WeedLife News Network

n today's rapidly changing economy, there is a lot of discussion about best practices to successfully emerge from the initial impact of the recent COVID-19 crisis.

A Department of Justice whistleblower has said that U.S. Attorney General William Barr directed the agency’s Antitrust Division to investigate proposed mergers of cannabis companies because of his “personal dislike of the industry.” In written testimony released on Tuesday before a planned congressional appearance, Justice Department attorney John Elias said the investigations were a waste of federal resources and were continued over the objections of career staff.

Elias, who testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, wrote that the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division had been instructed to look into a total of 10 cannabis industry mergers. In one case, the merger of MedMen and PharmaCann, employees were instructed by Barr in March 2019 to continue an investigation, despite the findings of a preliminary review that the cannabis industry appeared to be fragmented and that “the transaction was unlikely to raise any significant competitive concerns.”

“Rejecting the analysis of career staff, Attorney General Barr ordered the Antitrust Division to issue Second Request subpoenas,” Elias said, referring to the Justice Department’s most exhaustive type of merger probe. “The rationale for doing so centered not on an antitrust analysis, but because he did not like the nature of their underlying business.”

Including the MedMen merger with PharmaCann, “the Antitrust Division launched ten full-scale reviews of merger activity taking place in the marijuana, or cannabis, industry,” Elias wrote. “These mergers involve companies with low market shares in a fragmented industry; they do not meet established criteria for antitrust investigations.”

DOJ Leaders Aware Of Barr’s Bias

Elias also contends that several members of the division’s political leadership were aware of Barr’s disdain for the legal cannabis industry. During a staff meeting last September, Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim, the head of the Antitrust Division, “acknowledged that the investigations were motivated by the fact that the cannabis industry is unpopular “on the fifth floor,” a reference to Attorney General Barr’s offices in the DOJ headquarters building,” Elias wrote. “Personal dislike of the industry is not a proper basis upon which to ground an antitrust investigation.”

A free medical cannabis education platform has been launched by Sapphire Medical Clinics in response to a recommendation by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

This week Sapphire Medical Clinics has launched ‘The Sapphire Institute for Medical Cannabis Education’ with the aim of educating healthcare professionals and patients on medical cannabis. This groundbreaking initiative provides the first free comprehensive platform for medical cannabis education in the UK and was established in response to the NICE evidence review committee recommendation highlighting the need for specific training of healthcare professionals in cannabis-based medicines.

A comprehensive cannabis education platform

The Sapphire Institute for Medical Cannabis Education is a comprehensive educational platform with activities ranging from CPD-accredited didactic teaching to interactive web-based learning and clinical networking opportunities, with additional specific content for patients.

Free membership of the Sapphire Institute for Medical Cannabis Education is offered to healthcare professionals and will grant access to a series of online webinars and e-learning modules. These cover the latest evidence for treatment with medical cannabis across a range of conditions, dosing and monitoring, modes of administration and key case study examples. The Institute has already held five successful online webinars, all of which will be freely available to members.

Topics include Medical Cannabis for Pain, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders and its role in Palliative Care.

Marijuana history ties directly into larger conversations around police brutality and systemic racism than most Americans realize.

When Brookings Institution senior fellow John Hudak wrote Marijuana: A Short History in 2015, cannabis legalization was still regarded with a curious novelty by many Americans. Since then, cannabis has emerged in the national conversation through politics, culture, medicine, wellness, and more. And in light of recent discussions around policing and systemic racism in the United States, Hudak believed it was important to build upon that history and discuss how the roots of prohibition impact us today.

Hudak wrote a new edition to his book, which will be available June 30. To promote the book’s launch, Brookings hosted a webinar with Hudak, Buddings Solutions CEO/founder Shanita Penny, and Politico reporter Natalie Fertig to unpack how cannabis sits at the intersection of race, politics, and culture in America.

When many Americans think about marijuana history, Hudak explained, they focus on the 60s and 70s, when Richard Nixon introduced the Controlled Substances Act, which officially criminalized cannabis. But the foundation of cannabis laws as we recognize them today really started at the turn of the 20th century.

“Cannabis law and drug policy in general really had explicitly racist roots in the United States. Cannabis laws initially came about out of fear of Mexican immigration to the United states,” said Hudak. “The term ‘marijuana’ was rooted in that attempt white Americans and immigrants coming across the border of Mexico. That spiraled into a broader, racially divisive set of policies that, by the 1920s, begin to vilify black Americans, in addition to Latinos and immigrants.”

Aurora Cannabis Inc. announced Tuesday it is closing five of its production facilities and laying off about 700 workers as the pot giant continues restructuring its operations in a bid to achieve profitability. 

The Edmonton-based cannabis producer said in a statement it is closing five smaller-scale facilities in Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta this year to consolidate production at its four remaining plants, while booking a $60-million impairment charge related to the closures in its fourth quarter. Aurora also said it plans to take a $140-million charge related to a revaluation of its raw cannabis given shifting consumer demand. 

Canopy Growth Corp. is doubling down on its cannabis-infused vapes and drinks, as well as upcoming U.S. CBD products, while continuing to cut costs as it looks to rebuild investors’ trust.

The world’s biggest pot company discussed plans to address its sagging market share in the Canadian recreational market as well as its strategy for the U.S. cannabis market in a presentation to investors Monday. 

Four major U.S consumer groups are urging Congress to reject proposals to fast-track approval of cannabidiol (CBD) use in dietary supplements and food products.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently evaluating the safety of CBD – and taking their time doing it. Last year the Administration acknowledged the potential for cannabidiol, but said it needed to “CBD”: Collect Better Data. As recently as March, the agency said it still had many gaps in knowledge.

The time the FDA is taking is causing all sorts of issues for the nation’s hemp sector and creating confusion in consumers. The Administration has come under increasing pressure from some corners of Congress to provide official guidance on cannabidiol extracted from hemp.

However, the Consumer Federation of America, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Reports, and the Public Health Institute want the FDA to have all the time it needs.

Furthermore, a letter co-signed by the four groups urges Congress to give FDA the resources and authority it needs to ensure all dietary supplements and food additives are safe, and to defer to FDA’s expertise in conducting safety reviews.

Members of the cannabis industry often tout their field as one of the most inclusive. The legal cannabis market is, after all, being constructed and furnished right before our very eyes — why wouldn’t it be diverse and accepting and progressive?

After all, given the medical marijuana movements close ties to the AIDS crisis (shout out to medical marijuana pioneers Dennis Peron and Brownie Mary!). But unfortunately, when something like the promise of an industry free from the ills of discrimination and patriarchy sounds too good to be true, that’s usually because it is.

Researchers believe they’ve uncovered another antibiotic element that cannabis offers, creating an additional tool in the weapon against healthcare associated infections.

“An interdisciplinary team of McMaster researchers found that the chemical compound, or cannabinoid, called cannabigerol (CBG) is not only antibacterial but also effective in mice against a resilient family of bacteria known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).” — McMaster University

Could cannabis have a hand in treating Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections? Researchers at McMaster University believe they’ve uncovered another antibiotic element that cannabis offers, creating an additional tool in the weapon against the rise of healthcare associated infections (HAIs), which are costing hospitals and clinics billions of dollars.

Looking at 18 commercially-available cannabinoids, the team identified a “non-psychoactive cannabinoid” called CBG, which offered the most promise. After synthetizing and recreating the element in mass quantities to study, the research team “found that CBG had antibacterial activity against drug-resistant MRSA,” targeting the cell’s membrane and eliminating the bacteria.

Study lead Eric Brown, Professor of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, says:

“What we’re hearing from 7-Eleven is they consider this a criminal activity and money laundering,” said one dispensary owner.

By all accounts, the Oklahoma cannabis industry is a runaway success. Medical marijuana sales routinely break expectations and smash records, even amid the pandemic. Oklahoma permits a free-market system for medical cannabis, or as close to one as possible. That means no licensing caps, no municipality zoning restrictions, and doctors can recommend cannabis for any ailment they see fit.

This has allowed Oklahoma to avoid the typical headwinds thwarting growth potential in other markets. But for some dispensary owners, a new obstacle has emerged from an unlikely opponent — 7-Eleven.

Back in January, 7-Eleven Inc. bought out property leased to multiple cannabis dispensaries in Oklahoma. Dispensary owners were told not to worry. “On day one, nothing changes,” an email sent to owners read. “There is no need for lease assignments.”

Now, amid a global pandemic, multiple dispensary owners have been informed those leases won’t be renewed. Owners like Starla Norwood, a registered nurse who operates The Nurses Station with her husband, didn’t receive a written notice or explanation for why they’d been kicked out. Instead, the property managers delivered the news over the phone. The message was direct and clear: Marijuana businesses had 14-days notice to vacate by the end of June.

Martha Stewart, the 78-year-old entrepreneur who built a wildly successful media empire and lifestyle brand, turned her attention last year to cannabis. Stewart is now working with Canadian company Canopy Growth to develop a line of CBD products for pets.

That partnership is expected to bear fruit by September when Canopy Growth plans to launch a line of CBD products for pets designed with Stewart as a consultant. The project with Stewart is part of a wave of new products from Canopy Growth, including a host of cannabis-infused beverages such as Tweed Houndstooth & Soda and Tweed Bakerstreet & Ginger. 

But the CBD for pets venture could rank among the company's biggest endeavors yet. Stewart still commands a massive audience as a household name, with about 7.3 million readers of her publication Martha Stewart Living. Her fans are 90 percent women with an average age of 55 and a median household income of $82,175. That’s a powerful demographic.

Stewart’s friendship with Snoop Dogg brought her to cannabis.

Stewart’s move into cannabis was not entirely unexpected. She has championed CBD on her website and is now friends with cannabis aficionado and businessman Snoop Dogg, who also has partnered with Canopy Growth, as have other celebrities. He owns the cannabis publication Merry Jane and also has his own line of products, Leafs by Snoop.

Stewart and Snoop work on the show “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party” for VH-1. Her co-star’s use of cannabis is legendary, but Stewart said it never bothered her. “I'm quite egalitarian and liberal when it comes to stuff like that," Stewart told the Hollywood Reporter.

Luc Springinsfeld of leading investment bank Bryan, Garnier & Co explores the European medical cannabis market and the rise of medical cannabis investment in Europe.

Since the beginning of 2019, there have been a dozen mergers and acquisitions or private placement deals with values above €5m involving companies focused on medical cannabis in Europe. In total, north of €100m of new money has been invested in medical cannabis-focused companies across Europe over the past 18 months. While this represents a sharp increase compared with the period before 2019, we are still far from the levels experienced in North America, where more than $3bn was invested in the medical cannabis market through more than 450 deals in 2019.

In the early days of the industry, most investments were from high net worth individuals (HNWIs) and family offices, or from exclusively cannabis-focused funds. However, the past 12 months have seen increasing interest from traditional venture capital (VC) firms. While many remain barred from investing in cannabis-related companies by the constraints of their limited partnership agreements, we expect more dedicated funds and a wider base of investors to emerge, attracted by the high growth potential of the cannabis market.

A strong focus on Germany

In Europe, 80% of deals concerned Germany-based companies, all of which are active in the distribution of medical cannabis products within the country.

One notable example is the €20m fundraising by Sanity Group, which saw the US-based cannabis-focused VC firm Casa Verde invest in the company alongside more traditional VCs such as Holtzbrinck, Cherry and TQ Venture. This round had a first close announced in August 2019 and a second close in February 2020.

Pioneering medical product distributor Cannamedical also recently announced a capital increase of €12m, funded by US-based traditional healthcare investor Steve Wiggins, which brought the total amount invested in the company to EUR27m. The deal was closed in April 2020, in the midst of Germany’s government-imposed lockdown, demonstrating the continued appetite of investors for the space despite the Covid-19 crisis. CanPharma, another leading German medical cannabis supplier, is also currently raising a double-digit million-euro round. Other companies involved in the German cannabis sector and likely to raise additional funds in the coming months include Emmac Lifesciences, Foliumed and Wundr/iuvo.

Despite various efforts by numerous companies big and small in the U.S., education remains the biggest obstacle in the cannabis industry, a new survey conducted by Oasis Intelligence found.

The firm’s research showed that the majority of legal consumers still lack foundational knowledge about weed’s effects, risks and benefits. One explanation? The number one resource that customers use when seeking out information about cannabis and potential products is their friends.

The survey places stark contrast between the conversations occurring inside cannabis spaces and how people discuss weed at home.

“We inside the industry have a real advantage when it comes to understanding the plant from a scientific, regulation and usage perspective that is generally a requirement for those in the space,” Oasis Intelligence co-founder Laura Albers told The Fresh Toast. “However, when it comes to the average consumer, we see the needs for education are not about more advanced topics that the industry may prioritize — think terpenes, minor cannabinoids gaining popularity or even the endocannabinoid system.”

According to the Oasis study, over 70 per cent of people are unfamiliar with terms like the “entourage effect” and “endocannabinoid system.” Instead, Albers said, many are still grasping with the basics. Subjects that most interest consumers include different available products, CBD:THC ratios, and alternative consumption methods. A significant portion of consumers still seek more understanding around THC.

Like many EU countries, Croatia has been slowly changing its laws to allow for greater legal (or at least decriminalized) cannabis use. However, earlier this year, some in Croatia’s government got a bit impatient, attempting to jump steps in order to legalize recreational cannabis.

Two of the legal acts that govern drug law in Croatia are the Criminal Code and The Law on Combating Drugs Abuse. The manufacturing, trade, and possession of drugs are regulated by The Law on Combating Drugs Abuse which passed in 2001, and which has undergone updates since that time. It outlines preventative measures for curbing drug use and dealing with drug users, and specifically forbids growing, possessing or supplying drugs. The Criminal Code is used for the prosecution of more serious crimes.

In mid-December, 2012, the Croatian parliament voted in a bill to decriminalize personal use amounts of illicit substances, making possession of these amounts no longer a criminal offence (but rather a misdemeanor). Croatia does not establish what a personal use amount is, and leaves the designation to the courts in each particular case.

To be clear, whereas some personal use laws in other countries come with very few repercussions so long as the amount is within the legal requirement, Croatia’s decriminalization laws still leave an offender to pay a fine of possibly more than €2,000, ordered into a rehabilitation program, or required to do community service. Before the change in law, simple possession charges could result in up to three years in jail. The Criminal Code encourages courts to use alternatives to prison whenever possible, especially when the prison sentence would otherwise be six months or less.

The law, which went into effect on January 1st, 2013, did nothing to decriminalize personal cultivation of any drug for any reason. Cultivation, processing, and production of drugs, even without intent to sell, can result in 6 months – 5 years in prison. With intent to sell it can be anywhere from 1-12 years. It can go up to 15 years if the crimes involve children, and up to 20 years with the involvement of organized crime.

Medical cannabis in Croatia

In October, 2015, Croatia legalized the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Under the law, doctors can prescribe medications in different forms containing THC with regulations putting a cap at .75 grams of THC per month for a patient. One of the driving forces behind the change in legislation came about because of a case involving a multiple sclerosis sufferer who was caught growing and using cannabis personally to treat his symptoms. The man in question was caught with 44 pounds of cannabis with which he was using to make oil.

Data for recent years show a steady climb in the global cannabis market. More and more countries have decided to go green and legalize cannabis in order to weaken the illicit market strength and help the economy. To grow, sell, and distribute the best products, manufacturers use lots of modern technologies. It doesn’t only help them to stay competitive in today’s market, but it also helps to optimize the production process.

A lot of people grow marijuana at home for recreational or medical purposes, or perhaps they have a chance to drop by a 24-hour dispensary to purchase their cannabis of choice. In the countries where it is legal, companies have the same growing processes but just on a large scale with improved technology. Let’s take a look at a number of trends that have taken hold in the cannabis industry:

Led Fixtures 

Cannabis fans have been using light-emitting diodes for years. However, LED fixtures look much different these days. For example, programmable LED fixtures can give more control during the growing process than any other technology. 

Almost all fixtures have light-sensing equipment inside that helps to coordinate the output and maintain a set routine. Some of the best cannabis companies in the United States use this technology to improve the quality of their products as well as their revenues.

Also, programmable fixtures allow marijuana fans to create light recipes that can help the strains to grow. With the help of this technology, cultivators can mimic sunrise, sunset, and even midday lighting. Needless to say, it allows growers to take care of their products anywhere in the world. The best thing is that anyone can get this technology for personal use. 

Having been in the alcohol and tobacco permitting industries for decades, we’re often asked when cannabis will be federally legalized. Until now, it’s been hard to say, but things could finally be coming to a head. 

Cannabis is now legal in 33 states. In the last few years, federal legalization has become a political issue and the conversation around taxation and decriminalization has gotten more specific. With a number of bills working in Congress, and one which has passed committee, it appears that federal law may change soon to tax and regulate cannabis. 

Why Now?

After so much time, why could we finally be close to federal legalization? It’s a culmination of three “R’s”: regulation, revenue, and reform.  

Regulation

We’ve needed to bring cannabis out of the back alleys for years, standardizing production, labeling, permitting, and distribution. We believe that the cannabis industry needs to be legalized, regulated, and taxed for the safety of the general public and as an economic driver of the communities that cannabis businesses serve. The experiences of states which have legalized the product provide examples of how this may happen. 

Revenue

The impacts of COVID-19 have made state budgets a hot item. States need money and, if the federal government is going to bail them out, cannabis legalization would provide an excellent funding source. New Frontier Data estimates that the U.S. legal cannabis industry could be worth $29.7 billion by 2025. The industry saw a 32% growth in 2019 just over the previous year. The need for revenue will be a defining factor in legalization, driving the government’s decisions over the next few years.

Eczema is a condition that targets a large percentage of people across the U.S. Known for irritating the skin and leaving it patchy and red for stretches of time, eczema occurs because of a combination of genetics and environmental situations.

Among other things, flare-ups of the condition can result as a result of pollen in the air or the types of foods and drinks that one ingests.

Could CBD provide some relief for this type of skin inflammation?

Referring to a group of skin conditions that can manifest in different ways, eczema is traditionally treated by managing its most prevalent symptoms to prevent flare-ups. The condition is not contagious and can be very different from person to person, with the most prevalent symptom manifesting as patches of itchy skin.

There is no cure for eczema, which is why people experiencing this ailment have to be careful, moisturizing their skin often, while also looking for effective ways to avoid triggers. The ways in which people treat their eczema are varied and personal, ranging from warm baths and gentle soaps to wearing cotton clothes that won’t irritate the condition or cause they discomfort.

Since its rise in popularity, CBD has garnered some acclaim within the beauty and skincare industry. Although there’s as yet a lack of scientific research on CBD, many experts are hopeful regarding its promise on eczema.

The link between cannabis and a heightened risk of stroke has been studied multiple times as THC turns “on” the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

“As these products become increasingly used across the country, getting clearer, scientifically rigorous data is going to be important as we try to understand the overall health effects of cannabis.” — Robert Harrington, M.D., president of the American Heart Association 

In late 2019, a report was published in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that found, “frequent cannabis (marijuana) use among young people was linked to an increased risk of stroke” as well as an increase on heart rhythm disturbances, or arrhythmias. Published by the American Heart Association, the study did not look into the direct connection between stroke and cannabis use, rather it discovered it as a potential link.  

The study found that younger cannabis users had a heightened risk of stroke, compared to individuals that didn’t use cannabis. Interestingly, the study also cited that, “The cannabis users were also more likely to be heavy drinkers, current cigarette users and e-cigarette users, which may have also influenced their risk, even though the researchers adjusted for those factors in their analysis.”

Study author Tarang Parekh, M.B.B.S., M.S., a health policy researcher at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia had this to say: “Young cannabis users, especially those who use tobacco and have other risk factors for strokes, such as high blood pressure, should understand that they may be raising their risk of having a stroke at a young age.”

According to a new study, Colorado users question the dangers of driving while high and desire more research about legal limit and self-assessment guidelines.

Cannabis consumers labeled Colorado policies about driving while under the influence of marijuana “out of touch,” although not in a way you might expect. A two-year study from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) found Colorado marijuana users considered driving while high was, more often than not, not that dangerous.

They were also skeptical about many laws and regulations involving cannabis use and getting behind the wheel. Many heavy users relied on a “gut check” to determine whether they could drive safely or not after using.

“The more often people consumed cannabis, the less dangerous they considered driving under the influence of cannabis to be,” the study’s authors wrote. “Respondents who use cannabis typically believed individual differences in consumption or tolerance were mitigating factors in someone’s ability to safely drive under the influence.

“Most users are critical of laws, policies, and enforcement surrounding driving under the influence of cannabis,” researchers continued. “Cannabis supporters saw government policies as out-of-touch.”