The MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics is the first graduate program in the country dedicated to the study of medical cannabis. It aims to meet the needs of all individuals interested in advancing their knowledge about medical cannabis, including health care professionals such as physicians, nurses, and pharmacists; scientists and regulators; growers and dispensary owners; and policy and industry professionals.

“Medical cannabis has been legalized in 33 states, including Maryland, as well as in Washington, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico,” says Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FCP, FAAPS, dean and professor of the School of Pharmacy. “This number is only expected to increase in the future, fueling a demand for an educated workforce that is well-trained in both the science and therapeutic effects associated with this medicinal plant. Our MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics has been critically designed to prepare students to meet this demand. Innovations in instructional design throughout the curriculum will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive impact on communities across the United States.”

The School of Pharmacy’s MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics addresses the areas of basic science, clinical use, adverse effects and public health, and federal and state laws and policies surrounding medical cannabis. Online coursework is designed to accommodate students with or without a background in science or medicine, as well as offer flexibility when completing assignments. In-person symposia held once each semester at USG provide students with opportunities to network with peers, as well as meet and interact with experts in the science, therapeutics, and policy of medical cannabis.

The application deadline for this program is August 15, for classes beginning on August 26, 2019.

“The MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics is an incredibly unique program,” says Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at UMSOP, director of the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program, and a clinical pharmacist who practices in the field of palliative care. “Faculty from the School of Pharmacy who lead courses for the program are experts in both basic and clinical sciences related to the study of medications, and are dedicated to making coursework both interesting and accessible to all students.”

She adds, “There is truly no other educational program that offers the in-depth instruction on the science, policy, and therapeutics of medical cannabis that students who are accepted into our program will receive.”

To better meet the needs of working professionals, the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics does not require the completion of a thesis. Instead, students complete a capstone course that features a selection of expert seminars, case studies, and discussions. Graduates of the program will be able to help identify patients appropriate for medical cannabis therapy and determine appropriate dosing and administration for those patients; ensure the safe and effective design, development, and manufacture of medical cannabis products; identify potential research opportunities related to the science and health effects of the cannabinoids found in medical cannabis; and participate in health policy decision-making processes related to medical cannabis.

“Students who complete our program will have an unparalleled competitive advantage when it comes to pursuing or advancing a career in the medical cannabis industry,” says Sera. “These individuals will be well-prepared to support patients and the medical cannabis industry with the knowledge and skills gained from their coursework. They will also be able to add to existing clinical and scientific research on medical cannabis, and will be able to contribute to well-informed policies related to medical cannabis.”

The MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics welcomes students who possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, currently work or are interested in working in the medical cannabis industry, and have the ability to travel once per semester to attend required symposia at USG, which is located in a suburb of the nation’s capital.

To learn more about the program, view the short video below or  visit .

�������Ƶ the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Established in 1841, the  is ranked as one of the top ten schools of pharmacy in the United States. The School is a thriving center for professional and graduate education, pharmaceutical care, research, and community service. Its faculty create the future of pharmacy by pioneering new roles for pharmacists in advanced clinical practice and conducting cutting-edge research in drug discovery and development, comparative effectiveness and patient-centered outcomes, and disease management. A contemporary curriculum, innovative educational experiences, and strategic professional relationships help to inspire excellence in the School’s more than 800 students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows. Together, we are critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and leaders who are sought for our expertise.

The post UM School Of Pharmacy Launches Nation’s First Master’s In Medical Cannabis Science And Therapeutics appeared first on Weed News.

Canadian investigators performed a systematic review of published studies evaluating the performance of on-site oral fluid detection technologies. They reported that available devices do not meet acceptable standards of sensitivity and accuracy, that products lack standardization, and that there are no known “correlations between THC concentrations in OF (oral fluid) and the level of impairment.”

Authors concluded, “[T]he methods for measuring OF at the roadside need to be improved.”

In recent years, lawmakers in several states have suggested the idea of permitting police to administer roadside oral fluid tests as a potential means of determining prior cannabis exposure.

The post Review: Mouth Swab Saliva Tests Not Sufficiently Accurate For Cannabis Detection appeared first on Weed News.

Lifetime cannabis exposure is associated with lower body mass index (BMI), according to longitudinal  published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Researchers from Arizona State University and the University of Pittsburgh assessed the association between long-term cannabis exposure and cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort of 253 men. They reported that greater marijuana exposure was associated with lower BMI as well as lower cholesterol levels and other risk factors.

“Cannabis use is associated with lower BMI and lower BMI is related to lower levels of risk on other cardiometabolic risk factors,” they concluded.

The findings are consistent with those of prior studies concluding that cannabis exposure is associated with ,��, and .

The post Long-Term Cannabis Use Associated With Lower Body Mass Index appeared first on Weed News.

More than two-thirds of chronic pain patients registered to legally access medical cannabis products substitute marijuana for prescription opioids, according to  published in The Journal of Headache and Pain.

Investigators from the United States and Canada assessed the use of medical cannabis and prescription drugs in a cohort of over 2,000 Canadian patients licensed to access marijuana products. Among those patients with a primary diagnosis of chronic pain, 73 percent reported substituting cannabis in place of opioids. Among those patients diagnosed specifically with headache/migraine, cannabis was frequently reported as a substitute for other medications – including opiates (43 percent), anti-depressants (39 percent), NSAIDS (21 percent), triptans (8 percent), and anti-convulsants (8 percent).

“Most patients in the pain groups reported replacing prescription medications with medicinal cannabis, the most common of which were opiates/opioids across all patient groups,” authors concluded. “This is notable given the well-described ‘opioid-sparing effect’ of cannabinoids and growing abundance of literature suggesting that cannabis may help in weaning from these medications and perhaps providing a means of combating the opioid epidemic.”

The post Majority Of Chronic Pain Patients Replace Opioids With Marijuana According To New Study appeared first on Weed News.

Today, Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) unveiled the Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2018 during a press conference held at noon on Capitol Hill. The legislation, which was introduced with widespread bipartisan support, finally allows researchers to study the potential cures medical cannabis may unlock. Further scientific research on medical cannabis could unlock cures for veterans, the chronically ill, and the elderly. Rep. Gaetz’s legislation does not change the legal status of cannabis, and does not interfere with federal, state, or local cannabis laws. The following Members of Congress also participated in the press conference: Reps. Darren Soto (FL-09), Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), Lou Correa (CA-46), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Dana Rohrabacher (CA-48) and Barbara Lee (CA-13).

“Today, twenty-six members of Congress joined me in cosponsoring the Medical Cannabis Research Act. This bipartisan cannabis reform legislation will improve the quality of scientific research on cannabis, while protecting research institutions nationwide. I fully believe that this bill has a chance to pass this Congress and be signed into law by the President, who expressed his support for medical cannabis during his campaign.

It is monumental for the House Judiciary Committee to consider cannabis-related legislation. They have not tackled legislation on this topic since 1978, before I was born. I have been assured that the committee will take up my legislation, however; the Medical Cannabis Research Act was cosponsored by Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, and his office was instrumental in helping to draft the final legislation. He has been invaluable in making this legislation a reality, and I thank him for his help.

Cannabis has always faced a Catch-22 in Congress: we can’t change cannabis laws without doing research, but we can’t do more research without changing the law. Our bill finally breaks that logjam. This legislation will make a tremendous difference to researchers nationwide, who may finally be able to develop cures for illnesses that affect many of America’s most vulnerable populations. I thank my colleagues for their support, and look forward to passing sweeping cannabis reform legislation this Congress,” Rep. Gaetz said.

Click  or below to view footage from the press conference.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE MEDICAL CANNABIS RESEARCH ACT

Currently, all federally-approved studies of medical cannabis get their product from one subpar source. It is weak and often moldy, which can cause illness. In addition to being poor quality, federally-grown cannabis is scarce; not enough is grown. This legislation requires the Attorney General to annually assess whether there is an adequate and uninterrupted supply of research-grade cannabis, and to ensure that there are at least three federally approved manufacturers at any given time.

Some federally-funded institutions, such as universities, want to research cannabis, but have been unable to do so; research cannabis threatens their federal funding. This legislation includes much-needed “safe harbor” for researchers and institutions studying cannabis, and for patients in federally-approved medical cannabis clinical trials.

Even though VA doctors/staff are not prohibited from sharing information about federally-approved cannabis clinical trials with patients, many VA offices believe mentioning these trials is illegal. This legislation codifies that healthcare providers at the VA are authorized to provide information about federally-approved cannabis clinical trials, and they are also allowed to fill out forms for veterans to participate in these trials.

Most importantly, this legislation does not interfere with federal laws, state laws, or law enforcement. This bill makes no changes to the legal status of cannabis. It simply unlocks the potential for research into a compound that could prove beneficial to veterans, chronically ill persons, and the elderly.

The post Federal Representatives Unveil Medical Cannabis Research Act appeared first on Weed News.

US Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter today to US Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to cease efforts to slow medical marijuana research, following reports that the Department of Justice was blocking medical marijuana research efforts by delaying approvals for manufacturers growing research-grade medical marijuana.

Expanded research has been called for by President Trump’s Surgeon General, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the FDA, the CDC, the National Highway Safety Administration, the National Institute of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the National Academies of Sciences, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. There are currently two bipartisan bills before the Senate Judiciary Committee that would streamline the cumbersome process for researchers to receive federal permission to study marijuana.

“The benefits of research are unquestionable. Research will give law enforcement guidance to do their jobs:protecting drivers on the roads, protecting kids in schools, and maintaining law and order. Ninety-two percent of veterans support federal research on marijuana, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is aware that many veterans have been using marijuana to manage the pain of their wartime wounds. America’s heroes deserve scientifically-based assessments of the substance many of them are already self-administering. By allowing expanded research, the Department of Justice will aid legislators in making sound decisions, help law enforcement in developing critical public safety guidance, and ensure that citizens have the benefit of informed, evidence-based policy.”

The full letter is included below:

The Honorable Jeff Sessions

Attorney General of the United States

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20540

Dear Attorney General Sessions:                                                                           

We write to request that you enable the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to fulfill its charter of lawfully registering manufacturers of the controlled substance of marijuana for research without delay. Research on marijuana is necessary to resolve critical questions of public health and safety, such as learning the impacts of marijuana on developing brains and formulating methods to test marijuana impairment in drivers.  

To date, it has been federal practice that only one manufacturer — the University of Mississippi — is licensed to produce marijuana for federally-sanctioned research. Historically, as the DEA has noted, that single manufacturer could meet the minimal demand for research. However, the DEA changed its policy nearly two years ago because, as it explained, “There is growing public interest in exploring the possibility that marijuana or its chemical constituents may be used as potential treatments for certain medical conditions,” and the DEA — along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — “fully supports expanding research into the potential medical utility of marijuana and its chemical constituents.”   

As of August 11, 2016, 354 individuals and institutions were approved by the DEA to conduct expansive research on marijuana and its related components. Those researchers needed access to a federally compliant expanded product line—they needed to study different types of marijuana and across various delivery mechanisms. Accordingly, a diverse, DEA-vetted market of suppliers of research-grade marijuana would be critical. Since the DEA’s Federal Register Notice on August 12, 2016, at least 25 manufacturers have formally applied to produce federally-approved research-grade marijuana.

Last August, The Washington Post reported that you have been blocking these efforts: “The Justice Department under Attorney General Jeff Sessions has effectively blocked the Drug Enforcement Administration from taking action on more than two dozen requests to grow marijuana to use in research.”

When asked by Senator Hatch at a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing to clarify DOJ’s role in processing these applications, you said, “I think it would be healthy to have some more competition in the [federally-approved research-grade marijuana] supply, but I’m sure we don’t need 26 new suppliers.” Nevertheless, the supply needed for research is clearly not meeting the demand. There are currently two bipartisan bills before the Senate Judiciary Committee that would streamline the obtuse process for researchers to receive federal permission to study marijuana. Those bills and the strong popular support they have received are indicative of the nation’s demand for marijuana to be thoroughly researched.  

We write this letter because research on marijuana is necessary for evidence-based decision making, and expanded research has been called for by President Trump’s Surgeon General, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the FDA, the CDC, the National Highway Safety Administration, the National Institute of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the National Academies of Sciences, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In order to facilitate such research, scientists and lawmakers must have timely guidance on whether, when, and how these manufacturers’ applications will be resolved.

The benefits of research are unquestionable. Research will give law enforcement guidance to do their jobs:protecting drivers on the roads, protecting kids in schools, and maintaining law and order. Ninety-two percent of veterans support federal research on marijuana, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is aware that many veterans have been using marijuana to manage the pain of their wartime wounds. America’s heroes deserve scientifically-based assessments of the substance many of them are already self-administering.

By allowing expanded research, the Department of Justice will aid legislators in making sound decisions, help law enforcement in developing critical public safety guidance, and ensure that citizens have the benefit of informed, evidence-based policy.

 Nineteen months have elapsed since the DEA announced its request for expanded marijuana research. To ensure that the DOJ resolves these applications in a timely fashion, allowing the DEA to fulfill its charter, we request that by May 15, 2018, you provide:

·  Notice of the date that the Department of Justice expects to complete its review of these applications so that the DEA may grant these new suppliers a license to produce marijuana for federally approved research;

·  Notice to applicants of the timeline for resolution and the status of their applications;

·  Notice of actions you have taken to review applications since October 18, 2017, when you testified before the Judiciary Committee that competition among federally-approved marijuana producers would be “healthy;” and

· A commitment to resolve applications by August 11, 2018, at the latest (exactly two years since the DEA announced its policy change).

The post U.S. Senators Call On Sessions, DOJ To Stop Blocking Marijuana Research appeared first on Weed News.

Investigators from the University of Washington, Seattle and the University of California, San Francisco assessed the impact of cannabis use on immune cell frequency, activation, and function in 198 HIV-infected patients.

Authors reported: “[W]e found that heavy cannabis use … in HIV-infected, ART-treated individuals was associated with lower frequencies of activated CD4 and CD8 T cells compared to frequencies of these cells in non-cannabis using individuals. This novel finding is important given that elevated levels of T-cell activation have been associated with lower CD4 T-cell gains following ART (anti-retroviral therapy) and with mortality in this population.”

They concluded, “[O]ur work suggests that cannabinoids may have an immunological benefit in the context of HIV infection, as lowering the frequency of activated T cells could limit the risk of development of non-AIDS-associated comorbidities.”

The post Study: Marijuana Use Associated With Immunological Benefits In HIV Patients appeared first on Weed News.

It is truly an exciting time to be a cannabis fan. Eight states have legalized cannabis for medical use, 29 states have legalized cannabis for medical use (beyond just CBD), and Washington D.C. has legalized cannabis for both medical and adult use. 2018 is poised to see more states join those lists.

On the industry side, legal cannabis in the United States has created as much as jobs 230,000 jobs and has sold as much as worth of legal cannabis in North America in just 2017 alone. Tax revenues are pouring in, and even more importantly, people in legal states are no longer having their lives ruined because of cannabis prohibition.

But as far as the cannabis movement has come in recent years, there are still looming threats against the cannabis plant. One of the biggest threats involves attempts at instituting intellectual property rights related to the cannabis plant that would help big corporate interests monopolize the cannabis plant.

Fortunately, there has been a massive effort underway to keep the cannabis plant as free from patents as possible. That effort is the . Per the Open Cannabis Project’s website:

The Open Cannabis Project (OCP) is a community-led, science driven non-profit with a simple mission: to defend the richness and diversity of cannabis from overreaching patents.

Decades of careful stewardship and breeding have made cannabis into one of the most varied, interesting and powerful plants in the world. The growing wave of legalization – and the intellectual property competition that comes with it – may have the unintended consequence of narrowing and restricting this diversity.

OCP is building a transparent and open source repository of cannabis data that will one day grow into an archival record of all existing cannabis varieties. This helps to ensure that they remain available to all, unrestricted by commercialization or patenting, free for anyone to grow and sell.

This is literally one of the most important undertakings that has ever occurred in the cannabis space. The values listed on the OCP’s website are ones that I think everyone can get behind:

Openness & Transparency.

We believe transparent and unrestricted sharing of information is key to protecting cannabis biodiversity. It is our duty to create an open dialogue and to oppose any approach that stifles collaboration or harms biodiversity.

Inclusivity.

We believe a culturally and economically diverse cannabis industry is crucial to ensuring that we unlock the full potential of this unique plant. Humans are NOT a monoculture, and neither is cannabis.

Innovation.

The courage and relentless curiosity of a unique group of people has helped shape our relationship with cannabis today, and we will fight for a legal framework that encourages this spirit of innovation.

Evidence-based practices.

It is necessary to take an informed, scientific approach to studying as many cannabis varieties as possible. We advocate for this approach among scientists, breeders, farmers, patients, and medical professionals.

The Open Cannabis Project is looking for people to help out with the effort. Per the OCP website, “We need volunteers, developers, growers, data scientists, lawyers, and laboratories to help us collect data and protect cannabis diversity. Can you help? Get involved!” You can find out more about how to help .

The post What Is The Open Cannabis Project? appeared first on Weed News.

Being diagnosed with cancer is a terrible, scary thing. I have never been diagnosed with cancer, but members of my family and some of my close friends have been diagnosed with cancer before, and it’s terrifying. My stepfather has been diagnosed with cancer two times. The second time he was diagnosed with cancer, he was told he could only have a year to live. Hearing that news was one of the saddest days of my life, and I can’t imagine what it was like for him personally. Fortunately he has won his battle with cancer on both occasions, and is now healthy and considered to be cancer-free.

My stepfather used a multi-pronged strategy to combat his cancer diagnosis, with cannabis oil being part of his regimen during his second battle. He has never been a huge fan of cannabis, although he has always supported cannabis reform. For him, cannabis consumption was just not a good fit. He didn’t like the way it made him feel, which is perfectly fine with me. No one should ever be forced to consume cannabis if they don’t want to.

However with his second diagnosis things were different. Whereas his first diagnosis was prostate cancer, which was more manageable for him to combat, the second diagnosis was for bone cancer. My stepfather was open to doing anything that he could do, and I was able to convince him to give cannabis oil a try. His doctor was in support of it because of how dire the situation was and said that it couldn’t hurt to give it a shot.

I made him some cannabis oil as well as acquired some from a dispensary, which he used on a daily basis in addition to other cancer treatments. When he started the cannabis oil, his levels were at 121 (I am not a medical professional, so what exactly was being measured, I do not know). By the time he was done with the treatments (including cannabis oil), his levels had dropped to .30. His doctor was so blown away by his remarkable recovery that he personally delivered the good news and referred to it as a ‘miracle.’ I will never forget when my mom called me to give me the good news. It was literally one of the best days of my life. I can’t even imagine how it must have felt for my stepfather to receive that news, but I assume it was relieving beyond words.

How much the cannabis oil helped him is anyone’s guess. The doctor and my stepfather both agreed that the cannabis oil helped, but it’s hard to quantify exactly how much. Ultimately it doesn’t matter because my stepfather is around and healthy, and so whatever degree that cannabis helped him is moot in a many ways. I will definitely be making more cannabis oil moving forward and giving it to other loved ones if/when they are diagnosed with cancer. I will not tell them to �DzԱ�����take the cannabis oil, but instead will do what I did with my stepfather and encourage them to add it to their regimen, as it doesn’t have any downside other than providing euphoric effects which may be undesirable to some people.

Chances are if you are reading this, you either have been diagnosed with cancer or know someone that has been diagnosed with cancer. You are likely looking for something, ���Բ�ٳ󾱲Բ���that can help. If you have searched on Google for cures for cancer, you probably have come across a number of articles touting cannabis as the best solution. Some articles will claim that all a patient needs is cannabis. I do not agree with those claims, and honestly think that telling a suffering cancer patient that all they need is cannabis is irresponsible at best, and in some cases can be outright cruel.

This is not to say that cannabis cannot cure cancer. A number of patients have used cannabis and won their cancer battles. But that is much different from saying that cannabis always cures cancer. Perhaps it does in some cases, and doesn’t in others, which is true of many medications. A from earlier this year found that brain cancer patients who use a combination of THC and CBD fared better than those that didn’t use cannabis. The results of the study, and other studies for that matter, are very encouraging. When combined with personal stories of defeating cancer with cannabis, it creates a strong argument that cannabis can cure cancer, but it’s not 100% guaranteed in all cases.

Rather than stating that ‘cannabis cures cancer’ I think it’s more accurate to say that ‘cannabis can cure cancer.’ Getting a suffering cancer patient’s hopes up that anything, cannabis included, is guaranteed to cure their condition is cruel in my opinion. Cannabis supporters need to be supportive, but also realistic. Cannabis is not harmful like some other cancer treatments, and because of that, cancer patients don’t really have anything to lose by giving it a try. That’s the biggest ‘selling point’ that can be offered to cannabis patients who are considering trying cannabis oil as part of their treatment regimen. If it doesn’t cure their cancer, they aren’t out anything accept their time. But, maybe, it just might do the trick (and I hope it does!).

Recently the sent letters to CBD companies demanding that they quit claiming that cannabis cures cancer. The warning letter stated that claims that cannabis can cure cancer are unproven, which I wholeheartedly disagree with. As previously stated, I won’t go as far as saying that cannabis 100% cures cancer in every case, but I think it’s just as irresponsible to make the claim that cannabis 100% doesn’t cure cancer as it is to claim that cannabis 100% cures cancer in every instance. More research needs to be conducted, which will hopefully happen in the near future.

I do not think that claims of cannabis as a cure for cancer should ever be used as a marketing strategy. I personally feel that such marketing strategies prey upon cancer patients who are in very desperate situations. But I do feel that the cannabis plant is one of the most versatile, helpful plants on the planet. It may very well possess the cure to cancer, and since no one has ever died from a cannabis overdose, cancer patients should give its use strong consideration as a treatment to supplement whatever other treatments their doctors recommend. With that being said, cancer patients need to also realize that cannabis may not be the end-all solution for their situation. I sincerely hope that it is in as many cases as possible, but cancer patients need to always keep things in perspective. If you are suffering from cancer, my thoughts are with you and I hope that you kick cancer’s ass. Stay strong!

The post Does Cannabis Cure Cancer? appeared first on Weed News.

In the past five years, I have personally witnessed a giant shift in many under and above-ground members of the cannabis culture to smoking highly concentrated cannabis oils and resins out of “rigs” operating at extremely high temperatures. Likewise I have seen a move toward vape pens, particularly in populations aiming to be discreet in their use (let me take this moment to stereotype soccer moms.)

There is a solid argument to be made that dangers exist with respect to these extractions in terms of unknown quantities of pesticides potentially lurking in concentrated amounts. This is why we legalize and regulate! One difference between the pen and the rig, however, is that with the pen we have a corollary in e-cigarettes and therefore some semblance of understanding its effects on human physiology. But with traditional dabbing, each person is an experiment in their own home.

An Department of Chemistry suggests that heating butane hash oil (BHO) at extremely high temperatures can result in toxic, carcinogenic byproducts which are not seen at lower levels of combustion, such as with a vape pen.

From :

“Many of the terpenes that the researchers discovered in the vaporized hash oil are also used in e-cigarette liquids. Moreover, previous experiments by Dr. Strongin and his colleagues found similar toxic chemicals in e-cigarette vapor when the devices were used at high-temperature settings. The dabbing experiments in the current study produced benzene—a known carcinogen—at levels many times higher than the ambient air, the researchers noted. It also produced high levels of methacrolein, a chemical similar to acrolein, another carcinogen.

“‘The results of these studies clearly indicate that dabbing, although considered a form of vaporization, may, in fact, deliver significant amounts of toxic degradation products,’ the authors concluded. ‘The difficulty users find in controlling the nail temperature put[s] users at risk of exposing themselves to not only methacrolein but also benzene. Additionally, the heavy focus on terpenes as additives seen as of late in the cannabis industry is of great concern due to the oxidative liability of these compounds when heated. This research also has significant implications for flavored e-cigarette products due to the extensive use of terpenes as flavorings.’”

According to the study, potentially cancer causing chemicals are released when the oil is heated above 750 degrees and that benzene, a known carcinogen, is emitted when the heat goes over 932 degrees. Thus, it is  important to keep those temperatures as low as possible if you prefer dabbing. The cannabis community is extremely innovative and it is imperative that we allow scientific studies to determine the safety of each and every new product that emerges.

Of course, scientific studies are easier for researchers to conduct when scientists aren’t restricted by prohibitionist policies. As more states legalize and regulate cannabis, the cannabis community can be better informed and, hopefully, the federal government will soon stop that prevent important scientific research.

Stay informed on the latest in extraction technologies, science and regulations from the experts at the , on December 1-3, 2017. Get your now! After Kauai, the ICBC heads to , on February 1st and 2nd.

This blog was originally published by and has been posted here with special permission.

The post Study Shows the Danger of Dabbing BHO at Over 750 Degrees appeared first on Weed News.