Using Cannabis To Help You Sleep: Heightened Frequency of Medical Cannabis Use among Those with PTSD Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, Kimberly A. Babson, and Ryan Vandrey Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2014, 136, 162–165. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.12.008 Abstract Background : The use of cannabis for medical purposes is proliferating in the U.S., and PTSD is an explicitly approved condition for accessing medical cannabis in 5 states. Prior research suggests that people with PTSD often use cannabis to help cope with their condition, and that doing so results in more frequent and problematic cannabis use patterns. Specific coping motivations, such as sleep improvement, among medical cannabis users, have not been [...]
Lire la suiteCase report : A case of β-carboline alkaloid intoxication following ingestion of Peganum harmala seed extract Giampietro Frison, Donata Favretto, Flavio Zancanaro, Giorgio Fazzin, Santo Davide Ferrara Forensic Science International, 2008, 179, e37–e43 doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.05.003 Abstract b-Carboline alkaloids harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine can stimulate the central nervous system by inhibiting the metabolism of amine neurotransmitters, or by direct interaction with specific receptors; they are found in numerous plants, including Peganum harmala, Passiflora incarnata and Banisteriopsis caapi, and in the entheogen preparation Ayahuasca, which is traditionally brewed using B. caapi to enhance the activity of amine hallucinogenic drugs. The ingestion of plant preparations containing b-carboline alkaloids may [...]
Lire la suiteSelf-reported cannabis use characteristics, patterns and helpfulness among medical cannabis users M.O. Bonn-Miller, M.T. Boden, M.M. Bucossi, K.A. Babson The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 2014, 40, (1), 23-30. doi : 10.3109/00952990.2013.821477. OBJECTIVES Little research has investigated the demographic and symptom profile of medical cannabis users in states in the USA that have legalized cannabis use. METHODS In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated the demographic profile of 217 adults currently receiving medical cannabis, as well as differences in problematic use and perceived helpfulness in terms of (i) symptoms of psychological disorders and pain, and (ii) motives for use. RESULTS Findings indicated that medical cannabis users (i) [...]
Lire la suite2-Linoleoylglycerol Is a Partial Agonist of the Human Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor that Can Suppress 2-Arachidonolyglycerol and Anandamide Activity Leanne Lu, Gareth Williams, and Patrick Doherty* Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2019 Doi : 10.1089/can.2019.0030 Abstract Introduction : The cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor and cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor are widely expressed in the body and anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are their best characterized endogenous ligands. The diacylglycerol lipases (diacylglycerol lipase alpha and diacylglycerol lipase beta) not only synthesize essentially all the 2-AG in the body but also generate other monoacylglycerols, including 2- linoleoylglycerol (2-LG). This lipid has been proposed to modulate endocannabinoid (eCB) [...]
Lire la suiteTreatment of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome with Cannabis-Based Medicine : Results from a Retrospective Analysis and Online Survey Leonie M. Milosev, Nikolas Psathakis, Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, and Kirsten R. Müller-Vahl Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2018.0050 Abstract Introduction : Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by motor and vocal tics and psychiatric comorbidities, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive behavior/disorder (OCB/OCD). From anecdotal reports and preliminary controlled studies, it is suggested that cannabis-based medicine (CBM) may improve tics and comorbidities in adults with GTS. This study was designed to further investigate efficacy and safety of [...]
Lire la suiteIn Vivo Availability of Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Levels in Patients With First-Episode Psychosis Faith Borgan, Heikki Laurikainen, Mattia Veronese, Tiago Reis Marques, Merja Haaparanta-Solin, Olof Solin, Tarik Dahoun, Maria Rogdaki, Raimo KR Salokangas, Max Karukivi, Marta Di Forti, Federico Turkheimer, Jarmo Hietala, Oliver Howes for the METSY Group JAMA Psychiatry, 2019. doi : 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.1427 IMPORTANCE Experimental and epidemiological studies implicate the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) in the pathophysiology of psychosis. However, whether CB1R levels are altered in the early stages of psychosis and whether they are linked to cognitive function or symptom severity remain unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate CB1R availability in first-episode psychosis (FEP) without the [...]
Lire la suiteLong-Term Effects of Cannabis on Brain Structure Giovanni Battistella, Eleonora Fornari, Jean-Marie Annoni, Haithem Chtioui, Kim Dao, Marie Fabritius, Bernard Favrat, Jean-Frederic Mall, Philippe Maeder and Christian Giroud Neuropsychopharmacology, 2014, 39, 2041–2048. doi:10.1038/npp.2014.67 Abstract The dose-dependent toxicity of the main psychoactive component of cannabis in brain regions rich in cannabinoid CB1 receptors is well known in animal studies. However, research in humans does not show common findings across studies regarding the brain regions that are affected after long-term exposure to cannabis. In the present study, we investigate (using Voxel-based Morphometry) gray matter changes in a group of regular cannabis smokers in comparison with a group of [...]
Lire la suiteCannabidiol as a potential treatment for psychosis Cathy Davies and Sagnik Bhattacharyya Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 2019, Vol. 9, 1–16 https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2045125319881916 Abstract : Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia are heterogeneous and often debilitating conditions that contribute substantially to the global burden of disease. The introduction of dopamine D2 receptor antagonists in the 1950s revolutionised the treatment of psychotic disorders and they remain the mainstay of our treatment arsenal for psychosis. However, traditional antipsychotics are associated with a number of side effects and a significant proportion of patients do not achieve an adequate remission of symptoms. There is therefore a need for novel interventions, particularly those with a non-D2 antagonist mechanism of [...]
Lire la suiteDrugs, Religion, and Cultural Heritage : An Analysis of the Public Policies Regarding the Use of Ayahuasca in Brazil Henrique Fernandes Antunes The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society, 2018, Volume #, Issue #, http://doi.org/###################### Abstract : In 1985, ayahuasca was banned for a short period of time by the Federal Council of Drugs (CONFEN). After more than two decades of debates and public policies, the Brazilian government consolidated the regulation of ayahuasca consumption for religious purposes and recognized ayahuasca groups as legitimate religions and part of the cultural heritage of the Amazon region. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that [...]
Lire la suiteEmerging from the dark side : new therapeutic applications of scheduled psychoactive substances Edward James, Thomas L. Robertshaw & Andrew D. Westwell Future medicinal chemistry, February 2019 Doi : 10.4155/fmc-2018-0447 Keywords : harm reduction • healthcare • MDMA • positive psychology • psilocybin • psychoactive • psychotherapy The discovery and development of new medicines occupies years of painstaking and expensive scientific work, with multidisciplinary teams working together in the hope of developing a new chemical entity that outperforms the current standard of care within the chosen disease setting. Once optimized in the laboratory and achieving acceptable regulatory preclinical benchmarks, years of clinical evaluation are required [...]
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