C&P#169: C&P Video Launches! + endometriosis, severe autism & diabetic neuropathy
Schedule III in the US & boat strikes in the Pacific
🌟 This week 🌟
Cannabis for endometriosis
CBD for boys with severe autism
PEA for diabetic neuropathy
For your treadmill runs, CBD doesn’t help (but it doesn’t hurt)
Hemp seeds for heart health
CBD’s biased allosteric modulation of CB2/adenosine heteromers! (it’s even juicer than it sounds)
Transporting your ornamental fish? Put CBD in their water!
5-MeO-DMT for alcohol use disorder
(this week’s numbers: ~7,500 words, ~19 minutes reading time, 132 papers)
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 169th 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!
📌 Editor’s notes 📌:
Great news! Thanks to sponsorship from the Cannabis & Health Research Initiative, I will be restarting my canna-science education videos on TikTok & YouTube with the handle @CannabinoidsAndThePeople.
If you want to help me out on this new venture, follows & shares are appreciated, but most of all, post a question so I can get started making video replies.
(You probably already saw this news in the video that got emailed to everyone on this list, but don’t worry, I’ll stop posting the videos here on Substack because there will be too many for you to get an email for every one).
MDMA for schizophrenia! For the birthday of friend of the newsletter & canna-hero Dr. Julie Holland, she requests donations to a new trial out of UCLA & Zucker Hillside Hospital. See her writing here about what’s known about MDMA & schizophrenia as well as a paper on why this makes sense. If you’ve benefited from psychoactives like these, here’s the place to be a psychedelic philanthropist.
Your tax-deductible donations to be made here:
https://support.northwell.edu/CenterforPsychedelics
🤝 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 twice a month.
🎥 My work this week 🎤
@CannabinoidsAndThe People vids:
Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
(on YT @CVSciencesInc & on TT @pluscbd)
My 📚 Vids:
(@LexPelgerAndHisBooks on TikTok, YouTube & Instagram)
‘Monkey King: Journey to the West’ (amazing book to read with your kids)
(thanks for the makeup to SoLu Styling)
🧰 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. #AMA
My glossary of cannabinoid terms (& my Neural Ocean metaphor)
And as always, at the bottom is the album of the week
🐋 For more from Lex… 🐋 | my Linktree |
‘Anandamide; or, the Cannabinoid’: my cannabis graphic novel series (based on Moby Dick):
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 friends & colleagues.
🍃 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)
For a huge review of 879 cannabinoid clinical trials, the most common categories were psychological disorders, pathological conditions, nervous system diseases & substance use disorders, with the most typical size being a phase 2 randomized trial of less than 50 participants
Studies of Cannabinoid-Based Products in ClinicalTrials.gov: A Scoping Review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40290-025-00591-w
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
In older adult cannabis users, data from the UK Biobank found greater lifetime use linked to better performance in learning, processing speed & short-term memory as well as greater regional brain volume in CB1-rich regions including the caudate & putamen (regions of the basal ganglia that control motor movements & cognition) as well as the hippocampus (memory center of the brain) & amygdala (processing center of emotional responses, especially fear & aggression)
Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Associated with Brain Volume and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
https://www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/jsad.25-00346
In interviews of people with cancer on their medical cannabis use, “a powerful theme identified… was of myriad MC [medical cannabis] dispensary product formulations, triggering astonishment and burden”
Medical Cannabis Formulations, Administration Routes, and Dosing: Perspectives of Patients With Cancer Who Consume
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149291825003881
This is quite a real problem. With the amount of oils, topicals, sublinguals, vapes, smokable flowers & rectal suppositories, it can be overwhelming deciding which products to use. For these patients, their strategies included “purchasing and sampling multiple store-bought formulations, modifying dispensary products, and altering intended routes of administration.”
In boys with autism requiring higher levels of support, 8 weeks of CBD improves severe behavioral problems, with the changes to their EEG readings linked to the metabolite levels of CBD in their blood
Cannabidiol blood metabolite levels after cannabidiol treatment are associated with broadband EEG changes and improvements in visuomotor and non-verbal cognitive abilities in boys with autism requiring higher levels of support
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41378349/
“Furthermore, CBD metabolite levels in blood had a positive association with receptive vocabulary, nonverbal intelligence and visuomotor coordination. Our data suggest that this daily CBD preparation and administration schedule produced mixed effects, with some children showing improvements in cognitive and behavioral abilities while others demonstrated limited changes.”
For strokes, this meta-analysis of 241 studies found medical cannabis to be neuroprotective via several pathways
Exploring the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of medical cannabinoids in ischemic stroke: a systematic meta-analysis with bibliometric mapping of cerebral ischemia research
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1731738/abstract
In brain scans of chronic cannabis users, they had disrupted resting state functional connectivity between the cerebellum (brain region of muscle control) & the prefrontal brain
Chronic cannabis use is associated with alterations in resting-state cerebellar-cortical connectivity
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06981-x
In people trying to quit vaping nicotine, their cannabis use was not associated with nicotine vaping abstinence
Cannabis Use and Nicotine Vaping Cessation Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2842688
In people at risk factors for cardiovascular disease, 5 days of hemp seed protein extract caused decreased blood pressure & artery stiffness
Supplementation of Aotearoa New Zealand hemp seed protein improves arterial health indices in adults with increased cardiovascular risk
https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/items/e265bac0-bbde-49a6-866e-9c1376be4154
For people exercising on a treadmill, CBD caused no improvements to aerobic performance as measured by time to exhaustion, heart rate, peak oxygen consumption & time to anaerobic threshold
Acute Effects of Cannabidiol on Maximal Aerobic Capacity and Time to Exhaustion in Healthy Adults: An Experimental Pilot Study
https://journals.Lww.com/acsm-esm/fulltext/2026/01000/acute_effects_of_cannabidiol_on_maximal_aerobic.1.aspx
📑 Reviews 📑
For endometriosis, a review of 13 studies on cannabis use found the most help for pain, sleep & GI distress
A Scoping Systematic Review of Cannabis Use in Endometriosis
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajo.70081
For PEA & neuropathic pain from diabetes, a meta-analysis found a significant decrease in pain intensity & improvements in quality of life
Palmitoylethanolamide in the Management of Diabetic Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses
https://journals.lww.com/ajpr/fulltext/2025/10000/palmitoylethanolamide_in_the_management_of.2.aspx
For nano-CBD & gliomas (the most aggressive brain cancer), this review found that it inhibited glioma invasion & migration via the GADD45/CDC2 signaling axis
Research Progress on the Inhibition of Glioma Invasion and Migration by Cannabidiol Nanoformulations Based on Modulation of the GADD45/CDC2 Signaling Axis
https://madison-proceedings.com/index.php/aetr/article/view/4554
For epilepsy & CBD, a review of its anti-seizure & neuroinflammatory effects
Epilepsy, neuroinflammation and cannabidiol What do we know thus far?
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1749260/abstract
For the terpene beta-caryophyllene, a review of its widespread mechanisms of action, including the CB2 receptor & the PPAR receptors (regulators of genetic transcription)
β-Caryophyllene: A Sesquiterpene with Multifaceted Pharmacological Potential
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781998511136-9/caryophyllene-sesquiterpene-multifaceted-pharmacological-potential-mechanism-action-samrat-daripa-kazi-nurul-hasan-monoj-patra-shuli-barik-sanjib-gorain-anup-kumar-rajwar-parimal-pramanik-madhumita-mahato-urmi-mustafi-moon-jayeeta-pal-surjyo-jyoti-biswas
For the olfactory system, a review of how the endocannabinoidome modulate its development
Endocannabinoids Modulate Olfactory System Development and Function
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/b8c8379aee445a913c670261120910dd/download_pub
A Hype Cycle analysis of medical cannabis (apparently, that’s a real research lens)
Medical cannabis and the hype cycle: Clinical evidence and future directions
https://www.ejinme.com/article/S0953-6205(25)00521-7/abstract
“Viewed through this lens, medical cannabis appears to have passed the Peak of Inflated Expectations and is progressing toward a more durable Plateau of Productivity. This new phase is marked by selective use, realistic therapeutic goals, and systematic attention to safety.”
Reminds me of those old Road to Success posters...
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
For preventing pediatric cannabis edible ingestions, an editorial of recommendations
Recommendations for the Clinical Management and Prevention of Pediatric Cannabis Edible Ingestions
https://jppt.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/jppt/30/6/article-p752.xml
🐁 Preclinical 🐁
In a rat model of blast-induced traumatic brain injury, CBD caused neuroprotective effects (though this was more effective as a preventative than post-hyphen injury) as well as preserving motor coordination & reducing anxiety-like behaviors
Modulatory Effects of Cannabidiol on Anxiety and Motor Outcomes Post-Blast TBI
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398505045_Modulatory_Effects_of_Cannabidiol_on_Anxiety_and_Motor_Outcomes_Post-Blast_TBI
So if you know you’re going to get brain-blasted by a shockwave, make sure to be taking your CBD ahead of time.
In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, a botanical mix of CBD with low THC enhanced the phagocytosis (eating) of amyloid plaques by the microglia (guardian immune cells of the brain), but also significantly reduced locomotion & increased anxiety & depression-like behaviors
Treatment with a botanical mixture of cannabidiol:Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol enhances microglial phagocytosis and shapes amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332225010960
In a mouse model of seizures from nicotine packets, CBD reversed seizure severity & normalized neuroinflammatory markers
Protective Role of CBD Against Nicotine Pouch–Induced Seizure Aggravation and Alterations in Brain Glymphatic Biomarkers
https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntaf253/8377968
I didn’t realize this was a thing, but apparently nicotine pouches can influence your seizure susceptibility.
In this rat model of orthodontic treatment, cannabinoid extract injection significantly enhanced tooth movement, accompanied by increased osteoclastic activity (bone removal), vascularization (new blood vessel growth) as well as decreased bone density
The Impact of Acute and Chronic Stress and Cannabinoid Extract Injection on Orthodontic Tooth Movement: An Experimental Rat Model Study
https://www.proquest.com/openview/8e47869f156380a42b11d83b1b5dd004/1
In a rat model of stress, THC + CBD generalized a stress response that caused the astrocytes (the most predominant brain support cell) to retract from synapses & decreased the density of Synapsin-I (a proten that regulates the vesicles holding neurotransmitters) in the nucleus accumbens (a reward center & regulator of feeding, stress & motivation)
Cannabinoid use generalizes stress responses by altering the astrocyte plasticity through extracellular matrix signaling in the nucleus accumbens core
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40894006/
In liver cells, CBD stimulated them but did not significantly increase the amount of DNA double-strand breaks
Cannabidiol does not cause DNA double-strand breaks in a human liver-derived cell model
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00365-w
In immune cells exposed to the chikungunya virus, CBD lessened inflammatory pathway activation
Cannabidiol promotes fine-tuning of natural killer and monocytic cells subsets as well as cytokine storm during chikungunya virus exposure in vitro: Insights for putative therapeutic interventions
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332225010947
🆕 Novel Studies 🆕
(my grab bag section for stuff I haven’t quite seen before)
In ornamental fish being transported, adding CBD to their water reduced stress-related behaviors
The effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in transport water on the behaviour of ornamental fishes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016815912500396X
(for a certain kind of signalling geek, this is going to be the sexiest thing you see all week)
In heteromers (joined receptor complexes) of the CB2 receptor with a adenosine receptor (activated by caffeine), CBD acted as a potent allosteric modulator (not binding to the primary binding site, but to a side side to alter the strength of other molecules binding to the primary binding site) that inhibited recruitment of β-arrestin II (a scaffold that regulates the sensitivity of other receptors), suggesting these complexes as a promising therapeutic target
Cannabidiol biases A2A-CB2 receptor heteromer function by decoupling β-arrestin signaling from complex formation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006295225005453
On creating aminergic CBD derivatives as “neurological magic shotguns”
Design and Semisynthesis of Aminocannabinoids as Neurological Magic Shotguns
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5c01236
I don’t often get to see the phrase magic shotguns pop up in my Google Scholar Alerts.
📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles 📰
Trump orders Attorney General to move cannabis to Schedule III & directs federal agencies to research CBD’s benefits
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahsinclair/2025/12/18/trump-signs-executive-order-to-reschedule-cannabis-heres-what-it-means/
https://norml.org/marijuana/fact-sheets/cannabis-rescheduling-myths-versus-reality/
As we said last week, the real world changes will be few:
If you’re a medical cannabis patient or an adult user, your cannabis remains federally illegal. As does your state’s program.
If you’re a cannabis trafficker that gets caught with weight, your penalties remain the same (they’re written directly into the Controlled Substances Act).
If you get busted for cannabis possession by federal forces, your penalties are now lower (but that almost never happens unless you’re in a national park). If you’re caught by state & local forces, the federal laws do not matter.
If you’re in prison for cannabis, nothing changes for you.
If you’re an immigrant, cannabis charges can still seriously fuck up your life.
If you’re a cannabis researcher, it will be somewhat easier to get a license to study the plant. But as researchers point out, the real problem isn’t the DEA license but the lack of funding for cannabis research (when it isn’t looking for harms).
But if you’re on Medicare or Medicaid, now there’s a pilot program about paying for your CBD.
And for the one big positive, if you’re a cannabis business owner, once this rescheduling actually goes through & is finalized, you can finally start deducting regular business expenses & alleviate your onerous tax burden. And banks may be, maybe, willing to start offering you some more services.
And apparently, some people are happy that this shifts the national vibe on cannabis. So yeah, I guess the vibes are better.
If I sound cynical, it’s because I am. It’s been 88 years since the Marihuana Tax Act & over 40 years since the AIDS crisis taught the nation about the power of medical cannabis, but here we are making the most tepid of steps. #FreeThePrisoners #LegalizeAllTheDrugs
In Maine, a ballot initiative was approved that would largely repeal the cannabis legalization law, so now they will start gathering signatures
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/maine-officials-approve-2026-ballot-initiative-to-largely-repeal-marijuana-legalization-law-for-signature-collection/
For grief, a moving essay on using cannabis
https://hightimes.com/culture/cannabis-and-grief-healing/
Christmas Corner: a psychedelic animated short about a cannabis dealer using a number of different styles
Stoned for Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEb20XhYI1k
History Corner: In Colombia, a well-done old documentary through the lens of vallenata music on how cannabis took over from the old banana plantations & the violent rise of the drug trade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cv8EK1bQXU
By old radical Jonah Raskin, I wish this essay wasn’t behind a paywall…
I Led Three Lives: College teacher, Pot Grower and Marijuana Journalist
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A5%3A37663893/detailv2
🌐 International Updates 🌐
in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, the government decided to legalize cannabis cultivation
https://humenglish.com/latest/kp-govt-to-legalise-cannabis-cultivation-rs600bln-hashish-industry-to-be-regulated/
In Germany, they are supposed to be having pilot trials of adult-use cannabis sales (outside their ongoing club model), but none have been approved so far
https://internationalcbc.com/german-districts-object-to-cannabis-pilot-denials/
In the Indonesian community of Lamteuba, a history of the local use of cannabis & the resistance to state prohibition
State Policy and Local Resistance: The History of Marijuana Prohibition in Lamteuba, Aceh (1976–2020)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398637210_State_Policy_and_Local_Resistance_The_History_of_Marijuana_Prohibition_in_Lamteuba_Aceh_1976-2020
In India, a police anti-Gangja campaign led to resistance from women in local tribes & forced the police into a lathi-charge where 20 women were injured
https://cannabislaw.report/india-polices-anti-ganja-campaign-meet-with-resistance-in-bijay-nagar-from-local-tribes-especially-women/
🚓 The War on Drugs 🚓
Trump designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/12/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-designates-fentanyl-as-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/
And has designated the Colombian Clan del Golfo (or Gulf Clan) a terrorist group
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpq4wgle4x5o
In the Eastern Pacific, 3 more boat strikes leave 8 dead
https://rollingout.com/2025/12/16/us-strikes-kill-drug-traffickers/
And Radley Balko on how illegal & inhumane the boat strikes are
https://radleybalko.substack.com/p/104-murders-in-107-days
Pakistan’s opium production surging as Afghanistan’s drops
https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/pakistan-balochistan-opium-economy-surge-13957175.html
And in Myanmar, opium production hits a 10-year high
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/3/opium-poppy-farming-hits-10-year-high-in-war-torn
A new report on the climate impacts of drug prohibition
https://filtermag.org/drug-prohibition-climate-crisis/
For drug control, a book chapter on the punitive criminal justice system approach, the rehabilitative criminal justice system approach & a health-centered approach
Tackling drug use – between the war on drugs and decriminalisation/legalisation
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003367888-32/tackling-drug-use-war-drugs-decriminalisation-legalisation-heino-johann-st%C3%B6ver-ingo-ilja-michels-larissa-steimle
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education ⚖️
For occupational hypersensitivity to cannabis, an evaluation of the substantial burden of respiratory & allergic diseases in cannabis production workers, though the data is scarce
Occupational hypersensitivity to cannabis
https://journals.lww.com/co-allergy/abstract/9900/occupational_hypersensitivity_to_cannabis.238.aspx
For state social equity programs, an analysis of the different initiatives as well as their licenses, resources & participation
Cannabis social equity initiatives among US states with legal non-medical cannabis retail: A review and recommendations
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379725006865
For bankruptcy & cannabis businesses, an evaluation of potential solutions to their inability to obtain bankruptcy protections
High and Dry: Evaluating Solutions to Cannabis Affiliated Business’ Inability to Obtain Bankruptcy Protections
https://scholarship.shu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi
In an analysis of cannabis products sold on Leafly & Weedmaps, the top advertised health benefits were for mood disorders, general discomfort, general wellness, sleep disorders & chronic conditions
Exploratory analysis of United States‐based cannabis product health benefit claims on online marketplaces
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/add.70177
An analysis of political polarization in the destigmatization of Weedmaps
Conquering the Divide? The Role of Political Polarization in the Destigmatization of a U.S. Medical Marijuana Platform Market
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/01492063251359947
For tourists in Thailand, how they & the local residents understand the constraints of cannabis tourism
Cannabis Risk Perception and Self-Protection Motivation of Non-Cannabis Tourists and Local Residents
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21568316.2025.2596249
In US hemp cigarettes, a secret buyer analysis of heavy metal levels
Comparison of selected metals in the fillers of 14 commercial hemp cigarette brands to commercial tobacco cigarettes
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00330-7
🛡️ Harm Reduction News 🛡️
‘BC Government Doubles Down on Forced Drug Treatment’
https://filtermag.org/bc-government-involuntary-drug-treatment/
For Canadian prisoners, 150 experts demanded a reversal of the policy that removed their methadone & Suboxone treatments in favor of a patented once-per-month gel injection
https://drugdatadecoded.ca/150-experts-sign-letter-demanding-correctional-service-canada-reverse-new-opioid-treatment-guidance/
Harm Reduction Research
After widespread coverage in New York spreading the false belief that brief contact with fentanyl is lethal, public health data found that naloxone administration by law enforcement significantly declined while there was no comparable decline among harm reduction professionals, “highlighting the selective impact of misinformation on responder behavior”
The role of fear in harm reduction: Misinformation’s impact on naloxone use
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09687637.2025.2599915
For syringe exchanges, a global call to scaling up programs
Addressing policy barriers to scaling up needle and syringe programmes: a global call to action
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(25)00433-4/fulltext
For using nitazene test strips in identifying synthetic opioids, this review of 5 studies found potential value as preliminary screening tools, but cautioned they should not be interpreted as confirmatory
Decoding the Unseen: A Systematic Review of the Analytical Performance of Nitazene Test Strips for Identifying Synthetic Opioids in Seized Drug Materials
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398651404_Decoding_the_Unseen_A_Systematic_Review_of_the_Analytical_Performance_of_Nitazene_Test_Strips_for_Identifying_Synthetic_Opioids_in_Seized_Drug_Materials
For an internal medicine practice, on integrating an addiction medicine clinic
Development of an Addiction Medicine Clinic Integrated Into an Internal Medicine Ambulatory Practice
https://academic.oup.com/academicmedicine/advance-article/doi/10.1093/acamed/wvaf097/8379739
In the Thai city of Chiang Rai, on the development of a methadone program
Development of a methadone service model in the Drug Use Harm Reduction Center (Drop-in center) in Chiang Rai Province: Research and Development
https://he03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SJHSci/article/view/4335
🍄 Plant Medicines, Psychedelics & Other Psychoactives 🍄
An interview with the researcher behind the Chinese mushroom that’s currently blowing up the internet because they make you see little people
https://themicrodose.substack.com/p/little-people-hallucinations-5-questions
An interview Dr. David Luke, this scientist famous for his supernormal studies of psychedelics
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a69686183/consciousness-dmt-brain-david-luke/
On psychedelics opening up people’s gender & sexuality
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251211-psychedelics-are-altering-how-people-see-their-own-gender-and-sexuality
In Colorado, Indigenous leaders say Colorado excluded them from talks on their psychedelic policy
https://doubleblindmag.com/indigenous-leaders-say-colorados-psychedelic-policy-excluded-them/
History Corner: a documentary on the LSD Spring Grove experiments of the 1960s
LSD: The Spring Grove Experiment (1966) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD5YLXC_Tf4
The Psychoactive Research
History Corner: on Eunice Victoria Pike, who assisted Wasson on his hunt for psilocybin mushrooms among the Mazatec people
Lord of the Mushroom Clowns: The Story of Eunice Pike, Huautla de Jiménez, and Early Psychedelic Theology
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00918296251385532
For diabetes & kratom, a computer analysis of the potential efficacy of its bioactive compounds
Targeting Diabetes Pathways: An in silico Study of Bioactive Compounds from Mitragyna speciosa Leaf Extract
https://journals.iium.edu.my/ijahs/index.php/IJAHS/article/view/1050
Ayahuasca
In ayahuasca users, a survey found they had lower levels of death anxiety, death-avoidant behavior, fear of death & greater death acceptance
Embracing change: impermanence acceptance mediates differences in death processing between long-term ayahuasca users and non-users
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06792-0
Other Psychedelics
In people with difficulties after psychedelic use, these were more likely in people with a greater number of adverse childhood experiences
Difficulties following naturalistic psychedelic use and associations with adverse childhood experiences
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395925004013
For the psychedelic species, on concerns for their conservation status
Of shrub, cactus, vine and toad: psychedelic species of conservation concern
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/conservation-science/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2025.1569528/full
For entrepreneurs, on psychedelics & mindfulness meditation for their creativity & mental well-being
The Role of Psychedelics in Entrepreneurial Creativity and Mental Well-Being
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/397887143_The_Role_of_Psychedelics_in_Entrepreneurial_Creativity_and_Mental_Well-Being
In couples therapy with substance use disorder, a review of using psilocybin & MDMA
Psilocybin and MDMA in Couse disorders & codependency, uples Therapy: Investigating Treatment for Substance Use Disorders and Codependency
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10591-025-09766-8
In terminally ill people, psilocybin decreased their demoralization
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for demoralisation in hospice patients: feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy
https://spcare.bmj.com/content/early/2025/11/03/spcare-2025-005773.abstract
For alcohol use disorder, 5-MeO-DMT caused the majority of participants to stop or reduce their drinking
5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) for alcohol use disorder: An open-label, phase 2, proof-of-concept, clinical trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41368982/
For a psychedelic experience, on the use of depth hypnosis spiritual counseling for preparation & integration
Psychedelic preparation and integration through depth hypnosis spiritual counseling
https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/aop/article-10.1556-2054.2025.00451/article-10.1556-2054.2025.00451.xml
For PTSD & MDMA, a review of 7 trials found significantly improved symptoms
MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD: A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2025.2577308
On psychedelics among gender & sexual minorities, an analysis of self-reported effects on gender identity & mental health improvements
Exploring Self-Reported Effects of Naturalistic Psychedelic Use Among Gender and Sexual Minorities: A Quantitative Survey Study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2025.2520224
For predicting the therapeutic response to psychotherapy, a review of 54 studies found the best predictor to be the intensity of the psychedelic experience, particularly the mystical-type experiences
Predictors of therapeutic response to psychedelic-assisted therapy: A systematic review
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/02698811251389581
For psychedelics & inflammation, a review of their therapeutic effects
Are we hallucinating or can psychedelic drugs modulate the immune system to control inflammation?
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.70138
For psychedelics, a review of their many binding sites
The polypharmacology of psychedelics reveals multiple targets for potential therapeutics
https://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273(25)00470-2
In mice, psilocybin improved cognition & reduced depressive-like behaviors via epigenetic regulation of genes related to neuroplasticity & the immune system
Psilocybin reduces depressive-like behavior and improves cognition in healthy aging mice via epigenetic regulation of plasticity- and immune-related genes
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7890051/v1
In a model of stroke, DMT stabilized the blood-brain barrier & reduced neuroinflammation
N,N-dimethyltryptamine mitigates experimental stroke by stabilizing the blood-brain barrier and reducing neuroinflammation
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx5958
Ketamine
For treatment-resistant depression, a case report on the benefits of ketamine & repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
The combined use of rTMS and ketamine in treatment-resistant depression: A case report
https://www.psychiatria-danubina.com/UserDocsImages/pdf/dnb_vol37_no3/dnb_vol37_no3_386.pdf
For ketamine’s psychiatric history, a review of it going from a model of psychosis to its use as a rapid antidepressant
From model psychosis to rapid antidepressant: a historical and conceptual review of ketamine’s psychiatric history
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/20451253251392429
In rodent models of anxiety & PTSD, a review of ketamine’s anxiolytic potential
A systematic review of ketamine’s anxiolytic potential in rodent behavioral models of anxiety and PTSD
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305725001911
🍃 The Plant & its Products 🍃
🌱 Growing & Extracting 🌱
In cannabis growing, melatonin & zinc oxide nanoparticles reduced oxidative stress & enhanced root growth, protein content, chlorophyll levels & metabolite production
Synergistic effects of melatonin and zinc oxide nanoparticles on oxidative stress mitigation, nutrient accumulation, and secondary metabolite enhancement in Cannabis sativa L
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773111125001007
On the effects of light on cannabinoid production, water use & flower yield
Vegetative and reproductive stage lighting interactions on flower yield, water use efficiency, terpenes, and cannabinoids of Cannabis sativa
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-27437-4
For magnesium supplementation, the optimal amount increased cannabinoid & terpene yield
From deficiency to toxicity: Magnesium increases cannabinoid and terpene production in cannabis plants
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00358-9
For hemp fiber quality, a moderate nitrogen output balanced yield versus quality in a regenerative organic system
Mechanical quality of hemp fiber as influenced by tillage, cover crop, and nitrogen management in regenerative organic systems
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025020138
For hemp in the southeastern United States, a thesis project on best agronomic practices
Agronomic Management Practices for CBD and Fiber Hemp in Southeastern United States
https://www.proquest.com/openview/0c414a10188644229a86821695527d8c/1
In South Africa, an agronomic analysis found an early planting season best for high biomass production for feeding sheep
Evaluation of Agronomic Parameters and Aboveground Biomass Production of Cannabis sativa Cultivated During Early and Late Planting Seasons in Bela-Bela, South Africa
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/12/2844
In South Africa, on using drone imagery to model the water evaporation from cannabis
Application of a simple model using UAV imagery to determine the evapotranspiration of Cannabis sativa L., KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025SAJGm..14..360D/abstract
A regeneration protocol from the cotyledonary node explants (a small piece of seedling from where new shoots can grow)
Genotype-independent de novo regeneration protocol in Cannabis sativa L. through direct organogenesis from cotyledonary nodes
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7237557/v1
For flavonoid & cannabinoid production, the accessibility of chromatin (condensed DNA) regulated their synthesis
Chromatin accessibility directly governs flavonoid biosynthesis and indirectly orchestrates cannabinoid production in Cannabis
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1687700/abstract
For E. coli on hemp & radish seeds, on using plasma treatment
Modelling of Inactivation Kinetics of Escherichia coli on Radish and Hemp seeds and Their Physicochemical Properties after Non-Thermal Plasma Treatment: A Comparative Study of Two Plasma Sources
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7392470/v1
On cannabis extraction with menthol-based deep eutectic solvents
Menthol-based deep eutectic solvents as green solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds from Cannabis sativa L.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167732225022883
⚙️ Analyzing & Formulating ⚙️
For rapid cannabinoid detection, a thesis project on a colorimetric technique using 3D printing
The Development of a Colorimetric Rapid Test for Cannabinoid Detection via 3D Printing Techniques
https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/frsc_projects/130/
For fast THC & CBD quantification, a thesis project on a reliable UV spectrophotometric method
The Development of a Fast and Reliable UV-Visible Spectrophotometric Method for the Quantification of Δ-9-THC and CBD in Plant Material
https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/frsc_projects/129/
In edibles & cosmetics, a thesis project reviewing & testing the techniques of analysis
Cannabinoids in edibles and cosmetics: analytical approaches and applications
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/142079
On measuring cannabinoid levels in products, a thesis project on the challenges of different matrices
Matrix-Specific Challenges in Cannabinoid Determination
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/142061/1/2518MDSPHR512300013645_1.PDF
For stabilizing spray-dried CBD powder for inhalation, on the influence of different amino acids
Influence of Different Amino Acids on the Aerosolization, Stability and Cytotoxicity of Spray-Dried Cannabidiol Dry Powder for Inhalation
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/9/1120
🍞 Food, Nutrition & Hemp Seeds 🍞
In bread, 10 to 15% hemp flour was the best balance between nutrition & bread properties
Hemp flour enriched bread: effect on metabolomic and technological profile following in vitro digestion
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814625047673
In goats, adding hemp to their diet improved carcass yield, fatty acids & oxidative stability without compromising other quality traits
Effects of supplementing hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) leaves in concentrate diet on carcass traits and meat characteristics of Longissimus muscle in goat kids
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0337125
For oxidation of hemp seed oil, fortifying it with tocopherols & gallic acid did not alter classical primary quality parameters
Impact of Hemp Seed Oil Fraction and Antioxidant Enrichment on the Oxidative Stability of Olive–Hemp Blends Under Accelerated Storage
https://sciforum.net/paper/view/27966
On optimizing hemp seed oil extraction with pulsed electric fields
Optimization of Pulsed Electric Field-Assisted Oil Extraction from Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seeds Using Response Surface Methodology
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12161-025-02932-6
🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber 🏗️
For cleaning the soil with hemp (or sorghum), treatment with glutamic acid or tartaric acid increased heavy-metal uptake
Phytoremediation Efficiency of Hemp and Sorghum Grown in Contaminated Sediment: The Role of Organic Acids
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/12/2863
On creating car seat covers from hemp fiber
3D woven structures-based car seat cover produced from hemp fiber
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00405000.2025.2598196
On creating polyurethane foams from hemp oil
Exploring the Potential of Hemp Oil for the Development of Sustainable Flexible Non-isocyanate Polyurethane Foams
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c10064
On creating unidirectional tape from hemp & pineapple leaf fiber
Milk Fat Globule Membrane Supplementation Attenuates Cognitive Impairment in APP/PS1 Mice via Suppressing Neuroinflammation in a Gut Microbiota-Mediated Serum Resolvin D1/Anandamide Manner
https://iadns.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/fft2.70104
On the properties of a blend of hemp & corn fiber
Comparative study between properties of composite polymer blend reinforced within two kinds of natural fibers
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40712-025-00368-8
Analyzing hemp fibers with spectroscopy
A review-study of FTIR analysis of hemp fibres
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398655464_A_review-study_of_FTIR_analysis_of_hemp_fibres
On improving hemp fiber properties with argon & oxygen plasma treatments
Study of Hemp Fiber Properties Modified via Long-Duration Low-Pressure Argon and Oxygen Plasma Treatments
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.5c06420
For the natural dyeing of hemp & pineapple yarn, on using a neural network
Application of Natural Dyeing on Hemp and Pineapple Yarn for Textile Designing Using Rotation-Invariant Coordinate Convolutional Neural Network
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12221-025-01236-0
For ancient brick masonry, on reinforcing with hemp fiber
Investigation on the compression behavior of ancient brick masonry strengthened by modified horizontal mortar joints with composite grouting and natural hemp fiber rope reinforcement
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/14727978251374345
🌿 THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE 🌿
A harms of cannabis review paper that sounds suspiciously like the overdramatic prose of AI
The Green Mirage: Unmasking the Hidden Harms of Marijuana
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398536415_The_Green_Mirage_Unmasking_the_Hidden_Harms_of_Marijuana
🏥 Public Health, Legalization Effects & Bioassays 🏥
At a Thai hospital, the medical cannabis oil users had significantly improved quality of life
Quality of life and safety for patients using medical cannabis oil at Soeng Sang Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
https://he03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SJHSci/article/view/4712
For the PhenX toolkit (consensus measures for Phenotypes and eXposures, a way to standardize drug ingestion levels for public health studies), 15 new protocols related to medical cannabis & polysubstance use were added
Enhancing data compatibility in an evolving landscape: Medical cannabis and polysubstance use protocols in the PhenX Toolkit
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871625004545
In South African mental health care users, a survey on their knowledge about cannabis
Knowledge and perceptions of mental health care users on decriminalisation of cannabis at Weskoppies, a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Gauteng, South Africa
https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/253
In social settings, a survey of alcohol & cannabis preferences using a basket-based choice experiment
Understanding alcohol and cannabis bundling: evidence from a basket-based choice experiment
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/49CF10D7B087A342CA3FB62AEAE291AE/S193143612510103Xa.pdf/understanding_alcohol_and_cannabis_bundling_evidence_from_a_basketbased_choice_experiment.pdf
For cannabis products, an Indian analysis of their antioxidant activity & stability
Development of Canna-Products and Their Physiochemical Analysis
https://ijbr.com.pk/IJBR/article/view/2360
🧒 Adolescents & Young Adults 🧒
In young adulthood with bipolar disorder, those with lifetime cannabis use disorder had greater neural responses to stress
Recent Stress Potentiation and Paralimbic System Reactivity in Young Adults with Bipolar Disorder: Implications for Suicide Risk and Effects of Cannabis Use Disorder
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2451902225003908
For Queer university students, a commentary on the links between cannabis use, sexual identity & campus mental health
Cannabis Use and Sexual Identity Exploration in Emerging Adulthood: A Call for Inclusive, Trauma-Informed Campus Mental Health Strategies
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2025.2599993
For youth opportunities to use alcohol & cannabis, on a novel measurement survey
Opportunities for alcohol and cannabis use among youth: psychometric properties of novel measures
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-025-03384-7
🧠 The Brain & Neurological Disorders 🧠
In mice nucleus accumbens (a brain reward center & regulator of feeding, stress & motivation), CBD decreased the excitability of dopamine medium spiny neurons
Cannabidiol Reduces D1 and D2 Medium Spiny Neuron Excitability in the Nucleus Accumbens Core
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2025/12/05/2025.12.02.691956.full.pdf
In a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, inhibition of the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG) improved local motor behavior, enhanced antioxidant capacity & helped the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition improves motor function and reduces oxidative stress in hemiparkinsonian mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306452225011728
In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, genetic deletion of the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG) in the astrocytes (the most predominant brain support cell) reduced alpha-beta plaque pathology, neurodegeneration & neuroinflammation while preserving synaptic structure & improving cognition
Selective Inactivation of Astrocytic Monoacylglycerol Lipase for Alzheimer Disease Therapy
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398517238_Selective_Inactivation_of_Astrocytic_Monoacylglycerol_Lipase_for_Alzheimer_Disease_Therapy
In a mouse model of fragile X syndrome (a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder), they had significant dysregulation of their brain-gut-Endo can accessendocannabinoidome axis with links to gut permeability, inflammation, neuroinflammation & autism-like symptoms
Uncovering novel endocannabinoidome-gut -brain axis-based therapeutic targets in a Fragile X Syndrome mouse model
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027858462500329X
💭 Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder 💭
For adults in their mid-30s, those with the lower risk profiles of cannabis use did not differ greatly from those with a higher risk of cannabis use disorder, the main factors being male, smoking tobacco or having a lower level of education
Factors associated with lower-risk cannabis use in adults in their mid-thirties
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00374-9
In a mouse model of autism, a combination of low doses of PEA & docosahexaenoic acid improved repetitive behaviors & social interactions via reduction of inflammation & modulation of neurosteroidogenesis
Low-dose combination of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide and docosahexaenoic acid on neurosteroid and neuroinflammatory dysregulation in autism spectrum disorders
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878747925002946
In a mouse model of anxiety, they had lower levels of 2-AG & anandamide in their prefrontal cortex & hippocampus (memory center of the brain) & the inhibition of endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes lessened anxiety-like behaviors
Alteration of brain endocannabinoids on restraint stress-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938425004020
In a rat model of heroin use disorder, activating the CB2 receptor reduced heroin self-administration & drug-seeking behavior as well as producing modest painkilling effects partially via dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (a reward center & regulator of feeding, stress & motivation)
Brain CB2 receptor: a new target in medication development for treating opioid use disorder in rodents
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03377-3
In a mouse model of alcohol use disorder, self-administration of ethanol was reduced by both CB1 inverse agonists or 2-AG infusions into the nucleus accumbens (a reward center & regulator of feeding, stress & motivation)
COX-2 Inhibition Antagonizes Intra-Accumbens 2-Arachidonoylglycerol–Mediated Reduction in Ethanol Self-Administration in Rats
https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/125588587/pmc7680444-libre.pdf
🧬 Reproduction & Hormones 🧬
In Australian endometriosis patients, an analysis of public insurance coverage found limited coverage & help for medicinal cannabis
Insurance, Endometriosis and the use of medicinal cannabis in Australia: A qualitative analysis
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6083910/v1
For cannabis use around pregnancy, a review of the effects
The Unexpected When Expecting: Cannabinoid Use in Pregnancy and Postpartum
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2468202025000385
For prenatal cannabis use, testing found 3x more cases than the self-reports
Self-Reported and Biologic Assessments of Prenatal Cannabis Use: Ancillary Analysis of a Prospective Observational Cohort
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/29767342251389751
In a mystery shopping survey of Canadian cannabis stores, the majority of budtenders advised against blunt & tobacco use while pregnant, while fewer advised against cannabis use
Cannabis Retailer Advice on Blunt, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use During Pregnancy
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2842585
For studying infants with cannabis exposure, a pilot study on the feasibility of enrolling their mothers in a longitudinal study
Recruiting marijuana-exposed maternal-infant dyads for longitudinal study: a feasibility assessment
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1637076/full
Something about prenatal cannabis & early risk for psychosis hidden behind a paywall…
Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Exacerbates Striatal Reward System Alterations Associated With Early Risk for Psychosis
https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(25)01579-3/abstract
🦠 The Immune System & Microbial 🦠
In 2 different tissue models of HIV & the blood-brain barrier, one showed benefits from activating the CB2 receptor while the other showed no benefits
Contrasting cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R)-mediated responses in two different models of Blood Brain Barrier in the context of HIV
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-8310572/v1
In dairy cow immune cells, incubation with endocannabinoids anandamide or 2-AG altered the level of their endocannabinoid machinery but not their expression of inflammatory genes
Effects of incubation with endocannabinoids on the expression of endocannabinoid and inflammatory components following an ex vivo lipopolysaccharide challenge in leukocytes of dairy cows
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666910225002340
🦴 Pain, Musculoskeletal, Inflammation & Surgeries 🦴
In skeletal muscle, a review on muscle regeneration noted that activation of the CB1 receptor impaired the satellite cells from differentiating, while CB2 activation had the opposite effect
The endocannabinoid system: role in skeletal muscle and regenerative myogenesis
https://www.journalbonefragility.com/wp-content/uploads/journal/2025/5.3/89-94.pdf
❤️ The Heart & Blood ❤️
In a rat model of heart injury from loss of blood flow, activating the CB2 receptor protected the heart via pathways related to inflammation, fibrosis (scarring), autophagy (cellular recycling) & apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Postconditioning of AM-1241 mitigates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via modulation of inflammatory, fibrosis, apoptotic and autophagy pathway in rats
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299925008684
🍽️ The Guts, Metabolism & the Microbiome 🍽️
In a rat model of aerobic exercise after a high-fat diet, cannabinoids reduced liver stress & modulated p53 cancer gene expression
Effect of Moderate Aerobic Exercise Combined with Cannabinoid Supplementation on P53 Gene Expression in Rats with High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
https://rimag.ir/fa/Article/50618
In a rat model of obesity, H4CBD (a synthetic CBD analogue) increased lipid breakdown & fat mass loss, though some lean tissue loss was also observed
Pseudocannabinoid H4CBD enhances lipid catabolism to reduce visceral adiposity and large adipocyte size in advanced metabolic syndrome
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7274449/v1
🎗️ Cancer & Chemotherapy 🎗️
For the anticancer activities of cannabinoids, a book chapter on their efficacy & pathways
Phytocannabinoids as bioassay targets in anticancer chemotherapy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/chapter/edited-volume/abs/pii/B9780443405112000048
For cancer, a chapter on nano-cannabinoids
Nanoenabled Systems for the Delivery of Cannabinoids as Anticancer Agents
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781003611516-20/nanoenabled-systems-delivery-cannabinoids-anticancer-agents-plachikkattu-parambil-akhila-basheer-aaliya-kappat-valiyapeediyekkal-sunooj
In lung cancer cells, cold-pressed hemp seed oil caused anticancer activity
Cytotoxic and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Cold-Pressed Hemp Seed Oil on Lung Cells: Cannabinoid and Fatty Acid Profiling via LC–MS/MS and GC–FID
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/slct.202504822
💊 Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids 💊
For synthetic cannabinoid detection, a Polish review of the analytical challenges & legal considerations
Semisynthetic Cannabinoids Detected in Cannabis-Derived Products in Poland: Statistical Overview, Analytical Challenges, and Legal Interpretative Considerations
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41386669/
In the French overseas territory of Mayotte, a charting of synthetic cannabinoids over the course of a year
Synthetic cannabinoids in Mayotte over a year in time and space: an example of high-frequency evolution of market
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-025-37273-8
And an analysis of the synthetic cannabinoid ADB-BUTINACA
ADB-BUTINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist: overview of its presence in the “Chimique” in Mayotte
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-025-37270-x
On differentiating the synthetic cannabinoids, such as the MDA series, using nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry
Discrimination of synthetic cannabinoids using 80 MHz benchtop NMR: MDA-19 and its analogues
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468170925000803
🔬 Biochemical Discoveries & Research Tools 🔬
For the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG), a thesis project found an allosteric pocket (not the main binding site, but a side binding site that alters how other molecules bind to the main binding site)
An Integrated Mechanism-First Discovery Pipeline Reveals a Novel Adjacent Allosteric Pocket and Its Inhibitors in Human Monoacylglycerol Lipase
https://www.proquest.com/openview/7e91aab7e8154627710ad80a98f8e088/1
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For this week’s album from “the 20th century Gabriel”, ‘Presenting After Hours’ by Erskine Hawkins. Raised in Alabama & playing the drums & trombone before taking up the trumpet, Hawkins became the bandleader of the Alabama State Teachers College while he attended there. By 1934, he was in NYC & recording for Vocalion Records followed by RCA, also becoming one of the house bands of the great Savoy Ballroom in Harlem (Langston Hughes called it the “Heartbeat of Harlem”). It was during this time that he composed the jazz standard ‘Tuxedo Junction’ with Bill Johnson (whose version by Glenn Miller I grew up hearing with my grandfather). Hawkins kept recording with his big band until 1953 & then led a smaller band at a resort hotel in Kiamesha Lake from 1967 to 1993. He died at the age of 79, still blowing that golden trumpet.
This newsletter is the backbone of my work & I hope it brings you a measure of value. If so, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription & support my sharing all of the new cannabinoid science each week.
Trump's executive order did not reclassify cannabis. It directed federal agencies to hurry up and get it done faster. The actual reclassification may take a year or 2