Herbs in History: Artichoke & Lavender

• By: AHPA
• On: 05/23/2024 07:57:09
• In: AHPA News

May 23, 2024

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In an effort to preserve and share the fascinating histories of medicinal plants and herbs that have been used around the world for ages, the AHPA Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA-ERB Foundation) is honored to partner with Alain Touwaide, Ph.D., and Emanuela Appetiti of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions to launch the Herbs in History project in 2022.

The latest herbal history lessons explore artichoke and lavender. Preview the entries below and visit Herbs in History online to read more.

Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L.)

When genetics and history meet

Now a super food, Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L., C. cardunculus, var. scolymus (L.) Fiori) (Asteraceae) has been forgotten for a long time. Though often recounted, the history of artichoke usually focuses on the mythological tale of artichoke creation and ignores the most significant facts, which can be reconstructed in a much realistic way in a rare convergence across scientific disciplines, from genetics to history and conversely. | Read more...

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)

Fragrance and falsification

Lavender is a synesthetic experience thanks to its delicate and inebriating scent, the unique violet-periwinkle colour of its flowers, especially in fields extending up to the horizon and beyond, almost melting in the sky, and the relaxing feeling that invades the whole body when taken as a warm infusion. | Read more...

About the Project

Herbs in History is made possible by funding from the AHPA-ERB Foundation, as part of the nonprofit foundation’s mission promote education and research on medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs. Tune in monthly for thoughtfully detailed historical accounts of herbs you know and love, and learn more about the origins of medicinal plants that have stood the test of time.

AHPA 2021-2023 Tonnage Survey Open for Producer Responses

• By: AHPA
• On: 05/06/2024 15:01:26
• In: AHPA Publications & Resources

May 6, 2024

Dear Valued Member of the Herbal Industry,
 
Primary suppliers of raw materials have a vested interest in ongoing sustainable harvest of plants in a manner that assures their use by generations to come. The American Herbal Products Association’s Tonnage Survey is "a vital index of native U.S. botanical consumption" according to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and a key resource in support of this effort.
 
We invite you to play a crucial role in helping to grow our collective understanding of botanical supply chains and sustainable harvest of herbs through your completion of the 2021-2023 survey. 
 
As with our eight previous surveys, representing harvests for the years from 1997 through 2020,^[1] the focus of the 2021-2023 survey includes select North American plants that are produced in part from wild–harvested populations. This survey identifies all the plants from earlier surveys; however the newest version of the survey includes additional non-native botanicals that are currently being cultivated in North America. The expanded survey includes 127 botanical commodities. Additionally, the survey has been modified to remove the fresh weight category and respondents are requested to report all poundage information in dried weight. This modification was made after review and discussion of the past 20+ years of data collection in an effort to reduce survey size and increase efficiency for survey takers and for survey analysis. 
 
We ask primary raw materials producers to follow the link below and participate in the survey by May 31, 2024 in order for your contributions to be included in the collective tally. Harvest information provided confidentially by individual companies will be tabulated and provide a powerful tool for industry. By working together in this manner, AHPA and the community of companies who are in the business of herbs can gain valuable information that helps us all plan for sustainable growth and stability. Simply put, if you are a primary raw material producer, your participation in this survey is essential.

We recommend that you complete this survey from a desktop or laptop computer rather than a smart phone or other device with a small screen, and the form should remain open on your browser until you are able to complete all parts and click the submit button. It is not possible to re-open a survey once submitted. 
 
Surveys may also be returned by mail or as an email attachment. Please make every effort to submit the survey by May 31, 2024. If you have any questions or require any assistance regarding this survey, or if you would like to submit the survey by email attachment or US mail, please contact Holly Chittum at 588-1171 x111 or hchittum@ahpa.org.
 
Additionally, for those who submit a survey with their tonnage data by May 31, 2024, be sure to contact Holly Chittum at 588-1171 x111 or hchittum@ahpa.org with your choice of one of the thank you gifts from this list:

1. $200 off a new AHPA membership (non-members only)

2. One (1) copy of Herbs of Commerce, 3rd Ed. 

3. One 1-year subscription to the online Botanical Safety Handbook

4. Your choice of one (1) item from the AHPA 40th anniversary merchandise shop

Finally, please notify us if you know of someone who should participate in this survey and may not have done so in the past. If you prefer, you may refer colleagues directly to the survey link.
 
Thank you! Your time and support is appreciated by AHPA and the herbal community of today and tomorrow.
 
Edward J. Fletcher
Chair, AHPA Botanical Raw Materials Committee
 
Holly K. Chittum
AHPA Project Scientist
 
^[1] AHPA has published this data through 2017 and anticipates publication of the 2018-2020 report presently.

Senators reintroduce bill to federally legalize marijuana as DEA moves to reschedule cannabis

• By: AHPA
• On: 05/01/2024 17:37:00
• In: Regulation / Legislation

The rescheduling recognizes the medical uses of cannabis and could broadly impact research, industry
 
May 1, 2024

Today, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which would federally legalize marijuana. This legislation would establish broad regulation of the cannabis industry across multiple federal agencies – including regulation of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – and also expunge the records of those with low-level marijuana-related convictions. Reintroduction of this bill, which is nearly identical to the version first introduced by the senators in 2022, comes on the tails of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) broadly reported and historic decision to initiate the regulatory process to reschedule marijuana.
 
Based on a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the DEA is moving to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III controlled substance. The rescheduling of marijuana recognizes the medical uses of cannabis and its lower abuse potential than Schedule I and II substances. Its rescheduling could have broad impacts for the cannabis industry, though it would not result in legalization of adult-use cannabis under federal law.
 
Once published in the Federal Register, the proposal to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III will initiate a formal rulemaking process that will include a public comment period. The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) plans to submit comments in support of the rescheduling and continue engaging with policymakers on matters impacting cannabis as part of the association’s work to address issues related to the responsible commerce of legally-marketed products derived from Cannabis species.
 
“AHPA is encouraged by the DEA’s historic move to reschedule marijuana, which acknowledges the medical use of cannabis,” said Jane Wilson, AHPA Director of Program Development and staff liaison to AHPA’s Cannabis Committee. “The reclassification of this long-criminalized botanical is long overdue.