High on Cannabis Understanding the Hemp Craze in Virginia Michael P Timko, PhD January 16, 2020 Albemarle County Rotary Club
Confidential – Not for public distribution
Hemp is part of Virginia’s heritage and US agricultural history The first hemp plantings in America were in Jamestown, in the 1600s; growing hemp was mandatory in the early colonies for tax and payment schemes. Our Founding Fathers (Jefferson, Washington, etc) all grew hemp extensively for rope and clothing fiber. Hemp was one of the main textile fibers of the world until the mid-19th century. Between the Civil War and WWI, nearly all U.S. hemp was grown in the mid -Atlantic regions. Confidential – Not for public distribution
Cannabis was widely utilized as a patent medicine during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and described in the United States Pharmacopoeia for the medical use in 1850.
Social stigmatism, racial prejudice, and industrial pressures (cotton, petrochemicals) led 29 states to outlaw Cannabis between 1916 and 1931. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 championed by Harry J. Anslinger (first Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics) banned all Cannabis nation- wide despite objections from the American Medical Association related to medical usage. State and Federal governments continued to increase punishments related to Cannabis until the late 1960s, when attitudes began to change and larger sections of society began using the drug. During the mid-1970s and 1980s, virtually all states softened penalties for Cannabis possession.
In 1996 California voters passed Proposition 215, legalizing “medical marijuana” in the state. Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Washington followed…..and the rest is history. 38 states have now passed legislation related to industrial hemp, medical and/or recreational Cannabis Cannabis possession and use remains illegal under federal law. Confidential – Not for public distribution
There are three species Cannabis sativa , Cannabis indica , and Cannabis ruderalis Although they differ in structure and growth characteristics and all cross-fertilize, the real distinction between different forms of Cannabis is in their chemical composition Confidential – Not for public distribution
Cannabis plants contain >85 different psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabinoids These compounds accumulate in the glandular trichomes of female flowers Cannabidiol Tetrahydrocannabinol
Key distinction between different forms of Cannabis is the ratio of THC to CBD Medical Cannabis (MC) Industrial Hemp (IH) Recreational Cannabis (RC) 0.3% or less THC MC: 1-5% THC, High CBD Low levels of CBD RC: >20% THC, Low CBD Confidential – Not for public distribution
How cannabinoids work - Human Endocannabinoid System Regulates a variety of physiological and cognitive processes using endogenous lipid-based retrograde neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptor proteins expressed throughout the central and peripheral nervous system (including brain)
More and more “medicinal” and nutritional Cannabis products are appearing in the US – How do you sort them out? Flowers, Tinctures, Extracts, Oils, Candies, Pharmaceuticals
Pay attention to what is in the product and how much.
Unlimited Potential for Commercialization and Economic Development Hemp fiber, hemp seed, hemp oils Confidential – Not for public distribution
Current Economic Status Markets and products for hemp and hemp derivatives Confidential – Not for public distribution
Thank you
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