Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: smart on 10/03/2016 21:51:17
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I would like to know if cannabis research is prohibited in universities ?
The reason I'm asking is because it seems the topic of cannabinoids based
research appears controversial. However, it seem the Internet has deep knowledge on cannabis
science. So can global decriminalization and/or legalization of cannabis promote cannabis research
in universities?
Furthermore, the neuroprotective properties of cannabis need scientific investigation. It seems a good idea to defend this purpose of cannabis as a model for future neuroprotection studies.
Identification of endocannabinoid-mediated synaptic exocytosis may also require further research. How can water/THC react inside neurons during hippocampal neurogenesis?
Are endocannabinoids involved in the processing and integration of conscious experience using the biological non-locality of water as a quantum channel ?
Regards,
tkadm30
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It is possible to do research on cannabis and cannabanoids, but at least in the US, it is very hard to get permission. There are so many different levels of government that has to sign off on the research before it can happen, and many of the agencies involved have agendas or bylaws that prohibit them from allowing any study of non-detrimental aspects of the drug. Cannabis is a Schedule 1 substance, which means it officially has no valid medicinal use (which is so silly), so any study of its medicinal value is likely to face strong criticism from the get go.
Even if one secures the money to do the study, permission to experiment on humans from the ethics review committee, and a license from the DEA to possess and deliver a Schedule 1 substance, you still have to convince the only government-approved source of cannabis for research to actually provide it (this is often the bottle neck.) In addition to severe supply constraints, this program is run by NIDA (the National Institute for Drug Abuse), which has a vested interest in keeping control of the information about cannabis and other substances. I believe that there are researchers suing to the government, and demanding either greater production of cannabis for research, or allowing researchers to grow their own, or purchase from licensed medical or recreational providers (now legal in many states, but not federally recognized).
I think there is a lot of good science that has been held back because of the difficulty of doing this research.
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I understand that the strains of cannabis available from the official US supplier bear little resemblance to the strains available "on the street". This makes it hard to measure the real impacts of consumption.
It also makes it hard to investigate the chemical ingredients separately - cannabis is a chemical soup, with different classes of chemicals having quite different effects.
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I understand that the strains of cannabis available from the official US supplier bear little resemblance to the strains available "on the street".
I'm not sure where that notion originated from, but Mahmoud A. ElSohly Ph.D. has been the chief executive of that program for many years.... and as seen on CNN's recent programs on medical marijuana.... he has access to some of the highest percentages of THC and/or CBD currently available.
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It also makes it hard to investigate the chemical ingredients separately - cannabis is a chemical soup
Having seen some of Dr. ElSohly's world-renowned chromatography/mass spectrometry skills, I'm sure he could easily deconstruct every relative chemical in marijuana - if he hasn't already.
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The global legalization of cannabis will harmonize public research into the science of medical cannabis. People suffering neurological disabilities and trauma victims (PTSD) should have easy access to the drug. Cannabis science may design new cannabinoid based medicines for neuroprotection purpose, alzheimer, autism, and epilepsy. Experimental endocannabinoid research may develop new models for Parkinson-like treatment and schizophrenia. I think the global legalization of cannabis is a major change toward a healthier and pragmatic medical philosophy!
https://www.rt.com/news/341745-medical-marijuana-germany-legalization/
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The global legalization of cannabis
I am in favor of easing the release of cannabis for placebo-controlled medical trials.
I am also in favor of releasing cannabis for cancer patients suffering severe weight loss - the cannabis-induced "munchies" might help with weight loss, and the soporific effects might help with the the stresses of treatment.
But "The global legalization of cannabis" must be taken with a big grain of salt:
- I don't know about you, but I don't want my airline pilot smoking cannabis just before takeoff.
- I don't want the vehicle drivers with whom I share the road every day smoking pot
- Routine testing of pilots, drivers, machine operators and office workers for cannabis intake will need to be globally legalized
- Smoking should be banned as a delivery mechanism, because it harms the lungs of the smoker (and anyone nearby)
- Use in alzheimers, autism and epilepsy should be permitted after efficacy and safety are demonstrated in a placebo-controlled trial
- In particular, the alleged link between marijuana use and psychotic symptoms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_and_psychosis) must be ruled out before general legalization.
In the end, it's a cost/benefit analysis. IMHO, making it impossible to run proper trials is counterproductive, because you will be forever ignorant of the costs and the benefits. But an ignorant "global legalization" is even more counterproductive. I expect that there is some happy medium in there, somewhere!
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We have conflated a few issues here...
1) Medical cannabis.
I am a firm believer that easing the restrictions on research and commercialization of medically oriented cannabis products will improve the overall well-being of all who have access to it. The science is there. There is no sense to claiming that it has no recognized medical use and therefore cannot be studied further for its potential medical benefits (as the US DEA maintains as policy currently).
2) Decriminalization of cannabis use.
The current war on drugs is a total failure (at least within the US). Each year, hundreds of thousands of people (in the US alone) are arrested for marijuana-related crimes (mostly possession). Of these, a few thousand enter the prison system, some for 20+ year sentences for nonviolent crimes. The rest are dumped back onto the streets with convictions that bar them from voting, living in subsidized housing, getting student loans, and limiting their ability to find gainful employment, as well as opening them to the possibility of losing custody of their children. And yet, drug use is at an all time high. Billions upon billions of dollars spent, millions of lives disrupted, and no measurable gain to society indicates to me that a different strategy must be taken (and not just for cannabis...)
3) Legalization of cannabis for recreational use.
Most plans to legalize recreational cannabis use in the US are similar to the structure of alcohol legalization. Recall Evan, that there is a difference between legal and controlled. Legal cannabis should still be a controlled substance, just as tobacco, alcohol and ephedrine are: with purchasing and possession limits based on age, licensing required for manufacture and distribution, DUI laws (for pilots too) and taxes to offset the medical and societal costs that might be incurred by longterm use.
It is my personal opinion that cannabis should be legalized for recreational use while most other drugs should be decriminalized, and addiction treated as a medical condition.
We should also not shy away from the potential of cannabis as well as other drugs (especially psychedelics like LSD MDMA and psilocybin) as medical treatments. I don't necessarily want people wandering around while out of their minds on psilocybin, but there are some studies that show significant promise (of its use in controlled settings) in the treatment of addiction, depression and PTSD. We shouldn't prevent that research from entering clinical phases. (I am happy to provide links to some of these articles, if you cannot find them yourselves)
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In particular, the alleged link between marijuana use and psychotic symptoms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_and_psychosis) must be ruled out before general legalization.
Cannabis is an antipsychotic. CBD based therapy can attenuate psychotic symptoms and "schizophrenia". This seems like the usual wikipedia pseudoscience voodoo. Psychotic symptoms are not caused by cannabis as far I know.
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In particular, the alleged link between marijuana use and psychotic symptoms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_and_psychosis) must be ruled out before general legalization.
Cannabis is an antipsychotic. CBD based therapy can attenuate psychotic symptoms and "schizophrenia". This seems like the usual wikipedia pseudoscience voodoo. Psychotic symptoms are not caused by cannabis as far I know.
THC can cause psychotic episodes, but CBD prevents it in most strains of cannabis. There are some varieties that have a drastic imbalance that have been linked to psychosis.
There was a recent study at Yale in which subjects who were already self-identified heavy users of cannabis were given doses of 100% THC intravenously (read about it here: http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(15)00269-3/abstract) The subjects appeared to have psychotic episodes and/or panic attacks.
The same researchers did a follow-up study showing the effects of CBD on THC-induced psychosis, but it hasn't been published yet so I don't want to spill the beans (I know one of the researchers, so I know what their results ultimately were--you all will just have to wait until it comes out!)
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There was a recent study at Yale in which subjects who were already self-identified heavy users of cannabis were given doses of 100% THC intravenously (read about it here: http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(15)00269-3/abstract) The subjects appeared to have psychotic episodes and/or panic attacks.
Schizophrenia is not induced by cannabis. Although pure THC (100%) can induce neural noise, but regular THC concentration (15%) by itself doesn't trigger psychosis. See: http://www.schres-journal.com/article/S0920-9964%2813%2900610-5/abstract
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There was a recent study at Yale in which subjects who were already self-identified heavy users of cannabis were given doses of 100% THC intravenously (read about it here: http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(15)00269-3/abstract) The subjects appeared to have psychotic episodes and/or panic attacks.
Schizophrenia is not induced by cannabis. Although pure THC (100%) can induce neural noise, but regular THC concentration (15%) by itself doesn't trigger psychosis. See: http://www.schres-journal.com/article/S0920-9964%2813%2900610-5/abstract
That is correct. As far as I know, drug-induced psychosis is temporary, and subsides as the drug is metabolized and/or excreted. I am unaware of any reliable study showing otherwise. Studies that have indicated a correlation between adolescent cannabis use and schizophrenia have not demonstrated any causal link, and it is quite likely the causality goes the other way: those at risk of developing schizophrenia being more likely to smoke marijuana at a younger age...
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Schizophrenia is not induced by cannabis.
Schizophrenia and THC-mediated acute psychotic episodes are two separate entities altogether.
THC concentration (15%) by itself doesn't trigger psychosis.
That would depend entirely on the dose, the method of application, interindividual variables ect.
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But "The global legalization of cannabis" must be taken with a big grain of salt:
I don't know about you, but I don't want my airline pilot smoking cannabis just before takeoff.
I don't want the vehicle drivers with whom I share the road every day smoking pot
Routine testing of pilots, drivers, machine operators and office workers for cannabis intake will need to be globally legalized
Not a problem, surely? Alcohol is freely available and widely consumed, but whilst there are a few incidents every day of alcohol-related accidents, they constitute a tiny fraction of the number of habitual users, and nobody has suggested the necessity for routine testing - common sense, peer pressure and the law all combine to moderate the harm. If cannabis were decriminalised I'm pretty sure its use would settle down to a minority sport and users would learn when not to drive or operate heavy machinery.
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but CBD prevents it in most strains of cannabis.
The anti-psychotic properties of CBD are irrespective of the strain.
There are some varieties that have a drastic imbalance that have been linked to psychosis.
The strain is essentially irrelevant. Any incidence of THC-induced psychosis will be contingent on:
1. Dose
2. Route of administration
3. Chronic vs acute intake
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The same researchers did a follow-up study showing the effects of CBD on THC-induced psychosis, but it hasn't been published yet so I don't want to spill the beans
This was already done circa 2006. CBD-admin counters THC-mediated psychotic episodes and diminishes the observed effects of THC as a whole.
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Schizophrenia and THC-mediated acute psychotic episodes are two separate entities altogether.
I believe oral THC administration (15%) may not induce cannabis-mediated psychosis: Pure THC (100%), intravenous, is far more likely to induce psychotic symptoms and panic episodes!
Schizophrenia is a man-made disorder to promote psychiatry as a modern science. It's a fabricated lie designed to make you believe that cannabis is causing psychosis (schizophrenia) or paranoia: I agree that THC-mediated acute psychotic episodes are different disorders than drug-induced schizophrenia.
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I believe oral THC administration (15%) may not induce cannabis-mediated psychosis:
Yes.... except it's not cannabis that can induce psychosis.... it's THC.
Pure THC (100%), intravenous, is far more likely to induce psychotic symptoms and panic episodes!
Precisely.
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Schizophrenia is a man-made disorder to promote psychiatry as a modern science. It's a fabricated lie designed to make you believe that cannabis is causing psychosis (schizophrenia) or paranoia
rofl.... So explain the mutation of the NR2A & NR2B genes in schizophrenic subjects?
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(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8jDcFC4.jpg&hash=0f9f4013b1f5362201b0c4f6647b51e8)
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rofl.... So explain the mutation of the NR2A & NR2B genes in schizophrenic subjects?
Not every schizophrenic may have this. There's no evidences from which drug-induced schizophrenia could be associated to this mutation.
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Not every schizophrenic may have this.
I thought schizophrenia was a "man-made disorder"????
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I thought schizophrenia was a "man-made disorder"????
That's precisely why schizophrenia is not a typical mental disorder. Drug-induced psychosis can be caused by many chemicals. Dopamine partial agonism may induce psychotic symptoms, parkinson, etc.
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To return to the original question, I'm quite sure that if a "reputable" company patented a synthetic cannabinoid and offered it for clinical trial, it would be accepted (with any longterm side-effects duly noted on the packet) and copied by everyone else.
But you can't patent a natural compound, so there's very little room for those companies who pay the MHRA. FDA, EU and so forth to protect their interests, to make a significant profit from herbal remedies, so any that have an intoxicant effect, or proven pharmaceutical value, are banned by law.
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That's precisely why schizophrenia is not a typical mental disorder.
You previously said schizophrenia was "man-made".... now you just stated it's a disorder. Make up your mind.
Drug-induced psychosis can be caused by many chemicals.
Do you understand the difference between a pathogenic psychological disorder vs acute psychosis? Implying that schizophrenia is not a real mental disorder is just ignorant
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I'm quite sure that if a "reputable" company patented a synthetic cannabinoid and offered it for clinical trial, it would be accepted
I highly doubt it. Synthetic cannabinoids are a legal nightmare ~ and they suck from a pharmacokinetic/dynamic perspective as well.
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but CBD prevents it in most strains of cannabis.
The anti-psychotic properties of CBD are irrespective of the strain.
The strain is essentially irrelevant.
I'm not claiming that the properties of CBD are strain-dependent. CBD is CBD. There are, however, strains of cannabis that contain essentially 0 CBD (<50 ppm) and high levels of THC (>15%), which will have a very different effect than cannabis that has 4% CBD and 12% THC...
There are some varieties that have a drastic imbalance that have been linked to psychosis.
Any incidence of THC-induced psychosis will be contingent on:
1. Dose
2. Route of administration
3. Chronic vs acute intake
yes
yes
yes
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Thanks for the clarification. I just misunderstood.
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While I understand that 15% THC content would be considered high for susceptible individuals, 15% is actually rather low these days. Medicinal-grade marijuana that you get at the local dispensery averages around 25-27% for a high.
Dr. ElSohly of the Marijuana Potency Project has chromatographic evidence of strains containing percentages as high as 37%
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tumblr.com%2Fbcbb80613f0e413ef644a31359ed8bdf%2Ftumblr_inline_mriykfmQJZ1qz4rgp.gif&hash=9ef3804082461fdaa8d64093a50ebc92)
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Do you understand the difference between a pathogenic psychological disorder vs acute psychosis? Implying that schizophrenia is not a real mental disorder is just ignorant
1. I don't think that cannabis-induced psychosis is a strong evidence that this drug could trigger schizophrenia.
2. The antipsychotic and neuroprotective properties of cannabinoids are promising candidates for schizophrenia.
3. Cannabis use produce a "buzz", not acute psychosis: CB1 receptors activation by THC is neuroprotective for neurons and induce neurogenesis.
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1. I don't think that cannabis-induced psychosis is a strong evidence that this drug could trigger schizophrenia.
Who the heck is implying that cannabis is triggering schizophrenia in people who don't already have a hereditary risk for the disorder????
2. The antipsychotic and neuroprotective properties of cannabinoids are promising candidates for schizophrenia.
I think they'll end up treating this disease with something a little more pharmacokinetically effective than cannabinoids.
3. Cannabis use produce a "buzz", not acute psychosis:
You are wrong. THC can absolutely induce acute psychosis in susceptible individuals. Do some research.
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BMC Psychiatry. 2005 Apr 1;5:17.
Two cases of "cannabis acute psychosis" following the administration of oral cannabis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1079888/
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Br J Addict. 1991 Sep;86(9):1075-81.
Cannabis psychosis following bhang ingestion.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1932878
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Schizophr Res. 2006 Dec;88(1-3):142-50. Epub 2006 Sep 26.
Disturbances of visual information processing in early states of psychosis and experimental delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol altered states of consciousness.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17005373
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THC-induced psychosis is dose-dependent. It is possible to use chronic THC administration to introspect and examine the mental states of consciousness but at 18% oral THC however it seems to me a pretty safe compound compared to atypical antipsychotics. So, acute psychosis from THC administration is unlikely and uncommon.
As for research purpose, I can understand that 100% intravenous THC may represent a safety hazard. I don't think this however should be a risk to develop pathogenic schizophrenia disorder, which is a lie fabricated by the pharmaceutical industry to dope people and childrens with synthetic drugs and antipsychotics.
The pseudoscience of cannabis-induced psychosis must stop. Cannabis research should not be prohibited based on the potential risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Consciousness introspection should be regarded as a new neuroscience field.
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THC-induced psychosis is dose-dependent.
As stated previously: Any incidence of THC-induced psychosis will be contingent on not only the dose, but the route of administration as well as chronic vs acute intake.
acute psychosis from THC administration is unlikely and uncommon.
In non-susceptible individuals.... yes
Cannabis research should not be prohibited based on the potential risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.
Where is cannabis research being "prohibited based on the potential risk of psychosis"????
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Mahmoud A. ElSohly Ph.D. has been the chief executive of that program for many years.... and as seen on CNN's recent programs on medical marijuana.... he has access to some of the highest percentages of THC and/or CBD currently available.
Apparently the problem in the USA has been that if you want Federal funding (eg through National Institutes of Health) and Federal recognition of your research, you can only obtain marijuana from a single Federally-approved farm at the University of Mississippi.
However, quite a few US states have legalized marijuana sale, and these aren't restricted to varieties supplied by that single farm.
This Federal monopoly is now going to be broken, with other marijuana suppliers now able to seek approval for use in Federally-funded medical research.
See: http://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/what-will-more-research-grade-marijuana-mean-for-medical-studies/ (4 minutes)