This past week, Realm of Caring’s Executive Director, Sasha Kalcheff-Korn, moderated one of the most future-focused conversations at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference. The panel, “Pharma-Grade Cannabis: A Long-Term Play for Investors & Operators Alike?”, brought together a powerhouse lineup of experts pioneering the next era of cannabis as medicine:
- Steve Bastasini, Co-Founder & CEO of Kanavos, Inc.
- Jim Sanfilippo, Co-Founder & CEO of VIST Labs
- Duncan Mackie, PhD, Director of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics at Bud & Mary’s
- Dana Lambert, PhD, President & CEO of Andira Pharmaceuticals
- Shaun Land, President & CEO of Irvine Labs
Together, they explored what it truly takes to develop cannabis into pharmaceutical-grade products; from rigorous R&D and regulatory navigation to breakthrough innovations in safety, delivery, and formulation.
For anyone invested in the therapeutic future of cannabis – patients, researchers, regulators, or purpose-driven brands – this conversation delivered a clear message: the future of cannabis as medicine is already in motion.
Key Takeaways
- The Path to Pharma Is Real and Growing
- Several panelists are already deep into the pharmaceutical pathway with cannabinoid-based drugs aimed at unmet medical needs; like superbug infections, breast cancer, Parkinson’s, sleep disorders, and atopic dermatitis.
- Companies like Andira Pharmaceuticals under Dana’s leadership are taking isolated cannabinoids through FDA drug approval processes, leveraging programs like Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Qualified Infectious Disease Product status to fast-track development. But as Duncan with Bud & Mary’s emphasized, there are several pathways to take and opportunities to take more than one in this moving, shifting regulatory landscape.
- Panelists echoed that pharma-level R&D is more achievable than many believe, especially with growing regulatory familiarity and a rising number of FDA cannabinoid precedents (like dronabinol/Marinol).
- Innovation in Safety and Delivery Is Catching Up
- Safety was a recurring theme, especially for immunocompromised patients. Jim with VIST Labs emphasized the need for sterilized, pathogen-free inhalable cannabis, calling out widespread contamination risks in current markets.
- Sterile post-harvest packaging, modified atmosphere technology, and cryogenic vapor sterilization are tools being adopted to ensure that cannabis meets the standards of inhaled therapeutics.
- On the delivery side, panelists discussed new formulations (gels, powders, and emulsions) that improve bioavailability and can be targeted to specific organs.
- Intellectual Property (IP) Is Fueling the Future
- Companies are investing heavily in IP; particularly in formulations, delivery systems, and novel combinations of cannabinoids and other plant compounds.
- Panelists emphasized that IP isn’t just a defensive strategy; it’s the core of valuation and acquisition potential. Some companies are already filing globally and protecting multi-layered innovation stacks.
- Shaun with Irvine Labs emphasized that even if a product is not patentable, it is often still worth bringing it to market; so don’t let fear stop you from bringing a worthy product to patients who would benefit.
- Cannabis as Medicine Requires Clean Labels, Accurate Dosing
- There’s a growing awareness that inconsistent labeling and oxidation of cannabinoids can mislead patients and degrade therapeutic potential.
- Modified atmosphere packaging, common in the food industry, was suggested as a necessary next step for cannabis producers to ensure stability and truth-in-labeling, especially for products sitting on dispensary shelves for months.
- Wellness, Pharma, and the “Blue Ocean” in Between
- While pharma is the ultimate gold standard, several speakers highlighted the vast potential between wellness and prescription-grade therapeutics.
- From functional edibles with therapeutic benefits to collaborations with nutrition giants, the wellness sector could be a key stepping stone to mainstream adoption.
- Tech platforms like Kanavos Inc. under Steve’s leadership are building semantic AI tools to make scientific data on cannabinoids more accessible to prescribers, patients, and regulators alike.
What We’re Excited About at Realm of Caring
- Elevated Safety Standards: It’s clear the industry is moving toward cleaner, more consistent products that put patient health first, something Realm of Caring has long advocated for.
- New Drug Candidates: Realm of Caring has conducted rigorous, observational research for nearly a decade; studies that pave the way for clinical trials. With more clinical trials underway for cannabinoid-based treatments in infection control and cancer, we are hopeful about expanded therapeutic options backed by rigorous data.
- Patient-First Innovation: Beyond the science, what resonated most was the shared commitment to solving real problems for real people; especially those failed by current options.
Looking Ahead
Realm of Caring remains dedicated to supporting research, elevating patient voices, and advocating for regulatory and product standards that reflect the true potential of cannabis as medicine. As Sasha shared in the panel, “This is the conversation for anyone serious about the future of cannabis as medicine.”
We’re thrilled to be part of it and we invite all patients, caregivers, researchers, and innovators to join us as we push toward a future where quality, access, and efficacy are non-negotiable.
To watch the full panel discussion, see the video here.