CBD Health

When cannabidiol (CBD) was first legalized in Australia in 2015, all products containing the cannabinoid were only available to those with prescriptions. However, as of 2021, this requirement has changed.

Legislators initially acted with extreme caution regarding CBD and mandated that only prescription holders could obtain the cannabinoid. However, to provide broader access, regulators have now made it legal for the public to obtain low-dose CBD products without the approval of a doctor.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rescheduled CBD from Schedule 4 to Schedule 3 of Australia’s Poisons Standard. Schedule 4 substances are only available with a physician’s prescription, while pharmacists can sell Schedule 3 substances over the counter.

The news was welcomed in the industry. However, since CBD is still scheduled in Australia, producers must provide data to demonstrate the safety, efficacy, and quality of their products. And some in the industry see this as problematic.

CEO Oliver Horn of Elixinol, a CBD producer in the country, told Hemp Industry Daily “…the TGA’s approach is not reflective of the overall global trend…or the regulatory frameworks recently confirmed in Europe, [where] product suppliers have to demonstrate stringent safety standards but not efficacy.”

The mandate to provide efficacy could prevent many players from entering the market.

“The consequence is likely to be that the vast illegal supply of CBD products from online suppliers into Australia will continue to exist simply because its more convenient, easily accessible and likely to be cheaper,” he said.

For the time being, the TGA’s ruling stands. But, with industry pressure, the governmental organization may tweak its CBD rules to make them more in line with the rest of the globe in the coming year.

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There is a new “buzz” surrounding bees and cannabis (yes, pun intended). “Cannabees” has emerged as a term used to describe bees that are drawn to hemp and cannabis plants. Research has now shown that some bee species could benefit from their love of hemp.

The global bee population is on the verge of extinction due a rapid decline in pollen resources (floral pollen dearth). However, bees could soon be teaming up with humans to fight for federal legalization of cannabis.

A recent study published in Environmental Entomology revealed that hemp pollen could help support some bee species.[1]

The researchers collected information about bees that visited hemp farms in New York State. These data were analyzed to reveal each species of the bees. They found that 16 different species were attracted to hemp and benefited from hemp pollen; taller varieties of hemp attracted a more robust bee population.

The authors of the study concluded that hemp and cannabis cultivation could help support bee populations at times when there is a dearth in floral pollen because hemp flowers in periods that coincide with a scarcity of pollen from traditional sources (July to September). Given that bees help pollinate many plants, this could go a long way in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem.

In case you are wondering if the cannabees get intoxicated from this kind of pollen, worry not, as this is highly unlikely. Bees lack an endocannabinoid system, which forms the basis for the interaction between cannabinoids and the human body.

As for symbiosis, it doesn’t appear to be the case. Hemp and cannabis plants are wind-pollinated. To date, there are no species that have shown any signs of potential for insect pollination. Clearly a one-sided relationship but the bees certainly don’t seem to mind.

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Reference

1. Flicker NR, et al. The bee community of Cannabis sativa and corresponding effects of landscape composition. Environmental Entomology. 2020;49(1):197-202.

If you’ve talked to a fitness or wellness expert in the past few years, you’ve probably heard about cannabidiol, or CBD, the cannabis compound associated with many potential health benefits. But did you know that CBD’s benefits may extend to our food as well?

Researchers at the University of South Florida recently discovered that CBD may help fruit stay fresh for longer.[1] In their study, freshly harvested strawberries were slathered in CBD oil and examined after16 days of refrigerated storage. Compared to untreated strawberries, those treated with CBD oil were less affected by microbes like mold and yeast and retained a brighter color.

According to the team, “This research shows that CBD oil has the potential to be used by consumers at home as an effective antimicrobial treatment and to extend strawberry shelf life.”[1]

Therefore, CBD could represent a natural way to preserve fruit, and potentially other produce.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food additives in the US. Currently, CBD is not an approved additive or supplment but the department has promised to reconsider its stance.

“The FDA’s approach to cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds has been consistent. We treat substances derived from cannabis just like we do any other substances…That said, some other relevant laws have changed, and so has the market,” the agency said in 2019.

“We recognize that there is substantial public interest in marketing and accessing CBD in food, including dietary supplements.”

The Florida researchers believe that with more research consumers may be able to use CBD in their kitchens without waiting for the FDA. You might be able to purchase to CBD oil made specifically for preserving fruit in the future.

Image Credit: Martin LaBar

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References

1. Inselberg H & Cecilia do Nascimento Nunes M. Using cannabidiol as a potential postharvest treatment to maintain quality and extend the shelf life of strawberries. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 2021;173:111416.

The Battle Brothers Foundation has received approval to launch an observational study on the use of medical cannabis to help combat PTSD in veterans. In concert with NiaMedic, an Israeli-American medical data and research company, the study will determine if cannabis treatment will be beneficial in reducing symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant PTSD.

The two groups received approval to proceed with the study from the national Independent Review Board (IRB), which is the independent committee that reviews the methods proposed for research to ensure that they are ethical.

The study will enroll 60 California veterans with moderate or severe PTSD over the next year. Participants will dose and titrate individually purchased products by their own discretion. They will then be followed for 90 days to evaluate the safety and efficiency of cannabis on their symptoms. Results of the study will be documented and monitored at that time. Participants will be limited to using legally available cannabis products in California’s market and will also be monitored for any adverse effects due to the use of cannabis.

‘The study hypothesis is that cannabis treatment will be beneficial in reducing the PTSD symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant PTSD,’ says Bryan Buckley, founder and president for the Board of Battle Brothers Foundation.

“This news could not come at a better time. Every day, 22 veterans are dying due to effects of post traumatic stress from opioid addiction to depression. Through anecdotal experiences, we know that cannabis can alleviate symptoms and provide relief. We appreciate that the IRB recognizes the validity of and the need for this study,” says Buckley.

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According to the National Institutes of Health, the rate of PTSD among returning service members varies widely across wars and eras. In one major study of 60,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, 13.5% of deployed and non-deployed veterans screened positive for PTSD, while other studies show the rate to be as high as 20% to 30%. As many as 500,000 U.S. troops who served in these wars over the past 13 years have been diagnosed with PTSD.

The Battle Brothers Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Helmand Valley Growers Company, a cannabis company founded by disabled United States Special Operations veterans that donates 100% of its profits to fund research on the medical use of cannabis for veterans.

In 2016, Helmand Valley Growers Company founders spoke to members of Congress about the viability of medical cannabis as an alternative to the opioids military veterans were prescribed. They were advised to research data working alongside American medical doctors to build a strong case to present to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. After teaming with NiaMedic, they compiled and presented their proprietary research to the IRB in July 2020.

Original Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2021/02/26/best-sales-online-right-now-this-weekend/?sh=68b0ac827716

Renewed interest in financing cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabis businesses could signal that investors are starting to feel positive again about the future after companies seemingly weathered the worst of the storm in 2020.

HempFusion Wellness began the year with the optimistic gesture of commencing trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on January 6^th, completing its initial public offering of 7m common shares for USD $7m.

“The additional USD $17m in capital adds to our healthy treasury, providing us with a solid foundation to build from and execute on our strategic plans for 2021 and beyond,” said HempFusion CEO Jason Mitchell.

“Our goals include increased investment into research and development, expanding our sales and distribution networks, and firmly establishing HempFusion as a leader in the dynamic global CBD industry.”

The firm’s offerings include HempFusion-owned Biome Labs, HF Labs, and Probulin Probiotics, for which it has just launched an Amazon e-commerce store to expand its distribution, drive online growth, and increase brand awareness.

“We are incredibly excited to launch The Probulin Store on Amazon, which provides our brand with tremendous exposure to new customers,” said Mitchell.

Probulin itself is a non-CBD product; Amazon still maintains a ban on CBD products, other than its ongoing limited trial in the UK.

HempFusion’s topical CBD products include creams and balms that target acne, anti-aging, sports pain relief, eczema relief, and wound care.

Meanwhile, another special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) has expressed interest in hemp and CBD. Ackrell SPAC partners, newly formed at the end of last year, will invest up to $100m in fast-moving consumer goods including hemp–particularly in beverage and wellness products.

“Our management team believes that hemp-based consumer goods have the potential for mass consumer appeal around the world,” the company said. “Consumers are beginning to use hemp-based products to treat a variety of medical conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, pain, and inflammation.”

Further positive news for the industry comes in the form of musician-related investments. Subversive Capital Acquisition, another SPAC–this time in the cannabis space–hired Jay Z to “foster social equity” in the industry. It has already purchased two companies–Caliva, a cannabis brand, and Left Coast Ventures, an investment firm and producer, and is looking for more targets.

Meanwhile Snoop Dogg’s venture capital firm Casa Verde has raised $100m for its investment fund Casa Verde Capital, according to documents filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The fund’s managing director, Karan Wadhera, predicts that the cannabis industry will benefit from an increased drive towards legalization.

“Sitting here today, four-plus months into COVID, cannabis has really proven itself to be a non-cyclical industry,” Wadhera told TechCrunch in July 2019. “Cannabis has been deemed an essential business everywhere across the US. We had record sales in March, April, and May, and the trend has continued.

“And now that we are getting into an environment where governments are going to be looking for additional sources of tax revenue, the potential urgency around cannabis legalization is going to be there, which is going to be massively positive for the industry.”

There’s no indication of the target for the new venture capital fund but the fundraising has more than doubled Casa Verde’s initial investment vehicle.

Similarly, Aurora Cannabis announced it had raised around $125m through the sale of 12m shares at a price of $10.45 per unit. The money will be used for general corporate purposes, including potentially reducing debt.

In related psychedelic fields, Berlin-based biotech company Atai Life Sciences also raised $125m last year when it closed a round of Series C funding. Apeiron Investment Group, as well as Catalio Capital Management and billionaire Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and the first outside investor in Facebook, led the round.

“Proceeds from the financing will be used primarily to fund pre-clinical and clinical development of Atai’s existing mental health programs, to expand its drug candidate pipeline, and further advance Atai’s platform technologies,” said the firm, which is developing treatments for mental health issues.

“We believe that our psychedelic and non-psychedelic compounds have compelling therapeutic promise, based upon a growing body of scientific evidence. This round of funding is another step towards our vision to effectively treat and ultimately prevent mental health disorders, bridging the gap between what the mental health system currently provides and what patients need,” said Florian Brand, CEO and co-founder of Atai Life Sciences.

Atai chairman Christian Angermayer added, “With COVID-19 only accentuating the failures of existing standards of care, we are at an inflection point when it comes to seriously addressing this global mental health crisis.”

Original Article: https://www.cbd-intel.com/financial-investments-suggest-a-mood-of-optimism-around-cbd-and-cannabis/

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CBD-Intel provides impartial, independent, and premium market and regulatory analysis, legal tracking, and quantitative data for the CBD sector.

We provide our clients with the tools to navigate this fast-moving sector, tailor their business strategy, optimize resources, and make informed decisions. In addition, we offer customized research and consultancy support.

Politics have long gone hand-in-hand with corruption, operating under the cover of grand promises, altruistic campaigns, and bureaucratic mazes. And as cannabis has inevitably entered the world of politics on its march to legalization, it has collided with the giant roadblock that is corruption, as well.

In this case, corruption’s roots are perhaps a little more easily traced–hyper-localized power over licenses, limited on an arbitrary basis that provides the perfect guise for bribes in various forms, such as community impact fees and donations.

Nearly all states where cannabis is legal either bestow licensing power to local officials or impose statewide limits that don’t reflect the high market demand. Thus, the power to grant licenses–the very key to a multi-billion-dollar industry–is distributed between handfuls of politicians in each state. And naturally, these keys don’t come cheap.

“We’ve seen in some states the price go as high as $500,000 for a license to sell [cannabis]. So, we see people willing to pay large amounts of money to get in to the industry,” special agent Regino Chavez says during an FBI podcast.

The charges against Jasiel Correia, former mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, on 24 counts revolving around extortion of private citizens with cannabis dispensaries aspirations, allegedly amounting to $600,000–highlighting another example of cannabis corruption. Correia’s chief-of-staff, Genoveva Andrade, has already pled guilty to bribery and extortion charges.

The FBI is looking into “pay-to-play bribery schemes” across several states, including Missouri, Florida, and New York, something that San Bernardino mayor John Valdivia dismisses as “baseless accusations” by salty wannabe cannabis businessmen.

Moreover, former Maryland state delegate Cheryl Glenn was sentenced to two years for taking bribes to support cannabis companies, among other favors.

“Competition belongs in the market, not in the license application process,” Morgan Fox, media relations director for the National Cannabis Industry Association, says.

These, along with many other similar examples, all lead back to the arbitrary license caps, imposed not for health and safety, but for all the wrong reasons. Instead of leveling the playing field, these laws breed fierce financial competition to enter it.

Not to mention that this type of corruption enables only those with the right connections and capital to join an industry where people of color and others most impacted by the War on Drugs cannot even get a seat at the table to start.

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When cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp finally hit the stock market — after decades of prohibition — many investors saw an opportunity. However, in 2019, much of the optimism behind hemp’s stock jump came tumbling down, namely due to an overabundance in products and lack of demand for this quantity.

So, where can we expect stocks to go from here?

This is a tricky question to ask and you should be wary of any article that claims they know where the stock market is heading. While educated guesses can be insightful, no one really knows whether a stock is going to go up or down. There are a number of different factors that play a large role in this outcome, many of which are unique to the particular industry.

In terms of CBD, all eyes are on US government, as their long-awaited regulations are going to play a significant role in hemp stocks. For example, some experts have predicted that cannabis extracts in foods and beverages could increase demand for CBD.

There are two major issues with government regulations that are playing a significant role in hemp and CBD sales:

1. A lack of Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval and the hazy legal status in some states impacts the public’s trust and knowledge of CBD. Not to mention, it allows businesses with irresponsible practices to enter the marketplace.
2. Overregulation on particular aspects of the industry prevents consumers from trying CBD through new avenues.

With the right federal regulations, CBD does have the potential to work its way up again.

Still, we shouldn’t forget that part of the reason stocks went down in the first place is overproduction. Many experts claimed there would be a huge demand for CBD when the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived products. And while there was an initial spike in demand, these predictions were far from accurate and the market just wasn’t there.

With all this said, it’s impossible to know what’s going to happen next. If government regulations work in favor of the CBD industry, consumer confidence may further increase. However, the opposite remains possible if government regulations create more skepticism in the marketplace.

Since the hemp industry is still very new, we need to remember how important our role is too in spreading knowledge about this plant. Currently, there’s too much misinformation out there and, with that, a lack of trust overall in hemp and CBD.

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Sana Packaging, founded by Ron Basak-Smith and James Eichner while attending the University of Colorado Boulder’s MBA program, aims to revolutionize product packaging with its hemp-based solutions.

“Ron approached me with the idea to do something about cannabis packaging. While a lot of positive things have come from cannabis legalization, one of the biggest negative externalities is packaging waste,” Eichner explained.

Eichner and Basak-Smith were awarded the prestigious university pitch competition for their efforts, and decided to continue developing Sana after graduating through a business accelerator program in Spring 2017.

“What started off as wanting to explore innovative materials and addressing simple problems turned into a mission driven company where the ultimate goal is to design and develop cannabis packaging for a circular economy,” said Eichner.

Today, Sana Packaging works to bring sustainable solutions through 100% reclaimed ocean plastic and 100% plant-based hemp plastic.

Eichner characterized today’s current economic model as incredibly wasteful: resources are extracted to create a product which is then produced and used only to be disposed of immediately after.

The ultimate goal of Sana’s circular economy is to minimize waste and pollution, “from material sourcing to the end-of-life cycle for products,” to keep products and materials in use to ensure materials being used are “reclaimed” to regenerate the natural world.

Rather than simply curb negative environmental impacts, Eichner and Smith also wish to draw tangible benefits from sustainable products: “You could apply that to any of the materials we use, whether hemp-based plastics or reclaimed ocean plastic. In order to create these products, we have to remove waste from the environment.”

“When we finished the accelerator in 2017 and started working on this full-time, we were still in product development. We had 3D printed prototypes of our products, such as hemp-based pre-roll tubes and containers.” Sana remained in this phase until 2018 which included finding a willing manufacturer as hemp-based materials are much more uncommon in packaging.

The company’s first products were launched in the summer of 2018 during a six-month pilot program. By January 2019, Sana opened its doors for sales to the wider public. Sana has plans to have eight unique products in 2021.

At the end of the day, sustainability is the ultimate goal.

“I think the cannabis industry is interested in our packaging. It is growing rapidly, creating a huge need for sustainable products. It is a market that has room for a startup like us. And the industry has a high willingness to pay for sustainable materials,” even though they come at a premium, according to Eichner.

Sana’s customers are in North America, with the majority being based in the US, as well as additional customers in Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

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Vancouver-based cannabis and psychedelic medicine firm Thoughtful Brands has dissolved its German subsidiary Verrian to focus on its core business of direct-to-consumer brands, e-commerce, and the vertical integration of its supply chain.

Verrian had established a foothold in the emerging field of psychedelics to treat anxiety, mood, and substance abuse disorders. It operated a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Radebeul, a suburb of Dresden, which was involved in clinical studies using psychedelic compounds for the treatment of opiate addiction. It has now sought creditor protection in Germany.

Thoughtful Brands said Verrian lacked sufficient working capital to sustain current operations and satisfy creditor demands, and had therefore been compelled to institute insolvency proceedings. It has suspended all operations and is awaiting the appointment of a court-appointed preliminary administrator to oversee its affairs in the interests of its creditors.

This follows Thoughtful Brands’ acquisition of Kentucky-based hemp grower and processor American CBD Extraction Corp in September in a deal estimated to be worth $9m.

The acquisition enables the firm to become fully vertically integrated, controlling each aspect of the supply chain including production, logistics, and value chain. The firm plans to launch new “superior quality” CBD brands, offering products made from hemp it has extracted and produced itself, as well as products formulated for future brand clients.

The closure of Verrian comes at a time when the use of psychedelics is becoming increasingly acceptable and commercial interest in “magic mushrooms” is growing.

Oregon recently became the first US state to legalize psilocybin, the main active ingredient in magic mushrooms. Oregon’s Measure 109 will give legal access to psilocybin for mental health treatment in supervised settings.

Meanwhile, citizens in the District of Columbia voted to decriminalize the use of magic mushrooms and other psychedelic substances, including the active ingredients in ayahuasca and peyote, with the passage of Initiative 81, the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020.

The measure does not legalize the drugs but makes possession of them among the lowest enforcement priorities for DC police, according to the initiative, which still faces some hurdles before it becomes law. The DC Council needs to approve the measure before sending it to Congress for review. Congress then has 30 legislative days to block it or allow it to become law.

Congress has continually attempted to stop DC legislators from passing drug liberalization efforts. Republican Andy Harris, a representative for a nearby Maryland district, has already said he would work to oppose such measures.

Also recently, in California, state Senator Scott Wiener called for the decriminalization of psychedelic drugs for therapeutic benefits:

“When the legislature reconvenes, I’ll introduce legislation to decriminalize psychedelic drugs. These drugs have been shown to have medicinal value treating depression, PTSD, and other conditions. We need to stop criminalizing drug use and addiction.”

“I’ll be working with Assembly members Evan Low and Sydney Kamlager-Dove on this important step toward a more rational, science-based, and public health-focused approach to drugs.”

Still, it’s important to note that, despite the continued interest and the growing number of legislative victories for psychedelics, they remain a niche product with very few current opportunities for profitable business.

Thoughtful Brands clearly thought the likely time remaining until it would see a sufficient return from Verrian to justify the current expense was too great. As investors continue to look for new opportunities in the psychedelics area, that wariness should be remembered.

Original article: https://www.cbd-intel.com/thoughtful-brands-pulls-out-of-german-psychedelics-to-focus-on-american-cbd/

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CBD-Intel provides impartial, independent, and premium market and regulatory analysis, legal tracking, and quantitative data for the CBD sector worldwide.

We provide our clients with the tools to navigate this fast-moving sector, tailor their business strategy, optimize resources, and make informed decisions. In addition, we offer customized research and consultancy support.