New findings published in Biological Psychiatry

Philadelphia, PA, December 3, 2015 - Several studies have demonstrated that the primary active constituent of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9-THC), induces transient psychosis-like effects in healthy subjects similar to those observed in schizophrenia. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are not clear.

A new study, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, reports that ?9-THC increases random neural activity, termed neural noise, in the brains of healthy human subjects. The findings suggest that increased neural noise may play a role in the psychosis-like effects of cannabis.

A new joint-study between the University of Colorado and the University of Louisville has been making waves in the medical cannabis community. That study boldly titled, “Daily Marijuana Use Is Not Associated with Brain Morphometric Measures in Adolescents or Adults”, makes a compelling case based on three different physical analyses of the brain in daily cannabis users vs. non-users. Taken alone, there’s nothing particularly advanced about the study from a technological standpoint; the real significance of the study is that it flies in the face of a larger body of evidence that seems to indicate that cannabis *can* cause structural changes. …So who’s right? Does cannabis cause structural damage or not?

Weed laws have been a hot-button issue in the United States for the last decade. States have been passing bills left and right regarding whether marijuana can be used for recreational or medical purposes or both. And in many cases, the state says you cannot use it at all.

In most homes with young children you will find evidence of their little lives everywhere. Yvonne Cahalane’s house in Dunmanway county Cork is no exception.

Tiny clothes are drying near a radiator, a shiny yellow plastic car lies abandoned on the couch and the Minions DVD is playing in the background.

But between the scattered toys in Yvonne's home there are other items. A large hold-alls containing piles of boxes of prescription medications, complicated-looking first aid kits and an oxygen tank.

For Yvonne, her husband John and their two sons; Oscar who is three, and Tristan (pictured) who turns two in December, this medical paraphernalia are a part of their everyday life.

At Healthy Holistic Living we search the web for alternative health content to share with you. This article is shared with permission from our friends at Waking Times.

As cannabis becomes more integrated within mainstream culture, millions are becoming more educated on the many benefits of THC and cannabinoids. Not only does cannabis consumption lower insulin resistance, but it also improves fasting insulin and facilitates metabolic function. More athletes and even those engaged in moderate recreational fitness have incredible benefits from daily consumption of the once demonized plant.

An occupational therapist and practicing attorney discusses the power of engagement as a means to improving outcomes in patients with chronic pain conditions—and why this approach is good public policy as well.

By advancing from a problem/solution perspective to a holistic life coaching approach in the management of chronic pain, both clinician and patient can achieve better, more satisfying, longer lasting outcomes.

Every year Colombian mother Ines Cano celebrates her daughter's birthday by getting a butterfly tattoo, her way of giving thanks that little Luna has survived another year of chronic epilepsy.

Ines is up to 12 tattoos now, and is hopeful of adding many more thanks to the medical marijuana treatments she says have changed their lives, and which Colombia is now in the process of legalizing and regulating.

The 12 tattoos could also represent the number of anti-seizure medications she tried previously, to little effect.

"Every day Luna had seizures when she woke up and went to sleep. She could convulse for one or two hours," said Ines, who carried her developmentally delayed daughter on her back for seven years until she learned to walk.

Lacking any clear direction from Ottawa, the Arthritis Society has put together a diverse group that includes medical cannabis researchers, patient advocates, marijuana producers and bureaucrats to identify research priorities for the drug and create prescription guidelines for doctors.

The national charity gathered a cannabis roundtable in Vancouver on Thursday for two days of discussions. It plans to produce a report in the new year, identifying areas where more research could benefit patients, while answering important questions from doctors – such as appropriate dosage levels, how cannabis should be administered and which patients could benefit the most.

Several studies have demonstrated that the primary active constituent of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol induces transient psychosis-like effects in healthy subjects similar to those observed in schizophrenia. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are not clear.

A new study reports that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol increases random neural activity, termed neural noise, in the brains of healthy human subjects. The findings suggest that increased neural noise may play a role in the psychosis-like effects of cannabis.