The Power List 2021: 5×5

FEBRUARY 2021 # 14

Upfront Upfront In My View Sitting Down With Are expiry dates coming PCR detects “hot” hemp Does diversity and inclusion Mary Abood on exploring soon for cannabis? in minutes = exploitation and illusion? cannabinoid receptors

06 09 10 – 11 26 – 27

The Power List 2021: 5×5

Celebrating the most influential people in cannabis science with a high five. 14 – 23

www.thecannabisscientist.com March 2021

CONNECTIONS THAT MATTER

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Exposition. Technical Program. Short Courses. Networking Sessions. Employment Bureau. Giving You Five! Editorial The Power List isn’t the only new development for us this year...

March 2021

elcome to our second Power List issue! This year, we’re giving you 5×5 – the five most influential people in five different Wcategories: analysis, processing, plant science, biomedical research, and mentors. Nominated by you, our readers, and then selected by our expert judging panel, these leaders in the field share their thoughts on everything from their dream dinner party guests to the future of cannabis science on page 14. It was particularly enjoyable reading the nominators’ comments for the Mentor category, with many touching tributes to those who have inspired and educated you. We were only sorry we could not include more of your choices. Even if your mentor didn’t make the list, I encourage you to share your thoughts with them on how they have supported you – I think we could all use a little boost right now. Though a number of the names featured in 2021 also appeared in last year’s inaugural list, there are lots of new faces too – a testament to how quickly the field is developing. With more and more research being published (over 3,500 new papers on Pubmed in 2020!), and a steady flow of new CONNECTIONS developments in regulation, business, and policy, there’s lots to keep up with. THAT MATTER To help you stay up to date, we’re increasing the frequency of The Cannabis Scientist newsletter from monthly to weekly for 2021. If you’d like to get the latest articles from The Cannabis Scientist direct to your inbox, subscribe at tcs.txp.to/tcs-reg/0121. And don’t forget The Cannabis + Cannabinoid Curator, my pittcon.org five-minute roundup of the week’s cannabis-related news. I trawl through the week’s scientific papers (so you don’t have to) and give you just the curated highlights. Sign up at tcs.txp.to/ccc-sub/0121. Now, it’s time to grab a coffee, put your feet up, and find out Exposition. who made it onto this year’s Power List. Of course, half of the fun is disagreeing with the judges selections - feel free to get Technical Program. in touch and let me know what you think (and who you’ll be Short Courses. nominating next year). Networking Sessions. Charlotte Barker Employment Bureau. Editor

www.thecannabisscientist.com WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS Brought to you by Texere Publishing, the parent company of The Cannabis Scientist

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General enquiries 14 The Power List 2021: 5×5 www.texerepublishing.com | [email protected] Taking the effort In My View Who are the most influential +44 (0) 1565 745 200 | [email protected] Distribution: The Cannabis Scientist is published quarterly figures in cannabis science? by Texere Publishing Inc, 175 Varick St, New York, NY 10014. out of staying informed 10 It’s not enough to pay lip service Single copy sales $15 (plus postage, cost available on request TEXERENEWSLETTERS.COM [email protected]). Non-qualified annual subscription to equality in the cannabis cost is available on request. Reprints & Permissions – [email protected] industry, says Chris Ratliff The copyright in the materials contained in this publication and the typographical arrangement of this publication belongs to Texere Publishing Sitting Down With Limited. No person may copy, modify, transmit, distribute, display, 11 Umesh Chauhan hopes reproduce, publish, licence or create works from any part of this material or SUBSCRIBE typographical arrangement, or otherwise use it, for any public or commercial use without the prior written consent of Texere Publishing Limited. the Twent y21 trial will thaw 26 M ary Abood, Professor, The names, publication titles, logos, images and presentation style appearing in this publication which identify Texere Publishing Limited and/or its UK attitudes towards Temple University, Philadelphia, products and services, including but without limitation TEXERE and The Cannabis Scientist are proprietary marks of Texere Publishing Limited. medical cannabis Pennsylvania, USA Nothing contained in this publication shall be deemed to confer on any person any licence or right on the part of Texere Publishing Limited with respect to any such name, title, logo, image or style. 6 Upfront Upfront

Research Best Before...? Trends Innovation Study exploring cannabinoid degradation could help set industry standards for stability and shelf life of dried flower

Should cannabis flower be labeled with a “best before” date? Most territories don’t require it (yet), but the topic of stability and shelf-life is under discussion amongst regulators and cannabis companies who want to ensure consumers have a safe and consistent experience. In a new paper, Juris Meija and colleagues at National Research Council Canada take a detailed look at the impact of temperature on cannabinoid degradation in dried The Cannabis Stability Calculator developed by Juris Meija and colleagues flower (1). We know that temperature affects the rate of decarboxylation (for cannabis reference standard and a or shelf-lives, and help the industry lay example, converting THCA into THC). liquid chromatography-tandem mass the framework for standardization of To date, studies have mostly focused on spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to stability testing. There’s still work to be ◦ high temperatures (over 100 C) over a measure (often tiny) changes in samples done, though. Speaking to The Cannabis short time – mimicking decarboxylation stored for up to a year, at temperatures Scientist, Meija said, “There are still ◦ in an oven or when vaped. from -20 to 40 C. many unanswered questions, such as What happens to major and minor The results allowed the researchers to how much the kinetic parameters vary cannabinoids when cannabis is stored develop a cannabis stability calculator from strain-to-strain, or between hemp in warehouses or dispensary shelves for (free), where you can input different and cannabis.” weeks, months, or even years? Previous starting values, temperatures, and studies of decarboxylation at room durations to see how the concentration Reference temperature used now-outdated methods of cannabinoids will change over time. 1. J Meija et al., Anal Bioanal Chem, [Online or looked at only one cannabinoid. In The authors hope that the results will ahead of print] (2021). DOI: 10.1007/ this study, the team used a homogenous help regulators set degradation thresholds s00216-020-03098-2.

TIMELINE 1840 First reports of medical use in 2020 saw a record number of 2000 BC Western scientific 6000 literature (credited scientific papers featuring cannabis onwards to William Brooke History and cannabinoids. To celebrate, we 5000 O'Shaughnessy) decided to take a look at how many 4000 of Cannabis cannabis-related articles have been Written and 3000 BETWEEN 1840 archaeological Papers published AND 1945, FEWER published on PubMed each year, 2000 THAN 10 PAPERS WERE PUBLISHED Research evidence for 1000 going back to the 1800s. PER YEAR cannabis use 0

as a medicine 1840 1842 1844 1846 1848 1850 1852 1854 1856 1858 1860 1862 1864 1866 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Upfront 7

outcomes for over 900 transplant B I T E S I Z E patients and found no evidence that Escaping BREAKTHROUGHS patients who used cannabis were more likely to suffer complications the Cell The latest biomedical research on or transplant failure (5). cannabis and cannabinoids Synthesizing cannabinoids Drive safe without plants Vaping CBD-predominant cannabis or cells did not impair driving ability in a recent study, but vaping THC- Researchers at UCLA have found a predominant or THC/CBD- way to produce cannabinoids without equivalent cannabis did (1). “the vagaries of plant extraction” or the use of engineered microbes (1). Their Gut feeling proposed system is based on enzymatic A new study suggested that Maybe (not) baby? biosynthesis – using 12 different endocannabinoids could be the Resarchers followed women trying to enzymes they were able to produce missing link between changes in conceive after a previous miscarriage cannabinoids CBGA and CBGVA from the gut microbiome and symptoms and found that those using cannabis four inexpensive starting chemicals. of depression (2). were less likely to become pregnant This method of production could (6). However, the study had major have major advantages compared with New (and improved?) limitations – more research is needed. extracting cannabinoids from plants, A new phytocannabinoid called including speed, consistency, and large cannabidihexol was identified by References quantities of minor cannabinoids. Italian researchers and shown to have 1. TTR Arkell et al., JAMA, 324, 2177-2186 Previous attempts to make cannabinoids painkilling properties in mice (3). (2020). DOI:10.1001/jama.2020.21218 in this way were not commercially 2. G Chevalier et al., Nat Commun, 11, 6363 viable, requiring up to 25 enzymes and Mixed results (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19931-2 expensive starting materials. Though Epidiolex (CBD) improved symptoms 3. P Linciano et al., Sci Rep, 10, 22019 (2020). more fine-tuning is needed, the associated with Parkinson’s disease DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79042-2 authors believe that the new process but led to side effects (including 4. MA Leehey et al., Cannabis Cannabinoid is a significant step towards cell-free liver enzyme changes) in a small (13 Res, 5, 326 (2020). DOI: 10.1089/ cannabinoid production. patients) clinical study (4). can.2019.0068. 5. J Guorgui et al., Clin Transplant, e14215 Reference Should cannabis users get (2021). DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14215 1. MA Valliere et al., Nat Chem Biol [Online liver transplants? 6. SL Mumford et al., Hum Reprod, deaa355 ahead of print] (2020). DOI: 10.1038/ UCLA researchers looked at (2021). DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa355. s41589-020-0631-9.

1883 1996 2020 By late 1800s, 1910s-1930s California UN US states, cannabis extracts legalizes Canada and 1985 reschedules widely sold as Dronabinol medical use 2018 UK move to cannabis medicine in Europe and nabilone Epidiolex 6000 6000 prohibition and North 1965 (THC) approved (CBD) 5000 5000 America CBD and by FDA approved by THC first FDA 1992 2010 synthesized 4000 4000 1898 First Nabiximols Cannabinol (cannabis 1940 endocannabinoid 3000 3000 (CBN) first extract) CBD isolated cannabinoid to approved in discovered (anandmide) 2000 2000 be isolated UK 1000 1000

0 0

1840 1842 1844 1846 1848 1850 1852 1854 1856 1858 1860 1862 1864 1866 1868184018701842187218441874184618761848187818501880185218821854188418561886185818881860189018621892186418941866189618681898187019001872190218741904187619061878190818801910188219121884191418861916188819181890192018921922189419241896192618981928190019301902193219041934190619361908193819101940191219421914194419161946191819481920195019221952192419541926195619281958193019601932196219341964193619661938196819401970194219721944197419461976194819781950198019521982195419841956198619581988196019901962199219641994196619961968199819702000197220021974200419762006197820081980201019822012198420141986201619882018199020201992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

www.thecannabisscientist.com 8 Upfront

Is Your Elephant Depressed?

Here at The Cannabis Scientist, we take science seriously. But every so often a news item crosses our desks 3. Wild West 5. Sweet treat that is a little more… unusual. A less exotic animal, the humble cow, CBD oil may have a surprising alternative Here are five stories that raised is the subject of a study at Kansas State use – inhibiting the growth of yeast and our spirits (and sometimes our University. The researchers recently mold on strawberries (5). Fruit treated with eyebrows) in 2020. picked up a $200,000 grant from the US CBD oil looked better and had a lower Department of Agriculture to establish microbial load compared with untreated 1. Prehistoric pot concentrations of cannabinoids in cattle fruit. Whether consumers would see the Researchers made a fascinating historical fed on industrial hemp byproducts (3). addition of CBD as appetizing or off- discovery this year, when chemical The concern is less that we’ll end up putting remains to be seen! analysis revealed that cannabis was burned with buzzed bovines running amok, alongside frankincense at an Iron Age and more whether compounds like Read the full article at tcs.txp.to/surprising shrine in Israel (1). THC could make it down the food chain into humans. References 2. Big heart 1. E Arie et al., J Inst Archaeol Tel Aviv, 47, 5 As animal lovers, we were touched by 4. Healing hens (2020). DOI: the story of Fredzia the elephant (2). A More animal news! CBD could help 10.1080/03344355.2020.1732046 resident of Warsaw Zoo, the young African protect chickens against a nasty bacterial 2. J Nevett, BBC News (2020). Available at: elephant became stressed after the death infection, according to a study from https://bbc.in/3a5zVcX of herd matriarch Erna, so veterinarians researchers at the Department of 3. J Montgomery, Phys.org (2020). Available at: made Fredzia the first patient in a study Poultry Science at the Polish Academy https://bit.ly/3ogcrqt to assess whether CBD oil can help reduce of Sciences (4). CBD increased gut 4. P Konieczka et al., Vet Res, 51, 141 (2020). DOI: anxiety and stress in zoo animals. The bacterial enzyme activity in response to 10.1186/s13567-020-00863-0 zoo has yet to report on the success of infection with Clostridium perfringens, 5. H Inselberg et al., Postharvest Biol Technol, 173, the experiment, but we wish the poorly which can cause intestinal problems in 111416 (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j. pachyderm a happier 2021. birds and humans alike. postharvbio.2020.111416

for patients with heart conditions medical records, so it’s difficult to Is Cannabis a (1). One study suggested that draw conclusions about cause and cannabis smokers who underwent effect. But more research on this patient Heartbreaker? percutaneous coronary intervention to group is definitely needed – one of the unblock an artery in the heart were 50 studies recorded increasing rates of cannabis Cannabis use may be linked percent more likely to suffer bleeding use among patients who had survived a with more complications after the procedure and may be more heart attack or revascularization treatment. after heart attack or likely to suffer a stroke. revascularization procedures A second study found that heart attack Reference survivors who used cannabis (consumption 1. American Heart Association, “Marijuana use Two presentations at this year’s American method not recorded) were more likely to associated with complications after heart Heart Association Scientific Sessions report have a second heart attack than non-users. attack or procedures” (2020). Available at: that cannabis may lead to poorer outcomes Both studies were based on reviews of https://bit.ly/38Aqmll Upfront 9

IMAGE OF THE MONTH Spot the Difference

Genetic test can distinguish cannabis from hemp in minutes

A new PCR test developed by Japanese researchers can quickly and accurately distinguish between drug- type and fiber-type (hemp) cannabis, and hybrids of the two (1). The test looks for variation in both the THC and CBD synthase precursor genes – allowing more accurate results than testing for differences in either gene alone. And as the approach doesn’t rely on directly measuring cannabinoids, it can be used to test NIST to Be Back seeds and other non-cannabinoid containing parts of the plant. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are launching The authors do add a caveat: the second exercise in their CannaQAP scheme. After weighing this package genotype does not always perfectly of marijuana, NIST research chemist Brent Wilson ground up the contents to predict phenotype (environmental prepare samples with very precisely measured amounts of THC, CBD, and other factors are important too), but they compounds. Those samples will be sent to labs as part of a study that will help labs believe the 10-minute test will prove improve their measurement accuracy. Labs that are not licensed to handle controlled useful for forensic investigators and substances will receive samples of hemp instead of marijuana. cultivators alike. Credit: R. Press/NIST The paper comes hot on the heels of research from the University of Would you like your photo featured in Image of the Month? Minnesota that also used PCR to predict Send it to [email protected] cannabinoid content of cannabis plants – based on the CBD synthase gene (2).

References 1. T Yamamuro et al, “Rapid identification of QUOTE of the month drug-type and fiber-type cannabis by allele specific duplex PCR,” Forensic Sci Intl, 318, 110634 (2021). DOI: “We see many products in our lab containing cannabinoid isomers or 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110634 degradation products that do not occur in nature. There is no data on the 2. JP Wenger et al., “Validating a predictive model safety or metabolic fate of these compounds in the human body, and yet these of cannabinoid inheritance with feral, clinical, products are being marketed widely to an unsuspecting consumer base, and industrial Cannabis sativa,” Am J Bot, who are essentially being used as guinea pigs.” 107, 1423 (2020). DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1550 Chris Hudalla, ProVerde Labs Read more insights from top cannabis scientists in The Power List (page 14). 10  In My View In My View Experts from across the Diversity world share a single strongly held opinion and Inclusion = or key idea Exploitation and Illusion?

Paying lip service to equality isn’t enough. We need to address the systemic racism underpinning the entire cannabis industry

By Christopher Ratliff, President of Victus Capital Ventures, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Many cannabis companies make great Diversity and inclusion are hot topics claims about valuing diversity. But within the cannabis industry, and discrimination against Black, indigenous corporate America in general. But support “These blocks are or people of color (BIPOC) is rife. Over for BIPOC is all too often fueled by an the past four years, I have watched my wife ulterior motive: to make a profit, to exploit, used to build a – an analytical chemist, extraction artist, and ultimately to silence with illusion. and cannabis/hemp laboratory build-out When you saw an article about wall to protect the specialist – be undermined and gaslighted diversity and inclusion in the industry, because she is a female BIPOC. did you expect statistics, percentages, or privileged (and I’ve seen her interview for a “director” comparisons of women, men, BIPOC and role, where the CEO of the company white in the boardrooms and investment their money) from was searching for someone to build groups? While those numbers might out, manage, and operate a facility. My convey the idea of diversity and inclusion seeing the reality wife inquired why – given the level of in cannabis from an affirmative action responsibility involved – she would not standpoint, for me, there is a much bigger of inequality in be the COO. The CEO’s response: “That picture to look at when dealing with position would have to be cut from the diversity and inclusion in cannabis. our society.” same cloth, if you will.” Translation: “The The building blocks of exclusion and position is reserved for a white male.” systemic racism can be traced all the way I watched her work hard to build out a back to colonialism. These blocks are used for cannabis possession and supply, and facility for some well-funded individuals. to build a wall to protect the privileged we suddenly have a convenient way to After she accomplished for them what (and their money) from seeing the reality prevent large numbers of Black and they could not do without her, those same of inequality in our society. Even before Latino individuals from progressing executives terminated her employment the so-called “war on drugs,” the same professionally. Expunging non-violent without warning – her entry card simply disenfranchised groups were unable to cannabis charges or even legalizing the stopped working one morning. (The collect wealth, land or influence because drug on a federal level isn’t enough to company in question had a predominantly of slavery or native relocations. Growing address this elephant in the room. We white workforce and was based in a up below a certain financial line in the US need to take active measures to redress predominantly white town with a history will quickly teach you about exclusion... the balance. For instance, social equity of violent racism.) Fast forward to mass incarcerations programs are designed to award a certain In My View  11

percentage of licenses to disenfranchised In the same way, you might hear about engineered, is depressingly common. minority groups affected by the “war of racism, and you might even see some of And so, genuine diversity and inclusion in drugs” and systemic racism. However, the more overt examples, but that isn’t our field requires an entire sociopolitical such initiatives have been slow to be the same as understanding the structural re-education movement about cannabis adopted. While New Jersey introduced barrier to equality. How can you begin and engineered discrimination. If your a social equity tax on cannabis, the social to include someone if you do not (or will American history education ended in equity aspect of Ohio’s medical cannabis not) see how they are excluded from the high school, you have a lot to learn (two law was twice blocked by legislators. It’s fundamentals of society itself? accessible documentaries to start with difficult to make meaningful progress We can’t address diversity in the are Ken Burns’s “The West” and Ava if politicians, business leaders, industry without truly understanding DuVernay’s “13th”). and the public don’t understand or the dark history that brought us to this Two different educational ideologies acknowledge the underlying systemic point – where a Black man lies in a jail battle for the minds of Americans: prejudice that continues to curate cell for a minor cannabis possession the 1619 Project (1), which seeks to exclusion and illusion. while mostly white board members are put the legacy of slavery front and If you want to understand why a car making millions. How many dollars center in our understanding of US isn’t working, you must first lift the are companies going to commit to history, and the 1776 Commission hood. You might be able to hear or helping BIPOC get out of jail for (2) launched by President Trump to even see the problem while driving – but cannabis “offenses?” promote “patriotic education.” that is not the same as understanding The misperception that discrimination For now, I am afraid that “diversity what you are seeing and hearing from a in the US consists of a series of isolated and inclusion” in the cannabis sector is mechanical or engineering perspective. incidents, rather than being systemic and really just exploitation and illusion.

The news that the NHS is planning a Cannabis on the clinical study of cannabis oil in 2021, is long overdue and extremely welcome. “I firmly believe NHS in 2021? The Twenty21 trial aims to enroll 20,000 UK patients for a prospective that research will It’s long past time for the NHS study to assess the effectiveness of to embrace medical cannabis medical cannabis for conditions such prove the benefits of as a credible treatment as anxiety and multiple sclerosis (1). I firmly believe that research will cannabis, and we By Umesh Chauhan, Medical Expert at prove the benefits of cannabis, and Canmart, consolidated by Halo Labs, we hope the UK will quickly move to hope the UK will New Romney, UK a dispensary-style system that allows easy access to medical cannabis for quickly move to a those who need it. Though the conversation around dispensary-style safety, addictiveness, quality, and access continues, there is no doubt system that allows in my mind that non-psychoactive cannabinoids, including CBD and easy access to medical cannabigerol, are effective in treating many physical, emotional, and mental cannabis for those health challenges – without the side effects of traditional pharmaceuticals. who need it.” Many patients who have tried the traditional route to treat conditions

www.thecannabisscientist.com 12  In My View

such as chronic pain find that not only options before becoming eligible preserving the entourage effect, in is treatment unsuccessful, but they now for medical cannabis. Even then, which the sum of the parts adds up to require even more pharmaceuticals UK doctors resist prescribing it and a more effective medicine than isolated to treat drug side effects. Medical approving bodies are reluctant to molecules. cannabis, in contrast, is extremely fund it. This means that many people That said, being able to isolate and safe, working directly with the extract the active ingredients is also endocannabinoid system to bring the useful. Currently, only THC and CBD body back to homeostasis. are listed as active ingredients in the Many clinicians argue that the UK UK. Other beneficial compounds are is sleepwalking into an opiate crisis “People often considered contaminants, but I expect similar to the one that has been raging this to change as the benefits of minor in the USA for over 20 years. Regardless think of cannabis cannabinoids become more widely of where you stand on the opiate debate, researched. For example, cannabinol the fact remains that addiction is a as a single drug and cannabigerol show real promise as problem for both prescription and over- treatments for conditions like insomnia. the-counter opiates – and that the pain- but, ideally, To deal with the complexities of the relieving properties of medical cannabis cannabis industry, we need a central office could offer a less harmful solution. cannabis treatment that regulates quality in the medical People often think of cannabis as market, much like those in Germany a single drug but, ideally, cannabis should be tailored and the Netherlands. Now that the UK treatment should be tailored to the has left the EU, and especially with the patient, putting it firmly into the to the patient, impact of COVID-19, the country will realm of 21st century personalized need to move quickly to achieve this. As medicine. These days, next-generation putting it firmly an added incentive, a full-plant cannabis vaporizers can tell the patient the economy has been demonstrated to amounts of various cannabinoids they into the realm of provide jobs, opportunities, and much- have consumed, then gather data on needed tax revenue. how effective the treatment has been 21st century The UK is a conservative country and which mix of compounds works and it will likely take time to cut red best for that patient. A whole range personalized tape and provide a unified regulatory of innovative delivery systems then framework. However, as treatments are becomes available, from app-driven medicine.” confirmed through trials and patient transdermal patches to chewing gum. numbers increase, the pace of change There are several projects in will accelerate. development for trialing a range of Cannabis could be just as big a game- cannabis-based products for medicinal who desperately need cannabis-based changer as other naturally occurring use in the UK, both inside and outside medicines are forced to raise funds medicines that we now take for granted, the NHS. Gathering enough data to themselves or run the risk of a criminal such as aspirin (from willow bark), convince the medical establishment is record by buying it illegally. penicillin (bread mold), and opiates especially critical if we hope to solve In the UK, 40 percent of medical (poppy seeds). We live in a society that one of the major sticking points for UK cannabis is currently extracted from requires science to dictate our future. patients – the difficulty of accessing the flower; in my view, this should be Hopefully, the Twenty21 trial and medical cannabis. recognized and regulated as a herbal many others to follow will destigmatize The UK has only recently adopted the medicine, which would allow for cannabis and provide more information use of medical cannabis. The current some variation in active ingredient on its medical potential. legislative framework is chaotic, with profiles compared with traditional guidelines from different government pharmaceuticals. A full plant extract Reference agencies often at odds. Patients need would level out some inconsistencies, 1. Drug Policy Institute, “Project Twenty21” to have exhausted all pharmaceutical retaining more of the active profile and (2020). Available at: https://bit.ly/3phy5w3.

Sponsored Feature  13

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www.knauer.net/GPC THE POWER LIST 2021: 5×5 Feature  15

Celebrating the greatest minds in cannabis science with a high five

year ago, we launched the first Power List with one aim: to A celebrate the people who make cannabis science such a varied and exciting field. The response was overwhelmingly positive, so this year we’re going bigger and better – adding new categories to cover a wider range of cannabis scientists. Our “5×5” is made up of the top five influencers across five areas: analysis, processing, plant science, biomedical research, and mentors. Read on to find out who was nominated by their peers and then selected by our expert judging panel as one of the leading lights of the cannabis science sphere. With only five spots in each category, the judges had tough choices to make, and we ran out of space for some truly great scientists and mentors, both established and up-and-coming. We’ve included a few of the entries that caught our eye (but didn’t quite make it onto the list) at the end of each category.

www.thecannabisscientist.com 16  Feature

Analytical H E R O E S

Keeping consumers safe and satisfied with better cannabis testing and analysis

CHRISTOPHER HUDALLA FOUNDER AND CSO, PROVERDE LABS, MILFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, USA

Current focus: With little regulation in place, sometimes product development occurs faster than efficacy or safety can be assessed. As a result, we see many products in our lab containing cannabinoid isomers or degradation products that do not occur in nature. There is no data on the safety or metabolic fate of these compounds in the human body, and yet these products are being marketed REGINALD GAUDINO widely to an unsuspecting consumer base, VP R&D, FRONT RANGE SUSAN AUDINO who are essentially being used as guinea BIOSCIENCES, LAFAYETTE, ISO ASSESSOR AND INSTRUCTOR, pigs. We have been working to identify COLORADO, USA SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR AT AOAC and characterize these non-natural INTERNATIONAL CASP, AND components, including the chiral Inspiring people: My father. I’m CHEMISTRY LABORATORY separation of enantiomeric compounds. motivated to unlock all the medical CONSULTANT AT S.A. AUDINO & capabilities of cannabis so that people ASSOCIATES, LLC, WILMINGTON, Nominator comment: “A well known like him can have a fuller recovery DELAWARE, USA and highly educated scientist, who is after a major stroke. When I was a advancing the science teenager I told my dad – a retired Current focus: I continue to be energized of cannabis.” cancer surgeon – that I was going to by my consulting business and I’m co- become a scientist and put him out authoring a textbook on measurement of work one day. I’m still working on uncertainty, regulatory specifications, and that last part. decision rules for the cannabis industry. Plus, I’m thrilled to be launching a new Personal mission: Learn everything business that has been evolving over the about this plant, contribute to past three years and involves multiple changing the narrative, and share pending patents. that information so that everyone can develop their own relationship Outside interests: I co-own an alpaca farm, with cannabis. which has meant learning a lot about operating farm equipment, camelid genetics, and the textile industry. Feature  17

JEFFREY RABER DONALD CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, THE LAND WERC SHOP, LOS ANGELES, Ones to WATCH PROFESSOR OF CALIFORNIA, USA CHEMISTRY, FORENSIC SCIENCE, JULIA BRAMANTE: As well AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, Inspiring people: My children. as her day job as Lead Scientist at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS; They drive me to continue to Colorado’s Marijuana Reference CHIEF SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANT, want to make the world a better Laboratory, Julia is also Chair of the STEEP HILL; CONSULTANT, place, as the work we put in Cannabis Chemistry Subdivision FRONT RANGE BIOSCIENCES; today will directly shape their of the American Chemical Society EXPERT WITNESS IN CONTROLLED world of tomorrow. (cann-acs.org), which runs a SUBSTANCES, CALIFORNIA, USA; range of educational initiatives for CHIEF SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANT, Personal mission: Further the cannabis scientists. PURE JAMAICAN standardization of cannabis compositions to allow a better ERIC WALLIS: As CSO of Unexpected career turn: Shortly after we match with each individual’s needs. Demeter Laboratory in Oklahoma, opened Halent Labs, a parent of a young he is leading the first US public- child with Dravet’s syndrome taught me private partnership between a that cannabis could be life-saving – and regulatory authority and a testing told me how charlatans would deceive lab, whereby Demeter will provide desperate parents (for example, substituting oversight of licensed labs in the high-THC for high-CBD cannabis oil). I state on behalf of regulators. understood then how important it is to have access to reliable test results. It transformed SWETHA KAUL: One of the me from an anonymous scientist into a very pioneers of the California cannabis public advocate and activist for legal access testing space, she is passionate about to safe cannabis. rigorous lab testing standards and advocating for sensible regulations. Dream dinner party guests: Louis Pasteur, Jonas Salk, and Anthony Fauci.

Helping the industry evolve through PROS improved processing, extraction, Processing and formulation

JERRY W. KING exciting new application and began to R & D CONSULTANT, CRITICAL immerse myself in cannabis science FLUID SYMPOSIA (CFS), USA and technology.

Cannabis industry origin story: Around Proudest career moment: Being recognized 2013, I began getting contacted by by the American Chemical Society people in the cannabis industry wanting with the Kenneth A Spencer Award advice on CO2-based extraction, a for Outstanding Achievement in technique I have over 50 years of Agricultural and Food Chemistry for experience in. I realized this was an my work in extraction technology. 18  Feature

JOHN MACKAY excellence” across the USA. These classes FOUNDER AND CEO, SYNERGISTIC motivate the next generation – I hope TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATES, to give them the basics and watch their BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, USA imaginations change the world.

Current focus: Scientifically, I’m Future of the cannabis industry: Professional developing a single process stream scientists from all facets of the process for cannabis (including hemp) on the will join with traditional practitioners “formulation-centric” principle, developing to advance personalized medicine. a hybrid of technologies and automation to Prescription and over-the-counter products provide a consistent product formulation. will be appropriately regulated for efficacy But my most exciting project is expanding and safety, and the active isomers and other my training efforts – from seminars to synergistic compounds will be identified videos to hands-on training in “centers of for each application.

MARKUS ROGGEN FOUNDER AND CEO, COMPLEX BIOTECH DISCOVERY VENTURES (CBDV), VANCOUVER, CANADA

Career highlight: CBDV surviving 2020! In 2018, I made the leap from bench chemist to company founder, moved to a new country, and set about building a new kind of cannabis company. All this was tough enough, but when 2020 cut us off from meeting new clients at conferences, stopped us doing on-site research, and caused many existing clients to cut their research budget, things looked dire for us. We accelerated our plans to be a remote research laboratory, launched web-based products like our compound database, and pushed forward with our extraction ANDREW SAMANN University of Michigan. After years of AI research. Now, in 2021, we have a CEO AND PRINCIPAL bench research – working in pharma as solid client base and even more remote CONSULTANT, ORION GMP a GMP QC chemist and moonlighting solutions in the works. SOLUTIONS, ROCHESTER, in the budding cannabis industry – it MICHIGAN, USA was time to take a risk and start my Nominator comment: “Fantastic pedigree consulting firm, focusing on cannabis in chemistry, excellent attitude, and the Cannabis industry origin story: After product quality improvement through ability to dissect difficult problems into leaving the US Marines as a Sergeant, the application of pharmaceutical good solvable bits.” I cultivated medical cannabis in manufacturing practices. California. Through experience with the plant and its benefits, I became Nominator comment: “By combining enthralled with its potential to help knowledge of cGMP, cutting-edge other veterans suffering from war- research, and QC management, he is related disease states and trauma. This defining the framework for the safe, led to me study plant biology, human efficacious, and equitable applications physiology, and biochemistry at the of cannabis.” Feature  19

MONICA VIALPANDO Ones to WATCH FOUNDER AND CEO, VIA INNOVATIONS, SAN SHAWN HELMUELLER FRANCISCO, USA previously developed cannabis applications for Waters and Deutsche Cannabis industry origin story: The merging Process. Now, he’s CSO of Ionization of three very different yet complementary Labs, which offers a platform for career trajectories brought me into this cannabis companies to bring potency space. First, I am a pharmaceutically testing in-house. trained product development scientist with expertise in the formulation of MELISSA FAUTH has been poorly water-soluble compounds. Second, a driving force behind laboratory I had extensive inhalation development instruments manufacturer Fritch experience in pharmaceuticals and moving into the cannabis space – nicotine, where I was involved in testing, creating dedicated equipment for safety review, and harm reduction cannabis products and funding education for the implementation of the research to help optimize processes. Tobacco Products Directive in the UK. Finally, I had exposure to plant-based KELLAN FINNEY is a consultant medicines through Ayurveda during my in the science and business of yoga teacher training. cannabinoid manufacturing. As word The cannabis industry presented a perfect nerds, we’re big fans of his initiative opportunity to merge these three streams to create a standard nomenclature for and unlock my true scientific passion. Prior the industry. to that, I felt that my lifestyle and career were in constant conflict with each other.

Deepening our understanding of the P lant Science cannabis plant and developing better PIONEERS cultivation methods

KEITH ALLEN DIRECTOR OF BIOINFORMATICS, FRONT RANGE BIOSCIENCES, LAFAYETTE, COLORADO, USA

Inspiring people: Anthony Fauci, who has always acted with absolute integrity and an unshakeable dedication to the science.

Best part of my job: Discovering things about cannabis that nobody knows yet. Every time I turn around, this plant surprises me again. ALISHA HOLLOWAY put my training in population genetics VP RESEARCH & DATA SCIENCE, and genomics to work. The thought that PHYLOS BIOSCIENCE, PORTLAND, we can put that information into our OREGON, USA breeding program and develop improved varieties for medical, recreational, and Motivation: From the time my mom grew other uses inspires me now to keep a pot plant on our back patio in the 70s, pushing forward. I couldn’t figure out why cannabis was illegal. For recreational use, it didn’t Personal mission: We need more diversity make sense to prohibit, and medically, in the cannabis industry. I’ll be working cannabis has so much potential. That to make sure BIPOC and women have potential inspired me to join Phylos and opportunities to join the industry.

HOPE JONES CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, EMERGENT CANNABIS SCIENCES (ECS), PHOENIX, ARIZONA, USA

Current focus: I am launching a new cannabis biotech and young hemp plant production company here in Arizona. The market is primed but sourcing good cultivars has been challenging. We are working hard to be the company people can trust to meet that demand.

Proudest career moment: Working with former State Director of Arizona NORML, Mikel Weisser, was an invaluable experience. I served as an expert witness for two key state cases that kept one patient from going to jail and resulted in the overturning of a court ruling that deemed possession of cannabis concentrates a class four felony. Those cases could have ended LAWRENCE SMART hemp breeding program, and we were very differently without Mikel’s guidance PROFESSOR OF PLANT BREEDING generously funded with a $2 million and mentorship. We sadly lost Mikel last AND GENETICS, SCHOOL OF grant from the state. It is an exciting year and the Arizona cannabis industry INTEGRATIVE PLANT SCIENCE, crop to study – because there is so little will never be the same. CORNELL UNIVERSITY; published research it seems like every ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF little discovery is a Eureka moment. CORNELL AGRITECH, GENEVA, And with multiple potential market NEW YORK, USA opportunities, we get to breed for many different traits and cultivar types. Hemp industry origin story: Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Current focus: We are trying to Sciences was asked by the New York understand the functional and State Department of Agriculture and evolutionary relationships between the Markets to help support the emerging different cannabinoid synthases using hemp pilot program with research directed evolution approaches and in and extension. I proposed a long-term vitro expression of mutants. Feature  21

DANIELA VERGARA DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, AGRICULTURAL GENOMICS WATCH Ones to culture. A nominator praised his FOUNDATION AND RESEARCH efforts in “developing methods to ASSOCIATE, UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN ZAGER co-founded clean and multiply cannabis plant COLORADO, BOULDER, USA Dewey Scientific, a company that stocks at a rate that far exceeds provides growers with information conventional methods.” Inspirational people: T he Sunrise Movement, on the genotype and chemotype Justice Democrats, and my fellow coworkers of their crops, to guide future BRYANT JONES, VP of at United Campus Workers Colorado. breeding efforts. Cultivation Operations at Evokanna and a student at the University of Advice to my younger self: Try to slow down ADAM GUILBEAULT, Lab Minnesota, received an ElSohly and be patient – life is not a straight, clear Manager at Medmen, has made a Award in 2020 for his work on path but full of twists and turns. name for himself in cannabis tissue cannabis breeding.

R & D Exploring the medical potential TRAILBLAZERS of cannabis and cannabinoids

GEOFFREY GUY CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER, MELANIE KELLY GW PHARMACEUTICALS, P ROFESSOR OF CAMBRIDGE, UK PHARMACOLOGY, OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL Motivation: As a physician, I have listened SCIENCES, ANESTHESIA, carefully to patient reports, observed PERIOPERATIVE MEDICINE clinical phenomena, generated hypotheses, AND PAIN MANAGEMENT, and then found rational explanations in DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY, NOVA science to validate those observations and SCOTIA; CHIEF SCIENTIFIC drive medicine development. OFFICER FOR PANAG PHARMA INC. HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA; Career highlight: There have been many CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER highlights over the past 40 years but, without FOR TETRA BIOPHARMA INC., doubt, the rapid and successful development ONTARIO, CANADA novel lead compounds that I have been of Epidiolex is the most important. involved with reach the clinic. Current focus: I have been working at the interface of academic science Advice to my younger self: Don’t dwell and biotech these last few years since on the barriers – focus on what you the company I founded in Halifax, want to do. Be curious and engaged, Canada, was acquired by a larger and above all remember there are no clinical-stage biotech company. My substitutes for hard work and tenacity immediate goal is to see some of the in getting the job done.

www.thecannabisscientist.com Recognizing GEORGE ALEXANDROS Research GIANTS KUNOS MAKRIYANNIS SCIENTIFIC GEORGE BEHRAKIS CHAIR RAPHAEL MECHOULAM DIRECTOR, OF PHARMACEUTICAL needs no introduction. The “father NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, of cannabis research”, his work INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY; paved the way for all of the scientists AND ALCOHOLISM, NATIONAL FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR working with cannabinoids today. INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, OF THE CENTER FOR DRUG Recently, he was awarded the Harvey BETHESDA, MARYLAND, USA DISCOVERY, BOSTON, Prize in Chemical Engineering and MASSACHUSETTS, USA Medical Sciences. Career highlight: The discovery that peripherally restricted CB1 receptor Research: Uncovering the ROGER PERTWEE is another antagonists are effective in improving biochemical basis of the hero of cannabinoid pharmacology, visceral obesity and its metabolic endocannabinoid system and who worked with Mechoulam to complications, including fatty liver disease, developing new cannabinoid drugs. identify the first endocannabinoid, diabetes, and diabetic nephropathy. anandamide, and is now exploring the Without the neuropsychiatric liability Nominator comment: “His work possibilities of allosteric modulation that led to rimonabant being withdrawn, on cannabinoids has significantly of CB1 receptors. these compounds are resurrecting the contributed to our understanding therapeutic promise of CB1 blockade. of the endocannabinoid system and CECILIA HILLARD, a professor developed tools to enable receptor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Advice to my younger self: Be willing to take identification and crystallization of is carrying out groundbreaking work more risks in exploring new research areas cannabinoid receptors.” on the biochemistry of cannabinoids. and methodologies.

DANIELE PIOMELLI Career highlight: Seeing so many of my DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR former students and postdocs becoming OF ANATOMY AND accomplished and successful scientists. NEUROBIOLOGY, PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, Motivation: A sense of wonder for the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA beauty and immensity of the natural world. IRVINE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, USA Advice to my younger self: Time is precious man, don’t waste it on useless BS.

Supporting cannabis scientists at all Inspirational levels to reach their potential through M E N T O R S coaching, education, or advocacy

SUSAN AUDINO Best part of my job: The diversity of the role Nominator comment: “An incredible mentor ISO ASSESSOR AND INSTRUCTOR, and the opportunity to exert a positive and resource to all facets of the cannabis SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR AT AOAC influence. I take great pleasure in working scientific community. It is a sincere INTERNATIONAL CASP, AND in a collaborative environment where honor to have her guidance, as CHEMISTRY LABORATORY each participant is both student she consistently makes a CONSULTANT AT S.A. AUDINO & and teacher. The opportunity to concerted effort to provide ASSOCIATES, LLC, WILMINGTON, interact with aspiring scientists support (despite her DELAWARE, USA gives me great hope for the future! extremely busy schedule)!” ALISIA RATLIFF CEO, VICTUS CAPITAL VENTURES, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, USA

Cannabis industry origin story: I was in search of a career that allowed me to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. One JOSHUA CROSSNEY of the first medical cannabis start-ups in PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, Florida were looking for experienced JCANNA AND CANNABIS chemists, and I found myself in the right SCIENCE CONFERENCE, USA place at the right time!

Motivation: In 2012, I was shocked Proudest career moment: Successfully to learn that there were more building out a cannabis manufacturing testing standards for wastewater facility in 45 days. than there were for cannabis. My goal was to bring together many Nominator comment: “A strong, leading voice diverse, unconnected groups to in the role of women – particularly women share information and advance of color – in the cannabis industry. She is an cannabis science. extremely approachable mentor who truly cares and follows up with the people she Proudest career moment: When we oversees. She has brought professionalism hosted our very first Cannabis into an industry that so desperately needs it.” Science Conference in October 2016. Leading up to that first show, we outgrew our event space two times and had to find larger venues. Acknowledging AMBASSADORS From the moment we kicked off o f our first session, I knew we had Cannabis Science created something special. SCOTT KUZDZAL (Shimadzu Scientific Instruments) has been at the forefront of cannabis analysis CHRISTINE SMART since its inception and is a tireless PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF MONICA VIALPANDO advocate for good science in the INTEGRATIVE PLANT SCIENCE, FOUNDER AND CEO, VIA field, offering support and advice CORNELL UNIVERSITY, GENEVA, INNOVATIONS, SAN FRANCISCO, USA to scientists and entrepreneurs NEW YORK, USA in the space. A nominator said, Lessons learned: Work-life balance is “He has an amazing knowledge Lessons learned: I always learn as much critical to enduring the entrepreneurial of chromatography and mass (sometimes more) from projects that fail marathon. Once I began to dedicate spectrometry, but he also really as I do from the ones that succeed. Just be significant time for myself (and honor understands toxicity and clinical sure to take the time to think about why it it), I immediately noticed an increase in testing. Without his guidance, our did not work – this increases your chance productivity and mood. startup would be very far behind.” of success moving forward. Nominator comment: “Monica has been a JOHN ABRAMS, Chairman Nominator comment: “Chris’s lab is working huge mentor for me in the past 2–3 years. and CSO of The Clinical on powdery mildew, Botrytis, She continues to teach me lessons Endocannabinoid System and other fungal pathogens about product formulations and Consortium, is also Scientific that can be devastating to how to create new and inspiring Director of the Emerald Conference, hemp crops. She’s training cannabis products for safety, responsible for the strong scientific the next generation of efficacy, and unique routes of and networking program at one of scientists, who will work administration.” our favorite cannabis science events. with farmers and growers Sadly, this year’s event is postponed to combat these threats.” due to the pandemic, but we look forward to heading to sunny San Diego again soon. 24  Solutions

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How did you get involved in What are you focusing on right now? cannabinoid science? For the past few years, I’ve mostly been I’ve been exposed to science my entire looking at novel cannabinoid receptor “It’s exciting life. My father was a scientist – a subtypes, beyond the more familiar CB1 university professor – and I would visit and CB2 receptors. In particular, we’re learning about a him at work as a child. exploring the pharmacology of two G I studied Chemistry at college and then protein-coupled receptors, GPR55 and brand-new system; did my PhD in pharmacology, looking GPR18. These receptors could have great at the endogenous opioid system, and clinical significance, and we are working every discovery is continued my work with opiate receptors to determine their precise molecular as a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford structure and function in the body. important.” University and an Assistant Professor The other main area my group is at Virginia Commonwealth University. working on is allosteric modulators of When I learned about the newly identified the CB1 receptors (the main receptor for federally funded researchers, there is cannabinoid receptors (structurally for THC). The usefulness of drugs just one (low THC) strain available. similar to receptors for opiates) I was targeting CB1 receptors has always More funding is now coming from state intrigued – I immediately wanted to been limited by side effects. Allosteric governments, especially those who are understand this new system better. modulators, which change the shape dedicating a portion of tax revenues from of the receptor, have the potential to legal sales to fund cannabis research. Public– Is that what’s kept you working with upgrade or downgrade the action of the private partnerships are also on the rise. I cannabinoids – the novelty? body’s own endocannabinoids, which we haven’t been directly involved, but the state In part, yes. It’s exciting learning about hope will come with fewer side effects than of Pennsylvania has established relationships a brand-new system; every discovery is taking plant or synthetic cannabinoids. with growers and pharmacies to support important. But what’s also kept me in the research here at Temple University. endocannabinoid field is the excellent, As a scientist, how do you feel about supportive community of researchers. increasing access to legal cannabis? How has COVID-19 affected your work? I started attending the International As far as medical cannabis is concerned, I’m mainly working from home. The folks in Cannabinoid Research Society meetings I am broadly supportive and think that my lab are able to continue their experiments, soon after their inception in 1990, and there are several indications where it can but they’re encouraged to just do what they was impressed by the collaborative spirit be helpful, such as neurological disease and need to do and then leave. I think the biggest and good science I found there. It’s a very pain. Recreational use is more of a political impact has been the ability to interact with special community. issue. Clearly, the war on drugs has not been colleagues. We still talk regularly on Zoom, successful, so perhaps a new approach is but it’s not quite the same. So many great What has been your proudest warranted. But as a drug abuse researcher, ideas stem from a coffee break chat! scientific achievement? it’s also clear that people can become I’m very proud of the work that I did dependent on cannabis and suffer harm What are you excited about for 2021? looking at the endocannabinoid system as a result. It’s important that we don’t We just got a new piece of equipment (a in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). treat it as panacea. specialized plate reader) that will allow We found that THC was able to – at least us to screen compounds more rapidly temporarily – slow disease progression in One thing everyone agrees on is that we and I’m excited to be able to accelerate animal models. Those studies helped need more research on cannabis. What the pace of our studies of signaling by inspire others to start clinical trials (still changes would make that easier? cannabinoid receptors. We’re a small ongoing) of cannabinoids to treat the As a researcher in the US, the obvious answer lab so anything that lets us get results symptoms of ALS. I know a neurologist is to make it federally legal! Failing that, faster is exciting! who is using medical cannabis for her we need changes in legislation to make it More generally, I still get really excited ALS patients – when I hear that it helps easier for scientists to get access to cannabis about generating new data in the lab. them, that’s a big motivator to continue and the money to study it. Everyone And I’ve been blessed to work with great to learn more about cannabinoids and (including NIDA) agrees that we need to mentors, postdocs, and students. Now more their medical potential. have more research on different strains, but than ever, that is what keeps me going.

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