INSOMNIA AND CANNABIS

I recently received this article from Green Flower Media regarding Insomnia and using cannabis as a natural sleep aid. There are many many reasons why people can't sleep, stress, pain, anxiety and many more. Please pass this on to anyone you know that is having issues with sleeping OR want to get off medications like Ambien.  This article was written by Seshata, a journalist and researcher specializing in medical, cultural, and geopolitical aspects of cannabis.   Elizabeth...PiantaTinta

How insomniacs find sleep with cannabis – not pharmaceuticals.

Estimates suggest there’s up to more than a billion insomniacs the world over, and for severe cases, the effect on health can be catastrophic.

Lack of sleep has been associated with conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity – not to mention an inability to keep up with daily tasks and an increase in motor vehicle incidents.

In the United States alone, approximately one-third of all adults will experience insomnia at some point in their lives. Women are afflicted at twice the rate of men, and about half of all seniors over 65 suffer from the condition.

So that means that in the U.S., there are between fifty and seventy million adults afflicted with sleep disorders. At least nine million of them regularly take prescription sleep aids in the effort to keep heads on pillows.

But the massive irony is – most of these prescription medicines have dangerous, debilitating side-effects, and the vast majority don’t really do very much anyway!

For example, Ambien (the biggest selling sleep aid in the U.S.) has never been proven to be effective at maintaining sleep, except when delivered in a controlled-release form (so the drug stays in the system for longer).

But this controlled-release form is associated with dangerous levels of morning drowsiness, which has led to motor vehicle accidents on numerous occasions. On top of that, users are also taking on a scarily high risk of addiction, violent psychosis, blackouts and suicidal thoughts!

Your alternative to this prescription medicine madness

No need for dangerous pharmaceuticals like Ambien when cannabis is proving to be so much more effective.

For centuries, if not millennia, people have been using cannabis as an all-natural sleep aid, reporting that they are able to get to sleep more quickly and ultimately feel more rested.

To understand more about cannabis and healthy sleep cycles, we spoke with the esteemed physician and medical journalist Uwe Blesching. Uwe is the author of The Cannabis Health Index as well as a new online course on cannabis and insomnia.

“Insomnia is a disease that affects millions, and is the number one reason that women turn to cannabis" he says.

It’s also clear that when used properly, cannabis can certainly help an insomniac get a much better night’s rest, and with practically zero risk or side-effects compared to current drugs.

The mechanism via which cannabis influences sleep in humans is extremely complex and far from being fully understood. However, it’s clear that several cannabinoids have an important role to play in sleep cycles.

So which cannabinoids can help, and how?

As we expand our understanding of cannabinoid science, we learn how to better use this plant for many illnesses or ailments – including insomnia.

Uwe explains that THC causes an increase in “deep” sleep and a decrease in REM sleep (the “dream” stage of sleep).

In fact, during withdrawal from THC, REM sleep goes back up and deep sleep goes down. This ties in with the common belief that tolerance breaks lead to an increase in dreams.

THC also appears to increase initial sleepiness and make the user fall asleep faster. However, it has also been repeatedly associated with feelings of lethargy the next day (an effect also commonly found in prescription meds!).

CBD appears to have a twofold effect. When attempting to fall asleep, CBD can mitigate against the possible anxiety-inducing effects of THC, allowing the user to feel relaxed, calm and peaceful.

On the other hand, CBD can also increase feelings of alertness and wakefulness, so when combined with THC in the correct ratio, it can decrease the likelihood of feeling that next-day “hangover”.

Finding the right combination of THC and CBD could potentially get you to sleep quicker and leave you much more refreshed in the morning!

THC and CBD are just the beginning!
We also now know that several lesser-studied cannabinoids such as cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG) can have a sedative effect. In fact, Steep Hill Labs says: “Of all the cannabinoids, CBN appears to be the most sedative.”

There are over a hundred unique cannabinoids in cannabis, and even more important organic compounds such as terpenes and flavonoids, which can act together in countless different ways, to produce a range of unique effects.

Several terpenes commonly found in cannabis, such as myrcene, linalool and citral, have been shown to have sedative or relaxant effects. For more information, check out Green Flower’s fantastic resource on cannabis terpenes!

How Stress is Fundamental to Insomnia

Cannabis, when properly administered, can also help you tackle underlying issues that cause insomnia, particularly stress.

According to Uwe, “The most common cause for primary insomnia is so universal that it is almost synonymous with the condition itself: STRESS – especially chronic stress. More specifically the kind of stress that builds up in the form of worries, fears, emotional distress, heartaches, longings, or simply bad news.”

Targeting the symptoms of stress, as well as directly manipulating sleep cycles, should therefore prove to be a far more effective approach than the current standard in healthcare.

Currently, doctors may look at your medical history and run a few diagnostic tests, but it is unlikely that they will explore the causes of your stress in-depth. What’s far more likely is that they’ll throw a prescription sleep aid at you and move on to the next patient.

Instead, many of us now have the information and the high-quality, legally-accessible cannabis medicine with which we can begin to tailor our cannabinoids to suit us best.

Finding the Right Blend For You

This THC-free terpene oil is a great example of how we are expanding access to different formats of cannabis medicine.

More research into cannabinoid and terpene ratios could lead to the development of seriously effective, individually-targeted insomnia medications – which will reduce stress, keep the user asleep for longer, and wake up more refreshed and less “hungover” than any existing pharmaceutical! As well as – perhaps most importantly – cutting out practically all of the potential health risks.

The key to the puzzle is finding your “subjective therapeutic window,” as Uwe puts it. Your optimal dosage, in other words.

Individual genetics, state of health – these crucial factors determine what your body needs at any given time. Meeting those requirements with the correct cannabinoid profile is, in essence, finding that subjective therapeutic window.

Why is this so crucial? Uwe says: “Because taking too little is sub-optimal, while too much can actually increase the very symptoms you are attempting to treat.”

How does Cannabidiol (CBD) Work???

This article was originally published in O'Shaughnessy's Reader and reposted on the ProjectCBD website. Although some of it went over my head....I did get some interesting info from it. So give it a read and take what you can!!

Elizabeth - Pianta Tinta

Cannbidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of the marijuana plant, has generated significant interest among scientists and physicians in recent years—but how CBD exerts its therapeutic impact on a molecular level is still being sorted out. Cannabidiol is a pleiotropic drug in that it produces many effects through multiple molecular pathways. CBD acts through various receptor-independent channels and by binding with a number of non-cannabinoid receptors and ion channels.

Here are some of the ways that CBD confers its therapeutic effects.

CBD and FAAH

Unlike psychoactive THC, CBD has little binding affinity to either the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Instead, CBD indirectly stimulates endogenous cannabinoid signaling by suppressing the enzyme fatty acid amide hydroxylase (FAAH)—the enzyme that breaks down anandamide, the first endocannabinoid discovered in the mammalian brain in 1992.

Whereas the cannabinoid molecules found in cannabis are considered “exogenous ligands” to the cannabinoid (CB) receptor family, anandamide is an “endogenous” cannabinoid ligand—meaning it binds to one or more cannabinoid receptors and is found naturally inside the mammalian brain and body. Anandamide favors the CB1 receptor, which is concentrated in the brain and central nervous system. Because FAAH is involved in the metabolic breakdown of anandamide, less FAAH means more anandamide remains present in the body for a longer duration. More anandamide means greater CB1 activation.

CBD enhances endocannabinoid tone by supressing FAAH.

By inhibiting the enzyme that metabolizes and degrades anandamide, CBD enhances the body’s innate protective endocannabinoid response. At the same time, CBD opposes the action of THC at the CB1 receptor, thereby muting the psychoactive effects of THC.

CBD also stimulates the release of 2-AG, another endocannabinoid that activates both CB1 and CB2 receptor. CB2 receptors are predominant in the peripheral nervous system and the immune system.

The Vanilloid Receptor

While CBD has little binding affinity for either of the two cannabinoid receptors, it has been shown to directly interact with other “G-protein-coupled” receptors and ion channels to confer a therapeutic effect. CBD, for example, binds to the TRPV-1 receptor, which is known to mediate pain perception, inflammation and body temperature.

TRPV is the technical abbreviation for “transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V.” There are several dozen TRP receptor variants or subfamilies that mediate the effects of a wide range of medicinal herbs. 

Scientists also refer to TRPV-1 as the “vanilloid receptor,” named after the flavorful vanilla bean. Vanilla contains eugenol, an essential oil that has antiseptic and analgesic properties; it also helps to unclog blood vessels. Historically, the vanilla bean has been used as a folk cure for headaches.

CBD is a TRPV-1 “agonist” or stimulant. This is likely one of the reasons why CBD-rich cannabis is an effective treatment for neuropathic pain.

Capsaicin—the pungent compound in hot chili peppers—activates the TRVP-1 receptor. Anandamide, the endogenous cannabinoid, is also a TRPV-1 agonist.

The Serotonin Receptor

Jose Alexandre Crippa and his colleagues at the University of San Paulo in Brazil and at the King’s College in London have conducted pioneering research into CBD and the neural correlates of anxiety.

At high concentrations, CBD directly activates the 5-HT1A (hydroxytryptamine) serotonin receptor, thereby conferring an anti-depressant effect. This receptor is implicated in a range of biological and neurological processes, including (but not limited to) anxiety, addiction, appetite, sleep, pain perception, nausea and vomiting.

5-HT1A is a member of the family of 5-HT receptors, which are activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin. Found in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, 5-HT receptors trigger various intracellular cascades of chemical messages to produce either an excitatory or inhibitory response, depending on the chemical context of the message.

CBD triggers an inhibitory response that slows down 5-HT1A signaling. In comparison, LSD, mescaline, magic mushrooms, and several other hallucinogenic drugs activate a different type of 5-HT receptor that produces an excitatory response.

The Adenosine Receptor

CBD’s anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties may in part be attributable to its activation of the adenosine receptor. Adenosine receptors play significant roles in cardiovascular function, regulating myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary blood flow. The adenosine (A2A) receptor has broad anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body.

Adenosine receptors also play a significant role in the brain. They down-regulate the release of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and glutamate.

GPR55

Whereas cannabidiol activates the TRPV-1 vanilloid receptor, the A2A adenosine receptor, and the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor, some studies indicate that CBD functions as an antagonist that blocks, or deactivates, another G protein-coupled receptor known as GPR55.

GPR55 has been dubbed an “orphan receptor” because scientists are still not sure if it belongs to a larger family of receptors.

GPR55 is widely expressed in the brain, especially in the cerebellum. It is involved in modulating blood pressure and bone density, among other physiological processes.

GPR55 promotes osteoclast cell function, which facilitates bone reabsorption. Overactive GPR55 receptor signaling is associated with osteoporosis.

GPR55, when activated, also promotes cancer cell proliferation, according to 2010 study by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai. This receptor is expressed in various types of cancer.

CBD is a GPR55 antagonist, as University of Aberdeen scientist Ruth Ross disclosed at the 2010 conference of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Lund, Sweden.

By blocking GPR55 signaling, CBD may act to decrease both bone reabsorption and cancer cell proliferation.

PPARs

CBD also exerts an anti-cancer effect by activating PPARs [peroxisome proliferator activated receptors] that are situated on the surface of the cell's nucleus. Activation of the receptor known as PPAR-gamma has an anti-proliferative effect as well as an ability to induce tumor regression in human lung cancer cell lines.

PPAR-gamma activation degrades amyloid-beta plaque, a key molecule linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This is one of the reasons why cannabidiol, a PPAR-gamma agonist, may be a useful remedy for Alzheimer’s patients.

PPAR receptors also regulate genes that are involved in energy homeostasis, lipid uptake, insulin sensitivity, and other metabolic functions. Diabetics, accordingly, may benefit from a CBD-rich treatment regimen.

CBD’s enzyme-mediated activation of the PPAR-alpha receptor may have antipsychotic effects. Polymorphisms or mutations in the gene encoding PPAR-alpha can result in deficient PPAR-alpha signaling, which has been linked to schizophrenia. PPAR-alpha activation is both anti-inflammatory and can decrease dopamine release, thereby minimizing schizophrenic symptoms.

Why Tinctures?

The natural occurring compounds found in plants are called phytochemicals and have been extracted using ethyl alcohol for use as medicinal remedies for a long, long time.  The ingredients in plants are highly soluble in alcohol and easily extracted, however cannabinoids are only significantly soluble in more concentrated ethanol solutions greater than 75% (150 proof) but ideally 190 proof should be used. With the 190 proof ethanol the cannabinoids, terpenoids, flavonoids and other essential oils will be easily extracted.

Tinctures made with alcohol are generally better preserved than other types of tinctures due to the antibacterial nature of alcohol. They tend to be more stable and reliable over a long period of time with or without refrigeration. This lends itself to a very long shelf life. Another plus with using ethanol in our tinctures is that the alcohol when taken orally permeates the mucus membranes of the mouth and is delivered into the bloodstream. This is a much quicker delivery system than taking an edible and waiting for the digestive system and liver to break it down.

Pianta Tinta Interview

Our first interview!!

Cannabis as a Sleep Aid for Insomnia: An Interview with Pianta Tinta

October 30, 2015, By Pamela Hadfield, Co-Founder & Director of UX

Topics: Insomnia, Pain, Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Muscle Spasms, Epilepsy

Tinctures are an easy-to-ingest way to administer marijuana.

Due its lack of psychoactivity and for its ability to effectively treat a variety of medical conditions, CBD (Cannabidiol) is the rising star among the cannabis plant’s cannabinoids. Pianta Tinta Collective, a new manufacturer within the cannabis marketplace, focuses on high CBD tinctures, oils and rubs ‘to enable others to live a higher quality of life.’ Their tinctures target insomnia and chronic pain as well as other common conditions people often face. Co-founders Elizabeth Knight and Dr. Kathy Acquistapace feel they have found their niche with a more medically oriented customer base and pride themselves on ongoing customer consultations with Dr. Acquistapace, the in-house Naturopath.

Pianta Tinta is also representative of the booming artisanal marketplace within California. Smaller product manufacturers often focus on sourcing the highest quality outdoor grown cannabis for unique offerings, such as CBD tinctures, that may or may not be found in your local dispensary. Elizabeth Knight took time to speak to us about Pianta Tinta and the growth of their business over the past year.

What was the inspiration for starting Pianta Tinta?

Pianta Tinta means ‘plant tincture’ in Italian. We chose that name because we focus on the cannabis plant as well as more natural modalities of healing. We founded our business based on Dr. Kathy Acquistapace’s research on CBD and the newly found applications for it as a medicine.

As a naturopath, Dr. Acquistapace was looking for more alternative natural medicines for her patient base. As she learned more and more about CBD, we became excited about the possibilities but also became aware of the lack of CBD alternatives in the market, especially within dispensaries.

As a business, we were most interested in entering the cannabis marketplace with products that were high CBD and very low THC. When you visit a dispensary as a first time medicinal marijuana patient, it is not that easy to find high CBD products. When a senior citizen enters a dispensary today they will most likely be presented with products that are very high in THC. Even a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC may be too much THC for a first time cannabis patient. Ultimately, we decided to make tinctures as this is a very easy way to ingest cannabis.

What high CBD cannabis strain do you favor for your product lines?

We work with ACDC as our favored strain. It is a hybrid strain that is bred to have very high CBD content and very low THC content. It is not the easiest strain to grow but we think it works very well for the high CBD products that we produce. Our grower grows the ACDC strain outdoors, in organic soil; he uses grow pots without the use of pesticides/fungicides which we feel is very important.

We also test our products at Steep Hill Halent and CW Analytical labs. We first test the ACDC flower to know the cannabinoid ratios, the terpene profiles and to make sure it is free of any microbes, fungus or molds. After we go through making the tinctures we test again to get the final cannabinoid content, which is what we print on our labels. We strive to represent our product as accurately as possible.

Other than the ACDC flower, what other ingredients do you put within your cannabis tinctures?

Our tinctures are very straightforward. All of our labels list the ingredients, which include the ACDC flower/leaves and ethyl alcohol. We do not flavor or put any additional chemicals in our products. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with very ‘clean’ products.

Are you targeting a particular segment of the population with your product line?

The people we want to reach represent a wide range of ages and demographics. We believe that we are able to reach these people because our products positively address a wide variety of symptoms that affect almost all age groups. We often find that senior citizens are looking for alternatives from a regime that is far too heavy with opioids, so they are open to trying cannabis as an alternative. We see that younger people are far too stressed out and can use some anxiety relief, which CBD is also good for. Our products are for anyone who is seeking to use marijuana medicinally, and to receive the benefit from CBD.

Do your products target specific medical conditions?

We are not able to make claims as we do not have any clinical studies to back these up. However, anecdotally we have seen great success across a variety of conditions including adults with seizure disorders. For instance, we had a patient, a man in his fifties, who was having 4-6 seizures a month, and since taking our Super High CBD tincture he has had a total of 5 seizures since January. That is a huge reduction of seizures and in addition he was able to drop many of his pharmaceutical medications.

We have also seen a lot of people who have chronic pain, whether that be arthritis, pain from previous injuries, general inflammation, etc. This topic of pain covers a wide swath of medical conditions and can encompass so much, but we have found that many people have found relief with our Super High CBD product. We also have members of our collective with cancer who have added our Super High CBD as well as our High THC tincture and oil to their treatment regime.

Since virtually all pharmaceutical products carry unwanted side effects, CBD offers the alternative of providing the positive benefits without the negative side effects.

On your website, I see that you are promoting a new high THC tincture for sleep. Is this tincture good for treating insomnia?

We recently produced a high THC tincture that we feel is particularly good at relieving insomnia. As we all know, insomnia can be difficult to overcome. Not everyone has insomnia for the same reasons. For instance, one person may not be sleeping because they have pain related to inflammation. If you bring the inflammation down with a high CBD product, they may be able to get a good night’s sleep every night. In other instances, a high THC tincture will help relax a person who struggles to get to sleep and also help them to stay asleep longer.

Our newest tincture contains a high percentage of THC and almost no CBD. THC tends to relax people, however everyone is different. Some people find that CBD may relax them and others may find that a combination of THC and CBD may be best for them. As we are all unique, we recommend that people try our new high THC tincture for their sleep issues and see if their sleep improves. Some people may find that it works well and others may find that adding CBD to the THC may work best for them. We suggest that a person starts with a small amount before bedtime and keep a sleep log. This way, they can find what works best for them based on their own body.

You offer members of your collective consultations with your in-house Naturopath. What should a patient expect to gain from a consultation?

Dr. Acquistapace is our Naturopath. She has over 25 years of healthcare experience and her focus is on alternative and natural healing. She works with people who are wanting to reach their highest level of heath and explains to them how Pianta Tinta tinctures can be a part of their health plan. At Pianta Tinta, she often works with people, many first timers to marijuana, to better understand cannabis and how to integrate it into their lives. She is also available to answer more general health questions as well.

People are often overwhelmed by the amount of information they are given, especially those new to cannabis, so Dr. Acquistapace is there to help guide and consult with people along the way. Our customer base is often looking for answers and wondering how medical marijuana interacts with their body and possibly with their existing medications. Dr. Acquistapace consults in 15-minute increments over the phone, over Skype and in-person. We want to be flexible based on the patients needs.

What general advice would you give to people that are new to cannabis?

Read your labels! A lot of products are mislabeled or misrepresent the medicine. This is especially true for many of the high CBD hemp-based products that are sold over the internet. Hemp is different from cannabis and the products made from it is sourced differently as well. Make sure that the products are lab tested and make sure you know how much of the medicinal cannabinoids CBD and THC is in the products. Ratios are popular but it does not tell you specifically how much cannabinoids are actually in the product. It is important to educate yourself or consult with someone who can give quality advice before ingesting your medicine. Also read the label for any additional harmful or unnecessary ingredients such as residual solvents like, butane, naphtha, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, dyes, artificial flavoring and fragrances.

How do you people find Pianta Tinta Tinctures?

We do not currently sell through storefront dispensaries. We have chosen to be a collective and produce and manufacture our own cannabis tinctures for our members. We are located in Vallejo and people pick up their products from us directly by appointment only. Before seeing us you will need to obtain your medical marijuana recommendation, which you can do through HelloMD. To obtain our products you must first go online to the Pianta Tinta website and fill out our short membership form, which requires a valid medical marijuana recommendation and photo ID. You can contact us to schedule an appointment or we are also able to deliver for a small additional fee.

By Pamela Hadfield, Co-Founder & Director of UX

Harvest time....

Flowering AC/DC strain

These are our AC/DC plants this month right before harvest..notice the little "crystals" on the leaves, these are trichomes, glistening translucent resin glands protruding from the buds, leaves, and just about everywhere else on the plant. The sticky coating of trichomes is home to the active ingredients in cannabis – the stuff that gets you high and has all the medical benefits – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids. AC/DC has very little THC but very High in CBD!

AC/DC strain

The pistils on a female plant (in these photos, they are brown) are there to receive pollen from the male plant if it is available. When the plant flowers, the pistils start off a creamy color and as time goes on, they end up turning colors and dying. When they start turning brown, it is a time to watch closely in order to harvest it at it's peak. These plants contain very little THC, with a large amount of CBD (cannibidiol). The plants must go through a drying period for a couple of weeks before we can send it in for testing and start the tincture making process.

Photo of Trichomes

Trichomes act as an evolutionary shield, protecting the plant and its seeds from the dangers of its environment, allowing it to reproduce. These adhesive sprouts form a protective layer against offensive insects, preventing them from reaching the surface of the plant. The chemicals in the trichomes make cannabis less palatable to hungry animals and can inhibit the growth of some types of fungus. The resin also helps to insulate the plant from high wind and low humidity, and acts as a natural ‘sun-screen’ in protecting against UV-B light rays.

This article is from the online website ProjectCBD. It is important to know that even though CBD and THC are the top cannabinoids most people know about, there are many other compounds in the plant that work together and have healing properties......

Terpenes and the "Entourage Effect"

Most animal studies with cannabidiol utilize synthetic, single-molecule CBD produced by biochemical laboratories for research purposes. In contrast, whole plant extractions typically include CBD, THC, and more than 400 trace compounds. Many of these compounds interact synergistically to create what scientists refer to as an “entourage effect” that magnifies the therapeutic benefits of the plant’s individual components—so that the medicinal impact of the whole plant is greater than the sum of its parts.

It is important to consider the entourage effect (or lack thereof) when extrapolating data based on animal studies: 100 milligrams of synthetic single-molecule CBD is not equivalent to 100 milligrams of a CBD-rich whole plant cannabis extract.

“Cannabis is inherently polypharmaceutical,” Dr. John McPartland notes, “and synergy arises from interactions between its multiple components.”

Terpenes

Consider the role of terpenes, for example. Terpenes are volatile aromatic molecules that evaporate easily and readily announce themselves to the nose. Various researchers have emphasized the pharmacological importance of terpenes, or terpenoids, which form the basis of aromatherapy, a popular holistic healing modality. Marijuana’s compelling fragrance and particular psychoactive flavor are determined by the predominate terpenes in a strain.

Around 200 terpenes have been found in cannabis, but only a few of these odiferous oily substances appear in amounts substantial enough to be noteworthy, or nose worthy, as it were. Among them are monoterpenes, diterpenes, and sesquiterpenes, which are characterized by the number of repeating units of a 5-carbon molecule called isoprene, the structural hallmark of all terpenoid compounds. The terpenes in marijuana have given the plant an enduring, evolutionary advantage. Pungent terpenoid oils repel insects and animal grazers; others prevent fungus.

Terpenes, it turns out, are healthy for people as well as plants. A September 2011 report by Dr. Ethan Russo in the British Journal of Pharmacology discussed the wide-ranging therapeutic attributes of terpenoids, which are typically lacking in “CBD-only” products.

Beta-caryophyllene, for example, is a sesquiterpene found in the essential oil of black pepper, oregano, and other edible herbs, as well as in various cannabis strains and in many green, leafy vegetables. It is gastro-protective, good for treating certain ulcers, and offers great promise as a therapeutic compound for inflammatory conditions and auto-immune disorders because it binds directly to the peripheral cannabinoid receptor known as “CB2.”

In 2008, the Swiss scientist Jürg Gertsch documented beta-caryophyllene’s binding affinity for the CB2 receptor and described it as “a dietary cannabinoid.” It is the only terpenoid known to directly activate a cannabinoid receptor. And it’s one of the reasons why green, leafy vegetables are so healthy to eat.

Terpenoids and cannabinoids both increase blood flow, enhance cortical activity, and kill respiratory pathogens, including MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that in recent years has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Americans. Dr. Russo’s article reports that cannabinoid-terpenoid interactions “could produce synergy with respect to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial infections.”

Marijuana’s bouquet of terpenes—that “riot of perfumes,” as the poet (and hashish-eater) Arthur Rimbaud once said—plays another important role. Terpenes and CBD buffer THC’s tricky psychoactivity. Cannabinoid-terpenoid interactions amplify the beneficial effects of cannabis while mitigating THC-induced anxiety.

The terpenoid profile can vary considerably from strain to strain. Patients who abandon a suitable strain for one with higher THC and/or CBD content may not get more relief if the terpenoid profile is significantly different. The nose knows: Choose a cannabis strain that smells good to you.

What is RSO OIl????

Since the world of cannabis medicine is new to ALOT of people, I realized that people usually know what a tincture is, but might not know what RSO oil is. Since we have it available on our website I wanted to talk a bit about it so that you might be educated and empowered!

"RSO" stands for Rick Simpson Oil. For those of you who do not know who this man is here is a link to his website Phoenix Tears. He explains how to make your own medicinal cannabis oil. He does not supply the oil!!  You can check out his website to see how it is produced but in short it is a cold extraction using a solvent (there are a number to choose from but I feel the most safe is pure non-denatured ethanol.) to extract the cannabinoids and other plant compounds out, then under low heat cook off the solvent and what you have left is about 60 grams of a thick resinous oil that is the concentrated oil that contains cannabinoids, terpenes, flavinoids and other beneficial components of the cannabis plant. If you are interested in the Rick Simpson story here is a link to purchase his book.

RSO oil is beneficial for those that have gone through chemo, radiation and have problems keeping weight on. Cannabis has been proven to relieve and mitigate chronic pains, as well as helping with migraines, nausea, cramps, arthritis, diabetes, IBS, Crohns, MS, Lupus, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Autism and high blood pressure, among many other issues. Dr. Christina Sanchez has done many studies on how THC kills cancer cells. Have sleeping problems?? Many people do these days and THC oil promotes healthy and restful sleep!
Topical skin conditions, rashes and sores have all shown improved signs of healing when treated with Cannabis oil lotions.

Since it is high THC, you must be very careful and start off with a very small dose, the size of 1/2 grain of rice.....pretty small huh??  Here is a video explaining the dosing that he recommends....for people with serious issues ie: cancer, there is a 60-90 day protocol he recommends....

The endocannabinoid system in our bodies regulate our cancer defense -- so it makes sense that cannabis works effectively in this area, and the science backs that up.

Many people cannot or will not make their own RSO oil, so we are lucky to have a local man make this important medicine!!  Fully decarboxylated and solvent free. It is lab tested for molds and cannabinoid ratios. Since this can have some psychoactive effects in large doses, it is best used at night about an hour before bed. If you take it orally, it has to be broken down by your digestive system and liver, so this takes a little time. A word of caution....it is always best to start slow to see how your body responds, it you start off with a large dose to quickly you can experience some uncomfortable effects like: extreme drowsiness, dizziness, inability to concentrate, lack of focus, rapid heartbeat, feelings of euphoria or paranoia...These effects are not life threatening, just uncomfortable.....soooooo give it the respect is deserves and start at the lowest dose possible!!

One other tip to keep in mind, if you ever have uncomfortable effects from THC, always keep some High CBD tincture on hand, it naturally counteracts the effects of the THC. So hopefully this gives you a better idea of what it is...if there is still some questions that have not been answered, there are many sites online to find them or drop me a line!

Best of Health

Elizabeth,  Pianta Tinta

Whole plant CBD extract vs. synthetic single molecule

Back in February of this year a excellent Israeli study was done documenting the superior therapeutic properties of whole plant CBD-rich Cannabis extract as compared to synthetic, single-molecule cannabidiol (CBD) which is made in the lab. The notion that botanical extracts are "low grade and crude" as opposed to pure single molecule synthetic compounds made by the pharmaceutical companies is what was challenged. The study was Published in the journal Pharmacology & Pharmacy (Feb. 2015).

The study showed that administration of pure, single-molecule CBD resulted in a bell-shaped dose-response curve, that means when the amount of CBD exceeded a certain point its therapeutic impact declined dramatically. “Healing was only observed when CBD was given within a very limited dose range, whereas no beneficial effect was achieved at either lower or higher doses,” the authors observed. This characteristic of single-molecule CBD—manifested as a bell-shaped dose response—imposes serious obstacles that limit its usefulness in a clinical context.

The Israeli team sought to determine whether the administration of a whole plant CBD-rich extract would also generate a bell-shaped dose-response curve when administered to mice. Or would cannabidiol extracted from CBD-rich Cannabis avoid this liability? But a different dose response pattern was observed when the whole plant extract was administered to mice. Rather than showing a bell-shaped curve, where a therapeutic effect could only be achieved at a certain concentration of pure CBD, the whole plant CBD-rich extract caused a direct, dose-dependent inhibition of pain, inflammation, and TNFa production.

Moreover, the Israeli researchers found that a small amount of CBD in the whole plant extract was needed for significant pain relief compared to the much larger amount of pure single molecule CBD required to achieve the same analgesic effect. And whereas pure, single-molecule CBD precipitated a dramatic drop in efficacy if more than a specific dosage was administered, an “overdose” of whole plant CBD-rich extract did not undermine its therapeutic potency.

The body recognizes and can utilize substances that are natural, from nature. That is how we are made.  Anything that is synthetic is hard for the body to know what to do with it, yes, it can have an effect but in my opinion not as great an effect. The whole plant has not only cannabinoids, but terpenes and flavinoids and many other compounds which all work together synergistically and have positive effects in the body.

We here at Pianta Tinta are proud of our High CBD tincture in that we use the whole plant to extract out as much cannabinoids and other compounds to make the best medicine we can!

The above is just a small portion of the study done, if you wish to read the actual study click here.

A thank you to projectcbd.org for originally posting the article!

Elizabeth Knight, Pianta Tinta

Rossmoor Seniors Fired up about Cannabis....

Recently I attended an event at Rossmoor, in Walnut Creek. Little did I know that they have a senior community of 10,000. How great it was to see acceptance, education and people TALKING about medical cannabis!! There was a report on site, Joe Garofoli and this is the article that came out in the SF Chronicle.

by Joe Garofoli

Updated 1:59 pm, Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Doug Stiles shows a bottle of liquid cannabis in his home at the Rossmoor retirement community in Walnut Creek. Stiles takes 20 drops before bed to help with his anxiety and help him sleep.

Pot was for fun in Rossmoor resident Doug Stiles’ youth. Now he takes it in liquid form to ease anxiety and help him sleep.

There is a club for Bay Area marijuana enthusiasts where most members don’t want to get high. Mostly because they’re afraid of falling. Or getting too disoriented.

The club is in Rossmoor, the senior citizen community of 10,000 near Walnut Creek.

With an average age of 76, Rossmoor is the kind of place where smoking is banned, though many puff cigars in plain sight on the golf course. But before the Rossmoor Medical Marijuana Education and Support Club held its first meeting in 2011, marijuana was rarely seen, smelled or discussed on the facility’s surgically trimmed grounds.

Since then, the club has grown into a 250-member juggernaut, illustrating the growing acceptance of marijuana in America by seniors — and their growing frustration with mainstream pharmaceuticals prescribed for pain relief.

In 1986 — the heyday of the nation’s War on Drugs — 9 percent of the generation of Americans born between 1928 and 1945 supported legalizing marijuana. That has jumped to 29 percent among that demographic, according to a Pew Research report released this month.

The survey also showed that it might be time to dig through Grandpa’s golf bag: 19 percent of Americans over 70 have tried weed, including 2 percent in the last year.

That might be an undercount, according to some Rossmoor weed aficionados. Many residents are cultivating more than azaleas at home.

“Oh, sure, I’ve got a plant. A lot of people here do,” one woman said after a club meeting last week in Rossmoor. “But I can’t give you my name.”

Changing times

That’s a common sentiment. One club member asked to remain anonymous because “my son owns a business near here.” A few still haven’t told their kids they’re members because they have spent the last 50 years telling them not to smoke dope.

Perhaps because of the reluctance of seniors to discuss their marijuana habits, neither AARP nor the Marijuana Policy Project could provide any studies of cannabis use by seniors. AARP doesn’t have a policy on medical cannabis, even though it is now legal for medicinal use in 23 states and Washington, D.C.

Appropriately, it was on a Rossmoor golf course where the club held its first clandestine meeting four years ago. Twenty cannabis-curious pioneers set up folding chairs near the first tee box at 4 p.m., when they knew most of their golfing neighbors would have already left for cocktail hour, which, like many things in Rossmoor, starts a little early.

“People were still not sure if they wanted to be out about (marijuana) then,” said Renee Lee, a 63-year-old retired therapist who is president of the club. “There was still a stigma about it.”

Lee was among those who wanted to call themselves the 420 Club, but that reference to the weed smokers’ holiday of April 20 never stuck because, as Lee said, “a lot of people didn’t know what it meant.”

They went six months without a name. But club members quickly bonded over their shared disappointment in pharmaceuticals they had been prescribed. Either the pills weren’t helping them or the side effects were more onerous than their actual ailments.

Their knees and elbows and backs creaked. They had trouble sleeping. They were anxious. All they wanted was some relief.

So why not try a little pot?

Highly recommended

Sometimes it was their adult children who suggested it. More often the notion came from a medical-cannabis-card-carrying neighbor, who would offer a weed-infused lemon drop or a dab of a topical cream. It was a leap of faith for seniors who never tried pot — or hadn’t indulged since the Kingston Trio was topping the charts.

“The most common thing they say is, 'I’m not doing this to get high,’” said Rachna Patel, a Walnut Creek osteopath who has treated about 100 Rossmoor residents who use cannabis for pain relief. “A lot of them will first say, 'I can’t believe that I’m doing this.’”

But many are soon smiling at the results. Doug Stiles hadn’t partaken in years until he moved to Rossmoor about four years ago. Then he started rubbing a cannabis-infused topical solution into his wife’s knees to help with her arthritis. Four months later, she was moving more easily. Now Stiles takes cannabis-infused drops at night to soothe his anxiety and help him sleep.

Back in the day

That’s not how he used marijuana during his occasional indulgences as a young man.

“I remember at a party smoking with a brother-in-law, then going out to the liquor store. But we had to pull over in the park because we were laughing so hard,” Stiles said. But “now it’s about pain — and feeling better.”

What initially “surprised me,” said Eloise Theisen, a nurse practitioner in Lafayette who helps dozens of Rossmoor residents manage their health conditions with cannabis, “is how open they’ve been to trying new things.”

But club members aren’t your typical stoners. “Everybody always shows up 15 minutes early for the meetings,” said Lee, who used cannabis to help her with the aftereffects of acoustic neuroma surgery.

Dozens of Rossmoorians are now smoking or vaping or nibbling at edibles, mostly in the quiet of their homes.

Just for fun

Nobody smells weed outside. Unless maybe it’s coming from members of Rossmoor’s other cannabis club — a group focused less on education and support and more on enjoying the herb’s recreational pleasures. Unlike the Rossmoor Medical Marijuana Education and Support Club, the other group is not officially recognized by the administration.

The harder question for some is one that’s rarely been uttered in the half-century history of this 1,800-acre enclave: How can I score some weed in Rossmoor?

Medical cannabis dispensaries are banned in Walnut Creek, and there are few east of the Caldecott Tunnel.

And forget getting pot through that newfangled smartphone technology. The app-based marijuana delivery service Eaze — which promises cannabis within minutes for card-carrying Bay Area users — said only 2 percent of customers are seniors. Eaze is launching a pilot program with a San Diego senior community to learn how to make it easier for seniors to get deliveries.

'Untapped market’

“There’s definitely an untapped market there,” said Eaze spokeswoman Caroline Vespi. “There’s still that perception among some seniors that the only place you can get (cannabis) is from the dealer on the corner.”

After accepting an invitation to speak to the club a couple of years ago, the Harborside Health Center arranged for a tour of the Oakland medical cannabis dispensary. Now it counts dozens of Rossmoor residents as customers.

But nurse practitioner Theisen said venturing unaccompanied into a dispensary can be overwhelming for some seniors.

So, many Rossmoor residents get their weed from what once might have been an unlikely source: their grown children. State law allows medical cannabis patients to designate someone as a caregiver.

As the general public’s attitude toward marijuana has warmed over the past few years, the club’s membership has swelled, and some of the region’s top cannabis figures have appeared before them.

Last week’s meeting drew a record 81 members to hear John Malanca, founder of United Patients Group, a website that offers news and information about medical cannabis.

“How many people here think the only way to take marijuana is to smoke it?” Malanca asked the audience.

Not a hand went up.

“Wow,” Malanca said, rocking back a step. “When I was here a few years ago, 60 percent of the people raised their hands.”

After the meeting ended, Malanca said, “When I asked that, people just looked at me like, 'That was the most boneheaded question.’ But that’s why when I visit retirement communities around the country, I tell them about the amazing things going on at Rossmoor.”

Orange County aficionados

But while Rossmoorians are becoming weed sophisticates, they still lag behind their demographic peers at the Laguna Woods Village — formerly known as Leisure World — in Orange County. Cannabis-using residents there have established a relationship with a Humboldt County grower and created a distribution network in the community that has the administration’s blessing.

Down there, if Laguna Woods Village Cannabis Club organizer Lonnie Painter wants to smoke a joint outside his residence, he just sparks one up.

“Oh, sure,” said Painter, a 69-year-old retired restaurateur. “I do that almost daily.”

Joe Garofoli is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli

Traveling with Cannabis???

United Patient Group website recently had an article on traveling with Cannabis. This has been a question for some of our members and I thought it would be a good idea to post the article in full. So wherever you are traveling to, do some research ahead of time to find out the specific laws for the states, countries that you will be visiting......

Traveling with Medical Marijuana

It can be a challenge to travel for medical marijuana patients. In addition to concerns brought on by their condition, traveling with medical marijuana can be difficult, especially for out of state trips. Even in certain areas of the country, in-state travel can present problems when local ordinances vary. Patients should consider the following factors before traveling with their medication.

 

 

 

Traveling Within the Same State

Medical marijuana patients who are appropriately registered with their state should not encounter problems if they are traveling locally. Patients may have their medication on their person when they are walking and driving within their own county. For out-of-county trips, patients should be aware that some counties set their own laws regarding maximum medical marijuana amounts, though, in California, all counties must allow at least the state minimum. Patients should know their state’s laws and, as a rule of thumb, avoid traveling to unfamiliar areas with more than the allowed minimum.

If a patient is traveling out-of-county and the state’s recognized minimum is not sufficient, it may be possible to arrange temporary dispensary privileges in the area where the patient is staying. Patients should ask the dispensary they are currently using for advice, or check their state's website for the rules.

Whether in state or out of state, medical marijuana patients should never travel with marijuana plants. Even in states where it is legal to grow medical marijuana plants, their transportation is highly restricted. In California, for example, there are only three situations where it is appropriate to travel with these plants:

• When a patient or caregiver is bringing plants from a dispensary to a residence.
• When a registered caregiver is moving plants from one patient’s residence to another.
• When a patient is moving residences.

Except for these situations, avoid traveling with medical marijuana plants to minimize the chance of legal complications.

 

 

 

Out of State Trips

Travel to different states for medical marijuana patients is difficult because they cannot legally bring their medical marijuana in most cases. Patients should note these guidelines:

• States without medical marijuana laws can arrest patients under possession laws, even if the patient is registered in their home state.
• Federal authorities can arrest patients under federal drug trafficking laws if medical marijuana crosses state lines.
• In states that recognize medical marijuana cards issued by the patient’s home state (called reciprocity), the patient usually still needs to register in the state that they are visiting and acquire any medical marijuana needed there, rather than bringing it with them.
• In the above situation if patients plan to bring their own medical marijuana, they should make sure that the states border one another so that they are not traveling through states where medical marijuana is illegal.

 

 

 

Traveling by Ground vs. Flying with Medical Marijuana

The safest mode of transportation for traveling patients is by car. Private bus and train companies may remove passengers at their own discretion who appear under the influence or are known to possess medical marijuana, even with a medical marijuana card or valid physician’s letter.

As for flying, airports and airplanes are federal jurisdictions, and patients can be detained and arrested when going through security. Federal authorities do not recognize the medical marijuana laws or cards of any state. There are some airports that are medical marijuana ‘friendly’ and allow patients with correct documents to board with the amount deemed necessary for personal consumption. 

For more detailed information on this, read our article: Can I Fly with Medical Marijuana? 

Always check the laws of your home state and the state that you will be visiting before taking a trip with your medication. Though it is very helpful to patients, medical marijuana is not yet legal in all areas and even in states where medicinal use of marijuana is legal, state and local laws vary. Know your rights and responsibilities as a patient, and always ask an authority if you are unsure of the law.

For more information on Flying with Medical Marijuana, here is a direct link to TSA's policy.

Cannabis Dosing: Doctors Weigh In

Here is a great article from United Patients Group in which 3 Doctors using Medical Cannabis in their practices have seen similar trends in dosing and results..."How much should I take?" This is a question that comes up often and although dosing is an individual issue, these Doctors have worked with enough patients to see what is working.......

Elizabeth

Doctors Weigh In – Medical Cannabis Dosing: Why Less May Be More

Posted on March 18, 2015 by UnitedPatientsGroup.com

Many medical cannabis patients take an overly aggressive approach to treatment. If one hit off a joint or one square of chocolate helps a little, then a whole joint or a whole chocolate bar will help a lot, right? Not quite. In many cases, while taking in ‘more‘ cannabis will make you ‘more‘ high, it won’t necessarily make you ‘more‘ healthy. In fact, reducing your dosage may actually make it ‘more‘ effective.

Dr. Dustin Sulak, the Medical Director of Integr8 Health, LLC, a network of three (3) holistic health clinics in New England, where he and his colleagues treat nearly 20,000 patients with medical cannabis as part of an integrative medicine approach to health, have found that many of his patients benefit more from low doses—they have better results and fewer side effects.

“When I started my practice, I was surprised to see that some patients were using very low dosages (e.g. 1 puff), while other patients require much higher dosages (e.g. 1 joint or a potent edible) to achieve optimal benefits,” notes Dr. Sulak. “Over time, I began to notice that most patients using small amounts of cannabis were getting better and more sustainable results than their high-dosage counterparts with similar conditions. Eventually I discovered that most people have a certain threshold dosage of cannabis, below which they’ll actually experience a gradual increase in health benefits over time, and above which they’ll start building tolerance, experiencing diminishing benefits, and more side effects.”

Preclinical research supports these observations, demonstrating that administration of cannabinoids can upregulate endocannabinoid system function at acute and lower doses via increased endocannabinoid production[i], cannabinoid receptor expression[ii], and cannabinoid receptor affinity[iii], as well as downregulate endocannabinoid system function upon persistent agonism (e.g. long-term high doses) via membrane receptor endosome internalization[iv]. This dosing phenomenon is known as a biphasic dose-response curve.

Dr. Sulak has moved many patients down to doses as low as 3–5 mg with his “sensitization protocol,” which helps current users to reset their endocannabinoid system. After just six days on the protocol, 90 percent of patients can decrease their dosage with improved benefits. His patients have an average reduction of 56 percent.

“This reduction not only improves benefits and reduces side effects – it saves patients a lot of money, and potentially makes more cannabis available for those with limited access,” says Dr. Sulak.

Dr. Bonni Goldstein, Medical Director of Canna-Centers, located throughout California, has noticed similar results with her patients. “Many of my patients using low doses for pain, mood, and sleep find that low doses give the effects they are looking for, and over time, due to the enhancement of their endocannabinoid system, they find that they don’t need as much phytocannabinoids to achieve the desired effects.”

Her observations are backed by a study from the Medicinal Cannabis Research Center at the University of California, San Diego, that tested vaping cannabis to treat neuropathic pain. The results showed that patients who used small-dose cannabis (1.29 percent) felt as much pain relief as patients who used medium-dose (3.53 percent) cannabis.

Why might this be? The functioning of the body’s endocannabinoid system, and its interaction with phytocannabinoids (from the cannabis plant), is not yet fully understood—marijuana’s quasi-legal status makes this difficult to study. Dr. Sulak and Dr. Goldstein both hypothesize that small doses of phytocannabinoids enhance the endocannabinoid system, while larger doses cause the system to down-regulate, making the receptors less responsive.

“Cannabinoids are bi-modal effects,” explains Dr. Allan Frankel, CEO of GreenBridge Medical Services in Santa Monica. “This means that in general, low dose and high dose can have opposite effects.”

He points to studies by GW Pharmaceuticals, makers of Sativex, that show better results from low or medium doses than high doses. One study of cancer patients found that low doses (1–4 sprays per day) resulted in statistically significant reductions in pain and sleep disruption, while high doses (11–16 sprays per day) did not result in better outcomes but did cause a much higher dropout rate (22 percent, versus 5 percent in the low-dose group).

Cancer patients are typically treated with extremely high doses of cannabis, but Dr. Frankel questions the wisdom behind this  approach.

“I have seen at least 7 patients with stage IV cancer who initially responded to RSO dosing [Rick Simpson Oil, which is often dosed as high as a gram per day] and then had new metastases, went on low dose CBD:THC and had clearing of metastases.”

He points out that nobody knows what “dose” or regimen is “best” for cancer. “In fact,” says Dr. Frankel, “probably a number of different cannabinoid ratios and doses for certain have anti-cancer effects through a multitude of mechanisms.” He says that, on average, across numerous ailments, his sickest patients use a dose of around 30–40 mg of cannabinoids—far lower than the RSO recommendation.

Dr. Sulak cautions that while he generally sees better results from lower doses, he has observed that about 10 percent of his patients only respond to very high doses—as much as 300–500 mg per dose.

He explains, “In general, patients with greater resilience and who are closer to balance in their physiology are more likely to succeed with lower dosages, while patients who have been sicker for longer sometimes may require aggressive dosing to control the disease process, then are able to convert to low dosages later, after they too are closer to health and balance.”

Dr. Sulak’s sources:

[i] Burstein, S, Hunter, S. 1995. “Stimulation of anandamide biosynthesis in N-18TG2 neuroblastoma cells by δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).” Biochemical pharmacology 49, no. 6: 855-858.

[ii] Cichewicz, D, Haller, V, Welch, S. 2001. “Changes in opioid and cannabinoid receptor protein following short-term combination treatment with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and morphine.” Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 297, no. 1: 121-127.

[iii] Oviedo, A, Glowa, J, Herkenham, M. 1993. “Chronic cannabinoid administration alters cannabinoid receptor binding in rat brain: a quantitative autoradiographic study.” Brain research 616, no. 1: 293-302.

[iv] Hsieh, C, et al. 1999. “Internalization and recycling of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor.” Journal of neurochemistry 73, no. 2: 493-501.