The USA is Importing Hemp Seeds and Expertise from Europe in 2017!

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Hana Gabrielová has been studying and working with hemp for longer than most Americans have even known of the plant. She began her Bachelor’s Thesis on Hemp Agronomy back in 1997, having been inspired as a youth by the Jack Herer classic: The Emperor Wears No Clothes. These days, she teaches the science of hemp at Universities across Europe – and this year she’s finally coming to America!

1999 is the year Hana graduated with her Bachelor degree in Sustainable agronomy, and the same year that Konopa – the first hemp-centered non-profit environmental organization in the Czech Republic, was founded. Konopa aims to spread knowledge about hemp as a crop. Incidentally, Konopa is also a play on the Czech slang-word for hemp: konopí.

In 2001, Hana moved to Prague to work more closely with Konopa. It was in Prague that she helped Konopa make the first “day seminar” for farmers about hemp, together with the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information (IAEI). To this day, Konopa continues providing hemp training, consulting, and a large publishing library of hemp agronomy.

In 2004, Hana started to work with Greenpeace in spreading awareness of the dangers and cost of Uranium mining and nuclear waste disposal, but in 2010 returned to hemp as a solution, and established her company, Hempoint S.R.O. – Nowadays she is helping with ongoing research into using hemp to remediate the soils of strip-mining operations and garbage dump sites. So far, hemp not only grows where no other crops will, it also rejuvenates the soil and allows more demanding crops to be planted afterward.

Hana has spoken up in defense of hemp before the United Nations. In fact, in a statement to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, she reminded delegates that the original UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961 included the proviso that it “shall not apply to the cultivation of the cannabis plant exclusively for industrial purposes (fiber and seed) or horticultural purposes.” (Article 28, paragraph 2)

As she pointed out in that statement, not only is industrial hemp not illegal under any UN convention, it is also a massive boon in helping to achieve the goals of the Conference of Parties on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:

  • Hemp crops store CO2 emissions
  • produce renewable material which can sustainably replace trees in making paper
  • can be turned into biodegradable plastic
  • hemp can be used instead of concrete for building
  • and the rich seeds of hemp represent a meaningful nutritional contribution to addressing world hunger

But that’s what Hana does in her spare time.

On any typical work day, you’ll find her flying to Greece to help establish a hemp farmer co-operative, or at Mendel University in Brno teaching biotechnology students how to grow and cultivate hemp for use in future-tech. She also regularly meets with hemp farmers in the field to help them improve their methods and practices, as well as developing market sectors that will buy the hemp crop directly from farmers. That goal has taken her as far as the slopes of Nepal, where hemp doesn’t have to be farmed since it grows wild naturally. Entrepreneurs in Nepal have been gathering the wild hemp and turning it into all manner of consumer goods: goods which Hana buys from them to sell on a global market. She has even created a company to help in this regard: Hempoint.

Hempoint is a business which grows hemp in cooperation with farmers and produces food products made from hemp seeds, fiber, and flowers. Hempoint offers hands-on consulting along with the sourcing and distribution of hemp seeds to local farmers.

That’s what is bringing Hana to the USA.

Bija Hemp, a Colorado-grown company, specializes in the cultivation of industrial hemp across the United States. As part of that vision, they have arranged to bring Hana Gabrielová to speak directly with Colorado farmers who are planting Bija Hemp seed in 2017. This will be her first trip to the USA, and it’s no coincidence that hemp is what brought her here.

Hana recently imported the US Patient Focused Certification (PFC) into Europe, and she is the PFC Director for Europe. PFC establishes quality standards in cannabis cultivation, production, distribution and laboratory analyses, as well as employee training and educational materials. PFC helps to define the processes, procedures, and materials to ensure that hemp products are of consistent quality, are free of harmful substances, and have their own unique identity, so they can be identified if necessary at the retail market.

In turn, she is repaying that generosity by sharing her knowledge and experience with US hemp farmers – and she’s bringing friends too! Joining her will be experts from the Ukrainian Hemp Institute (UHI) – an organization with one of the longest unbroken and documented histories of hemp cultivation and research dating back to 1931.

“I’m coming to Colorado to bring that experience from Europe, to work with both the University and the farmers to create an ongoing research project,” she told me. “I know the plant, but they know the climate and the soil.”

The University she is referring to is Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. Thanks to Dr. Beverlee McClure, President of Adams State University, and thanks also to Bija Hemp; Hana will be working directly with both the University and the local farmers to develop proper procedures for farming hemp in the region, as well as a University curriculum based around industrial hemp.

Bija Hemp have partnered with Adams State University and the Hoban Law Group to organize the United States first fully Farm Bill compliant hemp seed importation. In addition to hemp seeds, they are importing the vast libraries of knowledge from Europe, as well as the enthusiasm and experience of pioneers like Hana Gabrielová.

Meetup with her at the NoCo Hemp Expo in Loveland, Colorado from March 31st-April 1st, 2017. Or contact Bija Hemp to find out how you can attend the private presentations she will be giving throughout Colorado in the first weeks of April 2017: info@bijahemp.com

Come be a part of History in the making!

 

Australian Medical Cannabis Laws

Medical Cannabis in Australia

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Pauline Hanson has become an unlikely hero to all those requiring medical Cannabis.

On January 8th, she directly lobbied Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to provide an amnesty to suppliers and users of medicinal cannabis.

This appeal came after police raided the Adelaide home of Jenny Hallam – a 44 year old woman who produces and gives away medicinal cannabis oil to people in need. Ms. Hallam has been reported for drug offenses and had equipment and products removed from her home.

Ms. Hallan tweeted out a case study of one Queensland child whose life would regress to a nightmare without the oil.

The girl’s father, Steve Peek, backed up these claims by saying their supplies are running low and now they fear for the health of their daughter:

“We only have enough to last until next week,” he said.

“Yesterday, to try and stretch it out, we didn’t give her the midday dose and at a quarter to six last night she started having seizures.”

More Patients Speak Out

Other patients who used Ms. Hallam’s oil have also spoken out in her defense.

Ben Oakley from Wollongong, said he uses the drug to relieve pain and life-threatening seizures he suffers from the rare neurological condition known as stiff person syndrome.

Mr. Oakley used to suffer from full-body spasms, more than 600 spasms over four years – some of which lasted as long as two hours.

In the 19 months since starting medicinal Cannabis, he has had only 3 spasms, which lasted no more than 20 seconds each.

“My supplier, a person who has changed my life, if not saved my life, Jenny Hallam, you are incredible,” he said.

“You’ve been able to give me the life I thought I was going to lose. It’s pretty disappointing the police have raided her and taken all of her crops.”

Mr. Oakley will run out of oil in a few months, and isn’t sure what will happen then.

It is believed that Ms. Hallam supplied oil to 200 people across Australia, and now they are all left in a similar situation. All this, because Australia has yet to change its laws on the legality of the Cannabis plant.

$34 Million Waste

After watching Cannabis Oil save their 3-year old granddaughter from nearly 1,400 seizures per day, Barry & Joy Lambert donated $34 Million to Sydney University for Medical Cannabis research. But so far, NOTHING WORTHWHILE has been done with their money.

Meanwhile, his own son has been charged with illegally producing cannabis oil to help save his family.
“They shouldn’t have to break the law,” Barry says. But saving a life is more important than following the law. His wife, Joy, adds: “So at 67 I decided I could be civilly disobedient and just do what was right for the children with epilepsy. That’s how I see it.”

But saving a life is more important than following the law, his wife Joy, adds: “So, at 67 I decided I could be civilly disobedient and just do what was right for the children with epilepsy. That’s how I see it.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Follow what activists like Jenny Hallan are doing, and support them where you can.

Ms. Hallan has recently tweeted that she launched  where you can register to receive her whole plant Cannabis oil products. You can hear an interview with Ms. Hallan on ABC Radio here.

Barry & Joy Lambert continue to support the Sydney University Lambert Initiative – where you can keep track of their progress.

However, the most important thing you can do is contact your government representative!

Federal Government

Contact the Prime Minister and urge him to intervene and help save these families. Contact his office on (02) 9327 3988.

Medicinal cannabis use is still illegal and only available through trials and limited special access schemes.

But, in late 2016, the Federal Government passed legislation legalizing the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Queensland

Queensland doctors will soon be able to prescribe it for their patients’ treatment. New laws will give certain specialists including oncologists, pediatric neurologists and palliative care specialists the right to prescribe medicinal cannabis from March 2017. Other doctors would be able to apply to Queensland Health for permission to prescribe the drug for patients with certain conditions.

Mail

PO Box 15185
City East
Queensland 4002

Email

Please use this form to contact by email.

Telephone

(07) 3719 7000

Fax

(07) 3220 6222

Tasmania

The State Government announced in April specialist medical practitioners would be allowed to prescribe the drug to patients suffering serious and chronic illness from 2017.

Contact Tasmania Premier Will Hodgman using this online form.

NSW

Contacting NSW Premier Mike Baird can be done through this online form.

In July, NSW Premier Mike Baird said 40 children in the state with the most severe cases of drug-resistant epilepsy would now have access to a cannabis-based treatment under a compassionate access scheme.

NSW is conducting a trial for patients suffering vomiting and nausea as a result of chemotherapy.

Western Australia

The WA Government previously said it would not conduct medicinal cannabis trials until it received the results of testing in New South Wales.

Contact WA Premier Colin Barnett:

Mail

1 Parliament Place ,
WEST PERTH WA 6005

Email

wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au

Telephone

(08) 6552-5000

Fax

(08) 6552-5001

Northern Territory

Not legal. Contact Premier Michael Gunner on (08) 8947 1755 or using this online form.

South Australia

You can contact SA Premier Jay Weatherill by using this online form.

In April, SA Health Minister Jack Snelling ruled out changing the law in South Australia at this stage.

Victoria

It’s legal here. It was the first state to pass legislation legalizing the use of medicinal cannabis.
You can contact the Premiere by mail, email, telephone, fax, through the National Relay Service or using the contact form on this page

Mail

Office of the Premier
1 Treasury Place
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia, 3002

Email

daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au

Telephone

(03) 9651 5000

Fax

(03) 9651 5054

Accessible phone options

If you are deaf, have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service (NRS):
TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for (03) 9651 5000
Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for (03) 9651 5000
Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for (03) 9651 5000

 

Is Raw Cannabis a Superfood?

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A “functional food” is a food that provides benefits in excess of nutrition.1  The number of vitamins, essential oils, complete essential amino acids, and perfectly balanced fatty acids found in raw cannabis has led experts like Dr. William Courtney to call weed a “dietary essential” and definitely a functional food.2

When unheated, raw cannabis causes none of the psychoactive effects associated with smoking it or consuming “decarboxylated” (heat treated) oil.
Dr. Jeffrey C. Raber explains:

“When you consume “raw” cannabis, that is cannabis which has not been heated, you are consuming the cannabinoid acids. THCA and/or CBDA. Look up tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or cannabidiolic acid. Those are the A forms of the molecules you are consuming.” 3

Dr. Raber received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Southern California,4 so he knows a thing or two about chemistry.

When you heat cannabis, a chemical change occurs called decarboxylation.  This big word simply means removing the carboxyl acids of the cannabinoids.5 This is a process your body naturally does with amino acids, and also one it naturally does with cannabinoid acids. Decarboxylating the cannabinoids before consuming them is similar to injecting racehorses with ATP instead of feeding them sufficient amino acids.

It is not harmful to consume decarboxylated cannabinoids, but it’s not the most natural nor the most beneficial way to consume them.

In fact, Dr. William Courtney points out that humans can consume up to 100 times more cannabinoids in their raw acid form than when they are decarbed.6
He explains that euphoria is triggered in some people after consuming 5-10mg of THC. Consuming 20mg is enough to trigger dysphoria (paranoia) in most individuals. However, no psychoactive effects are noticed in doses of THCA as high as 2,000mg.6

 

So what is the best way of consuming this “dietary essential”?Juicing.

Juicing.
That’s right: Juicing fresh, raw cannabis is the best way to consume the plant.

Again, Dr. Jeffrey C. Raber Ph.D. explains:

“Juicing is working because it provides the cannabinoid acids, which are potent compounds that help regulate the endocannabinoid system in ways not fully understood just yet.” 3

Dr. William Courtney tells us

“The cannabinoids are fat-soluble, so at this point, we are trying to encourage people to put the cannabinoids into a drink that has a lot of fat content; something that has yogurt or ice-cream, or coconut milk or hemp milk. As you increase the fat content, then the cannabinoids can dissolve into that fat, which will elevate the amount that you can have per milliliter of juice.”

Hemp milk isn’t just a good choice because it’s in the cannabis family. Dr. Courtney continues:

“Hemp seeds (used to produce hemp milk) are an excellent source of the essential amino acids in a very balanced form, and it’s also a source of the essential fatty acids uniquely balanced in the exact ratio required by the human body.”

So the seeds provide us with all the essential amino acids (protein), along with perfectly balanced Omega 3, 6, and 9. Meanwhile, the flowers and leaves provide us with unique cannabinoid acids along with an incredible array of terpenes (essential oils) and flavonoids that provide a wide range of dietary benefits.

How Cannabinoids Benefit Your Body

Science is still coming to terms with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system. That’s right, every living creature with a central nervous system has an endocannabinoid system, and we all produce cannabinoids inside our bodies (called endocannabinoids).

There was a time when science didn’t fully understand vitamins. When sailors spent too long at sea, they came down with an illness called Scurvy, what we now know to be vitamin C deficiency. There are some researchers who believe many modern illnesses may actually be symptoms of a cannabinoid deficiency.

As a medicine, cannabis has been shown to be effective in treating: multiple sclerosis, seizures, glaucoma, anorexia, nausea, neuropathic pain, ADD / ADHD, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, asthma, several forms of cancer, the list goes on and on.7

CBD has been found to act as an antipsychotic, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and a neuroprotectant.6

These same illnesses are treated when raw cannabis is consumed as a food.6

Unlike traditional neurotransmitters, which are pre-synthesized and stored in small “packages” called vesicles on each neuron; endocannabinoids are synthesized as needed by the lipids (fats) making up the neuronal cell wall.8
This means that consuming foods which supply the building blocks of cannabinoids is extremely beneficial for the treatment of ALL of these illnesses and their related symptoms.

There is no better source for the building blocks of cannabinoids than raw cannabis.

Cost and Availability

One of the biggest limiting factors in the ability to juice and consume raw cannabis is the cost. Most people simply could not afford what it would cost to regularly buy the amount of cannabis needed to juice and consume it every day.

On the other hand, experts like Dr. Courtney say that a “phenomenal number of people” are able to slowly wean themselves off of prescription medications within a few months of starting to consume cannabis. So that money that was going towards prescription meds could instead be used to purchase raw cannabis.

Another limiting factor is access. With current laws restricting the growth and sales of cannabis, most people wouldn’t even know where to look for fresh, raw cannabis.

With medical and scientific experts calling this plant a “dietary essential”6 – isn’t it time that we changed our laws surrounding cannabis?

The best thing you and I can do to help change these archaic laws is to first educate ourselves on the benefits, and then share that information with others.

Reading this article isn’t enough. Check our references, and try to prove this information wrong. In doing so, you may inadvertently prove it to yourself in a much deeper way.

Then, once you are confident in your knowledge, try sharing some of this information with people whom you think could benefit from it. Only when enough of us are active AND well educated can we truly make a difference.

Check out this video interview with Dr. William Courtney:

References:

1.
What are functional foods? – Mayo Clinic . Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/functional-foods/faq-20057816. Published April 15, 2015. Accessed November 22, 2016.
2.
Dr. William L. Courtney. Medical Jane. https://www.medicaljane.com/directory/professional/dr-william-l-courtney/. Published January 14, 2015. Accessed November 22, 2016.
3.
Group E. Juicing RAW Cannabis – Eating RAW Cannabis? Dr. Group’s Natural Health & Organic Living Blog. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/juicing-raw-cannabis-eating-raw-cannabis/. Published March 1, 2012. Accessed November 22, 2016.
4.
Team Members. The Werc Shop – Analytical Testing Laboratory. http://thewercshop.com/about/team-members/. Accessed November 22, 2016.
5.
Decarboxylation. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decarboxylation. Accessed November 22, 2016.
6.
Courtney W. Raw Cannabis Advantages – William Courtney, MD. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlsBGXNxJYU. Published May 5, 2013. Accessed November 22, 2016. [Source]
7.
Category:Health Benefits of Cannabis. The Cannapedia. http://thecannapedia.org/cannawiki/index.php?title=Category:Health_Benefits. Accessed November 22, 2016. [Source]
8.
Di M, De P, Bisogno T. The biosynthesis, fate and pharmacological properties of endocannabinoids. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2005;(168):147-185. [PubMed]

CannaFest Prague, 2016 – Research Summary

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Most medical cannabis research done on humans used:
  • Suppositories in the morning
  • Oral ingestion at night (rubbing the oil into the gums between lips and gums)
 
Research has found that suppositories do not get the patient high even when using high amounts of THC – since it isn’t processed by the liver.
 
Taking it orally at night also helps the patient to get a solid night’s rest.
 
Crystals have been found to be limited in their effectiveness. Researchers are finding that the most benefits come from “whole plant extracts” rather than from isolates.
 
There are 144 identified cannabinoids in whole plant cannabis oil – each one of these is a unique neurotransmitter found only in the cannabis plant, and not a single one has been found to be harmful to human health. The plant seems to naturally present them in specific ratios and combinations that are extremely beneficial to the human mind and body.
 
In addition to these cannabinoids, around 1,088 other known compounds make up cannabis oil, such as terpenes and flavonoids. These also have a synergistic effect known as “the entourage effect” when taken together.
 
Stay away from all Synthetic Cannabinoids – as they have been found to actually be toxic.
 
Cannabis Is NOT a Panacea
  1. it does not cure every time
  2. it does not cure everyone
  3. it does not cure every disease
  4. it does not cure every stage of the disease
However, it does appear to help every patient tested so far, and it cures a surprisingly large majority of them – across a broad range of illnesses from Cancer, to AIDS, ADD/ADHD, to Diabetes, even Osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
 
For a full list of known medical conditions that can be treated with cannabis, please see this page:

CannaFest 2016 – The World’s Largest Cannabis Fair

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The Cannapedia are at Cannafest 2016 – the 7th annual cannabis and medicinal herb fair in Prague.

This year the fair will host 250 companies from 25 countries. Represented at the fair will be some of the leading manufacturers of textiles and cosmetic products, top media outlets that cover cannabis awareness, and various institutions and firms that utilize cannabis as a natural resource. CannaFest represents all those worldwide who are fighting for the legalization of marijuana in medicine.

The Business of Cannabis

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I’m going to talk to you about getting into some aspect of the Business of Cannabis, but first a little about why me: I’ve been pioneering new products and new segments in the soyfoods industry for 36 years, and hemp food for 22 years.

I sold tofu in the Reagan ‘80s 1, which made it easy to sell hemp foods in the go-go ‘90s. I was first-mover by years in what today is more than 90% of the Canadian hemp industry – and provided the first business model. I was on the Inc 500 list of fastest-growing companies in 1993 2 – and introduced more than 150 products to the market. I literally wrote the book on hempseed foods 3, twice 4, and spoke to 3 million viewers about hemp foods on the Roseanne Show (afternoon talk show) on CBS in 1999 5 .

After spending $2.5 million and 8 years developing a branded 22-member global hemp food supply network selling over a dozen hemp foods internationally, I walked away from it and retired in 2002 when a hemp fiber group killed the food market for years by suing DEA over food against my wishes. 6

Ten years ago I moved to Colorado, where I researched and documented the emerging CBD hemp industry. I started and run both the Hemp Food Association, started in 1998, and the Medicinal Hemp Association to advocate and educate on CBD. I’ve been advocating for Cannabis reform since 1972 and California’s first Proposition 19, to legalize.

I’m 60 years old now, and after spending the last 44 years studying and advocating Cannabis, I have to say that today is an incredibly exciting time to be alive if you are a friend of her. Just this week 7 more US states legalized, bringing to 45 (90% of the 50) states which have some form of Cannabis legalization 7 , including the population centers of California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. And President Obama said just last week that federal prohibition was “untenable.” 8

Notwithstanding the fact that Trump was elected President, things are about to change and change fast in the US, which means big changes for other nations will also move faster. The business of Cannabis is massive in its volume, turnover, scale, technology, potential, and most importantly, its relevance to healing, health, and well-being. 100% of the human and pet population can benefit from Cannabinoids. 9  If you are a young person looking for a career or profession, few other industries will offer you the security, creativity, upside potential, or fun.

While you may at first consider working with another Cannabis company to gain experience (even Master Growers make $120,000 10 ), I am here to tell you that perhaps the best thing you can do for yourself is starting your own business. In America, we use a French term for that: Entrepreneurship. Your own company gives you far more freedom from bosses, creative expression, the potential to make millions, and daily fun.

What is a “Cannabis Business”?

First, let’s define what is a “Cannabis business:” although the British have popularized the word “Cannabis” to mean what Americans call “marijuana,” in fact the genus Cannabis includes hemp, long marijuana’s red-haired stepchild11 . Few understand that while marijuana is basically only good for producing Cannabinoids and Terpenes (hallelujah!), hemp also does that, and so much more:

  • superfoods like protein and omega-3
  • sprouts
  • Cannflavins
  • Cannabisin
  • CBD
  • CBG
  • terpenes
  • building materials
  • clothes
  • textiles
  • diesel
  • alcohol
  • ethanol
  • carbon fiber
  • graphene supercapacitors
  • paper
  • culinary oil
  • and much more.

Hemp may disrupt entire old school industries, which is why recreational marijuana is more legal to grow than hemp in 7 states , and strangled by “research-only by universities” regulations.12

What Kinds of Businesses are Possible with Cannabis?

In Colorado, hemp and marijuana legalization brought about 18,000 new jobs in a state of 5 million. 13 Innovations such as 26% CBD hemp, 5% terpene marijuana, the first buildings made from hemp in the country, hundreds of millions of dollars from new taxes and new millionaires. The first CBD dabs, terpene dabs, fractional distillation, terpene as a solvent, sprouting, juicing, CBN production. Hemp (0.3% max THC) bred, grown, cured, extracted, and smoked like marijuana for the first time (for CBD). That’s the leading edge, and if you are looking for a new business to start, be sure to look to Colorado. In fact, I suggest you find best practices companies everywhere and emulate them. Borrow their best ideas for your new business.

I started an Inc 500 fastest-growing international food company with $400 and a spare bedroom and sold it 15 years later for almost $4 million.14 If I can do it, SO CAN YOU. Not all new businesses require tons of start-up capital. Consider leasing your equipment. Factoring your receivables. Get long payment terms from your suppliers but cash terms from your customers. Hit up your rich uncle to be an angel investor. Think outside the box, practice guerilla marketing.

Don’t waste your precious start-up capital on University, start a business instead (this coming from a guy with 2 degrees in marketing). Learn EVERYTHING you can about your chosen craft, but also marketing and finance because you are going to need it, big time.

The art in your business will often be developing workarounds for dealing with regulations, lack of financing, banking, and marketing. Expect push-back from friends, relatives, and the government, be polite but firm when confronted with insults to your vision.

Get up early and work late, because your competitors are. Maintain integrity, but don’t be a push-over. Milk the positive Public Relations aspect of what you are doing, that’s free advertising (use non-profit trade associations as a PR division of your company, the others do).

Give back to your community, just on principle. Always remember what drives you to do this, whether your customers, patients, children, or whatever.

Create entire new industries and product segments, and when you do, totally own them as long as possible. Protect IP ruthlessly, it might be worth a ton later on. Competitors are not your “Bro,” no matter how many times they call you that. Be more Pro than Bro.

How Big Is The Cannabis Market?

Every estimate on the size of the Cannabis industry is understated, some by an order of magnitude or more. Those are all based on how Cannabis will impact EXISTING industries and companies. On that they may be right: for instance, I expect at least 15% of pharmaceuticals will be disrupted by Cannabinoid medicines.15 However, those estimates don’t include the entire new industries and industry segments that will be created, like I did with “Hemp Nut” shelled hempseed in North America 20 years ago. It is very likely that the overall Cannabis industry in 20 years will be in the many Trillions of dollars, that’s thousands of billions of dollars.16

So What is Possible For You to do as a New Business?

The obvious ones of course: growing flowers and extracting (it’s not all about THC any longer; with 144 Cannabinoids and 120 Terpenes, the range of possible blends is over 14,000). Dabs, shatter, wax, crumble, oils, tinctures, capsules, nanoparticles, Nobacco and Not-Pot CBD flowers and dabs, vape drippers and cartridges, 17 inhalers, eye drops, skin sprays, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, chewing gum, isolates, edibles (the THC “medibles” market in just Colorado is larger than all edible hemp products imported from Canada 18 ), and more. All those could either be THC products, the somewhat more legal CBD, or whatever.

Then there’s the seed: shelled or pressed for oil, with the very high-quality protein and omega-3 in the nut you can make medical and nutritional drinks like Ensure, an energy blast like 5-hour energy shot, medical and special-diet foods, or functional foods. Extract cancer-fighting Cannabisin from the shells.19 Sprouts taste great and contain CBG and Cannaflavins. From the nut make burgers, breads, milk, cheese, yogurt, drinks, bars, bake mixes, cookies, ice cream, and more. Perhaps even with 25 mg of CBD per serving. Seed, sprouts, and fresh or dried tops can be powdered without heat. Juice fresh tops like wheatgrass. Seed oil can be used in cosmetics or cooking – and is high in omega-3 and GLA. Or in body care products, like lotions. It can even be used to make a hot oil hair pack, soap or diesel fuel.

Use Cannabis essential oil for its medicinal properties, or to scent a perfume or room freshener. It can also be used as a flavoring for candies and energy drinks to taste like a grow room in flower.

On the fiber side, you could do clothes, woven and nonwoven textiles, cordage, even replace fiberglass insulation with hempcrete. Someday your car and home may be powered by hemp: graphene supercapacitors made from hemp fiber are cheaper and perform better.20 Single-atom-thick carbon-fiber from hemp is totally possible, too.21 Ethanol and moonshine can be made from the stalk, which can be petrified to be harder than drumsticks. Plastics can be made with hemp22 , also paper and cardboard boxes, toilet paper. Zeoform furniture, and surfboards. Cars even contain hemp fiber in the interior panels and for sound-deadening.23 Then there’s phytoremediation, healing contaminated soil,24 as well as breaking up compacted soil, as a rotation crop, or stabilizing erosion.

Consider the ancillary industries: open an analytical lab, or a clinic for patients, or produce clones, or breed and multiply new cultivars.

Or in finance: do credit card processing, or lease equipment, perhaps a roll-up of a handful of Cannabis businesses, go public and float stock. If you have experience in other industries, pivot to Cannabis. The world of Cannabis is huge, and getting bigger by the day. Be part of it, it needs you and your talents, vision and good energy.

What About Prohibition?

If you live in a state or country with Prohibition and are afraid of trouble, know this: the most repressive laws and cruelest law enforcement on the planet couldn’t even make a tiny dent in the Cannabis industry in the US. As of now, 45 of the 50 states, 90%, have listened to a majority of the people and legalized some form of Cannabis.7 If it can happen there under very difficult conditions, it can happen anywhere. Including your country too, but you can’t wait for someone else to do it. You have to be the change you want to see. Write letters, make phone calls, see your politicians face-to-face, make them feel safe legalizing, that the people are on their side. Build coalitions with others, get active. If the laws can change in the US, they can change where you live too. Make it so.

In the meantime, do a Canna-business that won’t get you in trouble. Publish a magazine, write a book, educate in town halls, teach your friends and neighbors. Change is in the air, everywhere. Not only the US; the Police Union in Italy recently came out for legalization. There will very soon be a tipping point at which time massive change will happen fast. Like with the Hundredth Monkey phenomenon, YOU be the 100th monkey. You owe it to yourself, your brethren, and the world.
– Richard Rose
11/11/16
Cannafest, Prague

References:

1.
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UK CBD Laws and their meaning to you

New UK CBD Laws – What They Mean For You

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The UK recently recognized Cannabis as having medicinal use! They also passed new CBD Laws that may affect you.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has found that Cannabidiol (CBD) has a “restoring, correcting or modifying” effect on “physiological functions” when administered to humans.

This is a double-edged sword for the general public:
In the long term, it will lead to regulated, reliable, and ultimately higher quality medicines.
However, in the short term, it may restrict general access to purchasing CBD, and it may also put several smaller CBD companies out of business. Read more