Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at recent claims that CBD may be used to prevent Coronavirus, news of CBD products for pets, recipes for cannabis-infused condiments, a detailed description of various ways to consume cannabis and more. At the end you will also find our new logo. It was designed for us by the multi-talented Steve Prusakowski. Enjoy.
CBD and Coronavirus
Much was made this week of the news that CBD might be used to prevent or treat coronavirus infection. If this is the case it would be good news. However, while not skeptical, our response to the news could best be described as cautious optimism guided by the British aphorism that there is “many a slip between the cup and the lip.”
Lee Brown, writing for the New York Post, reported that researchers from the University of Lethbridge said a study in April showed that at least 13 strains of cannabis plants that were high in CBD could be used to block proteins that create a “gateway” for the coronavirus to enter host cells. The strains used in the study were all high in CBD and low in THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.
Our caution is based on several factors. For one, the study is preliminary and is yet to undergo the peer review process. For another, the lead researcher is quoted as saying, “Cannabis could even be used to develop easy-to-use preventative treatments in the form of mouthwash and throat gargle products.” Anytime the emphasis is placed on convenience we think the statements would be better categorized as marketing than a report on research. And in fact he admitted he was looking for funding to support additional studies.
However, true to the Wall Street axiom of “buy on the rumor and sell on the news,” traders and investors responded to the report by boosting marijuana stocks across the board.
According to Noah Manskar, also writing for the New York Post, shares in major pot firms posted gains in reaction to the report with Canadian firm Canopy Growth Corporation gaining nearly 8 percent, the shares of Tilray, another Canadian firm, up nearly 20 percent and the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF, an exchange-traded fund that targets the global cannabis industry, posting a gain of 6 percent on the day of the report.
In the meantime, we think it wise to follow Jim Morrison’s advice and “keep your eyes on the road and your hand upon the wheel” when it comes to reports of a CBD cure for coronavirus.
You can learn more by reading Lee Brown’s reporting in the May 21, 2020 issue of the New York Post and Noah Manskar’s article in the May 22, 2020 edition of the New York Post.
nypost.com/2020/05/21/scientists-believe-cannabis-could-help-prevent-treat-coronavirus/
nypost.com/2020/05/22/cannabis-stocks-soar-on-hopes-pot-wards-off-coronavirus/
CBD and Pets
Another retail chain has announced it will begin to stock CBD products. Only in this case it’s a retail chain that sells pet products.
According to Susie Peterson, writing for Daily Marijuana Observer, PetSmart will begin carrying Mary’s Tails CBD infused products designed for pets as the chain’s first ever CBD brand. Initially the products will be carried in 122 PetSmart stores throughout Colorado, Oregon, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. However there are plans in the works to expand to additional stores across the country.
Mary’s Tails makes what it describes as “reliable full spectrum hemp extracts products with naturally occurring CBD to help foster calmness and elevate everyday wellness.” Its slogan is “a dose of zen for your furry friend.” We particularly like the idea of a 300 mg Hemp Extract Tincture Bacon Flavor to “soothe your companion and promote a more peaceful state of mind.”
The other major pet product chain in the U.S and Mexico, with more than 1,500 locations, Petco, already offers cannabidiol-infused pet products in-store in over 20 states and online.
As Peterson points out, Petco and PetSmart, are estimated to hold a combined 48 percent market share in the United States.
You can learn more by reading Susie Peterson’s article in the May 13, 2020 issue of Daily Marijuana Observer.
mjobserver.com/business/petsmart-to-begin-carrying-cbd-products-for-pets
For more information on CBD products for pets produced by Mary’s Tails you can visit the company’s website at marystails.com/.
Notes on Cannabis Consumption
Whether you are a mature consumer with years of experience or a relative newcomer who has started to use medical marijuana or CBD products for ailments related to aging, constant education on cannabis, its effects, research findings and new products, is important, particularly if you are to be prepared to take responsibility for your well being.
Also, when planning a visit to a dispensary, preparation is key to a successful experience. To that end we recommend a recent article by Curt Robbins. A technical writer, photographer, and compliance documentation specialist for the cannabis industry since 2004, he has written for various publications as well as served as a consultant for a number of states, municipalities and companies, developing more than 130 cannabis license applications to date.
In a recent article for the website Strainprint Community, Robbins provides a comprehensive and detailed description of what he calls, “the avenues of cannabis consumption,” including smoking, vaping, edibles, tinctures, sublingual oils and sprays, and topicals.
He also examines “extracts,” and other concentrates that are extremely potent forms of cannabis, including products such as shatter, wax, crumble, BHO (butane hash oil), rosin, live resin, CO2 oil, and ice water hash. As he points out, these were originally intended for only very sick patients or experienced users with what he calls “relatively steep tolerances”
Said Robbins, “It is important for patients and recreational users to understand their options in terms of how they consume cannabis flowers and concentrates that contain special wellness molecules such as the cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).”
To learn more, particularly if you intend to be a responsible and well -informed consumer, visit “Understanding Avenues of Cannabis Consumption” by Curt Robbins. It appears on the website Strainprint Community. Robbins also tweets from @RobbinsGroupLLC and is active on LinkedIn and Facebook.
strainprint.ca/community/understanding-avenues-of-cannabis-consumption/
Stats of the Week
“Illinois, with a population similar in size to Pennsylvania’s, has raked in more than $10 million a month in taxes and fees since it legalized weed for adult use in January. Last year, Nevada collected $99 million; Oregon, $102 million; Colorado, $302 million; Washington state, $390 million; and California, $635 million.”
The numbers come from an article by Sam Wood that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer May 21, 2020. Wood was reporting on the number of Republican legislators in Pennsylvania who were beginning to consider legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Said one, “I’m not a big fan of marijuana, but I also know there’s not a kid or adult in America that couldn’t find a bag of weed if they wanted it.”
The legislator, State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R., Erie), went on to tell Wood, “Given the pandemic and the fiscal problems that the state is facing, people who may not have formerly considered recreational marijuana as a revenue generator may be brought to the table. ” Wood describes Laughlin as possibly the first member of the Republican caucus to talk openly about legalizing recreational marijuana.
To learn more, we urge you to read the detailed and insightful reporting by Sam Wood in the May 21, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
A New Twist on Cannabis Edibles
As you may know by now, we do not advocate the use of cannabis as much as we advocate using it intelligently if, as a mature individual, you choose to do so. And, if you are going to use it intelligently, why not use it in a manner that tastes good as well?
To that end, Alex Goodall, writing for Leafly in 2019, described recipes for making a variety of cannabis- infused condiments. Goodall describes himself as “a Toronto-based Chef with an affinity for cannabis.” The condiments, ranging from ketchup to honey mustard to barbeque sauce and more, are designed to be low dose in nature, offering 8mg of THC per serving or less.
Said Goodall, “the potency of your infusions depends on many factors, from how long and hot it was cooked to the potency of your starting material.”
He suggests testing the potency of your “finished product,” by spreading ¼ or ½ teaspoon on a snack and reflecting on how that dosage affects you after an hour. You can then decrease or increase the dose as desired, using this personalized “standard” dose as a baseline for your recipes.
Goodall also underscores the point that it’s important to clearly label cannabis-infused foods to prevent accidental or unintended consumption, and to always be sure to keep such foods away from underaged eaters.
If there is a benefit to still being in quarantine because of the Coronavirus, at least it does give you an opportunity to experiment on culinary creations such as these before your next social gathering once the current restrictions are fully lifted.
For Alex Goodall’s detailed recipes for cannabis-infused condiments, visit the June 27, 2019 edition of Leafy.
www.leafly.com/news/lifestyle/cannabis-infused-condiments-bbq?
Medical Marijuana and Driving
If the research findings of a study of medical cannabis patients who drive are accurate, another stereotype may be falling by the wayside.
A.J. Herrington, reporting for High Times, wrote that a study by researchers from the University of Toronto, Health Canada, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that a group of patients who regularly use medical marijuana showed little difference in driving performance after inhaling cannabis. The results of the study were released in the Journal of Concurrent Disorders.
Researchers, said Herrington, investigated the effect that cannabis use had on the simulated driving performance of a group of 14 daily marijuana users. All participants had a medical recommendation to use medical marijuana for an underlying condition and reported that they did so on a daily basis.
Several indicators of driving performance such as speed, the ability to maintain lateral control, and braking were measured during the driving simulations. Investigators reported that smoking cannabis did not appear to affect the subjects’ braking reaction time or their ability to maintain lateral control while driving.
Herrington also noted that a review of existing literature published in the journal of the German Medical Association in 2012 found that habitual marijuana users may be able to avoid impairment. According to that report “Patients who take cannabinoids at a constant dosage over an extensive period of time often develop tolerance to the impairment of psychomotor performance, so that they can drive vehicles safely.”
More information can be found in A.J. Herrington’s excellent article in the May 14, 2020 issue of High Times.
hightimes.com/news/study-medical-cannabis-patients-show-little-change-driving-performance-after-use/
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.
