Quick Hits with Dr. Luc Duchesne, Chief Scientific Officer, WeedMD

Business of Cannabis Quick Hits aims to gain real-time perspectives and insights into issues affecting and driving the Canadian cannabis sector. Today we were joined by Dr. Luc Duchesne, the Chief Scientific Officer at WeedMD. While the federal government recently announced a round of funding for cannabis research – most in the sector agree that more research should and could be done. WeedMD is trying to fill that gap and made an important announcement this week regarding their collaboration with Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. We asked Dr. Luc, that the collaboration meant and why it was important, what, in his view, were the most compelling and promising areas of research and development in the cannabis space and his thought son how to ensure that the medicinal cannabis sector does not get overlooked during the process of legalization this summer. ——- Full News Release: WeedMD Partners with the World-Renown Technion-Israel Institute of Technology for Cannabis Research Project Technion is widely recognized as a global leader in medical cannabis research Toronto, Canada, February 14, 2018 – WeedMD Inc. (TSX-V:WMD) (OTC:WDDMF) (FSE:4WE) (“WeedMD” or the “Company”), a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis, is pleased to announce that it has joined the world-renown Cannabis Database Project led by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Together, they will be collaborating in the research of cannabinoid and terpenoid profiles of 25 of WeedMD’s cannabis strains. This data will be added to an international database that correlates pharmacological effects used to determine the most effective cannabis treatments – strains, dose, and route of administration – for clinical purposes. This is just the first of multiple research and development initiatives WeedMD is embarking on, and plans to announce, as the Company further develops its medical cannabis offering for both the domestic and global medical cannabis markets. “We are proud to be at the forefront of investing in cannabis research, awareness and education. There are hundreds of cannabis strains available to medical patients, but each of these strains has a unique chemical profile, as well potentially unique medical properties. It’s inspiring to see that progressive thinkers are collating their data for leading-edge cannabis analysis,” said Dr. Luc Duchesne, Chief Scientific Officer at WeedMD. “A significant barrier to the standardization of medical cannabis is identifying strains that are effective in the treatment of specific medical conditions and Technion is making ground-breaking discoveries to this effect. While we pride ourselves as a science-focused organization, we are privileged to augment our research and development capabilities with the leader in medical cannabis research.” “WeedMD is in a unique position to contribute data for our research studies and we’re proud to welcome them to our Cannabis Research Project. For starters, we’ve identified 25 of WeedMD’s strains that will undergo analysis for exact chemical compound composition pertaining to treatment of certain medical conditions,” said Dr. David Meiri, Head of the Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. “We recently hosted members of the WeedMD team in Israel for important discussions on knowledge transfer and we’re looking forward to this collaboration that could benefit Canadian, Israeli and worldwide medical cannabis patients for years to come.” Cannabis Database Project & WeedMD’s Involvement The Cannabis Database Project aims to construct an integrated database with both clinical data on cannabis patients as well data on cannabis usage history for patients in Israel and abroad. Acquired data from growers, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), and other sources will be used for statistical and computational analyses, aimed to identify patient-class specific treatments and organize them into an accessible website for patients and physicians. WeedMD will contribute samples of 25 strains to state-of- the-art mass-spectrometry to consolidate into comprehensive profiles of the cannabinoid composition for a variety of cannabis strains that are used for clinical purposes in Israel. Technion has already profiled more than 150 strains, including all strains currently available under Israel’s regulated medical cannabis market. The patient-specific and cannabis strain databases are combined, analyzed, and used to derive optimized treatment options thereby maximizing disease specific therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side-effects. For each patient class, the project analyzes the risks of side effects associated with different cannabis treatments against the patients’ genetic backgrounds. About Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Since its inception in 1912 in Haifa, Technion has become a global pioneer in fields such as biotechnology, stem cells, space, computer science, nanotechnology, and energy. Three Technion professors have won Nobel Prizes. As Technion celebrated its cornerstone centennial in 2012, Technion City had become a modern miracle –  a thriving world center of research and teaching, with 12,850 students and 80 graduate programs trailblazing excellence in research and teaching for the benefit of humanity. About WeedMD Inc. WeedMD Inc. is the publicly-traded parent company of WeedMD Rx Inc., a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). The Company operates a 26,000 sq. ft. indoor facility in Aylmer, Ontario, and is awaiting its second-site cultivation license for its greenhouse facility located in Strathroy, Ontario, representing 610,000 sq. ft. or 14 acres under glass. WeedMD has entered into supply agreements in addition to strategic relationships with established cannabis brands. The Company is focused on providing medical cannabis to the long-term care, assisted living and seniors’ markets in Canada through its specialized and comprehensive platform. It is dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners and furthering public understanding of the role that medical cannabis plays – including as it pertains to regulatory requirements, indications and potential side effects.