WHY IT MATTERS: If you use cannabis medicinally and experience unwanted appetite changes or, conversely, rely on cannabis to maintain healthy weight during illness, emerging brain science research may help your physician fine-tune your cannabinoid formulation and dosing to better control these effects. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: The neuroscience of cannabis-induced appetite stimulation involves complex interactions between cannabinoids and the brain’s endocannabinoid system, particularly through CB1 receptor activation in the hypothalamus and olfactory regions that heighten sensory perception of food and override satiety signals. In clinical practice, this appetite-stimulating effect is one of the most well-established therapeutic applications of cannabis, benefiting patients with cachexia, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and wasting syndromes.
IGC Pharma Adds Visionary Investigators Network as Clinical Site to Phase 2 CALMA Trial
WHY IT MATTERS: If you or a loved one is living with Alzheimer’s-related agitation, the expansion of this clinical trial means more opportunities to access investigational cannabinoid therapy and brings us closer to having FDA-reviewed evidence for cannabis-based treatment options in dementia care. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: The expansion of clinical trial sites for IGC Pharma’s Phase 2 CALMA trial investigating cannabinoid-based therapy for Alzheimer’s-associated agitation represents a meaningful step in building the evidence base for cannabis medicine in neurodegenerative disease. Alzheimer’s-related behavioral symptoms like agitation and aggression are notoriously difficult to manage with conventional medications, and cannabinoid therapies have shown early promise in addressing neuroinflammation and behavioral dysregulation through endocannabinoid system modulation.
Do anything, become nothing – The Morning News
WHY IT MATTERS: If you are a parent, caregiver, or young adult considering cannabis, this study reinforces that adolescent brain development is a critical window where unsupervised use may carry serious long-term psychiatric risks that do not necessarily apply to adult medical patients under clinical guidance. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: A new longitudinal study links adolescent cannabis use to increased risk of later bipolar and psychotic disorder diagnoses, adding to a growing body of evidence that the developing brain is uniquely vulnerable to cannabinoid exposure. While this research does not apply directly to adult medical cannabis patients, it reinforces what clinicians in cannabis medicine have long emphasized: age of onset matters enormously, and adolescent use carries a fundamentally different risk profile than supervised adult medical use.
Munchies phenomenon: WSU study looks into benefits of cannabis use and hunger – KIRO 7
️ The science behind the munchies is more important than you think. New research from WSU is exploring how THC activates cannabinoid receptors in the brain to stimulate appetite, even when the body isn’t hungry. Here’s why this matters clinically: Patients with cancer, HIV, and chronic illness often struggle with dangerous appetite loss Understanding the endocannabinoid system helps us dose more precisely ️ Not everyone wants appetite stimulation, so knowing the mechanism helps us manage side effects too This research bridges the gap between patient experience and clinical evidence Better science = better care at the bedside The “munchies” aren’t just a punchline. For many patients, appetite stimulation is the reason they turned to cannabis in the first place. Drop a if cannabis has helped you or someone you know with appetite issues. New WSU research explains how THC triggers appetite at the brain level, validating what cannabis patients have known for years. Better science means better dosing.
Teens Using Weed Have Doubled Risk For Psychosis, Bipolar Disorder
New research is sounding the alarm on teen cannabis use and mental health risk. Here’s what you need to know: Study tracked teens through age 26 Results showed doubled risk for psychosis and bipolar disorder in teen users ️ The developing brain is uniquely vulnerable to THC exposure ️ This is why cannabis medicine physicians distinguish between adult therapeutic use and adolescent recreational use ️ Age-appropriate care matters As a physician who has treated over 30,000 patients, I firmly believe cannabis has real medical value for adults. But that belief comes with a responsibility to be honest: the teen brain is still under construction, and we need to protect it. Talk to your kids. Talk to your doctor. Get the facts. New research links teen cannabis use to doubled psychosis and bipolar risk by age 26. The developing brain deserves different rules than the adult brain.
Cannabis Use Associated with Worse Working Memory – EMJ
New research links heavy cannabis use to reduced brain activation during memory tasks. Here’s what you need to know: The study focused on heavy use patterns, not structured medical dosing Dose, frequency, and cannabinoid profile all matter for cognitive outcomes Working memory changes may be more pronounced with high-THC, high-frequency use ️ Medical patients using low-to-moderate doses under guidance face a different risk profile This is why we monitor cognitive function and adjust protocols over time The takeaway? Cannabis isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is the research. Talk to your cannabis clinician about what this means for YOUR care. Heavy cannabis use may impair working memory, but dose and context matter enormously. Medical patients deserve nuance, not headlines.
Study: Teen Cannabis Use Linked to Double Psychosis Risk – Ground News
New research links adolescent cannabis use to a significantly higher risk of psychosis. Here’s what you need to know: Teen cannabis use was associated with roughly 2x the risk of developing psychotic disorders Genetic predisposition and frequency of use likely play major roles ️ The adolescent brain is still developing well into the mid-20s Medical cannabis programs screen for psychiatric risk factors for exactly this reason This is not about fear — it’s about informed, age-appropriate decisions Cannabis can be powerful medicine for adults under proper guidance. But for teens, the risk-benefit equation is very different. Talk to your kids. Talk to your doctor. Knowledge is harm reduction. New study links teen cannabis use to doubled psychosis risk. This is why age, dose, and clinical oversight matter.
Kaiser Study Finds Higher Risk of Psychiatric Disorders in Teens Who Reported Cannabis Use
New research from Kaiser Permanente highlights psychiatric risks tied to teen cannabis use. Here’s what clinicians and families need to know: The adolescent brain is still developing its endocannabinoid system, making it more vulnerable to disruption ️ Association does not equal causation, but the signal is strong enough to warrant caution ️ Adult medical cannabis under supervision is a very different scenario than unsupervised teen use Age-appropriate protocols, dosing, and monitoring are critical for any adolescent cannabis consideration Open conversations between parents, teens, and clinicians are the best harm reduction tool we have Cannabis is powerful medicine. That’s exactly why it deserves respect, especially when young brains are involved. New Kaiser study links teen cannabis use to higher psychiatric risk. The adolescent brain is not the adult brain, and our approach to cannabinoid medicine must reflect that.
Boulder and CBD: The Entourage Effect Explained
If you use CBD products, understanding the entourage effect helps explain why full-spectrum formulations may offer greater therapeutic benefit than isolated CBD alone. An overview of the entourage effect explains how CBD works synergistically with other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found naturally in full-spectrum hemp products to produce enhanced therapeutic outcomes compared to isolated CBD alone. The concept is supported by preclinical and emerging clinical data showing that combinations of non-psychotropic cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, and CBDV amplify anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects.
United States Drug Enforcement Administration Cannabis-Related Documents
Understanding how the DEA classifies cannabis compounds is essential for patients and providers navigating the increasingly complex legal landscape between hemp, CBD, and controlled substances. The DEA has published an updated collection of cannabis-related regulatory and scheduling documents, providing a consolidated federal reference for the current legal classification and enforcement framework surrounding marijuana and hemp-derived cannabinoids. These documents detail the Controlled Substances Act scheduling criteria, enforcement guidance, and regulatory interpretations that shape how cannabis products are classified at the federal level.