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Alabama Lawmaker Plans to Reintroduce Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill

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CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PRESS RELEASE–Cresco Labs, one of the largest vertically integrated, multistate cannabis operators in the United States, has published the first annual report for its SEED (Social Equity and Educational Development) initiative. The report highlights the company’s many achievements over the past year to help create a more diverse and inclusive cannabis industry through SEED’s restorative justice initiatives, community business incubators, and educational and workforce development programming. The 2019-2020 SEED Annual Report is available online at crescolabs.com/seed.

“We are proud to have launched the cannabis industry’s first comprehensive social justice and social equity initiative and to report the significant strides the SEED program has made towards the more equitable inclusion of Black and Brown people in cannabis,” said Charlie Bachtell, CEO and co-founder of Cresco Labs. “As we reflect on SEED’s first year successes, we recognize that this is just the beginning of a long road ahead and a tremendous amount of work is still to be done. Our goal is to provide the time, know-how and resources to elevate more voices and foster economic opportunities for people from communities disproportionately impacted by prior drug laws. The ability of this industry to reach its maximum potential will be governed by its ability to address the social responsibility components tied to this subject matter. Our SEED team is made up of incredibly talented, hard-working individuals who are building a culture where all Cresco Labs employees are inspired to improve inclusiveness within the cannabis industry. Our SEED initiative supports our vision to be the most important company in cannabis and is helping to build the most responsible and respectable industry possible. Together, we are firmly committed to continuing the progress we’ve achieved this inaugural year into the future.”

The SEED Annual Report outlines the mission of SEED, describes its goals and initiatives, and details the efforts dedicated to the program’s success. Highlights of the 2019/2020 program include:

  • Invested over $1.5M and contributed over 2,200 Cresco Labs staff hours for more than 40 multi-tiered SEED initiatives
  • Sponsored and financially supported 22 restorative-focused events and more than 1,200 individuals seeking expungement of their records
  • Conducted SEED’s inaugural Community Business Incubator that assisted 50 businesses and over 250 individuals in total over two application periods in Illinois
  • Established 8 community and workforce development initiatives and assisted in the development of cannabis industry curriculum with 5 universities and colleges

Cresco Labs’ SEED team was the recipient of the 2020 Bill Leslie Visionary Award from Cabrini Green Legal Aid, a nonprofit established in 1973 to serve legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within the Cabrini Green community in Chicago, Illinois. This recognition reinforces the SEED initiative’s effort to build community relationships and do its part to be restorative and inclusive.

In May 2019, Cresco Labs created SEED to address the absence of people, businesses and communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs in the cannabis industry. Its mission is to develop tangible pathways into the cannabis industry for communities impacted by the War on Drugs through the three pillars of SEED: Restorative Justice, Community Business Incubator, and Education & Workforce Development. SEED’s restorative justice programming includes expungement events, lobbying to change the nation’s drug laws, and working to ensure that no person remains in prison for a cannabis conviction. Established in November 2019, Cresco’s Community Business Incubator provides qualifying social equity applicants with the resources, knowledge and guidance needed to successfully apply for adult use dispensary licenses awarded by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. SEED develops educational cannabis programming tailored to communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, as well as builds collaborative relationships with colleges and universities to develop curriculum, teach classes and host workshops to educate and prepare students for careers in cannabis.

Illinois Governor Expunges Nearly Half a Million Cannabis Records

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Missouri Rep. Shamed Dogan has filed legislation that would place an adult-use cannabis legalization measure on the state’s 2022 ballot, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The measure, House Joint Resolution 30, is a constitutional amendment. It would leave Missouri’s medical cannabis program intact, but would repeal the text of the 2018 constitutional amendment that legalized medical cannabis, which would ultimately scrap the state’s controversial licensing process and limited license structure, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Instead, Dogan’s proposal would set up a cannabis licensing process that is similar to licensing any other business in the state, according to the news outlet.

The measure also directs the state to release anyone incarcerated for “non-violent, marijuana only offenses that are no longer illegal in the state of Missouri,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, as well as to stop monitoring those on probation or parole for those offenses.

In addition, the proposal would require Missouri courts to expunge civil and criminal records related to “all non-violent, marijuana-only offenses that are no longer illegal” within 60 days of the ballot measure’s passage, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The measure would levy a 12% tax on adult-use cannabis and a 4% tax on medical cannabis, the news outlet reported, and the revenue generated would be directed to the Smarter and Safer Missouri Fund, which would support the Missouri Veterans Commission, infrastructure projects and drug treatment programs.

Meanwhile, Missourians for a New Approach has announced plans for a 2022 ballot initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis after an unsuccessful signature campaign to get the issue before voters in 2020.

Florida Bill Would Reduce Doctor Visits for Medical Cannabis Patients

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CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PRESS RELEASE–Cresco Labs, one of the largest vertically integrated, multistate cannabis operators in the United States, has published the first annual report for its SEED (Social Equity and Educational Development) initiative. The report highlights the company’s many achievements over the past year to help create a more diverse and inclusive cannabis industry through SEED’s restorative justice initiatives, community business incubators, and educational and workforce development programming. The 2019-2020 SEED Annual Report is available online at crescolabs.com/seed.

“We are proud to have launched the cannabis industry’s first comprehensive social justice and social equity initiative and to report the significant strides the SEED program has made towards the more equitable inclusion of Black and Brown people in cannabis,” said Charlie Bachtell, CEO and co-founder of Cresco Labs. “As we reflect on SEED’s first year successes, we recognize that this is just the beginning of a long road ahead and a tremendous amount of work is still to be done. Our goal is to provide the time, know-how and resources to elevate more voices and foster economic opportunities for people from communities disproportionately impacted by prior drug laws. The ability of this industry to reach its maximum potential will be governed by its ability to address the social responsibility components tied to this subject matter. Our SEED team is made up of incredibly talented, hard-working individuals who are building a culture where all Cresco Labs employees are inspired to improve inclusiveness within the cannabis industry. Our SEED initiative supports our vision to be the most important company in cannabis and is helping to build the most responsible and respectable industry possible. Together, we are firmly committed to continuing the progress we’ve achieved this inaugural year into the future.”

The SEED Annual Report outlines the mission of SEED, describes its goals and initiatives, and details the efforts dedicated to the program’s success. Highlights of the 2019/2020 program include:

  • Invested over $1.5M and contributed over 2,200 Cresco Labs staff hours for more than 40 multi-tiered SEED initiatives
  • Sponsored and financially supported 22 restorative-focused events and more than 1,200 individuals seeking expungement of their records
  • Conducted SEED’s inaugural Community Business Incubator that assisted 50 businesses and over 250 individuals in total over two application periods in Illinois
  • Established 8 community and workforce development initiatives and assisted in the development of cannabis industry curriculum with 5 universities and colleges

Cresco Labs’ SEED team was the recipient of the 2020 Bill Leslie Visionary Award from Cabrini Green Legal Aid, a nonprofit established in 1973 to serve legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within the Cabrini Green community in Chicago, Illinois. This recognition reinforces the SEED initiative’s effort to build community relationships and do its part to be restorative and inclusive.

In May 2019, Cresco Labs created SEED to address the absence of people, businesses and communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs in the cannabis industry. Its mission is to develop tangible pathways into the cannabis industry for communities impacted by the War on Drugs through the three pillars of SEED: Restorative Justice, Community Business Incubator, and Education & Workforce Development. SEED’s restorative justice programming includes expungement events, lobbying to change the nation’s drug laws, and working to ensure that no person remains in prison for a cannabis conviction. Established in November 2019, Cresco’s Community Business Incubator provides qualifying social equity applicants with the resources, knowledge and guidance needed to successfully apply for adult use dispensary licenses awarded by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. SEED develops educational cannabis programming tailored to communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, as well as builds collaborative relationships with colleges and universities to develop curriculum, teach classes and host workshops to educate and prepare students for careers in cannabis.

WeedMD Announces CEO Leadership Transition and New Board Appointment

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TORONTO, Jan. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PRESS RELEASE — WeedMD Inc., a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical-grade cannabis, has announced that its board of directors has appointed executive chairman, George Scorsis, as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This appointment follows Angelo Tsebelis’s decision to step down from his CEO and director roles, with mutual agreement from the Board, following the successful year-long integration of WeedMD and Starseed Holdings Inc. Tsebelis has agreed to take an advisory role to help the company through this period of transition.

The company is now leading a comprehensive search process to select a permanent CEO. Concurrently, WeedMD announced today that Jason Alexander, the company’s Chief Legal Officer, has been appointed as a director and has joined the Board pursuant to the terms of the company’s nomination rights and voting agreement dated Dec. 20, 2019.

RELATED: WeedMD’s Bold Pivot in Canada’s Evolving Market

“On behalf of the Board, we thank Angelo for his leadership, focus and guidance during a complex period as we combined two companies and navigated a dynamic landscape that resulted from the worldwide pandemic last year,” said Scorsis. “Angelo was integral in merging our businesses, optimizing our operations, commercializing our sales and distribution initiatives and bringing a renewed focus on brand awareness. During his tenure, WeedMD achieved a two-fold sales increase in the first nine months of 2020, compared to the full year 2019. We appreciate his contributions to our growth, his counsel during our transition and we wish him well on his future endeavours.”

Scorsis added, “I am also pleased to welcome Jason Alexander as the newest director to our Board. Jason was instrumental in working alongside Angelo and the leadership team to fully-integrate the company into a position of strength over the past year. Moving forward, WeedMD is now anchored in the best cultivation, commercial and product frameworks in Canada as we work to accelerate our profitability goals. Together we are kicking off 2021 with a focused approach on increasing market share and commercial growth of our Color Cannabis and Saturday brands, while expanding our medical footprint through our Starseed portfolio. This includes an aggressive plan to transition WeedMD into a consumer-facing model of excellence. Ultimately becoming hyper-focused on driving meaningful results, while optimizing the organization for future success to deliver shareholder value.”

Alexander, as Chief Legal Officer, has been part of the organization since 2018 and was instrumental in the acquisition by WeedMD and Starseed. He oversees all areas of corporate performance including compliance, quality assurance, risk, legal and corporate affairs and served as Corporate Secretary of the company over the past two years. With over 15 years of senior corporate experience navigating complex transactions and commercial matters, Alexander was previously Chief Legal Officer of Starseed, legal counsel for Shoppers Drug Mart and a corporate lawyer at Miller Thomson LLP.

Scorsis, with nearly 20 years of commercial experience in the consumer packaged goods (CPG), beverage and the cannabis industries, has been a vital member of the Board since 2019 and is widely recognized for building high-performing teams. As former CEO and director of Liberty Health Sciences, Scorsis led that company’s expansion into the U.S.-medical cannabis market. He also served as the president of one of Canada’s first public cannabis companies, Mettrum Health Corp., where he was instrumental in a successful exit valued at approximately $430 million. Prior to joining the cannabis industry, Scorsis was General Manager of Red Bull Canada where he helped restructure that company geographically, increasing business revenues by $150 million annually.

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Case Report: Striking Lung Cancer Response to Cannabidiol

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Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the US. Fortunately, new potential weapons against this cancer are still being discovered. And one of them may include cannabidiol (CBD).

Although this cannabinoid has not yet been studied extensively to completely understand its potential cancer-fighting capabilities, there is evidence that cannabinoids may be a formidable treatment for certain types of cancer.

CBD has been shown to induce controlled cell death, or apoptosis, in cancer in a dose-dependent manner.[1] CBD can also be quite detrimental to a specific pathway that plays an important role in the growth of cancer cells.[2] And there are several additional studies that have found similar results in lung cancer. However, these studies have been conducted in pre-clinical models, not humans.

A case review published in the journal SAGE Open Medical Case Reports described details an 81-year-old ex-smoker with a history of prostate cancer (in remission), chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and diet-controlled diabetes.[3] In October 2016, he was found to have a 2.5×2.5 cm mass in his lower left lung and many lymph nodes. The mass had grown to a 2.7×2.8 cm by that December.

However, almost a year later, the patient’s CT scan showed that the mass had almost completely resolved itself and that only a small spot of soft tissue remained, measuring 1.3×0.6 cm.

The patient relayed to doctors that he had started taking CBD oil from the beginning of September 2017. The product contained 2% CBD (200mg in 10 mL of a carrier oil). His dosage was two drops (0.06 mL; 1.32 mg CBD) two times per day for one week, and then he increased the dosage to nine drops (0.3 mL; 6 mg CBD) twice each day through September.

Although this represents a single case study, these data are promising and indicative that CBD could be an effective weapon against lung cancer in humans.

But, before it can be widely used by the health care industry, much more work is necessary to truly determine the precise nature and effects of CBD on lung malignancies as well as other forms of cancer.

Talk to your oncologist if you are interested in using CBD or medical cannabis as part of your cancer treatment plan.

Image Credit: Anna Shvets

Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-people-woman-internet-4225877/

References

  1. Choi WH, et al. Cannabidiol induces cytotoxicity and cell death via apoptotic pathway in cancer cell lines. Biomolecules and Therapeutics. 2008;16(2):87-94.
  2. Elbaz, M, et al. Modulation of the tumor microenvironment and inhibition of EGF/EGFR pathway: Novel anti-tumor mechanisms of cannabidiol in breast cancer. Molecular Oncology.2015;9(4):906-919.
  3. Sulé-Suso J, et al. Striking lung cancer response to self-administration of cannabidiol: A case report and literature review. SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2019.

Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Bill Delayed in New Jersey

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TORONTO, Jan. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PRESS RELEASE — WeedMD Inc., a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical-grade cannabis, has announced that its board of directors has appointed executive chairman, George Scorsis, as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This appointment follows Angelo Tsebelis’s decision to step down from his CEO and director roles, with mutual agreement from the Board, following the successful year-long integration of WeedMD and Starseed Holdings Inc. Tsebelis has agreed to take an advisory role to help the company through this period of transition.

The company is now leading a comprehensive search process to select a permanent CEO. Concurrently, WeedMD announced today that Jason Alexander, the company’s Chief Legal Officer, has been appointed as a director and has joined the Board pursuant to the terms of the company’s nomination rights and voting agreement dated Dec. 20, 2019.

RELATED: WeedMD’s Bold Pivot in Canada’s Evolving Market

“On behalf of the Board, we thank Angelo for his leadership, focus and guidance during a complex period as we combined two companies and navigated a dynamic landscape that resulted from the worldwide pandemic last year,” said Scorsis. “Angelo was integral in merging our businesses, optimizing our operations, commercializing our sales and distribution initiatives and bringing a renewed focus on brand awareness. During his tenure, WeedMD achieved a two-fold sales increase in the first nine months of 2020, compared to the full year 2019. We appreciate his contributions to our growth, his counsel during our transition and we wish him well on his future endeavours.”

Scorsis added, “I am also pleased to welcome Jason Alexander as the newest director to our Board. Jason was instrumental in working alongside Angelo and the leadership team to fully-integrate the company into a position of strength over the past year. Moving forward, WeedMD is now anchored in the best cultivation, commercial and product frameworks in Canada as we work to accelerate our profitability goals. Together we are kicking off 2021 with a focused approach on increasing market share and commercial growth of our Color Cannabis and Saturday brands, while expanding our medical footprint through our Starseed portfolio. This includes an aggressive plan to transition WeedMD into a consumer-facing model of excellence. Ultimately becoming hyper-focused on driving meaningful results, while optimizing the organization for future success to deliver shareholder value.”

Alexander, as Chief Legal Officer, has been part of the organization since 2018 and was instrumental in the acquisition by WeedMD and Starseed. He oversees all areas of corporate performance including compliance, quality assurance, risk, legal and corporate affairs and served as Corporate Secretary of the company over the past two years. With over 15 years of senior corporate experience navigating complex transactions and commercial matters, Alexander was previously Chief Legal Officer of Starseed, legal counsel for Shoppers Drug Mart and a corporate lawyer at Miller Thomson LLP.

Scorsis, with nearly 20 years of commercial experience in the consumer packaged goods (CPG), beverage and the cannabis industries, has been a vital member of the Board since 2019 and is widely recognized for building high-performing teams. As former CEO and director of Liberty Health Sciences, Scorsis led that company’s expansion into the U.S.-medical cannabis market. He also served as the president of one of Canada’s first public cannabis companies, Mettrum Health Corp., where he was instrumental in a successful exit valued at approximately $430 million. Prior to joining the cannabis industry, Scorsis was General Manager of Red Bull Canada where he helped restructure that company geographically, increasing business revenues by $150 million annually.

Does CBD Cause Liver Damage?

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A major concern about cannabidiol (CBD) involves liver safety. And a study on this topic carried out by researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has had rippling effects across the CBD community, leading many to wonder if CBD is as safe as they thought.

Here, we break down the science of these results:

In this study, 8-week-old male mice (considered to be the equivalent age of adult humans) were given different dosages of a concentrated CBD-enriched extract.[1] Acute toxicity (24h) as well as sub-acute toxicity (10 days) was investigated. CBD doses were chosen to provide estimated equivalency to human doses.

The highest dose (2,460 mg/kg) showed clear evidence of acute liver toxicity. Lower doses did not show similar results administered acutely; however, given over a 10-day duration, lower doses also showed signs of liver toxicity.

The researchers concluded that “despite the beneficial effects of CBD in the treatment of certain therapy-resistant seizures, it poses a risk for liver injury. Furthermore, the probability of CBD-drug interactions appears quite high.”[1]

The results of this mouse study has raised a lot of eyebrows so we have outlined its limitations here:

The dose in the study was unrealistic.

The first point of contention is the dose of CBD that was used in this study. The maximum dose equivalent is way above what is normally consumed by most CBD users. The authors even noted that the dose of “200 mg/kg CBD is not applicable to most real-life scenarios.”[1]

Many drugs taken in excessive amounts could cause liver damage.

Paracetamol, which is a common over-the-counter drug, is known to cause liver damage when taken in high doses acutely or over a prolonged duration of time.[2] And this is true for many, many products.

Epidiolex®, prescription CBD for epilepsy, can also cause abnormal liver values and there is indeed a warning on the medication label concerning elevated liver values. However, since this is prescribed for severe epilepsy (thus requiring a high dosage), a doctor must recommend the medication to a patient and monitor their liver values before and during treatment.

One study alone should not cause panic.

The results from this study should instead serve to inform the public that toxicity at high doses should be a concern as with other medications. Caution should also be exercised when taking CBD together with other medication, as it can cause interactions.

We always recommend speaking to your doctor before starting CBD or medical cannabis and always, always remember the tips on how to buy quality CBD.

Image Credit: Steve Buissinne

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/capsule-pill-health-medicine-1079838/

References

  1. Ewing LE et al. (2019): Hepatotoxicity of a cannabidiol-rich cannabis extract in the mouse model. 2019;24(9):1694.
  2. Tanne J. Paracetamol causes most liver failure in UK and US. BMJ. 2016;332(7542):628.

Rhode Island Receives 45 Applications for 6 New Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licenses

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TORONTO, Jan. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PRESS RELEASE — WeedMD Inc., a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical-grade cannabis, has announced that its board of directors has appointed executive chairman, George Scorsis, as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This appointment follows Angelo Tsebelis’s decision to step down from his CEO and director roles, with mutual agreement from the Board, following the successful year-long integration of WeedMD and Starseed Holdings Inc. Tsebelis has agreed to take an advisory role to help the company through this period of transition.

The company is now leading a comprehensive search process to select a permanent CEO. Concurrently, WeedMD announced today that Jason Alexander, the company’s Chief Legal Officer, has been appointed as a director and has joined the Board pursuant to the terms of the company’s nomination rights and voting agreement dated Dec. 20, 2019.

RELATED: WeedMD’s Bold Pivot in Canada’s Evolving Market

“On behalf of the Board, we thank Angelo for his leadership, focus and guidance during a complex period as we combined two companies and navigated a dynamic landscape that resulted from the worldwide pandemic last year,” said Scorsis. “Angelo was integral in merging our businesses, optimizing our operations, commercializing our sales and distribution initiatives and bringing a renewed focus on brand awareness. During his tenure, WeedMD achieved a two-fold sales increase in the first nine months of 2020, compared to the full year 2019. We appreciate his contributions to our growth, his counsel during our transition and we wish him well on his future endeavours.”

Scorsis added, “I am also pleased to welcome Jason Alexander as the newest director to our Board. Jason was instrumental in working alongside Angelo and the leadership team to fully-integrate the company into a position of strength over the past year. Moving forward, WeedMD is now anchored in the best cultivation, commercial and product frameworks in Canada as we work to accelerate our profitability goals. Together we are kicking off 2021 with a focused approach on increasing market share and commercial growth of our Color Cannabis and Saturday brands, while expanding our medical footprint through our Starseed portfolio. This includes an aggressive plan to transition WeedMD into a consumer-facing model of excellence. Ultimately becoming hyper-focused on driving meaningful results, while optimizing the organization for future success to deliver shareholder value.”

Alexander, as Chief Legal Officer, has been part of the organization since 2018 and was instrumental in the acquisition by WeedMD and Starseed. He oversees all areas of corporate performance including compliance, quality assurance, risk, legal and corporate affairs and served as Corporate Secretary of the company over the past two years. With over 15 years of senior corporate experience navigating complex transactions and commercial matters, Alexander was previously Chief Legal Officer of Starseed, legal counsel for Shoppers Drug Mart and a corporate lawyer at Miller Thomson LLP.

Scorsis, with nearly 20 years of commercial experience in the consumer packaged goods (CPG), beverage and the cannabis industries, has been a vital member of the Board since 2019 and is widely recognized for building high-performing teams. As former CEO and director of Liberty Health Sciences, Scorsis led that company’s expansion into the U.S.-medical cannabis market. He also served as the president of one of Canada’s first public cannabis companies, Mettrum Health Corp., where he was instrumental in a successful exit valued at approximately $430 million. Prior to joining the cannabis industry, Scorsis was General Manager of Red Bull Canada where he helped restructure that company geographically, increasing business revenues by $150 million annually.

Are Hemp Cigarettes Safe for Your Lungs?

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After the EVALI crisis, many became very critical of inhalable cannabis products. Even though the culprit of this illness was vape catridges with unsafe Vitamin E acetate, the panic may have brought some users toward other methods like hemp cigarettes. But, do they pose any harm?

Unfortunately, there’s only been so much research concerning this topic. Not to mention, most of this research concerns cannabis that’s high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) rather than cannabidiol (CBD).

We do know that smoking cannabis, like any other substances, has the potential to lead to respiratory issues. According to the Harm Reduction Journal, a number of participants self-reported having respiratory problems from smoking both cannabis and tobacco cigarettes.[1] However, it should be noted that the purpose of this study was to find out whether or not vaporizing cannabis helped reduce respiratory symptoms.

The reason many of these participants self-reported respiratory issues is simply because smoke is harmful to our lungs, regardless of whether it’s cannabis or tobacco. As stated by the American Lung Association, “toxins and carcinogens are released from the combustion of materials. Smoke from [cannabis] combustion has been shown to contain as many of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.”

Beyond smoking itself, another concern hemp smokers must face is what they’re really inhaling. The Journal of the American Medical Association tested a variety of CBD products purchased online. It discovered that 26% of these products contained less CBD than were labeled on the product.[2]

Since the hemp and CBD industry remain unregulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s been easy for shady companies to market ineffective products. Not to mention, it’s unclear whether these products have any other contaminants, such as heavy metals or pesticides, which would be dangerous to inhale into the lungs.

This is one of the aspects of the hemp plant that smokers need to understand. Hemp’s roots have the ability to absorb anything within the soil around it. If there’s happens to be contaminants in that soil, the hemp plant and buds it sprouts will become infected with this toxin.

Ultimately, you’re puffing at your own risk. So you must make sure you purchase hemp cigarettes from a reputable brand that goes the extra length to make sure its buds don’t contain any contaminants.

Image Credit: Mathew MacQuarrie

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/lzcKZlVPYaU

References

  1. Earleywine M & Barnwell SS. Decreased respiratory symptoms in cannabis users who vaporize. Harm Reduction Journal. 2007;4:11.
  2. Bonn-Miller et al. Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. JAMA. 2017.318(17):1708-1709.

Cresco Labs Publishes Inaugural Seed Annual Report

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CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PRESS RELEASE–Cresco Labs, one of the largest vertically integrated, multistate cannabis operators in the United States, has published the first annual report for its SEED (Social Equity and Educational Development) initiative. The report highlights the company’s many achievements over the past year to help create a more diverse and inclusive cannabis industry through SEED’s restorative justice initiatives, community business incubators, and educational and workforce development programming. The 2019-2020 SEED Annual Report is available online at crescolabs.com/seed.

“We are proud to have launched the cannabis industry’s first comprehensive social justice and social equity initiative and to report the significant strides the SEED program has made towards the more equitable inclusion of Black and Brown people in cannabis,” said Charlie Bachtell, CEO and co-founder of Cresco Labs. “As we reflect on SEED’s first year successes, we recognize that this is just the beginning of a long road ahead and a tremendous amount of work is still to be done. Our goal is to provide the time, know-how and resources to elevate more voices and foster economic opportunities for people from communities disproportionately impacted by prior drug laws. The ability of this industry to reach its maximum potential will be governed by its ability to address the social responsibility components tied to this subject matter. Our SEED team is made up of incredibly talented, hard-working individuals who are building a culture where all Cresco Labs employees are inspired to improve inclusiveness within the cannabis industry. Our SEED initiative supports our vision to be the most important company in cannabis and is helping to build the most responsible and respectable industry possible. Together, we are firmly committed to continuing the progress we’ve achieved this inaugural year into the future.”

The SEED Annual Report outlines the mission of SEED, describes its goals and initiatives, and details the efforts dedicated to the program’s success. Highlights of the 2019/2020 program include:

  • Invested over $1.5M and contributed over 2,200 Cresco Labs staff hours for more than 40 multi-tiered SEED initiatives
  • Sponsored and financially supported 22 restorative-focused events and more than 1,200 individuals seeking expungement of their records
  • Conducted SEED’s inaugural Community Business Incubator that assisted 50 businesses and over 250 individuals in total over two application periods in Illinois
  • Established 8 community and workforce development initiatives and assisted in the development of cannabis industry curriculum with 5 universities and colleges

Cresco Labs’ SEED team was the recipient of the 2020 Bill Leslie Visionary Award from Cabrini Green Legal Aid, a nonprofit established in 1973 to serve legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within the Cabrini Green community in Chicago, Illinois. This recognition reinforces the SEED initiative’s effort to build community relationships and do its part to be restorative and inclusive.

In May 2019, Cresco Labs created SEED to address the absence of people, businesses and communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs in the cannabis industry. Its mission is to develop tangible pathways into the cannabis industry for communities impacted by the War on Drugs through the three pillars of SEED: Restorative Justice, Community Business Incubator, and Education & Workforce Development. SEED’s restorative justice programming includes expungement events, lobbying to change the nation’s drug laws, and working to ensure that no person remains in prison for a cannabis conviction. Established in November 2019, Cresco’s Community Business Incubator provides qualifying social equity applicants with the resources, knowledge and guidance needed to successfully apply for adult use dispensary licenses awarded by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. SEED develops educational cannabis programming tailored to communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, as well as builds collaborative relationships with colleges and universities to develop curriculum, teach classes and host workshops to educate and prepare students for careers in cannabis.

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