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CBD 7/29/2016

CBD: Everything You Need To Know About Cannabidiol

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CBD, short for cannabidiol, has amazed the world over the past few years. This miracle compound has stopped epileptic seizures, calmed psychotic patients, and soothes those in chronic pain. But, what is it and how does it work? How is it different from THC? These are great questions, and everyone should know the answer. To help you become more familiar with the cannabinoid here is everything you need to know about CBD. 

The CBD movement

Before she was five years old, Charlotte Figi stopped laughing.

While the average child laughs around 300 times a day, Charlotte temporarily lost her ability to communicate. She has a rare and severe form of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome.

Dravet syndrome affects roughly 1 in 30,000 infants around the globe. Though most Dravet patients begin their lives as healthy children, development quickly begins to regress after the first few months.  Intense seizures overtake children as young as three months old. These seizures cause them to lose consciousness and convulse for up to a few hours at a time.

The Figi’s were desperate to find relief for their daughter after years of rushed trips to the ER. The dealt with complications from experimental medications and being told that they’ve reached “the end of the line”. They finally made the decision that would ultimately spur a movement and, more importantly, bring their daughter back to life.

The Figi’s decided to treat their daughter with cannabidiol (CBD), one of the primary compounds found in the marijuana plant.

What is cannabidiol (CBD)?


 the most prevalent chemical compounds found inside the resin glands (trichomes) of the female cannabis plant. These chemical compounds are known as cannabinoids, or substrates that bind to special receptors on your cells. These cell receptors make up a larger endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system is a vast network of cell receptor proteins with many functions. Certain receptors are heavily concentrated in the central nervous system. But, others are found all over the body. They’re in your skin, digestive tract, and even in your reproductive organs. The endocannabinoid system helps control everything from mood, cognition, movement, appetite, immune response, sleep, ovulation, and sperm development.

The human body produces compounds similar to those in the cannabis plant, called endocannabinoids. Molecules found on the herb are technically called phytocannabinoids. Like CBD’s more famous relative, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol is just one of 85+ phytocannabinoids found in the marijuana plant. Very unlike THC, however, CBD is non-psychoactive.

Yep, that’s right. CBD cannot get you “high” or “stoned” in the way that THC does. While CBD still has an effect on your body, consuming CBD by itself isn’t going to send you on the cerebral adventure associated with THC. For decades, medical professionals and the general public overlooked CBD because marijuana’s psychoactive effects took center stage.

CBD: Underappreciated for too long


When Paige and Matt Figi first began their search for non-psychoactive cannabis in Colorado, they fell upon some tough luck. Since the 1980s, marijuana breeders have had one major goal: creating the most potent, psychoactive cannabis out there.

The competition is tough. After nearly three decades of rising demands for psychoactive, it’s not uncommon to walk into a dispensary today and find cannabis with THC content over 20%. Focusing on THC content alone meant growers selectively began to eliminate overlooked CBD from the mixture, making access nearly impossible for anyone hoping to experiment with CBD as medicine.

Fortunately for children like Charlotte, one Colorado family was ahead of the curve. The Stanley Brothers had been developing exactly the plant the Figi’s had been searching for: a strain high in CBD and low in THC.

Before making the final decision to try CBD as a treatment, Charlotte was having 300 grand mal seizures a week, one every 15 minutes.

After adding CBD oil to her daily routine? CBD kept Charlotte’s seizures at bay for an entire week.

The Figi’s were astonished. Paige Figi tells reporters:

I didn’t hear her laugh for six months. I didn’t hear her voice at all, just her crying. I can’t imagine that I would be watching her making these gains that she’s making, doing the things that she’s doing (without the medical marijuana). I don’t take it for granted. Every day is a blessing.

CNN first aired Charlotte’s story in 2013. Since then, CBD has been making headlines all over the world. Families began relocating to Denver to find medical cannabis for their sick children.  Even states that once seemed centuries away from changing their cannabis policy began to introduce pro-CBD legislative initiatives.

Now, high-CBD strains can be found at nearly every medical cannabis dispensary in medical states. All thanks to the Stanley Brothers and the Figis for sharing their incredible story.

How does CBD work?


In general, far more marijuana research is needed to figure out just what effect this herb has on our bodies. But, to say that our understanding of CBD is “lacking” would be an understatement. We have come a long way in CBD research. There are even new pharmaceutical drugs that are nothing more than purified CBD. But, CBD is one complicated compound.

One reason why figuring out all of the ways CBD actually works is so difficult is because it’s  polypharmacological, meaning that it affects more than one aspect of our bodies at a time. In a 2013 article, authors Srinivas Reddy and Shuexing Zhang summarize that:

Polypharmacology remains to be one of the major challenges in drug development, and it opens novel avenues to rationally design next generation of more effective but less toxic therapeutic agents. – Reddy and Zhang

Simply stated, when a drug causes bodily changes on multiple different levels, it’s difficult for us to figure out exactly how these changes interact with each other. So, while we now know quite a bit about CBD, the bottom of the iceberg still awaits discovery.

The science behind CBD

THC specifically binds to the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors on your cells. CBD doesn’t bind to these receptors very well. It prefers to do something a little different. This is where things get complicated. Researchers have discovered a few ways that CBD interacts with the body, but this area of research is still fairly young. New discoveries are made each year.

Here’s a simple summary of what we currently know about CBD. The cannabinoid activates receptorssuch as vanilloid, adenosine, and serotonin receptors. Vanilloid receptors help mediate pain signals in the body. Adenosine receptors help determine your sleep-wake cycle. Caffeine, by comparison, blocks adenosine and creates a feeling of alertness. Serotonin receptors help control mood.

CBD also regulates the endocannabinoids that occur naturally in your body. It blocks a particular fatty acid known as fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). This enzyme that’s responsible for breaking down the naturally occurring endocannabinoid anandamide in your body.

Anandamide helps regulate basic functions like pleasure and reward, appetite, ovulation, memory, sleep, and pain. With nothing to break anandamide into smaller parts, CBD boosts the amount of this chemical in your system.

But that’s not all. Cannabidiol has been shown to engage with receptors that help modulate body temperature and immune function, reducing inflammation. So, it does quite a lot of different things.

CBD vs THC


There is another fascinating component to CBD. It’s what biochemists refer to as a negative modulator for THC. Meaning, CBD actually negates some of the psychoactive effects of THC. CBD may have an extremely low affinity for the CB1 receptors in the central nervous system, but the compound still can affect them. Consuming CBD actually blocks some of your brain’s CB1 receptors, meaning that THC cannot have an effect on them.

Consuming CBD actually blocks some of your brain’s CB1 receptors, meaning that THC cannot have an effect on them.

Another interesting difference between the two cannabinoids is their effect on metabolism. You’ve probably already heard of the munchies. THC is to blame for all of those late night snacks after consuming a little cannabis. CBD actually has the opposite effect. Studies have shown that CBD decreases appetite and increases satiety.

What is CBD used to treat?


The therapeutic value of CBD is almost unbelievable. For decades, we have outlawed a plant that produces what may become one of the most important medicines of the century. The polypharmacological nature of CBD means that it has an effect on a wide range of different ailments. A few of the extremely promising disorders are outlined in more detail below. However, below is a short list of some other conditions that CBD can help. For more information on these conditions, please click the links to the associated articles.

However, below is a short list of some other conditions that CBD can help. For more information on these conditions, please click the links to the associated articles.

Conditions responsive to CBD:

3 major conditions helped by CBD

1. Epileptic Disorders

As the anecdote about Charlotte Figi has hopefully made clear, the endocannabinoid system may play a key role in the future treatment of epilepsy.

One way CBD reduces seizures is through its mediation of a neurotransmitter called GABA. This neurotransmitter has calming effects, it dampens excitability in the brain. When GABA levels drop too low, you’re likely to have a seizure. CBD is a GABA uptake inhibitor, meaning that it creates a surplus of GABA in the brain.

Both THC and CBD inhibit synaptic transmission, or changes the way that neurons in your brain release and absorb other chemicals. CBD has also been found to help increase the efficacy of other common anti-epileptic drugs and is known to be neuroprotective. It helps keep brain cells healthy and reduces cell damage.

GABAs role in seizures only represents a small piece of epilepsy’s complicated puzzle. More research needs to to be done to test CBD’s efficacy in various types of epilepsy. As we learn more, additional mechanisms of action are sure to be discovered.

2. Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders


The topics of schizophrenia and psychosis have long been major points of contention in cannabis medicine. You might find it surprising, then, that CBD is anti-psychotic. A 2015 article published in Schizophrenia Research suggested that CBD’s ability to reduce the psychoactive qualities of THC may also be helpful for schizophrenia patients.

THC affects brain regions like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, leading to its psychoactive effect. These are the same brain regions that are affected by schizophrenia. CBD, however, has the exactopposite effect of THC on these exact same regions, causing many researchers to label CBD as anti-psychotic.

Coupled with traditional medication, early trials with CBD as a supplemental treatment for schizophrenia were successful with an impressive safety profile. The potent anti-inflammatory properties of CBD may also lend to its anti-psychotic properties. Psychosis has been linked to increased inflammation in the brain.

3. Depression and Anxiety


Has consuming marijuana ever made you feel more anxious? Well, the problem might be too much THC, not enough CBD. CBD and THC work opposite of each other; one a stimulating psychoactive, the other a compound that works to quell unnecessary psychoactivity.

CBD’s relationship to anandamide may play a big role in helping us understand anxiety in the future. According to a recently published New York Times editorial, patients feel less anxious when they have more anandamide in the body. Because CBD inhibits the enzyme that breaks down anandamide, it allows you to have more of this feel-good chemical floating around in your body at any given time.

CBD’s ability to increase feel-good compounds in your body make it extremely effective against depressionand anxiety. It creates a calm, subdued, pleasant sensation that lets you go about your day without a psychoactive high. Arguably, CBD is more effective at managing a wide range of mental health conditions.

THC works well for some people, but CBD provides the same results without the risk of increased anxiety.

Whole plant medicine


While CBD is a powerful medicine on its own, it’s important to note that the compound’s effects are amplified when combined with other cannabinoids. One of the biggest debates surrounding CBD deals with the recent push toward “whole plant medicine”. The idea behind whole plant medicine has to do with something known as the entourage effect.

The entourage effect is the idea that combinations of cannabinoids, like CBD and THC, work together in synergy to produce certain therapeutic effects in the body. This may explain why some epileptic patients respond well to CBD, while others respond better to THC. The entourage effect has already been used in pharmaceutical medicines. GW Pharmaceuticals’ Multiple Sclerosis (MS) drug

GW Pharmaceuticals’ Multiple Sclerosis (MS) drug Sativex, for example, contains a balanced ratio of THC to CBD. The two cannabinoids together work better at managing MS symptoms than just CBD alone.

High CBD strains


Whether you’re smoking, vaping, extracting, or making CBD-rich edibles, if you’re looking to with CBD, you’ll need to start with a high CBD Strain.

Keep in mind that when you buy high-CBD flower, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s THC-free. Many strains advertised as high-CBD still contain some psychoactive cannabinoids. So, if you’re looking to avoid psychoactives, be sure to ask your budtender or supplier for further testing information about the particular strain.

Other sources of CBD:


You don’t only have to smoke or vape high-CBD flower to access this biochemical gem. Local dispensaries and distributors typically carry extracted CBD in the forms of:

If CBD is non-psychoactive, is it still illegal?


Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes. But, it’s complicated. The Stanley Brothers are now selling CBD products online as hemp oil. It’s legal for people to buy their products without a medical marijuana authorization. Though, most high CBD strains are still illegal. Any strain that contains more than 1% THC or so can be considered psychoactive. This makes it illegal.

To provide everyone with safe, easy access to CBD, it needs to be legalized. CBD has a wide variety of medical benefits and lack of addictive potential, all plant cannabinoids fall under the same Schedule 1 Drug classification. Until this plant is either reclassified or legalized, the harsh federal restrictions on cannabis prevent adequate research on the impacts and health benefits of CBD and marijuana use.

If there’s one point to bring home in this article, it’s this: CBD has tremendous therapeutic potential. But, we need more hard-hitting research. Already, the discovery of THC and the endocannabinoid systemhas opened major doors in biochemical and psychiatric medicine. Until we address the legal and political barriers that prevent us from exploring cannabis as medicine, our opened doors will remain unexplored.

How has CBD helped you? Share your story with us on social media or in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.

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CBD 7/13/2016

CBD User's Manual

Beginner's guide to CBD Medicine
By on July 13, 2016

A Beginner's Guide to Cannabidiol & Cannabis Therapeutics

In 2009, a handful of CBD-rich cannabis strains were discovered serendipitously in Northern California, America’s cannabis breadbasket, where certified patients could access medical marijuana legally. Thus began a great laboratory experiment in democracy involving CBD-rich cannabis therapeutics. The advent of whole plant CBD-rich oil as a grassroots therapeutic option has changed the national conversation about cannabis. It’s no longer a question of whether medical marijuana works – today the key question is how to use cannabis for maximum therapeutic benefit. But most health professionals have little experience in this area. So Project CBD has created a CBD User’s Manual for patients that addresses key questions about cannabidiol and cannabis therapeutics.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol or CBD is a non-intoxicating component of the cannabis plant with enormous therapeutic potential. Although CBD doesn’t make people feel high like THC does, it’s causing quite a buzz among scientists, health professionals, and medical marijuana patients who are using CBD-rich products to treat a wide range of conditions - chronic pain, cancer, Crohn’s, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, PTSD, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, antibiotic-resistant infections, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, and more. Academic research centers in the United States and elsewhere are currently studying the effects of CBD on these and other ailments. Scientists refer to CBD as a “promiscuous” compound because it confers therapeutic benefits in many different ways while tapping into how we function physiologically and biologically on a deep level. Extensive preclinical research and some clinical studies have shown that CBD has strong anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anti-depressant, anti-psychotic, anti-tumoral, and neuroprotective qualities. Cannabidiol can change gene expression and remove beta amyloid plaque, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s, from brain cells.

Which is better CBD or THC? Cannabidiol and THC (The High Causer) are the power couple of cannabis therapeutics; they work best together. CBD and THC interact synergistically to potentiate each other’s curative qualities. CBD enhances THC’s painkilling and anticancer properties, while lessening THC’s psychoactivity. CBD can also mitigate adverse effects caused by too much THC, such as anxiety and rapid heartbeat. When both compounds are present in sufficient amounts in the same cannabis strain or product, CBD will lower the ceiling on the THC high while prolonging its duration. (“Relaxing but not intoxicating” is how one patient described CBD-rich cannabis.) CBD broadens the range of conditions treatable with cannabis, such as liver, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, which may be less responsive to THC-dominant remedies. CBD and THC both stimulate neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells, in adult mammals.

What’s the best way to take CBD? The most appropriate delivery system for CBD-rich cannabis is one that provides an optimal dose for a desired duration with few unwanted side effects. CBD-rich cannabis flower varietals for smoking or vaping are available in many medical marijuana dispensaries, but most CBD patients prefer non-inhalable products made with cannabis oil concentrates. Although banned by federal law, measurable doses of potent CBD-rich cannabis remedies are available in many non- smokable forms and can be utilized in various ways. The time of onset and duration of effect vary depending on the method of administration. CBD-rich cannabis oil products can be taken sublingually, orally (as edibles, lozenges, beverages, tinctures, and gel caps), or applied topically. Concentrated cannabis oil extracts can also be heated and inhaled with a vape pen. Inhalation is good for treating acute symptoms that require immediate attention; the effects can be felt within a minute or two and typically last for a couple of hours. The effects of orally administered CBD-rich cannabis oil can last for four hours or more, but the onset of effects is much slower (30-90 minutes) than inhalation.

Can CBD cure epilepsy? Marijuana has a rich history as a medicine for quelling seizures and convulsions going back thousands of years. In the mid-19th century, the U.S. Pharmacopeia listed cannabis tincture as a treatment for pediatric epilepsy, and subsequent scientific studies have documented the anticonvulsant effects of CBD, THC, and whole plant cannabis. CBD-dominant/low- THC cannabis strains and oil extracts can facilitate dramatic improvement in some children with intractable seizure disorders. Between 10-15 percent of severe childhood epileptics who are given CBD oil products experience a near complete cessation of seizures; most improve (with a decrease but not total elimination of seizures); and some children have worse seizures when they take CBD. Many parents of epileptic children have learned through trial and error that augmenting CBD-rich oil by adding some THC -- or better yet, THCA, the unheated, non-psychoactive form of THC that’s present in raw cannabis flowers and leaves -- helps with seizure control. The take-home message: Low-THC cannabis oil products don’t work for everyone. Patients of all ages need access to a wide spectrum of whole plant cannabis remedies, not just high CBD oil.

What is the right CBD:THC ratio for me? Cannabis therapeutics is personalized medicine. There is no single ratio or strain or product that’s right for everyone. Optimize your therapeutic use of cannabis by finding the proper combination of CBD and THC that works best for you. A person’s sensitivity to THC is a key factor in determining the appropriate ratio and dosage of CBD-rich medicine. Many people enjoy the cannabis high and can consume reasonable amounts of any cannabis product without feeling too high or dysphoric. Others find THC unpleasant. CBD can lessen or neutralize the intoxicating effects of THC. So a greater ratio of CBD-to- THC means less of a high. In some states with medical marijuana laws, cannabis oil concentrates and other products with varying ratios of CBD:THC are available so users can adjust or minimize psychoactive effects to suit their needs and sensitivities. Those who don’t like THC have the option of healing without the high by using a CBD-rich remedy with only a small amount of THC. But a low THC remedy, while not intoxicating, is not always the most effective treatment option. In essence, the goal is to administer consistent, measurable doses of a CBD-rich remedy that includes as much THC as a person is comfortable with.

Are specific CBD:THC ratios better for different conditions? Some patterns are beginning to emerge. For anxiety, depression, spasms, psychosis, and seizure disorders, many people report they do well starting with a small dose of a CBD-rich remedy with little THC. For cancer, autism, and many other diseases, some say they benefit more from a balanced ratio of CBD and THC. Extensive clinical trials conducted outside the United States have shown that a 1:1 CBD:THC ratio can be effective for neuropathic pain. Some people use cannabis products with different CBD:THC ratios at different times of the day (more CBD for sunlight hours, more THC at night). Almost any cannabis strain or product theoretically could benefit a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders because THC and other cannabis components activate the CB2 cannabinoid receptor, which regulates immune function. Note: The CBD:THC ratio in not an indication of how much CBD or THC is present in a given cannabis product or strain.

What is the optimal dosage of CBD? An effective dosage can range from as little as a few milligrams of CBD-enriched cannabis oil to a gram or more. Begin with a small dose of high CBD/low THC oil, especially if you have little or no experience with cannabis. Take a few small doses over the course of the day rather than one big dose. Use the same dose and ratio for several days. Observe the effects and if necessary adjust the ratio or amount. Don’t overdo it. Cannabis compounds have biphasic properties, which means that low and high doses of the same substance can produce opposite effects. Small doses of cannabis tend to stimulate; large doses sedate. Too much THC, while not lethal, can amplify anxiety and mood disorders. CBD has no known adverse side effects, but an excessive amount of CBD could be less effective therapeutically than a moderate dose. “Less is more” is often the case with respect to cannabis therapy.

What should one look for when choosing a CBD-rich product? Look for products with clear labels showing the quantity and ratio of CBD and THC per dose, a manufacturing date, and a batch number (for quality control). Select products with quality ingredients: No corn syrup, transfats, GMOs, artificial additives, thinning agents or preservatives. CBD-rich products should be lab tested for consistency and verified as being free of mold, bacteria, pesticides, solvent residues, and other contaminants. Best to avoid products extracted with toxic solvents like BHO, propane, hexane or other hydrocarbons. Opt for products that utilize safer extraction methods such as supercritical CO2 or food-grade ethanol.

If CBD is so good, won’t pure CBD be even better? Single-molecule CBD will inevitably become a federally approved Big Pharma medicine. Products infused with a crystalline CBD isolate, derived and extensively refined from industrial hemp, are already being marketed by unregulated internet storefronts. But single-molecule CBD is less effective therapeutically than whole plant CBD-rich oil extract. Scientific studies have established that synthetic, single-molecule CBD has a very narrow therapeutic window and requires precise, high doses for efficacy, whereas lower dose, whole-plant, CBD-rich treatment regimens are already showing efficacy for many conditions among patients in medical marijuana states. Whether synthesized in a Big Pharma lab or derived from industrial hemp, single-molecule CBD lacks critical secondary cannabinoids and other medicinal compounds found in high-resin cannabis strains. These compounds interact with CBD and THC to enhance their therapeutic benefits. Scientists call this the “entourage effect.” Numerous cannabis compounds have medicinal attributes, but the therapeutic impact of whole plant cannabis is greater than the sum of its parts.

Is there a difference between CBD derived from hemp and CBD derived frommarijuana? If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and available, look for CBD products made from high-resin cannabis (rather than low resin industrial hemp) that are sold in medical marijuana dispensaries. Hemp-derived CBD-infused products of varying quality are also available via dozens of internet storefronts. Compared to whole plant CBD-rich cannabis, industrial hemp is typically low in cannabinoid content. A huge amount of hemp is required to extract a small amount of CBD, thereby raising the risk of contaminants because hemp, a bioaccumulator, draws toxins from the soil. That’s a great feature for restoring a poisoned ecosystem, but it’s not recommended for extracting medicinal oil. Heavily refined CBD paste or terpene-free CBD powder is poor starter material for formulating CBD-rich oil products. The FDA has tested dozens of so- called CBD “hemp oil” products and found that in many cases these products contained little or no CBD. CBD-infused nutraceuticals have not been approved by the FDA as food supplements; nor are these products legal in all 50 U.S. states. By and large, however, interstate CBD commerce is tolerated by federal authorities.

Is it safe to inhale hemp CBD oil fumes from a vape pen? Many cannabis- and hemp-derived CBD vape oil products include a thinning agent, which dilutes the oil that is heated and inhaled by vape pen users. Beware of vape pen oil that contains propylene glycol. When overheated, this chemical additive produces formaldehyde, a carcinogen, as a byproduct, according to a 2015 report in the New England Journal of Medicine. Why do so many vape oil products contain this thinning agent? It’s because of the dubious quality of the extracted material from which these unregulated cannabis oil products are made.

Does CBD have any adverse side effects? What about drug interactions? CBD is a very safe substance, but patients taking other medications should check with their doctor about drug interactions, which are more likely when consuming high doses of single-molecule CBD products. At sufficient dosages, CBD will temporarily deactivate cytochrome P450 enzymes, thereby altering how we metabolize a wide range of compounds, including THC. Cytochrome P450 enzymes metabolize more than 60 percent of Big Pharma meds. CBD is a more potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 than the grapefruit compound Bergapten, so ask your doctor if grapefruit interacts with your medication. If grapefruit does, then CBD probably does, too. Patients on a CBD-rich treatment regimen should monitor changes in blood levels of prescription medications and, if need be, adjust dosage.

Will big pharmaceutical companies control the CBD market when cannabis is legalized for adult use? Only if we let them. Cannabis is a medicinal herb and it should be regulated as an herb, not as a pharmaceutical or a street drug.

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CBD 7/11/2016

ICRS 2016: Report from Bukovina

ICRS Bukovina Cannabinoid Science
By on July 05, 2016

In late June, two hundred and ninety-seven delegates from 24 countries attended the 26th annual conference of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS). This year’s meeting took place in Bukovina, a Polish retreat nestled in the picturesque foothills of the Tatra Mountains.

The four-day science symposium featured 87 oral presentations and a hundred posters covering a wide range of topics germane to cannabinoid science and medicine.

Several reports shed light on potential therapeutic applications of CBD:

  • Brain trauma. Spanish scientists report that CBD administered after a stroke reduces brain damage in animals, restores neurobehavioral performance, and prevents excitotoxicty from dopamine and serotonin release.

  • CBD protects. Combining CBD with hypothermia (cooling) is more effective than hypothermia alone in protecting the brain function of newborn mammals after hypoxia-ischemia.

  • Neuropathic pain. Temple University researchers determined that CBD and THC work synergistically for treating neuropathic pain from spinal cord injuries.

  • Cancer. Italian scientists found that a CBD-rich cannabis extract potentiated the chemotherapeutic effects of standard Big Pharma meds for prostate cancer; another Italian study showed that CBD reduces the viability of white blood cancer cells and induces cell death in multiple myeloma cell lines.

  • CBD for kids. Why do some pediatric epileptics respond remarkably well to CBD and others don’t? Douglas Smith with Medicinal Genomics spoke on genetic factors that influence the efficacy of CBD in catastrophic seizure disorders.

  • Gaba Gaba hey! One of the ways that CBD imparts an anxiolytic or anti-anxiety effect is by enhancing GABA receptor transmission, according to Australian researchers. GABA receptors are directly activated by Benzos such as Clobazam, an anti-epileptic drug. Clinical research has shown that CBD raises Clobazam blood levels in pediatric seizure cases, indicating a drug interaction.

  • CBD lowers blood pressure. Polish scientists showed that CBD relaxes human pulmonary and enteric arteries in animal models of hypertension.

  • Gut check. CBD is protective against intestinal permeability in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines (stress hormones) in the colon.

Beyond the manifold actions of CBD, numerous presentations focused on the role of the endocannabinoid system in disease pathology, including Alzheimer’s and other neurological ailments. German investigators reported that activation of the CB2 cannabinoid receptor reverses beta-amyloid-induced memory impairments and neuroinflammation. There was disagreement among scientists as to whether CB2 receptors are expressed in the brain and central nervous system under normal baseline conditions or only under conditions of duress, such as after a stroke.

A collaborative animal model study by researchers at the University of London and the University of Nottingham in the UK underscored the possibility of protecting against vascular aging by targeting the endocannabinoid system -- specifically by inhibiting the FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase) enzyme that breaks down anandamide, a key endogenous cannabinoid lipid, which activates the CB1 receptor. Less FAAH means more anandamide, and more anandamide means greater CB1 receptor signaling. But rat FAAH differs from human FAAH, and thus far synthetic FAAH-inhibitors have yet to impress in human trials.

Dale Deutsch, a biochemist and cell biologist at Stony Brook, NY, first identified FAAH as a crucial component of the endocannabionid system in 1993. The 2016 recipient of the ICRS Career Achievement Award, Deutsch discussed his latest studies on endocannabinoid reuptake, transport, and deactivation in a keynote address. His lab has identified specific fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) that transport anandamide inside the cell where it is delivered to FAAH and deactivated. Deutsch noted that CBD binds to the same FABP transport molecules, and this can impact endocannabinoid signaling. When CBD is present in sufficient amounts it will block anandamide transport and breakdown, resulting in higher endocannabinoid levels. “This may be one mechanism by which CBD works in childhood epilepsy, raising anandamide levels,” Deutsch suggested.

Anandamide is one of two main endocannabinoid compounds that are produced on demand 24/7 to maintain physiological homeostasis. The other principal endocannabinoid, known as 2AG, figures prominently in stress adaptation and resilience. Sachin Patel, winner of the 2016 ICRS Young Investigator Award, and his colleague at Vanderbilt University, Rebecca Bluett, elaborated upon the role of 2AG in regulating stress. “In most cases,” according to Patel, “endocannabinoid signaling via CB1 receptors appears to counteract acute stress responses and the adverse effects of chronic stress exposure, while functional antagonists of this system impair the ability of organisms to appropriately cope with stress.”

Ning Gu, a University of Ottawa scientist, explained that cannabinoid receptor signaling regulates how we regain consciousness as we recover from general anesthesia. Other presentations examined the impact of diet on endocannabinoid tone. Not surprisingly, the typical Western “cafeteria” diet dysregulates the gut-brain axis, which is mediated by the endocannabinoid system.

Dr. John McPartland, coauthor of a seminal paper, “Care and Feeding of the Endocannabinoid System,” talked us through a geological dreamtime expedition that traced the oldest known cannabis pollen samples, dating back 19.6 million years, to the grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. This unique, ancient botanical diverged from its cannabis/humulus prototype 27.8 million years ago, according to DNA chloroplast sequences.

Scientific research into the cannabis plant led to the discovery of a hitherto unknown biochemical communication system in the human body, the Endocannabinoid System, which plays a crucial role in regulating our physiology, mood, and everyday experience. The knowledge that there are receptors in the brain that respond pharmacologically to cannabis — and the subsequent identification of endogenous cannabinoid compounds in our own bodies that bind to these receptors — has significantly advanced our understanding of human biology, health, and disease. And it also goes a long way toward explaining why cannabis is such a diverse and effective medicine and why it is by far the most popular illicit herb on the planet.

Martin A. Lee is the director of Project CBD and the author of Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana -- Medical, Recreational and Scientific.

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