Cannabis & Hemp: A Regulatory Update

The year 2018 was a landmark in the history of hemp and cannabis in the US. It was the year the FDA approved the first natural cannabis-derived prescription drug, and Congress passed a Farm Bill that included provisions legalizing cultivation of, and interstate commerce in, low-THC hemp. But the laws and regulation around hemp and cannabis remain a confusing patchwork, and some states are taking regulatory actions that run counter to the new federal provisions.

Cannabis, Hemp, Marijuana: What’s in a Name?

Amid the current rage for all things cannabis, there is a lot of confusion about the terminology used to describe this plant and compounds extracted from it.

Part of that confusion arises from the Farm Bill of 2018, which changes some federal definitions. These changes have major implications for legal and regulatory policy.  Here’s a guide to common cannabis-related terms and their current definitions.

In “How to Change Your Mind,” Michael Pollan Explores Resurgence of Psychedelic Medicine

After decades on the margins of both polite society and medical research, psychotropic compounds such as psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and the like, are once again the focus of serious clinical investigation as potential therapies for a host of psychological and neurological conditions. In his newest book, How to Change Your Mind, popular author explores the resurgence of psychedelic medicine without bias, agenda, or pretense.

How the Endocannabinoid System Modulates Stress

In recent years, there has been a lot of interest–among practitioners and patients alike–in the impact of cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds for the modulation of pain, mood, inflammation, and immune system responsiveness. It should not be surprising that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) also plays a regulatory role in the body’s stress response mechanisms.

Common Medicinal Herbs That Are Vulnerable to Adulteration

All herbs, like all agricultural products, are potentially subject to contamination with microbes, pesticides, environmental toxins, and financially-motivated adulteration or mislabeling.Certain herbs, however, have been particularly vulnerable to economically-motivated adulteration.

With TruQuality Program, Metagenics Ups the Ante on Transparency

Many supplement and nutrition companies now make claims about their transparency and their products’ traceability. Few, however, publish complete data from their quality analysis testing for all the world to see. This year, Metagenics—one of the top three practitioner-channel brands—has taken that step, with its new TruQuality program.

Analytical Testing for Herbal Adulteration: An Interview With Elan Sudberg, Alkemist Labs

Analytical testing laboratories are at the heart of all quality control endeavors in the dietary supplement industry. Few know more about it than Elan Sudberg, CEO, of Alkemist Labs, one of the nation’s leading independent analytical laboratories serving the dietary supplement and natural products industries. In this in-depth interview, Sudberg shares his views on the state of quality control for herbal medicines and the direction for future improvements.

Physician Attitudes Shift as Cannabis Goes Mainstream

Several recent surveys indicate that the majority of American medical professionals see therapeutic value in cannabis and cannabis-derived substances, and would support federal legalization of adult-use medical cannabis.

American Botanical Council Leads Initiative to End Adulteration of Herbs

Call it the Eleventh Commandment: “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adulteration!”

Though it may not quite be a divine decree, the elimination of contaminants and adulterants is an imperative that conscientious herbal supplement companies are taking very seriously these days, as the American Botanical Council spearheads a major drive to tackle the problem.

With Cannabis for Chronic Pain, a Pioneering Clinician Offers Definitive Guidance

In Cannabis for Chronic Pain, Rav Ivker, DO, ABIHM, establishes a new standard of care for the treatment of chronic pain with medical marijuana.