While we’re right about inflammation, we’re looking at the wrong place: the root of the problem actually lies in the fascia, not isolated in the joints or muscles. We then considered treatment options that only addressed these parts of the body, offering localized pain relief. We thought that if we stretch or knead muscles enough, and strengthen them through regular exercise, we can reduce inflammation and pain.
There are still some major roadblocks we have to overcome, such as the federal rescheduling of cannabis, and further education of physicians and doctors in cannabinoid therapeutics. Right now, many nurses and doctors still don’t feel confident enough to discuss cannabis with patients because of the lack of training. After all, cannabis wasn’t taught in school.
Yale University is one of the pioneering institutions in psilocybin research. So much so that they have their own multidisciplinary program dedicated to studying the effects of psychedelic agents and their therapeutic potential. They are currently running several psilocybin clinical trials, to better learn about its effects on various aspects of mental health, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic headaches, and cluster headaches,among others.
In another study, researchers in Germany found that orally administering THC was associated with improved survival times among terminally ill patients. Investigators analyzed the effects of cannabis-based medications and patient survival times among individuals registered in the Specialized Palliative Outpatient Care (SAPV) department.
There are serious, long-lasting implications for the US leaving the World Health Organization, including potential consequences for medical marijuana, the future of cannabis reform, and drug policy as a whole.
And over the last few years, MEAI is one of the most exciting drugs out there. MEAI, which is a 5-methoxy – 2-aminoindane compound, is a non-hallucinogenic, synthetic psychedelic’ has been shown to possess the potential of becoming an incredible therapeutic drug for hard-to-treat conditions including alcoholism. It was created by the Chief Scientific Officer of Clearmind Medicine, a biotech firm focused on developing psychedelic-based drugs that are aimed at solving common health issues such as alcohol use disorder, addiction, and obesity. However, their flagship treatment is focused on alcohol use disorder since it’s so common, as well as obesity.
That’s why the results of a recent study involving stressed-out mice caught the attention of the public as well as the scientific community: the mice repeatedly gravitated towards weed to relieve them of stress. They weren’t trained to do so, nor were they tasked to do so. It seemed as if the mice’s biology prompted it, as it likely found cannabinoid consumption soothing.
Another fascinating takeaway from the study: counties with medical marijuana laws saw a 15% drop in booze purchases. This is after the researchers accounted for factors that influence drinking patterns, such as employment, income, and age among others. Additionally, this study utilized Nielsen retail scanner information, which relies on hard sales data. The results are clear: marijuana is a good substitute for alcohol. And when people can legally access it, a significant portion of the population will choose it instead of alcohol.
THC has unfairly been stereotyped as a drug that causes laziness and lack of motivation. Stoners were unnecessarily referred to as couch potatoes, disengaged, and unproductive. Unfortunately, this stigma is still around despite revolutionary advancements in medicine, science, and culture.
When we encounter headlines about scromiting or cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, we should approach with caution but most importantly critical thinking. It’s spreading fast because fear will always travel faster than nuance, but the average cannabis consumer really shouldn’t be worrying so much.
