Embassy HEADLINES Issue 392

By Published On: January 30, 2020Categories: Cannabis

AUSTRALIA

117 Public Submissions for Senate Inquiry

Read the submissions made to the Senate inquiry into current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia.

ACT cannabis laws come into effect on Friday, but they may not be what you hoped for

The laws prompt the obvious question: if people are growing cannabis plants, where are they getting the seeds? Although a person would not be prosecuted for possession or cultivation of a cannabis plant under the new ACT laws, the person providing the seeds or plants would be committing an offence.

Australia says over-the-counter CBD sales ‘could be considered during 2020’

A review of cannabidiol products being undertaken by Australian health authorities could result in the relaxation of the scheduling status of CBD, potentially making it available over the counter in low doses. In a public submission to a Senate committee studying Australia’s medical cannabis access scheme, the Department of Health said the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is currently undertaking a safety review of CBD at lower doses.

Hemp is an eco-friendly material, but anti-marijuana campaigns a century ago set the Australian industry back

The British Government was the first organisation to import cannabis into Australia. They carried Cannabis sativa seeds onboard the First Fleet, with the plan to establish large hemp crops in the colonies. At the time, they were using hemp for their sails, rigging, clothing, even the waterproofing for their ships. And the Empire was dependent on Russian-grown hemp for its supply — which was considered an unreliable arrangement. So what happened to the Australian hemp industry?

Benjamin Jesse: Celebrating Australia’s Cannabis Industry

Benjamin Jesse is the founder of the Australian Cannabis Industry Awards, an event that celebrates Australia’s cannabis industry and highlights successful leaders in the space.

 

NORTH AMERICA

California’s $635M in cannabis taxes—where is it going?

Major Canadian pot companies facing proposed class-action lawsuits in the U.S.

Some of Canada’s biggest cannabis producers are facing proposed class-action lawsuits in the United States after investors were hit with steep financial losses in the stock market. At least nine U.S. law firms are pursuing cases against Canopy Growth, Aurora Cannabis and Hexo Corp. in American courts. Although the allegations vary, each pot producer is accused of misleading investors or failing to disclose certain problems with their businesses. When those problems became publicly known, the lawsuits claim, share prices plunged and investors were stuck with losses.

New Mexico Recreational Pot Legalization Passes 1st Test

A key committee has passed a Democrat-backed bill to legalize recreational marijuana businesses in all towns and counties across New Mexico.

Long lines, high demand cause Illinois adult-use marijuana stores to ration flower, require customer appointments

A few weeks into recreational cannabis sales in Illinois, supply of flower remains tight, which is forcing many marijuana retailers to limit the amount sold to any one customer.

11 States That Could Legalize Cannabis in 2020

Nearly a dozen states have the opportunity to legalize adult-use cannabis next year. Which ones will be successful?

Canada’s Marijuana Sales Top $100 Million in a Month for the First Time

Aggregate Canadian cannabis sales since October 2018 are nearing $1 billion.

Tennessee Senator Files Bill to Allow Sale and Taxation of Marijuana

The bill proposes a 12% tax on cannabis products.

Michigan medical marijuana seller gets prison: ‘Federal law has not changed,’ judge says

The former owner of medical-marijuana dispensaries in several Michigan cities was sentenced Tuesday, Jan. 28, to nearly 16 years in federal prison. Danny Trevino, 47, of Lansing, who had Hydroworld dispensaries in Grand Rapids, Flint, Jackson, Lansing and elsewhere, had avoided state criminal and civil penalties over the years but was convicted of multiple federal charges.

WORLD

Motion filed at Nepal Parliament demanding to legalize marijuana

The motion has demanded to legalize marijuana farming arguing that many countries including the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Thailand have been making a good profit by cultivating marijuana for medical use.

Italian Police Report 1,200% Increase in Cannabis Cultivation in Albania

It estimated that 100,000 cannabis plants are growing in Albania now.

Davos cannabis conclave advances cause for legalisation

This year the Cannabis Conclave brought together cannabis industry executives, global investors, policy makers and international media to fuel the legalisation debate globally, both for recreational and medical cannabis, and to highlight the growing legitimacy and maturity of the legal cannabis industry.

Jamaica helps illicit small-time cannabis farmers transition to legal market

To eradicate poverty the government offers seeds, logistical help and up to 18 months of unlicensed cultivation.

Delayed French Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Planned For Q3 Launch

In 2019, France announced plans to commence a medicinal cannabis pilot, which is now due to start in September 2020.  The pilot will run for two years with the initial six months will serve to identify the 3000 patients who will most benefit from the programme.

Thousands visit Thai marijuana-based clinic within 10 days of opening

The country’s first marijuana-based clinic is bustling with patients just 10 days after it opened with more than 4,000 seeing the doctor and 12,000 people seeking appointments until March.

Product supply interruptions hit German medical cannabis market, but government dismisses risk of shortages

In response to a recent parliamentary inquiry, the government noted that pharmacies that sell medical cannabis have access to a variety of distributors beyond some companies whose products have been found to be in short supply or unavailable.

Italy sets THC limits, testing standards for hemp food

Italy set the limits in a decree published Jan. 15. The levels apply only to hemp food derived from the plant’s grain, not foods infused with CBD or other cannabinoids. The Italy Ministry of Health set the maximum THC levels at:

  • 2 milligrams per kilogram for flour, seeds and supplements derived from hempseed (grain).
  • 5 milligrams per kilogram for oil derived from hempseed.

Medical marijuana is now free of charge in Sicily

The cost of prescriptions, available to patients suffering from chronic pain, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis, will be covered by the Sicilian regional government according to reports in Italian media.

European Commission falls short on WHO cannabis recommendations, experts say

The European Commission’s proposal that European Union-member countries support three of the six World Health Organization (WHO) cannabis scheduling recommendations does not merit much celebration from the cannabis industry, according to international drug policy experts.

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Beyond THC and CBD: The Science of Cannabinoids and the Brain

There are more than 100 cannabinoids in cannabis, and all of them can affect our brains and bodies. Here’s what science does — and doesn’t — know about cannabinoids and the brain.

Novel studies on cannabis use by young adults show interesting results

The first research deals with why young adults living in Los Angeles County acquire medical cannabis cards. The second study provides data on how the neighborhood density and storefront signage of medical cannabis dispensaries influence consumption rates and associations among the youth.

Cannabis IQ drop is a myth, new twin study confirms

The idea that regular cannabis use can leave you with lower intelligence is fairly common—and can even be supported by some scientific research. But a new twin study is coming to cannabis’ defense, debunking this old idea with stronger evidence.

Study shows cannabinoid signalling vital for anxiety and stress levels

According to the new study, a molecule produced by the brain that is involved in cannabinoid signalling activates the same receptors as cannabis, and is protective against stress by reducing anxiety-causing connections between two brain regions.

Cannabis compound could be weapon in fight against superbugs

Scientists screened five cannabis compounds for their antibiotic properties and found that one, cannabigerol (CBG), was particularly potent at killing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the most common hospital superbugs.

Medical cannabis and insomnia in older adults with chronic pain: a cross-sectional study

MC use may have an overall positive effect on maintaining sleep throughout the night in chronic pain patients. At the same time, tolerance towards potential sleep-inducing properties of MC may occur with frequent use.

GARDENING & EXTRACTING

Your Guide to Ethanol Extraction in Cannabis

In part III of a special extraction series, Mark June-Wells examines ethanol’s properties, the different types of extraction strategies, safety considerations for ethanol systems and laboratory infrastructure considerations.

Troubleshooting common mistakes in marijuana growing

You’re excited to grow weed in your garden and you think, “How hard can this be? It’s called weed for a reason, right?” Right! And while it’s most certainly not rocket science, there are some mistakes you can make. Read on and learn how to steer clear of the most common.

Climate Change Puts Spotlight on the Drought Resistance of Marijuana

The conflict between cannabis and climate is a story that is all too likely to become commonplace in the face of climate change. It raises the question about how drought resistant cannabis actually is — and if there are methods of cultivating cannabis with less water that truly work.

POLITICS & LAW

Why the war on drugs must end

Punishing people who make the personal choice to consume an illicit substance has no place in the 21st century.

Prohibitionists Still Want Drug Dealers to Sell Your Kids Marijuana

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) recently pumped the brakes on the chances of the House-approved SAFE Banking Act getting through his committee. An op-ed published by The Washington Examiner this week applauds that decision, claiming it’s in the name of “safeguarding children”.

U.S. Congress Takes Steps in Favor of Cannabis Research

Cannabis legalization still isn’t guaranteed in 2020. Most of the discussions are at the state level. Democratic presidential candidates support federal legalization except for Joe Biden. Although Republicans don’t support legalization, they want more cannabis research. Cannabis has support from celebrities as well. Now Congress wants to push a few of the cannabis reform proposals for hearing. 

Report on Vape Health Scare Outlines How to Avoid a Repeat

As the outbreak of vaping related illnesses and fatalities continues around the USA, the National Cannabis Industry Association has released a new report summarizing what experts currently know about the vaping health scare, including suggestions for how producers, regulators and lawmakers can stop health scares like this from happening in the legal cannabis market.

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY

Descheduling Cannabis: Be Careful What You Wish

Imagine being so brazen in your greed that you host a whole panel at @sxsw about how descheduling might cost you your monopoly status on the cannabis market by making it more accessible to consumers.

Why Are Hemp Prices Still Falling?

Farmers expected high earnings from hemp cultivation. However, hemp prices have fallen. Farmers are struggling to find enough buyers. Citing Whitney Economics’s survey in July, in November 2019, Reuters reported that 65% of US hemp farmers aren’t getting enough buyers.

Cannabis Beauty Products: Everything You Wanted to Know About Marijuana in the Beauty Industry

Over the centuries people used marijuana to treat different skin diseases. Cannabis oil has 80% of fatty acids (linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid) and these acids are already used in most beauty products. They can be found in any other plant as well, but not at such a high percentage. The most interesting thing is that this percentage of fatty acids in cannabis equals the percentage we have in our skin naturally, and that is why this plant is so efficient — it can penetrate into the deepest layers of the skin.

Leafly slashes 18% of workforce to align business with ‘market realities’ of tech and cannabis industry

Leafly provides cannabis information and services via its website and apps, connecting consumers with retailers and brands. It also publishes cannabis-related news.

Report: Cannabis Sales Up Among Boomers, Gen Z

According to cannabis delivery company Eaze’s 2019 State of Cannabis Report, the company saw a 74 percent increase in first-time deliveries and customers aged 50-and-older on the platform increased 105 percent, suggesting that California is seeing an uptick in new consumers and the “canna-curious.”

Cannabis Taking A Larger Share Of Alcohol Industry Amid Concern Over Calories And Hangovers

The growing concern over calories and hangovers is driving more millennials to replace alcohol with cannabis in their social life — a trend that pushes investors to increasingly eye the infused beverage industry as an opportunity. A recent Monitoring the Future research found US millennials drink far less alcohol than previous generations. By contrast, there was a significant increase in daily marijuana use among young US adults, especially during 2019, the research further revealed, resonating with the gradual legalization of medical and recreational marijuana across the country.

The Cannabis Industry’s Dirty Energy Secret

The growing of pot is so power-intensive that its ecological footprint is quickly becoming an environmental nightmare. The $344 billion cannabis industry is one of the country’s most energy-intensive in the world, frequently demanding an array of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, fans and 24-hour indoor lighting rigs at multiple growing sites. Just how much electricity does the entire US marijuana industry consume? The numbers are mind-boggling.

Australian Industrial Hemp Conference [Fremantle]

 

 

The Future of Medicinal Cannabis Conference [Melbourne]

3rd to 4th March 2020, Melbourne

HHI Expo [Canberra]

HHI EXPO – BCEC Brisbane 18 & 19 July

HHI EXPO – Sydney Olympic Park 31 Oct & 1 Nov

 

 

Nimbin MardiGrass [Nimbin]

Protest, Educate & Celebrate: 1st – 3rd May 2020

 

FUNDRAISERS/CAMPAIGNS/PETITIONS/SURVEYS

Senate Inquiry into Current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia [United in Compassion]

URGENT REVIEW of the medical cannabis delivery system model [MCUA]

Scott Morrison (ScoMo): Legalise Recreational Cannabis [Cannabis Club Australia]

Medical Cannabis Access – Patient Satisfaction Survey [Medical Cannabis Users Association of Australia, MCUA]

HELP GROW OUR CANNABIS CAMPAIGN [The Greens]

Next stop Canberra – we’re taking the fight to Parliament! [United in Compassion]

Inquiry into drug driving reform [Enpsychedelia]

Biological Flora Medicinal Research Initiative

EDUCATION