Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at medical cannabis in France, gluten-free edibles, a former Governor turned cannabis entrepreneur and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis in Europe: Paris Calling
“Puis-je avoir du cannabis médical s’il vous plaît?” Requests for cannabis-based medicine, such as this, may soon be heard in pharmacies across France.
That’s because hot on the heels of Germany’s decision to decriminalize cannabis, medical cannabis could soon get the green light in France.
According to Lara Bullens, reporting for the website France 24, during an experiment that lasted for three years, French health authorities gave patients suffering from serious illnesses the chance to use prescribed medical cannabis.
A total of 3,035 people took part in the experiment and 1,842 are still receiving treatment today. Now that the trial has ended, there are reports that France is preparing to bring cannabis-based medicines to the market in 2025.
Said Nicolas Authier, a doctor who specializes in pharmacology, addiction and pain who is also the president of the scientific committee tasked with monitoring the medical cannabis trial, “Our evaluations show that between 30 and 40 percent of symptoms like pain, spasms, quality of life or epileptic seizures for example, have improved significantly.”
Added Authier, “Cannabis-based medicines are currently dispensed in hospitals or in hospital pharmacies, but in the long-run, most of them will become available in regular pharmacies much like any other drug.”
Bullens noted in her article that during the trial, health authorities allowed limited prescriptions for people suffering from five specific conditions: neuropathic pain, some drug-resistant forms of epilepsy, intense oncology symptoms related to cancer or cancer treatment, palliative situations and pathologies that affect the nervous system, like multiple sclerosis.
In addition, patients were only prescribed cannabis-based medicines if available treatment was found to be insufficient, or if they presented an aversion to existing drugs.
Authier estimates that based on the five medical conditions that currently warrant the use of cannabis in France, between 150,000 and 300,000 people could be prescribed cannabis-based medicines when and if they are legalized.
You can learn much more about medical cannabis in France, including the prevailing opinions about cannabis in general, by reading Lara Bullens’s insightful and detailed article in the March 30, 2024 issue of the website France24.com.
The Shape of Things to Come
In a move that may offer a glimpse of the future of medical cannabis, Delaware lawmakers have approved a bill that would allow healthcare providers to certify any patients for the medical cannabis program. The bill would also make it possible for individuals aged 65 and older to self-certify so they could participate in the program.
That’s the word from TG Branfalt, reporting for Ganjapreneur. According to Branfalt, the bill, which would expand access to medical cannabis, was approved by the state House of Representatives in January and, with Senate passage, has moved to Gov. John Carney (D) for final approval.
Branfalt noted that if approved by the governor, the measure would end requirements that patients must suffer from one of more than a dozen qualifying conditions to access the state’s medical cannabis program and eliminate the CBD-rich and compassionate use programs currently used to treat conditions outside of the specific qualifying conditions for medical cannabis.
The bill would also allow the state Department of Health and Social Services to issue registry cards that are valid for up to three years, and allow the issuance of permanent cards to patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses; and allow reciprocity for medical cannabis patients from other states or U.S. territories.
Said Sen. Kyra Hoffner (D), one of the bill’s sponsors, “The changes will allow healthcare providers to make sound decisions about which treatments best fit their patients, and make those treatments more readily accessible to people who need them the most.”
To learn more, we urge you to read TG Branfalt’s excellent reporting in the April 1, 2024 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
www.ganjapreneur.com/delaware-bill-to-expand-medical-cannabis-access-moves-to-governor/
Stats of the Week
This week’s magic number is 59 percent. According to a recent Harris Poll, that’s the percentage of Americans who agreed with the statement that “[a]ll Americans should have the right to legally grow cannabis at home.”
So says Kyle Jaeger who reported on the poll for Marijuana Moment. In his article Jaeger noted that the poll, which was commissioned by the cannabis company Royal Queen Seeds, also revealed the following:
• 81 percent of marijuana consumers who plan to grow their own plants this year said they intend to buy seeds on 4/20.
• 37 percent of respondents also said that they would consider buying marijuana seeds as a gift for someone else on 4/20.
• 29 percent of marijuana consumers have grown their own plants and 21 percent said they would like to try.
• 34 percent of cannabis consumers who have grown cannabis at home say they do so because they consider the product safer than what’s available at retailers.
• 49 percent of people who grow their own say home cultivation gives them a sense of confidence, 48 percent a sense of joy, 46 percent a sense of pride, 34 percent a sense of ease and 44 percent a connectedness with nature.
• 56 percent of people who’ve grown their own cannabis admit that they’ve played music for, or sang to their plants.
Said Shai Ramsahai, president of Royal Queen Seeds, “All adults should be allowed to grow their own cannabis alongside their fruits and vegetables, if they so choose, without the fear of financial or criminal penalties. There are many reasons people enjoy growing at home, from cost savings and knowing how their plants were grown, to just plain old having fun.”
According to Jaeger, the survey involved interviews with 2,024 adults 21 and older, including 713 cannabis consumers, from February 15-20. The Harris Poll said the margin of error in this case was +/- 2.5 percentage points.
To learn more, including the findings of a recent survey from The Pew Research Center, we urge you to read Kyle Jaeger’s revealing article in the April 2, 2024 issue of Marijuana Moment.net. He does excellent work.
Spotlight on Edibles
Here are some numbers to chew on. According to a 2021 survey, North America had the highest percentage of sales of gluten-free products— nearly 37 percent—and 57 percent of the gluten-free food market is focused on bakery items. It’s also estimated the gluten-free food will be a $7 billion worldwide market in 2024.
So it should come as no surprise that an established cannabis company has decided to join the party. AYR Wellness Inc. (AYRWF) has launched a line of premium edibles under the Kynd brand in Florida and Nevada that boasts natural flavors and offers vegan, gluten-free options.
Said David Goubert, AYR’s President and CEO, “We’re excited to broaden the offerings of our flagship cannabis brand, Kynd, by venturing into new categories such as edibles. Edibles cater to a growing market segment comprising both novice and seasoned cannabis enthusiasts. We anticipate introducing Kynd edibles to consumers and wholesale partners across additional states later this year.”
Joseph Billions, reporting for Cannabis.net, believes that by launching a variety of high-end goods intended to provide customers with a variety of specific experiences, AYR Wellness Inc. (AYRWF) is ushering in a new age of customized cannabis edibles.
For example, Billions notes that the company’s ENERGY gummies were developed to meet a variety of demands, from relaxation to invigorating boosts, all while guaranteeing accurate dosage and using natural components.
In addition, he contends that by putting an emphasis on natural tastes and offering vegan and gluten-free choices, the firm hopes to reach a larger clientele that includes those with dietary constraints and those who are health-conscious.
To learn more about the company and its products, including a financial overview, we encourage you to read the article by Joseph Billions that appeared in the April 2, 2024 issue of Cannabis.net.
To visit the Kynd website, simply click on the link that follows.
Senior Celebrity Spotlight
After experiencing success as a professional wrestler, actor and politician, former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura is about to add the title cannabis entrepreneur to his resume.
Minnesota Public Radio reports that Ventura is partnering with Minneapolis-based Retro Bakery, to launch his own brand of hemp-derived cannabis edibles under the Jesse Ventura Farms brand.
Citing an Associated Press story, Fortune.com reports that the Ventura-branded edibles are now available for pre-order.
Said Ventura, “Ventura Farms is my foray into the world of cannabis.” He added, “I’m a huge supporter of the cannabis industry. Cannabis saved my family’s life. And now it’s time for me to return to the cannabis world. And you can join me — Jesse Ventura and Ventura Farms — any time you want. We’re in the game.”
Products offered through the Jesse Ventura Farms brand include sativa vegan gummies, a Blue Dream sativa dark chocolate bar and much more. All of the products are under 0.3 percent THC and guaranteed by the bakery to be effective, or your money back.
Ventura’s partner, Retro Bakery, claims that since the products in the Jesse Ventura Farms line are hemp derived, it can legally ship the products to any state.
Maybe. We are always cautious where the mail is concerned.
Ventura served as Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003 and while in office was one of the first governors in the U.S. to openly support marijuana legalization.
To learn more, we suggest reading the article that appeared in the March 28, 2024 issue of Forbes.com.
fortune.com/2024/03/28/minnesota-jesse-ventura-bakery-edibles/
To visit the site of Jesse Ventura Farms by Retro Bakery, simply click on the following link.
retrobakery.net/pages/jesse-ventura-farms-by-retro-bakery
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.
