It is well-known that the plant kingdom is the major source of remedies against illnesses. Over the centuries, new methods to extract bioactive compounds, prepare herbal drugs and administer them have been experimented with and invented. As with all medicinal products, plant-derived compounds have to be packed and presented in specific pharmaceutical forms in order to maximize the potential medicinal effects, maintain their activity, and prolong their shelf life.
Herbal medicines can be prepared and administered in different forms, such as powder or extracts. For a correct preparation of plant-derived pharmaceutical forms, it is necessary to know the qualitative-quantitative composition of the plant and the physical-chemical characteristics of the plant-derived active ingredients, such as solubility, dosage and form to maximize the therapeutic effects and the major drug bioavailability.
Moreover, it is necessary to know the phyto-complex due to the possible interference with the active ingredients and the product degradation. [1]
Harvesting time
Depending on which part of the plant contains the desired active ingredients, the harvesting time can change, as well as the post-harvesting procedures.
Herbs are generally harvested when they are in the flowering stage, removing the excessively big branches and stems in addition to yellowed leaves. It should be noted that there are exceptions to this rule, and some herbs are collected before the flowering season.
Inflorescences are generally picked when they are completely mature, but plants such as Chamomile or Arnica are commonly harvested before the blooming of the flowers. When picking wild species, it is better to pick the flowers once the dew has evaporated in order to avoid moisture in the final product.
Fleshy fruits are picked when they are completely or almost ripened before the juice becomes too viscous to be extracted (i.e. raspberries, currants, blackberries..). Other fruits, such as bitter oranges, lemons, or quinces, are picked immaturely. Dehiscent fruits (poppy) have to be collected maturely but before they dry. Indehiscent fruits such as the ones of sunflowers have to be collected before complete ripening.
Post harvesting procedures
Once the desired parts of the plant are collected, a cleaning step follows, in which all the undesired plant parts are removed, as well as the damaged ones. Bulbs, roots, tubers and rhizomes are cleaned from the soil residues. The stalk and peduncle are removed from the leaves and the flowers, respectively.
Herbal drugs that are consumed fresh don’t need any other post-harvesting procedure and can be processed in the desired way, for instance, by making a . [1]
Generally, herbal drugs have to be preserved for long periods in order to have them available all over the year. It should be noted that the most important thing is to get rid of the water present in the plant material; if not, the enzymatic activities promoting oxidation or hydrolysis can contribute to the morphological alteration of the plant, as well as the loss or damage of the active ingredients.
The drying process is essential in order to preserve the quality of the plant material and its constituents. The more rapid and homogeneous it is, the more effective it is. Moreover, in order to avoid the degradation of thermolabile compounds, it is necessary to operate at relatively low temperatures. Dryers are special well-aerated areas in which the plant material is collected and desiccated.
Often, air extractors or hygroscopic materials are placed in order to collect the humidity from the air, avoiding the formation and spread of mould and fungi. A common way to organize a drying room is to place overlapping racks at a suitable distance permitting the air flow and reducing the occupied space.
The plant material can be turned once in a while to permit a homogeneous drying. The main goal of the desiccation of leaves and flowers is to maintain the colours and to preserve the active compounds, including the volatile ones. Another important aspect is to protect the plant material of interest from the sunlight in order to preserve all the constituents and avoid ultraviolet (UV) induced degradation. [2]
Fleshy plant organs such as bulbs, roots, tubers, and rhizomes are generally put in heaters where the initial temperature of 20-25 °C can be raised up to 50-60 °C. With these temperatures, in addition to getting the plant material dehydrated, it is possible to get rid of some unwanted yeasts and non-spore-forming bacteria.
Notably, a proper drying process ensures the final herbal drug quality. For those plants containing sensitive compounds, it is possible to cool the plant material at -20 °C / -40 °C and put the iced plant under a deep vacuum, performing a freeze-drying process. [1]
Herbal drug stabilization and Sterilization
The drying process is not sufficient to stop the enzymatic processes leading to herbal drug degradation. In fact, enzymes remain in a state of quiescence till the right temperature and humidity are reached in order to continue the chemical and morphological product alteration. It is always recommended to store herbal drugs in dry and dark areas, in closed containers and in the presence of a hygroscopic substance to reduce the humidity that could reduce the shelf life of the product.
In order to preserve the therapeutic activity, herbal drugs can be stabilized and inactivate the enzymes contained in them irreversibly. This operation can be performed only if the plant material doesn’t contain thermolabile molecules. The fresh plant material can be put in an autoclave at 105-110 °C and exposed to water, and acetone vapours for a few minutes. In this way, it is possible to eliminate the unwanted enzymes and to keep the active ingredients as they are for a long time.
To get rid of the microorganisms present in the plant material and sterilize it from any organism, it is possible to expose it to ethylene oxide or gamma rays. However, there is a risk of reducing the active ingredient levels by doing so or altering the phytochemical composition of the medicinal plant.
Moreover, in the case of ethylene oxide, the herbal drug could retain a high concentration of the , so it would be necessary to wait before consuming the herbal derivative. The most important aspect is to collect and process the plants following basic rules of hygiene and to be sure that no hepatotoxic and carcinogenic toxins, such as aflatoxins, are present in the final product. [1]
Wrap-up on Herbal Drug Preparation
It should be noticed that the progressive reduction of the active compounds present in plant materials can be only slowed down instead of completely stopping it. Nevertheless, with good preparation and preservation practices, it is possible to reduce the risk of drug colour, odour, flavour, and consistency changes. Keep in mind that to avoid altering your drug, you should keep it away from:
[2] Rabinovich, L., & Kazlouskaya, V. (2018). Herbal sun protection agents: Human studies. Clinics in Dermatology, 36(3), 369–375.doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.201
Employees at a Vancouver cannabis store that joined the BC Budtenders Union in 2022 quietly voted to decertify the union a few months later.
Employees at Eggs Canna on East Hastings in downtown Vancouver voted to join the union in early 2022, but changed course shortly after that, says co-owner Oana Cappellano in a recent email.
Eva Prkachin, a representative with the Budtenders Union, UFCW 1815, confirms that the employees at this location agreed to decertify union membership, meaning it no longer acts as their bargaining agent.
Employees at the Eggs Canna location declined to comment, but Prkachin characterizes the decertification as the result of the union successfully negotiating for changes to different in-store policies. Cappellano shares a different perspective, saying staff opted to leave the union because they were disappointed with the contract the union negotiated, including making promises they could not keep.
At the time, UFCW 1518 said Eggs Canna was the first cannabis store outside of Vancouver Island to join its ranks. Since then, employees at a Seed and Stone location in Chilliwack joined the Budtenders Union.
Prkachin says since then, a second Seed and Stone location, this time in Delta, joined the union, and most recently, a third Trees Cannabis location, as well as Fireweed Cannabis in northern BC and Canna Cabana in Vancouver on Davie St. joined. The Canna Cabana location opened in November 2023.
Prkachin tells StratCann that the union is currently seeking to make contract negotiations easier for employees looking to unionize.
“We’re in the process of lobbying the government right now, in concert with employers, to hopefully pull together some boilerplate language around that kind of stuff so we can get to the meat of bargaining a bit faster. It’s an area where workers have to wait too long for both sides to come to an agreement.”
As of March 5, 2024, UFCW 1518 has organized at eight cannabis retail companies in BC, some with several locations, as well as one cannabis producer. These businesses are:
A cannabis store in Penticton hopes to become one of the first cannabis store in the province with a designated consumption area.
Cannabis Cottage, located in downtown Penticton, says it hopes to have its grand opening for the outdoor consumption space on April 20, bringing in food trucks, local artists, and performers.
This was what we were hoping to do from the beginning. We secured a space with the hope that at some point the government would allow for consumption spaces as well. So right now we’re just jumping over the moon.
Marianna Wolff, Cannabis Cottage
The store owner, Marianna Wolff, says she chose the location for her store, on a major thoroughfare in the city’s downtown, because it had a large front yard that could serve as a lounge space for customers.
Initially, BC’s rules did not allow for such a consumption space, but a rule change announced in February of this year finally made it possible. That rule change made it so that existing patio spaces where smoking and vaping of tobacco products are allowed can now also allow cannabis use.
It also made it so that cannabis stores, like Cannabis Cottage, can advertise consumption spaces. BC first engaged the public about these proposed changes in 2023 as part of a broader industry outreach initiative.
“We are totally thrilled,” says Wolff. “This was what we were hoping to do from the beginning. We secured a space with the hope that at some point the government would allow for consumption spaces as well. So right now we’re just jumping over the moon.”
She says she has worked with her neighbours, which includes a church, to ensure they are okay with the use of the outdoor space as a lounge. All of them gave their approval. The parish members did ask that no consumption occur during the operating hours of its Sunday School, something Wolff said she was happy to accommodate.
She says she chose the space specifically because it was not near areas like parks or schools, and would have the approval of its neighbours.
“The spot itself I feel is very indicative of spaces that can be good candidates for outdoor cannabis consumption without disrupting anybody who doesn’t necessarily want to have to smell it.”
Cannabis Cottage first experimented with bringing in local food trucks during a customer appreciation event last fall.
“It was very successful. It was a great show of how you can have designated space for people to enjoy their cannabis in a similar way that you might go to a brewery and enjoy a beer or go to a winery patio and enjoy a glass of wine.”
The format is similar to one taken by a cannabis retailer in Cumberland, BC, on Vancouver Island.
Max Oudendag has been assisting Michael Arneja, the owner of Cumberland, BC’s Trugreen Cannabis, on a large outdoor community space that will include a formal cannabis consumption area.
“We’re excited to be in a position to explore how to break down the stigma of cannabis consumption and find a way to integrate that into a healthy community gathering space,” Oudendag told StratCann late last year.
Like the pop-up event Cannabis Cottage held last fall, Trugreen held several pop-ups in 2023 as a test run for their project, which they say they have been working hand-in-hand with the province to develop.
Arneja says they also plan on launching a grand opening for the first stage of their outdoor consumption space in Cumberland for April 20, as well.
His vision extends beyond the mere creation of a cannabis consumption area, instead seeking to nurture “a stigma-free space where the community can gather and celebrate the cannabis culture with a responsible blend of cannabis use and community building.”
“We’ve been operating these pop-ups to see what the space could look like, and to get feedback from the community on what they want it to look like,” he adds, highlighting the project’s community-driven nature.
Legislative committees in Maryland’s state House of Delegates and Senate convened last week to deliberate on proposed measures aimed at shielding workers from repercussions due to off-duty marijuana use. The bills’ essence lies in shifting the burden of proof onto employers, requiring them to demonstrate on-the-job impairment before taking disciplinary action against an employee.
Introduced as SB 513 by Senator Alonzo Washington and as HB 525 by Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, both bills share near-identical language. The Finance Committee in the Senate heard testimonies on SB 513 on Thursday, while the House’s Economic Matters Committee followed suit with HB 525 a day later. Although no immediate action was taken, extensive testimony was provided by stakeholders, the public and the bills’ sponsors.
Washington underscored the bill’s aim to safeguard employees’ rights in light of Maryland’s legalization of marijuana. Support for the proposal was often cast as a logical step forward, given the state’s legal framework. Organizations such as firefighter associations lent their support, advocating for the protection of members’ rights to off-duty cannabis use.
However, critics voiced concerns regarding potential implications for public safety, suggesting that identifying and addressing impaired workers might become more challenging. Delegate Jesse Pippy expressed surprise at firefighter endorsement of the bill, prompting Wilkins to emphasize the proposal’s focus on better assessing on-the-job impairment.
Despite assurances from supporters, doubts lingered regarding the reliability of methods for gauging impairment.
Numerous speakers, including civil rights groups, professional groups and state officials, testified in support of the bill. NaShona Kess from the Maryland NAACP highlighted the bill’s significance for marginalized communities disproportionately affected by discriminatory employment practices related to cannabis offenses. Further, Cleveland Horton from the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights echoed support for the bill, emphasizing its importance in promoting fairness and equity in employment practices.
Advocates from the Cannabis Policy Project and NORML also provided testimony, stressing the bill’s role in protecting civil liberties and maintaining workplace safety. They cited studies showing no adverse impact on workplace performance due to off-duty cannabis use.
The bill does not prohibit employers from testing for impairment but aims to prevent unjust consequences for employees who use marijuana legally outside of work hours.
Across the country, as cannabis legalization gains momentum, discussions on marijuana-related employment policies have become increasingly prevalent. In Ohio, for instance, Cleveland mayor Justin M. Bibb announced updates to the city’s drug-testing policies to align with modern practices and remove barriers to hiring related to marijuana use.
These bills are a progressive step that the wider cannabis industry, including companies such as Canopy Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: CGC) (TSX: WEED), is likely to welcome as it allows employees who wish to consume marijuana during their off-duty hours to do so.
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Strange unknown objects along with the appearance of beings have been well documented for hundreds and thousands of years. This article presents a few examples.
In 1803, a round vessel drifted ashore on the Japanese coast and a woman emerged, wearing strange clothing and carrying a box. She was unable to communicate with the locals, and her craft was marked with mysterious writing. This story of an utsurobune, or “hollow ship,” in the province of Hitachi (now Ibaraki Prefecture) is found in many records of the Edo period (1603–1868). Image via Wikimedia Commons. (Main Image)
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“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” – Albert Einstein
“Project Bluebeam” refers to an unsubstantiated theory which postulates the use of highly sophisticated technology that creates holographic projections which look extremely real.
Many people believe the UFO phenomenon to be a result of this, used by the elite to stage sightings around the world. Others tend to believe the phenomenon is a real physical one that’s created and perpetuated by the elite for ulterior motives. And of course, others believe that the phenomenon is real, nuanced, and involves agency on the part of non-human intelligent life.
It’s plausible to assume that governments, and those who exercise control over them, will lie when relaying information about UFOs to the public. At this point it’s impractical to expect a holistic and accurate portrayal of global issues and events from governments and mainstream media.
What we usually receive is a false narrative that serves the interests of the few in power. I wouldn’t be surprised to see UFOs, or as they’ve been rebranded, “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena,” be subjected to similar treatment. Perhaps this includes a “threat” narrative that isn’t entirely accurate or indicative of the phenomenon.
What many “Project Bluebeamers” don’t take into account is the fact that sightings of mysterious objects date back thousands of years. The phenomenon is quite old, and modern day sightings seen by people from all walks of life and professions share definite similarities to those documented hundreds and thousands of years ago.
Certain aspects of the phenomenon, such as the heat felt and reported by witnesses who have come in close proximity to such objects, have not changed much over the centuries.
For example, on December 15, 1547, historian Simon Goulart writes in his Trésors Admirables et Mémorables de notre Temps (1600) that on that day the sailors who were aboard ships in the harbor of Hamburg saw a fiery globe. It rolled towards the north and emitted so much heat that people couldn’t remain on their ships. A meteor some might say, but meteors are too high in the atmosphere to be felt and would have passed overhead in seconds. Sailors would never have had time to run away, abandon ship or take cover. Thousands of such incidents have been recorded in both antiquity and within the past 50-100 years.
Another case from 1520 AD in England recorded by Lycosthenes in his Prodigiorum ac Ostentorum Chronicon documents that “a colossal beam of fire was seen in the sky. Approaching the earth, it burned many things with its heat. After this, it ascended into the sky again and was seen to change its shape into a circle of fire.”
This account above not only includes heat, but a shape-shifting characteristic as well which is quite common among modern day UFO sightings.
Dr. Michael A. Persinger, an American-Canadian professor of psychology at Laurentian University, observed that for thousands of years and within every known human culture, normal individuals have reported brief and often repeated ‘visitations’ by humanoid phenomena that are associated with strange flying objects.
In a book entitled Out of this World: Otherworldly Journeys from Gilgamesh to Albert Einstein, Professor Couliano, editor in chief of the journal Incognita and professor of the history of religions at the University of Chicago at the time, made it clear that observations of UFOs and contact by beings from beyond the Earth is mankind’s oldest story.
‘We can only imagine what purpose lies behind the activities of these quiet, harmlessly cruising objects that time and again approach the earth. The most likely explanation, it seems to me, is that they are simply watching what we are up to.”
– Margaret Mead. “UFOs – Visitors from Outer Space?,” Redbook, vol. 143, September 1974.
Encounters from Antiquity
In a manuscript titled Contra Insulam Vulgi Opinion de Grandine et Tonitruis (ca. 816), Agobard of Lyon (c. 779–840), a Spanish-born priest and archbishop of Lyon (France) during the Carolingian Renaissance has a section devoted to an issue of “cloudships.”
In this document, the Archbishop of Lyons complained about a persistent belief among the French peasantry regarding a “certain region called Magonia from whence come ships in the clouds.” Magonia refers to the name of the cloud realm where aerial sailors were said to have come, according to commonly-held beliefs at the time.
The Archbishop was a well respected philosopher and “rationalist.” He devoted a good part of his life, including several books, condemning and attempting to debunk superstitions and heretical beliefs.
“We have seen and heard many people crazy enough and insane enough to believe and to state that there exists a certain region called MAGONIA, out of which ships come out and sail upon the clouds; these ships (are said to) transport to that same region the products of the earth that have fallen because of the hail and have been destroyed by the storm, after the value of the wheat and other products of earth has been paid to the ‘Tempestaires’ by the aerial navigators who have received them.”
He continues,
“We have even seen several of these crazy individuals who, believing in the reality of such absurd things, exhibited before an assembled crowd four people in chains, three men and one woman, said to have fallen down from one of these ships. They had been holding them bound for a few days.
The idea of such things existing angered the church, but we have records that clearly show a strongly held belief amongst the lay population that this realm did indeed exist. This is not just a folklore tale, it involves an exact reference of a known and respected historical figure who has written extensively on many other subjects.
Unfortunately, there is no access to statements and proofs on the other side of the argument, we can’t know what the cloud ships looked like and why the witnesses thought that the three men and one woman had come from these ships, and why they were stoned to death. Perhaps the church destroyed these accounts? Who knows.
Jacques Vallée reports that Agobard saved the lives of these four poor people. If he did, why don’t we have an account of their thoughts? It’s noteworthy to emphasize that the only account we have of this is of a high ranking priest from the Catholic Church who was hellbent on debunking “superstitious” phenomena.
Another example comes from 13th century England. In the year 1211, Gervase of Tilbury, a chronicler of historical events and strange unexplainable phenomena, wrote the following:
“There happened in the borough of Cloera, one Sunday, while the people were at Mass, a marvel. In this town is a church dedicated to St. Kinarus. It befell that an anchor was dropped from the sky, with a rope attached to it, and one of the flukes caught in the arch above the church door. The people rushed out of the church and saw in the sky a ship with men on board, floating before the anchor cable, and they saw a man leap overboard and jump down to the anchor, as if to release it. He looked as if he were swimming in water. The folk rushed up and tried to seize him; but the Bishop forbade the people to hold the man, for it might kill him, he said. The man was freed, and hurried up to the ship, where the crew cut the rope and the ship sailed out of sight. But the anchor is in the church, and has been there ever since, as a testimony.”
Tales like the two above have strange correlations with more recent ones.
For example, on the the nights of June 26 and 27, 1959, on the coast of Papua New Guinea, a young Anglican priest named William Booth Gill and twenty-five of his Papuan parishioners had what they perceived as a close encounter with multiple UFOs hovering at low altitude. During this encounter, men-like beings that moved about the upper surface of one disk-shaped craft made attempts to communicate with the observers.
Clouds, which were at about 600 metres, eventually obscured the vessel as it drifted higher. It had been stationary through most of the 25 minutes of this encounter. The same day of this encounter, the phenomenon extraordinarily returned in the evening.
Gill, and the others who witnessed this event, described “men” emerging onto the deck of the ship. Gill and the witnesses watched four human like figures appear. Two smaller UFOs were seen at this time as well.
“On the large one, two of the figures seemed to be doing something near the centre of the deck – were occasionally bending over and raising their arms as though adjusting or ‘setting up’ something (not visible)…One figure seemed to be standing looking down at us (a group of about a dozen). I stretched my arm above my head and waved. To our surprise the figure did the same. Ananias waved both arms over his head then the two outside figures did the same.”
– Gill
In the Bible, it states that Prophet Ezekiel saw a strange flying object that consisted of “wheels within wheels.” In it were four beings. He was suddenly transported to a mountaintop without knowing how he got there. He was stunned. This experience is indeed reminiscent of many contemporary reports by people claiming similar contact.
“Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself: and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the colour of amber, out of the midst of fire. Also from within it came the likeliness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance, they had the likeliness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.”
In 1552, Conrad Lycosthenes (8 August 1518 – 25 March 1561), born Conrad Wolffhart, an encyclopedist, Deacon of Saint Leonard in Basel, and professor of grammar and dialectics, wrote about an event that took place in 213 BC in Hadria, Italy.
“At Hadria, an altar was seen in the sky and about it the forms of men in white clothes.”
Edouard Biot, a French engineer and sinologist published work in 1846 documenting astronomical observations in China during much of its history. In it, he catalogues various UFO sightings in China from antiquity. For example, this one comes from May 24, 12 BC, describing a large hovering object.
“In the first year of the Yuen-yen period, at the 4th Moon, between 3 P.M. and 5 P.M,. by clear sky and serene weather, a sound similar to thunder was heard repeatedly. A meteor appeared, the front part the size of a vase, over 100 feet long. Its light was red-whiteish. It stood far to the SE of the sun. It threw off fiery sparks on four sides, some as large as a pail, others the size of an egg. They fell like rain. This phenomenon lasted until the evening.”
This is interesting because meteors do not stand still for hours and do not litter the landscape with “fiery rain.”
Another example from his work published in 1846 includes an experience by the army of Emperor Hou Chu. They saw a red object with pointed rays that flew over them three times.
He writes that in 814 (location unknown), a luminous object appeared, lit up the ground and many other small objects emerged from it.
In the Annals of Ulster, annals of medieval Ireland that span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD, it states that “Ships, with their crews, were seen in the air above Cluain Moccu.”
Jules Garinet, a French lawyer and jurist, in his Histoire de la Magie en France published in 1818 writes that during the reign of Pépin le Bref (715-768), many extraordinary phenomena were said to have appeared in the skies above France. The air was allegedly full of human figures and ships, with several individuals during that time claiming aerial beings had abducted them.
An 835 document titled Vita Hludowici Pii imperatoris, documents that in 827, while Pepin I was at war in Spain, objects in the sky appeared and emitted lights that were pale and red in colour.
On June 1554 in Ien, Germany, a large number of spheres and disks flew over the city of lena. They had sudden variations of speed and turned to a red color as they flew north. (Mathias Miles, Siebenbürgischer Würgenengel (Hermannstadt, 1670).
On June 28 1548, approximately 25 flying “vehicles” were seen by witnesses coming and going above the houses. (Bruno, Weber, Wunderzeichen and winkeldrucker, 1543-1586)
Well known author and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini, via his Vita, 1558-1566, Book 1, 89, states: “On horseback, we were coming back from Rome. Suddenly, people cried, ‘Oh God what is that great thing we see over Florence.’ It was a great objet of fire, twinkling and emitting enormous splendor…”
According to Benedictine chronicer Benedetto Lushino’s book Vulnera Diligentis, in 1513 famous sculptor Michelangelo saw a triangular light with three tails of different colors. He painted a picture of it but it has not survived. It was silvery, red, fiery and bifurcated.
On January 5, 1433 in Nice, France, a luminous globe appeared in the sky for several hours. (G. Trade, Soucoupes volantes et civilisations d’outre-espace, 1969).
Jacques Duclercq, legal advisor to Philippe 111 wrote about an incident on November 1, 1461.
“On this day of Our Lord, All Saints Day, there appeared in the sky an object as bright as burning steel, as long and wide as half of the moon. It was stationary for fifteen minutes. Suddenly, the strange object began to spiral upwards and then it spun around and rolled over like a loose watch spring, after which it disappeared in the sky.”
– Mémoires de Jacques du Clercq, sur le Règne de Philippe le Bon, Duc de Bourgogne, publiés pour la première fois par le Baron de Reiffenberg, Tome 111 (2nd ed., Bruxelles, 1836), 189.
On October 27, a glowing “earthenware vessel” was seen moving through the sky in different directions between the mountains of Kyushu, Japan. It flew off to the northeast towards Mount Fukuhara. It changed course abruptly, turned south and disappeared with a luminous trial. (Sobeps: Société Belge pour 1’Etude des Phénomènes Spatiaux. Inforespace 23; Brothers III. 1964).
In 438 an interesting record from Constantinople, Turkey is recorded.
“In the midst of the entire crowd, a child was suddenly taken up by. a strange force, so high into the air that they lost sight of him. After this, he came down as he had gone up, and told Patriarch Proclus, the Emperor himself, and the assembled multitude that he had just attended a great concert of the Angels hailing the Lord in their sacred canticles.”
Most of the city bore witness to this event, and it’s still told today. It’s a story that’s been collected and published by writers for many centuries. Final Remarks
This article is getting to be a little long. The issue with writing about such sightings is that there are literally thousands of them recorded throughout history.
The ones presented in this article are only a select few and may not even be the best examples.
The point is, these objects have been seen and continue to be seen today. They don’t appear to be the product of humans, and it’s interesting to note that our interpretations of these strange events seem to be influenced by our dominating collective beliefs that were prominent at the time of the sighting.
Stay tuned for part 2!
Sources used:
Wonders in the Sky: Unexplained Aerial Objects from Antiquity to Modern Times, Dr. Jacques Vallée.
The Edge of Reality: Two Scientists Evaluate What We Know of the UFO Phenomenon, J. Allen Hynek, Jacques Vallee.
UFOs and the National Security State: The Cover-Up Exposed, 1973-1991, Richard Dolan.
All other sources are listed within the article itself.
As the cannabis industry continues its march forward, it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the significant contributions of women leaders who are helping to shape its trajectory. In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8, StratCann had the privilege of connecting with several female trailblazers in the Canadian cannabis sector to glean insights into their experiences and perspectives.
In the primarily male-dominated landscape of the cannabis industry, women continue to face a myriad of challenges, ranging from underrepresentation and limited access to funding to grappling with the pervasive influence of “bro culture” alongside the struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Despite these obstacles, women-owned brands are redefining industry standards by fostering collaboration, innovation, and mentorship to create a lasting impact beyond gender.
Limited Access to Funding
Access to funding remains a persistent barrier for women-owned businesses in the legal cannabis market. Katie Pringle, CEO of Marigold Marketing & PR, aptly points out, “Funding for women-owned businesses remains a challenge, one of the reasons we don’t see as many founders. Additionally, cannabis is a male-dominated industry, which we know makes the advancement of women, through proven profitable, more challenging.” The lack of capital not only stifles the growth of women-owned brands but also perpetuates the dominance of larger players in the market.
Audrey Wong, CEO & Founder of Zyre Brands, recognizes challenges as opportunities for innovation and growth. Having navigated obstacles firsthand, Wong remains steadfast in her commitment to reshaping industry standards and fostering inclusivity. Wong reminds us, “It’s not just about being woman-owned; it’s about creating a legacy that transcends gender, inspiring others to pursue their dreams in an industry that historically hasn’t been the most inclusive.”
“Bro Culture”
Another prevalent issue within the cannabis industry is the entrenched “bro culture” that permeates the sector. Jen Meyers, CEO & Founder of Zelca Ltd., emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing this to foster inclusivity and diversity.
“By creating an environment where everyone feels respected and valued, irrespective of gender, we can promote diversity, encourage collaboration, and foster empathy among all members,” shares Meyers.
A common theme that emerged from this outreach is the importance and value of mentorship. Building strong networks with both mentors and peers can only benefit the industry as a whole. Katie Pringle shared, “I had the benefit of having a talented female leadership at Corus Entertainment in my mid-20s. I didn’t realize at the time how special and unique it was to work under a strong team of women. I loved it. I still get together with these women and value their support and inspiration 15 years later.”
Stigma
The stigma surrounding cannabis use further compounds the challenges faced by some women in the industry. Despite legalization, lingering perceptions of cannabis as an illegal substance persist, often creating barriers for women seeking products for various purposes. Mainstream retailers, combined with current advertising restrictions, often overlook the unique needs of women consumers, making it challenging for women-owned brands to connect with their target audience.
“Advertising restrictions make it challenging for brands to connect with these women, and retail environments frequently fail to cater to their needs. For instance, cannabis-using mothers often feel unsupported and stigmatized. Addressing these issues presents an opportunity for brands and retailers to create inclusive spaces where women feel empowered to prioritize their wellness without judgment”, shared Meyers.
Balancing work and life
Oana Cappellano, President and Co-Founder at Eggs Canna Group Holdings, also highlights the additional challenge of maintaining work-life balance for women entrepreneurs in the cannabis space. Juggling professional responsibilities with family obligations can be overwhelming, leaving many women struggling to prioritize their well-being amidst competing demands.
“In addition to navigating the challenging cannabis industry, women are faced with the added responsibility of still being mothers, wives, primary caregivers and homemakers. This additional burden is beyond exhausting, and many women entrepreneurs find it challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance amidst these demands,” Cappalleno points out.
Yet despite these hurdles, women in the cannabis industry continue to exhibit resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to their work, hosting optimism for the future and stories of success as women entrepreneurs collectively strive for change.
Celebrating women’s contributions
In recognition of International Women’s Day, let’s take a moment to celebrate and honour the invaluable contributions of women in the cannabis industry. Their entrepreneurial spirit, advocacy efforts, and commitment to innovation are reshaping the industry landscape and driving positive change.
In the words of Oana Cappellano, “I am proud of all the women entrepreneurs in the cannabis sector who are reshaping the industry with their resilience and determination.”
Explore and support the women-owned brands that contribute to the growth and diversity of the cannabis industry. Through their continued efforts, these trailblazers pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future in the cannabis industry.
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