Hemp Health Inc.

Hemp Health Launches Line of CBD Wellness Supplements

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Hemp Health Inc., developer, retailer and wholesaler of hemp cannabidiol (CBD) supplements, recently announced that it has launched its line of CBD wellness supplements.

The company’s line of CBD wellness supplements are available in oil, spray and capsule form and offer a compelling alternative to medical marijuana. The CBD supplements provide users with the therapeutic ingredient in hemp, while allowing them to avoid the negative mental and physical effects of marijuana.

The medical benefits of cannabis and its legalization have been debated across the US. Physicians and researchers have been actively studying and testing the plant to understand its medicinal properties. There has been overwhelming evidence that the cannabinoid CBD is the active medicinal compound in cannabis.

Business partners Katarina Maloney and Janell Thompson began exploring ways to isolate CBD and sell it to consumers in concentrated form. They developed a proprietary CO2-based method for extracting pure CBD from industrial hemp without using dangerous chemicals or additives. Maloney and Thompson’s mission was to bring CBD products to US consumers. This began in 2013 with their launch of Hemp Hookazzh, a company that produces e-cigarettes and e-liquids infused with CBD as a smoke-free alternative to tobacco products and marijuana. With pure CBD and no THC, the company has provided a compelling alternative for smokers looking to overcome their addiction. However, they realized that alternate delivery options are needed for the non-smoking majority of Americans.

“There is extraordinary confusion about the differences between CBD and medical marijuana, and we know that a first step in educating the public is to create products that take smoking and THC out of the picture,” said Maloney. “Hemp Health is about providing CBD supplements that can be taken as pills, mixed in salads or consumed as an oral spray. It’s a step towards helping CBD become a mainstream wellness supplement like fish oil.”

Hemp Health’s products come from industrial hemp, the high CBD, low-THC strain used to product materials. The company’s hemp, which is an organic, kosher and vegan product, is sourced from sustainable farms in Germany, Denmark and other European countries.

“Even though CBD is now legal in 50 states and 42 countries, there is still a legal muzzle preventing companies like us from discussing medicinal qualities,” said Thompson. “Thankfully, media events like Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s CNN Special Report ‘WEED’ brought national attention to how cannabis products are being used to treat cancer, seizures, multiple sclerosis (MS), glaucoma, pain and other ailments. It was a big victory, but it’s still not clear to the public that there are better ways to get CBD than through smoking THC-rich marijuana. That is why we are producing and advocating pure CBD products.”

Source: Hemp Health, Inc.

Last updated: 11/6/14; 1:45pm EST

Arthritis Society

Arthritis Society Calls for Research on Medical Cannabis

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With an increase in patients with arthritis using medical cannabis to ease their pain, the Arthritis Society calls for more research related to the drug’s safety and efficacy.

The society issued a position paper asking for more research into the efficacy and safety associated with the use of medical cannabis as a therapy to alleviate symptoms of pain and fatigue caused by arthritis, a chronic disease.

“More and more Canadians are accessing medical cannabis as a treatment option for severe arthritis symptoms,” said Janet Yale, president and CEO of the Arthritis Society. “We have a duty to the people we serve to ensure that the scientific basis for the use of medical cannabis is clear and appropriate, with patient safety and improved care our foremost priorities.”

Health Canada has already provided thousands of Canadians with authorization to use medical cannabis and as many as two thirds of those people are using the drug to help manage arthritis-related pain. There is still a lot that is unknown about cannabis as a therapy and its safety and efficacy for coping with arthritis; therefore therapy could lead to potential risks for patients.

“When you live with chronic pain, you’re desperate for any option that offers some relief,” said Mary Ryan, who lives with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory form of arthritis that affects the joints in the spine. Ryan has been taking medical cannabis through the Canadian government’s access program since early 2014. “Medical cannabis has made it possible for me to get through the day despite my arthritis pain. I do worry that there’s a lot we don’t know about it, including its possible risks and benefits.”

The Arthritis Society is calling for more research on medical cannabis to allow Canadians living with arthritis to make more informed choices about their treatment options and to equip physicians with evidence-based information to make informed treatment recommendations for their patients.

“We firmly believe it’s the responsibility of all stakeholders in the arthritis community – government, licensed producers, health charities and other organizations – to fund research to determine whether medical cannabis is safe and effective,” said Yale.

According to the society, research is needed to answer the following questions:

  • Is medical cannabis effective for managing pain and fatigue caused by arthritis?
  • If effective, what is the best delivery method?
  • What factors affect dosage, delivery mode and efficacy? Do they vary depending on the patient, disease type, or amount of pain being experienced?
  • Does medical cannabis have any adverse interactions with other medications or conditions?
  • Is it possible to separate the cannabinoid molecules that contribute to pain relief from those that have undesirable side effects?

“For a subject that’s drawing so much public attention, both in Canada and around the world, the paucity of quality scientific research into cannabis is concerning,” said Dr. Jason McDougall, professor of pharmacology and anesthesia at the University of Dalhousie, and chair of the scientific advisory committee of The Arthritis Society. “Given the number of people taking cannabis now, or who are thinking about taking it, the need for evidence-based research into efficacy and safety could not be more pressing.”

The Arthritis Society is committing to fund research for medical cannabis to understand its impact on arthritis pain and disease management. The society said that it will work to hold a national consensus conference of relevant stakeholders in order to develop a shared plan of action in advance research into medical cannabis.

Source: Arthritis Society

Last updated: 11/6/14; 11:05am EST

 

vote

Florida Says No to Medical Marijuana but Oregon, Alaska and Washington, DC Legalize Recreational Use

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On Tuesday, several states in the US voted on policies related to the legalization of medical and recreational use of marijuana.

While Florida voters narrowly rejected a plan to legalize medical marijuana, voters in Oregon and Alaska approved a measure to legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, and Washington, DC voted to eliminate marijuana possession penalties.

Although the majority of Florida voters were in favor of approving Amendment 2, which would legalize the use of medical marijuana for qualifying patients, the measure needed 60 percent of voters for approval. Amendment 2 fell short by nearly 2 percent, with nearly 58 percent of Florida voters supporting the initiative. Currently, Florida allows for a low-potency version of marijuana to be used for medical purposes, but supporters of the amendment argue that the drug should be made available to more illnesses.

Opponents argued that Amendment 2 was not specific enough and its vagueness would allow medical marijuana to be used for more than its intended purpose. Sick patients and their families expressed their disappointment of the outcome.

The loss in Florida came amid overall wins for marijuana nationally. Oregon has legalized personal possession, manufacture and sale of marijuana for people 21 years of age and older. The law will also create a commercial regulatory system for the production, distribution and sale of the drug.

Similar to Oregon’s law, Alaska will tax and regulate the production, sale and use of marijuana, making the use legal for people 21 years of age and older.

Washington, DC’s initiative allows for a person over the age of 21 to possess up to two ounces of marijuana for personal use and grow up to six marijuana plants in their home. Although people cannot sell marijuana in Washington, DC, people will be allowed to transfer up to one ounce of marijuana to another person. Activists hope that wins in Washington, DC will spur federal recognition.

Last updated: 11/6/14; 9:20am EST