Biotechnologys Response to the

Burgeoning Medical-Marijuana Industry

by David Drake
Legal sales of marijuana have already reached $2.6 billion so far this year. Most estimates predict
sales from medical marijuana will likely reach $3 billion by the end of 2014, up from $1.5 billion in
2013. A recent Huffington Post articlecited studies that predict that legal marijuana sales could
bring in between $7.4 and $8.2 billion in revenue by the year 2018.
Marijuana can be grown legally in 23 states and the District of Columbia; and another 11 states
have limited legal access, often for research purposes, according to the National Conference of
State Legislatures.
With skyrocketing demand for a reliable supply year over year, GB Sciences, Inc., has positioned
itself to fill in the gap. From its base in Lake Mead, Nevada, near Las Vegas, this biotech firm is
preparing to create its own line of patented cannabis pharmaceuticals. GB Sciences has Dr. Andrea
Small-Howard as its chief science officer. She brings to the company her years of medical-cannabis
research at prestigious institutions.
Dr. Small-Howard is helping commercialize and productize medical marijuana using a proprietary
methodology that uses genetic cultures to produce a scientifically consistent result. GB Sciences
has several trademarked technologies, including the InCUBEator Cannabis Propagation Chamber,

GrowBLOX

Cannabis

Grow

Chambers,

CureBLOX

Cannabis

Drying

System,

and

ConversionLAB Cannabis Extraction Solutions.

Each of these technologies is designed to address a specific, fundamental stage in the production
of medical-grade marijuana, without any of the undesirable results that often accompany
traditional growing methods, such as varying potency, pesticides, fungicide and even feces. They
grow their plants in highly controlled conditions based on strict procedures overseen by Dr. SmallHoward. They have invented a proprietary process for harvesting without using many of the
typically harmful chemicals used by other producers. The company is also aiming to create specific
cannabis strains for specific medical treatments.
GB Sciences, Inc.s proprietary methods can yield up to five harvests a year, outpacing industry
competition, according to the firm.
Public research into the potential benefits has exploded since the discovery of naturally occurring
cannabis-like molecules and cannabis receptors in the brain and the immune system, which
scientists call the endocannabinoid system. The National Institutes of Health has conducted
detailed research into this field for at least the past eight years.
In laymans terms, this means there is real scientific potential for marijuana-based medical
treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions, including Parkinsons disease and
Huntingtons disease, nerve pain, cancer, heart attacks, strokes and inflammation.
Dr. Andrea Small-Howard has been researching medical applications of cannabinoids for over a
decade. Big Pharma has noticed the market potential for medical marijuana and has mobilized its
resources to take advantage of it.
Dr. Small-Howard believes that solving complex medical problems requires a multifaceted
approach.
Large pharmaceutical companies have invested heavily in a one drug for one disease model,'
she is quoted as saying in a press release. But they have not had much success. She goes on to
explain their failure is in part because [c]annabinoids in marijuana act together as a natural
cocktail to address complex conditions, which is analogous to the combination therapies that have
been successful in treating cancer, HIV infections, and heart disease. Plant extracts have additional
molecules that aid in their effectiveness, which GB Sciences is excited to explore and define
through additional clinical testing.

GB Sciences is currently working to further their research in various therapy areas and is equally
excited to explore the possibility of using other molecules from plant extracts to further enhance
the medical properties of cannabinoids.
This biotechnology firms efforts, combined with other companies studies and research, can only
lead to better education and optimization of Cannabis sativa, or marijuana.
Note: This article originally appeared on Huffingtonpost with this
link http://thesoholoft.com/biotechnologys-response-to-the-burgeoning-medical-marijuanaindustry-by-david-drake/ on September 25, 2014.

Main photo credit to cdn.3news.co.nz

Slideshow photo credit to seattletimes.com

David Drake is an early-stage equity expert and the founder and chairman of LDJ Capital, a New
York City-based family office, and The Soho Loft Media Group The Voice of Capital Formation
a global financial media company with three divisions: Victoria Global Corporate
Communications, Times Impact Publications, and The Soho Loft Conferences. You can reach him
directly at David@LDJCapital.com.