C&P#152: lung cancer, endometriosis & opioid use disorder
US stalls & Turkey expands
🌟 This week 🌟
CBD for lung cancer patients & cannabis for endometriosis & opioid use disorder
Beautiful chart on autism & the endocannabinoid-microbiome-brain axis by the great Di Marzo
For glaucoma, nano CBD eye drops
Adverse skin reactions from cannabis
The pangenome of cannabis (a combined genetic map from many wild & domesticated cultivars)
Even horse hooves need endocannabinoid receptors!
In the Drug War, the Sinaloa Cartel hacked the FBI & murdered gov’t sources
A harm reductionist’s thoughts on forced treatment for substance use disorders
On psychedelics for PTSD, depression, OCD, cluster headaches & how to treat psychedelic-induced psychosis
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 152nd 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: ~8300 words, ~21 minutes reading time, 187 papers)
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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
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🎥 My work this week 🎤
Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
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🍃 BEST OF CANNABINOID SCIENCE 🍃
(most of the phytocannabinoid data is here & the ECS data is in the ‘Canna-Science Archive’ at the bottom)
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
In lung cancer patients, a double-blind trial found that CBD helped with pain & insomnia
IPElife: Phase III, double-blind trial of cannabis sativa extract in pain management and quality of life in patients with metastatic lung cancer
https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.12061
For endometriosis, a thesis surveying people found many self-medicate with cannabis for pain relief
Weed Out the Pain: Using Cannabis to Manage Endometriosis
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=nursstud_464
In opioid maintenance therapy, close to half used cannabis & the majority met criteria for cannabis dependence, with the most common reasons for use being mood change, enhancements & a reduction in cravings for other substances
Cannabis Use in Opioid Maintenance Therapy: Prevalence, Clinical Correlates and Reasons for Use
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/7/699
In peripheral neuropathy induced by the cancer treatment taxane, 8 weeks of 100mg of CBD + 5mg of THC significantly worsened some of the scores on pain & sleep
Oral Cannabis for Taxane-Induced Neuropathy: A Pilot Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2025.0028
In children with autism, 6 months of a medical cannabis oil of 1:20 THC:CBD caused no changes
Evaluating the impact of cannabis oil for autistic children with and without concomitant medications: Insights from an open-label study
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02698811251332841
In a survey of people using medical cannabis for pain and/or anxiety,
- those using it for pain were more likely to use high-potency products, topicals, CBD & the terpene caryophyllene
- those using it for anxiety were less likely to prefer terpinolene
- those using it for pain & anxiety are more likely to use Rick Simpson oil, CBD, CBN, CBG & CBC & the terpene myrcene
Cannabis Practices and Cannabinoid/Terpene Preferences in Medical Cannabis Patients Who Use Cannabis for Pain and Anxiety
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2025.2527292
Tilray releases data on the pharmacokinetics of its extract & found it more bioavailable than a pharmaceutical nabiximol (1:1 THC:CBD spray)
https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/industry-headlines/news/15749504/tilray-medical-publishes-pioneering-research-on-pharmacokinetics-of-thc-cbd-formulations
In a human study of cortical excitability (the strength of a neural response to a stimulation), the cannabis users had results indicating enhanced cortical excitability & altered motor inhibition
The Impact of Cannabis Use on Cortical Excitability and Inhibitory Mechanisms: A Case-Control Study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178125002653
EEG scans of regular cannabis users found gendered differences in their mental health-related markers
Mobile EEG examination of putative biomarkers of mental health in individuals that use cannabis
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44277-025-00039-8
“We found that in the first study, young males (ages 21–23) showed the greatest association between prefrontal broadband power [related to healthy neurocognitive development] and cannabis use…, while females showed associations between left prefrontal alpha power [related to anxiety] and BAI [Beck Anxiety Inventory] scores…. In the second study, the CPT [cold pressor test of stress] increased anxiousness… but did not affect left prefrontal alpha power. “
In people undergoing withdrawal from tobacco, those co-using cannabis had greater tobacco withdrawal severity
A Multi-site Study Examining the Tobacco Withdrawal Trajectory in People with Tobacco and Cannabis Co-Use
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871625002315
In a survey of Japanese cannabis users, they typically started alcohol & tobacco before cannabis & this rarely led to further drug use, challenging “the gateway hypothesis in the Japanese context”
Revisiting the Gateway Drug Hypothesis for Cannabis: A Secondary Analysis of a Nationwide Survey Among Community Users in Japan
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/npr2.70033
In older adults, learning a language (like my parents with French!), brain scans found changes to neuroconnectivity & CB1 receptor levels
Learning a Foreign Language in Older Adults Shapes the Functional Connectivity of Distinct Cerebellar Sub-Regions With Cortical Areas Rich in CB1 Receptor Expression
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40418676/
📑 Reviews 📑
For autism, a review of targeting the endocannabinoid-microbiome-brain axis (by the great Di Marzo) (and by Pasteur’s flask, what a beautiful chart!)
The endocannabinoidome-gut microbiome-brain axis as a novel therapeutic target for autism spectrum disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40605060/
For orthopedic conditions & pain, a review of the therapeutic evidence for cannabinoids
The Efficacy and Safety of Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Products for Pain Relief in Orthopaedic Conditions and Trauma
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/354641/20250703-192017-s5jecf.pdf
On pain & the terpenoids, a review using a Traditional Chinese medicine lens
Terpenoids: A promising traditional chinese medicine for neuropathic pain relief
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40403781/
For painkilling, a review of targeting the CB2 receptor for many types of pain
Cannabinoid CB2 receptor‐mediated analgesia: mechanism‐based insights and therapeutic potential
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/bph.70116
For depression, a review of the therapeutic potential of GPR55 (a receptor that may one day be known as CB3)
GPR55: Physiological functions and therapeutic potential in depression
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006295225003788
For the anesthesia propofol, a review of the inconclusive reasons for why cannabis users tend to need higher doses
Review of cannabis use and propofol anesthesia: recent insights and clinical implications
https://journals.lww.com/co-anesthesiology/abstract/9900/review_of_cannabis_use_and_propofol_anesthesia_.329.aspx
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
For adverse skin reactions, a review of cannabis & allergies, urticaria (skin rash), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a rare & serious disorder of the skin & mucous membranes) & cannabis-induced arteritis (Inflammation of the arteries)
Cannabis and Dermatological Implications: A Traditional Review of Adverse Cutaneous Reactions and Systemic Risks
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40400880/
After cannabis was legalized in California, child cannabis exposures increased significantly to ~170 cases per year, with an average of 14% requiring critical care admission
Characteristics and Trends in Child Cannabis Exposures During Legalization in California
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379725004544
In US emergency departments, the last 7 years saw an increase in pediatric cannabis poisoning cases (370 total)
Pediatric Cannabis Poisonings, United States Hospital Emergency Departments, 2018-2023
https://newprairiepress.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1301&context=hbr
That’s not good, but also, that breaks down to just ~one case per US state per year. Which actually seems quite low (see above).
In US veterans with a psychiatric disorder, those living in states with legalized cannabis had a greater prevalence of cannabis use disorder
Cannabis legalization and cannabis use disorder in United States Veterans Health Administration patients with and without psychiatric disorders, 2005–2022: a repeated cross-sectional study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X25001656
In 28 studies of sudden death, the majority of cases involved young adults taking either synthetic cannabinoids or synthetic opioids
Association of designer drug use and sudden cardiac death: a systematic review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41935-025-00458-w
In people with inflammatory bowel disease, the cannabis users had longer endoscopies & were more likely to exhibit inflammation during the endoscopy
Cannabis Use in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Associated with Longer Endoscopic Duration and Endoscopic Inflammation
https://academic.oup.com/crohnscolitis360/advance-article/doi/10.1093/crocol/otaf034/8181141
For birth outcomes, a review of human & rodent studies found prenatal exposure to cannabis significantly associated with lower birth weight & a tendency towards worse health at delivery
Risks of Cannabinoid Exposure on Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2025.0027
A case report of severe cannabinoid hyperemesis involving cardiac complications & mixed acid-base disorder (dysregulated metabolism & respiration)
Severe Presentation of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome With Mixed Acid-Base Disorder and Cardiac Complications: A Case Report
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40438465/
A case report where a youth’s retinal arterial macroaneurysm rupture (from weakened arteries) may be linked to cannabis
Retinal arterial macroaneurysm rupture in a 17-year-old: Could cannabis consumption be a risk factor?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40393851/
A case report of cannabis potentially being linked to hypokalemia (dangerously low potassium levels)
Chasing Highs, Experiencing Lows: A Case of Hypokalemia Associated With Cannabis Use
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40443614/
In a mouse model of diabetes, CBD increased the levels of amyloid-beta (not good) while S-allyl cysteine decreased them
Differential effects of S-allyl cysteine and cannabidiol on enterocytic and plasma amyloid-β in db/db diabetic mice
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-04658-1
🐁 Preclinical 🐁
In a rat model of glaucoma, a nano CBD eye drop lowered intraocular pressure, caused antioxidant effects & protected the retinal ganglion cells (neuronal eye cells)
Neuroprotective Effects of Topical Nano-Formulated CBD Eye Drops in a Glaucoma Rat Model
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2807745
In a mouse model of developmental & epileptic encephalopathy (a rare drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy with developmental delays), CBD reduced seizure severity & frequency while also lowering the expression of pro-inflammatory genes
Cannabidiol attenuates epileptic phenotype and increases survival in a mouse model of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy type 1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40608247/
In 2 mouse models of seizures, CBD significantly reduced seizure frequency & severity
Assessing the Impact of Cannabidiol on Seizure Frequency and Severity in Animal Models of Epilepsy
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393254483_Assessing_the_Impact_of_Cannabidiol_on_Seizure_Frequency_and_Severity_in_Animal_Models_of_Epilepsy
In a tissue model of Parkinson's disease, a water infusion of cannabis had a high CBD content & protected from cell death
Chemical Profiling of Polyphenolic Fraction of Cannabis sativa L. vr. Kompolti Industrial Inflorescences: Insights into Cannabidiol Neuroprotective Effects in a Cellular Model of Parkinson's Disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40431038/
In a mouse model of pain, the NSAID acetaminophen inhibited DAGL (which synthesizes 2-AG) but was still found to cause painkilling effects in wild-type mice but not those with no CB1 receptor
Acetaminophen inhibits diacylglycerol lipase synthesis of 2-arachidonoyl glycerol: Implications for nociception
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40381619/
In a rat model of PTSD, CBD did not alter anxiety-like behavior but did improve spatial memory & modulated cortisol levels
Cannabidiol Treatment in a Predator-Based Animal Model of PTSD: Assessing Oxidative Stress and Memory Performance
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40429636/
In a rabbit model of tick-induced injuries (from the brown dog tick), a cannabis oil applied to the skin had potential as a tickicide & for healing skin lesions but caused tissue damage to the liver
Therapeutic potential of Cannabis sativa against tick-induced injuries (Rhipicephalus linnaei): biochemical and histopathological evaluation in rabbits
https://www.scielo.br/j/bjb/a/7PccBmQGdbDXMfhwYB6d7vG/?lang=en
In cats undergoing anesthesia, CBD oil reduced their needed levels of anesthetics
Effects of Cannabidiol Oil on Anesthetic Requirements in Cats: MAC Determination and Serum Profiling via Nanoscale Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40427271/
In dogs, the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of CBD
Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of a Single Cannabidiol Dose in Oil and Treat Forms and Health Impacts After 30 Days of Administration in Dogs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40427347/
In the horse hoof, a map of the endocannabinoid receptors found their dysregulation linked to laminitis (inflamed foot tissue)
Distribution of endocannabinoid system receptors in the equine hoof: dysregulation as a potential therapeutic target for laminitis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00418-025-02397-y
🧬 Novel Studies 🧬
(my grab bag section for intriguing studies or stuff I haven’t quite seen before)
An analysis of a medical cannabis vaporizer found it to be consistent across the life cycle of the cartridge with minimal degradation of cannabinoids & terpenes & minimal isomerization or polymerization of terpenes
The Life of the Vape: Chemical Profile Characterisation Across the Life Cycle of Medicinal Cannabis Vape Cartridges
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/7d7a1ecc6b3f0b00b4606075484300b3/download_pub
And on analyzing the vaping thermodynamics of major cannabinoids & the changes caused by different side chains
A series of cannabinoids including, cannabidiol, cannabigerol, cannabichromene, and Δ8- and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol are estimated using synthetic and retrosynthetic analysis, group additivity, and experiment
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11224-025-02545-z
A pangenome (from many individuals) found cannabis to have a wide range of genetic diversity
Domesticated cannabinoid synthases amid a wild mosaic cannabis pangenome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40437092/
An analysis of the proteins that cannabinoids interact with the most
Exploring the Protein-Protein Interactions and the Physiological Impact of Cannabinoids through Bioinformatics Analysis
https://banglajol.info/index.php/BRC/article/view/82643
“Fourteen key proteins were identified based on degree centrality, including ESR1, CREB1, INS, POMC, CNR1, JUN, NTRK2, CYP2B6, PPIG, CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2E1, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. These proteins play regulatory roles in various Reactome and KEGG pathways.”
In milk from different species (including humans), an analysis of their endocannabinoid & fatty acid content
Comparative Analysis of Omega-3, Omega-6, and Endocannabinoid Content of Human, Cattle, Goat, and Formula Milk
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40428565/
For N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine (PGA - a daughter compound of the endocannabinoid-like molecule PEA), PGA caused an increase in the levels of anandamide (AEA), 2-AG & PEA as well as decreases in the levels of FAAH, MAGL & NAAA (enzymes that break down AEA, 2-AG & PEA, respectively)
Deciphering the interaction between N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine and the endocannabinoidome
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-07103-5
📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles 📰
In the US, a bill advances through the Senate that would close the hemp loophole by banning any level of THC in hemp products
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-senator-who-helped-federally-legalize-hemp-is-seeking-to-close-loophole-by-banning-products-with-committee-vote-this-week-sources-say/
And the DEA says cannabis rescheduling has stalled in the 6 months since Trump took office
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-says-marijuana-rescheduling-process-is-still-stalled-six-months-into-trump-administration/
And on guns, a Congressional Research Service report found that courts across the country are grappling with cases fighting against the federal law banning gun possession by cannabis users/patients
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/courts-grapple-with-constitutional-attacks-on-law-barring-marijuana-users-from-gun-ownership-congressional-researchers-note/
And meanwhile, a new Pew poll found 90% of US support either medical or legal cannabis
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/9-in-10-americans-support-legalizing-marijuana-in-some-form-including-bipartisan-majorities-pew-poll-shows/
Oregon cannabis company sues Chicago attorneys who claimed to be rainmakers, but… were not that
https://usaherald.com/nectar-sues-chicago-attorney-alleges-300k-cannabis-licensing-scam-gone-up-in-smoke/
Advocating for THC ranges instead of exact percentages
https://stratcann.com/insight/is-it-time-for-thc-ranges-instead-of-exact-percentages/
Book Corner: an analysis of using cannabis to cope with small-town Indian life in Upamanyu Chatterjee’s debut novel, ‘English, August: An Indian Story’
Joint Ventures: A Commentary on Health and Urbanisation and the Use of Marijuana in Upamanyu Chatterjee’s English, August: An Indian Story
https://www.languageinindia.com/june2025/dindajointventures.pdf
As someone who grew up in small-town USA & then lived in small-slum India, I identify with using cannabis to cope – and how it can lead to existential despair.
🌐 International News 🌐
In the UK, the new Industrial Hemp Innovations Hub will head up a new government body, The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Industrial Hemp
https://hemptoday.net/launch-of-industrial-hemp-hub-new-parliamentary-group-signal-renewed-push-in-uk/
Turkey expands hemp into the pharmaceutical & personal care sectors
https://cannabisindustrie.nl/turkije-breidt-industriele-hennepwet-uit-naar-gezondheidszorg/
In Trinidad & Tobago, the legal age will now be 25 for cannabis, alcohol & gambling
https://wicnews.com/trinidad-tobago/trinidad-and-tobago-to-raise-legal-age-for-marijuana-gambling-and-alcohol-consumption
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education
In Thailand, a survey of residents on their perceptions of cannabis tourism & how to regulate it
How cannabis tourism regulation and self-regulation shape resident support for ethical cannabis tourism
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10548408.2025.2523772
In a Colorado analysis of almost 400 cannabis flower & concentrate products, 96% of the concentrates tested within 15% of their labeled THC levels while only 56% of the flower products did
Accuracy of labeled THC potency across flower and concentrate cannabis products
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-03854-3
On warning labels, US focus groups of cannabis users recommended clearer, more effective warning labels
Perceptions of cannabis warnings and recommendations for improvement: a qualitative study with people who use cannabis from the United States
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-23518-1
🚓 The War on Drugs 🚓
In China, all nitazines (synthetic opioids) & 12 other novel psychoactive substances were placed on their narcotics control list
https://english.news.cn/20250619/8a11ce618a7a48818e9bfd30bdbb68d8/c.html
And China make some moves to comply with Trump's anti-fentanyl push, including a string of arrests
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/china-takes-action-key-us-fentanyl-demands-2025-06-26/
In Mexico, the Sinaloa Cartel hacked the FBI & used classified information to intimidate & kill government sources
https://insightcrime.org/news/sinaloa-cartel-hacked-fbi-killed-witnesses/
And 3 banks were sanctioned by the US for laundering drug money
https://insightcrime.org/news/us-sanctions-mexican-banks-fueling-bilateral-tensions/
In the US, an Appeals Court ruled that the Oregon Police improperly used a surveillance airplane flying at 5k feet to bust a cannabis grow
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/oregon-police-improperly-used-aerial-camera-to-bust-marijuana-grow-state-appeals-court-says/
And in Georgia, four arrested for stealing CBD distillate worth $3.6M
https://cannabislaw.report/georgia-four-arrested-for-cbd-distillate-theft-valued-at-3-6m/
For Obama, Trump & Biden, comparing their National Drug Control Strategy Reports
More of the Same? A Comparison of the National Drug Control Strategy Reports by Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden
https://www.multiresearchjournal.com/admin/uploads/archives/archive-1749878926.pdf
A media framing analysis of the opioid epidemic in California vs Texas
The Red, White and Biased? Media Framing of the U.S. Opioid Epidemic Based on News Outlets’ Political Partisanship – A Comparative Analysis of California and Texas
https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/88491/VT24_MK2502_HS.pdf?sequence=1
In northern South America, on the cross-border cooperation between Colombia, Peru & Venezuela against drug trafficking
Cross-border Cooperation between Columbia, Peru, and Venezuela: Combatting Illicit Narcotics Trafficking
https://gsis.scholasticahq.com/article/141287-cross-border-cooperation-between-columbia-peru-and-venezuela-combatting-illicit-narcotics-trafficking
In the UK, a report recommends decriminalizing cocaine
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-cocaine-cannabis-london-report-decriminalise-b1236265.html
In Vietnam, they end the death penalty for drug smuggling
https://cannabislaw.report/vietnam-ends-death-penalty-for-drug-smuggling/
But just sentenced three drug traffickers to death for more than 50 kilos of heroin
https://cannabislaw.report/vietnam-hands-death-penalties-to-three-drug-traffickers/
In Thailand & Indonesia, two major busts of crystal meth announced on the same day
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/major-drug-busts-in-thailand-indonesia-point-to-regional-trafficking-boom/
In the Phillipines, the president wants to target small-time drug dealers, perhaps reviving his predecessor's violent war on drugs
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/philippine-president-wants-police-to-target-small-time-drug-dealers/
In Saudi Arabia, three Somalis executed for smuggling hashish
https://cannabislaw.report/saudi-arabia-executes-3-somali-nationals-for-smuggling-hashish/
In Malaysia, a Frenchman faces the death penalty for several hundred grams of cannabis
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2025/06/16/french-man-faces-death-sentence-in-malaysian-drug-trial
In Myanmar, $300M of drugs burned by the government
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/myanmar-burns-confiscated-drugs-worth-300-million-123220605
‘How Korea's war on drugs destroys lives’
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/southkorea/20250626/how-koreas-war-on-drugs-destroys-lives
And how its meth & synthetic drug labs are back
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3314583/1980s-south-korea-was-meth-exporter-now-its-drug-labs-are-back
On the Thailand-Malaysia border as a strategic route for the Golden Triangle drug trade
THAILAND-MALAYSIA BORDER: A STRATEGIC ROUTE FOR ILLICIT DRUG TRADE FROM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
https://spaj.ukm.my/ajehh/index.php/ajehh/article/view/327
In Afghanistan, opium cultivation down by 90%
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-194789
1830: An analysis of the Asian opium trade
1830-1918: An Economic Analysis of the Opium Trade in Asia
https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4929335
🛡️ Harm Reduction News 🛡️
A deep-dive essay on forced treatment for substance use disorders
https://macleans.ca/longforms/the-fight-over-forced-rehab/
As my best friend Kat the harm reductionist shared, it's a bit ridiculous to say that we don't already have forced treatment. That's what jail is. That's what mental health courts are. So this already exists.
To start with the good sides, for some people, it's easier for them to change their life if someone else is put in charge of it. She knows a good number of people where their parole officer or somebody else forcing them into 12-step was the reason they recovered. Denying that those stories exist is not fair. But it's complicated because that’s just one type of person. There’s another type of person who will go to battle against those rules & make it worse. For these people, it's more detrimental because it makes them lose trust. They're never gonna heal unless it's their will, their way. She used to think that it was like that for everybody, but after years in the field, she sees that it isn't. She's heard so many stories of jail or people's family forcing them into treatment & that's what changed everything.
There's also the caveat that our system sucks. The places you get sent to often are not the best counselors, are not good treatments, are not evidence-based. People are probably being forced into some money-grubbing, for-profit treatment place with overburdened staff. If someone is going into a wretched situation, they deserve to be able to make that choice themselves.
I might feel differently if our healthcare system wasn't so fucked.
On the trial of the founders of the DULF (Drug User Liberation Front) for directly distributing safer supply drugs to their members
https://filtermag.org/dulf-trial-eris-nyx/
In Canada, after the closure of a consumption & treatment site, volunteers set up an unsanctioned medical tent for people using drugs
https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7577181
‘Harm Reduction Vending Machines Work, Says 30 Years of Research’
https://filtermag.org/harm-reduction-vending-machine/
And Reason on the case for supervised injection sites
https://reason.org/commentary/reducing-harm-saving-lives-the-case-for-supervised-drug-consumption-sites/
‘In a nation growing hostile toward drugs and homelessness, Los Angeles tries leniency’
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250708/In-a-nation-growing-hostile-toward-drugs-and-homelessness-Los-Angeles-tries-leniency.aspx
On Garth Mullins, harm reduction advocate & author of the bestselling ‘Crackdown: Surviving and Resisting the War on Drugs’
https://filtermag.org/garth-mullins-crackdown/
‘How a conservative Mississippi mom became an advocate for legalizing drugs’
https://www.wwno.org/public-health/2025-07-08/q-a-how-a-conservative-mississippi-mom-became-an-advocate-for-legalizing-drugs
Harm Reduction Research
In the Ontario safer-opioid-supply program, an analysis after 2 years
Changing trends in safer opioid supply uptake, dose and hydromorphone volume in Ontario: A population-based cross-sectional study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40582337/
In Australia, on lessons from their fixed-site drug checking service
'It'd Be Nice to Know if You're About to Have Drain Cleaner': A Qualitative Study of Preferred Drug Checking Service Features to Inform the Design of CheQpoint, Queensland's First Fixed-Site Drug Checking Service
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40586671/
An analysis of Canada’s prison needle exchange program
Securitizing carceral health: a realist review of Canada's prison needle exchange program
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40603825/
On what helps peer support workers in substance use disorder recovery
Applying an ecological model to identify resources that aid peer support workers in substance use disorder recovery: A qualitative study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40587312/
For people who inject drugs, on the things that make them ready to change substance use patterns
"It's Not Just One Decision, It's a Whole Lifestyle Change": Mixed Methods Analysis of Factors Associated with Readiness to Change Substance Use Patterns Among Community Recruited People Who Inject Drugs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40569245/
For fentanyl testing, interviews with first responders found low support for drug checking while people who use drugs found it helpful for avoiding fentanyl
"All it's gonna tell you is if it has fentanyl or not:" Perceptions of fentanyl and drug checking among first responders and people who use drugs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40578796/
In Kentucky, substance use disorder treatment had increased follow-ups when combined with a peer support service
Potential impact of peer support service on SUD treatment engagement following ED visits among Kentucky medicaid beneficiaries
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40578797/
In a federal health center, lessons on integrating a Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program
Evaluation of a primary care-based Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program in a fully-integrated federally qualified health center
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40578798/
For an infectious disease & substance use care model, an evaluation by the participants
"It makes all the sense in the world": A qualitative evaluation of patient perspectives on implementation outcomes of a peer-facilitated integrated infectious disease and substance use care model
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40570718/
In Appalachia, on the best practices by local influencers to increase engagement with harm reduction
Empowering Influencers to Support Harm Reduction: A Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation of Appalachian Influence
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40576196/
In Philadelphia, on the rapid monthly shifts in the contents of street opioids
Characterizing rapid changes in the prevalence and concentration of key compounds in Philadelphia's street opioid retail supply, March 2024-March 2025
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40578053/
In Africa, a review of the treatments for substance use disorders
Treatment outcomes for substance use disorders across the African continent: a systematic review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-025-02978-5
🍄 Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives 🍄
Winkelman’s new book: ‘Handbook of Entheogenic Healing’
https://brill.com/display/title/72151
On iboga, an ethnobotanical monograph on its use in Bwiti
Studies on the iboga cults IV. The ethnobotanical complex
https://antrocom.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/samorini-iboga-cults-iv-ethnobotanical-complex.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNFJkc205bFhQcElmR3NQVAEeQQ2aBmSLxiioGSh4l53PfeQghvB3Ij4ESM0MauKO4mvVWhbXg9LODEQsCug_aem_dUS_fQA44SgkrVN_TNMHuQ
1928: On datura, a classic thesis project on its role in Aboriginal Californian culture
the Narcotic Plant de Tora in Aboriginal American Culture
https://www.samorini.it/doc1/alt_aut/ek/gayton-narcotic-plant-datura-aboriginal-american-culture.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawK_9ERleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCczRYcm1EVGVaODVweXBuAR5i-KoluW2HjEkYUziTbjxr2P-ebpX83wO4ug3yz7OTU0pavUfwevFeCHsOqg_aem_7-7OSbvW-CQbcLLkon_fJw
People using AI as a tripsitter
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/01/1119513/ai-sit-trip-psychedelics/
The Psychoactive Research
In UK deaths related to chemsex, the majority of cases involved methamphetamine & GHB
Chemsex-related deaths in the United Kingdom (2017-2022); a review of the Forensic Toxicology data
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0379073825001914
For veterans attending a naturalistic psychedelic retreat, psilocybin & ayahuasca significantly improved their mental well-being, quality of life, PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep, concussion & post-deployment reintegration
Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Psychedelics Administered to Military Veterans in Naturalistic Retreat Settings
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/brb3.70660
For treatment-resistant depression, greater levels of mystical experiences from psilocybin were linked to greater antidepressant effects
Examining mystical experiences as a predictor of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811251346697
For bipolar II depression, psilocybin reduced depressive symptoms & improved quality of life
An open-label, dose-escalation trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for bipolar 2 depression
https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/97cqx_v1
In people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, one dose of psilocybin helped with compulsions
Single-dose (10 mg) psilocybin reduces symptoms in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A pharmacological challenge study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X25000471?via%3Dihub
For cluster headaches, a case series of treatment with psilocybin, LSD & ketamine
Clinical treatment of cluster headache with the serotonergic indoleamine psychedelics psilocybin and LSD and with ketamine: A case series
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25158163251345472
In people taking psilocybin, they had a decrease in negative self-belief confidence & an increase in well-being
From relaxed beliefs under psychedelics (REBUS) to revised beliefs after psychedelics (REBAS)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-023-28111-3
For psychedelic-induced psychosis, a review of treatments
Treatment approaches and efficacy in psychedelic-induced psychosis: A systematic review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876201825002473
For traumatic brain injury, a review of the potential of psilocybin
The Potential Role of Psilocybin in Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery: A Narrative Review
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/572
On naturalistic psychedelic use, a public health analysis of 104 papers
Beyond prohibition: A public health analysis of naturalistic psychedelic use
https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/aop/article-10.1556-2054.2025.00450/article-10.1556-2054.2025.00450.xml
For psilocybin, a review of 81 studies on brain scans & neurocognitive effects
Neurocognitive effects of psilocybin: A systematic and comprehensive review of neuroimaging studies in humans
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763425002398
🍃 The Plant & its Products 🍃
🌱 Growing & Extracting 🌱
Introducing a classification system of hemp varieties based on their photoperiods & a guide for their optimal sowing & harvest strategies
A photoperiod-based classification of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and its agronomic implications
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092666902500977X
On the benefits of sub- & inter-canopy lighting
Subcanopy and Inter-Canopy Supplemental Light Enhances and Standardizes Yields in Medicinal Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40431037/
On the combination of inorganic & organic fertilizers for hemp growth & cannabinoid content
Effect of Combining Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Plants and the Accumulation of Phytochemicals in Their Inflorescence
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40431084/
The plant hormone cytokinin altered the genetic expression of 1,000+ genes & 100+ proteins with a potential link to female flower differentiation
Multi-omics integrated analysis reveals the impact of cytokinin on sex differentiation in industrial hemp
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40376452/
On using the color of the stigma (hairs on the pistil) to pinpoint the optimal time for cannabis harvest
Determination of Optimal Harvest Time in Cannabis sativa L. Based upon Stigma Color Transition
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40431097/
For cannabis propagation, a review of the most efficient methods
A Comprehensive Review of Cannabis as a Crucial Pharmaceutical Plant and Its Efficient Propagation Methods
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsagscitech.4c00483
For hemp agronomy, a thesis project analyzed fungicides, plastic mulch & irrigation on the physiology, chemistry & microbial ecology
The impacts of management practices on industrial hemp chemistry, physiology, and microbiome ecology.
https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5803&context=etd
A protocol for optimized callus formation in hemp for increased CBD yield
Optimization of Callus Induction and Cannabidiol (CBD) Production in Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) through Culture Condition Regulation
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S1021443725601624
For cannabis leaves, the fertilizer digestate improved their antioxidative & antimicrobial activities
Effect of agricultural digestate on antioxidative properties and antimicrobial activity of hemp (Cannabis sativa) leaves
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-04565-5
In cannabis experiencing water stress, a review of its growth alterations & changes to secondary metabolite production
The Effects of Water-Deficit Stress on Cannabis sativa L. Development and Production of Secondary Metabolites: A Review
https://www.proquest.com/openview/31513ec984fcb26ebbc6e5605262717a/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2055407
For aphids & herbicide application, on the effects on cannabis leaf fatty acid levels
Composition of fatty acids in hemp leaves (Cannabis sativa L.) under the impact of aphids and a herbicide
https://www.plantprotection.pl/pdf-199889-126669?filename=126669.pdf
For aphids & hop-latent-viroid, a thesis project found that while the aphids could acquire hop-latent-viroid, they did not seem to transmit it to cannabis plants
Rice root aphids and cannabis aphids: host plant selection, acquisition of hop latent viroid, and parasitism by a hymenopteran parasitoid
https://summit.sfu.ca/_flysystem/fedora/2025-07/etd23833.pdf
Overexpressing the gene CsCBDAS2 upregulated multiple cannabinoid biosynthesis genes
CsCBDAS2-Driven Enhancement of Cannabinoid Biosynthetic Genes Using a High-Efficiency Transient Transformation System in Cannabis sativa 'Cheungsam'
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40431025/
For increased extraction from hemp sprouts, the synergistic effects of ultrasound & natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES)
Enhancing bioactive compound extraction from hemp sprouts: Synergistic effects of NADES and ultrasound
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025009665
A hopeful thesis project on using hemp to replace environmentally unsustainable crops
The Ethical Case for Replacing Environmentally Unsustainable Crops with Industrial Hemp
https://studenttheses.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/20.500.12932/49106/Tsintos-4675452.pdf
⚙️ Formulating & Analyzing ⚙️
On trying to define a chemical terroir signature (similar to the French wine terroir)
Toward a Cannabis Terroir: Untargeted Metabolomic Profiling of Authentic Samples Using Gas Chromatography–High‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry (GC‐HRMS) and Liquid Chromatography–High‐Resolution Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC‐HRMS/MS)
https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/dta.3922
Using a LC-MS fingerprint to distinguish cannabis by geographic origin
Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for the Geographical Sourcing of Cannabis sativa L.
https://www.bjfs.org/bjfs/bjfs/article/view/980
On making CBD orodispersible films
Exploring the interconnected properties of cannabidiol suspensions and orodispersible films
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-02859-2
For delivering curcumin in oleosomes, an analysis of the efficacy of oil from hemp, plum or jujube seeds
Comparative Characterization of Oil Body Proteins from Hemp, Plum, and Jujube Seed and Their Application in Curcumin-Loaded Artificial Oleosomes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40430642/
🍞 Food, Nutrition & Hemp Seeds 🍞
In dairy cows, feeding them hemp caused their milk to have more antioxidative capacity as well as higher levels of fatty acids & cannabinoid
Replacing Soybean Meal with Hemp Leaves in a Dairy Cow Diet: Plasma Antioxidative Capacity, Inflammatory Parameters and Milk Constituents
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40427291/
For Ecuadorian hemp seeds, their chemical characterization
Chemical characterization of hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivated in the Ecuadorian Andes
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19476337.2025.2520539
In hempseed cake, enhancing protein hydrolysis with fermentation
Enhancement of Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactivity in Hempseed Cake via Solid-State Fermentation Using Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11947-025-03940-4
🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber 🏗️
For food packaging films, on improving the microwave extraction of hemp seed oil for functional additives
Sustainable Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Hemp Seed Oil as Functional Additive into Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) Films for Food Packaging
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40430671/
On using hemp hurds to produce medical PPE products such as single-use hospital gowns
Hemp Hurd/Medical PPE Composites: Enhancing Mechanical and Thermoplastic Characteristics
https://4spepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pc.70080
On using hemp biomass waste for encapsulation
Utilization of Industrial Hemp Biomass Waste (I): Stability of Cannabidiol in Pre and Post- Encapsulation States
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40430289/
On extracting cellulose from hemp & carbonizing it into nanocellulose for antibacterial properties
Cellulose extraction from hemp fiber and carbonized nanocellulose production, characterization, antibiotic loading, and comparison of antibacterial properties
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10570-025-06630-8
On creating hemp–plastic skin sandwich panels
Polymer Composite Sandwich Panels Composed of Hemp and Plastic Skins and Composite Wood, Recycled Plastic, and Styrofoam Cores
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40430655/
A green solvent for degumming raw hemp fibres
Deep Eutectic Solvent Treatment For degumming of Unretted Finola Hempfibres
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1979846&dswid=2330
On using potassium to enhance hemp biochar for higher lead absorption
Ultrasonic-Assisted K+ Modification of Industrial Hemp Stalk Hydrothermal Biochar for Highly Effective Adsorption of Pb2
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40429085/
On using hemp-stalk biochar in asphalt binders
Utilization of biochar derived from industrial hemp stalks with various cooling methods for asphalt binder modification
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0325943
In hemp wool insulation, modeling of their heat & mass transfer
MULTISCALE MODELLING OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER IN HEMP WOOLS
https://digitalcommons.bau.edu.lb/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1161&context=stjournal
On improving masonry blocks with hemp stalks
Improving the Properties of the Masonry Produced Using Hemp Stalk with Bark Fibre to Meet Standard Strength and Properties of Energy Conserving Construction Material
https://www.scientific.net/KEM.1019.103
On improving hempcrete properties with aluminum sulfate, plasticizers, latex & polymer
Enhancing Hempcrete and Hemp Concrete Properties through Surface Treatment and Additives
https://www.scientific.net/KEM.1019.117
For hempcrete, adding fly-ash for strength & workability
ECO-FRIENDLY CONCRETE: MERGING FLY ASH AND HEMP FOR GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES
https://sesjournal.com/index.php/1/article/view/552
🌿 THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE 🌿
A review of the endocannabinoid system & its therapeutic potential
Cannabinoid receptor ligands with potential therapeutic applications and mechanisms of action: a versatile natural therapeutic agent
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10286020.2025.2522396
In India, a review of the recreational use of cannabis
Recreational use of cannabis: insights from India and Other Asian Countries
https://journals.lww.com/jops/fulltext/2025/07000/recreational_use_of_cannabis__insights_from_india.3.aspx?context=latestarticles
On trying to standardize a THC unit
Standard THC units as a unit of measurement: differences & complementarity with other THC metrics
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395925001914
For cannabinoid scientists, this is their version of trying to cure the common cold. Lots take a crack at it, no one's ever solved it.
On creating a GMP process workflow for producing consistent full-extract cannabis oil
Process Development for GMP-Grade Full Extract Cannabis Oil: Towards Standardized Medicinal Use
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/848
Using AI to detect CBD misinformation
Efficient Semantic Detection and Analysis of Misinformation in CBD-Related Tweets Using FAISS and Mistral NeMo Instruct
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/compsci_facpubs/48/
🏥 Public Health & Effects of Legalization
Public health data on how people are ingesting cannabis
Method and frequency of cannabis use: Results from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460325001790
In older adults, trends in their past-month cannabis use
Trends in Past-Month Cannabis Use Among Older Adults
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2834781
In a measure of Australian public opinion, on their different preferences for when to allow for medical cannabis to be used, the levels of THC to be used & the potential of subsidizing costs
Australian public preferences for the provision of medicinal cannabis: A discrete choice experiment
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950266725000242
A Brazilian paper on the shift from prohibition to therapeutic cannabis regulation
Drugs, societies and the question of health: From prohibition to regulation of cannabis for therapeutic purposes
https://www.scielo.br/j/sausoc/a/ZVTxWQCKbh4J8LQDrQGGRyx/?format=pdf&lang=en
In men of color with chronic conditions, cannabis use was most common among those with chronic pain, depression/anxiety & arthritis, with more pain & more conditions linked to more use
Correlates of Recreational and Medicinal Cannabis Use Among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Men with Chronic Conditions
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10900-025-01500-7
In the Philippines, interviews with 100+ cannabis users in jails & rehabilitation centers
Patterns, Vulnerabilities and Effects of Marijuana Use
https://www.ejournals.ph/article.php?id=26781
🧒 Adolescents & Young Adults 🧒
In youth with depression, their hair had lower levels of cortisol & anandamide with the levels tracking symptom changes over time
Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents is associated with reduced hair cortisol and anandamide (AEA): cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence from a large randomized clinical trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40413177/
Among young people vaping nicotine & THC, they had higher levels of internalizing symptoms (anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation)
Internalizing symptoms associated with nicotine and THC vaping and poly-product use among youth and young adults
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/16066359.2025.2523835
In youth who witnessed violence, they had a higher likelihood of using alcohol or cannabis across all ethnic groups
The association of witnessing violence with alcohol and cannabis expectancies among Black, Latinx, and White youth: considering neighborhood context
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-025-02939-8
In Norwegian adolescents, loneliness moderated the link between violence exposure & cannabis use
Violence Exposure and Cannabis Use Among Norwegian Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Loneliness
https://ntnuopen.ntnu.no/ntnu-xmlui/handle/11250/3204251
Young people who started using cannabis earlier were at greater risk for later gambling
The Relationships of Early Use of Marijuana With Substance Use and Violence in Adolescent Gamblers and Non-Gamblers
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12223671/
In a survey of adolescents, the parental disapproval of cannabis in a warm family environment was protective against youth cannabis use
Parental influence on youth cannabis use: The interplay between disapproval and warmth
https://digitalcommons.kansascity.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2055&context=studentpub
In New Jersey young adults, legalization led to a switch to increased edible use
Relationship between an adult-use Cannabis law and Cannabis use by type in a cohort of New Jersey young adults
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743525001379
Among US adolescents, a national survey showed rising levels of vaping THC, CBD & synthetic cannabinoids
Adolescent Cannabis Vaping Trends (2021–2023): Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiol, and Synthetic Cannabinoids
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379725001473
In adolescent cannabis users who use tobacco-free blunt wraps, they had a greater likelihood of nicotine or cannabis dependence
Putting the “tobacco” in tobacco-free blunt wraps: Early evidence from adolescents who use cannabis blunts signals a potential need for regulatory action
https://www.jimmunol.org/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntaf139/8182091?redirectedFrom=PDF
For cannabis use in adolescence, a review of the behavioral & neurobiological effects
An Update on the Behavioral and Neurobiological Effects of Cannabis Use in Adolescents: A Translational Perspective
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250444
🧠 The Brain & Neurological Disorders 🧠
In veterans with PTSD, cannabis use was linked to lower PTSD symptoms & negative affect
Daily associations between posttraumatic stress disorder, cannabis use, and negative affect among veterans
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178125002744
In a mouse model of traumatic brain injury, activating the CB1 receptor primarily aided memory encoding rather than retrieval in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist Affects Murine Contextual Fear Conditioned Memory after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/6613
In a fruit fly model of Alzheimer's disease, the fatty acid binding proteins FABP3 & FABP7 (transporters of endocannabinoids) modulated genes related to autophagy (cellular recycling) & pathology from the amyloid-β plaques
Role of neuronal fabp in autophagy and amyloid-β pathology in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40395994/
💭 Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder 💭
In psychiatry, an editorial on the growing interest in cannabinoids
Editorial: Cannabis and cannabinoids in psychiatry
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40433483/
State cannabis legalization laws were associated with later sleep onset
The Effects of Cannabis Access Laws on Sleep in the U.S.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065425000756
For adults in legal states, the co-use of cannabis & tobacco increased the risk of cannabis dependence
Cannabis and Tobacco Co-Use and Cannabis Dependence: A Survey of US Adults in Legal Recreational Cannabis Markets
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2025.2524050
In people with alcohol or cannabis use problems, they had a higher likelihood of sleep problems
Within-Person Bidirectional Relations Between Sleep Problems and Alcohol, Cannabis, and Co-Use Problems in a Representative U.S. Sample
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2025.2523458
For managing opioid use disorder with medication-assisted treatment, a thesis project reviewing the therapeutic potential of THC & CBD
Exploring the Role of Marijuana in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Programs
https://eprint.innovativepublication.org/id/eprint/1557/1/IJISRT25JUN980.pdf
In a mouse model of ADHD, activating or blocking their CB1 or CB2 receptors did not alter the assessed behaviors
Chronic modulation of endocannabinoid receptors does not impact hyperactivity, risk behavior, and working memory in an animal model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305725001066
🧬 Reproduction & Hormones 🧬
In pregnant women, a survey of their cannabis use
Cannabis use among pregnant and non-pregnant women of childbearing age: Findings from the 2021-2023 National Survey of Drug Use and Health
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379725004581
In people who used cannabis before giving birth, they had a higher prevalence of initiating breastfeeding but an earlier discontinuation of breastfeeding
Association of Preconception and Prenatal Cannabis Use with Breastfeeding
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379725004556
In a rat model of prenatal CBD exposure, the offspring were more active & risk-taking, especially the females
The Effects of Prenatal CBD Exposure on Behavioral Development
https://www.proquest.com/openview/98c12d2f8e8d00c827e7717fa7a04593/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
🦠 The Immune System & Microbial 🦠
In people with HIV, the cannabis users had stronger oscillatory gamma activity, providing evidence that cannabis may mitigate the harmful effects of HIV
Cannabis- and HIV-related perturbations to the cortical gamma dynamics supporting inhibitory processing
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40421314/
In a case series of people with graft-vs-host disease (where a body rejects its graft, such as a stem cell transplant), a 1:1 CBD:THC spray… did something hidden behind a paywall
Nabiximols oromucosal spray in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease: effects on sclerodermatous features and refractory muscle cramps
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41409-025-02665-4
People with HIV were more likely to report tobacco & cannabis co-use than people without HIV
Tobacco and Cannabis Co-use by HIV Status Among United States Adults: Results from the 2021–2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10461-025-04817-5
In human immune cells, a 1:1 THC:CBD inhibited inflammation via the TLR7/8 receptors
A 1:1 combination of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibit toll-like receptor 7- and 8-mediated inflammation in human immune cells
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299925006326
In neutrophils (a type of white blood cell), CBD caused them to kill less bacteria, polarized them towards a cancer cell proliferation phenotype & suppressed T-cell proliferation
Cannabidiol polarizes human neutrophils toward a cancer-promoting phenotype
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1543403/abstract
On cannabis leaves as sources of potent antimicrobial products (as well as crocus tepals & cherry waste)
A Stroll Through Saffron Fields, Cannabis Leaves, and Cherry Reveals the Path to Waste-Derived Antimicrobial Bioproducts
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1003
🦴 Pain, Musculoskeletal, Inflammation & Surgeries 🦴
For people with exercise-induced muscle damage, a low-dose topical CBD cream did not alter muscle functional recovery or soreness
Topical Application of Cannabidiol for Muscle Recovery : A randomized, double-blinded Pilot Study on Recovery of Muscle Function After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage
https://hal.science/hal-05142149/
In people having a hip or knee surgery, the cannabis users were prescribed higher levels of opioids
Self-Reported Marijuana Use Is Associated With Increased Narcotic Prescribing Following Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40606711/
In a genetic analysis of people with migraines from medication overuse & episodic migraines, they had lower genetic expression of the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide)
Genetic characterization of the endocannabinoid system and psychiatric features in patients with migraine and medication overuse headache
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/03331024251314460
In states with medical cannabis laws, they had a lower frequency of non-medical use of prescription opioids
Association Between Legal Access to Medical Cannabis and Frequency of Non-Medical Prescription Opioid Use Among U.S. Adults
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40443432/
For the racial disparities in opioid prescriptions (white people get higher doses), an analysis of the impact of medical cannabis laws found no clear effects
State Medical Cannabis Policy Implementation and Racial Disparities in Opioid Prescribing Among Medicare Beneficiaries: A Policy Impact Analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065425000793
In epithelial cells converting to mesenchymal cells (a process that contributes to fibrosis (scarring)), CBD acid caused them to undergo apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) drives human conjunctival epithelial (HCjE) cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition into apoptosis
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2809117
❤️ The Heart & Blood ❤️
In a tissue model of pulmonary fibrosis, a dual inhibitor of the CB1 receptor & nitric oxide synthase enzyme reversed pathological changes & lowered fibrosis
Targeting cannabinoid receptor 1 for antagonism in profibrotic alveolar macrophages mitigates pulmonary fibrosis
https://df6sxcketz7bb.cloudfront.net/manuscripts/187000/187967/jci.insight.187967.v1.pdf
🍽️ The Guts, Metabolism & the Microbiome 🍽️
For visceral pain in inflammatory bowel disease, an essay on using the noneuphorigenic cannabinoids alone & synergistically
Better together? Individual and synergistic effects of noneuphorigenic cannabinoids on visceral sensation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40403577/
In Chinese adolescents eating a high-calorie diet, certain genetic variants of the enzyme FAAH (which breaks down anandamide) were more susceptible to the reductions in "good" cholesterol levels
Associations of FAAH rs324420 with serum lipid profiles are diversified by a high-carbohydrate diet in healthy Chinese adolescents
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043466625001334
In a mouse model of colitis, blocking the CB1 receptor increased inflammation
Combined CB1 antagonist AM6545 and NOP agonist SCH221510 worsen DSS-induced colitis in mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40600844/
In the lymphatic fluid of rats, on the effects of nanoemulsions to increase the bioavailability of CBD, CBG, CBC & CBN
Effect of Quantitative Structural Properties and Drug Formulation in Four Cannabinoids (Cannabidiol, Cannabigerol, Cannabichromene, and Cannabinol) on Their Lymphatic Transport after Enteral Administration in Rats
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c01357
In an intestinal tissue model of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, CBD reduced oxidative stress, inflammation & apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide) in differentiated cells but did the opposite in proliferating cells
Cannabidiol Mitigates Deoxynivalenol-Induced Intestinal Toxicity by Regulating Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Barrier Integrity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40423323/
👀 The Eyes 👀
In people with glaucoma, one dose of dronabinol (pharmaceutical THC) did not alter their intraocular pressure but did increase blood flow to the optic nerve
Orally administered Dronabinol increases Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow in Patients with Glaucoma
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2807906
In people who had retinal displacement repair & were at risk of developing proliferative vitreoretinopathy (a leading cause of retinal detachment), those using cannabis were less likely to develop proliferative vitreoretinopathy or to undergo subsequent complex retinal displacement repairs (though the effect size was small)
Long-Term Cannabis Use and Risk of Postoperative Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/article-abstract/2835775
And a commentary on cannabis use & proliferative vitreoretinopathy (a leading cause of retinal detachment) had something to say involving Homer's The Odyssey… but it was locked behind a paywall
Cannabis Use and Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Risk Reduction
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/article-abstract/2835780
In a tissue model of macular degeneration, extracellular vesicles loaded with CBD protected the cells from oxidative stress while lowering inflammation & cell death
Cannabidiol-Loaded Retinal Organoid-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Protect Oxidatively Stressed ARPE-19 Cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40426994/
In a mouse model of macular degeneration, activating the CB2 receptors in their retinal photoreceptors decreased inflammation & improved survival
Endocannabinoid receptor 2 agonists attenuate inflammation and are neuroprotective for retinal photoreceptors
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2805266
In optic nerve head astrocytes (eye cells altered by glaucoma), activating their CB1 receptors increased their respiration & metabolism
Cannabinoid 1 receptor agonism may increase oxygen consumption rate in optic nerve head astrocytes
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2807910
🎗️ Cancer & Chemotherapy 🎗️
For the metastasis of cancer, a review of the cannabinoids & neutrophil extracellular traps (nice charts)
Neutrophil extracellular traps and cannabinoids: potential in cancer metastasis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40599866/
On estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, on the anti-tumor effects of CBG, CBDV, CBC & CBN (the strongest)
Impact of minor cannabinoids on key pharmacological targets of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388198125000666
In cancerous fibroblasts, CBD disturbed their metabolism while not altering the healthy fibroblast cells
CBD Disrupts Malme-3M Cell Metabolism via Glycolytic Shift and Redox Imbalance
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/c9c1da6e5a82dd6878af006c4b4c4ef6/download_pub
The anticancer potential of THCA & CBDA derivatives
Cannabinolic acids THCA and CBDA derivatives as a new anticancer drugs
https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/6575
In pancreatic cancer cells, synthetic derivatives of THC & THCV showed even more promising anti-cancer activity
Synthesis, Characterization, and in vitro Experiments of Saturated Cannabinoids on Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines (HPAF-II, MIA-PaCa2, ASPC-1, and PANC-1)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1934578X251348390
In bladder cancer cells, Cistanoside F (a potent inhibitor of the enzyme MAGL enzyme which breaks down 2-AG) potentiated the anti-proliferative & anti-metastatic effects of the endocannabinoid 2-AG
Cistanoside F acts as a Monoacylglycerol Lipase inhibitor that synergizes the anti-tumor effect of 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol on Bladder cancer
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711325006853
In prostate cancer cells, the GPR55 receptor (which may one day be known as CB4) was able to sense the levels of lactate & trigger invasiveness
GPR55 senses lactate to sustain motility in prostate cancer cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40434517/
💊 Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids 💊
In people using synthetic cannabinoids, they reported using it to manage stress, anxiety & pain with greater sensation-seeking associated with more frequent use
Synthetic cannabinoid use and the acquired preparedness model
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40392442/
In rats, the synthetic cannabinoid CUMYL-4CN-BINACA caused oxidative stress, increased brain inflammation & stress to the endoplasmic reticulum (protein processing center of the cell)
Synthetic Cannabinoid CUMYL-4CN-BINACA Induces Oxidative Stress, ER Stress, and Apoptosis in Brain and Testicular Tissues of Male Albino Rats
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691525003850
🔬 Biochemical Discoveries & Detection Tools 🔬
Mutating the receptor sites of CB1 vs CB2 to analyze their functional sensitivity
Comparison of Agonist Activity between CB1 and CB2 Receptors with Orthosteric Site Mutations
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40376261/
A real-time CB1 on/off control with photoswitchable THC derivatives
Real-Time Optical Control of CB1 Receptor Signaling In Vitro with Tethered Photoswitchable (−)-trans-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Derivatives
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jacs.4c18379
On using chemoproteomics to find protein partners of monoacylglycerol lipids (the MAGL enzyme breaks down 2-AG)
Chemoproteomics identifies protein ligands for monoacylglycerol lipids
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-025-01589-w
On a new chemotype of potent & selective inhibitors of the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG)
Identifying a novel class of lead compounds for monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition: an integrated computational study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40418543/
A thesis project on creating probes to study GPR18 (a receptor that may one day be known as CB4)
Design and development of probes for studying cannabinoid and related orphan G protein-coupled receptors and their signaling
https://bonndoc.ulb.uni-bonn.de/xmlui/handle/20.500.11811/13101
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For today’s towering jazz drummer, Idris Muhammad on ‘Black Rhythm Revolution!’. One of the most sampled drummers in musical history, Muhammad recorded almost 500 tracks ranging across the musical genres of jazz, funk, R&B & soul, with credits on a stunning number of significant & classic recordings. Born Leo Morris in New Orleans, he grew up in the 13th Ward next door to a dry cleaner shop & as a completely self-taught musician, he always said that the sound of the shop steam presser influenced his high-hat technique. At the age of 14, he played on the iconic ‘Mardi Gras Mambo’ by The Hawketts. At 16, he played drums on Fat Domino’s legendary ‘Blueberry Hill’ (see last week for the skinny on Fats). Soon he was touring with Sam Cooke, the King of Soul. By the mid-’60s, was in NYC, had converted to Islam & was playing with Horace Silver & Betty Carter while also performing with house band of the Apollo Theater. For the original Off-Broadway production of Hair, Muhammad was in the orchestra & followed it to Broadway & its everlasting fame. With the Prestige label’s house band, he made over 150 recordings. His first solo album as bandleader was in 1970 was the ‘Black Rhythm Revolution!’ linked above. It became a bonanza of samples for later hip-hop artists. In the 1980’s, he left for Europe where he continued to play & record until he finally moved home to New Orleans in 2011, 3 years before his death from kidney failure, leaving behind an unparalleled career on the drums.
This newsletter is the backbone of my work & I hope it brings you a measure of value. If so, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription & support my sharing all of the new cannabinoid science each week.
https://substack.com/@thechroniclesofmaryjane