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Is This The Best Way To Change Minds About Cannabis?

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

If you are a cannabis patient or consumer, then chances are you have had to deal with people who pass judgment on you because of cannabis. The stigma surrounding the cannabis plant and those who use it is unfortunate and unfair.

More often than not people generally oppose cannabis use and cannabis policy modernization efforts due to a lack of knowledge, and in some cases, outright ignorance. However, there is one powerful tool that cannabis advocates have that can change people from opponents to supporters – the truth.

The hard facts and science regarding the cannabis plant and cannabis use are heavily in favor of cannabis advocates, and often it’s just a matter of opponents being effectively educated about what researchers have determined via clinical trials, studies, and other academic investigations.

That principle is at the heart of the findings of a new study that was recently conducted by researchers in Mexico. A team of researchers affiliated with Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, Mexico conducted a study “spanning the period from November 2022 to March 2023.”

“The objective of the present study is to ascertain the prevalence and perception of cannabis consumption in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, while also examining the impact of disseminating scientific facts about cannabis on attitudes and public perception.” the researchers stated.

“A total of 3162 adults residing in the primary cities of Sinaloa, namely Culiacán (n = 1133), Mazatlán (n = 1050), and Los Mochis (n = 979), were interviewed. The surveyors employed a random/convenience sampling technique.” the study listed regarding its methodology.

The survey participants included 1668 women and 1494 men, aged 18 to 76 years. Regarding educational backgrounds, “5.3% had no formal education, 32% completed elementary school, 40% held a high school diploma, 21% had a bachelor’s degree, and 1% had a postgraduate degree.”

Participants were provided factual information about cannabis if they opposed it, referred to as an “intervention” for the purposes of the study.

“Our analysis delved into examining attitudes towards cannabis both before and after the intervention, with a particular focus on the influence of education and age. By stratifying the data based on these factors, we aimed to explore how different educational backgrounds and age groups may respond to the intervention and whether any significant changes in attitudes were observed.” researchers stated.

“The results of our analysis demonstrated substantial differences in attitudes towards cannabis before and after the intervention, considering taking the participants’ educational levels and age categories. These differences were statistically significant, indicating that the intervention had a noticeable impact on shaping attitudes towards cannabis among different population segments.” researchers concluded.

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First German Legalization Measure Reading In The Bundestag Scheduled For Wednesday

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

A long-awaited reading of Germany’s national adult-use cannabis legalization measure was originally scheduled for today, however, it was reportedly delayed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The measure is now scheduled to be read on Wednesday, October 18th at 6 p.m. CET.

The legalization measure being considered by the Bundestag was originally introduced by Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach earlier this year after extensive discussions with the European Union. Initially, it was hoped that the EU would permit regulated sales to adults nationwide.

Unfortunately, the EU’s position is that such a model runs contrary to continental agreements.

What was ultimately introduced was a multi-phased plan, with the first phase involving the legalization of personal cultivation, possession, and consumption. The measure would also create noncommercial clubs that would provide cannabis to members.

Purchasing limits would be involved, as would ‘buffer zones,’ limits on the number of clubs per jurisdiction, and a limit of 500 members per club. Those provisions are now being considered by national lawmakers.

Back in August, Germany’s federal cabinet approved the measure:

Earlier this month cannabis opponents in Germany’s other legislative body, the Federal Council (or Bundesrat), failed to block the measure from proceeding to the Bundestag for consideration.

Several members of the Bundestag have expressed a desire to change some of the provisions of Minister Lauterbach’s measure, and it will be very interesting to see how the measure evolves now that it is being considered by the chamber.

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5 Reasons To Exhibit At The International Cannabis Business Conference

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business.

The emerging legal cannabis industry is going global as nations around the globe work to modernize their cannabis policies and industry regulations. Long gone are the days when cannabis was taboo, and the cottage industry model was in place.

Competition within the legal cannabis space increases with every passing year, and as the industry continues its march to every corner of the planet it’s more important than ever before to stand out. That is harder to do at the global level for various reasons, not the least of which is that it’s very difficult to get in front of the right people at the right time.

Timing is everything in the business world, and cannabis-based businesses are no exception. One of the best returns on an investment in the emerging industry is to exhibit at an International Cannabis Business Conference event. Below are five reasons why.

Global Audience

The International Cannabis Business Conference event series is the only one of its kind to have a truly international following. Attendees come from all over the planet to attend our events, with past conferences being attended by representatives from 80 different countries.

The International Cannabis Business Conference team works with leading international policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, inventors, and industry service providers from every major cannabis market on earth and brings them together.  Exhibiting at an International Cannabis Business Conference event is the most efficient way to get your product or service in front of true international cannabis leaders.

Network With Other Exhibitors

Some of the best connections that are made at International Cannabis Business Conference events are among fellow exhibitors. Your company may provide a product or service that can be enhanced by forming a partnership with another company that provides a beneficial ancillary service that is also exhibiting at one of our events.

Networking is a vital function of any industry, and the International Cannabis Business Conference provides a world-class opportunity to do exactly that.

Unparalleled Venues

No other cannabis conference series on earth holds its events at such amazing internationally acclaimed venues. The International Cannabis Business Conference has held events in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Barcelona, and Germany, and each event was held in an iconic setting unlike anything else that can be in the emerging cannabis industry.

Timely Information

In addition to networking, exhibitors are also attendees of International Cannabis Business Conference events and benefit from the thoughtfully curated event curriculum. Keynote speakers and panelists at our events are on the cutting edge of their respective fields, and there is no better way to learn than from the people who are actually doing the work and getting the results.

Work Hard, Play Hard

No International Cannabis Business Conference would be complete without one of our infamous after-parties. In addition to the parties being held in world-class venues, they are headlined by top international entertainers such as Morgan Heritage, Magnifico, Jim Belushi, and many others. The after-party setting is a great way to cap off days of travel, hard work, and learning while unwinding and having a great time. We hope to see you at an upcoming event!

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Top 5 Economic Effects Of Slovenian Cannabis Policy Modernization

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Modernizing a nation’s outdated cannabis policies yields numerous benefits, and not just to people directly involved in the cannabis industry. All members of society benefit from the economic impact of policy modernization. Below are five examples of how Slovenia would benefit from modernizing its cannabis policies to permit regulated cannabis commerce incorporating data from already established legal markets.

Job Creation

One of the most significant economic benefits of permitting cannabis commerce is job creation. The emerging legal industry is made up of several sectors, each with its own workforce needs, requiring nearly every job type imaginable to some degree. Additionally, other than outdoor cultivation operations that rely solely on the sun, industry facilities can feasibly be located anywhere in Slovenia for the purposes of research and product development, bringing jobs to areas that may need them more than others.

The emerging legal industry has already created over 428,000 jobs in the United States where regulated commerce is permitted in certain states. Adult-use reform was first implemented in Canada in 2018, and an analysis by Deloitte determined that Canada’s legal industry had created over 150,000 jobs as of the publishing of its February 2022 report.

Boosting Local Economies

The overall economic boost from Canada’s legalized industry is substantial. Deloitte estimates that the legal cannabis industry in Canada contributed over $43.5 billion to the nation’s GDP between the period of October 2018 and February 2022. Cannabis companies directly invested over $4.4 billion into Canada’s economy, with the remaining boost to GDP coming from “indirect” economic contributions, and “induced” contributions.

Public Revenue

According to the United States Census Bureau, between July 2021 and the end of 2022, the governments of legal U.S. states received more than $5.7 billion in public revenue from the emerging industry via taxes and fees. In fiscal 2021-22 in Canada, national and local governments collected more than $1.12 billion.

The public revenue generated by a regulated industry benefits all members of Slovenia’s society, providing policymakers and government officials additional revenue that they can use for such things as schools, social services, and public infrastructure.

Boosting Existing Industries

Slovenia is already established as an international science and tech hub, and the demand for cannabis-based research and product development is already substantial and increasing with every passing year. Slovenia already possesses the knowledge, facilities, and human capital to gain a significant footprint in the cannabis science and technology sectors. However, the window of opportunity to gain a meaningful market share of the sectors will not be open forever, and delays in policy modernization will impact the potential for existing industries.

Savings From Ending Prohibition Enforcement

While it is unknown exactly how much Slovenia spends enforcing cannabis prohibition, it’s likely that it’s a substantial sum. When Slovenia modernizes its policies to permit legal commerce and refrain from enforcing prohibition against consumers and patients, it will instantly save whatever is currently being spent on cannabis enforcement. In Germany, where lawmakers are working to modernize the nation’s cannabis policies, cannabis prohibition costs the nation 1.3 billion euros a year according to an analysis by the Institute for Competition Economics (DICE) at the Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf.

This article first appeared at TheTalmanGroup.com and is syndicated with special permission

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Cannabis Opponents Fail To Block Cannabis Legalization In Germany

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

As cannabis modernization efforts continue to work their way through the political process in Germany, one major hurdle that worried some cannabis policy observers inside and outside of Germany was the Federal Council (or Bundesrat) review component of the process.

Cannabis opponents within the Federal Council made it clear that they intended to derail legalization when provided the opportunity, but fortunately, they did not succeed. On Friday the Federal Council considered the measure that was previously approved by the Federal Cabinet, and while amendments were approved, an outright blockage did not receive enough support.

Bavaria’s representative filed a motion in an attempt to stall the measure, however, that motion was rejected. Various other amendments were also rejected, including one that would have increased the legal age for adult-use cannabis, as first reported by Marijuana Moment.

One area that representatives did agree on was the role of individual states regarding administrative costs to implement and carry out national legalization. In total, 81 recommended amendments were adopted by the chamber, and they will now go to the Federal Cabinet for consideration and response.

The battle is far from over, however, national legalization in Germany passed a major procedural step and that is worthy of celebrating. Below is a response put out by our friends at DHV after the proceedings:

On Friday, the Federal Council decided on its statement on the CanG. Thanks to your help, the decisions were significantly milder than was feared. Over 8,000 people took part in our campaign and sent emails to the traffic light groups.

A total of 81 points of criticism of the planned CanG found a majority in the Federal Council’s specialist committees, which meant that they were put on the Bundesrat’s agenda as a draft resolution. These included many points that called for the law to be tightened.

In addition to the 81 points that had been decided, a single motion was submitted for a vote again, even though it had not found a majority in the committee: The CSU absolutely wanted to have the motion voted on again so that the Federal Council fundamentally rejects the law completely. This means that the radical anti-cannabis party from Bavaria has failed. The demand to declare the law requiring approval also did not find a majority. A number of other repressive requests were rejected. Before the vote, the state parliamentary groups obviously looked at which resolutions should be blocked, certainly strongly motivated by thousands of emails on the topic. You can find out which resolutions were rejected, which ones made it through and what it all means in the DHV news. The law will be officially introduced into the Bundestag on October 13th, perhaps garnished with a few speeches before it goes on to committees for discussion.

The CSU wants to be the biggest opponent of cannabis reform. Every week, Bavaria’s Health Minister Holetschek (CSU) drives a new pig through the village. Last week it was announced that they wanted to combat cannabis consumption with a central control unit if the law were to pass despite Bavaria’s resistance. This anti-cannabis authority should also be responsible for applications from cannabis social clubs. Meanwhile, party leader Söder is having a bullshit duel with Free Voters leader Aiwanger while Oktoberfest is in full swing: Who has the stupidest arguments against cannabis legalization? We are now responding to this special role of the Bavarian government with a poster campaign in Bavaria around the state elections next weekend:

“Time for legalization! Cannabis belongs to Bavaria. Longer than the CSU!” 

Our advertising columns are already at the start in Munich. The first photo of this reached us via tweet from Carmen Wegge (SPD), who chose our poster directly in front of the Bavarian State Parliament for the picture above. Your Christmas donations made this campaign possible! If you spot one, please send us photos of the posters and information about the location to kontakt@hanfverband.de . In addition to Munich, it will be from October 6th. there will be further posters in Fürth, Ingolstadt and Augsburg. These posters will still be hanging after the election and will help the CSU interpret the expected voter losses.

Hempy greetings,
your DHV team

Cultiva Hanfexpo 2023

Attend The 2023 Cultiva Hanfexpo In Vienna October 6th-8th

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy.

An amazing opportunity is coming up this week in Vienna, Austria with the start of the Cultiva Hanfexpo on October 6th. The three-day hemp expo and festival is the largest in Austria and will take place at the Marx Halle.

At the expo, visitors will find all of the information that they need to know about the hemp plant and the products derived from it. National and international exhibitors will display their products and contribute to a unique exhibition experience. Below is more information about the event:

15 YEARS OF CULTIVA

Over the last 15 years, Cultiva has brought together people from all over the world to discuss the uses of hemp and develop new ideas. This event is important to unite and support the Austrian hemp industry. It all started in 2008 at the Pyramide in Vösendorf.

“They were expecting big tables with Indian sheets. Then when the trucks came and one-story platforms were set up, it caused a big surprise moment for the management of the event venue,” founder Harald Schubert recalls of the beginnings of Cultiva. At first, he says, there were doubts about the exhibition, because “they didn’t know what to expect”. But these hesitations quickly disappeared.

Around 5,000 visitors came to the first hemp exhibition. The aim was to provide a platform for the hemp plant and its use, the industry and its development, as well as the many socio-political issues associated with it. This has not changed over the years, but the size of the exhibition has.

“We attracted higher-value branches because of the higher purchasing power in Austria, and that set us apart from other hemp exhibitions in Europe,” says founder Schubert.

Even after 15 years, the glassblowing show is still a fixed part of the fair. Other highlights of the past 15 years of Cultiva included visits from Christian Rätsch, Jorge Cervantes and “Mr. Nice” Howard Marks. And, of course, the many performances by bands and DJs. “It’s the most iconic expo,” Schubert says.

EXPERIENCE THE WONDER OF HEMP

The WORLD OF HEMP represents one of the most extensive areas at the exhibition. On 400 sqm all information about cannabis is shown in an exciting and informative way. This interactive area educates visitors about the cannabis plant and helps them to get to know it better. Different sections can be explored with the help of a guiding system.

Whether learning, tasting, participating or trying out: The WORLD OF HEMP serves all the senses and invites you to further education.

GLASSBLOWING-SHOW – TORCHLAND GLASS CIRCUS BY THCBD AUSTRIA

Another highlight at CULTIVA HANFEXPO is the glassblowing show Torchland Glas Circus by THCBD Austria. During the live show, professionals such as Orglasmus, Nathan Belmont, Sibelle Yuksek, Fedex Glass and Tibor Toth will demonstrate the art of glassblowing and engraving. If interested, the products can be purchased afterwards.

CULTSOUND FESTIVAL

The CULTSOUND Music Festival is a new star in the sky of the Viennese event calendar. From electro to reggae sounds – the three-day music festival with its extraordinary location offers a special experience. The venue – the headquarters of the artist collective R:JOURNEY – provides the ideal setting. Acts such as the band Mary Jane Soundgarden, Matej, Sun State of Mind
will ensure a hot atmosphere and danceable sounds, and Sunday will be hosted by WNMR – If Not With Rap. Food trucks with a variety of dishes from meat or vegan to sweet and a bar provides for the physical well-being.

CULTIVA CONGRESS

The CULTIVA HANFEXPO CONGRESS offers an insight into the topics of law, politics, medicine as well as culture and innovation. National and international experts from different fields share their knowledge and clarify important questions about cannabis in the form of lectures and panel discussions. The focus will be on both the current regulations on the subject of cannabis and
the future of the industry. What changes can we expect in the hemp industry? What could the situation look like in five years? These and other questions will be answered during the congress.

BUSINESS BRUNCH

On Friday and Saturday all business visitors and exhibitors are invited to aur Networking Brunch in the Business lounge at the exhibition.
• Friday, 06.10.2023 09:00 – 11:00 a.m.
• Saturday, 07.10.2023 09:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Find out more information at: https://www.cultiva.at/lang%3Den/index.htm

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Accusations Of Inflated THC Potency Surface In Canada

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business.

A coalition of cannabis producers and testing laboratories in Canada are alleging that some entities are inflating their cannabis product THC potency levels, sometimes as much as twenty percent.

“There are cannabis companies in the top 10 that are absolutely inflating their flower values,” said Borna Zlamalik, senior vice-president of innovation and research and development at Moncton-based producer OrganiGram Holdings Inc. The comments were first reported by Globe and Mail. “I think there are some companies that have maliciously narrowed down their sample procedures to get the best flower.”

Allegations of THC inflation are not new in the cannabis industry. Part of the problem is on the producer/laboratory/retailer side of the equation, however, there’s also some blame on the consumer side as well.

It’s well known in the cannabis world that many consumers, for better or worse, rely solely on THC percentage when making their purchasing decisions. That ‘THC shopping’ phenomenon compounds the problem as entities strive to get the highest THC percentage on their flower products regardless of whether quality is being boosted or not.

The latest allegations being hurled in Canada highlight the growing need to overhaul how cannabis is organized. Indica, sativa, and THC percentages – they are all archaic ways of categorizing cannabis products.

Instead, true science should drive how cannabis products are categorized, led largely by ‘terpene profiles.’ Terpenes are found in all cannabis flower, and it’s what gives cannabis its smell. The cannabis plant contains dozens of terpenes in different ratios, often referred to as terpene profiles.

Knowing a harvest’s terpene profile is a much better indicator of what effects and wellness benefits a consumer or patient can expect compared to one lab’s testing results of a very small sample of the harvest.

Different terpenes are associated with different effects, and while it’s a more cumbersome form of categorization compared to a simple indica/sativa model, it’s far more insightful and will undoubtedly serve as the future of how cannabis is viewed by dispensary and cannabis club customers.

Cannabis Seminary For Doctors And Nurses To Be Held At University Of Ljubljana

Cannabis Seminary For Doctors And Nurses To Be Held At University Of Ljubljana

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy, Science.

Check out the upcoming event at the University of Ljubljana titled ‘Hemp and its Active Ingredients in Healthcare III’ on October 11th and 18th, 2023. The event is co-organized by the Research Nature Institute and is the third education seminary of a series involving doctors and nurses from the faculty at the University of Ljubljana.

The first day of lectures will discuss examples of good practices for nurses and doctors in Slovenia and abroad. Topics will include dosage recommendations, destigmatizing cannabis, and the treatment of neurodevelopmental syndromes.

The second day of presentations will explore potential issues and harm-reduction techniques for consuming cannabis for medical purposes. Attendees will hear for the first time how successful the clinical treatment of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease is in Uruguay. Below is the event’s program:

Wednesday, 11/10/2023 – hybrid 

16:00 – 16:05 Welcome address
16:05 – 16:45 Education of health workers on the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for medical purposes: literature review
Jasna Kovač, mag. dr. care, Pediatric Clinic UKC, MEDCA
Tatjana Lončar, B.Sc. med sestra Gynecology Clinic UKC, MEDCA
16:45 – 17:25 US Nurses Journey to Reduce the Stigma of Medical Cannabis ( Maureen Smyth, BSN RN, Certified Cannabis Nurse educator (USA) – ZOOM)
17:25 – 17:35 Break
17 :35 – 18:15 Treatment of neurodevelopmental syndromes with cannabidiol and medical cannabis (Prof. Dr. David Neubauer, MD)
18:15 – 19:00 Dosing – Developing a Cannabis Dose-Effect Hypothesis / “The Dosing Project – developing a Cannabis Dose-Effect Hypothesis« (dr. Jean Talleyrand, MD (USA) – ZOOM))

Research and findings in medicine
Wednesday, 18.10.2023 – hybrid

16:00 – 16:40    Kanabinoidi pri zdravljenju raka, primer glioblastoma (prof. dr. Tamara Lah Turnšek (NIB))
16:40 – 17:20    Problematic Cannabis Use of Medicinal Cannabis (dr. Ilya Reznik, MD – ZOOM)
17:20 – 17:30   Odmor
17:30 -18:10    Can Cannabis treat endometriosis (dr. Lumir Hanuš – ZOOM)
18:10 – 18:50  Therapeutic implications of cannabinoid actions in the brain and neurodegenerative diseases. A clinical perspective in Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease. (dr. Raquel Peyraube, MD (Urugvaj) – ZOOM)

The event will be moderated by journalist Mr. Gorazd Rečnik, who will lead the discussion and enable the lecturers and guests to ask questions online.

The seminar is intended for the general public, experts, health workers, politicians and officials, who will make future decisions in the field easier with the acquired knowledge.

Lectures will be held in Slovenian and English.

METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – hybrid:
– live  at the Faculty of Medicine, Zdravstvena pot 5, Ljubljana  or
– in an online environment.

CO-ORGANIZER : RN, Institute for Nature Research, Development and Quality Assurance of Natural Medicines, with which the Faculty of Health UL has been actively cooperating for many years, is a research and educational institution.

APPLICATION

REGISTRATION

30 EUR with VAT (exclusively for both days).

The content of the education is to obtain points from the ZZBNS and the Medical Chamber of Slovenia.

Participants receive certificates.

For more information about individual lectures and lecturers, write to vesna.osojnik@zf.uni-lj.si, call 01 300 11 65, or go to: https://www.zf.uni-lj.si/si/arhiv-obvestil-cvu/1295-konoplja-in-njene-ucinkovine-v-zdravstvu-iii

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Changes Expected To Be Made To Thailand’s Cannabis Policy

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

In June 2022, Thailand’s government made a fairly substantial shift in how it approaches cannabis policy. At the time the policy change was hailed as ‘legalization,’ however, it’s worth noting that what was legalized was low-THC cannabis.

Still, it was a historic shift for a nation located in Southeast Asia where some of the harshest cannabis policies on earth are also located. Every household in the entire country became eligible to sign up to legally cultivate low-THC cannabis plants. It’s the first time in the history of the world that such a public policy was implemented at a national level.

For a time things seemed to be very exciting in Thailand. As part of the rollout of the new law, Thailand gave away over 1 million cannabis seeds directly to households that signed up to cultivate cannabis. The government even gave out low-interest loans to help aspiring cultivators get their operations started.

The Health Ministry largely led the charge for cannabis policy modernization in Thailand, however, a broad spectrum of government agencies in Thailand entered into an agreement to do their part to push Thailand’s emerging cannabis industry forward. Unfortunately, the honeymoon period appears to be over, as captured in the X post below:

A cannabis and hemp regulation bill sponsored by the Bhumjaithai Party passed its first reading in parliament in June, and ministries in Thailand are forming a committee to review the measure and will eventually provide their own recommendations.

“Whether we continue with the present draft or develop a new one, I insist there must be laws to control cannabis use,” said Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew according to Bangkok Post. “Using cannabis for recreational purposes must be forbidden. The improper use of cannabis will lead to dangers for users.”

The cannabis policy discussion in Thailand will now largely focus on what constitutes medical cannabis use versus ‘recreational’ use. It’s not a new discussion within the global cannabis community, as many advocates around the globe feel very passionately that all cannabis use is medical to some degree.

As with any public policy change, the devil will be in the details, and how long the process will take is anyone’s guess. Furthermore, it will be interesting to see how meaningful any changes prove to be, as enforcement could prove to be difficult after so much has transpired. It’s an interesting situation from a public policy standpoint, to say the least.