Scientific, Peer-Reviewed Study: Conservative-Only News Consumers Ill Informed, Believe COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories

No surprise there.

There’s a reason why Fox News is monikered Faux Noize.

The Republican party is NO LONGER the “Grand” Old Party.

It’s NOT the “party of Lincoln,” and hasn’t been for quite some time.

Since circa 1964, it’s been the party of the Ku Klux Klan, the John Birch Society, libertarians, and other radical elements. And, it was seriously ushered in during the Reagan administration when in his first inaugural address, the B-movie actor and longtime GE mouthpiece said in part that, “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”

It’s easy to understand that if “government is the problem,” the solution to that problem is elimination of it. And that is anarchy. And yet, in his carefully crafted address, that was precisely what he was intimating – the abolition of government. For in his next sentence, he said, “From time to time we’ve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule…”

It’s not difficult to see that his slashing of the Top Personal Income Tax bracket for the wealthiest Americans from 70% to 50%, and then to 28%, in conjunction with reductions in Capital Gains tax rates, and the “Paris Hilton Tax Cuts,” also monikered as the “Death Tax,” which is properly known as the Estate Tax, which only wealthy Americans have ever paid, was purposely designed to eliminate government, rather than to refine its operations, increase efficiency, or reduce fraud, waste, and abuse at any level.

When he said, “It is time to check and reverse the growth of government, which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed,” it could not have been made any more clear that his was a “starve the monster” approach to an alleged, though imaginary, and non-existing problem, that government was too big and the “monster” was the government.” And that was despite what he said in that same address that “Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it’s not my intention to do away with government,”
because it couldn’t have been made more clear what his ultimate objectives were.

He again clearly identified government as being an evil monster when he said, “It is no coincidence that our present troubles parallel and are proportionate to the intervention and intrusion in our lives that result from unnecessary and excessive growth of government.” Hardly anyone could have done a better job of setting up a Straw Man Argument, for afterward, he beat that government straw man to a pulp.

Again, it is beyond the scope of the pale to imagine that a more populous nation would need fewer laws, or fewer people to efficiently and effectively conduct operations to provide for the demands and needs of more people. For that would be an inversely proportional relationship, that somehow a larger (more populous) nation, with more inventions, more businesses, more works of art, science, and other forms of creativity, would need fewer laws to govern their behavior and operations, and at some point in time, would eventually disappear.

The contradictions in his speech were blatant, and his intentions were fully uncloaked. Bluntly stating that “It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the Federal establishment,” he set about using his skills as an actor reassuring the people in a grandfatherly way that he had their best interests at heart, despite what he said otherwise.

The notion of “self-rule” is one which is emphasized by the ultra-radical group headquartered in Auburn, Alabama known as the Mises Institute, which promotes a heterodox economic world view, which includes anti-government sentiment, and the belief in the idea of anarchy – a world without government – and a “free market only” solution to everything as a one-size-fits-all solution to all problems.

Again, while Reagan was a B-movie actor, he was an actor nevertheless, and in his years on the stump for General Electric nationwide, he honed his public persuasion speeches to a fine edge, and was able to parlay that into a run for the White House which he won twice being monikered as the “Great Communicator.” But the language he used, while delivered quite well, was “dog whistle” language for anti-governmental radicals, all whom he welcomed into the GOP’s “Big Tent.”

The ground had earlier been ploughed at the 1964 Republican National Convention at Cow Palace in Daly City, CA (immediately adjacent and SOUTH of San Francisco) when then-NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller was granted 5 minutes to address the delegates to request adoption of language in the official party platform which would “repudiate here and now any doctrinaire, militant minority, whether Communist, Ku Klux Klan or Bircher which would subvert this party to purposes alien to the very basic tenets which gave this party birth.”

He was booed for over 16 minutes.

The language was simple, and read as follows:

Mayo Clinic to have COVID-19 Antibody Test by Monday

“How can I know if I’m FULLY recovered from COVID-19 novel coronavirus?” is a question that gets asked by many, particularly by those who have been infected by COVID-19.

Unfortunately – to this point, at least – the answer to that question has been “We don’t know.”

Fortunately, however, researchers have rapidly doubled-down on their research, intensified their efforts, and are becoming fruitful.

Here’s a brief story about one such effort.

MPRNews.org

Mayo Clinic expects COVID-19 antibody test to be ready Monday

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Mayo Clinic Expects COVID-19 Antibody Test To Be Ready Monday

Pedestrians cross the street as they leave Mayo Clinic’s Gonda Building in Rochester, Minn., in 2016. Mayo researchers say they’re close to releasing tests that would tell whether a person has had and recovered from COVID-19.Alex Kolyer for MPR News file (Minnesota Public Radio)

Researchers at Mayo Clinic expect to release a test that would tell whether a person has had and recovered from COVID-19 on Monday. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the University of Minnesota is also narrowing in on an antibody test.

The tests would help public health officials understand the scope of the outbreak and identify people who could safely be in public to help with relief efforts. They would also help in an effort to treat critical COVID-19 patients with plasma from individuals who have recovered.

Elitza Theel is director of the Mayo Clinic lab testing COVID-19 antibody tests. She spoke with MPR News host Tom Crann Wednesday.

You can listen to the interview by clicking on the audio player above, or read the transcript below, which has been edited lightly for clarity and length.

Q: Tell us first, what is an antibody?

A: Antibodies essentially recognize the virus and can help inactivate and kill it.

It’s important to know that these types of tests are different than all of the molecular tests that are being done off of nasal swabs or throat swabs. Those tests detect viral genetic material [to show whether the coronavirus has infected that person].

These [blood serum] antibody tests are detecting a person’s immune response to that virus. It takes, in some cases, 10 to 11 days for a person to mount an immune response and produce these antibodies, so these tests aren’t going to be used as a diagnostic in patients that are presenting with two or three days of symptoms.

Q: Tell us how soon they’ll be ready

A: At Mayo, we hope to have it available as early as next week. We will be doing kind of a slow roll out because, similar to the situation with molecular tests, there’s a limited supply of these tests. We’re hoping that commercial manufacturers will ramp up here in the next few weeks so that we can make it available much more widely.

Q: Then it can go straight to to doctors, public health departments, or is FDA approval needed? How does that work?

A: FDA approval is not needed at this time. However, laboratories that are offering these tests have to go through a very rigorous verification process to make sure that the tests they’re offering provide the right results.

Clinicians will be able to order this in individuals who they think having are a result for would be helpful to either guide return to work [decisions] or further quarantining.

Also, you may have heard about the convalescent plasma treatment trials. As we wait for antivirals and vaccines to be developed and deployed, we need some sort of bridging therapy. So, the idea here is to identify individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, collect their plasma, make sure that it has the antibodies, and then use that plasma to treat acutely ill patients. We’re basically providing somebody else’s antibodies to ill patients who maybe don’t have an immune response mounted yet, and these antibodies would essentially help to fight off the virus.

Q: How close are we on plasma treatment?

A: Clinical trials are starting very soon, both here at Mayo Clinic as well as many other locations across the U.S.

Q: Why is it important to have this information about how many people have been infected, even if they are recovered?

A: There’s a couple of reasons. One, we know there’s a significant number of individuals who have been infected without symptoms. So, knowing the true number, the true denominator of individuals who have been infected with COVID-19, would allow us to determine the true case fatality rate. And then the other reason this is important is identifying when, as a community, as a region, as a nation, we’ve reached herd immunity status.

Questions & Answers About Cannabis

NOTE: The more frequently updated version of this entry is found on the front page of this blog, which is linked here: https://warmsouthernbreeze.wordpress.com/questions-answers-about-cannabis/

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Updated Friday, 18 September 2020

While the intended audience for these Qs & As is meant primarily for medical, and healthcare science professionals, they may still be of some interest, or use, by others –– particularly for those who do not know that there is legitimate science behind the use, and recommendation of cannabis in various therapies.

From Franz Eugen Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflantzen. Published and copyrighted by Gera-Untermhaus, FE Köhler in 1887 (1883–1914).
Hemp plant.
A–flowering male and B–seed-bearing female plant, actual size; 1-male flower, enlarged detail; 2&3-pollen sac of same from various angles; 4-pollen grain of same; 5-female flower with cover petal; 6-female flower, cover petal removed; 7-female fruit cluster, longitudinal section; 8-fruit with cover petal; 9-same without cover petal; 10-same; 11-same in cross-section; 12-same in longitudinal section; 13-seed without hull.

So in that sense, enjoy!

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QUESTION: What is the pharmacological profile of buccally administered cannabinoids?

ANSWER: With buccal administration, a mix of cannabinoids can be sprayed on to the oral mucosa and the medicine is absorbed through the mucous membranes. Peak plasma concentrations usually occur within 2-4 hrs after administration. When compared to inhalation of cannabinoids, buccal administration of cannabinoids is associated with lower blood levels of cannabinoids because absorption is slower, redistribution into fatty acids occurs rapidly and some of the cannabinoids undergo first pass metabolism.

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QUESTION: Nabiximols (a cannabinoid medicine containing THC and CBD) is approved in many European countries for the treatment of neuropathic pain, spasticity and bladder dysfunction in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. What are the potential drug interactions between nabiximols and analgesic medications?

ANSWER: The nabiximols product monograph cautions prescribers against combining nabiximols with amitriptyline or fentanyl because these drugs are metabolized by the same enzymes as nabiximols. Potential drug interactions with other opioids (oxycodone, tramadol and methadone) also exist.

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QUESTION: What is the purpose of urine drug testing?

ANSWER: Urine drug tests typically screen for the patient’s prescribed opioids and the commonly abused drugs: cocaine, amphetamines, alcohol, barbiturates, opiates and benzodiazepines. Although a urine drug test can confirm if the patient is taking the prescribed opioid, it cannot determine if the patient is taking the prescribed dose.

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QUESTION: What are the drugs that are inhibitors to cytochrome P450 and therefore decrease the metabolism of cannabinoids?

ANSWER: THC is oxidized by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) mixed-function oxidases 2C9, 2C19 and 3A4 1. Therefore, substances that inhibit these CYP isoenzymes (e.g. fluoxetine, cimetidine, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, verapamil, indinavir, among others) can potentially increase the bioavailability of THC, and thus increase the chance of experiencing THC-related side effects.

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QUESTION: Why do NSAIDS relieve pain?

ANSWER: NSAIDs reduce the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostacyclin (PGI2), which mediate pain and inflammation.

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QUESTION: Describe the process of vaporization of cannabis.

ANSWER: Vaporization is a smokeless delivery system in which warm air or heat of 180°C to 200°C, rather than a flame, is used to convert cannabinoids and other compounds into a fine mist that can be inhaled. Due to their volatility, cannabinoids will vaporize at temperatures of 180°C to 200°C, but will not combust and therefore few combustion by-products such as soot or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are produced. As temperatures increase, the amount of cannabinoids released increases, and the amount of combustion by-products increases, too.

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QUESTION: The pharmacological properties of cannabigerol have been investigated. What have the studies shown?

ANSWER: Cannabigerol (CBG) is the phytocannabinoid precursor molecule, and demonstrates weak partial agonism at CB1 and CB2. In in vitro studies, CBG displays analgesic and anti-erythemic effects. CBG also displays anti-hypertensive activity.

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QUESTION: The pharmacological properties of tetrahydrocannabivarin have been investigated. What have the studies shown?

ANSWER: Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a CB1 antagonist at low doses, but displays weak agonistic effects at high doses. In obese mice models, THCV reduced appetite, produced weight loss and decreased body fat and leptin concentration.

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QUESTION: What is the pharmacologic profile of cannabis when it is vaporized?

ANSWER: The pharmacologic profile of cannabis when it is vaporized is similar to the profile when it is smoked. Psychoactive effects appear within 90 seconds, reach a maximum after 15-30 minutes, and taper off within 2-3 hours.

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QUESTION: What is the pharmacologic profile of cannabis when it is smoked?

ANSWER: When herbal cannabis is smoked, the active ingredients in cannabis are vaporized by the heat of combustion and inhaled. Inhaled constituents quickly pass from alveoli into the bloodstream and readily cross the blood-brain barrier. Psychoactive effects appear within 90 seconds, reach a maximum after 15-30 minutes, and taper off within 2-3 hours. This short onset of action makes dose titration possible, by spacing inhalations at 90-second intervals.

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QUESTION: The pharmacological properties of cannabichromene have been investigated. What have the studies shown?

ANSWER: Cannabichromene (CBC) is a potent anadamide uptake inhibitor and thus may modulate the endocannabinoid system similarly to CBD. In mice studies, it has been shown that CBC has anti-inflammatory properties and analgesic activity. CBC has other pharmacological properties, as well.

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QUESTION: The pharmacological properties of cannabinol have been investigated. What have the studies shown?

ANSWER: Cannabinol (CBN) is the oxidative by-product of THC and appears after long storage. It is a weaker partial agonist at CB1 and CB2 as compared to THC. In in vitro studies, it has been found that cannabinol is anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory, and stimulates bone formation.

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QUESTION: It is the mixture of phytocannabinoids, terpenes and other active components present in a cannabis product that ultimately determines the therapeutic effects and side effects. Does CBD affect THC absorption and tolerance?

ANSWER: CBD has long been thought to influence the effects of THC. This thinking was extended to consider that CBD potentiates some of the beneficial effects of THC, as it reduces the psychoactive effects of THC and thus could improve tolerability. CBD may counteract some of the functional consequences of CB1 receptor activation in the brain. This effect has been used to explain why high CBD:THC cannabis use is less associated with the development of psychotic symptoms compared to low CBD:THC cannabis. Also, CBD is thought to interact with the cytochrome p450 enzymes that metabolize THC and thus may alter the metabolism and influence the effects of the THC consumed. It has been proposed that THC and CBD act synergistically in therapeutic use.

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QUESTION: Does methadone alter cardiac conduction?

ANSWER: Yes. Methadone is known to prolong QTc intervals in up to 16% of patients. Studies have shown a linear dose response curve, with higher doses leading to a higher propensity for QTc prolongation. This has led to an FDA “black box” warning for methadone and the recommendation for routine ECG monitoring.

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QUESTION: How have medical advances altered opioid use in cancer patients?

ANSWER: Cancer is no longer considered a “terminal disease.” Because of significant advances in surgical, radiation, and chemotherapeutic treatments, more than 50% of cancer patients are living greater than 2 years after the diagnosis of cancer. This allows for more cancer patients to develop chronic pain. All of these factors have led to more cancer patients taking opioids long-term.

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QUESTION: What are terpenes (or terpenoids)?

ANSWER: Terpenes are aromatic components produced in the glandular part of the cannabis plant’s flower bud. Terpenes are manufactured by many plants (not just the cannabis plant) and can be found in many food products, including coffee beans, ginger and cinnamon. Often, it is the terpenes that are responsible for a plant’s odor.

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QUESTION: Does smoking marijuana impact the metabolism of theophylline?

ANSWER: It may. Reports have indicated that smoking marijuana may increase the clearance of theophylline. Note: this effect appears to be a direct result of the hydrocarbons found in marijuana smoke rather than the cannabis-based products, as there is a lack of evidence for enzyme induction when cannabis-based drugs are consumed via oral ingestion.

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QUESTION: Do the hydrocarbons in marijuana smoke impact drug metabolism?

ANSWER: Possibly. Similar to cigarette smoke, the hydrocarbons in marijuana smoke appear to induce the activity of some cytochromes, including CYP1A2.

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QUESTION: What criteria should be used when selecting a CBD hemp product?

ANSWER: According to a 2019 Mayo Clinic publication, the following 4 questions should be asked, and the answers to each of the questions should be “yes” :
1. Does the hemp product meet the quality standards of the Current Good Manufacturing Practices Certification from the FDA, or the European Union, Australian or Canadian organic certification, or the National Science Foundation International Certification?
2. Does the manufacturer have an independent review adverse event reporting system?
3. Is the product certified organic or ecofarmed?
4. Have the company’s products been lab tested to confirm THC levels to be < 0.3% and to confirm that no pesticides or heavy metals are present?

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QUESTION: Is full spectrum CBD the same as whole plant CBD?

ANSWER: No. Whole plant CBD contains fats, waxes and fibrous materials not found in full spectrum CBD.

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QUESTION: Is the plasma concentration of Epidiolex (CBD) affected by co-administration of high fat/high calorie food?

ANSWER: Yes. It has been that if CBD is co-administered with a high fat/high calorie meal, the plasma concentration of CBD may increase by as much as 5-fold.

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QUESTION: Describe the exact mechanism of action of Epidiolex.

ANSWER: According to the Epidiolex FDA Approved Package Insert, (Greenwich Biosciences, Inc.), the precise mechanism(s) by which Epidiolex exerts its anticonvulsant effects in humans are unknown. It does not appear to be through cannabidiol receptors.

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QUESTION: Epidiolex has been approved for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS). Has the FDA approved Epidiolex for any other conditions?

ANSWER: Yes. On July 31, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol or CBD) oral solution for the treatment of seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients one year of age and older.

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QUESTION: The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has updated the definition of pain. What is their new definition of pain?

ANSWER: After 40+ years, the IASP has revised their definition of pain to reflect advances in our understanding of pain. The revised definition emphasizes that tissue damage is not required. The updated definition of pain is: “An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.” The revised definition also includes 6 notes:

1.) Pain is always a personal experience that is influenced to varying degrees by biological, psychological, and social factors

2.) Pain and nociception are different phenomena, and pain cannot be inferred solely from activity in sensory neurons

3.) Through life experiences, people learn the concept of pain

4.) A person’s report of an experience as pain should be respected

5.) Although pain usually serves an adaptive role, it may have adverse effects on function and social and psychological well-being

6.) Verbal description is only one of several behaviors to express pain, and an inability to communicate does not negate the possibility that a human or a nonhuman animal experiences pain

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QUESTION: What is oliceridine (Olinvyk)? Is it a new FDA-approved opioid?

ANSWER: According to an August 7, 2020 FDA news release, “the FDA approved Olinvyk (oliceridine), an opioid agonist for the management of moderate to severe acute pain in adults, where the pain is severe enough to require an intravenous opioid and for whom alternative treatments are inadequate. Olinvyk is indicated for short-term intravenous use in hospitals or other controlled clinical settings, such as during inpatient and outpatient procedures. It is not indicated for at-home use.” https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-opioid-intravenous-use-hospitals-other-controlled-clinical-settings

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QUESTION: What is the safety profile of Olinvyk?

ANSWER: According to an August 7, 2020 FDA news release, “The safety profile of Olinvyk is similar to other opioids. As with other opioids, the most common side effects of Olinvyk are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache and constipation. Olinvyk should not be given to patients with significant respiratory depression; acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment; known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction; or known hypersensitivity to the drug. Prolonged use of opioid analgesics during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.” “Olinvyk carries a boxed warning about addiction, abuse and misuse; life-threatening respiratory depression; neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome; and risks from concomitant use with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system depressants. Unlike other opioids for intravenous administration, Olinvyk has a maximum recommended daily dose limit of 27 milligrams.” https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-opioid-intravenous-use-hospitals-other-controlled-clinical-settings

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QUESTION: Changes in fetal growth have been described in some epidemiological studies examining the impact of maternal use of marijuana. Do the long‐term patterns of physical growth appear to be affected?

ANSWER: No, long-term physical growth does not appear to be affected. In contrast, long‐term impacts on psychological health have been noted and include increased rates of depressive symptoms and anxiety as well as delinquency.

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QUESTION: Does the use of cannabinoid-based products impact female sexual function?

ANSWER: According to a study published in the journal Sexual Medicine, an increased frequency of marijuana use is associated with improved sexual function among females. Interestingly, it was noted that chemovar type and method of consumption did not impact outcomes, though.

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QUESTION: CBD and medical marijuana are legal in Florida and California. Do the major amusement parks in these states and other legal marijuana states allow medical marijuana patients to carry CBD and medical marijuana into the amusement parks?

ANSWER: With a few exceptions, the answer is no. Medical marijuana and CBD products are not allowed in Disney parks and resorts (including hotels, shopping and restaurants). Six Flags, Universal, and Cedar Fair also prohibit all forms of legal cannabinoid products, including CBD. In contrast, Sea World properties (which include all Busch Gardens and Sea World parks) allow visitors to carry CBD—but no forms of medical marijuana with significant amounts of THC.

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QUESTION: According to an estimate by the United Nations, what percentage of the world’s population used cannabis products in 2016?

ANSWER: The UN estimated that in 2016, 3.9% of the world’s population used cannabis products. (3.9% of the world population is equivalent to ~ 192.2million people)—The UN’s data suggest that there was an increase of 16% compared with estimates of the previous decade.

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QUESTION: Does the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently certify the levels of THC contained within CBD products?

ANSWER: Actually, no. The FDA does not regulate the CBD products sold in convenience stores, grocery stores and on line. Although they are labeled as containing no THC, some may actually contain a small amount of THC. (Note: The FDA does monitor the CBD product called Epidiolex.)

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QUESTION: Has the FDA approved any drugs that contain a purified drug substance derived from cannabis?

ANSWER: Yes. Epidiolex oral solution contains purified cannabidiol that has been extracted from the cannabis plant, and this drug has been approved by the FDA. The FDA has also approved medications, such as marinol, that contain synthetic THC.

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QUESTION: Do cannabinoids induce clinical remission or affect inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease patients?

ANSWER: According to a systematic review with meta-analysis of the efficacy of cannabis and cannabinoids for inflammatory bowel disease, cannabis/cannabinoids do not induce clinical remission or affect inflammation in IBD patients. (No effect on inflammatory biomarkers was observed.) However, in this systematic review it was found that cannabis/cannabinoids significantly improved patient-reported symptoms and quality of life. (Clinical symptoms (abdominal pain, general well-being, nausea, diarrhea, and poor appetite) all improved with cannabis/cannabinoids on Likert-scales.) This systematic review involved 15 nonrandomized studies and 5 randomized controlled trials.

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QUESTION: In July of 2020, the FDA announced that labeling for opioid analgesics and medicine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) must be updated. What do the updates entail?

ANSWER: The updates include that naloxone availability be routinely discussed as part of prescribing opioid analgesics and OUD medicines. The labelling changes also recommend that health care professionals consider prescribing naloxone when they prescribe medicines to treat OUD. Additionally, the labeling changes recommend “that health care professionals consider prescribing naloxone to patients being prescribed opioid pain medicines who are at increased risk of opioid overdose… A naloxone prescription should also be considered for patients prescribed opioids who have household members, including children, or other close contacts at risk for accidental ingestion or opioid overdose.”

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QUESTION: Do cannabinoid-based medicines impact the deposition of Amyloid β peptide in Alzheimer’s disease?

ANSWER: According to the results of a systematic review, the findings of 9 animal studies indicated that cannabis-based medicines might modulate Amyloid β modifications and inhibit the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. (The maximum and minimum cannabinoid dosages, mostly CBD and THC in animal studies, were 0.75 and 50 mg/kg, respectively. The cannabinoids (CBD and THC) were injected for 10 to 21 days.)

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QUESTION: What is the most common mode of CBD administration?

ANSWER: According to a 2017–2018 online survey evaluating modes of CBD administration, the most common method of CBD administration was sublingual, followed by vaping, oral ingestion of capsules and liquids, smoking, edibles, and topical administration.

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QUESTION: In what dosage forms are pharmaceutical fentanyl products supplied?

ANSWER: Pharmaceutical fentanyl products are currently available in the following dosage forms: oral transmucosal lozenges (AKA fentanyl “lollipops”), buccal tablets and sublingual tablets, sublingual sprays, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, and injectable formulations.

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QUESTION: Chronic pelvic pain affects up to 15% of women in the United States. Cannabinoid receptors are expressed on reproductive tissues (including the uterus) and non-reproductive pelvic tissues. Do patients with chronic pelvic pain use cannabinoid-based products to ameliorate their symptoms?

ANSWER: The conclusions of a survey of 122 chronic pelvic pain female patients indicated that up to 23% report using cannabinoid-based products as an adjunct to their prescribed therapies. The patients use a variety of formulations and doses of cannabinoid-based products, and most report daily or weekly use. Most users report improvement in symptoms, but did acknowledge that side effects are common.

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QUESTION: Describe the chemical makeup of endocannabinoids.

ANSWER: Endocannabinoids are ester, ether, and amide derivatives of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Arachidonic acid is an example of a polyunsaturated fatty acid in endocannabinoids.

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QUESTION: How is the endocannabinoid system linked to the opioid system?

ANSWER: Opioid receptors and CB receptors are located within the same neurons within the CNS. In addition, cannabinoids activate kappa and delta receptors to initiate a release of endogenous opioids.

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QUESTION: Does the co-administration of THC and alcohol impact serum THC levels?

ANSWER: Yes. According to a study by Hartman in 2015, alcohol may increase serum THC levels.

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QUESTION: Some producers of cannabinoid products will provide a certificate of analysis (CoA) from an independent and certified testing laboratory. What information is typically displayed on a CoA?

ANSWER: CoAs typically indicate the amount and concentration of major cannabinoids and terpenes present, and data regarding the presence of microbial/ fungal contaminants, levels of heavy metals, and presence and concentration of pesticide and solvent residues.

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QUESTION: Drug screens are sometimes done in the pre-operative. Is it clinically useful to do a drug screen for the presence of cannabinoids or cannabinoid metabolites?

ANSWER: Drug screens for the presence of cannabinoids and metabolites of cannabinoids will not inform the healthcare provider of the recency of marijuana use, as cannabinoids can remain in the body for several weeks.

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QUESTION: Does CBD isolate contain any other cannabinoids or terpenes?

ANSWER: CBD isolate is CBD in its molecular form, and is typically sold as 99+% pure. Unless indicated on the label, products made with CBD isolate do not contain any other cannabinoids or terpenes.

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QUESTION: What does “broad spectrum” mean?

ANSWER: Broad spectrum and full spectrum are not synonymous. Broad-spectrum products are processed in such a manner as to ensure that the final product does NOT contain THC.

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QUESTION: What does “full spectrum” marijuana product mean?

ANSWER: Full spectrum means that the product contains all of the original compounds found in the flower of the cannabis plant (cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids).

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QUESTION: Have the results of studies conducted between 2003-2017 indicated that cannabinoids are effective at treating chronic non-cancer pain?

ANSWER: Yes. Lynch and Ware published 2 systematic reviews (SR). One SR evaluated trials from 2003 to 2010 and the other SR evaluated trials from 2010 to 2014. Of the 29 RCTs evaluated in the 2 SRs, 22 of them demonstrated that cannabinoids have a modest analgesic effect and are safe in the management of chronic pain. The modes of administration explored in these 29 SRs included: smoking, oromucosal and oral. All 6 smoked cannabis trials showed a positive analgesic response.

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QUESTION: Epidemiological studies indicate that as many as 15% of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients may use cannabinoids to ameliorate some of their symptoms, including improvement in diarrhea, abdominal pain and appetite. Do the studies show that cannabinoids are effective?

ANSWER: There are few studies evaluating cannabinoid use in IBD, and those studies are small. In Crohn’s disease, it has been demonstrated that THC reduces the Crohn’s disease activity index by >100 points (on a scale of 0–450). Also, two small studies involving ulcerative colitis patients showed a marginal benefit. However, no improvement in inflammatory markers or in endoscopic score in either disease was detected.

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QUESTION: The findings of multiple RCTs indicate that cannabinoids effectively treat chronic pain. Do cannabinoids effectively treat the chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia?

ANSWER: No. According to a Cochrane systematic review published in 2016 on the use of cannabinoids to treat fibromyalgia, there is no convincing, unbiased, high-quality evidence suggesting that a cannabinoid-based medicine (nabilone) is of value in treating people with fibromyalgia. Furthermore, the tolerability of nabilone was low in people with fibromyalgia. Also, the results of a 2019 study where 4 varieties of pharmaceutical grade marijuana were administered by single shot vapor to fibromyalgia patients indicated that none of the 4 marijuana varieties had an effect greater than placebo. (Note: The data from the 2019 study could not be used to extrapolate the long-term effects of cannabinoids on fibromyalgia-associated pain.)

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QUESTION: Some cancer patients use medical marijuana to treat various cancer-associated ailments. What are some of the ailments ameliorated by medical marijuana?

ANSWER: According to one study involving 96 cancer patients receiving supportive cancer care, the data support the safety and effectiveness of medical marijuana as a complementary option for improving pain control, appetite and quality of life for cancer patients. The top three adverse events of this study included drowsiness, low energy and nausea, and were reported in 28% of patients, with 9% having to stop using the medical marijuana. (Note: other studies indicate that chemotherapy-induced N/V and anxiety are ameliorated by medical marijuana.)

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QUESTION: Side effects of short-term cannabinoid-based therapy may differ from person to person, and the same person may experience different side effects at different times. What factors influence the probability and the severity of adverse events?

ANSWER: Many factors influence the likelihood and the severity of adverse events, including the type of cannabinoid preparation; the mode of administration; the patient’s expectations, the patient’s prior experience with cannabinoid-based therapies, and the age of the patient. Drug–drug interactions may also lead to adverse events.

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QUESTION: According to the results of a survey of breast cancer patients’ use of cannabinoid products before, during, and after treatment, 42% of survey participants had used medical cannabinoid products to relieve symptoms. What symptoms were treated with the cannabinoid products?

ANSWER: Members of the Breastcancer.org and Healthline communities were asked to participate in a survey during the period of 12/16/2019 – 1/19/2020. Among the 832 respondents who completed screening, 725 met the eligibility criteria, and 612 (84%) completed the survey. According to the results, the symptoms for which cannabinoids were used included insomnia (70%), pain (59%), anxiety (57%), stress (51%), and nausea/vomiting (46%). The results also indicated that cannabinoids were used prior to treatment in 24%, during treatment in 79%, and after treatment in 54%. Of subjects reporting cannabis use during treatment: 86% used it during chemotherapy, 71% during HER2 therapy, 65% during hormonal therapy, 49% during breast radiation, and 47% during radiation for metastatic sites. Post-surgical use was reported in 51% after mastectomy alone, 40% after lumpectomy, and 38% after mastectomy/reconstruction.

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QUESTION: Other than feeling “high” what are some of the reported psychological CNS-related side effects associated with cannabinoid use?

ANSWER: Psychological side effects associated with cannabinoid use include: restless/anxiety/nervousness, depressed mood, dysphoria, confusion, dissociation, hallucinations, hyperactivity, weird dreams, paranoia and psychosis.

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QUESTION: Are cannabinoids an effective analgesic agent in the chronic pain setting?

ANSWER: In contrast to the lack of efficacy in the acute pain setting, cannabinoids are effective analgesic agents in the chronic pain setting. According to 2 systematic reviews involving a total of 29 RCTs, 22 of the 29 RCTs demonstrated that cannabinoids have a modest analgesic effect in the management of chronic pain. The following modes of administration were examined in the RCTs: smoked cannabis (6 trials), oromucosal and oral cannabis extract (11 trials), nabilone (8 trials), dronabinol (2 trials), THC-11 acid analogue (2 trials), and fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor (1 trial).

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ANSWER: Are cannabinoids an effective analgesic agent in the acute pain setting?

ANSWER: No. According to the results of multiple RCT examining the efficacy of cannabinoids to treat acute pain, THC, nabilone and other cannabinoid-based products were not associated with a reduction in pain, but were associated with adverse side effects, including sedation.

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QUESTION: What are the common modes of administration of medical marijuana used by cancer patients?

ANSWER: According to a survey completed by 183 cancer patients of an oncology clinic at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, California, over 50% reported use of oils and tinctures and 44% used edibles. A smaller percentage consumed cannabis-based products via vaping (26%) or smoking (30%). Topical use was preferred by fewer patients (17%). Over 58% of patients stated they used more than one method.

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QUESTION: It has been estimated that a significant proportion of cancer patients (18.3-40.0%) in the United States use cannabis or cannabinoid-based products. Does the evidence indicate that cannabinoid-based products are effective in treating cancer-related pain? chemotherapy-induced n/v? cancer-related cachexia?

ANSWER: According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, there is substantial evidence for the effectiveness of cannabis and cannabinoids in treating cancer-related pain; specifically, oromucosal THC/CBD spray. Also, there is conclusive evidence that cannabis and cannabinoids effectively relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; (specifically, oral THC). However, there is inconclusive evidence about the effectiveness of cannabinoid-based products in treating cancer-related cachexia.

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QUESTION: Does the administration of marijuana affect insulin levels in humans?
Answer

ANSWER: In a DBRCT involving 20 participants, it was found that marijuana consumed via oral, smoked, or vaporized routes affected blood concentrations of some metabolic hormones, including insulin. In fact, the results of this study indicate that acute marijuana use blunted the insulin spike associated with the consumption of a brownie.

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QUESTION: Are there any special considerations for patients who consume cannabinoid-based products and are undergoing plastic surgery?
Answer

ANSWER: Yes. On occasion, plastic surgeons administer atropine and/or epinephrine during a procedure. Both of these medications can increase heart rate, and cannabinoids may potentiate the increase in heart rate.

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QUESTION: A common adverse effect of chronic recreational marijuana use is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. In fact, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is a near daily diagnosis in many Canadian emergency departments. Anecdotal evidence supports the use of haloperidol. Is haloperidol more effective than odansetron for the treatment of the nausea and vomiting associated with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?

ANSWER: According to the results of a randomized controlled trial involving 33 patients with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, haloperidol (0.05 mg/kg or 0.1 mg/kg) was superior to odansetron 8mg for average reduction from baseline in abdominal pain and nausea at 2 hours, and was associated with the need for fewer rescue antiemetics and shorter time to ED departure. In this study, there were 2 haloperidol and 6 ondansetron return ED visits for ongoing nausea/vomiting, as well as 2 return visits for acute dystonia, both in the higher dose haloperidol group.

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QUESTION: Cannabinoid receptors have been located in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, as well as on immune cells. Have cannabinoid receptors been isolated in reproductive tissues/cells?

ANSWER: In addition to cannabinoid receptors being identified in the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, cannabinoid receptors have also been identified on ovary, endometrial tissue, testes, and spermatozoa. In fact, research suggests that marijuana may alter the release of FSH and LH, ovulation, sperm motility, fertilization, as well as placentation.

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QUESTION: What are K2 and Spice?

ANSWER: K2 and Spice are synthetic cannabinoid “designer drugs” that are intended to mimic the effects of THC. These synthetic cannabinoids are sold as “herbal incense” at convenience stores/gas stations, smoke shops and via the internet. They are produced in powder form, and then often dissolved in solvents, so they can be applied to dry plant material to make the “herbal incense” products.

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QUESTION: Heroin is processed from morphine, an extract from the poppy plant. Heroin is often depicted as a white powder. Is heroin sold in forms other than white powder?

ANSWER: In addition to white powder, heroin is sold as a brownish powder, or as a black sticky/tar-like substance (AKA black tar heroin). Heroin is either sold in pure form or is “cut” with other drugs (quinine, for example) or with other white powdery substances, including sugar, starch or powdered milk.

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QUESTION: Respiratory depression is associated with the overdose of opioids or benzodiazepines. Is respiratory depression associated with an overdose of cannabinoids? Why or why not?

ANSWER: Respiratory depression is not associated with cannabinoid use because CB1 receptors are not located in the midbrain, the part of the brain responsible for respiratory drive.

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QUESTION: As of January 2020, how many Americans were using marijuana-based products for medicinal purposes?

ANSWER: It has been estimated that more than 2 million Americans use marijuana for medical reasons. Some of the many ailments being treated with marijuana include: chronic pain, PTSD, depression, sleep disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer-related ailments, and GI disorders. Some indications are supported by good scientific evidence, but many are not.

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QUESTION: Rohypnol® is the trade name for the benzodiazepine called unitrazepam. Has this drug ever been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medical use in the United States?

ANSWER: No, but outside the US, Rohypnol® is prescribed to treat insomnia. Rohypnol® has been referred to as a date rape drug or roofies. Before 1997, Rohypnol® was manufactured as a white tablet, and when mixed in liquids, it was colorless, tasteless, and odorless. In 1997, the manufacturer responded to concerns about the drug’s role in sexual assaults, and reformulated the drug. Now, Rohypnol® is produced as an olive green tablet with a speckled blue core that when dissolved in light-colored drinks will change the color of the liquid to blue. Of note, generic versions of the drug may not contain the blue dye.

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QUESTION: What is the Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act (CDTA) of 1988?

ANSWER: The CDTA is an Act that regulated 12 (drug manufacturing) precursor chemicals, eight essential chemicals, tableting machines, and encapsulating machines. The Act imposed recordkeeping and import/export reporting requirements on transactions involving these regulated products. One of the goals of this Act was to reduce the supply of methamphetamine. As of 2020, the DEA regulates more than 40 chemicals that are often used in the production of illicit drugs.

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QUESTION: Cannabinoids are metabolized by many of the same cytochrome P450 enzymes as warfarin, including CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. THC, CBD and CBN can inhibit the CYP2C9-mediated hydroxylation of warfarin, and thus lead to an increase in INR. Do cannabinoids also affect the metabolism of heparin? Is the metabolism of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), including rivaroxaban, edoxaban, and apixaban, impacted by cannabinoids?

ANSWER: While cannabinoids do not alter the metabolism of heparin, cannabinoids may impact the metabolism of DOACs. DOACs are substrates of P-gp and are absorbed by the gut through the P-gp efflux transporter. Cannabinoids may bind to P-gp membrane transporters and alter DOAC metabolism. DOAC levels may increase, leading to an increased risk of bleeding.

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QUESTION: CBD is a CB1 antagonist and a negative allosteric modulator at CB2. Does CBD interact with receptors other than CB1 or CB2?

ANSWER: Yes. CBD has cannabinoid receptor-independent properties. For example, CBD is an agonist at the TRPV1 receptor and has agonist properties at the 5-HT1A/2A/3A serotonergic receptors. CBD is also a capsaicin analog. CBD has antagonist activity on alpha-1 adrenergic and μ-opioid receptors, too. In addition, CBD has been found to inhibit synaptosomal uptake of noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, and gamma-amino butyric acid. CBD also inhibits anandamide uptake.

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QUESTION: Cannabinoid receptors are located throughout various parts of the CNS, including the basal ganglia, hippocampus, cerebellum and cerebral cortex, and in the peripheral nervous system. Do these receptors have effects on neurotransmitters such as serotonin?

ANSWER: Yes. CB receptor activity not only impacts serotonin, but it also affects acetylcholine, dopamine, glutamate, and GABA, as well as NMDA and opioid receptor systems.

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QUESTION: The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) regulates five classes of drugs. What are they?

ANSWER: The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) regulates five classes of drugs, including narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens and anabolic steroids. All controlled substances have abuse potential or they are immediate precursors to substances that have abuse potential. Note: Alcohol and tobacco are specifically exempt from
control by the CSA.

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QUESTION: Methamphetamine is a Schedule II highly addictive stimulant. What is methamphetamine’s mechanism of action that leads to the “rush” and “high”?

ANSWER: It is believed that the “rush” and the “high” associated with amphetamine use result from the release of very high levels of dopamine into areas of the brain that regulate feelings of pleasure.

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QUESTION: Methadone, morphine and heroin are all narcotics. Do they all have a similar chemical structure?

ANSWER: No. Morphine and heroin (which is derived from morphine) have a similar structure. Methadone, which is a synthetic narcotic, does not have a similar structure to morphine.

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QUESTION: Methamphetamine is a controlled substance and is classified as a Schedule II drug. Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse and have an accepted medical use. What medical use(s) does methamphetamine have?

ANSWER: As of April 2020, there is only one legal “meth” product, and it is sold under the name Desoxyn®. It has very limited use in the treatment of obesity and ADHD.

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QUESTION: Is the analgesic potency of hydromorphone more or less than the potency of morphine?

ANSWER: Hydromorphone is (2 to 8 times) more potent than morphine but not as potent as fentanyl.

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QUESTION: Chronic pelvic pain affects up to 15% of women in the United States. Cannabinoid receptors are expressed on reproductive tissues (including the uterus) and non-reproductive pelvic tissues. Do patients with chronic pelvic pain use cannabinoid-based products to ameliorate their symptoms?

ANSWER: The conclusions of a survey of 122 chronic pelvic pain female patients indicated that up to 23% report using cannabinoid-based products as an adjunct to their prescribed therapies. The patients use a variety of formulations and doses of cannabinoid-based products, and most report daily or weekly use. Most users report improvement in symptoms, but did acknowledge that side effects are common.

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QUESTION: In what dosage forms are pharmaceutical fentanyl products supplied?

ANSWER: Fentanyl pharmaceutical products are currently available in the following dosage forms: oral transmucosal lozenges (AKA fentanyl “lollipops”), buccal tablets and sublingual tablets, sublingual sprays, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, and injectable formulations.

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QUESTION: Fentanyl, morphine and heroin are all analgesics. Which one of the three is the most potent analgesic?

ANSWER: Fentanyl is the most potent analgesic of the three. It is about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin, as an analgesic agent.

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QUESTION: What are common street names for marijuana?

ANSWER: Often, marijuana concentrates look similar to honey with either a brown or gold color, and many of the street names refer to the golden brown color. The terms wax, ear wax, honey oil, budder, butane hash oil, butane honey oil (BHO), shatter, dabs (dabbing), black glass, and errl have all been used to refer to marijuana concentrates.

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QUESTION: What is hashish?

ANSWER: Hashish (AKA hash) is a THC-rich resin from the cannabis plant. This resin is collected and processed into various forms, including balls, cakes or cookies. Pieces of hashish can be broken off, and placed in pipes or cigarettes for smoking. Some individuals mix hashish with tobacco. Hashish products are considered to be Schedule I substances.

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QUESTION: What is the most common route of administration for the synthetic cannabinoids K2 or Spice?

ANSWER: K2 and Spice are used for recreational purposes, and smoking is the most common route of administration. Spraying or mixing the synthetic cannabinoids on dried plant material allows one to smoke it (using a pipe, a water pipe, or rolling the drug-laced plant material in cigarette papers). Also, liquid synthetic cannabinoids have been designed to be vaporized via e-cigarettes.

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QUESTION: Does marijuana use alter the sexual intercourse experience?

ANSWER: An online survey posed questions regarding various aspects of sexual experience and how those aspects were impacted by marijuana use. The results indicated that marijuana helped individuals relax, heightened their sensitivity to touch, and increased intensity of feelings, thus enhancing their sexual experience, while others found that marijuana interfered by making them sleepy and less focused or had no effect on their sexual experience.

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QUESTION: CB1 receptors are located on neurons in the CNS and PNS. Are CB1 receptors also located on cardiomyocytes?

ANSWER: Yes. CB1 receptors are located in cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelial cells as well as smooth muscle cells. Activation of these CB1 receptors may lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, vasodilation, and negative inotropy.

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QUESTION: Some cannabinoid-based medicines are used to treat chemotherapy-induced n/v. Have cannabinoid-based medicines been shown to be effective in the treatment of post-op n/v?

ANSWER: The results of studies indicate that neither nabilone or intravenous THC is effective for post-op n/v. Even premedication with nabilone was ineffective at treating post-op n/v.

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QUESTION: Does ketamine interact with the endocannabinoid system?

ANSWER: Yes. Ketamine induces the release of endocannabinoids.

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QUESTION: Do CB1 and CB2 agonists facilitate endogenous opioid signaling?

ANSWER: Yes. In fact, CB1 and CB2 agonists increase the concentrations of endogenous opioids.

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QUESTION: Is the endocannabinoid system linked to the opioid system?

ANSWER: Yes. Opioid receptors and CB receptors are located within the same neurons within the CNS. In addition, cannabinoids activate kappa and delta receptors to initiate a release of endogenous opioids.

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QUESTION: How do cannabinoids modulate pain sensation? In other words, describe the mechanism of action of cannabinoids.

ANSWER: Endocannabinoids are synthesized in the postsynaptic neuron in response to stimuli such as pain, stress and inflammation. Endocannabinoids travel in a retrograde fashion and activate the presynaptic CB receptors. Antinociceptive effects occur when either endocannabinoids or phytocannabinoids activate presynaptic inhibitory CB1 receptors. Stimulation of CB1 receptors (G protein coupled receptors (Gi,Go)) leads to a reduction of cAMP production via the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. This results in an action on voltage gated calcium and potassium channels – there is a depression of neuronal excitability and a reduction of neurotransmitter release.

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QUESTION: A study by Jamal et al. published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology reported that marijuana users required a higher dose of morphine s/p abdominal surgery. They estimated that there was a 23% increased opioid dose requirement. Have the results of studies examining the opioid requirements s/p orthopedic surgery also shown that marijuana users require more opioids than patients who do not use marijuana?

ANSWER: In a retrospective study including 3793 patients, patient-reported postoperative outcomes of 155 marijuana users were compared with those of 155 non-users. The results indicate that pre-operative marijuana users had higher pain scores at rest and on movement but did not consume more post-operative opioid analgesics. The cannabinoid users also reported a greater incidence of post-operative sleep impairment.

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QUESTION: CBD is a negative allosteric modulator. What does that mean?

ANSWER: A negative allosteric modulator changes the shape of the receptor and, as a result, reduces the binding ability of components that typically bind to the receptor. In the case of cannabinoids, CBD alters the shape of CB1 receptors, and THC along with endogenous cannabinoids do not bind to the CB1 receptor to the same degree as they do when CBD is not present.

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QUESTION: Some producers of cannabinoid products will provide a Certificate Of Analysis (CoA) from an independent certified testing laboratory. What information is typically displayed on a CoA?

ANSWER: CoAs typically indicate the amount and concentration of major cannabinoids and terpenes present, and data regarding the presence of microbial/ fungal contaminants, levels of heavy metals, and presence and concentration of pesticide and solvent residues.

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QUESTION: What medications alleviate the symptoms of marijuana withdrawal?

ANSWER: There are no general guidelines to treat the symptoms of marijuana withdrawal, but it has been reported that benzodiazepines and synthetic THC products used for the treatment of chemotherapy induced N/V may help alleviate some of the symptoms.

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QUESTION: What does “broad spectrum” mean?

ANSWER: Broad-spectrum products are processed in such a manner as to ensure that the final product does NOT contain THC.

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QUESTION: What does “full spectrum” marijuana product mean?

ANSWER: Full spectrum means that the product contains all of the original compounds found in the flower of the cannabis plant (cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids).

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QUESTION: Over 2 million Americans with cardiovascular disease use marijuana. Warfarin interacts with marijuana. Do statins interact with cannabinoids?

ANSWER: Yes. Statins and cannabinoids are metabolized by the same liver enzymes. The co-administration of cannabinoids and statins can lead to a decrease in statin metabolism. As a result, the potency of the statins may increase, and lead to hypotension.

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QUESTION: Although Illinois and Nevada have both legalized the use of medical and recreational marijuana, it is illegal to take marijuana on a flight from Chicago to Las Vegas. The reason – airspace is regulated by the federal government and marijuana is illegal under federal law. Do any US airports have “marijuana amnesty boxes” for the disposal of marijuana?

ANSWER: Yes. In addition to 2 airports in Chicago, Mc Carran International Airport in Las Vegas and the Colorado Springs Airport have installed amnesty boxes for passengers who need to surrender their marijuana before boarding a flight.

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QUESTION: What are the precursors for the most commonly naturally occurring phytocannabinoids?

ANSWER: The precursors for THC, CBD and CBC are olivetolic acid and geranyl pyrophosphate. These precursors undergo a condensation reaction which results in the formation of cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). A cyclase enzyme converts CBGA into either tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) or cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) or cannabichromenic acid (CBCA). Then, heat decarboxylates these cannabinoids into THC, CBD or CBC, respectively.

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QUESTION: True or false? Cannabinoids impact NMDA, opioid AND gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) receptors.

ANSWER: True. Not only do cannabinoids act at NMDA, opioid AND gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) receptors, but they also have activity at receptors such as adenosine, serotonergic, adrenergic, nicotinic acetylcholine, glycine, and PPAR receptors, and ion channels such as TRPV.

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QUESTION: Are pupillary responses to light affected by marijuana?

ANSWER: Yes – marijuana may impair pupillary responses.

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QUESTION: Is the legalization of medical marijuana associated with an increase in sexual activity?

ANSWER: Yes, according to researchers from the University of Connecticut and Georgia State University, the legalization of medical marijuana is associated with an increase in sexual activity. Of note, the study also determined that there’s a decrease in the use of contraceptives and an increase in the number of births following the enactment of medical marijuana policies. This study was published in the Journal of Health Economics.

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QUESTION: What is the definition of drug diversion?

ANSWER: In the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine’s Framing Opioid Prescribing Guidelines for Acute Pain: Developing the Evidence (2020), drug diversion is defined as the transfer of regulated prescription drugs from the legal market to illegal markets. The sharing of drugs with other individuals for medical or nonmedical purposes is NOT considered to be drug diversion. (The sharing of drugs is drug misuse.)

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QUESTION: Is it legal to carry marijuana on a Greyhound bus?

ANSWER: No. Greyhound Lines bans alcohol and drugs (including marijuana) “anywhere on the bus (including in your checked baggage).”

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QUESTION: Animal research studies on CBD’s potential therapeutic effects often employ rodents. Is CBD administered to rodents the same way CBD is administered to humans?

ANSWER: No. CBD is commonly administered to rodents either via intraperitoneal injection or via the oral route. In contrast, CBD has been studied in humans using oral administration or inhalation, but not via intraperitoneal. The pharmacokinetics of these various routes of administration differ and therefore the blood concentrations of CBD may differ.

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QUESTION: Has the use of CBD been evaluated for the treatment of heroin addiction?

ANSWER: Yes. Dr. Yasmin Hurd, director of the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai in NYC led a double-blind study of 42 recovering heroin addicts and found that CBD reduced both cravings and cue-based anxiety, both of which can cycle people back into using heroin.

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QUESTION: Does CBD modulate 5-HT1A receptor activity?

ANSWER: Yes, and this modulation may directly improve hyperarousal/insomnia symptoms in PTSD patients.

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QUESTION: Is the US VA Office of research and Development conducting any clinical trials that evaluate the use of CBD for the treatment of PTSD?

ANSWER: Yes. A RCT evaluating the efficacy of using CBD as an adjunctive to prolonged exposure therapy (PE therapy)) was started in March 2019 and will conclude on September 30,2023. The trial will compare PE + CBD to PE + placebo in a sample of 136 military Veterans with PTSD at the VA San Diego Medical Center.

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QUESTION: Is it legal to transport marijuana on Amtrak’s railway?

ANSWER: Amtrak has a strict policy: “The use or transportation of marijuana in any form for any purpose is prohibited, even in states or countries where recreational use is legal or permitted medically.”

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QUESTION: Do any medical marijuana legal states accept out-of-state medical marijuana authorizations?

ANSWER: Yes. About twenty states accept out-of-state medical marijuana authorizations, BUT reciprocity laws vary from state to state. In some states, visitors are required to sign up for the medical marijuana program 30 days in advance and pay a $50 nonrefundable fee. The state’s purchasing limit may differ for permanent vs. temporary residents. In Oregon, for example, residents can possess up to 24 ounces, while visitors are allowed only one ounce.

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QUESTION: Does the CBD molecule contain an aromatic ring?

ANSWER: Yes, it does. The CBD molecule contains a cyclohexene ring and an aromatic ring (a phenolic ring). Of interest, the rings are located in planes that are almost perpendicular to each other.

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QUESTION: Describe the chemical makeup of endocannabinoids.

ANSWER: Endocannabinoids are ester, ether, and amide derivatives of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Arachidonic acid is an example of a polyunsaturated fatty acid in endocannabinoids.

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QUESTION: Does chronic use of THC and/or CBD by individuals with multiple sclerosis impact cerebral glucose metabolism?

ANSWER: The results of “The Effects of Chronic Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) use on Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study” published in 2019 in ‘Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism‘ indicate that “Compared to non-users, THC-users had hypermetabolism of three regions (p < 0.039, d >1.17) in left temporal areas, while CBD-users had hypometabolism of five regions (p < 0.032, d > 1.31) in left temporal areas.”

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QUESTION: True or False? According to the results of a survey conducted by the FDA, about 90% of US adults understand that FDA-approved prescription drugs may cause harm.

ANSWER: False. The results of the survey indicate that 42.9% of consumers were not able to accurately report that FDA‐approved prescription drugs may cause harm.

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QUESTION: The FDA approves the language used on package inserts of prescription drugs. Does the FDA also approve the language of “direct-to -consumer” ads?

ANSWER: Actually, no. The language, including the risk or benefit statements, used in “direct to consumer” ads is not FDA-approved.

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QUESTION: Based on data from the 2016 to 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, do more people in the US smoke marijuana or tobacco cigarettes”

ANSWER: According to the 2016 to 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 39 million people smoke marijuana, and according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 34.3 million people smoke tobacco cigarettes. Recent trends show that the number of marijuana smokers is rising while the number of cigarette smokers is declining.

—

QUESTION: CB1 receptors are located on neurons in the CNS and PNS. Are CB1 receptors also located on cardiomyocytes?

ANSWER: Yes. CB1 receptors are located in cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelial cells as well as smooth muscle cells. Activation of these CB1 receptors may lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, vasodilation, and negative inotropy.

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QUESTION: Smoking and vaporizing marijuana may induce an increase in heart rate. Is smoking marijuana associated with other cardiac electrical effects?

ANSWER: Yes. THC may increase catecholamine levels and therefore may theoretically increase the likelihood of arrhythmias. Various cardiac electrical effects have been described in observational studies. Atrial fibrillation was one of the more commonly reported arrhythmias. Other marijuana-associated arrhythmias reported include atrial flutter, atrioventricular block/asystole, sick sinus syndrome, ventricular tachycardia, and Brugada pattern.

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QUESTION: Some cannabinoid-based medicines are used to treat chemotherapy-induced n/v. Have cannabinoid-based medicines been shown to be effective in the treatment of post-op n/v?

ANSWER: The results of studies indicate that neither nabilone or intravenous THC is effective for post-op n/v. Even premedication with nabilone was ineffective at treating post-op n/v.

—

QUESTION: Do cannabinoid-based medicines have a higher NNT (number needed to treat) than opioids for pain relief? Than pregabalin? Than tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) agents?

ANSWER: According to recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses (from 2016-2018), cannabinoid -based medicines have a higher NNT than opioids, pregabalin and TCAs. It was also noted that there was a higher risk of adverse events associated with cannabinoid-based medicines compared to opioids, pregabalin and TCAs.

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QUESTION: The 2017 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s (NASEM)review on the health effects of cannabinoid-based medicines concluded that there was conclusive or substantial evidence for the use cannabis or cannabinoids for the treatment of pain in adults. Do other national regulatory bodies have similar conclusions to the NASEM’s conclusion?

ANSWER: Actually, no. The Health Products Regulatory Authority of Ireland does not support the use of cannabinoid-based medicines for the treatment of chronic pain. Also, the European Pain Federation’s recent position paper recommended cannabinoid-based medicines be considered for chronic neuropathic pain only as a third line agent. Furthermore, the European Pain Federation found that the results of the studies examining chronic non-cancer pain indicated that there was insufficient evidence for the use of cannabinoid-based medicines for the treatment of non-neuropathic chronic non-cancer pain.

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QUESTION: Does ketamine interact with the endocannabinoid system?

ANSWER: Yes. Ketamine induces the release of endocannabinoids.

—

QUESTION: Do CB1 and CB2 agonists facilitate endogenous opioid signaling?

ANSWER: Yes. In fact, CB1 and CB2 agonists increase the concentrations of endogenous opioids.

—

QUESTION: Do opioid antagonists impact the effects of cannabinoids?

ANSWER: Yes. For example, it has been shown that the administration of opioid antagonists block some of the effects of THC.

—

QUESTION: Is the endocannabinoid system linked to the opioid system?

ANSWER: Yes. Opioid receptors and CB receptors are located within the same neurons within the CNS. In addition, cannabinoids activate kappa and delta receptors to initiate a release of endogenous opioids.

—

QUESTION: True or false? Cannabinoids impact NMDA, opioid AND gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) receptors.

ANSWER: True. Not only do cannabinoids act at NMDA, opioid AND gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) receptors, but they also have activity at receptors such as adenosine, serotonergic, adrenergic, nicotinic acetylcholine, glycine, and PPAR receptors, and ion channels such as TPRV.

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QUESTION: How do cannabinoids modulate pain sensation? In other words, describe the mode of action of cannabinoids.

ANSWER: The endocannabinoid system, consisting of the cannabinoid₁ receptor (CB₁R) and cannabinoid₂ receptor (CB₂R), endogenous cannabinoid ligands (endocannabinoids), and metabolizing enzymes, is present throughout the pain pathways. Endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, and synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists have antinociceptive effects in animal models of acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain. CB₁R and CB₂R located at peripheral, spinal, or supraspinal sites are important targets mediating these antinociceptive effects. The mechanisms underlying the analgesic effects of cannabinoids likely include inhibition of presynaptic neurotransmitter and neuropeptide release, modulation of postsynaptic neuronal excitability, activation of the descending inhibitory pain pathway, and reductions in neuroinflammatory signaling. The large body of preclinical evidence in support of cannabinoids as potential analgesic agents is supported by clinical studies demonstrating their efficacy across a variety of pain disorders.

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QUESTION: EXPERIMENTAL pain studies indicate that cannabinoids may be an effective therapy for acute and chronic pain. Have the results of CLINICAL studies also shown that cannabinoids are effective at alleviating acute and chronic pain?

ANSWER: In contrast to experimental studies, the results of clinical trials with cannabinoids provide only moderate-quality evidence for the relief of chronic pain. Also, the analgesic effects of cannabinoids have not been found to be superior to placebo in acute pain. In addition, pre-operative and peri-operative marijuana use may increase post-operative perceived pain.

—

QUESTION: A study published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology, by Jamal et al. reported that marijuana users required a higher dose of morphine s/p abdominal surgery. They estimated that there was a 23% increased opioid dose requirement. Have the results of studies examining the opioid requirements s/p orthopedic surgery also shown that marijuana users require more opioids than patients who do not use marijuana?

ANSWER: In a retrospective study including 3793 patients, patient-reported postoperative outcomes of 155 marijuana users were compared with those of 155 non-users. The results indicate that pre-operative marijuana users had higher pain scores at rest and on movement but did NOT consume more post-operative opioid analgesics. The cannabinoid users also reported a greater incidence of post-operative sleep impairment.

Milk… it STILL does a body good!

Food color.

What a compelling subject, eh?

Doubtless, it’s a spell-binding topic, and certainly one bound to keep readers’ rapt attention!

Thrilling and exciting!

Compelling even!

Except that, things aren’t always what they seem.

First, however, you’ll need to be buttered up for this one.

In an unobtrusive article cross-published in Smithsonian Magazine (also at https://www.ZocaloPublicSquare.org/2020/01/15/when-the-government-decided-the-spread-on-your-toast-should-be-pink/ideas/essay/), author Ai Hisano addresses food color.

Instead of being professionally prepared as a chef, restaurateur, food historian, or nutritional anthropologist, author Ai Hisano is Senior Lecturer at the Graduate School of Economics at Kyoto University, Japan, and has been the Newcomen Postdoctoral Fellow in Business History at Harvard Business School, where she most recently authored Visualizing Taste: How Business Changed the Look of What You Eat.

Though her article isn’t difficult to swallow, it was rather bland and under-cooked, because while she did the job fairly well enough sharing some interesting tid-bit details about the history of oleomargarine, she failed overall to address the underlying concern – and therefore the premise of – the rationale for the existence of laws regulating the color of oleomargarine.

Again,
the unspoken and underlying concern
for the color of margarine
– the question
‟Why was it a concern?〞
–  failed to be addressed.

That concern is fraud.

Sadly, food fraud remains a concern today – even in the United States.

For example, producers of plant-based non-dairy imitation milk products such as “almond milk” are rapidly being caught in the cross hairs of public intrigue with their highly-processed, made-in-a-chemistry laboratory pseudo-natural products by making numerous varieties of claims about their product(s), none of which are proven, nor represent any improvement in public health, though their marketing obliquely intimates as much.

It is inherently fraudulent to label a product as being a certain thing when it is not.

That is plain and simple.

And I write this with all sincerity: It makes me

Scandalous!!

Reproduction of an original photograph of Prince George of Greece and Denmark (1869-1957) and Princess Marie Bonaparte (1882-1962). Prince George is sitting to the right wearing military uniform. Princess Marie is standing beside him to the left with her right hand resting on her hip. She is wearing a pale coloured dress and strings of pearls. There is a wooden wall behind them. The photograph is signed and dated. Prince George of Greece and Denmark was the second son of George I, King of the Hellenes. Princess Marie Bonaparte was a descendant of Emperor Napoleon I, an heiress and a psychoanalyst. They married in 1907.

Identify the TRUE statements about Marie Bonaparte (1882-1962), great grand-niece of Emperor Napoleon:

1.) Was anorgasmic.

2.) Was a psychoanalyst.

3.) Helped advance

Why Should I Get The Flu Vaccine?

People that say ‘don’t get the flu vaccine because it’ll give you the flu’ are the equivalent of those who say ‘don’t eat an egg, because you might grow a chicken.’

There’s nothing in the vaccine that can cause influenza.

It’s not even a live vaccine.

It’d sure look funny with a chicken thigh coming out of your ear.

And, there’s no telling where the head and wing would pop up!🤪😂

There’s a “teachable moment” in that bit of humor for those who are “anti-vaxxers.”

You know… just in the case you happen to meet any.

Science: It’s like gravity.

You don’t have to “believe in it” for it to work.
It’s a FACT.

To obtain the fullest immunity from the vaccination takes at least TWO WEEKS for one’s body to build up antibodies to the virus… which is NOT in the vaccine.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/different-flu-vaccines.htm

https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/lot-release/influenza-vaccine-2019-2020-season

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/flu.html

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm

 

“Take Back” Our Schools, Government, and Teach Mythology

For the record, while I receive their emailings, I have NEVER been a part of, nor have I EVER in any way supported the Family Resource Council. The reason I receive them is because it’s always good to know what kind of shenanigans your adversaries are up to. And, I’ve marveled, and continue to do marvel, at their, and other right-wingers’ “take back” this-that-or-the-other diatribes. The only problem with that is that they never say how far back they want to take whatever it is they want to steal. Before 18-year-olds had the right to vote? Before the Civil Rights Act? Before Women’s Suffrage? Before Alabama became the 27th state to ratify the 13th Amendment which outlawed slavery? How far back? They never say.

But you see, by creating an “Us vs Them” mentality, they immediately establish a simplistic either/or “we’re the ‘good guys,’ and you’re the ‘bad guys'” mind set, which then also allows them to couch their the language of their argument as if some evil adversary stole something from them, i.e., “take back.”

How can anyone “steal” public schools? Steal from them by denying tax dollars, or funnel tax dollars to private corporations, I can see. But “steal” them? Hardly possible. Of course, that has never been the case – nor will it ever be the case – because no one stole anything.

Unfortunately, we also see that fallacious and petty mindset in politics, as in

16-Year Study: Medical Marijuana Laws Decrease Underage Use

Results of a large-scale, 16-year anonymized research project found that states with Medical Marijuana Laws (MMLs) and decriminalization statutes, underage cannabis consumption declines, especially among minority youth.

One concern some have regarding legalization of cannabis – whether for Medical (MMJ), or Adult Recreational Use (ARU) – is whether or not it will adversely affect youth. Specifically, a question often asked is, “will legalizing cannabis increase underage consumption?”

Lead Researcher Dr Rebekah Levine Coley said that, “Some people have argued that decriminalizing or legalizing medical marijuana could increase cannabis use amongst young people, either by making it easier for them to access, or by making it seem less harmful.”

“However, we saw the opposite effect,” said Dr Coley, and noted that results of the 16-year-long study show that in states where MMJ is legal, rates of underage consumption of cannabis have declined.

Those findings occurred even after accounting for other variables, including policies on

Teen Grey Matter and Cannabis Use

In a recently published article entitled “Grey Matter Volume Differences Associated with Extremely Low Levels of Cannabis Use in Adolescence,” in the Journal of Neuroscience, 14 January 2019 edition, pp3375-17, researchers wrote in part that “We identified extensive regions in the bilateral medial temporal lobes as well as the bilateral posterior cingulate, lingual gyri, and cerebellum that showed greater GMV in the cannabis users.”

News items related to that newly published research are focusing upon that singular line as if it’s something negative. Since when did INCREASED grey matter become something dangerous, or cause for concern? Colloquially, the term “grey matter” is used to describe the brain, and by extension, brain power. So let’s examine this matter (no pun intended) in more detail.

But before proceeding further, it bears mentioning that adolescents should NOT be consuming cannabis, neither alcohol, nor tobacco. And try as much as we want, we will not ever stop underage consumption of any adults-only substance. The BEST we can do is to educate them, and others, of potential risks involved in its use – especially and particularly underage use – and deny them opportunities to consume alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. THAT is a strategy which has PROVEN to work, because the trite “Just say ‘no'” has never worked, nor will it ever.

Dr David Robert Grimes is a physicist, cancer researcher and science writer, who was the joint recipient of the 2014 Nature / Sense About Science Maddox Prize and wrote in a brief anti-marijuana article dated 15th May 2017 entitled “The rise of the cannabis cult: don’t believe the hype about medical marijuana” that

Dream A Little Dream Of Me: How Dreams Reflect, And Guide Our Waking Lives

Dreams are a world of surreality, where anything can, and does, happen.

In our dreams, pigs can fly, cats bark, and trees can speak. But more importantly than the seeming peculiarities such as talking telephone poles, or growing houses, is the symbolism of the objects in the dreams. One thing stands for another.

In our dreams, snakes might not necessarily represent the animal, but may represent deception, or danger. Conversely, depending upon the context of the dream, snakes may represent sexuality, or even money. It is the combination of the context of the elements in the dream, their setting, and actions, in conjunction with the events of our waking lives, that may provide useful information, even unique insight, into our waking lives.

Dreams can be thought of a type of guide to our waking lives, because they often reflect what is occurring, sometimes even with imperceptible events occurring behind the scenes, of which we are naturally unaware.

And, our dreams may also forewarn us of events. For example, in the Scriptural account in the Gospel of Matthew, the Magi, popularly called the “Three Wise Men” (though no translation of the story specifies how many there were) who had come to visit the exiled Holy Couple – Joseph, Mary, and the newborn Jesus, who had similarly been warned in a dream to flee their homeland before the child’s birth – returned to their homeland after their visit, because they were warned in a dream to do so. In chapter 2, verse 12 it states that, “And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” (NIV)

The narrative doesn’t say what they dreamed, or the elements those dreams contained, it merely states that they used perceptive insight (were cognizant of significance) given to them while (presumably) in a state of unconsciousness – sleep. In other words, their dreams, as they interpreted, provided useful information to give them, giving meaning (and safety) to their lives at a time of unknown peril.

Cover of the First Edition of the book which introduced the Buck Rogers character by author Philip Francis Nowlan.

Knowing what we do about dreams, about how they present themselves to us as

Trump is President. What could possibly go wrong? Could the Electrical Power Grid go down? Ask NIST.

If the GOP and POTUS have their way, your cell phone GPS, cell phone clock, Internet clock, atomic clock, communication satellites, and countless other devices reliant upon accurate timekeeping which are not even owned by you could go awry. Even our power grid could suffer.

Why?

First, some background.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has for many years operated our national Atomic Clock. In fact, in 2014 they “launched a new atomic clock, called NIST-F2, to serve as a new U.S. civilian time and frequency standard, along with the current NIST-F1 standard.”

According to the NIST’s news item,

Cooking Turkey Naked

Turkey in the oven!

Gotta’ get a head-start on Thanksgiving, don’t you know!?

It’s 13.68lbs (6.2kg), and will be cooking approximately 4 – 4.5 hours at 370ºF  (187.7ºC).

I’ll check it around the 3 hour mark, give or take.

I’m cooking it “naked,” as seen.

The bird, not me.

I’m wearing clothes.

And since

National Academies #Marijuana Findings @theNASEM

Many have heard or read about United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ ignorant remark about marijuana, and many of us have heard or read numerous claims about cannabis, ranging from “it cures cancer” to “it makes you hungry,” and almost everything between. But if you want to make an effective argument for or against anything, you need facts. And the following information from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is THE MOST authoritative, up-to-date volume on the subject of cannabis. You would be wise to cite this research when you lobby your local, state or national legislator to legalize (or not) marijuana. (I am a legalization proponent & advocate for the 100% legalization, regulation, and taxation of adult recreational & prescriptive medical use of marijuana.)

Now, with the 2017 release of “The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research” by the Committee on the Health Effects of Marijuana: An Evidence Review and Research Agenda, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice Health and Medicine Division, A Report of the National Academies of Science, we have one of THE MOST to-date conclusive pieces of EVIDENCE for/against cannabis consumption, either medically, and/or recreationally. It is AUTHORITATIVE, and unbiased. Bear in mind, this is findings of SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL RESEARCH.

An independent examination of the report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and all review comments were carefully considered. A committee of experts was convened to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the health effects of using cannabis and/or its constituents that had appeared since the publication of the 1999 IOM (Institute of Medicine) report.

From their review, the committee arrived at nearly 100 different research conclusions related to cannabis or cannabinoid use and health.

Committee members formulated four recommendations to address research gaps, improve research quality, improve surveillance capacity, and address research barriers.

Categories, including subtopics, are as follows:

Therapeutic effects
• Chronic pain; cancer, chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting; anorexia and weight loss; irritable bowel syndrome; epilepsy; spasticity related to multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourette syndrome; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Huntington’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; dystonia; dementia; glaucoma; traumatic brain injury; addiction; anxiety; depression; sleep disorders; post-traumatic stress disorder; schizophrenia and other psychoses

Cancer
• Lung cancer; head and neck cancer; testicular cancer; esophageal cancer; other cancer

Cardiometabolic risk
• Acute myocardial infarction; stroke; metabolic dysregulation, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and diabetes mellitus

Respiratory disease
• Pulmonary function; chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder; respiratory symptoms (including chronic bronchitis); asthma

Immunity
• Immune function; infectious disease

Injury and death
• All-cause mortality; occupational injury; motor vehicle crash; overdose injury and death

Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal exposure to cannabis
• Pregnancy complications for the mother; fetal growth and development; neonatal conditions; later outcomes for the infant

Psychosocial
• Cognition (learning, memory, attention, intelligence); academic achievement and educational outcomes; employment and income; social relation- ships and other social roles

Mental health
• Schizophrenia and other psychoses; bipolar disorders, depression; suicide; anxiety; post-traumatic stress disorder

Problem cannabis use
• Cannabis use disorder

Cannabis use and abuse of other substances
• Abuse of other substances

Weight Of Evidence Categories for Conclusions are ranked High-to-Low-and-None as Substantial, Moderate, Limited Evidence, and No or Insufficient Evidence to Support the Association for therapeutic effects, and other health effects.

Here are: 
Conclusions—Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids

There is conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids are effective:
• For

Authoritative Evidence That @TheJusticeDepartment AG @JeffSessions Is Wrong About #Cannabis

“I am astonished to hear people suggest that we can solve our heroin crisis by legalizing marijuana – so people can trade one life-wrecking dependency for another that’s only slightly less awful.”

–United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions, prepared remarks on “Efforts to Combat Violent Crime and Restore Public Safety Before Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement” in Richmond, VA, Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Many have heard or read about US Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ other willfully ignorant remarks about marijuana, such as his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee when he was then-president Reagan’s first federal judicial nominee to be rejected:

“I thought those guys [the Ku Klux Klan] were OK until I learned they smoked pot.”
-Jeff Sessions, nominee of then-President Ronald Reagan as Federal Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, to Senate Judiciary Committee, June 1986

The Senate Judiciary Committee rejected on June 5, 1986 the nomination of Jefferson B. Sessions, III to be a Federal District Judge in Alabama. It was the first time one of President Reagan’s judicial nominees was rejected.

In 1986, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony about Jeff Sessions from 21 witnesses over 19 hours, including from Thomas Figures, a Black Assistant U.S. Attorney who had worked with Sessions, and testified that Jeff Sessions had made that remark, and other racist comments to him while Sessions was serving as United States Attorney in Mobile, AL. Sessions denied making racial statements, but Republican and Democratic senators expressed concern over his attitude toward members of minority groups, and especially Sessions’ prosecution of three Blacks who were eventually acquitted on charges of voting fraud.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 against Jeff Sessions’ nomination in June 1986, which made him

God Is Mysterious, Naturally

Today is the memorial of Albert Magnus, known as Albert the Great, Bishop, Doctor of the Church.

Albert was known for his vast knowledge in all areas of learning. He was Saint Thomas Aquinas’ tutor, a man skilled in all the sciences of his age. Albert did not fear science; for him there was no contradiction between what he learned about the natural world through scientific observation and what he believed as a person of faith. People of mature faith have nothing to

Want More #Sex? Smoke More #Cannabis!

NPR recently reported about research that seems to point to one benefit of daily use of cannabis.

Increased sexual activity.

I continue to maintain that:
a.) People NEED & OUGHT to have MORE SEX, and;
b.) Cannabis NEEDS & OUGHT to be legalized, taxed & regulated.

Because:
a.) No one ever had an orgasm while “mad” or “angry,” and;
b.) I’ve neither read nor heard of anyone being “mad” or “angry” while high.

Fact is, research is continuing to show that increasingly, people are ANGRY at/because of many things, some of which are outside the locus of their immediate control, and that correspondingly, people are having sexual encounters less often – including married couples (for the benefit of those who believe that sexual activity belongs only among married couples). STOP ANGER! Get high! Have sex!

There’s SIGNIFICANTLY MORE argument to be made AGAINST ETOH (ethanol alcohol, aka “beverage” alcohol) than against cannabis.

Researchers Find Frequency of Sex Rises With Marijuana Use

“Surveys of 50,000 people found that those who smoked marijuana had sex more often than those who

Quantum Hints Of God

In her book of devotions entitled Revelations of Divine Love, 14th-century mystic Julian of Norwich describes how she came to understand that God is light, Whom she described as, “our endless Day.” Seven centuries later, physicist Bernard Haisch came to the same understanding: “The solid, stable world of matter appears to be sustained at every instant by

Research: For Older Adults To Get Smarter, They Should Have More Sex

Research Shows Sex Is Good For Your Brain, Cognitive Function & Mental Health

So, Are You Fucking Smarter Every Fucking Day?

Maybe. 

Could you be fucking stupid? If you are, then stop. Fuck someone smarter.

But, there’s a catch.

Fucking stupid may be good for your AND your partner’s brain. So fucking stupid might not be so fucking stupid.

Perhaps that may explain why some people in America are so fucking stupid. They’re not fucking. Hence, they’re fucking stupid.

Writing in Forbes, David DiSalvo cited a study of adults aged 50-83 which found that

Are you over 65 & taking statin meds? Know anyone who is? It may not be worth it.

If you’re a prescriber, consider this research. If you’re a patient, or know someone who is, consider this for your, or their well-being.

—//—

Statins Have No Primary CVD Prevention Benefit To Older Patients

Takeaway
Statins offer no benefit for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adult patients aged ≥65 y.

Why this matters
“[S]tatins may be producing untoward effects in the function or health of older adults that could offset any possible cardiovascular benefit,” say the study authors.

Study design
Researchers conducted post hoc secondary data analyses of patient data from a randomized, open-label clinical trial (N=2867; age, ≥65 y; 49.4% women; all without evidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease); patients were assigned to either a treatment group receiving pravastatin sodium 40 mg/d or a usual care (UC) group.
Funding: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; AstraZeneca; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Pfizer; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; The Stroke Foundation.

Key results
Hazard ratios for all-cause mortality in the treatment group vs the UC group were

Rethinking Addiction

Perhaps you’ve studied the 12-Step program, or perhaps you’ve practiced it. I have done both. Practicing it was not as a matter of addiction, or any such thing for myself, but instead, was a part of my personal spiritual growth and development.

Over the years, I’ve heard commentary, or news features which interviewed people with divergent perspectives on 12-Step programs, most notably which were skeptical of them, and were thoughtfully seeking answers themselves for the “whys and wherefores” of substance abuse, whether it’s long-term or temporary, and whether it is a genetic fault, or if it is a personality or character flaw in response to external or internal stressors. In other words, it’s the classic “Heredity vs Environment” argument.

As I have come to view it, there is validity for both sides, but I think the stronger case is made for a combination of environment and character flaw, instead of genetic defect.

—/—

“In his recent book, The Sober Truth: Debunking the Bad Science Behind 12-Step Programs and the Rehab Industry, Lance Dodes, a retired psychiatry professor from Harvard Medical School, looked at Alcoholics Anonymous’s retention rates along with studies on sobriety and rates of active involvement (attending meetings regularly and working the program) among AA members. Based on these data, he put AA’s actual success rate somewhere between 5 and 8 percent. That is just a rough estimate, but it’s the most precise one I’ve been able to find.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/

The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous
By Gabrielle Glaser, April 2015 Issue
Its faith-based 12-step program dominates treatment in the United States. But researchers have debunked central tenets of AA doctrine and found

In Response to John Goodwin’s FaceBook Post

A man named John Goodwin made a public post on FaceBook, which also included a link to an OpEd published in the Washington Post on November 9, 2016, which was written by Charles Camosy (PhD, University of Notre Dame), and entitled “Trump won because college-educated Americans are out of touch.” Dr. Camosy is an Associate Professor of Theological and Social Ethics at Fordham University, and the author of a book entitled “Beyond the Abortion Wars: A Way Forward for A New Generation.”

Mr. Goodwin’s FaceBook profile is sufficiently ambiguous of himself, though in his public post which is time & date-stamped 9:45AM, November 10, 2016, and ostensibly geolocated from Washington, D.C., he wrote of himself that, “I haven’t posted about the election mostly because 1) I do this for a living and most of you don’t,” which would lead one to suppose that at some level, he works in or with public policy, or more likely, with politicians.

I do not.

However, suffice it to say, that for many, many, many years, I have remained immensely interested in public policy, though I do not now, nor have I ever made my living from it, or influencing, or attempting to influence others in elected office.

In other words, I have taken the high road.

Mr. Goodwin’s public post to FaceBook is linked herein, as is the article upon which he expounded.

https://www.facebook.com/goody37/posts/10154328123133884

In order to fully understand the matter of discussion herein, I encourage the reader to fully read this item following herein, as well as Mr. Goodwin’s post, and the OpEd upon which he opined

I have responded to Mr. Goodwin’s post as follows:
His words appear italicized, and in “quotation marks.”
My commentary follows immediately after.

“…not everyone lives in big cities.”
• That is correct. The United States Census Bureau says that 80.7% of American reside in urban areas. In fact, they report that “the population density in cities is more than 46 times higher than the territory outside of cities.” So that leaves a whopping 19.3% in rural areas.

“I didn’t grow up with money.”
• Money had been invented by the time I was born. But seriously, someone votes for Donald Trump as if the wealthy are advocates for the impoverished or even the average American? C’mon. Mr. Born-With-A-Silver-Spoon-In-His-Mouth? Really?

“…not everyone went to elite colleges.”
• According to the United States Census Bureau, “in 2015, almost 9 out of 10 adults (88 percent) had at least a high school diploma or GED, while nearly 1 in 3 adults (33 percent) held a bachelor’s or higher degree.” I’m in the 33%. So I’m an elite. Thanks!

“You think they (people who eat at

How TRUE is “largely poor, uneducated, and easy to command”? You’d be surprised… or, maybe not.

Remember how ANGRY some folks got when Michael Weisskopf (b.1946) of the Washington Post wrote on February 1, 1993 (link to original article with the WaPo’s editorial addendum) that the simple-minded evangelical groupies of Jerry Falwell (who himself died in 2007), Pat Robertson (b.1930), et al, that:
“The gospel lobby evolved with the explosion of satellite and cable television, hitting its national political peak in the presidential election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.

“Unlike other powerful interests, it does not lavish campaign funds on candidates for Congress nor does it entertain them. The strength of fundamentalist leaders lies in their flocks. Corporations pay public relations firms millions of dollars to contrive the kind of grass-roots response that Falwell or Pat Robertson can galvanize in a televised sermon. Their followers are largely poor, uneducated and easy to command.

“”The thing that makes them powerful is they’re mobilizable,” said Seymour Martin Lipset (d.2006), professor of public policy at George Mason University. “You can activate them to vote, and that’s particularly important in congressional primaries where the turnout is usually low.”

“Some studies put the number of evangelical Americans as high as 40 million, with the vast majority considered politically conservative.”

[ed. note: The excerpt, which has frequently been distilled to “largely poor, uneducated and easy to command,” is provided here in full proper context with leading and following sentences, not merely excerpted, in order to thoroughly show proper context.]

It’s true.

Folks don’t get mad because of falsehoods.

They get mad because of truth.

It’s true.

According to the United States Census Bureau (USCB), in 2015 (22 years AFTER that was written), 32.5% of the American public aged 25, or older, have a Bachelor’s Degree (Table 1.), which is CLEARLY a minority. Thus, we see automatically the “largely” part of “uneducated.”

The USCB has also performed research on income, which is similarly delineated and categorized by education. For the year 2011 (18 years AFTER the remarks were made), and those aged 25+ with at least a Bachelor’s Degree, the average income was

Criticizing Stephen Hawking

Renown astrophysicist Stephen Hawking appeared on the Larry King Now show June 2016, and was interviewed by the esteemed long-time journalist.

In the interview, among the comments Hawking made was that “We certainly have not become less greedy or less stupid. The population has grown by half a billion since our last meeting, with no end in sight. At this rate, it will be eleven billion by 2100.”

News of the interview was covered by USA Today, and subsequently by The Intellectualist website, both which focused upon Professor Hawking‘s remark as referenced above.

This is worth noting:
The article quoted Hawking as saying,

Research: Higher Wages Reduces Smoking

September 7, 2015
Raising the minimum wage could benefit health, say researchers. 

 A 10% increase in wages leads to a 5% decrease in the rate of smoking. That is especially true for male employees with a low level of education, report scientists from the UC Davis Health System in Sacramento in the “Annals of Epidemiology.” Moreover, the likelihood of quitting smoking increases from 17-20%.

For their study, researchers analyzed data from full time workers aged 21 to 69 in the years 1999 to 2009 and

Meteorology, Mama & Baby -or- How I Was Befriended By Luck

It was Easter Sunday, 2010, and unknown to me, dumb luck had befriended me.

Pure dumb luck.

Even scientists believe in it.

In 1996, Duncan C. Blanchard, a meteorological researcher then affiliated with the State University of New York at Albany, authored a scientific paper entitled “Serendipity, Scientific Discovery, and Project Cirrus” published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society in which he cited Project Cirrus (1947-52), a period and project of research from which “many serendipitous discoveries and inventions were made, opening up areas of research still being pursued today.”

Blanchard’s work was cited a decade later in 2006 by David M. Schultz, who was then affiliated with the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, and the NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma in a research paper entitled The Mysteries of Mammatus Clouds: Observations and Formation Mechanisms. In it he wrote that what little we know about mammatus clouds was, because of their nature, “obtained largely through serendipitous opportunities.”

In other words, what little we know about the clouds (so named after human breasts because of their appearance), has been obtained by pure dumb luck – although, being prepared, and being in the right place at the right time does account for something.

In conversation recently with a dear, and longtime friend, I shared about

Study: Cannabis Legalization Does Not Increase Underage Use

Consumption Of Marijuana With Respect To The Passage Of Respective State Medical Marijuana Laws

The Lancet Psychiatry – Jul 20, 2015

    The Passage Of Medical Marijuana Laws Could Improvise Medical Usage Of Marijuana, With Due Investigation

 

Background

 Adolescent use of marijuana is associated with adverse later effects, so the identification of factors underlying adolescent use is of substantial public health importance. The relationship between US state laws that permit marijuana for medical purposes and adolescent marijuana use has been controversial. Such laws could convey a message about marijuana acceptability that increases its use soon after passage, even if implementation is delayed or the law narrowly restricts its use. We used 24 years of national data from the USA to examine the relationship between state medical marijuana laws and adolescent use of marijuana.

Methods

Using a multistage, random-sampling design with

Beans So Bad Even My Dog Won’t Eat ‘Em

Dogs’ll eat anything.

Well, almost anything.

Yeah, they were are that bad!

You know beans’ve gotta’ be REALLY bad when even a 4-day hungry dawg won’t eat ’em!

Or, any food.

You KNOW food is genuinely bad when even a hungry dog won’t eat it!

It’s summertime, and truth be told, folks and critters don’t do much eating.

‘Cept for bears. Bears chow down during summer. They eat up, meat up, and sleep it all off over winter.

But this was the case with

Evolution is not Contradictory to Scriptural Creation

And God said, “Let there be light,” and POOF! As if by magic, the sun suddenly appeared fully formed and functional!

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” And POOF! As if by magic, every bird and fish was fully formed & functional, and there were bazillions of ’em!

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image.” And POOF! As if by magic, Adam, the first human, was fully formed and functional.

Sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it?

It should. Yet that’s precisely what it says. Of course, the “And POOF! As if by magic” part was added for purposes of ludicrous illustration.

And, it is equally preposterous to imagine that God is a magician, and that POOF! As if by magic, everything just suddenly appeared.

What we see and understand – if we can use observations of the natural world to guide us – is that

Medical News You Can Use: “I hate you; you’re stupid” Edition – Brain Stimulation Reduces Racial Prejudice

Brain Stimulation Reduces Racial Prejudice

Racial discrimination remains to be a pressing issue across the globe. In a study published in “Brain Stimulation“, Dutch researchers have now demonstrated that racial prejudice can be reduced with brain stimulation.

Scientists at the University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands, conducted an experiment in 60 healthy volunteers. Half of the group received transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with a low intensity current administered by electrodes placed on the frontal part of the scalp. The other half received sham treatment.

During the treatment, the participants were

Medical News You Can Use: Reset Button Edition – Circadian Rhythm Synchronizer Found

“Reset Button” For Internal Body Clock Discovered

Canadian scientists have discovered a type of molecular “reset button” for the body’s “internal clock.” In a study published in “Nature Neuroscience” they describe processes and proteins in the brain which play a role in synchronizing the circadian rhythm. They hope that their findings may contribute to treating disorders associated with a disruption of the body’s internal clock.

A team of researchers from McGill University and Concordia University in Montreal discovered that

Health News You Can Use: Fresh Air & Sunshine Edition – Pancreatic Cancer Linked To Low Amount Of Sunlight

Pancreatic Cancer Linked To Low Amount Of Sunlight

Researchers and scientists in the United States have found an association between sunlight deficiency and the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. The rates of pancreatic cancer are highest in countries with the least amount of sunshine (due to high altitude and heavy cloud coverage). Their findings were reported in a study published in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.”

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, analyzed data from

Science Versus Science Fiction In Alabama Education

I find it strangely fascinating that so many are so fearful… particularly in the South, and in Alabama especially.

Two days ago many celebrated Cinco de Mayo – the 5th of May – by eating out at Mexican-themed restaurants, quaffing a few margaritas, or by making Mexican-styled eats at home. It’s a way, in part, to acknowledge solidarity with our Mexican brothers and sisters and commemorating Mexico’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. A turning point in Mexican struggle for independence, the firefight pitted 2000 ragtag, poorly equipped Mexicans against 6000 well equipped, battle-tested French soldiers. By the time the French retreated from the all-day battle, 500 French, and 100 Mexican lives were lost.

Alabama State House
11 South Union Street, Montgomery, AL

But May 5 also marks another significant event, largely unknown – and certainly unrecognized – by many, if not most.

On May 5, 1925 John T. Scopes was arrested in Tennessee for teaching Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.

It certainly seems Southerners have had it out for Science for quite some time.

Now, like hogs wallowing in mud, Alabama politicians want to meddle even more in the stinking pot of their own making by… well, here’s the news item:

Is God an Abortionist?

The Bible never mentions abortion.

It doesn’t suggest it, nor does it even hint at it.

The Bible doesn’t forbid prostitution.

In fact, there are many things the Bible doesn’t even mention.

But it does forbid eating pork, shrimp, oysters, mussels, clams, cheeseburgers, wearing clothing made with cotton/polyester blended  fabric, that a man should marry his brother’s wife if the brother dies before impregnating her, and several hundred other nonsensical rules, regulations and laws – almost all of which were religiously based upon ignorance.

At the time the Bible was written (approximately 4000 BC/BCE), there was no understanding of Germ Theory (1864). No one understood Bernoulli’s Principle (1783). In fact Bernoulli wasn’t even born then. No one understood the physics and principles of lift, low pressure, high pressure, or how weather systems occurred. Even the beer and wine that was made then was thought to have been made magically – as if it were some kind of mystical gift from the gods, a god, or the God. They had no idea – were literally clueless – that it was through fermentation, because

Medical News You Can Use: “Dr. Atkins Was Right” Edition – Carbs Make You Fat, Not Just Inactivity

Researchers: Diet To Blame For Obesity, Not Lack Of Physical Activity

Lack of physical activity is not to blame for the prevalence of obesity, but rather the wrong diet, report physicians from the United States, United Kingdom, and South Africa who published their findings in the “British Journal of Sports Medicine.” However, they emphasized that even regular exercise cannot compensate for poor dietary habits.

Excess consumption of sugar and carbohydrates is mainly responsible for obesity, say the experts. Even 40% of people with a normal BMI will consequently have metabolic abnormalities normally associated with obesity.

But it is problematic that the public firmly believes that development is exclusively due to lack of physical activity. That misconception is due almost exclusively to

Medical News You Can Use: Sleep Apnea Can Harm Children’s Learning

Disruption Of Sleep In Children Could Hamper Memory Processes

Sleep disordered breathing can hamper memory processes in children, according to a new study presented at the Sleep and Breathing Conference held in April in Barcelona, Spain. The research found that disrupted sleep had a negative effect upon different memory processes and how children learn.

Sleep apnea can also negatively affect growing children.

A team of researchers from the University of Szeged and Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary analyzed 17 children with sleep disordered breathing aged between 6 and 12 years. They looked at different memory processes compared to a control group of 17 children of similar age without any sleep disorders.

A story recall task was used to measure memories that can

Medical News You Can Use: “Can I Please Get Some SLEEP!?!” Edition – Children’s Hospitals Lack Standards

As anyone who has been in a hospital – either as patient, or visitor – can attest, hospitals are NOT a place where rest occurs. And THAT! is a crying shame! For healing restoration can ONLY occur with proper rest, and that means SLEEP!

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Study Reveals An Absence Of Consistent Standards In Children’s Hospital Environments

The sound, light and temperature levels in European pediatric hospital wards often vary, highlighting the lack of consistent environmental standards, according to a new study presented at the Sleep and Breathing Conference held in April in Barcelona, Spain.

Quietude aids healing and restoration

Children and parents often suffer sleep deprivation when the environment on a ward is disruptive, which can affect disease recovery and quality of life in hospitalized children. There are no general consistent recommendations covering sound, light, and temperature levels to help guide hospitals across Europe.

Researchers measured these three factors in five pediatric wards in

Medical News You Can Use: “Musician’s Friend” Edition – Wind Instruments Lower Sleep Apnea

Playing A Wind Instrument Could Help Lower The Risk Of Sleep Apnea

A study performed in India suggests wind instrument musicians are at lower risk for Sleep Apnea. Seen here, a B-flat trumpet.

A new study has found that wind instrument players have a reduced risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. The findings, presented at the Sleep and Breathing Conference held in April in Barcelona, Spain suggest that this could be considered beneficial to those individuals who are at high risk of developing sleep apnea.

Researchers in India conducted lung function testing in

Medical News You Can Use: “Bouncing Off The Walls” Edition – Movement Helps ADHD Kids Learn

Hyperactivity Helps Children With ADHD To Learn

When children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are supposed to learn, adults usually ask them to sit still. However, a study published in the “Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology” now suggests that physical hyperactivity is essential for the cognitive learning processes.

Researchers from the University of Central Florida in Orlando conducted trials in 52 boys aged from 8 to 12. Of the group, 29 boys had ADHD, while the others showed normal development. The study subjects were asked to

Medical News You Can Use: “Supersize Me” Sunday Edition

Supermarkets Make Adults Fatter

In developing and emerging countries, the shift towards purchasing food in supermarkets changes people’s dietary habits and may lead to an increase of weight in adults. That is the finding of a study carried out by German researchers which was published in “Public Health Nutrition.”

Scientists from the University of Goettingen analysed data from 450 households in

Medical News You Can Use: Household Animals Can Pass Along Diseases

Household Animals Can Pass Along Diseases

While there are many positive effects of keeping household pets, they can also pass along diseases. In a study published in the “Canadian Medical Association Journal,” Canadian and American researchers warned that animals are able to transmit numerous pathogens to their owners.

Scientists from The Ohio State University in Columbus, and the University of Ottawa in Ontario performed a meta-analysis of existing literature, which mainly included reports on individual cases but contained no systematic studies.

For healthy people, the risk of contracting a disease was low if the animals were adequately kept and hygiene guidelines followed. However, children younger than 5, adults older than 65, people who are ill, and pregnant women were at increased risk of developing a zoonotic disease. Moreover, researchers found in that group of people the diseases may be more severe, symptoms may last longer, and the risk of complications was higher.

Practically all household pets can transmit pathogens. Transmission occurs through bites and scratches, contact with feces, when cleaning cages, or when an animal licks a person.

Dogs and cats can transmit the diarrhea pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, and cats also pass on Bartonella bacteria. Infection with resistant bacteria such as ESBL, MRSA or Clostridium difficile, is possible between humans and animals in both directions.

Parasites, such as worms, are usually contracted from dogs and cats. Cats can also pass on the bacteria Toxoplasma gondii, which can lead to serious birth defects in unborn children, or even miscarriage. Amphibians and reptiles commonly transmit salmonella. According to U.S. studies, about 11% of all salmonella infections in those under age 21 are caused through contact with those animals.

In general however, the companionship provided by household pets has more positive than negative effects. Dogs, in particular, contribute to protecting toddlers against allergies and respiratory infections. Furthermore, canines have positive effects on the psyche and especially have positive effects because owners get more exercise by taking the animal out.

Medical News You Can Use: The “Pour Some Sugar On Me!” Edition

Maple Syrup May Make Bacteria More Susceptible To Antibiotics

According to Canadian researchers, maple syrup may have the potential to make bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics, thus leading to lower usage of the medicines. That is the finding of a study recently published in “Applied and Environmental Microbiology.” The syrup extract also contributed towards destroying biofilms.

Using common maple syrup, researchers at McGill University in Montreal produced an extract

The Penultimate Reading List

Summertime is quickly drawing to a close, and some of you -no doubt- have enjoyed (or at least attempted to enjoy) reading a few good books during these past few months.

However, just in the case you didn’t, and if you’re looking for a good list from which to choose, either for yourself, your children, or others, here’s an EXCELLENT starting point.

Most are novels, some are not, many are classics, some are from antiquity, some from modernity, some obscure, while others (and their authors) renown. In some cases, authors are not listed because many -if not most- of the works are so renown, or they’re simply unknown; and in the cases where some help could help identify or clarify, the author’s name is provided.

While by no means is this list wholly complete, it’s a damn good start.

If anyone has read at least 1/3 of these, they may consider themselves reasonably well read.
 (While I’ve not read all of the selections, I have read many – and am familiar with most.)

And remember, if you can’t read, you’re doomed!
Don’t ban books!

1.) Daphnis & Chloe (Longus),
2.) I, Robot (Isaac Asimov),
3.) To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee),
4.) Lord of the Flies (William Golding),
5.) The Three Musketeers (Alexandre Dumas),
6.) Gulliver’s Travels (Jonathan Swift),
7.) The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck),
8.) The Catcher in the Rye (J.D.Salinger),
9.) The Hound of the Baskervilles (Arthur Conan Doyle),
10.) Frankenstein (Mary Shelley),

11.) 1984 (George Orwell),
12.) The War of the Worlds (H.G. Wells),
13.) David Copperfield (Charles Dickens),
14.) Don Quixote (Don Quijote de la Mancha),
15.) Moby-Dick (Herman Mellville),
16.) Metamorphoses (Ovid),
17.) The Napoleon of Notting Hill (G.K.Chesterton),
18.) Pilgrim’s Progress (John Bunyan)
19.) Ulysses (James Joyce),
20.) Catch-22 (Joseph Heller),

21.) Robinson Crusoe,
22.) Clarissa (Samuel Richardson),
23.) Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë),
24.) The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne),
25.) Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert),
26.) The Brothers Karamazov ( Fyodor Dostoyevsky),
27.) The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Robert Louis Stephenson),
28.) The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde),
29.) The Call of the Wild (Jack London),
30.) The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame),

31.) Men Without Women (Ernest Hemingway),
32.) Brave New World (Aldous Huxley),
33.) The Plague (Albert Camus),
34.) Charlotte’s Web (E.B.White),
35.) The Lord Of The Rings (J.R.R.Tolkein),
36.) On the Road (Jack Kerouac),
37.) The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,
38.) Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov),
39.) The Tin Drum (Günter Wilhelm Grass),

Cooking Tips & Tricks: Just in time for Independence Day, July 4th cookouts and get togethers!

What’s your favorite outdoor cooked food? Barbecue? Grilling? Chicken? Beef? Pork? Fish?

What’s the deal with marinades?

Bunk, or not?

And what’s a “smoke ring” on barbecue?

And what about the red stuff that runs out of beef when it’s cut after cooking – is it blood?

For answers to all those questions, and ~more!~ tune in to

Alabama Common Core Math

According to Dr. Tommy Bice, Alabama State Superintendent of Education, high schools in the state have achieved an 80% graduation rate. While that sounds impressive, there is an underlying problem, which is this:

How do we know that the children being graduated are competent?

Competency is exemplified as being able to do something successfully. So if merely graduating high school was sufficient demonstration of competence, everyone with a high school diploma would be competent. But sadly, we know that is NOT the case. For example, one need only look to private high schools to so illustrate. Very few private high schools have any such problems. And, it is not to say that all public schools suffer problems. And yet, it is evidence as well that many courses taught in 1960, or even 1860 at the “high school” level are more advanced than those taught today.

For example, consider the following courses of study were required for a diploma of graduation from Middletown City High School, Connecticut in 1848:

Could Climate Change help the Global Economy?

Raise a Glass of Scottish Wine to Global Climate Changes

By Rudy Ruitenberg Mar 25, 2014 11:00 PM CT

Thanks to climate change, Christopher Trotter will make history later this year by pairing a Scottish white wine with the local spoots.

The razor clams harvested from the nearby shores of the North Sea will go down nicely with the first bottles from Trotter’s vineyard north of Edinburgh. The 2014 vintage will be special for Scotland, where Highlanders have distilled whisky and brewed ale for centuries.

“Scotland has probably been more of a beer-drinking nation than anything else,” said Trotter, a chef and food writer. Wine hasn’t been part of the culture, he said, “until now.”

Christopher Trotter, Scottish Chef, Vintner and food writer, stands in his vineyard in Fife, Scotland
– Source: Christopher Trotter via Bloomberg

Trotter might as well pour a splash on the ground in memory of a vanishing world. Climate change, which scientists say is caused by heat-trapping gas accumulating in the atmosphere, is transforming dinner tables and scrambling traditions in the $270 billion global wine industry. In Europe, warmer seasons are chasing Italian and Spanish vintners up hillsides, making a winner of Germany, encouraging growers in Poland and spreading the cultivation of wine grapes to latitudes friendlier to belly-warming whiskies and ales. And it’s raising the alcohol content, and altering the flavors, of famous wines in France.

Vitis vinifera, the common grape vine, is a finicky crop. Vineyards flourish where average annual temperatures range from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit). Too much dry weather, hail or too much rain can downgrade or wreck a vintage.

“Scotland has probably been more of a beer-drinking nation than anything else,” said Trotter, a chef and food writer. Wine hasn’t been part of the culture, he said, “until now.”

Trotter might as well pour a splash on the ground in memory of a vanishing world. Climate change, which scientists say is caused by heat-trapping gas accumulating in the atmosphere, is transforming dinner tables and scrambling traditions in the $270 billion global wine industry. In Europe, warmer seasons are chasing Italian and Spanish vintners up hillsides, making a winner of Germany, encouraging growers in Poland and spreading the cultivation of wine grapes to latitudes friendlier to belly-warming whiskies and ales. And it’s raising the alcohol content, and altering the flavors, of famous wines in France.

Vitis vinifera, the common grape vine, is a finicky crop. Vineyards flourish where average annual temperatures range from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit). Too much dry weather, hail or too much rain can downgrade or wreck a vintage.

Fine Wine

“Wine is very responsive to climatic factors,” said Karl Storchmann, a professor of economics at New York University and managing editor of the Journal of Wine Economics. “This is especially true for fine wine, when weather-induced vintage-to-vintage price variations can exceed 1,000 percent.”

Over centuries, growers in the top producing countries — France, Italy and Spain — selected grape varieties that now account for 75 percent of the world’s wine plantings, according to a database prepared by the University of Adelaide in Australia.

Here’s your Friday Funny!

Can you guess why this is funny?

Hint: You MUST view the page.

And just so you’ll be reassured to know, it is NOT pornographic.

How birds lost their penises – LATimes.com

Sky Diver Parachutist Felix Baumgartner Sets New World Records

As I had opined earlier, while the the otherwise reputable New York Times headlines him as “daredevil” (and doubtless, there is an element to that), he is much more than a mere thrill-seeker. There is significant, and legitimate science being undertaken in this mission.

Further, so-called “daredevils” rarely prepare 5ive years for their stunts, as did Mr. Baumgartner and his team.
—

Daredevil Jumps, and Lands on His Feet

By JOHN TIERNEY
The New York Times
October 14, 2012

Before the jump, Mr. Baumgartner went through a checklist with help from Joe Kittinger, 84, the retired Air Force colonel who in 1960 jumped from 102,800 feet, setting records that remained more than half a century later — and that Mr. Baumgartner was hoping to break. – Credit: Balazs Gardi/Red Bull Stratos, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

ROSWELL, N.M. — Felix Baumgartner, the professional daredevil, said he was not thinking about setting records or collecting scientific data in the moments before he jumped from a capsule more than 24 miles high.

He was just thinking about making it back to Earth.

“Trust me, when you stand up there on top of the world, you become so humble. It’s not about breaking records anymore. It’s not about getting scientific data. It’s all about coming home,” Mr. Baumgarter said after returning by helicopter to mission control in Roswell.

“It was harder than I expected,” he said.

Draught Raises Corn Price, Milk Profits fall, Cows get Slaughtered

Regardless whether global climate change is man-made, or cyclical… it’s going to affect us all, and we would be wise to DO SOMETHING to PRESERVE, PROTECT and DEFEND ourselves NOW!

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Milk-Cow Drought Culling Accelerates as Prices Jump: Commodities

U.S. milk production is headed for the biggest contraction in 12 years as a drought-fueled surge in feed costs drives more cows to slaughter.

Output will drop 0.5 percent to 198.9 billion pounds (90.2 million metric tons) in 2013 as the herd shrinks to an eight- year low, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates. Milk futures rose 45 percent since mid-April and may advance at least another 19 percent to a record $25 per 100 pounds by June, said Shawn Hackett. The president of Boynton Beach, Florida-based Hackett Financial Advisers Inc. correctly predicted the rally in March.

Dairies in California, the top milk-producing state, are filing for bankruptcy, and U.S. cows are being slaughtered at the fastest rate in more than a quarter century. Corn surged to a record in August as the USDA forecast the smallest crop in six years because of drought across the U.S. Global dairy prices tracked by the United Nations rose 6.9 percent last month, the most among the five food groups monitored, and that will probably mean record costs next year, Rabobank estimates.

“Farmers can’t afford to buy as much grain and protein, and that affects milk production,” said Bob Cropp, an economist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison who has been following the industry since 1966. “In California, there’ve been some foreclosures and some sell-off of cows quite heavily. You’re going to see that in other parts of the country.”

Mercantile Exchange

Class III milk, used to make cheese, jumped 22 percent to $21.05 on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange this year. That’s more than 21 of the 24 commodities in the Standard & Poor’s GSCI Spot Index, which rose 1.8 percent. The MSCI All-Country World Index (MXWD) of equities climbed 12 percent, and Treasuries

New Spider found in Oregon Cave

Kewl, eh?

But only if you’re not afraid of spiders.

“I don’t like spiders and snakes
And that ain’t what it takes to love me
Like I want to be loved by you.”

SPIDERS AND SNAKES

ASCAP Work ID: 490316575
ISWC: T0701419762

By
BELLAMY, DAVID M
STAFFORD, JIM W

SONY ATV HARMONY

% VICKIE ARNEY

8 MUSIC SQ W

NASHVILLE , TN 37203

(615)743-1735
INFO@SONYATV.COM

—

Friday, August 17, 2012 11:57 AM EDT

Beware The ‘Cave Robber’: New Spider With Velociraptor-Like Claws Found In Oregon

By Roxanne Palmer

A mysterious organism has been found lurking in the caves and forests of the Pacific Northwest. No, it’s not a sasquatch – it’s a six-eyed spider with curved, vicious-looking claws that scientists have dubbed Trogloraptor, or “cave robber.”

In a paper published in the journal Zookeys on Friday, scientists from the arachnology lab at the California Academy of Sciences described the new critter, which is about the size of a half-dollar coin and likes to hang from simple webs on the ceilings of caves. Researchers and citizen scientist have found Trogloraptor in old-growth redwood forests and in caves across Oregon and California.

It has curved claws that are

News for the “Medical Marijuana”/420 crowd: Israeli firm grows “highless” marijuana strain

What if the so-called “medical marijuana” proponents could have their cake, and eat it to?

That is, what if they could have the “benefits” they claim they derive from smoking marijuana, while NOT having its intoxicating effects?

Would they still smoke it?

That would tell the story.

It certainly would.

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What a drag, Israeli firm grows “highless” marijuana

A worker tends to cannabis plants at a plantation near the northern Israeli city of Safed June 11, 2012. REUTERS-Baz Ratner

By Maayan Lubell SAFED, Israel | Tue Jul 3, 2012 9:48am EDT

(Reuters) – They grow in a secret location in northern Israel. A tall fence, security cameras and an armed guard protect them from criminals. A hint of their sweet-scented blossom carries in the air: rows and rows of cannabis plants, as far as the eye can see.

It is here, at a medical marijuana plantation atop the hills of the Galilee, where researchers say they have developed marijuana that can be used to ease the symptoms of some ailments without getting patients high.

A worker tends to cannabis plants at a plantation near the northern Israeli city of Safed June 11, 2012. Credit: REUTERS/Baz Ratner

“Sometimes the high is not always what they need. Sometimes it is an unwanted side effect. For some of the people it’s not even pleasant,” said Zack Klein, head of development at Tikun Olam, the company that developed the plant.

Cannabis has more than 60 constituents called cannabinoids. THC is perhaps the best known of those, less so for its medical benefits and more for its psychoactive properties that give people a “high” feeling.

A worker tends to cannabis plants at a plantation near the northern Israeli city of Safed June 11, 2012. Credit: REUTERS/Baz Ratner

But cannabis also contains Cannabidiol, or CBD, a substance that some researchers say has