The Green List has a zero-tolerance for illegal listings or prescription products.

August 1st Highlights

  • Cannabis-Induced Oceanic Boundlessness - I recently came across a study that phrased the subjective measure of their study in one of the most elegant ways I’ve read. The participants of the study found that high doses of THC created a state of “Cannabis-induced oceanic boundlessness”. The researchers found that the objectives of large doses of cannabis can help improve symptoms of treatment-resistant depression and other mental ailments, including distress related to cancer, and even dependence on cigarettes and alcohol. The study found that high doses of cannabis resulted in 17-19% of people with treatment-resistant depression and distress reporting experiencing “breakthroughs” for the better in their mental health. Interestingly, for those investigating psychedelics, Psilocybin was still reported as offering more positive mental “breakthroughs” for people with treatment-resistant depression, 59% of respondents. The study defines this breakthrough or feeling of “oceanic boundlessness” as mystical experiences, which often proceed a change in mental health. Study Reference - link - content reference - link
  • A Cannabis Hangover - I find it very hard to comprehend how businesses setting up large cultivation operations around the world are not paying close to the following FACTS. Cannabis producers in Canada have sold less than 20% of their production since the country launched adult-use sales in October 2018, according to an MJBizDaily analysis. The newest data – which runs through 2020 – implies that most of the cannabis produced from 2018 through last year was either stored in inventory or destroyed, and less than one-fifth ended up in retail stores. That disconnect likely helps explain how the largest Canadian cannabis producers, which account for most of the industry’s production, together have lost more than 11 billion Canadian dollars ($8.8 billion) cumulatively. Content sourced from MMJBIZ
  • U.K. Cannabis Care - It has been estimated that up to 1.4 million people in the UK are using cannabis for medical purposes, but while some of these individuals are being prescribed products by private GPs and pharmacies, others are buying CBD oils of different concentrations from health food shops or the whole plant extract from recreational dealers. According to Prohibition Partners, a marketing consultancy with a stated mission to open up the international cannabis industry, the entire UK cannabis market could be worth $1.7bn by 2024, if recreational use is also legalised in the next three years. Content reference - link
  • Defining ‘What Is Cannabis' - a very important question - I came across the following thought-provoking quote - “The main issue we have is that medical cannabis use is still very poorly defined,” says Marta Di Forti, a psychiatrist at King’s College London. “When you look at the data out there, you don’t just have medicinal cannabis under one umbrella, you have different substances, taken at different doses, and sometimes combined with other medications and sometimes on their own. Because of this, when I have patients who want to buy CBD over the counter and try it, my recommendation is that they start with the lowest recommended dose and monitor if they experience any adverse side-effects because we still know so little.” “We’ve seen this in the past with tobacco, which was once advertised as a way to reduce anxiety. I don’t want to see history repeating itself.” This is a very important consideration as thoughts like this help define what is cannabis, and how to regulate it as a medicine.

 

Mater researchers aim to prove the benefits of cannabis for cancer patients

ECS Botanics jumps almost 5pc on $4.5 million Polish deal

Auscann commences Australian product registration with first regulatory filing for Dermacann®

Cann Group seeks to raise A$20 million

July 11th Highlights

Los Angeles police make a record $1.6b black market cannabis bust

Apple now allows cannabis businesses on its app store, while Google maintains ban

The big problem with every Cannabis company in the U.S. (and why the world’s biggest cannabis company won’t touch it)

Nevada declares cannabis not performance-enhancing—legalises cannabis use for MMA athletes

Medicinal cannabis finally available by prescription in Tasmania

NZ Govt accused of creating medicinal cannabis crisis through strict regulations

15.9 million Australians want cannabis decriminalised

Dragonfly cannabis oil receives approval to enter the Australian market

Cannasouth to buy out cultivation and manufacturing joint venture partners

SAS-B applications for PTSD sky-rocket with military veterans leading the charge

June 27th Highlights

  • MediPharm Labs entered a research agreement with McMaster University - I feel an immense amount of satisfaction being able to share MediPharm Lab's most recent announcement - the collaboration between MPL and McMaster University. Over the coming years, I suspect it will become increasingly important for companies to validate the products they sell, via formal research pathways to ensure these products are high quality, safe AND efficacious. As more companies move towards this model, so to will the doctors and patients that adopt these products. I'm very pleased MediPharm Labs is on this path. The MediPharm team will work with various clinician groups at McMaster to assess the effectiveness of proprietary THC and CBD drug candidates for multiple indications including pain, insomnia associated with major depression, and uremic pruritus. Well done to our hard-working team for coordinating this agreement with McMaster University! 
  • When is it large, large enough? I read this week that Cannara completed its acquisition of TGOD's cultivation facility, adding a 1 million square foot licensed cultivation and manufacturing facility to its already 1,650,000 sq. ft indoor growing facilities across Canada and Quebec. In Australia, the group at Asterion announced their plans to build the world's largest medicinal cannabis facility in Toowoomba, a 40-hectare farm. There is no rational business case for occupying this much space for cannabis cultivation. My friend Matt Lamer said it perfectly “just ask Aurora, Canopy, Tilray, Green Organic Dutchman, etc, how their "world's largest cannabis greenhouses" went. Large indoor = large spend
  • The UK is the world’s largest exporter of medical cannabis, yet the nation’s own drug laws don’t reflect this position. However, a recently published paper released by Maple Tree Consultants and Mackrell.Solicitors are calling on the UK Government to review its restrictive approach to the country’s cannabis market, revealing the outdated laws and regulations that are hampering the growth of this multi-billion-pound industry. The paper noted that if red tape is reduced across the U.K., the medical cannabis market could be worth £2bn, create 97,000 new jobs, and transform access for the estimated 1.4 million individuals currently sourcing cannabis illegally for medical reasons, who are in desperate need of affordable cannabis medicine - article reference.

 

Opening the gates to hemp fed livestock in Australia

Medleaf and NGC land New Zealand flower shipment

Althea enters South African cannabis market

Hemp processing starts in Western Australia's south-west

Emyria files new patents for IBS treatment

Helius announces education program with DATAPHARM

Little Green Pharma secures deal to distribute medicinal cannabis products in Poland

June 13th Highlights

  • Medical Cannabis Approval on the Rise - Medicinal cannabis prescriptions are on the rise in Australia, and general practitioners will increasingly encounter patients using cannabis-based products. As of 31st of May 2021, the TGA has approved over 120,000 SAS Category B applications for unapproved medicinal cannabis products. In May, Australian cannabis approvals INCREASED by 141% from the previous year. In 2020, 4133 SAS Category B applications were approved - one year later the TGA approved 9965 applications. In April, the total number of approvals was 6682 - I suspect this was due to the flower shortage in the market. Now that all products are back in stock - the approvals have grown again. Doctor acceptance is changing and the patient base is growing.
  • The Leahtal Dose - Cannabis is a relatively safe drug, and it is not associated with fatal overdoses. The human lethal dose of THC has been extrapolated to be >15,000 mg. This highlights that THC has a very wide safety margin, as this lethal dose is 750 times greater than a typical intoxicating dose of 20 mg. Phase 1 studies demonstrate that CBD is well tolerated even at very high doses (up to 6000 mg). The lethal dose of fentanyl is generally stated to be 2 milligrams. Morphine doses of over 200 mg are considered to be lethal. Unlike opioids, cannabis does not cause respiratory depression because of a paucity of cannabinoid receptor expression in the brainstem.

The Australian Journal of General Practices launch cannabis info portal

Australian hemp-based skincare brand Hey Bud bags $2 million to fuel bricks-and-mortar

ECS Botanics reports jump in sales as demand for cannabis products grows

Zelira to begin clinical trials for chronic pain in retired athletes

May 30th Highlights

  • Foul Play in Canada - Canadian cannabis companies formally cried foul about their rivals’ business practices nearly 200 times last year, the highest number of complaints lodged with Health Canada in years and nearly double 2019 levels. This very revealing read explores the issues with the Candian market that are causing companies to operate in grey areas to grow. Article link
  • A Change in Sentiment - Data from a recent survey of 1506 family medical professionals demonstrated that 70 percent of clinicians believe cannabis has therapeutic value. Over time more doctors are adopting cannabis into their treatment wheelhouse. In Australia, a recept report stated that across Australia, there are now more than 180 number of Authorised Prescribers in Australia - an Authorised Prescriber is allowed to supply the product directly to patients in their immediate care without requiring separate approval for individual patients. Between July 1 - Dec 31 2020 Authorised Prescribers prescribed cannabis to more than 7,500 new patients.
  • Italian Industry Speaks up to Parliament - A collective of Italian cannabis operators spoke out against an anti-cannabis ‘manifesto’ presented by an Italian politician. The group rightfully commented that  “We are in a historical and economic moment that sees many Italian companies in difficulty. Talking about our work in these terms does not bring any help. On the contrary, it blocks one of the few sectors that, despite the total absence of incentives and concessions, has been able to resist and grow,” Cathy La Torre. This is an excellent example of businesses speaking out against unfounded anti-cannabis agendas that block the industry from growing. Reference link
  • Progress in the Field of Glioblastoma - A phase 2 randomised clinical trial with 88 patients assessed the tolerability of two different ratios of medicinal cannabis in patients with high-grade gliomas. The study demonstrated that a single nightly dose of THC-containing medicinal cannabis was safe, had no serious adverse effects, and was well tolerated in patients. Medicinal cannabis significantly improved sleep, functional wellbeing, and quality of life. Study reference

A wonderful example - NZ’s first “Carbonzero” medical cannabis firm emerges

PBS & private health cover for legal medical cannabis

Lifespot Health launches Medihale inhaler to medical cannabis market in Australian first

AusCann reports medicinal cannabis dog trial results promising

Little Green Pharma receives $2.5M purchase order from DEMECAN

Avecho Biotechnology completes pharmaceutical CBD capsule

ACT reps give evidence to Victorian cannabis inquiry

May 16th Highlights

  • Cannabis, Uber and the Business Giants - This month Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told CNBC last month his company “absolutely” would explore cannabis delivery if the federal government legalizes marijuana. Elizabeth Ashford, senior director of corporate communications at California-based retailer and delivery company Eaze commented on this saying “When companies like Uber are talking about getting into cannabis delivery, it’s a really good market signal about how ubiquitous cannabis legalization is and also how ubiquitous customer demand is for delivered cannabis products”. Uber and other large giants have eyed off the cannabis industry this includes Jazz Pharma, Constellation Brands, British American Tobacco, Novartis, Altria, and Molson Coors Brewing - to name a few. As governments around the world loosen regulations, and patient/consumer numbers grow, the involvement of big-name giants will increase.
  • Tilray - the New Cannabis Giant - It’s going to be interesting to witness the unfolding of the new cannabis giant Tilray. In early May Tilray shareholders approved the merger with Aphri, creating a cannabis powerhouse that’s both the largest medical cannabis company in Europe and a major player in Canada’s recreational market. The company will now have a market value in excess of $8 billion. The cannabis industry will be watching to see how the company deploys its capital and executes on R&D and commercial strategies. #ThePressureIsOn - More on this topic

 

NZ Govt dismisses calls for medicinal cannabis review to be widened

Ryah Group enters New Zealand market signing agreement with Medical Kiwi

Emyria granted TGA approval for medical grade, smartphone-enabled, monitoring software

Medicinal cannabis research gets $1.5m for cancer treatment symptoms

Puro aims to write ‘organic playbook’ for cannabis cultivation

Health House gains foothold in Germany with CanPharma deal

‘Serious risk to your health’: Black market warning on medicinal cannabis

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