Welcome. This week you’ll find news of an OTC pain cream with CBD that’s FDA certified, a look at cannabis trends from last year and predictions for the coming year, and tips on how to keep your resolution to smoke less cannabis in the New Year. Enjoy.
CBD Spotlight
There is good news for mature consumers who are looking for an over-the-counter pain relief product that both contains CBD and is certified by the FDA.
A company called Honest Globe has introduced a line of CBD-infused pain relief products that has been certified by the FDA. The product line is believed to be the first and only OTC topical drug with cannabidiol to receive the agency’s certification.
Called Elixicure, the pain relief cream —which contains CBD and is described as “all natural”—is designed to help reduce inflammation, swelling, aches, and pains.
Yaniv Kotler, Chief of Business Development for the Elixicure brand believes the FDA’s certification signals to customers they have a healthier alternative to opioids for pain relief.
Said Kotler, “We are ecstatic to announce that Elixicure’s Registration has been Certified by the FDA. This is a major milestone in our commitment to quality, and offering customers healthier options for pain relief using effective natural products, as an alternative to opioids and other dangerous pharmaceuticals.”
Elixicure is also certified by the Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG), and thus is said to be safe for use by athletes at all competitive levels. Among other things, the BSCG testing provides protection against drugs on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List as well as, prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and illicit drugs not banned in sport.
Through the group’s ongoing compliance process, which includes random testing of products on the shelf, it certifies that the product contains no heavy metals, no microbials and no THC, while certifying the presence of the active ingredients and amounts of CBD present. This is an important step toward making it possible for amateur and professional athletes to use the product line, depending on the restrictions in their given sport.
The product comes in both a cream and a roll on and is available in a formulation that contains lavender.
To learn more, visit the article in the January 29, 2020 issue of Pharmacy Times or the article in the January 29, 2020 edition of PRNewswire. To learn more about the Banned Substance Control Group, visit the website below.
www.pharmacytimes.com/news/cbd-infused-pain-relief-product-receives-fda-certification
Cutting Back On Cannabis
Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution, a desire for change or finding that smoking marijuana has become habitual and “the thrill is gone,” it’s not uncommon for mature consumers, particularly those who have been using “high potency marijuana,” to occasionally express the desire to smoke less.
Unfortunately, for some the process of cutting back on consumption can be a challenge. To help, here are three tips from Dr. Mike Hart, founder of the Ready to Go cannabis clinic in London, Ontario. He says that someone who smokes large amounts of high-THC cannabis will likely need a different approach in order to be successful in their effort to alter their behavior. Hart suggests the following:
First: Gradually decrease the amount of marijuana smoked per week. For example, try reducing reducing the amount smoked in half gram increments, from three grams per week to two-and-a-half grams per week; then two-and-a-half to two grams a week, and so on.
Second: The user should try introducing another method of consuming cannabis, such as edibles or oils. Said Hart, “If you have a THC edible onboard in your system, that can help decrease your overall craving (to smoke).”
Third: Invest in a vaporizer. Hart suggests that when smokers shift to vaping it satisfies their association of having something to hold and inhale in order to feel the effects of cannabis.
“A lot of smokers have oral fixation addictions,” said Hart. “That can actually be alleviated with just using a vaporizer.”
Plus, the vaporizing experience is often thought by some to be more subtle than smoking because the consumer is heating the flower, rather than burning it.
Hart believes employing these three tactics can give a heavy cannabis smoker a good chance of changing his or her habit.
Hart’s suggestions appeared in a longer article by Lisa Felepchuck and Elianna Lev in the April 1, 2019 issue of The Growth Op.com, a website that covers cannabis culture.
www.thegrowthop.com/cannabis-culture/need-a-break-heres-how-to-quit-smoking-cannabis
Cannabis Trends In 2019
There was an increased demand for cannabis products in 2019, the number of older consumers continued to grow and there was a wide variety in the kinds of products consumers purchased.
Those are some of the highlights from an annual report on industry trends, Eaze Insights | State of Cannabis 2019. Eaze is described as an online marketplace and technology platform that provides legal access to cannabis through safe and convenient delivery in California. The report’s findings are based on aggregated purchase data of more than 500,000 Eaze consumers across the state in 2019. This is the fifth time it has reported on consumer trends based on data it has collected
While the findings in the report are specific to California, they may offer some insight into trends newer markets are experiencing or might see in the future as they mature.
Key findings from the report include:
* The demand for legal cannabis products and consumption continued to increase in 2019. This assessment is based on a 74 percent increase in first-time deliveries.
* 2019 was the year of the older consumer. The number of consumers aged 50 and above who used the Eaze platform increased by 105 percent. The report also noted Boomers purchased 67 percent more topical products than in the previous year. Eaze believes this demonstrated a willingness on the part of older consumers to try new cannabis forms.
* Diversity continued to increase in both the consumer population and in the products purchased in 2019. The number of women using the service grew by 81 percent when compared to 2018. Also, product preferences became more varied, with the purchase of drops and topical products increasing across all age groups.
The report also noted that vape sales were down from 2018, as might be expected, given the nationwide health concerns associated with vaping and black-market cannabis products in particular.
Eaze technology is designed to help local cannabis retailers run compliant on-demand delivery and provide consumers with a seamless e-commerce experience, along with information on product selection.
To learn more, read the excerpts from the report in the January 29, 2020 issue of Business Wire.
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005220/en/Eaze-Releases-2019-State-Cannabis-Report
Cannabis Trends for 2020
So much for what happened last year. The coming year is likely to bring expanded legalization, increased enforcement of laws and regulations at the state and local levels and smaller cultivators looking to develop “craft crops.”
So say Amy Steinfeld and Jack Ucciferri in an article in Cannabis Dispensary Magazine. Their predictions include the following:
Legalization They believe states, counties and cities will continue to open their doors to commercial cannabis operations in 2020. They point to the fact that Arizona, Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Vermont are all considering legalizing adult-use cannabis. They also contend the coming year will mark a tipping point for legal cannabis in the United States at the federal level.
Enforcement The authors predict 2020 will also see an increase in enforcement initiatives—such as audits and inspections—designed to ensure legal operators are complying with existing laws and regulations and are meeting the requirements for license renewal.
Increased Education Steinfeld and Ucciferri contend NIMBY (“Not in my backyard”) sentiments will continue to challenge growers and dispensaries in certain areas. As a result, they think the cannabis industry will redouble efforts to increase public education. Also,cannabis related lobbying will continue to grow in size and sophistication.
Big Changes for Small Growers They also foresee small cultivators turning to sustainable products and “cause brands” with a social purpose in order to survive and thrive as customers develop brand followings and demand green and ethical products. They suggest cannabis tourism may also provide an avenue for small growers to host visitors at their farms and expand visibility.
Amy Steinfeld is an attorney at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Cannabis & Industrial Hemp industry group. Jack Ucciferri is a law clerk with Brownstein and member of the firm’s Cannabis & Industrial Hemp industry group.
To learn more, you can read their entire article in the January 29, 2020 edition of Cannabis Dispensary Magazine.com.
www.cannabisdispensarymag.com/article/cannabis-trends-2020-california-market-expansion-legalization/
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com or at 347-528-8753.
