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Endometriosis, Dysmenorrhea, and the Endocannabinoid System

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Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus (called “the endometrium”), is found outside the uterus. Left untreated endometriosis induces a chronic inflammatory reaction that may result in scar tissue. It afflicts 11% of women worldwide during their reproductive years of 15 to 49. Previous studies have indicated that the endocannabinoid system may participate in the progress of endometriosis.

The symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, painful ovulation, pain during or after sexual intercourse, heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, and fatigue. Not all women experience these symptoms but if left untreated can lead to infertility.

Gender bias by both women and health care providers, due to a “normalization” of symptoms, results in a significant delay from when a woman first experiences symptoms until she eventually is diagnosed and treated.

Treatment Options for Endometriosis

Treatment includes pain killers such as nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), heating pads, birth control pills, and opiates. Often after a pregnancy, the condition is improved but not cured. Doctors in the ’60s and ’70s recommended hysterectomies. A laparoscopy can facilitate the lysis of tissue outside the uterus.

A national online survey of Australian women with endometriosis showed several self-management strategies. The most common were heat, rest, and meditation or breathing exercises. Cannabis, heat, hemp/CBD oil, and dietary changes were the most highly rated in terms of self-reported effectiveness in pain reduction. Physical interventions such as yoga/Pilates, stretching, and exercise were rated as being less effective. Adverse events were common, especially with using alcohol (53.8%) and exercise (34.2%).

Women are at higher risk for endometriosis if they have a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis, or started their periods at an early age (before age 11). Other risk factors are short monthly cycles (less than 27 days), heavy menstrual periods that last more than 7 days or are infertile. Pregnancy or breastfeeding may lower the risk.

Endometriosis and Endocannabinoid Dysfunction

Endometrial cells, like cancer cells, tenaciously refuse to die and migrate to other parts of the human organism. When functioning optimally, the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the body’s innate regulating system, should be able to cause natural cell death and prevent unwanted cell proliferation.   In the case of endometriosis cells are left to run riot

Ethan Russo, MD, suggests that a dysfunction of the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) may be the explanation. Endometriosis lesions compared to controls, were decreased in both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. This explains why THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] and potentially other components of cannabis are symptomatically helpful and also affect the actual pathological process of endometriosis.

Whole Plant Cannabis Not Isolates

Dr. Russo maintains multiple cannabinoid components of cannabis in the right preparation can treat the symptoms of endometriosis. Cannabis Corner discussed how N-Palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) a close relative of anandamide, may treat chronic pelvic pain.

Choosing the correct cannabis oil for pain is a trial-and-error experience. Previous use, tolerance, and access make titrating doses difficult. Effectiveness is related to the various modes of administering cannabis. Inhalation lasts for two hours. Oral ingestion of tinctures, capsules, or gummies has different effects and sometimes takes up to two hours to work. Gummies are usually isolates. Russo recommends whole plant cannabis. There may be instances when vaginal suppositories are more effective during menstruation while switching back to capsules, gummies, or inhaling when menses is complete.

These two companies, vetted by CannaAngel give access to high dose cannabis with a 1:1 ratio of CBD:THC. Try Synergy Wellness for suppositories. Try Firebird Touch Therapy for high dose tinctures. In suppository mode, THC is not psychoactive because it does not get metabolized by the gut. For other references, See this excellent video, or visit The Endo Monologues

Rest In Peace Raphael Mechoulam, 1930-2023

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We honor the life of Professor Raphael Mechoulam, who died in March 2023. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest scientists in the field of cannabinoid research and was an active researcher up until his death. Born in Bulgaria together with his Jewish parents, he emigrated to Israel in 1949. He obtained an MSc in biochemistry in 1952 from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and subsequently a Ph.D. in chemistry from the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, near Tel Aviv.

He then carried out postdoctoral research at the Rockefeller Institute in New York, before returning to The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1965, where he was appointed as Associate Professor in 1972 and as Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in 1975. It is at The Hebrew University where he began his prestigious cannabinoid research career.

Weed from the Police

While working as a chemist in the early 1960s at the Weizmann Institute, in Israel, Mechoulam got some weed from the Israeli police with his goal to discover and isolate what makes pot psychoactive. A medicinal chemistry professor his work laid the groundwork and got the ball rolling to prompt future breakthroughs, such as illumination into the human body’s internal cannabinoid receptors in the 1980s and ’90s. It is detailed in the 1993 academic paper titled Molecular characterization of a peripheral receptor for cannabinoids.

For nearly two decades after the identification of THC in the plant marijuana, its mechanisms of action were believed to be entirely “non-specific”. However, in the 1980s, findings obtained by several research groups suggested there was more to investigate.

Discovering The Endocannabinoid System

Mechoulam encouraged a search for a cannabinoid receptor in mammalian tissues, and this search led to the discovery of two G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors, the first (CB1) discovered between 1988 and 1990. The second (CB2) was discovered in 1993.

The evidence obtained in the late 1980s that mammalian tissues express the CB1 receptor immediately prompted searches for a chemical produced by these tissues that can activate this receptor. The race to discover such an “endocannabinoid” was won by Mechoulam. He led research that provided convincing evidence that N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine, which he and his collaborators named anandamide, after the Sanskrit word ananda or “bliss”, is an endogenously produced compound that can activate the CB1 receptor. He also discovered the endocannabinoid receptor-activating the CB2 receptor CBD or (2-arachidonoylglycerol).

Mechoulam decided to look for endocannabinoids among endogenous lipophilic compounds rather than endogenous peptides, even though certain peptides, named endorphins, had already been found. Other lipophilic endocannabinoids were also subsequently discovered. Among Raphael Mechoulam’s many other achievements are the design and synthesis of numerous important novel cannabinoids that serve as valuable experimental tools or have important therapeutic potential.

Meet EPM301

“EPM developed a method to work with the original substances of cannabis,” the Professor explained in a recent exclusive interview. “So, while everybody is discussing THC and CBD, these cannabinoids are actually a secondary substance; they only appear later in the plant.” Mechoulam’s recent revelation stems from the development of a method that allows the modification of acids in a way that keeps them stable enough to allow for their large-scale use. This opens the door for further pharmaceutical experiments, the professor explained. Dr. Mechoulam shared the history of the journey behind this revolutionary process and its significance in evolving the use of CBD as a pharmaceutical drug.

However, these cannabidiolic acids were unstable, and therefore useless in pharmaceutical drug development. Until now, that is. “Originally there is an acid that appears in the plant, and those acids are these mysterious worlds of compounds that are much more potent than cannabinoids,” he added. Strict drug laws in the United States and around the world suppressed research and kept the derivatives of cannabis off the market. Watch a video of Mechoulam on YouTube.

Register for Cannabis Education on the 1st Saturday of the Month from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Vault Dispensary Lounge. Register at Eventbrite.com

Cannabis Oil and Cancer Treatments

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Can the use of cannabis oil concomitantly with [immune checkpoint inhibitors] reduce treatment efficacy in cancers? Cancer patients are using cannabis to help manage pain, fatigue, nausea, and other side effects of chemotherapy. If you are in the cannabis industry or just around users of cannabis you most likely came across someone who told you they cured their pancreatic, breast, or prostate cancer using high-dose tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD).

It is a fact that extensive preclinical research shows that plant cannabinoids most notably, THC and CBD, produce antitumor responses in various animal models of cancer. Medical cannabis patients are consuming whole plant cannabis oil extracts (Rick Simson Oil or FECO), that include hundreds of compounds, many of which also have therapeutic properties. Individuals take titrated doses to achieve one gram of THC per day for ninety days. However, these high doses are unsustainable in most patients causing failure.

Changes in Dosing to Sustain Success

Cannabis specialists in recent years found different formulas to recommend based on weight and type of cancer. Endocrine driven cancers such as breast, ovarian, uterine, and prostate begin with high dose CBD (4:1 ratio of CBD:THC). In contrast, lung, liver, bone, brain, or skin cancers show results with high dose THC (1:4 ratio of CBD:THC). There are also many consultants who see results with a 1:1 ratio of THC:CBD. Whichever is used it is best to be under the supervision of a cannabis specialist for proper titration of doses.

Herbal Treatments for Cancer

Jonathan Treasure in his book Cannabis & Cancer likes to compare the body in herbal medicine to a garden. An ecosystem unto itself, a complex network in which the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Malfunctions can arise from stressors that, if uncorrected, lead to imbalances that manifest as patterns of disease. Fixing problems, therefore, involves adjustments to the terrain or ground much like the job of a gardener.

In terms of cancer, the host is the terrain or ground in which the tumor develops. Extending Jonathan Treasure’s horticultural theme, cancer could be likened to an invasive weed. Creating an internal “anti-cancer” garden or terrain. Herbs can be used to prevent cancer and inhibit its progression. In the case of chemotherapy killing weeds with poisons and herbicides cause collateral damage and is not necessarily the best way to clear them from a garden.

Red Flags with Cannabis and Immunotherapy

Drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors are a form of immunotherapy that has transformed the treatment of many cancers. These immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) attack specific targets and have less severe side effects. ICI are routinely administered as first-line treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. There’s been some concern that for cancer patients adding cannabis is a red flag. Since CBD regulates the immune system, the recommendation was to avoid using high doses (over 50mg/day), of cannabis.

Worries about the potential incompatibility of these two treatments stem from the fact that the cannabinoid receptor CB2 is predominately expressed by immune cells. Its activation may suppress immune function. It’s at least plausible, then, that cannabis might interfere with immunotherapy, instead of helping, it may actually hurt. However, now we know these previous studies included patients with various cancer treatment regimens who were given ICI shortly before death. Under these circumstances, the use of cannabis is often a mere surrogate for high-burden symptomatic disease.

A newly published study in the European Journal of Cancer, however, suggests there may be nothing to fear. “Our data suggest that the use of cannabis concomitantly with [immune checkpoint inhibitors] does not reduce treatment efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC),” the authors conclude. “With the increasing use of medical cannabis worldwide, this finding is of major clinical importance. But for now, at least, they may offer – as the paper’s very title suggests – a “sigh of relief” to those concerned about cannabis’ role in cancer immunotherapy.

Originally in https://coachellavalleyweekly.com/cannabis-and-immune-checkpoint-inhibitors/

Cannabinol the Darling of the Phytocannabinoids

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Dementia is defined as a group of progressive disorders that prevent individuals from independently brushing their teeth, taking a shower, or remembering their spouse’s name. Alzheimer’s (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia. An estimated 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in 2022. Seventy-three percent are age 75 or older. About 1 in 9 aged 65 and older (10.7%) has Alzheimer’s.

AD is the sixth leading cause of death more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Unfortunately, the Alzheimer’s Association and other Internet medical sites are unfamiliar with the latest research on cannabis treatment for AD and neurological diseases. Their reliance on pharmaceuticals with accompanying toxic side effects is not keeping pace with the public’s use of natural herbs. There is no cure for AD.

Researchers found that the brain cells of those with AD have abnormal protein deposits called amyloid-beta plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles. These plaques and tangles disrupt the brain cell function and cause apoptosis or cell death. Neuroinflammation is also a big part of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Pharmaceutical Research

There are four approved drugs available, for treating dementia. Three are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (rivistagmine, donepezil, and galantamine) and one is a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (memantine). The Food and Drug Administration granted conditional approval in June 2022 for a fourth drug, Aducanumab. This is the first drug to address the underlying biology of the disease. According to the FDA, Aducanumab reduces beta-amyloid plaques, which reasonably leads to a reduction in clinical decline due to AD disease. However, these drugs that directly target amyloid, or tau proteins, that damage cells, have not yielded significant clinical benefits for patients.

Cannabinoids to Treat Dementia

Research on medical cannabis has focused mainly on the major phytocannabinoids, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabinoids are known as potent anti-inflammatory compounds. CBD and THC both reduce the formation of amyloid-beta protein (G. Watt et al). However, relatively little scientific knowledge has yet been made for the minor phytocannabinoids.

Salk Institute Studies

There are many chemical pathways that lead to cell death. Research by Pamela Maher’s team, at the Salk Institute in La Jolla CA, looked at the process of oxytosis/ferroptosis. Her research was published on January 6, 2023, in  Free Radical Biology and Medicine. Oxytosis is regulated cell death induced by an antioxidant depletion molecule called, glutathione (GSH). Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death induced by potential anti-cancer drugs. There is growing evidence that oxytosis may cause AD.

Maher’s team treated nerve cells with cannabinol (CBN) and then introduced an agent to stimulate oxidative damage. They found that CBN worked by protecting mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouses, within the neurons. In damaged cells, oxidation causes the mitochondria to curl up like donuts. Treating the cells with CBN prevented the mitochondria from curling up.

To confirm the interaction between CBN and mitochondria, researchers then replicated the experiment in nerve cells that had the mitochondria removed. In these cells, CBN no longer demonstrated its protective effect. CBN is molecularly similar to THC without the psychoactive effects. THC works directly with the CB1 receptors. But CBD and CBN do not affect cell function through the CB2 receptors. Instead, they modulate the effects of cells.

Transitioning Science into Practice

Healing Essence and Synergy Wellness, produces small batches of cannabinoid isolates (CBD+ CBN) derived from natural cannabis flower, in organic sesame oil. Sesame oil is a long-chain triglyceride, that encapsulates the cannabinoids and creates a liposomal effect. This liposomal effect provides better bioavailability of cannabinoids.

The capsules enriched with CBN improve nerve health, organ function, and mood regulation. These capsules can be used for chronic conditions as well, taken every 4-6 hours, to maintain a constant dose of CBD and CBN cannabinoids in the body.

The challenge for the cannabis industry is disseminating this knowledge to other cultivators so this darling of the phytocannabinoids is available in dispensaries.

The Dark Side of Sleeping Pills

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Recent studies indicate that hypnotics (a sleep-inducing drug) might take as much as five years from the life span of the average hypnotic drug taker. Daniel F. Kripke, M.D., a Senate Emeritus in Psychiatry at UCSD, “maintains by endorsing addicting hypnotics, the FDA bumps off old folks and reduces the population. In reducing the U.S. population, hypnotics would reduce those human-made pollutants that cause global warming.”

Controlled clinical trials proved that hypnotics doubled occurrences of depressed moods and added about 44% to new infections. Hypnotic hangover causes average patients more sleepiness the next day. Pharmaceutical sleep aids are associated with increased lung and esophageal cancer, perhaps multiplying those risks several times.

Kripke’s eBooks are on the web for free: Happiness needs Bright Light and The Dark Side of Sleeping Pills Kripke demonstrates statistically significant cancer risks specifically for zolpidem and temazepam. For patients prescribed over 2-3 sleeping pills per week, there was a 35% increased risk of developing cancer within an average of 2.5 years.

A new study from Taiwan studied zolpidem, which is the most popular hypnotic in Taiwan and the United States. With over eight years of follow-up, the Taiwan authors found a considerably larger cancer hazard associated with zolpidem than the Kripke study found with shorter follow-up. There have been additional studies with similar results.

Sleeping Pills Associated with Significant Mortality Risk
Zolpidem, Temazepam, Eszopiclone, Zaleplon, Triazolam, Flurazepam, Estazolam, Quazepam, Barbiturates (esp. phenobarbital), Antihistamines, mainly diphenhydramine are all linked to mortality risk.

All approved sleeping pills can cause “hangover,” that is, they not only reduce the action potentials of our brain cells during sleep, but they can also reduce brain cell activity during the day. This can make a user sleepy, less alert, confused, and weak. Falls are much more common among elderly people who are taking hypnotics. Of patients given Lunesta, 10% had accidents as compared to 6% given a placebo.

Why is Insomnia so Hard to Treat? Sleep disorders are a symptom of many chronic diseases. There are over 80 million sleep disorders in six categories, and 18,000+ studies in Pub.Med.gov.

  • Insomnia – when one cannot fall asleep or stay asleep.
  • Sleep apnea – which involves impaired breathing while sleeping.
  • Restless leg syndrome – characterized by tingling, discomfort and even pain in the legs that increases at night and is relieved by movement.
  • Circadian rhythm disorders – when one’s internal clock is off and one’s sleep patterns are disturbed.
  • Parasomnias – which entails abnormal movements and activities while sleeping, including sleep-walking and nightmares.
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness – when an individual experiences persistent drowsiness during daylight hours from narcolepsy or another medical condition.

Given the problems with conventional sleep medications, medical scientists are exploring other ways to improve sleep by targeting the endocannabinoid system (ECS). As the primary homeostatic regulator of human physiology, the ECS plays a major role in the sleep-wake cycle and other circadian processes.

Cannabis has been used for centuries. A German researcher Bernard Fronmueller observed in 1860, of all anesthetics ever proposed, Indian hemp is the one that produces a narcotism most closely resembling natural sleep without causing any extraordinary side effects and does not kill. People with mood disorders who use cannabis have the highest rates of sleep benefits at 93%. (Babson & Bonn-Miller, 2014).

There is conflicting research on cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD). CBD has a biphasic dose response. A low dose increases wakefulness and calm. However, a high dose of CBD will act as a sleep aid. A high dose can be up to 160 mg. Cannabinol (CBN) can potentiate sleepiness when combined with THC or CBD. Melinda Misuraca gives a recipe in projectcbd.org for a one-to-one of THC and CBD that is very effective.  Her recipe is rich with ginger, passion flower, chamomile, valerian, dried hops, CA poppy, and lemon balm.

For more information on Marijuana Without the High contact me at the Vault Dispensary Lounge.
Previously published in https://coachellavalleyweekly.com/the-dark-side-of-sleeping-pills/

Has COVID Added New Believers to our Reluctant Audience

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COVID is occupying our thoughts and time in 2022, so there is barely a moment to think about anything else. Family and friend relationships were put on hold or dissolved altogether. Lost jobs due to the economy or forced inoculation of an experimental drug found anxiety, depression, and suicides increase exponentially.

Negative Effects of Lockdowns

Pathirathna, M.L. et.al. researched over 1052 studies and published his analysis in BMC Psychiatry. Eighteen of the studies showed 12,746 suicidal attempts and 33,345 suicidal deaths. The mental health impact of social distancing, COVID-19 quarantine, and financial crises due to loss of employment was associated with risk factors for suicide and/or suicidal attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Six common thematic recommendations for preventing suicidal deaths and suicide attempts are identified.

As a consequence of these behavior problems, it is no surprise the pandemic created a new set of cannabis stoners. The Covid-19 nightmare sparked a number of shake-ups to the social order – a burgeoning anti-work movement, a sharp economic swoon, and tiresome new polarities in the culture war.

Reluctant Audience Turns to Cannabis

According to the data analytics firm Headset, legal marijuana sales increased by 120% in 2020, and 61% in 2021. Fortune reported that Americans bought $18bn worth of cannabis in our first coronavirus year, $7bn more compared with 2019 transactional figures. An increasing number of people are abstaining from alcohol, which is a rebound effect from early pandemic debauchery. As we come out of this COVID nightmare I wonder what is in store for cannabis in 2023.

The year started with the promise by a Democratic Congress to pass the MORE Act (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement). This act would no longer make it a crime to be a cannabis consumer, a marijuana convict, or the expansion of the gay-market industry. The Senate did not take up the mantle. Consequently, the MORE Act went nowhere. The strategy of tacking a cannabis bill at the end of spending bills is proved to be a failure.

Research Expansion Act

What did happen however is Congress passed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act. This was a stand-alone bill introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to expand research into marijuana-derived medications. The medical community agrees that we need more research to learn about marijuana’s potential health benefits, but our federal laws today are standing in the way of us finding those answers.

This bill removes excessive barriers that make it difficult for researchers to study the effectiveness and safety of marijuana, and hopefully, give patients more treatment options. The strategy of a stand-alone cannabis bill proved successful.

Giving Compassion in 2023

Dr. Robert Malone, a famous COVID physician, reminds me of compassion in his thoughts daily on the pandemic. I look forward to his words of wisdom in my email every day. He summarizes the arc of this most disappointing of years. “The cognitive dissonance is almost overwhelming. Yet we must somehow come to terms with the profound widespread loss of integrity which has become a defining characteristic of both US and global governance (not to mention corporate media).”

He invites us to exercise compassion for our friends and family are enduring the brunt of being called crazy or conspiracy theorists. Consider the stress of being told relentlessly on TV, social media, or print media that the COVID restrictions are mitigating the spread of this deadly virus. Yet we see our athletes dropping dead on the playing field.  Our continence is frozen in place.

First, let us embrace our relationships with renewed hope notwithstanding the other person’s views pro or con regarding vaccines. I do pray that 2023 is a year of healing and renewal. Second, let us dissent without anger, discuss without ridicule, and forgive without regret our transgressions on one another while honoring the spirit of the baby Jesus’ birth.

My lectures on Marijuana Without the High will occur in a new timeframe. Join me on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 6 PM to 9 PM at the Vault Dispensary Lounge. Call 760-866-9660

The Cannabis Silent Election Effects

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The election pundits are talking about the “Dobbs effect.” The silent response by young voters, to the Supreme Court decision on abortion, turned the red tsunami into a red mirage. I am suggesting there will be a silent cannabis effect in the 2024 election. Polls conducted by Fox News of voters and non-voters showed some interesting dynamics. Let me point to some progress in the 2022 elections paving the path to reform.

Maryland

Voters opted to pass their ballot measure, with 65.5% of voters in favor. Adults in Maryland will be allowed to possess up to 1.5 ounces or two plants.

Missouri

Missouri approved a constitutional amendment with 53.1% of voters in favor of the measure. Amendment 3 “remove(s) state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing, and selling.” It also releases all incarcerated individuals, paroled individuals, and individuals on probation for any nonviolent marijuana-related crimes. Criminal records and civil records for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses will also be expunged.

Pennsylvania

A poll released in September found that two in three Pennsylvania voters say they support marijuana legalization. With a Democrat Governor and Assembly 2023 looks to be a good year for approving adult use cannabis.

South Dakota

In South Dakota, a red state, voters rejected an adult-use legalization measure with roughly 53 percent opposed and 47 percent in support. That’s not the sentiment poll respondents expressed, however, with the survey showing support at 57 percent and opposition at 43 percent.

North Dakota

The vote and poll results for North Dakota, another red state, where legalization was rejected on the ballot, are more consistent. The current ongoing ballot count shows it lost 55 percent to 45 percent, and the survey has 59 percent of respondents opposed to the reform, versus 41 percent who supported it.

Arkansas

Arkansas, a medical marijuana state, has a poll with 55 percent of voters saying they support ending prohibition and 45 percent opposing the reform. Yet in

2022 they rejected Issue 4, which would have legalized recreational cannabis for adult use. There are many ads that will become more prevalent in the 2024 elections cycle. View one here and here.

Texas

Texas, a red state, continues to reject even medical cannabis. However, voters in the cities of Denton, Killeen, San Marcos, Elgin, and Harker Heights decided ‘yes’ to cannabis measures. Specifically, the ordinances limit local law enforcement from making arrests or issuing citations for most marijuana-related violations. It also prohibits police in most circumstances from considering the odor of cannabis as a probable cause of a crime. This will have a positive impact on the almost half a million people living in these cities. Look out 2024.

Schedule VI

In October 2022, President Biden indicated an interest in marijuana reform. Schedule VI is designed to be a part of the solution. Gibson McKay is a pre-eminent political strategist, campaign authority, and government relations specialist. McKay helped defend the Arizona cannabis industry from predatory & punitive legislation since 2017. He is working with some of his clients to develop a framework for Schedule VI that protects medical cannabis patients, adult consumers, & existing cannabis businesses.

Per https://schedule6.org “Schedule VI solves a litany of problems for over three million American medical cannabis patients who cannot utilize Health Savings & Flexible Spending Accounts for their medicine. Rescheduling to state control allows veterans access to a diverse set of cannabis products to mitigate the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Registered patients who use medical cannabis shall not be subjected to additional federal taxes while maintaining their Second Amendment rights.”

Thirteen states are left with no medical or recreational cannabis use: Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

I believe if the Republican candidates in 2024 fail to talk about cannabis reform in Congress or their respective states, there may be a silent green tsunami of millennials.

The new time frame for lectures in 2023 is the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 6 PM to 9 PM at the Vault Dispensary Lounge. Call 760-866-9660

Thanksgiving Blessings and Holiday Drinking

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In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to wish all my readers a blessed, and safe Thanksgiving Day. With that in mind, I think it appropriate to discuss the partaking of alcohol during the holidays. How does cannabis affect alcohol consumption, our two favorite mind-altering drugs?

A study published in the APA PsycNet titled THC and CBD effects on alcohol use among alcohol and cannabis co-users. By Karoly H.C. et.al. reveal conflicting evidence regarding the effects of cannabis and alcohol consumption. Does cannabis enhance the effects of alcohol or inhibit the effects? Is cannabis a substitute for alcohol? Which cannabis product affects alcohol Cannabidiol (CBD) or 9-delta tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)?

This observational study took 120 cannabis and alcohol-using adults and assigned them to use one of three descriptive products: predominantly THC, predominantly CBD, or a combination of both THC and CBD as much and as often as they wished for five days. The results showed the CBD group drank fewer drinks per drinking day, had fewer alcohol use days, and less alcohol plus cannabis co-use days, compared with the other groups. The group who drank alcohol with THC and alcohol with THC+CBD showed no difference between them.

A third study from the same team published in the journal Addiction sought to assess the effects of cannabis use on the likelihood of binge drinking among ninety-six individuals undergoing treatment for alcohol use disorder. This study found Individuals drank approximately 29 percent fewer drinks and were half as likely to have a binge-drinking episode on days they used cannabis compared to days they did not.

A study recently published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found that between 2002 and 2018, cannabis use among young adults increased (without an increase in cannabis use disorder), while alcohol abstinence increased and problematic alcohol use decreased, according to survey data from 183,000 18-to-22-year-olds nationwide. A University of California in San Diego study found that adolescents who smoke marijuana may be less susceptible to brain damage from binge drinking.

Baalbek in Lebanon’s fertile Bekaa Valley is one of the world’s sweet spots for growing cannabis. This region is also known for its fine wines. It is a place where wine and hashish mix geographically as well as culturally. Large numbers of Muslims use cannabis because, unlike alcohol, it is not expressly forbidden under Koranic law. Islam is the only major religion that banned alcohol, while cannabis remained a subject of theological dispute among Muslim intellectuals.

Growing cannabis for use as an intoxicant was forbidden but growing the herb for medicinal purposes was allowed in keeping with the long tradition of cannabis therapeutics in the Middle East and North Africa. Muslim leaders recognized that hashish had important medicinal properties that were lacking in wine.

Small amounts of wine can protect against certain illnesses such as heart disease (due to resveratrol, a flavonoid compound in grape skin), excessive alcohol intake poses serious health risks. Alcohol is so pervasive and accepted in the U.S. many people do not even think of alcohol as a drug.

Heavy drinking shrinks the brain, causes painful neuropathy, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney damage, and increases the likelihood of breast cancer, colon cancer, and stomach ulcers.

According to Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana- Medical, Recreational and Scientific by Project CBD Director, Martin A. Lee, alcohol is a pivotal factor in some two-thirds of all cases of spousal abuse in the United States, implicated in more than 100,000 sexual assaults each year and 100,000 annual deaths in the United States due to drunk driving and alcohol-related violence. Worldwide, alcohol kills more than 2.5 million people annually. If drugs were classified on the basis of the harm they do, alcohol would be ranked right up there with heroin and crack cocaine, if not higher.

By the way, there is not one known death in the history of the world caused by overconsumption of cannabis. Think about that over the Thanksgiving weekend. I will count my many blessings today, as an American, I live in the most blessed county in the World.