Cannabis Science Headlines: May Roundup
Our pick of the top news stories over the past month – from new cannabis sources to business relations.
Jessica Allerton | | 2 min read | News
Every month, we carefully curate the top stories from across the fields of medical research, testing, processing, and plant science. We also bring you the latest in the world of cannabis business and legislation. Want it all in your inbox? Sign up here.
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A new source of cannabinoids
Researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute have discovered that cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and other rare cannabinoids are present in the Helichrysum umbraculigerum perennial shrub – also known as the wooly umbrella. The de novo whole-genome sequencing data showed that cannabinoids in these plants accumulate in the leaves rather than in the flowers. “Our discovery provides a currently unexploited source of cannabinoids and tools for engineering in heterologous hosts,” said the authors.
What Else is Going On?
Research and Medicine
Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in CBD could improve shelf life of strawberries. Link
Adolescents that casually use cannabis are at increased risk of adverse psychosocial events – such as depression and suicidality. Link
Team of researchers in Canada discover that medicinal cannabis effectively reduces pain for cancer patients. Link
Menthol flavoring in electronic cigarettes worsens lung function more than smoking tobacco cigarettes. Link
Business and Regulation
Though CBD products remain available to anyone in Portugal, the country's food safety authority has seized more than 4 million products – insisting CBD is “novel food.” Link
British MP’s discuss the prospect of up to 100,000 jobs and 1 billion pounds of economic contributions for the UK's medicinal cannabis industry. Link
Stakeholders in New York’s cannabis industry are condemning law regarding THC potency tax across states. Link
One year has passed since cannabis was legalized in Thailand and more than 4,000 cannabis based businesses are thriving across the country. Link
Czech Republic has backtracked on a move to ban sale of CBD as it would cause “major complications” for consumers and companies. Link
And Finally...
Here today, gone tomorrow?
Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalize recreational cannabis last year, allowing people to grow cannabis plants at home for personal use. However, the winning parties of Thailand’s recent election may reverse the current policy, which has faced criticism for resulting in an unregulated market, Forbes reports.
The victorious Thailand's Move Forward Party (MFP) has reportedly reached an agreement to form a government with the main opposition Pheu Thai Party – along with several other parties. Both the MFP and Pheu Thai Party criticized the recent cannabis reforms – which became a top election issue – during their political campaigns.
“As a result, Thailand's cannabis industry is currently in a state of limbo”, says Forbes’ Dario Sabaghi.
Associate Editor, The Analytical Scientist
