Jul 20, 2026 8:49 AM
Saudi Arabia approved a CBD product while executing people for hashish
[Originally published at:
https://www.cannabinoidsandthepeople.whitewhalecreations.com/p/cannabinoids-for-women-in-midlife]
Cannabinoids & The People, or; Drugs & Drug Wars
This week
(#Hashtags for jumping to articles by searching for them with your browser)
- For women in midlife, many reported using cannabis to lessen the use of pharmaceuticals for depression & anxiety
- In people using unregulated opioids, they reported cannabis for managing withdrawal symptoms & reducing use
- Disturbing accounts of persistent perceptual disturbances from cannabis use (#perceptualproblems)
- Breakout sections for prenatal & adolescent harms
- For inflammatory acne, a nanogel CBD helped
- For a DIY modulator of GLP-1, oleoylethanolamide!
- Case reports: CBD for hyperactivity after a TBI + Nabilone for Alzheimer’s
- For cannabis & traffic fatalities in the US, probably a few thousand per year (#driving)
- Flash: CB1 receptors form heteromer complexes with adenosine receptors. Neurochemists everywhere losing their shit (#heteromers!)
- As adolescent comedy movies have taught us, teen mice with submissive personalities become more adventuresome after taking THC while dominant teen mice become more anxious (#teenagedirtbag)
- Preclinical: CBD for radiation injury, anxiety, dry eye, Alzheimer’s, intestinal damage, psychosis & neuropathic pain + CBC for arthritis
- War on Drugs: both Trump’s boat strikes & his cartel crackdown found to be ineffective and/or counterproductive
- Harm Reduction: In Appalachia, law enforcement captured much of the opioid settlement money (#opioidsettlement)
- Psychedelics: A secret new source for ibogaine & a researcher with a fascinatingly novel plan (#ibogaine)
[numbers for C&P#194: ~12k words, ~30 minutes reading time, 244 papers]
Editor’s notes :
- On TikTok, my cannabinoid education channel has been banned for the last time. If those cowardly chumps don’t want my cannabinoid content, I’ll go where it is wanted: namely YouTube & LinkedIn.
- On AI, everybody seems to be releasing how they use it for the sake of transparency. So as someone who has been prepping for this since I read Heinlein’s ‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress’ at the age of 14 (#iykyk), I’ll jump on board.Every summary of a scientific paper & piece of prose that you read from me online or in this newsletter was written by me personally. This will not change because I cannot export that cognitive work. I need to have these papers in my brain to do what I do. And to make it useful for you & me, I have to use my taste & experience of doing this for the last 10 years to pick out what’s the most intriguing or novel parts of the study for your reading pleasure & for my archival writeup.But for my backend, AI has been a game changer. For one, I just finished a Claude-aided reorganization of my canna-science archive & found out that I have 30k hand-annotated papers described with 1.4M words across my 40 knowledge pillar documents (Thanks Mycroft Holmes!). Plus, with these 100 to 200 papers that need sorting each week from this newsletter, being able to tag them for auto-sorting has saved many hours from my workflow of hand-sorting into my archives. And since I have several input streams of new science that tend to overlap each other (Google Scholar Alerts, Pubmed, etc.), building a central database with every paper for deduping has helped me to tackle a backlog of knowledge filing that’s been building up since my 8-year-old was born.So overall, I use my own brain for reading all the science, but lately, I’ve been relishing the help of AI for keeping it all organized & at my fingertips.(If you have any questions about the specifics of my workflow, feel free to reach out. It’s been one of the most exciting things in my entire life as a drug writer & almost nobody I know is even close to fucking interested)
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the 194th 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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Lex’s new work
Canna-edu videos sponsored by the National Cannabis Study (join & get paid $100 to talk about your use of our favorite plant)
- CBD, the EU & Reproductive Toxicity (I spent 2 months researching this short video. It got 12 views. So get ready for the 22 minute version…)
- Cannabis & Sleep: The Negatives for Fragile Brains
- Vapes Vapes Vapes! For a good solid dry-flower vape device, I’m happy to recommend the Iven from E10 Labs.
CV Sciences on YT @CVSciencesInc & on TT @pluscbd
For 30% off their CBD, THC & PEA products, at pluscbdoil.com use the coupon code 'LEX'
[videos paused for the summer while I work on a video series about their lovely new PlusHLTH products]
And as always, at the bottom is the album of the week: the beautiful blues guitar from the tragic Magic Sam
Ways to support this work
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This newsletter only spreads by word of mouth, so please share to friends & colleagues.
BEST OF CANNABINOID SCIENCE
(Most of the phytocannabinoid data is here & most of the endocannabinoid data is in the ‘Canna-Science Archive’ at the bottom)
LinkedIn post arguing terpenes: a rebuttal to a white paper on the differences between botanical-derived terpenes vs cannabis-derived terpenes (I’m always here for a (respectful) scientific dustup)
Ross Hudson of the Cannabis Chemistry Collective takes on an industry-white paper from Nexus Agriscience/Terpene Belt Farms claiming that terpenes derived from other botanical sources are not equivalent to terpenes derived from cannabis itself (this is a whole industry debate about the “purity” of adding terpenes to products to match the profiles of favorite cannabis cultivars (strains)). Hudson’s main points touch on the stereochemistry of terpenes & the fact that cannabis cultivars can not be reduced to just terpene profiles when they also contain “esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, volatile sulfur compounds, flavonoids, pigments, sterols, lipids, waxes, oxidation products, degradation products, and trace aroma-active constituents”. Not only do I think that no one is trying to actually replicate all of this complexity, I’m not even sure we can. But overall, this is a great look at what makes cannabis cannabis & what makes science science (and what makes lexical cloning lexical cloning).
For the French pharma company Aelis Farma, they have a drug for cannabis use disorder & another for the cognitive deficits of Down syndrome that causes “signaling-specific inhibition” of the CB1 receptor
Unlike rimonabant, the famous drug that blocks the CB1 receptor for weight loss (but also increases suicidal ideation), this drug apparently aims to selectively block overactivation of the CB1 receptor while leaving healthy CB1 activity intact.
For PleoPharma out of Philadelphia, they are developing a treatment for cannabis use disorder that combines a drug to activate the CB1 receptor as well as modulate GABA (the brain’s most common inhibitory neurotransmitter)
⚕️ Clinical ⚕️
In people using unregulated opioids, they reported cannabis for managing withdrawal symptoms & that this was significantly associated with self-reported reductions in opioid use
‘Self-reported cannabis use to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms and reductions in opioid use among people who use unregulated opioids: a cross-sectional analysis’
For women in midlife, a survey found that half substituted cannabis for antidepressants & anxiolytic pharmaceuticals, with 2 strong predictors of this being sleep difficulties & alcohol use
'Substitution of Cannabis for Prescribed Medications in the Management of Anxiety and Depression Among Midlife Women: A Cross-Sectional Study'
In adults aged 55+, having body-based motives for cannabis use was associated with more protective behavioral strategies around cannabis use that reduced the risk for cannabis use disorder, while affective emotion-based motives suggested a higher risk for cannabis use disorder
‘Somatic Motives and Affective Motives are Differentially Associated with Cannabis Protective Behavioral Strategies and Adverse Cannabis Outcomes Among Adults Aged 55 and Older’
In healthy adults under controlled feeding conditions, oleoylethanolamide (the endocannabinoid of satiation) enhanced the levels of GLP-1 after eating & a statistically significant reduction in meal consumption
'Acute TRPTI™ (oleoylethanolamide) supplementation enhances incretin hormone responses: a fixed-sequence crossover study'
In women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy, cannabis oil lowered their inflammatory cytokines & reduced signals of protein breakdown via the gut microbiome
'Cannabis Oil and Exploratory Gut–Immune Signatures During Breast Cancer Chemotherapy: A Randomized Pilot Trial'
In people with HIV, the cannabis users had some divergences in their inflammatory profiles as well as modest negatives to their memory performance
‘Neuroimmune Correlates of HIV and Marijuana Use: Peripheral Biomarkers and Cognitive Function’
For people having carpal tunnel surgery, cannabis use or combined with tobacco was associated with increased risk of surgical site infection & wound disruption, while cannabis may be protective against complex regional pain syndrome
‘Impact of cannabis use and tobacco smoking on outcomes of open carpal tunnel release surgery: a nationwide study in the United States’
In people with inflammatory acne, a nanogel-CBD reduced inflammatory lesions by ~50%
'Cannabidiol-Loaded Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanogel for Inflammatory Acne: In Vitro and Open-Label, Non-Randomized Clinical Evaluation of Efficacy and Tolerability'
In adults with pain from systemic sclerosis (a rare disease of skin tightening & hardening), THC/CBD oil caused a significant reduction in joint pain but no significant effect on overall pain
‘P.289 Cannabis oil in systemic sclerosis: exploratory evaluation of subjective pain outcomes in a placebo-controlled trial’
In someone with hyperactivity after a severe traumatic brain injury, a case report of CBD oil markedly reducing hyperactive episode frequency & severity, with his opioid & sedative infusion successfully withdrawn
'Cannabidiol as an adjunct in refractory paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity following severe traumatic brain injury: a case report'
In a person with Alzheimer’s disease, a case report of nabilone (a pharmaceutical cousin to THC) causing significant improvements to agitation & aggression within 2 weeks
'Case report: use of low dose nabilone to manage BPSD in Alzheimer's disease'
In proctitis (inflammation of the rectum’s lining), a CBD/sodium propionate enema was associated with less pain, improved patient-reported outcomes & treatment satisfaction
‘Safety And Preliminary Clinical Outcomes Of A Combined Cannabidiol And Sodium Propionate Enema In Refractory Ulcerative Proctitis: An Open-Label Pilot Study’
For people eating (Turkish) hemp seeds, they had detectable levels of THC metabolites in their urine
‘Low-level urinary cannabinoid findings after controlled administration of hemp seed products in Türkiye: Interpretive value of Δ8-/Δ9-THC-COOH patterns’
In dogs undergoing mastectomy or hysterectomy, cannabis oil produced sedative effects & reduced anesthetic requirements without clinical complications
‘Sedative and anesthetic-sparing effects of perioperative full-spectrum cannabis oil in female dogs undergoing unilateral mastectomy and ovariohysterectomy’
Reviews
Let’s get meta: In this review of reviews, they analyzed 102 systematic reviews for evidence on the therapeutic uses of cannabinoids
‘Efficacy and Safety of Cannabis Derivates and Their Synthetic Analogs. Overview of Systematic Reviews’
“There is low to moderate certainty of evidence of benefits from these interventions for ulcerative colitis, chronic non-cancer pain, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, and post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting. The results point to a lack of benefits for sleep disorders, chronic cancer pain refractory to opioids, pain related to radiotherapy, and pain in people receiving palliative care.”
In young people with autism, Rett syndrome (a female-biased genetic disorder of impaired growth, motor skills & language) or fragile X syndrome (a male-biased genetic neurodevelopmental disorder), this review of 17 studies found cannabinoid-based products associated with behavioral improvements & seizure reductions, with mild-to-moderate adverse events & low discontinuation rates
‘Efficacy and Safety of Cannabinoid-Based Products in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X Syndrome and Rett Syndrome: A Systematic Review’
For CBD & epilepsy, a review of the mechanisms, the clinical trial data & the regulatory aspects
‘Cannabidiol and epilepsy: therapeutic, mechanistic and clinical significance’
On CBD & blood pressure, this review of 4 trials found that it may reduce blood pressure among healthy & hypertensive people, especially during sleep & under stressful conditions
'The effects of oral cannabidiol supplementation on blood pressure in adults: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials'
In people with sickle-cell disease, a review of the limited research on cannabinoids
'Cannabinoid use in adults with sickle cell disease: therapeutic development and clinical insights'
For fibromyalgia, a review of the gendered differences in the expression of endocannabinoid system components & the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids
‘Fibromyalgia, Sexual Dimorphism, and the Endocannabinoid System: An Integrative Review’
For brain scans of using CBD for stress & anxiety, a review of 12 studies found a wide distribution of changes in cortical & subcortical regions, with an overall lack of consistent evidence
‘Functional neuroimaging of Cannabidiol in stress and anxiety: a systematic review’
For respiratory diseases, a review on targeting the endocannabinoid system for asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory syncytial virus infection & acute lung injury
‘Modulation of Respiratory Diseases by the Endocannabinoid System: A Therapeutic Perspective’
In a book on the neurobiology of addiction, the chapter on cannabis
‘Neurobiology of Addiction Series: Volume Five - Cannabis’
For the enzyme MAGL (which breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-AG), a review of its use in animal models related to substance use disorders
‘The Role of Monoacylglycerol Lipase (MAGL) in Substance Use: A Systematic Review of Preclinical Studies’
For the circuits connecting your pituitary gland to your hypothalamus (regulator of temperature, heart rate, sleep & hunger via hormones), a review of how the endocannabinoids system modulates that relationship
'Endocannabinoid signalling in the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary neuroendocrine circuits: A review'
⚠️ Harms ⚠️
In people with persistent perceptual disturbances from cannabis use, interviews with 13 patients about their visual & auditory symptoms (#perceptualproblems)
'Cannabis-Induced Persistent Perceptual Disturbances: A Clinical Characterization Study of Multimodal Sensory Symptoms in 13 Patients'
You might have heard of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) where people have long-term sensory symptoms after psychedelic use. But this is the first I’ve ever heard about this happening with cannabis. In just 2 regions of Italy over 5 years, they turned up 13 people with symptoms that would certainly be life-disrupting:
“Visual snow was universal (100%), with high rates of trailing phenomena (92.3%), halos (84.6%), and color changes (76.9%). A novel finding was the presence of auditory hypersensitivity in 61.5% of patients.” 30% of the participants rated their functional impairments as severe.
I love this plant, but it ain’t benign.
For sleep & mental health, a survey of Danish adults found higher levels of anxiety & depression in cannabis users & that those using hash or multiple THC-dominant products had poor sleep quality
‘Beyond cannabis use severity: associations of cannabis product type with sleep quality and mental health’
In chronic cannabis users, brain scans found reduced gray matter volume, thinner insula (a brain region of processing emotions & inner sensations), alterations to the limbic system (emotions) & “lower volumes in the brainstem, left amygdala, right thalamus, left cerebellar cortex, and right orbitofrontal gyrus”
‘Insular Cortical Thinning and Altered Structural Connectivity in Chronic Cannabis Users: A HighResolution Morphometry and Diffusion Tractography Study’
For cannabis use disorder & early-onset psychosis, a meta-analysis of 40 studies found that cannabis use was associated with less severe negative symptoms & a lower proportion of schizophrenia diagnoses but longer duration of untreated psychosis & higher hospitalization rates
‘Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Prevalence, Correlates, and Impact of Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorder in Early-Onset Psychosis’
In people with psychosis, state-level cannabis commercialization was associated with increased emergency department visits
'Emergency department use by individuals with and without psychosis after state-level cannabis legalization and commercialization'
For the effects of cannabis legalization on opioid overdoses, this thesis project found that adult-use legalization was associated with an increase of 4 synthetic opioid death per 100,000 people
'Substitute, Gateway, or Neither? The Effect of Recreational Marijuana Legalization on Opioid Outcomes'
In people with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, they had especially high rates of suicidal thoughts, behaviors & attempts
'Elevated suicidal thoughts and behaviors, proximal suicide risk factors, and non-suicidal self-injury among adults reporting symptoms of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Results from a national survey of US adults'
In Japan, a case report of a Canadian traveler with potential cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
'Suspected Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in a Traveler from a Cannabis-Legal Country: A Case Report from Japan'
For oral surgery, a case report of cannabis use potentially linked to a hypersensitive pain response & difficulty achieving adequate anesthesia coverage
‘Cannabis-associated hyperalgesia and reduced local anesthetic efficacy in oral surgery: A case report’
For the hormonal & male fertility effects of cannabis, a review on the muddy animal & human data
'Disruption of Hormonal and Seminal Parameters by Cannabis Exposure: A Critical Evidence-stratified Review'
For synthetic cannabinoids, a review of the biomolecular mechanisms behind their toxicity
‘Decoding the Toxicity of Synthetic Cannabinoids: From Receptor Activation to Multiorgan Dysfunction’
For natural killer immune cells (destroyers of infected tissue), cannabis exposure led to dose-dependent toxicity & impaired their killing of other cells
‘Mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagy activation underlie NK cell impairment induced by Cannabis’
Prenatal & Perinatal Harms
For the 41k+ unintentional recreational drug poisonings among US children under 6 since the year 2000, ~85% involved cannabinoids
‘Unintentional ingestion of recreational drugs among young children, 2000–2024’
Yes, pediatric cannabinoid poisonings do not cause death in children, and usually they recover just fine within a few hours, but between the lines of public health data like this, you can see a whole bunch of traumatic experiences. Just like adults can get long-term emotional damage from a bad psychedelic trip, we must imagine the same possible with a youngster.
And if you forget how strong cannabis edibles can be, I suggest you read the great first Amerikan drug writer Fitz Hugh Ludlow’s ‘The Hasheesh Eater’. His first strong oral cannabis experience was out of this world. And he was a psychologically robust teenager who got it from the pharmacist where he worked. Imagine a trip of that intensity for someone 4-years-old & in a hospital that doesn’t really know how to handle tripping kids?
(makes you long for Huxley's Island...)
For prenatal tobacco & cannabis use, cannabis legalization with associated increases in cannabis-only use & co-use
'Associations Between Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Disparities in Prenatal Tobacco and Cannabis Use'
In a pregnant mouse model of sickle-cell disease, replacing the treatment drug hydroxyurea with a drug that activates the CB1 receptor significantly reduced the head circumference, brain size, grip strength & eye size of the offspring as well as the weight of the placenta & increased sensitivity to mechanical & cold stimuli
‘In Utero Cannabinoid Exposure Exacerbates Hyperalgesia in Offspring of Sickle Mice’
In zebrafish embryo eye development, prenatal CBD exposure changed the shape of the embryo & the eye
‘Teratogenic effects of cannabidiol exposure on zebrafish embryo eye development’
In a zebrafish model of prenatal CBD exposure, they appear to have dysregulated vasculature within the eye
‘Identification of hyaloid vasculature phenotypes post cannabidiol exposure’
In a mouse model of prenatal THC or CBD exposure, increased repetitive behavior in the offspring & the absence of endocannabinoid long-term depression (reduced synaptic strength, an important feature of memory) was a universal feature, while CBD exposure in females caused alterations in risk & in males, changes in brain plasticity
‘Prenatal Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol exposure lead to sex-specific disruptions in risk assessment and behavioral switching via divergent rewiring of the adult mPFC’
In a rat model of prenatal THC exposure, the offspring had reduced respiration capacity in the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell) as well as regulation of protein homeostasis in the nucleus accumbens (a reward center & regulator of feeding, stress & motivation)
‘Prenatal THC exposure disrupts mitochondrial respiratory gene programs and medium spiny neuron maturation trajectories in the nucleus accumbens’
In fetal brain cells exposed to prenatal cannabis (extracted from maternal blood), they had altered levels of the CB1 receptor & the D2 dopamine receptor as well as gendered changes to their microRNA (regulators of genetic expression)
'Prenatal cannabis use is associated with altered miRNA and protein expression in the developing human brain'
In young adults with cannabis use disorder, they had a greater risk of developing lower urinary tract symptoms
'Association Between Cannabis Use Disorder and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Young Adults: A Nationwide Claims Database Study'
For adolescents with asthma, those using nicotine or cannabis (and especially those using them together) had more intensive emergency department management of their asthma exacerbations & worse short-term outcomes
'Documented Nicotine, Cannabis, and Co-Use Are Associated With More Intensive Emergency Department Care for Adolescent Asthma Exacerbations'
In a young adolescent with recurring fevers, a case report of a potential link to cannabis usage
‘PA03 Chronic urticaria associated with systemic symptoms caused by tetrahydrocannabinol use in an adolescent’
In adolescents with psychosis from the synthetic cannabinoid HHC, 2 case reports with individuals requiring 6 weeks of inpatient treatments
'HHC-induced psychosis in adolescents: a case series'
For heart attack risk among young adults from cannabis use, a review of the underlying mechanisms
‘Marijuana Use and Acute Myocardial Infarction: Mechanistic Insights, Clinical Implications, and Emerging Challenges’
Preclinical
In a mouse model of adolescent THC exposure, their personality types changed the effects, with submissive mice having increased exploration & reduced anxiety-like behaviors whereas the opposite occurred in dominant mice (#teenagedirtbag)
'Adolescent Δ9-THC Exposure Differentially Affects Mice Depending on Their Personality'
Now this is fascinating. What a lovely example of preclinical research actually matching to the real world. In teens, it certainly makes gut sense that cannabis could help the anxious be more assertive & the dominant to be more laidback.
In a rat model of radiation injury, CBD-loaded micelles increased body weight recovery, alleviated oxidative stress, conferred multi-organ protection & improved survival rates
'A γ-radiation-responsive diselenide-core micelle for on-demand delivery of cannabidiol in the mitigation of acute radiation injury'
In animal models of anxiety & depression, a meta-analysis of 123 studies found CBD caused consistent moderate benefits via changes to the endocannabinoids, serotonin signaling, synaptic plasticity & the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
'Effects of cannabidiol on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and cognition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies'
In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, CBD reduced inflammation, oxidative stress & cellular damage from the Aβ plaques, helping to slow progress towards neuronal dysfunction & to preserve synaptic integrity in the hippocampus (a memory center of the brain)
‘Cannabidiol Limits Early Aβ‐Induced Glial Activation and Preserves Synaptic Integrity in Primary Mouse Hippocampal Neuron–Glia Cultures’
In a mouse model of traumatic brain injury, CBD significantly alleviated neuronal injury, cognitive dysfunction & ferroptosis (a newly discovered type of cell death mediated by iron)
‘Cannabidiol alleviates traumatic brain injury-induced neuronal damage and cognitive deficits by inhibiting ferroptosis via the TRPV1/MCU/PI3K/Akt pathway’
In a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis, CBC reduced inflammation & decreased arthritis scores
‘Signaling pathways of inflammation in CIA model of rheumatoid arthritis regulated by cannabichromene’
In a mouse model of psychosis, CBD lessened their hyperlocomotion & pre-pulse intensity (an abrupt stimuli to elicit a startle reflex, a preclinical measure of psychosis)
‘Effects of pimavanserin, xanomeline and highly-purified plant-derived cannabidiol on MK-801-induced behaviours in mice relevant to psychosis’
In a rat model of intestinal damage due to interrupted blood flow, prophylactic treatment with CBD partially reversed pathological alterations & normalized genetic expression markers for inflammation & apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
‘Use of Cannabidiol as a prophylactic treatment in acute mesenteric ischemia’
In a mouse model of dry eye, CBD increased tearing, likely via negative allosteric modulation of the CB1 receptor
‘Cannabidiol increases basal tearing in a mouse model’
In a mouse model of neuropathic pain, vaped CBD significantly lessened the pain but also increased inflammation in the lungs
'Effect of vaporized Cannabidiol (CBD) on neuropathic pain and its potential implication for development of chronic lung inflammation in rats'
In a rat model of reproductive toxicity due to the epilepsy drug valproic acid, a CBD-rich nanoemulsion reversed the hormonal, oxidative & morphological changes
‘CBD-rich oil nanoemulsion mitigates long-term testicular and endocrine toxicity induced by prenatal valproic acid exposure in rats’
In a mouse model of loss of brain blood flow due to a seizure, vaporized CBD lessened the hypoxia in both genders, while oral THC reduced it in males only, though tolerance eventually developed to some aspects
‘Pharmacological Modulation of Postictal Hypoxia: Sex- and Route-Specific Effects of Acute and Chronic Cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)’
In a rat brain tissue model of malformed cortical development (a major cause of difficult-to-treat epilepsies in children), CBD reduced & prevented seizures as well as caused alterations to the genetic expression of the endocannabinoid system
‘Age-dependent effects of cannabidiol on cortical hyperexcitability in an experimental model of malformation of cortical development’
In a tissue model of neuroinflammation, THC, CBD & the endocannabinoid anandamide lowered inflammation, with anandamide & CBD synergizing their effects while THC & CBD only synergizing at relatively high concentrations
‘Anti-inflammatory effects of single cannabinoids and in combinations’
For the entourage effect in the eggs of African clawed frogs (a common model for human diseases), several terpenes increased THC’s activation at the CB1 or CB2 receptor
‘Synergistic and additive terpene-THC interactions in cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors’
“We found that several terpenes selectively potentiated THC activation at CB1R and CB2R. Isobolographic analysis suggested additive THC–terpene interactions for some terpenes, and synergistic interactions for others, including borneol, limonene, sabinene, terpineol, α-pinene and ocimene at CB1R, and β-caryophyllene and linalool at CB2R.”
In a rat model of high blood pressure in the lungs, a combination of CBD with the drug Selexipag significantly enhanced cardiac antioxidant capacity & modulation of brain peptide levels, with CBD alone possibly exacerbating the inflammation & structural abnormalities
‘The effects of chronic administration of Cannabidiol and Cannabidiol-Selexipag combination on haematological parameters, oxidative stress, BNP, and TNF-α in a rat model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension’
For baby & adult neurogenesis (the growth of new brain cells) in the hippocampus (a memory center of the brain), research in tissue found a crosstalk between receptors for the cannabinoids & adenosine (a neurotransmitter of inhibition), with the novel finding that the CB1 receptor & the A2A receptor formed heteromers (joined receptors that function differently than either receptor alone) (#heteromers!)
‘Cannabinoid and adenosine A2A receptor crosstalk regulates postnatal and adult hippocampal neurogenesis’
In a rat model of liver toxicity due to lead acetate, the terpene beta-caryophyllene reduced oxidative stress, the inflammatory response & the regulation of apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
‘β-caryophyllene attenuates lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity through regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling’
On sodium channels (a key target in epilepsy), CBDA reduced their electrical currents & stabilized the channels' inactivated state, with CBDA-rich extracts producing stronger inhibitory effects
‘Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and CBDA-rich extracts modulatory effects on voltage-dependent NaV1.2 sodium channels’
In a rat model of developing epilepsy after a brain injury, CBD did not improve their susceptibility to seizure development
'Subchronic Cannabidiol (CBD) Treatment During the Silent Period Fails to Prevent the Increased Seizure Susceptibility Following Lithium Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus'
In a mouse model of disturbed sleep due to caffeine, the combination of CBD & L-theanine reduced sleep onset latency & increased total sleep duration, with increases to the levels of serotonin, melatonin & GABA (the brain’s most common inhibitory neurotransmitter)
'Combined Administration of Cannabidiol and L-Theanine Improves Sleep-Related Outcomes in Caffeine-Induced Sleep Disturbances Mouse Model'
For dental enamel, a CBD mouthwash lessened the formation of biofilms (slimy aggregations of bacteria that resist treatment)
'Effect of a cannabidiol-based mouthwash on dental enamel properties and biofilm control: an in situ study'
For combining CBD & piperine (an alkaloid of black pepper), administering them together in mice doubled the CBD exposure
'Effect of Piperine Codelivery on the Oral Bioavailability of Cannabidiol: Insights from In Vitro Digestion and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics'
Novel Studies
(My grab bag section for stuff I haven’t quite seen before)
For the challenges of collecting aerosols from vapes for analyzing heavy metal concentrations, a white paper analyzing several approaches
'Procedural Challenges in the Analysis of Toxic Metals in Electronic Cannabinoid Delivery System Aerosols Produced for Vaping Cannabinoids'
For the religious aspects of cannabis in South Africa, a review of its ancient uses & on the introduction of cannabis to southern Africa
'Cannabis Sativa, religion and society: Historical, medicinal, legal, and sacramental perspectives'
US Headlines & Fav Articles
According to Quest Diagnostics, 20% of US workers had a positive hair drug test last year, with the greatest increase being in cannabis
The US National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) released a report guiding state regulators on how to best use cannabis scales
In Guam, the first cannabis cultivation license approved a mere 7 years after they legalized adult-use cannabis
In Wyoming, the Attorney General said that federal cannabis rescheduling will not apply in their state (one of the very few states left to not even have medical cannabis)
In Michigan, the Supreme Court ruled that courts can no longer use US federal law to ban someone from using cannabis as a condition of their probation
However, the court refused to weigh in on whether the state’s trial courts had the authority to ban cannabis use while on probation. They only said you couldn’t do so because of federal law.
Overall, it’s a fascinating question, because judges are often allowed to ban the use of alcohol by people on probation. But what about for drugs like cannabis or opioids where they can be both a medicine as well as a substance that can cause damage to their community?
In San Francisco, the Board of Supervisors approved the creation of cannabis cafés
For women with ADHD and/or autism, a great piece of science writing from Mia the Neurospicy Nerd
A great article on being a papa & trying to do too much & leaning on the cannabis too heavily
Alright. Fine. I’ll take a tolerance break this week while the kids are with their grandparents in the mountains.
Here come the nightmares…
Ali G attended Wimbledon & tried to sell weed to everybody
This new book on cannabis in British India looks amazing & somehow, the author generously published it under an Open Access monograph publishing program
‘Ganja Matters: Empire and the Pursuits of Cannabis in British India'
I especially like the 2 epigraphs. Here’s one:
Kiya cheej banaiya khoda / god, what a thing you made!
Bangla desh ka ganja / the ganja of bangla desh!
Ek chilim me jaycha taycha / so-so after one pipe,
Do chilim me moja / but jolly after two,
Teen chilim me wajir najir / a third makes one minister and nobleman
Chaar chilim me raja / the fourth makes one a king.
Kiya cheej banaiya khoda / god, what a thing you made!
Bangla desh ka ganja / the ganja of bangla desh!
- Ganja workers’ song, 1970
International News
In Saudi Arabia, they approved their first CBD oral food supplement (though they are still executing people for other cannabinoids. See below)
In Kenya, the (apparently incorrectly named) High Court dismissed a bid by Rastafarians to legalize cannabis for religious purposes
In Lebanon, a Chinese investment of $10M into the medical cannabis sector
In the Hmong communities of northern Thailand, on the cultural heritage of hemp & interviews about current policy
‘From Cultural Heritage to Emerging Economic Crop: State Agricultural Policy and Local Hemp Development in Khiri Rat Subdistrict, Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand’
In South Africa, on the Indigenous knowledge on the cultivation & uses of cannabis
'Exploring Indigenous knowledge on cultivation, uses and morphological differences of Cannabis landraces in South Africa'
In South Africa, an analysis of their master plan for cannabis entrepreneurship & the growing “cannabis divide” of marginalizing rural growers
‘Entrepreneurial Leadership and Cannabis Entrepreneurship in South Africa: Insights From the Cannabis Master Plan and SMME Performance Literature’
In South Africa, an analysis of the global value chain of medical cannabis
'Value capture in the emerging medical cannabis global value chain: insights from South Africa'
For medical cannabis in Brazil, an analysis of the regulations & their potential implications
'Challenges for the new regulatory framework of medical Cannabis in Brazil'
After Thailand classified cannabis as a narcotic again in 2025, western travelers had a strong association between cannabis use & hazardous alcohol consumption, including high rates of intoxicated sex
‘Cannabis Use Among Western Travelers Following the 2025 Narcotic Relisting in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study’
For the cannabis of Ghana, on analyzing seized materials
‘Cannabinoid-Based Classification of Ghanaian Cannabis for Regulatory and Commercial Applications’
⚖️ Business, Laws & Education ⚖️
For medical cannabis in Germany after legalization, the price of cannabis flower decreased by 30% & higher THC content was found to predict demand
‘Supply and demand of medical cannabis in Germany after legalisation: exploring 12 months of data from an online dispensary’
On the term decriminalization, an excellent take on the looseness of the term
An excellent breakdown of the pharmaceutical model gobbling up the full-plant-extract domain to the detriment of the cannabis dispensary model
Releaf becomes the first medical Company to be B Corp certified
For a Canadian media analysis of First Nations representation, there was a gap in understanding the cannabis industry & entrepreneurship through the lens of Indigenous self-determination
'Indigenous Entrepreneurship in the Canadian Cannabis Industry: A Media Analysis Explored Through Self-Determination Theory'
Driving
For cannabis & traffic fatalities, a response to another article correcting cannabis-attributed traffic fatalities in the US from 5000 per year to 3550 (#driving)
‘How many traffic fatalities can be attributed to cannabis each year in the US?’
In the motorcyclists of 2 Brazilian cities, ~10% tested positive for THC, with the positive testing age peaking at 32 years old, with a history of prior crashes associated with a higher odds of THC positivity
‘Cannabis use among motorcyclists in Brazil: prevalence and associated factors from a cross-sectional study in two cities’
The War on Drugs
2026-07: Not only are Trump's boat strikes inhumane & illegal, they’re also ineffective & even counterproductive
In Mexico, a new report found that Trump’s campaign against Mexican drug cartels did not dent the US fentanyl supply
On the fascinating story of the elite Chinese university graduate who connected the Mexican cartels to fentanyl precursors & who seems to have had quite a wild ride of it
On the unstoppable intricacies of the cartels laundering US drug sales through local Latino businesses
On the use of drones by Latin American cartels, an analysis of their strategic uses for instilling fear, forcing compliance & shaping behavior among civilians, other cartels & local & state governments
'Cartel aerial operations: exploring Latin American cartels´ use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a tool for strategic coercion'
On the use of cyberspace by narco-terrorist groups in western Southeast Asia
'The Strategic Used of Cyberspace by Narco-Terrorist Groups Belonging to Kuki-Chin-Mizo's in The Western Southeast Asia'
For Colombian cocaine trafficking, a high-level analysis of what works and doesn't work to lessen the production & flow
In Colombia, more on how the War on Drugs makes things worse
In Saudi Arabia, 3 Somali nationals executed for hashish smuggling
In Tanzania, a 30-year sentence for trafficking cannabis
In Indonesia, 12 people arrested & 3 tons of cannabis seized that was intended for vapes
In France, 2.5 tons of cannabis bound for Libya seized
In New Jersey, 31 people charged for a synthetic cannabinoid trafficking ring into a prison using paper laced with MDMB-4en-PINACA
In Toronto, police corruption & a conspiracy to operate illegal cannabis dispensaries & massage parlors
In the UK, 103 people arrested & ~4 pounds of synthetic cannabinoids seized
In San Diego, California, a fake “Buy 4 Less” store contained a hidden entrance to a sophisticated cross-border tunnel to Tijuana for cocaine trafficking
In Spain, a couple demands compensation for the 30 kg of hemp seized & destroyed by the authorities
WoD Research
For online drug markets, an analysis of why they have flourished in Europe but remained marginal in Latin America
‘Trust, infrastructure and sociopolitics in online drug markets: an exploratory socio-technical analysis of cryptomarket uptake in Europe and Latin America’
On the crack cocaine epidemic of the US in the ‘80s, an analysis of how it escalated punitive drug enforcement & embedded immigration within the War on Drugs
'‘Crack’: Immigration, national security, and the war on drugs in the USA'
In Syria, an analysis of the trade in captagon (a stimulant mixture)
'The Captagon Trade In Syria In The Eyes Of UNTOC: A Case Study'
For the Netflix show ‘Narcos’, an analysis of how it condemns interventionist policies
‘Catering to Underserved Global Perspectives: Narcos and America’s Drug War on Netflix’
For Mendoza’s anti-Philippine War on Drugs film ‘Ma’ Rosa’, a media analysis of its criticism of institutional abuse
'Capturing and Challenging the War on Drugs in the Philippines: An Ideological Criticism of Brillante Mendoza's Ma'Rosa'
On the first discovered clandestine synthetic cannabinoid lab in Brazil & how it produced MDMB-4en-PINACA
‘Insights from the first synthetic cannabinoid clandestine lab dismantled in Brazil’
For synthetic opioid smuggling at the US border, a thesis project on the tactics used by US border officials
'FENTANYL AT THE BORDER: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION STRATEGIES AGAINST SYNTHETIC OPIOID SMUGGLING'
For anti-drug operations in the capital of the Philippines, interviews on the difficulties faced by the anti-drug operatives
'CHALLENGES FACED BY PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OPERATIVES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: AN EXAMINATION OF OPERATIONAL ISSUES'
In United Arab Emirates, a review of their response to transnational drug crime
'Transnational Drug Crime: A Case Study of the United Arab Emirates’ Response to Emerging Threats'
After the scheduling of synthetic cannabinoids in the United Arab Emirates, there was a steady increase of police seizures, with most being found on herbal materials, paper or liquid form
‘The impacts of proactive scheduling of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists on police drug detections in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2011–2022)’
“The most commonly detected SCRA evolved over the study period, with JWH-019 predominating in 2011, followed by AM-2201 (2012–2013), AKB48 (2014), AB-CHMINACA (2015), 5-fluoro AKB48 analogues (2016–2018), 5F-MDMB-PICA (2019), 5-fluoro MDMB-PINACA (2020), and MDMB-4en-PINACA by the end of the study period (2021–2022).”
️ Harm Reduction News ️
Excellent journalism on the aftermath of closing the Moss Park safe consumption site in Toronto
In Ontario & Niagara after the dismantling of harm reduction infrastructure, a surge of 911 calls for overdose emergencies
Harm Reduction Research
In Appalachia, an analysis of how law enforcement captured the national opioid settlement money, with variations from West Virginia’s 40% to North Carolina’s 2.6% (#opioidsettlement)
‘Law enforcement capture of opioid settlement funding across Appalachia’
In people who inject opioids, higher levels of pain severity are associated with reduced safe injection practices
'Pain is associated with reduced adherence to safer injection practices among people who inject opioids'
For survivors of sex trafficking, on harm reduction approaches to their drug use
'“People are going to do drugs:” harm reduction as a strategy for survivors of sex trafficking who use substances'
An excellent rundown on the lessons learned from Canada's fraught safer supply opioid program during the height of the overdose crisis
‘The Rise and Fall of Safer Supply Programs in Canada’
On Canadian perspectives on supervised consumption sites, the general public perceived positive impacts on overdose risk, access to healthcare, harm reduction & social services as well as reducing public drug use & discarded needles
‘Public perspectives on supervised consumption sites across Canada: A cross-sectional study’
For naloxone distribution in the US, there was a marked increase between 2018 & 2023, especially distribution to non-healthcare settings & for nasal spray devices
'Naloxone Distribution in the United States, 2018–2023'
For improving access to take-home naloxone, on allowing for use in an adult home treatment team
'Improving Access to Take-Home Naloxone for Service Users at Risk of Opioid Overdose in an Adult Home Treatment Team: A Quality Improvement Project'
Interviews in Sweden with Supersavers (people who have administered naloxone 3+ times)
‘“You’ve involved us knowing that we don’t think about the law like you”: a qualitative study on Supersavers’ perspective of overdose engagement in Skåne county, South Sweden’
In non-urban communities, interviews on the benefits of harm reduction vending machines
'Harm reduction vending machines: An opportunity to bridge the resource access gap in non-urban communities'
In Belgium, the first fatal mono-intoxication with protonitazepyne (a Nitazene analogue)
‘Fatal mono-intoxication with novel synthetic opioid protonitazepyne (N-pyrrolidino protonitazene)’
For public health & drug-induced homicide laws, a review of 8 studies found negative consequences such as deterring people from calling 911 to report an overdose, with the laws overwhelmingly used in response to the death of a white person
'The public health impacts of drug-induced homicide laws: a community-engaged scoping review'
For naloxone, a review of its pharmacology
‘Molecular pharmacology and structural insights of naloxone: a comprehensive review’
For take-home naloxone, a review of 24 studies found that its use is supported by both patients & emergency department providers alike
‘A scoping review of emergency department take-home naloxone on patient and health outcomes’
Psychoactives, Psychedelics & Plant Medicines
Eli Lilly, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, plans to acquire AtaiBeckley, a psychedelic company with a 5-MeO-DMT drug entering late-stage clinical trials
2026-06: A fascinating article on a new source for the ibogaine molecule that the researcher is keeping secret to protect the plant & his plans to pioneer a novel & sustainable way of producing this remarkable drug (#ibogaine)
Psychedelics & MDMA
For the safety of ibogaine, an analysis of fatalities found that they were all among people with opioid use disorder
‘Indication-stratified mortality risk of ibogaine treatment under contemporary safety protocols: a multisite analysis of 19,071 patients and updated systematic review of fatalities’
In people with ADHD, low-dose LSD altered temporal processing but no other neuropsychological domains, with no “convincing evidence for broad cumulative benefits”
‘Effects of repeated low-dose LSD on neuropsychological functioning in adults with ADHD: a randomized placebo-controlled study’
For autism & psychedelics, a review on the mechanisms, the evidence & the ethical concerns
‘Psychedelics and autism spectrum disorder: Mechanistic insights, translational evidence and ethical challenges’
For music in psychedelic therapy, a review of 19 papers found considerable gaps, including no data at all on MDMA & music
‘Psychedelic Therapy and the Role of Music: A Scoping Review of Quantitative Evidence on Subjective and Objective Outcomes’
Ketamine
For PTSD & ketamine, a meta-analysis of 12 studies found a higher baseline of PTSD severity was the most robust predictor of symptom reduction
'Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of predictors of treatment effects'
For at-home telehealth-supported ketamine therapy, it was safe & effective for depression, anxiety & PTSD
'At-Home Telehealth-Supported Subcutaneous Ketamine Therapy in Adults With Moderate to Severe Depression, Anxiety, or PTSD: A Real-World Observational Study of Safety, Feasibility, and Clinical Outcomes in a Large, Heterogeneous Cohort in the United States'
In adults & children with cancer pain, IV ketamine reduced peak cancer pain
‘Intravenous Ketamine for Refractory Cancer Pain in 433 Adults and Children: A Real-World Retrospective Study from a Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Jordan’
In an older man with psychotic depression, a case report of ketamine injections as a short-term bridging intervention while ECT was temporarily too high-risk
'Trial of subcutaneous ketamine for psychotic depression in an older adult with comorbid physical illness: a case report'
A case report of a ketamine user with severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown releasing proteins into the bloodstream) leading to an acute kidney injury requiring dialysis
‘Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injury Secondary to Severe Rhabdomyolysis in a Recreational Ketamine User’
For severe ketamine use disorder, a case report of ibogaine leading to sustained abstinence
'Sustained abstinence in severe ketamine use disorder following ibogaine treatment'
For ketamine misuse, a review of the potential treatments
'Treatment and management approaches for ketamine misuse: A systematic review of medical interventions'
On ketamine for obsessive-compulsive disorder, a review of 5 studies found consistent & significant improvements
'Ketamine for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A Systematic Review on Efficacy and Tolerability'
In people using ketamine for mood disorders, a review of 30 studies found minimal evidence of it causing cravings, dose escalation or illicit use
‘Evaluating the abuse liability of ketamine in the treatment of mood disorders: A systematic review’
For ketamine combined with psychotherapy, a review of studies found that while certain modalities (CBT, BA, ASAT) may moderately prolong ketamine’s antidepressant effects, the results are heterogeneous
'Psychotherapy and Ketamine: How Does This Combination Affect the Duration of the Antidepressant Effect?'
On augmenting hypnotherapy with ketamine
'Ketamine-Augmented Hypnotherapy'
In a rat model of ketamine-induced neurotoxicity, how the severe cognitive deficits & anxiety-like behaviors were mitigated by the potent antioxidant mangiferin
‘Alterations in glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling in ketamine-induced neurotoxicity: mangiferin mitigates neurochemical, oxidative, and astrocytic dysregulation in the rat temporal–frontal cortex’
Kratom
For semi-synthetic kratom products, these researchers declared a public health emergency because of the high doses now available
'Semi-synthetic products based on 7-hydroxymitragynine: a public health emergency'
For kratom, a case report of its potential link to a stroke
‘Chronic Kratom Use as a Potential Risk Factor for Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source: A Case Report’
For kratom, a case report of a large quantity of 7-OH leading to profound central nervous system depression & intensive ICU care
'The Bitter Aftertaste of Kratom: A Toxicologic and Neurologic Challenge'
For kratom, a review of its neurocircuitry effects & impacts on cognition & behavior
‘Decoding the Neurocircuitry of Kratom: Impacts on Behaviour and Cognition’
On kratom extract for healing diabetic ulcers, a review of 8 studies found some limited preclinical evidence supporting biological plausibility
‘Efficacy of Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) Extract for Diabetic Ulcer Healing: A Literature Review’
Khat
For khat in Somaliland, a review of its economics, problems & potential for social harm reduction
'The Khat Conundrum: Balancing Economic Reality, Social Welfare, and Sovereignty in Public Policy for Somaliland'
Kava
For kava, brain scans found different effects in two experienced users
'Neurophysiological Effects of Traditionally-Prepared Kava Measured by EEG: A Pilot Case Study'
The Plant & its Products
Growing
In a long-term monoculture of cannabis (90+ years), on the differences in the soil microbiome between fertilized & unfertilized plots
'Soil microbiota of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) grown in a long-term monoculture'
What a quiet flex. 90 years of growing cannabis in one spot.
For Moroccan cannabis, on analyzing the effects of gibberellic acid, hydrogen peroxide, temperature, photoperiod exposure, total darkness, mechanical scarification & salt stress
‘Influence of extrinsic factors and salt stress on the in vitro germination and development of Moroccan Cannabis sativa L. varieties as potential medicinal plants’
In young cannabis plants under stress from zinc & the heavy metal cadmium, an imaging metabolic & hormonal study of the changes
'Unravelling the protective role of silicon in Cannabis sativa hypocotyls under cadmium and zinc stress with imaging and -omics'
For hemp grown in forever chemicals, humic acids did not greatly affect accumulation
'PFAS-induced morpho-physiological, photosynthetic and tissue accumulation responses of pot-grown hemp, sunflower and maize under soil amendment with humic acids'
For ultraviolet light in cannabis cultivation, this thesis found UVB to strongly stimulate production of pigments, sesquiterpenoids & flavonoids
'A Portrait Under Ultraviolet: Physiological and Biochemical Responses in Medicinal Cannabis'
For hop latent viroid, on the different distributions through leaves & roots depending on cannabis genotype
'Cannabis genotypes display differences in the tissue distribution and levels of Hop latent viroid in leaves and roots following inoculation'
For the parasitic roundworm Nacobbus celatus, the first report of cannabis susceptibility
'First report of susceptibility of Cannabis sativa to Nacobbus celatus'
For Phytoplasmas (bacteria that feed on agriculturally important plants), a study from India finds cannabis to be a natural reservoir, an epidemiological “green bridge”
'Global diversity and reservoir role of Cannabis sativa L. in phytoplasma epidemiology with insights from brinjal little leaf disease'
With calcium for cannabis cultures, on the effects on secondary metabolite production
'Effect of calcium phosphate on growth, pigment and secondary compound accumulation in Cannabis sativa L. callus'
For hemp field retting, on the effects of moisture conditions
‘Exploring the influence of abiotic factors on the hemp field retting process: Moisture impact assessment’
In cannabis roots, an analysis found high levels of fatty acids, glycerol esters & phytosterols
‘Identification of a Non-Cannabinoid Lipid–Sterol Chemotype in Cannabis sativa Roots using SCFE–GC–MS Analysis’
For cannabis chemotypes (different ratios of cannabinoids produced) & the link between the genetic expression & the actual cannabinoid levels, an analysis found that certain genetic variants of synthesis enzymes are stronger drivers of production
‘An integrated view of haplotype, gene expression and allelic variation explains the chemotype and cannabinoid yield of Cannabis sativa’
During cannabis seed germination under stress conditions, a genetic analysis of the GATA transcription factors (zinc finger proteins that regulate many developmental & stress responses)
'Whole-genome analysis reveals the tandem duplication of Cannabis sativa L. GATA and their stress-responsive expression during seed germination'
In cannabis under drought conditions, an analysis of changes to the long non-coding RNAs (key regulators of plant stress responses)
'Long non-coding RNA landscape and ceRNA networks underlying the drought response of Cannabis sativa L.'
In cannabis under phosphorus deficiency, a genetic analysis of the response in different tissues
'Co-expression analysis identifies organ-specific gene regulatory networks responsive to phosphate limitation in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)'
In Ukraine, on the prospects for growing industrial hemp
‘Prospects for growing industrial hemp in Ukraine’
In Kentucky, on the ecosystem benefits of expanding hemp cultivation for crop diversity, water quality & bird diversity
‘Hemp Cultivation and Crop Diversification: Implications for Ecosystem Services in Kentucky’
⚙️ Extracting, Analyzing & Formulating ⚙️
In hydrocarbon cannabis extraction, control of the temperature can minimize alkanes carried over from the wax
‘Temperature Control Minimizes Wax-Derived Alkane Carryover in Hydrocarbon Cannabis Extraction’
For the supercritical CO2 extraction of caffeine & CBD, on collecting molar volume data & optimizing extraction
'Towards optimizing extraction and purification technologies: Partial molar volumes and solubilities of caffeine and cannabidiol in high-pressure CO2'
On the different extraction methods for hemp oil, an analysis of their impact on yield & quality
'METHODS OF HEMP OIL PRODUCTION AND THEIR IMPACT ON PRODUCT YIELD AND QUALITY'
On the methods for analyzing cannabis & pharmaceutical products, a review of approaches
‘ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR CANNABINOIDS IN CANNABIS AND ITS PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS: A REVIEW’
For the plant bioactives CBD & hesperetin (a flavanone found in citrus), on improving their bioavailability via hotmelt extrusion into an amorphous dispersion
'Development and Characterization of Amorphous PVP K30–Phosphatidylcholine Dispersions for the Fixed-Dose Co-Delivery of Hesperetin and Cannabidiol Prepared by Hot-Melt Extrusion'
Food & Nutrition
In trout fish meatballs enriched with hemp flour, an analysis of the nutritional & lipid quality improvements
'Evaluation of nutritional, chemical, and microbiological changes in trout fish meatballs enriched with hemp flour'
For Moroccan cannabis seeds, an analysis of their macroelements & essential trace elements
‘Elemental profiling of Cannabis sativa L. seeds from Northern Morocco using neutron activation analysis technique at CNESTEN-Morocco’
For assessing hemp seed quality, on updating the methodology for the dynamics of their flow
‘Improvement of the methodology for assessing the properties of industrial hemp seeds’
On stabilizing hemp seed oil bodies with chitosan
‘Elucidation of pH-regulated chitosan-hemp seed oil bodies composites: structural stability, interfacial kinetics, and in vitro digestion behavior’
️ Industrial Uses & Fiber ️
For root-knot nematodes in tomatoes, fumigating with cannabis leaf residues inhibited hatching & increased tomato root mass
‘Biofumigation with Cannabis sativa leaves on the management of root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica in tomato’
For removing the heavy metal cadmium from water, on enhancing the efficacy of biochar & geopolymer composites with hemp straw
'Hierarchical Porous Biochar/Geopolymer Composite Derived from Hemp Straw for Enhanced Cadmium Remediation in Aqueous and Soil Environments'
For hemp footwear, on optimizing for shape stability
'Optimization of shape stability of hemp footwear textiles through constructive and technological solutions'
For turning hemp into a feedstock for cellulose fibers, an analysis of the best conditions for acid sulfite usage for dissolution found them lacking
‘Acid Sulfite Pulping of Hemp: Effects of Processing Conditions on Lyocell Pulp Quality’
For hemp-reinforced packaging, on the best ratios for enhancing stiffness
'Influence of PBAT Pellet and Powder Forms on the Properties of Hemp Fiber-Reinforced Composites and Assessment of Their Thermoforming Feasibility'
For polymer composites, on the effects of adding hemp & polyester for dissipating mechanical energy
'Effect of cyclic loading mode on the damping behavior of polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers (Hemp and Cotton) and glass fibers'
In hemp fiber-epoxy composites, on validating an AI for analyzing deformation behavior
'ANN-driven Modelling of Deformation and Notch Sensitivity in Hemp Fiber–Epoxy Composites Under Tensile and Edge-notched Tensile Loading Conditions'
In hemp dyeing, on using green chemistry to utilize sources like black carrots & their anthocyanins & anthocyanidins
‘Green Chemistry in Hemp Dyeing’
For hemp concrete, on improving thermal energy storage with phase-change material
'Thermo-hygro-mechanical performance of hemp concrete incorporating bio-based phase change material: Experimental and numerical characterization'
On expansive clay soils, waste hemp stocks significantly reduced liquid limit, plasticity index, swelling percentage & swelling pressure
‘Waste hemp stabilisation of expansive soils: behaviour and sustainability assessment’
For calcareous sands (often used for golf course construction), hemp fiber was the weakest for improving strength of the fibers tested
'Comparative Evaluation of Ramie, Hemp, and Hollow Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of MICP-Treated Calcareous Sand'
In hemp concrete, a laboratory round-robin test on thermal conductivity found moisture to be the most critical source of uncertainty & measurements
'RILEM TC 275-HDB: interlaboratory assessment of thermal conductivity measurements in hemp concrete'
THE CANNA-SCIENCE ARCHIVE
Public Health & Bioassays
For the idea of standard THC units, a focus group of cannabis consumers found that they were broadly enthusiastic about the idea, thinking that it would be beneficial for both novices getting used to ingestion as well as for experienced consumers focused on tolerance management
‘Cannabis consumer responses to the concept of standard THC units’
In people exposed to coverage of natural disasters, they were more likely to use cannabis & alcohol
‘Exposure to disaster information on social media, depressive symptoms, and alcohol and cannabis use in the aftermath of two natural disasters’
In Asian Americans & US Pacific Islanders, the cannabis users were more likely to be born in the US & to report more anxiety, depression, tobacco use, tobacco dependence & negative consequences from tobacco smoking
‘Dual nicotine and cannabis use among Asian American and Pacific Island adults: the role of anxiety and negative reinforcement expectancies on nicotine outcomes’
Among Thai adults at a sexual health clinic, cannabis use was associated with sex under the influence of drugs & alcohol
‘Cannabis use, sexual behaviors, and HIV prevention behaviors among young adults attending key-population-led sexual health clinics in Bangkok, Thailand: A mixed-method study’
In Nepali men who have sex with men & use cannabis, a survey of their demographics
‘Characteristics of cannabis use among men who have sex with men in Nepal: A respondent-driven cross-sectional survey’
For urine drug testing, on false negatives from benzalkonium chloride (often found in eyedrops & antiseptics)
'Behind the Mask: Detection and Characterization of Benzalkonium Chloride Adulteration in Immunoassay-Based Urine Drug Testing for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)'
For detecting THC metabolites in urine, on creating a less costly detection strategy
‘Isotope-Coded Derivatization Enables Accurate LC–MS/MS Quantification of Urinary THC–COOH without Isotope-Labeled Cannabinoid Standards’
Adolescents & Young Adults
For young people in Germany after partial legalization, adolescents & young women had no change in the prevalence of cannabis use between 2023 & 2025, but there was an increase in consumption among young men, though this is a continuation of a trend that started in 2008
'One year after partial legalisation in Germany: Trends in cannabis use among
Young people between 2008 and 2025'
On cannabis-related school discipline, interviews of youth found extensive student surveillance, a wide array of disciplinary responses, perceptions of disproportionate punishments & advocacy for harm reduction
‘“Just take it away from them and talk to them about it”: exploring youth perspectives on and experiences with cannabis-related school discipline’
For the harm perceptions of smoking versus vaping in young adults, few perceived cannabis smoking to be more harmful than cannabis vaping
‘Harm perceptions of smoking versus vaping cannabis and correlates: national surveys of youth and young adults in England, Canada, and the United States’
In young adults in Québec after legalization, interviews found their motivations for daily cannabis use included management of mental & physical health, relaxation, spirituality & enhancement of everyday experiences, with strategies to limit their usage by modulating their dosage & product types, limit use to the evenings & to abstain before work or study
‘Understanding Daily Cannabis Use among Young Adults in Post-Legalization Québec: Motivations, Consumption Practices, and Control Strategies’
In US adolescents, a parental history of drug use predicted higher negative urgency, greater cannabis positive expectancies & lower negative expectancies
'Adolescent Cannabis Expectancies Are Associated With Parental Drug Use History Via Negative Urgency'
In French young adults who co-use tobacco & cannabis & who want to quit, lower socioeconomic status was associated with a greater frequency of use & a greater readiness to quit, with financial strain being a common determinant of motivation
‘Crossed Pathways: Tobacco–Cannabis Co‐Use and Motivation to Quit in Young Adults in France’
For decreasing the use of nicotine & cannabis in adolescence, a review of Brief Negotiated Interviews (a structured collaborative conversation to help patients reduce risky behaviors, an offshoot of Motivational Interviewing) found a 15-minute intervention significantly decreased substance use in the short-term but had minimal long-term effects
'The Value of Brief Intervention to Prevent and Decrease Nicotine, Tobacco, and Cannabis Use among Adolescents'
At a Brazilian university, on the demographics of who was using cannabis
'Prevalence of marijuana use and associated factors among students at a university in the east of Minas Gerais, Brazil'
The Brain & Neurological Disorders
In brain tissue from people with Alzheimer’s disease, there were few changes to their endocannabinoid machinery, but the status of the lipid transport protein APOE had gendered effects on the control of the endocannabinoid system
‘Sex- and APOE ε4-dependent expression patterns of the Cannabinoid Receptor-1, FAAH, and MAGL are weakened in late-onset Alzheimer disease frontocortical samples’
In brain scans of healthy humans, this was the first ever study to track their levels of the enzyme MAGL (which breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-AG), but the radiotracer had low levels of brain uptake
'Imaging Monoacylglycerol Lipase A First-in-Human Positron Emission Tomography Study with [18F]MAGL-2102'
In several models of spinal cord injury, the genetic transcription of components of the endocannabinoid system were found, suggesting an “ECS-associated immune remodeling signature in SCI [spinal cord injury]”
‘Cross-Species Transcriptomic Analysis Identifies an Endocannabinoid-Associated Immune Remodeling Signature and Candidate Pharmacologic Targets in Spinal Cord Injury’
In a rat model of neuroinflammation & cognitive dysfunction due to the pesticide chlorpyrifos, their disruptions to endocannabinoid signaling & a pre-diabetic state were significantly mediated by supplementation with arachidonic acid (the building block of the endocannabinoid anandamide)
‘Early prediabetes aggravates neuroinflammatory and cognitive dysfunctional responses to chlorpyrifos exposure: Possible amelioration by arachidonic acid’
For Alzheimer’s disease, on creating drugs that target both the CB2 receptor & glutaminyl cyclase (a zinc-dependent enzyme related to the cascade of the amyloid plaques)
'Design, synthesis and evaluation of dual modulators targeting glutaminyl cyclase and cannabinoid CB2 receptor'
Mental Health, Addiction & Cannabis Use Disorder
In Black men, depression scores were highest in those who are using cannabis & binge-drinking alcohol, followed by cannabis-only & binge-drinking only
'Binge alcohol and cannabis co-use associated with depression in Black men'
In the lung tissue of people with alcohol use disorder, they had higher levels of anandamide
‘SPS2-05 Effects of Chronic Alcohol Drinking on Endocannabinoids / CB1R System in Lungs of Alcohol Use Disorder Patients’
Another one of these odd studies on people’s interest in buying edibles as a measurement of cannabis use disorder
'Gimmie the Gummies: Initial validation of the Edibles Marijuana Purchase Task'
Reproduction & Hormones
In pregnant people using cannabis, interviews on how & why they were using protective behavioral strategies around their cannabis use
'Use of Cannabis Protective Behavioral Strategies During Pregnancy'
In interviews of perinatal nurses, an urgent need was found for developing nurse & patient education around perinatal cannabis use
'Perinatal Cannabis Use: Nurse Perceptions and Educational Opportunities'
For premenstrual symptoms, a survey found cannabis, alcohol & psychedelics to be the most utilized drugs
'Cannabis, Psychedelics, and Other Substance Use to Manage Premenstrual Symptoms: A Survey Study'
For prenatal exposure, a review of the methods used in preclinical research
‘Diverse Methodologies Used for Preclinical Research into Prenatal Cannabis Exposure’
In a rat model of uterine contractions, on the effects of different gold nanoparticles of CBD for lowering contractions
'The effects of gold nanoparticles and nano-emulsions synthesized from cannabidiol oil on oxytocin-induced uterine contractions in rats'
The Immune System & Microbial
For antibiotic effects, on sourcing silver nanoparticles from the leaves of cannabis & Indian bael
‘Microwave-assisted Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Cannabis sativa and Aegle marmelos Leaves for Potential Antibacterial Activity’
Pain, Musculoskeletal & Surgeries
For people on dialysis, those smoking cannabis had decreased average pain severity
‘Weighted analysis of the association between cannabis smoking and chronic pain intensity among hemodialysis patients’
In people having hip replacement surgery, cannabis use was not associated with any changes to outcomes, but increased usage correlated with worse pain symptoms
‘Functional Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy Based on Self-Reported Cannabis Use: A Matched-Controlled Study’
On CBD for painkilling, a new book chapter
‘Cannabidiol’
In a mouse model of fentanyl use disorder, neutral antagonists of the CB1 receptor lessened the acquisition & expression of symptoms of opioid use disorder while not altering the opioid’s ability to lessen pain
‘Cannabinoid (CB) 1 receptor antagonists block fentanyl conditioned place preference but not fentanyl antinociception’
In a rat model of neuropathic pain, inhibition of the enzyme MAGL (which breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-AG) reduced their mechanical & cold hypersensitivities & reversed their depression-like behaviors via the restoration of activity in their medial prefrontal cortex via the CB1 receptor
‘Dissociable peripheral and central mechanisms of monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition on pain- and depression-related behaviors in a rat model of neuropathic pain’
In a rat model of knee osteoarthritis, a drug that activates the CB2 receptor caused sustained painkilling effects without inducing tolerance & when administered with morphine, enhanced its painkilling effect & lessened the symptoms of opioid withdrawal, especially in females
'PM289, a synthetic CB2 in vitro receptor agonist, modulates morphine-induced antinociceptive effect and withdrawal syndrome in an animal model of osteoarthritic pain'
For treatment-resistant chronic pain, on developing a nanoemulsion of cannabis extract
‘Development and clinical evaluation of a nanoemulsion for buccal delivery of cannabis extract in refractory chronic pain’
For the pain-sensing ion channels TRPA1 & TRPV1, CBD & CBG had more helpful effects than their carbamate derivatives
‘Carbamate-based cannabinoids uncover a conserved lipid-sensing pocket in nociceptive TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels’
For the antioxidant effects of cannabinoids, on a new diagnostic tool for analyzing their effects
‘Midpoint potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol redox couple of phytocannabinoids as a diagnostic tool for analyzing their prooxidant action in the cell’
❤️ The Heart & Blood ❤️
For stir-fried hemp seeds in a rat model of a blood-deficiency syndrome, they helped with metabolic dysfunction & the gut microbiome potentially via the JAK1–STAT1 signaling pathway
‘Effects of stir-fried Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed polysaccharides on blood deficiency syndrome in rats based on metabolomics and gut microbiota’
In heart tissue, the combination of hyaluronic acid & nano-PEA with rutin protected heart cells by upregulating protective proteins, downregulating inflammatory mediators & decreasing apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
‘Hyaluronic acid and PEA-based Rutin-loaded nanoparticles as new cardioprotective tool against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity’
For treating high levels of lipids in the bloodstream, on creating a nanogel with the terpene beta-caryophyllene
'Design and Optimization of Beta-Caryophyllene Nanoemulgel for Enhanced Antihyperlipidemic Activity: A Response Surface Approach'
️ The Guts, Nutrition & the Microbiome ️
In extracts of Moroccan cannabis seeds given to female mice, they had lower cholesterol & higher LDL, with low acute toxicity
‘Moroccan Cannabis sativa L. seed chloroform extract: phytochemistry, acute toxicity, and metabolic-behavioral effects in mice’
For dairy cows going through the transitions around birth, feeding them omega-3 fatty acids & the amino tryptophan upregulated genes for the enzymes FAAH (which breaks down anandamide) & MAGL (which breaks down 2-AG) while downregulating expression of the CB2 receptor
'The effects of N-acetyl tryptophan and omega-3 feeding during the transition period on relative expression genes related to endocannabinoid system in adipose tissue of Holstein cows'
The Liver, Drug Interactions & Cannabinoid Metabolism
For Thai gut & liver patients after legalization, the use of cannabis was associated with modest but significantly increased levels of the liver enzyme ALT, whereas kratom was not
‘IDDF2026-ABS-0493 Cannabis and Kratom use and liver biochemistry in patients with gastrointestinal and liver diseases after legalization in Thailand’
In people with cirrhosis, those diagnosed with cannabis use disorder had higher levels of intensive care admission, pneumonia, metabolic problems & all-cause mortality
'Impact of cannabis use disorder on cirrhosis: analysis of usual practice using propensity score matching'
For delta 8-THC, on identifying CYP2C9 as the liver enzyme that most likely breaks it down into its metabolites
‘Cytochrome P450–catalyzed hydroxylation of Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol and implications for pharmacogenetics’
The Lungs
In a mouse model of lung injury from a ventilator, inhibition of the MAGL enzyme (which breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-AG) reduced lung tissue injury via several pathways
‘B75-34 LEI-515-mediated Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibition Attenuates Ventilator Induced Lung Injury in Mice’
The Eyes
In people with central serous chorioretinopathy (buildup of fluid in the retina), the cannabis users showed a potential protective effect
‘Association of marijuana use with central serous chorioretinopathy’
In a rat model of glaucoma, activation of the CB1 receptor may increase the concentration of lactate in stressed cells
‘Cannabinoid 1 receptor agonism increases lactate release of stretch-stressed but not healthy optic nerve head astrocytes’
️ The Skin & Topicals ️
In a mouse model of psoriasis, a nanoemulsion of hemp seed oil lowered inflammatory responses & downregulated cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction as well as the NF-κB signaling pathway
'Polysaccharide-based self-assembled hemp seed oil nanoemulgel ameliorates skin inflammation in a psoriasis mouse model'
For wound healing, on creating a chitosan-based dressing with a sunflower oil nanoemulsion containing the terpene beta-caryophyllene
‘β-Caryophyllene-Loaded Sunflower Oil Nanoemulsion Incorporated into Chitosan Films for Wound Healing Applications’
️ Cancer & Chemotherapy ️
In cancer survivors & cancer care providers, surveys found similar attitudes towards medical cannabis use but different awareness of risks
‘Perspectives on Cannabis Use among Cancer Survivors and Cancer Care Providers: Parallel Surveys’
In people receiving palliative care for cancer, those with higher symptom burdens were more likely to report cannabis use
'Self-Reported Cannabis Use and Symptom Burden Among Patients With Cancer Receiving Palliative Care'
In a mouse model of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, the combination of THC & CBD suppressed tumor growth, especially at the highest doses
‘Preclinical antitumor evaluation of a tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (1:6) cannabis extract in an MCF-7 xenograft model of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer’
In lung cancer cells, CBD reduced cell viability & enhanced the efficacy of the treatment drug paclitaxel, while reducing tumor growth in a mouse model
‘Cannabidiol induces apoptosis and autophagy via STAT3 and NF-κB inhibition and synergistically enhances paclitaxel efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer’
For bone cancers, the combination of CBD, THC, melatonin & cisplatin fragmented DNA, suppressed migration, lowered invasion, disrupted mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell) & upregulated apoptosis (programmed cellular suicide)
‘A selective low-dose cisplatin strategy enabled by melatonin and cannabinoids for targeting osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma’
In glioblastomas (the most aggressive brain cancer), the combination of CBN or CBG with melatonin caused potent, synergistic toxicity
‘Synergistic Antitumor Efficacy of Minor Phytocannabinoids and Melatonin Combinations in Human Glioblastoma Cell Lines’
In glioblastomas (the most aggressive brain cancer), the combination of CBD & the drug temozolomide reduced their viability
‘Synergistic effects of Temozolomide and Cannabidiol on the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Glioblastoma’
In melanoma cancer cells, cannabis extract enhanced the oxidative stress caused by UVB radiation
'Cannabis sativa L. Extract Attenuates UVB-Induced Oxidative Stress and Rescues MITF Transcriptional Suppression in B16-F10 Melanoma Cell Line'
For breast cancer, on designing nanoparticles coated with immune cell membranes containing CBD & docetaxel
'Quality by Design Development of Leukocyte Membrane-coated Nanoparticles Co-loaded with Docetaxel and Cannabidiol for Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy'
Synthetic Cannabinoids & Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids
On detecting synthetic cannabinoids in blood with multi-structure recognition molecularly imprinted polymers
'Synergistic integration of multi-structure recognition MIP with liquid-phase microextraction for trace analysis of synthetic cannabinoids in blood'
On screening for novel synthetic cannabinoids, on using differential pulse voltammetry
‘Electrochemistry meets designer drugs: Voltammetric determination of synthetic cannabinoids in herbal products and e-liquids’
In forensic toxicology, on the analytical challenges for semi-synthetic cannabinoids
'Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids in Forensic Toxicology and Public Health: Analytical Challenges, Emerging Detection Strategies, and Regulatory Implications'
A new book on synthetic cannabinoids
'Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs)'
For the indazole-based synthetic cannabinoids, on the effects of different aliphatic (carbon chain) tails
‘Comprehensive Evaluation of Indazole-Based Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists with Aliphatic Tail Groups: In Vitro Activities, Metabolic Stability, and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics’
Biochemical Discoveries & Research Tools
CBD found to interact with UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, an enzyme related to the extracellular matrix, signal transduction & cancer growth
‘Probe-Based Chemical Proteomics Identifies UDP-Glucose 6-Dehydrogenase as a Potential Cannabidiol-Interacting Protein’
For CBD, THC & CBN, on their quantum chemical parameters using density functional theory
‘Investigation of quantum chemical parameters of hemp (Cannabis sativa) components (CBD, CBN, THC) using density functional theory (DFT)’
On creating the terpene beta-caryophyllene using a novel synthesis enzyme from Chinese mugwort
‘Highly efficient production of β-caryophyllene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a novel synthase from Artemisia argyi’
A protocol for creating nano-micelles of CBD for experiments in mice
'Protocol to prepare inclusion complex-enhanced cannabinoid nano-micelles for behavioral pharmacology and in vivo neurophysiology in mice'
Thanks.
- lex
PS: For this week’s adventuresome guitar of Chicago Blues & pinnacle of the West Side Sound, here’s ‘Presenting Magic Sam’. Dead tragically young of a heart attack at 32, Samuel Gene Maghett would surely have climbed the heights to stardom, but even in his short run, he left an indelible impression on how guitarists plays the blues. Born in Mississippi, Magic Sam moved to Chicago in his teens & began playing local blues clubs. He recorded for Cobra Records & you could already hear his rich new staccato fingerpicking in his debut single ‘All Your Love’. Unfortunately, he was drafted into the Army, where he served a 6-month prison sentence for desertion followed by a dishonorable discharge. Back in Chicago, he recorded with Chief Records with mournful tunes like a cover of Fats Domino’s ‘Every Night About This Time’ & then toured the US, Britain & Germany before signing on with Delmark Records. There he recorded two of his most important albums, ‘West Side Soul’ (including an iconic performance of the blues standard ‘Sweet Home Chicago’) & ‘Black Magic’, wide-ranging in their display of a new type of blues. At the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival, he wowed an overflow crowd & allegedly, the legendary Stax Records was ready to sign him after his Delmark commitment finished. But in December of 1969, he complained of heartburn, collapsed & died, forever a king of the Westside blues.
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.
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