TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A proposed cap on the level of euphoria-inducing THC in medical marijuana has hit a snag in the Senate, leaving a priority of the House in jeopardy as time runs down on the legislative session.

Senate Health Policy Chairwoman Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, introduced a proposal Monday that would have capped THC levels in medical marijuana for patients under age 21. Harrell tried to add the plan to a broad Department of Health legislative package (SB 230) but backed away after facing questions from members of the Senate Rules Committee.

Monday — 11 days shy of the scheduled March 13 end of the legislative session — was the first time lawmakers in either chamber had formally considered a proposed 10 percent THC cap.

But House Speaker José Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, has called the cap a priority, while Senate leaders have remained skeptical about the issue.

Echoing the arguments of Oliva and other House leaders, Harrell pointed to research outlined in “a whole variety of medical articles” describing the dangers of high doses of THC on adolescents’ brains.

Harrell referred to a controversial article published in the medical journal The Lancet that linked smoking high-THC marijuana — 10 percent or higher — with psychosis.

Limits on the strength of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, are necessary to protect developing brains, she told the Rules Committee.

“I am very concerned about what is happening to our young people,” Harrell said. “The studies that are coming out on brain development show that medical marijuana … has a very deleterious effect, especially on young adults.”

Harrell’s proposal would have capped THC in all forms of medical marijuana for patients under 21, with two exceptions. The cap would not have applied to patients who are terminally ill, and doctors could have requested a waiver from the Department of Health for patients they believe need higher levels of THC.

But Harrell’s amendment ran into trouble when several senators on the Rules Committee began questioning the rationale for the cap.

For example, Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican who has long advocated for medical marijuana, reminded Harrell that children under age 18 already are required to have approval from two doctors to be eligible for the cannabis treatment.

Brandes asked Harrell if she had any “specific example of any person today in Florida that has been harmed” by medical marijuana.

Harrell said she could provide “a whole variety of medical articles … that will give you significant findings that they are seeing.”

The bill was temporarily set aside, and Harrell withdrew the THC amendment when the health department’s package was re-introduced later Monday afternoon.

Ron Watson, a lobbyist who represents one of the state’s medical marijuana operators, said the cap would “put at risk the most vulnerable medical cannabis patients in Florida” who are currently using higher-potency THC products.

“We believe a patient’s course of treatment should only be decided by a physician in collaboration with a parent and their child,” Watson, who works for MüV Florida, told The News Service of Florida.

Watson said a 10 percent cap is “arbitrary” and “based on inconclusive research.”

With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, the House has not introduced or considered a THC cap. But it is not unusual for high-priority issues to become part of the horse-trading between House and Senate leaders in the waning days — or hours — of the session.

“I think it’s important that we pass it. We’re seeing different strains. Now in Europe, there are strains that are 100 times stronger,” Oliva said last month. “And we’re starting to learn that this has some schizophrenia-type results, and especially in young developing brains. And so it is, in fact, a priority for us.”

Learn all about how cannabis can help women manage the symptoms associated with menstruation and menopause, as well as naturally boost their sexual health.
By: Kim Nunley

While women have historically been more hesitant to embrace cannabis, there is an array of medically legitimate reasons why they may want to incorporate it into their health routine.

Women’s bodies are regularly changing, presenting a unique set of health challenges from menstruation, menopause, and hormonal imbalances. Women using cannabis to deal with symptoms and health issues is not new, and yet cannabis remains highly untapped by many women who are either unaware of its benefits or hesitant to try it due to the lingering stigma around marijuana use.

Keep reading to learn about the various ways cannabis use can benefit women and their gynecological health.

History of Cannabis Use for Female Medical Conditions

Women have been using cannabis for gynecological health purposes for thousands of years, according to renowned cannabis researcher Dr. Ethan Russo.¹⁷

The earliest references to cannabis use for female health issues can be found in ancient Mesopotamia, when women would blend cannabis with mint and saffron to create a botanical agent called Azallú to address menstrual pain.

Ancient texts in China, Persia, Israel/Palestine, and Syria all recommended cannabis for an array of complaints that impact women, including painful cramps, bloating, abnormal bleeding, menopausal symptoms, and urinary tract infections. In ancient Europe, women helped ease their contractions during childbirth by grinding cannabis into honey and introducing the botanical substance vaginally.

In the 1800s, Queen Victoria used cannabis likely in a liquid tincture form to relieve her menstrual cramps. Years later, in the mid 1900s, Victorian doctors even promoted cannabis tinctures during menstruation.

How Cannabis Benefits Women’s Gynecological Health

Cannabis elicits its effects on the body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The ECS is a major self-regulatory network that is responsible for regulating a wide array of functions, such as mood, metabolism, appetite, immune system response, pain response, and more. The endocannabinoid system also plays an integral part in female reproductive processes.

The ECS regulates these various functions through substances called endocannabinoids, which bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and throughout the peripheral nervous system and immune system. As fluctuations occur and a function becomes unbalanced, the EC system responds by synthesizing endocannabinoids on demand. Those endocannabinoids then bind with cannabinoid receptors, triggering a series of chemical reactions that bring functions back to balance so they run optimally.

Sometimes, however, the ECS can become deficient in endocannabinoids. This can cause endocannabinoid system dysregulation, leading to an imbalance in the body and eventually health issues.

That’s where the benefit of cannabis comes in. Cannabis contains more than 100 plant-derived cannabinoids, called phytocannabinoids. Like endocannabinoids, these cannabis-derived cannabinoids are able to interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors. In essence, the cannabinoids derived from cannabis can serve to supplement the body’s own endocannabinoids, helping ensure the ECS performs its regulation duties effectively.

Studies have even shown that this interaction, between cannabis-derived cannabinoids and the ECS, can be helpful for conditions that have been linked to ECS dysregulation, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).¹⁴

What this suggests for women’s gynecological health is that any reproductive issues they have that are related to a deficiency in endocannabinoids may also be benefitted by cannabis use and the absorption of cannabinoids.

Benefits of Cannabis for Menstruation Symptoms

Most women experience symptoms before and during their periods, including abdominal cramps, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and spasms. A growing number of women are using cannabis to address these symptoms, which can vary in intensity and sometimes be debilitating.

While research on cannabis’s effects on period pain are lacking, there is a solid body of evidence on the pain-relieving properties of cannabis. Cannabis has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, which can contribute to lowering pain related to inflammation of the uterus. In some states, lawmakers and advocates are even pushing to add menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) to the list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana.

For women who suffer from endometriosis, cannabis may also offer relief. Findings in a small collection of studies reveal that the sometimes-disabling pain related to endometriosis can be eased with cannabis.^11,12

Cannabis’s effectiveness for treating menstrual pain is likely related to cannabinoids and their interactions with the endocannabinoid system. Researchers have found that there are cannabinoid receptors located on many cells throughout the uterus, suggesting that the ECS plays a role in management of dysmenorrhea-related pain.¹²

e global concern over the coronavirus known as COVID-19 has many people taking precautions against contracting the virus. Here’s what we know about cannabis and this novel coronavirus.

How cannabis users can stay healthy around coronavirus

Stop sharing joints, blunts, and bongs while coronavirus is spreading

The puff-and-pass customs surrounding cannabis are among the greatest pleasures of the plant. But passing around a joint is is a good way to spread any virus, including COVID-19. For now, stick to your own supply and offer a friendly elbow bump.

Wash your hands frequently

We can’t emphasize this enough. Thorough handwashing really, really, really does help prevent transmission of coronavirus, as well as other ailments. Before you sit down for a session or dig into some munchies, make sure to wash your hands for a count of 20 seconds. That’s as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday to You”—or the first chorus of Sublime’s “Smoke Two Joints.” Just saying.

Don’t buy into unproven coronavirus remedies

Given the general hype around CBD, expect to hear outlandish claims about its effect on coronavirus, most likely spread via social media. These claims are not true. There is no solid research on CBD and coronavirus.

Be cautious with cannabis around COVID-19

Smoking weed when you’re down with a virus: Not such a great idea. Leafly’s article Cannabis for colds and flu? Here’s what the experts say has a lot of helpful advice about integrating cannabis (or not) into the treatment and recovery from a normal flu. Yes, THC and CBD have pain-relieving, sleep-inducing, and anti-inflammatory properties.

But inhaling hot smoke is the last thing your lungs need when fighting a cold or flu. Do your research before medicating.

With the coronavirus pandemic looming, the cannabis industry braces for impact. The new virus could impact the cannabis industry in these four ways.

The cannabis industry is not immune to the new coronavirus disease known as Covid-19. When an economic superpower is overcome by an epidemic that halts trade and shuts down entire cities, it’s going to have a ripple effect.

Here are four ways the coronavirus could impact the cannabis industry.

Shortages of Inexpensive Hardware and Testing Equipment

In the small print on most cannabis vaporizers, consumers can spot the “Made in China” label. The coronavirus’ outbreak in China has halted a workforce, causing a record low month in manufacturing activity.

Last month’s government-imposed factory shutdowns will impact the cannabis vaporizer companies that depend on the Chinese supply chain. Keep in mind, nearly all vaporizers, vape cartridges, and vape batteries are manufactured in China.

In an interview with Marijuana Business Daily, Richard Huang, CEO of Cloudious9, a cannabis vaporizer manufacturer based in Hayward, California, said China’s work stoppage will influence all sectors of the cannabis industry, spanning from cultivators using LED lighting, to greenhouse structures, packaging, and lab equipment providers.

“It could be a very difficult year for hardware companies trying to maintain a steady supply of inventory,” Huang told Marijuana Business Daily.

Shortfalls of Hemp Imported from China

China is the world’s leading hemp producer. It will take a lot to change a 5,000-year-old tradition, but with a broad slow down of production, hemp cultivation in China will be impacted. A report from the Washington Examiner shows capacity at major Chinese ports has been at least 20 percent lower than normal.

With the long-standing tradition of hemp cultivation and a hemp market dedicated to textile production, China has been able to produce clothing and textiles at rates and costs that North America and other economies simply cannot compete with.

One unexpected consequence from the coronavirus is a bigger assurance that China will make good on the recent trade agreement with the U.S. The agreement includes a promise from China to purchase $40 billion to $50 billion worth of U.S. farm goods over two years, hemp included.

Blow to Stock Markets

When the coronavirus landed in the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average took a nosedive. The spread of the virus brought on the Dow’s biggest one-day decline in history. The drop marked Wall Street’s worst week since 2018.

The Dow began to make a comeback in the first days of March, but the downturn in stock markets may have already caused investors to become even more hesitant to bet on cannabis. According to a CNBC market report, fears over the coronavirus disease’s impact on corporate profits and the global economy led investors to pursue safer alternatives to stocks.

“Global investors will be prone to panic as the virus arrives at their doorstep, underscoring the need for near-run prudence and patience before augmenting favored holdings,” strategists at MRB Partners wrote in a note. “The outlook is uncertain, or rather certainly bearish in the near term as quarantining spreads around the world, but with considerable doubt as to the duration and depth of the economic fallout.”

Shoes to Fill in the U.S.

As much as the threat of a global pandemic is frightening and tragic, there are some impacts that could benefit the U.S. cannabis industry. According to New Frontier Data, China’s hemp market is expected to hit $1.5 billion in 2020. That could leave some pretty massive shoes to fill and space for the U.S. to gain a foothold in hemp.

Another possible outcome from China’s economic shutdown is a shifting in reliance on certain cannabis-related hardware to local businesses. Nic Easley, CEO of Denver-based 3C Consulting, told Marijuana Business Daily that threats to the supply chain are a “huge wake-up call.”

“It’s forcing companies to look at their supply chain. ‘Where do my products come from? Do I have multiple options for vendors?” Easley said. “Everyone was looking for the cheapest option forever, and that’s China.”

More Cannabis Industry News and Analysis

Want to read more cannabis news? Visit our cannabis news page for the latest developments in cannabis policy, business, and scientific research.

Just last month, Colgate announced an agreement to acquired Hello Products LLC. And this month the brand launched a collection of CBD oral care exclusively at Ulta Beauty.

Hello Products, an oral care brand based in New Jersey, launched its seven-product CBD line earlier this week, CosmeticsDesign reported.

Colgate announced in January an agreement to acquire the “naturally friendly” brand, citing its “strong appeal among younger consumers and across broad segments.”

Founded by Craig Dubitsky in 2012, Hello Products has goods in more than 44,000 U.S. retail locations.

The company’s CBD line consists of three toothpastes, two mouthwashes and two lip balms.

All contain broad-spectrum hemp oil and hemp extract from hemp grown by U.S.-based partner farms and were available at 1,190 Ulta Beauty stores beginning Feb. 1, the company said in a statement.

The Hello Products acquisition was a stock-and-cash deal and was expected to close no later than February 2020, Colgate said.

No other details about the deal were announced.

Colgate trades on the New York Stock Exchange as CL.