C&P#65: neurogenesis! + CBD & THC for anxiety & PTSD + Thesis Time
C&P#65: neurogenesis! + CBD & THC for anxiety & PTSD + Thesis Time
The VA continues fucking over its veterans + the War on Drugs continues fucking over civil rights
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 65th 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 creating free content, consulting work & papa time, your support allows me to produce more educational content for the community.
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:
My first piece for the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine is an unpublished interview with Dr. Mechoulam from ten years ago when I was young unknown drug writer & he graciously gave me two hours of his time to share his knowledge. A very sweet memory of a sweet man.
And thanks to my editor Meg Roloff who combined her unpublished interview with him into this piece as well.
I’ve never asked this before but there’s a new award called the Emjays - International Cannabis Awards. If you wanted to nominate me for ‘Social Content Creator of the Year’ as Lex Pelger of White Whale Creations, it would mean a lot to me.
This week…
Endocannabinoids cause neurogenesis!!!
THC & CBD for anxiety & PTSD
How to make anxious monkeys
Women feel more of the positive effects of cannabis
CBD’s strength as an antioxidant
PEA for psychosis & the olfactory dysfunction of COVID
Protecting skin stem cells with cannabis oil
The negative effects of cannabinoids on hearts, sperms & adolescents
Apparently it’s Synthetic Cannabinoid Week…
and CBC (cannabichromene ) Week!
Introducing the novel endocannabinoid N-oleoyl dopamine (OLDA)
Kratom’s painkilling via cannabinoid receptors
And it’s that season of the year, Thesis Time!
A request to spread the word
This newsletter only spreads by word of mouth,
so please forward to colleagues & tell your friends & relatives.
Sponsor: The Daily Heroes Program from CV Sciences
Did you know about the discount program for Daily Heroes by CV Sciences?
For veterans, first responders & teachers, receive an unlimited discount of 40-50% off.
If anyone needs CBD, THC or other natural wellness products, it’s these Daily Heroes.
And CV Sciences is happy to help.
My work this week:
American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine:
Last Dance With Mechoulam: An Unpublished Interview With the Father of Cannabis Research
Canna-Education for CV Sciences (TikTok:@cvsciences):
Edibles & your liver enzymes (127k views)
How to get the max effect from your gummies
CBD Acid
Terpene Thursday: Beta Caryophyllene, the Dietary Cannabinoid
Exercise, Cannabinoids & the Runner's High
My platforms: Linktree
YouTube for educational videos, lectures & shorts on new cannabinoid science
Anandamide; or, the People: my graphic novel series on cannabis, the endocannabinoid system & the War on Drugs based on Moby-Dick
My podcasts
LinkedIn, Twitter & my TikTok on books, hermeticism, science & history
Ways to support this work:
Subscribe on Substack
Buy Me a Coffee
Venmo: @Lex-Pelger
Zelle: pelger@gmail.com
PayPal: donate here
Best Of Cannabinoid Science...
A tribute to Dr Raphael Mechoulam by his Brazilian colleagues
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/
A narrative review of cannabis use across cultures (with an excellent bibliography)
Transcultural Aspects of Cannabis Use: a Descriptive Overview of Cannabis Use across Cultures
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40429-023-00500-8
Clinical
In patients with PTSD who have an anxiety disorder, formulas of CBD & THC significantly improved anxiety, depression, fatigue & social abilities
The Effectiveness and Adverse Events of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol Used in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in a PTSD Subpopulation: An Interim Analysis of an Observational Study
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/87551225231180796
In a study of college students, moderate amounts of cannabis increased their sleep while larger amounts shortened sleep time
Dose-dependent Relationships of Same-day and Typical Substance Use to Sleep Duration in College Cannabis and Alcohol Users: A Multilevel Modeling Approach Using Daily Diary Data
https://publications.sciences.ucf.edu/cannabis/index.php/Cannabis/article/view/179
In COVID patients with olfactory dysfunction, a combination of PEA & luteolin (an anti-inflammatory flavonoid frequently combined with PEA) paired with olfactory training improved their olfactory recovery
Treatment of COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction with olfactory training, palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin, or combined therapy: a blinded controlled multicenter randomized trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37380908/
In clinical research on gender differences of smoked cannabis, females reported higher positive objective effects such as strength, liking, willingness to take again & a good effect
Sex differences in the subjective and reinforcing effects of smoked cannabis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37369126/
Despite a lot of preclinical research, there is a dearth of clinical studies on gender differences. I'm glad to see Dr. Cooper & her colleagues working to write that.
In a large cohort of women with & without HIV, cannabis use was associated with a lower glomerular filtration rate (the rate that your kidney filters blood, so a bad thing)
Association of marijuana, tobacco and alcohol use with estimated glomerular filtration rate in women living with HIV and women without HIV
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37352493/
A small clinical study of ayahuasca combined with CBD found no interactive effects, but that CBD may safely be used for people with anxiety taking ayahuasca
Interactive Effects of Ayahuasca and Cannabidiol in Social Cognition in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot, Proof-of-Concept, Feasibility, Randomized-Controlled Trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37335211/
According to Medicaid data, huge disparities exist between state’s prescription levels of pharmaceutical THC & CBD
Pronounced State-Level Disparities in Prescription of Cannabinoids to Medicaid Patients
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37404688/
“Dronabinol [pharmaceutical THC] prescriptions, when corrected for the number of enrollees, in Connecticut were 136.4 times larger than in New Mexico, and seventeen states had zero prescriptions. Idaho's prescriptions of cannabidiol (27.8/10,000 enrollees) were significantly elevated relative to the national average and were 15.4-fold higher than Washington, DC (1.8/10K enrollees).”
According to public health data, shortly after states adopt recreational cannabis laws, they see a decrease in the average number of mental health treatment admissions
The highs and the lows: Recreational marijuana laws and mental health treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37391873/
Participants using a mystical questionnaire for assessing the effects of THC-O-Acetate found quite little psychedelic experience
THC-O-Acetate: Scarce Evidence for a Psychedelic Cannabinoid
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37381980/
Reviews
A review of how endocannabinoids are causing new neuron growth in the adult hippocampus (memory center of the brain)
Endocannabinoid signaling in adult hippocampal neurogenesis: A mechanistic and integrated perspective
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37385352/
A review of 13 studies of PEA in psychosis finds its potential as a psychosis biomarker as well as a potential therapeutic treatment
Questioning the role of palmitoylethanolamide in psychosis: a systematic review of clinical and preclinical evidence
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1231710/full
For ADHD, a review of 20 studies on the effects of cannabis
Evaluation of Efficacy of Cannabis Use in Patients With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37503496/
A review of cannabis for doctors of the GI tract (great chart of CHS)
Should gastroenterologists prescribe cannabis? The highs, the lows and the unknowns
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37449231/
A review on how tolerance to cannabinoids develops
Mechanisms of cannabinoid tolerance
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37348821/
Preclinical
In human sperm, THC reduced the activation & penetration powers
Delta-9-THC acts on the calcium channel CatSper and alters human sperm function
https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/38/Supplement_1/dead093.087/7202852
In a mouse model of arthritis, CBD & CBC produce greater anti-inflammatory effects when working together
The Mechanism of Cannabichromene and Cannabidiol Alone Versus in Combination in the Alleviation of Arthritis-Related Inflammation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37332213/
In rats, CBC treatment increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in a number of organs, decreased liver function enzymes & caused kidney function changes that made the researchers recommend caution in the use of CBC
Dose–response evaluation of cannabichromene on hepato-renal enzyme and non-enzyme biomarkers: the pharmacological controlled study
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00580-023-03491-0
In eye cells, the novel endocannabinoid N-oleoyl dopamine (OLDA) acts not via the CB1 receptor but by the GPR119, GPR6 & TRPV1 receptors to lower their conversion into scar tissue, suggesting a treatment for ocular diseases
Effect of N-oleoyl dopamine on myofibroblast trans-differentiation of retinal pigment epithelial cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37216828/
In a mouse model of neuropathic pain, the ability of the kratom alkaloid mitragynine to lower pain seems to be mediated by the cannabinoid receptors
Cannabinoid mechanisms contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of the kratom alkaloid mitragynine against neuropathic, but not inflammatory pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37392779/
On the antifungal & antibacterial effects of cannabis extracts
Antifungal and antibacterial activities of Cannabis sativa L. resins
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37400009/
In a cellular model of oxidative damage, CBD pre-treatment increased cell viability & antioxidant related enzyme activity as well as lowering the levels of reactive oxygen species with a free radical scavenging capacity comparable to that of a typical natural antioxidant
Protective Effect of Cannabidiol on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Damage in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37382028/
On how CBD modulates the potassium channels to cause its anticonvulsant effects
Subtype-specific modulation of human KV 7 channels by the anticonvulsant cannabidiol through a lipid-exposed pore-domain site
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37377025/
One day I dream of turning research like this into an animation where a cell the size of New York City has its power relay stations infiltrated by Asian elephants (CBD) who convince the electric eels in charge of the local grid (potassium channels) to calm things down.
A review of the CB2 receptor & creating drugs to target it
Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) Orthologue In Vitro Function and Perspectives for Preclinical to Clinical Translation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37349984/
In marmosets (cute little monkeys of South America), knocking down the levels of CB1 receptors in their amygdala (a fear center of the brain) caused anxiety-like behaviors, disrupted sleep, agitation in new environments & reduced social desire
Induction of Anxiety-Like Phenotypes by Knockdown of Cannabinoid Type-1 Receptors in the Amygdala of Marmosets
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37368194/
Thesis Time
I love this time of year, the sun is shining, the whales are dancing in the surf & the grad students are releasing their theses.
Let’s look at a roundup of their sometimes very interesting work.
A multimedia journalism piece on how medical cannabis came to Mississippi
How Medical Cannabis Took Root in Mississippi
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4000&context=hon_thesis
In chronic pain patients, cannabis use lowered painkiller usage, and in female patients, reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines & cortisol
Self-Reported Medical Cannabis Use and Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines in Chronic Pain Patients
https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/128038/4/Ajrawat_Prabjit_202306_MSc_thesis.pdf
Plus, a very sweet acknowledgments section.
In a mouse model of autism, the effects of CBD on prosocial behavior & BDNF levels (and important neural growth factor)
Developmental intervention with CBD on BDNF levels and prosocial behavior in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1644&context=wwu_honors
In mice with HIV, CBC helps with pain & neuroinflammation
Effects of Cannabichromene on Pain and Neuroinflammation in HIV-1 TAT Transgenic Mice
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3956&context=hon_thesis
In breast cancer, on targeting the CB2 receptor as an add-on therapy to reduce metastasis, lower tumor recurrence & improve patient outcomes
The consequences of Cannabinoid receptor 2 expression in HER2+ breast cancer
https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/89255/Roth_Nicolas_PhD%20Thesis_Final.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y
The effects of alcohol on the endocannabinoid system of the forebrain with a focus on epigenetics
A Tale of Two “CBs”: Epigenetics and Ethanol in Cerebellar Ataxia and the Forebrain Cannabinoid System
https://www.proquest.com/openview/485ad035553b8eb11b91d5726fa1a126/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Gotta love when they lead with a Dickens quote…
A look at the genetic variations associated with alcohol & tobacco use with a focus on the FAAH enzyme
Associations Between Genetic Variation and Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking during Youth: Longitudinal Investigations
https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/128095/1/Alsaafin_Alaa_202306_PhD_thesis.pdf
In borderline personality disorder, using brain scans to look at the role of the FAAH enzyme
Investigating Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase in Comorbid Borderline Personality Disorder and Depression: Preliminary Results from a Positron Emission Tomography Study with the Radiotracer [11C]CURB
https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/128221/2/De_Pol_Michelle_Antoinette_202306_MSc_thesis.pdf
On how to make new terpenes using existing terpene synthesizing enzymes
Terpene discovery combining in silico and molecular biology approaches
https://dspace.cuni.cz/bitstream/handle/20.500.11956/181562/130361702.pdf?sequence=1
On how to make one of the new synthetic cannabinoids & what it might break down into
Synthesis and analysis of potential metabolites of ADB-5´BrBUTINACA
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1773858/FULLTEXT01.pdf
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
For using medical cannabis to treat PTSD, the regressionists at the Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense gave a "strong against" recommendation
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/va-and-defense-department-oppose-medical-marijuana-for-ptsd-but-take-neutral-position-on-psychedelics-as-research-continues
For using psychedelics, they said “neither for nor against”.
How veterans fall through the cracks because of federal cannabis prohibition
Veterans and Medical Cannabis: A Perfect Federalism Storm
https://www.proquest.com/openview/76c7ec12a615e6cb2eb6532a95da893f/1
A law professor on the importance of social equity in cannabis regulation
Social Equity in Marijuana Regulation
https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/huri48&div=41&id=&page=
And the current inequity of cannabis legalization for Black men
Lost Boys, Invisible Men: Racialized Policy Feedback after Marijuana Legalization
https://www.proquest.com/openview/9c6267e05e61bf8ee57862fcaac20afc/1
New York as a microcosm: selling cannabis at farmers markets…
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-york-is-now-accepting-applications-for-marijuana-farmers-markets
A raid of the giant unlicensed dispensary chain Empire…
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/11/nyregion/unlicensed-cannabis-dispensaries-empire-nyc.html
https://www.cultivated.news/p/new-york-empire-cannabis-club-raided
And can you smoke cannabis outside?
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/george-m-borrello/senator-george-borrello-introduces-legislation
In great news for horses, Equine Hemp Solutions has become the official CBD partner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), Ariat World Series of Team Roping (WSTR) and the Cinch Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC)
https://hemphealthsolutions.com/Press-Release.pdf
Ever since I saw my first rodeo on a family roadtrip through the Southwest, I’ve had a soft spot for the equine sports. And I see the research & hear the anecdotes of how much CBD can do for horses, so I’m glad that will help get more CBD into more horses for their health.
International
Drug policy experts gather to condemn the bans of HHC (a synthetic cannabinoid sold as a legal high), calling instead for regulation
https://businessofcannabis.com/experts-call-for-hhc-to-be-regulated-rather-than-banned
In Thailand, investment in community medical cannabis farms showed positive returns
The return on investment of community cannabis farms for medical purposes: a case study of Rak Chang farm community enterprise group Nakhon Ratchas
https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/journalmbsmut/article/view/266157
An analysis of controversial cannabis issues in Switzerland
Blood, sweat, and cannabis: real-world policy evaluation of controversial issues
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13501763.2023.2222141
The War on Drugs & the End of Prohibition
In one of the most horrible things about the War on Drugs, morphine & other painkillers are virtually unavailable in much of the world because “those people” can’t be trusted to not divert it (a WHO report)
Left behind in pain -Extent and causes of global variations in access to morphine for medical use and actions to improve safe access
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/369294/9789240075269-eng.pdf
Awful: after a child is taken from their mother for her smoking of cannabis, the child dies in custody
https://www.kwtx.com/2023/07/14/they-killed-my-baby-central-texas-mother-opens-up-after-son-dies-dfps-custody
A federal judge told Kansas cops to stop pulling cars over just because they come from legal cannabis states
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-judge-orders-kansas-cops-to-stop-war-on-drivers-coming-from-legal-marijuana-states
In an Australian youth, factors that predicted them consuming cannabis before driving
Investigating predictors of driving immediately after consuming cannabis: A study of medical and recreational cannabis users in Australia
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S136984782300133X
“Factors that predicted waiting less time included: a greater frequency of drug consumption (times per day and per month), earlier age of cannabis use onset, using cannabis without a prescription, reporting past-year driving within four hours of consuming cannabis with an illegal drug, and lower perceptions of risk related to driving after consuming cannabis. Participants were asked to report how many days in the next year they would drive within four hours of cannabis consumption, with the most common response being 365 days (37.9% of sample)”
In an analysis of vehicle crash data from Washington state counties, cannabis legalization led to fewer fatal, serious & minor injury collisions
Collisions and cannabis: Measuring the effect of recreational marijuana legalization on traffic crashes in Washington State
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37347154/
In Hungary, an analysis of the drug regulations & trafficking of synthetic cannabinoids & cathinones
Drug regulations and trafficking: Synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones in Hungary
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37437415/
Business & Law
An analysis of the variety of state cannabis policies & the methods of them passing into law
Cannabis Policy Adaptation: Exploring Frameworks of State Policy Characteristics
https://www.proquest.com/openview/b896e8c51eca80e35c9e19b97edccf54/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=37867
Bengal Capital analyses the multi-state operators (MSOs) of the cannabis market & it’s not pretty
“…what is difficult to truly see is many of these large MSOs creating value for shareholders. What we see instead is a continued cycle of distress, overhead cost cutting, reorganizations, dilutive capital raises, and ultimately unprofitable expansion meant to shore up near term results or investor excitement - hardly a sequence conducive to creating long term shareholder value.”
In related news, ‘Cannabis Companies Quietly Downsizing’
https://www.greenmarketreport.com/cannabis-companies-quietly-downsizing/
A poster on the effect of macroeconomic factors on the stock price of US hemp firms
Macroeconomic Factors and the Stock Prices of U.S. Hemp Firms
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/335639
Studying a community-based cannabis club in Victoria, Canada
“The Box Has Become an Indispensable Part of My Life”: A Case Study of Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club and its Consumption Space
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00914509231183147
A narrative review of dispensary staff training
Responsible Cannabis Sales: A Narrative Review Considering Interventions for Dispensary Staff to Address Cannabis Harms
https://www.proquest.com/openview/85dd9d071d9873de72e7ccd505ea592d/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=37867
An analysis of the jumbled social media platform policies regarding talking about the devil's lettuce
A review of social media platform policies that address cannabis promotion, marketing and sales
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37337216/
And apparently LinkedIn is starting to censor CBD posts
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/clairemccormackmba_censorship-on-linkedin-katie-motta-had-posted-activity-7085649850448392192-DyQD/
Mastercard orders banks & payment processors to stop allowing cannabis transactions on its debit cards
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-26/how-to-buy-pot-not-with-a-mastercard-ma-debit-card-company-says
More lawsuits against Cookies 🍿🍿🍿
https://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-brand-cookies-sued-by-another-investor-group
And a LinkedIn indictment against them by Olivia Alexander of Kush Queen
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/olivia-alexander-a823112a_principals-of-cannabis-brand-cookies-sued-activity-7089642337299034112-JCOQ
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
Great interview on the shady side of MDMA history with Rachel Nuwer
On the relevance of metaphysics to psychedelic therapy by one of the most interesting people to follow online, Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes
On the need for metaphysics in psychedelic therapy and research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37063525/
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]
Interviews with 1600+ ayahuasca participants about how they integrate their experience
Life after Ayahuasca: A Qualitative Analysis of the Psychedelic Integration Experiences of 1630 Ayahuasca Drinkers from a Global Survey
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/2/2/14
A Phase 1 clinical trial in females with anorexia found psilocybin to be safe & tolerable
Psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa: a phase 1, open-label feasibility study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37488291/
In treatment-resistant depression, intravenous ketamine caused rapid neuroplasticity changes
Rapid neuroplasticity changes and response to intravenous ketamine: a randomized controlled trial in treatment-resistant depression
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37160885/
On the harms of nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide-induced myeloneuropathy: a case series
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37253616/
How substance use disorders alter cognition
Cognitive Alterations in Addictive Disorders: A Translational Approach
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/7/1796
The Plant & the History
A UN book on the sustainability of hemp
The Sustainability of Hemp: An Overview of Product and Use in Business
https://books.google.fr/books?hl=en&lr=lang_en&id=WQfHEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=hemp&ots=xVISJe4xbe&sig=VRzr7mND5AKs9gjDrXNdPAtJ_Ak&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=hemp&f=false
Growing & Farming
Great interview on keeping contamination down in your homegrows
Microbial Risks in the Hobby Grow w/ Dr. Tess Eidem
How varying light intensity altered the cannabis metabolic profile, especially with regards to the secondary metabolites spirodienone and iso-spirodienone (cannabispiradienone)
Varying light intensity can alter metabolic profile and cannabispiradienone content of industrial hemp
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669023007963
For growing hemp seeds, the impact of germination & fermentation to improve the functional properties
Impacts of germination and lactic acid bacteria fermentation on anti-nutrients, bioactive compounds, and selected functional properties of industrial hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37429240/
When growing cannabis in soil contaminated with heavy metals, silicon helped to decrease the heavy metal uptake without negative impacts on plant growth or cannabinoid concentrations
The Use of Silicon Substrate Amendments to Decrease Micronutrient Concentrations at Varying Micronutrient Fertility Rates with Cannabis sativa ‘Auto CBG’
https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/58/7/article-p797.xml
In Paraguay, the first survey of soil fungi & pest insects associated with industrial hemp plantations
First survey of fungi isolated from soils and pest insects associated with organic plantations of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in Paraguay
https://revistascientificas.una.py/index.php/rdgic/article/view/3332/2956
In British Columbia, crown galls forming on cannabis plants caused by the bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Crown gall development on cannabis (Cannabis sativa L., marijuana) plants caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens species-complex
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07060661.2023.2224776
An analysis of germination genes in hemp seeds
Identification and Expression Analysis of Abscisic Acid Signal Transduction Genes in Hemp Seeds
https://www.techscience.com/phyton/v92n7/52870
Characterization of the lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes that produced the cannabinoid precursors oxylipins
Identification of Lipoxygenase gene repertoire of Cannabis sativa and functional characterization of CsLOX13 gene
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37390920/
Ingestion Methods & Extraction Techniques
On optimizing the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of medicinal cannabis
Optimization of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Fluid Extraction of Medicinal Cannabis from Quebec
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/11/7/1953
How to extract higher levels of neutral cannabinoids (non-acidic)
Preparation of Cannabis Biomass and Crude Extracts with High Neutral Cannabinoid Content
https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SciTechAsia/article/view/249886
Industrial Use
An analysis of using hemp biomass for energy production
Sustainability dilemma of hemp utilization for energy production
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427123000438
On the feasibility of adding hemp to create eco-friendly mortars
Feasibility of Ecofriendly Mortars with Different Hemp Additions for Use in Building Sector
https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/7/261
On spinning hemp into packaging film
Electrospinning of Northern Alabama Grown Hemp Extract in PVA to Develop an Active Packaging Film
https://elibrary.asabe.org/abstract.asp?aid=54170
To rubber, adding oleamide as an environmentally friendly additive for strength and elasticity
Oleamide as an Environment-friendly Additive for Styrene Butadiene Rubber/Silica Compound: The Strength and Elasticity Behaviours
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/1188/1/012016/pdf
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
On the history of medical cannabis in Austria-Hungary
Lost Archives and Found Voices: Reconstructing the Marketing History of Medical Marijuana in Austria-Hungary
https://ojs.library.carleton.ca/index.php/pcharm/article/view/4334
Clinical Use
A review of medical cannabis finds potential for chronic pain, an increased risk of cardiovascular events & almost negligible side effects compared to recreational cannabis
To Weed or Not to Weed: A Systematic Review Exploring the Potential for Cannabis Use in Cardiovascular Disease, Mental Health and Pain Management
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37476127/
From a doctor who does orgone therapy, the toxic effects of cannabis use
The Toxic Effects of Marijuana Use
https://orgonomy.org/articles/Chastka/Dr.%20Chastka's%20article%20JOO_52_1.pdf
Listen, I know orgone therapy sounds wacky, but whenever the FDA burns all of the research ever done by somebody, it certainly makes you pay attention.
Adolescents & Pediatric
Brain scans show different changes between those who start using cannabis as adolescents versus those starting as young adults
Differential associations of adolescent versus young adult cannabis initiation with longitudinal brain change and behavior
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37369720/
“Associations between adolescent cannabis initiation and cortical thickness change were observed primarily in dorso- and ventrolateral portions of the prefrontal cortex. In contrast, cannabis initiation occurring between 19 and 22 years of age was associated with thickness change in temporal and cortical midline areas.”
A case report of cannabis abuse leading to early onset frontotemporal dementia
Early onset frontotemporal dementia following cannabis abuse: a case report
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37391735/
An analysis of state public health data finds medical & recreational cannabis laws associated with an increased level of suicides among adolescents, especially females
Association Between Marijuana Laws and Suicide Among 12- to 25-Year-Olds in the United States From 2000 to 2019
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37385585/
A survey of mental health service providers across Ontario find that many consider cannabis to be a significant public health concern for their youth
Youth cannabis use in Canada post-legalization: service providers' perceptions, practices, and recommendations
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37349741/
A book chapter on the effects of recreational cannabis use on the cognitive skills of adolescents
Recreational Marijuana Use and Its Effects on Cognitive Skills in Adolescents
https://cdspress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CHAPTER-5-RECREATIONAL-MARIJUANA-USE-AND-ITS-EFFECTS-ON-COGNITIVE-SKILLS-IN-ADOLESCENTS.pdf
A study of factors associated with the early initiation of cannabis use
Characteristics Associated With Cannabis Use Initiation by Late Childhood and Early Adolescence in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37358866/
In young adults with psychosis, a review of the interventions that lower their cannabis use
Scoping Review of Cannabis-Reduction Psychosocial Interventions and Reasons for Use among Young Adults with Psychosis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37391686/
“YAP use cannabis for pleasure, to reduce dysphoria, and for social and recreational reasons; motivations for cessation include insight about cannabis-psychosis interactions, incompatibility with goals and social roles, and support from social networks. Interventions with at least minimal evidence of efficacy include motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and family skills training.”
In adolescents, the influence of family dynamics on the use of alcohol and/or cannabis
Dual alcohol and cannabis use in male and female adolescents: Relationships with family variables
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37406404/
Two analyses of harm to adolescents from cannabis legalization by someone at the FTC
Marijuana Legalization, Underage Marijuana Use, and Educational Outcomes: Evidence from Oregon
https://rcjarrol.github.io/racheljarroldgrapes.com/Website%20Copy%20-%20Marijuana%20Legalization,%20Underage%20Marijuana%20Use,%20and%20Educational%20Outcomes%20-%20Evidence%20from%20Oregon.pdf
Does Recreational Marijuana Legalization Harm Students? Evidence from Washington State’s Dispensary Lottery
https://rcjarrol.github.io/racheljarroldgrapes.com/Website%20Copy%20-%20Does%20Recreational%20Marijuana%20Legalization%20Harm%20Students%20-%20Evidence%20from%20WA%20State%27s%20Dispensary%20Lottery.pdf
A scare article warning young athletes not to dope with cannabis
Cannabis and sports doping: Teach our youth to be beware of this trap!
https://www.proquest.com/openview/79f1543b41abfbd22ca58574c873c27e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2034872
Neurology & Brain Diseases
A review of 29 studies on the use of cannabinoids in children with epilepsy
The use of cannabinoids in children with epilepsy: A systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37390729/
An editorial on using cannabis for neurodegenerative diseases
Marijuana's potential in neurodegenerative diseases: an editorial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37426772/
In brain blood vessel cells, a drug that activates both the CB1 & CB2 receptor increased factors related to angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth)
The expression analyses of GSK3B, VEGF, ANG1, and ANG2 in human brain microvascular endothelial cells treated with the synthetic cannabinoid XLR-11
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37355149/
In a rat model of overexcited brains (a hallmark of epilepsy), activating the cannabinoid receptors reduced the activity via calcium levels
Activation of the Cannabinoid Receptors Suppresses Hyperexcitation of Rat Hippocampal Neuronal Networks In Vitro
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S1990747823030078
Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders
In people with childhood trauma, a certain genetic variant of their CB1 receptor may increase their later risk of cannabis causing psychosis
Lifetime cannabis use and childhood trauma associated with CNR1 genetic variants increase the risk of psychosis: findings from the STREAM study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36918037/
In those with cannabis use disorder, a brief intervention decreased their cannabis use the following weeks
A randomized controlled trial of brief intervention for patients with cannabis use disorder
https://ruralneuropractice.com/a-randomized-controlled-trial-of-brief-intervention-for-patients-with-cannabis-use-disorder/
Female-specific, Reproduction & Hormones
In rats, prenatal exposure to paracetamol alters the response to cannabinoids in the female offspring
Gestational paracetamol exposure induces core behaviors of neurodevelopmental disorders in infant rats and modifies response to a cannabinoid agonist in females
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37391024/
Pain
In the knees of humans with osteoarthritis, they have increased levels of MAGL (the enzyme that breaks down 2-AG) & COX2
Monoacylglycerol Lipase and Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Osteoarthritic Human Knees
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37358789/
The Immune System
In fibromyalgia, the standard treatment of pregabalin & duloxetine was enhanced by the addition of PEA & acetyl-L-carnitine with significant improvements in disease severity & pain
Palmitoylethanolamide and acetyl-L-carnitine act synergistically with duloxetine and pregabalin in fibromyalgia: results of a randomised controlled study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37378482/
The Guts, the Microbiome & Oral Health
An observational study following patients with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome for three months after their visit to an emergency room
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: clinical trajectories and patterns of use three months following a visit to the emergency department
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37387520/
For cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a review of seven articles on using dopamine antagonists & topical capsaicin
Dopamine antagonists and topical capsaicin for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) in the emergency department: a systematic review of direct evidence
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37391387/
In mice, the interactions between leptin (a hormone from fat cells that regulates metabolism) & endocannabinoids in the hypothalamus (a brain region of feeding regulation)
Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) inhibits hypothalamic leptin signaling via b-arrestin1 in complex with TC-PTP and STAT3
https://www.cell.com/iscience/pdf/S2589-0042(23)01284-1.pdf
In a mouse model of obesity, oleoylethanolamide (an analog of anandamide) reduced systemic inflammation via the lowering of cellular inflammatory reactions & proinflammatory cytokine levels as well as suppressing the production of reactive oxygen species by immune cells
Effect of oleoylethanolamide on systemic inflammation in the development of alimentary induced obesity in mice
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3094720/v1/97dbdddc-244a-43c9-93fa-22084d7f07e9.pdf
The Heart
A young male with heart inflammation caused by cannabis use
Variant Angina and Cannabis-Induced Myocarditis: A Rare Presentation of Myocardial Inflammation
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/case_report/pdf/166315/20230630-4272-1eagbu5.pdf
A review of the cardiovascular effects of the cannabinoids
Cardiovascular Effects of Cannabinoids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37382432/
“Recent studies have found a link between marijuana use and the development of cardiovascular disease. Most notably, marijuana has been found to be associated with various cardiac complications, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, and arteritis.”
The Lungs
In asthma, on using dietary fatty acids to boost the endocannabinoid system for the control of chronic inflammation
Polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid mediators controlling chronic inflammation in asthma
https://romj.org/files/pdf/2023/romj-2023-0201.pdf
The Skin
On protecting skin stem cells from UV radiation with cannabis oil
Vegetable Oil-Based Cannabis: Its Cannabinoid Profiling and Photoprotectivotective Effect on UVA-Irradiated Human Skin Keratinocytes
https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2658&context=tjps
Cancer & Chemotherapy
For cancer patients in South Carolina (a state with no medical cannabis), those using it illegally endorsed it for pain, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping & loss of appetite
Cannabis use prevalence, patterns, and reasons for use among patients with cancer and survivors in a state without legal cannabis access
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37382737/
In patients with cancer, they perceived the benefits of cannabis for many symptoms although those who used it had the worst overall symptomatology
Cannabis use among adults undergoing cancer treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37354093/
“Participants most commonly reported using cannabis for pain, cancer, sleep, anxiety, and nausea/vomiting and reported the greatest perceived benefits for sleep, nausea/vomiting, headaches, pain, muscle spasms, and anxiety, yet participants who used cannabis also reported feeling worse physically and psychologically compared to those who did not use cannabis.”
Of course, the reason behind the worst symptoms being among cannabis users may be because those are the most willing to try anything to alleviate their suffering.
In people with cancer, cannabis use was associated with increased risk for depression, especially in females
Association of cannabis use with depression among cancer patients
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37455758/
A literature review of cannabinoids for cancer pain (in Portuguese)
O uso de canabinóides em pacientes com dor oncológica: uma revisão integrativa de literature
https://ojs.brazilianjournals.com.br/ojs/index.php/BJHR/article/view/60983
In a rat model of neuropathic pain from chemotherapy, an analysis of genetic transcription finds changes to endocannabinoid signaling
Transcriptome Profiling of miRNA-mRNA Interactions and Associated Mechanisms in Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37332017/
A genomic analysis of the anti-cancer activities of extracts from cannabis leaves
Genome-Scale Metabolic Reconstruction, Non-Targeted LC-QTOF-MS Based Metabolomics Data, and Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Cannabis sativa Leaf Extracts
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/7/788
For non-melanoma skin cancer, a gel for delivering CBD & 5-fluorouracil (a chemotherapy medication)
Advanced multifunctional nano-lipid carrier loaded gel for targeted delivery of 5-flurouracil and cannabidiol against non-melanoma skin cancer
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37343751/
In a type of liver cancer, the DAGLβ enzyme (which produces 2AG) strengthens the cancer & increases its spread
DAGLβ is the principal synthesizing enzyme of 2-AG and promotes aggressive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma via AP-1/DAGLβ/miR4516 feedforward circuitry
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37366545/
Synthetic Cannabinoids
A case report of untreated Graves' disease (an autoimmune disorder of an overactive thyroid) where a synthetic cannabinoid caused a fatal thyroid storm
Fatal Thyroid Storm in the Setting of Untreated Graves Disease and Use of the Synthetic Cannabinoid MDMB-4en-PINACA
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37364043/
In patients with synthetic cannabinoid use disorder, an analysis of the effects on their cellular oxidative stress
Oxidative stress response, cell proliferation, and apoptosis in patients with synthetic cannabinoid use disorder
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352007823001440
A review of the effects of HHC
Hexahydrocannabinol Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Analysis: The First Evidence for a Recent New Psychoactive Substance
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37357519/
A review of 64 articles on the toxicity of the synthetic cannabinoids found in Spice
Toxicity of Synthetic Cannabinoids in K2/Spice: A Systematic Review
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/7/990
All this to say, Spice is simply a catchall term for a basket of synthetic cannabinoids. It’s a street name for a novel way to get high with whatever cannabinoids the producers can slip into the market.
In vape products in Japan, identification of the stereoisomers of HHC & HHCP suggests they were produced from delta 8 THC or delta 9 THC
Identification of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), dihydro-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol (dihydro-iso-THC) and hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHCP) in electronic cigarette cartridge products
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37365398/
Cool Chemistry
On creating CBD nanoparticles for improved nose to brain delivery & increased anti-inflammatory effects
Cannabidiol-Loaded Nanoparticles Based on Crosslinked Starch: Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Improved Nose-to-Brain Delivery
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/7/1803
On CBD's molecular docking of calcium channels (in Portuguese)
Interações do canabidiol no canal de cálcio dependente de voltagem por docking molecular
https://afmo.emnuvens.com.br/afmo/article/view/283
Thanks.
- lex
PS: It’s been folk song week around our house ever since my 5-year-old rediscovered Big Rock Candy Mountain. And thanks to that, I’ve discovered the folk songs of Burl Ives, the old star of stage & screen. I did not know that he got his start singing the classics of Americana & so here’s his album ‘The Big Rock Candy Mountain’.
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