CannabisNewsBreaks – Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Reports on Promising Results from Diabetes Animal Study

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug-delivery platforms, is releasing additional findings from its DIAB-A22-1 study, a diabetes animal study designed to evaluate the company’s proprietary DehydraTECH-CBD. DehydraTECH is a patented drug-delivery formulation and processing platform technology developed by Lexaria. The company noted that in addition to the three positive outcomes reported earlier — weight loss in obese diabetic-conditioned animals and improved triglyceride and cholesterol levels — the study has indicated a reduction in blood glucose levels and improvements in kidney function. These results were gathered after the company undertook a further round of analysis to explore additional study outcomes; the additional analysis included using an alternate blood glucose assay detection system with higher detection sensitivity. The company also reported updates on two of its applied R&D programs:DEM-A22-1 and EPIL-A21-1. Lexaria’s DEM-A22-1 is a study designed to investigate whether DehydraTECH-CBD enables any procognitive performance enhancements with potential use in dementia treatment.

The company noted that the findings from this study were “generally unremarkable and several unexpected study complications may have muted efficacy distinction ability.” The EPIL-A21-1 was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of LEXX’s DehydraTECH-CBD compared to one of the world’s leading anti-seizure medications, Epidiolex(R), in reducing seizure activity. Initial findings from the study seemed to demonstrate that DehydraTECH-CBD had effectiveness at lower doses and with greater rapidity than Epidiolex. In the past few months, Lexaria has also completed a final study under its EPIL-A21-1 program that looked at establishing dosage amounts. “This ED50 study was designed with an objective to hopefully corroborate Lexaria’s prior MES experimental findings,” the company states in the press release. “Lexaria is pleased to confirm that the outcome demonstrated that DehydraTECH-CBD was most effective at a dose of 75 mg/Kg, also as previously reported from the initial round of work in this animal model, which compared favorably to Epidiolex that generally required a higher dose of 100 mg/Kg to achieve comparable findings.”

To view the full press release, visit https://cnw.fm/aUBBj

About Lexaria Bioscience Corp.

Lexaria Bioscience’s patented drug-delivery technology, DehydraTECH(TM), improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) enter the bloodstream through oral delivery. Since 2016, DehydraTECH has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to increase bioabsorption with cannabinoids, antiviral drugs, PDE5 inhibitors and more. DehydraTECH has also evidenced an ability to deliver some drugs more effectively across the blood brain barrier. Lexaria operates a licensed in-house research laboratory and holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 30 patents granted and many patents pending worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/LEXX

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420 with CNW — Possible Legalization Reversal Has Thai Cannabis Advocates Worried

Thai Ganja TV has been a platform where marijuana enthusiasts have closely followed the remarkable transformation of the drug from being a banned substance to a legalized medicinal plant and eventually a recreational indulgence. However, a year after the decriminalization of cannabis in Thailand, the platform’s approximately 90,000 followers are now witnessing with bemusement the threats from rival politicians who seek to once again outlaw or strictly regulate open consumption and dispensaries.

At the forefront of this debate is the soon-to-be prime minister, Pita Limjaroenrat, whose party MFP surprisingly emerged as the winner in the May 14, 2023, general elections. Although MFP is generally seen as the most progressive political party in Thailand, marijuana advocates argue that it is spearheading the movement to curtail recreational use, casting a shadow over the nation’s multibillion-dollar marijuana industry.

Pita now asserts that the marijuana boom should be temporarily halted to control recreational use until the next government passes the proposed marijuana act, which would establish clear guidelines on the sale and consumption of the drug. This aligns with the perspective of Pita’s alliance, comprised of eight parties, several of which are from the conservative, largely Muslim provinces of southern Thailand.

The alliance’s position on cannabis has infuriated Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who championed the substance’s liberalization and refuses to support any government that aims to retract the current laws, even on a temporary basis. Anutin’s party, Bhumjaithai, holds 71 seats, which gives it considerable influence in determining the next government’s composition.

While politicians engage in disputes, marijuana advocates are growing increasingly frustrated with the uncertainties surrounding their industry. The legal ambiguity has eroded investor confidence, despite the industry’s rapid growth after decriminalization. Thailand has experienced a visible transformation with regard to cannabis, as it swiftly transitioned from a country with severe penalties for cannabis possession to one of the most permissive environments for its use and sale.

Exploiting the legislative gaps resulting from the failure to enact the marijuana act, both Thai residents and tourists openly consume cannabis on the streets. The market has also been flooded with illegal imports, primarily from North America, providing ample ammunition for opponents of the liberal marijuana culture.

Kobboon Chatrakrisaeree, a small-scale farmer in a Bangkok suburb, says the initial excitement following decriminalization has subsided. He claimed that due to the lack of appropriate restrictions, cannabis is now polluted by careless company owners who sell to minors and by people who openly smoke on the streets as if they were in Canada.

The regulatory uncertainty seen in the marijuana industry around the world has created an opportunity for enterprises such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) to develop medicines from marijuana. These entities plan on getting FDA approval for those therapeutics so that patients can easily access the novel treatments sans fearing that they could run afoul of prohibitive laws or complex state-level marijuana regulations.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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420 with CNW — Supreme Court Gives Florida AG Extra Fortnight to File Cannabis Challenge

The Florida attorney general has received two extra weeks to come up with a brief challenging the addition of a proposed cannabis legalization measure to the 2024 ballot. State Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office originally had until June 5, 2022, to provide the briefs, but it filed a motion to push the deadline. The office stated that it had limited staff and was currently dealing with multiple deadlines that made it unable to meet last Monday’s deadline for the cannabis ballot initiative challenge.

The court motion met no challenges from the cannabis ballot campaign’s lawyers, and the state Supreme Court granted the attorney general’s office a fortnight to complete the briefs. However, the court cautioned the attorney general against seeking further extensions and noted that without any extenuating circumstances, the court may deny further requests for delays.

A week ago, Florida state officials announced that the Smart & Safe Florida campaign that is behind the ballot initiative had gathered enough valid signatures to qualify the measure for next year’s ballot. In fact, the Florida Division of Elections reported that the campaign had collected 967,528 verified signatures, more than 70,000 more votes than the signature threshold for ballot initiatives in Florida.

The measure cleared one of its first challenges to land on the 2024 ballot, receiving enough signatures to qualify for a court review of its language. This review is meant to ensure that none of the language in the cannabis legalization ballot misleads voters and is in violation of the state’s constitution.

Several prior attempts at placing recreational cannabis measures on the ballot have failed at this stage.

Attorney general Moody also took action against the cannabis legalization measure at this stage, filing a court brief that argued that the measure violated Florida’s constitutional rule of having a single subject in ballot measures and stating that she would flesh out her position in a future briefing. Moody also attempted to block a legalization measure based on the same argument in 2022, but a court threw out her file.

If the legalization measure is approved by voters, it would amend Florida’s constitution and allow existing medical marijuana companies to begin selling recreational cannabis to adults aged 21 years and older. The measure would also “allow but not require” that legislators take extra steps to approve and legalize additional recreational cannabis retailers in the state.

Adults aged 21 and older would be allowed to buy and own up to one ounce of cannabis with only a maximum of five grams being cannabis concentrate products. The ballot measure also includes provisions for the expungement of past cannabis offenses and would not allow home cultivation.

As the possibility of marijuana legalization becomes a reality in different states around the country, market opportunities will keep opening up for businesses such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) as more growers come aboard the state-legal cannabis industry.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACTX

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Lexaria Bioscience Corp.’s (NASDAQ: LEXX) May Announcements Show Resolve to Continue Supporting R&D ‘Lifeblood’

In May, Lexaria made a number of positive announcements related to its R&D initiatives
In addition to holding its 2023 Annual Meeting, the company completed dosing for its human clinical nicotine study, NIC-H22-1
Lexaria also reported 900% improvements in delivery of DehydraTECH(TM) processed estrogen into blood plasma in an animal study
In a human hypertension study, the company announced that its DehydraTECH-CBD formulation resulted in significant reductions in the blood plasma levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers (IL 8, 10, and 18)
These biomarkers are linked to cardiovascular disease (“CVD”) and many other conditions, such as asthma, lung diseases, chronic kidney disease, fatty liver disease, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, held its 2023 Annual Meeting on the 9th of May, with shareholders voting on several agenda items, including the election of directors, appointment of auditors, approval of the stock option pricing, approval of the amendment to the maxim number of shares issuable pursuant to the Incentive Equity Plan, and approval of the addition of an evergreen formula to the Incentive Equity Plan. All items put to the vote were approved by the majority, setting the stage for what would become a month of even more positives, particularly around the company’s research and development (“R&D”) initiatives.

“If you’ve been following Lexaria for any period of time, you know that applied R&D is our lifeblood. It helps us establish areas of investigation for commercial pursuits, reduces risks of the unknown for both commercial and regulatory goals, and more,” wrote Lexaria CEO Chris Bunka in the January 2023 annual letter (https://cnw.fm/o1Ypu).

A look at the company’s announcements throughout May shows its unwavering resolve to support its lifeblood and, in the process, gain additional knowledge and understanding of the limitations and capabilities of its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology. The company started the month off with the announcement that it had completed dosing in its human clinical nicotine study, NIC-H22-1.

With data showing that cigarette smoking claims the lives of more than 7 million people per year globally, Lexaria conducted the study as part of its efforts to validate its reduced-risk technology, which is poised to potentially provide tobacco smokers with a safer and faster-acting source of purified nicotine that delivers nicotine into blood plasma faster, potentially satisfying cravings more quickly. The study evaluated the capabilities of the company’s DehydraTECH-processed oral nicotine formulation by comparing it with the performance of other commercially available oral nicotine pouches sold under the On! and Zyn brands. Lexaria will provide further updates and any relevant material findings as they become available (https://cnw.fm/5YIKF).

Lexaria also reported the completion of its animal study HOR-A22-1, demonstrating its DehydraTECH(TM) platform technology significantly enhanced the oral delivery of estradiol, a type of estrogen hormone that is used in therapeutic products in women’s health sector (https://cnw.fm/wwDVX). Performed in 20 female Sprague-Dawley rats, the study compared a DehydraTECH-estradiol formulation to a generic estradiol composition.

The study aimed to evaluate the ability of DehydraTECH to enhance the delivery properties of the orally administered hormone using parameters such as Cmax, the maximum concentration in the bloodstream, and area under the curve (“AUC”), a measure that gives insight into the total delivery of estradiol over time and the extent of exposure to estrone. (Estrone is a second type of estrogen that is reversibly manufactured from estradiol in tissues found in the mammary gland, uterus, and liver.)

The animal study HOR-A22-1 found that the DehydraTECH-estradiol formulation resulted in a Cmax about 900% higher than the control formulation’s. Additionally, the AUC readings for estradiol and estrone when the DehydraTECH-processed composition was used were 1,500% and 12,500% higher, respectively, than when the control was used.

In other R&D, Lexaria announced additional findings from its human clinical study HYPER-H21-4, completed last year. The hypertension study sought to evaluate DehydraTECH-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”) as a potential antihypertensive medication and already achieved primary efficacy and safety objectives. According to the company, the study also demonstrated significant reductions in several pro-inflammatory biomarkers – interleukin (“IL”) 8, 10, and 18 – known to be linked to cardiovascular disease (“CVD”) and many other conditions such as asthma, lung diseases, chronic kidney disease, fatty liver disease, type 1 and 2 diabetes, obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis.

More specifically, after five weeks of treatment, the DehydraTECH-CBD formulation resulted in a 19%, 27%, and 43% reduction in the blood plasma levels of IL 8, 10, and 18, respectively. “There is some pre-clinical evidence for the anti-inflammatory actions of CBD, but this is likely the most convincing evidence in humans that I have ever seen,” Dr. Philip Ainslie, Cardiovascular Advisor to Lexaria and Lead Investigator of the study, said of the results.

In non-R&D-related news, the company reported the closing of its public offering, which generated approximately $2.0 million in gross proceeds (https://cnw.fm/1EL5N).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/LEXX

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420 with CNW — D.C. Woman Wins Case Against Neighbor’s Marijuana Smoke

A judge in Washington, D.C., has issued a ruling requiring a man to cease smoking medical marijuana in his apartment because of complaints from a neighbor about the intrusive odor. Judge Ebony Scott determined that Josefa Ippolito-Shepherd had not proven her entitlement to damages but successfully argued that the smell constituted a private nuisance.

Consequently, Scott ordered Thomas Cackett, who is licensed to purchase marijuana but lacks the authorization to disrupt others’ enjoyment of their property, to discontinue his smoking habit. Additionally, Cackett is prohibited from smoking within a 25-foot radius of Ippolito-Shepherd’s residence.

This groundbreaking decision is expected to set a precedent that may result in further legal action. Ippolito-Shepherd expressed her belief that the ruling is a victory for individuals such as her who have lodged complaints about the smell of marijuana, which has been permitted in various forms in most states.

During the January trial, the 76-year-old asserted that she has experienced health issues, including sleep difficulties, since detecting the scent of marijuana in her Cleveland Park home. Ippolito-Shepherd accused Angella Farserotu, the owner of the adjacent property, of enabling Cackett, a tenant in a ground-level accessory apartment, to smoke without facing consequences. Farserotu and Cackett countered by stating that they bear no legal responsibility for Ippolito-Shepherd’s ailments.

This ruling arrives at a time when concerns surrounding the odor of marijuana have emerged alongside the flourishing cannabis industry. Operating within a legal gray area where marijuana remains illegal at the federal level but is sanctioned by individual states, users, sellers and growers have approached this new frontier cautiously. The legal ramifications associated with the smell have now become an additional concern.

During the court proceedings, Cackett testified that smoking medical marijuana alleviates his pain and aids his sleep following physically demanding shifts as a restaurant manager. He refuted the plaintiff’s claims of smoking continuously throughout the day and night, stating that he typically consumes eight to twelve puffs at night after work, usually outdoors if weather conditions permit.

According to public health experts, passive marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing toxins found in passive tobacco smoke. However, the federal classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug has hindered long-term studies on its effects and passive smoking.

Advocates for marijuana legalization have expressed concerns that restrictions on smoking locations could limit individuals access to the drug for medical or recreational purposes. Due to marijuana’s federal legal status, federal disability protections do not extend to medical cannabis patients. As complaints related to the now-legal drug’s odor increase, certain cities in California have contemplated banning smoking in multiunit housing. While alternative methods of marijuana consumption exist, such as ingestion or vaping, smoking remains the most prevalent approach.

Some proponents of legalized cannabis sympathize with the notion that marijuana smoke can be bothersome and generally agree that responsible consumption entails being considerate of neighbors and surroundings. They argue that expanding and regulating designated public spaces for cannabis use, similar to the regulations applied to tobacco, would offer the best solution.

This lawsuit illustrates some of the challenges that people who use cannabis for medical reasons face, and one may be compelled to think that the efforts of enterprises such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) to come up with pharmaceutical-grade formulations from THC could help patients wishing to benefit from the therapeutic potential of marijuana without facing the wrath of neighbors who aren’t comfortable with the smell of marijuana smoke.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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420 with CNW — Bruen Ruling Could Bring Good Tidings to Marijuana Movement

A 2022 ruling by the Supreme Court has radically changed a century-old U.S. gun law and significantly altered how courts assess gun laws. Judges in the New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen overturned a 100-year-old gun safety law and ruled that a New York law requiring licenses to conceal carry weapons in public was unconstitutional.

The overturned New York gun law was strikingly similar to gun safety laws in seven other states, and the June 2022 ruling set a precedent for overturning these laws.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling, judges in several states overturned gun laws that set age restrictions, banned domestic abusers or people currently under federal indictment from possessing firearms, and outlawed the removal of serial numbers from firearms. The ruling has wide-reaching consequences that could even affect America’s nascent but swiftly growing cannabis industry.

Although millions of Americans now have access to medical and recreational cannabis through more than two dozen legal markets, federal law still prohibits the cultivation, distribution, sale and consumption of cannabis. As a result, people who take part in state-legal cannabis markets often find themselves at odds with federal law and often cannot access certain services and products due to prior or ongoing cannabis use.

Americans are required to state that they don’t use drugs when they buy guns, and cannabis users aren’t allowed to possess firearms in most states even though cannabis is legal at the state level and provides billions of dollars in tax revenue. However, judges are increasingly turning to the Bruen ruling in cases that involve cannabis use and the possession of a firearm.

In February, an Oklahoma federal judge cited Bruen in a case where a man was found with a handgun and marijuana in his car, and a federal district judge in Texas did the same for a woman who had marijuana and guns in her house. In both cases, the judges struck down a provision banning marijuana users from possessing guns, stating that the precedent set by Bruen showed the provisions on marijuana users and firearms were unconstitutional.

Even though other federal courts aren’t necessarily bound to the two rulings, they could form a precedent if the government appeals the rulings and loses.

With hundreds of Americans being convicted and sentenced due to these anti-cannabis provisions in gun law, setting such a precedent would save thousands of Americans from America’s particularly harsh court system.

As more jurisdictions address some of these inconsistencies between federal and state law regarding marijuana, the industry could grow faster and create business opportunities for related enterprises such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX).

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420 with CNW — Louisiana Senate Signs Off on Cannabis Expungements Bill, Sends to Governor’s Desk

The Louisiana Senate has approved a measure to expunge certain cannabis-related offenses from people’s records and sent the bill to the governor. The new bill will provide a streamlined pipeline that allows people with first-time convictions for cannabis possession to expunge their records.

Most pundits agree that the war on drugs was a failure that led to the incarceration of millions of Americans for relatively minor offenses, and decimated local communities while allowing the criminal institutions behind the illicit drug trade to flourish.

Authorities were especially hard on people of color during the failed drug war and studies now show that Black people were significantly more likely to be arrested and sentenced harshly for cannabis use despite similar use rates with White people.

The majority of states with legal cannabis programs now have expungement laws that allow people with prior cannabis convictions to petition for them to be expunged from their records.

Representative Delisha Boyd introduced the expungement bill in May 2023, and it cleared the House before passing through a key Senate committee. Senate lawmakers then chose to pass the bill via a 32–7 vote before sending it to Governor John Bel Edwards.

If Governor Edwards signs the bill into law, people who were convicted for possessing up to 14 grams of marijuana as their first offense will be able to file a petition at the court to have their records expunged three months after receiving the conviction. Given that current Louisiana law requires that residents wait for five years before they can petition the court to expunge certain records, this bill will significantly expedite the process.

A House committee amended the original version of the cannabis expungement bill to state that only possession cases involving up to 14 grams of cannabis were eligible for expedited expungement. Furthermore, the committee amended the bill to remove provisions eliminating court-processing fees for eligible Louisiana residents and set a $300 cap on the court fees.

The legislation’s language states that the clerk should send equal shares of court processing fees for first-time cannabis conviction expungements to the district attorney and the sheriff.

The move was met with praise by reform activists in the state. Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) legislative manager Kevin Caldwell said in an interview that the organization is excited to see further advances in cannabis policy in the historically conservative state. He explained that Louisiana has one of the costliest and most complicated expungement processes in the country, with most people who seek expungement being forced to pay at least $550 per incident.

This new expungement bill could allow “tens of thousands of Louisianans” to finally clear their records and live their lives without being held back by a criminal record.

While Louisiana is taking steps to expunge the criminal records of individuals who were convicted for certain marijuana-related crimes, several companies such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) want to make FDA-approved cannabis medicines available to the public to help them in managing or treating some ailments, such as chronic pain. Such medicines wouldn’t come with any risk of facing arrest and incarceration since the formulations would have the required regulatory approvals and patients can get them through their doctors.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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420 with CNW — Maryland Starts Receiving Applications for Cannabis Business Grants

Maryland authorities are currently open to receiving grant applications aimed at assisting established medical marijuana enterprises in transitioning into dual license holders, enabling the businesses to cater to the recreational market once legalization comes into effect in the upcoming month. In addition, the state’s Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced that beginning on Aug. 1, 2023, it will start accepting applications for loans and grants intended to enhance market engagement from holders of social equity licenses by providing initial capital and covering operational costs.

The fund, established by a recent marijuana legislation bill signed by Governor Wes Moore in May, will also provide grants to HBCUs (historically black colleges or universities) for cannabis-related programs, such as initiatives for training and business development.

For the initial phase of assistance, the DOC has announced its acceptance of applications for grants covering medical license transition fees. These grants will cover the application expenses for established medical cannabis dispensaries, growers and processors that need to transition into dual license holders according to the draft regulations recently released by the MCA.

Qualifying businesses can potentially obtain grants ranging between $25,000 and $50,000, depending on their license type, to facilitate the transition. Applications will be reviewed and approved progressively until the end of June. Businesses that meet the criteria but have already paid the fee may also apply for a refund.

To qualify, applicants must be small businesses with a maximum of 50 employees as of May 1, 2023. Additionally, the enterprise must be at least 51% owned by people whose net worth doesn’t surpass $1.7 million.

During a subsequent round of assistance scheduled for August 2023, the state will utilize the same fund to distribute loans to social equity enterprises that obtained preapproval prior to Oct. 1, 2022, and have the capacity to start up and take part in the marijuana industry.

A third initiative supported by the fund will promote HBCU marijuana-related programs, which will aid enterprises in the license application process, as well as boost development organizations such as incubators. The funds will also be used to train and assist small firms, particularly those run by women and minorities, as well as business owners who want to join the recreational marijuana industry.

Maryland’s cannabis regulators recently unveiled a set of preliminary emergency regulations that are currently awaiting assessment by the AELR committee. These regulations must also undergo publication in the Maryland Register prior to their implementation.

The comprehensive draft, spanning 41 pages, introduces explicit definitions, formalizes limits on personal possession, delineates the obligations of regulatory entities, elucidates the licensing process (including provisions for social equity candidates), specifies the powers of enforcement agencies, and outlines the consequences and fines for noncompliance. Additionally, the document establishes clear guidelines for labeling and packaging.

As the recreational marijuana program in Maryland takes shape and gets underway, there is likely to be a boom in economic activity for a wide-ranging variety of enterprises, such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), which seek to provide supplies such as grow pods that cultivators need to grow marijuana more profitably.

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420 with CNW — Researchers Explore Combining Psilocybin, Cannabinoids in New Therapeutic Formulations

The convergence of cannabinoids and psilocybin in a unified formulation to address physical and psychological well-being has moved closer to realization as highlighted in a patent filed by a prominent cannabinoid laboratory called CaaMTech. Situated in Issaquah, Washington, just under 20 miles southeast of Seattle, CaaMTech is conducting an analysis of the mutual interactions between these two compounds and the specific outcomes they can yield in terms of physical and mental health.

Presently, the company’s refined psilocybin-cannabinoid formulation is still in the early stages of development. This patent progress comes at a time when the availability of genetic information on marijuana and psilocybin is increasing, which presents opportunities to explore novel ways in which these substances can collaborate, potentially resulting in the creation of innovative commercial offerings.

For example, the combination of marijuana and psilocybin has demonstrated tumor reduction in the case report of a 49-year-old woman with breast cancer. This discovery has prompted researchers to conclude that mounting empirical and anecdotal evidence supports the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids as well as psychedelics in diminishing tumor growth while also providing relief from pain and psychological distress associated with cancer and chemo.

Researchers now envision a comprehensive solution to address extreme mental health disorders and inflammation by harnessing the beneficial properties of both substances. One potential approach involves incorporating psilocybin with a minor cannabinoid such as cannabichromene (CBC), which is abundantly present in cannabis plants. This amalgamation could potentially result in a one-time treatment option.

Daniel McQueen, executive director of the Boulder, Colorado-based Center for Medicinal Mindfulness and author of a book titled “Psychedelic Cannabis,” has been facilitating marijuana-assisted psychedelic therapy at the organization. This therapy involves overseeing individual psychedelic cannabis and ketamine experiences alongside guided meditation, personal coaching, educational classes, as well as community support.

McQueen agrees that the creation of a psilocybin-marijuana pill or combination compound is entirely feasible. Nevertheless, there are significant obstacles to overcome in developing such a compound. Cannabinoids and psychedelics interact with distinct receptors in the brain. THC, a cannabinoid, predominantly binds to CB1 receptors, while CBC primarily binds to CB2 receptors. On the other hand, psilocybin, a psychedelic, primarily binds to 5-HT2A serotonin receptors.

However, research has indicated that CBD, one of the abundant cannabinoids, interacts with serotonin’s receptors, and when serotonin is coupled with a CB2 cannabinoid receptor, this combination can produce effects that none of the receptors can achieve independently. A study conducted by Spanish scientists in 2022 focusing on ischemia in newborn piglets revealed that CBD activates serotonin receptors, leading to neuroprotective effects.

Researchers continue to diligently seek improved solutions to address mental health concerns, regardless of the substances involved.

Other research teams, such as the team at IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), are focusing on developing therapeutics from THC and other cannabinoids for use in the mainstream healthcare system.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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420 with CNW — Federal Study Concludes Breathalyzers Are Unreliable as Recent Cannabis-Use Tests

A recent study funded by the federal government highlights the challenges associated with developing a cannabis breathalyzer. The research, conducted by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Colorado Boulder University, demonstrates that determining recent marijuana use based on THC levels in breath is highly unreliable due to inconsistencies.

The study, published in the “Breath Research” Journal, involved 18 participants from Colorado who consumed retail marijuana with approximately 25% THC. Breath and blood samples were taken 15 minutes before and one hour after smoking marijuana, using a well-equipped white van conveniently parked outside their homes. The analysis was conducted in a laboratory setting, as NIST clarified that it is not currently working on a breathalyzer device. Instead, the agency concentrated on learning more about how to precisely measure THC and other related substances in a breath sample.

Only 8 of the 14 individuals who supplied breath samples before and after using marijuana showed the anticipated increase in THC levels. The remaining findings lacked clarity, with three after-use breath samples exhibiting no detectable THC, and the others exhibiting amounts that were comparable to or lower than the baseline.

In contrast, the study found that the level of THC in the blood, specifically measured through plasma, proved to be a more accurate indicator of recent marijuana use. Even though THC levels in blood demonstrated compliance with the study procedure and showed a considerable increase right after usage, THC levels in breath after an hour did not always surpass the baseline.

Tara Lovestead, the supervisory chemical engineer at NIST and coauthor of the report, expressed surprise at the similar range of THC levels in breath samples taken before and after marijuana use.

While the study’s small scale limits the statistical significance of the results, NIST and the authors emphasized the need for more research.

As cannabis legalization progresses in more states, entrepreneurs and scientists are striving to create THC field sobriety tests, such as breathalyzers. However, despite efforts from companies such as Hound Labs in Oakland, California, which anticipated deploying its device to regulators and law enforcement in 2016, widespread adoption of any marijuana field sobriety test has not yet been achieved.

The recent study received funding from a grant provided by the DOJ’s National Institute of Justice. The study team has also received an extra $1.5 million to carry out and expand the study. To provide more statistically meaningful results, the following phase will include 40 or more people and more breath samples.

The marijuana industry is still in flux, and much could change at the state and federal level regarding the way in which this substance is regulated. This is because policy often evolves in response to the emerging scientific data about something, and marijuana policy is no different. As society changes its perception towards marijuana, we are seeing many companies such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) seeking to tap the medicinal qualities of cannabis by developing formulations for chronic pain and other indications from compounds extracted from the marijuana plant. These drugs could broaden the options that patients have in the coming years.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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