Cannavist 5 B2C

Behind the

Scenes

The Editor Róisín Delaney

Assistant Editor Gordon Stribling

Senior Journalist Caroline Barry

Journalist Lucy MacKinnon

Creative Director James Parnell

Head of Design Hayley Parker

Lead Graphic Designer Connor Dimberline

Junior Graphic Designer Ayaz Arshad

Junior Graphic Designer Lewis Eyre

Junior Graphic Designer Aaron Rana

Design Support Lucy Booth

Marketing Manager Katie Loomes

Senior Web Developer Aadil Popat

Junior Web Developer Kain Alden

Marketing Executive Carrie Strouther Photographer Josh Tysoe

Finance Director Joanne Stubley

Accountant Kris Worton

Finance Executive Anna Difusco

Finance Executive Mollie Smith

International Business Development Manager Abida Razaque

Sales Manager Steve Culf

Sales Supervisor Tom Slack Sales Executive Jason Bacon Sales Executive Baz Bassra Sales Executive Peter Masters

Director Pom Kaila

Director David Turner

Managing Director Paul Caplin

This publication and the products shown herein are intended for an 18+ audience. The comments and opinions given by contributors to this publication are not the views of the editor or magazine, unless otherwise stated. The products featured in this magazine are not sponsored, were included at the decision of the editor and were not subject to approval by suppliers in any way prior to publication. While every effort is made to respect editorial and advertising standards, The Cannavist cannot accept liability for issues raised or comments made by writers featured in this magazine. Should you have a query about the content in this publication, email the editor: editorial@cannavistmag.com

Bever cannabis-based publication to be on sale on British high streets. And not only that, it’s also now available in Easons in Ireland, which I am crazy excited about, being Irish myself.

I know this might be the first time picking up our magazine for many of you, so if you just grabbed a copy from WH Smith, Martin’s, McColl’s or Easons, thank you, thank you, thank you for the support!

Allow me to introduce you to what we are all about: this is your essential guide to CBD and medical cannabis. We’re here to answer your questions, to inform you about what’s going on with regulations and policy reform,

and we’re also here to tell your truths.

In this issue of The Cannavist, you get a free guide to medical cannabis, plus we answer your FAQs on CBD. We also delve into the world of wrestling as Rob Van Dam gets real on head injuries, and we shine a light on the incredible women leading by empowerment – these are names you will want to know!

From all of us at The Cannavist, thank you or your support. We hope you enjoy!

Róisín Delaney | The Editor

The Cannavist is published by Yellow Monday Media Ltd in Derby, United Kingdom. The Cannavist is printed and distributed by Warners Group Publications in the UK. The Cannavist is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and we are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism.

If you think such a standard has not been met in this issue of the magazine, and you would like to make a complaint, email the editor at editorial@cannavistmag.com. We will endeavour to respond to your complaint as soon as possible, or within five working days. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about the IPSO Editors’ Code, go to ipso.co.uk. The Cannavist (print) ISSN: 2633-4097. The Cannavist is a registered trademark. For all advertising enquiries email: advertising@cannavistmag.com. For event enquiries, email: events@cannavistmag.com. Got an editorial opportunity or work in PR? Email the editorial team: editorial@cannavistmag.com. For more information about this magazine, go to Cannavistmag.com or call the head office on 0044 (0) 1332 650 239.

Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

CONTENTS Issue Five

ON THE COVER

LADY BUSINESS: Hollywood actress turned CBD queen Gwyneth Paltrow predicted CBD would be a hit ahead of the curve. We salute the women at the top!

IN THE KNOW

The Extract Epidyolex rushed through in the UK

What is ProjectTwenty21? Ireland approves two medical cannabis drugs

Guest Contributors

Our experts discuss the latest innovations in CBD, must-try products and of course, Boris Johnson.

Dr Richard Cunningham

Dr Richard Cunningham has a PhD in medicinal chemistry from Queen’s University Belfast, where he also worked as a post-doctoral researcher. Dr Cunningham has also been a research instructor at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Cancer Institute. Among his areas of expertise are organic synthesis, nucleosides, nucleotides, cellular biology, vitamins, aminoglycosides, drug delivery, phosphorous chemistry and chemical analysis. In this issue, Richard’s Ask the Scientist column looks at water soluble CBD. See page 53

Nick Rosen

Nick Rosen is an award-winning documentary maker and journalist. He is editor of CannabisReport.net and is writing a book about the Cannabis industry. Nick is currently focused on off-grid technology and the global cannabis market and in this issue, he writes about the new Conservative government’s approach to cannabis. policy in the UK. See page 100

Lisa Blake

Journalist turned communications consultant, Lisa Blake, hails from Ireland, where she studied at the University of Limerick. Living in London, Lisa maintains a healthy work-life balance with a little help from CBD. In this issue’s review section, Lisa raves about her new favourite tincture. See page 148

Benedict Jones

Benedict ‘Ned’ Jones is an experienced third-party product reviewer. Ned has a lot of insight to offer, particularly where niche products like CBD are concerned. Here, Ned gives us his honest take on the newest products to hit the high street, so that you can make an informed purchase. See page 156

The EXTRACT

Brits big on CBD

7.3 million Brits consumed CBD in 2019, according to a report by Prohibition Partners. The market insight group also estimates that by 2028, 1% of UK residents could be medical cannabis patients if the drug becomes prescribed for a wider range of conditions.

Manny Cocktails

A CBD bar has opened its doors in Manchester. Northern Quarter Hemp serves a range of CBD-infused cocktails, such as ‘Smoky Joe’ and ‘Scary Jane’. The bar operates as a vape café during the daylight hours.

Auf Wiedersehen gummies

In January, Germany became the first nation to enforce the Novel Foods Act since the European Commission added CBD to the category last year. Novel Foods are food items that do not have a significant history of consumption in the EU prior to May 1997. This means that edible products containing CBD can no longer be sold or marketed in Germany as food items without authorisation.

Let’s talk Numbers

74% of Europeans who have tried CBD say it has made a positive influence on their life, according to a report from data group New Frontier Data.

Putting the ‘New’ in New Zealand

The New Zealand government has announced regulations to allow local cultivation of medical cannabis.

Minister of Health Dr David Clark said that the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme will potentially help thousands of people suffering from chronic pain. Medical cannabis can already be prescribed in the nation. However, it is costly as it has to be imported. The regulations will come into effect on April 1. A non-binding referendum to legalise personal use of cannabis will take place with the nation’s general election

‘Cannabis 2.0’ begins in Canada

Cannabis edibles, skincare, vapes and extracts can now be legally sold in Canada.

‘Cannabis 2.0’ legalised the new wave of products in October, but Health Canada requires a 60-day notice period before products can be sold.

Regulation and distribution laws vary by province but now all Canadians should be able to get hold of the new products.

One

giant

leap for Hemp

Elon Musk’s SpaceX team is to blast hemp to the International Space Station. The project is a collaboration between Front Range Biosciences, SpaceCells USA and BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado.

Researchers hope to determine whether space travel or the space environment can genetically mutate the plant.

They may also be able to develop plants that are more adaptable to different environments and resistant to climate change.

Spring Skin

Boots have announced the launch of their ‘Simply Calm’ range of hemp-based skincare products as part of their vegan Botanics skincare range.

The range offers a hydrating serum, face cream and overnight mask, which is said to help stressed skin, reduce redness and support the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Each product contains a mix of lavender, mandarin and rosemary for an extra calming blend and is suitable for all skin types. RRP £9.99 - £11.99.

Epidyolex rush MEANS IT’S NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NHS

Following approval from the drugs advisory body, NICE, at the end of last year, Epidyolex can now be prescribed by specialist NHS doctors in England.

Words by Caroline Barry

Patients in England suffering from rare forms of epilepsy are now able to access Epidyolex on the NHS. The drug, which can be prescribed by specialist doctors, is taken as an oral solution twice daily and contains CBD.

Epidyolex has been marked for the treatment of children and adults suffering from rare forms of epilepsy. Lennox Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet syndrome are both severe forms of epilepsy in which sufferers can have multiple seizures per day. It is thought the life-limiting conditions affect between 3,000 and 5,000 people in the UK and there is a high mortality rate, with many patients dying before the age of 20.

Approval of the drug was stalled after the £810 per bottle price was estimated to cost £5,000 to £10,000 per patient and were considered not good value for money by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Its approval was fast-tracked over the Christmas period after manufacturers GW Pharmaceuticals agreed to lower the price for the NHS. The drug is already available in the US under the name Epidiolex.

Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: “The NHS is committed, through the Long Term Plan, to improving the lives of all those affected by rare diseases… Thousands of people including children now have access to this treatment, which has the potential to make a real difference.”

Epidyolex has been found in clinical trials to reduce seizures by up to 40%.

“This milestone moment demonstrates that if routed through rigorous clinical trials, approved by a

– NHS spokesperson

medicines regulator and proven to be cost-effective, cannabis-based medicines can reach patients who need them. We’d like to thank NHS England for recognising the importance of this medicine and working tirelessly to fast-track patient access,” said Chris Tovey, GW Pharma’s Chief Operating Officer. Campaigners believe that the current medical cannabis legislation in place in the UK since November 2018 does not go far enough and believe that patients should have access to drugs containing both CBD and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Oral spray Sativex, a CBD and THC drug prescribed for spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was also approved by NICE, but has not been fast-tracked for NHS availability. Savitex contains 2.5mg CBD and 2.7mg TBC and has been available in Wales since 2014.

“The NHS is committed to improving the lives of all those affected by rare diseases. Thousands of people including children will now have access to this treatment.”

EUROPE’S FIRST NATIONAL MEDICAL CANNABIS REGISTRY LAUNCHES IN THE UK

Words by Gordon Stribling

Europe’s first ever medical cannabis registry has launched with the aim of recruiting 20,000 patients by the end of 2021.

Project Twenty21 will gather evidence on the effectiveness and tolerability of cannabis as a treatment for chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), anxiety disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome, PTSD and substance use disorder.

Drug Science, the UK’s leading independent scientific body on drugs is leading the study. It hopes the findings will make ‘a powerful case for NHS funding.’

Dr Anne Katrin Schlag is head of research at Drug Science. She told The Cannavist:

“[Private prescriptions are] out of the financial reality for many people.

“However, a recent YouGov study showed that up to 1,400,000 patients are actually using medical cannabis acquired on the black market, with all the risk that entails.”

Two cannabis-based medicines were approved for prescription on the NHS in November.

However, they are currently only

available as a treatment for muscle spasms in MS patients and for two rare types of epilepsy.

Drug Science will offer medical cannabis to a large segment of patients over a period of several years. This will enable the team to investigate the benefits versus the risks of the treatment and develop a large body of evidence.

A course of treatment will be capped at £150 per month, with each supplier also providing around 200 fully subsidised spaces.

Private patients currently pay as much as £4,000 for one month of treatment. A group of industry partners is funding the project and there is potential for further funding from ‘appropriate government sources,’ Dr Schlag added. Patients will initially be enrolled via a private pathway and will be assessed every three months, with their doctor recording the benefits of treatment relative to risk, dosage, titration and so on.

Dr Schlag hopes that the large evidence base will give the NHS more confidence to readily

prescribe cannabis for a wide range of conditions. Speaking at the Global Institute for Cannabis forum in London, Dr Schlag said the organisation hopes that the NHS will get involved at a later stage.

Recently published guidelines from UK drug advisory board the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, do not recommend physicians prescribe cannabis for chronic pain.

“[At the moment] any kind of painrelated condition is excluded but lots of patient studies actually find that pain is the condition most often treated with medical cannabis.

“There's quite a strong discord between

Drug Science hopes data from 20,000 patients will ‘make a powerful case for NHS funding’

what the evidence says and what patients are actually doing.

“Obviously risks and benefits have to be weighted up perfectly […], but we believe that medical cannabis has a lot of advantages to various other products already on the market in terms of chronic pain in relation to opiates and so on.”

Project Twenty21 has received the backing of the British Pain Society and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP).

Professor Wendy Burn, president of the RCP, said:

“The College welcomes this pilot project which it hopes will make an important contribution towards addressing the paucity of evidence for the use of cannabis-based medicinal products.”

Patient advocacy group United Patients Alliance (UPA) is also onboard.

UPA was co-founded with the support of Drug Science founder Professor David Nutt in 2014 and is a member of Drug Science’s Medical Cannabis Working Group.

Dr Schlag said that ‘quite a few’ of UPA’s members who currently source their cannabis through illegal means will likely join the trial.

Project Twenty21 is a non-interventional study rather than a randomised control trial (RCT).

The nature of cannabis does not lend itself to RCTs as the plant is comprised of a number of compounds including CBD and THC, as well as terpenes that collectively create what is known as the ‘entourage effect.’

Patients will be given medicine

with different CBD and THC ratios to address their specific medical requirements.

This format also allows the process to move forward more quickly than an RCT to get medicine to the patients who need it sooner.

Dr Schlag explained: “We believe that the benefit to safety profile of medical cannabis for the range of conditions we are including is positive.

“Hopefully this will be shown within the next two years [and will] offer a background for government guidelines which can then be followed up by randomised control trials as required.”

The Honorary Fellow at Imperial College London believes that a successful trial may help pave the way for research into other stigmatised controlled drugs with potential therapeutic value, such as psilocybin.

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration recently designated the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms as a potential ‘breakthrough’ treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD).

“We believe that the benefit to safety profile of medical cannabis for the range of conditions we are including is positive”

EXCLUSIVE: HIGHER EDUCATION?

The Cannavist has found that most British universities have ‘no plans’ to initiate medical cannabis programmes and few have shown a change in attitude towards cannabis based medicines, despite the NHS giving the green light to two prescription medicines at the end of last year.

Words by Kashif Hussain

Dthis, but we will continue to ensure that our students are kept abreast of all evidenced based therapies as part of learning a holistic approach to patient care.”

Others, including the University of West London, do hold courses that involve cannabis but not from a therapeutic perspective.

Dr Raffaella Margherita Milani is course leader of the university’s BSc Substance Use and Misuse Studies programme. She and a colleague are conducting research into medical cannabis and CBD use for a substance abuse module which looks at mental health. While this is the extent of the university’s current cannabis education, Dr Milani expects demand for such courses to rise in the years ahead.

“I think certainly there needs to be more teaching on this in universities, for starters. I think we also somehow need to educate physicians, also politicians, particularly ones which are involved in health or the NHS”

— Pharmacology Professor Roger Pertwee, the University of Dundee.

“We do not run any specific course on this topic, and we don’t currently plan to do so… There will be a demand for such courses soon.”

Pharmacology

Pharmacology professor at The University of Reading, Gary Stephens, was part of the team whose research into the effects of cannabinoids led to the development of Epidyolex. His faculty currently teaches an introduction to medical cannabis at a post-graduate level and has plans to extend this to other courses.

“Our ethos is to reflect our world-leading research into our teaching syllabus. We teach the recent introduction and use of cannabis-based medicines as an integral part of the Master of Pharmacy programme and will include this as part of our new BSc Pharmacology programme.

“We also run a practical which analyses cannabinoid content of plant material and relates this to the lecture content.”

Roger Pertwee is a pharmacology professor at the University of Dundee and is one of the most well-known UK-based researchers on this topic. He believes the UK is behind the rest of the world when it comes to medical cannabis. He says that more people in positions of power need to learn about the medicinal uses of cannabis before we can catch up with other countries that have embraced the alternative approach.

“I think certainly there needs to be

more teaching on this in universities, for starters. I think we also somehow need to educate physicians, also politicians, particularly ones which are involved in health or the NHS. It struck me that politicians don’t really know very much about the potential benefits of cannabis and I think they need to, since they’re the ones who decide the laws and regulations and so on.”

With a career spanning fifty years and a host of published journals on the pharmacology of cannabinoids, Professor Pertwee is on the board of directors for both the International Cannabinoid Research Society and the International Association of Cannabinoids as Medicine. He hopes to introduce medical cannabis to the curriculum at Dundee: “We teach a bit of pharmacology about cannabinoids, but not very much, and we could do much more for medical students, particularly. We also maybe ought to give the opportunity for qualified doctors to be educated about cannabis, because I guess sooner or later they’re going to be confronted by patients who are taking cannabis.”

World leaders

The University of Padova in Italy is leading the way where medical cannabis higher education is concerned. The university offers a one-year intensive course in Medicinal Cannabis: agriculturalproductive, botanical, medical, legal and social features, and comes with

No plans

a €2,000 enrolment fee. According to the prospectus, students develop the competence for the clinical and pharmacological management of Cannabis sativa L. and their derivatives in the pharmaceutical, medicinal, and dietary fields.

Total number of course providers contacted by this Respondents

THE GREEN LIGHT

Two medical cannabis suppliers approved for Irish pilot scheme

Words by Róisín Delaney

Two pharma-grade cannabis producers, one from Australia and another from Canada, have been given the green light to supply Ireland’s Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP). The pilot scheme, approved by Minister for Health Simon Harris in June last year, will make medical cannabis available to three patient categories under the five-year trial. Six months after the programme was officially revealed, Aurora Cannabis Inc. and MGC Pharmaceuticals were announced as the first suppliers to be granted approval for this scheme. Aurora’s High CBD Oil Drops and MGC’s CannEpil will become the debut cannabis-based medicines in Ireland this year, however a launch date for consultants to begin prescribing from was not known at the time this issue went to press. A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive told The Cannavist: “Based on the information provided by potential suppliers, two of the products considered by the Health Products Regulatory Authority

(HPRA) have been deemed to have met the applicable criteria set out in the legislation.

“As these products will be subject to international export licensing requirements, which are outside the control of the Department of Health, they are not expected to be available in Ireland for a further period.” Medical cannabis activists have praised the move. People Before Profit TD for the Dublin Mid-West constituency, Gino Kenny, who has been a long-time campaigner for medicinal cannabis use, called the news, “a step in the right direction”.

Under the scheme, a specialist consultant can prescribe medical cannabis to:

1. MS patients suffering from spasticity

2. Cancer patients experiencing intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy

3. Patients of treatment-resistant epilepsy

Photo of Simon Harris From The Department of Health in Ireland

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in Ireland says it will only consider totally finished products for

in the scheme.

Products must not contain more than 230mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per gram and no more than 5g per pack.

On top of this, these medicinal cannabis oils cannot contain more than 30mg of THC per ml in each unit dose and no more than 60ml per total volume.

Products, like those approved from Aurora and MGC, can only be made as oil-based solutions, suspensions or capsules.

What criteria must corporations meet for government approval?

inclusion

These products are not expected to be available in Ireland for a further period

“ “

Your Guide

We put out a post on our @cannavistmag social media to find out what YOU wanted to know about medical cannabis. Here, our team of journalists have the answers* to your most frequently asked questions.

Can medical cannabis get you high?

Yes, if it contains a high potency of THC.

Is medical cannabis legal?

Yes! Medical cannabis was legalised by former Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Theresa May’s government on November 1, 2018. It has also been legalised in Ireland.

Can you smoke medical cannabis?

In the US, cannabis flower is available to smoke in some states, but this is not currently the case as a medicine in the UK or Ireland.

Is medical cannabis vegan friendly?

While CBD oil is largely vegan friendly, there is a chance that a medical cannabis product has undergone animal testing in trials prior to its approval as a medicine.

Can anyone in the UK access medical cannabis?

No. Although it was technically legalised in 2018, the British government failed to properly licence it, meaning very few people could get access. By the end of 2019, this changed as two cannabis-based medicines were approved for prescription on the NHS in England.

Can you get medical cannabis from your GP?

No. (Not yet!)

Who can prescribe it?

Only doctors in England and Wales who are on the Specialist Register who have experience and knowledge of the cannabis plant and endocannabinoid system can currently prescribe certain medical cannabis oils. The NHS says these specialists must take a multidisciplinary approach to prescribing. In Ireland, it is only available through a pilot scheme.

Can you get medical cannabis on the NHS?

Yes! It was previously only available privately but is now available via both the public and private routes. Non-NHS clinicians are expected to follow NHS guidance on prescribing.

What products are available in the UK?

Two forms of medical cannabis were approved for prescription on the NHS in England in November last year. Sativex, for MS patients suffering with spasticity, is an oral spray which contains both CBD and THC. Epidyolex is rich in CBD but contains no THC. This was also approved for two types of rare epilepsy in children: Dravets syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Is medical cannabis available in the Republic of Ireland?

Yes. In June last year, the Irish Health Minister approved and legalised the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a pilot basis for five years.

What products are available in the Republic of Ireland?

Two manufacturers have been approved by Irish Health Minister Simon Harris to supply Ireland’s new medical cannabis pilot programme. Australian pharma group MGC Pharmaceuticals and Canadian cannabis conglomerate Aurora.

What are the conditions eligible for medical cannabis in the Republic of Ireland?

Under the pilot programme, a consultant can prescribe medical cannabis for patients suffering with spasticity associated with MS; intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy; and treatment resistant epilepsy.

What does a prescription cost?

Medical cannabis is now available on the NHS. Private prescriptions are said to cost anywhere around £1,000 per monthly supply in the UK. In Ireland, costs are covered by the HSE under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.

What conditions can medical cannabis treat?

There are three types of conditions which the health authorities in both the UK and Ireland have approved medical cannabis treatment for. These are: Multiple Sclerosis (MS), treatment-resistant epilepsy and intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. There is limited evidence to suggest chronic pain may also be alleviated by medical cannabis, however drug advisors in the UK say more research is needed in this area.

Is medical cannabis the same as CBD?

Medical cannabis can contain high amounts of CBD. But it can also contain other cannabinoids and cannabis plant compounds like THC, which is a controlled substance.

Is there a list of approved types of medical cannabis?

Unlike other medicines, with cannabis there isn’t a list you can easily search for online. This is a highly specialised medicine and so it is treated cautiously by the organisations which regulate health care products in the UK, the MHRA and in Ireland, the HPRA.

Is medical cannabis available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

In Scotland, the manufacturer behind Sativex has not yet made an application to the Scottish Medicines Consortium, the group which advises NHS Scotland on new drugs. As such, Sativex is not routinely available to MS patients in Scotland. In Wales however, Sativex is available for use for MS-related spasticity like in England. Epidyolex is not available on the NHS in Scotland either. A small number of Scottish patients have been able to access both medicines on compassionate grounds or as part of clinical trials. Northern Ireland has not yet made any announcement of plans to legalise.

*All of the above statements were correct and true at the time of publication.

Securing Sativex: A postcode lottery?

In November, Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine for symptoms of multiple sclerosis, was approved for prescription on the NHS in England. But what about the rest of the UK?

MacKinnon checks this one out.

Sativex, an oral spray containing both CBD and THC, was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for NHS England to prescribe for spasticity in MS patients.

However, it is still unavailable in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while health services in Wales have been prescribing it since 2014.

This begs the question: is there a postcode lottery when it comes to medical cannabis?

This magazine spoke to the head of campaigns and external relations at the MS Society, Georgina Carr, to find out more.

First we learned the society changed its official position on medical cannabis back in 2017, as Georgina explains:

“We surveyed nearly 4,000 people with MS anonymously and found that 22% of them had tried cannabis for medicinal purposes, and that 26% had stopped taking cannabis because of fears of potential prosecution.

“That showed us that our position really needed to change.”

The MS Society recognises NHS access as a positive milestone and that it will change the lives of many MS patients. But they are also aware of its limitations.

“Crucially, Sativex is only available on NHS England, and it doesn’t have any funding attached to it either, so it’s up to cash strapped local health bodies like the Clinical Commissioning Groups to fund it - which will be a bit of a hurdle.

“The NICE guidelines also didn’t broadly recommend any cannabis-based treatments for pain, and we’ve had a number of people tell us just how

disappointing that is from them.

“Ultimately, we will be calling on the next UK government to generate research and remove barriers to Sativex but also to cannabis and its medicinal uses more broadly,” Georgina adds.

Sara Avila, author of ‘MS-isms’, told us she up and moved to Wales in 2017 in order to get access to Sativex which had become available in Welsh postcodes three years previously. A decade before moving to Wales, Sara, who has secondary progressive MS, took part in a pain management trial at St Bartholomew’s Hospital which investigated Sativex as a potential treatment.

Sara Avila’s book

‘MS-isms’, a collection of poetry and prose about living with MS, is available to buy on Amazon for £4.99

“During the trial I had no pain,” Sara recalls.

“I felt like superwoman, I had so much energy, I was happy, I could be a proper mum to my girls during that space of time because I wasn’t in constant excruciating agony.

“When I was on this medication, I could take my girls out for the day, I could actually go and do stuff with them – it was absolutely brilliant.”

As soon as the trial had finished, Sara could no longer access Sativex.

“You don’t realise just how great you feel when you’re not in chronic pain until it all comes flooding back. It is exhausting and draining, I can’t liken it to anything – it is

just all-consuming pain.”

Sara fought for access to Sativex for ten years, contacting her local health authority, the NHS and NICE, as well as appealing through her GP and MS specialist.

When that didn’t work, she moved her family from Kent to Ceredigion in Wales.

“I moved on March 2, 2017 and within nine months I’d been accepted and approved [for] Sativex.

“It’s brilliant my doctors can prescribe it for me so I’m happy. I’m no medical expert, but I am an expert in my own MS, and I know I need Sativex.”

“We surveyed nearly 4,000 people with MS anonymously… 22% of them had tried cannabis for medicinal purposes”

– MS Society

THE BASICS

The ABCs of CBD

We answer your frequently asked questions so you can win your next pub quiz! Turn the page to find the answers to the 17 most commonly asked questions about CBD.

IS CBD NEW?

The Endocannabinoid System has been researched, particularly in the US and Canada, for several decades. In fact, research into the pharmacology of individual cannabinoids goes back to the 1940s, many years after the presence of a cannabinoid was first detected in cannabis itself.

CBD is not something new, although many people hadn’t heard of it until the last couple of years.

WHAT IS CBD SHORT FOR?

CBD is the abbreviation for Cannabidiol.

WHAT IS THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT?

IS CBD A DRUG?

Legally speaking, CBD is not a controlled substance, so it is legal. It’s also non-intoxicating or mind altering so it doesn’t give any ‘high’ sensation. It doesn’t alter the mind in a way that controlled substances do, such as THC.

WILL I GET HIGH FROM CBD?

No.

This term was coined in 1998, when two Israeli professors found that the endocannabinoid system demonstrated an ‘entourage effect’ leading to the general consensus that CBD is more effective and better absorbed by the body when combined with other cannabinoids (such as a full spectrum extract). Researchers refer to the entourage effect as the concept of botanical synergy.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARIJUANA AND CBD?

is used in many pharma-grade cannabis oil treatments, such as Sativex and Epidyolex. However, the CBD you see in your nearest health store is not medical cannabis. Its more akin to a supplement or holistic remedy.

WHAT’S THE FASTEST WAY TO TAKE CBD?

Vaping CBD delivers CBD into the bloodstream almost immediately upon inhaling. The second fastest absorption method is using tinctures (oil drops). Both of these methods involve the mucosal membrane, which lines the walls of the mouth all the way into the lungs.

WHAT’S

ALL THIS ABOUT BROAD AND FULL SPECTRUM?

Full spectrum refers to the presence of CBD and its friends, other cannabinoids, like CBC, CBG and so on. There may be trace amounts of THC in this form of extract.

Broad spectrum refers to an extract containing CBD, some of its buddy cannabinoids, but this version contains no THC.

CBD is one of the hundreds of compounds that you can get from cannabis. In its most basic form, it’s a fat-soluble extract and it has a fear of water. You can have CBD from hemp, or CBD from marijuana. But in general, you’ll find that only hempderived CBD is legal in most places. Hemp and marijuana both fall under the cannabis family. The difference is, hemp contains far less THC, so that’s why CBD derived from hemp is widely accepted.

IS CBD THE SAME AS MEDICAL CANNABIS OR CANNABIS OIL?

This is an easy one to get stuck on. CBD, in very high concentrations,

WHAT’S A TERPENE?

Terpenes are aromatic essential oils found in leafy green plants. Even your Christmas tree has terpenes –pinene! Terpenes found in hemp give

off a cannabis aroma, akin to what you may sometimes smell walking down a busy street. Contrary to what some believe, there is no link between terpenes and getting ‘high’.

WHAT’S A CANNABINOID?

This term refers to any of a group of closely related compounds which include cannabinol and the active constituents of cannabis. CBD and THC are both cannabinoids. Researchers estimate there are between 110 and 120 cannabinoids.

WHAT IS THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM?

This is a chain of receptors in the body which interacts with cannabinoids like CBD. Dogs, cats, humans, we all have an ECS. This system is comprised of two types of receptors which are responsible for helping the body regulate physiological functions like pain, mood, memory, appetite and fertility, according to researchers. The function of the ECS is to help the body achieve homeostasis.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAKING OIL DROPS AND APPLYING CREAMS OR GELS?

CBD works in different ways for different people, depending on your endocannabinoid system. Oil drops are one of the best delivery methods of getting CBD into the bloodstream as they bypass the first pass metabolism.

Hold your desired number of drops under the tongue for about 30 seconds and your thin layer of mucosal membrane will allow the active contents of the oil to be absorbed rapidly.

Skincare on the other hand works differently. The penetrability of CBD is thought to be quite high, meaning it is effective on the skin.

CBD has been proven to be a great anti-inflammatory, which may be

the reason so many people find it effective when applied to the skin, muscles and joints.

IS CBD SAFE (OR LEGAL) FOR ANIMALS TO CONSUME?

Pet care products are now widespread on the US market and many animal health practitioners there are selling and endorsing these products across the pond.

In the UK, however, CBD-infused pet care products are not authorised for sale or advertising, unless they are licenced medicines.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate says, “We regard CBD as a medicinal substance irrespective of any claims made. Therefore, a veterinary product containing CBD, whether in the form of a tonic, a feed or a dog treat would be regarded as a medicinal product and would require authorisation before it could be placed on the UK market.”

contains detectable levels of THC, it may show up on a drugs test, but only if that test has been designed to identify THC.

I’M AN ATHLETE, CAN I TAKE CBD?

Yes! As long as it comes from a broad spectrum extract. Back in January 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lifted its ban on CBD for athletes. However, you must ensure the product you use is guaranteed to be free of THC, as this cannabinoid is still blacklisted.

Feeling canna curious? Do you have a question for the team?

I’M ON MEDICATION. IS CBD SUITABLE FOR ME TO TAKE?

We like to think we know a lot about our favourite cannabinoid. But we’re not doctors. We would always advise that whatever your health circumstances, it’s best to consult your pharmacist or GP on whether CBD may benefit you, or if it is likely to interact with your medication.

WILL CBD SHOW UP ON A DRUGS TEST?

If you consume a CBD product that

Email: editorial@ cannavistmag.com and you could win a prize!

In each issue, we ask our go-to science columnist Dr Richard Cunningham a complex question only the scientifically minded could answer. Here, Dr Cunningham explains water soluble CBD and bioavailability, two trendy words we’ve been seeing more of on CBD labels.

First, it’s important to know what we are dealing with on a basic level by looking at CBD itself. This is a hydrophobic molecule, which is an elaborate way of saying CBD really doesn’t like water. It has extremely low solubility in water-based solutions, but it loves fat, like oils. This is why you will observe most CBD products as being oil-based. Putting it in very basic terms, ‘like solubilises like.’

If you were to add CBD isolate (pure, crystallised CBD) directly into a cup of water, it simply would not mix. Similarly, if you were to add an oil-based CBD liquid, you would have two distinctive layers, one sitting on top of the other. These two liquids would not mix to form one uniform, fluid solution. Think back to your school experiment of water and vegetable oil. The phrase ‘immiscible’ should come to mind.

Some believe that the oral bioavailability of CBD sits at approximately 6%. Bioavailability refers to the rate at which the bloodstream can absorb a substance. This low rate of absorption is due to poor solubility and the first pass metabolism after administration, where the body begins to break things down.

Epidyolex – one of two medical cannabis products approved for prescription on the NHS at the end of last year – has been reported to increase its absorption rate five-fold when taken after eating a high-fat meal. This is probably due to bile production. Again, back to biology class, bile is a liquid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder which helps your body breakdown and absorb fats.

How can we get CBD to work with water?

Strictly speaking you can’t. It’s not possible. But this is where formulation comes into play.

Water soluble CBD products are specially formulated in order to create a solution wherein CBD droplets are dispersed throughout water. In fact, these products are not truly water-soluble CBD, but this is the terminology that has been adopted by a marketing-savvy industry; a more accurate way of putting it would be to say, ‘water compatible.’

Hydrophilic

(Loves Water)

Hydrophobic

(Hates Water)

Droplets

Nano-Emulsified CBD

If it has nano in the name, it must be a major technological advancement, right? Potentially. Let’s start off with some terminology.

Nano, in this regard, refers to a unit of measurement. One nanometre is one thousand-millionth of a metre or 0.0000001cm.

An emulsion is a mixture of two liquids that do not normally mix. One liquid contains a dispersion of the other. A common everyday example of this is homogenised milk.

A nano-emulsion consists of very small particles of a liquid ranging from 10 to 1,000nm in size dispersed through another carrier liquid. When the droplet size is well under 100nm in diameter, the solution will be visibly translucent which you will often find with many water soluble CBD products. Whereas in milk, the globule size is much larger which is why it is opaque (or white in appearance). Normally, these small particles will want to recombine in what is called coalescence. Again, like I explained at the start, in this case like attracts like. In order to prevent this, these particles are stabilised by using what is called an emulsifying agent.

What’s so special about nano-emulsified CBD?

Nano emulsions are already commonly employed within the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They can increase the bioavailability of fat soluble compounds, like CBD, overcoming poor oral absorption. This can increase the effectiveness of a product like a CBD-infused beverage,

edible or tincture, meaning more happy customers.

As far as the science within the body goes, there have been numerous articles published which show enhanced absorption of small particles in the intestines. The small size of the particles means a significant increase in surface area, providing a high concentration for the active component to be absorbed.

One study published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine found nano-emulsion of a poorly watersoluble compound increased the bioavailability by six-fold. A more recent and relevant study published in the journal Med Cannabis Cannabinoids 2019 reported that a CBD nano- emulsion had enhanced absorption and a significantly enhanced onset of action. The authors state that while the study was performed on rats, due to differences in metabolism, the bioavailability enhancing effects of this mix could be significantly higher than their increment observed at 65%. Compared with the 6% oral bioavailability of CBD estimated by some, that’s a staggering leap.

Not limited to just bioavailability, nano-emulsions have also been demonstrated to help decrease oxidative and UV degradation of molecules, helping to increase product stability. In that sense, this way of formulating your CBD product could help improve stability and shelf life of the product.

It is still early days in research regarding water soluble CBD, but all of the evidence and literature published to date suggests that this way of doing things may get better results for the customer and the manufacturer combined. Still confused as to what kind of product to buy? Try water soluble for increased bioavailability. Chances are, you’ll notice the difference.

Dr Richard’s bio:

Dr Richard Cunningham has a PhD in medicinal chemistry from Queen’s University Belfast, where he also worked as a post-doctoral researcher. Dr Cunningham has also worked as a research instructor at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Cancer Institute. Among his areas of expertise are organic synthesis, nucleosides, nucleotides, cellular biology, vitamins, aminoglycosides, drug delivery, phosphorous chemistry and chemical analysis.

Lady Business

The global CBD community is being driven by women who mean business. Each issue, we shine the spotlight on one trailblazer. In the spirit of International Women’s Day, we thought we’d take a look at some of the women leading the legal cannabis community close to home and around the world.

Words by the editor, Róisín Delaney

Sienna Miller, Naomi Campbell, Cameron Diaz, Martha Stewart and Jennifer Anniston all have more than Hollywood in common and that is CBD. They’ve all either said that they use, have used or have invested in a brand of their own.

But if there was one woman of celebrity status who was ahead of the rest, it’s Gwyneth Paltrow. As her Netflix production launches this spring, we’re hoping to see more of the Goop founder’s tips on CBD. Her lifestyle tips, some of which have been the subject of, ‘is she for reals?’ have been called a little ‘woo woo’, even by the lady herself (vagina candle anyone?) Paltrow has long been an advocate for natural remedies and fine-tuning the mind and body as one.

When she’s not advising her 6.7 million Instagram followers on everything from yoga poses to gluten free, the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Primetime Emmy Award-winning actress is dominating behind the scenes at her wellness brand, Goop, which forms the basis of her new Netlfix show.

How did she do it?

‘The GP’, as her fanbase calls her, started building Goop back in 2008 as a wellness site and brand. Fast forward to 2020 and Goop has seven boutiques, including two in London (one on Bond St and a second in Notting Hill).

It was big news to the wellness industry when Goop publicly endorsed CBD as a holistic wellness tool.

You could say she was years ahead of the CBD curve.

Paltrow also launched a magazine under the Goop name and for the debut print issue back in 2017, she sat down with writer Sarah Mesle. The topic of CBD and medicinal cannabis quickly cropped up.

The actress discussed everything from THC, to CBD and there being a ‘paradigm shift’ in how people want to take control of their health.

She said:

“I think there is a lot of pushback against [medical marijuana], because I don’t think we can monetize it with the same kind of margin you can with an anti-anxiety pill that you get from behind the counter. But it’s incredible to see people who can’t sleep, or people who have chronic pain, report really positive results, and it’s a natural substance.”

“We’re just at this very interesting, I think, paradigm shift, because, we can tell that culturally people are so fascinated, and they want to try ways to take control over their health and wellbeing. They want to be the steward of their own ship. There’s just a ton of really interesting back and forth, and it’s interesting to be at the crux of it.” Three years later and it seems she was on to something. In fact, she was spot on.

Move over Gwyneth. Meet the stars the limit women of the legal cannabis sphere of 2020

medical doctor with a background in integrative medicine, something she believes is the answer to a lot of people’s problems.

Canadian-British, Dr Dani has been based in the UK since 2009, but has done her fair share of travelling the world for healing – she and her husband had a wellness centre in Bali and she has also practiced medicine in Vancouver.

Now she is based in London full-time and recently adopted a dog and named her Indica. (Yes, she even named her dog after a variety of cannabis.)

We asked this go-getter about her training as a doctor, and if cannabis based medicine ever came up on the curriculum.

“I was very fortunate. I finished my medical degrees and started my first doctor job at 25. I was younger than my colleagues. I still knew I wanted to do integrative medicine because in medical school, I had a brush with burn out myself. It was really stressful, so I got really into meditation and thought, ‘there’s probably something to this mind and body stuff.’

Dr Dani has a wealth of accomplishments. She attended Harvard University in the US, and is double board certified in family medicine in Canada. She is a

These days Dr Dani prescribes cannabis to patients, something we wanted to find out more about. What’s it like writing your first prescription for a medication that’s so taboo?

“I remember my first cannabis prescription. It was for chronic pain. This first thing that struck me, even though I’m so open minded, I don’t think I realised how many prejudices I had towards cannabis. I thought, ‘These are all normal people, like my Mum.’”

One of her main focuses now is on mental health, something the super qualified doc believes cannabinoids can truly help people with. She also volunteers within the UK cannabis community. Since the legalisation of medical cannabis in 2018, and accessibility gradually increasing

“I knew nothing about cannabis!”

on the NHS, she has been training doctors how to prescribe through the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society. What one piece of advice would she give her younger self? “I would have started prescribing cannabis sooner, to help more people and relieve the stigma sooner.”

This year she will be adding author to her LinkedIn profile.

The CBD Bible, by Dr Dani Gordon, is “an accessible way for people to access education” and will be available from major bookstores in June in the UK and you can pre-order on Amazon.

Ohana is a functional skincare brand, infused with CBD, for women between 27 and 45 who want to know exactly what’s in their skincare products. Jasmin is involved in every step along the way. “It’s for women who are conscious about what they are putting on their skin… I’m very involved in the formulation. We had a very detailed brief, I wanted to use 100% natural ingredients, I didn’t want to use synthetics.”

Jasmin is 28 and hails from North London. Her current day-to-day work life couldn’t be more different from where she used to work in recruitment. Having worked across several industries over a period of seven years, including investing banking and pharmaceuticals, she gained valuable experience which she continues to draw from in running her own enterprise.

Jasmin prides herself on her work ethic and tells how she decided not to go down the university route.

“I did very well at school, but I didn’t love it. I got the grades to go to uni, but I didn’t want to go. I just wanted to work,” she says.

Now with 5 employees, she says learning is her favourite part of the job, “the expansion of knowledge, the education has been my favourite part [of Ohana].”

The CBD corner of the skincare market topped trends last year, with high street retailers queuing up to get cannabinoid creams, salves and you name it on shelves. Jasmin believes Ohana has a uniqueness, as its made by women, for women. “The skincare market in general is competitive. A lot of the ones that have launched have been by men.” What it’s like to launch your own skincare brand from scratch? “I didn’t really find it daunting in the beginning. I don’t know what I was thinking, I just went for it. I find it more daunting now that it’s a reality!” Jasmin tells us. She adds that even in 2020, being a female of colour trying to raise capital is ‘challenging.’ “The hardest part is learning everything as soon as possible. As a founder, I had never done things like a payroll.” Her advice on taking the leap to launch a brand? “Be more prepared. Read more books, maybe management books.”

Jasmin is also behind the EntOURage Network, a chain of international motivational events for women who want to break down barriers in the legal cannabis market through collaboration, community and

Angeles

Ariel is one of California’s best known and longest-serving cannabis business attorneys. Over a decade ago, when the idea of a cannabis business law was considered an oxymoron, she dedicated her practice to this emerging industry—foresight that was recognised by Rolling Stone, which named her one of 18 “Women Shaping the Culture of Tomorrow.” Basically, don’t mess with this Ariel! We asked Ariel to sum up what she does every day and she said, “I build things. I help business people build companies, get deals done, navigate complex sets of cannabis and hemp laws, and realise their entrepreneurial vision. I work with other stakeholders, brick-by-brick, to build the structure of rules, laws, and regulations for cannabis, hemp, and now other psychedelics to bring in and build the new.”

Medical cannabis has been legal in California for more than 10 years and recreational use officially became legal two years ago. In the middle of the timeline, Ariel got busy. “I had just ‘thrown up my own shingle’ as we say in the legal field. It was pretty

Jasmin Thomas, founder of Ohana

unconventional to go solo after only a couple years of practice. On top of that, going straight into an exclusive focus on cannabis business, corporate, and regulatory law was extremely unconventional and not at all trendy or cool at the time.”

Unfortunately, despite being a high-powered female in business, Ariel has been the victim of sexual harassment, like so many women, as she explains. “Like most women, I have experienced sexual harassment in more than one workplace, as well as in more than one academic setting. My work over the last 15 years on the forefront of law, cannabis, and policy reform has presented me with an uncountable number of challenges based solely on showing up and moving through the world as a female. We live in a sexist and misogynist society. This is a feature of our current landscape with which we are all reckoning. To survive and to transmute the trauma of being a female in this society and at this time in history, I have learned that I must take the challenges and hardships and turn them into strength and meaningful action. That means, I endeavor to actively participate with others to end injustice for all beings and to help to heal all life on earth, including the earth herself.”

Counteracting the negatives and the challenges of being an accomplished young woman, in a male dominated legal world, Ariel says the most rewarding aspect of her occupation is this: “We are out here on the cutting-edge of culture, law, policy, medicine, and healing. This type of lawyering and policy-reform work requires a lot of creativity, dedication and focus. Most days, this work is downright difficult. But I love to figure things out.”

We officially feel empowered thanks to Ariel!

Kyra Reed, founder of Markyr Cannabis and WEiC

Kyra is a powerhouse for both women in general and women in cannabis. Not only has she ran her own digital marketing company, Markyr, for more than three years now, she has dedicated a bulk of her time into building a growing facebook community with the #bettertogether. The result? Leading a global network for women working in cannabis to unite, problem solve and support one another.

Something new this year for Kyra is the development of Women Empowered in Cannabis Careers (WEiC), an extension of her social media endeavours. A place for women to post their profiles and put their best selves forward with the aim of boosting their career opportunities.

Being based in California’s Central Valley, Kyra says the best thing about her hive-like network, where she is the queen bee, is when other women tell her that being part of the network has made a difference to them.

“When women tell me that being part of the network, or coming to our events, has empowered them to take more control of their business, ask for what they want, shed the shame about how they feel… seeing women truly experience empowerment – that is the greatest reward.”

With reward comes challenges. Despite being situated in something of a CBD and cannabis hub on the West

Coast of the US, opportunities to raise capital aren’t always abundant. One other hindrance is the attitude of men, as Kyra finds.

“Oh yes. Money is harder to come by, opportunities are limited, and I have to constantly be on guard because I get hit on under the guise of business. I don’t get taken seriously as a professional and I get talked down to and talked over. Now I mainly work with women and men who are allies and support my work and the advancement of women. The men that show up excited to be part of this movement are incredible men and our movement wouldn’t be as strong without their encouragement and support.”

Speaking of men, both Kyra and her husband have ended up working in this same industry, something she says they never envisaged. “I was talking with my husband, who is in hemp, and we were laughing about the fact our younger selves would think we’re so cool that we’re a cannabis family now!”

n January 2019, the European Commission added CBD to the Novel Food Catalogue. Novel foods are considered to have no significant history of consumption in the EU prior to May 15, 1997. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) then confirmed that it would follow the lead of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in designating food and drinks containing CBD as novel. This means that they may require extensive safety testing in order to gain pre-market authorisation to be sold in the UK.

The FSA said that it is looking to

ensure that CBD products already on the market ‘move towards compliance.’

An FSA spokesperson told The Cannavist:

“CBD extracts are considered novel foods under food law and we expect companies to comply with the novel foods process, which includes submitting safety information about their products.

“Our aim is to protect consumer health and we will continue to monitor the food safety aspects of CBD.”

Meanwhile, the German federal government has announced that

CBD foodstuffs must be classified as either novel food or prescription medicine to be marketed in the country. Following the court ruling, Elliott Rolfe, head of the Cannabis Law team at international law firm Mackrell, said:

“This is a growing concern that other nations may feel pressured to follow suit as a result of this decision, which could have wider implications for the EU’s fast-growing CBD industry.

“Many businesses will find it strange and frustrating that these hemp extracts, that have an identical chemical profile to hemp-based

foods that have been consumed for thousands of years and deemed non-novel, are being treated as novel by certain regulators and courts.”

The Cannavist contacted the EFSA to find out how many companies had begun the Novel Food authorisation process by the end of 2019, but the agency did not respond to our request for comment.

The EFSA may soon meet with the first wave of UK companies seeking authorisation.

The Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) is an industry body which aims to ‘nurture a safe, legal and well-regulated CBD market in the UK.’

The ACI, a relatively new organisation, announced in December that it would soon begin processing Novel Food applications from its members.

Bill Griffin is media lead at ACI. He told The Cannavist that he believes that, far from being a ‘big spectre’ that was ‘ripping the industry apart,’ the novel food authorisation process provided reassurance of product safety.

“The FSA agree with EFSA and have said that there should be compliance, but it hasn’t been enforced.

“[The FSA] has allowed the industry to find its feet a little bit and for the consumers to get to know the product. But it’s just got a bit out of hand and become a bit of a free-for-all.”

While Griffin sees novel food compliance as an opportunity to clean up the CBD industry, the regulation is controversial, not least because it is not legally binding. This has led a competing trade body to offer its members an alternative route to compliance.

The Cannabis Trades Association claims that the Article 4 submission route has the backing of the FSA.

CTA founder, Tom Whettem said in a press release:

“With a substantial amount of political support from across Europe, the CTA will reach a determination of the novel status without any admission of guilt until the determination has been made.

“The FSA [confirmed] that products that fall within the scope of the Article 4 submission by the CTA (its members’ products) would, therefore, be completely isolated and protected from enforcement, following the determination that they are indeed not novel.”

A year after the initial FSA statement, hundreds more cannabis-based products have entered the market. But with little evidence of harm associated with CBD, enforcement action may not be forthcoming. Nonetheless, the threat of enforcement may pressure manufacturers to seek the security of regulatory approval, either independently or by joining the likes of the ACI or CTA.

The FSA agree with EFSA and have said that there should be compliance, but it hasn’t been enforced

“ “

Wick Liquor Ultra

Wick Liquor Ultra is a 1000mg unflavoured CBD additive and oral tincture that can either be dripped directly under the tongue, or added to your favourite shortfill E liquid. Presented as the perfect solution for users who require flexibility from their CBD consumption, Ultra is presented in a 10ml bottle size, making it easily carried on a daily basis.

Flavourless and ready to enjoy straight from the bottle, Ultra is best enjoyed as a sublingual dosage, allowing you to have hassle-free CBD doses on-the-move. Adding your chosen dose to your E liquid will

Be The Best Version Of You!

Be honest. Have you stuck to that New Year’s resolution you made?

Research shows only 8% of us actually stick to them. But did you know CBD could help you make this year’s dream come true?

Words by Lucy MacKinnon

The origin of New Year’s resolutions remains hotly debated. Traditionally, the Romans would begin each new year by making promises to the god, Janus.

Babylonians would make resolutions at the start of planting season, in the hope of being rewarded with a good harvest. Wherever or whenever this tradition started, it is still popular to set a personal goal at the start of each year. We did a quick pre-January panic survey among our colleagues at The Cannavist HQ, and here is what the team plans on sticking to for 2020.

A survey of 2,000 Brits has found that only 6% of us are getting the recommended eight hours sleep each night. Side effects of a poor night’s sleep include a lack of focus and motivation, low mood, stress and forgetfulness. But sleepless nights are so last year, and CBD could help you catch those much-needed Zs. Several studies have shown CBD can affect sleeping patterns and behaviours.

A Colorado study found that sleep scores were improved in 66.7% of cases within the first month of CBD treatment. We all have an endocannabinoid system, which is stimulated by cannabinoids, such as CBD. When CBD binds to our endocannabinoid receptors, this has antiinflammatory and therapeutic effects on us, one of which is bringing everything back to homeostasis. One function of CBD is promoting alertness during the day, making the body more tired when it comes to bedtime. Or, try using a CBD-infused bath bomb in your pre-sleep soak to help you unwind and relax just in time for bed. Don’t give up on your beauty sleep just yet!

“I need to get a better bedtime routine” “

This year I’m going to exercise more”

According to a US survey, the most common of New Year’s resolutions is a desire to improve fitness and exercise more. (This also rings true at our office.)

CBD is rising in popularity among athletes, both amateur and professional, and is increasingly being incorporated into workout routines.

It has been repeatedly suggested that cannabidiol acts as a natural energy booster, increasing activity levels as well as motivation levels. Sign us up.

“I’m going to work on my stress management ”

In 2018, the Mental Health Foundation found that 74% of UK adults have felt overwhelmed or unable to cope due to stress.

And take it from us, working to strict publishing deadlines can be stressful. But, did you know that stress responses are partially regulated by the endocannabinoid system?

It is thought that while Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC – the cannabinoid which gives users a ‘high’) can cause anxiety-like symptoms, CBD has the opposite effect.

A trial involving Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) patients discovered that when tasked with a public speaking exercise, pre-treatment with CBD “significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance.”

There is also evidence that strongly supports CBD as a stress reliever in those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder, however further research is required to back this up. Using CBD tinctures or vapes enables quick delivery to the endocannabinoid

“I’m finally quitt ing smoking”

Public Health England discovered that six in ten smokers want to quit at the turn of the new year, when that ‘New Year, New Me’ mentality

A pilot clinical study of smokers assessed how effective CBD inhalers may be against a placebo when the

This study found that cigarette consumption in the CBD group decreased by 40% three weeks after the trial came to an end. It also found cravings and smoking related anxiety had also reduced. This was the first study of its kind to be completed, so further studies are

Photos by @visualsbyb3ta @DestinyEarl

Passionate about plants, Kara Bragg also is adept at cultivating people.

Under Kara’s watchful eye and tender care, Sovereign Fields grew fourfold in less than a year. The hempseed and biomass company based in Southern Oregon develops world-class genetics for low-THC, highCBD boutique hemp strains. Kara also has consulted on recreational cannabis cultivation for Humboldt Seed Organization, represented at 12,000 retail outlets in 60 countries.

“We don’t want to be boastful,” said Kara, who serves as Sovereign Fields’ director of production. “We just want to be for everyone. We’re trying to inspire change.”

Anticipating changes in the United States’ legalities for farming hemp, Kara with Sovereign Fields co-founders Eric Foster and Ryan Davidson quickly constructed a business plan in 2018 and launched operations in 2019.

Kara, 39, already had been nurturing her own brand, Cannag1rl, an anonymous online growing journal showcasing Humboldt Seed Organization’s new genetics. Years of growing cannabis and perfecting plant lineage poised the three entities on the crest of North America’s “green wave.”

Kara had sown these seeds all her life. As a kid in Southern California, she learned to garden alongside her parents, who organized horticulture projects on family holidays. Awestruck at the transformation after transplanting a living organism to a new environment, Kara drew parallels between human and plant development, imagining that — like humans — plants experience emotions.

She learned in high school from a friend’s dad how to clone a plant — and what made it a “clone.” To find out what would take root and grow, Kara started cloning any plant that passed into her hands. Her friends soon dubbed her the “crazy plant lady,” a persona that defined the course of Kara’s life.

An advocate for medical cannabis, Kara never thought to grow her own until a friend gave her 12 seedlings with a feeding recipe and schedule. Initially unaware that she had embarked on an eight-month project, equipped with little except a green thumb for houseplants, Kara surprised herself with the plants’ success and was hooked.

After 10 years in the cannabis industry, managing and consulting for large-scale growing operations, Kara seeks every opportunity to learn more and, in turn, share insight with fellow growers and breeders, many of whom she

mentors and friends.

The United Kingdom may have a long road ahead toward cannabis legalization, but Kara loves to spread the word that providing food — and medicine — for oneself is not only empowering, but not as hard as one would think.

Above all: “Don’t forget to drink water and get sun,” she said. “You’re basically a houseplant with complicated emotions!”

For growing tips and tricks, follow Kara’s Instagram journal @cannag1rl

considers

Anyone who feels stuck or needs some growing advice should feel encouraged to contact Kara or ASK@CANNAVISTMAG.COM

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX

Call it taboo or call it the most natural thing in the world. Yes, we’re talking about what happens between the sheets. With a surge in so-called libido enhancing CBD-infused products, we ask, can CBD really help in the bedroom?

Words by Róisín Delaney

What The Figures Say

One in ten British women regularly suffers from pain during sex, according to results from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. In the US however, the number of women experiencing sex-induced soreness ‘down there’ is much higher. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, three out of four women will experience pain at the point of penetration.

Of those who reported having painful sex in the UK survey, 30.9% said they were dissatisfied with their sex life compared to 10.1% in women who didn’t report having painful sex. (This 2017 study was the largest of its type on this subject matter, involving 8,869 women in the UK.)

Ouch! What Causes Painful Sex?

There may be more reasons than you think, and if it’s not a health issue, it might just a case of the Love Island coined term, ‘the ick’.

Pain during sex is not something which only affects women. Men can also suffer.

The NHS says pain during sex may be caused by anything from a lack of arousal to infection, menopause or endometriosis.

Endometriosis is now the second most common gynaecological condition affecting women in the UK today, according to Endometriosis UK.

Will CBD Lubricants Work?

Dr Kirstin Mitchell was a lead author on the UK-wide national survey back in 2017. She said a holistic approach

“Sexual pain disorders are often overlooked because underlying conditions are often difficult to diagnose and treat, and causes can be complex and poorly understood. “This data demonstrates the importance of taking a holistic approach to medical care which takes into account the sexual, relationship and health context of symptoms.”

The Cannavist recently encountered Priscilla Phipps from Austin, Texas, on a business trip to Las Vegas, where the magazine was on show at CBD exhibition, CBD.io. Priscilla, who comes from the beauty industry, caught attention with her company Ivy Rose Personal Care Products. She

With CBD being famed as an ointment for many an everyday life occurrence, some proven by research, some just clickbait, it looks like the libido is about to fall for this wonder cannabinoid. The Cannavist asks, can CBD really give you a boost in the bedroom?

says problems around intimate sensitivity can be mental or physical, and says endometriosis is up there with other factors like menopause.

“For women, intimate pleasure is a complicated subject in itself. There are so many factors in a woman’s mental and physiological state that influence how a woman reacts to intimate relations. The influencers can be mental from a past trauma or [physical] problems like menopause and endometriosis.

“CBD has been shown in our studies with women volunteers to increase blood flow, increase sensitivity, and allows the body to function using its own physiology.”

So, How Does CBD Work Between The Sheets?

According to Priscilla, the cannabinoid stimulates nerve endings in the vagina, preventing dryness and ultimately relieving discomfort.

“CBD, when used as a topical for women, helps stimulate the nerve endings in the vagina as it binds to nerve receptor sites. This helps with an increase in sensitivity, relieves possible inflammation, and the increased blood flow helps stimulate the body’s own moisture preventing dryness. All of these contribute to prevent dryness and pain or discomfort during sex. CBD, in countering these factors, allows women to not only enjoy sexual intimacy but gain a positive mental attitude and a desire for sex.”

5 SENSUAL PRODUCTS TO TRY

Foria Wellness have created an Awaken oil, infused with CBD and botanicals, which is billed as a multi-aphrodisiac blend for women. Playboy called it “a CBD-laced personal lubricant that is helpful in getting your engine revving that much faster.”

Awaken Arousal Oil; £36; foriawellness.com

Canniant CBD makes an edible CBD lube which contains coconut oil and a range of essential oils.

Pleasure by Canniant CBD; £29.99; Canna Club Shoreditch

WooWoo Pleasure Enhancing Bliss Oil; £9.99; feelunique.com

Safety first!

Many CBD-infused lubricants are not recommended for use with condoms

Enjoy a sensual CBD massage with our top picks for massage oils.

Peppermint CBD Massage Oil; £30; cbdembrace.com

Pure Earth Juniper Berry CBD Massage Oil; £19.99; pureearth.store

love

In The Tub

Once upon a time, you could get away with sending a loved one flowers, maybe stretch for a box of chocolates. But definitely not shower gel. Let us be the first to tell you, those simple days are gone folks. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we have narrowed down a selection of CBD bath bombs your loved-up holiday wouldn’t be complete without, all £10 and under. Rubber duck optional.

Refresh; £9.99 CBDEmbrace.co.uk 30mg Full Spectrum CBD.

Passion; £9.99 CBDEmbrace.co.uk 30mg Full Spectrum CBD

LVWell CBD Lavender & Marjoram Essential Oils; £7.50 hempfinity.co.uk 100mg CBD, 500mg full spectrum hemp extract.

LVWell CBD Ylang Ylang & Ginger Essential Oils; £7.50 hempfinity.co.uk 100mg CBD, 500mg full spectrum hemp extract.

GRN Grapefruit & Lavender; £10 relax-brands.com

35mg Full spectrum hemp oil.

GRN Cedarwood & Tangerine, £10 relax-brands.com 35mg full spectrum hemp oil.

Lavender Petal; from £10 larofarms.com 50mg broad spectrum hemp extract.

Rose HUGS ; from £10; hugscbd.com

50mg full spectrum hemp extract. Forget the bouquet. This one will leave you smelling of roses!

Lavender HUGS; from £10 hugscbd.com 50mg full spectrum hemp extract.

Say ‘Hello Hi’ to CBDL

Rapper Big Narstie tells The Cannavist about his experience with CBD as he marks the launch of his very own line of products.

Words by Kashif Hussain

If you didn’t know him, it might not look like Tyrone Lindo, better known as grime megastar Big Narstie, spends a lot of time in the gym. But a quick scan of his Instagram account shows that he’s been hard at work with mixed martial arts (MMA) training alongside his younger brother, MMA and karate champion Reuben ‘Little Narstie’ Lindo. As a prominent UK connoisseur, Narstie has been aware of CBD for more than five years now. It’s no wonder he has decided to make his mark on the industry with his new CBDL line of products. “Basically, I believe in the healing powers of what CBD can do. Especially since I’ve been training with MMA. My recovery, and how it helps with my joints and anxiety getting in the cage has been wonderful.”

Named after the abbreviation of cannabidiol and ‘BDL,’ the initials of his music collective ‘Base Defence League’, CBDL packaging proudly features a golden caricature of the Brixton rapper. But this isn’t just for branding purposes – he played an important role in the development of the products.

“I did a thorough month’s test on myself before launching my product to the public. I didn’t want to just put stuff out to the public when I’ve never tasted it. I genuinely saw the usage [for] my products.”

The CBDL line features a diverse range of products, all broad spectrum with 0% THC and nanotechnology, which suggests a higher uptake of CBD into the bloodstream. Between gummies, capsules, roll-ons, bath bombs and, according to the marketing, the first ever vape pen to use nanotech, Narstie has a product for everyone, even those who may be sceptical of CBD.

“When you’re the pioneer of something different, you have to expect that not everyone will have an open mind to it. It’s like, even with my missus. My missus doesn’t smoke or drink, she’s not into anything to do with cannabis. She said her shoulder’s hurting, I was like, ‘Let me try my CBD freeze on your shoulder,’ ‘No, no,no, no, no...’

I convinced her that it’s not going to make her high or anything. After that, she tried it, 30 minutes later, she’s like, ‘babe, that actually works!’ But it’s that first step, man.” Narstie’s career has taken him to many unexpected places. From releasing grime mixtapes and internet videos, to collaborating with a diverse range of artists from Ed Sheeran to Enter Shikari, appearing on shows like Great British Bake Off, Good Morning Britain and his very own Big Narstie Show, to finally launching his own CBD line. In the coming months, he plans to open a CBD centre at his gym, Muscle Base Gym in North London, where gymgoers can use CBD to help with their recovery like he does.

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Explained ‘Strains’

Cannabis plant classifications can be puzzling. What’s the difference between sativa and indica? And where does the CBD come from?

The Cannavist finds out that what most people know to be strains aren’t really strains at all.

Words by Lucy MacKinnon

Cannabis can be split into two classifications: hemp and marijuana. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant’s principle psychoactive and intoxicating compound, is the defining characteristic that distinguishes hemp from marijuana.

HEMP MARIJUANA

LOW THC LEVELS

Classified as cannabis varieties that contain a maximum of 0.2% (UK) or 0.3% (US) THC in dry weight

HIGH THC LEVELS

Classified as cannabis varieties that contain a more than 0.2% (UK) or 0.3% (US) THC in dry weight

However, the cannabis genus is not that simple.

Gregor Zorn, co-founder of the European Cannabinoid Therapy Association and advisory board member of the Masterclass Medicinal Cannabis told us:

“There is only one type of cannabis –Cannabis Sativa L.”

Despite this, cannabis is also often further categorised into sativa, indica or ruderalis –which are commonly, and incorrectly called ‘strains’.

These are not different species or strains of cannabis; they are different varieties or subspecies.

Hemp and marijuana can be any of these three varieties, or a mixture, known as a hybrid.

Gregor explains:

“The term ‘strain’ is used for viruses and bacteria, but not for plants; we have strains of bacteria and strains of viruses but no strains of plants.

“Despite the fact that it is widely used in the cannabis lingo, it doesn’t mean that it is correct or that we should be using it.

“A better alternative is a chemovar (chemical variety), cultivar (cultivated variety) or simply a variety of cannabis.”

These cultivars originally grew in different climates and varied in effects, growth pattern and appearance.

Cannabis Sativa

-Typically grows the tallest out of the three cannabis varieties. Sativa can grow up to three metres tall.

-The flowering cycle is usually between 9-12 weeks. The plants have thin, narrow leaves.

-Best suited to growing during long seasons in warm climates.

-Some believe sativa to give off a sweet aroma

Cannabis Indica

-Indica typically grows taller than ruderalis, but shorter than cannabis sativa.

-The flowering cycle is shorter than sativa plants, at 7-9 weeks, and this

subspecies has short, wide leaves.

-Indica plants are better suited to growing long in shorter seasons in cooler climates, and have a strong, intense smell.

-It is believed that indica plants have a relaxing effect when consumed, as they contain high levels of CBD.

Cannabis Ruderalis

-A very short plant that looks most like a bush, reaching a maximum height of one-and-a-half metres.

-Ruderalis leaves are very small and thick, and the plants flowering and growth period are relatively short.

-Ruderalis is indigenous to Eastern Europe and Russia.

Did You Know?

Using chloroplast DNA and molecular clock analysis, DNA suggests that cannabis, and its closest living relative, Humulus, diverged 27.8 million years ago. Assistant professor at the University of Vermont, John McPartland found that fossil pollen data points to a centre of origin in the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Sativa

Gregor says:

“Ruderalis is often portrayed as the third type of cannabis, characterised by quasi-equal ratio of CBD:THC, wildtype morphology, or so called ‘autoflowering’.

“These types of wild (ruderal) plants have the characteristics of hemp plants that have escaped and ‘gone wild’”.

About Gregor Zorn:

As well as being the co-founder of the European Cannabinoid Therapy Association and advisory board member of the Masterclass Medicinal Cannabis, Gregor Zorn is the chief scientific officer for Cannaray. He also teaches on the first European Medicinal Cannabis post-graduate programme at the University of Padova Medical School in Italy.

Indica Ruderalis

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GIVING A DAM

A run-in with police over cannabis possession forced professional wrestler Rob Van Dam to give up two world titles. Now, after years of advocacy, he offers a sobering perspective by using his passion for the plant to help athletes with brain injuries.

Words by Gordon Stribling

As a former WWE and ECW wrestling champion, it goes without saying that Rob Van Dam is a hard man to pin down. While still active in the sport, it’s now just one of many activities fighting for space in his packed schedule. “I’ve been very busy lately. Just this past weekend, I was filming an action movie in Buffalo called One Day at a Time, in between wrestling in Puerto Rico. I’m a bad guy and my whole gang got killed off, but we’ve got to do one more day over the next several weeks to kill off my character.”

Of course, we’re here to talk about CBD, or more broadly cannabis, which ‘RVD’ will forever be associated with – for better and for worse.

In 2006, Rob hit a career high, becoming WWE and ECW champion. But it would all come crashing down months later when he was pulled over for speeding and busted for possession of cannabis, forcing him to drop both titles.

“Originally I tried it because of peer pressure. I happened to be wrestling in Jamaica on my 21st birthday and I noticed that a lot of my role models that were bodybuilders liked marijuana.”

Rob started smoking it socially while working as a bouncer as he waited for his wrestling career to take off.

While America’s wave of state legalisation introduced many consumers to recreational cannabis via the medical route, Rob’s journey took the opposite trajectory, as the bumps and bruises began to take their toll.

He was well accustomed to getting hurt and taking care of himself. As a pro-wrestler, Rob says, you just have to wrap yourself up and keep going.

“In the early years, the guys who smoked seemed to be the same people who did shrooms or acid or whatever.

“But maybe they were using it under the radar for pain as an alternative to opiates, I didn’t know at the time.”

After advocating for medical cannabis for many years, Rob began to see the medical community becoming more receptive to it.

His ex-wife had stage three colon cancer and during a nutritional meeting, another patient asked the presenter if

she had any tips for stimulating her appetite.

“I said what about medical marijuana? And she said, ‘you know, I’m not allowed to bring it up. But since you brought it up, I can talk about it.’

“I just thought, what a ridiculous policy to not be allowed to save these people from suffering even though it was legal in the state?”

Rob recently starred in the documentary Headstrong, which saw him attempt to shake off a lingering concussion as he travelled the country on a stand-up comedy tour.

Unlike the countless other concussions over his career, days passed but his blurred vision persisted. Rob faced the very real prospect that the years in the ring had caused Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – a degenerative brain disease experienced by people who have suffered repeat brain trauma. Thankfully, despite experiencing more than 500 concussions over his career, a brain scan revealed no sign of CTE. He is one of the lucky ones, adding that many of his friends have ended their own lives tragically.

“It’s pretty common in wrestling.

“Statistically, wrestlers don’t live that long. It usually seems to be derived from depression that they get as a result from having a lot of concussions.”

These experiences inspired Rob’s new RVD CBD range. So far, a tincture and cream are available. However, the end-goal is a direct formula for athletes. Rob and his team of scientists are ‘still at Ground Zero with lots of optimism,’ he says. And he’s been inspired by research showing the potential for Cannabigerol (CBG) to regenerate brain tissue. He’s also read that the NFL may soon develop a pre-game pill to be used as a brain protector.

“I just thought, ‘why not pick the best components from all the things I’m reading about, have some scientists put a product together and try it for myself?’ I think it could help a lot of people.

“I don’t have any signs of CTE but I don’t know that it won’t come later in life.”

WILL BORIS EVER LEGALISE CANNABIS?

per year. Backbencher Crispin Blunt campaigns for legalisation of medical marijuana, thought to be used by over a million patients in the UK, according to a YouGov poll.

Daniel Hannan MEP, wants to decriminalise recreational use. New MP Danny Kruger and No. 10 adviser Blair Gibbs are both associated with the Centre for Medical Cannabis, a trade body fighting for acceptance of the drug by the NHS.

And in the world of fully legal products, there are moves to deregulate hemp extracts in farming, food and manufacturing, as well as tighten up the rules on CBD additives for food and wellness to close loopholes that have allowed untested brands onto the market.

“All these areas are due for common sense reform, using evidence-based policy,” Crispin Blunt told me the day after the election in December.

CBD

Columnist Nick Rosen has been reading the runes.

The LibDems may have called for legalisation of cannabis during the last election, but it is Tory MPs and policy advisers who have been making most of the running in cannabis and CBD policy over the past year. Barely a conference or roundtable takes place without one or two Conservatives showing their face.

Don’t expect instant policy announcements, but behind the scenes the new government is working hard to bring order to the messy world of legal (and illegal) cannabis products. Ministers think it could be an important industry for UK PLC.

Johnny Mercer (a defence minister) says legal cannabis could benefit the exchequer by £750m to £1bn

The first item on the agenda is CBD – Cannabidiol, the non-intoxicating part of the cannabis plant, which has seen sharp sales growth on the High Street. Sales of food, drinks, wellness product and cosmetics containing CBD are rising in Britain, and predicted to reach sales of more than £750m next year.

Food products include “hemp pasta,” toffee muffins, gummy bear sweets, and high protein supplements.

UK regulators worry that CBD in food is not properly monitored and may be interacting with prescribed medicines. And some of the regulations are vague, leading to confusion because people don’t know what’s legal and what’s not. The National Pharmacy Association has called on the Home Office to update and clarify its guidelines on what can or cannot be sold over the counter, and to bring manufacturers into line.

But Tory sources tell me Health Secretary Matt Hancock is unwilling to act because it may damage small

and medium-sized companies, building valuable brands.

RECREATIONAL

According to an article in The Daily Telegraph, among those who have actually admitted to taking cannabis are Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and former Leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, who both admitted to recreational use. A likely key figure in cannabis law reform is new MP for Devizes, Danny Kruger, who also happens to be son of Bake-Off star Prue Leith. He was a Cameron speechwriter and now helps craft lines for Boris. He thinks that despite its dangers, keeping pot illegal criminalises millions of ordinary people and enriches gangsters.

Backing for this approach comes from the Adam Smith Institute, a right-wing think tank. The Institute’s Morgan Schondelmeier, says: “By legalising the drug and moving sales into the regulated economy, you remove power from drug gangs and ensure quality control of the product.”

Current policy is contradictory with some police authorities ignoring it altogether.

The Conservative Party Drug Reform Group (CPDRG), another think tank, issued a briefing paper on drug policy which has caught the attention of No. 10 policymakers: Cannabis possession arrests are down 40% in a year. And police forces are diverting resources away from cannabis. Of the country’s 42 police authorities, seven have lowered, or are about to lower, the priority attached to cannabis possession says the CPDRG. This decriminalisation allows an easier market for drug gangs, so further measures are necessary. CPDRG wants the government to monitor the progress of legalisation in Canada last year and pick up lessons to determine British cannabis policy.

MEDICAL CANNABIS

There are also calls for control of medical cannabis to be moved from the Home Office to the Department for Health.

Last year, while still Home Secretary, Sajid Javid rescheduled cannabis to allow for the prescription of medicinal product. The reform was criticised at the time for raising the hopes of would-be patients. Only a handful of prescriptions have been written since the change. And it costs some patients hundreds or thousands of pounds to import it through private clinics.

Now Crispin Blunt still wants it moved from Schedule 1 (along with opium) to the more lightly controlled Schedule 4.

Sativex has been recommended by the National Institute for health and Care Excellence, which means it ought to be available on the NHS, but patients are still being forced onto the black market. The legal defence team for a patient from Carlisle with MS has asked the DPP for new guidance on prosecution,

which may lead to a loosening of rules for those who can prove real need.

HEMP

Hemp is often seen as equivalent to CBD oil, but is regulated differently. Hemp is a source of CBD, and is also used to make everything from cloth to suitcases, food supplements to soap. It is even mixed with concrete to build houses.

Hemp is already grown all over the UK, under license from the Home Office. There are moves to shift control over to the farming ministry. The main change the industry is expecting in the UK is a shift in regulation preventing some farmers from processing the flowers and the leaves (instead of just the seeds and stalks). This would allow the UK to develop its own supply of CBD oil instead of importing it from abroad. Our booming CBD industry is making foreign farmers rich, but our own farmers are excluded.

As with CBD, the government must decide whether to follow

along with EU regulations, or gain a competitive advantage by forging its own path. That means law reform is bound up with Brexit negotiations.

“Hemp should be a fantastic crop for farmers to grow and extract CBD,” says Rob Wilson, CEO of the CPDRG.

“It should be possible for UK-grown hemp to supply the industry, but it’s over-regulated and overcomplicated. Medical cannabis is potentially a massive industry in the UK, bringing high quality jobs in the Life Sciences. It’s what the British economy needs.”

Nick Rosen is an awardwinning documentary maker and journalist. He is editor of CannabisReport.net and is writing a book about the Cannabis industry. He can be contacted at Nick@vivum.net

“Hemp should be a fantastic crop for farmers to grow and extract CBD”

- Rob Wilson, CEO of the CPDRG

A new solution for sustainable textiles

An Interview with Hemp Designer, Laura Bossom

How did you find yourself in the hemp industry?

I would have to describe myself as a designer wanting to change the face of fast fashion. I intend to have a low environmental impact on the world. Whilst studying my BA Design degree at Goldsmiths University, I found myself working at a local hemp farm where I created hemp marketing content. The more I learnt about the plant and its many uses, the more I realised the endless possibilities of industrial hemp. It was quite shocking to be faced with a declared national climate crisis when graduating from university. As a millennial, I felt obligated to continue this journey of environmental healing and to design new and better ways of doing things.

What inspired Cultiva Clothing?

The UK hemp fibre industry played a vital part in our world wars. The fibre was processed using traditional craft methods to create ropes, sails and uniforms which gave Britain a competitive edge during battle. Hemp production also allowed a self sustaining industry to exist within Britain which contributed to the country’s prosperity. However, due to globalisation after the

war, producing textiles became much cheaper in Asia. Therefore, much of the equipment was shipped out to China, and the British industry declined. The last pieces of this incredible natural fibre production have been found in Bridport. This industrial town has played a pivotal role in hemp farming and materials production for the last 700 years.

Another factor is hemp can absorb four times as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than most plants and requires one third of the water used for cotton. When you look at the environmental benefits to grow this natural fibre for one of the biggest polluting industries in the world, it was simply a no brainer to start this textile brand.

What sorts of challenges are you facing?

The main challenge here is to get consumers to change their shopping habits. To slow down fast fashion production, the brand promotes longevity products in support of ‘buy less but buy better’ philosophy. We encourage consumers to invest into companies with their buying power who aim to improve wages, have ethical working standards, use organic and natural materials whilst

producing quality products that must last longer than a couple of uses. Ellen Macarthur Foundation discovered 73% of textiles end up in landfill or are incinerated globally every year. We are currently working on a process to engage consumers into the circular system. We want to see consumers putting their clothes into compost bins after use instead of contributing to the mountains of clothes which end up in landfill sites.

What is next for you and Cultiva Clothing?

Given the current climate crisis situation, it is important to our brand values to develop more sustainable methods for producing textiles made with natural fibres. We have just launched a funding project to initiate vital research for the industry to make sure hemp can be produced in the best way possible with minimal impact on the planet. If you wish to support us follow the link.

LEGALISATION

With a population of 130 million, Mexico is set to become the largest market worldwide to legalise cannabis for recreational use. Draft legislation suggests this ease of the law could be worth $1.2bn to the nation’s pocket by 2028. We take a look at the country’s long history with cannabis.

Pedro Cuadrado, a conquistador (Spanishappointed representative in Mexico) is credited with introducing the hemp plant to Mexico.

He and a friend reportedly ran a successful hemp cultivation business until the Spanish governor ordered them to limit production after the natives began using the plants recreationally.

Spain’s economy begins to decline, so the government decides to turn to its colonies. Specialists are sent to The Americas to instruct and encourage locals to farm hemp, specifically in areas such as California.

Hemp harvests from Mexico and California go according to plan until the Mexican War of Independence breaks out in 1810, leading to Spain’s loss of its American colonies. Government subsidies for hemp are no longer available and hemp cultivation is on the decline.

Mexico EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY

Recreational marijuana use is widespread in Mexico. In 1882, Mexico City enforces bans on cannabis, alcohol and cards from the military hospital in an effort to curtail fighting. Newspapers in Mexico and the US spread sensationalist stories about people using marijuana causing people to commit violent crimes.

LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY

1920 1927 1930s

Mexico’s Department of Public Sanitation declares new legislation, titled: “Dispositions on the Cultivation and Commerce of Products that Degenerate the Race.” This bans the sale, production and recreational use of cannabis.

As US states begin to criminalise the plant, Mexico bans stock from being exported over the border.

1970s 2009

The US government sponsors a scheme to spray herbicides paraquat and 2,4-D over cannabis fields in Mexico using helicopters. Herbicide poisoning cases begin to crop up in the US after the tainted plants are smuggled over the border.

President Felipe Calderón decriminalises small amounts of cannabis and cocaine for possession, in an attempt for law enforcement to focus on traffickers and cartel bosses instead of recreational users.

Drug cartels begin to organise in Mexico to smuggle alcohol into the US during prohibition, eventually expanding to cannabis and other illegal drugs using increasingly violent means.

The Mexican Supreme Court makes it legal for four members of SMART (Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use) to grow and consume their own cannabis.

President Enrique Peña Nieto legalises cannabis with under 1% THC for medical use.

The Supreme Court ends the cannabis prohibition and moves to formally legalise cannabis in the near future. Legalisation not only improves the country’s economy but puts a dent in the cartels’ narco trafficking business.

The deadline to legalise cannabis is set for October 23. The final draft of the bill is unveiled on October 18.

The vote has since been delayed after missing the deadline. Whether or not Mexican authorities decide to fulfil the draft legislation as law remains to be seen. An announcement is expected by the end of the year.

2015 2017 2018 2019

Saying the unsayable?

In the US, the FDA is continuing to crack down on CBD medical claims and warns that ‘a number of questions remain regarding CBD’s safety’ .

Words by Gordon Stribling

When it comes to CBD and cannabis generally, the US is a good few years ahead of us in the UK. But with such huge demand and such a wide variety of products on the market, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is only now beginning to develop potential marketing pathways.

The FDA recently issued its latest round of warning letters to 15 companies it said had used their websites and social media platforms to market CBD products in ways that violated food, drug and cosmetics safety laws.

The public health body also indicated that it ‘cannot conclude that CBD is generally recognised as safe (GRAS) among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food.’

FDA principal deputy commissioner, Amy Abernethy, MD, PhD, said: “We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD ‘can’t hurt.’

“Aside from one prescription drug

approved to treat two paediatric epilepsy disorders, these products have not been approved by the FDA and we want to be clear that a number of questions remain regarding CBD’s safety.”

These concerns were addressed in a Consumer Update issued the same day that the warning letters were sent out. UK-made childhood epilepsy drug Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved CBD medicine available on prescription in the US. The drug has been available on the NHS since the new year.

The Cannavist contacted each of the 15 companies to receive warning letters from the FDA.

Among the individuals to respond was Shiloh Thibodeaux, founding partner at Plant Organix.

In one example listed on the FDA’s letter, the product page for MCT Oil Tincture on the company’s website established its intended use as a drug with the text:

“Could Help Manage . . . Alzheimer’s Disease and Autism. ... Contains Powerful Fatty Acids That Fight Yeast and Bacterial Growth.”

Thibodeaux believes that the FDA’s letter revealed ‘conflicts within the law’ and questioned why Plant

Organix was specifically targeted. “Why were we along with 14 other companies singled out while hundreds are left to continue business as usual? Why would the federal government legalise production and sale if only to be derailed by its own agency?

“We are duly licensed to conduct CBD business and will respond to the FDA with legal ingredients in our products, ensuring required labelling is in place.”

Gregory A. Smith, MD, CEO of Red Pill Medical, Inc. said that he was pleased to receive the letter from the FDA as it provided some much-needed clarity on labelling and the claims that can be made about CBD. However, he was surprised that soundbites taken from interviews available via the company’s Facebook page would be interpreted as medical claims about his products. The company has since responded to the FDA and is now taking further steps to achieve full compliance.

Smith said:

“Everything I say in lectures or in the media I can back up with scientific evidence. I always qualify and clarify if something still needs additional research and I always tell people they should work directly with a physician or healthcare provider educated in cannabinoid medicine when taking CBD.

“The issue for the industry is all we are told is what we can’t do or say but there are no clear guidelines of what we can say or do.

“Our intention is to work with the FDA to help prevent other companies from having their business disrupted for violations that they probably are unaware of until they get a warning letter.”

Daddy Burt Hemp Co. in Lexington, Kentucky took a similar approach to directing customers to CBD research. Their statement revealed that the company had a ‘learning centre’ on its website that educated prospective customers about CBD.

And like Red Pill Medical, Inc., the

company said that it welcomed the review and recommendations relating to the marketing of its products, including tinctures, lotions and pet products.

The statement read:

“Some articles on the website referenced peer reviewed scientific articles which discuss the potential benefits of CBD.

“The FDA considers quoting scientific research violates the rule of making claims of cures or healing.

“Daddy Burt Hemp Co. is formally responding to the FDA, communicating their intentions to resolve any issues.”

The US CBD market is estimated to reach $20bn by 2024. And like it or not, CBD companies will need to work with the FDA if they are to not just survive but thrive.

The issue for the industry is all we are told is what we can’t do or say but there are no clear guidelines of what we can say or do.

“ “

When real life inspires passion

After weaning himself off opioid-based painkillers, steroids and immunosuppressants to manage symptoms of Crohn’s disease with CBD*, Dan Rodwell finally understood the significance of this cannabinoid and wanted to help others do the same. That is where his passion and journey began with Cannwell. Now, he wants to make Cannwell the safest product line there is.

On December 21, 2017, Dan was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), where his immune system attacked his nervous system, leaving him comatose and in a state of paralysis.

“When I came around in January, I started to use CBD again for pain, anxiety and depression as a result of being completely body-locked. I couldn’t move a muscle; I couldn’t talk to my wife – I was devastated.”

Temporarily mute due to a tracheotomy, he used an alphabet board to ask his wife to administer his CBD oil, which his neurologist and a specialist doctor agreed to.

Dan explained the intensity of his own experience with CBD acted as a cathartic moment, one that drove him to help others.

But one thing was crucial – safety standards – the implementation of which would not be easy. Without any regulations imposed on the UK and Ireland’s CBD-sphere, it remains an unregulated market shrouded in uncertainty and misconception.

Dan and Niall Fennell came up with a simple, organic product that can be dropped under the tongue (sublingually), ingested or inhaled – it was important to provide customers with a versatile and adaptable product. Niall, Director of Cannwell, said:

“Between 70% and 90% of the CBD products people are putting under their tongue or inhaling is actually a carrier, but nobody is really talking about it.

“If you inhale an oil and it transforms from a gas to a liquid before it goes into your lungs, you can be at risk of contracting lipid pneumonia, which is why we avoided MCT oil.”

Instead, Cannwell uses EU-certified organic non-GMO vegetable glycerine sourced from sustainable rapeseed. Following the scares around vape cartridges on the US black market last year, Dan says: “It is important to focus on customer safety over commercial gain – that is why we invested so much to find the right ingredients.

“The carrier has the potential to do harm to the individual, which is why we go to extreme lengths to ensure safety.”

Dan argues that until a dedicated regulator is appointed in the UK and Irish CBD market,

brands have a duty to impose their own standards and hold each other accountable.

“We can’t be a regulated industry without a regulator, but what we can do for now is to ensure we are using the best practices and holding the supply chain accountable. Both Niall and myself come from highly regulated industries so we are using those principles throughout Cannwell.

“Right now, the industry has the opportunity to preserve the integrity of the CBD market and champion the amazing benefits consumers are experiencing. This means adopting best practice in both testing, development and delivery to market.”

Niall agrees.

“If somebody doesn’t take control and regulate the market, the regulator will just bring the hammer down and say no to everything.

“We want to give people security and confidence in the CBD they are taking. That’s why we take the additional steps to test our cannabinoids for chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides and, importantly, lipids. We then make those tests available to our customers.”

Niall and Dan are also developing software that will enable consumers to track which farm their CBD originated from and its harvest date.

Visit cannwell.co.uk for more on this brand.

CBD Circuit

Global Cannabis Institute London

Across the road from London’s impressive Smithfield Market lies Haberdasher’s Hall, a truly unique venue, worlds away from

London

Hatmakers and haberdashers once roamed these rooms, and fine attention to detail was on full display once again as London played host to the debut event in the Global Cannabis Institute series at Haberdasher’s Hall.

There was a certain juxtaposition to this CBD and medical cannabis forum. The building dates back to 1458, and here we all were talking about CBD, a derivative of a plant that has been shamed for almost

as long as this building has been standing.

The highlights? Croatian company CannaX presented their new app and this was a take on CBD events I hadn’t seen before. CannaX is a growing community of cannabis professionals, users, enthusiasts and event organisers who share love and passion for what they do. I used the app throughout this event and a handful of times since and it’s perfect for this line of work.

With CannaX, you download the app, register for the event et voilà, you can see who is attending and set up meetings in advance.

For professionals, I think this is the best way to discover trade shows, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, seminars and other events this industry has to offer.

Another strong point of this forum, which in my opinion some UK-based events are lacking – only a few do it right – was the level of knowledge and experience provided by experts from cross-over fields. Despite this industry being so young, science seminars were delivered by researched backed scientists from Aberdeen, Malta, Denmark and Israel.

In the business room, everything from how to market your brand to what the hemp leaf symbolises to the black and white differences between the US and UK approach to cannabis was hashed out in a global circle encompassing executives from the US, Canada, Australia and Europe.

This is certainly a new take on events in the line of CBD, medical cannabis and the future of both in this country and the organisers have succeeded in making this a global network, rather than a UK bubble.

The Global Cannabis Institute Europe took place in London in November. Further events are scheduled for 2020.

Visit gc-institute.org/events for more.

Viva Las Vegas

Editor Róisín Delaney attended CBD.io which welcomed big names and even bigger personalities.

With over 12,000 visitors and 310 exhibitors from more than 40 nations, the Las Vegas Convention Center played host to one of the biggest CBD exhibitions the team has been to – CBD.io.

This was a major show for this magazine, as The Cannavist was front and centre beside names like Tyson Ranch (of Mike Tyson), GRN, Loot, Pacific CBD Company and Women Gro.

From dog treats to massage, to libido enhancing supplements, face masks and sports brands, there were parts to this layout I didn’t even get a chance to explore.

The two speaker stages were a key highlight for me. Going from the trade show hall to the stage is akin

to going from the front of house into the back room. That’s where the real knowledge and passion is found and the people you meet in between sessions are really there to learn.

Total girl boss and Vegas native Krista Whitley of Altitude Products drew interest for her go-getter attitude and tips on marketing a CBD product in a restrictive environment.

I’ve seen Krista, who has nine of her own CBD brands (yes, nine!), speak publicly on several occasions now and her presence has such a powerful impact on budding CBD entrepreneurs every time. .

Go check her socials out: @socialkrista if you are looking for some girl-power motivation.

HASHing it out

Thinking about investing in CBD? The Cannavist’s Gordon Stribling took in an investment driven, women-led event, which saw money experts and cannabis activists do the math on the potential of CBD.

This invite-only event was a far cry from the likes of conferences I usually attend as a CBD journalist. I’ve certainly never been handed a complimentary glass of wine or canapé while walking the floor of a giant expo.

This event, led by HASHCreative, a female-founded creative agency, discussed core elements like business, investment and legalities. But there were also some very inspiring stories told about how the carefully selected panellists entered the world of CBD. fourfivecbd is one such success story, having appeared in major media outlets around the world.

The proven THC-free sports range is the brainchild of panellist, and recently retired Saracens rugby

player, Dominic Day, and England international George Kruis. Dominic explained that he began using CBD as an alternative way to help recover from injury. Dom and George created fourfivecbd with drug-tested professional athletes in mind. Joseph Oliver explained how he was primarily driven by a want to help ill people when he entered the cannabis space. His company LDN CBD has a compassion fund which allows lower-income customers to access their products.

But the most engaging speaker for me was founder of Ohana CBD, Jasmin Thomas. Jasmin has cannabis advocacy in her blood. Her Rastafarian grandfather was arrested multiple times for religious use of the plant while her grandmother was

arrested for helping ill friends and family access it.

Jasmin began using cannabis to treat her MS symptoms a few years ago and now the illness is inactive, and she’s able to work seven days a week. We also heard from some exciting innovators from the drinks industry, including Rebekah Hall of Botanic Lab and Sally Wynter of MUHU Spirits, who launched a CBD-infused hibiscus gin in October last year.

Sally explained that, despite a huge resurgence in gin in recent years, there had been very little modern innovation until CBD came along. The emerging cannabis industry presents a huge opportunity for investment. It’s only a matter of time until more investment-focused events such as this arrive on the scene.

CBDexpo France is a fair trade for professionals only. A badge is compulsory to access the event.

Minors under 18 are not allowed, even accompanied. Hemp must respect the 0.2% THC limit. Finished products must not contain THC

The USA’s Largest CBD Event

Good things come in 3s

With a CBD event around every corner this year, you’d be forgiven for not knowing where to invest your time and ticket money.

Europe Canna Expo offers educational and practical advice for canna-curious minds with events in Ireland, Great Britain and Croatia in the coming months.

Words by Lucy MacKinnon

With a tour series taking place in Dublin, London and Zagreb, Paul Raggett, Europe Canna Expo (ECE) events director tells The Cannavist why events are key to quashing stigma and negative connotations for cannabis business.

The aim?

“To provide detailed education to our attendees, help drive meaningful conversations forward and remove the stigma.”

After the success of their first event, the Europe CBD Expo in London last year, the team regrouped to make the next leg of events bigger with an extended reach.

This started with a name change: The Europe Canna Expo encompasses all aspects of medical cannabis, rather than focusing solely on CBD.

By going global, the ECE will deliver a detailed educational programme, industry information and innovations to its attendees, strengthening bonds beyond international borders.

March 3 and 4 Dublin

The debut Dublin event, and first European series instalment, will see the ECE play host to leading international experts as they present on subjects ranging from cannabis science and business, to patient care

and access, and cannabis cultivation. Held at one of Ireland’s most historically significant venues, Paul hopes The Shelbourne’s reputation of facilitating life-changing decisions, such as the Irish constitution, will also be present at the event.

“ECE Dublin will bring Irish stakeholders and the leading international cannabis industry experts together to discuss global medical cannabis research and how it will affect the recent changes in Irish law.”

June 26 and 27 London

Following in the footsteps of last year’s debut event, 125 of the world’s leading brands and service providers will exhibit at the ExCeL convention centre this June.

Paul says: “ECE London will be Europe’s largest medical cannabis

event in 2020. No other event in the UK or Europe will bring you this highlevel conference programme with over 100 international speakers across three conference areas.”

“When you consider the lack of honest and reliable information available to this audience and the misconceptions due to years of propaganda against the plant, we feel we have to give international experts the platform to reach a wider European audience.”

October 15 and 16 Zagreb

As Croatia continues to move towards an open CBD and medical cannabis market with large scale research and cultivation, this event will provide the tools needed to succeed.

“Working in connection with the Croatian Chamber of Economy, ECE Zagreb will look to establish medical cannabis as a new and vibrant industry, helping to bring investment and new opportunities to everyone from farmers looking into hemp production, to patients who are looking for more open access.”

Expecting a global audience made up of senior representatives from the industry, clinicians, governments, press and consumers, the ECE’s 2020 finale will go out in style, forming a cannabis community of Eurozone leaders.

The Cannavist is exclusive media partner to ECE event in 2020. For more information, go to europecbdexpo.co.uk.

WANT TO START A CBD BUSINESS BUT DIY ISN’T FOR YOU?

What do you do if you want to launch your own CBD product overnight? You go to the White Label World Expo.

Words by Thomas Slack

I didn’t quite know what to expect from this exhibition. It was held at the ExCeL in London just before Christmas. I have been to many dedicated, niche, CBD and vape expos before, but never one surrounding the white label industry, which as it happens is a wonderful environment. It turns out that the world of white labelling is as diverse as it can get. It’s a community of other industries, and the phrase ‘it takes a village’ really rings true.

Off I went to this trade show to see how prevalent CBD would be among all of these other exhibitor stalls. I was met by a plethora of businesses and products from phone cases and caps, to baby wipes and artisan gin. But the clear winner was CBD by a country mile. It was the talk of the expo, with the majority of visitors in attendance eager to learn more about this rising tide.

This was a real eye opener for me and many others into the world of white labelling. Anyone who’s interest is piqued by the thought of starting a brand with a ready-to-go product or someone who is ready to take their business to that next level in new

product development should really consider attending next year’s event.

What is white labelling?

Let’s say I have a product, and you want to buy it so that you can put your own spin on the branding, packaging and marketing, with the ultimate goal of selling it as your own product for a profit. I could sell it to you for you to do just that, and this would be white labelling.

This is a little heard of but age-old

process which stems from other industries like breakfast cereal and the own-brand supermarket culture. As an ambitious entrepreneur, you might think you have a million-pound idea on your hands. But the DIY approach sounds like a lot of work.

(It’s not for everyone). What if you could find someone who has already done the research and development, who has perfected their blend of ingredients, and has made life so easy, that you only have to put your stamp on it? That’s the premise.

The Power of CBD

EventGuide

February 11

Chronic Pain, Opiate Crisis and Medical Cannabis GP Course

This GP training course offers cutting edge training on how patients suffering from chronic pain or using opiates may benefit from medical cannabis. Cannabinoids, more specifically, how they interact with the endocannabinoid system, will be explained in detail. This course takes place at One Park Crescent in Marylebone on February 11.

Masterclass: Hemp and Lime for Building Professionals

This hands-on practical workshop will explain the properties of hempcrete and demonstrate its best application practices. The workshop is aimed at architects, surveyors, retrofit professionals, contractors, plasterers and housing managers who want to learn more about working with bio-composite materials. Hosted by green building pioneer Professor Tom Woolley and Graham Durrant, who has over a decade of experience in hemp and lime construction, the session takes place in Manchester on February 21.

Cannabis and Harm Reduction Training

This training course in Swansea aims to educate professionals in supporting cannabis users by delivering in-depth knowledge. Covering the difference in cannabis varieties, the effects and risks involved when using cannabis, a historical overview of the plant and tips on plans to support patients, this course aims to provide a rounded understanding of the plant from a harm reduction perspective.

March 3-4

ECE Dublin 2020

Spring is here, and with it comes a host of new events to fill the calendar...

March 10

Working with Cannabis

Taking place at Quakers Meeting House in Sheffield, this educational event is aimed at professionals working in the drug support field. Attend to get an overview of cannabis in 2020 and find out about its medical use, harm reduction practices and the potential impact on mental health.

April 6

The 4th International Conference on Cannabis and Medicinal Research

Taking place at Australia House in London on April 6, this year’s international conference will focus on ‘challenges and barriers in agronomy, medicinal and upshot of cannabis.’ Expect a focus on legalities, research, dependence and chemistry presented by guest industry specialists. March 23

Kahner Global Cannabis Private Investment Summit

This invite-only event at London’s BMA House will see industry experts, entrepreneurs and investors gather to discuss critical issues and topics, as well as lucrative initiatives for consideration upon entering the cannabis industry. Founded in 2015, the Global Cannabis Private Investment Summit has an impressive track record of industry specialist speakers. Invitations for the March 23 summit can be requested on the Kahner Global website.

April 20

420 Hempstock

Scotland’s CBD community will gather this 420, for a peaceful gathering promoting sensible cannabis policy, pitching ideas for a self-regulated cannabis market in the UK.

This prize has been supplied by Ice Headshop

ICE Headshop is the leading online CBD store in the UK and a smartshop for all of your high-quality ranges and accessories. The team have been online for over 10 years and have all the experience, knowledge and expertise you need. Trusted, reliable, and constantly updating stock to bring you the best CBD products. Visit the website for

Terms and conditions apply*. This competition is open to adults over 18 in the UK and ROI only. Proof of age may be required at the time of claiming the prize. The promoter is Yellow Monday Media Ltd (Company no.: 11475366) trading as The CANNAVIST whose registered office is at Markeaton House, 3 Slater Avenue, Derby, DE1 1GT, United Kingdom. In entering this competition, this magazine may require some of your details, in order to communicate with the winner. These details may only be shared with the company supplying the prize. No further parties will be permitted access to your data. If you do not wish for The CANNAVIST to share your details with the company supplying this prize, you can still enter the giveaway by following the instructions on the online entry page

*For full terms and conditions, please visit the website: Cannavistmag.com. Closing date for entries: Close of business April 1, 2020, after which the winner will be contacted by phone or email. Failure to claim your prize after 14 working days may result in a replacement winner being chosen

IRISH SODA BREAD

Ingredients:

- 170g self-raising wholemeal flour

- 170g plain flour

- ½ tsp salt

- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

- 290ml/½ pint buttermilk

- 1 tbsp CBD paste

- 1 tbsp dried thyme

- 1 tbsp dried rosemary

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.

2. Tip the flours, salt, rosemary, thyme and bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl and stir.

3. Make a well in the centre and pour in the buttermilk and CBD, mixing quickly with a large fork to form a soft dough.

Depending on the absorption rate of the flour, you may need to add a little milk if the dough seems too stiff, but it should not be too wet or sticky.

4. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly.

5. Form a round ball and flatten the dough slightly before placing on a lightly floured baking sheet.

6. Cut a cross on the top and bake for about 30 minutes or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack.

CBD BISCOTTI

Ingredients:

- 350g plain flour, plus extra for rolling

- 2 tsp baking powder

- 2 tsp mixed spice

- 1 tbsp CBD paste

- 250g golden caster sugar

- 3 eggs

- Zest of an orange

- 85g dried cherries

- 85g raisins

- 50g almonds

- 50g pistachios

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

2. Line two baking trays with baking paper.

3. Tip the flour, baking powder, spice and sugar into a large bowl, then mix well.

4. Stir in the eggs, CBD and zest until the mixture starts forming clumps, then mix the dough together with your hands.

5. Add the fruit and nuts, then mix them in until they are evenly distributed.

6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into four pieces. With lightly floured hands, roll each piece into a sausage shape, about 30cm long.

7. Place two onto each tray, spaced well apart.

8. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the dough has risen and expanded. It should still look pale and be firm to the touch.

9. Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire rack for a few minutes until cool enough to handle, then turn the oven down to 140°C.

10. Using a bread knife, cut into slices about 1cm thick on the diagonal, then lay the slices flat on the baking sheets.

11. Bake for another 15 minutes, turn over, then bake again for a further 15 minutes until dry and golden.

12. Tip onto a wire rack to cool completely, then store in an airtight tin for up to a month.

All aboard the PINEAPPLE EXPRESS

This we can definitely get on board with! A Pineapple Express-inspired cocktail with family-harvested hemp seeds at its heart.

You will need:

- 45ml Gindica Gin

- 15ml Simple Syrup

- 2 dashes of Bittermens Hopped Grapefruit Bitters

- A couple of chunks of pineapple to muddle

- Soda water to top up

Method:

Add all of the ingredients to a shaker and muddle with a couple of pineapple chunks.

Close and shake vigorously with ice for at least 20 seconds.

Double strain into a large whiskey glass or any tall glass.

Serve over crushed ice.

Garnish with a dried pineapple disk and pineapple leaf.

Gindica Gin uses hemp seeds from a family farm in Wiltshire!

Mixologists recreate the front face of the famous Pineapple Express with their namesake cocktail.

Tried & Tested

Drop CBD | GRN | Coastal Clouds CBD | CBD Embrace And More...

Nourish

Skincare, Balms, Bath Salts...

picks for this issue, purely based on results. Having left both sections of the mask on for 20 minutes after a deep exfoliation and steam cleanse, my skin was giving off major glow vibes. I took the rest of the gel from the

pack and applied it to my neck and décolletage as a bonus.

The next morning:

I always advise using a mask at night, whether it be for the hair or face. It gives our skin a chance to heal and breathe overnight for the ultimate beauty sleep. The morning after using this man-sized mask my skin looked amazing, even if I do say so myself. There was a noticeable difference in my complexion. Maybe man size is the way forward?

CBD Embrace

Relax bath salts

By Lucy MacKinnon

I recently moved into a new house so I needed a relaxing bath! My body felt of stiff joints and sore muscles. Someone told me that using a CBD bath bomb or bath salts like this packet can really help with that sort of thing. I used the full pack and soaking it all in, I could feel the pressure in my body slowly release and I could almost feel my skin re-hydrating, getting smoother and softer as I began to unwind.

Taking a bath is already a relaxing activity of course. But 30mg of full spectrum CBD combined with the floral yet sharp scent of coriander and mint took this ‘me time’ ritual one step further.

I woke up the following day with satin-like skin, no stiffness and an energised attitude so I think I have CBD Embrace to thank for that. Would definitely recommend!

100mg CLEARSKIN Moisturiser

By Lucy Booth

Having spot prone and very sensitive skin, me and moisturising creams have never got along. They either cause my skin to become too oily or irritate my skin, which causes more angry flare ups and break outs. Also to add to that, in winter I always seem to get an area of dryness around my nose…

I have it all going on!

CLEARSKIN Soap

By Phoebe Fuller

30mg CBD per bar

This claims to be an Acne Cleansing CBD Soap with Activated Charcoal. I’m something of a skincare junkie, so I was really excited when our editor asked me to review this CBD soap with activated charcoal. This full spectrum offering boasts 30mg of CBD per bar, with hemp oil, shea butter and a skin-friendly concoction of essential oils. This soap is entirely un-fragranced, which is good news for those with sensitive skin (ahem, me!).

I’ve got my facial skincare routine down to a fine art these days, so I used the soap on my body instead. Once I’d dried off and moisturised, my skin felt very comfortable and I didn’t notice any adverse reactions. I really like that this bar contains activated charcoal even if I’m not entirely convinced by its acne-fighting properties, only because there didn’t seem to be enough charcoal coming off the soap to have much of an effect on my existing skin complaints. As a preventative measure against the odd bad skin day, for £14.99 this CBD soap may well be worth a shot.

I have used creams, lotions, balms, gels, oils and serums from various brands over the years to no avail. But saying that, I have been very pleasantly surprised with Clearskin 1000mg CBD skin moisturiser by CBD Embrace. It has a lovely consistency, not too thick with a fresh smelling scent that’s not overly fragranced. I used this cream for seven days straight and applied twice a day, both morning and night after cleansing and toning.

The result? My skin hasn’t been having its usual lunch time oil spill, I haven’t had any break outs or irritated skin and no dry winter nose. What’s going on?

My complexion also has a much more even tone to it and I have begun to notice previous marks left by spots have started to fade. This cream is also vegan and cruelty free, which is at the top of my list when buying any beauty product. It looks like me and a moisturiser have finally become friends!

Doctor Green’s 200mg CBD tattoo butter

By Lucy MacKinnon

After getting another new tattoo the other weekend (sorry Mum!) I was curious to see just how the ‘healing’ properties of CBD matched up against other tattoo aftercare care products. Anti-inflammation is a must! So I applied Doctor Green’s tattoo butter three times a day for three days straight and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.

At a first glance I thought there were little exfoliating beads in the butter, but when applying the creamy texture, I noticed these broke down quickly and hydrated my sore skin almost immediately.

With cocoa butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, almond oil and that all-important CBD in the mix, it is no shock this tattoo butter seemed to nourish and calm my new tattoo after just three days.

GRN

250mg

Hemp Extract Coconut

The arrival of this lotion couldn’t have come at a better time – it was December, aka parched skin month. My hands in particular are like sandpaper in winter months, between temperamental office aircon, ice cold air, sweaty gym sessions, boozy Christmas parties and clammy tube journeys (it’s a glam life but someone’s

I really love the texture of this one as it’s thicker than an everyday face moisturiser but not too thick that you need time to dry off before pulling clothes on. I only used it on my face at nighttime and everywhere else on my body after a shower. It has a gorgeous smell! To help me verbalise it, I stuck my cheek under my boyfriend’s nose and asked him to describe it: “If it were a material, it would be thick, rich velvet. It’s luscious innit.” And there we have it. Who knew hemp and coconut were such a perfect pair? GRN certainly did. Probably the most luxurious feeling lotion of all the CBD skincare I’ve tried!

The Hemp Bros Skin Cream

By Kashif Hussain 400mg per 100ml

With only seven ingredients, Hemp Bros’ skin cream proves that less is more.

A pleasant orange aroma greets you after opening the tin. The cream itself is almost solid, probably due to the all-natural ingredients, so scraping it out can be a bit of a challenge. Once you manage to scoop some up it starts to soften as you spread it into your skin, and

800mg Broad Spectrum

By James Parnell

By Róisín Delaney

Salves flooded the US CBD market in 2019, with everyone bringing out a take on this balm that isn’t a balm. Whatever you call them, salves can mean salvation, if they work. This convenient 50g jar comes in 500mg or 1000mg and will fit right in with your other skincare products thanks to its look and feel.

On the inside, this kiwi blend is packed with fat soluble essential oils, which CBD loves. The brand says absorption is immediate, and it certainly seems so. Cucumber, kiwi and green tea are an unlikely trio but it works. For me, it’s always refreshing when someone disrupts the norm on the ingredients list.

If you are someone who suffers from desk neck, phone neck or you need something to relieve tension but that doesn’t have that hemp stench, you can’t go too far wrong with CBD Pharm’s salve.

packaging, the ingredients (yay to pure hemp oil and Vitamin A but also, hello hydrolysed collagen!) This ticks all of the boxes for me. I love the sleek pump design

every morning for about a month now and I’m really

and my makeup glides on easily afterwards. I’ve mainly used it as a day cream but the odd time I’ll swap out my thicker night cream for this and I go to bed with a fresher feeling face. There is a disclaimer to point out that the natural ingredients may lead to discolouration over time but much like a brown spot on a banana it’s all good! This product wouldn’t look in the least bit out

happily choose it over them every time. Great success!

Tinctures& Sprays With Chia Seed Oil

GRN 250mg Natural Boost Tincture

By Lisa Blake

Another tincture, another childlock. Once I got over questioning the development of my adult motor skills, I tried this much more appeasing and unremarkable (in a good way) tasting oil, which not only tasted better, but also didn’t have as strong a smell as other ‘natural’ oils.

I used this one the most regularly over the course of a month, especially before sleeping. It’s made me religious about going to bed with a glass of water as without fail I get a tickly, dry throat after using it.

I didn’t find it as effective for nodding off as quickly as with other tinctures I’ve used in the past, but I suspect that’s for a combination of reasons.

I’m a fan of the packaging as it definitely has a feel good factor: “gluten free, 100% vegan, pesticide free” – reassuring as I make a feeble attempt at Veganuary and contemplate the sorry state of our planet. Thumbs up for an environmentally conscious, natural, hardworking product.

1000mg Whole Plant Oil from

I’m a big believer in whole is better. Whole fat, whole foods, whole plant please. This 10ml bottle from Dorset-based Natural Health Goods contains 1000mg of whole plant (full spectrum) hemp oil. The percentage of CBD in the oil comes in at 10%, and there are other cannabinoids at work in here too. These help the CBD to be absorbed, increasing the

The thing I like most about this is noticeable terpene profile. It’s not too strong that it’s unpalatable and works really well when combined with food.

A word of advice to any newcomers, whole plant natural hemp oil, with or without CBD, is an acquired taste. If you want to keep it as nature intended, you’ll need something to neutralise that after taste au

EU gives an “OK” to CBD cosmetics

Changes in the European Commission’s database of cosmetics ingre dients (CosIng) to include Cannabis sativa leaf extract represent an important milestone in industry conversations with authorities over the regulation of cosmetic products.

That’s according to Lorenza Romanese, managing director of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA).

Five new entries have been added to the CosIng database recently, with one of the most important being the cannabis leaf extracts entry (“Cannabis Sativa Leaf Extract is the extract of the leaves of Cannabis sativa, Cannabaceae”)

This is now listed in CosIng as having emollient and skin conditioning functions

In the view of the EIHA, this means that CBD extracted from the leaves will be exempted from any enforcement action or question about its legality when used in cosmetics. That could open the door to many new products.

About CBD-Intel

The inclusion of some new cannabis related entries into the catalogue will facilitate the placement of cannabis containing cosmetics in the EU market provided all other rules, such as limits on THC, are respected.

Romanese said this was the result of industry efforts to engage in dialogues with DG GROW the EU directorate general (DG) that deals with cos metic products’ regulation and the member states’ relevant authorities. The lobbying organisation had wanted to see new entries for Cannabis sativa leaf extract, Cannabis sativa leaf/stem extract and also Cannabis sativa root extract

Romanese is positive that other entries may be introduced in the catalogue, and most notably the EIHA is optimistic about references to Cannabis sativa roots being introduced so that they are undis putedly allowed into the EU market. Romanese told CBD Intel that the process for roots “is ongoing”

At this stage, however, flowers and their derivatives including extracts from flowers such as CBD, or any other cannabinoid containing extract are still listed as “problematic”. The industry association is not expecting a cha nge in the short term, but it remains positive about the mid term chances.

CBD Intel provides impartial, independent and premium market and regulatory analysis, legal tracking, and quantitative data for the cannabidiol (CBD) sector, with a focus on non US markets

We offer a one stop source of market and regulatory strategic data for the CBD industry. Providing all the data in one online platform reduc es the amount of time and money spent monitoring the sector for multiple international markets. Our global perspective on the international CBD sector offers you key data such as market trends, key players, regulatory obligations and industry dynamics.

CBD Intel’s team is made up of lawyers, economists and journalists. The team is based in London, Barcelona and New York, and enhanced by correspondents and contributors from around the world

In addition, we offer customised research and consultancy support. We also publish ECigIntelligence for the global e cigarette and tobacco alternatives sector

Coastal Clouds Miniature Oils

By Róisín Delaney

Coastal Clouds are the Californian kings and queens at everything from the quality of their full spectrum CBD extract to flavour profiles to the packaging. (By the way, this set of six miniature CBD oils, each an individual flavour, is the perfect gift for someone who is looking to find their signature tincture.)

If names like Mango Diesel, Mint Chocolate and Raspberry Chocolate Dream don’t entice you to trying CBD, what will?

Mango Diesel was a firm favourite, but it was Lavender Mint which I was really keen on.

I must have sampled one thousand mint, spearmint or peppermint tinctures in this job, but this lavender spin was a first. This was a genius idea and I can’t wait to grab a full size 30ml bottle. I wonder if there’s an ice cream version?

Food & Beverages

Ultra CBD Extra Strength Taffy

50mg Orange Lemon (Focus)

By Gordon Stribling

With 50mg of full spectrum CBD packed into a single taffy, I was expecting some of that divisive CBD earthiness. But instead, my taste buds were overwhelmed by the sharp citrus tang of orange and lemon. I could quite easily snack on this like any other sweet, plus it’s vegan and gelatine-free, which will be a huge selling point for some. ‘Focus’ also contains a number of ingredients often found in energy drinks, such as taurine, caffeine and L-theanine, but without any of that associated medicinal taste.

Overall this was a nice alternative to the ubiquitous CBD gummy, which in comparison tends to contain just 10mg of CBD.

Full Spectrum Gummies

by GRN

By Gordon Stribling

8 x 25mg of hemp extract

Gummies are a great way to get CBD on-the-go. However, there are so many varieties out there, so I was intrigued to find out how GRN stacked up.

These certainly stand out on aroma and flavour. Perhaps it’s the blend of natural and artificial flavourings, but there’s a truly unique bouquet when you open the packet, with each distinct flavour combining with the spicy CBD aftertaste from the first bite.

GRN gummies are really a broad-spectrum product as they are THC-free, which will appeal to those who are unable or unwilling to consume even traces of THC.

English Breakfast Tea

On an average day in the office I probably get through around seven cups of tea. Yes, seven. So it was only fitting that I jumped at the chance to drink MORE of the stuff. Getting paid to drink tea? Yeah, my job’s a pretty good gig. This full spectrum tea from CBD embrace is vegan, gluten free and THC free with 16mg of CBD per bag. I added a splash of milk to mine, as CBD is fat-soluble and so I wanted to increase the absorption but, also, because I’ve always been a tea-with-milk kind of gal. Once brewed, it smells very strongly of hemp so maybe warn your boss if you get around to ever sipping on this in the office. The taste isn’t quite as strong as the smell would suggest though and, otherwise, it just tastes like normal tea, which is positive as many hempbased food items aren’t the most tolerable.

I found that it required a longer brew-time than normal tea when adding milk, because it otherwise became an anaemic, green coloured concoction that really didn’t look too appetising; so make sure you keep the bag in

LV Well CBD Iso-Vape

Haze Cake

VG/PG ratio: 50/50

CBD Content: 300mg (10mg/ml)

Made using CBD isolate

Haze cake is one of four flavoured CBD e-liquid products that LV Well currently offers. The dominant flavour here is a rich, luxurious cake, with plenty of bakery sweetness and a syrup-like top note.

This is complemented by a moderate helping of OG Kush terpenes, which add a blend of citrus and herbal notes to the cake, without overpowering it. There is a mild isolate flavour on the finish but it’s not a major part of the profile and it certainly doesn’t detract from or interfere with the blend of flavours.

This is a competently mixed bakery CBD blend that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Dr. Dabber Original Blend Starter Kit

250mg CBD Made using broad spectrum CBD Cartridge capacity: 0.5ml

Dr. Dabber has been offering the US market premium legal cannabis and CBD vapour products for a number of years now and their CBD cartridges are making their way to the UK. We’re looking at their cartridge and battery kit, which includes everything you need.

The first thing I noticed about Dr. Dabber’s broad spectrum distillate is that it’s much more viscous than the kinds of products we usually see in the UK. In colder environments, I found this to necessitate the pre-heat cycle but at room temperature I had no issues.

Dr. Dabber’s Original Blend is intense and vibrant. I pick up an even mix of bright citrus fruit, deep earthiness and herbal notes from the distillate and it’s one of the most natural tasting I’ve ever tried. With each 0.5ml cartridge providing 250mg of CBD, this is a high dosage product and I certainly felt this in practice. The intensity of flavour and potency of this blend make it easy to forgive a slightly scratchy finish and this is

Future CBD

Blue Slush

VG/PG ratio: 60/40

CBD content: 500mg (16.5mg/ml)

Made using CBD Isolate + full spectrum CBD

Before I discuss the flavour of this Future CBD e-liquid offering I would like to point out that I was a little confused with their labelling and the information displayed on their site. The packaging states that the bottle contains 500mg of CBD isolate but also goes on to state that it contains full spectrum CBD and natural terpenes. I am taking this to mean that their blend is a combination of isolate and full spectrum CBD.

Blue slush and bold fruits have historically paired very well with CBD, so this is a natural choice. The slush note in this blend is moderate, with a bright sweetness, candy texture and mild tartness on the finish. Unlike many blue slush flavours, I did not find this one to become cloying or overly sweet throughout the day. There is a noticeable CBD flavour running through the mix and I found it to pair nicely with the raspberry, which should hardly be a surprise to those who have tried profiles similar to this before. A simple but thoroughly enjoyable blend.

Mixed Berry

VG/PG ratio: 60/40

CBD content: 500mg (16.5mg/ml)

Made using CBD isolate + full spectrum

Interestingly, I found this to be a touch sweeter than Blue Slush, with blackberry being the dominant flavour. The rich depth of this note is combined with some softer sweetness, provided by what would appear to be a candy strawberry, which tames some of the earthy florals of the darker berry.

I found the CBD flavour to be less prominent in this blend but it can still be detected on the finish and works nicely to augment the contrasting berry notes.

GRN CBD

Unflavoured

CBD Content: 250mg (8.3mg/ml)

VG/PG Ratio: 60/40

Unflavoured is always a good baseline to judge the quality of a CBD product and I’m happy to report that GRN’s CBD extract is very clean. Since there are no additional flavourings, this gives us a clear impression of their ingredients and the CBD here imparts a mild botanical flavour which is more subtle than others that I have tried. The vegetable gylcerin content of the e-liquid does add some natural sweetness, which I found complemented the flavour of the extract nicely. If you decide to opt for a higher CBD dosage, the flavour will be more pronounced of course, but this is amongst

Vanilla Custard

CBD Content: 250mg (8.3mg/ml)

VG/PG Ratio: 60/40

Vanilla Custard is incredibly popular as CBD flavours go, and GRN have nailed their interpretation. The main note is a bright French vanilla that leans heavily into the confectionery connotations, rather than darker spiced notes. This is coupled with a decadent custard, which brings thick mouthfeel to the blend along with a mild dairy finish. With the 250mg strength version, I found the flavour of the extract to be quite subtle, making this a great option for those starting out.

CBD Content: 250mg (8.3mg/ml)

VG/PG Ratio: 60/40

Another sweet dessert profile from the GRN CBD line, sweet in every sense. The dominant note here is an authentic baked apple. It has a pleasant, moderate sweetness and some mild tartness. This is coupled with a very mild bakery cinnamon note, which complements the apple without taking over the mix. The muffin element is quite subtle but does add some texture to the profile without over sweetening. In a similar fashion to the Vanilla Custard, I found the flavour of the CBD extract to be almost entirely masked, which will be a big selling point for many.

Coastal Clouds CBD

Cucumber Melon

CBD Content: 250mg (25mg/ml)

Made using CBD isolate

Coastal Clouds are market giants, so we have high expectations for their flavoured CBD. Cucumber Melon is a simple but expertly balanced profile. Cucumber is the star of the show, with its mild vegetal flavour and juicy, fresh mouthfeel. This is complemented by a burst of authentic melon, which to our palate appears to be cantaloupe. The isolate is barely detectable in terms of flavour, resulting in a fresh and fruity CBD vape that can easily be enjoyed all day.

Tropical Lemonade

CBD Content: 250mg (25mg/ml)

Made using CBD isolate

Perhaps the most vibrant of Coastal Clouds’ offerings. The top note here is a rich, full bodied mango, which tastes very true to life. This is coupled with a subtle creamy note, which could be from a papaya accent, though it is quite mild, so difficult to say for sure. The lemonade base is bright, with a good helping of tartness, think homestyle lemonade made with real lemons, rather than the commercial beverage. This is a bold, poppy flavour but is still nicely balanced and should have a very broad appeal.

Mint

CBD Content: 250mg (25mg/ml)

Made using CBD isolate

By far the simplest of Coastal Clouds’ CBD offerings. The mint flavour is quite potent and is mostly reminiscent of a mint candy, though it does have a slight herbal note on the finish and imparts a mild cooling sensation on the nose and throat.

The isolate flavour is slightly more apparent in this blend and it pairs nicely with the mint, to create a basic but very pleasant CBD profile.

Guava Berries

CBD Content: 250mg (25mg/ml)

Made using CBD isolate

Another exotic blend, Guava is the main note in this mix, with a dense mouthfeel, plenty of tropical sweetness and a mild earthiness on the finish. This is coupled with a more subtle berry medley, which provides further sweetness and a slight tartness to balance the profile. Again, the isolate flavour is nearly undetectable, which is great for those who do not enjoy botanicals.

Peach Berries

CBD Content: 250mg (25mg/ml)

Made using CBD isolate

Almost all peach e-liquids have a strong candy connotation, but Coastal Clouds’ offering is different in that it provides a rich, authentic peach without any artificial notes. It’s moderately sweet and has a pleasant juicy texture. This is supported by a much milder candy strawberry, which lends some additional sweetness to the mix without overstaying its welcome. The isolate flavour is subtle here but can be noticed on the finish, though to me it adds to the profile rather than becoming a distraction.

You care about what goes into the products you use and you deserve to know that the label matches what’s inside. The Mile High Labs Premium CBD seal is a symbol of trust and transparency signifying our commitment to producing only the highest-quality CBD products available.