How the Body’s Endocannabinoid System Influences Obesity
Razi Berry More than two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. Eating foods containing high levels of fats and sugars — the “Western diet” — can lead to obesity and significantly reduce life expectancy. Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) can lead to obesity and reduce life expectancy Nicholas DiPatrizio, an assistant professor […]
Gene Associated with Elevated Risk of Cannabis Abuse
Razi Berry New research from the Danish psychiatric project, iPSYCH, shows that a specific gene is associated with an increased risk of cannabis abuse. The gene is the source of a so-called nicotine receptor in the brain, and people with low amounts of this receptor have an increased risk of cannabis abuse. iPSYCH shows that […]
Brain Changes From Cannabis Use
Razi Berry A once understudied topic now shows a clear link between cannabis use and brain alterations, whereby chronic use may lead to poor conflict resolution skills. Development of neural circuits in youth The development of neural circuits in youth, at a particularly important time in their lives, can be heavily influenced by external factors—specifically […]
Differences in brain systems for habitual behavior distinguish heavy cannabis users
Razi Berry A shift from brain systems controlling reward-driven use to habit-driven use differentiates heavy cannabis users who are addicted to the drug from users who aren’t, according to a study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier. The findings help explain how the brain becomes dependent on cannabis, and why not […]
Adolescent Cannabis Use and Long-term Effects on Brain
Razi Berry About one in five Canadian adolescents uses cannabis (19% of Canadians aged 15-19), and its recent legalization across the country warrants investigation into the consequence of this use on the developing brain. Recent cannabis legalization in Canada warrants investigation into the consequence of use on the developing brain Adolescence is associated with the […]
Warning: Online Cannabis Oils Could Contain More THC Than What’s Labeled
Razi Berry One of the biggest concerns/confusions of potential consumers of CBD products is whether they can trust that the product does not contain the psychoactive constituent THC. Many CBD products are labeled as “hemp,” and are not supposed to have more than 0.3% THC. However, “cannabis,” “hemp,” and “marijuana” all come from the same […]
Gang’s all here: The benefits of the synergy of the essential oil in cannabis (Part 2)
Sarah LoBisco, ND, IFCMP (licensed in VT) In the first part of this article, I discussed the concept of the entourage effect of cannabis. This is reference to the fact that the synergy of all its components acting together has different and enhanced effects than any of its isolates. In this post, I will expand […]
Gang’s all here: CBD Oil, Cannabis Essential Oil, and the Whole “Entourage” (Part 1)
Sarah LoBisco, ND, IFCMP,(licensed in VT*) One of the hottest products on the market right now is CBD (cannabidiol) oil. This is not just based on brilliant marketing campaigns and the resultant consumer demand. The nationwide popularity of this “magical medical elixir” is due to several very good reasons; however, there are also some very important […]
Teen Cannabis Use May Have Lasting Effects on Cognitive Function
Razi Berry With changing thoughts and legislation surrounding the use of cannabis, the need to understand the effects of cannabis use on adolescent development is even more necessary. Most studies that have linked alcohol and cannabis misuse and abuse to cognitive impairment have not been designed to differentiate a causal relationship between use and long-term […]
Study Finds Children of Cannabis Users Start Using Earlier
Razi Berry From Elsevier As prevailing regulatory and cultural shifts normalize adult medical and recreational cannabis use, identification of potential risk factors is key to preventing public health consequences, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Study is the first to establish a relationship between maternal cannabis use during a child’s lifetime and earlier […]