Episode 12 - Delta-8-THC: A public health perspective with Eric Leas, PhD

In episode 12, Drs. Igor Grant and Eric Leas delve into the complexities surrounding Delta-8-THC, exploring its differences from Delta-9-THC, consumer demand, regulatory challenges, and safety concerns. They discuss the implications of state regulations on the market, the need for compliance in cannabis research, and the future of Delta-8-THC regulation. The conversation also touches on the broader landscape of cannabinoids and psychoactive substances, highlighting the ongoing evolution of cannabis regulation and public health considerations.

Dr. Eric C. Leas is an Assistant Professor in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health at UC San Diego and Director of the Tobacco E-commerce Lab. His research examines how internet data and big-data analytics can be used to improve public health policy, particularly related to tobacco, cannabis, and emerging psychoactive substances. His current projects include statewide surveillance of online tobacco sales, studies of hemp-derived cannabinoids such as delta-8-THC, and investigations of how artificial intelligence can enhance public-health communication and surveillance.

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Episode 11 - Cannabis Use Among Older Adults with Alison Moore, MD, MPH

In episode 11, Drs. Grant and ⁠Alison Moore discuss the implications of cannabis use among older adults, focusing on its prevalence, reasons for use, medical applications, and the challenges faced in healthcare regarding cannabis education and disclosure. They explore the complexities of cannabis effects, particularly in relation to aging, dementia, and substance use disorders, emphasizing the need for better education for both healthcare providers and patients.

Alison A. Moore, MD, MPH, FACP, AGSF, is a Professor and Chief of the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care, and Director of the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging and the Center for Healthy Aging. She holds the Larry L. Hillblom Chair in Geriatric Medicine. She is a geriatrician who provides primary and consultative care to older adults and a public health researcher whose work focuses principally on older adults with unhealthy substance use. She also has interests in healthy aging, gerontechnology, health equity, and aging and HIV. Dr. Moore has a passion for health equity; she was the inaugural Vice Chair for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine. She is equally passionate about mentorship; in 2019, she was awarded the UC San Diego Health Sciences Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award. She is MPI of an NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (P30AG059299) and has been the recipient of a K24 Midcareer Award in Patient-Oriented Research from NIAAA (K24AA15957). She is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the American Geriatrics Society and is currently its President-elect.

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Episode 10 - Digital Tools for Managing Cannabis Use with Alan Budney, PhD

In episode 10, Drs. Grant and ⁠Alan Budney, PhD⁠ of Dartmouth explore the intersection of cannabis use and behavioral health, focusing on contingency management as a method for addressing problematic cannabis use. The discussion highlights the integration of digital technologies in interventions, the role of craving in cannabis use, and the challenges healthcare providers face in communicating about cannabis. Additionally, the conversation addresses the co-occurrence of mood disorders with cannabis use and the potential of social media to influence public perception and behavior regarding cannabis.

Dr. Alan Budney is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Biomedical Data Science at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from Rutgers, served as a postdoctoral fellow and a faculty member at the University of Vermont, and after a stint at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, joined Dartmouth in 2012. Dr. Budney is known for his research on the development and evaluation of innovative behavioral treatments for problematic cannabis use in adults and adolescence and, in particular,  for his interest in using digital technologies and social media to develop practical, useful interventions. His work also has concerned ways of improving doctor patient communication about both medicinal and recreational cannabis.

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Episode 9 - Minor Cannabinoids & Terpenes with Ziva Cooper, PhD

In episode 9, Drs. Grant and Ziva Cooper discuss her research on medicinal cannabis, focusing on gender differences in cannabis response, the therapeutic potential of minor cannabinoids and terpenes, and the opioid-sparing effects of cannabinoids. The conversation highlights the complexities of cannabis research, including regulatory challenges and the need for further studies to clarify the role of cannabinoids in medicine.

Dr. Ziva Cooper is the Director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids in the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Anesthesiology at David Geffen School of Medicine. Her current research involves understanding variables that influence both the therapeutic potential and adverse effects of cannabis and its constituents through a translational approach that includes double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.  

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