C&P#172: vaping for migraines + heart effects + head & neck cancers
Bosnia & Herzegovina goes medical!
Cannabinoids & The People,
or; Drugs & Drug Wars
(buy my canna-graphic novels based on ‘Moby Dick, or; The Whale’ & proceeds go to Americans for Safe Access to support medical cannabis patients)
🌟 This week 🌟
Vaping THC/CBD for migraines
(2x) Cannabinoids & the Heart (a love story)
Help for head & neck cancers + CBD for killing melanoma & colon cancer cells
(4x) Reprotoxicity of cannabinoids + how human breast milk is altered by cannabis use
Beta-caryophyllene for your kidneys & sperm
The epigenetics of long-term cannabis use
Want to know the synthetic cannabinoid levels in your corpse? Let green bottle fly larvae eat it…
Preclinical: CBD for TBIs & depression + THC for Alzheimer’s (2x)
(2x) Media analysis of films & media on substance use disorders (Depression-era NYC, 1970s heroin)
Work hard. Laze hard.
One Casablanca reference
(this week’s numbers: ~7k words, ~18 minutes reading time, 139 papers)
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 172nd edition of Cannabinoids & the People, Lex Pelger’s free weekly digest of all the new cannabinoid science, assorted canna-news as well as coverage of other psychoactives, the War on Drugs & harm reduction. Support this work with a paid subscription or by buying me a coffee.
For producing cannabinoid content, work with my company White Whale Creations: writing, science archives, social media, newsletters & podcasts (especially podcasts).
As always, ask me anything!
📌 Editor’s note 📌:
With psychedelics, have you had any spiritual healing or harm? If so, here’s a 5-min survey where you can share your story with the scientific study here:
https://qualtrics.ucl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_3r3ugdzNAEuWvLo
🤝 Sponsor 🤝: ICBC 2026!
Only 10 more days to get your early bird ticket prices for this year’s International Cannabis Business Conference (April 13th to 15th in Berlin). They gather 5k+ people from 80+ countries & I’ve found it to be one of the most helpful gatherings in Europe. Save an extra 25% off with my coupon code: WhiteWhale25
https://internationalcbc.com/register/
Also, follow them on social media for canna-EU updates:
🎥 Lex’s new work 🎤
@CannabinoidsAndThe People vids sponsored by CHRI & the National Cannabis Study:
Our Endocannabinoid System (3 min walkthrough)
Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
(on YT @CVSciencesInc & on TT @pluscbd)
My 📚 Vids:
(@LexPelgerAndHisBooks on TikTok, YouTube & Instagram)
(none this week. check out the back catalog)
And as always, at the bottom is the album of the week: a deep-dive on the jazz radical Ornette Coleman
🧰 Free resources 🧰
CVResearch.info: the cannabinoid science archive I maintain for CV Sciences
My glossary of cannabinoid terms (& containing the legend for my Neural Ocean metaphor with endocannabinoid whales)
Roundup of fav newsletters:
#Canna: Marijuana Moment, Cannabis Law Report, Cultivated, Cannabis Musings (oy vey), Talking Joints Memo, Sticky Bits, Highly Objective, Cannabitch, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, Policy, Decoded, Dr. Peter Grinspoon, Doctor Approved, Medical Marijuana Memory Blog (by Dame Alice O’Leary Randall)
#DrugWar: InSight Crime, Marshall Project, Students for Sensible Drug Policy
#HarmReduction: Filter, Drug Data Decoded, International Drug Policy Consortium, National Harm Reduction Coalition, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
#Psychoactives: Psychedelic Alpha, Ecstatic Integration, ICEERS, Substance, The Microdose
💖 Ways to support this work 💖
Venmo: @Lex-Pelger
PayPal: donate here
📣 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)
From the 5th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacotherapy & Clinical Pharmacy, 4 papers on the practicalities of cannabis…
Commemorating Five Years of Scientific Growth in Clinical Pharmacy: Proceedings of the Fifth Brazilian Congress of Pharmacotherapy and Clinical Pharmacy
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399127723_Commemorating_Five_Years_of_Scientific_Growth_in_Clinical_Pharmacy_Proceedings_of_the_Fifth_Brazilian_Congress_of_Pharmacotherapy_and_Clinical_Pharmacy
- Medicinal Cannabis In Brazil: An Analysis Of Regulations, Clinical Barriers, And The Current Latin American Scenario
- Toxicovigilance Of Cannabis Sativa And Cannabis-Based Products In Brazil: A Narrative Review Of Analytical, Clinical And Public Health Challenges
- Inconsistencies And Risks: An Investigation Of The Main Challenges In Quality Control In The Medical Cannabis Industry In Brazil
- Analgesic Potential Of Tetrahydrocannabinol In The Management Of Chronic Pain
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
In a survey of older adults, the most common reasons for cannabis use were relaxation, sleep, enhancement, pain & mental health/mood
Older Adults’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Cannabis Use: Results From the 2024 National Poll on Healthy Aging
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12763590/
For physical activity & cannabis use, cannabis users had both more work physical activity & commuting physical activity as well as more sedentary behavior
Association of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cannabis Use: A Cross-Sectional Study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10826084.2025.2604639
Work hard. Laze hard.
For migraines, vaporized THC/CBD caused pain relief, pain freedom & most bothersome symptom freedom, but no help from vaped CBD
Vaporized cannabis versus placebo for acute migraine: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41469488/
For Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Syndrome (AIMSS, bone loss & joint pain from the cancer treatment of aromatase inhibitors), topical cannabis balm improved symptoms
A Randomized, Open-Label Trial to Assess Feasibility and Tolerability of Topical Cannabis Balms for the Treatment of Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Syndrome (AIMSS)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25785125251398286
In people with psoriasis, 8 weeks of CBD reduced their inch scores & time to sleep onset but did not improve their Psoriasis Area & Severity Index (PASI) scores
Efficacy and safety of cannabidiol oil in psoriasis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09546634.2025.2604448
In people in Los Angeles with depression or anxiety, they had higher levels of cannabis use prevalence as well as a risk of cannabis use disorder, but many reported using cannabis to manage mental health-related symptoms
Cannabis use among primary care patients with depression and anxiety disorders: cross-sectional analysis in a large health system in Los Angeles, CA
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00354-z
For the epigenetics of long-term cannabis users in midlife, they had 16 markers of cannabis -related methylation (turning on or off of a gene)
DNA Methylation Profiles of Long-Term Cannabis Users in Midlife: An Evaluation of Published Markers
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12763194/
“Results showed that long-term cannabis use was associated with sixteen of the previously published 246 cannabis-related methylation markers. All cannabis-related methylation markers were also associated with long-term tobacco use… Six of the nine cannabis-related markers were associated with gene expression levels, suggesting meaningful biological associations. Cannabis quitters showed less extreme DNA hypomethylation than long-term cannabis users.”
In giving a liposomal synthetic CBD injection to dogs, they had significant improvements to pain, lameness scores & behavior
Efficacy, pharmacokinetics and safety of liposomal synthetic cannabidiol injected subcutaneously in dogs: A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1746266/abstract
📑 Reviews 📑
For CBD & heart disease, a review of its potential for ischemia-reperfusion injury (tissue injury after return of blood supply), myocardial fibrosis (scarring & collagen in the heart muscle), cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) as well as pericarditis & myocarditis (inflammation of heart regions)
Cannabidiol in Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002561962500566X
For heart toxicity from activating the CB1 receptor, a review of its involvement in both homeostatic regulation & pathological processes
Advances in effects of cannabinoid receptor type 1 on drug-induced cardiotoxicity
https://xuebao.shsmu.edu.cn/EN/10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2025.12.016
In people with head & neck cancer, a review of medical cannabis for symptoms such as chronic pain, nausea, vomiting & anxiety
Medical Cannabis for Best Supportive Care of Patients Affected by Cancers of the Head and Neck: A Narrative Review
https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/40/1/50
On CBD’s potential for neuronal repair
Cannabidiol extending beyond neuroprotection toward neuronal repair: A potential regenerative modulator
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41467437/
In oral diseases & dentistry, a review of cannabinoid signaling & autophagy (cellular recycling)
Cannabinoid Signaling and Autophagy in Oral Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/1/525
In liver diseases, a review of targeting the endocannabinoid system
Advanced analytical approaches for endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like substances: Applications in liver disease research
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095177926000018
For the TRP ion channels (often modulated by cannabinoids), a review on their diverse effects in inflammation & disease
TRP channels at the crossroads of metabolism and immunity: ion–metabolite coupling in inflammation and disease
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0026049525003567
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
In people with psychosis using cannabis, a meta-analysis of 27 studies found cognitive reserve (the brain’s capacity maintain to function despite neural damage) provided neuroprotection against cannabis-related brain alterations
Industrial Cannabis sativa (Hemp or fiber type): Cannabidiol (CBD) Prevents Heart Failure-An Updated Review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0213616325000436
For human reproduction, a review of the toxicology evidence for THC & CBD
Toxicological Effects of Cannabis on Reproduction and Human Development
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246820202500052X
And for CBD used during pregnancy, on the limited evidence on neurodevelopmental effects
Cannabidiol and Neurodevelopment: Is Perception Outpacing Proof?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2468202025000531
And in animal models of prenatal cannabis & tobacco exposure, a review of the effects on fetal development
Prenatal Cannabis and Tobacco: Studies in Animal Models
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41478924/
And in zebrafish with early life exposure to low levels of THC, they had increased hyperactivity, increased anxiety-like behavior & altered bioenergetics of their mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Early Life Exposure to Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Causes Persistent Growth, Behavior, and Bioenergetic Outcomes in Zebrafish
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25785125251401831
For cannabis substance use treatment admissions in people over 50, they increased from 2000 to 2012 & then went down through 2021
Cannabis-involved Substance Use Treatment Admissions Age 50+, 2000–2021: Changes and Correlates
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12760218/
🐁 Preclinical 🐁
In stem cells, CBD preserved their stemness & delayed aging, potentially via Sirtuin 1 & the regulation of autophagy (cellular recycling)
Cannabidiol Enhances SIRT1 and Autophagy for the Maintenance of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/40/1/222
There is a rather robust field of research on the cannabinoids, especially CBD, helping the function of your stem cells.
But conversely…
In a human brain stem cells, low levels of CBD caused no changes, but high concentrations increased toxicity & impaired colony formation
Effects of cannabidiol on the viability and neuronal differentiation of human iPS cells
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378427425027584
In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, a few months of ultra-low dose THC injections lowered cognitive decline, with males having less inflammation in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain) & females having less inflammation in the prefrontal cortex
Sex-dependent effects of ultra-low-dose-THC preventive treatment on neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in 5xFAD mice
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13293-025-00815-3
There is a small but robust field of research on low doses of THC for Alzheimer’s disease. It seems like it doesn’t take much to protect the brain.
In a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease, THC lowered cognitive impairments via increased neuronal survival, prevention of morphological aberrations (shape changes) & reduced neuronal apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9THC) Treatment Improves Neuronal Survivability by Ameliorating Neuronal Apoptosis and Increasing Calbindin Expression in the Pyramidal Cells of Alzheimer-Induced Rat Hippocampus
https://nanobioletters.com/wp-content/lianbs/2025/11/LIANBS144.237.pdf
In a mouse model traumatic brain injury, CBD caused neuroprotective effects by lowering oxidative stress & apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Cannabidiol improves cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury by attenuating neuronal oxidative stress and apoptosis via the SET/PP2A/Akt signaling axis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711326000061
In a mouse model of depression, CBD reduced depressive-like behaviors, improved synaptic health in the hippocampus (memory center of the brain), increased antioxidant effects & helped the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Cannabidiol Alleviates LPS-Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors Via Improving Mitochondria Function
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12035-025-05614-w
In a model of skin tissue damage from particulate matter, a CBD nanoemulsion reduced inflammation & protected from extracellular matrix degradation
Application of Cannabidiol Nanoemulsion for Skin Protection Against Particulate Matter: Evidence from an Ex Vivo Human Model
https://www.mdpi.com/2504-5377/10/1/6
On the anti-inflammatory & antioxidant effects of 10 major non-psychotropic cannabinoids with CBDV being the strongest anti-inflammatory, the best combo being CBG & CBN & the acids being particularly good at absorbing free radicals
Phytocannabinoids as anti-inflammatory agents: Synergistic effects when combined with Cannabis sativa L. matrices
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874125018276
On the metabolites of THC that accumulate in the liver, kidneys & intestines
Characterization of the Formation of the Acyl Glucuronide Metabolite of 7-Carboxy-Cannabidiol in Human Liver, Kidney, and Intestinal Microsomes and In Vivo in Mice
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00588
In the gram-positive bacteria E. Faecalis & E. Faecium, CBD caused antibacterial effects
Cannabidiol (CBD) and Other Cannabinoids as a Promising Alternative Antibacterial Agent—Pilot Study on Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium Clinical Strains
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/1/144
For the drug interactions of melatonin & CBD, CBD increased melatonin exposure in dogs, but in rats, CBD caused dosage-dependent biphasic changes, while melatonin did not significantly alter CBD pharmacokinetics
Unraveling Cannabidiol’s Bidirectional Regulation of Melatonin Pharmacokinetics via PEPT1/CYP1A2: Mechanistic Insights and Quantitative Projections
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/19/1/80
In a mouse & tissue model of kidney damage from diabetes, the terpene beta-caryophyllene improved kidney function while reducing inflammation & oxidative stress via the CB2 receptor
β-Caryophyllene Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy via Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2)-Mediated Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Evidence from In Vivo and In Vitro Studies
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0045-1815686
In a gerbil model of sperm damage from the pollutant BPA, the terpene beta caryophyllene rescued sperm motility & testicular metabolic health
β-caryophyllene mitigates metabolic dysfunction in the testes of gerbils perinatally exposed to BPA
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890623825003260
🆕 Novel Studies 🆕
(a grab bag section for cool & new stuff)
A self-case report of a biomolecular psychologist using cannabis for their psychiatric symptoms, opioid dependence & polypharmacy withdrawal
Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency and Cognitive Continuity: A Longitudinal Case Study Challenging the Neurodegeneration Paradigm
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399132245_Clinical_Endocannabinoid_Deficiency_and_Cognitive_Continuity_A_Longitudinal_Case_Study_Challenging_the_Neurodegeneration_Paradigm
To determine synthetic cannabinoids in a decaying corpse, on feeding the flesh to green bottle fly larva
Entomological consequences and toxicological detection of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) in necrophagous larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-025-03688-8
God, isn’t it refreshing to finally see something brand new? I could give a kiss to the forensic entomologist who came up with this…
For motion sickness, a theoretical paper on targeting the endocannabinoid system
Botanic Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System: A Mechanistic Model for Motion Sickness Intervention
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399166566_Botanic_Cannabinoids_and_the_Endocannabinoid_System_A_Mechanistic_Model_for_Motion_Sickness_Intervention
“Evidence from parabolic flight studies indicates that motion-susceptible individuals exhibit reduced circulating anandamide levels and downregulation of CB1 receptor expression, suggesting that hypoactivity of the endocannabinoid system contributes to symptom development.”
For modeling lymphatic transport of CBD, on using a conscious pig model
Cannabidiol lymphatic transport after oral administration assessed using a novel thoracic lymph duct cannulated conscious pig model
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10717544.2025.2608913
📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles 📰
In 3 US states, there are ballot initiatives with major pushbacks against adult-use markets, by Adam Smith of the Marijuana Policy Project
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/legal-marijuana-access-faces-an-existential-threat-in-2026-and-we-must-fight-back-op-ed/
And in Maine, there’s been many allegations of misrepresentation by the signature gatherers for their anti-cannabis referendum
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/maine-secretary-of-state-notes-complaints-about-anti-marijuana-ballot-petitioners-tactics/
And in Massachusetts, there will be hearings on the potential fraudulent collection of signatures for their anti-cannabis ballot initiative
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/massachusetts-officials-will-review-complaint-that-anti-marijuana-campaign-fraudulently-collected-signatures-for-ballot-initiative/
In Oklahoma, on the ties between Chinese business people of NYC & problematic cannabis farms
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/ny-china-hometown-association-oklahoma-marjiuana.html
Oklahoma is often referred to as the Wild Wild West of cannabis. With loose permitting & few restrictions, it’s one of the national hotspots for cannabis diversion to out of state.
In Guam, 7 years after their legalization act, not a single business licensed for legal cannabis retail sales
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/regulatory-hurdles-continue-to-stifle-cannabis-industry/article_a2561358-23f1-495f-aeae-9449bdac8324.html
In New York, all cannabis billboards ordered to be taken down by February
https://www.wxhc.com/state-reaffirms-ban-of-cannabis-advertising-on-billboards-licensees-must-remove-billboards-by-end-of-february/
I might surprise some of you with my take, but I agree. I don’t think we need widespread advertising for alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceutical drugs or cannabis. People know that these products exist & they can search for them on their phone. For young people & those of us with substance use disorders, it feels like the right balance of public health to limit outdoor advertising.
But then again, so far, no one has put me in charge.
High Times offered me a science column position, but I’ve decided to turn it down after their new CEO denied the reality of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
https://www.tmz.com/2026/01/08/high-times-josh-kesselman-alcohol-propaganda/
So if anybody’s looking for a cannabinoid science columnist in the style of Matt Levine, hit me up.
John Waters has taken all the drugs
https://hightimes.com/culture/john-waters-holiday-drug-confessions-ive-taken-every-one/
🌐 International Updates 🌐
Bosnia & Herzegovina legalizes medical cannabis!
https://www.leafie.co.uk/news/bosnia-and-herzegovina-legalises-cannabis-for-medical-use/
In Thailand, a social media analysis of before & after cannabis legalization
Tracking Trends in Public Opinion on Cannabis Before and After Legalization in Thailand: A Social Media Content Analysis
https://sc01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tureview/article/view/241137
🚓 The War on Drugs 🚓
For US drug policy, a panel of 17 experts found that their rankings of drug harms did not align to the US scheduling of these drugs
US drug policy does not align with experts’ rankings of drug harms: a multi-criteria decision analysis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-025-01390-x
I am shocked, shocked to find the DEA not aligned to public health.
Spain & Morocco join forces to seize 11+ tons of hashish
https://cannabislaw.report/spanish-police-seize-over-11-tons-of-hashish-in-operations-with-morocco/
In the UK, 2 charged for £24M of cannabis
https://cannabislaw.report/uk-bolton-two-charged-over-24m-cannabis-haul/
On Tinder, a six-month study could not find any drug dealers
Ghosted by the drug trade: A digital ethnography of absence, ethics, and epistemic friction on Tinder
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/17416590251406464
Hell, they probably couldn’t find any matches either.
In West Africa, a book chapter on maritime narcotics trafficking
Narcotics Trafficking And Maritime Security Challenges In West Africa
https://books.google.fr/books?id=FZulEQAAQBAJ
On drug trafficking at the India-Myanmar border
DRUG TRAFFICKING ON INDIA-MYANMAR BORDER: CHALLENGES FOR INDIA
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384124708_DRUG_TRAFFICKING_ON_INDIA-MYANMAR_BORDER_CHALLENGES_FOR_INDIA
In Chinese drug trafficking, an analysis of cases to explore the operational dynamics & trust-based practices
Loose Structure and Trust Bias: Exploring Chinese Civil Illicit Drug Trafficking Networks and Organisational Relationships
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8408819/v1/926f4bd9-c648-4181-b2f2-a25f67ce114f.pdf
“Two predominant types of networks emerge among trade-type drug trafficking groups in China (excluding drug lords): star-shaped and polyhedral structures. The former primarily focuses on distribution and transportation links, while the latter encompasses both manufacturing and trafficking. An analysis of centrality, location, and directional variables reveals significant differences between these network types. However, both networks are still trapped in loose organizational structures, making them vulnerable to infiltration and confessions. As a potential answer integrating Chinese culture, trust bias interprets how leaders form high-risk networks while balancing efficiency and security.”
(Part of Lex wishes that he could clone himself & have his double focus only on the War on Drugs full-time. Developing sources, digging into corruption, uncovering the festering evils, even if it earns you a death by suicide with 2 to the back of the head. RIP Gary Webb)
🚗 Driving 🚗
For cannabis-impaired driving in Canada, a survey found most adolescents believed it to be high-risk, but that this perception declined in the 3 years following legalization
Trends in Perceived Risk of Cannabis-impaired Driving and Riding with a Cannabis-impaired Driver Among Adolescents in the Three Years Following Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Canada
https://journals.lww.com/cja/fulltext/2025/12000/trends_in_perceived_risk_of_cannabis_impaired.6.aspx
In Canadian data on cannabis & driving, they found less gendered differences in rural areas than urban areas
At the Crossroads: Examining the Role of Place and Gender As Predictors of Cannabis Use-Related Driving Behaviour
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399458708_At_the_Crossroads_Examining_the_Role_of_Place_and_Gender_As_Predictors_of_Cannabis_Use-Related_Driving_Behaviour
For the risk of cannabis use & driving in older adults, a review of the public health concerns
Cannabis Use in Older Individuals May Be an Important and Under-Recognized Risk Factor for Motor Vehicle Crashes
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25785125251410814
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education ⚖️
In Nigeria, a case study model of legalizing medical cannabis
LEGALIZING MEDICAL CANNABIS AND AVOIDING ILLICIT MARKETS IN NIGERIA: A TRIPARTITE CASE STUDY ANALYSIS TOWARDS ACHIEVING AN EFFECTIVE MARKET MODEL
https://univagora.ro/jour/index.php/aijjs/article/view/7360
In Turkey, an analysis of hemp as a strategic agricultural product
HEMP AS A STRATEGIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT: CULTIVATION STAGES AND ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCTION POTENTIAL
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tahsin-Beycioglu/publication/399367032_Stratejik_Tarim_Urunu_Olarak_Kenevir_Yetistiricilik_Asamalari_ve_Uretim_Potansiyelinin_Degerlendirilmesi/links/6957d7547e61d05b5315f70e/Stratejik-Tarim-Ueruenue-Olarak-Kenevir-Yetistiricilik-Asamalari-ve-Ueretim-Potansiyelinin-Degerlendirilmesi.pdf
🛡️ Harm Reduction News 🛡️
The UK’s first safer drug consumption facility, the Thistle, has registered almost 600 users in its first year
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jv41zl4elo
In British Columbia, Canada, their 3-year pilot program to decriminalize personal drug use & allow users to access public health services is ending after intense political backlash despite the region’s number of overdose deaths falling over the last 2 years
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/world/canada/british-columbia-drug-decriminalization.html
In Alberta, Canada, the government’s overdose response app has barely been used over the past 4 years
https://drugdatadecoded.ca/overdose-app-falters-as-alberta-government-dismantles-supervised-consumption-sites-2/
I believe this makes sense & that on the ground harm reduction services have a greater public health impact than digital tools.
In Depression-era films, on their portrayal of the NYC crisis of substance use disorder
Under the Influence: New York’s Crisis of Addiction, Exploitation, and Drug Policy within Depression-Era Films
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=rushton
“This article argues that Depression-era films, The Struggle (1931), Narcotic (1933), and Assassin of Youth (1938), reflected economic, political, and moral anxieties surrounding drug abuse.”
For drug epidemics, a book of media analysis comparing the heroin epidemic of the 1970s with the recent opioid crisis
Framing Addiction The Media’s Role in the Heroin and Opioid Crises
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-032-14303-7_8
Harm Reduction Research
For Ireland’s drug consumption rooms, on the factors affecting their location & community relations
Are drugs bad for Business (Improvement Districts)? Policy mobility, security planning and frontier politics
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/are-drugs-bad-for-business-improvement-districts-policy-mobility-
On violence in harm reduction, fieldwork in Paris & Barcelona
Violence in harm reduction: Exploring the social, political, and emotional conditions of harm reduction work
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41468518/
For digital harm reduction, a review of social media for normalizing naloxone use & reducing stigma-related barriers
Digital Harm Reduction: A Review of Current Uses of Social Media, Mass Media, and Mobile Health Applications for Safer Use and Substance Use Prevention
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maryam-Musa-2/publication/399266814_Digital_Harm_Reduction_A_Review_of_Current_Uses_of_Social_Media_Mass_Media_and_Mobile_Health_Applications_for_Safer_Use_and_Substance_Use_Prevention/links/69558bee7e61d05b531504bc/Digital-Harm-Reduction-A-Review-of-Current-Uses-of-Social-Media-Mass-Media-and-Mobile-Health-Applications-for-Safer-Use-and-Substance-Use-Prevention.pdf
🍄 Psychoactives, Psychedelics & Plant Medicines 🍄
The Psychoactive Research
A case report of kava inducing a liver injury
Kava Herb-Induced Liver Injury as Verified by the Updated RUCAM
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41477654/
For nitrous oxide, a review on its rapid antidepressant effects
Rapid antidepressant potential of nitrous oxide: current state and major questions
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03439-6
For kratom, a case report of withdrawal & a review of the epidemiology & prevalence
Kratom Withdrawal: A Case Report and Review of Epidemiology, Incidence, and Prevalence
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41468464/
For kratom use in Kentucky, a case series of harms
Kratom Khaos: Tracing the Medical and Societal Toll of Kratom Use in Kentucky
https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/4093
For the alkaloids of kratom, a computer analysis of their pharmaceutical effects
Therapeutic Potential and Predictive Pharmaceutical Modeling of Indole Kratom Alkaloids
https://www.mdpi.com/3042-9250/1/1/1
Psychedelics & MDMA
An intriguing new book on psychedelic drug use through a criminological lens
A Criminological Investigation into Psychedelic Drug Use: Soldiers, Shamans, and Supermarket Brands
https://books.google.fr/books?id=BIGlEQAAQBAJ
For mental health disorders, a meta-analysis of 100+ studies found the most help to be psilocybin for depression & MDMA for PTSD, with more limited data on LSD for alcohol use disorder & depression, ayahuasca for depression & MDMA for autism
Efficacy and Safety of Psychedelics in Mental Disorder Cases: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/1/253
For adverse events from psychedelics & MDMA, a public health database found most adverse events to be psychiatric in nature, with overdoses, cardiac disorders & pregnancy complications to be rare
Adverse events associated with classic psychedelics and MDMA: a real-world population-based study using the WHO pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178125005748
In special operations veterans with traumatic brain injuries, a single treatment of magnesium & ibogaine caused robust reductions in disability, PTSD, depression & anxiety for the next year
Is ibogaine treatment durable? 12-month follow-up of magnesium–ibogaine therapy (MISTIC) in Special Operations Veterans with traumatic brain injuries
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6909189/v1_covered_f57a1e6f-70d9-44a9-8050-e6457be7888e.pdf
On treating binge eating disorder with psilocybin
An open-label pilot study of psilocybin-assisted therapy for binge eating disorder
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40337-025-01508-3_reference.pdf
For migraines, the efficacy of a single dose of psilocybin was similar to a 2-dose pulse of psilocybin
Comparing single- and repeat-dose psilocybin with active placebo for migraine prevention in an exploratory randomized controlled clinical trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41459830/
In people using psilocybin for alcohol use disorder, their experience may be aided by adding nature-themed videos
A Nature-Themed Video Intervention Increases Nature Relatedness in Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/28314425251387655
Personally, some of my most treasured experiences involved Brooklyn brownstones, psilocybin & Planet Earth.
In human time perception, on the effects of psilocybin
The effects of psilocybin on time perception in humans: A comparative analysis of subjective and objective measures
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02698811251389552
In people smoking DMT, brain scans correlated to their subjective experiences
Time-resolved Neural and Experience Dynamics of Medium- and High-dose N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
https://direct.mit.edu/jocn/article-abstract/doi/10.1162/JOCN.a.2423/134751/Time-resolved-Neural-and-Experience-Dynamics-of
This intrigues me because of one piece of sci-fi technology that is creeping closer to realization. The ability to scan someone’s brain and re-create the visuals they are seeing (or imagining) has been rapidly advancing in the last few years. I dream of a day when we can use brain scans to watch people’s DMT experiences.
Relatedly, I wish to work with the writing AI used by Jubal Harshaw in Robert Heinlein’s work to create a story where we use that “optical brain” technology to visualize people’s dreams, where some people get famous by streaming their lucid dreams.
In naturalistic psychedelic use, a survey found that people increased their contemplative practices, time spent in nature & personally meaningful social activities
Exploring self-reported health behavior change following naturalistic psychedelic use
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13591053251392867
For the potential benefits of psychedelics on respiratory health, a review of the limited preclinical evidence
Psychedelics and Respiratory Health: A Literature Review
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/28314425251404458
In a mouse model of metabolic disorders, a low dose of psilocybin helped with obesity, insulin resistance, liver health & skeletal muscle strength
Low, non-psychedelic doses of psilocybin as a novel treatment for MASLD, obesity and type 2 diabetes via 5-HT2B receptor-dependent mechanisms
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661825005055
Ketamine
For chronic pain, a case series on low-dose ketamine
Treating Chronic Pain with Low Dose Ketamine and Adjunct Therapies Within a Biopsychosocial Approach: A Case Series
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pain-research/articles/10.3389/fpain.2025.1675821/abstract
When using ketamine in treatment-resistant depression, on the changes to levels of glutamate (the brain’s most common excitatory neurotransmitter) & GABA (the brain’s most common inhibitory neurotransmitter)
Modulation of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Levels of Glutamate and GABA by Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jnr.70102
In ketamine for depression & bipolar depression, a review of its effects on long-term potentiation & synaptic plasticity
A systematic review of ketamine and esketamine-induced long-term potentiation and synaptic scaling: Do the molecular and synaptic plasticity effects inform dosing intervals?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032725025236
🍃 The Plant & its Products 🍃
A new alkaloid found in cannabis
Bioactive compounds from the flowers of Cannabis sativa L.: Isolation of a new alkaloid and biological evaluation of cannabinoids and sesquiterpenoids
https://www.acgpubs.org/doc/20260105133052RNP-2509-3648.pdf
🌱 Growing & Extracting 🌱
In the Italian Western Alps, a look at 3 local hemp gardens
Cultivating Alternative Supply Chains: Hemp Gardens in a (Post)industrial Valley
https://hal.science/hal-05438162
In hemp, a combination of red & UVA light enhanced yield
Combination of red and UV-A light enhances hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) inflorescence yield and cannabinoid content
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-28292-z
In 2 high-CBD cultivars, on the effects of seasonal variation on their photosynthetic capacity
Hemp physiological response to seasonal variation in photosynthetic capacity for two high yield cannabidiol (CBD) cultivars
https://journal.wildlife.ca.gov/2025/12/29/hemp-physiological-response-to-seasonal-variation-in-photosynthetic-capacity-for-two-high-yield-cannabidiol-cbd-cultivars/
For early reliable identification of male hemp plants, on a new workflow known as CRISP (Cannabis Rapid Identification of Sex by PCR)
CRISP: A cost-efficient, high-throughput pipeline for sex-identification in Cannabis sativa
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41487910/
In Kentucky, on the detection of Fusarium Head Blight
Detection and Quantification of Latent Infection by Fusarium graminearum, Causal Agent of Fusarium Head Blight on Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Fields in Kentucky
https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PDIS-04-25-0774-RE
For seed production, a comparative analysis of 9 industrial hemp cultivars
Seed Production of Industrial Hemp Genotypes - Comparative Study
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399384889_Seed_Production_of_Industrial_Hemp_Genotypes_-_Comparative_Study
In South Africa, an analysis of 3 ecotypes (organisms of the same species but with different features)
Comparative Study of Cannabis Sativa Ecotypes Found in Three Villages at Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, South Africa
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/399070859_Comparative_Study_of_Cannabis_Sativa_Ecotypes_Found_in_Three_Villages_at_Lusikisiki_Eastern_Cape_South_Africa
In hemp achenes (the small, dry, one-seeded fruit referred to as whole hemp seeds), a chemical analysis of their metabolites included 12 cannabinoids
Metabolomic Diversity and Spatial Localization of Bioactive Compounds in Hemp Achenes from Diverse Landraces
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095177925003624
For 2 cannabis cultivars, a long-read DNA sequencing for understanding maternal & paternal contributions
A trio-binning approach for genome assembly reveals extensive structural variation between two Cannabis cultivars: Punto Rojo and Cherry Pie
https://academic.oup.com/g3journal/advance-article/doi/10.1093/g3journal/jkaf286/8407317
In cannabis chloroplasts (the photosynthesis organelle, containing its own DNA), a DNA analysis found a large number of simple sequence repeats (short repeated DNA sequences)
Comprehensive analysis of the chloroplast genome in Cannabis sativa L. reveals variations in simple sequence repeats among cultivars
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-28205-0
⚙️ Analyzing & Formulating ⚙️
A protocol for efficient DNA extraction from cannabis leaves, stems, flowers & seeds
Optimización de protocolos para la extracción eficiente de ADN a partir de hojas, tallos, flores y semillas de Cannabis sativa L. [Optimization of protocols for the efficient extraction of DNA from leaves, stems, flowers and seeds of Cannabis sativa L.]
https://www.ranar.org/index.php/RANAR/article/view/60
On extracting cannabis resin with an ultrasound-assisted extraction & testing its antioxidant & antimicrobial effects
Ultrasound-assisted green extraction of antioxidant and antimicrobial resins from Cannabis sativa for potential pharmaceutical applications
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03639045.2025.2612300
🍞 Food & Nutrition & Hemp Seeds 🍞
Hempseed press cake is a byproduct of oil pressing & with proper extraction techniques, it can yield a significant level of high-purity proteins
Upcycling dehulled, non-defatted hempseed press cake: Effects of processing on protein structure and technofunctionality of protein isolates
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833525003570
🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber 🏗️
For microplastic absorption from water, on using biochar from industrial hemp stocks
Adsorption and mechanism of magnetically modified industrial hemp straw biochar on microplastics in aqueous solution
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169772226000057
For water irrigation pipes, on creating a hemp hurd composite
Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Hemp Hurd/PP Composites for the Application of Water Irrigation Pipes
https://www.journals.orclever.com/ejrnd/article/view/707
On creating insulation panels from hemp fibers & kenaf
Multifunctional performance assessment of insulation panels from recycled textiles and Kenaf/Hemp Fibers: thermal, acoustic, and fire behavior
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772397626000080
On creating porous carbon materials from hemp fiber using steam-assisted carbonization & nitric acid activation
Tailoring Hemp-Derived Porous Carbon through Chemical Activation: Fractal Dimension Analysis and Capacitive Properties
https://jnep.sumdu.edu.ua/download/numbers/2025/6/articles/en/jnep_17_6_06038.pdf
On creating a cellulose derivative from hemp shives
Laboratory Synthesis of Technical-Grade Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose from Hemp Shive (Industrial Hemp)
https://ogarev-online.ru/2311-2468/article/view/333339
On creating a cellulose from hemp using nanofibrillation
Green Nanofibrillation of Hemp Cellulose via Deep Eutectic Solvent and Simple Shear Mixing: A Response Surface Approach to Process Refinement
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c11965
On creating hemp-based composites for high-temperature applications via machine learning
Sustainable Hemp-Based Composites: Temperature-Dependent Tensile Prediction via Machine Learning and FEM
https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/sasi-ite-25/126020979
On coloring hemp fiber with turmeric
Eco-friendly Colouration of Hemp fiber using Turmeric
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kevalkumar_Umrigar/publication/399140441_Eco_friendly_Colouration_of_Hemp_fiber_using_Turmeric/links/695265930c98040d4823f9ee/Eco-friendly-Colouration-of-Hemp-fiber-using-Turmeric.pdf
On the finishing of hemp fabrics with soy protein isolate pretreatment & zinc oxide nanoparticles for antibacterial & UV-protective effects
In Situ Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Soy Protein Isolate for Sustainable and Multifunctional Finishing of Hemp Fabrics
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/1/116
On the benefits of hempcrete as a building material
Making Building Material from Hempcrete
https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/119881674/e27c1863591de0fc949690409a2fa52a.Making_20Building_20Material_20from_20Hempcrete-converted-libre.pdf
For hemp-line blocks & building products, a lifecycle assessment of their cumulative energy demand
LCA and cumulative energy demand of hemp buildings products
https://www.agathon.it/agathon/article/view/505
For concrete beams, on their shear behavior when reinforced with hemp fiber mats & steel stirrups
Experimental investigation of the shear behaviour of RC beams using unidirectional hemp fibre mat-wrapped hybrid steel stirrups
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s44147-025-00850-2
In hemp-lime composites, on determining their compressive strength
Determination of Compressive Strength in Hemp–Lime Composites: Comparative Study of Testing Methodologies and Proposal of Improved Approach
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/16/1/306
🌿 THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE 🌿
🏥 Public Health, Legalization Effects & Bioassays 🏥
In older adults who died, on the death circumstances of those with cannabinoid exposures
Death circumstances of older adults with cannabinoid exposures
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12760738/
In Germany, the levels of cannabis consumption did not change significantly after their partial legalization
Cannabis Consumption Before and After Partial Legalization in Germany
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A15%3A8387039/detailv2
In Québec cannabis users, they had a higher prevalence of problematic social media usage
Problematic social media use among recreational cannabis users in Québec: A Cross-Sectional study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235285322500080X
In White & Hispanic people in California co-using alcohol & cannabis, both groups tended to either do this at home alone or with family & friends
Contexts of drinking and cannabis use by Whites and Hispanics in California
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15332640.2025.2576728
In the US, public health data on the co-use of tobacco & cannabis
Tobacco and cannabis co-use by route of administration in the United States, 2022/2023
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030646032600002X
In India, on the toxicology public health gap of cannabis contamination & adulteration, with regulation being the most effective intervention
A User-Informed Exposé of the Toxicological Data Gap in India’s Cannabis Landscape
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/toxicology/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1734313/abstract
On developing a Cannabis Exposure Inventory test for determining someone’s milligrams of THC consumed per day
Test-Retest Reliability of mgTHC consumption in the self-administered Cannabis Exposure Index (CEI)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871626000098
On cannabinoid blood & urine testing using a LC-MS/MS
LC-MS/MS Analysis of THC Isomers & Metabolites in Whole Blood and Urine
https://discover.restek.com/wp-content/uploads/CFAN4420.pdf
🧒 Adolescents & Young Adults 🧒
In adolescents, an earlier age of starting cannabis use was linked to more later cannabis use problems as well as other substances
Development of Substance Use Problems: The Role of Adolescent Cannabis Age of Onset, Frequency of Use and Childhood Risk Factors
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10802-025-01404-z
For young adult cannabis users & the effects of taxes, a choice experiment found tax rate increases reduced their quantity of consumption, though this stopped at a tax rate of 60%
How tax structures for retail cannabis shape cannabis use among youth and young adults: evidence from a volumetric choice experiment
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10198-025-01875-3
In young adults co-using alcohol & cannabis, on the effects of their food consumption & junk food intake
Do eating behaviors change before and after engagement in co-use of alcohol and cannabis?
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16066359.2025.2605957
On youth in India, data on their cannabis use
Cannabis Use Among Indian Youth: Trends and Determinants
https://rjwave.org/jaafr/papers/JAAFR2512162.pdf
🧠 The Brain & Neurological Disorders 🧠
In people admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit, cannabis users had a lower length of stay but a higher prevalence of psychosocial comorbidities & psychiatric diagnoses such as depression or anxiety
Influence of cannabis use on length of stay in patients admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589986425001066
That being said, as you often see in the data, the people who are in the worst shape symptom-wise are often the ones turning to cannabis for additional relief.
For the rare epilepsy Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, there are a new surge of diagnoses around the time of US FDA approval of Epidiolex (pharmaceutical CBD)
A temporary spike: Investigating Lennox-Gastaut syndrome incidence in the US following FDA approval of cannabidiol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41483291/
For neurological disorders, a review of leaf, flower & seed oil from hemp
Unveiling Neurological Benefits: A Review of Hemp Leaf, Flower, Seed Oil Extract, and Their Phytochemical Properties in Neurological Disorders
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25785125251410822
In the mouse hippocampus (memory center of the brain), on how the endocannabinoid anandamide signals the astrocytes (the brain’s most common support cell) while the endocannabinoid 2-AG signals the neurons
Distinct endocannabinoids specifically signal to astrocytes or neurons in the adult mouse hippocampus
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02148-1
In astrocytes (the brain’s most common support cell), activating the CB1 receptor altered energy metabolism & membrane behavior
Cannabinoid Ligand-Mediated Glycogen Depletion in Astrocytes Is Associated With Increased Intracellular Calcium, Energy Metabolism, and Membrane Dynamics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41457700/
In an adolescent rat brain, the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 (which activates the CB1 & CB2 receptor) caused increases of BDNF (a key brain growth factor)
Administration of the Synthetic Cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 Increases BDNF Expression Levels in the Adolescent Rat Brain
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25785125251410807
In rat brain slices, on the effects of synthetic cannabinoids & designer benzodiazepines
Inhibitory effects of (synthetic) cannabinoids and (designer) benzodiazepines on spontaneously active neuronal networks of primary rat cortical cultures in vitro
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161813X25001858
💭 Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder 💭
For poor mental health among cannabis users, public health showed an increased prevalence between 2016 & 2023, especially among people vaping or dabbing, females, young adults, Hispanic & multiracial users
Trends and Disparities in Mental Health Among Cannabis Users in the U.S., 2016–2023
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7900425/v1/3289e664-9023-43d2-988b-eb5de367faa8.pdf
In veterans with PTSD, on the complex relationship between cannabis use & depression
More high, less low? PTSD and the complex daily associations between cannabis use and depression in veterans
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460325003624
“Specifically, on days when veterans reported greater depression, they reported fewer hours “high” the next day. Conversely, on days when veterans reported a greater number of hours high, they reported less depression the next day. Among veterans screening positive for PTSD, on days when they reported more depression, they reported fewer hours high the next day (no association was noted for cannabis use predicting depression). However, for those who did not screen positive for PTSD, on days when veterans reported greater number of hours high, they reported less depression the next day.”
In people with opioid-hashish dependence, an Uzbek analysis of their coping behavior patterns
ANALYSIS OF COPING BEHAVIOR PATTERNS IN PATIENTS WITH OPIOID-HASHISH POLYSUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE
http://zi-kozlov.ru/collections/vestnik-36-2-2025.pdf#page=280
For cannabis use disorder, on the search for better preclinical models for testing treatments
Advancing Preclinical Models for Medications Development for Cannabis Use Disorder: Self-Administration and Beyond
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40429-025-00705-z
🧬 Reproduction & Hormones 🧬
In pregnant women admitted for cannabis use to substance use treatment facilities, those in legal cannabis states had significantly lower odds of treatment completion
Is cannabis legalization associated with treatment completion? A study of pregnant women admitted for cannabis use in substance use treatment facilities, 2020–2022
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871626000049
For human breast milk, cannabis use altered the concentrations of some lipids & fatty acids
Short-Term Effects of Maternal Cannabis Use on Human Milk Macronutrient Composition: The Lactation and Cannabis (LAC) Study
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15568253251407688
In infants with prenatal cannabis exposure, their breast-feeding status did not alter developmental outcomes
Breastfeeding and Developmental Outcomes in Infants with Prenatal Cannabis Exposure: A Retrospective Cohort Study
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15568253251409805
In encouraging a pregnant uterus to stay dormant (a key for a successful pregnancy), on the synergy of vitamin D, hyaluronic acid, magnesium & the endocannabinoid PEA
Targeting Uterine Quiescence: A Multitarget Strategy with Vitamin D, High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid, Magnesium, and Palmitoylethanolamide to Prevent Preterm Birth
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/1/113
🦠 The Immune System & Microbial 🦠
In 2 mouse models of HIV & motivation, THC caused differential effects on their motivational deficits
THC induced similar physiological effects on HIV transgenic rats and their controls without affecting HIV-induced deficits in effortful motivation
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-025-00383-8
In Graham-negative bacteria, the combination of CBD & colistin caused a synergistic effect on bacterial death & the disruption of biofilms
Novel Insights on the Synergistic Mechanism of Action Between the Polycationic Peptide Colistin and Cannabidiol Against Gram-Negative Bacteria
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/18/1/51
🦴 Pain, Musculoskeletal & Surgeries 🦴
In people with osteoarthritis, a combination of dronabinol (pharmaceutical THC) with the opioid hydromorphone did not cause a robust painkilling effect
Evaluating the Acute Effects of the Cannabinoid Dronabinol and the Opioid Hydromorphone Alone and in Combination: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Knee Osteoarthritis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41481837/
🍽️ The Guts, Nutrition & the Microbiome 🍽️
Out of 2 probiotics, S. Thermophilus inhibited both the FAAH enzyme (which breaks down anandamide) & MAGL enzyme (which breaks down 2-AG)
The anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of the probiotic Streptococcus thermophilus via inhibition of endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes: a preliminary in vitro study
https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A1003233/1003233.pdf
🩸 The Liver, Drug Interactions & Cannabinoid Metabolism 🩸
In rat livers, hemp seed oil caused no significant differences
HISTOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE PARENCHYMATOUS AND STROMAL-VASCULAR COMPARTMENT OF THE LIVER OF WHITE RATS ON THE 42nd DAY OF EXPERIMENTAL APPLICATION OF HEMP SEED OIL
https://vpbim.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/40-1.pdf
🎗️ Cancer & Chemotherapy 🎗️
In melanoma cells, CBD inhibited proliferation & invasion while inducing apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Cannabidiol Inhibits Melanoma Progression by Regulating PPARγ-TET1 Complex-dependent LRASM1 Demethylation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711326000127
In colon cancer cells, CBD reduced cancer progression
Cannabidiol suppresses emergency MDSCs generation by disturbing EEF1B2-mediated C/EBPβ protein synthesis in colorectal adenomas
https://jitc.bmj.com/content/14/1/e013081
In non-small cell lung cancer, a combination of CBD & bevacizumab (Avastin) inhibited proliferation & synergistically increased apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Exploring the Efficacy of a Novel Cannabidiol and Bevacizumab Combination in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
https://europepmc.org/article/ppr/ppr1116671
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For today’s founder of free jazz, the 1960 album ‘Change Of The Century’ by Ornette Coleman. Called “one of the most beloved and polarizing figures in jazz history” by Thom Jurek, Coleman grew up in Texas & taught himself the saxophone (with his father dead, his seamstress mother worked long hours to buy him that first sax). Coleman eventually formed his own jazz group in LA & their 1959 release of ‘The Shape of Jazz to Come’ profoundly altered the direction of jazz. Coleman abandoned the traditional jazz of soloists & harmony-based compositions with chord changes & fixed rhythms. Instead, he experimented with improvisation within his ensemble of musicians, improvising around an evolving melody & pattern of rhythms. Critic Steve Huey said the album “was a watershed event in the genesis of avant-garde jazz, profoundly steering its future course and throwing down a gauntlet that some still haven’t come to grips with.” Jazzwise listed it as the number 3 jazz album of all time. But it was hotly debated upon release with Miles Davis hating it, Dizzy Gillepsie saying “I don’t know what he’s playing, but it’s not jazz”, Charles Mingus saying he didn’t get it but it moved him emotionally & John Coltrane & Leonard Bernstein loving it. Going even further afield in 1960, Coleman released ‘Free Jazz’, a 37-minute continuous jazz performance & at the time, the longest ever recorded. What started as an album title soon became a new musical genre.
But at the time, Coleman’s career was in a funk. Atlantic canceled his contract. Club owners wouldn’t book him. And so he only played live music for two years while teaching himself the violin & trumpet. In 1965, a sold-out run at Stockholm’s edgiest jazz club became the “Golden Circle” recordings that showcased his new instruments, improvisations & meditations on music. The Europeans loved him, though the US still did not understand him. By 1966, he was signed with Blue Note & recording with his 10-year-old son as the drummer (derided at the time for his lack of polish, Denardo Coleman went on to be his father’s primary drummer, music director & manager for the rest of his career). Classical music orchestras started to work with Coleman (resulting in the masterwork ‘Skies of America’ with the London Symphony Orchestra) & in 1976, he started recording with electric guitars, soon incorporating rock & funk rhythms into a style sometimes called free funk. Over his career, he worked with John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Jerry Garcia & played on the soundtrack of Cronenberg’s ‘Naked Lunch’. He won a 1994 Macarthur genius grant as well as the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for music. Coleman was finally laid to rest in June 2015, going on to the great free jazz session in the sky.
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.