Washington State University Reports Cannabis Reduces OCD and Anxiety on a Short Term Basis

Cannabis reduces OCD symptoms by half in the short-term

October 20, 2020

Closeup of several marijuana plants.
Photo by Joel Muniz

By Sara Zaske, WSU News

PULLMAN, Wash. –People with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, report that the severity of their symptoms was reduced by about half within four hours of smoking cannabis, according to a Washington State University study.

The researchers analyzed data inputted into the Strainprint app by people who self-identified as having OCD, a condition characterized by intrusive, persistent thoughts and repetitive behaviors such as compulsively checking if a door is locked. After smoking cannabis, users with OCD reported it reduced their compulsions by 60%, intrusions, or unwanted thoughts, by 49% and anxiety by 52%.

The study, recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, also found that higher doses and cannabis with higher concentrations of CBD, or cannabidiol, were associated with larger reductions in compulsions.

“The results overall indicate that cannabis may have some beneficial short-term but not really long-term effects on obsessive-compulsive disorder,” said Carrie Cuttler, the study’s corresponding author and WSU assistant professor of psychology. “To me, the CBD findings are really promising because it is not intoxicating. This is an area of research that would really benefit from clinical trials looking at changes in compulsions, intrusions and anxiety with pure CBD.”

Close up of Carrie Cutler
Carrie Cuttler

The WSU study drew from data of more than 1,800 cannabis sessions that 87 individuals logged into the Strainprint app over 31 months. The long time period allowed the researchers to assess whether users developed tolerance to cannabis, but those effects were mixed. As people continued to use cannabis, the associated reductions in intrusions became slightly smaller suggesting they were building tolerance, but the relationship between cannabis and reductions in compulsions and anxiety remained fairly constant.

Traditional treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder include exposure and response prevention therapy where people’s irrational thoughts around their behaviors are directly challenged, and prescribing antidepressants called serotonin reuptake inhibitors to reduce symptoms. While these treatments have positive effects for many patients, they do not cure the disorder nor do they work well for every person with OCD.

“We’re trying to build knowledge about the relationship of cannabis use and OCD because it’s an area that is really understudied,” said Dakota Mauzay, a doctoral student in Cuttler’s lab and first author on the paper.

Aside from their own research, the researchers found only one other human study on the topic: a small clinical trial with 12 participants that revealed that there were reductions in OCD symptoms after cannabis use, but these were not much larger than the reductions associated with the placebo.

The WSU researchers noted that one of the limitations of their study was the inability to use a placebo control and an “expectancy effect” may play a role in the results, meaning when people expect to feel better from something they generally do. The data was also from a self-selected sample of cannabis users, and there was variability in the results which means that not everyone experienced the same reductions in symptoms after using cannabis.

However, Cuttler said this analysis of user-provided information via the Strainprint app was especially valuable because it provides a large data set and the participants were using market cannabis in their home environment, as opposed to federally grown cannabis in a lab which may affect their responses. Strainprint’s app is intended to help users determine which types of cannabis work the best for them, but the company provided the WSU researchers free access to users’ anonymized data for research purposes.

Cuttler said this study points out that further research, particularly clinical trials on the cannabis constituent CBD, may reveal a therapeutic potential for people with OCD.

This is the fourth study Cuttler and her colleagues have conducted examining the effects of cannabis on various mental health conditions using the data provided by the app created by the Canadian company Strainprint. Others include studies on how cannabis impacts PTSD symptoms, reduces headache pain, and affects emotional well-being.

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“Our Time Machine”: Creative Genius Maleonn from People’s Republic of China

You can luxuriate in the creative genius of 43-year-old Maleonn in the Chinese documentary “Our Time Machine”. On the face of it this is a story of Maleonn crafting together what one might call a puppet show “Papa’s Time Machine”. But the puppets are creative masterpieces. The show is about a son who creates a time machine so he can venture into the past to retrieve his father’s memories. Maleonn’s 85-year-old father Ma Ke, a former artistic director of the Shanghai Chinese Opera Theatre, has Alzheimer’s.

Although you can be awed by the puppets this is also a story of the circle of life which is quite simple in that you are born and eventually you die. It is life that is in between and it may take you years to realize this simple truth. Maleonn makes this realization with the birth of his daughter and he is amazed by each time he shows his daughter to Ma Ke it is the first time he realizes he has a granddaughter. And he can’t remember he has been previously introduced to his granddaughter. The great joy shown by Ma Ke finally lets Maleonn come to terms with his father’s Alzheimer’s. Ma Ke also realizes his illness when he says, “The machine is broken. What can I do?”

As for the puppet show the best I can describe it is a fusion between Cirque de Soleil and The Blue Man Group.

The documentary was winner of “Best Cinematography” at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. The film opens virtually at over 35 theatres in the United States on September 11th. For participating theatres http://timemachinefilm.com/#screenings

To see the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h97dwAcNf9k

“Musical Comedy Whore”: A parade of promiscuity and the hope for love

The film “Musical Comedy Whore” is a one-man song, dance and comedy show playing off Broadway in New York and is a raunchy autobiography of David Pevsner who both stars and is the writer of the play.

Pevsner is unabashedly gay and you are faced with a few of options here. Not everybody co-exists peacefully with the LGBTQ community. There are scores of gay bashers who will be disgusted by the homosexual promiscuity of Pevsner set forth in the play. And there are those, hopefully in the majority, who may be gay and delight in the originality, honesty and hope in the film. Then there are the straights who can look beyond anti-gay prejudice and see Pevsner as a gay man but a human being with a story to tell.

Pevsner realized his homosexuality early on this his life falling for the male lead in the 1960’s television show Flipper having a crush on the single dad male lead (Brian Kelly) whereas most were fixated on the dolphin Flipper.

He chronicles his life much of it in New York City, a “candy store for gays”. He worked on and off Broadway, a writer of songs for musicals, a nude model for photographers, an escort, a naked maid amongst other things.

His story is thick with the numerous sexual escapades he had in leather bars, gay bars, gay movie houses, saunas and gyms. He claims to have made notes with every man he slept with in his “book of lust”. No doubt an endless stream of promiscuity which at times he felt guilty and shame about. But if you can escape the strange daze of the concept for 10 minutes you are hooked into a fascinating and very honest story. Although you simply can not completely forget Pevsner is gay you may find you are so drawn into the narrative you realize that this is truly a story about a man and his sexuality as opposed to the story of a gay man.

There are LGBTQ films that focus on gayness and those more recently that focus on gays within a “human setting” which may include inclusion within a greater society than an isolated gay society.

Pevsner focuses on gay society but if you let it and you are open the gayness fades away and you are left with a fascinating story about a man who just happens to be gay.

Yes when Flipper was showing I loved Flipper and as a young boy could I understand and accept homosexuality? No. It was a long process to escape my prejudices to the point where I am today where there is so much hate in the world why can’t we all accept the LGBTQ community? Let them be and try and enjoy their culture and contribution to the arts. I am not saying you have to embrace the LGBTQ community but as a decent human being at least try and accept this community.

This play is about Pevsner “coming clean” and relating his experiences to make himself whole and not hide under the covers. Truth can be a powerful therapy.

The sad conclusion of the film is that as hard as Pevsner tries he can’t find true love and a sincere loving relationship. The last 30 minutes or so of the film quickly slip from comedy and sarcasm into a painful recounting of a loving relationship that simply couldn’t work. He sings he would be willing to give up his promiscuous lifestyle for love. In the meantime his coming clean has created words in a play that Pevsner feels he is the one who has been healed and in the end he considers himself a fabulous guy. He also says he is coming clean as he loves us all. I think his message is I really care about you humanity to tell you about how he has lived his life as a human and not simply a gay man.

An innovative, creative, inspiring film touched with humour and a bit of sadness.

A ground-breaking and friendly LGBTQ film. My biggest desire is to not have to refer to “LGBTQ films” but simply to a film. I think that Pevsner is taking us in this direction.

The VOD/DVD release date is September 1st on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, VUDU and Fandango. Another interesting film distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures in Philadelphia.

Novel Thoughts: Albert Camus: “The Outsider”

Albert Camus was born in Algiers in 1913 and eventually moved to Paris. He died in 1960. “The Outsider” was published in 1942.

” But I reminded myself, it’s common knowledge that life isn’t worth living anyhow, And, on a wide view, I could see that it makes little difference whether one dies at the age of thirty or three-score and ten-since, in either case, other men and women will continue living, the world will go on as before. Also, whether I died now or forty years hence, this business of dying had to be got through, inevitably.”

Toss the Naproxen Away for Osteoarthritis? Replace with Ginger, Pepper and Turmeric?

Randomized Controlled Trial Phytother Res

. 2020 Aug;34(8):2067-2073. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6671. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Herbal formulation “turmeric extract, black pepper, and ginger” versus Naproxen for chronic knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial

Motahar Heidari-Beni 1, Amir R Moravejolahkami 2, Pegah Gorgian 3, Gholamreza Askari 3, Mohammad J Tarrahi 4, Nimah Bahreini-Esfahani 3Affiliations expand

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is the most common articular disease that can lead to chronic pain and severe disability. Curcumin-an effective ingredient in turmeric with anti inflammatory property-plays an important role in protecting the joints against destructive factors. Gingerols and piperine, are the effective ingredients of ginger and black pepper, which may potentially enhance and sustain the effect of curcumin in this direction. To determine the effect of cosupplementation with turmeric extract, black pepper, and ginger on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis, compared with Naproxen. Sixty patients with two different levels of knee osteoarthritis (Grade 2 and 3) were studied. Individuals were randomly assigned to receive daily turmeric extract, ginger, and black pepper together or Naproxen capsule for 4 weeks. PGE2 was evaluated by ELISA method. 24-hr recall was also assessed. All of participants completed the study. PGE2 decreased significantly in both groups (p < .001), but there was no significant differences between groups. The results of this study indicated that intake of the selected herbs twice a day for 4 weeks may improve the PGE2 levels in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis similar to Naproxen drug.

Keywords: Naproxen; black pepper; ginger; knee osteoarthritis; prostaglandin E2; turmeric extract.

Cork Away # 1: Australian Wine at The Liquor Control Board of Ontario

The Australian Winery Yalumba makes an excellent “Y Series Viognier” at a very reasonable price. This time we try an organic Shiraz available at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.

It has a black cherry colour. As for aromatics black cherry, blackberry and a slice of blueberry pie. On the palate black cherry, cranberry all with a short finish. Unfortunately the acidity is a bit out of whack which doesn’t help this boring and uninspiring wine. Might match a tomato salad or a pasta with tomato sauce.

(Yalumba Organic Shiraz South Australia 2018, Yalumba, Angaston, Australia, $17.95, LCBO # 280883, 750 mL, 13.5% Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating DUD).

I have never been a fan of Robert Oatley wines but not enough to avoid them so we delve into a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Margaret River which as far as red wines go is known for its elegance and clarity and I would say produces a calmer and more sophisticated red wine.

On the nose it is loaded with blueberry but there are lesser beams of cherry and raspberry coulis. On the palate mild tannins and perfect acids which to me means you hardly notice its presence. More of that blueberry and some loganberry jam. There is a time and place for the more aggressive and bold Aussie reds and in the right mood with the right food that’s good on me mate. But this red is light on its feet and a good sipper. I might be persuaded to call this wine elegant. I’d pair it with grass feed New Zealand lamb or a kangaroo steak. And to help the Australians to keep their rabbit population down a rabbit fricassee.

(Robert Oatley Signature Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Robert Oatley Vineyards, Wilyabrup, Western Australia, $19.95, LCBO # 323741, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 90/100).

No mistaking this De Bortoli G.S. 2018 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir as a Pinot Noir on the nose with notes of raspberry and cherry in a smoky framework. Perhaps one might say a tad too much oak? But on the palate clean and pure with no oak interference. Raspberry, strawberry and cherry all very light on its feet. A Pinot Noir walking on air it would seem? Would be good with Arctic Char and wild rice or organic sweet potatoes. As it is so light and somewhat shy on its feet it is stereotypically far away from many Australian reds? Whatever your take this wine is well worth its $19.95 price tag.

(De Bortoli G.S. 2018 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, De Bortoli Wines, Bibul, New South Wales, Australia, $19.95, LCBO # 15511, 750 mL, 13.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 91/100).

Schild Estate was one of the first wineries I encountered in my wine review career. It rather blew me away. Here years later a 2017 Shiraz from the Barossa Valley. On the nose bursting with blackberry but some red currant and black cherry. Matured in American oak very skillfully! On the palate this is no Aussie fruit bomb but very light footed and sophisticated. Short finish. Would handle a grilled flank steak marinated in soy sauce, ginger and honey. Although the label says enjoy now or up to ten years I would consume by the end of 2021.

(Schild Estate 2017 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Schild Estate Wines, Lyndoch, South Australia, $ 19.95, LCBO # 66555, 750 mL, 14.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 91/100).

“The COVID Cruise”: “The Nature of Things” Gives an Up Close and Personal View of the Diamond Princess Incident

David Suzuki on November 27th in his “Nature of Things” presents an episode “The COVID Cruise” which is a behind the scenes look of The Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama Japan in February with 3,700 passengers and crew on board. You may recall there was an outbreak of COVID-19 on the ship which was met with a quarantine which was not a great decision as all these people locked up in confined spaces and cabins created a petri dish for incubation. As epidemiologists say this was a “congregate setting”.

Gently narrated by Suzuki the story is primarily told through the crew and passengers. For some it was a time of fear and terror as their view was that of dozens of ambulances, police and media. The quarantine proved futile and 705 of the passengers and crew tested positive and 14 died.

Can any fault be placed on anyone? In retrospect yes but that is with the knowledge we have since gained about COVID-19. The crew toiled on delivering food and providing clean linens and in so doing became spreaders. The Japanese medicos on board crossed paths with the uninfected spreading the virus further. The evacuations appeared sloppily organized.

The crew received no training on COVID-19 as it was a new mysterious virus. However their initial reaction when the first case was confirmed was based on the Norwalk virus that has plagued cruise ships for years. So it was an enhanced cleaning protocol but that was insufficient.

One gets the impression the crew was without decent PPE to the point some went on Facebook pleading for help. The cruise line contract with crew prohibited them from talking to the media without corporate permission.

The passengers were mostly evacuated by their governments including the Canadians on board.

2020 saw 73 cruise ship COVID infections with 3,000 people infected and nearly a hundred deaths.

I really should stop here and let you hear the passengers and crew speak. Some are highly charged with emotion or terror. Others required Post Traumatic Stress Disorder counselling.

The lessons learnt are what most of us practice today in warding off COVID-19. But again that is now and not then.

One non-medical issue that jumps out at you is the sheer stupidity and or greed of cruise lines sending out 100 cruise ships out after the Diamond Princess. The first cruise since the cruise ship industry shut down was The Sea Dream 1 on November 13 with seven people so far becoming infected.

Kudos to Suzuki for his gentle narration and lack of finger pointing. If there is any finger pointing it was from crew and passengers.

“The COVID Cruise” airs on November 27th at 9 p.m. ET and for free streaming on CBC Gem.

You can watch the trailer https://vimeo.com/475991818

Filmmakers Mike Downie (director) and David Wells (writer and producer) reveal as the world watched Wuhan the same drama was playing out on the Diamond Princess.

I never had the slightest interest in taking a cruise and now I am even less interested.

Branded Like Cattle But It is for Your Own Good!

Welcome to the trial Common Pass which will be a prerequisite for travel and touted as temporary in the face of COVID-19 just as personal income tax in many jurisdictions was implemented to finance The Great War of 1914-18.

The Commons Project is partly financed by the Rockefeller Foundation. Now Rockefeller, There’s a name to associate with civil liberties!

The next step is to transform the Common Pass into a permanent tracking device or passport available to law enforcement, employers and government to track you and your personal information. And you’ll be sold down the river on this by the politico-medico elite, big business, Big Pharma and the media all in the name of the public good. Bark like a dog with a microchip in your ear. See the party line below.

CommonPass

For global travel and trade to return to pre-pandemic levels, travelers will need a secure and verifiable way to document their health status as they travel and cross borders.  Countries will need to be able to trust that a traveller’s record of a COVID PCR test or vaccination administered in another country is valid. Countries will also need the flexibility to update their health screening entry requirements as the pandemic evolves and science progresses.  Airlines, airports and other travel industry stakeholders will need the same. See the new party line developing below.


The Commons Project together with The World Economic Forum is working to initiate the CommonPass framework to address those challenges.

CommonPass is currently in trials. Click here to be notified when it is publicly available.Learn more

Medico-Political Totalitarianism Fueled by COVID?

Being mindful one might step back in a non- judgemental fashion and itemize what some see as the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak.

  1. Freedom of association has been eliminated
  2. Union collective agreements have been “legally” violated
  3. Politicians are “deferring” to their team of non-elected medical experts on extremely political decisions
  4. Medico experts are obsessed with statistics more than compassion
  5. The obsession with COVID-19 in the medico mind shunts aside elective surgeries and surgeries that are necessary to save lives
  6. Anyone who opposes the medico-political dogma is categorized as a yahoo or psychopath and selfish
  7. A enormous amount of propaganda disguised as “information” is being pumped into the situation
  8. The media has been co-opted into covering the “big show” to keep ratings high and fear at a maximum
  9. Fear is a means of controlling the electorate
  10. Internment camps are being planned or are already in existence
  11. The increase in wealth has propelled billionaire growth at a greater rate than at any point in history
  12. The marginalized and poor are getting poorer
  13. Mental illness is skyrocketing
  14. Small business is being destroyed while big box flourishes
  15. Populations are being subjected to medico-political briefings on a daily basis like some sort of ideological imposition
  16. There is a possible surge in the thought of mandatory vaccination if not agreed to will result in punishment for those who oppose it
  17. Family units are being shattered

Now objectively what does this amount to? It seems very unhealthy and undemocratic yet it is been sold as necessary to the health of nations. You go ahead and judge the facts.

The Unmindfulness of Outgoing President Trump

There is a great Eastern based story that is taught to many mindfulness students.

A man is on a hunting expedition and the party enters into enemy territory. The man is shot by an arrow in the ankle. In great pain he reacts with anger criticizing himself for being so stupid. Why was he recklessly out in the open? Why was he wearing bright clothing that made him so visible? Why did the party so negligently stumble into enemy territory? How much more stupid could a person be.

These reactions have no useful purpose and a proper and calm response would be to attend to his injury which is painful. The reactions only intensify the pain and frustrate the rest of the hunting party. The better view would be to respond to the situation by taking steps to deal with the wound.

Outgoing President Trump clearly has lost his presidential election and is reacting in an unhelpful way by lashing out with rage and fury alleging fraud, corruption and portraying himself as a victim of the media, corrupt democrats and even Big Pharma. His reactions are causing his polarized vitriol to further divide a nation that requires healing. A rational response would be to concede defeat and cooperate with incoming President elect Biden to possibly save more American lives and offer assistance to the victims of COVID.

Is it any surprise outgoing President Trump is one of the most unmindful presidents in American history?