Women in Cannabis Tech: Mowing Down the Grass STEM Ceiling

Women in Cannabis Tech: Mowing Down the Grass STEM Ceiling by Sponsored

The national average of women with executive level business positions is just shy of 30%, but in the cannabis industry that statistic stands at only 22%, according to a 2021 MJBizDaily report.

Unfortunately, that number only represents the executive level. When you look at the rank and file, it is pretty clear the industry’s reputation as a bro-fest is embarrassingly well deserved. 

Now consider being a woman in cannabis working outside the C-suite in a technology role. The odds of encountering another woman on the job are dramatically low.

Women comprise only about 28% of the entire science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce across all industries. Consequently, women working in cannabis tech often face a double whammy: our chosen field and our chosen industry are both notorious for lacking gender diversity. As a result, we are likely to be the lone female voice no matter where we work.

Does this mean the industry isn’t for women? Absolutely not! However, it does pose the challenge of learning how to adeptly sidestep some antiquated attitudes.

Pioneering the Field

Working as a team as a sales consultant and field service technician, our job is to help customers install their new Green Mill Supercritical extraction system, as well as train the team that will be overseeing and managing the extraction process.

There’s almost always a look of surprise when two women show up to perform the installation and training. It sometimes feels like people are waiting for “the guys” to follow behind us, carrying the heavy equipment and machinery needed for the installation. Then there is often another look of surprise when they see us hauling the machinery ourselves. 

So what’s a woman to do in the cannabis tech space? It’s helpful to connect with other women in cannabis if you can. The two of us were lucky in that we found each other right away, and recognized immediately how unique it was to have women in these roles in cannabis.

We have both worked a lot in male-dominated occupations, so we’re used to feeling a bit isolated. However, working with other women and gaining the trust of our customers has been an incredible experience. It does feel a bit like we are pioneers in a way, and it’s always a pleasant surprise when we find other pioneers out there. 

On a recent job working with Alaska’s Herban Extracts, we were delighted to discover an entire team of female cannabis entrepreneurs.

Lisa Coates, who co-owns this CO₂ extraction company in Kenai with her husband, Buddy Crowder, has created a cannabis team composed entirely of women. We knew their extraction technician was a woman, and that their operator was also a woman. So when we discovered everyone else was also female, we were very excited to make the trip. 

Coates said she did not create Herban Extracts’ all-female team by design. It just sort of evolved over time. But she admits she loves working with women in the cannabis industry, who she says “just have their act together.”

With an impressive and growing list of awards and accolades for their products, the team is proof that women, technology, and cannabis do indeed make a winning combination.

The usual one-day installation and training became three days of collaboration and community. We had never met the team, but there was a quick connection, and the camaraderie we felt made for a really great, comfortable experience. In time, we believe these encounters will become more and more commonplace, as women continue to enter the industry and more young women seek out a STEM education path.

Changing the Statistics

It won’t happen overnight, or without a great deal of persistence.

As an example, take a look at how quickly things can change. In 2019, an MJBizDaily survey showed that a whopping 37% of executive-level cannabis positions were held by women. At the time, this was the highest percentage of any industry. But as noted earlier, that number dropped considerably to just 22% by 2021.

According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, young girls are systematically steered away from science and math education, which helps explain the absence of women in the workforce of STEM industries. This gender gap occurs at increasing rates in the fastest-growing industries of the future, including the cannabis sector. 

Until we bridge the gender gap, women in cannabis tech must find each other, support each other, learn from each other and encourage other young women to enter the space.

In the meantime, when you’re doing your job like a boss, and someone asks to see the “dude in charge,” do your best to answer politely. As we work together to expand roles for women in cannabis tech, eventually those questions will stop. The opportunities are there for those ladies with the brains and boldness to take the reins. 

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FSA Published a List of CBD Products With Credible Novel Food Applications

Today, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) published a list of CBD products that have credible applications for authorization with the FSA.

The listed products are now one step closer towards being authorized, said the FSA in their press release.

The Agency called on local authorities and industry to help bring the CBD market into compliance by prioritizing the removal of products from the sale that are not on the public list that the FSA published today.

CBD products are ‘novel’ and therefore need to be assessed by the FSA for safety before being placed on the market in England and Wales. In Scotland, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is responsible for the regulation of CBD products. Currently, no CBD products have been authorized for sale in the UK. The CBD public list shows which products have a credible application for authorization with the FSA.

“The CBD market is growing rapidly. The FSA has been working to move the CBD industry into compliance. Today we have taken the next step in our pragmatic approach to making sure CBD products are safe and what they say they are.

“We have created the public list to help local authorities and retailers prioritize products to be removed from sale. If a product is not on the list, it should be removed from sale because it is not attached to a credible application to us for market authorization.

“But being on the list means that the application is credible and the FSA has, or is shortly expecting to receive, significant scientific evidence from the applicant with which to judge safety.

“I want to emphasize that the FSA is not endorsing products on the public list, and inclusion on the list is no guarantee that they will be authorized as they have not yet been fully assessed for safety. But we have taken the step of publishing the list so that local authorities, retailers and consumers can make informed judgments about what they stock and buy, as we gradually bring this growing market into compliance with the law, ” said Emily Miles, Chief Executive of the FSA.

Local authorities which enforce the novel food legislation have been advised to encourage food businesses whose products are not on the public list to voluntarily withdraw their products from the market and to consider more formal measures where this is not the case.

Validated applications will now move on to a full risk assessment. Those that are shown to be of a low enough risk must also go through a risk management process before a recommendation can be made to Ministers on the authorization.

Authorization of any CBD products is unlikely to happen before 2023.

EIHA applications awaiting evidence, Ilesol Pharmaceuticals granted market authorization

As a member of the European Industrial Hemp Association’s (EIHA) Novel Food Consortium since its foundation, Ilesol Pharmaceuticals is now confirmed to be awaiting evidence for novel food application and looks forward to the full registration in England and Wales.

EIHA projects GmbH, together with the scientific provider ChemSafe, has submitted applications to FSA for natural CBD isolate and Full Spectrum. The EIHA’s applications are now included in the list of the applications awaiting evidence and can move towards the full risk assessment.

Ilesol Pharmaceuticals has implemented the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) management system; and HRN EN ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management system.

Following the positive outcome of the Novel Food applications both to the FSA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), our company’s products should be allowed to be marketed in the EU and UK with exclusivity on the Consortium’s study that will last five years.

The Consortium has agreed to invest up to €3,5 million for financing all relevant and unprecedented toxicological studies on CBD and THC, including the largest ever study on the impact of trace levels of THC.

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Technology Systems in the Cannabis Industry

Technology Systems in the Cannabis Industry by Culta

Conversations about the evolution of the cannabis industry often focus on year-over-year industry growth, innovative new products, and the growth of the legal adult-use market, but technology is often a leading driver of change.

This is especially true at cannabis farms and cultivation facilities, like CULTA’s. In an effort to continue the conversation around technology in the cannabis industry and shed some light on how it’s being leveraged by cultivators, we’ll discuss a few of the most important pieces of technology we use at our own farm in Cambridge, Maryland.

But first, a little bit about CULTA and our farm. Established in 2015, we’re a Maryland-based vertically integrated cannabis company with partners that include Cookies and Grass. We have both an outdoor and an indoor cultivation facility and we were the first organically managed outdoor farm in Maryland to be certified by Clean Green Certified.

In 2021, we launched the state’s first cannabis tissue culture lab and have aggressive goals to improve our sustainability efforts. Now, let’s talk tech!

Fertigation & Building Management System

Although indoor growing allows cultivators to produce cannabis year-round and in a fully controlled and clean environment, there are a lot of moving parts to manage.

That’s why we use a fertigation and building management system that’s designed specifically for indoor operations. Not only does it help us deliver the exact nutrient recipes to our grow rooms multiple times a day with amazing precision, but it also monitors and controls environmental factors like temperature, humidity, CO2, and light intensity.

We use Priva, which provides insight into our processes and crops and allows us to view in-depth graphs of our rooms, helping us make better data-driven decisions.

LED Lighting

At CULTA, we have aggressive goals to reduce our carbon footprint.

One of the first improvements we made to reach that goal was to upgrade our lighting to LED. Not only does being able to control our lighting enable us to enrich our plants’ cannabinoid, terpene, and flavonoid profiles (which makes our medical patients happy!), but it also helps us achieve dramatic savings in our operating costs. Plus, they’re a much better option for the environment.

When seeking an LED lighting supplier, it was important to us that they specialize in lighting for commercial cannabis cultivators, which is why we chose Fluence.

Ozone Generator

Healthy cannabis plants start with clean water, which is why we invested in a state-of-the-art ozone generation system for our crops. This system destroys any pathogens that may be in our water so our plants are only drinking the cleanest water possible.

The dissolved oxygen helps keep root zones clean, healthy, and pathogen-free. As an added bonus, it also helps keep our irrigation lines clean and sanitized which, over time, also cuts down on our maintenance and repair costs.

We use the DRAMM water ozone system, which is engineered for greater efficiency and safety.

Environmental Monitoring System

In addition to the Priva system, we also use an EarthScout environmental monitoring system.

We use this system to develop irrigation, lighting, and environmental strategies that are specific to each individual strain. Yes, you read that right — we use this system to create “recipes” for each and every strain we grow.

The system uses multiple sensors to monitor soil moisture, temperature, salinity, air temperature, and humidity, among other environmental factors. We just started using this system so we don’t have any data to share but we do hope it will help us cut our irrigation and nutrient costs by at least 50%.

Cannabis Tech is Constantly Changing

The best thing about cannabis technology is that it’s constantly changing. New, innovative products are always being released month after month, and for each groundbreaking product, there are ten more that have come and gone without much fanfare, making it difficult to decipher what the future will hold.

While it’s impossible to predict what the next big technological advancement will be, one thing is for certain: it’s coming and it will change how we all do business.

“It is incredible to see how quickly the cannabis industry has embraced technological growth, and it is very exciting to think about the advancements that are just around the corner that could potentially change the industry forever,” Senior Director of Cultivation Jay Bouton said.

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The truth about cannabis, sperm, and male fertility

Cannabis appears to do a fair bit of damage to sperm health, and new research even suggests that this could impact the development of future children. Understandably, these findings raise many questions for prospective parents and aspiring fathers.  

Does smoking weed really cause male infertility? Here, we delve into what the scientists are saying about cannabis and sperm health.

How cannabis exposure affects sperm health

With the growing legalisation of cannabis across the globe, researchers are able to better assess its effects on a large population. In recent years, numerous studies have highlighted a link between regular cannabis use and reduced sperm health which could, in turn, negatively impact male fertility.

One 2019 review, published in the Journal of Urology, analysed the results of 48 studies and determined that “research supports a role for cannabis in reducing sperm count and concentration.” More specifically, one particular study of 1,215 young men between the ages of 18 and 28 years found that regularly smoking cannabis (more than once a week) was associated with 28% lower sperm concentration and a 29% lower total sperm count. 

There is also mounting evidence to suggest that cannabis can cause abnormal sperm morphology. Altering the size and shape of sperm can negatively impact their motility, making them poorer swimmers and hindering their ability to penetrate an egg. 

The detrimental effects of cannabis on sperm can be attributed to the plant’s mind-altering cannabinoid, THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol). Research suggests that THC competes with endocannabinoids at cannabinoid receptors, altering the signalling mechanisms within sperm and subsequently impairing their function. 

However, the existing evidence is far from conclusive, and there is even conflicting data surrounding the effects of cannabis on sperm. For instance, some research has shown that men who have smoked cannabis throughout their life have a higher sperm count and sperm concentration. 

In one study, cannabis users had an average sperm concentration of 62.7 million/ml of ejaculate, whereas non-users had 45.4 million. Only 5% of cannabis users had sperm concentrations that were considered to be below the normal level and even showed higher blood testosterone levels – a hormonal predictor of male fertility. 

Whilst the latter study has some limitations with its methodology, it certainly highlights that the link between cannabis use and sperm health is less clear-cut previously anticipated, emphasising the need for more rigorous research – both experimentally and clinically – into the effects of cannabis on male fertility.   

Could cannabis influence evolution?

Animal model research has shown that short-term, high-dose exposure to cannabis vapour not only lowers sperm count and motility in male mice but also in their offspring. This suggests that cannabis use may also have an epigenetic influence, disrupting DNA in the sperm cell which is then passed on to a second generation.

Epigenetic modifications are changes to gene activity that are caused by our behaviour and environment. Yes, that’s right; the way you live your life can alter your DNA – or, more specifically, how your body reads a DNA sequence. Since epigenetic changes can be inherited they can, in turn, influence evolution. 

In the context of cannabis, researchers have noted DNA methylation (an epigenetic change) in the sperm of rats after exposure to THC. Another study found that the offspring of rats exhibited a disruption in their neurobehavioural development after paternal exposure to THC.

Whilst no studies have investigated whether the two are linked – that being, whether the DNA methylation caused the behavioural changes – some researchers believe they are. What’s more, new research highlights a similar association between cannabis and epigenetics in humans.

A study, published in Epigenetics in 2020, found that cannabis use is associated with the disruption of an autism candidate gene in human sperm. Whilst these findings are concerning, the data mustn’t be misconstrued. This is preliminary evidence from a single study that used a very small sample size and should not be falsely interpreted as,  “cannabis causes autism”. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the link is causative. Instead, the results simply highlight an association and call for further research on the matter.    

Concerns over cannabis and conception: to the dads-to-be

For any readers who hope to become a dad in the future, here’s what you need to know. Reassuringly, studies have shown that refraining from cannabis use diminishes these epigenetic modifications in sperm within 77 days, suggesting that avoiding cannabis when trying to conceive reduces the risk of these aforementioned neurodevelopmental changes.

Dr Jamin Barhmbhatt, a urologist specialising in chronic testicular pain and infertility, recommends stopping cannabis use when trying to conceive to maximise fertility. Barhmbatt told The IVF Center that several of his male infertility patients “…stopped their marijuana use for a couple [of] months and everything went back to normal without any medications, without any manipulation, or any surgical intervention.”

Since alcohol and nicotine have been shown to have comparable damaging effects on sperm, it is standard advice for couples to go sober when trying to conceive, and it looks as though “Cali-sober” isn’t included in this guidance. 

Having said that, population studies appear not to mirror the fertility effects seen in animal models in the lab. One study, published in Fertility and Sterility in 2018, found that men and women who use cannabis while trying to conceive, even daily, don’t take any longer to get pregnant than non-users.

Although far more research is needed to verify the animal model findings, it seems as though smoking a bit of weed may not be as catastrophic to your sperm health as some studies suggest. Cannabis doesn’t render your swimmers useless, but it’s safe to say that they’d probably be healthier without it. 

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Building Pre-Rolls Into Your SKUs: What to Know Before Your Brand Starts Producing Pre-Rolls

Building Pre-Rolls Into Your SKUs: What to Know Before Your Brand Starts Producing Pre-Rolls by Ebby Stone

Building a brand is about strategy. With a dazzling array of SKUs available, knowing where to direct one’s focus is crucial. Offering a pre-roll line is fairly inexpensive and a convenient form of consumption for users. 

Dope Automation Chief Operations Officer Jessica Jaeger offered a key consideration for moving into pre-rolls. 

“The question that should always be asked first is what the expected consumer experience will look like for your brand,” said Jaeger. “This single question is the driver to achieving a strong, efficient, and optimized pre-roll manufacturing program.” 

Once the operator has a vision in mind for the customer journey, it’s time to consider the other factors for pre-roll success.

Cone Size

Pre-rolls are usually available in sizes ranging from a half gram to a full gram. “The paper size is the most critical as this will determine the pre-roll appearance,” Jaeger said. Will this be a luxury item; are you selling in a pack; what size cone will be used? The answers to these questions will dictate the cost of production and the cost to the consumer. 

Paper Type

There are two different types of pre-rolls: cones or tubes. Cones are larger at the top and taper down to the filter. Tubes are cigarette-shaped with a consistent width from top to bottom. Cones tend to be easier to load with most manufacturing equipment. 

There are several types of paper available. Each will have a unique appearance impacting brand design. Paper options include: hemp, flax, rice, refined white, unrefined brown, cotton cellulose, or palm leaf. Each type of paper burns at a different speed and has its own flavor profile. 

Equipment

An equipment provider can offer guidance and help choose the right machines for your brand. 

“The most important answer that any company should be looking for when vetting an equipment supplier is ‘What kind of after-sale support will this equipment supplier provide?’” said Jaeger. 

Successful supply partnerships start with a staff that understands market restrictions and compliance regulations. A knowledgeable staff, Jaeger said, “allows for educated purchasing and supports building a foundation designed for future expansion.”

Grinding Machines

Material must be milled into a consistent particle size. An operator may choose a low-, mid-, or high-volume mill. Low volume milling could be as basic as using a food processor. High-volume milling may require industrial solutions. Industrial machines also tend to offer more consistent particle size. 

Cone-Filling Machines

Cone-filling machines range in price, quality, level of automation, and scalability. Many use vibration to sift the ground material into openings that feed into pre-roll tubes or cones. These “benchtop” machines are sufficient to enter the pre-roll market. They also give most programs “the ability to establish and grow the segment before moving into the larger capital expenditures of operating with complete automation,” Jaeger said.

Packaging

Packaging is an important brand decision with options ranging from bags to tubes. Regulations typically require containers to be child-resistant. Tubes are customizable and available in many colors and transparencies. Cost and scalability should be considered.

Final Considerations

This article offers a brief summary — an equipment provider could offer more depth. “The right partner will not simply look to sell you a piece of machinery. The right partner will look to help build the success of your brand,” Jaeger said.

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CBD pill found to be effective alternative to opioids when treating shoulder pain

America is currently living through an opioid epidemic that has had deadly consequences for its communities for decades. 2020 was the deadliest on record with over 75,000 overdoses directly related to opioids. Many observers agree this crisis was born in the early 1990s and was exacerbated in 1995 by the licensing and the mass marketing of the Purdue Pharma manufactured Oxycontin, an opiate-based painkiller prescribed for pain relief. Researchers across the field have recently begun to study how cannabis can be used to help combat not just the pain that patients are suffering from, but also the country’s over-reliance on prescription opioids.

One such study, conducted jointly in New York and Florida USA by researchers from healthcare provider NYU Langone Health, assessed the efficacy, feasibility and overall safety of a new CBD product in treating postoperative pain in patients who have recently been through a shoulder operation. 

The product, named ORAVEXX, was tested in a phase ½ clinical trial and involved 99 participants all between the age of 18-75. All of the participants had just had surgery to repair the part of the shoulder known as their rotator cuff. Half of the group were treated with the CBD product, the other half was a control group that received a placebo. Their pain was measured using a standardised tool called Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Results presented at the 2022 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in Chicago USA showed that on the day of surgery, patients who received the CBD treatment experienced 23% less pain than those in the control group.

On the first and second day of the patients’ post-operative care, those receiving the CBD reported between 22%-25% greater satisfaction with pain control than those in the control group. Half of the patients in the CBD receiving group were given 50 mg of CBD, and half were given 25 mg. Half of the group that was given 50 mg of CBD reported a ‘greater satisfaction with pain control’ than the half receiving 25 mg. 

Lead researcher on the trial, Michael J. Alaia, MD, associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at NYU Langone Health said, “There is an urgent need for viable alternatives for pain management, and our study presents this form of CBD as a promising tool after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. It could be a new, inexpensive approach for delivering pain relief, and without the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs and addiction risks linked to opiates. Additionally, CBD has the benefit of pain relief without the psychotropic effects associated with THC or marijuana.”

This study has produced positive results showing cannabis, specifically the cannabinoid CBD, may be a safe and helpful tool in the fight against pain and society’s over-reliance on prescribed opioids. However, the size of the cohort in this clinical study suggests more research is needed. 

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Could CBD tampons be the solution to period pain?

Nearly half of the global population are affected by periods, and a good chunk of us endure debilitating cramps throughout. Research suggests that period pains are as bad as a heart attack, so why aren’t they taken seriously by medical professionals?

Sexist stereotypes continue to uphold the idea that women in pain are dramatic. Despite the horrendous PMS symptoms and menstrual cramps that so many of us experience, it often feels easier to suffer in silence than to ask for relief. 

Anyone who has ever gone to a doctor for problematic periods knows that the most likely outcome is being put on the pill – either that or facing lengthy waiting times for further investigation. Instead, most people resort to a cocktail of paracetamol, ibuprofen, and heat pads to get them through, but CBD tampons hold the potential to revolutionise how women manage their period pains. 

The ECS and menstruation

The scientific complexities of women’s health are hugely under-researched. Until recently, scientists were unaware of the intricate crosstalk between the female reproductive system and our crucial cell-signalling network, the endocannabinoid system (ECS).  

 The ECS acts as our universal regulator. It coordinates a myriad of biological functions with the aim of keeping our bodily systems in balance. The signalling of natural cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) within the ECS helps to regulate our mood, immune activity, sleep, pain, appetite, and much more.

Recently, researchers have noted an important role of the ECS in reproductive health. The ECS has been shown to regulate several developmental processes in the female reproductive system, as well as the production of ovarian hormones. Beyond this, cannabinoid receptors are densely expressed across the vaginal canal.   

Due to this established connection between the ECS and the female reproductive system, there is reason to believe that cannabinoids could modulate some of the processes involved in menstruation – and this is where CBD comes in. 

What are CBD tampons?

They’re pretty much your average tampon, with a twist. They are coated in cannabidiol, or CBD, which is one of the many naturally occurring cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the mind-altering molecule in cannabis, CBD won’t get you high, but it can provide some powerful therapeutic relief.

CBD interacts with our ECS by modulating the activity of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, including those present in the female reproductive system. CBD could, in theory, affect our inflammatory response and pain perception during menstruation, which is exactly what some brands have endeavoured to explore.

Currently, the only UK based company to venture into the world of cannabinoids and tampons is Daye, an organic tampon brand. Their products are coated with 30% whole-plant hemp extract, which gives the user a 100mg dose of CBD per tampon. According to Daye, “CBD and the female body are a match made in heaven”. This is because CBD can offer natural but powerful pain relief and, in turn, help to soothe period cramps.

Another brand specialising in female-founded cycle care and education is FEWE. They aim to equip their audience with the tools to help them understand their cycle and create products formulated to provide month-long support, including a CBD-based oral spray to help relieve menstrual cramps.

And finally, Ohne – another UK based brand that utilises the power of cannabinoids to support people with periods. They have created the UK’s first pro-period CBD oil and have even developed a vegan CBD chocolate bar to give a little self-care boost to that time of the month. 

Do CBD tampons help with period pain?

Period pain affects 80% of people who menstruate. According to a study published in 2019, 40% of women under 25 report that their period pain severely impacts their ability to concentrate, with 25% claiming to have missed school or work due to cramps. 

CBD is becoming an increasingly popular alternative pain relief for countless conditions, including arthritis, chronic fibromyalgia pain, and even endometriosis. CBD-infused tampons have therefore been formulated specifically to provide local relief for period cramps, directly at the source of the pain.

Survey data from 60,000 Daye users suggests that CBD tampons are effective at relieving period cramps for over 80% of people. Although CBD tampons are yet to be researched by outside labs, Daye has published their independent research into the effectiveness of their product. 

The data shows that users experienced a 35% reduction in pain after 30 minutes and a 48% reduction after 2 hours. The placebo group, who received an uncoated tampon, showed a 0% reduction in pain after 30 minutes and a 31% reduction after 2 hours – so it’s clear that CBD has noteworthy cramp-soothing action.

User reviews for CBD tampons are in abundance, so the anecdotal evidence in favour of their effectiveness is far more advanced. One Daye CBD tampon user told Healthline, “I assumed it would be a ‘placebo effect,’ however, around an hour in, I realized that I hadn’t taken [aspirin] as I normally would. My cramps had reduced significantly.”

How do they work?

CBD tampons provide local pain relief by allowing the cannabinoid to be absorbed through the vaginal mucosa. This method of administration bypasses the digestive system, so the effects can be felt much quicker than with a painkiller pill.

But how does CBD relieve pain? The mechanisms underlying CBD’s therapeutic action aren’t exactly straightforward and researchers are not entirely sure how CBD works in the body, but what they do know is CBD has potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Inflammation is the culprit behind the dull ache that characterises period cramps. Since CBD has been shown to modulate the activity of immune cells and subsequently reduce the production of pro-inflammatory molecules, it is likely that this local anti-inflammatory action is behind the pain relief seen with CBD tampons.

Cannabinoids have also been shown to modulate various other pain pathways in the body. By enhancing the signalling of our endocannabinoid, anandamide, CBD may be able to alter our pain threshold through the activation of CB1 receptors. Some experimental studies have also shown that CBD can desensitise TRPV1 receptors, which are highly involved in pain perception.

Far more research is needed to fully understand how CBD relieves pain, particularly when absorbed through the vaginal canal. Anecdotally, however, the initial findings are hugely promising. CBD holds the potential to revolutionise the tampon industry and, in turn, ease the debilitating pain felt by so many of us during that time of the month.

Are they legal in the UK?

In the UK, CBD is legal but products containing THC can only be obtained legally on prescription. Derived from the hemp plant, Daye CBD tampons contain zero THC and are therefore completely legal to buy and use. Daye claims that “it is completely safe to carry your CBD tampons around and to travel with them.” 

What’s more, CBD is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list and won’t show up on any drug tests. Pretty much anyone can relish the pain-relieving properties of CBD, including professional athletes.  

Are CBD tampons safe?

Extensive research into CBD has shown that it is a safe and well-tolerated substance, even at high doses. Using multiple CBD tampons a day is fairly risk-free in that sense, unlike over-the-counter pain medications that require careful dosing.

Although CBD can have some side effects – nausea, appetite changes, and fatigue – these are typically remedied with the correct dosage and are far milder than other medications used to lessen period symptoms, such as ibuprofen and hormonal contraceptives.

However, due to a lack of research into the effects of CBD on newborns, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly advises against the use of CBD while breastfeeding. Whilst there is currently no robust evidence to say that CBD is unsafe, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid CBD tampons if you’re still breastfeeding.

As with any tampon, CBD tampons also pose the risk of irritation, infection, or toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Although Daye claim that their products do not increase the risk of TSS, disrupt the vaginal microbiome and pH levels, or cause vaginal irritation, no tampon use is risk-free, and users should keep this in mind if giving these products a go. If you experience flu-like symptoms after using tampons, seek medical assistance right away. 

Whilst we must await hard data on the effectiveness of CBD tampons, the testimonials don’t lie. It appears as though cannabinoids can be hugely beneficial for relieving cramps, and the development of CBD tampons is a huge step towards an effective solution for period pain.

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Ilesol Pharmaceuticals Launches Two New CBD Cosmetics Ingredients

Ilesol Pharmaceuticals has launched two new cosmetics ingredients — CBD Skin Complex and CBD HSL Complex 3in1.

The idea was to separate cosmetic raw materials from other raw materials in our portfolio and create several new ones. Under the concept of new raw materials, we have aimed to create natural and modern ingredients that can be successfully incorporated into modern cosmetic formulations.

Our raw materials go by the name Good GREENS. With this name, we wanted to emphasize that the ingredients are natural, and we consider them a healthy ‘diet’ for the skin.

Due to its specific composition, the richness of Omega fatty acids, natural antioxidants, vitamins, and other important ingredients, natural oils are the main carriers of our CBD.

It has long been known that natural vegetable oils have a very important application in maintaining health and skincare. Ilesol Pharmaceuticals uses only the highest quality natural oils from the most reliable sources.

In addition to natural oils and CBD, the raw materials are enriched with additional natural ingredients to provide advanced skincare. By adding several new ingredients, CBD has been given added value in cosmetic applications.

With these new cosmetic raw materials, we provide customers with a wider range of CBD applications in various cosmetic formulations.

CBD SKIN COMPLEX

CBD Skin Complex is a multifunctional complex of cosmetic ingredients for the health and natural nutrition of the skin.

The CBD Skin Complex is a multifunctional complex of cosmetic ingredients for the health and natural nutrition of the skin. In this new ingredient, CBD is dissolved in almond oil with the addition of Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract.

Almond oil has a light texture and is very easily absorbed into the skin. It is an excellent emollient for softening and regenerating the skin. It is rich in antioxidants and Omega fatty acids. It supplies water to the skin and keeps it with an oily substance. It smooths the skin and helps improve its barrier function.

Serenoa Serrulata Fruit extract has an anti-inflammatory effect and restores the skin’s protective barrier, which, along with CBD, makes it suitable for the treatment of dry and itchy skin.

The combination of lipophilic extract from Sabal Serenoa with its anti-inflammatory properties and CBD has a further positive effect on regenerating the skin barrier function.

The product is stabilized with tocopherol, a class of fat-soluble compounds with vitamin E activity, best known for its antioxidant activity.

This synergy of raw materials and the specific composition of the ingredients present ideal care for dry and itchy skin.

The concentration are as follows: CBD 10,0%, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract 40,0%, Almond Oil 50,0%;

INCI Name: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Cannabidiol, Tocopherol

The product contains 0,0% THC.

CBD HSL COMPLEX 3in1

In CBD HSL Complex 3in1, Macadamia oil is enriched with Cupuacu Butter and CBD. This cosmetic ingredient synergistic care for dry and damaged skin has strong anti-inflammatory properties and repairs the skin barrier.

Macadamia oil contains oleic acid, beneficial for softening the skin, regenerating its cells, moisturizing, and as a natural anti-inflammatory. Its linoleic acid helps restore skin barrier function and reduces transepidermal water loss. Macadamia oil could slow the signs of aging and improve the appearance of scars and other minor skin irritations.

In addition to macadamia oil and CBD, this cosmetic ingredient also contains Cupuacu butter, considered a “super-moisturizer”, preventing the skin from drying out and helping maintain its moisture.

Cupuacu butter is a modern plant-based alternative to lanolin. Its ability to penetrate the skin quickly and retain moisture is unparalleled and far superior to Shea butter or lanolin. It can attract up to 440% more water, allowing it to function much more effectively as a skin hydrator and plumper. It is an excellent emollient that restores elasticity to the skin while providing antioxidants and hydration.

CBD in the combination of macadamia and Cupuacu butter presents an advanced skincare ingredient because of its excellent emollients properties. This modern ingredient from nature provides deep hydration of water and has a wonderful effect on hair, skin, and lips.

The concentrations are as follows: CBD 10,0%, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter 70,0 %, Macadamia Oil 20,0%

INCI Name: Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Cannabidiol

The product contains 0,0% THC.

“The launch of the new products comes as an addition to our standard CBD cosmetic ingredients’ portfolio that includes CBD and CBG Isolates, High Purity CBD Isolate, Broad Spectrum Extract, Pure CBD and Pure CBG Oil, Broad Spectrum Oil, and CBD or CBG Liquid Extract. Following consumers’ interests and applying our experience and expertise, we believe we have launched attractive products for the fast-growing CBD cosmetics industry.”, said Sasha Bajilo, founder of Ilesol Pharmaceuticals.

The newly launched products will be presented at in-cosmetics Global 2022 in Paris from the 5th to the 7th of April 2022.

All the ingredients are GMO-free and BSE/TSE-free, not tested on animals, not containing substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction, or nanomaterials. Ilesol Pharmaceuticals products comply with the European Commission regulation 1223/2009 amending Regulation (EC) on cosmetic products.

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Meet Prym Health – a wellness first CBD brand

As the CBD market has grown and evolved over the past three years, products have found their home in and amongst the vitamins and supplements on the high street shelves. It’s a natural conclusion, CBD helps maintain a balanced lifestyle and there is an undoubted connection between CBD products and people wanting to optimise their health and wellbeing.

One brand embracing the wellness first approach is Prym Health, a UK based company with a range of nutritional supplements with CBD at the heart of their range. Founded by two friends with a keen interest in the cannabis industry, Prym Health was launched in February 2021 after the common theme of Covid related delays and setbacks.

What makes the brand stand out is the broad approach to supporting customers’ health, “Although CBD is our main focus currently, our aim was to create a brand that supports general health and wellbeing which is why we decided to slowly introduce non CBD supplements.” founder Aadil Choudhry tells us. Current products include vitamin gummies, which include Vitamin C, Multivitamin, Biotin and an Apple Cider Vinegar gummy, but the brand hopes to combine the two in a new product out this year.

As well as being focused on nutrition, Prym Health has been careful about the CBD they use in their range, working with specialists to create unique blends and formulas. “Although the market is crowded, the majority of the companies we are seeing are those that have approached one of the popular white label manufacturers, bought a whole range of products and rushed to market as CBD is seen as the trend to be taken advantage of. With Prym Health’s vision of creating a well-rounded health and wellbeing brand, we are here for the long run. That’s why we have spent time researching and speaking to several manufacturers who we feel can create the most premium products. With there being a stigma or still an unawareness of the benefits of CBD, it is vital for us to offer these premium products so those trying CBD for the first time are left with a positive experience and their views are not hindered by the large number of sub-par products in the market currently.”

With there being a stigma or still an unawareness of the benefits of CBD, it is vital for us to offer these premium products so those trying CBD for the first time are left with a positive experience

All of this is reflected in the products Prym Health sell, as well as the CBD oils in classic flavours, the brand also stocks more unusual lines such as Lavender, there are CBD + Vitamins Gummies, e-liquids and topicals. Does the company have anything exciting in the pipeline? “A lot of time and effort in 2021 was spent navigating the complexities of running a company dealing with CBD products. Now that we have solutions to those complexities, 2022 is a really exciting year for us with a lot in the pipeline. I can’t go into too much detail as some things are still in the development stage but you’ll be seeing two new CBD products which are quite unique to the UK market in the next 2-3 months which we aim to introduce. Along with this, we have a small number of additional CBD products aimed at the fitness market and our non CBD products will be expanding over Q3/Q4 2022. All in all, 2022 is on track to be an eventful year for us and we look forward to not only offering more premium products to our existing customers and the market as a whole, but also continuing to raise awareness around CBD and the benefits that come alongside it.”

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How to Market Your Brand as a Cannabis Authority

How to Market Your Brand as a Cannabis Authority by Miles Oliver

It’s an exciting and fascinating time to build a business in the cannabis industry.

Changes in legislation are opening up new avenues to reach consumers. The public is becoming more mature and discerning about their relationship with the product.

According to some analysts, the global cannabis market is expected to exhibit growth of 32% between 2021 and 2028. As such, building your brand now can see you capturing a significant amount of consumer attention.

Part of the issue with a booming industry is a lot of entrepreneurs are keen to engage. Competition certainly isn’t a bad thing. But it does mean you need to work harder to reach your audience and maintain your growth.

One effective way of approaching this is to market your brand as a clear expert in this thriving but underexplored sector.

This isn’t always easy to achieve, particularly with a product as dependent on tastes and trends as cannabis. So, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can approach marketing your company as an authority.

Leverage Your Professionalism

One of the most important components of the cannabis industry today is the continued need to legitimize it. In many ways, you’re battling against historical biases built on inaccurate perceptions. As such, it’s important to present high levels of professionalism and customer care as primary elements of your brand identity.

This doesn’t mean your company needs to be bland or even overly serious. But you do need to be able to demonstrate that your consumers can trust you to deliver the best quality cannabis products safely.

Alongside creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere, you need to make sure images and videos of your premises show it is clean, well-maintained, and accessible. Ensure your website is easily navigable and that members of staff are on hand to provide clear and unbiased advice.

Behind-the-scenes looks into your operation can be key in this regard. Produce content in which you discuss the botanical sciences behind your cultivation procedures.

Show images and videos of the safety components involved with your growing operation. Highlight what steps your company takes to make improvements in your product and what considerations go into your quality control procedures.

Promote Health and Wellbeing

There’s nothing wrong with demonstrating the recreational uses of cannabis. Much like any other consumable or gourmet product, there are a variety of ways your customers can engage with cannabis simply for their enjoyment. However, your authority as a brand can be enhanced by showing you have a good understanding of the ways your product benefits consumers’ health and wellbeing.

You can find your authority is emphasized when you take an educational approach. Health literacy is an important tool for patients to maintain and advocate for their wellbeing. Yet, the majority of Americans struggle with it.

As a cannabis brand, you can produce literature on the various physical and mental health benefits of products in your industry. Highlight the different methods of consumption and how products like CBD oil can be incorporated into daily health practices.

You may also find it effective to offer your expertise as part of community outreach events. Get involved with health education organizations in your local area either as a sponsor or education provider.

The events you engage with don’t have to be specifically about cannabis. In fact, providing your insights as part of wider community health efforts demonstrates how it can be a tool in general wellness. The most important part is you’re positioning your brand as an advocate for public health initiatives. This can boost your authoritative reputation.

Showcase Your Expertise

Content marketing is often at its most powerful when it highlights you as an expert in your field. As such, your actions to position your brand as an authority can benefit from making smart content choices. You need to showcase your valuable insights into the various aspects of your product.

Your website should include a blog that provides in-depth discussions related to your business.

It can be wise to have members of your staff from different areas of your operation to write articles about their specialist subject. This could include your technicians discussing how light impacts the chemical profile of your plants.

You can involve your sales staff in producing reviews and recommendations. Even your compliance manager may be able to offer fascinating insights into the development of industry legislation.

Wherever possible, you should go multimedia with your content. This exposes your expertise to a wider audience. Podcasts remain a popular approach to long-form discussions.

Team up with other experts in your field to capitalize on one another’s positions of authority. Ethnobotanists can help you discuss the role of plant medicines in society. Therapists can talk about how cannabis is increasingly featured in mental health care.

Post all of these materials regularly on your social media channels. This ensures your audience is drawn to prove that your brand is an authority in your field.

Conclusion

The cannabis industry is undergoing rapid growth. Marketing your brand as an authority in your field can help you maintain a competitive edge and cultivate a solid reputation.

Make certain you lean into the image of your company as a highly professional contributor to the industry. While recreational use is great, highlighting the wellness benefits shows you have an understanding of how cannabis can improve lives.

Importantly, make sure you use content marketing in a way that best showcases your company’s expertise on the subject. This is a fascinating and enriching sector to be an entrepreneur in; it’s worth taking the time to push your brand to the forefront.

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Cannabis needs to be made female friendly, here’s why

The face of cannabis is changing. It’s time the UK caught up! Thanks to the loosening of regulations around the world and a new narrative, carved out by people who love and understand the plant and want you to as well, the idea that enjoying bud is still only for teenage boys and hippies is well out of date. Today, 2 in 5 women in America use cannabis-based products, with the pandemic spurring on a whopping 46% increase in professionals who consume while working from home. While cannabis is still not available legally without a prescription in the UK, that doesn’t mean people aren’t using it. In fact, we know that around 1.5 million people use cannabis from the illicit market for medicinal purposes, and recreationally that’s going to be considerably more. 

Many of these users are women – cultured, adult, intelligent women with disposable income and taste. But looking at the cannabis paraphernalia, apparel and lifestyle products available on the market (all of which is of course completely legal), you’d never guess it.

We’re still stuck in the dark ages, with almost everything you can buy practically reeking of a teenage boy’s bedroom or nag champa incense through your computer (where most shopping takes place). There’s still a place for these markets, no doubt. But there’s a desperate demand for high quality, beautiful cannabis-themed products that is not being met. This is not only hugely remiss, given the spending habits of women, but only helps to keep the outdated view of cannabis well and truly entrenched on our backwards little island.

Women are big spenders

Globally, women spend an estimated $31.8 trillion a year. We account for over 70% of all household spending across all category types, amounting to a staggering £205 billion of the UK’s total economy. Again, looking at America as our cannabis consumer model, the Brightfield Group reported the share of women cannabis users is rising steadily, hitting 51% by the first quarter of 2021.

Considering that the male to female ratio in the UK is approximately 97.67 males per 100 females, we can assume that of the 1.5 – 2 million who use cannabis at least once a month, around half are women.

So where, oh where, are all the cannabis brands targeting us?

There’s plenty in the world of CBD, which is smart considering that Women make 90% of household healthcare decisions. (Source: Yankelovich Monitor, M2W Conference) and 93% of OTC pharmaceutical purchases (Source: Tom Peters, in the forward to “Marketing to Women”, by Marti Barletta). This, paired with our $375 billion global spend on health and $131 billion on mental wellness, makes for a pretty hefty chunk of change. In 2018, the global wellness market was worth $4.2 trillion and has continued to grow, with women controlling about 85 percent of it.

Cannabis culture is changing

If you look at America and Canada, where enjoying cannabis is now deemed by many as acceptable as enjoying a glass of wine, or taking paracetamol (depending on your reason for consuming), there’s a vast selection of cannabis garb for women. It’s awesome and a lot of it is seriously high end too – none of this cheap rubbish aimed at people with no money. This is cannabis for women who run the world, laying waste to the old stereotype that cannabis fans are lazy.

The Flower by Edie Parker range is iconic, boasting eye-popping pastels and a timeless retro vibe across their range of smoking accessories. Sugar High Love Stoned, Stoned Immaculate and The Jane Parade offer super cute cannabis apparel. House of Puff, Yew Yew, Rompotodo and Burning Love are the ultimate girly head shops, with a beautiful array of dreamy ceramics and glassware. 

For me, as a woman, anything less doesn’t represent what cannabis means to me. This is not some sort of dirty habit to be hidden away. It doesn’t have to feel grungy and dirty. Not everything has to be black and emblazoned with Bob Marley or some nod to predictable stoner culture. This is a celebration of a new era of out it the open cannabis use that feels good in every respect. 

Why are women being ignored?

Despite the rise in female cannabis users and cannabis experts around the world, women are still not properly accepted in the industry. Forbes recently reported that out of 166 cannabis companies surveyed, 74% have 10 or fewer female-identifying employees. The report adds. “Although 44 percent of the surveyed companies have 10 or fewer total employees, there is still much more room at the table for female-identifying individuals to step in and take charge, particularly in leadership roles.”

However, women are starting to pave the way for themselves – as has been the case throughout history. Groups such as Women in Medical Cannabis Leadership, which is made up of female pioneers like Neuroscientist and Endocannabinoidologist Viola Brugnatelli, Vice Chair of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, Dr Dani Gordon, and director of the Maple Tree Consultancy, Hannah Deacon, are making huge waves in the cannabis industry. 

This is vital, considering it was over a hundred years after the opening of the first medical schools that women were even allowed to study medicine. With so many incredible women leading the way in cannabis medicine and campaigning for legislative change in the UK, it seems only right that we should be catered to. 

That’s not to say all female-focused cannabis products should be pink and frilly, it’s more about quality and aesthetics that are not only pleasing to the eye, but a pleasure to use.

It’s time to kick the habit

The UK cannabis industry is stuck in a rut, both in terms of archaic regulation and understanding who cannabis users really are. It’s time to kick the media-fuelled habit of assuming that stoners are broke, uneducated, male, teens and realise that, in actual fact, the future of cannabis is largely female. Classy females at that.

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Mike Tyson Teams Up with WWE Champion on New Cannabis Line

Mike Tyson Teams Up with WWE Champion on New Cannabis Line by Aron Vaughan

Boxer, entrepreneur, and cannabis advocate Mike Tyson has announced his newly launched cannabis company, Tyson 2.0, will acquire a majority stake in Ric Flair Drip, Inc.

Heavyweight Matchup

Ric Flair, popularly known as “Nature Boy,”  is a 16 time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. The strategic alliance between the two heavyweights furthers Tyson’s house of brands strategy and establishes the company as a leading celebrity cannabis brand powerhouse. 

Tyson 2.0’s acquisition of the company allows the brand to assume control of Ric Flair’s trademarks and intellectual properties to launch cannabis flower and edible products under the Ric Flair brand name in the near future.  

“Thanks to Mike Tyson and Tyson 2.0, I’ve become a true cannabis advocate and enthusiast,” said Flair. “I am thrilled to partner with a long-time friend and fellow warrior whom I greatly admire and respect.”

Burgeoning Brand

Since its launch in October 2021, Tyson 2.0 continues to execute its nationwide growth strategy bringing cannabis products to consumers and fans nationwide. Through licensing, cultivation, and agreements, Tyson 2.0 products are available in dispensaries and retail locations across the states of Colorado, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Michigan with plans to expand nationally and internationally.

Tyson 2.0 was co-founded by Mike Tyson, who serves as Chief Brand Officer, and Chad Bronstein. The venture is led by CEO Adam Wilks.

“For the last fifty years, Ric has been synonymous with high impact, high energy experiences,” said Bronstein. “Similar to how we rolled out Tyson 2.0, Ric Flair cannabis products will reach nationwide distribution through our robust network of industry partners. With flower strains named after Ric’s iconic sayings like ‘limousine riding’ and ‘jet-flying’, we aim to honor Ric’s energy and share it with his fans.” 

Flair’s Legacy

Flair will be featured in the seventh episode of Peacock’s first-ever WWE original series WWE Evil which begins streaming exclusively on Peacock starting Thursday, March 24.

The eight-part docuseries, created and hosted by John Cena, is the first-ever original from WWE Studios. The show takes an unprecedented look inside the psyche of the most diabolical antagonists in WWE, unveiling rare behind-the-scenes details from some of the biggest names in the industry and their impact on mainstream culture.

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Meanwhile in Canada the Smoke is Heavy

Meanwhile in Canada, the Smoke is Heavy by Patricia Miller

A recent editorial in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, by a University of Toronto sociologist reviewed the brief history of cannabis legalization in Canada and concluded in rather unequivocal terms that by and large, we as a nation have come through legalization and are now moving on.

“Canada took a fairly restrained approach to the initial rollout of legalization, and it seems to have paid off. The sky has not fallen, use has not skyrocketed, and a steady increase in the proportion of legal sales mean public health and safety are being strengthened”, stated Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, the director of research for Cannabis Amnesty at U of T. 

According to the data, legal cannabis sales, in the form of retail and medical distribution channels, totalled $1.28B (CAD), about 1.8x illicit distribution; this is a remarkable turnaround from just three years earlier, where illicit sales were $1.2B and legal sales were just over $175 million.

The author, a faculty member at U of T, also noted that societally we did not experience any ‘Reefer Madness’ hysteria moments that were initially anticipated, if not predicted by some. Perhaps this was due to the high rates of cannabis use among the Canadian population generally, which created the groundswell support that prompted cannabis reform at the federal level in the first place.  

That is not to say that certain societal and safety concerns don’t remain. Drug-impaired (as well as alcohol and text-impaired) drivers still present a real and tangible risk to those taking to Canadian roads, and after years of successfully reversing the trends of tobacco smoking, respirologists may be faced with increasing cases of lung-related illnesses from increased cannabis use. 

Two years ago, I wrote an article about how people across the country were opening their first government-approved, and duly excise tax-paid cannabis containers only to find disappointment waiting for them inside, in the form of dry, stale, and underweight product they were about to consume.  

In the early days, cannabis products, in the form of flower, pre-rolls, and other basic consumption products were generally horrible, as much had been sitting on shelves for as long as two years prior to them being legally available.  Moreover, other derivative products such as extracts, vapes, waxes, as well as various edibles would not be sold for at least another year from when the piece was published. To paraphrase an old cigarette ad from the 70s, we’ve come a long way baby… 

As the article goes on to allude, evidence of the change in both attitude and consumption patterns has appeared in the commercial real estate market, where generally weak demand for rental space caused by business failures and closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been softened in some areas by the opening of something like 2,500 new retail cannabis outlets across the country.   

This growth has been uneven, for sure, with certain urban markets being well served and other farther flung locations still waiting for a retail outlet.  To compound the confusion, many jurisdictions and municipalities made the decision in advance to ban commercial sales of cannabis on their streets.    Based on the commercial tax intake of the areas that have accepted these new merchants, this is a decision some municipalities may regret.  

There’s no doubt that “cannabis 2.0 products” (as they were referred to at the time), more so than the pandemic, has changed both the consumption patterns and acceptability of cannabis generally in Canadian life; this was predicted by many industry experts who spoke at our last O’Cannabiz Conference in 2019. 

In the Canadian Cannabis Survey 2020, compiled by Statistics Canada, both the smoking and the eating of cannabis derivative products have increased slightly from 2019, with two-thirds of respondents reporting occasional use and more people associating the product with lower health risks over alcohol or tobacco.

The elephant in the room might be whether the Covid-19 pandemic has had any influence on cannabis consumption, in Canada or elsewhere. Based on the study, 56% reported using the same amount of cannabis, 22% reported using more and 22% reported using less, so that sounds like pretty much a wash.

In light of the progress we’ve made as a country as it relates to cannabis, there are big opportunities for those in the industry or are interested in the space. The first relates to retail distribution of cannabis. This field of enterprise has migrated quickly to mainstream distribution in commercial areas of city streets. 

Where the provincial government has taken absolute control of distribution, such as Quebec and Nova Scotia, retail success is largely guaranteed or rendered moot. In other markets, where the government controls distribution at the wholesale level, as a retailer there are few opportunities to promote one’s business, as it contains adult-use products and general media advertising is prohibited. Strategies for retail consumer success will separate the good performers from the business failures and this will be a key focus for our 2022 Conference & Expo.  

Post alcohol prohibition in Canada, the Liquor Control Act of 1927 allowed for the sale of alcoholic beverages for individual purchase, but public drinking in public settings, like pubs, taverns, restaurants, etc., was still a no-no. 

It took another seven years, before you could get a beer in a beverage room and probably another three before you could get a glass of wine with dinner, things we take for granted in permitted venues today. 

In the U.S., prohibition ended in 1933 and even to this day there are 83 dry counties in nine different states. It seems there are and will continue to be holdouts regardless of what the vice is.  What direction will Canada head? We’re still waiting for the smoke to clear. 

Cannabis tourism, travel, and hospitality is an area that is yet to gain traction here, but surely can’t be far behind. Humans are social animals, and it won’t be long before those who have historically consumed cannabis in the company of others in private locations will want to do so in public venues. Reason overtook regulation with respect to alcohol. I look forward to the next three years post-legalization here in Canada to see what changes are in store.

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Are psychedelics the solution to the environmental crisis?

Human civilisation is becoming increasingly alienated from nature, and the environment is in crisis as a consequence. 

Environmental activists are calling for systemic change. With the new wave of scientific interest in psychedelics, it’s clear that Western medicine is adopting age-old practices to revolutionise psychiatric treatment, but could we take it further? 

Perhaps psychedelics – drugs proving to be invaluable for the health of our mind – could also help to rescue the health of the planet.

Nature is in crisis

Since the emergence of industrial societies, human activity has experienced unprecedented growth. With a rapidly expanding global population and remarkable advancements in technology, our consumption of natural resources continues to skyrocket. As a result, human life creates an environmental demand so high that our own planet cannot sustain it. 

The environment is in crisis. Rising temperatures are exacerbating large scale loss. The ice caps are melting. Sea levels rising. Forests burning. And the crisis isn’t limited to the natural world; human populations will inevitably face extreme economic, social, political and technological issues – a consequence that will disproportionately affect marginalised communities.

It is near-impossible to live a fully eco-friendly life in modern Western society. Individual sustainable swaps feel almost insignificant in comparison to the mass damage caused by major corporations; when the onus is so often placed on the individual, it leads many to think, “why bother?” And because the scale of global destruction is too large for us to even begin to comprehend, it becomes all too easy to turn a blind eye to this looming crisis.

Humans have alienated themselves from the natural world. We will continue to destroy and pollute the planet on a mass scale until we, as a species, are able to reconnect with nature, but how do we do this?

The importance of environmental virtues

A new paper, due to be published in Philosophical Psychology, has addressed this very question. The paper’s authors, Dr Chris Letheby and Dr Nin Kirkham, are philosophers at the University of Western Australia (UWA). They argue that psychedelic drugs could “catalyse the development of environmental virtues” and therefore act as a solution to environmental challenges, such as “climate change, plastic pollution, [and] habitat destruction.”

On the face of it, the theory that psychedelics could be the solution to the climate crisis is somewhat dubious, but the authors delve deep into the argument and build a solid case. They claim that psychedelics could build environmental virtues – the traits that reflect our moral duty to protect the environment – and, in turn, promote “the development of an environmental consciousness.”

According to the authors, this eco-awareness “can help to moderate individual choices and actions, which…plays an important role in our ability to get traction on environmental problems.” The paper isn’t arguing that it is the duty of the individual to save the environment. Instead, it highlights that building personal environmental virtues creates a drive for large-scale change.

It makes sense; the more people that care about the health of the planet, the more likely it is that corporations and states will take action on this environmental crisis. It’s certainly a compelling argument, but how exactly do psychedelics encourage eco-friendly behaviour? 

Psychedelics enhance nature-connectedness

The psychedelic experience produces an enduring shift in our mindset – an ego loss. The boundaries between yourself, others, and the world around you dissolve and you begin to view yourself as part of the natural world, rather than a distinct entity. This dissolution of the barrier between nature and self evokes a sense of nature-connectedness, which is a primary feature of a psychedelic trip. 

Research has established that nature-connectedness promotes pro-environmental behaviours, such as recycling and reducing energy consumption, so it is not overly presumptuous to suggest that psychedelics encourage users to live a more sustainable life.

There is even growing evidence to support this idea. An observational study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in 2017, found that lifetime use of LSD, psilocybin and mescaline was associated with increased nature relatedness and pro-environmental behaviour.   

More recent evidence suggests that this link goes beyond a simple correlation. A 2019 study found that “nature relatedness was significantly increased 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 2 years after the psychedelic experience,” verifying a causal relationship between using psychedelics and being connected to nature.

Could psychedelics really save the planet?

Dr Gail Bradbrook, the co-founder of the environmental movement Extinction Rebellion (XR), has been particularly vocal about how her experiences with psychedelics have shaped her relationship with the environment and contributed to her decision to create XR. 

Bradbrook told The Independent that the psychedelic realm “can help bridge the gap between science and humans’ spiritual needs.” According to New Scientist, Bradbrook has called for “mass ingestion of psychedelic substances” as a form of rebellion against drug policy, which she claims would “lessen the ecological crisis that we’re in”.

The authors of the Philosophical Psychology paper adopt a slightly less radical stance. They argue that for psychedelics to be “safe and effective” at promoting pro-environmental behaviour, they require “controlled and intentional administration”, such as “clinical trials and tried-and-tested religious ceremonies”. 

However, the paper didn’t offer a suggestion for how this could logistically be carried out, particularly on a large enough scale to yield significant social change. “Obviously the devil is in the details, and determining precisely how to bring this about will be no trivial matter,” the authors state. So, despite the plausibility of the theory itself, we cannot overlook the legal and ethical obstacles in the way of using psychedelics to solve environmental challenges.

Classic psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin, are currently classed as Schedule I controlled substances in the UK, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Comparable restrictions are in place in the US and in Australia, so the prospect of using psychedelics to foster worldwide change is no mean feat. 

The authors also pre-empted the objection that “becoming more ethical by taking drugs is cheating”. The case of moral enhancement has been widely disputed amongst academics. Some philosophers argue that a modification that leaves a person with morally better motives than before is, itself, immoral.

In response, the paper suggests that the assistance of pharmacological avenues to remind us of our duty to protect nature is a valuable thing. “It seems almost truistic to argue that if people were better, then the world would be a better place, so if we want to make the world a better place, then we should support the moral enhancement of human beings.”

Whilst it would be naive to assume that psychedelics can act as a “magic pill” to save the world, we should recognise their role within a multifaceted solution to the environmental crisis. Nature-connectedness certainly promotes environmental consciousness, so it is not unthinkable that the widespread use of psychedelics could help to redirect us back onto a path that values our intrinsic connection with the natural world. 

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Basketball Hall of Famer Launches New Line of Cannabis Products

Basketball Hall of Famer Launches New Line of Cannabis Products by Aron Vaughan

Former NBA player and 2021 Hall of Fame inductee Ben Wallace is launching a new brand of cannabis products.

The Detroit Pistons legend is naming the brand Undrafted, a reference to his unique distinction as the first undrafted player in the NBA to reach the Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Undrafted

Undrafted’s line will offer cannabis flower, pre-rolls, and vape cartridges, with future products to be announced. Wallace is partnering with Michigan-based cannabis company Rair to facilitate the rollout. Detroit-based advertising agency, Atomic Honey, represents both Rair and Ben Wallace and developed the logo and packaging design for Undrafted.

Speaking from Experience

Wallace seems the ideal candidate to form his own cannabis line, as he benefited from the plant’s anti-inflammatory effects following years of aches and pains related to injuries sustained in his 16-year professional basketball career.   

“There’s no denying that marijuana has a healing upside for athletes or anyone struggling with pain—so alongside launching the Undrafted brand, the Rair team and I will continue to push to end this stigma associated with cannabis use,” Wallace said. 

Good Friendships are Rair

Rair currently has four dispensary locations around the state—with a fifth location opening in Kalamazoo on 4/20—and is the only Michigan cannabis company to grow aeroponically. Aeroponic growing is a method of cultivating plants in an air or mist environment as opposed to in soil or an aggregate medium. The method uses fewer resources but yields faster growth, healthier plants and bigger harvests. It also drastically reduces the chance of contamination while allowing for real-time grow recipe adjustments.

“Our partnership with Rair formed so organically,” said Wallace. “I believe the marriage between our two brands automatically sets us apart from any other cannabis line out there. Rair products are of the highest quality, and I’m excited to partner with them on Undrafted, as I’m confident the brand will be nothing short of exceptional.”  

The venture will be the first time Rair has worked with an outside vendor, but CEO Kevin McFadden believes in Wallace’s approach. 

“We could not have asked for a more dedicated partner to align with on our first go around,” said McFadden. “Ben’s work ethic and commitment to excellence align with our promise to deliver the best cannabis products and experience possible to the patients and recreational customers in Michigan.”

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5 Important Considerations for Keeping a Medical Cannabis Card

5 Important Considerations for Keeping a Medical Cannabis Card by Tess DiNapoli

Renewing your medical cannabis certificate can be more stressful than it should be.

There are many problems you can face when renewing your medical cannabis card, whether the process goes quickly or takes months to finish. Hopefully, this article can help you avoid these common problems and make the renewal process run smoothly so you can continue to enjoy the use of your medical cannabis card.

1.  State Requirements

There are many state requirements in order to get a medical cannabis card. Some of these include residency, medical necessity, and an appointment with a physician, among others.

Make sure you understand all of your state’s requirements before visiting a doctor. One example of this is Arkansas’ medical marijuana act qualifying conditions. Once you have your medical cannabis card, you’ll have access to a number of different dispensaries where you can purchase various strains of cannabis for treatment purposes.

Before making any purchases at these dispensaries, make sure that they’re selling products that will be useful for your specific condition(s). If they aren’t carrying any products to treat what ails you, consider looking elsewhere to save yourself some time or money later on down the road.

2.  Updates to Personal Information

If you haven’t already registered with your state’s medical cannabis program, it may be time to do so.

However, it’s important to remember that you need to update your application as soon as possible if any of your personal information changes. For example, if you move or change your phone number, there could be delays in receiving a renewal notification. If that happens, you need to contact your state directly before your card expires.

3.  Verifying Your Eligibility

Once you’ve decided to renew your medical cannabis card, it’s important to verify that you are still eligible. Fortunately, it is quick and easy to check whether or not you can keep your certification. All you need to do is visit your doctor to obtain a certificate of verification. Make sure it’s dated and signed with an original signature stamp, as any other signature will make it invalid.

Also, make sure the doctor you go to is one you trust to be informed on cannabis, as this will make everything go more smoothly.

4.  Payment Processing

Fees are almost guaranteed to be part of the renewal process, whether it’s for the doctor’s appointment or application. Once you have paid these fees, you will have to wait for them to be processed and approved before moving on to the next step.

Depending on the system used, some payments can take several business days to go through. However, there are some options available to medical cannabis cardholders who are concerned about whether their provider will have reliable payment processing.

New technology now allows for places to take payments via mobile devices or online to speed up the process.

5.  Waiting for Approval

Once all the other steps are complete, the only thing left to do is wait. The problem of waiting for approval is one that plagues countless medical cannabis patients.

While a speedy renewal service is always the hope, most people don’t know what to do about their long wait when renewal time rolls around. Making sure you complete things early and giving yourself enough time will make waiting a bit less stressful. The only other thing you can do is be patient.

Remember: once you get approval, you will still have to wait for your new card to arrive before being able to purchase any products.

Conclusion

There are many ways you can recover from renewal problems, especially when you find yourself with limited time remaining on your medical cannabis card.

Using this advice is sure to make renewing your medical cannabis card process easier. There’s always hope for a solution, so be proactive—don’t just sit back and let things pass without trying to resolve them. Doing these things early can help save you time and stress in the long run.

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