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420 with CNW — Poll Predictions Suggest Florida Marijuana Measure Will Pass

420 with CNW — Poll Predictions Suggest Florida Marijuana Measure Will Pass

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A recent poll indicates that voters in Florida are likely to approve two highly debated measures on the upcoming November ballot: recreational cannabis and abortion rights.

The poll, conducted by the Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) at the University of North Florida, was released on Monday and shows strong support for both measures. Specifically, 66% of voters back Amendment 3, which aims to legalize recreational marijuana, while exactly 60% of voters are in favor of Amendment 4, which would secure the right to abortion.

For an amendment to be added to Florida’s Constitution, it requires at least 60% voter approval statewide. The poll, which comes with a margin of error of about 3.5 percentage points, suggests that both amendments are on track to meet this threshold.

Michael Binder, a professor of political science and the director of PORL, commented on the survey stating that after years of Floridians polling on cannabis legalization, it’s evident that the majority of voters are in favor. Binder also noted that support for legalization has risen slightly, gaining two percentage points since the last PORL survey conducted in July, where 64% of voters expressed their intention to vote “yes.”

While support for Amendment 3 has increased, the abortion rights measure has just barely crossed the 60% threshold, according to Binder. Currently, 32% of respondents are opposed to Amendment 4, while 8% remain undecided.

The survey results come at a time when Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration have been actively opposing both initiatives. The governor has even used public funds to finance public service statements from state agencies that criticize the amendments. This has sparked several legal battles aimed at stopping the amendments, though most have been unsuccessful so far.

Additionally, the Florida Department of State recently published a report accusing the group behind the abortion rights amendment of fraudulent practices during the petition-gathering process. The group denies any misconduct, and the report led to a lawsuit filed by an anti-abortion organization seeking to invalidate the results of the votes on the measure.

The PORL survey polled 977 likely voters between October 7 and 18, targeting individuals from the state’s 10 key media markets. The sample was drawn from the state’s September 2024 voter file and included both mobile and landline phone numbers. To qualify for the poll, voters had to have participated in one of Florida’s general elections in 2016, 2018, 2020, or 2022, or the state’s primary elections in 2020, 2022, or 2024. Those who indicated that they would “definitely”or “probably” not vote in the November election were excluded.

If the adult-use legalization measure passes, the launch of recreational cannabis sales is likely to expand the business opportunities available to not only plant-touching marijuana companies but also other ancillary entities, such as those operating on the same model as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR).

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of an article each business day at 4:20 p.m. Eastern – a tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. The concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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RCMP in Nova Scotia seize cannabis and psilocybin from unlicensed store, charge three

RCMP in Nova Scotia seize cannabis and psilocybin from unlicensed store, charge three

Three people have been charged under the Cannabis Act after police raided an unlicensed cannabis store in Amherst, Nova Scotia. 

On October 17, the Cumberland Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (CISCEU) arrested two people before executing a search warrant at a location on South Albion St. The search warrant followed public complaints about the ongoing sale of cannabis from the illegal storefront.

During the search, investigators seized hundreds of grams of illicit cannabis in various forms, as well as psilocybin products.

Then, on October 28, a third person was arrested in connection with the investigation.

Thirty-two-year-old Cody Edward Joseph Bowser-Knockwood of Dorchester, New Brunswick; 48-year-old Kevin Richard Gloade of Amherst; and 40-year-old Erika Lynn Nickerson of Amherst will appear in court at a later date to face the following charges:

  • Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distributing
  • Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling
  • Possession of Unstamped Cannabis

The individuals have also been charged with Possession of Psilocybin for the Purpose of Trafficking, and Bowser-Knockwood and Gloade are charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

In August, RCMP arrested three while conducting a raid at a business on Albion St in Amherst after receiving several complaints regarding the sale of cannabis from a parked utility trailer.

During the search, officers say they seized illegal cannabis and cannabis edibles, a quantity of psilocybin (magic mushrooms), along with a quantity of cash.

The business in question appears to be the Mi’kma’ki Truck House located at 60 S Albion St. Amherst.

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RCMP in Nova Scotia seize cannabis and psilocybin from unlicensed store, charge three

Ayurcann sees record annual growth as its reach expands across Canada

Ayurcann brought in $25.1 million in net revenue for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, up from $12.5 million the year prior, an increase of 101%. 

Gross Revenues from sales in the most recent fiscal year were $45.8 million, up from $22.4 million in the previous year. 

Despite these increases, the Ontario-based cannabis producer still reported a nearly $4 million net loss for the year, although losses were down from $5.3 million in the previous year. 

Ayurcann operates a fully licensed 13,585-square-foot extraction and manufacturing facility based in Pickering, ON. The company earns revenue from the extraction and processing of cannabis oil-based products. It processes its own biomass cannabis and the biomass of other companies.

The company sells 60 unique SKUs under the ‘Fuego’, ‘XPLOR’ and ‘Happy and Stoned’ brands in the BC, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Yukon, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan markets. 

Ayurcann is the top producer of vapes in Ontario, based on reporting by Hifyre IQTM, as of March 30, 2024, and the top five pre-roll manufacturers by volume in Ontario as of March 30, 2024, based on data produced by the Ontario Cannabis Store as of March 30, 2024. 

“As the cannabis industry continues to mature in Canada, we are thrilled to witness the steady growth of our revenues across the country,” said Igal Sudman, CEO of Ayurcann, in a press release. “Despite the challenges posed by an increasingly competitive environment and retail price compression, Ayurcann’s business-to-consumer focus has enabled us to expand our market share in multiple provinces.

“With over 70% penetration in dispensaries and a diverse range of 80 products across vape, concentrate, and flower categories, the success of our in-house brands has been transformative for Ayurcann. We’re proud to have made a lasting impact in the market, continuing to build on our growth trajectory,” 

By focusing on cost-efficient development, manufacturing and promotion of its own brand vape and flower products, as well as discontinuing all of its non-core products and services, the company says it was able to increase its gross margin by over 4.2% year over year, from 29.5% in fiscal 2023 to 33.7% in fiscal 2024.

As of June 30, 2023, the company’s accumulated deficit was $14.4 million. As of June 30, 2024, Ayurcann had a working capital deficit of $2.4 million. As of June 30, 2024, the company has incurred $20.2 million in excise tax, up from $9.6 million the previous year. 

The company’s management has forecasted that the expected expenditure levels and contracted commitments will not significantly exceed Ayurcann’s net cash inflows and working capital for the next 12 months. The company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent, as noted in its audited annual report, “upon its ability to obtain additional financing, achieve profitable operations in the future, the continued support of shareholders and forbearance of creditors.”

RCMP seize more than 120,000 cannabis edibles in large raid on Vancouver Island

RCMP seize more than 120,000 cannabis edibles in large raid on Vancouver Island

Federal investigators with the RCMP have dismantled an organized criminal operation on Vancouver Island that they say was involved in the distribution of illicit drugs, unregulated cannabis, and contraband tobacco.

On October 3, six people were arrested, and investigators seized thousands of counterfeit cannabis edibles when Pacific Region RCMP Federal Policing investigators executed search warrants at two dispensaries, Green Coast Dispensary in Port Alberni and Coastal Storm Dispensary located in Lantzville, and five residences on Vancouver Island. 

Products seized included more than 120,000 chocolate bars, candies, and chips with packaging resembling popular name-brand snacks often referred to as “copycat” edibles.

The executed search warrants were associated with an organized crime group allegedly involved in the production and distribution of illicit drugs, and contraband tobacco in Port Alberni and Nanaimo, say police. 

Search warrants were also executed at a suspected “stash site” in Port Alberni, and a storage and production facility adjacent to Coastal Storm Dispensary. This included two modular trailers where cannabis edibles were being produced, stored, and distributed.

Police also allege that there is a potential for cross-contamination of these products, which they say were manufactured in unsanitary conditions.

“Given the highly contaminated and unsanitary conditions of the illicit drug production facility where these cannabis edibles were being produced, it is possible that the consumption of these products can lead to serious health risks,” said Chief Superintendent Stephen Lee, deputy regional commander for RCMP Federal Policing Program, Pacific Region. 

“We urge members of the public to practice extreme caution if they already possess, or come across such products in the future, especially with Halloween being just around the corner.”

Searches of these locations led to the seizure of the following items:

  • Over 120,000 cannabis edibles with packaging resembling popular chocolate bars, potato chips, nacho chips, honey, and other candies;
  • Over 3 kg of psilocybin mushrooms, 1,740 Psilocybin capsules, over 400 psilocybin chocolate/candies and a multitude of other psilocybin products;
  • 2.2 pounds of pressed cannabis resin;
  • Over 500 pounds of “cannabis bud”;
  • Over 19 pounds of shatter;
  • Over 5000 cannabis vape cartridges;
  • 5 vehicles;
  • 2 ATM machines containing cash;
  • Over 164 Master Cases of contraband tobacco (equating to 82,000 packs of cigarettes);
  • Over $400,000 in cash;
  • A shotgun, and other paraphernalia.

The operation was in collaboration between RCMP Federal Policing units, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit-BC (CFSEU-BC), Criminal Intelligence Service BC (CISBC), Nanaimo and Port Alberni RCMP detachments, and other partner agencies.

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Celebrate Women in Weed: Radicle Femmes Holiday Networking Series

Celebrate Women in Weed: Radicle Femmes Holiday Networking Series

As an emerging industry, cannabis has the unique opportunity to challenge conventions and redefine norms, especially when it comes to gender equality. At its core, Radicle Femmes was designed to empower, celebrate, and advance women in weed. Our tagline, “I can’t believe we still need these events,” speaks to the ongoing need for supportive networks that help women navigate barriers within the cannabis industry and beyond.

As 2024 comes to a close, Marigold PR invites you to join our team and partnering brands for the Radicle Femmes Holiday Networking Series hosted in three cities across Canada this November: Vancouver, BC; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON.

What to Expect

This event series will draw a diverse audience, including entrepreneurs, marketers, retail decision-makers, and LP representatives. Each city will offer a relaxed environment perfect for forging alliances, sharing experiences, and amplifying the collective voice of women in cannabis. From networking to mentorship, this is your chance to build connections that can lead to business opportunities and friendships that extend beyond the event.

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Marigold PR has been bringing women in the cannabis industry together since 2017, hosting insightful conversations and industry-leading networking for hundreds of women across the country.

Our inaugural Radicle Femmes event held on International Women’s Day 2024 sparked a sense of purpose within the cannabis community, showcasing the true essence of solidarity and shared ambition. Investing in women isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s a strategic one.

Meet the Brands

Each market will offer a delicious spread of food and non-alcoholic drinks as you mingle and make new connections in a warm, inviting atmosphere. And what’s a holiday event without gifts? Fabulous gift bags will be provided to all attendees and filled with goodies from Marigold PR and our partners.

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Our partnering brands represent authentic voices in the cannabis industry and are amplifying the Radicle Femmes’ mission of advancing women in weed. Market and gift bag partners include Spark Creative, Sense & Purpose, Frankie Smoke, Blunt Botanicals, Social Smoke Co, Sister Merci, Jane West, Jane Dope, Stewart Farms, Cannabis MarketSpace, and Christina Michael.

Be a Part of the Movement

Join us in celebrating the strides women are making in cannabis and reserve your spot at one of our three Radicle Femmes Holiday Networking Events. Spots are limited and pre-registration is required.

Vancouver, November 13: Water St. Café from 3-5 PM

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Calgary, November 14: The Wednesday Room from 3-5 PM

Toronto, November 19: KISSA from 3-5 PM

By amplifying the voices of women and advocating for greater inclusivity, Radicle Femmes is dedicated to fostering a more equitable and prosperous future for women in cannabis.

Thank you to our VIP sponsor, CCX, Canada’s leading fully integrated B2B wholesale cannabis and hemp exchange.

420 with CNW — Poll Predictions Suggest Florida Marijuana Measure Will Pass

Bipartisan Senators in Florida Blame DeSantis for Using Taxpayer Funds to Oppose Cannabis Measure

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Bipartisan senators in Florida are criticizing Gov. DeSantis for using taxpayer funds to finance anti-cannabis advertisements opposing a measure to legalize cannabis. This news was first brought to the public by an independent journalist, Jason Garcia, who commented on the possible use of the opioid funds for cannabis-related public service announcements.

Soon after, reports from the Tampa Bay Times confirmed that state funds from a settlement fund to help alleviate the opioid crisis were allocated to a 3rd party marketing firm for ads. This is despite the fact that the settlement’s terms specifically state that the funds are meant to mitigate the opioid epidemic.

This past Friday, senators Joe Gruters and Jason Pizzo joined John Morgan, a cannabis reform advocate and Florida attorney, to discuss ads they believe are focused on dissuading voters from supporting Amendment 3.

Just days before, Judge Angela Dempsey of the state Circuit Court dismissed a suit which challenged the constitutionality of these ads. In his argument, Pizzo stated that the content and timing of the ads strongly suggested that they were politically motivated, which violated statute.

This isn’t the first-time officials have run ads cautioning against the use of marijuana. However, the fact that a number of state agencies are running multiple anti-marijuana ads, including some that make controversial statements that legalization in other states had contributed to issues like impaired driving, points to an agenda.

Pizzo also revealed that data showed that over $50 million had been spent on these ads, adding that the use of appropriated funds in this way made the alleged activity a misdemeanor.

For his part, Gruters emphasized that this was a bipartisan issue as taxpayer funds weren’t supposed to be spent to advance a political issue. He added that taxes were meant to be spent on schools, roads, the police and other public programs.

Gruters then noted that under no circumstance should the government of the state of Florida decide, especially with no input from the legislature, that tax payer funds would be spent on a political agenda. He argued that this move by the governor was in violation of state law, in addition to being undemocratic.

Gruters also asserted that state agencies were owed explanations if it was true that millions were redirected to promote the ‘propaganda’ from a settlement account associated with opioids.

Despite the pushback, DeSantis carries on campaigning against the legalization initiative, holding different press conferences featuring state health and law enforcement officials crusading against the reform.

The use of taxpayer funds to finance ads against the cannabis legalization measure in Florida is something that marijuana companies like TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) are unlikely to condone since it is not just morally wrong but could even be regarded as an abuse of public funds given that sections of voters in that state support adult-use cannabis legalization.

About CannabisNewsWire

CannabisNewsWire (“CNW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on cannabis news and the cannabis sector. It is one of 70+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.

To receive SMS alerts from CNW, text CANNABIS to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information, please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com/Disclaimer

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Your Magic Mushrooms Handbook

Your Magic Mushrooms Handbook

No two mushrooms are quite the same — some have a bit more magic to them than others. The secret to magic mushrooms is often in psilocybin. That’s not the only option, though. All the magic mushrooms get their supernatural powers from different psychoactive compounds like psilocybin, psilocin, ibotenic acid, and muscimol. Some give you more space to get in touch with yourself via deep emotional exploration, while others offer relaxation and sedation.

What Is The Difference Between Magic Mushrooms and Regular Ones?

There are no such substances in the regular mushrooms, simple as that. Sadly, that means no euphoria or divine revelations, but they at least go well with pasta. You won’t feel all these heightened emotions — even though some pasta lovers might disagree — no matter the amount you take.

Magic mushrooms, too, can become a part of your favourite dish. Many use powdered shrooms, mixing them into food and drinks. Not going to lie, spicing up your evening cup of tea this way does sound alluring. Such culinary experiments provide the gourmands with mind-blowing creativity, euphoria, and emotional clarity.

Shroom Types

Based on popularity alone, psilocybin mushrooms are the royalty amongst other magic mushrooms, and rightfully so. Their mind-altering and therapeutic effects have been praised for centuries, and these are becoming even more sought-after in recent years.

What might be confusing at first is that there are more than 100 psilocybin mushroom species cultivated all over the world. Though the most in-demand types are Psilocybe cubensis and Psilocybe semilanceata, there is quite a variety to choose from.

From Psilocybe azurescens, more well-known as Flying Saucers, to Psilocybe cyanescens, nicknamed Wavy Caps, each of them delivers a slightly different effect. Not to mention ibotenic acid and muscimol mushrooms, which are a whole different story compared to the psilocybin classics.

Short-term and Long-term Psilocybin Mushrooms Effects

Thanks to the governmental programs, life experience and relative’s stories, negative connotations appeared around magic mushrooms and other drugs (even cannabis before 2018). Your first thought when you hear about psilocybin shrooms is probably about hippies, tripping, connecting to nature or Black Noir’s (fictional character from The Boys series) vivid hallucinations. And that’s not so far from the truth.

Magic mushrooms have a whole pack of positive and negative effects. They are also often compared to MDMA and LSD, but unlike them, they are natural, such as ayahuasca, and that’s why they are preferable. The shrooms’ effects onset within 30-45 minutes. Though they can last from 3-6 hours, the first few hours are when the sensations are at their highest.

Short-Term Magic Mushrooms Effects

People got used to dividing things in black and white. But science marches up ahead and studies also mental and physical shroom effects. Here’s a breakdown of what you can possibly feel from magic mushrooms. Quick note: this isn’t a checklist. Everything is individual, so the effects depend on various factors.

Mental Positive Effects

  • Heightened emotions, creativity and mood
  • Mixed senses when you see music (aka Synesthesia)
  • Emotional clarity, euphoria and unity with the Universe
  • Distorted sense of reality (aka visual and auditory hallucinations)
  • Altered sense of time

Physical Positive Effects

  • Complete body relaxation
  • Pleasant tingling sensation in the limbs
  • Slightly increased blood pressure that boosts attention and reflexes

Mental Negative Effects

  • Growing anxiety that can result in a panic attack
  • Mood swings
  • Fear and Loathing (not in Las Vegas, though)
  • Light-headedness causing disorientation
  • Psychosis and paranoia

Physical Negative Effects

  • Increased heart rate, leading to sweating and high body temperature
  • Numbness, dry mouth, and sometimes nausea
  • Chills, shivering, loss of urinary control

Long-Term Magic Mushrooms Effects

Despite numerous clinical trials and research, which we’ll look at a bit later, there is still no evidence of repetitive magic mushroom use effects. The good news is that magic mushrooms don’t cause physical or psychological dependency. However, it is possible to become tolerant of their effects with regular use.

One important rule in shroom use is that you absolutely can’t mix them with other substances like alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, etc. No one fully understands what can happen from such a mind-blowing cocktail. You also can’t inject magic mushrooms intravenously. This can lead to septic shock and multi-system organ failure. People with cardiac diseases or those predisposed to or with existing psychiatric conditions can take shrooms while being extremely cautious.

There are also some risks associated with long-term mushroom use. In inexperienced hands, they can cause so-called “bad trips” or “flashbacks.” Both incidents are potentially physically and mentally traumatizing. In the first case, you get a loss of mental boundaries, and in the second case, you relive the worst nightmares in your life. On the contrary, if you live through such experiences with a trained specialist near you, you can heal and forget about your traumas.

Therapeutic Use and Clinical Trials

In Canada, there are currently almost fifty clinical trials. Thanks to the magic mushrooms effects that we took a look at above, scientists mostly use them for the treatment of psychological disorders like:

  • Depression, including resistant and bipolar depression
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Alcohol use and other substance abuse
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Pain, including neuropathic pain
  • Fragile X syndrome
  • Cancer
  • And even for end-of-life distress

All clinical trials in this article are representative and reproducible since they meet Good Manufacturing Practices, applicable only in Canada. Most of them show positive results that bring us closer to complete psilocybin legalization.

So, Why Do We Need More Shroom Clinical Trials?

As you can see, psilocybin use CAN be beneficial. What’s more, it IS beneficial. And even now, as you read this article, one person probably got healed with this prohibited substance. The main reason for continuing controlled research is to prove the usefulness of magic mushrooms even more and prevent people from uncontrolled substance abuse that can lead to poisoning.

Even if it seems funny at first sight, the problem of mushroom poisoning is no joke. There’s growing evidence of the use of various shrooms, from cognitive enhancement like reishi, chaga and lion’s mane to psilocybin ones. And what will you do if you can’t buy them freely online or if the magic mushroom price is too high? Correct, go to the forest to pick them up yourself. Or try growing at home. In both cases, there’s a risk of picking or growing the wrong mushroom, leading to severe poisoning.

Can you die from mushroom poisoning? The short answer is no, of course not. But, you CAN overdose on them. The average microdosing dose is 0,5 g of psilocybin, and the average dried shroom dose is 1-2 grams. Everything beyond that is questionable and most likely dangerous, even fatal, if you eat poisonous mushrooms.

A group of enthusiasts from Funguyz mushroom stores continue to promote psilocybin use because they believe in complete human freedom to use what they need to become healthier. Complete magic mushroom legalization will help reduce the number of mushroom poisonings and possibly will save more people than harm.

What Should I Do If I Want to Participate in Clinical Trials?

Anyone can participate in the governmental Special Access Program and Clinical Trials if they pass as a candidate. To do so, you just need to discuss your desire with your healthcare provider. They have all the necessary information to guide you further.

And What If I Want to CONDUCT a Clinical Trial Using Psilocybin?

You can go even further and conduct your research. To be legal and representative, it also should meet Good Manufacturing Practices. To buy magic mushrooms, even for clinical trials, individuals and companies must have a licence, authorization orexemption from Health Canada.

We also suggest you read the Guidance Document for Clinical Trial Sponsors: Clinical Trial Applications for more information on how to apply for a clinical trial authorization or contact local authorities (the Office of Clinical Trials) at their official email. You can find it here.

From Ancient Times to Present Day: Magic Mushroom Origins

The first mentions of magic mushrooms appeared centuries ago, but to this day, they continue to turn ordinary things into extraordinary ones. Why did our ancestors use psilocybin mushrooms? Where did they even come from? If you are interested in the answers to these questions, then let’s dig deeper and delve into the history of the magic mushrooms’ origin.

First Discovery of Magic Mushrooms and Their Use

People began using magic mushrooms in 10,000 BC, as evidenced by the earliest rock art found in Tassili, Algeria. Scientists have also discovered rock drawings in Spain dating back to 4,000 BC. They show Psilocybe hispanica mushrooms, which have hallucinogenic properties. It is not known why these mushrooms were used, but it is assumed that they were part of religious rituals. In particular, our ancestors used magic mushrooms for the following purposes:

  • Divination and communication with otherworldly beings (shamans used magic mushrooms to communicate with ancestors, spirits, gods or demons to get answers and predict the future);
  • Rituals (magic mushrooms were used in various ceremonies, initiations and rituals, giving the chosen people unique experience and knowledge);
  • Healing (ancient people used magic mushrooms to treat physical and psychological illnesses).

The Aztecs made a significant contribution to the popularization of magic mushrooms. They used a magic mushroom called ‘flesh of the gods’ at the coronation of their ruler Moctezuma II in 1502. This is evidenced by an inscription in the Florentine Codex, where psilocybin mushrooms were mentioned for the first time in history. In the mid-1500s, with the arrival of Europeans in Mesoamerica, the use of magic mushrooms was illegalized. Since then, people have been growing and using mushrooms clandestinely.

Magic Mushrooms Popularization: Why Are They Used Today?

psilocybin mushroom example amanita

Rumours of frequent use of magic mushrooms appeared in the 1800s and early 1900s. At that time, psilocybin mushrooms were not illegal, but they were not widely popular either. Going back to the theme of mushroom poisoning, people would just randomly find them and eat them, such as one man who mistakenly picked magic mushrooms in London’s Green Park and brought them to his family for breakfast. This case was recorded in the London Medical and Physical Journal in 1799.

The first research of magic mushrooms began in May 1957 with the publication of R. Gordon Wasson’s article ‘Great Adventures III: Seeking the Magic Mushroom’ in Life magazine. Here, Wasson described how some Mexican aboriginal tribes used psilocybin mushrooms in their rituals. In the early 1960s, many Europeans and North Americans began visiting Mexico to try these magic mushrooms.

In Canada, the first documented magic mushroom use occurred in Vancouver in 1965. UBC students found a shroom of the type Psilocybe semilanceata, which was recognized as a related strain of psilocybin mushrooms found in Mexico. Of course, these mushrooms were confiscated.

In the early 1970s, fields of Liberty Cap mushrooms were discovered in many areas of British Columbia. Hundreds of Canadians travelled here to pick and taste them. In late 1974, psilocybin was forbidden due to the occurrence of negative effects.

However, in late 1979, the BC Appeal Court ruled that possession of magic mushrooms was not illegal. As the popularity of mushrooms grew, so the demand for them also increased, leading to disputes and even mushroom wars. As a result, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that possession of magic mushrooms was considered illegal.

Nowadays, magic mushrooms remain popular, but they no longer create as many social problems as in the past. As we discussed earlier, they are most often used for mental disorders treatment and, getting new and exciting sensations, learning about yourself.

In addition, mushroom spores can be freely purchased and grown at home as cannabis instead of tomatoes or corn. For many people, this is a great hobby that helps them manage stress. However, the question of the legal use of psilocybin mushrooms remains open.

Freedom of Magic Mushrooms Use: Is it Possible in the Nearest Future?

Under the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs. In addition to psilocybin and psilocin, this list includes drugs that are not recognized for medical use. Nevertheless, psilocybin mushrooms have been used for several centuries for both cultural and therapeutic purposes.

Magic Mushroom Legalization in the World

UN treaties do not regulate magic mushrooms, but their cultivation, possession, transport and consumption are still illegal in many countries. Some countries may regulate psilocybin mushrooms differently, so their legal status is unclear and blurred. The table below summarizes the legal or semi-legal status of magic mushrooms around the world:

Country Possession Sale Transport Cultivation
Austria Legal Illegal Legal Legal
Bahamas Legal Illegal Legal Legal
Brazil Legal Legal Legal Legal
British Virgin Islands Legal Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Legal
Cambodia Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced)
Canada Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced)
Greece Illegal unless treated as psilocin Illegal unless treated as psilocin Illegal Legal for private human consumption
India Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced)
Indonesia Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced)
Israel Illegal (legal for personal consumption) Illegal Illegal Illegal (legal for personal consumption)
Italy Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized)
Jamaica Legal Illegal Legal Legal
Laos Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced)
Nepal Legal Legal Legal Legal
Netherlands Legal Legal Legal Legal
Philippines Legal (ambiguous) Legal (ambiguous) Legal (ambiguous) Legal (ambiguous)
Portugal Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized)
Slovakia Illegal (ambiguous) Illegal (ambiguous) Illegal (ambiguous) Illegal (ambiguous)
Thailand Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced)
United States Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized) Illegal (decriminalized)
Vietnam Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced) Illegal (unenforced)

As can be seen from the table, the situation with the legalization of magic mushrooms is ambiguous, but it cannot be said that there is no movement towards full legalization. Some countries have legalized psilocybin mushrooms completely, which is a big step to freedom of their use.

How Did the Legal Status of Shrooms Change in Canada?

freedom of magic mushrooms use in canada

Following the legalization of cannabis in Canada in 2018, many cities across the country have started to open magic mushroom shops. With increasing demand, medical research, and gradual changes in legislation, dozens of shops (e.g. FunGuyz, Shroom City, and House of Mush) selling psilocybin mushrooms opened in 2023. Due to unclear legal status, they were frequently raided by police and closed but reopened.

In January 2023, Alberta became the first province in Canada to allow psilocybin for rare medical use, but it was still illegal to sell it. It’s worth noting that in 2022, Canada invested $3 million in clinical trials to study psilocybin as a treatment for alcohol addiction and other diseases. This once again proves that the world is on the edge of open and free usage of magic mushrooms. At the moment, legal use of mushrooms is possible in several ways:

  • Clinical trials;
  • Special access programmes through a treating physician;
  • Special exemption.

According to FunGuyz spokesman – Sam Akila, laws banning psilocybin contradict the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which emphasizes the importance of freedom of thought. After all, cognitive freedom and freedom of self-knowledge, which psilocybin promotes, are essentially freedom of thought. The human right to freedom of thought has also been documented in legal acts such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Thus, the legal status of psilocybin in Canada could be challenged in the Supreme Court of Canada, allowing for the legalization of magic mushroom usage.

Magic Mushrooms Usage in Canadian Provinces Today in 2024

If you look up information about medications seized by law enforcement, the magic mushroom statistics in Canada are different from province to province. Overall, these natural hallucinogens take last place in Canada, overpowered by mainstream synthetic substances. While it is true, magic mushrooms in Nova Scotia are more popular than amphetamine, and in Alberta, many prefer shrooms to Codeine and GHB. It comes as no surprise that in January 2023, Alberta became the first province in Canada to regulate psilocybin use for therapy.

The Future of Magic Mushrooms in Canada

While the laws concerning the ability to sell or buy shrooms online are still unclear, the general public senses that shrooms may follow in the footsteps of cannabis. With many magic mushroom shops appearing here and there all over Canada, it’s a clear sign that the winds are changing. And the Canadians are fully on board. After all, a recent poll says that 80% of Canadians think psilocybin should be available for medical treatments.

It helps that even law enforcement is not as interested in magic mushroom control these days, with their focus shifted to the opioid and fentanyl crisis that started back in 2022. Seems like all these factors combined lay an excellent ground for future magic m

Pulsed Electric Field Applications for Botanical Extraction

Pulsed Electric Field Applications for Botanical Extraction

It is impossible to find a production process of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, or biofuels that doesn’t include an extraction step. It is difficult to locate the beginning of botanical extraction in human history since humans (and many other animals) have always used phytochemicals’ powers for medical, nutraceutical, and spiritual applications.

Excavations in Iraq unearthed specific pots from 3500 BC that strongly resemble a Soxhlet apparatus. Pharaonic civilization probably was the first to use solid-liquid extraction to obtain colors, aromas and materials. Botanical extractions took a radically new turn with the first distillation of by Avicenna (930-1037), who was the inventor of the alembic. 

However, the official history completely overshadows the key role of women in the transmission of botanical knowledge. Indeed, in all Mediterranean countries, the tradition of preparing extracts passed down from mother to daughter, keeping secrets of bewitching perfumes or ancestral remedies. Furthermore, the chemist from Alexandria called “Mary the Jewess”, gave her name to the famous “Mary’s bath” and documents show that her extraction technique in 100 BC was advanced with the use of solar energy. [1],[2]

Traditional techniques to extract phytochemicals involve high consumption, long processing time, and sometimes thermal degradation. Furthermore, the seek for innovative methods has become more urgent to satisfy the need for more sustainable approaches to industrial production. Among the latest extraction methods,

Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) extraction has gained attention due to its low thermal-degradation effects on samples. Indeed, PEF was first studied for its high potential in the food industry and owes its success to its application to the preservation of food. However, now PEF technology is widely used as a pre-treatment in the extraction of nutraceuticals and phytochemicals from plants. Indeed, its mechanism of action based on electroporation, enhances tissue permeability, facilitating compound extraction while avoiding thermal degradation. [3]

Understanding PEF Mechanism

Pulsed electric field technique is based on a series of short, high-intensity, electric pulses applied to a sample. The apparatus consists of a pulse generator, the treatment chamber, electrodes correctly designed to avoid the effect of electrolysis, and a system for control and data acquisition. The sample is located between the electrodes inside the treatment chamber. A capacitor retains the energy from the power source and is then discharged through the treatment chamber to induce an electric field on the sample.

Generally, a cooling system is also incorporated into the machine since, depending on the intensity of the electric field, the sample might suffer from a considerable temperature increase. [4] PEF can be used both in batch mode followed by a solid-liquid extraction apparatus and in continuous flow mode, which is generally preferred in industrial applications due to the low capacity of the batch mode. [2] 

The principle of this method is electroporation, i.e. cell membrane permeability enhancement due to external electrical forces. The application of an electric field causes charge modification of dipolar molecules that constitute cell membranes and the creation of hydrophilic pores, which strongly affects mass transfer from inside to outside the cell. [5]  The electroporation can be reversible or irreversible depending on how much the electric field intensity exceeds a critical threshold value above which the rupture of the cell takes place. However, this effect might be desired depending on the application. Indeed, cell disrupture often increases mass transfer. [2]

As already mentioned, another important parameter is temperature. Even though PEF is a non-thermal treatment that is carried out around ambient temperature, the application of strong electric field can cause significant heat release by the sample, which in the case of botanical extraction might be a strong disadvantage due to the high-temperature degradation potential of many natural organic compounds. [4] Indeed, stronger electric fields (generally above 20 kV/cm) are used in food treatment applications, but for botanical extraction, the usual range is 0.1 – 20 kV/cm. [2],[4] 

The efficiency of PEF-assisted extraction not only depends on the technique’s parameters and solvent characteristics but also on the nature of the sample, the tissue and cell type and the conductivity of the matrix. For example, extracting bioactive compounds from tough materials such as seeds requires intensities of 10-20 kV/cm, whereas an intensity of 0.1-10 kV/cm is enough for the pericarp and mesocarp of a few fruits. [2]

Even though PEF technology is environmentally friendly and the flexibility to optimize process factors makes it adaptable to several applications, its main drawback is its low acceptability. Indeed, compared to other extraction techniques such as and SFE that are widely used, PEF remains somehow a niche extraction technique and the literature on this technique is not as abundant as the others. Furthermore, analyzing the patents on this methodology, it is clear that a limited amount of solvents is currently being used under PEF, thus leading to lower acceptability. [3]

Which Phytochemicals are More Compatible with PEF Extraction?

Plant extract use for therapeutic aims has been present almost in every human society since ancient times. Traditional extraction techniques are decoction, maceration, , digestion, and percolation. With modernization and industrial growth era, Soxhlet extraction was introduced, which is an advanced form of digestion and decoction methods.
However, these traditional methods have several drawbacks and among them, the most significant are: 

  • long extraction times, 
  • large volumes of solvent,
  • low yields. 

To meet these challenges, new “Green Techniques” have been introduced. Among them: 

  • microwave-assisted extraction (MAE),
  • supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), 
  • pressurized liquid extraction (), 
  • ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), 
  • pulsed field-assisted extraction (PEF), 
  • and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE). 

PEF was first used in 1940 to increase the extraction of juice from fruits, which remains one of PEF’s most frequent applications. The first patent on PEF extraction from plant materials is from 2009 and covers a great range of phytochemicals, focusing on carotenoids in particular. [3]  The main classes of phytochemicals are listed below, focusing on how PEF has been applied to each of them. 

Alkaloids are a wide group of natural organic compounds that present at least one nitrogen atom. They are generally basic but can also be neutral or slightly acidic. Alkaloids were traditionally extracted with non-polar organic solvents under basic conditions or with polar organic solvents under acidic conditions. However, their high potential in several pharmaceutical applications imposes the need for continuous research and new extraction and purification techniques. Alkaloids are now generally extracted with MAE and SFE with polar solvents, but good yields have also been obtained with PEF and UAE. [3] In particular, steroidal alkaloids from potato peels have been obtained using PEF with a yield of 99.9% using a pulse intensity of 0.75 kV/cm. [6]

Polyphenols’s commercial demand is increasing due to their many biological activities. In particular, their success is due to their antioxidant power. However, this class of compounds is very sensitive to temperature variations and risks temperature-induced degradation. Traditionally, polyphenols have been extracted using organic co-solvents, which is a significant obstacle to their application in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Among the more innovative techniques, SFE has been widely used to extract this class of compound, but this technique still involves the use of organic solvents. On the other hand, MAE causes thermal degradation of polyphenols, drastically reducing extraction yields. PEF has been used as a pre-treatment in polyphenols extraction, increasing extraction yields up to 192% with a pulse intensity of 7 kV/cm and using water as a solvent, thus avoiding the organic solvents’ toxicity. [2], [7]

Anthocyanins are polyphenol derivatives. They are responsible for the blue, red, purple and orange color of many fruits and vegetables and are particularly present in berries. They are very strong antioxidants and are used in the treatment of several chronic diseases. [8]Unlike other natural organic substances, anthocyanins are water-soluble and this characteristic makes them suitable as natural dyes.Furthermore, they are quite stable against heat, since they undergo thermal degradation above 100 °C and they are sensitive to pH variations, that change their structure and absorption spectrum, varying their color from red to blue. [5]

Some papers report increasing extraction yields using PEF technology, but the values are not as significant as other classes of compounds. [6] In particular, electroporation promotes a freer movement of intracellular liquid which also contains anthocyanins. However, anthocyanins obtained by PEF-assisted extraction are in their non-acylated form, which is purple and less stable, thus they tend to degrade more quickly.[5]

Polysaccharides are long-chain polycarbohydrates generally found in plants’ fruits and roots. They are used in the nutraceutical industry but in the last few years, they have gained attention as a potential source of biofuels. They can be extracted from agricultural wastes or seaweed. Traditionally, polysaccharides were extracted through hydrolysis and maceration.

However, in addition to the ones already mentioned, these methods suffer from impurities in the extract and degradation of unstable molecules. In particular, long extraction times might cause de-polymerization and de-esterification. Among the more innovative techniques, MAE offers a reduction in the solvent volume required. However, PEF is the most efficient way to extract inulin and authors have found the energy consumption to be drastically reduced due to lower extraction temperatures, resulting in net savings. [3]

Carotenoids are oil-soluble compounds whose beneficial effects on the immune system, age-related diseases, and cancer have been widely proven. However, their position in the plant cell makes these compounds’ absorption more difficult. Traditionally, carotenoid extraction has been realized with organic solvents but the need for greener methods imposes the seek for alternative solutions.[9]

PEF resulted to be one of the most efficient methods to extract these compounds, reaching extraction yields increased up to 83%. Interestingly, there is a difference in individual carotenoids content that indicates the effect of PEF on adjusting their bio-synthesis either leading to decomposition. Some authors have used an oil-in-water microemulsion in combination with PEF that avoids the use of organic solvents. [3], [5], [9]

Finally, other natural dyes such as Chlorophylls from microalgae and Betanins from red beet were extracted using PEF assisted extraction with increased yields.[5]

PEF and Food Industry

The extraction of value-added products by using PEF technology is particularly interesting when considering wastes as a possible source of biomass. Indeed, apart from agro-industrial wastes, the increasing demand for processed food due to modern lifestyle eventually leads to large quantities of waste generated during food processing. Furthermore, waste recovery is often energy-consuming and expensive for producers.

PEF has demonstrated to be an efficient extraction technique with a high selectivity for certain bio-compounds. It is now widely proved that wastes such as seeds, peels, and stems contain high amounts of value-added compounds but their physical characteristics make them less appealing to industry due to the higher amount of energy required for their treatment compared to other parts of the plant. Thus, PEF can offer additional profits and encourage growers to decrease waste and associated environmental pollution. [10],[2] 

PEF has been used to recover value-added products from fruit and vegetables, in particular, the grape processing industry produces a significant number of wastes that are a source of polyphenols. From the cooking oil industry can be recovered chlorophylls, polyphenols and proteins, almost 60% of the amount of polysaccharides necessary to produce biofuels depends on sugar industry crops. Another interesting example is eggshells, which are rich in calcium that has been obtained with PEF-assisted extraction to produce calcium-rich food sources. [10]

Finally, the largest use of PEF in the food industry relies on its high potential in food processing. Indeed, PEF-induced electroporation of microorganisms was first used to pasteurize milk and is now widely used to sterilize and preserve different kinds of food. Furthermore, PEF treatment reduces the amount of 5-Hydroxy Methyl Furfural (HMF) that is used as a quality loss indicator in food due to its carcinogenic properties. PEF can also be used for non-thermal cooking which is a technique that preserves the nutritional value of a product. [6]

PEF is a technique that is already widely used in food processing but has shown high potential also in botanical extraction. However, in this field, other techniques have shown comparable potential and their use is well-established and accepted. Nevertheless, the savings derived from the use of a non-thermal technique such as PEF and the higher preservation of unstable compounds such as carotenoids might be very interesting due to the high market demand for such biomolecules. [3], [6]  

Bibliography:

[1]            F. Chemat et al., “A review of sustainable and intensified techniques for extraction of food and natural products”,  2020, Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/c9gc03878g.

[2]            M. M. A. N. Ranjha et al., “A Critical Review on Pulsed Electric Field: A Novel Technology for the Extraction of Phytoconstituents”, Molecules, 2021, 26(16). doi: 10.3390/MOLECULES26164893.

[3]            T. Belwal et al., “A critical analysis of extraction techniques used for botanicals: Trends, priorities, industrial uses and optimization strategies”, TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2018, 100, pp. 82–102. doi: 10.1016/J.TRAC.2017.12.018.

[4]            B. Gómez et al., “Application of pulsed electric fields in meat and fish processing industries: An overview,” Food Research International, 2019, 123, pp. 95–105. doi: 10.1016/J.FOODRES.2019.04.047.

[5]            I. Karimi Sani et al., “Pulsed electric field-assisted extraction of natural colorants; principles and applications”, Food Biosci, 2024, 61. doi: 10.1016/J.FBIO.2024.104746.

[6]            R. N. Arshad et al., “Pulsed electric field: A potential alternative towards a sustainable food processing”, Trends Food Sci Technol, 2021, 111, pp. 43–54. doi: 10.1016/J.TIFS.2021.02.041.

[7]            E. Luengo, I. Álvarez, and J. Raso, “Improving the pressing extraction of polyphenols of orange peel by pulsed electric fields”, Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, vol. 17, pp. 79–84, Jan. 2013, doi: 10.1016/J.IFSET.2012.10.005.

[8]            D. Peña-Sanhueza, C. Inostroza-Blancheteau, A. Ribera-Fonseca, and M. Reyes-Díaz, “Anthocyanins in Berries and Their Potential Use in Human Health”, in Superfood and Functional Food – The Development of Superfoods and Their Roles as Medicine, 2017. doi: 10.5772/67104.

[9]            S. Roohinejad, I. Oey, D. W. Everett, and B. E. Niven, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of β-Carotene Extraction from Pulsed Electric Field-Treated Carrot Pomace Using Oil-in-Water Microemulsion,” Food Bioproc Tech, 2014, 7(11), pp. 3336–3348. doi: 10.1007/S11947-014-1334-6/FIGURES/3.

[10]          R. N. Arshad et al., “Effective valorization of food wastes and by-products through pulsed electric field: A systematic review,” J Food Process Eng, 2021, 44(3). doi: 10.1111/JFPE.13629.

Australian cannabis companies are growing weary of Canadian imports

Australian cannabis companies are growing weary of Canadian imports

As Australia’s domestic medical cannabis market evolves, some companies are becoming frustrated with the country’s ongoing reliance on cannabis imports from Canada.

Still, others say demand is being driven by consumer preference. 

Australia legalized medical cannabis in 2016, and by 2017, Canadian cannabis companies were announcing exports of cannabis oil and flower to the country. Although many of these initial shipments were relatively small (just the equivalent of 200 grams in 2017), by 2021, Canadian companies exported nearly 5,800 kg of cannabis; by 2023, that figure was over 34,000 kg. 

The early reliance on imports came at a time when Australia’s domestic industry was in its infancy. But in late 2024, some of these companies recently told the country’s Sydney Morning Herald that they are struggling to compete with what some characterize as product “dumping”. 

These accusations mirror similar ones levied by the Israeli government earlier this year to the dismay of Global Affairs Canada

Some cannabis companies in Australia say that much of the cannabis being imported from Canada is of lower quality and that the products have fewer checks on quality than what is produced by Australian companies. 

“I have no issue with imports coming here; the issue is that because they have surplus product, they’re dumping it here, which makes things difficult for local cultivators,” Nan-Maree Schoerie, managing director of ECS Botanics, tells the Herald. ECS is an Australian cultivator and manufacturer of medicinal cannabis. 

StratCann also spoke with Schoerie about the issue. She explained that while some of the Canadian cannabis products coming into Australia are good quality, she thinks some companies are unloading lower-quality products from their vaults due to an oversupply in Canada. 

“We have a product that comes into Australia from Canada that is extraordinarily good quality, probably for the extra years of experience,” she tells StratCann. “But there’s also an enormous amount of product that we believe is coming from stockpiling in Canada.

“That product is flooding into Australia. It’s not necessarily fresh, it’s not necessarily great, but they can sell it at a very low price.”

The export market is a good opportunity for Canadian companies to offload lower-quality product, but she notes this pushes the price down in Australia just as it has in Canada. While growers in Australia could get around AU$6 a gram, wholesale, in 2023, Schoerie says in 2024 that has dropped to around $4-4.50. 

“That is a direct consequence of the amount of product that has come in, primarily from Canada.”

Schoerie notes that her own company exports products, as well, and doesn’t blame Canadian companies, or any others for finding markets for their products where they can. 

Ultimately, she says the issue is one created by the Australian government, specifically the agency that oversees Australia’s cannabis for medical purposes program, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 

She explains this because the TGA, which requires Australian companies to have GMP compliance, allows companies importing their products into Australia to use a “loophole” to have them packaged in a GMP-compliant facility. She also says the TGA doesn’t have the resources to ensure the facilities that package goods in Canada adhere to Australian requirements. 

Andrew Dowling, the director at an Australian cannabis wholesaler called Phytoca that focuses primarily on imports, pushes back against this argument, saying that being processed in a GMP facility in Canada or Australia is still the same standard. 

“The actual growing of cannabis is not covered under GMP, anywhere in the world, because it’s not a manufacturing activity,” argues Dowlin. “It’s cultivation.” 

The issue of product “dumping”, he says, is one being pushed by companies who simply aren’t meeting the international market’s demands, both in terms of price, but also in terms of quality. 

 “If these governments really had a problem with Canadian imports, there are levers at their disposal that they could be pulling on to turn it off.”

“It’s wrong to claim it’s being dumped. That product is being ordered because there’s a commercial opportunity and the demand is driven by the price point that is unmatched by Australian companies. If Australian companies could find a solution to that, they’d be doing it.”

Deepak Anand, an industry consultant in Canada who assists cannabis companies with exports into countries like Australia, echoes these sentiments.

“Whether it be Germany, Australia, or Israel, Canadian products are of a better quality than domestic supply. This is a reflection of what the market wants rather than this alleged dumping, which hasn’t been proven anywhere. 

“I think this notion of dumping, which was started by the Israelis—it’s catchy and sounds like something nefarious is going on—but the fact of the matter is Canadian products are just of a higher quality so that’s why there’s a demand for it.”

Canadian cannabis companies have indeed been dealing with domestic price compression from an excess of supply that has led many companies to lean into the export market.  Exports are seen as an easier and, at times, more lucrative path to market than selling domestically, since exports are often bulk sales and are not subject to Canada’s federal excise tax of $1 per gram.

The oversupply of cannabis in Canada that has pushed many companies to the export market has, in the past year or so, also had the effect of relieving some of that downward pressure on domestic prices. While exports don’t appear to be slowing down, it’s possible that the international market will begin to find some balance.

Facing The Deep State And Psy-Op Within Yourself – The Essence Of Shadow Work

Facing The Deep State And Psy-Op Within Yourself – The Essence Of Shadow Work

Facing The Deep State And Psy-Op Within Yourself

– The Essence Of Shadow Work

By Bernhard Guenther

Donald Trump is an excellent archetypal shadow projection case study for our times. He carries an immense weight of psychic pressure from people’s positive and negative projections, which speaks for the strength of his whole being.

This statement does not imply that I see him as a “good” or “bad” person (or any other label). It’s not a judgment of his character. I’m speaking about unseen psychic energies and cosmic forces in the context of thought projections and the psyche.

Most people would have already crumbled, died of a disease, become drug addicts, or committed suicide under the load of these intense psychic projections.

As I’ve written in a previous article, he’s the target of the projections from the left, conservatives, and the truther community alike – billions of people on a global level.

One side sees him as Hitler and dictator, or controlled op, shill, Lucefarian, or false savior. The other side sees him as the savior/messiah who can’t do wrong.

Most people are caught in these oversimplified good/bad either/or projections.

If you know how to do shadow work, hold the tension of opposites within [key concept!], and withdraw your projections, you will start to see him as he IS [the arising “third force” beyond the black-and-white duality], not as you think he is or want him to be beyond any label.

“If we can stay with the tension of opposites long enough —sustain it, be true to it—we can sometimes become vessels within which the divine opposites come together and give birth to a new reality.”

– Marie-Louise von Franz

This is an extremely difficult internal process. It’s not an intellectual exercise of “neutrality” or “balance.” It’s not a moral question and cannot be reached via logic and the mind. It’s not a thought process.

I’m certainly not free from all projections, let alone having an integrated shadow. I have my triggers. They serve me to do the internal work [if I catch them]. It’s a continuing “trial and error” process that becomes more nuanced over time.

Anyone who claims they don’t project, don’t get triggered, don’t have a shadow, or are “done with shadow work” [huge red flag!] doesn’t grasp what shadow work is and is lying to themselves. It would literally imply that you are “enlightened” without any unconsciousness.

Most people, normies, and self-proclaimed “awake” truthers alike indulge in their projections (sometimes truthers even more than normies, ironically).

The mind and reality (by extension through the process of projective identification) will always give them a “reason” and “justification” to indulge in their projections—augmented with thought injections by occult forces that trigger their unconscious shadow to feed off the emotionally charged projections of the suppressed shadow.

As Paul Levy explained in his work, this is also the modus operandi of wetiko tagging into the shadow – it feeds you what you want to see to feed off you even more.

That’s why trying to expose all the lies, psy-ops, and conspiracies “out there” in the world is an endless feedback loop because “you” and the collective psyche will “dream up” more of the same, living under the illusion that the outside world is separate from “you.”

Until you stop externalizing, withdraw your projections, focus the vision within, and start living from within—grounded and embodied in Self.

I can see it in my mind, too, and it requires internal willpower not to give in to the “justified” projections but to use them to ignite the alchemical fire within as fuel for the Great Work to bring forth Essence/Self.

Hence, the real battle and psy-op is within and working THROUGH you.

The less aware you are of your shadow, projections, and triggers, the easier it is to be controlled by unseen [occult] forces tagging into your psyche.

The more you are a slave to occult forces outside your awareness, regardless of whether you call yourself a “truther” who thinks he is awake and has figured it all out or the average person who may not be aware of any conspiracies.

Starting the process of withdrawing your projections (by becoming aware of them) is the most critical part and foundation of inner work before deeper spiritual/esoteric self-work can begin (or you’ll fall into the trap of spiritual bypassing).

It is about entering the “House of Gathering” as Carl Jung described:

“We are still certain we know what other people think or what their true character is. We are convinced that certain people have all the bad qualities we do not know in ourselves.

If you imagine someone who is brave enough to withdraw all his projections, then you get an individual who is conscious of a pretty thick shadow. Such a man has saddled himself with new problems and conflicts.

He has become a serious problem to himself, as he is now unable to say that they do this or that, they are wrong, and they must be fought against. He lives in the “House of the Gathering.”

Such a man knows that whatever is wrong in the world is in himself, and if he only learns to deal with his own shadow he has done something real for the world. He has succeeded in shouldering at least an infinitesimal part of the gigantic, unsolved social problems of our day.”

– Carl Gustav Jung

The conditioned ego-personality stuck in pride and victim/blame consciousness will deny and resist this process.

It will vehemently protest the idea that “whatever is wrong in the world is in himself” with various reasons and justifications to mentally shield itself from disillusionment – a crucial threshold to break through in the Great Work.

Withdrawing your projections not only helps you see clearly beyond your mechanical, programmed, and reactive likes and dislikes, attractions, and repulsions, but you do more for the betterment of humanity than trying to figure out any conspiracy or psy-op intellectually.

Integrating your shadow will also give you more access to Self-energy, your essence as a vessel for the Divine, and, by extension, more access to creativity, life force, and true FREE WILL with CONSCIOUS action and not mechanical re-action.

Your whole being becomes lighter and a more efficient transducer for Divine Will, which will express itself uniquely through you. It will connect you more to your soul purpose and creative spirit.

In other words, you raise your frequency and vibration to higher levels of Being; hence, as Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imaging figures of light but by making the darkness conscious.”

He’s referring to your internal darkness, your shadow, what you are not aware of yourself within but project externally on others.

But it’s not easy because once you engage in embodied shadow work (and don’t just intellectualize it), you will encounter all kinds of complexes, traumas, beliefs, urges, desires, mother/father wounds, and feelings you didn’t know you had [many of them are not “yours”].

Yet, the only way out is in and through. All need to be revealed from darkness to Light. There is also only so much shadow work you can do by yourself. Find others with whom you can engage in the same inner work. We need each other.

I’m not implying that we shouldn’t look at the world, speak out, and expose the lies. It is not about inaction or being passive.

But if you are more focused externally without embodied psychological self-awareness [and a higher spiritual vision beyond the 3D manifestations in the context of the evolutions of consciousness], you can easily get lost in the conspiracy wormhole and see conspiracies, psy-ops, and controlled ops where there are none.

You won’t be able to accurately separate truth from lies in the world because you haven’t faced the lies within yourself.

“To speak the truth, one must know what the truth is and what a lie is, and first of all, in oneself. And this nobody wants to know.”

– Gurdjieff

The wetiko-infused psyche and suppressed shadow will also pull more of the same out of the “magician’s hat” for you to justify your projections, and you become like Don Quixote, fighting illusory windmills or shadows in Plato’s allegory of the cave.

In other words, you will see precisely what you want to see. It’s an endless loop.

Living in that externalized state – especially constantly glued to the internet in a disembodied state – you are actually more vulnerable to manipulation and control while you believe [lie to yourself] that you are “awake”, “free”, and “sovereign.”

As within so without. What we see playing out in the external world disguised as conspiracies, psy-ops, or the deep state is also related to our personal and collective shadow.

That which we don’t face within ourselves is also manifested in the outside world as “fate” on a personal and collective level, hence all there is are lessons.

It’s a constant revelation and unveiling (apocalypse), and it is accelerating.

It’s an amazing opportunity to utilize all the manifestations of the psychic material for the Great Work, bringing about a true shift and transformation in consciousness.

In fact, it is necessary so we don’t plunge again into another dark night of civilization [Atalntis 2.0] and the Divine “pressing the reset button.

“People often ask Dr. Jung, “Will we make it?” This refers to the cataclysm of our time. He always replied, “If enough people will do their inner work.” This soul work is the one thing that will pull us through any emergency.”

– Robert A. Johnson

In other words, instead of only trying to expose the controlled ops, psy-ops, NWO, and Deep State out there, also face the controlled ops and deep state within in your own mind, psyche, and being – where you lie to yourself, deceive yourself, betray yourself, sell your soul, put on a mask, suppress all kinds of unconscious drives only to project them externally.

In short, it’s both inner and outer work, but if the inner work is small or non-existent, the outer work is even smaller and less effective and potent, for you mostly fight shadows while creating more psychic pollution and “chaos” in the world out of your own unrecognized shadow.

“The outer work can never be small if the inner work is great. And the outer work can never be great if the inner work is small.

The outer work can never be minor, when the inner work is a major one, and the outer work can never be major or good when the inner work is a minor one and without value.

The inner work always determines in itself all the dimensions of the outer work, its whole breadth and extent. The inner work receives and draws the whole of its being from nowhere but the heart and in the heart of God.

If your works are to be living works, then God must spur you to action from within, from your innermost part, if they are really to be alive. For that is where your own life is, and that is the sole place where you are truly alive.”

– Meister Eckhart

The Deep Dive:

We go way deeper into the process of Shadow Work in the context of Inner and Outer Work among other psycho-spiritual modalities, and how it relates to Trauma, sub-personalities, Occult Forces, and much more in our 14-week group coaching program “Time of Transition: Embodied Soul Awakening.”

The next round starts on December 30th, 2024.

​Limited to 35 people

Learn more and apply HERE.

“I was blown away by how comprehensive their teachings are. As a practicing psychotherapist for over 20 years, I learned more about shadow work, trigger work, and effective ways of helping myself and others to process childhood, past life, and unconscious wounding than in any of my psychology training.

They give everyone, no matter if you’re new or seasoned to this type of work, a step-by-step process to go into the depths of your soul and self-heal. I feel lighter, calmer, and more accepting of EVERYONE as a result, I am more embodied in who I am than I’ve ever been.

Laura & Bernhard DELIVER on their promises of teaching the inner and outer work.”

– NADIA E.