THC

Cannabis does not lead to other drugs, concludes major Japanese study

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A new study of drug use patterns in Japan once again challenges the notion that cannabis is a gateway drug. It concludes that cannabis use in the country generally follows that of alcohol and tobacco, and that users rarely turn to other substances afterwards.

Published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology Reports, this research – which its authors describe as “one of the largest and most important studies to date of cannabis users in the Japanese population” – also revealed that almost half of the respondents who named cannabis as their third drug “ did not subsequently useother substances”.
“Cannabis use in Japan typically follows that of alcohol and tobacco, and rarely leads to other uses,” concludes the report, supported by the Japanese Cannabinoid Clinical Association and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. ” These findings call into question the gateway drug hypothesis in the Japanese context.”
The study acknowledges that cannabis “is often labeled as a ‘gateway drug‘”, but stresses that “strong causal evidence for progression to other substances is limited “.

Unprecedented survey undermines theory of cannabis-hard drug escalation

Its findings suggest that, rather than leading directly to other drugs, cannabis use reflects “shared vulnerabilities” – involving factors such as age, education or socio-economic status – and that strict anti-drug policies can shape these trajectories.
The study is based on an anonymous survey conducted in January 2021 among 3,900 people in Japan who had used cannabis in their lifetime. Researchers then analyzed the data to assess the likelihood that these people had used other drugs after trying marijuana.
” Rather than assuming a causal gateway effect of cannabis,” the authors write, ” the results underline the importance of taking into account the overall life context in which substance use takes place. Social determinants such as age, education and socio-economic position appear to shape consumption patterns independently of the pharmacological properties of cannabis. ”

Evaluation of the responses revealed that ” the probabilities of subsequent use of alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs after cannabis use were 1.25, 0.77, 0.08 and 0.78 respectively – suggesting low probabilities of progression “.
While the results did show certain correlations between lifetime cannabis use and the use of other drugs, such as methamphetamine, the team of 12 researchers made it clear that these observations did not establish a causal link – the very heart of the gateway drug theory.
” Our survey found that 10.4% of cannabis users reported having experimented with methamphetamine – a figure well above the estimated 0.5% lifetime use of this substance in the general Japanese population,” says the report. ” This suggests that cannabis users may indeed be more exposed to other illegal drugs, but it does not, however, establish causality. ”

Social factors more decisive than cannabis itself

The study focuses instead on the so-called “common vulnerability” theory, according to which ” the observed order and relationship between substances results not from one drug leading directly to another, but from common underlying factors – such as genetic, psychological or social influences – that predispose some individuals to poly-drug use.”” In Japan,” the team explains, “ strict regulation of cannabis may contribute to a situation where cannabis and other drugs circulate on the same black market, increasing users’ exposure to various substances.” It could therefore be the regulatory environment – and not the pharmacological properties of cannabis – that creates a gateway effect.
Another finding that supports this hypothesis, the report points out, is the relatively low rate of use of legal substances such as benzodiazepines and prescription drugs among cannabis users in the sample.
The authors do, however, acknowledge certain limitations to the study, such as the self-selecting nature of the survey conducted online via social networks, or the fact that respondents were recruited on the basis of their use of cannabis, and not other drugs.” To overcome these limitations,” they write, ” future large-scale cohort studies involving the general population will be essential. ”
But at the very least, based on the results of this current survey, the report concludes, “ we observed no pattern that supports the gateway drug hypothesis. ”

No increase in drug use in legalized US states

Meanwhile, in the USA, a study conducted last year revealed that the legalization of recreational cannabis does not appear to have contributed to what the authors describe as a ” substantial increase” in the use of Schedule II stimulants in the country. In fact, there is even evidence to suggest that cannabis legalization may have reduced the use of stimulants through substitution effects.
The authors of this study pointed out that the finding that the end of cannabis prohibition was not linked to an increase in stimulant use ran counter to their initial expectations.

The team had predicted that the legalization of recreational cannabis would lead to an increase in stimulant use, but found no evidence to support this.
While cannabis is often labeled a gateway drug by its detractors, numerous studies show that marijuana could, on the contrary, act as a substitute for certain drugs, at least for certain categories of users.
A survey released in 2023 by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Morning Consult found that Americans consider marijuana significantly less dangerous than cigarettes, alcohol or opioids – and find it less addictive than all of these substances, including technology.

Cannabis less harmful than alcohol and tobacco

A separate poll, conducted by Gallup, also showed that Americans consider marijuana to be less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.
With regard to alcohol, a study published in November 2023 concluded that cannabis legalization could be linked to a “ substitution effect “, with young adults in California ” significantly ” reducing their alcohol and tobacco consumption after the reform took effect.

Recent research in Canada has also shown a correlation between cannabis legalization and lower beer sales, again suggesting a substitution effect between the products. Other studies have established a link between cannabis legalization and reduced use of prescription and non-prescription opioids. A report published last November, for example, linked the legalization of medical cannabis to a ” lower frequency ” of non-prescription pharmaceutical opioid use.
A federally-funded study in 2023 found that cannabis was significantly associated with a decrease in opioid need among users without prescriptions, suggesting that expanded access to legal cannabis could be a safer alternative.Another study published the same year found that legal access to CBD products led to a significant drop in opioid prescriptions – with decreases ranging from 6.6% to 8.1% depending on the state.

Cannabis as a substitute for hard drugs?

Yet another study linked the use of medical cannabis to reduced pain and less dependence on opioids and other prescription drugs. A study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) also showed that chronic pain patients who received medical cannabis for more than a month significantly reduced their use of prescribed opioids.

The AMA has also published data indicating that around one in three chronic pain patients use cannabis as a therapeutic option – and that the majority use it as a substitute for other pain medications, including opioids.
Across the US states, cannabis legalization is also associated with a sharp drop in prescriptions for codeine, an opioid in particular, according to a study based on Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) data.

Another study, published in 2022, also showed that allowing patients legal access to medical cannabis helped them to reduce or even stop using opioid painkillers, without any deterioration in their quality of life.
Finally, there is no shortage of testimonials, data-driven studies and observational analyses to show that some people use cannabis as an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical medicines, such as opioid painkillers or sleeping pills.

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Green and virtuous: how THC drinks are replacing alcohol.

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A recent survey of consumers of THC-infused cannabis beverages reveals that almost 80% of them claim to have reduced their alcohol consumption – and more than a fifth to avoid it altogether. These figures fuel the debate on the potential substitutive effect of cannabis for alcohol.

A near-majority cut back on alcohol after switching to THC drinks

According to the exclusive survey shared with Marijuana Moment, 77% of those surveyed claim to have reduced their alcohol intake since consuming THC drinks, and 21% even claim to have stopped drinking altogether.
The survey, conducted by THC beverage company Crescent Canna among 1,066 adults aged 21 and over, reveals several striking trends.
Among respondents :

  • More than one in three drinks at least one THC beverage a week, and 45% drink at least three. 
  • 67% also use other cannabis products on a weekly basis, while a third use them less regularly, if at all;
  • the vast majority (67%) prefer to consume these drinks at home, and only 14% in social settings (clubs), 6% at parties, 3% at festivals;
  • 68% of participants say they buy their THC drinks online

Motivations are varied: 78% simply want to relax, while 64% enjoy the sensations provided. More than half mention avoiding hangovers and the negative effects of alcohol, while 51% say these drinks help them sleep better.

User profiles: mature adults and hybrid uses

Against all preconceived ideas, the survey shows that it’s not just young people who are turning to these drinks: the 35-54 age group is the most numerous (53%). What’s more, more than a third of users are over 55.
Many of these users combine THC drinks with other forms of cannabis, but in some cases, drinks become a preferred route, whether for discretion, ease of use or to limit alcohol in a social context.
The survey is part of a wider trend observed among young people: according to other surveys, many millennials and members of Generation Z now prefer THC drinks to alcoholic afterworks.

Substitution: opportunity or precaution?

These results support the hypothesis of a substitutive effect of cannabis on alcohol: consumers clearly state that the introduction of THC drinks has led them to drink less or more at all.
However, several caveats deserve attention: the survey is based on self-reports, with possible biases (recall, social desirability…). No rigorous clinical protocol is cited here, and direct causality (THC causing cessation of alcohol use) cannot be demonstrated.
Moreover, the question of long-term use, mental health effects or dependence remains unanswered. However, current results suggest that this avenue should be explored in the context of reducing the harm associated with alcoholism, particularly for those seeking less harmful alternatives.

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Study: Cannabis use does not lower IQ

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Effects of cannabis on the brain

While opponents of legalizing weed pointed to its deleterious effect on IQ, this argument was unsubstantiated: while previous research had not established a link between lower IQ and marijuana use , a study published in Brain and Behavior confirms that weed does not lower the IQ of its aficionados.

Analyzing a sample of 5,162 men in early adulthood through their late fifties, researchers determined that participants with a history of cannabis use experienced
“significantly less cognitive decline”
over the course of their lives than non-cannabis users.

These results confirm those of previous studies.

Among cannabis users, neither age of initiation nor frequency of use was associated with negative effects on cognition.
In their press release, the authors of this longitudinal study state that
“these results are consistent with most existing studies”.
.
In fact, other longitudinal studies, such as the one by John Hopkins University in Baltimore, published as early as 1999 in the
American Journal of Epidemiology,
or the one published earlier this year in the
JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)
by researchers affiliated with Harvard Medical School and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both converge on the same conclusion, despite different protocols.

In the latter, researchers collected structural and functional brain imaging (fMRI) data from a cohort of patients newly licensed to use medical cannabis at the start of the study and one year later. Similar data were also collected from healthy controls (non-cannabis users). Result: ” no
no association between changes in frequency of cannabis use and brain activation
 “.

Alcohol and benzodiazepines, available over the counter in all Western countries, have a proven and marked effect on IQ, with a reduction of up to 30% for heavy alcoholics.

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Cannabis and memory

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Cannabis, memory,

While it’s no secret that cannabis has notorious effects on brain activity, few studies have quantified the actual impact of weed on memory. One fact, however, is indisputable: not all cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, THC…) have the same effects – short- or long-term – on the brain. Their role in memory processing and perception also differs according to the quantity and frequency of consumption.

CBD as a THC antagonist?

Remember, any substance ingested, whether harmful or not, has an impact on the brain. Cannabis is no exception to the rule: several neuroscience studies have demonstrated that its consumption has a direct impact on blood circulation in various parts of the brain: the hippocampus, the frontal lobes and the cerebellum, leading to significant changes in cognitive activity.

Differences in cannabis varieties also play a significant role. While Sativa cannabis is known for its stimulating, energizing effects, Indica cannabis slows brain activity and can make you feel drowsy,   memory takes a hit…
Numerous studies have shown that the presence of THC in the body impairs memory capacity, particularly the encoding of information, processing speed and reaction time.  But factors such as age, quantity and frequency of consumption are decisive in assessing damage to memory function.

After three months’ abstinence, abilities return to normal. The damage may therefore be reversible, provided you stop taking the drug long enough.
Cannabidiol (CBD), on the other hand, does not have the same effects on the brain. It acts on the same endocannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), but has no psychoactive function – in other words, it spares psychic activity while optimizing brain activity. Several researchers have discovered that CBD increases blood flow to the hippocampus, the area of the brain that manages memories and learning. CBD would therefore be an interesting ally for working memory and semantic memory.

The University of College London team even claims that ” the results could offer better target therapies for those suffering from diseases affecting memory. ” Such as Alzheimer’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Focus on the different types of memory

  • Working memory or short-term memory is the memory of the present. Constantly in demand, it enables us to retain information while carrying out a task or activity.
  • Semantic memory is the memory of language and knowledge about the world and ourselves. It is built up through lifelong learning and experience.
  • Episodic or long-term memory enables us to situate ourselves in time and space. Recalling a childhood memory or projecting ourselves into the future calls on the same brain circuits.
  • Procedural memory is that of unconscious automatisms (cycling, driving, playing music, etc.).
  • Perceptual memory is linked to our 5 senses. It enables us to retain smells, images or sounds.

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Study: THC improves memory in aged rats!

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Study, rats, cannabis

As cannabis use increases among the elderly, researchers are taking a closer look at its effects on cognitive function as we age. A recent study published in the journal Psychopharmacology suggests that cannabis, and more specifically its main psychoactive ingredient THC, may improve certain types of memory in elderly rats.

The researchers found that acute exposure to cannabis smoke improved working memory in aged male rats, but impaired it in aged females. Conversely, chronic oral administration of THC improved working memory in elderly rats of both sexes, without affecting their spatial memory or having any impact on younger rats.
Cannabis use is becoming increasingly common among senior citizens. In the United States, between 2015 and 2023, the percentage of people over 65 who have used cannabis in the past year almost tripled. Many consume it regularly, often to relieve chronic pain, anxiety or sleep disorders. Yet while cannabis is known to impair memory and attention in young adults, its effects on the aging brain, which is more vulnerable to cognitive decline, remain little studied.

Mouse stones…

Previous research on elderly mice had suggested that low doses of THC could improve cognitive function, a surprising finding that raised the possibility that cannabis could alleviate some age-related amnesic disorders under specific conditions.
This new study, led by Jennifer L. Bizon, aimed to explore these hypotheses in more detail. The aim was to understand how cannabis affects two types of memory: working memory, dependent on the prefrontal cortex, and spatial memory, linked to the hippocampus. The methods of administration used (smoking and oral ingestion) reflect typical human consumption.
Barry Setlow, co-author of the study, explains that their interest initially stems from a preclinical research program into the effects of cannabis smoke on cognition and behavior, aiming for greater translational relevance to human models.
Three experiments were carried out on young adult (6-9 months) and aged (24-28 months) rats. The first involved exposure to cannabis smoke and assessment via memory tasks using a touch screen. The second evaluated the impact of chronic oral THC consumption over three weeks, while the third analyzed THC metabolism.

… Who regain their memory

Notable results: in aged male rats, cannabis smoke significantly improved working memory, especially in the most challenging situations, while it degraded performance in aged females. Chronic oral ingestion of THC improved working memory in both aged sexes, with no noticeable effect on the young. No significant change was observed for spatial memory in either group.
These results intrigue researchers, not least because THC appeared to benefit only working memory (prefrontal) and not that involving the hippocampus. Differences in THC metabolism according to age and sex do not seem sufficient to fully explain these cognitive effects.
Several hypotheses have been put forward: the reduction of excessive inhibition of the aging prefrontal cortex by activation of cannabinoid receptors, and the anti-inflammatory effects of THC, known to reduce age-related cerebral inflammation.
With regard to the deterioration observed in aged females, the difference in initial performance between males and females could explain why THC benefits those with lower initial performance (aged males) and harms females, already performing well.

Results concordant with those of a Danish study

However, the authors point out certain limitations: obvious biological differences between rats and humans, limited number of cognitive tasks evaluated, low doses of THC used, and non-exhaustive modes of administration.
These results are nevertheless in line with a long-term Danish study showing that cannabis users suffered less cognitive decline over 44 years.
The researchers recommend studying the effects of other cannabis compounds, such as CBD, as well as longer-term research to assess the persistence of THC’s beneficial effects and better understand the biological mechanisms explaining age- and gender-related differences.
According to Setlow, the long-term goal remains to expand research to determine precisely how cannabis and cannabinoids influence cognitive performance in aging, paving the way for potential treatments for age-related cognitive decline.

ZEWEED with 420 Intel

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Cannabis and driving: a study clarifies the duration of the effects and urges caution

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At a time when the legalization of cannabis is making headway in many countries, a scientific study has shaken up preconceived ideas about the effects of THC on driving. Carried out on regular users, it reveals that driving ability can be impaired well beyond the perceived threshold of sobriety, previously estimated at 3 h after consumption.

Published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, this study calls into question the self-confidence of cannabis users who believe they are fit to drive within a few hours of consuming the drug. Contrary to the widespread belief that driving ability returns to normal after three hours, the researchers observed that THC-induced impairment can persist for more than five hours. This was true even when the participants declared themselves “sober” and ready to drive.
The study, conducted on 38 adults aged 18 to 40, weekly cannabis users with at least two years’ driving experience, highlights a worrying discrepancy between self-perception and actual state. This discrepancy has potentially serious consequences in a context where cannabis use is on the rise, and with it, accidents involving THC-positive drivers.

A rigorous methodology to explore long-term effects

The research team’s objective was clear: to better understand to what extent and for how long cannabis affects driving ability. The majority of previous studies had stopped at a narrow time window, focusing on the first three hours after consumption. This new study adopts a more extensive and rigorous protocol.
Conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, it uses a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Each participant took part in three sessions, spread over an entire day, during which they inhaled either a placebo, a low dose (5.9%) or a high dose (13%) of THC by vaporization. Driving simulations were carried out at four separate times over an eight-hour period. The researchers assessed parameters such as lane keeping, reactivity to traffic and overtaking behaviour.

Significant and prolonged effects on driving performance

The results are unambiguous: THC significantly impairs driving performance, and for longer than consumers realize.

  • Lateral vehicle control: after a low dose, disturbances lasted up to 3.5 hours. With a high dose, they lasted up to 5.5 hours.
  • Reactivity and distance management: participants exposed to a high dose showed less stable use of the gas pedal and longer reaction times, even three hours after inhalation.
  • Risk-taking when overtaking: high-dose users attempted more risky maneuvers, such as overtaking with little space available, indicating impaired judgment.

It’s worth noting that, despite these objective deficits, almost two-thirds of participants felt they were sober enough to drive just two to three hours after drinking.

THC levels in the blood: an unreliable indicator

The study also highlights the inadequacy of biological markers such as blood or salivary THC levels for assessing driving ability. The performance of some participants with high levels was sometimes superior to that of individuals with lower levels. These findings call into question the relevance of current legal thresholds, and argue in favor of more appropriate behavioral tests.
Towards a new regulatory approach

With over 52 million Americans claiming to have used cannabis by 2021, road safety issues are becoming a major concern. THC, the second most widely consumed psychoactive substance after alcohol, must be subject to evidence-based regulation. This study provides valuable information:

  • An evaluation of effects over an extended period.
  • Standardization of doses administered.
  • A test of multiple driving skills: attention, control, decision-making.

It also warns of the deceptive nature of subjective sobriety and the limitations of current detection methods.

Study limitations and outlook

The authors acknowledge certain limitations: the sample remains small, with few women, senior citizens or occasional users, which limits the general scope of the results. What’s more, the simulations do not fully reproduce the complexity of driving in real-life conditions.
To go further, the researchers plan to integrate brain imaging (fMRI), examine higher doses of THC, study the effects of tolerance in regular users, and develop tools to measure disability that are more reliable than simple biological markers.

 

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Smoke without smoking: switch to vaporizers!

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Vaporizers, health, CBD

A new ally for consumers of CBD, medical cannabis and tobacco, the vaporizer reduces the multiple risks associated with combustion while preserving the quality of terpenes and other active agents. ZEWEED asked a specialist practitioner to provide an update on this attractive alternative.

When it comes to risk reduction for herbal smokers of all kinds, whether we’re talking about tobacco, CBD or cannabis, vape has established itself as the healthiest alternative, patch excluded. The problem for vapers: the terpenes all go out the window, leaving the user with a nice smoke in the mouth, but no real taste of the plant. Vaporizers, on the other hand, offer a richly flavored smoke while protecting our lungs from the dangers of combustion.

Smoke without fire

Whether it’s CBD or medical cannabis, vaporizers offer the huge advantage of avoiding inhalation of the carcinogenic products associated with combustion. The harmful effects inherent in combustion are said to be reduced by 95% by switching to vaporization. Goodbye tar, ammonia, carbon monoxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)… For Professor Jean-Michel Delile*, “vaping is therefore a significant lever for reducing cancers, strokes, the risk of impotence and passive smoking. This is a twofold argument in favor of vaping: it’s good for you right away, because you don’t have to put your health at risk, and it’s also a good way of reducing the consumption of smoked tobacco. In any case, vaping is an excellent risk-reduction tool, as it eliminates most of the toxicity associated with combustion”.

Preserved active ingredients

The bioavailability of CBD’s active ingredients varies greatly according to the way it is taken. Vaporization provides better CBD absorption than smoking. While 80% of the active ingredients are available through vaporization, this rate drops to 20% through combustion. In fact, most cannabinoids are destroyed by the combustion process. The effectiveness of vaporizers is therefore indisputable, since the induced vapour retains all the benefits of cannabinoids, without creating the multiple toxins associated with the combustion process. Greater efficiency means less CBD consumption for the same effects, which means significant savings. It’s also worth noting that vaporization preserves the terpenes during the process, which is not the case with combustion, which burns them up. Finally, vaporization releases the effects of cannabinoids almost instantaneously, making it easy to regulate consumption in relation to the desired effects.

Tobacco warning

However, while vaping is more than recommendable when it comes to CBD and therapeutic cannabis, the assessment is more nuanced for tobacco: “While the reduction in toxic products linked to tobacco combustion is a positive aspect, certain toxins pre-sent in tobacco continue to pass through, even at low temperatures.” And it’s the tobacco industry that promotes them. Such is the case with the IQOS device developed by Philip Morris. The tobacco giant claims that it’s a safe tool that can help people give up cigarettes, but there’s no proof of this. In fact, it has been established that to compensate for the decline in sales of smoked tobacco in developed countries, manufacturers have developed this type of device so as not to be marginalized by vaping. “According to the WHO, it has not been established that vaping is a risk-reduction tool. Some toxins are even present at higher levels in aerosols than in conventional cigarette smoke. So there are pros and cons.

Given the current state of knowledge, it’s best to remain cautious until we have more reliable data. What’s more, while Bertrand Dautzenberg, an eminent professor of pulmonology, is all in favor of vapotage (e-cigarettes), he is hostile to tobacco vaporizers. We can see that they are not used by users as a device to help reduce tobacco consumption, or even to stop smoking”, adds Jean-Michel Delile. In the medium and long term, they are chemically harmful, which means that they maintain the addictive cycle.
Finally, the President of Fédération Addiction warns that devices such as IQOS, although forbidden for minors, can be a way of encouraging people to start smoking.
Whatever the alternatives to cigarettes, there is no smoke without fire without health risks…

*Dr. Jean-Michel Delile is a psychiatrist and President of the Fédération Addiction www.federationaddiction.fr
 

 

 

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Testimony: “I swapped THC for CBD”.

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An avid pot smoker, our journalist Hugo swapped his THC for CBD a few months ago. And he’s delighted. A healthy choice to get the year off to a good start, or at least to start a real dry January.

When I first started smoking, weed was the only thing available in Paris. THC was just three consonants that the “brigade des stup'” tried to get into our heads as schoolchildren, and CBD didn’t exist. I was 14 years old and had found a wad of pot in my father’s desk drawer. I was looking for money, but my find was much more valuable: I was going to be able to be a rebel in the eyes of my mates with something that wasn’t going to kill me – my parents had pot and a stable life, good health, why not me?

“Smoking had become more than just a habit, it was a natural part of my daily routine”.

In high school, opportunities to smoke multiplied, with days in the parks, corners of the quays of the Seine or obscure alleyways, evenings in apartments. In college, having left the family home, it was no longer a question of opportunities, but of smoking or not smoking. I was free, I could do what I wanted. So I did what I wanted. Year after year, my consumption increased with my freedom, and, in all my independence, I had become addicted. There was no more choice, no more question, smoking had become more than a habit, it was an obvious part of my daily life. When you do something every day for ten years, you wonder what else you could do. Except not do it.

So, four months ago, I threw myself into the adventure. Quitting quickly reminded me what weed was good for. No impatience, no whirling thoughts, no insomnia, no anxiety attacks. The symptoms of withdrawal, explained a specialist to whom I had gone to show my distress. Before he advised me to take it, I thought CBD was the epitome of uselessness, a marketing ploy for impressionable, fearful teenagers. Following the expert’s advice, I bought a bottle of CBD oil from one of the many CBD stores in Paris. He said, “20% to start with, and if it’s not enough, come back and I’ll give you another 30%”. It’s a heartwarming way to keep a bit of the dealer’s lingo. I was recommended five drops under the tongue three times a day, so much so that I walked around with my little bottle that looked suspiciously like a pacifier. A few weeks later, I was looking at the little teat with grateful eyes. Placerbo or not, it didn’t matter to me: after 8 hours’ sleep, I woke up with a clear head, whereas before I’d emerged in a morning haze that didn’t dissipate until after lunch. I’d traded in the normal, comforting anxiety levels of a typical Parisian for anxiety attacks, and THC was history. Seeing yourself change thanks to an effort you consciously make every day is like gaining muscle by going to the gym – it’s gratifying.

“Placerbo or not, it doesn’t matter to me: after 8 hours’ sleep, I wake up with a clear head, whereas I used to emerge in a morning haze that didn’t clear up until after lunch”.

Today, months have gone by, and I don’t miss the distant memory of the joints that used to knock me out. I do, however, miss the pleasure of smoking weed. But the good news is that now that I’m able to go days without my CBD oil teat, I occasionally smoke this non-stoned weed. The CBD joint I rolled with my expert hands resembles the ones I smoked from the age of 14 to 24: the size, the shape, the smell, the taste. It’s a superficial resemblance, but it’s just that a little lightness goes a long way. In addition to helping me regain mental and emotional stability, CBD consumption has been accompanied by other pleasing changes. I can’t believe it, but now I work out every other day, I remember all the movies I watch and the books I read, I’ve never missed a party because of social anxiety masquerading as laziness, and at those parties, I talk. So many benefits of a blissful transition that I’ll tell you more about in future installments of this smoky chronicle.

 

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What are the effects of CBD and THC on driving?

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Can you use CBD if you’re driving? How long does THC remain active, and how much does it impair driving? In Sydney, researchers from the Lambert Initiative have been looking into these questions to provide us with precise answers.

For the first time, researchers have studied the effects of cannabis on our ability to drive. The study, led by the Lambert Initiative* at the University of Sydney, was conducted jointly with Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

CBD: safe for driving

The results were published last December in the very serious American Medical Association Journal.
Among other things, we learn that cannabidiol (CBD) does not affect driving, but that moderate amounts of THC do produce mild impairment, lasting up to four hours, but nowhere near the impairment associated with alcohol or tranquillizers, says the report. The study confirms the need for vigilance when using THC. In further observations, scientists will have confirmed that CBD is non-psychotropic, and therefore safe to use at the wheel.

THC: disabling effects that can last up to four hours

Research director Dr Thomas Arkell details the results: “the data collected indicate for the first time that CBD, when administered without THC, does not affect a subject’s ability to drive. This is excellent news for those using or considering treatment with cannabidiol-based products. ”
In recent years, considerable progress has been made in cannabis-based medical treatments. A growing number of products containing CBD and/or THC for conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety, chronic pain or addiction treatment have appeared in clinical settings and in pharmacies in certain countries.

Dr. Thomas Arkel (photo credits University of Sydney)

Joint research in Australia and the Netherlands

The research, conducted in the Netherlands, involved subjects who had inhaled cannabis containing different blends of THC and CBD. Candidates then completed, under controlled conditions, a 100-kilometer drive on public roads. These tests were carried out 40 minutes and four hours after consumption. Cannabis containing mainly CBD had no effect on driving performance. Cannabis containing THC, or a THC/CBD mixture, caused a slight impairment measured 40 minutes later. After four hours, no impairment was observed.

Reference study?

“As cannabis laws evolve around the world, legalized states need to legislate on the basis of accurate, reliable science. These results provide much-needed information on the effects caused by different types of cannabis. We hope our work will help guide road safety policy, whether in Australia, the Netherlands or elsewhere. ” concluded the scientist, raising the possibility that the study could serve as a legal basis for the development of an international policy on cannabis and driving.

*TheLambert Initiative brings together some twenty researchers studying the effects of cannabinoids on the body. Their laboratories are housed at the University of Sydney.

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Cannabis as an effective alternative to benzodiazepines?

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Could cannabis be the alternative of choice to traditional benzodiazepine painkillers?  For the first time, a study has provided some answers to this question. The results are most encouraging, with almost one in two patients replacing these addictive tranquilizers with cannabis.

Conducted in Canada at a Canabo Group clinic, an evaluation of the use of cannabis in the treatment of benzodiazepine addiction revealed highly promising results. By the end of the trial, 45.2% of participants had weaned themselves off benzodiazepines, while being offered the choice of taking weed or a pill every day.

30% of patients stop taking benzodiazepines after one month of cannabis treatment

The study involved 146 volunteers who had been benzodiazepine users for several years. The average age of the research participants was 47. The gender breakdown showed a 61% female to 39% male ratio. Representatives of the fairer sex traditionally consume more benzodiazepines than those of the fairer sex. Finally, of these 146 patients, 54% had already tried cannabis recreationally.  

In detail, 30.1% of patients were able to do without benzodiazepines after one month of treatment with therapeutic cannabis. This rose to 44.5% after two months and 45.2% after 3 months, i.e. at the end of the evaluation.
Six months later, none of the weaned patients had relapsed.
 
 
*Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative medication widely prescribed for the treatment of chronic anxiety. Highly addictive, they quickly become habit-forming, prompting users to increase their doses. They are also responsible for numerous accidents and are fraught with side effects from the very first dose.   The icing on the cake: they are a trigger for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Their prescription period is officially limited to three weeks to avoid addiction. The most widely prescribed benzodiazepines include : Valium, Xanax, Lexomil, Tranxene, Rivotril, Seresta.

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