C&P#155: EU Canna-Conferences + Crazy Case Reports
US cannabis deportations & War on Drugs heats up
š This week š
Case Report Week! cannabinoids for endometriosis, Parkinsonās disease, pancreatitis & glioblastoma (the most aggressive brain cancer)
THC & CBD for the advanced cancer pain + the neuropathy from chemotherapy
Aging Week! Live longer & better with cannabis (especially for the brain)
In someone with Tourette's syndrome & ADHD, high levels of cannabis improved their ability to drive
In people with schizophrenia, cannabis lowered the risk for metabolic syndrome
Cannabis for dogs with osteoarthritis
Favorite new phrase of the week: piercing nuclear hernias
Numbers this week: ~8,000 words, 140 papers, ~21 minutes reading time
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 155th edition of Cannabinoids & the People, Lex Pelgerās free weekly digest of all the new cannabinoid science, assorted canna-news & coverage of psychedelics, the War on Drugs & harm reduction. Upgrade to a paid subscription here to support my work sharing canna-science. As always, ask me anything.
And as I will start to say on here every week, #FreePalestine
š Editorās note: EU CONFERENCES
Here in Europe, 3 upcoming conferences that you shouldnāt miss:
French cannabis: Next week, here in Bordeaux is the Science in the City conference. Taking place on Sept 11th & 12th, it gathers a host of excellent speakers on cannabis topics at the lovely CitĆ© du Vin. Iāll see you there.
German canna-business: Iāll be at the CB Expo in Dortmund, Germany on Sept 18th to 20th. Itās a great place for networking, business & regulatory development & they have a wide range of educational tracks. Iām taking the train across Europe for this one.
Portuguese medical cannabis: In Lisbon, the PTMC Portugal Medical Cannabis Conference will be on Sept 25th & 26th. Hosted by the excellent Laura Ramos of CannaReporter, theyāve a strong array of speakers as well as a training program for doctors.
(Portugal is one of the biggest players in European cannabis & I so wish that I was going to this one, but my wife is at a conference & Iāve got the kids. So it goes. Have a BeirĆ£o & a smoke for me).
š¤ Sponsor š¤: 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 ā 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.
š§° 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.
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š For more from Lexā¦ (my Linktree)
My canna-graphic novel series based on Moby Dick, āāAnandamide; or, the Cannabinoidā to explain endocannabinoid science, the darkness of the War on Drugs & the long human history with our favorite plant.
See the volumes āSUNsetā (Queer canna-history from the AIDS crisis) & āThe CROWNā (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 āThe Lex Filesā on cannabinoids, psychedelics & spirituality
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š„ My work this week š¤
Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
(on YT @CVSciencesInc & TT @pluscbd)
Cannabinoids for Neurological Disorders (with a focus on the research hotspot of Brazil)
Acupuncture, Neurodegeneration & the Cannabinoids (by a Japanese researcher working with cannabis since 1966)
š BEST OF CANNABINOID SCIENCE š
(most of the phytocannabinoid data is here & most of the ECS data is in the āCanna-Science Archiveā at the bottom)
āļø Clinical āļø
In people with anxiety, a full-spectrum CBD solution significantly reduced anxiety symptoms as well as improved mood, sleep & quality of life
Clinical and Cognitive Improvement Following Treatment with a Hemp-Derived, Full-Spectrum, High-Cannabidiol Product in Patients with Anxiety: An Open-Label Pilot Study
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/8/1874
In people with advanced cancer, a 1:1 THC:CBD oral oil relieved pain
Medicinal cannabis for symptom control in advanced cancer: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial of 1:1 tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-025-09763-5
For chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain & dysregulated nerve signals across the body), cannabis reduced symptoms & improved quality of life, with THC showing greater improvements in burning sensation & cold sensations & the combination of CBD & THC yielding the greatest symptom relief
Comparative Effects of THC and CBD on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Insights from a Large Real-World Self-Reported Dataset
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/8/1921
In people with chronic pain, those who started medical cannabis had significantly decreased opioid consumption as well as disability & insomnia levels
Opioid reduction in patients with chronic non-cancer pain undergoing treatment with medicinal cannabis
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17581869.2025.2544511
In people with schizophrenia, a cohort analysis found cannabis use associated with a reduced risk for metabolic syndrome, including reduced weight, waist circumference, BMI & triglycerides as well as higher HDL
Cannabis Use and Cardiometabolic Risk in Schizophrenia
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5374079
In people with glaucoma, one dose of dronabinol (pharmaceutical THC) increased ocular blood flow & vessel density
Single oral administration of dronabinol increases ocular blood flow in patients with glaucoma
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aos.17573
On the sex differences in the acute cognitive effects of cannabis, a meta-analysis of 29 studies found greater cognitive effects in females
Sex differences in the acute effects of cannabis on human cognition: A systematic review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009130222500041X
For driving by medical cannabis users, after ingestion they tended to drive slower & to have a larger following distance but with no changes to hazard perception skill
The effects of orally ingested Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on driversā hazard perception and risk-taking behaviours: A within-subjects study of medicinal cannabis users
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06869-w
In dogs with osteoarthritis, an extract with CBDA, CBD, THCA & THC lowered their pain scores & improved their osteoarthritis scores
Randomized and Blind Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Full-Spectrum Oral Cannabis sativa Oil Extract, Standardized Based on CBD-A, CBD and THC-A, THC in Canines with Chronic Osteoarthritis
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/467de30f34fcfee88e6ba2c558e7e207/download_pub
š©ŗ Case Reports š©ŗ
In a case report of Tourette syndrome & ADHD, German researchers found that cannabis improved the personās fitness to drive a car, especially with high blood levels of THC
Case report: Effect of Medicinal Cannabis on Fitness to Drive in a Patient with Tourette syndrome and ADHD
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1595649/abstract
For endometriosis, a case report of CBD greatly relieving pelvic pain as well as helping with poor sleep & depression
Project-Twenty21-Australia-A-Case-Study of the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain Due To Endometriosis with Cannabidiol Oil
https://unisciencepub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Project-Twenty21-Australia-A-Case-Study-of-the-Treatment-of-Chronic-Pelvic-Pain-Due-To-Endometriosis-with-Cannabidiol-Oil.pdf
In Parkinson's disease, a case report where high-dose THC cannabis oil improved motor symptoms, sleep & quality of life as well as reduced depressive & anxious symptoms
A High-Dose THC Cannabis Oil Improves Motor and Non-motor Symptoms in Parkinsonās Disease: A Case Report
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43450-025-00675-3
In a case report of treatment-resistant chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, often with severe pain), a CBD-rich medical cannabis formulation substantially reduced pain, stopped acute episodes, improved appetite & enhanced quality of life
Medical cannabis for the management of pain in chronic pancreatitis with recurrent exacerbations: a case report
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00303-w
In a case report of recurrent glioblastoma (the most aggressive brain cancer), a combination of THC & CBD with hyperbaric oxygen therapy & the chemotherapy drug temozolomide reduced tumor volume & caused significant clinical improvements without adverse effects
A personalized integrative approach to recurrent glioblastoma: Exploring the role of cannabinoids and hyperbaric oxygen in a real-world case
https://mansapublishers.com/ijcr/article/view/5172
š§ Aging š§
Using neuroimaging public health data, the brain network configuration of cannabis usage & healthy aging overlapped
Neural Signatures of Cannabis Use: Reversing Cognitive Aging via Whole-Brain Functional Network Connectivity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40766216/
āNotably, cannabis users exhibited superior performance across multiple cognitive domains, and interestingly, the effects of cannabis and cognition are presented concurrently across a range of brain systems. In conclusion, our study offers valuable insights into the potential influence of cannabis on brain aging and cognitive performance. The results suggest that cannabis users display brain network characteristics typically associated with younger brains, along with enhanced cognitive abilities, highlighting a potential modulatory role for cannabinoids and endocannabinoids in neurodegenerative processes, as explained through neural dedifferentiation and compensation theories.ā
For aging, longevity & cannabinoids, this review of 18 studies found promising preclinical results for āimproved lifespan, cognitive function, inflammation, memory, sleep quality, and social interactionā, with THC showing potential benefits at low doses & drawbacks at high doses
The impact of cannabis use on ageing and longevity: a systematic review of research insights
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00267-x
For cognitive function in older adults, a review of CBD's effects
Cannabidiol (CBD) and cognitive function in older adults: a mini review
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1646151/abstract
A book chapter on the links between aging, neurodegeneration & declining endocannabinoid tone
Ageing, Neurodegeneration and the Endocannabinoid System
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/7854_2025_597
In a rat model of aging, intermittent cannabis use protected the brain & reduced age-related cognitive decline
Exploring the impact of chronic intermittent EU-GMP certified Cannabis sativa L. therapy and its relevance in a rat model of aging
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00313-8
š Reviews š
For multiple sclerosis, this review & meta-analysis of 9 studies found notable improvements for spasticity, particularly over longer durations
Assessing the Role of Cannabis in Managing Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
https://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/article/S0149-2918(25)00246-2/abstract
For neurological disorders, a Brazilian review on opportunities & hurdles
Therapeutic Potential and Challenges of Cannabis sativa in Neurological Disorders: Pathways to Integration into Health Systems
https://rbpm.emnuvens.com.br/revista/article/view/169
For depression, this review focused on dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system & that many of the most common treatments modulate endocannabinoid levels (nice charts)
Endocannabinoids, depression, and treatment resistance: Perspectives on effective therapeutic interventions
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178125003440
For atopic dermatitis (eczema), a review on the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids
Therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for treating atopic dermatitis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00317-4
For cannabinoids & exercise, a review of their combined effects on the brain
Considering the Effects of Cannabinoids and Exercise on the Brain: A Narrative Review
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/09eff002eb10c4d2bc73097422f653be/download_pub
For PTSD, a book chapter on targeting the endocannabinoid system for modulating fear & anxiety
The Endocannabinoid System in PTSD: Molecular Targets for Modulating Fear and Anxiety
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-2647-8030
For strokes, a review & meta-analysis of animal models found that activating the CB1 or CB2 receptors reduced areas of tissue damage
Cannabinoid Receptor Modulation in Focal Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Infarct Volume and Behavioral Deficits in Animal Models
https://karger.com/mpp/article/doi/10.1159/000547277/930925/Cannabinoid-Receptor-Modulation-in-Focal-Ischemic
For bone healing & fusion, this review found that activating the CB2 receptor or using CBD improved bone production & repair, while activating the CB1 receptor with THC lowered bone-mineral density (though THC was neutral over short time periods)
The Cannabinoid Pharmacology of Bone Healing: Developments in Fusion Medicine
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/8/1891
For dentistry, a review of the evidence for cannabinoid medicines
Cannabis: What We Use, Why It Matters, and When It Is Prescribed (Ethics, Policy, and Practice)
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/387847/20250730-113168-hhfik5.pdf
On the relationship of endocannabinoids & reproduction, an excellent review about the effects of cannabinoids for fertility & reproductive physiology (nice charts)
Molecular Mechanisms of the Endocannabinoid System with a Focus on Reproductive Physiology and the Cannabinoid Impact on Fertility
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/15/7095
For gliomas (the most aggressive brain cancer), this review of 45 papers found anti-cancer mechanisms included endocannabinoid signaling, disrupting the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell), altering immune responses, epigenetic modulation & ferroptosis (cell death via iron) as well as combining well with other therapies
Recent Advances in the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids Against Gliomas: A Systematic Review (2022ā2025)
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/prp2.70160
For type 2 diabetes, a review of how cannabinoids like CBD, CBG & THCV helped via modulation of sodiumāglucose cotransporter 2
Phytocannabinoids as Novel SGLT2 Modulators for Renal Glucose Reabsorption in Type 2 Diabetes Management
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/8/1101
For chronic pain, a review of the pain-killing power of the terpenes
Phytochemical Modulators of Nociception: A Review of Cannabis Terpenes in Chronic Pain Syndromes
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/8/1100
ā ļø Harms ā ļø
In Canadian pharmacovigilance data, the most frequently reported adverse events included hallucination, headache, nausea, dizziness & dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Trends in cannabis adverse reaction reports: A descriptive analysis of spontaneous reporting data submitted to the Canada Vigilance Program since legalization and regulation of cannabis for non-medical purposes in Canada
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00310-x
For psychosis risk, this review of 62 studies found the co-occurrence of adverse childhood experiences & cannabis use to increase risk
Co-occurrence between adverse childhood experiences and cannabis use in psychosis risk and course: A stratified systematic review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022395625004960
For the effects of childhood trauma & cannabis use on paranoia, a survey found āchildhood trauma as a primary driver of paranoia, with cannabis use amplifying its effectā
The impact of childhood trauma and cannabis use on paranoia: a structural equation model approach
https://www.proquest.com/openview/93777acce092b922dc4ea07193215d82/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=35753
In people with both schizophrenia & cannabis use disorder, pretreatment with CBD appeared to exacerbate the negative effects of cannabis on memory impairment & psychotic symptoms
Does cannabidiol reduce the adverse effects of cannabis in schizophrenia? A randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-025-02175-3
In public health data, the only link found between cannabis & male infertility were slightly higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), perhaps suggesting early signs of impaired testicular function
Ever cannabis use and biomarkers of male fecundity ā A study in the Danish National Birth Cohort
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890623825001753
For cannabis-induced psychosis, a review on the conversion to schizophrenia-spectrum disorder
The Cannabis-Psychosis Spectrum: Clinical Manifestations, Conversion Risk, and Therapeutic Strategies
https://media.sciltp.com/articles/2508001041/2508001041.pdf
For the allergenicity of cannabis, a book chapter on the types of allergic reactions
Intoxication and Allergenicity of Cannabis sativa
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-93658-6_1
For cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, a review on differentiating from cyclic vomiting syndrome
Cannabis Hyperemesis or Cyclic Vomiting- A Comparative Literature Review
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/b6a5d70c83fae4c1937850c8f85df33d/download_pub
In both male & female rats, vaping THC had reinforcing properties (addiction potential)
Effects of sex and pre-exposure on Ī9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vapor self-administration in rats
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.01.668172v1.abstract
In a dual-hit mouse model of schizophrenia (maternal immune system activation + postnatal THC exposure), they had reduced cortical thickness, decreased dendritic spine density in both the prefrontal cortex & hippocampus, lower levels of Reelin (a protein & new potential key biomarker of schizophrenia) in their prefrontal cortex with males showing positive symptoms (hallucinations, disordered thoughts) & both genders showing negative symptoms (blunted affect, asociality, reduced pleasure)
Disruption of Reelin signaling in a dual-hit mouse model of schizophrenia: impact of postnatal Ī9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure in a maternal immune activation model
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.25.666721v1.abstract
In a mouse model on the combination of maternal stress & prenatal THC, as adolescents they experienced additive effects resulting in increased anxiety-like & reduced motivation, while in females the THC impacted self-care & social behavior, plus an analysis of genetic changes
Concurrent maternal stress and THC exposure during pregnancy alters adolescent behavioral outcomes and corticolimbic molecular programs
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7031901/v1
In a liver toxicity study, the safest cannabinoids for the liver were CBD, CBN & CBG, while CBC had moderate hepatotoxicity
Hepatotoxicity evaluation of cannabidiol, cannabinol, cannabichromene and cannabigerol using a human quad culture liver chip
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40750820/
š Preclinical š
In a monkey model of morphine withdrawal, high levels of THC decreased symptoms of opioid withdrawal
Effects of Ī9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and THC:CBD mixtures on behavioral and physiological signs of morphine withdrawal in rhesus monkeys
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022356525398848
In a mouse model of chronic pain, the combination of CBD & the terpene beta-caryophyllene produced pain-killing & antidepressant effects with a significant reduction in neuroinflammation
Phytocannabinoids in Combination: Chronic Pain
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5390901
In a mouse model of social defeat, CBD prevented social avoidance & prevented the increased reward from cocaine induced by social defeat via modulation of the genetic expression of cannabinoid receptors
Cannabidiol prevents social avoidance, potentiation of cocaine reward and gene expression alterations induced by exposure to intermittent social defeat in mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390825003387
In mice vaporizing CBD or THC, they had changes to the expression of genes in their hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Large-Scale Profiling of Coding and Long Noncoding Transcriptomes in the Hippocampus of Mice Acutely Exposed to Vaporized CBD or THC
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/15/7106
In mouse toxicology models, high levels of CBG reduced final body weight & was linked to liver nodules, while CBD increased organ weight
AvaliaĆ§Ć£o toxicolĆ³gica nĆ£o-clĆnica in vivo aguda de extratos de Cannabis sativa L. ricos em canabidiol (CBD) e canabigerol (CBG)
https://dspace.unila.edu.br/items/4af12155-23b7-4228-88e6-42672adac1e4
For microtubules (tubes in the brain for long-distance transportation of molecules, often linked to memory), THC reduced their stability via changes to their polymerization as well as the secondary structure of tubulin (the basic unit of microtubules)
Structural changes of tubulin by interacting with Ī9-tetrahydrocannabinol: in-vitro and theoretical studies
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12868-025-00957-5
š§¬ Novel Studies š§¬
(my grab bag section for intriguing studies or stuff I havenāt quite seen before)
In France, the majority of cannabis users surveyed expressed willingness to use a drug checking service for their cannabis products (for things like THC levels, synthetic cannabinoids, pathogens, pesticides & heavy metals)
Willingness to use a drug checking service for cannabis and cannabis-based products: results from an online survey of people who regularly use cannabis in France
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40684160/
As a resident of France, Iād certainly use that service too. But like many drug checking services, people are likely to just ignore any negative results. I've got few options for weed here, so I'm basically in 'I'll take what I can get' mode.
I know it tastes like pesticides. What else can I do besides wait for the government to legalize it around the time my 4-year-old will leave for college?
People drinking alcohol had decreased levels of the endocannabinoid 2-AG & the levels of the drop were associated with subjective effects such as friendliness
Effects of acute alcohol administration on endocannabinoids and relation to subjective effects
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06843-6
In humans, on creating a model of THC in the body to predict psychoactive effects & alertness declines
Predicting Ī-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Induced Psychoactive and Cognitive Effects: A PBPKāPD Approach to Quantifying Feeling High and Reduced Alertness
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acschemneuro.5c00417
On the possibility of endocannabinoids being converted in the body to catecholamines (such as dopamine, norepinephrine & epinephrine)
(Several endocannabinoids and amino acids may be biosynthetically converted to catecholamines in vivo
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393791070_Several_endocannabinoids_and_amino_acids_may_be_biosynthetically_converted_to_catecholamines_in_vivo
Combining CBD with blood cells moved them towards a neural stem cell state
Generation of Neural Stem/Progenitor-like Cells from Cultured Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells combined with Cannabidiol
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.18.665629v1.abstract
The ability of chamomile to lower anxiety may be linked to its ability to inhibit the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide)
Inhibition of an endocannabinoid catabolizing enzyme is a potential mechanism for the anxiolytic effect of chamomile
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874125010049
Add this to our long list of helpful herbs whose potent therapeutic effects may be due to their effects on the endocannabinoid system.
š° US Headlines & Fav Articles š°
Remembering activist Richard Lee, founder of Oaksterdam
https://oaksterdam.com/richard-lee-cannabis-reform-legacy/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/us/richard-lee-dead.html
This year, 600+ people have been deported from the US for cannabis charges, with 75% of the cases being more than 5 years old
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trump-administration-has-deported-more-than-600-people-for-marijuana-so-far-this-year/
And in California, a permanent resident from Korea who has lived in Texas since the age of five has been held by Customs for over a week over an old cannabis possession charge
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/scientist-detained-sfo-week-20794330.php
Federal ban on gun ownership by cannabis consumers upheld by appeals court judge
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-court-upholds-gun-ban-for-marijuana-users-but-requires-individualized-judgments-to-determine-dangerousness/
And the Supreme Court announced that it will consider a gun possession/cannabis case in September
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/supreme-court-will-discuss-ban-on-marijuana-users-gun-ownership-in-september/
The DEA released their 2024 report on eradicating cannabis cultivation, including a new section on āChinese growsā
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-releases-new-data-on-marijuana-enforcement-tracking-chinese-grows-for-the-first-time/
āThough data from some states is not included in the latest report, the DEA program nationwide counted 16,330 cultivation sites eradicated in 2024, including 14,904 outdoor sites and 1,426 indoor ones. A reported 5.3 million plants were seized. As a result of the actions, 5,764 arrests were made, and 3,125 weapons were seized, the report saysā¦ In all of 2024, 15 Chinese cultivation operations were the targets of enforcement actions, the DEA data show, most of them in Washington State (five) and Oregon (four). Thatās just a sliver of the overall illicit cannabis actions nationwide, Armentano at NORML pointed out.ā
According to US federal health data, the adolescent use of cannabis has remained steady since 2021 despite the increased use by adults
https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/release-2024-nsduh-leveraging-latest-substance-use-mental-health-data-make-america-healthy-again
On the rise of cannabis poisonings among kids
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/health/cannabis-poisoning-children.html
āFour deaths since 2009 have been judged by Americaās Poison Centers as likely caused by cannabis poisoning. One involved a child or teen and was accidental.ā
On plastic waste in the cannabis industry,
https://www.newsweek.com/pot-has-plastic-waste-problem-here-are-some-budding-solutions-2102590
āThe dispensary support platform Flowhub told Newsweek that it estimated that the U.S. cannabis industry produces 7,000 tons of plastic waste a year. The online plastic and paper packaging shopping site Marijuanapackaging.com said that a gram of cannabis product can require "up to 70 times its weight in packaging materials," and the company estimated that the packaging results in 10,000 tons of plastic waste annually across North America.ā
In Texas, my new favorite district attorney Sarah Stogner smoked a joint live on TikTok to protest cannabis prohibition
https://x.com/Sarah4Texas/status/1951768198745031128
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/stogner_txlege-sb5-cannabis-activity-7357532026314412033-dcgQ/
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/stogner-texas-marijuana-thc-hemp-law-20891884.php
In a Wisconsin restaurant, they accidentally used THC oil in their dough & intoxicated 85 people, ranging from the age of 1 to 91 years
Tetrahydrocannabinol Intoxication from Food at a Restaurant ā Wisconsin, October 2024
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7427a2.htm
On Eli Lillyās history with cannabis
https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/longform/eli-lillys-hazy-memory-marijuana/
In Texas, Kyle McDonald of the band Slightly Stoopid lit a joint onstage with a laser
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/slightly-stoopid-lights-cannabis-joint-with-laser-at-texas-concert-as-lawmakers-debate-hemp-ban/
In the Oscar-nominated film āThe Contenderā, when Jeff Bridges gave his speech as President of the United States, he was high
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/jeff-bridges-was-high-on-marijuana-when-filming-oscar-nominated-performance-as-president-of-the-us-movie-director-says/
āThe door opens, and I was blown away by this huge cloud of marijuana,ā the director [Rod Lurie] said. āThis thing blew me backwards.ā
āI said, āJeff, youāve got a three page speech to give,'ā Lurie said. āItās funny watching him put on his costume. You know how a stoned person puts on clothes. And Iām going, āOh my god, weāre so screwed. Weāre dead. Thatās my second movie. Iām never going to work again.'ā
āJeff is going, āHey man!'ā Lurie continued. āHe says, āHave you had the cobbler at Emily Shawās Inn at Pound Ridge? Man, that food is so good.ā
āI go, āJeff, do you know your lines?ā He goes, āWhat lines?'ā the director said. āAnd then we get to the room. He walks in and he sees it all. He goes, āDude, there are a lot of people here.'ā
While Lurieās telling of the story made clear that the director was concerned Bridgesās cannabis use could derail the day of filming, things turned around from the moment he said āaction.ā
āAnd thenāboom!āhe completely changes,ā Lurie said of Bridgesās performance. āBecomes super presidential. Gives the speech, nails it in one. Half a year laterāāAnd the nominees are: Jeff Bridges in The Contender.'ā
Also, on Peter Fonda: āa total hippieā
š International Updates š
In Europe, the Agriculture Committee urged an EU-wide classification for hemp with a THC limit of 0.5%
https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/high-hopes-meps-push-to-free-hemp-from-national-bans/
In the Czech Republic, the president signed a bill to allow for the home cultivation of cannabis & the medical use of psilocybin
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/czech-republic-president-signs-bill-to-legalize-marijuana-home-cultivation-and-allow-psilocybin-for-medical-use/
In Germany, the cannabis social clubs are stuck in bureaucratic gridlock one year after their partial legalization
https://businessofcannabis.com/germanys-cannabis-social-clubs-stuck-in-bureaucratic-gridlock-one-year-after-partial-legalisation/
In Malta, fines were instituted for the public consumption of non-medical cannabis (including your own home if the smell drifts over to your neighbor)
https://filtermag.org/malta-cannabis-law/
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/malta-limits-historic-marijuana-legalization-law-sending-threat-letters-to-consumers-over-nuisance-odors/
In TĆ¼rkiye, medical cannabis will now be allowed to be sold in pharmacies
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/lifestyle/turkish-parliament-approves-medical-cannabis-sales-in-pharmacies-3204489
In Uganda, an experimental license was granted for the growth & export of medical cannabis
https://eagle.co.ug/2025/07/22/govt-grants-bright-sparks-farm-license-to-grow-and-export-medicinal-cannabis/
āļø Business, Laws & Education āļø
32 state attorneys general call for cannabis banking reform
https://mcusercontent.com/cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206/files/68d7f4b0-87da-cebf-f83f-068ef60a2560/SAFER_Banking_Act_Multistate_AG_letter.pdf
In Canada, Google Ads will now allow legal cannabis businesses to advertise
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/google-now-allows-marijuana-business-advertisements-under-new-pilot-program-in-canada/
And cannabis-related charges are down since Canada legalized, except for āincidents related to the exportation of cannabisā
https://stratcann.com/news/cannabis-incidents-charges-decline-post-legalization-in-canada-exportation-an-exception/
And when Canadian cannabis business owners get their product stolen, they still have to pay the excise tax on it
https://stratcann.com/news/cannabis-companies-hit-with-excise-tax-on-stolen-product/
In France, an EU initiative to strengthen the hemp textile supply chain
https://hemptoday.net/eu-backed-initiative-in-france-aims-to-strengthen-hemp-textile-supply-chain/
Comparing the medical cannabis regulations between the US, EU & UK
Medical cannabis: Regulatory review in United States, European Union and United Kingdom
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1752928X25001489
In Asia, a review of the medical cannabis policies across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore & Japan
Medical Cannabis Regulation in East and Southeast Asia: A Scoping Review and Policy Insights for Malaysia
https://journals.iium.edu.my/ktn/index.php/jp/article/view/398
On the financing intricacies of Glass House Brands by Marc Hauser
https://cannabismusings.substack.com/p/cannabis-musings-july-21-2025
As Marc shares in this Yiddish phrase, Ez iz nito keyn shlekhter bronfn far a shiker, un keyn shlekhte matbeye far a soykher. (āThere is no bad brandy to a drunkard, no tainted money to a merchant.ā)
On the Stanley Brothers of Charlotteās Web moving into pharmaceuticals based on formerly illegal psychoactives
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2025/06/30/stanley-brothers-charlottes-web-ajna-biosciences-fda-meds-cannabis-psilocybin/
In a survey of cannabis retail employees & customers in Washington state, on what factors influence cannabis purchasing decisions
What Influences Cannabis Purchasing Decisions? Perspectives from Cannabis Retail Employees and Customers in Washington State
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25785125251361926
For delta-8 THC product, an analysis of their packaging & product traits in the US & Canada
Product Characteristics, Warnings, and Marketing Appeals Conveyed on Delta-8 THC Product Packaging in the US and Canada
https://www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/jsad.25-00034
š The War on Drugs š
Terrance Cole sworn in as new head of the DEA
https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1948121964658479411
And to Scouts, the DEA will offer a patch for āanti-drugā work
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOJDEAJTT/bulletins/3e996be
Trump signed a secret executive order telling the military to target drug cartels
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/us/trump-military-drug-cartels.html
Which led to a brawl in Mexico's Senate
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/28/mexico-senate-fight-us-military-intervention-cartels
The founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael Zambada GarcĆa, pleaded guilty to drug charges & will be sentenced to life in prison
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/nyregion/el-mayo-sinaloa-drug-trafficking-plea.html
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said fentanyl traffic to the US is down 50%
https://voz.us/en/world/250724/27219/sheinbaum-boasts-50-drop-in-fentanyl-trafficking-from-mexico-to-the-u-s.html
On how fentanyl reaches the US
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/world/americas/fentanyl-us-mexico-route-cartel-smuggling.html
Analysis of Trump's escalation of the War on Drugs in his first term
Militarised punishment: the Trump administrationās escalation of the U.S. war on drugs
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09557571.2025.2527783
The DEAās 2024 Cocaine Report
https://www.dea.gov/documents/2025/2025-07/2025-07-18/cy-2024-annual-cocaine-report
On how the mafia is infiltrating the EU
https://unherd.com/2025/08/how-the-mafia-infiltrated-germany/
Hint: itās all funded by cocaine money. Just like the cartels, the illegality of their drugs is the prime source of revenue. The answer is legalizing the drugs.
In Thailand, a nationwide crackdown on drugs was launched with the name āNo Drugs No Dealersā
https://cannabislaw.report/july-2025-thailand-launches-nationwide-crackdown-on-drugs-no-drugs-no-dealers/
In Indonesia, Bali is emerging as a major transnational drug trafficking hotspot
https://cannabislaw.report/bali-emerges-as-major-hot-spot-for-transnational-drug-trafficking-narcotics-agency/
In Spain, a harbor supply boat was busted for transporting cocaine
https://cannabislaw.report/spanish-police-bust-harbor-supply-boat-for-picking-up-smuggled-cocaine/
For the forensic identification of narcotics, a review of the newest analytical tools
Forensic Narcotics Drug Analysis: State-of-the-Art Developments and Future Trends
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/13/8/2371
š”ļø Harm Reduction News š”ļø
Trump issued an executive order banning federal funds for drug harm reduction & safe consumption sites
https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/25/trump-executive-order-targets-supervised-consumption-harm-reduction/
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trump-signs-order-targeting-funding-for-drug-harm-reduction-and-safe-consumption-projects/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/ending-crime-and-disorder-on-americas-streets/
#WrongSideOfHistory
In Toronto, overdoses have spiked since the closure of four supervised consumption sites
https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/local/article/overdoses-at-toronto-drop-in-centres-have-spiked-since-closure-of-4-supervised-consumption-sites-network/
https://www.torontotoday.ca/local/health/church-overdoses-increase-safe-consumption-site-closed-10977126
And a study Torontoās safer opioid supply pilot programs found benefits including less overdoses, improved social outcomes & reduced criminal activity
A Preliminary Assessment of Short-Term Social and Substance Use-Related Outcomes Among Clients of Integrated Safer Opioid Supply Pilot Programs in Toronto, Canada
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40703247/
In Kensington, Philadelphia, a new law highly restricts mobile outreach services for people who use drugs
https://filtermag.org/kensington-mobile-outreach-restrictions/
And for the supervised drug injection site Safe House, a judge ruled that they can claim protection under the right to the free exercise of religion
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/religious-freedom-laws-apply-drug-injection-site-case-court-says-2025-07-24/
In Ontario, police are increasingly obstructing harm reduction services
https://filtermag.org/ontario-police-obstruct-harm-reduction/
On the challenges & stresses of people seeking methadone or buprenorphine for opioid use disorder
https://filtermag.org/seeking-methadone-buprenorphine-barriers/
Excellent analysis on how Suboxoneās promise for opioid use disorder was limited by red tape & corporate profits
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/magazine/suboxone-buprenorphine-opioid-addiction-drugs.html
From our beloved drug writer Maia Szalavitz on how she still drinks wine while in recovery
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/opinion/non-sober-addiction-recovery.html
In Bristol, England may get its first overdose prevention center
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-could-englands-first-safe-10353064
Harm Reduction Research
In Oregon, public health data showed their drug decriminalization laws did not lead to increased overdoses or deaths
Examining the Multifaceted Impacts of Drug Decriminalization on Public Safety, Law Enforcement, and Prosecutorial Discretion
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/ccj_fac/128/
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/oregons-now-repealed-drug-decriminalization-law-didnt-drive-increase-in-overdoses-or-crime-federally-funded-study-shows/
In a German take-home naloxone project, lessons from 3 years after implementation
The implementation of take-home naloxone: Lessons learned from a 3-year take-home naloxone project in Germany
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40682037/
In British Columbia after drug decriminalization, a survey of the changes to harm reduction site operations found an increase in clients & plans to expand services
Characterizing changes to harm reduction site operations in British Columbia following the implementation of the decriminalization of drugs: Findings from a provincial survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40682069/
In Italy, the distribution of crack pipes decreased sharing & caused improvements for breathing problems & mental disorders
Crack Pipes Distribution in People Who Use Drugs Attending a Harm Reduction Service in Bologna, Northern Italy. Results of a Cohort Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40679906/
For US syringe programs, on also offering either a testing & wound care model or a comprehensive care model
On-site health service delivery models at syringe services programs in the United States: Results of a national cross-sectional survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40687393/
An analysis of different methods for safer supply: team based prescribed safer supply, buyers' club, compassion club, events space distribution & dispensary
Exploring models of safer supply provision: A qualitative study on the preferences of people who access the unregulated drug market
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40684615/
In people with opioid use disorder, an extended-release injectable buprenorphine was well tolerated, but it had low retention rates & most participants continued to use illicit opioids
Extended-release injectable buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder among individuals at high risk of overdose: The FASTER-BUP udy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871625002510
On the interest in overdose response hotlines, especially for lonely users
"I think that that really could benefit a lonely user:" perceptions of overdose response hotlines among people who use opioids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40682109/
For mothers with substance use disorders, an analysis of the themes from their interviews
Parenting through the eyes of mothers with substance use disorder: Implications for treatment and related services
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40675008/
On providing palliative care to people with substance use disorders in rural environments, a series of interviews to identify major themes
Palliative care for people with substance use disorders: a qualitative study of the experiences of rural primary care providers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40702457/
š Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives š
In Germany, psilocybin now available from the EU's first compassionate use psychedelic program
https://www.openpr.com/news/4127876/medical-milestone-psilocybin-therapy-possible-outside
For psilocybin, the DEA submitted a petition to federal health officials for rescheduling
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-advances-psilocybin-rescheduling-petition-to-federal-health-officials-following-years-long-legal-challenge/
In Colorado, a Native American group asked for a halt to the psilocybin therapy program as well as to the potential rollout for mescaline, ibogaine & DMT
https://www.westword.com/marijuana/colorado-indigenous-group-state-should-halt-legal-psilocybin-25044435
On 5-MeO-DMT (aka the God Molecule), good reporting on the history of the race towards its pharmaceuticalization
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/god-particle-5-meo-dmt-drug-pharmaceutical-market.html
And on the Sonoran Desert toadās steep decline
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/climate/psychedelic-sonoran-desert-toad.html
Allegations of serious harm & death at the Ayahuasca Foundation
https://www.ecstaticintegration.org/p/serious-harms-and-a-death-at-the
On the reality of psychedelic memories of childhood abuse
https://www.ecstaticintegration.org/p/psychedelic-memories-of-childhood
On that subject, Iād recommend my friend Dee Dee Goldpaughās āEmbrace Pleasure: How Psychedelics Can Heal Our Sexualityā. I just finished it on the plane & itās one of the most important things Iāve read on psychedelics in years.
On pleasure too (my wife has been glad I read it š).
On Rick Perryās journey into psychedelic advocacy
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/us/politics/rick-perry-drug-psychedelics-ibogaine.html
On kratom, the benefits for opioid use disorder & the risks for addiction
https://aeon.co/essays/can-the-unregulated-extract-kratom-help-fight-the-opioid-crisis
š The Plant & its Products š
High Times on using tiny predators to eat the pests off your cannabis
https://hightimes.com/grow/no-pesticides-how-insects-protect-your-cannabis-from-pests/
š± Growing & Extracting š±
For growing cannabis, a review of the effects of photoperiod, light spectrum, cultivation methods, environmental controls & plant growth regulators
Current Context of Cannabis sativa Cultivation and Parameters Influencing Its Development
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1635
On emissions & air quality from cannabis cultivation & processing facilities, a thesis project & literature review to inform regulation
Cannabis cultivation and processing facilities : linking emissions and air quality to inform regulation
https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0449730
For hemp cultivation, a thesis project & meta-analysis of its economic & environmental impacts
Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Emerging Industrial Hemp Cultivation: A Meta-Analysis
https://www.proquest.com/openview/74fba2dc780222f4b7220c2d575d2789/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
A thesis project on the effects of seed container geometry & irrigation management
Container Shape and Irrigation Management Effects on Hemp Productivity and Cannabinoid Content
https://www.proquest.com/openview/d55f16e0097be6d78a268e34b0072d9d/1
A microscopic study of the trichomes
Struktura i biochemia wÅoskĆ³w gruczoÅowych Cannabis sativa L.
https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/entities/publication/ba7753f1-19b1-43f0-910e-28b6c0b86493
An analysis of the hemp cultivar Futura 75 & its oil rich in terpenes
Industrial hemp Futura 75 infructescence as a source of essential oils: Micromorphology, chemical profile, and yield of essential oils
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025010738
In Serbian hemp, analysis of the essential oil composition & microbial activities
Essential oils (EOs) composition and antimicrobial activities of novel Cannabis sativa L (Hemp) selections from Serbia
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025011616
āļø Formulating & Analyzing āļø
On using a biorefinery to extract cannabis oil & an economic analysis of its efficacy
Cannabis oil extraction process and potential applications of lignocellulosic residues. A techno-economic assessment under the biorefinery concept
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2589014X25002348
On extracting hemp leaves directly into PLGA nanoparticles for better bioavailability
Direct Extraction of Hemp Leaf-Derived Cannabidiol (CBD) and Encapsulation into Biopolymer Nanoparticles for Diffusion-Based Drug Release
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10924-025-03647-9
For CBD gummies, a thesis project on extraction & quantification method
Cannabidiol Extraction and Quantification from Gummy Matrices: A Comparison of Homogenization Methods and QuEChERS Salts
https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/etd/r/1501/10?clear=10&p10_accession_num=bgsu1751289414329129
On analyzing THC levels with a Fab-based indirect competitive ELISA
An indirect competitive ELISA assay using fragment antigen-binding (Fab) antibody for the quantitative detection of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol from Cannabis sativa L
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15321819.2025.2538777
Non-invasive cannabinoid profiling with portable Raman spectroscopy
Portable Raman Spectroscopy for NonāInvasive Chemotype Identification and pCB Profiling in Cannabis
https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jrs.70033
š Food, Nutrition & Hemp Seeds š
For turning hemp biomass into feedstock for animals, a comparative study of enzymatic hydrolysis of two different hemp cultivars
Enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of different industrial hemp biomass fractions: A comparative study of two cultivars
https://repo.pw.edu.pl/info/article/WUTace4d3160a3d415db505999130679de7/
In dairy cows, feeding them a combination of tryptophan & omega-3 fatty acids upregulated their genes related to the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide), the NAAA enzyme (which breaks down PEA) & the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG) while downregulating expression of the CB2 receptor & NAPE-PLD receptor (which creates endocannabinoids like anandamide & oleoylethanolamine) to suppress inflammation & enhance lipid metabolism
The effects of N-acetyl tryptophan and omega-3 feeding during the transition period on relative expression genes related to endocannabinoid system in adipose tissue of Holstein cows
https://archrazi.areeo.ac.ir/article_134206.html
šæ THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE šæ
A review of the benefits and risks of medical cannabis
Cannabis and Health: Exploring Risks, Benefits and Research Horizons
https://journals.lww.com/adhb/fulltext/9900/cannabis_and_health__exploring_risks,_benefits_and.126.aspx
A methodology paper on different ways to give THC to adolescent & adult mice
Administration of Ī9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Adolescent and Adult Mice
https://app.jove.com/t/68358/administration-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-thc-adolescent-adult
š„ Public Health, Legalization Effects & Clinical Work š„
In people taking oral CBD with or without low doses of THC, an analysis of how it moves through their system & the possibility of positive urine tests for THC
Acute and Chronic Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Oral Cannabidiol (CBD) With and Without Low Doses of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Ī9-THC)
https://academic.oup.com/jat/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jat/bkaf075/8211679
In human blood, an efficient one-step extraction of cannabinoids for analysis
Miniaturized one-step extraction for the analysis of tetrahydrocannabinol ā9- and ā8- isomers, phytocannabinoids, and hexahydrocannabinol in whole blood using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021967325006211
š§ Adolescents & Young Adults š§
In California teens who use nicotine or cannabis vapes, the majority expressed at least some interest in quitting
Adolescentsā Interest in Quitting Nicotine or Cannabis E-Cigarettes
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00099228251355748
In US young adults, on the association between cannabis messaging & their use of cannabis & cannabis derivatives
Associations Between Cannabis Messaging and Derived Psychoactive Cannabis Product Perceptions, Use, and Use Intentions Among a Sample of US Young Adults
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40699944/
In juvenile rats exposed to THC, these thesis projects found they later had anxiety-like behaviors as adults
282 ā Juvenile Exposure to Tetrahydrocannabinol Affects Anxiety in Adult Long-Evans Rats
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/85/
And persistent object-recognition memory deficits
187 ā Exposure to THC Throughout Adolescence Produces Long-Term Deficits in an Object Recognition Task in Rats
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/50/
And impaired motor & somatosensory function
281 ā Effects of Advancing Age on Motor and Somatosensory Functions in Rats Exposed to Tetrahydrocannabinol During the Perinatal or Juvenile Developmental Periods
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/84/
š§ The Brain & Neurological Disorders š§
In people using cannabis & tobacco, they had higher brain levels of the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide) than cannabis-only users
A preliminary investigation of tobacco co-use on endocannabinoid activity in people with cannabis use
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772724625000526
In a rat model of Parkinson's disease, a fluorinated CBD derivative (PECS-101) lowered the neuroinflammation & improved the dyskinesia from the L-DOPA treatment
Cannabidiol improves L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia and modulates neuroinflammation and the endocannabinoid, endovanilloid and nitrergic systems
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278584625002106
In a mouse model of motor impairment from THC, a thesis project examined the disruption to cortical activity
Walking on Weed: Predicting THC-Induced Motor Impairment Reveals Disrupted Cortical Activity
https://www.proquest.com/openview/592901f14d5083be90411dcc60d162ca/1
In a mouse model of headaches from traumatic brain injury, treatment with indomethacin morpholinamide (an NSAID) elevated anandamide levels in the cortex while lessening neuroinflammation & pain hypersensitivity
Substrate-selective COX-2 inhibition by IMMA attenuates posttraumatic headache via endocannabinoid modulation and neuroinflammatory suppression
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40797173/
In a mouse model of stroke, this thesis project found that activating the CB2 receptor reduced neuronal loss & improved immune system imbalances
CB2 AGONISM IS NEUROPROTECTIVE AND PROTECTS AGAINST IMMUNE DYSREGULATION POST-STROKE
https://dalspace.library.dal.ca/items/b5b5be01-cb9b-4496-aa23-4826ed14ab70
In a guinea pig model of exposure to the nerve warfare agent soman, they experienced significant disruptions to their endocannabinoid signaling, including cognitive toxicity
Integrated multi-omic profiling uncovers endocannabinoid system as a driver of nerve agent-induced cognitive dysfunction in guinea pigs
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00204-025-04131-y
In mice with no CB1 receptors, they had disrupted neuronal migration, leading to piercing nuclear hernias (the chromosomes ripping through both the membrane of the nucleus & the cell itself ā imagine your brain ripping through your skull & into your chest cavity)
Abnormalities of the Endocannabinoid System Produce Piercing Nuclear Hernias in Migrating Cerebral Neurons
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258900422501449X
For Alzheimer's disease, a proposal on using CRISPR for targeting genes related to neurodegeneration & endocannabinoids
Reversible CRISPRa/i Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease: Gene Regulation for Neuroregeneration and Endocannabinoid Modulation
https://zenodo.org/records/15843938
For propofol (an anesthetic & sedative), its anti-inflammatory effects are independent of the endocannabinoid system in the microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain)
Propofolās Anti-Inflammatory Action Is Independent of Endocannabinoid System Activation in Microglia
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/1a9251868ded67967991bc0778ffa871/download_pub
For Alzheimer's disease, a new drug targeted both the serotonin 5-HT6 receptor & the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide)
The first-in-class 1,3,5-triazine-derived dual 5-HT6R/FAAH modulators in search for potential drug against neurodegenerative diseases with cognitive impairment
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0223523425007913
A computer analysis of THC derivatives for neuroprotection & antioxidant effects
Multifunctional Tetrahydrocannabinol Derivatives as Potential Antioxidant Neuroprotectors: Computer-Aided Design and Analysis
https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S2737416525501170
A patent for synthetic CBG-quinone analogs targeting neurological conditions
US20250241934A1 - Synthetic Cannabigerol Quinone Analogs and Pharmaceutical Compositions Containing Same for Treating Neurological Disorders
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250241934A1/en
š Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder š
In humans taking cannabis edibles, they had decreased performance on verbal free recall, but no effects on two other tests
Effects of naturalistic doses of cannabis edibles on cognition and association with blood THC
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06863-2
Using brain network pharmacology to examine addiction, CBD stabilized homeostatic networks while THC mapped onto reward-amplifying nodes
Deciphering Cannabidiol Neuroregulatory Role in Addiction Pathways: A Systems-Level Comparison with THC via Intrinsic Network Pharmacology
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.26.666970v1.abstract
In Australian opioid dependence treatment clinics, a survey on the medical cannabis knowledge of the clinicians
Cliniciansā attitudes and knowledge of medicinal cannabis in opioid dependence treatment clinics in New South Wales, Australia
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00315-6
In a mouse model of PTSD, they had lower levels of the CB1 receptor & NAPE-PLD receptor (which creates endocannabinoids like anandamide & oleoylethanolamine) as well as increased levels of the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide) & the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG) with help for anxiety & inflammation from WIN 55,212ā2 (which activates both the CB1 & CB2 receptors)
Involvement of endocannabinoid receptor 1 in oxidative and inflammatory responses underlying anxiety-like behavior in SPS&S-exposed mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299925008143
In a rat model of sleep deprivation, giving them arachidonylcyclopropylamide (ACPA ā an activator of the CB1 receptor) prevented the usual increased levels of anxiety & depressive-like behaviors as well as the decreased locomotion, pain threshold & levels of the brain growth factor BDNF in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
The Effect of CB1r Hippocampal Activation on Behavioral Changes and BDNF Levels in RapidāEye Movement SleepāDeprived Rats
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ejn.70216
š§¬ Reproduction & Hormones š§¬
In mothers & infants, fingernail analysis of their endocannabinoid & steroid hormone levels across the pregnancy showed dynamic shifts
Endocannabinoid and steroid hormone levels during and after pregnancy in fingernail samples from mothers and their infants
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039128X25001047
In pregnant mice, a thesis project on placental transporter interactions & tissue distribution of THC
(-)-Ī9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Pregnancy: Transporter-Mediated Tissue Distribution and Drug Interactions
https://www.proquest.com/openview/2e9e2fa6aa71b213d8892f10bf0f3bf2/1
In endometrial stromal cells (lining of the uterus), the cannabinoids CBD, CBC, CBDV, CBG & CBN caused changes to estrogen receptor levels & markers of aging
Effects of cannabidiol, cannabichromene, cannabidivarin, cannabigerol and cannabinol in endometrial cells: Implications for endocrine and senescence modulation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890623825001777
š¦ The Immune System & Microbial š¦
For treating COVID, on cannabis derivatives as helpful functional food ingredients
Cannabis Derivatives as Ingredients of Functional Foods to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/16/2830
š¦“ Pain, Musculoskeletal, Inflammation & Surgeries š¦“
For pain, a review of the pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids
Role of Cannabinoids in Chronic Pain Management: A Pharmacodynamic Perspective
https://jpgmb.com/1/article/view/45
A computer analysis found CBG interacted with the TRP ion channels related to pain & fibromyalgia
Molecular Docking Study Of Cannabigerol Aganist Human Transient Receptors Potential: Its Role In The Management Of Pain And Fibromyalgia
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393870427_Molecular_Docking_Study_Of_Cannabigerol_Aganist_Human_Transient_Receptors_Potential_Its_Role_In_The_Management_Of_Pain_And_Fibromyalgia
For the painkiller hydromorphone, a liver study found that THC, CBD & their metabolites would result in drug interactions
UGT2B7 mediated drug-drug interaction between cannabinoids and hydromorphone
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0090955625091445
For pain, a thesis using round worms to discover new pain targets in the endocannabinoid system & TRP channels
Identifying new pain relief targets : using Caenorhabditis elegans to study the endocannabinoid system with advanced proteomics
https://umontreal.scholaris.ca/items/686a9644-d6c4-4384-a7ba-d61f0f9286e5
ā¤ļø The Heart & Blood ā¤ļø
In tobacco smokers, smoking cigarettes with capsules containing beta-caryophyllene improved the aortic stiffness of their heart
Evidence of Improvements to Arterial Stiffness Among Regular Users of Combustible Cigarettes ā Effect of Inhalation of Ī²-Caryophyllene: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/cttr-2025-0011
In resistant hypertension (high blood pressure), a nanoformulation for modulating the endocannabinoid & hormonal systems
Multi-Endogenous Nanoformulation for Endocannabinoid and Hormonal Modulation of Key Signaling Pathways in Resistant Hypertension
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40814873/
š©ø The Liver, Drug Interactions & Cannabinoid Metabolism š©ø
In a rat model of cadmium-induced liver injury, the terpene beta-caryophyllene reduced oxidative damage & lipid breakdown via several pathways
Mechanistic Insights into the Mitigating Role of Beta-Caryophyllene on Cadmium-Induced Liver Injury
https://vetdergikafkas.org/uploads/full_issue_pdf/full_issue_pdf_227.pdf#page=65
šØ The Lungs šØ
In a mouse model of obesity with severe asthma, the CB1 inverse agonist INV-202 reduced weight & improved airway hyperresponsiveness
A cannabinoid receptor 1 inverse agonist induces weight loss and reduces airway hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of obese asthma
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplung.00049.2025
šļø The Skin & Topicals šļø
In people with psoriasis, their skin had higher levels of CB2 receptors
Differential Expression of Endocannabinoid Receptors in Lesional and Non-Lesional Skin of Psoriasis Patients: Insights Into Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Targets
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/12034754251355199
For skin pathogens, on the antimicrobial activity of nanoparticle-encapsulated cannabis extracts
Chitosan nanoparticles-encapsulated cannabis extracts and their antimicrobial potential against skin pathogens
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1644502/full
In topical products, a thesis project on analyzing heavy metal levels
Developing a Method for the Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Heavy Metals In Topical CBD Pain Relief Products
https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/masterstheses/244/
For transdermal drug delivery, on using lasers to deposit hemp seed materials onto thin films
Laser-Induced Ablation of Hemp Seed-Derived Biomaterials for Transdermal Drug Delivery
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/16/7852
šļø Cancer & Chemotherapy šļø
In a mouse model of pancreatic cancer, CBD & THC worked together to reduce cell viability, but only CBD improved survival times via the microbiome & the metabolism of bile acid
Cannabidiol Is Associated with Improved Survival in Pancreatic Cancer and Modulation of Bile Acids and Gut Microbiota
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/16/7733
In pancreatic cancer cells, CBC induced apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide) & ferroptosis (death by iron) via the CB2 & TRPV1 receptors
Cannabichromene: integrative modulation of apoptosis, ferroptosis, and endocannabinoid signaling in pancreatic cancer therapy
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41420-025-02674-8
In pancreatic cancer cells, the novel cannabinoid analog CCL-106 & its epimers (mirror image molecules) inhibited growth & proliferation via the CB2 & GPR55 receptors as well as enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy
Pharmacological advances in cannabinoid-based therapies for pancreatic cancer: preclinical efficacy of CCL-106 and its epimers
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949819825000809
In cancer cells, the neolignans from hemp roots caused cytotoxic effects
Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00316-5
š¬ Biochemical Discoveries & Detection Tools š¬
An analysis of the electronic structures of CBD, CBN & THC
Investigation of Quantum Chemical Parameters of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) Components (Cbd, Cbn, Thc) Using Density Functional Theory (Dft)
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5373265
On a novel method for synthesizing CBG & its derivatives
Synthesis of Cannabigerol and Cannabigerol Derivatives
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-401X/6/3/31
On using carbamates for the enzyme inhibition of both FAAH (which breaks down anandamide) & MAGL (which breaks down 2-AG)
Carbamates with ortho-Substituted O-Phenyl Groups as Dual Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase and Monoacylglycerol Lipase: Inhibitory Potency, Hydrolytic Stability, and QSAR Studies
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00233
For the terpene limonene, different enantiomers (mirror-image molecules) showed distinct biological activities
Investigating the Interactive Efficacy of the Enantiomers of Limonene
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10412905.2025.2532386
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For this weekās fiery blues singer, songwriter & slide guitarist, the great Ellen McIlwaine & her 1972 debut solo album āHonky Tonk Angelā. Raised in Japan by missionary (adopted) parents, she graduated from piano & singing in a church choir at the age of 5 to playing Japanese radio hits like Ray Charles & Fats Domino to returning to the US & dropping out of an ultraconservative college to finally beginning her professional performing career in Atlanta in 1966. After playing in Greenwich Village & working with some of the greats like Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters & John Lee Hooker, McIlwaine began her first band, a psychedelic blues rock group called Fear Itself. She pioneered a novel idea for the time: being both the guitarist & lead vocalist. She then went solo to record the album above as well as collaborations with musicians like Jack Bruce of Cream fame on āEverybody Needs Itā & the Indian tabla drummer Cassius Khan on āMystic Bridgeā. But differences with recording studios & troubles with alcohol were setbacks to her career. Despite achieving cult status in Australia, the discovery of her tracks by DJs in the ā90s & finding an accepting home in Canada, by 2009 she was working as a bus driver for a private girls' school in Calgary. Just before her death by cancer in 2021, a documentary about her life got the green light. āAs for her fans, Ellen McIlwaine will always be the goddess of slide.ā
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