By RICHARD HALSTEAD | Marin Independent Journal
PUBLISHED: September 26, 2021

MarinHealth Medical Center is calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill that would require hospitals and other health care facilities to permit terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis in their institutions.

The legislation, Senate Bill 311, has become known as Ryan’s Law – named after Ryan Bartell, who was forced to move from California to Washington state in order to use cannabis instead of coma-inducing morphine for his pain while in end-of-life hospice care. Jim Bartell, Ryan’s father, has campaigned tirelessly for a change in the law.

The bill passed with overwhelming support in the Legislature and was sent to Gov. Newsom on Sept. 17 for his signature. It would prohibit smoking or vaping as methods to use medical cannabis.

“Our district board unanimously voted in support of Ryan’s Law SB 311 this year and I am writing in support of that bill being signed into law,” David Klein, CEO of both MarinHealth Medical Center and the Marin Healthcare District, wrote in a letter to Newsom on Wednesday.

MarinHealth is a publicly owned hospital overseen by the publicly elected Marin Healthcare District board. Dr. Larry Bedard, a longtime member of the district board, has been championing the cause of medical cannabis for years. He is a member of the American Medical Association’s cannabis task force.

“Maybe MarinHealth can show some leadership and be one of the first hospitals in California, if not the country, to approve the use of cannabis,” said the retired emergency medicine physician.

Managers at Marin’s other two hospitals operated by Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health did not respond to a request for comment.

Bedard said the district board voted in March to endorse Ryan’s Law and ask Klein to write a letter of support. In his letter, Klein notes that in 2016 the district board voted to explore allowing cannabis in MarinHealth facilities.

“This was done in recognition of the fact that patients and their families were already bringing cannabis to the hospital,” Klein wrote. “It was also put forward with the knowledge that medical cannabis could be treated like any other patient-submitted medication, or (over-the-counter) product, by our pharmacy and staff.”

Bedard said MarinHealth patients may be using cannabis without informing their physicians, risking dangerous interactions with other medications they are taking. He said cannabis can interact with anticoagulants, which thin blood to prevent strokes; painkillers such as Vicodin and Oxycontin; and anti-anxiety medications such as Valium.

“It’s really an argument for physician education,” Bedard said. “The vast majority of the physicians are completely unaware.”

The resolution approved by the district board in 2016 quoted from a Journal of the American Medical Association article, which reported that medicinal cannabis is significantly helpful with chronic pain, neuropathic pain, muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis and paraplegia, cancer chemotherapy nausea, and AIDS wasting syndrome.

Marin Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis wrote in an email, “Cannabis is a psychoactive substance, and while we have real concerns about the known harms of its use among youth, potential palliative effects at the end of life are a different question. If cannabis is being used by terminally ill patients, it makes sense for hospitals to find ways to take it into account in their pain management plan.”

In 2019, Gov. Newsom vetoed a nearly identical bill, SB 305.

“This bill would create significant conflicts between federal and state law that cannot be taken lightly,” Newsom wrote at the time. “Therefore, I begrudgingly veto this bill.”

The California Hospital Association, which opposed adoption of SB 305, has drafted a letter to the governor calling for him to veto Ryan’s Law.

“We do not oppose the use of medical cannabis — or even necessarily its use in a hospital — as a matter of principle,” the letter states. “While California has legalized both the medical and recreational use of cannabis, it remains a Schedule I controlled drug (no accepted medical use) and is illegal under federal law.”

The association notes that the law would require health care facilities to treat medicinal cannabis as a medication and comply with the same storage and dispensing rules required under state and federal law for other controlled substances by requiring a physician order and dispensing from the pharmacy.

“This puts the facility/pharmacist in direct violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act, as the DEA license does not allow for purchase or dispensing of Schedule I substances,” the letter states. “It also puts the pharmacist in charge in direct conflict with the federal Controlled Substances Act, which will put their personal professional license in jeopardy.”

When Bedard testified before the State Assembly Committee on Health on June 8, he said, ““The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services does not prosecute hospitals for in-facility use. They have no federal mechanism to do so.” Donald Lyman, a retired physician and former board member at the California Medical Association (CMS) who testified at the same hearing, said, “They (CMS) have no regulatory mechanism for penalizing medical facilities regarding cannabis use. Nor is there any record of the CMS ever penalizing a facility for cannabis use.”

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TORONTO, June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RYAH Group, Inc. (CSE:RYAH) (“RYAH” or the “Company”) today announces that it has completed an initial shipment of its proprietary RYAH Smart Dry Herb Inhalers for use in a pilot study to be conducted by Medicann in Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, located between England and France. Medicann is a premier cannabis-specialized clinic, providing patients with access to local specialist doctors and pharmacists that have experience prescribing cannabis-based medication. Medicann is launching an observational study using RYAH Smart Dry Herb Inhalers in order to collect patient feedback on consumption of cannabis strains available on the Island, including strains supplied by Aurora Europe, a subsidiary of Canadian-headquartered Aurora Cannabis Inc., a global leader in the cannabis industry serving both medical and consumer markets and dedicated to helping people improve their lives.

In addition to the pilot program, the parties are working toward an exclusive, definitive supply and distribution agreement, which, if entered into, is expected to position Medicann as the sole supplier and distributor of the RYAH Smart Dry Herb Inhalers in the region.

Jersey, Channel Islands, which is known to have one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, is a British dependency island ideally situated in the English Channel off the coast of France. In 2019, the island’s economy grew by 2.1% in real terms to £4.97 billion.

By 2024, the medicinal cannabis market within the United Kingdom is predicted to be worth nearly US$1.3 billion, servicing nearly 340,000 active patients. According to a report by the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board, the U.K. has emerged as the largest supplier of medicinal cannabis in the world. The European cannabis market is forecast to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 67.4% to reach 3.2 billion euros ($3.75 billion) by 2025.

“We are excited to be initiating our pilot program with Medicann in Jersey, which represents a unique, ‘ring-fenced’ environment for establishing potentially numerous studies on the efficacy of treatments using plant-based therapies. RYAH is pleased to contribute RYAH’s IoT devices and data platform and work with Medicann toward perfecting prescribing practices and dosing regimens,” said Gregory Wagner, CEO of RYAH Group, Inc.

About RYAH Group, Inc.

RYAH Group, Inc. (“RYAH”) is a connected device and big data and technology company focused on valuable predictive analysis in the global medical plant and nutraceutical intake industry. Its robust artificial intelligence platform aggregates and correlates HIPAA-compliant patient data, which is intended to help doctors and patients personalize plant-based treatments to better predict treatment outcomes. The data collection is relevant for clinics, doctors, dispensaries and pharmaceutical companies and licensed processors (LPs) to monitor and manage formulation effects on patients and demographics. With a strong IP portfolio, RYAH gathers deep and insightful data on the complete patient session and formulation life cycle.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively “forward-looking statements“). All statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “potential,” “believe,” “intend” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to (i) the pilot study to be conducted by Medicann in Jersey using RYAH Smart Dry Herb Inhalers; (ii) the Company and Medicann’s efforts to negotiate and enter into an exclusive definitive supply and distribution agreement to position Medicann as the sole supplier and distributor of the RYAH Smart Dry Herb Inhalers in Jersey; and (iii) the anticipated size and growth of the recreational and/or medicinal cannabis market within the United Kingdom and Europe. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current views and intentions with respect to future events based on current information available to the Company and are necessarily subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with or inherent in (i) the general business and economic conditions in the regions in which the Company operates; (ii) the expected benefits of the Company’s product offerings and the anticipated results and experience of users thereof; (iii) the Company’s ability to execute on key priorities, implement business strategies and/or pursue business opportunities; (iv) disruptions in or attacks (including cyberattacks) on the Company’s information technology, internet, network access or other voice or data communications systems or services; (v) changes to, or the application of, laws and regulations; and (vi) such other factors set out in the Company’s public disclosure documents available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are further cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such forward-looking statements (including, but not limited to, the assumption that (i) the Company will be able to execute on its business plan and will obtain and maintain all necessary permits and authorizations to execute on its business plan; (ii) the Company’s financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events; (iii) there will continue to be a demand, and market opportunity, for the Company’s product offerings; (iv) the Company will be able to establish, preserve and develop its brand and attract and retain required personnel; (v) current and future economic conditions will neither affect the business and operations of the Company nor the Company’s ability to capitalize on anticipated business opportunities; (vi) Medicann will undertake and complete the pilot study in Jersey upon the terms anticipated by the Company; (vii) there will continue to be a viable business opportunity for Medicann and the Company to work together; and (viii) the Company will be able to secure capital and financing on acceptable terms), although considered reasonable by management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and result in actual results differing materially from those anticipated, and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Should any such risk factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

This press release includes market and industry data that has been obtained from third-party sources, including industry publications. The Company believes that the industry data is accurate and that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Third-party sources generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Although the data is believed to be reliable, the Company has not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources referred to in this press release or ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon by such sources.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”) nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For additional information, please contact:

Sofiya Kleshchuk
Client Relations
+1 917 210 0543
[email protected]

Gregory Wagner, CEO
+1 917 210 0543
[email protected]

Corporate Communications:
InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
Los Angeles, California
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office
[email protected]

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.

Just about any industry benefits greatly from the proper use and evaluation of data. The tech giants of today are built mostly on data regarding their users, and advertisers rely on that data to more effectively target their efforts. Every major professional sport is undergoing an analytics revolution. Pharmaceutical companies use artificial intelligence (AI) to sort through reams of scientific data to find potentially effective active ingredients to be developed into approved drugs. In the medical cannabis industry, mostly due to the plant’s long history of prohibition, there is a decided lack of data regarding the use and efficacy of cannabis as a treatment for a wide variety of indications.

RYAH Group Inc. (CSE: RYAH) and its wholly-owned subsidiary RYAH Medtech are here to provide just the type of data and analysis needed to move the industry forward. With over 200,000 registered users providing input to the company’s patent-protected, AI-powered database, RYAH is providing unmatched insight into how, why, and how effectively medical cannabis is used.

How to Use the Data

RYAH publishes monthly reports discussing various topics arising from their analysis of the reams of data in its proprietary RYAH Cloud database, offering a glimpse of how the information can be used. The most recent one, from June 2021, takes a look at patients using cannabis to relieve pain. It’s an interesting analysis of who is using which strains to help treat which types of pain.

Over the prior three years or so, 41,260 RYAH-connected patients reported medical cannabis use for the treatment of pain. The company’s analysis of the collected data yielded several insights. Men were more likely than women to treat pain with cannabis. Indicas accounted for about 46% of use, sativas about 33%, and hybrids 21%. CBD-rich strains were generally preferred by all parties involved. The report even breaks down preferred strains by indication, including arthritis, headache/migraine, and inflammation.

The May 2021 report highlights medical cannabis use for the treatment of nausea, wasting syndrome, and cachexia (extreme weight loss and muscle wasting in the late stages of serious diseases like cancer, HIV or AIDS, COPD, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure). RYAH examined reporting from 17,313 such patients over the course of about 3 ½ years. Most of the data came from five states that list these indications as qualifying conditions for the use of medical cannabis. Imagine the amount of data that would be available from a much larger population sample.

Here, RYAH found that indica and indica-dominant strains were by far the preferred strain type, accounting for about 70% of use. The report further breaks down use by specific cultivars. Interestingly, the strains most highly rated for appetite stimulation were not the strains most commonly used by these patients. Women were slightly more likely than men to use cannabis for nausea, while the wasting syndrome and cachexia populations were tilted to men.

Advantages of Data, Macro, and Micro

Small sample size is really the bane of data analysis and can often result in wild assumptions that don’t pan out when tested in larger populations. If 40 people report their experiences in treating pain to their medical provider, that doctor does not have enough information to form generalized recommendations. But if that doctor has access to information from 40,000 patients it’s a different story. RYAH’s database provides that type of scale to all parties involved – patients, doctors, researchers, drug developers, growers, etc.

On the flip side, the company’s personalized app draws information from that large dataset and combines it with each patient’s individual experience to provide specific recommendations for that patient. The whole system is fueled by RYAH’s suite of smart dosing devices, including a patch, inhaler, and pen. The devices allow patients to measure and control their doses, something that is a huge challenge considering the variables and inconsistencies in the chemical makeup of cannabis plants.

Taking the doctor-patient use of RYAH devices one step further, organizations conducting clinical trials are finding value in the company’s offerings. RYAH Smart inhalers are being used in a huge clinical trial based in the UK. A major oncology clinic aims to explore the efficacy and safety of cannabis to treat patients suffering from chronic pain. Over a five year study, the clinic intends to work with tens of thousands of patients. RYAH will supply IoT-controlled Smart Inhalers with a fully customized software solution and direct API data integration with the clinic’s Electronic Health Record system. This means researchers will better protect participant privacy, mitigate the number of variables associated with cannabis consumption, and make scaling the trial relatively simple.

The Upshot

RYAH is providing large amounts of data to a medical cannabis industry in desperate need of just that sort of information. This data is used by patients and doctors to personalize and control treatments, by doctors and researchers to learn about the trends and realities of patient use, by growers to determine which strains are preferred by patients, and by clinical researchers to organize and inform their studies. RYAH recently went public on the Canadian Securities Exchange and is aggressively growing its reach and distribution in lockstep with the explosive growth of the cannabis industry in general. For cannabis, the time is now to establish widespread legitimacy, and data like RYAH’s is crucial to achieving that goal.

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Robin Lefferts

Robin Lefferts has been involved in the legal cannabis industry since 2012, sometimes as an active participant and always as an interested observer.

Let us pause to take a moment and smell the cannabis.

Those yummy smells you’re inhaling when you open up a new 8th of your go-to strain are called terpenes. They are active in cannabis plants but are also present in herbs, fruits, and flowers. By definition, terpenes are molecules found in the essentials oils of plants that give them their unique aromas. For example, lavender exudes the terpene called linalool, and lemons produce the terpene limonene.

In their natural state, terpenes help the plants to thrive and survive, according to a Medical News Today article. They attract pollinators while simultaneously repelling predators. They can also help the plant recover from damage and keep away infectious germs.

When terpenes are extracted and isolated from the plant, you can add them to items like perfumes and lotions. In the cannabis world, products like vape cartridges and edibles are infused with isolated terpenes to enhance the flavor profile or the desired effects.

That’s because, according to medical studies, terpenes are bioactive and can have therapeutic effects on the body (i.e., aromatherapy). For example, linalool tends to invoke a feeling of relaxation, and limonene can help elevate your mood.

Terpenes work simultaneously with cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, and can affect your body’s endocannabinoid system. This synergy creates, what scientists call, the “entourage effect,” the enhanced psychoactive experience of consuming cannabis rich in both cannabinoids and terpenes.

So when you’re searching for your next cannabis product, inquire about its terpene profile. You may find the perfect aroma to elevate your ideal vibe.

Cannabis has been used for thousands of years. From native Indians to various subcultures, people have used cannabis for several reasons. However, there has always been a stigma surrounding cannabis use. Although a lot of people used the plant, it was never widely accepted by the general public.

However, things started changing in the last 40 years. Today there are many countries in which medical cannabis is legal, and there’s tons of research about this plant and its benefits. This change is obvious for another reason as well, currently there are thousands of medical dispensaries where people can legally buy cannabis.

For example, residents of California can drop by Venice Beach cannabis dispensary and instantly get cannabis for their needs. One of the reasons these medical dispensaries are so popular is because they promote responsible cannabis use. Here’s how they work.

They Offer Better Product Quality

In the past, people had to get cannabis from unreliable sources and shady channels. Simply put, there wasn’t a legal way to get marijuana, which made it difficult to find quality products along with a reliable source they could always count on.

It was also very unsafe. People had issues because they often bought low-quality products with no guarantee of what they were getting. People had to trust that the seller would deliver good quality. Today, products at medical dispensaries come from professional breeders and cultivators.

Customers know the exact strain they are getting and these producers are held to a higher standard. Simply put, they need to pass various quality checks to be able to sell their products.

They are Safer

Using cannabis responsibly is not just about having a reliable supplier – the way you get your products matters as well. Whenever illegal production and supply are involved, there are certain risks for everyone, including consumers.

As a buyer you don’t want to meet someone in the back alley, not knowing what to expect. You can potentially get robbed, scammed or even arrested if cannabis is illegal. Medical dispensaries are far safer. First of all, the cannabis they sell is completely legal and legit.

You don’t have to worry about being scammed. You can just drop by and purchase the product you need. At the same time, dispensaries often have security personnel and cameras that protect you from potential criminals.

You Know What You are Getting

Dispensaries must be transparent. What does this mean? A couple of things:

• Every medicine and product that’s being sold goes through rigorous checks.
• The origin of each product can be traced back to the producer.
• Product packaging clearly states the content of the product and all its ingredients.
• If you have additional questions, you can talk to the pharmacist working at the dispensary

When buying medical products you need to know what they contain, since people use cannabis for treating different conditions. Professional producers breed different strains that are better at alleviating various symptoms.

For example, some marijuana strains are better for treating depression and anxiety while others might be better for arthritis. You can always find a product that’s best for your needs.

Dispensaries Can Educate Users on Proper Cannabis Use

Dispensaries often have medical professionals working at them. These pharmacists are there to accept various medical forms and prescriptions that people use to get their medical products. However, there is another advantage of having medical professionals at the dispensary.

They have a lot of knowledge about different medications, how they work, and how they should be used. So, you’re not buying cannabis products from a random person – you’re getting it from people who have a medical background.

They can give you valuable advice on how to use your medicine properly, which is especially important when you’re taking cannabis for the first time and don’t know what to expect. A pharmacist can help you understand how you should use your medicine, when, and in what dosage.

Chances are you’ve heard about various cannabis side-effects, but in reality most of them are caused by improper use. People take high doses in uncontrolled environments and they suffer the consequences. A medical professional can guide you to avoid this from happening.

Bottom Line

The use of cannabis for medical purposes has gone a long way. All over the world, we are seeing more and more countries letting people treat several conditions with this medication. At the same time, we are also seeing an increase in cannabis-based drugs.

Dispensaries have made supply a lot easier to obtain. They make these products available to everyone who has an appropriate medical prescription. At the same time, people can use cannabis responsibly to get the desired effects.

It is quite well known that cannabis is somewhat of a miracle drug. Modern science, however, is continuing to produce research results showing the massive amount of potential cannabis has to treat everything from cancer to insomnia. With so much happening throughout the industry, here are just a few of the benefits that cannabis has to potential patients.

One of the main impediments to cannabis being used as a medicinal treatment is the fact that in the U.S. at least, cannabis is still considered a Schedule I narcotic, which means that it is incredibly difficult to research. This scheduling puts marijuana on the same pedestal as heroin and LSD, which for those who use marijuana, know is completely asinine.

The scheduling also states that it has a high potential for abuse, which as many also know, is not as true as the scheduling puts it. Regardless, this seems to be on the way out as more and more states in the U.S. begin to legalize the use of marijuana showing a broader public desire for legal cannabis.

For starters, cannabis contains more than 100 different chemicals within it known as cannabinoids. These components which are everything from the more popular THC and CBD to the less well known, THCa and beyond. While THC has a large amount of medicinal properties, CBD or cannabidiol is being researched to a high degree due to the fact that it does not get the user ‘high’ which can be quite a desirable effect.

Marijuana has shown potential for being used to treat everything from Alzheimer’s, appetite loss, cancer, Crohn’s disease, eating disorders and more. Although there is still a large amount of research that needs to be done, cannabis is considered to be a miracle drug with a large amount of undiscovered potential. One doctor stated that “the greatest amount of evidence for the therapeutic effects of cannabis relate to its ability to reduce chronic pain, nausea, and vomiting.”

The cannabinoids within the marijuana plant are known to more broadly reduce anxiety, inflammation, pain, nausea, and vomiting and in some cases, kill cancer cells while also slowing tumor growth.

One of the more well-studied effects of cannabis has been its use in patients suffering from chronic seizure disorders. Various pharmaceuticals have been produced to help aid everyone from children to the elderly with these conditions. Big news came as the FDA last year decided to approve the first marijuana-derived pharmaceutical known as Epidiolex. The drug which has a wide variety of miracle stories has helped to provide a positive case for cannabis all around.

The only issue that still remains is that of legislation from the federal government. If in the U.S., we are able to legalize the use of cannabis, or maybe even open the government, it would drastically help those who need marijuana to greatly increase the quality of their life. The next few years remain hopeful for those in the industry and those looking to use cannabis to treat the wide variety of ailments that it can help.