Reefer MEDness

Ponce de León never found the Fountain of Youth. Andras Bilkei-Gorzo from the University of Bonn in Germany thinks Ponce should have looked at low dose THC. Andras and his team have been giving mice low dose THC and finding some interesting results. Listen to how to get an older mouse to swim to an invisible platform faster, how THC can flip a metabolic switch called mTOR on and off at the same time, and why low dose THC might be better for older people than younger ones.  Bidirectional Effect of Long-Term Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Treatment on mTOR Activity and Metabolome - paper [https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00002] A chronic low dose of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) restores cognitive function in old mice - abstract [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28481360/] Andras Bilkei-Gorzo - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andras-bilkei-gorzo-b51ba728/] Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca [https://reefermed.ca/]

Akeem Gardner and his team at Canurta are delving deep into the hidden corners of the cannabis plant. They want to know if we extract this cannflavin, this terpene, this cannabinoid, or one of the other thousands of molecules in the cannabis plant, can it treat a disease? Last year at CannMed 23, he talked to us about how cannflavins could be used to treat a particularly nasty brain tumour called glioblastoma. Since then, Akeem has hit the road and brought the gospel of cannabis plant medicine to conferences and other canna-curious folks across North America, Europe, and as far away as the United Arab Emirates. This year Team Canurta is looking at neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and even aging itself. They are using artificial intelligence to help screen where in the cannabis plant to focus their research. They are partnering with Universities to get academic papers turned into potential treatments. Akeem is one of the featured speakers at CannMed 24 again this year. We’d love to see you in Florida at CannMed 24 in person, and here is a preview of Akeem’s presentation! Canurta - canurta.com [https://www.canurta.com/] Akeem Gardner - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/akeemgardner/] Music by: Dead Bob - White Stone Eyes -YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMjKqGEkM7c] (Yes we got a SOCAN membership to use this song all legal and proper like) Additional Music: Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com [http://desireedorion.com/] Marc Clement - Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/MarcClementMusic] Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca [https://reefermed.ca/]

In Canada, older adults represent a fast-growing demographic of cannabis users. As part of her graduate program, PhD student Madison Maynard did a national enquiry, within the USA, on how cannabis modulates the chronic pain, mental health symptoms, and sleep concerns of people between the ages of 55 and 74 years old. Although the evidence leaves questions of efficacy unanswered, the goals of the study were to examine the hypothesis that medical cannabis use will, at the daily level, predict lower pain, depression, anxiety, and improved sleep. In this episode, Kirk and Trevor discuss how her findings. Madison Maynard - Abstract [https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2023/178/] Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca [https://reefermed.ca/]

Yes we are going waaaayyy back in the archives today. Pre-legalization back. But the discussion about taxes and addiction are still very relevant. Are we addicted to taxes? Trevor and Kirk talk to Dr. Jason Childs. He is an economist who says whether you want to reduce harm from cannabis or increase government coffers then keep taxes on cannabis low. In fact, having the government subsidize licensed producers might be a brilliant idea. In part 2 we have Dr. Jonathon Stea. He is a psychologist who has studied and treated cannabis addiction. Surprisingly, cannabis is probably going to be both worse and better than you imagine post legalization. Jason Childs - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-childs-854184b/] Jonathon Stea - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jonathan-n-stea-b8874a22/] Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca [https://reefermed.ca/]

Do you know anyone with dementia? If you don’t, you will. We humans are living longer and healthier lives. There are more healthy 75 year old people alive now than there ever have been. However, the number of people with dementia is sky rocketing as well. Enter Dr. Mechtler… Dr. Lazslo Mechtler is the Medical Director of Dent Neurologic Institute, the Chief of Neuro-Oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and is also the Director of the DENT Headache Center, Neuro-Oncology Center, and Cannabis Clinic. Dr. Mechtler gives us a fantastic review of dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Then he talks about the work they are doing at the DENT Institute to treat dementia with cannabinoids. DENT Neurologic Institute - Cannabis Clinic - Website [https://www.dentinstitute.com/cannabis-clinic/] Lazlo Mechtler - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laszlo-mechtler-m-d-faan-fean-faan-fahs-895b658/] Lazlo Mechtler - DENT-website profile [https://www.dentinstitute.com/laszlo-l-mechtler/] Music by: Christopher Cros - Sailing -YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PnXcP8ZI7M] Additional Music: Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com [http://desireedorion.com/] Marc Clement - Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/MarcClementMusic] Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca [https://reefermed.ca/]