O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011 —7— Project CBD encouraged production As CBD-Rich Cannabis Strains Proliferate, Clinicians Develop Survey to Document Effects By O’Shaughnessy’s News Service components other than THC that exert and was convinced that its re-introduc- Two-and-a-half years ago, one ana- effects when ingested into our bodies. tion into the grassroots supply warranted lytic chemistry laboratory in California The advent of CBD-rich cannabis has special attention. Montana activist Sarah had begun testing cannabis flowers for created a unique research opportunity for Russo was hired as outreach coordinator cannabinoid content. Today we know the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, the to arrange participation by dispensaries, of about 20 labs serving the industry in doctors’ group founded by Tod Mikuri- labs, cultivators, patients, physicians, California, Colorado, Montana, Michi- ya, MD, in 1999. Doctors Stacey Kerr and scientists. gan, and Oregon. and Jeffrey Hergenrather of the SCC Two-and-a-half years ago, it was still have developed a survey to document “Project CBD is the medical widely assumed that cannabidiol had patients’ responses to cannabidiol. The marijuana movement living up to been reduced to trace amounts in all the SCC survey, seen as the first in a series, its name.” cannabis being grown for psychoactive is designed to answer basic questions of effect in California and elsewhere. To- efficacy. Follow their progress at canna- “Project CBD is the medical mari- day the labs have identified more than bisclinicians.org. juana movement living up to its name,” 35 strains whose flowers are rich in CBD Project CBD Russo wrote to prospective stakeholders CBD-Rich tincture was made by ex- (defined as four percent or more CBD Project CBD was launched two-and-a- in March of this year. “We are confident tracting contents of trim from Harlequin for data-collection purposes). half years ago by two journalists to share that a serious, professional, physician- plants. It contains 3.9 milligrams of CBD Two-and-a-half years ago, THC was what we were learning about CBD, to run data-collection effort will enhance and 1.7 mg of THC per cubic centimeter. commonly described in the media as expedite production of CBD-rich canna- the credibility of the movement as a If CBD-rich cannabis causes no disfunc- “the active ingredient in marijuana.” To- bis, and to publicize the study that our al- whole.” tion, tinctures administered under the day it is increasingly referred to as “the lies in the SCC were planning. Martin A. ProjectCBD.org was created to share tongue will enable people to maintain endocannabinoid tone throughout the psychoactive ingredient” —reflecting a Lee, the author of Acid Dreams, had been relevant material. On these pages we workday. new awareness that the plant contains writing about CBD for O’Shaughnessy’s present key pieces from the site. —F.G. In case you’re just joining us... Medical Hemp: The Story to Date Strains of Interest* Harlequin Cannabidiol (CBD) is the predominant government approval in 1998 to grow can- Omrita Rx3 Jamaican Lion cannabinoid in hemp —plants grown to nabis for use in clinical trials. GW Phar- Blue Jay Way produce fiber or growing wild. It has medi- maceuticals’ flagship product, Sativex, is Cannatonic Soma A+ cal effects when ingested. It is not psycho- a whole-plant extract containing approxi- Cotton Candy x Diesel active and actually counters the psychoac- mately equal amounts of CBD and THC Stinky Purple tive effects of THC. (plus small amounts of all the other com- Pineapple Thai Misty CBD levels go down and THC levels go pounds produced by the plant). It is formu- Good Medicine lated for spraying under the tongue. Poison OG up when plants are bred to maximize psy- Sour Tsunami choactive effect, as they have been in the The fact that Sativex is not smoked was Granny Durkel U.S. for many generations of plants and another selling point in the eyes of the reg- Sugaree x Blue Diesel Kushage people. ulators granting the approval, as was the Downtown Diesel near-perfect consistency with which GW Double Diesel It was generally assumed before the win- Wu#1 ter of 2008-2009 that CBD had been bred Pharmaceuticals could produce it. Phenom Phen down to trace levels in all the cannabis be- Sarah Russo and Wade Laughter, Purple Diesel Project CBD’s Outreach Coordinator Silver Dragon ing grown in California for medical and Monkey Balls recreational purposes. Because no analytic and the cultivator who gave the world F5 chemistry labs in the United States were “Harlequin.” Laughter’s decision to make Manawell clones available expedited the availability Sweetooth SFV testing cannabis samples, there was no way LA Confidential of CBD-rich Cannabis in California. Sweet Diesel to assess cannabinoid content. White Widow OG Afgani in California as the experts had predicted. Purps It turned out that CBD-rich can- About one in 600 samples brought to Steep Unicorn Hill and the other labs that had begun test- Atomic Jam nabis was not as rare in Califor- Jamaican Skunk ing cannabis was found to contain 4% or R-4 nia as the experts had predicted. more CBD. Black Queen Intensive Care OG Kush Whenever a CBD-rich strain was identi- Dr. Tod Overseas, scientists had been studying Ma’s Cheese fied, Project CBD made sure the cultivators Hubba Bubba CBD. Their findings, as reported in journal knew that cannabidiol had medical poten- BC “Outdoors” Harborside’s Steve DeAngelo articles and at conferences, suggested that tial. We encouraged them to grow out their Tora Bora CBD could be effective in easing symp- The situation in the U.S. changed when strains and make them available to patients * Plants identified as containing more toms of a wide range of difficult-to-control Steve DeAngelo, the director of Oak- as widely and as rapidly as possible. than 4% CBD by various labs as of June 2011 conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, land’s Harborside Health Center, decided Demand for CBD-rich cannabis was not diabetes, alcoholism, PTSD, epilepsy, anti- to underwrite a lab in the spring of 2008. strong. Dispensary owners were reluctant biotic-resistant infections and neurological When Harborside opened two years earlier, to stock it because they knew that most Finally, in the summer 2011, enough disorders. CBD has also demonstrated neu- DeAngelo had phoned every analytic lab of their customers were seeking —or not CBD-rich cannabis is being grown to en- roprotective and anti-cancer effects. in the Bay Area requesting that they test averse to— herb that causes euphoria or able the production of tinctures and edi- The reduced psychoactivity of CBD-rich cannabis for mold and cannabinoid con- sedation. In other words, high-THC con- bles. Demand at the dispensary level has cannabis was a key selling point when a tent —and they all turned him down So tent was a tried-and-true seller. Why spend been building slowly and steadily —it is Britsh company, GW Pharmaceuticals, got in the spring of ’08 he backed two entre- money on and devote shelf space to a type a function of education. Everyone in the preneurs who wanted to launch a lab — of cannabis that most medical users hadn’t industry realizes that there is a huge, un- the aptly named “Steep Hill”— and sup- heard of and whose effects were unprov- tapped market for cannabis that does not plied them with a large, steady stream of en? Growers, in turn, had to anticipate the induce euphoria or sedation. Do the strains samples from Harborside to test for mold wants of dispensary buyers and were re- now available meet that criterion? We’ll and cannabinoid content (THC, CBD and luctant to devote valuable garden space to get answers as patients respond to the SCC CBN, a breakdown product indicative of plants for which there was no established survey. staleness). market. A milestone was achieved in late Feb- The first CBD-rich sample identified by The developers of Harlequin, Soma ruary 2011, when Lawrence Ringo of the Steep Hill, “Stinky Purple,” came from A-plus, and Pineapple Thai made clones Southern Humboldt Seed Collective an- Round Valley in Mendocino County. But available, putting the interests of the com- nounced that he had stabilized a CBD-rich no cuttings had been made from a “mother munity above their own potential profits. strain called Sour Tsunami —meaning he plant,” and there was no way the grower Harborside and Herbal Solutions in Long could guarantee that the seeds had a one- who had brought the CBD-rich Stinky Pur- Beach sold clones instead of trying to cor- in-four chance of containing >4% CBD. ple to Harborside could reproduce it. ner the market (which would have been This and other recent developments are re- Sativex is a whole-plant extract Over the course of 2009-2010 it turned impossible long term, but feasible for a ported in the “CBDiary” on the pages that formulated for spraying under the out that CBD-rich cannabis was not as rare year or so). follow. tongue.

Copyrighted 2010, 2012 by Fred Gardner. All rights reserved. Address reprint requests to [email protected] —8— O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011 O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011 —8— “Think this through with me...” CBDiary: the Reintroduction Era ProjectCBD.org went on line in late No- vember 2010. News and correspondence Longtime Dearth of CBD Documented was posted on a page called “CBDiary.” We hope the following selection of CBDi- “Potency Trends of THC and Other found to have increased steadily from a ary items conveys a sense of the excellent Cannabinoids in Confiscated Canna- mean of 3.4% in 1993 to 8.8% in 2008. adventure unfolding as well as useful in- bis Preparations from 1993 to 2008,” a Levels of some so-called “minor can- formation. study published in Forensic Sciences, nabinoids” —CBC, CBD, CBN, CBG —FG, MAL, SR confirms that U.S. plant breeders aiming and THCV— were also monitored. for psychoactive effect have maximized “CBD is the major cannabinoid found THC levels over the years at the expense in ditchweed,” the authors noted, “and is December 23, 2010 of CBD. The only appreciable amounts present in elevated amounts in interme- From a Concerned Parent Medicine Going to Waste? of CBD were found in imported hash- diate type Cannabis (moderate levels of I am growing/have a limited supply of • Many people, upon learning that CBD ish —and ditchweed (feral hemp, which both Δ9-THC and CBD) used to make Pineapple Thai, a high CBD strain. Do is the dominant cannabinoid in hemp grows wild in many states where it used hashish.” you know anyone who has an interest in plants, wonder, “Can I just smoke or ingest to be cultivated legally). A year-by-year summary of ElSohly’s obtaining some for study? I am in Southern hemp or ditchweed to get the healing ef- Co-author Mahmoud El- data showing the dearth California. I had it tested at the WercShop fects of CBD?” Sohly is renowned for running of Cannabidiol in the U.S. and: 2.31% THC and 5.21% CBD. Would It is true that hemp fiber or seed strains the federally sanctioned grow supply was reprinted in someone be interested in them? They will will be relatively high in CBD, but their at the University of Missis- “What’s New @ Drug War be outdoor organic. I am totally legal, overall cannabinoid content is typically sippi. He also has a contract Facts,” a recently launched licensed. very low, so the total CBD content is simi- with the National Institute on publication that promises to C.P., San Diego larly low. Drug Abuse to analyze and be a very useful resource for PCBD Response: Dispensaries commit- In general, a plant is bred to be good for report on marijuana seized by concerned citizens. ted to making CBD-rich medicine available one of three purposes: drug (usually THC), the DEA in raids. We expect future reports are listed on ProjectCBD.org. You could fiber, or seed. It is an unusual plant that is The 46,211 Cannabis sam- from ElSohly to show a rise contact them directly. Herbal Solutions useful in more than one category. Hemp ples provided by the DEA over in CBD-rich cannabis con- in Long Beach had made Pineapple Thai plants are selected for maximum fiber the years were grouped by Mahmoud ElSohly fiscations. The numbers will available to patients, but we have recently growth, not resin production. Team ElSohly into six product constitute a “Sabotage of heard troubling reports of Long Beach au- Some plant breeders start with hemp categories —“marijuana,” “sinsemilla,” Research” index. thorities closing them down. Are they still strains and select offspring in succeeding “hashish,” “hash oil,” “Thai sticks,” and The U.S. cannabinoid data jibe with a featuring it? What do you know about the generations to maximize CBD production. “ditchweed.” Overall, THC content was recent British study. See item below. background of your Pineapple Thai? What Oureach coordinator Sarah Russo re- are the effects that you and others report? quests: if you have been growing out a How long does it take to grow, etc., etc. hemp strain and had it tested, please let us know the results: [email protected] Follow-up from C.P.: I actually got my clones from Herbal Solutions. I had a great CBD is on Schedule I crop. Like I said, outdoor organic. I took Some people have been saying that CBD some clones off them as I didn’t know if is not in Schedule I of the Controlled Sub- they would be available again. I think there stances Act. It is. The code number for can- are only two Herbal Solutions dispensaries nabidiol in Schedule I is 7372. The situa- left of four, don’t know the reason. I have tion is quite different in civilized countries. seen Pineapple Thai offered there, but from In Germany, Spain, Italy, and many others, what I can see they are not advertising the CBD is not controlled. CBD qualities. It’s just listed like the rest of the strains they carry. My son is bipolar and gets social anxiety. Using CBD and THC Together What happens when you smoke a I don’t really use Cannabis on a regular strain that is 5% CBD and 5% THC? Is basis. I got involved because of my son. the psychoactive effect removed? He uses Cannabis anyway and I researched Allison D. the strains and found out about CBDs. He • That’s one of the things we expect says it doesn’t really make him high, but the SCC survey to reveal. Our hypothe- he is able to focus better instead of a lot of sis, based on information from sophisti- running thoughts, it sort of centers him and cated Europeans, is that CBD will most reduces anxiety. effectively block THC mental effects Sometimes he’ll blend it with an OG if it is taken first, with little or no THC Kush or Indica for what he calls a “fun present. When CBD and THC are used Cannabis Potency in the UK factor.” Pineapple Thai is a rangy plant, simultaneously, the most likely effects when it flowers it loses a lot of leaves, Only hashish imported from Afghani- are: leaving just the flowers. I finally harvested stan and Morocco contained significant “current trends in Cannabis 1) Peak high is delayed. This may be i n O c t o b e r . I a m i n S a n D i e g o C o u n t y . levels of CBD, according to David Potter, use pose an increasing risk to —C.P. , San Diego experienced as a creeping high —one Peter Clark, and Marc Brown, authors of that starts slowly. a paper titled “Potency of Delta-9 THC those users susceptible to the 2) The peak high is blunted slightly and Other Cannabinoids in Cannabis in harmful psychological effects McAllister Updates SCC: over that of THC alone. England in 2005: Implications for Psy- associated with high doses” Cannabidiol Inhibits Metastasis 3) The effects last longer. choactivity and Pharmacology.” It was published in The Journal of Forensic Sci- respectively. The median 13.9% THC December 29, 2010 ence, January 2008. content of sinsemilla was significantly Cannabis Analysis Two of the authors work for GW Phar- higher than that recorded in the UK in You and your readers might be interested maceuticals, which also provided lab and 1996-98. in this United Nations publication, “Rec- statistical support for the study. GW is “In sinsemilla and imported herbal ommended Methods for the Identification marketing Satviex, an extract contain- Cannabis, the content of the antipsy- and Analysis of Cannabis and Cannabis ing equal amounts of THC and CBD, and chotic cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) Products.” The labs probably have copies, has an obvious interest in emphasizing was extremely low. In resin, however, but just in case… the “anti-psychotic” potential of CBD. the average CBD content exceeded that Name withheld Here’s the abstract: of THC, and the relative proportions of “Gas chromatography was used to the two cannabinoids varied widely be- Increasing CBD:THC Ratio study the cannabinoid content (‘poten- tween samples. cy’) of illicit Cannabis seized by police in “The increases in average THC content Sean McAllister, PhD, at the Dec. Nancy Sajben, MD, has a patient who is England in 2004-5. Of the 452 samples, and relative popularity of sinsemilla Can- 11, 2010, meeting of the Society of Canna- attempting to heat canna- nabis, combined with the absence of the bis Clinicians. With colleagues at the Cali- bis in a vaporizer in order indoor-grown unpollinated female Can- anti-psychotic cannabinoid CBD, suggest fornia Pacific Medical Center Research to increase the CBD-to- nabis (“sinsemilla”) was the most fre- that the current trends in Cannabis use Institute, McAllister has discovered that THC ratio. She asks if quent form, followed by resin (hashish) pose an increasing risk to those users sus- CBD is a potent inhibitor of breast cancer this is feasible...The sci- and imported outdoor-grown herbal Can- ceptible to the harmful psychological ef- metastasis. CBD affects a protein called entists we checked with nabis (marijuana). The content of herbal fects associated with high doses.” ID-1, which appears to be a major conduc- just say “No.” Cannabis and resin was 2.1% and 3.5% tor of cancer cells. O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011 —9—

CBDiary from previous page

Is There CBD in Hops? Harlequin: The Back Story I was wondering if you know of any “Harlequin is one phenotype of a plant I see fingertip-sized bud set at two weeks studies using the CBD from hops flow- bred to produce hashish,” explains Wade of flower —compared to pencil-eraser ers. Apparently they are related to Canna- Laughter. “The genes are 75% sativa and size in other plants at the same two weeks bis and have a decent amount of CBD in 25 % indica. The Sativas include an early of flower. She really needs some way to them. Also, they are abundantly available 1970s Columbian Gold, a Thai from the support the colas the last few weeks be- and cheap. mountains near Laos, and a Swiss na- cause the trichomes and flowering tops —Patti J. tive landrace that was bred get so heavy. Along those for consumption of cattle. same lines, in a drying room • Hops are rich in beta-myrcene, one The Indica is from Nepal’s where strains like Blueberry of the terpenoids thought to influence Mustang state. These are or Bubba Kush take seven to the effects of Cannabis. But it’s hemp, all high-elevation plants.... 10 days for drying before cur- not hops, that has CBD. You’re right that Harlequin is available as a ing, the Harlequin can take as they’re related. The following is from clone at dispensaries in the long as three weeks. She can a monograph by Arno Hazekamp, who Bay Area that are participants in Project be completely obscured by ‘sugar’ to knows his cannabinoids: CBD, including Harborside and the Va- where she looks ‘frosted.’” “According to current botanical clas- por Room. The smell and taste are sweet Laughter’s decision to share his genet- sification, Cannabis belongs, only with with an almost syrupy heaviness that is ics will expedite the reintroduction of Humulus (hops), to the small family of pleasant on the inhale and the exhale. CBD into the medical pipeline. Patients Cannabinaceae (also Cannabaceae or Hops (Humulus flowers) are grown on She needs about 60 to 70 days indoors to who may benefit from CBD, doctors keen Cannabidaceae). Despite this close rela- vines supported by trellises. Humulus finish her full flowering. She sets flowers to study its effects, and journalists cover- tionship, cannabinoids can only be found and Cannabis are the only members of fairly quickly compared to other strains. ing the story can only say thanks, brother. in Cannabis sativa. the Cannabinacae family. Female plants In the genus Humulus, even in graft- produce fragrant green seed heads that ing experiments between Cannabis and brewmasters use as a preservative and to January 17, 2011 Humulus, no cannabinoids have been add bitterness. Native to the British Isles. New CBD-rich Strains ID’d found, but instead a variety of so-called ‘The Farmer is the one A Cannatonic plant grown by Whitney bitter-acids, such as humulone, adhumu- ter-acids, respectively) are both derived Who feeds ’em all’ Eads, RN, had the lone and cohumulone, are produced. The from similar biosynthetic pathways. Fur- A plant breeder who developed one of highest CBD level of close relationship between both plant thermore, both are excreted as a resinous the first CBD-rich strains called in dismay strains submitted at species is clearly shown by the fact that mixture by glandular hairs, mainly found this afternoon. The buyer at a Berkeley dis- the recent Emerald the compounds (cannabinoids and bit- on female flowers.” pensary had just rejected the pound of can- Cup in Laytonville nabis he had driven down with from north —13.5% CBD and of Redding —after the owner had said that 6.9% THC, accord- Let Us Not Indulge in CBD Opportunism he wanted to carry it. ing to SC Analytics It’s tempting for those who are talking up lab. A close second CBD has been bred the medical potential of cannabidiol to em- was “Sour Tsunami,” down to trace levels not Cultivators have almost no phasize the absence of psychoactive effects grown by Lawrence Whitney’s winner just in “Skunk” but in in such a way as to imply that CBD is the leverage in dealing with dis- Ringo of the Southern virtually all cannabis “good” cannabinoid, as opposed to THC, Humboldt Seed Collective (12.9% CBD, grown for psychoactiv- pensaries. the “bad” cannabinoid. That is a shortcut to 6.9% THC). Third was Sugaree x Blue acceptance that we consider opportunistic ity. The owner wasn’t there and the buyer at best, unethical at worst. decreed that the buds “didn’t all look the Examples of “CBD Opportunism” can “The elimination of CBD may play a January 20 same.” Our friend tried to explain how the be found in a recent an article in the New key role in the development of psychosis. plant grows. The buyer said, “I’m not a CBD in ‘Poison OG’ Scientist by Lady Amanda Neidpath of the Laboratory studies have shown that pure, grower, all I know is what looks good.” The Werc Shop opened for business on Beckley Foundation, a British charitable synthetic THC causes transient psychosis Cultivators have almost no leverage in April 20, 2010, becoming the second lab trust “that promotes the investigation of in 40 to 50 per cent of healthy people.” dealing with the dispensaries. Fortunately testing cannabis in Southern California. consciousness and its modulation,” and At what doses? Pure THC lacks not for our friend, a dispensary in San Jose was (First was The Farmacy’s internal testing Paul Morrison, a researcher at the Institute just CBD but other compounds in the eager to stock his strain and he drove south. operation.) Proprietor Jeff Raber reports, of Psychiatry in London. Here’s an excerpt plant known to exert modulating effects. We hope the advent of CBD-rich Can- “We continue to see Poison OG show up with our comments in boldface: nabis will lead to a de-emphasis on what that is CBD-rich. It can sporadically be “In stark contrast to THC, CBD appears “It’s lack of balance that makes skunk the dispensary buyers call “bag appeal.” found at Reseda Discount Caregivers. to have an anti-psychotic effect, at least in cannabis do harm. The effects of cannabis Medical users whose concern is pain relief We’ve tested some Cannatonic that has animals. Studies in humans, though few in on mental health have attracted much at- should not be put off by the presence of had some phenotypes presenting CBD- number, have produced similar findings. tention over the years. As far back as the some CBD-rich wrapper leaves around the rich profiles. We’ve also seen a CBD-rich “The elimination of cannabidiol from 19th century it was recognised that can- buds they’re buying —especially if mani- Trainwreck and some CBD-rich Northern skunk may play a key role in the develop- nabis could induce a transient psychosis curing costs are reduced and the savings Lights phenotypes (not all of them) as well. ment of psychosis. In one human study, in which mimics the symptoms of schizo- passed on. Some of those we’ve found are from pri- Neuropsychopharmacology (DOI: 10.1038/ phrenia. Despite this, until the last decade It’s up to the budtenders to explain this vate collectives not currently wishing to be npp.2009.184), Sagnik Bhattacharya and or so, most psychiatrists regarded cannabis reality to patients, to educate them away identified.” colleagues at the Institute of Psychiatry in as essentially benign.” from “bag appeal.” It won’t be easy, be- London used functional MRI brain scan- cause, as Harborside’s Rick Pfrommer January 23 This is the reverse of the truth. Most ning to study the effects of THC and CBD says, “a lot of people think of Cannabis in Two More CBD-Rich Strains psychiatrists in the UK and the US on the brains of healthy volunteers. They terms of bling.” And in the retail world, the Identified by Pure Analytics are Prozac pushers who have accepted found that THC and CBD acted in opposi- customer is always right. Two strains containing twice as much Cannabis prohibition without a peep. tion; in brain regions where THC increased CBD as THC were referenced in a report neural activity from a baseline, CBD de- received today from Pure Analytics lab. “The type of cannabis taken is an im- creased it, and vice-versa. Harvest Early? Both were found through Sacramento portant factor. Street cannabis has indeed “In a further experiment, a group includ- We’ve heard from people who read some- dispensaries: “Sweet Diesel” from Unity changed over the years. So-called ‘skunk’ ing one of us (Morrison), in collaboration where that you can get higher CBD levels NPC, and “Purple Dragon” from El Cami- does contain higher than normal concentra- with the Beckley Foundation, compared if you harvest early... That article must be no Wellness Center. tions of the main psychoactive compound, the effects of a mixture of synthetic THC quite old. It’s been known for 10-15 years a molecule called delta-9-tetrahydrocan- and CBD (to mimic traditional cannabis) that CBD is not the precursor to THC, but nabinol (THC). What is less well known with THC on its own (to mimic skunk). rather CBG is. One may (or may not) be January 23 is that another constituent, cannabidiol The aim was to find out if CBD offered able to increase CBG yield by harvesting Good News for Fresh Bud Fans (CBD), has been eliminated from skunk protection against the psychotic effects of early, but not CBD. You can’t create CBD Kristen Peskuski, a patient with a re- through selective breeding to increase the THC. Healthy volunteers were given the in a genetic vacuum. It is either there, or markable medical history, and William THC content.” molecules intravenously for two sessions.” it’s not. Courtney, MD, made a joint presentation at a conference Jan. 22 in Laguna Woods. Two synthetic molecules don’t “mimic They drove down with baby Zahaia and traditional cannabis,” and people don’t stopped at the Werc Shop with samples shoot cannabis. What does this experi- from 17 Cannatonic plants being grown in ment have to do with the real world? Mendocino as potential “mothers.” The test results were encouraging, says Niedpath and Morrison conclude: “The Courtney. “The big news for us was a plant evidence supports the idea that nature that was 22% CBD acid by weight, which knows best, and that the reintroduction of was reduced upon heating to 19.8% CBD.” CBD would be beneficial. Two molecules That’s three times higher in CBD than the are better than one.” plant from which many of Courtney’s pa- ranny derkel at sunset But the whole plant is better by far. G Sour tsunami clones continued on next page —10— O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011

CBDiary from previous page February 15 tients have been getting clones. “Which means they can get by with one-third the Omrita Rx3 CBD Counters “Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)” Miguel A. acquired 10 seeds of a strain dose,” Court- More evidence that CBD reduces anxi- taken. Measurements were also taken be- called Rx from the Vancouver Island Seed ney says, en- ety has been published in the journal fore and after the speech. These included Company in late 2009. The VISC catalog thused by the Neuropsychopharmacology by Jose A.S. both psychological and physiological described Rx as their “favorite medicinal prospect of Crippa and colleagues at the University tests —a Visual-Analog Mood scale, a variety” —a double Indica cross of Romu- growers pro- of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Their paper, “Can- Self-Statements-During-Public-Speaking lan Joe with Fucking Incredible.” (Which ducing clones nabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by scale, a Bodily Symptoms scale, skin undoubtedly sounds more “medical” in from the new Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment- conductance, arterial blood pressure and Latin.) champion. Naïve Social Phobia Patients,” describes pulse rate. Miguel, 38, lives with severe chronic a study involving 24 patients diagnosed The authors concluded, “Pretreatment back pain from a sports injury and has a re- January 24 with SAD and 12 healthy controls. of SAD patients significantly reduced curring fracture in his lower lumbar (L4) BCBD Half the SAD patients received a strong anxiety, cognitive impairment and dis- vertebrae. He uses the Rx strain for pain A. Paul Hornby, PhD, the president of dose of CBD (600 milligrams dissolved comfort in their speech performance... management “along with a regimen of tra- Hedron Analytical Inc. in Vancouver, in- in corn oil) and half got placebo. After The placebo group presented higher anxi- ditional Ayurvedic medical practices that formed us by email of “a strain here in an hour and 20 minutes the subjects were ety, cognitive impairment, and discom- include Hatha Yoga, diet, herbs, energy/ BC that runs 15 to 17% CBD and roughly given two minutes to prepare a four-min- fort...when compared with the control body work, and meditation.” The most 8 to 12% THC. This particular strain has ute speech on “The public transportation group... These preliminary results indi- prominent feature in the living room of his significantly reduced a young girl’s grand system of your city.” Subjects were told cate that a single dose of CBD can reduce East Bay bungalow is a massage table on mal epileptic seizures and is being summa- that the speech would be recorded on vid- the anxiety-enhancing effect provoked by which he receives regular therapy. And he rized in a three-year case study.” Hornby eotape and analyzed by a psychologist. SPST in SAD patients, indicating that this still plays soccer! attached case studies of patients who ben- cannabinoid inhibits the fear of speaking Of the 10 original Rx seeds Miguel plant- efited from using high-THC Cannabis (ob- in public, one of the main symptoms of ed, he says, “Only three of the seeds germi- Subjects gave their speeches tained through the Green Cross Society the disorder.” nated, which resulted in two females and of BC) in treating MS and severe chronic while observing themselves in a The authors note that “there is only one one male. The females were robust, color- pain, respectively. We asked for more de- monitor (to maximize self-con- published report of the anxiolytic effect ful, and covered with resin, so I brought tails about the CBD-rich strain. of CBD in an anxiety disorder (Crippa et some to Harborside where Rachael decid- sciousness). Hornby described it as “an outdoor al). ed to give the Rx a chance. When the test strainthat we are currently attempting to Dr. Crippa has provided us with a list of results came back, I learned about CBD for Subjects gave their speeches while ob- grow indoors. It is one pocket of genetics “Methods for assessment of mood in peo- the first time. That’s when I decided to do serving themselves in a monitor (to max- of a strain available here in B.C. I fear that ple with cognitive and/or communicative my own N-of-1 trial by only strictly medi- imize self-consciousness). Each speech revealing the strain’s name would begin impairment.” It’s online at ProjectCBD. cating with the Rx, and nothing else, for a was interrupted midway through so that a fool’s gold rush. We have tested many “performance measurements” could be org. samples that go by the name of that strain, 7-day period. but no CBD. As stated earlier, it is a pocket “Three days into my trial the differences of genetics that has the high CBD count. of high-CBD medication began to jump CBD vs. the Munchies? out at me. Most noticeable was the lack of Cannabis Testing in Europe? a ‘crashing’ sensation and the fatigue that I The title of a paper published in Neuro- the Cannabis the subjects were smoking. Are there any analytical chemistry labo- feel when I medicate with a high-THC va- psychopharmacology —“Cannabidiol At- In other words, the higher the proportion ratories in Europe that test for cannabinoid riety, especially first thing in the morning tenuates the Appetitive Effects of Delta(9)- of CBD they had ingested, the less desir- content? when I am starting my day. I experienced Tetrahydrocannabinol in Humans Smoking ous they became of more drugs and food. —Aaron L. very mild psychoactivity for about 20-30 Their Chosen Cannabis”— suggests to us In the great tradition of Prohibitionist sci- • Rudolf Brenneisen in Bern, Switzer- minutes, followed by a sense of extreme that CBD-rich Cannabis might work as an ence, Morgan et al concluded that “CBD land is very capable of doing reliable can- clarity. And I was still experiencing all of appetite suppressant. has potential as a treatment for Cannabis nabinoid testing. the pain relief that I had become accus- The authors, Celia Morgan and col- dependence” and “possibly... for other ad- leagues from University College London, dictive disorders.” February 14 tomed to with high THC. Since then I have tested 94 subjects on two occasions. The If CBD-rich cannabis is an appetite-sup- Seeds Sought subjects brought and smoked their own pressant, that pattern should show up on I’m a small time (personal) grower who Cannabis and “while acutely under the the SCC Survey... In animal studies anoth- helps out a couple of friends with MS. I’ve influence” were offered more Cannabis, er compound in the Cannabis plant, THC- been looking for high CBD strains for some other drugs, and food. V, has been found to suppress food crav- time and recently found your excellent site. Morgan et al measured the eagerness ings... Personal stashes of Londoners have Although we’re well served for seeds in with which the subjects responded to the varying CBD levels because hashish from the UK with access to Dutch, Spanish and offerings, and found that it correlated in- the Middle East and Afghanistan which is Swiss genetics, nobody seems to consider versely with the CBD-to-THC ratio of widely available, tends to be CBD-rich. CBD content, so I’m hoping you can give me a link to suitable strains and the seed- banks that sell them. February 22 —Tony B. Omrita Rx3 Buds appealed to Har- Juanita la Lagrimosa borside buyers for looks, aroma and A Spanish company, Reggae • Resin Seeds in Spain sells CBD-rich perceived effects —and then turned out Seeds, is offering a CBD-rich Cannatonic. to be CBD-rich. Growers typically bring strain called “Juanita la Lagri- in one or two pounds of dried flowers in mosa,” which means “Juanita bags meant for roasting turkeys. the Tearful.” It has tested at 8.8% CBD, 6.8% THC, according to found that I am able to be more functional Canna Research Laboratories. and productive throughout the day by med- See chromatogram at right. icating with a CBD-rich variety and saving the THC varieties for the evening.” February 25 Miquel renamed the strain to emphasize “The true benefit,” says Linker, its medical value, adding the Sanskrit word CBD Profile Predictable Early “Omrita,” which means “nectar.” He points Wilson Linker, a sales exec at Steep Hill “would be that you could extract out that the strain “was the result of some- Lab, tested leaves from different parts of the CBD in mid-summer, not wait one else’s work and recognition should be a Harlequin plant about five weeks after it for buds before harvesting. directed back to the original breeders at was started indoors from a clone —“Still completely in veg,” he says. To his sur- VISC for their incredible creation.” be detected on Harlequin plants early in Cannatonic in flower prise, GC/MS showed the leaf to contain the vegetative stage... The Werc Shop test- approximately 4% CBD and 2% THC, ed a Harlequin clone 25 days after plant- Maz’s Cheese may be good, but lab’s numbers smell funny Linker repeated the test and confirmed ing and found it to contain 2.1% CBD and A San Diego collective, Bella Flora, reports availability of a CBD-rich strain called the results with another Harlequin clone 1.2% THC. “Maz’s Cheese.” Results were posted on the website of a testing service called Bud started the same day. Key questions will Jeff Raber called our attention to the Genius, with numbers and check marks supposedly rating this strain’s efficacy for be answered by more testing: Do all Har- 2008 study by D. Pacifico and colleagues various conditions. We asked Bud Genius how the ratings were arrived at, and to lequin plants produce cannabinoids in —“Time course of cannabinoid accumula- explain the meaning of a caption stating, the vegetative state? Do other CBD-rich tion and chemotype development during “The above characteristics are considered strains have this trait? the growth of Cannabis sativa,” published a scientific baseline...” If all these things “The true benefit,” says Linker, “would in the journal Euphytica— that reported are known, maybe the Society of Cannabis be that you could extract the CBD in mid- early detectability of cannabinoid levels. Clinicians shouldn’t be surveying patients, summer, not wait for buds before har- Raber notes, “This type of testing will of- and maybe Project CBD is redundant. We vesting. There’s obvious implications for fer insight into the ratio of CBD/THC but await elucidation from Bud Genius. making edibles and tinctures. Imagine not cannot yet predict the end total values.” • PS... Not surprisingly, they never tried having to deal with a harvest!” to explain the jive numbers. Pure Analytics and The Werc Shop have also reported that the presence of CBD can O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011 —11—

CBDiary from previous page

Defining “Stability” Dedicated plant breeders aspire to pro- duce strains stable enough to enable seed sales. As one skilled breeder reminds us, “stabilizing the genetics... is not just a simple F1 Hybrid between two parents that may or may not have the desired traits. Stabilization could take as many as five or six inbred generations beyond CANNABINOID CONTENT OF “KUSHAGE” as reported by Denver’s Full the original F1 cross to establish a homo- Spectrum Lab. zygous gene condition for CBD.” March 1 We asked the dean of West Coast plant breeders, DJ Short, to define his standard of stability. “If you cross it with itself, Sour Tsunami Stabilized you get pretty much the same thing,” he For the first time, a California grower has “I saved seeds whenever a replied. DJ Short consulting with a member of the “stabilized” a Cannabis strain high in Can- plant gave me a creative feel- DJ advises customers that at least two Organicann collective in Santa Rosa. nabidiol. Lawrence Ringo of the Southern females (and two males) in your pack of DJ says he could cross more genera- Humboldt Seed ing,” Ringo explains. 10 should display or exceed the adver- tions and approach 100% replicability, Collective is now don’t like that.” tised characteristics. That means half the but he knows the buyers would rather offering seeds of “I saved seeds whenever a plant gave me seeds, based on an 80% sprout rate, will have access now, on the two-out-of-10 “Sour Tsunami” a creative feeling,” he explains. “I bought yield what you want basis. that have a one- ‘New York City Diesel’ seeds from Marc in-four chance Emery. I liked it —great taste and no couch of containing 10- February 28 lock. I took the males from that and crossed 11% CBD (and them onto Sour Diesel female clones. I Harlequin Happening in L.A. 6-7% THC)! From Michael Backes of the Cornerstone Research crossed the NYC Diesel and the Sour Die- Ringo, 54, has been dealing with se- Collective: “There a consistent and reliable source of sel for about four years kept crossing it vere back pain since early adolescence. “I Harlequin in LA now. Cornerstone is simply purchas- back to the Sour Diesel clone. have no disk between my lower third and ing 20 or so cuts every couple of weeks and then giv- Each year I’d save the male and do the fourth,” he told us. “It’s bone on bone. ing them away for free to candidate cultivators.” This dusting and make my seeds. One year a When I was 13 some kids thought it was is thanks to a willingness to share on the part of Wade friend popped in with something that had funny to let me take the weight of this Laughter, who made a decision to provide clones to a really nice creamy taste. I thought it was thing we were lifting up. I‘ve been dealing Oakland’s Harborside Health Center, which provided an Indica but it turned out to be 60% Sativa with the pain ever since. I’ve been to every them to member-growers, leading to the current surge called Ferrari. I’ll never forget that creamy doctor and chiropractor. No one can really in availability in L.A. taste. I smoked it and my brain just took off. help. There’s no way that I’m going to do I’m a musician so I just grabbed a guitar and any drugs, ever. I despise them. And I’m March 7 was going nuts for hours.” not going to do any back surgery. “It took me about a year to I’m going to rely on the strains I’ve de- Sativex Alleviates Spasticity and Spasms in MS get that Ferrari clone. It was veloped over the years. When my back re- Czech investigators led by A. Novotna cine, or who find it intolerable, are unlikely protected by the rednecks ally hurts I do the the high-CBD kief. Two report in the European Journal of Neurol- to continue treatment for a prolonged pe- — the good old boys who pipeloads and I can go out and do anything ogy that Sativex reduces overall spasticity riod.” used to be loggers and now —ride a motorcycle, work in the garden.” and the number and severity of spasms ex- Spasticity in MS can be painful, disrupt- they’re pot growers. They Ringo started growing at 15. On his way perienced by Multiple Sclerosis patients. ing sleep and reducing mobility. Various have this little clique going, to school one day he found a sapphire gold (Spasticity is an ongoing increase in mus- medications, including baclofen, benzo- the good old boys network. ring and a snub-nosed .38 and a film can of cle tone; spasms are episodes of muscle diazepines and anticonvulsants, provide Very secretive and protec- cocaine. He threw away the coke and re- contraction. They often, but don’t always, minimal relief. tive. They weren’t going to turned the ring and the pistol to the local go together.) The Sativex study by Novotna et al ini- give it to us but we got it. head of the Hell’s Angels. “Come on in, lit- tially enrolled 572 potential subjects. Dur- I crossed my Sour Diesel —Double Die- tle brother,” said the grateful biker. When ing the first phase, subjects continued tak- sel, I called it—to the Ferrari clone five Spasticity in MS can be painful, asked what he wanted way of thanks, Law- ing the drugs from which they were getting years ago. Two years ago I re-crossed it disrupting sleep and reducing rence pointed to a big Sativa plant he saw “insufficient benefit” while adding Sativex. back onto the Sour Diesel. Before I did growing in the backyard and said, “I want mobility. Various medications, (They thought they might be getting a pla- that I had this thing called Tsunami. It was to learn how to grow that!” cebo.) After four weeks, 272 patients re- the Double Diesel crossed four times to the including baclofen, benzodiaz- At age 19 he went to Solano Community ported that the severity of their spasms had Sour Diesel then crossed to the Ferrari and epines and anticonvulsants, pro- College and learned organic horticulture. been reduced by 20% or more. This group then crossed back to the Sour Diesel. That He has been crossing plants of interest vide minimal relief. —minus 31 dropped for various reasons— made Sour Tsunami. It’s unbelievable. The for many years, with the goal of creating then took part in the 12-week randomized, creamy taste was there. a strain that would lessen his back pain Sativex is an oral spray made from a double-blind study comparing Sativex to I had no idea what the CBD count was without giving him “a clogged head.” He blend of Cannabis plants containing ap- placebo. All patients continued taking their until Samantha Miller [of Pure Analytics] says, “There are certain highs that you can proximately equal amounts of CBD and regular meds. analyzed my stuff and said it was 11.3% operate on and some that you can’t. You THC, plus small amounts of other cannabi- During the 12-week phase, 74% of the CBD. ‘And by the way,’ she said, ‘You smoke three hits and you’re passed out. I noids and terpenes. The manufacturer, GW patients on Sativex reported achieving a have eight other strains with great CBD Pharmaceuticals, underwrote the study, 30% reduction in spasticity from the ini- potential.’” which employed an “enriched enrollment tial screening baseline, compared to 51% Bingo! design” to exclude MS patients who did on placebo. Fifty-six patients on Sativex not respond to a preliminary four weeks of reported >50% relief, compared with 39 usage. This study design, the authors point patients on placebo. out, reflects the way patients and doctors Sativex was also found to be superior to actually decide on a treatment regimen: placebo for reducing spasm frequency and “patients who do not respond to a medi- sleep disruption.

CBD for Insomnia? S.B. asks succinctly, “Are CBD-rich strains good for in- somnia?” That’s a question Project CBD hopes to answer via the Society of Cannabis Clinician survey(s). European researchers tell us that CBD is “alerting, except at very high doses.” But our early anecdotal evidence sug- gests that it helps people sleep. Three possibilities to explain the input from patients (some of whom give CBD-rich cannabis rave reviews for treating insomnia): 1) The European researchers have it wrong. 2) CBD brings on sleep by reducing anxiety. 3. CBD doesn’t have much of an impact on sleep, and other components of the plant are determining whether it will be sedating or alerting when ingested. A terpenoid, myrcene, which is abundant in hops as well as cannabis, is reportedly sedating. Maybe myrcene levels are where it’s at HOPS thrive in Ore- for inducing drowsiness. gon’s Willamette Valley. —12— O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011

CBDiary from previous page March 8 CBD-Rich Still Too Stoney March 2 Dear Project CBD, No Need to Spin the Truth I am in great interest in the therapeutic Edibles: What Dose To Start With? A self-styled information service is send- effects of CBD. I have obtained my Medi- Question: ing around the abstract of a study by Crippa cal Cannabis license, but recently I have Conventional meds have not prevent- Reply from a toxicologist: et al with the subject heading “CBD Cures had to stop because to put it frankly, I do ed our son from having seizures. He has Two options: If using the dronabi- Social Anxiety.” Our summary of the study not wish to become high anymore. It’s a been given a remarkable cannabis con- nol (Marinol) dosing model as a starting is on page 11. distraction and contrary to belief, for some centrate —17% THC, 16% CBD— and point (30-90 mg), then an ingested dose CBD appears to reduce the symptoms of individuals even high CBD strains with wants to make cookies. His plan, which would be 15 mg per cookie, consuming social anxiety, but it certainly can’t be said low THC quite clearly cause anxiety and his neurologist is aware of, is to take a 6 cookies per day. Assuming that 50% to cure it. Overstating what Cannabis can psychotic symptoms… single-dose cookie when he wakes up and of the cannabinoid content is destroyed do is not in our interests. If you have the These symptoms are much lower with every four hours thereafter until he goes in cooking or otherwise not bioavailable, truth on your side, there’s no need to spin higher CBD strains, but nonetheless even to bed, to maintain roughly even cannabi- I would start with a recipe that results in or exaggerate. small amounts of THC for some people noid levels. He wants to find the dose at 30 mg. of cannabinoids per cookie in the A business in Southern California called cause many serious problems. Thus I which he can be functional and seizure- batter. BudGenius, run by skilled computer pro- would like to inquire your team on when free. He will titrate, of course, but what If using the Sativex dosing model grammers, makes up numbers that are sup- pure or virtually pure, naturally extracted should the starting point be —how many (2.7 mg THC/2.5 mg CBD) per spray, posed to indicate the effectiveness of CBD CBD oil or any type of CBD extract from miligrams of THC and CBD should that 5-12 sprays/day (which assumes no de- in treating various conditions. They under- Cannabis would be available? cookie contain? struction from cooking and 80% mucosal mine their credibility —and ours, indirect- I suffer from chronic anxiety and con- bioavailability), then 13.9 mg. is a single ly— with this kind of phoniness. stant back and neck pain. Also, since it is dose. Since GI bioavailability is less than We ourselves have not practiced rigor- naturally derived, it would be an inherently mucosal, I again come up with an ingest- ous honesty. When O’Shaughnessy’s and safer substance in my opinion. Please let ed dose of 15 mg per cookie. (And sug- ProjectCBD.org report on research con- me know if you know of any source that gest starting with 30 mg. cannabinoids cerning “Social Anxiety Disorder,” we provides pure CBD in any form or when per cookie in the batter). implicitly endorse the notion that such a you predict it would be available. That’s my 2 cents. medical condition actually exists. N.M. Janet Weiss, MD PCBD: An offspring of OmritaRx3 was For decades the big drug com- found to have a 20:1 ratio and is being grown out. A strain called Stinky Pink Pur- panies have been expanding the ple, being grown this summer from seed, CBD and Asthma customer base for anti-anxiety once produced a plant with that ratio, but Note from Drs. Frankel and Paoletti: and anti-depressant drugs by no mother plant was saved. (See page 16.) It has been known for many years that “medicalizing” all manifesta- Bear in mind that the terpenoid profile smoked Cannabis is a bronchodilator and may also modulate the psychoactive effect can be useful in treating asthma. Usually, tions of loneliness and insecu- of a given phenotype. asthma is a problem with bronchospasm rity, anger and grief. (wheezes) and increased mucous produc- “At low doses, equal amounts of tion in the smaller airways of our lungs. “Social Anxiety Disorder” is one of nu- CBD will blunt the peak effect of merous conditions concocted by the psy- More anxiety causes wors- chiatric establishment on behalf of the drug THC somewhat, but not eliminate ening bronchospasm, which companies in order to sell their psychoac- it. If given first, CBD can block the causes more anxiety. tive synthetics. The venal strategy has been high of THC. At higher doses, the exposed by many authors, most recently effects of THC overwhelm those of There is a large component of anxiety and thoroughly by Marcia Angell in the CBD, and one can still become ex- associated with asthma. Who would not New York Review of Books. What the American Psychiatric tremely high.” be scared when it is difficult to breathe? More anxiety causes worsening broncho- Association in the 1980s defined as “Social spasm, which causes more anxiety. Anxiety Disorder” is a normal, fairly According to sources we respect, “At common personality trait that used to be low doses, equal amounts of CBD will Typical inhalers contain adrenergic (adrenaline-like) stimulants, which work called shyness. Being shy —“reserved,” blunt the peak effect of THC somewhat, “quiet,” “private,” etc.— is not an illness. but not eliminate it. If given first, CBD can well but tend to heighten anxiety. It would be nice to have more alternatives Shy and brash, introverted and extroverted block the high of THC. At higher doses, the are at opposite ends of the normal spectrum effects of THC overwhelm those of CBD, to treat bronchospasm. Since richer levels of THC can cause of human personality. For decades the big and one can still become extremely high.” drug companies have been expanding the There were two very interesting presenta- increased anxiety, using CBD seems like a reasonable thing to try. Last week customer base for anti-anxiety and anti- tions at the 2010 ICRS conference in Lund, depressant drugs by “medicalizing” all Sweden, relevant to dosing questions. a patient came into our office who had obtained some CBD-rich tincture at a forms of loneliness, insecurity, anger and • Yosef Sarne, an Israeli scientist, report- Improved ability to exhale is indi- local collective and said he felt it was unhappiness. ed that ultra-low doses of THC had long- cated by spirometric exams that mea- helping his asthma. He was off of his The tactic became obvious when Eli lasting preventive and remedial effects on sure forced expiratory volume at one Advair inhaler for a week and wanted to Lilly was expanding the customer base “cognitive damage due to various insults” second (when the patient breathes out for Prozac in the early ‘90s with tactics in mice. Homeopathy! be “checked.” as hard as s/he can); forced vital capac- We administered a baseline spirometry like “National Depression Screening Day.” • Jacqueline Blankman from the Scripps ity (the amount of air you can blow out That’s when Dennis Peron started saying, test and then repeated the test 15 minutes after taking a deep breath); and peak Institute in San Diego reported on a pow- “In a country that pushes Prozac on shy after the patient had taken three drops of expiratory flow rate (at any point dur- erful new compound that inhibits MAGL, teenagers, all marijuana use is medical.” CBD-rich tincture (see graphic at right). ing the exhalation). Graph at top shows the main enzyme that breaks down 2-AG. Dennis was simply insisting that the But it did this so effectively that 2-AG lev- After a three-drop dose, the patient’s patient’s baseline ability. Graph at bot- ability to exhale nearly doubled. This tom shows ability after use of CBD- same standard apply to the anti-depressant els skyrocketed and her team observed the of choice at the San opposite reactions of everything they had would generally be considered a great rich sublingual tincture. response to a typical bronchodilator! Francisco Cannabis expected —pro-inflammatory rather than Buyers Club. Like a anti-inflammatory, etc. At the same time, jiu-jitsu master flip- anandamide levels decrease when 2-AG ping an attacker by levels are high (and vice versa), thereby April 7 using the momen- accentuating the biphasic experience. New CBD-Rich Strain in Boulder Unicorn Sighting in Colorado tum of the attacker’s So dosage is everything, to paraphrase Project Greenergy in Boulder, Colorado, A new CBD rich strain, Unicorn, has thrust... Lilly and Paracelsus. offers a Bubblegum Kush that has been been identified in Glenwood Springs, Col- Pfizer were push- tested at 9.84% CBD, 6.96% THC by Full orado at Green Medicine Wellness. It was ing and doctors were March 26 Spectrum Labs. The grower crossed Bub- tested in May by Cannlabs, which reported Dennis Peron prescribing SSRIs for Testing Cannabis in Michigan blegum and OG Kush and kept the result- 7.74 CBD, 6.82 THC, and Full Spectrum “Social Anxiety Disor- Lansing is now home to the first Canna- ing seeds. He plans to “pop them to get Labs, which found 9.45 CBD, 7.27 THC. der,” so Dennis said, okay, if it’s a medi- bis testing lab in Michigan: Cannalytics. pollen and different phenos.” The grower says that 10 years ago in Am- cal disorder it can be treated with medi- Founder Zach Jarou, a medical student, Bubblegum Kush is in demand, especial- sterdam, Eddie Lepp’s Waldo Haze (male) cal Cannabis. And so can Depression and says that Cannalytics uses “an internally ly by people with serious conditions and/ was crossed with Old School New York Anxiety... validated high-pressure liquid chroma- or professional jobs. Older patients also City Diesel (female), and produced “Uni- And that’s how the medical marijuana tography method.” Cannalytics tests for appreciate it. It placed second in the CBD corn,” named for its “mythical qualities.” movement went from being mainly about THC, CBD, and CBN content in flowers, category (!) at the Denver High Times Patients say Unicorn is helpful for people with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, and tinctures, and edibles. They plan on testing medical cannabis cup last weekend. The chronic pain and arthritis.Green Medicine seizure-disorders, to being about almost all for other plant compounds in the future, as winner was Bubba Kush, submitted by The Wellness ran out of Unicorn this summer of us in a land where unhappiness and in- well as for mold and pesticides. Cannalyt- Clinic in Denver. but more is growing. security are epidemic. ics has yet to test a CBD-rich sample. O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011 —13—

CBDiary from previous page May 25 Note from Dr. Frankel: Tincture Rapidly Counters Symptoms Barred by the state medical board from Many of these patients have prior rec- practicing medicine (see story on page 37), ommendations, so I am just helping them Allan Frankel, MD, has been getting input learn how to use the tincture when they from patients about the effects of CBD. are experiencing symptoms! This point is Over the past several weeks, a local very important. If a patient is feeling fine, “grow collective” has been using Super the tincture has very minimal effects. You Critical CO2 extraction on whole plants to must medicate specific symptoms and produce Cannabis tinctures. Their monitor their changes. It is a new current tincture measures around 4 world of non-psychoactivity. mg/cc CBD and 2 mg/cc THC. Speaking of psychoactivity, I am They request that patients not use seeing patients becoming “happier” the tincture until they are symptom- after they medicate themselves. I atic —and then to see me ASAP. So don’t know if this is mild “eupho- patients have been popping into the ria” from the THC in the tincture, Stacey Kerr, MD, at the Society of Cannabis Clinicans meeting in June, discuss- Greenbridge office with their medi- or whether they are just much hap- ing the first wave of patient responses to the SCC survey aimed at assessing the ef- cation to discuss its use and allow pier with their discomfort gone. fects of CBD-rich cannabis. me to observe its effects. I saw a 48 y/o male with a hor- P.S. May 26: rible chest sarcoma eating through Today I can add some anecdotal SCC Survey: The “Beta Rollout” his chest wall, obtain nearly 100% evidence of my own. I was sitting By Stacey Kerr, MD pain relief. on the floor with my legs crossed The Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC) has developed a survey that asks about I saw a 55 y/o woman’s pelvic writing on my laptop when my patients’ responses to CBD-rich cannabis. While laboratory-based research is uncovering pain decrease 75% in 40 minutes. lower back went into a painful fascinating information about CBD, physicians want to know what patients are I saw a Tourette’s patient’s spasms slow- spasm. Many people will know what I am experiencing. Are the effects of CBD-rich cannabis and high-THC cannabis noticeably ly disappear 95% over one hour. I’m seeing referring to. I have had these in the past and different? If so, how? Patients, collectively, can provide the answers. an interesting pattern: the tincture admin- was really upset as it is generally a four- The SCC Survey has been a work in progress for several months. We think the current istration causes the pain/spasm/etc symp- five day process. format is easy for respondents to complete, taking only about 10 or 15 minutes of online toms to decrease, beginning at their heads, I had some CBD-rich tincture from a time. going down their neck, shoulders arms and local collective and took 1/8 cc at 9 a.m. hands. Then, it moves back up to their up- and a repeat dose at around 1 p.m.. There per chest and works its magic down the was no immediate relief, but as the hours Properly tested and labeled cannabis is a prerequisite for any body. So, if you have pain in your foot, it passed my entire lower back softened up serious study of its components’ effects. will take the longest to feel better. I have no and the pain is already 60% gone. idea why I keep seeing this phenomenon. For the survey data to be reliable, the medicine that patients are using should be analyzed I have seen another 10 patients with pan- by a trustworthy lab and labeled by the dispensary as to CBD and THC content. Properly ic attacks and severe anxiety become virtu- tested and labeled cannabis is a prerequisite for any serious study of its components’ ally perfect within 30 minutes. This is the effects. (We expect to study the effects of some terpenoids and other cannabinoids, too.) toughest area with regard to placebo effect, The medical cannabis industry is still catching up to the importance of informing but time will tell more. patients and physicians about the content and purity of their medicine. So far only about July 11 25% of the survey’s responses are based on verifiable cannabinoid content. We hope to May 30 More THC in Edibles? see more lab-tested medicine available soon. Here’s how the process should work: Do Mold and Fungus Dear Dr. Kerr, George Grower brings a pound of his CBD-rich herb, which he named “Cativan,” to Affect Cannabinoid Content? My father is under a lot of pain and suc- Discreet Dispensary for distribution to patients. Discreet Dispensary sends a small sample This question was posed to Samantha cessfully quit heavy narcotic opiate medi- of Cativan to a lab. The lab reports back: 8% CBD, 3%THC content, no sign of mold or Miller of Pure Analytics. Her response: “In cation (methadone and various others). I pest infestation. The dispensary then labels its Cativan to identify the cannabinoid content really severe cases, the mold and fungus do not want him to relapse... I would like and source: “CBD8/THC3-DD” (CBD8%, THC3%, Discreet Dispensary). can have consumed so much of the plant him to use marijuana but I don’t want him Patsy Patient, who has MS, sees the label describing Cativan as high in CBD. material that it artificially elevates the po- to get paranoid. I want to know if it has Dispensary staff confirms what she’s read —CBD-rich herb may be helpful for muscle tency results. This is because they are re- been clinically studied whether or not spasms. So she buys it, uses it for three weeks, and then decides to share her experience ported on a percent by weight basis, so as edibles (baked marijuana absorbed by fat) by taking the SCC survey. She logs onto the survey online and, when prompted, enters the the plant material is consumed, the sample have richer CBD in contrast to THC? code: CBD8/THC3-DD. weighs less overall for the same cannabi- A.F. When we analyze the survey results, we know that her experience was based on noid content.” • Response from Stacey Kerr, MD: cannabinoid levels from a reliable dispensary using a qualified lab to test their medicines. To If planning to test cannabis for mold The amount of CBD and THC in canna- researchers seeking to evaluate the effectiveness of CBD-rich cannabis on spasticity in MS, and pesticides, Miller recommends keep- bis is inherent to the original plant. How Patsy’s feedback is much more meaningful than feedback from a patient who cannot verify ing the sample in the refrigerator until it is that plant is processed does not change the the cannabinoid content of their medicine. (She is also the smarter consumer, choosing given to the lab. The lab needs to be able to ratio of CBD to THC. That ratio will be the medicine that has been tested and making an informed choice for her personal needs.) see what the sample would be like if given same in the butter as in the original plant. directly to the patient if mold or fungus Congratulations to your father on his Widespread participation is the key to success. was to be found.” success in getting off heavy narcotics — especially if they were not helping him! If The arrival of CBD-rich cannabis is going to be a boon, medically, leading to you give him an edible, be sure to start him new treatment options. A serious, physician-led research effort to evaluate its effects June 4 with a small dose. Edible cannabis passes will enhance the credibility of the medical cannabis movement/industry.Widespread Note from Halent Labs (excerpted): through the liver, which metabolizes THC participation is the key to success. Dispensaries should encourage the production of “We just analyzed our first high con- into a more psychoactive compound. One CBD-rich herb, edibles and tinctures. Patients who try CBD-rich products should take centration CBD sample. must be careful when ingesting cannabi- the survey and report the effects. “Strain: L.A. Confidential noids —especially THC– because the ef- My colleagues and I look forward to the day when so many patients have access to THCA: 6.137% fects can be quite strong and disturbing. accurately labeled medicine —and have taken the SCC survey—that we can report with THC: 0.444% confidence the unique therapeutic effects of CBD-rich cannabis. CBDA: 10.415% CBD For Acuity? CBD: 0.349% Dr. Kerr forwarded this “From a pa- “Estimated total CBD for strongly tient who did not use any cannabis before heated sample was 9.49% starting daily use of CBD-rich tincture “On microscopic analysis, about 65% (3.9%CBD/1.7%THC) for autoimmune of the trichomes were a rich honey.color. disorders: Since CBD is yellow in color this tracks “‘I am holding off on starting an anti (THC is colorless). depressant until I give the tincture 1-2 Average reported samples of LA Con- months. I have made amazing strides in fidential only have a maximum of about just a couple weeks with physical strength 0.5% CBD. This sample is very unusual and overall feeling of wellness. I have Lu- for the strain. Sample may have been from pus and chronic EBV, which has increased a very rare phenoltype of LAC that geneti- 25-fold over last year. I had lost much of cally switches over to mainly CBD pro- my physical strength. I was stunned at the duction. On the assumption that this is the return of my physical strength through case, we’re working to see if any seed or even the first few days of being on CBD clones are still available. Tincture. Also it has lifted my brain fog. Analysis report from Pure Analytics lab showing CBD (7.66%) and Much sharper.” THC (4.36%) content of a Harlequin sample harvested at full maturity. Dispensaries adopting the SCC coding plan would add “C7.7T4.4-PA” to the label for data collection purposes. —14— O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011 CBD: How It Works By Martin A. Lee

Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive com- eugenol, an essential oil that has antiseptic ponent of the cannabis plant, has gener- and analgesic properties that also helps to ated significant interest among medical unclog blood vessels. The vanilla bean has scientists in recent years, but researchers been used as a folk cure for headaches. are still sorting out how CBD exerts its therapeutic impact on a molecular level. Adenosine receptor CBD exerts an anti-anxiety effect by ac- CBD and FAAH tivating adenosine receptors. CBD has little binding affinity to either Adenosine receptors play significant the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors. roles in cardiovascular function, regu- Instead, CBD indirectly stimulates endog- lating myocardial oxygen consumption enous cannabinoid signaling by suppress- and coronary blood flow. The adenosine ing fatty acid amide hydroxylase (FAAH), (A2A) receptor has broad anti-inflamma- Cannabidiol’s mechanism of action: a summary of what scientists have learned. the enzyme that breaks down anandamide. tory effects throughout the body. Anandamide is an endogenous cannabi- Adenosine receptors also play a signifi- receptor” because scientists are still not Highly reactive free radical chemicals are noid compound that activates the CB1 re- cant role in the brain. They down-regulate sure if it belongs to a larger family of re- produced when animals use oxygen to ceptor, which is concentrated in the mam- the release of other neurotransmitters such ceptors. Some researchers postulate that burn food for fuel. malian brain and central nervous system. as dopamine and glutamate. GPR55 may actually be a third cannabi- A great deal of data suggests that many Less FAAH means more anandamide is Jose Alexandre Crippa and his col- noid receptor. problems associated with aging stem from present for longer duration in the body. leagues at the University of San Paulo in GPR55 is widely expressed in the brain, the inability of the organism to protect And more anandamide means greater Brazil and King’s College in London have especially in the cerebellum. It is involved itself against free-radical-induced inflam- CB1 signaling. conducted pioneering research into CBD in modulating blood pressure and bone mation and oxidative stress, which pro- By inhibiting the enzyme that metabo- and the neural correlates of anxiety. density. GPR55 promotes osteoclast cell vides a fertile ground for the development lizes and destroys anandamide, CBD en- 5-HT serotonin receptor function, which facilitates bone reabsorp- of neurodegenerative and other age-relat- hances the body’s innate protective endo- ed illnesses. At high concentrations, CBD directly tion. Overactive GPR55 receptor signal- cannabinoid response. At the same time, Cardiovascular, autoimmune, neuro- activates the 5-HT1A(hydroxytryptamine) ing is associated with osteoporosis. CBD powerfully opposes the action of logical disorders, cancers, and the aging serotonin receptor, thereby conferring an GPR55, when activated, also promotes THC at the CB1 receptor, thereby muting process itself are all thought to have free anti-depressant effect. This receptor is cancer cell proliferation, according to a the psychoactive effects of THC. radicals as causative agents. Free radicals implicated in a range of biological and 2010 study by researchers at the Chinese CBD also stimulates the release of are implicated in the formation of protein neurological processes, including anxiety, Academy of Sciences in Shanghai. This 2-AG, a major endogenous cannabinoid amyloid plaques, which attack neural syn- addiction, appetite, sleep, pain perception, receptor is expressed in various types of compound that activates both CB1 and apses and prevent normal chemical and nausea and vomiting. cancer. CB2 receptors. CB2 receptors are pre- electrical signaling activity in the brain. 5-HT1A is a member of the family of CBD is a GPR55 antagonist, as Uni- dominant in the peripheral nervous sys- By binding to free radicals, antioxidants 5-HT receptors, which are activated by the versity of Aberdeen scientist Ruth Ross tem and the immune system. can break the plaque formation cycle that neurotransmitter serotonin. disclosed at the 2010 conference of the In- ternational Cannabinoid Research Society is associated with the progression of Al- The Vanilloid Receptor Found in both the central and peripheral in Lund, Sweden. zheimer’s disease. Several studies have Whereas CBD does not bind to either nervous systems, 5-HT receptors trigger By blocking GPR55 signaling, CBD at- shown that CBD blocks Alzheimer’s of the two known cannabinoid receptors, an intracellular cascade of chemical mes- tenuates bone reabsorption and cancer cell plaque formation by a mechanism not in- it directly interacts with other G-protein- sages to produce an excitatory or inhibi- proliferation. This is one of many molecu- volving the cannabinoid receptors. coupled receptors to confer a medicinal tory response. CBD triggers an inhibitory lar pathways through which CBD exerts The antioxidant properties of CBD ex- effect. CBD binds to the TRPV-1 receptor, response that slows down 5-HT1A signal- an anti-cancer effect. ceed the antioxidant potency of vitamins which mediates pain perception, inflam- ing. Dr. Sean McAllister’s research at the C and E. When combined with THC, the mation and body temperature. LSD, mescaline, magic mushrooms, Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco antioxidant properties of cannabis are This is one of the reasons why CBD- and several other hallucinogenic drugs indicates that CBD reduces breast cancer even stronger. rich cannabis may be a particularly effec- activate a different type of 5-HT receptor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis Once again, whole-plant cannabis ther- tive remedy for neuropathic pain. CBD is that produces an excitatory response. by inhibiting Id-1 gene expression. Best apeutics is greater than the sum of the a TRPV-1 “agonist” or stimulant. results were obtained when CBD was ad- herb’s individual medicinal components. Capsaicin, the pungent compound in GPR55 ministered in combination with THC. hot chili peppers, also activates the TRVP- Whereas cannabidiol activates the Several other studies underscore the Martin A. Lee is the cofounder of the 1 receptor. TRPV-1 vanilloid receptor and 5-HT1A therapeutic advantages for combining media watch group FAIR, the author of TRPV is the technical abbreviation for serotonin receptor, CBD functions as an CBD and THC. three books, including Acid Dreams, and “transient receptor potential cation chan- antagonist that blocks or deactivates an- the cofounder of Project CBD. He is cur- nel subfamily V.” Scientists also refer to other G protein-coupled receptor known A potent anti-oxidant rently writing a social history of canna- it as the “vanilloid receptor,” named after as GPR55. CBD is a potent anti-oxidant that miti- bis, which will be published next year by the flavorful vanilla bean. Vanilla contains GPR55 has been dubbed an “orphan- gates the negative effect of free radicals. Scribner’s. He can be reached at martin- [email protected] Endocannabinoid Synthesis Phytocannabinoid Synthesis

Endocannabinoid signaling across synapse (gap between nerve cells) is depicted. Anandamide and 2-AG are synthesized from membrane lipids in postsynaptic neuron (right) after calcium (CA++) increase. They diffuse and activate pre-synpatic Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) is the common precursor to CBD, THC, and CBC. CB1 receptors that induce intracellular cascades, inhibiting neural activity and neu- As the Cannabis plant matures, CBGA is turned into CBD acid, THC acid, and CBC rotransmitter release in the pre-synaptic neuron (left). Anandamide (AEA) undergoes acid by enzymes called synthases. Mutations resulting in excess CBDA synthase or re- re-uptake and hydrolysis (breakdown) by fatty acid amide hydrolase —FAAH); 2-AG is duced THCA synthase would result in CBD-rich offspring. broken down by monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL). Copyright 2010, 2012 by O’Shaughnessy’s. All rights reserved. Address reprint requests to [email protected] —15— O’Shaughnessy’s • Autumn 2011

CBDiary from previous page The Release of Omrita Rx3 Miguel has decided to “share the ge- netics” of the CBD-rich strain now known as Omrita Rx3. (See page 12 regarding its origins.) This spring Miguel used the pollen Jamaican Lion from his one male plant to fertilize branch- June 26 es from his CBD-rich females. He germi- nated 20 seeds in sustainable coco coir CBD-rich Cannabis and 11 turned out to be vigorous females, Gets its own Category which he grew out. These 11 phenotypes varied widely in CBD:THC content. At High Times MMJ Cup In mid-August Miguel provided Om- The High Times Medical Cannabis rita clones to several participants in Proj- Cup has instituted a new award category: ect CBD —WAMM, Harborside Health “CBD-rich.” First place (9.23% CBD) Center, and the Berkeley Patients Group. went this year to a strain called “Alaskan Trusted growers will now produce clones Thunderfuck,” entered by the Master Con- so that patients will be able to grow their trol Unit Collective. The MCUC is at an own Omritas by next spring, for sure. undisclosed location, on the lam from the By allowing others to grow out the Word Police. plants —instead of remaining the sole Second place went to “Jamaican Lion,” source of Omrita flowers— Miguel gives entered into the competition by Elemen- up the opportunity to charge top dollar for tal Wellness of San Jose. “Jamaican Lion his herb and products made from it. comes from Rock Bud, which won the Based on anecdotal reports reaching CANNABINOID CONTENTS OF OMRITA Rx3 (TOP ROW) AND OFFSPRING as Cannabis Cup in 2003,” the grower told Project CBD, demand for Omrita will be reported by California Botanicals to Miguel A. The lab uses high-pressure liquid chro- Project CBD, “crossed with Lion Heart, strong. It is said to quell pain and intestinal matography, which does not involve heating samples. THC Acid and CBD Acid are mea- which comes from Almighty Seeds out of disorders, while sharpening focus. sured and THC and CBD totals projected. Flowers from 11 different plants were tested; Quebec. It produced Mountain Lion, the “Giving it away seemed like the right five were tested twice, at seven weeks and at harvest (8-9 weeks). One sample, P2, had a mother of this plant. The Jamaican Yarders thing to do,” says Miguel. “Of course I CBD:THC ratio of 20:1. Three others are in the range of 1:20 (very high THC). In the were brought straight from Jamaica. It’s a need to make a living, but if something is middle range are four samples with approximately equal CBD and THC contents, and Sativa that grows about 15 to 18 feet tall. helping people this much, it needs to be three are approximately 1:2. The remarkable P2 strain is being grown out for use in a They also call them ‘darkers,’ because it available.” tincture, Miguel says, and to cross with other plants in an effort to reduce THC content gets a really dark color to it. I took the fast- Miguel is 38 and does not have a family even further. est flowering, most vigorous male, crossed to support (yet). His dream is to have some much quicker than digestive. Her behav- it with my best female and had one mother arable land to farm. ior while medicated is similar to humans left when I moved here from the East Coast Clones are also being provided to ed- —seeking out crumbs of food, kind of like three years ago.” ible- and tincture makers. “The more pa- the munchies... Hiding out in long-lost cor- Since no Jamaican Lion male plant ex- tients that use CBD and report the effects, ners... playful and energetic.” ists, the grower is now crossing his Lion- the more we’ll know what it’s good for,” The vet is aware of Miguel’s unusual esses with several strains of interest, in- says Miguel. treatment plan and impressed by the big cluding an Omrita Rx3 from Miguel. Miguel has sought advice from Califor- old Lab’s response. Dogs with sarcomas nia Botanicals laboratory about creating don’t usually have Samantha’s healthy ap- Omrita-based tinctures and salves. He has At the High Times Cup petite, or high energy and spirits, he told already created one for veterinary use. Miguel. Miguel advises that Omrita grows This spring Miguel’s beloved 12-year- well from cuttings, both outdoors in soil old Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Saman- and indoors in tha, was diagnosed with a cancerous mass coco, and he in her jaw. It had eaten away the main TMJ suggests using joint and the vet didn’t recommend chemo “Less nutrients because if the mass shrank, there wouldn’t and a slightly be anything to hold the jaw in place. There higher pH than have been no studies examining the ef- normal.” fectiveness of CBD on cancer in dogs, but Ringo with Jaime of Resin Seeds. Omrita is a Miguel thought it couldn’t hurt to give his Lovely Omrita Rx3 very stout plant Omrita a try. dose (15 milligrams CBD, 5 THC) per with strong side He used ethanol to make an extract with day in her food, and occasional sublingual branching and a 3:1 CBD-to-THC ratio. He gave her one doses. These, he says, “definitely onset large colas. The Return of Stinky (Pink) Purple In the winter of 2009/10, Steep Hill lab tested a sample of “Stinky Purple” for Har- borside Health Center and found it to contain 9.3% CBD and only 1.2% THC —the highest CBD-to-THC ratio yet observed, by far. According to Karen Byars, who had Debby Goldsberry, Melissa Balin brought it in to Harborside, the breeder had not kept a mother plant. This was very disappointing news, because Stinky Purple seemed uniquely lacking in psychoactivity. An SCC doctor treating a terminal cancer patient who disliked — and was very sensitive to— the effects of THC, was able to tolerate Stinky Purple, and used it beneficially on several occasions. (This patient had not been able to tolerate two other CBD-rich strains.) Earlier this year, the breeder, Mark Thies of Dos Rios, located some seeds of the type that had produced his exceptional plant in ‘09. He sprouted them and gave four females to Byars to grow out. She arranged for Pure Analytics lab to test them when they were 16 weeks old. Caroline Francese (in straw hat) at the “Three of the four show CBD dominance,” Byars’ reports. She hopes that one will Harborside booth. equal in CBD:THC ratio the one that got away in ‘09. She intends to use the plants STINKY PINK PURPLE female will be as mothers and to have flowers, tinctures and clones to distribute through her newly pollinated by “a male counterpart that formed “CBD-Rich Collective” by the spring of 2012. looked exactly like her, with deep purple Thies is growing a male and a female for seed production. One of the parents was stems holding up the fan leaves,” accord- “Stinky Pink,” he says. His cross is dubbed “Stinky Pink Purple.” ing to breeder Mark Thies.

“He was nearly convinced now that he was on the track of a discovery; but what use are discoveries if they cannot save the child you Take the Survey! Lifetime award winners Michele love? What use is any thing if it comes too and Michael Aldrich late?” —E.L. Voynich cannabisclinicians.org