Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 5:10 PM on Tuesday, November 19th, 2019
Empower Clinics JV Could Generate $US 30,000,000 In Annual Revenue From CBD Extraction … But It Doesn’t End There
With 165,000 patients, Empower Clinics (CBDT:CSE) (EPWCF:OTCQB) has a database that almost every medical cannabis and CBD company would kill for. Add in the fact it is now on a ~ $USD 4,000,000 annualized revenue run rate for 2019 and it becomes the kind of company small cap investors have been dying to find as they watch pretender companies melt away.
But it doesn’t end there.
The Company’s latest Q3 financials show that Empower is in full growth mode, with substantial increases in revenue and patient visits, as well as, big reductions in expenses. Moreover, Company CEO Steven McAuley says growth will continue full steam ahead in Q4, Q1 and beyond.
But it doesn’t end there.Â
CBD extraction has been a key element of the company’s vertical integration. Producing its’ own hemp-derived CBD products for its own massive patient list just makes sense. However, thanks to an LOI (moving towards definitive agreement) to JV with extraction experts Heritage Cannabis, the Company’s 5,000 sq ft facility in Oregon is also planning to serve big brand 3rd party partners in the USA . Empower brings the infrastructure, Heritage brings the expertise and balance sheet. The result is a match made in shareholder heaven with initial annual capacity of 6,000 Kg at ~ $US 5,000 per Kg, which adds up to $US 30,000,000 in potential revenue.
We emphasize potential  because nobody has started selling anything yet but the facility is expected to begin producing soon. However, with a built in patient database and talks already having commenced for white label products, Empower is on its way. Moreover, “potential” cuts both ways, with capacity capable of increasing 2x – 3x without much trouble given the size of the facility. Â
Can Empower successfully execute its extraction plan? It’s a legitimate question, with a blow away answer.. The Company’s new CEO, Steven McAuley, who replaced the previous management team in January, is Six Sigma certified under the quality initiative of legendary GE chairman Jack Welch. We’ve never seen a Six Sigma certified CEO in the Canadian small cap markets. Never …. which also explains how McAuley has brought Empower to such heights in just 11 months.
The cannabis market is currently throwing away babies with the bathwater – but just as the dot-com crash brought us massive riches through Web 2.0 companies that were REAL, investors need to start looking for the REAL companies that will survive and thrive. With 165,000 patients, rapidly increasing revenues, a franchise plan to grow clinics across America and a vertical integration CBD extraction strategy to tie them all together, Empower Clinics may be such a company. Â
Grab your favourite beverage and settle in to watch what may be your next great small cap investment.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:59 AM on Tuesday, November 19th, 2019
Signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire all assets of Nevada Botanical Science, Inc.
Transaction valued at USD$7.5Â million
NBS currently operates a 5,000 sq. ft. indoor cultivation facility and has been approved for expansion of up to 60,000 sq. ft of greenhouse space.
Property also includes an operating extraction facility and licensed and approved commercial kitchen.
This infrastructure is capable of manufacturing and bottling beverages and edibles and is currently used by NBS for both white label and branded product manufacturing.
TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2019 — North Bud Farms Inc. (CSE: NBUD) (OTCQB: NOBDF) (“NORTHBUD” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Bonfire Brands USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of NORTHBUD, has signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire all assets of Nevada Botanical Science, Inc. (“NBSâ€) (see June 25, 2019 press release) in a transaction valued at USD$7.5 million.
Nevada Botanical Science (NBS) is located in Reno, Nevada. NBS holds
Nevada State medical and adult use licenses for cultivation, extraction
and distribution. NBS operates an integrated cannabis operation located
on 3.2 acres of land within the Reno green zone industrial park. NBS
currently operates a 5,000 sq. ft. indoor cultivation facility and has
been approved for expansion of up to 60,000 sq. ft of greenhouse space.
The property also includes an operating extraction facility and licensed
and approved commercial kitchen. This infrastructure is capable of
manufacturing and bottling beverages and edibles and is currently used
by NBS for both white label and branded product manufacturing. Operated
by healthcare professionals, NBS has been primarily focused on the
Nevada State medical cannabis market. NBS currently manufactures and
sells award winning (Jack Herer Cup 2018) topical pain creams, balms and
lotions under the Trichomic medical brand.
This past year NBS launched a trial release of cannabis infused
cocktails under the brand “Happiest Hourâ€. Collaborating with local
craft beverage manufactures NBS released a variety of beverages
including Margarita, Pina Colada, Bloody Mary, Long Island Ice Tea and
Lemonade to select retailers in the state. To date retailer adoption and
reordering has been 100% and based on customer feedback, NBS will
increase production and distribution including additional retailers in
Las Vegas in 2020. NBS has also finished a successful trial launch of
its energy shot 1oz beverage containing 25mg of THC and 50mg of
Caffeine. The Company plans to run a second branded trial in early 2020.
Over the past three months NBS and NORTHBUD have been working together
in preparation for the release of NORTHBUD branded dried flower products
in Q4 2019 and a variety of infused and non-infused pre rolls.
“Subject to the finalizing of the previously announced acquisition of
the Qlora Group in California, the Company plans to establish a unified
product manufacturing and distribution platform within these two
important states,†said Justin Braune, President of Bonfire Brands USA.
“The license classes in California and Nevada allow for identical
activities and the Company has been in negotiation with multiple
potential JV partners who wish to leverage this unique platform. Being
one of the few multi state operators with operations in both states will
allow us to offer turnkey solutions to prospective partners moving
forward.â€
Transaction Terms
The transaction (the “Transactionâ€) is structured as an asset
purchase agreement whereby in exchange for the purchase of all of the
securities and assets of NBS, NORTHBUD is paying a total of
USD$7,500,000 as follows:
Cash payment of USD$500,000 (paid in full);
Approximately USD$1 million in convertible shares of Bonfire Brands USA (6,500,000 “convertible sharesâ€); and
A USD$6,000,000 interest bearing promissory note.
The convertible shares may be exchanged on a 1-1 basis with common
shares of NBUD at the discretion of the shareholder. At the time of
signing, the converted value of these securities was equal to
USD$1,000,000. All applicable U.S. and Canadian regulatory holds shall
apply upon conversion.
As per the terms of the agreement NBS will allocate pro rated
ownership of assets in NBS and all associated licenses to Bonfire Brands
USA throughout the re-payment period, subject to state approval.
Bonfire Brands and NBS have agreed to an operations and management
arrangement allowing Bonfire to assume operational control, begin
integration and driving revenue immediately.
“The NORTHBUD and Bonfire Brands USA team are extremely proud to have
finalized this agreement making the state of Nevada our strategic entry
point into the U.S. legal cannabis market,†said Ryan Brown, CEO of
NORTHBUD. “We are equally proud of the structure of the deal and how it
minimizes shareholder dilution while allowing our team to begin
integration and operations with a focus on immediate revenue growth in
one of the most sought-after adult use markets in North America. Our
team has been looking at acquisitions in Nevada for over two years
before finding the right fit. The Nevada market is considered one of
the largest and most profitable in North America with recreational sales
of USD$580 million in the first full year of legalization* (2017 Nevada
Dept. of Taxation).â€
The securities of the Company have not been and will not be
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “U.S. Securities Actâ€) or any state securities
laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or
sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S.
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act
and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of
the securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
The Transaction is a significant acquisition but will not result in a
“Fundamental Change†pursuant to the policies of the CSE. NORTHBUD will
be preparing the necessary corporate and securities filings in order to
secure the required approvals for the Transaction.
The parties have agreed to pay USD$187,500 in broker/finder fees to
arm’s length parties on a prorated basis connection with the closing of
the Transaction.
The closing of the Transaction is conditional on the receipt by the
parties of applicable corporate and regulatory approvals, including that
of the CSE.
About Nevada Botanical Science, Inc.
Founded by a group of northern Nevada physicians and healthcare
professionals who believe in the promise of medical cannabis, Nevada
Botanical Science has developed a world class cannabis production,
research and development facility in Reno’s Washoe County. Its work and
commitment are fully in compliance with the Hippocratic Oath as well as
Nevada statute. Nevada Botanical Science is dedicated to ensuring the
highest measure of safety, governance and stewardship for its patients,
employees and the community it serves.
North Bud Farms Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary GrowPros
MMP Inc., is pursuing a licence under The Cannabis Act. The Company has
built a state-of-the-art purpose-built cannabis production facility
located on 135 acres of Agricultural Land in Low, Quebec, Canada.
NORTHBUD through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Bonfire Brands USA
has acquired Nevada Botanical Science, Inc. a world class cannabis
production, research and development facility with 5,000 sq. ft. of
indoor cultivation in Reno’s Washoe County. Nevada Botanical Science
holds medical and adult use licenses for cultivation, extraction and
distribution. Bonfire Brands USA has entered into an agreement to
acquire assets in Salinas, California.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSEâ€) nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of
the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Forward-looking statements Certain statements and
information included in this press release that, to the extent they are
not historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or
statements (collectively, “forward-looking statementsâ€) within the
meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking
statements, including those identified by the expressions “anticipateâ€,
“believeâ€, “planâ€, “estimateâ€, “expectâ€, “intendâ€, “mayâ€, “should†and
similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its
management. This press release contains forward- looking statements
including those relating to the entering into of the Definitive
Agreement and closing of the Transaction with Nevada Botanical Science,
Inc. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions,
estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its
experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected
developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be
relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such
statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include,
among others, the risk factors included in the Company’s final long form
prospectus dated August 21, 2018, which is available under the
Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such
forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement
speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors
emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company’s
management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the
impact of each such factor on the Company’s business or the extent to
which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect information, events, results,
circumstances or otherwise after the date hereof or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law including
securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: North Bud Farms Inc. Edward Miller VP, IR & Communications Office: (855) 628-3420 ext. 3 [email protected]
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 5:37 PM on Monday, November 18th, 2019
SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE)
Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and
procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and
Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.
THC-infused edibles and CBD-infused edibles
When cannabis is ingested, the THC is metabolized by the liver
With edibles coming to brick-and-mortar shops in mid-December, users are looking to get high without the smoke.
But when choosing edibles, users will want to pay attention to
whether the product has CBD or THC, two compounds with very different
effects.
CBD
CBD, the non-psychoactive component within cannabis has been widely
touted for its medical benefits to help people with, among other
conditions, chronic pain. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports
CBD is not physically addictive.
By comparing those administered doses of active CBD to those given as
a placebo, researchers said that “while the number of studies is
limited, the evidence from well-controlled human experimental research
indicates that CBD is not associated with abuse potential.â€
CBD leads to slower effects that aren’t psychoactive in
nature — meaning they aren’t the effects you see portrayed in pop
culture.
The effects from CBD will be tame and mellow compared to its
psychoactive opposite, THC. Most medical cannabis includes CBD rather
than THC, with CBD already available in capsule form in legal stores.
THC
When most people think of cannabis’ effects, they think of THC. Many
of the new cannabis products slated to enter stores in mid-December will
focus on THC.
When cannabis is ingested, the THC is metabolized by the liver,
transforming itself into 11-hydroxy-THC. This metabolite is up to four
times faster in crossing the blood-brain barrier than average THC, and
is why edibles are associated with intense, vivid and longer-lasting
experiences.
THC normally gets pointed at as the compound that creates the potential for withdrawal symptoms among some heavy users.
An evidence brief compiled by the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) states that “cannabis is addictive, though not everyone who uses it will develop an addiction.â€
While using cannabis oil or edibles with THC, users may get addicted
or experience habit-formation. Products that only include CBD don’t
appear to become addictive.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:14 AM on Monday, November 18th, 2019
Investment Highlights
Kenbridge property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper
17.5 (21.8 fully diluted) percent equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property
Kenbridge Ni Project (ON, Canada)
Advanced stage deposit remains open in three directions, is
equipped with a 623m deep shaft and has never been mined.
Preliminary Economic Assessment completed and updated returned robust project economics and operating costs including a NPV of C$253M and cash costs of US$3.47/lb of nickel net of copper credits.
Plans for Kenbridge include updating PEA,
advancing the project through to feasibility and exploring the open
mineralization at depth
FULL DISCLOSURE: Tartisan Nickel Corp. is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:30 PM on Friday, November 15th, 2019
SPONSOR: New Age Metals Inc.
The company’s Lithium Division has already made significant
acquisitions in Canada and the USA. The company also owns one of North
America’s largest primary platinum group metals deposit in Sudbury,
Canada. Updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate 2,867,000 PdEq
Measured and Indicated Ounces, with an additional 1,059,000 PdEq Ounces
in the Inferred. Learn More.
Europe EVs now use 57% more lithium carbonate equivalent
Changing mix of EV sales is most noticeable in Europe where the average battery in new passenger EVs sold in September contained 15.8kg of LCE
Constitutes a 57% surge compared to last year, thanks in no small part to the popularity of the Tesla Model 3 on the continent
Electric car pioneer Tesla is already producing units on a trial basis at its giant Shanghai gigafactory despite only breaking ground this year, but thanks to changes to the Chinese EV subsidy program, demand for locally-made Teslas may fall short of expectations.
On Monday, China’s automobile manufacturing industry body said fewer
new energy vehicles, or NEVs as they are termed domestically, could be
sold this year than in 2018 (last year sales boomed by more than 60%).
Sales of NEVs – which apart from battery-powered vehicles also
include hybrids and fuel cell cars – fell by more than 45% in October
from the same month last year, adding to the woes of an industry coping
with 16 straight months of declining overall sales.
Changes to China’s EV incentive program favour hybrids so lithium loads may start to tend downwards in that country too
Adamas Intelligence tracks the battery capacity (and the metals used in them)
of electric vehicles sold around the world and the slowdown in the EV
market, where lithium-ion batteries dominate, has already showed up in
raw material deployment data.
In September 2019, the average new passenger EV including plug-in and
conventional hybrids sold globally contained 12.2 kilograms of lithium
carbonate equivalent (LCE), a modest increase of 4% over 2018, according
to the latest Adamas report.
The Toronto-based research company’s data shows China still
outstripped global growth in September with a 7% increase in LCE on a
per-EV basis, reaching a sales-weighted average of just shy of 20kg
thanks to the prevalence of full electric models in the country.
That’s in stark contrast to Japan, where hybrids represent more than
90% of EV sales and average batteries contain only 1.1kg of LCE. Changes
to China’s EV incentive program favour hybrids so lithium loads may
start to tend downwards in that country too.
The changing mix of EV sales is most noticeable in Europe where the
average battery in new passenger EVs sold in September contained 15.8kg
of LCE.
That constitutes a 57% surge compared to last year, thanks in no
small part to the popularity of the Tesla Model 3 on the continent.
Teslas have always had bigger batteries than competitor cars to help
with fast-charging and range.
In the US the trend is in the opposite direction – with passenger EVs
leaving showrooms containing on average 15.2kg of LCE, 12% less than in
September 2018.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:57 AM on Friday, November 15th, 2019
SPONSOR: BetterU Education Corp.
aims to provide access to quality education from around the world.
The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job
industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing
an integrated ecosystem. Click here for more information.
Edtech Startups Transforming The Way Indian Children Learn
Many edtech startups today are leveraging the increasing literacy rate coupled with increased internet penetration
These startups are trying to address the most important issue faced by the Indian education system
India has roughly 1.5 million schools, 38,000 colleges, and 760 universities as per MHRD. This translates into one school per 200 school-goers and one college per 3,700 college-goers. According to a report by management consulting firm Technopak in 2016, India’s education market is valued at $100 Bn while the digital learning market is estimated at $2 Bn. The report also said that the digital learning market is expected to reach $5.7 Bn by 2020 as the number of internet users is increasing.
Many edtech startups today are leveraging the increasing literacy
rate coupled with increased internet penetration. These startups are
trying to address the most important issue faced by the Indian education
system, which is the lack of upgrade. By bringing in technology, these
startups are trying to bridge the gap between rural and urban India as
well.
Samsung-backed TagHive recently launched an AI-powered classroom
engagement solution, Class Saathi, to make tech-based learning
accessible and affordable for schools in rural India with little or no
infrastructural investments. The Central Board of Secondary Education
(CBSE) also partnered with Microsoft India and IBM to focus on tech
reskilling for teachers and AI curriculum in schools. Through this, CBSE
will be conducting capacity building programmes for high school
teachers with an aim to integrate cloud-powered technology in K12
teaching and inculcating digital teaching skills in educators through
the curriculum as well as extra-curricular training.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:47 AM on Friday, November 15th, 2019
SPONSOR:ThreeD Capital Inc. (IDK:CSE)
Led by legendary financier, Sheldon Inwentash, ThreeD is a
Canadian-based venture capital firm that only invests in best of breed
small-cap companies which are both defensible and mass scalable. More
than just lip service, Inwentash has financed many of Canada’s biggest
small-cap exits. Click Here For More Information.
‘Unknown Fund’ to Donate $75M in Bitcoin to Crypto, Anonymity-Focused Startups
An anonymous organization dubbed “Unknown Fund†is planning to give away $75 million in Bitcoin (BTC) to startups that are focused on anonymity and the protection of personal data.
An anonymous organization dubbed “Unknown Fund†is planning to give away $75 million in Bitcoin (BTC) to startups that are focused on anonymity and the protection of personal data.
In a press release
on Nov. 13, the organization — which consists of “ordinary, anonymous
people from different countries†— said it will donate the money to
startups which support the idea of anonymity and specifically operate in
such fields as the protection of personal information, tools of anonymity, cryptocurrencies and blockchain.
Fighting the misuse of people’s personal data
The idea behind the donations is to fight the manipulation of people
by politics, social media networks and other parties who collect
individuals’ personal data, which Unkown Fund says has proved to be an
“amazing and frightening†tool.
The project supposedly started on 4chan, an anonymous
English-language imageboard, and claims to have the support of
hacktivist group Anonymous, which it cites as saying:
“Now the main goal of large corporations is to collect as much
information as possible about the personal lives of people, and then use
it for their enrichment. And they do a great job of it by making
ordinary people get poorer. We are ready to fight for change and protect
people.”
The Unknown Fund argues that the deployment of blockchain technology
and digital currencies could help protect people’s rights and freedoms,
and eventually develop a new environment with a trustworthy monetary
system.
Blockchain in personal data protection
Many industry players have questioned blockchain’s ability to ensure
personal data protection. Speaking with Cointelegraph in August, Timothy
Paolini, a board member at NYU Blockchain, stated:
“Blockchains are built around the principles of decentralization,
removing the single point of failure risk (think Equifax servers) and
cutting out unnecessary third parties by establishing a more direct,
peer-to-peer network. This also maintains your privacy and control of
your data from third-party apps as data rests at the protocol instead of
the application layer.â€
Deirdre K. Mulligan, an assistant professor at the University of
California, Berkeley School of Information, argued that blockchains do
not inherently protect your identity, as they can be manipulated by
their architects to be centralized and non-anonymous. Mulligan stated:
“Companies can exert a lot of control over how they design an application, through its architecture, default settings, what it communicates in its privacy policies, and what it does in practice. The value for a consumer concerned about her privacy would depend on the blockchain application and the kind of data collected and processed by it.â€
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:27 PM on Thursday, November 14th, 2019
SPONSOR: BetterU Education Corp.
aims to provide access to quality education from around the world.
The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job
industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing
an integrated ecosystem. Click here for more information.
Samsung-Backed TagHive Enters India To Digitise Public Schools With Edtech Device And Platform
TagHive has launched Class Sathi in two Madhya Pradesh districts
The startup was a part of Samsung’s C-lab incubator programme
TagHive aims to bring affordable digital learning to primary schools in rural India
In the Indian context, the education infrastructure and quality of
learning has always come under scrutiny, especially due to concerns of
outdated syllabi and teaching methods at the primary level in public
schools.
Most edtech startups in India are looking to solve this by bringing
learning to the mobile phone or PC, but that’s not always possible at
schools in smaller towns and villages, which do not have the wherewithal
to implement such high-tech solutions. That’s what TagHive is looking
to overcome with its affordable edtech platform (device and software)
for the Indian public and primary school market.
Suwon, South Korea-based TagHive has launched its flagship product
Class Saathi in two districts of Madhya Pradesh. Tying up with the state
government, TagHive’s Class Saathi mobile clicker solution and the
companion app will be available across 13 schools in its two districts.
Founded in 2017 by IIT and Harvard alumni, Pankaj Agarwal, the
startup for his innovation in the education segment has received funds
from Samsung Ventures and Enlight Ventures. The startup was also
incubated by Samsung’s internal C-Lab programme after the South Korean
chaebol discovered Agarwal’s idea during his stint at the company.
Speaking to Inc42, the founder said that Samsung C-Lab supported
TagHive with the necessary resources such as funding, workspace,
technical support and culture-building through the incubation programme.
“After 15 months of working on my idea at Samsung, it was chosen to be
spun off as an independent company, TagHive. Samsung Ventures has put in
seed capital of over INR 2.5 Cr,†Agarwal said.
The AI-powered classroom engagement solution Class Saathi aims to
make tech-based learning accessible and affordable for schools in rural
India with little or no infrastructural investments. The startup also
aims to increase student participation and learning outcomes, while at
the same time supporting and motivating teachers to improve their
teaching methodology.
TagHive doesn’t just limit itself to teachers and students but also
involves another key stakeholder in the education chain — the child’s
parents. Agarwal said that this helps keep everyone in the loop about
the student’s progress.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 1:55 PM on Thursday, November 14th, 2019
SPONSOR:
Why Empower Clinics
A leading owner/operator of physician staffed health and pain management clinics
Patient database of over 165,000 patientsÂ
Platform generating $4MM USD in revenue annually (2019)
Proprietary technology platforms including Electronic Health Records portal and e-Commerce for CBD product distribution
Launching CBD extraction facility
First extraction system capacity = 6,000 Kg per year.
The case for treating PTSD with cannabis
Previous research has linked cannabis use with poorer mental health in PTSD patients, but it’s unclear whether cannabis exacerbates PTSD symptoms, or if patients with worse symptoms are simply self-medicating more.
As epidemiologists and substance use researchers, we have been
exploring the relationship between cannabis and PTSD using readily
available Statistics Canada mental health data.
In a recent study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology,
we found that PTSD increased the risk of major depressive episodes
among Canadians who didn’t use cannabis by roughly seven times, and
suicidal ideation by roughly five times. But, among Canadians who did
use cannabis, PTSD was not statistically associated with either outcome.
How cannabis works in the body
Substance use, including cannabis use,
is common among trauma survivors. It’s easy to write off the drug as
just a tool to briefly escape negative feelings, at the risk of
worsening longer-term symptoms. However, the relationship between
cannabis and PTSD is more complex than it appears on the surface.
Certain components of the cannabis plant,
including the well-known molecules tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the
component of cannabis that produces the high) and cannabidiol (CBD, the
component of cannabis that won’t get you high, but has potential for
treating epilepsy, inflammation, nausea and anxiety) are also cannabinoids because of their structural similarity to endogenous cannabinoids.
Research is still uncovering if and how cannabis works within the
body to affect the course of PTSD. Brain imaging research suggests that
patients with PTSD have an abundance of cannabinoid receptors but produce few endogenous cannabinoids
to lock into them, meaning that supplementing the body with plant-based
cannabinoids like THC might help some brain processes function as
normal.
Reduced depression and suicide
Roughly one in four individuals with PTSD in the Statistics Canada
survey data that we analyzed used cannabis, compared to about one in
nine in the general population.
In our study, we used statistical models to quantify the relationship
between having PTSD and recently experiencing a major depressive
episode or suicidal ideation. We hypothesized that if cannabis helped
mitigate symptoms of PTSD, we’d see a much weaker association between
PTSD and these indicators of mental distress in the cannabis-using
population.
Indeed, exploring the associations in this way while controlling for
other factors (such as sex, age, income, other substance use, other
mental health problems) supported our hypothesis.
In a follow-up analysis of the 420 individuals in the sample who had
PTSD, we categorised cannabis use into “no use,†“low-risk use†and
“high-risk use†(meaning that they screened positive for cannabis abuse
or dependence).
We found that low-risk cannabis users were actually less likely than
non-users to develop a major depressive episode or to be suicidal,
though there was a trend towards increased risk of both outcomes for the
high-risk users.
A promising new signal
People with PTSD are more likely to experience depression and
suicidal ideation. However, our findings suggested that these indicators
of mental health were improved when they were engaging in lower-risk
cannabis use.
Our study has a number of limitations that prevent us from being able
to understand whether cannabis is what’s causing the reduced
association between PTSD, depression and suicide.
For example, our data captures information covering participants’
experiences from the previous year, meaning we can’t actually decipher
what came first: the cannabis use, the PTSD or the major psychological
episodes.
We didn’t have detailed information about how participants used
cannabis: for example, the type and dose of cannabis they used, how
often they used it or how they consumed it. These details will be
crucial to future research in this area.
Our study’s strength comes from its ability to describe patterns of
PTSD symptoms and cannabis use in a large sample that’s considered to be
representative of the Canadian population. Although our findings
suggest that cannabis could be of possible therapeutic use in the
treatment of PTSD, cannabis use is not without risks, including the
development of cannabis use disorder.
We’ve uncovered a promising new signal on the potential of
cannabis-based therapies, but we look forward to much work ahead in
understanding how they might fit into PTSD and mental health treatment
more broadly.
Tags: CSE, Hemp, Marijuana, stocks, tsx, tsx-v, weed Posted in Empower Clinics Inc. | Comments Off on Empower Clinics $CBDT.ca – The case for treating #PTSD with #cannabis $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $OGI.ca $FAF.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 12:59 PM on Thursday, November 14th, 2019
SPONSOR: New Age Metals Inc.
The company’s Lithium Division has already made significant
acquisitions in Canada and the USA. The company also owns one of North
America’s largest primary platinum group metals deposit in Sudbury,
Canada. Updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate 2,867,000 PdEq
Measured and Indicated Ounces, with an additional 1,059,000 PdEq Ounces
in the Inferred. Learn More.
Sales Revenue of Palladium to Soar in the Near Future Owing to Growing Consumer Adoption
Global market for palladium is likely to experience
significant growth with declining demand for metals and increasing
demand for recycling metals, leading to palladium demand outstripping
the supply.
In addition, changing prospects of investments in palladium have also contributed to the growth of the market
Palladium
is a lustrous silvery-white rare metal used in a diverse range of
applications. The metal with other elements such as osmium, iridium,
ruthenium, rhodium, and platinum are referred to as Platinum Group
Metals (PGM). Palladium is majorly consumed in the automotive industry
as catalytic converters, manufacturing of electronics and jewelry, as
well as chemical and dental applications. Palladium is sourced from two
major sources, viz., mine production and recycling.
The global market for palladium is likely to experience significant
growth with declining demand for metals and increasing demand for
recycling metals, leading to palladium demand outstripping the supply.
In addition, changing prospects of investments in palladium have also
contributed to the growth of the market. Several new palladium
exchange-traded funds by companies such as Absa Capital in South
Africa are expected to create a significant boost for the palladium
market.
Growing demand for palladium in catalytic converters in the
automotive industry in vehicles exhausts are one of the major growth
factors driving the palladium market. Demand for the metal from other
sectors such as jewelry and industrial are also anticipated to
contribute to the growth of the market. However, rising prices of
palladium owing to supply issues in South Africa and declining state
stockpiles in Russia are expected to hamper the growth of the market.
North America was the largest consumer for palladium, followed by China
owing to the presence of the vast automotive industry in the region.
Future market growth is expected to be from Asia Pacific with the
growing industrial activities in emerging economies such as India. These
factors are expected to provide new opportunities for the growth of the
market.
