Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at cannabis and tariffs, a new safety program for cannabis workers, treating MS patients with cannabis and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Tariffs
If you think consumers and businesses in the cannabis sector won’t feel the impact of the current round of tariffs announced by the Trump administration, you may want to think again.
While cannabis cannot be imported or exported due to federal restrictions, the industry relies heavily on international suppliers for key components used in cultivation and retailing, such as vaporizer hardware, packaging, and cultivation equipment.
The fees levied on these materials are likely to have an impact on a number of aspects of the cannabis sector, from prices on consumer goods to the viability of legal cannabis markets.
So says Terry Hacienda in an article for The Fresh Toast. Hacienda notes that a number of products used by growers and retailers in the sector, such as batteries, vape cartridges and packaging materials, are produced and imported from China, Mexico and Canada, which means they will be subject to tariffs.
As a result, many cannabis companies are already taking steps to pass these increased costs down the supply chain to the consumer.
According to Hacienda, analysts estimate that most cannabis businesses lack the margin flexibility to absorb a 10 percent-15 percent cost increase. This will lead to higher retail prices for products like pre-rolls and vaporizers.
Additionally, the tariffs have already caused stock prices of major cannabis companies such as Tilray Brands and Canopy Growth to decline by 5 percent-10 percent. Hacienda contends this movement reflects investor concerns over profitability.
More news as more news develops.
Terry Hacienda does an excellent job of unpacking a complex and timely topic. You can learn more by reading the article Hacienda wrote for The Fresh Toast. It was reprinted in the April 7, 2025 issue of The Mercury News.com.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/07/cannabis-consumers-are-being-hit-by-the-tariffs/
Cannabis Corner
There may be reassuring news for those who work in the cannabis sector in New York State and for mature consumers seeking a second career in the sector. State cannabis regulators and labor officials there have launched a workforce training program aimed at “providing comprehensive safety education to workers” in the state’s legal marijuana industry.
There are a number of factors that can threaten the safety of workers in the cannabis sector, from exposure to chemicals and biological matter to physical hazards, such as heat and noise, to electrical safety issues and the risk of fire and explosion.
Fortunately, it’s believed by New York State regulators and union officials that the innovative program they have introduced will help protect the health and safety of marijuana industry workers.
That’s the word from Ben Adlin, reporting for Marijuana Moment. According to Adlin, the new program, developed by officials at the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the state Department of Labor (DOL), will provide workers with valuable information on product safety, labor standards, and best practices. This, they believe, will foster “a culture of responsibility and compliance across the entire supply chain.”
Adlin reports that The Responsible Workforce Training Program consists of four components that cover product safety and responsibility, workforce responsibility and license education, as well as cultural competency training.
The first two of those exist as free, online videos published by OCM. After watching the online videos, workers must complete a verification form attesting that they completed the courses.
Workers are also required to complete at least two hours of licensee-provided education “on the specific activities specified by their license,” which can be done through a mix of on-the-job training and written instructional materials.
Said Felicia A. B. Reid, OCM’s acting executive director, in a statement, “I’ve spent many hours on site with cannabusinesses and their staff, as well as with communities across our State, so I know how critical occupational safety is to workers in the industry. In collaboration with DOL, the Responsible Workforce Training provides vital resources that not only promote workplace safety but also ensure the industry remains responsible, transparent, and aligned with New York’s high standards of workforce protection and public health.”
You can learn more about this and other recent initiatives of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management by reading Ben Adlin’s article in the April 4, 2025 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Rescheduling Update
This week’s update on cannabis rescheduling appears to be that there isn’t any update and there won’t be one for the foreseeable future.
So says Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment. Jaeger notes that according to the White House, marijuana rescheduling is not a part of President Donald Trump’s drug policy priorities for the first year of his second term.
Instead, writes Jaeger, the initial six priorities will largely focus on combating drug trafficking and mitigating the opioid crisis. That’s according to a statement from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
The Trump administration’s six drug policy priorities for the first year are as follows:
• Reduce the Number of Overdose Fatalities, with a Focus on Fentanyl
• Secure the Global Supply Chain Against Drug Trafficking
• Stop the Flow of Drugs Across our Borders and into Our Communities
• Prevent Drug Use Before It Starts
• Provide Treatment That Leads to Long-Term Recovery
• Innovate in Research and Data to Support Drug Control Strategies
In his article, Jaeger noted that while there is no schedule for rescheduling, the White House does not appear poised to take hostile actions related to marijuana while it targets other drugs, such as fentanyl, methamphetamines, xylazine, cocaine and heroin that are named in the new document.
Given the lack of a policy statement on rescheduling, advocates and stakeholders are reduced to reading tea leaves and speculating, based on previous statements by cabinet picks who have either been confirmed or are waiting for confirmation.
You can learn more by reading Kyle Jaeger’s article in the April 4, 2025 issue of Marijuana Moment.net. As always, his reporting is first rate.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-rescheduling-isnt-on-the-white-houses-new-list-of-top-drug-policy-priorities-under-the-trump-administration/?
Treating MS With Cannabis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that involves both inflammation and neurodegeneration. The condition gives rise to a broad spectrum of disability symptoms, including motor impairment and chronic pain due to muscle spasticity, gait and balance impairments, fatigue, bowel and urine bladder dysfunction, and cognitive decline.
Recently, a group of Greek researchers affiliated with the University of Athens, the University of Ioannina and other institutions, conducted a single-center longitudinal study that followed 69 MS patients over a six-month period. Participants were assessed at the beginning of treatment and at three- and six-month intervals.
Key measures monitored during the assessment included muscle spasticity, urine bladder dysfunction, and the evaluation of disability progression rate. The evaluation of the participants’ status included the use of the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), a measure of muscle spasticity and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), a tool that measures disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. It evaluates ambulation, pyramidal, cerebellar, sensory, bowel and bladder, visual, cerebral and other systems.
During the course of the study participants were treated with a vaporized cannabis-based medicinal product consisting of 13 percent cannabidiol (CBD) and 9 percent delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Researchers reported that after treatment, significant improvement was observed among the participants across all outcome assessments. The EDSS score was decreased over time (p = 0.009), indicating a slight reduction in disability progression rate, while MAS scores showed substantial improvement in muscle spasticity (p < 0.001). Urine bladder function was also said to have improved significantly.
At the end of the study the researchers concluded the vaporized CBD13/THC9 formulation demonstrated what was described as notable effectiveness in slightly improving disability progression rate via reduction in muscle spasticity and urine bladder dysfunction in MS patients. This highlights its therapeutic value during rehabilitation in MS patients with debilitating disability symptoms.
The study was published in the March 20, 2025 issue of the Journal of Clinical Medicine. This special issue focused on the clinical management of multiple sclerosis. To read an abstract of the study, click on the link that follows.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/6/2121
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“The evolution of the cannabis market closely mirrors trends in craft beer.
Over the years, mass-produced lagers have lost ground to artisanal brews with unique flavor profiles.
Similarly, in states with mature marijuana industries such as California, Colorado and Oregon, consumer demand is shifting toward high-quality flower and premium products such as hash rosin.
Just as beer drinkers have moved beyond alcohol percentages to appreciate complexity in taste, marijuana consumers are beginning to look beyond THC levels to explore the full spectrum of aromas, effects and therapeutic benefits.
This shift signals a growing appreciation for the art and science of cannabis cultivation.”—Chris O’Ferrell and Luca Boldrini
Mr. O’Ferrell is senior director of cultivation at Deep Roots Harvest in Nevada. Mr. Boldrini is head of cultivation at The Pass in Massachusetts. Their joint comment is taken from an op-ed article the two of them penned for MJBizDaily.
In their article they describe how, they believe, the cannabis sector is gradually changing in response to small but significant changes in the way consumers choose products.
While, they acknowledge, THC content has for some time been the primary driver for many consumers, they contend in their article that other factors, such as terpene profiles, branding, packaging and promotions are beginning to take a more prominent role in influencing consumer choices when purchasing cannabis products.
In addition, they believe education is essential when it comes to exposing consumers to the importance of factors beyond THC scores when it comes to the cannabis experience.
O’Ferrell and Boldrini argue in their article that retailers can play a pivotal role in consumer education by highlighting strain effects, terpene content and aroma profiles when interacting with customers.
The authors also see a role for cannabis breeders when it comes to reshaping consumer preferences. Breeders can contribute by developing strains rich in lesser-known cannabinoids such as CBG and THCV which, they argue, can enable them to offer consumers cannabis with a broader range of effects, including some tailored to meet different consumer needs.
You can learn much more about the changing nature of the cannabis consumer experience by reading the op-ed by Chris O’Ferrell and Luca Boldrini in the April 2, 2025 issue of MJBizDaily.com.
://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-consumers-seek-more-than-thc-potency/
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.
