CBD News Roundup: CBD Can Improve Memory Function, Study Says

Here’s the latest CBD news:

• A new study shows that CBD may be able to improve memory function.
• Lifestyle maven Martha Stewart has entered the crowded CBD space with her own line of products.
• The US Navy has explained why it banned hemp shampoos and lotions for sailors.

Table of Contents

1. CBD Can Improve Memory Function, Study Says
2. Martha Stewart Launches Line Of CBD Products
3. US Navy Explains Ban on Sailors Using Hemp Lotions & Shampoos

CBD Can Improve Memory Function, Study Says

A study conducted at University College London has found that a single dose of CBD can increase blood flow to the part of the brain that’s associated with memory function.

The researchers reported their findings in the August issue of the Journal of Psychopharmacology. In the study, they discovered that 600 mg of oral CBD increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) to areas of the brain involved in memory, such as the hippocampus. 

Researchers used a randomized, crossover, double-blind study with 15 healthy, young adults who had little or no history of CBD use. Participants were given either CBD or a placebo. Researchers then used an MRI technique called arterial spin labeling to measure changes in the blood oxygen levels. This MRI showed significantly increased CBF in the hippocampus in those participants who took the CBD.

As a result, participants could more quickly perform memory tasks, such as counting backward by random amounts.

These findings give researchers optimism that CBD may be able to treat memory symptoms involved in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cannabis use disorders.

According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Michael Bloomfield, “If replicated, these results could lead to further research across a range of conditions characterized by changes in how the brain processes memories.”

Martha Stewart Launches Line Of CBD Products

This week, Martha Stewart CBD products officially launched after more than a year in development.

The products, which include gummies, soft gels, and oil, are the result of Stewart’s partnership with Canopy Growth, a Canadian cannabis company under the banner of US alcohol brand, Constellation Brands. Stewart joined Canopy as an adviser early last year to develop CBD products after being introduced to the company founder by her friend, Snoop Dogg (whose own cannabis brand, Leafs, is also produced by Canopy).

In a statement to CNN Business, Stewart outlined her reasons for entering the CBD market.

“I was surprised to learn that while most people have heard of CBD, less than 20% of us have actually tried it,” she said. “For me, that signals a lot of opportunity to create beautiful, elevated products that help people live well.”

Stewart herself has incorporated CBD into her daily wellness routine and says creating her own product was a natural extension of her brand. She was closely involved in product development, drawing inspiration from her kitchen and garden. The Martha Stewart gummy products are styled to resemble the chewy French candy pâte de fruits and come in flavors like Meyer lemon, kumquat, blood orange, and huckleberry.

Martha Stewart CBD products are available online at Canopy’s website. The pet products are set to debut later in 2020, while Stewart says a skincare line is also on the way. 

US Navy Explains Ban on Sailors Using Hemp Lotions & Shampoos

Protecting the integrity of the Navy’s drug policy and protecting sailors from CBD exposure were cited as the primary reasons why the US Navy banned CBD and hemp topicals like shampoos and lotions. The Navy provided an in-depth explanation of its reasoning in a post published last week.

“The move was done to protect Sailors from potential tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure that could negatively impact mission readiness and disqualify a Sailor from continued service,” reads the statement. “It is impossible for consumers to determine how much THC a product actually contains in the current environment where label claims are not trustworthy.”

While the Navy acknowledges that hemp and its derivatives, such as CBD, are federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, it stands by its policy to “ensure there is no unknowing consumption of any THC amount.” According to the Navy, the Department of Defense is not able to test hemp products to ensure the labels are accurate. 

In a press release, the head of the Navy’s Drug Detection and Deterrence program, LA Parker, said, “This really is about the health of the force and ensuring the Navy remains a drug-free workplace. We have to be fit to fight and can’t take a risk in allowing our Sailors to consume or use these types of products.”

According to the notice, the exception to the rule is any service members who are prescribed cannabis-derived medication that is approved by the FDA, which to date only includes the anti-epilepsy drug, Epidiolex. Service members may also use hemp rope and clothing. 

However, service members who test positive for THC after the consumption of unsanctioned cannabis products will be subject to punishment, which may include a less-than-honorable discharge. 

Just days earlier, the House of Representatives approved an amendment to a spending bill that, if enacted, would allow service members to use hemp and CBD products. However, it remains to be seen if the final bill will be sent to the president.