C&P#67: Join the White Whale Team! + CBD for running, pain & scaredy cats
C&P#67: Join the White Whale Team! + CBD for running, pain & scaredy cats
DEA sez THC8 from CBD illegal
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 67th 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:
Searching for team members for White Whale Productions!
I’d like to take this cannabinoid content creation to the next level & offer organizations top-notch educational videos. So I’m looking for a…
- a video producer to help make the videos
- an illustrator / graphic designer to animate them & help with branding
- a social media maven for the best ways to slice & dice them onto the platforms
The plan is to begin by creating a professional version of my hit CBD & THC binding video. Then we will use that video to pitch organizations about the kind of content that we can produce for them. This first 3-minute video project is unpaid & is an investment in showcasing what we can do together so that we can land long-term projects with places we believe in.
A knowledge of cannabis history and/or cannabinoid science is a big plus. And familiarity with the content I’ve already produced is helpful, but neither of these are required. I’m mostly looking for people who can help me produce & distribute the excellent videos I can see in my head but can’t quite make myself.
If that sounds good to you, or you know someone it might appeal to, send a message to lex@whitewhalecreations.com with a very short pitch & your resume/highlight reel.
This week…
CBD as a helpful tool for people who use drugs
Maya Angelou on grifa
The terps also help with sleep!
The importance of cannabis for runners
CBD for the noise anxiety of cats! Thunderstorms! Hiss!
How endocannabinoids regulate the guts & metabolism
In prenatal infants, cannabis exposure seems to be worse for females
Hempseeds for memory & protection from Alzheimer’s (there’s a reason they’re still a dominant snack food across China, “The Land of Mulberry & Hemp”)
It’s easy to forget how lifechanging CBD can be for people with drug-resistant epilepsy
Conference results on cannabinoids for the eyes
For chronic pain, hemp extracts, calamari & broccoli
Lots on the pests of cannabis plants
A request to spread the word
This newsletter only spreads by word of mouth,
so please forward to colleagues & tell your friends & relatives.
Sponsor: PlusCBD & a commitment to education & research
One sign of a great CBD company is when they go to the next level for educating their customers. PlusCBD has articles for all levels of knowledge, videos about how CBD works & a YouTube channel of great educational content.
(Plus, they even sponsored two seasons of my podcast ‘The Lex Files’)
In addition, they’ve done more peer-reviewed research than any other company other there. They put their money down to advance the field.
Check out this (partial) bibliography:
A GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) study on hemp extracts to prove their safety
A clinical trial on healthy people to show that hemp extracts helped their cholesterol, sleep quality, stress response & perceived life pleasure
A post-marketing safety study where experts went over 2 years of PlusCBD’s adverse event reports to find the high safety levels
A case series of using CBD to treat PTSD
And funding me to create the extensive cannabinoid science archive at CVResearch.info
PlusCBD takes their commitment to education & research to the next level. And they do the same with their products.
Buy excellent CBD products today from PlusCBDoil.com.
My work this week:
Canna-Education for CV Sciences (TikTok:@cvsciences):
[if you’re not into TikTok, these videos are also on my YouTube playlist 3-minute Cannabinoid Science]
The Golden Age of Medical Cannabis
Fibromyalgia & THC
Your Hormones & Your Cannabinoids
Cats & CBD
Cats, CBD & Thunderstorm Anxiety
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...
Clinical
People running while using cannabis ran slightly slower but experienced less negative affect & pain as well as greater feelings of tranquility, enjoyment, dissociation & more symptoms of the runner’s high
Running High: Cannabis Users' Subjective Experience of Exercise During Legal Market Cannabis Use Versus No Use in a Naturalistic Setting
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37440169/
An analysis of COVID patients found no difference in treatment outcomes among people who use cannabis, alcohol or methamphetamine
No difference in COVID-19 treatment outcomes among current methamphetamine, cannabis and alcohol users
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37337275/
Using a novel formulation of CBD, women had significantly higher plasma CBD concentrations than men
Differences in Plasma Cannabidiol Concentrations in Women and Men: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37373421/
A survey of 1700 menopausal women found that they used cannabis for sleep, anxiety & muscle/joint achiness
Most common reasons for current use were sleep (65%), anxiety (45%) and muscle/joint achiness (33%).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37344107/
In insomniacs, a month of CBD plus an array of terpenes increased the amount of time spent in deep sleep
A Cannabidiol/Terpene Formulation That Increases Restorative Sleep in Insomniacs: A Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized, Crossover Pilot Study
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.03.23290932v1
The trial used 300 mg of isolated CBD plus 1 mg each of linalool, myrcene, phytol, limonene, α-terpinene, α-terpineol, α-pinene & β-caryophyllene.
In humans with chronic back or neck pain, increasing levels of CBD & THC were well tolerated & caused clinically significant reductions in pain
Tolerability and Efficacy of a 10:25 Preparation of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol for Treatment of Chronic Back or Neck Pain: A Multiple-Dose Escalation Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37465637/
In two heart patients experiencing pain from the injection of the drug Treprostinil, topical CBD lowered their pain levels at the infusion site
Cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of subcutaneous treprostinil (Remodulin®) site pain: a case report
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37384049/
In people with HIV, an increasing use of cannabis was linked to a decreasing use of cigarettes
Co-use of cigarettes and cannabis among people with HIV: Results from a randomized controlled smoking cessation trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37342512/
In chronic pain patients, a combination of full-spectrum hemp extracts, calamari oil (fatty acids) & broccoli (glucosinolates) reduced pain scores by more than 50% as well as improvements to oxidative stress & quality of sleep
Alleviation of Pain, PAIN Interference, and Oxidative Stress by a Novel Combination of Hemp Oil, Calamari Oil, and Broccoli: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37375558/
In a group of 40 cats exposed to a simulated thunderstorm, CBD caused significant reductions on the Cat-Stress-Score
Possible Anxiolytic Effects of Cannabidiol (Cbd) Administration on Feline Response to a Fear Response Test
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4480358
As always, it’s hard to get dosing info for cats, so the use of 4 mg/kg/day is helpful.
Reviews
A review of CBD as harm reduction for people who use drugs (27 studies)
Cannabidiol as a Harm Reduction Strategy for People Who Use Drugs: A Rapid Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37376827/
“The evidence remains limited, but available studies support the potential utility of CBD to reduce drug-induced craving and anxiety in opioid use disorder. There were low-quality studies suggesting that CBD may improve mood and general well-being of people who use drugs.”
And a review of how THC affects your dopamine system (a key player in substance use disorders)
The effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the dopamine system
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27853201/
In a review of four studies on CBD for rheumatoid arthritis, they reported therapeutic reductions in inflammation & no significant adverse reactions
Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) on the inflammatory response of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
https://ipipublishing.org/index.php/emjsr/article/view/14
A review of cannabinoids as modulators of sleep (nice charts)
Cannabinoids: Emerging sleep modulator
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37406510/
A review of cannabinoids for obesity & diabetes
Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists in Inflammation, Diabetes Mellitus, and Obesity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37371762/
And a review of using cannabinoids to treat a range of gastrointestinal disorders
Cannabis Use and Associated Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Literature Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37575784/
A review of neuroprotection via targeting the endocannabinoid system
The Role of Endocannabinoid System in Neuroprotection: Molecular Targets and Therapeutic Opportunities
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/imr.2022.0091
A review on how arachidonic acid (the precursor of anandamide) is so important in early human development
The imperative of arachidonic acid in early human development
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36746351/
A review of the neurobiology of social play covers the importance of the endocannabinoid system
The neurobiology of social play behaviour: Past, present and future
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37454882/
Preclinical
In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, hemp seed extract “improved learning memory capacity, increased survival, attenuated neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, microglia activation and hippocampal apoptosis, and could reduce amyloid deposition via the SIRT1-AMAD10 pathway”
The Phenylpropionamide Extract of Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) Seed Improves Learning Memory Ability and Survival Rate by Attenuating Microglia Activation and Reducing Amyloid Deposition Via the Sirt1-Amad10 Pathway in App/Ps1 Mice
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4474684
An analysis of the expression of endocannabinoid machinery between rodents & monkeys reveals the problems of translating results from model organisms to primates
Roadmap For The Expression Of Canonical and Extended Endocannabinoid System Receptors and Proteins in Peripheral Organs of Preclinical Animal Models
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37333264/
And a related technical note on the delivery methods for cannabinoids in model organisms
Propylene glycol and Kolliphor as solvents for systemic delivery of cannabinoids via intraperitoneal and subcutaneous routes in preclinical studies: a comparative technical note
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37340498/
Another study of using simulated gastric juices to show that in the stomach, CBD is unlikely to convert to THC
Conversion of water-soluble CBD to Δ9-THC in synthetic gastric fluid - an unlikely cause of positive drug tests
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37440360/
From sandalwood oil, making drugs that activate the CB2 receptors
Cannabinoid Receptor Type II Ligands from Sandalwood Oil and Synthetic α-Santalol Derivatives
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37450763/
An isotope test to determine whether CBD comes from the plant or was produced synthetically
Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis for Authentication of Natural Antioxidant Cannabidiol (CBD) from Cannabis sativa
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37507959/
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
Half the US has tried cannabis! And more people are smoking it than tobacco!
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/fully-half-of-american-adults-have-tried-marijuana-with-current-cannabis-smoking-outpacing-cigarettes-gallup-poll-shows
An email from a DEA chief says clearly that delta-8 THC produced from CBD is illegal
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-considers-delta-8-thc-products-federally-illegal-when-synthesized-from-cbd-official-says-in-newly-revealed-email/
The US Census Bureau begins collecting economic data about cannabis businesses
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/census-bureau-begins-collecting-data-about-marijuana-business-economic-activity-as-market-enters-mainstream/
This year's survey Monitoring the Future by NIDA sees historically high levels of cannabis & psychedelic use but adolescent consumption remains stable
https://monitoringthefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/mtfpanel2023.pdf
‘What Happened to Hemp?’ – on how licensed acres of hemp are down to pre-Farm Bill levels
https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2023/07/what-happened-to-hemp/
Quote of the week: Maya Angelou on grifa
“I learned new postures and developed new dreams… From a natural stiffness, I melted into a grinning tolerance. Walking on the streets became high adventure, eating my mother’s huge dinners an opulent entertainment, and playing with my son was side-cracking hilarity. For the first time, life amused me.”
https://herb.co/learn/maya-angelous-great-moments-weed-history
International
‘Our children have been left behind’ – How UK medical cannabis policy failed families
https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2023/07/17/how-uk-medical-cannabis-policy-failed-families/
Meanwhile, a UK secret buyer survey finds that most products tested did not have CBD content that fell within 10% of advertised concentrations
A comparison of advertised versus actual cannabidiol (CBD) content of oils, aqueous tinctures, e-liquids and drinks purchased in the UK
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37438849/
Malta finally issued its first two licenses to cannabis associations to begin the construction of growing facilities, but they still are not allowed to grow until an operating permit is granted after more inspections
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/cannabis-regulator-grants-first-two-inprinciple-licences.1048750
Germany’s adult-use cannabis law begins winding its way through the approval process
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/germanys-federal-cabinet-approves-marijuana-legalization-bill-sending-it-to-lawmakers-for-enactment/
The War on Drugs & the End of Prohibition
Appalling. 3 Alabama women go to jail for cannabis use during pregnancy
https://www.al.com/news/2023/08/a-crackdown-on-pot-use-in-pregnancy-put-these-three-alabama-women-in-jail.html
Assholes. Federal attorney considering shutting down NYC’s safe consumption sites…
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/08/nyregion/drug-overdoses-supervised-consumption-nyc.html
despite those two sites already averting 1000+ overdoses
https://twitter.com/_OnPointNYC/status/1689397422697390080
California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce destroyed $68M of illegal cannabis
https://twitter.com/CAgovernor/status/1689077776442396672
best response:
“$68.5 million?!? Show your work. The bottom is falling out of the market they'd be lucky to get $68.5k for that.”
Cops are notorious for weighing the entire plant, including the root balls & soil, and then using a hyper-inflated market price.
Unsurprisingly & unfortunately, drug seizures by law enforcement were significantly associated with increased overdoses in the surrounding area
Spatiotemporal Analysis Exploring the Effect of Law Enforcement Drug Market Disruptions on Overdose, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2020–2021
https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307291
An analysis of the sociohistory of drug use & harm reduction in the US
Contextualizing drug use and pharmacological harm in the United States: a socio-historical overview
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37363938/
“Evidence supports the notion of drug harms reduction for the privileged, and criminalization of drug use by marginalized groups.”
An analysis of legalization in Canada finds that it has reduced cannabis arrests & increased access to a variety of more potent cannabis products at lower prices while modestly increasing use among adults but not adolescents
The implementation and public health impacts of cannabis legalization in Canada: a systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37380613/
A new criminology book on cannabis control policies
Cultures of Cannabis Control - An International Comparison of Policy Making
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cultures-of-cannabis-control/FEB8D28747233BB47C2E348DFFE86C12
Business & Law
An essay on the inherent inequity of the tax laws for cannabis & psychedelics
Oof. It’s the season of earnings reports & it’s a bloodbath out there. Check out the business section of recent issues of Marijuana Moment to see more.
It’s too depressing for me to list them all…
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/
The only organizations making money are the states & the feds taxing these businesses to death.
An analysis of sales trend in five early legal cannabis states
Cannabis Retail Market Indicators in Five Legal States in the United States: A Public Health Perspective
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37455228/
A survey of cannabis dispensary staff finds that the majority encourage customers to talk to their healthcare providers about their cannabis use & 25% of them believe that cannabis is not addictive
Cannabis dispensary staff approaches to counseling on potential contraindications to cannabis use: insights from a national self-report survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37442944/
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
A look at Decriminalize Nature & Carlos Plazola that includes a reference to my interview with him years ago…
Haven’t read all of this multi-part series yet but it’s a critique of the psychedelic clergy study done at Johns Hopkins
The Religious Science of Johns Hopkins
The Psychoactive Research
[This isn’t a deep dive into the science of psychedelics & other psychoactives like I do for the cannabinoids. If your organization would be interested in a breakdown of all the new psychedelic science, reach out to me]
A review of the potential of psychedelics for end-of-life distress
Psychedelics and Related Pharmacotherapies as Integrative Medicine for Older Adults in Palliative Care
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37385694/
For ketamine, how exposure to video games & media can alter the trip
Imprinting: expanding the extra-pharmacological model of psychedelic drug action to incorporate delayed influences of sets and settings
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1200393/full
That being said, for me the magic of ketamine was combining it with my extensive collection of animated shorts.
The Plant & the History
Growing & Farming
A review of the production technologies of cannabis
A comprehensive review of the production technology of Cannabis sativa L. with its current legal status and botanical features
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371972207_A_comprehensive_review_of_the_production_technology_of_Cannabis_sativa_L_with_its_current_legal_status_and_botanical_features
The factors affecting yeast & mold levels in cannabis growth & processing
Total yeast and mold levels in high THC-containing cannabis ( Cannabis sativa L.) inflorescences are influenced by genotype, environment, and pre-and post-harvest handling practices
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37383630/
A test of the effects of mineral fertilization on the levels of bioactive compounds in hemp seeds & oils
The Effect of Mineral Fertilization on the Content of Bioactive Compounds in Hemp Seeds and Oil
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37375430/
For defense against pathogenic root fungus, chitosan significantly enhanced cannabis defense responses
Effects of chitin and chitosan on root growth, biochemical defense response and exudate proteome of Cannabis sativa
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37362423/
How to manage hemp russet mites
Biology and management of hemp russet mite (Acari: Eriophyidae)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37450624/
On hemp’s fusarium head blight
Fusarium Head Blight of Hemp in the US: A Familiar Foe Finds a New Target
https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1079/planthealthcases.2023.0010
On finding cryptic viruses in cannabis using small RNA sequencing
Detection of cryptic viruses and characterization of antiviral defense in Cannabis sativa through small RNA sequencing
https://agritrop.cirad.fr/604668/
In India, a phytoplasma (16SrII-D) found on hemp plants
Identification of 16SrII group phytoplasma related strain associated with witches’ broom of Spinach and Hemp in India
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15sEhT5JD4Bf75Gkt-4LbDcidNZuG2Yip/view?pli=1
On field retting & the effects of complementary irrigation
Impact Of Complementary Irrigation Of Hemp Stems On Field Retting Dynamics
https://imt-mines-ales.hal.science/hal-04143224/
And a thesis project on using urea for retting
Urea-Based Treatments of Unretted Hemp Fibres from Residual Streams
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1777803/FULLTEXT01.pdf
A colorimetric test for CBD to differentiate between hemp & marijuana cannabis
Chemical identification and optimization of the 4-aminophenol colorimetric test for the differentiation between hemp-type and marijuana-type cannabis plant samples
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37357497/
On the potential of using the extracellular vesicles of cannabis as potential biomarkers
Characterization of cannabis strain-plant-derived extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37330445/
On using AI & near-infrared imaging to identify CBDA content in cannabis
On machine learning methods to estimate cannabidiolic acid content of Cannabis sativa L. from near-infrared hyperspectral imaging
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10175994
Using AI for micropropagation
Cannabis sativa: Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Plant Tissue Culture for Micropropagation
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372335345_Cannabis_sativa_Applications_of_Artificial_Intelligence_AI_and_Plant_Tissue_Culture_for_Micropropagation
Extraction & Processing Techniques
A technique for isolating CBD or CBDA without THC
Effective isolation of cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid free of psychotropic phytocannabinoids from hemp extract by fast centrifugal partition chromatography
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37382652/
For bioavailability of extracts, Rapae oleum (rapeseed oil) worked better as a solvent than Cremophor
THC-Reduced Cannabis sativa L.-How Does the Solvent Determine the Bioavailability of Cannabinoids Given Orally?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37375550/
A test for hemp oil authenticity & adulteration
LC-MS Metabolomic Profiling of Five Types of Unrefined, Cold-Pressed Seed Oils to Identify Markers to Determine Oil Authenticity and to Test for Oil Adulteration
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37375308/
Industrial Use
Using hemp fibers for food packaging
Multifunctional Properties of PBAT with Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Micronised Fibres for Food Packaging: Cast Films and Coated Paper
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/13/7/1195
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
Clinical Use
In healthy exercising adults, 50 milligrams of CBD per day did not change of their exercise parameters except a prevention of anaerobic fitness declines
Effects of Oral Cannabidiol on Health and Fitness in Healthy Adults: An 8-Week Randomized Trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37375567/
Neurology & Brain Diseases
In an observational study of 42 people with drug-resistant epilepsy, adding CBD to their medications caused half of them to have lower seizures and almost 30% were “super responders”
Real-world experience with cannabidiol as add-on treatment in drug-resistant epilepsy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37506564/
“At 3 months, 10 subjects (23%) were "responders" and 12 (29%) were "super-responders". Efficacy was sustained at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Twenty-two patients (52.3%) developed AEs, with drowsiness (36.5%) and diarrhea (9.8%) being the most common.”
In 23 children where drugs were not helping their epilepsy, CBD oil increased their quality of life on several measures
The impact of cannabidiol on epileptic children’s quality of life
https://cdn.publisher.gn1.link/residenciapediatrica.com.br/pdf/en_v13n1aop601.pdf
“In Well Being, the mean score was 92.21 before CBD, and 76.95 after its use. In the Behavior section, the mean was 102.34 before CBD, and 67.34 after. In Health, the mean before CBD was 4.43, with a good evolution to 2.30 after its use. The mean Quality of Life described before cannabidiol was 4.65, also evolving to 2.34 after use of the substance. In Cognition an average of 79.65 was found before CBD and 101.26 after its use.”
In an animal model of blood loss to the brain, β-caryophyllene “reduced the infarct volume (dead tissue), neurologic deficit score, sensorimotor deficits, histopathological damage, and expression of inflammatory factors”
Neuroprotection of β-caryophyllene against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting P38 MAPK/NLRP3 signaling pathway
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37395187/
In an animal model of infants who experienced blood loss to the brain, 2-AG reduced brain injury & increased cell proliferation in a region of the hippocampus (a memory center of the brain)
The Long-Term Neuroprotective Effect of the Endocannabinoid 2-AG and Modulation of the SGZ's Neurogenic Response after Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37376115/
A cool probe in mice to show the importance of endocannabinoid signaling in the oscillations of the hippocampus (a key memory center of the brain)
Tapered Drug delivery, Optical stimulation, and Electrophysiology (T-DOpE) probes reveal the importance of cannabinoid signaling in hippocampal CA1 oscillations in behaving mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37333172/
In neurons, a common pesticide increased the ability of anandamide to cause programmed cellular suicide
Organophosphate agent action at the fatty acid amide hydrolase enhancing anandamide-induced apoptosis in NG108-15 cells
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jts/48/7/48_421/_pdf
Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders
In Australian public health data on psychiatric prescriptions for cannabis, the most common conditions were for anxiety disorders, sleep-wake disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders & neurodevelopmental disorders
Medicinal cannabis for psychiatry-related conditions: an overview of current Australian prescribing
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37346297/
In public health data from Canada, people with depression had a 4x higher risk of cannabis-related emergency room visits
Disparities in cannabis-related emergency department visits across depressed and non-depressed individuals and the impact of recreational cannabis policy in Ontario, Canada
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37345465/
This thesis project in humans with psychosis showed no help from 800 milligrams of CBD per day
The Impact Of Cannabidiol In Patients With Early Psychosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ymtdl/4151/
A public health review of how to reduce the risk of cannabis use-related psychosis
Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Cannabis Use-Related Adverse Psychosis Outcomes: A Public Mental Health-Oriented Evidence Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37450645/
Female-specific, Reproduction & Hormones
A review of prenatal cannabis exposure & the risk for later neuropsychiatric problems
Prenatal cannabis exposure and the risk for neuropsychiatric anomalies in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0892036223000612
In a study of monkey sperm & male fertility, the negative effects of THC seem to have a partial recovery after abstinence
Partial reversal of chronic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced effects on male fertility and sperm epigenome after cessation
https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(23)00319-9/fulltext
In prenatal rats, exposure to THC impaired later spatial learning & memory in female offspring while a combination with alcohol did not exacerbate the effects of either THC or alcohol
Prenatal alcohol and tetrahydrocannabinol exposure: Effects on spatial and working memory
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37383100/
In prenatal mice, exposure to a drug that activates the CB2 receptor caused later delays in the male’s sperm cell differentiation & in the females, a reduction in the number of follicles (small sacs in the ovaries filled with hormones that have the potential to release an egg)
Prenatal exposure to CB2 receptors agonist differentially impacts male and female germ cells via histone modification
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37385302/
A thesis project on how prenatal cannabis exposure in mice changes the prefrontal cortex, especially in females
Impacts of Prenatal Cannabis Exposure on the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Adulthood
https://www.proquest.com/openview/45fceee7148192d489d31525b5adab55/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Pain, Inflammation & Surgeries
In people undergoing facial fracture surgeries, cannabis did not increase the risk of postoperative complications though tobacco did
Analysis of postoperative complications related to cannabis and tobacco usage in patients undergoing mandible facial fracture surgeries
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37482026/
For joint surgery (total joint arthroplasty), a review of 19 studies found an increased risk of side effects & cardiac complications in patients using cannabis
Cannabis Use Following Total Joint Arthroplasty is Associated With Increased Risks? A Meta-Analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37454951/
In a rat model of chronic neuropathic pain, CBD worked better in the ones that had lower levels of anxiety
Systemic Chronic Treatment with Cannabidiol in Carioca High- and Low-Conditioned Freezing Rats in the Neuropathic Pain Model: Evaluation of Pain Sensitivity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37513915/
In a rat model of migraine, an inhibitor of the FAAH enzyme lowered pain via the inhibition of inflammation
Activity of FAAH-Inhibitor JZP327A in an Experimental Rat Model of Migraine
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37373250/
The Guts, the Microbiome & Oral Health
A case report of recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis (dangerous levels of ketones from the breakdown of fats instead of sugars) eventually determined to be from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
Unexpected cause of recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes: a case report
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37400799/
In young overweight men, they had less availability of CB1 receptors in their abdominal fat tissue which correlated to a range of negative biomarkers
Lower abdominal adipose tissue cannabinoid type 1 receptor availability in young men with overweight
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37368516/
In humans, the endocannabinoids appear to regulate the activity of brown adipose (fat) tissue
Changes in plasma endocannabinoids concentrations correlate with 18F-FDG PET/MR uptake in brown adipocytes in humans
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37564131/
In rats with metabolic changes from HIV treatments, adding the CB1 antagonist rimonabant prevented glucose intolerance
Co-administration of rimonabant prevents glucose intolerance in Sprague-Dawley rats treated chronically with lopinavir/ritonavir and zidovudine: an experimental study design
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37346921/
In mice, diets high in linoleic acid dysregulated the endocannabinoid system of their intestines & increase their susceptibility to colitis
Diet high in linoleic acid dysregulates the intestinal endocannabinoid system and increases susceptibility to colitis in Mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37400966/
Using natural language processing to improve the estimates of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
Natural language processing improves estimates of the epidemiology of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37349236/
The Heart
A literature review & case report of cannabis causing myopericarditis (heart inflammation)
Myopericarditis Associated With Marijuana Intake: A Case Report and Literature Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37362486/
The Lungs
A case study of Spice causing hemorrhaging in the lungs
From Euphoria to Emergency: Exploring the Role of K2/Spice in Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37581157/
In mice with lung scarring, activation of the CB2 receptor reduced pathological changes in lung tissue, decreased alveolar inflammation scores & reduced inflammatory cell infiltration potentially via the ERK1/2-RSK1 signaling pathway
Protective effect of intervention with cannabinoid type-2 receptor agonist JWH133 on pulmonary fibrosis in mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37394854/
In a mouse model of chronic lung inflammation & pulmonary scarring, inhibition of the FAAH enzyme reduced the changes to the lungs & lowered the cascade of inflammatory events
Inhibition of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Regulates NF-kb Pathways Reducing Bleomycin-Induced Chronic Lung Inflammation and Pulmonary Fibrosis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37373275/
In mice exposed to air pollution, they saw increased retrograde endocannabinoid signaling & the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids
An integrative analysis of lipidomics and transcriptomics in various mouse brain regions in response to real-ambient PM2.5 exposure
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37364843/
The Genitourinary System
In a rat model of diabetic kidney damage, a combination of β-caryophyllene & L-arginine significantly lowered plasma glucose levels & reduced oxidative stress as well as scarring in the kidneys
Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonists and L-arginine ameliorate diabetic nephropathy in rats by suppressing inflammation and fibrosis through NF-κβ pathway
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37450015/
The Skin
A case report of cannabis causing Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a rare, serious disorder of the skin & mucous membranes that cause rash, skin peeling & sores)
Weeding Out the Culprit: Cannabinoid-Associated Stevens-Johnson Syndrom
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37362520/
The Eyes
On using a CBD nanoemulsion for eye treatment
Cannabidiol nanoemulsion for eye treatment - Anti-inflammatory, wound healing activity and its bioavailability using in vitro human corneal substitute
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37406946/
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2023 Conference
In a zebrafish model of eye damage from diabetes, adding CBD to their water was safe but had only a non-significant positive effect on optomotor response
The Therapeutic Impact of CBD (Cannabidiol) in Hyperglycemic Zebrafish
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2786694
In a mouse & tissue model of eye damage from diabetes, activating the CB2 receptor helped improve several biomarkers
Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Agonism Demonstrates Therapeutic Potential in Diabetic Retinopathy Models
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2786512
In a zebrafish model of retinal degeneration, a drug that activates the CB1 & CB2 receptor protected the retinal cells from damage & oxidative stress
CB13 is a mixed CB1/CB2 cannabinoid receptor agonist that protects zebrafish photoreceptors from light-induced retinal degeneration.
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2789350
In eye cancer cells, the synthetic cannabinoid HU-210 reduced cell viability & proliferation
The metastatic uveal melanoma cell line OMM2.5 displays selective sensitivity to the synthetic cannabinoid HU-210
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2786070
In the retina, endocannabinoids helped to regulate the levels of glutamate (the most common excitatory neurotransmitter)
Neuromodulation of retinal bipolar cell glutamate signaling by nitric oxide and endocannabinoids
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2787480
Cancer & Chemotherapy
A study on the effects of CBD on ovarian cancer cells that I can't access
Defining the role of Cannabidiol’s effect in ovarian cancer
https://www.gynecologiconcology-online.net/article/S0090-8258(23)00294-9/fulltext
In lung cancer cells, the anandamide analog N-linoleyltyrosine reduced their growth & caused cellular suicide via the CB1 & CB2 receptors
N-linoleyltyrosine resisted the growth of non-small cell lung cancer cells via the regulation of CB1 and CB2 involvement of PI3K and ERK pathways
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37361232/
Looking at the anti-cancer properties of a drug that activates the CB2 receptor
Exploring the 1,3-benzoxazine chemotype for cannabinoid receptor 2 as a promising anti-cancer therapeutic
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37478557/
Synthetic Cannabinoids
How to analyze synthetic cannabinoid levels in products & hair
A comprehensive analytical strategy based on characteristic fragments to detect synthetic cannabinoid analogs in seized products and hair samples
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37339539/
Cool Chemistry
A new method of synthesizing asymmetric cannabinoids
Imidodiphosphorimidates(IDPis) Permit Asymmetric Synthesis of cis-Tetrahydrocannabinoids
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0042-1751968
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For this week’s album of power, the debut eponymous work of ‘A Tribe Called Red’. Now known as the Halluci Nation, this pair of First Nations musicians produce enthnotronica electric powwow music that rocks. With a history of activism & awards, they’re a group I’ve always dreamed of seeing live.
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