According to anti-drug laws in force in South Korea, the country's citizens who smoke, possess, buy, or sell cannabis face imprisonment of up to 5 years or are obligated to pay a fine of up to 100,000 million Korean won (around $88,000). Despite the existing legislation, South Korean authorities approved the medical use of cannabis this week.

On 25 November, the South Korean National Assembly approved using cannabis for medical purposes through an amendment to national Management of Narcotic Drugs Act (MNDA), as some ‘treatment effects' of using marijuana have been proven.

The meeting to amend the MNDA was initially stated to take place on 15 November, but was postponed because of the absence of the opposition, according to the Korean news website Kyeonggi.

Non-hallucinogenic doses of medical cannabis were approved for use under the new legislation, which provides a legal basis for issuing licenses for production, sale or purchase of cannabis for medical purposes, according to the description of a new version of the MNDA on the official website of the South Korean National Assembly.

In order to use cannabis for treatment, South Korean citizens will be required firstly to get a medical prescription, then approval from the Korean Orphan Drug Center, which would process applications on a case-by-case basis, according to the MB Daily.

READ MORE:UK Going to Pot: Medicinal Cannabis Now Available on NHS via Prescription

The South Korean decision was characterized as ‘a significant breakthrough for the global cannabis industry' by Vijay Sappani, CEO of Ela Capital, based in Toronto, Canada, which specializes in examining emerging medical cannabis markets.

‘The importance of Korea being the first country in East Asia to allow medical cannabis at a federal level should not be understated. Now it's a matter of when other Asian countries follow South Korea, not if', he said to Marijuana Business Daily.

In October, South Korean authorities warned that those who ‘smoke, purchase, possess or deliver' cannabis abroad would be ‘punished' when they return home, as these acts are still ‘criminal'.

‘Even in a place where marijuana is legalized, if our citizens smoke, purchase, possess or deliver marijuana, it's a criminal act, so they will be punished', the South Korean Embassy to Canada wrote on its Twitter page, according to BNN Bloomberg.

South Korea became the first country in East Asia and the second in Asia after Sri Lanka to legalize medical cannabis, the use of which remains prohibited in all other Asian countries.

READ MORE:Indian Lawmaker Vouches for Legalizing Marijuana

In September, Malaysia reportedly was seeking to become the first country in Asia to legalize medical cannabis. Negotiations, however, have so far led nowhere, as Malaysia's Ministry of Health has been sceptical about the medical value of cannabis, according to Bloomberg.

Malaysian anti-drug legislation stipulates capital punishment for drug-related offences, as does legislation in most Asian countries.</s>Each of the 400 phone calls to the cannabis dispensaries followed a script. ‘Hi,’ said a female voice. ‘I’m eight weeks pregnant and feeling really nauseated. Are there any products recommended for morning sickness?’

In two-thirds of cases, the reply was: ‘Yes’.

Around half of those callers who’d received an affirmative answer were then advised to buy a specific ‘cure’ in a form they could eat.

Just under 40 per cent were told to get it in a form that could be inhaled or smoked. Most of the remainder were offered tinctures or drinks.

The recommended cure in question? Marijuana. But far from being genuine requests for help from expectant mothers, the phone calls were part of a research project by the University of Colorado.

The researchers were pretending to be pregnant to see how cannabis — legal for medical reasons in the U.S. state of Colorado since 2000 and fully legal since 2014 — was being dispensed. The answers they received offer a worrying insight into the booming medical marijuana industry.

‘After eight weeks [of pregnancy], everything should be good with consuming alcohol and weed,’ one dispensary assistant replied.

‘When I was pregnant and started to feel nauseous, I did not smoke [cannabis] more than two times a day,’ recommended the proprietor of another clinic.

‘Edible [marijuana] would not hurt the child,’ reassured another, telling the woman, wrongly, that something ‘going through your digestional tract’ will have no effect on an unborn child.

Of the 277 dispensaries that recommended cannabis as a cure for morning sickness, three-quarters then attempted to sell a version of the drug containing THC, the chemical that gives users a ‘high’.

Many also advised their pregnant patients to keep their consumption of this intoxicating drug secret from their doctor.

‘The doctor will probably just tell you that marijuana is bad for kids and try pushing pills on you,’ said one. ‘I do not know if the baby doctors are chill or not, [so] do not go stoned when you talk to them,’ warned another.

Perhaps those doctors had good reason for their reservations about cannabis. For the Colorado research paper, published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology earlier this year, highlights cannabis as a matter of growing concern to medical practitioners across the world.

Increasingly, marijuana is being sold for medical reasons. Yet this ‘medical’ marijuana is very far from being the safe, natural healthcare product its often-rapacious suppliers would have us believe.

In some circumstances, the product — which is becoming legal in growing numbers of countries, including Canada, the U.S. and most recently Britain in highly specific circumstances — can be dangerous and possibly fatal. Particularly when taken by pregnant women.

To blame is a simple fact: a multitude of studies over several years have shown all forms of cannabis to be ‘teratogenic’. Meaning that, like tobacco or excessive alcohol, they can harm a foetus.

The drug has been linked to a host of serious birth defects, including at least six life-threatening deformities.

They include two congenital heart problems; a neurological condition called anencephaly, in which a child is born with a large portion of the brain missing, often dying within hours; and the birth defect gastroschisis, where the intestines develop outside the body.

‘Babies exposed to marijuana in utero are at increased risk of admission to neonatal intensive care units,’ says Torri Metz, a University of Utah professor who was among the Colorado study’s authors.

‘There are also concerns about possible long-term effects on the developing brain, impacting cognitive function and decreasing academic ability later in childhood.’

Which brings us to the situation in Britain, where there is pressure on the Government from an increasingly powerful cannabis lobby to loosen the NHS guidelines on medical cannabis use.

They were relaxed this year following two high-profile cases involving children who suffer from serious forms of epilepsy.

One, Alfie Dingley, found an unlicensed, technically illegal cannabis oil from Holland prevented his seizures. Another, Billy Caldwell, had medical marijuana from Canada confiscated at customs, causing him to be admitted to hospital with what his family described as ‘life-threatening’ seizures.

In response to the public outcry over both cases, the Home Office relaxed the law to allow specialist doctors to prescribe unlicensed cannabis-based drugs to patients.

Their use is still limited to three distinct conditions: epilepsy, nausea associated with chemotherapy, and muscle stiffness associated with multiple sclerosis. Even then, patients must first have tried conventional medicines.

But the cannabis lobby is calling for it to be made more widely available, claiming six million Britons would eventually use the product for a variety of ailments, including pain and nausea relief. It would almost certainly mean dispensaries handing it out over the counter, just like in Colorado.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) recently published an article arguing that the widespread use of medical cannabis could eventually lead to a public health crisis bearing comparison with the thalidomide disaster.

That scandal, one of the most notorious in modern history, came after the drug thalidomide was given to large numbers of pregnant women from the late Fifties to the early Sixties, mostly to treat morning sickness.

It caused hundreds of thousands of miscarriages, and resulted in around 10,000 babies being severely deformed. Many died.

‘Thalidomide was marketed for anxiety, morning sickness and pain relief. Very similar claims are now being made about cannabis, and we are being told that millions of people should take it,’ says the author of the BMJ article, Dr Albert Reece, a professor of medicine at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia.

‘But as with thalidomide, no one is properly looking at the side-effects. They are frightening.

‘During foetal development, the presence of it increases the chances of a child developing heart and intestinal defects. In the womb, it can also not only interfere with brain development but basically amputate the forebrain.’

Even for adults, there are serious side-effects, he adds: ‘Cannabis is linked to serious psychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Plus stroke, heart attack and 12 kinds of cancer.’

The cannabis doctors can now prescribe in Britain — albeit only to certain very sick patients — can have intoxicating levels of the chemical THC. Most British patients who will take it are expected to be given it in the form of capsules or a highly concentrated oil. However, chemically speaking, there will be very little to distinguish these medical products from what recreational cannabis users might smoke.

For example, Bedrocan, a Dutch-made brand which is one of the world’s most popular varieties of medical cannabis, contains 22 per cent THC according to its manufacturer’s website, making it more intoxicating even than the ‘skunk’ (which ranges from around 14 per cent to 20 per cent THC for ‘superskunk’) that illegal dealers sell.

The difference, says the manufacturer, is that Bedrocan — which consists purely of dried cannabis flowers — is chemically standardised, so it is easier to regulate dosage, when taking the product.

Meanwhile, in California, where medical cannabis was first made available 20 years ago and has since been entirely legalised, a high-profile organisation called ‘Cannamommy’ advertises a range of what it terms ‘safe, organic natural products’ designed for mothers. One popular brand of medical marijuana is called ‘Trainwreck’, advertised as a cure for migraines, pain and arthritis.

According to the maker, the product, which is between 12 and 21 per cent THC and is sold in a dried form suitable for smoking, ‘begins its hurtle through the mind with a surge of euphoria, awakening creativity and happiness’.

Another Cannamommy product, ‘Green Crack’, which it recommends for housewives suffering ‘fatigue, stress and depression’, induces ‘an invigorating mental buzz’. A third, ‘Guerilla Glue’, will apparently ‘deliver heavy-handed euphoria and relaxation, leaving you feeling glued to the couch’.

To critics, this sales patter suggests many customers are as interested in enjoying a legal high as they are the medical benefits.

And when medical marijuana products are aimed at mothers, it’s a dangerous trend, they argue.

‘We are at ground zero of this new medical epidemic, which will lead to havoc,’ says one critic, Karen Randall, an emergency room physician in Colorado. ‘The number of babies testing positive for THC has increased dramatically.’

Randall says her local area contains 15 medical cannabis dispensaries. ‘When a breast-feeding mother uses marijuana, it gets concentrated in the breast milk.

‘There are many studies that show memory is decreased with constant use, so I guess that in five to ten years, we are going to see a lot of kids with learning issues.’

Someone who illustrates the potential hazards is Marie McKillop, 36, from the Australian city of Brisbane, who says smoking marijuana during pregnancy led to her daughter’s death.

Her baby, named Crystal, weighed just 2lb 9oz at birth and was unable to breathe or feed unaided because of a serious congenital heart defect. She underwent three major heart surgeries, but died aged eight months.

Adding to her mother’s trauma was the fact she’d previously had four miscarriages. ‘I felt totally broken,’ Marie says.

At the time the tragedy occurred, several years ago, McKillop was a troubled young woman battling substance abuse problems.

Though clinicians advised her to steer clear of the hardest illegal narcotics, they concluded that she should continue to take marijuana while pregnant. ‘The fear was that if I stopped, it would give me withdrawal symptoms, which could make me miscarry,’ she recalls.

Later, in hospital reports, marijuana was described as a ‘high contributing factor’ to Crystal’s subsequent health problems.

Thankfully, having weaned herself off drugs, Marie has since had three healthy children.

Others won’t be so lucky.

Her doctor, Stuart Reece, believes the drug affects three key organs of an unborn child: the brain, the heart and the intestines.

He cites a study in the Toxicology Journal last year in which pregnant laboratory mice were exposed to cannabis, which found that ‘smoking marijuana during pregnancy even at low doses can be embryotoxic and fetotoxic’; and a University of Arkansas study also from 2017 which associated pre-natal cannabis exposure with ‘lower birth weight, life-long smaller head circumference, reduced length of gestation, neonatal neurological disturbances, [and] reduced function in specific cognitive domains’.

Two studies by the American Center for Disease Control have linked it to anencephaly, while the American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics believe it increases rates of ventricular septal defect and Ebstein’s anomaly, two heart defects.

The drug’s links to gastroschisis — when the intestines develop outside the body — are documented by, among others, a long-running Canadian study and a Hawaiian research project which has linked cannabis to no fewer than 21 birth defects.

‘Only once has a known teratogen like cannabis been marketed globally,’ Dr Reece says.

‘That was thalidomide. It’s the reason we have the entire modern drug approval system, but the medical cannabis lobby is saying that system should be abandoned and the drug should be given to millions of people. It’s incredibly dangerous.’

Sharing this view are 166 of Britain’s most eminent pain relief doctors. Last month, they wrote to The Times, saying medical cannabis ‘will provide little or no long-term benefit in improving pain and may be associated with significant long-term adverse cognitive and mental-health detriment.’

They argued there is no medical evidence that, in this field, cannabis works. There are, however, serious psychological problems associated with its regular use.

The 166 doctors cited a report from the International Association for the Study of Pain, which took in the results of 104 studies.

The report concluded that 24 patients in pain would need to be treated for just one to experience any benefit.

Yet one in six would suffer some form of ‘harm’ due to side-effects, including nausea, dizziness, insomnia and depression.

And the report concluded: ‘It seems unlikely cannabinoids are highly effective medicines for chronic non-cancer pain.’

‘As doctors, the first law is to “do no harm”,’ says author Dr Raj Munglani, a chronic pain expert who practises in Cambridge and London. ‘We could end up damaging more people than we help. We fear new rules in the UK could cause a major public health crisis.’

Until this year’s relaxation in the law, drugs in Britain that are made from cannabis had an identical status to those derived from other illegal narcotics such as heroin.

To be licensed for medical use, these products must undergo stringent testing to ensure that they are effective and safe.

Though the licensing process takes several years, it’s perfectly possible to negotiate it.

The UK firm GW Pharmaceuticals has done just that with marijuana, developing two licensed drugs: Sativex (with moderate levels of THC) which treats seizures associated with multiple sclerosis, and Epidolex, for epilepsy (interestingly, patient notes make clear that they must never be taken by pregnant women).

In theory, there’s never been anything to stop other advocates of medical cannabis developing licensed products in this way to combat the myriad other conditions they say it can treat. But none have so far succeeded.

It seems it’s far easier to lobby politicians to relax the licensing laws. But the danger is that this could one day lead to a situation in Britain where, as in Colorado, cannabis is sold as a cure for morning sickness — with potentially terrifying consequences.</s>Cannabis and alcohol are enjoyed by many people in the Edson and Hinton region but cannabis offers more benefits, according to a professor at the University of Calgary.

“But, unlike alcohol, which really doesn’t have any medicinal benefits, cannabis also has some medical benefits and is used by individuals for those benefits and for different conditions,” said Professor Keith Sharkey.

Cannabis eases pain, helps as a sleep aid, and there are other benefits, said Sharkey.

“Others take it to improve specific diseases, for improving gastrointestinal function and other organ functions. Individuals do report improvements in the quality of their lives – so that is generally reported.”

But cannabis can also do harm, Sharkey said.

“We’re beginning to understand them. Saying that there are no ill effects is wrong.”

Being a drug, cannabis can be addictive, he said.

“Not as addictive as alcohol and it’s certainly not as addictive as the opioids [but] rate of addiction probably doubles if you take this drug as a teenager or a young adult.”

As to whether cannabis is a gateway drug, Sharkey said there is some evidence for that but not very much at this point of time.

There are two components to gateway drugs, he explained. There is the biological activity of the drug in the brain. Then there’s the social aspect that encourages people to use it. Sharkey pointed out that, biologically, the urge to consume cannabis is not as strong as nicotine.

However, there is evidence that those who take cannabis will be pre-disposed to other drugs, Sharkey said.

But there is good news.

Cannabis doesn’t repress respiration like opioids do, said Sharkey.

On the mental health side, cannabis use can promote the development of psychosis, he said.

“Particularly if they consume on a regular basis and particularly if you consume strong doses of cannabis. Very frequent use of very strong cannabis is worse than occasional use in cannabis which is not as strong.”

Cannabis can also cause paranoia if over consumed. This is especially true when it comes to edibles. Even though edibles were not approved is this round of cannabis legislation, Sharkey offers a warning for the future.

“The dose is much harder to control,” he said.

“It takes longer for you to react when it’s in edible form.”

For example, residents of Colorado and Washington State where the drug has already been approved both in standard and edible types, people have over dosed on edibles.

“They make a mistake and eat more. Four to six hours later they have problems,” Sharkey said.

Does cannabis cause cancer or Alzheimer’s disease? The cases are not widespread but he has heard of some cancer reports.

“There have been sporadic reports but nothing as a big signal,” said Sharkey.

Not many studies have been done because people who have taken the drug over the years have been reluctant to admit they’ve used cannabis.

There have been sporadic reports though that cannabis use may cause testicular cancer but Sharkey said this too is rare.

There is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to cannabis and tobacco smoke, Skarkey said. The exhaled products, in both, are toxic but cannabis smoke, when inhaled, is unlikely to cause cancer. But when tobacco is used with cannabis in a joint or pipe the risk goes up, he said. However, Sharkey urged caution in these findings because the overall data is simply not there.

“People are moving away from cannabis cigarettes with tobacco in them,” he noted.

Sharkey said that even though there is no solid proof that inhaled cannabis smoke is harmful to the lungs he noted that many cannabis users do have coughs as a result of irritated throats.

Cannabis is bad for pregnant or lactating women, Sharkey stressed.

“It can cause impairment in brain development.”

Driving under the influence of cannabis is not recommended or using cannabis in the workplace, especially when someone is operating something mechanical as it could impair judgement and memory, said Sharkey.

“The effects of cannabis last a long time,” he added.

For first time users he recommended those in question use a low dose until they’re sure of the possible effects. Plus combining alcohol and cannabis is not a great idea, Sharkey said.</s>Cody Lindsay served in the Canadian forces for seven years; completing two tours of duty. Lindsay was released from the military because of cannabis use.

“It destroyed my life and I kind of fought the system and said 'Listen, this is what's helping me.' ”

An accomplished chef, for years in Ottawa, Lindsay is now The Wellness Soldier. He cooks with cannabis products and shares healthy ways to use oils and edibles in the kitchen; conducting seminars at expos across the country.

“For the first demo I’m going to be doing a steak with chimichurri and horseradish cream sauce and for the second one I’m going to be doing a rustic tomato and bacon pasta with a herb vinaigrette salad.”

The expo featured dozens of vendors providing a multitude of products and services, from glassware to hydroponic equipment.

“It's very, very easy.” said Nabi Alexandre of Teragenic Solutions in Gatineau. Alexandre and his colleagues teach customers how to properly light and set-up equipment for growing plants. The company also offers plant-trimming equipment.”

“The blade spins and basically cuts the excess of your cannabis plants.” He says trimming 4 pounds of plants can take an hour.

Kevin Blackburn is show director of the Cannabis and Hemp Expo, he says from business professionals to those curious about the industry, the two-day event offers something from everyone; over the age of 19.

“Some are selling products, some are here for education. Some are here for recruitment if you want to work in the cannabis sector. People want to learn how they can use cannabis in different ways and not just to get high...To also treat medicinal issues as well so it's just a really good educational forum where you can get a lot of good information.” said Blackburn.

Many in attendance are cannabis-users treating chronic pain and illness.

“I do take other medication but CBD has replaced a lot of anti-inflammatories and things that can damage your kidneys and stuff long-term so that's where I find it benefits.” said Hayley who treats her anxiety and pain with Cannabidiol; a non-psychoactive, high-free cannabis compound.

Angelo Muscari is an Ottawa pharmacist with a team of trained medical cannabis professionals at Hybridpharm. His pharmacy provides customers with individualized treatment plans and products from pills to oils and snacks.

“This opioid crisis is still with us, I'm a father of four, and I've seen it on a very personal level in many ways and it has to change. Cannabis is not for everyone, but it can be for some people.”</s>Canada 23-11-2018. Canna Seeds Bank is the perfect online source to buy high-quality, hand-selected and lab-tested cannabis seeds. It is providing very good quality of cannabis seeds which can be used to grow the plants which are helpful in production of medicines. There are several serious health problems which can be treated with the help of cannabis and if you really want to avail cannabis for all your future needs then it is better to grow your own plants. To grow high-quality cannabis, you need to buy good quality seeds and Canna Seeds Bank is the perfect source for your needs.

To buy medical cannabis seeds online, Canna Seeds Bank is the name you can trust. It provides all the very good quality range of cannabis seeds ideal for distinct requirements. These seeds are collected from the sources of origin and will definitely work over your needs. The different cannabis seeds have different ability in producing different plants with different CBD or THC levels.

Here at Canna Seeds Bank, you will be able to shop from diverse cannabis seeds types. You can shop feminized cannabis seeds, auto-flowering, medical or regular cannabis seeds. These all types of seeds further have many types which are suitable to different growing needs. Different types of seeds are suitable to different growing needs and different geographical areas. So, before you buy seeds it is important for you to consider all the related factors to make sure you are planting right kind of seeds.

If you are looking to buy medical seeds or regular cannabis seeds then make sure you prefer Canna Seeds Bank for high-quality cannabis seeds. Their seeds are guaranteed for high-quality yield so you can easily invest on these seeds.

To buy medical cannabis seeds or to know about their distinct types, please visit: https://www.cannaseedsbank.com/medical-seeds/</s>Police found cannabis plants growing in the loft when they raided a Wigan house, a court heard.



 Officers went to Steven Mifsud’s home on Keats Avenue, Worsley Mesnes, to execute a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Wigan justices heard they had received intelligence that cannabis was being grown and distributed from the property.

Katie Beattie, prosecuting, said: “They located cannabis growing in the loft area and this was deemed to be a professional set-up.”

There was LED lighting, polystyrene on the roof to make it waterproof and fans running, she said. Police also found 15 individual bags of cannabis, plants, seeds, scales and a mobile phone.

When interviewed by the police, Mifsud, 34, accepted growing cannabis for his personal use but denied supplying it to others, the court heard. He had been addicted to the drug since the age of 12 to 14 and had been using it more frequently in recent times after a motorbike accident.

The court was told Mifsud claimed the cannabis was put into bags so he knew how much he was using. Ms Beattie said police investigations found nothing to suggest he had been selling the drugs.

Mifsud, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, which is a controlled class B drug.

He disputed the number of bags of cannabis found and said some of the seeds were for tomatoes and raspberries, rather than cannabis.

He said he had been seeking help from Addaction and planned to see his GP for anxiety.

Magistrates handed down a community order with eight days of rehabilitation activities.

They also ordered the defendant to complete 120 hours’ unpaid work, pay £100 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.</s>The two schools have partnered with Pacific Rim Brands, a Kelowna-based integrated cannabis company

Susan Murch, chemistry professor at UBC Okanagan, has partnered with a BCIT professor and Pacific Rim Brands, a Kelowna-based integrated cannabis company to develop beverage formulas containing cannabis extracts. —Image: contributed

A unique partnership between UBC Okanagan, the British Columbia Institute of Technology and a private company, has opened the door for the research and development of cannabis-infused beverages.

Professor Susan Murch, who teaches chemistry at UBC Okanagan, and Paula Brown, director of BCIT’s Natural Health and Food Products Research Group and Canada Research Chair in Phytoanalytics have partnered with Pacific Rim Brands, a Kelowna-based integrated cannabis company to develop beverage formulas containing cannabis extracts.

“We are at the early stages of this research and are very excited about the potential for both interesting science and new products for consumers,” says Murch.

RELATED: Little variety in THC levels with different cannabis strains, says UBCO study

Murch’s research investigates the chemistry of plants and how plant chemistry affects human health. She’s interested in cannabis ingredients and how they can be used in beverages.

“We are seeing industry recalls in cannabis products because we really don’t know how to use the ingredients on a large scale,” she says. “Making stable products that can sit on store shelves for months or years requires innovation.”

BCIT’s Paula Brown also investigates plant chemistry and works with the natural products industry to develop new products. At the same time, she works to establish standards of quality and ensure regulatory compliance.

“Like any new sector, the science and formulation will be the most important element to ensure consistency, scalability and trust,” says Brown. “There is a lot of work to be done to develop stable, high-quality, consistent cannabis formulations that consumers can use with confidence.”

The partnership with Pacific Rim allows Murch and Brown to develop high-quality cannabis beverages for health, wellness and leisure, explains Kevin Letun, founder and chief strategy officer of Pacific Rim Brands.

RELATED: More cannabis jobs to come to Kelowna

“This is an exciting time for research institutions and cannabis companies in the private sector,” says Letun. “The impeccable credentials of these professors and their on-going research will give industry partners and the consumer the quality assurance they require.”

The collaboration between BCIT, UBC Okanagan and Pacific Rim Brands provides the opportunity to conduct more research about the chemicals in cannabis and at the same time conduct research on products that can be brought to markets across Canada and globally,” says Kim Dotto, Dean of Applied Research at BCIT.

“This partnership reconfirms the ongoing commitment required to drive research nationally and internationally,” adds Dotto. “BCIT is committed to these collaborations and applauds the highly-skilled researchers involved with this exciting project.”

Phil Barker, vice-principal research and innovation at UBC’s Okanagan campus, says the university has a long history of innovation and commercializing new products.

“Our campus has a growing reputation for embracing creativity and risk-taking, and this research partnership is no exception,” says Barker. “We’re excited to be at the forefront of responsible research that prioritizes the safe use of cannabis in our communities.”

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Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.</s>Scroll To See More Images

With the blockbuster success of this summer’s Crazy Rich Asians, Hollywood is taking note of the power and influence of Asian and Asian-American faces. The effects are making their way to the fashion and beauty industry too, with more and more milestones for Asian and Asian-American models happening each day. There was the all-Asian issue of Allure in June. There was Claudia Li’s all-Asian runway show at New York Fashion Week in September. There was Kelsey Meritt, the first Filipina model to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in November.

Though there’s a long way to go before Asian models are offered the same opportunities as their white peers, there’s no doubt that times are changing. To celebrate this new age of Asian representation, we’ve collected 12 Asian models changing the face of fashion. They come from different nationalities and different ethnicities and have different skin tones and body types, but they share one common mission: to improve diversity in fashion.

In 2012, Wen was dubbed by The New York Times “China’s first bona fide supermodel.” Discovered in a modeling contest at 17 years old, Wen, a native of Hunan, China, went on to become the first East Asian model to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, the first East Asian model to become the face of Estée Lauder, the first East Asian model to make Forbes’s annual highest-paid models list and the first Chinese model to appear on the cover of American Vogue. Wen has also modeled for designers such as Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana and posed for magazines like GQ and Harper’s Bazaar.

Merritt, a half-Filipina model born in the Philippines, made history in 2018 to become the first Filipina model to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Meritt, who is signed to Wilhelmina Models, has also modeled for brands such as Palmolive and Kashieca, and in 2016, she was named one of Sports Illustrated’s Rookies of the Year.

Known for her millennial pink hair and sharp features, Ly, a Chinese-Australian, has modeled for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and Dior. She was discovered at a mall in Australia at 16 and became one of Louis Vuitton’s muses not too long after, following her pink hair change. Ly was also one of three Asian models to appear on the cover of Allure’s history-making all-Asian issue in June 2018.

In 2011, He made history after she became the first East Asian model to open a Ralph Lauren fashion show. Soon after, she became the second Chinese model to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, following in Liu Wen’s footsteps. Discovered in a modeling contest at 16, He, a native of Zhejiang, China, has walked for designers including Vivienne Tam, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel and Dior.

Born in South Korea and raised in California, Park is known for her platinum-blonde hair and Chanel campaigns. She was one of three Asian models to appear on the cover of Allure’s all-Asian issue in June 2018 and has also worked with the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Emporio Armani and Fendi. She’s also been the face of brands including MAC Cosmetics and Michael Kors. In 2014, she became the first Asian-American spokesmodel for L’Oreal Paris.

Sun, a native of Shandong China, started modeling at 19 years old after she won a modeling competing in China and signed with Elite Models. Since then, she’s walked for brands such as Miu Miu, Prada and Valentino and was hand-picked by Karl Lagerfeld to walk in Chanel’s Paris-Shanghai fashion show. In 2013, she became the first East Asian model to appear in a solo cover for Italian Vogue. She was also one of three Asian models to appear on the cover of Allure’s all-Asian issue in June 2018.

Gill, a British model of Indian and Punjab descent, became the first Southeast Asian model to be featured in a Burberry campaign in 2014. Signed to Next Model Management, Gill has also modeled for the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch, Dior and Kanye West’s Yeezy.

Raised in Australia, Shaik, who is part-Pakistani and part-Saudi Arabian, started modeling at 8 years old after she scored a TV commercial for Hyundai. After a break to concentrate on school, Shaik started modeling again as a teenager after she finished in second place in the Australian reality competition, Make Me a Supermodel. Since then, Shaik, who is signed to Next Model Management, has modeled for brands such as Intimissimi, Oscar de la Renta, Diesel and Victoria’s Secret, making her debut in the brand’s annual fashion show in 2011.

Taylor T is regarded as one of the most well-known plus-size models in South Korea. Discovered by a photographer on a trip to London, Taylor T has modeled for magazines such as Cosmopolitan Korea and Queen Size Magazine. A size 14, Taylor T has been a lifelong activist for body positivity and size inclusivity, especially in Korea. “All bodies, all colors, all shapes should be represented,” she writes on her Instagram.

The winner of 2017 Miss India International, Gupta has leveraged her pageant name into careers in Bollywood and modeling, having appeared on the cover of GQ India and FHM and modeled for brands including Lakmé Cosmetics, one of India’s most well-known cosmetics companies.

Hue might not be as much of a household name as other models on this list, but she’s on the rise. One of the cast members of E!’s Model Squad, following the careers of several up-and-coming models, Hue has posed for the likes of Banana Republic and Polo Ralph Lauren and magazines such as Marie Claire and Modern Luxury.

In 2018, Jing was named by The New York Times as one of eight “models to watch” at this year’s New York Fashion Week. A native of Wuhan, China, Jing made her runway debut at Givenchy’s Spring/Summer 2018 show in October and has posed for the likes of Harper’s Bazaar China and Marie Claire Hong Kong. She’s 22 and is represented by Elite Model Management.</s>Though cannabis is used as a wonder plant in the treatment of various ailments, patients are denied cannabis-based medicines in India. Experts say that India needs to tweak its legal, regulatory system to establish newer categories of medicinal products derived from cannabis so that cannabis-based medications become more widely available.

‘India needs to tweak its legal, regulatory regime on the lines of countries like the Netherlands and Canada to build newer categories of medicinal products derived from Cannabis. ’

In the last few years, cannabis has made its way into the medical mainstream in Western nations owing to its efficacy in multiple health conditions, but in India, patients are denied cannabis-based medicines despite the country having a tradition of thousands of years of using the properties of this miracle plant.India needs to tweak its legal, regulatory system. Experts said this at a conference titled "Cannabis R&D in India: A Scientific, Medical & Legal Perspective," jointly organized by the Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM).The day-long conference saw participation of prominent medical experts, policymakers and researchers, including Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office; Dr. Ram Vishwakarma, Director - CSIR-IIIM; Dr. Rajendra Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai; Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); Dr. Rajender Pal Singh, Former DDG (North Zone), Narcotics Control Bureau; Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology; Dr. Manjari Tripathi, Head (Neurology), All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr. Anurag Srivastava, Head (Surgery), All India Institute of Medical Sciences; and Jahan Peston Jamas, Co-founder, Bombay Hemp Company.Said Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office: "Since ancient times, cannabis-based products like Bhaang have been a part of Indian culture, social customs, and festivals. There is a very thin line between use, misuse, and abuse of a substance, and it is our responsibility to draw that line so that we do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Research into cannabis-based medicines is going to be very important for the management of chronic diseases like diabetes which cause excruciating neurological pain and for which currently there is hardly any relief. The age demography and epidemiology is undergoing a change in India about 70% of the population is below 40 years. However, the size of the elderly population is going up too, as lifespan increases. Due to this, the incidence of diseases and malignancies that happen in the later decades of life is rising. Worse, people are getting afflicted with diseases of the elderly like diabetes at a much younger age. This is a big challenge. The world clinically overcame communicable diseases in the 1950s. Now, as the incidence of non-communicable diseases increase in India, we need to conduct pioneering research on drugs originating from plants and herbs found in the Indian mountainous regions. In the middle of the last century, such research gave us mint, which has now become an internationally used product. We need to replicate this kind of success by exploring the full medicinal potential of cannabis for the treatment and management of pain and health conditions for which there is currently no effective cure."Said Jahan Peston Jamas, Co-founder, Bombay Hemp Company: "Chronic diseases are on the rise in India, and existing medical solutions are not proving adequate. In this scenario, cannabis-based medicines can offer a high-quality, cost-effective solution for patient populations across urban and rural India. The geriatric population of India is poised to reach 100 million people by 2020-2025. Unfortunately, R&D work with other forms of medicine for several critical conditions afflicting the elderly has plateaued. Cannabis has properties of binding with CB1 and CB2 receptors within the human body. Health conditions like mental disorders, rheumatism, osteo-based ailments, and heart diseases can be greatly alleviated with the use of cannabis which has almost negligible side-effects, as shown by a range of global regulatory and research work."Talking about why cannabis-based modern medicines have a nominal presence in India, Avnish Pandya, Director of Research & Development, Bombay Hemp Company, said: "Any medicine requires a standard, stable and predictable dosage for it to be clinically effective. In India, there is a lack of distinct standardized cannabis plants with standard cannabinoid output derived from their flowering tops to get consistent medicine. There is also a lack of clinical trials on cannabis and its isolated compounds. Clinical trials are based on single molecule compounds due to their predictability, in contrast to Ayurvedic medicines which represent a multi-compound, multi-faceted approach towards medicine. So, either cannabis has to walk down the path of clinical trials, or clinical trials have to accommodate multi-compound, complex formulations. The lack of regulatory clarity on cannabinoids other than THC (the psychoactive compound), combined with the socio-cultural stigma of cannabis consumption since 1985, has contributed towards the absence of cannabis-based medicines in the Indian market."Said Dr. Vivek Benegal, Professor, Centre for Addiction Medicine, NIMHANS: "Though cannabis is a psychoactive drug and causes intoxication, its addictive potential is lower than that of tobacco, alcohol heroin, cocaine, etc. The cannabis plant and its commonly used forms like ganja, bhang, charas, etc. contain many chemicals which are not psychoactive and are seen to have opposite actions to that of THC (the predominant chemical which causes intoxication and addiction). One such chemical, Cannabidiol, is arousing interest in the scientific community due to its medical and therapeutic capabilities. It is observed to reduce the intoxicating and addictive properties of THC in cannabis addicts. This is interesting since there are currently no licensed treatments for persons with cannabis dependence. Some early studies have explored the beneficial effects of Cannabidiol on persons addicted to opioids like heroin, alcohol and even tobacco. This chemical will have useful applications in the treatment of addictive disorders. But before that, the molecule must be subject to stringent and scientifically rigorous testing. This is difficult due to its current ambiguous position under the law in India, especially the NDPS Act."Said Prasanna Namboodiri, Senior High Court Advocate dealing with NDPS matters: "The bar under Section 10 (2) (d) of the NDPS Act, 1985, requiring cannabis to be delivered by the cultivators to the officers of the state government is a major impediment in the cultivation of cannabis plant for medical and scientific purposes through extraction of cannabinoids. The failure of many state governments in India to frame NDPS rules providing for the cultivation of cannabis is a major hurdle. Such cultivated cannabis cannot be resold to private entities by the state governments for the extraction of cannabinoids in the absence of any provision in the NDPS Act. Due to this, private entities do not have any role to play in the extraction of cannabinoids for use as medicines. Participation of private entities in post-cultivation activities for medical benefit would require extensive amendments to the NDPS Act. These should aim to transfer the power to control, permit and regulate the cultivation of cannabis and extraction of cannabinoids for use as medicines, from the state governments to the Central government on the same lines as was done for poppy straw from which juice has not been extracted."Experts pointed out that Western countries are much ahead in R&D of cannabis-based medicines compared to India. Said Jahan Peston Jamas, Co-founder, Bombay Hemp Company: "In Canada and USA, cannabis-based medicines have always had distinct channels within the regulatory framework for trial, experimentation, and application of new medicines and drugs, to be utilized for patient populations facing orphan or rare diseases. Recently, the FDA categorized a cannabis-based medicine Epidiolex as a Schedule V drug (limited potential for abuse). it also approved two drugs containing synthetic Cannabinoids (Nabilone, Dronabinol) for research and medical applications. The Canadian Government has created a Medical Marijuana Access Program which acts as a foundation for patients to obtain certification from their doctors and access to standard, high-quality grades of cannabis in multiple forms. Since 2005, a plant-based cannabis medicine (Sativex) has been made available for patients suffering from cancer-based pain. Since June 2018, there have been 330,000 medical cannabis clients and patients registered in Canada alone. India has a lot to learn from such countries, right from the standard cultivation of cannabis plant to product development and access programs for patients."Speaking at the conference, experts said that India lacks three very Important aspects to bring it up to the level of Western nations regarding cannabis-based medicines. These include non-availability of standard cannabis varieties or strains which will have predictable outputs; negligible clinical research on cannabis due to lack of standard material; and absence of standard product development from standard cannabis varieties. They asked the Indian Government to provide support on the plant-breeding side of cannabis ecosystem, as standard cannabis has not been bred in India since 1985.The panelists recounted several myths surrounding cannabis-based medicinal products. These include the myth that synthetic cannabinoid-based medicines have greater efficacy, predictability, and safety, compared to-based cannabinoids. They said that it is wrong to think that the major method for ingestion and consumption of cannabis-based medicine is through smoking. There are multiple forms of administration of cannabis with considerably lesser health risks, such as capsules, oils, tinctures, patches, sub-lingual sprays and vaporizers.Talking about the main challenges in the production and consumption of cannabis-based modern medicines, Dr. Dhiraj Vyas, Head of Dept. - Plant Biotechnology, CSIR-IIIM, said: "There are no standard varieties or seeds of cannabis to cultivate in India. As cannabis is considered a narcotic commodity under the NDPS Act, research is restricted due to the non-availability of research-grade material. Research projects to produce standard varieties of cannabis have only recently begun in India by CSIR-IIIM in collaboration with the Bombay Hemp Company, and there are no standard extracts from which medicines can be produced. Since there are no standard medicines available, patients are reluctant to try cannabis in the form of oils, etc. and doctors lack awareness about endocannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system that is present within every mammal. As a result, only a few doctors in India are currently in a position to prescribe cannabis-based medicine to anyone."Experts felt that the cannabis plant is a victim of misperception despite being an integral part of Indian culture. For thousands of years, it has been a trusted ingredient in the treatment of various ailments. Cannabis is mired in ambiguity when it comes to its application in modern healthcare.Source: Medindia</s>VANCOUVER, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Namaste Technologies Inc. ("Namaste" or the "Company") (TSXV: N) (FRANKFURT: M5BQ) (OTCMKTS: NXTTF) is pleased to announce that the Company has signed a Subscription Agreement (the "Agreement"), whereby the Company has completed an investment of $250,000 to acquire 46,729 Class B common shares of Kief Cannabis Company Ltd. ("Kief Cannabis") at a cost of $5.35 per share. Namaste's investment represents approximately 3% of the issued and outstanding shares of Kief Cannabis, based on an $8.1 million valuation.

Further to the Company's August 29, 2018 news release where Namaste's wholly-owned subsidiary, Cannmart Inc. ("Cannmart') signed a medical cannabis Supply Agreement (the "Supply Agreement") to purchase premium medical cannabis products from Kief Cannabis for sale on its online platform, Cannmart will now also have the right of first refusal ("ROFR") on 35% of the total production of cannabis from Kief Cannabis.

This investment and additional security of supply bolsters Namaste's objective to become Canada's premier online medical cannabis retailer. In September, the Company received its Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR") Sale for Medical Purposes licence, the first of its kind to be issued by Health Canada, allowing Canadian customers the ability to purchase medical cannabis from wide assortment of licensed producers through Namaste's platform, giving consumers the power of choice rather than having to register with just one LP.

Supply agreements and Investments like this in high-quality craft producers such as Kief Cannabis address the issues around selection and product shortage across Canada. Namaste is committed to supporting the craft grower through strategic investments and services like its Craft Program to ensure the widest possible assortment and ongoing supply of new products for its customers. Further to the November 19th, 2018 news release, the Company has also received a positive response from many craft cultivators who are interested in participating in the program.

Namaste has established itself as a global market leader, creating the world's largest online marketplace for cannabis, cannabis accessories, and other related products with more than 30 websites in 20 countries. It recently made significant investments in AI technology and machine learning platforms, helping customers to make strain-specific purchases based on their individual needs.

Kief Cannabis is a Manitoba-based, late-stage applicant to become a licensed producer subject to the terms of the Cannabis Act. Kief Cannabis is focused on developing high-quality craft cannabis products using only the best plant genetics and a refined production process that will to deliver high-grade, small-batch products. Namaste's financial investment in Kief Cannabis is part of a larger program to foster the growth of the craft cannabis market by offering long-term supply agreements that in turn benefit Cannmart's growing number of registered customers.

Jesse Denton, CEO of Kief Cannabis comments: "The entire team at Kief Cannabis is thrilled to have entered into a strategic relationship with one of the industry's most forward-thinking companies. Namaste's recent announcement regarding the launch of their craft cannabis and micro-cultivator platform will provide great exposure to smaller producers and further demonstrates our shared vision to bring high-quality products to customers.

Kief Cannabis is focused on providing artisan crafted cannabis products designed to deliver a premium quality experience. Our driving force is quality above quantity with an emphasis on rare genetics unseen in today's marketplace."

Sean Dollinger, President, and CEO of Namaste comments: "We're very pleased to announce this investment into Kief Cannabis. We strongly believe that craft cannabis products will add significant value to our platform through Cannmart and that many of the strains which we plan to introduce have not yet been seen on the market. By working with and supporting the craft market, we will bring long term value to the Company and to our patients. Thanks to Kief Cannabis and their team for understanding the value of what Namaste brings to craft growers and are excited to offer their products to our patients in the future.

Kief Cannabis Ltd. is a late-stage ACMPR craft producer focused on providing rare, sought-after strains of premium-quality cannabis. Kief Cannabis has received its Confirmation of Readiness letter from Health Canada and is currently working to complete build-out and anticipates receiving its production licence by December 2018.

Namaste Technologies is Your Everything Cannabis Store™. Namaste operates the largest global cannabis e-commerce platform with over 30 websites in 20+ countries under various brands. Namaste's product offering through its subsidiaries includes vaporizers, glassware, accessories, CBD products, and the company will soon be selling medical cannabis in the Canadian market.

Namaste has developed and acquired innovative technology platforms including NamasteMD.com, Canada's first Health Canada compliant telemedicine application, and in May 2018 the Company acquired a leading e-commerce AI and Machine Learning Company, Findify AB. Findify uses artificial intelligence algorithms to optimize and personalize a consumer's on-site buying experience. Namaste is focused on leveraging its cutting-edge technology to enhance the user experience throughout its platforms. Namaste will continue to develop and acquire innovative technologies which will provide value to the Company and to its shareholders as well as to the broader cannabis market.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Further information on the Company and its products can be accessed through the links below:

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, Namaste assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The TSXV has neither reviewed nor approved the contents of this press release.
South Korea becomes the first East Asian country to legalize medical cannabis.