Research

This column expresses how cannabis facilities that invest in RCx projects can enhance equipment reliability and worker safety, improve conditions for plant growth and development, increase canopy yields, and reduce maintenance costs.

In this installment, we finish our discussion of energy and elements used in atomic spectroscopy by examining an important analytical technique: inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

The field of cannabis horticulture is ever-evolving and offers many opportunities for innovation and experimentation. In this interview, Jessica Lubell-Brand, PhD, professor of horticulture at the University of Connecticut with the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture provides insights into the findings of her laboratory’s recent studies of the “retipping” method of propagating cannabis. She also shares details on her current research with cannabis breeding techniques and how studies like these can benefit the future of cannabis growing.

Initial findings from a recent study suggested that cannabidiol (CBD) derivatives made naloxone treatment more effective, even against the opioid fentanyl.

A look at what epigenetics means, how other plant industries have used or studied them, and how that can be applied to cannabis to improve yields, plant genetics, and solve plant illness.

This tutorial article outlines the key considerations that must be put in place when setting up a cannabis extraction facility.

In this article, Markus Roggen demonstrates a new method for recapturing terpenes lost during the cannabis extraction process.

In early 2023, Yale School of Medicine announced the foundation of a new center for cannabis research. The center’s inaugural director recently provided commentary on the goals and direction of the research.

There goes another year in the books. This review of 2022’s extraction greatest hits takes a look at discoveries, advancements in technology, and other highlights from the year. This article also lays out some predictions for 2023, which is set up to be an interesting year with less access to funding that could slow the development of new technology or innovation in the extraction space.

Here we continue the discussion of energy and elements used in atomic spectroscopy by looking at one of the most commonly used analytical techniques in the elemental analytical laboratory—inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).

This article addresses the US Department of Agriculture’s hemp testing rules and what laboratories should know regarding hemp testing. The author provides a short tutorial for laboratories and includes a section how laboratory information management systems (LIMS) can help.

A veterans’ research study to discover how medical cannabis is helping veterans in Massachusetts and nationally. Here, the authors provide an overview of the current study and what the initial findings reveal.

On December 2nd, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, the first piece of standalone cannabis legislation in US history to become law. It will reportedly streamline a new process for cannabis research applications and for manufacturing products for drug development and allow for a larger amount of legal cannabis for research purposes.

Currently in the life cycle of the cannabis industry, it is not obvious where the heavy metal regulatory landscape will end up. Clearly, the big four are not enough, but what is a realistic panel that reflects the real world of cannabinoid production?

This study, which evaluated the potential of a well-designed unidirectional aseptic processing approach to both hydrocarbon and supercritical carbon dioxide extract manufacturing, suggests that the extraction process is capable of deactivating or removing the tested microbial contaminants when highly contaminated Cannabis spp. Inflorescence is used as feed material.

In this recent interview, Bruce Kendall and Dr. Hinanit Koltai of the Volcani Institute share the inspiring story of the late Michelle Kendall and how her passion for science and research brought them all together to study medical cannabis as a potential treatment for ovarian cancer.

The Cannabis & Me research study will reportedly study the effects of cannabis on the human brain, particularly in terms of a user’s prior psychological conditions.

Cannabis provides a conundrum for treating pediatric oncology: While preclinical research provides clear mechanisms of action for cannabis’s potential to treat pediatric oncology, clinical studies are difficult to conduct, due to the associated ethics. Here, we take a closer look at the state of current research.

Research sponsored by biopharmaceutical drug development company Gb Sciences Inc. identified and validated mixtures of cannabis-inspired compounds for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

The 2022 Canna Pharma Conference was held October 12-13 in San Diego, California.

In the work presented here, the author shares research from collecting reports from the New Jersey State laboratory (the Department of Health’s Environmental and Chemical Laboratory Services), which has conducted testing for the state’s medicinal program. He documented an average variance of 20% in potency levels from different samples of the same test lot.

Experts within the global cannabis and hemp industries discuss the importance of testing and regulations and sustainable measures that can reduce the sector’s environmental impact.

Kevin McKernan, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of Medicinal Genomics, shares some insight behind his recently published paper related to cannabis trichomes and positive results on rapid yeast and mold plates.

One of the recurring challenges in the medical cannabis space is the difficulty in conducting research because of the plant’s Schedule I status. Although there are some researchers diving in with special licenses to conduct clinical studies, there are others that are looking at real-world users to supply data. For instance, Dr. Daniel J. Kruger is a Research Investigator with the Population Study Center at the University of Michigan and Principal Investigator on a study being conducted with the Releaf app. Here, Dr. Kruger shares his interest and background in these types of surveys and his plans for the current study with Releaf on chronic pain.

In his presentation for the psychedelics track at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022, James Schwartz, BSN, LNC, presented “A New Beginning for an Old Therapy: Case Series Review on the Treatment of PTSD and Other Psychiatric Disorders with Psilocybin and Other Psychedelics.” He reviewed the current research and clinical trials studying the effects of psilocybin, plus side effects, potential uses, latest trends, disorders currently being studied, and potential future applications. Schwartz was a trauma trained nurse who worked in the Trauma/Critical Care ICU at Oregon Health and Science University. He is an experienced medical legal consultant and CEO of Cascade High. Here are some highlights from his session.