In 2017, researcher Andreas Zimmer of the University of Bonn in Germany published his study titled Cannabis reverses aging process in the brain. The results of the study were published in Natural Medicine, a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Zimmer and his team found that when older mice were given a low-dose cannabis treatment their memory improved to the average age of a two-month old mouse. Generally, mice memories begin to decline at the age of twelve months, according to the study.

This study gives hope to those who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia and other brain-affected conditions. Cannabis is accessible in many forms which is ideal for older patients. According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease affects 5.5 million Americans. The disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and Alzheimer’s Disease frequently leads to dementia.

Zimmer’s study took years to complete as there were multiple steps in the research process. It was determined that older mice lacked the CB1 receptors. Cannabinoids occur naturally as proteins which are essential in THC “docking” and “triggering a signal.” Zimmer assessed that during the aging process cannabinoids no longer formed in the brain.

THC imitates the effect of cannabinoids produced naturally in the body.

Zimmer reports, “The molecular signature no longer corresponded to that of old animals, but was instead very similar to that of young animals. The number of links between the nerve cells in the brain also increased again, which is an important prerequisite for learning ability.”

The research team is currently adapting the study to test on human participants.

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A standoff between marijuana researchers and federal drug enforcement may finally have turned in the scientists’ favour.

As we reported earlier, marijuana experts were frustrated over the poor quality of cannabis grown at the government’s only legal marijuana facility at the University of Mississippi. They claimed it was essentially unusable for their research and demanded that the Drug Enforcement Administration respond to a plethora of applications to grow better cannabis.

The applications were submitted as far back as 2016. Despite a 90-day deadline for review, the DEA ignored this cut-off and simply sat on the applications for three years. This likely would have been longer, but the DEA had not anticipated a legal threat to force some action.

Their silence – despite claiming to be interested in more studies – led the Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI) to sue the DEA, demanding that they finally review the multiple applications sitting in limbo.

Now, CBS News reveals – just a hair before the deadline – the DEA issued a response that, assuming they follow through, opens the door to a plethora of excellent studies.

“Dozens of Applications”

The DEA dragged its feet for as long as possible, but the deadline for a response eventually came.

 “Two days before a deadline to respond to a lawsuit brought by researchers, the Drug Enforcement Administration filed a notice in the Federal Register acknowledging dozens of applications from potential growers. DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon said the agency is ‘making progress in the program to register additional marijuana growers for federally authorized research, and will work with other relevant federal agencies to expedite the necessary next steps.’”

This is a rather sudden change from the DEA’s previous approach, which involved flat-out ignoring the pleas of researchers and – in the lawsuit’s case – the veterans these scientists were hoping to help.

A Small Step in the Right Direction

Given the DEA’s stonewalling, forcing their hand is a notable achievement. However, there is still one way the DEA could cause further delays.

CBS News explains that the DEA wishes to “propose new regulations for growers” before actually issuing permits. This effectively keeps the ball in their court, giving them the ability to hold out until scientists once again get fed up.

Nonetheless, Attorney General William Barr praised the outcome, saying he is:

“…pleased that DEA is moving forward with its review of applications for those who seek to grow marijuana legally to support research.”

SRI’s main investigator, Dr. Sue Sisley, acknowledged the importance of applying research to strains that are actually available in the open and illicit market. We can infer she means marijuana high in THC. The current rules only allow researchers to grow low-THC plants more genetically similar to hemp.

Sisley refers to the DEA’s concession as a “historic victory,” further saying in an e-mail:

“Now we just need to keep the DEA’s feet to the fire and make sure they follow their own timelines they laid out in today’s public notice. It’s going to take a long time to get access to newly cultivated cannabis material for research, but at least that door is now kicked open.”

Hopefully, Sisley’s optimism is founded, but based on its history, the DEA will need to be under constant pressure to follow through with its promise.

WeedAdvisors Support for Medical Cannabis Research

We find it very unfortunate when hard-headed bureaucracy gets in the way of legitimate research. Sadly, the stigma around cannabis is still alive and well. When that stigma permeates the minds of those in power, policies reflect that and create serious roadblocks.

RSI’s move to make this a legal matter was a very bold move, but ultimately it produced results. We will continue to cover the latest discoveries in WeedAdvisor’s ongoing goal to not only support cannabis organizations with our business solutions, but also educate the general public.

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