Cannabis and Depression

Depression is one of the key challenges facing the world today, especially youth and young adults. Generally the young are more susceptible to depression since their minds have not yet been strengthened enough to face the storms of the world. As one gets older, and more mature in the mind, the ability to weather these storms increases. When the rosy picture of the world that one creates in one's childhood collides with the harsh realities of the adult world, it sends many into the dark world of depression. Use of alcohol and synthetic drugs at young ages contributes to depression. The inability to match others in the pursuit of wealth and material success contributes to depression. Failed marriages and romances contribute to depression. The death of someone close contributes to depression. Isolation and loneliness contribute to depression. There are as numerous causes of depression as there are for elation. But that is how reality is. If life has its ups, then quite obviously it will have its downs. Coping with both the ups and downs, and not letting them derail oneself is the essence of survival in this world. Unfortunately, hardly anybody teaches these things. Our education systems, social structures and work cultures are all aligned to the false belief that the only way to go is up - up on the social scale, up on the economic scale, up on the popularity scale, and up on the desirability scale. This creates an individual with a one-sided persona, with inability to see the world as the infinite, wondrous and mystical spectrum it is. Most persons who slide into depression have invested all their energy on pursuing just one goal, or a narrow set of goals. They have been fed, and have bought, the delusion that success is the only worthwhile outcome in this world, and the only way to success is through the narrow path that they now pursue, and eventually fail in. To see their place in the web of life, to see the awesome workings of nature, to take pleasure in the simplest things, is something beyond their means, something that they never became aware of.

Young persons who do not know how to cope with depression reach out, if at all, to modern healthcare professionals, most of whom have reached where they are through the exact same narrow-minded pursuit of success that the patient has failed in. In cases where the depressed person does not reach out through their own initiative, they are pushed to do so by their families, the very same families who drilled in the narrow concepts of success, pursuing which led to the individual's depression in the first place. One of the most alarming things today is the fact that healthcare professionals liberally dish out dangerous synthetic pharmaceutical medicines that bring them incentives and pharma companies a whole lot of wealth. Many of them are aware of the dangerous side effects of these anti-depressants but that does not stop them from prescribing them. Obesity, addiction, insomnia, loss of appetite, and suicidal tendencies are just some of the side effects of the anti-depressants. These side effects themselves are sufficient to push a health person into depression, let alone a person who is already going through one. The success rates of anti-depressants are highly questionable but this does not stop it being prescribed. Classes of drugs, such as opioids, benzodiazepines and their precursors barbiturates, have been responsible for many more deaths through suicides than will ever be acknowledged by the medical and synthetic pharmaceutical industry.  

Cannabis as a means of treating depression is unknown in most places in the world. That is because the youth, who are the most vulnerable to depression, have been fed the myths that cannabis is a dangerous drug, that it causes insanity, that it is addictive, and so on. This prevents most persons suffering depression from using cannabis, if they can access and afford it, that is, given its prohibited status. Society would rather that the depressed person use alcohol, another leading cause of depression, and the widely available synthetic pharmaceutical drugs. Cannabis is a wonderful mood balancer. It is exhilarating, stimulating and sedative. It opens up one's senses to a whole lot of realities, expanding one's narrow focus to see the bigger picture of existence. That is why it is the world's foremost intoxicant, medicine and entheogen. Elite sportspersons, creative artists, writers and musicians, leading scientists and intellectuals, all use cannabis to stay in the zone. By the zone, I mean the place in your mind where everything is all right, and you are one with nature and existence, where the being and doing itself becomes the reward. 

Cannabis is a key medicine in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because it aids in memory extinction, i.e. the burying of bad and traumatic memories that cause one to become stressed. Cannabis is a key medicine in treating anxiety. Cannabis is a key aid in helping a person to sleep well. Cannabis increases digestion and a person's appetite for food. Stress, anxiety, indigestion, aversion to food, and insomnia, are some of the factors that not only heighten the chances of depression, but keep a person in a depressed state for long periods of time. Cannabis improves focus and concentration, enabling one to direct one's mind to the things that matter, rather than to look around to see how one measures up against somebody else, or somebody else's standards.

The Indian Hemp Drug Commission that studied cannabis usage in 19th century India, the land of ganja, had this to say about the immediate effects of cannabis consumption - 'Dr. Russell (Bengal witness No. 105), in his note furnished to Dr. Prain, gives the following effects of "doses pushed to produce a decided effect": "Mental effects appear in from three to five minutes; exhilaration and excitement of a pleasing nature: the subject talkative and merry; laughs and gesticulates; plays on imaginary musical instruments and sings; converses with imaginary persons; illusions and delusions, usually of a pleasing nature; objective of these very responsive to external impressions and suggestions; rarely quarrelsome or combative. Then ensues a condition of repose and quiet contemplation with fixed stare and immobile pupil.' In another place, the Commission reports regarding the findings of the eminent British physician of the 19th century, William O'Shaugnessy, as follows - 'As a result of several experiments on pupils at the Medical College, Calcutta, O'Shaughnessy observes: "The result of several trials was that in as small doses as 1/4 of a grain the pulse was increased in fulness and frequency; the surface of the body glowed; the appetite became extraordinary; vivid ideas crowded the brain; unusual loquacity occurred; and, with scarcely any exception, great aphrodisia was experienced."' Finally summarizing the immediate effects of cannabis consumption, the Hemp Commission writes that "Judging from the replies of several witnesses, the immediate effect of the moderate use of any of the hemp drugs on the habitual consumer is refreshing and stimulating, and alleviates fatigue, giving rise to pleasurable sensations all over the nervous system, so that the consumer is "at peace with everybody"—in a grand waking dream. He is able to concentrate his thoughts on one subject: it affords him pleasure, vigour, ready wit, capacity for hard work, and sharpness for business; it has a quieting effect on the nervous system, and removes restlessness and induces forgetfulness of mental troubles; all sorts of grotesque ideas rapidly pass through the mind, with a tendency to talk; it brightens the eyes, and, like a good cigar, gives content; the man feels jolly, sings songs, and tells good stories; it causes bravery in the brave and cowardice in the timid, and, like alcohol, brings out the real character of the man. In young men it may give rise to sensual thoughts, and aphrodisiac effects are mentioned."

In places where cannabis has been legalized for adult use, age restrictions for the purchase of cannabis from retail outlets, such as 18 or 21 years and above, are in place. Cannabis is prescribed as medicine for young children and adolescents. This more or less maps to how cannabis was used in a completely unregulated society, such as India until the 19th century when cannabis prohibition made its appearance in the world. Where cannabis has been legalized for adult recreational use, it has been found that youth usage rates have declined rather than increased, dispelling the myth that legalization will lead to increased consumption, and the ultimate downfall, of youth.

As the world plunges into increased human induced conflicts and stress, as humans invent newer ways to get depressed, as the connection between humans and nature becomes weaker, as the demands on a person to measure up to the fleeting mirages that society considers success increase, we are only heading into situations where more and more people are going to find themselves depressed. Giving ourselves the option to save ourselves through the magical natural herb, cannabis, will help us to cope with the realities of this world. The complete legalization of cannabis, so that it is available to every single person who needs it, the poorest person, the person in the remotest places on earth, the person lost at the bottom of the deepest, darkest well of despair, is one of the most urgent corrections that society must make. Otherwise, we will only see more and more people spending the rest of their lives wondering why someone close to them decided to take the most extreme step of exiting the world, and what could have been done to prevent it.

The following articles deal with the subject. Words in italics are my thoughts at the time of reading the article.

 

'Results: Medicinal cannabis use was associated with lower self-reported depression, but not anxiety, at baseline. Medicinal cannabis users also reported superior sleep, quality of life, and less pain on average. Initiation of medicinal cannabis during the follow-up period was associated with significantly decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms, an effect that was not observed in Controls that never initiated cannabis use.

Conclusions: Medicinal cannabis use may reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in clinically anxious and depressed populations. Future placebo-controlled studies are necessary to replicate these findings and to determine the route of administration, dose, and product formulation characteristics to optimize clinical outcomes.'

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.729800/full

'Results
The behavioural patterns of individual flies were significantly reduced with 0.1% CPZ treatment. In contrast, combination treatment of 1.5% HE and 0.1% CPZ significantly increased subjective daytime activity (p<0.001) and behavioural factors (p<0.001). These results correlate with increased transcript levels of dopamine (p<0.001) and serotonin (p<0.05) receptors and concentration of dopamine (p<0.05), levodopa (p<0.001), 5-HTP (p<0.05), and serotonin (p<0.001) compared to those in the control group.

Discussion and conclusions
Collectively, HE administration alleviates depression-like symptoms by modulating the circadian rhythm-related behaviours, transcript levels of neurotransmitter receptors, and neurotransmitter levels in the CPZ-induced Drosophila model. However, additional research is needed to investigate the role of HE administration in behavioural patterns, reduction of the neurotransmitter, and signalling pathways of depression in a vertebrate model system.'

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13880209.2021.1949356

 

'Responding to the study’s findings, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said, “Modern science is setting the record straight and exposing much of the ‘reefer madness’ of the past decades.

Unfortunately, many of these myths still remain prevalent in our society, and are often raised by politicians in their efforts to justify the failed policies of marijuana prohibition and stigmatization It’s is time for America to set aside these myths and adopt cannabis policies based on facts, not fears”

The study’s authors concluded: “Our findings do not support a relationship between cannabis use and reductions in motivation over time in a sample of adolescents at risk for escalation in cannabis use. … The current study contributes to the extant literature by examining these associations longitudinally in a large sample of adolescent cannabis users while controlling for important and often overlooked confounds, including sex and depression. … Future studies should continue to examine these associations longitudinally to determine whether heavier levels of cannabis use lead to reductions in motivation, and whether these reductions may be responsible for poorer educational and later life outcomes.”'

https://norml.org/blog/2021/07/20/study-cannabis-use-not-linked-to-motivation-loss/

'Researchers reported that cannabis use was not independently associated with a greater risk of suicidal thoughts at young adulthood after investigators controlled for subjects’ use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. In addition, researchers reported that adolescents who suffered from depression were more likely to use cannabis later in life, not vice-versa.

Authors concluded: “This population-based study is the first, to our knowledge, to examine the temporal relation between cannabis use, depression and suicidal ideation simultaneously over five years during adolescence. Depression (but not suicidal ideation) predicted weekly cannabis use throughout adolescence. Weekly cannabis use predicted suicidal ideation (but not depression), but this association was no longer significant after taking into account other substance use including alcohol, tobacco and other drugs consumption. … These findings highlight the importance of targeting depressive symptoms during this sensitive developmental period in an attempt to offset the potential increased use of cannabis over time.”'

https://norml.org/news/2021/07/15/study-adolescent-cannabis-use-not-independently-predictive-of-depression-suicidal-ideation

'A meta-analysis of the 26 included articles indicated that cannabinoids prevent the negative effects of chronic unpredictable stress, suggesting that the development of cannabinoid-based drugs has the potential to treat stress-related disorders such as depression.'

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/8098/

'Analysts affiliated with CB2 Insights, a chain of medical cannabis evaluation clinics operating throughout the United States, assessed data from over 61,000 patients seeking medical cannabis evaluations in 12 states over a 17-month period (November 2018 to March 2020).

Patients seeking medical cannabis authorizations were most likely to report their primarily condition to be related to chronic pain (39 percent), followed by anxiety (14 percent) and post-traumatic stress (8 percent). Patients also frequently reported suffering from comorbid conditions for which they sought relief, including insomnia and depression.'

https://norml.org/news/2021/02/11/analysis-medical-cannabis-most-commonly-recommended-for-treating-chronic-pain-conditions

'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

'A new study in the Journal of Health Economics found that the availability of “cannabis light” – flowers from high-CBD hemp plants with up to 0.6% THC – in Italy was connected to:

- An 11.5% decrease in dispensed boxes of anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications).
- A 10% reduction of dispensed sedatives.
- A 4.8% reduction of dispensed antipsychotics.

“The large-scale accessibility to the new product, which was advertised as a relaxant one, induced some patients to abandon traditional medicine to seek relief,” the authors concluded.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-light-used-in-italy-in-place-of-sedatives-antidepressants/

'Hughes said of his son’s improvement since taking cannabis: “Charlie is happier, more alert, far more vocal, constantly babbling and takes an interest in his toys. He can feed himself and loves nothing more than some rough and tumble with me. He’s come alive again.

“No one knows definitively what effect all those anti-epileptic drugs in combination with each other have on the development of the brain. If he wasn’t asleep or completely zonked out, he was just seizing. Cannabis has massively improved his general wellbeing.”

With regards to cannabis-based medicines available on the NHS for epilepsy, Nice recommends just Epidyolex for two rare syndromes of the condition. Because of European Medicines Agency recommendations, it must be taken in conjunction with Clobazam, a benzodiazepine that some parents have said can cause troubling side-effects including hallucinations and amnesia.'

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/16/parents-of-toddler-with-severe-epilepsy-seek-legal-review-of-cannabis-oil-guidelines

'Among those who acknowledged using cannabis for medical purposes, 49 percent reported doing so to treat anxiety. Forty-seven percent of respondents said that they used cannabis for insomnia, 42 percent said that they did so to treat chronic pain, and 39 percent said that cannabis eased their depression.

Respondents most preferred method of cannabis ingestion was inhalation.

Women, more frequently than men, reported using cannabis to address symptoms of post-traumatic stress, insomnia, anxiety, and migraines. Men were more likely to report using cannabis as a mood stabilizer.'

https://norml.org/news/2020/04/30/survey-cannabis-often-used-to-mitigate-symptoms-of-anxiety-insomnia-and-chronic-pain

'These findings represent part of a wider pattern of increasingly widespread adult use of prescribed medicines that are associated with problems of dependence and withdrawal. In 2019, Public Health England published a review of prescription drug dependence. As well as opioids for chronic pain, the review studied patterns of use of benzodiazepines, Z-drugs (non-benzodiazepine hypnotics), gabapentinoids and antidepressants. The review found that in 2017–18, 26% of the adult population had some exposure to these medicines including antidepressants (17% of the adult population), opioids (13%), gabapentinoids (3%), benzodiazepines (3%) and Z-drugs (2%). Long-term prescribing of these medicines was found to be widespread, with evidence of dependence and difficulties of withdrawal.'

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7167503/

'Unlike widely used anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs such as benzodiazepines and SSRIs, the acute administration of an anxiolytic dose of CBD does not appear to interfere with the sleep cycle of healthy volunteers. Future studies should address the effects of CBD on the sleep-wake cycle of patient populations as well as evaluate the chronic effects of CBD in larger samples of patients with sleep and neuropsychiatric disorders.'

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5895650/

 

'Top Trump administration officials say drug overdose deaths are surging amid the coronavirus pandemic, driven by increased substance use due to anxiety, social isolation and depression.

 A White House drug policy office analysis shows an 11.4 percent year-over-year increase in fatalities for the first four months of 2020, confirming experts’ early fears that precautions like quarantines and lockdowns combined with economic uncertainty would exacerbate the addiction crisis'

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/29/pandemic-unleashes-a-spike-in-overdose-deaths-345183

 

 'Opioid addiction, autism, general anxiety, chronic anxiety, depression and insomnia were selected Wednesday for more study as qualifying conditions for medical marijuana in Ohio.

A committee of the Ohio State Medical Board met in Columbus to select those conditions as Ohio prepares for the first sales of medical marijuana, perhaps as early as next week.'

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/01/09/ohio-study-more-ailments-medical-marijuana/2529672002/

 

'Authors further reported that cannabis therapy was associated with a reduction in subjects' use of prescription medications – a finding that is consistent with prior studies. Overall, participants discontinued taking a total of 39 prescription medicines during the study period. Patients were most likely to eliminate their use of opioids, anxiolytics, and anti-depressants after initiating cannabis therapy.

They concluded, "We found an overall improvement in the patients, including of their symptoms and medical conditions, cessation or reduction of traditional drug usage, and a general improvement in life quality. ... Overall, 39 dosages of prescription drugs were cancelled for the 19 elderly individuals included in this research, indicating that medical cannabis can be an effective treatment that also reduces environmental drug load."'

https://norml.org/news/2020/06/11/study-medical-cannabis-therapy-reduces-prescription-drug-use-among-nursing-home-patients

Methods of Consuming Cannabis or Administering as Medicine

 

Cannabis is a supreme intoxicant, medicine and entheogen. It is used widely, across geographies, age groups and genders. It is used for such diverse applications as food, beverages, cosmetics, and wellness, besides as medicine, intoxicant and enthoegen. It is used across cultures for thousands of years. One of the key reasons for all this is the manner in which it can be administered or consumed. Natural cannabis i.e. the leaves, flowers, resin and seed can be used in their natural form for any of the above purposes. Cannabis contains cannabinoids that are soluble in alcohol, fats and oils. This makes it further amenable to use by humans and other animals.

Typically, in the past until the 19th century, in India, the land of ganja,  men smoked cannabis for recreation, while men and women drank cannabis as bhang. Bhang was the crushed leaves and flowers used to make a drink, along with other ingredients. The resin was almost exclusively smoked for recreation or medicine. Seeds were ground to make flour that could be used to make breads and other food items. The flowers and leaves were added to flavor meat in cooking. The flowers and seeds were pressed to obtain oils that could be administered internally as well as externally. Medicine typically contained these oils or flowers, besides a number of other herbs, in the form of decoctions called kashayams or lehyams.

When the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1895 studied cannabis usage in India, they found that it was used in a diverse number of ways. In treatment of external diseases with the human body, cannabis smoke, poultices, balms, pastes and oils were commonly used. In treatment of internal diseases, and for intoxication, cannabis was ingested internally as smoke, sweetmeats, beverages, decoctions, as a food additive, or as a part of a medicinal preparation. Cannabis was used across all ages. For small children and infants, it was administered as medicine to calm restlessness, as anesthesia and to induce sleep. For women, of all ages, it was used to treat gender-specific diseases, and to promote gender-specific well being. Men and women of all ages consumed cannabis to relieve pain and fatigue, ward off infectious diseases, heal wounds, for intoxication, as a digestive and appetizer, as an aid for sleep, as a spiritual aid, etc. It is said that men typically took up cannabis usage from around the age of 18, while women took to it when they were in their late thirties or early forties.

The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission's report provides an idea of its versatility in reaching diseased parts of the body, internal and external, be it as leaves, flowers or resin. Bhang as a cold infusion prepared from the powdered leaves; or as a confection or "moduks" especially in the treatment of nervous debility or to treat children; as a local application in the form of poultice; and sometimes the finely-powdered leaves are used as a snuff; ganja and charas, rarely used internally, mixed with tobacco for inhalation; ganja unmixed for fumigation; seeds, rarely used as medicine, were a source of oil used as a rubefacient, as was ganja prepared with other ingredients; powdered leaves or flowers was recommended as an external application to fresh wounds and sores; and for causing granulations in the case of ulcers; a poultice of the boiled roots and leaves of cannabis was used for discussing inflammations and cure of erysipelas, and for allaying neuralgic pains; powdered leaves consumed checked diarrhea, cured the malady named pitao, and moderated excessive secretion of bile; hemp smoke, as an enema, was used to treat strangulated hernia and as a cure for hemorrhoids (piles); the leaves were used as an antidote in poisoning by orpiment; the leaves made a good snuff for deterging the brain; the juice of the leaves, applied to the head as a wash, removed dandruff and as a parasiticide; drops of the juice thrown into the ear allayed pain and destroyed worms and insects; in treatment of scabies, ganja was fried in mustard oil, and the oil applied to the sores; bhang leaves are put inside a cloth and warmed in slow fire, and used for dry fomentation; to cure itches, sometimes, ganja was used mixed with coconut oil; in orchitis, a warm bhang poultice of the dried leaves was applied on a warm fig leaf was recommended to be bandaged over the testicles; and in hydrocele a similar poultice is spread on a castor-oil leaf.

Unlike most of today's synthetic - legal and illegal - pharmaceutical medicines, alcohol and tobacco, cannabis has a safety profile that makes it truly a universal medicine or intoxicant. The probability of you overdosing on cannabis is something like 1:40,000, according to the late Harvard physician Lester Grinspoon. Compare that with the safety profile of, say, paracetamol (1:6?), alcohol (1:6-12), heroin (1:3), fentanyl (1:2). Most modern pharmaceutical medicines and alcohol will fall somewhere in these ranges. This means that you can die if you consume six paracetamol tablets at once, or have six to twelve alcohol drinks in place of one drink, etc. History is replete with cases of people who have died due to the over administration of synthetic pharmaceutical medicines, either as single medicines or as cocktails. Many times the individual has self-medicated. Many times the medical and pharmaceutical industries have wrongly administered more than the safe quantities of these synthetic medicines, or mixed dangerous combinations. Sometimes, the mode of administration of these medicines have been wrong. E.g. a medicine that should be strictly used externally has been administered intravenously. Most such cases will never come to light and the cause of death will be associated with some disease, so that the synthetic pharma industry (and the alcohol industry, for that matter) is never held responsible in anyway for the death.

The beauty of cannabis as medicine, intoxicant, wellness aid and entheogen is that human errors, in terms of the way it is administered or the amount that is administered, are greatly minimized. Even when used with a cocktail of a whole lot of other things, cannabis does not cause damage in combination, instead it dampens the toxic effects of other constituents in the cocktail. Too much cannabis will generally result in a prolonged steady high, but not one that spirals out of control after the initial take off. The landing is also almost always a smooth one, with the effects gradually wearing off after a few hours, leaving the user in a better physical and mental frame of mind. There is no adverse after effects, in terms of dependency, physical discomfort, mood changes, etc. The user, generally, can afford to experiment with various quantities and modes of intake to find out what best suits her. There is probably no known case of death due to this. With synthetic medicines or synthetic recreational drugs on the other hand, if a user veers even slightly away from the prescribed path, death is a very like outcome. With alcohol and opioids, one is likely to find oneself addicted to the drug if one ever tries to experiment with quantities, and dead if one tries to change the prescribed mode of intake. The fact that, besides humans, a whole range of animals - such as cattle, horses, elephants, goats, camels, cats and dogs, and even birds and bees consume cannabis is an indicator of how safe and natural it is.

It is interesting to note that depending on the disease to be treated, cannabis can be suitably administered. It is said that for diseases of the head and neck, smoking through inhalation is ideal. For diseases of the digestive system and internal organs, ingesting cannabis as an edible food or beverage is best suited. For external diseases, like skin diseases, inflammation, wounds, pains in muscles and bones, cannabis administered as smoke, balms, poultices, creams and oils are best suited.

We find in places that have legalized cannabis recently, initially it is the flower and resin used for smoking that is most popular. As time goes by, more and more people explore other ways to use it - as edible, beverage, cosmetic or medicine. The modern cannabis world sees innovations like vaporizers, but these essentially only take the traditional ways of consumption a step further, still using inhalation.

It is the diversity of cannabis, in terms of the ways in which it can be used, that is spawning revolutions across industries, be it the food, beverages, cosmetics and wellness, animal feed, medicine or recreation industries. This is one more reason to legalize cannabis world wide, as it has the power to change the lives of many, through the many pleasurable ways in which it can be taken in. But today cannabis sits in the UN Scheduled List as a prohibited drug, while countless extremely dangerous synthetic drugs find themselves in the Essential Medicines List. Alcohol and tobacco are, obviously, freely available everywhere. Cannabis must be treated as a herb, and made available world wide as a herb. It must not be treated like a dangerous human-made synthetic medicine, that requires all the regulation and control that most human inventions require.

The following articles, appearing in various media, deal with the subject of cannabis administration. Words in italics are my thoughts at the time of reading the article.


'Among past-year users, the proportions of medical-only, recreational-only, and dual-purpose users were 25.55%, 43.81%, and 30.64%, respectively. The most common primary methods were combustion (42.08%) and topicals (28.65%) for medical purposes and combustion (72.07%) and ingestion (15.05%) for recreational purposes. Dual-purpose users were more likely to report combustion and vaporization but less likely to report ingestion and topicals as primary methods for medical use than medical-only users (Ps<.001) and more likely to report combustion and topicals but less likely to report ingestion as primary methods for recreational use than recreational-only users (Ps<.041). A higher proportion of dual-purpose users (82.82%) used more than one method than medical-only (40.52%) and recreational-only users (63.91%) (Ps<.001). For both medical and recreational purposes, RCL states had the lowest rate of combustion and the highest rates of ingestion and topicals reported as primary methods (Ps<.033). The rate of using more than one administration method did not differ across states (Ps>.05).'

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.15342


'End-of-year data from Seattle-based cannabis analytics firm Headset shows that for all of 2020, sales of adult-use and medical edibles grew by 60% across seven state markets – to $1.23 billion in 2020 from $767 million in 2019.

That performance meant edibles outperformed the total cannabis market, which grew a hefty 54% last year.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/edibles-outperform-cannabis-industry-growth-in-2020-on-covid-spurred-sales-surge/


'All age groups reported herbal cannabis as “their most commonly used product” – a finding that is consistent with prior studies. Over 55 percent of respondents also reported having consumed edible cannabis products. Younger age groups were far more likely than older respondents to report consuming cannabis concentrates and ingesting cannabis products via a vaporizer (both dry vaporizers and vape pens). The use of tinctures and topicals varied little by age, though they were among the least popular products ranked by respondents. Those ages 65 or older were more likely to consume cannabis flower than any other form of the substance.'

https://norml.org/news/2021/01/14/study-herbal-cannabis-most-popular-method-of-ingestion-across-all-age-groups


'The world of edible cannabis has seen a lot of innovation over the years. What started as being all about weed brownies, homemade cookies, and rice krispies treats has moved toward a focus on mints, tarts, and candies. There are even novelty edibles like beef jerky and potato chips.

But one type of edible has risen to the top of every legal market’s charts: gummies. What is it about these little weed chewables that makes them such a hot commodity? '

https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/why-are-gummies-most-popular-weed-edible


'Sales of marijuana concentrates shot up more than 40% last year and accounted for a larger share of the overall cannabis market, as consumers became more comfortable with the intricate process of dabbing and new technology has made the products easier to use.

In addition, some consumers are moving away from vape products because of respiratory-related health concerns and turning to concentrates such as wax, hash and shatter, according to industry insiders.

Meanwhile, the wholesale price of concentrates – which deliver a stronger dose of THC than other products such as flower – is rising in the face of the increased demand.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-concentrate-sales-up-40-percent-as-more-consumers-turn-to-the-product-category/


'Topicals are a sliver of the overall cannabis market, but around Valentine’s Day, when many couples try to spice up their sex lives, the product category rides Cupid’s arrow to higher sales.

Edibles and beverages enjoy increased sales, too, according to Seattle-based data analytics firm Headset.

Sales of topicals around the 2020 Valentine’s Day holiday – including massage oils, bath salts and lube products – were up more than 20% over the previous four-week period, according to Headset.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-topicals-make-big-gains-around-valentines-day-as-do-beverages-edibles/


'Sales of cannabis pre-rolls surged nearly 50% last year in key recreational markets, defying expectations that the often-shared product would suffer during a global pandemic caused by a respiratory-related virus.

Pre-rolls have become the second-fastest-growing product category as cannabis consumers shop for value products and enjoy the convenience of the prepackaged good.

Pre-roll is the commonly used industry term for a professionally rolled marijuana cigarette, otherwise known as a joint.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/sales-of-cannabis-pre-rolls-up-nearly-50-in-2020-despite-pandemic/


'Results:
By 1 hour postconsumption, 96.4% of people had experienced symptom relief with an average symptom intensity reduction of -3.85 points on a 0 to 10 visual analog scale (SD=2.45, d=1.85, P<0.001). Symptom relief was statistically significant at 5 minutes and increased with time. Among product characteristics, flower and concentrates yielded the strongest, yet similar results; products labeled as Cannabis indica underperformed those labeled as Cannabis sativa or hybrid; and joints were associated with greater symptom relief than pipes or vaporizers. In sessions using flower, higher tetrahydrocannbinol and lower cannabidiol were generally associated with greater symptom relief (eg, within 5 min).'

https://journals.lww.com/jcge/Abstract/9000/The_Effectiveness_of_Common_Cannabis_Products_for.97442.aspx


'Coming out of the fog of “vape gate” in 2019 and into a lung-centered pandemic in 2020, it’s safe to say there has been a cloud of misinformation floating about. But what are the real risks of vaping cannabis?

“When that crisis hit with vaping, a lot of people did not know that it actually came from the illicit market where they did not have quality control measures,” explains Dr. Chanda Macias, MBA, PhD, and CEO of Ilera Holistic Healthcare. “With that, several state governments including Maryland, Virginia, and a lot of other places shut down vaporizing period. Then they lifted up the ban, because they realized those cases were happening more in illicit markets. Can we do better with it? Yes, that’s where we come in looking at licensed open markets. Those who want to participate in the cannabis industry can do so, but do so under total quality control measures.”'

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lindseybartlett/2021/04/28/vaping-is-still-a-less-harmful-consumption-method-than-smoking/


'Cannabis-infused butter (cannabutter) is one of the simplest and most common ways to make infused cannabis edibles. However, making infused butter can be a little bit tricky. In order to activate its psychoactive potential, the flower must be heated slowly at a low temperature. This recipe will first guide you through this process–called decarboxylation–before walking you through a step-by-step guide to infusing butter.'

https://www.leafly.com/news/lifestyle/recipe-how-to-make-basic-cannabutter


'Cannabis vaporizers and pre-packaged cartridges continue to grow in popularity, with sales estimated to grow nearly 50% from 2017 to 2018. Vaping delivers a different experience than smoking a joint, but it’s not easy to quantify that difference. Recently, though, scientists have looked into the question and found that vaping actually packs a more powerful punch than the traditional joint.

According to a recent JAMA study that examined cannabis consumption in infrequent consumers, people who vaporized cannabis flower experienced more pronounced effects than those who smoked the same dose. Effects increased along with the dose administered, suggesting that vaporized flower should be approached with a more conservative dosing strategy than smoked flower, especially for infrequent consumers.'

https://www.leafly.com/news/health/which-is-more-potent-vaping-cannabis-or-smoking-a-joint


'I noticed a few other things. In addition to my perma-grin, the pain in my hips from the previous day’s workout was gone. The tension in my neck and shoulders from sitting at a computer for most of the day was nowhere to be found. While 10 mg might have just taken the edge off, 100 had me feeling as light as a feather.

When the time to sleep finally came, I clocked 10 hours of shuteye, something I haven’t done in years. No cold sweats, no meltdowns, no emergency room visits—just relaxation, a quiet mind, and a seriously deep rest.'

https://www.leafly.com/news/health/i-ate-10-times-more-thc-than-i-planned-heres-what-happened


'A team of investigators affiliated with Washington State University assessed the effects of cannabis inhalation on self-reported pain severity in a cohort of patients suffering from various pain conditions, including muscle pain, nerve pain, and joint pain. Study participants self-administered cannabis at home and reported symptom changes in real time on a mobile software application.

Authors reported that subjects’ perceptions of their pain severity fell nearly 50 percent following cannabis inhalation. That finding is consistent with previous data using similar methods which concluded that pain patients, on average, reported “a three-point drop in pain suffering on a zero-to-10 point scale immediately following cannabis consumption.”'

https://norml.org/news/2021/05/27/inhaled-cannabis-associated-with-significant-reductions-in-self-reported-pain-severity


'A majority of seniors prescribed oral THC (dronabinol) for pain management report that it provides them with symptomatic improvements, according to data published in the journal of the German Medical Association.

Researchers assessed the safety and efficacy of dronabinol in 1,515 pain patients ages 75 or older. Nearly six-out-of-ten subjects reported improvements in their symptoms following cannabinoid therapy, with 22 percent of patients reporting that their condition was “notably improved.”'

https://norml.org/news/2021/06/03/analysis-oral-thc-administration-associated-with-pain-mitigation-in-elderly-patients


'Fruit flavors dominate sales of THC-infused cannabis edibles, accounting for more than three-quarters of all edibles sales in five Western states: California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Those sales were driven mostly by gummies, which account for more than 83% of the market share for the category.

The dominance of fruit-based products provides a tough hill to climb for manufacturers introducing non-fruit flavors.

But an MJBizDaily analysis of adult-use retail data provided by Seattle-based analytics company Headset shows opportunities for retailers and manufacturers with unique or exotic fruit flavors that have low competition and higher-than-average sales.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/fruit-flavors-dominate-sales-of-adult-use-thc-infused-edibles/


'Diffusion cools and purifies smoke by increasing the surface area of the smoke exposed to water. Thousands of smoke bubbles have much more surface area than one big smoke bubble.

Cooled, purified smoke can be inhaled in greater amounts than hot, ashy smoke, so a diffuser can enable larger inhalations and potentially higher doses of THC. However, water purification with diffusion not only reduces temperature and ash volume, but THC content as well—a bong with a nice diffuser might not get you higher, but it certainly feels more gentle on the throat.'

https://www.leafly.com/learn/cannabis-glossary/diffusion


'Dabbing is the process of flash vaporizing cannabis extracts—called “dabs”—off a hot surface and inhaling for fast-acting, potent effects. In order to dab, you need to have a special attachment for your glass pipe, typically a “nail.” The nail is heated up, usually with a handheld butane torch—such as culinary torches—and cannabis oil is applied to the nail after it cools. As the oil goes up in a cloud of vapor, you inhale just as you would when hitting a pipe or bong. You can also cover the nail with a carb cap to control the hit better.

Dabs, as a noun, refer to cannabis oils and extracts that can be used in a dab rig. There are many different types of dabbable extracts including BHO, rosin, wax, and shatter. They may differ in color, consistency, potency, and texture, and are made using a variety of different extraction techniques.

Because its effects can be powerful, dabbing is a method of cannabis consumption best suited for seasoned smokers who prefer larger, more potent doses of cannabis.'

https://www.leafly.com/learn/cannabis-glossary/dabbing


'Dry herb flower vaping is probably the safest. That process gently toasts the flower and releases the plant’s resin; you burn nothing.

Vaping, because it involves a mix of oils in a sealed cartridge, comes with a higher risk because that mixture of oils may contain chemicals that are harmful to human lungs when vaporized and inhaled. We learned that the hard way in 2019 when vitamin E acetate killed more than 60 illicit market consumers and hospitalized hundreds of others.

The bottom line: Vaping can be a cleaner, healthier cannabis modality. But right now we’re in a period where inventors and vape cartridge makers are miles ahead of state health regulators. And the profit motive is a powerful one.

Robert Strongin put it this way: Vaping, in general, is safer than smoking. But it’s far more harmful when mystery additives like phytol are added to the mix. “We can make vaping more unsafe than smoking with this crazy stuff,” he said.'

https://www.leafly.com/news/health/what-is-phytol-vape-safety-investigation


'Authors concluded: “[P]articipants randomly assigned to use a cannabis concentrate self-titrated after significantly fewer puffs yet reported comparable levels of intoxication and demonstrated equivalent levels of impairment as those who inhaled the flower products. [While] there has been concern and speculation that extremely high-potency cannabis concentrates will magnify harms, …[these] results failed to support our hypothesis that concentrates would exacerbate cognitive impairments.”

The authors’ conclusions are consistent with those of prior experimental studies showing that subjects exposed to higher-potency cannabis tend to self-titrate their intake accordingly. '

https://norml.org/news/2021/07/22/study-experienced-cannabis-consumers-self-titrate-higher-potency-products


'The growth of infused products coincides with a sea change in cannabis consumer preferences: According to New Frontier Data’s latest cannabis consumer research, 51% of cannabis consumers now use both combustible and noncombustible products, and one-fifth (20%) exclusively choose noncombustible forms. Since 2018, the percentage of consumers reporting their use of edibles jumped from 35% to 54% of the demographic (a climb of 54%), while those who using topicals essentially doubled (i.e., from 9% to 17%).

The adoption of infused products has been especially pronounced in legal markets. Sixty percent of consumers in legal markets reported using edibles, compared to 49% among those living in markets without legal access. Similarly, legal-market consumers were nearly twice as likely (at 15%) to report consuming infused beverages than were those (8%) in unregulated markets.'

https://newfrontierdata.com/cannabis-insights/fueled-by-innovation-spurring-consumer-demand-infused-product-niche-riding-new-highs/


'It is believed that the word “spliff” was originally coined in the West Indies in Jamaican culture, but in this culture, a spliff is just another word for a joint. No one knows when “spliff” started to be used to refer to a joint that was rolled with both tobacco and cannabis.

But the term likely traveled to the UK from there and then the rest of Europe, where spliffs are more popular than in the US.'

https://www.leafly.com/learn/cannabis-glossary/spliff


'Oral cannabidiol (CBD) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients with Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, and tuberous sclerosis complex. The therapeutic potential of oral CBD formulations is limited by extensive first-pass hepatic metabolism. Following oral administration, the inactive metabolite blood concentration is ~40-fold higher than CBD. Inhalation bypasses the pharmacokinetic (PK) variability attributed to irregular gastrointestinal absorption and first-pass hepatic metabolism and may efficiently deliver CBD into systemic circulation. This phase 1 study compared the PK of a dry-powder inhaler (DPI) CBD formulation (10 mg; excipient containing 2.1 mg CBD) with an oral CBD solution (Epidiolex®, 50 mg) in healthy participants. Following a single dose of Epidiolex or DPI CBD (n=10 PK evaluable participants each), the maximum CBD concentration for the inhaled powder was 71-fold higher than that of Epidiolex while administering 24-fold less CBD. The mean time to reach maximum concentration was 3.8 minutes for the DPI CBD formulation compared with 122 minutes for Epidiolex. Both Epidiolex and DPI CBD were generally safe and well-tolerated. These data indicate that DPI CBD provided more rapid onset and increased bioavailability than oral CBD and support further investigations on the use of DPI CBD for acute indications.'

https://jpharmsci.org/article/S0022-3549(21)00413-5/fulltext


'The joint is one of the more iconic ways to consume cannabis, and it’s a great way to enjoy the flavor of your flower. Every cannabis smoker should learn how to roll a joint. There are countless opinions on the different ways of rolling one, but whatever you do, make sure your creation burns smoothly and evenly.'

https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/how-to-roll-a-joint


'These results suggest that dual therapy by targeting the site of injury internally with a CBD-infused medical carrier followed by systemic supplementation may offer a more effective countermeasure than systemic or implant treatment alone for the deleterious effects of penetrating head wounds.'

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014488621002521


'If you’re a frequent cannabis consumer, odds are you’ve found yourself fiending for some flower but sans a smoking device. Cue the homemade pipes or bongs.

The most famous of this breed include the apple pipe and water bottle gravity bong, but the scope of what’s possible is limited only by imagination – and luckily, cannabis consumers are creative folks. Some devices are artistic masterworks and can rival marijuana pipes on the market, while others barely get the job done, but in the sage words of one Leafly follower on Facebook, “If it works, it ain’t stupid.”'

https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/how-to-make-homemade-cannabis-pipes-bongs


'Have you ever been stuck without a pipe or papers? If you’ve got cannabis and a lighter but no way to smoke it, you should try the time-honored art of creating a homemade bowl from an apple.

The apple pipe is a simple solution and a better, more natural alternative than using an aluminum can or another makeshift device.

There are endless ways to create functional pipes from any variety of fruits and vegetables. To help you get by next time you’re in a pinch (or if you just like to MacGyver your paraphernalia), here are five quick steps to turn an apple into a smoking pipe.'

https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/how-to-make-homemade-apple-pipe


'The incredible health benefits and seemingly endless uses for cannabis are still being discovered, but one of the most prominent new trends is the emergence of cannabis-infused topicals.

Infused lotions, salves, or balms are a great item to keep on hand as they have been shown to provide immense relief from chronic or acute localized pain. Because topicals are applied directly to the skin, they won’t get you high, which means they’re a great pain reliever to use at work or during the day when you can’t responsibly consume cannabis to relieve painful symptoms.

Making your own cannabis-infused topical lotions and salves is not as difficult as you might think. If you’ve ever made cannabis-infused butter or oil, the recipe is remarkably similar and can be used in a variety of ways.'

https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/how-to-make-diy-cannabis-topicals


'Cannabis contains a multitude of different compounds. One of them, cannabidiol – a non-psychoactive substance – might counteract negative effects of delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on hippocampus-dependent memory impairment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of vaping cannabidiol on verbal episodic memory in healthy young subjects. We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover trial in 39 healthy young subjects. Participants received once a single dose of cannabidiol e-liquid (0.25 ml, 5% cannabidiol, 12.5 mg cannabidiol) and once placebo for vaping after learning 15 unrelated nouns. The primary outcome measure was the short delay verbal memory performance (number of correctly free recalled nouns) 20 min after learning. 34 participants (mean age: 22.26 [3.04]) completed all visits and entered analyses (17 received cannabidiol and 17 received placebo first). Cannabidiol enhanced verbal episodic memory performance (placebo: 7.03 [2.34]; cannabidiol 7.71 [2.48]; adjusted group difference 0.68, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.35; R2ß = .028, p = .048). Importantly, we did not detect medication effects on secondary outcome measures attention or working memory performance, suggesting that CBD has no negative impact on these basic cognitive functions. The results are in line with the idea that vaping cannabidiol interacts with the central endocannabinoid system and is capable to modulate memory processes, a phenomenon with possible therapeutic potential. Further studies are needed to investigate optimal dose-response and time-response relationships.'

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002239562100546X


'“Already vaped bud,” or AVB for short, is the brown, crispy flower that’s left over after vaping cannabis. Although much of the THC in cannabis will be vaporized, the flower isn’t turned to ash (unlike smoking) and retains some of its cannabinoid content. That means it can be used twice, if you know how.

Now, not all AVB is created equal. If you have that vaporizer blasting at a high temperature, it’s unlikely that your AVB will have much left to give. That said, if you hit the sweet spot, and vape with convection heating at around 315-440°F, you’ll be surprised by how much potency can still be gleaned from your leftover flower. Luckily, this is around the temperature you should be vaping at anyway to avoid combustion.'

https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/how-to-use-avb-marijuana


'Now, the experienced cannabis connoisseurs are paying top dollar for live resin and hash-made edibles.

“The idea is to get the more true-to-flower experience,” Mograbi said.'

https://mjbizdaily.com/marijuana-edibles-makers-revamp-product-labels-to-attract-newer-consumers/


'The twice-daily use of topical CBD is well-tolerated and alleviates chronic pain in former elite-level (professional) athletes, according to observational data published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Researchers with Louisiana State University assessed the safety and efficacy of a proprietary topical CBD product in a cohort of former athletes suffering from chronic pain. Study subjects took 10mg of CBD twice daily via a controlled dispenser for six weeks.

Patients reported significant decreases in pain and improvements in their quality of life during the course of the study. CBD treatment was well-tolerated and only minor adverse effects (e.g., skin dryness) were reported.

Authors concluded: “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study testing the efficacy of CBD treatment on elite athletes. … The current findings support the continued development of topical CBD with all participants reporting relief from pain and almost all participants seeing a decrease in disability related to pain during the 6-week study period.”'

https://norml.org/news/2023/04/20/study-topical-application-of-cbd-provides-significant-relief-from-pain-in-former-elite-level-athletes/