INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS National & International MAP LEGEND High level of medical development/implementation Medium level of medical development/implementation Low level of medical development/implementation Other-federally illegal but unique circumstances Recreational Countries included have passed legislation at the federal level and must fulfill at least one of the following criteria: * Cultivation, manufacture or sale of medical and/ or recreational cannabis allowed. * Doctors can prescribe medical cannabis. * Import and/or export of medical cannabis allowed. High: Countries at the forefront of the global industry. Frameworks are established, and adoption is well underway. Medium: Implementation has begun but is still limited or restricted; lots of room for the market to develop. Low: Legislation has been passed, but implementation is very limited or nonexistent. Decriminalization is not included. National & International News Hemp-based Compounds Might Prevent COVID-19 Two hemp compounds-CBDa and CBGa-show the ability to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human cells. Oregon State University researcher Richard van Breeman led a study to screen a range of botanicals used as dietary supplements for effectiveness against SARSCoV-2 infection. The university's research team found that cannabinoid acids CBDa and CBGa bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, 20 February 2022 | MJBizMagazine blocking a critical step in the virus' infection process. The spike protein is the same drug target used in COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapy. " Cell entry inhibitors, like the acids from hemp, could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and also to shorten infections by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells, " van Breeman said. " They bind to the spike proteins so those proteins can't bind to the ACE2 enzyme, which is abundant on ... cells in the lungs and other organs. " Marijuana M&A Poised for a Hot 2022 Marijuana merger and acquisition activity proceeded at a torrid pace in 2021-and could accelerate in 2022-thanks to lower interest costs and pressure on larger companies to expand their footprints and boost revenue. New York-based Viridian Capital Advisors counted 306 M&A transactions from Jan. 1 to Dec. 17 last year-more than three times the 86 recorded for the same period in 2020.