C&P#63: CBD for high blood pressure, autism, anxiety, schizophrenia, facial pain & Doose syndrome
C&P#63: CBD for high blood pressure, autism, anxiety, schizophrenia, facial pain & Doose syndrome
FDA/FTC warning letters for delta-8 THC + NIH wants to license their cannabinoids
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 63rd edition of Cannabinoids & the People, a weekly newsletter where I collect all the new cannabinoid science. You can check out last week’s issue here & if you haven’t subscribed yet, please do. Paid subscriptions are here.
[There’s no extra content with a paid subscription, but as I balance consulting work, kid time & creating free content for the community, your support allows me to produce more educational content for everyone]
This a free offering from my company White Whale Creations. I produce educational content for cannabis & psychedelic companies: writing, science archives, social media content, newsletters & podcasts. Here’s my portfolio. Reach out about working together.
I also give one-on-one Cannabinoid Education Sessions with advice about using the cannabinoids for your health. Read my free How-To Guides, watch my One-Minute Cannabinoid Science videos or book a session with me here.
As always, here’s the Living Glossary of Cannabinoid Terms & at the bottom of the newsletter is the album of the week.
Announcements:
This week, another viral video for CV Sciences on ‘The Targets of THC & CBD’. Plus, I declared it to be Neurotransmitter Week. See the list of all videos below.
The fine editors at Cannabis Health News will now be running a weekly feature with the best of my cannabinoid science finds.
No newsletter next week. We’re taking the kids to the beach.
This week…
CBD for high blood pressure, autism, anxiety, schizophrenia, facial pain & Doose syndrome
Drug interactions of CBD & reviews out the wazoo
How does prenatal cannabinoid exposure lead to later cognitive impairments in the offspring?
Cannabis linked to ringing in the ears
A Clockwork Orange-style treatment for cannabis use disorder
A better blood test for detecting recent cannabis smoking
A legal analysis: banning fireworks vs banning cannabis
Using AI for early detection of your cannabis pests! (do androids dream of electric weed?)
“synthacaine” – now there’s a synthetic cannabinoid with a name that intrigues
A request to spread the word
This newsletter only spreads by word of mouth – so please forward to colleagues & tell your friends & relatives.
Sponsor: new product drop from PlusCBD: 2,000 mg Daily Balance full-spectrum oil
It’s difficult because while many people report help from low levels of CBD, many of the clinical trials are in the range of hundreds of milligrams per day. CV Sciences created a solution with a full-spectrum oil that contains 2,000 mg of CBD along with all of the other terpenes, minor cannabinoids & fatty acids that make the plant so powerful.
With 25 mg of CBD per serving & available in peppermint & monk fruit, this CBD oil is ideal for anyone looking to harness higher levels of CBD for their health.
Buy the Daily Balance oil here & see what it can do to make your life better.
My work this week:
Canna-Education for CV Sciences (TikTok:@cvsciences):
Terpene Tuesday: Myrcene & Couch-lock
Opioids & Cannabinoids & Pain
Cannabinoids & Allergies
Neurotransmitter Week: Acetylcholine!
THC, CBD & Glutamate's Excitation!
THC/CBD balance
CBG! The Mother Cannabinoid
The Herb & the Memory
THC, CBD, dreams & sleep
Cannabinoids & Neuroprotection
In the series ‘The Cannabinoids Graphic Novels Based on Moby Dick That I Should Be Writing Right Now...’
Ch 6: the Show – the beginning & end of the Golden Age of Cannabis
My platforms: Linktree
YouTube for educational videos, lectures & shorts on new cannabinoid science
My podcasts
Anandamide; or, the People: my graphic novel series on cannabis, the endocannabinoid system & the War on Drugs based on Moby-Dick
LinkedIn, Twitter & my TikTok on books, hermeticism, science & history
Ways to support this work:
Buy Me a Coffee
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Zelle: pelger@gmail.com
PayPal: donate here
Best Of Cannabinoid Science...
A Brazilian tribute to Dr. Raphael Mechoulam
Prof. Dr Raphael Mechoulam, Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research Pioneer (November 05, 1930 - March 09, 2023) and his legacy for the Brazilian Pharmacology
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37243978/
Clinical Therapeutics has a special cannabis issue
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/clinical-therapeutics/vol/45/issue/6
Nice summary of where else cannabinoids are found in the plant kingdom
Clinical
From the ever bountiful UK Medical Cannabis Registry, this study on anxiety found that cannabis medicines improved anxiety, sleep quality & quality of life
Clinical outcome data of anxiety patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products in the United Kingdom: a cohort study from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37314478/
I know that patients can sometimes fear medical cannabis registries & I understand where they're coming from with the history of Prohibition. However, when done correctly, these large banks of public health data yield powerful results about the real-world use of cannabis & cannabinoid based medicines.
In a survey of patients with voice tremor & voice box spasms, ~40% found cannabis to be somewhat effective
Cannabinoid Use in the Treatment of Laryngeal Dystonia and Vocal Tremor: A Pilot Investigation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37308367/
In people with untreated high blood pressure, 24 hours of CBD significantly lowered their systolic pressure, arterial pressure & arterial stiffness
The Influence of Oral Cannabidiol on 24-h Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Untreated Hypertension: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Pilot Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37291376/
And the ability of CBD to lower blood pressure seems linked to serum levels of urotensin (the strongest known vasoconstrictor (besides my ex-wife))
Effects of CBD supplementation on ambulatory blood pressure and serum urotensin-II concentrations in Caucasian patients with essential hypertension: A sub-analysis of the HYPER-H21-4 trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37321059/
In a well-designed study of CBD & THC drug interactions, THC did not alter the blood concentrations from a cocktail of drugs while the presence of CBD did increase a number of their levels, including the levels of THC
Evaluation of Cytochrome P450-Mediated Cannabinoid-Drug Interactions in Healthy Adult Participants
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37313955/
“The CBD + Δ9-THC brownie inhibited CYP2C19 > CYP2C9 > CYP3A > CYP1A2 (but not CYP2D6) activity [these are liver enzymes that process various drugs that enter our body], as evidenced by an increase of omeprazole, losartan, midazolam, and caffeine by 207%, 77%, 56%, and 39%, respectively. In contrast, the Δ9-THC brownie did not inhibit any of the CYPs. The CBD + Δ9-THC brownie increased Δ9-THC … by 161%, consistent with CBD inhibiting CYP2C9-mediated oral Δ9-THC clearance.”
Public health data showed an association between cannabis use & tinnitus (ringing or other sounds in the ears)
Association between Cannabis Use and Tinnitus in US Adults
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37254263/
In a study of genes linked to Parkinson's disease, one of the results is the gene for the CB1 receptor
Genetic Insights into the Molecular Pathophysiology of Depression in Parkinson's Disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37374342/
And in colitis patients, they had increased endocannabinoid levels in the mucus of their intestines
Mucosal Metabolomic Signatures in Chronic Colitis: Novel Insights into the Pathophysiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202306.0902/v1
In a review of 54 studies on the use of cannabis by physicians, in my opinion, not nearly enough of them tried it
Cannabis Use in Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37233605/
Reviews
An analysis of state cannabis programs finds out how they used CBD & THC, with the most common condition being intractable pain
Medical Cannabis Received by Patients According to Qualifying Condition in a US State Cannabis Program: Product Choice, Dosing, and Age-related Trends
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011393X23000188
A review on the therapeutic uses of purified CBD
The therapeutic potential of purified cannabidiol
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37312194/
“The areas in which there is the most clinical evidence to support the use of CBD are in the treatment of anxiety (positive data in 7 uncontrolled studies and 17 randomised controlled trials (RCTs)), psychosis and schizophrenia (positive data in 1 uncontrolled study and 8 RCTs), PTSD (positive data in 2 uncontrolled studies and 4 RCTs) and substance abuse (positive data in 2 uncontrolled studies and 3 RCTs). Seven uncontrolled studies support the use of CBD to improve sleep quality, but this has only been verified in one small RCT. Limited evidence supports the use of CBD for the treatment of Parkinson's (3 positive uncontrolled studies and 2 positive RCTs), autism (3 positive RCTs), smoking cessation (2 positive RCTs), graft-versus-host disease and intestinal permeability (1 positive RCT each). Current RCT evidence does not support the use of purified oral CBD in pain (at least as an acute analgesic) or for the treatment of COVID symptoms, cancer, Huntington's or type 2 diabetes.”
A review of using CBD to treat schizophrenia,
Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Schizophrenia
https://journals.healio.com/doi/abs/10.3928/00485713-20230505-01
And anxiety,
Current Evidence of Cannabidiol's Potential as an Anxiolytic Agent
https://journals.healio.com/doi/abs/10.3928/00485713-20230515-02
And autism
Therapeutic Profile of Cannabidiol in the Broad Symptomatology of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence From Basic Science to Clinical Approaches
https://journals.healio.com/doi/abs/10.3928/00485713-20230515-01
For autism, a review of 3 articles on how cannabinoids modulate excitation & inhibition in the brain
Modulation of Excitatory and Inhibitory Systems in Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Cannabinoids
http://ijclinmedcasereports.com/ijcmcr-rw-id-00730/
On using CBD to treat neuropathic facial pain
The role of cannabidiol in modulating chronic neuropathic orofacial pain
https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/denu.2023.50.6.512
For endometriosis, a review of treating with cannabis
Use of medical cannabis in the treatment of endometriosis
https://www.scielo.br/j/brjp/a/MZZJsdgFLTzQxtFz9JPszzj/?lang=en
In a review of the rare complex epilepsy known as Doose syndrome, they highlight CBD as a promising new treatment
A MINI REVIEW OF DOOSE SYNDROME: CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT
https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/MJPH/article/view/39024
Reviewing the roles of endocannabinoids in the functioning of the heart & lung systems
Role of omega-3 and omega-6 endocannabinoids in cardiopulmonary pharmacology
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37236765/
“Omega-3 and omega-6 endocannabinoids play several important roles in cardiopulmonary system such as causing airway relaxation, suppressing atherosclerosis and hypertension. These effects are mediated via the cannabinoids receptors that are abundant in the cardiopulmonary system.”
For cannabis use disorder, a review of using psychedelics as a treatment
Systematic review and rationale of using psychedelics in the treatment of cannabis use disorder
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1144276/full
Preclinical
In stressed rats, a broad-spectrum hemp extract (no THC) lowered the biomarkers for oxidative stress
Effect of Broad-Spectrum Hemp Extract on Neurobehavioral Activity on the Immobilization Stress-Induced Model in Sprague Dawley Rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37332853/
In a mouse model of migraines, CBD helped with the pain though it only helped the males with the related anxiety & pain behaviors
Preclinical effects of cannabidiol in an experimental model of migraine
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37310430/
In something you don't see enough of, negative findings of things that do not happen or are not true when the cannabinoids are in the hippocampus (memory area of the brain)
A collection of cannabinoid-related negative findings from autaptic hippocampal neurons
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37311900/
A frequent condemnation of modern science by its practitioners is that when an experiment yields negative or null results, those results don't get published. This results in repeated wasted efforts as labs in the same field run down the same dead ends. There is a call to increase the release of negative findings even if they mean your paper isn't quite as sexy. Kudos to this team for sharing their negative results.
A big review of the TRPV4 receptors on which the endocannabinoids act
Bibliometric analysis and review of research frontiers on Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 channels
https://bmrat.com/index.php/BMRAT/article/view/808
And a review of the effects of GPR18 ( a receptor that may one day be known as CB3 or CB4)
Novel GPR18 Ligands in Rodent Pharmacological Tests: Effects on Mood, Pain, and Eating Disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37240392/
In another example of a traditional medicine that works partially via the endocannabinoid system, FuFang Runzaoling (a traditional plant blend used to treat Sjögren’s syndrome, a chronic & systemic autoimmune disease) increased expression of genes related to retrograde endocannabinoid signaling (the ability of the endocannabinoids to tell an upstream neuron to slow its firing)
Gut microbiota combined with fecal metabolomics reveals the effects of FuFang Runzaoling on the microbial and metabolic profiles in NOD mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37312184/
Also, molecules from the machaerium flower (widely used in traditional medicine) activated the CB2 receptor
Cannabinoid and Opioid Receptor Affinity and Modulation of Cancer-Related Signaling Pathways of Machaeriols and Machaeridiols from Machaerium Pers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37241903/
An evergreen note on reading restricted papers:
First stop for seeing if there’s a free version of a paper, use the Google Scholar Chrome extension (Mac version), Google Scholar itself or try ResearchGate.
Three other helpful browser extensions are: Unpaywall, Open Access Button & PaperPanda
For the infamous backdoor, use Sci-Hub – the pirated papers repository (Chrome extension here). This works better for older paper than the stuff that just came out.
For Twitter users, send a Tweet of the paper’s title with the hashtag #icanhazpdf. It works because people are beautiful(ish).
Finally, email the author. They’re almost always happy to oblige because, thanks to the predatory academic publishing system, they don’t make a dollar off of their papers.
the Headlines & Fav Articles
The NIH wants someone to license their cannabinoid drugs
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/06/29/2023-13792/government-owned-inventions-availability-for-licensing
The FDA & FTC tag-team to send warning letters to companies selling delta-8 THC products resembling popular food brands
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/fda-and-ftc-send-warning-letters-about-copycat-delta-8-thc-products-resembling-popular-food-brands-like-doritos/
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill that bans people from using cannabis at recovery residences, even if its prescribed by a doctor
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/desantis-signs-bill-prohibiting-medical-marijuana-at-florida-recovery-residences-even-if-recommended-by-doctor/
California has removed 90% of cannabis cases from their records: 200k+ cleared
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-courts-have-sealed-90-percent-of-eligible-marijuana-cases-state-attorney-generals-report-shows/
With ~90% of California’s cannabis infected by the latent hop viroid, scientists discovered a variety that can fight off the infection – and it turns purple as it does so
https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/purple-colored-weed-save-california-cannabis-18175713.php
A study & survey from the trucking industry finds that the majority of drivers & carriers agree that an impairment test should replace the current cannabis use test
Impacts of Marijuana Legalization on the Trucking Industry
https://trid.trb.org/view/2192548
International
French doctors are in need of cannabis training…
French general practitioners and medical cannabis: A need for training
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37246101/
And a survey of how the French are using cannabis
Exclusive Therapeutic Use of Cannabis in a Large Sample of Daily Cannabis Users in France: A Cross-Sectional Survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37315569/
It’s funny. The country of France is probably the most regressive EU power on the cannabis question. And they also have the highest number of cannabis users by far.
The worst of it is, I don’t expect to buy legal cannabis here until my toddler is graduating high school. So until then, down to the river I go…
In Jamaica from 2014 to 2020, cannabis plants saw a large increase in THC potency (1.1% to 10.2%)
Potency trends of cannabis in Jamaica during the period of 2014 to 2020
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37309060/
The War on Drugs & the End of Prohibition
An entertaining analysis of the prohibition of fireworks vs the prohibition of cannabis
The absence of hysteria over fireworks problems and policies suggests that societies can address complex tradeoffs involving risky pleasures without excessive acrimony or divisiveness when that product or activity is not construed as a vice.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37315476/
“The absence of hysteria over fireworks problems and policies suggests that societies can address complex tradeoffs involving risky pleasures without excessive acrimony or divisiveness when that product or activity is not construed as a vice.”
To determine recent cannabis smoking, your ratio of cannabinoid metabolites in your blood is a better measurement than blood THC levels
Blood cannabinoid molar metabolite ratios are superior to blood THC as an indicator of recent cannabis smoking
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37293900/
Using 3,830 adult twins, the researchers found that living in a state with adult use cannabis was associated with greater cannabis use frequency but not more negative consequences from cannabis use
Evaluating substance use outcomes of recreational cannabis legalization using a unique co-twin control design
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37262386/
Business
On the unprofitability of the cannabis sector
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
A full collection of the lectures from the Psychedelic Summit at UC Davis
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9RuTdLd7xOa7FoTM3bVsahte
On the psychedelic activist balance between local grassroots orgs & big outside money
How Jamaica is becoming a hub of mushroom retreats
https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/purple-colored-weed-save-california-cannabis-18175713.php
The Psychoactive Research
[This isn’t a deep dive into the science of psychedelics & other psychoactives like I do for the cannabinoids. If your company or organization would be interested in a breakdown of all the new psychedelic science, reach out to me]
In people microdosing LSD, they reported sleeping better on the days of dosing
LSD increases sleep duration the night after microdosing
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.27.23291970v1
An editorial on how psychedelics pose a challenge for informed consent
Psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions pose challenges for informed consent
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37316686/
A survey about the policy preferences of those who use psychedelics
Preferences and Support for Psychedelic Policies and Practices Among Those Using Psychedelics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37353935/
In human cells, psilocybin lowered their senescence (a state of permanent cell cycle arrest)
Psilocybin decelerates cellular senescence
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-2921423/v1
The Plant & the History
Growing & Farming
In greenhouses, a survey of the practices for commercial cannabis growth
A Survey of Modern Greenhouse Technologies and Practices for Commercial Cannabis Cultivation
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=10149009
On three protocol modifications for better harvesting of your trichomes
Non-Aqueous Isolation and Enrichment of Glandular Capitate Stalked and Sessile Trichomes from Cannabis sativa
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37246866/
On the problems of hemp in Arizona
The Desert Whale: the boom and bust of hemp in Arizona
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37291630/
Using AI for early detection of your cannabis pests!
Early pest detection in cannabis plants with multispectral imaging: artificial intelligence and machine learning
https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/12536/1253610/Early-pest-detection-in-cannabis-plants-with-multispectral-imaging/10.1117/12.2663834.short
I think we can all agree to dream of a world where the AI grows your cannabis, smokes it for you & then shares with you all the creative ideas you would have had.
On three species of fungi causing cannabis wilting in Korea
Characterization of Three Fusarium spp. Causing Wilt Disease of Cannabis sativa L. in Korea
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37359955/
For antioxidation, the effects of hemp's year of planting, genotype & phytochemical content
Effect of Genotype, Year, and Their Interaction on the Accumulation of Bioactive Compounds and the Antioxidant Activity in Industrial Hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) Inflorescences
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37240314/
Ingestion Methods & Extraction Techniques
An analysis on the yield & efficiency of extraction techniques depending on solvents, temperatures & particle sizes
Effects of Particle Size, Solvent Type, and Extraction Temperature on the Extraction of Crude Cannabis Oil, Cannabinoids, and Terpenes
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.3c00129
Nutrition & Animal Feed
The antioxidant effects of hempseed proteins
Antioxidant Effect Assessment and Trans Epithelial Analysis of New Hempseed Protein Hydrolysates
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37237964/
Industrial Use
Using hemp hurds to make anodes for batteries
Waste Hemp Hurd as a Sustainable Precursor for Affordable and High-Rate Hard Carbon-Based Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c01040
The performance of hemp walls in terms of solar radiation during a typical French summer climate
Impact of Solar Radiation on Hygrothermal Behavior of a Washing Fine Hemp Wall
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-33465-8_32
An analysis of hemp thermal insulation
From the Lab Scale to the Construction Site Scale: Properties of Hemp Thermal Insulation
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-33211-1_119
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
Clinical Use
On cannabis causing anxiety so severe that it required a trip to the emergency room
Cannabis-Induced Anxiety Disorder in the Emergency Department
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37252542/
How does the personal beliefs of doctor affect their medical cannabis recommendations? I don't know, it's behind a paywall
Impact of personal beliefs about medical cannabis on physician recommendation practices: Results of an international survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37257363/
Adolescents & Pediatric
A study following adolescents linked cannabis use “to a decline in verbal learning ability in the short term and in emotion recognition, attention, and inhibition in the longer-term”
Prospective, longitudinal study to isolate the impacts of marijuana use on neurocognitive functioning in adolescents
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37255687/
In UK adolescents, a population study found the use of cannabis, CBD or synthetic cannabinoids were “significantly more likely to report a probable depressive, anxiety or conduct disorder, as well as auditory hallucinations”
Association of cannabis, cannabidiol and synthetic cannabinoid use with mental health in UK adolescents
https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/160216/1/BJPsych-23-0093%20R1.0%20clean.pdf
According to a public health database about adolescents, there was not a significant association between medical cannabis dispensary laws & prolonged opioid use
Medical marijuana access and prolonged opioid use among adolescents and young adults
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37291067/
Using television shows to scare teens about EVALI (vaping lung injury) is effective
"Better Than Any DARE Program": Qualitative Analysis of Adolescent Reactions to EVALI Television Storylines
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37312252/
On the effects of adverse childhood experiences on later levels of depression & immune cells that contain cannabinoid receptors
Effects of recurrence of illness and adverse childhood experiences on effector, cytotoxic, and regulatory T cells, and cannabinoid receptor-bearing B cells in major depression, an autoimmune disorder
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371475148_Effects_of_recurrence_of_illness_and_adverse_childhood_experiences_on_effector_cytotoxic_and_regulatory_T_cells_and_cannabinoid_receptor-bearing_B_cells_in_major_depression_an_autoimmune_disorder
A model of risk in young people for developing cannabis use disorder
A Bayesian learning model to predict the risk for cannabis use disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35588608/
In adolescent mice, exposure to THC increased impulsivity in adulthood
THC exposure during adolescence increases impulsivity-like behavior in adulthood in a WIN 55,212-2 self-administration mouse model
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37304451/
Neurology & Brain Diseases
In epilepsy patients, the quality-of-life improvement from Epidiolex (pharmaceutical CBD)
Quality improvement study in epilepsy patients treated with Epidiolex®
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37390612/
For autism & childhood epilepsy, a review of using the cannabinoids as a treatment
Cannabinoids for the treatment of autism and childhood epilepsy
https://www.scielo.br/j/brjp/a/Xm4S6D9xV5LqYggqBR5Ndtb/?lang=en
In male mice, repeated exposure to a drug that strongly activates the CB1 receptor led to cognitive dysfunctions, psychomotor agitation, reduced social dominance & recognition memory (plus less CB1 receptors in the hippocampus) as well as impaired neuroplasticity & lowered levels of NMDA (glutamate) receptors
Cognitive dysfunctions and impaired neuroplasticity following repeated exposure to the synthetic ccannabinoid JWH-018 in male mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37311647/
In microglial cells (guardian immune cells of the brain), both inhibition of the FAAH enzyme & activation of the CB2 receptor improved neuroinflammation
Sphingosine Kinases at the Intersection of Pro-Inflammatory LPS and Anti-Inflammatory Endocannabinoid Signaling in BV2 Mouse Microglia Cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37239854/
In frog neuron, how the loss of the CB1 receptor impacts the formation of axons & dendrites (the mouths & ears of a neuron)
Cell-autonomous and differential endocannabinoid signaling impacts the development of presynaptic retinal ganglion cell axon connectivity in vivo
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37252636/
In mammal embryonic brain cells, the CB1 receptor regulated their migration & transformation
Cannabinoid receptor type 1 regulates sequential stages of migration and morphogenesis of neural crest cells and derivatives in chicken and frog embryos
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37313768/
In a mouse model of nerve injury, the injury causes regeneration of the axons of neurons via an increase in endocannabinoid tone
Injury-induced activation of the endocannabinoid system promotes axon regeneration
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37235048/
“We also enhanced the regenerative capacity of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons through the inhibition of endocannabinoid degradative enzyme MAGL or a CB1R agonist. Our results suggest that the ECS, via CB1R and PI3K-pAkt pathway activation, plays an important role in promoting the intrinsic regenerative capacity of sensory neurons after injury.”
Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders
In people with cannabis use disorder, a new drug that specifically blocks the CB1 receptor (AEF0117 ) was well tolerated, caused people to use less cannabis & for the effects of cannabis to be less enjoyable
Signaling-specific inhibition of the CB1 receptor for cannabis use disorder: phase 1 and phase 2a randomized trials
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37291212/
There’s something distinctly A Clockwork Orange about this.
In military veterans, the use of cannabis may have a trade-off between stress reduction versus increased insomnia symptoms
Longitudinal associations between insomnia, cannabis use and stress among US veterans
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37243415/
Different neural network patterns predict the efficacy of treatment for cocaine use disorder vs cannabis use disorder
Distinct neural networks predict cocaine versus cannabis treatment outcomes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37308679/
On the link between psychosis induced by substances & psychosis disorders
What is the Link Between Substance-Induced Psychosis and Primary Psychotic Disorders?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37259511/
An editorial on using CBD in psychiatric practice
Cannabidiol (CBD) in psychiatric clinical practice: Current data
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37246102/
In mice using cocaine, inhibiting the FAAH enzyme helped to restore the neuroplastic changes related to social interactions
Cocaine-induced loss of LTD and social impairments are restored by fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition
https://europepmc.org/article/ppr/ppr671993
In a mouse model of stress, oleoylethanolamide (an analog of anandamide) helped with their anxiety & depressive behaviors
Oleoylethanolamide restores stress-induced prepulse inhibition deficits and modulates inflammatory signaling in a sex-dependent manner
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37314479/
Female-specific, Reproduction & Hormones
In pregnant women, the timing of their cannabis use appeared to play a key role in how much smaller their newborn was at birth
The impact of timing of in utero marijuana exposure on fetal growth
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37260795/
A review of the mechanisms by which prenatal cannabinoid exposure may lead to later cognitive impairments in the offspring
Mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment induced by prenatal cannabinoid exposure: a literature review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37318470/
“The findings from the studies reviewed revealed that the cognitive impairment associated with prenatal cannabinoid exposure is caused by alterations in the expression and function of endocannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R), decreased glutamate transmission, reduced neurogenesis, alterations in protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and extracellular signal‑regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) activity, and increased mitochondrial function in the hippocampus, cortex, and cerebellum.”
In related news, warning signs about cannabis use during pregnancy changed neither behaviors nor beliefs
Association of Mandatory Warning Signs for Cannabis Use During Pregnancy With Cannabis Use Beliefs and Behaviors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37314807/
In vascular cells of the uterus in early pregnancy, anandamide helped to increase their migration
A physiological concentration of anandamide promotes the migration of human endometrial fibroblast and the interaction with endothelial cells invitro
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37354692/
The Guts, the Microbiome & Oral Health
In patients with vomiting, nabilone (a synthetic THC analog) helped some of them with symptom improvement but more than half reported side effects
Usefulness of nabilone as an antiemetic in persistent vomiting due to refractory gastrointestinal disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37314117/
In the brain, oleoylethanolamide (an analog to anandamide) reaches the brain nuclei via circulation & acts as a signal to stop eating
"To brain or not to brain": evaluating the possible direct effects of the satiety factor oleoylethanolamide in the central nervous system
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37234803/
Genitourinary System
In a mouse model of a urinary tract infection, β-caryophyllene (one of the most common terpenes in cannabis) reduced bacteria in the urine & bladder tissues as well as reducing bladder inflammation & improving pain behaviors
Antibacterial and Analgesic Properties of Beta-Caryophyllene in a Murine Urinary Tract Infection Model
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37241885/
The Skin
On improving CBD delivery into the skin
Micelles-in-Liposome Systems Obtained by Proliposomal Approach for Cannabidiol Delivery: Structural Features and Skin Penetration
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37306238/
The Eyes
A thesis project on finding endocannabinoid machinery in a monkey’s V2 (the second visual processing area of the brain)
Expression and localization of the endocannabinoid system in area V2 of the vervet monkey
https://papyrus.bib.umontreal.ca/xmlui/handle/1866/28160
Cancer & Chemotherapy
In melanoma cells, cannabinoids reduced their viability via the CB1, TRPV1 & PPARα receptors while not interfering with the most commonly used therapeutic intervention
Cannabinoids Reduce Melanoma Cell Viability and Do Not Interfere with Commonly Used Targeted Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma In Vivo and In Vitro
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37237519/
In melanoma cells & mice with melanoma, CBG lowered cytokines that stimulate colony formation & it also helped immune checkpoint therapies to work better
Decreased melanoma CSF-1 secretion by Cannabigerol treatment reprograms regulatory myeloid cells and reduces tumor progression
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37325437/
Synthetic Cannabinoids
In Israel, an outbreak of severe coagulopathy (blood not clotting) from a batch of synthetic cannabinoids cut with the anticoagulant brodifacoum
An outbreak of severe coagulopathy in northern Israel among users of illicit synthetic cannabinoids adulterated with brodifacoum
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37293741/
A case report of death from using a bucket bong to smoke a mix of fentanyl & synthetic cannabinoids
Death after smoking of fentanyl, 5F-ADB, 5F-MDMB-P7AICA and other synthetic cannabinoids with a bucket bong
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11419-023-00666-w
A review of the potential psychosis effects from the synthetic cannabinoids
Emerging synthetic cannabinoids and the risk of psychosis: a growing concern for public health
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37307149/
In mice, the effects of the synthetic cannabinoid methanone (MAM-2201) also known as “synthacaine”
MAM-2201 acute administration impairs motor, sensorimotor, prepulse inhibition, and memory functions in mice: a comparison with its analogue AM-2201
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37233813/
Characterizing the URB series of synthetic cannabinoids
Characterization of URB Series Synthetic Cannabinoids by HRMS and UHPLC-MS/MS
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37259350/
Cool Chemistry
For treating pain, transforming CBD into a molecule that activates the TRPV1 receptors
Design, synthesis, and analgesia evaluation of novel Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonists modified from Cannabidiol (CBD)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37336082/
On making more stable versions of the acidic cannabinoids
Synthesis and biological evaluation of hydroxamate isosteres of acidic cannabinoids
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fntpr.2023.1190053/full
How to create new cannabinoids using the Friedel-Crafts reaction for attaching aromatic rings
Synthesis of Neocannabinoids Using Controlled Friedel-Crafts Reactions
https://chemrxiv.org/engage/api-gateway/chemrxiv/assets/orp/resource/item/64820164e64f843f418296a0/original/synthesis-of-neocannabinoids-using-controlled-friedel-crafts-reactions.pdf
Thanks.
- lex
PS: It looks like it’s turning into Female Folk Singer month around here. This week, it’s Jean Ritchie ‘Singing The Traditional Songs Of Her Kentucky Mountain Family’. Sometimes called the Mother of Folk, Ritchie played the Appalachian dulcimer & recorded the hundreds of songs she learned in her musical family in a musical community of Kentucky. By the time she was teaching elementary kids in NYC, she was befriending the likes of Woody Guthrie, Alan Lomax & Pete Seeger. In 1952, she won a Fulbright scholarship to trace the ballads of Europe into the folk songs of America. She is credited with bringing international attention to the Appalachian dulcimer & bringing about the dulcimer revival. She lived a long full life spreading folk music to the world before passing quietly at 92 years of age in her Kentucky home.
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