Peter O'Malley

Now that everyone is settling back in from a wild week in Las Vegas, let’s talk about CBDa, the missing ingredient in so many formulations across our industry. As the raw, acidic precursor to CBD, it carries a wider range of therapeutic potential and maintains molecular structures that are often lost during traditional decarb and refinement. When preserved properly, CBDa delivers benefits far beyond what most standard CBD ingredients can offer, for both consumers and formulators. For our bodies, CBDa has shown: • Higher bioavailability compared to CBD (About 100x) • Stronger interaction with serotonin receptors (supporting mood, nausea, and stress) • Potent anti-inflammatory potential without requiring high doses • Faster onset because the body absorbs the acidic form more efficiently But the advantages go even further when it comes to formulation work. Keeping cannabinoids in their acidic state can mean: • A more complete, unadulterated plant profile • Enhanced entourage effects in blends, extracts, and beverages • Improved efficacy in lower milligram ranges • Cleaner flavors and aromas compared to heavy decarb inputs • A differentiating edge for premium SKUs targeting wellness and functional effects CBDa gives product makers the ability to develop formulations that are both more effective and more true to the plant’s natural chemistry. I’m curious… who in the industry is currently working with CBDa-rich extracts or incorporating acidic cannabinoids into their product lines? If you have any interest in CBDa, please let me know, I might be able to connect some dots for you 🌱 #cbd #extracts #formulations #cannabinoidscience

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Lately, I have been looking at some very interesting studies about the foliar application of methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid to increase both trichome density and cannabinoid content in Cannabis inflorescence while reducing internode spacing and stem elongation during the generative phase. Take away from the studies: - MeJA has been shown to enhance secondary metabolites production in various plant species (Chen et al., 2006; Choi et al., 2005; Jiang et al., 2017; Kim et al., 2006; Yan et al., 2017). - The Trichome density increased by 79.78% in the MeJA 100 μM group compared to the control - In inflorescences, CBDA and Total CBD contents were highest in the MeJA 100 μM group, with increases of 14.17% for TotalCBD and 17.95% for TotalΔ9-THC compared to the control. - Low doses of MeJA, particularly 0.1 mM, are effective in increasing the cannabinoid yield in the inflorescences of medical cannabis. A recent study (Apicella et al., 2022) also reported an increase of the THC content in inflorescences of a marijuana variety (“White Tangy Haze”) sprayed with 0.1-1 mM MeJA, suggesting that this treatment can be species-wide used to enhance cannabinoid yields in Cannabis sativa. - Some research highlights that the use of elicitors like MeJA in vertical farming not only enhances the quality of the crops but also effectively manages plant size, addressing one of the key challenges in space-constrained environments. Studies: - https://lnkd.in/eyQwBPak - https://lnkd.in/eNBzXZUv - https://lnkd.in/e7z7PHju - https://lnkd.in/eZ_cXVKm In several studies, methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid were applied at high concentrations but in very small volumes per plant. For example, 25 ml at 100 µM on specific flowering days. In commercial cultivation, most people spray to runoff, which means the plant receives several times more liquid. So when spraying to runoff, the smarter approach is to lower the concentration. Roughly speaking, dropping MeJA to around 10 µM delivers a similar total dose while still activating defense and secondary metabolite pathways. Im curious if anyone already worked with these compounds and integrated them in a commercial cultivation. It seems to be very dose dependent and might help regulate stretching and stem elongation in addition to increasing trichome density and secondary metabolites. Let me know what you think and I appreciate any additional insights. Thank you in advance for your input. Follow Sven Rachinger for more!

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Starting a medical cannabis facility from the ground up is rarely about the plants alone. It’s about building structure where none exists yet: • Translating regulations into daily workflows • Designing SOPs that balance compliance, quality, and scalability • Hiring and training teams while processes are still evolving • Making early decisions that will impact efficiency for years In a newly created facility, every procedure is a first draft. You’re defining how cultivation, sanitation, documentation, and quality control will operate - often while production timelines don’t wait. What I’ve learned is this: Strong operations aren’t built by copying SOPs from elsewhere. They’re built by understanding the intent behind each process, stress-testing it in real conditions, and refining it continuously. Medical cannabis demands more than growth - it demands consistency, traceability, and accountability. Getting there takes patience, iteration, and a team aligned around doing things the right way, even when it’s harder at the start. For anyone building in regulated environments: the foundation you lay early will either limit you - or carry you forward. #cannabis #cannabiscommunity #cannabiseducation #marijuana #businessdevelopment #hardwork #teameffort #medicine #genetics #indica #sativa #hybrids

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When people think about cannabis quality, they focus on the product they buy. They look at the color, the smell, or the strain. My work with farms in California showed me that quality begins long before any of that. It begins in the soil. Living soil is a no-till method. It’s one of the oldest ways to farm. The soil is treated as a living system, not something that gets flipped over and rebuilt each cycle. The teams I work with value the soil as much as the plant. They protect it so the plant can pull everything it needs from a strong foundation. They build their own fertilizers from natural materials. They create teas from stone fruits. They use apples, cannabis leaves, milk cultures, and vinegar cultures. You see worms moving through the beds. You see roly poly bugs. They even plant things like cactus or sweet potato in the same soil, because each plant adds something useful to the environment. When a harvest is finished, they leave the base of the plant in the ground. That base breaks down and feeds the next cycle. Nothing gets reset. Nothing gets stripped out. It takes time for soil to reach this level, and the flower improves as the cycles continue. Living soil changes the plant in ways you can measure through your senses. The flavor becomes stronger. The terpenes become richer. Terpenes guide the feel of the plant. They influence whether the experience feels bright or heavy, calm or active. When the soil stays in balance, the experience becomes smoother and more consistent. People also want to feel comfortable with what they consume. Living soil gives them a clear view of how the plant was grown, because the inputs are natural and the process stays honest. No chemical resets or synthetic fertilizers. Everything comes from the environment the farmers build by hand. This method requires patience and real work. It can only operate at scale in certain parts of California. The farms that use it commit to that process because the results show up in the final product. You can see it, smell it, and feel it.

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