Inhaled cannabis for back pain, THC & CBD for postsurgical pain + cannabis-associated violence
Trump probably killed human trafficking victims + Spain won’t go legal + Trulieve rings the bell
Cannabinoids & The People,
or; Drugs & Drug Wars
🌟 This Week 🌟
(#hashtags for jumping to articles by searching for them with your browser)
For chronic lower back, crazy good data on inhaled cannabis
For total knee replacements, high levels of CBD & low levels of THC for postsurgical pain
On cannabis-associated violence (#Sikhs)
Even sitting in a smoke-filled car can make your hair test positive for THC (#passive)
Preclinical: cannabis for fatty liver + CBD for Alzheimer’s + CBG for obesity
War on Drugs: Trump’s first boat strike probably killed human-trafficking victims (#boatstrike) + Federal cannabis trafficking cases fell to another record low
Kratom trial just greenlit by FDA for opioid use disorder
Harm reduction: the underground “hit doctors” of Canada (#hitdoctors)
[numbers for C&P#191: ~4.3k words, ~12 minutes reading time, 82 papers]
📌 Editor’s notes 📌:
The newsletter will take a break next week because of travels.
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 191st edition of Cannabinoids & the People, Lex Pelger’s free weekly digest of all the new cannabinoid science, assorted canna-news + the War on Drugs, harm reduction & other psychoactives. Support this work with a paid subscription or by buying me a coffee.
If you purchase one of my canna-graphic novels based on Moby Dick, proceeds go to Americans for Safe Access to support medical cannabis patients.
For producing cannabinoid content, work with my company White Whale Creations: writing, science archives, social media, newsletters & podcasts.
As always, ask me anything!
🤝 Sponsor 🤝: The Cannabis & Health Research Initiative
Want to help expand the knowledge of medical cannabis use in the real world & get paid 100 bucks to do so?
Johns Hopkins University, with support from Realm of Caring, is spearheading the groundbreaking National Cannabis Study to evaluate the benefits, risks & overall outcomes of using cannabis for conditions like pain, insomnia, anxiety & more. If you are an adult in the U.S. considering starting cannabis for health reasons, this is your chance to help shape the future of cannabis research — and get compensated for your time ($100!). Join now to share your experience & contribute valuable data that could revolutionize healthcare for many patients nationwide. To learn more & sign up, visit:
https://ncs.cannabisandhealth.org/
Follow along on Instagram to keep on learning or sign up for the monthly CHRI email (curated by me) to get just the best of clinical research & new reviews twice a month.
🎥 Lex’s new work 🎤
@CannabinoidsAndThePeople on YouTube, TikTok & LinkedIn
Canna-edu videos sponsored by the National Cannabis Study (join & get paid $100 to talk about your use of our favorite plant)
- nothing new this week. working on a big one on CBD & the EU’s declaration of it as a reproductive toxicant
Canna-science Videos for CV Sciences on YT @CVSciencesInc & on TT @pluscbd
For 30% off their CBD, THC & PEA products, at pluscbdoil.com use the coupon code ‘LEX’
@LexPelgerAndHisBooks on TikTok, YouTube & Instagram:
And as always, at the bottom is the album of the week: country-soul pioneer, Arthur Alexander
💖 Ways to support this work 💖
- A paid subscription on Substack
- Venmo: @Lex-Pelger
- PayPal: donate here
📣 A request to spread the word 📣
This newsletter only spreads by word of mouth, so please share to friends & colleagues.
🍃 BEST OF CANNABINOID SCIENCE 🍃
(most of the phytocannabinoid data is here & most of the ECS data is in the ‘Canna-Science Archive’ at the bottom)
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
In people with chronic low back pain, 5 years of inhaled cannabis was associated with “large, sustained, and statistically robust improvements in pain, disability, and pain interference, accompanied by near-total displacement of opioids, NSAIDs, antidepressants, and gabapentinoids”
Long-Term Inhaled Cannabis Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Five-Year Retrospective Analysis of Prospectively Collected Patient-Reported Outcomes in 241 Treatment-Refractory Patients
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/14/6/1255
For people with pain after a knee replacement, a 25:1 CBD:THC oil reduced levels of moderate-to-severe pain over the next 26 weeks
Cannabis to Reduce Chronic Postsurgical Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9622221/v1/8906402d-02a2-4971-80a3-319ed3604811.pdf?c=1780384340
In horse feed contaminated by low levels of CBD & CBDA, the horses had low but detectable levels in their plasma & urine
Plasma and urinary exposure of cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid in horses following consumption of contaminated feed
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13620-026-00350-6
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
In first-episode psychosis, those with cannabis exposure “exhibited better cognitive function, lower cortical E/I balance, lesser negative symptoms, and greater mood symptoms”, with cannabis resumption associated with relapse
Cognitive, Electrophysiological, and Behavioral Presentation of First-Episode Psychosis With or Without Cannabis Exposure
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250726
For cannabis-associated violence, a review of case reports argued that more research is needed on this topic (#Sikhs)
Cannabis, Psychosis, and Violence: Case Reports and Comprehensive Evidence Review
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1824748/abstract
This article is behind a paywall so I’m not sure if they covered it, but there is a whole literature from the 50s (reviewed here by the historian Ernest Abel) about cannabis increasing violence in animals. And to go along with that, there’s plenty of sociological evidence from that time of Reefer Madness that if you tell young men who like to fight that cannabis will make them more wild & better at fighting, then that’s what it’s going to do. I have a whole chapter in my graphic novel series planned out about the history of violence & cannabis use, such as among the Sikhs, the great warriors of India, whose hero Gobind Singh once single-handedly defeated a battle elephant with a sword in its trunk after drinking a mixture of cannabis & opium.
📑 Reviews 📑
For anxiety, a review of 5 studies of THC-rich cannabis
Effectiveness and safety of cannabis on anxiety treatment outcomes: a systematic review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915326000740
For inflammatory bowel diseases, a review of 8 trials on THC-rich cannabis
Effectiveness of THC-containing cannabis for inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-026-00456-2
For cannabis & PTSD, on the demographics of users & the patchy data
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Cannabis: An Epidemiologic and Genetic Narrative Review
https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/b1934f6a35a6d034a13d358ea33afe24/download_pub
For synthetic drugs of the CB1 receptor in clinical trials, a review of 189 molecules
Synthetic CB1 Modulators in Clinical Trials: A Medicinal Chemistry Review
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cmdc.70302
In zebrafish, a review on the endocannabinoid system’s involvement in reproduction & the reaction to environmental pollutants
Role of the endocannabinoid system in teleostei fish physiology: implications for reproduction and environmental interactions
https://www.scielo.br/j/bjb/a/mdTGZ8L3bBssYCWZyZCcSRc/?lang=en
🐁 Preclinical 🐁
In a rat model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as fatty liver disease), cannabis oil lessened the inflammation, liver scarring & other negative effects
Cannabis oil prevents early hepatic fibrosis, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in a sucrose-rich dietinduced MASLD model: role of cannabinoid receptors
https://karger.com/mca/article-pdf/doi/10.1159/000552533/4544010/000552533.pdf
In a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease, CBD improved spatial learning, memory & levels of pathological tau in the hippocampus (a memory center of the brain)
Cannabidiol attenuates tau hyperphosphorylation and cognitive deficits in an experimental model of Alzheimer’s disease and is associated with restoration of PP2A expression
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11011-026-01894-w
In a rat model of obesity, CBG lowered the influx of fatty acids, protected against excess lipids & improved antioxidant defenses in the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Cannabigerol Alleviates Obesity-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction by Cardiolipin Fatty Acid Remodeling
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42233524/
For the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, cannabis extracts caused inhibition & synergized with both kratom & Indian gooseberry
A study on the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of three medicinal plant crude extracts from Cannabis sativa, Mitragyna speciosa and Phyllanthus emblica
https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/items/f276664e-0bda-4695-8640-f60ae94ee531
On myrcene, a thesis project on its painkilling properties
A common terpene engages the endocannabinoid system to alleviate chronic pain
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/04b7z4z0
🆕 Novel Studies 🆕
(a grab bag section for cool & new stuff)
For cannabis strains, on using Leafly user reviews for tracking their popularity
Surveillance of Cannabis Strains Using Online Data: Observational Study
https://formative.jmir.org/2026/1/e89897
For passive hair exposure of THC & CBD, even briefly sitting inside a vehicle with cannabis smoke can trigger a false positive for active use (#passive)
Methodological considerations on repeated measures and sub-LOQ values in passive cannabis hair contamination
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0379073826002173
Lex’s roundup of fav newsletters:
#Canna: Marijuana Moment, Cannabis Law Report, Cultivated, Cannabis Musings (oy vey), Talking Joints Memo, Sticky Bits, Highly Objective, Cannabitch, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, Dr. Peter Grinspoon, Doctor Approved, Medical Marijuana Memory Blog (by Dame Alice O’Leary Randall)
#DrugWar: InSight Crime, Marshall Project, Students for Sensible Drug Policy
#HarmReduction: Filter, Drug Data Decoded, International Drug Policy Consortium, National Harm Reduction Coalition, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
#Psychoactives: Psychedelic Alpha, Ecstatic Integration, ICEERS, Substance, The Microdose
📰 US Headlines & Fav Articles
The White House said it wants Congress to amend a law that, in November, will federally recriminalize hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD products
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/white-house-pushes-congress-to-keep-hemp-cbd-products-legal-by-amending-broad-ban-thats-set-to-take-effect-later-this-year/
In Maine & Massachusetts, the anti-cannabis ballot campaigns were accused of fraudulent & misleading tactics, with video evidence
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/anti-marijuana-ballot-campaigns-in-maine-and-massachusetts-accused-of-fraudulent-and-misleading-petitioning-tactics/
🌐 International Updates 🌐
In Spain, the Health Secretary said the government is not open to the legalization of adult-use cannabis, which is very funny because they have perhaps the world’s most flourishing network of gray-market cannabis clubs
https://www.democrata.es/en/health/padilla-rejects-legalizing-recreational-cannabis-and-claims-its-use-only-for-medical-purposes/
In Indonesia, on the dilemma of medical cannabis
The Medical Cannabis Dilemma in Indonesia: Its History, Benefits, and Risks from an Islamic Legal Perspective
https://journal.iaincurup.ac.id/index.php/alistinbath/article/view/14758
In Thailand, on tourism & the resistance to cannabis businesses
Unravelling tourists’ and residents’ appraisals to unethical cannabis-related businesses and their impact on resistance behaviours in tourism cities
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/20565607.2026.2681863
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education ⚖️
On the New York Stock Exchange, Trulieve became the first multistate cannabis operator to ring the bell & get uplisted after separating its adult-use assets from its medical business
https://www.cultivated.news/p/trulieve-rings-the-nyse-bell
https://cannabismusings.substack.com/p/cannabis-musings-june-9-2026
In an analysis of US cannabis taxes, increased taxes raised the price of products & reduced legal cannabis sales
The impact of taxes on prices and the demand for legally sold recreational Cannabis in the U.S.-An economic evaluation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42230272/
For hemp in the US, an economic analysis of its adoption in the economy with a focus on fiber
Quantifying the Economywide Impacts of Industrial Hemp Adoption in the U.S.
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/361204?v=pdf
In young adults exposed to cannabis ads & warnings, on the effects of message complexity
Impact of Simple Versus Complex Cannabis Advertising Messages and Warnings on US Young Adults’ Product Perceptions
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/29767342261454137
🚓 The War on Drugs 🚓
In Trump’s boat strikes, the very first one probably killed victims of human trafficking (#boatstrike)
Top Pentagon Official Admits Boat Strike May Have Killed Victims of Human Trafficking
https://theintercept.com/2026/06/10/trump-boat-strikes-human-trafficking-victims/
This whole article is worth reading. Not only are these extrajudicial killings illegal & inhumane, they are also terribly carried out.
In Venezuela, Trump said the US killed a Tren de Aragua leader in an airstrike
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-u-s-killed-tren-de-aragua-leader-airstrike-nino-guerrero/
In the US, federal cannabis trafficking cases fell to another record low with just 383 in the last fiscal year
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-marijuana-prosecutions-hit-another-record-low-in-2025-as-state-legalization-expands-government-report-shows/
In Europe, they just released a report on their drug situation
https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2026/drug-situation-in-europe-up-to-2026_en
A new book on the war on drugs focused on the US & Mexico in the late 20th century
Policing on Drugs: The United States, Mexico, and the Origins of the Modern Drug War, 1969–2000 by Aileen Teague (review)
https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/12/article/991522/summary
Since the next chapters of my graphic novel series that I’m writing now are on the origins of the Mexican War on Drugs & how they played out over the last century, I just put this book in my basket.
In Fiji, 47k cannabis plants uprooted with an estimated street value of $47M
https://cannabislaw.report/fiji-47m-worth-marijuana-plants-uprooted/
In Spain, a cannabis club was dismantled for operating as a retail drug store
https://cannabislaw.report/cannabis-club-in-granadilla-tenerife-dismantled-for-operating-as-a-retail-drug-outlet/
In Mexico, a new cross-border tunnel found in Tijuana was 1900 feet long & had a rail system
https://www.aol.com/news/mexican-authorities-uncover-cross-border-002515092.html
In Paraguay, a private jet was found with 577 pounds of hashish & cannabis aboard after the pilot fled the country
https://cannabislaw.report/entrepreneur-pilot-leaves-paraguay-before-3-6m-in-hashish-found/
In Cambodia, a British national arrested with 65 kg of cannabis
https://cannabislaw.report/british-national-arrested-with-65kg-of-marijuana-during-phnom-penh-condo-raid/
In Indonesia, an Australian woman found with 59 mL of cannabis vape liquid is facing 20 years in prison
https://cannabislaw.report/australian-woman-faces-jail-time-over-alleged-cannabis-vape-liquid-in-indonesia/
WoD Research
For Baltimore police & cannabis laws, interviews found that they opposed zero-tolerance criminalization but criticized the current models of cannabis legalization
Police experiences with cannabis legalization and perceptions of broader drug policy reform
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42236387/
In Oregon during their drug decriminalization laws, an analysis found immediate declines in both misdemeanor & felony charges, but “of those not dismissed, there appears to be a concerted effort on prosecuting those charges”
A longitudinal examination of the effects of drug policy shifts on PCS charging practices in Oregon
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-9133.70024
In South America, on the emergence of new synthetic drugs
Emergence of synthetic drugs in South America: insights from Brazil, Chile, and Colombia
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-026-01480-4
On Dark Web markets versus Reddit on talking about drug use
Substance Use Communication Across Public and Public Online Health Communities: Comparing Reddit and the Dark Web Forum Dread
https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/publications/substance-use-communication-across-public-and-public-online-healt/
For NGOs during the Mexican War on Drugs, a thesis project on their role within the conflict
THE ROLE OF NGOS DURING THE MEXICAN WAR ON DRUGS
https://portalcris.vdu.lt/server/api/core/bitstreams/2041ae5e-a0b6-47b9-ad32-0ff0751fd1dd/content
For women drug dealers in Chile, a thesis project on their labor market trajectories
Precarious and gendered work: Labour market trajectories of women drug dealers in Chile
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/488541404/Final_Copy_2026_03_17_Ortuzar_Madrid_C_PhD_Redacted.pdf
🛡️ Harm Reduction News 🛡️
In Canada, a ride-along with the underground “hit doctors” who inject drugs into people as a harm reduction service/business (#hitdoctors)
Meet the ‘hit doctor’: Inside an informal network of drug users trying to stay alive
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/inside-an-informal-network-of-drug-users-trying-to-stay-alive-9.7225457
Harm Reduction Research
For a hospital-based harm reduction program, interviews on operational barriers, tensions & educational gaps
Implementation and sustainability of hospital-based harm reduction delivery: a qualitative analysis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-026-01476-0
In acute care health care professionals, a review of their views on harm reduction found they were generally willing to engage with interventions but this willingness did not always translate into action
Perspectives of Acute Care Health Care Professionals on Harm Reduction Interventions: A Scoping Review
https://journals.lww.com/cja/abstract/2026/06000/perspectives_of_acute_care_health_care.3.aspx
For drug houses, a thesis project interviewing people who use them
“IT’S THE SCARIEST, SAFEST ENVIRONMENT YOU’LL EVER BE IN”: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF DANGER AND SAFETY FOR PEOPLE WHO ACCESS DRUG HOUSES IN SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
https://harvest.usask.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/7e4ab3a3-2c4f-403a-8ca0-ad28689c494c/content
🍄 Psychoactives, Psychedelics & Plant Medicines 🍄
On kratom for opioid use disorder, the FDA just greenlit the first human trial
https://filtermag.org/fda-human-trial-kratom-opioid-use-disorder/
A book review of mixing psychoactive substances with religion found this one to be lacking in the basics
Sacred Drugs: How Psychoactive Substances Mix with Religious Life
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13537903.2026.2676394
Psychedelics & MDMA
On advocating for using full psilocybin mushroom extracts instead of the isolated psilocybin molecule
Time to embrace the whole: considering the replacement of psilocybin with Psilocybe spp. in psychedelic research and therapy
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14786419.2026.2683121
For MDMA & boosters, a trial found that they prolonged the acute subjective effects without increasing adverse events
Comparison of acute effects of 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) with and without a supplemental booster dose in healthy participants: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-026-04148-6_reference.pdf
For music & psychedelic therapy, a review of modern & traditional practices
Optimizing music for psychedelic-assisted therapy: Examining contemporary practices, traditional entheogenic rituals, and musically-induced peak experiences
https://www.akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/aop/article-10.1556-2054.2026.00523/article-10.1556-2054.2026.00523.xml
For the Indigenous use of ayahuasca for addiction, a review of 19 studies
A scoping review of ayahuasca-assisted therapy for Indigenous people living with addictions: gaps, lessons learned and policy implications
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687637.2026.2681541
In Brazil, a review of their 18 studies on psychedelics with a focus on ayahuasca
A trip through the psychiatric use of psychedelics in Brazil: A scoping review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950484826000172
For personality traits & the effects of psychedelics, a review of 48 studies found increases in openness & reductions in neuroticism to be the most consistent findings
Classic psychedelics and personality: An updated systematic review
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02698811261449386
“The most consistent findings were increases in Openness and reductions in Neuroticism, especially with psilocybin and ayahuasca. Changes in other traits, such as Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, were more variable. Microdosing was associated with modest reductions in Neuroticism and higher Absorption.”
For cognitive flexibility & psychedelics, this review looked at the mixed findings
Psychedelics do not always enhance cognitive flexibility: The potential role of time-varying effects on reward learning processes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763426002459
Ketamine
In adolescents with suicidal ideation, a pilot trial of ketamine found a high participation rate & no serious adverse events
A pilot randomized trial of ketamine for suicidal ideation in a pediatric emergency department
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43678-026-01190-7
For oral ketamine, a review of 18 trials found the adverse effects to be predominantly mild & transient
Safety and tolerance of oral ketamine: A systematic review
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/pcn.70091
“Comparative analyses indicated higher rates of dizziness, sedation, and dissociative symptoms with ketamine, while serious adverse events were rare. Overall, oral ketamine demonstrates a favorable short-term safety profile.”
Kratom
For kratom, a review of its potency variations across Southeast Asia
Variations of Mitragynine Content in Kratom Leaves From Southeast Asia: An Updated Review
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cbdv.202502332
🍃 The Plant & its Products 🍃
🌱 Growing 🌱
For salt-stressed hemp, comparing the efficacy of cold plasma & metal nanoparticles seed priming to counter the stress
Cold plasma, Fe and Mn nanoparticles modulate antioxidant activity, cannabinoids gene expression, and fatty acid profile in salt-stressed hemp
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-56414-8_reference.pdf
For hemp in soil with heavy metals, on the response to inoculation with growth-promoting microorganisms
Sorghum and Hemp Responses to Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganism Inoculation in Metal-Contaminated Dredged Sediment: A System-Level Assessment Under Environmentally Relevant Outdoor Pot Conditions
https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/16/3/102
An analysis of cannabis tetraploids (4 copies of the genome)
Advances on tetraploid Cannabis sativa L.: Morpho-anatomy, ionomics and chemical profile
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669026009647
In agronomy, adding more duplicates of the genome is a common technique for improved yield. Unfortunately, due to Prohibition, cannabis has had less time to benefit from this type of agricultural science.
For terpene levels in leaves, an analysis of the effects of growing season, leaf maturity & cultivation method
Impact of Internal and External Factors on Terpenoid Profiles in Cannabis sativa Leaves: Metabolomic Approach
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/405446164_Impact_of_Internal_and_External_Factors_on_Terpenoid_Profiles_in_Cannabis_sativa_Leaves_Metabolomic_Approach
In cannabis stalks, a dataset of their proteome & transcriptome
Raw proteomic and transcriptomic data: Cannabis glandular trichome stalks
https://researchportal.scu.edu.au/esploro/outputs/dataset/Raw-proteomic-and-transcriptomic-data-Cannabis/991013371959702368
On cannabis grown in Nigeria, a lipid profile analysis of its roots, stems, leaves & seeds
Lipid Profile of Four Parts (Roots, Stem, Leaves, and Seeds) of Cannabis sativa Grown in Nigeria: Part I.
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A3%3A31129347/detailv2?id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A193898258&crl=f&jrnl=26160684
⚙️ Extracting, Analyzing & Formulating ⚙️
For cannabis extraction, a review comparing the various methods
From Plant to Extract: Different Factors in the Extraction of Cannabis sativa L. Inflorescences
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25785125261454834
For rapid CBD level analysis, a comparison of 3 different methods
Comparing the Utility of Cannabidiol Quantitation Methods for Use in High-Throughput In Vitro Assays
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsomega.5c12618
For dried cannabis flowers, a test of stability found no significant degradation after 9 months
STABILITY STUDY OF DRIED CANNABIS FLOWER
https://ojs.ikm.mk/index.php/kij/article/view/8357
For CBD dry powder formulations, a thesis project on formulation strategies
Cannabidiol dry powder formulations
https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/esploro/outputs/doctoral/Cannabidiol-dry-powder-formulations/9926865622101891
🍞 Food & Nutrition 🍞
For hemp as a dairy alternative, an evaluation of different types of water for creating cheese analogues
Systematic evaluation of hemp-based dairy alternatives: how processing water shapes the quality of milk and the characteristics of developed cheese analogs
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11694-026-04526-0
For Scottish cold-pressed hemp seed oil & its by-products, an analysis of their functional properties for food systems
Nutritional composition and functional properties of Scottish cold-pressed hemp oil and by-products for sustainable food applications
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590259826000282
On the properties of hemp protein hydrolysates & corn starch complexes
Influence of hemp protein hydrolysates on the textural, thermal, rheological, and structural properties of corn starch with varying amylose content
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213329126000365
On improving composite gels made of hemp seed protein hydrolysate
Physicochemical and Structural Characterization of Composite Gels of Commercial Hemp Seed Protein Concentrate and Hemp Seed Protein Hydrolysate
https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/12/6/484
🏗️ Industrial Uses & Fiber 🏗️
For hemp biodiesel with nanoadditives, a machine learning analysis of emissions & performance
Machine learning based prediction of diesel engine emissions and performance using hemp biodiesel enriched with nano additives
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-49243-2_reference.pdf
For aerospace composites reinforced with hemp, an analysis of fracture behavior & structural integrity
Fracture behaviour and structural integrity of hemp fibre reinforced composites for low load-bearing aerospace applications
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-44443-2
For hemp composites, on methods for micro-machining
Micro-scale machining response of unidirectional hemp fiber-reinforced bio-PBS composites
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10426914.2026.2682777
In an analysis of epoxy composites made with hemp & filled with red brick dust using machine learning
Mechanical and tribological response of red brick dust filled hemp-epoxy composites using response surface methodology and machine learning approach
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-53725-8_reference.pdf
On reinforcing hemp concrete with flax textile, an analysis of the effects of different configurations on compression & shear loading
Strengthening of hemp concrete with vegetal fabric reinforced cementitious matrix: experimental study on compression and shear behaviour
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352710226012647
🌿 THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE 🌿
🏥 Public Health & Bioassays 🏥
For people who combine cannabis & cigar/cigarillos, an analysis of their demographics
The Association Between Sociodemographic Factors and co-Use of Cigars or Cigarillos with Cannabis
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10826084.2026.2675987
In Bulgarian healthcare professionals, a survey of the readiness for recommending CBD products
ASSESSING THE READINESS OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FOR PRESCRIBING AND DISPENSING CANNABIDIOL PRODUCTS IN BULGARIA
https://ojs.ikm.mk/index.php/kij/article/view/8358
For drug testing, an analysis of the effects from the liver breaking down THC into its metabolites
In Vitro Metabolism of Δ8-, Δ9-, and Δ10-THC in Human Hepatocytes: Distinct Δ10-THC Biotransformation and Implications for Drug Testing
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42229946/
🧒 Adolescents & Young Adults 🧒
For reducing cannabis use in youth, mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy reduced cravings & improved mindfulness & emotional regulation
RISK ASSOCIATED WITH MARIJUANA AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MINDFULNESS BASED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF ADDICTION AMONG YOUTHS IN SELECTED REHABILITATION CENTRES IN KENYA
https://ajoeijournal.org/sys/index.php/ajoei/article/view/1161
In young adult females using cannabis, coping motives were associated with longer & higher subjective intoxication but only in solitary settings
Do motives for and contexts of cannabis use interact to predict heavy cannabis use at the event-level?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42237465/
In young adult women, on their profiles of co-using alcohol & cannabis & the effects on their coping & perceived well-being
Gender-Sensitive Coping–Well-Being Profiles Associated with Alcohol and Cannabis Co-Use Among Young Adult Women
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2026.2670631
🧠 The Brain & Neurological Disorders 🧠
In a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, the neuroprotective effects of exercise were mediated by crosstalk between dopamine & the endocannabinoids
Dopamine–endocannabinoid crosstalk drives exercise-induced bidirectional plasticity in Parkinson’s disease
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-026-01396-7_reference.pdf
In a mouse model of blood-brain barrier dysfunction, activating the CB2 receptor with a novel drug reduced neuroinflammation-associated dysfunction & white blood cell trafficking
Orally bioavailable CB2 receptor agonists attenuate neuroinflammation and stabilize the blood–brain barrier
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-9705876/v1
💭 Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder 💭
In people at risk for cannabis use disorder participating in a cannabis cue stop-signal task (a measure of whether cannabis images alter your reaction times or executive control), they had no differences in inhibitory controls or prefrontal activation versus people at low risk
No differences in inhibitory control or prefrontal activation during a cannabis cue stop-signal task across CUDIT-R-defined CUD-risk groups
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-026-07099-4
For measuring cannabis craving, on the validation of a short form questionnaire
Validation and measurement invariance of a modified version of the marijuana craving questionnaire-short form across community and clinical samples
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42225013/
🧬 Reproduction & Hormones 🧬
In a rat model of prenatal THC exposure, dietary long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids prevented the memory impairment in both sexes, while in males they counteracted the synaptic hyperexcitability & in females they rebalanced the inhibitory shift
Perinatal LC-ω-3-PUFA supplementation offsets prenatal THC-induced cognitive deficit via sex-specific modulation of hippocampal neuroplasticity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42229740/
In a placental tissue model of gestational diabetes, the endocannabinoids mediated the changes in placental circulation
ENDOCANNABINOID MEDIATED PLACENTAL VASCULAR RESPONSES IN GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS
https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/fulltext/2026/04001/endocannabinoid_mediated_placental_vascular.34.aspx
🍽️ The Guts, Nutrition & the Microbiome 🍽️
In a mouse model of colitis, seal oil increased intestinal permeability & reduced inflammation markers while both fish oil & seal oil protected from some of the changes to endocannabinoid & oxylipin levels, with 2-eicosapentaenoyl glycerol being a defining lipid
Seal and fish oils partially counteract inflammation and modulate endocannabinoidome lipid and oxylipin alterations in DSS-induced colitis
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-54447-7_reference.pdf
🖐️ The Skin & Topicals 🖐️
In human skin cells, a complex of CBD & a tyrosinase inhibitor caused antioxidant activity
Cannabidiol-thiosemicarbazone exhibits dual tyrosinase inhibition and antioxidant activity in human skin-derived cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42235859/
🎗️ Cancer & Chemotherapy 🎗️
For cancer drugs, coverage of an early-stage CB2 receptor antagonist from Teon Therapeutics
https://cannabinoidpipelineinsights.substack.com/p/cannabinoid-r-and-d-and-cancer-research
💊 Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids 💊
For 3 synthetic cannabinoids, an analysis of their breakdown products
In vitro metabolic profile characterization for synthetic cannabinoids MDMB-BINACA, MDMB-PICA, and AB-CHMINACA
https://academic.oup.com/jat/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jat/bkag034/8699621
🔬 Biochemical Discoveries & Research Tools 🔬
On creating a nanosponge for delivering a drug to activate the CB2 receptor
Cyclodextrin-based nanosponges for the solubility enhancement and delivery of a selective CB2 receptor ligand
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1773224726005642
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For this week’s country-soul pioneer, Arthur Alexander & his debut album ‘You Better Move On’. This son of a bottleneck blues guitarist in Alabama, Arthur Alexander had joined a gospel group by the age of 12. After high school he began writing songs for sale to record labels & in 1962, Alexander released his own classic song “You Better Move On” (later covered by the Rolling Stones). Despite mishandling by Dot Records, his third single “Anna (Go To Him)” broke the R&B Top 10 & was later covered by his big fans, the Beatles. He spent the ‘60s & ‘70s writing music for others, though sometimes dropping out due to ill health. He eventually retired from the music business. He made a comeback album in 1993 but suffered a fatal heart attack just as the tour began. Many bands looked to him for their R&B sound & he was covered by everyone from Bob Dylan to Otis Redding & Tina Turner to Pearl Jam. As music critic Jason Ankeny stated, “his music is the stuff of genius, a poignant and deeply intimate body of work on par with the best of his contemporaries.”
This newsletter is the backbone of my work & I hope it brings you a measure of value. If so, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription & support my sharing all of the new cannabinoid science each week.


