Federal cannabis reform will be created in the image and likeness of whichever political party is in office when it finally happens. But the buzz question now is Schumer or Mace, whose cannabis reform bill is better? And which one is the industry going to support?
And don’t we know it. In fact, last week Bill Maher bemoaned that “Republicans are going to steal the issue, I think eventually.” The Real Time talk show host, who was speaking with former attorney General Eric Holder, is probably right.
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Why?
Republicans, with their keep taxes low and government regulation to a minimum approach, might be better equipped psychologically and practically to legalize cannabis, their conservative Christian wing notwithstanding.
Whereas the Dems are more disposed to taxes, regulations and, to their credit, a strong emphasis on social equity and justice as seen by an across-the-board push for expungement, their prohibitionist President notwithstanding.
How Do We Know This?
Just take a look at the two major cannabis reform proposals — one from each party — that have been circulating in and out of the halls of Congress as well as state legislatures.
Then there’s Rep. Nancy Mace’s (R-SC) States Reform Act (SRA), which when introduced in 2021 was warmly greeted.
Both bills would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, thus legalizing it federally…a good start. Many in the industry concur that the Dems’ CAOA leans more toward social justice and therefore enjoys support from the Marijuana Justice Coalition, which includes the ACLU and Human Rights Watch.
Mace’s SRA is more big-business centered and enjoys the backing of the Cannabis Freedom Alliance, which includes the Koch-funded group Americans for Prosperity.
So, whose legalization bill and by extension which congressional candidates are executives of the U.S.’s highest-valued cannabis companies supporting?
If you guessed Nancy Mace, go to the head of the class.
Cannabis Wire did some digging into the Congressional campaign contributions made by executives of the following multistate operators:
Ascend Wellness
Ayr Wellness
Canopy Growth
Columbia Care
Cresco Labs
Curaleaf Holdings
Green Thumb Industries
TerrAscend
Trulieve
Verano Holdings
Of these companies, six CEOs made a campaign contribution in 2022. Four of them gave to Mace alone. One gave to Mace and to Gary Chambers, a Democrat from Louisiana who is running for Senate. And one gave only to Chambers, who made headlines in January when he smoked a joint in one of his campaign ads.
With these six tips, you should be able to produce the more desirable, dense cannabis buds, and enjoy the fruit of your labor.
Buds that come out popcorn-sized are quite disappointing to see, especially following proper germination, a lengthy flowering stage, and weeks of vegetation — not to mention all the hours taken to attend to your buds. Here are some insights on how to prevent such results and instead grow buds with admirable density.
Photo by Lealnard Riengkaew / EyeEm/Getty Images
1. GENETICS IS THE STARTING POINT
Genetics is an important factor in the cultivation of dense buds. There are over a hundred common marijuana cultivars, all of which have features that are slightly different. Some act as energizers and others perform a stoning effect. Some remain low to the soil and bushy, others grow to lofty heights. The density of buds also differs between strains.
Genetically, there are cultivars wired to give fluffy, airy buds. This doesn’t mean that they are of lower potency, though it affects their attractiveness. Sativa varieties often give airier buds, whereas the indica’s often give compact and thick colas.
In the quest for having the densest flowers, a heavily indica-dominant hybrid or preferably pure indica specimen is the best place to start. There is a wide inventory of genetics in India that differ hugely in flowering time, effect, and taste.
2. REGULATE THE TEMPERATURE
Temperature plays a huge role in the size and shape of cannabis buds. The plants can withstand temperatures as hot as 30°C and blossom under a moderately wide range of temperatures, i.e 18-26°C. Although, if temps go outside the ideal range due to heatwaves or cold snaps, buds will begin to go nuts and get airy.
Planters need to make sure temperatures stay adequately cool during the day and warm enough at night. Those who plant indoors are at an advantage here, as it’s easier to control the climate in grow rooms. One can make it automated by using timers and sensors, or simply fans, air conditioners, a hygrometer, and heaters.
Outdoor planters possess less freedom and remain subject to the elements. Shade cloths are erected around their plants to prevent excess heat.
3. LIGHT SPECTRUM AND INTENSITY ARE IMPORTANT
The most crucial factor in attaining dense buds is probably light. It’s required by plants to grow, create vital sugars, and conduct photosynthesis. Although, not just any light will suffice. Plants require ideal intensity and the correct spectrum of light to produce resinous, plump flowers.
Outdoor-grown plants will perform optimally in direct sunlight for the majority of the day. 10-12 hours is ideal. To maximize exposure, planters should target planting them on slopes that face the south. Plants should be spaced in a way that they have an adequate broom between them and do not obstruct each other’s light
Those who grow indoors can choose between different types of light. LEDs are one of the best. They put off minimal heat, are powerful, and are not expensive to run, the only drawback being the acquisition cost if you decide on panels of high quality.
Photo by Christina Winter via Unsplash
Planters should target a 1000W light intensity per square meter. This intensity will suffice to optimize the steady growth of the plant and produce dense flowers. Growers need to be conscious of the position of their lights. Positioning them very far will decrease the speed of photosynthesis. But, positioning them too near also can decrease bud density and cause heat stress.
If you use LEDs, place them 60cm over your plants. Bring the source of light closer daily. If you start to conserve signs of bleaching, lift the light 5cm gradually till symptoms decline.
4. TRIM, TRAIN, AND PRUNE
If you leave your plants to their own devices, they tend to grow vertically, producing one main cola. This is not ideal if you’re planning on increasing the flower density and yield. Fortunately, various techniques can help improve the appearance and quality of your plants.
One of the most effective techniques that can help improve the appearance and quality of your plants is low-stress training. This method involves tying down the main stem of the plant with garden wire to the side of the container. The side branches then start to grow vertically, producing a variety of main colas. You can also use High-stress techniques like topping to enhance bud density and boost ramifications.
Pruning can also be done to improve growth, shape, and flower quality. By taking out selected branches and leaves, growers focus energy and resources on the flowers instead.
5. DON’T HARVEST HURRIEDLY
We understand that harvest time is exciting! You’ve seen your plant grow from fragile seedlings to flowering beauties for months. Novice growers tend to pull the shoots away from the plant as soon as possible. This is fascinating, but it’s important to wait for the right time. The buds grow rapidly during the flowering period and can be densified by just waiting a few days longer. There are several factors that you need to be aware of to know if the timing is right. Use a magnifying glass or jeweler’s loupe to help you see them.
The harvest indicator is the color of the trichome. These are crystal structures that cover the surface of buds and sugar leaves. In the early stages of flowering, the trichomes appear translucent. Eventually, it will be cloudy. When most of the trichomes are cloudy, it’s time to harvest.
Growers should also pay attention to the pistil, which is a hair-like structure found throughout cannabis flowers. The young pistil is white, but when ripe it turns orange-red or brown.
Photo by Aleksandr_Kravtsov/Getty Images
6. CONTROL THE NUTRIENTS CAREFULLY
Cannabis needs a wide range of nutrients to develop well, including macronutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen, and micronutrients like manganese and zinc. Plants begin to exhibit deficiency symptoms if they don’t get or can’t access enough nutrients. However, excess nutrients can also injure the plate and lessen bud density.
Planters should apply nutrients as recommended by the product. Again, play safely and give 50% of the recommended amount in the early stages of nutrition. The pH of the soil should be slightly acidic to avoid deficiency. Introducing beneficial microorganisms into the soil, like mycorrhizal fungi, helps plants access the nutrients they need.
With these six tips that have been highlighted above, you should be able to produce the more desirable, dense cannabis buds, and enjoy the fruit of your labor.
The ban goes into effect this July, but starting in July 2023, only the sale of synthetic cannabinoids will be allowed in OLCC-sanctioned cannabis shops.
Oregon is set to become the first state in the union to ban synthetic cannabinoids beginning in July.
State regulators with the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) say they’re restricting sales of the products over concerns about the chemicals used in their production.
Photo by Jose Luque / EyeEm/Getty Images
What Are Synthetic Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis. A chemical process can be used to isolate them or create them synthetically in abundant quantities, which are used in consumer products. In that the synthetic cannabinoids don’t contain THC, they’ve gone mostly unregulated, which means products like CBN can be sold on the open market, including at supermarkets, gas stations and other retailers.
The best-known synthetic cannabinoid is delta-8 THC. The Centers for Disease Control warned consumers last year that there had been more than 100 delta-8 exposures that required hospitalization in just six months across the country in 2021.
Delta-8, like CBD and CBN, occurs naturally within the plant. However, since it exists in very small amounts, a chemical process is used to extract it from CBD.
“The supply of CBD was outstripping the demand for CBD,” said Steven Crowley, the hemp and processing compliance specialist with the OLCC. “And so, the people who had CBD on hand were looking for other ways that they could market it. People started working on different products that they could convert the CBD into. This is where you get the delta-8 THC products.”
The ban goes into effect this July, but starting in July 2023, only the sale of synthetic cannabinoids will be allowed in OLCC-sanctioned cannabis shops after the products undergo rigorous and expensive testing and receive approval from the FDA.
On May 19, a federal court in California ruled that the legalization of hemp at the federal level via the 2018 Farm Bill, eliminated restrictions on several cannabinoids as well as delta-8 THC.
Delta-9 THC, which is often called THC, is the most prominent psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis and stays federally illegal. It is categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance together with heroin, peyote, and methaqualone. In comparison, Delta-8 THC generally occurs in minute quantities in the marijuana plant.
However, modern production and cultivation techniques allow for minor cannabinoids to be refined and concentrated into consumer products. With that, delta-8 THC substances have grown in popularity over the years, particularly in cannabis legalized states.
Similar to delta-9 THC, delta-8 THC also has psychoactive properties. However, users claim that the experience is typically more repressed with mild side effects compared to delta-9 THC. Although some cannabis advocates and several health professionals have affirmed that little is still known about the possible risks and health impacts of delta-8 THC.
According to one of the judges in the three-judge panel, Judge D. Michael Fisher, wrote that regardless of the decision to legalize delta-8 THC, the Court won’t alter its judgment for Congress. All three judges that gave the ruling were appointed by Republican presidents. According to Fisher, if a loophole was inadvertently created by lawmakers who didn’t plan to legalize delta-8 THC, then it is congress’ responsibility to fix such a mistake.
The Controversy
The Ninth Circuit judgment originates from a controversy over apparent copyright and trademark violation that hinged on the legality of delta-8 THC. The controversy kicked off when AK Futures, a company that produces vaping products and e-cigarettes, accused Boyd Street Distro of producing sham versions of its products which contain delta-8 THC.
According to data on appeal, it was proven that delta-8 THC products produced by AK Futures are lawful under the Farm Act and hence may get trademark security. On the other hand, Boyd Street claimed the products in question were bought from an individual who claims to be AK Futures’ authorized dealer. AK Futures then claimed its full inventory for that same product had been sold out and won’t be selling the brand shortly.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Boyd Street’s lawyer, Darrel Menthe, argued that no evidence that Congress had plans to legalize delta-8 THC was brought forward. If substances that contain cannabinoids are considered legal, then state and federal governments will probably regulate cannabis products to make use of them safely and not advertised to children.
Darrell Menthe further added that Boyd Street has no primary plans to appeal the decision of the Court.
The director of NORML California, Dale Gieringer, during an interview with the Chronicle, affirmed that it would be more ideal from a policy point of view to just legalize delta-9 THC. He believes that since extensive studies and research has been carried out on the cannabinoid for decades, delta-9 THC is more understood than delta-8 THC.
With the 2018 Farm bill enacted into law, delta-8 THC and several minor cannabinoids are now in a kind of legal grey area. While a lot of businesses in the cannabis industry argue that the products are legal, a lot of legislators in many states believe otherwise.
Now, the controversy has bubbled up reaching the federal level. To this end, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), earlier this month, published its first set of warning letters. The letters were issued to cannabis firms as regards the alleged illegal sale of substances that contains delta-8 THC.
Before the warning letters, the FDA had initially published a notice to caution consumers of such products. This approach is similar to how the FDA sent warning letters to several companies over unlicensed advertisements of CBD.
At the moment, the FDA regulations do not allow for the advertisement of cannabinoids in the food supply. However, cannabis advocates and lawmakers have been pressuring the agency to modify its laws to permit the marketing of CBD since hemp has been legalized at the federal level.
As things stand, both parties now have congressional lawmakers pushing the FDA to create new regulations on CBD. Dr. Robert M. Cliff, the FDA Commissioner, during a hearing at the U.S House committee, affirmed that he will be needing a lot of support from Congress to make such development possible.
According to Dr. Robert M. Cliff, the present councils on the food side of the drug side will not be willing to provide what is needed to achieve such a goal. Meanwhile, the Drug Enforcement Administration, since late last year, has signaled that delta-8 THC is legal under the law.
In the same last year, the Texas state government also declared that delta-8 was illegal. This was a development many oppositions challenged in court achieving a pause on the proposed ban by state enforcement.
The controversy between AK Futures and Boyd Street gave enough clarity regarding the legality of e-cigarettes and delta-8 THC products under federal statute. It proves that federal courts are not paying close attention to the loopholes in psychoactive hemp derivatives that were not found in the Farm Bill of 2018.
However, irrespective of your feelings about delta-8 THC, this is a major turnaround in the history of marijuana legalization.
A new study found links between social isolation and a common condition that affects people over the age of 65.
Dementia is a condition that affects over 55 million people around the world, becoming a greater risk as people grow older. Now, new research has found a link between social isolation and dementia, with the condition changing brain structures in the brain associated with memories.
The study, published in the journal Neurology, was conducted by researchers from the University of Warwick, the University of Cambridge and Fudan University. They found that people who were isolated had lower gray matter volume in areas of the brain linked with memory and learning.
Among the more than 460,000 participants they studied (mean age baseline 57 years), social isolation was correlated to a 26% increased risk of dementia 12 years later.
Professor Edmund Rolls, who works at the University of Warwick, explained that social isolation doesn’t necessarily equate to loneliness. “There is a difference between social isolation, which is an objective state of low social connections, and loneliness, which is subjectively perceived social isolation.”
While loneliness was associated with later dementia, once these results were adjusted for depression, they were irrelevant.
Researchers spoke about the importance of maintaining social connections, especially once people are older and at a higher risk of developing dementia. “We highlight the importance of an environmental method of reducing the risk of dementia in older adults through ensuring that they are not socially isolated. During any future pandemic lockdowns, it is important that individuals, especially older adults, do not experience social isolation,” said co-author Jianfeng Feng, PhD.
Dementia is a condition that is more common for people over the age of 65. While the symptoms can be mitigated with medications and close care, it’s a condition that’s irreversible, making it important for people to keep an eye on possible warning signs. The earlier the condition is spotted, the better odds there are for a favorable prognosis.
The Senate has been under pressure from all sides recently to pass the SAFE Banking Act that would “help cannabis-related businesses, support innovation, create jobs, and strengthen public safety in our communities.”
Just recently, about a quarter of voting members of the House of Representatives urged congressional leaders to enact marijuana banking provisions into law as part of the large-scale manufacturing bill — America COMPETES Act.
On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) reaffirmed the filing postponement of a comprehensive marijuana bill to end prohibition, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), from April to sometime before the August recess. So far, his stance has been that marijuana legalization with social equity components should be approved before the marijuana banking bill.
However, it seems that sentiment might be shifting. Schumer met earlier this week with GOP House Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) to discuss possible bipartisan cannabis reform steps that can be taken ahead of the finalization of a comprehensive legalization bill, reported Marijuana Moment.
A preliminary conversation took place at an International Cannabis Bar Association conference on Thursday, as first tweeted by Politico’s Natalie Fertig.
Among other cannabis reform proposals, Schumer and Joyce discussed combining two already existing bipartisan bills — the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, from Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), and the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act. The HOPE Act, sponsored by Joyce and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), would help states expunge criminal records for people with convictions for non-violent cannabis offenses by setting up a State Expungement Opportunity Grant Program.
“The conversation between Leader Schumer and Congressman Joyce was part of an ongoing, broader discussion between both parties and chambers to determine what reform can pass this Congress,” a Joyce senior staffer told Marijuana Moment. “It is evidence of the sincere efforts by both the leader and the congressman to find common ground for substantial, bipartisan progress on this issue. The congressman remains hopeful that an agreement can be made and progress can be achieved.”
Photo by eldadcarin/Getty Images
Is There A Compromise On The Horizon?
While Joyce’s office stressed that there’s no deal on the table yet, Cantor Fitzgerald’s Pablo Zuanic said the meeting signals that Schumer “may be open to a reasonable and realistic compromise in passing SAFE…if other social equity policies can be added.”
The analyst also noted that in the scenario where Schumer doesn’t introduce his own comprehensive legalization bill before the recess, he “may be amenable to some form of compromise.”
Zuanic said that the move should stimulate multi-state operators (MSO) in the U.S. “Given where US cannabis stocks are trading (two-year lows), from a purely trading perspective this should spur the group,” he said. “We remain buyers of key US MSOs with the caveat that even if nothing happens this year, they should still be attractive long-term investments.”
So far, the SAFE Banking Act has managed to pass the U.S. House six times in the last three years.
Three-quarters of U.S. Border Patrol drug seizures were exclusively for marijuana, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published in early June.
The analysis of Border Patrol data, from 2016 through 2020, showed that officers pulled in roughly 35,700 “potentially removable people in about 17,500 events at checkpoints.”
“GAO found that most drug seizure events involved only U.S. citizens (91%), of which 75% involved the seizure of marijuana and no other drugs,” the report says.
Interestingly, half of all marijuana seizures (8,098 of 16,315) included “personal use quantity of marijuana and no other drugs.”
In the meantime, the analysis also showed inconsistency in the documentation of seizing trace amounts of marijuana, including marijuana residue found on paraphernalia.
The agency guidance suggested that marijuana should be put in a different category from paraphernalia containing small bits of cannabis. However, the GAO found that “1,973 seized items containing trace amounts of marijuana” were “incorrectly documented.”
“Border Patrol headquarters officials told us that they typically focus their oversight of drug seizure data on relatively large seizures, such as marijuana seizures over 100 pounds on the southwest border,” the report continues. “As a result, officials acknowledged that incorrect documentation of small quantities of marijuana, such as trace amounts, would likely be undetected by headquarters.”
On the other hand, the report also showed a significant decline, 56%, in marijuana seizures at checkpoints over the course of four years, which Is in line with more and more states legalizing the plant.
The U.S. Attorney’s offices in their sectors are not prosecuting those caught with personal use amounts of cannabis. “In such cases, people from whom marijuana is seized may be (1) referred to state or local authorities for criminal investigation or (2) released,” Border Patrol GAO said.
While recreational cannabis remains illegal in Ukraine, the country is slowly moving towards legalizing the plant’s medicinal use.
The Russian war has affected the mental health of many Ukrainians, something that might push the country to legalize medical marijuana.
On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Minister of Healthcare, Viktor Liashko, wrote on Facebook that the cabinet had approved a bill to legalize medical cannabis, allowing the drug to treat a variety of conditions, among them, the trauma enacted by the war.
“We understand the negative effects of war on mental health. We understand the number of people who will need medical treatment due to this exposure. And we understand that there is no time to wait,” reads the post.
Per NPR, the bill will regulate “the circulation of cannabis plants for medical, industrial purposes, scientific and scientific-technical activities to create the conditions for expanding the access of patients to the necessary treatment of cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from war.”
Liashko’s post explains some of the benefits of cannabis use, including that it can help treat and prevent a variety of conditions, among them, PTSD, sleep disorders and neurological diseases.
According to The Kyiv Post, the draft bill will now move on to Parliament where it’ll have to earn at least 226 votes in order to be approved. The bill is a reworked version of a previous bill that was denied last year, one that lawmakers believe will have more now support due to the country’s ongoing struggle with Russia.
While recreational cannabis remains illegal in Ukraine, the country is slowly moving towards legalizing the plant’s medicinal use. According to a 2020 poll, 65% of the Ukrainian population supports the use of medical cannabis and President Volodymyr Zelensky campaigned while openly supporting cannabis legislation.
Despite the fact that the bill regulating medical cannabis was denied in the near past, the country did legalize the use of certain medical cannabis products.
Benzinga recently reported that cannabis tourism was a $17 billion industry. Now, Moffat, population 120, is aiming to cash in this opportunity. To that end, the southern Colorado town in the San Luis Valley is seriously thinking of changing its name to “Kush” in a rebranding effort to ride the wave of cannabis tourism.
Mike Biggio, who co-founded Area 420, precisely a 420-acre Cannabis Business Park (zoned for licensed commercial grows) is behind the initiative. “I’m looking to establish this as a world-renowned cannabis region,” Biggio told the Denver Post.
Photo by Yarygin/Getty Images
What Is Kush?
The proposed name “Kush” refers to a landrace strain of marijuana originating from the Amu Darya River Valley, located on the border between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. According to Weedmaps, this variety of weed grew in the wild for centuries and stabilized its genetic profile through continuous natural selection.
In the 1960s and 1970s, when Afghanistan was still part of the “Hippie Trail,” countless pot smokers and fellow travelers visited the country and enjoyed one of the most potent marijuana strains on record at the time. Many of them brought these landrace seeds back to their home countries where they formed the origin of the Kush strains we know today.
‘The Napa Valley For Bud’
According to Biggio, Moffat “could be the next Humboldt County. The Napa Valley for bud,” he said. “This would show the town has both feet in on this and reflect the new culture here.”
Biggio will meet the local Board of Trustees in mid-June to discuss his proposal. The meeting is informational, an “opening salvo” before any votes are taken.
Building Momentum
Cassandra Foxx, Moffat’s mayor, says she’d vote for “Kush,” noting that “change is always good.”
Particularly in light of the fiscal benefits that Area 420 and the cannabis industry are bringing to town. As a cannabis hub or “cluster,” Area 420 has the potential to attract companies of all sizes that could work together, compete and cooperate, to promote cannabis innovation and stimulate the local economy.
Mayor Foxx explained that in the past five years since Area 420 started, town revenues skyrocketed from $80,000 to ~$400,000 in excise taxes, most of it from the marijuana industry. The money has gone toward funding schools, roads and housing development.
“This town was able to just exist(…) Then Area 420 came and brought us industry. It’s been exponential growth,” Foxx said.
However, not everyone agrees. Trustee Ken Skoglund said calling the town Kush was an overreach. “It’s not about money. It’s about right and wrong and we represent the people,” he said.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect the jaw as well as the muscles responsible for controlling movement in the jaw. The temporomandibular joint functions similarly to a sliding hinge and connects the skull and jawbone. The human body has one of these jaws on each side.
The symptoms of TMJ include tenderness or pain in the jaw, pain in the left, right, or both jaws, clicking sound when you open your mouth, pain around the ear and face, muscle spasms, joint locking, difficulty chewing, and more. These can be caused by various factors such as damage in the joint or the joint cartilage due to impact, eroding of the disk, or misalignment of the jaw disk. In most cases of people with TMJ, the exact cause is unclear.
According to the National Institutes of Health, there are some 10 million Americans that have temporomandibular joint disorders. They tend to affect people between the ages of 20 to 40, and it’s more common in women compared to men. Most cases of TMJ disorders are mild and when diagnosed early, they are not expected to worsen over time.
Lifestyle changes such as eating soft food, application of ice packs, avoiding extreme jaw movements as well as relaxation techniques are recommended. If this is not enough, pain medications and NSAIDS may be recommended by doctors and in severe cases, the use of a stabilization splint, a type of oral appliance, may be needed. In rare cases, botox and surgery may be required.
Millions of people with TMJ struggle with the severe pain and discomfort brought on by this condition.
How Cannabis Helps TMJ Disorders
While there are only a few studies focusing on cannabis exclusively for TMJ disorders compared to other illnesses, their results have been promising. In one study, low cannabis doses were shown to be effective in treating the pain associated with this disease, which is wonderful especially for people who don’t want to take NSAIDS due to the side effects.
In another study, researchers analyzed the impact of CBD oil on 60 patients who had symptoms of TMJ. The participants were grouped into two; one of these groups were given CBD oil for topical application while the second group were given a placebo. The researchers also analyzed muscle tension among these patients before and after treatment which lasted for 14 days. Electromyography was used to measure muscle tension, and the participants were also asked to rate the intensity of their pain through a 10-point scale.
The group who was given CBD oil had 11% less tension on the left side and 13% less muscle tension on the right side, while the placebo group reported 0.2% and 3.3% improvement, respectively. With a reduction in muscle tension, the participants also had less pain. Those in the CBD oil treatment group reported that they had 70$ less pain while it was only 10% for those given placebo. The researchers concluded that applying CBD transdermally was effective in decreasing activity in the jaw muscles and was particularly helpful for patients who suffered from myofascial pain.
There is also another study revealing that a synthetic cannabinoid agonist, which is a chemical designed to bind with the same receptors that cannabis does, provided TMJ patients with relief equal to what they would get from taking morphine.
However, the research on the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis is strong, with dozens of studies backing up its use for treating pain. In fact, according to Harvard, the number one reason people use medical marijuana is for pain. Scientists continue looking for explanations as to how it does, and to date, we have numerous hypotheses.
Both CBD and THC work differently in the human body via cannabinoid receptors that can help change how we perceive pain. “We know a lot more about how THC works in terms of the molecular mechanism than CBD,” explains Steve Alexander, a University of Nottingham Medical School associate professor of pharmacology. “THC activates certain cannabinoid receptors, one of which is in the nerve cells and the other is in the immune cells. When it activates the one in the nerve cells, it reduces the sensation of pain,” he adds.
CBD has also been making waves within the medical community for its ability to treat inflammation and pain. Some studies show that CBD works to alleviate pain by working on the pain sensing systems in the body, known as nociceptive. As the human body’s endocannabinoid system helps to regulate many important functions in the body including pain management, it makes sense why cannabis can work so well.
Using Cannabis For TMJ
There are many ways patients can administer cannabis for treating TMJ, though some people may find that one method works better for them than others. For those who need immediate relief, smoking or vaporizing cannabis is recommended. Oral consumption of oils and sublingual application are also recommended. For TMJ patients who suffer from chronic pain due to TMJ, taking edibles with THC, CBD, or a ratio of both are effective for long-lasting relief though its effects can take 1-2 hours.
Using cannabis topicals can also provide fast-acting relief for TMJ. Simply apply the topical on the affected area outside the jaw or around the face and neck. This will enable the therapeutic cannabinoids to be absorbed by the skin and provide localized relief. Just be sure not to medicate with cannabis without consulting with your doctor if you are taking other medications due to potential harmful interactions.
