Skip to main content

From farmer to pharma: What is the potential for cannabis? - Cambridge Network

From farmer to pharma: What is the potential for cannabis? - Cambridge Network

Cannabis and hemp are two products of a wonder-crop, Cannabis sativa, grown commercially across nearly 50 thousand hectares in the EU. The crop grows very well in the UK but farmers here are struggling to break into the market, for legislative reasons amongst others.

“Growing cannabis commercially in the UK is currently difficult, but far from impossible,” comments George McBride, CEO of Hanway Associates, who will be discussing the topic further in the upcoming online event ‘From Farmer to Pharma – a Teaser of Things to Come’ hosted by Agri-TechE on Thursday 14th May.

For a single plant, Cannabis sativa offers many assets: its fibres provide extremely resilient materials; its seeds and stem are nutritious; and its leaves contain a medically important extract, called CBD, or cannabidiol (canna-bi-diol).

George continues: “Since the legalisation of medical cannabis in 2018, excitement has grown for this nascent sector. Now is the perfect time to take a look at how UK farmers can take advantage and make the most out of the new opportunity that growing hemp and cannabis offer.”

Hanway Associates is supporting the development of medical cannabis facilities in the UK with its recently launched initiative – Crop17 – in association with Savills. George says: “The Hanway team is very excited to connect with the members of Agri-TechE for this event.”

Dr Belinda Clarke, director of Agri-TechE, says there is considerable interest within its membership in this versatile crop but there is uncertainty over legal issues and the route to market.

One of the issues is that Cannabis sativa is known by many names, depending upon which parts of the plant are taken, and how they are used.

The CBD extract is becoming well established as a treatment for seizures, chronic pain and various other illsiii, and is also a common ingredient in wellness and lifestyle products. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the name of a much less abundant extract that has psychoactive properties and is a class-B controlled drug in the UK. Finally, hemp is the term for a cannabis crop grown for its fibres, for material usage or consumption, where extracts are generally present only at very low levels.

The conflation of Hemp and CBD and THC is a misunderstanding that filters through the general public and has ended up being captured in UK and EU law. The effect is a legal landscape that is “confusing, contradictory and illogical,” which harms market stability, consumer confidence, and simply makes it harder to produce and process the crop.

Navigating this landscape, and exchanging thoughts on hemp and cannabis in general, is the focus of the upcoming webinar on May 14th.

This event, titled ‘From Farmer to Pharma – A Teaser of Things to Come’, replaces a previously organised conference of the same name. Innovation gains even more importance in the time of Coronavirus, and Agri-TechE is focused on finding ways to keep its members talking and sharing ideas.

Attendance is free of charge and further details can be found on the Agri-TechE website: agri-tech-e.co.uk.

Let's block ads! (Why?)



https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/...l-cannabis

from potads - All Forums learn more

Popular posts from this blog

Martha Stewart launches CBD line in crowded market - CNN

Martha Stewart launches CBD line in crowded market - CNN The hemp-derived, cannabidiol-rich gummies, soft gels and oil drops officially launched on Thursday after more than a year in development. The products are the result of the style maven's partnership with Canopy Growth ( CGC ) , the Canadian cannabis company with a multibillion-dollar backer in US alcohol giant Constellation Brands ( STZ ) . Stewart joined Canopy as an adviser in early 2019 for the express purpose of developing cannabis products for humans and their pets after being introduced to Canopy's founder by her friend Calvin Broadus Jr. -- the rapper and businessman better known as Snoop Dogg. His Leafs by Snoop cannabis brand is produced by Canopy. The initial Martha Stewart CBD products, which range from $34.99 to $44.99, will be sold online at Canopy's e-commerce site . The pet products are expected to debut later this year. "I was surprised to learn that while most people have heard of
Read more

The Half-Legal Cannabis Trap - POLITICO

The Half-Legal Cannabis Trap - POLITICO LOS ANGELES — Everything about Kelvin’s job in a neighborhood southwest of downtown seemed like any other assignment, if not a little more exciting. The 40-year-old, who had previously worked as an electrician, had been employed since 2015 by a private security company that contracted him out to guard marijuana dispensaries. In 2019, he was protecting one of the thousand or so cannabis stores in California’s biggest city—part of an industry that has grown less and less underground since 1996, when the state first legalized medical marijuana. Kelvin, who asked not to be identified beyond his middle name to avoid professional retaliation, doesn’t smoke pot, but says the gig felt like the future. He grew up in a time when other Black people he knew in Los Angeles would go to jail for possessing even small amounts of the drug. Now, customers could walk into shops like the one he was guarding, many of which can be identified by green crosses on
Read more

This UK-Based Entrepreneur Has Mastered the Art of Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneur

This UK-Based Entrepreneur Has Mastered the Art of Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneur June 20, 2020 5 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. All businesses hinge on the success of their founders. With their unique blend of innovation and brilliance, successful entrepreneurs can transform their industries by filling a gap in the market. This is what Vithurs (or V, as he likes to be called) did when he entered the digital marketing world and ultimately launched Blessed CBD —one of the fastest growing CBD brands in the UK. His unique skill set, paired with his fearless approach to business and deep knowledge of the cannabis industry, propelled him towards success. Because ultimately, a company is only as successful as its founder. And there’s no arguing Vithurs is a leading name in the UK’s growing cannabis industry. Global reach in digital marketing Born and raised in the UK, Vithurs was just 13 when he delved into Internet marketing f
Read more