C&P#180: CBD suppositories for menstrual pain + chronic pain + anxiety & sleep
Grenada decrims & Portugal raids & Trump ramps up WoD
Cannabinoids & The People, or; Drugs & Drug Wars
🌟 This week 🌟
For menstrual pain, CBD suppositories!
Chronic pain: cannabinoids lowering opioid usage + full-spectrum extracts more effective that THC isolate in older adults
In anxious people, CBD helps their sleep
Aerobic exercise = more anandamide = more positive effects
In adults with cannabis use disorder: better mental health than people with other substance use disorders. In young people: worse mental health than other SUDs
Cannabis liberalization laws decrease property & violent crime
Again, driving safety in regular cannabis users not associated with their blood or saliva levels of cannabinoids
‘2026 State of the Cannabis Industry Report’: not great
In Congo foragers, the cannabis users had less parasitic worms
Psychedelics: psilocybin for OCD + US mushroom churches
Harm reduction: in Stockholm, 10 years of harm reduction reduced mortality
One Tommy Boy reference
(this week’s numbers: ~6k words, ~16 minutes reading time, 121 papers)
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 180th 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. If you purchase one of my canna-graphic novels based on Moby Dick, proceeds go to Americans for Safe Access to support medical cannabis patients.
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 📌:
- Thanks to Eagle-Eye Dr. Janice Makela for pointing out that last week’s meta-analysis of cannabis for orofacial pain was faked. It’s a growing problem that I see talked about constantly in my weekly reading of Nature: papers mills, fake scientists, guest-editor hijacking, hijacked journals, journal snatchers & the sleuths to root them out (if you want the PDFs of any of these articles, let me know). It gives me a constant feeling of unease because with reviewing an average of 150 papers a week, I don’t have time to double-check all of them. There’s a few authors that I’m watching who feel like they must be paying to produce a stream of low-quality hemp studies or preclinical cancer research or such, but there’s not much I can do about it. And even if a paper is obviously written by AI, that could be someone doing this because English isn’t their first language. Nature talks about the potential of AI tools to help combat the rising flood of faked research, but they do so in the dispirited way of someone who knows that there seems to be little chance of holding back the deluge.
- A new study is recruiting participants who have experienced emergent phenomena like altered states of consciousness, mystical experiences, psychedelic states & spontaneous awakenings.
🤝 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.
🎥 Lex’s new work 🎤
@CannabinoidsAndThe People vids sponsored by CHRI & the National Cannabis Study:
This Week in Cannabis! (Justice Kagan & ayahuasca?!)
Canna-Edu Vids for CV Sciences:
(on YT @CVSciencesInc & on TT @pluscbd)
📚 My Book Vids 📚
(@LexPelgerAndHisBooks on TikTok, YouTube & Instagram)
Nothing this week. Was too sick. Watch the back catalog.
And as always, at the bottom is the album of the week: a cappella jubilee gospel!
🧰 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, 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)
On cannabis & the vagus nerve in the new ‘Ask A Neuroscientist’ column in Fat Nugs Magazine
https://www.fatnugsmag.com/ask-a-neuroscientist-cannabis-as-vagus-nerve-medicine/
You connect with the author RN Collins on LinkedIn.
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
For menstrual pain, whole plant CBD suppositories with the terpenes beta-caryophyllene & humulene reduced symptoms, pain & painkiller usage with significant improvements in cramps, focus, mood, headaches & nausea (hats off to Megan Mbengue & the whole team behind this work!)
Whole Plant CBD Suppositories for Dysmenorrhea: A Real-World Outcomes Report
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Megan-Mbengue/publication/401555816_Whole_Plant_Cannabidiol_Suppositories_for_Dysmenorrhea_A_Real-World_Outcomes_Report/links/69a8a01abff9750ad9c7e1ce/Whole-Plant-Cannabidiol-Suppositories-for-Dysmenorrhea-A-Real-World-Outcomes-Report.pdf
In older people with chronic pain, a comparison of CBD-rich full-spectrum extracts versus dronabinol (pharmaceutical THC isolate) found that while both caused symptom relief, there were greater improvements & less adverse effects from the full-spectrum extracts
CARE – A Retrospective, Dual-Cohort, 24-Week Real-World Study from the German Pain eRegistry on the Effectiveness and Safety of CBDDominant Oral Cannabis Extracts versus THC/ Dronabinol in Older Patients with Chronic Pain
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2147/JPR.S551457
On substituting cannabis for opioids in chronic pain, the majority of participants decreased their opioid intake by more than half, with additional improvements to sleep quality & physical function
Assessing the efficacy of medical Cannabis as a substitution therapy for opioids in chronic pain management: A comprehensive investigation
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815357
In people with anxiety & sleep-related problems, a month of CBD caused majority to have a decrease in anxiety symptoms & two-thirds saw an improvement in their sleep quality
Cannabidiol effects on Anxiety and Insomnia
https://pharmakeftiki.hsmc.gr/pj/article/view/293
In people with HIV, the cannabis users had less global neurocognitive deficits & a more anti-inflammatory immunometabolic-phenotype, including less pro-inflammatory cytokines, more anti-inflammatory upregulation, more mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell) & more BDNF (a key brain growth factor)
Cannabis Use by People with HIV is Associated with an Anti-Inflammatory Immunometabolic Phenotype in Monocyte-Derived Macrophages
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2026/03/06/2026.03.04.709579.full.pdf
For people doing aerobic exercise (but not yoga), they had higher blood levels of anandamide, with increases correlated to changes in positive effects
Contributions of yoga and aerobic exercise to acute changes in state affect, circulating BDNF and eCB concentrations, and memory
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453026000776
In people with early schizophrenia, they had higher levels of anandamide, 2-AG & oleoylethanolamide (the endocannabinoid of satiation), with anandamide levels inversely correlated to symptoms
Endocannabinoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in early schizophrenia: Changes under antipsychotics and association with the response to treatment
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0952327826000128
📑 Reviews 📑
For pain, a review of cannabis & the endocannabinoid control of pain (good charts)
Beyond the high: Therapeutic insights into Cannabis sativa and endocannabinoid control of pain
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950199726001023
On CBD for anxiety & depression, a review of 8 studies found strong positive effects for anxiety but insufficient data on depression
Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) on the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Adults: A Literature Review
https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/137/1/105
For CBD & athletic performance, a review of 23 studies found that it wasn’t an ergogenic aid (enhancing of performance)
Cannabidiol is Not an Ergogenic Aid: A Systematic Review of Human Performance Studies
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Whitley-Stone-2/publication/401622864_Cannabidiol_is_Not_an_Ergogenic_Aid_A_Systematic_Review_of_Human_Performance_Studies/links/69aae26f1a0d8b29ca7132dc/Cannabidiol-is-Not-an-Ergogenic-Aid-A-Systematic-Review-of-Human-Performance-Studies.pdf
For electroacupuncture, on how the endocannabinoids mediated the help for pain & itching
[Progress on the mechanism of endocannabinoids involved in electroacupuncture for analgesia and itch relief]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41777131/
In veterinary medicine, on the potential uses of CBD
Cannabidiol in veterinary medicine: Therapeutic potential and quality assurance challenges in therapeutic trend products
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815107
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
For atrial septal defects (a baby with a hole in its heart), public health data found cannabis legalization linked to higher levels of this birth defect
Impact of Cannabis and Cannabis Legalization on US Atrial Septal Defect Rates
https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/16/2/43
For adults with cannabis use disorder versus other substance use disorders, they had a lower risk for schizophrenia, depression & psychotic disorders, but in pediatric patients, they had a higher risk of schizophrenia, depression & anxiety disorders
Association of Cannabis Use Disorder Versus Other Substance Use Disorders With Psychiatric Conditions: A Propensity-Matched Retrospective Cohort Analysis
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250336
In people with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a survey on their usage & symptom onset
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Survey-Based Approach to Understanding Symptoms and Cannabis Use Patterns
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25785125261421434
“Most respondents reported smoking cannabis flower or using vape cartridges, although the use of edibles and concentrates were also described. The overwhelming majority of respondents (96.5%) used cannabis products at least daily, with approximately half (45%) using them six or more times per day around the time they developed CHS symptoms. Most of the respondents (61.9%) sourced cannabis from licensed dispensaries. The duration of cannabis use prior to symptom onset varied widely among participants, with nearly two-thirds (65.4%) reportedly used for more than 3 years before symptom development. During the prodromal (early) phase, symptoms clustered in the morning (63.1%) and the predominant complaints were nausea and stomach pain. Women reported more frequent and prolonged symptoms than men.”
In adults who accidentally ingested cannabis, a review of 84 adult cases found that most involved baked goods or candy
Unintentional ingestion of psychoactive cannabis products among adults: a scoping review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002934326001440
“Common presenting symptoms included dizziness, dry mouth/mucous membranes, confusion, vision changes, paresthesia, nausea/vomiting, speech difficulties, anxiety, and somnolence. Hypertension, memory impairment, lethargy, incoordination, and tachycardia were frequent. Stroke was often the leading differential, with food poisoning commonly suspected. Most patients recovered within 24 hours, though some reported lingering subjective symptoms (e.g., fatigue, anxiety).”
At a cannabis manufacturer, an analysis of their reported adverse events
Adverse Events Associated with Medical Cannabis Reported within a Centralized Call Center
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1792520/abstract
🐁 Preclinical 🐁
In a mouse model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly fatty liver disease), CBD or CBG improved glycemic control, reduced liver fats & normalized blood lipid levels
Cannabidiol and cannabigerol ameliorate steatotic liver disease via phosphocreatine buffering and lysosomal restoration
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/bph.70387
In a mouse model of a broken bone, CBC reduced pain but impaired bone healing
Cannabichromene attenuates fracture pain but impairs bone repair in a murine tibial fracture model
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S8756328226000761
In a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the terpene beta-caryophyllene reduced liver injury markers, oxidative stress, inflammation & scarring via the CB2 receptor
β-caryophyllene mitigates oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis by activating cannabinoid-2 receptors in murine model of high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815186
For hemp root extracts, on a comparison of extraction techniques & analysis of their “superior wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects”
Comparative phytochemical characterization and bioactivity evaluation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) root extracts using green extraction technologies
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0026265X26007538
There is a very, very long human history of using cannabis roots for medical purposes.
For the infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, full-spectrum extracts had a higher antiviral effect than isolated cannabinoids, with the most effective being delta-8 THCA
Investigation of natural products from medicinal cannabis as SARS-CoV-2 infectivity inhibitors
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815406
🆕 Novel Studies 🆕
(a grab bag section for cool & new stuff)
2015: In the Aka foragers of Congo, cannabis users had less infection & reinfection by helminthiasis (parasitic worms)
High prevalence of cannabis use among Aka foragers of the Congo Basin and its possible relationship to helminthiasis
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajhb.22740
I found this paper because the lead author, Dr. Casey Roulette, published the new paper below about female drug users around the world. There is little known about cannabis use among forager & hunting communities so this was quite intriguing to see.
For brain scans of THC impairment, applying machine learning to resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) scans significantly outperformed field sobriety tests
Classification of resting-state THC impairment using fNIRS and machine learning
https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/PC13867/PC138670D/Classification-of-resting-state-THC-impairment-using-fNIRS-and-machine/10.1117/12.3083453.short
And for identifying THC impairment during alcohol consumption, machine learning models could detect it from fNIRS scans
Toward objective detection of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol Impairment during ethanol consumption
https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/PC13870/PC138700B/Toward-objective-detection-of-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-Impairment-during-ethanol/10.1117/12.3085056.short
On creating a bone graft derived from cannabis leaf trichomes
A Multifunctional Conductive Physiomimetic Scaffold: Synergy of rGO Coating and Cannabis-derived Nanotopography for Infection-Resistant Bone Repair
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1766388/abstract
In a model of the epithelial cells (lining of your body cavities), cannabinoids had increased permeability in the presence of terpenes but the cannabinoid acids did not
Matrix and nanoformulation-dependent bioavailability of cannabinoids in the Caco-2 Model
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815443
At the CB1 receptor, cannabidiphorol (CBDP, a CBD analog with a shorter tail) caused negative allosteric modulation (binding at an alternative site on the receptor & causing other molecules to bind less strongly to the main binding site)
Cannabidiphorol (CBDP) interactions with Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1R) as a strong negative allosteric modulator
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1814858
📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles
For residency requirements for cannabis licenses, the Congressional Research Service found that courts are split on the issue
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11399
‘2026 State of the Cannabis Industry Report’ released by Beau Whitney & First Citizens Bank
https://newsroom.firstcitizens.com/2026-02-26-First-Citizens-Bank-Releases-2026-State-of-the-Cannabis-Industry-Report
“Despite the positivity at the individual company level, after more than a decade of steady expansion, the U.S. cannabis industry is expected to record its first year-over-year revenue decline for 2025, driven largely by sustained pricing pressure and widespread oversupply across many regulated markets. Total U.S. cannabis sales in 2025 are estimated at $28.6 - $29.6 billion, down from approximately $30.1 billion in 2024, even as unit volumes remained stable to positive in select states. Industrial hemp represented a notable bright spot in 2025, and the hemp-derived THC beverage market in particular recorded more than $1 billion in sales.”
In cannabis price analysis, the price of illicit cannabis was significantly lower in states with adult-use laws, though in some states it was more expensive & others less expensive than the legal product
High Stakes: How Legal Cannabis Pricing Impacts the Illicit Market
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-8950795/v1
“In Colorado, California, and Michigan, legal cannabis was significantly less expensive than illicit cannabis, while in Massachusetts, Illinois, Maine, and Connecticut, illicit cannabis was significantly less expensive than legal cannabis.”
In Colorado, cannabis prices reach a new low of $608 per pound
https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-dispensary-weed-prices-reach-sad-new-low-40854902/
And in Massachusetts, cannabis prices are plummeting
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/11/business/marijuana-prices-massachusetts-dispensaries-weed-cannabis/
For the effects of cannabis laws on crime, an analysis across US states found medical cannabis laws reduced property crime while adult-use cannabis laws reduced violent crime
How does Marijuana legislation affect crime? Medical and recreational laws across 50 states
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026499932600101X
Epstein was the target of a secret DEA probe for distributing club drugs
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-06/epstein-investigated-in-dea-probe-for-ketamine-money-laundering
https://www.ecstaticintegration.org/p/epstein-manson-psychopimps
In Oklahoma, a Vietnamese refugee is facing deportation over an expunged cannabis possession arrest from almost 20 years ago
https://cannabislaw.report/oklahoma-father-faces-deportation-tied-to-nearly-20-year-old-marijuana-case/
In Harrisburg, PA (near where I grew up), a drunk man was charged with cruelty to animals for admitting that he regularly gave his parakeet beer & cannabis
https://cannabislaw.report/friday-story-goes-to-cannabis-smoking-parakeet-injured-by-drunk-pa-man/
This region between Philadelphia & Pittsburgh is sometimes referred to as Pennsyltucky.
🌐 International Updates 🌐
In Granada, the cannabis reform law was confirmed by the Gov.-Gen.
https://nowgrenada.com/2026/03/governor-general-assents-to-cannabis-reform-law/
“Grenada has now entered Phase I of its cannabis initiative, which decriminalises cannabis for personal and religious use while maintaining strict safeguards. Adults may possess up to 56 grams of cannabis and up to 15 grams of cannabis resin. Individuals may also cultivate up to four cannabis plants, provided they first register with the Cannabis Secretariat and the Ministry of Agriculture… The legislation also recognises the sacramental use of cannabis by adherents of the Rastafarian faith.”
In Portugal, raids against hemp products stores resulted in the seizure of thousands of euros worth of products that the merchant said are legal under the law
https://cannabislaw.report/media-report-operation-portugal-always-safe-2026-hemp-shop-owners-say-they-are-ruined-and-complain-about-the-lack-of-training-for-law-enforcement-agents/
In Jamaica, community groups of small ganja farmers are now allowed to cultivate up to 10 acres of cannabis for medical purposes
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20260306/new-regulations-coming-benefit-small-ganja-farmers
On legalizing cannabis in the Americas, an even-handed look at the effects in Uruguay, the US & Canada
LEGALISING CANNABIS: THE AMERICAS BETWEEN MYTH AND REALITY
https://flore.unifi.it/bitstream/2158/1458835/1/Book_Rossi_Trovato%2004-03-2026.pdf
In Canada, an analysis of cannabis-related harms
BIG PERCENTAGES, SMALL NUMBERS? UNDERSTANDING CANNABIS-RELATED HARMS UNDER CANADA’S CANNABIS ACT
https://flore.unifi.it/retrieve/587c70b4-9ed7-4e9b-a44c-5ad6d899c34a/Book_Rossi_Trovato%2004-03-2026.pdf
In Germany, an analysis of their recent partial legalization
PARTIAL LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS IN GERMANY – RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND FURTHER STEPS
https://flore.unifi.it/retrieve/587c70b4-9ed7-4e9b-a44c-5ad6d899c34a/Book_Rossi_Trovato%2004-03-2026.pdf
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education ⚖️
In Maryland, an analysis & strategy towards an equitable cannabis market
Toward an Equitable Legal Marijuana Market in Maryland: Assessing Development Strategies
https://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2173&context=ublr
In the UK, Bristol Medical School will offer their first medical cannabis teaching placement
https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2026/02/18/bristol-medical-school-to-offer-first-teaching-placement-in-cannabis-medicine/
For US party affiliation & attitudes towards cannabis legalization, by 2024 political ideology “lost significance as an explanatory measure”
Political ideology and party affiliation as determinants of attitudes toward legalization of Marijuana in the United States: Implications for policy conversations
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20503245261431086
🚓 The War on Drugs 🚓
At the UN drug commission, Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized the war on drugs against coca & cannabis
https://europeantimes.news/2026/03/in-vienna-at-unodc-petro-calls-for-a-smarter-drug-strategy/
Trump announced the formation of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, an organization of 17 countries “to operationalize hard power to defeat these threats to our security and civilization”
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/commitment-to-countering-cartel-criminal-activity/
And he offered them missiles for hitting drug cartels
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/trump-latin-america-us-missiles-drug-cartels-5979116
In British Columbia during decriminalization, police continued possession-based enforcement & off-the-record seizures, especially against socially marginalized people who use drugs
Police encounters with people who use drugs during decriminalisation in British Columbia, Canada: a mixed-methods analysis
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10439463.2026.2634112
In Australia, a defense of supply-side drug policing for reducing drug crime-related harm
Dual-Edged Benefits of Drug Policing: A Quarter Century’s Lesson from a Heroin Drought
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/736041
In Rotterdam, cannabis replaced cocaine as the trafficking drug of choice at Europe’s biggest port
https://cannabislaw.report/nl-times-cannabis-replacing-cocaine-in-drug-trafficking-through-rotterdam-port/
In India, the old hashish smuggling route from Nepal to Sri Lanka is once again becoming more active
https://cannabislaw.report/agencies-flag-revival-of-old-nepal-to-sri-lanka-route-for-smuggling-hashish-charas/
A suspected drug smuggling syndicate from South Africa to the Philippines
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/310025/fwd-pnp-eyes-syndicate-in-drug-arrests-of-foreigners-from-south-africa
In Balochistan, Pakistan, the Afghani poppy cultivation ban has led to a surge in the crop here
https://thediplomat.com/2026/02/is-balochistan-the-regions-new-drug-cultivation-and-trafficking-hub/
In Latin America, on the cocaine supply chain
An Alternative Perspective on the Illegal Drug Trade in Latin America (Part II) The Supply Chain behind the Cocaine Industry: Major Trafficking Routes and Distribution Networks
https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/130947465/The_Illegal_Drug_Trade_in_Latin_America_Part_II-libre.pdf?1769759898=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DThe_Illegal_Drug_Trade_in_Latin_America.pdf&Expires=1773328253&Signature=KmIz-6w2HO1TotLqEm~cuo3tbeza141dS5tpOYVmkPjZP0pmIFUsIrz2OP~wj3lUR~yJyJ99YSZrXAwP3BhfAXXXCGbTdp31W3fXWF0r0SCoet7uRaVqQBbgjlheGpgnyUr1~D2lhgPSffXJLDCq14qa~C1KzRHxEHhk5pTtZc43xzzqsvAnTI9mVTeaSRFxqzFUT4OB7R-hy7Csbb5MMX4H2lzQ6P-5E6Attc~xHfrL0dBPqoxuOl3R2fLc4PCdyEvrty5pEokaezKigZPr-ssrsXLji0A-3daKKcA1VFM5R8IbLh9UTofjH6lrq8SnmsQghIfwLX~DLS578YU~hQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
In Chiang Mai, Thailand, 4 suspected drug couriers killed & 600k speed pills seized
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3210540/four-suspected-couriers-killed-600000-speed-pills-seized-in-chiang-mai
In Indonesia, 6 members of a cargo ship crew are due to be executed for transporting ~2 tons of methamphetamine
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3344830/indonesias-bid-execute-6-cargo-ship-crew-drug-case-sparks-liability-debate
In Singapore, public support for the death penalty in drug trafficking cases rises to 77%
https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2026/03/12/singaporeans-support-for-death-penalty-in-drug-trafficking-cases-rises-to-77pc-says-minister/212329
In Taiwan, two Vietnamese nationals indicted for 2.2 kg of cannabis (said to be worth ~$95k, an eye-popping $1,200 per ounce)
https://cannabislaw.report/taiwan-yunlin-prosecutors-indict-vietnamese-nationals-for-marijuana-smuggling/
🚗 Driving 🚗
In a driving simulator study, regular cannabis users showed no significant impairment after using cannabis the night before & while their average blood levels of THC were above the limit, neither blood or oral fluid cannabinoid levels were correlated with any measure of driving safety
Driving by frequent cannabis users ‘the morning after’ last use of smoked cannabis: an observational driving simulator study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41776711/
For driving after cannabis use, the prevalence has increased as well as co-use with alcohol, but on the effects of adult-use cannabis laws, the results were inconclusive
Prevalence of cannabis, alcohol, and simultaneous use among drivers in states with and without recreational cannabis laws, 2021–2023
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022437526000411
🛡️ Harm Reduction News 🛡️
On Norway’s peer-led harm reduction house: Huset Bergen
https://drogriporter.hu/en/huset-bergen-peer-led-harm-reduction-norway/
Harm Reduction Research
In Stockholm over 10 years, their harm reduction of medications & needle exchanges lowered mortality
All-cause mortality and overdose deaths among 4192 people who inject drugs in Stockholm: a 10-year register-based cohort study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41656245/
At a drug checking service, the discovery of an unexpected active drug caused 20% of people to dispose of the drug or to take a smaller dose
Risk reduction behaviours following the detection of unexpected drugs through community drug checking: a cross-sectional study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41787496/
In Canadian federal prisons, interviews with institutional heads on their perceived risks with prison needle exchange programs
Gatekeeping harm reduction in Canadian Federal Prisons: Perspectives on the threat risk assessment for the prison needle exchange program by prison administrative leadership
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/add.70376
For pharmacy staff, a review of the harm reduction services they can provide for people who use drugs
Harm reduction and pharmacy practice: a scoping review of services for people who use drugs provided by pharmacy staff
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/3/e110929
🍄 Psychoactives, Psychedelics & Plant Medicines 🍄
In the Toronto psychedelic mushroom shop scene, there’s been a turf war of violence
https://doubleblindmag.com/the-psychedelic-turf-wars-have-officially-begun/
A new Leary biography focusing on the occult aspects: ‘The Occult Timothy Leary: The Tarot, Magical States, and Post-Terrestrial Evolution’
https://lennyflatley.substack.com/p/new-book-alert-the-occult-timothy
The Psychoactive Research
For drug use by females, an ethnographic analysis across 171 societies found “women’s drug use is consistently less frequent and more culturally regulated than men’s”
Female Drug Use in the Ethnographic Record: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Presence, Variation, and Cultural Context
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/5/1/5
Psychedelics & MDMA
An analysis of US mushroom churches
Neoshamanism: Mushroom Churches in the United States
https://kimberlymelgoza.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/kimberly_melgoza_-_final_joaa_paper.pdf
For people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, psilocybin reduced symptoms for weeks to months
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Psilocybin for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/frontdoor/index/index/year/2026/docId/43620
For LSD, brain scans of how it alters brain dynamics & self-related processing
LSD Relaxes Structural Constraints on Brain Dynamics and Default Mode Decoupling Tracks Ego Dissolution
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2026/03/05/2026.03.02.709138.full.pdf
In hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (the visuals from psychedelics not stopping), a case report of someone with cartoonish imagery for 2 years
Distorted Cartoonish Images in the Environment: A Unique Visual Phenomenon in Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2026.210302
For psychoactive toads, a review of analyses of 5-MeO-DMT & bufotenin
We Licked the Toads so You Don’t Have to: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Chemical Syntheses of the Classical Psychedelics Bufotenin(e) and 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41765690/
In psychedelics for PTSD, a review of efficacy & risks
Efficacy and risks of psychedelics in treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review
https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ajhp/zxag062/8507027
Ketamine
On ketamine for depression, a case series where the majority of patients reported 50+% improvements
Intravenous ketamine infusion for major depressive disorder: A Case Series Analysis
https://journals.lww.com/aips/fulltext/9900/intravenous_ketamine_infusion_for_major_depressive.171.aspx
In people with chronic neuropathic pain, a survey found ketamine decreased pain intensity & increased functionality
PAINscape—Exploring patient experiences with ketamine for chronic neuropathic pain: A qualitative study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/24740527.2026.2615473
For people with oral mucositis (inflamed mouth & gut tissue, often from chemotherapy), a ketamine mouthwash reduced pain
A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial on the Safety and Efficacy of Ketamine Mouthwash for Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis in Pediatric Patients
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A2%3A38301730/detailv2
In a brain tissue model of ketamine for depression, the mechanism may be via the AMPA receptors
The dynamics of AMPA receptors underlies the efficacy of ketamine in treatment resistant patients with depression
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-026-03510-w
🍃 The Plant & its Products 🍃
For hemp essential oil, a characterization of its components, antimicrobial effects & sensory profile
New insights into hemp essential oils: Chemical, antimicrobial, and sensory profiling of underexplored genotypes
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815251
🌱 Growing 🌱
In the cannabis of northern Morocco, on how the environment altered cannabinoid & terpene production
Environmental determinants of cannabinoid, terpene and safety profiles in Cannabis sativa L. cultivation in Northern Morocco
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669026003262
In cannabis plants grown under different levels of zinc, the excess levels were stored in the root & not the flowers, “thereby not imposing health risk to the consumers”
The power of zinc: excess and deficiency of Zn decrease cannabinoids in cannabis without Zn toxicity concerns to consumers
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12961903/
For enhancing yield, a novel plant-based biostimulant, Tricostimulant™
A Novel Biostimulant for Enhancing Biomass and Therapeutic Compounds in Cannabis sativa
https://www.mdpi.com/2037-0164/17/3/18
“The biostimulant evaluated in this study, Tricostimulant™, is a botanical extract-based formulation containing Centella asiatica, Echinacea purpurea, Taraxacum officinale, Urtica dioica, and fermented rice extract.”
For hemp pollen, levels were increased by adding the biostimulant 3-chlorosalicylate, the fertilizer Nitron S & honey
How the Pollen Grains of the Varieties of Cannabis sativa L. Respond to Biostimulant of Plant Growth and Development and Habitat Conditions?
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15440478.2026.2631142
For inducing a callus from hemp, on optimizing the sources & protocol
Development of callus culture protocol for secondary metabolite production from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815348
For hemp flowering & cannabinoid biosynthesis, a genetic analysis found 2400+ genes involved
Flowering stage- and cultivar-specific regulation of cannabinoid biosynthesis in hemp: An integrated transcriptomics and metabolomic analyses
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669026003754
⚙️ Extracting, Analyzing & Formulating ⚙️
For oral mucosal delivery of the cannabinoids, a review of fabrication techniques
Cannabinoid Oral Mucosal Delivery: Approaches to Formulation, Fabrication, and Permeation Enhancement
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41792583/
On the stability of CBD & THC in cannabis oils, an analysis of the effects of light, temperature, excipients & antioxidant additives
Evaluation of the Stability of Cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in Cannabis-based Oily Product: Effects of Light, Temperature, Excipients and Antioxidant Additives
https://www.brjac.com.br/artigos/brjac-72-2025.pdf
On using extracellular vesicles from hemp for creating nanomedicines
Hemp-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Novel Frontier in Nanomedicine and Therapeutics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41787227/
Encapsulating CBD into micelles for better bioavailability
From Water-Based Cannabidiol Formulations to Porous PEGDMA Platforms: A Material Approach Toward Transdermal Delivery Using Polymeric Micelles
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsapm.5c04920
On creating a CBD nanocarrier
Design of experiments to develop and optimise the nanocarriers: the case of vesicles loaded with cannabidiol and coated with chitosan
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815449
On improving the bioavailability of cannabinoids with glycosylation
Biotechnological routes to efficient glycosylation of cannabinoids
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1814829
On creating complexes of Cannabisin A & Cannabisin B with zein
Non-covalent complexation of zein with hemp seed Cannabisins A and Cannabisins B: Molecular mechanisms, structural characterization and enhanced functional properties
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813026011360
🍞 Food & Nutrition 🍞
In hemp seeds, flours & oils, an analysis of their cannabinoid levels (with some exceeding EU guidelines)
Comprehensive profiling of phytocannabinoids and phenolic compounds in hemp seeds, flours, and oil
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815294
In bread made from hemp seeds & hemp bakery products, on the level of cannabinoids & their stability during baking
Hemp containing breads: Cannabinoid content, profiles, and thermal stability during baking
https://api-depositonce.tu-berlin.de/server/api/core/bitstreams/9fde4573-6876-4e45-a4e4-8076d20395ed/content
For gelatin hydrogels, adding hemp protein enhanced water-holding capacity, gel strength & antioxidant activity
Rheological and Bioactive Profile of Gelatin—Hemp Protein Hydrogels
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/5/885
In oleogels (edible fats), hempseed oil stabilized them
Hemp seed oil oleogels stabilized by a soy protein isolate-sodium alginate complex: Structural characterization and kinetics model
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814626008836
🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber 🏗️
For brake pads, on reinforcing polymer composites with hemp fiber
Design and Development of Hemp Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites for Advanced Brake Pad Applications
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/masy.70233
For treating wastewater, hemp shives covered in ZnO nanolayers had high degradation efficiencies against tested pollutants
Hemp shives conformally-coated by ALD ZnO for a sustainable application in wastewater remediation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1010603026001322
For supercapacitors, on improving performance with hemp sawdust waste
Hemp sawdust‐derived N/S/P‐doped high surface area activated carbons for supercapacitors: Correlation between structural properties and performance
https://aiche.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ep.70314
For a hemp/nettle polyester composite, an evaluation of its structural integrity
Bending and vibration analysis of hemp/nettle polyester composite to evaluate the structural integrity
https://pubs.aip.org/aip/acp/article/3365/1/030005/3382504/Bending-and-vibration-analysis-of-hemp-nettle
On creating hemp fiber with higher CBD levels for transferring into the skin
Hanffaser mit erhöhtem CBD-Gehalt [Hemp fiber with increased CBD content]
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A5%3A22815909/detailv2
For denim fabrics, hemp yarn improved performance & feel
Thermophysiological and tactile comfort properties of denim fabrics with hemp blended single and dual-core yarns
https://www.emerald.com/rjta/article-abstract/doi/10.1108/RJTA-11-2025-0260/1345092/Thermophysiological-and-tactile-comfort-properties
For degumming industrial hemp fiber, on a green refined process for yarn production
Green degumming of industrial hemp fibers: Property enhancement and application in hemp/cotton blended yarns
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092666902600364X
For the acoustic performance of hemp fiber, a phosphorus-based flame-retarding treatment caused a small reduction in sound absorption performance
Impact of a phosphorus-based fireproof treatment on the acoustic performances of bulk hemp fibers
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003682X26000678
For lightweight geopolymer mortars, hemp fibers enhanced mechanical performance
Hemp Fiber and Expanded Perlite-Incorporated Lightweight Inorganic Polymer Mortars: Mechanical, Thermal Insulation, High-Temperature Resistance, Microstructural Characteristics, and Life Cycle Assessment
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/5/653
🌿 THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE 🌿
🏥 Public Health & Bioassays 🏥
In cannabis-related deaths in New Zealand, the main causes were from road crashes & multi-drug poisoning
Safety Implications of Cannabis Use: Rates, Characteristics, and Circumstances of Cannabis-Related Deaths in New Zealand, 2012–2016
https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/12/2/32
In US healthcare majors, those with clinical experience had less support for medical cannabis use
Clinical Experience and Student Support for Medical Cannabis Use: A Secondary Analysis
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400697161_Clinical_Experience_and_Student_Support_for_Medical_Cannabis_Use_A_Secondary_Analysis
For cannabis-related attentional bias, on using a novel tool for eye-tracking
Examining the Reliability and Utility of MouseView.js as a Method to Measure Attentional Bias for Cannabis Use
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/401129938_Examining_the_Reliability_and_Utility_of_MouseViewjs_as_a_Method_to_Measure_Attentional_Bias_for_Cannabis_Use
For electronic health records, on using AI to document cannabis usage
Cannabis Use Documentation within the Electronic Health Record: A Use Case for Natural Language Processing Methods
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.27.26347207v1
For analyzing endocannabinoid levels in saliva & blood, a minimally invasive LC–MS/MS method
A Minimally Invasive LC–MS/MS Approach for Assessing Endocannabinoids in Saliva and Capillary Blood Microsamples
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/16/3/147
On quantifying the CBD blood levels with an LC-MS method
Development and validation of an LC-MS analytical method for the quantification of cannabinoids in blood plasma of medicinal CBD users
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815301
🧒 Adolescents & Young Adults 🧒
For buying drugs from social media & messaging apps, a survey found that while young people were more likely to use Snapchat & that those using high security apps like Telegram or Signal were more likely to buy a wider range of drugs
What app? Demographic and drug use predictors of buying drugs via different social media and messaging apps
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395926000721
In young adult cannabis users, they had higher biomarkers for artery hardening
Inhaled combusted cannabis use is associated with proatherogenic changes in young people: A cross-sectional study
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.04.26347657v1.full.pdf
In young people, the cannabis users tended to have a later sexual debut age
The association between sexual debut age and marijuana consumption in U.S. residents
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14659891.2026.2639406
In young adults, discrimination was associated with increased cannabis usage
Intersecting marginalized identities, multiple discrimination, depressive symptoms, and cannabis use among U.S. young adults, 2021–2024
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15332640.2026.2630725
In adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury versus suicide attempts, those who had attempted suicide had higher blood levels of PEA
Differentiating Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury (NSSI) From Suicide Attempts in Adolescents: A Pilot Study
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/mdb2.70030
🧠 The Brain & Neurological Disorders 🧠
In a cellular model of Parkinson’s disease, CBD prevented cell death
Chemical analysis of the polyphenolic fraction in industrial Hemp vr. Kompolti infusions: metal analysis, antioxidant capacity, and cannabidiol in vitro neuroprotective qualities
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815414
In a cellular model of multiple sclerosis, activating a heteromer of the CB1 receptor & GPR55 receptor (which may one day be known as CB3) increased resilience of the oligodendrocytes (creators of the myelin sheath, which degrades in MS)
Neuroprotective Role of Cannabinoid CB1 and GPR55 Receptors in a Cell Model of Multiple Sclerosis
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12956920/
💭 Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder 💭
In the standard test for cannabis use disorder, the 2 most important factors were use intensity & awareness of problematic use
A two-factor structure for cannabis use disorder identification test and its associations with demographic factors and cannabis use motives
https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/advances-in-drug-and-alcohol-research/articles/10.3389/adar.2026.16094/full
In people with first-episode psychosis induced by cannabis, they had greater self-esteem than those with first-episode psychosis not induced by cannabis
Self-Stigma Patterns in Cannabis-Induced Versus Non-Cannabis-Induced First-Episode Psychosis
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15504263.2026.2638185
For people at high risk for psychosis, a survey found the majority were familiar with CBD & willing to try it
Acceptability of cannabidiol as a treatment for people at clinical high risk for psychosis
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/03/06/2026.03.05.26347694.full.pdf
In people being treated for alcohol use disorder, co-use with cannabis lowered the likelihood of treatment completion
Investigating the Effect of Secondary Cannabis Use in Treatment Discontinuation Among Individuals Undergoing Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2026.2632184
In a mouse model of binging alcohol, inhibiting the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-AG) lessened ethanol consumption via changes to genetic transcription in the brain, with gendered differences
Dose- and sex-related effects of the MAGL inhibitor MCH11 on binge-like ethanol consumption in mice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390826000833
🧬 Reproduction & Hormones 🧬
For conversations around perinatal cannabis use (before & after birth), surveys of providers found that only half are comfortable with the topic
Provider Perspectives of Conversations and Practices Surrounding Perinatal Cannabis Use
https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/347
In a mouse model of prenatal cannabinoid exposure, the offspring had decreased brain microvasculature
Application of correlation mapping optical coherence angiography to study the impact of prenatal cannabinoid exposure on fetal brain vasculature
https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/13833/1383306/Application-of-correlation-mapping-optical-coherence-angiography-to-study-the/10.1117/12.3081522.short
In a rat model of prenatal THC exposure, they had alterations to their AMPA receptors (mediators of excitatory neurotransmission & synaptic plasticity)
Prenatal Exposure to a Moderate Dose of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Alters Hippocampal AMPA Receptor Channel Function Without Changing Subunit Expression
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9488/6/1/18
🦴 Pain, Musculoskeletal, Inflammation & Surgeries 🦴
In adolescents undergoing sedation, heavy users of cannabis had higher sedation requirements
CANNABIS USE AND SEDATION OUTCOMES IN ADOLESCENT PATIENTS UNDERGOING DEEP SEDATION
https://www.ovid.com/jnls/ccmjournal/abstract/10.1097/01.ccm.0001186812.21536.99~1204-cannabis-use-and-sedation-outcomes-in-adolescent
Before sedation, on the creation of a tool for cannabis use screening
CREATING A SHORT PRE-SEDATION CANNABIS USE SCREENING TOOL
https://www.ovid.com/jnls/ccmjournal/abstract/10.1097/01.ccm.0001187056.29545.1e~1265-creating-a-short-pre-sedation-cannabis-use-screening
In a mouse model of migraines, activating their CB1 & CB2 receptors reduced symptoms
Cannabinoid actions on sensitized dural nociceptors in a non-surgical mouse model of migraine-like pain
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8714966/v1/09a4e3dc-c788-4fbb-a32d-7986b25cd8ff.pdf
For inflammation, on creating a hybrid of CBD & oleoside (from olives)
Design and synthesis of a cannabidiol-oleoside hybrid molecules targeting lipoxygenases for inflammation management
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1814827
❤️ The Heart & Blood ❤️
In a rat model of the heart effects from male cannabis plants, they had dose-dependent effects on vasoconstriction
Endothelium-dependent and adrenergic involvement in the biphasic vascular effects of a phenolic-rich ethanolic fraction from male Cannabis sativa inflorescences
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227626001183
🍽️ The Guts, Nutrition & the Microbiome 🍽️
In a mouse model of obesity, they had higher levels of endocannabinoids & blocking their CB1 receptor or the DAGL enzyme (which produces the endocannabinoid 2-AG) reduced food intake
Enhanced 2-arachidonoyl glycerol-dependent CB1 activation contributes to feeding dysregulation in KK-Ay mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41775653/
On derivatives of CBN for inhibiting the α-glucosidase enzyme (breaks down starches & sugars into glucose for intestinal absorption)
Cannabinol derivatives, a new series of α-glucosidase inhibitors: synthesis, structure–activity relationship, and kinetic study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14786419.2026.2638950
👀 The Eyes 👀
For eye delivery of CBD, on creating a liposome gel
Thermosensitive chitosan-coated liposome-based gel for ocular delivery of cannabidiol: development, characterization, and in vivo evaluation
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1814842
🖐️ The Skin & Topicals 🖐️
In a rat model of burn injury, activating the CB1 & CB2 receptors in the body reduced pain, especially mechanical hypersensitivity via the TRP channels
Activation of peripheral cannabinoid receptors by CB13 attenuates burn injury–induced chronic pain through TRP channel modulation
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/bph.70350
In a mouse model of muscle loss due to cancer treatment, an analysis of the changes to the endocannabinoid levels in their guts & gut microbiome
Changes in levels of endocannabinoidome mediators in mice with cancer cachexia: links with steatosis and gut microbial dysbiosis
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44276-026-00208-y
In skin cancer cells, CBD caused cytotoxicity via the CB1 receptor
Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Integrated Computational and Experimental Study
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/qua.70172
On creating a CBD polymeric film for topical applications
POLYMERIC FILMS FROM HPMC AND a-GOS INCORPORATED WITH CANNABIDIOL FOR TOPICAL USE
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Isabela-Angeli-De-Lima/publication/401624557_POLYMERIC_FILMS_FROM_HPMC_AND_a-GOS_INCORPORATED_WITH_CANNABIDIOL_FOR_TOPICAL_USE/links/69ab0821bff9750ad9c88681/POLYMERIC-FILMS-FROM-HPMC-AND-a-GOS-INCORPORATED-WITH-CANNABIDIOL-FOR-TOPICAL-USE.pdf
🎗️ Cancer & Chemotherapy 🎗️
In lymphoma, nano-CBD inhibited cellular proliferation
CANNABIDIOL NANOFORMULATIONS INHIBIT CELL PROLIFERATION AND CANCER-STEM CELL MARKER CD133 IN IN VITRO MODELS OF BURKITT LYMPHOMA
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2531137926000507
In cancer cells, on the anti-inflammatory effects of CBDA
Exploring the anti-inflammatory potential of CBDA
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0045-1815216
For triple-negative breast cancer, a thesis project on using CBD
Controlled-delivery formulations of cannabidiol to optimize the treatment of triple negative breast cancer
https://docta.ucm.es/entities/publication/357bda81-4bb0-4ff3-9e93-d0697de3f11a
💊 Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids 💊
For the synthetic cannabinoid cumyl-5F-P7AICA, on how it travels through the body of a pig
Does a carboxamide moiety alter the toxicokinetics of synthetic cannabinoids? A study after pulmonary and intravenous administration of cumyl-5F-P7AICA to pigs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39630204/
🔬 Biochemical Discoveries & Research Tools 🔬
In a tissue model of studying CB1 receptor activation, on how the different drugs altered signaling by G-receptor proteins & the secondary messenger cAMP
Functional selectivity of cannabinoids at CB1 receptors: Comprehensive analysis of G proteins, β-arrestin and cAMP signalling dynamics in HEK293T cells
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299926002177
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For this week’s a cappella jubilee gospel, the album ‘The Incredibles Swan Silvertones’ by the Swan Silvertones. Formed in 1938 in West Virginia by the coal miner Claude Jeter, the 6 singers got their name when they began their 15-minute radio show in Knoxville, Tennessee sponsored by the Swan Bakery Company. Able to quit their jobs & sing full-time, they came to national attention over the next decade as they recorded with a few different labels. But then they signed with Vee-Jay & their new arranger Paul Owens made their sound more progressive & in 1956, they began adding instruments. Their greatest hit, the 1959 ‘Oh Mary Don’t You Weep’, inspired Paul Simon to write ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’. Despite the departure of Jeter in 1965 for the ministry, the group recorded 18 more albums & were eventually inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
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.