There is a not-so-quiet revolution going on in Switzerland at the moment. The country is getting ready for what is likely to be Europe’s most disruptive recreational trial.
In the meantime, all sorts of other consequential events are underway. Namely, the government is about to remove the requirement that prescribing cannabis doctors obtain special permission before prescribing cannabis.
The Strange Swiss Twist
Since this is cannabis, no matter where the reform is happening, there is bound to be a twist in all of this.
On the positive side, the cultivation, manufacturing and selling of medical cannabis will be federally authorized, for the first time. Commercial export will be permitted. Less clear are the rules for imports (although it is highly unlikely anyone will ban imports of the EU-GMP medical kind).
In the meantime, cultivation for personal use (of course) is still banned.
In a presentation to be given at the upcoming Cannabis Science Conference East, Scott Churchill, vice president of scientific development at MCR Labs, will reveal how testing labs can help propel our scientific understanding of cannabis by offering services beyond the standard regulatory compliance testing they perform for licensed producers.
Churchill's presentation, "Expanding Cannabis Knowledge Through Non-compliance Testing," will provide an overview of testing innovations like trend analysis, pathogen speciation, plant nutrient testing, and other research & development-based analyses. He will also touch on how offering testing to home growers in states where it is legal to do so produces additional data points that aid research initiatives and foster a more informed community of growers and enthusiasts.
Third-party testing labs primarily serve to certify products crafted by licensed cannabis cultivators and manufacturers as compliant within the regulations of various legal cannabis markets across the country. In his presentation, Churchill highlights several scientific examinations outside of the compliance structure that his team is pursuing as a means of facilitating and advancing the work producers and researchers are doing with cannabis.
Since shifting his career focus to cannabis in 2013 when he began developing compliance testing methods for MCR Labs, one of the first labs licensed to test for Massachusetts' medical and adult- use marijuana programs, Churchill has worked to expand the impact labs have within the cannabis and hemp industries. "The projects Scott and his team are working on now have the potential to save millions in crops lost to contamination," said Michael Kahn, MCR Labs founder and CEO.
More patients in Texas will soon be eligible for medical marijuana.
The changes to state law that take effect Wednesday will allow patients with any cancer to pursue a prescription for low-THC cannabis. Before, that was limited to people with terminal cancer.
The amended law also makes eligible patients battling post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
“We’re just excited to be able to help Texans, particularly with the PTSD and our veterans,” said Dr. Francisco Daniel Medrano, co-owner and medical director of CannaMedRx.
CannaMedRx is a medical cannabis clinic in Houston. The clinic said its first patient scheduled for Wednesday is a veteran of the war in Iraq.
Rapid City Officials have drafted an ordinance allowing the installation of a medical marijuana dispensary for every five thousand people. Considering the population of Rapid is near 75 thousand, that works out to 15 dispensaries.
Assistant City Attorney Carla Cushman says, “Some people will miss out. In the ordinance there’s a provision that if an additional dispensary becomes available, either because our population, or maybe some of the licenses have become inactive or not renewed, there’s a variety of things that might happen -- then, there’s a process where we can issue some new licenses once they become available.”
Licenses are renewed annually at a cost of five thousand dollars, and a dispensary will be deemed inactive if operation does not begin within four months after the license is issued. Or, if 60-days of consecutive non-use go by thereafter.
“We want these to be used actively in our community once we license you. We don’t want you to just hold them. You’ve said that you wanted to provide this service to the community,” says Cushman, “so we’re just making you use it. Otherwise, that license might go away.”
There are four categories of licenses that have to do with medical marijuana:
Cultivation, growing the product.
During the past few years, there has been growing popularity regarding CBD, or cannabidiol. It is one of the two main substances that is isolated from hemp.
Many people enjoy using CBD to treat a wide variety of health issues, including depression, anxiety, and stress relief. Because depression is an issue that impacts people worldwide, new treatment options have been developed, including CBD.
If you are struggling with depression, reach out to a mental health professional who can help you develop a comprehensive treatment plan that includes therapy, which might include CBD.
An Overview of CBD
CBD is one of the numerous substances isolated from hemp; however, the other primary substance is THC. THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol and is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Even though a lot of people believe CBD can get you high, this is not the case. CBD does not have any psychoactive effects. CBD has been found to be helpful to treat a wide variety of medical issues. Examples include stress relief, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and sleep issues.
Furthermore, a prescription medication called Epidiolex is used to treat certain types of seizure disorders. As more research is done on CBD, more benefits are being uncovered. This includes benefits related to CBD and the treatment of depression.
It’s no secret that pet parents often scour the Internet in search of the next best thing for their pets—especially when it comes to nutrition. With the vast amount of emerging ingredients being used in pet food, it is necessary to understand the nuances of these components, and which can provide a robust balance of protein for pets.
During her lecture at the Fetch dvm360® Kansas City conference, Robin Saar, RVT, VTS (Nutrition), national nutrition ambassador at VetStrategy, explained that the key to pets leading longer, healthier lives is providing complete and balanced nutrition in a meal—which may come from insect protein and cannabis. Saar shared findings from several studies on the advantages and disadvantages of these protein sources and how each can be used to enhance a pet’s diet.
How do bugs fit into the pet food scene?
According to Saar, life-cycle assessments (LCAs) have traditionally been published for mealworms, house crickets, black soldier flies, and houseflies, and they use benchmarks to provide comparisons of insect production systems. For example, one study found that mealworms used as a protein-rich food can be comparable to meat and milk. Similarly, houseflies and blackflies, as protein-rich feed ingredients, can be compared to fish meal and soybean meal.1
So how exactly do bugs fit into the pet food equation? Saar noted the following environmental advantages of insect farming1:
Less land and water required.Greenhouse gas emissions are lower.Insects have high feed-conversion efficiencies.Insects can transform low-value organic by-products into high-quality food or feed.Public demand for meat protein is expected to rise 75% by 2050 and the pet population also continues to increase, which could potentially lead to meat protein shortages.However, the nature of this protein resource does not come without concern. Saar advised that investigations into insect protein should happen immediately because it can take years of experience to create a balanced and delectable diet, complete feeding trials, and ensure no unforeseen complications can occur. She explained that one risk of utilizing insect protein stems from contamination factors including metal and chemical pollution, such as insecticides that can be found with black soldier flies. This species tends to accumulate heavy metal from their feed (particularly cadmium and lead).1
he increasing prevalence and potency of cannabis following the legalization of recreational marijuana sales in a number of states have also increased the rate of emergency room visits associated with the drug. The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) reported over 1.5 million estimated ER visits associated with cannabis in 2017, over 1% of all visits to the ER during that year. Rates of cannabis-related visits were growing at an average of 13% per year and are expected to be higher now. (As originall posted on Benzinga.com by Nate Guzowski)
The risks of acute cannabinoid intoxication (ACI) are real. Despite the perception that cannabis use poses few risks, perhaps due to the negligible risk of death from cannabis, there are multiple serious complications from its use, including psychiatric issues and gastrointestinal problems.
Despite the increased burden from ACI, the treatment algorithm has remained largely unchanged for many years. The protocol largely consists of screening for comorbidities, e.g. ruling out infarction (which is at a 5x risk following smoked cannabis), respiratory depression, or the presence of other substances. Patients with severe psychiatric disturbances like psychosis need to be observed for at least 24 hours, and those with severe respiratory depression (or in the case of children, those at risk for respiratory depression) may need to be intubated.
Symptomatic treatment, if it is provided at all, typically consists of sedatives or anxiolytics to address psychiatric disturbances, or antiemetics to address vomiting. However, even this is rare with 58% of adults receiving no treatment at all.
A More Direct Way of Treating Cannabis Toxicity
There are currently no approved treatments for the specific indications of ACI or cannabis toxicity, and there are no established restorative therapies. However, there is a previously discovered class of drugs called CB1 antagonists that can reverse the effects of cannabis. These drugs bind to the CB1 receptor and prevent THC or synthetic cannabinoids from engaging and activating the receptor. This is the same principle by which naloxone is use to prevent opiate overdose, albeit with a different (mu-opioid) receptor.
The 1998 comedy “The Big Lebowski” has a cult-like status as a stoner film, largely because of the way Jeff Bridges portrays a weed-smoking slacker who has no job, can’t pay the rent and spends half the movie in a bathroom robe. The Dude abides life at his own pace.
A new study may have inadvertently reinforced some of that stoner stigma, finding that marijuana use reduces pain but significantly worsens patient “self-care” – a broad category that includes behavior such as motivation, physical activity and appearance.
The study involved 181 pain patients enrolled in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program, who used marijuana for eight weeks and regularly completed surveys on its effects.
The study findings, recently published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, showed that participants reported significant improvement in their pain and anxiety, and a small improvement in quality of life. But there was a caveat.
“One sees that the improvements to the pain and anxiety dimensions are tempered by a decline in the area of self-care. This is important because the side effect profile of cannabis may be diminishing the improvement in (quality of life),” wrote lead author Andrew Peterson, PharmD, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. “A review of the literature found no other study connecting the use of marijuana with declines in self-care in pain patients using MM (medical marijuana).”
As the medicinal benefits of cannabis continue to be explored, researchers are beginning to understand that the cannabinoids found in the plant go way beyond those that most people are familiar with: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive cannabinoid in the marijuana plant, and cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive compound that is believed to relieve pain, reduce anxiety and induce sleep.
But with more than 200 known cannabinoids and an increasing amount of research, cannabis consumers are increasingly interested in what’s known as “rare cannabinoids,” even though it’s still unclear what benefits they may have.
Rare cannabinoids work as supplements to endocannabinoids, and so far there have been more than 50 clinical studies about their benefits.
Rare cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) are thought to have more beneficial medical properties than THC and CBD and don’t contain the psychoactive properties of THC.
While Grove has been focused on extracting CBD from hemp, it’s researching how some of the rare cannabinoids can be used to promote wellness.
What Is Hemp Seed Oil?
The hemp plant, seeds, and oil were treasured for generations to treat inflammation, and became popular again in the past few decades. Dr. Andrew Weil published an article titled "Therapeutic Hemp Oil" in 1993, in which he looked at the benefits. "To most people, Cannabis sativa is synonymous with marijuana, but the plant's Latin name means the 'useful hemp.' Species designated sativa (useful) are usually among the most important of all crops. In fact, the utility of hemp is manifold: the plant has provided human beings with fiber, edible seeds, an edible oil, and medicine, not just a notorious mind-altering drug," the introduction states.
What Is the Difference Between Hemp Oil and Hemp Seed Oil?
So, Does Hemp Seed Oil Contain THC?
Psoriasis is a chronic medical condition that has severe implications on an individual’s physical and mental health, which is why the treatment plan has to be holistic and practical.
Approximately 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis. The widespread prevalence of this skin condition makes it a global health concern, which is why experts have been working rigorously to find a solution for this disease.
There is no proven cure for psoriasis, but there are some ways to treat or manage the symptoms of this disease. One solution that has been discovered recently and has become increasingly popular is CBD oils on the skin affected by psoriasis to heal and consume the CBD oil orally to help with the immune system.
If you have psoriasis and are looking into using CBD oil for your treatment, wondering what the possibilities of this treatment are, here is all the information you need to make up your mind and understand this new medical approach. Let’s talk about the symptoms of psoriasis and how CBD oils can target them before discussing the effectiveness of CBD oils in treating psoriasis.
Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. (OTCMKTS: DLTNF) has announced the appointment of David Kideckel to the newly created EVP Head of Strategy, Corporate Development & Capital Markets position to spearhead the company’s next growth expansion phase. David has around 20 years of combined experience in capital markets and industry.
Delta 9 appoints David Kideckel to head the expansion phase
Delta 9 CEO John Arbuthnot said, “I am extremely pleased to welcome David to our team, propelling our capital markets strategy and reach, through his wealth of experience. David was one of the leading cannabis analysts and has an exceptional network of contacts with an in-depth knowledge of the cannabis industry and its subsectors. David’s appointment reflects our commitment to having best-in-class talent to advance the Company’s growth trajectory strategically and expeditiously.”
David commented, “Of all the companies I have evaluated over the last several years, Delta 9 has incredible potential and I’m proud to join a seasoned team that is on the verge of steady and continuous growth within an explosive industry.”
Amyris launches first of the Terasana Clinical skincare products
Amyris Inc. (NASDAQ: AMRS) has launched the Terasana Clinical clean skincare brand. The launch is the first of the three brand launches the company anticipates launching this summer. The first skincare brand, Clear + Control Healthy Skin Serum, addresses irritation, skin flaking, dry skin, and redness. The proprietary formulation in the product combines Cannabigerol (CBG) and Squalane.
CEO John Melo said, “CBG has a variety of proven skin benefits and through our well-established fermentation technology, we are able to manufacture CBG at scale and at a much lower cost than existing alternatives. We believe that clean CBG has opened up new avenues for innovation in sustainable and effective skincare and that it has the potential to be a breakthrough in addressing the acne market. We are on track to launch three new clean beauty consumer brands this month.”
New Israeli clinical trials will examine the safety and efficacy of cannabis-based treatments for some of the most painful and persistent gynecological conditions faced by women.
The trials, expected in early 2022, will test cannabis-based pharmacology products developed by Gynica, a Jerusalem-based femtech (female technology) startup that believes that the active ingredients in the plant can ease painful conditions in the female reproductive system such as dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, and endometriosis.
Conventional treatments like over-the-counter painkillers, hormone therapy, and even surgical intervention can be insufficient or even pose their own health detriments in the case of endometriosis, an often agonizing disorder that occurs when tissue similar to that which normally lines the uterus – the endometrium – begins to grow outside the organ.
Gynica says it is hoping to meet unaddressed needs in women’s health by developing cannabis-based solutions for these conditions.
Veterans in vulnerable subgroups are at a higher risk of developing cannabis use disorder (CUD) or consuming cannabis for adult (recreational or non-medical) use, according to a new study from researchers at Pennsylvania’s Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center.
The results indicate the prevalence of CUD and adult cannabis use over the past twelve months to be 1.8 per cent and 7.3 per cent, respectively, whereas lifetime prevalence clocked in at 5.7 per cent and 32.5 per cent. Past 12-month and lifetime CUD prevalence in adult cannabis consumers were calculated at 24.4 per cent and 17.4 per cent, respectively.Researchers also found correlations between CUD and/or nonmedical cannabis use and certain sociodemographic groups, including those who earn a lower income, are male, are young, are single (unmarried), and reside in a state with established medical cannabis legislation.
“Nonmedical cannabis use and use disorder were associated with most psychiatric and substance use disorders examined,” the authors note.
Lead author Kendall C. Browne, Ph.D., concluded that the findings are indicative of a need for increased screening and resources for veterans at a higher risk of developing CUD.
“Among veterans, the odds of nonmedical cannabis use and use disorder were elevated among vulnerable subgroups, including those with lower income or psychiatric disorders and among survey participants residing in states with medical marijuana laws,” Browne concluded. “The study findings highlight the need for clinical attention (e.g., screening, assessment) and ongoing monitoring among veterans in the context of increasing legalization of cannabis.”
There is no doubt that patients with rheumatic and autoimmune diseases are taking full advantage of relaxed laws in the United States surrounding recreational cannabis use.
The question, however, is whether or not the improvements in pain, inflammation or sleep they are experiencing are attributable to true medicinal effects.
“There are various concentrations of THC and CBD in different products; patients may take it orally and there are creams and vapors,” Donald Abrams, MD, told Healio Rheumatology. “There is too much variety in the products available, which makes any attempt to understand their impact fraught with bias.” Source: Adobe Stock
In their recent study in Arthritis Care & Research, Wipfler and colleagues conducted a trial of 11,006 patients with various arthritic conditions in the U.S. Results showed an increase in cannabis use from 6.3% in 2014 to 18.4% in 2019. The steepest increases were seen in states where recreational marijuana use is legalized.
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/21/08/22642862/las-vegas-canna... by Maureen Meehan
Sanctuary Dispensaries, located in the heart of the Arts District near the Las Vegas Strip, is the first cannabis dispensary to directly support cancer research and cancer patients by joining the American Cancer Society's (ACS) Relay for Life.
Getting involved is a natural move for Sanctuary Dispensaries: One of the dispensaries' founders, Dr. Pejman Bady, MD, got into the business to help his mother who had been diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer and given four months to live. With the help and relief of medicinal cannabis, she lived for another six years.
Now, cancer research and support for those with the illness is among the dispensary’s main interests.
“Bridging cancer and cannabis one step at a time,” Alec Rigg, PR coordinator for Sanctuary Dispensaries told Benzinga. “And yes, pun intended. 2020 was hard for every community, but few as hard as the cancer community. We knew we had to do something, we know how terrible this disease is and joining Relay for Life was the best way to reach out and help.”
According to the latest report by IMARC Group, titled “North America Hemp Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026,” the North America Hemp Market Report expected to grow at a CAGR of around 18% during 2021-2026.
Hemp is a small, brown oilseed obtained from the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is rich in healthy fats, proteins, minerals, fibers and antioxidants. It is commonly used to enhance metabolism, boost immunity, reduce anxiety, and treat chronic pain. Consequently, it finds application in the production of pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, cosmetics, and food and beverages across the North American region.
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis takes over the world, we are continuously tracking the changes in the markets, as well as the industry behaviours of the consumers globally and our estimates about the latest market trends and forecasts are being done after considering the impact of this pandemic.
North America Hemp Market Trends:
At present, there is a significant rise in the prevalence of cancer in the North American region. This, in confluence with the increasing awareness among individuals about the nutritional benefits of hemp, is catalyzing the demand for hemp-based products. These products assist in relieving chemotherapy-induced nausea, fatigue and chronic pain in cancer patients. Apart from this, due to the growing vegan food trends, there is a considerable rise in the demand for plant-sourced alternatives, such as hemp-based vegan meat and hemp milk, across the region. The market is further influenced by the introduction of ready-to-eat (RTE) product variants, such as hemp-based cereals, smoothies, bars and yogurt.
Marijuana advocates have argued for decades that the federal government has a cure for cancer and that cure is the cannabis plant.
There are no two ways about it. This article is probably going to come across a little harsh. The words and points made herein, for some, may even teeter on inappropriate, way too soon to discuss so explicitly. Let me humbly apologize in advance.
It is not, nor is it ever, my intention to exploit the pain and suffering of strangers for the sake of journalism. It is, however, my moral responsibility to shut down, when I can, the myths perpetuated by the cannabis advocacy community. This goes double if it means that I might be able to save someone battling cancer.
Photo by Ana Maria Serrano/Getty Images
Of course, with modern medicine being the powerhouse that it is, there is a slew of cancer treatment options out there, most of which are not at all pleasant to endure. Anyone who’s had a family member go through chemotherapy can attest to this firsthand. But it’s the best we got. There is no known cure for cancer. In any situation, a cancer patient can only hope that the doctors catch it early enough to increase the effectiveness of a treatment program. If they don’t, the patient must drive a very fine line down the hard road of keeping the faith and lost hope.
This week, cancer claimed the life of legendary cannabis advocate Eddy Lepp. He was one of the most respected members of the medical marijuana community, according to High Times, having served eight years in federal prison for growing low-cost and sometimes even complimentary weed for thousands of patients in need under California’s 1996 medical marijuana law. Among his advocacy efforts, the canna-veteran also believed marijuana helped with cancer.
Anxiety is a common occurrence. According to the ADAA, the disorder is found in around 43% of the general public in the United Kingdom. Even though the ailment is so common, only 37% of individuals who are affected seek treatment. The harmful side effects and reliance associated with anxiety drugs are the main reasons why people refuse treatment. As a safer alternative to traditional anti-anxiety drugs, more people are looking for a towards CBD in its various forms such as CBD hemp gummies for anxiety in the UK more and more these days.
CBD Hemp Gummies For Anxiety
Our bodies are susceptible to unwanted effects of stress due to constant worrying, restless nights, and the anxiety that comes with it. As a result, the body's health and proper functions can become compromised. CBD has been demonstrated in studies to help with anxiety, and many consumers use it for stress reduction. Many people who suffer from anxiety consume CBD hemp gummies as an alternative medication to help alleviate their symptoms.
CBD hemp gummies may be an excellent option if anxiety prevents you from obtaining a decent night's sleep. They may also aid in the improvement of your general mood by lowering stress levels and may also be beneficial to persons who are in a state of depression. The most crucial aspect of CBD hemp gummies is getting the proper dosage for your body type. Each person’s CBD dosage can be different. It is always expedient to consult with a physician to determine the appropriate dosage for you and to ensure that CBD is compatible with your body.
CBD For Panic Attacks
Panic attacks, also known as Panic Disorder, are an anxiety disease that affects roughly 1% of all adults in the U.K. This percent equates to around 2.4 million individuals. It is estimated that panic attacks strike twice as many females as it does males and half of all women who suffer from panic disorder experience it before they turn 24.
Treatibles presents Extra Strength Organic Full Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil with Peanut Butter Flavor for dogs. The oil is available in two potencies: 500mg CBD for dogs under 100 lb. and 1,000mg for dogs over 100 lb. The vegan, peanut-free oil includes natural peanut butter flavor. The oil droppers contain a custom CBD oil that has been crafted through a multi-phase extraction process. After the cannabinoids, terpenes, essential oils and other beneficial properties are extracted from the hemp plant, the oil is cryogenically frozen to stabilize and preserve these beneficial elements. The oil then undergoes a thermal separation technique followed by distillation, resulting in a pure, clear, amber oil rich in CBD, along with supporting natural compounds.
