Cannabis Industry Continues to Provide Aid to Communities in Need Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Personal protective equipment (PPE) has been a difficult item to track down during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Extract Consultants, a provider of terpenes, flavors, and effects blends that are specifically designed for the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and hemp industries, recently saw the need and urgency for PPE materials in their Denver communities.
In May, Extract Consultants published a press release informing the public that they had donated 700 KN95 masks to Denver Health’s Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center, which is reportedly one of the highest volume trauma centers in the nation, managing trauma cases from Colorado and six neighboring states. Extract Consultants said they were honored to donate masks to this facility in their press release (1).
“Treating COVID-19 patients while safely providing ongoing medical care for other conditions requires Denver Health to think creatively, act fast and take extraordinary measures at great but necessary expense,” said Linda Ford, Denver Health Executive Director (2). “Extract Consultants’ generous contribution of face masks makes that a reality.”
Their thoughtful gesture did not end with PPE donations. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many are out of work and unable to provide for their families. Extract Consultants provided a financial contribution to the Food Bank of the Rockies, which will contribute to approximately 12,000 meals to its Denver communities facing food insecurities (2). The Food Bank of the Rockies is the largest private hunger-relief organization in Colorado and Wyoming.
“This crisis has brought to bear the ever-present need for goodwill and generosity in our local community,” said Extract Consultants President Maxwell Brown (2). “We’re grateful to be able to support these vital organizations serving the most vulnerable here in Denver.”
From Extract Consultant’s press release, the company commented further on the amount of donations and other assistances being performed by other cannabis establishments (1): “We continue to be awed by the incredible acts of compassion and generosity shown by those within and without our industry. We are all truly in this together.” Businesses in the cannabis industry continue to pursue ways on how to aid each other and their communities to get through these difficult times (3,4).
References:
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
Assessing Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Strategy: Insights from a Large-Scale Study
November 19th 2024A New Zealand study aimed to assess cannabis use as a harm reduction tool. Findings highlight lifestyle factors, and suggest cannabis-focused harm reduction strategies in reducing other substance use such as alcohol.
Ep 23, Part III: Accreditation in the Cannabis Industry with Susan Audino
October 24th 2024In Part III of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to examine the complexities of sampling in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for proper sampling plans, and methods.
