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Cannabis

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Cannabis is popping up everywhere.  Former Prime Minister William Hague says the War on Drugs has been lost and they should be legalised.  The respected IEA Institute of Economic Affairs has published a report called “Joint Venture” that estimates that legalising cannabis would raise more than £700 million tax revenues for the government and cut NHS costs by £300 million. The same report concludes that over 60s consume 34 tonnes of cannabis a year.  Jeremy Corbyn said “Cannabis oil use is clearly beneficial to people and should be made readily available as quickly as possible.’  7-11 has just launched a CBD range in 4500 US stores. Holland & Barrett power through sales of cannabidiol oil (CBD ), as do other retailers.  The stuff works.  It’s not just the CBD part of cannabis that is therapeutic. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the part that gets you high, also has beneficial effects, not least with multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.  The New Scientist July 28 issue profiles GW Pharmaceuticals in Kent, the leading producers worldwide of a 50:50 blend of CBD and THC branded as Sativex.  It has been widely used for more than a decade to benefit sufferers from multiple sclerosis. CBD and THC are complementary, yin and yang.  Some proportions might work better than others, depending on the disease and the customer/patient.  It is, as the Victorians well understood, a remarkable and versatile medicine.

The psychotherapy and medical professions are demanding wider availability for therapeutic applications of psilocybin, the LSD- like substance extracted from magic mushrooms. The experiences of end of life users raise the question: ‘why do I have to wait until I have terminal cancer before I can legally take psychedelics and become happy with life, death and existence?’  Unlike other antidepressants, just a couple of sessions with psilocybin can provide a lifetime of cure.  Not very clever from a Big Pharma point of view, but wonderful for the person who wants to live a full and satisfying life.

Cannabis is now fully legal in Canada, California, Washington, Colorado, Uruguay, Portugal and Holland. The legalisation pathway goes like this: first allow the use of CBD; then allow the use of medicinal cannabis; then allow full recreational use. Pakistan, Morocco, Afghanistan and many other countries with a history of cannabis use are quietly relaxing their controls. The only reason they made it illegal was US lobbying at the UN and threats of sanctions back in 1961. This is hard to sustain now so many US States have legalised.

It very much looks like widespread access to cannabis and psychedelic drugs will be commonplace in the next 5 years.  We will then look back on it as we once looked back on Prohibition and wonder why on earth we ever banned the stuff, crammed our prisons with innocent users and created global murderous criminal networks to fulfil demand.

The natural products business needs to consider is the coming impact on the way we live, the way we eat, what we buy and the way we interact with one another.  There was already a large scale experiment with widespread use in society of cannabis and psilocybin-like materials in the 60s.  What happened?

-       People formed communes and collectives (like Infinity, Suma and Essential) and shopped local and organic

-       Diet moved towards vegan/vegetarian/macrobiotic.

-       Alcohol consumption reduced - you can’t be high and drunk at the same time

-       People became actively opposed to war and pushed their leaders for peaceful solutions. 

-       People became mindful, adopting yoga, zen and meditation

 Healthy living and psychoactive drugs are better medicine than pharmaceuticals and alcohol. Cannabis and psilocybin use will induce major changes in society as legalisation makes usage much more widespread. The NHS will help people transition from opioids and antidepressants to the responsible use of cannabinoids and psychedelics.  There will be a negative impact on the pharmaceutical industry and reduced militarism and chemical agriculture.  Pension funds will have to provide for the increase in longevity.

It could have the potential to be social medicine as well. As we become more connected and supportive of one another economics, society and politics will change to reflect that thinking.

These changes are coming. They will dramatically increase demand for the offerings of the natural health industry. 

Are we ready for it?

 

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Today’s Observer - granddaughter Saba’s writing described as “sensual, witty, audacious, belligerent dangerous brilliance.”
Today’s Observer - granddaughter Saba’s writing described as “sensual, witty, audacious, belligerent dangerous brilliance.”
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We’re going in - please support! Link in bio to donate to the tireless work of @hastingsrnli
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