Cannabis is indigenous to Europe and cultivation began during the Copper or Bronze age: a probabilistic synthesis of fossil pollen studies John M. McPartland · Geoffrey W. Guy · William Hegman Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2018, 27, 635–648 Doi : 10.1007/s00334-018-0678-7 Abstract Conventional wisdom states Cannabis sativa originated in Asia and its dispersal to Europe depended upon human transport. Various Neolithic or Bronze age groups have been named as pioneer cultivators. These theses were tested by examining fossil pollen studies (FPSs), obtained from the European Pollen Database. Many FPSs report Cannabis or Humulus (C/H) with collective names (e.g. Cannabis/Humulus or Cannabaceae). To dissect these aggregate [...]
Lire la suiteChemical and Morphological Phenotypes in Breeding of Cannabis sativa L. Gianpaolo Grassi and John M. McPartland in S. Chandra et al. (eds.), Cannabis sativa L. - Botany and Biotechnology, Chapter 6, 2017, 137-160. Doi : 10.1007/978-3-319-54564-6_6 Abstract This chapter has two parts. The first part details five characters that contribute to phenotypic diversity in Cannabis. Cannabinoids can be assayed by quantity (dry weight percentage of cannabinoids in harvested material) or by quality (the THC/CBD ratio, or chemotype). Cannabinoid quality is largely genetic, possibly monogenic. We dissect the monogenic inheritance model (two alleles at a single gene locus). Essential oil is composed of volatile, aromatic terpenoids. [...]
Lire la suiteThe Cannabis sativa Versus Cannabis indica Debate : An Interview with Ethan Russo, MD Daniele Piomelli and Ethan B. Russo Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2016, Volume 1.1, 44-46. Doi : 10.1089/can.2015.29003.ebr Dr. Ethan Russo, MD, is a board-certified neurologist, psychopharmacology researcher, and Medical Director of PHYTECS, a biotechnology company researching and developing innovative approaches targeting the human endocannabinoid system. Previously, from 2003 to 2014, he served as Senior Medical Advisor and study physician to GW Pharmaceuticals for three Phase III clinical trials of Sativex for alleviation of cancer pain unresponsive to optimized opioid treatment and studies of Epidiolex for intractable epilepsy. He has held [...]
Lire la suiteThe Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: No “Strain,” No Gain Ethan B. Russo Frontiers in Plant Science, 2019, Volume 9, Article 1969, 1-8. Doi : 10.3389/fpls.2018.01969 The topic of Cannabis curries controversy in every sphere of influence, whether politics, pharmacology, applied therapeutics or even botanical taxonomy. Debate as to the speciation of Cannabis, or a lack thereof, has swirled for more than 250 years. Because all Cannabis types are eminently capable of cross-breeding to produce fertile progeny, it is unlikely that any clear winner will emerge between the “lumpers” vs. “splitters” in this taxonomical debate. This is compounded [...]
Lire la suiteFibromyalgia and the endocannabinoid system John M. McPartland in Fibromyalgia syndrome : A practitioner’s guide to treatment, chapter 11, 2010, 263-277. Doi : 10.1016/B978-0-443-06936-9.00011-1 CHAPTER CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 Cannabis and cannabinoid receptors . . 264 Endocannabinoids and their enzymes . 266 Nociception and pain . . . . . . . . . . 266 Around the edges of fibromyalgia . . . . 269 Enhancing the eCB system . . . . . . . 270 Other approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Conclusions . . . . [...]
Lire la suiteContaminants of Concern in Cannabis : Microbes, Heavy Metals and Pesticides John M. McPartland and Kevin J. McKernan in S. Chandra et al. (eds.), Cannabis sativa L. - Botany and Biotechnology, Chapter 22, 2017, 457-474. Doi : 10.1007/978-3-319-54564-6_22 Abstract Microbiological contaminants pose a potential threat to cannabis consumers. Bacteria and fungi may cause opportunistic infections in immuno-compromized individuals. Even dead organisms may trigger allergies and asthma. Toxins from microbial overloads, such as Shigla toxin and aflatoxins, may pose a problem—unlikely, but possible. The Cannabis plant hosts a robust microbiome; the identification of these organisms is underway. Cannabis bioaccumulates heavy metals in its tissues, so avidly [...]
Lire la suiteThe Genetic Structure of Marijuana and Hemp Jason Sawler, Jake M. Stout, Kyle M. Gardner, Darryl Hudson, John Vidmar, Laura Butler, Jonathan E. Page, Sean Myles PLoS ONE, 2015, 10, (8), e0133292. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0133292 Abstract Despite its cultivation as a source of food, fibre and medicine, and its global status as the most used illicit drug, the genus Cannabis has an inconclusive taxonomic organization and evolutionary history. Drug types of Cannabis (marijuana), which contain high amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are used for medical purposes and as a recreational drug. Hemp types are grown for the production of seed and fibre, and contain [...]
Lire la suiteAcute and Sustained Reductions in Loss of Meaning and Suicidal Ideation Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric and Existential Distress in Life-Threatening Cancer Stephen Ross, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, Sharon Lo, Richard J. Zeifman, Leila Ghazal, Julia Benville, Silvia Franco Corso, Christian Bjerre Real, Jeffrey Guss, Anthony Bossis, and Sarah E. Mennenga ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 2021, 4, 553−562. doi : 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00020 ABSTRACT: People with advanced cancer are at heightened risk of desire for hastened death (DHD), suicidal ideation (SI), and completed suicide. Loss of Meaning (LoM), a component of demoralization, can be elevated by a cancer diagnosis and predicts DHD and SI in this population. We completed [...]
Lire la suiteEfficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder : Prospective 12-month follow-up Natalie Gukasyan, Alan K Davis, Frederick S Barrett, Mary P Cosimano, Nathan D Sepeda, Matthew W Johnson and Roland R Griffiths Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2022, Vol. 36(2) 151–158. Doi : 10.1177/02698811211073759 Abstract Background : Preliminary data suggest that psilocybin-assisted treatment produces substantial and rapid antidepressant effects in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), but little is known about long-term outcomes. Aims : This study sought to examine the efficacy and safety of psilocybin through 12 months in participants with moderate to severe MDD who received psilocybin. Methods : This randomized, waiting-list controlled study [...]
Lire la suitePsychedelic science in post-COVID-19 psychiatry J. R. Kelly, M. T. Crockett, L. Alexander, M. Haran, A. Baker, L. Burke, C. Brennan and V. O’Keane Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2020, 1-6. doi:10.1017/ipm.2020.94 The medium- to long-term consequences of COVID-19 are not yet known, though an increase in mental health problems are pre- dicted. Multidisciplinary strategies across socio-economic and psychological levels may be needed to mitigate the mental health burden of COVID-19. Preliminary evidence from the rapidly progressing field of psychedelic science shows that psilocybin therapy offers a promising transdiagnostic treatment strategy for a range of disorders with restricted and maladaptive habitual patterns of cognition [...]
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