C&P#149: Cannabis for OCD & MS + Cancer Week! + Skin Week!
King Charles on the reefer?!
🌟 This week 🌟
Cannabis for OCD + MS
Again and again, cannabinoids for neuropathic pain
Cancer Week! 9 studies & reviews on both treatment & increased cancer risk from cannabis use + King Charles on the reefer?!
Skin Week! 4 on topical cannabinoids for skin conditions
In the War on Drugs, MS-13 apparently owns the El Salvador government (chilling reporting)
In harm reduction, an analysis of the closure of North America's busiest supervised consumption site: "We've lost a lot of lives"
Preclinical: CBD protecting from schizophrenia symptoms, lessening methamphetamine use disorder & soothing inflammatory pain
When rats feel more pain after seeing their siblings in pain, it's mediated by the ECS
On trafficked cannabis workers in the UK
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 149th 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: ~7,400 words, ~17 minutes reading time, 139 papers)
📌 Editor’s note:
I’ve never asked this before, but the Emjay Awards just opened for nominations. If you’d write my name in here for ‘Cannabis Journalist of the Year’, I’d appreciate it. Being on that list would help other people discover this newsletter & hopefully get more of the cannabinoid science out into the world, resulting in more grandmas getting the medicine (which is my real reason for doing all of this). Thank you.
And now, I’m off to London for Cannabis Europa with a bag full of Shakespeare & a fresh purchase of the Globe’s ‘Measure for Measure’. Let the bard times roll…
🤝 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/
Follow along on Instagram to keep on learning or sign up for the monthly CHRI email (curated by me) to get just the best of clinical research & new reviews each month.
🧰 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. #AMAGlossary of Cannabinoid Terms (& my Neural Ocean metaphor)
And as always, at the bottom is the album of the week: Lightnin' Hopkins!
💖 Ways to support this work 💖
A paid subscription on Substack
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🐋 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.comThe 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.
🎥 My work this week 🎤
Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
(on YT @CVSciencesInc & TT @pluscbd)
🍃 BEST OF CANNABINOID SCIENCE 🍃
(most of the phytocannabinoid data is here & the ECS data is in the ‘Canna-Science Archive’ below)
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
In people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, after 3 months of medical cannabis, there were substantial improvements in quality of life, general health, mood/depression, anxiety & sleep
Medicinal Cannabis Use Among People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Changes in Quality of Life After Three Months
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/4/2/16
In people with multiple sclerosis, 1 month of CBD improved their gait & reduced their maximum pain
A randomized trial on efficacy of purified cannabidiol on spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients with gait problems: first report in Iran
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00210-025-04347-w
In a longitudinal sibling study, moderate cannabis use did not predict increased suicidal ideation & attempts
Associations Between Cannabis Use Frequency and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: A Clinical Longitudinal Sibling Study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000380
The literature on this subject is inconsistent. Some of the studies find a connection & some do not. Generally, what that means is that if the effects do exist, they're probably quite small. That being said, if you want a drug to help dig yourself deeper into the pit of depression, cannabis can certainly do that for you. I’ve certainly used it that way in my darker moments many moons ago.
In regular cannabis consumers, cold-water stress did not alter their blood levels of THC or THC metabolites
Does acute stress induced via cold water immersion increase blood THC concentrations in regular cannabis users?
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06833-8
The thinking here was that because cannabinoids are stored in fat cells, perhaps the ability of cold water stress to increase fat burning would also increase blood THC levels & maybe even cause reintoxication. But as the author points out in his post about this paper & the reintoxication theory, perhaps in this study, the cold water stress was not intense enough or the participants weren't heavy enough cannabis users to have a lot of THC in their fat. So he proposes the next experiment might involve testing them before & after their first skydiving experience...
(which I can only guess means that he’s a skydiver himself)
In a driving simulator study, cannabis use caused “relatively small” changes across all types of users, with the occasional user group experiencing changes in lane departures in & the daily use group having few differences in (thanks tolerance!)
Impact of naturalistic cannabis use on lateral control and speed: A driving simulator study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15389588.2025.2508381
And from cannabis DUI cases, an analysis of changes in blood THC levels varied widely across repeated collection times, complicating impairment interpretation in casework
Changes in Blood Cannabinoid Concentrations over Multiple Collection Times in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Casework
https://academic.oup.com/jat/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jat/bkaf052/8157884?redirectedFrom=fulltext
🖐️ The Skin & Topicals 🖐️
For atopic dermatitis (eczema), a systematic review of 12 studies found improvements to hydration, itching & eczema scores
Therapeutic effectiveness and safety of cannabinoids in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a systematic review
https://repositorio.uniandes.edu.co/server/api/core/bitstreams/ea01f9f9-8dbf-4a9a-8bb1-cbb76f82eba7/content
For nano CBD in skin conditions, they showed improved anti-inflammatory & wound healing effects as well as efficacy for acne, psoriasis & eczema
Nanoformulated cannabidiol for skin disorders: A GRADE-based systematic review of therapeutic evidence and efficacy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0939641125001614
For psoriasis, a review of CBD topicals
THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF CANNABIDIOL (CBD) IN PLAQUE PSORIASIS
https://amj.mk/index.php/amj/article/view/348
A CBD topical protected the skin from UVA damage
Novel CBD Cream Shows Promise in Protecting Skin from UV-A Damage in First-Ever In-Human Trial
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A4%3A36164980/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A185657726
🎗️ Cancer & Chemotherapy 🎗️
On cancer, an excellent review on the therapeutic potential of synthetic cannabinoids
Revealing the Therapeutic Potential of Synthetic Cannabinoids: A Systematic Review of Cannabinoid Receptor Binding Dynamics and Their Implications for Cancer Therapy
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00289-5
For prostate cancer, a systematic review of 12 studies focused on CBD’s anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic (cellular suicide) & tumor-suppressive effects
Cannabinoids and Chemotherapy in Prostate Cancer: A Scoping Review of Evidence on Pain Relief and Quality of Life
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S3050475925003768
In people with head & neck cancer, most relied on the internet for their medical cannabis information & most agreed that it helped with cancer-related symptoms
Perceptions and Use of Medical Cannabis in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
https://journals.lww.com/amjclinicaloncology/abstract/9900/perceptions_and_use_of_medical_cannabis_in.298.aspx
In Canadian prostate cancer patients, a questionnaire found 12% to be recent cannabis users with smoked flower being the preferred ingestion method
Prevalence and Patterns of Cannabis Consumption in Prostate Cancer Patients: a Canadian Cohort
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1939865425000785
In Canadian cancer patients, a survey on why they're using cannabis or why they'd be interested
Cannabis Use in Cancer Patients Six Years Post-Legalization in Canada
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1939865425000839
“When current cannabis users were asked “Why are you currently using cannabis?”, a variety of answers were chosen, with the most popular being: “It helps me sleep better”, “Recreationally/for enjoyment”, and “Pain”.”
In places that legalized cannabis, they had a higher incidence of breast & testicular cancer
Emerging evidence links cannabis use to increased risk of breast and testicular cancer in young Americans
https://www.academia.edu/2998-7741/2/2/10.20935/AcadOnco7758?article_card=download&source=academia-oncology-sap-page
Using public health data, those with cannabis abuse or dependence had a significantly increased risk of bladder and prostate cancer, but not for upper tract, testis or penile cancer
A Population-Level Analysis on the Association of Cannabis Use and Urologic Cancers
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1078143925002054
An editorial on the potential genotoxicity & cancer-causing effects of cannabis with a focus on Colorado
Novel Considerations for the FDA Evaluation of Re-scheduling Cannabinoids in Colorado and United States: Genotoxicity and Teratogenicity
https://drugprevent.org.uk/ppp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Case-for-Caution-with-Cannabis-JAMA-5.1-With-Full-References.pdf
In cancer survivors, cannabis use rose faster for those residing in legal states than prohibition states, mirroring the population without a cancer diagnosis
Trends in cannabis use among those with and without a cancer diagnosis according to state-level cannabis policy: findings from the PATH Study, Waves 1–5 (2013–2019)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-025-09617-0
📑 Reviews 📑
For neuropathic pain, a systematic review of 22 studies found significant pain reduction in “multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia [from shingles], HIV-associated sensory neuropathy, peripheral neuropathic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, chronic radicular neuropathic pain [pinched back nerve], and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities”
Are Cannabis-Based Medicines a Useful Treatment for Neuropathic Pain? A Systematic Review
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wayne-Carter-3/publication/392425482_Are_Cannabis-Based_Medicines_a_Useful_Treatment_for_Neuropathic_Pain_A_Systematic_Review/links/684301216a754f72b590d6e1/Are-Cannabis-Based-Medicines-a-Useful-Treatment-for-Neuropathic-Pain-A-Systematic-Review.pdf
For CBD & cognition, a review of 36 studies looked at effects for Parkinson's disease, anxiety, psychosis & cognitive function in people with substance use disorders
Cannabidiol and cognition: a literature review of human randomized controlled trials
https://journals.lww.com/behaviouralpharm/abstract/9900/cannabidiol_and_cognition__a_literature_review_of.137.aspx
For Alzheimer's & Parkinson's, a review of the preclinical literature on the benefits of CBD & targeting the ECS (good charts)
Recent Preclinical Evidence on Phytocannabinoids in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Focus on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/6/890
For glaucoma, a review of cannabinoids to reduce intraocular pressure
Cannabinoids Modulations in Intraocular Pressure and Therapeutic Intervention for Glaucoma
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Saumya-Srivastav/publication/392268684_Cannabinoids_Modulations_in_Intraocular_Pressure_and_Therapeutic_Intervention_for_Glaucoma/links/68474d81c33afe388acb0ee4/Cannabinoids-Modulations-in-Intraocular-Pressure-and-Therapeutic-Intervention-for-Glaucoma.pdf
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
For cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a narrative review about the pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria & treatment practices
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: A review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2255534X25000581
And for people with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, droperidol (a potent injectable antiemetic) was associated with a reduced length of hospital stay
Droperidol is associated with reduced length of stay in the treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15563650.2025.2516128
In people over 50, the number of cannabis-involved hospital admissions increased significantly since 2000
Changes in and Correlates of Cannabis-involved Substance Use Treatment Admissions Age 50 and Older, 2000-2021
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1592551/abstract
In US veterans, liberalized cannabis laws were associated with a greater prevalence of opioid use disorder
Cannabis Legalization and Opioid Use Disorder in Veterans Health Administration Patients
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2835104
On psychosis, public health data from the EU & Brazil found the risk of psychotic disorders appeared to decline with time following cannabis cessation
Cannabis Use Cessation and the Risk of Psychotic Disorders: A Case–Control Analysis from the First Episode Case–Control EU-GEI WP2 Study / L’arrêt de l’utilisation du cannabis et le risque de troubles psychotiques: Une analyse cas-témoins tirée de l’étude cas-témoins EU-GEI WP2 centrée sur les premiers épisodes psychotiques
https://pure.amsterdamumc.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/136597860/bond-et-al-2025-cannabis-use-cessation-and-the-risk-of-psychotic-disorders-a-case-control-analysis-from-the-first.pdf
In US adults, cannabis use was positively associated with depressive symptoms & the effects were mediated by the three environmental pollutants, the PAHs 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyfluorene & 3-hydroxyfluorene
Association Between Marijuana and Depression: Exploring the Mediating Role of Environmental Pollutants
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032725010493
That being said, if you apply Hanks-Razor, you could imagine those environmental pollution metabolites as a stand-in for socioeconomic factors.
In French drug databases of deaths in children & adolescents, the cannabinoid users cluster was associated with psychiatric & digestive disorders
Contribution of Addictovigilance data to assess adverse-events linked to psychoactive substances in children and adolescents
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40495097/
In public health data on structural birth defects, prenatal cannabis use was associated with omphalocele (intestines developing outside the belly), but for no other defects examined
Maternal Prenatal Cannabis Use and Major Structural Birth Defects
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bdr2.2492
In EEG scans after the combination of cannabis concentrates & alcohol, participants had an increase in cognitive processing errors & significant decrease in response time as well as greater behavioral impulsivity
Neurophysiological and Behavioral Effects of Combined Cannabis Concentrates and Alcohol: A Naturalistic EEG Study
https://www.authorea.com/doi/full/10.22541/au.174886798.87461651
🐁 Preclinical 🐁
In a mouse model of schizophrenia, CBD protected from the memory deficits, activation of the microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain) & decreased gamma neural oscillations via the CB2 & 5-HT1A serotonin receptor in the ventral hippocampus but not those receptors in the prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex
Cannabidiol reverses microglia activation and loss of parvalbumin interneurons and perineuronal nets in a mouse model of schizophrenia
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006899325003336
In a rat model of methamphetamine use disorder, CBD reduced reward-seeking behavior via the D2 dopamine receptors in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Cannabidiol mechanism of action on modulating extinction and reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking behavior: Targeting D2-like dopamine receptors in the hippocampus
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022395625004091
In a rat model of inflammatory pain, THC decreased pain with stronger effects in females while the lowest THC dose was proinflammatory in males & CBD did not alter pain sensitivity but had modest anti-inflammatory effects in males
Cannabidiol (CBD) Interactions with Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC) on Antinociception After Carrageenan-Induced Inflammatory Pain in Male and Female Rats
https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(25)39838-1/fulltext
In a rat empathic pain model, their ability to feel more pain when witnessing a sibling in pain was decreased by blocking the CB1 receptor, suggesting an ECS involvement in prosocial behavior & emotional contagion via BDNF (a key brain growth factor) in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
CB1 receptor antagonism reverses social and cognitive deficits induced by repeated exposure to distressed conspecifics in rats
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304394025001879
For drug-resistant bacterial infections in small animals, hemp seed oil reduced bacterial growth & showed synergy with the antibiotic gentamicin
In vitro antibacterial activity of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) extract seed oil against multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens in small animal veterinary dermatology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023325000966
🧬 Novel Studies 🧬
(my grab bag section for intriguing studies or stuff I haven’t quite seen before)
For people being trafficked into cannabis work in the UK, a review of the problems and potential solutions
Examining the Exploitation of Vulnerable Migrant Populations and Interventions to Combat Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery within the Illegal UK Cannabis Cultivation Industry
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S294979142500051X
“By scoping the existing literature, the following issues are explored: The vulnerability of migrants is shaped by multiple factors, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of legal status. The perpetrators use various methods of control and coercion, such as deception, threats, violence, and debt manipulation. The victims suffer from physical and psychological trauma, such as injuries, illnesses, anxiety, depression, and fear. Finally, there is evidence that protective legislation and the actions of the criminal justice system in some MSHT cases are inadequate, resulting in the criminalisation of cannabis growers, rather than on their protection and support as victims of human rights violations.”
In a meta-analysis across 105 mammalian transcriptomes (what genes are actually getting transcribed), the genetic transcription effects of THC are more variable across species & experimental conditions than the CBD effects
Comparative analysis of 105 datasets across species and tissues reveals higher variability in transcriptomic responses to THC than CBD
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6857614/v1
“CBD transcriptomic signatures demonstrated greater stability and consistency across species and experimental conditions compared to THC. CBD datasets clustered more tightly by route of administration and species and were more frequently enriched for pathways related to zinc homeostasis, inflammation suppression, and cell cycle regulation. In contrast, THC signatures were more heterogeneous and did not exhibit consistent clustering, although a small number of consistently altered genes associated with antioxidant activity, neuronal myelination, and synaptic signaling were identified across datasets. THC altered endocannabinoid signaling genes more often in brain tissues while CBD affected this pathway more heavily in both central and peripheral tissues. Disease enrichment analyses revealed significant associations of CBD DEGs with lipid metabolism and body composition traits, while DEGs [differentially expressed genes] of both compounds showed links to neuropsychiatric disorders and type 2 diabetes.”
Fingerprinting new molecular targets of the plant cannabinoids using inverse docking, including intriguing results on the little-studied CBL
Uncovering the Molecular Targets of Phytocannabinoids: Mechanistic Insights from Inverse Molecular Docking Fingerprint Approaches
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1611461/abstract
“Our analysis of the inverse molecular docking results identified high scoring targets with potential as novel protein targets for minor cannabinoids, the majority associated with cancer, while others have connections with neurological disorders and inflammation. We highlighted GTPase KRas and hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) as very promising potential targets due to favorable docking scores with almost all investigated cannabinoids. We also find multiple matrix metalloproteinases among the top targets, suggesting possible novel therapeutic opportunities in rheumatic diseases.”
On the receptor dynamics of the CB2 receptor
Multiple intramolecular triggers converge to preferential G protein coupling in the CB2R
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-60003-0
Never forget that a half-dozen Nobel Prizes have been awarded for figuring out the complicated signaling of G-protein coupled receptors (of which CB2 is a widespread member). And an excellent study like this goes to show how fascinating & complex they can be.
In mice with no FABP5 or FABP7 (fatty acid binding proteins responsible for moving around lipids such as the cannabinoids), the loss of FABP5 made them move less but was not crucial for mediating THC effects while FABP7 mediated the lessened body temperature & movement effects of THC
Fatty acid binding proteins 5 and 7 differentially modulate phenotypic response to acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in female mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938425002008
For aphid attack, on the role of CBDVA & its insecticidal effects
Assessing the adaptive role of cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA) in aphid defense in Cannabis sativa
https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-025-00291-x
On the bacteria living inside cannabis seeds & the limitations of using just culture-based methods for capturing full microbial diversity
Defining the cultured and uncultured bacterial fractions in Cannabis seeds
https://environmentalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40793-025-00731-4
📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles 📰
King Charles growing cannabis to help with his cancer?!
https://radaronline.com/p/king-charles-cancer-refusing-chemo-booze/
Facebook & Instagram finally stop censoring search results for marijuana & cannabis
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/facebook-and-instagram-seem-to-have-stopped-censoring-search-results-for-marijuana-and-cannabis/
And our friends from Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana Policy Project & NORML sent them a letter about their shadowbanning & censorship of cannabis groups & content
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-and-drug-groups-press-meta-about-shadowbanning-and-censorship-of-content-on-facebook-and-instagram/
Interview with the new owner of High Times, Josh Kesselman of RAW rolling papers, who's looking to turn it into a place of cannabis community
https://www.celebstoner.com/news/marijuana-news/2025/06/19/interview-with-josh-kesselman-new-owner-of-high-times/
A DC hemp company sued the federal government for their budget rider that restricts the city from establishing a retail cannabis market
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/d-c-hemp-company-sues-feds-over-unworkable-standard-created-by-marijuana-budget-rider/
A Paralympic fencer given one month of ineligibility for out-of-competition cannabis consumption
https://cannabislaw.report/the-us-anti-doping-agency-announces-paralympic-hopeful-kevin-reeve-jr-has-accepted-1-month-period-of-ineligibility-for-a-rule-violation-involving-out-of-competition-cannabis-consumption/
Kelly Safford said weed gummies make her a better parent
https://people.com/kelly-stafford-says-weed-gummies-make-her-a-better-parent-11755933
Word.
4th to 14th century: Silk Road Buddhist murals found to contain hemp fibers
Characterizing pigments, dyes, and fibers in murals from Bezeklik Cave 51 and Tuyoq Cave 2
https://www.nature.com/articles/s40494-025-01811-x
I don’t often mention it, but Tibetan Buddhism is close to my heart. Both because I was the writer for the 2008 March to Tibet through north India & because I helped my mentor Tom Laird capture Tibetan murals that eventually wound up in his book for Taschen. And now, every night before bed, I read some Buddhist text to help me be more patient with my kids & with my wife (and what else matters in life?). Thank you to the Buddha, the teacher, thank you to Dharma, the actual refuge & thank you to the Sangha, the friends on the way.
GTA V clip of the week: how each character handles Barry’s special joint
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ksb0nVERenI
🌐 International News 🌐
In the UK, ‘man avoids jail for supplying cannabis to ill patients – judge acknowledges that his products had “given people hope”’
https://cannabislaw.report/uk-leeds-man-avoids-jail-for-supplying-cannabis-to-ill-patients-judge-acknowledges-that-his-products-had-given-people-hope/
In Jamaica, charges dropped against a Rastafarian man because of his sacramental right to grow cannabis
https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/06/19/rastafari-wins-latest-ganja-court-battle/
In Japan, an analysis of the effects of their 2023 Cannabis Control Act that allowed the prescription of cannabis-derived products, counterbalanced by strict THC limits & new penalties
How Has Japan’s Cannabis Control Act Been Amended?
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2025.0006
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education ⚖️
An analysis of comments on cannabis rescheduling to the DEA
Public attitudes towards the DEA’s proposal to reschedule marijuana: a cross-sectional mixed methods analysis
https://karger.com/mca/article-pdf/doi/10.1159/000546538/4388047/000546538.pdf
A dataset of US state cannabis policies, enabling comparative cannabis research
US State Cannabis Policy Bundles Dataset
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05284-2
In a Canadian review of legalization, there was a substantial decrease in cannabis possession crimes & cannabis-impaired driving, more cannabis involvement in motor vehicle crashes & the legal market growing to capture 75% of all consumers
Key crime- and public safety-related results of non-medical cannabis legalization policy in Canada: a targeted evidence summary
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/jcrpp-06-2024-0042/full/html
For cannabis vapes, an analysis of the top 10 most frequently highlighted features
Product features for promoting top-selling cannabis vape products in an online retail environment
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16066359.2025.2519601
A chapter on the safety risks for cannabis workers
Cannabis Workers
https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-319-40221-5_232-1
In Finland, a thesis of the market potential of hemp products in the Nordic countries
Market of Hemp Products in the Nordic Countries
https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/894772/Uttam_Lohani.pdf?sequence=3
🚓 The War on Drugs 🚓
A book on fentanyl’s path from pharmaceutical labs to global street markets
Fentanyl: From the Labs to the Streets
https://books.google.fr/books?hl=en&lr=lang_en&id=bwZlEQAAQBAJ&pg=PT8#v=onepage
Latin America
Chilling report on how MS-13 owns the government of El Salvador & that they were funneled USAID funds in exchange for a lower murder rate
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/06/how-el-salvadors-government-impeded-a-probe-of-ms-13-trump-usaid/
Costa Rica signed a new drug trafficking agreement with the US + a history of extradition across Latin America
https://insightcrime.org/news/will-costa-ricas-new-extradition-treaty-us-curb-growing-drug-trafficking/
Profile of the Chapitos, sons of El Chapo
https://insightcrime.org/mexico-organized-crime-news/los-chapitos/
In the Dominican Republic, an analysis of the 4th wave of transnational organized crime structures
Transnational Organized Crime in the Dominican Republic:A Convergence Center for Illicit Economies
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1075&context=jgi_research
In Oaxaca, Mexico, an analysis of the nexus between violence & drug crop eradication
Revisiting the drug crop eradication-violence nexus: a mixed-methods analysis of conflict and cooperation in traditional governance communities in Oaxaca, Mexico
https://www.proquest.com/openview/f604ea6cf281c08a80af13cfb30c1dbc/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=38321
A thesis project on the Mexican cartels embracing social media & technology
The Impact of Technology and Social Media on the Expansion of Mexican Cartels' Power
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5155&context=cmc_theses
Europe
In the UK, ‘why people become drug mules – and why harsh sentences don’t deter them’
https://theconversation.com/why-people-become-drug-mules-and-why-harsh-sentences-dont-deter-them-258514
In Spain, 4.7 tons of hashish seized in a truck from Tangier
https://cannabislaw.report/spain-seizes-4-7-tons-of-hashish-in-truck-from-tangier/
Asia & Middle East
The role of the United Arab Emirates as a safe haven for drug traffickers seems to be waning as more arrests have been made there over the last five years
https://insightcrime.org/news/is-the-uaes-role-as-a-safe-haven-for-traffickers-waning/
In Thailand, a drug smuggler killed in a shootout & 4.2M meth pills seized
https://thethaiger.com/news/northern-thailand/drug-smuggler-killed-4-2m-meth-pills-seized-in-chiang-rai-shootout
In Singapore, a man avoided the death penalty by 0.01 grams of heroin & instead was sentenced to 31 years of jail
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/drug-trafficker-58-avoids-death-penalty-by-0-01g-sentenced-to-31-years-jail
In Indonesia, a US athlete who brought in cannabis gummies from Thailand facing the death penalty
https://cannabislaw.report/article-indonesias-drug-laws-in-light-of-the-jarred-shaw-case/
In Bhutan, a rising drug crisis among the youth
https://asianews.network/bhutan-grapples-with-alarming-youth-drug-crisis/
On the farmers harvesting opium poppies in Myanmar to survive
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/6/7/we-do-this-to-survive-harvesting-opium-poppies-in-myanmars-shan-state
Africa
In Nigeria, 2,687 tons of cannabis sativa seized
https://cannabislaw.report/nigeria-ndlea-seizes-2687-tonnes-of-cannabis-in-criver/
I wonder if a number didn’t get screwed up in the reporting here. That’s a half-million pounds of grass. It’d take ~100 tractor-trailer trucks to carry that much. But the article & the photo only show a pile of bags.
🛡️ Harm Reduction News 🛡️
On the life of harm reduction advocate Peter Krykant who helped to pave the way for Scotland’s safe consumption room The Thistle
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/25234708.peter-krykant-took-risks-wanted-save-lives/
#CANADA
How the new MP Aaron Gunn turned Canada against harm reduction
https://filtermag.org/aaron-gunn-canada-harm-reduction/
And an editorial on how harm reduction advocates can regain lost ground
https://www.thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/06/16/Harm-Reduction-Advocates-Lost-Ground/
And in Ontario, they won't fund more supervised inhalation booths than their current one, even as more drug users turn to smoking
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6797395
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/smoking-over-injecting-opioids-inhalation-safety-1.7558607
And in Regina, Saskatchewan, their only supervised consumption site is set to reopen
https://www.ckom.com/2025/06/14/reginas-only-supervised-consumption-site-set-to-reopen-this-month/
In Rhode Island, overdose deaths declined for the second year in a row
https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/06/12/r-i-overdose-deaths-decline-for-second-year-in-a-row/
In Baltimore, a judge rejected a $5+ billion lawsuit against two opioid distributors that was to address the overdose crisis
https://filtermag.org/judge-rejects-baltimores-billion-opioid-lawsuit/
Harm Reduction Research
Filter on the study that showed Opvee outperformed Narcan
https://filtermag.org/indivior-opvee-nalmefene-naloxone/
In Canada, an analysis of the effects of the closure of North America’s busiest supervised consumption site
"We've lost a lot of lives:" the impact of the closure of North America's busiest supervised consumption site on people who use substances and the organizations that work with them
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40474282/
And one in Ontario
Necropolitics of the North: A rapid ethnography examining the effects of the closure of one of Northern Ontario's only supervised consumption sites
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40483912/
In a multi-state analysis of fentanyl strips, they resulted in people reducing their intake of drugs
Association of fentanyl test strip results and change in drug use behaviors: A multi-state, community-based observational study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40494014/
In Sweden, a five-year follow-up found that a naloxone education enabled the participants reverse many overdoses
Broad-scale overdose education and naloxone distribution- 5-year follow-up of a regional program in Skåne County, Sweden
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40474253/
For adolescents visiting the emergency department with substance use disorders, on the importance of providing access to addiction medicine specialists & harm reduction services
Addiction Medicine Consultation and Harm Reduction Among Adolescents Presenting to the Emergency Department
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40481719/
In the US, a review of harm reduction policies, barriers & recommendations
U.S. substance use harm reduction efforts: a review of the current state of policy, policy barriers, and recommendations
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40484964/
In response to the European crack crisis, the potential of cocaine-assisted treatment
Cocaine-assisted treatment: a possible response to the crack crisis?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40474727/
In Europe, on strategies to the emerging crisis of fentanyl, nitazenes & xylazine
Fentanyl crisis in Europe and Switzerland: current situation and response
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40474724/
For substance use disorders in prison, on the challenges & perspectives on a more equitable approach
Addiction in prison: challenges and perspectives from the Swiss context
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40474728/
And in the US, characteristics of those who received substance use treatment
Access to and predictors of substance use treatment and support among people experiencing incarceration in the United States: Analysis of a national cross-sectional study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40487296/
🍄 Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives 🍄
New Zealand approved medical psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-expands-access-melatonin-and-psilocybin
Texas enacts the nation's first ibogaine treatment research law
https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-signs-ibogaine-treatment-research-law-at-texas-capitol
🍃 The Plant & its Products 🍃
🌱 Growing & Extracting 🌱
For medical cannabis, an analysis of the optimal LED light strategy
Effects of photoperiod and light quality on cannabinoid content and energy use efficiency of medical cannabis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025008623
On hemp productivity, the impact of supplemental LED lights
The Impact of Supplemental LED Light on Night-time on the Growth, Inflorescence Weight, and Cannabidiol Content of Hemp
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Supakiat-Supasin-2/publication/381287103_The_Impact_of_Supplemental_LED_Light_on_Night-time_on_the_Growth_Inflorescence_Weight_and_Cannabidiol_Content_of_Hemp/links/66d87175fa5e11512c765657/The-Impact-of-Supplemental-LED-Light-on-Night-time-on-the-Growth-Inflorescence-Weight-and-Cannabidiol-Content-of-Hemp.pdf
On improving hemp salt tolerance with the endophytic fungi Metarhizium robertsii, Pochonia chlamydosporia & Trichoderma harzianum
The endophytic fungi Metarhizium, Pochonia, and Trichoderma, improve salt tolerance in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0325559
Adding water-retaining polymers to hemp did not alter their examined traits
The Effect of Water Retaining Polymer Applications on Agricultural Characteristics of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A9%3A30448265/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A185271359
For micropropagation, the influence of light-emitting diodes & culture media
Influences of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and Culture Media on Micropropagation of Native Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Population from Türkiye
http://dogadergi.ksu.edu.tr/tr/pub/issue/92369/1596868
On using drones & remote sensing to identify gray mold on outdoor hemp
Unoccupied Aerial Systems-based Disease Assessments of Specialty Crops: Case Studies of Broccoli, Turnip Seed, and Hemp Crops
https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/35/4/article-p431.xml
For German hemp farmers, a comprehensive analysis of their economic, ecological & social perspectives
Economic, ecological and social perspectives of industrial hemp cultivation in Germany: A qualitative analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479725020936
A German survey on new disease emergences in hemp
New crops: new pests and pathogens—emerging diseases due to intensification of cultivation using the case of hemp, quinoa, and ginger in Germany
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41348-025-01104-2
In the semiarid US Intermountain region, trials of the best cultivars for flower yield & CBD content
Impact of cultivar selection on floral hemp yield and cannabinoid production in the semiarid Intermountain West
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/agg2.70125
In Thai dioecious hemp cultivars, on the best seasonal conditions for optimizing seed production
Sex Expression and Seed Yield Stability in Thai Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): Seasonal Effects on Dioecious Cultivars for Optimized Seed Production
https://www.mdpi.com/2037-0164/16/2/67
A forensic analysis of the Helena variety of cannabis as hemp
Classification of Cannabis sativa L. variety Helena as industrial hemp: an analysis based on THC content
https://bulletin.mfd.org.mk/volumes/Volume%2071_2/71_2_010.pdf
A complete genome of the cannabis chloroplast (the organelle of photosynthesis)
Complete chloroplast genome sequence data of Cannabis sativa
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025DIB....6011632X/abstract
On extracting CBD with a green deep-eutectic solvent & alkaline leaching
Sustainable Extraction of Cannabidiol Using Alkaline Leaching Coupled with Green Deep Eutectic Solvents
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1878818125001495
On CBG extraction using supercritical CO2
Cannabigerol Extraction from a Cannabis Cultivar Using a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Process
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ceat.70052
⚙️ Formulating & Analyzing ⚙️
In humans, on boosting THC & CBD bioavailability with a self-emulsifying powder
Enhancing cannabinoid bioavailability: a crossover study comparing a novel self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system and a commercial oil-based formulation
https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-025-00294-8
A PEA hydrogel had better bioavailability in humans
Pharmacokinetics of a natural hybrid-hydrogel formulation of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA): randomized single-dose, double-blinded, 2-way
crossover study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19476337.2025.2516484
On isolating THC from hair using an air-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction
Air-Assisted Liquid–Liquid Microextraction (AALLME) as an Alternative Sample Pre-Treatment for Isolating Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from Hair
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/6/207
On measuring pesticides with LC-MS/MS & GC-MS/MS
Quantitative determination and validation of 96 pesticides in cannabis by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-025-05918-9
A thesis project on quantifying arsenic & other elements in cannabis using total reflection x-ray fluorescence
Determination of Arsenic and Other Elements in Cannabis Derivatives Using Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence: A Validation Study
https://www.proquest.com/openview/439569f758d8732156762a605558de38/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
🍞 Food, Nutrition & Hemp Seeds 🍞
The nutritional profile of hemp oil derived from cannabis seeds
Nutritional profiling of cold-pressed hemp seed oils: comprehensive analysis of fatty acids, fahfas, and cannabinoids
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00217-025-04795-x
On silver nanoparticles extracted from hemp seeds, an analysis of their antioxidant & antimicrobial potency
Seed Extracts of Cannabis sativa var. Narlı Using Different Methods: Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles, In Vitro Bioactivity and Molecular Docking Study
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/slct.202500494
🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber 🏗️
On optimizing 3D printing with a hemp composite
Systematic Optimization of FDM 3D Printing Parameters for PLA: PBAT–Hemp Composites Using Taguchi Design
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10924-025-03601-9
On creating a material for dentures including hemp fiber & cannabinoids
Development and Analysis of an Antimicrobial PMMA Denture Base Infused With a Range of Silk Fibroin, Cannabinoids, and Hemp Fiber
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/app.57471
The acoustic performance of hemp fiber/PLA biocomposite sound absorption panels
Acoustic Performance of PLA and Hemp Fiber Biocomposites in Sandwich-Structured Sound Absorption Panels
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12221-025-01027-7
On producing hemp textile fibers
Hemp-Based Lignocellulosic Mass as a Basis for Producing Textile Fibers
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813025055886
In hemp fiber composites, sugarcane biochar improved their strength
Comparative studies on flexural strength of sugarcane biochar hemp fibre composites with hemp fibre composite
https://pubs.aip.org/aip/acp/article-abstract/3267/1/020238/3349723/Comparative-studies-on-flexural-strength-of?redirectedFrom=fulltext
On the strength & thermostability of biocomposites with hemp & camelina fibers
Investigation of Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hemp and Camelina Reinforced Polymer Composites
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950061825022172
A review of the hempcrete technology & global market
Sustainable Construction with Hempcrete: A State-of-the-Art Review of Hempcrete Technology and Market
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=143196
Improving hempcrete thermal insulation with fly ash
Thermal insulation properties of ecological hemp concrete modified with fly ash from the energy sector
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10098-025-03225-6
On the effects of slag to hempcrete performance
Impact of Varying Proportions of Slag on the Thermal and Mechanical Performance of Hempcrete
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-92777-5_25
On better modeling accuracy of clay-hemp composite structural walls
Enhancing Thermal Modeling Accuracy for Clay HempWall with Realistic Interface Analysis
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-92777-5_67
🌿 THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE 🌿
For patients vaping cannabis, a thesis project on monitoring the cannabinoids in their urine with a LC-MS/MS
Determination of Cannabinoids in Urine of Medicinal Cannabis Patients After Vaporization by LC/MS/MS
https://www.proquest.com/openview/9ddf6418a36705db9a38c8c1b921024c/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
A Nepali review on the ethnobotanical history & therapeutic uses of cannabis
Ethnobotany, Taxonomy and Phytochemistry of Cannabis sativa
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Prerok-Regmi/publication/358946593_Ethnobotany_Taxonomy_and_Phytochemistry_of_Cannabis_sativa/links/682047a6d1054b0207ee2db3/Ethnobotany-Taxonomy-and-Phytochemistry-of-Cannabis-sativa.pdf
🏥 Public Health & Effects of Legalization 🏥
In a European survey, the motives for cannabis & CBD use
Relationships Between Motives for Cannabis and Cannabidiol Use in People Who Co‐Use: Results From the European Web Survey on Drugs
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/dar.14090
In California, a survey of cannabis use motivations & sources
Cannabis Use in California Following Legalization of Recreational Use
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2024.0179
Between cannabis & alcohol users, an analysis of state differences for length of stay for emergency department visits
Retrospective Comparison of Emergency Department (ED) Length of Stay (LOS) between Marijuana and Alcohol Users
https://scholarlycommons.hcahealthcare.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1122&context=southatlantic2025
🧒 Adolescents & Young Adults 🧒
In states with adult & medical cannabis use, the young adults used more cannabis & blunts
Temporal Trends in Young Adult Cannabis and Tobacco Use in States with Different Cannabis Policies
https://davidhammond.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-YA-Cannabis-Tobacco-Cannabis-Glasser-et-al.pdf
In young people undergoing gender-affirming surgery, past-month cannabis use was associated with higher pain interference, anxiety & depression
Postsurgical Pain, Psychosocial Functioning, and Cannabis Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults Undergoing Gender-Affirming Surgery
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/trgh.2024.0173
In young adults, exposure to cannabis in social networks & advertising strengthened their pro-cannabis motives
Exposure to Cannabis in Social Networks and Advertising in Relation to Cannabis-Related Perceptions, Motives, and Use Behaviors Among Young Adults in the US
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2025.2515155
In college students, a survey of their use of major & minor cannabinoids
Descriptive Analyses of Major and Minor Cannabinoid Use in a College Student Sample
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2025.2511241
For cannabis use among Arab university students, a systematic review of 48 studies on prevalence & characteristics
Cannabis Use among Arab Students: A Systematic Review
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1511563/abstract
In Italy, a survey of undergraduates on their knowledge & attitudes around “cannabis light” (hemp)
Knowledge, attitudes and practices about Cannabis light among a sample of Italian undergraduates
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40488733/
In a survey of young adults, on the effects of state laws on their cannabis-related experiences
State nonmedical cannabis laws and US young adults’ cannabis-related experiences
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379725004301
🧠 The Brain & Neurological Disorders 🧠
For Alzheimer's disease & agitation, 19 states allow medical cannabis as a treatment, though this condition accounts for less than 1% of total medical cannabis certifications
Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease as a Qualifying Condition for Medical Cannabis in the United States: A Brief Report on Current Trends
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S106474812500363X
In female rats, this thesis project found that THC altered receptor levels in the hippocampus & modulated neurotransmission
Exogenous administration of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol affects adult hippocampal neurotransmission in female Wistar rats
https://repositorio-aberto.up.pt/handle/10216/166913
In adolescent rats with repeated mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI), this thesis project found gendered differences to their central endocannabinoid function
Investigating the Impact of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury on Central Endocannabinoid Function in Adolescent Male and Female Rats
https://ucalgary.scholaris.ca/items/5490a251-8392-4431-83bf-999ae3a6b78b
“RmTBI elevated AEA levels in the hippocampus immediately after injury and decreased 2-AG levels in the prefrontal cortex 1 week after injury in males. In females, RmTBI decreased 2-AG levels in the motor cortex 1 week after injury.”
In rat amygdalas (processing center of emotional responses, especially fear & aggression), inhibition of the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide) & the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG) increased anandamide & 2-AG levels respectively
Neurochemical In Vivo Microdialysis and Postmortem Tissue Analysis of Amygdala Endocannabinoid Levels after MAGL- and FAAH-Inhibition in Rodents
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197018625000798
In a rat model of anxiety exploration & coping responses, injection of a drug to activate the GPR55 receptor (a receptor that may one day be known as the CB3 receptor) into the periaqueductal gray (a brain region of defensive behaviors) promoted passive coping responses & anxiety increasing effect
ML184 influences coping strategies via GPR55-dependent mechanisms following its delivery in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) region
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306452225006992
💭 Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder 💭
In the Illinois Opioid Alternative Pilot Program, the cannabis users had no clinically meaningful differences from the non-users
Medical Cannabis and Psychological Well-being in Illinois’ Opioid Alternative Pilot Program
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379725004325
In youth with alcohol use disorder, CBD had no effects on the outcomes measured
The neural and psychophysiological effects of cannabidiol in youth with alcohol use disorder: A randomized controlled clinical trial
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-025-02141-z
The characteristics of people using a mobile app to facilitate a 30-day cannabis break
Characterizing users of a mobile application for supporting a 30-day break from cannabis
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-25948-001
On the brief four-item Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test – Consumption (CUDIT-C)
The Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test – Consumption (CUDIT-C) as a targeted tool for cannabis use screening
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460325001601
In a mouse model of autism, activating their brain CB1 receptors lowered synaptic dysfunctions including spine density, dendritic integrity, synaptic protein expression, neuronal complexity & neuronal damage
Activation of CB1R Alleviates Autism Spectrum Disorder-Like Behavior and Synaptic Impairments
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024320525004321
🧬 Reproduction & Hormones 🧬
For perceptions of risk during pregnancy from cannabinoid use, a survey found people to be uncertain of the risks
Perception of Risks of Cannabis and CBD Use during Pregnancy: A Multi-Methods Study
https://karger.com/mca/article-pdf/doi/10.1159/000546312/4389551/000546312.pdf
A survey on cannabis advice at prenatal care visits
Cannabis Advice Occurring at Prenatal Care Visits in the United States, 2017–2021
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-025-02331-z
On cannabis use during pregnancy, an analysis of tweets found that the “online discourse is primarily focused on research, alongside criticism, personal experiences, queries, news sharing, and advertisements”
Cannabis Use During Pregnancy: Insights from Online Discourse and Socioeconomic Indicators Across the USA and Canada
https://ojs.aaai.org/index.php/ICWSM/article/view/35828
🦴 Pain, Musculoskeletal, Inflammation & Surgeries 🦴
In people with chronic pain, there was a positive interaction between pain intensity & pain-related anxiety on “hazardous cannabis use”
Pain Intensity and Hazardous Cannabis Use: The Moderating Role of Pain-related Anxiety
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2025.2511756
For people who had heart surgery, public health data found cannabis users had longer lengths of hospital stays & greater costs than non-users, but less mortality
Associations of cannabis on postoperative pain, length of stay and costs following mitral valve surgery
https://janesthanalgcritcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s44158-025-00251-0
In a retrospective study of people with facial trauma, those with cannabis use were more likely to have their injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents & to have more facial fractures & facial lacerations
Cannabis-related facial trauma: a 10-year review of facial trauma in Victoria, Australia.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212440325010855
In a rat model of neuropathic pain, activation of the CB1 receptor reduced the output of neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (processing center of nerve impulses from the body)
Activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors suppresses HCN channels function in dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923025002370
In bone cells, a thesis project found anandamide to have an inhibitory role on tissue mineralization
Influences of Anandamide on the Microanatomy and Composition of Bone Formed In Vitro by Osteoblast-Like Saos-2 Cells
https://www.proquest.com/openview/3bb871c701216cdec8463113c6b11e45/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
🦠 The Immune System & Microbial 🦠
In human immune cells in the blood (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), an epigenetics study found that repeated high doses of THC downregulated DNA modification genes & upregulated CB1, CB2 & TET enzymes (DNA modifiers)
Concentration-dependent effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on epigenetic DNA modifiers in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-025-03419-y
🍽️ The Guts & the Microbiome 🍽️
In French adults with diabetes, they were less likely to consume alcohol & cannabis
Tobacco, electronic cigarette, alcohol and cannabis use among individuals diagnosed with diabetes. A national survey in France
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751991825001135
A CBD mouthwash reduced oral inflammation markers
In Vitro Study of the Effects of Postbiotic Mouthwash Prototype with Cannabis Extracts on the Reduction of Inflammatory Cytokine: Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
https://www.jhsmr.org/index.php/jhsmr/article/view/1225
A chapter on eating disorders & the ECS
Eating Disorders and the Endocannabinoid System
https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-031-32035-4_52-1
In a mouse model of colitis, feeding them hemp seeds shifted colon macrophages (a type of white blood cell) towards a less inflammatory phenotype
Abstract 1657 Hemp Seed Supplementation on Colitis in Mice: Impacts on Macrophage Polarization and Inflammatory Response
https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(25)01204-9/fulltext
On the effects of CBD in mouse fat cell maturation
Abstract 1829 Investigating the effects of cannabidiol on 3T3-L1 adipocyte development
https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(25)00675-1/fulltext
& CBD boosted adipogenesis (fat cell formation) & the formation of lipid droplets via upregulation of FABP4 & AGPAT
Abstract 1394 Cannabidiol enhances lipid droplet deposition along with the expression of FABP4 and AGPAT in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes
https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(25)00648-9/fulltext
💨 The Lungs 💨
In a rat model of acute respiratory distress syndrome, treatment with JZL184 (an inhibitor of the MAGL enzyme that breaks down 2-AG) lowered inflammation & restored expression of occludin (a protein regulating the permeability of barriers)
JZL184 modulates lung injury via occludin and TNF-α in two distinct ards models
http://egetipdergisi.com.tr/tr/download/article-file/4645752
👀 The Eyes 👀
In a rat model of diabetes-induced retina damage, activation of the CB2 receptor (by HU-308 & CB65) reduced inflammatory biomarkers & lowered the migration of leukocytes
Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Agonism Demonstrates Therapeutic Potential in Experimental Models of Relevance to Diabetic Retinopathy
https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article-abstract/doi/10.2337/db24-0805/160597/Cannabinoid-Receptor-2-Agonism-Demonstrates
💊 Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids 💊
In adolescent & adult mice, exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid 4F-ABUTINACA impaired recognition memory & fear memory extraction in the adolescents & spatial navigation memory in both groups, plus in the adolescents, downregulation of genes involved in the stress response & expression of the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Age-specific effects of synthetic cannabinoids on cognitive function and hippocampal gene expression in mice: insights from behavioral and molecular correlates
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1618929/abstract
🔬 Biochemical Discoveries & Detection Tools 🔬
On creating the novel CB1 antagonist UVI3502
Synthesis and Pharmacological Characterization of a Novel Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Antagonist
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40521518/
On synthesizing N,N´-diarylureas & a computer analysis of their potential as CB1 inverse agonists
Synthesis of New N,N´-Diarylureas and their Theoretical Study as Cannabinoid-1 Receptor Inhibitors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40509977/
On synthesizing cannabinoids with a metal-free deformylation route
Sustainable synthesis of cannabinoids via metal-free aromatic deformylation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004040202500345X
Engineering yeast to produce the cannabinoid precursor olivetolic acid
Biochemical and Metabolic Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the Biosynthesis of Olivetolic Acid, a Key Cannabinoid Precursor
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40490959/
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For today’s music from a towering Texas bluesman, the 1959 album ‘Country Blues’ by Lightnin' Hopkins. At the age of 8 at a church picnic, the young Samuel Hopkins met the legendary Blind Lemon Jefferson. The ‘Father of the Texas Blues’ took Hopkins under his wing. Reportedly, Jefferson would allow no one else to accompany him on the guitar at the church gatherings he enjoyed playing so much & Hopkins learned much from his mentor. Hopkins career had a pause in the 1930s when he went to prison for unknown reasons (the history of the blues is great for more questions than answers). While playing on the street in Houston in 1946, he was discovered by the talent scout Lola Anne Cullum who got him to Los Angeles to record for Alladin records where he was given the name Lightnin’. He scored hits for them with ‘Katie Mae’ & ‘Shotgun Blues’, bringing him to national attention & through the ‘50s he recorded with numerous labels & played some blistering solos that later got him on Rolling Stones list of top 100 guitarists of all time. But as the new rock & roll emerged, the more mournful sounds of Lone Star blues began to fade & he was back to playing back-alley gin joints. Luckily, blues researcher Robert "Mack" McCormick reached out about bringing Hopkins to the attention of the rising folk revival. In 1960, Lightnin' Hopkins played Carnegie Hall with Joan Baez & Pete Seeger. Back in Houston, he became the city's poet-in-residence, holding the position for 35 years. He spent the ‘60s & ‘70s playing the major folk music festivals & folk clubs on college campuses, touring Europe & Japan, all while releasing an album or two a year, ending up with more albums recorded than any other blues musician. When the Blues Hall of Fame opened in 1980, he was in the first group of inductees. Unfortunately, Lightnin’ Hopkins died at just the age of 69 of esophageal cancer, with the New York Times calling him "one of the great country blues singers and perhaps the greatest single influence on rock guitar players".
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