“Cannabinoid Science, Research and Therapeutic applications for pain, sleep and mental health.” Course Outline
Hour 0:00 – 1:00
Welcome and Introductions
Welcome and introduction of instructor and course participants.
Overview and outline of the course.
Who is Fringe? (Ch 1)
Discuss the term ‘fringe’ as it applies to healthcare professionals.
Discuss the value of working together with our patients/clients to understand and personalize their care.
Healthcare Today (Ch 2)
Review the current statistics on pain, sleep disorders and mental health in America.
Discuss the current model of physical, mental and sleep healthcare.
Identify an alternative solution to a more inclusive approach to healthcare.
Discuss common factors that can improve our overall health and introduce hemp plant medicine as one of those factors.
The Story of the Cannabis Plant (Ch 3)
Understand the difference between ‘cannabis’ and ‘hemp’.
Review the history of cannabis via a timeline.
Understand the cultural, industrial and medicinal uses of cannabis used throughout time.
Recognize the campaign against cannabis in North America From 1910-2000 and it’s political, racial and financial motives.
The Cannabis Plant (Ch 4)
Explore the parts of the Cannabis Sativa plant.
Understand the importance of trichomes and their role in producing cannabinoids.
Understand the difference between major and minor cannabinoids.
Discuss cannabinoid precursors, and understand the difference between acidic and varinolic cannabinoids.
Identify the common terpenes and flavonoids found in the Cannabis Sativa plant.
Endocannabinoid System (ECS) (Ch 5)
Understand the endocannabinoid system’s function.
Discuss the importance of endocannabinoid receptors and their roles in the body.
Identify the main endocannabinoids in the body and their functions.
Discuss how to boost the ECS.
Define phytocannabinoids and discuss the role they play within the ECS.
Identify how to impair the ECS.
Define Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome (CEDS).
Discuss THC and its interactions with the ECS.
Understand the difference between synthetic and organic cannabinoids.
Hour 1:00 – 1:30
Cannabinoid Research – Therapeutic Applications (Ch 6)
Discuss the history of cannabis research 1894 – present.
Understand THC and its effects on the body.
Understand cannabidiol (CBD) and its effects on the body.
Define cannabinoid based medications (CBM).
Summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the scientific literature on cannabis.
Define the pyramid of research evidence and its role in scientific research reviews.
Hour 1:30 – 2:15
Cannabinoid Research and Pain (Ch 7)
Identify the current statistics on chronic pain and its effect on cannabis use.
Summarize the literature on CBM (with THC) research.
Discuss the research for CBD for arthritis and myofascial pain.
Review the research on CBD and pain – human studies.
Understand the mechanism of how cannabinoids affect pain.
Explore the clinical guidelines for cannabinoids and pain.
Hour 2:15 – 3:00
Cannabinoid Research and Sleep (Ch 8)
Discuss the impact that poor sleep has on health outcomes.
Illustrate the amount of cannabis users that utilize it as a sleep aid.
Review CBM (with THC) and sleep positive and negative outcomes.
Discuss CBD and sleep – rodent and human.
Explore the mechanism of how cannabinoids affect sleep.
Explore the clinical guidelines for cannabinoids and sleep.
Cannabinoid Research and Mental Health (Ch 9)
Discuss the prevalence of anxiety and depression in our society and its impact on health.
Review CBM (with THC) and anxiety positive and negative.
Discuss CBD and anxiety – rodent and human studies.
Review CBM (with THC) and depression positive outcomes and negative outcomes.
Discuss CBD and depression – rodent and human studies.
Understand the mechanism of how cannabinoids affect mental health.
Explore the clinical guidelines for cannabinoids and mental health.
Summarize the major cannabinoids research summary.
Hour 3:00 – 3:45
Cannabinoid Research and Safety (Ch 10) (Starts 3:04:50)
Discuss the difference between cannabis abuse vs. recreational use.
Understand the difference between Cannabis use vs. medical cannabis use.
Identify dependence, withdrawal, and safety/adverse events.
Review of clinical data on safety and side effects of cannabidiol.
Explore drug interactions of THC, CBD, and cannabis.
Cannabinoid Research – Minors, Terpenes and Flavonoids (Ch 11)
Review minor cannabinoid research.
Define the following minor cannabinoids and their effects on the body:
● Cannabigerol (CBG)
● Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)
● Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)
● Cannabichromene (CBC)
● Cannabivarin (CBV)
● Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
● Cannabinol (CBN)
Define the following terpenes and their effects on the body:
● Myrcene
● Pinene
● Limonene
● Linalool
● Caryophyllene
Review the current terpene and flavonoid.
Discus minor cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids research summaries.
Explain the entourage effect and its role within using cannabis.
Discuss the future of research and FDA “unknowns”.
Hour 3:45 – 5:00
From Seed to Shelf (Ch 12)
Explain the process of cultivation, harvesting, extracting and processing the cannabis plant into cannabinoid products.
Understand the importance of a certificate of analysis in the cannabis industry.
Understand the importance of testing for cannabinoid profiles, terpene profiles, microbial contamination, heavy metals, residual solvents and pesticides.
Define different extraction practices:
● Mechanical
● Supercritical CO2
● Solvent
● Steam
● Evaporation – solvent recovery
● Distillation
Understand the difference between full spectrum, broad spectrum, distillate, and isolated cannabinoid products.
Hour 5:00 – 5:45
Routes of Administration (Ch 13)
Understand the different formulations of cannabinoid products and their risks vs. benefits.
Compare the following routes of administration:
● Inhalation
● Ingestion – oral
● Ingestion – sublingual
● Topical
Cannabinoid Metabolism (Ch 14)
Define hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic compounds.
Explore the importance of bioavailability.
Understand the ingestion and absorption process.
Define content and metabolites.
Water Soluble Cannabinoid Science (Ch 15)
Define emulsion technology to make cannabinoids water soluble.
Understand why use an emulsion?
Explore the use of nanotechnology.
Understand the benefits of water soluble technology.
Discuss how we can improve cannabinoid products.
Hour 5:45 – 6:00
Navigating Labels (Ch 16)
Understand the implications of a lack of FDA regulation in the cannabinoid product industry.
Define CBD content vs. hemp oil content.
Explore how to assess ingredients and quality of common CBD products.
Cannabinoid Consuming Guidelines (Ch 17)
Discuss the importance of personalized care with CBD products.
Review suggested CBD dosages to use clinically.
Discuss the importance of habit tracking.
Future Directions (Ch 18)
Discuss the importance of plants as medicine.
Review how cannabis is our history and our future.
