Caffeine is an Addictive, Deadly Drug

Coffee is a tropical evergreen plant originating in Ethiopia but now grown worldwide. Two species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, are predominantly sold as a recreational stimulant. Referred to “joe”, “java”, “brew”, “mud”, “liquid cocaine”, “espresso” and “go juice”, coffee is a drug of abuse, primarily used for its psychoactive and stimulant effects, similar to …

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64. Veterans Day Special: A Look Back on Four Veterans Who Told Us Their Kratom Stories

Kratom Science Podcast
Kratom Science Podcast
64. Veterans Day Special: A Look Back on Four Veterans Who Told Us Their Kratom Stories
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November 11, 2021 is Veterans Day! We take a look back at four veterans of the United States military who had a kratom story to share. From episode #13, Drew Turner is a US Navy veteran who served in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay. He appeared in the kratom documentary A Leaf of Faith. Drew discusses …

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Scientists: Mitragynine makes mice dumber. Also scientists: Mitragynine makes rats smarter

Last week we told you about a study published in September 2021 that showed cognitive impairment in high-dose mitragynine (MG), the main alkaloid in kratom. The study was also the subject of Kratom Science Journal Club #26. Researchers discovered that very high doses of MG, like THC and morphine, attach to CB1 receptors and cause …

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63. Chewing Kratom Leaves with Soren Shade

Kratom Science Podcast
Kratom Science Podcast
63. Chewing Kratom Leaves with Soren Shade
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Soren Shade visits Brian in Pittsburgh bearing gifts: mature kratom leaves and a kratom plant the Top Tree Herbs greenhouse in West Virginia. This is the 2nd time the Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia producer and kratom entrepreneur has been on the podcast – the first time being #47. Brian chews kratom for the first time, and we …

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Interview with Dr. Lance McMahon, Chair of Dept of Pharmacodynamics, UF College of Pharmacy

Dr. Lance McMahon is Chair of the Department of Pharmacodynamics at University of Florida College of Pharmacy. Dr. McMahon is involved in pioneering kratom research that looks at the various kratom alkaloids, how they function on our brain receptors, and how that creates kratom’s complex effects on our bio. We talk about this research, where …

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Journal Club #26: High Dose Mitragynine Causes Cognitive Impairment in Mice

Journal Club with Dr. Jonathan Cachat
Journal Club with Dr. Jonathan Cachat
Journal Club #26: High Dose Mitragynine Causes Cognitive Impairment in Mice
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Dr. JC and Brian look at a study out of University of Science, Malaysia. The comprehensive and detailed study in mice from University of Science, Malaysia revealed mitragynine in very high doses is an agonist (binds to and activates) cannabinoid receptor Type 1 (CB1). Mice administered with high-dose mitragynine demonstrated similar reward-seeking behavior and cognitive …

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Study: High-Dose Mitragynine Interacts with Cannabinoid Receptor to Impair Cognitive Functioning

A comprehensive and detailed study in mice from University of Science, Malaysia revealed mitragynine in very high doses is an agonist (binds to and activates) cannabinoid receptor Type 1 (CB1). Mice administered with high-dose mitragynine demonstrated similar reward-seeking behavior and cognitive impairment as mice administered with morphine and THC. Mice that received high-dose mitragynine, morphine, …

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62. Dr. Fabian Pitter Steinmetz, Toxicologist Who Testified at the WHO Hearing on Kratom

Kratom Science Podcast
Kratom Science Podcast
62. Dr. Fabian Pitter Steinmetz, Toxicologist Who Testified at the WHO Hearing on Kratom
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Dr. Fabian Pitter Steinmetz is a senior toxicologist from Germany and an outspoken advocate for harm reduction and science-based, rational drug policy. On October 11, 2021, representing the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies, Dr. Steinmetz testified against kratom prohibition for the World Health Organization’s 44th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence . Dr. …

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Journal Club #25: Dopamine Response to Mitragynine in Rats

Journal Club with Dr. Jonathan Cachat
Journal Club with Dr. Jonathan Cachat
Journal Club #25: Dopamine Response to Mitragynine in Rats
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Dr. Jon Cachat and host Brian Gallagher look at a study that examined dopamine levels with an electrochemical sensor in rats administered with various levels of mitragynine. Dopamine release was detected as significant levels after a high dose of mitragynine after 4 days. Questions explored in this episode include: Does this accurately measure the kratom …

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61. Ethan Nadelmann, Drug Policy Alliance Founder and Host of “PSYCHOACTIVE”

Kratom Science Podcast
Kratom Science Podcast
61. Ethan Nadelmann, Drug Policy Alliance Founder and Host of "PSYCHOACTIVE"
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PSYCHOACTIVE with Ethan Nadelmann https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/psychoactive?selected=HSW1919502170My guest is one of the major critics of the War on Drugs and an advocate for science-based harm reduction policy. He is founder of the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization that’s been instrumental in marijuana legalization, and helped solicit comments for the 2016 fight to keep kratom legal, among other …

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