High Green News

Winter is coming for pot stocks

5 years ago By Anonymous (not verified)

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.

Marijuana-Stocks

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.

Is cannabis use destroying your teeth?

5 years ago By Anonymous (not verified)

In a large-scale study commissioned by Duke University, researchers observed the dental health of regular cannabis users, and the results weren’t very reassuring.

The study looked at 1,000 New Zealanders who had been using cannabis for more than 20 years. Thankfully, there were no adverse health effects when it came to lung function, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight – however, the health and gums seemed to suffer. Researchers made sure to account for any confounding factors such as poor hygiene and the use of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs.

The results remained the same. “Study participants who had used marijuana to some degree over the last 20 years showed an increase in periodontal disease from age 26 to 38,” researchers reported. This isn’t the first study to find that cannabis might not be the best thing for our chompers. Research from 2005 and 2008 has reached the same conclusion.

As a result, the American Dental Association’s (ADA) official position is that cannabis smoking “is associated with periodontal complications, xerostomia (chronic dry mouth), and leukoplakia (white patches inside mouth) as well as increased risk of mouth and neck cancers."

As you may know all too well, smoking cannabis often results decreased saliva production, AKA cotton mouth. Although the issue is certainly well documented among users, the science behind it is a bit less understood.

The reason this happens is because THC mimics ananadamide – a natural endocannabinoid that regulates many different functions in the body, including saliva production. When we use products that are too high in THC, they bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the submandibular region and signal them to create less saliva.

Saliva is one of the most important components in the homeostasis of the human mouth. It’s responsible for breaking down food, clearing away bacteria and other buildup, and preventing cavities, tooth rot, and various gum diseases. Because saliva is full of antimicrobial components, as well as electrolytes and enzymes, a mouth without enough it is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

But it’s not just the THC that’s causing mayhem. Smoking anything is bad for the mouth and gums, and I’ve been told by dentists that the heat from holding a lit pipe or joint in front of your teeth is also bad.

Combine all that with the munchies and the urge to often eat foods high in sugar, it’s no surprise cannabis users are on the dentist’s watch list. “People’s behaviors when smoking cannabis—drinking more sugary drinks, eating junk food and not taking good care of their teeth, are probably more harmful than the THC itself,> said Dr. Jared Helfant DDS, a practicing dentist in Florida and president of Sparx, a California-based cannabis purveyor.

So what’s the takeaway here? Well, if plan to continue smoking cannabis, make sure you stay hydrated, floss regularly, brush 3 times daily, and use some type of mouthwash afterwards to prevent the buildup of extra bacteria around your teeth and gums.

If you make sure to take good care of your teeth, there is no reason to stop using cannabis as the risks of periodontal disease don’t outweigh the many benefits of using cannabis.

One year of medical cannabis in the UK

5 years ago By Anonymous (not verified)

The 1st of November 2019 will mark the one year anniversary of the legalisation of medical cannabis in the United Kingdom. A year after Charlotte Caldwell's tireless campaign to obtain life-saving medication for her son Billy catapulted medical cannabis onto the public agenda, the cost of prescriptions has dropped substantially while the number of scripts written has increased, but more needs to be done before it can be more widely offered by the National Health Service (NHS).

The average price of a month's supply of medical cannabis imported through Logist has dropped from £750 to £550, reducing the average monthly prescription cost by 27%, while the average price per gram has also fallen by 25%. The reduction in cost is a combination of increased volume (meaning the costs associated with importing products is lower per prescription) and the increased availability of different products.

The type of medical specialist consultants writing prescriptions for medical cannabis has also diversified to include pain, oncology and neurology. There has also been a broadening in the delivery method for medical cannabis requested by specialist consultants to include different cannabis oils, pills and flowers, which is largely a result of the greater range of products available. Since February, Logist has imported approximately 1.5kg of flower to the UK.

The vast majority of medical cannabis has made its way to the UK thanks to Logist, a joint-venture formed between specials importer IPS Pharma, and Grow Biotech, the UK's leading medical cannabis market access specialists.

Timeline of Events

  • 1st November 2018 - New regulations introduced, which allowed for the import and prescription of cannabis-based medicines
  • 14 February 2019 - The first bulk import of medical cannabis in the UK and first patients to receive medication from Logist
  • May 2019 - EU based bio-pharmaceutical company MGC Pharma appoints Logist
  • August 2019 - NICE publish interim report on medical cannabis
  • August 2019 - American medical cannabis giant Columbia Care announces that it will fund and provide medicine for clinical trials in the UK
  • September 2019- Leading Canadian company Aurora appoints IPS Pharma and Grow Biotech as importer and distributor for the UK market
  • September 2019 - Medical cannabis consultant informs Logist that a patient is no longer using opioids to manage their condition following treatment with medical cannabis

Looking forward to the near future, Chief Operating Officer of Grow Biotech, Hari Guliani, said, "Over the next twelve months we expect the UK's medical community as a whole to take on the challenge of understanding how cannabis might help their patients. We are expecting leading consultants to publish papers on the impact they have seen on their patients, as well as evidence gathered through MHRA-approved trials. This will significantly improve the data available to regulators, policymakers and NICE."

At present, it is only available on the NHS in extremely limited circumstances and is only obtainable through a prescription written by a specialist consultant in the private sector. NICE (The National Institute of Health Care Excellence) has advised that more clinical trials need to be undertaken in the UK and overall costs of medication need to be reduced before medical cannabis can be prescribed by NHS consultants. However, new medical trials are now underway and prices associated with the import of medical cannabis are falling dramatically, giving hope to the thousands of patients who are still struggling to access life-changing medication.

Another major change which cannot be overlooked is funding for the UK's young medical cannabis industry. Ben Langley, Chief Executive Officer of Grow Biotech explained that, "We have seen a massive increase in funding for UK businesses operating within the medical cannabis space, especially from North America. In addition to the £5m Grow Biotech has raised over the last two years, there have been notably well received fundraises for Emmac Life Sciences PLC (£11m raised in March 2019) and for Oxford Cannabinoid Therapeutics ($10m in April 2019). This trend is likely to accelerate as European medical cannabis gradually establishes itself as an attractive asset class for global capital and European equity exchanges start to open their doors to cannabis companies."

Both Ben Langley and Hari Guliani are available for comment and interview.

About Grow Biotech

Grow Biotech exists to unlock the medical potential of cannabis for those who need it.

Grow Biotech's market access team launches medical cannabis producers' businesses into new markets, creating long-term value for them. The company's R&D team creates new technologies for medical cannabis producers to create better, more cost-effective, medicines.

About IPS Pharma

IPS Pharma is a pharmaceutical importer, distributor and manufacturer with over 18 years' experience in unlicensed and licensed medicines.

Indiana, Michigan farmers harvest first legal hemp crop since WWII

5 years ago By Anonymous (not verified)

If Don Zolman were a quitter, he might have given up on the hemp crop that he’s begun harvesting just east of downtown Warsaw.

A chilly and rainy spring either washed out some crops or delayed planting for many farmers in the Midwest, including those who were trying to legally grow hemp for the first time since it was cultivated during World War II to produce everything from parachute chords to rope.

Following hemp’s decriminalization in the 2018 Farm Bill, permits were taken out to grow thousands of acres of hemp for its fiber, seed and cannabidiol or CBD content in both Indiana and Michigan.

Like many farmers, Zolman didn’t want to take too big a gamble on hemp, setting aside about 25 acres for plants developed for seed production and another 20 acres for plants capable of producing high levels of CBD — a compound that is now being used to provide relief from pain, anxiety, sleep problems, epilepsy and other issues.

Mark Boyer, who grew 50 acres for seed production last year as part of a research project sanctioned by Purdue University, planted the same amount this year on his farm in Converse, Ind., with the intent of cold-pressing the seeds into high-quality food oil and using the leftovers for high-protein animal feed.

Though no one is sure yet whether the first legal harvest in both states will end up being profitable — after the price for seeds, plants, labor and other inputs are factored in — a lot was learned about the plant, which could offer many hundreds of uses and provide an additional crop for farmers.

“The late planting date caused challenges,” Boyer said, referring to the wet conditions this year. “Because the plants didn’t get as tall, they never canopied and that created weed problems.”

And because regulations are still being worked out regarding hemp production, no chemicals have been approved yet to control weeds, bugs or other problems the plants might encounter.

“We’re still on our own,” said Boyer, resulting in more vigilance and more labor.

Though Boyer was able to use modern farm machinery to plant and harvest his seed hemp, varieties bred for their CBD content are often planted as seedlings, which is extremely labor-intensive and time-consuming.

That was the case at Zolman’s farm near Warsaw, and because some of the seedlings died, additional labor was required to get new ones in the ground. On top of that, the field had to be monitored throughout the summer for weeds, bugs, cross-pollination and other factors that could affect the CBD content of the plants.

It required so much attention, in fact, that Zolman hired a neighbor — Heather Short — who wanted to help out and was interested in learning more about the new plant.

“It’s a beautiful plant, but it requires time and attention,” said Short, while keeping an eye open for baby caterpillars that could cause serious damage to a plant.

Beyond the late start and dealing with the challenges of a new crop, Zolman had hoped to use a sickle mower to harvest the CBD-rich plants. The machine, however, shook the plants so much that there was risk of losing the flowers where most of the cannabidiol is stored.

There was seemingly no option but to use machetes to cut down the surprisingly thick-stalked plants, which could then be collected by machine and chopped into bits and pieces.

Zolman said the harvest will be shipped to nearby Mentone where it will be dried and then likely sent to a new CBD-processing plant in Michigan City.

Zolman experimented with eight different varieties of hemp that were bred for CBD including the spacing between plants and even whether the plants preferred being watered on top or down by the roots.

“We’re trying to find the best plants and the best methods for our soil,” said Zolman, who pointed out clearly stunted plants that didn’t perform as well as others such as Cherry Wine and Sweet that developed into what looked like small pine trees from a distance.

Just about 10 miles west of Flint, Mich., Dave Crabill helped plant about an acre of CBD-bred plants with a partner and learned some valuable lessons. Both the Cherry Wine and Youngsim 10 varieties did well, but he was surprised by the amount of labor involved.

Michigan farmers jumped into hemp with both feet, planting nearly 20,000 acres of plants developed for CBD, said Crabill, who serves as communications director for iHemp Michigan, which aims to educate and connect those interested in the possibilities of industrial hemp.

Farmers in Indiana were more conservative, planting about 3,000 acres of hemp plants for fiber, seed and CBD production, said Justin Swanson, an attorney and co-founder of the Midwest Hemp Council.

Considering that only 24 acres of hemp was planted in Indiana last year, Swanson views this year as a big success and believes planting will double or triple next year as farmers learn how to cultivate the plant and supporting markets begin to develop.

“There’s a huge learning curve and a lot of infrastructure that is just beginning to develop,” said Swanson, referring to businesses that might become trusted sources of seeds, plants, equipment and processing. “But you won’t get a mature supply chain unless some pioneers take risks.”

In the end of the day, Swanson believes fiber might end up being the most important industrial hemp crop because of its many uses for textiles, bioplastics, insulation, building materials and more.

“CBD is the movie star in the industry,” Swanson said. “But fiber might be the long-term game.”

Swanson said the development of a new crop gives farmers — many of whom have been struggling as the result of low commodity prices — the opportunity to diversify and that might be enough to create the next generation of farmers.

“These guys were the trailblazers,” Swanson said. “In a few years, their efforts might start paying off.

“But we’re just at the beginning.”

That’s how Zolman and Boyer see it.

“This was a research crop, but everyone knew that going in,” said Boyer. “Hemp has been basically ignored for about 80 years, so we don’t have any experience with it. It’s going to take some time.”

Both farmers see 2019 as just the start.

“We’re literally just approaching the starting line,” Boyer said. “We have to build markets for these crops.”

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