THC May Improve Driving Ability in Patients with Neurological Diseases

dronabinol delta 9 – THC

6/21/2011 by Jahan Marcu – Since 2001, Dr. Kirsten Muller-Vahl and colleagues have published research articles demonstrating the safety of Delta9-THC in patients with Tourette’s Syndrome. This is a disease characterized by involuntary movement and vocalizations (a.k.a. tics).  In 2003, the authors showed that, “Delta9-THC causes neither acute nor long-term cognitive deficits” in patients suffering from Tourette’s.

Recently this group of clinical researchers published a Letter to the Editor of Psychiatry Research outlining their findings in a Tourette’s patient given 15mg of delta9-THC per day.  The authors measured the patient’s driving ability with a computerized test and compared it to the patients performance with and without delta9-THC. The author’s state, “In comparison with the drug-free phase (of the treatment), there was a clear improvement in concentration and visual perception during THC therapy.”

The patient, a 42 year old truck driver referred to as Mr.H, first displayed symptoms of this disease at age 6. When he appeared at the clinic for this study he was suffering from multiple tics of the head, arm and leg: Not good symptoms to have for a truck driver. Furthermore, Mr.H’s medical history showed that all available drug treatments were ineffective including dopamine blocking agents, alpha-2 drugs, clonazepam, and terabenazine. Within 2 weeks of delta9-THC treatment Mr.H’s symptoms were reduced by 75%.

The authors call for more research on driving ability in patient’s with Tourette’s while they are under the effect of delta9-THC . The authors do not discuss the possibilities of Cannabis or delta9-THC on the driving ability of patients with other neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

It is safe to assume that if you can stop chronic muscle spasms and involuntary jerking motions in a patient then you have made them a better driver. This new patient data comes after the DMV in California changed its policy on Medical Cannabis patients when it was successfully sued by American’s for Safe Access. CA DMV refused to renew the license of a medical cannabis patient, despite a “sparkling clean driving record.”

The implications for these findings adds to the on going argument regarding THC levels in the blood and driving ability. While there is still a great debate on the effects of Cannabis and driving in healthy subjects, it appears that persons suffering neurological disorders may have an improved ability to drive.

Despite the remarkable effects delta9-THC can have on the driving ability in a patient with Tourette’s, don’t expect law enforcement or the DMV to treat medical cannabis patients any differently from recreational users.

Jahan Marcu is currently investigating the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. He was working at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute when exciting discoveries were made showing enhanced anti-cancer effects with THC and CBD from the Cannabis plant. The findings were published in the Journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. In 2009 he received the Billy Martin Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS). Jahan is currently the vice-chair the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board at Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Questions?   Contact    [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any University, business or affiliates. While the information provided in this blog is from published scientific studies it is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

THC Tunnel Vision Limits Therapeutic Cannabis Variety

Medical marijuana growing in CA

6/2/2011 – The most common plant varieties of Cannabis in North America are THC-rich strains. These have have dominated the underground market for 100 years because THC is the main cause of the euphoric effect or ‘high.’  But the Cannabis plant is more than just tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); it is a treasure trove of potentially therapeutic compounds (Mechoulam 2005).

‘THC tunnel vision’  in America has prevented the identification and capitalization of the other, extremely valuable cannabinoids. Scientists are now taking on more research to look closer at the mechanics of these no-high cannabinoids.

The Cannabis plant can produce a rich mixture of active ingredients, these unique compounds are called cannabinoids. Everyone knows THC, but it is important to be aware of some other 3-letter compounds that are showing great promise for medical applications. These include: cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), to name only a few. Many of these compounds have been shown in laboratory studies to produce greater therapeutic effects than THC, without unwanted side effects (Russo-Guy 2006).

CBD varieties possess many ancient and unique genetics required to produce medically relevant cannabinoids. Plants containing a high amount of CBD have also become the second most popular choice in the supply of medical cannabis. A recent surge in demand for CBD-rich medical cannabis has also spurred an even greater interest in the identification and exploration of other cannabinoid varieties.

CBG has been shown to have pain-relieving and anti-depressant effects that are greater than THC (Evans 1991, Musty-Deyo 2006). CBG does not interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors like THC but instead interacts with different receptors, some that multi-billion dollar drugs target. These include adrenoreceptors and serotonin (5-HT1A) receptors (Cascio 2010).

Even though CBG was first isolated in 1964, the first report of a high CBG-producing plant wasn’t until the 1980’s, when it was discovered in a French hemp population. In 2005, a team of researchers identified a CBG plant in Italy.

They crossed this CBG plant with other THC and CBD plants of “good breeding value.” With the help of genetic analysis and chromatography, they were crossbred with different varieties and cultivars, until they identified a strain that produced high amounts of CBG, with little to no THC (de Meijer et al.2005).

Today, the only known high-yielding CBG variety is presently in the greenhouses of GW Pharmaceuticals, where CBG makes up a small but consistent portion of Sativex, a cannabinoid mouth spray. So while CBG and other varieties exist, they’re current exploration and usage seem to be sparse or under lock and key.

In America, there is a proliferation of cultivars (clones) of THC varieties given many different names (e.g., Skunk, Silver Haze, White Widow). Patients are given the illusion of variety where there may be none.

Fortunately, CBG, THCV and other unique strains may organically surface, either directly from the natural proliferation of CBD varieties or due to the plant’s “hypermorphic genetics” which can jump around spontaneously – Cannabis is a weed after all.

Potency testing may be able to identify cannabinoid compounds post-harvest, but only genetics and careful selection will allow the medical cannabis industry to track heritability. This will greatly enhance the generation of new and therapeutically useful strains of Cannabis, just like those that have been created over the last 20 years in Europe.

Jahan Marcu is currently investigating the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. He was working at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute when exciting discoveries were made showing enhanced anti-cancer effects with THC and CBD from the Cannabis plant. The findings were published in the Journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. In 2009 he received the Billy Martin Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS). Jahan is currently the vice-chair the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board at Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Questions?   Contact    [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any University, business or affiliates. While the information provided in this blog is from published scientific studies it is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

The Big Green Doomsday Machine: NJ Gov Christie and Corporate Marijuana

illustration from Skunk Magazine

Printed in the current issue of Skunk Magazine; by Chris Goldstein and Beth Mann from freedomisgreen.com – It is 2012 and a team of political super-villains is plotting to keep marijuana illegal in the USA forever. The steady march to make holistic marijuana therapy available in the US is on the brink of being taken over and exploited indefinitely.

This subversive and nefarious attack is most apparent in states like California. The federal storm troopers smashing up dispensaries and beady-eyed IRS guys seizing property are simply the henchmen.

The new strategists include corporate interests and Big Pharma. These sharks smelled the cash in the water and have quickly allied themselves with old school prohibitionists for a full scale market takeover.

This evil scheme isn’t just happening in the West where legal, upstanding dispensaries are closed by the dozens; it’s a national coup with a powerful command post on the East Coast.

The State of Christie

New Jersey is a celebrity state for which most have a certain familiarity. Watching a Kevin Smith flick, singing along with The Boss and following Snooki on Twitter makes anyone feel like they have an intimate knowledge of the Garden State.

Sandwiched between New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, there is a kind of unique, center-of-the-storm mentality to true New Jerseans. Citizens are diverse and generally wear their residency with a certain weary pride.

Yet New Jersey is the septic tank of American politics – housing some of the most off-balance, drama-filled, high-dollar and just plain sleazy elected officials in the country. Leading the pack is our Tony Soprano-like governor: Chris Christie.

Large, loud and generally angry, Christie’s most distinguishable feature is his comic-book proportions. He isn’t slightly rotund–he’s extremely obese. Yet he is light on his feet and quick with a smile. Christie possesses that superpower charm that politicians must hone in order to succeed. In fact, his girth is disarming; it distracts you from the real monster underneath.

Chris Christie has always been a political animal. A stint as a county freeholder paved his way to the State Assembly but local Republicans smacked him down at the polls. Without an elected seat, Christie haunted Trenton as a professional lobbyist. In 2000 he found his niche raising campaign cash for George W. Bush and getting chummy with Karl Rove. In 2001, Christie was tapped by President GW Bush to be the US Attorney for New Jersey.

Each state has federal prosecutors assigned and appointed by the President. The job of the US Attorneys is to fight the most serious crimes on behalf of Uncle Sam: mobsters, gangsters and Ponzi scheme operators.

This job also taught Christie all the inside baseball he would need to leverage federal prosecutors over medical marijuana later in his career.

The Gray Area Grows

US Attorney General Eric Holder, the boss of all the US Attorneys,issued a cryptic communique in 2009 concerning medical marijuana. Drafted by Deputy Attorney General David Odgen, it is now commonly referred to as the “Ogden memo.”

Forced to define a position on medical cannabis for the Obama administration, Ogden created an important outline: federal resources were not be used to prosecute individual American citizens using marijuana for a serious illness.

But Ogden had to admit, in the same memo (and in formal legalese), that US Attorneys should uphold federal law and shutdown cannabis facilities even if they were fully regulated by state law. The contradiction has created a complete circus ever since.

These wide-open loopholes left the US Attorneys, US states, and even the cannabis industry to their own interpretations. Dispensary owners viewed this protection to the individual patients as applying to their businesses. They were in for a rude awakening.

The Golden State of CA is currently experiencing its most serious sweep of dispensary shutdowns under the direction of US Attorney Melinda Haag. Like Christie, Haag’s appearance speaks volumes, and exudes a certain “cackling evil witch” quality. She aligned all of her federal resources – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and even The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – to rabidly go after individual dispensary businesses.

While other US Attorneys in Michigan, Oregon and Colorado have taken some similar action, Haag has stood alone in her dogged and maniacal pursuit of federal marijuana prohibition. That gray area of conflict between state and federal law gives Haag full discretion to act how she pleases.

The No Garden State

On January 18, 2010, one day before he left office after one term,former New Jersey governor Jon Corzine signed the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (CUMA) of New Jersey into law. Patients were promised full implementation within six months. Sponsoring legislators heralded it as the most “restrictive” law of its type in the nation, much to the chagrin of local activists.

New Jersey’s law was the first to eliminate home cultivation by registered patients. Instead, all qualifying residents would be forced into an approved Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) for their legal pot.

And while strict in measure, the law still lacked needed regulations and a formal structure. That was left to the incoming administration and has proven to be an unfortunate opportunity for conservative prohibition enthusiasts. On January 19, 2010, Chris Christie was sworn in as Governor,on the heels of serving as US Attorney.

Pill Pushers See Green

The old saying that politics makes strange bedfellows was probably invented outside of a cheap motel on the NJ Turnpike.

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Merck all have major research laboratories in New Jersey. Some of their major corporate offices are based here –and not because they like Bon Jovi.

These pharmaceutical mega-giants have spent decades and billions of dollars lobbying in Trenton. This has paid off in the form of tax-breaks, favorable zoning and contracts with state academic institutions, like universities. And they aren’t the only ones: insurance companies and major hospital groups have also worked hard to make the Garden State a very comfy base for their global businesses of chemical-based healthcare.

While these mainstream medical groups have kept marijuana at arm’s length elsewhere, they have a different angle in New Jersey. The component cannabinoids within the natural cannabis plant have long been the Fort Knox of the pharma industry. This potential money-making drug is kept under lock and key by the Feds. But in New Jersey, they are drilling into the vast and wealthy vault of pharmaceutical derivatives.

Governor Chris Christie’s first move on medical marijuana showed why he is so dangerous. In 2010 he bought time for his corporate plan to solidify and then corralled the support of the NJ Legislature. The same politicians who had fought for years to get the compassionate law passed instantly acquiesced to Christie.

They smelled the cash too.

Christie and his administration have been able to create the cannabis program at their own pace and to their own design. What has emerged, almost three years late, is a Soviet-style system that is the biggest threat to the small business, holistic medical marijuana industry in America today.

Welcome to the ominous beginnings of Corporate Cannabis controlled by Big Business.

The super villain master plan is about to bring this show on the road, coming to a town near you.

Hammer and Sickle Time

Chris Christie’s designs for medical marijuana seem like they were crafted over a dinner with Josef Stalin. A set of 128-page regulations was dropped like a ton of bricks in 2010. The Department of Health, the Department of Consumer Affairs, The Office of the State Attorney General and even the Governor’s Counsel [even the State Police] would have their hands on every step of the process.

This is government at its biggest and most intrusive; the polar opposite of the conservative “hands off” Republican ideals that Christie claims to harbor.

To advocates and patients, the rules for the ATCs were nothing short of draconian. They limit growing to only three strains of cannabis per ATC and none can exceed 10% THC potency.

Patients are also limited to just 2 ounces of this mid grade pot per month. It cannot be delivered to a patient’s home; the seriously ill resident or a single designated caregiver must visit the ATC to purchase their medicine. The only three forms of cannabis allowed to be sold by a New Jersey ATC are raw plant material, lozenges and a topical cream.

No hash, no edibles, no tinctures, no genetic variety. Sterile and homogenized; NJ’s castrated cannabis has become barely medicine and barely accessible.

But it didn’t stop there. The politicians who sponsored the law said that they didn’t want a “California or Colorado” type of program, implying that anyone with a common cold could have easy access. So NJ physicians are now forced to join a special registry in order to recommend medical marijuana. Seriously ill residents cannot even apply for their ID card unless they go through one of the handful of approved doctors.

The Garden State Pot Doctor List opened in late 2011 and only about 150 of the 30,000 physicians in New Jersey signed up. When the patient registry was opened in August 2012, this concept proved itself a dismal failure. Only 18 qualifying patients registered after a week, proving if you close enough doors, few will enter.

The Soprano System

While NJ regulators starved the patients in need, they happily tossed juicy bones to corporate interests involved with mainstream medicine. Only six Alternative Treatment Centers will be providing all of the legal cannabis for a state of nine million people. This was the birth of an exclusive, state-run cartel.

Making sure to keep it in the family, Christie’s DOH awarded the NJ Alternative Treatment Center’s contracts to business groups with deep connections to Big Pharma and machine politics.

Freedomisgreen.com filed an Open Public Records Act request to obtain the ATC applications. Analysis revealed that the winners plan to invest as much as $70 million to start up each site. Much of the capital will be spent on laboratory equipment and scientists’salaries to conduct private research on cannabinoids.

The brother of former Republican NJ Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Mr. Webster Todd Jr., is the CEO of Compassionate Sciences Inc. Todd used to be the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, a far cry from being an experienced cannabis provider.

But the buddy system doesn’t stop there. As of this writing,only one out of the six NJ ATC facilities has a full permit to grow marijuana: Greenleaf Compassion Center. NJ Assemblyman Thomas Giblin, a Democrat, is on their Medical Advisory Board. Giblin is the only sitting state elected official in the nation to be involved in this capacity at a medical marijuana facility.

*Note – As of 11/16/2012 Greenelaf has still refused to begin selling cannabis to patients citing tax concerns – even though they are the only facility fully permitted to do so.

Playing Chicken with the Fed

Chris Christie figured out how to concentrate the cash but the Stalin-style regulations weren’t enough; he had another card to play.

With his knowledge as a US Attorney, he manufactured a new conflict between New Jersey’s CUMA and federal law.

Christie claimed that he feared that NJ state employees could be at risk of federal prosecution. Using all of his expertise and power, Christie was making the ultimate move into the gray area of medical cannabis laws.

The Governor directed NJ Attorney General Paula Dow to send a letter to US Department of Justice. Christie was making President Obama and the US DOJ clarify their position on state authorized medical marijuana facilities so he could capitalize on the response.

This was all pure politics. Republican conservatives cheered. The Obama administration squirmed. The medical marijuana industry in America, rightfully, held its breath.

Deputy US Attorney General James Cole issued a new memo on June 2011 in response to New Jersey but directed to all US Attorneys. Freedomisgreen.com was the first to obtain the document and distributed its full text to the public.

Here’s the critical section:

The Odgen Memorandum was never intended to shield such activities from federal enforcement action and prosecution, even where those activities purport to comply with state law. Persons who are in the business of cultivating, selling, or distributing marijuana, and those who knowingly facilitate such activities, are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, regardless of state law. Consistent with the resource constraints and the discretion you may exercise in your district,such persons are subject to federal enforcement action, including potential prosecution.

State employees ran no risk of federal arrest. Still the USDOJ was obviously speaking directly the medical marijuana community. In layman’s terms: Ogden said that spending tax dollars to have federal prosecutors and DEA soldiers attack an American in a wheelchair smoking a joint (or growing in a closet) was a waste. But the DOJ firmly upheld the shutting down of any shop that provided that cannabis.

The Cole memo provided steel-enforcement for zealots like Melinda Haag. That was Chris Christie’s plan: provide anti marijuana US Attorneys extra ammo to go after legitimate, small-business dispensaries and make room to install their own corporatized cartel scheme.

The End Game

We used to worry that Reefer Madness-style opposition would roll back state medical marijuana laws. But the new take-over strategy relies on them being in place. Replicating the New Jersey law and the subsequent regulations is the new opposition key. Delaware and Connecticut are the most recent states to pass compassionate use: nearly exact copies of NJ. With all the built-in giveaways to corporate medical interests, this blueprint is an easy sell [to slick politicians].

Political pressure is also being put on state legislatures and even down to the county level to amend or re-regulate existing medical cannabis laws. (Guess which model they’re pushing?)

The current medical marijuana industry in America could be on the edge of a real doomsday. The next move from the likes of Haag and Christie is to shut down every single small-business cannabis garden or dispensary operation and replace them with corporate cartels. Imagine just six medical cannabis facilities for all of California.

To maximize the long-term profits, the big corporations will likely use their significant lobbying clout to fight national marijuana legalization. Given enough time to conduct secret research under exclusive state contracts, they will likely develop synthetic copies of natural cannabinoids in pill form. Those drugs would be perfectly legal and patent-able, just like Marinol (the 100% synthetic THC).

Hope still lingers. State-level pro-marijuana politicians like Assemblyman Tom Ammiano in CA and Diane Russell in Maine are pushing hard for freedom from these constraints. Longtime supporters in Washington DC like Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) are retiring but a savvier generation is getting elected. Congressman Jared Polis (D) of Colorado is a good example.

Awareness of the opposition plan gives us tools to fight it.

The immediate pressure coming down on California from US federal agencies can be alleviated immediately by Congress or the President.

But now, only a President and/or federal legalization of cannabis will stop the corporate medical marijuana cartels run by the states.

Their next move is to go international with this wretched scheme.

Unless we focus our efforts like a laser-beam on President Obama’s stance, the prohibitionist villains will prevail.

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions?  [email protected]   Note – This article was originally published on October 1, 2012 in Skunk Magazine, in print only.

The CBD Research that Time Forgot

7/28/2011 – Time magazine made a flawed, sensationalistic attempt at covering cannibinoid research in a recent article. The piece details the effects of a synthetic cannabinoid (called JWH-133) and its ability to deter cocaine addiction in an animal model by activating the CB2 receptor in the brain. The implications of this study imply that cannabinoids could be potentially used as an “exit” drug for cocaine users. But Time confused the synthetic drug used in the study with a natural substance called cannabidiol or CBD.

Unfortunately, the seemingly good news about CB2 receptors and the treatment of cocaine addiction was over-shadowed by a plethora of inaccurate scientific information.

Here are the three main points that Time forgot:

  • CBD does not activate CB2 receptors at a reasonable concentration. This crucial information was published in 1996. In test tube experiments, CBD can only activate the CB2 receptor at a concentration unachievable through any known or conventional route of administration. If, for instance, a patient had an IV hooked up to a vat of nearly pure CBD, then there might be enough CBD to affect receptor dynamics and thus lead to the activation of CB2 receptors. In short, CBD may be able to treat cocaine addiction, but not by acting through cannabinoid receptors.
  • Time magazine glaringly overlooked the most relevant research done on the effects of actual CBD (not a synthetic cannibinoid like JWH-133) and cocaine addiction by Raphael Mechoulam, one of the most noted Cannabis researchers in history. Dr. Mechoulam is credited as the first scientist to isolate THC as the primary ingredient in Cannabis back in 1964 and he continues to produce groundbreaking cannabis research. His important 2004 study looked at CBD and cocaine addiction but the research cited by Time never even mentions CBD.

One of the most basic concepts in cannabinoid science is that THC activates CB1 and CB2 receptors, but CBD does not activate CB1 and CB2 receptors. To refute this fundamental understanding of cannabinoid receptors is an insult to the scientific community and ultimately does more harm than good. As a scientist, this type of research is extremely complex and all news organizations will need to do a better job when conveying information to the public.

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam – The scientist that Time forgot

Jahan Marcu is currently investigating the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. He was working at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute when exciting discoveries were made showing enhanced anti-cancer effects with THC and CBD from the Cannabis plant. The findings were published in the Journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. In 2009 he received the Billy Martin Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS). Jahan is currently the vice-chair the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board at Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Questions?   Contact    [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any University, business or affiliates. While the information provided in this blog is from published scientific studies it is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

The Final Four According to Cannabis Research

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament was announced March 17th with a wave of free brackets, guides, Apps, and various experts that give the impression of mystical haruspices with their predictions.

This year we need a new way to determine final four picks. This is your chance to change the way you root for teams, here is a quick guide to base your picks on the quality of the universities contributions to the Cannabis and cannabinoid research field.

Here are final four picks for the 2013 NCAA tournament based on cannabinoid research:

Southern Division:

This year my pick for the southern division is the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). VCU has generated a lot in terms of cannabis and cannabinoid research. There are a lot of great researchers at VCU,  rewarded with substantial grant funding for many different project. The late and great Billy Martin was a VCU professor who is accredited with “changing the landscape of drug abuse research in this country.”

Here a few projects that are being funded:

The Discovery and Characterization of New Endocannabinoids. Many people are starting to learn about anandamide and 2-AG the THC-like compounds made by our body, but there could dozens if not 100s of these endocannabinoids that our body can make for a variety of purposes.

Cannabis-like compounds to treat HIV/AIDS associated Brain Inflammation. Cannabinoid receptor activation may be able to prevent brain damage associated HIV/AIDS disease progression

Increasing Cannabinoid Receptor Activity to Fight Alzheimer’s Diseases. This study uses an approach to increase anandamide levels by inhibiting the protein FAAH. Increasing endocannabinoid system activity has beneficial effects on cognitive decline in animal models of the disease.

In 2012, VCU researchers published their cannabinoid research in prestigious science such as the British Journal of Pharmacology and Journal of Molecular Pharmacology.

Eastern Division

Temple University continually produces high quality cannabinoid and drug abuse research. Temple researchers have published a study showing that cannabinoids can decrease HIV replication and a research team has received a grant to study the protective effects of CB2 receptor activation in the brain. Temple University is also home to some of the leading Ph.D experts in cannabinoid research, such as Jahan Marcu (Cannabis Researcher of the year 2012).

Western Division

For decades Ole Miss has been growing Cannabis for researchers and patients. Thanks to the tireless work of Mahmoud Elsohly a few lucky researchers have received NIDA “marijuana cigarettes.”

These studies demonstrated that smoked Cannabis is effective for treating chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, as well as providing effective relief from neuropathic pain.

The surviving patients under the IND program receive about 300 “marijuana cigarettes” a month, 10 joints a day is the approximate recommendation to treat symptoms of their incurable diseases (On a personal note, Dr. Elsohly is also one of the nicest and most open researchers I have ever met).

Midwest Division

Michigan State University has many active cannabinoid researchers who have published on a range of topics:

Role of CB1 receptors in the immune system

How THC may help with the Flu

John McPartland, a cannabis and endocannabinoid expert also publishes some of his work via Michigan State University. Researchers at Michigan State have also received a grant to study the potential of cannabinoids to stimulate new brain cell formation.

Summary

The final four of NCAA division I tournament of cannabinoid research would consist of Temple, VCU, Ole Miss, and Michigan State University. It’s a tough call, but Temple has the potential to take cannabinoid and drug abuse research to another level (However, I received my Ph.D from Temple and that may be a conflict of interest for this final four pick).

Temple University aside, Ole Miss would go all the way if the tournament was based simply on Cannabis research.

Ole Miss is the only place where you can find marijuana growing that is completely “legal”, as in the Feds and the DEA recognize its legitimacy; it is also the ONLY source of Cannabis for research purposes.

The ball is literally in Ole Miss’ court. However, VCU remains a cut above the rest, a deep team with a rich history of accomplishment and notoriety in the cannabinoid research field.

Jahan Marcu, Ph.D, is currently investigating the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. He was working at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute when exciting discoveries were made showing enhanced anti-cancer effects with THC and CBD from the Cannabis plant. The findings were published in the Journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. In 2009 he received the Billy Martin Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) and in 2013 was named Cannabis Researcher of the Year. Jahan is currently the vice-chair the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board at Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Questions?   Contact   [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any University, business or affiliates. While the information provided in this blog is from published scientific studies it is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

Poor Diet Impairs Cannabinoid Receptors

New data suggests that our diet can effect our response to cannabinoids. The authors demonstrate that an Omega-3 deficient diet in rats leads to a less functional endocannabinoid system, specifically by reducing the functionality of the Cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R). The reduction of CB1Rs was associated by the authors with impaired emotional behavior. The endocannabinoid system may require a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (i.e. Fish, nuts,etc).

Additionally, this article discusses the lack of essential nutrients in western diets. In the United States high-calorie, inexpensive, high-fat and nutritionally deficient diets are common. These bad diets are correlated to obesity and brain disease. For example, an imbalance in Omega-3 fatty acids has been linked to nueropsychiatric diseases, like depression. However the mechanism of neuroprotection from Omega-3 fatty acids remains unknown.

We already know that our diet can influence our response to cannabinoids and Cannabis. Could the negative effects of cannabinoids be related to nutritionally-deficient diets, which are also associated with mental diseases, such as depression? Could eating a better diet make for a better cannabinoid experience? This study raises a number of radical ideas that warrant further studies.

Jahan Marcu is currently investigating the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. He was working at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute when exciting discoveries were made showing enhanced anti-cancer effects with THC and CBD from the Cannabis plant. Jahan is currently the vice-chair the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board at Americans for Safe Access (ASA).   Contact:  science { at } freedomisgreen.com

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any University, business or affiliates. While the information provided in this blog is from published scientific studies it is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

Pot and Pumpkin Pie: Endocannabinoid System Enhanced by Vitamin E

Could eating a better diet make for a better cannabinoid experience? The journal of Free Radical Biology and Medicine published a report, which identifies vitamin E as a “modulator of the cannabinoid system.”

Alpha-Tocopheral is considered the main ingredient of vitamin E, and is well known for its anti-oxidant properties and mood elevating abilities. Low levels of alpha-tocopheral in the brain are associated with health issues such as depression and neuronal degradation.

The authors demonstrated that the actions of vitamin E can be blocked, if the cannabinoid type 1 receptor is blocked by a drug AM251. AM251 can block cannabinoid receptors and prevent them from being activated.

The authors report that the vitamin E and cannabinoid receptor interactions are occurring in a region of the brain known as the hippocampus, which may help explain the benefits of vitamin E other than its anti-oxidant properties.

Vitamin E can have profound effects on brain function, and it is widely used as a food additive. Without vitamin E in the diet a number a symptoms can start to appear, such as anxiety or ataxia.

However, vitamin E does not directly activate cannabinoid receptors, like for example THC, instead alpha-tocopheral modulates the receptor. The receptor modulation from alpha-tocopheral may be an important part of normal cannabinoid receptor function. More research is need to fully understand exactly how alpha-tocopheral obtained from the diet can influence the cannabinoid system.

High-calorie, inexpensive, high-fat and nutritionally deficient diets are common in the United States. These bad diets are correlated to obesity and brain disease. A balance of omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin E can help us live longer and healthier. The mechanism of this wonderful benefit is due to an integrated response between these lipids such as from alpha-tocopheral and cannabinoid receptors.

We ask ourselves the same questions as before; Can our diet can influence our response to cannabinoids and Cannabis? Could the negative effects of cannabinoids be related to nutritionally-deficient diets, which are also associated with mental diseases, such as depression?

This study raises a number of radical ideas that warrant further studies.

By the way…pumpkins have a good amount of vitamin E for some (possible) seasonal cannabinoid receptor system adjustments!

Jahan Marcu is currently investigating the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. He was working at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute when exciting discoveries were made showing enhanced anti-cancer effects with THC and CBD from the Cannabis plant. The findings were published in the Journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. In 2009 he received the Billy Martin Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS). Jahan is currently the vice-chair the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board at Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Questions?   Contact    [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any University, business or affiliates. While the information provided in this blog is from published scientific studies it is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

Pot Queen “Natty Baby” Kenly and Charlie Sheen – Winning

What’s there to say about Charlie Sheen that hasn’t already been said….by him? Who can forget such inimitable quotes as these?

“I’m bi-winning … If I’m bipolar, aren’t there moments where a guy, like, crashes and is lying in the corner, like, ‘Oh my God, it’s all my mom’s fault’? Shut up.”

“I have cleansed myself. I closed my eyes and in a nanosecond, I cured myself. It’s the work of sissies.”

“Clearly I have defeated this earthworm with my words. Imagine what I would have done with my fire-breathing fists.”

“I’ve spent, I think, close to the last decade effortlessly and magically converting your tin cans into pure gold.”

“I have a disease? Bullshit! I cured it with my brain, with my mind…this bootleg cult arrogantly referred to as Alcoholics Anonymous supports a 5% success rate. My success is 100%.”

“I have real fame. They have nothing. They have zero. They have that night and I will forget about them as the last image of them exits my beautiful home.”

The Goddesses? Let me just say this about The Goddesses…I don’t believe the term is good enough, but when you’re bound by terrestrial descriptions, you must use the best choice available.”

Ah yes, the Goddesses, who include the very terrestrial Rachel Oberlin and Natalie Kenly. Kenly is the premiere model” for Cali Chronic X magazine and named the magazine’s “Official Chronic Girl 2010.” In addition, she is a graphic  designer and was a cheerleader in high school. Good to know.

Pot Smoke Management 101

Do you know where I'm going?

4/2/2011 – My friend lives in a co-op building in Brooklyn, where the tenants dictate how the place is run. During a recent board meeting, they discussed a scent-related issue: pot smoke. A couple that lives in one of the downstairs apartments lights up frequently. Tenants and guests are often greeted, when they enter the lobby, with a strong scent of weed. The collective wasn’t sure how to approach this couple.

My friend, a green-friendly gal who knows the couple, volunteered.

“What am I supposed to say to them? I mean, I smoke weed in my apartment,” she asked me.

“And what do you do?”

“I turn on the overhead fan, burn a little incense, open the window. Plus, I smoke weed from a little one hitter…it’s not like giant bong hits or something.”

“Well, that’s what you may want to convey to them. If they plan on smoking weed in a close quarter building, they may want to consider how to manage their smoke better.”

So here’s some “smoke management” pointers for people living in close quarters (that don’t include blowing smoke into toilet paper rolls and dryer sheets because that’s just weird). If you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment:

  • Smoke with awareness. If you want to remain off of the radar, reconsider that bong the size of a small child in the middle of your studio apartment. Unfortunately, it’s still an illegal substance and needs to be treated in that manner. In short, don’t be too casual.
  • Revisit how you smoke weed – your smoking accoutrement, in other words. Vaporizers obviously generate less scent. One hitters are less smoky. Bongs might be better left in locations where others are not likely to be affected the smoke it creates.
  • Circulation and ventilation is key. Blowing out windows isn’t always such a smart idea (you never know who is downwind). Running a fan and opening windows disperses the smoke in a gradual manner.
  • Burn a little sage instead of incense. Most incense is cheaply made crap (other than companies like Fred Soll, who produce amazing, truly all-natural sticks.) Sage dissipates into the air quickly, while removing overpowering scents (and bad mojo, according to Native American tradition). Incense can be noxious and perfumey.
  • Create a safe space. Out here in the suburbs, many weed-friendly folk have something akin to a clubhouse for weed. It’s usually in the form of a shed or a garage. Neighbors are none the wiser. (And it fosters a secret kid’s club feeling that many of us appreciate at this juncture of our adult lives.)
  • Be considerate. Remember, smoke is smoke. Some people don’t like it. Cigarette smoke is highly offensive to many pot smokers. But for others, any kind of smoke or strong scent can be an annoyance.

My friend spoke with the couple downstairs who now use their overhead fan and place a rolled-up towel under their door when partaking (there’s a substantial amount of space between their front door and the floor). These small changes seem to have made the difference. (Though several people, including myself, have complained that they don’t smell pot smoke in the lobby anymore.)

 

 

Sage Stick – Pot Smoke Dissipator and Bad Mojo Lifter

Smoke Rising Photo Source: Guiri R. Reyes

Beth Mann is a popular blogger and writer for Open Salon and Salon. She is also an accomplished actor and director with over 15 years of experience, as well as the president of Hot Buttered Media. She currently resides at the Jersey shore where she can often be seen surfing or singing karaoke at the local dive bar.

Contact: maryjane {at } freedomisgreen.com

PRESS RELEASE: Dinner with Notorious Marijuana Smuggler

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Notorious Marijuana Smuggler Returning to Philadelphia

WHEN: April 8, 2011 — 7:00PM-10:00PM

WHERE: Bridgett Foy’s — 200 South Street, Philadelphia

EVENT: Welcome Home Dinner for Robert Platshorn “Bobby Tuna”

Robert Platshorn served the longest sentence for any non-violent marijuana offense in US history: Thirty years in federal prison with no parole. It was all for smuggling tons of pot back in the 1970’s when he went by the name Bobby Tuna. On April 9th Magnolia Pictures will bring Bobby to the Philadelphia Cine Fest for a screening of a new documentary called Square Grouper that tells his story. Platshorn grew up right on South St. and this will mark his first trip back to the area since being released from prison.

PhillyNORML and Freedomisgreen.com are holding a homecoming dinner for Bob and his family on Friday April 8th. The event at 200 South Street is open to the public and the media.

Platshorn will have copies of his autobiography Black Tuna Diaries: The Story of America’s Most Notorious Marijuana Smuggle.

Bobby’s real skill was as a salesman and a deal-maker. He cut his teeth as a pitchman on the boardwalk in Atlantic City selling all kinds of wares. When he got into moving huge bails of marijuana he used boats and airplanes, but never any violence.

The equally amazing story is a whole new chapter of Bobby today. He reconnected with his wife and son on a slow but steady path to re-build his life. Platshorn has also invested himself as an advocate for marijuana law reform. He has a regular column in High Times Magazine and currently works with local NORML chapters.

The next step for Bob is starting a Silver Tour to educate seniors about the benefits of cannabis. His approach has already seen some positive impact. After speaking in Florida, state Rep. Jeff Clemens recently introduced a resolution to legalize medical marijuana.

Square Grouper from Rakontur Films and directed by Billy Corben (Cocaine Cowboys) is scheduled for a 4:20PM screening at the Ritz Theater in Philadelphia on Saturday April 9, 2011.

The April 8th dinner at Bridgett Foy’s is pay-as-you-go on separate checks in one of Philly’s fun and friendly South St venues. A $10 donation is suggested, going directly towards changing local marijuana laws.

CONTACT: Chris Goldstein 267 702 3731

chris {at} freedomisgreen.com