Embassy HEADLINES Issue 419
AUSTRALIA/NZ
Launch of SHOP.HEMPEMBASSY.NET by MP Janelle Saffin on Friday August 14
NZ cannabis campaign on a knife edge
Fifty days out from a national referendum, cannabis legalisation campaigners in New Zealand are fearful a lack of public advocates could cost them a chance at carefully crafted law reform.
Coronavirus buy-local trend driving demand for Australian-grown medicinal cannabis
An Australian medical cannabis company says the rise of the buy-local movement during COVID-19 driven has up demand for locally produced cannabinoid products.
Australia’s Applied Cannabis Research and MedReleaf Australia Launch Observational Patient Study – Releaf For Veterans
The study will explore the impact of medicinal cannabis on chronic pain in Veterans.
NORTH AMERICA
Welcome to Ontario Cannabis Store
Here is a link to the Ontario government’s cannabis online store, so you can see what’s legally available with prices etc in Canada.
Canadian trial evaluates real-world use of medical cannabis products
The Medical Cannabis Real-World Evidence clinical trial allows patients to choose medical cannabis products that have been tested and have information on what is in the product, including the milligrams of THC and cannabidiol and other phytocannabinoids being consumed.
Cannabis Canada: Domestic pot industry contributes $8.65B to economy in May, StatsCan says
Meanwhile, the illicit market continues to trend downward and is estimated to contribute $3.92 billion to the country’s economy, down about 13 per cent since May 2019 according to StatsCan.
New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program Surpasses $92M for the First Six Months of 2020
Combined patient sales from the 34 licensed producers in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program totaled $92 million during the first six months of 2020, an increase of $32.5 million or 55% over reported patient sales for the first six months of 2019.
BC allows online payment for in-store cannabis pickup; is delivery next?
The province of British Columbia is allowing privately owned adult-use cannabis stores to accept payments online, by phone or through an app for in-store pickup – an effort to promote social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Illinois: Retail Cannabis Sales Surge Over 20 Percent Month-Over-Month
Sales of adult-use cannabis products in Illinois rose over 20 percent in July to reach a record high, according to data provided by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Massachusetts Ends Quarantine of 600,000 Vape Products
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is allowing most products that were quarantined during last year’s vape-illness crisis to again be sold in the state, so long as they are re-tested and don’t contain vitamin E acetate. The agency said if a product fails the test it must be destroyed.
Massachusetts Medical Program Explodes During Coronavirus Pandemic
When the adult-use market shuttered for two months, the number of patients and ounces sold through the medical program increased dramatically.
WORLD
France to Introduce on-the-spot Fines for Cannabis Use
The Prime Minister of France, Jean Castex, has announced the planned introduction of on-the-spot fines for users of cannabis and other drugs in the country. The announcement comes after trials of the measure in various French cities.
U.S. Funding Medical Cannabis Research In Israel For Last 50 Years
Despite its official stance, the American government has been quietly financing cannabis research in Israel for decades. More recently, funding was taken over by Big Pharma. You just can’t make this up.
Netherlands receives 149 applications for recreational cannabis grow trial
The applications now will be evaluated by the government, which recently communicated that “a maximum of 10 growers” are expected to be selected “in early 2021.”
First dedicated CBD cafe and shop in Hong Kong opens in Sheung Wan
The boutique and cafe aims to be a safe space for people to learn about CBD and enjoy a range of products for individual needs.
Some WHO cannabis recommendations draw strong opposition at recent UN meeting
Two of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cannabis scheduling recommendations might face an uphill battle getting adopted later this year by the United Nations’ Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).
It’s time Britain regulated cannabis like alcohol – the benefits are clear
Having a standard way of displaying the strength of a drug doesn’t just help consumers make purchasing decisions, it can also be used to help them understand risks.
Saint Vincent medical cannabis industry resilient despite COVID-19 delays
The coronavirus pandemic has caused delays for some medical cannabis businesses in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, but the chief operating officer of the industry’s regulatory body says the sector remains strong.
Thai Cabinet approves draft law expanding access to cannabis
Thailand’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal from the Public Health Ministry that would allow health professionals, farmers and medical patients to grow, produce and export cannabis and its products.
HEALTH & SCIENCE
Vancouver-based study finds that cannabis can be a “reverse gateway drug”
All participants described their cannabis use as a form of mental health and substance use treatment, rather than recreational.
Hemp Concrete: From Roman Bridges to a Possible Material of the Future
Mortar made of hemp was discovered on the pillars of bridges built by the Merovingians in the 6th century, in what is now France. It is also well known that the Romans used hemp fiber to reinforce the mortar in their buildings.
Canada Will Let Terminally Ill Patients Use Psychedelic Mushrooms For End-Of-Life Care
Four cancer patients in end-of-life care will be become the first people in decades to legally possess and consume psilocybin mushrooms in Canada after a landmark decision Tuesday by the country’s minister of health.
How can nanomedicine be applied to cannabis?
Imagine a world in which a tiny nanorobot could deliver a specific cannabinoid directly to your endocannabinoid (ECS) receptors.
Most Overlooked Medicinal Aspect of Marijuana? Its Psychoactive Effects
Cannabis has been used for centuries as a part of nearly every culture that has existed. Much like fermenting different substances to create alcohol, human civilization took to the cannabis plant since the time it could identify it and find a way to consume it.
Delta-8 THC: Here’s What the People Have to Say
When something new like delta-8 THC comes around, there are a lot of questions about the specifics of what it does, and how it makes a person feel. While we rely on medical research to look into it clinically, one of the best ways of getting information about how something newly found is affecting people, is by getting their direct response.
McConnell Slams Pelosi Over Claim Marijuana Is A ‘Proven’ Therapy Amid Coronavirus Debate
The majority leader, who has consistently railed against the inclusion of cannabis banking protections in the House COVID-19 bill, said on the Senate floor that Pelosi is “still agitating for strange, new special interest carve-outs for the marijuana industry and even claiming they are COVID-related.”
5 tips on protecting your hemp crops from diseases
For a while now there’s been an incorrect yet popular belief that hemp plants have no diseases and don’t need pesticides or fertilizers.
POLITICS & LAW
Does Cannabis Legalisation Lead to an Increase in Road Traffic Accidents?
While driving under the influence of cannabis may increase the risk of being involved in a road traffic accident, it appears that cannabis legalisation does not lead to large or sustained increases in traffic accidents.
Congressional Measure Allows Military to Use CBD
A new amendment to the Defense Department budget could allow service members to use CBD products—a direct response to a move by Pentagon brass to explicitly restrict all cannabis derivatives.
U.S. House Votes To Protect State Marijuana Laws From Federal Interference
The measure, which would prevent the Department of Justice from using its funds to impede the implementation of cannabis legalization laws, passed in a 254-163 vote on the floor.
MPP urges presidential candidates to step up on cannabis policy
With less than 100 days until the November election — and with neither presidential contender taking a stand in support of cannabis legalization — the Marijuana Policy Project sent letters to the Biden campaign and the Trump administration urging both candidates to do better when it comes to cannabis policy.
About 15 per cent of young Australians would try weed… if it was legal, that is
The willingness to try cannabis if legal was of concern to study lead Janni Leung, pointing out that openness could potentially translate to higher use.
A study found that “overall teen marijuana use decreased or remained stable following legalization.”
Killer chemicals still on the streets
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (which oversees cannabis) is moving to ban additives like artificial ‘grape ape’ flavor in legal THC vapes.
CULTURE
Jim Belushi Blazes On To Discovery With Reality Series About His Cannabis Business
Jim Belushi Blazes On To Discovery With Reality Series About His Cannabis Business
Do you want to be a marijuana millionaire? This new show could be your chance
New reality show will feature 16 cannabis entrepreneurs competing for a $1 million grand prize.
These 9 Classic Strains From The ’60s Are Still Available Today
The Intersection of LGBTQIA+ and Cannabis Culture
The relationship between the LGBTQIA+ community and the cannabis community goes deeper than you would imagine. Find out what people and events have brought them together.
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Four cents per gram? Outdoor pot is piling up in a ‘constipated’ market
Growing cannabis under the free rays of the sun costs a fraction of indoor or greenhouse cultivation. But outdoor producers have yet to sell millions worth of last year’s harvest, and at least one has slashed its expected selling price amid an oversupplied market.
Analysis: an evolving industry battles political ambivalence and the GP knowledge gap
Report on the hurdles the industry still needs to jump to persuade politicians and physicians of its multi-million dollar, life-changing potential.
How Legalizing Cannabis Can Bring Back the Right Kind of Tourism
Most Dutch coffeeshops are really quite small and not suitable for “social distancing” so they were ordered closed when the pandemic hit Holland. However, they were quickly allowed to reopen for “takeout”, because the Dutch long ago decided that they don’t want cannabis sold on the streets with hard drugs. (They call it ‘Separation of the Markets). Also, coffee shops are important for many medical users.
Legal Cannabis Provides A Bright Spot In A Bleak Economy
The pandemic has hobbled entire sectors of the economy but the cannabis industry is surviving, even thriving.
Canadian, Australian firms team up to market CBD products in Asia-Pacific
A major greenhouse grower based in Canada has inked an agreement to buy part of a cannabinoid seller in Australia to support its ambitions of entering the CBD market in the Asia-Pacific region.
An online business directory and marketplace for the Australian cannabis and hemp industry
Medical Cannabis – Patient Stories [Online]
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 07:00 PM AEST: Join us as we hear patient accounts of their experience with medicinal cannabis for a range of different conditions.
Medical Cannabis Cultivation Webinar [Online]
Wednesday, Sep 2, 2020 07:00 PM AEST: Join us as we speak to Australian cultivators growing medicinal cannabis. We will discuss strains, lighting, fertiliser and exactly what it takes to grow a medical crop.
What is the next major cannabinoid? – with Prof. David Meiri, PhD [Online]
Thursday, 6 August 2020 7:30 pm AEST: Join one of Israel’s top professors, discussing his research on precision cannabinoid medicine.
5 NZ policy insights you need to know with Tara Creaven-Capasso [Online]
Wednesday, 12 August 2020 2:00 pm AEST: Join one of New Zealand’s top regulatory advisors, sharing their insights on New Zealand’s newly formed cannabis regulations.
3 Important Patient Treatment Statistics [online]
Will Australia legalise recreational cannabis within 2 years? A Conversation with Fiona Patten MP [online]
Drug Policy Public Discussion Forum [Sydney]
Australian Medicinal Cannabis Conference 2020 [Melbourne]
Hemp, Health & Innovation Expo Postponed until 2021!
Garden States – Cultivating Plant Knowledge Postponed until 2021!
FUNDRAISERS/CAMPAIGNS/PETITIONS/SURVEYS
Legalise Cannabis Queensland launched!
2020 Cannabis Awards are here!
Help Entheogenesis Australis [EGA] fundraise for a new website
Make a submission: Inquiry into the use of Cannabis in Victoria
Petition: Help Stop Suicides – Legalise Cannabis Now
Story Lab: It’s time for a new conversation about drugs in Australia.
Queensland’s prison crisis: Some modest proposals
Australian Senate committee issues report on medical cannabis barriers
117 Public Submissions for Senate Inquiry
Scott Morrison (ScoMo): Legalise Recreational Cannabis
HELP GROW OUR CANNABIS CAMPAIGN
Next stop Canberra – we’re taking the fight to Parliament!
Inquiry into drug driving reform
EDUCATION
Voices from the Real World – Medical Cannabis Testimonials
As the struggle over medical cannabis intensifies and patients find themselves increasingly on the periphery of a debate in which their role should be central, we reproduce – with thanks – a selection of anonymous testimonials from individuals using cannabis medicines throughout Australia between late 2015 and 2020. The collection continues to grow . . . Got any true life mediweed stories of your own? If you’d like to include your personal experience among these important voices, please email [email protected] We’d love to hear from you!