SMITHS FALLS, ON and
TORONTO, July 10, 2019 /CNW/ - Spectrum Therapeutics
("Spectrum"), the medical division of Canopy Growth Corporation
(TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) (the "Company" or "Canopy Growth") is
pleased to announce a partnership with the Canadian Mental Health
Association ("CMHA"). The initiative, a first of its kind for a
leading cannabis company and a national mental health organization,
will see the CMHA in collaboration with Spectrum Therapeutics
develop an educational content module related to cannabis in the
workplace as part of CMHA's Not Myself Today workplace mental
health program. The module, slated to launch early next year, will
feature a host of physical and digital engagement tools aimed to
reduce stigma in the workplace on the use of cannabinoid based
medicines. In addition, it will encourage greater healthcare
practitioner oversight when patients use cannabis to treat a
medical condition. The content will also include video resources
featuring medical cannabis subject matter experts and fact sheets
that provide detailed information and direct readers to further
resources.
"The stigma surrounding medical cannabis and mental illness
prevents meaningful action and dialogue among those affected. One
of the goals of this partnership is to break that stigma by
empowering conversations about mental health informed by
evidence-based educational resources," said Dr. Mark Ware, Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth.
"For Spectrum Therapeutics, this partnership presents a powerful
opportunity to improve lives by enhancing physical and mental
health through access to education that sparks learning along with
conversations about medical cannabis in the workplace."
Estimates suggest one in two Canadians have or will have a
mental illness by age 40.[1] Fifty-three percent of
Canadians consider anxiety and depression to be epidemic in the
country[2] and mental illness is a leading cause of
disability claims in the workplace in Canada.
Not Myself Today is an evidence-based initiative designed to
help employers and employees transform mental health at work. The
program is embraced by more than 500 organizations across
Canada and the U.S., reaching more
than 350,000 employees. By breaking down barriers and making the
topic of mental health engaging and accessible to all employees,
Not Myself Today improves mental health literacy, reduces stigma,
and shifts workplace culture to be more supportive of every
employee's mental health and well-being. For the past six years,
the initiative has evolved into a highly-regarded program and
counts many of Canada's largest
and most respected employers across corporate, government and
social sectors as its champions.
"The mental health-care system of the future is not just in
clinics or hospitals—it's in settings like the workplace, where we
can promote the skills, knowledge and practices that can improve
mental health for the broad population instead of limiting our
focus to individual patients," said Fardous
Hosseiny, interim National CEO, CMHA. "With the support of
partners like Spectrum Therapeutics, our Not Myself Today program
will educate, reduce stigma, and foster safe and supportive
cultures for the one in five Canadians who experience mental
illness in a given year—and for the five in five Canadians who have
mental health."
The research on cannabis use and mental illness is still in its
infancy and CMHA highlights that more studies are needed to
understand the relationship between mental health and cannabis use,
both in terms of possible benefits and risks. CMHA and Spectrum
Therapeutics strongly advise that individuals speak with a
health-care practitioner for advice on any mental health treatment
including medical cannabis.
Spectrum Therapeutics has identified mental health as an area
with high unmet medical needs and is currently engaged in clinical
research in partnership with leading academic institutions and
research centres to determine the role cannabis can play in
addressing mood and anxiety disorders. Today's announcement builds
on Spectrum Therapeutics and Canopy Growth's legacy of furthering
the public's understanding of cannabis which includes partnerships
with the likes of:
- Parent Action on Drugs and Canadian Students for
Sensible Drug Policy to educate parents, adult caregivers and
youth on how to make responsible decisions about cannabis.
- The Arthritis Society to create evidence-based resources
to help people with arthritis learn more about the potential of
medical cannabis as a treatment.
- The University of British
Columbia by way of a $2.5
million donation to conduct controlled trials examining the
potential utility of cannabis in addressing the opioid overdose
crisis and to establish the Canopy Growth Professorship of Cannabis
Science.
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Canadian Drug
Policy Coalition to conduct an extensive research review that
formed the basis for MADD Canada's recommendations on responsible
cannabis use and sober driving.
Through these partnerships and support for campaigns such as Not
Myself Today, Canopy Growth and its medical division, Spectrum
Therapeutics is proud to provide education for patients, their
families and healthcare providers on medical cannabis and its role
in mitigating some of our most common healthcare issues.
Here's to Future Growth (and promoting mental wellness).
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[1]
Smetanin et al. (2011). The life and
economic impact of major mental illnesses in Canada: 2011-2041.
Prepared for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Toronto:
RiskAnalytica.
|
[2]
Survey commissioned by CMHA and conducted
by Maru/Matchbox in Sept.
2018: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/over-half-of-canadians-consider-anxiety-and-depression-epidemic-1027539125.
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Not Myself Today® is
a registered trademark of the Canadian Mental Health
Association.
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About Canadian Mental Health Association
Founded in
1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most
established, most extensive community mental health organization in
Canada. Through a presence in more
than 330 communities across every province and one territory, CMHA
provides advocacy, programs and resources that help to prevent
mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and
resilience, and enable all Canadians to flourish and thrive. For
more information, visit cmha.ca.
About Canopy Growth Corporation
Canopy Growth
(TSX:WEED, NYSE:CGC) is a world-leading diversified cannabis, hemp
and cannabis device company, offering distinct brands and curated
cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms, as well
as medical devices through Canopy Growth's subsidiary, Storz &
Bickel GMbH & Co. KG. From product and process innovation to
market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for
leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis
company one product, site and country at a time. Canopy Growth has
operations in over a dozen countries across five continents.
Canopy Growth's medical division, Spectrum Therapeutics is
proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting
robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding
of cannabis, and has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting
edge, commercializable research and IP development. Spectrum
Therapeutics sells a range of full-spectrum products using its
colour-coded classification Spectrum system as well as single
cannabinoid Dronabinol under the brand Bionorica Ethics.
Canopy Growth operates retail stores across Canada under its award-winning Tweed and Tokyo
Smoke banners. Tweed is a globally recognized cannabis brand which
has built a large and loyal following by focusing on quality
products and meaningful customer relationships.
From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange
and New York Stock Exchange to our continued international
expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership
is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has
established partnerships with leading sector names including
cannabis icons Snoop Dogg and Seth
Rogen, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House Seeds,
and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a
few. Canopy Growth owns 12 licensed cannabis production sites with
millions of square feet of production capacity, including more than
one million square feet of GMP certified production space. For more
information visit www.canopygrowth.com
About Spectrum Therapeutics
Spectrum Therapeutics, the
medical division of Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED, NYSE:
CGC), is dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners,
furthering the public's understanding of medical cannabis and its
various applications, and cutting edge, commercializable research
and IP development. Founded in Canada, Spectrum Therapeutics operates in
Australia, South America, Africa and across Europe. Its products are available in a wide
range of potencies and formats designed to simplify the dialogue
around strength and dosage by applying a colour-coded spectrum to
categorize medical cannabis according to THC and CBD levels.
Spectrum Therapeutics' offerings include whole flower cannabis,
oils and new innovations such as Softgels in addition to single
cannabinoid medicine Dronabinol under the brand Bionorica Ethics.
Through product simplification, robust clinical research and
ongoing education of healthcare professionals, Spectrum
Therapeutics is committed to addressing the unmet medical needs of
patients around the globe.
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news
release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always,
forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the
use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is
expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not
anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases
or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could",
"would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of Canopy Growth or its
subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements or information contained in this news
release. Examples of such statements include "aimed to reduce
stigma in the workplace on the use of cannabis as a medicine", and
"content will also include video resources featuring medical
cannabis subject matter experts and fact sheets". Risks,
uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking
information could cause actual events, results, performance,
prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including
content development and such risks contained in the Company's
annual information form dated June 24,
2019 and filed with Canadian securities regulators available
on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although
the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in
preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking
statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance
should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be
given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or
at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking
statements included in this news release are made as of the date of
this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation
to publicly update such forward-looking information or
forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent
events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities
laws.
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SOURCE Spectrum Therapeutics