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South Africa Examines Hemp Production To Clean Up Gold Mining Areas

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Science.

As part of an overall plan of including cannabis in its economic development plan, the government is currently examining how (and if) cultivation of hemp can restore land blighted by gold extraction

The University of the Witwatersrand is currently funding a study to determine if the cultivation of hemp might be able to restore land that has been blighted by the highly toxic and destructive practice of mining gold.

A master’s degree candidate, Tiago Campbell, is examining the suitability of several different crops for their phytorestorative properties. This includes Indian mustard, water hyacinth, alfalfa, and sunflowers. However, he is also including hemp in the list. According to his research so far, hemp appears to be a “heavy metal hyper accumulator” – and beats all the other plants he has so far studied. This is not a new finding; however, it is further confirmation of the same. In the 1990s, the Ukrainian government also documented the plant’s ability to absorb heavy metals like nickel, zinc and chromium which were present thanks to the meltdown of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Campbell has planted 1,000 cannabis plants in soil collected from the area. The plants have all grown normally.

The land he is targeting is near Johannesburg, in Gauteng Province, an area blighted by more than a century of irresponsible and unsustainable gold extraction. The area is known for one of the world’s largest gold deposits. There are also about 380 abandoned mining areas in this zone, containing elevated levels of toxic and radioactive materials – which includes arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, zinc, and uranium.

The pollution in the area is a result of mine drainage which includes heavy metals known to be hazardous to both humans and wildlife.

The cultivated crops could not be used for consumption however they could be used for other purposes – such as hempcrete.

The New Green Gold

The focus on hemp to clean up the damage done to the land is just one of the efforts now well underway in South Africa to focus on the cultivation of the plant as a form of economic development.

While gold mines have long been a source of wealth for the country, the practice of extracting gold is highly destructive to the environment – rendering it unsuitable for both man and beast.

By cleaning up such areas, the land would be reopened for resettlement – and redevelopment.

For more news on the global cannabis industry, be sure to stay tuned to the International Cannabis Business Conference blog.

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German Study Shows Dramatic Increase In Cannabis Consumption

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Science.

A study by UKE-Hamburg shows that the number of cannabis users in Europe has increased more than 25% over the second decade of the century.

According to a study conducted by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research at the University of Hamburg and the Technical University of Dresden, evaluated publicly available data from EU countries along with the UK, Norway, Turkey and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, cannabis use has increased dramatically across Europe.

According to such data, the number of adults, rather unsurprisingly, who have consumed cannabis has risen by an average of 27%. The strongest relative increase occurred among 35-64-year-olds, but overall regular consumption has also increased.

This is certainly interesting data simply because, both anecdotally and otherwise, even CBD stores are reporting a dramatic uptick in traffic as consumers try to ease Pandemic-related stress and anxiety.

However, this information is also coming at a time when many in Germany are calling for a comprehensive reform of the drug laws here – particularly as they relate to cannabis.

While this data also comes from police and crime interdiction reports (see the UN in particular) what this shows generally is that Europe, which has always been more cannabis-friendly (or at least less draconian) than the United States (see no widespread drug testing for employment as one example of the same), is finally starting to have a more honest conversation generally about the topic of cannabis reform.

With more and more countries admitting that cannabis has medical efficacy, even if grudgingly, as well as several now moving in the direction of home grow if not decriminalization, this data serves to underline a major and critical reality.

Cannabis as a medical drug, adult-use substance like but not as dangerous as alcohol and far less dangerous than tobacco consumption not to mention used in a vast variety of other products from food to cosmetics, building supplies to clothing, has hit the mainstream debate in Europe in a way that it has not before.

Change here may not happen as fast or in the same patterns as it did anywhere else, although it is beginning to resemble the fight for legalization in the United States.

And just like the US, there are starting to be clear movements, as well as official data, which points in the direction, finally of the next phase of cannabis reform – and both at a country and regional level.

Stay tuned to the International Cannabis Business Conference blog for updates about the European cannabis industry.

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Spanish Government Continues To Fund Medical Cannabis Research Even As It Has Jailed Club Activist

Written by Marguerite Arnold on . Posted in Science.

Despite the red tape and the imprisonment of Albert Tio the Spanish government is funding some medical cannabis research

Some good news from Spain on the cannabis front at last! As reported by Público, a Spanish-language public affairs and news zine, the Botanical Institute of Barcelona which is a joint project of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the City Council of the Catalan capital is entering its fourth year of government funding for cannabis research.

The project is funded on a federal level by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, which has been given a license by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS). The ultimate objective of the study is to understand the plant’s traditional uses in human history.

The project, led by Teresa Garnatje, consists of 12 researchers and the faculty of Food Sciences of the University of Barcelona. Researchers have already traveled to several countries to obtain, in collaboration with local botanists, samples of indigenous, or what is called “Landrace” cannabis strains. They are also actively asking that those in countries where cannabis is not legal or other restrictions on travel and research exist, that they at least obtain samples of DNA. So far, the team has been focused on Asia and Eastern Europe where cannabis is more easily found still in the wild and uncultivated.

Three years into the project, the researchers have so far gathered between 5-600 samples. The idea is to understand the genetic components of the plant, the variability of species found in the wild, and a way to improve production – whether by growing in “natural” environments or even hybridized.

Given how unstable commercial strains of the plant have proved to be, especially in a GMP, pharmacized production environment, this research may help improve production quality and stability in every medical cultivation market.

However, the question also remains at this point, with a human rights claim pending in Strasbourg, how the Spanish government can jail an activist whose only crime was being ahead of the formal research and putting his life on the line for better access for those who need the drug the most.

This kind of hypocrisy is nothing new of course – in Spain or anywhere else reform powers forward. But is the reason why full and final reform is needed, now. In Spain. In Europe. Not to mention many other regions and jurisdictions.

Be sure to book your tickets for the International Cannabis Business Conference when it returns to Berlin this summer!

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Cannabis Use Not Associated With Elevated Risk Of Secondary Cancer Per Study

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Science.

It is estimated that roughly 4% of all cancer patients suffer from head and/or neck cancer. As with any form of cancer, head and neck cancer are absolutely awful for anyone to have to battle.

The results of a recent cannabis study provide some encouraging news for those that suffer from those particular forms of cancer. Below is more information about it via a news release from our friends at NORML:

Patients with head and neck cancers who possess a history of cannabis use are not at an increased risk of developing a secondary cancer diagnosis, according to data published in the journal Cureus.

A team of researchers affiliated with McMaster University, the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia assessed the association between cannabis smoking and the risk of developing a second primary squamous cell carcinoma in patients previously diagnosed with head and neck cancer.

Investigators reported that those who consumed cannabis “showed lower odds of developing SPC” compared to non-users.

“These results suggest that cannabis behaves differently than tobacco smoking,” they concluded. “Our results are consistent with the theory that cannabis is not carcinogenic and hence would not follow patterns of field cancerization.”

The study’s findings are consistent with those of prior papers concluding that cannabis smoke and tobacco smoke are not equally carcinogenic and that marijuana smoke exposure is not associated with many types of tobacco-related diseases, such as lung cancer and COPD.

Full text of the study, “Rate of second primary head and neck cancer with cannabis use,” appears in Cureus. Additional information is available from the NORML white paper, “All Smoke Is Not Created Equal.”

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Study: Hemp Essential Oil Can Inhibit Or Reduce Bacterial Growth

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Science.

The hemp plant is one of the most versatile plants on earth. It has the ability to feed, to clothe, and to heal. It is estimated that the hemp plant can be used to make tens of thousands of products from paper to plastic.

For many centuries hemp was primarily associated with making rope and textiles. However, that has changed in recent years with the rise in popularity and the availability of hemp-derived oil.

Hemp oil can come in various forms, with the most common being in a liquid capsule form. The hemp plant is rich in the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), and CBD has been found by numerous studies and personal experiences to help successfully treat a number of health conditions, especially epilepsy.

Essential oil made from the hemp plant appears to be able to inhibit or reduce bacterial growth, at least according to the results of a recent study.

A team of researchers in Italy recently explored the relationship between hemp oil and bacteria, especially when it comes to food products. “The essential oil extracted from these inflorescences was investigated for the antioxidant potentialities and for the terpenic profile.” the researchers stated.

The researchers went on to say, “The antibacterial activity of hemp essential oil (HEO) against some pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms isolated from food was also evaluated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).”

“The results obtained suggest that hemp essential oil can inhibit or reduce bacterial growth, also exerting antioxidant activity, and therefore it can find an advantageous application in the food processing field.” the study’s authors concluded.

Results from this study are significant because hemp oil is likely to be used a lot in food products going forward.

Hemp oil is quickly becoming labeled as a ‘super food’ by many nutritionists, and the fact that hemp oil may be able to inhibit or reduce bacterial growth makes it an even more viable ingredient in foods than many previously thought.

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Advocates Call For Removal Of DEA From Cannabis Research Approval Process

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Science.

For many years the DEA has controlled which entities can conduct cannabis research in the United States. That has resulted in research being limited historically. More research is being conducted in the U.S. than years past, however, the situation is still far from optimal.

Considering how popular medical cannabis is in the U.S. and beyond, how many wellness properties the cannabis plant is known to possess, and how many more are yet to be discovered, it makes sense that cannabis research should be embraced rather than hindered. Unfortunately, the DEA’s involvement in the cannabis research approval process is holding things back.

Research in the United States benefits the global cannabis community, not just the U.S. Thankfully, advocates are making a big push to change the current situation. Below is a press release that was sent out today by our friends at the National Cannabis Industry Association:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) submitted comments this week in response to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Request for Information on Controls to Enhance the Cultivation of Marihuana for Research in the United States issued in March. The association argues that public health agencies are far better suited to determine the qualifications of parties engaged in medical or scientific research or production and recommends that the DEA be removed as the agency in charge of final approval for such applications. The comments also cite years-long delays in approving existing applications as additional justification for transferring control of application approval away from law enforcement, and point out several issues in the rule-making process that will likely hinder research.

The full comments are available here.

Despite publicly stating in 2016 that it was interested in expanding production of cannabis for research purposes and streamlining study application review, none of the more than 30 applications that have been submitted since then have been approved by DEA. Under current policy, there is only one legal federal supplier of cannabis located at the University of Mississippi. Researchers and experts have repeatedly claimed that the cannabis produced there is substandard, insufficient for research purposes, and not representative of what is available to consumers in either regulated or illicit markets around the country.

“It is painfully clear that the DEA is either unable or unwilling to meet the increasing demand for cannabis research from voters, policymakers, and the scientific community,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “By continuing to make this agency the gatekeeper for studies and research production, we are doing a disservice to the nation at a time when we need as much health-related information as possible. Federal agencies should be actively facilitating research that could reveal more about the medical benefits of cannabis, not hiding behind outdated policies to delay or discourage the pursuit of knowledge.”

In January, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing featuring representatives of federal agencies involved in approving cannabis research and production, including the DEA. Several members of the committee expressed frustration at the inability of witnesses to provide substantive information about how the process would be improved or timelines for approval of existing applications.

“On behalf of its nearly 2,000 members, NCIA hereby requests that these proposed regulations be amended and/or withdrawn… and that a qualified public health agency be appointed to serve as the coordinating agency instead,” the comments conclude. “We also request that the applicant pool be expanded to include companies that are or have cultivated cannabis in accordance with the laws of any state, regardless of whether the DEA concludes such actions did or did not technically violate the [Controlled Substance Act]. Most importantly, NCIA requests that the U.S. Government incentivize research and create a pathway for less restrictive means by which the country can access important information about the medicinal properties of cannabis.”

Cannabis is legal for adults in eleven states as well as the District of Columbia and the territories of CNMI and Guam, and 33 states as well as several territories have comprehensive medical cannabis laws. The substance is legal in some form in 47 states.

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The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is the largest cannabis trade association in the U.S. and the only organization broadly representing cannabis-related businesses at the national level. NCIA promotes the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and works toward a favorable social, economic, and legal environment for that industry in the United States.

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Science Will Decide The Winners Of The Spannabis Champions Cup

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

Cannabis competitions often involve a large amount of subjectivity. The cannabis community has long needed a cannabis competition that is dedicated to objectivity and science.

That is why the Spannabis Champions Cup has organized a competition in which the winner will be decided by science alone.

The rules of the cannabis competition are very straightforward. Entries will be lab tested, and the best lab results will determine the winner in each category.

It’s a very objective approach to determining a winner and makes it a truly even playing field for all of the competitors.

Two cash prizes will be awarded to the entries with the highest amount of cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s an exciting format that is going to draw interest from consumers and industry members from all over the globe.

More information about the Spannabis Champions Cup

XV Spannabis Champions Cup will be a neutral and transparent competition with five categories:

  • Indica
  • Sativa
  • CBD Flowers
  • Solvent-free Extractions
  • Solvent Extractions

As previously stated, lab results will determine who takes the prize and the funds raised (once the basic production expenses are covered) will go to the cash prizes for the winners.

The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Spannabis Barcelona 2020 auditorium.

There are two sponsorship options: 

  • GOLD (€ 1,400 + VAT)
  • SILVER (€ 700 + VAT)

Here you can check all the details of each option, and here you can download the request in PDF.

Contact the event organizers if you have any kind of questions.

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Study: Cannabis May Reduce PTSD, Depression, And Suicidal States

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Science.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. It is estimated that as many as 354 million adult war survivors globally suffer from PTSD.

The condition can often lead to increased rates of depression and the sufferer experiencing suicidal thoughts. It is like living in a constant nightmare. Anyone who suffers from PTSD or has a loved one that does will often be quick to point that out.

Cannabis use has been found to help treat PTSD, and according to a new study, it is associated will lowered rates of depression and suicidal states among PTSD sufferers. Read more about it in our recent article in Cannabis & Tech Today.

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Israeli Researchers Link Cannabis Use To Weight Gain In Cancer Patients

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Science.

Significant and rapid weight loss is a serious issue for cancer patients and is often one of the first signs that a person is suffering from cancer. Common cancer treatments usually make the problem worse because they often contribute to further weight loss by the patient.

It is estimated that as many as 100 million people worldwide were suffering from the disease as of 2017, which is more than double the number of people diagnosed with cancer in 1990.

The results of a recent study suggest that the use of cannabis oil may be able to help cancer patients gain weight. You can read about it in our recent article at Cannabis & Tech Today.