Tag: cbd

Marijuana and the ‘Gateway Theory’

Marijuana and the ‘Gateway Theory’

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: Norml.com | Author: Norml | Aug 26, 2022

Experts agree that the use of marijuana is not causally linked to the use of other illicit substances

  • “This study is the first to use nationally representative data across all 50 states and the District of Columbia to comprehensively explore the broader impacts of RMLs [recreational marijuana laws], providing some of the first evidence on how marijuana legalization is affecting illicit drug use, heavy alcohol use, arrests for drug and non-drug offenses, and objectively-measured adverse drug-related events including drug-related overdose deaths and admissions into substance abuse treatment services. … [W]e find little compelling evidence to suggest that RMLs result in increases in illicit drug use, arrests for part I offenses, drug-involved overdoses, or drug-related treatment admissions for addiction.”Is recreational marijuana use a gateway to harder drug use and crime? National Bureau of Economic Research, 2021
  • “Marijuana use has been proposed to serve as a ‘gateway’ that increases the likelihood that users will engage in subsequent use of harder and more harmful substances, known as the marijuana gateway hypothesis (MGH). The current study refines and extends the literature on the MGH by testing the hypothesis using rigorous quasi-experimental, propensity score-matching methodology in a nationally representative sample. … Results from this study indicate that marijuana use is not a reliable gateway cause of illicit drug use. As such, prohibition policies are unlikely to reduce illicit drug use.”Is marijuana really a gateway drug? A nationally representative test of the marijuana gateway hypothesis using a propensity score matching design, Nature Communications, 2021

Sequentially, most consumers of illicit substances first experimented with either alcohol or tobacco

Statistically, the overwhelming majority of people to try marijuana do not go on to use other illicit drugs, and most typically cease their use of marijuana by middle age

In jurisdictions where marijuana is legally accessible, adults typically report decreasing their use of other controlled substances. In this sense, marijuana appears to act more as a potential ‘exit drug’ rather than as an alleged ‘gateway’

In clinical settings, marijuana use is associated with reduced cravings for cocaine and opiates

CBD For Bipolar Disorder: Can Cannabinoids Help Treat Bipolar Affective Disorder?

CBD For Bipolar Disorder: Can Cannabinoids Help Treat Bipolar Affective Disorder?

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: MinistryOfHemp.com | Author: Ministry of Hemp | Aug 23, 2022

We wanted to take a closer look at the science behind using CBD for bipolar affective disorder.

The National Mental Health Institute estimates 4.4 percent of adults in the United States will be given a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) in their lifetime. Adults with BPAD experience the highest rate of impairment among psychiatric patients; an estimated 82.9 percent suffer from severe disablement.

Bipolar affective disorder and its variants can be treatment resistant, which may explain the high rate of disability. Anecdotal evidence, supported by preliminary studies, suggest that cannabinoids have the potential to improve the symptoms of BPAD in some individuals by regulating the endocannabinoid system.

WHAT IS BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER?

Bipolar affective disorder is a mental illness that causes significant changes in mood, motivation and energy. A process known as cycling, which involves periods of euphoria (manic episodes) followed by hopelessness (depressive episodes), is a hallmark of the illness.

There are four variants of bipolar affective disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic disorder and bipolar spectrum disorders. The severity and frequency of symptoms are used to determine which variant is diagnosed. Bipolar I is the most severe form of the disease.

SYMPTOMS OF MANIC EPISODES

Manic episodes, sometimes referred to as mania, are characterized by exaggerated self-esteem, insomnia, racing thoughts and abnormal speech, inability to focus, and impulsive behaviours. True manic episodes only affect those diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. However, patients with other variants of BPAD experience hypomania, a less severe form of mania.

Although mania is considered to be the “high” stage of BPAD, it can have disastrous consequences. Many manic episodes result in hospitalization, psychotic symptoms or grave impairment (e.g., risky behaviour leading to legal trouble). Untreated manic episodes can develop into psychosis.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSIVE EPISODES

Depressive episodes mimic a severe form of depression known as major depressive disorder. Symptoms can include feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. Additional traits of depressive episodes are changes in sleep patterns and appetite, trouble concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and suicidal thoughts or attempts.

This cycle of bipolar disorder is the “low” point of the disease. Like mania, depressive episodes vary in severity depending on which variant of bipolar disorder is present. Patients with Bipolar I disorder may have what are known as mixed episodes, during which they show signs of both mania and depression.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER

Prescription drugs used in conjunction with psychotherapy can help alleviate symptoms of BPAD in most patients. However, bipolar affective disorder can be treatment-resistant, making it difficult to manage in some people. Treatment-resistant BPAD is cause for concern, as up to 50 percent of individuals diagnosed will attempt suicide at least once in their lives.

Medications prescribed for BPAD include anticonvulsants, antimanic drugs and antidepressants. Use of antidepressants alone can lead to the onset of mania or rapid cycling. Mood stabilizers or anticonvulsants are often taken to negate these possible side effects.

The only pharmaceutical shown to have a consistent, positive effect on suicide rates in bipolar patients is lithium. However, newer research has shown there may be a possibility to control BPAD through manipulating the endocannabinoid (EC) system. These are the neurotransmitters responsible for binding cannabinoid proteins to receptors.

ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION AND BPAD

The endocannabinoid system, discovered in the mid-1990s, is comprised of two receptors, CB1 and CB2. Cannabinoids, a type of compound found in both the human body and cannabis plants, bind to these receptors to alter brain function. Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters produced naturally in the body, while phytocannabinoids are found in cannabis plants.

Postmortem studies have found that brains of patients diagnosed with mental illness, including BPAD variants, show abnormalities in the endocannabinoid system. A similar study, conducted using brain slices from mice, showed dysfunctional CB2 receptors inhibited the release of serotonin, suggesting a healthy EC system helps to regulate mood.

An investigation of endocannabinoid gene variants in 83 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), 134 with BPAD, and 117 healthy control participants found two marked differences in the patients afflicted with MDD and BPAD. Specifically, the CB1 receptor (CNR1) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) genes of the ill participants were found to be abnormal when compared to the control group.

REGULATING THE EC SYSTEM WITH PHYTOCANNABINOIDS

Because of the distribution of endocannabinoid receptors throughout the brain, many of the areas they affect overlap with regions thought to be responsible for BPAD, along with other mental illnesses. Studies have shown patients with specific abnormalities in the CNR1 gene are at a higher risk of being resistant to pharmacological treatment, leaving them more vulnerable to the effects of bipolar affective disorder.

For these patients, phytocannabinoids could provide a way to manipulate the EC system and regulate the level of chemicals traditionally targeted by pharmacological medications. As always with hemp and cannabis research, these studies are still preliminary. More research will be needed to prove whether CBD and other cannabinoids can help treat bipolar affective disorder.

ANANDAMIDE AND THC

Anandamide, called the bliss molecule, is naturally produced in the body and is similar in molecular structure to THC. Both anandamide and THC bind to CB1 receptors, altering areas of the brain responsible for memory, concentration, movement, perception, and pleasure.

FAAH genes are responsible for activating anandamide; indicating people with FAAH gene mutations may not have the appropriate levels of anandamide in the brain. Supplementing brains deficient in anandamide with THC may help restore chemical balances. Theoretically, this could alleviate cycling between manic and depressive phases.

CANNABIDIOL (CBD)

Cannabidiol has been shown to inhibit serotonin reuptake in rats, suggesting it repairs abnormalities in CB1 receptors found to inhibit release in mice. If CBD functions the same in human brains, it could provide an alternative to conventional antidepressants, especially for individuals with treatment-resistant BPAD.

A randomized clinical trial found CBD reduces abnormal brain function in regions associated with psychosis, implying it may have therapeutic effects on symptoms associated with the manic phase of BPAD. If CBD regulates both depressive and manic symptoms, it could help treat individuals who do not react well to lithium.

OTHER CANNABINOIDS

Cannabis is a complex compound, made up of over 500 chemicals. Over 100 of these compounds are suspected to be cannabinoids. There is little information on the effects of these chemicals, apart from CBD and THC, because few studies have focused on determining what reactions they produce in the EC system.

Among cannabinoids that have already been isolated, CBG and CBCV seem to show a potential for treating mood disorders, such as depression. Further study may help isolate more of these chemicals and determine what effect they have on the EC system.

USING CBDS & OTHER CANNABINOIDS FOR BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER

CBD rarely causes adverse reactions. Still, there are risks associated with both conventional methods of treatment and using cannabis derivatives as treatment. The most dangerous side effect of any treatment for BPAD is the potential worsening of symptoms.

Individuals experiencing symptoms of bipolar affective disorder, or previously diagnosed with any of the variants, should consult with a medical professional before starting or changing treatment. Even those who present with treatment-resistant variations of the disease can benefit from traditional methods (such as psychotherapy).

Regulating the EC system through phytocannabinoids may provide a way to alleviate symptoms in those with treatment-resistant BPAD. Further clinical trials in humans are needed to validate preliminary data, but the future of cannabinoids as a BPAD treatment looks promising.

More Hemp In Space

More Hemp In Space

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: HempGazette.com | Author: Terry Lassitenaz | Aug 22, 2022

The USA’s Redwire Corporation is gearing up to enable hemp to be grown in the International Space Station.

In what the company says is the only commercially owned and operated plant growth platform capable of growing from seed to maturity in space, the Redwire Greenhouse could launch in spring next year.

During this mission, Redwire client Dewey Scientific will grow industrial hemp in the greenhouse during a 60-day experiment for a gene expression study. Dewey Scientific is a cannabis-focused firm seeking to increase efficiencies and crop yields while reducing crop inputs.

“We work at the intersection of classical breeding and molecular biology,” states the company.

The hemp experiment is just the first step says Redwire.

“Redwire Greenhouse will expand opportunities for scientific discovery to improve crop production on Earth and enable critical research for crop production in space to benefit future long-duration human spaceflight,” stated Redwire’s Dave Reed.

As well as improving crops on our own planet, it’s something that will also be critical in space  as humanity reaches for the stars – not just for food, but oxygen and water reclamation.

“Increasing the throughput of crop production research in space, through commercially developed capabilities, will be important to deliver critical insights for NASA’s Artemis missions and beyond,” said Mr Reed.

Under the Artemis program, NASA is collaborating with commercial and international partners to establish a sustainable long-term presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars.

This won’t be Redwire’s first acquaintance with the ISS. Its Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS) devices developed in partnership with Tupperware Brands are already operating on the space station. PONDS was developed for NASA’s Vegetable Production System (Veggie).

This also won’t be the first time industrial hemp has been taken into space. Officially, that occurred in 2019 when seeds from Kentucky-grown hemp were taken to the ISS to assess the stability of the seeds after prolonged exposure to microgravity conditions.

 Trivia: The first plants grown in space were Arabidopsis (rockcress) by the crew of the Soviet Salyut 7 space station back in 1982. Seeds had been taken into space before that.

Building Low-Carbon Hemp Homes

Building Low-Carbon Hemp Homes

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: AZOBuild.com | Author: Reginald Davey | Aug 21, 2022

Building new structures from low-carbon and renewable resources is gaining significant attention both within the construction industry and wider society. This article will look at constructing new homes with hemp, a low-carbon, and sustainable material.

The Construction Industry: A Major Contributor to Climate Change

According to the World Economic Forum, the global construction industry contributes around 38% of total global carbon emissions. The number of buildings constructed worldwide every week could fill a city the size of Paris.

Approximately half the carbon emissions produced by a building during its serviceable lifetime are produced during its construction before people even use it. This is known as “embedded carbon”, and materials such as concrete and cement are estimated to be responsible for about 8% of total global carbon emissions.

The construction industry is also responsible for the exploitation of vast amounts of virgin, non-renewable resources, energy, and produces enormous amounts of waste materials during both construction and demolition. Nearly all the waste produced during a building’s lifetime is disposed of in the environment, typically in landfills, losing valuable resources which could otherwise be used to improve the sustainability and circularity of the sector.

Green Strategies in Construction

Recognizing the scale of the issue, the construction industry has focused on strategies to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings and infrastructure.

Several technologies have been explored in the construction industry, with renewable energy helping to reduce the carbon emissions from sites and being researched for use in the construction of raw materials. In the UK alone, three out of five construction firms have declared interest in using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power.

Equipment is getting a green upgrade too. Companies have explored the use of environmentally friendly construction equipment, with Hyundai announcing the development of an excavator which is powered by hydrogen fuel cells, with plans to introduce this machinery in 2023.

One of the most interesting areas of sustainable construction is the use of alternative construction materials which can reduce the amount of embedded carbon in new buildings and infrastructure. Numerous sustainable materials have been investigated in studies over the past few decades, with varying degrees of success.

Related Stories

Sustainable construction materials have made their way into the market over the past few years, displacing the use of conventional carbon-intensive materials such as concrete. Examples include geopolymer composites, recycled plastic, recycled wood, rammed earth, bamboo, wool insulation, living rooves, straw bale, Ferrock (a type of recycled material made from materials such as steel and dust), and hemp.

The Use of Hemp in Sustainable Construction

Hemp is an ancient construction material. Over the course of recent history, the use of hemp has been overshadowed by its association with its psychoactive cousin, cannabis. However, there has been renewed interest in the use of hemp for a variety of commercial products, including as a sustainable building material that can offer a low-carbon alternative to conventional materials.

Many building materials based on hemp have been developed by scientists in recent decades, which show excellent commercial promise. Hemp particleboards and chipboards use this eco-friendly plant-derived material and incorporate other fibers such as flax to produce a stronger, lighter, and more moisture-resistant alternative to conventional chipboard.

Hempcrete is a revolutionary concrete-like material that combines industrial hemp hurds (inner cores of hemp plant stems), water, and lime-based binders. Once applied and dried, hempcrete becomes a strong and lightweight building product that can be used in new homes.

Building homes with hemp | Freethink

Hempcrete offers advantages such as good insulation, less embodied carbon and energy, low flammability, mold and pest resistance, CO2 absorption during curing, increased strength over time, moisture resistance, non-toxicity, and full recyclability.

Hemp provides several benefits for the construction industry and is playing an increasing role in the sector’s net zero carbon aims to meet international climate change mitigation targets by 2050.

Case Study: Common Knowledge – Building Tiny Homes from Hemp

The potential of hemp as an eco-friendly and low-carbon construction alternative is vast, but one social enterprise in Ireland is championing the small benefits of this ancient building material. Teaming with Margent Farm, a hemp producer, Common Knowledge has designed a low-carbon tiny home using hemp.

They have stated that their tiny homes could help people struggling with the cost-of-living and housing crisis. Named Tigin Tiny Homes, they are essentially oversized caravans. Aside from corrugated hemp cladding panels, these homes are made from other sustainable materials such as cork for insulation and natural rubber for flooring tiles. They can be purchased pre-made or people can learn to build their own.

The hemp panels were first used in Flat House, a pioneering zero-carbon project and are constructed out of plant fibers and sugar-based resins from agricultural waste. Both are lightweight and extremely sustainable, and whilst planning regulations in the UK restrict their use in architectural products, this is less so when they are used in mobile construction.

Common Knowledge intends to make the plans for their Tigin Tiny Homes open source, which means that they would be free to use for anyone who wants to build their own. These plans would include architectural designs, materials lists, recommended suppliers, and pricing information.

In Summary

Hemp is an ancient building material that has garnered increased interest in recent years due to the need for sustainable alternatives to conventional materials such as concrete and the urgent requirement to reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint and limit environmental damage. With innovative projects such as Common Knowledge’s Tigin homes, the future of hemp in the construction industry is looking promising.

Minnesota hemp edibles law ushers in new rivals, upends marijuana market

Minnesota hemp edibles law ushers in new rivals, upends marijuana market

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: MJBizDaily.com | Author: John Schroyer | Aug 16, 2022

Minnesota’s two medical marijuana providers suddenly face droves of new rivals thanks to a groundbreaking state law that allows the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived THC edibles in mainstream retail outlets such as grocery and convenience stores.

The law – passed by state lawmakers in May – unleashed a cannabis boom when it took effect July 1 and reshaped the Minnesota market into what is likely the only one of its kind in the nation.

In effect, the sale of hemp-based, THC-infused food and drinks amounts to what is an adult-use marijuana market.

At the same time, Minnesota’s two licensed medical marijuana providers now confront an unknown and unlimited number of retailers peddling intoxicating hemp-derived edibles.

Moreover, the reinvigorated market is attracting interest from out-of-state hemp farmers and manufacturers.

Under the new law, essentially anyone with the money can set up shop and sell the hemp-derived products.

“The odd thing about our new law is there’s no license requirement whatsoever, so you don’t need anyone’s permission to start selling,” said Jason Tarasek, founder of the law firm Minnesota Cannabis Law.

“If you can afford to rent a storefront, you’re ready for business.”

By contrast, Goodness Growth Holdings, the parent company of Green Goods-branded dispensaries that is being purchased by Chicago-based Verano Holdings, and Green Thumb Industries, which runs Rise stores, together operate only 14 MMJ retail outlets across the state.

In addition, the two licensed MMJ companies are a month behind the hemp retailers in selling edible products.

While hemp-derived edibles went on sale July 1, Goodness Growth and GTI weren’t allowed to start selling marijuana-based edibles until Aug. 1.

“This may be a competitive setback for them in the short term,” Tarasek said, adding that a variety of new providers of hemp-derived edibles are likely to enter the market.

“You’re going to see consumption lounges. Bars … will start offering THC products right in their main area or perhaps have a little satellite THC area.”

Endless opportunities?

The new law allows both delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC products as well as other intoxicants derived from hemp.

It also limits the hemp-derived intoxicants to 5 milligrams of THC per serving, with a maximum of 50 milligrams of THC per package.

Other restrictions include:

  • Edibles must be in childproof and tamper-evident packages and carry the label, “Keep this product out of reach of children.”
  • Products can’t be “modeled after a brand of products primarily consumed by or marketed to children” or “packaged in a way that resembles the trademarked, characteristic, or product-specialized packaging of any commercially available food product.”
  • Products must be tested for mold, heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers and solvents.

But since sales of the THC-infused edibles began, there has been an onslaught of demand from consumers, said Steven Brown, the CEO of retailer Nothing But Hemp and a co-founder of the Minnesota Cannabis Association (MCA).

That, in turn, has given immediate rise to a slew of entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the wave of edibles-hungry Minnesotans.

“There’s definitely a miniature green rush,” said Brown, who has become both a retailer and a wholesaler of hemp-based, THC-infused edibles.

“The opportunity is endless right now.”

Combine that with a low entry threshold plus a surge in demand from Minnesotans, and the state is experiencing a cannabis revolution, according to Brown.

“What’s really nice about this is it gives the opportunity for minorities and low-income people to actually have an opportunity in the cannabis industry,” he added.

However, those opportunities already are facing limits.

Several Minnesota municipalities have imposed moratoriums on cannabis edibles, and others are considering bans.

Marijuana edibles, too

The edible products that Goodness Growth and GTI were allowed to begin selling on Aug. 1 are derived from marijuana versus hemp.

That change, implemented by regulators, was announced last December.

Goodness Growth and GTI have an advantage over their hemp counterparts in at least one respect: THC potency.

The two multistate operators are allowed to sell up to 100 milligrams of THC per edibles package, with 10 milligrams per serving.

That’s twice the potency limits of the hemp-derived edibles.

Spokespeople for Verano and Goodness Growth did not respond to MJBizDaily requests for comment.

A GTI spokesperson declined to comment to MJBizDaily.

But a GTI spokesperson told TV station KIMT that an advantage to regulated medical marijuana edibles is their proven lab-tested quality assurance, which means consumers know their products are free of contaminants.

The Minnesota medical marijuana market is projected to hit $70 million to $90 million in sales this year, excluding hemp-based edibles, according to the 2022 MJBiz Factbook.

That’s up from an estimated $60 million to $75 million in 2021.

The start of hemp-based edibles sales overshadowed the marijuana edibles launch, in part by beginning a month earlier.

That might have given hemp-focused businesses such as Brown’s a leg up with consumers, said Tarasek, the Minnesota attorney.

But, he added, “I don’t think it’s any secret that our two medical marijuana manufacturers are here, biding their time, waiting for the adult-use marijuana market to open.”

It’s unclear if and when the state might approve adult-use sales, however.

Legislators have so far failed to agree on legislation, and industry insiders are divided on whether full legalization will happen in the near future.

Once that comes to pass, Tarasek believes, it’s the two MMJ companies that are really positioned to be the big winners.

Either way, the future holds more cannabis regulatory changes, Tarasek and Brown agreed.

“Give it another six months. There’s going to be some real regulation behind hemp-derived THC,” Brown predicted.

When lawmakers return to the state capitol next year, Tarasek said, they could simply take the hint from their constituents and decide to fully legalize recreational marijuana: But that will entail the enactment of new rules – and probably taxes – for the hemp supply chain.

“The Legislature is going to need to address that,” he said, “and when they revisit that in January, they may just decide it’s time to legalize everything and make sure that there’s a regulated market, that kids can’t get their hands on it, and that we’re capturing some of the tax revenue.”

Out-of-state participants?

Another winner in the new Minnesota cannabis market are hemp farmers and edibles makers from out of state that are well-positioned to supply CBD stores and other retailers with the new types of hemp edibles, since all hemp is federally legal and can be shipped anywhere in the nation.

Both Brown and Tarasek said they’ve heard from out-of-state business interests offering to help restock shops that have sold out of hemp-based edibles.

“They sold out of inventory in a matter of hours,” Tarasek said of Twin Cities-area CBD stores that sold hemp gummies on July 1.

“It’s been a matter of connecting them with more inventory.”

Brown said he’s had conversations with out-of-state marijuana manufacturers that are exploring the possibility of entering the Minnesota market, in part because there aren’t many existing companies that can handle the new demand.

“What I’ve been hearing is there’s a lot of out-of-state marijuana companies that have an interest in coming into the state and working in the hemp-derived industry,” Brown said.

“There are just so many companies interested in selling these products.”

U.S. trade group cries foul over proposed strict limits on THC in extracts

U.S. trade group cries foul over proposed strict limits on THC in extracts

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: HempToday.net | Author: HempToday | Aug 16, 2022

A proposed provision in landmark U.S. cannabis legislation under consideration would set an unnecessarily low level for trace amounts of THC in hemp flower-based food products, leading to “the elimination of the substantial majority of the hemp extract and CBD industry,” a trade group has warned.

In a letter sent to main sponsors of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), filed in the Senate last month, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR), a Kentucky-based trade association, criticized the THC provision in the bill, which sets a limit of 1 milligram of total THC per 100 grams on a dry weight basis, translating into a 0.001% total THC standard.

The CAOA, considered to be the most comprehensive among several cannabis bills currently floating around in the U.S. Congress, is not expected to become law any time soon, but serves as a center of gravity for the discussion of marijuana and hemp policy.

Scope of the CAOA

The bill would recognize the legalization of cannabis by the states and decriminalize, regulate, and tax businesses, offering provisions related to justice, immigration, and enforcement; small business administration; public health; education infrastructure; labor; veterans; banking, housing; and community development.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) would regulate cannabis products through a new Center for Cannabis Products, under provisions in the proposed law. 

“This is an arbitrary and unrealistic standard,” USHR said of the THC limit proposed for hemp-based products. “No full spectrum or broad-spectrum hemp extract would qualify, and likely most CBD isolates would be challenged to comply, given the limitations of current testing technology.

“Indeed, this limit would delegate most, if not all, popular, non-intoxicating CBD and hemp extract products to the adult-use cannabis market,” the group said, urging the bill’s sponsors to reconsider what it called “a misguided standard for intoxication” that is “uniquely onerous and unprecedented.”

Delta-8 should be regulated

In the letter, sent to Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the lead sponsors of the CAOA, USHR called for expanded protections for all non-intoxicating hemp derivatives including CBD and other cannabinoids, legalizing the sale of CBD and other hemp extracts as food and beverage ingredients, and loosening up on who may conduct safety evaluations.

Despite its vigorous defense of CBD, USHR said it supports the CAOA’s effort to regulate psychoactive cannabis products, like delta-8 THC, which is derived from hemp-based CBD. Separate regulatory pathways for non-intoxicating hemp and intoxicating cannabis products should be established, USHR recommended.

The CAOA should be changed to establish a more comprehensive rulemaking process for determining daily serving limits for CBD that invites stakeholder input, USHR also urged.

Task force proposed

In addition to the allowable THC levels for consumer products, USHR said other provisions in current CAOA language could undermine the industry, and urged creation of a task force to also set regulations for daily serving limits for CBD, consider the advisability of the current delta-9 THC limit for hemp plants of 0.3%, and address other potentially intoxicating hemp derivatives.

The task force would include representatives from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health, hemp growers, manufacturers, processors and distributors, and testing laboratories. 

The group would report findings and offer recommendations within 120 days after being formed, USHR recommended. FDA and other federal agencies would then have 90 days to start the rule-making process to implement the task force’s recommendations.

Reforms move slowly

Observers have said only incremental reform on cannabis is expected in the near future, especially if the Democrats lose the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections. Problems with banking, for example, could be resolved with separate legislation, the SAFE Banking Act, which would finally permit financial institutions to service cannabis companies without fear of reprisal.

While CAOA’s sponsors have said they will not support the SAFE Banking Act in the absence of broader criminal reforms, policy that provides basic financial services for cannabis operators enjoys bi-partisan support in Congress.

About USHR

The U.S. Hemp Roundable is led by Pete Meachum, president, a lobbyist who also serves as Senior Director for Government Affairs for the Cronos Group, Ontario, Canada. The following businesses and organizations are on the USHR board, according to the group’s website: Ananda Hemp (Kentucky), Balanced Health Botanicals (Colorado), Canopy Growth Corporation (Ontario, Canada), CBD American Shaman (Kansas), Cultivated CBD (Minnesota), Curaleaf (Massachusetts), Garden of Life (Florida), GVB Biopharma (Nevada), Hemp Industries Association, Just Brands (Holland), Koi CBD LLC (California), Medterra CBD (California), Recess (New York), Red Mesa Science & Refining (Utah), SC Labs (California), Turning Point Brands (Kentucky), U.S. Hemp Authority, Verge Agritech (United Kingdom), and Zilis (Texas).

Japanese Cannabis Regulation Reform - Finally?

Japanese Cannabis Regulation Reform – Finally?

Posted on by dylanramsey

Nearly 75 years since the Cannabis Control Act was enacted, changes are long overdue in Japan

Source: ProjectCBD.org | Author: Naiko Miki | Aug 21, 2022

When it comes to medical cannabis, Japan is way behind the curve.

Way, way behind. There is officially no legal access to medical cannabis in Japan. But some people are finding relief with hemp-derived CBD products, a market that has taken root and is rapidly growing due to a loophole in the law.

CANNABIS IN JAPAN

Cannabis actually has a long history in Japan, dating back to its pre-historic period. Fiber and seeds of hemp have been discovered in the remains of human habitats from the Jomon period (10,000 BC to 300 BC).

Throughout history, hemp was a widely cultivated crop and played a significant role in Japanese daily life. People wore clothes made of hemp, used hemp ropes in a variety of ways, crafted hemp paper, ate seeds, and made oils. Hemp fields were abundant throughout the nation.

Beyond its practical applications, hemp was also revered as sacred plant in our indigenous religion Shintoism and was (and still is) used in various ceremonies.

And cannabis was well regarded as medicine, as well. It was listed in the pharmacopoeia and prescribed to treat asthma, mitigate pain, and enhance sleep, among other uses. Cannabis tinctures and cigarettes were widely available in pharmacies and were advertised in newspapers.

Image
Cannabis cigarettes ad in a national newspaper, 1895.

IMPOSED IGNORANCE

This all changed when Japan lost WWII, and the winner – the United States – forced the country to ban cannabis altogether, as a part of the Narcotic Control Act. Japanese hemp farmers – there were more than 37,000 at the time – protested. So the Japanese government negotiated with American occupation army and managed to separate cannabis from the rest of narcotics. They were also able to secure a legal exemption whereby, mature hemp stalks and seeds were permitted under the Cannabis Control Act. Enacted in 1948, this prohibitionist measure has dictated Japanese cannabis policy without revision or modification for nearly 75 years.

Think about it. In 1948, nobody in the world knew that it was THC that made you high. No one knew we had an endocannabinoid system in our body. Nobody knew the scientific basis for how cannabis can help people with a wide range of ailments, which we understand to a great extent today.

Science progressed, but we didn’t. Japan’s Cannabis Control Act was simply imposed upon us. And we Japanese, famous for our obedient nature and deference toward authority, for good or bad, obeyed.

SLOW FOOTSTEPS OF CHANGE

Seven decades later, however, even our reflexive obedience is approaching its limit. News about cannabis law reform and new scientific discoveries “elsewhere in the world” reaches us every day via the internet. The globe is now smaller, the news travels faster.

In 2013, hemp-derived CBD products started to trickle into Japan. Because of the loophole in the Cannabis Control Act, CBD products are legal to import and use as long as the manufacturer declares it was produced from mature hemp stalks, and if it contains no detectable THC. Despite this absurd requirement, the CBD market has shown steady expansion, particularly after 2019, gaining momentum each year, drawing in whole host of new consumers, including children.

Green Zone Japan, an organization founded in 2017 by a Japanese M.D. and myself, helped a 6-month-old boy with Ohtahara Syndrome (early infantile epileptic encephalopathy) obtain therapeutic doses (according to the famous study led by NYU’s Dr. Orrin Devinsky) of a CBD product currently on the Japanese market. The boy’s seizures stopped!

This generated considerable interest – and hope – among Japanese families with epileptic children and their doctors, triggering a chain of events that culminated in a March 2019 announcement by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), Japan’s equivalent of FDA, that it will “allow clinical trials of a cannabis-derived drug to be conducted.”

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6-month-old Japanese epileptic boy helped by CBD.

The drug slated for clinical trials is Epidiolex, pharmaceutical CBD produced by GW Pharma in the UK and approved as a treatment for severe pediatric epilepsy in many countries, including the United States.

GW Pharma’s Japanese entity, formed for this purpose, submitted a formal application to undertake an Epidiolex study, and it has been approved by the health ministry. But the clinical trial has been slow to get off the ground.

Yes, it’s only Epidiolex, a CBD isolate, and, yes, it is only for intractable epilepsy. Nevertheless, the government’s acknowledgment of the possible therapeutic benefits of a cannabis derivative is a big first step toward the legalization of medical cannabis in Japan.

MURKY FUTURE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS

So where do we go from here?

In January 2021, the Japanese health ministry announced that it was planning to review the Cannabis Control Act for a possible reform. This was expected, because if the clinical trial of Epidiolex is successful, the current law, which prohibits use of cannabis for any purpose, including medical, must be changed. A panel comprised of 12 “experts” was formed; after meeting eight times, it submitted a recommendation that identified four areas of reform. Authorization of medical cannabis is one of them. The reform is expected to be addressed during the ordinary Diet (parliament) session in 2023.

The use of whole-plant cannabis should be incorporated into the “crude drug” framework for natural herbs that Japanese people are already familiar with.

This sounds encouraging. However, things are not so simple. The term “medical cannabis” can mean many different things to different people, and it’s not clear what exactly Japanese officials are referring to when they mention the therapeutic use of cannabis.

There is a lot of confusion about this in a country where the illicit use of cannabis for recreational and/or therapeutic purposes is so limited (cannabis-related arrests in Japan were just over a paltry 5,400 in 2021). Some people simply cannot comprehend that it’s possible to use cannabis medicinally. When they hear that medical cannabis is legal in 37 states in the U.S., many Japanese think it means that doctors give cannabis to patients in hospitals. Still others are under the impression that medical cannabis refers exclusively to Epidiolex. Indeed, the majority of Japanese people are not aware of the difference between state-run “medical cannabis programs” and the unregulated nationwide hemp-derived CBD market.

Obviously, education is crucial before we can embark on a productive discussion about how to shape the future of medical cannabis in Japan. I, for one, would love to see the use of whole-plant cannabis incorporated into the “crude drug” framework for natural herbs that Japanese people are already familiar with – in addition to the pharmaceutical approach. And for that to happen, the reform of the current law is necessary.

There is a long way to go before we have a decent medical cannabis program in Japan, but the first step is now being taken.

Creators of Muscle Milk release hemp-infused fitness beverage

Creators of Muscle Milk release hemp-infused fitness beverage

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: HempIndustryDaily.com | Author: Hemp Industry Daily | Jun 30, 2022

The creators of Muscle Milk, a popular protein drink, on Wednesday released a new energy drink infused with hemp.

According to a news release, Gym Weed, made by Alternative Biologics, does not contain THC.

Instead, the pre-workout beverage contains 20 milligrams of hemp extract and 200 milligrams of caffeine as well as other natural supplements.

The release did not say if the hemp extract contains cannabinoids such as CBD. The makers of Gym Weed formulated the recipe for Muscle Milk but do not produce it. Muscle Milk is owned by PepsiCo, which bought the protein drink company in 2019 for $465 million, according to Food Business News. The release marks another instance of retail products containing hemp that target the fitness-supplement market.

Nevada gives final approval for marijuana consumption lounges

Nevada gives final approval for marijuana consumption lounges

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: MJBizDaily.com | Author: MJ Biz Daily | June 29, 2022

Nevada regulators have finally finalized rules that open up the state’s cannabis market to an estimated 60-65 marijuana consumption lounges, a move long desired by an industry eager to take better advantage of the state’s bustling tourism industry.

The first marijuana consumption lounges are expected to open before year-end, according to a Cannabis Compliance Board news release promoted on social media.

The regulatory board approved the regulations Tuesday, a year after lawmakers passed a bill permitting the lounges, and after 15 public meetings and workshops on the issue.

Roughly 40-45 licenses would be issued for lounges attached to existing marijuana stores and another 20 for independent lounges, according to the Nevada Independent.

Ten of those licenses would have discounted fees for social equity applicants, the Independent reported, or individuals with a nonviolent marijuana conviction and who live in a designated disadvantaged area.

One of the criticisms of the rules is a high barrier to entry: Applicants must prove they have $200,000 in liquid assets to qualify for license.

“It (the approval of the regulations) has to be viewed as the first step. It’s not going to be perfect,” Tyler Klimas, executive director of the Cannabis Control Board, told the Independent on Monday before the final vote.

The next step is to educate potential applicants about the process through live webinars, tutorials and other resources, according to the Cannabis Control Board news release.

Regulators are expected to open the application process this fall.

Klimas told the Independent he believes some cannabis consumption lounges could open before year-end, given that some stores already have built facilities in hopes of receiving consumption licenses.

The 2022 MJBizFactbook projects that Nevada recreational marijuana sales will reach $900 million-$1.1 billion this year.

Cannabis sales in Nevada hit $1 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, according to state data.

He's Now Cancer Free After Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

He’s Now Cancer Free After Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

Posted on by dylanramsey

Source: CannabisHealthRadio.com | Author: Cannabis Health Radio | Jun 28, 2022

After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the Fall of 2021, Bob and his wife Tami from the U.S. decided to do everything they could to make him well again. Bob underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy but he also started taking cannabis oil by suppository, working up to a gram a day. Additionally, he changed his diet and started taking supplements. Bob’s doctor “didn’t know how to explain it” when he got the all clear several weeks ago. No sign of cancer. This is an emotional, good news story that’s worth the time to listen.