Episode 17 - Cannabis, Brain Health, and Aging with Kent Hutchison, PhD

In this episode, Dr. Kent Hutchison discusses how his research on cannabis grew from a background in alcohol and nicotine studies into a broader effort to understand both the risks and potential benefits of cannabis use. He describes findings from large brain-imaging datasets suggesting that lifetime cannabis use was associated with larger regional brain volumes and better performance on some cognitive tests in older adults. He also discusses why cannabis may affect adolescents and older adults differently, including age-related changes in the endocannabinoid system. The conversation explores possible neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids, the use of cannabis among older adults for pain, sleep, and anxiety, and emerging research on cannabis and exercise. A central message is that cannabis effects depend on the product, dose, route of administration, age, health status, and reason for use. 

Kent Hutchison, PhD is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder and Founder of the Center for Research and Education Addressing Cannabis and Health (CU REACH). Dr. Hutchison has been an NIH-funded scientist for the past 20 years and has published numerous papers in the area of substance use. He recently served on the National Academy of Sciences committee that published a comprehensive report on the health effects of cannabis in late 2016 and has given two congressional briefings on this subject matter. He is also the principal investigator or co-investigator on three NIH-funded studies examining the effects of cannabis products purchased in Colorado, including flower, edibles, and concentrates. These studies compare CBD-only products, THC combined with CBD, and THC-only products on cognitive outcomes, anxiety, and pain using a mobile pharmacology lab. His research focuses on several patient populations, including pain patients, individuals who want to stop using opioids, veterans, and older adults. The mobile lab allows for the assessment of blood levels of THC and CBD and tests whether blood levels of these cannabinoids predict key outcomes, including reductions in pain and opioid use. Dr. Hutchison has also launched an online educational program at the University of Colorado focused on cannabis and health.

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Episode 16 - Cannabis Smoke and Cardiovascular Disease with Matthew Springer, PhD

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Springer explains how inhaling smoke from combusted products such as tobacco and cannabis, as well as inhaling aerosol from e-cigarettes and cannabis vaping devices, may impair endothelial function, an early marker of cardiovascular risk. Drawing on rodent and human studies, he reports that chronic tobacco smokers, e-cigarette users, and cannabis smokers all show reduced vascular function. He also discusses evidence that chronic THC edible users may have impaired vascular function through a different mechanism than inhaled products. A central message is that “cannabis use” is too imprecise a term, because smoking cannabis and ingesting THC are very different exposures. His public health takeaway is simple: be aware of cardiovascular risks, practice moderation, and avoid exposing others to secondhand smoke. 

Matthew Springer, PhD received his BA from UC Berkeley in 1985 and his PhD from Stanford University in 1992.
He did postdoctoral research at Stanford and continued his research there as a senior scientist until joining the UCSF faculty in 2003, where he is currently one of the few non-clinicians on the faculty of the Division of Cardiology. The close juxtaposition of his basic research background with the clinical cardiologists has resulted in an active translational research program. His research interests include cell therapy and gene therapy approaches to studying cardiovascular disease, with the goals of exploring potential treatments for heart attacks and heart failure, and understanding how cardiovascular health is impacted by smoking/vaping of tobacco or cannabis products, or by secondhand exposure, in rodents and humans.

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Episode 15 - Cannabis for Migraine Headache with Nathaniel Schuster, MD

In this episode, Nathaniel Schuster, MD, Professor and Medical Director of the Center for Pain Management at UC San Diego Health, explores the potential role of cannabinoid therapy in migraine care. Join us as Dr. Schuster shares insights into the benefits, limitations, and practical considerations of this approach, and discusses his latest research on vaporized cannabis for acute migraine treatment, including clinical trial findings and future directions.

Dr. Nathaniel Schuster is a pain and headache neurologist and is Professor and Medical Director at the UC San Diego Center for Pain Management. He has served as Treasurer of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, Senior Vice President of the World Headache Society, and as Vice Chair of the Guidelines Committee for the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society. He has received the American Academy of Pain Medicine’s Rollin “Mac” Gallagher Award, the American Academy of Pain Medicine’s Distinguished Service Award, the American Headache Society’s Harold G. Wolff Award, the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society’s Outstanding Volunteer Award, and the Migraine Research Foundation’s Impact Award. He is section editor for the Neuropathic Pain section for the journal Pain Medicine. He graduated from University of Michigan Medical School and completed a neurology residency at UCLA, headache fellowship at Montefiore Headache Center, and pain fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. He conducted the first placebo-controlled trial of cannabinoids for acute migraine and his ongoing research includes clinical trials studying treatments for migraine and neuropathic pain. 

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Episode 14 - Terpenes in Cannabis: Are they therapeutic? with Catherine Cahill, PhD

In episode 14, Dr. Cahill, Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA Brain Research Institute, delves into the fascinating world of terpenes—natural aromatic compounds found in cannabis and other plants—and their potential therapeutic effects, especially for pain relief. Join us as Dr. Cahill shares her expertise on the mechanisms, research findings, and regulatory status of these promising molecules.

Catherine M. Cahill, PhD is a neuropharmacologist at the Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. Her work aims to advance the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of substance use disorder and chronic pain. Her research is funded by various NIH grants including HEAL drug development proposals.

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