Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at Dr. Bronner’s support for cannabis reform, mixing yoga and cannabis, the results of a new CBD survey, cannabis and Valentine’s Day and more. Enjoy.
Support for Cannabis Reform
A company known for a popular peppermint soap with a label that extols the virtues of thinking and acting ten years ahead—Dr. Bronner’s—is making it easier for consumers to support organizations engaged in cannabis reform.
From now through March of 2022, consumers who buy one or more of its various products can select a nonprofit featured on the company’s website to receive 10 percent of their total purchase amount, at no additional cost.
Founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, a third generation soapmaker, the company is often remembered for making products that promote his Moral ABCs, or more specifically, “The Moral ABC of Astonomy’s Eternal All-One-God-Faith Unites the Human Race!” and packaging that features aphorisms such as “Self-discipline the key to freedom” and “Repetition is the key to knowledge!”
The company also advocates for change on a number of social issues, including cannabis reform. According to a blog post by Dr. Bronner’s Senior Marketing Manager, Astarae Metcalf , “Cannabis, when used responsibly by adults, can provide safe relief from chronic illness and disease. Many adults benefit from medical cannabis as an alternative to much more addictive and harmful opiates and other pharmaceuticals. Many adults also responsibly and safely enjoy cannabis to unwind, uplift, connect, and spark creativity, and as an alternative to much more problematic alcohol.”
In the post, Metcalf also states that Dr. Bronner’s is “dedicated to continuing the fight to legalize cannabis state-by-state and at the national level”—and to that end, it has identified several companies to which consumers can direct their contributions, including:
— Supernova Women, which works to empower Black and Brown people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the cannabis and natural plant medicine space,
— The Law Enforcement Action Partnership, a nonprofit of police, judges, corrections officials and other law enforcement officials that supports criminal justice and drug policy reforms,
—The Marijuana Policy Project, which promotes legislation and ballot initiatives supporting medical use and sensible regulation and other groups.
For a complete list of the organizations Dr. Bronner’s has selected for support and to learn more about its position on cannabis reform and other social issues—and how to direct a contribution—we encourage you to visit Astarae Metcalf’s blog post. Simply click on the link that follows.
www.drbronner.com/all-one-blog/2022/01/legalize-cannabis-support-justice-equity-and-diversity-now/
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“I’m less inhibited and more adventurous–cannabis encourages me to go that one step further, one movement lower, one stretch deeper than I would typically try without it. The results have been astounding…I have the sense that I feel my body more completely than I do when I do not use cannabis for practice.” — Gretchen Giles.
While some yoga practitioners may find the quote from Giles scandalous or off putting, the fact remains that there are individuals who believe using some form of cannabis before they strike a pose can enhance the benefits they derive from doing yoga.
The quote from Giles, described as a “yogi,” comes from an article written by Emma Stone for Cannigma. Stone found a number of individuals who reported that using cannabis as a regular part of a yoga routine resulted in reduced pain, heightened perception, and a sensation that “time is slowing down.”
For example, Dr. Jordan Tishler MD, President of the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists and CEO at inhaleMD, said, “Cannabis can definitely enhance any mindfulness-based practice, including yoga and meditation. In fact, I run regular online cannabis-assisted guided meditation classes. Cannabis can help users relax and put aside intrusive thoughts or anxiety that impede their ability to be mindful.”
Stone notes, however, that when it comes to mixing cannabis and yoga, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing because the effects of cannabis can vary dramatically depending on the dose. She points out there can be a significant difference between taking a small edible or brief toke prior to practice and smoking an entire joint. While the former may aid in a person’s ability to focus, the latter could contribute to paranoia and impaired coordination.
For example, Liz FitzGerald, a yoga instructor and founder of Daygold ( a company that makes full spectrum hemp products with CBD, CBG and CBN) recommends discernment when it comes to using a suitable type of cannabis before a class. Said Fitzgerald, “I would suggest something that has a lot of CBD and CBG but that is light on THC. …I wouldn’t suggest ‘getting stoned’ and practicing yoga as you could lose your balance; you may have impaired judgment around what poses you can do safely, and you may choose some that may not be accessible to you.”
In particular, she warns against doing headstands while under the influence of cannabis.
To learn more, we suggest you read Emma Stone’s insightful and detailed article. It appears in the February 3, 2022 issue of Cannigma.com.
cannigma.com/cannabis-news/cannabis-and-yoga/?
Cannabis Trends
According to a recent survey, flower remains the most sought-after product in the U.S. marijuana market. However at the same time, prices for flower are falling and its overall share of the market may be slipping.
That’s the word from Bart Schaneman, editor of MJBiz Daily, reporting on the recent survey by cannabis research firm Headset. Schaneman writes that while “flower remains king,” accounting for $5.49 billion in sales in 2021, its share of the market fell while other adult-use products are gaining in popularity.
Headset’s study looked at retail sales data from six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state. In addition to affirming flower’s dominance, it also revealed that sales of pre-rolls rose from $1.02 billion in 2020 to $1.42 billion last year—an increase of 38.9 percent across the six states Headset tracks. At the same time, sales of edibles increased from $1.14 billion to $1.37 billion over the same time period, up 20.4 percent.
Headset also reported that prices for cannabis flower have continued to slide as more production hit the market and cultivators expanded their facilities.
Schaneman also noted in his article that retailers in more established state markets, particularly on the West Coast, are reporting consumers are placing less of an emphasis on buying for potency in favor of other characteristics of the plant, including terpenes and minor cannabinoids.
However, East Coast consumers, according to retailers, are still looking for products with the highest THC available. Said Mike Bibbey, vice president of Philadelphia-based Ethos Cannabis, “The one thing that’s consistent (in consumer behavior) is that the primary purchase decision is potency.” He added that flower that tests at 25 percent THC or higher, “flies off the shelves.”
Bibbey also told Schaneman he expects the potency obsession to ebb as the East Coast markets mature and consumers become more sophisticated in their purchasing decisions.
Bart Schaneman does an excellent job of unpacking the details of the most recent Headset survey and the differences in consumer behavior in both “young” and more mature cannabis markets. We encourage you to read his article in the February 7, 2022 issue of MJBizDaily.com.
mjbizdaily.com/flower-still-king-of-us-marijuana-market-though-supremacy-waning/?
CBD Spotlight
There is good news for mature consumers who regularly use CBD as part of a wellness routine. The maker of a variety of CBD products has reported positive results from what it describes as a randomized, controlled, clinical trial study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of its hemp-derived CBD extracts.
According to Maureen Meehan, writing for Benzinga, Charlotte’s Web participated in the Radicle ACES (Advancing CBD Education and Science) study, conducted by Radicle Science, which is described as an independent health tech company validating health and wellness products.
As part of a larger study, hundreds of participants from across the U.S. used Charlotte’s Web Original Formula for four weeks and were assessed for key health outcomes across five domains including general well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, and feelings of daily stress or discomfort. Researchers conducted the study using standardized scientific methods for measuring each outcome and tracked their progress repeatedly throughout the study.
Meehan reports that the clinical trial helped to confirm the benefits of Charlotte’s Web full spectrum hemp extract, with 64 percent of participants reporting they experienced meaningful improvements when dealing with symptoms related to stress. In addition, 60 percent of participants reported improvement when dealing with sleep issues, while 74 percent saw improvement in their well-being, when assessed by using the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Well Being Index. The study also indicated Charlotte’s Web products worked quickly with notable improvements on average occurring within the first week.
Jeff Chen, co-founder and CEO of Radicle Science, commenting on the objective of the research, told Meehan, “We’re applying modern science to prove or predict the effectiveness of CBD products used by tens of millions of Americans every day. Our objective is to deliver accurate, transparent, and actionable insights to help create trust and transparency for the CBD industry.”
Said Tim Orr, president of Charlotte’s Web Labs, “As a hemp company driven by sound science, we were encouraged by the Radicle Science study. Independent third-party research and reporting on the efficacy of hemp wellness products help build long term consumer trust and is an ongoing commitment of Charlotte’s Web.”
Those who wish to learn more should read Maureen Meehan’s article in the February 8, 2022 issue of Benzinga.
Stats of the Week: Valentine’s Day Edition
This week’s magic number is 72 percent. According to an online survey of nearly 2,000 adults who are cannabis consumers conducted by The Harris Poll, that’s the percentage of those interviewed who said they intend to incorporate cannabis into their Valentine’s Day plans, with 53 percent saying they plan on consuming edibles.
So says Jelena Martinovic, reporting on the survey—which was commissioned by Betty’s Eddies, producers of infused fruit chews, a best-selling edibles brand from MariMed, Inc.—for Benzinga.
The survey also offered some insights on gift giving with 46 percent of those surveyed saying they would like to receive cannabis on Valentine’s Day as a gift and 63 percent saying they would rather receive cannabis than chocolate or flowers as a gift on Valentine’s Day.
In addition, 52 percent of sexually active cannabis consumers said they prefer edibles over smoking cannabis to “get in the mood.”
As always, Jelena Martinovic does an excellent job of reporting. Her insightful and entertaining article appears in the February 10, 2022 issue of Benzinga.
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-528-8753.
