Patrick Breeding

Cannabis should pay attention to the fact that on May 4th, 2024 - after a 10 year warning - the regulatory rug was yanked out from under the feet of all US clinical diagnostic laboratories. I recommend that those involved in cannabis testing spend some time researching the regulatory history of clinical diagnostic testing and consider the parallels in the context of FDA rescheduling for cannabis. From a laboratory science perspective, cannabis in any matrix is just another regulated analyte (measurand, more accurately). i.e. Flower, oils, and edibles have blood, saliva, and tissue as their clinical diagnostic counterparts. I'll let you figure out the stool equivalent, but hemp-derived cannabinoids seem like an appropriate match... I believe cannabis laboratory compliance testing is the diapered baby sister of clinical laboratory developed tests (#LDT's). For the hawk-eyed folks, they'll recognize that I first discussed this in a 2018 white paper, "Cannabis Laboratory Planning, Design, Licensing, Instrumentation, and Staffing". What information do I use to make that sibling comparison? Per FDA (see link): LDTs are in vitro diagnostic products (#IVDs) that are intended for clinical use and are designed, manufactured, and used within a single laboratory that is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (#CLIA) and meets the regulatory requirements under CLIA to perform high complexity testing. Per me: Cannabis compliance tests are intended to minimize human health hazards and are designed, validated, and used within a single laboratory that is typically accredited under the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2015 and meets the regulatory requirements under State rules to perform high complexity testing. (Note: this definition will change post-rescheduling). As we edge closer to rescheduling, #cannabis laboratories should learn the similarities and differences and think through 1) how the new FDA LDT Final Rule will completely upend 50 years of clinical diagnostic testing and likely force the closure of hundreds (if not most) of currently operating clinical laboratories while the multi-state MSO's (Quest, LabCorp, Opko, and Sonic) mop up the carnage of the unprepared, 2) how similar FDA regulation might affect the cannabis laboratory testing sector, 3) what this will mean to the consumers of both product and services. It's going to be a very interesting ride as cannabis and clinical appear to be simultaneously transitioning into a completely new and uncertain regulatory era. If you would like to chat about this, I recommend connecting with E4 Bioscience. https://lnkd.in/gBEawv8n AI was not used to write this post.

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Why are so many industry leaders bothered by pesticide contaminated products, but not by hemp-derived THC products? Both are produced by operators who work with the distinct understanding that their manufacturing methodologies could easily result in contaminated products. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself: How do hemp brands distinguish between naturally produced THC v. THC produced from CBD via chemical synthesis, when sourcing for their products? The honor system?! Oh, that’s right, I forgot. Everyone is just using mother liquor, right? Nothing to see here, just turning waste into gold for pennies. But any claim to this type of chromatography scale is too preposterous to entertain, even in hypothetical scenarios. The biomass and equipment scale needed to sustain hundreds of kilos of THC from CBD processing waste defies any reasonable or financial logic when it can be produced synthetically for much cheaper. But really, how do brands determine what methodology was used to produce their sourced THC, and does it result in a reliably safe ingredient? What’s actually in your product beyond the detected cannabinoids? Does anyone else find it disheartening that no one outside of analytical testing has an answer for this? And for all the hemp-derived THC CPG brands out there: Can anyone produce independent COAs that analyze foreign substances beyond basic environmental contamination controls? NMRs? Just one, even to confirm the process? Is it not extremely worrisome for consumers that these companies often have no idea about the true nature of the ingredients they’re selling? I know there are ethical cannabinoid manufacturers out there that truly care about active ingredient purity and safety. It’s amazing they’re still able to operate in this type of competitive landscape. But for every one of them, there’s one hundred backyard chemists trying to replicate Future4200 blog formulas. How does an industry address such supply chain naivety issues? It’s as if people don’t want to ask the question, let alone think about it. The fact that chemically synthesized compounds aren’t as inherently safe to manufacture as purified natural ones, especially in completely unregulated environments, upsets a lot of people in the industry. They see the word cannabinoid and automatically think natural and plant-based, when it’s anything but. I wish cannabinoid chemical synthesis was highly regulated so we could see safe, pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid products responsibly available to the public. But that’s not the reality of the situation, and the don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy of ingredient sourcing is pushing the entire industry in the wrong direction. How long can this can go on without some serious product scrutiny and honest hemp industry introspection? If you find yourself upset by potential pesticide contamination but not this, where do you draw the boundaries of your acceptable product contamination limits?

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The astronomical complexity of cannabis chemotype genetics. This is something that I wanted to address in the face of personalized strain medicine, which has gained attention with the AI boom. We hear all the time that cannabis has hundreds of bioactive metabolites. That much is true. We also hear all the time people pitching specific strains and chemotypes to treat specific conditions. For a very simple example of this complexity in genetics, let's assume that there are 100 important metabolites like cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that are the result of independently assorting genes. Independently assorting gene combinations can be calculated by a 2^n function, so 2^100 = 10^30 combinations For reference, there are 10^22 estimated stars in the entire universe, so this is 8 zeros more - a truly "cosmic" number. Obviously this is a simplification and overestimation at the same time. In reality there are shared pathways, linked genes, and a lot of chemical diversity is due to non-enzymatic processes. So let's assume a more reasonable number. Perhaps 20 important, independently assorting genes? 2^20 = 1,048,576 Meaning you'd have to grow over a million plants to capture that genetic diversity! Challenge accepted? Side note: this is where breeding markers become absolutely necessary, when you're breeding for multiple traits. Every unlinked trait that you stack literally adds exponentially more combinations. #BetterCannabisThroughScience

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Only with local production we can build a hemp construction sector that is sostaible economically , financially and socially , be part of the “new hemp economy “ and make the world a better place

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There is a lot of chit-chat on whether consumers are worried about with minor cannabinoids. Please take some time to fill out our survey so that we can see what consumers actually care about when it comes to these cannabinoids. Let's take a methodical approach to figuring out what matters to consumers and publish the information for all to see. https://lnkd.in/grN-7zAC

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A thoughtful consideration of #cannabis strain v. cultivar.

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Cannabis/cannabinoids don't work for pain? I recently came across a research paper claiming that cannabis is ineffective for pain management. While I won't delve into the debate over cannabis-based medicine's potential for pain relief, it's crucial to address other important issues raised in the paper. 1. Mislabelled products; The prevalence of mislabeled products is a significant concern that demands immediate attention from product formulators. Without addressing this challenge head-on, the credibility of hemp products will continue to suffer. Shockingly, statistics cited in a Forbes article reveal that nearly 60% of products sold in the United States are mislabeled. 2. High level of contaminants: The ongoing battle with pesticides, heavy metals, and microbial contamination in the CBD industry raises legitimate concerns about consumer safety and industry standards. It's perplexing that these issues persist despite being well-known and acknowledged within the industry.  The failure of some companies to conduct extensive testing for contaminants is alarming, especially considering the potential long-term health consequences for consumers. According to a report by Statista, over 28% of companies have ceased testing for pesticides, a troubling trend that compromises the integrity of CBD products. What is the way out? Companies need to prioritize authentic third-party testing from verified laboratories. This will reduce the possibility of having contaminated products in circulation. The industry needs to do more by investing in quality extraction techniques, formulation, packaging, and labeling. There are quite a few CEOs In the cannabis space who are investing in accurate third-party labs and Inesa Ponomariovaite is one of them. Inesa owns Nesas Hemp, a company focused on CBDa products. Image credit: Nesas Hemp #cannabis #cannabinoids #CBD #CBDa #CBGa

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We don't grow salads, we grow supplements. The true use case for vertical farming is growing plant-derived molecules. It's the only way to manufacture these critical ingredients at scale. While other brands have raised $10's - $100's of millions of dollars, we've bootstrapped from revenue. It's because we're able to produce an enzyme that our clients just can't get elsewhere. Today, we can deliver it clean, concentrated, and highly shelf stable. Tomorrow we can mass produce it any volume needed. The technological challenges are very formidable to grow this much plant matter in such confined space, but we have a process and it's validated by multiple 3rd parties. In a world on the brink of nuclear war, deglobalization, and climate shift, growing critical molecules on shore is something we all need to take more seriously. But when the going gets tough, the tough get growing.

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THCA "hemp" folks: Fvck around, find out. At least in Colorado, this new case shows they will enforce against selling weed as hemp. (full article link in comments) I don't want to see anyone else go to jail for weed, but these unethical bad actors need to be dealt with. They screw it up for everyone else. They create headlines for actual prohibitionists to latch on to. Chris and CBDDY was a parade of red flags from the beginning. Fake CoAs, selling to minors without age gating, ect. If you're in this industry you know these things are all too common. My question is: who's going down next? And again, if your at attorney tells you that selling straight weed as "THCA hemp" is legal - they're scamming you for your THCA money. Fire them and get a new attorney.

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To Those Who Doubt the Cannabis Industry's Potential... Here’s a Thought: Ever wondered why, despite the risks, people have been willing to break the law and even face prison time just to enjoy a marijuana joint? That's commitment. Now, compare that to your SaaS or AI product. 😂 Anyone risking a decade behind bars for it? Didn't think so. Why is this important? It’s all about Market Demand. 🌿 The history of cannabis shows us a robust and enduring demand, one so strong it thrived even when illegal. As legalization spreads, this industry isn't just an opportunity—it's exploding. 🔥 Hot take: If people went to such lengths for cannabis when it was forbidden, imagine the potential now that it's becoming mainstream.

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I've seen firsthand how costly and time-consuming cannabis lab testing can be for nurseries and producers, big and small. Waiting days for results can delay crucial decisions in cultivation. But PACTECH's in-house lab testing kit offers a solution. Powered by AI, it delivers instant results, saving time and allowing precise adjustments to nutrient imbalances. From monitoring THC and terpene profiles to slashing external testing expenses, PACTECH revolutionizes cannabis testing. Embracing AI in horticulture brings innovation and efficiency, ultimately improving outcomes and saving resources. Ready to leverage AI to enhance testing and save money? Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/gXYNk_Ur. What do you think about using AI for quick, DIY, in-house testing of leaf tissue, cannabinoids, and terpenes? #cannabis #cannabisindustry #cannabisculture

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The #LFTR Team just published manuscripts that we think make direct comment to the nature of unregulated nicotine vapes and the unregulated cannabis marketplace, children, and public health and public safety. Ethyl Acetate in E-liquids: Implications for Breath Testing We identified excessive concentrations of ethyl acetate (EtAc) in vaping products. EtAc is supposedly used for a variety of reasons, one being as a flavorant itself. However, at this concentration, it's serving as a solvent for other drugs. Let me say this another way: the industry is intentionally making e-liquids for consumers to drop their own drugs into them. This isn't me saying this - it's on the company's website! EtAc is commonly used as a paint thinner and heavy duty cleaning agent. It just happens to also have a slightly sweet fruity flavor/odor. It DAMAGES lung tissue. It is on the FDA list of "bad chemicals", but if a vaping company can demonstrate the need to use it, the FDA will allow it. If someone is vaping a product that has EtAc in it, EtAc converts to ethanol faster than ethanol is metabolized. This has been used as an affirmative defense in which someone failed a breath test. Abstract and manuscript link below. The vape that was being used: Unregulated. Ethyl acetate in vapes allowable per the FDA? Yes. Extremely proud of Alaina Holt who chased this down. #FundedByNIJ #OpinionsAreMine

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Which type of headache do you have? (I know which one I've got right now.) Could CBD cure it? Check out this article I wrote for Healthnews to find out if CBD is the miracle migraine treatment we've all been waiting for. (Link in comments)

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I'm not sure who needs to hear this....but nobody actually knows what they are doing 🤣 Here is a short list of a few things I am currently learning as an early-stage tech company "CEO" (what a mouth full) that will maybe allow other founders to take a deep breath 🧘🏼‍♀️- 1. As mentioned above....we are all just trying to figure out what it means to run a company well. Don't let imposter syndrome tell you otherwise. And the people who do act like they know it all are annoying anyway(I said what I said). 2. Every start-up is unique with unique metrics that they are measuring their success against. Stop comparing yourself to others! Nothing causes you to move slower than focusing on targets that aren't yours to hit. 3. SLEEP! Some things are out of your control & staying up all night stressing helps nothing. 4. You don't get brownie points for working so much that you completely neglect family, friends & hobbies that have nothing to do with your business. There are seasons that without a doubt will require you to work longer hours & your other relationships may suffer temporarily but don't make this the norm! 5. Quit reading so many business books. You are going to forget what your own inner voice is telling you to do if your brain is too full of everyone else's opinions. I have probably 100 more but I will spare you 🤣 If you are learning something new about being a business owner please share...Maybe that will be my next lesson too ha

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Last week, we launched the Elo GLP-1 muscle retention protein formula to help retain muscle and alleviate the common GLP-1 drug side effects. I've gotten many questions about the product and how it works. Let me answer some of the questions. Why did we develop the product? 15 million Americans take branded GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, or compounded semaglutide for weight loss. Many of them experience side effects: > muscle mass loss > digestive issues > nutritional gaps Over the last 12 months, we developed a nutrition companion to help alleviate the side effects. What are the benefits of the GLP-1 protein? 1. Retain muscle: Adequate protein intake paired with resistance training supports muscle synthesis and repair, helping maintain muscle mass during weight loss. 2. Aid changes in digestion: Added probiotics and psyllium husk fiber support bowel movement changes, including constipation and diarrhea. 3. Cover nutritional gaps: Each scoop contains 15 vitamins and minerals to meet daily nutritional needs, especially when eating is challenging. 4. Electrolyte balance: Added electrolytes maintain fluid balance, support nerve and muscle function, reduce dehydration risks, and ensure proper cardiovascular and nervous system functioning. How to use the GLP-1 Protein? For optimal outcomes, we recommend using Elo GLP-1 Muscle Retention Protein Formula daily. Many Elo members take their GLP-1 Protein in the morning. You can blend your GLP-1 Protein with cold water, plant-based milk or add it to your favorite smoothie, yogurt, and oatmeal. It’s OK to take GLP-1 protein twice a day - once in the morning and then after your exercise.

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Great insights from this panel, Bret Worley! It's exciting to hear about the discussion on the versatility of hemp products compared to marijuana. The emphasis on accessibility and expansion in the emerging drink products industry is particularly compelling. I agree with your advocacy for the hemp-derived market, focusing regulatory attention on issues like age restrictions rather than limiting availability. The market's value in the billions underscores the positive impact of these products on people's lives. Looking forward to more impactful conversations in this space!

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Many early-stage Deep Tech founders overlook the long-term relevance of grants. Me: "Do you have a plan for what grants to apply for, when, and for what?" Them: "Not relevant, focused on how much equity to raise, when, and from whom." Awesome, because that’s a must. The thing is... All money is the same once it hits your bank account. But not all money FEELS the same. → There’s no point in having a vision for high-stress high-obligation money (equity) while going blind on low-stress low-obligation money (grants). Instead, plan how to combine public and private funding from an early stage. Ask yourself: “What if I could get to market 40% grant-funded?" Don’t wait until you’re scaling up. Just like in a marathon, it’s in the last miles when it hurts the most. So: - Keep up with investors without overlooking grants - Plan all potential funding to get funded better Your future self says thank you in advance. - - - - - - - - - - -  Do you lack clarity on combining grants long-term? I’ll teach you how in my Grant Strategy Workshop. Join the waitlist and I’ll keep you posted when the next session goes live: https://lnkd.in/dDiBPSaZ

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I have a running debate with a biotech / pharma friend... about how cannabis is going to DIS-place many pharmaceuticals... So this study was SUPER interesting (note: 2800 respondents): ✅ 54% used cannabis to replace a prescription drug ✅ Most often trying to replace Pain Medication (67%!!!), Anti-Depressants (25%), Arthritis (21%). ✅ 38% reported TERMINATION of prescription drug use and 46% reported substantial decrease in prescription drug use ✅ 66% found cannabis MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE than their prescription drugs ✅ 86% found cannabis side effects milder than their prescription drugs For those in the back - It's medicine folks... And I'm guessing most of the people trading out prescription drugs are older folks... they won't stop using pills - bc cannabis isn't a cure-all... but it CAN be a cost-effective replacement for a LOT of ailments. NOTE: I'm NOT saying RE-place... like alcohol will always be around, as will prescription drugs... but if people can find solace in something that's cheaper and sometimes more effective (or even less effective, but way cheaper), you're gonna see a lot of mix shifting... CAVEAT: this is SELF-REPORTED so there's definitely a bias inherent here - but it's a LOT of people too... You're seeing this same effect happening in Alcohol - where 70% of GenZ prefer cannabis to alcohol... Maybe that's why Alcohol & Pharmaceutical companies are swirling the industry?!

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Following yesterday's news on Germany's first 'cultivation social club', I’m pleased to share this recent article below by Highly Capitalized Network-HCN, featuring Advanced Nutrients US LLC for our ability to maximize yields under Germany's 3-plant limit for #homegrowers. Whether you're a home grower with 3 plants or a commercial #MSO or #LP with thousands, our scientifically formulated products are designed to optimize plant health, enhance terpene profiles, and maximize yields. Overcoming the challenges and limitations of cannabis cultivation is possible with proper nutrients, and including #biostimulants like our Bud Candy® and Voodoo Juice® Plus Tablets. Bud Candy® not only enhances flavor but also boosts #terpene profiles, improving both the sensory experience and potential therapeutic benefits of your cannabis. Since 1999, we’re proud to be leading the way in both home and commercial cannabis cultivation. Quality nutrients make all the difference – Read on to find out why. Learn more about our cutting-edge product line and get more expert growing tips at AdvancedNutrients.com. Advanced Nutrients US LLC #AdvancedNutrients #Cannabis #Cultivation #CannabisInnovation #GrowBetter

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