C&P#142: COVID, PTSD & cancer + cannabis bad for cobra bites

Bad in Italy, good in Kazakhstan & for US hemp

Apr 27, 2025

Cannabis for COVID, PTSD & cancer symptoms.
Epilepsy (4x)
Psychotic-like experiences exacerbated by cannabis use
(3x) CHS
Preclinical: Oleoylethanolamide for obesity, arthritis & alcohol use disorder
Bitten by a cobra? Taking cannabis oil will kill you quicker

Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 142^nd 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: ~5,400 words, ~12 minute reading time, 125 papers)

📌 Editor’s note:
I know I said I'd take this week off before ICBC, but since I already had the science already finished, I wanted to get out & shared to you. So not as much news or other coverage this week, but you’ll get caught up with a double when I’m back. See you then.

🤝 Sponsor 🤝: The Cannabis & Health Research Initiative

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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:
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Or follow along on Instagram to keep on learning:
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🧰 Free resources

CVResearch.info: the extensive cannabinoid science archive I maintain for CV Sciences
Canna-edu videos: on YouTube @CVScienceInc & on TikTok @pluscbd
My Free How-To Guides on cannabinoids for different conditions. #AMA
My canna-science journalism here
Glossary of Cannabinoid Terms (& my Neural Ocean metaphor)

🐋 For more from Lex… (my Linktree)

My canna-graphic novel series based on Moby Dick, ‘‘Anandamide; or, the Cannabinoid’ to explain endocannabinoid science, the darkness of the War on Drugs & the long human history with our favorite plant.
See the volumes ‘SUNset’ (Queer canna-history from the AIDS crisis) & ‘The CROWN’ (the story of the hunt for the chemical structure of CBN, the first fully-solved cannabinoid in the 1940s). To see more about this ongoing series, see lexpelger.com
The first 2 seasons of my podcast ‘The Lex Files’ on cannabinoids, psychedelics & spirituality
Work with my company White Whale Creations to produce content for cannabis & psychedelic companies: writing, science archives, social media content, newsletters & podcasts: my portfolio

📣 A request to spread the word 📣
This newsletter only spreads by word of mouth,
so please forward to colleagues & tell your friends & relatives.

Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
(on YT @CVSciencesInc & TT @pluscbd)

My Vids:
(on TT @lexpelgerandhisbooks or on YouTube)

A few new videos this week to break up my long pause of making vids:

Backup of the Hermetic Memory Wall for my kids (& you!)
Opening boxes from Uncle Buck’s Library: #58 + #59 (spirituality & theosophy) + Box #61 (war & history)

And I’m backing up the earliest videos from my first days on TikTok to my YouTube account. Here’s some of the recent ones:

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🍃 Best Of (Phyto)Cannabinoid Science...

⚕️ Clinical

In people with PTSD, the UK Medical Cannabis Registry found that starting cannabis caused significant improvements in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, sleep quality & health-related quality of life
UK Medical Cannabis Registry An Updated Clinical Outcomes Analysis of Patients With Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14737175.2025.2490539

For cancer patients & cannabis, a large meta-analysis found strong support for its anti-inflammatory potential & for symptoms such as pain, nausea & appetite loss
Meta‑Analysis of Medical Cannabis Outcomes and Associations With Cancer
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1490621/full

For people with COVID-19, they reported using cannabis most frequently for sleep, chronic pain, acute pain, headaches/migraines, muscle spasms, nausea/vomiting & appetite stimulant
Chronic Disease Symptoms Self-Managed by Cannabis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40008990/

In people with Parkinson's disease, 12 weeks of CBD improved working memory & with no adverse effects on other symptoms
Cannabidiol and Cognitive Functions Inflammatory Markers in Parkinson’s Disease (CBD‑PD‑BRH Trial)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1353802025005826

For treatment-resistant epilepsy, a meta-analysis of seven trials found CBD & its derivatives reduced seizures
Cannabis Derivatives and Their Synthetic Analogs for Treatment‑Resistant Epilepsy: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920121125000609
And for epilepsy, data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry found that initiating cannabis improved all health-related quality of life factors measured including sleep, anxiety & patient impression of change
UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A Clinical Outcomes Analysis for Epilepsy
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/brb3.70490
And for drug-resistant epilepsy, a case series of nine people who achieved seizure freedom with individualized medical cannabis therapy
Nine Patients Report Seizure Freedom with Medical Cannabis Treatment for Drug‑Resistant Epilepsy: A Case Series
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1570531/abstract
And for severe uncontrolled seizure states, 2 case reports of CBD reducing seizures up to the 6-month follow up
Effectiveness of Highly Purified Cannabidiol in Refractory and Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus: A Case Series
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38910424/

On lessons from a hospital implementing a revamped medical cannabis protocol to allow inpatient use
Medical Cannabis Breaking Through the Grass Ceiling for Inpatient Care and Use
https://journals.lww.com/cns-journal/abstract/2025/05000/medical_cannabis__breaking_through_the_grass.6.aspx

In people who vape cannabis or nicotine, they had more workplace absenteeism
Nicotine and Cannabis Vaping‑Related Workplace Absenteeism Among U.S. Adults, 2022
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40253779/

📑 Reviews

A book on diseases of the endocannabinoid system & therapeutic strategies
Diseases of the Endocannabinoid System
https://books.google.fr/books?id=CTdWEQAAQBAJ

For chronic pain, a review of its efficacy as well as its cognitive & psychiatric adverse effects (nice chart on mechanisms)
Cannabinoids in Chronic Pain Management: A Review of the History Efficacy Applications and Risks
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/3/530

For pain & jaw disorders, a review on the therapeutic potential of oral & topical CBD
The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/3/328

For weight loss, a review of how its linked to lower levels of endocannabinoids & the potential links to the reward system & the success of bariatric surgery
Circulating Endocannabinoids and Brain Anatomy: Unraveling the Weight Loss Connection Through Lifestyle and Surgery Approaches
https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A101427/101427.pdf

For the reproductive toxicity of CBD, a review found that consumer levels posed no greater health risk than coffee or cocoa
Is CBD Harmful to Human Reproduction Even at Moderate Doses?
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390836901_Is_CBD_harmful_to_human_reproduction_even_at_moderate_doses

For cancer, a review of targeting the endocannabinoid system for treatment
The Endocannabinoid System in Cancer Biology: A Mini‑Review of Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology-reviews/articles/10.3389/or.2025.1573797/abstract

⚠️ Harms

In public health data on people hospitalized due to cannabis use, they had a 1.5X risk of a dementia diagnosis within 5 years
Risk of Dementia in Individuals With Emergency Department Visits or Hospitalizations Due to Cannabis
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2832249
This paper certainly made the rounds but these findings are quite odd to me. With so much evidence pointing to the neuroprotective power of the cannabinoids, I would not be surprised if you dug down into this data & found that these reasons were more socioeconomic (Hank’s Razor).

In Minnesota public health data, cannabis use was linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack & mortality
Abstract P2024: The Association of Cannabis Use with Risk of Mortality Incident Stroke and Incident Myocardial Infarction in a Minnesota Healthcare System 2016‑2023
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/cir.151.suppl_1.P2024

In people with colon cancer, a history of cannabis use disorder was linked to a substantially higher 5-year mortality rate
Cannabis Use Disorder and Mortality Among Patients With Colon Cancer
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S104727972500078X

For psychotic-like experiences, a review of 38 articles on the exacerbations from cannabis use
Cannabis Use and Psychotic‑Like Experiences: A Systematic Review of Biological Vulnerability, Potency Effects, and Clinical Trajectories
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178125001441

In youth with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a review of disease progression & treatment options
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome in Youth: Clinical Insights and Public Health Implications
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/4/633
And for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a survey of the substantial disease burden
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Is Associated With High Disease Burden: An Internet-Based Survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39985554/
And in people with type 1 diabetes, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome can mimic diabetic gastroparesis
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Can Mimic Diabetic Gastroparesis in Cannabis Users With Type 1 Diabetes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39984123/

In public health data of pregnant people, cannabis consumption continued past early pregnancy was linked to greater odds of depressive symptoms in later pregnancy
Prenatal Cannabis Use and Depressive Symptoms
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40014863/

In public health data on cannabis use during pregnancy, it was associated with a higher incidence of alcohol abuse, suicidal ideation, panic disorder & depression
Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Correlates With Adverse Maternal Mental Health Outcomes: A Retrospective Study
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/351364/20250412-815732-lkvvo1.pdf

In the placenta of people with pre-eclampsia (a serious pregnancy complication of chronic high blood pressure & protein levels), they had lower levels of the DAGL enzyme (which produces 2-AG) & for the cannabis users, they had higher levels of the enzyme that creates anandamide as well as further disorders to endocannabinoid & nitric oxide signaling
Placental Endocannabinoid System Focus on Preeclampsia and Cannabis Use
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.125.24934

A case report of heavy tobacco & cannabis use before Brugada syndrome (a rare & potentially life-threatening heart rhythm condition)
Unmasking a Killer Brugada ECG Pattern in Cannabis Users
https://journals.lww.com/indianjpsychiatry/fulltext/2025/04000/unmasking_a_killer__brugada_ecg_pattern_in.13.aspx

In a mouse model of respiratory depression due to fentanyl, synthetic cannabinoids exacerbated the respiratory depression & caused resistance to naloxone rescue
Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists Exacerbate Fentanyl‑Elicited Respiratory Depression and Confer Resistance to Naloxone Rescue in Mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871625001255

In male mice, chronic treatment with the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 progressively increased motor activity & aggressiveness via the CB1 & D1/D2 receptors
Repeated Treatment with JWH‑018 Progressively Increases Motor Activity and Aggressiveness in Male Mice: Involvement of CB1 Cannabinoid and D1/D2 Dopaminergic Receptors
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299925003875

In human lung cells, cannabis smoke altered their integrity & the antioxidant response
A549 Cells Exposed to a Marijuana Smoke Extract Affect Monolayer Integrity Related to Oxidative Stress State
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0887233325000669

For bisphenol exposure, this thesis project found it disrupted endocannabinoid signaling with negative effects on bone & cartilage health
The Interplay Between Bisphenols and the Endocannabinoid System: Implications for Bone and Cartilage Health
https://www.proquest.com/openview/51fb587159decb6a9cd7740e75e6e264/1.pdf

🐁 Preclinical

In a rat model of spinal cord injury, cannabis extract improved locomotor recovery, prevented secondary damage, enhanced the anti-inflammatory response, decreased inflammatory microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain) & reduced neurotoxic astrocytes (the most predominant brain support cell)
Cannabidiol / Tetrahydrocannabinol‑Enrich Extract Decreases Neuroinflammation and Improves Locomotor Outcome Following Spinal Cord Injury
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306452225002581

In a mouse model of ALS, CBD lessened body weight loss, reinstated sociability, strengthened social recognition memory & reduced anxiety
Behavioural Effects of Oral Cannabidiol (CBD) Treatment in the Superoxide Dismutase 1 G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06785-z

In a mouse model of the neuroinflammation of Alzheimer's disease, on how CBD modulates the IDO & cGAS‑STING pathways
Rethinking Alzheimer’s: Harnessing Cannabidiol to Modulate IDO and cGAS Pathways for Neuroinflammation Control
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.06.641791v1.abstract

In rats with sepsis (an extreme immune response to infection), CBD reduced inflammatory markers & increased levels of BDNF (a key brain growth factor)
The Effect of Cannabidiol on Myokine, Cerebral and Cardiac Response in Rats with Sepsis Induced by Cecal Ligation and Punture Method
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A13%3A35736557/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A184187361

In a mouse model of obesity, oleoylethanolamide (the endocannabinoid related to satiation) normalized cholesterol levels, decreased inflammatory markers, lowered markers of apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide) & protected the liver from damage
Hepatoprotective and Antiatherosclerotic Effects of an Oleoylethanolamide‑Based Dietary Supplement in Dietary‑Induced Obesity in Mice
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Darya-Ivashkevich/publication/390937578_Hepatoprotective_and_Antiatherosclerotic_Effects_of_Oleoylethanolamide-Based_Dietary_Supplement_in_Dietary-Induced_Obesity_in_Mice/links/68037bbedf0e3f544f42cf68/Hepatoprotective-and-Antiatherosclerotic-Effects-of-Oleoylethanolamide-Based-Dietary-Supplement-in-Dietary-Induced-Obesity-in-Mice.pdf

In a mouse model of arthritis, oleoylethanolamide (the endocannabinoid of satiation), lessened symptoms, suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines & rebalanced immune T cells via the GPR119 receptors
Oleoylethanolamide Ameliorates Collagen‑Induced Rheumatoid Arthritis via Activation of GPR119
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1567576925006502

In a mouse model of alcohol use disorder with increased use due to social stress, oleoylethanolamide (an endocannabinoid related to food intake) decreased their ethanol consumption & had lower levels of neuroinflammatory factors
Oleoylethanolamide Effects on Stress‑Induced Ethanol Consumption A Lipid at the Crossroads Between Stress Reward and Neuroinflammation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584625001198

In rat brains exposed to the toxic metal cadmium, the terpene beta-caryophyllene reduced oxidative stress, suppressed inflammation, lowered autophagy (cellular recycling) & prevented apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
β‑Caryophyllene Attenuates Cadmium Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats by Modulating Different Cellular Signaling Pathways
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161813X25000415

In mice injected with cobra venom, cannabis extract significantly speeded up their death
Enhancing Venom Lethality: The Incompatibility of Cannabis sativa Extract in Snakebite Management
https://archrazi.areeo.ac.ir/article_133315_2704234cf0661eee3cfc0df03ee1427d.pdf

For the traditional Chinese medicine of a compound Kushen injection (root extracts of Kushen & Baituling), its ability to protect from radiation-induced gut damage seemed to be via the CB1 receptors
Compound kushen injection improves radiation enteritis via cannabinoid receptor 1 in rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39987176/
Add this to our long list of traditional medicines that work their magic via the endocannabinoid system...

🧬 Novel Studies

(my new grab bag section for stuff I haven’t quite seen before)

An AI model for identifying the molecular targets of cancer compounds for targeting different diseases
CANDI: a web server for predicting molecular targets and pathways of cannabis-based therapeutics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40016810/

For law enforcement, on using AI to identify cannabis laced with synthetic cannabinoids by identification of non-hairy glandular trichome hairs
Identification of Non‑Glandular Trichome Hairs in Cannabis Using Vision‑Based Deep Learning Methods
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40249026/

For rat euthanasia, a thesis project on using nitrogen as a humane alternative with CBD as a preanesthetic
Nitrogen as a Humane Alternative to Carbon Dioxide for Rat Euthanasia with Consideration of Cannabidiol as a Preanesthetic
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1744656487459356

In tests of toxicology, anandamide showed no mutagenic activity, acute oral toxicity or chronic toxicity & had a NOAEL of 2,000 mg/kg/day
Toxicological Assessment of Anandamide
https://www.probiologists.com/article/toxicological-assessment-of-anandamide

📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles

Trulieve donated $750k to Trump's inaugural committee & Curaleaf pitched in $250k
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-companies-donated-at-least-1-million-to-trumps-inauguration-new-federal-records-show/

The NIH launched a Resource Center for Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research that will be housed at the University of Mississippi & partnered with Washington State University & the United States Pharmacopoeia
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-federally-backed-marijuana-research-center-launches/

According to the USDA, hemp saw its first good year in quite a while with jumps in both acreage & industry value
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/hemp-industry-grew-in-2024-despite-state-and-federal-push-for-bans-on-consumable-products-like-delta-8-thc-usda-report-finds/
“The National Hemp Report, which USDA conducts annually to assess the economic health of the market, showed that hemp farmers cultivated 45,294 acres of the crop last year, up 64 percent from 2023. And the industry’s value jumped about 40 percent, increasing to $445 million… From 11,827 acres of floral hemp, farmers yielded 20.8 million pounds in 2024, a 159 percent increase from the 8 million that was produced in 2023… Meanwhile, farmers produced 18,855 acres of hemp for fiber last year, a 56 percent increase. But yields from those plants fell by 21 percent, dropping to 3,205 pounds per acre… Hemp production for grain rose 22 percent to 4,863 acres, with farmers yielding 3.4 million pounds of grain in 2024. The value of hemp grain grew by 13 percent to $2.6 million.”

Two leaders in the US trucking industry said that rigid & outdated cannabis testing rules are exacerbating the current driver shortage
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trucking-industry-says-positive-marijuana-tests-and-sometimes-outdated-federal-regulations-are-contributing-to-national-driver-shortage/

In Maryland, the governor legalizes homemade concentrates, sets up rules for consumption lounges & shields conviction records
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/maryland-governor-signs-marijuana-bills-to-legalize-homemade-concentrates-set-consumption-lounge-rules-and-shield-conviction-records/

On hemp-derived cannabinoids in US markets, El-Sohly of the University of Mississippi presented a talk on their widespread nature
Intoxicating Cannabinoids and Impurities in Hemp‑Derived Products in US Markets
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/icsb/2025_ICSB/Schedule/22/

🌐 International

In Italy, another court ruling that CBD is a narcotic
https://businessofcannabis.com/italys-hemp-industry-dealt-2nd-major-blow-as-cbd-oil-classified-as-narcotic/

In Israel, the Finance Minister walked back the proposed tariffs on Canadian cannabis
https://stratcann.com/news/israels-finance-minister-pushed-back-on-tariffs-on-canadian-cannabis/

In Kazakhstan, the first four licenses for hemp cultivation have been issued
https://timesca.com/kazakhstan-to-permit-industrial-hemp-cultivation/

In Argentina & Brazil, interviews with activists & professionals on their advances towards medical cannabis access
The Construction of a Right: The Regulation of Medicinal Cannabis in Argentina and Brazil
https://www.scielosp.org/article/sausoc/2025.v34n1/e240624pt/en/

⚖️ Business, Laws & Education

A feature on Stiizy, the cannabis behemoth often accused of black market activity
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2025/04/18/inside-stiiizy-the-worlds-best-selling-weed-brand/
And with this winner of a line: “Kim brushes the allegations off as all part of the “dog-eat-dog” world of legal weed, where margins are thin, regulations are tough, taxes are punitive and competitors spread false rumors. “It’s like the movie Mean Girls,” says Kim. “They’re saying I’m the biggest slut in school. Well, I'm not. And I’m tired of it.””

In Colorado, on the undetected consequences of the THC tax
Balancing Act: The Impact of THC Taxation and TABOR on Public Welfare in Colorado An Analysis of Colorado's Fiscal Landscape
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390704442_Balancing_Act_The_Impact_of_THC_Taxation_and_TABOR_on_Public_Welfare_in_Colorado_An_Analysis_of_Colorado%27s_Fiscal_Landscape

In New Zealand, a business teaching case of the story of Ora Pharm, a medical cannabis start-up
Not Just a Bunch of Stoners! How Medical Cannabis Entrepreneurs Pro‑actively Shape an Emerging Industry
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/14657503251331698

On creating a mock dispensary so researchers can simulate real-world purchasing environments
Developing a Mock Retail Cannabis Shop for Research: A Description of The CANNEX
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390578775_Developing_a_Mock_Retail_Cannabis_Shop_for_Research_A_Description_of_The_CANNEX

🚓 The War on Drugs

In Memphis, the police are charging people caught with small amounts of cannabis with felony drug charges (which guarantees a trip to jail), only to drop them later
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/are-police-in-memphis-overcharging-drivers-caught-with-small-amounts-of-marijuana/

In Louisiana, a commentary argues that the state's abortion law banning 2 abortion pills extends the punitive models of the War on Drugs
The War on Drugs Is a War on Women: Louisiana's Abortion Law
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395925001033

For urine drug screening of people giving birth, this assessment found that eliminating that policy was associated with a significant reduction in racial disparities
Racial Equity in Urine Drug Screening Policies in Labor and Delivery
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831646

On the media coverage around people with drug felonies permanently banned from the SNAP food assistance program (a punitive & racially inequitable policy)
News Coverage of State‑Level PRWORA SNAP Restrictions for People Convicted of Drug‑Related Offenses
https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/haschl/qxaf087/62956467/qxaf087.pdf

In prisons, a review of surveilling for drug use via wastewater analysis
Wastewater Based Epidemiology for the Surveillance of Illicit Drug and Substance of Abuse Use in Prison Settings: A Critical Review
https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/wfs2.70004

🛡️ Harm Reduction

In Belfast, the mayor said the country should legalize cannabis & consider opening safe consumption sites
https://www.hotpress.com/opinion/lord-mayor-of-belfast-mickey-murray-it-shouldnt-have-taken-until-2024-for-the-capital-city-of-northern-ireland-to-have-an-openly-gay-lord-mayor-23082005

California launches a direct-to-consumer program for selling naloxone (the overdose reversal medication)
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/04/21/governor-newsom-makes-calrx-naloxone-available-for-all-californians-at-24/

Harm Reduction Research

In Canada, an analysis of opioid decriminalization laws found that they reduced overdose mortality
The Canadian Government’s Jurisdiction on the Decriminalization of Opioids: Opioid Decriminalization Laws Regarding Death, Stigma and Reintegration
https://westerncommunicationreport.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Fourth_Place_Research_Paper_WCR2025.pdf

For substance use reduction, a review of 5 papers on mobile health interventions
Mobile Health Interventions for Substance Use Reduction: A Systematic Review
https://f1000research.com/articles/14-435

For adolescents with substance use disorder, a systematic review of the themes from eleven papers
Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents: A Qualitative Systematic Review
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jan.16967

In people in Rhode Island who were forced to discontinue treatment for substance use disorders, an analysis of the reasons
Characteristics Associated With Forced Treatment Discontinuation Among People Who Use Drugs in Rhode Island
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871625001395

🍄 Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives

The Psychoactive Research

For occasional psychedelic users, they had greater cognitive flexibility & no cognitive deficits compared to non-users
Sporadic Use of Classic Psychedelics and Neuropsychological Performance: A Cross‑Sectional Analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584625001071

For headaches, the use of classic psychedelics was associated with a 25% lower odds of having frequent bad headaches
Lifetime classic psychedelic use and headaches: A cross-sectional study
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02698811251324372

In brain scans of people on ketamine, they had brain-wide fluctuations linked to the rapid antidepressant effects
Mesoscale Brain‑Wide Fluctuation Analysis: Revealing Ketamine’s Rapid Antidepressant Across Multiple Brain Regions
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-025-03375-7

For psychedelics & moral injury, a review found psychedelics to improve related symptoms such as self-compassion & reduced shame & guilt
Exploring the Potential of Psychedelic‑Assisted Psychotherapy for Moral Injury
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584625000879

For eating disorders, a review of the potential of the psychedelics
Psychedelics and Eating Disorders: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential for Anorexia Nervosa and Beyond
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsptsci.5c00094

For meditators, a survey found most thought psychedelic use had a positive influence on their meditation practice
Can Psychedelic Use Benefit Meditation Practice? Examining Individual Psychedelic and Meditation‑Related Factors
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0310160

On music shaping psychedelic therapy
Music as a Collaborating Actor: New Insights Into the Nature and Role of Music in Psychedelic‑Assisted Psychotherapy
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1541528/abstract

The Plant & the History

🌱 Growing & Extracting

For cannabinoid biosynthesis across different cultivars, a review of 56 studies on the factors that drive differences in cannabinoid profiles found environmental factors had a bigger impact than cultivar genetics
Factors affecting cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol production in Cannabis: Internal mechanisms and environmental factors – A systematic review
https://jppres.com/jppres/factors-influencing-cannabidiol-and-tetrahydrocannabinol-in-cannabis/

For cannabis & bacteria, a review of bacteria that enhance cannabinoid yield & an assessment of the antibacterial properties of cannabinoids
Cannabis‑Bacteria Interaction: Trends in Secondary Metabolites, Biocontrol, and By‑Products
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40243760/

On improving cannabis yield with ion balances & nutraceutical compounds
Production of Nutraceutical Compounds from Cannabis indica by Different Integrative Treatments in Nutritive Solution
https://www.netjournals.org/pdf/AMPR/2025/2/25-017.pdf

On hemp’s uptake of toxic metals when grown in coconut coir substrate
Plant Uptake of Arsenic Cadmium and Lead by Hemp Mustard and Kale Grown in Coconut Coir Substrate
https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/5/article-p750.xml

For hemp residue, bio-recycling with microbes
Spontaneous Bio-Recycling: Recovering Bioactive Molecules Through Endogenous Microbial Maceration of Hemp Residues
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40005820/

For CBD extraction, a review of new eco-friendly techniques
Recent Advances in Cannabidiol (CBD) Extraction: A Review of Potential Eco‑Friendly Solvents and Advanced Technologies
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772577425000667

In extract made from moldy hemp, an analysis of the microbial load left over after supercritical CO2 & ethanol extraction
Microbial Load of the Hemp and of Its Cannabinoid‑Rich Extracts After Supercritical and Ethanolic Extraction: Importance of the Hemp Moisture
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025005722

⚙️ Formulating & Analyzing

On cannabinoid processing, a review of the acid-catalyzed conversion of CBD to THC & methods for minimizing unintended derivatives
Acid‑Catalyzed Conversion of Cannabidiol to Tetrahydrocannabinols: En Route to Demystifying Manufacturing Processes and Controlling the Reaction Outcomes
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2025.0015

On optimizing your extraction neutral cannabinoids using a UHPLC-HRMS/MS
Optimized Extraction Method for Neutral Cannabinoids Quantification Using UHPLC-HRMS/MS
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40001549/

On a rapid quantification technique for the cannabinoids using a validated GC‑MS assay
Development, Validation, and Verification of the Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Method for Detecting and Quantifying Major Cannabinoids in the Inflorescence of Cannabis sativa
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666831925000578

🍞 Food & Nutrition & Hemp Seeds

On creating a butter alternative with hemp seed oil & soybean isolate protein
Hemp seed oil-based emulsion gels stabilized by soybean protein isolate, inulin, and glyceryl monostearate: Phase inversion and baking application
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40010463/

Analysis of the best pre-treatment methods for processing hemp oilseed
Comparative Analysis of Pretreatment Methods for Processing Bulk Flax and Hemp Oilseeds Under Uniaxial Compression
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40002073/

On the biological features of hemp seed proteins
Hempseed Water-Soluble Protein Fraction and Its Hydrolysate Display Different Biological Features
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40003634/

🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber

On purifying water of antibiotics with hemp seed shell active carbon
Enhanced Removal of Antibiotics from Wastewater Using Activated Hemp Seed Shell Active Carbon: A Sustainable Approach to Water Purification
https://eem.tfzv.ues.rs.ba/article/176

An analysis of the vapor-permeability of hemp concrete
RILEM TC 275‑HDB: Results of Round‑Robin Testing for the Vapor Permeability of Hemp Concrete
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1617/s11527-025-02644-7

A book chapter on eco-friendly dyeing of hemp fabrics
Eco‑Friendly Dyeing of Hemp Fabrics Using Natural Dyes as an Alternative to Synthetic Methods
https://sciendo.com/chapter/9788367405829/10.2478/9788367405829-024

Separating textiles by FTIR‑ATR
FTIR‑ATR Spectroscopy: The Method for Identifying and Separating the Fibers of Non‑Woody Plants Such as Flax Hemp Kenaf and Cotton
https://www.ijwp.ir/article_722863.html

(ENDO) CANNABINOID SCIENCE

🏥 Public Health & Effects of Legalization

For purchasing illicit medical cannabis, a survey found that people did so because of product cost & to assure an adequate supply
Understanding Motives for Illicit Medicinal Cannabis Use An Exploratory Analysis in a Medical Cannabis Program
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-5596197/v1

In Canada, a survey of stigma found people felt more stigmatizing attitudes toward adolescent consumers & that older participants displayed more stigmatizing attitudes towards younger participants
Exploring Cannabis Consumption Stigma in Canada with Consideration of Age and Gender Differences
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000264

In a survey of perceptions of vaping vs. smoking, there were few significant differences and perceptions of benefits & harms
Cannabis User Perceptions: General and Oral Health Benefits and Harms of Vaping Versus Smoking
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2025.2491766

In Canadian Indigenous people, analyzing the correlates to their cannabis use including discrimination, cyber victimization, residential instability & poor mental health
Exploring Correlates of Marijuana Use Among Indigenous Peoples in Canada
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11469-025-01480-8

Adolescents & Young Adults

In adolescents with comorbid cannabis use & mood disorders, a review of the impact & care recommendations
Comorbid Cannabis Use and Mood Disorders Among Adolescents
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.focus.20240049

Among healthcare practitioners who work with youth, a survey of the factors limiting their adoption of a harm reduction approach to cannabis use
Mixed‑Methods Study on Professionals’ Attitudes Toward Harm Reduction in Cannabis Use and the Development of a Knowledge Translation Plan
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-96001-x

For family-based programs to lower youth substance use, an economic analysis found them to be generally cost-saving for public health
Family‑Based Interventions to Prevent Substance Use Among Youth: Community Guide Systematic Economic Review
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(25)00119-9/abstract

After legalization of youth-friendly cannabis edibles & extracts in Canada, adolescent use of edibles & smoking increased as well as co-use with alcohol
Legalizing Youth‑Friendly Cannabis Edibles and Extracts and Adolescent Cannabis Use
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2832970

In young adults with more pain, they were more likely to co-use alcohol & cannabis
Pain predicts past-month co-use of alcohol and cannabis among emerging adults: Results from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40015463/

In Washington state youth, an analysis of the cannabis use patterns (it peaks at 23)
Age‑Varying Patterns of Cannabis Use, Related Risk Factors, and Their Associations Among Young Adults in the Context of Legalized Nonmedical Cannabis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11121-025-01803-0

In Spain, an observational study of youth cannabis use from public health data
[Cannabis and adolescents in Spain: use and consequences. State of play]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40013608/

In young adults of Spain, on their experiences of cannabis using a new scale
Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabis Motives Measure (S‑SMM) and Its Short Form (S‑SMM‑SF)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00952990.2025.2484532

🧠 The Brain & Neurological Disorders

For people with tremors, a 1:1 CBD:THC did not find any reductions
Double‑Blind, Randomized, Placebo‑Controlled, Crossover Study of Oral Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol for Essential Tremor
https://tremorjournal.org/articles/10.5334/tohm.1005

For people with multiple sclerosis at risk of cannabis use disorder, a pilot study of remotely supervised home-based interventions to reduce cannabis use
The Unmet Need for Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis: Insights from a Nationwide Pilot Study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211034825001853

In alterations to the blood-brain barrier, the CB1 receptors of the astrocytes (the most predominant brain support cell) helped to modulate the response to stress
Astrocytic cannabinoid receptor 1 promotes resilience by dampening stress-induced blood-brain barrier alterations
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40016352/

In a mouse model of brain hemorrhage, activation of the CB1 & CB2 receptor markedly reduced brain lesions, brain-hemorrhage disruption & motor impairments via the NOX-2 & NLRP3 pathways
Cannabinoid Receptors Reduced Early Brain Damage by Regulating NOX‑2 and the NLRP3 Inflammasome in an Animal Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cns.70385

In a rat model of memory loss from scopolamine, activating the CB1 receptor prevented the loss of spatial memory via increases to cannabinoid & muscarinic receptors
Cannabinoid Agonist WIN55,212‑2 Prevents Scopolamine‑Induced Impairment of Spatial Memory in Rats
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299925003668

Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder

At an addiction helpline, an observational study of who was calling & why they were calling (primarily mothers calling about their kids use of cannabis, opioids or stimulants)
Demographics and Use of an Addiction Helpline for Concerned Significant Others: Observational Study
https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e55621/

In people who use cannabis & e-cigarettes, they often want to quit both at the same time & other factors in their cessation
E‑Cigarette and Cannabis Use Among Current and Recently Quit Smokers Co‑Use and Co‑Cessation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235285322500029X

On an AI model for predicting cannabis addiction out of Morocco
Artificial Intelligence Model for the Prediction of Cannabis Addiction
https://ijphs.iaescore.com/index.php/IJPHS/article/view/25786

Something about stress & endocannabinoid signaling contributing to fear generalization, but it's behind a paywall so vile that you can't even read a word of the abstract
Stress‑Induced Endogenous Cannabinoid Signaling Contributes to Fear Generalization
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12264-025-01391-7

Reproduction & Hormones

For mental health clinicians interacting with pregnant people using cannabis, a survey found that the most common motives for use were nausea & morning sickness
Mental Health Clinicians’ Perceptions on Patient Motivations and Intervention Engagement for Prenatal Cannabis Use
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772724625000174

In a chart review of pregnant people, they found that prenatal cannabis use was inconsistently documented
Electronic Health Record Documentation of Cannabis Use in Pregnancy A Retrospective Chart Review
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/som_srs/455/

🦠 The Immune System & Microbial

In people living with HIV, there's been a dramatic increase over the last 20 years in diagnoses of cannabis use disorder
Cannabis Use Disorder among People with and without HIV
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/cannabis-use-disorder-among-people-with-and-without-hiv

In the beef cattle bacteria Fusobacterium necrophorum, cannabis extract caused antimicrobial effects as did the terpenes D-limonene & alpha-pinene
In Vitro Antimicrobial Efficacy of Cannabis sativa L. Crude Oil Extract on Fusobacterium necrophorum of Bovine Origin
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S107599642500023X

Pain, Musculoskeletal, Inflammation & Surgeries

In people having joint surgery, adult-use cannabis laws were associated with an increase in painkiller prescriptions
Do Medical and Recreational Marijuana State Laws Impact Trends in Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions Among Patients Who Have Undergone TJA?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39982017/

In ankle and foot surgery, while the use of cannabis was not associated with a higher risk of post-operative complications, its concurrent use with tobacco was linked to an increased risk of emergency department visits & non-union of the bones
The Association of Cannabis and Tobacco Use With Postoperative Complications after Ankle and Hindfoot Arthrodesis
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/24730114251328669

In Massachusetts emergency department patients, a post-legalization survey found that few increased their use after legalization & half reported being able to use less opioid painkillers
Perceptions and Patterns of Cannabis Use in Emergency Department Patients Following Recreational Legalization in Massachusetts
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735675725002736

For arthritis, a review of CBD & curcumin-based nanomedicines
Cannabidiol and Curcumin‑Based Nanomedicines in the Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases
https://www.rheumres.org/article_218971_7e9ef5c98ad54421d0ea490ff0f29322.pdf

In a mouse model of migraine, inhibition of the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG) blocked their pain sensitivity
Enhancement of the Endocannabinoid System Through Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibition Relieves Migraine‑Associated Pain in Mice
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10194-025-02029-9

In antioxidant assays, a combination of CBD & extracts of cannabis & moringa leaf (the horseradish tree) showed synergistic antioxidant effects
Cannabis sativa L and Moringa oleifera Leaf Extracts and Cannabidiol as Multi‑Target Inhibitors Lipoxygenase Free Radical Scavenging Activity and In Silico Studies
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42250-025-01283-3

🍽️ The Guts, Nutrition & the Microbiome

In adolescents, past-year cannabis use was not associated with any difference in their body mass index Z-scores
Abstract P2023: Cannabis Use in Adolescence Is Not Associated With Differences in BMI Z‑Scores
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/cir.151.suppl_1.P2023

On cow teeth, a CBD gel did not alter the efficacy of a bleaching treatment
Synthesis of an Experimental Gel Containing Cannabidiol Oil and Evaluation of Effects on Bleached Bovine Enamel
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10266-025-01105-5

The Lungs

For the effect of cannabis smoke on the airway, an online course for medical staff
Evaluation of a Novel Online Webinar for Health Care Practitioner Education on the Health Effects of Smoking Cannabis in the Airway
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39982117/

Cancer & Chemotherapy

For the pain of chemotherapy treatment, a poster on cannabis providing pain relief comparable to opioids
The Use of Oral Cannabis Compared to Opioids for Chemotherapy‑Induced Pain Relief
https://scholarsphere.psu.edu/resources/dccb7f0b-0517-4b18-ae19-41f5be105fdc

In people receiving palliative care, design considerations for medical cannabis clinical trials
Design Considerations for Medicinal Cannabis Clinical Trials in People Receiving Palliative Care
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39988015/

For lung cancer, a review of treatment with terpenes
Terpenes and Lung Cancer
https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/terpenes-and-lung-cancer/372116

In colon cancer cells, CBD & CBG derivatives caused cytotoxicity & antioxidant effects
Biological Effects of Newly Synthesized CBD and CBG Derivates on Colon Cancer Cell Lines
https://dea.lib.unideb.hu/items/fc99637c-ac1b-4410-bc95-1e363d689561

In breast cancer cells, CBD derivatives & CBG derivatives caused anti-tumor effects
Antitumor Effects of Cannabinoid Derivatives on Breast Cancer Cell Lines
https://dea.lib.unideb.hu/items/f339444a-6593-4936-acb2-ffa37121fcd7

In cancer treatments, on using iron oxide nanoparticles as carriers for cannabinoids
Tailored Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Potential Cannabinoid Carriers for Anti-Cancer Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40001533/

💊 Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids

On the neural effects of four new psychoactive substances
In Vitro Evaluation of New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs), 3,4‑Dichloromethylphenidate (DCMP), 4‑EA‑NBOMe, LY‑2183240 and AB‑CHFUPYCA
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13273-025-00536-z

In human blood, synthetic cannabinoids bound to albumin (a common blood protein)
Binding Affinity of Synthetic Cannabinoids to Human Serum Albumin Site Characterization and Interaction Insights
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/4/581

🔬 Biochemical Discoveries & Detection Tools

On systemizing terpenes with organocatalysts
The Synthesis of Terpenes via Enantioselective Organocatalysis
https://aces.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajoc.202500229

Thanks.
- lex

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Cannabinoids & the People