Cannabinoid Research Collaborative

07/25/2025

It's Fun Fact Friday time! Did you know...

From humans to birds to lizards… all vertebrates have an endocannabinoid system. 🧬

This ancient biological system plays a crucial role in regulating mood, pain, appetite, and immune responses across species. That means cannabis research may not just help people—but could also advance veterinary medicine! 🧑‍⚕️🐶🐱

Learn more about the science behind the endocannabinoid system in this comprehensive review:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6770351/

07/16/2025

A new article from the American Psychological Association explores how skyrocketing THC levels in cannabis products—especially concentrates—are reshaping public health conversations and policy efforts.

Higher potency means higher risk, particularly when it comes to mental health, dependence, and adolescent use. Researchers and clinicians are calling for more nuanced regulation, clearer product labeling, and a better public understanding of what today’s cannabis really is.

One comparison stands out:
“In reality, today’s high-THC concentrates are ‘as close to the cannabis plant as strawberries are to frosted strawberry pop tarts,’”
—Beatriz H. Carlini, PhD, MPH, Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, University of Washington

Read more via the APA Monitor: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/06/marijuana-potency-policy-risk

07/07/2025

In science, progress rarely happens all at once. It’s built through steady effort, careful observation, and showing up—even on the tough days.

Whether you’re running experiments, analyzing data, or just staying curious—every step matters.

Keep going!

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from the Cannabinoid Research Collaborative! 🎆

We’re taking a moment to celebrate our nation’s independence and the spirit of discovery that drives our research forward. Please note that our offices will be closed on Friday, July 4th, in observance of the holiday.

We’ll resume normal operations on Monday, July 7th, ready to continue advancing science and health together.

Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday!

07/02/2025

🚨 Conference highlight! In mid-June, Dr. Kathryn Gex and Dr. Ashley Dowd represented the MUSC Cannabinoid Research Collaborative at the 2025 College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) Conference in New Orleans!

🍃 Dr. Gex presented a research poster titled “Exploring S*x and Age Differences in the Perceived Severity of Cannabis Use Consequences among Adults”—a compelling look at how perceptions of cannabis use vary across age and gender.

🎤 Dr. Dowd took the stage with a scientific presentation titled “Changes in Cannabis Use During To***co Cessation Treatment: Results from a Prospective To***co Treatment Trial”—a powerful addition to the conversation on co-use and treatment outcomes.

📸 The photo resolution might not do them justice—but trust us, this team brings high-definition brainpower. Great work, Drs. Gex & Dowd!!

06/27/2025

Did you know the U.S. government holds a patent on cannabinoids for their potential as antioxidants and neuroprotectants? 🌿🧠

📄 Patent #6,630,507, filed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, highlights research on how cannabinoids may help protect the brain from damage related to conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke.

This patent reflects the growing scientific interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids—something our team at MUSC continues to explore through ongoing research.

🔬 Learn more about the science behind it: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6630507B1

06/26/2025

📣 Another shoutout for Dr. Nolan Ramer from the Cannabinoid Research Collaborative!

His recent study found that young women report less craving for cannabis after drinking alcohol, compared to young men—a finding that could help inform future treatment approaches for people who use both substances. 🧠🍷🌿

Dr. Ramer attended the annual meeting last weekend, and his work was featured in an official press release before the meeting! 🙌

📰 Read the press release here: https://www.newswise.com/articles/young-women-experience-less-craving-for-cannabis-following-alcohol-consumption
📃 Read his article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39579151/

👏 Way to go, Dr. Ramer!

06/20/2025

🎉 Big shoutout to Dr. Nolan Ramer for representing the MUSC Cannabinoid Research Collaborative at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence 87th Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans!

His poster looked at a really important question:
Does tough child behavior lead some moms to use substances as a way to cope—and could that be part of what drives substance use problems? 🤔

This kind of research helps us better understand the why behind substance use, especially for parents facing daily stress. It could one day help shape more supportive, effective approaches for families. 👩‍👧‍👦

🧾 Poster title: “Coping with misconduct: Exploring parent substance use motives as a mediating link between child behavior and mothers' substance use”
👥 Co-authors: Dr. Kathryn Gex, Dr. Rachel Tomko, and Dr. Angela Moreland

Way to go, Dr. Ramer! We’re proud to see our team contributing to the science that moves the field forward. 🙌

06/17/2025

Meet the CRC Team! 👋

Dr. Kevin Gray wears a lot of hats here at MUSC — Professor, Director of Addiction Sciences, and Assistant VP for Advancing Research Partnerships — and that’s just the beginning. 🎓🧠

He co-leads the MUSC Cannabinoid Research Collaborative and the MUSC Youth Collaborative, where he’s helping develop new treatments for substance use disorders in adolescents and young adults through NIH-supported clinical research.

Dr. Gray also mentors rising scientists, teaches across training programs, and helps shape the field nationally as a leader in both child/adolescent psychiatry and addiction psychiatry.

We’re lucky to have him guiding the future of addiction science and supporting the next generation of researchers and clinicians here at MUSC! 🙌

06/11/2025

📣 Exciting news from our partner team, the Youth Collaborative! 📣

Congratulations to team members, Dr. Anna Kirkland, Dr. Brittney Browning, Dr. ReJoyce Green, Sam Agbeh, and Dr. Lindsay Squeglia!

They recently published the first meta-analysis looking at how cannabis use may affect brain chemistry. Findings suggest cannabis use may impact important neural processes, including glutamatergic and GABAergic functioning (glutamate, glutamine, and GABA), neural health (N-acetylaspartate), and glial functioning (myo-inositol).

This offers new insight that may help guide future treatments for cannabis use disorder.

Learn more here > https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hbm.70236

06/02/2025

Curiosity is at the heart of everything we do!

This week, stay curious and keep asking the bold questions. That’s where discovery begins!

05/30/2025

Did you know your body naturally makes its own cannabinoids? 🧠

One well-studied example is anandamide, often called the "bliss molecule." Its name comes from the Sanskrit word ananda, meaning joy or happiness. Anandamide interacts with the same receptors in the brain as THC, highlighting the deep connection between the human body and cannabinoids.

It’s part of your endocannabinoid system—a powerful regulator of mood, memory, and pain. The endocannabinoid system is an essential part of how we maintain internal balance—and it’s a growing area of research in neuroscience and medicine. 🌿

🔗 Learn more in this peer-reviewed article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7855189/