Abstract

The medical cannabis industry has witnessed remarkable growth and is considered pivotal in modern healthcare. However, the emergence of the "duds" disease, linked to the hop latent viroid (HLVd), threatens this growth, potentially affecting both the yield and the potency of cannabis strains. Viroids, specifically HLVd, pose a significant threat to the agricultural sector, especially in cannabis cultivation. Recent studies highlight a staggering potential contamination rate of up to 90% in certain cultivation sites, translating to potential annual losses of around $4 billion. Addressing HLVd's impact is imperative not just for economic reasons but also to ensure the quality and safety of cannabis products. This study harnesses sentiment analysis to discern public opinion on this issue, utilizing the Streamlit Python library to analyse tweets related to the Hop Latent Viroid and its impact on cannabis. Spanning April 2021 to September 2023, 347 tweets from 190 contributors were examined, revealing a near-equal distribution of positive, negative, and neutral sentiments. Interestingly, periodic surges in related Twitter activity were identified over the years studied. The significance of sentiment analysis is amplified when contextualized for the cannabis industry: it can offer insights into grower and consumer sentiments, product perception, competitive landscapes, and targeted demographic profiles. Furthermore, by staying attuned to such real-time sentiments, stakeholders can adapt dynamically, ensuring product quality and sustaining trust. Ultimately, this analysis underscores the potential of sentiment analytics in guiding the cannabis industry through challenges such as HLVd, emphasizing the need for businesses to remain proactive and responsive to evolving consumer needs and perceptions.

Keywords

medical cannabis, hop latent viroid (HLVd), sentiment analysis, twitter, product quality, public perception, industry challenges