CannMed Coffee Talk

Bonni Goldstein is one of the country’s most respected and experienced medical cannabis physicians, having treated thousands of patients with medical cannabis. She is the owner and medical director of Canna-Centers Wellness & Education. She is Clinical Advisor to Cannformatics, and she is the author of the book titled “Cannabis is Medicine: How Medical Cannabis and CBD Are Healing Everything from Anxiety to Chronic Pain”. 

Bonni has participated in every CannMed event since we started in 2016, she is a perennial Advisory Board Member, and she will lead the CannMed Medical practicum again in 2024. During our conversation we talked about: 

What attendees can expect from CannMed Medical Practicum

New research that she is excited about concerning THCA and CBDA 

Her method for customizing cannabinoid formulations for her patients  

The many barriers preventing patients from using cannabis 

How the cannabinoid medicine options have expanded over the last decade 

The difficulty of keeping up with the cannabis medicine literature 

Thank You to This Episode's Sponsor: The DENT Institute

With more than 300,000 patient visits per year, the DENT Neurologic Institute ranks among the largest neuroscience centers in North America. Its 24 subspecialty clinics often treat the most challenging neurologic conditions including but not limited to Migraine, Chronic pain, ALS, MS, Parkinson’s, Dementia, and Neuro-Oncology. With their mission of advancing neuroscience, the Dent Institute established a cannabis clinic in 2016 to aid in the treatment of these chronic conditions seen throughout the institute.

Learn more at dentinstitute.com

Additional Resources

Cannabis is Medicine by Bonni Goldstein, MD [Book]

@bonnigoldsteinmd on Instagram

Bonni Goldstein, MD on LinkedIn

Request an Invitation to CannMed 23

Review the Podcast!

CannMed Archive

CannMed Community Board [Facebook Group]

Healthcare Provider Medical Cannabis Research Study

Dr. Patricia DiCiano is a scientist with the Institute for Mental Health and Policy Research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She is also an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto. Patricia has a multi-disciplinary background and her general research area is clinical trials and regulated studies into the safety of cannabis and other substances of abuse. Earlier this year, she co-authored a study that evaluated the utility of THC cutoff levels in blood and saliva for the detection of impaired driving. 

During our conversation, we discussed: 

The different allowable limits for THC levels in drivers 

The relationship between THC levels and impaired driving 

The best fluid to test for THC impairment 

The additive effects of combining alcohol and cannabis on driving impairment 

The differences in how alcohol and cannabis affect driving performance  

Thanks to this episode’s sponsor: Trusted Canna Nurse 

Trusted Canna Nurse was founded by Megan Mbengue and Ariane Williams, two nurses who are dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional medicine and the world of cannabis and psychedelics. They specialize in creating evidence-based treatment plans for all ages that address chronic illnesses, treatment-resistant conditions, mental health, autism, and more. 

Learn more at trustedcannanurse.com 

Additional Resources

The Utility of THC Cutoff Levels in Blood and Saliva for Detection of Impaired Driving

Canadian Cannabis Survey

The “Next Day” Effects of Cannabis Use: A Systematic Review

Register for CannMed 24

Review the Podcast!

CannMed Archive

Dr. Karla Gage is Assistant Professor of Weed Science and Plant Biology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she received her Ph.D. in Plant Biology with a focus in Weed Ecology in 2013. In short, Karla is a weed expert, but not in the weed you smoke, but rather the weeds you pull. Her research focuses on using Integrated Weed Management to control and suppress weeds in midwestern US rotational crops, including corn, soybean, wheat, sorghum, and now hemp. 

During our conversation we discussed: 

What negative effects weeds can have on hemp 

Which weed species are threatening to hemp 

Herbicides that are approved for hemp and the threat of herbicide resistance 

Integrated weed management strategies, such as, crop rotation, cover crops, and chaff lining, plastic coverings, and more 

How ferral hemp varieties may have traits to help breed more resistant hemp varieties 

Thanks to this Episode's Sponsor: Rare Earth Genomics

Rare Earth Genomics Texas is a partnership formed to accelerate hemp research and produce critical tools for the farmer. REG’s mission is to increase likelihood of a successful harvest through genetic analysis and rigorous environmental testing of vigorous cultivars. Reliable datasets, analytic tools and stable germplasm are core to the program. Success of the farmer is the goal!

Learn more at rareearthgenomics.com

Dr. Laszlo Mechtler is the Chief Medical Officer at the DENT Neurologic Institute, the largest outpatient neuroscience center in the United States. Dr. Mechtler is the Director of the DENT Cannabis Clinic, which has more than 15,000 patients certified through the NYS MMJ program and continues to grow each day. 

He has published some of the first major retrospective research trials on Medical Marijuana in Headaches and other neurologic disorders and lectures both nationally and internationally and is recognized as a leader in the fields of Neuroimaging, Headache Medicine, Neuro-Oncology, and Medical Cannabis. Dr. Mechtler is also a member for he CannMed 24 Advisory Board. 

During our conversation we discuss: 

How the DENT Institute is uniquely positioned to study medical cannabis for a variety of conditions 

Results from recent studies conducted at the DENT Cannabis Clinic

The challenges of studying cannabis medicine and how a proposed rescheduling could help 

The ongoing struggle to convince fellow clinicians and medical associations that medical cannabis is legitimate 

Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: The DENT Institute

With more than 300,000 patient visits per year, the DENT Neurologic Institute ranks among the largest neuroscience centers in North America. Its 24 subspecialty clinics often treat the most challenging neurologic conditions including but not limited to Migraine, Chronic pain, ALS, MS, Parkinson’s, Dementia, and Neuro-Oncology. With their mission of advancing neuroscience, the Dent Institute established a cannabis clinic in 2016 to aid in the treatment of these chronic conditions seen throughout the institute.

Learn more at dentinstitute.com

Additional Resources

Register for CannMed 24

Submit an Abstract for CannMed 24

Review the Podcast!

CannMed Archive

CannMed Community Board [Facebook Group]

Bill Graham is the Founder of Microcline Tissue Culture, a company that provides tissue culture kits, consulting, and training to cannabis cultivators.

With hands-on expertise, he retailed and distributed hydroponics supplies, sourced grow lights globally, created Biojuice nutrients, designed Phresh filter air quality systems, and simplified micropropagation cloning - creating the leading Microclone tissue culture kits in 2005.

During our conversation we discussed:

The basics of tissue culture

Tissue culture as propagation alternative to cloning

How mother plants can lead to pathogen infections and loss of vigor

Combining tissue culture and qPCR to eliminate pathogens, such as hop latent viroid

and more!

Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: Cambium Analytica

Cambium Analytica, provides analytical, product development, and quality assurance services for the natural foods, botanical products, natural pharmaceutical, and dietary supplement industries. Cambium is a leading research organization that is focused on leveraging its expertise on drug discovery and method development, to be a research partner of choice for new innovative companies in the burgeoning botanical medicines space. Their focus on applying analytical techniques in combination with sensory, product development, and consumer research is driving advancement in natural product quality and innovation.

Learn more at cambiumanalytica.com

Additional Resources

microclone.com

Microclone on YouTube

Register for CannMed 24

Submit an Abstract for CannMed 24

Review the Podcast!

CannMed Archive

CannMed Community Board [Facebook Group]

Some people in the cannabis industry are questioning whether it is appropriate or necessary to test inhaled cannabis products for pathogenic Aspergillus. 

Full disclosure, we at Medicinal Genomics sell qPCR testing kits designed to detect pathogenic Aspergillus on cannabis products. We have also published several resources on our website that describe the potential harms that can be caused by inhaling pathogenic Aspergillus spores and cite with more than 2 dozen Aspergilosis cases in cannabis users. 

We have also recommended that states that are considering cannabis testing regulations adopt pathogenic Aspergillus testing. Not because we sell Aspergillus tests, but because we want to protect patients. 

By almost any measure, cannabis is one of the most safe and effective medicines available. And in many cases, the potential harms that can come from using cannabis are not caused by the plant, but rather contaminants. And although cases are rare, The documented cases describing Aspergillosis deaths from contaminated cannabis vastly outnumber the published clinical risks for every other contaminant for which the cannabis industry tests. There are no documented deaths for cannabis-derived heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticides or incorrect cannabinoid labeling. The same cannot be said 

So that is our position, but of course we acknowledge that we are biased, and we are not experts on pathogenic fungi; however, our guest today is. 

David W. Denning is a Professor of Infectious Diseases in Global Health at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He was the founding president, executive director, and CEO of Global Action For Fungal Infections, an organization dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of fungal disease.

In 2016, he became the director of the National Aspergillosis Centre in Manchester, which treats patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), and led the committee that developed the first CPA guidelines. He chairs the editorial board of a website which focusses on aspergillus and he leads an organisation which provides education on fungal diseases. 

In short, Dr. Denning is the leading authority on all things Aspergillus, and we asked him many of the questions that have been debated on social media recently, including: 

Should cannabis be tested for pathogenic Aspergillus

Should there be an allowable limit for pathogenic Aspergillus?

Is Apergillosis only a concern for immunocompromised patients? 

Are the number of Aspergillosis cases under reported? 

How difficult is Aspergillosis to diagnose and treat? 

How ubiquitous is Aspergillus in the air we breathe? 

and so much more. 

Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: Modern Canna

Modern Canna is regarded as Florida’s first medical cannabis laboratory and one of the most trusted third party testing providers in the United States. The company’s mission is to help set the standard for cannabis testing labs worldwide by providing the most accurate and efficient testing services, delivered with a sense of compassion, integrity, and moral obligation; and to attract and attain clients who value quality data that is verifiable, reproducible, and legally defensible. Modern Canna is the only Leafly Certified laboratory in the eastern United States and adheres to the industry’s strictest SOPs and quality control standards. Modern Canna offers a wide variety of testing, rapid turnaround times, and consulting services to Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTC’s) and hemp businesses throughout the US.

Learn more at moderncanna.com

Additional Resources

Too Many Mouldy Joints – Marijuana and Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

The Aspergillus website

https://en.fungaleducation.org/

Submit an Abstract for CannMed 24

Review the Podcast!

CannMed Archive

CannMed Community Board [Facebook Group]

Mitchell Westmoreland is a Ph.D. candidate working with Dr. Bruce Bugbee in the Crop Physiology Laboratory at Utah State University. His Ph.D. research focuses on whole-plant physiology and cultivation of medical Cannabis in controlled environments. He has published his research on photobiology and plant nutrition in high-impact peer-reviewed scientific journals.

I spoke with Mitch about the various environmental factors that contribute to cannabis yield, specifically light, temperature, humidity, and CO2. Mitch does a great job explaining the energy cascade, which describes the underlying mechanisms that plants use to convert photons to energy and ultimately biomass. Mitch also explains how those factors can be manipulated to not only increase yield but also make better use of resources.

Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: Advanced Nutrients.

Founded in 1999, Advanced Nutrients was the first to develop a complete nutrient system that unlocks the true genetic potential of the cannabis plant. Since its inception, the brand has introduced more than 50 innovations to the cultivation community, and continues to revolutionize the space through proprietary scientific discoveries. 

Learn more at advancednutrients.com 

Additional Resources

Elevated UV photon fluxes minimally affected cannabinoid concentration in a high-CBD cultivar

Cannabis lighting: Decreasing blue photon fraction increases yield but efficacy is more important for cost-effective production of cannabinoids

Sustainable Cannabis Nutrition: Elevated root-zone phosphorus significantly increases leachate P and does not improve yield or quality

An approach to crop modeling with the energy cascade

Exploring the Limits of Crop Productivity

The Science and Technology of Medical Cannabis Cultivation Utah State University Course

Review the Podcast!

CannMed Archive

CannMed Community Board [Facebook Group]

Danielle McCartney is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney. Her main role is to coordinate clinical research into the effects of cannabidiol on simulated car driving performance. 

Danielle and her colleagues recently published a systematic review of 20 studies that examine the next-day effects of THC. As the study states, “The length of time an individual should wait following cannabis use before performing safety-sensitive tasks, is a critical issue.” Some government agencies and experts recommend individuals avoid performing safety-sensitive tasks for at least 24 hours. It should not surprise you to learn that the data suggests a much shorter impairment window.

During our conversation, we discuss:

The different types of studies the authors reviewed and the criteria they used to evaluate them

The different tests administered to measure impairment

How next-day effects of THC compare to acute effects

How next-day effects are different in medicinal cannabis patients vs. recreational users

What methods are available to determine THC impairment in drivers

What is a reasonable impairment window for THC

Thank You to This Episode's Sponsor: Medicine Women Health

Medicine Women’s team of specialists includes Medical Doctors, Naturopaths, Medical Cannabis Experts, Nutritionists and Alternative Health Practitioners. These integrative teams evaluate health issues and design targeted protocols to promote personal healing. Medicine Women’s Protocols have successfully alleviated symptoms of Cancer, Auto-Immune Diseases and Neurological Conditions, as well as providing overall Health Rejuvenation.

Learn more at www.medicinewomenhealth.com. 

Additional Resources

The “Next Day” Effects of Cannabis Use: A Systematic Review

Determining the magnitude and duration of acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC)-induced driving and cognitive impairment: A systematic and meta-analytic review

Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics

Review the Podcast!

CannMed Archive

CannMed Community Board [Facebook Group]

The CannMed Coffee Talk is on a bit of a break. We will be back with a brand new episode on Wednesday, September 20th. 

This hiatus will allow us to upgrade some of our equipment and processes so we can improve our production quality and give us more time between recording the podcast and getting the episodes published. You may have noticed that our last few episodes have included a video element, which adds a whole new layer of complexity to the production. 

So hang tight, we already have some great guests lined up that I think you will all enjoy. But in the meantime, we invite you to check out any past episodes you may have missed. They are all available on the CannMed Coffee Talk Podcast page. And please also check out the video recordings of all the past CannMed presentations in the CannMed Video Archive.

Zamir Punja, PhD is a Professor of Plant Biotechnology at Simon Fraser University in Canada. His research interests include the etiology and management of plant diseases on vegetable and horticultural crops, and the applications of plant biotechnology for disease management. Since 2018, his work has shifted to researching cannabis, where his group has described a range of previously unreported pathogens affecting the crop and has evaluated various methods for disease management.

His team just published the results of a 3-year study that identified several factors related to growing, drying, and trimming cannabis that have a direct effect on Yeast and Mold levels. This is important because when growers fail for microbial testing, yeast and mold is most often the reason. So if you are a grower who has struggled with total yeast and mold, perhaps these findings can help you get back on track. I’ve put a link to the paper in the show description, and if you are watching on YouTube, I have added several figures and images from the paper throughout the conversation.

We covered:

The different species of yeast and mold that are commonly found on cannabis and which are potentially harmful to humans

The value of TYM testing as an indicator of product safety and quality

What is a reasonable threshold for Total Yeast and Mold

How Cannabis genotype affects TYM levels

Why leaf litter drives up TYM levels

Why hang drying is a better method than wet trimming

The drawbacks of irradiation

And more

Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: Agilent Technologies

Whether you manufacture or test cannabis, you face the challenge of delivering high-quality products, increasing sample volume, and meeting emerging regulations. Agilent offers best-in-class cannabis and hemp analysis solutions featuring robust instruments, software, services, and consumables. Their team of experts can develop, implement, and optimize methods to get you up and running quickly. Learn more at agilent.com

Additional Resources

Total yeast and mold levels in high THC-containing cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) inflorescences are influenced by genotype, environment, and pre-and post-harvest handling practices

5 Factors Causing Cannabis to Fail Total Yeast and Mold

Review the Podcast!

CannMed Archive

CannMed Community Board [Facebook Group]