Cannabinology (MARIJUANA) with Dr. Ziva Cooper and Dr. Caroline Melly

Part 1: Gummies vs. pre-rolls. THC vs. CBD. Indica vs. sativa. Hemp vs. marijuana. Dad grass vs. modern trees. This extended 2-part deep dive with UCLA’s Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids director Dr. Ziva Cooper and Smith College cannabis anthropologist Dr. Caroline Melly covers the storied history of the weed’s trek across continents, the endocannabinoid system, the “bliss” molecule, brain receptors, cancer therapeutics, edible mishaps, the munchies, legalization, titration, addiction, kief, hash, dabs, shatter, strains, and so much more.

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Part 2: Neurodivergence and weed. Munchie remedies. Long term toking. The Entourage Effect. Drag a bean bag into the circle and kick back for Part 2 of Cannabinology with UCLA’s Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids director Dr. Ziva Cooper and Smith College cannabis anthropologist Dr. Caroline Melly. We’ll probe the great mystery and misfortune of hyperemesis, the effect of THC on memory and neuroplasticity, why edibles sometimes send you to a distant galaxy, CBD and inflammation, the risks of psychosis, older vs. younger brains and cannabis, a guy named Rick Simpson, how much weed is the right amount of weed, and if any studies warrant further research. Heads up: they do.

Listen via Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Ad-free episodes available by subscribing to SiriusXM Podcasts+. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Follow Dr. Cooper on Google Scholar

Visit the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids website

Follow Dr. Melly on Google Scholar

A donation went to Last Prisoner Project

Links to things we discussed:

List of slang names for cannabis

Brain activity of anandamide: a rewarding bliss?

How an Addicted Brain Works | News | Yale Medicine

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction

The Impact of Adult Cannabis Use Legalization in California: A Qualitative Review of Subject Matter Expert Opinions on Proposition 64

Racial Myths Of The Cannabis War

1996 California Proposition 215

Research Limits on Knowledge of Benefit or Harm of Cannabis and Cannabinoids Use

CBD vs CBG vs CBN vs THC: Benefits and Key Differences

Cannabis Chemovars Explained

The Cannabis sativa Versus Cannabis indica Debate: An Interview with Ethan Russo, MD

The effects of cannabinoids on serum cortisol and prolactin in humans

Cannabis Chemovar Nomenclature Misrepresents Chemical and Genetic Diversity; Survey of Variations in Chemical Profiles and Genetic Markers in Nevada Medical Cannabis Samples

Neuro-Gastro-Cannabinology: A Novel Paradigm for Regulating Mood and Digestive Health

Did Shakespeare Smoke Pot?

Accuracy of labeled THC potency across flower and concentrate cannabis products

FTC and FDA Send Second Set of Cease-and-Desist Letters to Companies Selling Products Containing Delta-8 THC in Packaging Designed to Look Like Children’s Snacks

Hemp vs. Cannabis: What’s the Difference?

Constituents of Cannabis sativa L. XVII. A Review of the Natural Constituents

Terpene

Eating Edibles on a Full Stomach – Do They Work Less?

The Brain & Marijuana | Project CBD

Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana—Medical, Recreational and Scientific. 

The endocannabinoid system: Essential and mysterious

The neurobiology and evolution of cannabinoid signalling - PMC

The Phylogenetic Distribution and Evolutionary Origins of Endocannabinoid Signalling

Cannabinoid Receptors in the Central Nervous System: Their Signaling and Roles in Disease - PMC

The Scientific Effects of Cannabinoids on the Brain | Releaf UK

How the THC in Weed Affects Your Brain

Global legality of cannabis

Therapeutic Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids

Timeline of State Marijuana Legalization Laws | Third Way

Regulatory Barriers to Research on Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Proposed Path Forward

Cannabis Chemovar Nomenclature Misrepresents Chemical and Genetic Diversity; Survey of Variations in Chemical Profiles and Genetic Markers in Nevada Medical Cannabis Samples

Neuro-Gastro-Cannabinology: A Novel Paradigm for Regulating Mood and Digestive Health

Resin, dab and wax: What is the difference? Types of concentrate containers

CBD, marijuana and hemp: What is the difference among these cannabis products, and which are legal?

Weight Loss and Therapeutic Metabolic Effects of Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)-Infused Mucoadhesive Strips

Tetrahydrocannabivarin is Not Tetrahydrocannabinol

Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report

Care and Feeding of the Endocannabinoid System: A Systematic Review of Potential Clinical Interventions that Upregulate the Endocannabinoid System

Supply and demand for endocannabinoids - PMC

Care and Feeding of the Endocannabinoid System: A Systematic Review of Potential Clinical 

Interventions that Upregulate the Endocannabinoid System - PMC

Supporting Your Own Endocannabinoid System Beyond Cannabis

FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD) | FDA

Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®) - NCI

Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Action of Cannabidiol - PMC

Does CBD Get You High? Understand the Difference between CBD and THC

CBD products are everywhere. But do they work?

California Cannabis Sales Bring in $255.1 Million in Tax Revenue for Fourth Quarter 2025

What does California Sober mean?

Drug Scheduling

Convergence of Cannabis and Psychosis on the Dopamine System

The cannabis withdrawal syndrome: current insights

Weight Loss and Therapeutic Metabolic Effects of Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)-Infused Mucoadhesive Strips

Association of Cannabis Use With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among US Adults

Cardiovascular risk associated with the use of cannabis and cannabinoids: a systematic review and meta-analysis | Heart

Cannabis Users Face Substantially Higher Risk of Heart Attack - American College of Cardiology

Association of Endothelial Dysfunction With Chronic Marijuana Smoking and THC-Edible Use | Cannabis | JAMA Cardiology

​​Marijuana use dramatically increases risk of dying from heart attacks and stroke, large study finds | CNN

E-cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)

Is Vaping Marijuana Safer Than Smoking?

The Safety Concerns of Cannabinoid Vaping Products

Marijuana and Lung Health | American Lung Association

Evidence on the Carcinogenicity of Marijuana Smoke

HOW HARMFUL IS MARIJUANA?

Emergency Department Patients Presenting after Oral versus Inhaled Cannabinoid use: A Retrospective Analysis - PMC

Acute Illness Associated With Cannabis Use, by Route of Exposure: An Observational Study: Annals of Internal Medicine

Cannabis Poisoning

Cannabis and Poisoning

Cannabinoid Toxicity - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

Preventing Unintentional Poisonings from Cannabis Products - MN Dept. of Health

Video: Nixon’s real views on marijuana

Video: President Nixon Declares Drug Abuse "Public Enemy Number One"

Reducing Cannabis Stigma: Understanding the Factors

Cannabis edibles: Behaviours, attitudes, and reasons for use

The role of stigma in cannabis use disclosure: an exploratory study - PMC

Open marijuana use is socially acceptable, most say - CBS News

The highs and lows of cannabis stigma: a vignette study of factors that influence stigma toward cannabis consumers

Marijuana: A Short History by John Hudak

Construct validity of DSM-5 cannabis use disorder diagnosis and severity levels in adults with problematic substance use

Marijuana’s racist history shows the need for comprehensive drug reform

Cultural Race-Related Stress and Cannabis Use among Incarcerated African American Men

Cannabinoids in traumatic brain injury and related neuropathologies: preclinical and clinical research on endogenous, plant-derived, and synthetic compounds

Cannabis use and its relationship with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The Entourage Effect in Cannabis Medicinal Products: A Comprehensive Review

The Paradoxical Effect of Cannabis Use on Cognition in Chronic Psychotic Disorders

Cannabis Use and Cognition in Schizophrenia - PMC

Does cannabis affect cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia? - ScienceDirect

Cannabidiol, cognition and schizophrenia: a narrative review

Cannabidiol attenuates behavioral and electrophysiological changes in the MAM model of schizophrenia in male and female rats

Use of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Anxiety: A Short Synthesis of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Evidence

Delta-8 THC: What You Need to Know About This Cannabinoid

Delta-8 THC Retail Availability, Price, and Minimum Purchase Age

Cannabis Use Is Associated With Lower COVID-19 Susceptibility but Poorer Survival

Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants

Use of Medical Cannabis to Treat Traumatic Brain Injury

Cannabis and cannabinoid use in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review

Acute effects of cannabis on core and co-occurring features associated with autism spectrum disorder in adults

A randomized clinical trial of low-dose cannabis extract in Alzheimer's disease

A Combination of Low-Dose Δ9-THC and Celecoxib as a Therapeutic Strategy for Alzheimer’s Disease

Brain Function Outcomes of Recent and Lifetime Cannabis Use

Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Associated with Brain Volume and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Tetrahydrocannabinol and Skin Cancer: Analysis of YouTube Videos

Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) : r/leaves

TIL smoking a lot of weed can result in cycles of nausea and vomiting. It’s called Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and people suffering from it says hot showers help their symptoms. : r/todayilearned

r/CHSinfo

Grass Sick: The Mysterious Marijuana Syndrome Filling Emergency Rooms

Screaming + vomiting: ‘Scromiting’ is the mysterious cannabis syndrome becoming more common

‘Scromiting’ Is Real – And It’s a Real Pain for Chronic Marijuana Users, Says a CU Anschutz Toxicologist

Capsaicin, The Vanilloid Receptor TRPV1 Agonist in Neuroprotection: Mechanisms Involved and Significance

Efficacy of topical capsaicin for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in a pediatric and adult emergency department

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabinol Activate Capsaicin-Sensitive Sensory Nerves via a CB1 and CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor-Independent Mechanism

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Relieved by Compulsive Bathing

Cannabidiol and Beta-Caryophyllene in Combination: A Therapeutic Functional Interaction

Vaporized D-limonene selectively mitigates the acute anxiogenic effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy adults who intermittently use cannabis

Uhh Yeah Dude’s A horse. A weed. And my mind's eye.

​​UYD Live in Brooklyn: Weed, Horse, Mind's Eye

Cannabinoids for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Cannabinoids in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A randomised-controlled trial

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Therapeutic Cannabis Use Motives - PMC

Acute effects of cannabis on core and co-occurring features associated with autism spectrum disorder in adults

Effects of inhaled cannabis high in Δ9-THC or CBD on the aging brain: A translational MRI and behavioral study

Brain Function Outcomes of Recent and Lifetime Cannabis Use

Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Associated with Brain Volume and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

420 Meaning: The True Story Of How April 20 Became 'Weed Day'

Exploiting Cannabinoid-Induced Cytotoxic Autophagy to Drive Melanoma Cell Death

Study Finds Cannabis Usage in Middle Aged and Older Adults Associated With Larger Brain Volume, Better Cognitive Function

Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naïve social phobia patients

Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects

8 Best Weed Strains For Avoiding the Munchies

Minor Cannabinoids: Biosynthesis, Molecular Pharmacology and Potential Therapeutic Uses

Minor Cannabinoids as an Emerging Frontier for Pain Relief

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