CannMed Coffee Talk

We discuss the chemistry of cannabis with Markus Roggen, PhD. In his various roles and positions, Dr. Roggen oversaw multiple teams that are focused on the whole processing flow of cannabis production, from harvest and drying, through processing and extraction, all the way to the formulation and quality control/analytics. In addition to cannabinoids, Dr. Roggen's company, Complex Biotech Discovery Ventures (CBDV), is also investigating psilocybin.

Topics discussed include: 

The number of compounds that have been identified in the cannabis plant, and whether there are more to be foundThe complexity of cannabis compared to other plants and herbsThe challenges with the entourage effect. Could there be an invisible compound that is responsible for certain therapeutic effects?How different storage conditions and extraction techniques will yield different chemical compounds Why the term "whole-plant extract" is a misnomer The potential uses for psilocybin, and how it compares to cannabis

Thanks to Our Sponsor: CANN

Since 2015, CANN has been building a strong network of scientists in the cannabis space to promote scientific innovation, safety, and development through education, research, and the empowerment of the scientific community. To learn more about what CANN has to offer please visit their website at www.cann-acs.org.

Additional Resources

Complex Biotech Discovery Ventures (CBDV) website Collaborative Research into Cannabis Delivery Techniques and Fundamental Product Makeup | CannMed 2019 presentation

We talk with Dr. Andrew Horwitz Vice President, R&D at Sestina Bio LLC about producing cannabinoids outside the cannabis plant. Previously, Andrew managed the Cannabinoid R&D program at Demetrix, where he helped develop the process for using genetically modified yeast cells to produce cannabinoids. We discuss:

The advantages of using yeast cells to produce cannabinoids instead of cannabis and hemp plants How adjusting the precursor molecules that are fed to the yeast cells can produce rare and novel cannabinoidsHow cannabis medicine researchers can use this technology to better understand the entourage effectWhy understanding the way the cannabis plant produces cannabinoids was essential to developing this technology How this technology is received by the cannabis community 

Thanks to our Sponsor: Demetrix

Demetrix is a biotechnology company that believes in the power of science to make the world a better place. The company produces safe, legal, and effective health and wellness products backed by science, including rare, high-purity cannabinoids for pharmaceutical and consumer applications.

To learn more, please visit www.demetrixbio.com, and be sure to check out their blog, www.demetrixbio.com/insights. 

Additional Resources

"Developing Fermentation Technology to Produce Specific Cannabinoids for Research and Consumer Use" Andrew Horwitz, PhD, CannMed 2019Sestina Bio, LLC website Demetrix blog Luo, Xiaozhou et al. “Complete biosynthesis of cannabinoids and their unnatural analogues in yeast.” Inscripta Onyx

We talk with Dr. Andrew Horwitz Vice President, R&D at Sestina Bio LLC about producing cannabinoids outside the cannabis plant. Previously, Andrew managed the Cannabinoid R&D program at Demetrix, where he helped develop the process for using genetically modified yeast cells to produce cannabinoids. We discuss:

The advantages of using yeast cells to produce cannabinoids instead of cannabis and hemp plants How adjusting the precursor molecules that are fed to the yeast cells can produce rare and novel cannabinoidsHow cannabis medicine researchers can use this technology to better understand the entourage effectWhy understanding the way the cannabis plant produces cannabinoids was essential to developing this technology How this technology is received by the cannabis community 

Thanks to our Sponsor: Demetrix

Demetrix is a biotechnology company that believes in the power of science to make the world a better place. The company produces safe, legal, and effective health and wellness products backed by science, including rare, high-purity cannabinoids for pharmaceutical and consumer applications.

To learn more, please visit www.demetrixbio.com, and be sure to check out their blog, www.demetrixbio.com/insights. 

Additional Resources

"Developing Fermentation Technology to Produce Specific Cannabinoids for Research and Consumer Use" Andrew Horwitz, PhD, CannMed 2019Sestina Bio, LLC website Demetrix blog Luo, Xiaozhou et al. “Complete biosynthesis of cannabinoids and their unnatural analogues in yeast.” Inscripta Onyx

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Van Butsic, the Co-director of the Berkeley Cannabis Research Center and Cooperative Extension Specialist at UC Berkeley. The Cannabis Research Center uses an interdisciplinary approach to address questions at the intersection of cannabis policy, the environment, and cannabis-producing communities.

At CannMed 2021, Van will participate in a panel discussion about the environmental impacts of cannabis production. In our conversation, we discuss:

Why it's important to better understand how cannabis cultivation affects the environmentHow cannabis compares to other crops in terms of its environmental impactHow outdoor cannabis cultivation affects rivers and streamsThe challenge of collecting data on unpermitted cannabis farmsHow easing the permit and licensure requirements for farmers could lead to better environmental outcomes

Thanks to our Sponsor: Colorado Seed, Inc.

Colorado Seed Inc. is a Cannabis genetics company based out of Boulder, CO. They are innovators of Cannabis cultivation and breeding techniques, and have been locally producing licensed Cannabis seeds since 2008. Specializing in high-potency, unique breeding lines suitable for both home and commercial grows. Learn more at coloradoseedinc.com.

Additional Resources

Berkley Cannabis Research Center Website Berkley Cannabis Research Center Science Briefs

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Van Butsic, the Co-director of the Berkeley Cannabis Research Center and Cooperative Extension Specialist at UC Berkeley. The Cannabis Research Center uses an interdisciplinary approach to address questions at the intersection of cannabis policy, the environment, and cannabis-producing communities.

At CannMed 2021, Van will participate in a panel discussion about the environmental impacts of cannabis production. In our conversation, we discuss:

Why it's important to better understand how cannabis cultivation affects the environmentHow cannabis compares to other crops in terms of its environmental impactHow outdoor cannabis cultivation affects rivers and streamsThe challenge of collecting data on unpermitted cannabis farmsHow easing the permit and licensure requirements for farmers could lead to better environmental outcomes

Thanks to our Sponsor: Colorado Seed, Inc.

Colorado Seed Inc. is a Cannabis genetics company based out of Boulder, CO. They are innovators of Cannabis cultivation and breeding techniques, and have been locally producing licensed Cannabis seeds since 2008. Specializing in high-potency, unique breeding lines suitable for both home and commercial grows. Learn more at coloradoseedinc.com.

Additional Resources

Berkley Cannabis Research Center Website Berkley Cannabis Research Center Science Briefs

Our latest guest is Professor Raphael Mechoulam. Professor Mechoulam is the first researcher to isolate THC and CBD. For that achievement and the decades of research into the endocannabinoid system that followed, Professor Mechoulam is often called the "Godfather of cannabis research". 

Since his research began in the 1960s, Professor Mechoulam has received numerous academic awards. Most recently he received The Harvey Prize from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in the Human Health category. It’s a pretty big deal when you consider more than 30% of Harvey laureates since 1986 have gone onto receive the Nobel prize. 

Professor Mechoulam has presented at every CannMed event, either in person or via submitted video, and is the chair of our Scientific Advisory Board. 

In our conversation, we discuss: 

Professor Mechoulam’s incredible career The disappointing lack of cannabis medicine clinical trials The surprising fact that the two major endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide and 2AG) have never been administered to humans The challenge of researching the entourage effect The benefits of cannabinoid acids The newly discovered anandamide-like compounds that could be used to treat addiction And more 

Thanks to our Sponsor: Cannabis Science and Technology

Cannabis Science and Technology focuses on educating the legal cannabis industry about the science and technology of analytical testing, quality control/assurance, extraction, cultivation, and processing/manufacturing. In October Cannabis Science & Technology launched a new brand, Cannabis Patient Care, which is an educational resource for patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and caregivers on the latest research, benefits, and treatment options cannabis provides for a variety of illnesses.

Learn more at cannabissciencetech.com

Additional Resources

Professor Mechoulam's CannMed presentations: 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019Isolation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor The chemistry of endocannabinoids An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity

Our latest guest is Professor Raphael Mechoulam. Professor Mechoulam is the first researcher to isolate THC and CBD. For that achievement and the decades of research into the endocannabinoid system that followed, Professor Mechoulam is often called the "Godfather of cannabis research". 

Since his research began in the 1960s, Professor Mechoulam has received numerous academic awards. Most recently he received The Harvey Prize from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in the Human Health category. It’s a pretty big deal when you consider more than 30% of Harvey laureates since 1986 have gone onto receive the Nobel prize. 

Professor Mechoulam has presented at every CannMed event, either in person or via submitted video, and is the chair of our Scientific Advisory Board. 

In our conversation, we discuss: 

Professor Mechoulam’s incredible career The disappointing lack of cannabis medicine clinical trials The surprising fact that the two major endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide and 2AG) have never been administered to humans The challenge of researching the entourage effect The benefits of cannabinoid acids The newly discovered anandamide-like compounds that could be used to treat addiction And more 

Thanks to our Sponsor: Cannabis Science and Technology

Cannabis Science and Technology focuses on educating the legal cannabis industry about the science and technology of analytical testing, quality control/assurance, extraction, cultivation, and processing/manufacturing. In October Cannabis Science & Technology launched a new brand, Cannabis Patient Care, which is an educational resource for patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and caregivers on the latest research, benefits, and treatment options cannabis provides for a variety of illnesses.

Learn more at cannabissciencetech.com

Additional Resources

Professor Mechoulam's CannMed presentations: 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019Isolation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor The chemistry of endocannabinoids An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity

This episode’s guest is Hope Jones. She is the CEO of Superior Phenos, LLC, a hemp young plant production company in Arizona and CEO of Emergent Cannabis Sciences, an international cannabis and micropropagation consulting company with clients in Colombia, Australia, Germany and Canada.

Dr. Jones has deep expertise in both hemp and cannabis often serving as an expert consultant on forming policy at the state and federal levels. NASA also tapped her micropropogation expertise to develop programs for growing plants on deep space missions. 

In our conversation, we talked a lot about tissue culture, as Dr. Jones will be leading a panel on the topic at CannMed 2021. We covered:

How cultivators use tissue culture to remediate plants that are infected with pathogens such as powdery mildew and Hop Latent Viroid How the COVID 19 pandemic has made Hope’s conversations with cultivators about plant virus and pathogen infections easierHow tissue culture can produce changes to the plant’s DNA Why alcohol is not an effective anti-viral solution for plantsHow cryogenic storage of tissue cultured mother plants can be used as an insurance policy against pathogen infection or other disasters

Thanks to our Sponsor Medicinal Genomics

Medicinal Genomics uses its unmatched knowledge into the cannabis genome and the microbes that impact cannabis plants to create a diverse set of testing solutions that improve crop yield, accelerate breeding, and ensure product safety.

Many of the top cannabis testing labs trust MGC’s PathoSEEK® Microbial Safety Testing Platform to test for state-mandated microbial targets, making it the industry’s preferred microbial testing method. Now, labs and cultivators can use the new PathoSEEK Cannabis Virus Multiplex Assay to test plants for Hop Latent Viroid, Lettuce Chlorosis Virus, and Cannabis Cryptic Virus in a single PCR reaction.

Also check out The Hemp Coffee Exchange and use the promo code “drinkhemp” to get 10% off your purchase.

Additional Resources:

Emergent Cannabis SciencesArchive of Articles Hope has written for Cannabis Industry JournalCannMed Coffee Talk 17 with Mark Jordan Learn more about HLVd

This episode’s guest is Hope Jones. She is the CEO of Superior Phenos, LLC, a hemp young plant production company in Arizona and CEO of Emergent Cannabis Sciences, an international cannabis and micropropagation consulting company with clients in Colombia, Australia, Germany and Canada.

Dr. Jones has deep expertise in both hemp and cannabis often serving as an expert consultant on forming policy at the state and federal levels. NASA also tapped her micropropogation expertise to develop programs for growing plants on deep space missions. 

In our conversation, we talked a lot about tissue culture, as Dr. Jones will be leading a panel on the topic at CannMed 2021. We covered:

How cultivators use tissue culture to remediate plants that are infected with pathogens such as powdery mildew and Hop Latent Viroid How the COVID 19 pandemic has made Hope’s conversations with cultivators about plant virus and pathogen infections easierHow tissue culture can produce changes to the plant’s DNA Why alcohol is not an effective anti-viral solution for plantsHow cryogenic storage of tissue cultured mother plants can be used as an insurance policy against pathogen infection or other disasters

Thanks to our Sponsor Medicinal Genomics

Medicinal Genomics uses its unmatched knowledge into the cannabis genome and the microbes that impact cannabis plants to create a diverse set of testing solutions that improve crop yield, accelerate breeding, and ensure product safety.

Many of the top cannabis testing labs trust MGC’s PathoSEEK® Microbial Safety Testing Platform to test for state-mandated microbial targets, making it the industry’s preferred microbial testing method. Now, labs and cultivators can use the new PathoSEEK Cannabis Virus Multiplex Assay to test plants for Hop Latent Viroid, Lettuce Chlorosis Virus, and Cannabis Cryptic Virus in a single PCR reaction.

Also check out The Hemp Coffee Exchange and use the promo code “drinkhemp” to get 10% off your purchase.

Additional Resources:

Emergent Cannabis SciencesArchive of Articles Hope has written for Cannabis Industry JournalCannMed Coffee Talk 17 with Mark Jordan

Our guest in this episode is Dr. Mauro Maccarrone. Mauro is a pioneer in endocannabinoid research. In 1997, his team identified the receptor targets for the first two endocannabinoids that were discovered by Professor Raphael Mechoulam earlier in the decade: anandamide and 2-AG. Since then, the endocannabinoid system has been the focus of his research.  At CannMed 2021 he will present "The Complex Endocannabinoid System and the Challenge of Developing Selective Drugs towards its Distinct Elements". 

Dr. Maccarrone's understanding of the ECS is exceptional and I really enjoyed picking his brain on some of the topics that have come up in conversations with other podcast guests. 

Topics discussed include: 

The technical challenges that prevented researchers from understanding the endocannabinoid system until the early 90sHow the discovery of the endocannabinoid system changed medical research and drug development The difference between endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids The large number of enzymes involved in synthesizing and cleaving each endocannabinoid and how blocking or enhancing those enzymes can affect the concentration of endocannabinoids in a person’s bodyHow endocannabinoids work together to create an entourage effect How an increased level of endocannabinoids can help you forget a painful experience like childbirth or a difficult run. Why researchers need to agree on a standardized formulation of cannabinoids to use for research 

Thanks to our Sponsor: Cannabis Science and Technology

Cannabis Science and Technology focuses on educating the legal cannabis industry about the science and technology of analytical testing, quality control/assurance, extraction, cultivation, and processing/manufacturing. In October Cannabis Science & Technology launched a new brand, Cannabis Patient Care, which is an educational resource for patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and caregivers on the latest research, benefits, and treatment options cannabis provides for a variety of illnesses.

Also check out The Hemp Coffee Exchange and use the promo code “drinkhemp” to get 10% off your purchase.

Additional Resources:

CannMed Community Facebook GroupEndocannabinoid signaling at the periphery: 50 years after THCPubMed archive of publications featuring Dr. Maccarrone