Canada Archives - Ministry of Hemp America's leading advocate for hemp Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:26:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://ministryofhemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Icon.png Canada Archives - Ministry of Hemp 32 32 Why Can’t I Easily Get Legal CBD Oil In Canada? https://ministryofhemp.com/legal-cbd-in-canada/ https://ministryofhemp.com/legal-cbd-in-canada/#comments Sun, 11 Apr 2021 07:16:18 +0000 http://ministryofhemp.com/?p=55001 In October of 2018, Canada became only the second country in the world (after Uruguay) to legalize recreational cannabis. However, access to legal CBD products remains extremely limited in our northern neighbor.

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In October of 2018, Canada joined a very niche club, becoming only the second country in the world (after Uruguay) to legalize recreational cannabis. However, if you thought that meant the streets would be paved in green leaves up north, you would be wrong.

Canada is divided into provinces that, like the states in the U.S., have their own laws and regulations separate from federal rulings. That means that although the Cannabis Act applies to all of Canada, depending on where you live your ability to purchase cannabis may differ. As the law rolled out some infrastructure problems made the transition a little bumpy, with supply chain issues and confusing regulations. When it came to accessing CBD products, in particular, consumers were really confused.

An activist holds a "Cannabis for Canada" sign at a 420 celebration. Despite legalization of recreational cannabis, it's still difficult to obtain legal CBD in Canada.
In October 2018, Canada became the second country in the world to legalize psychoactive cannabis (“marijuana”).

Is CBD Oil Legal in Canada?

This is where things get tricky. CBD has had a complicated journey towards legislation in the U.S. with different states determining it to be either legal or illegal, with the final say often coming down to how it was produced. CBD derived from hemp has generally been considered permissible while CBD from marijuana has not.

With the passing of the Farm Bill, it was thought that all hemp-derived CBD would be totally legal but a press release from the FDA threw more confusion into the mix with a warning that CBD cannot be added to foods, that health claims would be rigorously tested, and a suggestion that in the future they would “consider whether there are circumstances in which certain cannabis-derived compounds might be permitted in a food or dietary supplement.”

One of the sticking points seems to be that although there are studies showing CBD can alleviate feelings of social anxiety and that it reduces inflammation and works as a pain reliever, medical claims made by CBD producers and manufacturers are untested and not regulated federally.

As reported by Ministry of Hemp, in some states CBD products are sold out in the open in major grocery chains and yet in other states, people are still being arrested for selling CBD products.

An Overview Of Legal Cannabis in Canada

The new official rules in Canada allow members of the public to possess and share up to 30 grams of legally acquired cannabis and grow up to 4 plants per residence for personal use. That provision that the cannabis must be “legally acquired” states that it must come from an approved provincial or territorial retailer. It’s also of note that in the official announcement mentions of CBD products specifically are missing.

The Cannabis Act states that “Other products, such as edible products and concentrates, will be legal for sale approximately one year after the Cannabis Act has come into force and federal regulations for their production have been developed and brought into force.”

It seems that the Canadian government is going with a soft launch focusing on psychoactive cannabis containing THC with plans to address CBD and other cannabis products at a later date.

A photo of an altered Canadian flag flying against a blue sky. The typical maple leaf is replaced with a hemp or cannabis leaf.
After Uruguay, Canada is the second country in the world to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. However, legal CBD oil in Canada remains difficult to come by.

Coupled with this slow rollout is the fact that government officials and lawmakers have not made a distinction between products containing THC and CBD, as Trina Fraser, partner at Brazeau Seller Law, in Ottawa, Ontario explained:

“CBD, in and of itself, falls within the definition of “cannabis” in the federal Cannabis Act.  As such, it is regulated just like all other cannabis products containing THC. Hemp farmers can grow hemp for the purpose of CBD extraction, but the plant must be sold to a federally licensed processor to conduct the CBD extraction, and then the CBD is subject to the same rules as all cannabis extracts.”

Canadian Cannabis Law Causes Confusion Over CBD Products

Fraser explained that there was a proposal to permit natural health products containing CBD, but it seems the process was stalled and never completed.

As CBD oil products do not have the same effect as THC consumers believe falsely that they are always legal. “There seems to be a pervasive misunderstanding as to the legal status of CBD,” said Fraser.

“Mary” from Ottawa [name changed to protect from possible prosecution] is one such confused consumer. She uses CBD to control her anxiety and told us that life without it is immeasurably worse. “I really need my CBD products, they help to keep me relaxed and to deal with symptoms of PTSD, but I really don’t understand whether or not I am allowed to legally purchase them. I order offline from a US company and they mail it to me. I have always received it with no problem, but I find I am anxious until I get my package,” she said.

What Are Licenced Producers?

Steven Looi, Director of Origination at White Sheep Corp and an industry expert from Toronto said that “CBD is treated the exact same way that THC is treated, in fact, all cannabinoids receive the same treatment in Canada. CBD is illegal unless it comes from a licensed producer.”

Health Canada claims that to become a licensed producer in Canada applicants must go through a screening process that is the toughest in the world for cannabis producers.

Consumers cannot legally purchase cannabis from any other producer.

“I really need my CBD products, they help to keep me relaxed and to deal with symptoms of PTSD, but I really don’t understand whether or not I am allowed to legally purchase them.” — “Mary,” a Canadian CBD consumer

According to Statistics Canada, there are over 100 licensed producers registered in Canada, although there may not be that number currently producing and selling their products.

Only those people with a prescription for medical marijuana can purchase CBD and only through companies authorized by the MMPR — the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. Of those 100 licensed Canadian producers, only 23 have been registered under the MMPR and are able to sell directly to the public. Therefore legally purchasing CBD in Canada, even if you have a prescription, can be very difficult.

Change is Coming For Canadian CBD Consumers

Changes are coming soon though in conjunction with ongoing public consultation, slated to be completed by the end of 2022. “All sorts of new product types will enter the legal marketplace and permit the legal sale of many products that are currently only available illegally,” said Fraser.

A vial of CBD oil and the flowery top of a hemp plant sit on a wooden tabletop. Experts expect access to legal CBD in Canada will improve in the coming year.
Experts expect access to legal CBD in Canada will improve in the coming year.

However, although it may seem that all of this uncertainty will be ironed out by years end, purchasing CBD in Canada will still require effort, despite the new laws. Legal CBD products will continue to only be available through authorized retailers and products will carry security features on the packaging like cigarettes and alcohol. There will also be strict limitations in place in terms of the health claims producers can make. Health Canada follows the legislative leaders and also makes no distinction between CBD from hemp or marijuana.

Looi pointed out that “For folks going the legal route for a CBD, legalization will give them greater access, and more products. For folks that always sourced their meds in the black market, not a whole lot has changed.”

Once edibles and other cannabis products are legalized Looi said Canadians will have access to some of the same types of products that are currently flooding the American market.

“Canadians will have better access to a proliferation of CBD products. Marketing, storytelling, and promotion will encourage many new consumers to purchase products featuring CBD,” he said.

As with any emerging industry, there are certain to be teething problems both in Canada and the United States. Unfortunately for CBD users in Canada, the much longed-for legalization has not automatically made CBD accessible for all.

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Canadian Hemp & Cutting Edge CBD Research, With Ascension Sciences https://ministryofhemp.com/canadian-hemp-cbd-research-podcast/ https://ministryofhemp.com/canadian-hemp-cbd-research-podcast/#respond Tue, 22 Dec 2020 18:38:25 +0000 http://ministryofhemp.com/?p=64003 Tomas Skrinskas, CEO of Ascension Sciences, discusses Canadian hemp and cutting edge CBD research, on the Ministry of Hemp podcast.

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With hemp off to a shaky start in the U.S., we thought we’d take a look at Canadian hemp with help from an industry expert.

In episode 67 of the Ministry of Hemp podcast, our host Matt talks with Tomas Skrinskas, Founder and CEO of Ascension Sciences. As a CEO of a Canadian company that works with pharmaceutical companies in developing CBD based medicine, Tomas has a different perspective on the hemp market and how the Canadian government legislates hemp.

Tomas is also an expert on nanomedicines, so Matt and Tomas get into the topic of bioavailability. Ascension Sciences works to make CBD-based medicine more effective through nano-encapsulation, and he explains future of nano-encapsulation of CBD in drinks.

https://youtu.be/I4mBTQfnlng

Matt also mentions our recent guide to CBD and CBN products that help you sleep.

About Tomas Skrinskas & Ascension Sciences

For over 15 years, Tomas Skrinskas has been at the leading edge of transformative health care technologies including computer assisted surgery, surgical robotics and genetic nanomedicines. His career began with research and engineering which provided a strong foundation for the business development and operations roles that followed. Tomas founded Ascension Sciences (Twitter: @AscensionSci), a R&D laboratory focused on nanoparticle development for cannabinoid products and therapeutics, in January 2019.

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Send us your hemp questions and you might hear them answered on one of our Hemp Q&A episodes. Send your written questions to us on Twitter, Facebook, matt@ministryofhemp.com, or call us and leave a message at 402-819-6417. Keep in mind, this phone number is for hemp questions only and any other inquiries for the Ministry of Hemp should be sent to info@ministryofhemp.com

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A photo of a hemp leaf on top of a red maple leaf, symbolizing Canadian hemp. In a bubble insert, a headshot of Tomas Skrinskas, CEO of Ascension Sciences.
Tomas Skrinskas (insert) joined the Ministry of Hemp podcast to discuss Canadian hemp law and culture, including regulations around CBD, as well as his own research into CBD nanoparticles.

Canadian perspective on hemp & CBD: Complete episode transcript

Below you’ll find the complete transcript of episode 67 of the Ministry of Hemp podcast, “Canadian hemp and CBD”:

Ep 67 Transcript:

Matt Baum:
I’m Matt Baum. And this is the Ministry of Hemp podcast, brought to you by ministryofhemp.com, America’s leading advocate for hemp and hemp education.

Matt Baum:
Welcome back to the Ministry of Hemp podcast. And if you’re new here, welcome aboard. Nice to have you. Today on the show, we are going to talk about another way pharmaceutical companies are making CBD more readily available to your body after you ingest it, or even rub it on your skin.

Matt Baum:
I’ve spoken about bioavailability on this show before, Episode 62, specifically. In that episode, I spoke with Dr. Andrew Yates and Professor Saoirse [O’Sullivan 00:00:00:43], who developed a cocrystal that will improve the bioavailability of CBD. In a nutshell, your body doesn’t want to absorb this molecule very well. So we have to come up with creative ways, to get it to absorb into your system. Now, another way of doing this is nanotechnology, specifically nanoencapsulation.

Matt Baum:
Today on the show, my conversation is with Dr. Tomas Skrinskas, founder and CEO of Ascension Sciences. And what they do, is work with nanoencapsulation. Basically, taking these molecules and putting them in a really, really tiny container that helps your body absorb it. This is a Canadian company, so we were also able to talk about what it’s like to develop hemp-based medicine in Canada, as opposed to the US. And Tomas had some really interesting points that I hadn’t thought of. Here’s my conversation with Tomas Skrinskas, CEO of Ascension Sciences.

Getting to know Canadian hemp and CBD

Matt Baum:
Tomas, welcome to the Ministry of Hemp.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. Thanks.

Matt Baum:
Glad to have you.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah, this is… I’m stoked. This is great.

Matt Baum:
I think you’re our first Canadian guest.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Outstanding.

Matt Baum:
Yeah. So we can put a pin in the Ministry of Hemp map now, which is cool.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. That’s somewhat surprising, but no. Happy to speak for all of Canada, and to thank you. No, we’re happy to be here.

Matt Baum:
Perfect. So let’s talk about hemp in Canada, real quick. Hemp in Canada, and cannabis in Canada, period. Very different from hemp and marijuana, in the United States. You guys have quite the head start on us. Can you give us a quick little historical background of where you’re at, compared to where we are?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah, I can. My entry into the industry, the space, is actually really only been in the last two years. So, a deep history buff, I am not. But what I’ve learned, in my short time is, I think there’s advantages and disadvantages to what we’re doing. So, one example is the CBD, an explosion of CBD, from hemp in the US, it’s actually a little more flexible or a little easier to work with those materials-

Matt Baum:
Really?

Tomas Skrinskas:
… or to develop products. Because it’s in the Farm Bill, and it’s all above board, and it’s easy-peasy. On the Canadian side, we have that CBD aspect that’s from hemp, but there’s just a lot more red flags and red tape and attention drawn, to make sure where it’s coming from and what it’s used for. So for us for example, we just assume and we treat our CBD, like it’s THC. We have to report and track and-

Matt Baum:
Oh, wow.

Tomas Skrinskas:
We can’t lose a drop of it. And then, that’s just to be certain that we’re doing everything right, because regulations are changing so fast. So all that to say, I missed the whole history part of your question, I just avoided it.

Matt Baum:
No, no, this is perfect.

Tomas Skrinskas:
But the difference-

Matt Baum:
This is perfect.

Tomas Skrinskas:
But the differences are there, that it’s sometimes easier, sometimes harder, but yeah. It’s, different.

Canadian hemp is nationally regulated

Matt Baum:
As I understand it, it’s one set of rules for the whole country, though. Basically it’s not province by province, if you will. Whereas, here in the States, we have different states with completely different cannabis laws. Some you can’t even drive cannabis through, let alone… Or even hemp, it’s nuts. So Canada is nationwide, though.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Correct. Yeah. There are some age differences, just like alcohol consumption is different in Quebec, and the Prairies and NBC, it changes by one year as you move around, and that goes for cannabis as well.

Matt Baum:
Sure.

Tomas Skrinskas:
But yeah, across the country, we ship samples and all the rest like, bank. No problem. And all that is easy-peasy.

Matt Baum:
See, that’s a huge step up from us, right now. So, we’re having a lot of trouble. It’s about smaller companies, as well. When you turn and say, “Well, I can’t accept credit cards, because we can’t figure out if anything is insured,” and credit card companies don’t want to get in on that yet. It’s very difficult. And I think we look to Canada… You said, there’s a lot of red tape. We’re not, we’d kill for that red tape. At least there’s red tape. And we know we have to cut it, and get through it. We don’t even know, right now. Like, “Please give us some red tape, please.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. For product development and the research that we want to do, we want it, we’re completely above board and all the rest, but we do compete with people who just neglect the legacy market. It’s called the legacy market-

Matt Baum:
Right.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Just neglects it, and keeps going. And they’ll become legal, and the government helps them become legal, so that’s the part that kind of pisses me off. Like, I’m doing it right. And some people are going to be doing it right, eventually, but they have this little advantage. They’re just kind of chugging along.

Matt Baum:
You say there’s a legacy market. Is that almost, when the laws were passed, or people that were already doing it this way? And Canada is nice enough to be like, “Well, you guys catch up when you can.” Is that, seriously, what’s going on?

Tomas Skrinskas:
That’s exactly what’s going on. And then there’s big consultancies and people helping them go from the gray market to the legal market. It’s the reality. Yeah. They can’t just shutter, or burn the crops or all the rest. There’s systems in place to help them become legal. And, I think that’s good.

Matt Baum:
Sure.

Tomas Skrinskas:
It’s, fine.

Matt Baum:
But I assume there’s a lot of people that are dragging their feet, because this costs money.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Exactly. Yeah. The licensing process, you have to spend money to out… Security, and record-keeping, and all that-

Matt Baum:
Of course.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Quality, and all that, absolutely costs money. And it’s going to, some people won’t be able to make it, and maybe they’ll take that risk. And, some people won’t. Time will tell, time will tell.

Introducing Ascension Sciences

Matt Baum:
Right. Let’s talk about your background, for a minute. You said you got into this about two years ago. Tell me about Ascension Sciences.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yes. So, I had always been in the medical field. I did a master’s in biomedical engineering, and it wasn’t in particles and drug developments, so to speak. But all that to say, healthcare and hospitals and wellness, has always been part of my upbringing and then education, and career choices. And that brought me to a company called Precision NanoSystems where I came by nanotechnology, and nanoparticles. Meanwhile, they were doing, or they are doing, genetic medicine. But I saw the opportunity to mash that up with cannabinoids, which are essentially insoluble compounds, insoluble drugs, as we see them-

Matt Baum:
Right.

Tomas Skrinskas:
… [crosstalk 00:08:23] therapeutic. So they require these types of delivery systems and cocrystals. I listened to your absolutely handy podcast on bioavailability and cocrystals.

Matt Baum:
That was awesome, right? Those guys were so cool.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah, no, they’re legit. No, Artelo is doing real stuff. That’s the echelon, or that’s where we’re placing ourselves, we’re in health to therapeutic development. And so, all that to say is, this health technology background, mashed it up and then saw an opportunity. And that’s when Ascension Sciences started.

Matt Baum:
Why cannabis though? What drew you to that? It seems like there’s a lot… I don’t know if it’s safer, in Canada. I know Europe, and it sounds like Canada, definitely have better rules in place for people to develop these types of drugs. Where in the States, pharmaceuticals are still, they’re definitely planning. Don’t get me wrong. They’ve got these patents, and they’re ready as soon as they feel like it’s safe.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yes.

Matt Baum:
But, what drew you to cannabis?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Somewhat opportunistic. The market, and legalization, it just lowered the barrier for the research to be done. If your angle or your, if you’re prodding for my epiphany around the plant, and things of that nature, I think it’s a tool kit in any health and wellness situation. You don’t take your Tylenol to hurt your toe, without realizing that it’s your small shoes, that’s hurting your toe-

Matt Baum:
Right, exactly.

Tomas Skrinskas:
… take your shoes off. So in mental health and inflammation, and anxiety, it’s a tool. And I recognize that, it’s certainly been part of some situations for me. But, I’m opportunistic, as well. [crosstalk 00:10:16] there’s-

Matt Baum:
There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s a real answer, and I appreciate that. [inaudible 00:10:20].

Tomas Skrinskas:
Thank you. Yeah.

Matt Baum:
It’s nice to say, “I had a magic moment, and the sun hit me just right. And I looked at the [crosstalk 00:10:26] –

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah.

Matt Baum:
… [crosstalk 00:10:27] and it spoke.” And you’re like, “That’s great,” and all.

Tomas Skrinskas:
This is, it’s a little more calculated. It’s a little more calculated, than that. But…

Nanoparticle research and bioavailability

Matt Baum:
There’s nothing wrong with that, at all. So, what kind of stuff are you guys working on? You were talking about nanotechnology and nanoparticle development. Those are words that are thrown around a lot, and they’re not always thrown around by people that seem to know what it means. I’m not putting you on the spot. You seem to know exactly where you’re coming from on this, but I’ve definitely interviewed people where I’ve said, “Okay, well, tell me about this nanoencapsulation in your body balm,” or whatever. And they’re like, “Oh, it makes it really small, so it just slips right through.” I’m like, “Well, what does that mean? What are we talking about, here?”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. I kind of have the verbatim definition of nanotechnology. It’s just manipulating materials, molecules, at a very small scale for some advantage or purpose. So, in drug development, a lot of drugs require nanoparticles to be delivered, around the body. The best analogy is, like a delivery truck. The nanoparticle is the truck. Your drug is inside the truck. And the truck is driving around, getting to the right place at the right time, in the right concentration. And you can design this truck, this nanoparticle, to do those things.

Tomas Skrinskas:
And that’s where things get interesting. You’re replacing parts. You’re making big trucks, small trucks-

Matt Baum:
Sure, sure.

Tomas Skrinskas:
… all for various benefits, in your administration. Is it in your… Are you swallowing it? Is it under your tongue? Is it on your skin? You can design these to aid, or to tune release, depending on what you want and how you want it done.

Matt Baum:
So speaking to that, you, we mentioned cocrystals, and whatnot. I learned recently in that podcast, that your body naturally does not want to absorb these cannabinoids, because of the nature of the molecule itself. Can you shrink something down small enough, so that it is absorbed better? Or do you always need a cocrystal, carrier type thing?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah, that’s a good question, or a good point to clarify. So, we’re not shrinking CBD. We’re-

Matt Baum:
Shrinking is the wrong word. Yeah. Anyone who says they are, is lying, basically.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. Correct, but we’re packaging it, and we’re protecting it with other lipids or, things that, a shell around it. And we make it more stable, things of that nature. And cocrystals are, I would say, a competing technology to nanoparticles. When it comes to bioavailability. So you can, the fancy term is functionalize, the CBD. Where you attach something to it, and it becomes more soluble, more bioavailable. Our approach is to package all of the CBD into this matzo ball, and the matzo ball itself, is the soluble component.

Matt Baum:
I’m Jewish, so now you’re just making me hungry. Thanks.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Okay, sorry. I can, I [crosstalk 00:14:02] on that. That’s-

Matt Baum:
No, that’s perfect.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. And then, there’s pros and cons, from IP to manufacturing costs, to actual reasons to do one or the other. For example, in nanoparticles, we like to draw attention to tuned release. So, long lasting or fast acting? So for pain, we can have a particle that releases it slowly, whereas a cocrystal, it might absorb it immediately, have the effect now for-

Matt Baum:
Sure.

Tomas Skrinskas:
… acute pain. So there’s all manner of reasons to do one or the other.

Fine tuning how fast CBD works

Matt Baum:
So in nanoparticle technology, we’ll call it, you can actually tune it to release fast or slow? Or is it a type of thing where, like a cocrystal is always going to be a fast release, and you have more control when it comes down to nanoparticles?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. This is a slippery slope. Where-

Matt Baum:
Or does it just not work like that? I have no idea. [crosstalk 00:15:18].

Tomas Skrinskas:
So, your tablet, your gel cap, has all sorts of other components in it. So the gel cap can dissolve slowly, so that’ll impart slow release-

Matt Baum:
Okay, sure. Sure.

Tomas Skrinskas:
… [crosstalk 00:15:33] so you could put cocrystals in your slow release cap, or your slow release tablet. So you can attain different features from both sides, but combining the two as well. There’s no reason that we couldn’t put cocrystal CBD into a nanoparticle, and just to have it be that much more bioavailable, that much more controlled and tuned release. And that’s where you start to look at the indication.

Tomas Skrinskas:
So again, Artelo is getting a lot of press here, for their PTSD applications and mental health situations. You can start to target the brain or wherever you want these things to collect, preferentially, in your body. That’s another reason nanoparticles become interesting.

Matt Baum:
So theoretically, you could say, “Okay, I want to make a capsule that is good for pain,” and that’s going to go through the whole body. As opposed to a capsule that’s good for anxiety, which might target part of the brain, instead.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Correct. Yeah.

Matt Baum:
That’s very cool.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Where, yeah.

Matt Baum:
So what kind of cannabinoid products are you guys working on, right now? What kind of therapeutics? Are you looking at guiding things directly towards like, “I want to treat PTSD,” or. “I want to treat seizure disorders.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. Very good question. So, the short answer is, we do contract research. So we actually look for companies to bring their delivery problem, their therapeutic problem, to us. And we have kind of a toolkit of nanoparticles, and we can guide them, direct them, to some of our toolkit. And say, “This particle, it sounds like it will work. Let’s work together, and develop it further.” And that’s our preclinical development business model, at this stage of the company. That’s just somewhat of the reality of it being a six person, R & D licensed outfit. But we want to work with people like Artelo, and work with people like Cardiol and InMed, and GW Pharma. And, help them get their therapeutics to be more efficient, and help that many more people, by being better drugs.

Matt Baum:
So I own Company X, and theoretically, we’re working on a drug for Crohn’s disease. Very painful, and CBD or cannabinoids, have been shown to help a lot. I can come to your company and say, “How do we build this? What’s the best way to build it? What’s the best way to deliver it, and to target Crohn’s disease?” And that is what you work on.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Correct. Yep. So it-

Matt Baum:
That’s [crosstalk 00:18:39].

Tomas Skrinskas:
And then, Crohn’s is a good example, too. Because it has to get through the stomach, has to get through that environment. We want it to get as deep into the gut, into the large intestine, and there’s these like multi matrix systems that coat your gut lining. And so it’s, that’s a very interesting application. Or, you’re going the suppository route, so there’s… That’s all well, and good.

Matt Baum:
It’s a quick way to get there, I suppose, yeah.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah, cut the corners. And, but nano, in those applications, is absolutely relevant.

Researching bioavailability and CBD treatments

Matt Baum:
So give me just, a rough idea. Let’s stick with Crohn’s disease, and we want to develop a pill. How does this start? You have to decide, like you said, it’s got to go through the mouth. It’s got to go through the stomach, and you want it to end in the large intestine, before it releases any of these particles. Are you designing every part of this drug, with that in mind? Like, “We’re going to need this thick of a capsule. We’re going to need this type of nanoencapsulation,” and whatnot?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. It’s a big undertaking. Yeah. This isn’t something that we even have all the expertise under one roof, that’s why we’re very much preclinical. And you could take our formulation, and put it on cells. You could put it into a small animal model, and that’s where we would start to step up and scope the project appropriately.

Matt Baum:
Sure.

Tomas Skrinskas:
But yeah, you’re not wrong where, we can guide you on a capsule technology, but what’s going in the capsule is our stuff.

Matt Baum:
Right.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Or if it’s in a dry tablet form, the excipient systems like the other components of the tablet. We’ll give you a short list, but ours is the active ingredient. And then, start to develop it further. But you certainly have to start with the active, and how it’s packaged. But it’s, developing a drug and dosage form, is many small steps. So we’re part of that value chain, if you will.

Matt Baum:
Let’s talk about your active ingredient. You said, “Our stuff is in it.” This is not the same hemp that you go to the CBD place. And they know the farmer, “And it was harvested down the street and we de cord it, and it’s beautiful,” and whatever. “And then we put it, and drip it under here, and it’s great.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah.

Matt Baum:
This is not the same stuff. What are you guys dealing with? Where does your CBD come from?

Tomas Skrinskas:
It’s isolate, or synthesized, CBD. And we’re trying to assess the differences, they have different, even those two broad categories have different implications on the particles. And then it also comes down to what segments you’re servicing. And like, health product or drug development? And do people care about naturally sourced? Or, the synthesized version is chemically equivalent, but the jury is still out on exactly what’s happening there.

Tomas Skrinskas:
And, yeah. The short answer is, we’re at that studying phase of all that. And then, we’ll happily characterize any nanoparticles from it with any source of active.

Matt Baum:
Just whatever works best, for whatever’s needed, more or less.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Correct. Yeah. All our R & D right now is with isolate, but that’s kind of almost [crosstalk 00:22:34]-

Matt Baum:
Why isolate? Can I ask? Does isolate, is it because it’s easier to point it, like a bullet, towards the target that you want?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Well, no, actually. It’s more stable in, a little bit will last longer in our fridge, just for practical reasons.

Matt Baum:
Fair enough.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. Because it’s the kind of purist, or I guess rawest form of CBD, we can add things. It’s always easier to add things. So, it’s not in a carrier oil, so we can choose the carrier oil. If we want it to be refined or added with terpenes, to kind of bring it back to a distillate or a full spectrum format, for research purposes.

Matt Baum:
Right.

Tomas Skrinskas:
That, we can do. So it allows us flexibility, and again, that’s somewhat of the shorter answer there.

Matt Baum:
So isolate, because it’s just, it’s easier to control. You know exactly what is there. And you can always add-

Tomas Skrinskas:
Correct.

Matt Baum:
… but you can’t… Like when you’re cooking. You can always put salt in, but it’s very hard to take it out. Basically.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yep.

Matt Baum:
Makes perfect sense.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah.

Matt Baum:
And you guys work with both the health and the pharmaceutical industry?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. That’s where we see it. We entertain calls for beverages or… We don’t make chocolate bars and gummy formulations. Dosages continue to be an issue.

Matt Baum:
Yeah.

Tomas Skrinskas:
And the application still exists, but yeah, it’s Startup 101, is just focus. Find something you’re good at. So, I even find those two segments, like health and wellness, and then pharma, still leaves us a little open to being too broad. But the technology is a little more relevant. Concentrations are higher, it’s not just five or 10 milligrams. So, when you get to higher concentrations, nano becomes even more important.

Bioavailability in CBD drinks

Matt Baum:
Right. Absolutely. So let me ask you, you said, you entertain the idea of beverages. Have you guys worked with any beverage companies? Are you working with any? And you don’t have to name anybody. Obviously, it’s proprietary stuff, but.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Short answer is, we have. But, it’s somewhat opportunistic.

Matt Baum:
Right.

Tomas Skrinskas:
But it, again, they haven’t been big products.

Speaker 3:
Da-da.

Matt Baum:
It’s okay. This is edited. Don’t worry about it. I’m going to edit this. So, don’t sweat it.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Okay. Hey [Lawrence 00:00:25:20], go away.

Matt Baum:
I love you, go away.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah, I know.

Speaker 3:
[crosstalk 00:25:26].

Matt Baum:
Do you see a future? As soon as, in the States anyway, as soon as this bears out and the Food and Drug Administration says, “Here’s how we want it done in food. And here’s how we want it done in medicine.” There’s going to be a massive market, huge. And you know that Coke, Pepsi, these major companies, are just sitting on this and waiting. But, from my understanding, it’s actually very difficult to, maybe not infused CBD into a drink, but infuse it well. And make it, so that it works.

Matt Baum:
There was this fad of CBD water going around for a while. It was like, “Yeah, CBD infused water.” And if you speak to anybody who works in this industry, or does any testing, they will tell you, “Well, if it’s clear, there’s nothing in there.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Matt Baum:
Do you see this as, is it going to be a bigger challenge to do in the beverage market than it would be in a pill, for example?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Well, it’ll absolutely be a challenge, going… When you’re talking about Coke and Pepsi and these types of companies, where budget is not, R & D budget and product development budget, is not a problem. And they have teams, buildings full of scientists.

Matt Baum:
Right.

Tomas Skrinskas:
It’s not going to be a problem.

Matt Baum:
Fair enough.

Tomas Skrinskas:
So, yeah. I think, like you say, what they are waiting for is just a bit of a more open environment, so they can flip the switch. Then it’ll be game on. And some are doing it either through subsidiaries, or partnerships, so it doesn’t say Coke on the front of the building.

Matt Baum:
Of course, of course.

Tomas Skrinskas:
But, they’re developing. And, these emulsifying technologies, which is the predominant one for, the predominant nano approach for beverages, it exists. It has existed, for a while. In food and beverage science, culinary science, cannabis did not invent culinary science.

Matt Baum:
No. No. [Manny’s 00:27:49] invented culinary science, I think. Right?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah.

Matt Baum:
[inaudible 00:27:53]. So, you said you worked on a beverage. Is it just emulsifying CBD, into the beverage? Is that basically it? Because it can’t be the same as putting it in a tincture, or in a pill, where you can surround it with some type of fat. Or a cocrystal, or something. They’re not going to put cocrystals in your Gatorade. That’s ridiculous. Is it just a matter of emulsifying it, so it’s small enough that it’s in there?

Tomas Skrinskas:
The emulsifying stabilizes it, so it just prevents all the little oil droplets from coming together, and being one big oil droplet, so that you see an oil droplet in it. Like your-

Matt Baum:
That’s like a bow [crosstalk 00:28:31]-

Tomas Skrinskas:
… salad dressing.

Matt Baum:
… type thing, where you’re like, “Ugh. There’s this weird CBD fish egg, that I just drank.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
But, Gatorade’s a good example. Gatorade is an emulsion, itself, even though it’s clear and orange, or whatever color it is. If it does sit on the shelf for months, you’ll see powder and stuff settle out of it. So, even that’s not a perfect emulsion. It’s out there, doing good things. So, the CBD part isn’t, into beverages, is challenging. I don’t want to disregard all the good science that people are doing to solve it, because there’s still unknowns. But we’re not talking like, Nobel Prize of Chemistry.

Matt Baum:
Right.

Tomas Skrinskas:
[crosstalk 00:29:23] a problem, here.

Matt Baum:
“You did it, you whipped CBD into whipped cream.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah.

Matt Baum:
“Congratulations.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah. Congratulations.

Matt Baum:
“You’re a household name.” Yeah. What kind of-

Tomas Skrinskas:
Sorry, COVID vaccine, you… Step aside.

Matt Baum:
“Yeah, that was last year. This year, we’re all feeling mellow.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Exactly.

The future of Ascension Sciences & Canadian hemp research

Matt Baum:
So Tomas, what’s next for Ascension Sciences? Where do you go from here?

Tomas Skrinskas:
I think what we’re trying to do, is really demonstrate just how versatile some of these drugs and nanoparticle combinations are. So that’s where we have our toolkit and, we didn’t touch on liposomes. We didn’t touch on polymer nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles. They all have different features and functions, and each one can have a deep dive, and those are the types of groups we like to work with, and that are health and R & D focused. And want to take their therapeutics to the next level. But yeah, it’s exciting times for little companies in Canada, and I think it’s doing it right. And no, but I think you’ve, even… Not, you’re not a lay person, lay-lay person. I think you talk to enough people, and you touch on-

Matt Baum:
I’m a lay person, trust me.

Tomas Skrinskas:
But if it’s resonated with you, I feel our message is hitting the right chords. So, as long as that message is received, we love to hear from people and what problems they might have, so that we can help them solve them with our expertise and our abilities. That’s what we’re here to do. That’s the kind of the note I would end on.

Matt Baum:
I just, one final thing. I want to-

Tomas Skrinskas:
Oh, yeah.

Matt Baum:
I want to let people know that, I get very excited when I speak to doctors and scientists, that are willing to talk about this. Because, there is a future here, there is a there, there. It is a thing. It’s coming. It works. There are tests that show this. And there’s so many people that want to write off CBD as a fad. Stuff that, “It’s a bunch of people feeding you olive oil telling you that you feel good,” but this is real. This is really happening.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah.

Matt Baum:
Real pharmaceutical companies and doctors and researchers, and R & D people like yourself, are doing this for a reason. Tell me it’s because it’s real, and this is the future. Because it makes me feel better.

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah, no. It’s absolutely real, though, what gives me confidence or what I come back to is that, I don’t think this is a blockbuster drug, but it has the ability in a very, very safe way, to help so many different conditions.

Matt Baum:
Yeah.

Tomas Skrinskas:
And, I don’t want to put the business spin on it, but at an over-the-counter price. And it can replace so many, not so nice drugs, as well. That’s the exciting part as well. The pain medication, the opioids, the antianxiety stuff that people get hooked on. This has real applications, in a safe way. You can’t overdose, those types of things.

Tomas Skrinskas:
It still needs to be studied. And, you want to be sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. And I guess, what I mentioned, initially. It’s not a magic thing, you need to, if you’re taking something to help make you feel better, you need to also address the problem, the source.

Matt Baum:
Right.

Tomas Skrinskas:
The… Make sure you’re also eating properly and getting outside, for your mental health, on CBD.

Matt Baum:
Yeah, you can’t just be like, “I’m fat. And I feel horrible. I want to take a pill and just feel better.”

Tomas Skrinskas:
Yeah, yeah.

Matt Baum:
That Snot how it works, unfortunately.

Tomas Skrinskas:
So, it’s part of a system, and I think it actually is a critical part. So, don’t forget the system, though.

Matt Baum:
Yeah. So, where do we keep up with you? How do we keep up with the Ascension Sciences, and see what’s coming and what you’re working on?

Tomas Skrinskas:
One of the things I wanted to direct people to is, our social media channels. Our LinkedIn-

Matt Baum:
Definitely.

Tomas Skrinskas:
… our @AscensionSci. Correct, Melody? As long as I got that right. @AscensionSci. And we’re quite active on LinkedIn, we’re posting other people’s research, as well as our own. So it’s a place to just keep in tune.

Matt Baum:
Yeah. You’re, is it, a six person team? Is that right?

Tomas Skrinskas:
Depending on what day you ask me, but, yeah. Yep, it’s some key advisors, some hardworking folks that have put the time in from internships, and kind of stayed on with us. And some postdocs.

Matt Baum:
It’s so cool. And I don’t think there is another, and maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think there is another drug frontier out there where you have very small groups, like punk rock groups of R & D people that are like, “Yeah, we can work… You know how to do that? Good. I know how to do this. Let’s team up. We’ll work on it.” You, “I know a guy that can do this, and we’ll contact,” it’s just like back in the day, where my dumb band was putting out seven inches. And we had a friend that printed T-shirts, and we had another friend that had a van. So we made him the bass player, so he could drive. And stuff like that, so.

Tomas Skrinskas:
That’s the way it is.

Matt Baum:
I think it’s awesome. Thanks so much for your time. I’m going to let you guys get out of here, because it’s getting late.

Tomas Skrinskas:
No, cheers.

Final thoughts from Matt

Matt Baum:
As always, you’ll be able to find all the links that Tomas mentioned in the show notes, along with some other cool notes. And here at the Ministry of Hemp, we believe that a more accessible world is better for everyone, so you can also find a full written transcript there, as well.

Matt Baum:
Thank you for joining me for another episode. And if you’re digging these episodes, and you like the information here, it really does help if you give us a thumbs up or even a short written review, wherever you download your podcasts. It just lifts us in the search algorithms, and helps other people find this info. And speaking of this info, you can find more hemp education info over at ministryofhemp.com.

Matt Baum:
The holidays can be a stressful time of year, especially this year, where COVID has made them very different. And a major part of managing your anxiety is getting your sleep. We just happen to have a best CBD for sleep article up at ministryofhemp.com, right now. It’s all about CBD and CBN products that will help you get to sleep and stay asleep, without feeling hung over in the morning. Very cool stuff.

Matt Baum:
You can also follow us on all our social media. We are @MinistryofHemp or \MinistryofHemp, and we’re always kicking out great information on all things hemp. And if you want to help us continue to get that information out, head over to patreon.com/ministryofhemp and become a Ministry of Hemp insider. Any amount you give makes you an insider, and gets you early access to articles, podcast extras, and all kinds of other stuff. Not to mention the fact, it helps us so much. And a huge thanks goes out to everyone that already has signed up for our Patreon.

Matt Baum:
This is probably going to be the last episode for the year. And I want to thank everybody that stayed with me this year, or came on and found us this year. We don’t have a show without you guys. And your input has been fantastic, just on my guide, learning about this amazing plant and what it can do for the world. Thank you, so much.

Matt Baum:
2020 was not the best of years, I totally agree. But we stuck with it. We did it. We maintained, we took care of ourselves, and 2021 is already looking brighter for everyone. And I’ll be right here, with the rest of the Ministry of Hemp gang, to keep bringing you this news in the new year. So, thank you. And I hope you plan to stick around for more.

Matt Baum:
I like to end the show the same way every time. And this is the last time I’ll be doing it in 2020, but remember to take care of yourself, remember to take care of others and make good decisions, will you? Have a safe and happy holiday, and of course, a happy new year. I’ll see you in 2021. This is Matt Baum, with the Ministry of Hemp, signing off.

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Waste Not, Want Not: Recycling Hemp & Cannabis Bio-Waste https://ministryofhemp.com/recycling-hemp/ https://ministryofhemp.com/recycling-hemp/#comments Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:40:35 +0000 http://ministryofhemp.com/?p=54771 As the hemp industry booms, it will inevitably product more waste. We looked at two startups recycling hemp and cannabis waste into useful products.

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In a world of increasing pollution, two startups are trailblazing new techniques to reduce waste by recycling hemp.

The community based around hemp is famous for its holistic approach to life. Hemp advocates care about living cleanly, reducing their environmental impact, and trying to reduce waste as much as possible.

Industrial hemp is now fully legal in the United States thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. As a result, we can expect the hemp industry to grow and produce more waste. Companies like 9Fiber and Kindness 3D see this as an opportunity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yqhOgLkFyQ

Previously, we reported on Sana Packaging, who use hemp to create sustainable packaging for the recreational cannabis industry. 9Fiber and Kindness 3D differ in that they’re recycling hemp and cannabis waste after it’s produced. They’re helping reduce pollution and helping their fellow human beings at the same time.

9FIBER: RECYCLING HEMP STALKS & FIBER INTO USEFUL PRODUCTS

9Fiber, based out of Silver Spring, Maryland are an agricultural technology company focused on recycling hemp stalk and stem waste. This startup takes hemp bio-waste that’s been put aside by other companies and processes it into raw materials that can be used to make a variety of products.

First, 9Fiber decontaminates any biowaste from federally illegal substances, removing the THC. Next, they process the waste further by removing fiber from the hurd, which is the woody core of the hemp plant. Then, the fiber undergoes final processing before it becomes usable for production. With the recycled fiber and gum-free hurd, 9Fiber is able to make paper, rope, textiles, fuel, bioplastics, fiberglass, hempcrete, and even livestock bedding.

In November, the Colorado Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Program gave 9Fiber a $250,000 grant. The process to get the grant was a lengthy one, as many startups. With this new funding, 9Fiber plans to expand their operations into Pueblo, Colorado in late 2019. Hopefully, this grant can also help 9Fiber scale with the inevitable boom in hemp production. With the recent passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, 9Fiber’s future is looking bright.

A cluster of stringy hemp fiber separated out from the rest of the plant, photographed against a plain white background. 9Fiber is recycling hemp by separating out the hemp fibers and woody core (hemp hurd). After processing, 9Fiber can reuse these materials in hemp plastic, hempcrete, animal bedding and more.
9Fiber is recycling hemp by separating out the hemp fibers and woody core (hemp hurd). After processing, 9Fiber can reuse these materials in hemp plastic, hempcrete, animal bedding and more.

Adin Alai, 9Fiber’s CEO, told us, “our main goal is to create an entire circular economy.”

While the hemp industry inevitably produces waste, companies like 9Fiber can use that waste to produce other products. Not only is Mr. Alai passionate about his startup, but he believes that the cannabis industry has the potential to be a leading zero-waste industry.

KINDNESS 3D PRINTS PROSTHETIC LIMBS FROM CANNABIS WASTE

Meanwhile, up north in Nova Scotia, Canada, a prosthetic limb production company recycles plastic waste from local psychoactive cannabis (“marijuana”) shops. After Canada legalized recreational use of marijuana, there has been a dramatic increase in plastic container waste. Based out of Halifax, Kindness 3D turns plastic packaging from psychoactive cannabis products into prosthetic limbs.

A student tries out a 3D-printed grabber hand at a school in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kindness 3D takes plastic waste from recreational cannabis containers and turns them into prosthetic limbs.
A student tries out a 3D-printed grabber hand at a school in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kindness 3D takes plastic waste from recreational cannabis containers and turns them into prosthetic limbs. (Photo: Kindness 3D Facebook)

Starting as a 3D printing enthusiast, Jake Boudreau started Kindness 3D after coming across templates for prosthetic limbs in an online 3D printing community. Since the creation of the non-profit, he’s been able to send hands to a girl in Costa Rica and a woman in Brazil. He aims to not only recycle reusable plastic waste, but to help people who can’t afford the expenses that come along with prosthetic limbs.

Donate to Boudreau’s GoFundMe and check out the Kindness3D Facebook page!

A GREENER FUTURE THROUGH RECYCLING HEMP

As industrial hemp and cannabis legalization spreads around the world, companies like 9Fiber and Kindness 3D fill an important niche. Efforts like these are vital for reducing hemp waste, and to increase the utility of the hemp plant. Hopefully, recycling hemp will become commonplace, and recycled hemp biomass products can become part of our everyday lives.

Hemp’s future is green, in more ways than one.

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