A group of UK researchers have just concluded an observational study investigating the safety and outcomes of cannabis use in improving the quality of life of patients with chronic illnesses. In this study, the researchers analyzed the medical records of patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (UKMCR). Medical cannabis is legal in the UK but it is only prescribed when all other available “conventional” treatments have been tried and failed. This model provided impetus for the researchers to conduct the study; why is medical cannabis only the last treatment option for patients? Fo ..read more

On 9th March, 2023 the cannabis community lost a founding father, risk-taker, pacesetter, and “greatest of all time” medical cannabis researcher – Professor Raphael Mechoulam. Isaac Newton’s famous quote aptly applies to what this scientist meant for hundreds  of medical cannabis researchers, thousands of doctors and care takers  and millions of patients: “If I have seen any further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Raphael Mechoulam was born in 1930 in Bulgaria’s capital city – Sofia.  He studied chemical engineering and later pursued a master’s degree in biochemi ..read more

Close to 1 million total joint arthroplasty (joint replacement) surgeries are conducted in the US each year, and the figure is expected to hit 4 million by 2030. Common complications following this type of surgery include pain, blood clots, joint infection, and unexpected bleeding into the joint. Such complications often result in prolonged hospital stays or subsequent readmissions after discharge which can be costly for the patient while at the same time putting a significant strain on medical resources. A new study has challenged conventional thinking by suggesting that cannabis use improves ..read more

Most people would agree that consuming cannabis daily, or several times a day, is probably not a good idea. Well, that applies to those who at least believe that cannabis use disorder is indeed a thing. But when it comes to how bad is bad? “As bad as heart disease” would seem like an exaggeration to many. but that’s what expert researchers from Stanford University are now saying, as was first reported by CNN. A group of researchers conducted a study to investigate the relationship between cannabis use and heart disease. They used data from the All of Us Research Program which is run by the Nat ..read more

A new study has found that cannabis can help to relieve tinnitus, a condition which though considered mild is usually difficult to treat. Tinnitus is simply described as a constant ringing sound in the ears that can’t be heard by anyone else other than the patient. If left untreated, tinnitus may lead to insomnia, fatigue, memory problems and even depression. How does cannabis relieve tinnitus? According to a recently published study, increasingly more patients are seeking relief for tinnitus symptoms from cannabis. Researchers issued questionnaires to patients attending a tertiary neuro-otolo ..read more

In 2018, Canada became the first country in North America to fully legalize recreational cannabis use.[1] After several years of legalization, Canada is now moving towards the legalization of their second primary organic drug: magic mushrooms. Although full legalization hasn’t arrived in Canada yet, there are a few areas that are starting to open up to these mushrooms. Medicinal Magic Mushrooms in Canada While Magic Mushrooms remain illegal in Canada, there are several opportunities that may change that.[2] Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has increasingly been shown as a ..read more

DMT is one of the most powerful hallucinogens available.[1] While it is a schedule 1 drug, meaning it has no recognized medical benefits (research is on going) and a high potential for abuse, DMT has been permitted in various religious ceremonies in isolated communities.[2] The question is, how long does DMT last, and what effects the length of the experience? Factors Affecting DMT Metabolism Though DMT is quite strong, it is relatively fast acting. For most people, the entire trip lasts between 5 and 30 minutes, but there are a few factors that can change that.[3] The first has to do with how ..read more

A recently published study has revealed, again, what we already know:  that the scented essential oils found in cannabis, otherwise called terpenes, have a huge impact on how patients experience cannabis. In other words, the terpene profile is partly responsible for the effectiveness and side effects produced by the chemovar. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of New Mexico and was published in the Journal of Cannabis Research in February 2023. The researchers used the Releaf app to collect information from consumers who used the app between 09/10/2016 and 03/11/20 ..read more

Tobacco use has been found to impair lung function. But when it comes to smoking cannabis, the association is not clear-cut. And what happens when tobacco is combined with marijuana? A recent study discovered that smoking cannabis doesn’t worsen lung function and that the use of marijuana with tobacco does not hurt the lungs beyond the damage done by the tobacco. Here are details of the study: A team of researchers from the University of Queensland conducted a longitudinal study to investigate whether tobacco and cannabis use and co-use can be used to predict lung function. Participants recrui ..read more

While over 90% of men orgasm during sex, the figure is roughly around 50% for women. This clearly illustrates a wide “orgasms gap” that exists between the two genders, and one that surely needs to be addressed. Interestingly, a new study seems to suggest that cannabis can remedy this situation. Details of the Study Researchers from East Carolina University conducted a survey to investigate the influence of weed on sexual functioning and satisfaction. They recruited participants from social media and medical and legal cannabis advocacy groups. The participants were aged between 18 to 85 years ..read more