There is Early Evidence that Medical Cannabis may improve Executive Functioning

The stereotype is that marijuana makes you stupid.  This certainly seems to happen in the short run. Marijuana has been shown to negatively impact cognitive processes in adolescents.  Short-term memory suffers in adults too; as pot smokers forget things – why they just entered that room, for example.   In medical cannabis this is considered “the negative side-effect of impairment.”  When dosing medical cannabis the goal is usually to dose low enough that impairment is minimized.  Research has shown that in some cases cannabis is neurprotective.  It may prevent damage to brain cells. Can medical marijuana help improve cognitive functioning?

A 2016 study led by Staci Gruber, Ph.D. suggests that medical marijuana may actually improve executive functioning in adults. Dr. Gruber works at the McLean Hospital Imaging Center in Belmont, Massachusetts and is on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School.  She and her colleagues followed 24 certified medical-marijuana patients over a three-month dosing period. Their cognitive skills were measured with a battery of tests that included the Stroop Color Word Test and Trail Making Test.

Subjects in the research improved in their speed of performance on these two tests and their accuracy remained constant.  The authors acknowledge that there is a possibility that this improvement in speed is due to “practice effects.” We tend to do better on a test when we have taken the test before. The authors cited past studies that people taking these particular tests don’t usually improve, even with weekly “practice.”

The authors note that the medical marijuana patients participating in the study also reported improvements in many of their symptoms.

You can read the full study here:

Splendor in the Grass? A Pilot Study Assessing the Impact of Medical Marijuana on Executive Function

 

 

 

How to make CBD Oil for Morning and Evening

(This is a continuation of previous posts on How to make CBD Oil and How to make Broad Spectrum CBD Oil.)

If you are making your own CBD oil you can tailor your blends of terpenes to include terpenes that are activating for morning use and terpenes that are sedating for evening use.  I’m not suggesting adding anything that does not naturally occur in cannabis. Some people sell CBD for evening use that is blended with melatonin.  I think that’s stupid. Melatonin is cheap (in the U.S.) and there’s no need to start adding it to CBD.  It’s also not a good idea to take melatonin except right before bedtime.  Taken at the wrong time of day it can actually give you jet lag.

Adding naturally relaxing/sedating terpenes such as myrcene and nerolidol is different. It is a way to mimic some of the chemical makeup of a sedating cannabis strain in a THC-free CBD oil.  In my most recent batch of CBD oil I made three slightly different blends.  I used the basic technique in How to make Broad Spectrum CBD Oil, including blending in some Kanabia Golden Harvest oil in order to get an entourage effect from added CBD-V, CBG, and THC-V.  (This is the only oil with such high levels of these cannabinoids and code cannap15 still gets you 15% off.)  I made the oil stronger by using more CBD isolate than in my last batch; and less MCT oil.  The contents of the final result is below.  The bold ingredients are the ones that distinguish activating from sedating:

AM-Activating: 29mg CBD/ml.
Hemp-derived terpene blend, harlequin terpene blend, Durban Poison terpene blend
D-limonene, b-carophyllene, linalool
CBD-V, CBG, THC-V (from Kanabia oil)

Neutral: 29mg CBD/ml.
Hemp-derived terpene blend, harlequin terpene blend
D-limonene, b-carophyllene, linalool
CBD-V, CBG, THC-V (from Kanabia oil)

PM-Sedating 29mg CBD/ml.
Hemp-derived terpene blend, harlequin terpene blend, myrcene, nerolidol
D-limonene, b-carophyllene, linalool
CBD-V, CBG, THC-V (from Kanabia oil)

As you can see the only differences are the addition of Durban Poison terpenes in the morning and the addition of the sedating terpenes myrcene and nerolidol in the evening. The result is three slightly different CBD oils. I definitely notice the extra sedation in the evening.  I sometimes get “couch-lock” where I end up dozing in my recliner rather than asleep in the bed.

I’m not sure yet about the activating blend.  It doesn’t make me sleepy, but I’m generally drinking a cup of coffee in the morning too. Leafly describes Durban Poison as:

This pure sativa originates from the South African port city of Durban. It has gained popularity worldwide for its sweet smell and energetic, uplifting effects. Durban Poison is the perfect strain to help you stay productive through a busy day, when exploring the outdoors, or to lend a spark of creativity.

Another option for an activating blend would be to add individual terpenes that are thought to be activating. You can buy combinations of food-grade terpenes that are sold as either sedating of activating as well.

Have you made different blends of CBD oil?  What is your formula?  Please comment below.

Is Marijuana more Dangerous than you think?

The January 5, 2019 issue of the Wall Street Journal included a piece by Alex Berenson entitled “Marijuana Is More Dangerous Than You Think.” It is based on an upcoming book Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence. Berenson argues that legalization of marijuana has resulted in increased violence and mental health problems.  He uses crime statistics from 2013 (before legalization of recreational cannabis) and 2017 from Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon to make his point.  Berenson claims that murders in these 4 states increased from 450 to 620; and that aggravated assaults increased from 30,300 to 38,000.

If these numbers are accurate, there are many possible reasons for the increase in violence.  Marijuana may not be involved. Berenson expresses concern about an increase in people who use marijuana heavily – defined as 300 days out of 365.  His assumption seems to be that these people are all using it “recreationally.” Many medical patients also use cannabis (marijuana or hemp) in order to get daily medication.

His more troubling assertion is that the increase in heavy marijuana use is contributing to mental illness as well as violence.  He builds on the fact that paranoia is a well-known side-effect of THC.  A paranoid person certainly could strike out violently.  CBD, on the other hand, has been found to decrease paranoia in many marijuana smokers.

There is research that has found an association between marijuana use and psychotic symptoms. If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder you may want to avoid marijuana. Hemp seems to be very different.  The hemp form of cannabis contains mostly CBD and CBD may actually treat psychosis.  A 2018 full review article is pretty dense but interesting.

Industrial hemp is legal in all 50 states of the U.S. and many other countries. Some former marijuana smokers are reporting that they now enjoy smoking or vaping hemp flower instead.  No paranoia, no intoxication – just relaxation and pain relief. Maybe you should make the switch?

[Edit 1/10] The Seattle Times reported that cannabis researchers are taking issue with the WSJ article and a similar one in the New Yorker.

Of course nobody should go off any medication because they think
that CBD would work better.  This is early research.