Introduction
Shark Tank India has been leading the way for many innovative start-ups in India. The show gives a chance to companies from various sectors like food and beverage (FNB), technology, and pharmaceutical sectors to showcase their product on a national and international level. Cannazo India is one such start-up that was featured on Shark Tank India Season 3.
Cannazo India is an Ayurvedic pharmaceutical company based in India that makes use of medicinal cannabis (MC) for the treatment of different conditions like asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and much more.
Their mission is to formulate a range of hemp-based products by integrating modern-day science with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda that can help in the holistic treatment of pain, neurological, and autoimmune disorders.
The Journey to Shark Tank India
Cannazo India was the first medical cannabis company to be featured on Shark Tank India. Shark Tank India provided Cannazo India with a national platform for the founders, Arzoo Puri, Sukkrit Goel, and Kartik Sharma, to raise awareness about the medical and nutritional benefits of medical cannabis along with the availability of hemp-based products in India.
Cannazo India also highlighted how medical cannabis may be used for the treatment of various conditions like arthritis and anxiety.
Medical Cannabis in Healthcare: A Revolutionary Approach
Medical cannabis consists of two compounds: cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD and THC interact with cannabinoid (CB) receptors, CB1 and CB2. These are part of the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) which plays a role in managing inflammation, pain, and stress.
The interaction of CBD with CB1 and CB2 may cause many benefits. It can decrease inflammation for example in bronchiole muscle in asthma patients. It can alleviate pain by decreasing inflammation which can improve the quality of life for arthritis patients.
Moreover, it has been found to reduce stress and anxiety by interacting with 5-HT1A receptors in the nerves. It may also improve sleep quality and duration in patients with insomnia.
Innovations and Unique Selling Propositions (USPs)
Cannazo India’s R&D team has innovated numerous kinds of products that are one-of-a-kind. They are the first Indian medical cannabis brand to offer CBD-based Intensive Repair Hair Oil.
Not only that, but they also offer products for many applications ranging from general well-being to pain management to anxiety management to skin and hair care. These products range from full-spectrum CBD oils to soft gel capsules.
General health and wellness products include Astaxanthin, Gut Health Tablets, and Hemp Hearts. They also offer Intensive Hair Repair Oil for improving blood circulation in the scalp. As for pain management, they offer products like Revive Roll-On or Spray, Vijaya Amrit, and Pain Aid External which may help in alleviating pain. Their Calm Drops may also be used for the management of anxiety.
Impact on the Healthcare Sector
Being one of the first medical cannabis companies to be featured on Shark Tank India, Cannazo India has had a great impact on the healthcare sector.
Cannazo India networks with clinicians and physiotherapists to raise awareness about medical cannabis, its efficacy and usage for health issues, and how it can be integrated with conventional medicine.
They have also collaborated with the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to navigate the pharmaceutical industry and help increase awareness about medical cannabis in India.
Regulatory and Legal Aspects
In India, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 banned the use of flowering tops of cannabis, however, AYUSH approved the use of its leaves and seeds for medicinal use. In 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approved the medical use of cannabis.
Cannazo India’s products are made from leaves that are approved by the government. Moreover, their products also pass through stringent third-party laboratory testing to approve their quality. This ensures that their products are of the highest quality and safe for consumption while delivering maximum efficacy.
Public Reception and Media Coverage
When thinking of medical cannabis, people usually assume that it is psychoactive, i.e., it will cause hallucinations. However, that is true for only certain parts of medical cannabis. Slowly and surely, people are understanding that and public acceptance has increased.
That can be seen in Cannazo India’s feature on various news platforms like:
- Times of India (TOI)
- Navbharat Times (NBT)
- Jagran
- Rashtriya Sahara
- MensXP
Cannazo India has also sponsored the Indian Hemp Expo 2023 where they exhibited their products along with other big names like Hemp Satva and Cannapure.
Impact and Success Stories
They have received many positive reviews for their products. Customers who used Vijaya Amrit “enjoy deep sleep,” “stay centered and focused,” or even “feel sharper in exams.” As for Vijaya Ambrosia, customers recommend it to anyone having pain. Aditya Singhania reviewed that it was his “solution for chronic pain.” Radhika Joshi called it a “painkiller with healing properties.”
Moreover, Cannazo India has also published numerous case reports testing the efficacy of their products for various conditions.
A 54-year-old woman with persistent lower back pain reported that her pain became more manageable while doing daily activities after two weeks of using Cannazo India’s Tincture Pain Aid. Moreover, a 42-year-old female patient undergoing chemotherapy reported less nausea and vomiting upon using Cannazo India’s Cannaronil as an adjunctive therapy.
Conclusion
Cannazo India is the first medical cannabis company to be featured on Shark Tank India. By doing so, it helped pave the way for medical cannabis by raising awareness about its use for treating conditions like chronic pain, arthritis, anxiety, etc.
References and Further Reading
- García-Gutiérrez, M. S., Navarrete, F., Gasparyan, A., Austrich-Olivares, A., Sala, F., & Manzanares, J. (2020). Cannabidiol: a potential new alternative for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders. Biomolecules, 10(11), 1575.
- Habib, G., Khazin, F., & Artul, S. (2021). The effect of medical cannabis on pain level and quality of sleep among rheumatology clinic outpatients. Pain Research and Management, 2021(1), 1756588.
- Safakish, R., Ko, G., Salimpour, V., Hendin, B., Sohanpal, I., Loheswaran, G., & Yoon, S. Y. R. (2020). Medical cannabis for the management of pain and quality of life in chronic pain patients: a prospective observational study. Pain Medicine, 21(11), 3073-3086.
Wade, D. T., Robson, P., House, H., Makela, P., & Aram, J. (2003). A preliminary controlled study to determine whether whole-plant cannabis extracts can improve intractable neurogenic symptoms. Clinical rehabilitation, 17(1), 21-29.