MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

New Mexico will honor medical cannabis cards from other states starting July 1 under a reciprocity rule signed by Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel, according to a Las Cruces Sun News report.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a law Feb. 20 that reinstated a residency requirement for patients enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program, the news outlet reported.

S.B. 139 aimed to reverse a change in a state law that was enacted last year and that allowed qualifying non-residents to enroll in the program. The legislation passed the state legislature Feb. 18 when it earned approval from the New Mexico House.

At least 613 non-residents have enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program since the residency requirement was eliminated last year, Las Cruces Sun News reported. These patients will not be able to renew their New Mexico medical cannabis ID cards under the new law, but will be able to access medical cannabis in the state starting July 1 under the reciprocity rule using valid medical cannabis ID cards issued by their home states.

As Cannabis Conference 2020 gets closer and closer, we’re continuing to unveil much of our educational schedule, a three-day roster of expert speakers delivering the industry’s most relevant perspectives and research for plant-touching businesses. This is our fourth year of planning Cannabis Conference, and this is our most ambitious show yet.

Thanks to the Cannabis Conference advisory board, we’ve been connected with the leading voices in the cannabis industry, the industrial hemp industry, the plant and cannabinoid science community and the extraction industry. We’re bringing them to Las Vegas this April to give you a leg-up on the competition in your market. You will return home to your business a more informed leader after Cannabis Conference 2020.

With that, here are some of the recent additions to the Cannabis Conference 2020 lineup.

Latest speakers—Cultivation

Darren Brisebois, President, OGEN by Bloom Cultivation

 

Mackenzie Ditch Wilcox, Counsel - License Applications, Cresco Labs

This week, the New Mexico Legislature approved legislation that would prohibit non-residents from enrolling in the state’s medical cannabis program, sending the bill to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Elsewhere, medical cannabis legalization bills advanced in Alabama and Kentucky, while a bill to legalize the possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults cleared the New Hampshire House and advanced to the Senate for consideration.

Here, we’ve rounded up the 10 headlines you need to know before this week is over.

New Mexico: The New Mexico Senate has approved S.B.139, legislation that would prohibit non-residents from enrolling in the state’s medical cannabis program. Supporters of the bill hope to reverse a change in a state law that was enacted last year and that allowed qualified non-residents to obtain medical cannabis ID cards in the state. Read moreThe New Mexico House also approved S.B.139 this week, sending the legislation to the governor. If the legislation is signed into law, the more than 600 out-of-state residents who have enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program will be able to keep their ID cards until they expire, but then will not be able to renew them. Read moreIowa: The Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board held its first meeting of the year, where it rejected adding panic disorder and ADHD as new qualifying conditions to the state’s medical cannabis program and upheld its recommendations on placing limits on the amount of THC that patients can purchase. While current state law maintains a 3% THC limit for medical cannabis products, the board has recommended a change that allows patients to access 4.5 grams of THC over a 90-day period. Read moreWashington: The House approved a bill this week that aims to address racial inequity within the state’s cannabis industry. H.B. 2870 would allow the state to issue additional cannabis retail licenses for social equity purposes, prioritizing applicants representing communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition. Read moreVermont: A new poll conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project found that 76% of Vermont residents support allowing adults 21 and over to purchase cannabis from regulated, tax-paying small businesses. These results are significant as they come days before the Vermont House is expected to vote on S. 54, a bill that would legalize, regulate and tax cannabis sales in the state. Read morePennsylvania: Rep. Jake Wheatley has introduced new legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state. House Bill 2050 would establish a licensing process for cannabis growers, processors and dispensaries, and aims to lower the initial application and licensing fees in an effort to make the market more accessible for businesses. Read moreUtah: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved legislation Feb. 18 that would make several changes to the state’s medical cannabis program before its March 1 launch. S.B.121, sponsored by Sen. Evan Vickers, contains several amendments to the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, which the legislature approved in December 2018 to make changes to the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis ballot initiative. Read moreAlabama: The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Feb. 19 to pass legislation that would legalize and regulate medical cannabis in the state. The 8-1 vote advances the bill to a full Senate vote. Read moreNew Hampshire: The House of Representatives approved a bill in a 236-112 vote that would legalize the possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire—similar to Vermont’s legalization law. H.B. 1648 now heads to the Senate for consideration. Read moreKentucky: The House of Representatives has voted in favor of a bill that would legalize medical cannabis for patients with debilitating medical conditions in the state. This marks the first time a bill to legalize medical cannabis has received a full House vote in Kentucky, and the legislation now proceeds to the Senate for consideration. Read more

Last week, Cannabics Pharmaceuticals announced new pre-clinical findings on the cannabinoids cannabinol (CBN) and cannabichromene (CBC) and their acidic forms, CBNA and CBCA, demonstrating their efficacy against human colon cancer cells.

Necrotic effect of CBN on Colon Cancer: Nuclear (blue) and Necrosis (yellow) dyes were analyzed using fluorescent microscopy. Left: untreated cells. Right: cells treated with CBN.

The new research builds on previous investigations by the U.S.-run company whose Israeli research labs focus on understanding and developing personalized cannabinoid medicine for cancer and the side effects of conventional cancer treatment.

RELATED: CBG and CBC Kill Gastrointestinal Cancer Cells in Preliminary Study

What Is CBN?

This mildly intoxicating cannabinoid is a natural byproduct of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of non-hemp cannabis cultivations. It is formed when THC, or its parent cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG)—notably found in higher concentrations in hemp cultivations—are exposed to oxygen and light.

Similarly, CBNA is the non-intoxicating oxidative byproduct of these cannabinoids still in their acidic forms, THCA and CBGA.

Generally found in minute amounts, CBN content in cannabis flower can increase over time and with improper storage.  However, unlike a bottle of wine soured from exposure to air, cannabinoids don’t go “bad” in the traditional sense; they simply change into new types with their own mechanisms of action and potential for therapeutic effects.

TORONTO and DENVER, Feb. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- MJardin Group, Inc., a cannabis producer, has announced that one of its indoor cannabis cultivation facilities “GRO”,  located in Dunnville, Ontario, has received its cultivation and processing license from Health Canada. The facility is a joint venture between MJardin Group (75%) and Grand River Organics (25%).

The 11,000-square-foot facility is estimated to produce 1,200 kg of premium flower and 396 kg of trim for a total of 1,596 kg of product per year and is expected to reach full production capacity in Q3 2020. “GRO” houses five compartmentalized flower rooms of equal size. The facility is equipped with optimal HVAC and fertigation systems that will ensure workflow efficiency and consistency in cultivation of product.

“We are pleased to have reached this important milestone and are eager to begin cultivating at this facility,” said Pat Witcher, CEO of MJardin Group. “Our Canadian footprint continues to successfully come online via cultivation and sales of our high THC premium product and we look forward to reaching even more of the market in 2020 with our strategic partners. This is a very exciting time for our group.”

The company has been awarded four cultivation licenses and two sales licenses in the Canadian portfolio and eagerly anticipates the completion of construction and full roll-out of its Canadian assets.

Here are the best new cultivars and clones to grow in 2020 -- selected based on interviews with the world’s most influential breeders, what’s available legally in stores and online, and data trends in popular strains.

Legalization’s onward march into the mainstream means that more gardeners than ever can grow some cannabis.

Michigan and Illinois added medical marijuana cultivation rights this year.

Oklahoma is in the midst of a legal medical genetics boom. The list goes on and on. 

Click here to read the complete article

TORONTO (February 20, 2020) – PRESS RELEASE – FSD Pharma Inc. has announced the sale of its 12% equity interest in Cannara Biotech Inc. to a consortium of buyers for cash proceeds of more than $7.7 million.

The terms of the share sale transaction were negotiated at arm's length with a group of buyers that included entities controlled by members of the Cannara board and senior management. A substantial portion of FSD Pharma's shareholdings in Cannara were subject to a statutory escrow expiring December 2021. Under the terms of the share sale transaction, the buyers agreed to acquire FSD Pharma's interest subject to escrow and, as such, assumed all of the associated market risk. The share sale transaction represents a 670% return on the company's stake in Cannara.

"This is a very positive milestone for the shareholders and stakeholders of FSD Pharma to recognize a 7x return in less than two years," stated Raza Bokhari, MD, executive co-chairman and CEO. "This transaction represents, which I hope is the first of others that will follow to strengthen our cash position on the balance sheet. Our aim is to scale up to $50 million in disposable cash through monetizing our non-cash assets and raising new capital from institutional and institutional grade investors in the United States and elsewhere."

For further details on the share sale transaction, please refer to FSD Pharma's Early Warning Report, which will be available under Cannara's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

SMITHS FALLS, ON, Feb. 14, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Canopy Growth Corporation has announced its financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2019.  All financial information in this press release is reported in millions of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2020 Corporate Financial Highlights

Revenues: Reported Net Revenues increased 62% over Q2 2020, or 13% excluding the impact of portfolio restructuring charges. Gross Recreational B2B revenue increased 8% over prior quarter due, in part, to over 140 stores becoming active in the quarter and higher sales of premium dried flower and pre-roll joints. Our acquired businesses including Storz & Bickel and This Works also performed well, contributing to organic growth this quarter. Gross margin: Gross margin before fair value impacts was 34%. Gross margin performance in quarter benefited from lower period costs due to higher facility utilization Operating expenses: Total operating expenses decreased 14% versus Q2 2020 primarily due to a $20 million reduction in G&A expenses and over $31 million lower stock-based compensation versus the prior quarter Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA loss of $92 million, a $64 million narrower loss versus Q2 2020 driven by higher sales, improved gross margins and lower operating expenses Cash Position: Gross cash balance was $2.3 billion, down from $2.7 billion in Q2 2020, reflecting the EBITDA loss, capital investments and M&A

Third Quarter Fiscal 2020 Business & Operational Highlights

Maintained leading market share in retail, at an estimated 22%, of the Canadian recreation market as we saw a strong demand for both premium and value priced dried flower and pre-rolled jointsContinued market share gains and increase in the number of patients, to over 76,700, in the Canadian medical cannabis market Named David Klein as new Chief Executive Officer Completed first shipments of cannabis-infused edible chocolates and JUJU Power 510 batteries in December 2019 Storz & Bickel expanded product line with launch of Crafty+ vaporizer in November 2019 Announced initial line of First & Free Hemp-derived CBD products and began sales online through www.firstandfree.com, one quarter ahead of Q4 2020 target

"In Q3 we executed across Canada, in our international markets and in our strategic acquisitions to drive revenue growth," said David Klein, CEO. "We have a lot of work to do.  We are eager to capitalize on the opportunity to create an unassailable position through a tight focus on the consumer and on critical markets."

"We delivered significant gross improvement in the third quarter driven by stronger revenues and higher capacity utilization. Actions taken earlier this year are expected to meaningfully reduce stock-based compensation in FY21, and we have started to implement tighter cost controls across the organization," said Mike Lee, EVP & CFO. "We plan to take further steps to reduce our costs and right-size our business to ensure that we can generate a healthy margin profile and cash generation in the coming years."

Canadian Cannabis 

VANCOUVER, Feb. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Cannara Biotech Inc. has announced a buying group which includes Javaa Private Equity Inc. has collectively acquired a total of 85,003,250 common shares from FSD/FV Pharma Inc., the  majority of which remain in escrow, stemming from Cannara's go-public transaction a year ago. This $7.7 million transaction ensures a smooth transition of approximately 12% of Cannara's issued and outstanding common shares.

Post transaction, FSD/FV Pharma holds no remaining interest in Cannara and Dr. Sara May, the president of FV Pharma Inc. will step down from the company's Board of Directors. The company is evaluating alternative independent directors and will fill the vacancy in a timely fashion.

"The buying group, a combination of insiders and independent, third party investors who understand Cannara's potential and the progress it has made since going public, are committed to the company's strategic plan of being a leader in Quebec's cannabis landscape," said Lennie Ryer, CFO of Cannara. "With last month's license granted from Health Canada, we are now poised to begin full cultivation operations at Phase 1 of the Farnham facility, with an annual capacity of 20,000 kgs of premium, indoor grown cannabis."

Following their acquisition of 8,161,626 common shares of Cannara in the transaction, Javaa now holds 242,167,820 common shares of Cannara representing approximately 34.3% of the issued and outstanding common shares. The shares of Cannara acquired by Javaa are held for investment purposes. Javaa may in the future purchase or sell shares of Cannara or otherwise trade in securities of or engage in other transactions with respect to Cannara depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to, Cannara's financial position, the price levels of the common shares of Cannara, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, Cannara's business or financial condition, and other factors and conditions Javaa deems appropriate.

For further information, a copy of the Early Warning Report to which this press release relates can be obtained from Cannara's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. – PRESS RELEASE – C3 Industries, a cannabis producer and retailer headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., has announced it harvested its first crop of Cloud Cover Cannabis flower at its Webberville facility.

The Webberville facility, built from the ground up, is licensed for both medical and adult-use growing and processing and includes indoor cultivation, hydrocarbon extraction, short-path distillation and a large commercial kitchen, along with packaging and distribution. C3 will produce a highly-curated selection of Cloud Cover products, including flower, edibles, vaporizers, concentrates, topicals and tinctures.

The company’s award-winning product line, Cloud Cover Cannabis, will be distributed to dispensaries across the state, including C3’s High Profile retail stores. Currently, High Profile has a medical provisioning center in Detroit and will open a second medical location in Grant, Mich., just north of Grand Rapids, in early March. A medical and adult-use center is slated to open in downtown Ann Arbor by mid-March.

“The timing of our first harvests and the opening of the Grant and Ann Arbor High Profile locations could not be better to meet the demands of a very underserved market. We plan to ship flower to our three High Profile locations as well as third-party dispensaries by the beginning of March,” said Vishal Rungta. ”It’s critical that product constraints throughout the state are alleviated to increase access and decrease the proliferation of the illicit market. We owe it to both patients and consumers to supply safe, high-quality cannabis products to Michigan residents across the state.”

C3 plans to open multiple additional dispensaries in Michigan within the next 12-18 months. Each will offer 200-300 products, including Cloud Clover and a curated selection of high-quality third-party brands. C3 will invest more than $20 million in Michigan’s cannabis industry and expects to employ nearly 300 people once the cultivation and manufacturing facility is at capacity and the retail network is fully operational.

Cleveland, OH, (February 21, 2020) -- Cannabis Business Times magazine (Cannabis Business Times) and Cannabis Dispensary magazine (Cannabis Dispensary) announced today the 2020 Best Cannabis Companies To Work For – Dispensaries and Cultivation. Profiles of the companies that earned the distinction as one of the Best Cannabis Companies to Work For are available in the February issue of Cannabis Business Times magazine, and online at CannabisBusinessTimes.com, and in the January/February issue of Cannabis Dispensary magazine, and online at CannabisDispensarymag.com.

The award program recognizes the best companies across the cannabis industry that excel in creating quality workplaces for employees.

The winners for this year’s awards in the cultivation category are: OGEN By Bloom Cultivation, Calgary, Alberta; The Grove, Las Vegas, Nevada; ONE Cannabis, Denver, Colorado; and Jushi Holdings Inc., Boca Raton, Florida.

The winners in the dispensary category include are: Greenhouse Wellness, Ellicott City, Maryland; Jushi Holdings Inc., Boca Raton, Florida; ONE Cannabis, Denver, Colorado; Hashtag Cannabis, Seattle, Washington; and The Grove, Las Vegas, Nevada.

During the 2020 Cannabis Conference, which will take place April 21-23 at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Darren Brisebois, president of top-ranking OGEN by Bloom Cultivation, and Dr. Leslie Apgar and Gina Dubbé, the founders of top-ranking Greenhouse Wellness, will share insights into how they create an exceptional place to work.

Leading industry publications Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary developed the awards in partnership with the Best Companies Group (BCG), a global research organization that conducts industry-leading employee survey engagement and satisfaction surveys. Through this work, Cannabis Dispensary, Cannabis Business Times and BCG identify and recognize the best employers in the cannabis cultivation and dispensary markets and provide these organizations with valuable employee feedback.

One of the great narratives of 2020 is the rise of brands in cannabis. State-by-state legalization measures are continuing apace, but the market remains fragmented in the U.S.

What are consumers to do? How can new and experienced consumers sift through the industry and find consistent brands that they can come to know and support? It’s a difficult question.

Piers Cooper, president of CalEthos, is overseeing the launch of the Showcase retail brand in California this year. The plan is to allow established and developing cannabis brands (edibles brands, beverage lines, etc.) into the store, where they’ll be showcased in their own boutique-style displays. And so, he’s been thinking a lot about cannabis branding lately.

Here, we spoke with Cooper about some of the fundamentals that go into cannabis branding—and the lessons that cannabis companies can draw from wineries, especially, around the international market.

Cannabis Dispensary: Can you describe the problems brands are facing in the cannabis market right now?

Piers Cooper: Well, it’s why we called our business Showcase—to be able to show all their product. The problem brands have today is they sell into dispensaries, and dispensaries are relatively small-footprint stores, mostly. That brand can usually only get a few of their SKUs onto a shelf. The dispensary only wants to have a couple of brands of pre-rolls, a couple of brands of this, a couple of brands of that. And maybe they want to change some suppliers, and the brand gets in there and can have two or three products out of maybe 500 products they make. So, it's very hard for a brand to stand out in a typical dispensary.

CD: Brands obviously are a huge part of every other retail segment in the world. And obviously cannabis is sort of coming into its own. On the consumer side, how has that been hurting consumers, this lack of brand visibility?

PC: The brands that have emerged on a national level, it's a one-off thing. The consumer really only thinks, ‘Oh, this company makes that. That company makes this other thing.’ They don't realize there's a whole range of products coming out of each brand. So, there's no brand loyalty; there’s product loyalty today. And even that the consumers are finding frustrating, because the local dispensary often doesn't have that product. Or they switched it out for a different thing.

When the founders of Colorado-based Spherex decided to pivot from a business-to-business extraction company to a lifestyle brand with its own line of products, they focused on building a sustainable business with the goal of eventually expanding into new markets. With a launch in California and plans in place to enter the Oklahoma medical cannabis market, the company is quickly realizing this goal.

“People like the brand—they respond well to it,” Spherex Chairman Michael Green tells Cannabis Business Times. “People like our products. We like to make people feel something good with our products, so we want to expand that in a smart way. … What you see [elsewhere] is people just raising money or running out of money and then having to raise money, and we’re on the slow and steady. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We’re making sure we control our own destiny and can make the choices we want to make that we think are the best business decisions and the best way to bring our products to customers.”

When Spherex expanded its brand into California, the team quickly realized how competitive that particular market can be and decided to take a different approach with its next expansion plans.

“We felt like if we were going to expand again, we should look in markets that are growing quickly, but are not quite as evolved,” Green says. “It took us two years to get our product from the first iteration to where it is today, and we felt like if we could go to markets that were fast-growing and where they’re not quite as evolved and we bring our quality product, then we have a really good chance of being successful and competing in a meaningful way.”

A friend of Spherex’s chief technology officer had relocated to Oklahoma after operating a lab in Colorado, which got the team thinking about Oklahoma’s market as a potential next stop.

OREGON: At its monthly meeting on February 20, 2020, the Commissioners of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission approved three marijuana violation stipulated settlement agreements: Slabtown in Portland will pay a fine of $5,280 AND serve a 32-day recreational marijuana retailer license suspension for two violations. Licensee is: Slabtown Proprietors, LLC; Portadelphia, LLC, Member; Albert Corrado, Member/Manager; Rose City Brands, LLC, Member; Troy Patterson, Member; CannaRefinery, LLC, Read the full article...

Frankfort, KY — PRESS RELEASE — On Thursday, Kentucky’s House of Representatives voted in favor (65-30) of a bill that would legalize medical cannabis for patients with debilitating medical conditions in the state.

H.B. 136, sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Louisville), passed the House Judiciary Committee in a 17-1 vote last week. This marks the first time a bill to legalize medical cannabis has received a full House vote in Kentucky. The bill now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.

Support for medical cannabis has been growing for several years. A 2019 Kentucky Health Issues Poll found that nine out of 10 Kentucky residents support legalizing cannabis for medical use. Gov. Andy Beshear has indicated that he strongly supports medical cannabis.

If enacted into law, Kentucky will join the 33 states (and Washington, D.C.) that have passed workable medical cannabis laws.

Matt Simon, legislative analyst at the Marijuana Policy Project, said, “Patients in Kentucky shouldn’t have to continue waiting for safe, legal access to cannabis. This legislation is critical for Kentuckians who are desperate for alternatives to opioids and other potentially dangerous prescription drugs. The House should be applauded for passing this bill. Now it’s time for the Senate to do the right thing for patients and pass H.B. 136.”

Concord, NH — PRESS RELEASE — On Thursday, the House of Representatives approved a bill (236-112) that would legalize possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire—similar to Vermont’s legalization law. H.B. 1648 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Sponsored by Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Epsom) and a bipartisan group of seven cosponsors, H.B. 1648 would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to three-quarters of an ounce of cannabis, five grams of hashish and up to 300 mg of cannabis-infused products (currently a violation punishable by a civil fine). It would also permit cultivation of up to six plants (including up to three mature ones) at home in a secure location that is not visible from other properties. A summary of H.B. 1648 is available here.

The “Live Free or Die” State is currently surrounded by jurisdictions where cannabis is legal for adult use. If H.B. 1648 passes, New Hampshire will join the 11 states (and Washington, D.C.) that have replaced the failed policy of prohibition with sensible and responsible legalization laws.

Public opinion has shifted strongly in favor of legalizing cannabis. Two consecutive polls published by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found that 68% of Granite Staters support legalization, demonstrating that legalization is more popular than any elected official in the state.

Matt Simon, New England political director at the Marijuana Policy Project, said, “Granite Staters overwhelmingly support making cannabis legal for adults’ use, and it’s encouraging to see that a strong majority of the House agrees. Now it’s time for Gov. Chris Sununu and the Senate to recognize that New Hampshire should not be an island of prohibition. Cannabis is objectively less harmful than alcohol, and there is no good reason for the state to continue punishing adults who choose the safer substance.” 

The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee voted Feb. 19 to pass legislation that would legalize and regulate medical cannabis in the state, according to an AL.com report.

The 8-1 vote advances the bill to a full Senate vote, the news outlet reported.

Sen. Tim Melson introduced Senate Bill 165, titled “The Compassion Act,” based on recommendations from the Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission, a commission tasked with developing legislation and regulations for a medical cannabis market in the state.

The commission was created last year after another medical cannabis legalization proposal from Melson was transformed into a bill to establish the work group to study the issue.

S.B.165 outlines the process for patients to enroll in a medical cannabis program and establishes a commission to oversee the patient registry and business licensing process. The bill also decriminalizes cannabis possession for qualified patients and allow physicians to recommend cannabis for 15 qualifying conditions.

 

In a new study published in the Israeli medical journal Rambam Maimonides, researchers found that the consumption of cannabis with a rich phytochemical profile by patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was associated with a reduction in the need for conventional ADHD medication.

First reported by NORML, this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of 59 adult patients licensed for medical cannabis treatment in Israel considered self-reported data on preferred methods of consumption, cultivator and cultivar name, as well as monthly dose.

Other parameters were also taken into account. While all patients had been diagnosed with ADHD by a physician, the study also quantified self-reported veracity of symptoms, noting either low or high scores. These scores were evaluated alongside monthly consumption rates, with 18 participants falling within a low range of 20-30 grams and 35 who consumed within a high range of 40-70 grams.

According to the data collected, both the low dose group and patients reporting lower levels of ADHD symptoms had a higher rate of stopping all ADHD medications after using cannabis. Moreover, the study discovered a correlation between low-symptom patients and lowered anxiety scores. Researchers also described an association between patients with lower ADHD scores and a higher rate of cannabinol (CBN) consumption, a cannabinoid byproduct of THC oxidation, but not THC.

These results build on previous work from 2017 where the 1:1 ratio (THC:CBD) product Sativex was found to improve hyperactivity and impulsivity in a randomized placebo-controlled experimental study published in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology.

A team of researchers have created a ‘hemp scanner’ that can determine the level of THC in cannabis plants instantly, without damaging any of the product.

Hemp is technically legal in Texas, but proving that hemp is not cannabis can be a hurdle, requiring testing in a licensed laboratory.

So, when a truck carrying thousands of pounds of hemp was recently detained by law enforcement near Amarillo, the driver spent weeks in jail awaiting confirmation that the cargo was legal.

Stories like that one inspired a team of Texas A&M AgriLife researchers to create a “hemp scanner” that can distinguish hemp and cannabis instantly, without damaging any of the product.

Click here to read the compete article

A Jakarta-based activist is campaigning to change public perceptions and Indonesian policy so that patients suffering from chronic disease and pain can also access the potentially life-changing treatment.

Dhira Narayana of Lingkar Ganja Nusantara, Indonesia’s cannabis movement, has been working with a network of NGOs, volunteers, patients and doctors to research how a domestic medicinal cannabis market might look and what needs to change for it to become a reality.

Click here to read the complete article

Michael Andrew ~ The Jakarta Post ~