We’re bringing Growing Relationships B2B event, with our Presenting Partner Breadstack, to Alberta on April 28 ~ the second stop on our coast-to-coast tour!
LOCATION: Edmonton, AB DATE: Monday, April 28, 2025 TIME: 9am – 3pm MT (Edmonton timezone)
Growing Relationships is a one-day B2B event that brings together retailers, producers, and ancillary services for networking, brainstorming, discussion, and learning. It’s designed to support business growth by providing an opportunity and space to build connections, share insights, and be part of the community conversations. We aim to deliver our events in the under-served communities, with the goal of opening up accessibility to industry events.
Our Edmonton 2025 event includes our signature networking activities and roundtable industry discussions. An essential component of Growing Relationships is engaging the community in discussions and brainstorming on current industry issues from diverse perspectives. We capture these insights and provide a summary to relevant regulators, ensuring they hear directly from those who are actively working in the industry.
Attendees will enjoy networking opportunities, engaging discussions, presentations and catered lunch with a local food truck! Hopefully the April weather cooperates to enjoy the outside deck.
ADULT ONLY: This event is only open to 18+ years of age. ID may be requested upon entry and if you do not meet the requirements, no refunds will be provided.
Attendees are required to follow all federal and provincial regulations.
Hear from past attendees
Danielle French
Helped me remember I am part of a passionate community…
It helped me tremendously to remember and feel that I am part of a passionate community and not just existing in a silo as so many others described. I feel that was due to the independent retailer and micro-grow focus, so I really appreciated that and found it was such a constructive conversation.
Navin Paintal
Amazing, productive and progressive event…
Amazing, productive and progressive event! Appreciate your follow-up and all your efforts to make it so successful.
Emily Rhiel
One of the most eye-opening and effective conferences…
I found so much value in StratCann’s Growing Relationships event and believe everyone should get to one at least once. It’s one of the most eye-opening and effective conferences I’ve attended. Putting everyone in a room to discuss and try to tackle all the issues together, ADORED IT!
Ashley Neuman
Lots of insight into what’s going on in this industry…
There was lots of insight into what’s going on in this industry and it’s incredible that you gave this opportunity to everyone to share their expertise. Thank you for putting on an awesome event!
Jazz Samra
One of the most worthwhile events I have attended…
The Growing Relationships event by StratCann was one of the most worthwhile events I have attended this year. It was nice to meet so many people from all sides of the industry. It was a pleasure to participate in the retailer panel. Looking forward to more events.
Sharon Clark
Eagerly anticipating the next one!
Thank you for bringing Growing Relationships to Winnipeg. The feedback I received from producers, reps and retailers has been incredibly positive, and everyone is eagerly anticipating the next one.
David Wood
You understand the industry and the people…
I loved this event. It is great, and pairing with Tether the night before was perfect. You understand the industry and the people!
Cody Hicks
The best cannabis conference I’ve been to…
In terms of organization, networking, and subject matter, it was truly the best cannabis conference I’ve been to.
Alena Jenkins
Adding to the fabric of the industry…
I appreciate the opportunity to talk with some of the movers and shakers here in Alberta. The reciprocal dialogue was really great, and your innovative tools for fast networking were a blast for all. Thanks again for adding to the fabric of the industry in such a meaningful way.
Amber McGuire
A great opportunity to meet independent and micro growers…
The atmosphere was electric! It was such a great opportunity to meet some independent and micro growers we didn’t even know were around; these growers will definitely serve as an excellent addition to our menu. All thanks to StratCann’s incredible crew.
Danielle French
Focus on independent retailers and growers…
I like that you focus on smaller independent retailers and growers as we often don’t have the resources to be heard as loud as the larger corporations.
Event Partner Opportunities
Participating as an Event Partner offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with cannabis industry leaders, showcase your brand, and foster valuable B2B relationships. As a partner, you’ll gain targeted exposure to an engaged audience of professionals and access to exclusive networking opportunities.
Contact us to explore how our Event Partner packages can amplify your reach and impact across the cannabis industry in 2025.
Event Tickets
Secure your tickets for Growing Relationships in Edmonton, AB, on April 28, 2025. Available here:
Event Venue
Bison Lodge / Pioneer Cabin 9430 Scona Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 3W2 + Google Map
In this corner of southern Texas, the plump cacti seem to pop out of arid dust and cracked earth, like magic dumplings.
It’s only here and in northern Mexico that the bluish-green peyote plant can be found growing naturally, nestled under thorny mesquite, acacia and blackbrush.
For many Native American Church members who call this region the “peyote gardens,” the plant is sacrosanct and an inextricable part of their prayer and ceremony. It’s believed to be a natural healer that Indigenous communities have counted on for their physical and mental health as they’ve dealt with the trauma of colonization, displacement, and erosion of culture, religion and language.
Lack of access for religious use
The cactus contains a spectrum of psychoactive alkaloids, the primary one being the hallucinogen mescaline, and is coveted for those psychedelic properties. Even though it’s a controlled substance under federal law, an exemption afforded by a 1994 amendment to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act made it legal for Native Americans to use, possess and transport peyote for traditional religious purposes.
For over two decades, Native American practitioners of peyotism, whose numbers in the U.S. are estimated at 400,000, have raised the alarm about lack of access to peyote, which they reverently call “the medicine.” They say poaching and excessive harvesting of the slow-growing cactus, which flowers and matures over 10 to 30 years, are endangering the species and ruining its delicate habitat.
Native American Church members say the situation has worsened with demands from advocates of the psychedelic renaissance seeking to decriminalize peyote and make it more widely available for medical research and treatment of various ailments. Agriculture, housing developments, wind farms in the region and the border wall, are also damaging the habitat, experts say.
A vast majority of peyote people agree the plant must be protected and should be out of reach for medical researchers, Silicon Valley investors and other groups advocating peyote decriminalization. But there are diverse opinions within the Native American Church on how to accomplish that goal.
While at least one group spearheaded by Native American Church leaders has begun efforts to conserve and propagate peyote naturally in its habitat using philanthropic dollars, others in the church are more suspicious of investors’ intentions, saying they fear exploitation and would rather get funding from the U.S. government to protect peyote.
Peyote embodies the Creator’s spirit
Darrell Red Cloud, who is Oglala Lakota, remembers at age 4 using peyote and singing ceremonial songs at all-night peyote ceremonies with his family. Peyote has always been about forging a connection with the Creator, said Red Cloud. He’s the vice president of the Native American Church of North America.
“Our people were not religious people, we were prayerful people.”
Frank Dayish, former vice president of the Navajo Nation and chairperson of the Council of the Peyote Way of Life Coalition, compared peyote to the Eucharist in Catholicism.
“Peyote is my religion,” he said. “Everything in my life has been based on prayers through that sacrament.”
Adrian Primeaux, who is Yankton Sioux and Apache, says he grew up hearing the story of a malnourished and dehydrated Apache woman who fell behind her group during a forced relocation by the U.S. government in the 1830s.
“She was about to give up on life as she lay close to the Earth when she heard a plant speaking to her,” Primeaux said. “The peyote was telling her: Eat me and you will be well.”
She carried this plant back to Apache medicine men and elders who meditated and prayed with it, said Primeaux. He believes the Native American Church and what would become the Peyote Way of Life was unveiled during that spiritual quest.
Peyote is not just a medicinal herb — it is “a spiritual guide and a north star,” said Primeaux, who comes from five generations of peyote people. The plant has been a guiding light amid their traumatic history.
“It gave us hope and helped us process our thoughts, emotions and life purpose,” he said.
This photo provided by the Library of Congress shows a Cheyenne Peyote leader in 1927. (Edward S. Curtis Collection/Library of Congress via AP)
An initiative to conserve and protect peyote
In October 2017, the National Council of Native American Churches purchased 605 acres in Hebbronville, Texas, to establish a peyote preserve and a “spiritual homesite” that is now run by the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative or IPCI.
Steven Benally, a Navajo elder from Sweetwater, Arizona, and an IPCI board member, remembers his annual pilgrimages to the peyote gardens with his family. He recalls losing access to the gardens after the “peyotero” system took over, where government-licensed peyoteros harvested the button-like tops of the plant by the thousands and sold them to Native American Church members.
This meant that Native American people could not freely go onto privately owned ranches and prayerfully harvest peyote as they had done for generations. They lost their sacred connection with the land, Benally said.
It wasn’t until he threw open the gate to their sprawling ranch, affectionately called “the 605,” that Benally felt connected once again. He was so overcome by emotion that he placed a sign at the entrance with the words: “This is real.”
“It felt like we were finally living what we just dreamed, prayed and talked about,” he said.
One of Benally’s favorite spots on the property is a hilltop bench — a tranquil corner where visitors have placed prayer notes, painted rocks and other offerings to a nearby cluster of naturally sprouted peyote. Benally sits on the bench inhaling the gentle breeze and taking in the stillness.
“Our belief is that these plants, these animals, these birds are just like us,” he said. “They can hear, they can understand. They have their powers, they have their place, a purpose and a reason — just like us.”
The peyote preserve is a conservation site where the plant is not harvested but propagated and replanted naturally in its habitat without chemicals, said Miriam Volat, executive director for the nonprofit that oversees it. Native Americans who can produce their tribal identification cards can camp at the preserve and prayerfully harvest from amiable surrounding ranches, she said.
The goal is to restore peyote and its habitat, making it abundant in the region within the next 50 years.
Peyote grown in their nursery is under the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s watchful eye, she said. Licensed to operate, the nonprofit tries to balance being welcoming with satisfying the agency’s requirement to secure the plant behind locked gates and camera monitoring.
The debate over peyote conservation
Those trying to protect peyote disagree on whether it should be grown outside its natural habitat. While scientists and conservationists say it is essential for the protection of the species, many Native American Church members say doing so would dilute its sacred nature.
Keeper Trout, a research scientist and co-founder of Texas-based Cactus Conservation Institute, remembers how abundantly peyote grew in the region during the 1970s. It’s all but disappeared.
“It was like walking on mattresses,” he said.
Trout empathizes with those who object on religious grounds, but he believes people should be able to cultivate and harvest anywhere. With a little help, Trout is confident the resilient plant can survive.
But many Native American Church members say where the plant grows matters. The ceremonial protocols were bestowed by the Creator’s grace and preserved through storytelling, said Hershel Clark, secretary for the Teesto chapter of the Azee Bee Nahagha of Diné Nation in Arizona.
“This is why we don’t support greenhouses, growing it outside its natural habitat or synthesizing it to make pills,” Clark said.
Red Cloud fears those changes would harm its sacredness.
“Then, it just becomes a drug that people depend on rather than a spiritual medicine,” he said.
Funding peyote preservation and conservation efforts has been a challenge as well.
The Native American Church of North America is calling on the U.S government to uphold its obligation to protect and preserve peyote in its natural habitat in southern Texas, which includes financial incentives for landowners, said Red Cloud. His organization is asking for a $5 million federal grant to jumpstart such a program.
IPCI started with seed money from Riverstyx Foundation, which is run by Cody Swift, a psychotherapist and prominent supporter of psychedelic therapy research. The organization continues to seek philanthropic dollars to carry the conservation effort forward and is not opposed to receiving funding from the U.S. government, Volat said.
“But, we’re not waiting for it,” she said.
There is suspicion and skepticism about Swift and other investors’ intentions in some corners of the Native American Church, Clark said. Swift has said in interviews that IPCI’s goal is to preserve peyote in its natural habitat under the leadership and guidance of Native American peyote people, a stance Volat, his co-director at the foundation, also affirms.
Demand for peyote exceeds supply
There is no question that opening peyote up to a broader market will create a supply crisis and increase access to those who have the financial resources, said Kevin Feeney, senior social sciences lecturer at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, who has studied the commodification of peyote.
Indigenous people would struggle to access their sacred plant while seeing others use it in a way they deem profane, he said.
Peyote supply remains limited for the Native American Church. Today, in southern Texas, only three licensed peyoteros are legally allowed to harvest the plant for sale to church members. Zulema “Julie” Morales, based in Rio Grande City, is one of them. She inherited the business from her father, Mauro Morales, who died two years ago.
She has been out in the fields since she was 10. Now 60, she says the peyote habitat is dwindling not because of peyoteros who harvest legally and ethically, but because of illegal poaching. She remembers her father gathering enough peyote to fill a dozen large trays while she can barely fill one.
Even though she is Mexican American and a Catholic, Morales, who charges 55 cents a button, considers it a privilege to provide peyote for ceremonial purposes. Her father, who customers called “grandpa,” hosted ceremonies for Native people every year and she has been a keen observer.
“As Mexican Americans, we value our traditions,” she said. “This is their tradition and it’s beautiful for us to be a part of that in our own way.”
Teaching future generations
At IPCI, one of the main goals is to teach future generations the value of getting back to their ancestors’ spiritual and healing ways, said Sandor Iron Rope, an Oglala Lakota spiritual leader and president of the Native American Church of South Dakota. At least 200 people gathered on IPCI’s grounds over Thanksgiving week, learning about peyote through panels, discussions, ceremony and prayer.
“We’ve put our moccasins and our footprints in this place,” Iron Rope said. “The hope is that these children, the next generation, will see the therapeutic value in getting rid of their phones and learning about what is right in front of them.”
Iron Rope says this is how he is fulfilling his responsibility to future generations.
“You can pray all you want, but you’re going to have to meet the Creator halfway somewhere,” he said. “You’re going to have to implement that prayer into action. And I see this as prayer in action.”
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
* * * * *
To get the week’s latest must-read stories from the cannabis world direct to your inbox, sign up for our weekly newsletter at canadianevergreen.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, is serving a 14-year prison sentence after being arrested in August 2021 at a Russian airport and possessing what his family and supporters said was medically prescribed marijuana.
After Fogel was omitted from a massive prisoner swap last August that resulted in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and corporate security executive Paul Whelan, among others, his family’s lawyers made another push for the Biden administration to secure his freedom, including by designating him as wrongfully detained.
The State Department considers a range of factors in deciding whether to designate an American jailed in a foreign country as wrongfully detained, including if there’s credible information that the person is innocent. The factors also include if they are being held for the primary purpose of influencing U.S. policy or securing concessions from the U.S. government.
Officials confirmed Friday that Fogel had now received that designation.
“The United States has been working to secure Marc Fogel’s release for some time. We have long called for his humanitarian release and tried to include him in the Aug. 1 deal, but were unable to. The Secretary determined Marc is wrongfully detained in October,” the department said in a statement.
The designation traditionally shifts supervision of a detainee’s case to the office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, a State Department office focused on negotiating for the release of hostages and other Americans classified as being wrongfully detained in other countries.
In a statement, Fogel’s wife, Jane, and his sons, Ethan and Sam, said they were grateful that “the State Department has finally acknowledged what we have known all along — that our husband and father, Marc Fogel, has and continues to be wrongfully detained.”
“Now that we have the full force of the U.S. government behind us, we must do everything in our power to bring Marc home as quickly and safely as possible,” the statement said.
– The Associated Press
To get the week’s latest must-read stories from the cannabis world direct to your inbox, sign up for our weekly newsletter at canadianevergreen.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The holidays have ended, and it’s time to take down the Christmas tree. It’s had a good run, but now the needles are dropping, and it’s looking tired. What are you going to do with it? My first advice: don’t put it into the regular garbage that goes to the landfill. There are options, like leaving it by the curb. Many communities organize tree pick-up days in early January, during which tired Christmas trees are collected and mulched. Or, consider upcycling it in the garden!
The First Step To Upcycling Your Tree
Remove all the ornaments, lights, and tinsel; check to make sure nothing is hiding deep in the center of the tree that could be ingested by the bugs, birds, or critters that call the garden home. Now, you can make use of your old tree in one of the following ways:
Make a Bird Habitat
Believe it or not, old Christmas trees make great shelters for birds, such as chickadees and finches visiting the garden in winter. Even as they dry, the boughs will provide shelter and warmth.
Alternatively, you can make it into a grocery store for the birds. Prop it up near a bird feeder, another tree, or against a fence and decorate it with popcorn or pinecones. Even the needles, although drying and old, can provide a food source for wildlife.
Give The Garden a Blanket
Cut the boughs off the tree, and layer them over plants in your yard susceptible to cold weather and harsh winds. They keep soil moisture in and prevent soil erosion through the cold winter. As they degrade, they add nutrients to the soil, building resilience for plant roots.
Compost and Mulch
Any excellent compost needs a Christmas tree. You can add the parts of the tree you can’t use elsewhere to your compost pile.
Keep the tree on the patio with a bag or tarp underneath, and wait for the needles to fall. Collect them as mulch for acid-loving plants such as blueberries, azaleas, or rhododendrons.
Fish Habitat
If you have a pond in the garden, create a fish habitat. Sink the old tree into the water; the branches give fish a place to hide in case predators such as raccoons or otters come along.
Insect Hotel
Trim off the twigs and branches, tie them together, and hang the bundle from a bush for bugs to hide in. You can also pile the cut branches in the back corner of the garden for insects to find.
Garden Stakes
Plant the shedding tree in the garden; it won’t root, but as the branches lose their needles, it will become an excellent trellis for climbers such as clematis or sweet peas.
These are just a few ideas that will give the garden a post-Christmas treat.
SNDL Inc.’s Chief Strategy Officer Ryan Hellard shared an affidavit related to the $10 million Senior Second Lien Convertible Debenture issued by Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. On December 20, Delta 9’s monitor shared several new motion materials, including a Bench Brief of SNDL Inc. On December 2, 2024, the plan sponsor sought and obtained a Creditors’ Meeting, setting a date of January 10, 2025, for the hearing of the application for an order sanctioning the Plan Order.
The L’Nuk Lounge, an unlicensed cannabis store in New Brunswick, posted on social media that it has been evicted from its 575 Main St. location in Moncton. The store, which opened in April 2023 and faced several enforcement actions in 2024, will remain open at a second location in nearby Riverview.
A Post Media outlet spoke with the owner of a chain of unlicensed cannabis stores in Ontario called MyLegacy, along with others, who argue that provincial cannabis regulations don’t apply to anyone identifying as Indigenous.
Conservative social commentary media website The Western Standard ran some reefer madness that spun recent Stats Canada consumption figures to make them seem like “young people” are consuming cannabis at a much higher rate than they actually are by including everyone under 24 who had tried it even just once in the past year.
The Dales Report spoke with Beena Goldenberg of Organigram, Michael DeGiglio of Village Farms, and David Klein of Canopy Growth.
Ben Kaplanshared his thoughts on the changes in the cannabis industry since the booming stock market days.
The CBC looked at the story of a Canadian man stuck in a prison in Dubai for travelling with cannabis products he used to treat symptoms of Addison’s disease.
International Cannabis News
The German Hemp Association recently published a poll showing that 59% of Germans support full legalization of recreational cannabis, including its sale. The upcoming federal election in Germany is scheduled for February 23, 2025. Recent polls show support for the right-wing union between the CDU and CSU, as well as for Alternative For Germany (AFD). Members of the CDU and CSU have said they would repeal Germany’s recent cannabis legalization legislation.
And finally, Fortune looked at German market players like Sanity Group and Bloomwell.
On Thursday, December 12, 2024, police in Hamilton, Ontario, arrested and charged a man in connection with a robbery at a cannabis store in November.
Police are still looking for a second man said to be involved in the robbery.
At 9:00 pm on November 4, 2024, Hamilton Police responded to HighLife Cannabis, located at 1142 Wilson Street West, Ancaster, for a robbery. HighLife lists 22 stores in Ontario.
An investigation showed that at around 8:56 pm on that night, two masked suspects entered the Cannabis dispensary while one brandished a firearm. The suspects approached the lone employee and demanded money and merchandise. A thorough and coordinated investigation by the Hamilton Police Service- Break, Enter, Auto Theft & Robbery (BEAR) Unit, in partnership with Niagara Regional Police Service, has resulted in a significant breakthrough in the investigation.
On Thursday, December 12, 2024, 29-year-old Isaiah Sharpe of St. Catharines was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including:
Robbery with a Firearm
Disguise with Intent
Point Firearm
Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Order
Utter Threat to Cause Death or Bodily Harm
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
Hamilton Police Service continues collaborating with neighbouring police agencies and seeks the public’s assistance to identify the outstanding suspect in this investigation. The suspect is described as male, black, 25-30 years old, 5’10, of average build.
Police in Alberta recently laid charges against a 19-year-old man in connection with a series of robberies that targeted cannabis and convenience stores in Calgary and Edmonton. The suspect is believed to be connected to 17 robberies in Calgary and four in Edmonton, which occurred between Sunday, September 1, 2024, and Monday, December 16, 2024.
This year, nearly two-thirds of high school seniors reported abstaining from e-cigarettes, cannabis, alcohol, or cigarettes over the past month. This marks the highest abstinence rate since the annual nationwide survey began tracking this data in 2017.
Additionally, 80% of students in grade 10 said they had not used any of these substances recently, setting another record. Ninety percent of those in grade 8 said they did not use any of the substances, which is the same percentage as in the prior study.
The only notable rise in substance use was in nicotine pouch consumption, with approximately six percent of high school seniors using them in the past year, up from about three percent in 2023. However, it’s uncertain if this indicates the start of a larger trend. Richard Miech, the lead researcher for the survey conducted by the University of Michigan, commented, “It’s difficult to determine whether this is the beginning of a broader issue or not.”
The Monitoring the Future, funded by the federal government, has been collecting data since 1975. This year’s results are based on responses from roughly 24,000 students in grades 12, 10, and 8 across the U.S.
During the pandemic, schools shifted to remote learning, and gatherings like parties were discouraged. With teens staying home under parental oversight, experimentation with substances dropped significantly. Experts suggest that peer pressure, often experienced in group settings, plays a key role in initiating substance use.
When restrictions were lifted, many anticipated a partial return to previous levels of use. However, even before COVID-19, rates of drinking, smoking, and the use of certain drugs had been declining. Analysts attributed this trend to teenagers spending more time at home and connecting with peers through smartphones rather than in social gatherings, where substance use might occur.
Interestingly, cannabis and vaping, which had been increasing before the pandemic, also saw declines during this period—declines that have persisted since. Some analysts speculate that the lockdowns disrupted a cycle where older students introduce substances to younger ones. Teens who were in grade 9 during the pandemic may have missed opportunities to experiment, which also limited their influence on younger peers, according to Miech.
Mental health might also have contributed. Reports of anxiety and depression surged among teens during the pandemic. While depression can sometimes lead to substance use, some anxious teens avoid drugs, fearing their effects.
This survey dampens prohibitionists’ argument that legalizing marijuana and licensing companies like Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) would result in a spike in underage users of this substance.
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.
To receive SMS alerts from CNW, text CANNABIS to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
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
I can’t imagine Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood (Faces) were thinking about agronomy when they sang their song ‘Ooh La La’, with its classic chorus, “I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger“. But it can be life-altering if you’ve ever played that reflection game. How I think about agriculture has drastically changed over the years, and it is more of a philosophical difference than a technical one.
The Early Days
I have never been overly dogmatic about farming practices. Early in my career, I recognized that there are many ways to grow good food sustainably. But, looking back over my 35 years in agriculture, there has been a strict boundary between humans and plants. I learned that plants were not sentient beings, incapable of “consciousness”, hardwired and genetically determined to respond to environmental stimuli. Despite being a staunch believer in metaphysics and other ideas that are not explained via biology, chemistry, and physics, I was never comfortable expressing my belief that plants are sensory beings capable of thinking, feeling, seeing, hearing, and smelling.
For many reading this article, the previous sentence is enough for them to stop reading. However, I am not trying to equate the sensory evolution of animals with that of plants. The academy has done a great disservice in not recognizing the complexity of plants, particularly their millions of years of co-evolution with microbes. Plants don’t have a central nervous system, a brain, or an endocannabinoid system that coordinates information for the entire body like animals do. Yet, plants use chemical signals that act as fast neurotransmitters and can have interspecies communication that far exceeds the ability of humans.
So, using more recent examples of our increased understanding of the plant:soil:microbial interface, I want to highlight the importance of discerning facts versus theories when implementing “sound” agricultural advice.
How Plants Eat
Most plant physiology textbooks point to three ways plants take up nutrients:
Mass flow (water movement via transpiration)
Diffusion (nutrient gradients)
Active transport (proton pumps)
Whether discussing conventional or organic farming, the above has been the dominant belief for decades. Recently, researcher James White has brought attention to another way plants eat: the rhizophagy cycle. Microbes enter the plant root at the root cap; the plant then uses oxygen (superoxide) to digest some of the microbe cells to retrieve nutrients and discards the remaining microbe via root hairs. This ‘mining’ of microbes by plants may help explain why many farmers with high soil organic matter do not see nutrient deficiencies in their crops despite not adding the recommended fertilizer rates. A common estimate suggested that each percent of soil organic matter was the equivalent of 10 to 15 pounds of nitrogen per acre per year. But we now see farmers with 5% soil organic matter having superior yields with little or no additional fertilizers.
How Plants Talk
Once again, most agroecology textbooks note yield losses when crops aren’t grown in monocultures, or that competition from weeds will impact yield. University of British Columbia researcher Suzanne Simard showed that in natural ecosystems, plants, with help from fungi, communicate with each other. Her research highlighted that they communicate (i.e., exchange hormones and signal messengers) and share nutrients like water, sugar, and trace elements. The notion of survival of the fittest is not surprisingly the thought paradigm in modern agriculture, despite Nature providing constant examples of ‘better together’.
Plants are Similar to Humans
Plants and humans share many of the same genes, and, as evidenced by transgenics, animal genes can be placed into plant genes. The similarity at a DNA level is exciting but doesn’t stop there. The relatively recent discovery that humans, in terms of cells, are more bacteria than anything else has brought attention to the notion of the microbiome, especially of the gut. The gut microbiome is responsible for much of our nutrient absorption, as well as our immune system and hormone production (i.e., 90% of our serotonin and 50% of our dopamine). The parallels for plants are striking. The phytobiome, most notably the rhizomicrobiome, is the plant’s gut and similarly plays critical roles in nutrient uptake and plant health, including immune responses.
These examples showcase how our separation from plants and Nature can lead us to false understandings of the observations we make, even in our research. Whether we place fault on extrapolations from reductionist science or our species’ hubris in needing answers, when we create divisions, we lose the interconnectedness that is a prerequisite for sustainability or, more importantly, regeneration.
Much of the agronomy I was taught when I was younger was based on a worldview that plants have no agency, hardwired to respond to inputs that we can manipulate. This mentality has led to a never-ending parade of technological fixes in attempts to keep the system functioning. In contrast, a worldview that recognizes the wonder and awe of plants and is humble enough not to know all the answers is what keeps me wanting to learn more.
I started this article with a song and will finish with one. “Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now” (My Back Pages, Bob Dylan).
For millennia, natural compounds from plants have served as indispensable resources for human health and wellbeing. [1] Forming a large bulk of the natural products, these compounds have received renewed attention for their pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, agricultural, cosmetic and recreational value. [2] Increasing concerns over synthetic compounds due to their declining efficacy, adverse health effects and harmful environmental impacts, has further fuelled the demand for natural alternatives. [3]
However, the lab-scale studies used to inform and refine commercial separation processes are typically hampered by the use of inefficient and outdated techniques. [4] Hence, the commercial exploitation of natural compounds is often constrained by low yields, high operational costs and low profitability. [5], [6]
Nonetheless, the increasing global demand for natural products has led to increased investment in research and development. This has rejuvenated innovation, leading to the development of novel technologies that improve extraction, purification and production processes. These advancements have progressed sustainable commercialization of plant-based natural products, discovery of novel compounds, and effective harnessing of nature’s fragile secrets. [7]
Classification
Natural products are compounds derived from living organisms (terrestrial or marine), where those of plant origin are called phytochemicals. A large proportion of phytochemicals are secondary metabolites.
They are synthesized in relatively small quantities and are not essential to the maintenance of a plant’s life. However, phytochemicals produced through secondary metabolism enhance the plant’s adaptability and resilience to environmental stresses due to their wide-ranging physiological and biological functions [8].
According to chemical structure, they are categorized as polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins), phytosterols, carotenoids, terpenes, alkaloids or sulfur-containing compounds (sulfides, glucosinolates). They exhibit multiple bioactivities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and or anticancer. From a physical perspective, they can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic, polar or non-polar, stable or thermolabile and or volatile. [5], [8], [9]
To harness these useful phytochemicals, they usually have to be extracted from their natural source. How the extraction procedure is performed affects the accuracy of extraction data, extractquality and associated costs.
Analytical, Semi-Preparative and Industrial Approaches to Extraction
An analytical approach to phytochemical extraction is normally adopted for lab-scale phytochemical screening, mechanistic studies or other preliminary investigations that guide further studies.
For qualitative analysis, the focus is to confirm the presence or absence of certain phytochemicals. Here, partial extraction may suffice where qualitative studies are usually used in screening and preliminary investigations of plant compounds. Damage to the target compounds caused by degradation or chemical alterations, and the coextraction of interfering compounds, are not so critical so long as the target phytochemicals can be detected and identified.
With quantitative analysis, the extraction process must be exhaustive, meaning the target phytochemicals are extracted from the plant material as much as possible, for accurate and reproducible results. Quantified analytical data is used to precisely assess bioactivity, improve extraction processes, ensure extract consistency or to support the development of industrial processes. Quantitation often involves the optimization of extraction parameters for your target compounds. [10], [11], [12]
Semi-preparative
With semi-preparative phytochemical extractions, the goal is to produce small quantities of highly purified extract. This approach typically involves additional preparative separation techniques (crystallization, prep-HPLC) and compound characterisation techniques (MS, NMR). The semi-preparative approach is fundamental in the discovery of novel compounds, and other small-scale studies such as process optimization used to develop industrial processes. [12], [13]
Industrial
The industrial approach to phytochemical extraction involves the large-scale production or manufacture of a commercial natural product with specified characteristics at a reasonable cost. The purity of the extract can range from undefined concentrations to 98 % and above. This approach usually involves validated and optimized data from analytical and semi-preparative lab-scale studies that are then scaled-up and standardized to suit industrial application. [4], [12]
Challenges
Common challenges experienced with the three approaches include:
Factors that limit the extraction of sufficient quantities of target compounds
Interference from coextracted compounds
Poor reproducibility
Technical difficulties in achieving desired level of purity
Time and cost constraints
Scale-up issues
Environmental and regulatory compliance issues
Product stability issues
Principles of Extraction
Mechanism
Extraction is a key process used to transfer target compounds from one phase into another immiscible phase and the universal goal is to achieve this effectively, efficiently and economically. The extraction mechanism is largely dependent on the extraction method used. Most methods are -based while others are solventless. Solid-liquid extraction of phytochemicals using solvents will be used as a mechanistic example as this is the most widely adopted and studied category of extraction methods.
In general, the solvent-based extraction mechanism involves initial contact of the solvent with the plant matrix, dissolution and mass transfer of surface phytochemicals into solution by , solvent penetration into the inert matrix, desorption of internal phytochemicals, and diffusion of phytochemicals out of the matrix. The process continues until an equilibrium is reached whereby the concentration of target phytochemicals in solution is equal to that present in and around the structural matrix. At times when equilibrium is reached there may still be significant amounts of target phytochemicals remaining in the plant’s structural matrix, and the process must be repeated for an exhaustive extraction. [12]
Main Factors that Affect Extraction
Solvents are used to dissolve the solute from the structural matrix of the plant particles. A common term is ‘like dissolves like’, hence polar solvents such as water, and methanol are used to dissolve polar target phytochemicals such as alkaloids, phenolic acids and flavonoids from the raw plant material. In contrast, non-polar solvents such as chloroform and hexane are used to dissolve non-polar phytochemicals such as terpenoids and other components of essential oils. Intermediate polarity solvents such as ethyl acetate and isopropanol are used for phytochemicals with intermediate polarities such as many flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic acids etc. Sometimes mixtures of solvents are used to optimize the extraction of particular components. When selecting solvents for extraction it is not only important to consider the physiochemical properties of the target phytochemicals to enhance solubility but also solvent reactivity with target phytochemicals, safety, regulatory issues alongside economic aspects.
Solid to Solvent Ratio
The ratio between the raw material mass and solvent volume affects the solubility limit, and the concentration gradient that governs diffusion. Generally, the more solvent that is used the faster the diffusion rate and the higher the yield. However, using large amounts of solvent can be costly also due to the excessive processing requirements respective of the yield obtained.
Particle Properties
Particle size affects the surface contact area between solvent and solutes where smaller particles have a collectively larger contact area and the faster the three phases of extraction occur. Reducing particle sizes can also help expose target phytochemicals by disrupting plant cell walls. The small particle sizes also enhance diffusivity as the intraparticle diffusion length and resistance are reduced. However, particles that are too fine can lead to clogging in the extraction or filtration equipment. Porosity of the particles can also affect diffusivity, as a highly porous complex matrix of the plant particles will reduce any mass transfer resistances of solvent into the particles and solutes out, increasing extraction rate. If it is difficult for the particles to soak in solvent, it will make sense to process them into smaller particles. If the particles are easily soaked then processing them into the smallest reasonable particle size will not be necessary.
Moisture Content
The moisture content or residual water in the plant particles (structural matrix) can facilitate or more restrict extraction of target phytochemicals depending on the circumstances. The extraction rate can be enhanced with a moderate level of moisture due to increased solvent permeability into the partially soaked particles. However, high levels of moisture can limit solvent permeability, reduce the concentration gradient due to the dilution effect, hinder the extraction of non-polar phytochemicals and increase enzymatic activity and hydrolysis which alters or breaks down the bioactive phytochemicals.
Agitation
Agitation improves extraction by increasing the rate of contact between solvent and plant particles, prevents stagnation layers from developing, maintains homogenous concentration gradients, reduces variability and distributes heat evenly. However, excessive agitation can damage phytochemicals that are sensitive to shear stress and lead to foaming of the extract solution.
Temperature and Pressure
Increased temperature generally increases extraction rate by increasing the solubility of phytochemicals in the solvent, supplies more kinetic energy which boosts diffusion and mass transfer rates, and reduces solvent viscosity making the phytochemicals and solvent molecules more mobile. However, excessive temperatures can lead to the degradation of thermolabile phytochemicals and is costly. Pressure can be used to increase the density of the solvent to increase solubility solvent permeability, by forcing solvent deeper into the plant particles. In combination at very specific ranges, temperature and pressure can also be used to achieve unique solvent properties such as supercritical fluids with both gas and liquid physicochemical properties (as with CO2)and can also be used to lower the solvent’s boiling point, which can optimize the selective extraction of particular phytochemicals.
Extraction Time
In general, the longer the extraction time the more phytochemicals are extracted at varying rates. Prolonged extraction can lead to the degradation of sensitive compounds depending on the extraction conditions. Optimal extraction times achieve the highest yields with the least degradation and co-extraction of interfering compounds (determined in quantitative analytical and semi-preparative studies). Extending extraction time beyond an optimal point results in diminishing returns.
Extraction Steps
The selection of raw material for phytochemical extraction depends on the approach and purpose. Generally, it involves careful consideration of the plant species and plant part that is likely to contain the highest concentrations of the target phytochemicals. The consistency of the raw material’s physicochemical characteristics and supply is also important, especially in industrial applications alongside considerations for sustainable practices. With analytical and semi-preparative approaches, thoroughly validating and cataloging the selected raw material is essential for reproducibility (species, origin, growth conditions, time of harvest, freshness, etc).
Raw Material Pretreatment
Pretreatment of the selected raw material is a preparative step, to remove contaminants, and to prepare and characterize the raw material for the extraction process. The raw material is usually fresh and commonly washed with water where damaged parts are excised. The latter is typical for samples grown outdoors where samples grown in controlled environments usually do not need a washing step. When the sample is clean, it is then dried via various methods (oven-drying, air drying, freeze drying, etc) to reduce and characterize the moisture content. The moisture content can also be used to calculate the dry weight of the sample, where the yield or phytochemical concentrations are expressed as a proportion of dry weight.
After drying, the sample is then pulverized via various methods (grinding, milling, blending, etc) to reduce particle size and then sieved through mesh to obtain the desired particle size range for extraction. The particle size range is noted as this is also a parameter of extraction.
Note that the drying and pulverization methods consider the sensitivity of the target phytochemicals to the pretreatment processes. For example, for thermolabile and volatile phytochemicals, non-thermal drying methods such as freeze-drying are better suited. Machine milling to reduce particle size is performed at the milder settings so as not to generate too much heat.
Selection of Extraction Method
Once the raw material is cataloged, prepared and characterized for moisture content and particle size, extraction can begin. The extraction method considers the sensitivity of the target phytochemicals especially to thermal degradation, oxidation and reactivity with solvent. Non-thermal extraction methods are chosen for thermolabile compounds and the complexity of the method is determined by resource availability and cost constraints.
Post-processing
After extraction, the extract solution is usually filtered to remove any particulates and then dried by rotary evaporation. The dried extract can then be
The extraction of natural plant-based products is an intricate, interdisciplinary process that synchronizes knowledge from scientific disciplines such as botany, chemistry, pharmacology, and engineering. This allows for the precise manipulation of natural resources in ways that preserve bioactivity, maximize yield, and ensure safety and efficacy of the final product. With ongoing advances in extraction technologies, biotechnology, and green chemistry, alongside the increased awareness of the dangers of many synthetic compounds, the potential for plant-based products in enhancing human health and well-being continues to expand.
References:
[1]L. Katz and R. H. Baltz, “Natural product discovery: past, present, and future,” J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, vol. 43, no. 2–3, pp. 155–176, Mar. 2016, doi: 10.1007/S10295-015-1723-5.
[2]G. M. Cragg and D. J. Newman, “Natural products: A continuing source of novel drug leads,” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – General Subjects, vol. 1830, no. 6, pp. 3670–3695, Jun. 2013, doi: 10.1016/J.BBAGEN.2013.02.008.
[3]A. G. Atanasov et al., “Discovery and resupply of pharmacologically active plant-derived natural products: A review,” Biotechnol Adv, vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 1582–1614, 2015, doi: 10.1016/J.BIOTECHADV.2015.08.001.
[4]J. John, “Natural products-based drug discovery: some bottlenecks and considerations,” Curr Sci, 2009.
[5]M. S. Butler, “The role of natural product chemistry in drug discovery,” J Nat Prod, vol. 67, no. 12, pp. 2141–2153, Dec. 2004, doi: 10.1021/NP040106Y.
[6]M. Lahlou, “The Success of Natural Products in Drug Discovery,” Pharmacology & Pharmacy, vol. 04, no. 03, pp. 17–31, 2013, doi: 10.4236/PP.2013.43A003.
[7]A. G. Atanasov et al., “Natural products in drug discovery: advances and opportunities,” Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 2021 20:3, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 200–216, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41573-020-00114-z.
[8]D. Thirumurugan, A. Cholarajan, S. S. S. R. and R. Vijayakumar, D. Thirumurugan, A. Cholarajan, and S. S. S. R. and R. Vijayakumar, “An Introductory Chapter: Secondary Metabolites,” Secondary Metabolites – Sources and Applications, Sep. 2018, doi: 10.5772/INTECHOPEN.79766.
[9]I. F. G. Mera, D. E. G. Falconí, and V. M. Córdova, “Secondary metabolites in plants: Main classes, phytochemical analysis and pharmacological activities,” Bionatura, vol. 4, no. 4, Nov. 2019, doi: 10.21931/RB/2019.04.04.11.
[10]A. Altemimi, N. Lakhssassi, A. Baharlouei, D. G. Watson, and D. A. Lightfoot, “Phytochemicals: Extraction, Isolation, and Identification of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Extracts,” Plants 2017, Vol. 6, Page 42, vol. 6, no. 4, p. 42, Sep. 2017, doi: 10.3390/PLANTS6040042.
[11]C. Poole, Z. Mester, M. Miró, S. Pedersen-Bjergaard, and J. Pawliszyn, “Extraction for analytical scale sample preparation (IUPAC Technical Report),” Pure and Applied Chemistry, vol. 88, no. 7, pp. 649–687, Jul. 2016, doi: 10.1515/PAC-2015-0705/MACHINEREADABLECITATION/RIS.
[12]M. A. . Rostagno and J. M. . Prado, “Natural product extraction : principles and applications,” p. 500, 2013.
[13]A. M. Salam, J. T. Lyles, and C. L. Quave, “Methods in the Extraction and Chemical Analysis of Medicinal Plants,” pp. 257–283, 2019, doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8919-5_17.
[14]A. Antony and M. Farid, “Effect of Temperatures on Polyphenols during Extraction,” Applied Sciences 2022, Vol. 12, Page 2107, vol. 12, no. 4, p. 2107, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.3390/APP12042107.
[15]M. Palma et al., “Extraction of Natural Products: Principles and Fundamental Aspects,” RSC Green Chemistry, pp. 58–88, 2013, doi: 10.1039/9781849737579-00058.
[16]I. Majid et al., “Recent insights into green extraction techniques as efficient methods for the extraction of bioactive components and essential oils from foods,” CYTA – Journal of Food, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 101–114, 2023, doi: 10.1080/19476337.2022.2157492.
[17]Q. W. Zhang, L. G. Lin, and W. C. Ye, “Techniques for extraction and isolation of natural products: a comprehensive review,” Chin Med, vol. 13, no. 1, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.1186/S13020-018-0177-X.
Non-German companies could potentially benefit from new recreational marijuana pilot programs in Germany, observers say. The European nation partially decriminalized adult-use cannabis on April 1, 2024, becoming the 9th country in the world to legalize cannabis and granting millions of Germans access to the drug.
Interestingly, Germany’s recreational cannabis measures also allow foreign companies to enter the German market via a cannabis pilot program license. These entities would need approval from the German municipality where they would set up shop. Furthermore, they have to prove that their pilot program had a scientific or experimental component to receive a pilot program license.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) would then give final approval for qualifying programs and issue pilot program licenses. Businesses and institutions that meet these conditions will have a chance to enter the German cannabis market and take advantage of all the opportunities they might find there. Both Switzerland and the Netherlands have similar pilot programs.
As per current German marijuana rules, medical cannabis can only be compounded at pharmacies. International cannabis consultant and ASDA Consultancy Services principal Deepak Anand says this requirement makes any other cannabis product besides oil and flower ‘financially prohibitive’. It still isn’t clear if the pilot programs will allow cannabis sales.
Germany also has few licensed cultivators and imports a large amount of medical marijuana from other countries. Unlike the U.S. where product oversaturation has caused cannabis prices in several states to tank, Germany doesn’t produce enough cannabis to support local demand and could benefit by inviting companies that increase the country’s supply of cannabis.
However, the fate of Germany’s pilot programs is still unclear. The program was instituted by the Social Democrat Party, which currently runs the government, but the upcoming February elections could derail the entire program. The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is slated to win in February, and it may not be as supportive of adult-use cannabis pilot programs as the governing Social Democrat Party.
Marijuana industry observers in the country have varying opinions on whether the Christian Democratic Union will clinch the February elections and whether it will decide to roll back, eliminate, or leave the current administration’s cannabis reforms as they are. According to Anand, the CDU government will turn to European Union and international laws that ban cannabis sales and roll back the pilot programs.
For firms like Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) that are constantly on the lookout for new market openings, the pilot programs in Germany present an opportunity that they could evaluate and make a decision on whether it is something worth pursuing or not.
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)
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
Recent Comments