A few years ago, edibles started showing up in the last place anyone wanted to see them. The obituaries. 

First, 19-year-old student Levy Thamba Pongi visited Denver during spring break of 2014 and jumped off a motel balcony after eating a marijuana cookie. Less than a year later, also in Colorado, a seemingly happy 23-year-old named Luke Goodman died by suicide on a ski vacation in Keystone -- a tragedy his family blames on cannabis candy. Earlier that day, he’d tried a couple of pieces, and when he didn’t feel anything, popped a few more -- four peach tarts and one red velvet in all, five times the recommended dose.

The vaping crisis is a major concern within the cannabis industry, and as news of more illnesses and unfortunate deaths continue to make headlines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has finally released a study detailing what might be causing all the problems. And it's what many in the cannabis industry have been saying all along.

The properties of CBD are a good match for lip balms, specifically for people who have sensitive lips or spend lots of time exposed to harsh weather.

Over the past couple of years CBD has become a huge draw for the beauty and wellness industries, being added onto make up, lotions, oils, serums, and more. Now, it’s being added onto lip balms, providing anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that do a great job of keeping your lips healthy and looking good.

Although it can be argued that CBD is being added into all sorts of products nowadays because it’s trendy and it’ll sell, the properties of the compound are a good match for lip balms, specifically for people who have sensitive lips or spend lots of time exposed to harsh weather.

A flavonoid of cannabis – FBL-03G – has been granted Orphan drug status by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

It is anticipated this will now lead to clinical trials with humans for treating pancreatic cancer with cannabis within the next few months.

The cannabis industry has been growing significantly in recent years as legalization has progressed in many states, with 11 having passed legislation for recreational use and more states likely following suit. In addition, the farm bill was passed nearly a year ago which allowed cannabidiol (CBD) to be permitted federally so long as it was derived from hemp. While these are all good developments, they've taken place even though the country may not have been ready for them.

Canada’s cannabis industry predicts edibles will revitalize the market and shake up dropping stocks. But these issues are a far cry from the very first edibles.

Pot edibles have been a part of human history for thousands of years, tied to religious texts and potentially even being used as a way to attract assassins. Here’s a rundown of how it evolved.

Bhang (1,000 BCE)

While history can be hazy, it appears the first form of edibles were in liquid form. Nicknamed ‘Bhang,’ the cannabis-infused drink may have appeared as early as 1000 BCE in India. The drink is popularly served around Holi, a Hindu festival celebrating the start of spring.

While poking around your local dispensary, it’s almost guaranteed that you will speak or hear the terms “indica,” “sativa,” or “hybrid,” at least once. These three terms remain, by far, the most common for describing the attributes and effects of cannabis flower — and even products like edibles and vapes lay claim to the categories. 

 For most of us, these labels are shorthand. Indicas are chill, sativas are energetic, and hybrids represent a balance between the two. But are these classifications accurate, and — perhaps more importantly — can they be used to authentically predict a person’s experience when consuming cannabis? 

Cannabis retailers will soon be able to sell products online or over the phone for in-store pick-up as the Ontario government adopts a “click-and-connect” sales model to expand access to legal marijuana.

Finance Minister Rod Phillips announced the proposed changes in the government's fall economic statement Wednesday, saying they will decrease waits for cannabis and help combat the black market.

The shift comes as the Progressive Conservative government pledges to lift a cap it imposed on the number of cannabis stores in Ontario.

“All of the provincial jurisdictions are learning and trying to make sure that we take the best approach,” Phillips said. “Our priorities are getting rid of black market cannabis and safety in our communities.”

Whether you know it or not, chances are KGK Science has probably touched some aspect of your life. If you regularly take vitamins or health supplements, you've probably benefited from the company's work on your last trip to the local drug store. 

"If it says it's better absorbed, we've likely done that study or if you get a cholesterol-lowering product or a probiotic, we've likely done a lot of those studies," said company CEO Najla Guthrie. 

A scientist herself, Guthrie, first cut her teeth at Western University studying the anti-cancer effects of compounds found in foods, such as flavinoids or tocotrienols.

Regulators have spent the past 70 years trying to figure out how to regulate tobacco. Now a fast-changing recreational drug use landscape in Canada that includes three legal products — tobacco, vaping and cannabis — means regulators will have to figure out the interplay of the three, says an expert in public health policy.

Between 35,000 and 45,000 deaths in year in Canada are attributed to smoking, about 30 per cent of all cancer deaths. However, cannabis and vaping are challenging the traditional categories of “good” and “bad” drugs, said David Hammond, who was in Ottawa on Monday to speak at the biennial Canadian Cancer Research Conference.