The cannabis marketplace and website Leafly released an annual jobs report on 2/23, declaring that "there has never been a better time to get a job in the legal cannabis industry." The report, developed by Leafly Senior Editor Bruce Barcott and Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics, projects that when cannabis is legalized across the US, the cannabis industry could support up to 1.75 million jobs nationwide.
The report reveals that the cannabis industry now maintains 428,059 full-time jobs in the United States. After adding 32,700 jobs in 2019 and 77,300 jobs in 2020, the industry added another 107,059 new cannabis jobs in 2021. Last year marked the first year that job creation in the cannabis industry hit six figures.
"To put this in perspective, the entire US financial sector added 145,000 jobs last year," Leafly wrote in the report. "The construction industry, from coast to coast, has added 165,000 jobs."
The Cannabis market generates 33% of jobs in a year. The 100,000+ cannabis jobs created in 2021 represent a 33% increase in just one year. Despite the challenges of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 was the fifth year in a row that the cannabis industry showed an annual growth rate of 27% or more. By comparison, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job growth in commercial and financial occupations will grow by just 8% over the next decade.
"Despite the ongoing economic and employment challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the cannabis market remains the most powerful job creator in America – with no other industry even coming close," Leafly said in a statement about its new jobs report from cannabis.
But while cannabis job growth is outpacing all other industries, Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita noted that the continued illegality of cannabis at the federal level means the industry is largely ignored by federal labour analysts.
"Since 2014, when the country's first adult cannabis stores opened, the industry has created hundreds of thousands of new American jobs – and there is still much more to be created," said Miyashita. "We know of the potential of cannabis as an economic driver and force for good, and it is encouraging to see employment numbers continue to reflect this strong growth."
"Leafly is proud to step up and fill the gap created by the lack of federal reporting and to advocate for federal legalization that is equitable and accessible to all communities," continued Miyashita. "During this election year, it is essential that our elected officials recognize the reality that cannabis is a leading American industry and help us achieve our goal of an inclusive and profitable cannabis industry for all."
Leafly'sLeafly's research showed that the 27 US states that have legalized medical cannabis, along with the 11 states with legal cannabis for adult use, sold nearly $25 billion worth of products last year. The total was more than US$6 billion (R$31.05 billion), more than the previous year, an increase of 33%. The report notes that investments that fled the cannabis sector in early 2020 have largely returned, fueling continued growth and hiring in the sector and leading Leafly to proclaim that "there has never been a better time to get a job in the legal industry." of cannabis." The report also takes an in-depth look at cannabis labour markets in nine states, including California, Illinois and New York.
By 2025, the cannabis market is expected to approach $45 billion annually as stores begin to open in newly legalized markets in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Mexico. But even that number is only about a quarter of the expected annual cannabis revenue once national legalization takes place. When that happens, the report estimates that the legal cannabis industry will support 1.5 million to 1.75 million jobs, a more than fourfold increase in the sector's current total employment.
Karson Humiston, founder and CEO of cannabis industry hiring platform Vangst, says the recent labour shortage popularly referred to as the Great Layoff has caused employers in many industries to reconsider their strategies for retaining talent. At the same time, however, Vangst has seen the cannabis industry report a 25% increase in full-time employees, many of whom have entered the sector from other industries, including technology, human resources, beauty and fashion. It is a trend that is likely to continue.
"As people continue to leave jobs in their current industry," Humiston wrote via email, "we will see an influx of people switching to cannabis as the industry continues to grow exponentially and the negative stigma surrounding the industry continues to grow. continues to decline as it approaches federal legalization."
However, the fibrous availability favoured the industry to use Hemp in the manufacture of paper, candles, hammocks, among other things. However, due to the "Cannabis" genus, Hemp has also been and still is the target of criticism and even bans, as in Spain and the United States, where they associated the molecular composition with Cannabis.
And so this association with Cannabis, without taking into account the possibility of understanding the differences, has triggered bans on the use of Hemp even in the pharmaceutical industry around the world. But this reality has been changing more and more in recent years.
As said, Hemp can be defined as a variety of the Cannabis Sativa plant species. In general, a lot of confusion is made around this definition. In a way, because it belongs to the same family as Cannabis, hemp-based products are expected to have marketing difficulties. However, it needs to be clarified that it does not have the active ingredient of recreational Cannabis. There is even a term to represent this differentiation: industrial Hemp.
To give you an idea, it is one of the fastest-growing plants and one of the first to be used in the creation of fibres. Some examples of applications are animal feed, food, biofuels and thermal insulation. In addition, it is also possible to use the plant for the development of biodegradable plastics and even to make clothes and fabrics. These applications are only possible due to industrial Hemp, which has a lower concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the active ingredient in Cannabis. This factor, when associated with a more intense presence of cannabidiol, contributes to further softening THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This can reduce or even eliminate the psychoactive effects caused by Cannabis. Despite this difference, the use of the plant must be done with special care to avoid consequences. With these points in mind, it's time to understand more about the use of hemp protein.
It is from the seeds of the plant that proteins can be obtained. Based on this, it is possible to create a supplement that is very rich in nutrients, especially fibre. Another intrinsic characteristic of Hemp protein is its high digestibility; that is, it makes the body's work much easier to take advantage of nutrients. In order to extract the main compounds responsible for these active principles, it is necessary to submit the seeds to the following processes:
Cold pressing: basically it is a mechanical extraction procedure to obtain the nutrients present in the hemp composition;
Trituration: a step that will transform the compound obtained by cold pressing into a very homogeneous powder rich in proteins;
Waste separation: finally, the last process is in charge of eliminating the particles that were not very well defined by the stages.
Of course, there may be variations in these procedures, as the objective may be to preserve different active principles. Nevertheless, essentially, the processes can be separated in this way. Based on these three steps, hemp protein can be obtained. The most well-known benefits are:
Ease of digestion is undoubtedly the main benefit offered by hemp protein. As demonstrated by the study published in 2010 in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry;
There is a high concentration of fibres. These nutrients play an important role in the body, such as preventing heart disease and even diabetes;
Small portions of the protein are capable of providing large amounts of nutrients to users. For example, 30 grams of Hemp provides 12 grams of fibre for the body;
Evidence points to Hemp's ability to ease blood pressure and chest pain;
It helps in the treatment of symptoms related to premenstrual tension.
In China, Hemp is quite traditional. So much so that the seeds can even be found in the cinema served as snacks.
To understand more about the reason for the consumption of this product, nothing better than knowing some more differentials, specifically for food:
It has omega 3 in its composition and, therefore, helps the user to enjoy the benefits offered by this nutrient;
Due to the richness of proteins, it is an excellent source to complement the diet;
Vegan and vegetarian diets can benefit greatly from the use of hemp proteins due to their richness;
Fatty acids are very important for skin maintenance. Therefore, nothing better than making use of hemp flour; after all it is rich in these nutrients;
The seed is considered an excellent source for obtaining vegetable protein.
It is undeniable that hemp flour is an excellent food supplement, and, as more research on Hemp in the food sector emerges, the greater our knowledge on the subject will be.
The athlete's initiative and availability help for future construction of scientific information on the subject, which had been little explored until then. Since CBD (cannabidiol, non-psychoactive plant-derived substance) dropped off the doping list in 2018, competitors have gained yet another safe health treat. On the other hand, companies glimpsed a new business potential, still little explored: the use of their derivatives to improve the well-being and performance of athletes. This is precisely what researchers want to investigate.
"For a year, Paternostro will be accompanied by a team of nutritionists, doctors and physical trainers. The idea is to evaluate the impact of CBD in sport, mainly in terms of athlete's performance", says Jaime Ozi, one of Tegra Pharma's partners, the company that will sponsor the study. Depending on the results achieved, the study may be expanded. Regardless of the research, the triathlete uses CBD and THC (the psychoactive substance in Cannabis) to reduce training pain. "In these cases, the most common is the use of known anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce muscle pain, which causes the athlete to decrease in performance, as it is precisely the breakdown of muscle fibres (and inflammation), which increases physical strength. ", explains Ozi. Hence the well-known motto among sportsmen: "no pain, no game" (in English, no pain, no game). "Cannabis", according to Ozi, "would have a different dynamic; it would act on pain without compromising performance."
Even weekend athletes know that discomfort and injury are part of their training routine. Paternostro was one of the sportsmen who early on saw the possible benefits in sport and business. In addition to constantly publicizing the good results achieved, with other groups of athletes, through social networks, last year, he set up the content and services platform called Athlete Cannabis. The site is a partnership made with two friends - who share the same principles regarding CBD in sport: triathlete Peu Guimarães and trekking practitioner Albert Fabregat.
"I can't tell people what works for me. There aren't any studies yet. A year from now, we'll have scientific tools to say what Cannabis derivatives really helped in my training." It is worth remembering that the use of THC - which scientifically relieves chronic pain even in diseases such as cancer and has also been used by the athlete - was not approved by Wada.
However, on January 24, the State Council suspended this decree after professionals in the sector pressured the highest administrative level to overturn this decree.
The State Council concluded that hemp flowers and leaves that contain a THC (Tetrahydrocannabibol, the molecule responsible for the psychoactive part of the plant) content of less than 0.30% are not harmful and that therefore it makes no sense to ban their circulation. However, this suspension is provisional until the body decides definitively on the legality of the decree.
Companies linked to the cannabis market suffer from all this instability. Aurélien Delecroix, president of the hemp union, was one of the requesters to suspend the decree related to hemp flowers. He says that the ban was like a thorn in his side and that although everything is stabilizing, there is still a lot to be done along the way. Xavier Pizarro, a lawyer for the CBD Professionals Union, believes the decision illustrates the "domain of European law, where the government intends to deliver a political coup."
The Confederation of Tobacco Shops makes a point of stressing its request that the sale of hemp flowers and CBD products be protected by clear and stable rules that are peaceful as well as permanent. There is a fear that another movement will happen that will bring darkness to the sector again.
This distrust of stability is due to the fact that in recent times the CBD has been living in limbo between legality and prohibition. In 2020, the CJEU considered the ban in France illegal, which was already authorized in several countries of the European Union, following the principle of the free movement of goods. Justice had already considered that there is no legality in the prohibition of a molecule that is already known to be not harmful to human health.
Following the court ruling, the Court of Cassation, the highest French court, followed the same steps in June 2021 and also ruled that CBD legally produced in the European Union could be marketed without embargoes in France.
The country already had approximately 400 CBD stores by the beginning of 2021, and currently, this number has practically quadrupled. The sector has a turnover of around one billion euros, and the promise is to increase these numbers even further in the coming years.
Created by architect Anastasiya Konopitskaya and engineering at Jellen Engineering Services, "Traveller", as the building was named, is a prefabricated, DIY project.
In addition, it presents one of the main proposals of the company based in the city of Blandon (Pennsylvania): to bring hemp-based construction — and its many advantages — to the general public.
Although its structure is mostly made of woodworking, the material extracted from cannabis is responsible for several strengths of the house. That's because the fibrous plant works as insulation for the floor, wall and ceiling.
"Hemp concrete, which combines the woody core with a hydraulic binder of lime and water, is a lightweight yet a breathable form of fireproof insulation that self-regulates temperature and humidity," explains Coexist Build.
To those interested in acquiring the tiny DIY house, the company is offering it for US$ 26,000, plus taxes and shipping.
The "Traveller" can be assembled in approximately one week with basic power tools and a crew of two to six people.
Cannabis is already widely used around the world for medicinal and recreational purposes, but what few people know is that the plant has also been used as a raw material for the manufacture of fabrics. Hemp in fashion was a concept that was actually born a long time ago. This is because hemp fibre, a kind of "sober cousin" of marijuana and with a texture similar to that of flax, has a high aggregate yield and is still one of the most sustainable and versatile in the world.
The pieces made with hemp consume less water, and chemical inputs compared to other materials, produce much more fibre per acre - it is a fast-growing plant - in addition to developing in different types of soil and climatic conditions. Hemp in fashion is a great idea because the material is still naturally resistant to most insects and diseases and provides the soil with its own nutrients, which replenishes its fertility.
It was with this series of benefits in mind that Vicunha, one of the largest jeanswear manufacturers in the world and the largest in Brazil, launched a collection entirely made with fibre, becoming the first to use hemp in fashion when it comes to investing in jeanswear. "It is our duty to experiment with new technologies that enable cleaner and more conscious production, in addition to offering new trends to the consumer. We saw this opportunity in hemp to deliver a sustainable, high-quality product with low environmental impact to the market", believes Renata Guarniero, Vicunha's marketing manager.
She reminds us that the fibre is still highly durable, with tensile strength; it is breathable, that is, it does not retain moisture and prevents the growth of mould and mildew; it is antibacterial, inhibiting the development of microorganisms and preventing odours and is hypoallergenic. In addition, it is biodegradable: when hemp clothes reach the end of their useful life, the fibres biodegrade easily.
Among the fabrics produced with a mixture of cotton and hemp by the brand is hemp, denim that comes in a fuller version, for twills, and a lighter version, Hemp Light, ideal for pieces such as denim shirts, and the two options in the serja, Itacaré and Maragogi. The new fabrics are part of Vicunha's V.Eco product portfolio, which is already traditionally known for presenting sustainable technologies, with less environmental impact, less water and chemical consumption and the use of recycled cotton. Initiatives like these are becoming increasingly fundamental in the fashion industry. Hemp in fashion is slowly emerging as a powerful trend. The sector plays an essential role as a transforming agent, promoting more sustainable practices in its production chain and influencing the most diverse audiences, from suppliers to employees and consumers.
No. Despite being from the same species - Cannabis sativa - what makes hemp different from marijuana is the chemical profile of each plant. To be classified as hemp, the plant must have less than 0.3% THC, the plant's main psychoactive compound, by weight. If the THC value is above this level, the plant is considered marijuana.
Commercial testing of hemp in several states is being conducted by the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development (DPIRD) with a joint investment from AgriFutures Australia. As project participants point out, there is a growing interest in the world in the use of industrial hemp seeds with a high content of proteins and omega-3 and omega-6 in their whole form and as additives for the biofortification of bread, milk and dairy products.
A new three-year research project will evaluate a range of commercial cannabis strains at different planting dates at the Manjimup Research Center and Sh. Frank Wise in Kununarr. Seeds for the varieties, sourced from Australia, Canada and France, have been planted in Manjimup in recent weeks, and crops in Kununarra will appear in March, April and May 2022. The results will be compared with similar tests in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the north of the country as part of a larger variety testing project.
AgriFutures Australia CEO Michael Beer said the project team is excited and pleased to have started the first year of industrial testing of cannabis strains under the Emerging Industries Programme. “Industrial hemp is a growing industry with great potential. The trials will provide growers with independent information on the effectiveness of varieties suitable for specific geographic regions of Australia,” he said.
Project researcher Shahajahan Miyan explained that a total of 8 varieties of industrial hemp from Australia, France and Canada are participating in the trials. He noted that two French and one Australian cultivar performed very well when planted in early December: “Fedora17, ECO-110 and USO-31 have the potential to achieve better yields when planted at optimal times with a target planting density of 100 plants per square meter. The correct sowing rate is essential for a good rooting of this crop”.
"The government bill on the legalization of medical cannabis has already been published for discussion… This document will be registered. It will reach our committee. I hope the committee members will support it", Mykhailo Radutskyi, Servant MP People's parliamentary faction, member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Public Health, Medical Care and Medical Insurance, said in an interview with Ukrinform.
He noted that the government bill differs from the draft proposed by committee members and submitted for review, in particular, on strengthening the Ukrainian National Police's control over the circulation of cannabis. Furthermore, according to Radutskyi, the text of the document initiated by the Council of Ministers more clearly defines the essence of medical cannabis and the procedure for its importation.
The politician stressed that the adoption of the relevant legislation would provide more than two million Ukrainians with access to medicines.
"There were a lot of narratives in society that it was about the legalization of drugs. Neither the bill submitted for review nor the new government bill has a single word on drug legalization. It's just medical cannabis," he said.
Radutskyi expressed hope that the Verkhovna Rada will adopt the document in 2022.
Researcher Gleice K. Silva-Cardoso, from the Graduate Program in Psychobiology at the FFCLRP (Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto) at USP, believes that CBD is a promising strategy in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain, since that the cannabinoid system plays an essential role in the pain sensitivity circuit.
The endocannabinoid system (found in the brain and in several other places in the human and animal organism) was discovered in the late 1980s, and, since then, several national and international studies involving the therapeutic effects of CBD have gained strength.
An article by Gleice K. Silva-Cardoso was published in the journal Neuropharmacology. The results are from the pre-clinical phase (tests carried out on laboratory animals), but they showed the therapeutic potential of CBD in reducing the perception of allodynia (pain to light stimuli, such as a simple touch) and thermal hyperalgesia (pain caused by increased heat) in animals with neuropathic pain.
According to professor Christie Ramos Andrade Leite Panissi, from the Department of Psychology at FFCLRP and research advisor, in addition to the decrease in pain, the scientists observed "activation of regions of the central nervous system related to the modulation of emotional responses".
As for the emotional factor, Gleice says that chronic pain never comes alone and is often associated with some comorbidity, "mainly, anxiety and depression". Thus, she believes that the disorder should be dealt with in a multifactorial aspect and not just a physical one.
The researcher's assessments are also based on previous results from another study she carried out at the University of Maryland, in the United States, when she evaluated neuronal activities (communication between neurons and their receptors) in an area located in the brainstem: the parabrachial nucleus, involved in modulating chronic pain perception and which has also been tested for cannabinoid receptors.
Therapy for pain and emotional responses is composed of flavonoids, more than 200 terpenes and more than 100 phytocannabinoids, among which the best known are cannabidiol (CBD, which has no psychoactive effect) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, which has a psychoactive effect.
As one of the most studied, cannabidiol is able to activate cannabinoid receptors present in the body and which are part of the endocannabinoid system. These receptors can be activated by endocannabinoid substances (produced by the body) and by cannabis derivatives, such as CBD or another synthetic agent.
Professor Christie highlights that the search for therapeutic agents, "especially for cases of chronic pain resistant to traditional treatments", confirms the relevance of the study, not only for the discovery of new drugs, but to investigate "new uses of compounds already known and the possibilities of their joint action, minimizing possible undesirable side effects.
Gleice considers that her study findings may point to CBD as an adjunct in the treatment of chronic pain that can also reverse anxiety-like behaviours. If this component of Cannabis helps to modulate pain aversion, as noted, it does so by accessing "not only the mechanical relief part of the animal but also the question of this modulation of perception."
Despite celebrating the results, Professor Christie recalls that the study is still pre-clinical and that more research should be carried out on the use of cannabidiol and other cannabis derivatives "until they are indicated for clinical use in the treatment of chronic pain".
Treatments with cannabidiol Gleice reports that, currently, there are "a range of options for studies with the use of cannabidiol in various diseases", mainly focusing on its properties "in comorbidities and neuropsychiatric diseases". The substance has shown analgesic and immunosuppressive pharmacological benefits, with therapeutic action for anxiety, sleep and movement disorders, "which makes it a substance with great therapeutic potential", notes Christie. Products with CBD are already marketed in other countries and "indicated for the treatment of epilepsy, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, as well as analgesics in terminal cancer patients", says the professor.
But, in Brazil, cannabidiol-based drugs that Anvisa authorizes "have as their main indication the treatment of muscle spasms related to multiple sclerosis", she says.
