The Father Of Medical Cannabis Research Celebrates His 90th Birthday At CannX

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CannX 2020 Virtual Conference, 26 October 2020 Online

ISRAEL:  CannX has proven itself time and time again as the central meeting point for exploring the latest developments in medical cannabis. With top quality of the conference program and the leading international speakers, CannX Virtual 2020 will provide the latest in scientific research, agricultural practices and innovation, and business opportunities. Cannabis sativa has a long history as a medicinal plant and has shown therapeutic effect in patients with pain, nausea, posttraumatic stress disorder, cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma and many more conditions.

“I believe cannabinoids represent a medical treasure waiting to be discovered,” said Prof. Raphael Mechoulam, Conference President.

This year, CannX will include a special celebration in honor of Raphael Mechoulam, the Father of Medical Cannabis Research. Since the inception of his research in the 60s, Professor Mechoulam has been nominated for over 25 academic awards, including the Heinrich Wieland Prize (2004), an Honorary doctorate from Complutense University (2006), the Israel Prize in Exact Sciences – _Chemistry (2000), the Israel Chemical Society Prize for excellence in research (2009) and EMET Prize in Exact Sciences – Chemistry (2012). The honorary session will include a one-on-one interview of Prof. Mechoulam by Dr. Dedi Meiri and several surprises.

The CannX platform is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and practice in the emerging field of medical cannabis. With a program designed to showcase recent research and analyze real-world applications, the conference provides a unique opportunity for scientists, clinical researchers, start-ups, and established industry companies to form new collaborations and discuss the potential impact of the latest findings.

CannX 2020 will be a virtual conference, providing access to content whenever and wherever the attendees are located, thus ensuring interaction with a uniquely diverse professional audience base. The program has been submitted to the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) and is pending CME accreditation. Session highlights include:

  • Women in the Forefront of Cannabis Innovation
  • The Interplay of Science, Business and Law
  • Cannabinoids and the Elderly
  • Medical Cannabis and the Role of Pharmacists: The Israeli Experience
  • COVID-19, CBD and Cannabis

View the full programs here:

 

FSD Pharma Announces Decision To Surrender Health Canada Licenses For Subsidiary FV Pharma Inc.

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FV Pharma to shut down operations within 30 days

CANADA: FSD Pharma Inc. today announced that it has notified Health Canada of the Company’s decision to forfeit the licenses of its wholly-owned subsidiary, FV Pharma, Inc.  and suspend all activities by FV Pharma within 30 days of the notification date. FSD Pharma has begun the process of liquidating all FV Pharma assets, including the sale of the Company’s cannabis production facility in Cobourg, Ontario.

“It is now clear to us that our shareholder value is best served in closing down our medicinal grade cannabis operation in Cobourg, Ontario and reinforcing steps to advance pharmaceutical R&D efforts on our lead compound FSD201 (ultra-micronized PEA) and continuing to explore the acquisition of other compelling compounds to expand our drug development pipeline,” said Raza Bokhari, MD, Executive Co-Chairman & CEO.

“Our pharmaceutical R&D team led by Dr. Edward Brennan is actively working to submit an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to the FDA for the use of FSD201 (ultra-micronized PEA) to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients by down-regulating the over-expressed pro-inflammatory cytokine immune response to SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. We are hopeful to initiate the phase 2 clinical trial before the end of this year and remain cautiously optimistic that our study may improve treatment outcome for COVID-19 patients.”

The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time.

CalCPA Cannabis Industry Symposium Examines Impact Of COVID-19, Regulation & Economic Outlook On CA’s $3 Billion Cannabis Sector

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CALIFORNIA: COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the California economy, and the cannabis sector has not been immune. Supply chains have been disrupted, revenues have taken a hit, and labor has been impacted. California’s cannabis industry is feeling the pain and seeking a path to recovery through economic stimulus, innovation and new business models, and solid advice from key advisors like CPAs who guide them through complex tax, accounting and auditing matters.

On August 7, 2020, CalCPA will again bring together leading experts and thinkers at its annual Cannabis Industry Virtual Symposium, where attendees will learn about the latest tax, legal and accounting updates impacting cannabis industry businesses and the professionals who advise them. Speakers will provide insight into new, recently implemented policies, outcomes from the COVID-19 stimulus legislation, interpretation of tax law, review of banking rules, trends in federal legislative actions, how to handle bankruptcy and receivership, and valuation of cannabis businesses.

Researchers At Israel’s Rambam Hospital:  Cannabis May Help Severely Ill COVID-19 Patients

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ISRAEL: Rambam Health Care Campus is leading cannabis research that could be helpful in the treatment of severely ill COVID-19 patients. Clinical trials have been scheduled.

Researchers in the Center for Cannabis Research at Rambam Health Care Campus, led by the center’s Director Dr. Igal Louria-Hayon, hope to study the effects of cannabis use on severely ill COVID-19 patients in clinical trials scheduled to begin in the next few months. Preliminary investigations indicate that several types of cannabis may have the potential to prevent the life-threatening cascade of inflammation in these patients. Information gathered to date indicates that a major cause of death in COVID-19 patients is the storm of “cytokines” released when the body’s immune system recognizes a new and threatening invader. This may result in an out-of-control inflammatory response which worsens the illness and can even lead to death.

Active components in cannabis activate an internal system in the body that has been dubbed the “endocannabinoid system.” Since the body naturally produces and utilizes substances similar in structure to the active components of cannabis, it may also respond broadly to the cannabis plant itself. A Biobank database of COVID-19 patients at Rambam will help facilitate research into the possible therapeutic effects of cannabis in battling the deadly virus.

“Cannabis has known anti-inflammatory properties, and we have been conducting advanced research on the use of cannabis to treat other diseases with widespread inflammatory responses. At the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, we directed our efforts and experience to join the world-wide battle against this epidemic,” said Dr. Louria-Hayon.

Dr. Louria-Hayon, researchers in the Cannabis Research Center investigated multiple cannabis strains, and they were able to narrow the field to about 15 species strains that appear to have the ability to prevent the intense inflammatory response experienced by some COVID-19 patients. “We detected signs that cannabinoids contribute to the sophisticated fabric network of intercellular communications,” Dr. Louria-Hayon said. “Intercellular communication based on cannabis-like substances also exist in the immune system,” said Dr. Louria-Hayon. “If we understand how cannabinoid components are used in intercellular communication, we can help influence this communication in the event of a disease, to disrupt it or empower the communication to convey desired messages.”

Dr. Louria-Hayon explained that in order to understand the mechanism of the effect of cannabis on COVID-19, researchers are drawing on inflammatory cell samples from COVID-19 patients. “For the first time in Israel, a laboratory experiment has been undertaken to explore the effect of various types of cannabinoids on the white blood cells of COVID-19 patients,” he notes. Each cannabis strain has hundreds of active substances, and Dr. Louria-Hayon stated that they want to examine the receptors to which these substances bond, the cellular messages that are communicated, and the extent to which cannabinoids reduce the inflammatory response. “We believe that we will be able to accelerate the pace of investigation and move more rapidly to clinical applications, due to access to the National Biobank at Rambam,” said Dr. Louria-Hayon.

The purpose of the study is to treat the inflammatory storm as it develops and before the patient’s condition deteriorates and a ventilator is needed. “We hope that by decoding the cannabinoid activity mechanism during inflammatory storms, we can treat COVID-19 patients where conventional drugs have failed,” Dr. Louria-Hayon said. “The uniqueness of our cannabis treatments is based on our understanding of the mechanisms of cannabinoids activity and scientific findings.”

Dr. Shlomit Yehudai-Reshef, Director of the Rambam Medical Research Institute, explains, “We saw the establishment of a Biobank pool for COVID-19 research as essential to securing rapid answers and accelerating critically needed research. Blood samples are the most accessible resource for continuous sampling—to understand biological processes during the disease and to develop vaccines and drugs.”

“At Rambam, dozens of COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized in recent weeks, from whom blood samples were collected for clinical and research purposes”, she said, noting that “despite the complexity and high risk, we found a safe way to separate the white blood cells, including the immune cells from verified patients.”

The Higher Ground Legal Stash Box! CoronaVirus Edition

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A Highly Curated Cannabis Collection

The Coronavirus is a global pandemic, and to be taken seriously. And while we’re following scientific advice and protocols, we’re also aware of the need to medicate – which is where the Higher Ground Legal Stash Box: CoronaVirus Edition comes in. Curated from legal markets across the country, we’ve hand-selected the items to help you continue using cannabis for a health buzz – as well as sanitizers, hemp masks and CBD to calm our nerves in this very strange time.
Some common-sense info for the canna-community during the CoronaVirus outbreak include the following: Don’t share joints, vapes, pipes or bongs. If you do share a smoking device, have a disinfectant wipe handy to swap the piece before sharing. Obviously, if you’re feeling sick – skip any smoking or recreational cannabis session. COVID-19 causes infections in the nose, throat and lungs. Since – over time – smoking cannabis can impact lung health, it’s best to take a break from smoking or vaping until you’re feeling better or have been tested. Finally, maintain social distancing, even among friends at smoke sessions. One person on a recliner, another pacing the room, and a third on the couch will do the trick. Just be smart, follow guidelines, and common sense.
The notable selections in this Higher Ground Legal Stash Box, CoronaVirus Edition include:
The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). Luckily, we can support businesses using hemp and promote cannabis through the masks we purchase and wear. An example of reusable, breathable and washable hemp face masks with a natural hemp filter is a great option. The hemp fibre filter is encased in cotton for comfort and make the face mask easy to wash for reuse.
While we have one of these insane contraptions below in the Higher Ground office, it is NOT recommended to replace an actual mask, and should be used with caution. (Wearing a mask when you go out not only protects the user, but others who may become infected.)
The use of edibles can eliminate exposure to potential lung irritants entirely, and Kin Slips is an innovative and slick option. Kin Slips was founded by a passionate group of entrepreneurs hell-bent on reimagining cannabis and developing the most efficient products around. Their commitment to providing an alternative cannabis consumption experience began with these sublingual strips —a infused product that is discreet and all-natural, and provides health and wellness conscious consumers with a consistent, smoke-free cannabis experience. Kin Slips dissolve under the tongue to deliver a precise dose of CBD or THC. Unlike traditional edibles, Kin Slips absorb directly into the bloodstream to bypass the digestive system, enabling an onset of about 15 minutes and are available in standard dose (10MG) and micro-dose (5MG) formulas, which allow consumers easy control over their preferred experience that’s tailored by the variations they offer; Creativity and Focus, Comfort and Relief and Sleep and Serenity. In our box are “Park Life” strips, minty fresh with hints of tumeric, each has a 10:1 ratio of CBD to THC that works nicely to help take the edge off – like a stroll in the park.
Many folks are stressed to the max, and having difficulty sleeping; it’s no wonder – we have a reality-show buffoon running the sitch. There are many sleep-aid options in the cannabis world, including CBD-rich gummies, transdermal patches, and capsules with CBD and melatonin. One of our favorite ways to end the evening is via the Beboe Downtime Vaporizer. Beboe is a luxury cannabis brand, and their gorgeous rose gold pen comes in a glass test tube (we admit it – we are obsessed with cool packaging), with a letterpresses label in gold foil. The Beboe Indica Downtime vape pen is intended for quiet evenings at home, great for reducing anxiety and winding down. A relaxing combination of the choicest Indica-dominant strains makes the Downtime Pen an excellent way to smooth out life’s stresses at the end of a long day, and is a go-to cure for stress and insomnia without any of the usual next-day grogginess.
The Nuggy is the Swiss Army Knife for potheads – and Lord KNOWS what challenges lie ahead in this Corona-ClusterF*ck. While others stock up on AK-47s, chainsaws and ATVs, we prefer tools we can use – like the “Original Smoker’s Multi-Tool!” The Nuggy is a 10-in-One, pocket friendly multi-tool designed specifically for smokers. This stoner-survival tool has everything a real connoisseur could possibly need to help with rolling, cutting, shredding, dabbing, scraping, poking and vaping all packed into one durable unit. The designers have managed to fit 10 must have spring-locking tools into this super compact pocket size device including: a knife, scissors, roach clip, tamper, mini spoon, herb bowl scraper, bottle opener, flat head screwdriver, pointy pick AND an LED flashlight! Cuz, you know, it’s kind of dark out right now…
For those of us who just like the wonderful tradition of smoking a joint, we’re including Mini Joints in the CoronaVirus Stash Box. With small doobies (aka DogWalkers), joints are small enough for a single person using it without the threat of passing on a virus through saliva exchange. Also, kind of hard to be socially distant while passing the blunt.
Island Minis: With five 0.5 gram pre-rolls in each box, Island all-flower Minis are the perfect combination of fun and flavor. Island is a for-benefit organization, and their commitment extends beyond providing cannabis that is both safe and effective. Island actively supports organizations focused on positive social change and have made it part of their mission to give back to our community.
TRIPLE J’S ORIGINAL MINI JOINTS come in different blends to suit every lifestyle; Hybrid, Indica, Sativa and Enhanced with Kief. Known for quality, convenience, and reliability, Triple J’s are assembled by hand in a process that ensures the best quality experience every time without the hassle of rolling your own.
Tinctures are a great way to consume cannabis, and there are a million combinations of THC, CBD and plant materials to fine-tune a particular experience or relief. Sativa Valley Blueberry CBD tincture is formulated to help reduce anxiety, inflammation, and aid in insomnia relief. Paired with a variety of fruit extract flavors, their organic sublingual tincture is placed under the tongue to produce different effects depending on the serving size: calming and anxiety relief effects at low milligram servings sizes, while anti-inflammatory and muscle pain relief is achieved with medium to higher milligram serving sizes. Best of all, Sativa Valley participates in “Wildcrafting” – an age-old practice of collecting plant materials in their natural habitat for food, medicine, and craft.
We know that COVID-19 attacks the respiratory system and is more dangerous for people with additional health issues. While clearly not mandated, people may consider limiting or refraining from smoking as a cautious prevention method. Vaporizers, multi-chamber water pipes, and edibles are simple going to be better on the lungs. The DaVinci MIQRO and IQ Vaporizers, for example, are ultra-portable vapes designed for the solo vape connoisseur, convection-cooking your cannabis to the perfect temp – and not causing lung irritation.
As insomnia affects around 30% of Americans and can pose greater risk factors for those suffering from chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, and mental disorders, many are finding relief through cannabis to sleep through the night. We like the wok of Lord Jones, who manufactures some of the world’s finest hemp-derived CBD infused topicals and ingestibles. Lord Jones gumdrops and chews are made by hand in small batches with the finest ingredients and CBD extract derived from select hemp cultivated in the USA. Their hemp-derived CBD oil retains the plant’s original terpenes and phytocannabinoids for broad and full spectrum formulations, and are lab-tested to ensure proper purity and potency. One of our favorite canna-collaborations are their work with the great band Sigur Ros. Together they created cannabidiol-infused (CBD-infused) gumdrops called “Wild Sigurberry!” The limited-edition collection of medicated gumdrops are a “proprietary terpene blend designed to provide a calming sense of well-being inspired by the music of Sigur Rós, “Wild Sigurberry” was inspired by the flavors of foraged berries from the band’s home country – and we’re inspired by the teamwork.
Wash your hands early & often! We all know the drill – and we’re personally using the first verse from Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” as our washing duration song!
When soap and water are not readily available, the use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is equally effective. Hand Sanitizers by Dr. Bronners Soap are essential tools to help keep Covid-19 from spreading and help maintain public health. And Dr. Bronners has always been the coolest all-organic company around, leading the charge to be eco-friendly, and donating to wonderful pro-cannabis organizations. Most recently, Dr. Bronners is working on campaigns for more widespread therapeutic use of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, donating a million dollars to a legalize psilocybin therapy initiative in Oregon.Family-owned and run since 1948, Dr. Bronners are allotting a reserve of 2% of all hand sanitizer production to donate to at-risk communities and the organizations that serve them, so they have access to the hand sanitizer as well, and are continuing to work with advocates and service providers to get their products in the hands of those who need them most during this public health crisis.

“Life is just a bowl of cherries.”

Originating as the title of a song (1931) by Lew Brown (lyrics) and composer Ray Henderson, this term expressed the idea that everything was going very well – and life was wonderful. (Today it’s often used ironically, but we’re looking on the bright side.) Clearly, things are quite odd in our CoronaVirus realm. But we’ll make it through, and hope to accentuate the positive – and something that’s pretty darn great are Goodship Tart CHERRY Pastilles. Tart and fruity, Goodship confections are made from all-natural, locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients. Each “sweet tart” pastille is micro dosed at 2.5mg per piece, giving a consistent, uplifting and delicious experience each go-round. Best of all, Goodship tarts come in a beautiful embossed tin – which you can put joints and buds in when the pastilles are long gone.
While the Higher Ground Legal Stash Box is not available for purchase, there are several high end curated delivery boxes for sale, including Club M  and PotBox
Stay tuned to MJ News Network where we will continue to curate the best in legal cannabis, and highlight the most innovative and elegant brands in upcoming Higher Ground Legal Stash Boxes.
Higher Ground is the World’s first talk show highlighting cannabis culture. Think of it as “The Daily Show” meets “Good Morning America”…but with a giant bong on the desk. For more on Higher Ground and host Michael Stusser, visit www.highergroundtv.com or www.michaelstusser.com