Category: Business

This Hospital Is Now Dispensing Cannabis Oil To Patients

Because cannabis is safer than alcohol, and because components of the herb have been proven to remedy a number of ailments, this hospital now dispenses cannabis oil to physician-approved patients.

(True Activist by Amanda Froelich) Because marijuana is safer than alcohol and offers medicinal benefits to those who smoke and/or ingest it, Grand Cayman’s CTMH Doctors Hospital and Cayman Pharmacy group now dispense cannabis oil to physician selected patients. CNS Business reports that the establishment recognizes the medicinal applications of the herb, as studies have proven it benefits not only seizures but cancer, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, arthritis, dementia and other health-related problems. As a result, it is now being dispensed out of a Professional Pharmacy.

The hospital stated:

“These advancements in medicinal cannabis have been proven successful in multiple case studies around the world. These case studies reveal life changing results for patients suffering with many conditions such as chronic pain, neuropathic pain and seizures. As with all medications, care and caution must be exercised to minimise risks and maximise health benefits.”

Dennie Warren Jr. can be credited with ensuring patients in the Cayman Islands can receive cannabis oil as a medicine. Reportedly, he lobbied the government to change the misuse of drugs law and allow for components of cannabis to be used. Now, Warren is running for office in George Town West to call for further legislative changes so marijuana might be cultivated in the area.

Until it is legal to grow and sell marijuana in the Cayman Islands, CTMH Doctors Hospital is importing the medicine through CanniMed Therapeutics Inc., an authorized licensed producer of pharmaceutical grade cannabis oils in Canada, and Caribbean Medical Distributors Ltd CMD.
According to a press release, only a limited supply of oil will be dispensed to a small number physician selected patients. The initial phase will focus on engaging and educating the selection of patients and tracking their progress to help them achieve their desired outcomes and minimize effects.

The hospital also explained that specific cannabis oil product information will be circulated by physicians, and Professional Pharmacy will provide free and confidential patient counseling on prescriptions that are dispensed. Officials stated:

“There will be follow-up phone calls from the pharmacists themselves to closely monitor each patient. The pharmacist will also provide feedback for the physicians and together they will work towards an individually tuned treatment plan. Professional Pharmacy will consider prescriptions for cannabis oil from all licensed prescribers. Patients are encouraged to seek medical advice on this therapy directly from their physicians.”

Over 100 studies now exist proving cannabis oil can cure cancer. Additionally, thousands of anecdotes by individuals who have healed their conditions by either ingesting components of the plant (primarily CBD) or smoking it to reduce anxiety and chronic pain abound. Unfortunately, the alcohol and pharmaceutical industries are lobbying against decriminalizing the plant because its legalization would result in massive profit losses.

If you believe marijuana should be available both recreationally and medically, as the war on drugs is obviously not working, costing taxpayers a substantial amount of money, and ruining the lives of people who desire to rely on nature for their cures, share this article and comment your thoughts below!

Go Nuts for Ferrero’s Sustainable Packaging

Italian confectionery  giant Ferrero is best known for producing some of our best-loved sweet treats, including the hazelnut sandwich spread, Nutella,  (a jar is sold every 2.5 seconds in the UK) and, of course, the Christmas family favourite, Ferrero Rocher chocolates. With so many hazelnut based products, it’s no surprise the corporation is the world’s fourth largest buyer of hazelnuts in the world, purchasing over 25% of the world’s supply. Of course, with hazelnuts come waste. Each year the company’s production requires disposal of 70,000 hazelnut shells.

Until recently, this waste has simply been incinerated. Incinerators emit substantial quantities of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, which contribute negatively to global climate change. However, Ferro is adopting a greener solution by investing in a revolutionary innovation that will transform their waste products into the very packaging that protects their goods.

Waste is a problem

In Europe, each person currently accumulates 16 tonnes of material each year, with 6 of those becoming waste. Waste, as defined by gov.uk means: “…a material being discarded, intended to be discarded or required to be discarded by law.” Today, only a third of our waste is recycled, which leads to greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution damaging our planet. The EU’s legislation states that waste must be turned into a resource in order to meet their ambitious 2030 targets to “close the loop” on product lifecycles, meaning no waste or pollution is created where possible. The EU’s priorities include:

  • Reducing the amount of waste generated
  • Maximising recycling and re-use
  • Limiting incineration to non-recyclable materials

Ferrero Rocher’s Innovation

Turning waste into a resource is one key to developing a sustainable economy, and Ferrero Rocher has realised it is sitting on a minefield of resources. Recent years have seen consumer demands change, and now, environmental consciousness is a must for a brand’s success. In a study by Neilson; it was discovered that 52% of respondents have purchased one or more products in the last six months due to the company’s social responsibility. Ferrero chose to listen to EU and customer requests and teamed up with Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS), a fibre based development company to solve their waste problem.

EcoPaper

The solution comes in the form of EcoPaper. The total material is made from vegetal products that were formerly discarded as waste. Non-edible hazelnut shells are used to protect the hazelnut products the company sells. This brings great value to the supply chain and to the consumer.

Benefits of EcoPaper

  • By investing in EcoPaper, wood fibres are replaced with by-products of confectionary production. Natural resources are therefore protected by increasing the share of recycled material in the packaging.
  • Ferrero has been able to enjoy new marketing opportunities thanks to their adoption of sustainable packaging supplies.
  • The once incinerated products are now part of the paper recycling cycle, closing the loop and extending the product’s lifecycle.

The Production of EcoPaper

Hazelnut shell waste is unavoidable when making Ferrero’s confectionary, EcoPaper allows for the waste to be dry milled and repurposed. What’s more, in the development stages of this product, it was discovered that the properties held in the shells allowed for the paper to have a thicker volume though using the same amount of material. Volume is extremely important for effective packaging. It increases stiffness and reduces the ability for the product to bend, allowing for safe transit and a pleasing aesthetic display.

Production

  • The hazelnuts are treated to eliminate their allergenic ability.
  • The milled product is emptied on to a fabric mesh conveyor belt where it forms a continuous web that is then drained. The hazelnuts improved the drainability of the web, which increased productivity by reducing drying time.
  • A multi-ply board machine produces multiple layers which are then combined and couched before being pressed and dried.
  • Three-dimensional boxes are created from the two-dimensional cut-outs which involved the typical folding and glueing methods.

The Future of EcoPaper and Sustainable Packaging

Though EcoPaper is still being developed, it’s thought that one day this product will roll out throughout Ferrero Rocher’s entire packaging strategy. Currently, the EU creates 8.6million tonnes of cartonboard each year. With the correct innovation, it’s thought that 10-20% of this could be replaced with by-product packaging. Currently, there is a plethora of underused agricultural stock that could be utilised in the future:

  • 45,000 tonnes of hazelnut shells:
  • 33-60 million tonnes of crop straw
  • 3 million tonnes of tomato stalks
  • 130,000 tonnes of cherry pits

By creating usable products from the inedible parts of plants, we are able to give them new life and reduce the incineration process that has damaged our planet. In order to meet the EU’s guidelines of building a circular economy, it seems that packaging producers of the future are making steps in the right direction.

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