Medical Marijuana

Previously in “The Chemistry of CBD,” we looked at the subtle changes in the structure of CBD versus that of THC and the potential differences in the resulting conformation of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1).

We discussed how minuscule changes can have large multiplicative effects down the biological stream. As with all things in this world, structure determines function. The structure of the molecule determines how it binds to the protein, the movement of the protein determines the resulting cellular action and the structure of neuronal networks determines our physical behaviors which can be measured through science!

A claim that was made in the preceding article posed that CBD has the opposite effects of THC.

There have been a few studies that look at the differences in behavior, as well as the effect of CBD on the behaviors elicited by THC. One study in particular took advantage of a technique known as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Read More:http://hightimes.com/medicinal/the-biology-of-cbd/

What are the health benefits of CBD?

Other than Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD) is another component found in cannabis. It is non-psychoactive, meaning that it does not make users get high. Its anti-inflammatory property has made it emerge as an effective component to treat various medical issues. Hence with CBD, there are several health benefits and in this article are some of the health benefits to expect. It might be worth trying out CBD oil if you have any of the below issues as it might dramatically help improve your health.

Treating chronic pain

Cannabinoid in medical marijuana helps in relieving both acute and chronic pain such as chronic back pain. The reason behind this is that CBD interacts with brain receptors and the immune system thereby resulting in painkilling effects. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, CBD doesn’t get you high, making it good to treat chronic pain in kids and pets. Moreover, CBD has natural anti-inflammatory properties that reverse the inflammation effects of muscles.

Read More:https://www.theweedblog.com/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-cbd/

Members of the Washington D.C. Council advanced legislation to give local minority-owned companies a preference when applying for licenses to operate medical marijuana businesses.

While states generally don’t track the race and ethnicity of weed license applicants, it’s obvious to anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock for the past decade that most dispensaries and the vast majority of growing operations around the country are overwhelmingly dominated by white men.

This lack of minority representation is especially problematic given that African Americans were—and still are—disproportionately arrested and incarcerated during the War on Drugs, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Marijuana use is roughly equal among blacks and whites, yet blacks are 3.73 times as likely to be arrested for possession, noteed the ACLU.

Read More:http://hightimes.com/news/washington-d-c-to-give-minorities-preference-for-getting-into-mmj-industry/

Three of the Balkan states to emerge from the ashes of Yugoslavia a generation ago are now among the first countries in the ex-communist world to move toward embracing medical marijuana.

Australian firm MGC Pharmaceuticals just announced a deal to distribute its cannabis-derived products in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia. MGC is partnering with the Slovenian supplier Mikro+Polo to market its phytocannabinoid-derived Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in the three countries, according to Australia’s Business News.

Perth-based MGC was established three years ago by veterans of the Israeli medical marijuana industry. Late last year, it harvested its first test crop of cannabis in Slovenia and has established a facility in the country’s capital, Ljubljana, where it is isolating cannabidiol (CBD) for use in its products, including a CBD-infused skincare ointment. 

Read More:http://hightimes.com/news/balkan-states-move-toward-medical-marijuana/

(Reuters) - A handful of drugmakers are taking their first steps toward developing marijuana-based painkillers, alternatives to opioids that have led to widespread abuse and caused the U.S. health regulator to ask for a withdrawal of a popular drug this month.

The cannabis plant has been used for decades to manage pain and there are increasingly sophisticated marijuana products available across 29 U.S. states, as well as in the District of Columbia, where medical marijuana is legal.

There are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved painkillers derived from marijuana, but companies such as Axim Biotechnologies Inc, Nemus Bioscience Inc and Intec Pharma Ltd have drugs in various stages of development.

Read More:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/high-hopes-ride-on-marijuana-amid-opioid-crisis/

Artificial intelligence is being used to improve banking, marketing, the legal field — and now to find which one of the more than 30,000 strains of medical marijuana is best for you.

Potbot uses AI to "read" through peer-reviewed medical journals to find studies on cannabinoids, the active compounds in marijuana. Using the research, it pairs 37 symptoms like insomnia, asthma and cancer with branded marijuana strains to find which type of weed is best suited to treat each one.

The company has raised $5 million to date, according to Potbotics CEO David Goldstein. Part of the reason for its success is the technology doesn't actually involve marijuana directly, making it completely legal he said. The app is available in Apple's App Store and the Google Play store. In addition, the bigger pharmaceutical companies haven't entered the space, giving the marijuana industry a "start-up mentality."

Read More:http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/26/potbot-uses-artificial-intelligence-to-find-the-best-marijuana-strain.html