(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Police Department will take part in a bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operation aimed at educating bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians on traffic laws, rules and responsibilities.

On 06-28-2019,  between the hours of 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., officers will be looking for violations made by bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians that put roadway users at risk. These violations include drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, failing to stop for signs and signals or any other dangerous violation.

Officers will also look for pedestrians who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way. Bike riders will be stopped when riding on the wrong side of the road, not complying with stop signs and signals, or other violation of the same traffic laws that apply to them as drivers.

Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising at an alarming rate. In 2016, 138 bicyclists and 867 pedestrians were killed on California roads. Pedestrian fatalities are up nearly 33 percent from 2012, and the number of bicyclists killed are up nearly 25 percent over the past five years. In 2018, The San Bernardino Police  Department has investigated 16 fatal and injury collisions involving bicyclists and pedestrians.

“Whether you are on foot, behind the wheel or on a bike, you play a part in roadway safety,” Sergeant Jeff Harvey said. “Understanding the rules of the road using all modes of transportation helps ensure we all get to our destination safely.”

People walking should only cross the street using crosswalks or intersections, preferably with a stop sign or signal. People on foot should also look for cars backing up and avoid darting between parked cars, make eye contact with drivers and wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.

Drivers should wait for pedestrians to cross the street, avoid distractions like using a cell phone, and be courteous and patient. All bike riders are reminded to always wear a helmet; helmets are required by law for those under 18. Bike riders should always go with the flow of traffic, let faster traffic pass and use hand signals when turning or stopping.

The San Bernardino Police Department supports the new OTS public awareness campaign, “Go Safely, California.” To find out more about ways to go safely, visit gosafelyca.org.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— COLTON, CA— Applications are now being accepted for an intensive program of education, business planning, and business counseling for women who want to start their own businesses or expand an existing business.

The program is offered by the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center, a program of the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at Cal State San Bernardino in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and sponsored by Citibank. 

“It’s Your Time: An Entrepreneurial Training Series for Women,” offers women education, business counseling, and individual support to help them develop a workable business idea or improve an existing business. Participants selected for the program must attend a minimum of 13 workshops, meet individually with a business counselor, and write a business plan. The cost to participate is based on income, and ranges from a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $130 for all program services. The program is open to women living in San Bernardino and Riverside counties and takes about 90 days to complete.

Graduates of the “It’s Your Time” program have gone on to open successful Inland Empire businesses such as hair salons, fitness studios, professional services, personal and business coaching, and bakeries.

Applications for “It’s Your Time” are available at the IEWBC website at www.iewbc.org, and must be completed and submitted by Friday, Aug. 9, 2019 at 5 p.m. Early application is encouraged. Participants who are accepted before the official program orientation on Aug. 20 can begin attending workshops immediately after their program intake session.  Late applications will not be accepted.

The Inland Empire Women’s Business Center, 1003 E. Cooley Dr., Ste. 109, in Colton, is a program of the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at Cal State San Bernardino.  Housed in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, IECE, which administers the program in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration, is inland Southern California’s leading organization dedicated to supporting and promoting entrepreneurship. The IEWBC provides business counseling, training and mentoring designed for women business owners. 

The Inland Empire Women’s Business Center hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday by appointment only. For more information, visit the IEWBC website at www.iewbc.org or contact Michelle Skiljan at (909) 890-1242.

By Lou Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK-ENN)— Aren’t you tied of being tied? Aren’t you tied of being stuck on stupid?  Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Don’t you know for a different outcome you must do something different. Listen, the purpose of my thought and intention today is to convey the significance of the moment we as a people of God have embarked upon. It is an occasion of opportunity, a point of entering, a moment of possessing. It’s time to move forward into the blessings of God that is set before us, without reservation. Drop your complaceny and move! Because God desire to take you places that “eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Don’t allow fear and unbelief to keep you from seeing the incredible or receiving the impossible. Shake yourself off from the things that inhibit or obstruct your mobility and progression from entering into the things God has prepared for you. Get up and move! It’s time to overcome! I assure you as [Mark 11:23] says, “If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Can you believe today?  Are you ready to be an overcomer? Because in Christ you are set free to live holy before God – you are not meant to be overcame but to overcome!  AMEN!

Are you with me? If so, then get up and move and face your mountain by faith in the name of Jesus and declare, “Get Behind me, Satan!” For the Bible tells us in [2 Corinthians 10:5], “That we cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” So are you ready?  Are you ready to say goodbye to defeat and start living a victorious life with God? Are you ready to be SET FREE?  For surely you have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is God’s will for you to live in His Freedom, Liberty, and Victory!  He’s calling you to move on from “the mountain that you’ve made out of a molehill” and cast it into the sea! You’re an overcomer! [Deuteronomy 1:6]. And if you have never talked to yourself before, I want you to talk to yoruself now and say, “I’ve been here too long… I’ve been here too long between deficiency and destiny. God has created an open place for me to walk in and I must begin to walk. For He said, “I open up doors that no man can shut.” It’s time to occupy! For God has promised me victory! I’ve stayed at this mountain long enough! It’s time to Overcome!  It’s time to leave that mountain behind and move on to the promised land! For I call to reality God’s council in my life. I call to reality my dreams and visions. I call to reality the manifestation of God blessings in my life today. “It’s Time to Move Forward!” For I’ve come too far to give up now! I decided that come hell or high water, I will not give up! I will not throw in the towel!  The struggle has been too hard and certainly too long, but like Paul, I am pressing towards the mark of a higher calling. To Hell with the Devil and his tactics! I’m going to keep on keeping on.

Yes! I encourage you to keep pressing and don’t let anybody, anything, situation or circumstance, stop you from pressing towards your blessing.  Be steadfast, don’t give up. Be steadfast, don’t grow weary. Be steadfast, and don’t faint at life’s obstacles. You can make it. Just like Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David and many more who struggled, they fought, but they made it. They won. They kept the faith. They laid aside every weight and sin; and endured until the end. They completed the race. They didn’t just start the marathon, they finished the marathon. We too must finish what God has started in us. We can’t quit now. As Paul said in [2 Timothy 4:7], “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.” We can’t give up now. Decide to “Live Radical” for God. Trust Him. It is only that you do not understand that heaven has commenced an action in your favor and God is at work in your life. We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. His Word in [Psalms 30:5] says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” There is hope. Keep trusting God. Keep travailing, keep giving, keep rejoicing, and keep fighting until the victory is won…  Hold on! God will bring His promises to pass. For truly it is time for you to move from where you are in life to where God wants you to be!  [Joshua 1:1-11].

Knowing that God is a God of vision and movement, we must not become complacent in our walk with God.  “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” [Philippians 3:12].

By Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— REDLANDS, CA— Back in the day there was the D.A.R.E. program and then there was TRUTH. Both were initiatives that rallied against drugs and tobacco use among minors. However, even though these were strong campaigns, these brands are rarely seen in the communities anymore which is why it is critical for community organizations to create their own campaigns, and what better way to do then through music and art.

On Saturday, June 22, Music Changing Lives (MCL) premiered their new music video, “Jewels Not Juulz”, featuring artist Tiana Phipps. The premiere took place at the MCL headquarters in Redlands.

“We are an organization that focuses on reducing the prevalence of tobacco in our communities,” San Bernardino County Tobacco Control Program representative, Amber, stated. “This project was made possible because of the collaboration with MCL. Continue doing what you are doing. The youth is the reason we are here; the youth is the reason for all of us.”

The song was curated to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and the epidemic of vaping among teens. CEO and Founder of Music Changing Lives, Josiah Bruny, combined forces with the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free San Bernardino County to use music and art as a way to reach the youth and the community.

The event was well attended with community members, MCL youth and staff, and elected officials of San Bernardino County. In addition to the live premiere of the video, there were refreshments, networking and a tour opportunity of the MCL recording studio and art lab. 

A few MCL students also performed solo acts after the premiere. Check some of them out below.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— WASHINGTON D.C.—Within a few months of joining Axios in 2017, Alexi McCammond quickly found herself emerging as a news leader – she was promoted from deputy news editor to national political reporter. It was her drive, tenacity and commitment to holding those in power accountable that allowed her to quickly emerge as a force in political journalism. Her unique style of reporting elevated her as a leading voice in the coverage of the 2018 mid-term elections, as well as the White House.

On Friday, Aug. 9, during the Annual Hall of Fame Luncheon at the 2019 NABJ Convention in Miami,McCammond will receive the 2019 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year Award.

The 25-year-old will receive the award in recognition of her exemplary reporting that has often gone viral. She has produced thought-provoking enterprise pieces on major policy proposals, voting issues and the inner workings of the current White House administration. Most recently, McCammond was tapped to lead Axios’ 2020 elections coverage, which will include her traveling the nation talking to candidates and voters, as well as conducting focus groups with swing voters in the Midwest.

“Alexi McCammond is a past participant in NABJ’s training programs, and we are so proud to see her develop into a journalist of great character and dedication, who has shown unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of journalism,” said NABJ President Sarah Glover. “Not only has Alexi proven herself to be a rising star in journalism, but she also exemplifies the same passion for diversity in newsrooms that Michael J. Feeney, the namesake of the award, did throughout his career.”

The Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year Award recognizes a black print, broadcast, digital or photojournalist with less than five years of experience in the industry. Nominees, through their hard work and service, must display a commitment to NABJ’s goals of outstanding achievement and providing balanced coverage of the black community and society at large.

“I am so incredibly grateful to receive this award,” said McCammond. “Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I am honored to be recognized as the Emerging Journalist of the Year and will use this as further motivation in my reporting career. Thank you to NABJ and everyone who’s come before me for leading the way, believing in me, and giving me invaluable opportunities to learn and grow.”

Axios Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Johnston noted that McCammond’s impact in the newsroom has been “indispensable.”

“Alexi has been an indispensable part of the Axios team almost from day one, helping to build out our breaking news coverage, inventing Axios Smart Brevity campaign coverage in 2018 and now, leading Axios’ 2020 presidential campaign coverage,” Johnston said. “Her scoops and insights feature prominently in our newsletters, television appearances and on ‘Axios on HBO.’ We’re incredibly proud of her accomplishments and are thrilled to have such a smart, caring colleague with us.”

Former Axios colleague and NABJ Parliamentarian Khorri Atkinson recalled a story McCammond produced that underscored the importance of empowering citizens with knowledge about the inner-workings of government.

“Her exemplary reporting chops couldn’t be clearer when she earned the trust of a White House insider who gave her access to a trove of President Trump’s ‘executive time,’ which was filled with private schedules between Nov. 7 and Feb. 1,” Atkinson said. “Her scoop, published last February, revealed that Trump spent roughly 60% – almost 300 hours out of 502 hours – of his schedule on unstructured ‘executive time’ to watch TV, make phone calls, read the papers…. The story quickly went viral.”

McCammond has used her growing platform to elevate the voices of those often underrepresented in the political process and in the media. Last fall, she was a featured reporter on “Axios HBO,” a limited docu-series that coincided with the 2018 midterm election. In the episodes, she provided expert analysis on the growing number of women and women of color reshaping American politics.

Also, in 2018, she helped spearhead “Axions of Color,” an employee resource group designed to foster a supportive community for those who identify as people of color at Axios. “Axions of Color” also seeks to increase efforts to recruit more journalists of color to the company and bring awareness to issues facing people of color in media.

McCammond will be honored at the NABJ Hall of Fame Luncheon during the NABJ Convention & Career Fair on Friday, Aug. 9, at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa. Convention registration and luncheon tickets can be purchased here.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— You slipped on the stairs and feel your ankle throbbing. Your cough has lasted all month. Or your child spikes a high fever in the middle of the night. You call your primary care doctor first, but you can’t get a same-day appointment. So do you go to the emergency room or urgent care?

When these situations occur and we need immediate care, many face uncertainty due to the number of options available – and where you choose could be the difference between paying hundreds, or thousands of dollars. In fact, rushing to the emergency room for non-life-threatening ailments may cost patients nearly 10 times more than visiting an urgent care center. 

Here’s what to consider when deciding where to go for care:

Urgent Care Center

Urgent care centers are not for emergencies but can help you when you need care quickly. If you can’t get in with your primary care physician, this is a great option. Remember, it’s first-come, first-served. You may consider urgent care if you have symptoms like the following:

• Fever without a rash
• Moderate flu-like symptoms
• Sprains and strains
• Small cuts that may require stiches

The average cost for an urgent care visit* is $170. 

Emergency Room

Day or night, the hospital emergency room provides medical care. If your condition requires fast and advanced treatments, like surgery, go to the emergency room. The ER helps people with life-threatening or dangerous conditions first. Some of the symptoms that require an emergency room visit include, but are not limited to:

• Chest pain
• Numbness
• Slurred speech
• Fainting
• Serious burns
• Concussion
• Broken bones and dislocated joints
• Fever with a rash
• Seizures

The average cost for an emergency room visit* is $2,000.

Dr. Robert Kantor, market chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare, urges people to take a moment to think through their symptoms before rushing to the emergency room.

“It’s a difficult situation when you’re experiencing it,” he said. “Your mind is not always so clear.”

Have you considered a virtual visit?

According to a National Center for Health Statistics study, of patients who went to the emergency room but were not admitted, 48 percent say they chose the ER because their doctor’s office was not open.

If you are faced with a non-emergency health condition – like a migraine, sore throat or stomachache – but your doctor’s office is closed, you may consider a virtual visit. This allows you to chat face-to-face with a doctor, day or night, and can save you up to $2,000 when compared to a visit to the ER**.

The average cost for a virtual visit* is $50.

Still not sure?

Many health insurance companies have a 24-hour nurse line that can help you with decisions like where to go for care. You can also compare your quick care options with UnitedHealthcare’s online resource. If you or a loved one are experiencing what you feel to be life-threatening symptoms other than those listed, trust your gut, and go to the emergency room or call 9-1-1.

---

*Information about treatment costs are estimates and reflect the average costs of guidance and care delivered through UnitedHealthcare owned and contracted service providers to members of UnitedHealthcare health plans. Costs for specific guidance and treatments may be higher or lower than the costs represented here. Emergency room cost estimates include facility charge and initial physician consultation.

**Check your official health plan documents to see what services and providers are covered by your health plan. Virtual visits are not an insurance product, health care provider or a health plan. Unless otherwise required, benefits are available only when services are delivered through a Designated Virtual Network Provider. Virtual visits are not intended to address emergency or life-threatening medical conditions and should not be used in those circumstances. Services may not be available at all times or in all locations.

By Lou Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— You see, as one hymn writer put it: I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, but the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I….  Yes, Love lifted me, when nothing else could help… Love lifted me…”  Death bound me with chains, and the floods of ungodliness mounted a massive attack against me. Trapped and helpless, I struggled against the ropes that drew me on to death. In my distress I screamed to the Lord for his help. And he heard me from heaven; my cry reached his ears [Psalm 18:4-6]. “Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”[Amazing Grace – John Newton].

And what I see is that Sin has many people today shackled, bound, disenfranchised, and incarcerated. Despite how many times we might say, “This is the last time I will do this.” It is often that very thing we find ourselves doing! Paul wrote in [Romans 7:19-21], “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. Paul even asks in [Romans 7:24], “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

 I submit to you today my brothers and sisters, freedom can be attained. For th Lord says, “Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool [Isaiah 1:18]. Tell me, what is it that is keeping you from walking out of your prison doors? Jesus wants you to be free [Acts 16:16-34]. Don’t you want to be freed from your shackles today?

If so, do what David did in [2 Samuel 12]. Come clean with God. Ask God for forgiveness. Own responsibility for your sin. Accept God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Request a fresh work of grace. Then resolve to use past failures for ministry. David tells God, when you do this new work in me “then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Open my lips, Lord and my mouth will declare your praise. [v. 13, 15].

Over and over in Scripture we are reminded that we serve a God who, although doesn’t treat sin lightly, understands that we are mortal and struggle with sin. And out of His love for us, He wants to forgive us. I want you to know that God promises forgiveness for our sins.  Jesus said in John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

I admonish you to “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:6-7]

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9]

“ …Let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.” [Isaiah 43:25-26]

“Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” [Revelation 7:12]

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes honored the Inland Empire Community News Group as the 2019 Small Business of the Year for the 47^th Assembly District today at the State Capitol.

The Inland Empire Community News (IECN) Group started out as the “El Chicano” newspaper founded in 1968 by a group of young activists in San Bernardino and Riverside who were determined to reinvent public perception, provide a voice to, and tell the stories of, the underserved and underrepresented Mexican-American community.  For half a century, El Chicano has created a news platform for the community and has received countless recognitions.  The expansion of IECN to include news outlets in Colton, Rialto, the Inland Empire and beyond, has elevated its reach in the community.

Today the Inland Empire Community News Group is comprised of the Colton Courier, the Rialto Record, Inland Empire Weekly and El Chicano.

Over 70 nominations were received, with 26 finalists selected from throughout the community for the Small Business of the Year award which honors small businesses of the 47^th Assembly District.

This year’s Small Business of the Year Finalists for the 47^th District includes:

Colton Advanced Silkscreen (Colton)

Hour Glass & Mirror, Inc. (Colton)

Tacos La Central (Colton)

Inland Empire Community News Group (Colton)

Reche Canyon Rehabilitation & Health Services (Colton)

Rialto Flooring (Rialto)

Rosie’s Preschool (Rialto)

Dollish Polish Nail Studio (Rialto)

Benitez Family Daycare (Rialto)

Forum Blues Café (Rialto)

Rise Above Skate Shop (Rialto)

Esquivel Auto Depot, Inc. (Rialto)

Jaynes Bee Products (Bloomington)

Felipe’s Truck Repair (Bloomington)

La Pasta Italia (Grand Terrace)

Woody’s Classic Grill (Grand Terrace)

Chillz Froyo (Grand Terrace)

Technical Employment Training, Inc. (San Bernardino)

Black Chamber of Commerce (San Bernardino)

Adela’s Beauty, Barber & Nails (San Bernardino)

Roger’s Burgers (San Bernardino)

Clay Counseling Solutions (San Bernardino)

Empowering Success Now (Fontana)

AAA Container Sales & Rentals (Fontana)

Dawn’s Barber Shop (Fontana)

Good Choice Tires (Muscoy)

“Congratulations IECN for being chosen as the 2019 Small Business of the Year for the 47^th Assembly District and all of the small businesses who were nominated this year,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “Small Businesses are the backbone of our economy, together we must renew our commitment to small businesses in the State of California, because as they thrive so do our local economies.”

For more information on the Small Business of the Year and finalists contact District Representative Daniel Peeden at (909) 381-3238 or email at Daniel.Peeden@asm.ca.gov.

Patient shares her story during Loma Linda University Cancer Center’s 28^th annual Celebration of Life event 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)– LOMA LINDA, CA– Feathered hats, photo booths, inspirational chalk walls and words of wisdom were seen and heard throughout Loma Linda University Cancer Center’s 28^th annual Celebration of Life Event on June 2. The event offered a community that is battling, or that has survived cancer, strength for the journey. 

Over 200 attendees heard patient testimonials and updates on the latest advances in cancer care.

One of the many stories presented featured Marsha Bradley, who survived Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer twice, thanks to Loma Linda University Cancer Center, surgical oncologist Maheswari Senthil, MD. Bradley has worked as an educator for 34 years and never thought she would develop Stage 4 Colon Cancer.  After a successful round of chemotherapy in 2005, Bradley was cancer-free for the first time. When it returned the second time, in 2010, she came to Loma Linda University Health, where she partnered with Senthil to undergo a complex surgery called Cytoreductive surgery that was paired with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Senthil is only a handful of surgeons in Southern California who can perform this surgery. 

Bradley’s Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer journey was shared through a video testimonial during the event.

Senthil also shared the latest advances in cancer care, saying that genomic and precision medicine has allowed physicians to customize treatment to an individual patient. Through advances in cancer science, physicians have learned that behavior of cancer is different in everyone, even if it has the same name and stage. With the ability to personalize care through more precise diagnostics, as well as other advancements in treatment, the mortality rate has decreased for the three most common cancers in men and women. 

Regardless of new scientific frontiers, Senthil said compassion must remain the constant.

“If we do not care for our patients with compassion and kindness, what do any of these advances mean?” Senthil said. “It all comes down to basic human kindness and compassion in which the care is delivered, no matter how advanced the science is. At Loma Linda University Health, we have already done that, and the scientific advances are added to this regimen.”

In addition, two oncology nurses were given the Courage to Care Award for their exemplary compassionate care.

By IQBAL PITTALWALA

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA— Nicholas V. DiPatrizio of the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, has received a grant of $744,000 from the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, administered by the UC Office of the President, to investigate the impact of long-term cannabis exposure on metabolic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes.

People in good metabolic health have ideal levels of blood sugar, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, and waist circumference. Those with poor metabolic heath, on the other hand, have increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Researchers do not have a clear picture of the long-term impact cannabis use has on metabolic health, including diseases like Type 2 diabetes, which is marked by higher-than-normal levels of glucose in the blood.

DiPatrizio’s lab will study how cannabis affects the stable equilibrium of glucose — its “homeostasis” — in health and disease using a variety of cutting-edge technologies, such as tandem mass spectrometry.

“Scientists are still not sure how exactly long-term, or chronic, cannabis use affects health and a variety of tobacco-related pathologies, such as Type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases,” said DiPatrizio, an assistant professor of biomedical sciences. “We will investigate in wild-type mice whether cannabis exposure is linked to higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes. We expect the knowledge we will gain in this project will help guide science-based public policy associated with the health impact of short-term and long-term cannabis use.” 

The three-year grant is the first cannabis grant received on campus, requiring DiPatrizio to acquire a Drug Enforcement Agency Schedule 1 license to perform the research — also a first for UCR.

DiPatrizio explained that while short-term cannabis exposure in rodents and humans increases eating, long-term cannabis use is paradoxically linked to lower body weights. Indeed, long-term cannabis use in humans can lead to improvements in some metabolic parameters, such as raising high-density lipoproteins, or HDL, often called “good cholesterol.” As such, his lab will also explore possible benefits of long-term cannabis use to metabolic health.

“We will also investigate how important the endocannabinoid system, which cannabis hijacks, is for maintaining glucose homeostasis and if cannabis exposure dysregulates the process,” DiPatrizio said.

The endocannabinoid system is located throughout the mammalian body, including the brain and all peripheral organs. It participates in the control of many physiological functions, including food intake, energy balance, and reward. Endocannabinoids, the body’s own “natural cannabis,” are lipid signaling molecules that enhance eating by binding to cannabinoid receptors located on cells throughout the body — similar to keys (endocannabinoids) turning open locks (receptors).

DiPatrizio explained that glucose homeostasis in mammals is controlled by the nutrient-induced release in the small intestine of incretins, metabolic hormones that stimulate a decrease in blood glucose levels by driving insulin secretion, which is necessary for maintaining stable glucose levels.

His research group will assess the impact of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, exposure on incretin release in wild-type and transgenic mice that are engineered to lack cannabinoid receptors in the lining of their small intestines and in pancreatic beta cells. The small intestines and pancreas, both heavily involved in controlling metabolism, are known targets of cannabinoids. 

DiPatrizio explained that THC, the main ingredient of cannabis, activates cannabinoid receptors on cells throughout the body and controls energy homeostasis. Some of the mice, making up the “control group,” will be fed a normal diet and remain lean; the rest will be put for 60 days on a high-fat and high-sugar diet, also called a Western diet, to turn them obese. Whole cannabis oil extracts, which naturally contain THC, and pure THC will be used in the experiments.

“We will explore if THC makes the obese mice leaner with improvements in metabolism,” DiPatrizio said. “We expect to find the endocannabinoid system in the small intestines of the lean mice controls incretin release and glucose homeostasis. Further, we suspect the endocannabinoid system becomes dysregulated in the obese mice and participates in cannabis-induced changes in metabolic function.”

DiPatrizio will be joined in the research by doctoral students and staff in his lab.

The Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program funds research that enhances understanding of tobacco use, prevention and cessation, the social, economic and policy-related aspects of tobacco use, and tobacco-related diseases in California. Solely funded through the tobacco tax and individual contributions, the program has funded more than 1,200 research grants on tobacco-related studies, with 95% of the revenue going directly to funding research and education efforts.