Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at a new study that suggests cannabis may one day help in the battle against COVID-19, how consistency is key when it comes to branding and consumer satisfaction, the plan to put a dispensary in a Canadian airport and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and COVID-19
A new study suggests cannabis may one day be a useful weapon in the fight against COVID-19.
According to a release from the Oregon State newsroom, the study by Richard van Breemen, a researcher with Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center, College of Pharmacy and Linus Pauling Institute and collaborators, including scientists at Oregon Health & Science University, found that a pair of cannabinoid acids bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, blocking a critical step in the process the virus uses to infect people.
The compounds are cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, also known as CBDA. Said van Breemen, “These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts. They are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans. And our research showed the hemp compounds were equally effective against variants of SARS-CoV-2, including variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, and variant B.1.351, first detected in South Africa.”
CBDA is a precursor of the CBD molecule. When CBDA is aged and heated, it breaks down from its acid form into CBD. CBDA is thought to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
CBGA is described as a foundational compound in the cannabis plant that plays a role in the production of THC and CBD. It’s thought it may one day be used to treat cardiovascular disease and various metabolic disorders.
To be clear, while the study may help to set a direction for further research it should not be interpreted as a sign that using commercially available cannabis products will protect you from COVID-19. That’s not the case.
As Kanoko Matsuyama noted when covering the story for Fortune, the study didn’t involve giving cannabis supplements to people or comparing infection rates in those who use the compounds to those who don’t.
To learn more we suggest you read the release from Oregon State University. Simply click on the link that follows.
You can also read Kanoko Matsuyama’s article on the study. It appeared in the January 12, 2022 issue of Fortune.
fortune.com/2022/01/12/cannabis-compounds-stop-covid-virus-infecting-human-cells-lab-study/
However, another story suggests cannabis may be playing a more immediate role in the fight against COVID-19. According to an article that appeared in the Montreal Gazette, requests for appointments to receive a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine spiked hours after the Quebec government announced a vaccine passport would be required to access provincial liquor stores and cannabis outlets.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé has stated that effective Jan. 18, a vaccine passport would be required to shop in person at Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) stores and Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) outlets.
Dubé told the Montreal Gazette the decision to impose a vaccine passport requirement at these locations was triggered by the continued surge in COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. He also said a vaccine passport would eventually be required for other “non-essential” services, but he did not immediately specify when and where the policy would go into effect.
Stated another way, no ticket, no toking.
If you care to learn more you can read the article that appeared in the January 7, 2022 issue of the Montreal Gazette.
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“It’s nice that our products are consistent, but more importantly, it’s what that consistency enables. What it enables is that you take the same amount every time. If you know what works for you, then you can use cannabis with precision. In the past, a lot of it has been rolling the dice, you take a hit of something, and it’s going to do nothing, or you’re going to be flattened.”—Michael Backes.
Mr. Backes is Chief Product Officer of the California-based cannabis company Perfect. His comment is taken from an article by Cara Wietstock that appeared in Ganjapreneur. In the article Backes discussed the importance of consistency when consumers are looking for products based on pharmacological effects and brands are trying to develop products consumers can trust.
Dean Hollander, Mo Isern and Michael Backes founded Perfect in 2019. Currently, the company sells three cannabis blends that are available in pre-rolls and chopped flower—”a giggle weed called Happy Camper, an uplifting boost called Pick Me Up, and the self-explanatory NightCap.”
In the article Backe describes how the team took the cannabis plant apart to understand what compounds were essential to building a product that promised a reliable effect. Perfect’s research showed that if the terpene content remained the same from batch to batch, the consumer experience would be the same despite a person’s individualized endocannabinoid system.
We can’t say enough good things about Cara Wietstock’s article. She is able to do a deep dive into the complicated process of bringing consistent products to market without blinding the reader with science. She and Backe illuminate what is likely to be an important part of the future of cannabis companies—helping consumers find specific products that address their individual needs.
To learn more, we urge you to read Cara Wietstock’s article. It appears in the January 7, 2022 issue of Ganjapreneur.
www.ganjapreneur.com/perfect-pharmacologically-inspired-cannabis-blends/?
Senior Celebrity Spotlight
There’s good news for mature consumers who want to learn more about how cannabis companies operate and be entertained at the same time. Season 2 of Growing Belushi is set to premiere on Discovery on January 19.
That’s the word from Michael Starr, reporting for the New York Post. According to Starr, while Season 1 introduced viewers to the veteran actor’s Oregon-based cannabis-growing business, in Season 2, Belushi and his crew make adjustments to the farm and start growing the business nationwide.
Said Belushi, ““In the second season you’re seeing the expansion of the farm. [Specialty hydroponic and organic garden center] GrowGeneration helped me … and we rebuilt the farm. We expanded not only in our inventory in Oregon but then other states became interested. And we partnered with Bhang Chocolate in California. We did a co-op with them with [cannabis infused] Blues Brothers chocolate.”
Starr notes that Belushi’s Farm products are now available in California, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Michigan and Arizona.
According to Belushi, Season 2 will also feature several celebrity appearances, including Dan Aykroyd and celebrity chef and Food Network star Guy Fieri.
You can learn a lot more by reading Michael Starr’s wide-ranging article about Belushi and the program. The article appeared in the January 13, 2022 issue of the New York Post.
nypost.com/2022/01/10/jim-belushi-expands-cannabis-empire-in-growing-belushi-season-2/
Research News and Notes
A new study suggests that when it comes to cannabis beverages, what you see on the label may not be what you find inside the bottle.
The study, conducted by individuals affiliated with the University of Wisconsin’s School of Pharmacy, analyzed a variety of commercial CBD products, including oils, aqueous products (i.e., beverages), and various other products for cannabinoid content vs label claims and stability under United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards.
When it came to the beverages they examined, the researchers found that while consumer CBD products in general can vary greatly in formulation, purity, and label accuracy, beverages marketed as containing CBD are especially inconsistent when it comes to what the label describes.
For example, they found that many of the beverages said to contain CBD also contained what the researchers described as non-negligible amounts of THC.
Because of these labeling problems, the researchers contend patients and consumers may be at risk for side effects, drug interactions, and failed drug screenings.
They also found that the beverages they studied showed a great deal of lot-to-lot variability, which can make dosing of CBD unpredictable.
The study was published in the February 1, 2022 edition of the journal Epilepsy and Behavior. To read an abstract of the study, simply click on the link that follows.
www.epilepsybehavior.com/article/S1525-5050(21)00775-7/fulltext
Travel Tips
If the plan for a new retail shop is approved, a Canadian airport may soon put a new spin on the notion of flying the friendly skies.
According to TG Branfalt, writing for Ganjapreneur, Prince George Airport — which is located in British Columbia— has received a business application to open a retail shop from the cannabis company Copilot. If approved the airport would be the only one in the world with a licensed cannabis dispensary.
Copilot is described as a company that aims to make air travel a less stressful experience for those who suffer from anxiety or fear-related to plane travel. The company’s co-founders Reed Horton and Owen Ritz called the airport “the perfect place” to launch their first storefront and fulfill their mission “to make travel a less stressful and more pleasant experience” for their customers. They said they hope to open “in the coming year” pending regulatory approvals.
There’s no word as to the specific products the shop would feature or if a space for safe consumption would be available prior to boarding. There is also no word as to whether those who intend to leave on international flights would face unique restrictions.
To learn more, we suggest you read TG Branfalt’s entertaining and informative article. It appears in the January 13, 2022 issue of Ganjapreneur.
www.ganjapreneur.com/canadian-airport-could-be-worlds-first-with-a-retail-cannabis-shop/?
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.
