Cannabis as Food and Medicine for Animals

 

 

If you think that cannabis is good for humans you may be surprised, and possibly happy if you are an animal and cannabis lover, to know that it is good for animals too. Most mammals have a significant amount of common biology. Besides the many aspects of the animal anatomy, such as brains, nervous systems, digestive systems, reproductive systems, skeletal structure, skin, etc,it appears that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is also part of the common biology. Hence it should come as no surprise that what is good for one mammal is also good for others. All these factors point to a common evolution of the Mammalian species along with the cannabis plant, each helping the other to grow, evolve and diversify. The amount of ECS evolution in each species may indicate the extent of the species' relationship with the cannabis plant over time. Monkeys have been known to consume cannabis left out in the open to dry. This may provide us with a clue as to how the first steps in the separation of the human species from the apes and chimpanzees took place. It is not just mammals but it also appears that birds and insects thrive on cannabis for their food needs. In earlier times, from its reported origin around 28 million years ago, the cannabis plant grew freely in nature and was found in many places. All animals, including insects and birds, had access to the plant if they so felt the need. By prohibiting and banning cannabis through one of the most selfish ignorant decisions ever made by human beings, we started the cycle of destruction of the cannabis plant wherever we came upon it. Law enforcement, drug enforcement and army forces took it as a death wish to raze the crop to the ground wherever they found it, blindly following the orders of politicians and the various industries opposed to cannabis. In the last 150 years or so, they have been very successful, making the plant inaccessible to not just man but also to all other life forms.

Animals that are known to benefit from cannabis include dogs, elephants, cats, rodents, worms, horses, sheep, goats, and monkeys. Among insects bees are said to benefit from cannabis as it improves their immunity. Dogs are said to have the most well developed ECS, hence the potential to get stoned more easily. So guess who must have tripped on the herb the most? Cats are known to love cannabis so much so that they need to be actively kept away from your stash.

The medical conditions for which cannabis has been found to be beneficial for animals include anxiety, depression, canine B cell lymphoma, ageing related disorders, melanoma, diabetes, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, skin infections, food intake regulation, canine urothelial carcinoma, chronic osteoarthritic pain, and inflammation. The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1893-94, reports that '467. Regarding the use of hemp drugs in the treatment of cattle-disease, out of a total of 1,193 witnesses, one-half give no information; and of the rest rather over one-half speak to the use of bhang alone, while the remainder speak generally of the use of both ganja and bhang. A few witnesses speak only of the use of ganja, but that is mainly where bhang is not available. This use of the drugs is in evidence in all provinces, though naturally to a less extent in Bombay and Madras than elsewhere, and least of all in Burma. Among the diseases for which hemp drugs are prescribed in native veterinary practice for cattle, horses, sheep, and occasionally elephants may be mentioned colic, bowel-complaints, diarrhœa, sprains, constipation, cow-pox, foot-and-mouth diseases, hoof disease, pneumonia, affections of the throat, colds and coughs, quinsy, and rinderpest. Ganja is used to extract worms in foot-sore diseases of cattle and to remove intestinal worms, and is also burnt to disinfect sheepfolds. A very common use of the drugs is as a tonic to produce condition, to make oxen fleet of foot, to relieve fatigue, and to give staying power. Bhang is sometimes used to increase the flow of milk in cows, and also to stupefy them when they refuse to be milked. The drug is occasionally given to mares shortly before being covered, and it is also used after delivery. Bhang mixed with salt is given to cattle as preventive against purging, to which they are generally subject from feeding on the young shoots of grass sprouting during the early part of the monsoon. Hemp drugs when used for cattle disease are usually administered raw, but always admixed with other ingredients, spices, salt, or gur. Occasionally bhang is first cooked in a metal pot, then mixed with gur, when animals eat it readily, or it is forced down the throat mixed with salt. The use of hemp drugs for the treatment of cattle-diseases appears to be nearly equally prevalent throughout Northern India...The Commission, while recognizing the necessity of the popular use of the hemp drugs in veterinary practice, do not find in the evidence any reason for thinking that the practice is more common in Assam than elsewhere in the north of India. ' It is quite likely that anything in humans that you can treat with cannabis can as well be treated in animals as well.

The legalization of hemp through the US Farm Bill of 2018 has meant that hemp is now being grown widely across the US. Hemp was reported to be the sixth most valuable crop in 2022. Hemp crop byproducts, including tons of material sitting idle in farmers' warehouses as a byproduct of the human-foods segment that is driving production of hemp grain to be crushed for oil, can be made into hemp seed meal and seed cake as a first step.   

 

Cannabis has been found to be an excellent source of nutrition and is fast re-emerging as animal feed for bovines, sheep, goats, and pigs. Farm Weekly reports that - "The most profound outcome was the increase in minor volatile fatty acids, suggesting an improvement in energy availability and a change in the composition of the gut microbial population, which may account for the improved digestibility."

 

There is growing support from US farmers for the use of hemp and its byproducts as animal feed. The US domestic animal feed industry is one of the largest economic contributors to the US agricultural sector. New Frontier Data reports that - 'A 2019 Farm Journal survey of 950 U.S. farmers and ranchers found 60% of respondents agreeing that farmers should grow hemp for animal feed, while 48% agreed that they would use hemp for animal feed themselves. Approval of hemp for the animal feed market would greatly broaden the total addressable market for hemp producers. The American Feed Industry Association reports there being more than 5,800 animal food manufacturing facilities in the U.S. producing more than 284 million tons of finished feed and pet food each year. The domestic animal feed industry meanwhile supports over 944,000 jobs, ranking it among the largest economic contributors to the U.S. agricultural sector.'

 

The growing popularity of cannabis byproducts as animal feed can be gauged by the amount of funding that research into this area is receiving, primarily from US federal and state agricultural departments. New Frontier Data reports that - 'As spearheaded by the HFC, several universities nationwide are studying the safety and efficacy of hemp and its byproducts. In August 2020, HFC earned an Agricultural Products Utilization Commission grant from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture to help fund a study of hempseed cake and meal in chicken feed. Likewise, researchers from Kansas State University were awarded a $200,000 federal USDA grant to study cannabinoid transference in the meat, milk, and eggs of hemp-fed animal byproducts in cattle feed. In March, the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) granted nearly $300,000 to Oregon State University for research into feeding spent hemp biomass to cattle. In addition to those, Colorado State University is studying hemp seed meal for lambs, Tuskegee University is studying the impact of hemp seed meal on goats, and North Carolina State University is studying the effect of hemp seed oil on horses.' USDA reports that 'Central State University and its multidisciplinary team, partnering with 1890 land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a 1994 land-grant Tribal College and 1862 Land-grant Universities, will investigate using hemp as an aquaculture feed ingredient to address food safety concerns about consuming seafood raised with hemp feed additives. They will also research ways to increase economic markets and production sustainability for seafood and hemp. ($10 million)' 

 

Besides, the potential of hemp and its byproducts for animal feed, there is the pet food industry that can benefit greatly from cannabis. Hemp Industry Daily reports that  'Nielsen projects that by 2025, hemp-CBD dog food and treats will increase by threefold among current users of non-CBD products and nearly that much among all dog owners. Dog vitamins and supplements with hemp-derived CBD are on track to more than double among dog owners and current users of traditional consumer packaged goods, non-CBD products.Cat food and treats infused with hemp-CBD are on track to increase more than sixfold among cat owners and consumers buying consumer packaged goods pet products, while cat owners and buyers of traditional cat products stand to triple their purchases of hemp-CBD vitamins and supplements formulated for cats.'

 

Consider the state of the animal feed industry in most places today. The health concerns related to the introduction of processed animal remains in animal feed, and the resulting Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease, that shook the world in the recent past is something that I am sure many have not forgotten. Then we have the concerns with antibiotic resistance that affects animals as much as humans. One of the key sources of air pollution in India today is the burning of crop stubble after paddy cultivation to get the fields ready for the next cropping cycle. The growing of cannabis, and the use of the crop byproducts for animal feed would, in one instance, solve the problem of air pollution and the shortage of animal fodder. 

 

The introduction of cannabis in animal feed and medication, and the reduction of chemical ingredients and pharmaceutical medication, will surely boost animal well being, and in the process human well being as well, besides reducing the amount of unhealthy compounds entering our food chain and environment. Cannabis as animal feed for the meat, diary, poultry and pet industry can go a long way in reducing the environmental footprint of these industries. Cannabis crops as supposed to be excellent food for bees with diverse varieties of bees feeding on the plant, helping them to sustain their fragile and threatened populations that have seem massive drops through man's actions on the environment. Considering that cannabis is an ideal crop in areas of less rainfall, and is known to grow in many diverse conditions, its introduction into the cropping cycle can boost not just crop production, but also the bee population and the pollination of plants, and consequently the strengthening of the food chain that all lives depend on.

Due to the many years of prohibition on cannabis, research into the plant and its uses and benefits for humans itself has been severely hampered. Research on benefits to animals is still a long way off. The good news is that some agricultural and animal husbandry departments are slowly starting to explore this in places where cannabis is legal and the research environment is supportive. The 2018 legalization of low THC cannabis through the US Farm Bill is a significant step. But all this needs to be extended to the global legalization of cannabis for recreational and agricultural use. Research and implementation of cannabis in animal nutrition and veterinary medicine, on a global scale, is needed if we are to ensure that animals too do not pay for our misdeeds. The use of dangerous synthetic pharma drugs on animals, the testing of hazardous chemicals on animals as a part of the pharma and cosmetic industries, and the feeding of animals with dangerous synthetic substances in an effort to increase profit, must all be stopped. Cannabis offers a sustainable way out of this mess. Animals are paying much more than their share of the price for the destruction of the planet and nature right now, and in the process still shielding us for the moment. We need to remember that without animals there are no humans since humans are also animals, completely dependent on all the other species for surviving on this planet.

Related articles

The following list of articles taken from various media speak about the above subject. Words in italics are the thoughts of yours truly at the time of reading the article. 

 

 

'Central State University and its multidisciplinary team, partnering with 1890 land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a 1994 land-grant Tribal College and 1862 Land-grant Universities, will investigate using hemp as an aquaculture feed ingredient to address food safety concerns about consuming seafood raised with hemp feed additives. They will also research ways to increase economic markets and production sustainability for seafood and hemp. ($10 million)'

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/10/06/usda-announces-more-146m-investment-sustainable-agricultural

 

' Abstract
Medical use of Cannabis (or hemp) began thousands of years ago. In the 20th century, mechanisms of action were demonstrated with the discovery of its active substances, the phytocannabinoids, and its pharmacological targets, the endocannabinoid system. This system is composed of receptors, endogenous substances, and enzymes, and it participates in the modulation of physiological mechanisms in several species, including dogs. Studies indicate that changes in this system may contribute to the genesis of some diseases. Therefore, the use of substances that act on its components may help in the treatment of these diseases. The main phytocannabinoids described are delta9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). In humans, the benefits of using CBD in several diseases have been demonstrated. The popularization of this type of treatment has also reached veterinary medicine, which on one hand was related to an increase in adverse event records, but on the other also allowed reports of anecdotal evidences of its effectiveness and safety in animals. Clinical studies published so far indicate that the use of CBD in dogs can be safe at given doses and can contribute to osteoarthritis and idiopathic epilepsy treatments. Clinical and pre-clinical studies and case reports were reviewed in this report to identify the main characteristics of hemp-based therapies in dogs, including its pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and efficacy in the treatment of diseases.'

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34605042/

'As spearheaded by the HFC, several universities nationwide are studying the safety and efficacy of hemp and its byproducts. In August 2020, HFC earned an Agricultural Products Utilization Commission grant from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture to help fund a study of hempseed cake and meal in chicken feed. Likewise, researchers from Kansas State University were awarded a $200,000 federal USDA grant to study cannabinoid transference in the meat, milk, and eggs of hemp-fed animal byproducts in cattle feed. In March, the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) granted nearly $300,000 to Oregon State University for research into feeding spent hemp biomass to cattle. In addition to those, Colorado State University is studying hemp seed meal for lambs, Tuskegee University is studying the impact of hemp seed meal on goats, and North Carolina State University is studying the effect of hemp seed oil on horses.

Hemp industry stakeholders are banking on the approval of hemp grain ingredients. A 2019 Farm Journal survey of 950 U.S. farmers and ranchers found 60% of respondents agreeing that farmers should grow hemp for animal feed, while 48% agreed that they would use hemp for animal feed themselves. Approval of hemp for the animal feed market would greatly broaden the total addressable market for hemp producers. The American Feed Industry Association reports there being more than 5,800 animal food manufacturing facilities in the U.S. producing more than 284 million tons of finished feed and pet food each year. The domestic animal feed industry meanwhile supports over 944,000 jobs, ranking it among the largest economic contributors to the U.S. agricultural sector.

In addition to having the world’s largest fed-cattle industry, the U.S. is also the world’s largest consumer of beef—primarily high-value, grain-fed beef. In 2019, the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) found that major species of livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and pets in the United States consumed approximately 284 million tons of feed, with a value of $59.9 billion. Beef cattle consumed 64.5 million tons of feed, hogs consumed 61.8 million tons, and broiler chickens consumed 60.8 million tons, respectively.'

https://newfrontierdata.com/cannabis-insights/aafcos-hurry-up-and-wait-approach-for-approval-of-hemp-as-animal-feed/

'The use of cannabidiol (CBD) for animal species is an area of growing interest, for example for its anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulating properties, even though all of its biological effects are still not fully understood, especially in veterinary medicine. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulating properties of CBD for the first time directly in canine inflammatory response. We used an ex vivo model of LPS-stimulated whole dog blood. We stimulated the whole blood from healthy dogs with LPS 100 ng/mL for 24 h in the presence or not of CBD 50 and 100 µg/mL. We observed a reduction in IL-6 and TNF-a production from the group treated with CBD, but non-altered IL-10 levels. Moreover, we also observed from the CBD-treated group a reduction in Nf-B and COX-2 expression. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time the anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulating properties of CBD directly in dogs’ immune cells, using a canine ex vivo inflammatory model. The results obtained from these studies encourage further studies to better understand the possible therapeutic role of CBD in veterinary medicine.'

https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/8/9/185

'A new law taking effect Oct. 1 clears vets to recommend and administer hemp and cannabidiol products below 0.3% THC without fear of sanction from the state licensing board, the American Veterinary Medical Association reported Thursday in its journal.

CBD is commonly sold through veterinary channels in all states. But veterinarians could be sanctioned for administering it because the products haven’t been approved for animal use by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.

The ban remains in place despite promising research on CBD to treat epilepsy in dogs. The FDA allows doctors to prescribe CBD to treat human epilepsy, but the cannabinoid remains off-limits for veterinarians.'

https://hempindustrydaily.com/nevada-first-state-to-allow-veterinary-cbd-treatment/

'The aim of our study was to test the immunostimulating effect of a diet with hemp extract on the resistance of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). The experiment compared the effect of supplementation between the bees receiving the extract in the form of a mixture with sugar syrup and on the strip with the extract, compared to the bees that had no contact with substance. In order to determine this effect, the biochemical indicators were analyzed: the proteolytic system (proteases, protease inhibitors, total protein concentration) responsible for the fight against pathogens/parasites, biomarkers (ALT, AST, ALP), and the basic components of metabolism (glucose and urea concentrations). Parameters were determined in the hemolymph of 2- and 7-day-old workers. Hemp extracts caused an increase in the protein concentrations. Regardless of the method of administration, proteases decreased. Protease inhibitors increased, except supplementation on strips where the activity decreased. The biomarker activities increased in the control group and workers feeding extract in syrup and decreased in workers supplemented with the extract on strips. The results of the metabolic component were as follows: glucose and urea concentrations indicate that the extract will not adversely affect metabolic changes in the insect’s organism. Hemp extract improves the natural immunity of bees'

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2190

'There is evidence that chronic osteoarthritic pain in dogs can be reduced by supplementation with CBD. Furthermore, experiments are required to better understand whether CBD has an influence on noise-induced fear and anxiolytic response. Preliminary evidence exists to support the analgesic properties of CBD in treating chronic canine osteoarthritis; however, there are inter- and intra-species differences in pharmacokinetics, tolerance, dosage, and safety of CBD.

Therefore, to validate the anxiety management, pain management, and anti-inflammatory efficacy of CBD, it is essential to conduct systematic, randomized, and controlled trials. Further, the safety and efficacious dose of CBD in companion animals warrants investigation.'

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0034528821002538

'High THC concentrations were observed in lungs, moderate concentrations were seen in the brain, heart, and kidneys, and low concentrations were noted in the liver. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was constructed to describe blood and tissue THC concentrations in rabbits following the administration of smoked cannabis by inhalation...The findings add substantially to our understanding of postmortem cannabinoid concentrations and can aid forensic toxicologists in the interpretation of cannabinoid findings in death investigations.'

https://shareok.org/handle/11244/330177

'Results
Cannabidiol reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in canine urothelial cells as determined by crystal violet viability assay and annexin V/propidium iodide flow cytometry. Furthermore, combinations of cannabidiol with mitoxantrone and vinblastine chemotherapy yielded significantly reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis compared to single agent treatment alone. The drug interactions were deemed synergistic based on combination index calculations. Conversely, the combination of cannabidiol and carboplatin did not result in decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis compared to single agent treatment. Combination index calculations suggested an antagonistic interaction between these drugs. Finally, the combination of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam with cannabidiol did not significantly affect cell viability, although, some cell lines demonstrated decreased cell viability when mitoxantrone was combined with piroxicam.

Conclusions
Cannabidiol showed promising results as a single agent or in combination with mitoxantrone and vinblastine for treatment of canine urothelial carcinoma cells. Further studies are justified to investigate whether these results are translatable in vivo.'

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0255591

'"The most profound outcome was the increase in minor volatile fatty acids, suggesting an improvement in energy availability and a change in the composition of the gut microbial population, which may account for the improved digestibility."

While THC was detected in all measured tissues at extremely low levels, which would not meet regulatory requirements, Ms Blake said the results were still encouraging.

"The results suggest there is plenty of scope to develop management practices for feeding hemp biomass to ruminants, like sheep, goats and cattle, which may meet regulatory requirements for zero THC levels in animal products," she said.'

https://www.farmweekly.com.au/story/7358750/industrial-hemp-an-option-for-livestock-grazing/

'In this study, the core aims were to evaluate whether CBD affects homeostatic feeding or binge eating behavior in mice. The results provided a novel insight into the effects of CBD. The findings indicate that the acute systemic administration of CBD reduces HED [high energy diet] intake, and possibly, simultaneously increases chow intake, suggesting a balancing effect on feeding in bingeing mice. However, the role of TRPV1 in this effect remains unclear, and further studies are needed.'

https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/332343

'“We’ve seen the benefits in all of these products,” said Richter. “The science is here, but as is typical with the medical community, you’re going to have a pretty sizeable group in the medical community that will refuse to accept any of it until it’s documented in research.”

Still, he trusts that the research will continue to show cannabis as a positive medical option for the treatment of dogs and cats. Because of that, Richter and many others who’ve seen the firsthand effects of cannabis medicine in animals, don’t see a point in waiting to start helping pets.

“While I am certainly a person who’s a proponent of the research,” he said, “Just because the research isn’t there doesn’t mean you can or should ignore something that’s completely obvious and right in front of your face.”'

https://www.leafly.com/news/health/what-science-says-about-giving-dogs-cats-cannabis-cbd

'Besides locomotor and anxiety-like behaviors, dopaminergic molecular parameters were quantified in both prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum. Regarding molecular levels, CBD modulated at basal levels the dopaminergic targets (D1R, D2R, DAT, and TH) in the assessed brain areas, preventing AMPH relapse and decreasing anxiety-like behavior per se and in AMPH-CPP animals. The current findings give evidence about CBD-induced AMPH-relapse prevention, which may be linked to dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic system modulation. Although future and clinical studies are needed, our outcomes show that CBD may be a useful alternative to prevent AMPH relapse.'

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924977X21001966

'CBD (LOW and HIGH) did not alter the total daily activity points (P = 0.985) or activity duration (P = 0.882). CBD tended (P = 0.071) to reduce total daily scratching compared with the control. Dogs were more active in p.m. sessions than in a.m. sessions (P < 0.001). During the p.m. session, dogs receiving HIGH tended (P = 0.091) to be less active than the control (CON). During the a.m. and p.m. sessions, CBD reduced scratching compared with CON (P = 0.030). CBD did not affect the activity duration during exercise periods (P = 0.143). These results indicate that, when supplemented with up to 4.5 mg CBD/kg BW/day, CBD does not impact the daily activity of adult dogs, but may exert an antipruritic effect.'

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/animalsci_facpub/43/

'Within the growing market for plant-based proteins, hemp is one of the fastest growing segments. Though the plant-based protein market has historically been dominated by pea and soy protein (which together make up more than 90% of the market), hemp protein’s amino acid and mineral profiles have been popular with customers.

What would really move the needle in the hemp grain market, however, is entrance into animal feed. Allowing hemp into animal feed would significantly reduce risks to farmers and open an entirely new product category of hemp-fed products in one stroke. Although federal regulations currently bar hemp animal feed from being used for animals destined for human consumption, headway is being made in that area.'

https://newfrontierdata.com/cannabis-insights/can-grain-fiber-acreage-eclipse-cbds-this-year/

'Key features of the bill include:

• Clarifies hemp seed food ingredients and substances derived from hemp are included in the definition of commercial feed.
• Provides authority for hemp for use as commercial feed for pets and horses.
• Includes feed use with other livestock, effectiveness contingent upon FDA-DVM approval of hemp as an approved additive or defined ingredient in animal food or medicated feed for livestock.'

https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming/industrial_hemp/montana-passes-bill-advancing-hemp-seed-as-animal-feed/article_6d2854d6-9ca6-11eb-a7fc-83e9ec98972e.html

'There’s a growing body of research addressing giving CBD to dogs. A Colorado State University (CSU) study conducted on dogs with epilepsy found that 89% of dogs that received CBD had fewer seizures. And a study performed by researchers from Cornell University, CSU and the Metzger Animal Hospital in State College, Pa., “suggests that 2 mg/kg of CBD twice daily can help increase comfort and activity in dogs with OA [osteoarthritis].”

As for humans’ feline friends, researchers from Israel and The Netherlands reviewed dozens of studies on Alzheimer’s disease in humans and feline cognitive dysfunction in cats for a paper published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.'

https://www.hempgrower.com/article/natures-highway-nc-neeses-sc-pet-cbd-market-dogs-cats/

'“One of the big opportunities for us as an industry, and one of the best ways that we can support our farmers in those ancillary markets, like our livestock producers, is by commoditizing those very nutritious and valuable byproducts that come out of the production and processing of hemp,” HFC Executive Director Hunter Buffington said during the 2021 World Ag Expo. The event is based in Tulare, California, but was held virtually this year.

The HFC focused on hempseed meal and seed cake as a first step because there are tons of the material sitting idle in farmers’ warehouses as a byproduct of the human-foods segment that is driving production of hemp grain to be crushed for oil, Buffington said.

“When you look at the nutritional composition, there’s no reason we can’t be feeding it,” she said.'

https://hempindustrydaily.com/hemp-in-animal-feed-is-closer-to-becoming-reality/

'Despite some non-significant results, our findings suggest that it is worth doing more research to further investigate the effect of CBD on dog behaviour; this would be certainly valuable because the potential for improving the welfare of dogs in shelters is priceless.'

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-82439-2

'Cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid compound, presents antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects in the type-1 diabetes mellitus(DM1) animal model. Although the underlying mechanism remains unknown, the type-1A serotonin receptor (5-HT1A) and cannabinoids type-1 (CB1) and type-2 (CB2) receptors seem to play a central role in mediating the beneficial effects on emotional responses. We aimed to study the involvement of these receptors on an antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects of CBD and on some parameters of the diabetic condition itself. After 2 weeks of the DM1 induction in male Wistar rats by streptozotocin (60 mg/kg; i.p.), animals were treated continuously for 2-weeks with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), CB1 antagonist AM251 (1 mg/kg i.p.) or CB2 antagonist AM630 (1 mg/kg i.p.) before the injection of CBD (30 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle (VEH, i.p.) and then, they were submitted to the elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests. Our findings show the continuous treatment with CBD improved all parameters evaluated in these diabetic animals. The previous treatment with the antagonists - 5-HT1A, CB1, or CB2 - blocked the CBD-induced antidepressant-like effect whereas only the blockade of 5-HT1A or CB1 receptors was able to inhibit the CBD-induced anxiolytic-like effect. Regarding glycemic control, only the blockade of CB2 was able to inhibit the beneficial effect of CBD in reducing the glycemia of diabetic animals. These findings indicated a therapeutic potential for CBD in the treatment of depression/anxiety associated with diabetes pointing out a complex intrinsic mechanism in which 5-HT1A, CB1, and/or CB2 receptors are differently recruited.'

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11011-020-00667-3

'Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most popular emerging plant extracts that is being investigated for its wide range of potential health benefits. This experiment tests how B16 mice melanoma cells, are affected by four different concentrations (0.2 mg/mL, 0.04 mg/mL, 0.008 mg/mL and 0.0016 mg/mL) of 99% CBD oil. The results of this experiment demonstrate that CBD significantly inhibited melanoma cell growth in-vitro at 0.2 mg/mL and 0.04 mg/mL. This shows that CBD has the potential to inhibit melanoma cell growth in vertebrates, namely mice.'

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15321819.2020.1862863

'The objectives of our study were to explore the anti-proliferative and cell death response associated with in vitro treatment of canine cancer cell lines with CBD alone and combination with common chemotherapeutics, as well as investigation into major proliferative pathways (e.g. p38, JNK, AKT, mTOR) potentially involved in the response to treatment with CBD. CBD significantly reduced canine cancer cell proliferation far better than cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) across five canine neoplastic cell lines when treated with concentrations ranging from 2.5-10 µg/mL. Combinatory treatment with CBD and vincristine reduced cell proliferation in a synergistic or additive manner at anti-proliferative concentrations with less clear results using doxorubicin in combination with CBD. The cellular signaling effects of CBD treatment, showed that autophagy supervened induction of apoptosis and may be related to prompt induction of ERK and JNK phosphorylation prior to autophagy. In conclusion, CBD is effective at hindering cell proliferation and induction of autophagy and apoptosis rapidly across neoplastic cell lines and further clinical trials are needed to understand its efficacy and interactions with traditional chemotherapy.'

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vco.12669

'The potential therapeutic use of some Cannabis sativa plant compounds has been attracting great interest, especially for managing neuropsychiatric disorders due to the relative lack of efficacy of the current treatments. Numerous studies have been carried out using the main phytocannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). CBD displays an interesting pharmacological profile without the potential for becoming a drug of abuse, unlike THC. In this review, we focused on the anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antipsychotic effects of CBD found in animal and human studies. In rodents, results suggest that the effects of CBD depend on the dose, the strain, the administration time course (acute vs. chronic), and the route of administration. In addition, certain key targets have been related with these CBD pharmacological actions, including cannabinoid receptors (CB1r and CB2r), 5-HT1A receptor and neurogenesis factors. Preliminary clinical trials also support the efficacy of CBD as an anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and antidepressant, and more importantly, a positive risk-benefit profile. These promising results support the development of large-scale studies to further evaluate CBD as a potential new drug for the treatment of these psychiatric disorder'

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/11/1575

'None of the 3,504 C. Elegans worms in the Canopy study died prematurely compared to a control group, even at significantly elevated doses -- a good sign for CBD’s safety, said Hunter Land, a senior director of science at Canopy. Better still, at doses in the range of human consumption, CBD extended the tiny roundworms’ lives by 18%, and they showed an increase in activity of 206%.

“As they aged, they moved more like young animals,” Land, who designed the study, explained in a phone interview. “Rather than seeing something toxic, we see the opposite -- it actually increases health parameters.”'

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-22/worm-study-shows-cbd-science-has-a-way-to-go-cannabis-weekly

'Results
Six articles reported findings for older populations (three human and three rodent studies), highlighting the paucity of research in this area. Human studies revealed largely null results, likely due to several methodological limitations. Better-controlled rodent studies indicate that the relationship between delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cognitive function in healthy aging depends on age and level of THC exposure. Extremely low doses of THC improved cognition in very old rodents. Somewhat higher chronic doses improved cognition in moderately aged rodents. No studies examined the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) or high-CBD cannabis on cognition.

Conclusions
This systematic scoping review provides crucial, timely direction for future research on this emerging issue. Future research that combines neuroimaging and cognitive assessment would serve to advance understanding of the effects of age and quantity of THC and CBD on cognition in healthy aging.'

https://academic.oup.com/acn/advance-article/doi/10.1093/arclin/acaa105/5960018

'The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the antitumor effects of cannabinoids in B cell lymphoma using canine as a model due to striking similarities b/w canine and human B cell lymphoma in histology, biology and gene expression. For this study, Canine B cell lymphoma cell lines 1771 and CLBL1 were cultured in RPMI. Expression of cannabinoid receptors studied using qPCR. Based on receptor expression cells were treated with receptor agonists (AEA, 2AG, CBD, THC, WIN and HU-210,) and antagonists (S16 and S28). Cell viability assessed using MTT assay. Biochemical analysis performed using spectrofluorometry to evaluate apoptotic makers involved in inducing cell death. Data was analyzed using ordinary one way ANOVA on Prism software. All B cell lymphoma cell lines showed positive expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors. Cell viability assay demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation with all cannabinoid receptor agonists used except for 2AG. Biochemical analysis showed a decrease in nitrite and caspase activity in treated cells as compared to control untreated cells. Our results suggest that cannabinoids have an anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect on canine lymphoma cells and it can be developed as a potential anti-cancer agent for the treatment of canine and human B cell lymphoma.'

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/80/21_Supplement/PO-047.short

'Due to the high price of hemp seed compared to traditional feedstocks (e.g., corn and soy), hemp seed is more likely to first find its foothold as a premium feedstock for niche livestock production. Even so, opening the animal feed markets up to hemp would make hemp grain a significantly more attractive crop for farmers to grow, as it would broaden the total addressable -market and reduce the risk of unsold crops. According to Hunter Buffington, executive director of the HFC, “hemp has been an animal feed across the world for millennia because of its nutritional content and availability. As we enter the world hemp market, American farmers again have the ability to produce hemp and utilize its by-products to create healthy, regenerative feed sources.”'

https://newfrontierdata.com/cannabis-insights/hemp-seed-as-animal-feed-offers-potential-despite-obstacles/

'Nielsen projects that by 2025, hemp-CBD dog food and treats will increase by threefold among current users of non-CBD products and nearly that much among all dog owners. Dog vitamins and supplements with hemp-derived CBD are on track to more than double among dog owners and current users of traditional consumer packaged goods, non-CBD products.

Cat food and treats infused with hemp-CBD are on track to increase more than sixfold among cat owners and consumers buying consumer packaged goods pet products, while cat owners and buyers of traditional cat products stand to triple their purchases of hemp-CBD vitamins and supplements formulated for cats.'

https://hempindustrydaily.com/exclusive-hemp-derived-cbd-market-for-pets-worth-60-million-in-2020-with-threefold-growth-projected/

'Researchers believe that if farmers were able to use leftover parts of hemp plants as cattle feed, it would make cultivation of the crop more economical and could boost the industry globally.

“We don’t believe that the degree of absorption is sufficient for us to be concerned about potential intoxication following the consumption of meat and milk,” Hans Coetzee, also with Kansas State, said in an interview with KSNW-TV. “If we can prove that that is of no concern of consequence to the consumer, we feel that that would remove one of the major impediments to the widespread production of hemp worldwide.”'

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/feds-fund-research-on-whether-cows-can-eat-hemp-without-milk-drinkers-getting-high/

'The African elephant, named Fredzia, has expressed signs of distress and depression since the elder of the herd, Erna, passed in March. Agnieszka Czujkowska, head of the zoo’s rehabilitation department, said this represents an opportunity to experiment with the non-intoxicating cannabinoid.

Veterinarians have already completed the first stage of the study, collecting baseline blood, saliva and feces samples to test for the hormone cortisol, which is associated with stress.

The plan is to mix CBD oil with Fredzia’s food and continue to monitor her cortisol levels to see if the oil really can help treat her anxiety and stress.'

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/elephant-will-be-given-cbd-to-treat-stress-after-death-of-companion-zoo-says/

'For Nefertiti, and Wilson, it’s made all the difference.

“I don’t know how it works. All I know is that when we do give it to her, it’s not that [her anxiety] disappears, but it’s much more manageable,” Wilson said. “She will cuddle with you instead of hiding in some hidy-hole in the house that you didn’t know existed.”'

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/08/19/cbd-products-pets/

I believe that you can gauge the personality of a human by the dog that lives with him...Looks like the Malayalis need to grow and smoke more ganja once again like they did in the past...even dogs love it...smoking ganja will bring down stress, anxiety, aggression all around...no, I'm serious...besides, the use of hemp based bio-degradable products, instead of petrochemical based plastics, will enable better waste management in Kerala where in most parts waste segregation and recycling is almost non-existent...today, the preferred drug of Malayalis is alcohol, which is the biggest coontributor to violence world wide, according to UNODC, though I believe in India TV serials come a close second...don't blame the dogs...

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-62949005

'Hare adds that most wolves would have been fearful and aggressive towards humans—because that’s the way most wolves behave. But some would have been friendlier, which may have given them access to human hunter-gatherer foodstuffs..

“These wolves would have had an advantage over other wolves, and the strong selection pressure on friendliness had a whole lot of byproducts, like the physical differences we see in dogs,” he says. “This is self-domestication. We did not domesticate dogs. Dogs domesticated themselves.” '

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-accurate-is-alpha-s-theory-of-dog-domestication


'Our research demonstrated that colostrum and milk fatty acid composition and immunoglobulin concentration, as well as fatty acid profile of sows’ and piglets’ plasma, were influenced by the fatty acid composition of the maternal diets provided during late gestation and lactation. The hemp seed oil resulted in direct maternal supply with n-3 LCPUFAs, especially ALA and SDA, and piglets were able to convert these fatty acids obtained via the sow milk intake to C20:5n-3 and C22:5n-3. Furthermore, the obtained effect of 5% hemp seed oil with regard to piglets’ initial body weight and plasma glucose level is an interesting topic for further research, i.e., the capability of hemp seed oil to benefit piglets during early life'
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7079394/
 

 
'While we remain a long way from using cannabis products for production or veterinary purposes in food animals, the potential for several applications intrigues veterinarians and producers, especially as more state and federal agencies loosen restrictions on production of marijuana and its non-psychoactive cousin hemp.'
https://www.bovinevetonline.com/article/cannabis-veterinary-medicine


'The most common conditions for which CBD was either discussed or recommended were pain management, anxiety, seizures and storm or fireworks phobias, according to the survey.'
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/veterinarians-want-marijuana-laws-loosened-for-pets-and-humans-survey-finds/


Understanding ganja through man and other animals...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986896/


'As cattle feed, scientists believe hemp can benefit health and increase performance. Hemp seed, for instance, is high in much-desired fatty acids, such as Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9 and GLA. It is also very high in proteins, which contain every amino acid.

Hemp seeds are also high in fiber, aiding an animal’s digestive system. It also is a good source of minerals, such as: Copper, Iron, Boron, Zinc, Manganese, Nitrogen and Zinc.

Hemp will be given to animals in Colorado, via crushed seed meal, pellets or oil given as a supplement.'
https://www.drovers.com/article/facts-and-fiction-about-hemp-animal-feed


'“This is an area where producers are definitely curious about using these products,” Dilger says. “But we don’t have a lot of scientific information about how pigs will react to these ingredients and how pork will change as a result.”'
https://www.porkbusiness.com/article/could-cannabis-improve-pork-flavor-weed-fed-pigs-creating-stir


'Cannabidiol — CBD — edible sales stand to become a growing presence in the pet market. Products already range from traditional oil droppers to infused treats.

August 2018 figures from New Frontier Data found that hemp-derived pet supplies generated $13 million in 2017. By 2022, it's expected that this number will reach $125 million.

While dogs and cats are the focus today, horses and other mammals are potential beneficiaries of CBD as well, expanding the potential for the market.'
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/19/04/13450518/the-cbd-pet-edibles-market-shows-room-for-growth-improvement


'Rather than leaving a bird or mouse on the doorstep, the cat left a small plastic bag filled with drugs as a gift on Sunday night, prompting its owner to call police in the South Island city of Dunedin.'
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/look-what-the-cat-brought-in/article6034383.ece


'Dogs are particularly sensitive to weed — according to Hemp Industry Daily, they're up to 10 times as sensitive to THC than humans are. Dr. Ken Pawlowski, a veterinarian based in California, told the Los Angeles Times that "dogs have more cannabinoid receptors than any other animal that we know."

And while the amount of THC (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) in professionally manufactured edibles is strictly regulated in states where they're sold legally, the potency of homemade treats is a wildcard. In California, edibles can't contain more than 100mg of THC per package, and 10mg per serving.'

'(Cat parents, take note: Wismer says that felines still tend to go for straight bud.)'
https://mashable.com/article/dog-ate-marijuana-edible-overdose/#fcSUPyGFeiq3


'Alternate periods of agitation and apathy, each lasting several minutes, occurred. During the period of agitation, the cat jumped onto furniture, intensively explored the premises, walked into objects and stepped into a water bowl. In the quiet period, the cat sat in one place staring at one point and reacted poorly to external stimuli (mainly vocal; calling by the owner).'
https://actavetscand.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13028-018-0398-0


'Colorado State University emergency vet Tim Hackett sees lots of dogs who have accidentally consumed illicit drugs (or, in the case of marijuana, formerly illicit drugs). Most of the time, he says, dogs aren’t trying to get high—they just get into food or other items that their humans have left out.'
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160224-coyotes-mushrooms-drugs-high-animals-science/

 

 

' The aim of this narrative review was to explore evidence on the physiological, biochemical, and psychological effects of CBD that may be relevant to sport and/or exercise performance and to identify relevant areas for future research. Given the absence of studies directly investigating CBD and sports performance, this review draws primarily on preclinical studies involving laboratory animals and a limited number of clinical trials involving non-athlete populations.'
https://sportsmedicine-open.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40798-020-00251-0


'These insecticides are not selective poisons; they do not single out the one species of which we desire to be rid. Each of them is used for the simple reason that it is a deadly poison. It therefore poisons all life with which it comes in contact: the cat beloved of some family, the farmer's cattle, the rabbit in the field, and the horned lark out of the sky. These creatures are innocent of any harm to man. Indeed by their very existence they and their fellows make his life more pleasant. Yet he rewards them with a death that is not only sudden but horrible.' -  Silent Spring, Rachel Carson, 1962


'It would seem that junk is the only habit-forming drug. Cats cannot be addicted to morphine, as they react to an injection of morphine with acute delirium. Cats have a relatively small quantity of histamine in the blood stream. It would seem that histamine is the defense against morphine, and that cats, lacking this defense, cannot tolerate morphine. Perhaps the mechanism of withdrawal is this: Histamine is produced by the body as a defense against morphine during the period of addiction. When the drug is withdrawn, the body continues to produce histamine.'
- Junky, William S Burroughs, 1977, originally published in 1953