Marijuana for pain management shows promise

+ COP27 and 'loss and damage'; an AI bill of rights US Edition - Today's top story: Cannabis holds promise for pain management, reducing the need for opioid painkillers – a neuropharmacology expert explains how [View in browser]( US Edition | 2 November 2022 [The Conversation]( With marijuana becoming legal in more states, people have begun to use cannabis for what are essentially therapeutic reasons – to help with sleep, anxiety or nausea, for example. A story today explores marijuana’s potential for treating chronic pain. Written by University of Washington pharmacologist Benjamin Land, the article explains how the two primary cannabinoids in marijuana plants – THC and CBD – [affect the brain to reduce pain, and how they can be combined with existing opioids for pain management](. Land predicts marijuana’s “use in medicine will undoubtedly grow exponentially.” One of the most widely read science articles this past week explains research that finds a link between the gut microbiome and rheumatoid arthritis. Immunology researcher Meagan Chriswell from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus writes about how she and her colleagues discovered a [previously unknown species of intestinal bacteria that is present in people with rheumatoid arthritis](. The COP27 climate conference begins in Egypt next week, and one topic expected to take center stage is compensation from richer countries to poorer ones for the economic impacts of climate change. Bethany Tietjen, a research fellow in climate policy at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, explains the discussion around [what’s called “loss and damage” and why it’s so contentious](. “Negotiators know that the idea of payments for loss and damage has the potential to lead to further discussions about financial compensation for historical injustices, such as slavery in the United States or colonial exploitation by European powers,” she writes. Also in this week’s science news: - [How California wants to make trucking electric]( - [Does the public care about wastewater surveillance for public health?]( - [Emperor penguins listed as “threatened”]( Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters The cannabis plant produces both THC – the psychoactive component in marijuana – and the compound commonly known as CBD, which does not lead to a ‘high.’ Jena Ardell/Moment via Getty Images [Cannabis holds promise for pain management, reducing the need for opioid painkillers – a neuropharmacology expert explains how]( Benjamin Land, University of Washington Studies suggest that marijuana and CBD use might help relieve chronic pain while also reducing a patient’s need for opioids. Rheumatoid arthritis leads to painful joint inflammation, often in the hands and wrists. Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank via Getty Images [Newly discovered species of bacteria in the microbiome may be a culprit behind rheumatoid arthritis]( Meagan Chriswell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus A new species of bacteria that doesn’t normally live in the gut may trigger an immune response so strong that it spreads to the joints. Extreme flooding in Pakistan in 2022 affected 33 million people. Akram Shahid/AFP via Getty Images [Loss and damage: Who is responsible when climate change harms the world’s poorest countries, and what does compensation look like?]( Bethany Tietjen, Tufts University That’s the big question at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP27, and it’s controversial. Here are some of the ideas being floated. [The White House’s ‘AI Bill of Rights’ outlines five principles to make artificial intelligence safer, more transparent and less discriminatory]( Christopher Dancy, Penn State Many AI algorithms, like facial recognition software, have been shown to be discriminatory to people of color, especially those who are Black. [A blood test that screens for multiple cancers at once promises to boost early detection]( Colin Pritchard, University of Washington Multicancer early detection tests are among the priorities of the Biden administration’s Cancer Moonshot. The tests show promise, but questions remain about when and how to use them. [Who sees what you flush? Wastewater surveillance for public health is on the rise, but a new survey reveals many US adults are still unaware]( Rochelle H. Holm, University of Louisville Public health officials monitor sewage in local communities to track COVID, polio, flu and more. But no one asks the people being monitored for their permission – raising some questions and concerns. [With over-the-counter birth control pills likely to be approved, pharmacists and pharmacies could play an ever-increasing role in reproductive health care]( Lucas Berenbrok, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences; Marian Jarlenski, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Some states already allow pharmacists to provide birth control to patients with a prescription. But FDA approval of an over-the-counter birth control pill could greatly expand access. [Fetterman’s struggles with language highlight the challenges after a stroke – a vascular neurologist explains aphasia and the path to recovery]( Andrew M. Southerland, University of Virginia Auditory processing disorders and aphasia can make spoken speech difficult to produce and understand. But these challenges alone do not imply cognitive impairments. [Emperor penguins get Endangered Species Act protection – with 98% of colonies at risk of extinction by 2100, can it save them?]( Stephanie Jenouvrier, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Emperor penguins survive in a ‘Goldilocks zone’ between too much sea ice and too little. Climate change is having an impact. - [How debt-for-climate swaps can help solve low-income countries’ fiscal and environmental challenges at the same time]( Soyoung Oh, Tufts University Many small island nations are struggling to protect their land from rising seas while also facing paralyzing debt. - [Water was both essential and a barrier to early life on Earth – microdroplets are one potential solution to this paradox]( Nicolás M. Morato, Purdue University The chemical reaction that forms essential biomolecules like proteins and DNA normally doesn’t occur in the presence of water. Microdroplets provide a unique environment that make it possible. - [Beyond passenger cars and pickups: 5 questions answered about electrifying trucks]( Daniel Sperling, University of California, Davis; Lewis Fulton, University of California, Davis; Marshall Miller, University of California, Davis; Miguel Jaller, University of California, Davis As California goes on regulating air pollution, other states often follow – including the Golden State’s ambitious goals for cleaning up emissions from trucking. - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Economy & Business]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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