Edition 10: Cannabis Barriers & Opportunities

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Editorial: Fighting cannabis stigma is a Herculean task. Page 3 -Opinion article: When will there be justice for cannabis? Page 4

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CANNAGROW SECTION Drone use in cannabis cultivation. Page 5

7 12 Our magazines CannaMed and CannaLaw, dedicated to the therapeutic and legal regulation areas of cannabis respectively, have decided to join forces to offer you a new biweekly magazine about cannabis: Cannabis World Journals.

CannaMed magazine and CannaLaw magazine are now sections of Cannabis World Journals, and along with these you can find another two brand new sections in order to provide a global look about the plant: we are talking about CannaTrade, with the goal of revealing the rhythm of the business established around cannabis; and CannaGrow, dedicated to the botany and cultivation of the cannabis plant.

Cannabis World Journals is the most complete magazine about cannabis for demanding readers like you. Without further ado, receive the warmest welcome to Cannabis World Journals. Enjoy!

IN THE EXPERT’S ROOM: Interview with Itziar Obregón from Euskadi, Spain.

Page 7 CANNALAW SECTION - Latin America: Which countries lead the cannabis market in the region? Page 12 - The world of social networks and cannabis. Page 15 - Another unfortunate trial against cannabis. Page 17 - California and the progress of the bill on the use of medical cannabis in hospitals. Page 19

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CANNATRADE SECTION

- New York cannabis companies most attractive to investors. Page 21 - In the Public Eye: Celebrities Demand Biden Keep His Cannabis Pledge. Page 21 - Legal and illegal cannabis market join forces.

Page 23 - Tax Code 280E and cannabis businesses. Page 23

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CANNMED SECTION - Effect of inhaled cannabis for pain in adults with sickle cell anemia Article analysis by: Abrams, D. I., Couey, P., Dixit, N., Sagi, V., Hagar, W., Vichinsky, E., Kelly, M. E., Connett, J. E., & Gupta, K. (2020). Effect of Inhaled Cannabis for Pain in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open, 3(7), e2010874. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.108 74. Page 24

- THC and CBD A contrast in balance. Page 26 -Cannabinoids and terpenes Synergism. Page 27

EDITORIAL

The fight against cannabis stigma is a Herculean task The international cannabis community continues in the titanic task of showing the world that cannabis should not be considered only as a drug, considering that the plant has multiple benefits which break stigmas around it.

There are stores where cannabis-based products are sold, and brands that bet on using hemp as a raw material for the manufacture of products. As if that wasn't enough, there are also applications for cell phones like Apple that allow access to the products and services offered by large and small brands.

Cannabis is gaining the importance it should have always been given in history and this time it will not be the villain, but the protagonist of the story with a promising ending that will last for a long time. We must be aware that this cannot be achieved overnight and, as we said at the beginning of this editorial, it is a Herculean task, and each one of us has the duty to do our bit.

On our part we are doing it, Cannabis World Journals informs in an objective, truthful and impartial way; forging the way for the public opinion to have all the news of the cannabis industry and its benefits.

Editorial Team Cannabis World Journals

When talking to people within the cannabis community, who are specialists in the uses of the plant, they are almost always asked the same question: why do you think there is so much stigma towards the plant? To which each one of them answers in many different ways by saying that it is due to the lack of information, as the prohibition "campaign" was very strong during many times.

We say "was", because more and more countries have in their legislative scenario a heated discussion on legalization. So far in 2021, two countries have regulated cannabis while others have bills in the pipeline.

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OPINION ARTICLE

When will there be justice for cannabis?

Currently and despite the many studies, advances and discoveries of the therapeutic properties of cannabis; in several parts of the world there are still imprisonments because of its cultivation. Through social networks we can constantly see how the police abruptly approach the home of someone who is growing cannabis for medicinal purposes, and they end up paying the consequences for something that should not be considered a crime.

Due to this type of police acts it is worth questioning the word "Justice", as something that seems to be fading day by day, while crimes such as robberies or rapes abound, law enforcement officers spend much of their time capturing people who are only planting in their homes a plant for medicinal purposes.

We are at the peak of the cannabis era in which different countries are waking up from the sleep, ignorance, and fear of this wonderful plant. Now more than ever is when government leaders, media, activists, entrepreneurs, doctors, patients, farmers, and people who want to learn much more about cannabis must unite to make it legalized everywhere and when that day comes, we will have made a huge contribution to a better world.

Editorial Tean Cannabis World Journals

In countries such as Argentina and Chile there were cases of people who, unfortunately and due to the lack of information about cannabis, were singled out for the simple fact of planting it in their homes. Why, if there is evidence of the benefits of cannabis for many diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer or epilepsy, does the persecution of so many people for having cannabis crops in their homes continue?

How much proof does the world, and the police authorities need that cannabis is not a drug, is not an enemy, but an ally? How many more people should be imprisoned for a medicinal plant?

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CannaGrow

Drone use

in cannabis crops

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owadays, throughout its different sectors, agriculture has incorporated technologies that help to optimize processes and perfect techniques that allow for a better efficiency in the use of resources such as water, fertilizers, pesticides, lighting, soil, etc.

Large-scale medical cannabis crops, including hemp cultivation, have not been left behind.

Different parts of the world have opted for the use of special drones to provide precise solutions in fields such as surveying (the measurement or delimitation of a cultivable area), photography and exploration to monitor the state of health of the seedlings.

In seed planting they are much more precise thanks to the fact that these devices can be programmed to deposit the seed in a determined space and have geolocation and sensors to avoid collisions; their activity is supervised from a computer, tablet and even a cell phone, which allows producers to work live and give reports in real time, allowing for a more precise traceability of the crop in the long term.

Among the most important functions is the application of fertilizers and pest control products. For example, the application of live biological control agents in which beneficial insects or predators of pathogens that affect plants directly or crops are introduced on a small and precise scale. In fact, founder Chandler Bennett calls Parabug (crop application drone) an Uber for insects because drones transport insects directly to plants.

The advantages of using these types of smart technologies lie in the fact that their main resource is energy can often be cleanly harvested.

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CannaGrow

As for environmental benefits, it does not emit polluting gases into the atmosphere and because it is a lightweight device compared to heavy machinery, it does not compact the soil, and therefore does not interrupt the biogeochemical processes that occur in this resource, in short, it helps to reduce soil degradation over time.

Drones have a broad cost-benefit ratio since they are much cheaper than other agricultural machinery, it is not necessary to have many people operating the device, so labor is reduced and the programming makes each activity more accurate. Once implemented, it avoids the waste of resources, improves access to crops by checking the state of the crop, as well as providing more efficient operation times with less human activity.

In terms of pulverization brings tremendous savings, Andrew Bish director of operations of agricultural equipment manufacturer Bish Enterprises and founder of Hemp Harvest Works states that: "large-scale pulverizers can cost between $500,000 and $750,000, compared to the $25,000 in the case of a drone, which makes the technology more accessible to small and medium-sized producers who can obtain a faster return on investment with drones than with larger machinery".

There is no doubt that these technological advances contribute to an industry that is more productive, committed to the environment and much more profitable than any others.

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The editorial team of Cannabis World Journals was talking with Itziar Obregón, cannabis consultant expert in risk reduction and quality control in the industry. The following is a great experience that she shares with us in a very pleasant way from Euskadi, Spain.

CWJ: It is a pleasure for us to share this space with you. We understand that you have worked in many areas for a long time in the cannabis industry. We would like to know why and when did your interest in cannabis begin, and what led you to want to participate in the industry in a professional and occupational manner?

ITZIAR: Well! Initially my connection to cannabis was in an altruistic way. As a teenager I used cannabis recreationally and a bit irresponsibly. I was sanctioned by the security forces of this country, which is why I joined the association when I was 18 years old, because I needed help from someone who could make a procedural appeal, so I came to an association where I began to know cannabis more deeply and to see that there was a task with people who consumed cannabis for medical reasons that was not being tackled.

In the expert’s room: Interview with Itziar Obregón from Euskadi, Spain

Wanting to help these people to consume with less risk, was one of the reasons why I became more involved in this movement, then, I went through associations to train myself, and from there I made the leap with the purpose of becoming a professional. I left the professional path I was in (because I was working in a construction company), to start working with users, analyzing, and helping them directly to consume with less risks, or at least not to have such bad consequences when making the decision to consume.

CWJ: When you say risk reduction, what does that phrase imply when we talk about cannabis use, and what is the importance of this process in your experience?

ITZIAR: Risk reduction is a set of action steps that can be taken before, during and after consumption. In other CANNABIS WORLD JOURNALS | EDITION NO. 10 |

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words, if I want to have the effects of cannabis, I don't have to "burn" my lungs by combining it with tobacco and suffer crossreactions of adverse substances; if I want to sleep and I use cannabis for that purpose, it is very complicated if it has been combined with nicotine, which is a stimulant. We call this set of guidelines RR (risk reduction), because people do not have much of this information.

That is where I have specialized, where I have been trained and where I have worked, from adolescents to adults.

CWJ: We see that you work with certain dispensaries, certain brands, and companies.

According to your work experience, what are the main problems that a cannabis company, business or brand can present?

ITZIAR: They are usually in quality control, training. The cannabis world is a very incipient industry. It is a very old community that has defended the plant and its use, but thanks to legalization and the prohibition policies that have been changing, there has been a whole business network that has been established. What it lacks a lot, however, is training. As for culture about the plant, there is some, but to get into technical matters per se, a great leap has been made because there are universities, study centers that are being created, but when I started 20 years ago there was very little literature available in English, you had to find a way to translate, to pass on the information, because the simple fact of carrying the information or a book was a reason for persecution. The associations here have been very persecuted even without having cannabis in the associations themselves, just for the fact that people are together talking about cannabis.

In conclusion, training and information is what is most lacking.

CWJ: In terms of legalization and from your experience consuming cannabis in the past, what is the legal panorama of the plant in Spain?

ITZIAR: Here in Spain consumption is decriminalized; that is, they don't take us to jail, but the plant itself is controlled, that is, you can't buy it or sell it to third parties, those activities take you to jail; consumption at home doesn't harm you, but carrying the substance to your house does. The small region where I live is more likely to have cannabis clubs with dispensaries that recognize their existence as such. In our region, the state has told us that legally we can neither dispense nor cultivate, but we can be arrested and there are economic sanctions, so there are economic loopholes that allow the existence of these clubs, but the state itself does not recognize it as such.

On the other hand, the State is generating licenses for cultivation and research, especially for export to third countries, so that there are growers and entrepreneurs who can grow cannabis in our country, both CBD and THC, but the country's users are unprotected, because the legal crops are not for them, but for third countries. So there is a nonsense of laws that lead us to trials where some are acquitted and others condemned without knowing the reason why some are acquitted and others condemned.

We are living through this stalemate in political parties that ask for legalization, while there are other political parties that do not recognize the properties of cannabis. That's where the fight is.

CWJ: Yes, sometimes it is confusing for consumers and for those involved in the industry, because the laws change in every country, especially in Europe there are many variations.

ITZIAR: Here in Euskadi, right now, there is a company that has been collaborating with the institutions of this region, and that has even been doing studies of soil toxins etc... Collaborating with public institutions, it has been seized by the central government and closed due to tax issues, that is, it makes no sense that an administration collaborates with you doing studies of plant consumption and another administration closes the company in which almost 100 people worked, it is really nonsense, it is a very strong persecution.

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CWJ: Talking about what you shared with us, regarding quality control; one of the main complaints of consumers is that cannabis products or their derivatives lack strict control.

What consequences can there be when consuming a product that is not properly controlled during its production process?

ITZIAR: The illegal market is something that leads us to illegality, that is why these controls cannot be carried out. In this country there are very few analysis companies that want to collaborate with entities that do not have permits from the State to cultivate, so it is complicated to apply quality controls in this country, it is very complicated.

CWJ: From your area of work, what advice would you give to consumers before acquiring a product in a dispensary or in associations knowing that there is a lack of regulatory processes?

ITZIAR:Basically in the dispensaries we have people who have experience and know the plant, there are even dispensaries and associations that have medical equipment, so I suggest trying to belong to a club that has that staff and then get informed. The more informed we are and the more we know about the substance we are going to consume, the less chance we will have of having bad quality purchases.

In this region where I live, there is an association of people, mostly volunteers who do analysis work and that is also where I became a professional. This association has an analysis service for users, in which they analyze the cannabinoids by means of microscopes and colored reagents, to determine if it has more THC or more CBD; so it is a bit difficult, because it is not a laboratory analysis, but it helps a bit when it comes to consuming and applying risk reduction, at least to know the cannabinoids.

Going to one of these services is not bad, but the truth is that it could be better if it were legal.

I believe that with a regulation we would make the dispensaries have access to the analysis companies and then we could provide much more adequate information to the user and protect them, because at the end of the day what

we should have protected are the users.

CWJ: And is this control applied from the beginning? Is there a chain of control of production and follow-up, in other words, anyone who wants to produce derivatives must make these analyses in order to place the product on the market?

ITZIAR: There is no law. In the dispensaries that we work with the Federation and in the environment in which I work, yes, we have a control and audits from the crops, the extractions and up until the arrival at the dispensary; we try to audit that the personnel and the people who arrive have access to the substance and to the adequate information so that they can be able to communicate to the users, but it is a quality control and a quality standard that we ourselves apply due to the 20 years of experience that we have had. It is a pity that there is no regulation with minimum standards of quality and control of substances. It is difficult, although there is a network of Clubs and associations that strive to maintain all this, even though they are persecuted by the Law. CWJ: This is completely amazing, because what you are doing is a matter of conscience and social responsibility, even though it is not determined in the legislation; this is a great change, a great impact that you are causing in your region and in your locality. This implies opening those roads so that the legal part can be a reality by giving this support.

ITZIAR: Most people think that the majority of users are recreational users and that is not so, the majority of users are therapeutic users; both those who smoke to relax and those who have nausea are therapeutic users; their health improves, mentally they are better, their psychic health, that is a therapy in itself and that is a responsibility of the authorities of the countries.

We have a culture in the Basque Country of not waiting for anything, that if you need something, we are going to do it in community and we go ahead. It has been done with many other things before, with military services, etc. and it was achieved thanks to the community -to have cleaner energy, more ecologism- and then we said: why not be more responsible with this CANNABIS WORLD JOURNALS | EDITION NO. 10 |

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substance, we do not have to be seen as drug addicts, because we are people who work, who pay our taxes, there are users who have children, who are responsible parents, so we do not understand why and if we have to do that work, we do it believing that things will change, we are sure of that, as we have seen in other countries.

CWJ: That part is really admirable, because it is a contribution to society with great impact.

I wanted to ask you, what is the opinion of your local medical profession in this regard?

ITZIAR: There are three sides: those who are a little informed and do not want to get involved; those who are informed and underhandedly give you some guidelines; and then there are those who do not recognize the use at all and put obstacles in the way. There are therapeutic users who are doing very badly because they are misunderstood by their doctors, that is, it is a pity that this advance has not yet arrived, perhaps in the last year, in the last two years thanks to the advances, it is beginning to be seen in a different way, but it is costing a lot, the medical community here is very conservative.

CWJ: And in view of this, what changes or advances do you think are the most urgent or necessary in the short and medium term for the cannabis industry in your region?

ITZIAR: Well, in principle we are going to develop the regulation of the law that was passed on the existence of the clubs, of which they only let us make an article in which it practically says that "cannabis clubs exist". So, now we are going to develop where we are going to be, in what situation; this is the change we are going to have between now and the end of this year, which is the biggest change we are going to have in the last few years.

As far as the country is concerned, the change must be that the government of Spain at least recognizes that cannabis has therapeutic properties, because they have not even recognized that, that is, the UN already recognized that CBD is not a drug, based on that there have been a lot of legislative changes and here we are still applying a law from 1967, from a regime that was dictator. The same medical law and the same law for the ludics are still being applied; this is the essential short or medium term change. Human rights updated in the year 2021, we cannot have a law from the seventies that unprotects the therapeutic community; stop persecuting recreational users and protect therapeutic users, and that people who have never used cannabis should be given guidelines from the institutions so that they know how to accompany them as is done in a chemotherapy or in a depression treatment.

CWJ: From the point of view of training, it is an impact to modify certain laws, at least to make the proposal in one step. What training does a person have to have to specialize in this area in which you are specialized?

ITZIAR: There is no training as such, the users' associations generate with their professionals and with their users an internal training, like the one I mentioned, in which the users' association gave us a training of different cycles, with their practices, such as preventive communication, chromatographic analysis, etc..., but it is not a university, it is not a career, it is not a master's degree, it is an internal course.

CWJ: That is to say, does it have the same essence of the whole project that you are doing, to unite all these forces?

ITZIAR: There are environmentalists, chemists, psychologists, the training is really written by very qualified personnel, most of them have done it voluntarily, because we have lawyers, child educators, adolescent educators, historians; there are a lot of professionals, we put together a lot of little heads.

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CWJ: Well, I want to say something and I repeat it again, it is very admirable, to leave that footprint to open roads in history, that is going to be part of the change that is being generated and the value contribution is incalculable. A very nice experience, thank you very much, it has been an honor to share this time with you.

ITZIAR: Thank you very much to you, here we are creating a small local training platform, I hope that later on we can do things, you are very kind, it has been a pleasure.

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CannaLaw

Latin America: Which countries lead the cannabis market in the region?

In recent years, Latin America has fought against drug trafficking. This war has forced their governments to establish stricter anti-drug laws, that is why people suffering from chronic diseases are turning to the 'black market' to buy cannabis and prepare medicine to relieve their ills. In theory, it would be better to divide the fight in two: a bill for medicinal use and another for adult use. However, the new world has suffered the consequences of the mixture or confusion of these two topics.

In other words, Latin American countries have this social problem and have faced many debates in their different legislative scenarios.

However, a law is approved based on a situation that society is experiencing.

approved in 2013. Similarly, Mexico and Panama recently approved the legislation for the medicinal use of the plant (these will not be the last countries to advance, but they are the most recent).

Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru established laws that regulate the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis. On the other hand, Uruguay is the only one that also allows adult use.

If we talk about a ‘cannabis cause’, Latin America has always emphasized its efforts in a speech that helps break prohibitionist paradigms. However, nowadays there are still prejudices against this issue, an example of this is the criminalization of the use of cannabis in most of the countries of the region.

Without a doubt, the efforts began in Uruguay where the Law that allowed medicinal use was

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CannaLaw Since 2013, the use of cannabis for medicinal, industrial, and recreational purposes has been legal in this country.

Today 59,315 people officially registered to access and use cannabis. According to experts, there has been no incidence at all in Uruguayan society. On the contrary, in terms of security, there was a decrease in drug crimes.

In 2020, the country approved a new regulation on the use of medical cannabis, which establishes that the State must give free access to patients who need cannabis oil. Likewise, this regulation allowed selfcultivation for medicinal use and promoted the scientific use of the plant; recently the press has published in its headlines that cannabis can become a big business for Argentina and boost its economy.

In 2017, the Senate of the Republic of Colombia approved a law that regulates the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. It promotes both medicinal and scientific use, and that is why today Colombia exports cannabis to other countries for scientific research. The bill for adult use was postponed in November 2020.

And the other countries of Latin America?

Latin America has 20 countries of which only 6 have given way to medicinal cannabis with different conditions since the laws in each country depend on its context or reality. The question is, will there be a cannabis legalization process in the other Latin American countries?

The remaining countries continue to fight for the approval of the law. Some of the countries fight for a simple resolution that helps solve the difficult situation faced by millions of patients; on the other hand, associations or foundations are in civil contempt, producing cannabis oil and distributing it for people suffering from diseases such as cancer, autism, epilepsy, among others. A clear example is Brazil, where the associations of patients who use cannabis medicinally are very strong. In this country, there are around 60 associations, of which 21 produce cannabis-based oil to help patients.

Brazil is experiencing a very difficult situation, in fact, the Special Commission that in recent months debated bill 399/15 on medical Since 2015, the country has had a law that cannabis, had a 'heated' discussion where regulates the medicinal use and selfthere were verbal and physical attacks from a cultivation of cannabis. It also establishes that deputy towards the President of the plant-based products can be sold in Commission, for this reason, the vote for the pharmacies, and it allows cultivation for approval of the law was postponed without a associations and on an industrial scale, which scheduled date. are authorized only for medicinal use and research.

In 2019, opened the way for the medicinal use of cannabis. Unlike the other 5 countries mentioned, the law approved in Peru does not contemplate self-cultivation or collective cultivation, only import licenses for patients with a medical prescription, as well as commercial distribution to producers, laboratories and pharmacies.

Like Brazil, the rest of the countries continue in this long process, meanwhile many patients wait for their legislators to decide, or make their pain a political issue, due to the electoral political contamination that each country has suffered in its respective processes.

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CannaLaw

The world of social media has endless possibilities, especially in a time when technology relates to every entrepreneurship, taking into account that the majority of people enclose their opinions in a “like”. Many companies use this great tool as a strategy for visibility, reach and worldwide recognition. Therefore, the possibility of growth of a company is infinite, especially due to the valuable content of each network, especially in the very popular application and social network Instagram.

However, this can be a Pandora's Box in the cyber community since despite the advances in the cannabis industry, the companies and brands that have prospered, many others have been censored, because of the taboo around the plant. This has caused brands to act with caution through an uncertain path in the networks, which is why they must stick to the regulations established in them.

Social media platforms have allowed cannabis brands to grow, many of these have been able to gain thousands of followers; some of these brands or companies have followed the standards used by social media experts. Unlike many other industries, cannabis brands are encouraged to use social media as a lifestyle brand, using their channels

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CannaLaw

to start the conversation with followers rather than generate sales. "If you're selling a product directly or linking to your website, don't show the cannabis," suggested Harrison Baum, CEO of the Daily High Club. "If you show cannabis, don't act like you're selling it," he added.

In this sense, although cannabis is currently legalized in Canada, brands and individuals like Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM, who posts content on their accounts regularly, must adhere to the rules of UScentric social media; he considers that he has remained unharmed because he does not show or use cannabis, instead he maintains the educational or sarcastic tone: "That said, other science-focused creators have been banned from TikTok for no apparent reason."

Maria Brasco, from MATTIO Media Communications, manages numerous clients in the cannabis industry and reports that few things have been effective so far.

She has studied specific tactics, such as prohibiting content from reaching underage users through an age-gate, but that hasn't quite worked. According to Brasco on Instagram, "Accounts that make a mistake are being penalized, while their colleagues in the industry blatantly ignore the rules, and nothing happens," she said, referring to the Wild West-style confrontations.

Despite these statements and the opponent taboo, cannabis remains in the struggle to stand out in all processes and all existing ways; especially social networks where it should be known for its progressive acceptance.

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CannaLaw

Another lamentable lawsuit against cannabis Despite the available scientific evidence about the benefits that cannabis provides, there is still a small part of the world population that rejects this plant due to a lack of knowledge.

Many people continue to be unfairly punished for betting on their health and for their cultivation.

In this sense, the American continent is full of countries that have given a great YES to cannabis, a good example would be Uruguay which is considered the Latin American pioneer, and of course, Canada. These are followed by other countries with bills for the legalization of the plant, such as Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, among others.

Unfortunately, it has been and still is a dark path to travel for cannabis, since the police and criminal persecution continue to be very latent. This barrier primarily promotes consumer arrests and seizures that are considered indicators of success by many governments.

In Canada, the adult use of cannabis was decriminalized and regulated, in addition, those who were sentenced for possession of up to 30 grams were also pardoned.

Similarly, the World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Drug Dependence suggested eliminating cannabis and cannabis oil from the list of drugs established by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, to allow access and research on possible therapies derived from this plant.

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CannaLaw On the other hand, for Argentine criminal agencies, the persecution of sellers or growers has been like a witch hunt, since there is a whole history of people who have been caught with medicinal cannabis crops in their homes. According to data from the Procunar at the federal level, the crimes related to the possession, storage, and transfer of plants and seeds to produce narcotics, almost doubled between 2015 and 2018.

Nevertheless, the persecution of cannabis is observed in the seizures by federal forces.

Likewise, in August, Argentina witnessed the first criminal trial in the country related to the production of cannabis oil for therapeutic use. The defendant was Daniel Landgren, for the production, manufacture, extraction or preparation of narcotic drugs.

Unfortunately for Landgren, there have been events such as the 15 years in the cannabis militancy of Córdoba and Argentina, where neither the infinity of talks, seminars, medicinal cultivation workshops, nor the witnesses in his favor were enough to achieve his acquittal.

Similarly, Landgren presented evidence of the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, defended himself against the accusation and took the opportunity to once again express his support in the fight for the legalization of medical cannabis. “Justice needs to get involved and judges and prosecutors need to understand that they should stop sending cannabis users or growers to jail, it is very expensive for the State and for individuals, with the loss of freedom and criminal proceedings that generally end in nothing, "said Landgren.

When the case arose, Law 27,350, which regulates medicinal or therapeutic cannabis, was already sanctioned, regulated and in force in the country. Currently, in Argentina, there are new regulations to expand rights, the use of medical cannabis is socially widespread and there are states with proactive public policy. However, after fighting and exposing his innocence, the court acquitted Landgren and ordered to communicate the sentence to the Ministries of Health of the province of Córdoba and the Nation, while in the next five days Skillful will release the basics. "Landgren helped many people. He alleviated the pain of many children and helped their families overcome this drama," said the prosecutor Carlos Gonella during the plea.

Taking into account the studies and scientific advances on cannabis and its therapeutic properties, the trial or imprisonment for the cultivation of cannabis should cease, especially if they are towards people like Daniel Landgren who cares about the well-being of others through medical cannabis.

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CannaLaw

California and the progress of the bill on the use of medical cannabis in hospitals Since 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis for people with chronic diseases. Through Proposition 215, the sale and use of medical cannabis were approved for people with terminal illnesses such as cancer and AIDS. This proposal was based primarily on allowing relief for those suffering from chronic illnesses, thus laying the groundwork for the legal use and commercialization of cannabis in the United States. In that year, a proposal was approved to exempt patients and their caregivers who possess or cultivate cannabis for medical treatments recommended by a doctor, from criminal laws that prohibit the possession or cultivation of cannabis.

represents one of the largest markets for legal cannabis in the world.

Since then, advances in the field of medical cannabis continued, until 2016 progress was made in the legalization of cannabis for adult use. After more than 20 years of legalizing medical cannabis and 5 years of legalizing adult use of the plant, cannabis in California

Now, what has happened this year in California? What advances have been made in the legislation of this state?

What is the current status?

Currently, in California, the distribution, cultivation and purchase of medicinal and adult-use cannabis is legal under certain parameters and rules. In addition, the people who distribute it are licensed by the DCC (Department of Cannabis Control).

Recently, members of the California

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Assembly and Senate have submitted a law to the Governor for the use of medicinal cannabis products in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Senate Bill 311 (also known as the Ryan Act) provides for "the use of medical cannabis by a terminally ill patient within [a] healthcare facility."

What does this law propose?

The Ryan Act seeks to provide access to medical cannabis in healthcare facilities for those who are seriously ill. Additionally, this proposed law prohibits patients from inhaling or vaporizing herbal cannabis products and restricts the use of any form of cannabis in emergency rooms.

What is the 311 law or Ryan law?

This bill was born through the loss of Ryan Bartell, son of former Santee Mayor Jim Bartell, who was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and who used medical cannabis to deal with pain and live his last days with dignity. His father says that at first, due to the severity of the disease, Ryan was under the influence of very severe opioids such as morphine and fentanyl, which caused him to be asleep most of the time. However, he requested to withdraw these treatments and use medical cannabis. Thus, the first hospital denied the request and his parents decided to move to one that would allow it.

Bartell commented, "A cannabis chemist gave us drugs specifically designed for Ryan, one to slow cancer and give him a little more time and two other aerosol drugs because he couldn't take anything. This allowed him to be pain-free."

Sadly, Ryan passed away from this illness, prompting Jim and his wife Elaine to file this bill in Sacramento. Bartell indicates that cannabis significantly improved the quality of life for his son. He commented that he "went from being asleep most of the time to being alert and being able to communicate, send text messages, and talk with friends."

In this way, it proposes certain restrictions such as the fact that the health care center would have the power to reasonably restrict the way a patient stores and uses medical cannabis to ensure the safety of other patients, guests and employees of the care center, in compliance with other state laws and the safe operations of the facility.

Previously, in 2019, legislators approved a similar project, but it was rejected by the Governor. However, with this new and clearer attempt, they want to close the gap that exists in current legislation that prohibits a patient to carry medical cannabis in a hospital, even if the patient has medical authorization.

Senator Hueso, who introduced the bill, commented, “The Ryan Act offers relief, compassion and dignity to Californians during the most vulnerable time of their lives.

This is a simple and important step that will have a myriad of benefits to ensure access to compassion and pain management for terminally ill patients in California."

The law has been passed to the Governor for his evaluation. If enacted, it will provide compassionate access to medical cannabis in healthcare facilities for terminally ill people.

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CannaTrade

New York cannabis companies are the most attractive to investors In March, New York legalized the adult use of cannabis for cultivation, processing and marketing. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) signed by the governor removes cannabis and its derivatives from the New York Controlled Substances Act and allows for the regulation of cannabis under the supervision of the New York State Liquor Authority.

This legislation will regulate the distribution and use of cannabis and its derivatives in a manner similar to the way substances such as alcohol and tobacco are regulated.

This legal step will allow New York to become one of the largest cannabis markets in the United States. A report by ArcView and BDS Analytics estimates that by 2022 the legal cannabis market in New York will reach $1.6 billion. This will position New York as the fourth largest market in the U.S. after California, Colorado and Florida.

Previously New York was a state with only 10 companies licensed to establish operations in this region, including: Acreage Holdings (ACRHF), Columbia Care (CCHWF) , Cresco (CRLBF) , Curaleaf (CURLF) , iAnthus (ITHUF) , Etain Health (private), Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF) , MedMen (MMNFF), PharmaCann (private company) and Vireo Health (VREOF). The MRTA will benefit these older licensees in terms of the number of facilities permitted in the state, thus providing them with a significant market advantage over newer companies.

This year, an initiative called "The Green Mission" emerged as part of an organization founded by Weldon Angelos (who served 55 years in prison on cannabis trafficking charges) "The Weldon Project".

This initiative was supported by a letter signed by more than 150 celebrities, celebrities, politicians and athletes, demanding the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to fulfill his promise to offer pardon to non-violent offenders with cannabis-related charges.

Among some of the signers were hip hop artists such as Drake, Meek Mill, and Killer Mike; professional athletes such as Al Harrington, John Wall, Deion Sanders, and Kevin Garnett. In addition, several political figures showed their support, including attorney Barry Grissom, Indiana Senator Eddie Melton, and activist Alice Johnson.

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CannaTrade

What does the law in New York provide for these companies to benefit in this way?

Companies that currently hold licenses are allowed to operate up to 4 dispensaries with vertical integration, which increases the market power of these companies. Under the New York Controlled Substances Act they will be allowed to open 4 more dispensaries, giving a total of 8 dispensaries with 3 of them licensed for adult use. Those companies new to the market will be allowed to open only 3 dispensaries and vertical integration of the company will not be allowed.

The three companies that are most poised to capitalize in New York State are Curaleaf Holdings (OTC:CURLF), Green Thumb Industries (OTC:GTBIF) and Columbia Care (OTC:CCHWF). Curealeaf Holdings is one of the largest cannabis companies in the United States with 101 stores in 23 states.

In New York it already has 4 dispensaries and its shares have risen over 200% in the last year. Columbia Care, a New Yorkbased company, posted revenues of $1979 million in the previous year

and is up 151% year-over-year. Columbia Care's share price has risen more than 275% over the past 12 months.

Finally, Green Thumb is another top-ranked company nationally in the United States. In New York, Green Thumb broke ground by acquiring Fiorello Pharmaceuticals 2 years ago and currently owns three locations in New York and plans to open one more on Long Island. Similar to Columbia Care and Cureleaf, their shares rose exponentially the previous year, but have declined somewhat in recent months. This makes the shares of these companies more enticing to investors.

Since February of this year cannabis stocks have declined significantly, however, they still possess a 2020 outperformance. This opens up a new buying opportunity for investors, as interest is primarily focused on those companies that have macro growth potential with imminent competitive advantages in the cannabis market.

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CannaTrade

Legal and illegal cannabis market join forces Although the legalization of cannabis is expanding rapidly around the world, there is an impending reality to be examined. Who will actually be able to benefit from regulation and enter the legal market? This is especially important for small producers, for whom acquiring licenses is an unfeasible process.

Although this transition to legality costs them more than the giants of the industry, it is not impossible. In countries such as Canada, large licensed producers have seen small producers as a source of opportunities, and have set their sights on creating partnerships with companies that have been operating in the illegal market for several years.

The advantages that these types of companies have in the cannabis industry is that their seniority has allowed them to accumulate experience on market preferences, product improvement and marketing, something in which newer companies that are trying to enter the market are at a disadvantage.

An example of such partnerships is the one Medz Cannabis made with Fritz Cannabis Company, an edibles producer that marketed cannabis gummies at Toronto's popular Green Market in Kensington in 2016.

Despite the popularity of the brand, operating in the legal market was no longer an option, so they sought opportunities to obtain licenses and operate under the legal framework.

The future also points to the emergence of a new type of cannabis entrepreneurs. Smaller producers are trying to form cooperatives with companies that started out in the illegal market and thus foster a new generation for the cannabis industry where growth opportunities are not limited to the giants of the industry.

Tax Code 280E and Cannabis Businesses

Cannabis businesses have increased in number, staff and scope in recent years in several states across the country where regulations permit such businesses. However, these businesses have to face a series of restrictions due to the sanctions or guidelines of each region regarding the sale and consumption of the plant.

As an example, we have section 280E of the US Federal Law. Section 280e is the federal statute that opposes "illegal" businesses. It regulates the sales of controlled substances of categories I and II. This section classifies cannabis businesses as crimes, causing them to pay tax rates of up to 70% (triple what other businesses pay), affecting all brands and ventures in the industry.

Analysis of the article: Abrams, D. I., Couey, P., Dixit, N., Sagi, V., Hagar, W., Vichinsky, E., Kelly, M. E., Connett, J. E., & Gupta, K. (2020). Effect of Inhaled Cannabis for Pain in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open, 3(7), e2010874. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.10874

Effect of Inhaled Cannabis for Pain in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disease.

Patients suffering from this disease have red blood cells that instead of being round, have a sickle shape. This sickle shape causes these blood cells to get stuck in small blood vessels, preventing the arrival of oxygen in certain parts of the body. One of the most troublesome symptoms of sickle cell anemia is the intense episodes of pain that patients experience. These periods of pain can vary in intensity and duration, depending on the patient; the most worrying thing about this symptomatology is that it can lead to permanent damage to joints or bones, damage that translates into chronic pain.

Chronic pain is a condition that profoundly affects the quality of life of patients, reducing not only their physical health but also greatly affecting their mental health.

Opioid therapy is a common practice for those patients who suffer from this condition, however, the dangers and side effects associated with these drugs are extremely alarming. The risk of addiction, depression, central hypogonadism, breathing disorders while sleeping, woundhealing problems, infections, cognitive impairment, falls, non-vertebral fractures, and mortality are significantly increased in populations of patients who take chronic use of these medications.

The dangers of long-term opioid use in chronic pain patients has prompted research into the safety and efficacy of other types of medications. Cannabinoids in recent years have gained a leading role in research related to the treatment of this condition. Research such as the one carried out by Abrams and collaborators allows us to advance towards improving the therapeutic options available to patients suffering from chronic pain and to explore the efficacy of the use of medical cannabis.

This research aimed to determine the efficacy of inhaled cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain when compared to an inhaled placebo. For this, a randomized pilot clinical trial was conducted with 23 patients suffering from chronic pain related to sickle cell anemia. The patients were administered 4.4% THC and 4.9% CBD inhaled and an inhaled placebo on different days. For both cases, the participants rated their chronic pain on a visual analog scale from 0 to 100 which was repeated several times throughout the study.

The evaluation of the results of this monitoring showed that inhaled cannabis was more effective than inhaled placebo in improving the mood of the participants.

However, no statistically significant differences were found in terms of the difference in pain rating after the use of cannabis and placebo.

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Regarding the side effects related to the use of cannabis, it was determined that in general cannabis was well tolerated for all patients and the most common side effect presented was sedation.

This research undoubtedly generated important results and clear limitations that are very useful in the design of future clinical trials. Regarding the results, we can understand them as a positive contribution in terms of mitigating the effects on mental health that chronic pain can have in patients, since cannabis was shown to

significantly improve the mood of the participants. On the other hand, some of the study limitations were the sample size, the study time, and probably the dosages used.

Conducting longer and larger clinical studies is the recommendation of the authors in order to determine the effectiveness of the use of cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain more accurately. Without a doubt, clinical research on medical cannabis is the right way to generate safer cannabinoid drugs and adequate dosages, which contribute to improving the lives of patients with this debilitating condition.

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THC and CBD

A contrast in balance Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), besides being so popular; have multiple overlapping therapeutic qualities, including relief of pain, anxiety, seizures, and nausea; although these cannabinoids work through different mechanisms of action, when combined they can intensify the benefits of the other while reducing the unwanted effects for the user, which includes reducing the psychoactive effects of THC that is not perceived as pleasant for everyone. This is a great advantage for cannabis users who want health benefits while maintaining optimal performance in-home or work activities.

By combining CBD and THC the therapeutic window becomes even wider. However, consumers should be aware that the total dose of cannabinoids required to treat a symptom or condition will also increase. For example, in a study of 177 cancer pain patients, one group received an oral spray of THC, while another group received an oral spray of THC and CBD combined in an approximate 1:1 ratio. Both groups were allowed to gradually increase their dose until they experienced satisfactory relief.

The THC group ended up using an average of 27 mg per day, while the CBD + THC group used about 60 mg total per day, but the CBD + THC group had a greater reduction in pain.

Given the different evidence available today, it has been determined that the dosage for users of cannabis derivatives is truly personalized. As such, there is no standard in which all patients can be treated homogeneously. That is why it is advisable to start with minimum doses, go slowly and increase until the optimal dose is personalized for the user according to their pathology.

To start using cannabis derivatives, specialists advise starting with amounts of 1 to 2 mg three times a day if the user is being administered cannabinoids in the form of tinctures or oils; in the case that cannabis is administered to the user through inhalations or vaporization, it is advisable to take 1 or 2 inhalations three times a day to obtain the first results. According to the patient's symptoms and what they are looking for in the use of plant derivatives, the ratio of these two cannabinoids is chosen, however; a 1: 1 ratio is widely effective and well-tolerated by users.

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Cannabinoids and

terpenes

Sinergy The diversity of components in nature on many occasions can show the limits of the synthesis of products in the pharmaceutical industry. Molecules like aromatic terpenes combined with cannabinoids give different results than when they are isolated; so the pure synthetic THC has different and perhaps less intense effects than when administered in combination with terpenes.

Although the important presence of terpenes in a plant is recognized with the intensity of its smell, its concentration depends on the varieties of cannabis, and the way and type of cultivation. Therefore, it is very important to know the different varieties of plants to choose the most suitable medical cannabis for a particular pathology. It is also essential to take into account the different ways of administering cannabis; since some of them can influence the therapeutic power of terpenes.

Depending on the variety of cannabis, different types of these molecules can be found, terpenes such as myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene and pinene appear frequently

in different varieties of cannabis, and provide properties such as flavor, smell and pharmacological characteristics, whether for therapeutic or recreational use. Cannabis in combination with other foods can have a different effect, for example cannabis combined with fruits such as mango increases its psychoactive effect due to myrcene which increases the permeability of THC. This type of relationship generates an increase in other pharmacological properties that make terpenes so important, molecules to take into account to optimize and enrich the different types of treatment according to the interest of the doctor who administers the cannabis derivative, and the patient that receives it to relieve their symptoms and improve quality of life.

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Disclaimer: Cannabis World Journals in its position as a purely educational journal, is not responsible for the issuance of personal opinions for informational purposes. For proper, responsible, and safe use and handling of cannabis consult the laws of your country and/or your family doctor or specialist.