CBD, Pain and Opioids: Bringing Translational Research to Cannabis with Maria T Rivera-Garcia PhD | BTS 86
By cacpodcast.comIn this behind-the-scenes interview we talk with Dr. Maria T Rivera-Garcia about her research investigating the effects of CBD-rich whole plant extract vapor on pain and opioid reward seeking behavior in female rats in a study titled, “High-CBD Cannabis Vapor Attenuates Opioid Reward and Partially Modulates Nociception in Female Rats”.
While on the surface this may seem like a simple study about how CBD influences opioid use – there is actually a lot more going on here. First of all this study utilized female rodents, which is very uncommon. The vast majority of preclinical rodent research uses male rodents almost exclusively due to reasons we unpack during the episode. This has led to a gross under-representation of sex differences in biomedical research.
Second, Maria and colleagues decided to utilize the vapor of whole plant CBD-rich Cannabis extract rather than using CBD isolate that is often diluted and injected, ultimately leading to results that do not accurately reflect real-world situations.
Together, these two decisions point to a common theme that is woven into this research study – scientists need to focus on doing research that better represents the real world. The results from this study are fascinating, so get your notebook ready and let’s dive in!
Link to the study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772392522000451
About Maria:
Maria Teresa Rivera-Garcia has a major in psychology and a minor in neuroscience from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where she started defining her academic interests towards the study of neurobiological mechanisms of addiction. After undergrad, Maria did a Master and a PhD in Neuropharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, her research focused on the neurochemical effects of solvent inhalation and its relation with the development of psychosis. Maria moved to the US in 2016 to pursue her postdoctoral training in the Oregon and Health and Science University, studying sex and age differences in dopaminergic function and how this is related to psychiatric illnesses, including addiction. In 2020, Maria joined Legacy Research Institute to complete her second postdoctoral stay under the guidance of Dr. Adie R. Wilson-Poe, where she studied the pharmacological interaction between opioids and cannabinoids in pain-oriented models. Recently, Maria got accredited as Qualified Mental Health Provider and became a member of the Cascadia Health clinicians team, currently providing services within the Child and Family Program.
#CannabisEducation #CBD #CBDOil #WholePlantExtract #WholePlant #FullSpectrum #BroadSpectrum #Hemp #HempExtract #MedicalCannabis #Addiction #MentalHealth #Opioids #CuriousAboutCannabis
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Standards: The Final Frontier? ASTM Intl’s Effort to Standardize the Cannabis Industry with Darwin Millard (The Spock of Cannabis) | BTS 83
In this behind-the-scenes conversation I beam aboard the USS Cannabis starship to join “The Spock of Cannabis” Darwin Millard to talk about ASTM International’s efforts to bring the planet together to develop unifying standards for the Cannabis industry. In this conversation we talk about why the development of international quality standards is critical, how ASTM’s collaborative open-door process of standard development is unique compared to how other organizations or government agencies develop standards, and how everyone with any interest in Cannabis has been invited to join the table to lend a voice and help drive the future of the international Cannabis industry.
You can learn more about ASTM International’s Cannabis subcommittee and get involved here: https://www.astm.org/get-involved/technical-committees/committee-d37
You can learn more about Darwin’s work at thespockofcannabis.com
“Live Long and Process!” – The Spock of Cannabis
#CannabisEducation #CannabisQuality #Cannabis #Hemp #CannabisIndustry #HempEducation #GlobalCannabis #GlobalCannabisIndustry #ASTM #ASTMIntl #LiveLongAndProcess #CuriousAboutCannabis
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Cannabinoid Science: Past, Present and Future (Southern Oregon University Lecture, 2021)
The history of cannabinoid science tells a fascinating story that many people are really unfamiliar with. In this lecture, which I gave for Southern Oregon University back in October of 2021, I chart some of the basic series of events that led to the discovery of CBD, THC, cannabinoid receptors, the endocannabinoid system, and the endocannabinoidome.
The video associated with this lecture is available on the Curious About Cannabis YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/@curiousaboutcannabis
The 2023 Curious About Cannabis Master Class is coming up! Spend 6 months diving into a Cannabis science crash course with me and over a dozen special guests! Register today at http://www.masterclasscannabis.com
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How Do Testing Labs Boost THC Numbers? | Lecture by Jason Wilson MS
45% THC Flower?!
It is a well known issue in the Cannabis industry that some Cannabis testing laboratories boost THC numbers to make clients happy and gain market share over other laboratories. This has led to ridiculous THC values on Cannabis product labels. Although this issue is well known, it does not ever seem to get adequately addressed. In this video, Cannabis testing veteran Jason Wilson MS explains the many ways labs can intentionally commit fraud or laboratory mistakes that lead to elevated THC values.
To see the video on YouTube, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUb22BP-RcM
This lecture is an excerpt from the Curious About Cannabis self-paced course on Cannabis Testing Fundamentals available for free at http://learn.cacpodcast.com
You can also learn more about Cannabis testing and quality control in labs by reading the Curious About Cannabis book available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other book retailers! Learn more at http://www.curiousaboutcannabisbook.com/
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What’s In a Toke? Exploring the Chemistry of Cannabis Smoke and More with Dr. Riley Kirk | BTS #79
Why does smoking Cannabis deliver unique effects compared to vaping or ingesting Cannabis? Why are social media platforms banning Cannabis educators from talking about the science of Cannabis? We have questions!
In this behind-the-scenes episode I sat down with Dr. Riley Kirk (@cannabichem) from Real Isolates, the company behind the Cannabis smoke extract product called Smokenol, to talk about the chemistry of Cannabis smoke (and lots of other cool natural products science!). In this conversation we discuss some of the unique cannabinoids that show up in Cannabis smoke and what Dr. Kirk has learned during her time studying the transformations of cannabinoids like CBD.
We also discussed her struggle to share Cannabis science education with the world due to the antagonistic nature of social media toward Cannabis content. Dr. Kirk has been shadow banned and de-platformed from social media sites like Instagram and TikTok for discussing basic Cannabis science and cannabinoid pharmacology. We dive into why these issues have real-world adverse effects for anyone curious about Cannabis and what Cannabis educators should know before they rush to their Reels or Stories to talk about Cannabis.
The conversation rounds off with a dive into Dr. Kirk’s love for plants where we talk about her favorite non-Cannabis medicinal plants and the exciting things we can learn when we apply the lens of Cannabis science to other natural products.
Profound Naturals: https://www.profoundnaturals.com/
Smokenol: https://smokenol.com/
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Catching Up with Murphy Murri on Benzene, Medusa Stones, and Owning the Quality of Your Lab | BTS #75
In this behind-the-scenes episode we caught up with Murphy Murri for an extended discussion about the current state of the Cannabis industry, extraction supply chain quality issues, medusa stones, mushroom extraction and more.
Medusa stones are concentrated lumps of cannabinoids that, rather than having a clear “diamond” appearance, has a chalky appearance. And like you might expect, the “diamond” disintegrates after being handled, turning into a sticky, chalky mess. So what causes the medusa stone phenomenon in Cannabis extracts? During this conversation, Murphy breaks down the phenomenon and the controversy surrounding the hunt for the cause behind these disappointing creations.
Due to some technical difficulties on the day of recording, this discussion was recorded on Zoom instead of our usual platform, resulting in some compromised audio quality.
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Want a Successful Cannabis Business? Be a Crock Pot, Not a Microwave! with Alisia and Chris Ratliff | BTS #72
In this behind-the-scenes episode we join up with Alisia Ratliff once again, this time joined by her husband Chris as we catch up and learn about the work they are doing in their consulting agency, Victus Consulting Ventures. We dive into a number of topics including the science of surfactants for Cannabis products, lessons learned from years of Cannabis business consulting, issues facing Cannabis cultivators that try to scale, and more!
The takeaway? Be a crock pot, not a microwave.
Learn more about Victus Consulting Ventures at https://www.victus-cv.com/
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Inspiring a Passion for Extraction Science and Technology with John MacKay, PhD | BTS #70
In this behind-the-scenes episode of The Curious About Cannabis Podcast we drop in with natural products extraction expert John MacKay, PhD. Dr. MacKay has been involved in both extraction and analytical technology for decades and has gained a lifetime of experience that he is eager to share with others. An avid educator and lifelong learner himself, Dr. MacKay teaches about Cannabis and mushroom extraction through the John MacKay Institute of Extraction Technology where he offers engaging hands-on workshops to teach the fundamentals of natural products extraction as applied to Cannabis and mushrooms. He is also a professor through several universities where he teaches about biochemistry. John is a wealth of information and has a solid sense of humor, so I hope you enjoy this conversation!
Learn more about the John MacKay Institute of Extraction Technology: https://www.extractioninstitute.com/
Learn more about Synergistic Technologies Associates: https://www.synergistictechassociates.com/
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Erika Tingey on Making Better Decisions with Better Data with Backbone | BTS #67
In this behind-the-scenes conversation we sit down with Director of Product for Backbone, Erika Tingey. Backbone is a supply chain management software system that is fully customized to any process in the Cannabis lifecycle that helps producers make better decisions with a better view of their own data. Erika breaks down some of the things that make Backbone powerful and unique for Cannabis cultivators, extractors and product manufacturers, positioning it to be a fantastic tool for operators in the Cannabis industry that are seeking GMP compliance or ISO accreditation. We also discuss the importance of thinking critically about data collection and why it is important to understand what you need to measure and why so that operations can truly benefit from data collection rather than data collection becoming a burden.
Learn more about Backbone at https://backboneiq.com/
Stay curious, and take it easy!
Support our work by becoming a Curious About Cannabis member and get access to early releases of episodes, a catalog of self-paced Cannabis science courses, exclusive events, merchandise discounts and more at http://member.cacpodcast.com/
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Delta-8-THC and Other Obscure Cannabinoids | Narcotica #63
Recently I spoke with Troy Farah on the podcast Narcotica all about cannabinoid science, delta-8-THC, issues around vaping and legalization, and more! Thanks to the team at Narcotica for allowing us to share this episode! I hope you enjoy! Stay curious, and take it easy.
About this Episode of Narcotica:
“Nearly half the U.S. population now have access to adult-use cannabis. Marijuana is a medicine, if it’s cultivated or extracted right, and millions of people find relief or pleasure from this fantastic plant. But as legalization accelerates, regulations have struggled to keep up. Most experts and maybe many consumers would agree that cannabis is not well regulated or could use some improvements.
Meanwhile, new cannabinoids like delta-8-THC, THC-O and more are hitting the streets, licit and illicit. This is a rapidly changing environment, which is far beyond THC and CBD, the two most well-known drugs in marijuana. It leaves a lot of questions: Are these ‘new’ cannabinoids safe? What do they do in the body? What about vaping them?
Narcotica co-host Troy Farah speaks with Jason Wilson of Medford Oregon, host of the Curious About Cannabis podcast, and author of the book of the same name, which can be found at CACpodcast.com. Jason is a biologist and science educator that has been studying the biochemistry of the cannabis plant and cannabis-derived products for nearly a decade. Jason has done work with groups like the International Institute for Cannabinoids (ICANNA) and serves as a member on the board of directors for the Oregon Cannabis Education and Resource Center.
Follow Jason on Twitter @AboutCannabis
If you liked this episode, here are others you might enjoy:
Episode 53: A Life of Getting Lit with Tommy Chong
Episode 49: Salvia: Psychedelic Oddity (Plus, Canada’s Emerging Psilocybin Scene)
Episode 25: Banning Kratom Will Escalate the Opioid Overdose Crisis with Walter Prozialeck
Producers: Christopher Moraff, Troy Farah, Zachary Siegel
Co-producer: Garrett Farah
Music: Glass Boy / Done With Fish
Intro voice: Jenny Schaye
Image: Flickr — Willpower Studios // edit: Troy Farah
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