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A group of doctors and pharmacists have joined forces to promote the use of medical cannabis.

Now the Bermuda Medicinal Cannabis Association is to meet with the Government next month to offer its expertise as Bermuda prepares legislation to allow use of the drug for patient treatment.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday a meeting with the BMCA, which will also include the Ministry of Legal Affairs, would be organised.

Association member Kyjuan Brown, the medical director at Northshore Medical and Aesthetics Centre and a long-term campaigner for medical marijuana, said: “At Northshore Medical and Aesthetics Centre, we remain committed to engaging in local and international research and educational opportunities that will further enhance the care that we provide to our patients.”

Dr Brown was speaking after a group of medical professionals attended the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association’s annual conference in Florida earlier this month.

He said: “On behalf of NMAC and the many patients in Bermuda who can benefit from this evolving alternative medicine, I was pleased to join a conglomerate of local doctors in attending the AMMPA conference where we engaged with like-minded physicians from around the world who shared the latest evidence-based research on medicinal cannabis.

“Since 2014, I have been advocating for patients to have access to medical cannabis, I look forward to the day when marijuana will become a legal treatment option.”

The BMCA is headed by pharmacist Jennie Lightbourne and was set up to educate fellow professionals and the public on the benefits of medical cannabis.

The group attended the US conference with Annabel Fountain, an endocrinologist, a specialist in glands, hormones and metabolism, and Cindy Morris, a doctor and pain management specialist at Northshore Medical and Aesthetics Centre.

A spokesman said the delegation learnt that marijuana had potential benefits in a variety of conditions, from diabetes to post traumatic stress disorder.

Dr Fountain said she was cautious about unintended consequences of marijuana use, especially the risk of psychosis, but that there were potential benefits for some diabetes patients.

She added: “Areas of benefit that I’m excited about are the use of cannabis products to treat diabetic neuropathy, to assist in recovery after brain injury and to reduce dependence on opioids.

“Bermuda has so many road injuries and stroke disease and we exceed the national quota of opioid medications for pain from the International Narcotics Control Board every year. For these indications, cannabis is established as a safe alternative.”

Dr Morris said: “The incorporation of cannabis-related products paired with my knowledge of pain management of the nervous system answers many questions that traditional medicine has not answered.”

Ms Benyak-Pitcher, a pharmacist and secretary of the BMCA, said she was interested in research that indicated cannabis could be used to treat a range of conditions including autism, brain injuries and strokes, chronic pain, anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease, as well as post traumatic stress disorder.

She said: “I see medical cannabis as an alternative way to complement our traditional approach to ailments.”

The American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association is the largest medical cannabis association for doctors in the world and was set up to give healthcare professionals information on the use of the drug as an alternative treatment.

Delegates to the Florida conference included top doctors, scientists, and lawyers, including Nikki Fried, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, and Hinanit Koltai, who represented the Israeli Government.

David Burt, the Premier, said in 2018 that the cannabis cultivation for medical reasons was to be legalised and the first licences for its production would be issued this year.

A bill introduced by lawmakers in Washington, D.C. recently would remove possession of cannabis as grounds for deportation under federal law. Under the bill, the Remove Marijuana from Deportable Offenses Act (S. 2021), the offenses for which an undocumented immigrant could be deported would be amended. The bill was introduced by Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey in June and in the House last month with an identical companion bill from fellow Democrat Assistant Speaker Ray Ben Luján of New Mexico.

“This Administration’s efforts to use marijuana possession as a tool for deportation is misguided and does not make our communities safer,” said Booker in a press release. “Limited law enforcement resources should not be wasted on deporting people for something two of the last three presidents have admitted to doing. This legislation will remove another one of ICE’s weapons that have been deployed to execute this Administration’s hardline immigration policy.”

Why This Bill is Necessary

With the bill, the Immigration and Nationality Act would be amended, adding the phrase “other than the distribution of marijuana” to the section that defines “illicit trafficking in a controlled substance” as an offense that warrants the deportation of an undocumented immigrant.

The measure also adds that “any offenses involving the use, possession, or distribution of marijuana shall not be considered as grounds of inadmissibility.” The bill would also allow immigrants who have been deported or denied a visa to reapply for admission to the country or have their visa reissued.

“The Trump administration’s decision to use marijuana as a weapon against our immigrant communities is despicable,” said Luján. “The federal government should not be wasting resources to wreak havoc on immigrant families when there are children held in border camps that are desperate for legal services, hygiene products, and basic humanitarian care. Providing care for these children and families should be where the Trump administration devotes its funding—not working as a deportation force.”

“I’m proud to be fighting for this legislation to hold President Trump accountable and defend our immigrant communities from senseless and hateful policies,” he added.

More than 34,000 immigrants were deported between 2007 and 2012 for marijuana possession, according to a report from Human Rights Watch. Since President Trump rescinded guidelines that listed misdemeanor offenders and cannabis convictions as a low priority, the crisis has worsened, according to Luján’s office. He adds that “this anti-immigrant agenda from the Trump administration stands in contrast to the policies of dozens of states that have legalized or decriminalized marijuana use and possession.”

New research from Roy Morgan shows increasing numbers of Australians across all age groups want to legalise marijuana – although 49% remain opposed.

Overall, 42% of Australians now support legalisation of marijuana, up 9% points in just four years. The percentage who say marijuana should remain illegal is down 7% over the same period to 49%. A further 9% are undecided.

Australians aged 18 to 34 years old are the most likely to support the legalisation of marijuana. This is also the segment of the population where opinion has shifted to the greatest degree over the last four years. In 2015 only 36% of 18 to 24 year-olds supported legalisation, now 50% do. The next age-group up, 25 to 34 year-olds, has also seen a dramatic rise in support, from 34% in 2015 to 46% now. These are the two age groups in which support for legalisation is higher than opposition to the idea.

These are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan Single Source survey, derived from in-depth face-to-face interviews with over 50,000 Australians each year in their homes.

“The ACT Legislative Assembly’s decision to legalise the possession, use and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis has brought Australia’s laws surrounding marijuana firmly back into the national spotlight,” says Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine. "The decision certainly reflects the evolving mood of the ACT electorate: 47% of ACT residents want to see marijuana legalised – up 14% points from 2015 and a higher level of support for legalisation than in any of Australia’s six States. At 40%, those ACT residents who don’t support the legalisation of marijuana are in the minority.”

“The changing attitudes towards marijuana use in Australia follow well-publicised legislative changes in the US in which the use of cannabis is now fully legal in 11 States and the use of medicinal cannabis is allowed in 33 States. The trend towards legalisation of the use of cannabis in the US is continuing and the ACT’s legislation marks a step in that direction in Australia”  said Levine.

Perhaps surprisingly the two groups most opposed to the legalisation of marijuana are the youngest and oldest Australians. Only a little over a quarter of 14-17yr olds (26%) and a third of those aged 65+ (33%) support such a move.

Proponents of marijuana legalisation are young, Socially Aware and progressive 

A quintessential supporter of legalising marijuana is a younger man living the single life without any children. He’s most likely to be part of the Socially Aware Roy Morgan Values Segment – ‘With a strong sense of social responsibility and a propensity for convincing others of their opinions, they often become involved in pressure groups. Common occupations include public servants, politicians and researchers.’

Those advocating for legalising marijuana are more likely than other Australians to agree with environmental concerns such as ‘At heart I’m an environmentalist’ and ‘If we don’t act now we’ll never control our environmental problems’.

They are also more likely to share progressive views such as ‘Homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children’. In addition they are more likely to be ‘always ready to try new and different products’  and ‘more interested in their job than their house’.

Those against legalising marijuana are older and with more traditional views

A quintessential supporter of leaving marijuana illegal is an older woman who has already retired. She’s a light spender and when it comes to the Roy Morgan Values Segments likely to be a part of Traditional Family Life – ‘With a strong focus on family they spend time and energy getting the family to visit them, babysitting, weekend BBQs and buying lollies for the grandkids when their parents won’t let them have any.’

She’s more likely than the average Australian to agree that ‘Crime is a growing problem in her community’ and ‘Globalisation brings more problems than it solves’ but also more likely to give the Government the benefit of the doubt and agree that ‘The Government is doing a good job running the country’.

Attitude towards marijuana legalisation by age in 2019

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source Australia, Jul 2018-Jun 2019, n=14,383 and Jul 2014–Jun 2015, n=15,867. Base: Australians aged 14+.

Legal cannabis is a big-money business that could be worth as much as $200 billion in a decade's time, according to projections offered by investment bank Stifel. For context, global sales totaled "only" $10.9 billion in 2018, which demonstrates just how robust growth could be over the years to come.

But as is often the case with next-big-thing investments, they're not without their growing pains. For the legal weed industry, that time is now.

Supply shortages and high tax rates have hurt the North American legal pot industry

Since day one of legalization on Oct. 17, 2018, Canada has been dealing with a shortage of cannabis. Part of this blame can be placed on the growers themselves, mainly because they waited until the passage of the Cannabis Act was a certainty before spending big bucks on capacity expansion projects. As a result, some very large-scale greenhouses are still under construction a year after the green flag waved on adult-use weed in Canada.

However, the bulk of the supply issues in our neighbor to the north have to do with the expediency of approving licenses. Regulatory agency Health Canada entered the year with a monstrous backlog of more than 800 cultivation, processing, and sales license applications that were awaiting review or approval. The agency has implemented stricter guidelines for the cultivation license application process in hopes that it'll reduce its backlog, but this is no quick fix.

Meanwhile, certain provinces have been slow to green-light the opening of retail dispensaries. Without physical dispensaries for consumers to buy from, they're left to either buy online and wait for delivery or purchase from a black market producer. This is a big reason why the black market has been so resilient in Canada, even with a relatively low excise tax rate on legal products.

Comparatively, the U.S. marijuana market has largely disappointed because of high tax rates on legal weed. In California, the state expected to lead all others in annual cannabis sales, the combination of state, local, excise, and wholesale taxes could hit up to 45% in select cities. Plus, with municipalities free to choose whether pot stores can open in their jurisdiction, access to marijuana in recreationally legal states has been spotty.

But there's another danger that's been rearing its head of late: vape-related health concerns.

The vape-related health scare isn't going away

According to a press release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, 1,299 people have confirmed or probable lung illnesses associated with the use of vaping products in 49 states. In total, as of Oct. 8, 26 people have died as a result of these mysterious lung illnesses. 

There are two factors that make this scare particularly worrisome.

First, from a health perspective, the CDC is unsure of exactly what's causing these mystery lung illnesses in vape users. What has been noted is that most of the patients who have been diagnosed with these lung illnesses have used a vaporizer to consume tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing liquids. THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for getting users high. Although the CDC does note that certain individuals with these lung illnesses have used only nicotine-containing cartridges, which doesn't exclude the possibility that this is a nicotine-based issue, the CDC recommends, for the time being, consumers not vape products containing THC.

As a side note, this CDC data and recommendation comes shortly after a New York University study linked vaping to cancer in mice. Understandably, there was nothing concrete about the small sample size of the findings. However, there was a statistically significant difference noted between mice exposed to nicotine-containing vape smoke and vape smoke with no nicotine. In the latter group, none of the 20 mice exposed to non-nicotine vape smoke developed cancer over a four-year period. Comparatively, 22.5% of the 40-mouse subset exposed to nicotine-containing vape smoke developed lung cancer, and 57.5% had precancerous lesions of their bladder, after just 54 weeks.

The second concern is purely financial. As the number of instances of vape-related lung illnesses and deaths rise, vape growth has notably slowed in the U.S. market. That raises near-term and intermediate concerns for the U.S. vape industry, as well as Canada's. As a reminder, derivative pot products, including vapes, become legal in Canada this coming Thursday, Oct. 17, although they won't be available for purchase until sometime in mid-December.

Since vaping sales are expected to lead all other derivative product sales, there's clear concern among investors.

These pot stocks are immune to the vape health scare

Now, for a bit of good news.

Despite these very relevant concerns tied to vaping, there's a trio of marijuana stocks in an ancillary niche of the pot industry that should be completely immune to this health scare. Ladies, gentlemen, and investors alike, say hello to extraction-service providers Neptune Wellness Solutions (NASDAQ:NEPT), Valens GroWorks (OTC:VGWCF), and MediPharm Labs (OTC:MEDIF). And by "extraction," I mean they take cannabis and/or hemp biomass and processes it to yield resins, distillates, concentrates, targeted cannabinoids, and even white-label packaging and products.

What makes these cannabis stocks so unique is that they provide the building blocks of the high-margin derivative industry. Compared to dried cannabis flower, derivatives, such as vapes, edibles, topicals, concentrates, and beverages, generate much juicier margins. Since Canadian weed companies have witnessed what's happened in states like Oregon, where dried flower oversupply and commoditization have hit the legal pot industry hard, each and every major marijuana grower throughout North America has a plan to make derivatives a significant component of their long-term growth strategy. This makes Neptune Wellness, Valens GroWorks, and MediPharm Labs indispensable.

Furthermore, extraction-service companies are operating on a fee-based contract. What that means is pot growers aren't simply coming to these companies with one-time deals. Rather, Neptune, Valens, and MediPharm are locking their clients into 18- to 36-month agreements. These intermediate-term contracts add certainty and predictability to an industry with virtually no certainty and predictability at the moment.

And make no mistake about it, this extraction-service providers has wrangled up an impressive set of clients. Neptune Wellness signed the largest aggregate extraction agreement in history earlier this year: a 230,000-kilo deal with The Green Organic Dutchman spanning three years. Valens, meanwhile, has a two-year agreement in place with HEXO for 80,000 total kilos and a 60,000-kilo-per-year agreement with Tilray. MediPharm's biggest deal to date is a $30 million contract to provide concentrates to Cronos Group over an 18-month period.

The point is that these extracted resins, distillates, concentrates, and cannabinoids are vital for all types of derivatives, and not just vapes, setting this trio of extraction-service providers up for years of success, vaping health scare or not.

420 Intel is the leading source for cannabis news from around the world. Get the latest updates on cannabis legalization, politics and technology, as well as developments in medical and recreational marijuana news. Our commitment is to bring you the most important cannabis news stories every day of the week.

At 420 Intel we understand that effective marijuana industry news coverage is a constant endeavor. Every day stories develop regarding cannabis legalization, technological developments, and the medicinal benefits of marijuana use. Each new development carries the potential to impact the marijuana industry regionally, nationally, and internationally. 420 Intel is the marijuana industry news outlet that will keep you up to date on these developments and how they impact the world around you.

With the marijuana industry constantly evolving, you need a cannabis news outlet to keep you abreast of the pertinent information. At 420 Intel, we cover marijuana legalization news throughout the world, offer reliable information for cannabis business owners, detail technological advances that impact the marijuana industry, cover marijuana rallies from across the globe, and everything in between.

You can get 420 Intel news delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for our daily marijuana news, ensuring you’re always kept up to date on the ever-changing cannabis industry. To stay even better informed about marijuana legalization news follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Millions of Brits believe CBD oil is illegal in the UK, according to research.

The oil, said to help promote sleep, ease chronic pain, and reduce stress and anxiety, is legal in the UK as it doesn’t contain THC - a compound with psychoactive effects. But two thirds of people believe it is banned.

And eight in 10 think the effect of taking the naturally-derived oil is the same as smoking cannabis.

More than half also said they would judge a friend or family member negatively if they knew they took CBD.

The research of 2,000 adults, commissioned by CBD oil manufacturer Dr Ed found more than three quarters are confused by CBD.

And eight in 10 describe it - despite being perfectly legal - as ‘dodgy’.

Neuroscientist Dr Edward Jones, who formed the company, said: “Although cannabidiol was isolated as a compound decades ago, knowledge of its potentially potent therapeutic value is only now becoming mainstream.

“As with most emerging industries, regulation is loose, which has led to a great deal of misinformation and misunderstanding surrounding CBD and an awful lot of mis-selling.

“Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is a naturally occurring compound found in the resinous flower of cannabis.

“While cannabis itself is an addictive drug, once extracted from the plant, CBD is actually a safe and non-addictive substance, with none of the side effects associated with cannabis such as the feeling of being ‘high’.”

The study also found CBD is most widely used by women aged 45 to 60 - 67 per cent claimed to have taken or considered taking the oil.

At the other end of the scale, those age 25 to 30 were least likely to use CBD, with just 21 per cent open to trying it.

As well as confusion around CBD in general, the research also highlighted a lack of knowledge around the oil and its connection to cannabis.

Two thirds are wrongly under the impression its use is banned in professional sports.

420 Intel is the leading source for cannabis news from around the world. Get the latest updates on cannabis legalization, politics and technology, as well as developments in medical and recreational marijuana news. Our commitment is to bring you the most important cannabis news stories every day of the week.

At 420 Intel we understand that effective marijuana industry news coverage is a constant endeavor. Every day stories develop regarding cannabis legalization, technological developments, and the medicinal benefits of marijuana use. Each new development carries the potential to impact the marijuana industry regionally, nationally, and internationally. 420 Intel is the marijuana industry news outlet that will keep you up to date on these developments and how they impact the world around you.

With the marijuana industry constantly evolving, you need a cannabis news outlet to keep you abreast of the pertinent information. At 420 Intel, we cover marijuana legalization news throughout the world, offer reliable information for cannabis business owners, detail technological advances that impact the marijuana industry, cover marijuana rallies from across the globe, and everything in between.

You can get 420 Intel news delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for our daily marijuana news, ensuring you’re always kept up to date on the ever-changing cannabis industry. To stay even better informed about marijuana legalization news follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

As we near the second half of October, there are many pot stocks that have remained on the watchlist. These companies are putting forth their effort to be the most innovative marijuana stock in the market. With so much competition amongst certain pot stocks to watch, it can be difficult to deduce which companies are worth keeping an eye on. One of the best ways to solve this is through the use of strategic research of many different pot stocks.

This is the best way to ensure that one is getting the most diverse information possible on a given group of companies. This also ensures that investments in the pot stock market are spread out across the industry rather than in one sector. Within marijuana stocks, there are several different sub-sectors that all have varying pros to offer investors. These can range from investment firms all the way to money transport services. With so many different marijuana stocks to watch, only a few are working the extra mile for the future of the industry.

A Product Manufacturer Pot Stock

Integrated Cannabis Company Inc. (ICNAF Stock Report) (ICAN Stock Report) is one of the leading manufacturers of branded cannabis products. The company works out of both California and Nevada, which represent two of the largest individual statewide pot markets in the nation. California on its own is regarded as the largest market for marijuana in the world. This helps to illustrate just how broad Integrated Cannabis Company’s reach is throughout the pot stock market.

The company states that its mission is to make cannabis safe and approachable for all who choose to use it. They do this through the consistent manufacturing of extremely high-quality products. Consistency in a given pot product is hard to come by as most businesses don’t commit the effort to ensure their product remains consistent across the board.

The company recently announced that its subsidiary, Ganja Gold, saw over $3.3 million in sales for the 2019 fiscal year. Of the $25 million spent on the pre-rolled flower in California, Ganja Gold looks like it has quite a solid grasp on the industry. Seth Wiles, president of integrated Cannabis stated that “the pre-roll and specifically pre-roll market has seen tremendous growth in the last year, and of late due to many factors.” The company remains a key pot stock to watch moving forward.

A Bargain Pot Stock to Watch

Supreme Cannabis (SPRWF Stock Report) is one of the leading Canadian cannabis growers. The company has been working to improve upon the quality of their product rather than the amount of cannabis that they are putting out. By doing this, they are within what is known as the premium and ultra-premium market.

This side of the industry has a very slim number of competitors. This would make it an interesting prospect for Supreme Cannabis to grow in. The company has also been working to produce more cannabis in smaller spaces. Which is something not many have been able to do. For these reasons among others, Supreme Cannabis remains a key pot stock to watch for the next year or so.