Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at using cannabis to treat cancer-related pain and manage anxiety, a recent study on the safety of CBD products and a new THC-infused beverage from a well-known brewer. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Pain Management
There may be hopeful news for those who suffer from cancer-related pain. A new study that appeared in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research found that medical cannabis can help to reduce the pain experienced by oncology patients. In addition, it may also help to alleviate related symptoms, such as depression, anxiety and insomnia.
That’s the word from Nina Zdinjak who reported on the study for Benzinga. She also noted that according to the Jerusalem Post, almost half of the patients enrolled in the research discontinued their other pain medication after six months of medical cannabis treatment.
Said David Meiri, an assistant professor at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and author of the study, “Traditionally, cancer-related pain is mainly treated by opioid analgesics, but most oncologists perceive opioid treatment as hazardous, so alternative therapies are required.”
Study co-author Gil Bar-Sela, associate professor at the Ha’Emek Medical Center Afula added, “We gathered data on a number of factors, including pain measures, analgesics consumption, cancer symptom burden, sexual problems and side effects.” He reported that after analyzing all gathered data, the results revealed that the patients notably improved, and their opioid use was considerably reduced.
You can learn more by reading Nina Zdinjak‘s excellent reporting in the May, 23, 2022 issue of Benzinga.com.
Treating Anxiety With Cannabis
A Canadian study suggests medical marijuana can be an effective tool for treating anxiety and depression. The study, published in the journal Psychiatry Research, evaluated the effectiveness of cannabis when used in the treatment of 7,362 patients 18 years of age and older.
Researchers at the Harvest Medicine clinic found what they described as “statistically significant improvements” reported by participants who sought relief from anxiety and depression by using medical cannabis.
To read an abstract of the research, simply click on the link that follows.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178122001834?via%3Dihub
CBD Spotlight
There’s good news for mature consumers who have made CBD products part of their regular wellness routine. The website Medical Marijuana reports that a new comprehensive study of more than 1,000 people has confirmed the safety of orally-ingested cannabidiol products and provides data that addresses the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s concerns about the safety of CBD.
The two-part study, which was conducted by the research firm Validcare, found that daily consumption of CBD across a range of typical retail products and serving sizes is not associated with elevated liver tests, low testosterone levels, or daytime drowsiness.
Medical Marijuana reported the peer-reviewed study, which was published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Medicine last year, examined how CBD products from 12 different manufacturers affected the liver function of 839 study participants. A second phase of the study included 222 additional individuals who took CBD products produced by five additional companies. Researchers believe the participation of the additional study subjects strengthened the statistical reliability of both the liver safety results and achieved statistical relevance for both sleep and testosterone results.
Said Dr. Robert Kaufmann, director of research for Validcare and a former professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in a statement from the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. “The data in this study looks really good; it’s highly significant, and the chances of it being wrong are very, very small. I am very hopeful that this data will allow the FDA to regulate these popular CBD products.”
According to a report in the publication Cannabis Wire, Dr.Kaufman may soon see his hopes realized. Nushin Rashidian, reporting for Cannabis Wire, writes that when Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan asked the FDA’s new commissioner, Robert Califf, if the FDA had a plan to clarify that status of CBD as a food or food additive Califf said, “The research so far has shown that there are some risks with CBD and so we’re going to need a different pathway than just the standard food pathway. I’ve told you and I really mean it, I’m committed to do something about this and it’s going to take some work. I hope that you’ll work with me on that because it’s going to take some creativity.”
While Califf’s comments do not constitute a date-certain deadline, the FDA has taken the step of forming a Cannabis Products Council, to be chaired by Janet Woodcock, the FDA’s Principal Deputy Commissioner.
To learn more about the study on the safety of orally-ingested CBD products, click on the link that follows.
www.medicalmarijuana.com/new-study-confirms-safety-of-cbd/
To learn more about the FDA’s commitment to finding a path for regulating CBD products, we suggest you read Nushin Rashidian’s article in the May 19, 2022 issue of Cannabis Wire.
New Product Showcase
A beer company known for commercials that feature “your cousin, from Boston,” is poised to produce a line of cannabis-infused beverages for the Canadian market.
According to Kristen Nichols, reporting for MJBizDaily, Boston Beer Co.—makers of Sam Adams Beer— plans to launch nonalcoholic THC-infused teas in Canada by July of this year. It has tapped marijuana producer Entourage Health to produce the cannabis.
Nichols says the company’s Toronto-based cannabis subsidiary, BBCCC, will launch the TeaPot line of canned iced teas in “select Canadian provinces beginning in July.” This announcement comes a year after the brewer opened the subsidiary to research nonalcoholic cannabis drinks.
The initial product in the line will be a lemon black tea called Good Day Iced Tea, which will contain 5 milligrams of THC that will come from a proprietary sativa variety grown in Strathroy, Ontario, by Entourage Health Corp., formerly WeedMD.
Said Paul Weaver, Boston Beer Co.’s head of cannabis, “As we await further progress on U.S. regulations, we’ll continue to develop an exciting product pipeline in the federally regulated market of Canada.”
To learn more, we suggest you read the insightful reporting by Kristen Nichols in the May 23, 2022 issue of MJBizDaily.com.
mjbizdaily.com/samuel-adams-brewer-entourage-health-to-launch-thc-teas-in-canada/?
Cannabis Corner
Edible cannabis products are taking a significant bite out of the cannabis market—and the size of that bite is likely to grow over time.
That’s the word from Andrew Ward, reporting for Benzinga. According to Ward, Flowhub, a cannabis technology company, reports that edibles are the third-highest-selling cannabis category (9 percent) behind concentrates (22 percent) and flower (61 percent). He also noted that in October of 2021 the cannabis research firm Headset projected that edibles will account for $3 billion in sales in 2022.
Ward contends the pandemic fueled much of the market’s interest in edible/non-smoked products, citing the work of Anna V. Pham, a licensing and economics specialist at firm Vicente Sederberg LLP. Said Pham, “We have not necessarily seen the peak of edibles market share but a stasis given the current regulatory regimen.” She added that she feels the market has room to grow as state markets expand.
Many in the industry believe edibles are much more than a fad. Rather they can often serve as an entry point for cannabis-curious consumers. Said Holland Martini, co-founder and chief insights officer of the data firm GOODQUES, “A lot of people who are frequent cannabis consumers don’t even smoke or never have.” Maria Vorovich, GOODQUES co-founder and chief strategy officer, added, “The kind of people that are entering the space are people who would never consider themselves stoners or potheads.”
Others in the industry see the convenience offered by edibles as key. Said Blake Schroeder, CEO of Medical Marijuana Inc MJNA, “We’ve seen an influx of new cannabis users throughout the pandemic; however, many new users prefer more simple ways to consume cannabis rather than smoking.”
When it comes to selecting an edible product, cannabis data firm BDSA says 39 percent of consumers report that flavor is most important while 29 percent cite brand familiarity and 27 percent cite price as the key factor.
Other industry leaders believe that access to cannabinoid-specific options is likely to spur the next growth spurt in the edible share of the market. Ward points to the observation of the CEO of Coda Signature, Maigread Eichten, that minor cannabinoids such as CBN, CBG and THCv are “signs of future market potential.”
Said Eichenten,”We are at the forefront of that progress with cannabis and minor cannabinoids, which will undoubtedly result in edibles continuing to increase their share.”
To learn more about the edible market and its potential for growth, we urge you to read Andrew Ward’s excellent reporting in the May 20, 2022 issue of Benzinga.
www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/22/05/27312702/whats-the-future-for-cannabis-infused-edibles?
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.
