Present your research with us in Providence, RI on September 21-22! Abstract submissions are open until June 2nd!

Cannabis Science Conference Fall

Check out the Cannabis Science and Technology May Issue!

On this month’s episode, we are joined by Nathan Johnson, PhD, the Co-Founder and CEO of VERNE Bioanalytics

Ep 15: Hot Topics in Cannabis Cultivation—Hop Latent Viroid, Genetics, and More

Check out the Cannabis Science and Technology April Issue!

As the industry expands, it has become increasingly important to ensure consumer safety, brand recognition, and compliance with regulations

The Importance of Packaging and Proper Labeling in the Cannabis Industry

Recently, investigators in Minnesota conducted a small survey of hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products sold in various locations within the city. None of the sites were required to have a license to sell THC products (1).

“The FOX 9 Investigators gathered five different types of THC gummies sold at shops throughout the Twin Cities metro and prepared them for a blind test,” they reported (1). “Each sample was separated into generic containers and labeled ‘A’ through ‘E’ to maintain the anonymity of each product.”

Two of the samples were close to the legal limit of 5 milligrams of THC, but one sample – which the packaging claimed contained 5 milligrams – contained 32 milligrams of THC (1). The final two samples also revealed levels of THC past the legal limit, and the potency for one sample was lower than advertised.

Edibles and beverages containing up to 5 milligrams of hemp-derived THC have been legal in Minnesota since July 2022 (2). Previously, only products containing small amounts of CBD were legal (2). “However, when lawmakers legalized the low-dose THC market, they did so without establishing any rules, which created an unchecked industry with virtually no accountability,” FOX 9 stated (1).

"We need licensing, we need taxation, better regulation and enforcement," said Jill Phillips, executive director of the Board of Pharmacy in December (1). The Board is the only agency with any regulatory oversight and has received dozens of complaints concerning THC products (1).

Legislation is being proposed to legalize cannabis in the state while also creating a regulatory oversight agency. In the meantime, temporary regulations are being suggested. "I am working as hard as I can to shrink that gray area,” said Senator Lindsey Port (DFL), who is sponsoring the legislation (1). “We’ve been talking with folks who do testing. We don’t have capacity in Minnesota right now, is part of the problem. We don’t really have the testing infrastructure because we have such a small medical marijuana program that really we need to scale that up." 

https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesotas-thc-market-lab-analysis-reveals-many-products-arent-what-they-claim-to-be

https://www.fox9.com/news/thc-edibles-beverages-are-legal-in-minnesota

Articles

A test of a small sample of products sold in the Twin Cities revealed amounts of THC past the legal limit.

High Levels of THC Found in Sample of Products from Unregulated Minnesota Market

Twitter is loosening its reins on cannabis industry advertising. Vetted, state-legal businesses will now be able to show packaged cannabis products in their marketing campaigns while also allowing ads in new US markets (1).

Alexa Alianiello, Twitter’s head of sales and partnerships, wrote in a blog post (2) that certified cannabis advertisers “may also continue responsibly linking to their owned and operated web pages and e-commerce experiences for cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabis-related products and services.” Alianiello added, “We have also made some changes for medical licensees and opened up additional recreational markets (some restrictions apply).”

On Twitter’s drug advertising policy (3), it does not specify which new recreational and medical markets are now available for cannabis advertising.

The social media platform will now permit medical cannabis ads targeting users in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota and West Virginia, according to information provided by Rosie Mattio, founder and CEO of New York-based cannabis industry marketing firm Mattio Communications (1). The state of Missouri will also be permitted to utilize adult-use cannabis ads in their newly-formed adult-use market.

Mattio reported to MJBizDaily (1) that Twitter’s decision to allow images of packaged cannabis products brings “a lot more opportunity for these brands to reach consumers and teach them about the actual product, (as opposed to) it just being a brand-awareness type of play.”

Elon Musk’s Twitter turned a new leaf in February 2023, allowing cannabis ads onto their platform (4). This move was very much welcomed and appreciated by cannabis industry marketing leaders. However, cannabis companies witnessed mixed results in their marketing on the privately held social media platform.

“We have seen companies of all sizes try to advertise on Twitter,” said Lisa Buffo, founder and CEO of the Cannabis Marketing Association (1). “Some, not all, have been approved, and others have had early and mixed results,” she continued. “With any advertising initiative, success depends on the match of the brand and the campaign to the platform – it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Alianiello mentioned in her Twitter blog post (2), announcing the ad-policy updates, commenting on how the platform has “gathered meaningful feedback from the cannabis industry which we have taken into consideration to create even more opportunity.”

“It appears that they are iterating and taking feedback from the industry and better understanding the nuances of local laws and regulations,” said Buffo chimed in (1). “That should signal to the broader advertising world that a national approach to cannabis marketing is possible, when taken in small and iterative steps.”

Other social media platform giants such as Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta and Google parent company Alphabet, usually do not allow cannabis marketing but Google has made exceptions for certain CBD and hemp ads.

The US is not the only country Twitter allows cannabis advertising. Canada and Thailand are also contingent to the social platforms’ policies.

https://mjbizdaily.com/twitter-further-eases-us-cannabis-advertising-rules-adds-new-markets/

https://business.twitter.com/en/blog/twitter-cannabis-ads-policy-changes.html#update

https://business.twitter.com/en/help/ads-policies/ads-content-policies/drugs-and-drug-paraphernalia.html

https://mjbizdaily.com/twitter-to-allow-cannabis-ads-in-the-united-states/

 One of social media’s most popular platforms, Twitter, is altering their advertising policies on cannabis.

Twitter Changes Tune on US Cannabis Advertising Rules

Introduced by Representatives William Lindstedt (D), Said Sharbini (D), and Senator Robert Rodriguez (D), HB23-1279 – which was approved by the Colorado House last month and passed the Senate in May – seeks to change the current law concerning cannabis being sold online (1,2). It has now been sent to Governor Jared Polis (3).

“The bill allows a licensed retail marijuana store to accept payment online for the sale of retail marijuana and retail marijuana products,” the summary of HB23-1279 stated in part (1). “An individual must be physically present on the retail marijuana store's licensed premises to take possession of the purchased retail marijuana or retail marijuana product.” The store must also verify the age of the purchaser and provide digital versions of all product warnings or educational materials that are already required to be posted on the premises (1).

“What the bill mainly aims to do, from my perspective, is reduce cash in the marijuana space, which is something that is exceedingly important to do because when there is a tremendous amount of cash in any industry, it can lead to some troubling outcomes—specifically things like robbery,” Senator Kevin Van Winkle (R) said recently (3). “It sets them up for tremendous amount of potential theft, and other things.”

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/colorado-house-approves-bill-to-allow-online-marijuana-sales-to-reduce-cash-at-dispensaries/

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/colorado-lawmakers-approve-bills-to-allow-online-marijuana-sales-and-bolster-professional-protections-sending-them-to-governor/

Colorado’s HB23-1279 would allow retail online cannabis sales in order to help reduce the amount of cash held in dispensaries.

Colorado Bill Would Allow Online Payment for Cannabis Sales in Licensed Retail Stores

 recently published a study which examined the use of topical cannabidiol (CBD) cream. By athletes for elite physical performance and chronic lower extremity pain. This scientific inquiry revealed that CBD topical cream was safe and well tolerated.

Various research studies have been performed using CBD and highlight its medicinal benefit for pain relief. Not many though, focus on CBD’s efficacy and tolerability in special populations. This study may be one of the first to showcase how former elite athletes treat their chronic pain with topical CBD cream (1).

Participants for this project included 20 former professional athletes who previously had competed in track and field, basketball, and American football. These athletes had long-term careers ranging from 4-10 years and suffered an acute injury in the lower extremities that caused significant chronic pain for at least 3 months. Participants were given 10 mg of topical CBD twice a day for chronic pain stemming from their injuries. From there, they self-reported data detailing assessments of pain-related disability, activities of daily living, and tolerability over a 6-week period.

Data results showed that 50% of participants reported minor adverse side effects which did not require medical attention. A 

 article mentioned that “the most commonly reported effects included skin dryness (43%) and skin rash (21%),” (1). The most interesting finding from the study was that a significant improvement in self-reported pain levels and pain-related disability was reported among the participants. The reported information included social activities, the pain-related disability’s impact on family and home responsibilities, occupational activities, life support activities, self-care, recreational activities, and sexual function, with participants mentioning improvements in these functions.

Results from this study show how important it is for further research regarding topical CBD use by elite athletes (1). For those interested in a CBD topical cream, medical professionals recommend that consumers should be reviewing its cannabinoid profile, potency, and other active ingredients. Lastly, it is also a good idea to be discussing CBD topical cream with a health care provider to best be able to assess if a CBD topical is the best option for a specific muscle recovery.

https://www.labroots.com/trending/cannabis-sciences/25220/study-topical-cbd-tolerated-safe-lower-extremity-pain-2

A recent study examined topical CBD used by athletes for chronic lower extremity pain and physical performance showing it was safe to use and well tolerated.

Study Reveals Topical CBD Safe for Lower Extremity Pain

A Danish study, published in May 2023 in 

, reviewed nearly seven million Danish health records to study the associations between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and schizophrenia in men and women (1). “Young males might be particularly susceptible to the effects of cannabis on schizophrenia,” the study discussed (1). “Results highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of CUD and policy decisions regarding cannabis use and access, particularly for 16–25-year-olds.”

“We conducted a nationwide Danish register-based cohort study including all individuals aged 16–49 at some point during 1972–2021,” researchers explained (1). “CUD and schizophrenia status was obtained from the registers. The results of this study may inform ongoing policy discussions on legalization and regulation of cannabis use and highlight the importance of targeted public health prevention and intervention efforts.”

“The Danish epidemiology study does not offer hard-and-fast proof of the cannabis-schizophrenia connection, which could be accomplished only through randomized controlled trials,” an article in Scientific American stated (2). “But this link is supported by the fact that marijuana use and potency have risen markedly—from 13 percent THC content in Denmark in 2006 to 30 percent in 2016—alongside a rising rate in schizophrenia diagnoses.” The article also notes the limitations of the study, including lack of data of frequency of cannabis usage and genetic information of the participants (2).

In another article discussing the study, co-author and director of Denmark’s National Institute on Drug Abuse, Nora Volkow, noted that while the Danish population does not have the same diversity as the United States population, the results of the study are enough for everyone to be aware of the risks (3).

“In conclusion, this study finds strong evidence of an association between CUD and schizophrenia among both males and females,” the study stated (1). “Importantly, 15% of cases of schizophrenia in males may be preventable if CUD was avoided. Although CUD is not responsible for most schizophrenia cases in Denmark, it appears to contribute to a non-negligible and steadily increasing proportion over the past five decades. In young males (21–30 years, possibly up to 40), the proportion may even be as high as 25–30%. Our findings underscore the importance of evidence-based strategies to regulate cannabis use and to effectively prevent, screen for, and treat CUD as well as schizophrenia.”

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/association-between-cannabis-use-disorder-and-schizophrenia-stronger-in-young-males-than-in-females/E1F8F0E09C6541CB8529A326C3641A68

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heavy-cannabis-use-linked-to-schizophrenia-especially-among-young-men/#:~:text=A%20study%20published%20on%20May,men%20who%20are%20heavy%20users

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-04/heavy-marijuana-use-increases-schizophrenia-in-men-study-finds?in_source=embedded-checkout-banner

A recent study examined the link between cannabis use disorder and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia, especially in young males.

New Danish Study Finds Association between Cannabis Use Disorder and Schizophrenia

Researchers from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) partnered together and performed a study where they found results showing that cows being fed hempseed cake, highly nutritious viable alternative feed source for cattle, will retain low concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in their meat (1,2). Study organizers mentioned that the growing interest in hemp oil production has left farmers with a lot of byproduct that can be compressed into “cakes” and wanted to determine the safety of feeding these hemp cakes to livestock.

This USDA study was published in the journal, 

, and focused on the cannabinoid concentration in the muscle, kidney, liver, and fat tissues of cattle fed hempseed cake. Their THC and CBD levels were checked throughout the different stages of metabolism.

“Scientists found that the concentrations of [cannabinoids] in meat products contributed only a small fraction of the total amount global regulatory organizations consider safe for consumers,” the department said in a recent press release (1,3).

The experiment showed that hempseed cake is “highly nutritious” and provides an option to serve as a “viable alternative feed source for cattle,” (1).

“According to our exposure assessment, it would be very difficult for a human to consume enough fat from cattle fed with hempseed cake to exceed regulatory guidelines for dietary THC exposure,” David Smith of USDA’s Animal Metabolism-Agricultural Chemicals Research Unit said. “From a food safety view point, hempseed cake having low cannabinoid content can be a suitable source of crude protein and fiber in cattle feed while offering industrial hemp producers a potential market for this byproduct of hempseed oil extraction,” he added (1).

Last year, another federally funded study revealed how feeding cows hemp reduced their stress. In 2020, a team of researchers from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, studied how CBD affects stress and pain in horses (4).

Currently, hemp is not authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an option to be a food source for animals.

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/cows-that-are-fed-hemp-cake-retain-safe-levels-of-thc-and-cbd-in-their-meat-usda-study-finds/

https://hemptoday.net/usda-study-shows-hempseed-cake-viable-alternative-for-cattle-feed/#:~:text=The%20study%2C%20which%20the%20USDA%27s,and%20fat%20tissues%2C%20the%20farm

https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2023/scientists-evaluate-potential-human-cannabinol-exposure-from-consuming-meat-if-cattle-is-fed-hempseed-cake/

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/cbd-and-horses-paving-path-future-research

A recent USDA study revealed that when cows are fed hemp cake, they will maintain safe levels of both THC and CBD.

USDA Finds Cows Fed Hemp Cake Can Retain Safe Levels of THC and CBD

Cannabis Science Conference Spring 2023 was held in Portland, Oregon. We had two keynote speakers, Dr. Dustin Sulak and Dr. Sue Sisley, among various other industry experts. Enjoy some highlights from our two-day event!

Thank you to all our sponsors, speakers, and attendess!

Cannabis Science Conference Spring 2023 Highlights!

Cannabis Science Conference Spring 2023 Highlight Reel

Led by expert program chairs and an educational steering committee, the first Cannabis Science Conference of 2023 returned to its roots in Portland, Oregon! To kick off the event, we held the pre-conference cannabis education workshop—the Canna Boot Camp—where attendees gained hands-on knowledge and experience in several aspects of the cannabis industry. The two-day conference featured two keynote speakers, several panel discussions, and plenty of insightful research from the four tracks: analytical science, medical cannabis, cultivation, and psychedelics. The exhibit hall provided attendees more opportunities to connect and collaborate with industry experts at various booths and poster presentations. Below we share some additional highlights from the event.

Canna Boot Camp Class of Spring 2023 at ChemHistory.

The full day, pre-conference Canna Boot Camp workshop was held at ChemHistory, a premier quality control testing laboratory in Milwaukie, Oregon. Attendees visited four interactive zones to learn about topics ranging from sample prep methods to in depth cultivation work and medical cannabis education as well as hands-on analytical testing. Each zone offered the chance to get a firsthand perspective, ask questions, and learn something new.

Thank you to ChemHistory, Fritsch, Spex CertiPrep, Milestone, Medical Marijuana 411, Christian West and Zac Hildenbrand for providing an in-depth learning experience for us!

Watch our onsite interview with ChemHistory Business Director Alex Hoggan 

Cannabis Science Conference Spring: Day One

Dustin Sulak, DO, launched the first day of the conference with an engaging presentation titled “Low and Ultra-Low Doses of Cannabinoids: Are We Missing the Sweet Spot?” Dr. Sulak examined several preclinical studies with ultra-low doses of cannabinoids—such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)— explaining how the cannabinoids could be working with or against each other. He also compared methods and results from human studies with diabetes, pediatric epilepsy, fibromyalgia, as well as experience from his own practice. He concluded with his recommendations for researchers, cannabis medicine producers, clinicians, and patients. See a 

Dr. Dustin Sulak, DO, presenting “Low and Ultra-Low Doses of Cannabinoids: Are We Missing the Sweet Spot?” 

Following Dr. Sulak’s presentation, the analytical track held a fireside chat discussion with a group of esteemed panelists led by moderator Patrick Bird, MS, Sr. Manager, Scientific Affairs, bioMerieux, on ways to reduce microbial product failure rates. The panel featured Heather Krug, Regulatory Programs Branch Chief, Colorado State Public Health Lab; Antionette Duncan, Sr. Director Quality Assurance, Curaleaf; Chris Hudalla, President and CEO, ProVerde Labs; Steve Jetter, Program Analyst for Cannabis and Psilocybin Policy, Oregon Health Authority’s Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP); and Shane Flynn, Senior Director Laboratory Proficiency Testing, AOAC. The analytical science track covered a wide variety of topics throughout the day, such as analyses of aerosol generation and collection and delivery systems with Dr. Mark Crosswhite, laboratory testing, cannabinoid extraction, cannabis compliance, and evaluation and examination of terpenes. Watch a 

quick clip of analytical track program chair Dr. Julie Kowalski

 on what she looked forward to at the conference.

Moderated by program chair Cherissa Jackson, RN, the medical track included studies on cannabis and obesity, breast cancer, chronic pain, and precision cannabinoid medicine, plus a panel discussion on results from the first NIH funded population-based study of medical cannabis. To end the track on day one, Eloise Theisen, RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Board President of Leaf 411, presented case reviews of cannabis to reduce opioid intake in palliative care. For more on her presentation, watch our 

To stay up to date on the latest information and to view photos from the conference, connect with us on 

The cultivation track, led by program chair Dr. Zacaraiah Hildenbrand, covered cannabis-specific plant nutrition, solutions to lower CapEx and OpEx costs, 3D printed construction, and finding a source and solution to microbe contamination presented by Carly Bader. Get an in-depth look into her presentation and insights in our recent 

For the first presentation of the day in the psychedelics track, program chair Dr. Denise Vidot presented her research from “Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Cannabis + Psilocybin Co-Consumers.” The track also featured topics such as content variety in psilocybe cubensis strains, and using HPLC to analyze psychoactive alkaloids.

At the end of day one, a networking mixer held in the exhibit hall provided the opportunity for everyone to exchange knowledge in-person with speakers, attendees, and exhibitors and poster presentations from all facets of the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Science Conference Spring: Day Two

Dr. Sue Sisley began the second day of the conference with her informative presentation, “MDMA/Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: The Path to Potential FDA Approval.” She presented her recently published Phase 3 study on 3,4-Methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and explained the results, safety data, addiction potential, dose, and treatment time. She also addressed issues of the cost of psychedelic therapy, the limited efficacy of current treatment options, and the economic and social impact of untreated PTSD in the US. She described the neurological effects of MDMA, the neurobiology of PTSD, and what a typical MDMA session looks like and how it seeks to get to the root of trauma. MDMA, Dr. Sisley said, acts as “a catalyst, not the real treatment.” She ended her presentation with the changes she would like to see made for the future of psychedelic therapy, plus a real-life example of treating PTSD in the police force. Questions from the audience included the possibility of training psychiatric nurses or social workers to bolster the number of current therapists, why the FDA is appearing to embrace MDMA faster than cannabis, and the uniqueness of a therapy protocol around a medication.

Dr. Sue Sisley presenting “MDMA/Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: The Path to Potential FDA Approval.”

One the second day of the analytical track, three different panel discussions covered the topics of the value of proficiency testing, which was moderated by program chair, Dr. Julie Kowalski; the standardizing and data sharing for the future of testing and quality control; and quality assurance and safety in cannabis psilocybin, and hemp, which was moderated by Kim Stuck. Watch our 

, CEO of Allay Consulting and author of the 

Across the medical track, patients, researchers, nurses, pharmacists, and doctors presented on topics such as impending cannabis regulation, cannabis in palliative care, the role of machine learning in treating autism spectrum disorder with cannabis, an integrative understanding of smoking cannabis, and the use of cannabinoids in outpatient primary care. Closing out the track, Jeremy Robbins, MS, gave a patient’s perspective on cannabis and spinal cord injury.

See the full list of presentations and agenda details 

The psychedelics track was closed out on day two with an hour-long panel discussion that explored ketamine assisted psychotherapy from an integrative medical clinic perspective and included three experts from the AIMS Institute: Dr. Alison Draisin, PsyD, LMHC, Dr. Emily Whinkin, and Madeleine Turner, LMHC-A, Certified JAMP

 Transformational Coach. This panel will be covered in more detail in our upcoming psychedelics digital issue coming out in June 2023—stay tuned!

In the cultivation track, James Schwartz elaborated on the danger of the 2018 Farm Bill, Kevin McKernan presented information on the genetics of hop latent viroid, and presentations also covered the expanded soil food web and hemp production in North Dakota.

Finally, the conference concluded with a screening of the film 

, with commentary from filmmaker Steve Ellmore. The film advocates for veteran access to medical cannabis, highlighting the research of Dr. Sisley and testimony from veterans, veteran family members, advocates, and more. For more on this important film, please read our 

Deep Dive interview with Cherissa Jackson, RN,

 medical track program chair, as she provides insights into veterans, medical cannabis, and why 

Join us for Cannabis Science Conference Fall in Providence, Rhode Island September 20-22, 2023 as the industry continues to move forward!

https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/

Cannabis Science Conference Spring was held in Portland, Oregon from April 19-21, 2023. Here we provide a few highlights from the event.

Cannabis Science Conference Spring 2023: Keeping Science at the Forefront of the Industry

A recent article published in the journal 

 declared hop latent viroid (HLVd), first reported in California in 2019, as the biggest concern for cannabis growers worldwide (1). In 2021, clone cultivator Dark Heart Nursery released their findings of a survey of California cannabis growers across California, revealing a sample of the widespread effect. “After some 200,000 tissue tests, 90% of California facilities researched were testing positive for hop latent viroid (HpLVD). All told, the presence of that pathogen—to that degree—could account for a $4 billion loss in cannabis crops,” stated Dark Heart Nursery (2). Furthermore, there is no chemical treatment available for controlling the disease and most infected plants remain asymptomatic (1).

“In susceptible cultivars HLVd induces symptoms such as shorter internodal spacing, smaller leaves, stunting, malformation (outwardly horizontal plant structure), chlorosis, brittle stems, reduced vigor, lower water intake, reduced flower mass and trichomes,” the study reported (1). “At the flowering stage, susceptible plants typically show smaller and looser buds, weaker flower smell and less trichome production.” Infected crops can see a 50% - 70% loss in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, along with a reduction in other cannabinoids and terpenes (3).

“Everybody is shipping clones from here to there, and nobody was testing, or nobody was aware of any methodology to test for this virus,” said Oussama Badad, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Growmics (4). “What we did was basically spread it all over the planet. Anybody receiving any plants from the United States, especially from California, has the viroid in their grow.”

Among other strategies, controlling the viroid involves testing and quarantining new crops that could potentially be carries for HLVd. “The basis of viroid control is the production of viroid-free propagative materials,” the study stated (1). “To date, HLVd-resistant cannabis cultivars are not known. Meristem tissue culture is the only effective control method via which infected plants can be saved.”

Just as the HLVd is likely to be present in facilities across Canada, black root rot is also being documented. First documented in hemp plants in Kentucky in 2019, the fungus was recently identified in British Columbia and was declared a pandemic in Australia on cotton crops (5). Black root rot grows inside the root, eventually causing the plant to die, said Chris Dumigan, a Ph.D. candidate in biology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (5). “If you don’t detect it early, you can’t quarantine the infected crops, and it’s just going to spread through your facility,” Dumigan explained. However it is not expected to be as financially devastating as HLVd, said David Kessler, Agrify’s chief science officer, because of the unique aeroponic growing conditions in the facility where the fungus was detected (5).

https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/cannabis-hop-latent-viroid-infections-dark-heart-nursery-crop-loss/

https://stratcann.com/insight/the-hop-latent-viroids-warning-shot-to-the-canadian-cannabis-industry/

https://mjbizdaily.com/experts-sound-alarm-over-global-spread-of-cannabis-viroid/

https://mjbizdaily.com/new-research-confirms-plant-killing-black-root-rot-in-marijuana-facility/

Hop latent viroid and black root rot are affecting the growth of cannabis plants across the United States as well as other countries.

Getting to the Root of a Growing Problem: The Virus and Fungus Affecting Cannabis Plants Worldwide

Move aside cannabis, there’s a new medicinal plant in town. 

, also known as the wooly umbrella plant, a velvety yellow plant native to South Africa, was discovered to produce cannabinoids similar to some that are found in cannabis. With this latest discovery, it may open new opportunities for developing medicines and treatments that were previously only believed could be created with the cannabis plant.

Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science identified that 

generates several active cannabinoids usually found in cannabis (1). Some of these compounds offer medicinal purposes. The team of researchers' study results were published in the peer-reviewed journal, 

Cannabinoids provide a variety of uses. They have been shown to offer relief from pain, anxiety, nausea, epileptic seizures, and several other health conditions. Cannabis’s medicinal qualities are always growing. Through more research, cannabinoids can show that they can help serve a variety of ailments such as cancer or neurodegenerative diseases.

Humans have molecular receptors which respond to cannabinoids. These cannabinoids may be able to be used to treat conditions that have little treatment options or for patients who have run out of treatment plans for their illnesses.

In the wooly umbrella plant, Weizmann researchers identified over 40 cannabinoids. The research group also disclosed the series of biochemical steps this plant takes in creating the cannabinoids and displayed how the plants steps can be reproduced in a laboratory to engineer new cannabinoids that currently do not exist or synthesize existing cannabinoids.

The cannabis plant produces more than 100 cannabinoids. Although the 

 doesn’t have as many, it may prove itself to be a good alternative and is also a fast-growing perennial plant.

“We have found a major new source of cannabinoids and developed tools for their sustained production, which can help explore their enormous therapeutic potential,” said Dr. Shirley Berman, who led the study (1).

The wooly umbrella plant does not belong to the same family of plants as cannabis. Instead, its relatives include plants such as, lettuce, daisies, and sunflowers. Scientists mentioned that there have been reports of the 

 plant releasing intoxicating fumes when it has been burnt in African folk rituals.

The Weizmann team sequenced the plants’ entire genome, using advanced analytical chemistry. This included testing with high-resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS), to identify the wooly umbrella’s cannabinoids, as well as, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to help reveal a more accurate structure of over a dozen cannabinoids and other related metabolites.

Berman’s group of researchers were able to trace the entire biochemical pathway that is involved in the production of cannabinoids and figured out the location in the plant where they are made.

Unlike the cannabis plant, the wooly umbrella manufactures cannabinoids mainly in their leaves. With cannabis, cannabinoids are produced in flower clusters or inflorescences (1). This may provide the wooly umbrella plant an economic advantage over cannabis because cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are shorter-lived and can be challenging to harvest.

“The next exciting step would be to determine the properties of the more than 30 new cannabinoids we’ve discovered, and then to see what therapeutic uses they might have,” said Berman (1).

https://www.jns.org/plant-with-cannabis-qualities-opens-new-avenues-for-medical-use/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-023-01415-y

Israeli researchers have found that the wooly umbrella (Helichrysum umbraculigerum), a non-cannabis plant, produces several cannabinoids believed only to have belonged to the cannabis plant.

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