Cannabinoids & the People #189: MS, lung harms & CBD for chronic pain in OUD + parrots, bats & snakes oh my!

[As always, for the best formatting, see the edition on Substack:
https://www.cannabinoidsandthepeople.whitewhalecreations.com/p/ms-lung-harms-and-cbd-for-chronic]

(#hashtags for jumping to articles by searching for them with your browser)

[numbers for C&P#189: ~6k words, ~16 minutes reading time, 130 papers]

Editor’s notes :
I had less time this week for the processing of science because I had to switch video editing software. After Kapwing choked on my 20-minute ‘Funniest Cannabis Smuggling Story of All Time’, I finally chose to go with Descript so I’ll be future-proofed for longer videos such as the podcasts I’d like to get back to making as these kids grow up. I used Descript for most of the videos I released below this week & while I’m still working on my colors & fonts, I’m excited for the new potential for making these videos better & more engaging. If you want to follow along, the main outlet I want to build up is my YouTube channel @CannabinoidsAndThePeople.

Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 189th 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.
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(most of the phytocannabinoid data is here & most of the ECS data is in the ‘Canna-Science Archive’ at the bottom)

In people with multiple sclerosis using cannabinoids, a meta-analysis of 20 studies found significant reductions in pain intensity, spasticity severity & disability
Efficacy of Sativex® on pain, spasticity, and disability in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661826001659

In people with chronic pain using methadone for their opioid use disorder, CBD helped with pain at lower doses but worsened pain sensitivity at higher doses (1200 mg)
An opioid-withholding human laboratory paradigm during opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder and chronic pain: Phase- and dose-dependent effects of cannabidiol
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-026-02443-w

For CBD & drug-resistant epilepsy, a meta-analysis of 7 trials found it caused clinically meaningful reductions in seizures with an acceptable safety profile
Adjunctive Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2147/TCRM.S601774
And in pediatric epilepsy, CBD reduced epilepsy severity, seizures, medication use, emergency visits & hospitalizations
Effectiveness and tolerability of cannabidiol in paediatric epilepsy: a one-year multisite prospective study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505026002167

For chronic pain due to fibromyalgia or arthritis, 12 weeks of different combinations of cannabinoids (including CBD, THC, CBDA, CBG & CBC) had beneficial effects
Assessing the Efficacy of Cannabinoid Compositions for Treating 3 Classes of Chronic Pain: A Real-World Evidence Study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149291826001360

In people with Parkinson's disease using cannabinoids, a meta-analysis of 11 trials found they had no significant benefit
Therapeutic effects of cannabinoids on Parkinson's disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42138778/
Sometimes a piece of research just leaves you scratching your head. I don’t feel like diving into the guts of this one. Some of the most overwhelming anecdotal evidence you hear about cannabinoids is from people with Parkinson’s disease & roughly every month I see another clinical study backing that up.

In people with first-episode psychosis, cannabis use was not associated with significant differences in clinical outcomes or recovery but was associated with more intensive antipsychotic treatment
Cannabis Use and Clinical Outcomes in First Episode Psychosis: Results From a 2-Year Follow-Up Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42141813/
And in first-episode psychosis, cannabis use at baseline predicted lower adherence to treatment at 3 months
Medication adherence, cannabis use, and depressive symptoms in first-episode psychosis: longitudinal study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09638237.2026.2672339

For smoked cannabis & gender differences, researchers found “a lack of consistent sex differences in the acute effects of smoked cannabis across a range of potencies”
Lack of Consistent Sex Differences in the Acute Effects of Smoked Cannabis: A Potency-Ranging, Controlled Administration, Human Laboratory Experiment
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9441659/v1/4eaf3e10-ad20-4c9f-8b77-7d6128c4bfb8.pdf
This is a study going against the grain, because most find gendered differences in the acute effects of cannabis.

For cannabis use among couples, interviews with South Asian people on the effects on their relationship
And they lived happily ever after? Experiences of couples affected by marijuana use explored using Rogers’ tentative law of interpersonal relationships
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14779757.2026.2670363

For cannabis edibles, the fast-acting edibles worked faster than the standard edibles though both produced several hours of subjective impairment
Behavioral and Self-Report Cognitive Impairment Differences between Fast-Acting, Standard, and Placebo Cannabis Edibles
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9621757/v1/0f842506-64c0-4c7f-ac26-a7b89e9b5837.pdf

In people using transcranial magnetic stimulation for their depression, cannabis use did not alter their clinical outcomes
Puff, Puff, or Pass? Use of Cannabis on TMS Outcomes for Major Depressive Disorder
https://www.tmsjournal.org/article/S3050-5291(26)00069-3/pdf

When giving CBD & THC to parrots, food did not increase the bioavailability but it did slow down the absorption time & extend the half-life (#animals)
Food Effects on the Pharmacokinetics of Orally Administered Cannabinoids in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots (Amazonia ventralis)
https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-avian-medicine-and-surgery/volume-40/issue-2/AVIANMS-D-25-00008/Food-Effects-on-the-Pharmacokinetics-of-Orally-Administered-Cannabinoids-in/10.1647/AVIANMS-D-25-00008.full
Delighted to add this new piece of research to my small but growing collection of parrot/cannabinoid data…

In bats, a brief mention of how endocannabinoids may relate to their flying
High Relevance of Fatty Acid Oxidation in a Migrating Mammal, the Nathusius' Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii)
https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1096/fj.202600860R
And truly delighted to add my very first endocannabinoid paper involving flying mammals…

In red-sided garter snakes, as they began their migration to feeding grounds, their levels of the endocannabinoid 2-AG dropped in their hippocampus (a memory center of the brain) while blocking the CB1 receptor reduced male courtship behavior
The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol mediates seasonal life-history transitions in a wild reptile
https://cob.silverchair-cdn.com/cob/content_public/journal/jeb/jam/10.1242_jeb.251845/1/jeb251845.pdf
And delighted to have my 2nd ever snake data, after the first on the Burmese python…

(Many of these come from the American Thoracic Society Conference 2026 meeting just held in Florida. Look for the URL ‘academic.oup.com/ajrccm’)

In young adults who smoke or vape cannabis, vaping-only was not linked to increased respiratory symptoms but smoking & dual-use was
Cannabis vaping, smoking, and dual use and the onset of respiratory symptoms among US young adults
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379726001649

In adults with asthma, those inhaling cannabis products had higher odds of asthma attacks
Smoked and Vaped Marijuana Is Associated With Higher Risk of Asthma Attacks
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.6533/8686991

In people with asthma, cannabis use was associated with increased morbidity & mortality
Impact of Marijuana Use on Asthma Exacerbation Outcomes: Insights From a Multi-Institutional Real World Dataset
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.6488/8686888

In a lung fungal infection, a case report linked it to cannabis use in a young adult (when normally it's found in people with immune system problems)
Pulmonary Mucormycosis in an Immunocompetent Young Adult With Heavy Cannabis History
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.4194/8683948

In ventricular fibrillation (the lower heart chambers contracting rapidly in an uncoordinated manner), a case report of a man having a heart attack right after smoking cannabis
Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation and Multiorgan Failure Following Cannabis Exposure: A Critical Care Management Challenge
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.6505/8686686

For a rare lung pneumonia, a case report linked it to daily cannabis smoking
A Rare Case of Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia Due to Marijuana Inhalation
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.2308/8681643

In someone bleeding in their lung alveoli, the researchers on this case report deemed inhalant injury (of cannabis) to be the most likely cause
Recurrent Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage Associated With Smoking Cannabis
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.105/8679810

In a young adult with inhalational lung injury, on the link to smoking butane hash oil
Butane Hash Oil-Induced Inhalational Lung Injury in a Young Adult: The Diagnostic Challenges
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.3038/8682569

In someone with cannabinoid hyperemesis, on the vomiting leading to a hole in the esophagus & air in the chest cavity
Esophageal Perforation and Pneumomediastinum Secondary to Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.3176/8682762

In someone with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, they developed air in their chest cavity
A Chronic Habit With an Acute Complication: Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum Due to Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.6521/8686879

In young adult vaping, both cannabis & nicotine were associated with respiratory symptoms, with dual use carrying more risk
Association of Nicotine and Cannabis Vaping and Respiratory Symptoms in U.S. Young Adults: The American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort Study
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.6514/8686517

In people who co-use tobacco & cannabis, they had more severe respiratory problems
Modes of cannabis administration, cannabis and tobacco co-use, and associations with respiratory and cannabis use outcomes in a permissive medical cannabis state
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460326001528

On lung collapse, a case report linking it to inhaled cannabis & e-cigarette use
Darth Vaper: The Pneumothorax Strikes Back
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.6524/8686876

In people who use cannabis, a review of health education interventions to reduce their cannabis & tobacco use
Health education interventions to reduce cannabis and tobacco smoking-related harms among people who use cannabis: a systematic review
https://www.ovid.com/journals/hedre/fulltext/10.1093/her/cyag016~health-education-interventions-to-reduce-cannabis-and
“Overall, school-based preventive programmes showed mixed effects, while motivational interventions more consistently reduced cannabis but not tobacco smoking.”

In the Swiss pilot of regulated cannabis sales & profiles of the different users, coping-related use was associated with higher problematic cannabis use
Who uses legal cannabis and why? Cluster profiles of participants in a Swiss regulated sales pilot trial
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772724626000387

For neuroinflammation, a review of the effects of various cannabinoids
Effects of phytocannabinoids, synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids on microglia and astrocytes: Review of neuroinflammatory mechanisms
https://academic.oup.com/jnen/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jnen/nlag049/8679007

For gum disease & CBD, a review found that it modulated inflammatory signaling, reduced bone loss & caused antimicrobial & antibiofilm (slimy aggregations that resist treatment) effects against oral microorganisms
Cannabidiol in Periodontal Therapy—Is There Hope or Just a Bias? A Systematic Review
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/14/5/1163

For different types of pain, a review on targeting the endocannabinoid system
Endocannabinoid system modulation in acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain: reviewing experimental models, clinical evidence, and nanotechnology delivery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42154330/

For obesity, a review of targeting the endocannabinoid system & the enzyme FAAH (which breaks down anandamide)
Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and the endocannabinoid system in obesity: Mechanistic insights and pharmacological opportunities beyond incretin-based therapies
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/bph.70511

On CBDV, a review of its mechanisms & relevance for epilepsy, autism, Rett syndrome & more
Cannabidivarin: current evidence on pharmacological activity, biopharmaceutical limitations and clinical prospects
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11101-026-10252-8

In a rat model of inflammatory pain, CBD, CBN & THCV reduced the hypersensitivity
Effect of cannabidiol, cannabinol and tetrahydrocannabivarin in managing inflammatory pain
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-51275-7_reference.pdf

In a mouse model of muscle atrophy, CBD lessened the muscle mass loss, reduced the oxidative stress & restored markers of the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Protective Effects of the Phytocannabinoid Cannabidiol on Disuse-Induced Muscle Atrophy through Modulation of Proteolysis and Mitochondrial Regulation
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/49/5/49_b26-00020/_pdf

In a rat model of testicular dysfunction due to a high-fat diet, the terpene beta-caryophyllene restored sperm count & sperm motility as well as elevating testosterone levels
β-caryophyllene mitigates high fat diet-induced testicular dysfunctions by targeting JNK/ERK-1 and JAK-1/STAT-3 pathways in rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42143136/

In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, the probiotic Lactobacillus mucosae reduced the brain's oxidative stress, neuronal damage & cognitive impairment via the CB2 receptors
Lactobacillus mucosae Reduces Neuronal Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer’s Disease via the Regulation of CB2 Signaling
https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/25/5/10.31083/JIN48598
One more to add to our list of natural cures that utilize the endocannabinoid system…

(a grab bag section for cool & new stuff)

On YouTube videos on cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, researchers rated only 25% as useful & 2% as exemplary
Assessing the Quality of YouTube Videos About Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/480233/20260518-95243-zh4vrb.pdf
Unfortunately, they did not list the ~100 videos that they reviewed, but here’s hoping that my 4 videos on the subject are at least in the 25% considered useful.

For the corn earworm infesting cannabis, on the effects of cannabinoid & terpene levels on their egg laying & larval fitness, with higher CBD linked to lower larval survival
Evaluating the effects of terpene and cannabinoid variation in hemp (Cannabis sativa) germplasm on Helicoverpa zea oviposition and larval fitness
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10340-026-02044-y
One of the great mysteries of the cannabis plant is: why did it ever evolve to produce these metabolically expensive cannabinoids? One theory is protection from the harsh UV lights of the Eurasian steppes, but another theory is that they are a second-line defense against insects after the primary defense of terpenes. So while they don’t have to be mutually exclusive, this is one piece of evidence in favor of the “insect protection” model.

In Delaware, terminally ill patients can now use cannabis in the hospital (though not smoking or vaping)
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/delaware-governor-signs-bill-allowing-medical-marijuana-use-in-hospitals-by-terminally-ill-patients/

In the New York State medical cannabis program, surveys found geographical inaccessibility & the high cost of certification & products to be the central barriers
Patient Experiences and Access Barriers in the New York State Medical Cannabis Program: Findings from Two Consecutive Cross-Sectional Surveys, 2023 to 2024
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149291826001335

‘America’s First War on Drugs Was Also a War on Jazz’
https://lithub.com/americas-first-war-on-drugs-was-also-a-war-on-jazz/
An excellent history of the early War on Drugs under Harry Anslinger & how viciously he pursued certain Black cultural figures like Billie Holiday & Thelonious Monk.

In Canada, an editorial against cannabis legalization as trading reduced crime for increased health problems
Cannabis Legalization Outcomes in Canada: Trading Off Increased Health Problem for Reduced Crime Burdens Is Not Good Enough
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/07067437261454772
“About one-in-four (25%) of active cannabis consumers use cannabis on a daily/near-daily basis—an intensive use pattern that commonly involves high-potency products and that is strongly associated with various—acute and chronic—cannabis-related harms (e.g., cannabis use disorder, mental health problems)^.2–5 Depending on the survey source, 40–60% of past-year users were estimated by the ASSIST's cannabis involvement scale to be at moderate-to-high risk for cannabis use-related problems, a proportion that has been increasing over-time.2,3 Nationally, cannabis-related hospitalizations increased from 23,322 in 2017/18 to 34,013 in 2024/25; in Ontario, the annual numbers of both cannabis-related Emergency Department visits (5,645–12,424) and cannabis-related hospitalizations (4,215–7,793) approximately doubled between 2015 and 2024. In addition, numerous other studies have documented increases for a variety of severe cannabis-related physical (e.g., poisonings, injuries) and mental health (e.g., psychosis, self-harm) harms associated with legalization.6”

On the history of the corridos (ballads in traditional Mexican style) during both the Mexican Revolution & the rise of narcoculture
The Mexican Corrido as Cultural and Political Narrative
https://www.proquest.com/openview/95b52fccbc065324d19001cf267f1bf1/1

For the first time, the US DOJ sued a cannabis MSO to clawback $8M from an “erroneous” 280E tax refund
https://businessofcannabis.com/doj-sues-terrascend-for-8-3m-in-first-known-280e-refund-clawback/

In medical cannabis pharmaceuticals, on the Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, extraction & purification technologies & batch-to-batch reproducibility
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in Medical Cannabis: Manufacturer Profiling, Standardization Challenges, and Technological Compatibility
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/94/2/41

For business operational efficiency & US medical cannabis laws, this Korean analysis found that medical cannabis "significantly reduces efficiency, particularly among firms with greater operating complexity"
Medical Marijuana Legalization and Firm Operational Efficiency
https://www.earticle.net/Article/A484691
This makes me glad to not be a firm with “greater operating complexity”. The most complex part of my business day is figuring out how to get it all done before picking up the kids…

Another strike in the eastern Pacific against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel killed one person
https://nypost.com/2026/05/27/us-news/us-military-kills-alleged-narco-terrorist-in-lethal-strike-on-drug-trafficking-vessel-in-eastern-pacific/

‘Inside Thailand’s British Drug Mule Gangs’, a documentary by the UK’s Channel 4
https://cannabislaw.report/channel-4-uk-documentary-inside-thailands-british-drug-mule-gangs/

In Switzerland, a man was caught with 50 kg of cannabis & claimed it was for personal use
https://cannabislaw.report/switzerland-man-caught-with-50-kilos-of-cannabis-for-personal-use/

In Faro, Portugal, a man running from his car crash dropped packets of hashish as he fled
https://cannabislaw.report/portugal-police-in-faro-have-arrested-a-30-year-old-man-who-allegedly-fled-the-scene-of-a-car-crash-on-the-a22-motorway-leaving-behind-packages-of-hashish-he-was-trying-to-transport/

For racialized arrests, adult-use cannabis laws did not reduce racial disparities in non-cannabis drug arrests or other crimes & may even widen the disparities
Recreational Marijuana Laws and Racial Disparities: New Evidence on Arrests and Deaths of Despair
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/738358

In China after the Second Sino-Japanese War (late 1930s), on the government's control of narcotics & its monopoly in Taiwan
The Nanjing Nationalist Government's institutional attempt on the control of the narcotic drug and predicament of its monopoly
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17535654.2026.2641375

In Nigeria, on the history of drug crime & societal instability
Drug Crime and Societal Instability in Nigeria: A Historical Examination of the Relationship Between Drug Trafficking and Social Disorder, 1989- 2022
https://www.acjol.com/paper/7374.pdf

On the Silk Road 2, an analysis of drug names for early detection of novel psychoactives
From Language to Forensic Intelligence: Drug Name Recognition in the Cryptomarket Forum of Silk Road 2
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11196-026-10503-z

In Portugal, interviews on the benefits of their drug policy of decriminalization
The Portuguese police experience with drug decriminalisation
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10439463.2026.2674973

For implementing drug checking services, on perspectives from harm reduction staff on the increased engagement, but also barriers such as legal risk, criminalization & organizational capacity
Shifting Perspectives: Harm Reduction Staff Perceptions of Drug Checking Implementation
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/29767342261444522

In people with depression, a single dose of psilocybin caused rapid antidepressant effects that persisted for more than 3 months
Short-Term and Late-Term Effects of Psilocybin on Symptoms in Major Depression A Randomized Clinical Trial
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2849099

In people with suicidal behavior who used ayahuasca in a neo-shamanic context, interviews on the positive effects
Ayahuasca use and improvements in suicidal behavior: An exploratory qualitative study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950484826000160

In Swiss physicians giving psychedelic-assisted therapy, a survey of their clinical methods
Psychedelic-assisted therapy: a survey on the clinical methods of Swiss physicians
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/20451253261448745

In people taking DMT, on a list of the effects
DMT, Madness, and Healing: Psychosis Model, Therapy Model, and Their Relations to Mystical Experiences and Positive Emotionality
https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9640916/v1/cd589555-b143-483f-8196-d4269d76dfd1.pdf

For eating disorders & psychedelics, a meta-synthesis of 8 studies found themes of transformation
Understanding experiences of psychedelic treatments for eating disorders: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-026-04929-2

For autism & psychedelics, a review of the evidence & mechanisms
Classic psychedelics and autism spectrum disorder: preclinical evidence, mechanistic insights and unresolved challenges
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763426002186

On psychedelic harm reduction, a new book
Psychedelic Harm Reduction
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-21107-1#page=192

For treatment-resistant depression, an editorial on Norway's reimbursement of off-label IV ketamine use as a treatment
Transforming treatment-resistant depression care in Norway: Public health reimbursement for off-label intravenous ketamine
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/20503245261452347

For suicidal ideation & depression, a trial found that buprenorphine sustained & enhanced the effects
Low-Dose Buprenorphine Following Ketamine Treatment for Suicidal Ideation in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250840

For depression & oral ketamine, a meta-analysis of 8 studies found significant effects
Short-term effects of oral ketamine for the treatment of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876201826001875

In people using ketamine for depression, their most common adverse experiences were sleep disturbances as well as appetite & weight changes
Treatment-emergent psychiatric adverse events in patient-reported outcomes during ketamine use for major depressive disorder: a retrospective analysis
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43440-026-00867-1

For responsiveness to ketamine's antidepressant effects, on using a microRNA as a predictive biomarker
Unraveling MicroRNA-29a as a potential predictive biomarker of depressive-like phenotype and ketamine antidepressant efficacy: an integrative in vivo and in vitro approach
https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(26)01349-9/pdf

On the complications from ketamine, a review of the negative "urological, neurological, neuropsychiatric & hepatobiliary [liver]" effects
Beyond the High: A Narrative Review of the Chronic Complications of Recreational Ketamine Use
https://www.imrpress.com/journal/BJHM/87/5/10.31083/BJHM53976

For unipolar & bipolar depression, a review found that the most predictive factors were body mass index, dissociation & previous neuromodulation treatments
Clinical Predictors of Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Unipolar and Bipolar Depression: A Systematic Review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40263-026-01296-7

Among people using kratom, a trial found no participants meeting the threshold for clinically meaningful withdrawal
Assessment of Abuse Potential-Related Effects of Oral Dried Kratom Leaf Powder in Healthy Normal Participants Following Single and Multiple Daily Doses
https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/dta.70089

In kratom users, public health data found associations with cannabis use, substance use disorders & serious psychological distress
Kratom Use and Associations With Mental Health in the United States
https://www.ovid.com/jnls/journaladdictionmedicine/abstract/10.1097/adm.0000000000001701~kratom-use-and-associations-with-mental-health-in-the-united

For kratom, a case report of its use leading to multi-system organ failure & death
Kratom Kills: Mitragyna Speciosa Induced Multi-system Organ Failure and Death
https://academic.oup.com/ajrccm/article/212/Supplement_1/aamag162.4879/8684306

For kratom & liver injuries, a review of 32 cases
Liver Injury Associated With Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): A Systematic Review
https://www.ovid.com/jnls/journaladdictionmedicine/abstract/10.1097/adm.0000000000001663~liver-injury-associated-with-kratom-mitragyna-speciosa-a

On 7-hydroxymitragynine (a potent alkaloid from kratom found only at low levels naturally in the plant), a review of its effects on the opioid receptors & case reports of harms
7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH): Clinical Implications of a Potent, Unregulated Opioid Partial Agonist Derived from Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40429-026-00755-x

In medicinal cannabis, the impact of planting density & the duration of the vegetative stage
The Impact of Planting Density and Vegetative Duration on Yield Optimization and Cannabinoid Stability in Medicinal Cannabis Under Controlled-Environment Cultivation
https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/12/5/619

For best agronomic practices, a Spanish trial found that cultivar & time explained most of the variance
Replication Data for Influence of Agronomic Practices on the Bioactive Compound Production in Cannabis sativa L.
https://portalinvestigacio.uib.es/documentos/6a0355516fd4f64b19ec2a49?lang=de

For hemp stalk quality, on the effects of cultivar, year & flower harvest
How do cultivar, year, and flower harvest affect industrial hemp stalk quality?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092666902600871X

On hop latent viroid as the greatest threat to the cannabis industry
The Birth of a Silent Killer in the Cannabis Production Industry
https://giahpezeshksj.ut.ac.ir/article_106954_en.html

For testing mycotoxins in US cannabis flower & concentrates, failure rates are low
Mycotoxin Trends of Cannabis Compliance Testing in Cannabis Flower and Concentrates in the United States
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149291826001037

In hemp grain infected with Fusarium, on the limits of detecting mycotoxins
Separation of trichothecene mycotoxins in a matrix of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed, and quantification of deoxynivalenol in hemp grain infected with Fusarium graminearum
https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jsf2.70073

In 25 Iranian landrace populations, a genetic, environmental & morphological analysis
Integrating temporal morphophysiological and genomic markers for precise classification of flowering time in cannabis
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-53686-y_reference.pdf

In Kenya, an analysis of the local hemp-type cannabis
Phytochemical screening and multi-analytical characterization of Cannabis sativa, cultivated in Mt Kenya region, Kenya
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44473-026-00159-9

A review on analyzing cannabis with ambient ionization mass spectrometry
Application of Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry to the Analysis of Cannabis
https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-anchem-080524-100042

For Moroccan cannabis, on optimizing an ultrasound-assisted extraction
Optimization of Ultrasound Assisted Extraction of Moroccan Cannabis Sativa seed oil using Response Surface Technology: Yield and Antioxidant Activity
https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/morjchem/article/view/55129

If CBD is degraded by a combination of light, heat & oxygen, it can have visible yellowing that acts as a simple quality indicator
Storage-induced color change as an indicator of Cannabidiol degradation in MCT oil
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669026008435

For analyzing extracts, using a patented absorbance-transmittance excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy with machine learning
Quantification of 14 Major and Minor Cannabinoids with Absorbance–Transmittance Excitation–Emission Matrix Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25785125261449640

For measuring CBD & THC, modeling different operating conditions
Multivariate Robustness Modeling of Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Quantification Using Two-Level Full Factorial Design
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/94/2/42

On using an open-source lab for screening CBD oils
Faster operation of 2LabsToGo-Eco using Debian 13, Django 5, and Raspberry Pi 5, verified via screening of cannabidiol-containing oils
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00764-026-00406-x

On creating cannabis-infused nanoparticles for antibacterial & anticancer activities
Green Synthesis of CeO2 Nanoparticles Using Cannabis sativa L. Seed Extract for Antibacterial and Breast Cancer Applications
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/slct.202507256

For cannabis beverages eroding their containers, those with a low pH had a significant erosive potential
Erosive Potential of Commercially Available Cannabis Beverages
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42138577/

For hemp waste after CBD extraction, an analysis of its properties & potential as a plant protein ingredient
Structural and functional properties of hemp protein isolates from industrial hemp waste after cannabidiol extraction
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0268005X26004832

On hemp silage (animal feed), on the effects of different additives on the nutritional quality & fermentation
Effects of different additives on nutritional quality and fermentation characteristics of industrial hemp silage
https://www.jafs.com.pl/pdf-218807-140081?filename=Effects-of-different-addi.pdf

For biofuel production, a review of using hemp
Exploring the potential of industrial hemp for sustainable biofuel production
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13399-026-07162-2

In bitumen for road surfacing, adding a hemp biochar improved aging, increased rutting resistance & enhanced the mechanical strength but slightly reduced moisture damage resistance
Influence of hemp-based biochar from pyrolysis on bitumen properties and bituminous mixture performance
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509526003979

On creating compressed earth blocks using gelatinized starch & hemp fiber
Upcycling excavated soils into compressed earth blocks using low-dosage gelatinized starch and hemp fibers: comparative study between France and Côte d’Ivoire
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123026021481

For natural fiber mats for the transportation industry, on the mechanical properties of hemp versus other fibers
Comparative Evaluation of Structure–Processing–Property Relationships in Flax, Hemp, and Cattail Discontinuous fiber Thermoset Composites
https://4spepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/pc.71196

On reinforcing epoxy composites with hemp fiber & nanoparticles
Advanced hemp-based hybrid composites: A study on the influence of various nanofillers on mechanical and morphological properties
https://jmmm.material.chula.ac.th/index.php/jmmm/article/view/2427

For building materials, on hemp-lime composites for lowering the carbon footprint
Sustainable masonry elements based on hemp–lime composites
https://www.ceeol.com/search/chapter-detail?id=1424816

For hemp-based insulation, an analysis of different formulations
Experimental study on the production and characterization of hemp-based insulating materials
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A12%3A39814604/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Acrawler-gcd&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A193696762&crl=c&jrnl=15842665&link_origin=none

For hemp insulation, on comparing different binders to create aerogels for more efficiency
Development of a novel hemp-based building material with enhanced thermal performance
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainability/articles/10.3389/frsus.2026.1844355/abstract

For soil stability, on enhancing it with hemp fibers & cement
Study of behaviour of hemp fibre reinforced clayey soil
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781003724964-34/study-behaviour-hemp-fibre-reinforced-clayey-soil-visvanathan-anusudha-prasad-raghavendra-stephen-simon-gideon-faslur-rahuman-muqadthasy-niyaf-mohamed-omary-nurdin-yash-kumar-poddar

For cannabinoids in medicine, a review of the advantages & adverse effects
Cannabinoids: Therapeutic Applications, Mechanisms, and Challenges in Modern Medicine
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42163693/

For pediatric trauma & cannabis, the levels did not change after the legalization of cannabis
Pediatric Trauma Trends Before and After Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Nevada: A Retrospective Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/13/5/681

For detecting THC in spinal fluid, validation of a new analytical method
Detection of Delta9-THC in cerebrospinal fluid: New validation strategies for forensic and clinical toxicology applications
https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/informit.T2026051800002191844250898

For young adults, exposure to cannabis advertising & price-based promotions are linked to initiation of cannabis use
How Cannabis Advertising and Price-Based Sales Promotion Shape Early Use: A National Study of Adolescents
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10826084.2026.2670629

In young adult college students, they drew minimal distinctions between the health consequences of cannabis based on its cannabinoid contents or route of administration
Perceived effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) content on cannabis-related health risks and benefits
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42149482/

In US young adults using cannabis, on how personality traits related to their usage
Latent profile analysis of personality characteristics among US young adults in relation to cannabis use and intentions over time
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460326001619

On Snapchat, an analysis of the posts of college students about cannabis use
Sharing Over Viewing: Cannabis-Related Snapchat Content and College Student Use
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41347-26-00645-z

In Illinois, a thesis project found cannabis legalization was not linked to an increase in positive THC urine screens in young people
Changes in THC Positivity Rates in Adolescents Corresponding to Legalization of Recreational Marijuana in Illinois
https://escholarship.org/content/qt3p10k08h/qt3p10k08h.pdf

In brain scans of cannabis users, their levels of use were not linked to changes in the size of their hippocampus (a memory center of the brain)
Cumulative exposure to cannabis and hippocampus MRI in middle age: results from the coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA) study
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-026-04096-1_reference.pdf

In people with cannabis use disorder, while fMRI-neurofeedback reduced their brain hyperactivity in regions related to cravings, they experienced no changes in subjective cravings, anxiety or focus
Exploring fMRI-neurofeedback to reduce craving-related brain activity in people with cannabis use disorder: A feasibility study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460326001516

For neurodegenerative disorders, on a drug to modulate both a serotonin receptor & the enzyme FAAH (which breaks down anandamide)
New chalcogen-optimized 1,3,5-triazines as dual 5-HT6R/FAAH modulators: A versatile approach to neurodegenerative disorders
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0223523426004113

For CBD derivatives & neuroinflammation, a thesis project on CBD-derived chalcone intermediates
Exploring Synthesized CBD Derivatives: Implications of Therapeutic Strategies for Neuroinflammation
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1885&context=senior_theses

In people with cannabis use disorder, four different cannabis craving trajectories were identified, with high craving trajectories associated with greater baseline anxiety, depression & obsessive-compulsive symptoms as well as poorest treatment outcomes
Longitudinal craving profiles in cannabis use disorder: A latent class growth analysis of the achieving cannabis cessation: Evaluating N-Acetylcysteine Treatment (ACCENT) (CTN-0053) trial
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871626001894

In Alberta, Canada, legalization of cannabis did not lead to an increased need for addiction treatment
What Is the Impact of Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Canada on Substance Use Treatment in Alberta?
https://www.ovid.com/jnls/cja/fulltext/10.1097/cxa.0000000000000274~what-is-the-impact-of-recreational-cannabis-legalization-in

In people with schizophrenia, those who reported cannabis use were predominantly young men & marked by more positive psychotic symptoms, behavioral dyscontrol & unstable short-term outcomes
Schizophrenia associated with cannabis use in the psychiatry département in Toamasina, Madagascar: Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics
https://www.psychiatryjournal.in/archives/2026/vol8issue5/PartA/8-1-30-994.pdf

In young & aged mice, the terpene beta-caryophyllene at high doses caused impairments in attentional control, while in aged low-performing mice, low doses enhanced inhibitory control
β-caryophyllene, a CB2-selective phytocannabinoid, differentially modulates attention and inhibitory control in low- and high-performing young and aged mice
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-026-07093-w

In people with lupus, their lymphocytes (a class of white blood cells) had higher levels of CB2 receptors & lower levels of CB1 receptors, with CB1 receptor expression strongly correlated with disease activity
Cannabinoid receptor expression profiling in lymphocyte subsets reveals clinically relevant immune patterns in SLE
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1848747/abstract

In a mouse model of HIV, treatment with doxycycline had different effects on the levels of CB1 receptors in different brain regions
Longitudinal Analysis of Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor in HIV-1 Tat Transgenic Mice Using PET Imaging and Western Blot Analysis
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25785125261450903

In a mouse model of intestinal injury from radiation (like in cancer treatments), the radiation caused increased levels of the CB2 receptor & activating that receptor as well as inhibiting the enzyme FAAH (which breaks down anandamide) protected the small intestine & spleen
CB2R agonism protects intestinal epithelium through β-catenin/HoxA10 loop in radiation injury
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-026-08268-x

In a mouse model of obesity, inhibiting the body's CB1 receptors suppressed food intake & activated satiation in the brainstem & hypothalamus (regulates temperature, heart rate, sleep & hunger via hormones)
Inhibition of peripheral CB1 receptors modulates food intake and metabolic efficiency in obesity independently of the gut–brain vagal axis
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/bph.70507

In a mouse model of acute pancreatitis, restoring levels of the endocannabinoid 2-AG reduced inflammation & lung injury
Disrupted endocannabinoid signaling contributes to systemic inflammation in acute pancreatitis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42153289/

In a mouse model of liver fibrosis (scarring) due to a high-fat diet, inhibition of the enzyme MAGL (which breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-AG) in liver cells caused less liver scarring & bone destruction
Inhibiting hepatocytes MAGL alleviates osteoporosis caused by high-fat diet-induced liver fibrosis in male mice
https://watermark02.silverchair.com/bvag114.pdf

In a rat model of hyperglycemia, insulin increased their liver levels of CB1 receptors while activation of the CB1 receptors caused enhanced lipid-producing effects in liver cells
Insulin increases expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 by suppressing lysosomal degradation via ERK signaling pathway
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13181381/

In a mouse model of acute lung injury, on a new drug derived from CBD that inhibits the TRPV4 receptor to lower inflammation & lung scarring as well as preserving the integrity of the pulmonary vascular barrier
Discovery of a novel cannabidiol-derived transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 inhibitor to reduce pulmonary edema and lung vascular permeability in mice
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s11658-026-00939-3

In the eyes of people with & without schizophrenia, chronic cannabis use was linked to aberrations
Early-Onset Cannabis Use, Retinal Biomarkers, and Risk for Schizophrenia: Preliminary Study
https://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/article/S0149-2918(26)00104-9/abstract

In horses, CBD caused no changes to their intraocular pressure or tear production
Short-Term Daily Oral Administration of Cannabidiol Does Not Impact Rebound Tonometry Intraocular Pressure or Schirmer Tear Test Values in Healthy Adult Horses
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/vop.70188

In cervical cancer cells, the combination of THC & CBD with cisplatin caused diverse anticancer effects, including less DNA repair capacity & more autophagy (cellular recycling) & apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
Antiproliferative Effects of Cannabinoids and Cisplatin in Cervical Cancer Cells
https://www.ovid.com/journals/canrep/fulltext/10.1002/cnr2.70561~antiproliferative-effects-of-cannabinoids-and-cisplatin-in

In breast cancer cells, nabilone (a pharmaceutical cousin to THC) disrupted the complex between the CB2 receptor & human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+, linked to treatment resistance)
Computational Characterization of Nabilone-Induced Disruption of the CB2-HER2 Receptor Complex in HER2+ Breast Cancer
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/11779322261449332

For synthetic cannabinoids, a proposal to analyze their levels with a “Steric-Engineered Thermodynamic Gating” strategy
Steric-Engineered Thermodynamic Gating: Metastable Assemblies for Chemical-Class Discrimination of Synthetic Cannabinoids
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anie.3463809

On synthesizing cannabistilbene I in a cell-free system for anti-inflammation
Cell-Free Synthesis of Cannabistilbene I: A Dual Acting Anti-Inflammatory from Cannabis sativa
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6c00318

For allosteric modulators of cannabinoid receptors (which cause other molecules to bind more or less strongly at the main binding site), a thesis project on their design & biological evaluation
Allosteric modulators of cannabinoid receptors: design, synthesis and biological evaluation
https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:ms425v55h

Thanks.
- lex

PS: For a godfather of the Cuban drums, ‘Soul Bag’ by Mongo Santamaria. Born Ramón Santamaría Rodríguez, his father nicknamed him Mongo, supposedly from a Mali word for ‘chief of the tribe’. And he certainly was. As a child in Havana, he learned the rumba & saw how music infused everything. He reminisced, “In the neighborhood where I came from we had all kinds of music, mostly from Africa. We did not leave it alone; we changed it our way. The music we made dealt with religion and conversation. The drum was our tool and we used it for everything”. He was mentored on the bongos & congas, dropping out of school to become a professional musician & began performing at the famed Tropicana club. In 1948 at the age of 29, he traveled to Mexico City with a dance team & was soon living in New York City. He spent 6 years playing with the likes of Tito Puente & Cal Tjader. In 1959, he recorded his own song “Afro Blue” which became the first jazz standard built upon the typical African 3:2 cross-rhythm. His big breakthrough into the mass market is said to have come about in 1962 because of a bad night at a Cuban nightclub in the Bronx. Only 3 people showed up to the show & so as Mongo talked with Herbie Hancock about the common threads between Afro-Cuban & African-American jazz, Hancock started playing his song “Watermelon Man”. Santamaria jumped up & started playing it as the whole band realized they had something magical on their hands. They were rushed into the studio & as soon as it was released, it shot to the top of the pop charts, the only one of his tunes to ever get there. But the success of the song led to him blending Afro-Cuban & African-American music as well as remixing Cuban-flavored versions of R & B & Motown songs. He spent the next decade on delightful albums in that vein before exploring rock, electric jazz, but always coming back to his roots as one of the great Cuban percussionists. He kept making the music until shortly before his death in 2003 at the age of 85.

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.