Episodes

  • Ep. 58: Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis in Autism: New Evidence

    Ep. 58: Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis in Autism: New Evidence
    Apr 24 2025
    EPISODE 58 - R: 4/22/2025 A: 4/23/2025 - THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF CANNABIS IN AUTISM: NEW EVIDENCE As our country shifts its perspectives in so many paradigms, we are now recognizing how harmful pharmaceutical drugs can be for the human body. Previous research has indicated that autism spectrum disorder affected 1 in 36 children in the US. However, with Robert F. Kennedy as our new Secretary of Health & Human Services, it was recently reported that that number had changed - we now consider the prevalence of ASD to be on in 31 children, a sharp increase in not only the number of children affected, but also the effects these new diagnoses have on families and communities at large. We want to bring you an update on how cannabis can be used effectively and safely for the treatment of ASD, and since April is Autism Awareness Month, this is the place to share the latest research about autism. In this episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths, we examine the latest research that suggests non-intoxicating cannabinoids, like CBD, can play a role in moderating the symptoms of ASD while also improving the quality of life for children with ASD and their families. This episode will also bring in concepts that we presented in Episode 12, Autism & Cannabis: A Promising Potential. With our updated evidence, it really does seem that cannabis has a potential benefit for children with autism. EPISODE RESOURCES Avalos, L.A., Shenkute, M., Alexeeff, S.E., Oberman, N., Croen, L.A., Davignon, M., Adams, S.R., Ansley, D., Castellanos, C., & Young-Wolff, K.C. (2024). Maternal prenatal cannabis use and child Autism Spectrum Disorder. JAMA Network Open, 7(10), e2440301. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.40301 Campos, M.G., China, M., Cláudio, M., Capinha, M., Torres, R., Oliveira, S., & Fortuna, A. (2024). Drug–cannabinoid interactions in selected therapeutics for symptoms associated with epilepsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and pain. Pharmaceuticals, 17(5), Article 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17050613 Costa, M. de A. da, Fernandes, G.Z., Maiochi, E., Ebs, M.F.P., Darós, F. da S., Bolan, S.J., Costa, R.R.N., de Rezende, V. L., da Silva, G.C., Bitencourt, R.M., & Gonçalves, C.L. (2025). Effects of cannabidiol isolated or in association with risperidone in an animal model of autism. Developmental Neurobiology, 85(1), e22955. https://doi.org/10.1002/dneu.22955 Dallabrida, K.G., De Oliveira Bender, J.M., Chade, E.S., Rodrigues, N., & Sampaio, T. B. (2024). Endocannabinoid system changes throughout life: Implications and therapeutic potential for autism, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Brain Sciences, 14(6), 592. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14060592 Ibsen, E.W.D., & Thomsen, P.H. (2024). Cannabinoids as alleviating treatment for core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 78(7), 553–560. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2024.2381541 Jana, A., Nath, A., Sen, P., Kundu, S., Alghamdi, B.S., Abujamel, T.S., Saboor, M., Woon-Khiong, C., Alexiou, A., Papadakis, M., Alam, M.Z., & Ashraf, G.M. (2024). Unraveling the endocannabinoid system: Exploring its therapeutic potential in Autism Spectrum Disorder. NeuroMolecular Medicine, 26(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12017-024-08781-6 Jawed, B., Esposito, J.E., Pulcini, R., Zakir, S.K., Botteghi, M., Gaudio, F., Savio, D., Martinotti, C., Martinotti, S., & Toniato, E. (2024). The evolving role of cannabidiol-rich cannabis in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(22), Article 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252212453 Pedrazzi, J.F.C., Hassib, L., Ferreira, F.R., Hallak, J.C., Del-Bel, E., & Crippa, J.A. (2024). Chapter 8—Therapeutic potential of CBD in Autism Spectrum Disorder. In E. Del-Bel, F.V. Gomes, & S.F. Lisboa (Eds.), International Review of Neurobiology (Vol. 177, pp. 149–203). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2024.05.002 Pereira, D.A., Cheidde, L., Megiolaro, M.D. R., Camargo, A.E.F., Weba, E.T.P., Soares, V.G., Silva, A.M.P. da, Cheidde, L., Júnior, P.P.L., Amaral, D.C., Triaca, R., Fernandes, M.A.N., Mimura, P.M.P., Pereira, D.A., Cheidde, L., Sr, M.D.M., Camargo, A.E., Weba, E., Soares, V., … Mimura, P.M.P. (2025). Efficacy and safety of cannabinoids for Autism Spectrum Disorder: An updated systematic review. Cureus, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.80725 Rice, L.J., Cannon, L., Dadlani, N., Cheung, M.M.Y., Einfeld, S.L., Efron, D., Dossetor, D.R., & Elliott, E.J. (2024). Efficacy of cannabinoids in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: A systematic review. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(2), 505–526. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02169-w Silva Junior, E.A.D., Medeiros, W.M.B., Santos, J.P.M.D., Sousa, J.M.M.D., Costa, F.B.D., Pontes, K.M., ... & Albuquerque, K.L.G.D.D. (2024). ...
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    59 mins
  • Ep. 57 - Special Guest: Brandon Beltaine, A Firefighter Under Fire For Medical Cannabis Use

    Ep. 57 - Special Guest: Brandon Beltaine, A Firefighter Under Fire For Medical Cannabis Use
    Apr 17 2025

    EPISODE 57 - R: 3/27/2025 A: 4/16/2025 - SPECIAL GUEST: BRANDON BELTAINE, A FIRE FIGHTER UNDER FIRE FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS USE It is almost 420, and for stoners around the world, that means a day of celebration because legend has it that 420 brought 4 teenagers together at a certain time in the afternoon after school to partake. So we can celebrate on one hand that we have come a long way since the 1970s, but we still have a long way to go when we consider how cannabis is still considered illegal at the federal level, and in many cases, in certain aspects of jobs and other lifestyle perspectives.

    I’m very fortunate to have encountered a fire fighter named Brandon Beltaine, and he is here with us today to share his story as a fire fighter who had an encounter that has changed his life. As a wonderful advocate for cannabis now, we are happy to discuss how cannabis has affected both the fire fighting aspects in communities that are charged with keeping individuals safe as well as how he himself has experienced extreme changes in relation to his use of cannabis. EPISODE RESOURCES

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    39 mins
  • Ep. 56 - Cannabis for Brain Health

    Ep. 56 - Cannabis for Brain Health
    Apr 2 2025
    Cannabis has been used by humans for over 6,000 years and is considered to be one of the first plants specifically cultivated for human use. In industrial uses, cannabis can be made into fibers, paper, oil, biofuel, animal bedding and feed, and construction materials, like hempcrete, hemp lumber, and hemp insulation. As a medicine, cannabis can be specifically tailored to treat a disease by targeting the two major actions of cannabinoids, which are anti-oxidation and neuroprotection. That means that the cannabinoids found in cannabis can be used to treat every disease known to man, as we now recognize inflammation in the body and brain as the major driver of chronic disease states. But cannabinoids can also offer protection and reversal of disease; some studies even suggest cannabinoids can reverse aging, especially in the brain as some of the compounds target sensitive cells in the central nervous system to protect, repair, and regrow new neurons that mimic young brains, even in older adults. In this episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths, we examine the neuroprotective and reparative effects of cannabinoids, and studies to date have indicated that these compounds have incredible potential for treating - and reversing - a host of neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, seizures, and even aging. After all, it’s why the Department of Health and Human Services slapped a patent on cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants back in 2003, indicating our government is heavily invested in research using cannabis to treat these disorders. Welcome to the Stoned Age! EPISODE RESOURCES Al-Khazaleh, A.K., Zhou, X., Bhuyan, D. J., Münch, G.W., Al-Dalabeeh, E.A., Jaye, K., & Chang, D. (2024). The neurotherapeutic arsenal in cannabis sativa: Insights into anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective activity and potential entourage effects. Molecules, 29(2), 410. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020410 Arkell, T.R., Manning, B., Downey, L.A., & Hayley, A.C. (2023). A semi-naturalistic, open-label trial examining the effect of prescribed medical cannabis on neurocognitive performance. CNS Drugs, 37(11), 981–992. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-023-01046-z Bilkei-Gorzo A. (2024). The endocannabinoid system in normal and pathological brain ageing. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 367, 3326-3341. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2011.0388 Bilkei-Gorzo, A., Albayram, O., Draffehn, A., Michel, K., Piyanova, A., Oppenheimer, H., Dvir-Ginzberg, M., Rácz, I., Ulas, T., Imbeault, S., Bab, I., Schultze, J. L., & Zimmer, A. (2017). A chronic low dose of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) restores cognitive function in old mice. Nature Medicine, 23(6), 782–787. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.4311 Breivogel, C.S., & Childers, S.R. (1998). The functional neuroanatomy of brain cannabinoid receptors. Neurobiology of Disease, 5(6), 417–431. https://doi.org/10.1006/nbdi.1998.0229 Cammarota, M., Ferlenghi, F., Vacondio, F., Vincenzi, F., Varani, K., Bedini, A., Rivara, S., Mor, M., & Boscia, F. (2023). Combined targeting of fatty acid amide hydrolase and melatonin receptors promotes neuroprotection and stimulates inflammation resolution in rats. British Journal of Pharmacology, 180(10), 1316–1338. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.16014 da Cruz Guedes, E., Erustes, A.G., Leão, A.H.F.F., Carneiro, C.A., Abílio, V.C., Zuardi, A. W., Hallak, J.E.C., Crippa, J.A., Bincoletto, C., Smaili, S.S., Reckziegel, P., & Pereira, G.J.S. (2023). Cannabidiol recovers dopaminergic neuronal damage induced by reserpine or α-synuclein in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurochemical Research, 48(8), 2390–2405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-023-03905-z Dregan, A., & Gulliford, M.C. (2012). Is illicit drug use harmful to cognitive functioning in the midadult years? A cohort-based investigation. American Journal of Epidemiology, 175(3), 218–227. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwr315 Dussy, F.E., Hamberg, C., Luginbühl, M., Schwerzmann, T., & Briellmann, T.A. (2005). Isolation of Δ9-THCA-A from hemp and analytical aspects concerning the determination of Δ9-THC in cannabis products. Forensic Science International, 149(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.05.015 Evans, A.T., Formukong, E.A., & Evans, F.J. (1987). Actions of cannabis constituents on enzymes of arachidonate metabolism: Anti-inflammatory potential. Biochemical Pharmacology, 36(12), 2035–2037. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-2952(87)90505-3 Fernández-Ruiz, J., Sagredo, O., Pazos, M.R., García, C., Pertwee, R., Mechoulam, R., & Martínez-Orgado, J. (2013). Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: Important new clinical applications for this phytocannabinoid?: Cannabidiol and neurodegenerative disorders. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 75(2), 323–333. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04341.x Goldberg, T., Redlich, Y., Yogev, D., Fay-Karmon, T., Hassin-Baer, S., & Anis, S. (2023)....
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ep. 55: Cannabis for Gut Health

    Ep. 55: Cannabis for Gut Health
    Mar 19 2025
    The human body is an amazing physiological machine. The old adage, “you are what you eat,” has proven time and again to be true, as our body takes what we ingest and turns it into energy and nutrients, while protecting us against harmful bacteria and supporting our nervous system. There is increasing evidence that our body’s gut microbiota - bacteria, fungus, and other intestinal microbes - have a beneficial symbiotic relationship to support our metabolism and regulate inflammation in not only the gut but in other organs such as the brain. When the human body undergoes alterations in gut health due to factors such as stress, nutrition, environmental factors, and pharmaceuticals, it responds through the gut by changing the body’s metabolism as it increases its inflammatory response. These changes also affect our immune health, as chronic inflammation can trigger depletion of immune cells, increasing the risk of infection. In this episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths, we consider the major role that the endocannabinoid system plays in not only digestive health but also in maintaining homeostasis by interacting with the gut microbiota. In other words, we need a healthy endocannabinoid system to maintain gut health, and research has indicated that cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, are major players in regulating the gut microbiome itself. It seems that individuals who use cannabis are also supporting their gut health as it protects against both inflammatory and immune disorders as well as helping to repair damage done by these conditions. EPISODE RESOURCES Ahmed, W., & Katz, S. (2016). Therapeutic use of cannabis in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 12(11), 668–679. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28035196/ Al-Khazaleh, A.K., Jaye, K., Chang, D., Münch, G.W., & Bhuyan, D.J. (2024). Buds and bugs: A fascinating tale of gut microbiota and cannabis in the fight against cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(2), 872. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25020872 Barbash, B., Mehta, D., Siddiqui, M., Chawla, L., & Dworkin, B. (2019). Impact of cannabinoids on symptoms of refractory gastroparesis: A single-center experience. Cureus, 11(12). https://www.cureus.com/articles/25832-impact-of-cannabinoids-on-symptoms-of-refractory-gastroparesis-a-single-center-experience Boehm, E., Droessler, L., & Amasheh, S. (2023). Cannabidiol attenuates inflammatory impairment of intestinal cells expanding biomaterial-based therapeutic approaches. Materials Today Bio, 23, 100808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100808 Borra, V., Borra, N., Bondi, G., Yartha, S.G.R., Machineni, N.V., Agarwal, C., Ramasahayam, K., Kuchipudi, P.R., Mundla, S.R., Bansal, P., Bathija, S.A., Ogbu, I.R., & Desai, R. (2024). Is dependent cannabis use in adult hospitalizations with inflammatory bowel disease associated with major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events? Insights from National Inpatient Sample Analysis. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/03007995.2024.2321328 Borrelli, F., Fasolino, I., Romano, B., Capasso, R., Maiello, F., Coppola, D., Orlando, P., Battista, G., Pagano, E., Di Marzo, V., & Izzo, A.A. (2013). Beneficial effect of the non-psychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease. Biochemical Pharmacology, 85(9), 1306–1316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2013.01.017 Brown, K., Funk, K., Figueroa Barrientos, A., Bailey, A., Shrader, S., Feng, W., McClain, C. J., & Song, Z.-H. (2024). The modulatory effects and therapeutic potential of cannabidiol in the gut. Cells, 13(19), 1618. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13191618 Camilleri, M. (2018). Cannabinoids and gastrointestinal motility: Pharmacology, clinical effects, and potential therapeutics in humans. Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 30(9), e13370. https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.13370 Cani, P.D., Plovier, H., Van Hul, M., Geurts, L., Delzenne, N.M., Druart, C., & Everard, A. (2016). Endocannabinoids—At the crossroads between the gut microbiota and host metabolism. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 12(3), 133–143. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2015.211 Cohen, G., Gover, O., & Schwartz, B. (2023). Phytocannabinoids reduce inflammation of primed macrophages and enteric glial cells: An in vitro study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(19), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914628 Couch, D.G., Maudslay, H., Doleman, B., Lund, J.N., & O’Sullivan, S.E. (2018). The use of cannabinoids in colitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 24(4), 680–697. https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izy014 Dalavaye, N., Erridge, S., Nicholas, M., Pillai, M., Bapir, L., Holvey, C., Coomber, R., Rucker, J.J., Hoare, J., & Sodergren, M.H. (2023). The effect of medical cannabis in inflammatory bowel disease: Analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 17(1...
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ep. 53 - Cannabis or Guns? You Can't Have Both!

    Ep. 53 - Cannabis or Guns? You Can't Have Both!
    Mar 13 2025
    To date, cannabis has been legalized or decriminalized in 23 states, and 32 states have passed medical marijuana laws. This means that 74% of Americans live in a state where marijuana is legal for either recreational or medical use, and 54% live in a state where the recreational use of marijuana is legal. Yet within each state lies a hidden population: a group of gun owners who are now considered criminals by the federal government because they choose to use a plant as their medicine. Gun dealers are also confused about their ability to sell firearms to cannabis users, as they too are considered criminals if they allow guns to be bought by known cannabis consumers. On the safety side of gun ownership, prohibitionists claim that cannabis use leads to increased suicide ideation and completed suicides, which is another argument to prohibit cannabis users from owning firearms. While there is limited research on the concerns related to gun ownership and cannabis use, robust evidence suggests that the rates of both suicide ideation and completed suicides decrease after states legalize regulated access to cannabis. In this episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths, we explore the issues surrounding this untenable choice: Cannabis or Guns, You Can’t Have Both. EPISODE RESOURCES Anderson, D. M., Rees, D. I., & Sabia, J. J. (2014). Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicides by Gender and Age. American Journal of Public Health, 104(12), 2369–2376. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301612 Andreuccetti, G., Ye, Y., Kang, J., Korcha, R., Witbrodt, J. A., Carvalho, H. B., & Cherpitel, C. J. (2017). The Effects of Acute Cannabis Use on Nontraffic Injury Risk: Reviewing the Available Literature and Identifying Ways Forward. Contemporary Drug Problems, 44(2), 147-158. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091450917710763 Bartos, B. J., Kubrin, C. E., Newark, C., & McCleary, R. (2020). Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide. Archives of Suicide Research, 24(2), 204–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2019.1612803 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (2019, May 2). Information and Examples of the Application of Title 18, United States Code (U.S.C.),Section 922, Subsection (g)(3): PERSONS WHO ARE UNLAWFUL USERS OF OR ADDICTED TO ANY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/tribal/media/1135246/dl?inline= Grucza, R. A., Hur, M., Agrawal, A., Krauss, M. J., Plunk, A. D., Cavazos-Rehg, P. A., Chaloupka, F. J., & Bierut, L. J. (2015). A reexamination of medical marijuana policies in relation to suicide risk. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 152, 68–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.04.014 Jaeger, K. (2023, December 8). Medical Marijuana Growers And Caregivers Can Own Guns, But Patients Can't, FBI Says In Little-Noticed Memo. Retrieved from https://www.marijuanamoment.net/medical-marijuana-growers-and-caregivers-can-own-guns-but-patients-cant-fbi-says-in-little-noticed-memo/ Marijuana Policy Project. (n.d.). Marijuana Policy Reforms and the Second Amendment. Retrieved from https://www.mpp.org/policy/federal/secondamendment/ Rylander, M., Valdez, C., & Nussbaum, A. M. (2014). Does the legalization of medical marijuana increase completed suicide? The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 40(4), 269–273. https://doi.org/10.3109/00952990.2014.910520 Schanie, A. (2024, Dec. 11). Starting Jan. 1, Kentuckians will have to choose between medical marijuana or firearms. Retrieved from https://www.wdrb.com/news/starting-jan-1-kentuckians-will-have-to-choose-between-medical-marijuana-or-firearms/article_730a16b6-b80c-11ef-9721-93daace5ff86.html Small, C. (2023, April 17). The Intersection Between Marijuana and the 2nd Amendment: What Gun Owners Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.clarkhill.com/news-events/news/the-intersection-between-marijuana-and-the-2nd-amendment-what-gun-owners-need-to-know/ Times Observer. (2025, February 24). DA to not seek re-election, admits marijuana use and eyes shift to advocacy. Retrieved from https://www.timesobserver.com/news/local-news/2023/12/da-to-not-seek-re-election/ U.S. v. Cooper, 224 F. App'x 537 (7th Cir. 2007). Retrieved from https://ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/25/02/241998P.pdf
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ep. 54: Canabis as a Complementary Therapy for HIV

    Ep. 54: Canabis as a Complementary Therapy for HIV
    Mar 12 2025
    EPISODE 54 - R: 2/27/2025 A: 3/19/2025 - CANNABIS AS A COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY FOR HIV Approximately 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV, and more people are living longer because of advances in medicine and pharmaceuticals. Developed in the late 1980s, antiretroviral therapy is credited with providing better viral control, but these pharmaceuticals are not without their downside, as they are expensive, complex in action, and have many adverse effects. As we continue to expand our knowledge about cannabis and its interactions with the endocannabinoid system, new studies indicate that medical marijuana is an effective treatment for the symptoms of HIV as well as a way to manage the adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy. Adding cannabinoids, such as CBD and THC, to the HIV treatment plan specifically targets the body’s endocannabinoid system, which in turn lessens the adverse symptoms associated with inflammatory and nervous system dysfunction found in HIV. In this episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths, we examine how these cannabinoids can improve the quality of life by decreasing not only the symptoms associated with antiretroviral therapy, but also reduce HIV viral load and complement the prescribed drugs that are helping people live longer with HIV. Bruce, D., Kahana, S.Y., Bauermeister, J.A., Nichols, S.L., Hightow-Weidman, L.B., Heinze, J.E., Shea, J., & Fernández, M.I. (2015). Neighborhood-level and individual-level correlates of cannabis use among young persons living with HIV/AIDS. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 151, 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.03.017 Cabral, G.A. (2001). Marijuana and cannabinoids: Effects on infections, immunity, and AIDS. Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, 1(3–4), 61–85. https://doi.org/10.1300/J175v01n03_06 Chu, L., Shu, Z., Gu, X., Wu, Y., Yang, J., & Deng, H. (2023). The endocannabinoid system as a potential therapeutic target for HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, can.2022.0267. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2022.0267 Costiniuk, C.T., & Jenabian, M.-A. (2019). Cannabinoids and inflammation: Implications for people living with HIV. AIDS, 33(15), 2273–2288. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000002345 Costiniuk, C.T., Saneei, Z., Salahuddin, S., Cox, J., Routy, J.-P., Rueda, S., Abdallah, S.J., Jensen, D., Lebouché, B., Brouillette, M.-J., Klein, M., Szabo, J., Frenette, C., Giannakis, A., & Jenabian, M.-A. (2019). Cannabis consumption in people living with HIV: Reasons for use, secondary effects, and opportunities for health education. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 4(3), 204–213. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2018.0068 de Jong, B.C., Prentiss, D., McFarland, W., Machekano, R., & Israelski, D.M. (2005). Marijuana use and its association with adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected persons with moderate to severe nausea. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 38(1), 43. Ellis, R.J., Toperoff, W., Vaida, F., van den Brande, G., Gonzales, J., Gouaux, B., Bentley, H., & Atkinson, J.H. (2009). Smoked medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain in HIV: A randomized, crossover clinical trial. Neuropsychopharmacology, 34(3), 672–680. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2008.120 Ellis, R.J., Wilson, N., & Peterson, S. (2021). Cannabis and inflammation in HIV: A review of human and animal studies. Viruses, 13(8), 1521. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13081521 Langat, R., Chakrawarti, A., & Klatt, N.R. (2025). Cannabis use in HIV: Impact on inflammation, immunity and the microbiome. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 22(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-025-00729-0 Liu, Z., Julius, P., Himwaze, C.M., Mucheleng’anga, L.A., Chapple, A.G., West, J.T., & Wood, C. (2024). Cannabis use associates with reduced proviral burden and inflammatory cytokine in tissues from men with Clade C HIV-1 on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Journal of Infectious Diseases, jiad575. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiad575 Marini, S., Huber, A., Cash, M.N., Salemi, M., Cook, R.L., Borsa, P., & Mavian, C.N. (2024). Oral cannabidiol treatment is associated with an anti-inflammatory gene expression signature in myeloid cells of people living with HIV. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.0139 Mboumba Bouassa, R.-S., Needham, J., Nohynek, D., Singer, J., Lee, T., Bobeuf, F., Samarani, S., Del Balso, L., Paisible, N., Vertzagias, C., Sebastiani, G., Margolese, S., Mandarino, E., Klein, M., Lebouché, B., Cox, J., Brouillette, M.-J., Routy, J.-P., Szabo, J., … Costiniuk, C. T. (2022). Safety and tolerability of oral cannabinoids in people living with HIV on long-term ART: A randomized, open-label, interventional pilot clinical trial (CTNPT 028). Biomedicines, 10(12), 3168. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10123168 Pagano, C., Navarra, G., Coppola, L., Avilia, G., Bifulco, M., & Laezza, C. (2022). Cannabinoids: Therapeutic use in clinical practice. International Journal of...
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ep. 52 - One Year Celebration! Welcome to the Stoned Age, the Changing Face of a Post-Prohibition Society!

    Ep. 52 - One Year Celebration! Welcome to the Stoned Age, the Changing Face of a Post-Prohibition Society!
    Mar 6 2025

    Welcome to an emerging post-prohibition world, where cannabis is legal around the globe and consumers are using cannabis in everyday living. Hemp fibers and seeds are used for construction and food, while the compounds that are extracted from cannabis - the cannabinoids - are used as medicine. The industry is growing at a rapid pace, driven by consumer demand which has ignited an unprecedented body of research, innovation and technology. The post-prohibition society is here, ready to intensify.

    Don’t believe it? Well, get ready for the Stoned Age, where past arguments against the use of the plant are no longer effective. Prohibitionists insist that cannabis use is dangerous and deadly, and pharmaceutical corporations spend a lot of money to ensure cannabis never comes to market, as it will quickly put them out of business. Yet almost every one of the 45,000 published studies does not support the arguments that cannabis is dangerous and deadly; in fact, almost all cannabis studies indicate that cannabis works very well as a medicine when it is treated as such. Here’s an idea - how about we practice evidence-based medicine and help our patient population achieve wellness in mind, body and spirit? That’s what we expect in the Stoned Age, the Era of Wellness.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ep. 51 - Green Acres! Special Guest: Abner Johnson, COO of Pure Shenandoah

    Ep. 51 - Green Acres! Special Guest: Abner Johnson, COO of Pure Shenandoah
    Feb 26 2025

    At the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley lies Elkton, Virginia, a town composed of 1.4 square miles and populated with just under 3000 residents. But there is a secret operation in this sleepy little rural town - a hemp company run by the Johnson family. Pure Shenandoah is a true seed-to-sale company, with its three brothers serving as foundational members to provide hemp for not only industrial uses, such as construction and fibers, but also in processing wellness products.

    Pure Shenandoah grows their own hemp, from which they process into cannabinoid oils, cannabis beverages and smokable hemp flowers. They also offer cultivation classes for people to learn how to grow cannabis. In today's episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths, we are excited to speak with our special guest, Abner Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of Pure Shenandoah. Abner shares insights into what it's like to be a hemp farmer in the last chapter of cannabis prohibition, because even small hemp companies like Pure Shenandoah have faced their own challenges as a cannabis business.

    EPISODE RESOURCES Pure Shenandoah: https://pureshenandoah.com

    Pure Shenandoah Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pureshenandoah

    Pure Shenandoah Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pureshenandoah/

    Pure Shenandoah YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqhQXkMBMoaPWeoI-yqd8rA

    Welcome to the Town of Elkton: https://www.elktonva.gov/

    Jojack, B. (2024, June 27). Competition’s fierce for Shenandoah medical marijuana permit. Virginia Business. https://virginiabusiness.com/competitions-fierce-for-shenandoah-medical-marijuana-permit/

    Urenko, C. (2022, April 12). Pure Shenandoah opens its doors in Elkton. WHSV3. https://www.whsv.com/2022/04/13/pure-shenandoah-dispensary-opens-its-doors-elkton/

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    1 hr and 4 mins
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