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Oral cannabidiol does not produce a signal for abuse liability in frequent marijuana smokers.

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“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring constituent of the marijuana plant.

In the past few years, there has been great interest in the therapeutic effects of isolated CBD and it is currently being explored for numerous disease conditions (e.g., pain, epilepsy, cancer, various drug dependencies). However, CBD remains a Schedule I drug on the U.S. Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Despite its status, there are no well-controlled data available regarding its abuse liability.

Overall, CBD did not display any signals of abuse liability at the doses tested and these data may help inform U.S. regulatory decisions regarding CBD schedule on the CSA.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28088032

Influence of history of cannabis smoking in selected donors on the outcomes of lung transplantation.

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“Cannabis is the most commonly abused illicit drug and the smokers are at the risk of lung infections, bullous emphysema and lung cancer. However, no evidence about the outcomes of lung transplantation (LTx) utilizing the lungs from such donors is available in the literature.

The history of donor cannabis smoking does not appear to affect early and mid-term outcomes after LTx and potentially improve the donor pool. As it does not seem to negatively affect the outcomes after LTx, it should not be per se considered a contraindication for lung donation.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28077504

“Transplantation is one critical area of medicine that requires the use of immunosuppressants. Cannabinoids have emerged as powerful drug candidates for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases due to their immunosuppressive properties. Cannabinoids are the tetrophenolic compounds found in the plant, Cannabis sativa.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923447/

Up-regulation of CB2 receptors in reactive astrocytes in canine degenerative myelopathy, a disease model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

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“Targeting the CB2 receptor afforded neuroprotection in SOD1G93A mutant mice, a model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The neuroprotective effects of CB2 receptors were facilitated by their up-regulation in the spinal cord in SOD1G93A mutant mice.

Herein, we have investigated whether a similar CB2 receptor up-regulation, as well as parallel changes in other endocannabinoid elements, are evident in the spinal cord of dogs with degenerative myelopathy (DM), caused from mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 gene (SOD1).

In summary, our results demonstrated a marked up-regulation of CB2 receptors occurring in the spinal cord in canine DM, which was concentrated in activated astrocytes.

Such receptors may be used as a potential target to enhance the neuroprotective effects exerted by these glial cells.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28069688

Brain cannabinoid receptor 2: expression, function and modulation.

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“Cannabis sativa (marijuana) is a fibrous flowering plant that produces an abundant variety of molecules, some with psychoactive effects. At least 4% of the world’s adult population uses cannabis annually, making it one of the most frequently used illicit drugs in the world. The psychoactive effects of cannabis are mediated primarily through cannabinoid receptor (CBR) subtypes. The prevailing view is that CB1Rs are mainly expressed in the central neurons, whereas CB2Rs are predominantly expressed in peripheral immune cells. However, this traditional view has been challenged by emerging strong evidence that shows CB2Rs are moderately expressed and function in specific brain areas. New evidence has demonstrated that brain CB2Rs modulate animal drug-seeking behaviors, suggesting that these receptors may exist in brain regions that regulate drug addiction. Recently, we further confirmed that functional CB2Rs are expressed in mouse ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons and that the activation of VTA CB2Rs reduces neuronal excitability and cocaine-seeking behavior. In addition, CB2R-mediated modulation of hippocampal CA3 neuronal excitability and network synchronization has been reported. Here, we briefly summarize recent lines of evidence showing how CB2Rs modulate function and pathophysiology in the CNS.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28065934

Neural contractions in colonic strips from patients with diverticular disease: role of endocannabinoids and substance P

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“Diverticulosis is a common disease of not completely defined pathogenesis. Motor abnormalities of the intestinal wall have been frequently described but very little is known about their mechanisms. We investigated in vitro the neural response of colonic longitudinal muscle strips from patients undergoing surgery for complicated diverticular disease (diverticulitis).

Neural control of colon motility is profoundly altered in patients with diverticulitis. Their raised levels of anandamide, apparent desensitisation of the presynaptic neural cannabinoid CB1 receptor, and the SR141716 induced intrinsic response, suggest that endocannabinoids may be involved in the pathophysiology of complications of colonic diverticular disease.

Agents acting on the endocannabinoid system could eventually find therapeutic application in colonic inflammatory and motility disorders.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856307/

Neuroimmmune interactions of cannabinoids in neurogenesis: focus on interleukin-1β (IL-1β) signalling.

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Biochemical Society Transactions

“Neuroimmune networks and the brain endocannabinoid system contribute to the maintenance of neurogenesis.

Activation of cannabinoid receptors suppresses chronic inflammatory responses through the attenuation of pro-inflammatory mediators. Moreover, the endocannabinoid system directs cell fate specification of NSCs (neural stem cells) in the CNS (central nervous system).

The aim of our work is to understand better the relationship between the endocannabinoid and the IL-1β (interleukin-1β) associated signalling pathways and NSC biology, in order to develop therapeutical strategies on CNS diseases that may facilitate brain repair.

NSCs express functional CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, DAGLα (diacylglycerol lipase α) and the NSC markers SOX-2 and nestin. We have investigated the role of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the control of NSC proliferation and in the release of immunomodulators [IL-1β and IL-1Ra (IL-1 receptor antagonist)] that control NSC fate decisions. Pharmacological blockade of CB1 and/or CB2 cannabinoid receptors abolish or decrease NSC proliferation, indicating a critical role for both CB1 and CB2 receptors in the proliferation of NSC via IL-1 signalling pathways.

Thus the endocannabinoid system, which has neuroprotective and immunomodulatory actions mediated by IL-1 signalling cascades in the brain, could assist the process of proliferation and differentiation of embryonic or adult NSCs, and this may be of therapeutic interest in the emerging field of brain repair.

In summary, cannabinoids and IL-1β seem to play antagonistic roles in neurogenesis: although cannabinoids increase proliferation and induce formation and maturation of new neurons, IL-1β blocks proliferation and formation of new neurons, inducing a shift towards a glial fate. This may be important in situations such as in aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and lesions of the brain and spinal cord.”

http://www.biochemsoctrans.org/content/41/6/1577.long

Diuretic effects of cannabinoid agonists in mice

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“Cannabinoids both increase urine output and decrease urinary frequency in human subjects. However, these effects have not been systematically evaluated in intact mice, a species commonly used to evaluate the effects of novel cannabinoids.

The present studies investigated whether cannabinoid agonists reliably produce diuresis in mice at doses comparable to those that produce other cannabinoid effects and, further, identified the receptors that may mediate these effects.

These findings suggest that mice may provide a model for understanding the mixed effects of marijuana on urine output, as described in clinical studies, and aid in the development of targeted cannabinoid based therapies for bladder dysfunction.

Clinical studies have reported beneficial effects of smoked or aerosolized cannabis on bladder dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis, primarily by decreasing urinary frequency in these subjects following marijuana use. These reports contrast with the earlier clinical reports demonstrating increase in urine output after cannabis administration.

Our findings in mice demonstrate a dose related increase or decrease in urine output, providing a platform for understanding the mixed effects on urine output observed with marijuana in various clinical studies. As noted earlier in a study with rats, the diuresis induced by THC in mice also is weakly naturetic compared to furosemide and further investigations in this area may yield a new, clinically beneficial diuretic.

In contrast, our data suggest that development of peripherally selective cannabinoid CB1 agonists may be beneficial for patients suffering from bladder dysfunction.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3872476/

Diuretic effects of cannabinoids.

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“These data indicate that cannabinoids have robust diuretic effects in rats that are mediated via CB1 receptor mechanisms.

Overall, our data indicate that diuresis is a CB1-mediated effect that may serve as a reliable and objective physiologic measure of cannabinoid action in rats; the circumstances under which these results represent a potential therapeutic benefit or potential liability of cannabinoids remain to be determined.

The implications of these findings currently are poorly understood, although a better understanding of mechanisms and sites of action by which cannabinoids increase urine loss may lead to the rational development of novel cannabinergic medications.”  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3533417/

“Diuretics are medicines that help reduce the amount of water in the body. Diuretics are used to treat the buildup of excess fluid in the body that occurs with some medical conditions such ascongestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease. Some diuretics are also prescribed to treat high bloodpressure. These drugs act on the kidneys to increase urine output. This reduces the amount of fluid in the bloodstream,which in turn lowers blood pressure.” http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/diuretics

Association Between Use of Cannabis in Adolescence and Weight Change into Midlife.

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“Cannabis use has been found to stimulate appetite and potentially promote weight gain via activation of the endocannabinoid system.

Despite the fact that the onset of cannabis use is typically during adolescence, the association between adolescence cannabis use and long-term change in body weight is generally unknown.

This study aims to examine the association between adolescence cannabis use and weight change to midlife, while accounting for the use of other substances.

In conclusion, this study does not provide evidence of an association between adolescence cannabis use and weight change from adolescence to midlife.”

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28060830

Cannabinoids for treating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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“To systematically review all available evidence on efficacy and safety of cannabinoids for treating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

:Preliminary data imply, that cannabinoids might be an effective and safe treatment option for NULTD in patients with MS.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28058780