Research on pot and sperm quality, gene expression, and child development.

July 28, 2022   

KEY POINTS

• Paternal consumption of marijuana prior to conception has been found in rodent studies to alter offspring brain development.
• Children whose fathers consumed marijuana during their partner's pregnancy may be at higher risk of psychotic symptoms.
• Pot consumption can trigger epigenetic changes in gene expression, which fathers can pass along to their children.
• Not all human studies of pot's effects on male fertility are consistent. A dose-dependent relationship between pot and male fertility may exist.

Accumulating evidence suggests that a man’s lifetime cannabis consumption can influence his fertility as well as the health and development of his future children. While occasional use may not have terrible consequences, prospective fathers (and their partners) should be mindful of how marijuana use, especially in the months leading up to conception, can affect sperm—and the expression of genes those sperm pass on to offspring.

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Cannabis and Limblessness – Here we go again Thalidomide 2.0? 

This disturbing evidence has significant ramifications for #publichealth for the entire community. Cannabis as a predictor of limb anomalies was more potent than tobacco or alcohol. Cannabinoid access should be restricted to protect public health and the community genome/epigenome transgenerationally.

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By Damian McNamara, MA July 25, 2022 

Cannabidiol (CBD) products made from hemp have gotten more popular in recent years. But how much can you trust what the label says, compared to what really is in CBD patches, creams, and lotions?

A team of investigators decided to find out. They bought 105 hemp-derived CBD topicals – products designed to be applied to the skin – from physical stores and online sites.

Of the 89 labels that list the amount of CBD, for example, 24% matched what was inside; 58% of the products had more CBD; and the remaining 18% contained less.

Also, more than a third – 35% – of the topicals tested contained delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), including some that claimed to be THC-free.

THC is the compound in marijuana associated with "getting high." But hemp products are allowed to contain 0.3% or less THC, and all the products in this study met the regulation.

People should "be wary of cannabinoid products available in retail stores. The products may not contain the amounts of CBD or THC that are advertised," says lead study author Tory R. Spindle, PhD.

The study was published in JAMA Network Open on July 20.

Can Be Deceiving

CBD topicals are over-the-counter (OTC) products, so the FDA does not regulate them the same way as prescription medications. But at the same time, the agency does not allow OTC products to make claims about health benefits.

"The health claims made on the products, which are often very pricey, may not be supported by clinical research," says Spindle, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Cannabis Science Laboratory in Baltimore.

He and colleagues found 28% of the 105 products made a therapeutic claim, mostly about helping ease pain and inflammation. And 14% claimed to help improve skin quality or appearance.

"This study really highlights that current regulatory oversight of cannabinoid products is not sufficient," says Spindle, who is also an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

More hemp-derived CBD products are showing up on store shelves and online because of the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act. This act, more commonly known as the Farm Bill, removed hemp and hemp products from the U.S. controlled substances list…

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For JAMA Research Cannabinoid Content and Label Accuracy of Hemp-Derived Topical Products Available Online and at National Retail Stores JAMA Network Open

People take cannabis in several ways to try to relieve the symptoms of COPD.

ResearchTrusted Source indicates that smoking and vaping cannabis or CBD may cause respiratory symptoms such as:

• wheezing
• coughing
• shortness of breath

Therefore, edible cannabis or CBD may be preferable.

However, edibles take longerTrusted Source to produce effects than smoking cannabis, so there is a risk of people ingesting too much because they are not feeling anything.

The existing research on CBD for COPD and lung function is conflicting. For example, a small 2018 study found no beneficial effects of vaporizing cannabis for adults with advanced COPD.

Another reviewTrusted Source concludes that cannabis smokers do not appear to develop airflow obstruction and COPD. Meanwhile, a 2020 laboratory studyTrusted Source found that cannabis oil extract may modulate the immune processes that cause inflammation in the airways in COPD.

There is currently no clear evidence that CBD is effective in treating COPD or reducing any of its symptoms. People with COPD should not take CBD or THC products without first seeking a doctor’s advice.

Cautions

CBD gummies may cause side effects or interact with prescribed medications. The FDATrusted Source is uncertain of the adverse reactions or possible risks associated with the long-term use of CBD products.

The federal agency advises people that CBD can cause various adverse effects, includingTrusted Source:

• changes in alertness, drowsiness, or sleepiness
• diarrhea, changes in appetite, or both
• changes in mood
• liver injury
• interactions with medications, drugs, or alcohol
• damage to fertility

A person should speak with a doctor before taking these CBD products. Anyone who uses these products and then experiences negative effects should also seek medical advice.

For complete article

Also see

• The Online CBD Industry Unmasked
• CBD Concerns Continue to Emerge
• F.D.A. WARNING LETTER Challenging ‘Health Claims of CBD’

This is the madness you get when the largely unregulated #marijuana marketing monster is permitted to promote non-clinically trialled products with unsubstantiated claims of care and cure! 

But that’s exactly what you get in a ‘vote for medicine’ framework. The short-term and intergenerational harms of this #madness is all but guaranteed. It is disturbing enough when the ‘grown ups’ want to self-destruct, but when their actions condemn children to often irreversible harms, it’s beyond outrageous.

Ah! but the ‘intoxicated’ don’t care – except that whatever immediate ‘felt need’ is assuaged. Such is the inevitable trap of substance use.

Association of Comorbid Behavioral and Medical Conditions With Cannabis Use Disorder in Pregnancy

Considerable growth was observed in the prevalence of CUD diagnoses among individuals hospitalized prenatally and in the prevalence of depression, anxiety, nausea, and other conditions in individuals with CUD at hospitalization. This study highlights the need for more screening, prevention, and treatment, particularly in populations with co-occurring CUD and psychiatric disorders. Research on the determinants and outcomes associated with CUD during pregnancy is needed to guide clinicians, policy makers, and patients in making informed decisions.

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