New Atlas

Science Audio available

Ancient marijuana use uncovered in 2,500-year-old tomb

Rich Haridy June 12, 2019

A study has revealed cannabis residue with high levels of THC in funerary incense burners found in western China. The discovery is the earliest evidence of marijuana being burned for its psychoactive properties, as the THC levels found were higher than what is seen in wild types of the plant.

One of the wooden burners found in the Pamir region and analyzed in the current study ...

Medical Audio available

Can medicinal cannabis help intellectually disabled children with behavioral problems?

Rich Haridy April 29, 2019

A study is underway investigating cannabis as a treatment for behavioral problems in intellectually disabled children. It's hoped the research will move into larger clinical trials following anecdotal reports that medicinal cannabis can reduce incidents of aggression and self-harm in children.

A pilot study is looking at whether CBD reduces cases of aggression and self-harm in children ...

Science Audio available

Super potent, high-THC marijuana associated with increased rates of psychosis

Rich Haridy March 20, 2019

A study examining the association between potent marijuana, frequency of use and psychosis has revealed a link between stronger marijuana and higher incidences of psychotic disorders. The research suggests limiting THC concentrations may reduce mental health issues associated with the drug.

Marijuana with THC levels above 10 percent has been associated with greater incidences of psychotic episodes

Science

Yeast engineered to cheaply produce marijuana cannabinoids

Rich Haridy February 28, 2019

In an exciting new breakthrough from scientists at UC Berkeley, common brewer’s yeast has been engineered to produce several major cannabinoids found in marijuana. This innovation promises faster, cheaper and easier production of these compounds for use in research and medical treatments.

The new method allows for cheaper and faster production of medical-grade cannabinoids in large quantities

Medical Audio available

How marijuana can harm teenage brains, and what may be done to prevent the damage

Rich Haridy December 19, 2018

In a compelling new study researchers have established a fascinating hypothesis attempting to explain how marijuana use in some teenagers can result in cognitive impairment in adulthood. The research also suggests anti-inflammatory therapies may be able to prevent the marijuana-induced brain damage.

It was discovered in mouse experiments that anti-inflammatory drugs could protect against any potential cognitive damage ...

Medical

Rare moss contains marijuana-like compound with potentially superior medicinal effects

Rich Haridy October 25, 2018

Scientists have, for the first time, investigated the pharmacological effects of a compound found in a rare moss called liverwort. The compound closely resembles that of THC, but exhibits less of a psychoactive effect with potentially better anti-inflammatory properties.

This particular genus of liverwort contains a compound with remarkable structural similarities to THC, the main ...

Medical

Cannabis improves Crohn’s disease symptoms without reducing gut inflammation

Rich Haridy October 23, 2018

The unexplained beneficial effects of cannabis for Crohn's disease sufferers just got stranger with researchers from Israel finding cannabis oil significantly improves patient symptoms yet, unexpectedly, has little effect on reducing gut inflammation.

A new study upends the conventional hypothesis that cannabis helps Crohn's disease by reducing inflammation in ...

Medical

Cannabis extract could form basis of new anti-psychotic treatments

Michael Irving August 30, 2018

Marijuana compounds like cannabidiol (CBD) have been found to impart benefits to the brain without the negative “stoned” side-effects. Now, researchers at King’s College London have shown that CBD could help reset the brain abnormalities found in people suffering from psychosis.

Researchers have found that a cannabis extract might help relieve symptoms of psychosis

Medical Audio available

New discovery reveals how cannabis can alleviate intestinal inflammation

Rich Haridy August 14, 2018

A new study from scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the University of Bath has uncovered the first biological mechanism that could potentially explain how cannabis reduces intestinal inflammation.

A newly discovered biological mechanism may explain why sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease report marijuana can ...

Pets

Pot for your pooch: Optimizing medical cannabis for pets

Rich Haridy July 4, 2018

Pet pharmaceutical company CannPal is working with the CSIRO to develop better ways to safely administer medicinal cannabis to a variety of pets. The research is developing microencapsulation techniques to make sure the cannabis oils can be delivered to each different animal precisely and safely.

New research is setting out to find the safest way to dose and administer medical cannabis ...