Aurora appoints IPS Pharma and Grow Biotech as importer and distributor for the UK market
Expanding on Aurora’s first commercial export of cannabis oil into the United Kingdom (“UK”),
the Company recently entered into agreements with two local partners to accelerate delivery of additional medical cannabis to the UK market.
The partners will oversee the implementation of an educational program for UK based healthcare professionals and manage the distribution of medical cannabis within the country.
Further to the Company’s press release dated October 25, 2018, on August the 14th, 2019, the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocides in Poland, released the marketing authorization for 4 of Aurora’s products. This authorization enables Aurora to expand its product offering in Poland with the following varieties:
Cannabis Flos Aurora Deutschland GmbH (THC =1%, CBD 12%)
Cannabis Flos Aurora Deutschland GmbH (THC 8%, CBD 8%)
Cannabis Flos Aurora Deutschland GmbH (THC 20%, CBD =1%)
Cannabis Flos Aurora Deutschland GmbH (THC 22%, CBD =1%)
AURORA CANNABIS PLOTS ENTRY INTO THE US MARKET
Aurora is planning to enter the US market in the very near future.
This message was delivered loud and clear by CEO Terry Booth, in the most recent conference call with investors and echoed by CCO Cam Battley in several post-ER video interviews as well as Executive Chairman Michael Singer who said “… we will have a significant footprint in the U.S. in the coming quarters.” What they aren’t saying is how they plan to accomplish this.
Aurora Cannabis Completes Hempco Food and Fibre Acquisition
Aurora identified the potential of hemp-derived CBD early on
completing its first investment in Hempco in 2017, and has subsequently expanded its hemp-based infrastructure through targeted acquisitions and strategic partnerships.
for the extraction of primarily cannabidiol (“CBD”) and other cannabinoids
With expertise across genetics, extraction, product development, brands and distribution, Aurora Hemp is an end-to-end offering across the entire hemp value chain:
“Aurora is defining the future of cannabis and hemp, globally,” said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora. “Through the addition of Hempco, we have assembled a world-class portfolio of high-quality hemp assets that together form the basis of a strong new operating division that will develop CBD-from-hemp around the world. Aurora Hemp brings together the cultivars, strategic partners, brands, and distribution networks to service medical, consumer, and wellness markets and further advances Aurora’s entry into the US hemp food and hemp-derived CBD markets.”
UFC Clinical Research and Product Development
through this partnership Aurora and UFC will research and examine the use of hemp-derived CBD as an effective treatment for pain, inflammation, wound-healing, and recovery on MMA athletes.
Research data will then be used to drive the development of a portfolio of science-backed, high-quality, hemp-derived CBD topical treatments, under the new high-performance sports brand ROAR Sports.
Luxembourg to be first European country to legalise cannabis💯
Luxembourg has called on its EU neighbours to relax their drug laws as its health minister confirmed plans to become the first European country to legalise cannabis production and consumption.
Luxembourg will follow Canada in legalising the possession of 30 grams of cannabis.
Tax revenues will be reinvested in drug education and addiction treatment programmes
Residents over the age of 18 are expected to be able to buy the drug for recreational use legally within two years. The state will regulate production and distribution through a cannabis agency.
Schneider said the legislation was likely to include a ban on non-residents buying cannabis in order to dissuade drug-tourism. Home-growing is also likely to be prohibited.
Aurora the Canadian company defining the future of cannabis worldwide
The Company expects to report that production available for sale for Q4 2019 will be at the upper end of the range between 25,000 kg and 30,000 kg, ahead of previous guidance of 25,000 kgs.
Aurora’s management team and Board of Directors continue to drive a culture rooted in quality, transparency, and regulatory compliance. Aurora has grown both organically and through acquisitions of companies with shared visions, and today this culture is ingrained in Aurora’s over 2,500 employees across the globe.
“Our Q4 2019 guidance highlights Aurora’s continued leadership,” said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora. “We set out to be best-in-class cultivators, and through carefully evaluated acquisitions, that vision continues to drive exceptional results today. We are the leader in cultivation capacity, production available for sale and revenues for cannabis in the Canadian medical and consumer markets.
We continue to lead the build out of European and other international medical cannabis markets. Our success to date comes from a focus on quality, regulatory compliance, appropriate Board of Directors oversight, and delivering a profitable, low risk and sustainable business for our shareholders.”
Choom Acquires 7 Additional Cannabis Retail Locations in BC and Alberta
The leaders of the medical cannabis industry in the heart of the city of London
the Southbank CentrE
This two-day event will explore the latest developments in the UK market and the professionalisation of the industry across the European continent
Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSE:ACB) on UK becoming Medical Cannabis Global Leader
Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB)(FRA:21P) CCO Cam Battley visits James at the Cannabis Europa Conference in London, UK.
Cam Battley was a guest speaker and discusses the potential for the UK to be a leader in medical cannabis on a global basis. While regulations at the moment make it a challenging process to provide medical patients with accessible cannabis products, Battley knows that Aurora can overcome those hurdles.
Andrew Neil chairing latest session #CannabisEuropa
BBC’s Andrew Neil hosts a panel with Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, Lib Dem Norman Lamb and PCC for Avon and Somerset Sue Mountstevens… Lamb holding Mountstevens to task
Good to see norman lamb and Crispin Blunt making a strong case for legalising and regulating recreational cannabis for adults.
“There is a price to be paid for being cautious” says normanlamb as to whether the UK can wait years to see the evidence from Canada #cannabiseuropa #CannabisEuropa
Lesotho was first African country to legalise cultivation and export of medicinalcannabis. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Monyane Moleleki, speaks at CannabisEuropa about how medicinal cannabis has been key to Lesotho’s growth & poverty eradication strategy.
#CannabisEuropa
deepak anand discussing CBD legalization, and new regulations rolling out on MidasLetter
“The Responsible Face of the Industry” panel at cannabiseuropa
With over 80 speakers across 18 talks, Cannabis Europa London has something for everybody.
Aurora Cannabis Extends Exclusive Supply Relationship with Luxembourg
Aurora Deutschland has been selected by the Luxembourg Health Ministry as the exclusive supplier in a public bid to supply the second delivery of medical cannabis to Luxembourg.
Aphria Completes German Tender Process and Receives Fifth Culitvation License in Germany
Aphria Inc, today announced that its German subsidiary Aphria Deutschland GmbH (“Aphria Germany“) had been awarded a fifth lot for the cultivation of medical cannabis in Germany as part of the Company’s previously awarded license from the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (“BfArM“).
The additional lot was provisionally awarded to Aphria Germany in April and was secured following a review by a German court, which affirmed the original decision by the BfArM.
With this decision, Aphria Germany won the maximum output from the German tender process – a total of five lots – and stands as the only licensed producer in Germany with the permission to grow all three strains of medical cannabis approved by the BfArM.
“We are thrilled about our successful conclusion to the German tender process, which has awarded Aphria with the most comprehensive license in the country,” said Hendrik Knopp, Managing Director of Aphria Germany.
Aphria Germany is building its over 8,000 square meter indoor growing facility in Neumünster and is completing work on a state-of-the-art GMP-certified cannabis vault in Bad Bramstedt for the import of cannabis flowers and oil from Canada, Australia and Denmark. Aphria Germany also holds a 25.1% interest in Berlin-based Schöneberg Hospital, which provides access to both doctors and patients for education on the benefits of medical cannabinoids.
The company also recently introduced CannRelief, a CBD-based nutraceutical and cosmetics product line for the German market, produced in the EU and distributed by CC Pharma, a subsidiary of Aphria with access to more than 13,000 pharmacies throughout Germany.
European medical marijuana acquisition corporation
European Pot Firm Valued at $190 Million in New Funding Round
One of Europe’s crop of cannabis companies was valued at 150 million pounds ($190 million) in its most recent funding round. #EMMAC
EMMAC Life Sciences raises £15 million via an Issue of Convertible Notes
At a conversion price of £0.50 per share, EMMAC has an implied value of greater than £150 million.
London-based EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd. raised 15 million pounds through a convertible loan note, pitched at a conversion price of 50 pence per share, it said in a press release viewed by Bloomberg News. It didn’t disclose the names of any investors.
Following FFWD’s investment in March 2019 the implied value of EMMAC was £77 million (post-investment).
Ed McDermott provides an overview of @ffwdinnovations #FFWD
discusses the strategic direction of the business as well as his attraction to the cannabis market.
EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd, European independent medical cannabis company, has announced the acquisition of Rokshaw Limited, a UK MHRA approved specials manufacturer.
Brings immediate revenues to EMMAC and enables the company to import medical cannabis into the UK
We can provide Cannabis-based products (CBPMs), either as an unlicensed import or as a manufactured special in Sunderland.
#MedicalCannabis Emmac Life Sciences Limited @edmcdermott12 @EMMACLSG @Rokshaw_Labs @ffwdinnovations
Proud to announce @EMMACLSG as our exclusive Healthcare partner for The Leaders Summit, November 7th
In New York, Co-founder & CEO Antonio Costanzo will discuss why scientific advancement is crucial for the medicalcannabis industry.
Imperial researchers investigating medical cannabis for cancer and acute pain
Imperial College London researchers are trialling cannabis-based medicinal products for the treatment of cancer and acute pain.
The researchers are collaborating with medical cannabis company EMMAC Life Sciences and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, to better understand the effectiveness of the products.
Medical cannabis is widely prescribed in countries such as Germany and the USA and was legalised in the UK in October 2018. However, it is not currently offered by the NHS as there is not enough robust evidence about its safety, clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness to meet the requirements of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body that develops the clinical guidelines used by the NHS.
The researchers aim to provide robust data that will help bodies like NICE, which has backed a government call for further industry research into medical cannabis, to determine whether or not cannabis-based medicinal products are safe and effective enough to recommend for given conditions.
Lead researcher MikaelSodergren, a consultant hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in Imperial’s Department of Surgery and Cancer, said: “The law has changed, but in many ways the medical profession isn’t ready for it. As medicinal cannabis has not gone through the normal drug development pathway that the pharma industry and medical profession are used to, we have a lot of work to do to provide robust data to support clinical effectiveness as well as determine efficacy of different constituents of the plant.”
Mr Sodergren is working alongside Professor Praveen Anand in Imperial’s Department of Brain Sciences and doctoral and postdoctoral researchers whose positions are funded by EMMAC Life Sciences.
💯European CBD wellness space
European medical marijuana acquisition corporation
EMMAC Life Sciences
#ffwd#emmac
#cbd#cbduk#cannabis#medicalcannabis#hemp
#EMMAC will be expanding a cannabis research programme that aims to evaluate the ‘entourage effect’
programme that aims to evaluate the ‘entourage effect’
Imperial College London and research partner EMMAC will be expanding a cannabis research
Research collaboration
EMMAC, the leading European independent medical cannabis company, uses in vitro models for the study
looks at the mechanisms of action in a range of medicinal cannabis combination products, hoping the cannabis research programme will support future clinical trials in patients with acute or chronic pain.
This expanded collaboration aims to add to the long-term comprehensive research programme that is currently underway.
Designed to inform and shape the future of medical cannabis therapies, the overall programme aims to investigate mechanisms of action of cannabis-based medicinal products related to several clinical applications, including pain and cancer, as well as characterise cannabis-based medicinal products in disease-specific models with a focus on translation to clinical trials.
EMMAC will now be funding a post-doctoral research fellow for an extendable one-year period, to explore the efficacy of EMMAC products in neuropathic pain to support their development towards clinical trials.
Benefits of the research programme
Additional research through the Collaboration Agreement with Imperial College London
EMMAC to fund research staff for an extendable one-year period, to explore the basic cannabinoid mechanisms in neuropathic pain and translate these to clinical trials
Research provides valuable data and intellectual property in relation to the use of cannabinoids to treat acute and chronic pain, nausea and vomiting
EMMAC expected to partner with Imperial on additional cannabinoid research programmes focused across different therapeutic areas and
Partnership with world-renowned institution confirms EMMAC as a European leader in research supporting the growing medical cannabis industry.
Professor Praveen Anand, Imperial College London, said: “This is a very exciting area of pain research, which aims to characterise the entourage effect and related mechanisms of cannabis-based medicine combinations at a molecular level. Our results may support the rational design of future clinical trials to enhance pain relief and minimise adverse effects. We look forward to working with EMMAC in developing these experimental platforms and pipelines, to advance the treatment of patients with neuropathic pain.”
Tom Rooke, Chief Operating Officer of EMMAC, commented: “The strategic partnership between EMMAC and Imperial College London is important to advancing the industry’s understanding of the medical benefits of cannabis, and as a result of the mutually positive and productive experience of working together, we are delighted Imperial College has chosen us as academic partner in the UK to expand our existing research programme.”
There may still be UK investors hesitating about the green rush — but as Canada’s boom testifies, moving first pays off
Weed investment boom sparks calls for City pot exchange
Legalising cannabis put Canada’s stock markets at the head of a global green rush.
London could follow suit
The UK’s cannabis wellness sector has also boomed due to a health craze around CBD, which is legal due to a loophole over which parts of cannabis are regulated.
UK stock markets list five UK medical cannabis firms — Sativa Group, Ananda Developments, Highland Natural Resources, Spinnaker Opportunities and FastForward Innovations — although they tend to flock to the UK’s version of the CSE, known as the Nex market.
The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis estimates that 1.3 million consumers spent over £300 million on CBD products in the UK last year.
#FFWD is the only
AIM-quoted company with
direct investment in an operational medical cannabis company.
#EMMAC
EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd
the leading European independent medical cannabis and wellness company
EMMAC acquires 100% of Terra Verde
16 July 2019, London. EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd, the leading European independent medical cannabis and wellness company, is pleased to announce that it has acquired 100% of Terra Verde, LDA (“Terra Verde”), a Portuguese genetics and cultivation company. This acquisition establishes EMMAC as the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in Europe, with operations in eight territories and licensed distribution channels for medical cannabis in Europe’s largest medical cannabis markets, namely Germany, Italy and the UK.
Terra Verde holds oldest cannabis cultivation licence in Portugal, establishes EMMAC as the largest vertically integrated medical cannabis and wellness company in Europe.
The acquisition of Terra Verde is EMMAC’s largest acquisition to date and completes the full integration of EMMAC’s supply chain, which to date comprises GACP cultivation, extraction and manufacturing in accordance with EU Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and licensed distribution channels for medical cannabis in the UK, Germany and Italy.
Terra Verde was founded by David Yarkoni, a world-renowned breeder and geneticist who has pioneered plant-based research and production for more than 30 years. In 2014, Terra Verde acquired Portugal’s first, and Europe’s second, active cultivation license. This license allows for eight hectares of greenhouse and outdoors cannabis cultivation. Its current crop of high-grade medical cannabis, which is grown in accordance with EU Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), is due for harvest in 30 days.
Following completion of the acquisition, EMMAC will begin to invest significantly in Terra Verde’s facilities, including the construction of a GMP-certified facility for storage, processing and manufacturing at the Portuguese site that will serve both the domestic and the international markets.
Antonio Costanzo, CEO of EMMAC, commented:“We are delighted to have acquired Terra Verde, a unique asset in the European medical cannabis space that was founded by one of the most well-regarded plant-based researchers.With the acquisition of Terra Verde, EMMAC is now the largest vertically integrated European cannabis company and a leader in the industry. We are delighted to welcome David and his team in Portugal to EMMAC.
“With this milestone firmly achieved, EMMAC’s focus now is to extend the pan-European reach of our medical and wellness portfolio. We will continue to partner with the best organisations and businesses in the sector and support cutting-edge scientific research to further develop the medical cannabis sector.”
David Yarkoni, Founder of Terra Verde, commented:“Speaking on behalf Terra Verde’s team and shareholders, I am delighted to partner with EMMAC to maximise Terra Verde’s potential to be the best cultivation facility in Europe. We had been approached by multiple organisations, however we decided to partner with EMMAC due to its distribution network, world-class team and scientific approach. EMMAC has built the perfect platform to become the European leader. We look forward to working together.”
Wayland Negotiates Sale of Canadian Operations to Publicly-Traded Cryptocurrency Miner
“Our new name, Cryptologic, better represents our business and where we are as an intelligent and experienced miner.
The rebrand couldn’t have come at a better time, as market conditions have improved dramatically from early spring” said John Kennedy FitzGerald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cryptologic.
“We’ve been in the mining business for over a year and a half and our facilities continue to perform extremely well. Bitcoin is cyclical, and mining is more than just running data centers.
The proposed Cryptologic transaction would result in Cryptologic acquiring assets relating to Wayland’s existing Canadian operations in exchange for 57,500,000 common shares of Cryptologic expected to represent approximately 70% of the issued and outstanding Cryptologic common shares following closing and the assumption of liabilities associated with that business.
It is also expected that, following closing, Cryptologic will be led by a management team including Jordan Greenberg as Chief Executive Officer (currently Chief Financial Officer of Cryptologic) and Matthew McLeod as President of Cryptologic.
Mr. Greenberg was the former CFO of Nuuvera Inc., which raised over Cdn$100 million in equity financing then completed several cannabis-related acquisitions, both in Canada and in international markets.
Nuuvera Inc. completed its go-public process through the reverse takeover of a publicly traded shell, then achieved a successful exit through a plan of arrangement with Aphria Inc., valued in excess of Cdn$500 million.
Agreement with Farmalabor gives EMMAC immediate access to Italy, Europe’s second-largest Medical Cannabis Market
9 July 2019, London. EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd, the European independent medical cannabis company, is pleased to announce that it has formed a 50/50 joint venture company, Fontana S.R.L. (“Fontana JVCo”), with Sergio Fontana, the founder and major shareholder of Farmalabor S.R.L. (“Farmalabor”), one of Italy’s most active licensed importers and distributors of medical cannabis. Fontana S.R.L. has already submitted applications for licenses to import, store, manufacture and distribute medical cannabis products in Italy, which is the second-largest medical cannabis market in Europe. Pending the grant of such licences, Fontana JVCo will work with Farmalabor as its exclusive partner to commercialise medical cannabis and wellness products as well as commence operations and sales in Italy.
The partnership positions Fontana S.R.L. as Farmalabor’s dedicated cannabis partner. Fontana JVCo combines Farmalabor’s existing medical cannabis sales and operations, pharmacy network and expertise within Italy with EMMAC’s industry expertise and integrated supply chain for cultivation and manufacturing. The partnership agreement with Farmalabor will provide Fontana JVCo with sales services, including distribution to 12,000 pharmacies. It is expected Fontana JVCo has the potential to rapidly establish itself as the largest supplier of medical cannabis and wellness products in Italy.
Antonio Costanzo, CEO of EMMAC, commented: “We are delighted to announce this joint venture with Farmalabor which puts EMMAC in a fantastic position for expansion into the Italian market and extends our licensed medical cannabis and wellness operations beyond the UK, Spain and Germany. We believe that Farmalabor’s extensive experience of the Italian pharmaceutical industry makes it the ideal partner to unlock the full potential of this local market.”
Sergio Fontana, Founder and CEO of Farmalabor, commented: “Speaking on behalf of everyone at Farmalabor, I am delighted to partner with EMMAC on this project. With our extensive knowledge of the medical and pharmaceutical communities combined with EMMAC’s cannabis expertise and range of high-quality medical and wellness products under development, this is the perfect combination to serve Italian patients, doctors and pharmacies with high-quality products.”
EMMAC and Imperial College London manuscript to be published in peer-reviewed Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Journal
4 July 2019, London. EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd, the European independent medical cannabis company, announces that the manuscript, “A comprehensive patient and public involvement programme evaluating perception of cannabis-derived medicinal products in the treatment of acute postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting using a qualitative thematic framework” has been published in ‘Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research’, the only peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the scientific, medical and psychosocial exploration of clinical cannabis, cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system, and the official journal of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS).
The manuscript is part of EMMAC’s collaboration with Imperial College London, forged to deliver a long-term comprehensive research programme designed to inform and shape the future of the medical cannabis therapeutic industry. The programme aims to investigate mechanisms of action of cannabis-based medicinal products related to several clinical applications including pain and cancer, as well as characterise cannabis-based medicinal products in disease models with particular focus of chronic pain, spasticity and cancer.
This study represents the first stage of the clinical trial process and was carried out with the Imperial Clinical Trials Unit (ICTU). It represents comprehensive patient and public involvement activities, and prior to peer reviewed publication these data were selected for presentation at the 5th International Emerald Conference in San Diego in February 2019, EMMAC Poster Emerald Conference.
Rokshaw granted General Pharmaceutical Council License to deliver Medical Cannabis direct to Patients across the UK EMMAC
EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd, the European independent medical cannabis company, is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary, Rokshaw Limited (“Rokshaw”), a leading UK EU-GMP certified Specials manufacturer, has successfully obtained its General Pharmaceutical Council (‘GPhC’) pharmacy license.
The GPhC license, in conjunction with its existing licenses, allows Rokshaw to import, manufacture and securely deliver medical cannabis products (‘CBPMs’) direct to UK-based patients. Founded in 2012, Sunderland-based Rokshaw is a leading UK laboratory, manufacturing a wide range of Specials bespoke to patient requirements in an EU-GMP environment that ensures patients across the UK receive the highest-quality products. To date Rokshaw has manufactured more than 6,000 formulations for more than 2,000 pharmacies and hospitals across the United Kingdom.
Get ready for the boom in medical cannabis
Ed McDermott, Executive Director of FastForward Innovations (LON:FFWD), has an unrivalled record of investing in the cannabis sector. His investment boutique was behind the investment in NewEra Pharmacological Products which yielded a stellar return for his investors. FastForward is now behind a number of life sciences companies internationally.
Ed told us that you can evaluate a medical cannabis company in a similar way to evaluating a pharmaceutical company – but that there are additional imponderables, in particular additional legal and regulatory risk. As such, investments in the sector are high risk – but also, potentially, very high return.
In early 2018, I co-founded EMMAC Life Sciences with a view to becoming the European independent medical cannabis champion. In just over a year, the company has grown to nearly 100 extremely capable individuals and we are operational in 8 countries and counting. Despite early warning to the regulators, FastForward was not approved to take part in the seed round, which is disappointing; however, FastForward now owns 2.6% of EMMAC, which is similar to its position in Nuuvera. It is easy to talk about a company I know and understand very well; it is always more challenging to objectively look at opportunities that have no related parties involved. There are always good opportunities circulating but whatever industry you are investing in, I believe the key things are assets, management and cash.
#EMMAC and #FFWD
#LondonCannabisWeek
involved in a number of presentations, panels and events during
EMMAC, the European independent medical cannabis company, is pleased to announce an exclusive collaboration with Hyris Ltd, a UK-based biotechnology company
#EMMAC partners with #Hyris to develop a Cannabinoid identification tool #FFWD
EMMAC commences construction of planned EU-GMP facility in Malta
Construction under way in Malta…💚
Billionaire-backed Chinese firm plans Asia’s first e-commerce CBD platform
#ffwd
A company backed by United Kingdom billionaire Jim Mellon and Nuuvera co-founder Lorne Abony plans to establish what they say will be Asia’s first e-commerce platform focusing on CBD-infused products.
The pair are part of a group of investors in Hong Kong-headquartered Regent Pacific that is closing in on a $15 million all-stock takeover of the e-commerce platform Yooya, also based in the city.
Mellon is Regent’s chairman and owns roughly 20% of its shares.
Abony, who founded Canadian cannabis firm Nuuvera before taking it public and selling it to Aphria last year for $425 million, will join the Yooya board on completion of the takeover.
The proposed transaction remains subject to conditions, including completion of due diligence and respective approvals of both companies’ boards.
But Regent CEO Jamie Gibson said he’s hopeful a final deal can be signed in the coming weeks and close shortly thereafter.
Regent plans to start selling CBD through Yooya within 90 days of closing the acquisition. Yooya currently does not sell any CBD products.
Gibson said Yooya would initially market CBD-infused products to overseas Chinese, so long as they live in a jurisdiction where CBD is federally regulated.
Yooya would effectively start as an e-commerce, business-to-business platform connecting overseas Chinese with companies selling CBD products in the jurisdictions where they live.
“Yooya expects to subsequently begin sales in China via cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) channels, including through the CBEC platforms from the PRC’s major e-commerce players – such as TMall and JD – and employing the market’s growing number of free trade zones, and particularly as the PRC regulatory framework for the importation of CBD-based products continues to clarify,” Gibson said.
Abony added: “Within the next 12 months we expect to establish a significant presence in mainland China.”
That would involve Yooya distributing own-branded products and partner brands.
Inside the plan
To fund expansion into new CBD product lines, Regent Pacific is issuing $17.5 million in convertible loan notes.
Gibson said Regent would also look to undertake domestic product sales through a wholly owned foreign entity, pending the acquisition of requisite licenses.
Gibson said the CBD could be sourced in North America, Europe and Australia.
Regent obtained legal analysis on the hemp industry in China from the Dentons law office in Kunming and the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing.
That analysis, shared with Marijuana Business Daily, concluded that cultivating and processing hemp in China is not in conflict with federal law if it is conducted in a province with local hemp regulations and laws. Only the Yunnan and Heilongjiang provinces currently have such regulations.
‘Sleeping giant’
Brent Williams, founder of hedge fund and consulting firm Highwater Financial, said the “sleeping hemp giant” that is Asia is just now starting to wake up.
Williams expects Asian CBD companies to start listing on Asian stock exchanges.
He also does not believe it will be long before those companies have revenues surpassing their North American counterparts.
“The advantage that Yooya has inherently the same as their risk, the early mover advantage could establish early and loyal consumers,” Williams said. “There is no doubt that the Asian CBD market will be the largest in the world and Yooya could help supply consumers with these products.”
Japan is also seeing significant growth in its regulated market for CBD products, according to executives. International companies already tapping that market include Phivida Holdings and Elixinol Global.
Regent shares trade on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong as 575.
Smearing cannabis on your face: the latest Asian beauty craze
The market for beauty products made from cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants, is projected to be worth US$25 billion by 2029
By 2024, the CBD market in China alone would be worth about US$15 billion, said Jamie Gibson, chief executive of Hong Kong-based investment company Regent Pacific Group, which recently signed an agreement to acquire CBD-products e-commerce platform Yooya for US$15 million. They hope to close the acquisition by the third quarter of this year. “There’s no breakdown, but I would say that the [beauty and] wellness sector will be the main driver for this growth,” he said.
Gibson said the plan was for Yooya to become an online retailer for high-end CBD beauty products, including topical creams and skincare lines for domestic consumers in China, as well as overseas shoppers.
#GREENLEAF💚
#EMMAC
announces acquisition of French wellness company.
EMMAC is the 2nd medical cannabis investment made by
#FFWD
we remain the only company on #AIM to be directly invested in
Regent Pacific enters exploding CBD market in Asia through proposed acquisition of Yooya
#Yooya #娱亚互动 💚
FastForward Innovations #FFWD announces an offer has been made for #Yooya FFWDs 15% stake equates to $2.25m
Yooya will expand its sector focus and become the first e-commerce marketing platform to focus on CBD infused products that are designed to awaken the body’s natural healing system and promote better health and sleep; and products that safely eliminate the psychoactive THC from hemp.
Shanghai China🙋
Yooya is a content-driven e-commerce platform that is reshaping the way that brands connect with Chinese consumers. Total e-commerce revenue in China is forecast to top US$1.8 trillion by 2022. Yooya recognises that the way that Chinese consumers shop and the factors that influence purchase decisions have changed dramatically, with video content consumption being the single most popular activity on the internet in China. Japan, Asia’s second largest e-commerce market in dollar terms, will see nearly 90 million e-commerce shoppers by 2021.
FastForward Innovations Limited Company confirmed that Yooya, its investee company, had adopted the Factom® Harmony™ platform.
Lorne Abony, FastForward’s Chief Executive Officer, was happy to see two of their investee companies forming synergies. He noted that both Factom and Yooya have shown tremendous growth in recent years and believed that the newly formed partnership will bring further growth for all involved parties. Lorne said that his company believes that the Blockchain-as-a-service industry provides the potential of exceptional returns.
Factom Blockchain
The Factom blockchain is a decentralized publication protocol for building record systems that are immutable and independently verifiable. It enables secure storage of digital proofs for data provenance and integrity solutions without disclosing private data or requiring trusted intermediaries.
Unlike other public blockchains, Factom uses a distributed ledger architecture that allows related entries to be linked chronologically in a chain for more efficient storage and retrieval. Entries can contain any kind of data, but are not intended for storing private data. Entry data is hashed before being written into an entry block, and the actual entry data is stored in distributed hash tables and shared peer-to-peer.
Each directory block is secured in the Factom blockchain is then further secured by cryptographic anchor entries written into Bitcoin. Anchoring into other public blockchains allows for interoperability and third-party security.
The public Factom blockchain is governed by a peer-to-peer network of federated servers whose membership is based on performance and community support. Anyone can read entries and submit write requests for a fixed cost based on chain and entry size. The Factom protocol is open source and anyone can run a follower node or create a private network for development and production use cases.
EMMAC presents to Scientific Committee (CSST) in Paris
EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd, the European independent medical cannabis company, announces that on Wednesday 15th May, the Company presented to the French Scientific Committee (CSST), regarding EMMAC’s role in advancing scientific research into the medical usage of cannabis for the welfare of patients. The CSST, appointed by the Drug and Safety Agency (ANSM) is working to provide French authorities with recommendations concerning the opening of the French medical cannabis market. Dr Barbara Pacchetti, Chief Scientific Officer at EMMAC, outlined the Company’s vision to bring together cutting-edge scientific research with the latest innovations in cannabis cultivation, extraction and production. EMMAC joined six other companies invited to present to the CSST, including Tilray, Canopy Growth, Aurora Cannabis Inc., and Bedrocan. The full presentation to the CSST can be found here
Antonio Costanzo, CEO of EMMAC, commented: “We are grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate to the CSST how EMMAC is focused on advancing research and development to improve the industry’s understanding of the medical benefits of cannabis. EMMAC believes that the growth of the medical cannabis sector has to be underpinned by the most robust science and is working with leading academic institutions across Europe to advance what we consider to be a huge potential market with significant public health benefits for patients and clinicians.”
#emmac
committee of French medical experts interviewed representatives from some of the world’s largest cannabis companies today as the country mulls over medicinal cannabis legalization.
The marathon session lasted 4 hours and 48 minutes and it was streamed live on YouTube for anyone interested in developments. Canadian firms Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth, and Tilray were joined by U.S. company Columbia Care, Bedrocan of the Netherlands, Clever Leaves of Colombia, and British firm Emmac Life Sciences at the hearing.
The companies’ executives answered a wide range of questions on the medicinal benefits of cannabis, the dosages required, delivery methods, the costs involved and how France might be able to develop a framework for a legal medicinal marijuana trade.
France is one of the only major nations that is yet to legalize medical cannabis use after Germany, the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands all rolled out regulated industries.
The French Ministry of Health is in favour of medicinal marijuana. Towards the end of 2018, the French government authorized this committee of 13 independent healthcare experts to conduct an official study into the benefits of medicinal cannabis.
The health agency will take the recommendations on board, although it has already pledged to start a medicinal cannabis trial this year.
France has the world’s sixth largest economy, behind only the U.S., China, Japan, Germany, and the UK, so it represents a significant potential market for the global cannabis industry.
#ffwd
EMMAC to import cannabis products into Germany supply agreement with CC Pharma
EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd, the European independent medical cannabis company, announces that it has entered the German medical cannabis market through the incorporation of About Nature Health GmbH (“About Nature”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which will lead the marketing and licensing process for EMMAC in Germany. Working in conjunction with Medalchemy, EMMAC’s fully-licensed GMP certified laboratory and research and development facility in Spain, About Nature has entered into a supply agreement (the “Agreement”) with CC Pharma GmbH (“CC Pharma”), a leading importer and distributor of EU-pharmaceuticals for the German market.
The Agreement allows EMMAC to import high-quality dried cannabis flowers and oils into the rapidly expanding German market, which is the largest medical cannabis market in Europe. According to the Bank of Montreal (1), the German medical cannabis market could potentially produce more than US$5 billion in revenue for global cannabis producers, with an assumption that in seven years, 7.5% of sleep, anxiety and pain prescriptions in Germany will be replaced with medical cannabis.
#EMMAC
Antonio Costanzo, CEO of EMMAC, commented: “The decision by CC Pharma to distribute EMMAC medical cannabis product in Germany validates our commitment to delivering the highest quality product and we are delighted to announce the Agreement today. Germany is an important market for EMMAC and we are committed to growing our regional presence, led by general manager, Florian Witt, to ensure that we capitalise on the significant commercial opportunity.
“EMMAC has had a positive start to 2019 and our entry into the German market is the latest significant milestone for the Group. Our tie-up with CC Pharma is a clear demonstration of the significant progress being made at EMMAC and is complementary to the acquisitions completed and key milestones achieved in 2019 in the UK, Malta, Spain and Switzerland. I look forward to updating our stakeholders as we continue to execute on our vision to become the leading European medical cannabis company.”
About CC Pharma GmbH
CC Pharma is a leading importer and distributor of EU-pharmaceuticals for the German market and distributes products to over 13,000 German pharmacies. Founded in 1999, today it has over 230 employees and offices in Germany, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. CC Pharma holds more than 1,800 pharmaceutical licenses and also operates a production, repackaging and labeling facility at its headquarters in Densborn, Germany. During 2018, CC Pharma generated revenue of approximately €262 million, with EBITDA of approximately €10.5 million.
We intend to invest the proceeds, approx £339,500, in the medical cannabis sector. #FFWD
#FFWD #MEDICALCANNABIS
Commenting on the Disposal, CEO Lorne Abony noted, “The partial sale of the Company’s interest in Vemo is the Company’s first exit from an investment in 2019. The Board believes further investments can be realized during the course of 2019 and intends to reinvest the proceeds in the medicinal cannabis sector, furthering FFWDs investment focus on life science, health and technology.”
The science of CBD.
Barbara Pacchetti discussing how EMMAC’s pioneering scientific approach is advancing the cannabis plant as the new medicine of our time
Medcannworldforum (Malta )
The Medical Cannabis World Forum will bring together a unique set of speakers who are shaping the global cannabis industry. From policy makers to business leaders, the forum will provide key insights from the people who are at the forefront of this industry.
The conference will take place on 19th – 21st of November 2019. Medical Cannabis World Forum will be bringing together global industry experts and professionals for a three-day conference on the island of Malta, focused on Legislation, Business, Regulatory, Education & Research.
How big could the cannabis market be in the UK and Europe?
Medical cannabis company EMMAC Life Sciences has acquired Sunderland-based laboratory Rokshaw for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 2012, Rokshaw produces specials – differently formulated versions of commonly used medications – which is approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It produces a wide range of specials tailored to patient requirements in an EU GMP environment.
Rokshaw’s licenses, which include Home Office controlled drugs schedule 2 and wholesale dealers authorisation, form part of the deal allowing EMMAC to import medical cannabis into the UK.
Rokshaw is also pursuing additional licenses to enable greater research into the benefits of cannabis-based products for medicinal use as regulations loosen.
Antonio Costanzo, chief executive of EMMAC, said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Rokshaw today.
“This investment not only brings with it an immediate revenue stream but also provides EMMAC instant access to the UK medical cannabis market with the opportunity to grow the existing 45 people-strong team into a centre of medical cannabis excellence for the UK.
“Joining us are the two founders of Rokshaw, Jonathan and Richard Hodgson, who have significant and relevant experience of working in this highly regulated industry as well as a proven track record of delivering high quality product.”
Jonathan and Richard Hodgson, co-founders of Rokshaw, said: “We are really pleased to have joined EMMAC at this exciting stage of its corporate development as we share its vision of becoming the leading European independent medical cannabis company.
“We are confident that the team here at Rokshaw can play an important role in EMMAC achieving its goal through the provision of high-quality product and services to patients across the UK, and by unlocking the potential for the medical cannabis market to meet growing clinician and patient demand.”
Rokshaw is the EMMAC’s second GMP-certified laboratory and will work in conjunction with Medalchemy, its research and development facility in Spain that was recently granted an importation permit by Spanish authorities.
Cannabis firm Emmac Life Sciences to light up in London
A medicinal cannabis start-up is eyeing a London float in what could be the first in a wave of listings amid rapid deregulation.
Emmac Life Sciences is believed to be working with broker Canaccord Genuity on a listing that could value it at £400m. Led by Antonio Costanzo, who previously worked at the Toronto-listed cannabis producer Nuuvera, Emmac was set up last year and aims to become Europe’s leading supplier and producer of the drug.
It is working with Imperial College London to research treatments for pain relief during surgery. Last year it bought a majority stake in drug maker Medalchemy.
UK doctors can now prescribe medicinal cannabis after an outcry over patients being denied a drug that can help control epilepsy.
EMMAC, the European independent medical cannabis company, is pleased to announce that Medalchemy, EMMAC’s fully-licensed GMP certified laboratory in Alicante, Spain, has secured approval from the Spanish Health Authorities AEMPS to import medical cannabis for scientific research. This landmark announcement places Medalchemy at the forefront of medical cannabis research in Spain, and ensures EMMAC is well positioned to capitalise on anticipated regulatory changes, as demand for premium quality medical cannabis grows in Spain and across Europe.
With over a decade of experience in the research, development and manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), Medalchemy is an important part of EMMAC’s pan-European research and development initiative to allow the production, registration and exportation of GMP-certified cannabinoid-based APIs.
Antonio Costanzo, CEO of EMMAC, commented: “This is an important milestone for EMMAC, as the Company executes on its strategy to bring specific cannabis regulatory expertise to its expanding asset base, and create a vertically integrated multi-national operation that positions EMMAC at as a trusted leader in the rapidly-growing medical cannabis industry in Europe.”
EMMAC Life Sciences Ltd is the European medical cannabis company, working to join together the latest science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production.
With supply and distribution partnerships throughout Europe, EMMAC is working to establish itself as both a thought leader in the industry, as well as the European leader in the production and supply of medical cannabis, hemp and other derivative products.
Cannabis firms head to London for £100bn POT of gold – but is it a good bet or set to go up in smoke?
It’s an industry most of us associate with dingy, smoke-filled bars in Amsterdam and the more liberal states in the US and Canada.
But cannabis companies are making their way to London to tap into a £100billion European market and cash in on the Square Mile’s so-called ‘green rush’ among investors.
In the past few weeks alone, four firms have decided to ditch their previous business plans and instead switch their focus to cannabis-based medicines.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Kanabo Research – which is being bought by a shell company listed on London’s main market – has chosen to list in Britain instead of Israel, where it was founded, and is expected to float by summer.
That comes after Highlands Natural Resources, which is listed on the main market, raised £1.3million to launch a cannabis operation in Colorado. It said the new venture, called Zoetic Organics, would grow hemp and sell products such as organic hemp oil.
It will join Sativa Investments, which became the first London-listed cannabis investment vehicle when it floated a year ago. Since then, its share price has more than doubled to value the company at £38million.
The fourth firm to switch focus is Block Commodities, run by the cousin of Tory party deputy chairman James Cleverly.
As revealed last month, Chris Cleverly has turned the focus of his agriculture business to cannabis. Block, also listed on the NEX, is buying a firm with licences to grow the crop on 4,000 acres of farmland in Sierra Leone.
Another company that has been active in recent months is FastForward Innovations, which is listed on London’s junior market AIM and is chaired by Jim Mellon, a friend of Nigel Farage and a Brexit donor.
It has just invested in EMMAC Life Sciences, a London-based medical cannabis company, in its second cannabis investment in 18 months, having previously focused on backing high-tech companies.
Another company eyeing a possible listing on AIM is Jacana, a medicinal cannabis firm founded by internet entrepreneur Alexandra Chong.
The businesswoman – who went to boarding school in England and previously ran a dating app – has a 100-acre farm in Jamaica, where she was born, and plans to sell medicinal cannabis to patients in North America, Europe and the UK.
Chong, whose lavish wedding to Sir Richard Branson’s nephew Jack Brockway was attended by Princess Eugenie and Kate Winslet, has raised £15million from angel investors including London venture capital star Eileen Burbidge.
The flurry of activity will only increase as other firms pile into the European market, experts believe. Until now, the US, Canada, and Israel have led the way in cannabis floats because they were the first to relax rules on the drug’s use.
But cannabis firms are convinced the City of London’s deep-pocketed investors and bankers are ready to plough into the market, which is estimated could be worth a staggering €115.7billion (£100million) by 2028 in Europe alone, according to consultancy Prohibition Partners.
Many of the companies choosing London have been spurred on by the changes to the NHS after the rules on marijuana-based treatments were relaxed last year.
Patients can now get a prescription through the NHS for medicines based on cannabidiol, better known as CBD, but only to treat epilepsy or nausea caused by chemotherapy and only if other treatments have not worked.
But with so many companies rushing to tap London’s funds, fears are rising of a ‘Wild West’ culture that could leave private investors vulnerable to being exploited amid the hype due to the lack of regulation.
There are many companies that have no assets – the only asset they have is a licence to cultivate cannabis. They haven’t constructed greenhouses or production facilities yet and they’re getting very high values.
He said: ‘In stock markets, you always have this wave of up and down. And for sure, prices will not go up forever. Having said that, it’s an industry that has real value, that generates nice sales already, and it’s an industry that’s seeing regulation moving forward.’
One City stockbroker said the regulators were being careful about which cannabis companies to allow to list in fear of damaging the reputation of the whole sector.
‘If something lists on Aim that’s cannabis and it goes straight to a £1billion market cap and then blows up, then the whole of London looks terrible,’ the broker warned.
One factor is that cannabis is still illegal in the US despite some states decriminalising its use for medicine and recreational use.
Still, this has not stopped the marijuana industry from flourishing in North America, especially after Canada became the second country in the world, after Uruguay, to legalise recreational cannabis use.
That has led to a wave of ‘pot stocks’ flotations in North America and a string of deals, such as Marlboro maker Atria Group paying $1.8billion for a 45 per cent stake in Canadian cannabinoid firm Cronos Group.
In London, there remains scepticism about ‘potmania’, which has seen entrepreneurs such as Alexandra Chong raise £15million to launch her medicinal cannabis firm, Jacana. Khalaf said: ‘Investors need to look at these cannabis companies with a fine tooth comb – they should take a good look under the bonnet.
Chocolate Ingredients Throw Off Cannabis Potency Tests
CBD BROWNIES💚💯
Chocolate may be messing with cannabis potency testing, scientists are warning, and it could mean packaged edibles are understating THC content.
A new study finds chocolate appears to interfere with the ability to measure THC
“a matrix effect”
Pot brownies may be stronger than you think
That means THC levels on some cannabis product labels may not be accurate
Pot brownies may be stronger than you think.https://t.co/5uUb5PXQ5l A new study finds chocolate appears to interfere with the ability to measure THC, the high-inducing chemical in marijuana. That means THC levels on some cannabis product labels may not be accurate
A study published by the American Chemical Society (ACS) found that chemical components in chocolate might be interfering with cannabis potency test results.
The findings come from researchers at CW Analytical, a California-based lab founded in 2009 that predominantly tests materials for marijuana growers, manufacturers, and dispensaries, in legal markets.
CW Analytical focused its research on cannabis-infused chocolates because of the chocolate’s popularity as an ingredient in edibles. The study did not disclose the size of the samples.
“My research focuses on cannabis potency testing because of the high stakes associated with it,” said David Dawson, Ph.D., the study’s principal investigator, in a release.
The results have shown that a component in the chocolate may be suppressing the signal for THC, causing “a matrix effect” in testing.
This means the more chocolate in a given test can show a lower THC percentage.
This interference is leading to inaccurate results for THC percentages in edibles produced with chocolate.
“When we had less cannabis-infused chocolate in the sample vial, say 1 gram, we got higher THC potencies and more precise values than when we had 2 grams of the same infused chocolate in the vial,” Dawson explained. “This goes against what I would consider basic statistical representation of samples, where one would assume that the more sample you have, the more representative it is of the whole.”
In lab testing, the concentration of THC is measured by what is called high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). So what’s causing the suppression of THC percentages?
The researchers at CW Analytical are trying to determine which components in different types of chocolates — chocolate bars, cocoa powder, baker’s chocolate, white chocolate — are causing the HPLC signal changes. “We also noticed, kind of anecdotally, some weird potency variations depending on how we prepared chocolate samples for testing,” he said. Dawson studied the effects of altering sample preparation conditions, such as the amounts of chocolate and solvent, pH, and type of chocolate.
Chocolate Interferes With THC Testing, Making It Hard to Measure the Potency of Edibles https://t.co/QGU6RgE2fD via @gizmodo
The effects of edible testing inaccuracies cost cannabis business owners time and money.
“If an edible cannabis product tests 10% below the amount on the label, California law states that is must be relabeled, with considerable time and expense,” Dawson said in the release. “But it’s even worse if a product tests 10% or more above the labeled amount — then the entire batch must be destroyed.”
Are Marijuana Edibles Safe?
With all the talk about cannabis nowadays, you may have a budding curiosity about marijuana edibles. Here are some details on what they are, whether they are safe and some product selection tips.
edibles and munchies.
To be safe, here are some tips to consider:
Read the label.
Talk to your doctor or health provider.
Start low and go slow.
Keep the product out of reach of minors.
Know who you’re buying from.
Marijuana edibles are any orally consumed product that contains cannabis, specifically THC, which is short for tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is a chemical compound in cannabis that’s associated with producing a “high.” It also can affect memory, thinking and time perception. An edible product also may contain CBD, short for cannabidiol, which is another chemical compound in the cannabis plant that’s known for its relaxing qualities.
With the explosion in the cannabis market, you can find edible marijuana products like gummies, baked goods, chocolate, beverages and tinctures, among other forms, says Jay Denniston, director of science for the cannabis product company Dixie Brands in Denver.
Traditionally, everyone thought about marijuana as being inhaled. Now, “there are all sorts of ways to get marijuana into your body,” says Dr. Adhi Sharma, chief medical officer at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, New York. Sharma is an emergency medical physician who specializes in toxicology.
A person may try a marijuana edible product for recreational use (it’s legal for that purpose in 11 states and Washington, D.C.), but it’s frequently used for medical purposes as well, says Andrew Smith, an assistant professor at Touro College of Pharmacy in New York.
There are currently 33 states where medical marijuana is legal. The most common use for medical purposes is for pain relief, but it’s also used to help improve appetite, reduce nausea and lower inflammation, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Are Medical Marijuana Edibles Safe?
The answer to whether medical marijuana edibles are safe depends a lot on the product that you’re getting.
If you buy an edible product from a registered dispensary, the products sold there must undergo various safety tests, Denniston says. These include tests for unwanted ingredients (like heavy metals) and tests that show the product actually contains what’s stated on the package. Testing also can measure if the dosing within the product is consistent – in other words, you get the same THC concentration in each bite you take, Denniston says.
However, even if you buy a product from a legal dispensary, the dose used can make a big difference in safety or your experience. “There are concerns with edibles because it takes a while for the effects to show up,” says Kevin Boehnke, a research investigator in the department of anesthesiology and at the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor.
Dosing Issues
When you inhale a cannabis product, for example, you’ll feel the effect almost immediately. In contrast, think of an edible product more like an extended-release medication, where you may not feel the full effect for a couple of hours. Many people who don’t feel something right away will be tempted to take more of the product. “Especially for products that are packaged like candy or cookies, that’s pretty appealing,” Boehnke says. The end result? The effect may hit you all at once and be too strong.
If you use too much of an edible product, you could feel very tired, slightly delirious or become agitated or paranoid, Sharma adds. He has seen patients come to the emergency department because family or friends were concerned about their loved one.
It’s also easily possible to miscalculate dosing with a cannabis product. A September 2019 case report in the New England Journal of Medicine shared the story of a 52-year-old man with a brain tumor who inadvertently received a dose 10 to 20 times higher than recommended of a highly concentrated liquid marijuana. He ended up in the emergency department with acute delirium and garbled speech, according to the report.
“People don’t realize how concentrated these doses can be,” Smith says. Dosing numbers often get confused by patients, he adds.
Access to Young People
Then there’s the risk of young people using a marijuana edible or any cannabis product. Because the brain isn’t fully developed until around age 25, cannabis use isn’t recommended in people under that age, Smith says. If it’s used in a younger person, there can be a higher risk of irreversible schizophrenia or psychosis, particularly if there’s already a genetic risk for these conditions, Smith notes. Research published in 2014 in the journal Schizophrenia Research supports this.
Health Reasons to Avoid Edibles
If you have any of the following health issues, you should probably avoid marijuana edibles:
Schizophrenia.
High blood pressure.
History of heart attacks.
History of substance abuse.
Anxiety.
There are certain people who should avoid marijuana edibles or any cannabis product due to certain health conditions. Those with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia may be at a risk for worsening anxiety with the use of cannabis products, Smith says. He also steers people away if they have underlying high blood pressure or a history of heart attacks, due to any risks for bad side effects.
If you think of yourself as an anxious, high-strung person, cannabis may not a good choice as it could leave you feeling more anxious, Denniston says.
If you have a history of substance abuse, you’ll also want to proceed with caution. “It’s important to have a good doctor and patient relationship to figure out when it might be judicious to use cannabis versus when it’s not a good idea,” Boehnke says.
Just like with medication, not everyone will have a pleasant experience with a marijuana edible, based on their state of mind or their metabolism. “Everyone metabolizes cannabinoids differently,” Boehnke says.
Legal Issues
Finally, there’s the legal standpoint. Cannabis is still illegal on the federal level. In some states it’s legal for recreational and medical purposes. In other states it’s legal for only medical use, and in some states it’s completely illegal. Driving while high from marijuana is also dangerous because it can affect your judgment, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Tips for Using Marijuana Edible Products Safely
If you decide to try an edible marijuana product for medical or recreational use, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Read the label. You may not always read the label on the cereal you buy at the store, but label reading is an essential part of selecting a cannabis edible, Denniston says. The cannabis industry requires a good deal of information on the label so you know the dosing of THC and/or CBD in the product. The label also can tell you if the product has been tested by a third-party lab for safety, which is something that is good for companies to have done. A good dispensary will have dedicated staff – sometimes called “budtenders” – who can help explain a product to you, depending on the experience you want, Boehnke says. “For those who are cannabis-naïve, education through a one-on-one consultation is really important,” he says.
Talk to your doctor or health provider. Are you hesitant to talk to your doctor about cannabis use? You shouldn’t be, Boehnke says. Even if your doctor doesn’t recommend cannabis use, it’s better that they are in the know about your cannabis plans. Your doctor may steer you away from edible cannabis products due to any health conditions you have or medications that you take that could be risky to mix with cannabis.
Start low and go slow. With a steady, slow approach, you don’t run the risk of using too much. With a normal dose being 5 to 10 milligrams, take a 2.5 mg dose and wait 90 minutes if you are new to using cannabis, Smith suggests. If you don’t feel any effect after that, you can try another 2.5 mg. Be careful with your dosing. This is another time when label reading comes in handy. If you have a brownie with, say, four doses of 2.5 mg each, make sure you’re taking just one-fourth of the brownie and not eating the whole thing.
Keep the product out of reach of minors. This is an issue that needs more attention, cannabis experts say. “It’s nearly impossible to keep minors away from the liquor or medicine cabinet,” Sharma says. Now that could creep over to cannabis products as well. Keep products under lock and key. In fact, if you use it recreationally, keep the product in a house where no kids are present, Sharma suggests. Both he and Smith have seen incidents where kids have consumed cannabis-containing gummies, not knowing that they contained a drug. If you have teens in the house who know you use the product for medical reasons, have a conversation to state why you use it and why they must avoid it, Sharma says.
Know who you’re buying from. There are both legal and illegal dispensaries, and it’s not always easy to know which is which, Sharma cautions. Products at a legal dispensary will follow state-specific rules regarding safety and testing. If marijuana is legal in your state, check your state government’s website for a list of registered dispensaries.
Why are people eating CBD and will it get me high?
Cannabidiol, or as it’s better known CBD, is a legal cannabinoid (chemicals found in cannabis) and can be sold in the UK.
It’s not the psychoactive cannabinoid that gets you high, called THC. Instead it’s a product believed by its high-street users to have medicinal properties, such as relaxation and pain-, nausea- and anxiety-relief, although studies are not conclusive.
What is it doing in food?
So why are we increasingly seeing CBD-labelled coffees, cakes and croissants in shops, cafes and restaurants all over the UK?
CBD is normally sold in combination with a base oil, such as olive or coconut, as a supplement, vape, gel to be applied to the skin and more recently, in food and drink.
“Businesses have picked up on growing public awareness and have been promoting their products online, in high-street retailers and increasingly in food and drink,” says Professor in Substance Use, Harry Sumnall, Liverpool John Moores University. We spoke to chefs at two restaurants who use CBD on their menus in completely different ways.
“CBD is actually hard to cook with. It has a disgusting taste”, says Greg Hanger, head chef at Kalifornia Kitchen in London, who has created an entire CBD afternoon tea. Greg pays attention to the type of oil that the CBD is mixed with, saying “coconut oil CBD is great in Thai cooking balanced with coriander, ginger and lime. Olive oil CBD is great for Middle Eastern foods like hummus or you could even mask the flavour with rosemary and put it in cheesy sauce or mashed potatoes.”
“CBD tends to work well in foods with a stronger, earthy taste, such as chocolate and coffee”, says Meg Greenacre, head chef at Erpingham House in Norwich. “I’ve been inspired by menus in London to create a delicious CBD brownie for our customers here. I was surprised that during taste tests, no one could tell which brownie the CBD was in and actually, most people thought it was the batch that did not contain it. I am looking into adding CBD to more sweet bakes such as nutty flapjacks and beetroot chocolate cake, which naturally have a deeper and richer flavour, complementing the earthy, almost bitter, taste and smell of CBD oil.
“When you cook with CBD, you have to be careful not to heat the mixture at too high a temperature”, advises Meg. A search on CBD websites brings up details of CBD evaporating and losing its ‘health’ properties past 160–180C, though “there is also little understanding of what happens to CBD when you cook it or add it to a drink”, says Professor Sumnall
Is CBD a miracle cure?
“There is a greater public awareness of the potential therapeutic uses of medical cannabis and cannabinoids such as CBD, particularly in light of the UK government decision to permit some cannabis prescriptions in response to high-profile campaigns by the families of children affected by severe epilepsy,” says Professor Sumnall.
“The emerging UK CBD industry, inspired by the successes of the legal cannabis industry in the USA, has adopted a similar marketing strategy, and whilst the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency rules mean products can’t make direct health claims without going through formal licensing, the language of ‘wellbeing’ allows them to bypass regulation.
“But there is no good scientific evidence that these consumer products have any real benefits.
“Many of the CBD products available on the high street contain so little CBD that you would need to consume vast quantities to even approach some of the doses that are administered in clinical trials of medicines”, concludes Sumnall.
Coffees and cakes may contain between 5–10mg of CBD. But clinical trials administer doses of around 100–1,500mg per day, with medical supervison.
However, it is not clear whether it would be advisable to consume higher doses of CBD than is currently in these products. “I do worry that if people believe a small amount is good and it’s completely safe, they may believe a large amount is better, says Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and Clinical Director of Patient Info.”
“The problem we have is there hasn’t been enough research and we just don’t know”, Jarvis continues.
This is currently not a regulated market in the UK and so there are no rules on the quality, source, or content of CBD in these type of products, said Professor Sumnall. Michael Wight, Head of Food Safety Policy for The Food Standards Agency said, “We are not aware of any significant safety concerns related to CBD, but as part of the ‘novel foods’ authorisation process they do need to be evaluated for safety. We are continuing to actively monitor food safety aspects of CBD. If we find credible evidence to say that CBD extracts in general, or specific products containing CBD, risk harm to the public, they will be removed from sale.”
Is CBD safe?
According to a report from the World Health Organization, CBD doesn’t exhibit the effects indicative of substance abuse or dependency in humans, like THC can, and has a relatively low toxicity. “To date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD”, it says.
“Many cannabis-based products are available to buy online, but their quality and content is not known. They may be illegal and potentially dangerous,” says the NHS. If you choose to buy CBD in any form, it is best to choose a reputable company.
#cbdcakes @cbdcakes cbd cakes uk
Cafe says brownies mixed with cannabis plant extract are a hit with customers
It is a treat you might expect to find in one of Amsterdam’s infamous coffee shops, rather than inside a Norwich cafe.
But brownies mixed with a cannabis plant extract are now being sold at That Cafe on St Augustines Street – and they are proving popular with customers.
The chocolate brownies were added to the cafe’s menu following the introduction of hot drinks infused with cannabidiol (CBD) earlier this year.
CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound found in cannabis plants which some believe can help with a range of conditions from anxiety to multiple sclerosis (MS).
Following the popularity of the infused hot drinks, the family-run cafe has now added it to its homemade brownies
Barista Sarah White said: “It hasn’t got the psychoactive element of the plant, so you won’t get high off it.
“It just helps relax your muscles, whereas other people use it to help with anxiety.
“You would be surprised how many elderly people come in and ask for it.”
Ms White said the brownies contain 24mg of CBD oil and are mixed with vegan chocolate. Once baked, the oil cannot be tasted.
While almost all cannabinoids are controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act, CBD is not and can be sold in the UK.
Other items on the menu containing the oil include coffees and hot chocolates.
While it is tasteless in the brownies, tea made from CBD oil has an earthy taste.
“It is brilliant for relaxing”, Ms White said. “And we have had no negative feedback.
“We do get the odd person come in and say ‘are you the stoner cafe?’ and I have to say ‘I think you’ve come to the wrong place’.”
A World Health Organization report published in summer 2018 concluded cannabidiol is “generally well tolerated with a good safety profile”.
The report found there was no public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.
Some believe it can help with various medical conditions, but there are no conclusive scientific studies on this.
Cafe owner Chris Featherby said he introduced the CBD infused hot drinks as his mother has MS and found it helped with her condition.
CBD COFFEE SHOP
A coffee shop in Glastonbury is offering customers a different kind of morning buzz on top of their usual caffeine kick.
Customers at Coffee Zero on High Street, can now upgrade their beverage to a CBD-infused hot drink for an extra £1.50.
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive cannabis plant extract which some believe can help conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to arthritis and heart disease.
John Lintern, the owner of Coffee Zero, introduced the drink to the menu on Wednesday, April 12.
They plan to expand the range if it is successful, there could even be ice cream!
CBD can be consumed in many ways one of which is through food.
Today, many cannabis edibles are available from biscuits, and cakes to teas, and gummies.
Compared to other intake methods, cannabis edibles can be easier and better.
The relief provided lasts for longer
it takes CBD edibles minimum half-hour and maximum one hour to deliver results.
However, the effects of cannabis eatables last longer than other delivery modes.
Since CBD in treats is combined with other food items, it takes its time to release in the bloodstream.
This is because food is slowly digested. Compared to inhaling weed, the effects of edibles can last for two to four additional hours.
There’s also no need to worry about overdosing in this case as you are aware of the amount of CBD added to each serving. In fact, you can also find a range of CBD treats to buy from market shelves.
Miley Cyrus-Backed Cannabis Cafe Brings Amsterdam to Hollywood
America’s first lounge to allow consuming cannabis opens on Monday in West Hollywood. It’s called the Lowell Cafe, and brings a bit of Amsterdam to the U.S. with a fancy name.
For the first time in the country, customers will legally be able to order pot as if it were a bottle of wine — and that in fact is the upscale analogue its owners are aiming for. The pot can be smoked in pre-rolled joints or vaped
The cafe’s opening also offers an extension to the cannabis market, where sales are largely confined to dispensaries and online orders, and tests the appetite for a more open and public consumption of a product that’s still illegal in many jurisdictions.
The trend of consuming cannabis on-site hasn’t taken hold in the U.S. yet. For tourists visiting from Amsterdam where cannabis cafes line the streets, it’s puzzling that it’s legal to buy weed but there’s nowhere to consume it.
“Cannabis consumers have always been relegated to getting their cannabis in a plastic bag while you can go to a dinner party with a beautiful bottle of wine,” David Elias, co-founder of Los Angeles-based Lowell Herb Co., the cafe’s owner. “People want to smoke a joint with their friends in a cafe like they can over a beer — not in the alley or in their car.”
Lowell sells pre-rolled smokes to more than 300 dispensaries. The 46-year-old former Wall Street trader started the business in 2017 with five employees, a year after California’s “Adult Use of Marijuana Act” first passed, and now has a staff of more than 200 and counts pop star Miley Cyrus and other celebrities as investors.
Inside new Leicester coffee shop serves drinks infused with CBD
A new coffee shop has opened in the city but it serves much more than your usual latte or cappuccino.
The shop, in Welford Road, is the first of its kind in Leicester.
MedExCBD serves CBD-infused coffee, made with the world’s first ever CBD coffee machine.
MedExCBD has been launched by Leicester couple Kieron Roberts and Lamees Zamakda
both of whom have experienced the health benefits of CBD, and are keen to share it with others.
“I used to take CBD oil for my anxiety,” Lamees said.
“It made such a difference that I was able to reduce my medication and eventually just take this natural alternative.”
Kieron, meanwhile, used CBD cream as pain relief after he fractured his neck and broke his collar bone in an accident.
After experiencing the benefits themselves, the couple further researched the products available, and decided to fill a gap in the market by opening a coffee shop in Leicester.
Lamees added: “We are looking at the beneficial properties of the hemp plant and how cannabidiol extract can holistically improve the lives of many people.
“Cannabidiol extract is renowned for its multitude of health benefits and healing properties for the mind and body.”
The CBD coffee machine is from Somerset-based company The Coffee Boss, which uses ethically-sourced coffee beans.
A 15mg dose of CBD is added to each of the hot drinks at MedEXCBD – which include coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Starbuds cannabis coffee shop opens its doors in the UK
A cannabis coffee shop of the future
Sheffield’s very first cannabis themed coffee shop has opened and yes, it is legal!
A coffee shop with a difference has officially opened its doors in Sheffield – selling cuppas laced with cannabis.
Starbuds Coffee in Chesterfield Road has already been up and running for a few months but owner Imogen Pollard has now officially launched her new business – and spoken out to assure customers that the shop is totally legal.
A cannabis coffee shop has opened its doors to customers in the UK offering people the opportunity to try their CBD infused products.
Starbuds cannabis coffee shop in Sheffield recently opened its doors to offer coffees, cakes and other foods infused with CBD in the wake of the new CBD health trend.
“The first thing people ask when they order a coffee is ‘will it get me high?’ Absolutely not because if it did, we wouldn’t be allowed to be in business.
“We want to get the message out there that we’re offering something a bit different, but its not about getting stoned or high or anything like that.
The cafe, at 111 Chesterfield Road, is open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week.
“We are offering coffees and cakes that can help people with ailments and medical conditions. That’s what the shop is all about.”
Starbuds cannabis coffee shop is selling a number of CBD products including paste, topicals, CDB oil, boiled sweets infused with oils, and will be infusing CBD into food, such as dressings and salsa, in the future. The products are part of their own CBD range named ‘How’.
Alongside coffees and snacks, the shop sells eight different flavours of medical CBD flower, the non-psychoactive flower that can be used for medical purposes, including
tropicana, blackberry, blue dragon, cheese, strawberry, amnesia, grape and white widow – ranging from 10.5% to 14.9% CBD content.
Imogen, 34, was moved to start up Starbuds (and more about that name later!) after seeing CBD cafes springing up in other parts of the country.
It’s not the psychoactive cannabinoid that gets you high called THC.
Instead, its a product that many users believe to have medicinal properties which help with pain relief for a number of conditions including cancer, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.
It also helps people with stress and anxiety relax.
The shop conjures up the air of a traditional Amsterdam coffee shop – the Dutch city where of course, its legal to smoke cannabis in public.
But despite depictions of cannabis leaves across the premises, that’s where the similarity ends.
“We wanted to emulate that vibe,” she adds. “But at the end of the day, we’re just a coffee shop offering drinks with CBD in them.”
However, the shop is not without some controversy – American coffee giant Starbucks has already ordered Imogen to change the name of the cafe.
“It was a cheeky nod to Starbucks,” she added, “but they said the name and logo was too similar to theirs and want us to change it.
“We don’t really have a choice because they are so huge, so we’ll have to think of something new. It has given people a laugh when they have seen the name driving past though.”
She plans to extend the range of CBD products on offer over the coming months as well as applying for an alcohol licence.
Added Imogen: “If it was illegal, we wouldn’t be allow to sell it. Lots of our customers say it helps them relax, it takes away pain and helps ease them through the day.
“It help shifts the brain fuzz that we all get in our daily lives and takes the edge off things for a lot of people.”
Personal benefits from CBD
Mr Chu said: “Me and one of the partners were going down the health and wellbeing route and decided to go with a CBD cannabis coffee shop. At the time I was under enormous amounts of stress and developed a Tourette’s-like tick that I could not get rid of.
“I started taking prescriptions to counteract it, but nothing worked, so I tried CBD oil. In ten or twenty minutes the twitches had gone, and they never came back. After that I carried on taking it and realised my mental health had improved and my aches and pains had gone, along with lots of other benefits.
“I started doing more research and met a lot of people. I heard so many stories from people about how cannabis oil has helped them. People have gone from taking ten or fifteen medications a day down to one – just a couple of drips of oil. It is amazing.
“There is a lot of confusion about the product – the first thing people think is ‘am I going to get high?’ but it is nothing like that. The CBD products are non-psychoactive so they cannot possibly have a psychoactive effect on anyone.”
A cannabis coffee shop of the future
Mr Chu continued: “We opened the doors and saw people trickle in – now we have built up relationships and have many customers from the community who meet up here regularly and love the chilled atmosphere.
“The medical cannabis is a different product – this is a supplement that can be incorporated with other products. We hope people’s attitudes towards cannabis will change and we feel a lot more research needs to be done – this product needs to be in supermarkets.
“People have been on medication for years that has not helped them – one person had Lupus and has never found any relief in prescription creams. After buying 800 mg oil that is used directly on the skin the lupus has cleared up for them and they swear by it.
“I hope in the next five years we will be at the place Canada and America are now and coffee shops like this will hopefully become more normalised.”
CBD oil on BBC
cannabis is popular for calming anxiety
Natalie, who has bought a bottle of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil online, has a few questions she wants answering before she decides whether to take it.
On this journey Natalie meets a hemp farmer, a scientist and tests the product at a laboratory.
CBD products, which are made from a cannabis extract, are very popular but currently there is no specific regulation about their production.
CBD cafe selling drinks infused with cannabis
Bristol’s most recent addition to the city’s food and drink scene.
But this café is slightly different from the rest in that it has food and drinks on the menu that have been infused with cannabis.
Mary Jane’s, a name commonly used as a slang term for marijuana
And the slightly different offering is proving popular with Bristolians, with queues reaching to the door of customers wanting to try the new place.
At Mary Jane’s customers have the option of ordering a selection of food and drinks, including coffees, smoothies and milkshakes, containing CBD if they wish.
To accompany the range of coffees and other hot drinks on offer, Mary-Jane’s will be serving up a range of locally-made cakes and treats with a focus on catering for vegans, people with other dietary restrictions and the health-conscious.
Mary Jane’s will be Bristol’s first CBD coffee shop
Mary-Jayne’s opens to the public this Friday (May 31).
A café which will have hot drinks infused with cannabis on the menu is opening in Bristol this week.
“CBD infused with a Mary-Jane’s coffee it tastes amazing.
Mary Jane’s founder Jon Antoniou said: “Having tried various CBD products on the market I felt that there must be a better way to take it daily than on its own.
“Bristol is a real hub for healthy living and we want our products to reflect that so whether you’re gluten, lactose or nut intolerant or just believe that veganism isn’t just for January, we have options for you.”
Crussh has become the first UK grab-and-go chain to introduce cannabidiol products to its coffee offering after launching CBD oil boosters today.👍
Crussh launched its first iteration of the brand at City, University of London, last month after signing a franchise partnership with the foodservice provider in 2018.
cbdcakes
CBD oil will be available across the brand’s 35 sites in the capital, but will not yet be available through its foodservice partner, Sodexo.
+ CBD – It’s the latest buzz word in the world of coffee. You can now add CBD oil to any coffee for £1.50. And relax…
The oil is offered as a £1.50 supplement by the health-food concept. It is made from naturally occurring compounds found in hemp and does not contain the psychoactive element – THC – contained in cannabis.
Proponents say CBD can help diminish mild anxiety as well as symptoms of epilepsy. Bars, restaurants and cafés across London, Manchester and Bristol have begun offering the substance in different foods and drinks, including truffles, cocktails and frozen yogurt.
Well CBD is short for cannabidiol, it is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in the hemp plant. It doesn’t contain the psychoactive part of the plant that cannabis contains, known as THC and there are numerous studies currently testing its effectiveness in treating a whole host of ailments, from mild anxiety to epilepsy…
Massachusetts cannabis cafes💜
If you’re at least 21 in Massachusetts, you can legally buy recreational marijuana at more than a dozen stores that have opened over the past several months.
But when it comes to using those products, the law says you can only do so discreetly and privately.
The state’s Cannabis Control Commission voted 3-2 recently to accept the recommendations of a working group that explored the possibility of licensing social-consumption sites for marijuana, a move that potentially would open a new frontier for cannabis businesses and consumers in the Bay State.
The plan calls for a test rollout of such venues in up to a dozen Massachusetts communities. But don’t look for Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes to spring up in the near future. It took more than two years after voters approved a recreational marijuana question for the first retail stores to open, and a full — or even partial — rollout of social-consumption venues could easily take just as long, if it happens at all.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PLAN?
The recommendations narrowly approved by the commission allow for a test of social-consumption sites in 12 volunteer communities, including five that participated in the working group: Amherst, North Adams, Provincetown, Somerville and Springfield. Up to seven others that want to participate will be chosen.
State regulators would be authorized to review applications and grant licenses in those communities for establishments such as cannabis cafes, where people could buy and consume marijuana on the premises. The plan also envisions “event host licenses” for certain one-time gatherings — an outdoor concert, perhaps.
The municipalities would have discretion over the types of licenses and how many can be granted.
Providing opportunities for minority-owned businesses and others that have to date been largely excluded from the legal marijuana industry is listed among the “primary attributes” of the pilot program.
Data collected during the trial period will determine if — and when — social-consumption sites would be allowed elsewhere in Massachusetts.
WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS?
The working group identified and attempted to address several concerns with social-consumption sites, including the potential for underage pot use, impaired driving and smoking-related health concerns.
Licensees would be required to have plans in place for assuring that no one under 21 enters an on-site consumption area. Employees of the establishments would be required to complete “responsible server” training that includes guidance on cannabis potency and THC absorption times to prevent overserving of patrons.
Establishments also would need to figure out how to determine when a customer is too impaired to drive and have a plan to assist those customers in finding alternative transportation. This part is tricky because there is currently no approved standard for marijuana impairment, and the effects of some products, notably edibles, take considerably longer to show up than others.
Under the working group’s plan, smoking marijuana would not be allowed at cannabis cafes or other indoor establishments, for health and safety reasons. Indoor vaping would be allowed, if the building has adequate ventilation.
WHEN MIGHT ALL THIS START?
Likely not anytime soon.
The commission has invited the public to offer input on the plan, and final regulations would have to be drafted and approved.
The Legislature must also provide at least tacit approval for the plan. Secretary of State William Galvin has determined the state’s current marijuana law doesn’t provide a mechanism for voters in a city or town to weigh in on whether on-site consumption should be allowed in their communities.
Bills to achieve that have been filed in the House and Senate, but no public hearing has been scheduled and it doesn’t appear to be among current priorities for lawmakers.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who would be called upon to sign any such legislation, has been highly skeptical of cannabis cafes but hasn’t ruled them out in the future.
WHAT HAVE OTHER MARIJUANA STATES DONE?
Nearly every U.S. state with legal recreational marijuana has grappled with the question of social use, with differing outcomes.
The working group said it examined rules in other states, including Alaska’s recently approved law that allows pot to be used in designated areas within some stores that sell it.
San Francisco and some other California communities have moved to allow pot lounges, and the Las Vegas City Council approved a plan earlier this month to authorize venues in the city, though not in casinos.
Last year, then-Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper vetoed a bill to allow marijuana retailers to create so-called tasting rooms.
