomes_Protect_Against_Dihydrotestosterone-Induced_Hair_Growth_Inhibition
Novel Studies
(my new grab bag section for stuff I haven’t quite seen before)
On how the heat of vapes break down CBD, CBDA & THC
Thermal transformation of CBD, CBDA, and Δ9-THC during e-cigarette vaping: Identification of conversion products by GC–MS
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021967325002572
“During the CBDA vaping process of the e-cigarette, most of the acidic CBDA was converted to neutral CBD through thermal decarboxylation and further degraded to produce several thermal products. Several interesting psychoactive Δ8-iso and Δ9-THC isomers, and cannabichromene (CBC) and CBD quinone (CBDQ) were observed from the vaping process of CBDA and CBD. In the case of Δ9-THC vaping, psychoactive hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) derivatives and cannabinol (CBN), were produced via thermal reduction and oxidation.”
Viper venom can be used for inflammatory pain & the mechanism heavily involves cannabinoid receptors
The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of a combined preparation based on the blunt-nosed viper's venom and oregano essential oil
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40132993/
Coffee peels help for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via the CB1 receptor
Coffee peel polyphenols ameliorate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating cannabinoid receptor type-1-ceramide axis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40135380/
Another one for our list of botanical treatments that utilize the ECS...
the Headlines & Fav Articles
Trump has no action planned on cannabis according to a White House official talking to CNN
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/white-house-has-no-action-planned-on-marijuana-but-trump-quietly-pushed-lawmakers-on-cannabis-banking-report-says/
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/01/politics/trump-marijuana-ads/index.html
Sarah Carter, Trump's pick to direct the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, called medical cannabis a fantastic treatment option for cancer patients & recently said on a podcast that she doesn't have a problem with legalization
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trumps-new-white-house-drug-czar-called-medical-marijuana-a-fantastic-treatment-for-cancer-patients/
Trump called DC's cannabis reform a “failed” policy that “opened the door to disorder”
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trump-white-house-says-marijuana-decriminalization-opened-the-door-to-disorder-in-washington-d-c/
The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of a trucker who tested positive for THC after using a CBD product labeled 0% THC
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/supreme-court-sides-with-trucker-who-was-fired-over-thc-test-following-use-of-cbd-product/
But the Court declined to hear a case on the scope of federal protections for medical cannabis patients
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-case-on-scope-of-federal-medical-marijuana-protections/
In Australia, a 78-year-old woman couldn't afford medical cannabis & after growing her own, she ended up in court
https://cannabislaw.report/australia-78-year-old-couldnt-afford-medicinal-cannabis-grew-her-own-ends-up-in-court/
International
In Czechia, all doctors can now prescribe medical cannabis
https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/from-today-all-doctors-in-czechia-can-prescribe-medicinal-cannabis
In Germany, a survey found that 38% of the country wants to reverse the cannabis legalization, 38% want to maintain it & 11% want to expand it
https://www.fr.de/politik/umfrage-keine-mehrheit-fuer-rueckkehr-zu-cannabis-verbot-zr-93655923.html
In the UK, on a Freedom of Information response on why cannabinoids are on Yellow Card lists for adverse reactions
https://www.hemphound.co.uk/post/skunk-cbd-the-mhra-s-yellow-card-list-a-deep-dive-into-regulatory-manipulation
In the Czech Republic, an analysis of the costs & benefits of legalizing cannabis
Ex-Ante Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of Legalizing Cannabis Markets in the Czech Republic
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/DC54EB0A08E3C2E05E4C286D7151ECCF/S2194588824000459a.pdf/ex-ante-analysis-of-the-costs-and-benefits-of-legalizing-cannabis-markets-in-the-czech-republic.pdf
Business, Laws & Education
On cannabinoid capitalism, a dissertation looking at the legacy cannabis farmers of Humboldt that pulls out to look at the scars of prohibition & settler colonialism that keep reoccurring, with suggestions for promising alternatives
Crafting Cannabinoid Capitalism: Health, Sustainability, and Regeneration in the United States
https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/158789/Rewegan-arewegan-phd-sts-2025-thesis.pdf?sequence=-1&isAllowed=y
In Oklahoma's defeat of cannabis legalization, a poster analyzing the role of voter’s religious diversity, political party & rurality
Religious Diversity and Voter Support for Marijuana Legalization
https://wtamu-ir.tdl.org/items/d1531597-c76b-43fd-82a7-231924128a1a
In Botswana, on the opportunities & challenges for developing medical cannabis & hemp value chains
Innovation and Technology in Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp Value Chains: Opportunities and Perception Challenges for SME Development in Botswana
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=141663
An analysis of how cannabis legalization alters price elasticity
Estimating the Price Elasticity of Cannabis Use Among U.S. Adults: Evidence from States with Recreational Cannabis Commercialization
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2024.0164
The War on Drugs
India said to be a top supplier of illicit fentanyl precursors according to a U.S. intelligence report.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/28/india/india-us-fentanyl-report-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/u-s-puts-india-in-ugly-bracket/
In Mexico, on how the drug war violence affects children and adolescents
Adverse childhood experiences: an exploratory study on children and adolescents in contexts of collective violence and drugs in México
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193825000543
In India, drug-trafficking through the northeast corridor from the Golden Triangle
https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!bharat/drug-trafficking-via-ne-becoming-a-major-concern-for-law-enforcing-agencies-enn25032803891
In Zambia, drug law agents on their synergies & challenges
Institutional Synergies and Challenges in Zambia’s Drug Law Enforcement: A Thematic Analysis of Field Agents’ Perspectives
https://www.allmultidisciplinaryjournal.com/uploads/archives/20250301153453_MGE-2025-1-455.1.pdf
Vietnam's largest ketamine bust: 1.4 tons
https://fortune.com/asia/2025/03/27/vietnam-seizes-tons-ketamine-police-bust-biggest-synthetic-drug-factory/
In Albania, gangs are advertising drug courier jobs on TikTok for $100,000 a year
https://cannabislaw.report/albanian-gangs-advertising-100k-pa-cocaine-cannabis-courierjobs-on-tik-tok-only-serious-people/
Harm Reduction
Ontario cutting its supervised drug use sites in half: a photo essay
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-supervised-consumption-sites-ontario-photo-essay/
And for now, a legal challenge allows ten sites to stay open
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/injunction-ontario-consumption-site-1.7496602
On Spain's decades of innovation in drug decriminalization & harm reduction
https://www.talkingdrugs.org/spains-decriminalisation-decades-of-quiet-innovation/
On Oregon's War on Drugs 2.0: mass arrests after abandoning their trailblazing harm reduction laws
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/31/oregon-new-drug-law-arrests
San Francisco is scaling back its harm reduction program of handing out clean drug paraphernalia
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/us/san-francisco-drug-supplies.html
In Rhode Island, approval of a two-year extension to their safe injection site program revives past opposition
https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/04/02/four-years-after-r-i-lawmakers-ok-safe-injection-site-program-theyre-still-debating-its-merits/
In Lisbon, one of the drug consumption rooms was forced to close due to funding challenges
https://www.talkingdrugs.org/lisbon-forced-to-close-safer-smoking-site-amid-funding-challenges/
In Scotland, an essay on why there are so many drug deaths
https://novaramedia.com/2025/03/04/why-are-there-so-many-drug-deaths-in-scotland/
And looks at their first drug consumption room: The Thistle
https://www.talkingdrugs.org/two-months-in-a-deeper-look-at-the-thistle-glasgows-drug-consumption-room/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cge139x2y92o
In Vancouver, interviews on how to create safe & inclusive environments in hospitals for healthcare staff & people who use drugs
Creating safe, inclusive spaces for hospital-based health care staff and people who use drugs: an exploratory qualitative study in Vancouver, Canada
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40114163/
A review of four decades of lessons from overdose prevention centers
Four decades of overdose prevention centres: lessons for the future from a realist review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40114190/
For people with substance use disorders, a review of the effectiveness of recovery housing
Recovery housing for substance use disorder: a systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40115346/
In a Baltimore methadone treatment program, a person-centered definition of successful treatment outcomes
“It's more than just the act of not using. It's a feeling of finally completing something.”: Person-centered definitions of successful treatment outcomes from patients and staff at a methadone treatment program in Baltimore City
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40120813/
In Netherlands drug checking services, an analysis of people who test after they've already used the drug & the harm reduction strategies
Drug testing after use: what insights can be gained from a harm reduction perspective on visitors of the drugs information and monitoring system (DIMS) in the Netherlands?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40121437/
For UK festivals, an analysis of integrated harm reduction measures
Welfare first: transforming harm reduction at UK festivals
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40121490/
In peer recovery support services, a review of challenges faced by peers that limit their ability to sustain well-being & achieve career longevity
Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40135195/
For med schools, a review on integrating opioid overdose response training
Integrating Training in Opioid Overdose Response in Medical Schools' Curricula: A Systematic Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40144095/
A case study of an EMS team leading an opioid overdose response & the barriers & facilitators to substance use treatment
Post-opioid overdose response team intervention barriers and facilitators to substance use treatment: Perspectives of patients and team members
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40135998/
An alternative explanation to the brain disease model of addiction
Reevaluating the brain disease model of addiction
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40154515/
In people who use drugs in Seattle, their perspectives on community overdose response & emergency medical services
“I don't let anybody die on my watch”: perspectives on the intersection of community overdose response and emergency medical services among people who use drugs in Seattle, WA
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40156033/
For Canada's drug poisoning crisis, an argument for the three pillar approach of harm reduction, treatment & prevention
Harm reduction, treatment, and prevention-essential pillars to Canada's response to the drug poisoning crisis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40164805/
In Australia, on the potential public health gains of a prison needle & syringe program
The potential benefits of a needle and syringe program in Australian prisons
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40170288/
Interviews of people who use drugs on the moral economies & care practices that increase safety
“You take care of people, people will take care of you”: Moral Economies and an Unpredictable Drug Market
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40173207/
On how a sex worker-led naloxone distribution can prevent overdose & address occupational violence
Community-administered naloxone for overdose reversal: The role of sex worker-led programming and occupational violence in a community-based cohort (2018-2024)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40174239/
In Colorado festival goers, surveys of how people used drug testing kits
Use of reagent test kits and fentanyl test strips among electronic music festival attendees in Colorado: prevalence, barriers, and behavior in response to drug checking
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40176104/
In British Columbia, Canada, data from a drug checking service on the complexities in the unregulated opioid supply
Not just fentanyl: Understanding the complexities of the unregulated opioid supply through results from a drug checking service in British Columbia, Canada
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395925000507
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
In Afghanistan, girls turning to drugs amid rising depression under Taliban rule
https://8am.media/eng/under-taliban-rule-afghan-girls-turn-to-drugs-amid-rising-depression/
On drug use in Tajikistan
New Psychoactive Substances in the Republic of Tajikistan: The Latest Developments, Challenges, and Solutions
https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/de/10.5771/9783748943204-83.pdf
The Psychoactive Research
Brain scans of how DMT disrupts the brain
Transient destabilization of whole brain dynamics induced by N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-07576-0
An exploration of the role of therapeutic touch in psilocybin-assisted therapy
Participant experiences of therapeutic touch in psilocybin-assisted therapy
https://osf.io/preprints/osf/ypqa2_v2
In surveys of psychedelic users, the contextual & experiential aspects boosted subjective well-being results
Contextual and experiential aspects of the psychedelic experience predicting improvement in subjective well-being: Results from a Norwegian internet convenience sample
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1556299/abstract
For psilocybin, the discontinuation of medications vs. people who weren't using medications had no significant differences in results
Comparing Antidepressant Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy in Individuals That Were Unmedicated at Initial Screening Versus Individuals Discontinuing Medications for Study Participation: Comparaison des effets antidépresseurs de la psychothérapie assistée par la psilocybine (PAP) chez les personnes non médicamentées à la sélection initiale et les personnes ayant arrêté les médicaments pour participer à l’étude
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07067437251328316
For ADHD, low doses of LSD did not work better than a placebo
Safety and Efficacy of Repeated Low-Dose LSD for ADHD Treatment in Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2831639
For alcohol use disorder, a single dose of psilocybin with 5 psychotherapy sessions did not cause large changes to relapse rates or alcohol use
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for relapse prevention in alcohol use disorder: a phase 2 randomized clinical trial
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(25)00081-1/fulltext
For psychedelics, a systematic review of all of their therapeutic effects
Insights on Psychedelics: A Systematic Review of Therapeutic Effects
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763425001174?via%3Dihub
On the structural diversity of psychedelic drugs
The structural diversity of psychedelic drug actions revealed
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57956-7
The Plant & the History
For hemp vs. cotton, a life cycle assessment found the hemp to be more environmentally friendly
A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Textile Fiber Production Processes: Hemp versus Cotton
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772912525000752
Growing & Processing
On plant stem infusion of sucrose to boost yield
Enhancing yield of cannabis inflorescences and cannabinoids through plant stem infusion of sucrose: A novel cannabis cultivation approach
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025004261
The effects of row spacing, fertilization & environment on hemp yield
Industrial hemp yield and chemical composition as influenced by row spacing, fertilization, and environmental conditions
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/agg2.70093
For cannabis trichome extraction, a novel electrostatic separation method
Electrostatic Separator of Cannabis Trichomes: An Innovative Approach to Extraction
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6033072/v1
On the effects of drought stress in CBD-rich cannabis
Water Stress Effects on Biomass Allocation and Secondary Metabolism in CBD-Dominant Cannabis sativa L.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202503.1736/v1
In the northeast US, on the use of regenerative organic systems for growing hemp with a focus on mycorrhizal fungus
Performance and mycorrhizal colonization of industrial hemp varieties under regenerative organic systems in Northeastern region
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/agg2.70091
In southwest Germany, on the yield of fiber hemp on shallow stony soil
Fiber Hemp Biomass Yield and Quality on Shallow Stony Soil in Southwest Germany
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/720
In Utah, analysis of the best irrigation system, irrigation rate & cultivar for optimal hemp production
Impacts of irrigation system, irrigation rate, and cultivar on hemp production in the semiarid Intermountain West
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/agg2.70083
In wild & domesticated cannabis, an analysis of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs)
Cannabis sativa L. Miniature Inverted-Repeat Transposable-Element Landscapes in Wild-Type (JL) and Domesticated Genome (CBDRx)
https://www.mdpi.com/2037-0164/16/2/40
In cannabinoid production, a review on the role of oxylipins
Understanding the Role of Oxylipins in Cannabis to Enhance Cannabinoid Production
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1568548/abstract
Formulating & Analyzing
A comparison of supercritical CO2 extraction vs. traditional methods & an analysis of their antioxidant & anti-inflammatory effects
Biological Activities in Supercritical CO₂-Extracted Cannabis: Comparison with Conventional Extraction Method
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0896844625000932
On optimizing the best solvent system for cannabinoid recovery
Optimization of Solvent Mixture for Solubilizing Cannabis Extract Using I-Optimal Design
https://ph04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JCST/article/view/6909
On the effects of different extraction methods for complexes of CBD & hemp polysaccharides
Effect of different extraction methods on the structural analysis, water solubility, and bioactivity of hemp polysaccharides-cannabidiol complexes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927775725006326
On measuring the levels of multiple cannabinoids with a near-infrared spectroscopy method
Potential of NIRS for determining multiple cannabinoid concentrations in Cannabis sativa L.
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/agg2.70082
On rapid methods for analyzing cannabis extracts
Analytical methods for the rapid assessment of cannabis extract products in industrial applications
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1347&context=chemistrybiochemistrypub
Improving CBD solubility & stability with whey protein & tea saponin
Synergism of glycosylated whey protein and tea saponin enhances the solubility, storage stability and digestibility of cannabidiol
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212429225006315
Food & Nutrition & Hemp Seeds
A thesis project on hemp-based food products
Nutritional and functional characterisation of alternative feed and food ingredients: emphasis on hemp-based products, coproducts, microalgae and cultured meat
https://air.unimi.it/retrieve/1ba08f23-dd1c-4d8e-913c-09e5677882aa/phd_unimi_R13628_1.pdf#page=282
On the nutritional qualities & market potential of hemp seed & hemp seed milk
Hemp Seed and Its Milk Analog: A Review on Specialties, Significance and Emerging Needs
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15440478.2025.2474136
In broiler chickens, replacing soy with hemp seeds improved meat flavor, texture & fatty acid profile with no detriments to bird growth & also helped prevent feather soiling & footpad dermatitis
Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002315
On improving hempseed protein extraction by adjusting pH & dehulling
Effect of solubilization pH and dehulling on hempseed protein recovery: Chemical characterization, physical properties, and preliminary study of carbon dots synthesis from residual solids
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352554125001032
Industrial Uses & Fiber
For soil contaminated with heavy metals, on using biochar & industrial hemp for phytoremediation
Use of Biochar and Industrial Hemp for Remediation of Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soil: Root Uptake and Translocations for Cd, Pb, and Zn
https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/9/2/29
On creating porous carbon (a versatile material in sensors, chemical reactions & energy applications) from hemp fibers
Structural Evolution of Porous Carbon Materials Derived from Hemp Fibers: Raman Spectroscopy Studies
https://ktipe.pnu.edu.ua/index.php/pcss/article/view/8735
On making electrocatalysts out of hemp stems
Hemp Stem Derived Platinum Metal-Free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Electrolyte
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013468625004566
For hemp insulation, a comparison of two flame-retardant treatment methods
Comparison of two flame-retardant treatment methods on bulk hemp fibers: Towards a large-scale viability as a raw material for building insulation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025004492
On improving hempcrete with biochar
Exploring the potential of biochar additives to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of hempcrete
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/133016
On methods of 'cottonizing' hemp for compatibility with modern textile machinery
Industrial Cannabis sativa (Fiber or Hemp): Hemp Cottonization-Advantages and Current Challenges
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390201505_Industrial_Cannabis_sativa_Fiber_or_Hemp_Hemp_Cottonization-Advantages_and_Current_Challenges
On reinforcing short hemp fiber composites with pistachio shell biochar for more eco-friendly materials
Pistachio shell biochar as a reinforcing filler in short Turkish hemp fiber composites: a path toward sustainable materials
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10965-025-04338-8
Analyzing the stiffness of hemp fibers
Estimation of longitudinal and transverse stiffness of hemp fibers and their composites using experimental material parameters and invariants
https://4spepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pc.29810
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
A dataset on cannabis use, stress & physiological responses: CAN-STRESS
CAN-STRESS: A Real-World Multimodal Dataset for Understanding Cannabis Use, Stress, and Physiological Responses
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2503.19935
In mice, kynurenine (a metabolite of the amino acid l-tryptophan) amplified THC's classic tetrad of effects: spontaneous activity, catalepsy, hypothermia & analgesia
Kynurenine amplifies tetrahydrocannabinol-induced sensorimotor impairment and classic “tetrad” effects in mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027858462500096X
On the production & uses of oleic ethanolamide (oleamide)
Sustainable synthesis, process optimization, and industrial applications of oleic ethanolamide
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13399-025-06794-0
Public Health & Driving
For measuring cannabis-intoxicated driving, a phone app system found a correlation between cannabis use & altered driving behaviors with significant effects emerging 2 to 3 hours after consumption
Mobile app-based study of driving behaviors under the influence of cannabis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352648325000194
Public health data on poly-drug use with cannabis
Cannabis and Cocaine, Heroin, or Methamphetamine Use and Factors Associated with Multiple Drug Use and Drug Treatment in a Nationally Representative Sample
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.2025.2484389
In a survey of older people trying medical cannabis, the most common reasons were for anxiety & chronic pain
Medical Marijuana and the Older Population: A Cross-Sectional Study of Opinion
https://lecom.edu/content/uploads/2025/03/MMJAging_PrePrint_Formatted.pdf
In older Vermonters, a survey of organizations on their interest in sharing cannabis-related educational materials
"Community-Sponsored Cannabis Education for Older Vermonters: An Invest"
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/327/
In healthcare administration students, a survey of their attitudes towards medical cannabis
Health Administration Students’ Attitudes about and Experiences with Medical Cannabis
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/aupha/jhae/2025/00000041/00000001/art00008?crawler=true&mimetype=application/pdf
Adolescents & Young Adults
In young adults, an analysis of their cannabis ingestion methods
Multi-Modal Cannabis Use Among U.S. Young Adults: Findings from the 2022 and 2023 BRFSS in 23 States
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/4/495
Early risky adolescent drinking strongly predicted future substance use
Early and risky adolescent alcohol use independently predict alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other drug use in early adulthood in Ireland: a longitudinal analysis of a nationally representative cohort
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-22262-w
In the EVALI crisis in youth, 84% reported vaping both cannabis & nicotine
Clinical Presentation and Diagnostic Evaluation of Vaping Related Lung Injury in Youth
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40135485/
In young adults who received employer-provided drug & alcohol education, they were significantly less likely to abuse alcohol & cannabis
The Impact of Employer-Provided Drug/Alcohol Education on Marijuana and Alcohol Use in Young Adults.
https://commons.stmarytx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=rscpos25
In a survey of Moroccan university students, of those who presented a suicidal risk, 40% were cannabis users
Cannabis use in association with past 30-day suicide ideation and suicide attempt among university students in northern Morocco
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6048672/v1
In a small study of young adults using cannabis, an analysis of their heart problems
Cannabis Abuse and ST Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
https://pakheartjournal.com/index.php/pk/article/view/3080
In American Indian & Alaska Native young adults, an analysis of their alcohol & cannabis use
Alcohol and Cannabis Use, Social Networks, and Non-Reservation American Indian / Alaska Native Emerging Adults: A Multi-level Dyadic Analysis
https://www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/jsad.24-00322
In Thai high school students, a thesis project analyzing the factors related to cannabis-containing foods/beverages
FACTORS RELATED TO CONSUMPTION BEHAVIORS OF CONTAINING- CANNABIS FOODS AND BEVERAGES AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BAN BUENG DISTRICT, CHON BURI PROVINCE
https://ir.buu.ac.th/dspace/handle/1513/1321
In a model of neuroinflammation in microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain), on using machine learning to predict the ability of cannabinoids to quench reactive oxygen species
A predictive machine learning model for cannabinoid effect based on image detection of reactive oxygen species in microglia
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0320219
The Brain & Neurological Disorders
For the neuroinflammation & neurodegeneration of SARS-CoV-2, a thesis project on targeting the CB2 receptor
Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor (CB2R) as a promising therapeutic target to manage inflammatory based diseases, including neurodegeneration and SARS-CoV-2 infection
https://usiena-air.unisi.it/handle/11365/1289794
Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder
In autopsies of people with major depressive disorder, they had higher levels of CB1 receptors in their cortex
Regulation of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, neuroprotective mTOR and pro-apoptotic JNK1/2 kinases in postmortem prefrontal cortex of subjects with major depressive disorder
https://docusalut.com/rest/api/core/bitstreams/e067f6fa-68b0-4af7-b809-3da712f62547/content
In brain imaging of people with both borderline personality disorder & depression, lower levels of the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide) was correlated with more physical aggression while higher levels of FAAH were correlated with increased impulsivity
Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase in Comorbid Borderline Personality Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder: Imaging with [11C]CURB PET
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002839082500142X
In people seeking to quit alcohol & cannabis, an analysis of their tobacco use & motivation to quit
Patterns of Tobacco Use, Dependence, and Motivation to Quit Among Individuals Seeking Treatment for Alcohol and Cannabis Consumption in Catalonia (Spain)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2025.2479102
In Brazil, an analysis of cannabis use & the risk of polydrug use & the risk of other negative outcomes
Cannabis use patterns and different phenotypes in relation to other drugs use: latent class analyses from the Sao Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey
https://cdn.publisher.gn1.link/bjp.org.br/pdf/bjp-3833.pdf
In a rat model of depression induced by stress, inhibition of the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide) increased levels of BDNF (a key brain growth factor), inhibited neuroinflammation, increased synaptic plasticity & caused neuroprotective effects via its antioxidant properties
URB597 Modulates Neuroplasticity, Neuroinflammatory, and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex of Male and Female Rats in a Stress-Induced Model of Depression
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938425000940
Pain, Musculoskeletal & Surgeries
For hair restoration surgery, a case report on a cannabis user needing more local anesthetic + a literature review with fun charts
The impact of cannabis use on local anesthetic dosing during hair restoration surgery: a case report
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09546634.2025.2482009
A pain management nurse on advising people about the safe & effective use of cannabis
Cannabis Therapeutics: Advising Patients on Safe and Effective Use
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1524904225001092
For post-operative pain control, a review on the changes for healthcare practitioners with rising cannabis usage
Acute Post-operative Pain Management in the Landscape of Increasing Recreational Cannabis Use
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1524904225000438
In cyclists, eating hemp fiber after exercise improved the levels of beneficial metabolites, though it had no effect on gut permeability
Selective Influence of Hemp Fiber Ingestion on Post-Exercise Gut Permeability: A Metabolomics-Based Analysis
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202503.1731/v1
The Liver, Drug Interactions & Cannabinoid Metabolism
On how human liver microsomes break down an array of cannabinoids
Enzymatic hydrolysis of ∆8-THC-O, ∆9-THC-O, 11-α-HHC-O, and 11-β-HHC-O by pooled human liver microsomes to generate ∆8-THC, ∆9-THC, 11-α-HHC, and 11-β-HHC
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11419-025-00719-2
Cancer & Chemotherapy
In people with advanced cancer, on the bioavailability of a novel nano-THC/CBD orobuccal formulation
Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of Cannabinoids Administered via a Novel Orobuccal Nanoparticle Formulation (NanoCelle™) in Patients with Advanced Cancer
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2024.0117
Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids
For intoxicating cannabis products, an analysis of their online marketing & descriptions
Differences in Online Descriptions and Marketing of Derived Intoxicating Cannabis Products
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.2025.2484376
On the pharmacokinetics of how HHC moves through the body
Preliminary pharmacokinetic and psychophysical investigations after controlled oral and inhalative consumption of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-93931-4
On detecting the synthetic cannabinoid core 1H-indazole-3-carboxamide on seized stamps using Raman spectroscopy
Raman Spectroscopic Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoid-related 1H-indazole-3-carboxamide on Seized Paper Stamps: A Forensic Challenge in Providing Nondestructive Analyses and Feasible Counterevidence
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003267025003691
Biochemical Discoveries & Tools
On designing cannabinoids with sulfonamides for selective COX-2 inhibition
Design and Computational Study of Sulfonamide-Modified Cannabinoids as Selective COX-2 Inhibitors Using Semiempirical Quantum Mechanical Methods: Drug-like Properties and Binding Affinity Insights
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.5c00562
In urine testing, false positives for THC metabolites (breakdown products) may be caused by HHC metabolites
Cross-reactivity of the epimers of 11-nor-9-carboxy-hexahydrocannabinol, metabolites of hexahydrocannabinol, with panel tests for urinary Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol metabolites
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11419-025-00717-4
From The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
(this seems to be abstracts from a conference, but in many cases, all or most of the abstract is behind a paywall)
In primates & rats with pain, do cannabinoids & opioids combine well & was this disruptive to learning & performance?
Effects of Cannabinoid and Opioid Combinations on Learning, Performance, and Antinociception in Non-Human Primates and Rats (Abstract ID: 192611)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(25)39672-2/abstract
In a mouse model of fentanyl addiction, the CB1 receptor neutral antagonists AM6527 & AM4113 lessened measurements of addiction without interfering with its pain-killing effect
Effects of Cannabinoid (CB) 1 Receptor Neutral Antagonists on Fentanyl-Induced Conditioned Place Preference and Antinociception (Abstract ID: 164640)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)42483-X/abstract
In a mouse model of neuropathic pain from chemotherapy, CBN caused its pain-killing effects via the CB1 receptor
Cannabinol (CBN) Is Antinociceptive in a Mouse Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy via the Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 (Abstract ID: 158343)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)42460-9/abstract
In a rat model of neuropathic pain from chemotherapy, CBD lowered hyperalgesia (extreme sensitivity to pain) & allodynia (a sensitivity to touch that makes it feel like pain)
Cannabidiol Prevents the Development of Allodynia and Hyperalgesia in a High-speed Videography Assisted Model of Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Rats (Abstract ID: 191878)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(25)39711-9/abstract
On how hormones modulate cannabinoid pain relief
Hormonal Regulation of Cannabinoid-Induced Antinociception (Abstract ID: 192216)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(25)39691-6/abstract
In a mouse model of alcohol-associated liver disease, CBD reduced gut permeability
Oral Cannabidiol Reduced Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease in Mice via Reducing Gut Permeability by AhR Activation (Abstract ID: 163318)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)42986-8/abstract
On how delta-8 THC alters the metabolism of nicotine & affects the function of key liver breakdown CYP450 enzymes
The Inhibitory Effect of Δ-8-tetrahydrocannabinol and Its Metabolites on Major Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Primary Nicotine Metabolism Pathway (Abstract ID: 157472)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)43308-9/abstract
Identification of a cryptic pocket in CB1 for painkilling effects that’s activated by the novel drug VIP36
Targeting a Cryptic Pocket in Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Drives Peripheral and Functional Selectivity (Abstract ID: 189377)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(25)39644-8/abstract
On how CBD affects the metabolism of nicotine
Pharmacokinetic Studies Investigating the Effect of Cannabidiol (CBD) on Nicotine Metabolism In Vivo (Abstract ID: 157540)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)43310-7/abstract
Creating superagonist (activators) synthetic cannabinoids by adding a l-tert-leucinate head moiety
Superagonism in Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists containing l-Tert-Leucinate (Abstract ID: 158755)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)42670-0/abstract
On optic tools to control CB1 signaling
Photoswitchable Tools to Optically Control CB1 Signaling (Abstract ID: 158980)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)42673-6/abstract
On treating pain with new drugs that inhibit both the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide) & the soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor enzyme
Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Dual Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase/Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors for Pain Treatment (Abstract ID: 158813)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)42967-4/abstract
And designing them
Design and Synthesis of Dual Inhibitors Targeting Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (Abstract ID: 158843)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)42968-6/abstract
And how the different versions work
Inhibition of Nociception Produced by Structurally Distinct Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase and Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase (Abstract ID: 189568)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(25)39699-0/abstract
And their effects in rat models
Dual Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase and Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors Differentially Modulate Hind Paw and Orofacial Inflammatory Pain in Rats (Abstract ID: 163012)
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)42983-2/abstract
Thanks.
- lex
PS: From the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson’s ‘The Capitol Singles 1959-1961’. With a country singing papa who gave her a guitar at the age of 6, Jackson was winning talent shows by the age of 12 & played half-hour slots on the local radio station for her entire teenage years. When the country singer Hank Thompson heard her on the radio while she was still in high school, he asked her to record with his band, the Brazos Valley Boys. Even though their song ‘You Can't Have My Love’ became a national hit, she decided to finish high school first. Once she did, her father came with her on the road & her mother sewed her stage outfits & they were some of the first glamour in country music: fringe dresses, high heels & long earrings.
When she got put on stage with Elvis Presley, the two hit it off immediately & he convinced her to start singing rockabilly (though it's said that she turned down his offer of marriage, which was surely for the best considering how fucking weird the King was with women). She'd often release songs in both a rockabilly & country version & these started to become hits around the world, from Japan to Germany. She married an IBM programmer who instead of forcing her to quit the business (as was often done at the time), he gave up his job in order to manage her career. The couple became Christians together & she shifted to singing spiritual albums through the '70s. In the '80s she was often touring Europe so fans could hear those early '50s rockabilly hits. And even a few years ago, at the age of 83, she released her 32nd album ‘Encore’ & it was still full of fire. What a woman!
This newsletter is the backbone of my work & I hope it brings you a measure of value. If so, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription & support my sharing all of the new cannabinoid science each week.