Research shows that formulating a cannabis extract as a syrup improves the anti-inflammatory effects, in part from the propylene glycol added to the syrup as a carrier.
The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis have been well established. [1] However, not much is known about cannabis syrups as an alternative method of delivering cannabinoids orally. A group of researchers from the University of Benin, Nigeria, have shed light on the potency and stability of cannabis syrups. [2]
Methods Used
The cannabis syrup contained 100 mg/mL of a crude cannabis extract, sucrose, aspartame, propylene glycol as a carrier, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and sodium metabisulphite (SMBs) as stabilizers. These were made into strengths of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/mL in 50 mL.
Stability was assessed under conditions with accelerated temperatures. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using paw edema induced by egg albumin in an animal model. The Reitman and Frankel colorimetric method was used to assess the biochemical assay.
Results
The crude cannabis resin and syrup formulations caused varying degrees of anti-inflammatory effects (suppressing paw edema) that was dose-dependent. The activity was, however, more pronounced in the syrup formulations as compared to the crude extract. Interestingly, propylene glycol, used as a carrier, significantly increased anti-inflammatory activity.
The researchers hypothesized that “[t]he improved anti-inflammatory activity of the syrups over the crude extract could be partly attributed to the solubilizing power, increased polar pathway for maximum absorption and favourable partitioning of the anti-inflammatory constituent(s) of the extract by propylene glycol.”
The stability of the syrups was determined by comparing the initial concentration with the final concentration after degradation has occurred due to stressful conditions. Sodium metabisulphite and EDTA improved the stability of the syrups.
The degradation of cannabis produces thermodynamically unstable compounds that may be hard to separate. [3] This happens following reactions causing decarboxylation and isomerization. In the process, THC and other unstable components may be lost. Therefore, stabilizers may be used to prolong the shelf life of cannabis syrups: 20-160 days in sodium metabisulphite-containing syrup and an additional 2204 days in EDTA-containing syrup.
Conclusion
This research shows that formulating a cannabis extract as a syrup improves the anti-inflammatory effects, in part from the propylene glycol added to the syrup as a carrier and also the cannabis extract itself due to THC and cannabinol (CBN). The degradation that occurs due to exposure to stressful conditions follows the first-order kinetic model. Stabilizers such as EDTA and SMBs enhance the stability of labile components, thereby increasing the shelf life by approximately 99%. The addition of SMBs and EDTA help to prolonged shelf life without causing significant biochemical or haematological changes in the subjects. [2]
References
1- Nagarkatti P, Pandey R, Rieder SA, Hegde VL, Nagarkatti M. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future Med Chem. 2009;1(7):1333-1349. [journal impact factor = 3.808; times cited = 272]
2- Obonga W, Nnadi C, Okafor S, Omeje E, Igbinnaduwa P, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity and accelerated stability studies of crude extract syrup of Cannabis sativa. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2019;18(2): 295-301. [journal impact factor = 0.533; times cited = 0]
3- Barnett G, Chiang CW, Perez-Reyes M, Owens SM. Kinetic study of smoking marijuana. J Pharmacokinet Biopharm. 1982;10(5):495-506. [journal impact factor = 2.751; times cited = 30]
You won’t find happiness in weed, but you will find that it helps you to pursue the things that make you happy.
It turns out that habitual cannabis scored far higher on a quality of life assessment than non-users. A Brazilian study says weed can help mental health and they have data.
The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, focused on cross-sectional research conducted on 7,405 participants — 89% of them claimed to be cannabis users and 11% were non-users. Within the cannabis group, researchers divided it into smaller groups such as Habitual Users, Occasional Users, and Problem Users. The participants answered an online survey that checked for things like their well-being, anxiety levels, and depression scores. Roughly 17% of participants claimed to be occasional users, 64% habitual users and 7.7% considered they had a problem with weed.
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According to the study:
Participants were mostly young male adults, with at least high-school education, employed, without children. The highest scores for quality of life were observed among habitual cannabis users, followed by occasional users, while both non-users and dysfunctional users presented less favorable scores. Subjective measures of well-being were higher among habitual and occasional users than among non-users, whereas dysfunctional users were the most affected. Poor quality of life, depression or anxiety were more prevalent among dysfunctional users, but non-users of cannabis reported more depression or anxiety symptoms and less quality of life than both occasional and habitual users. The results obtained in this study are particularly relevant because they refer to a sample predominantly composed of habitual cannabis users from the general population, a rarely represented group in other surveys. The fact that cannabis use is generally associated with increased risk of adverse health outcomes was not observed in this study.
In other words, the study concluded that people who smoked weed regularly had higher quality of life scores than those who weren’t smoking. This is an interesting find especially since cannabis use is typically said to decrease quality of life — or at least this was the basis for sustaining prohibition for so long. However, what this study points out is that the habitual, non-problematic user views life in a more favorable light than the non-smoker.
Does this mean that your quality of life will increase if you smoke weed? It certainly can, however, if this is the reason you’re smoking, you probably won’t find what you are looking for. Most people who smoke weed use it as something they do either as a recreational activity or a medical protocol. They don’t look at weed and say, “Ah, this is my happiness!” They may say that cannabis helped them achieve X, Y or Z, but the attribution of happiness is their own life and what they make of it.
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Cannabis users tend to be more active than their non-smoking counterparts. Perhaps it’s because their endocannabinoid systems are running on full, even if it is phytocannabinoids keeping things running smoothly. Perhaps it’s because of this endocannabinoid harmony that they have more drive to get out and do things.
That we still don’t know, but what we do know is that cannabis users on average have a lower BMI than their non-smoking counter parts. This suggests either that cannabis somehow influences their metabolism or that they are more active. Further studies will reveal this at some point in the future. For now, we can only judge the data that we see.
Cannabis does help paint a brighter picture on any activity that you are doing. Smoke enough weed, and cleaning the dishes becomes a joyful thing. Many people work out on weed, others do creative things. Most people who smoke weed don’t “just smoke weed”. Those are things that teenagers do. Adults on the other hand use cannabis as an enhancement to whatever they might be doing.
This might be something that non-smokers don’t do. They don’t have the “pre-workout toke” to get them in the right mindset or the “let’s do some creative stuff bong” to get the juices flowing. Of course, everything I’m saying here is mere conjecture. But as an avid smoker for more than twenty years I can talk out of experience. When I had to do things I didn’t want to do, a few tokes from a pipe could lift my spirits and let me trudge on through the muck.
Now, as I mentioned earlier, you won’t find happiness in weed, but you will find that it helps you to pursue the things that make you happy. If you smoke weed to fill the void, you may find yourself chasing empty highs posing as significance.
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Weed Reduces Stress and Anxiety
The most obvious explanation for why habitual cannabis users have a higher perception of quality of life than non-cannabis smokers is because cannabis has anti-stress and anti-anxiety properties. Not to mention the euphoria of THC, but the mere fact that there is a reduction in terms of stress and anxiety would have an overall effect on the perception of quality of life.
Habitual smokers also tend to have a routine in consumption. They know their body, they know when they want to smoke cannabis and how much. People actually begin to smoke less cannabis overtime rather than more. I know of many heavy cannabis users in their youth that now only occasionally smoke up at the end of a hard day of work or even a week.
When you get older, you begin to prioritize life differently and sometimes cannabis slips way in the back of “important shit to do”. However, having that sweet golden toke when your back is in knots due to a stressful week can definitely melt away some anxiety and pain.
In fact, I would argue that existential anxiety is probably one of the major reasons why people smoke weed in the first place. Life can be hard sometimes and we are frequently faced with challenges – a little bit of weed just takes the edge off the hard times, allowing you to focus on what’s important as you push on through.
Cpharm plans to set up an extraction facility in Afghanistan, using marijuana cultivated by local growers and then export the final products to foreign buyers.
The recently announced agreement between a German cannabis company and the Taliban regime of Afghanistan seems to still be up in the air.
The German marijuana company, Cpharm, allegedly in talks with the Taliban about establishing cannabis operations in Afghanistan, is still waiting for certain international issues to be resolved, reported Marijuana Moment.
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“CPharm is waiting for inter-governmental negotiations between the current Afghan Government and the importing countries. Also, in order to proceed with investments in medical cannabis facility, it is essential for the current government to receive” approval from the United Nations’s International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), a spokesperson told the outlet.
Cpharm plans to set up an extraction facility in Afghanistan, using marijuana cultivated by local growers and then export the final products to foreign buyers.
The company’s previous efforts to open medical marijuana shops in Afghanistan were futile, because the government was “very corrupt” and “in bed with criminals who wanted to keep a monopoly on illicit cultivation and blocked our contract,” CEO Werner Zimmerman separately told Cannabis Now.
Though previous investment numbers discussed were somewhere around $450 million, now current negotiations mention 10 times below that ($45 million) and over a five-year period.
“The lack of UN recognition prevents the project from proceeding because with lack of recognition [the] current Afghan Government cannot export medical goods without the INCB approval and countries may introduce trade embargoes for such sensitive products,” a spokesperson told Marijuana Moment.
“But we firmly believe that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has the prospect to finalize successful agreements with INCB and importing states because they have the ability to reduce drug trafficking significantly if legal alternative paths are enabled,” the spokesperson said, adding that the company is “determined to pursue this project since Afghanistan has the potential to become the world’s largest agricultural cannabis producer.”
While Cpharm is focused on establishing its presence in Afghanistan, its home country of Germany has announced plans to legalize cannabis sales, which is expected to yield $3.85 billion in annual tax revenue.
CBD can help people have better sex by treating different sexual conditions and helping partners feel more relaxed.
Marijuana and sex are compatible for a reason. Cannabis users of all ages support this theory and studies also offer some support, finding that THC can help people achieve more powerful orgasms and a more pleasant sexual experience, especially for women.
While many credit the THC high as marijuana’s most beneficial sexual aid, CBD could help people who have stress or performance anxiety without the psychedelic high that THC produces, which can at times be anxiety-inducing.
According to experts, CBD can reduce pain, promote relaxation and enhance sensations without the fuzzy feeling that THC causes. Here’s how CBD can help with your sex life.
Anxiety and nervousness
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CBD edibles can help people cope with anxiety and nervousness, but there are edibles designed specifically with sex in mind. These types of products contain THC and other aphrodisiac components, while also ensuring that the dosage in them is low enough so that it won’t impair sexual performance. Edibles with a focus on sex tend to contain small amounts of THC in order to provide the best possible results.
Pain during sex
Photo by Irina Shatilova/Getty Images
For women who tend to suffer from painful sex or who simply want to feel more, CBD lubricants can help them relax while also enhancing their experience. CBD is an anti-inflammatory agent; when placed directly on the skin it could provide fast acting effects and could help people focus more and stay present.
CBD and massages go great together, with the compound’s anti-inflammatory properties providing quick and long-lasting relief for sore muscles. CBD products have been associated with more tension relief and more satisfying massages.
Strains with equal amounts of THC and CBD can improve sex, especially when incorporated into foreplay. When the weed kicks in, couples will likely experience stronger desire and arousal, while also adding a new edge to their sexual experience. This method is preferable for people who have some experience with cannabis, since if you consume too large of a dose, sexual pleasure can be reduced.
“Crisis can be… a catalyst or can speed up changes that are on the way — it almost can serve as an accelerant,” said Arun Sundararajan, an NYU Stern School of Business professor and digital transformation researcher. And, it’s true.
We are all aware that the COVID pandemic has negatively affected the overall economy, though some industries have thrived because of it and not in spite of it. Which ones cross your mind? Pharma? E-Commerce? Online gaming? Ed-tech? Or, cannabis?
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As you’re likely aware, the marijuana space experienced growth during the pandemic, albeit quite unexpectedly.
Industries And Stocks That Thrived Amid COVID
But, first things first. Numbers from Censusrevealed thatin the secondquarter of 2020, retail e-commerce sales improved 31.8% from the previous quarter, while total retail sales declined 3.9% over the same period.
Retail e-commerce, as the percentage of total retail sales grew from 11.4% to 15.7% during this time, and Q2 retail e-commerce jumped 43.8% compared to the same period of 2019 while total retail sales dropped 3.6%.
In terms of stocks, e-commerce giant Amazon grew 67.64% from January 2020 until today. The other large e-commerce brand Shopify Inc. gained 240.25% over the same period.
Then there’s pharma and online gaming in addition to other stocks that grew under COVID.
The NYSE-traded British-Portuguese online luxury retailer Farfetch managed to reach profitability after 12 years, thanks to the COVID outbreak. In one year, its shares rose 426% from $10.48 to $55.19.
The demand to work from home boosted freelance services platform Fiverr, with the stock gaining 703% from $27.87 to more than $224 (from March 2020 to March 2021).
Consumer electronics and gaming merchandise retailer GameStop experienced an eye-popping one-year return of 6.422% with its shares skyrocketing from $3.70 to $241.34.
What about COVID-19 vaccine developers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax? From March 2020 till December 2021, Pfizer grew 83.22%, Moderna jumped 509.54%, and Novavax increased 1148.71%.
Photo by Drew Farwell via Unsplash
Marijuana And COVID
So, what about the cannabis industry? Why was the pandemic a breakout moment for the marijuana sector?
There are many factors involved, starting first with having been deemed an “essential” business, which in turn pushed 2020 weed sales to record numbers. When the New York Times noted that the essential service’s designation represented an “official recognition that for some Americans, cannabis is as necessary as milk and bread,” many agreed that in times of crisis we all turn to that which brings us comfort, peace and helps alleviate stress. Not to mention those who use cannabis for medical purposes and wisely purchased extra because who knows what might happen?
Thankfully, that we know of, there were no shortages among patients when the boom hit. “Cannabis sales exploded in many parts of North America in 2020, with the likes of Oregon seeing a 30% increase compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, in Canada, half of the cannabis users increased consumption during the first wave of COVID-19, according to the country’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,” reported Investment Monitor.
According to Geoff Miller, director of Cannafi Group, a Guernsey-based cannabis finance business, “Because cannabis can be easily ordered online, it has ridden the COVID eCommerce wave. Then, in terms of investment, it has also been a booming time [thanks to] the vast amount that retail investors have been pumping into many different sectors — because they have got nothing else to do — and the fact that we have still got ultra-low interest rates so asset prices have been squeezed higher and driven up general investment activity.”
What’s more, the industry in general, and cannabis companies in particular, made innovative choices to help to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Hemp businesses manufactured cotton swabs for medical needs and marijuana companies donated protective equipment to front-line health workers.
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The timely and efficient launch of curbside pickup and delivery services facilitated consumers in need while unintentionally serving to create a positive image of the industry as serious players in good times and bad. The cannabis industry stepped up.
What about publicly traded cannabis companies?
Large marijuana operator Curaleaf Holdings (CSNX: CURA) has seen its shares improve 73.22% from March 2020 to December 2021. Over the same period, Village Farms International gained 95.52%, GrowGeneraion Crop grew 168.15%, and Innovative Industrial Properties advanced 175.63%.
In addition, AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF gained 40.11%, which is notable even though below SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust that grew 67.28%.
It is important to note that most of the cannabis stocks have seen their shares spike in February this year or one year since the pandemic hit in March 2020. By the end of the year, most of those stocks declined.
Cannabis Industry Projections – Why You Should Consider Investing?
Why should the industry continue to grow and why should you consider investing in it?
Several things point to further industry development, the most important of which is the ongoing legalization trend both across the U.S. and globally. So far, 18 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis sales, while more than 30 states now permit some form of medical cannabis.
What’s more, both Democratic and GOP lawmakers have each introduced marijuana legalization proposals, indicating that federal reform just might be around the corner.
In addition to the ongoing global marijuana legalization trend is the overall shift in people’s approach to general health. Over the years, the focus has started to shift from, well, literally everything around us to closer to home: ourselves. Now more than ever, people seem to be interested in healthy food, nature, finding time for themselves, ways to minimize stress, improving sleep and the importance of physical and mental health.
And this is exactly where the cannabis plant fits in perfectly.
Whether users are interested in a non-psychoactive application through a plethora of CBD products or are looking for a full-power THC experience, cannabis has the capacity to provide both. More and more scientific studies are uncovering the knowledge and views on the benefits of cannabis that were held by our ancestors.
On the medical side, advances are already moving at a clip, with medical cannabis serving as a viable option for children suffering from rare types of epilepsy for starters. A recent study on cannabis and breast cancer revealed that medical marijuana drives 6x improvement in killing cancer cells; another study on CBD provides hope for the most aggressive type of brain cancer.
And these studies are just the beginning. Once the legal status of cannabis is resolved on the federal level, even more research can be undertaken that will ultimately benefit the entire industry, including consumers, those in need of cannabinoid medicines and investors.
2021 gave us lots of doozies when it came to weed news, from the Olympic ban a sports superstar to giving us hope that Republicans will come around to legalization.
Given the activity in the news cycle during 2021, some of the more hard to believe or impractical news stories may have flown under your radar. A surprising number were cannabis related in one way or another.
As the stigma around cannabis continues to evolve, it’s safe to assume that the most surprising cannabis-related news stories of 2022 will make this list seem like child’s play. Here’s a small sampling of some of the more unexpected weed stories of the year.
5. Most Massive Marijuana Brownie of All Time Unveiled by Scientists
When it comes to marijuana edibles, it’s fair to assume that as of 2021 most cannabis enthusiasts have seen them all at this point. That was likely the case before Massachusetts-based cannabis company unveiled an 850 pound cannabis–infused brownie on National Brownie Day. The company produced the supersized stoner snack to draw attention to its new brand of edibles called Bubby’s Baked.
The edible contains 20,000 milligrams of THC and measures in at 3 feet wide and 3 feet and 15 inches tall. The previous record for the largest brownie was set at 243 pounds. Needless to say the record set by the Bubby’s Baked brownie is likely to remain in place for some time.
4. Marijuana Use Among Teens Falls in Midst of Reforms
When it comes to the legalization of recreational cannabis, one of the biggest objections proponents dealt with from opposition was that youth consumption would increase. The early results show those concerns have been disproven to say the least. Over the course of 2021, teen cannabis use dropped from 11% down to 7% for eighth graders.
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For 10th graders, rates of marijuana use fell from 28% to 17%. There are numerous factors that could have contributed to the decline in teen marijuana use like school shifting to remote learning which takes away from peer pressure. Taking that into consideration, rates of teen marijuana usage will continue to be something to watch heading into 2022.
3. Jaleel White of Family Matters Launches Cannabis Brand
Jaleel White may be best remembered for the time he spent on television as Steve Erkel, but cannabis enthusiasts will be associating him with something totally different pretty soon. That’s because back in April he made the decision to launch his own cannabis line called ‘itsPurpl’. He partnered with 710 Labs to launch the strain throughout California back on April 20th, more affectionately known as 420.
Among his motivations for starting the cannabis brand, he said he hopes to debunk stereotypes associated with cannabis and celebrate medical breakthroughs too. He hasn’t been the only celebrity to get involved in the cannabis industry in recent years, so it’ll be interesting to see which celebrities follow his footsteps in 2022 by starting their own cannabis brands.
2. Sha’Carri Richardson Suspended From Summer Olympics Over Cannabis Use
American track sensation Sha’Carri Richardson stole the nation’s heart this summer after qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Her charisma and style was reminiscent of Florence Joyner back in the 1980s, so to say she had the support of both casual fans and die-hards of the sport would be an understatement. That’s why spectators couldn’t believe the IOC banned her from the Olympic Games after returning a positive test for THC.
Sha’Carri claimed she used cannabis to help cope with the stress of losing her mother, but that didn’t matter to the IOC as they continued to ban her for one month as a punishment which barred her from competing in the games. The outcry that resulted from her being banned from the games didn’t allow her to compete, but did raise enough attention that allows fans of the Olympics to hold out hope that they will eventually reverse their stance on cannabis use among athletes.
1. 54% of Republicans Support Legalizing Recreational Cannabis
Among the most surprising weed related headlines to reach news sources during 2021, the one most likely to cause readers to do a double-take is that 54% of republicans now favor federally legalizing cannabis.
The support republicans have for the federal legalization of marijuana could lead to an entirely different landscape for cannabis consumers and investors in 2022 and beyond. That’s the case because republican lawmakers could begin to increase the pressure on President Biden to enact cannabis-friendly legislation sooner rather than later.
There are already numerous bills that have been introduced by Republicans that would federally decriminalize and tax marijuana. Receiving scrutiny from both sides of the aisle could be exactly what it takes for the Biden administration to make much-needed legislative changes to federal cannabis laws.
In a recent analyst note, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Pablo Zuanic reviewed the retail price differences in cannabis flowers across 14 states (six with recreational and medical sales, and eight with medical-only sales).
The range, from lowest to highest, was as follows:
Connecticut was $9.75 per gram (the whole flower, taking 3.5g formats);
Florida $11.97;
New York $13.70;
Ohio $13.83;
Maryland $13.89;
New Jersey $14.95;
Pennsylvania $15.62;
Virginia $18.60.
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Why Is Cannabis So Cheap In Connecticut?
Retail prices vary widely across the medical markets, with Virginia boasting double the levels found in Connecticut.
“The CT example is surprising, and we made sure to exclude second cuts and grind. There are only four licensed growers in CT, and only 17 medical dispensaries opened at present. But it seems supplies are plentiful relative to demand. We say this because the five stores that we surveyed in CT had a combined 246 SKUs of flower in 3.5g formats, which is well above most of the other medical states that we surveyed ex PA and MD (NY 22; FL 82; VA 88; OH 171; NJ 239; PA 427; MD 516). The lower prices may be reflective also of the quality available,” Zuanic wrote.
Florida Weed Is Cheap Too
Excluding CT, FL had the lowest flower prices among the medical markets surveyed by Cantor.
Zuanic assumes this is partly related to the increased price competition in the state, although it does not have historical data to use as a benchmark.
“The state has 391 stores, which is the highest among the medical states that we surveyed; at 18 stores per 1 million people, FL is above MD (16), PA (11), OH (5), CT (5), NJ (2.7), NY (2.1), and VA (0.7). We do not think the increased store count necessarily and solely explains the lower prices; it probably also has to do with increased capacity and slower growth in the state program’s patient count (+3,000 per week vs. +5,000/week in 2Q),” Zuanic explained in the report.
Middle Of The Road
New York, Ohio, and Maryland are in the same price range ($13.70-$13.90). He noted that prices are similar in Maryland and Ohio, although the MD market is more developed ($550Mn pa vs. $390Mn), with more sales, stores, and SKUs.
Zuanic explained that in NY, the legal industry has to compete with a large illicit market, which he thinks, explains NY prices being 26% below VA (a state that also only recently approved the sale of the whole flower).
“NY just began selling whole flowers, but supplies remain scarce. Yes, there are 40 med stores in the state, but we only counted 22 whole flower SKUs in the five stores surveyed (the five MD stores we surveyed had >500).”
New Jersey And Pennsylvania
Zuanic estimates New Jersey’s medical sales at $375 million on an annualized basis, while Headset estimates Pennsylvania’s at $1.18 billion per annum. About 3% of the PA population are active patients compared with 1.3% in NJ.
Zuanic found medical prices in PA to be the highest (for flower) among the medical states except for VA. He noted this “reflects a vibrant med market in PA for quality whole flower (pop penetration).”
Zuanic also noted that the medical market in New Jersey has not developed much on the demand side, which coupled with a large illicit market, “probably explains NJ prices being well below VA.”
“Despite more supplies, and more stores (139 vs. 23), PA’s prices are in line with NJ,” added the analyst.
Illinois And Massachusetts: The Highest Prices Across Recreational States
According to Cantor’s survey, IL whole flower prices are $18.41 per gram, almost 2x the prices in CO ($9.33/g); in a similar range with MI at $12.18, CA at $12.51, and NV at $12.71.
MA is the 2nd highest after IL, with prices of $14.89. “IL does not rank above MA or MI in per capita spend (IL $141, MI $181, MA $237), but we think few stores and apparently tight supplies vs. other markets, both explain the higher prices,” clarified Zuanic.
Although MA wholesale prices are 11% lower than IL, retail prices are ~20% lower, probably due to a higher store count in MA. “Based on the official state data, IL now is at an annual run rate of $1.79 billion in recreational and medical sales” while “MA is at $1.63 billion.”
Other States
The Virginia medical market is in the early stages. “There are only six dispensaries opened, and we estimate the current patient count at only 35,000 (0.4% population penetration). That said, even though SKU counts are below other states, the average of 18 whole flower 3.5g SKUs per store in VA is well above the 4.4 average of NY. We think the higher prices vs. NY are explained mostly by the larger illicit market in NY.”
NV is a more segmented market. “In NV we surveyed five stores, with AYR Las Vegas having an average price of $11.26 vs. $12.40 for Reef Las Vegas, and the other three stores with prices above $13.60 (MedMen LV, Curaleaf LV, Rise Carson City). We think NV may be a more segment market at retail (in terms of price range).”
Just four years into the start of operations in the state’s cannabis industry, operators are not only struggling with tax payments, they’re also competing with illegal cannabis operators to make a profit.
There is a crisis looming on the horizon for California’s cannabis industry. Prominent cannabis companies in California have warned against an impending collapse of the state’s cannabis industry. Turns out data shows the majority of California marijuana bought from the black market .
In a letter dated December 17th, the group warned Governor Gavin Newsom of the strains caused by the hefty taxes imposed on operators in the industry. To prevent the impending disaster, the group says a rapid expansion of retail cannabis stores is needed to stabilize the marketplace. The letter was also sent to the legislative leaders in Sacramento, as the group understands that the executive arm needs the support of the legislative body to make changes to the industry. In addition to this, the group proposes that mandatory taxes be halted for a while or cut down significantly.
Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels
Some companies, executives, and groups that signed the letter are the California arm of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, the California Cannabis Industry Association, CannaCraft, Flow Kanna, and the Los Angeles-based United Cannabis Business Association.
A Drastic Change Is Needed
In the letter, they explained that the industry is on the verge of collapsing. The industry has been heavily taxed, and little has been done to improve the conditions of the industry, despite the vast sums of money generated by companies annually. California’s marketplace has more or less remained stagnant since it was established, and it is now deteriorating at a fast rate.
Since 2016, when the state passed Prop 64, very little has been done to steady the shaky industry. In the letter, the industry was described as a never-ending rollercoaster ride.
While it can’t be denied that the state has gained massive economic boosts from the legislation, it must also be stated that this current mess of an industry is not what residents expect or deserve.
The industry’s leaders praised the state government for generating significant revenue from the industry for the state coffers. However, they also said that the sector had suffered severe setbacks due to the struggles of local governments to work around bureaucratic red tape at the state level.
A Collapsing Industry
Just four years into the start of operations in the state’s cannabis industry, operators are not only struggling with tax payments, they’re also competing with illegal cannabis operators to make a profit.
According to the details in the letter, the group said that the current rules and regulations guiding the industry had not helped the legal operators in any way. Instead, it seems as though it was set up to ensure the industry crumbles. The group highlighted that this wasn’t the first warning given to the state government. For several months, there have been a series of complaints leveled against the state’s cannabis regulatory agency, but nothing has been done.
Photo by Yarygin/Getty Images
Industry officials and executives have reported the heavy taxes and limiting regulations on several occasions. They backed their complaints with proof of being unable to compete against the widespread cannabis blackmarket in different state regions. They added that consumer prices in illegal markets are meager; hence sales are at least double that of the legal markets. Legal cannabis products are fifty percent more expensive than unlawful cannabis products. Some are pushing for a tax-free cannabis sector to battle the illicit market prices in California.
About 73% of the total cannabis consumed in California is produced and sold on the black market. This means that most of the cannabis products consumed by Californians are untested and unsafe for consumption. The leaders told the state’s government that they had had enough. The government’s inaction to do anything worthwhile in the industry has pushed stakeholders to the breaking point.
Excessive taxation has crippled the industry and caused expansion opportunities to be squandered. To an outsider, California has one of the biggest cannabis industries, but it takes more information to understand that the state could have a more robust legal market.
The Industry Needs Help
The letter, which was co-signed by the leading officials and advocates in the state’s cannabis industry, explicitly said that the industry’s problems require the help of the state government, as these challenges are too numerous to be handled and overcome by the industry alone.
The first piece of help needed is an immediate lifting of the cultivation tax imposed on all legal cannabis growers in the state. A request for a three-year holiday from the excise tax was also listed in the letter. In addition to this, the team asks that the state government expand retail stores across the state. In a state as big as California, only one-third of its cities have cannabis dispensaries. The absence of dispensaries in two-thirds of the state’s cities can be blamed on the sluggishness of local governments in granting sales and production permits to applicants.
Photo by smodj/Getty Images
Other Demands
At a press conference to address the letter’s contents, the co-signers asked the state regulators to cancel out the mandatory 15 percent tax on cultivation and the excise tax on sales. They also pleaded that the state begins to issue more licenses to applicants so that the expansion process can begin.
Erin Mellon, the governor’s representative, said that Gov. Newsom fully supports cannabis tax reforms. She also stated that the governor agrees with the demand of the group to overhaul the system to clamp down on illegal activities within the sector. She also acknowledged that the current mandatory taxes pose severe challenges to the industry’s progress.
She ended her statement by promising that the governor is ready to work with the legislature to bring the much-needed tax reform efforts to fruition.
Bottom Line
The unwillingness of the state’s executive and legislative governments to effectively legislate, implement, or execute laws — and also coordinate a fully functional cannabis industry — is the root of all the problems ailing California’s cannabis industry.
These politicians and lawmakers need to immediately make good on their pledges to wipe off the state’s cannabis black market. Honestly, it makes no sense that a state’s bootleg cannabis market is at least twice the size of its legal market.
The faster these issues are resolved, the earlier operators in the legal sector can begin making their deserved profits while making the industry the most robust legal cannabis industry in the United States.
A new study suggests our genes could have a significant influence in the type of flavors we’re interested in, including our coffee preferences.
Those who enjoy black coffee and dark chocolate might have a genetic predisposition towards these flavors. According to a new study, these people can reap a variety of benefits that will boost their overall health.
Black coffee has long been associated with a variety of benefits, particularly in people who drink 3 to 5 cups a day, lowering their risk of diseases like Parkinson’s, heart conditions, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. These effects are made all the more pronounced when people avoid dairy, sweeteners, and other processed ingredients.
The study, published in the journal Nature, suggests that some people have a genetic variant that prompts them to process caffeine faster. These people prefer bitter and black coffee.
Marilyn Cornelis, an associate professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University, spoke to CNN on the perks of black coffee and the findings of their research. Cornelis and her team theorize that people with this gene prefer black coffee and plain tea, associating bitter flavors with mental alertness.
“We know there’s growing evidence suggesting there’s a beneficial impact of coffee consumption on health. But reading between the lines, anyone advising someone to consume coffee would typically advise them to consume black coffee due to the difference between consuming black coffee and coffee with milk and sugar,” she said.
Like some people enjoy black coffee due to their genes, the number of coffee cups a day can be influenced by their genetic makeup, facilitating the metabolization of caffeine and prompting their bodies to ask for more. “This could explain why some individuals seem to be fine consuming a lot more coffee relative to someone else who might get jitters or become very anxious,” said Cornelis.
Drinkers of black coffee have a tendency to also be interested in bitter foods, like dark chocolate, which have been associated with better health. More research in this areas might prove that these people have an edge in regards to their health when compared to others, preferring healthier flavors and foods and sticking to them throughout their lives.
Although cannabis legalization advocates expressed support for the bill, they urged legislators to allow home cultivation and to add provisions to foster social equity in the cannabis industry.
After months of exploring the ins and outs of legalizing recreational cannabis, Maryland lawmaker Luke Clippinger (D) pre-filed a bill to put marijuana legalization on the state’s 2022 ballot, Forbes reported.
The move came months after forming a 10-member Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup, which Clippinger chaired. The bipartisan legislative group was appointed by House Speaker Adrienne Jones and tasked with studying issues related to legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state.
Photo by Ivan-balvan/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Clippinger’s House Bill 1 seeks to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that will be introduced at the start of the 2022 session on Jan. 12. In addition, the bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, which Clippinger chairs.
If approved by at least three-fifths of the votes in both the Senate and House of Delegates, the new piece of legislation will place this question on the Nov. 2022 election ballot: “Do you favor the legalization of adult-use cannabis in the State of Maryland?”
Once voters pass the bill, possession of cannabis by adults 21 and older will be legal as of July 2023. Lawmakers would also be responsible for establishing rules permitting the “use, distribution, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the state.”
Although cannabis legalization advocates expressed support for the bill, they urged legislators to allow home cultivation and to add provisions to foster social equity in the cannabis industry.
“While we are grateful legislative leaders are prioritizing cannabis legalization in 2022, we are disappointed the pre-filed House referendum would continue the devastating war on cannabis for months after voters legalize cannabis,” Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project told Marijuana Moment. “We strongly urge legislators to revise the proposal to legalize possession and home cultivation upon enactment.”
