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6 Countries in the World That Lead in Medical Cannabis Resea - Soft Secrets
6 Countries in the World That Lead in Medical Cannabis Research
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Soft Secrets
06 Mar 2021

It’s not a secret that the stigma is still strong for the use of marijuana, both medical and recreational. To this end, science tries to resolve the issue and give a broader picture of this medicine, helped by meticulous research. Below is a quick overview of some of the world's top countries that are truly hopefully devoted to medical cannabis research.


When it comes to medical cannabis research, unfortunately, the U.S does not share the same science enthusiasm such as other countries overseas. Certainly, there are U.S. scientists who contribute with their knowledge and talent, nevertheless, everything is made more difficult with the looming legal status issue and the subsequent restrictive fundings.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration continues to view cannabis as a Schedule I narcotic, making marijuana more tightly controlled than other drugs. Researchers must obtain approval from the DEA, Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

In many instances, this makes the research very limited and insufficient, and in the end, it's patients, medical workers, and policymakers who lose.

Which Countries Are World Leaders in Medical Cannabis Research?
When we fail to demystify cannabis goods and wrongs at home, it's other countries abroad that take the effort and benefit from advanced research. Let’s check who is on this list:

Photo showing CBD isolate, a crystalline solid or powder that contains 99% pure CBD. A significant portion of medical cannabis research focuses on CBD and its numerous medical effects.

1. The Czech Republic
It's a little-known fact that Czechs have one of the best cannabis research institutions in Europe and beyond.

The International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute (ICCI) research center was launched a few years back thanks to the Members of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and Dioscorides Global Holdings, and Svatopluk Nemecek, former Czech Minister of Health who held office between 2014 and 2016.

ICCI collaborates with various cannabis experts and a network of more than 40 universities, hi-tech companies, and institutions from all around the globe, and has become a truly international education hub in Central Europe. Some of its research efforts have focused on exploring the effectiveness of cannabis compounds on human organisms, how the different compounds impact specific syndromes as well as systematic health disorders. The center has also taken on extensive analysis of European CBD oils to meet the needs of the hot-boiling cannabis industry.

Pretty impressive for a country with a world-famous beer!

2. Uruguay
You can always go to Uruguay and just get high. Or, you can go to Uruguay and try to do something smarter, like research cannabis. It's possible to do so without going through wild bureaucratic adventures.

Uruguay was the first country in the world to take the bold step of legalizing and regulating the sale and use of marijuana. Perhaps this South American country does not have as much wealth and resources as other developed countries to conduct in-depth cannabis research. However, due to its friendly policy on cannabis, it's one of the world's best-positioned countries to attract researchers who are willing to take the country's medical pot data to the next level.

3. Canada
Canadians are known for their progressive ecological spirit and symbiosis with nature. In 2018, Canada became the second country only to fully legalize cannabis, which also made the country the largest economy in that respect (Mexico is closely watching to steal this prospect in the meantime).

Current Canadian Primer Minister Justin Trudeau backed the legalization of cannabis when he run his electoral campaign in 2015. At the same time, the Canadian scientific community also rallied for cannabis. Over 1,800 scientists and researchers signed a letter that requested Trudeau and the government for more extensive engagement in the research of cannabis.

As a result, the same year the Canadian government introduced recreational legalization, it decided to also slot $1.4 million toward dozens of science projects that will analyze the effects of legalizing cannabis nationwide. While some projects were launched to examine how cannabis use changes post-legalization, other projects specifically focus on exploring the possible influence of cannabis use in different demographic groups, for example, teenagers. Pregnant women and indigenous communities are also included in Canadian cannabis research.

Medical research is necessary to devise new medical cannabis products, such as CBD cannabis pills shown on the photo.

4. Spain
Spain still prohibits the use of THC in medical cannabis products. However, the country on the Iberian peninsula has been carrying out research initiatives since the 1990s, initially with its research groups at Madrid’s Complutense University. It's when the country discovered that THC could influence programmed cell death in brain tumors without negatively impacting surrounding cells.

Injecting synthetic THC on rats, Spanish scientists sought ways if they can eradicate brain tumors in rodents. Initial results showed the method worked as one-third of the lab rats had their lives prolonged for more than a month. When the same research was repeated in 2002, the team led by Dr. Manuel Guzman announced THC could help target incurable brain tumors in rats.

Spaniards have also conducted research to comprehend the overall benefits of the cannabis plant, understand the plant's genetic components, the variability of species found in the wilderness, and production improvement both in original terroirs or when hybridized.

At present, the Spanish Observatory on Medical Cannabis (OECM) is one of the country's most prestigious institutions taking on cannabis research.

5. The Netherlands
Unsurprisingly, the Netherlands, a country considered the ultimate pilgrimage destination for cannabis tourists, is a foreknown leader in medical cannabis research. Holding the silver medal on our list, the Dutch people can take pride in their nationally sponsored medical marijuana program. It's one of the three countries globally, alongside Canada and Israel who have such a program.

Dutch supported research has produced multiple breakthrough findings in recent years. It has explored whether CBD can influence driving. It has investigated whether the soft drug can create fake memories and if cannabis users should be considered as vulnerable witnesses during crime investigations. This, of course, is just a fraction of where Dutch research is headed.

6. Israel
The “promised land” seems to be the right term to describe the global leader in cannabis research - Israel. "Work hard and party hard” stands for the country where knowledge of cannabis is being boosted for more than five decades now. THC and the endocannabinoid system were discovered in Israel by world-renowned Israeli marijuana pioneer Raphael Mechoulam in the 1960s. The rest is history.

Israelis can nowadays brag about the world's largest number of clinical trials testing the benefits of marijuana. They can also brag about being among the first in the world to legalize medical weed and its exports to other countries. And they can also brag about their colossal research facilities that usually come with vast grow rooms where the buds have no limits. Basically, the country is really at another level when it comes to medical cannabis research.

The expanding legalization of cannabis worldwide means that more and more countries are seriously taking on the task to conduct in-depth medical cannabis research. Three other countries worth mentioning are Australia, New Zealand, and Germany, which are headed in the right direction and catching up with research and legislation. Hopefully, the U.S. joins this fine company sooner rather than later.

 

Israel been doing cannabis research from the 1960's

 

Why Do Some Cannabis Plants Turn Purple

Have you ever looked at some of the cannabis plants before they are harvested, dried, and cured? If you have, you would agree that there are some very exotic and beautiful varieties of the cannabis flower, such as the purple buds. You may find yourself inquiring about why this plant is taking on a purple hue, well let us set the record straight since bad information is still circling.

When individuals engage in conversation over the purple cannabis, one may get a picture in their head of the plant, which may not be what they expect. Purple hued cannabis can present itself in lighter and darker varieties which may even appear black. Despite the discrepancies in hues, purple cannabis is no less impressive than it sounds. Before we get into why the cannabis community has fallen for the purple buds, why these buds get a purple tinge.

Why Does Some Cannabis Turn Purple?
Simply put, cannabis can turn purple due to high quantities of a compound known as “anthocyanins”. The varieties of the purple hue in some cannabis buds are dependent on how much of the compound is circulating throughout the plant. Anthocyanins are considered a colorant that is responsible for the red, purple, and blue hues, which is also present in many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat as well as in many other inedible plants.

Anthocyanins are a water-soluble compound which is present in some cannabis strains. The compound can turn the cannabis leaves and buds into a variety of purples and blues which may even appear dark green and black. However, the conditions of the plants’ growth will ultimately influence how the anthocyanins will impact the actual pigments of the plant. These conditions include pH levels, temperature, and light.

If you are trying to get your plant to turn colors, you should know that colder temperatures cause a breakdown in chlorophyll. By breaking down the chlorophyll, the plant is then allowed the opportunity to display the hues it’s been hiding. Although you should also know that the quantity of anthocyanins needs to be high in order for any color to come through at all, this is determined by the genetics of the plants. Thus, getting beautiful purple plants would mean a perfect combination of genetics and environmental factors.

 

mber 7, 2020 by WhatIsHemp
History of Hemp: Where Did Hemp Come From?


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Did you know that humans have used the hemp plant for about 10,000 years? This makes it one of the oldest plants ever used by humankind.

Hemp is also estimated to have more than 25,000 uses. This can be attributed to its long, strong fibers and rich nutritional profile that provides a wide range of health benefits for both humans and animals.

At one point, the hemp plant was the most dominant cash crop on the American landscape. But what happened over time? Why has it received so much backlash over the last century?

To understand all this, let’s start from the very beginning and learn about the history of hemp:


History of Hemp: Where Did Hemp Come From?
The Complete History of Hemp
Here are some hemp history facts – from when it was first discovered to today:

8000 BC (Stone Age): Hemp First Discovered in Central Asia
The hemp plant originated from Central Asia – particularly China and Taiwan – and was primarily cultivated for its fiber. Remains of hemp fiber imprints on pottery shards have been discovered on several archeological sites, especially near the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.


The hemp plant originated from Central Asia – particularly China and Taiwan – and was primarily cultivated for its fiber.
Over the next 7,000 years, Ancient China used hemp for food, medicine, and textile – promoting the civilization of ancient Chinese empires. Its use also spread to other Asian regions such as Mongolia and India.

2000 BC – 1700 BC: Hemp in Africa
According to the Ebers Papyrus (a collection of Egyptian medical texts that date back to around 1500 BC), ancient Egyptians used hemp in treatment for sore eyes, inflammation, and hemorrhoids. Hemp pollen was also found on the Mummy of Ramesses II – the third pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt.

The cultivation and use of hemp later spread to other regions of Africa, including Ethiopia and Mozambique.

1500 BC – 300 AD: Hemp in Europe
Hemp was introduced in Northern Europe by the Scythians – a large, barbaric group of Eurasian nomads known for creating the first-ever Central Asian nomadic empire. Scythians used hemp for recreational purposes, food, and fumigation.

Hemp was also an integral part of the Scythian burial and cleansing rituals. After the death of a prominent person, this tribe would set up tepee-like structures that they would enter to inhale hemp fumes thrown on red-hot stones.

Hemp was widely accepted and cultivated in Europe, where it quickly spread to Russia, Greece, Italy, Spain, and beyond. It was mainly used for food, medicine, and making ropes. During the 3rd century, the then Roman Emperor – Aurelian – imposed a tax on Egyptian hemp.

1000 AD – 1500 AD: Hemp in England
This period is popularly known as the Golden Age of Sail, which was characterized by sailing ships used for international trade and naval warfare. The trade escalated the spread of hemp use and hemp products all over the world.

Hemp was a popular trading commodity because it didn’t go bad easily. In comparison, other similar products like flax could rot in as little as three months, especially when exposed to the ocean’s salt sprays.

In the early 1500s, King Henry VIII announced that all landholders in England should set aside at least a quarter of their land for the cultivation of hemp or flax to boost the supply of fiber in the region. Some years later, Queen Elizabeth I imposed a £5 fine for any eligible landowner who failed to comply. Being a strategic raw commodity, hemp became crucial to England’s dominant economy and navy. This thriving economy sped up the exploration and colonization of the Americas.

It’s believed that hemp was first introduced to North and South America by Spanish colonists in present-day Mexico and Chile around this time.

1600 AD – 1700 AD: Hemp in America
English settlers in Jamestown, VA, started cultivating hemp in their “New Found Land” in around 1606. They mainly used it for rope, clothing, paper, lamp fuel, and other textiles.


In the 1700s, U.S. farmers in Virginia and several other colonies were required to grow hemp or face hefty fines or imprisonment.
In the 1700s, U.S. farmers in Virginia and several other colonies were required to grow hemp or face hefty fines or imprisonment. This was to ease up the increased demand for hemp from England, which was proving to be unreliable and expensive.

1700 – 1850: The Hemp Economy in the U.S. is Thriving
In the early and mid-1700s, hemp was popularly used as legal tender as it was considered more valuable than money at that time.

In 1776, drafts of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper because this was the most common type of paper available at that time. The finished documents were written on paper made from animal skin. In the same year, the continental army under George Washington used clothing made from hemp fiber due to its durability.

What’s more, the construction of the U.S.S. Constitution (a wooden-hulled, three-masted navy frigate) required about 120 pounds of hemp for the manufacture of sailcloth, rope, and lining. Some of the ropes and sailing cloth from the ship are still present to this day – only a strong and durable fiber can last this long.


The construction of the U.S.S. Constitution (a wooden-hulled, three-masted navy frigate) required about 120 pounds of hemp for the manufacture of sailcloth, rope, and lining.
The U.S. founding fathers were also in support of the cultivation and production of hemp. For instance, in one of George Washington’s articles, he advocated for the growth of hemp because of its lucrative economic value.

Thomas Jefferson was known to cultivate hemp and wrote several publications about proper hemp growing practices. Jefferson also received a patent for a hemp threshing machine that cleans hemp produce by separating the seeds from the stalks.


Thomas Jefferson was known to cultivate hemp and wrote several publications about proper hemp growing practices.
1850 – 1920: Hemp is Used for Medicine and Recreation
In 1850, the U.S. census counted more than 8,000 hemp farms in America. These were only farms with 2,000 acres or more, meaning the number of farms in the country was way more. During this time, there was a lot of medical hemp dispensaries around the country. In 1890, Sir J. Russell Reynolds, M.D., F.R.S., described hemp as one of the most versatile medicines on earth.


In 1850, the U.S. census counted more than 8,000 hemp farms in America.
Additionally, in a 1916 USDA report, it was revealed that an acre of hemp field could produce up to four times more paper than conventional trees.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a flux of Mexican immigrants introduced Cannabis as a recreational drug, and it quickly became widespread in the country. Unfortunately, it’s recreational use was associated with insanity, violent crimes, and other vices.

1930 – 1970: The Fall of Hemp Cultivation
During the early 1930s, the stance on this miracle crop began to change. This was primarily due to its association with Cannabis. In 1937, the government introduced the Marijuana Tax Act, which imposed hefty occupational taxes on anyone who sells, acquires, dispenses, or possesses any type of Cannabis. As a result, hemp farmers slowly abandoned the crop.

In 1942, during World War II, the government reversed its stance on the crop in an effort to support the war. The Department of Agriculture released several hemp publications and documentaries that highlighted how the production of hemp could help support the war.

Unfortunately, this resurgence was short-lived. As the war ended, the stance on Cannabis reverted, and the hemp industry went into a downward spiral, boosting the production of nylon and plastic.

In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act totally banned hemp farming in the U.S. because hemp was classified as a Schedule 1 drug alongside L.S.D. and heroin. The law was maintained even after it sparked outrage from hemp farmers and supporters all over the country.

2018: A Turning Point (2018 Farm Bill)
The 2018 Farm Bill was the most significant shift in the history of hemp. It legalized the cultivation and use of hemp and its products as long as they contain 0.3% T.H.C. or less. Hemp was also no longer classified as a Schedule I substance like Cannabis.


The 2018 Farm Bill was the most significant shift in the history of hemp.
Immediately, there was a spike in demand for hemp, and this has led to more farmers to shift from other cash crops to hemp.

Learn More About the History of Hemp
With the legalization of hemp, there has been an increase in hemp cultivation and hemp use over the years. With its many uses, we can certainly see a more sustainable future with hemp. Since it can be used in a majority of the industries – from textiles to constructions – hemp is significantly changing how we live for the better. The future is bright. Learn more about it here


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