An ingredient strongly implicated in the EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury) outbreak that spread across the U.S. in 2019 could soon be banned in the state of Michigan.
Last week, Michigan’s House approved three bills that would ban the sale of tobacco and cannabis vaping products containing vitamin E acetate, reports MLive.com.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has “strongly linked” the ingredient to the EVALI outbreak that resulted in 68 deaths and nearly 3,000 hospitalizations, across all 50 states.
The package of bills was introduced by Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-Dearborn, and Rep. Joe Bellino, R-Monroe, and passed with bipartisan support. The bills will now move on to the Senate for further review.
Between April 2019 and February 2020, nearly 3,500 vaping products containing vitamin E acetate were sold in Michigan and an additional 8,000 cartridges containing the ingredient were removed from inventory.
Recent research is increasingly suggesting that cannabis may help treat some symptoms in so-called COVID ‘long haulers.’
Although ‘long-haul’ COVID is still poorly understood, post-acute symptoms such as mental abnormalities and ‘brain fog,’ inflammation, multiorgan effects, muscle and joint pain, heart palpitations, headache, extreme physical fatigue are surfacing in patients and can subsist for weeks or even months.
“The long-term effects of these symptoms are massive,” writes researcher Indrani Sarkar.
Despite the often debilitating set of ongoing symptoms suffered by long-haulers, researchers have scrambled to find an effective treatment plan, despite their growing numbers.
But the results of multiple studies indicate that cannabis – specifically, non-intoxicating cannabinoid molecules Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabivarin (CVN) and beta-caryophyllene (BCP)– may have a role to play in helping long-haulers manage symptoms and find some relief.
Traditionally there were only three types of cannabis products available to most consumers on the black market: Flower, hash, and homemade edibles. While flower remains the top-selling product category in today’s legal market, production of concentrates and infused foods and beverages has become more sophisticated over the years, and a much wider array of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) containing goods – from transdermal patches to dry powder inhalers – are now accessible.
In tandem with the rise of the legal marijuana industry, restrictions on hemp cultivation have loosened in the United States and elsewhere, as demand for non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) grows at a tremendous clip. Like THC, CBD is now used as an ingredient in edibles, vapes, tinctures, and other packaged products. CBD pet treats have become a major trend and a British company is even selling CBD toilet paper.
To produce this dizzying range of new merchandise, thousands of businesses in the US have been licensed or permitted to operate cannabis processing and manufacturing facilities. But few resources exist that can provide a view of the scale of this segment of the cannabis industry. In this special report, Powder & Bulk Solids and Packaging Digest offer an estimate of the number of licensed plant-touching cannabis businesses in the US that are involved with marijuana and hemp processing and manufacturing to provide a view of the current size of the cannabis manufacturing sector across the country.
The Data
This report offers an estimate of the number of licensed/permitted cannabis enterprises, or firms, in 2021 that are involved in marijuana or hemp processing and/or manufacturing activities. “Cannabis Manufacturing” is used in the report as an umbrella term for both processors and manufacturers based on the inclusion of both types of operations in the definition of NAICS code 312310 - Cannabis product manufacturing (Variant of NAICS 2017 Canada V3.0 - Goods and Services Producing industries). However, the definition of “Cannabis Manufacturing” used here differs from the NAICS code by including both marijuana and hemp under the classification, as both are part of the Cannabis plant genus. The report uses “marijuana” to describe plant material with THC levels over 0.3% and “hemp” for plant material with THC levels under 0.3%, following definitions in the 2018 Farm Bill and the Controlled Substance Act (CSA).
Figures are from state agency websites and date to 2021 unless noted otherwise. Some estimates were formed based on historical data or information from non-government sources like news reports. Where processor- and manufacturer-specific data was unavailable, estimates were given when appropriate. Our estimate includes vertically integrated medical and adult use companies that are processing and/or manufacturing cannabis products under seed-to-sale licenses, as well as provisionally awarded licenses. Estimates of hemp manufacturing firms include grower-processor licenses.
Delta-8 THC is possibly the most happening thing in the world of cannabis today. It is a relatively new entrant even though the compound was discovered way back in the 70s. Scientific research on the compound is still limited. Hence, half-truths and misconceptions flood the market just as deeply as do cannabinoid products.
One of the prevalent notions about Delta-8 is that it’s a synthetic compound and not obtained from a natural source. You may have also heard about it from a pal or read it online.
But how far is it true? Is it merely a myth or is there some truth to it? Let’s find out.
What Is A Synthetic Cannabinoid?
Synthetic cannabinoids are also called “Spice” or “K2”. These are usually man-made (lab-made would be more like it), have uncontrollably mind-altering effects, and could even cause serious repercussions, including death by overdose.
Since these mostly act like marijuana, these artificial cannabinoids are often called “synthetic marijuana” or “fake weed”. These synthetic alternatives are largely unsafe and can affect the brain more powerfully than even natural marijuana. The effects of synthetic cannabinoids are usually unpredictable. They can be quite dangerous at times and even be life-threatening.
On May 7, 2021, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Cancer Institute, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the National Institute of Mental Health published a joint notice in the National Institutes of Health Guide to establish a standard THC unit to be used in research studies funded by these institutions.
The notice defines a standard THC unit as “as any formulation of cannabis plant material or extract that contains 5 milligrams of THC.”
According to the notice, “inconsistency in the measurement and reporting of THC exposure has been a major limitation in studies of cannabis use, making it difficult to compare findings among studies.”
While subjects may experience different effects, even when consuming the same quantity of THC due to route of administration, other product elements, an individual’s genetic make-up and metabolic factors, prior cannabis exposure and other contributing factors, the goal of the notice is to increase the comparability of cannabis research studies.
The standard does not require that researchers administer no more or less than 5mg of THC during studies. It is intended as a unit of measure, much like research on alcohol has established a standard drink as 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol.
It’s always an advantage to know the vaping laws governing the marketing, sales, and use of vape products, especially if you’re a company in the e-cigarette industry. In the U.S, the sales and use of vape pens, liquid nicotine, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, or bulk import of such products aren’t without a list of requirements and regulatory guidelines.
You need to ensure compliance for your company and employees. This calls for an in-depth understanding of the rules and regulations surrounding customer age verifications, product placements and displays, sampling, internet and mail orders, restricted store sections, and many more.
Like most laws in the U.S, there are state and federal regulations for nicotine devices. Certain states in the U.S consider vaping companies to be manufacturers and retailers. What this implies is that you’ll have to deal with additional rules and laws. Ensuring that you’re compliant will save you a lot of delays, fees, and fines.
This article covers five essential laws you should understand as a vape company in the U.S. But before diving into it, let’s look at a general overview of vape regulations.
A Quick Overview
In the latter part of December 2020, a budget package saw the light of day after its passing by Congress.
Researchers studying the efficacy of marijuana treatments for veterans’ mental health now have access to $20 million in marijuana tax revenue to fund clinical trials.
The Marijuana Regulatory Agency issued a request for proposals for the 2021 Veteran Marijuana Research Grant Program on Tuesday, June 1. The deadline for proposals is Friday, July 16.
When Michigan voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2018, they mandated that “until 2022 or for at least two years” $20 million in marijuana tax revenue should go to research.
The $20 million is meant to fund clinical trials focused on treating veterans for pain and PTSD with marijuana, and to study the plant’s effects on suicide rates among military personnel.
Veteran suicides made up about 14% of total suicides in America in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ most recent data.
Hemp is a miracle material. When most people think of it, one or two uses might come to mind. But, when you really do your research on everything hemp is used for, you quickly start to see how valuable it is.
Right now, it’s important to shine a light on the fact that hemp can be used for home construction in a variety of ways. Lately, the cost of lumber has skyrocketed due to a shortage. There are also concerns about the sustainability of traditional building materials and how they might be impacting the planet.
Could hemp be the solution for those problems? Yes.
Using hemp as a building material is more than just a “pipe dream” (no pun intended). Instead, it’s a viable option that could cut costs and benefit the environment.
Not sure how it can be used and whether it truly is the right solution? Let’s look at the benefits and a few ways hemp can be implemented into construction materials.
High-quality vapes with healthy components are not always expensive the same way expensive vapes are not always of the best grades. Here’s what to look for.
Vaping is popularly considered as the lesser of all evils for all cannabis users around the world. Nothing can be a hundred percent safe though.
Nowadays, the market is littered with various types of vaporizers with different atomizers and cartridges. Expectedly, choosing a vape might be a dilemma for customers, as well as canna-entrepreneurs — especially new investors.
Photo by Toan Nguyen via Unsplash
Safety is the most important thing to look for
All vapes do not have an equal measure of safety. Some are safer than others. Thanks to the ever-evolving technology, many unique types of vapes have been developed. Most brands choose profit over the health of their customers, which is why you should always check the components of your vaporizers before buying, including:
A proposed amendment in Massachusetts would allow for the addition of hemp-derived CBD ingredients to food, dietary supplements and animal feed, and permit the sale of hemp flowers to consumers.
A vote on Amendment 130 in the state Senate is expected this week while the Massachusetts House of Representatives is to consider a parallel bill with similar language in a virtual public hearing on June 1. In the Senate, the amendment was filed by Sen. Diana DiZoglio, a Democrat from Methuen, as part of the 2021 budget.
CCC guidance is limiting
For now, CBD can only be used as an ingredient in non-food products, and may not be marketed in dietary supplements, under guidance recently issued by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC).
Those rules permit the sale of some industrial hemp products to licensed cannabis retailers, but restrict sales of unprocessed hemp, including flowers, to wholesale transactions among licensed growers and producers.
Products such as hempseed, hempseed oil, building materials, textiles & fashions, and other products and materials derived from hemp fiber are eligible for wholesale to cannabis retailers under the new guidance, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
The cannabis industry and sustainability movement have met at a critical intersection, changing the upward trajectory of social responsibility in the industry for good.
Driven by evolving environmental regulations, consumer demand, and the best interests of the business, cannabis operators looking to promote sustainable business practices are no longer alone in their venture. Ancillary product and services vendors are supporting operators in new ways.
As the cannabis industry matures and competition intensifies, ancillary vendors are looking for ways to provide added value to their customers.
Generally, ancillary vendors seek to provide additional value through cost savings and efficiency gains that boost profitability. Now, they’re adding sustainability practices and expertise to the list.
When it comes to sustainability, having an ancillary vendor that is already experienced with sustainability initiatives allows the vendor to serve as a trusted advisor to the operator.
It’s 2021. Of the 50 states in the country, 48 have legalized marijuana for medical use, and 15 for recreational use. A whopping 91% of Americans believe it should be legal for either medical or recreational use. The medical marijuana industry alone is projected to be worth up to $66.3 billion by 2025.
Despite these numbers, the substance is still considered illegal on a federal level. What does federal marijuana legislation look like in 2021 and how will it push the industry toward new innovation?
A federal marijuana timeline? ‘Soon’
Sources close to President Joe Biden believe that he’s in favor of federal marijuana decriminalization, if not legalization, but he hasn’t said either in so many words. We’re already behind Canada and Uruguay, both of whom have legalized recreational marijuana. Mexico might be the next country to join that exclusive club. That hasn’t stopped Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer from promising to bring federal legalization legislation to the Senate floor.
The problem isn’t the will — it’s the timeline. Schumer has spoken at length about how the Democratic caucus is in favor of legalization or at least ending the prohibition on the substance, but when asked about when this might happen, his answer is simply, “I am going to put this bill on the floor soon.”
Right now, the lack of federal support means that marijuana companies operating legally in various states can’t get any sort of financial backing, such as loans or payroll management. In many locations, they can’t even take credit or debit payments, operating as a cash-only business. Only time will tell when this legislation will make an appearance but that hasn’t stopped tech companies from pushing the envelope to improve related technologies.
As the global cannabis industry continues to expand in ways previously unimaginable, there is a growing demand for transparency throughout the cultivation and distribution processes – complete seed to sale observability. A handful of startups around the world are tapping into this need by offering blockchain-based solutions for cannabis businesses.
For the last few years, blockchain has been touted as a new and innovative technology that could shake up a number of industries such as music and streaming, education, financial institutions and payments, healthcare, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity. Although blockchain is still on the fringe of becoming the next big thing, it’s comparable to how the internet slowly creeped into our lives and eventually underwent a rapid evolution that reshaped modern society.
The cannabis market seems to be taking root the same way, very slowly at first but now it is a global phenomenon that cannot be stopped, regardless of its legal status. Unlike other industries, however, those working in cannabis face many unique challenges regarding regulatory changes, payment systems, and supply chains. Blockchain has been embraced as an innovative technology that can help revolutionize the way cannabis companies conduct operations and handle business.
Are you a cannabis aficionado who would like to learn more this incredible plant, as well as gain access to exclusive deals on flowers and other products? If so, make sure to subscribe to The CBD Flowers Weekly Newsletter for the best of the best that this industry has to offer, or to the Delta 8 Weekly Newsletter for the the best deals on Delta 8 THC.
Challenges faced by the cannabis industry
Although 36 states already allow the use of medical and/or recreational cannabis, it remains federally illegal, which means industry stakeholders still face some unusual hurdles that people in other fields never even have to consider – supply chain issues, accepting payments, banking and business financing, tax structures, and constant regulatory changes are only a few of the many.
Let’s start with supply chain issues, which are different in the cannabis industry than others because legal cannabis businesses are stuck competing with the still-thriving illegal market. Take California, for instance, the largest cannabis market in the world which still has black/grey sales that often outpace the legal ones. With business owners bogged down by ridiculous regulations and sky-high licensing costs, it’s no surprise that unpermitted dispensaries and illegal grow-ops are still popping up all over the country.
Local, organically sourced and upcycled materials are now essentials for the fashion industry, which is trying to reinvent itself in order to reduce its impact on the environment.
Like linen, hemp is one of the fibres that could well take over our wardrobes in the months and years to come.
One need only take a look at the new collections of most ready-to-wear brands, including fast fashion giants, to realise that the textile industry is gradually turning to sustainable materials.
It includes organic for some, but also plant-based, and particularly materials whose cultivation requires less water, no or few pesticides, and, icing on the cake, can be done locally.
While linen seems to be getting its revenge on all the materials that have overshadowed it in recent decades, it's not the only one to be winning over fans in the fashion industry.
Lumber has been one of the most common building materials in construction for a very long time.
It is not the most popular building material on earth, as that distinction goes to concrete. However, wood is still very popular and has been for centuries.
Houses, wagons, bridges, and a number of other things have been made out of wood in many different countries throughout the world both historically and currently.
Unfortunately, prices for lumber have increased exponentially this year, which may ultimately prove to be a blessing to the global hemp industry.
Exploding Prices for Lumber
Lumber is a commodity that is traded around the world. Virtually every country on earth uses lumber for various purposes.
It’s been somewhat like pulling teeth, but the United States Drug Enforcement Administration has moved closer to allowing more growers to produce marijuana for research purposes.
While hemp was made legal at a Federal level with the signing of the 2018 Farm Bill into law, cannabis not meeting the definition of hemp is still considered marijuana in the USA, and therefore illegal.
This causes all sorts of problems for the industry, including relating to important research that needs to occur.
Currently, all federally-approved studies of medical cannabis must source their product from a single entity, the National Center for the Development of Natural Products at University of Mississippi. It has been the only legal source for more than 40 years. The quality of cannabis from the facility has been called into question in the past.
Cannabis research in the USA has been seriously impeded by the DEA’s stance on the issue. However, it has been taking steps to permit an increase in the number of growers authorised to grow marijuana for research purposes. The process has taken years so far.
Moving to end one university’s decadeslong monopoly on supplying marijuana for U.S. research, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said last Friday it will soon issue licenses to a number of growing facilities. Since 1968, only one operation, the University of Mississippi, has been licensed to supply marijuana to U.S. medical researchers who want to explore its value for treating conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain.
DEA announced on its website that it had sent a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to several manufacturers that had applied for licenses to grow cannabis for research studies. The memos come less 6 months after the agency published a final rule describing how exactly the program would work. And they mark a huge shift after years of delayed license applications. Although consuming marijuana is legal for medical purposes in 36 states and for recreational use in 17 states, consumption remains a criminal offense under federal law.
“We were euphoric. This is a victory for scientific freedom. It’s finally a chance to use real-world cannabis in our own studies and supply genetically diverse cannabis to scientists across the nation,” says Sue Sisley, the president and principal investigator at the Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI), which received one of Friday’s MOAs. In 2019, SRI sued DEA to force it to end years of delay in processing license applications. Two other applicants, the Biopharmaceutical Research Company and Steven Groff, a physician in York, Pennsylvania, also received memos from DEA, The Wall Street Journal reported.
When it comes to consumer packaged goods, especially those with natural ingredients, preserving freshness and quality is a top priority. Unfortunately, many of the existing additives currently on the market are incredibly unhealthy (toxic and cancerous really), so there is a pressing need for safer alternatives.
Researchers from the University of South Florida are looking at cannabidiol as a possible solution. According to their study published earlier this year in the Postharvest Biology and Technology journal, CBD oil can be used as a natural preservative to extend the shelf-life of food by inhibiting yeast, mold growth, and microbial load. So, how exactly does this work and is it a practical, cost-effective option?
Are you a cannabis aficionado who would like to learn more this incredible plant, as well as gain access to exclusive deals on flowers and other products? If so, make sure to subscribe to The CBD Flowers Weekly Newsletter for the best of the best that this industry has to offer, or to the Delta 8 Weekly Newsletter for the the best deals on Delta 8 THC.
Medical Benefits and Applications of CBD Oil
CBD has been heavily promoted as an effective treatment option for numerous different health conditions, but the only disorder to have government-backing for cannabidiol treatment is epilepsy. In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number and intensity of seizures, and in many cases, stopped them altogether.
Last year, the medication Epidiolex was removed from the controlled substances list, making it the only CBD-based therapy to receive full FDA approval. Epidiolex, now being prescribed in the US, Japan, and 30 European countries, is used to treat two extremely rare and debilitating forms of childhood epilepsy that typically don’t respond to pharmaceutical antiseizure medications – Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gestaut syndrome.
Additionally, there is sufficient research indicating that CBD can be used to curb chronic inflammation and neuropathic pain, two of the most difficult types of pain to treat. Chronic inflammation has also been identified as the root cause of many other ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and bowel diseases. A study from the European Journal of Pain showed that even when applied topically, CBD could help eliminate pain and inflammation caused by arthritis.
In the U.S., cannabis legalization began in 2012 when both Colorado and Washington approved cannabis for recreational use.
Today, cannabis is legal in 11 states, along with Washington, D.C., for both recreational and medicinal use for adults over the age of 21.
For medicinal use only, it is currently legal in 33 other states. Recreational legalization allowed the cannabis cultivation industry to flourish exponentially.
The spike in demand for higher quality cannabis caused growers to experiment with their crops’ growing operations to yield higher volume.
Growers improved their lights, growth mediums, pesticides, heating, cooling and ventilation techniques.
The Australian Federal Government’s recently handed down 2021-22 Budget included $1.5 million for a trial exploring personalised medicinal cannabis dosing in cancer patients.
Awarded via the Medical Research Future Fund, Dr Hannah Wardill will lead the CANCAN trial to be carried out at University of Adelaide in South Australia. It will primarily target prevention of common symptoms associated with advanced cancer treatments, which are highly toxic.
“The CANCAN trial will show that targeting gut distress, due to mucosal injury, with medical cannabis will improve patient wellbeing and maintenance of intended dosing,” said Dr. Wardill. “It’s also hoped the personalised CBD and THC preparation will prevent and manage clusters of related side effects of cancer therapy including detrimental effects to sleep, appetite, mood, pain and fatigue.”
Dr. Wardill has been a member of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and the Mucositis Research Group since 2013. She has been awarded the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer International Young Investigator Award, and is also an Australian Young Achiever and Qiagen Microbiome Award winner.
“This is another important step in our journey to create high quality, consistent, affordable, person-centred, precision cannabis medicines and comes on the back of other recent significant milestones,” said LeafCann.
