I
n the era of social media and overnight delivery, the entrepreneur is now on an even plane with the big boys. No longer does one need a middleman to get a product to the public. The door is now open for direct customer contact. So, what will you give your potential customers? What niche has not been tapped or has not been maxed out? You guessed it- hemp. Just like peanuts can be used for more than eating; cannabis can be used for more than smoking. This crop can change the Jamaican economy. With money in the community, crime and violence will be reduced on the island. Jamaica will become a peaceful nation once again. Consider these areas of hemp production.
2
Cannabis production Cultivating cannabis is one of the most rewarding things that a person can do, and thanks to cannabis reform victories, it can now be done for a legal profit. Cannabis cultivation for profit includes:
Harvesting and selling cannabis flower Selling harvests to processors for concentrates, edibles, and other products Breeding cannabis seeds and selling them to other growers Producing cannabis clones and selling them to dispensaries
Entrepreneurs can decide to start a cannabis farm, where they grow different strains of the cannabis plant. Be aware that cannabis farming isn’t as easy as it looks. Opening a cannabis dispensary One of the most obvious cannabis industry ventures that an entrepreneur can pursue is opening a dispensary. If you’ve ever dreamt of running your own store (but with cannabis), this is the best way to realize your dreams. Starting an edible company Edibles are quickly gaining momentum in the cannabis industry, largely because they are discreet and can be consumed anywhere anytime. They are also preferred by consumers that wish to avoid smoking cannabis or who just need long-last effects. Edibles come in different forms, including: Cookies
Candy
Brownies
Peanut butter
Cakes
Pies
Chocolate bars
Popcorn 3
Essentially, if you can think of non-cannabis infused food sold in stores it's likely that you can also make the same product infused with cannabis. Security services Currently, many banks and financial transaction processors refuse to accept business from the cannabis industry. Until that change, the demand for security services in the cannabis industry will be extremely strong. Even if/when banking rules change and the lingering stigma surrounding the cannabis industry fades, there will still be a need for security services in the cannabis space. The cannabis industry involves a tremendous amount of cash, and as such, there's a need to protect it from would-be thieves.
Security services that are needed in the cannabis space include: On-site security Armored transport Secured storage of cash and product Video surveillance
With the right guidance, however, you can cultivate a standout crop that people will LOVE.
Marijuana may help relieve some types of pain. Marijuana contains cannabidiol, or CBD, a chemical that is not responsible for getting you high but is thought to be responsible for many of marijuana's therapeutic effects. Those benefits can include pain relief or potential treatment for certain kinds of childhood epilepsy. The report from the National Academies also found conclusive or substantial evidence — the most definitive levels — that cannabis can be an effective treatment for chronic pain, which could have to do with both CBD and THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Pain is "by far the most common" reason people request medical marijuana, according to the report. Marijuana may increase cerebral blood flow and protect the brain from stroke. A study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology suggested that pot smokers could have a greatly reduced risk of stroke. Researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas found chronic cannabis users have higher blood flow to the brain and extract more oxygen from cerebral blood flow than nonusers. THC is known to relax blood vessels. These changes effectively reduce the risk of
5
stroke and blood clots. The study should be taken with a grain of salt, however, as it included fewer than 200 participants. Marijuana may be helpful in controlling epileptic seizures. A drug called Epidiolex, which contains CBD, may be on its way to becoming the first of its kind to win approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of childhood epilepsy. The company that makes it, GW Pharma, is exploring CBD for its potential use in people with Dravet syndrome, a rare, lifelong form of epilepsy that begins in infancy. In March, the company came out with phase-three trial data that showed the drug Epidiolex had some positive results. The hope is that eventually, someone taking the drug would be able to either reduce the number of seizures they have or even stop them entirely.
6
W
hen we think of Jamaica, ‘ganja’ is typically one of the fastest associations we make with the country. Thanks to the Rastafarian community, which was popularized by Bob Marley and reggae music, marijuana use has become a symbol of the country. Rastafarians use marijuana as a spiritual drug, and the smoking of marijuana is a part of their religious ceremonies. However, despite marijuana’s ubiquity in the country’s perception, marijuana is not fully legal in Jamaica and until recently, it was not decriminalized. One of the biggest changes in the law is that medical marijuana is now legal, and Jamaica hopes to establish a presence in the globally emerging medical marijuana market. Under the act, possession of marijuana for medical or therapeutic purposes is allowed. “Therapeutic” is a flexible term that many Jamaicans hope will allow tourists to partake in cannabis consumption. A cannabis licensing authority will regulate the cultivation and distribution of marijuana. Now, its leaders smell something else: opportunity. Having watched states like Colorado and California generate billions of dollars from marijuana, Jamaica has decided to embrace its herbaceous brand. Rather than arresting and shunning the country’s Rasta population, the Jamaican authorities will leverage it. Beyond decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana last year, Jamaica has legalized the use of medical marijuana, with its ultimate sights set on “wellness tourism” and the font of money it could bring. And for good reason: Jamaica has one of the lowest economic growth rates in the developing world, a 7
striking contrast to the global success its citizens have enjoyed in the worlds of sports and music. The Jamaican Ganja Growers and Producers Association has announced they will launch the Cannabis Commercial Council to help address concerns over the nation’s forthcoming medical cannabis industry, the Jamaica Observer reports. The council will begin its work after hosting its upcoming Ganja Stakeholders Forum. According to the report, the council will “research, develop and formulate policies for the holistic development of the Jamaican cannabis industry to its full potential� with a particular focus on financing, research, technology, standards and testing, processing, manufacturing, and cultivation. The CCC wants to ensure that smaller cultivators are protected and hope to develop a code of ethics for operators, including instituting a dispute resolution system as a first option before litigation. Organizers are also advocating for a code of ethics system for regulators approving applications.
8
M
arijuana's official designation as a Schedule 1 drug — something with "no currently accepted medical use" — means it's pretty tough to study. Yet both a growing body of research and numerous anecdotal reports link cannabis with several health benefits, including pain relief and helping with certain forms of epilepsy. In addition, researchers say there are many other ways marijuana might affect health that they want to better understand. A massive new report released in January by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine helps sum up exactly what we know — and, perhaps more important, what we don't know — about the science of weed. One of weed's active ingredients, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, interacts with our
9
brain's reward system, the part that has been primed to respond to things that make us feel good, like eating and sex. When overexcited by drugs, the reward system creates feelings of euphoria. This is also why some studies have suggested that excessive marijuana use can be a problem in some people — the more often you trigger that euphoria, the less you may feel during other rewarding experiences. In the short term, it can also make your heart race. Marijuana can make you feel good.
Within a few minutes of inhaling marijuana, your heart rate can increase by between 20 and 50 beats a minute. This can last anywhere from 20 minutes to three hours, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The new report found insufficient evidence to support or refute the idea that cannabis might increase the overall risk of a heart attack. The same report, however, also found some limited evidence that smoking could be a trigger for a heart attack. Pot also contains cannabidiol, or CBD — and this chemical, while not responsible for getting you high, is thought to be responsible for many of marijuana's therapeutic effects such as pain relief or potentially treating certain kinds of childhood epilepsy. The new report also found conclusive or substantial evidence — the most definitive levels — that cannabis can be an effective treatment for chronic pain, which could have to do with both CBD and THC. Pain is also "by far the most common" reason people request medical marijuana, according to the report. ... like the discomfort of arthritis ... One of the ways scientists think it may help with pain is by reducing inflammation, a component of painful illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis. A preliminary 2005 study of 58 patients with RA, roughly half of whom were given a placebo and roughly half of whom were given a cannabis-based medicine called Sativex, found "statistically significant improvements in pain on movement, pain at rest, quality of sleep" for patients on Sativex. Other studies testing both other cannabinoid
10
products and inhaled marijuana have shown similar pain-relieving effects according to the report. ... or the pain of inflammatory bowel disease Some people with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis could also benefit from marijuana use, studies suggest. A 2014 paper, for example, describes two studies of people with chronic Crohn's in which half were given the drug and half were given a placebo. That study showed a decrease in symptoms in 10 of 11 subjects using cannabis, compared with just four of 10 on the placebo. But when the researchers did a follow-up study using low-dose CBD, they saw no effect in the patients. Researchers say that, for now, we need more research before we'll know whether cannabis can help with these diseases. Marijuana may also be helpful in controlling epileptic seizures. A drug called Epidiolex, which contains CBD, may be on its way to becoming the first of its kind to win approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of rare forms of childhood epilepsy. The company that makes it, GW Pharma, is exploring CBD for its potential use in people with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of childhood-onset epilepsy that is associated with multiple types of seizures. In March, the company came out with phase three trial data that showed the drug had some positive results. But it can also mess with your sense of balance. It may throw off your balance, as it influences activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, two brain areas that help regulate balance, coordination, reaction time, and posture. And it can distort your sense of time. Feeling as if time is sped up or slowed down is one of the most commonly reported effects of using marijuana. A 2012 paper sought to draw some more solid conclusions from some of the studies on those anecdotal reports, but it was unable to do so. "Even though 70% of time estimation studies report overestimation, the findings of time production and time reproduction studies remain inconclusive," the paper 11
said. In a 1998 study that used magnetic resonance imaging to focus on the brains of volunteers on THC, the authors noted that many had altered blood flow to the cerebellum, which most likely plays a role in our sense of time. Limitations on what sort of marijuana research is allowed make it particularly difficult to study this sort of effect. Since weed makes blood vessels expand, it can give you red eyes. And you'll probably get the munchies. A case of the munchies is no figment of the imagination — both casual and heavy marijuana users tend to overeat when they smoke. Marijuana may effectively flip a circuit in the brain that is normally responsible for quelling the appetite, triggering us to eat instead, according to a recent study of mice. It all comes down to a special group of cells in the brain that are normally activated You'll probably get the after we have eaten a big meal to tell us munchies. A case of the we've had enough. The psychoactive munchies is no figment of ingredient in weed appears to activate just the imagination — both one component of those appetitecasual and heavy suppressing cells, making us feel hungry marijuana users tend to rather than satisfied. overeat when they smoke. Marijuana may also interfere with how you form memories. Marijuana can mess with your memory by changing the way your brain processes information, but scientists still aren't sure exactly how this happens. Still, several studies suggest that weed interferes with short-term memory, and researchers tend to see more of these effects in inexperienced or infrequent users than in heavy, frequent users. Unsurprisingly, these effects are most evident in the acute sense — immediately after use, when people are high. According to the new NASEM report, there was limited evidence showing a connection between cannabis use and impaired academic achievement, something that has been shown to be especially true for people who begin smoking regularly during adolescence. (That has also been 12
shown to increase the risk for problematic use.) Importantly, in most cases, saying cannabis is connected to an increased risk doesn't mean marijuana use caused that risk. And in some people, weed could increase the risk of depression Scientists can't say for sure whether marijuana causes depression or depressed people are simply more likely to smoke. But one study from the Netherlands suggests that smoking weed could raise the risk of depression for young people who already have a special serotonin gene that could make them more vulnerable to depression. Those findings are bolstered by the NASEM report, which found moderate evidence that cannabis use was linked to a small increased risk of depression. It may also increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. The NASEM report also found substantial evidence of an increased risk among frequent marijuana users of developing schizophrenia — something that studies have shown is a particular concern for people at risk for schizophrenia in the first place. Regular marijuana use may also be connected to an increased risk of social anxiety. Researchers think it's possible that CBD might be a useful treatment for anxiety disorders, and that's something that several institutions are currently trying to study.
Importantly, in most cases, saying cannabis is connected to an increased risk doesn't mean marijuana use caused that risk
And in general, the recent report thought the evidence that marijuana increased the risk of most anxiety disorders was limited. However, the authors write that there is moderate evidence that regular marijuana use is connected to an increased risk of social anxiety. As in other cases, it's hard to know whether marijuana use causes that increase or people use marijuana because of an increased risk of social anxiety. Most importantly, regular weed use is linked with some specific brain changes — but scientists can't say for sure whether one causes the other. In a recent study, scientists used a combination of MRI brain scans to get a better picture of the brains of adults who have smoked weed at least four times a week for years. 13
Compared with people who rarely or never used, the long-term users tended to have a smaller orbitofrontal cortex, a brain region critical for processing emotions and making decisions. But they also had stronger cross-brain connections, which scientists think smokers may develop to compensate. Still, the study doesn't show that smoking pot caused certain regions of the brain to shrink; other studies suggest that having a smaller orbitofrontal cortex in the first place could make someone more likely to start smoking. Most researchers agree that the people most susceptible to brain changes are those who begin using marijuana regularly during adolescence. Marijuana use affects the lungs but doesn't seem to increase the risk of lung cancer. People who smoke marijuana regularly are more likely to experience chronic bronchitis, according to the report. There's also evidence that stopping smoking relieves these symptoms. Yet perhaps surprisingly, the report's authors found moderate evidence that cannabis was not connected to any increased risk of the lung cancers or head and neck cancers associated with smoking. Some think marijuana could be used in ways that might improve certain types of athletic performance. Some athletes, especially in endurance and certain adventure sports, say marijuana use can boost their athletic performance. This may be because of antiinflammatory or pain-relieving effects that make it easier to push through a long workout or recover from one. At the same time, there are ways that marijuana could impair athletic performance by affecting coordination and motivation or by dulling the body's natural recovery process.
Without more research, it's hard to know for sure how marijuana affects athletic performance. There's evidence that marijuana use during pregnancy could have negative effects. According to the new NASEM report, there's substantial evidence showing a link between prenatal cannabis exposure — when a pregnant woman uses marijuana — and lower birth weight. There was limited evidence suggesting that this use could cause pregnancy complications and increase the risk that a baby would have to spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit. 14
There are still so many questions about how marijuana affects the body and brain that scientists say far more research is needed. According to the new NASEM report, there's substantial evidence showing a link between prenatal cannabis exposures — when a pregnant woman uses marijuana — and lower birth weight. There was limited evidence suggesting that this use could cause pregnancy complications and increase the risk that a baby would have to spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit. There are still so many questions about how marijuana affects the body and brain that scientists say far more research is needed.
15
T
he first thing that pops into most people’s mind is the adverse health effects associated with smoking pot. However, this perception is quickly changing owing to the numerous scientific studies which show that marijuana has some medicinal properties. It turns out that there are some amazing health benefits of marijuana. The findings of these studies have also significantly contributed to the legalization of medical marijuana in several countries around the world. In particular, researchers have pointed out two active chemicals in marijuana; cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which they say have medicinal applications. THC has pain relieving properties whereas CBD seems to have a positive impact on the brain without making someone high. Nevertheless, a lot of research still needs to be done in terms of analyzing marijuana’s medical properties. Caution should also be taken at all times when using this drug since abuse or overuse can quickly lead to addiction. 1. Controls Epileptic Seizures The first thing that pops into most people’s mind is the adverse health effects associated with smoking pot. However, this perception is quickly 16
changing owing to the numerous scientific studies which show that marijuana has some medicinal properties. It turns out that there are some amazing health benefits of marijuana. The findings of these studies have also significantly contributed to the legalization of medical marijuana in several countries around the world. In particular, researchers have pointed out two active chemicals in marijuana; cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which they say have medicinal applications. THC has pain relieving properties whereas CBD seems to have a positive impact on the brain without making someone high. Nevertheless, a lot of research still needs to be done in terms of analyzing marijuana’s medical properties.Caution should also be taken at all times when using this drug since abuse or overuse can quickly lead to addiction. 2. Treats Glaucoma Marijuana can be used to prevent and treat glaucoma, an eye disease that increases pressure in the eyeball, impairing the optic nerve and eventually causing loss of vision. According to the National Eye Institute; some derivatives of marijuana lowers the pressure inside the eye. As a result, these effects of the drug can slow down the progression of glaucoma, preventing blindness. 3. Slows Progression of Alzheimer’s disease The first thing that pops into most people’s mind is the adverse health effects associated with smoking pot. However, this perception is quickly changing owing to the numerous scientific studies which show that marijuana has some medicinal properties. It turns out that there are some amazing health benefits of marijuana. The findings of these studies have also significantly contributed to the legalization of medical marijuana in several countries around the world. In particular, researchers have pointed out two active chemicals in marijuana; cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which they say have medicinal applications. THC has pain relieving properties whereas CBD seems to have a positive impact on the brain without making someone high. Nevertheless, a lot of 17
research still needs to be done in terms of analyzing marijuana’s medical properties. 4. Stops Cancer from Spreading In 2007, researchers at California Pacific Medical Center based in San Francisco reported that CBD found in marijuana may prevent cancer from spreading. According to their study, cannabidiol can stop cancer by “turning off” the gene called Id-1. Cancer cells make more copies of the Id-1 gene than non-cancerous cells, which help them spread through the body. In a lab, the research scientists experimented on breast cancer cells that had high expression levels of Id-1 gene, which they treated with cannabidiol. Positive results were recorded; the cancer cells had decreased Id-1 expression and were also less aggressive spreaders. 5. Relieves Arthritis Discomfort The first thing that pops into most people’s mind is the adverse health effects associated with smoking pot. However, this perception is quickly changing owing to the numerous scientific studies which show that marijuana has some medicinal properties. It turns out that there are some amazing health benefits of marijuana. The findings of these studies have also significantly contributed to the legalization of medical marijuana in several countries around the world. In particular, researchers have pointed out two active chemicals in marijuana; cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which they say have medicinal applications. THC has pain relieving properties whereas CBD seems to have a positive impact on the brain without making someone high. Nevertheless, a lot of research still needs to be done in terms of analyzing marijuana’s medical properties. 6. Relieves tension Research done at the Harvard Medical School in 2010, suggests that some of the marijuana’s health benefits may actually be, reduced anxiety. In low doses, it seems to act as a sedative improving the smoker’s mood. However, it’s essential to note that higher doses of this drug may instead lead to increased anxiety, making you paranoid.
18
7. Relieves the Pain of Multiple Sclerosis Marijuana may also help to ease the painful symptoms of multiple sclerosis, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom and her team of researchers studied thirty patients with multiple sclerosis, who were experiencing painful contractions in their muscles. They noted that these patients did not respond to other forms of treatment. However, after smoking pot for a few days, the patients reported that they were in less pain. The THC ingredient found in marijuana binds to receptors in the muscles and nerves to relieve pain. 8. Treats Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Studies also suggest that patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease could greatly benefit from medical marijuana use. Researchers from the University of Nottingham, found in 2010 that chemicals in marijuana, including cannabidiol and THC, interact with body cells that play an important role in immune responses and gut function. THC-like compounds generated by the body increase the permeability of the intestines hence allowing bacteria in. These bodycannabinoids are blocked by the plant-derived cannabinoids in weed, thus preventing this permeability and making the intestinal cells bond tighter. 9. Reduces Severe Pain and Nausea from Chemotherapy and Stimulates Appetite This is probably the most common medical use of marijuana that is wellknown. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy tend to suffer from painful nausea, vomiting, as well as loss of appetite, which can lead to additional health complications. In such cases, medical marijuana is used to help reduce these side effects by alleviating pain, reducing nausea, and stimulating the patient’s appetite. Also, there are many FDA-approved cannabinoid drugs that use the THC chemical present in marijuana, for similar purposes. 10.Soothes Tremors for People with Parkinson ’s disease Recent studies carried out in Israel show that smoking weed can 19
significantly reduce tremors and pains, and also improves the sleep quality of patients with the Parkinson’s disease. Another particularly impressive effect of this drug was the improved fine motor skills among the patients. In Israel, medical marijuana is legalized for multiple conditions. Also, a lot of research into the medical uses of this drug is carried out in that country with the support of the Israeli government. 11.Improves the Symptoms of Lupus – An Autoimmune Disorder Medical marijuana is also used to treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disorder whereby the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and mistakenly attacks normal, healthy tissue for unknown reasons. Some chemicals present in marijuana have a calming effect on the body’s immune system. This is, therefore, believed to be the manner in which this drug helps deal with symptoms of the Lupus disease. 12.Can Improve Lung Health A study published in 2012, in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that marijuana can increase lung capacity and does not impair lung function. Over a period of 20 years, researchers carrying out studies on the risk factors for heart disease tested the lung function of about 5,115 young adults. They found out that, while tobacco smokers lost their lung function over time, the lung capacity of the pot users showed an actual increase. It’s possible that the increase in lung capacity is not caused by therapeutic chemicals in the drug, but may be as a result of the deep breaths taken while inhaling marijuana. These are only a few health benefits of Marijuana, there are a lot more and hopefully, even more, will be discovered in future studies.
20