Rapid Dose Therapeutics (RDT) is going back to school.

The Ontario-based company has partnered with McMaster University — and secured a $540,000 grant from the Canadian government — to advance its drug delivery system by developing “novel biopolymer compositions” that facilitate the absorption of cannabis and other medications through oral dissolvable thin films.

Hemp, a member of the Cannabis sativa family, can trace its uses back to as early as 8000 BCE. Traditionally, the fiber of hemp was widely used to produce items such as clothing and fishing nets, while the oil was applied for cosmetic purposes. 

In the 20th century, hemp was determined to be an illegal substance due to its native structure. Hemp is a close relative to the marijuana plant, both indistinguishable in look. Hemp does not, however, boast the psychological effects of marijuana.

Genetically modified agriculture crops are widespread, especially in North America. It is estimated that as much as 70% of food products in stores contain at least one ingredient that was derived from a genetically modified crop.

Think we’ve achieved some saturation point for all things cannabidiol (CBD)? Think again. The hemp-based CBD extract market will become a $2.25 to $2.75 billion industry in 2020, according to Nielsen projections. In five years, they expect those figures to more than double. The company predicts CBD will become a $6 billion industry by 2025, when CBD-infused food and beverages become more widely available.

Their 2020 projection, says Rich Maturo, vice president of cannabis practice at Nielsen, skews toward a conservative estimate. The company accounted for possible headwinds from any Food and Drug Administration regulations or other roadblocks that might comes this year.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is mulling putting disposable cannabis vape pens on the list of drugs and devices that qualify for a reimbursement program.

The department has categorized vaporizers as medical devices for about five years. Veterans, as well as retired RCMP officers, may be reimbursed up to $300 for their purchase of a vape to be used with doctor-prescribed medical cannabis.

A team of Ontario researchers have discovered that a cannabis-derived

The Master Vapourizer has arrived.

Figr is looking beyond Atlantic Canada, having just launched its new line of vaping products that will be available first at the Ontario Cannabis Store and then select retail locations across the country.

“Our new vape pods and cartridges are designed to deliver the same experience our customers expect with all Figr products,” said Harvey Carroll, president of Figr. “Our customers are at the root of everything we do and our dedication to craftsmanship, scientific rigour and transparency is what drives our continued improvement and innovation. This new product line is no exception,” Carroll said.

It’s a well-known fact that hemp is an incredibly versatile plant, one that can be smoked, eaten, and processed into a seemingly endless number of different products ranging from topicals to plastic.

Topping the list of innovative new hemp creations is a high-performance energy storage device which scientists say can perform better than graphene and lithium. So essentially, hemp batteries. According to the research team, this technology can be used to power electric cars, power tools, and many other items.

In 1972, 20 women were placed in two groups in isolation in a downtown hospital. Ten of the participants were instructed to smoke cannabis every night over the course of 98 days, with increasing THC potency over time. The other 10 study participants remained sober. All were given tasks to focus on during the day — like making braided macrame belts and wall hangings —while researchers observed their behaviour. The goal of the Ontario government-funded study, dubbed Project Venus, was to find out if cannabis affected productivity. 

Numerous researchers and physicians have labeled cannabis a superfood, worthy of incorporation into your diet in some way or another. Here’s why.

Did you know that we’re supposed to get 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables every day? This equates to roughly two cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables. Although this is the recommended amount of fruit and veggies we should eat according to the USDA (United States Dietary Association), most of the American population doesn’t come close to meeting these guidelines.