2023 Year-In-Review
2023 Year-In-Review : Navigating Kaleidoscopic Progress in Cannabis and Cannabinoids
The field of cannabis research is often perceived as dynamic and rapidly changing. There is a steady stream of data each year that adds to our collective repository of knowledge about this multifaceted plant, and its effects on human health and society. As someone who has been immersed in this arena for nearly two decades, I approach these developments with a blend of insight and measured skepticism.
The question arises, especially these days, with a touch of sarcasm: What really counts as new in the realm of cannabis and hemp? Much of what is touted as groundbreaking often seems like familiar territory revisited, albeit framed through contemporary perspectives and enhanced by advanced methodologies.
This content is cultivated from my day-to-day engagements over the past year or so in the cannabis and hemp industry. This includes insights gleaned from reading articles, attending conferences, collecting data, conducting studies, and participating in regulatory discussions. I hope the information offers you some new perspective, perhaps providing a few new resources, and a smile or two.
This year’s review includes a statistical roundup of intriguing data, selected quotes from various publications, an evaluation of the most notable and lackluster research paper titles, and a reflection on some of the projects I found particularly rewarding.
Cannabis Calculus – A Statistical Roundup
3,500: the number of “cannabis” research articles published, which appear on pubmed.gov
23,400: Searching “cannabis” on google scholar for 2023 yields about 23,400 articles (book chapters, abstracts, articles, etc.)
20: the number of impurities found in Delta-8 THC hemp products by one research team
4: the number of completely unknown or unidentifiable compounds found in delta8-THC products by that same research team
2: is the number of pages, in their entirety, released to the public from 250+ pages of documents regarding rescheduling cannabis authored by federal agencies this year
7: factor by which bisexual women and men are more likely to use cannabis over their heterosexual counterparts
3,540: A review of social media posts about cannabis, discusses a study of 3,540 dabbing-related tweets, finding the health benefits of dabbing to be the fifth most popular theme, with claims of dabbing improving sleep, relieving anxiety, and assisting in problem-solving. The study also described extreme negative effects of dabbing such as adverse respiratory effects and loss of consciousness. The association between losing consciousness and improved sleep have not yet been explored.
Fragrant Whispers, Resonant Echoes – Quotes from Literature and Media
“Several FAAH inhibitors have demonstrated promising safety profiles in clinical trials”
“To put this in perspective, the risk of dying from THC consumption is somewhere between that of consuming table salt (NaCl 1,000 mg/kg) and sucrose (sugar 30,000mg/kg). To die from sucrose consumption, a human would need to eat approximately 20 pints of ice cream. To die from consuming marijuana, by contrast, that same person would need to consume 1,500 pounds of plant material in 15 minutes.”
“However, our prediction that cannabis use facilitates creativity via joviality was not supported.”
“Given the available evidence, it is not apparent how CBD products could meet safety standards for dietary supplements or food additives,” said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock…Dr. Woodcock said the use of CBD raises safety concerns, especially with long-term use. Studies have shown the potential for harm to the liver, interactions with certain medications and possible harm to the male reproductive system, she said, and risks to children and pregnant persons.”
“The prevention of cannabis-impaired driving should not fall on the sole responsibility of primary care practitioners.”
“Now they’ve got records and can’t get jobs because they were arrested on marijuana charges when we have had presidents and senators bragging about their pot usage.” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
“A further difficulty in studying one of the most easily accessible forms of cannabis medication, CBD oils, is that there is currently little to no regulation on the labeling of these products.”
“The lack of knowledge surrounding the effects of CBD on physical fitness, mental health, and inflammation is concerning for physically active individuals seeking to use CBD for unsupported health claims.”
“The agency’s shift in focus to marijuana’s abuse potential relative to other substances of abuse and its inclusion of a broader and more current data set strike me as moves that could easily support a conclusion that marijuana in fact has an abuse potential lower than substances in schedules I and II.”
Pure Cannabis Satisfaction - Projects that I enjoyed working on this year
Cerium Education and Educational Blog
Enjoyed working on these documentary-quality education videos and modules, as well as working with clinicians on blog posts about science articles. The blogs and journal club resources are free with email sign up. There is a lot of material in the hopper, that will be coming out in 2024.
Coalition for Scheduling Reform
In June 2023, the Cannabis Council for Scheduling Reform (CCSR) published an essential report on reclassifying cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, underscoring the urgent need for reform. The report advocates for moving it to Schedule III or lower (e.g., IV, V, or descheduled). Contributing to this project with respected peers like Shane Pennington, Howard Sklamberg, Andrew Kline, Elizabeth Berry, Teresa Simon, and Michael Bronstein - was a genuine honor. Their collective insights and the overwhelming industry support for reform have significantly heightened my optimism for the future of cannabis in the United States.
How to Launch an Industry Podcast
Nigam Arora, PhD and I have been producing this podcast for years, with the support of a talented cast. This year we had a booth at a conference and expanded our range of coverage to live events.
Delta 8-THC Public Health Research
The negative public health impacts of unregulated synthetic, artificially derived, and derivatives of hemp cannabinoids will be a subject of study for years to come. The data we published is already outdated but it was amazing to meet with the FDA to discuss our findings and share our data on adverse event trends regarding D8-THC and other isomers. This led to the creation of budsinfo. Another fruit of this labor was being invited to participate in an amazing webinar with Brian Thomas and Mahmoud Elsohly via David Vallencourt’s GMP Collective.
When it comes to reporting an adverse event, this group wants to help consumers stay safe and have a better cannabis experience. In the future they want to guide cannabis consumers to safer products as well as reduce the risk from potentially unsafe products on the market. It is largely run by students, bootstrapped by volunteers – filling a need for a national reporting system in a simplistic and easy to use way. At this phase they offer a data collection tool that anyone can enter data into.
2023 The Best and Worst Titles of Research Articles
Some research article titles are intriguing, and others seem like lazy, worn-out puns. Below are articles with very striking titles, and others that may leave you scratching your head. So, here’s little bit of fun exploring – The Wild, Wacky, and Tragic World of Publishing Cannabis Research
Wild – These titles are striking and tempting ones to share with friends and colleagues. Reading these aloud may raise the collective eyebrows in the room:
“I Feel Like Marijuana Is The Only Drug That Wouldn’t Kill Me”: Perceptions Of Cannabis Use In Previously Incarcerated Black Men Who Have Sex With Other Men (I recommend reading this striking article, the pull quote in the title is tame compared to other statements made by participants)
Narcotics Of Politics: The Electoral Behavior Of Marijuana Users In The United States (A very good question, since legalizing cannabis is more popular than any elected official)
Consumers Left At The Mercy Of Chefs For Potency, Consistency, Safety And Regulation—The Edibles Industry Of Cannabinoids—A Critical Review (Ringing true the old adage, let food be thy medicine or medicine will be thy food)
Wacky – These are silly titles…And what better way to have people take your work seriously, then to use seriously bad jokes, puns, and non-sequiturs. Nothing sends a better message about who you are, than a joke at the expense of your research subjects. Much like explaining a punchline, if you must use quotes for your pun – it is usually not a good one.
Holy Smokes: The Relationship between Religion, Other Personal Beliefs, and Marijuana Use (Research poster, quick read – simple and easy to follow)
Pot At The End Of The Rainbow: Cannabis Use Among Sexual Minorities (It seems that non-heteronormative relationships are considered a risk factor for developing cannabis use disorder by this research group)
Cannabis Use Does Not Increase Actual Creativity But Biases Evaluations Of Creativity. (You’re not creative when you are high, you just over evaluate things as being creative when you create things…Conversely, it seems that not being high, biases assessing subjective data on creativity generated by people high on drugs. Perhaps this article will help answer the age old question, do you need to be high to enjoy Phish or the Grateful Dead?)
To Be Blunt: Weed Appreciate You Not Flying with Marijuana, but Current Conflicting Cannabis Law Leaves Things Hazy (Wakka wakka! Count the puns – there are at least 5 in this title; maybe one of the contributors was a Dr. Suess fan)
“High” Expectations for the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act, But Not High Enough (a “womp womp” from a Law Journal)
Tragic – Poorly written and seemingly confused about terminology. Some of these might be written in this way because English is a second language for the authors, or they relied heavily on AI to author their work. Of these articles, there are none that I would recommend reading in any significant detail. But don’t trust me, check out the science click bait for yourself:
Marijuana, i.e., Cannabis sativa: The Quandary of Being an Amalgamate of a Useful and Abusive Medicinal Herb (A seemingly bland, contradictory, and confusing redintion on well-known historical facts)
‘Hemp and Marijuana are both pots?’ Young consumer awareness and perception of hemp food in India (Yeah…An article that seems to showcase how little the authors know about hemp, and how hard they try to make their research subjects look dumb. Here’s something the authors get wrong in the opening paragarph: “According to the United States of America federal standards, industrial hemp has <0.2 % THC…”)
Marijuana on Main Streets? The Story Continues in Colombia: An Endogenous Three-part Model (Researchers are taken aback and shocked that cannabis is being used openly, on the streets despite illegality and stigma)
The Kids Aren’t Alright: The Effects Of Medical Marijuana Market Size On Adolescents (Note that the medical marijuana market size has dramatically decreased in recent years, if not outright disappeared in states with adult-use laws. Their definition of medical marijuana could be either misleading, inaccurate, or severely out of date. And the seemingly incomprehensible or awkward sentences are amazing to behold – very surprised this made it past peer review in this form)
Closing Remarks
This compilation is akin to gathering leaves from branches as one passes by on a train: a collection of moments and insights snatched from a much larger landscape that continues to speed past. It represents a tiny smattering of the nuanced details and overlooked aspects from the cannabis and hemp space over the last year or so. If you're intrigued to explore more, share your own experiences and insights, I encourage you to reach out. I'm always open to engaging cannabis enthusiasts and experts in this space.
