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Unlike CBD, CBN is not present in significant quantities in fresh marijuana, but when unheated marijuana ages or is exposed to air and light, the THC in it turns to CBN.

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25% of U.S. adults report insufficient sleep or rest at least 15 out of every 30 days. In addition to its profound impacts on cognitive health and behavioral functioning, sleep deprivation can cause accidents, affect relationships, and contribute to lowered immunity and chronic illness.

A report by Express Scripts, a Cigna-owned pharmacy benefit manager, concludes that more than one in five people say their quality of sleep has suffered during the spread of COVID-19. With that spike, the demand for sleep aids and medications has seen a similar surge, and with it the debut of products containing cannabinol (CBN), a minor cannabinoid with, what some claim is, a uniquely sedative effect.

Unlike CBD, CBN is not present in significant quantities in fresh marijuana, but when unheated marijuana ages or is exposed to air and light, the THC in it turns to CBN, which is only psychoactive if ingested in large doses. Promoted as the cannabinoid with the most significant sleep-inducing qualities studied to date, CBN has been compared to Valium in the way it calms the body without having a negative impact on functioning. While CBN has also been shown to have positive benefits for sufferers of glaucoma, psoriasis, bacterial infection, and pain, sleep is where some say CBN (in concentrated form) comes out on top.

An analysis performed by cannabis testing and analytics company Steep Hill Labs showed that 5mg of CBN is as effective as 10mg of diazepam, a prominent pharmaceutical sedative. Steep Hill later amended their analysis to state that their results did not show conclusive sedative qualities, but enthusiasm for CBN is still on the rise

The New Zealand Medical Cannabis Council claims the country’s government scheme is being undermined by unregulated medical cannabis imports.

The NZMCC says some medical practitioners are importing products and selling directly to patients, taking advantage of a loophole in Section 25 of NZ’s Medicines Act.

That section provides an exemption allowing all authorised prescribers to “procure the supply of any medicine”; including approved and unapproved medicines. Among other things, it allows an authorised prescriber to obtain a medicine by direct importation.

The Council claims currently there is less regulatory oversight of Section 25 imports than vitamins sold in supermarkets.

While benefiting patients through lower cost products being available, the situation is impacting on the viability of local producers and distributors who cannot compete on price at this point. Among some of NZMCC’s other concerns is that some of these imported products are of “unknown quality and consistency”.

CBD capsules are often marketed as being a modern and simplistic alternative to traditional CBD oil tinctures. CBD capsules remove many of the factors that can put people off trying CBD supplements. As a result, they have quickly become one of the fastest-growing niches within the CBD industry.

There are many reasons why people are increasingly looking for products like CBD capsules. There have been a number of studies focusing on how regular use of CBD can help to improve both general health and even manage specific health issues.

With an ever growing number of people turning to CBD supplements – including capsules – the industry has responded. Now, one can find a variety of CBD capsule options available across a range of online and retail markets.

Knowing where to find the best CBD capsules and soft gels can feel a little daunting at first. We have put together a guide to some of the best CBD capsules on the market to help you discover the benefits of CBD supplements.

#1 PureKana – Best for targeted effects 

Australia’s national science agency has been granted a manufacturing licence to develop medicinal cannabis products by the Australian Office of Drug Control.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) says it will work to bridge the gap between cannabis cultivation and medicine manufacture, developing protocols and the first prototype products before transferring the technology to manufacturers.

“We had been able to do early-stage work with cannabis, but the new licence will enable us to develop cannabis-derived cannabinoid medicines using innovative extraction, refinement and formulation techniques,” said CSIRO Scientist, Adjunct Professor Peter Duggan.

The news was welcomed by ASX-listed Cann Group, which  has worked closely with CSIRO for more than three years.

“With this independent license CSIRO will be able to play a key role in helping establish a vibrant industry in Australia,” said Cann Group CEO Peter Crock.

Rhode Island is looking for an experienced person or a firm to create and run a lottery in May to decide who operates six proposed new medical marijuana dispensaries.

On Friday the state posted online a request for proposals to “design and develop the methodology for the random selection process,” that would be held, in public, around May 14.

“The firm or individual will be primarily responsible for securing all equipment, technology, or other necessary mediums to run the process.”

Lotteries have been used in other jurisdictions around the country to decide who wins the often lucrative licenses, but the practice hasn’t been universally endorsed here.

Several local marijuana business owners have said operating licenses should be based on merit, with those companies with proven track-records better positioned to run new dispensaries than newcomers.

The CBD industry has attracted a great deal of attention over the last few years. A combination of high profile cases in the media and an investment in research has led to an increasing number of people showing interest in the potential benefits of CBD.

Research into the varying benefits of CBD has shown that it can be an extremely versatile supplement affecting health in a number of positive ways. A large number of studies have focused on the benefits of using CBD as a general wellness supplement.

There have also been more focused research projects that have found CBD possesses powerful anti-inflammatory capabilities and has led CBD to become a common natural remedy for treating related inflammatory conditions.

The effect of CBD on mental health and, in particular, anxiety and stress is another popular area of research and one that has attracted a great deal of interest. Early studies have yielded positive results, causing a rise in CBD products and PureKana CBD gummies focused on managing mental health.

Research into CBD and mental health

Arizona celebrated its first month of recreational marijuana sales yesterday, and there's much to cheer. More than 100 medical marijuana dispensaries have been cleared to sell recreational marijuana to customers 21 years and older, and business is booming. Drive past a Valley dispensary in the middle of the day, and there's a decent chance you'll still find a line outside the door.

For longtime marijuana shoppers in Arizona — MMJ patients, that is — there's been less to celebrate. Ironically, many of them feel that legalization has made marijuana less accessible for them.

One gripe: those lines.

"I should not see young, able-bodied folks coming in and out of a dispensary while there are folks in wheelchairs and using walkers waiting in line," says James Carter, a medical marijuana patient in Mesa.

Some dispensaries, still adjusting to balancing medical and rec sales, have begun implementing new policies that aim to prioritize patients. Many Harvest locations have a special window for medical patients. Territory Dispensary has implemented a cashless, pre-pay system for online orders called TreezPay that expedites the pick-up process, cutting down the amount of time customers have to spend in the store. Raul Molina, COO of The Mint dispensaries, recently told Fox 10 that their goal is to serve medical patients within 10 minutes and recreational patients within 30 minutes.

Topical CBD (cannabidiol) products are becoming increasingly popular – but recent testing indicates some who use them may not be getting what they paid for.

CBD topicals are being used for a number of applications including general cosmetics, moisturising, treating skin irritations and to relieve muscle and joint pain. Research indicates cannabidiol may be effective in treating or managing a number of skin problems.

As an active ingredient it’s important that what’s in the product is reflected by what’s on the label.

Leafreport engaged Canalysis Laboratories to test dozens of CBD topicals including creams, balms, serums and toners, and found 31 of the 40 products contained 12% to 99% cannabidiol versus what was on the label either way (less or more). Just 9 of the products had CBD levels within 10% of the label and 11 were off 30% or more from what the label noted. The majority of the products (31 or 77.5%) contained more CBD than advertised.

While more CBD may sound like a good thing, it raises the question – if a company can’t get CBD levels pretty right, what else is happening with the product? Additionally, more CBD than indicated can make it difficult for a user to determine what they actually need.

Researchers at the University of Sydney are conducting a wide-ranging study concerning quality of life issues for medicinal cannabis patients.

Funded by Australian medicinal cannabis firm Little Green Pharma (LGP), the QUality of life Evaluation STudy (The QUEST Initiative) will delve into related patient outcomes and aims to recruit 2,100 patients by June this year.

The Australian Government is backing the study.

“The QUEST Initiative represents a significant Australian contribution to the global need for reliable, objective and clinically-relevant quality of life data for patients accessing medicinal cannabis treatments for a broad range of chronic conditions,” said Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt.

The research, being led by Associate Professor Claudia Rutherford, also has the endorsement of various national bodies including MS Research Australia, Chronic Pain Australia, Arthritis Australia and Epilepsy Action Australia.

After nearly 59 years, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the UN’s central drug policy-making body, recently voted to remove Cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs - where the strictest control measures apply, and its use was generally discouraged for medicinal purposes. 

27 of the CND’s 53 Member States, including India, the United States and most European nations, voted “Yes” on the motion.

If the idea is to genuinely tackle and provide a solution for medical ailments using Cannabis, the regulations in India already provide for it under Ayurveda. 

In India, the earliest mention of this plant has been found in The Vedas (the Atharva Veda) - where it is listed as one of the five sacred plants. In fact, due to the legality of being able to provide this medication across all states, India is actually one of the few “federally legal” medical Cannabis countries.

Cannabis, (genus Cannabis) is a group of medicinal, recreational, and fibre plants belonging to the family Cannabaceae

The state can resume its review of nearly 150 medical marijuana license applications that have sat untouched for more than a year, thanks to a ruling from a state appellate court Thursday.

The court ruled against all but one medical marijuana license applicant rejected by the Department of Health in 2019. It upheld the department’s denial of seven other applications.

The case, which consolidated eight applicants rejected in an initial review, halted the expansion of New Jersey’s strained medical marijuana program in late 2019 when the court granted a stay in the process. Now, with the stay lifted, the Health Department can reopen its review of 146 applications the state put on hold and resume the process of issuing as many as 24 new licenses.

No matter the ruling, these paused applicants were always going to see victory in a decision that gets the process restarted and inches them closer to attaining a license.

The new licenses will not only ease burdens to medical marijuana for the state’s 100,000 registered patients, but also set New Jersey up for the 21 and older marijuana market. Medically-licensed facilities are slated to get the first shot at selling to the public.

With each state’s laws varying to some degree, medical cardholders and applicants are advised to review state and local regulations.

State medical marijuana programs tend to suffer as adult use laws are passed. While much of the purchasing shifts to what is commonly called the recreational market, the medical sector still serves its purpose. In fact, medical cardholders can continue to find benefits in being part of the program, depending on a state’s laws.

Considering the following benefits, patients may find use in the medical cards well after adult use laws pass in a state.

Priority Over Adult Use

Photos: JDawnInk/Getty Images, Matthew Brodeur via Unsplash

Having a medical marijuana license may also provide a patient with increased priority.

Ohio is now taking written comments on the qualifying conditions it is thinking of adding to the medical cannabis program. 

Through February 26, residents of Ohio will have a chance to comment on conditions including autism, Huntington’s disease, panic disorder with agoraphobia, restless leg syndrome, spasticity and spasms, and terminal illness.

These public comments will be reviewed by the Medical Marijuana Committee, who is currently reviewing 30 different potential conditions that have been suggested.

More than 30 qualifying conditions were suggested to the committee, but many were rejected, either because they are already allowed, petitions were incomplete, or there was not enough evidence listed from professional studies showing cannabis could help with the condition. 

The Medical Marijuana Committee will be reviewing these comments on March 8, looking more deeply into the qualifying conditions they have decided to consider. They will then vote on the next six conditions that will be approved. 

A new study that looks at blood pressure in older adults with hypertension saw a connection between cannabis use and a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, findings that are significant for those who suffer from the two ailments. 

The study, titled “Cannabis is associated with blood pressure reduction in older adults – A 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring study” carried out by Ran Abuhasira, M.D., of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and his team, located in Israel, and published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine in January of this year, looked at patients 60 or older with hypertension and medical cannabis prescriptions. The study then monitored their rates of use and their blood pressure. The patients then underwent blood tests, monitoring, and other medical procedures during the course of three months, as they actively used cannabis to manage their conditions. 

The researchers looked at a total of 26 cannabis patients, of which exactly 53.8 percent were female. The findings showed that, while no big changes were seen in the ECG exam results of the patients study, blood pressure was overall lower in those with hypertension who were consistently using medical cannabis. 

“The proportion of normal dippers changed from 27.3 percent before treatment to 45.5 percent afterward,” the study said regarding the percentage of people whose blood pressure levels dipped. “No significant changes were seen in the different metabolic parameters assessed by blood tests, anthropometric measurements, or ECG exam.”

“Medical cannabis use is increasing rapidly in the past several years, with older adults being the fastest growing group,” it continued. “Nevertheless, the evidence for cardiovascular safety of cannabis use is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of cannabis on blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolic parameters in older adults with hypertension.”

A study found that cannabinoids have the potential to be used as an effective antibacterial agent against dental plaque-associated bacteria.

A January 2020 study published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science found something remarkable about marijuana’s effect on oral health. The study looked at the effect of marijuana or THC on dental plaque, a film that forms on the teeth and gums that can lead to heart disease. Examining the efficacy of multiple oral care products and cannabinoids together, researchers wanted to gauge which reduced plaque bacteria better.

Featuring 60 adults 18- to 65-years-old, individuals were screened for gum health and placed into six groups, based on their level of gum disease. Researchers scraped each individual in the six groups and placed the samples within individual petri dishes by type.

Photo by Peter Kasprzyk via Unsplash

Petri Dish A included:

Petri Dish B included:

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced on Wednesday that she is seeking to delay the implementation of a successful voter initiative to legalize medical marijuana. The state’s voters approved Initiated Measure 26 (IM 26) to allow qualified patients to use cannabis medicinally in the November general election with nearly 70% of votes cast.

Under South Dakota law, initiatives and amendments are supposed to go into effect on July 1 of the year following passage. But Noem announced this week that she is seeking to delay the implementation of the medical marijuana initiative by one year, with the support of fellow Republicans in the South Dakota Senate and House of Representatives.

“We are working diligently to get IM 26 implemented safely and correctly,” Noem said in a statement released by her office on Wednesday morning. “The feasibility of getting this program up and running well will take additional time. I am thankful to our legislative leaders for helping make sure that we do this right.”

To effect the change, lawmakers introduced House Bill 1100 in the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning. The measure amends a pending state statute prompted by the passage of IM 26 and replaces several instances citing the original start date of the measure with the date “July 1, 2022.” The bill also creates a legislative task force to draft legislation legalizing medical marijuana while addressing issues left unclear in the initiative, such as which methods of consumption should be allowed to comply with a requirement that schools accommodate medical marijuana use by qualified patients.

Consulting Firm Cited To Justify Delay

To justify the delay, Noem cited a letter from Cannabis Public Policy Consulting (CPPC), a firm that has assisted state and local governments across the country and in Canada with the implementation of cannabis legalization measures. According to CPPC, creating a safe, efficient, and effective medical marijuana program takes an average of 14 months.

A new study reports that cannabis use may lower blood pressure in older adults, though additional research is necessary to get a better understanding of the substance’s effect on cardiovascular health. The research comes from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Soroka University Medical Center; it was recently published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine.

The increasing legalization of marijuana, as well as medical marijuana programs, has resulted in a growing number of people — including older adults — consuming the substance for various potential health benefits. Use for chronic pain issues is one driving factor behind medical marijuana use, and the researchers say that pain relief may help explain why cannabis use is associated with lowered blood pressure in older adults.

The study focused on adults ages 60 and older who were diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension). Using data from ECG, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and more, the study found that marijuana use was associated with a ‘significant’ drop in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure over a 24-hour period, with the lowest point occurring three hours after use.

The participants consumed marijuana in the form of smoking and oil extracts, the study notes, also reporting that while blood pressure decreased during both the day and night, the nighttime decrease was more significant. BGU Faculty of Health Sciences’ Dr. Ran Abuhasira said:

One way to reduce opioid overdose death rates in American communities may be to expand legal access to another, less lethal drug. A study published in January 2021 in the BMJ suggests that U.S. counties that have more cannabis dispensaries also have lower opioid-related deaths. 

The study focused on 812 counties in 23 U.S. states and the District of Columbia that allowed cannabis dispensaries to sell recreational or medical marijuana. Across all the counties in the study, the average number of cannabis dispensaries increased from slightly less than one per county in 2014 to more than four by 2018.

When the number of cannabis dispensaries in a county increased from one to two, researchers estimated that overall opioid mortality rates fell by 17 percent.

Death rates from synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which are responsible for a greater proportion of opioid fatalities in the United States, dropped by 14 percent when the number of medical marijuana dispensaries increased from one to two, and declined by 21 percent with a similar increase in recreational marijuana dispensaries.

Two things might be driving the reduction in opioid-related deaths in communities with more cannabis dispensaries, says W. David Bradford, PhD, a professor of public policy and administration at the University of Georgia in Athens who wasn’t involved in the study.

A study observing the impact of medical cannabis on prescribed opioid usage in chronic pain patients has revealed interesting results.

The US opioid epidemic claimed 47,600 lives in 2017 and it’s estimated 10.3 million people were misusing opioids in 2018 – a staggering 3.7% of the US population. It’s thought medical cannabis may be able to help address the situation and various studies have indicated this might be the case.

One of the more recent studies involved 525 patients from three medical cannabis practice sites who had used prescription opioid medications to treat chronic pain for at least 3 months continuously – and were using medical cannabis in combination with these medications.

40.4% reported they stopped all opioids while 45.2% reported some decrease. 13.3% reported no change in opioid usage, and 1.1% reported an increase. Furthermore, 48.2% reported a 40-100% decrease in pain, 80.2% reported an improved ability to function and 87% an improved quality of life using medical cannabis. 62.8% didn’t want to take opioids in the future.

“We believe our results lend further support that medical cannabis provided in a standardized protocol can lead to decreased pain and opioid usage, improved function, and quality of life measures, and even complete cessation of opioids in patients with chronic pain treated by opioids,” state the paper’s authors.

A change in pain level was reportedly not affected by age and gender. However, the younger age group (