Marijuana

CBD is now an FDA-approved medicine, but there has been very little study into how food affects the cannabis-derived compound’s absorption. A valuable new study has strikingly found that CBD absorption is significantly increased when it is consumed alongside high-fat foods.

The FDA is cracking down on a number of companies selling cannabidiol (CBD) products accompanied by unsubstantiated health claims. The latest target is a company called Curaleaf, which sells CBD products claimed to treat everything from cancer and Alzheimer’s, to anxiety and inflammation in dogs.

In one of the biggest studies of its kind to date, researchers have found no evidence to suggest the legalization of marijuana results in an increase in youth use. In fact, the study points to a strange potential decrease in teen marijuana use following the implementation of recreational use laws.

New research presented at the the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology has demonstrated a novel topical formation containing cannabidiol (CBD) is effective at killing bacterial infections in the skin. The formulation was also found to kill certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

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.

A team of chemists from the University of California, Davis, recently demonstrated a new synthetic analogue of cannabidiol (CBD) may be just as effective for medicinal uses as its naturally extracted counterpart. This synthetic CBD compound also promises to be easier, cheaper and faster to produce.

A new study suggests CBD can reduce cravings and anxiety in subjects with a history of heroin use. The study doesn't imply CBD alone can help break an opioid addiction but instead points to the marijuana ingredient acting as a tool to help reduce cravings in those struggling with heroin addiction.

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 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.

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.

With a growing body of evidence confirming the potential harm marijuana can cause on a growing adolescent brain, it is reasonable to ask what governmental policy best reduces teenage consumption. A new study has concluded that tough marijuana laws are not associated with reduced teenage use.

A meta-study has examined the correlation between depression in young adulthood and marijuana usage in adolescence. The research concludes a significant association between teen marijuana use and depression in later life, but experts suggest caution in determining if the relationship is causal.