Scientific Bias & the Neurodivergent Cannabis Community: Why Real-World Data is Critical to Medical Advocacy
A recent publication in The Lancet Psychiatry is adding to the growing body of peer-reviewed literature that stigmatizes cannabis and cannabinoid use for mental health, focusing on the lack of “high-quality” supporting research. While the authors and the mainstream media are interpreting this to mean there is no evidence to support the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for mental health, this could also be a direct result and relevant example of scientific bias. When viewed through a neurodiversity-affirming and patient-centered framework, the findings of this study clearly point towards a naive, biased, and discriminatory interpretation of one simple fact: the research world is not inclusive nor is it up to date on the lived experiences of the neurodivergent cannabis community. Scientific bias is a serious issue in cannabis research, contributing to unnecessary research barriers, perpetuating the stigma, and increasing risk of harm to the marginalized neurodivergent cannabis community.
Different Edibles, Different Effects: How New Nano-emulsified Products are Absorbed and Metabolized Differently
Ever had a completely different experience with a cannabis drink and a cannabis brownie? Scientists think that there may be a reason and are working to better understand why. An ongoing study at Johns Hopkins Cannabis Science Lab is investigating how different edible formulations may influence the way THC (the main psychoactive component in cannabis) is absorbed and metabolized in the body. This study goes beyond THC potency or dose, as it asks the question: Does the way a product is made change how it works in the body? Let’s dive into the background of the study!
Synthetic, Alternative, Rare? Different cannabinoids and where they come from.
When you consider the word “"cannabinoid,”" the first thought is usually something relating to cannabis. In fact, some might say that cannabinoids, in addition to hundreds of other chemical components, are what make cannabis, well, cannabis! With the ever-expanding cannabis industry, including specialties such as cannabinoid isolation, processing, and cultivation; members of the community are witnessing the introductions of many new alternative, rare, synthetic, and semisynthetic cannabinoids.
New Observational Data on Mitragyna speciosa Korth (Kratom) as an Alternative to Coffee
For many people, coffee has been integrated into our lives as a stimulant that helps with energy, focus, and productivity. But caffeine can often cause anxiety, jitters, and energy crashes - especially with daily use. Results from a previous dataset showed promising benefits for mental clarity, focus, and energy using a formulation of Mitragyna speciosa Korth (Kratom) that was formulated to have a more comparable dose to traditional applications. This follow-up collaborative study by MoreBetter showed additional benefits in overall well-being, cognitive functioning, and overall fatigue with decreased probability of participants feeling jittery or experiencing an energy crash.
Introducing NAP’s Inaugural Science Communication Team!
The Network of Applied Phamacognosy (NAP) and the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics Program have launched a Natural Products Science Communication Internship reflecting our shared mission of advancing inclusive and community-centered science advocacy in the cannabis space. Our inaugural class of budding science communicators all share a passion for increasing public awareness around cannabis from the patient and consumer’s perspectives. We’re thrilled to be amplifying and advising them as they find their voices and hone their messaging.
Data-backed Guidelines for Infused Beverages from 18,000 Real-World Reports
“Start low and go slow” has long been told to beginner consumers, but this report includes real numbers from over 2,500 participants and 20 different infused beverages. Most consumers feel the onset of infused beverages after 40 minutes with effects lasting between 1-3 hours. At low doses, there was very little chance of negative effects, but this increased rapidly with mixing with alcohol or other cannabinoid products.
Scroll down for a data-backed visual consumer guide on infused beverages.
Protecting Hemp as a Functional Wellness Tool: Insights from the Largest Observational Study on Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Beverages
Cannabinoid-infused beverages are one of the fastest growing sectors in the hemp industry and comprise a significant category of medical and adult use products. Until now, there has been very limited information on the real-world impact of infused beverages. Here we summarize findings from the first large-scale, non-interventional, longitudinal observational study of beverages in real-world settings. This research shows how THC beverages can improve daily life for sleep, mood, anxiety, and reductions in alcohol and other cannabis products. These data-backed benefits emphasize that access to hemp should be protected!
Understanding Dry Herb Vaporizers: A Different Way to Consume Flower
Recently, we surveyed hundreds (n= 582) of cannabis consumers to learn more about how and why people are choosing to vaporize cannabis flower rather than other methods of consumption like smoking. The findings highlight how this method aligns with harm reduction, flavor preservation, and informed self-determination in plant medicine.
What’s Your FAAH Type? Endocannabinoid Enzyme Variants in Humans
Did you know a lot of us have different endocannabinoid enzymes? Just like different eye color, hair color, and skin tone, there are two different versions of the gene that encodes the enzyme FAAH, which breaks down anandamide. One version works better than the other and leads to greater levels of anandamide. Read the blog for a closer look at what we know so far about these variants.
Exploring Advantages of Chemical Diversity: Kava and Kratom Together Enhance Quality of Life
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, where its leaves have been traditionally used for their stimulating and pain-relieving properties (see the data on kratom alone for focus and energy). Kava (Piper methysticum) is a traditional plant from the South Pacific known for its calming and anxiolytic properties. Its primary active compounds, called kavalactones, interact with the brain's GABAergic system, producing effects similar to benzodiazepines but without the same level of sedation or risk of dependency.
Optimized Doses of Kratom Show Promising Benefits for Mental Clarity, Focus, and Energy
Rapid report of initial data highlighting a lesser-known part of Kratom’s effects profile. Many people associate kratom with relaxation and pain relief, but at lower doses, it is known to be more similar to a coffee-like stimulant. In a collaborative study, MoreBetter and NAP found that there were improvements in mental clarity, focus, and energy. Read more to see the data and learn more about signing up to participate in follow-up studies that are on natural products!
Data from NAP’s LGBTQ+ Cannabis Community
Happy Pride month! Here is a data analysis of NAP’s longitudinal dataset (n = 2,857) that highlights some trends in health status, usage patterns, and system-level access of the LGBTQ+ cannabis community. The LGBTQ+ community has played a huge role in medical cannabis advocacy, continues to have a large presence in the industry, and is often overlooked when it comes to prioritizing research and product-offerings or optimizations.
Better Data, Better Sleep - Personalized Sleep Insights Just for You
Sleep is consistently one of the top use cases for cannabis and other natural products. One-third of adults consistently report not getting enough sleep.NAP is excited to announce a new collaborative effort with our long-standing research partners MoreBetter, focused on helping you find clear answers about your sleep. This will also contribute to furthering our understanding of how different sleep products may have unique therapeutic benefits for unique patient populations.
Join a Groundbreaking Infused Beverage Study!
NAP has successfully collaborated on various community-focused studies with our research partners MoreBetter, ranging from different cannabinoid products, to other natural products like kratom and kava (interesting results on that coming soon)!
In the meantime, we’re excited to share the next study we’re collaborating on! A first-of-its-kind real world study exploring how infused beverages may affect alcohol consumption, quality of life, mood, stress, sleep, and more. This will be one of our largest studies to date with up to 3,000 participants from across the United States.
Do you enjoy infused beverages? More details on how to participate at the bottom of this blog.
The Importance of Medical Cannabis Cards: Education, Advocacy, and Access
The modern legal cannabis industry, as well as the traditional market, originated with a strong medicinal foundation. Cannabis has been used for centuries to regulate the body, and today, we understand that its vast therapeutic potential is due to its unique interaction with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). In fact, cannabis has more medical applications than any other medicinal plant. However, despite these benefits, confusion around obtaining a medical cannabis card prevents many from accessing the medical market. Read on to find out how NAP plans to address this issue:
Awkward Family Holidays? Can Your High Just Be Gone? THCV and the CB1 Receptor
THCV is almost identical to THC in structure, but has a different effects profile. Instead of activating the CB1 receptor, THCV just sits on the receptor, blocking it from becoming active. This results in a reduction of CB1 receptor activity. There’s early preliminary evidence that THCV can reduce the effects of negative effects of THC. Read more to see you can help us find out!
The Endocannabinoid System and Reproductive Health
When you hear about the endocannabinoid system (ECS), it's usually all about its superpowers in regulating sleep, mood, appetite, pain, memory, and learning. Impressive, right? But what’s rarely mentioned is the ECS's role in a system that does more than support one human but one that keeps the entire population afloat, the reproductive system.
Expanding Our Natural Medicines Research - Exploring the Potential Benefits of Kratom and Kava
NAP is about investigating all natural medicines with real world impact. Pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal drugs derived from plants and other natural sources, focusing on their biochemical properties and therapeutic potential. This blog explores the traditional uses and biochemistry of Kratom and Kava, highlighting their roles in herbal medicine and the need for scientific research to better understand their effects.
Meet Our Scientific Advisory Board - Who, What, and Where Our Research Priorities are Guided From
When we first formed the idea of the non-profit, finding our scientific advisors was a task that we took our time with and considered very carefully. It’s not easy being on the edge of constantly and rapidly evolving fields while prioritizing lived experience all while staying true to the core values of our mission. We knew that there was much we needed to consider in who we allowed to be in our inner circle guiding us, teaching us, and expanding our perspective on our research objectives. We are so proud and grateful to have the support of Dr. Allison Justice, PhD, The Dank Duchess, Marné Garretson, MPH, and Dr. Paloma Lehfedlt, MD as they have all personally been critically involved in the evolution of the work at NAP in this first year together.
