by Grow Up Conference | Jun 13, 2024 | Media Partners, Stratcann
Ontario-based cannabis edibles producer Indiva Limited announced on June 13 that it had been granted an order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in order to restructure its business and financial affairs.
The CCAA filing follows an update from Indiva in early June announcing that its liabilities under an amending agreement with Alberta-based SNDL had been extended to June 13, 2024. In April 2024, Indiva repaid $2 million of the principal amount outstanding from a strategic investment of $22 million provided by SNDL in 2021.
SNDL is a major investor in Indiva and stands to take over the business through a stalking horse transaction. In their most recent quarterly report, Indiva announced a net loss of $1.8 million.
Indiva says the decision to file for creditor protection provides the company with a stay of proceedings in favour of the Indiva Group, the approval of debtor-in-possession financing and the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. as monitor of the Indiva Group. The initial order also relieves Indiva of some reporting obligations under securities legislation and stock exchange rules.
The stay of proceedings and DIP Financing will provide the Indiva Group with a chance to consider potential restructuring transactions and maximize the value of its assets for the benefit of its creditors and other stakeholders, which could include the sale of all or substantially all of Indiva’s business or assets through a court-supervised sales process.
The Indiva Group says it also plans to seek approval to launch a sale and investment solicitation process (SISP) for its business and assets in the near term. Indiva also intends to enter into a transaction for SNDL Inc. to acquire the business and assets of the Indiva Group through a stalking horse transaction.
Located in London, Ontario, Indiva is a cannabis producer with an array of edibles and extracts in the Canadian market, including Pearls by Grön, No Future Gummies and Vapes, Bhang Chocolate, Indiva Blips Tablets, Indiva Doppio Sandwich Cookies, and Indiva 1432 Chocolate.
Earlier this year, SNDL reported its first profitable quarter for cannabis production and increased losses for its retail cannabis holdings.
SNDL has invested in several cannabis companies in the industry’s production and retail sectors. In May, SNDL alleged that Mantioba-based Delta9 Cannabis was in default of its financing agreement with SNDL and demanded immediate payment of a $10 million convertible debenture financing. Delta 9 CEO John Arbuthnot denied the claim.
by Grow Up Conference | Jun 13, 2024 | Grow Opportunity, Media Partners
After a federal judge’s scolding for its “unreasonable” and “unintelligible” handling of a Calgary man’s bid for legal access to psilocybin for excruciating headaches, Health Canada is backing down.
The federal health agency has granted cluster headache patient Jody Lance emergency access to psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms.”
Read the full story here.
by Grow Up Conference | Jun 13, 2024 | Cannabis Prospect Magazine, Media Partners
Puffco, the leading maker of innovative consumption devices for cannabis concentrates, today announces the official artist-line up for their annual Puffcon Block Party, confirming California rapper Larry June as the headlining performer for this year’s event. Taking place Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Los Angeles Center Studios, this will be the festival’s fourth official return to DTLA.
Reporting over 6,000 attendees in 2023, Puffcon brings together all corners of LA cannabis culture for the city’s largest, day-long celebration of the hash community. Beyond Larry June, 2024’s event will host a suite of iconic rap artists and DJs, including Action Bronson and Human Growth Hormone, 2 Dead Boyz (Zombie Juice and Meech of Flatbush Zombies), Alchemist, Kirkland Summers, and Blake Webber. Music producer and DJ Ryan Celsius is also confirmed to host the “Celsius Sessions” stage, which will include DJ sets from him, Honeycomb and Bamboon.
“Puffcon began as a way to bring our widespread community together in a consumption-safe space,” said Puffco CEO and Founder Roger Volodarsky. “But the growth we’ve seen in the past four years has been undeniable—not just for Puffco’s community, but for the hash community as a whole. This year, we are stoked to be able to welcome more of our favorite vendors, artists and consumers into the vibrant community and culture that is Puffcon.”
In addition to live music performances, attendees will get full access to the Puffcon Lot street market, where they can find exclusive merch, special product offerings, local art, and a wide variety of brands, including Fidel’s, Originals, Dee Thai, Alien Labs, West Coast Cure, Sugar Magnolia Farms and Kalya. The Puffcon Lot will also host the iconic water brand Liquid Death for the second year in a row alongside local food trucks like Leid Cookies, Taste of the Pacific and Prince Street Pizza. Additional activations like glass-blowing demos with artists such as Dwreck and Ryan Fitt will also be integrated into the programming.
In tandem with its expanded festival footprint, Puffco has scaled out this year’s ticket offerings to include a new VIP option, which includes express entry to the festival and access to the VIP lounge, VIP restrooms, and food vendors. The +1 bundle option—which launched last year—will also be available for 2024’s event, this time for both General Admission and VIP. Price points vary, depending on the tier level:
- General Admission: $40
- General Admission +1: $60
- VIP: $150
- VIP +1: $175
To learn more or purchase tickets to Puffcon, please visit www.puffcon.com. No cannabis sales available on site. 21+ only event.
About Puffco
Puffco manufactures an array of innovative devices for cannabis concentrate users which include the Puffco Peak, Peak Pro, the easy-to-carry Puffco Plus, and the versatile, modular Puffco Proxy. The company is acclaimed for its award-winning product designs and advanced cannabis concentrate technology. Established in 2013, the company is headquartered in Los Angeles. Learn more at www.puffco.com.
by Grow Up Conference | Jun 13, 2024 | Cannabis Prospect Magazine, Media Partners
Indiva Limited announced that Indiva and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Indiva Group”) have been granted an order (the “Initial Order”) from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the “Court”) under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (the “CCAA”), in order to restructure their business and financial affairs.
Due to, among other things, the fragmentation of the cannabis industry, financial underperformance and pressures resulting from obligations owing to creditors, the Indiva Group has incurred cumulative losses. After careful consideration of all available alternatives including undertaking a strategic review which was unsuccessful in identifying a suitable acquirer or raising sufficient capital to fund certain liabilities, the board of directors of each member of the Indiva Group determined that it was in the best interest of the Indiva Group and its stakeholders to seek creditor protection under the CCAA.
The Initial Order provides for, among other things, a stay of proceedings in favour of the Indiva Group, the approval of debtor-in-possession financing (“DIP Financing”) and the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. as monitor of the Indiva Group (in such capacity, the “Monitor”). In addition, the Initial Order provides Indiva with relief from certain reporting obligations under securities legislation and stock exchange rules.
Bennett Jones LLP is acting as counsel for the Indiva Group in its CCAA proceedings.
The stay of proceedings and DIP Financing will provide the Indiva Group with the time and stability required to consider potential restructuring transactions and maximize the value of its assets for the benefit of its creditors and other stakeholders. This may include the sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Indiva Group through a court-supervised sales process.
In that regard, the Indiva Group intends to seek Court approval to launch a sale and investment solicitation process for its business and assets (the “SISP”) in the near term. The SISP is expected to be administered by the Monitor. In connection with the SISP, Indiva expects to enter into a transaction with SNDL Inc., an existing creditor and significant stakeholder of the Indiva Group, to acquire substantially all of the business and assets of the Indiva Group (the “Stalking Horse Transaction”). The Stalking Horse Transaction is expected to act as the stalking horse bid in the SISP. Additional details in respect of the SISP and the potential Stalking Horse Transaction will be disclosed when available.
The business operations of the Indiva Group will not be interrupted as a result of the CCAA proceedings. It is expected that the Indiva Group will emerge from creditor protection as a stronger company with a healthier balance sheet.
In addition, Indiva also announced that Rachel Goldman resigned from the board of Indiva on June 12, 2024, prior to the board resolving to commence proceedings under the CCAA. Trading of Indiva’s common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”) may be halted for a period of time and, as a result of having filed for protection under the CCAA, Indiva may be suspended or delisted by the TSXV. Additional information regarding the CCAA proceedings – including all of the Court materials filed in the CCAA proceedings – may be found at the Monitor’s website: www.pwc.com/ca/indiva
About Indiva Limited
Indiva is proud to be Canada’s #1 producer of cannabis edibles. Indiva sets the gold standard for quality and innovation with award-winning products across a wide range of brands including Pearls by Grön, No Future Gummies and Vapes, Bhang Chocolate, Indiva Blips Tablets, Indiva Doppio Sandwich Cookies, and Indiva 1432 Chocolate. Indiva manufactures its top-quality products in its state-of-the-art facility in London, Ontario, and has a corporate workforce remotely distributed across Canada.
by Grow Up Conference | Jun 13, 2024 | Cannabis Prospect Magazine, Media Partners
High Tide Inc., the high-impact, retail-forward enterprise built to deliver real-world value across every component of cannabis, announced today that it has entered into binding subscription agreements with arm’s length institutional credit providers (together, the “Lenders“) for aggregate gross proceeds of $15 million in a subordinated debt financing.
“I am very excited to announce that we have signed definitive agreements for an aggregate of $15 million in debt financing, plus a $10 million accordion feature. We have discussed publicly how we believe we are underleveraged, with our gross debt representing less than one times our 12-month trailing Adjusted EBITDA1, and could stand to benefit from obtaining more debt to continue fueling our rapid store expansion across Canada,” said Raj Grover, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of High Tide.
“I believe we have found the sweet spot with this financing, which demonstrates how we prudently manage our balance sheet. We have secured a commitment for $15 million in debt, of which $5 million will not be drawn for several months. By structuring the financing this way, we have secured the additional funds, but avoid paying interest on the remaining $5 million until drawn, as we don’t require the funds imminently given our strategic growth plans and strong free cash flow profile. Further, this financing includes a $10 million accordion feature, which we may pursue should it make sense to do so. Given the turbulence in the cannabis retail landscape in Canada, with several of our peers having recently filed for creditor protection, this financing is yet another sign that the market believes in the strength of our business and the creditworthiness of our Company. On that front, I look forward to sharing more with the release of our Q2 2024 results after the close of markets today, and on our earnings conference call tomorrow morning,” added Mr. Grover.
FINANCING DETAILS
Pursuant to the Financing, the Company will complete an offering of $1,000 principal subordinate secured debentures of the Company (each, a “Debenture“) for aggregate gross proceeds of $15,000,000 at a price of $900 per Debenture, representing a 10% original issue discount. The Debentures will mature on the date that is 60 months from the date of issuance and shall bear interest at a fixed rate of 12% per annum on drawn amounts, payable quarterly.
Pursuant to the terms of the subscription agreements, the funds will be drawn in two tranches: (i) $10,000,000 at closing (the “Initial Tranche“) and (ii) $5,000,000 in November 2024 (the “Final Tranche“). The Final Tranche, until drawn, will be subject to a 1% per annum standby fee.
On closing of the Initial Tranche, the Company will issue to each Lender their pro rata share of an aggregate of 230,760 common shares in the capital of the Company (“Common Shares“) at a deemed price of $3.47 per Common Share, representing the 10-day volume weighted average price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV“) ending on June 11, 2024.
It is anticipated that the Debentures will be governed by the terms and conditions of a debenture trust indenture to be entered into by the Company and Olympia Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee and collateral agent. The Company will reserve the right to redeem the Debentures at any time prior to maturity, in whole or in part, upon sixty days’ notice and payment of certain penalties. The obligations under the Debentures will be collaterally secured by general security and guarantee agreements from the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company and will rank in second position to the Company’s existing senior lender.
The Company plans to use the proceeds from the Financing to repay the remaining balance of its outstanding convertible debentures (currently less than $1,000,000) and will use the remaining proceeds for ongoing development of the Company’s business model and general working capital purposes.
The Financing is expected to close on or prior to June 30, 2024, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of certain closing deliverables, the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent and the receipt of all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals, including the approval of the TSXV.
Echelon Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to High Tide in connection with facilitating the Financing.
All Debentures and Common Shares issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation in Canada and restrictions on resale in the United States with applicable U.S. restrictive legends as required pursuant to the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“).
ABOUT HIGH TIDE
High Tide, Inc. is the leading community-grown, retail-forward cannabis enterprise engineered to unleash the full value of the world’s most powerful plant and is the second-largest cannabis retailer in North America by store count2. High Tide (HITI) is uniquely-built around the cannabis consumer, with wholly-diversified and fully-integrated operations across all components of cannabis, including Bricks & Mortar Retail: Canna Cabana™ is the largest non-franchised cannabis retail chain in Canada, with 172 current locations spanning British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario and growing. In 2021, Canna Cabana became the first cannabis discount club retailer in North America.
by Grow Up Conference | Jun 13, 2024 | Cannabis Prospect Magazine, Media Partners
Greenway Greenhouse Cannabis Corporation, a cultivator of high-quality greenhouse cannabis for the Canadian market, today announced that Pink Moon, a new addition to the MillRite family of products will soon be available for purchase in Ontario, and provided an update on other branded pre-rolls.
Highlights:
- MillRite Pink Moon is launching in a 2 x.5 gram Pre-Roll format across Ontario
- MillRite is the #2 ranked brand of pre-rolls by total Ontario retail sales in its size segment, through its first four-months
- MillRites Lavender Haze Pre-Rolls were also the #2 ranked SKU in Ontario, over the last three-months
- With the addition of Pink Moon, MillRite will have both a Indica dominant and Sativa dominant pre-roll in the Ontario market
- Greenway through its first two brand launches, is focusing on the whole flower and pre-rolls segments of the CPG market, which makes up over 60% of all cannabis sales in Ontario
Carl Mastronardi, President of Greenway said, “After seeing success with our Lavender Haze pre-rolls in Ontario, we are excited to be rolling out our new Pink Moon pre-rolls. This expands the MillRite portfolio into having both a traditional indica and sativa, widening the appeal to a larger number of consumers. We look forward to emulating the Lavender Haze rollout with Pink Moon. The feedback we got from consumers has been very positive, and our goal is to continue to exceed their very high expectations.”
About Greenway
Greenway Greenhouse Cannabis Corporation is a federally licensed cultivator for the Canadian cannabis marketplace. Greenway is headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, and leverages its agriculture and cannabis expertise in its aspiration to be a leading cannabis cultivator in Canada. More information can be found on Greenway.ca and updates can be followed on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
by Grow Up Conference | Jun 13, 2024 | Media Partners, Psychedelic News Wire
Classic psychedelics are drugs that induce altered states of consciousness and intense auditory and visual hallucinations when ingested. Common classic psychedelics include psilocybin, LSD, DMT and mescaline.
These drugs have been used for centuries by Indigenous peoples in spiritual ceremonies and healing practices.
In most countries, psychedelics are illegal. Despite their status, various studies have determined that these drugs hold promise in the treatment of conditions such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Now, new research has determined that the link between violence and risky behaviors is weaker among individuals who report lifetime psychedelic use as well as the highly religious.
For their research, the investigators were focused on finding out if the use of psychedelics directly impacted behavior or whether religious beliefs or participation influenced behavior. Sean M. Viña, the author of the study, was particularly focused on the link between use of psychedelics, religiosity and violent behavior.
The investigators conducted an analysis of data that included responses from more than 282,000 participants. The data was obtained from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, which conducts annual surveys measuring prevalence of mental-health conditions and substance use across the country.
The investigators focused on responses to queries on respondents’ religiosity, lifetime use of classic psychedelics, the frequency with which respondents attended religious services and the total number of times they had attacked someone with the intention to harm them in the last year. They measured risky behavior by gauging how much respondents enjoyed dangerous activities and their propensity for risky behavior.
The investigators discovered that participants who had used psychedelics even once in their lives had higher assault numbers and were also less religious. However, when other factors were considered, individuals who had used the drugs at least once in their lives were less likely to have assaulted someone.
Frequent attendance of religious services and higher religiosity were also linked to a reduced likelihood of assaulting another.
The investigators also observed that those who had a higher propensity for more risky behaviors were more likely to have assaulted another person, noting that this association was weaker among individuals who were very religious. The researchers also noted that this link was weakest among those who had used psychedelics at least once and were also very religious.
In their conclusion, the investigators emphasized that their findings demonstrated that religious factors could influence the association between behaviors and use of psychedelics. The research’s findings were reported in the “Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.”
Research coming out so far suggests that psychedelics medicine could play a transformative role in healthcare, and companies such as Mind Medicine Inc. (NASDAQ: MNMD) (NEO: MMED) (DE: MMQ) could be onto something in their drug-development efforts.
About PsychedelicNewsWire
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by Grow Up Conference | Jun 13, 2024 | Extraction Magazine, Media Partners
Cannabis has become a popular drug in the US and globally in recent years. Cannabis flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds are used to create various products, including tinctures, joints, gummies, beverages, ointments, oils, and much more.
However, despite its mainstream popularity, fewer people are realizing that cannabis has many risks associated with its use, especially younger users. This is partly the case because cannabis sold today is about three times stronger than cannabis sold 25 years ago and the . tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content is significantly higher.
According to some statistics, one in ten people who consume cannabis consumption. [1] If an individual begins consuming cannabis before the age of 18, the addiction rate is one in six. Addiction aside, there are numerous other risks associated with cannabis use, and we’ve discussed them in this blog.
What Are The Known Risks Associated With Cannabis Consumption?
According to the World Health Organization, 2.5 percent of the world’s population uses cannabis. [2] This percentage equates to 147 million people. One might find this number quite high, considering cannabis and its main psychotropic constituent, THC, remain largely illegal at the federal level despite select US states legalizing its use.
Unfortunately, many of these people don’t realize the risks involved with using cannabis in the short and long term, and with cannabis becoming one of the fastest-growing industries, this is becoming a problem. If you use cannabis or know someone who does, it’s important to be aware of the risks.
Lung Tissue Issues
No matter how cannabis is smoked, it can harm lung tissues and cause damage and scarring to a person’s small blood vessels in their lungs. This is because studies have found that smoke from cannabis has many of the same toxins, carcinogens, and irritants found in tobacco smoke.
These harmful irritants, toxins, and carcinogens can increase the risk of developing bronchitis, smoker cough, and excessive mucus production. [3] In addition, although more research is needed to understand the links between cannabis smoking, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases, there have been findings indicating it could lead to an increased risk of developing these health conditions.
Adverse Mental Health
In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted analyzing cannabis use and its links to adverse mental health. [4] Although researchers aren’t sure why, many of these studies have determined that cannabis use raises an individual’s chances of experiencing clinical depression and can worsen the symptoms of several mental disorders.
In addition, if cannabis is consumed in high doses, it can lead to psychosis, leading to users seeing and experiencing events that aren’t real. During psychosis episodes, people can hurt themselves and others without realizing their actions.
Moreover, it’s been proven that if cannabis is used from a young age, frequently, and for an extended period of time, it can increase an individual’s chances of developing schizophrenia and other psychosis-related mental health conditions. [5]
Problems With Child Development
One study recently revealed that about 20 percent of pregnant women aged 24 and younger screened positive for cannabis. [6] Pregnant women who consume cannabis are at a much higher risk of giving birth to premature babies and having newborns that are underweight.[7]
It has also been uncovered that using cannabis during pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of behavioral and brain problems in babies. Children who have been born to mothers who used cannabis while pregnant also have an increased risk of problems with problem-solving, memory, and attention compared to children not exposed to cannabis.
Raised Heart Rate
A normal heart beats 50 to 70 times a minute, but this can increase to 70 to 120 beats per minute for up to three hours after the effects of cannabis use begin. [8] This increased heart rate places strain on your heart, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. This is especially true for older adults and those who are already experiencing heart problems.
Increased Accident Involvement
It might be difficult to believe, but cannabis consumption can lead to increased accident involvement. In fact, the one component most frequently reported in impaired driving and accident cases is cannabis. [9]
According to scientists, immediate and long-term exposure to cannabis can impair an individual’s ability to drive safely. Studies have revealed that blood THC levels of 2 to 5 ng per milliliter are associated with substantial driving impairments. [10]
In addition, meta-analysis has proven that involvement in an accident increases by a factor of around two if an individual has used cannabis and drives soon thereafter. Ultimately, smoking, vaping, dabbing, or consuming cannabis increases an individual’s chances of being involved in car accidents and suffering injuries and even death.
The Wrap-Up On The Risks Associated With Cannabis Consumption
Evidently, cannabis consumption carries many risks, which is why it’s usually best to be cautious when using cannabis recreationally or for medical reasons. Now that you know the risks you might face, you have a better understanding of whether or not cannabis use suits your needs.
References:
- Know the risks of marijuana. SAMHSA. (n.d.). https://www.samhsa.gov/marijuana
- World Health Organization. (n.d.). Cannabis. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/alcohol-drugs-and-addictive-behaviours/drugs-psychoactive/cannabis
- A; C. R. P. (n.d.). Marijuana use and risk of lung cancer: A 40-year cohort study. Cancer causes & control : CCC. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23846283/
- Patton, G. C. (2002). Cannabis Use and Mental Health in Young People: Cohort Study. BMJ, 325(7374), 1195–1198. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7374.1195
- Di Forti, M., Sallis, H., Allegri, F., Trotta, A., Ferraro, L., Stilo, S. A., Marconi, A., La Cascia, C., Reis Marques, T., Pariante, C., Dazzan, P., Mondelli, V., Paparelli, A., Kolliakou, A., Prata, D., Gaughran, F., David, A. S., Morgan, C., Stahl, D., & Khondoker, M. (2013). Daily Use, Especially of High-Potency Cannabis, Drives the Earlier Onset of Psychosis in Cannabis Users. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 40(6), 1509–1517. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbt181
- Young-Wolff, K. C., Tucker, L.-Y., Alexeeff, S., Armstrong, M. A., Conway, A., Weisner, C., & Goler, N. (2017). Trends in Self-reported and Biochemically Tested Marijuana Use Among Pregnant Females in California From 2009-2016. JAMA, 318(24), 2490. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.17225
- National Academies of Sciences, E. (2017). The Health Effects of Cannabis and : The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. In nap.nationalacademies.org. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/24625/the-health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids-the-current-state
- Beckerman, J. (2004, December 8). Anatomy and Circulation of the Heart. WebMD; WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/high-cholesterol-healthy-heart
- Brady, J. E., & Li, G. (2014). Trends in Alcohol and Other Drugs Detected in Fatally Injured Drivers in the United States, 1999-2010. American Journal of Epidemiology, 179(6), 692–699. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwt327
- Hartman, R. L., & Huestis, M. A. (2012). Cannabis Effects on Driving Skills. Clinical Chemistry, 59(3), 478–492. https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2012.194381
by Grow Up Conference | Jun 12, 2024 | Media Partners, The New Agora
The Meaning of Peace in the Bhagavad Gita
The superb Sanskrit text, The Bhagavad Gita, is an amazing guide and in my view the ultimate “user’s manual” for the human adventure. This ancient text is a dialogue between two mighty heroes: Krishna and Arjuna. Krishna represents the God within us all who is always waiting patiently to guide us – if we can listen. Arjuna is the greatest warrior of the time and Krishna is his charioteer in the battle of life. He will steer Arjuna through, if Arjuna hears and understands.
The entire dialogue takes place the middle of a battlefield where Krishna and his best friend Arjuna are getting ready to fight a monumental battle between the two opposing sides of the same family. Arjuna has lost his courage and cannot accept the thought that he must kill members of his own family and friends in this terrible bloody war. He has thrown down his weapons and is sitting depressed and dejected in the bottom of his chariot.
The Sanskrit word Shanti means peace, but what is Krishna saying in the Bhagavad Gita when he uses this word Shanti? Are there not many wars going on within us all, wars raging in our own hearts and minds? These inner wars cloud our thoughts, consume our energies and make us stupid.
Krishna tells his good friend Arjuna that no man can know happiness without peace (II.66). In fact the sequence of our compulsions is quite predictable. We start thinking about a particular thing and from those thoughts, we want it. If our desire for the thing is frustrated, we become angry. Once we are angry, our ability to reason and think clearly is skewed.
From this anger rises delusion. We tell ourselves all kinds of absurd things. We deserve that thing and we will do anything to get it, no matter what the consequences, no matter what our actions might do to our soul. We forget that perhaps the thing is not ours to have, or that we don’t deserve it; or that it may not be the right time for us to have such a thing, it might bring us harm.
Thus from anger arises delusion, and from delusion loss of memory – what we call denial – and from loss of memory we begin to lose conscious awareness of and contact with our own spirit. Krishna calls this the ‘death of the spirit’ which leads to real death.
Uncontrolled desire leads to death. Krishna points out the wiser way. Instead of allowing our desires to devour our peace of mind, the man of wisdom develops an evenness, a subtle intelligent detachment and disinterest in the objects of the senses. These objects are thrown at us 24/7 on our television screens. We are told we can only be happy when we have this car, or that cell phone and the latest techno-gadgets. We must be thin and young, we must endlessly consume products that will make us happy winners.
By the time we are in our 30’s most of us know that none of these things have made us happy. In fact we tire of them very quickly and must have more, more, more. Ah, the next thing we desire will finally bring us that elusive happiness we have been chasing. But it never happens.
Lasting happiness is not to be found in the external world. Temporal experiences of joy and suffering are in abundance, but real lasting peace and understanding are only found within. When Time makes us wise and weary of being fools, we turn within and begin to question everything.
We begin to understand how our unruly desires have run us, controlled us, made us act compulsively, and left us even emptier than before. We begin to observe this process. We see how our five senses have drawn us into this delusion and we consider the idea of practicing an enlightened control.
The continued practice of observing the reactions of the senses and controlling our own thoughts in the mind will inevitably lead us to inner peace. This is ‘the peace that surpasses all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7) and this Peace is our Home, the Source of our Real Self and the entire universe.
This is the Shanti that Krishna speaks of in the Bhagavad Gita. For as Krishna says, the mind that allows the senses to carry off his or her capacity for insight – literally looking within – is as helpless as a ship caught in a storm at sea.
Krishna teaches Arjuna how to act wisely and gives him the knowledge he needs to understand his place in the universe. Krishna tells Arjuna that whoever has purified his mind in the fires of Knowledge and mastered his senses will obtain this Peace (IV.39).
***
The five senses make their contact with the external world and its objects, and send their information-impulses to our brain, allowing us to experience the polarities of pleasure and pain, sukha-duhkha in Sanskrit. These experiences are impermanent and are to be endured, for what is temporal has no ‘real’ existence and is unreal (Asat) in the sense that it is fluctuation and change (Bhagavad Gita II.14-16). While the real (Sat) always exists, as the 14th century Sufi poet Mahmud Shabistari says, ‘beneath the curtain of each atom.’
It is not that the external world has no value as some believe. However, its state of constant change makes it the unreal (Asat) in the sense that it is impermanent. The external reality is very real to the five senses, but there is so much more to our world than what we can see, hear, touch, etc. Everywhere there is the imperishable (akshara) that permeates, supports and sustains the temporal illusory hologram.
Without Knowledge of this eternal, immutable, imperishable Real – we are lost, floating on a sea of delusion and ignorance that tosses us around at whim and fools us into thinking that possessions and pleasure can give us meaning.
Krishna teaches his friend that this universe is pervaded by that which is indestructible and Arjuna has no power to kill that. The body may die, but the soul (Atma) never dies. It simply transmigrates to a new body, just as we get new clothes when our old ones are worn out. (II.17-22)
When our body is worn out we move into new forms that resonate with our thoughts, new data-collecting vehicles to expand our expression of the God within us all. The realization that you never die changes your entire attitude towards living and you have the opportunity to become less attached to the perils, failures, and successes of your current identity self.
There comes a time when in wisdom you will not care if you have been immortalized by the media. Your search for meaning will not be based on the approval or disapproval of others. You will care more about doing what is right, taking action with the greatest integrity and knowledge you have available to you in that moment, and that knowledge will always be changing as you continually reevaluate its worth.
You will ask yourself, not so much, what did I accomplish – but rather what consciousness was I in when I acted. When that time comes you will have Wisdom, you will have imperishable Peace.
V.Susan Ferguson
by Grow Up Conference | Jun 12, 2024 | Cannabis News Wire, Media Partners
It has become clear in recent years that obtaining a cannabis license is both expensive and complicated. As a result, many people have found it easier to sell intoxicating products, such as hemp THC beverages. However, this trend may be shifting, especially in California.
Hemp THC beverages are drinks that contain hemp-derived delta-9 THC. You might be wondering how this is possible given the federal law that restricts THC content to 0.3%. Interestingly, these beverages can still be intoxicating without exceeding this limit. For instance, a drink containing 5 to 10 milligrams of hemp-derived THC can be intoxicating while still maintaining a THC concentration below 0.3%, depending on its weight.
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an order in April for the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and the Public Health Department (CDPH) to ensure hemp products sold in the state adhere to the law. The initiative, titled California Takes Action to Protect Youth from Illegal Hemp Products, emphasizes the need to prevent mislabeled and misleading products from reaching the market, particularly to safeguard children’s health.
The directive highlighted concerns about highly intoxicating hemp beverages appearing in retail stores, which could easily end up in the hands of minors. Hemp products, distinct from those in the legal market, must adhere to stringent consumer safety regulations, including precise labeling requirements. Failure to comply with these regulations is illegal and can lead to license revocation.
Following the directive, both ABC and CDPH issued general warnings to entities about potentially illegal hemp products.
Last week, CDPH specifically warned consumers against drinking hemp-infused sodas under the Mary Jones branding, alleging that the drinks contained isolate of delta-9 THC. As per the CDPH, state law prohibits the inclusion of THC isolate as a component in hemp products.
This warning, which indicates that CDPH views goods containing THC isolates could be dangerous, might have a big impact on the California hemp THC beverage market. The future actions of CDPH remain uncertain, especially regarding companies that produce hemp THC drinks without using THC isolates. State law grants CDPH and other regulators substantial authority to target companies selling “misbranded” or “adulterated” products. These terms can be interpreted broadly, potentially encompassing any product with intoxicating cannabinoids.
Under California law, “THC” broadly consists of:
- tetrahydrocannabinolic acid
- tetrahydrocannabinol of any kind regardless of how they are derives (the CDPH may exclude certain isomers from this definition)
- any other cannabis compound, except CBD, that CDPH determines to be intoxicating.
This definition indicates that CDPH may examine any psychoactive cannabinoid, not just isolate of delta-9 THC. Additionally, there are federal considerations to keep in mind. Recent proposed amendments to Farm Bill 2024 aim to limit intoxicating cannabis compounds. While the amendments do not specify a restrictive milligram cap for hemp THC beverages, they do exclude products with “quantifiable levels” of THC or other intoxicating cannabis compounds from the definition of hemp. The exact meaning of “quantifiable levels” will be determined by federal regulators, which could result in regulations that effectively ban intoxicating hemp THC drinks.
The actions taken by California regulators to crackdown on hemp intoxicants could help to clarify the boundaries between the THC products from licensed companies in various jurisdictions, such as Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF), and products synthesized from hemp.
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