Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we have a study on managing pain with low doses of THC, a new study that debunks the myth of the lazy stoner and tips on investing in CBD products. Enjoy.
THC and Pain Management
Low doses of THC may offer big benefits when it comes to treating pain. So says Javier Hesse writing for Benzinga. He reports that Israeli researchers have conducted clinical trials seeking to demonstrate that pain can be effectively relieved using targeted micro-doses of THC.
According to Hasse, the study suggests that using a Selective-Dose Inhaler three to four times per day can relieve pain with a dose of just 500 micrograms of THC, one of the main chemical compounds found in cannabis. The inhaler is a device made by a Tel Aviv-based company called Syqe Medical.
Hasse says researchers reported using the inhaler to deliver low and precise doses of THC according to high pharmaceutical standards can produce safe and effective analgesia in patients with chronic pain.
The study was conducted at Rambam Hospital in Haifa and led by Prof. Elon Eisenberg, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. The findings were published in the European Journal of Pain.
You can learn more by reading Javier Hasse’s article in the July 3, 2020 issue of Benzinga.
www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/20/07/16475466/study-very-low-doses-of-thc-can-help-treat-pain?
Stats of the Week
Retail sales of medical and recreational cannabis in the United States are on pace to surpass $15 billion by the end of 2020. That would be an increase of approximately 40 percent over sales figures from 2019. Plus, total U.S. sales could rise as high as $37 billion by 2024. These projections are taken from the 2020 edition of the Marijuana Business Factbook.
To learn more, visit the article by Eli McVey in the June 30, 2020 edition of Marijuana Business Daily.
Cannabis Trends
When it comes to describing older individuals who use cannabis regularly, another stereotype seems to have fallen by the wayside—that of the “lazy stoner.”
That’s the word from Ben Adlin reporting for Marijuana Moment. Adlin writes that a new study of older Americans found that cannabis consumers tended to do more formal exercise and engage in more physical activities than non-consumers.
According to Adlin, not only were adults over 60 who used marijuana generally in better shape than their peers who abstained from cannabis, they were also more responsive to an assigned four-month “exercise intervention trial”—essentially a program of physical activity prescribed by a clinician.
The research team at the University of Colorado at Boulder Department of Neuroscience and Psychology wrote, “At minimum, the evidence suggests that cannabis use does not hinder older adults’ ability to engage in physical activity, to participate in a supervised exercise program, or to increase their fitness as a result of physical activity.” The study appeared in the July 2020 edition of the American Journal on Health Behavior.
In the same article, Adlin also wrote that a separate study out of the University of Colorado published last year (2019) found that a majority of marijuana consumers reported that cannabis use before or after exercising improves the experience and aids recovery.
To learn more about cannabis use among older adults and exercise we encourage you to read Ben Adlin’s article in the July 6, 2020 edition of Marijuana Moment.
Investor News and Notes
There is good news for investors who want to take advantage of the current interest consumers are showing in CBD-infused products. There are a variety of consumer packaged goods that are now offered by reputable brands that are thought to offer investors sustainable growth over the coming years as the market continues to mature.
So says Ryan Allway writing for CFN Media group. He contends that most high-growth companies are focused on categories with frequent consumption—ideally, several times per day—and product formats that are already familiar and easy to consume. According to Allway, instead of convincing people to vape CBD oil, these companies are launching CBD-infused versions of products that consumers already know and love.
Allway offers three examples:
* CBD Beverages
Citing research by Zenith Global, Allway contends the CBD beverage market is projected to reach $1.4 billion by 2023. This would make it one of the fastest-growing segments in the entire industry. He adds that the rise of energy shots, vitamin waters and other functional beverages demonstrates that consumers are increasingly looking for products that can help them achieve a goal and improve their wellness.
* CBD Cosmetics
According to Allway, some research suggests that CBD may possess unique anti-inflammatory and anti-acne properties that could help make skincare products more effective. In addition to its beauty properties, he adds that these products could also help with muscle pain and soreness for athletes or older adults that face chronic issues with pain just below the skin’s surface.
As a result, according to Report Linker, the global CBD skincare market was valued at over $600 million last year and is anticipated to reach more than $3.4 billion by 2026. That would represent a compound annual growth rate of just under 25 percent.
Included in this category are products such as CBD-enhanced oils, lotions, creams, masks, serums and soaps, a number of which are sold across a variety of distribution channels.
* CBD Pharmaceuticals
Allway also points out that there are early-stage clinical trials that suggest that CBD-based pharmaceuticals could be an effective way to treat a variety of conditions, ranging from chronic pain to psychiatric disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder. While more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions, investors may want to consider companies with a track record as the R&D leaders.
To learn more, you can read Ryan Allway’s informative article in the June 29, 2020 edition of CFN Media.
www.cannabisfn.com/3-ways-to-invest-in-the-burgeoning-cbd-market/
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.
