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Do the immunosuppressive effects of CBD have any benefits for Sjogren?

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Cannabidiol has been involved in the treatment of various medical conditions. Although the affinity is missing It has shown potential as a regulator of the immune system for both the CB1 and CB2 receptors through various mechanisms.

When it comes to Sjogren’s, there are no studies that directly link the condition to CBD. However, this doesn’t rule out potential benefits of CBD in alleviating some of the lingering symptoms of the condition.

Sjogren’s is an autoimmune system disorder characterized by persistent dryness of the mouth and eyes. This happens when the mucous membranes in your eyes and mouth dry out.

Initially, these are symptoms that over-the-counter medications can easily be written off or alleviated. However, over time, symptoms can become more severe and persistent. New symptoms can include vaginal dryness, rashes, joint inflammation, insomnia, and excessive fatigue.

As with most other autoimmune diseases, there is no known cure for Sjogrens syndrome. The etiology is also unclear, but middle-aged women are at greater risk of developing it.

As a result, treatment usually focuses on symptom control.

Traditional treatment for Sjogren’s includes the use of over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, eye drops, antifungals for mouth infections, hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate to suppress the exaggerated immune response.

When it comes to symptom control, CBD could offer several benefits, particularly as an immunosuppressant.

Patients with Sjogren’s who have trouble falling asleep can use CBD to relax and promote restful sleep. With restful sleep, Sjogren sufferers are likely to be less tired and this will increase their productivity.

In one study, CBD was shown to suppress both innate and adaptive immune responses. [1] CBD reduces levels of cytokines, which are molecules that trigger the inflammatory process. This is known as the “endocannabinoidoma” phenomenon and describes the interaction between the immune system and the endocannabinoid system.

While the mechanisms by which CBD affects the immune system are diverse, the end result is the same. Suppression of the immune system likely suppresses autoimmune diseases like Sjogren’s.

In another study, patients with SS were given methotrexate, which improved symptoms such as dry eyes, dry mouth, dry cough, and purpura. [2]

As mentioned earlier, there is a lack of scientific evidence linking CBD and Sjogren’s. However, it would be interesting to know if CBD can be compared to methotrexate or other drugs that have been shown to be effective in treating the condition.

Image source

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sjogrens_Syndrome.jpg

References

  1. James M. Nichols and Barbara LF Kaplan. (2020). Cannabis and cannabinoid research.

Volume 5, Issue 1. 12-31.

  1. Skopouli, FN, Jagiello, P., Tsifetaki, N. & Moutsopoulos, HM (1996). Methotrexate in primary Sjogren’s syndrome. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 14th(5), 555-558.

A breakdown of consumer use of CBD by gender and age

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According to the leading sales and marketing agency in the USA, cannabidiol (CBD) is very popular Acosta: “Consumer CBD sales are projected to reach US $ 20 billion by 2024 – more than current annual sales of candy, chewing gum and mints combined.” The success of CBD depends in part on how accessible it is. Because the compound is non-intoxicating, it can be consumed or ingested by those who have no interest in getting high, including sick people and professionals.

In a report entitled The CBD Effect: A Rapidly Emerging Consumer Trend Acosta used industry data to determine exactly who was buying CBD. They found that millennials, men, and college-educated consumers are high on the list of CBD buyers. 56 percent of millennials surveyed use CBD products regularly, compared to 32 percent of Gen Xers and 15 percent of Baby Boomers.

They also found that many people buy CBD for health reasons. This applies to buyers of all ages. A 2018 study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found the following: “The use of CBD in individuals for both certain health conditions and general health and wellbeing is widespread. CBD is used as a specific therapy for a number of different diseases. especially pain and inflammatory diseases as well as anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. ” (1)

While most research shows that younger generations are more likely to use CBD, the gap between men and women is less clear. Acosta found that men buy more CBD products, while the study by Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research suggests that women are the biggest buyers. A Gallup survey 2019 found that men and women buy CBD at equal rates.

What is clear is that people are becoming more familiar with CBD. As the cannabinoid increases its presence in the retail market, consumer trends may also change.

Image source: Wikipedia

References:

  1. Corroon, Jamie and Joy A Phillips. “A cross-sectional study of cannabidiol users.” Cannabis and cannabinoid research vol. 3.1 152-161. 1st July 2018

Using cannabidiol as a sublingual wafer

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There are several ways to consume cannabidiol (CDB), including through tinctures, oils, topicals, foods, and through vaporizing.

An interesting way of consuming it is sublingual wafers, which are placed under the tongue and dissolved so that the active CDB can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream without going through the digestive process.

You may have seen sublingual wafers in other forms, including those used to deliver vitamins. The purpose of sublingual wafers is to ensure rapid dissolution, accelerate the action of the active ingredient on the body and increase its bioavailability. In these cases, sublingual CBD wafers can be an attractive option for those who want to ensure a faster effect of CBD, among other things to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, or soothe anxiety.

A study recently conducted and published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology examined the safety and tolerability of CBD wafers and oils compared to cannabinoid-based oromucosal sprays. [1]

Twelve study participants received 4 different single doses of CBD as a sublingual wafer, oil or oromucosal spray and were evaluated on the basis of the tolerability of the doses. The pharmacokinetics of CBD uptake were also closely followed.

The volunteers received a sublingual CBD wafer twice daily for 5 days in a multiple dose study.

The researchers found that the CBD was well tolerated among participants when the cannabinoid was given in either wafer or oil format, although some side effects were noted, including sedation and altered mood. The bioavailability of the CBD was comparable for wafer and oil. CBD concentrations were maximized 4 hours after consumption.

No statistically significant difference was found between the observed CBD exposure after administration of the wafer or the oil solution compared to the oromucosal spray.

Image source: Alissa De Leva from Pixabay

References:

1. Hosseini, A, et al.A Phase I study of the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol administered as a single-dose oil solution and as a single and multiple dose of a sublingual wafer in healthy volunteers“, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, October 2020.

Internet information on the health benefits of cannabis

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The internet is full of claims about the health benefits of cannabis, but are they true? This was the question asked by a group of researchers who decided to search the internet for health claims related to cannabis and compare them to available scientific research to determine their validity. your study was recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine and they found most of the claims to be false, meaning they do not have enough scientific evidence to credibly support the claims. [1]

We came to that conclusion by searching Google and searching the top ten websites for the terms “marijuana benefits,” “weed benefits,” and “marijuana health.” To include articles that were mentioned on social media, the group used buzzsumo and searched for the terms “marijuana benefits OR cannabis benefits OR weed benefits” and “marijuana health.” Once the top websites and social media articles were collected, they were reviewed and each of the health claims was categorized, rated, and rated using published systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials available on Medline.

In the end, a total of 467 individual health claims were identified and divided into 81 categories. The most common health benefit claim for cannabis emerged Pain relief. However, claims related to the general pain category were ultimately classified as “not true” along with cancer, anxiety, PTSD, neuroprotection, and Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis has been found to be “true” and it is claimed that cannabis is effective in treating seizures and seizures sleep were rated as “partially true”.

Overall, only 4.9% of all entitlement categories were rated “true”, which suggests that we cannot always trust what the internet has to say, but that is not new information. The search terms used for this study, particularly on Google, excluded the word cannabis and included the terms “marijuana” and “weed”, both of which are not used by cannabis industry professionals. This search term variable could easily have skewed the search results because they are heavily made up of unreliable resources to begin with. As always, when it comes to information on the Internet, choose your sources wisely.

References:

Lau, N. et al. Internet claims on the health benefits of cannabis use. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06421-w

Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Introduce Federal Reform Legislation

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A pair of House Republicans aren’t holding their horses on cannabis reform activity in the Senate.

Reps. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, and Don Young, R-Alaska, introduced a bill May 12—the “Common Sense Cannabis Reform for Veterans, Small Businesses and Medical Professionals Act”— that would remove cannabis from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act.

In addition, the legislation would also protect depository institutions that provide financial services to “legitimate” cannabis-related businesses; provide safe harbor for veterans to use, possess or transport medical cannabis in compliance with state laws; and direct two studies on cannabis as it pertains to pain management and impairment through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to the bill’s text.

Joyce and Young’s efforts come as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and fellow Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., continue to work on drafting a federal reform bill to end prohibition in the upper chamber. They released a joint statement regarding their comprehensive reform efforts in February but have yet to introduce the measure.

Comprehensive cannabis reform took hold in the House last Congress via the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which would have removed cannabis as a Scheduled I controlled substance and eliminated criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes or possesses cannabis. While it passed the House last year, 228-164, the bill never advanced in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The chief sponsor of the MORE Act, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., plans to reintroduce the 87-page legislation this Congress, he said during a House Judiciary Subcommittee meeting in March.

In the meantime, Joyce and Young introduced their bill Wednesday. The 14-page legislation isn’t as long-winded but puts the removal of cannabis as a controlled substance, banking protection, reform for veterans and mandated NIH studies at the forefront. It does not include social justice and equity provisions.

“With more than 40 states taking action on this issue, it’s past time for Congress to recognize that continued cannabis prohibition is neither tenable nor the will of the American electorate,” Joyce said in a press release.

“My legislation answers the American people’s call for change and addresses our states’ need for clarity by creating an effective federal regulatory framework for cannabis that will help veterans, support small businesses and their workers, allow for critical research and tackle the opioid crisis, all while respecting the rights of states to make their own decisions regarding cannabis policies that are best for their constituents,” he said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this bill signed into law so that we can enact sensible and meaningful cannabis reform that will improve lives and livelihoods.”

Joyce’s advocacy for cannabis reform is not new. He also co-sponsored the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act and was vocal in his support of that legislation on the House floor when it cruised to passage by a 321-101 vote last month.

In 2018, the House Appropriations Committee passed a provision known as the Joyce Amendment (formerly the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment), which prevents the U.S. Department of Justice from spending federal funds on prosecuting state-legal medical cannabis businesses.

A former U.S. House member, Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican from California, launched the Congressional Cannabis Caucus in 2017 with fellow Reps. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Jared Polis, D-Colo., and Young, who now co-chairs the caucus with Joyce.

“For too long, the federal government’s outdated cannabis policies have stood in the way of both individual liberty and a state’s 10th Amendment rights. It is long past time that these archaic laws are updated for the 21st century,” said Young, whose home state of Alaska legalized adult-use cannabis through a ballot measure in 2014. “This bill takes significant steps to modernize our laws by removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and allowing the VA to prescribe medical cannabis to veterans, in addition to finally permitting state-legal cannabis businesses to utilize traditional financial services.”

The bill would also direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to issue rules to regulate cannabis modeled after the alcohol industry within one year of enactment.

Steve Hawkins, the executive director of Marijuana Policy Project, said in a statement that he’s encouraged to see Republican leadership to end the federal prohibition and criminalization of cannabis. Reform is a bipartisan matter ripe for immediate solution, he said.

“With an overwhelming majority of Americans supporting the end of cannabis prohibitions, it’s clear that our country has a mandate to create a legal industry that supports both medical and adult-use,” Hawkins said. “It’s a bipartisan issue and the ‘Common Sense Cannabis Reform for Veterans, Small Businesses and Medical Professionals Act’ introduced by Reps. Dave Joyce and Don Young is a promising step forward.”

Colorado Cannabis Delivery Restrictions Stall Out in State Legislature

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If you’ve attended Cannabis Conference or any number of other industry events over the past decade, you may have seen the late Roger Martin. A towering figure at 6’6”, the grayish-white-haired man could be found strolling the expo floor or sitting in conference session rooms, talking with everyone he could in a kind, soft-spoken manner to spread the word about HeroGrown Foundation, an organization he and his son Nick Martin founded in 2011. Originally named “Grow for Vets,” the organization’s founding mission was to help provide veterans with access to cannabis and CBD as an alternative to opioids. Roger—a former U.S. Army veteran and law enforcement officer who developed (and overcame with cannabis) a “VA-fed opioid addiction,” as Nick explains it—died in June 2020; Nick is now continuing to carry out HeroGrown’s expanded mission as its director and working to “save heroes” by providing access to cannabis as a safer alternative to opiates to as many veterans and first responders as possible.

Here, Noelle Skodzinski, editorial director of GIE Media’s Cannabis Group (including Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary, Hemp Grower, Cannabis Conference and Hemp Grower Conference), talks with Nick about what it’s like working to build on his and his father’s original vision, how the Reno, Nev.-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization has evolved over the years, and what those in the cannabis industry who want to support veterans and first responders can do to help.

 

Noelle Skodzinski: What inspired you and your dad to launch HeroGrown (then Grow for Vets)?

Courtesy of Nick Martin

Nick Martin

Nick Martin: I helped my father beat his VA-fed opioid addiction using cannabis in 2010. Having discovered the power of the plant, we began giving free cannabis to veterans starting in 2011. In 2018, we began accepting first responders as members and changed our name to HeroGrown Foundation. 

NS: What was the original mission vision for it and why were you and your father passionate about it?   

NM: Over 50 veterans and first responders die every day from suicide and drug overdose. Cannabis saved my dad’s life, so we set out to save as many heroes as we could using cannabis.

NS: What is it like for you expanding on the work you both started together? 

NM: My dad was passionate about helping his brothers and sisters, and carrying on this fight has turned into my life’s mission. There is no higher honor than to serve the men and woman who keep America safe. 

NS: How has HeroGrown evolved over the years?

NM: What began as delivering free medicine to a few dozen veterans in 2011 has grown beyond anything we could have imagined. To date, we have given away over $4 million worth of cannabis and CBD to 25,000 veterans and first responders. We ship out between $25,000 and $50,000 worth of CBD per month through our Warrior Airdrop program. 

NS: What are some of the HeroGrown accomplishments of which you are most proud?

NM: I’m proud of many of HeroGrown’s accomplishments, including being the first organization to give free cannabis to veterans. Having a positive impact on the life even a single veteran is a major accomplishment for us.

I’m also proud of the role we played in the legalization of cannabis across the country. Our work to liberate cannabis for veterans has gone long way in winning the hearts and minds of cannabis opponents. But this mission won’t be accomplished until all Americans have safe and legal access to cannabis.

NS: What initiatives do you have coming up and to commemorate HeroGrown’s 10-year anniversary this year?

NM: We plan to make our 10th year helping veterans our biggest year ever. We are working towards our goal of giving away $1 million worth of cannabis and CBD over the next year. As COVID restrictions are eased across the country, we will be giving more cannabis away though Bud4Bottles—our program in which members trade old prescription bottles for free cannabis.

NS: What are the organization’s biggest challenges?

NM: When we started this journey, we lived under the constant threat of arrest and prosecution for giving cannabis to veterans. Though laws are changing, many people in power are still opposed to our mission—cannabis is still illegal both federally and in many states. And even in legalized states, giving free cannabis to veterans doesn’t generate tax revenue, so we have faced pushback from some enforcement bodies. We are also restricted and “shadow-banned” for our involvement with cannabis and veterans, so reaching the public has become more challenging. I talked to our social media manager about how we are being shadow banned, and he gave a couple more examples and stats. One of the biggest and most frustrating issues we deal with is how Facebook will typically only show our posts to two to three percent of our followers. And when combined with not being allowed to advertise on social media, getting our message out is very difficult.

“To date, we have given away over $4 million worth of cannabis and CBD to 25,000 veterans and first responders.” – Nick Martin, Director, HeroGrown Foundation

… I’m assuming it’s very similar to what all other [cannabis] companies are experiencing. And we find it very frustrating, not just because of the cannabis aspect of it, but also because we’re a veteran organization, and that’s the heart of us. So, we’re still being treated that way. It definitely makes things difficult.

But we’re never going to give up this fight. We’re going to keep going for as long as we can until our mission is complete.

NS: What can cannabis and hemp growers and dispensaries, as well as others in the industry, do to support the organization? Are these industry groups important to helping achieve HeroGrown’s mission? 

NM: HeroGrown is a family of all volunteers, so our partners are extremely important to our life-saving mission. We are able to operate and continue this fight because of the products and sponsorship support that we receive from the industry. We are very grateful that the cannabis industry is full of incredible people that support our mission. 

NS: More specifically, what types of support is most helpful? Are you looking for product donations or financial or logistical support from volunteers, or dispensaries to accept donations on behalf of HeroGrown?

NM: We are all volunteer-based here. So, basically anything and everything. And my real vision, too, is to build an organization and a resource for all veterans that are going to feel like they’re at home and they’re going to be able to connect with each other and help each other as well.

And so, anything and everything you mentioned would obviously help that cause and that mission. We’re open to working with anybody in the industry who wants to help our veterans, anybody with a dispensary donating products, logistical support—everything. We’re also always open for great minds to help us.

And that’s really what it’s all about: bringing together a good core group of individuals and companies to really make a difference in what we’re trying to accomplish.

… Everything that comes into us, we put it right back out and give it to our veterans. So, the more we bring in, the more we can help is basically our philosophy.

 

Defining Hemp: Classifications, Policies & Markets, Part 2

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In Part 1 of this series we answered the question: What is “hemp”; and addressed some of the consequences of defining “hemp” as a thing. In Part 2, I will explore this topic in more detail and provide some commonsense definitions for several traditional hemp products based on a classification approach rather than separating “cannabis” from “hemp”.

Classifications, Specifications, and Test Methods – Establishing Market Protections for Hemp Products Through Standardization

Does making a distinction between “hemp” and “cannabis” make it easier to protect the interests of the seed and fiber markets?

On the face of it, this question seems obvious. Yes, it does.

Up to this point in history, the bifurcation of the cannabis plant into resin types and non-resin types has served to provide protections for the seed and fiber markets by making it easier for producers to operate, since the resins (the scary cannabinoids, namely d9-THC) were not involved. Today, however, the line in the sand, has been washed away, and “hemp” no longer only refers to non-resin producing varieties of the cannabis plant.

The structure of cannabidiol (CBD), one of 400 active compounds found in cannabis.

As more and more hemp marketplaces come online with varying limits for d9-THC the need for standardization becomes even more pressing. Without standardization, each marketplace will have its own requirements, forcing businesses looking to sell their products in multiple jurisdictions to comply with each region’s mandates and adds a significant level of burden to their operations.

Providing an internationally harmonized definition for hemp is an important first step but allowing the d9-THC limit to vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction has some unintended (or intended) consequences (#NewReeferMadness). These discrepancies between legal marketplaces will inevitably lead to the establishment of global trade regions; where, if your product cannot meet the definition of “hemp” in that region, then you could effectively be barred from participating in it.

A process which has already started. Harmonizing around 0.3% is great for the US, Canada, and European Union, but what about other stakeholders outside of these markets?

And, at what point does the conflict of hemp from one region with a d9-THC content of 0.3% and hemp from another region with a d9-THC content of 1% being sold into the same market become a problem?

Perhaps a better long-term solution for protecting the market interests of “hemp product” stakeholders would be to establish specifications, such as identity metrics, total cannabinoid content, especially d9-THC, and other quality attributes which have to be verified using test methods for a product to be classified as “hemp”. This system of standards (classifications, specifications, and test methods) would allow for more innovation and make it significantly easier for cannabis raw materials that meet these specifications to find a use rather than being sent to the landfill. Bolstering advancements and opening the door for more market acceptance of the cannabis plant, its parts, and products.

An Alternative Approach to Defining Hemp

Below are some proposed definitions related to common terminology used in the hemp marketplace based on the concept that there are no hemp plants, there are only cannabis plants that can be classified as hemp, and hemp products are simply cannabis products that meet certain specifications to allow them to be classified and represented as hemp.

  • Hemp, n—commercial name given to a cannabis plant, its parts, and products derived therefrom with a total d9-THC content no more than the maximum allowable limit for the item in question. (Maybe not the best definition, but it makes it clear that not only does the limit for d9-THC vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction it varies from product type to product type as well.)
  • Hemp flower, n—commercial name for the inflorescence of a cannabis plant that can be classified as hemp.
  • Hemp seed, n—commercial name for the seeds of a cannabis plant which are intended to be used to grow another cannabis plant that can be classified as hemp.
  • Hempseed, n—commercial name for the seeds of a cannabis plant which are intended to be used as food or as an ingredient in food.
  • Hemp seed oil, n—commercial name for the oils expressed from the seeds of a cannabis plant.
  • Hemp seed cake, n—commercial name for the solid material byproduct generated during the expression of the oil from the seeds of a cannabis plant.
  • Hemp flour/meal/dietary-fiber, n—commercial name for the powdered seed cake of a cannabis plant intended to be used as a food or as an ingredient in food with a protein content no more than 35% by weight.
  • Hemp protein powder, n—commercial name for the powdered seed cake of a cannabis plant intended to be used as a food or as an ingredient in food with a protein content between 35% and 80% by weight.
  • Hemp protein isolate, n—commercial name for the powdered seed cake of a cannabis plant intended to be used as a food or as an ingredient in food with a protein content above 80% by weight.
  • Hemp fiber, n—commercial name for the cellulosic-based natural fibers of a cannabis plant.
  • Hemp shives, n—commercial name for the hurd of a cannabis plant which have been processed to defined specifications.
  • Hempcrete, n—commercial name for a solid amalgamation of various aggregates and binders, typically comprised of the hurd (shives) of a cannabis plant and lime.

The d9-THC limits for each product were purposefully omitted because these specifications still need to be defined for each product type. Leaving the d9-THC limit up to each authority having jurisdiction, however, is not the answer. It is fine if you comply with a lower d9-THC limit and want to sell into a market with a higher d9-THC limit, but what do you do if you are above the limit for the market you want to sell into? For now, you lose out on potential revenue.

Hemp-derived CBD extract

I am not advocating that everyone starts selling “hemp” as “cannabis,” or vice versa, far from it. I am advocating for a more commonsense and inclusive approach to the marketplace though. One that would allow for the commercialization of materials that would normally be going to waste.

To me it is simply logical. There are no hemp plants, there are only cannabis plants that can be classified as hemp. There are no hemp products, there are only cannabis products that can be classified as hemp. In order for a cannabis product to be marketed, labeled, and sold as a hemp product, i.e. to be classified as a hemp, it would need to meet a set of specifications and be verified using a set of test methods first. But fundamentally the product would be a cannabis product being certified as “hemp”. And that is the shift in thinking that I am trying to get across.

Exclusionary Actions – Disenfranchising Stakeholders

The cannabis plant is an amazing plant and to fully capitalize on the potential of this crop we have to start allowing for the commercialization of cannabis raw materials that are not controlled by the UN Single Conventions, i.e. the seeds, stalks, roots, and leaves when not accompanied by the fruiting tops or the resin glands. Not to do so disenfranchises a significant number of stakeholders from participating in established legal avenues of trade for these goods. A concept proposed and endorsed the ASTM D37 in the published standard D8245-19: Guide for Disposal of Resin-Containing Cannabis Raw Materials and Downstream Products.

If you are stakeholder in the hemp marketplace, you may feel threatened by the idea of the market getting flooded with material, but how are the demands of the so called “green economy” going to be met without access to more supply? Organic hemp seed for food production is scarce but there is plenty of conventional hemp seed for the current demand, but what happens when hempmilk is positioned to displace soymilk in every major grocery store? To feed the growth of the human population and allow for a transition to a truly “green economy,” we need to ensure that the policies that we are putting in place are not excluding those looking to participate in the industry and disenfranchising stakeholders from burgeoning marketplaces, nor alienating a segment of the marketplace simply because their plant cannot be classified as “hemp”.

Until next time…

Live long and process.

Columbia Care Launches 'Cannabist' Retail Brand

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Columbia Care launched Cannabist, its new dispensary retail brand.

Photo: Columbia Care | col-care.com
The first rebranded Cannabist retail location saw its first sale on April 30 in Springville, Utah. 
 

According to Columbia Care, the Cannabist brand will provide patients and customers with a simple and approachable cannabis shopping experience while accommodating a range of experience levels. Cannabist will feature a number of premium brands, the company says, and will collaborate with brands run by social equity businesses and other industry leaders.

The first Cannabist location in Springville, Utah, saw its first sale on April 30, and three more Columbia Care locations—in San Diego; Tempe, Arizona; and Villa Park, Illinois—will rebrand as Cannabist by the end of May. An additional pipeline of more than 60 new and existing locations will follow over the next two years, according to Columbia Care.

“Cannabist is not only a reflection of where we are now and all of the markets we serve, but it is also a commitment to where we are going,” says Jesse Channon, Chief Growth Officer at Columbia Care. “We believe Cannabist will become a hub for all those who incorporate cannabis into their lives—regardless of what brought them to us. The Cannabist brand can grow with an ever-changing industry, continue to meet the needs of our patients and customers and serve as the platform for continuous innovation.”

According to Columbia Care, Cannabist stores are designed to encourage employee and customer interaction through both product recommendations and general education. Cannabist staff will undergo training to ensure a positive customer experience, the company says.

In addition, Cannabist locations will continue utilizing digital shopping platforms, including its own web-based application that is scheduled to launch in June, according to the company.

“By investing in this transition now, we will provide a new experience for our existing community and look forward to welcoming new customers who will come to see cannabis in a whole new light,” Channon adds. “The days of a transactional dispensary are nearing an end. As we see cannabis use continue to normalize, we will see the emergence of a more sophisticated, yet approachable dispensary model—starting with Cannabist.”

 

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From chromatography to cannabis extraction: a relaxed chat with John MacKay

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“I am the raffinate!” These four cosmic words have stayed with me since John MacKay, Ph.D., said them. The scene was Concentration 2019 and the topic was cannabis extraction.

I introduced John as our keynote speaker and created a “John Mosaic” from the images I found, one of which showed the famous models. John had brought his soap, shampoo, and conditioner from his hotel room and he had them in a pile next to his molecular models.

The bath products were confusing. I had no idea where we were going, but after hearing John several times before, I really wanted to go.

Here John started talking about showering. He compared the process to cannabis extraction. The purpose of the shower is to remove dirt and debris to cleanse your body and leave it behind as raffinate.

True teachers can be hard to find. These are people who enjoy the chance to share their knowledge with other eager minds who are hungry for education. In addition, the best often spruce up their dialogue with a variety of analogies and unforgettable soundbites. John took a few things from his room to teach the audience in terms that everyone could understand. He added humor to the scary and made for a memorable and educational experience.

I recently spoke to John about his career, which put him in the heart of Cannabis sativa.

JSL: You’ve spent your career with natural products, haven’t you? How did you get into the cannabis industry? What was also different for you about working with an emerging industry that doesn’t have as many early structures as there are in other industries?

JM: I have spent my life developing tools for companies that relied on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of mixtures that could be separated using chromatography. In the 1980s, I focused on the initial development of photodiode array technology. In the 1990s this included interfacial chromatography with mass spectrometry. In the 2000s this included smaller packed chromatography columns and then the need for acquisition rates to keep up with the separation. Over the past decade, it has been scaling up the extraction and separation tools for the cannabis industry. In the early days of cannabis legalization, I helped bring the university-trained scientists together with the chemists trained by generations of practical knowledge. I believe both had the key to improving the processes in terms of the end product.

JSL: What are the three most important things you learned about cannabis that you didn’t know before entering the industry?

JM: Three out of hundreds of things I learned before I got into the industry? Take the number of days from late 2012 to 2021, multiply by at least three, and you will get a more precise value to choose from.

  • My perception of the industry was based on prejudices about who was using the facility for what reason.
  • My perception of the plant had a tendency based on “it’s just another natural product”.
  • My perception of the work that had to be done to solve the challenges ahead was based on the first two. Politics, social affairs, science and economy.

JSL: What do you think is the most advanced cannabis extraction technology on the market right now? Are there techniques that you’ve seen in other industries that may work for cannabis but haven’t caught on yet?

JM: How long is a piece of string? Current technologies are based on what was done in dark laboratories in basements or garages. We have to be careful that technology is not limited to what it is today. When I pass fuel processing plants, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical facilities for medicine, universities with extensive research on natural products, and community colleges with facilities for training the next generation of keen minds in the science and chemical engineering of experimental processes, I see how bring it down Bring productivity and quality to market through design and new product formulations.

JSL: What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding in the world of cannabis extraction?

JM: The plant grows, magic happens and cannabis is on the shelf. Somewhere in the wondrous middle, magic happens. When people are faced with a phenomenon they do not understand, the mind invents things to bridge the unknown.

Concentration is the concept. Concentration has two main processes: extraction (using a different solvent, interacting with solutes – e.g. ethanol, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide) and separation (using a mechanical separation that does not take into account the differences in solubility – e.g. hashish) .

JSL: In my crystal ball, I see you looking into your crystal ball and looking into the future of cannabis extraction and product purification techniques, do’s and don’ts, fads and mainstays. Can you describe the scene you see? Where is this industry going in 5 or 10 years?

JM: The turning point will come in the United States of America when research is allowed to be carried out in universities. This will open the doors for the creative minds of our enthusiastic youth. And then the experienced faculty will join the practitioners to make all phases of process control available to the market.

If this phase is not done correctly, there will be more political attitudes towards lobbyists, more media drama and more confusion due to the marketing of the products and formulations.

If done correctly, the United States will have over-the-counter formulations for personalized drugs made from compounds that are currently more illegal. Stores will have shelves of health and wellness products for the educated consumer to choose from. There will be an understanding of the effects and precautions of interactions with other compounds.

JSL: How do you suggest that those new to the industry search the marketing literature to lay a solid foundation for scientific fact?

JM: Marketing should be like natural products. This is not easy with the full spectrum products because there are so many compounds that could or should be in them. It is difficult to look at products with a full spectrum. More products are rated by consumers as more and more people use them and add their opinions.

JSL: Looking back on your career and all of your experiences, what do you think the cannabis industry offers that you may not have been able to achieve before?

JM: I’m going to give you three analog viewpoints (analogy and logic blending):

  • Lewis and Clark Opportunity: President Lincoln funded the Program to Find the Easy Path to the Pacific. It was a time of a whole new world. They relied on the local experts to guide them. The expedition, combined with their “state-of-the-art” documentation of what they saw, opened the west to the industrial east coast and changed the world.
  • It reminds me of the second verse of Chris Stapleton’s song “Starting Over”.

This may not be an easy time
There are rivers to cross and hills to climb

Some days we might fall apart
And some nights could feel cold and dark

But nobody gains fear of losing
And the tough roads are the ones worth choosing

One day we’ll look back and smile
And do you know it was worth every mile

  • We bring pharmacognosy, ethnobotany and personalized medicine to the next generation with challenges in chemistry and chemical engineering.

MerchantE to Extend Digital Commerce Services to CBD Businesses

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Trulieve Cannabis Corp., the largest fully licensed medical cannabis company in Florida, announced May 10 its definitive arrangement agreement for the acquisition of Arizona-based Harvest Health and Recreation Inc., in a $2.1-billion deal.

Primarily a vertically integrated “seed-to-sale” company, Trulieve touted the all-stock transaction as one that creates the most profitable multistate operator in the U.S. Harvest Health and Recreation, a multistate operator in its own right, has a retail and wholesale footprint that recorded continued growth over the past decade.

The handshake was not surprising as far as merger-and-acquisition activity in the cannabis space, which has been hot and heavy since the November 2020 election, but the whopping price tag attached to the deal was a head-turner, said Jonathan Havens, a partner at Saul, Ewing, Arnstein and Lehr’s Philadelphia-based law firm. He counsels clients on transactional matters in the cannabis industry.

“This is a big deal. The price tag is obviously quite notable,” Havens said. “But look, the M&A, the deal activity in the cannabis space, has been hot for a while and I think will continue to be hot. The price tag here is big. Trulieve is a very strong operator with a strong balance sheet, which gives them the opportunity to go out and make acquisitions like this.”

RELATED: M&A Uptick Expected to Continue in 2021

The Trulieve-Harvest deal shows that the cannabis industry is maturing and pursuing more targeted, strategic acquisitions rather than the land grab of early 2019, said Sander C. Zagzebski, a member at Clark Hill, a multidisciplinary, international law firm. Based in California, Zagzebski represents clients in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and other change-of-control transactions.

“This is the latest, and largest, in a series of significant recent deals, starting with Curaleaf’s acquisition of Grassroots and followed by Verano’s deal with AltMed, Ayr’s acquisition of Liberty Health, Columbia Care’s deal with Green Leaf, and BRND’s deal with Glass House,” Zagzebski said. “These deals, along with Cresco’s $1-billion shelf registration and GTI’s recent debt announcement, show a renewed bullishness on the part of leading cannabis companies to go for the win after playing defense since late 2019.”

Recent M&A enthusiasm is not only buoyed by the November 2020 elections, but also by the excitement around New York’s legalization, the recently announced legislation in Texas and other states, and the hope that the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act may finally be signed into law, Zagzebski said.

As operators like Harvest get stronger and amass more licenses under their belts for a bigger footprint, they’re going to become attractive to potential acquirers, Havens said.

“And that’s what you saw here,” he said. “Harvest is obviously a big operation, as is Trulieve. Combined, it’s going to be quite a big player in the space.”

Minutes before Trulieve announced the acquisition, Harvest reported its first-quarter 2021 financial results, highlighting $88.8 million in revenue—up 101% from $44.2 million in the first quarter of 2020. The first-quarter revenue results also represent a 27% increase compared to $69.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

As of March 31, Harvest owned, operated or managed 37 retail locations in six states. Meanwhile, Trulieve is a licensed operator in Florida, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Upon completion of the Trulieve-Harvest transaction, as well as the closing of other previously announced acquisitions by Harvest and Trulieve, the combined business will have operations in 11 states, comprising 22 cultivation and processing facilities with a total capacity of 3.1 million square feet, and 126 dispensaries serving both the medical and adult-use cannabis markets, according to Trulieve.

“What’s interesting about the cannabis space is, because of the regulatory requirements, you’re going to continue to see mergers and acquisitions between companies that are in different footprints,” Havens said. “You’re obviously not going to acquire someone that’s in the same footprint you are because there’s limited licenses and you can’t have too many licenses in most jurisdictions. So, you’re going to find a dance partner, a merger partner, who fills the gaps you have in your business, in regions or whole sections of the country where you don’t have licenses.”

The acquisition will not only expand Trulieve’s presence in the Northeast and Southeast but also establish a Southwest hub. On Jan. 22, Harvest recorded the first adult-use cannabis sale in the state of Arizona at its Scottsdale location—Arizona was one of four states where voters passed adult-use cannabis measures in November—and began serving adult-use customers, in addition to medical patients, at all 15 of its Arizona dispensaries that same day.

“Harvest provides us with an immediate and significant presence in new and established markets and accelerates our entry into the adult-use space in Arizona,” Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said. “Trulieve and Harvest are leaders in our markets, recognized for our innovation, brands and operational expertise with true depth and scale in our businesses. We look forward to providing best-in-class service to patients and customers on a broader national scale as we create an iconic U.S. cannabis brand.”

Based in Florida, Trulieve cultivates and produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulieve-branded dispensaries throughout the state, as well as directly to patients via home delivery, according to the company.

Under the terms of the acquisition arrangement agreement, shareholders of Harvest will receive 0.117 of a subordinate voting share of Trulieve for each Harvest subordinate voting share (or equivalent) held, representing total consideration of approximately $2.1 billion based on the closing price of the Trulieve shares on May 7.

“We are thrilled to be joining Trulieve, a company that has achieved unrivaled success and scale in its home state of Florida,” Harvest CEO Steve White said in a statement. “As one of the oldest multistate operators, we believe our track record of identifying and developing attractive market opportunities combined with our recent successful launch of adult-use sales in Arizona will add tremendous value to the combined organization as it continues to expand and grow in the coming years.”

With cannabis stocks up significantly from their March 2020 lows, it is safe to expect continued consolidation for the next several quarters, Zagzebski said.