CBD, the benefits of Marijuana without the buzz.
By Jason W. Harbolic
October 11-13th 2014 the Marriott Marquis, Times Square NYC. The International Cannabis Association (InternationalCannabisAssociation.com) holds the first, groundbreaking Cannabis Business Expo. A place where all facets of the legal Cannabis industry can be displayed, classes can be held, and newcomers can come to learn a lot of information. From seed to sale and everything in between was on display for people in the industry and everyday people to get a glimpse of. Companies offering tracking solutions, Security Services, banking/credit card processing, extraction, packaging, and more.
Lectures were held all day informing guests of the various parts of the business that they may not know. The lectures included, bookkeeping, licensing, local NY laws, union labor laws, IRS tax codes, developing a business, marketing, and how to properly fill out an application to become a grower or dispensary, just to name a few. For someone who was thinking about getting into the MMJ field this was a must attend show. The lectures were prudent, and very informative.
A couple of the standouts were industry leaders like the Career Cannabis Institute (CCI) and Marijuana Doctors. Marijuana Doctors (www.marijuanadoctors.com) is a Long Island based company that helps patients in need of medical marijuana (MMJ). Every state has different qualifications for the dispensing of MMJ, and pre-screening to see if you qualify can be a confusing and costly process for both the patient and the doctor. Marijuana Doctors offers their services to doctors, so that they get patients that are already pre-screened and eligible for MMJ.
Jessica Lynn Cahill a director of operations for the company explained, doctors subscribe to Marijuana Doctors service to take the extra work away, and save the doctor and patient money. The website is all inclusive and free for the patient, it takes basic information from the patient, matches it to the database of state laws and requirements, and lets the patient know if they pre-qualify to see a doctor. If that is the case and the patient is cleared, the site will then suggest doctors in the patients’ area that will treat their illness and prescribe MMJ. They can then request an appointment, and the doctor’s office will contact the patient within 48 hours.
The Cannabis Career Institute (CCI) lead by a true veteran of the industry, CEO Robert Calkin, offers classes in different states about the MMJ field. This 9 hour, one day course covers everything from growing, local law, cooking, to distributing. CCI showcased a beta version of a Certification at the expo, which could potentially be used nationwide as the standard for anyone who wants to be a part of the industry at any level, from bud tender to CEO. It was attended and well recieved by local NY politicians, industry figures, and attendees of the expo.
One of the main items that was showcased is something that is already legal here in NY, and it’s called Cannabidiols, or CBD for short. Robert Calkin from CCI is also the CEO of a publically traded company that is now in the CBD field. Green Cures & Botanical Distribution, INC (OTC: GRCU) is online with multiple websites offering CBD infused products. One of the flagship sites is ALLCBD.COM, offering CBD infused balms, e-liquid, capsules, tinctures, with promise of more infused products in the near future.
According to ALLCBD.COM:
“ Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of over 60+ compounds found in cannabis. It is a major phytocannabinoid, accounting for up to 40% of the plant’s extract. CBD is considered to have a wider scope of medicinal applications than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD and THC are usually present in the highest concentrations, and are therefore the most recognized and studied.”
The Website also goes on to explain: (taken from ALLCBD.COM)
According to a 2013 review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, studies suggest that CBD possess the following medicinal properties: Potential Medicinal Properties of CBD • Antiemetic • Anticonvulsant • Antipsychotic • Anti-inflammatory • Anti-oxidant • Anti-tumoral/Anti-cancer • Anxiolytic/Anti-depressant
One of the facts that I found while attending the expo, is that the CBD source is very important. The other large publically traded company that attended the expo, also offered CBD infused products, but their source was not from the USA, it was from Europe, and that’s all they would say, no specific origin. Green Cures uses only locally grown in California hemp to make its CBD products. They test every one of their products and back them up by publishing the lab test findings.
Shampoos, supplements, e-liquid, beauty products, energy drinks and gum, CBD’s have made their way on to the market in a big way. Just be careful on what you buy, check the levels of CBD, ask for the lab reports, and do your due diligence. Just like every new thing there are a few folks out there trying to make a quick buck.
The debate and testing for CBD is ongoing. As most things do, it has its proponents, and the dissenters. One thing is for sure is that it is here to stay and people are getting results. Keep your eye out for the International Cannabis Association events, and if you are interested in the field, hit up an event. MMJ is on its way to NY, be ready to be a part of the next generation of entrepreneurs.
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