Cannabis Research Update: A New Webinar from Healer

From the August 2024 Healer webinar cannabis research update | Image Credit: © Healer.com

On August 7, 2024, Dustin Sulak, DO, founder of Healer, hosted a two-hour webinar discussing several research studies involving cannabis. The monthly webinars are meant for a mixed audience and are designed to help attendees stay current on the volume of research being published. This month’s webinar covered cannabis for sleep, menstrual symptoms, anxiety, chemotherapy-induced nerve pain, and PEA for strength training.

The first study discussed in the webinar, “Evaluating possible 'next day' impairment in insomnia patients administered an oral medicinal cannabis product by night: a pilot randomized controlled trial,” was published in May 2024 in Psychopharmacology. Dr. Sulak explained the framework of the study, demographics, cannabinoids used and the dose, methods of assessing impairment, and limitations of the study. One of the take home messages of this study for people who are new to cannabis, he noted, was that it could reassure them if they start taking or titrating cannabis before bed.

The second study, “The Safety and Comparative Effectiveness of Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid Formulations for the Improvement of Sleep: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial,” was published in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association in January 2024. This trail examined six different cannabis products among more than 1700 participants. Dr. Sulak provided insights into the significance of the cannabinoid combinations used (CBC, CBN, and CBD) and melatonin, plus his own suggestions for cannabinoid combination and doses that he uses in his clinic.

Next, Dr. Sulak introduced a new topic with, “Examination of the effects of cannabidiol on menstrual-related symptoms,” which was published in Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology in March 2024. As Dr. Sulak discussed, there is almost no clinical data on cannabis for menstrual symptoms such as cramping, nausea, irritability, depression, and anxiety, though there is overlap in symptoms commonly impacted by CBD. He explained the method and results of this study, plus the potential mechanisms of action for CBD.

The next study, “Evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of nanodispersible cannabidiol oral solution (150 mg/mL) versus placebo in mild to moderate anxiety subjects: A double blind multicenter randomized clinical trial,” was published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry in July 2024. After discussing the results on anxiety, depression, and sleep, Dr. Sulak wondered whether a full spectrum CBD product could achieve equal or better results with less of the adverse effects, especially the GI adverse effects.

From the August 2024 Healer webinar cannabis research update | Image Credit: © Healer.com

The next topic was cannabigerol (CBG) and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIPN). This involved two rodent studies from the same group: “Paclitaxel-Associated Mechanical Sensitivity and Neuroinflammation Are Sex-, Time-, and Site-Specific and Prevented through Cannabigerol Administration in C57Bl/6 Mice,” published in April 2024 in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, and “Single and Combined Effects of Cannabigerol (CBG) and Cannabidiol (CBD) in Mouse Models of Oxaliplatin-Associated Mechanical Sensitivity, Opioid Antinociception, and Naloxone-Precipitated Opioid Withdrawal,” which was published in Biomedicines in May 2024. One study looked at treating the neuropathy and the other at preventing it. Dr. Sulak summarized these two detailed studies and their larger implications

The last study examined the effects of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). PEA, Dr. Sulak explained, is an endocannabinoid that is noted for its mechanism of action of reducing inflammation. He summarized the study “The Effect of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy, Strength, and Power in Response to Resistance Training in Healthy Active Adults: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial,” which was published in Sports Medicine – Open in June 2024, and noted the results and other potential uses for PEA.

For the second half of the webinar, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions. Topics included dry mouth with CBG usage, PEA and myasthenia gravis, THC overdose, the terpene beta-caryophyllene, and cannabinoids for topicals.