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Medicinal cannabis could offer patients significant relief from intractable epilepsy, but cost and access barriers remain, a review has found.

Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) can offer patients significant relief from intractable epilepsy, according to evidence from a small number of patients.

In a review of 10 cases of severe childhood-onset epilepsy, Imperial’s Prof. David Nutt and Rayyan Zafar looked at the impact of combined CBD and THC-based products on the frequency of epileptic seizures.

They found carers reported a 97% reduction in monthly frequency of seizures when patients received whole plant extract cannabis treatments – not currently licenced in the UK – showing a clear benefit among this group. However, despite the clinical benefit, they cite the significant cost for their use and difficulty in accessing the treatments in the UK.

Zafar, a PhD candidate in the Department of Brain Sciences, said: “Patients and their families deserve better, so we implore policy makers, regulators and public health bodies to prioritise the health of these individuals and help them to access in the NHS medicines which are making a dramatic improvement to their lives.”

The time is nigh for the DEA to cooperate in ensuring that medical marijuana research can move forward. Finally.

On December 3, 2020, MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) issued a press release regarding a lawsuit filed against the DEA and the Attorney General to “compel issuance of licenses to manufacture marijuana for clinical trials and potential FDA approval.” We have written about MAPS and its 35 years of advocacy and engagement with DEA before, and we are big fans of the nonprofit.

The announcement of this lawsuit comes on the heels of the United Nations Commission for Narcotic Drugs (CND) voting to accept the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation to remove cannabis and cannabis resin for medicinal purposes from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The U.S. had already confirmed it would support the WHO recommendation and published a statement about its rationale for the vote:

“The vote of the United States to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the Single Convention while retaining them in Schedule I is consistent with the science demonstrating that while a safe and effective cannabis-derived therapeutic has been developed, cannabis itself continues to pose significant risks to public health and should continue to be controlled under the international drug control conventions. Further, this action has the potential to stimulate global research into the therapeutic potential and public health effects of cannabis, and to attract additional investigators to the field, including those who may have been deterred by the Schedule IV status of cannabis.”  

In MAPS’ announcement of the lawsuit, it points out that “[e]fforts to conduct meaningful research into cannabis medicines have been blocked for decades; the continued obstruction is causing suffering for people with serious conditions,” which indicates the timeliness of this lawsuit in relation to the CND’s recent vote. According to MAPS and the lawsuit, the DEA has failed to process more than thirty outstanding applications to develop cannabis for research purposes for more than four years despite administrative guidance. The press release outlines the nature of the lawsuit as follows:

It’s almost hard to believe that as the UN voted on recommendations to globally open the legality of cannabis, that some countries are still so against it that they’ll kill you for crimes related to it. Yup, it might be 2020, but you can still receive the death penalty for cannabis crimes in many different places.

The first thing to understand about the death penalty for cannabis is that there are different kinds of cannabis crimes, and just because a country employs the death sentence, it doesn’t mean it’s applicable to all crimes involving cannabis. Some countries will only enforce such a law for traffickers, others are more hardcore, and will go after actual users with death. While it all seems like a massive overstep in any scenario, here are the places that still give out the death penalty for cannabis crimes.

Before we go to the list of countries where you shouldn’t use cannabis, we need to keep in mind that the situation in the United States is different and you can use cannabis related products almost anywhere. Recently, a new kind of cannabis product, hemp-derived Delta-8 THC (also known as cannabis-lite) has become very popular, as it legal to order it online, even in countries where recreational use of cannabis is still forbidden. People who use Delta-8 THC report that while it is very uplifting and relaxing, it is also “easier to the mind” and brings no anxiety or paranoia at all, so they prefer it over regular cannabis.

Ready to finish out your holiday shopping? Check out the best Delta-8 THC deals this year, and make everyone happy this holiday season.

China

China is at the top of pretty much any list when it comes to the use of capital punishment. Though the country didn’t begin handing out sentences for cannabis use until the 1980’s, it certainly went from 0 to 100 pretty fast. In China, being caught with just five kilograms can be enough to get the death penalty, though some publications put the amount at 10 kilograms of hash or 150 kilograms of marijuana. Lesser punishments involve prison sentences of five years to life, with a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. Sale and supply crimes will get you a death sentence that much faster, even with smaller amounts. The problem with China is that information is very rarely released with actual, usable numbers. While there is a strong expectation that China is killing its own people for all kinds of crimes, the specifics are merely speculation.

One of the biggest arguments right now for ending marijuana prohibition in the United States is that it would generate beaucoup bucks in tax revenue and provide the nation with a trapdoor out of the economic sludge brought about by the coronavirus. After all, marijuana sales are a boon in states where it is legal.

In Colorado, one of the first states to legalize the leaf for recreational purposes, dispensaries have sold more weed in 10 months than they did all of last year. The state is poised to end the year with almost $2 billion in pot sales, providing millions of dollars in state tax revenue.

So why not take this concept nationwide? It would make sense since American economies are starved for financial relief. Some data shows that nationwide legalization would create around 1 million jobs and contribute hundreds of billions in federal tax revenue.

However, the federal government is doing just fine without putting a taxed and regulated cannabis market to work. In fact, marijuana legalization stands to cut the head off a mega-money beast that has been capitalizing on pot prohibition for years. For starters, Uncle Sam is already raking in loads of money in marijuana taxes every year.

Section 280E of the American Tax Code requires illegal marijuana businesses (even those considered legal in some states) to claim their earnings on their tax returns. But since none of these businesses can write off expenses like other sectors, they are subject to a 70% tax rate. Yep, Uncle Sam is taking the majority of the money from businesses it still considers illegal. If this policy sounds like robbery, that’s because it is. Data shows the federal government makes billions taxing weed operations in legal states. 

Following the results of the 2020 presidential election, cannabis advocates across the nation breathed a sigh of relief; for the first time in our history, cannabis decriminalization was being supported by the party in office. Since 2012, 15 states and Washington, DC, have legalized cannabis for adults over the age of 21. And 36 states have legalized medical cannabis — meaning that a majority of Americans now have some form of access to cannabis, whether medically or recreationally. On December 4th, the House passed the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, a historic bill which will remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and serves as the first step in ultimately deciding the fate of federal decriminalization in the United States. 

But, as proponents are keenly aware, major changes will need to be made at the regulatory level to ensure decriminalization rolls out effectively across the country, while setting the United States up for federal legalization in the not-so-distant future. So, where better to look for lessons learned on the path to legalization, than Canada?

Lessons from the North

The cannabis industry has made major strides across North America over the last few years, including Canada, which federally legalized cannabis two years ago. Having already forged the path, Canada can now serve as a case study for the United States as it takes its first step toward legalization, through decriminalization, offering guidance into best practices for launching a new legal industry, and warnings of the costly repercussions of unpreparedness, inexperience, and premature rapid growth.

While the legal Canadian market took off as investors took interest, growing the market to hit CAD $908 million in online and retail store sales within the first year, the numbers fell well short of analysts’ initial projections as a poorly executed retail distribution framework and high costs had many consumers turning to the legacy market. Within a year of legalization, the industry was experiencing mass layoffs and major executive changes at some of the country’s largest producers, alongside multi-billion-dollar stock-market losses. Initial product shortages were then followed by a massive surplus in inventory, with licenced producers reporting more than 400 metric tonnes of excess supply that forced price reductions as they dealt with overflowing warehouses. To ensure a successful transition from decriminalization to legalization, while avoiding the pitfalls that the Canadian industry faced, the US will need to focus on five major areas.

1. Prioritize distribution channels

The US’s ability to capitalize on rapid growth will start with having a proper retail distribution structure. Where Canada struggled in this regard, lacking the infrastructure to approve enough retail licenses to meet the distribution needs of producers, the US needs to use this opportunity to establish a sufficient retail distribution framework to ensure that producers can get their products into the hands of consumers in a timely manner. 

Post-traumatic stress patients who consume state-authorized cannabis products exhibit reduced symptoms over time as compared to nonusers, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Commenting on the findings, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “Veterans are far more likely to self-report using cannabis than are those in the general population, and many veterans attest that cannabis is effective for the self-management of their PTS symptoms. These findings substantiate their claims.”

A team of investigators affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, John Hopkins University, and the University of Colorado School of Medicine compared PTS symptoms in cannabis-using patients relative to non-users over a one-year period. Cannabis consuming participants primary accessed THC-dominant flowers from state-authorized retailers.

Researchers reported: “Participants who used primarily THC-dominant cannabis reported a greater reduction in PTSD symptom severity over time compared to controls. Cannabis users also showed a greater than two-fold rate of remission from their PTSD diagnosis (defined by no longer meeting criteria for a PTSD diagnosis on the CAPS-5) compared to controls by the 1-year follow-up assessment.”

The medical marijuana industry in Arkansas is booming, according to reports.

Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas have hit a significant milestone a little more than a year after the first dispensaries in the state began serving customers.

Local news outlets in the Natural State reported that medical cannabis sales in Arkansas have officially eclipsed $200 million, with patients purchasing more than 15 tons of product. 

The exact figures, according to local television stations KATV and 5NEWS: $200.7 million and 30,648 pounds of medical marijuana.

MMJ in AR

Voters in Arkansas approved a measure legalizing medical marijuana in 2016, but the first dispensary didn’t open until May of 2019. The law’s rollout faced impediments from state lawmakers and jurists in the nearly three years before the voters approved it at the ballot box and patients were able to be served, and has continued to face resistance. 

Australia is a legal cannabis market that rarely receives the attention it deserves and is a market that we are bullish on in 2021.

In 2019, we noticed a slowdown in interest in the Australian cannabis market as companies started to focus on the opportunity in Latin America. Since then, the Latin American cannabis market has not grown as much as expected while the Australian market has shown signs of strength. Article originally published on technical420.com

Tilray and Aphria, two of the biggest marijuana companies in Canada, announced plans to merge on Wednesday and create the world’s largest cannabis outfit.

With existing medical and recreational cannabis businesses in Canada and Europe, the new conglomerate is positioning itself to eventually enter the biggest weed market in the world: the U.S.

As 2020 comes to a close, Prohibition Partners' international team of analysts, consultants and thought-leaders have come together to analyse the top trends set to define the cannabis industry in 2021 and beyond. 

From the impact of Brexit and COVID-19 to the rapidly developing legislation in the US and Latin America, find out what is in store for one of the world's most dynamic sectors.

1. The Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the global economy as lockdown measures, and economic uncertainty caused many companies, including those in the cannabis industry, to downsize and re-evaluate strategies. COVID-19 undoubtedly raises opportunities for the cannabis industry at large.

The bill would raise THC limits from 0.3 per cent to one per cent.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul introduced a bill on Tuesday that could raise the THC limits on industrial hemp in the U.S. from 0.3 per cent to one per cent.

In a statement, Paul said conversations with Kentucky hemp farmers and processors informed the Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act of 2020.

Currently, any hemp crops that test above 0.3 per cent must be destroyed.

Historically, Kentucky has been the U.S.’s leading hemp producer, though production was mostly banned for nearly 45 years following federal policies introduced in 1970.

Members of the New Jersey state Assembly and Senate have given final approval to legislation permitting the possession of marijuana by adults and regulating its commercial production and retail sales. Each of the measures now awaits the signature of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. The Assembly approved A21 by a 49 to 24 vote with six abstentions, and the Senate later approved S21 by a 23 to 17 vote.

“I commend lawmakers for working quickly to implement the will of the voters, who made their mandate clear at the ballot box.” said NORML State Policies Coordinator Carly Wolf. “While this legislation is not perfect and our work is far from finished, it is a crucial step forward toward repairing the decades of damage done to New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities as a result of the enforcement of marijuana prohibition. Historically, law enforcement in New Jersey has arrested more people per capita for marijuana law violations than almost any other state in the nation. Most notably, going forward tens of thousands of otherwise law-abiding New Jerseyans will no longer be subject to arrest, incarceration, and a criminal record for their personal use of marijuana, and that is a reason to celebrate.”

Senate Bill 21 and Assembly Bill 21 establish regulatory guidelines for the marijuana market. Under the bills, adults may legally purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis. The measures cap the number of commercial cultivators permitted under the law at 37 for the first two years. The measures direct 70 percent of the revenue derived from sales taxes on retail marijuana purchases toward reinvestment in designated communities that have been most adversely impacted by prohibition.

“New Jersey is already one of the largest cannabis markets in the world, and the industry here is poised to grow substantially as the state embraces legalization and regulation,” said Cranford-based attorney Jennifer Cabrera of Vicente Sederberg LLP, a national cannabis law firm that has helped shape and implement cannabis laws and regulations across the U.S. She works closely with state lawmakers and regulators on cannabis policy issues and provided testimony to the Assembly regarding the legislation.

“This legislation creates the conditions for a vibrant craft cannabis industry in New Jersey,” Cabrera said. “Setting aside licenses and streamlining the application process for microbusinesses will hopefully enable a healthy number of smaller local companies to sprout up across the state. There are some additional steps we would like to see policymakers take to make it easier to operate these microbusinesses, and we look forward to working with them as they fine-tune the system. Still, this is a great starting point and opens the door to a lot of exciting opportunity for local entrepreneurs.”

The big news this week of course was the announced merger between Aphria and Tilray. Aphria will own over 60% of the combined entity and Irwin Simon, Aphria’s CEO will take on the same role at the new company. However, it will be known as Tilray and use the Tilray symbol. 

Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (NEO: MMED) (OTCQB: MMEDF) raised C$80 million in an upsized bought deal. the company said the net proceeds will be used for investment in Project Lucy, Albert (the company’s digital medicine division), additional microdosing research and development, Project Layla (18-MC) as well as general working capital. The original raise was planned for $50 million. 

Public and political support for legalizing recreational marijuana use has surged. Florida lawmakers need to accept that reality and come up with effective legislation. If not, the public will legalize pot via constitutional amendment. (Photo by strelov/Getty Images)

When it comes to legalizing marijuana in Florida, the question is no longer whether it should be legalized. The question is whether lawmakers want a role in that process.

We think they should. But first, lawmakers have to accept a simple reality.

It’s time to legalize recreational use of marijuana for adults.

There are plenty of reasons, not the least is that resistance has become futile. The political will to legalize pot is strengthening. A growing majority of Americans want it.

Bees Love Cannabis Too!

In the American agricultural landscape, industrial hemp, Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae), is a newly developed and rapidly growing crop. Hemp lacks nectar but, as an exclusively wind-pollinated crop, produces an abundance of pollen in agricultural landscapes during a period of time referred to as floral dearth. Researchers have found that a number of bee species are attracted to these pollen plumes, yet the diversity of floral visitors and their use of hemp in a variety of agricultural contexts remains uncertain.

Gov. Jared Polis signed a landmark bill affecting the cannabis industry on June 29 in front of Simply Pure in Denver. The dispensary was the first in the nation owned by a Black couple.

HB20-1424 creates a new social equity license that is intended to boost minority participation in the cannabis industry. The program goes into effect Jan. 1.

The bill also authorizes the governor to pardon individuals for possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana — the current legal limit for medical patients — removing a barrier to ownership of marijuana businesses.

“This month, across our whole state and our whole society, we’ve had a long overdue and renewed conversation about race, about racial inequalities … and cannabis is no different than anything else,” Polis said at the bill signing. “The majority of those in prison for cannabis-related crimes are people of color, while the majority of people that are making money legally on cannabis are white.”

People with prior convictions have been prevented from raising capital and getting loans, leases, jobs, licenses and mortgages, Polis said.

2 Top Marijuana Stocks To Add To Next Months Watchlist

Cancer is cruel.

If you or someone that you know was ever diagnosed with cancer, then you are well aware of how terrible it is.

Receiving a diagnosis that you or a loved one has cancer is something that is absolutely heartbreaking.

It is estimated that roughly 17 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2018 worldwide.

Unfortunately, that number is expected to increase to 27.5 million by 2040.

A temporary scheme enabling patients in Ireland easier access to their prescribed medical cannabis treatments has been made permanent.

In Ireland, specialist medical consultants can prescribe medical cannabis for patients with certain conditions assuming an appropriate application is submitted to the Department of Health and accepted. The country’s Medical Cannabis Access Programme kicked off in 2019 on a pilot basis for five years.

Currently, only three medications can be used – High CBD Oil Drops from Aurora, CannEpil from MGC Pharmaceuticals and THC10:CBD10 from Tilray. But it hasn’t been a case of popping down to the local pharmacy to pick up the medicines. The majority of patients of licenced clinicians obtain their prescribed products from Transvaal Pharmacy in the Hague in the Netherlands.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these patients or family members had to travel to the Netherlands to collect their medical cannabis prescription due to a ban in the Netherlands on commercial exports of cannabis oils. This created a great deal of stress for patients and their families, along with the significant added financial strain associated with making the trips.

A temporary delivery service from the Netherlands was established in April 2020 for the filling of individual prescriptions due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. It’s obviously worked out pretty well, and yesterday Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced this would be ongoing.