The Light That Burns: Night-Time Illumination and Melatonin Suppression

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Darkness is good for us; it is an ally that heals us. It is something to be embraced, not feared. From Palaeolithic times, up until very recently, the only major sources of light we would have experienced once the sun went down would have been starlight, moonlight and firelight. Life on this planet has evolved for three and a half billion years with a regular and dependable day-night schedule. Now many of us are subject to electrical lighting long into the night, or over the entire duration, the most likely suspect being street lighting. This is far out of balance from how the sleep/wake cycle of our brain’s evolved. This artificial light pollution has a highly detrimental effect on our circadian rhythms, by repressing our nightly melatonin production, the release of which is triggered by darkness. Many people may not consider light to be a pollutant, or to even have the potential to be damaging as it is much less tangible than other environmental pollutants. But excess light, in the wrong place, at the wrong time should be considered a major pollutant that threatens health and well-being. This is especially important given that is well known that melatonin production declines with age as it is, and it is implicated with an ever increasing number of health impacts beyond simply making us feel sleepy when darkness falls. We spend around a third of our lives asleep, so in the long term, this negative exposure to light and the melatonin suppression that results each and every night can add up and affect our health and quality of life in a significant way.

The health ramifications of disturbed sleep and the direct effects of melatonin suppression should be considered separately, while at the same time being intimately linked. Melatonin is an endogenous neurohormone made in the pineal gland in the brain. It is a very potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger, protecting cells, and has neuroprotective properties. It also affects DNA repair, interacting with DNA helicase enzymes and via its actions on several key genes involved in DNA responsive pathways. It acts as a buffer against DNA damage, cellular mutation and cancer, and lowered levels of the hormone have been linked to several kinds of cancer in a number of different studies. Melatonin suppression has also been linked to chronic stress, impaired immune system function and to a number of different diseases. It plays a role in glucose metabolism, and its suppression has been linked with type-2 diabetes. The negative effects of disturbed sleep and sleep deprivation are serious; having been linked to depression, car and workplace accidents, learning and memory deficits and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and an overall increase in mortality.

Melatonin has neuroprotective properties and may maintain and augment neurogenesis. Melatonin has been found to increase cell proliferation and survival in the hippocampus of aging mice, and melatonin levels decline with age in both mice and humans. The hormone has also been found to enhance the survival of new neurons, enhance dendritogenesis, increasing dendritic maturation and lead to a greater complexity of the dendritic tree and an increased volume of the granular cell layer in the hippocampus of adult mice. The modulating effect of melatonin in neurogenesis could have important implications regarding cognitive ageing and neuropsychiatric disease via the repair of lost dendrites and synaptic connections, so its suppression and potential dietary supplementation are worthy of consideration as we age. The neurogenic effects of melatonin may well be magnified in the young when brains are still developing, so it is important children aren’t exposed to computers, televisions or smartphones too close to bedtime, as high quality sleep is of major importance to brain growth and development.

The evidence for the importance of enough high quality, deep sleep for health is overwhelming. Adequate sleep can act to reduce stress, reduce risk of many diseases, and improve or maintain cognitive function and memory. Recent research has shown that sleep plays an important role in brain detox, with neurons shrinking while we sleep to allow toxins built up to be removed, and there is also an increase in production of oligodendrocytes, the neurons responsible for producing myelin, which acts to protect the neural circuitry of the brain. Uninterrupted darkness during sleep is vital. High quality sleep is so important that if it is compromised via exposure to light it can, to a large extent, negate the benefits of a good diet and regular exercise.

You may be blaming yourself for poor sleeping habits. Exercise, diet, use of intoxicants and stress (or lack of it) are all important factors contributing to quality of sleep. However the importance of melatonin in the nightly sleep cycle cannot be overstated, even if all other life style factors are positive with regard to sleep, and it only takes a tiny amount of light to have a negative impact.

Light exposure at the right time of day may have beneficial effects. In northern and southern latitudes where day length shortens during the winter months, some people can be prone to depression due to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Exposure to bright light in the morning seems to result in an antidepressant effect while producing an earlier onset of night-time melatonin production, thus timing of exposure to light is important. The benefits of exposure to sunshine, in the right amount and certain times of day, are well known. Only ten minutes of sunshine on the face per day are required for a beneficial effect.

Life-style activities, such as certain types of meditation and yoga have been found to increase plasma melatonin levels, and exogenous melatonin can be obtained through diet (in food sources such as fruits, nuts and grains) and this appears far superior to taking it in the form of a synthetic supplement. Darkness itself can be used as a spiritual tool, and may be one of the oldest such methods employed by humanity. Long term experience of darkness, over days or a few weeks, leads to major changes in brain chemistry, and can bring about some really quite profound changes in consciousness. Darkness retreats may allow people interested in this method of mind expansion to explore this further.

A simple test to see whether you are being affected by light pollution is to turn your bedroom light off at night and let your eyes adjust with your curtains closed. It should be very dark in your room, with the only light being moonlight or starlight. Any more light than this from any other sources may well be having an influence. In an urban environment with many street lights you may still be able to see quite well, and if so this should be a cause for concern, and your health, on some level, will be being impacted. The impact of light pollution doesn’t just affect us, but extends to all of the wildlife living within the vicinity of human habitation. Light pollution in built up areas is intensified when it is overcast, as the light is reflected back down to the ground. These lights also waste vast quantities of energy being on continuously all night, largely unnecessarily. The International Dark Sky Association has calculated that unnecessary night-time lighting wastes upwards of $41.5 billion in electricity costs each year around the world while being responsible for the release of 12 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Different light has differing impacts on melatonin production, with the amount of melatonin suppression being linked to both light intensity and spectral frequency. High pressure sodium (HPS) bulbs that emit orange-yellow light are commonly used as street or road lighting are likely to be to be one of the widespread culprits responsible for melatonin suppression. This light also appears to be the least potent with regard to this effect of the ones commonly encountered, although their potential impact should be in no way understated. Exposure to short wavelength light (between 440 and 525 nanometres) exerts the most profound effect on melatonin production and should be avoided when possible once the sun sets. “White” light metal halide and bulbs that emit shorter wavelength light (of around 440-500 nanometres) are commonly used in stadium lighting, among other uses, and are worse, having three times the impact on melatonin suppression than the HPS bulbs. The white light emitted by light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs used in televisions, computers, smartphones and notebooks are worse still, suppressing melatonin five times as much as HPS bulbs. Use of any of these should be avoided two to three hours prior to bedtime to ensure deep and restful sleep. Conversely these white light LED’s are considered the most eco-friendly sources of light, so while being energy efficient, they seem to have the most detrimental impact on melatonin production. These white light sources such as metal halide bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) and LED’s should be used sparingly when the sun goes down. While developing energy efficient lighting is certainly warranted, the needs of sustainability need to be balanced with potential detrimental impacts on melatonin production and biology, with both ourselves and other species in mind.

There are a number of things that can be done to eliminate the negative influence of light at times when it will impact us, both on a personal and much broader level. Working night-time shifts should be avoided over the long term with health in mind, and this has been linked to increased cancer risk via melatonin suppression. Working against our circadian rhythms in this long term fashion is not something our brains evolved to deal with and should be avoided if possible. If working at night is a necessity, blue light filtering glasses or googles that filter light below 530 nanometres, can be used to preserve melatonin production and while having no effect on alertness or work performance.

Adjusting lampposts so their light is not directed towards the horizon would drastically reduce unnecessary light pollution, as would shielding the bulbs, or using movement activated lights. Over lighting or using higher lighting levels than is needed for a task should be avoided, and it is important to constrain illumination to where it is needed and for the time it is required. Lights should be turned off when not in use, which will also conserve energy (and money). Manufacturers should be compelled to put spectral wavelength information on packaging for all bulbs, so consumers are able to make informed decisions on what is best to purchase with melatonin production and health in mind, and health regulation regarding the spectral frequency of public lighting should be enforced.

Avoid using computers, smartphones or tablets right up until bedtime (in this sense a book beats a kindle), as light from these will definitely impact melatonin production, and the same applies to televisions, it would be best to avoid having one in your bedroom altogether. Eliminate all sources of electronic lighting from your room prior to bedtime, no matter how seemingly trivial, as a tiny amount of light can have an impact. If you live in an area where light pollution is a factor, investing in some blackout shades or blinds would be worthwhile. Alternatively one could invest in some eyeshades. In the evening, natural light such as firelight, and particularly candlelight are a lot more soothing to the brain, in that they don’t repress melatonin production anyway near as much as artificial light while stimulating relaxing alpha rhythms in the brain. Avoid turning on lights at night if you need to get up and let your eyes adjust if you can. Low wattage or red lights will make much better nightlights regarding impact on melatonin production, and installing such bulbs to act as a nightlight in your bathroom would be a good idea (red light, like that used in photography dark rooms, has the most negligible impact on melatonin production). If you feel your sleep is being negatively affected at present it would be worth experimenting with these things to see if things improve. Some people also recommend using an alarm clock that wakes you with light as oppose to sound, and some report that these may assist with SAD syndrome during the winter and in aligning one’s circadian rhythms in a much smoother way than an alarm which uses sound.

THC in cannabis has been found to substantially increase melatonin levels by up to 4000%. While this may sound advantageous, over the long term there may be implications to the sleep/wake cycle if marijuana is misused via boosting melatonin levels so significantly, particularly during daylight hours. THC dominant cannabis also represses REM sleep, which is a key part of the deep, refreshing, defragging sleep we all need. If people wish to use cannabis, particularly close to bedtime, it is important to seek out strains that are more cannabidiol (CBD) dominant, as this compound has anti-anxiety, sleep assisting properties and it balances out the effects of the THC.

A free online software programme called f.lux has been developed which adapts your computer’s colour display to the time of day or night, automatically depending on the time zone you inhabit. As the white light from computers is the most detrimental to melatonin production, this may be something worth looking into. Another simple and more effective option is amber lens goggles once the sun has gone down, these being highly effective in blocking the short wavelength blue light (below 530 nanometres) which exerts the most profound negative effect.

A recent project on Kickstarter, the Glowing Plant project, was the first ever crowdfunded synthetic biology application, by San Francisco-based hackerspace BioCurious. Its focus is the development of bioluminescent plants via splicing bioluminescent bacterial genes into plants. One day this has the potential of being used to provide bioluminescent trees as an alternative to street lights in residential neighbourhoods as light sources. This cold biological light is vastly more efficient than electrical light, much of which is lost as heat, and is soothing on the eyes, unlike the latter. Much light from biological sources is green in colour, and low in intensity, which has negligible impact of melatonin production. It would also encourage the wide scale planting of trees, save money and conserve energy, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions while also showing people how genetic engineering has the potential to be a highly benign and beneficial force when used well.

This is an important issue, affecting both ourselves and other species all over the world. Light pollution also obscures our view of the stars and cosmos, and so cuts us off, in a visual sense, from the universe. Rules and regulations need to be applied for artificial light use at night and their spectral emissions, in a similar way to how such rules have been applied to other pollutants. While we already know of some of the health implications following melatonin suppression from light exposure at night-time, much remains unknown about the potential implications, and further research is warranted. While awareness of this problem is slowly growing, there are a number of available solutions to this, acting on both a personal, and community wide level for the benefit of all. For change to come public awareness must grow, and the powers that be must be made aware of the scale of this issue, and the various ways of combating it. Making these changes will save money, energy, enhance sleep and protect the health of ourselves, and of other species. It is only through our experiencing darkness that we can truly shine.

 

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4-AcO-DMT Guide: Benefits, Effects, Safety, and Legality
This guide tells you everything about 4 AcO DMT & 5 MeO DMT, that belong to the tryptamine class, and are similar but slightly different to DMT.

How Much Does LSD Cost? When shopping around for that magical psychedelic substance, there can be many uncertainties when new to buying LSD. You may be wondering how much does LSD cost? In this article, we will discuss what to expect when purchasing LSD on the black market, what forms LSD is sold in, and the standard breakdown of buying LSD in quantity.   Navy Use of LSD on the Dark Web The dark web is increasingly popular for purchasing illegal substances. The US Navy has now noticed this trend with their staff. Read to learn more.   Having Sex on LSD: What You Need to Know Can you have sex on LSD? Read our guide to learn everything about sex on acid, from lowered inhibitions to LSD users quotes on sex while tripping.   A Drug That Switches off an LSD Trip A pharmaceutical company is developing an “off-switch” drug for an LSD trip, in the case that a bad trip can happen. Some would say there is no such thing.   Queen of Hearts: An Interview with Liz Elliot on Tim Leary and LSD The history of psychedelia, particularly the British experience, has been almost totally written by men. Of the women involved, especially those who were in the thick of it, little has been written either by or about them. A notable exception is Liz Elliot.   LSD Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety LSD, Lysergic acid diethylamide, or just acid is one of the most important psychedelics ever discovered. What did history teach us?   Microdosing LSD & Common Dosage Explained Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing LSD.   LSD Resources Curious to learn more about LSD? This guide includes comprehensive LSD resources containing books, studies and more.   LSD as a Spiritual Aid There is common consent that the evolution of mankind is paralleled by the increase and expansion of consciousness. From the described process of how consciousness originates and develops, it becomes evident that its growth depends on its faculty of perception. Therefore every means of improving this faculty should be used.   Legendary LSD Blotter Art: A Hidden Craftsmanship Have you ever heard of LSD blotter art? Explore the trippy world of LSD art and some of the top artists of LSD blotter art.   LSD and Exercise: Does it Work? LSD and exercise? Learn why high-performing athletes are taking hits of LSD to improve their overall potential.   Jan Bastiaans Treated Holocaust Survivors with LSD Dutch psychiatrist, Jan Bastiaans administered LSD-assisted therapy to survivors of the Holocaust. A true war hero and pioneer of psychedelic-therapy.   LSD and Spiritual Awakening I give thanks for LSD, which provided the opening that led me to India in 1971 and brought me to Neem Karoli Baba, known as Maharajji. Maharajji is described by the Indians as a “knower of hearts.”   How LSD is Made: Everything You Need to Know Ever wonder how to make LSD? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how LSD is made.   How to Store LSD: Best Practices Learn the best way to store LSD, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long LSD lasts when stored.   Bicycle Day: The Discovery of LSD Every year on April 19th, psychonauts join forces to celebrate Bicycle Day. Learn about the famous day when Albert Hoffman first discovered the effects of LSD.   Cary Grant: A Hollywood Legend On LSD Cary Grant was a famous actor during the 1930’s-60’s But did you know Grant experimented with LSD? Read our guide to learn more.   Albert Hofmann: LSD — My Problem Child Learn about Albert Hofmann and his discovery of LSD, along with the story of Bicycle Day and why it marks a historic milestone.   Babies are High: What Does LSD Do To Your Brain What do LSD and babies have in common? Researchers at the Imperial College in London discover that an adult’s brain on LSD looks like a baby’s brain.   1P LSD: Effects, Benefits, Safety Explained 1P LSD is an analogue of LSD and homologue of ALD-25. Here is everything you want to know about 1P LSD and how it compares to LSD.   Francis Crick, DNA & LSD Type ‘Francis Crick LSD’ into Google, and the result will be 30,000 links. Many sites claim that Crick (one of the two men responsible for discovering the structure of DNA), was either under the influence of LSD at the time of his revelation or used the drug to help with his thought processes during his research. Is this true?   What Happens If You Overdose on LSD? A recent article presented three individuals who overdosed on LSD. Though the experience was unpleasant, the outcomes were remarkably positive.

The Ayahuasca Experience
Ayahuasca is both a medicine and a visionary aid. You can employ ayahuasca for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repair, and you can engage with the power of ayahuasca for deeper insight and realization. If you consider attainment of knowledge in the broadest perspective, you can say that at all times, ayahuasca heals.

 

Trippy Talk: Meet Ayahuasca with Sitaramaya Sita and PlantTeachers
Sitaramaya Sita is a spiritual herbalist, pusangera, and plant wisdom practitioner formally trained in the Shipibo ayahuasca tradition.

 

The Therapeutic Value of Ayahuasca
My best description of the impact of ayahuasca is that it’s a rocket boost to psychospiritual growth and unfolding, my professional specialty during my thirty-five years of private practice.

 

Microdosing Ayahuasca: Common Dosage Explained
What is ayahuasca made of and what is considered a microdose? Explore insights with an experienced Peruvian brewmaster and learn more about this practice.

 

Ayahuasca Makes Neuron Babies in Your Brain
Researchers from Beckley/Sant Pau Research Program have shared the latest findings in their study on the effects of ayahuasca on neurogenesis.

 

The Fatimiya Sufi Order and Ayahuasca
In this interview, the founder of the Fatimiya Sufi Order,  N. Wahid Azal, discusses the history and uses of plant medicines in Islamic and pre-Islamic mystery schools.

 

Consideration Ayahuasca for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research indicates that ayahuasca mimics mechanisms of currently accepted treatments for PTSD. In order to understand the implications of ayahuasca treatment, we need to understand how PTSD develops.

 

Brainwaves on Ayahuasca: A Waking Dream State
In a study researchers shared discoveries showing ingredients found in Ayahuasca impact the brainwaves causing a “waking dream” state.

 

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a pro cannabis Peruvian Shaman.

 

Ayahuasca Retreat 101: Everything You Need to Know to Brave the Brew
Ayahuasca has been known to be a powerful medicinal substance for millennia. However, until recently, it was only found in the jungle. Word of its deeply healing and cleansing properties has begun to spread across the world as many modern, Western individuals are seeking spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. More ayahuasca retreat centers are emerging in the Amazon and worldwide to meet the demand.

 

Ayahuasca Helps with Grief
A new study published in psychopharmacology found that ayahuasca helped those suffering from the loss of a loved one up to a year after treatment.

 

Ayahuasca Benefits: Clinical Improvements for Six Months
Ayahuasca benefits can last six months according to studies. Read here to learn about the clinical improvements from drinking the brew.

 

Ayahuasca Culture: Indigenous, Western, And The Future
Ayahuasca has been use for generations in the Amazon. With the rise of retreats and the brew leaving the rainforest how is ayahuasca culture changing?

 

Ayahuasca Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
The Amazonian brew, Ayahuasca has a long history and wide use. Read our guide to learn all about the tea from its beginnings up to modern-day interest.

 

Ayahuasca and the Godhead: An Interview with Wahid Azal of the Fatimiya Sufi Order
Wahid Azal, a Sufi mystic of The Fatimiya Sufi Order and an Islamic scholar, talks about entheogens, Sufism, mythology, and metaphysics.

 

Ayahuasca and the Feminine: Women’s Roles, Healing, Retreats, and More
Ayahuasca is lovingly called “grandmother” or “mother” by many. Just how feminine is the brew? Read to learn all about women and ayahuasca.

What Is the Standard of Care for Ketamine Treatments?
Ketamine therapy is on the rise in light of its powerful results for treatment-resistant depression. But, what is the current standard of care for ketamine? Read to find out.

What Is Dissociation and How Does Ketamine Create It?
Dissociation can take on multiple forms. So, what is dissociation like and how does ketamine create it? Read to find out.

Having Sex on Ketamine: Getting Physical on a Dissociative
Curious about what it could feel like to have sex on a dissociate? Find out all the answers in our guide to sex on ketamine.

Special K: The Party Drug
Special K refers to Ketamine when used recreationally. Learn the trends as well as safety information around this substance.

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

Ketamine vs. Esketamine: 3 Important Differences Explained
Ketamine and esketamine are used to treat depression. But what’s the difference between them? Read to learn which one is right for you: ketamine vs. esketamine.

Guide to Ketamine Treatments: Understanding the New Approach
Ketamine is becoming more popular as more people are seeing its benefits. Is ketamine a fit? Read our guide for all you need to know about ketamine treatments.

Ketamine Treatment for Eating Disorders
Ketamine is becoming a promising treatment for various mental health conditions. Read to learn how individuals can use ketamine treatment for eating disorders.

Ketamine Resources, Studies, and Trusted Information
Curious to learn more about ketamine? This guide includes comprehensive ketamine resources containing books, studies and more.

Ketamine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to ketamine has everything you need to know about this “dissociative anesthetic” and how it is being studied for depression treatment.

Ketamine for Depression: A Mental Health Breakthrough
While antidepressants work for some, many others find no relief. Read to learn about the therapeutic uses of ketamine for depression.

Ketamine for Addiction: Treatments Offering Hope
New treatments are offering hope to individuals suffering from addiction diseases. Read to learn how ketamine for addiction is providing breakthrough results.

Microdosing Ketamine & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing ketamine.

How to Ease a Ketamine Comedown
Knowing what to expect when you come down from ketamine can help integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible.

How to Store Ketamine: Best Practices
Learn the best ways how to store ketamine, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long ketamine lasts when stored.

How To Buy Ketamine: Is There Legal Ketamine Online?
Learn exactly where it’s legal to buy ketamine, and if it’s possible to purchase legal ketamine on the internet.

How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
How long does ketamine stay in your system? Are there lasting effects on your body? Read to discover the answers!

How Ketamine is Made: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wonder how to make Ketamine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how Ketamine is made.

Colorado on Ketamine: First Responders Waiver Programs
Fallout continues after Elijah McClain. Despite opposing recommendations from some city council, Colorado State Health panel recommends the continued use of ketamine by medics for those demonstrating “excited delirium” or “extreme agitation”.

Types of Ketamine: Learn the Differences & Uses for Each
Learn about the different types of ketamine and what they are used for—and what type might be right for you. Read now to find out!

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

MDMA & Ecstasy Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to MDMA has everything you want to know about Ecstasy from how it was developed in 1912 to why it’s being studied today.

How To Get the Most out of Taking MDMA as a Couple
Taking MDMA as a couple can lead to exciting experiences. Read here to learn how to get the most of of this love drug in your relationship.

Common MDMA Dosage & Microdosing Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing MDMA.

Having Sex on MDMA: What You Need to Know
MDMA is known as the love drug… Read our guide to learn all about sex on MDMA and why it is beginning to makes its way into couple’s therapy.

How MDMA is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make MDMA? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how MDMA is made.

Hippie Flipping: When Shrooms and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Explore the mechanics of hippie flipping and how to safely experiment.

How Cocaine is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make cocaine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how cocaine is made.

A Christmas Sweater with Santa and Cocaine
This week, Walmart came under fire for a “Let it Snow” Christmas sweater depicting Santa with lines of cocaine. Columbia is not merry about it.

Ultimate Cocaine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
This guide covers what you need to know about Cocaine, including common effects and uses, legality, safety precautions and top trends today.

NEWS: An FDA-Approved Cocaine Nasal Spray
The FDA approved a cocaine nasal spray called Numbrino, which has raised suspicions that the pharmaceutical company, Lannett Company Inc., paid off the FDA..

The Ultimate Guide to Cannabis Bioavailability
What is bioavailability and how can it affect the overall efficacy of a psychedelic substance? Read to learn more.

Cannabis Research Explains Sociability Behaviors
New research by Dr. Giovanni Marsicano shows social behavioral changes occur as a result of less energy available to the neurons. Read here to learn more.

The Cannabis Shaman
If recreational and medical use of marijuana is becoming accepted, can the spiritual use as well? Experiential journalist Rak Razam interviews Hamilton Souther, founder of the 420 Cannabis Shamanism movement…

Cannabis Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to Cannabis has everything you want to know about this popular substances that has psychedelic properties.

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a procannabis Peruvian Shaman.

CBD-Rich Cannabis Versus Single-Molecule CBD
A ground-breaking study has documented the superior therapeutic properties of whole plant Cannabis extract as compared to synthetic cannabidiol (CBD), challenging the medical-industrial complex’s notion that “crude” botanical preparations are less effective than single-molecule compounds.

Cannabis Has Always Been a Medicine
Modern science has already confirmed the efficacy of cannabis for most uses described in the ancient medical texts, but prohibitionists still claim that medical cannabis is “just a ruse.”

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