The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced the winners of the state’s 10 medical cannabis testing lab licenses Dec. 19, according to a USA Today report.
The approved facilities include:
Botannis Labs MO. Corp. in Springfield
GCA, Inc. in Herculaneum
EKG Life Science Solutions, LLC in St. Louis
Farma Laboratories LLC in Platte City
Inovatia AgriTesting Services, LLC in Fayette
Green Orchard Labs, LLC in Chillicothe
ClearWater Science LLC in Kingdom City
ContiCorp LLC in Galena
Green Hills Labs, LLC in Moscow Mills
Cloud TEN, LLC in St. Louis
At least 17 applications were submitted for the testing licenses, USA Today reported, and this is the first of six licensing rounds to license the medical cannabis supply chain in the state.
The licensed labs will be responsible for testing the products sold through the state's dispensaries for contaminants like chemicals and mold, and must also verify THC levels, according to the news outlet.
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Georgia Medical Cannabis Board Holds First Meeting
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission is working on establishing ways to distribute medical cannabis oil in the state.
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission held its first meeting Dec. 18 to begin exploring ways to manufacture or import medical cannabis oil for the state’s nearly 14,000 registered patients, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Patients have been allowed to possess low-THC cannabis oil (containing less than 5-percent THC) since 2015, but had no way to legally obtain the product in the state until Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law in April that called for a regulated system for the in-state production, processing and sale of the oil.
The law established the commission and tasked it with establishing regulations for the program, as well as issuing business licenses and creating a distribution network for the oil. State officials appointed members to the commission last month, including three doctors, a police chief, a health policy professor, the president of the Georgia Board of Pharmacy and a small business owner. The commission is chaired by Dr. Christopher Edwards, the principal surgeon for the Atlanta Neurological & Spine Institute.
Six companies will ultimately be licensed to cultivate medical cannabis, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, and the commission will also explore ways to import cannabis oil from other states or grow it at state universities. The oil will be tested for purity and dosages will be determined, according to the news outlet.
Going forward, the commission plans to hire a director, create a website and host monthly public meetings, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
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New Research: Study Raises Red Flag for Cannabis Consumers with Heart Disease
Research is scarce when it comes to cannabis and cardiovascular concerns, but a new study from the UK suggests caution for consumers with pre-existing heart disease.
Editor's Note: This article was updated on December 20, 2019.
It’s no secret that cannabis isn’t a cure-all. While regular consumption for recreational purposes at the ever-increasing potencies available on the legal market today still appears to have a fairly low level of health risk for the average person, potential cardiovascular impact remains an important consideration for those managing heart disease.
Due to the legal status of cannabis in the United States, studies on cannabis-related cardiovascular events have been primarily observational and self-reported, often pulling from small population samples without differentiation of consumption method. Aside from an incident with a 90mg THC lollipop, almost all studied risks of cannabis on cardiovascular function are based on users of inhaled combustible cannabis – and there’s plenty of data to suggest smoking of any kind may be of particular concern for those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obviously, more complete clinical data is still needed, but there are a few red flags to consider already in regard to cannabis and heart health.
According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, patients with established heart disease who were also under stress have reported an increased likelihood of chest pain after smoking cannabis. THC, the primary psychoactive substance in adult-use market cannabis, has been shown to increase resting heart rate, dilate blood vessels, and make the heart pump harder – particularly within the first hour after smoking – raising concerns about an increased risk of heart attack immediately after consumption. These effects may be compounded by amplified stress levels within an individual.
Of course, as access continues to outpace transparent consumer education on responsible use, over-consumption of THC and the anxiety-producing effects that intolerance to high potencies can bring may be exasperating the experience of increased stress as well. So, while THC or other cannabinoids may correlate with cardiovascular changes, many of these symptoms may be more directly associated with raised anxiety levels after consuming or even other unknown factors.
Possible confounders on indirect effects of cannabis on cardiovascular system.
According to numerous reports of increased emergency room visits from panicked consumers following legalization - absent of an immediate and major cardiac event - cardiovascular stress from induced anxiety generally subsides quickly and may be mitigated through cannabis avoidance or carefully measured dosing. Someone with a pre-existing heart condition who finds needed pain relief from cannabis may still be able to consume without significant risk but should be in communication with a cannabis-educated clinician or trained consultant who can provide observation and guidance. However, acute symptoms in consumers with pre-existing cardiac concerns may not be the only cardiological consideration with cannabis.
Regular Cannabis Use Linked to Structural Changes in the Heart
In a report released this week in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) on Cardiovascular Imaging, researchers at Queen Mary University of London have found a possible link between regular cannabis use and its impact on structural and functional changes to the heart.
Funded by the British Heart Foundation, researchers analyzed MRI cardiac scans from a UK Biobank population study of 3,407 individuals without a history of CVD and identified an association between regular cannabis use, defined as daily or weekly use, and an enlarged left ventricle – the heart’s primary pumping chamber. Of the total population sample studied, 105 patients reported regular cannabis use in the past and only 47 who continued to consume cannabis regularly.
Despite the acknowledged imitations of the study, including a small sample size of self-reported use and a heavy Caucasian skew (96%), the study authors noted larger left ventricles and early signs of impaired heart function in the continued-use group. Past users who had not consumed cannabis in the five years prior to the interviews had similar heart size and function to those who had rarely or never imbibed, suggesting these concerns may be short-term side effects. No significant differences in overall left ventricular mass or the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat was found in the study and no changes in the size and function of the other three heart chambers were identified.
Lead author Dr. Mohammed Khanji, Senior Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary, provided commentary for the news release on this first-of-its-kind study: "Our findings are not conclusive but the research took place against a backdrop of decriminalization and legalization of recreational cannabis use in many countries. We urgently need systematic research to identify the long-term implications of regular consumption of cannabis on the heart and blood vessels. This would allow health professionals and policymakers to improve advice to patients and the wider public."
MJardin Awarded Cultivation and Processing License from Health Canada for its Largest Facility
The 120,000-square-foot retro-fitted cultivation facility located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the largest in the company’s portfolio.
TORONTO and DENVER, Dec. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- MJardin Group, Inc., a cannabis production company, has announced that it has received its cultivation and processing license from Health Canada for “Warman,” a 120,000-square-foot retro-fitted cultivation facility located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the largest in the company’s portfolio.
Phase 1 construction of the building is complete and cultivation in this area will begin immediately.
“This is a great milestone for our flagship facility in Winnipeg and a great day for the team,” said Pat Witcher, chief executive officer of MJardin Group. “The timing of this achievement keeps us on schedule to reach full capacity in Manitoba by the end of 2020. It also allows us to focus more of our production on extraction at this facility and take full advantage of that high value market.”
Design plans for the full Phase 1 and 2 areas of the Warman facility were released this summer and include a hybrid facility encompassing indoor and greenhouse production capacity, along with full EU GMP certified extraction, processing and packaging capabilities. The completed Phase 2 build-out, expected to be complete in Q4 2020, will see the facility reach production capacity of approximately 4,500 kg of high-quality dried flower and 800 litres of bulk oil for use in refined products.
On Oct. 4, 2019, MJardin announced that the company received a C$11 million payment towards the previously announced letter of intent (LOI) joint venture agreement with Peguis First Nation (51%) that will see Peguis purchase the existing land and buildings from MJardin and additionally fund the capital expenditures required to complete Phase 2 of the facility for approximately C$20.5 million. The joint venture agreement is expected to close in early 2020.
“Our partners have been working very hard to get to this day and we look forward to reaching full production and employment capacity in 2020 and bringing this significant economic development project to full fruition,” stated Peguis First Nation Chief Glenn Hudson.
This marks MJardin’s third cultivation and processing license in its Canadian portfolio covering facilities in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Manitoba. The company expects to receive its fourth cultivation license and a second sales license in the coming weeks.
Lil Wayne Launches GKUA Ultra Premium Cannabis Brand
With an emphasis on purity, GKUA Ultra Premium offers a line of high-potency cannabis products designed to provide consumers with the best high of their lives.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Lil Wayne, the artistic giant and connoisseur of cannabis, has announced the launch of GKUA Ultra Premium. With an emphasis on purity, GKUA Ultra Premium offers a line of high-potency cannabis products designed to provide consumers with the best high of their lives.
This unique new brand celebrates the best cannabis in the world, with some of the highest natural levels of THC available. GKUA Ultra Premium flower is sourced from the most experienced growers, who produce strains that are very limited, incredibly potent and impossibly difficult to find.
"I used to just want to get high, now I smoke to get inspired," said Lil Wayne. "With GKUA, I'm sharing a feeling that I love."
Beyond the products, GKUA celebrates culture and artistic achievement. As Lil Wayne has done throughout his career, GKUA will support new artists in multiple mediums, such as fashion designers, song writers, musicians, models, dancers and visual artists through artistic collaborations that promote not only the brand, but the GKUA lifestyle.
"The combination of our incredible products, market knowledge and commitment to quality, paired with the unmatched fanbase of Lil Wayne, the ultimate cannabis connoisseur, creates an unprecedented opportunity to create a cannabis brand that values creativity and the artistic pursuit," said Beau Golob, president and co-founder GKUA Inc. "It's an honor to lead this company along with Lil Wayne, curating a premium line of products that inspires people and feeds their creativity. This is historic and really exciting!"
As well as bringing the best cannabis products to market, GKUA will be offering their customers free tickets to the hottest party of the year. The first GKUA VIP PARTY featuring once in a lifetime performances with Lil Wayne and Friends is scheduled for 2020.
At launch, GKUA Ultra Premium products will be available in select Los Angeles dispensaries with a larger roll-out across the state in 2020. They include:
GKUA Ultra Premium Flower: Sourced from the most experienced growers, GKUA will produce strains that are very limited, incredibly potent and impossibly difficult to find. Available at launch is HOLLYGROVE a unique strain for Lil Wayne and GKUA and UPROAR a very limited strain.
GKUA Ultra Premium Battery Technology: This new proprietary ceramic heating element and cutting-edge design is optimized to efficiently deliver vape in easily controllable doses while elevating the user experience. The battery technology combined with GKUA Ultra Premium THC or CBD oil is the future of vape.
GKUA THC Vape: Sourced from the best cannabis with all organic inputs, GKUA's THC Vape is an exclusive formulation that carefully transforms the highest quality cannabis into potent THC vape oil. Independently lab tested and certified for purity. GKUA Ultra Premium vape oil, pure and potent.
GKUA Ultra Premium Concentrates: Intensely potent and flavorful, GKUA Ultra Premium Concentrates are sourced from the finest cannabis flower with off-the-chart THC levels created for dabbing or adding to flower. Potency you can taste and feel.
Dispensaries will be giving away the first of a series of Lil Wayne + GKUA posters with every purchase of GKUA Ultra Premium products. To find out more about GKUA products and upcoming events, visit the website at gkua.com.
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Melissa Schiller
Andrea Sparr-Jaswa
