Category: Cannabis

Over the course of the last few years, interest in the cannabis plant has significantly increased as society has become more aware of its potential therapeutic benefits. From pain relief to seizure management, this plant has shown considerable promise in various areas of healthcare. 

Let’s take a look and explore its anatomy, diverse cannabinoids, therapeutic potential, safety considerations, ongoing research, and potential future developments.

What Is Cannabis?

To truly understand what cannabis is, we need to first look at the plant’s anatomy. It is comprised of different species, including cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and hybrids. 

The areas of greatest importance are the plant’s flowers and the leaves because this is 

where the potent components live. These compounds known as “cannabinoids” cause the plant’s various effects.

Cannabinoids

These can be considered to be the lifeblood of marijuana. They’re the chemicals that engage with specific receptors located within the central nervous system. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two cannabinoids that most people are familiar with. 

THC causes psychoactive effects, while CBD is non-intoxicating and is typically associated with healing properties.

Therapeutic Benefits

Research suggests that cannabis may alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, relieve muscle spasticity, help control seizures that are typical with epilepsy, and even benefit individuals who are suffering from certain mental health conditions including social anxiety and sleep disorders. However, it should be noted that individual responses may vary, and the effectiveness of cannabis may differ from one person to another.

Safety and Side Effects

It’s vital to consume cannabis responsibly. Before using it, an individual needs to be aware of the potential side effects which can include:

• Short-term memory impairment
• Dry mouth
• Increased heart rate
• Potentially heightened anxiety in some people

Those who use cannabis heavily on a regular basis may eventually become dependent on it. Therefore, it’s crucial to use it cautiously and seek professional help if needed.

Research and Future Developments

Cannabis research is ongoing with studies and clinical trials examining its potential benefits and risks. As more countries and more states are reconsidering their cannabis policies, we may one day come to see the full integration of cannabis-based medicine into mainstream healthcare. The future holds exciting possibilities including more personalized treatment options and a deeper understanding of the ways in which cannabis can contribute to wellbeing. 

The Intriguing Cannabis Plant

The cannabis plant, with its CBD and THC cannabinoids and potential therapeutic applications, is captivating researchers, healthcare professionals, and the general public alike. It would be helpful to consider this with both caution and curiosity. If you are interested in buying cannabis equipment, including testing equipment, BaneBio provides economical and effective supplies. Contact us today!

With medical marijuana legal in 39 states, and recreational cannabis legal in 21 states, the cannabis industry has skyrocketed in the past several years. Understanding the state of the emerging cannabis industry means staying abreast of trends we started to see in 2022. From mergers and acquisitions to advances in technology to major legal reform, these trends are showing no signs of slowing down as we prepare to wrap up Q1 of 2023. 

Let’s take a look at the five most influential trends driving the cannabis industry in 2023.

Increased Legalization

While federal legalization continues to be a barrier to the growth of cannabis-related businesses across the country, increased legalization at the state level is moving the fledgling industry forward. Almost two-thirds of the country support federal legalization, a figure that is expected to continue to rise as public stigma fades and the benefits of decriminalization become even more clear.

Consolidation

As is typical of any industry experiencing rapid growth, the biggest companies in the emerging marketplace—Green Thumb, Curaleaf and Aurora, just to name a few—are poised to become even bigger in 2023. These emerging industry giants are absorbing smaller local operators, hoping to capture new jurisdictions now before the market is saturated.

Health and Wellness Messaging

Cannabis has been the subject of research for many years. As results are published, there is mounting evidence that compounds found in cannabis may possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties in addition to alleviating symptoms of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, depression, glaucoma and Parkinson’s disease. Communicating these benefits to the general public is positioning cannabis as an alternative to traditional medicine.

Advanced Innovation

From gummies to edibles and more, cannabis-infused products are making significant inroads with customers who have never tried cannabis before. These innovative products are especially appealing to those who find smoking intimidating. On the business side, cannabis cultivators and distributors have experienced unparalleled growth in productivity and profit. New technologies are making it possible for more products to be delivered to stores at a significantly lower cost.

Evolving Buyer Preferences

Although cannabis flower has been losing ground since 2019 to iterations of the product, it still led sales in 2022 and early 2023—a trend that is expected to continue through the year. According to a November 2022 report by Headset, Cannabis sales projections for US markets in 2025 | Headset (a leading cannabis data and market intelligence company) the U.S. cannabis product sales break down by market share as follows:  

• Flower: 40.8%
• Vapor Pens: 23.5%
• Pre-roll: 12.2%
• Concentrates: 8.0%
• Beverage: 1.1%
• Tincture and Sublingual: 1.0%
• Capsules: 0.9%
• Topical: 0.7

As we prepare to wrap up Q1 of 2023, some are predicting a reset for the fast-growing cannabis industry. The most successful businesses will likely continue to grow if they have the resources and tools developed to navigate a rapidly growing industry, and are ready to shift their approach quickly when needed.

As demand for Cannabinoid (CBD) Oil skyrockets, traditional farmers are making room in their corn and soybean fields for cannabis sativa. Because keeping the oil extracted from the plants at or below 0.3 percent is required to comply with Maryland state guidelines, accurate analysis and testing of the harvest is key. Established laboratory professionals are seizing the opportunity to create laboratories for the processing and analytical testing of industrial hemp.  

Agriculture rarely makes the news, but the rush to plant industrial hemp– a variety of the cannabis sativa plant– is a recent exception. Since the 2018 Farm Bill helped clarify the differences between industrial hemp and its party-hearty relative, marijuana, hemp has been touted as one of the most important cash crops of the future. Positioned for use in everything from personal care products to biofuel and dozens of other products in between, one of the most intriguing and potentially lucrative uses of industrial hemp is as a source of cannabidiol (CBD)– a product used to treat everything from anxiety to headaches to chronic pain.

A durable crop that grows well in varied climates and conditions, industrial hemp was grown profitably in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas in the 1700-1800s before a falling demand and strict federal regulation caused it to fall out of favor. Now that demand for CBD oil is high and restrictions on its cultivation have been relaxed, growers of conventional crops are bringing their experience and knowledge to bear on the growing of industrial hemp. 

Likewise, established laboratory professionals have begun to seize the opportunity to create laboratories for the processing and analytical testing of industrial hemp. Here are 6 important considerations for those interested in diving into this new and potentially lucrative market?:

Start at the macro level. Examine your motives. Why are you considering this venture? How solid is your knowledge of product testing in general? What exactly do you plan to test? How will you establish credibility?  Do you have a resource you can contact when you have questions or issues? 

Get your ducks in a row. In most cases, you’ll need support from a business advisor or legal professional to secure the capital, apply for licenses, certifications, and accreditations, and maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations. BaneBio is always looking to accommodate financial needs and funding options for our clients. Contact us to explore financing opportunities through BaneBio for your testing equipment needs.

Plan Your Set-up. Research and plan all the elements of your lab set-up carefully, especially from where you will source the equipment and resources you’ll need. Decide the scope of work you’re willing to do. For example, prior to analysis, the cannabinoids must be extracted from the source material. Are you also in the extraction business, or will you limit your lab’s capabilities to the analysis of liquid samples only? 

Securing the equipment. Laboratories involved in comprehensive testing typically test for residual solvents, physical and microbial contamination, potency, and terpenes. A quality, refurbished instruments vendor like BaneBio can help outfit your lab at a fraction of the cost of new. For example, filters, evaporators, distillers, and other equipment needed for each step of the process are all available at lower price points through BaneBio, your scientific supermarket. See equipment list for details.

Potency Testing. In potency testing, a panel of cannabinoids (CBDs) is typically requested along with suggested analytes. For example, the THC level of industrial hemp grown in Maryland cannot exceed 0.3 percent. All instruments used to determine a crop’s  potency testing must adhere to Maryland’s guidelines and standards. 

Get Training. Because the scientific testing of cannabis is still its infancy, you can expect training programs to vary widely by state. For those with Bachelor’s degrees in chemistry, or who already have experience with general-use lab equipment, technical institutes may offer training on specialized instruments needed for hemp testing. Check for hands-on training for equipment operation, testing methods, troubleshooting, and more.

As more is learned about cannabis sativa, procedures associated with it for cultivating, harvesting, extracting, testing, and manufacturing will change and evolve– an important thing for potential lab owners and technicians to bear in mind.