International Cannabis Business Conference Blog – Page 92 – International Cannabis Business Conference

Case Series Demonstrates Cannabis’ Effectiveness At Treating Borderline Personality Disorder

Written by Johnny Green on January 23, 2023. Posted in Science.

Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health condition that significantly impacts the way sufferers think and feel about themselves and the world around them. Examples of the negative impact that the condition can have include self-esteem issues, difficulty managing feelings and actions, and a pattern of being involved in unstable relationships.

Borderline personality disorder can involve a big fear of abandonment, and patients may have difficulty being alone, which can be particularly difficult given the fact that the condition often results in people not wanting to be around the patient due to their condition.

The condition usually starts during early adulthood, although a diagnosis could happen at any time during the person’s life. Fortunately, a growing body of evidence is demonstrating that the cannabis plant may be able to help treat the condition.

Below is more information about a recent study from the United Kingdom which presents a recent example of the promising area of research per a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: The use of cannabis products containing THC and CBD are safe and effective in mitigating symptoms in patients diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), according to a case series reported in the journal Brain Sciences. Emotionally unstable personality disorder (a/k/a borderline personality disorder) is a common mental health disorder associated with a range of chronic and debilitating symptoms, including impaired social functioning, unstable mood, and risky, impulsive, or self-injurious behavior.

An international team of researchers assessed the use of cannabis products in a cohort of seven EUPD patients. Subjects consumed products containing both THC and CBD in varying ratios for one month.

Six of the seven participants reported “an improvement in symptoms,” and “none of the participants reported any adverse side effects.”

The study’s authors concluded: “To our knowledge, this case series represents the first medical evidence of the use of CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] for the clinical management of patients with a diagnosis of EUPD. … [O]ur results suggest that, when deployed in a rigorously controlled clinical environment, CBMPs can provide substantial improvement in symptoms associated with EUPD thus warranting the need for further research on this therapeutic strategy.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis based medicinal products in the management of emotionally unstable personality disorder: A narrative review and case series,” appears in Brain Sciences.

Legal Outlets Are The Most Common Source For Cannabis In Canada Since 2019

Written by Hazel Norman on January 23, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Canada still serves as the largest legal, national cannabis adult-use market, with sales originally launching in late 2018. The nation serves as the largest national cannabis public policy experiment, and industry and policy observers around the globe are keeping a close eye on any and all data coming out of Canada.

Every year Canada conducts a survey to gauge, among other things, the rate at which consumers purchase their cannabis from legal outlets versus the unregulated market. One of the most important stated goals of governments that pass legalization measures, including Canada, is to transition cannabis sales away from the unregulated market into the regulated system.

According to the most recent survey out of Canada, more and more people are making their purchases via regulated sources, a growing trend that has occurred for multiple years now. Per Toronto Sun:

The results of the 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey were released last month. It found that a greater proportion of respondents reported a legal source as their usual source of cannabis compared to 2021, with legal storefronts being the most common source since 2019. A smaller proportion reported illegal storefronts and illegal online sources in 2022 compared to 2019.

The proportion of those who purchased cannabis in the past 12 months from a legal storefront did so 61% of the time, according to the survey, up from 53% in 2021. Only 2% said they purchased products from an illegal website, 1% from an illegal dispensary and 1% from a cannabis dealer.

The unregulated cannabis market will never be 100% eliminated in Canada or any other jurisdiction that is home to large populations. Just as there are still people selling unregulated alcohol and tobacco products in Canada, so too will the same occur with cannabis.

The name of the game is to mitigate unregulated sales as much as possible, and Canada is doing a great job of that so far. Transferring a decades old unregulated market into a regulated one is not an easy task, and takes time to fully materialize.

Autism Case Study Finds Terpene-Enriched CBD To Be More Effective Than CBD Alone

Written by Frank Schuler on January 23, 2023. Posted in Science.

One thing that I often point out to people is that the cannabis plant is one of the most dynamic plants on earth, and that in many ways humans are just beginning to scrape the surface of understanding and harnessing its full potential.

The cannabis plant, and wellness products derived from it, can be used to successfully treat a number of health conditions according to an ever-increasing list of peer-reviewed studies, as well as a growing body of patient testimonials.

Research dedicated to specific cannabinoids is becoming more common, thankfully, with research focused on cannabidiol (CBD) being particularly popular these days. One area of CBD-based research that is showing a lot of promise is CBD treatments for autism patients.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Tens of millions of people around the world suffer from ASD, including an estimated 1% of all children worldwide.

Cannabis-based treatments are a fairly new thing when it comes to younger ASD patients largely due to prohibition-induced stigma, however, international researchers are exploring CBD and autism more and more thanks to reform victories in various jurisdictions.

A recent example can be found in Italy where a case study was conducted by researchers in Italy and Israel involving a young ASD patient. The patient was first diagnosed in 2008, and after exploring various conventional treatment regimens the patient eventually started to use CBD.

“On August 2018, after contacting a medical cannabis prescribing physician and consulting a specialized laboratory (THC Lab), G was first prescribed a CBD-rich cannabis extract containing 2.5% CBD. This was later exchanged with pure synthetic CBD oil at the same concentration. CBD oil was first administrated at a daily dose of 15 drops (12 mg CBD), corresponding to 0.34 mg CBD/kg bw (body weight) per day. CBD accompanied the Neuleptil treatment. This was found beneficial, completely eliminating aggression and leaving G happy and calm.” researchers stated in an article published by Frontiers in Pharmacology.

“CBD treatment was efficient for 3 years, until G turned 16 years old. From April 2021, with puberty, G became highly agitated. In order to control his symptoms, the dose of pure CBD was raised, reaching 27 drops (21.6 mg CBD), corresponding to 0.48 mg CBD/kg bw per day. However, the increased dose did not result in improved efficacy. Aggression had increased, reaching more than two major aggressive events per week. Aggressive events were severe (scored eight to nine on a 0–10 subjective aggressive scale, by G’s parents).” researchers stated.

“G’s regular CBD oil (pure synthetic CBD at a concentration of 2.5%) was enriched with one of two proprietary terpene blends, composed of terpenes demonstrated in pre-clinical and clinical trials to produce anxiolytic and calming effects. These included alpha pinene, limonene, linalool, beta caryophyllene and nerolidol. One of these two terpene blends was provided for daily use, and the other – for night use, or for times when G was highly agitated.” researchers also stated.

“Since August 2021, G has completed 9 months of treatment with terpene-enriched CBD oil. As can be seen in Table 1 and in Figure 2, aggression was significantly reduced, from two major aggressive events per week during treatment with synthetic CBD oil, to a complete elimination of aggressive events during treatment with the same synthetic CBD oil enriched with the selected terpene blends.” researchers observed.

“This case demonstrates the benefit of terpene-enriched CBD oil for treating aggression associated with ASD in an agitated adolescent. Enrichment of CBD with selected terpenes increased CBD potency, providing a therapeutic response wherein CBD alone had insufficient effect.” researchers concluded.

What Are The Top Cannabis Companies In Spain?

Written by Johnny Green on January 16, 2023. Posted in Business.

Spain’s cannabis community is second to none in many ways, and its current industry model is very unique. Unfortunately, public cannabis policy in Spain is not as advanced as it needs to be for the nation’s emerging industry to reach its full potential.

However, there are still several cannabis companies operating in Spain right now that are true global industry leaders. As the legal industry continues to spread across the planet cannabis enthusiasts and observers need to keep the company names below on their radars.

Spannabis

When you are talking about the cannabis scene in Spain, or Europe for that matter, Spannabis should always be at the top of the list. Spannabis is the world’s largest cannabis gathering, and once again will be partnering with the International Cannabis Business Conference, Spain’s largest cannabis B2B conference, to put on a super-event in Barcelona in March that is a must-attend.

Dinafem

Dinafem Seeds is a cannabis seed bank based in Donostia, Gipuzkoa that provides one of the best selections of cannabis genetics available on the market, including many award-winning cannabis genetics. Per the company’s disclaimer on their website, they “refuse to sell cannabis seeds to anyone who we believe is going to use them to grow cannabis in countries where it is illegal,” so keep that in mind.

Plantasur

Plantasur is a B2B wholesale distribution company that supplies brick and mortar storefronts, online grow stores, and other companies in the cannabis industry. With over 5,000 products offered, Plantasur provides many of the most important cannabis cultivation and consumption gadgets in the space today.

Delicious Seeds

Delicious Seeds was established in 2009 and describes themselves as defending “a harmonious growth process, based on the values of equality, efficiency and transparency.” The company’s staff is highly qualified and can advise aspiring cultivators of all skill levels on any questions that may arise with free and personalized attention.

Hortitec

Hortitec specializes in B2B crop product distribution for technical horticulture. The company has multiple offices in Spain, and is committed to professionalism, quality, sustainability and investment in technology, always seeking continual improvement to offer the best products and services to their customers.

Kannabia Seed Company

Kannabia was originally founded in 2008 and per their website, “is dedicated to cannabis seed growers and marijuana.” The company was influenced by the concerns and suggestions of cannabis cultivators and they have spent years developing systems that ensure the optimal development of the genetics that they offer.

Smoking

One of the most iconic cannabis brands in Spain is a company named Smoking. The rolling paper company was first founded in 1879 and products are currently manufactured by Miquel y Costas in Barcelona. According to the company’s website, they were one of the earliest factories to ever produce rolling papers.

Canamo Magazine

Spain is home to several insightful and entertaining cannabis media outlets, with one of the best of them being Canamo Magazine. The media outlet offers both print and digital content, including content related to news, culture, and cultivation.

Alchemia

Alchemia Grow Shop was inaugurated in April 2001 in a small store in the heart of Figueres. The company has since increased in size and influence and now offers over 6,000 items for sale, involving more than 1,500 strains and 63 seed banks, including Philosopher Seeds, their own seed bank created in 2008 to share their best genetics with clients and friends.

UK Study Finds Cannabis Associated With Improvements In Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Written by Frank Schuler on January 15, 2023. Posted in Science.

Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella health term for two conditions – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is still unknown exactly what causes inflammatory bowel disease, although it is tied in some way to a weakened immune system. Vitamins and supplements can help treat the condition, however, many patients are prescribed any number of pharmaceutical drugs to help treat the condition, many of which resulting in undesirable side effects.

The cannabis plant, and products derived from it, may possess the ability to successfully treat inflammatory bowel disease patients, as demonstrated by a recent study conducted in the United Kingdom. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: The daily administration of cannabis products is associated with symptom improvements in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, according to observational trial data published in the journal Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

British investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis products in 76 patients diagnosed with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. The study subjects were participants in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry and each of them possessed a doctor’s authorization to consume cannabis. Study participants consumed either cannabis extracts, THC-dominant flowers, or both for a period of three months.

Authors reported: “Initiation of CBMPs [cannabis-based medicinal products] was associated with an improvement in HRQoL [health-related quality of life] in the short term, with statistically significant improvements in IBD-specific and general HRQoL outcomes at 1 and 3 months after initiating treatment. Participants who previously consumed cannabis had greater improvements in HRQoL and fewer adverse events compared to naïve individuals. These findings highlight the potential utility of CBMPs as an adjunctive therapeutic option in the short term, especially in patients who continue to experience debilitating symptoms despite maximal medical therapy.”

Longitudinal data from Israel has similarly reported that the long-term use of whole-plant cannabis is associated with both symptom improvement and the reduced use of prescription medications in patients with treatment-resistant inflammatory bowel disease.

Subjects enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry with either post-traumatic stress or depression have also demonstrated symptomatic improvements following cannabis therapy.

Full text of the study, “The effect of medical cannabis on inflammatory bowel disease: Analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry,” appears in Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Additional information on cannabis and inflammatory bowel disease is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

Vancouver British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia

British Columbia Publishes Results Of Cannabis Consumption Spaces Public Engagement

Written by Hazel Norman on January 15, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Back in the spring (April 6 to May 9, 2022) British Columbia’s government launched a public engagement effort in an attempt to gain insight into the public’s feelings towards non-medical cannabis consumption spaces, often referred to as social use reform.

Social use reform involves allowing people to consume cannabis for adult-use purposes in a semi-public setting such as at a lounge, club, other type of business, and/or event. It’s a concept that is obviously very common with alcohol consumption, but due to stigma, is not currently common with cannabis.

A summary of the public’s feedback is now available online via a government “what we heard” report.

“Health and safety are our utmost priorities as we consider how provincial cannabis policies could evolve,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, in a press release. “This report provides valuable insights into people in B.C.’s perspectives on cannabis and will help guide our work to support a strong, diverse and safe legal cannabis sector across the Province.”

“Exploring the feasibility of cannabis-consumption spaces is another way B.C. is working to support the success of the industry,” said Brittny Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism. “With the recent introduction of a licence for farm-gate sales, understanding public opinion on cannabis-related hospitality and agri-tourism activities is a practical next step. The feedback in this report will play an important role in the development of provincial policies.”

Seven hundred and thirty people submitted feedback via a telephone survey, 15,362 respondents completed an online survey, and 66 people/entities submitted feedback in written form.

“Overall, 61% of telephone survey respondents and 34% of online survey respondents supported cannabis consumption spaces. Differences between results from the telephone and online surveys may be partly due to the research methods used, with the online survey at greater risk of self-selection bias (i.e., participation from people who feel strongly either for or against cannabis consumption spaces) whereas telephone survey respondents were selected via random sampling.” the “what we heard” report stated.

“Moreover, among those who use cannabis, those aged 19 to 44 were also more interested in visiting consumption spaces (81% online, 62% telephone) than those aged 45 to 64 (72% online, 41% telephone) and those aged 65+ (59% online, 38% telephone).” the report went on to say.

Lithuania’s President Should Not Be Afraid Of Cannabis Reform

Written by Johnny Green on January 14, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda recently participated in an interview for LRT Radio during which he was asked about efforts to decriminalize cannabis in his country. Unfortunately, the response was not favorable. President Nausėda made it clear that he does not support cannabis reform, and offered up a handful of classic anti-cannabis talking points in his comments. Like something out of a reefer madness script, Lithuania’s top leader indicated that he was fearful of what would happen to youth consumption rates if/when the country decriminalized cannabis possession.

According to what President Nausėda stated to LRT Radio, he feels that the government must ‘first educate’ the nation prior to even considering cannabis reform measures. He did not appear to go into detail as to what an education effort would look like, and most importantly, how education would make prohibition any more effective than it currently is (or isn’t). The lack of any details speaks volumes about whether or not Lithuania’s top leader is actually sincere, or merely just trying to delay the process in order to maintain the status quo.

What Would Decriminalization Look Like In Lithuania?

In June 2022, lawmakers in Lithuania’s Parliament voted in favor of a cannabis decriminalization measure, sending it off for further debate in the Seimas committees. In December 2022 Lithuania’s Parliament took an unusual step of approving a cannabis decriminalization measure, making the offense of cannabis possession part of Lithuania’s Code of Administrative Offences, yet, lawmakers also kept cannabis as part of the nation’s Criminal Code. The measure still appears to face additional steps before taking effect, with LRT Radio reporting that lawmakers referred the draft “back to the Committee on Law and Legislation for further improvement.”

The measure from late last year provides for warnings for cannabis possession, or fines of between 50 and 300 euros for first offenses. Fines for subsequent offenses could be as much as 300 to 1,000 euros. The Ministry of Health would be tasked with defining what constitutes personal possession. Anyone caught three times in one year for personal possession would be “obliged to go to a centre for addiction diseases and to follow a treatment programme designed by a psychiatrist.” Considering all of those provisions, what is being proposed in Lithuania is very strict compared to cannabis policies found in many other countries. That, in itself, begs the question, how have youth consumption rates fared in jurisdictions that have already reformed their cannabis laws?

What Does The Data Indicate?

I reside in the State of Oregon in the U.S., which holds the distinction of being the first state in the nation to pass a cannabis decriminalization measure (one ounce) all the way back in 1973. Oregon was also one of the first states to pass an adult-use legalization measure (2014), with only Washington and Colorado having passed a similar measure before Oregon (2012). Legal sales began in Oregon in late 2015, and leading up to every one of those milestones cannabis opponents clung to talking points that are nearly identical to those currently being made by Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda.

Per government data from the Oregon Health Authority, not only was there no spike in youth consumption following the launch of legal adult-use sales and outright possession legalization in 2015; youth consumption rates actually went down from 2012 to 2018 in Oregon. A broader study conducted by researchers at Michigan State University, which involved consumption survey data from over 800,000 respondents in states where cannabis sales were permitted, also found no spike in youth cannabis usage rates.

A study in 2021 conducted by researchers in Canada found ‘no significant differences’ in cannabis consumption rates before and after cannabis legalization in Canada. As of May 2022, data out of Uruguay also demonstrated no sustained changes in youth consumption rates post-legalization. Cannabis reform in all of those jurisdictions is far greater than what is being proposed in Lithuania, and just as there was no spike in youth rates in those jurisdictions, the same will presumably prove to be true in Lithuania if/when lawmakers get on the right side of history, including and especially Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.

Canadian Medical Cannabis Patients Report Sustained Improvements In Their Health

Written by Frank Schuler on January 14, 2023. Posted in Science.

Cannabis is medicine. That may seem like an obvious fact to cannabis supporters, however, cannabis opponents still try very hard to downplay the wellness benefits that the cannabis plant can provide. In many cases, cannabis opponents still cling to the false claim that cannabis provides zero medical benefits.

Unfortunately for cannabis opponents, and fortunately for suffering patients, the cannabis plant does possess tremendous wellness benefits and can be used to successfully treat a number of conditions.

A team of researchers in Canada recently published longitudinal data involving survey responses from registered medical cannabis patients in Canada. The participating patients reported sustained improvements in specific components of their overall health. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Montreal, Canada: Canadian patients authorized to use medical cannabis products report sustained improvements in their health-related quality of life, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

A team of investigators affiliated with McGill University in Montreal assessed the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis products in a cohort of 2,991 patients. Subjects in the study consumed cannabis flower, extracts, or other related products for one year.

Consistent with other studies, researchers reported: “All patient-reported outcomes showed a statistically significant improvement at 3 months, which was maintained or further improved (for pain interference, tiredness, and well-being) over the remainder of the 12-month follow-up. Results also revealed clinically significant improvements in pain interference and tiredness, anxiety, and well-being from baseline.” Few patients reported experiencing any serious adverse events as a result of their cannabis intake.

Authors concluded, “MC [medical cannabis] directed by physicians appears to be safe and effective within 3 months of initiation for a variety of medical indications.”

Data published late last week in the journal JAMA Network Open reported that nearly one in four pain patients residing in states where medical cannabis access is legal self-identify as marijuana consumers.

Full text of the study, “The Quebec Cannabis Registry: Investigating the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis,” appears inCannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Is Uruguay’s Cannabis Industry About To Evolve?

Written by Hazel Norman on January 14, 2023. Posted in Policy.

Over nine years ago Uruguay made history after passing the world’s first-ever national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. In December 2013 Uruguay’s President José Mujica signed a measure that permitted residents of Uruguay to cultivate their own cannabis, to join a private cannabis clubs, and eventually to purchase cannabis from pharmacies.

Being that Uruguay serves as the oldest national adult-use cannabis policy experiment, many cannabis observers from around the world have watched everything that has happened in Uruguay with a very close eye. By virtually every measure legalization has succeeded.

Since it’s initial passage Uruguay’s legalization model has evolved at a slow pace. As an example of that, legal sales at pharmacies began in Uruguay in the summer of 2017, with consumers being able to choose from two different strains. Late last year, Uruguay finally permitted a third option with higher levels of THC to be purchased from pharmacies.

As the nation approaches the ten year anniversary of the passage of the historic legalization measure, leadership is indicating that the nation’s legalization model could further evolve. Per La Diaria Politica:

Round anniversaries have an unconscious effect on people that leads them to take stock and review some things. In 2023, for example, it will be ten years since the approval of Law 19,172, which at the time put Uruguay at the center of the international debate on drug policies, and Juan Ignacio Tastás, executive director of the Institute for Regulation and Control of Cannabis (Ircca), believes that it is a good opportunity for the political system to propose to rediscuss the law, remove some fears and make access more flexible.

All this would also take place in a pre-electoral year, with previous questioning of the law within the same government coalition, chiaroscuro in police action with some self-cultivators, more and more pharmacies and a bill that intends to sell to tourists. After ten years and a long way to go, is it time to change the regulations?

The excerpts are from an interview with Juan Ignacio Tastás, executive director of IRCCA. IRCCA is the regulatory body that oversees Uruguay’s emerging cannabis industry. In the interview Tastás talked favorably about legalization, pointing out that many of the fears leading up to legalization have since proven to be unfounded.

Arguably the biggest change that Uruguay could make to its legalization model to help the domestic industry reach its full potential would be to open up legal sales to non-residents. Currently, only residents of Uruguay can make legal purchases.

Whether or not that will happen soon, and what access to legal cannabis for tourists will ultimately look if/when it happens is unclear. In theory, tourists could make purchases at pharmacies fairly quickly if the law changes, as pharmacies are already heavily regulated.

Clubs are another option, however, they are not regulated in the same manner as pharmacies, so setting up access via that route could take longer to implement. A fourth option at pharmacies is expected to occur later this year, and hopefully tourists will be able to partake in the new option by the time it goes live.