In ‘This Week in Cannabis’ we want to help you uncover leading cannabis news, industry insights, scientific discoveries and more. Our hope is to help educate the greater public on the many uphill battles we still need to achieve prior to legalization. There are still a lot of laws, regulations and problems that cannabis companies and consumers are faced with.

This Week in Cannabis: March 22nd-31st 2020

The cannabis world continues to find itself in a state of flux this week. But could COVID-19 actually be speeding certain aspects of the industry’s development? It kind of seems like it. Here are the details. 

CBD’s Still Safe — Don’t Worry

CBD is impressively safe. It doesn’t have severe side effects, even at high doses, and it’s virtually impossible to overdose on because cannabinoid receptors aren’t found in the brain stem. 

So when a report came out that CBD gave one woman something called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, we knew there was something more to it. Turns out this woman was on a cocktail of three pharmaceuticals — famotidine, lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide, and meloxicam — that were unexpectedly amplified by her liposomal CBD use. Unfortunately, she ended up passing away, and some media outlets went wild. 

Interesting how CBD is blamed for something that only the pharmaceuticals accompanying it had the power to cause, right? Perhaps the real takeaway is that collaboration between those taking CBD and their doctors is important. 

Trying to Quit Smoking? There’s no Better Time

Cannabis smoke hasn’t been correlated to poor health the same way tobacco smoke has — quite the opposite. Cannabis contains terpenes and other phytocompounds that may actually act as bronchodilators!

But in light of how COVID-19’s worst effects are lung-based, some extra caution might be warranted. Speaking to Leafly, epidemiologist D. Steffanie Strathdee explains more. “Right now, we are facing a pandemic where SARS-CoV-2 attacks lung cells, preferentially in the lower respiratory tract. In my view, better to be safe than sorry, so I’d advise anyone who uses marijuana to switch to edibles, especially if they have underlying health conditions…”

“It would be wise for all of us to try to keep our lungs as healthy as possible,” added Dr. Crotty Alexander. Thankfully there are many ways to take cannabis that doesn’t involve smoking.  

“Cannabis Is an Essential Medicine,” says San Francisco Department of Public Health

Parts of California may be on lockdown right now…but when it comes to enjoying the finer things in life, residents still have plenty of freedom. In San Fransisco, cannabis sales continue after having been classified as an “essential business.” 

“Cannabis is an essential medicine for many San Francisco residents. Dispensaries can continue to operate as essential businesses during this time, while practicing social distancing and other public health recommendations,” tweeted the San Francisco Department of Public Health on March 17th. 

While we’ve already talked about a potential link between CBD and the immune system, we’re glad public health officials don’t disagree.

Cannabis Delivery Services Taking Off

All sorts of delivery services are booming right now — and cannabis delivery is no exception. California-based online marketplace Eaze said their delivery sales jumped up 37 percent with the announcement of the State’s “shelter in place” action.  

“[…] We are going to have to bring the store to them,” says dispensary owner Kyle Kazan. “It’s not much different than Amazon.” And many customers continue to buy in bulk.

One Women’s Mission: CBD-Infused Tampons

Just when you think the CBD space couldn’t get any more creative, something like this happens. 

But entrepreneur Valentina Milanova does have a point: “We wouldn’t use a car from the 1940s, a phone from the 1950s, nor rely on a health recommendation from the 1960s,” Milanova explained to Forbes. So why use a tampon that lacks the more recent breakthrough we call CBD? Women report great results so far. And for a more complete list of female-friendly products, just check out this guide.

To Sum Up This Week in Cannabis News:

A lot is still very uncertain concerning the COVID-19 global pandemic but cannabis remains a shining light of positivity. While smoking cannabis right now isn’t recommended, there are still plenty of ways to consume and enjoy the plant, plus, home-delivery systems are surging! Stay home, stay healthy, stay high.