Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at using cannabis to treat cancer, investing in companies that support the cannabis sector, measuring cannabis impairment in drivers and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Cancer
Researchers in England have launched a study to determine if cannabis can play an effective role in the treatment of cancer patients. Dennis Campbell, Health policy editor for The Guardian.com, reports doctors across the UK will use an oral spray of a cannabis extract called Sativex along with a chemotherapy medication – temozolomide – to treat patients with a recurrent brain tumor called a glioblastoma. It is believed to be the first such study in the world.
Susan Short, a professor of clinical oncology and neuro-oncology at Leeds University, who is the principal investigator of the study told Campbell, “We think that Sativex may kill glioblastoma tumor cells and that it may be particularly effective when given with temozolomide chemotherapy, so it may enhance the effects of chemotherapy treatment in stopping these tumors growing, allowing patients to live longer. That is what we want to test in the study.”
Sativex contains equal amounts of two cannabinoids: the psychoactive substance Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which can help reduce pain, inflammation and anxiety without inducing any psychoactive effects.
One of three cannabis-based medicines currently in use by England’s National Health Service, Sativex has already been given to patients with multiple sclerosis to reduce their spasticity. The term refers to feelings of stiffness and a wide range of involuntary muscle spasms (sustained muscle contractions or sudden movements). It is one of the more common symptoms of MS.
Said Dr David Jenkinson, the Brain Tumour Charity’s interim chief executive, “We hope this trial could pave the way for a long-awaited new lifeline that could help offer glioblastoma patients precious extra months to live and make memories with their loved ones.” The Charity is funding the study.
To learn more you can read Denis Campbell’s article in the August 3, 2021 issue of The Guardina.com.
Investor News and Notes
As we have said before, there are many ways to invest in the cannabis sector without actually investing in companies that grow or sell cannabis. One way is to invest in REITS—companies that own, operate or finance income-producing properties that are used by various segments of the cannabis industry, such as commercial properties that house dispensaries or grow operations.
Another way is to invest in companies that supply the resources needed by various elements of the cannabis industry. For example, GrowGeneration Corp., a Denver-based specialty hydroponic and organic garden center giant, has announced it is buying HGS Hydro, a chain of hydroponic garden centers with six stores across Michigan and a seventh store slated to open in the fall.
PR Newswire describes HGS Hydro as the largest chain of hydroponic garden centers in the state of Michigan. It generated approximately $50 million in revenue in 2020.
Also according to PR Newswire, GrowGen owns and operates specialty retail hydroponic and organic gardening centers. It currently has 58 stores, spread through 12 different states, an online superstore for cultivators at growgeneration.com and a B2B ERP platform, agron.io.
GrowGen carries and sells thousands of products, including organic nutrients and soils, advanced lighting technology and state of the art hydroponic equipment to be used indoors and outdoors by commercial and home growers.
What some may find entertaining is that when visiting the company’s website you will find a wide variety of products for either commercial operations or home growers. However, not once will you find the word cannabis. Somehow we don’t think many home growers are prepared to shell out over $300 for an odor control device if they are just growing tomatoes and basil—unless it’s really strong basil. Maybe.
To learn more, you can read the article, “Cannabis grow-supply giant buys Michigan garden center chain.” It appeared in the August 2, 2021 edition of MJ Business Daily.
mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-cultivation-giant-growgeneration-buys-hgs-hyrdo-in-michigan/?
PR Newswire suggests those who want investment information about GrowGeneration Corp. should contact John Evans at john.evans@growgeneration.com.
Celebrity Spotlight
Those aging bad boys of rock and roll—Guns N’ Roses—have decided to enter the cannabis game. However unlike many celebrities they aren’t unveiling a new lines of cannabis. Instead they are introducing a heavily branded line of smoking accessories.
That’s the word from Franca Quarneti who penned an article on the new products that appeared in Benzinga. He writes that the band has partnered with Famous Brandz—a marijuana accessory manufacturer that has partnered with Snoop Dogg and Cheech & Chong in the past.
At this point the new line of smoking accessories includes grinders, hand pipes, a dab rig, a water pipe and rolling trays. Quarneti says the design of all the items was inspired by the band’s first album Appetite for Destruction.
For those doing a little early holiday shopping for that special someone on their list, the products are available at the website Famous Brandz.com.
Feel free to rock on and revisit your well-spent youth if you so choose. Welcome to the jungle, indeed.
To learn more, you can read Franca Quarneti‘s article in the August 2, 2021 edition of Benzinga.com.
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“Unlike alcohol, the amount of cannabis in one’s bloodstream is not a very clear signal that someone is impaired (while driving) due to the tolerances people build when regularly consuming cannabinoids. This tolerance occurs as a result of the downregulation of our CB1 receptors, which results in consumers having to consume a greater quantity of cannabis to obtain the same results as before.
With this greater quantity, there is now more THC in their body, however, this increased quantity of THC may not have increased one’s level of impairment — which is the flaw in the current approach taken.’—Mathew O’Brien, editor of Four PM, a daily newsletter that provides cannabis industry news and insights from industry leaders.
Mr. O’Brien’s comments on the difficulty of measuring the degree to which a driver who has used cannabis may be impaired are taken from a longer article he wrote on President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill. In the article he noted that senators are seeking to make amendments that would allow researchers to study the actual cannabis products that consumers are purchasing from legal sources in the U.S today.
He also made the point that the bill encourages states that have legalized cannabis to educate people about impaired driving. As we have said before, when it comes to the legislative process, “there is many a slip between the cup and the lip,” so we will have to wait and see whether or not changes to the way cannabis research is conducted are actually included in the final language of the bill and whether or not that will lead to research on measuring impairment.
You can learn more on this issue by reading Mathew O’Brien’s article in the August 2, 2021 issue of Four PM. As we have said before we are fans of his work and his newsletter. He tends to say smart things about cannabis in a clear and concise manner.
www.fourpm.co/p/-the-race-to-research-cannabis?
Veterans and Cannabis
There is hopeful news for veterans who would want to use legal cannabis products as part of their medical treatment without putting their veterans benefits at risk.
Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment, writes that a Senate committee has approved an amendment that’s meant to promote military veterans’ access to medical marijuana by allowing doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue cannabis recommendations in states where cannabis is legal.
The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), would also prohibit the Veterans Administration from interfering with, or denying services to, veterans who participate in a state-legal medical cannabis program.
Said Merkley, “We have now 36 states that have medical cannabis, and our veterans want to know from their VA doctor what their thoughts are on the pros and cons or appropriate role or challenges of this particular strategy (using cannabis) for treating a variety of issues, including PTSD. I think it’s really important that we not force our veterans to be unable to discuss this issue with their doctors.”
Jaeger makes the point that some lawmakers have expressed concern that, even if the VA funding provision were added, government physicians could still be penalized by the Justice Department if they filled out cannabis forms while the substance remains federally prohibited.
All of which means that while Merkley’s bill intends to make life less complicated for veterans, it is still not a done deal.
To learn more we suggest you read Kyle Jaeger’s article in the August 4, 2021 issue of Marijuana Moment. As always, his reporting is first rate.
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.
