What does the cannabis world hold for us in 2018?

With the coming of the new year, the time has come to take stock. But not only that. It's also time to get ready for what's about to come in 2018. And is there any better way to face the new year with courage and confidence than by knowing what's going to happen from January onwards? What can we really expect from the new year that is upon us? For starters, a significant step forward in legislative terms has to be taken so the beneficial effects of this plant are finally acknowledged. It'd also be very interesting to have other online purchase options available on the market, and cryptocurrencies are emerging as the safest methods. On top of that, research studies are going to increasingly support the medicinal value of cannabis in the treatment of a wide range of diseases such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, arthritis or nerve pain. However, the legalization hasn't still been fully implemented because many doctors are a bit unsure whether to prescribe it or not due to a lack of medical literature and studies. Companies know that supporting the business with medical and technological research studies is the best thing they can do. In fact, the scientific community will widely welcome any kind of funding to their studies.

Legislation on recreational marijuana

The international movement to regulate the use of cannabis has taken enormous strides during this last year: many countries have legalized its therapeutic use. This trend is growing and the future seems increasingly green. In fact, Canada is getting ready to legalize the recreational use of cannabis in July, after which it'll become the biggest industrialized country where the plant is entirely legal. Canada is not the pioneering country, though. When José Mujica was president, back in 2013, Uruguay was the first country to legalize the consumption, production and sale of cannabis under the control of a state body. In fact, just some months ago, Uruguay started to monitor the legal cultivation, packaging and sale of cannabis in pharmacies. No doubt this country has already made history but they haven't stopped there. They have announced that they'll continue fighting for this plant. Their 2018 objective is to produce more to meet the pharmacies' demands on cannabis supplies and to set higher quality standards. They also want to set up new trading centers and expect the number of people registered to buy cannabis to rise from 16 000 to 50 000 in 2018.

The United States, a global showcase

At the federal level, it is illegal to produce, distribute or sell marijuana in the States, except with a specific authorization. However, each state can adopt their own laws, as long as they don't break any national rules. Therefore, 28 states have given the green light to the consumption of therapeutic cannabis, and other regions such as Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, Washington, California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Columbia have legalized the recreational use as well. But there's much more. According to the organization Marijuana Policy Project, other 9 states, including Illinois, Connecticut, Texas and Michigan, could start to address the legalization during 2018. Another example is California, whose citizens voted to approve Proposition 64 in November 2016. Ever since, the authorities have been engaged in drawing up rules for the recreational market (to regulate where plants can be grown or where businesses have to be set up, among others) that will be launched on 1^st January 2018. This means both residents and visitors will be able to legally buy and consume cannabis in California as soon as the new year starts. This could be the definitive thrust for the other countries that so carefully scrutinize each step taken by the States, one of the leading actors of this global game. In fact, what happens in the USA during 2018 could lay the foundations for a real change.

Cryptocurrencies to buy quickly and safely

Now that we know which countries are really going to facilitate access to marijuana, all that's left for us is to discover the best way to buy it. In the 21^st century, the virtual payment method is an increasingly safe and effective alternative. The use of cryptocurrencies allows the owner to exchange goods and services online in any country in the world. Besides, cryptocurrencies aren't controlled by any bank, financial institution or country, and they're used anonymously, so they help preserve the privacy during transactions. This way, transactions are quick, cheap and completely safe. Although not all online stores now accept this payment method, 2018 will be the year in which it'll start to be widely used, not only by technology and finance experts but by the entire international community. In fact, cannabis can already be purchased legally using CannabisCoins in marijuana dispensaries in the United States. Many users call it 'The Marijuana Bitcoin' because it's one of the most widely used currencies in this type of establishments. But there're still many other cannabis-related currencies waiting to get on scene: PotCoin ($POT) or HempCoin ($THC), one of the first 30 cryptocurrencies developed in 2014 and endorsed by the company Rocky Mountain Ayre; or DopeCoin ($DOPE), a currency created in 2015 by the network GROW, which allows Canadian producers to sell their plants safely.

Private companies investing in research

The wave of legalization that is sweeping the world is also pushing several companies and magnates to invest their money in investigating this plant, basically, in obtaining scientific data for supporting their future businesses. This attempt to capitalize on the gold rush that this cannabis industry will bring about is helping the scientific community to resume, in 2018, several investigations that have for years been in the dark. For instance, one of the most important venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, Benchmark Capital, responsible for the funding of tech giants such as Twitter, Uber, Snapchat or Instagram, has decided to invest $8 million (€ 6.77 million) in Hound Labs, a lab engaged in the development of effective methods and devices for analyzing THC. Another famous investment is the one made by the venture capital firm Kingsley Capital Partners who devoted £ 10 million (more than € 11 million) to the research on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. The aim is to create a world center of excellence in cannabis research. The wealthiest investors in the USA investing their millions in cannabis research means very good things are about to happen. In short, the legalization of marijuana is irreversible in the new continent and the market is on the verge of exploding.

Organic cultivation, more fashionable than ever

In 2018, with the definitive emergence of the therapeutic cannabis market, the number of growers calling for this kind of growing method will also rise because the flavors and aromas obtained with it are far more intense, and there's no need to use any chemical products, such as fertilizers or pesticides; only natural additives and microorganisms that break down organic matter are used. An ever-increasing number of cannabis farms in states like Colorado, Oregon, Washington or California grow marijuana using organic methods, aware of the many negative effects fertilizers and pesticides have had on our environment and our health. And not only that. More and more departments of agriculture are proposing new ways to certify the organically-grown marijuana. And the truth is that, without certification standards, there's no way the consumer knows whether it's been organically grown or not. This is a short-term project that will allow cannabis to be of better quality and, above all, safer for all users.

More CBD strains in 2018

In 2017, HSO decided to include in their catalog strains with a higher CBD content, a cannabinoid that, apart from showcasing many therapeutic properties, counteracts the psychoactive effects users generally experience when consuming cannabis. This way, we have developed the CBD-rich versions of two of our most requested marijuana seeds: Blue Dream and Green Crack. Two top-notch Cali genetics that became part of the CBD family in style.

Looking back, our mouth starts watering. But better things are still to come because a thorough research study on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD is helping to improve the effects of the new plants. Besides, it's no longer necessary to travel miles and miles to get the best cannabis seeds: in 2018, Humboldt Seeds will bring the latest trends and the most popular therapeutic strains in California.