C&P#160: pitch for White Whale Creations + back pain, cancer & sex advice
Spain goes medical & Germany restricts canna-telehealth
🌟 This week 🌟
Cannabis for chronic lower back pain (again)
For cancer-related symptoms, a review of 98 studies
Great charts!: CBD targets in epilepsy + CBD & your skin health + CBD & the gaseous neurotransmitter nitric oxide
For insomnia, Thai Traditional Medicine has 34 cannabis-containing formulations
Young adults give (pretty good) advice on combining cannabis & sex
Cannabis users & precrastination (it’s a word! (no matter how much MS Word wants to autocorrect it))
CBD in aging dogs
Harms: vapes increased oral Candida growth
Cannabis-induced Fregoli syndrome?! (the delusion of doubles)
Preclinical: CBD for depression, rosacea, acute pain, Alzheimer’s & fear
Case report of psilocybin for concussion symptoms
(this week’s numbers: ~5,800 words, ~15 minutes reading time, 120 papers)
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 160th edition of Cannabinoids & the People, Lex Pelger’s free weekly digest of all the new cannabinoid science, assorted canna-news & coverage of psychedelics, the War on Drugs & harm reduction. Support this work sharing canna-science with a paid subscription here. As always, ask me anything.
#FreePalestine
📌 Editor’s note: a pitch for White Whale Creations
Hey everyone. For the first time since I started my business, I’ve got room to take on another contract. With the kids finally going to school & sleeping through the night, it’s given me more free time & I’d like to do more canna-education. If you know of any person or business interested in a podcast or a newsletter or a video series or an educational platform about the science & medical aspects of cannabis, let me know or send this to them.
What I’d love to be doing most is hosting a weekly interview-style podcast of experts in the science & medicine of cannabis to both build brand recognition for a great company & to get that information out into the world.
Thank you for any help you can provide.
🤝 Sponsor 🤝: The Cannabis & Health Research Initiative
Want to help expand the knowledge of medical cannabis use in the real world & get paid 100 bucks to do so?
Johns Hopkins University, with support from Realm of Caring, is spearheading the groundbreaking National Cannabis Study to evaluate the benefits, risks & overall outcomes of using cannabis for conditions like pain, insomnia, anxiety & more. If you are an adult in the U.S. considering starting cannabis for health reasons, this is your chance to help shape the future of cannabis research — and get compensated for your time ($100!). Join now to share your experience & contribute valuable data that could revolutionize healthcare for many patients nationwide. To learn more & sign up, visit:
https://ncs.cannabisandhealth.org/
Follow along on Instagram to keep on learning or sign up for the monthly CHRI email (curated by me) to get just the best of clinical research & new reviews each month.
🧰 Free resources 🧰
CVResearch.info: the extensive cannabinoid science archive I maintain for CV Sciences
Canna-edu videos: on YouTube @CVScienceInc & on TikTok @pluscbd (backup account @cannabinoidsandthepeople)
My Free How-To Guides on cannabinoids for different conditions. #AMAMy glossary of cannabinoid terms (& my Neural Ocean metaphor)
And as always, at the bottom is the album of the week.
💖 Ways to support this work 💖
A paid subscription on Substack
Buy Me a Coffee
Venmo: @Lex-Pelger
PayPal: donate here
🐋 For more from Lex… 🐋 | my Linktree |
‘Anandamide; or, the Cannabinoid’: my cannabis graphic novel series (based on Moby Dick):
- ‘SUNset’: Queer canna-history from the AIDS crisis- ‘The CROWN’: the hunt for the chemical structure of CBN, the first fully-solved cannabinoid, as explained through elephants
First 2 seasons of my podcast ‘The Lex Files’ on cannabinoids, psychedelics & spirituality
Work with my company White Whale Creations to produce cannabis content: writing, science archives, social media, newsletters & podcasts: my portfolio
📣 A request to spread the word 📣
This newsletter only spreads by word of mouth,
so please forward to colleagues & tell your friends & relatives.
🎥 My work this week 🎤
Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
(on YT @CVSciencesInc & on TT @pluscbd)
CBD for the Skin (nice list)
My 📚 Vids:
(@LexPelgerAndHisBooks on TikTok, YouTube & Instagram)
(nothing this week. working too hard, kids not sleeping enough)
🍃 BEST OF CANNABINOID SCIENCE 🍃
(most of the phytocannabinoid data is here & most of the ECS data is in the ‘Canna-Science Archive’ at the bottom)
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
For chronic lower back pain, VER-01 (a proprietary cannabis extract) reduced pain over the 12 weeks of this double-blind trial
Full-spectrum extract from Cannabis sativa DKJ127 for chronic low back pain: a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03977-0
For people with a substance use disorder, the UK Medical Cannabis Registry found cannabis use associated with a reduction in prescribed opioids & an improvement in health-related quality of life
UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A Clinical Analysis of Patients with Substance Use Disorder
https://karger.com/ear/article/doi/10.1159/000547696/931298/UK-Medical-Cannabis-Registry-A-Clinical-Analysis
In two siblings with Lafora disease (rare inherited form of progressive epilepsy), CBD improved their seizures & cognitive symptoms
Use of cannabidiol in the management of refractory seizures in lafora disease: A case report of two siblings
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394108219_Use_of_cannabidiol_in_the_management_of_refractory_seizures_in_Lafora_disease_A_case_report_of_two_siblings_Case_Report_Journal_of_Clinical_Images_and_Medical_Case_Reports
For cannabis helping with recovery from psychosis, a personal account by a healthcare practitioner [Dutch]
Hersteld of niet hersteld? Hoe cannabis mijn herstel van psychose bevorderd heft [Recovered or Not Recovered? How Cannabis Aided My Recovery from Psychosis]
https://www.tijdschriftvoorpsychiatrie.nl/en/artikelen/article/50-13509_Hersteld-of-niet-hersteld-Hoe-cannabis-mijn-herstel-van-psychose-bevorderd-heeft
For combining cannabis & sexual activity, interviews of young adults on their recommendations (which were pretty good)
A qualitative analysis of young adults’ advice for combining cannabis and sexual activity
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2025/meetingapi.cgi/Paper/565311?filename=2025_Abstract565311.html&template=Word
“Three main themes were documented: 1) realize cannabis is a unique substance when it comes to sexual activity, 2) know your sexual partner to ensure open communication and reduce the risk of experiencing sexual violence, and 3) focus on incorporating accommodations that will lead to positive sexual experiences.”
In college students & CBD, the most common uses were for anxiety & sleep
CBD use & anxiety among college students
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14659891.2025.2566638
For long-term kidney health, people using cannabis had no higher risk of chronic kidney disease, rapid kidney function decline or incident albuminuria (excess in the urine of the blood protein albumin)
Evaluating the Association of Cannabis Use and Longitudinal Kidney Outcomes
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25785125251363813
In decision-making tests, cannabis users tended to precrastinate (complete a goal as soon as possible) & to have more reactive decision-making, suggesting that “chronic cannabis use may not impair decision making as profoundly as previously thought”
Will you precrastinate? Sensitivity to potential performance costs and effort in chronic cannabis users and non-users
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00426-025-02139-8
I don’t know what to make of this. In general, small-scale behavioral tests are some of the weakest areas of science.
That being said, I definitely precrastinate. The faster I get the dishes done, the faster I get to “go to the basement” & then read old books.
In aging dogs, a demographic study found CBD use tended to be more in “dogs with dementia, osteoarthritis, cancer, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, clinical sign–based gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic diarrhea” as well as having links to reduced aggression
Demographic Features, Health Status, and Behavioral Changes Associated with Cannabidiol Use in the Dog Aging Project
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1666663/abstract
In horses, CBDA had better oral bioavailability than CBD
Differences in Plasma Exposure of Cannabidiol and Cannabidiolic Acid Following Oral Administration to Horses
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41017237/
📑 Reviews 📑
For dermatology & cosmetic skin health, a review of the efficacy of CBD for acne, psoriasis, atopic & seborrheic dermatitis (chronic inflammatory skin conditions), allergic contact dermatitis, pruritus (itchiness), wound healing, hair disorders, skin cancers & pigmentation disorders as well as help with skin rejuvenation, collagen production & hydration (nice charts)
Cannabidiol in Skin Health: A Comprehensive Review of Topical Applications in Dermatology and Cosmetic Science
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/9/1219
For cancer-related symptoms, this review of 98 articles found cannabinoids helped appetite & reduced pain, anxiety, insomnia & chemotherapy-induced nausea & vomiting
Indications of Cannabinoids for the Palliation of Cancer-Associated Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11912-025-01695-x
For epilepsy, a review of the targets of the cannabinoids (great charts)
Molecular targets of cannabinoids and their derivatives in epilepsy – a review with focus on CBD
https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/acta-biochimica-polonica/articles/10.3389/abp.2025.15251/full
For nitric oxide (the gaseous neurotransmitter), a review of CBD’s help for inflammation & oxidative stress via effects on nitric oxide levels & nitric oxide synthase (with nice charts!)
The effects of cannabidiol on nitric oxide synthases: a narrative review on therapeutic implications for inflammation and oxidative stress in health and disease
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00332-5
For autism, a review of 11 studies on the potential of cannabinoids
Therapeutic Use of Cannabis Derivatives and Their Analogs for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40605143/
For lipid metabolism & endocannabinoid signaling, a review of the effects of synthetic drugs with a focus on synthetic cannabinoids & stimulants
Synthetic Drugs and Their Effects on Lipid Metabolism and Endocannabinoid Signalling; a Review Article
https://www.wisdomgale.com/ejsrr/?mno=258560
For the nonclassical cannabinoid receptors (GPR55, GPR18, GPR119, etc), a review on their effects
Nonclassical Cannabinoid Receptors: Modern Concepts of Signal Transmission Functions and Mechanisms
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S1068162025602502
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
For cannabis use in pregnancy, a meta-analysis of 51 studies found cannabis consumption associated with an increased risk of low birth weight, small for gestational age, major anomalies, decreased head circumference, birth weight, birth length, gestational age, NICU admission, perinatal mortality & preterm delivery, but in pregnancy, a decreased risk of gestational diabetes
Meta-analysis of maternal and neonatal outcomes of cannabis use in pregnancy current to March 2024
https://mhnpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40748-025-00216-9
For simulated driving, this review collected the studies on cannabis (as well as alcohol)
Rapid review of experimental studies on alcohol and cannabis use and simulated driving behaviour: What can we learn about study methods?
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01441647.2025.2561613
For cannabis & heart attacks, a review on the limited data
Rare but relevant: Cannabis use and myocardial infarction
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40590409/
A pretty negative take on the effects of cannabis legalization on community health
Recreational cannabis legalization: Potential implications for individual and community health
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40592531/
For periodontitis (a chronic gum infection), public health data showed cannabis or hashish are significantly associated with severe periodontitis (as well as cocaine & alcohol)
Association Between Substance Use and Periodontitis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES Data on Marijuana, Hashish, and Cocaine
https://www.dovepress.com/article/download/105341
In surgery for a broken hand, public health data showed cannabis users had a higher incidence of nerve injury, nonunion of the fracture, acute kidney injury, cardiac arrest, deep venous thrombosis, hypoglycemia, heart attack, pneumonia, sepsis, stroke & UTIs
Weeding Out the Problem: Associations of Cannabis and Tobacco Use with Complications of Surgical Fixation of Metacarpal Fracture
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40583362/
For amotivation syndrome, a case series of cannabis dependence with “amotivation syndrome, including apathy, reduced goal-directed behavior, social withdrawal, and impaired executive function”
EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN CANNABIS DEPENDENCE AND AMOTIVATION SYNDROME: A CASE SERIES ANALYSIS
https://tpmap.org/submission/index.php/tpm/article/view/1382
In a secret buyer survey of 12 cannabis edibles, analysis found wide discrepancies in THC levels from the advertised contents
Dazed and confused: variability in reported and measured tetrahydrocannabinol content in cannabis edibles
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2025.2559183
For Candida albicans (a pathogenic fungi, often oral), exposure to vapes containing THC increased growth & metabolic activity as well as the levels of biofilm formation (joining together in a matrix for better protection from treatment)
In Vitro Exposure to Vaped Tetrahydrocannabinol Increases Candida albicans (SC5314) Growth, Metabolic Activity, Biofilm Formation, and the Expression of Virulence Genes
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/10/2278
For cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a case report on differentiating it from cyclic vomiting syndrome
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Versus Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40582772/
In Fregoli syndrome (a rare delusional disorder in which a person believes that different people are actually a single individual who changes their appearance), a case report of the first time it’s reported to be induced by cannabis
Cannabis-Induced Fregoli Syndrome, a Case Report and Literature Review.
https://www.jpsychopathol.it/article/view/1165
A case report about the overlap between disordered eating, cannabis use & acute intermittent porphyria (a rare genetic disorder where a missing enzyme in the body’s heme-making process causes a toxic buildup of chemicals, sudden stomach pains, muscle weakness & mood or nerve problems)
An Adolescent Female With Disordered Eating and Cannabis Use Found to Have Acute Intermittent Porphyria
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40605971/
In the tubulin of the brain (essential for transport & synaptic plasticity), THC reduced microtubular polymerization & potentially reduced its stability
Structural changes of tubulin by interacting with Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol: in-vitro and theoretical studies
https://bmcneurosci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12868-025-00957-5
In liver cells, CBD may be converted to the reactive 7-formyl-CBD
NAD(P)+-dependent alcohol oxidoreductases oxidize 7-hydroxycannabidiol to a reactive formyl metabolite
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00204-025-04140-x
🐁 Preclinical 🐁
In two mouse models of acute pain, CBD reduced pain behaviors during both the neurogenic & inflammatory phases
Cannabidiol alleviates pain and inflammation: insights from acute pain models
https://www.ibroneuroscience.org/article/S0306-4522(25)00612-8/abstract
In a rat model of inflammatory pain, THC worked better than CBD or the combination of THC & CBD, with females more sensitive to THC’s painkilling effects
Cannabidiol interactions with Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on antinociception after carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain in male and female rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40609153/
In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, CBD alleviated synaptic & cognitive deficits via reduced alpha-beta plaque accumulation, neuroinflammation & insulin resistance via the novel CBD target of the TrkB adaptor protein
Mechanistic Insights into Cannabidiol-Mediated TrkB Activation via FRS2 Interaction in Attenuating Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology and Cognitive Impairment
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6659468/v1
In a rat model of depression, CBD demonstrated “potent antidepressant-like effects” via enhanced dendritic spine density & synaptic strength in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Cannabidiol reverses depression-like behaviors by enhancing hippocampal synaptic plasticity in rats with chronic restraint stress
https://veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/September-2025/22.pdf
In a rat model of fear, CBD lessened anxiety-like behaviors & neuropathic pain scores via BDNF (a key brain growth factor) in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Chronic Cannabidiol Treatment Effects on Contextual Fear and Neuropathic Pain in Carioca Rats High and Low Conditioned Freezing
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166432825004425
In a mouse model of rosacea (a chronic inflammatory skin disorder of facial redness, flushing & pustules), CBD lowered inflammation, redness, skin thickness & mast cell infiltration while combining well with the common treatment of metronidazole
Cannabidiol as a therapeutic agent for rosacea through simultaneous inhibition of multiple inflammatory pathways
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40754776/
In mice, sesame oil proved to be the most effective carrier oil for delivering cannabinoids
Orally consumed cannabinoids: the effect of carrier oil on acute tissue distribution in male C57BL/6 mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40597281/
In a fruit fly model of Alzheimer’s disease, CBD reduced motor problems, cognitive deficits & neuropathological changes
Cannabidiol-mediated neuroprotection in amyloid beta-induced Alzheimer’s model of drosophila: behavioral and morphological evidence
https://www.ibroneuroscience.org/article/S0306-4522(25)00605-0/abstract
In a mouse model of osteoarthritis, the terpene beta-caryophyllene reduced cartilage tissue injury, inflammatory cell infiltration & measures of oxidative stress
Effect and mechanism of beta-caryophyllene in mice with osteoarthritis
https://www.cjter.com/EN/abstract/abstract20853.shtml
In a mouse model of arthritis, hemp seeds fermented in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (a bacteria for fermenting food) increased mobility & reduced joint swelling, cartilage damage & systemic inflammation while restoring balance to the immune system, partially via modulation of the gut microbiome
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermented hemp (Cannabis sativa) seeds modulate the gut microbiota and metabolic pathways to alleviate autoimmune inflammation in collagen-induced arthritis mice
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/fo/d5fo00818b/unauth
🆕 Novel Studies 🆕
(my grab bag section for stuff I haven’t quite seen before)
In the 34 cannabis-containing formulations for insomnia from Thai Traditional Medicine, an analysis of the other plants used & the therapeutic categories of formulations
A Qualitative Ethnopharmacological Analysis of Cannabis-Based Formulations for Insomnia in Thai Traditional Medicine Recipes
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393337648_A_Qualitative_Ethnopharmacological_Analysis_of_Cannabis-Based_Formulations_for_Insomnia_in_Thai_Traditional_Medicine_Recipes
For the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide), a case report of someone with a different FAAH genetic variant with anxiety disorder, autistic-like traits, borderline intellectual functioning & metabolic disturbances
Investigating the role of a novel hemizygous FAAH2 variant in neurological and metabolic disorders
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378111925004925
In a rat model of impulsive choices, activating the CB1 receptor in ones that were already impulsive made them more impulsive
Modulatory role of baseline impulsivity on the acute and persistent effects of CB1 agonism on impulsive choice
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02698811251355603
I feel seen.
In gliomas (the most aggressive brain cancer), radioactive labeling of the antitumor treatment 4-O-methylhonokiol showed it bound to the CB2 receptor
PET imaging of the cannabinoid receptor 2 ligand 4-O-[11C]methylhonokiol in a rat glioma model
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969805125000630
Add this to our long list of treatments that work via the endocannabinoid system…
📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles 📰
Spain (finally) goes medical!
https://www.sanidad.gob.es/gabinete/notasPrensa.do?id=6761
https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/legislation-and-regulation/news/15768846/spain-approves-decree-to-legalize-medical-cannabis-use-in-health-care-system
With its cannabis social clubs envied around the world, it’s been quite odd to watch Spain be one of the slowest countries in the EU to enact medical cannabis regulations.
The DEA announced that cannabis rescheduling is still on hold
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-says-marijuana-rescheduling-appeal-process-remains-stalled-under-new-administrator-who-pledged-to-prioritize-the-issue/
And they placed the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-4en-PINACA in Schedule I
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/02/2025-19348/schedules-of-controlled-substances-placement-of-mdmb-4en-pinaca-in-schedule-i
The veterans group VFW announced it will be promoting THC drinks as alcohol alternatives at their VFW posts
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/top-veterans-group-partners-with-cannabis-brand-to-promote-thc-drinks-as-alcohol-alternative-at-vfw-posts/
As someone who grew up drinking in those posts with my grandfather, I concur that it could be good to have those old-timers doing a little bit more cannabinoids & a little bit less ethanol, if they’re so inclined.
In California, intoxicating cannabinoids now put under the same regulatory requirements as cannabis
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-governor-signs-bill-to-integrate-hemp-and-marijuana-markets-after-banning-intoxicating-cannabinoids-outside-of-dispensaries/
Seems fair.
In Indonesia, a US basketball player caught with cannabis gummies for his Crohn’s disease faces the death penalty
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/american-basketball-player-faces-potential-death-penalty-over-medical-marijuana-after-arrest-in-indonesia/
Seems not fair.
In San Francisco, on the epic failure of the first ‘equity’ cannabis store by Cookies & the influence of City Hall Insiders
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/marijuana-weed-legal-shop-haight-21063653.php
🌐 International Updates 🌐
In Germany, a new law restricts the online sale of cannabis, requiring direct in-person contact with a doctor & banning mail-order deliveries
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/germany-restrict-online-cannabis-sales-curb-ballooning-imports-2025-10-08/
For trans-cannabidiol (a synthetic cousin of CBD), an EU regulator was asked to establish a limit of 30 mg/day, but then the applicant never answered their follow-up questions for more data
Safety of synthetic cannabidiol as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40741368/
For medical cannabis in Colombia, on the strategic uses of morality in public policy formulation [Spanish]
Strategic Uses of Morality in Public Policy Formulation: The Case of Medical Cannabis in Colombia
https://www.scielo.org.mx/pdf/enclav/v19n38/2594-1100-enclav-19-38-58.pdf
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education ⚖️
In Canada, cannabis prices & expenditures over the 5 years of legalization
Self‐Reported Cannabis Prices and Expenditures From Legal and Illegal Sources Five Years After Legalisation of Non‐Medical Cannabis in Canada
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.70009
For New York cannabis products, the unlicensed products had significantly less safety information & more youth-appealing elements on their labels than the licensed products
Labeling of Cannabis Products From Licensed and Unlicensed Retailers in New York
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S074937972500491X
🚓 The War on Drugs 🚓
US federal drug prosecutions fall to lowest level in decades
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/federal-drug-prosecutions-fall-lowest-level-decades-trump-shifts-focus-2025-09-29/
4th US strike on alleged drug vessel near Venezuela
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0xvpxk9dqo
In Nigeria, a dismissed police assistant superintendent caught with 1k+ blocks of cannabis
https://cannabislaw.report/nigeria-dismissed-assistant-superintendent-police-caught-with-over-1000-blocks-of-cannabis/
In police interviews, they admit that opioid seizures increase overdose risk in the community
A qualitative study of police officers’ knowledge of the relationship between police opioid seizures and subsequent risk of overdose
https://healthandjusticejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40352-025-00368-y
🛡️ Harm Reduction News 🛡️
In California, the Campus Overdose Prevention Act will protect students from receiving disciplinary action when calling for assistance for an overdose
https://ssdp.org/blog/californias-campus-overdose-prevention-act-is-signed-into-law/
In Ohio, the governor legalized drug testing strips & reagent kits to fight the overdose epidemic
https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/governor-dewine-authorizes-ohio-board-of-pharmacy-to-adopt-emergency-rule-legalizing-tools-to-prevent-drug-overdoses
In Ottawa, their supervised consumption site discontinued after their federal exemption expired
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa-clarence-street-supervised-consumption-discontinued
In Burlington, Vermont, an overdose prevention center approved by the City Council
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/burlington-city-council-approves-plans-for-overdose-prevention-center/ar-AA1DO1q8
Harm Reduction Research
In people using opiates, a survey found that withdrawal symptoms often prevented them from testing drugs or engaging in harm reduction behaviors or services
Opioid withdrawal as a barrier to harm reduction: Examining how overdose prevention behaviors are affected by withdrawal
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40997404
In Delaware, a case study of their data mapping by an overdose response center for enhanced harm reduction coordination
Advancing Harm Reduction through Data Mapping: The Role of Delaware’s Overdose Response Center
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41035730
In interviews of 4 Canadian safer supply programs, on how it transformed the testing & treating of bloodborne infections like HIV & hepatitis C
“From an HCV and HIV point of view, it’s been remarkable”: A qualitative study about using prescribed safer supply to support people who use drugs along the HIV and HCV prevention and treatment cascades in Ontario, Canada
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jia2.70038
For people in harm reduction housing, interviews on how it facilitated their access to medications for opioid use disorder & improved quality of life
“Now that I’m here, I actually have the stability and the time to really think about stuff like that”: Perspectives on medications for opioid use disorder in low-threshold harm reduction housing
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41015388
At two Danish harm reduction services, interviews of women on their experiences
Negotiating Care and Control: Women’s Experiences of Two Harm Reduction Services in Copenhagen
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41027846
Despite the US 2008 parity law for increasing access to mental health through insurance, surveys found little to no impact on substance use disorder treatment rates
Changes in Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Associated with the 2008 U.S. Parity Law
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41024646
For staff of syringe service programs, on the prevalence & predictors of burnout
Prevalence and predictors of staff burnout and shortages among syringe services programs in the United States, 2023
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41014998
In a rural hospital, lessons for creating a telehealth addiction consultation service
Creation of a telehealth addiction consultation service at a rural hospital: a case study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41013782
🍄 Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives 🍄
The Psychoactive Research
For psilocybin & concussions, a case report of an athlete who reported immediate symptom relief for headaches, noise sensitivity& cognitive function with a complete resolution of his affective symptoms
Psilocybin Use in an Intercollegiate Athlete with Persisting Symptoms After Concussion: A Case Report
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/4/3/22
For psilocybin & depression, two doses caused a clinically meaningful reduction in depressive symptoms
Psilocybin with psychotherapeutic support for treatment-resistant depression: a pilot clinical trial
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20451253251377187
For psilocybin & depression, a meta-analysis found no association between the amount of therapy hours & treatment outcomes
A dose of therapy with psilocybin - A meta-analysis of the relationship between the amount of therapy hours and treatment outcomes in psychedelic-assisted therapy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163834325001562
For MDMA & depression, this pilot study found help with no serious adverse event
MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder: proof of principle study
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/mdmaassisted-therapy-as-a-treatment-for-major-depressive-disorder-proof-of-principle-study/1D671CD476EC0B8253D4BFB6BB252218
MDMA increased feelings of global trust, while methamphetamine did not
The empathogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, but not methamphetamine, increases feelings of global trust
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811251370999
For psilocybin & the pain of fibromyalgia, this thesis project reviewed 3 studies that found help from both macro- & microdoses
Microdosing Psilocybin as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Chronic Fibromyalgia Pain
https://www.proquest.com/openview/561d77df8f900c7031f71c2612cdbe5b/1
During a meditation retreat, brain scans on the effects of DMT & harmine
Meditation, psychedelics, and brain connectivity: A randomized controlled resting-state fMRI study of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmine in a meditation retreat
https://direct.mit.edu/imag/article/doi/10.1162/IMAG.a.907/133157/Meditation-psychedelics-and-brain-connectivity-A
The acute effects of MDMA, MDA & lysine conjugates (LSD cousins) in healthy participants
Acute effects of MDMA, MDA, lysine-MDMA, and lysine-MDA in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in healthy participants
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-025-02248-3
For psilocybin mushrooms, a big review on their therapeutic potential, taxonomy & synthesis pathways
Biochemical Insights into Diverse Psilocybe Mushrooms and Their Metabolites as Sources of Neuroactive Agents: A Review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00284-025-04379-8
For psychedelics & headaches, a review suggested “symptom benefit at sub-hallucinogenic doses for both migraine and cluster headache”
Psychedelics and Headache Disorders: an Update
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-025-01446-2
For traumatic brain injuries, a review on the potential of psilocybin & 5-MeO-DMT
Examining the potential of psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT as therapeutics for traumatic brain injury
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278584625002027
For tobacco use disorder & psychedelics, a review of 29 papers found promising results
A systematic review and narrative summary of the therapeutic potential of classic serotonergic psychedelics for smoking cessation and reduction
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811251353251
For eating disorders & psilocybin, this review of 2 studies found potential help for anorexia nervosa
Psilocybin in the treatment of eating disorders: a systematic review of the literature and registered clinical trials
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40519-025-01771-y
On personality types & psychedelic experiences
Big Five personality and the psychedelic experience: An initial report
https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/aop/article-10.1556-2054.2025.00414/article-10.1556-2054.2025.00414.xml
In roundworms, LSD extended lifespan
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.16.659936v1.abstract
🍃 The Plant & its Products 🍃
🌱 Growing & Extracting 🌱
For hemp seed germination, it was not significantly improved by acid scarification or cold moist stratification
Cold Moist Stratification and Acid Scarification Do Not Significantly Enhance Hemp Seed Germination
https://journals.ashs.org/view/journals/horttech/35/4/article-p552.xml
For temperature, on the effects in cannabis on CBD content, dry weight & the accumulation of anthocyanin (which gives the purple color)
Anthocyanin accumulation, inflorescence dry weight and total cannabidiol content have different temperature optima in Cannabis sativa
https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-025-00311-w
In the hairy root transformation method (used to trigger fast-growing & stable roots for studying genes & metabolite production), this new two-step method for cannabis had a 90% transformation efficiency
Mother transformer: A High-Throughput, Cost-Effective in Planta Hairy Root Transformation Method for Cannabis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40598062/
In a trichome forced to undergo male-to-female sex change by ethephon, a genetic analysis of the effects on metabolite profiles & the ethylene pathway
A transcriptomic analysis of ethephon-induced sex reversion of male Cannabis sativa L. reveals changes in expression of floral homeotic genes and a distinct trichome morphology
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40590302/
In Louisiana, on growing hemp using an off-season high tunnel growth chamber
Hemp Cultivation Under Off-Season High Tunnel Growth Chamber Environments in South Louisiana
https://repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7293&context=gradschool_theses
In the Mediterranean, the effects of temperature on hemp oil’s fatty acid profile
Influence of Temperature on the Fatty Acid Profile of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Oil Grown in the Mediterranean Region
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/10/2293
In northern Greece, on the performance of different hemp cultivars
Agronomic performance of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in northern Greece: A comparative study
https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/agrfood.2025038
⚙️ Analyzing & Formulating ⚙️
For nano-cannabinoids, a review on their enhanced bioavailability
Nanotechnology for the Efficacious Delivery of Medicinal Cannabis and Pharmaceutical Medicines
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/c8c5192a1e905ebe1c19f26c11dbb5dc/download_pub
🍞 Food, Nutrition & Hemp Seeds 🍞
For hemp seed cake flour, enzymatic hydrolysis to improve swelling, water absorption & emulsion stability
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Hemp Seed Cake Flour: Impact on Technological Properties
https://iris.unibas.it/handle/11563/201718
On emulsifying hemp & whey protein complexes
Emulsifying properties of hemp and whey protein complexes achieved by microparticulation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268005X25007933
🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber 🏗️
For biodiesel, on creating it from cannabis with metallic nanoparticles
Trimetallic MgO-ZnO-BaO Nanoparticles Catalyzed Biodiesel Production Using Industrially Cultivated Cannabis sativa L. Oil: RSM Optimization and Assessment of Fuel Properties
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40739776/
On creating biomethane from hemp biomass after CBD extraction
Life cycle assessments of residual hemp biomass from cannabidiol production focusing on disposal pathways and biomethane recovery via anaerobic digestion
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921344925004033
On creating auxetic composites (body armor material) using hemp & PLA
Sustainable re-entrant hemp/polylactic acid nonwoven composites with in-plane and out-of-plane auxeticity
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-665X/adf614
For acoustic panels, on the performance of hemp
Airlaid nonwoven panels for sound absorption: Comparison of Alfa, Posidonia, and Hemp natural fibers
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1351010X251349967
For removing dyes, on the efficacy of hemp stalks (though not quite as good as macadamia shells)
Preparation of biomass activated carbon and its adsorption performance for anionic/cationic dyes(10mg/L): A case study of coffee grounds, hemp stalks and macadamia nut shells
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825007762
On hemp fiber’s swelling behavior in water
Water imbibition and swelling of natural filaments: Hemp, jute, and flax – Auxetic, negative Poisson’s Ratio (NPR) materials
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025012488
In Western Nevada, an analysis of hemp fiber performance data from different cultivars
Industrial Fiber Hemp Varietal Evaluation in Western Nevada
https://naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2025-7009.pdf
On reinforcing gypsum-based foam composites with hemp fiber
Production of high-performance cementless foam composites: gypsum-based and hemp fibre reinforced green systems
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44416-025-00019-3
For short-span concrete beams, on improving their structural integrity with hemp or cotton ropes
Green reinforcement techniques: Using natural hemp and cotton ropes to enhance the structural integrity of short-span RC beams
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772991525000313
On the construction of a steel & hemp building in the Mediterranean
MUTABILITY OF LIVING AND FLEXIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTION. Reflections on the Ac.Ca. Building research project
https://iris.unical.it/handle/20.500.11770/387601
🌿 THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE 🌿
For improving cannabis research, a workshop on improving methods
Enhancing Methods for Research on Cannabis: A Workshop Report
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00314-7
An editorial on the challenges of cannabis research & why it lags behind
The high cost of low evidence: Why cannabis research lags behind its use
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40588057/
I can’t see this from behind the paywall, but it seems to be a summary of the work by ElSohly at U-Miss
The 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act and Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol.
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A11%3A14717547/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A186829137&crl=c&link_origin=scholar.google.com
A review on the therapeutic potential of cannabis
Comprehensive Review of Cannabis Sativa: Pharmacological Components, Therapeutic Potential, and Forensic Implications
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383407262_Comprehensive_Review_of_Cannabis_Sativa_Pharmacological_Components_Therapeutic_Potential_and_Forensic_Implications
In cannabis roots from Northeastern Brazil, molecular analysis of potential new drugs (N-trans-feruloyltyramine & p-coumaric acid)
Chemical analysis of Cannabis sativa L. roots from Northeastern Brazil and their potential in the development of new drugs
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14786419.2025.2565259
🏥 Public Health, Legalization Effects & Bioassays 🏥
An editorial advising caution for pediatric medical cannabis use
Medical Cannabis for Paediatric Use: Weighing Promise Against Risks in Light of Emerging Evidence
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40588851/
For understanding medical cannabis use internationally, the outcomes varied depending on the definitions & how the questions were asked
Understanding medical cannabis use internationally: Why definitions and context matter
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40590488/
In healthcare practitioners of Northern Israel, a survey on the influence of religion on their attitudes towards medical cannabis
The influence of religion on physicans and nurses attitudes toward medical cannabis in Northern Israel
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00331-6
In college students in urban India, a survey of their knowledge & attitudes towards cannabis
Knowledge and attitude of college students towards cannabis use in urban India: A comparative perspective of users and non-users
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40587287/
In Polish healthcare practitioners, a survey on their limited knowledge of cannabis
Medical marijuana - knowledge and opinions of primary care physicians in Lublin province, Poland
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40586503/
A Twitter analysis of cannabis social media discourse around the world
Global Influence of Cannabis Legalization on Social Media Discourse: Mixed Methods Study
https://infodemiology.jmir.org/2025/1/e65319/
🧒 Adolescents & Young Adults 🧒
For adolescents being bullied for their race, sexual orientation, gender identity or social position, they were more likely to be using cannabis
The role of bias-based bullying in regular cannabis use among adolescents
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460325002023
For problematic cannabis use by adolescents, an analysis of the social context & their cannabis use characteristics
Characteristics of adolescent cannabis use and social context predicting problematic use: A decision tree analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460325002060
For young adults who co-use alcohol & cannabis, heavy drinking was more likely on co-use days
Examining the relationship between cannabis use and drinking levels on co-use days
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40605643/
In US young adults, those with cannabis-using parents were more likely to use cannabis
Indicators of Intergenerational Transmission of Cannabis Use Among US Young Adults
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40583811/
💭 Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder 💭
In cannabis vaping in US adults, serious psychological distress was a significant modifier of its association with sexual identity
The Association Between Sexual Identity and Cannabis Vaping Among U.S. Adults: Exploring Differences by Serious Psychological Distress
https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(25)00498-2/abstract
In people with severe sleep apnea, they had disturbances to their retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway
A Preliminary Integrated Metabolomics Analysis Identifies Retrograde Endocannabinoid Signaling Shift in Severe OSA Patients
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11325-025-03425-w
For veterans with PTSD, on remote sensing of their cannabis use
A remote measurement study of PTSD and cannabis use among veterans: Recruitment, retention, and data availability
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0332239
🍽️ The Guts, Metabolism & the Microbiome 🍽️
For dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), on creating a gel from hemp seed protein & polysaccharides from Dendrobium officinale (an edible & medicinal orchid)
Alkali-induced Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide-hemp seed protein gels: Insight into structure, molecular interaction mechanisms, and potential as dysphagia food
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144861725009385
🎗️ Cancer & Chemotherapy 🎗️
In pancreatic cancer, CBD reversed migration & invasion via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT, a reprogramming towards a more migratory & invasive profile)
Cannabidiol Suppresses EMT in Pancreatic Cancer via Inhibition of MALAT1 lncRNA and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway
https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/iub.70042
💊 Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids 💊
For a point-of-care test for synthetic cannabinoids, a survey of stakeholders on its potential to improve care
The utility of a new point-of-care test for synthetic cannabinoids: a mixed-methods study in people who use synthetic cannabinoids and stakeholders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40588738/
In the “Chimique” of Mayotte (a French island near Mozambique), these dosed cigarettes were found to contain the synthetic cannabinoids MDMB INACA &MDMB-4en-PINACA
Presence of a synthetic cannabinoid, MDMB-INACA, in “Chimique” in Mayotte: preliminary data on metabolism with a view to a future epidemiological study based on wastewater
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-025-36789-3
On a biosensor detecting synthetic cannabinoids using a cell membrane CB1 receptor
Development of a Cell Membrane Conformational Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Biosensor for the Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoids
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acssensors.4c03589
On screening synthetic cannabinoids with an electron-activated dissociation high-resolution mass spectrometry & intelligent elucidation
A Novel Nontargeted Screening Strategy for New Psychoactive Substances: A Case Study of Synthetic Cannabinoids Based on Electron-Activated Dissociation High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Intelligent Elucidation
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c01936
On methods for separating isomers of the synthetic cannabinoid JWH 018
The Use of Single or Serially Coupled Columns and the Effect of Organic Modifier for the Separation of Constitutional Isomers of the Synthetic Cannabinoid JWH 018
https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jssc.70286
Thanks.
- lex
PS: This week’s music comes from the hard bop coronet of Nat Adderley in the album ‘Work Song’ (I love this first track). With his father playing trumpet & his big brother being the larger-than-life trumpet player Cannonball Adderly, Nat Adderly came to prefer the warmer, darker sounds of the coronet. Growing up in Florida, the bothers had gigs with Ray Charles by the early 1940s. Serving in the army during the Korean War, Nat played in the army band under his brother. He returned home intent on becoming a teacher, but when Lionel Hampton played a concert at Florida A&M, he invited Nat Adderly up on stage to play with him. It went so well that Hampton invited Adderley to join the band & they toured Europe together. But the big break for the brothers came in 1955. They stopped by Cafe Bohemia in Greenwich Village, where the bassist Oscar Pettiford asked Cannonball & Nat up on stage. The appearance sparked their careers & job offers began pouring in. A gifted soloist, Nat recorded for the first time that year & by the next year, the brothers formed their bop group: the Cannonball Adderley Quintet. It didn’t last very long & soon Nat was playing with some of the greats like Woody Herman, Miles Davis & John Coltrane. But when the Cannonball Adderley Quintet reunited in 1959, they had their first hit with “This Here”. During the ‘60s, Nat Adderly acted as the manager & composer for the quintet when he produced the hard-bop jazz standard “Work Song”. They had a fruitful run of hits up until Cannonball’s death by stroke in 1975. The quintet broke up & Nat toured Europe & Japan as a headliner before returning to the US & teaching classes at Harvard (those lucky kids). He continued touring & teaching up until his death from diabetes at the age of 68. Nat Adderly left behind almost 100 albums & the legacy of bringing the coronet into modern jazz.
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