Penn State College of Medicine researchers have found products containing cannabinoids may have impacts on the effects of some conventional prescription drugs.

A review of published literature has found that chronic pain patients who use cannabis in addition to pharmaceutical medications showed a reduction in their use of opioids and required fewer visits to the emergency room. The study, “Medical cannabis for the reduction of opioid dosage in the treatment of non-cancer chronic pain: A systematic review,” was published last week in the journal Systematic Reviews.

Mike Straumietis, the CEO of Advanced Nutrients — which bills itself as the no. 1-selling cannabis fertilizer brand in the world — is the brains behind a new cannabis business competition series, set to premiere later this month. 

Sixteen cannabis entrepreneurs will compete for a $1 million prize and the chance to partner with Advanced Nutrients, which currently sells its products in 107 countries. The show will be based around a series of challenges that test the entrepreneurs business savvy, character and stamina, according to a press release. 

Exceptional cannabis doesn’t just miraculously appear. Many materials and resources must be successfully manipulated before a top-shelf cannabis product can be harvested or manufactured. Nature must be nurtured. Yet, one of the most significant factors that will determine a cannabis plant’s quality (and therefore its value) is its genetics. 

The hunt for great cannabis genetics can be daunting for beginners looking to grow. After all, a 10-pack of seeds can cost hundreds of dollars and there’s no real way to know if you’re investment has paid off until you’ve grown out the plant, trimmed and cured the buds and puffed the final result. Because the genetic diversity of the cannabis plant is monumentally vast and there are so many mouth-watering new cultivars, it’s very easy to feel like a kid in a candy store. Even the strain names themselves reflect this metaphorical allusion. At the Emerald Cup this past weekend, Cannarado sold upwards of 20 different Sundae Driver crosses with names like Root Beer Float and Grape Sundae.

In an industry where the only constant is change, growers are looking to improve current processes and even set new goals.

Valuable employees remain on the frontlines of cultivation facilities every day, but it often makes the most sense to entrust computers, sensors and smartphones to complete certain tasks, like the daily collecting and correlating of millions of data points, such as room temperature, relative humidity, and nutrient and water uptake. Plus, data collection typically isn’t your or your employees’ primary skillset. Even so, each variable in a cultivation operation generates volumes of data that could take days, even weeks, for a person to analyze and put to use.

Ergonomics and the associated employer requirements to maintain safe workplaces, especially in industries where repetitive motion injuries are common, are at the forefront of modern claim prevention. However, the legal cannabis industry could be especially vulnerable.

As a legalization shift sweeps the nation, responsible cannabis growers in California are uniquely positioned to lead the way, while others either comply or face hefty penalties.

Hand sanitizers are the latest products to take advantage of CBD’s popularity. But does the compound offer any benefits?

Hand sanitizer has always been pretty convenient. This year, however, these products instantly became a hot commodity due to the coronavirus pandemic. It quickly became one of those hard to find items that everyone was hoarding. There are dozens of new hand sanitizer brands available, including some containing CBD. But, does the compound provide any sort of benefit or are these just another cash grab?