Features Production
Medical marijuana may soon be in a pod

CannTrust™, the only pharmacist-controlled and operated producer of medical cannabis in Canada, unveiled its innovative CANNCUPTM medical cannabis beverage pods at last week’s Family Medicine Forum in Toronto.

The first-of-their-kind in Canada, the new pods use a patent-pending method to produce single serve coffee, tea and hot chocolate containing high quality cannabis. The pods will be certified 100 per cent compostable and compatible with leading single-serve coffee makers.

“The Supreme Court of Canada has made the decision that cannabis is acceptable in all forms and it should be up to the patient how they choose to use it,” says Eric Paul, pharmacist and CEO of CannTrust Inc.

“They have said, in effect, that if users would rather drink their medical marijuana than smoke it, they have the right to do so. Our focus has always been on the treatment and therapeutic value of cannabis, and CANNCUPTM pods were developed in the spirit of this new ruling. We look forward to Health Canada approval so we can bring this effective treatment alternative to Canadians in need.”
Once approved by Health Canada, the CANNCUPTM pods will deliver a known, standardized dose of THC and CBD to medical marijuana patients as prescribed by a doctor, which is difficult to achieve by smoking or vaporization.

“The inability to control dosage has been a concern among both health-care practitioners and patients,” explains Paul. CANNCUPTM provides a measured dosage that can be taken or administered without any impact on the immediate environment, which is particularly meaningful for patients living in long-term care facilities who may choose not to smoke or vaporize.”

The pods contain full dried cannabis plants from which the cannabinoids are extracted during the brewing process. The result is the delivery of a whole plant extract that scientific data has demonstrated is superior to inhaled cannabis for patients who are managing chronic illnesses; offering a slower onset and longer therapeutic duration.

CannTrust will complete clinical trials in the coming months, with two leading research hospitals to develop the best protocols for using the CANNCUPTM products as adjunct therapies.

ABOUT CANNTRUST INC.

CannTrust received its licence to produce medical cannabis for patients in June 2014.

Based in Vaughan, Ontario, CannTrust is committed to producing the highest quality pharmaceutical grade cannabis; promoting evidence based clinical research; and providing exceptional customer support.

CannTrust has invested in its state-of-art hydroponic facility and onsite laboratory equipped with leading-edge technology, and has an exceptional team of pharmacists, nurses, scientists, laboratory technicians, master growers and call centre specialists.