C&P#80: CBD for sleep quality & a stronger immune system + cancer cancer cancer
Find out where the EU is getting its grass
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 80th 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. Sign up for a paid subscription to support my work disseminating all of the cannabinoid science.
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Announcements
I’ve got a great book to recommend! For people who want a solid guide on how to use medical cannabis, here’s ‘Cannabis Roadmap: Medical Marijuana Guide for Optimal Health and Wellness’.
(you might even find a little quote from yours truly in the book…)
And you can see more on Dan’s website here:
https://www.mycannabisroadmap.com/
This week…
CBD to prevent the neuropathy of chemo treatments + cancer cancer cancer
CBD for sleep quality & a stronger immune system
Non-intoxicating cannabinoids for visceral pain
A review of natural compounds that modulate the endocannabinoid system
Cannabis smoke itself increases lung inflammation via the AhR “smoke detection” receptor
Sexy deep dives on how the ECS works with COX2, Nrf2 & TRPV1
Dark tales from the psychedelic retreat world
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 quality
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My work this week:
Canna-Education for CV Sciences
(TikTok:@cvsciences or my YouTube playlist 3-minute Cannabinoid Science):
CBD, THC & Drug Interactions
Cannabinoids & the Neuropathic Pain from Chemo
Topical Cannabinoids for Eczema
Advice for Easing Tolerance Breaks
Using Moby Dick to Explain the Endocannabinoid System
My TikToks (@lexpelgerandhisbooks or on YouTube):
Editions of the Hermetica
Memory Palaces & Atkinson's 'Memory: How to Develop Train & Use It'
Oliver Sacks 'On the Move'
Huxley's 'The Island' & Utopias
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 , Facebook, Twitter & my TikTok on books, hermeticism, science & history
Ways to support this work:
Subscribe on Substack
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Venmo: @Lex-Pelger
PayPal: donate here
Best Of Cannabinoid Science...
An editorial on the need to expand medical cannabis insurance coverage
Medical Cannabis in Canada: The Need for Insurance Coverage Expansion
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37843897/
Clinical
A great clinical study shows that 50 milligrams of CBD for eight weeks caused significant improvements in sleep quality & enhanced the functioning of natural killer immune cells
Eight Weeks of Daily Cannabidiol Supplementation Improves Sleep Quality and Immune Cell Cytotoxicity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37836465/
In people undergoing chemotherapy cancer treatments, 600 milligrams of CBD per day helped to prevent neuropathy
Oral cannabidiol for prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(23)01692-7/fulltext
And a medical records review finds the efficacy of cannabis for neuropathy caused by chemotherapy
Medical cannabis: A potential effective treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(23)01691-5/fulltext
And a poster on using cannabis to reduce the nausea from IV chemotherapy treatments reviewed 19 studies
Reducing Nausea with Medical Marijuana in Adult Patients Receiving IV Chemotherapy
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/student_work/34/
But a survey of oncologists from around the world found that only 16% had prescribed cannabis for the symptoms of cancer & its treatment
2082P TASMAN: An international survey on the knowledge, aTtitudes and clinical pAtternsS of use of Medical Cannabis for caNcer care
https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(23)01700-3/fulltext
And in interviews of cannabis dispensary personnel about advising cancer patients, they commonly agreed that cannabis helps with the symptoms & they generally recommended non-inhalation modes of administration
Dispensary personnel's views and experiences regarding oncologic cannabis and the counsel they offer adults with cancer
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37882245/
Public health data showed no association between cannabis use & several cardiovascular diseases/risk factors
Comparison of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cardiometabolic Profiles Between Current and Never Users of Marijuana
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37860878/
A large survey of cannabis for sleep found that most people smoked joints or vaped flowers, predominantly using products with THC, CBD & myrcene
A large-scale survey of cannabis use for sleep: preferred products and perceived effects in comparison to over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids
https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A1001171/1001171.pdf
“Comparisons of the self-reported effects of cannabis to conventional sleep aids revealed that participants reported feeling more refreshed, focused, better able to function, fewer headaches, and less nausea the morning after using cannabis for sleep than after using more conventional sleep aids or no sleep aids. However, they indicated they were more sleepy, anxious, and irritable in the mornings following the use of cannabis relative to other sleep aids. Participants were more likely to report red eyes and thirst and less likely to report nausea, anxiety, paranoia, and racing heart as side effects of cannabis relative to other sleep aids.”
In dogs with drug resistant epilepsy, 9 mg/kg/day of CBD effectively reduced seizures, though the liver enzyme activities should be monitored & side effects of decreased appetite & increased vomiting should be watched for
The efficacy and safety of cannabidiol as adjunct treatment for drug-resistant idiopathic epilepsy in 51 dogs: A double-blinded crossover study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37889215/
Reviews
A special series of articles on PEA for neuroinflammation & pain
Special Issue "To Go Where Nature Leads: Focus on Palmitoylethanolamide and Related ALIAmides As Innovative Approach to Neuroinflammatory and Pain-Related Disease States in Honor of Doctor Francesco Della Valle"
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biomolecules/special_issues/Palmitoylethanolamide
And an editorial on the actions of PEA & OEA via regulation of genetic transcription
Editorial: The paracannabinoid system: endocannabinoid-like lipids and their functions
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10646612/
A great review of the gut-brain-endocannabinoid axis
Neuro-Gastro-Cannabinology: A Novel Paradigm for Regulating Mood and Digestive Health
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37920559/
And a review of the history of cannabinoids for GI tract disorders & their future
Pharmacohistory of Cannabis Use-A New Possibility in Future Drug Development for Gastrointestinal Diseases
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37834122/
On potential drug interactions of THC & CBD, though these “are probably of little importance at low or moderate doses”
Drug Interactions of Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol in Cannabinoid Drugs: Recommendations for Clinical Practice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37874128/
A review of natural compounds that modulate the endocannabinoid system
Exploring the therapeutic potential of natural compounds modulating the endocannabinoid system in various diseases and disorders: review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37906390/
For visceral pain, a review of using the non-intoxicating cannabinoids
Non-Intoxicating Cannabinoids in Visceral Pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37883662/
In people with advanced cancer, a review of using cannabis to support their gut health
Supporting gut health with medicinal cannabis in people with advanced cancer: potential benefits and challenges
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37884682/
A review of the challenges of treating PTSD with cannabis
Challenges and considerations for treating PTSD with medicinal cannabis: the Australian clinician's perspective
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37885234/
On the concerns around pediatric cannabis use
Concerns Related to the Consequences of Pediatric Cannabis Use: A 360-Degree View
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/11/1721
A review of the dance between the CB1 receptors & COX2 (a regulator of anandamide levels & the target of NSAIDs like Advil)
Deciphering the mechanisms of reciprocal regulation or interdependence at the cannabinoid CB1 receptors and cyclooxygenase-2 level: Effects on mood, cognitive implications, and synaptic signaling
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37898448/
And a review on how it interacts with the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway
Therapeutic potentials of cannabidiol: Focus on the Nrf2 signaling pathway
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375025512_Therapeutic_potentials_of_cannabidiol_Focus_on_the_Nrf2_signaling_pathway
A review of the TRPV1 receptors in the guts
Comprehensive insights into the multifaceted roles of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel in the digestive system
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37883862/
There is some speculation that it’s the dysregulation of this receptor by long term cannabis use that leads to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Preclinical
In mice with tinnitus from high noise levels, a combination of cannabis extract & nicotine improved their hearing via altered brain plasticity involving the endocannabinoid & cholinergic system
Alterations of auditory sensory gating in mice with noise-induced tinnitus treated with nicotine and cannabis extract
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37837354/
For MRSA (the drug resistant bacteria that kills more people than AIDS), CBD inhibited the formation of biofilms, caused high levels of reactive oxygen species & reduced bacterial metabolism,, leading to the acceleration of bacterial death
Discovery of novel cannabidiol derivatives with augmented antibacterial agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37832223/
In heart tissue, CBD & THCV lowered inflammation
Non-Psychoactive Phytocannabinoids Inhibit Inflammation-Related Changes of Human Coronary Artery Smooth Muscle and Endothelial Cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37830604/
In a rat model of hypertension from high blood pressure coming from the lungs, CBD lowered fibrosis (scarring)
Cannabidiol alleviates right ventricular fibrosis by inhibiting the transforming growth factor β pathway in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37187449/
In a tissue model of intestinal inflammation, a number of cannabinoids lowered inflammation & altered genetic transcription, the strongest being THC
Phytocannabinoids Reduce Inflammation of Primed Macrophages and Enteric Glial Cells: An In Vitro Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37834076/
In mice, cannabis smoke activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR – a transcription factor that helps control lung inflammation) & led to increased lung inflammation over mice who did not have the AhR receptor
AhR controls pulmonary inflammation from cannabis smoke
https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/62/suppl_67/PA4053.abstract
In a thesis project using two mouse models of schizophrenia, HU-580 (a stable version of CBDA) seemed to help via the CB1 & 5-HT1A serotonin receptor
CANNABIDIOLIC ACID METHYL ESTER (HU-580) TREATMENT IN TWO PRECLINICAL MODELS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA: THE ROLE OF CB1 AND 5-HT1A RECEPTORS
https://research.library.mun.ca/16101/1/converted.pdf
In an animal model of Parkinson's disease, the terpene beta caryophyllene decreased neuroinflammation & protected the dopamine neurons via inhibition of the inflammasome
β-Caryophyllene decreases neuroinflammation and exerts neuroprotection of dopaminergic neurons in a model of hemiparkinsonism through inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37924806/
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.
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
New Jersey’s top court ruled that police can continue to use a 12-step method for determining whether drivers are high/impaired despite arguments that it does not work well for testing people on cannabis
https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2023/11/nj-police-can-use-disputed-method-to-determine-driving-while-high-with-new-limits-top-court-rules.html
https://www.inquirer.com/health/marijuana-dui-new-jersey-court-20230221.html
Meanwhile, Minnesota launches a pilot program to test saliva-based roadside tests
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-set-to-launch-roadside-impairment-test-for-marijuana/600321260/
History Corner: Rosa Vertner's Hashish Dinner Party in the 1860s (thanks Isaac Campos. Buy his weed book!)
https://tokinwoman.blogspot.com/2023/11/rosa-vertners-hashish-dinner-party.html
International
The new EU Drug Market report is out for cannabis
https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/news/2023/new-analysis-highlights-greater-diversity-cannabis-products-rising-potency-and-security-risks-posed-europes-largest-illicit-drug-market_en
“Most of the herbal cannabis found in the EU appears to be grown locally. The Western Balkan region remains a source, albeit less so than in the past. Some cannabis products, including herbal cannabis, are now smuggled into the EU from North America. As for cannabis resin, Morocco is still the largest supplier to Europe, but there are signs that resin production within the EU may be on the rise….
While cannabis herb and resin still dominate the market, cannabis products in Europe are increasingly diverse, and include a range of natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic cannabinoids available in many different forms. These include oil, a variety of other high-potency extracts known as ‘concentrates’, vaping products and edibles. Increasingly, at the retail end of the market, commercial marketing strategies are being used both offline and online to advertise and sell products. Some of these products pose a high risk to users’ health due to their potency, often exceeding 90 % delta-9-THC. Others may contain dangerous synthetic cannabinoids. In addition, several semi-synthetic cannabinoids (e.g. delta-8-THC, HHC) have emerged in recent years, underlining the need for close monitoring.”
And yet here in France, all I can ever get from the guys down by the river is just plain “herbe”.
Most school-going adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are not using cannabis
Cannabis and amphetamine use among school-going adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country analysis of prevalence and associated factors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37875858/
Spain’s largest electricity company says daily power outages are caused by illegal indoor cannabis grows, but residents say that's just an easy excuse
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=EAIM&u=anon~f5ab941c&id=GALE|A763340746&v=2.1&it=r&sid=sitemap&asid=566a5e43
Japan plans to ban HHCH (hexahydrocannabihexol)
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/11/20/japan/crime-legal/hhch-cannabinoid-ban/
An overview of Albania on the legalization of cannabis
Legitimately Using of Psychotropics: An Overview of the Albanian Legal Treatment Toward the Legalization of Cannabis
https://tudr.org/id/eprint/2313/
The War on Drugs & the End of Prohibition
The two overdose prevention centers of NYC did not lead to increased crime in the area (but did save many many lives)
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nyc-drug-overdose-prevention-centers-are-not-driving-crime-american-medical-association-study-finds-contrary-to-opponents-claims
#safeinjectionfacilitiesareahumanright
To evade the synthetic cannabinoid ban of China, underground chemists moving towards adding bromine to synthetic cannabinoids
In vitro cannabinoid activity profiling of generic ban-evading brominated synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists and their analogs
https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dta.3592
An editorial on how we might measure driving under the influence of cannabis
How research and policy can shape driving under the influence of cannabis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37877315/
Business & Law
An observational study of workers’ compensation claims did not find a relationship between cannabis use & disability benefit expenditures, “suggesting that neither harm nor significant benefit is associated with cannabis use”
An observational study of pain severity, cannabis use, and benefit expenditures in work disability
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37843785/
A thesis project on the dirty world of Canadian cannabis grows [embargoed]
Canadian Cannabis: Orthodoxies of Exclusion and Access
https://macsphere.mcmaster.ca/handle/11375/29105
Psychedelics, Plant Medicines & Other Psychoactives
Ugh. I’m used to reading about the underbelly of psychedelics, but this is a series of shocking report about a clinic where the 5-MeO-DMT gave the leader a Messiah complex
(and apparently, it’s not an uncommon occurrence)
https://www.ecstaticintegration.org/p/sowilo-what-happens-when-a-psychedelic
https://www.ecstaticintegration.org/p/there-are-thousands-of-gabriels-out
The Plant & the History
Growing & Farming
A review of the many challenges to cannabis production
Challenges to Cannabis sativa Production from Pathogens and Microbes – the Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202310.1852/v1
On the genetic regulatory responses of hemp to salt stress
The miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks of the response to NaHCO3 stress in industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37875794/
And on using small genetic snippets to identify the origin of European hemp samples
Characterization and evaluation of nine Cannabis sativa chloroplast SNP markers for crop type determination and biogeographical origin on European samples
https://www.fsigenetics.com/article/S1872-4973(23)00146-1/fulltext
On growing hemp in soil contaminated with heavy metals
Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)-a valuable alternative crop for growing in agricultural soils contaminated with heavy metals
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37884708/
“Results of this study showed that hemp cannot be considered an efficient plant for the phytomanagement of contaminated areas. Nevertheless, hemp cultivation in heavy metal-polluted agricultural soils seems feasible since the majority of tissues/organs were not contaminated and different products can be obtained from various parts of the hemp plant.”
On using irradiation to decontaminate dry cannabis flower
DEVELOPMENT OF A TECHNOLOGICAL METHOD FOR MICROBIOLOGICAL DECONTAMINATION OF DRY CANNABIS FLOWERS
https://aseestant.ceon.rs/index.php/arhfarm/article/view/46337
A new way to coax male flowers from female plants
A Novel Method for Stimulating Cannabis sativa L. Male Flowers from Female Plants
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37836111/
A genetic study of the cannabis calli from embryos & roots
Transcriptomic Profiling of Embryogenic and Non-Embryogenic Callus Provides New Insight into the Nature of Recalcitrance in Cannabis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37834075/
A novel bacteria in the genus Massilia isolated from cannabis
Bioplastic (poly-3-hydroxybutyrate)-producing Massilia endophytica sp. nov., isolated from Cannabis sativa L. 'Cheungsam'
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37853022/
Hemp as food
Hempseed oil for inflammation in sedentary horses
Hempseed oil as a novel source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and its effect on inflammation in sedentary horses
https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/116570
In heifers, hempseed cake caused no adverse effects on the enzymes of nutrient digestion & may be a useful alternative protein source
The Effects of Feeding Hempseed Cake on Pancreatic and Intestinal Enzymatic Activity in Finishing Heifers
https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/101/Supplement_2/207/7332453
Industrial Use
A review of hemp as a fiber for European paper making at an industrial scale
Industrial Hemp as a Potential Nonwood Source of Fibres for European Industrial-Scale Papermaking-A Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37834685/
A review of using hemp as a curing agent for concrete
An Experimental Evaluation of Hemp as an Internal Curing Agent in Concrete Materials
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37297126/
An update on the use of hemp plastics
Industrial Cannabis sativa: Hemp Plastic-Updates
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374898243_Industrial_Cannabis_sativa_Hemp_Plastic-Updates
CANNABINOID SCIENCE
Clinical Trials, Surveys & Ingestion Methods
A comparison of CBD blood levels in your venous blood versus your fingertip capillaries
A comparison of cannabidiol (CBD) concentrations in venous vs. fingertip-capillary blood
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37852610/
On how cannabinoids move through the body after death
Postmortem redistribution of cannabinoids: Statistical analysis of a novel dataset and meta-analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37944415/
On the perceptions of Maltese healthcare professionals on medical cannabis
Perception of Maltese healthcare professionals on cannabis for medicinal use
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/113978
Gender differences in how people co-use alcohol & cannabis
Sex and Gender Differences in Simultaneous Alcohol and Cannabis Use: a Narrative Review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40429-023-00513-3
People smoking blunts were more likely to progress to other nicotine products than people who only used cannabis
Youth and Young Adult Blunt Use Predicts Progression to Other Nicotine Product Use in the United States
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37881835/
Adolescents & Young People
A review of best practices for cannabis harm reduction for adolescents at a clinically high risk of psychosis
Assessing evidence supporting cannabis harm reduction practices for adolescents at clinical high-risk for psychosis: a review and clinical implementation tool
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37882050/
In youth utilizing treatment for cannabis use, shorter sleep the night before lowered the efficacy of the treatment outcomes
Does sleep relate to next-day cannabis use during treatment? Findings from an adolescent and young adult motivational enhancement and cognitive behavioral therapy plus topiramate intervention
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37944198/
A clinicians guide for young patients & the identification of the THC “toxidrome” (clinical fingerprint of toxicity)
Implications of Marijuana Legalization and Identification of THC Toxidrome in the Young
https://www.childrensmercy.org/health-care-providers/refer-or-manage-a-patient/connect-with-childrens-mercy/newsletter-the-link/link-newsletter-september-20232/evidence-based-strategies-heat-related-illness/
In Washington, some evidence that the legalization of cannabis led to increased adolescent use
Impact of Recreational Cannabis Legalization on Adolescent Cannabis Use in Washington State
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0044118X231205330
In the adolescents of Ireland, the factors that were associated with a greater likelihood of cannabis usage
Risk and protective factors for cannabis use among young people - a population based survey
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/33/Supplement_2/ckad160.656/7327882
In Swedish adolescents, girls with conduct problems were more likely to use cannabis than boys with conduct problems
Is there a gender paradox in the association between conduct problems and cannabis use? A cohort-study among Swedish adolescents
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37867405/
For different ethnicities, the average age of substance use initiation & how “initiation during late adolescence was associated with greater likelihood of a substance use disorder diagnosis, mental health diagnoses, and polydrug use in adulthood”
Assessing the relationship between drug use initiation age and racial characteristics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37882363/
In the youth of India, on the confusion between hemp & marijuana
‘Hemp and Marijuana are both pots?’ Young consumer awareness and perception of hemp food in India
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154323003162
Neurology & Brain Diseases
A case report of excessive cannabinoid use linked to leukoencephalopathy (a disorder of the brain’s white matter)
Leukoencephalopathy After Excessive Cannabinoid Use
https://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/leukoencephalopathy-after-excessive-cannabinoid-use/
A review of using cannabinoids for epilepsy & seizure disorders
Cannabinoid treatments in epilepsy and seizure disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37882730/
For multiple sclerosis, evaluating different compounds from cannabis for binding to the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein receptor
Evaluation of different phytochemicals from Cannabis sativa against Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein receptor
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42535-023-00753-8
Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders
A case study of treating sexual & cannabis addiction with psychedelics plus ACT therapy
Case study: Acceptance and commitment therapy plus psychedelics in treating sexual and cannabis addiction
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2024-18975-001
People who use cannabis to cope with internalizing disorders such as anxiety or depression appeared to have an increased risk for cannabis use disorder
Risk for Cannabis Use Disorder in People Who Use Cannabis to Cope with Internalizing Disorders: Implications for Policy and Practice
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/23727322231195273
In Ontario, proximity to a cannabis retailer was associated with a greater likelihood to utilize health services for psychosis
The effect of non-medical cannabis retailer proximity on use of mental health services for psychotic disorders in Ontario, Canada
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37886802/
In people with cocaine dependence, they had altered levels of 2-AG, suggesting it as a therapeutic target
Plasma endocannabinoids in cocaine dependence and their relation to cerebral metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 density
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37857616/
In people trying to quit nicotine, those who also used cannabis had a higher blood pressure response to stress
Biobehavioral and affective stress responses during nicotine withdrawal: Influence of regular cannabis co-use
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37897498/
A review of preclinical models of psychiatric disorders & the usage of cannabinoids
Relevance of cannabinoids in preclinical models of psychiatric disorders
https://e-archivo.uc3m.es/handle/10016/38697
The repeated exposure to psychostimulants can cause behavioral sensitization to their effects & this seems to be mediated by the CB1 receptors
Striatopallidal cannabinoid type-1 receptors mediate amphetamine-induced sensitization
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37879332/
Pain & Surgeries
In a mouse model of chronic sleep leading to heightened pain sensitivity, the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA) was reduced in the relevant brain area (thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN))
The endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyl dopamine is critical for hyperalgesia induced by chronic sleep disruption
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37880241/
In mice, how serotonin lowered pain signal transmission via the cannabinoid system & the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway
Participation of the cannabinoid system and the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway in serotonin-induced peripheral antinociception
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37898181/
A state legalizing prescription CBD did not alter opioid prescription levels
CBD as a cure-all? The impacts of state-level legalization of prescription cannabidiol (CBD) on opioid prescriptions
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/soej.12667
The Guts, Metabolism, Oral Health & CHS
In geriatric patients with hemorrhages in the GI tract, those with cannabis use disorder had lower rates of certain heart diseases but higher rates of certain lung diseases & an overall lower mortality rate
Impact of Cannabis Use Disorder on In-Hospital Mortality in Geriatric Population Hospitalized With Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: A National Population Based Analysis
https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2023/10001/s815_impact_of_cannabis_use_disorder_on.1171.aspx
In intestine cells, hemp proteins caused beneficial immunomodulatory effects & the lowering of inflammation
Production and identification of immunomodulatory peptides in intestine cells obtained from hemp industrial by-products
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37986471/
The Heart & Blood
In Nigeria, cannabis smokers had significantly lower blood pressure than non-smokers
Effect of Marijuana on Some Cardiac Biomarkers among Smokers in Southwest Nigeria
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375017152_Effect_of_Marijuana_on_Some_Cardiac_Biomarkers_among_Smokers_in_Southwest_Nigeria
A case report of heart problems potentially from heavy cannabis use
Syncope and Cannabis: hypervagotonia from chronic abuse? A case report and literature review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37875800/
In human blood cells, CBD inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines but with complex actions on T cells
Effect of Cannabidiol on Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and CD4+ T Cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37834328/
The Lungs
Endocannabinoid levels seem linked to asthma features
Are lipid mediators correlated to asthma features?
https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/62/suppl_67/PA983.abstract
In human airway cells, vaped delta-8 THC induced cellular stress pathways & may lead to inflammation & ciliary dysfunction
Vaping-derived Δ8-THC quinones form cysteine adducts and alter the respiratory epithelium transcriptome
https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/62/suppl_67/OA4237.abstract
The Muscles
In a rat model of muscle injury from ischemia, combining ultrasound with microbubbles containing a drug that activates the CB2 receptor significantly improved damage, inflammation & antioxidant capacity via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway
Ultrasound-Mediated Destruction of P-Selectin-Targeted and Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor Agonist-Loading Microbubbles Ameliorates Skeletal Muscle Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rat
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/asp/jbn/2023/00000019/00000010/art00010
The Skin
In a mouse model of psoriasis, using topical nano-CBD significantly lowered psoriasis scores
Cannabidiol-Loaded Lipid-Stabilized Nanoparticles Alleviate Psoriasis Severity in Mice: A New Approach for Improved Topical Drug Delivery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37836750/
Cancer & Chemotherapy
In rats getting treated by the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a synthetic cannabinoid that activates the CB1 receptor reduced mechanical pain sensitivity & painful abdominal contractions
Effect of the Cannabinoid Agonist WIN 55,212-2 on Neuropathic and Visceral Pain Induced by a Non-Diarrheagenic Dose of the Antitumoral Drug 5-Fluorouracil in the Rat
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37833878/
In treating cancer with CD19-chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, CBD did not alter the immune cells used but did lower their proliferation
Effects of Cannabidiol on the Functions of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells in Hematologic Malignancies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37878339/
In liver cancer, the endocannabinoid transporter ABHD12 increased tumor creation as well as the tumor’s resistance to treatment by sorafenib
ABHD12 contributes to tumorigenesis and sorafenib resistance by preventing ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
https://www.cell.com/iscience/pdf/S2589-0042(23)02417-3.pdf
Cool Chemistry & Tools
In rats trained to discriminate between the synthetic cannabinoid AM2201 & other cannabinoids, they could detect which drugs bound more or less strongly to the CB1 receptor
Effects of cannabinoid agonists and antagonists in male rats discriminating the synthetic cannabinoid AM2201
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299923006829
A molecular study of how synthetic cannabinoids bind to the CB1 receptor & activate it
Interaction of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists with Cannabinoid Receptor I: Insights into Activation Molecular Mechanism
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37834323/
Creating new variants of CBD & CBG using the Mannich-type reaction & then testing their biological effetcs
Synthesis of cannabidiol and cannabigerol derivatives using Mannich-type reaction and their biological effects
https://ojs.emt.ro/chem/article/view/1376
“Some modified CBD derivatives showed remarkable antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, while synthetic modifications on CBG resulted in a significant increase in antiproliferative [anticancer] activity in some cases compared to the parent compound.”
Using yeast to produce CBGA
Development of an efficient yeast platform for cannabigerolic acid biosynthesis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37890610/
On creating new CB2 receptor inverse agonists
Flipping the GPCR Switch: Structure–Based Development of Selective Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Inverse Agonists
https://chemrxiv.org/engage/api-gateway/chemrxiv/assets/orp/resource/item/653a546bc573f893f12245ba/original/flipping-the-gpcr-switch-structure-based-development-of-selective-cannabinoid-receptor-2-inverse-agonists.pdf
On improving CBDA performance with cyclodextrin
Investigation of Cannabinoid Acid/Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex for Improving Physicochemical and Biological Performance
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38004513/
A review of how to improve CBD solubility
Current Challenges and Opportunities for Improved Cannabidiol Solubility
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37833962/
CBD delivery via both buzzwords of nano & 3D printing
Combining the potential of 3D printed buccal films and nanostructured lipid carriers for personalised cannabidiol delivery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37903964/
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For this week’s songster, the early blues singer Trixie Smith & her ‘Collected Recordings Vol 1 & Vol 2’. Born in Atlanta & billed as the southern nightingale, she started off in vaudeville & rose to become a featured singer in the traveling shows of the day. By the 1920’s, she was singing on Broadway & recording a string of hits with backers like Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson & Sidney Bechet. She passed away in her 40s but left a legacy of bringing the blues from the halls of vaudeville into the mainstream of American music.
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