Efectos de la Marihuana

Planning for long-term care is a complicated conversation, which is why physicians and financial advisors alike encourage people to start sooner rather than later. If you wait until long-term care is needed, chances are you won’t have time to prepare. Planning for long-term care means you get a say in how you spend your golden years. It also means you have taken the time to prepare your finances, so there are fewer unexpected expenses that often pop up with providing care.

From making healthier life choices that reduce your need for care to looking into ways to get cash in hand when needed, you can make the complex planning process much simpler when you follow these tips for planning and paying for long-term care.

Anticipating long-term care needs

The choices you make today will influence the degree to which you’ll be in control of your future care. Planning for the various degrees of long-term care now may seem like jumping the gun, but the sooner you begin to plan, the better prepared you can be. Plus, planning now can save you a lot of money. Here’s what you need to consider when planning for long-term care:

• Reduce the risk of injury or onset of illness. Take a look around your home— do you have steep stairs, narrow hallways or slippery tile in your bathroom? Each year, nearly 1 in 3 seniors over the age of 65 will become injured due to a slip or a fall. Older adults can postpone or even eliminate the need for long-term care with sensible home modifications, regular exercise, a healthy diet and high quality sleep. From prolonging the onset of cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s to keeping bones and joints healthy, how you manage your physical and mental health now means everything for your future.
• Talk with family and friends about your wishes. If decisions have to be made about an independent living, assisted living or in-home care, planning now means you have a say in the place where you receive care. If your goal is to remain independent in your home for as long as possible, be sure you start planning for what it takes to live independently and safely.
• Examine your family history. If you have a parent or sibling with a cognitive condition like dementia or Alzheimer’s, your risk increases substantially. With nearly 6 million people in the United States over the age of 65 suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, having a plan for long-term care can help you manage the progression of the illness. A family history of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis can also impact whether or not you’ll need long-term care.

Planning isn’t just about how to anticipate the potential for long-term care, but also how to pay for it. There are many options for securing the cash you need for the care you want, but your chances are better if you start preparing now.

Paying for long-term care costs

The costs of long-term care can vary depending on the nature of your situation and how you to want to be cared for. For example, you may want to age in-home, but if you didn’t plan for the expenses of an in-home caregiver, moving to a facility may be your only option. Asking the right questions about your options now will help you scale your finances for the potential what-ifs. When you look at your financial horizon, consider:

• Purchasing Medicare Advantage plans. These supplemental plans give you the same coverage as Medicare (Parts A and B), but offer additional benefits for prescriptions, dental, vision, fitness services, caregiver support and a 24/7 nursing advice line.
• Considering a reverse mortgage. By borrowing money against the value you’ve accumulated in your home, you can have additional income to cover long-term care. There are pros and cons to a reverse mortgage: On the one hand, you get to keep the title of your home, but on the other hand, you lose equity. You also don’t have to have a stellar credit score to qualify, but someone else remaining in the home after you are gone will have to take on that debt.
• Downsizing your home. While it might be difficult to leave your home, especially if your children and grandchildren grew up there, moving into a smaller home gives you several opportunities to cover care. For starters, you’ll have some cash to stash from the sell of your home. In addition, by downsizing, you save money by paying fewer utilities and other bills.

Thinking about the possibility of long-term care can make anyone– of any age — feel anxious about the future. That’s why planning is so important. Take the time now to get peace of mind for the future.

Author

June is the co-creator of Rise Up for Caregivers, which offers support for family members and friends who have taken on the responsibility of caring for their loved ones. She is author of the upcoming book, The Complete Guide to Caregiving: A Daily Companion for New Senior Caregivers.

 

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Did you know cancer is responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in the United States? Or that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S?  In 2015 alone, there were 8.8 million deaths globally attributed to cancer.

Cancer is one of the biggest health crises we’re facing today. Affecting women, men, young, and the old – cancer impacts millions of lives around the globe.  Conventional treatments for cancer today include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. These treatments are expensive, though, not to mention risky. Studies show that chemo and radiation can cause secondary cancers.

Yet, research also indicates herbs play an integral role in fighting cancer. In fact, both chamomile and cannabis exhibit cancer-fighting properties. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation, these natural herbs pose minimal risk or side effects.  Which begs the question, could chamomile in combination with cannabis help kill cancer? After all, both of these herbs are anticarcinogens. Could there be a link by combining the two? Science seems to say yes.

Here’s what you need to know about chamomile and cannabis oil for cancer.

Chamomile fights cancer

Chamomile is an ancient herb. The first uses of chamomile date back over 5,000 years ago. Chamomile was used for treating numerous ailments such as:

• Inflammation
• Menstrual Pain
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Insomnia
• Muscle spasms

Today, evidence indicates chamomile also displays potent anti-cancer properties.  A study published in 2007 examined the effects of chamomile extracts on cancerous cells. During the course of the study, chamomile extracts were tested on healthy human cells and cancerous cells. The researchers found that the extracts caused minimal growth inhibitory on healthy cells but a remarkable reduction in cancerous cells. In fact, the chamomile extracts facilitated apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells but not in normal cells.  This is incredible when we consider current cancer treatments like chemotherapy kill healthy cells. Not to mention lead to the development of secondary cancers.

Another study in 2015 also concluded chamomile’s potent anti-cancer properties. Researchers found that thirty years of consumption of chamomile significantly reduced the risk of thyroid cancer and benign thyroid disease by 80%. While chamomile certainly isn’t the only factor in the onset or treatment of cancer, other factors such as lifestyle and diet do come into play; the medicinal value of chamomile in treating cancer is evident.

Cannabis kills cancer cells

Like chamomile, cannabis also exhibits anti-cancer properties. Scientific evidence shows that when cannabinoids enter the body, they cause cancerous cells to commit suicide (apoptosis) without harming healthy cells.  A 2007 Harvard study published in the American Association for Cancer Research found that the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (aka THC) cuts the growth of tumors in half. In addition, the study also revealed cannabis inhibited cancer’s ability to spread.  While it’s important to mention this study was conducted on animal subjects rather than humans, this isn’t the first study to show that cannabis fights cancer.

A study published in Plus One revealed that another cannabinoid in cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), could induce cancer cell death while preventing further cancerous growth. The findings suggested CBD causes a decrease in the expression of a group of proteins associated with the spread of cancerous cells.  The researchers from the study even concluded, “As CBD is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid that appears to be devoid of side effects, our results support its exploitation as an effective anti-cancer drug in the management of gliomas.”

A study in 2015 once again confirmed cannabis’ cancer-fighting capabilities. The researchers found that when cannabinoid receptors in the body are stimulated, programmed cell death occurs in cancerous cells.  The evidence is imminent; cannabis plays an important role in the treatment of cancer.

The link between chamomile and cannabis oil

Cannabis and chamomile are anticarcinogens. Much of the research up until this point though has studied these herbs in isolation.  Which begs the question – is there any therapeutic value to using a combination of the two? Patient testimonials indicate yes.

A cancer patient in Mexico was given just three months to live after going through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation for terminal metastatic secondary bone cancer. She had already gone through chemo and radiation for breast cancer four years prior.  Having exhausted all conventional treatment options, she looked for natural relief. The patient began administering a treatment of chamomile-infused cannabis oil (FECO) via suppositories and ingested capsules.  Today, she no longer needs her pain meds and has been able to sleep for the first time in months.

Terpene Bisabolol and the Entourage Effect

Curious why chamomile and cannabis may work better together?  It is likely due to the interaction of terpenes and cannabinoids. Terpenes are what give cannabis strains their distinct aromas. It is also believed terpenes play a role in cannabis’ effects.  Like cannabinoids, terpenes interact with cannabinoid receptors in the human body.

Terpenes are not only found in cannabis, though. Terpenes are also present in a variety of plants, including chamomile. In fact, the terpene bisabolol is produced by both chamomile and cannabis.  Why is this important?  The compounds in cannabis (such as terpenes and cannabinoids) work synergistically together. This phenomenon is known as the entourage effect. It is why eating mangos before consuming cannabis can increase the psychoactive effects. Mangos contain one of the same terpenes as cannabis, myrcene. If a mango is eaten before consuming cannabis, myrcene will bind to cannabinoid receptors in the body, in turn enhancing the effects of cannabis.

Just like the myrcene in mangos can enhance cannabis’ effects, the bisabolol in chamomile is likely to do similarly. Because chamomile and cannabis contain cancer-fighting properties, combining the two may enhance each herb’s capabilities. Which helps explain why using chamomile and cannabis oil may be a powerful intervention for treating cancer.

Clearly, the need for more research is imminent. We have only scratched the surface when it comes to our understanding of the therapeutic potential of cannabis. However, the positive impact for patients is clear. Cannabis saves lives.

Share this article if you believe cancer patients should have access to safe cannabis medicine.

 

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Basil in all its forms is a true nutritional powerhouse. It is anti-bacterial and is high in essential nutrients like vitamins A, K and C, manganese, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Most importantly, like cannabis, this pungent herb contains flavonoids and terpenes in its oil, such as linalool, cineole, and limonene. These are powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that can contribute greatly to breast cancer prevention.

What is Holy Basil?

Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is known as Tulsi in the centuries-old Ayurvedic healing tradition, where it is often used to ease anxiety. Modern medical studies have also shown holy basil’s effect on stress and this is perhaps the biggest reason why it should be included in your cancer healing toolbox. A 2011 Indian study using mice found that Holy Basil extract had a profound effect on markers for both depression and anxiety and that it “can be a potential therapeutic agent against mixed anxiety and depressive syndrome [MADD].”

While Holy Basil helps to stimulate cognition and decrease anxiety and depression, at the same time it can also increase immune function. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that healthy participants given 300 mg of Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Tulsi) extract on an empty stomach for a month had increased immune function, including a rise in T Cells and Natural Killer cells which help fight cancer.

Can Basil Help Heal Cancer?

Other basil (Ocimum basilicum) varieties besides Tulsi also seem to have vast healing effects—some against cancer tumor progression directly.

A 2007 Eastern European study found that basil extract used in conjunction with a whole-foods, vegetable-centric diet resulted in marked reduction in oxidated stress in women with advanced breast cancer. The researchers found that after three months of dietary changes, including adding basil extract, oxidative stress had gone down by almost half.

Another study, this one conducted in 2011 by the Cancer Biology and Applied Molecular Biology Laboratories at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, discovered that “basil leaf extract was highly effective in inhibiting carcinogen-induced tumor incidence …at the peri-initiational level.” The researchers zeroed in on basil’s possible effects on mice skin and fore-stomach papillomas. The animals were given 200 and 400 mg of basil extract per 1 kg of body weight. They found that the herb’s tumor-reducing effect was due, again, to its anti-oxidant properties. In particular, basil had a positive effect on glutathione production as well as a protection against liver cell damage.

Basil for Cancer Prevention

In addition to how basil can protect against cancer directly, it is also a great herb to add to your breast cancer prevention arsenal for its indirect healing effects:

• Basil is high in Vitamin D. The benefits of Vitamin D for health cannot be overemphasized—and it is essential that you get enough vitamin D if you wish to prevent breast cancer! Studies have shown that breast cancer patients with high levels of Vitamin D levels are two times as likely to survive than women with low levels. This is because vitamin D actually attacks and destroys cancer cells. Vitamin D is so important that the Canadian Cancer Society has endorsed using vitamin D as one of their cancer-prevention strategies.
• Basil is high in antioxidants. These come in the form of high amounts of both Vitamin C and flavonoids. Flavonoids are strong anti-inflammatories, as mentioned earlier. Vitamin C is needed for repair in the body, and antioxidants like vitamin C protect cells from both the amount of free radicals in the system and the damage they can cause.
• Basil is a powerful anti-bacterial. A 2004 study conducted by Ghent University in Belgium found that washing lettuce in a solution of 1 % either basil or thyme essential oil led to a considerable decline in the number of Shigella bacteria. Shigella can lead to shigellosis, which effects approximately 500,00 Americans each year according to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and is resistant to most antibiotics. Basil is also an effective antibacterial against E. coli, Salmonella and many others.
• Basil can balance blood sugar. Studies have shown that basil can control blood sugar as well. A 2004 study found that basil extract decreased serum concentrations of both cortisol and glucose in mice, suggesting that Ocimum sanctummay help regulate diabetes. Another study with rats found that basil leaves helped to reduce hyperglycemia, control cortisol levels and balance out adrenal overproduction.

Make Basil Part of Your Healing Toolbox!

If you had to pick just a few herbs for your kitchen (heaven forbid), I would say that basil needs to be at the top of that list!  Eat basil leaves raw right from of the garden or farmers market or simmer then in tasty recipes. Of course, many individuals use basil in extract (food grade essential oil) form or in capsules. Do yourself, your body and your taste buds a favor– add this tasty “super herb” to your healthy breast protocol today!

Dr. Veronique Desaulniers, better known as Dr. V, is the founder of  The 7 Essentials System , a step-by-step guide that teaches you exactly how to prevent and heal Breast Cancer naturally. To get your FREE 7-Day Mini e-Course and to receive her weekly action steps and inspiring articles on the power of Natural Medicine, visit her at BreastCancerConqueror.com

 

 

The post Basil and Holy Basil: Powerful Herbs with Cancer Prevention Properties? By Dr. Veronique Desaulniers appeared first on United Patients Group.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. would like to share our appreciation for all those families who use our CBD products for giving us an important reason to do what we do each day.

Ten years ago, Medical Marijuana, Inc. began our journey, setting out to positively change the world by providing hemp-derived CBD products for consumers throughout the U.S. and around the world.

Along the way, we made it our mission to champion access to CBD for those who could benefit most, including special needs families. These families include mothers and fathers who made enormous sacrifices to ensure their children could get CBD, even if it meant fighting for the right to do so.

These families spent long nights educating themselves on CBD and researching doctors that would be supportive of their choice to pursue CBD. They had to overcome the negative stigma tied to cannabis, even hemp, and withstand judgement for their decision to use CBD, even from those close to them. In some cases, they had to challenge their national governments for the ability to even access CBD. But they did these things because they knew what they were doing was right.

Without these brave, heroic families, the CBD and medical cannabis movement simply would not be where it is today. As part of our 10th anniversary celebration, we’d like to acknowledge a few specific families who we’ve had the honor of working closely with over the years. We’d also like to give our most sincere thank you to all the other families out there who have helped this movement progress.

One of the first families we developed a close bond with was the Howard family, whose daughter Harper used our Real Scientific Hemp Oil (RSHO). Harper’s mother Penny would quickly become an advocate for CBD, speaking out about her family’s experience with CBD, sharing their experience with others in similar situations, and raising funding for neurological research. Much of this work has been done through the family’s organization Hope4Harper, the Run4Hope annual event, and Penny’s speaking engagements.

Sadly, Harper passed before her 6th birthday, but her contributions continue as her donated tissue is currently being used by UCSD to research neurological conditions. Since then, Penny has appeared on Fox News’ Dr. Manny and Fox 5 News. She has also spoken at events like the Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo in Boston and New York, the World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo, MoneyShow Dallas, and more.

The Howard’s story and experience with CBD caught the attention of the Fischer family over 5000 miles away in Brazil. Katiele and Norberto Fischer learned about CBD from reading about Harper’s experience from the family’s Facebook page and decided that they wanted to try CBD for their own daughter, Anny. They would go on to fight the Brazilian government in the courts and win the right to access CBD products from Medical Marijuana, Inc. for their daughter. The family’s fight would kickoff a class action lawsuit that would ultimately lead to CBD becoming a prescription product for Brazilians in need. This story was featured in the documentary Ilegal.

The Fischer family and the Howard family finally had the chance to meet face to face last October. It was a tearful first meeting for these two families who share a common experience. Anny’s father Norberto has since partnered with Medical Marijuana, Inc. subsidiary HempMeds® Brasil as a spokesperson. You can learn more about Norberto, Katiele, and Anny’s story here.

A similar story unfolded in Mexico when Raul Elizalde would challenge the Mexican government to import THC-free RSHO-X for his daughter Grace. His historic fight would help push forward cannabis reform in the country. Raul would go on to become a leader in the push for medical cannabis in Mexico and a globally-respected CBD advocate garnering an invitation to speak before the World Health Organization. The family has shared their story and worked to help families similar to their own through the Por Grace Foundation.

Before his daughter Sadie was born, Brian Higuera could never have pictured doing interviews with news reporters, speaking in front of large audiences at health conferences, or sitting on the board of a major charitable organization. He has traveled to events around the country to discuss his family’s experience with CBD in hopes of offering comfort and education to families in similar situations. Brian now serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Board of Directors of ECHO Connection, a charitable organization with a mission to support those in need of cannabinoids. He is also active in his local community, working to increase cannabis access by speaking at local government meetings,

Through grassroots campaigns and legal challenges to their governments, these parents took on the challenge of securing access to CBD hemp oil products for their families, and in doing so, inspired local, national, and global cannabis policy reform.

These parents could have been content to focus on their own special needs families, but instead, they all worked to positively impact the lives of families like theirs. Members of these families have gone on to speak before national governments, World Health Organization officials, doctors and other health professionals, and families like their own. These champions of CBD access have positively impacted the lives of thousands of CBD patients around the world.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. gives back to families and patients like these through donations to ECHO Connection, our official charitable partner. Through our support with ECHO Connection, over 100 families have been able to find the assistance they need.

During our 10th Anniversary celebration, Medical Marijuana, Inc. would like to thank those families and individuals that continue to remind us of why we do what we do each day. This milestone wouldn’t mean as much without knowing that we’ve been able to improve the quality of life of patients around the world.

You can learn more about Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s first ten years and our biggest achievements from our first decade here.

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In many ways, the cannabis industry of today is unrecognizable to that of ten years ago and more. Here we explore the maturing cannabis industry and look at where it is headed.

The cannabis industry in the U.S. and worldwide has grown out of the black market to become a billion dollar force, disrupting everything from the pharmaceutical and wellness industries to the beauty products market and leisure industry. As Medical Marijuana, Inc. celebrates our 10 Year Anniversary, let’s take a moment to look at how the cannabis industry has transformed over the last ten years.

Cannabis Remains in a Legal Gray Area

10 years ago, the cannabis industry in the U.S. was still very much in its infancy. It was just over a decade since California became the first state in the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana, a radical idea at the time (1996) that received pushback from the federal government.

Then, 2009 began with an announcement from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that directed the DEA not to pursue raids on state legal marijuana dispensaries. Later that same year, Holder’s office announced that it would not prioritize prosecution against legal medical marijuana patients.

These moves in the opening year of the Obama administration made it clear how the federal government intended to approach state legal cannabis operations and consumers, leaving the industry feeling confident enough to grow with less fear of prosecution.

However, at times during the Obama era, raids would continue at the local, state, and federal level, causing friction between marijuana businesses, legal cannabis states, and the federal government. Despite this, the legal cannabis industry continued to grow.

In 2014, the cannabis industry was given further protections by Congress when it passed the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, which prohibited the use of funds to prevent states from enacting laws legalizing marijuana. With the retirement of Rep. Sam Farr, (D-CA), the law became the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment. This amendment has been attached to the government’s omnibus spending bill since its first passing, continuing its protections for legal cannabis states to create their own marijuana regulations without interference.

Then, with the start of the Trump administration in 2018, new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made it clear where the cannabis industry stood as long as he headed the Department of Justice when he took steps to roll back Obama era protections for legal cannabis businesses and consumers.

Jeff Sessions resigned late in 2018, leaving a vacancy for the U.S. Attorney General post. Trump’s nominee to replace Session is William Barr. In written responses to U.S. Senators, Barr confirmed that he will not crack down on legal cannabis businesses, potentially giving the industry the breathing room it needs to grow.  

Shifting Perceptions on Cannabis

The cannabis industry also benefited from a radical shift in the perception of cannabis over the past ten years. This shift has come as politicians, the medical community, and the public have become more favorable towards marijuana.

In 1996, when California became the first medical marijuana state, just 25 percent of voters supported legal cannabis. In 2009, the year Medical Marijuana, Inc. went public, the majority of voters in the U.S. were still against the legalization of marijuana, but the gap was narrowing, with 44 percent of voters in favor. Now, opinion has shifted. The majority of voters in the U.S. now favor nationwide recreational marijuana legalization, and in the minds of many, federally legal marijuana now seems like an inevitability.  

Legalization of Medical Marijuana Spreads

With this increase in support for cannabis, medical marijuana has grown in our country. 10 years ago, there were just 13 states in the U.S. with full medical marijuana programs. That number has now jumped to 33 states as support of medical marijuana has grown to an incredible 94 percent of adults polled. Support for medical marijuana has also come from veterans, politicians, and healthcare professionals. This trend is expected to continue as a recent study hinted that patients may prefer medical marijuana over prescription medications.

Recreational Marijuana Begins

California was the first state to attempt independent, state-level cannabis legalization in 1972 with Proposition 19, but the law failed to gain the 66.5 percent of the vote it needed to pass. In 2010, one year after the launch of Medical Marijuana, Inc., California again failed to pass voter approved recreational cannabis.

Then in 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first two states in the country to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Oregon, California, Nevada, and Massachusetts would pass their own recreational marijuana laws in the following years. There are now a total of 10 states, along with Washington, D.C., that have legalized recreational marijuana.

Legalization has come with some unexpected benefits for communities that embraced it. Marijuana dispensaries have been shown to increase a neighborhood’s property value, and unlike opponents to legalization warned, teen use of marijuana has not gone up. In fact, teen use is at its lowest levels in 22 years. Cannabis tax revenue has been used to improve roads, create college scholarships, house and feed the homeless, and more.

With advantages like this, states like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, and Rhode Island are all eying potential cannabis legalization in coming years.

You can learn more about changes to cannabis policy in the U.S. and around the world on our news feed, or you can find cannabis laws by state here.

CBD Gains Attention as Part of Cannabis Industry

Medical and recreational marijuana aren’t the only sectors of the cannabis industry that are experiencing growth. The hemp derived CBD market has also experienced booming growth over the past ten years.

Despite being non-intoxicating due to its incredibly low levels of THC, hemp was routinely lumped in with its illicit cousin marijuana, leading to laws banning its cultivation in the U.S. and a negative stigma in the minds of many.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. was the first company to distribute mainstream CBD brands nationwide, creating the CBD hemp oil market in 2012 with brands like Dixie Botanicals® and Real Scientific Hemp Oil. We worked hard to overcome these negative attitudes regarding hemp by educating law makers, health professionals, and consumers around the world about the differences between hemp and marijuana and the advantages of a daily CBD regimen.

Since then, CBD has moved beyond the cannabis market and has taken hold as a major ingredient in a number of major markets. Because of this, the CBD market in the U.S. has experienced significant growth, with CBD being infused into foods and beverages, botanical tinctures, beauty products, vapes, and more. CBD is even prescribed as a medication in some countries.

With the legalization of a domestic hemp industry in the U.S. due to the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the hemp industry in the U.S. is set to explode in coming years. The hemp-derived CBD market alone is anticipated to grow to $22 billion by 2022 as hemp becomes a legal source of cannabinoids. About 7 percent of Americans now use CBD products, a number that could reach up to 10 percent by 2025.

Cannabis Industry Innovation

One of the reasons that cannabis has been able to take its place as a major influence over U.S. and global industries is that companies focusing on cannabis have been quick to adapt strategies successful in other industries and are eager to bring innovation to this specialized market.

Cultivation technology has also impacted the cannabis industry’s ability to grow. Improvements to lights, growth mediums, nutrient supplements, and more have made it possible for growers to produce more cannabis of higher quality. The availability of quality cannabis has helped fuel the surge in popularity of cannabis and has led it to becoming a viable alternative to products like alcohol and medications in the legal medical and recreational markets.

Innovation in cannabis testing has also allowed the industry to ensure that the products being distributed to consumers are safe, reliable, and of the highest quality. A decade or more ago, when the legal cannabis industry was just beginning in many regions, cannabis quality and safety testing at any level was rare, and when it was conducted, it was usually voluntary.

As the industry has matured, most legal marijuana states have now enacted some level of 3rd party testing requirement for cannabis products as a way to regulate the industry and protect cannabis consumers.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. was a pioneer of cannabis testing, being the first mainstream CBD product line to voluntarily test our products at three points in our cultivation and manufacturing process, taking advantage of a 3rd party testing lab to verify the integrity of all our products.

The cannabis industry has also benefited from automation. From filling pre-rolled joints and vape cartridges to trimming dry cannabis flower and manufacturing edibles, the cannabis industry has been able to scale to keep pace with demand largely due to automation that allows companies to do in minutes what previously took hours.

Automation also allows companies and governments to track cannabis through cultivation, manufacturing, and retail. This helps to control inventory, ensure compliance at all levels, and prevents product from leaking onto the black market.  

Around the country, cannabis companies are preparing for nationwide legalization by ramping up capacity and preparing to meet increased demand. Capitalizing on innovations like automation can help make sure the industry is prepared for further growth through legalization.

Interest from Mainstream Brands

For most of its history, the cannabis industry has been avoided by large companies due to its questionable legality in the eyes of the federal government. This has allowed smaller mom and pop businesses to thrive and for some even become major players in the cannabis industry in their own right. Now that cannabis legalization seems like an inevitability, larger brands are expressing interest in entering the market, either with THC or CBD products.

The media went crazy with reports that Coca-Cola was considering entering the cannabis industry with CBD-infused products, by far the biggest consumer brand to hint at a possible entry into the cannabis market.  

Constellation Brands, maker of alcohol brands like Corona, Svedka, Modelo, and Robert Mondavi, has also made a move to enter the cannabis market by investing $3.8 billion in Canopy Growth, the major Canadian cannabis business formerly known as Tweed Marijuana, Inc.

Similarly, Altria Group, the biggest tobacco company in the world and the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, reportedly invested approximately $1.8 billion into the Cronos Group, one of Canada’s major cannabis producers.

Beauty product company Estee Lauder has also been suggested as a potential player as CBD makes its way into a range of beauty products.  The beauty industry was worth $532 billion globally in 2017 and is expected to reach $863 billion by 2024.

Ten years ago, major mainstream brands like these were showing no interest in the still illicit cannabis market. However, as recreational marijuana legalization spreads at the state level and proves to be a lucrative market, many successful national and global brands are preparing for potential legalization at the federal level.

As public opinion on cannabis continues to shift and legalization spreads, more mainstream companies may look to enter the cannabis market. In turn, this infusion of cash from big businesses looking to move into the cannabis market could help drive cannabis further into the mainstream, adding to its potential for growth.

Next Steps

The cannabis industry has come a long way since its roots on the black market. As legal cannabis enters its third decade, the industry looks on with anticipation of nationwide legalization of recreational and medical cannabis in the U.S.

A bill has been introduced that would allow state to regulate marijuana independently. The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2019 would remove marijuana altogether from the Controlled Substances Act, eliminating the potential of the federal government cracking down on states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana.

Other recent bills to legalize marijuana, such as the Marijuana Justice Act, introduced by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and the Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act, introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), take a similar approach.

As the cannabis industry continues to mature, Medical Marijuana, Inc. will bring you developments as they unfold. You can learn more about what to expect from the cannabis industry in 2019 here or visit our news feed for the biggest headlines from across the cannabis world.

The post Then and Now: How the Cannabis Industry Changed in 10 Years appeared first on Medical Marijuana, Inc..

Help us celebrate our 10 year anniversary as we recall the biggest milestones from our first decade.  

Ten years ago, our founders created Medical Marijuana, Inc. with the mission of normalizing the medical and wellness use of cannabinoids, improving the experience of medical cannabis patients, and supporting the booming cannabis industry.

Along the way, we innovated a new, federally legal way to add cannabinoids to your system, created a global pipeline of top quality hemp oil and its derived consumer products, educated users on the basics of cannabis use, and worked with patients fighting for cannabis access around the world.

As we built the foundations of the legal CBD industry, we became A Company of Firsts®, creating many of the processes and quality control measures that are now standard in the industry, opening new markets to cannabinoids like CBD, and helping to make CBD part of the healthcare conversation in the U.S. and around the world.

Join us as we take a look back at the top 10 moments of the last 10 years from across our family of companies!

Launching the First Publicly Traded Cannabis Company in the U.S.

The Medical Marijuana, Inc. story begins in March of 2009, when we became the first company entirely within the cannabis business space to be traded on public stock markets, trading under the ticker symbol MJNA.

This inclusion within the stock market was an important milestone in the mainstream acceptance of the cannabis industry. It allowed anyone to become an investor in the cannabis industry just as it was gearing up for significant growth.

There are now over 50 publicly traded cannabis companies on the U.S. markets, and the market is still rapidly growing as more and more states legalize cannabis for either medical or recreational use.

Although we are headquartered in the U.S. and our stock is traded on domestic markets, Medical Marijuana, Inc. is an international business, and our portfolio of companies and brands is recognized in markets around the world.

Bringing the First Ever CBD Hemp Oil Products to Market

In 2012, we launched the first nationally available CBD products in the U.S. with the Dixie Botanicals® and HempMeds® lines. For the first time, consumers across the U.S. could enjoy the benefits of non-psychoactive CBD from hemp.

In 2012, few people had ever heard of CBD and the health benefits it could provide, so we set out to educate the public on the advantage of using CBD daily. As people experienced the remarkable results from CBD oil for themselves, word began to spread. CBD would soon become recognized as one of the most beneficial health supplements available.

Now, 7 years after the first sales, the U.S. market for CBD is worth millions. Following the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed any gray area around hemp products in the U.S., it is projected to continue to grow to $22 billion by 2022 as mainstream brands enter the CBD market with CBD-infused products.

Not content to rest on our laurels as the originator of hemp-derived CBD products, Medical Marijuana, Inc. and our family of companies continue to innovate new CBD products and further perfect our CBD pipeline to ensure we are offering our customers only the best CBD products available.

Licensing the U.S. Government Patent on Cannabinoids

Along with our consumer CBD products, Medical Marijuana, Inc. is working to develop cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals for a number of medical conditions through our portfolio of investments.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. portfolio company Kannalife Sciences was awarded the first licenses to use the U.S. Government’s patent on cannabinoids – patent 6,630,507: Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants.

The company is using these licenses to develop cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical treatments for a pair of neurological diseases: hepatic encephalopathy or HE, a liver-brain disorder, and CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease discovered in many NFL football players, similar high-impact athletes, and others who experienced head trauma, like military veterans and those in automobile accidents.

Synthesized Novel CBD-like Molecule KLS-13019

Using their licenses on the government’s cannabis patent, Kannalife Sciences developed a novel, CBD-like molecule, KLS-13019. Measurements show this synthetic cannabinoid is 50 times more potent (and 400 times less toxic) than natural CBD, making it a strong candidate for pharmaceutical applications. Kannalife intends to use this molecule to address neurodegenerative diseases like HE and CTE, as well as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease.

 

Patenting Chewing Gum as a Delivery Method for Cannabinoids

Deepening our pharmaceutical portfolio, MJNA took a significant position in development-stage pharmaceutical company AXIM Biotechnologies (OTC: AXIM). The company has since been awarded a U.S. Patent for chewing gum as a delivery method for cannabinoids. Chewing gum is poised to be a major product category for both the medical and recreational use of cannabinoids like CBD and THC.

Using this technology, AXIM’s is in the midst of pharmaceutical product development targeting multiple sclerosis pain and muscular spasticity, nausea, restless leg syndrome, and drug induced psychosis.

Legalization of CBD Oil in Brazil

By 2014, word of the benefits of CBD had travelled around the world, and patients and consumers outside the U.S. began calling for legal access to hemp-derived CBD products.

In Brazil, where there was previously no distinction between marijuana and hemp, we worked directly with local patients and their families in a grassroots effort to help them access Real Scientific Hemp Oil CBD products legally. After a class action lawsuit and historic court ruling, the country’s health authority approved our CBD oil products as a prescription medication for refractory epilepsy.  

Over time, the program has gone so well that doctors now can write prescriptions for patients with other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s. Brazil now fully subsidizes Real Scientific Hemp Oil CBD oil as part of the country’s healthcare program. Our subsidiary HempMeds® Brasil supports thousands of families through a network of hundreds of doctors around the country.

First Legal CBD Product in Mexico

Two years later, we were able to help patients in Mexico secure the first ever official certificates of import for Real Scientific Hemp Oil CBD oil products in the country. Like in Brazil, Medical Marijuana, Inc. worked with families and patients in Mexico to petition the government for access to CBD through a new subsidiary, HempMeds® Mexico.

In order to fulfill Mexico’s regulations and ship our CBD oil to patients, we developed the first ever THC-free hemp oil product, RSHO-X. Acceptance of our CBD products was a catalyst for cannabis reform in Mexico, leading to the legalization of medical cannabis and a loosening of regulations on access to CBD. HempMeds® Mexico now supports thousands of families around the country and partners with hundreds of doctors.

Later that same year, Medical Marijuana, Inc. began shipping CBD oil products to a third Latin American country when RSHO became the first CBD product to be approved by Paraguay for import. Through our expansion efforts in Central and South America, over 300 million people have gained legal access to CBD.

Speaking Before World Health Organization about CBD Safety

In 2017, Medical Marijuana, Inc. subsidiary HempMeds® Mexico became the first company to address the United Nations and the World Health Organization about CBD.

HempMeds® Mexico President Raul Elizalde spoke at the Thirty-Ninth meeting of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence to discuss CBD’s benefits and lack of psychoactivity and share his own family’s first-hand experience with CBD.

Based on the testimony of Raul and other experts, the WHO confirmed the safety and health benefits of CBD, stating that, because there is zero chance for addiction, CBD should not be a Scheduled Drug.

Kannaway Expands CBD Access in Europe

Medical Marijuana, Inc. subsidiary Kannaway, the first cannabis company to use the direct selling model, expanded operations into Europe, officially celebrating its grand opening in 2018. The company held a series of events in Europe’s major cities to promote its line of hemp-based products, generate excitement for the earning opportunity offered by Kannaway, and grow its team of European brand ambassadors.

The company now ships its line of hemp and CBD products to 35 countries, including throughout the U.S., nearly all of the European Union, and to various territories within these regions. As part of Kannaway’s expansion efforts, the company worked with European regulatory authorities to educate them on CBD as they create regulations on this new European industry.

Partnering with ECHO Connection

Nothing is more important to us at Medical Marijuana, Inc. than bringing the benefits of cannabinoids to those who need them most. That’s why we’re so proud to work with ECHO as our official charitable partner. With help from donations from the Medical Marijuana, Inc. family of companies, ECHO Connection has been able to assist over 100 families with product donations totaling nearly $1M – and growing.  

More information is found on their website: www.echoconnection.org.

Thank You!

Thank you for following along with Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s first ten years. As we look back at all the lives we’ve touched, we know that we couldn’t have done it without our investors, employees, customers, and partners all around the world. We could not be more excited for what’s to come for Medical Marijuana, Inc. and the cannabis industry in the next 10 years!

You can keep up with the latest from Medical Marijuana, Inc. and our portfolio of companies by visiting our news feed.

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