Cannabinoid Research Collaborative

09/19/2025

💚 Gratitude Post! 💚

Last week, our teams at the MUSC Cannabinoid Research Collaborative, MUSC Youth Collaborative, & MUSC Addiction Sciences Division had the pleasure of hosting Lani Jumper, Charleston County Harm Reduction & Community Outreach Coordinator for WakeUp Carolina.

Lani led an engaging and informative presentation and Narcan training for our teams, equipping us with the knowledge and tools to respond to opioid overdoses and save lives. 🙌

WakeUp Carolina is doing vital work in our community, from prevention and education to harm reduction and recovery support. We are so grateful for their time, expertise, and ongoing commitment to keeping Charleston safe. 💗

👏 A huge thank-you to WakeUp Carolina and to Lani for sharing your time, knowledge, and passion with our team. Your work is making a real difference in our community!

📷 Photo Credit: Dr. Anna Kirkland (Thank you for the great pics!)

09/12/2025

Time for another Fun Fact Friday! Did you know...

CB1 receptors (where THC interacts with the brain) are among the most abundant receptors in the entire central nervous system.

These receptors play a key role in regulating pain, mood, appetite, memory, and even motor control. This wide distribution helps explain why cannabis can have such a variety of effects, from reducing pain to influencing emotions and cognition.

At the Cannabinoid Research Collaborative, we focus on how cannabis use affects people’s behavior, health, and well-being. This knowledge helps inform public health and guide future research.

📃 Learn more about CB1 receptors and the endocannabinoid system in this scientific review:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6770351/

08/22/2025

This summer was pretty amazing…thanks to the MUSC Entryway Team! They welcomed nearly 150 participants and helped connect them to the right research studies. 🧠💡

Instead of filling out multiple screeners, the Entryway team makes research easy with a one-stop visit that matches participants with their perfect fit study. We’re so grateful for the work they do to support both the Youth Collaborative and the Cannabinoid Research Collaborative. 💛

Interested in trying out a research study this fall? Text RESEARCH to 843-608-0514 or fill out the survey here > https://redcap.musc.edu/surveys/?s=CHFHALF8N7

08/22/2025

Had a blast meeting students and community members today at College of Charleston! 🎉 We loved sharing our study opportunities and research. Your participation help us learn more about brain development in young adults ages 13 and up. Help us make a difference! 🧠💡

Missed us? Don’t worry — we’ll be at Cougar Mall on February 12!

Reach out via DM or fill out our interest survey to get involved.

08/20/2025

🚨 New Research Article Alert! 🚨

Congratulations on another enlightening publication, Drs. Browning, Tomko, Ferguson, and Squeglia! 👏

Drs. Browning, Tomko, Kirkland, Ferguson, and Squeglia (along with collaborators) have a new published paper in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence Journal where they investigated differences in the oral microbiome (the bacteria in your mouth) between young adults with cannabis use disorder (CUD) and other substance use disorders (SUDs).

They found that people with CUD had fewer types of oral bacteria (lower diversity) and different bacterial compositions compared to those without CUD. Within the CUD group, more frequent and heavier cannabis use was linked with lower diversity but higher amounts of strict anaerobes-a group of bacteria that thrive without oxygen and have been associated with negative health outcomes.

These results suggest that CUD is tied to specific shifts in the oral microbiome, and that frequent and heavy cannabis use may exacerbate these changes. Future research will explore how these changes may affect health and CUD-related outcomes.

Read more here > https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871625002753?via%3Dihub

08/19/2025

🙌 Testimonial Tuesday 🙌

Our participants say it best! We are committed to making the research process professional, confidential, and welcoming from the very first call.

✨ From clear communication to supportive staff, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

🌱 Interested in joining one of our cannabis research studies? Your participation helps advance science and could make a real difference for the future of health.

👉 Learn more and see if you qualify: https://redcap.musc.edu/surveys/?s=CHFHALF8N7

08/12/2025

🥳 Biggest congratulations to Drs. Perica, Squeglia, and Garcia! We couldn't be more proud of our award winning team! 🙌

Some highlights from the MUSC Youth Collaborative 2024-2025 Psychology Internship Program, congratulations to the following:

Dr. Maria Perica – John C. Roitzsch Memorial Scientist-Practitioner Award and Honorable Mention in the Internship Paper Competition
Dr. Lindsay Squeglia – Outstanding Research Mentor Award
Dr. Alexis Garcia – Outstanding Child Supervisor Award

08/08/2025

📊 Research Spotlight: Cannabis use is changing, and so are the groups of people using it.

A recent study in Preventive Medicine analyzed national data from 2015 to 2019 and found that past-month cannabis use increased among adults with a wide range of disabilities and health conditions. This includes people living with chronic pain, mobility limitations, and mental health concerns.

Researchers suggest this may reflect growing legal access, shifting public attitudes, and people turning to cannabis as a tool for symptom relief when other treatments may not work.

Understanding how and why people use cannabis helps inform more inclusive, responsive research and healthcare.

📃 Read the study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743523003535

07/31/2025

We’re deeply grateful to Dr. Kevin Gray for his informative and thought-provoking keynote presentation, and for his outstanding leadership in the field of cannabis research. His work continues to advance our understanding of cannabis use in youth and young adults, and the science behind its impact on brain development and health. We’re proud to support and collaborate on research that makes a difference!

Last week, Dr. Kevin Gray gave the keynote presentation, “Understanding and Addressing Cannabis Use,” to kick off the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) 2025 DART Summer Research Day.

He shared some of the latest research on cannabis use in teens and young adults, how it can impact brain development, and what we’re learning. It was a great way to start the day and get everyone thinking about the work ahead!

07/28/2025

🥳 Congratulations to Drs. Ramer, Perica, & Browning! 🥳

Congratulations to Drs. Nolan Ramer (NIDA), Brittney Browning (NIAA), and Maria Perica (NIAA) from MUSC Youth Collaborative on receiving Loan Repayment Program (LRP) awards!

The LRP is a highly competitive program that helps recruit and retain outstanding early-stage investigators by repaying a portion of their eligible educational debt.

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