Episodes
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In this in-depth interview, Dr. Rachna Patel discusses many aspects of using CBD oil including what it is, how it works, how to get it, who should use it and who shouldn’t use it.
No matter where you are in your medical cannabis education you will learn a lot from this podcast. I know that I did.
Many of you already know Dr. Patel as the medical marijuana expert from her YouTube channel where she has over 100 videos on medical cannabis, and you can now add CBD oil expert onto that moniker because she just published her new book titled, The CBD Oil Solution.
In this interview Dr. Patel answers the following questions: How did you become interested in medical cannabis? What is CBD is a why has it become so popular? What is the endocannabinoid system and how does CBD and THC affect it? What is the difference between hemp CBD oil AND cannabis derived CBD oil? Can you talk about the differences and benefits of isolates vs full-spectrum CBD oil? How does CBD interact with THC? Can you talk a bit about the efficacy of medical cannabis with treating pain? What do you recommend to your patients who don’t respond well when trying to treat pain with cannabis? What is the Patel Protocol? What should people know about the different dosing methods and CBD bio-availability? Do the inflammatory properties of sugar work against the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD? Are there any negative side effects with CBD? Is CBD oil safe for women who are pregnant or nursing? What are your experiences with using CBD as a treatment for your patients with sleep issues? What should people look for on test results for CBD products? Tell us about the CBD product that you offer through your website. Where is your medical practice located and how can people contact you if they are interested in your medical services? Where can people find your book, The CBD Oil Solution? Where can people find you on social media? -
In episode 50, I’m very honored to have Joe D. Goldstrich MD, FACC, as a repeat guest on the Medical Pot Guide.
Dr. Joe, as he likes to be called, is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and clinical lipidology, and Vice President for Scientific Affairs with Natural State Healthcare, an Arkansas corporation awaiting licensure. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians.
From 2012 to 2014 Dr. Joe personally worked with and learned from over 3500 California patients seeking medical cannabis recommendations for a wide variety of medical conditions.
In 2014, after seeing definitive scans demonstrating regression of tumors following treatment with cannabis, he has devoted himself to learning how to better accomplish these results. Applying evidence-based principles learned from a long career in traditional and integrative medicine, Dr. Joe has utilized pre-clinical research to create therapeutic state-of-the-art anti-neoplastic cannabis therapeutic protocols.
This is a very important and highly informative update to our first interview that we did a few years ago. In this interview, Dr. Joe brings us up to date on the latest research and protocols for treating cancer with medical cannabis.
This information was the subject of two high-profile presentations that Dr. Joe did this fall. One, at the CannMed conference in southern California, where he hosted a panel consisting of some of the world’s top medical cannabis researchers and doctors, and the other in Denver Colorado, where he presented his findings at the MJ for Medical professionals conference.
This is cutting edge information that you need to know if you’re treating cancer with cannabis.
Dr. Joe also has generously provided us with the detailed notes to his Denver presentation. This PDF provides detailed information on the latest in creating effective medicine as well as protocols on how best to utilize it.
CLICK HERE to access the PDF of Dr. Joe's power-point presentation from the MJ for Medical Professionals conference in Denver, Colorado. It contains detailed information on the topics discussed in this podcast. Don't miss it! In this interview, Dr. Joe discusses the following topics: Dr. Joe shares the big changes that have happened in his personal and professional life since our previous podcast 2 years ago. Dr. Joe talks about the panel discussion that he hosted at CannMed in Southern California Dr. Joe talks about 2 very important research articles that recently came out on treating cannabis with cancer. Dr. Joe talks about the basics of how cannabis affects cancer cells. Dr. Joe talks about the differences between a cultivar and a chemovar and how they are applied to treating cancer with cannabis. Dr. Joe talks about his plans to reformulate cannabis in Arkansas. Dr. Joe talks about how you use different formulations for treating different types of tumors. Dr. Joe talks about Dr. Bonnie Goldstein and the protocols she uses for her pediatric patients. Dr. Joe talks about a specific study using Satavex. Dr. Joe talks about how to determine the THC/CBD ratio for each tumor type. Dr. Joe talks about the acidic forms, (raw), of cannabis and why they should be used in the formulations for treating cancer. Dr. Joe talks about the specific protocol that he has been using to treat cancer. Dr. Joe talks about the enormous variability and complexity of creating formulations for treating cancer. Dr. Joe talks about hemp vs cannabis extracts. Dr. Joe talks about the use of cannabis suppositories as a treatment for cancer. Dr. Joe talks about the efficacy of combining chemotherapy AND cannabis for treating cancer. Dr. Joe talks about combing supplements, prolonged fasting and immuno-therapy with cannabis to treat cancer. Dr. Joe talks about how the medical community is coming on board with the use of medical cannabis to treat cancer. Dr. Joe provides his advice for newly diagnosed cancer patients who are interested in using medical cannabis. Dr. Joe talks about available online resources that he recommends for obtaining more information on treating cancer with cannabis. Dr. Joe summarizes his advice on dosing and cancer protocols for treating cancer. -
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Debbie & Cody
Today, I continue my series, the women of medical cannabis, with an intimate conversation with my very good friend Debbie Wilson PhD. Debbie has been on the forefront of women activism for decades.
I first saw Debbie speak at a United Patients Group Conference back in May of 2016, and I was captivated by her unbelievable story of triumph over severe physical and psychological traumas. Debbie is a 30-year survivor of several brain injuries, resulting in severely debilitating epilepsy and PTSD.
She has had 3 near-death experiences and broke her neck… twice!
Debbie has literally lost everything…her health, her organs and her memory, and if it wasn’t for her son, Cody, she would have been institutionalized.
But, instead of languishing in an institution, she inched her way back through a painfully slow, drug-addled, recovery to become a fierce activist for the rights of patients and people with disabilities. She fought and won a very high-profile court case, against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. And along with that she went out and got herself a PhD, after being told that she’ll never be able to read or write again.
Then she discovered cannabis.
Cannabis has played an enormous part in her recovery, and still does. She has been able to become completely pharmaceutical free, thanks to cannabis, in both raw and in traditional form.
Debbie is a survivor and is one of the most inspirational people that I know. That’s why she has been featured on 3 of the Medical Pot Guide podcasts:
09: How Cannabis Saved Debbie Wilson After 20 Years of Seizures – Part I 10: How Debbie Wilson Became a Fierce Advocate for Medical Cannabis – Part IIIn this very candid conversation, Debbie shares her memories and lessons learned on her path toward healing. Listen to this poignant conversation and I guarantee that you will understand why I love and admire this amazing woman so much. In my opinion, she is a national treasure and medical cannabis owes her an enormous nod for her ever going contributions.
In this interview, Debbie talks about:
How after 30 years, she is finally able to live on her own in a beautiful place in the country. A history of her injuries and recovery. how cannabis changed her life, including the protocols she's presently taking. Her 3 near-death experiences. Her views on the progress of cannabis legalization. How she went from 44 pills per day to pharmaceutical FREE. Debbie and her quest for higher education leading to her PhD. Debbie's ability to maintain a positive attitude despite unbelievable adversity. Her struggle to regain her ability to communicate. Why women have taken on such a strong role in the advancement and legalization of cannabis. Her battles with the government. How raw cannabis (THCa) has enabled her to be seizure-free for over 5 years. Social media. How her poetry has been instrumental in her recovery. THIS is what a seizure feels like. CLICK HERE to go to Debbie's website - Debbie's Place CLICK HERE to go to Debbie's Facebook Page - Brain Injury Awareness CLICK HERE to go to Debbie's Facebook Page - Debbie M Wilson -
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In episode 48, I kick off my Women of Medical Cannabis podcast series with a candid, one-on-one, conversation with one of my all-time favorite people, Miss Teddi Jo Kohr.
Miss Teddi, as she likes to be called is a very unique, special, and colorful person both inside and out! She is impossible not to love.
I first met Miss Teddi several years ago when I was looking for people to create videos for a project that I was working on. Miss Teddi is an expert on the use of raw cannabis and so she created some amazing videos.
It was during this time that Miss Teddi went through a metamorphosis from a shy, insecure woman, fighting the many demons that robbed her of confidence, into an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.
And it all seem to happen in the blink of an eye. Miss Teddi is on a mission to educate and to share her love with everybody.
She is a gift to us all. If you have seen any of her videos or have visited her Facebook page then you already know what I’m talking about.
In this interview Miss Teddi share her story of abuse, drug-addiction, stroke, cancer and near-death experiences. Miss Teddi is very candid and vulnerable. She is undeniably human and beyond that a true survivor. Fasten your seat belt.
In this conversation Miss Teddi Talks about: The medical cannabis climate in New Mexico Her future move to Los Vegas Her experience with creating videos Her childhood in Texas Her introduction to cannabis in rehab Being held hostage on a drug deal gone bad Recovering from a stroke Creating her own line of CBD products Her introduction into raw cannabis Juicing with cannabis Educating her doctors on the use of cannabis How she was able to eliminate 25 pharmaceuticals with cannabis What she is working on now What is happening with her book CLICK HERE to go to Miss Teddi's YouTube Channel CLICK HERE to go to Miss Teddi's Facebook Page CLICK HERE to contact Miss Teddi via Facebook Messenger -
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Do you, or somebody that you care about, have to deal with the daily struggle and fear associated with multiple sclerosis, (MS)?
If so, then you need to listen to this podcast.
In it, I have a very open, honest and informative conversation with Joel Greengrass, the CEO of Theramu, a CBD Company located in Bakersfield, California.
Joel has personally dealt with the ravages of MS for over a decade.
In our conversation, Joel shares the story of how turning to medical cannabis to treat his Multiple Sclerosis has changed his life and why he is now dedicated to helping as many people as he can with MS as well as many other chronic conditions.
Joel is a man on a mission that you should all know about.
In the interview Joel discusses: His personal story of how he went from being a fast-rising executive among America’s top 100 corporations to the CEO of Theramu, a California based CBD oil company. Joel talks about the basics of Multiple Sclerosis and it’s potential effects on the body and mind. Joel talks about how and why medical cannabis works so well for treating MS. Joel shares specifics on how he treats himself with medical cannabis. Joel discusses why emu oil is so effective as a carrier oil. Joel talks about how CBD works as a neuro-protectorant. Joel discusses how he was able to stop taking 7 pharmaceuticals because of medical cannabis. Joel talks about the importance of micro-dosing and why it is such a game-changer. Joel discusses the extraction process that he prefers to produce his cannabis oils. Joel does a deep-dive into emu oil and why it is superior to the others as a carrier oil. Joel shares the benefits of ingesting emu oil. Joel addresses the concern that some people have with using a product derived from an animal. Joel discusses some of the cosmetic benefits of emu oil. Joel discusses his company and how they have raised the bar so high on customer care. Joel discusses Theramu’s 100% money back guarantee. Joel talks about why Theramu may be more costly then some of its competitors. Joel discusses the legality of Theramu in all 50 states considering the DEAs antiquated stance that CBD is a schedule 1 substance. Joel talks about the future of Theramu and medical cannabis. Joel shares his recommendations for people with MS who are interested in looking at medical cannabis as a viable treatment option. CLICK HERE to email Joel Greengrass CLICK HERE to go to the Theramu web site. -
In episode 46, I am very honored to have as my guest, Dan Dechynne, an industry veteran who has been deep in the trenches of the cannabis industry for years.
He’s been closely involved with many aspects of this industry, from cultivation to making concentrates, and now to working with Goat labs as well as CBD broker, or as he likes to call it, a facilitator.
In this interview, Dan provides us with a stark look behind the curtain revealing the forces behind the legalization of cannabis and how it has had such an adverse impact on medical cannabis.
Dan knows this industry and doesn’t pull his punches when it comes to sharing the truth of what’s happening to it now, and where it’s going.
This is a very important interview for anybody who is interested in medical cannabis, as well as recreational.
In this interview Dan talks about: How he first became interested in cannabis leading to his present position with Goat Labs. Goat labs and why they are such a unique lab. Why testing is so important. How consumers can ensure that their medical and recreational cannabis is safe. The questions consumers should be asking their dispensaries before purchasing How recreational cannabis has hurt the medical cannabis industry and small growers. The biggest misconceptions that most people have about the hemp industry. Things that people should know when considering hemp CBD oil. The latest ruling from the DEA regarding CBD remaining as a schedule I substance and how it will affect the industry. How the trend toward legalization has affected the black market. The future of cannabis here in the world. Final advice for those who are new to medical cannabis. CLICK HERE to go to Goat Labs CLICK HERE to go to Dan DyChynne's Facebook PageI hope that my conversation with Dan has helped you to see the bigger picture of the price that many are paying to be a part of these historical times.
The genie is out of the bottle. The legality of medical cannabis and recreational cannabis is spreading throughout our country and our planet. It is a growing wave that will not be stopped.
Now the question is… what path will the industry follow and at what cost?
I believe that we all have a lot more influence on it’s direction than we know.
My sincere hope is that we will all put our differences aside and combine our voices together in the worthy pursuit of the open and easy access to cannabis for everybody. This really is a human right. It is our manifest destiny.
This is a cause that crosses all partisan lines. Knowledge is power and it is our duty to share this knowledge. We cannot let cannabis become the next corporate controlled commodity to be bound to the whims of big corporations, lobbyists, and money-hungry governments.
I also believe that if we can come together on this struggle, then we can use our momentum to stay together to take on the immense challenges that have split our country and our world. There is power in truth and we should all demand it. And there is power in our numbers that are growing every day. I truly believe in all of you.
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Are you a consumer of cannabis? If so, then the odds are that you’re a cannabis smoker.
According to a recent government survey, over 20 million Americans smoked cannabis in the last year alone. And over 14 million do so on a regular basis, despite living in an illegal or legal state. There’s a whole lot of smoking going on.
let’s first talk about some of the basic differences between smoking and vaping. For this we should first talk about the differences in temperature between the two.
As many of you know, the cannabinoids and terpenes are the components of cannabis that provide all of the wonderful benefits that we all know and love. Their boiling points are in the range of around 300 degrees to around 440 degrees Fahrenheit, or so.
This means that at when exposed to temperatures in this narrow range, the cannabinoids and terpenes, change from an oil to a gas. This is a good thing. This makes the medicinal components of the cannabis available to absorb quickly into your bloodstream via your lungs.
And most of the vapor is comprised of the cannabinoids and terpenes. It is estimated that up to 95% of the vapor is carcinogen free.
Compare that to the fact that up to 90% of the smoke resulting from combustion, or smoking, cannabis is non-cannabinoid material with a much higher concentration of carcinogens and other substances. Smoking cannabis exposes the cannabis to temperatures exceeding 1300 degrees which burns up a lot of the cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as adding a lot more chemicals to the smoke.
In fact, over 100 toxins are released when smoking cannabis.
Now before you go off on me about how cannabis has never been shown to cause lung cancer, which, by the way, is true, let me say that it can and does cause lung irritation and even lung damage, particularly in long-term and heavy users, though the damage does not seem to inhibit lung function itself.
In fact, surprisingly, smoking cannabis actually has been shown to provide positive benefits to the lungs.
Suffice it to say that vaping cannabis is easier on your lungs, and less likely to cause actual damage, compared to smoking. Though you can still irritate your lungs and throat from vaping.
I always recommend that people take a small puff, hold it in your mouth for a second to cool the vapor, and then inhale and hold it for only about 2 seconds. That’s all you need to saturate your lungs with the cannabinoid full vapor.
It’s actually a myth that you should hold the smoke OR vapor as long as possible to get all the cannabinoids into your system. After about 2 – 3 seconds, you will receive no more benefit from it.
But, comparing just the particulate matter AND the percentage of cannabinoids and terpenes in the vapor vs smoke, it is fairly clear, pun intended, that vaping definitely has it over smoking for delivering cleaner and medically superior vapor to your lungs.
You can mitigate a significant portion of the potential damage AND inhalation of non-cannabis substances in the smoke by using a water-pipe or water-filled bong. This works as both a filter and a coolant for the smoke thus removing a lot of the garbage in the smoke as well as lowering the temperature to more comfortable smoking levels.
This can make smoking it much more enjoyable, but it still has its potential problems. The first being that due to the higher comfort level, the likelihood of taking in too much and thus getting too high, may be a problem for some. Especially those imbibing for medicinal purposes.
And secondly, you still burn up and lose a lot of the cannabinoids and terpenes due to the high smoking temps that still exist with the burning cannabis.
And that is a very important point for us medical cannabis users. While smoking cannabis is very effective at getting us high, you do sacrifice a lot of the medicinal benefits due to burning them up at the higher smoking temps.
Many people also feel that the high received from smoking it is superior to vaping. While this may seem to be true on the surface, I believe that this is more a factor of how much more THC you typically ingest when smoking compared to vaping.
If your end-game is to get high then you can smoke waxes and concentrates in vapes that will take to you new heights. And even with the CO2 vape pens, you can get strains that are very potent. You may need to take more then one puff, but trust me, You can still talk to God.
For many people, including me, the high that you obtain from vaping is much more clear-headed. I am one of those people who gets very socially awkward and paranoid when smoking it but I notice when vaping, I am quite comfortable in a social environment.
Vaping lends itself to taking much smaller doses of the cannabinoids and terpenes in each and every dose and therefore makes it less likely to get a large dose at first puff. Taking a long drag on a waterpipe typically delivers way more THC into the lungs then a single puff of a vape.
This is why the vapes lend themselves so much more to micro-dosing. Micro-dosing is the ability to take very small, measured amounts, of cannabis thus enabling the user to dial in the optimal amount for treating their conditions. It’s much harder to do this when you smoke it.
Here is a good place to point out that many people, either consciously, or sub-consciously, associate the level of medicinal benefits that they are receiving from the cannabis with the level of psycho-activity that it produces. It’s because of this that many people feel that they are not getting the benefits of the cannabis from the vape, beca use they do not feel as high as when they smoke it.
Some people also feel that they are not receiving a good dose from a vape because there is much less perceptible smoke compared to smoking it. Some people make the mistake of turning the temperature of their vapes up to their highest levels in order to invoke more smoke and what they perceive as more medicine.
Unfortunately, this only results in burning up more cannabis and thus destroying some of the cannabinoids that can’t take the higher temperatures. In reality the actual vapor is very faint and transparent.
These are both the wrong way to determine the best dose for what ails you.
The most accurate way to measure the medical benefits of the cannabis, is to take a small dose. Wait about 20 minutes and then check in with yourself to see if your pain or whatever you’re treating, has improved. If it has then you know that it’s working, if not, then take another dose and check in with yourself again 20 minutes later. If it still isn’t working, try it again. If after 3 tries, you’re not deriving benefit, then you should try another form or strain of cannabis.
That’s the basics of micro dosing. For more information on that listen to my last podcast, number 44. Medical Cannabis 101.
And as an aside, using a vape effectively means that your cannabis will go a lot further. You won’t be burning it all up in smoke. And, if you really do follow the microdosing protocol, you will more then likely avoid the problem of building up a tolerance to cannabis.
Many people smoke it get so much that they develop a tolerance and thus need to smoke larger amounts for the same benefit. This means that eventually they will need to lay off of cannabis for a few days to a week or so to reset their tolerance levels.
This is typically not an issue if you keep to the lower dosing levels with the vapes. This can make your cannabis go further and save you a lot of money in the long run. Cool huh?
Okay, let’s go to another obvious comparison between smoking and vaping cannabis; The flavor of the cannabis.
Here is where smoking cannabis, for some, is more enjoyable then vaping. With smoking cannabis, you usually get the full-flavor of the cannabis, terpenes and all.
Plus, there is nothing more satisfying to creating your own impromptu cannabis pipe from carving out an apple or soda can.
While vaping the flower can still provide a more nuanced, yet still very aromatic experience, typically with a more pronounced terpene bouquet, so to speak. Vaping CO2 cartridges really lose much of that due to fact that the process of distilling cannabis with CO2 removes a lot of the terpenes, thus leaving a subtler, more tea-like aroma and taste.
While some traditional smokers may poo-poo this lesser odoriferous experience, many who partake in the CO2 vapes point out that this is one of the true benefits of vaping it due to the ability to vape anywhere without the tell-tale skinniness of cannabis. The stealth factor is very high, especially when combined with the very portable benefits of the vape pens themselves. They easily slip into your pocket and you can whip those bad-boys out, take a puff, and return it to your pocket almost anywhere without detection.
Smoking cannabis causes that tell-tale skunky smell to attach itself to anything that the actual smoke comes in contact with. There is really no way to avoid it. This could be a real problem if you are going to be attending a social event where you don’t want to stand out like you’re radioactive OR even worse, if you’re pulled over by a constable of the law.
So how about the cost of vaping versus smoking.
Let’s look at smoking it first. Technically, other then obtaining the cannabis, you can smoke cannabis for little or nothing. A pack of zig-zag cigarette papers can be obtained for less then a buck. Plus, there is nothing more satisfying to creating your own impromptu cannabis pipe from carving out an apple or soda can.
Yes, you can also spend some bucks pipes, water-pipes and the trusty bongs. For a bit of exotic flair you can even get yourself a hookah. Some of my most interesting experiences have involved a hookah. If you’re interested, just ask me about my experience of going down the tube. It never gets old.
Now with vapes, you really do need some form of device to vaporize your cannabis. If you don’t want to stray too far from your purist smoking experiences, then I’d recommend that you obtain a vape that will vape flower or cannabis buds. This way you’ll still maintain the ceremony AND terpene aromas which are akin to smoking cannabis.
If getting a vape for flower, then you should get a vape that heats with convection, as opposed to conduction. Convection uses indirect heat, which is basically evenly heated air that passes through the dried flower to produce the vapor while conduction uses direct heat from the heating element to create the vapor. This actually increases your risk of actually burning your precious flower. So I recommend springing for a convection vaporizer if your vaping flower.
You can spend big bucks and get yourself a volcano, which is fairly large, thus making it less than desirable for going secretly off into the world. There are some very cool portable ones that you can pick up for around $100 - $200 bucks. I highly recommend that you pick up one with an good thermometer, so you can accurately dial in the temperature desired to obtain the cannabinoids that you know and love.
I love the CO2 cartridge vape pens. They cost around $15. The CO2 oil is reasonable in legal states. $30 or so for ½ gram which equals around 100+ puffs and they are so easy and handy to use. Honestly, I haven’t smoked cannabis since a bud of mine gave me one about 2 years ago. They are that good.
Already then. That’s the poop on vaping vs smoking. To me, the bottom line is that for medicinal purposes, using a vape is far superior then smoking. But I know that for many of you purists, smoking is the only real way to partake of the herb superb.
Please contact me a [email protected] if you have any questions, comments or suggestions regarding this podcast or my mission of spreading the truth about medical cannabis.
High Quality CBD oil companies that exhibit outstanding social responsibility CLICK HERE to go to KUSA CLICK HERE to go to Theramu CLICK HERE to view our affiliate information.This podcast is supported by listeners like you through the purchase of my very cool tshirts and apparel at emeraldweave.store. Use the coupon code NEWBUYER20 for a full 20% discount off of any purchase.
CLICK HERE to go to Emerald Wave, the official apparel store of the Medical Pot Guide -
Are you new to medical cannabis? Have you tried medical cannabis with less than stellar results? Are you overwhelmed by the avalanche of conflicting information that you must wade through to try to find answers? If so, then this podcast is for you!
Today I’m going to be talking about what you can do to significantly increase your chances of finding success with medical cannabis.
Within my Medical Pot Guide Facebook Group, I have heard from many new users of medical cannabis who shared their stories of frustration and confusion.
All-too-often I hear from people who are frustrated with their first experience due to zero perceivable effects and no relief for their conditions while others experienced overwhelming intoxication for hours with no perceivable benefits for the conditions that they were using it for.
Others get frozen like a deer in the headlights trying to figure out what is true within the mass of conflicting information available on the internet.
One of the biggest problems is that there is a plethora of information and an army of very well-meaning, self-described, medical cannabis experts in social media, who freely provide contradictory and very questionable advice for anyone who will listen.
For somebody who is turning to cannabis for the first time, it can be very overwhelming and frustrating. Many end up quitting after their first initial attempts.
The sad part is that many of these people would have had a very good chance of finding success with medical cannabis if they had been able to get the right advice early on.
So, if you are new to medical cannabis or know somebody who is considering medical cannabis to treat their conditions then this podcast may be just what you need to get you on the right track.
To make this whole process easier I recommend that you first get yourself a copy of my FREE pdf called The New Cannabis Patient’s Roadmap. It will make the whole initial process a whole lot easier.
In it, I take you by the hand and step-by-step, walk you through the entire process from determining if cannabis will be able to treat what ails you to if AND where you will be obtain it. You’ll want to open the pdf online to take advantage of the many links to resources that will help you in this whole process.
CLICK HERE to get your free PDF - The New Cannabis Patients Roadmap Can medical cannabis treat your conditions?If you’re thinking about trying medical cannabis, one of the very first things that you should determine is if cannabis may be able to treat your physical or psychological issues. Believe me, if you go into any of the Facebook groups on medical cannabis you will be told that cannabis will be able to treat or CURE whatever it is that you’re dealing with.
While, due to the nature of how cannabis is able to effectively treat many conditions, a lot of this information may be somewhat accurate, but the degree of success or the means to success may be clear as mud after your initial experience.
So, what I’d recommend that you do is take a scientific approach and do some of your own research on the internet. One of the very best sites for getting accurate information on whether cannabis can treat your conditions is to go to the united patients group website. This is a fantastic resource that you should all know about.
zThe United Patients Group was founded by John and Corinne Malanca and it has become a powerful reference tool for how to treat many conditions with cannabis. Sadly, Corinne Malanca passed away last year from cancer. They were one of the early interviews that I did with the medical pot guide. They have been a great resource and source of support for me since then.
I usually go to their site and just enter the condition that I’m looking for within the search bar and then read up on the many results that it returns. You can also go to the conditions page where they list many conditions and then provide links to all of the articles for each one.
You should be able to determine here if cannabis may be of benefit to you.
Another good source is medicaljane.com. They have a plethora of information for treating many conditions with medical cannabis.
I would be careful with going to some of the more mainstream medical sites, such as webMD. You’ll find a lot of information regarding medical cannabis, but I have found that it isn’t always that accurate and often reflects the anti-cannabis bias or ignorance that can be pervasive in the mainstream medical community.
What kinds of cannabis do you have access to?Okay, so after your initial research, you’ve determined that cannabis may be able to help with what ails you, so now the next step would be to determine if, and how, you will obtain your medicine.
If you live in a legal state, then you theoretically should at least have access to some form of medical cannabis that may be able to help you. Some legal states are very tight and have very narrow access to a very limited type of cannabis. Some states only allow CBD oil with less than 3% THC.Other legal states provide access to just about anything you could possibly want and some of those even allow you to grow your own. So, you need to determine what the story is with your state’s medical cannabis laws. You can do this easily by doing an online google search.
One good resource for this is the NORML where you can find details on the present status of your state.
If you unfortunately live in an illegal state then you have some very basic, but important decisions to make. It really comes down to 2 choices. Are you willing to move to a legal state to obtain your medicine OR are you willing to break the law and risk criminal prosecution? This could mean losing the custody of your children and even going to jail.
If you have cancer, this can be a very serious and painful dilemma. If those two are not doable options for you then cannabis is not for you.
Most states either allow or are fairly laxed with hemp CBD oil which is below 3% THC and is readily available online. But beware. In some states you can still end up in jail if they catch you with it.
There are also a lot of bad players who sell CBD oil online. Despite their glowing claims, you often-times do not know what it is that you’re ordering. You could end up with a worthless vial of oil with little or no CBD in it all or even worse, it could be laced with pollutants and pesticides. And sometimes, you end up with nothing because they just rip you off and then disappear.
With that said, there are some excellent companies out there that sell hemp CBD oil online. These companies can be trusted and provide valid test results for their products.
The two that I wholeheartedly recommend are KUSA, out of Eugene, Oregon and Theramu out of Bakersfield right here in California.They both provide top quality products and are socially responsible.
Okay, so after going through those steps you should now know if cannabis can help you and that you, at least theoretically will have access to some form of it.
Deep dive into what kinds of medical cannabis will benefit you
Determining what forms of cannabis may treat your conditions.So now you need to dive down a bit deeper to determine what kind of cannabis would best treat your conditions and then where you will get it from.
Consultations from a Medical Professional with expertise with cannabis.I highly recommend that you obtain a consultation from a medical professional who is very experienced with treating your conditions with cannabis. This may involve some upfront expense, but it may actually save you a lot of time, money and headaches with going through all the experimentation and guesswork that you may face trying to find the right approach to treating your conditions.
This is especially important if you are trying to treat any serious condition such as cancer, seizure disorders and neurological issues such as Parkinson’s or MS.
CLICK HERE for my recommendation for medical professionals who specialize in treating their patients with medical cannabis.
A medical professional with expertise in treating your condition with cannabis will substantially increase your chances of success.
Doing your own researchSo, either you obtain some guidance from a medical professional or you can go it alone, with the help of friends, family, and your support on social media. Just remember what I said earlier that there will be a lot of contradictory information and recommendations for treatment on the internet. So, you really need to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
If you are treating pain, inflammation, or some somewhat less serious condition then you can get some good information on the best modes of treatment and best strains to use from websites such as The United Patients Group and Medicaljane.com.
You can also check out Leafly.com to try to determine the strains that would work best for you. Their strain database is truly amazing and the information that you can get there can be very helpful.
Determine the forms and strains of medical cannabis that you have access to.Before you get too carried away on strains just yet it would be a very good idea to see what types of medical cannabis and strains that you’ll actually have access to.
If your state allows for flower, oils and other products that contain THC, then you need to determine what your options are. This may mean a trip to your nearby dispensaries or possibly a trip to their website to see what’s on their menus.
In the county that I live in California, they do not allow open dispensaries, but you can order online and have it delivered, which is friggin fantastic. So once you know the types of products that you have access to then you can do your research on strains, or talk with your medical professional, if you are lucky enough to have access to one.
Let me give you a quick word of caution here. Bud-tenders in dispensaries are very rarely actual medical professionals so relying on them for treatment or medical advice can be a bit foolhardy.
Many of them do know a lot about cannabis and the effects of strains so I would ask away but don’t take what they say as gospel.
Strain BasicsSpeaking of strains, let me talk first a bit about the basics of choosing a strain that will benefit you and not send you into the stratosphere. This will go a long way to making your first experience a good one.
Let’s first look at the basics. Though there is some dispute as to the accuracy and real distinction between them, strains today are considered sativas, indicas or hybrids. Most, if not all, strains out there are really a combination, or hybrid of both. It is much easier to consider strains as either sativa dominant or indica dominant.
It’s important to understand that hybrid strains combine the different characteristics of both sativas and indicas resulting in a strain that is ether sativa dominant or indica dominant. They can be very beneficial for dialing in specific medicinal traits for treating physical or psychological conditions.
Sativa dominant strainsSativas are a very energetic strain. They stimulate the neurotransmitter serotonin, which affects appetite, mood and sexual function. Okay, so far, so good.
Because it can be very stimulating and energetic, you wouldn’t want to be using it for sleep.I personally like sativas for their effects on creativity. It can enable you to look at the world from a very interesting and unique vantage point.
Sativa strains can be very effective for treating chronic pain, ADD, fatigue and depression.
Indica dominant strainsIndica dominant strains are the yang to sativa’s yin. Indica tends to be more relaxing with a more full-body effect. Indica strains are often used for sleep disorders and pain relief.
Many people who use medical cannabis prefer to use sativa strains during the day and indica strains at night.
Know Your CannabinoidsFirst, start off with strains that are low in THC and high in CBDs. THC is the molecule, or better known as the cannabinoid, that is responsible for the psychological high, and at the higher percentage levels of THC, it can cause you to feel paranoid and increase your anxiety level significantly.
Cannabidiols, or better known as CBDs, are the cannabinoids in cannabis that provide a lot of the medicinal qualities without getting you high. CBDs are also a moderating factor for THC and so choosing strains with high CBDs and THC will result in less of a psychological high, than those with the same THC but lower CBDs.
CBDs are really amazing. CBDs are shown to have anti-psychotic effects and have been effective in the treatment of mental illness such as schizophrenia. CBDs also contain very powerful anti-inflammation properties making it effective for treating many auto-immune diseases such as arthritis, lupus, vitiligo, inflammatory bowel disease, pernicious anemia, and many more.
CBDs also contain antioxidants that help to lower your risk of cancer, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s. It is known to be very effective as an anti-tumor medication. Not bad for a plant that you can grow in your closet.
And for you that don’t want to get high at all, the good news is that there are a lot of strains that are very effective medically, with very little THC, and therefore have little to no psychoactive effects. Look at strains like AC/DC, Charlottes Web, or one of my faves, Blue Jay Way. They all have very low amounts of THC, but have enough to provide excellent pain relief.
On the other hand, some of the higher THC strains can be very effective for pain relief and for relief of stress and anxiety, so they can be very beneficial. The highs that are produced by many of the mid to high THC strains can help with focus, energy, mood and can be quite uplifting. Don’t be afraid to experiment a bit. Many of the high THC strains, such as Jack Herer, are very effective for treating anxiety and PTSD, but only in lower doses, taking too much will cause just the opposite effects, sending you into the darkness with paranoia and anxiety.
This is the perfect segue for talking about one of my favorite topics. I want to introduce a term and concept that will be instrumental for enabling you to get the most bang for the buck from your medical cannabis. This term is microdosing.
MicrodosingIn the last several years micro-dosing has become the industry buzz-word for the effective method of determining the optimal dosing and administration of medical cannabis. Micro-dosing is exactly what it sounds like. It is a technique to determine the smallest dose required for an individual to effectively treat their condition with medical cannabis.
Like many medications, medical cannabis exhibits something called a biphasic effect. In laymen terms, this means that the effects of medical cannabis changes as the quantity of the dose changes.
This can sometimes mean that the effectiveness of the medication falls off after reaching a certain dose level. With cannabis, it can also mean that the effects at low doses can be completely opposite to the effects at higher doses. For example. Very low doses of cannabis may produce a feeling of euphoria and relaxation, but if you increase the dose level you may reach a point where you experience high anxiety and paranoia, quite the opposite.
The biphasic effect with cannabis can also be extended to tri-phasic or even multi-phasic where there are several bell curves in people’s responses to different dosing levels thus creating a scenario where the benefits of the cannabis can increase and decrease several times, depending on the dosing level. You can imagine how complicated dosing can quickly become with that kind of variation.
It is well-known that people who consume cannabis for a long time and/or in large doses develop a tolerance for cannabis thus requiring them to increase their dosage to obtain the same results.
Micro-dosing with cannabis has the benefit of enabling many people to avoid building a tolerance by keeping the dosing level below the level where this occurs. This enables people to effectively treat their conditions with significantly less medical cannabis. As a result, their medical cannabis become more effective at lower doses over time.Dr. Dustin Sulak, the renowned Medical Director of cannabis clinics in New England and creator of The Healer website, states that, “…Eventually I discovered that most people have a certain threshold dosage of cannabis, below which they’ll actually experience a gradual increase in health benefits over time, and above which they’ll start building tolerance, experiencing diminishing benefits, and more side effects.”
The basic technique that can be used if your inhaling it is to take one small puff and then wait 20 minutes and check-in with yourself to determine if you are experiencing the level of relief that you would like. If not, then try another puff and then wait 20 more minutes.
If after 20 minutes you still are not receiving the relief necessary, then resume the micro-dosing test the next day starting off with 2 puffs.
Of course, you can still take more puffs to help you with treating your condition but after doing 2 trials over 40 minutes your accuracy for combining doses is diminished by the effects of the first dose subsiding.I’ll talk more about microdosing when I talk about the specific delivery methods coming up.
TestingOkay, so let’s talk a bit about testing. You want to make absolute sure that your medical cannabis is safe to take and that it has in it what the label or bud-tenders claim that it has in it. So, you will need to first know exactly what is in it.
It is very important to know what other chemicals may exist in your medical cannabis, such as molds, mildews, fungi and pesticides. The existence of any of these can be very dangerous and even fatal. It is also very important to know of any residual solvents that may be present from the extraction process.
If you are fortunate enough to live in a state where it is legal to obtain medical cannabis then you usually can obtain all this information from your dispensary. If they don’t have it then you should be very wary of obtaining your medical cannabis from that source.
In some legal states, such as California, you can have a sample of your own cannabis tested for its cannabinoid profile. and for toxins and pollutants. This is a very good idea if you obtain your cannabis from a questionable source or if you grow your own. It can be very difficult to determine if you have any mold, mildew or fungus on your plants.
You should also know that many of the lab-tested samples of Hemp CBD oil that is available from overseas and the US did not match their claims and labels so buyer beware if you are considering using Hemp CBD Oil. Again, I recommend that you use hemp CBD oil from a highly trusted source such as KUSA or Theramu. Any company of value will have independent and up-to-date testing data for all of their products.
No matter what your source of cannabis is I highly recommend that you test your products. Buying cannabis off the street or from an illegal source increases your chances of having cannabis tainted with pesticides and other pollutants.
A whole lot of home grown cannabis has mold or fungus and often it is very hard to detect after it has been cured and dried. Smoking tainted cannabis can be very dangerous to your health.
Smoking Cannabis
In many of the legal states you can send in a sample of your cannabis to independent labs where they can be tested to determine exactly what is in it. It’s a very good idea.Many people, including me, were initially introduced to cannabis as a means to get high, and the method of choice and convenience was smoking it.
Even now the number one method of consumption is still smoking it. In fact, I did a poll in my medical pot guide Facebook group and by a margin way beyond of 2 to 1, the members chose smoking over any other mode.
While smoking is a very effective way to get high, it is not the method of choice for actually treating many conditions. In fact, smoking it can often have just the opposite effects then what you’re looking for.
Smoking cannabis exposes it to temperatures of around 1200 degrees F. While THC can take the heat, so to speak, the other cannabinoids and terpenes throw up the white flags at temps above 450, so you are literally burning up a lot of the medicinal qualities of the cannabis.
On the other hand, using a vaporizer at 400 or below, will keep those good guy cannabinoids and terpenes in fine health and therefore share their goodness with you and your endocannabinoid system.
Many people judge the effectiveness of their cannabis by how high they get but it’s really apple and oranges. Setting your vape on the lower temps may not get you as high, but it will still provide all the goodness of the plant. It also is way easier to microdose using a vape or vape pen.
It is very difficult to microdose when smoking it. The reason so many people get paranoid and suffer from a lot of negative effects of THC is that they get way too much, thus causing them to get just the opposite effect from what they are looking for. It’s from the bi-phasic effect that I talked about earlier.
Smoking is hard for a lot of people who don’t like to inhale smoke. It can be very harsh and it is also very easy to get too much THC.
Smoking concentrates, such as wax and shatter, are not for the faint of heart and definitely not what I’d recommend for somebody who’s just starting out.
Concentrates such as this were created pretty much for the very high concentrations of THC that you can get. With these concentrates a little dab will do you. Pun intended. I’m pretty much a lightweight anyway, but I once took a single puff of a joint that had some wax in it and I literally passed out within 1 minute. I’m talking loss of consciousness and not dozing off to dreamland. I woke up in my hallway. So I would give them a wide birth if you’re new to medical cannabis.
Vaping CannabisSo let’s talk about vaping. This is my delivery method of choice. It has so many benefits. It’s very clean and easy. It doesn’t produce that tell-tale skunky smell and it’s very portable and discreet. it’s also very easy to microdose with a vape. To be honest, I haven’t smoked since a friend of mine gave me a co2 vape pen to try. It’s that good.
Vapes come in all forms from big desktop models called volcanos to small vape pens that fit easily into your pocket. I LOVE the CO2 Cartridge vape pens. You can pick them up for less then $20.
There are vapes that you can use with flower and there are vapes that you can use with oils, and some even do both.
Vapes have a lot of benefits. First of all, they are very easy on your throat and lungs when done correctly. You are inhaling vapor as opposed to smoke from burning cannabis. The vapor is created by heating the cannabis to lower temps, thus avoiding the burning altogether.
The trick is to take small puffs and hold it in your mouth for a second to cool, before inhaling. And like smoking, you only need to hold it for about 2 seconds. After that, there is no further absorption in the lungs. So, there’s no need to hold it until you turn purple from the lack of oxygen.
Vaping is a good way to ensure maximum bio-availability of the cannabinoids and terpenes because it goes straight to your bloodstream, via the lungs.
Vaping also tastes better then smoking. To me it tastes like tea. It’s also a lot more discreet. If you smoke a joint, everybody within 100 yards of you will know that you’re smoking marijuana… or think that there’s a skunk nearby. Also, the odor that smoking leaves on your clothes will turn you into a human skunk. Have you ever been in a room when somebody, who just recently smoked some cannabis, walks in? Voila…a human skunk.
It is also much easier to control the high with a vape. I have also found that the high with vapes are much better and less crushing, making it less likely for you to experience the negative psychological effects of being too high. This means no more paranoia and social awkwardness. Maybe that’s just me though.
Many of the vape pens have temperature controls. The rule of thumb is that the higher the temperature, the more THC you will get, and thus you will experience more psychoactive effects.
You can get a whole lot of the medicinal value of the cannabis at the lower temps and avoid getting the high. And don’t be fooled into thinking that you aren’t getting any benefits because you don’t see a huge cloud of smoke when you vape. The vapor itself is very clear. The higher the temperature, the more cloud or smoke that you will see. So you need to determine the effectiveness of the cannabis by how effectively it treats your condition, not how much smoke or how high you get.
That why microdosing with a vape is so much easier too. Just take one small puff and wait 20 minutes, as I said earlier. Then checkin with yourself to determine if it is providing the relief that you’re looking for.
So now let’s talk a bit about consuming ediblesEating cannabis can be an excellent way to consume cannabis, and is the method of choice for many. It seems like you either like it or you don’t…there’s not much in-between. Maybe it depends on whether you have had a good or bad experience in the past. Me personally, I’m not a big fan because I don’t like to be high for that long. It can be for hours and it seems like you can be groggy the next day if you eat some the previous night. I never have that effect with a vape pen.
it’s one of the best options if you don’t want to inhale cannabis, but there is a big word of caution with using edibles. The effects of eating cannabis can be delayed by hours and then once felt, can last a lot longer than if you inhale it.So be very careful with dosing. And the big mistake many newcomers make with eating is to eat too much, too soon.
It is very important to remember that consuming edibles may cause the THC to produce stronger psychoactive effects…for hours!
If you do get too high, do not panic. It will not cause any damage other than being uncomfortably high for what may seem like an eternity.
If you do get too high then you can chew on 2-3 raw peppercorns and that will help to ease you down. Hey, Neil Young swears by it and who am I to question Neil?
So be very careful and start off with tiny doses and be patient! Be sure to wait at least 2 hours before eating more. You’ll thank me!
It is much easier now to do micro-dosing with edibles due to the smaller dose packaging available at dispensaries where you can find individual packages of edibles starting often at 1 or 2 milligrams.
Annie Nelson, wife of Country Singer Willie nelson, and creator of Annie’s edibles has a very popular protocol that she freely shares. Annie says to, wait 48 hours to reset your tolerance threshold, then take a 1 milligram dose in an edible and wait 90 minutes AND set the alarm so you don’t forget. Then when the alarm goes off check in with yourself honestly to determine how well that dose provided relief for what you’re treating. If not enough, then wait a day, and then increase your potency to 2.5 milligrams. Keep doing until you find the dose that provides relief for you.
Remember too, that all strains will affect you differently, so try to obtain an edible with a strain that has the cannabinoid and terpene profile that will best address your issues.
You can make your own edibles for dosing but keep in mind that it’s very important have a very good idea how much THC is in the amount that you’re adding to your edible batch so you can accurately determine the THC content of your individual doses.
It can also be a good idea to infuse oil with cannabis and then have it tested so you know exactly how much THC is in the oil. That way you will be able to evenly distribute the cannabis in the preparation of the edible and then know exactly how much THC and other cannabinoids are in in the individual portions of your edible.
Consuming Raw CannabisAnother delivery method that I believe will be the health food of the future is eating raw cannabis. You do this by blending the whole plant, leaves and all, into a smoothie drink.
A very attractive reason to do this is that you consume THCa, which may contain many of the medicinal benefits of the cannabinoid THC, yet it has NO PSYCHOACTIVE affects. Yep, you don’t get high at all, which is the top complaint of people new to medical cannabis. There still needs to be a lot more research with it but raw cannabis may be very beneficial on many levels.
This can be a very effective way to ingest cannabis, but… it can also be very expensive. This is because it requires a lot more cannabis per dose, than the other methods. It also requires that the plant be fresh, as in, not dried at all…I mean fresh right off the bush! This means that you need to have access to fresh cannabis year around, which means that you either must grow your own, or you’ll need to have access to fresh, whole cannabis from other sources, which can be prohibitively expensive, especially from a dispensary.
I think the best way to determine the dosing of raw cannabis would be to approach it as you would a food supplement in that you’re consuming the raw cannabis as a supplement to maintain the health of your endocannabinoid system as opposed to treating any condition.
Medical Cannabis TopicalsTopicals can be very soothing for localized pain and symptoms, such as for arthritis, neuropathy or for conditions like chronic regional pain syndrome. But don’t discount it as mildly effective treatment, topicals can deliver some very powerful medicine and get very impressive results.
It turns out that our skin is very efficient at absorbing oil-based topicals and most of them won’t get you high at all. In fact I’ve never heard of anybody getting high from topicals. It can be very effective for people with MS and other similar neurological conditions.
Topicals can be an effective way to deliver cannabinoids into your tissues. I know that Theramu uses emu oil as a carrier. Emu oil has shown to absorb very deeply into your tissues… even beyond the skin layers to the connective tissue and ligaments. It is also an anti-inflammatory on it’s own so it makes an excellent carrier oil.
Most people love topicals. They are definitely worth investigating.
Micro-dosing with topicals is typically not that much of a concern because you don’t get high so if you don’t feel any benefits for the first ½ hour then try some more.
I have learned that some of the benefits take a few days to over month to get the maximum effects so it’s a good idea to consume the entire jar or bottle before judging it’s benefit for what you are trying to treat.
Trans-dermal PatchesTrans-dermal patches are now becoming popular. While relatively new on the market, trans-dermal patches hold a lot of promise for treating many conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and nerve pain.
They typically come in 10mg and 20 mg doses and some may be cut inhalf for smaller doses.
There are some quality patches available in many dispensaries and online that deliver some longer-lasting relief. You do want to be careful of your source and be sure to see the test results of the products. Mary’s Medicinals makes an excellent patch that you can purchase online.
I think that you will be seeing a lot more patches available in the next few years. They are an excellent way to dose your cannabis over several hours. Think of them as anti-inflammatory patches.
The benefits of patches are many. They are easy to apply, usually non-psychoactive, may provide relief for up to 12 hours, and are very discrete.
Transdermal patches typically take 20 – 30 minutes to take effect. They really don’t lend themselves to micro-dosing so my advice is try a 10-mg patch and if you don’t receive benefit then try a 20-mg patch in 24 hours.
The reports in are mixed as to their effectiveness. For some, they are very effective at treating their symptoms, while others find them less effective. They are certainly worth trying if you have conditions that may benefit from them. Some people may experience skin irritation but they don’t have any side effects that would be considered dangerous.
TincturesAnother excellent way to take cannabis, especially if you’re adverse to inhaling, is to do it sublingually, under the tongue, using a spray or concentrate dropper.
Consuming cannabis this way keeps the bio-availability of the cannabis as high as possible ensuring that you get a good dose of the medicinal components of the cannabis. Tinctures come in all different forms and concentrations.
This is a good place to share a quick word about Hemp CBD Oil. Remember that I mentioned earlier about how many of the hemp CBD oil companies can not bet trusted and how you should make sure that you purchase it form a good source like KUSA or Theramu.
For many people, Hemp CBD oil is the only game in town, and the only type of medical cannabis that they have access to. I’ve been hard on them in the past but I do know that hemp CBD oil can be a very effective treatment for pain, inflammation and a host of other conditions. So, if this is your only option, or if you are adverse to the psychoactive effects of THC, then there are hemp CBD oil products that are very effective.
With that said, We do know that the non-hemp, full-plant cannabis oil is significantly more effective for some serious chronic diseases and conditions, such as cancer, than its hemp counterpart.
And we do know that THC is a very important component of it. THC makes CBD more effective, and the CBD tends to lessen the high produced by THC.With tinctures in general, It’s easier to control dosage with individual sprays or drops of concentrate. To start, take just one spray or a couple drops under the tongue and wait at least 10 minutes. If you don’t feel any relief than repeat that dosing and wait at least 20 more minutes. Keep repeating until you obtain the desired effects. There are some tinctures available at the better dispensaries or you can make your own, though this can be a complicated process.
Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO)For many people who are treating serious chronic conditions such as cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Epilepsy and chronic pain, full extract cannabis oil or FECO, is the medicine of choice. It often require very precise dosing and provides stronger medicinal effects than you can get from any other form of cannabis.
For people treating these conditions, I highly recommend that they do it under the supervision of a medical professional experienced with treating their conditions with cannabis.
Oftentimes your cannabis medical professional will provide a recommended dosing protocol that you should follow. They can then adjust the protocol according to your response to the dosing.
Typically, the dosing protocol will consist of you starting with a rice size drop of the oil sublingually, and then waiting at least 90 minutes to determine the effects of the initial dose. Optimally, you should wait 24 hours and double your dosage and wait another 90 minutes to determine the effectiveness of that dose. Then repeat until you find the dosage that works for you.
It is also very important to know that taking large doses of FECO will most likely cause you to build a tolerance to it, thus requiring larger doses. That is why it is best to increase your dosage as slowly as possible.
You will be able to reset your tolerance level but that will mean not having access to cannabis for 2 – 7 days, depending on your tolerance level and individual metabolism. This may not be an option for people in the middle of cancer treatment with cannabis. It is best to consult your medical cannabis professional.
Medical Cannabis SuppositoriesAnd now, bringing up the rear, we have medical cannabis suppositories. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Don’t laugh or wince. Medical cannabis suppositories have enormous potential but are still not quite ready for prime-time.
Many proponents claim that they deliver up to 75% absorption into the bloodstream yet there is no clinical evidence to support that claim. Many swear that they are effective but I have my doubts as do many doctors.
The problem is that THC and CBD and all the other cannabinoids and terpenes are fat-soluble and thus are not absorbed into the walls of the lower intestine and colon.
The real absorption rate is probably around 3%, which is not a very effective dose.Eloise Theisen Eloise Theisen MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC, the founder of Green Health Consultants, says, “Cannabis is fat soluble and not well absorbed into the mucosa of the mouth or rectum. Most pharmaceuticals are formulated to be water soluble, so our bodies can absorb them better. Absorption of THC rectally is most likely around 3%. Many people feel the THC rectally, but I do not think they are getting the absorbency rate of 50-70% as hoped.”
So, for now, I would not believe the hype, especially if you are trying to treat a serious condition like cancer. It could potentially be a fatal mistake.
Muli-Pronged ApproachFinally, I’d like to talk about using a multi-pronged approach to using medical cannabis.
For many people, particularly the ones suffering from one or more serious medical conditions, they find that using more then one method for consuming cannabis is actually more effective.
Some people use a tincture or full extract cannabis oil orally on a regular basis and then supplement that with using a vape pen to treat pain when needed.
Others will use a CBD oil with very low THC during the day while at work and then consume an edible after dinner to treat pain, or to help them sleep. This works well at night because edibles can last for a long time.
The point is that medical cannabis is very unique due to the many ways that you can take it and the many diverse effects that the different strains can produce.
There are countless ways to combine the different modes and strains to customize your own treatment protocol. It may take a lot of experimentation, but it will be worth the efforts and no matter what the combination, it should provide some level of relief for your particular conditions.
The good news is that in most cases, you cannot cause yourself a serious overdose that causes real harm. The worse that may happen is that you get too high for a while.
Just take it low and slow and you should be just fine.
Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that you shouldn’t take any kind of medication without first consulting with your doctor.
Okay, so that was a whole lot of information packed in one podcast.
Additional Tips for SuccessSo let me leave you with some additional tips to help you with your first encounter with the great green weed.
1 – Learn the concept of microdosing. It will suit you well and go a long way by helping you to zero in on your best dosing level, and probably save you a lot of time and money to boot.
2 – Start off with high CBD low THC strains to help reduce or even eliminate the high associated with cannabis.
3 – By all means try edibles but be very careful with taking too much. It can take 2 hours or more for you to feel the effects. This is where microdosing is very important.
4 – I recommend that you choose vaping cannabis over smoking to start off with. It’s way easier to dose, and easier on your throat and lungs, and it doesn’t make your house or clothes smell like pepe la pew. And it is very convenient and effective for many conditions.
5 – As a rule of thumb sativa dominant strains will give you a head high and energize you while indica strains will give you a body high which will often send you to your couch or bed. Both of them have their place. Many people use the sativas during the day and the indicas at night.
6 – Using a medical diary to keep track of your dosing and strains can really help you to dial in an effective dosing protocol and help to familiarize yourself with the strains, and their cannabinoid and terpene profiles, that work well for you.
7 – Sharpen your online research skills. Find the websites that provide reliable and up-to-date information. Learn to be skeptical of anything that you hear or see on the internet. There is a whole lot of pseudo-science out there that sounds like the real deal. Learn how to fact check and to check sources of stories and studies. Just because it was written by a doctor or some other medically credentialed author doesn’t make it true. Dig deep and develop trusted sources.
8 – Consider obtaining the advice of a medical professional who specializes in cannabis. It may save you lots of time, frustration and money from trying to figure out on your own the best course of action for treating yourself with cannabis.
9 – Join a group, either online, or within your community, of like-minded people who will support you in your journey of medical cannabis education. I highly recommend my Medical Pot Guide private Facebook group. They’re a great bunch of people and there are a lot of medical cannabis professionals and experts to answer your questions. You can find the links to the group in the shownotes.
10 – Make the journey an adventure. Make it a sojourn of discovery. Keep an open mind and an open heart. Just remember that medical cannabis has enabled many people to get their lives back by enabling them to get off of opiods, knock down their cancer, stop their seizures, and reclaim control of their lives on their own terms. This is worth pursuing and I think it’s worth devoting a significant part of my life to send that message out
Bonus Tip - Don't expect to always get immediate results. Sometimes it takes a while for you to see or feel the benefits right. Give it some time for your body to respond to the cannabis. Keep it up for a month or finish off the entire container with your product. Sometimes too, it will take a while to zero in on the best dose that provides benefits.
Cannabis is very individual and so there is not really a set dosage or method for treatment that works for everyone. And, as I said earlier, obtaining the guidance of a medical professional experienced with treating your conditions with cannabis can significantly shorten the experimentation stage. So just be patient and keep following the path I've talked about.
I have never met anybody that medical cannabis didn't couldn't provide some benefits.
Please contact me a [email protected] if you have any questions, comments or suggestions regarding this podcast or my mission of spreading the truth about medical cannabis.
High Quality CBD oil companies that exhibit outstanding social responsibility CLICK HERE to go to KUSA CLICK HERE to go to Theramu CLICK HERE to view our affiliate information.This podcast is supported by listeners like you through the purchase of my very cool tshirts and apparel at emeraldweave.store. Use the coupon code NEWBUYER20 for a full 20% discount off of any purchase.
CLICK HERE to go to Emerald Wave, the official apparel store of the Medical Pot Guide These are excellent resources for new patients looking for more information on medical cannabisThe United Patients Group (UPG) is an unparalleled resource and trusted leader in Medical Cannabis for physicians, patients and organizations. UPG acts as a virtual hand for patients, by helping them navigate through this ever-changing industry.
The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation’s leading organization promoting drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.
Aunt Zelda’s is a pioneering, data-driven, developer of cannabis-based plant medicines. Their products are the result of years of research and development by founders, Mara Gordon and Stewart Smith, in consultation with knowledgeable physicians and world-renowned researchers.
NORML’s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable. They have an excellent site packed with information regarding their mission to change the laws of cannabis. They have an excellent database with a detailed summary of each state’s laws for cannabis.
Medical Jane serves a vital and multi-faceted role in the cannabis community. Since its founding in 2012, Medical Jane has grown to be a respected voice for patients, caregivers, and advocates of legalized cannabis.
PubMed is an excellent source for peer-reviewed research. PubMed comprises more than 26 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites
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This podcast is very special for me. In it, I get to introduce you to one of the first and very few CBD Oil companies that I can proudly and enthusiastically stand behind.
As many of you know, I have been very, very hard on the whole hemp CBD oil industry, due to some very bad actors in it. But this company is different, and I am very comfortable and honored to be affiliated with them.
This company is impossible not to love. Theramu is a family-owned company that puts their heart and soul into their products. Theramu is located in Bakersfield, California.
Their CEO, Joel Greengrass, (love the name, obviously he was fated for this position), has an impressive background in business and also has multiple sclerosis.
He was so impressed by the benefits that he received from their products that he turned down a top 50 corporate position to take over as CEO of Theramu.
Theramu puts out a truly exceptional product line, including topicals and tinctuers, and has their total focus on helping people obtain relief from suffering. You have to hear their story.
Theramu has a very special offer of 10% discount for all Medical Pot Guide members and followers ... FOR LIFE!
Just use the coupon code BOOMER at checkout.
CLICK HERE to go to the Theramu website!
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I am very excited about today’s show. It is the result of my recent quest to find Hemp CBD oil companies that don’t fit the predatory and sub-quality product model that I have all-to-often seen being promoted from within my Facebook group and on social media.
Today, I will be introducing one of the very few companies that I am wholeheartedly recommending and feel very comfortable with establishing an affiliate relationship with.
My guest for today is Mark MacAuley, the founder of KUSA, a relatively new, yet quite impressive producer of hemp CBD oil, lotions, shampoo and conditioners which are now available throughout the united states. His friends and customers know him as Dr. Mark.
Mark isn’t really a physician in real life, but the nickname stuck after people that knew about him began asking about ‘Dr, Mark’ and what new creations he was working on to help people live better healthier lives through the use of cannabinoid-based products.
Mark was a licensed medical marijuana caregiver in Maine before he moved to Oregon and started a line of lotions to treat pain topically as opposed to the usual smoking or vaping cannabis.
Mark’s products have been developed by following science, which I love, of course. He has intensely studied the science behind plant genetics of both cannabis and hemp, the expressions of phenotype, and medicinal compounds like terpenes and cannabinoids. Like him, I LOVE the geeky stuff.
Marks products are exceptionally pure and are tested at an FDA approved food testing lab for potency, pesticides, and to insure the products are consistent, sound, and ultimately safe.
Mark is a graduate of Keene State College and has degrees in Psychology and Chemical Dependency, and is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict for more than 25 years. Bottom line. He knows what he’s talking about and makes excellent products.
In this in-depth interview, mark talks extensively and honestly about hemp cbd oil and the differences between it and cannabis. Mark dispels a lot of myths and addresses a lot of the confusion about hemp CBD oil.
In the interview Mark discusses the following topics: Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do. Tell us the story of how you became interested in medical cannabis leading to your founding of Kusa. What kind of products do you produce? What sets your products apart from many of the other CBD oil companies that are available online? There’s a whole lot of confusion about hemp CBD oil. What is the legal definition of Hemp CBD oil? And what is it really. What are the differences between hemp and non-hemp oils? What is the importance of concentrations? What are the health benefits of CBD oil? Many CBD oil companies really downplay the importance of THC in their literature delegating it mostly to the bad boy in cannabis that gets you high. How important is THC and how does the very low percentage of THC in your CBD oil affect it’s efficacy? Can you talk about the difference between isolates and full spectrum concentrates? Does CBD oil have any side effects? How do you recommend that people approach dosing of cannabis? Is CBD oil effective for treating cancer? What do you see as the future of CBD? How can people get in touch with you and obtain your products online? CLICK HERE to go to the KUSA website! What We BelieveIn the last few decades there has been a major shift towards chemicals and drugs to treat any number of physical conditions. When one of our founders searched for a natural way to help his mother with her eczema, he discovered an amazing array of natural ingredients that can target muscle soreness, joint pain, and much more without having to take potentially harmful drugs. At Kusa, we embrace a holistic approach to pain management using essential oils and tried and true natural remedies.
Natural HealingOur lotions contain a number of ingredients that can get you to healthier, smoother, younger looking skin and can help with the management of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, aloe vera gel, and shea butter are just a few of these amazing and beneficial ingredients. Chock full of natural vitamins your skin craves, these all natural ingredients nourish the skin and promote healthy growth. They also help seal moisture into your skin, sealing in those rejuvenating nutrients and protecting the skin without feeling greasy.
Our shampoo and conditioner also target common problems such as dry, brittle, or overly frizzy hair. Sage leaf, horsetail, ginseng root, rosemary and peppermint essential oils have all been found to be beneficial to the health of our hair. These ingredients can naturally promote hair growth, reduce hair loss, and help promote scalp health.
More than just healthier looking skin and hair, our products contain a number of ingredients that promote the natural management of pain and inflammation. Using arnica, calendula, almond, sunflower oils, and other plant extracts our products are ideal for anyone who is looking for a non-pharmaceutical option for targeted pain relief and inflammation reduction.
Although not an industry requirement, all of our products are thoroughly tested for pesticides, potency, and consistency by an FDA certified lab. Our products are then put through rigorous trial runs and used by not only ourselves but a broader group of volunteers with specific conditions to assure the products work effectively.
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This is a very important and special podcast for me. It is actually more of an announcement of a very significant change of position, or rather a pivot, from a topic that I have been very passionate, and vocal about, for the last few years.
Those of you who have been following me for a while know that I have been very hard on hemp CBD oil and the companies that make them. And for good reasons too.
In my opinion, many of these companies are dishonest at best, while some are predatory and downright criminal.
Many CBD oil companies have made hyperbolic claims as to the effectiveness of their products at treating serous chronic diseases, such as cancer, seizure disorders, and many other chronic conditions.
Many of them perpetuate the claim that THC is only used to get high and never mention the important role it plays in treating most of these chronic conditions. They post a plethora of testimonials espousing their miraculous benefits in treating these conditions.
Some of these companies have even lobbied state governments to limit the laws for legalizing medial cannabis to only allow hemp CBD oil while still maintaining the illegal status for anything containing more than 3% THC.
The hemp CBD oil companies in recent years, despite being produced by cannabis, have enjoyed a quasi-legal status because of their very low levels of THC, thus allowing them to do business within the United States with relative impunity.
Many of these hemp CBD oil companies, both domestically and outside the US, have shipped untested CBD oils to thousands of people at exorbitant prices. This, to no surprise, drew the attention of the FDA, who tested some of the oils that were being shipped from both domestic and international sources and determined that they contained little or no actual CBD.
These tests also found that many of these oils were contaminated with pollutants such as pesticides, molds and heavy metals.
So this, and the distorted health claims put out by these companies for all the conditions that hemp cbd could treat put a black eye on the entire industry and brought the wrath of the DEA onto them, when they declared in December of 2016, that CBD, like THC, is a schedule I drug. This threw the entire industry into legal purgatory which has been made even more tenuous now, by an attorney general just itching to wreak havoc on the entire cannabis industry.
Because of all this, I have been very vocal about my distrust of any CBD products and the companies that make them.
As many of you know, I have a Facebook group, The Medical Pot Guide, that now has over 30,000 members. Lately, I have been in conversations with some of my very closest and most trusted colleagues and friends who have shared their knowledge and experience about some hemp CBD Oil companies that don’t fit the mold that I’ve created for them.
They convinced me that there are some excellent companies out there who are socially responsible and making excellent products.
I decided to investigate this further and so I posted, within my group, an open invitation for people representing these companies to fill out a lengthy form, disclosing their positions on many of my concerns with their industry, and invited them to send me samples of their products.
I received several responses, and I must confess, that every one that replied exemplify a standard that is way higher, then most of the companies that I have been exposed for the last several years.
Out of these responses where are a small handful that I feel are exactly what I was looking for when it comes to top quality products along with exceptional socially responsibility.
The people who are running these companies are providing enormous value to thousands of people. They are in it for the right reasons. They are very passionate about helping people to heal. They donate their time and products to help those that can’t afford it.
I have been so impressed with these amazing people along with the quality of their products, that I decided to actively promote these companies within my Facebook group, on my podcast, and within my social media.
Those of you that know me and have followed me understand what a radical pivot that is. I have never really promoted any company, much less a CBD oil company in my group. EVER. So, this is a big and exciting change for me.
Now I want to be completely transparent and upfront with you. I have never established any kind of business or affiliate relationship in all the years that I’ve been doing my podcasts. I never wanted to appear biased or be questioned about the sincerity or motivation of any recommendations or advice that I did make.
And… The only organizations that I have promoted are medical professionals and medical cannabis resources that I know and feel very good about. AND... I never received a dime from any of them.
But Now, I’m willing to put my name and reputation on the line by recommending these few exceptional companies and therefore I’ve set up affiliate relationships with them.
I love their products and love the people working to make these excellent products. I am proud and honored to recommend and support them. They are good people doing exceptional good on this planet.
Right now, there are two exceptional CBD oil companies that I recommend and I have produced a separate podcast for each of them to enable them to introduce themselves to you.
KUSA - Mark MacAuleyThe first is KUSA, founded by Mark MacAuley, just a few of years ago. Mark is great guy, very intelligent, with an amazing story leading to his founding of KUSA.
I love Mark because of his ultra-scientific approach to product formulation as well as his almost insane focus on quality and purity.
Mark produces exceptional lotions, tinctures, shampoos and conditioners. You will be hearing a lot more about Mark and KUSA!
I did an interview with Mark. In it, he talks extensively about CBD oil answering many of the questions that I often see and hear within my Facebook group. It is very informative.
CLICK HERE to listen to the interview with Mark MacAuley of KUSA - The Truth about CBD Oil
CLICK HERE to go to the KUSA website!
TheramuGary & Vickie Lowe - Founders
The next company that I’m very proud to be affiliated with is Theramu, located in Bakersfield, California.
This company is impossible not to love. Theramu is a family-owned company that puts their heart and soul into their products.
Their CEO, Joel Greengrass, (love the name, obviously he was fated for this position), has an impressive background in business and also has multiple sclerosis.
[caption id="attachment_2686" align="alignleft" width="175"] Joel Greengrass - CEO[/caption]
He was so impressed by the benefits that he received from their products that he turned down a top 50 corporate position to take over as CEO of Theramu.
Theramu puts out a truly exceptional product line, including topicals and tinctuers, and has their total focus on helping people obtain relief from suffering. You have to hear their story.
CLICK HERE to listen to their podcast, How Theramu is Changing the Landscape of CBD Oil.
Theramu has a special offer of 10% discount for all Medical Pot Guide members and followers FOR LIFE!
Just use the coupon code BOOMER at checkout.
CLICK HERE to go to the Theramu website!
If you are considering using hemp CBD Oil as a treatment option then I highly encourage you to consider these companies as a source for your CBD products. I firmly believe that their products are among the best that you can get.
You will also be supporting companies that are making a huge difference on this planet. That's a good thing.
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I have seen many posts and articles about medical cannabis and cancer "cures" in general, that are based on pseudo-science and not facts. It is very pervasive on the internet and in all the cancer and medical cannabis Facebook groups.
These posts are not only misleading, but they can be very dangerous, particularly for people who are facing cancer and desperately looking for the facts on how medical cannabis can help them.
That is why, in this podcast, I’m focusing on some of the pseudo-science that I’ve been seeing in regards to treating cancer with cannabis and other "alternative" methods.
I know that I may ruffle a lot of the feathers of well-meaning people, who have whole-heartedly bought into these myths, but this needs to be said and their claims need to be challenged.
The 6 Myths about about treating cancer:Myth #1 You can starve cancer cells by limiting your intake of sugars.
Myth #2 An acidic diet can cause you to get cancer AND you can kill cancer cells by changing over to an Alkaline-based diet.
Myth #3 Chemotherapy has a survival rate of 2% and traditional treatments haven’t improved the survival rates of cancer.
Myth #4 Cannabis kills cancer cells and so it is a cure for cancer.
Myth #5 Hemp CBD Oil is effective at treating cancer.
Myth #6 Cannabis suppositories are effective for treating cancer.
Bonus Myth #7 Cannabis isn’t a drug, it’s an herb.
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In episode 39 I have the pleasure of presenting my second interview with Dr Rachna Patael.
You may know, Doctor Patel from her excellent YouTube videos or you may know her from her website, The Medical Marijuana Expert, or you may be lucky enough to be one of her patients.
In the interview Dr. Patel answers the following questions: In your practice, you walk people, step-by-step, through the process of safely using medical cannabis. What are the basic steps that you take your patients through? Are there any recent studies that have been of particular interest to you that we should know about? On January 1st California will be a legal adult use state. How do you think that this will affect medical cannabis patients? A big topic that comes up a lot in my Facebook Group is Hemp CBD Oil. Can you share with us how hemp CBD oil differs from full plant cannabis oil, or FECO, and what role does it serve in treating patients? I get a lot of questions from members who want to know how to find the right strain of medical cannabis to treat what ails them. What do you recommend to your patients looking for strains that are effective with their conditions? The main complaint that many have with using medical cannabis is that they don’t want to get high. What do you recommend for your patients with this concern? What are the long-term affects of using medical cannabis and how can patients best mitigate them? The use of CO2 vape pens has become ubiquitous here in CA and for good reason. They’re convenient and there are a lot of different oils available. Do you recommend them to your patients and is there any health concerns that you have in regard to their use? Let me ask you about possible negative interactions that cannabis can have with other pharmaceuticals. What should patients be aware of in regard to that? Last time we talked a bit about treating pain. Let’s talk a bit more about your approach to treating chronic pain and I’d love to get your opinion on how cannabis can aid in helping with the present opioid crises. How effective is cannabis with treating skin diseases, such as psoriasis? What approach do you use with your patients? Have you had positive results with using topicals? How do they work with pain? Why is it so important for people to seek out professional medical guidance when seeking treatment for chronic conditions with cannabis? Cannabis has received some bad press about its potential for causing heart attacks and yet, we hear that it is of benefit for people with heart disease. What is your approach to safely treating your patients with heart disease with cannabis? Do you have any advice for people who having to deal with serious chronic conditions but are overwhelmed with the plethora of conflicting advice that is freely available on the internet?
CLICK HERE to go to Dr. Patel's YouTube Channel to see her excellent videos. CLICK HERE to go to contact Dr. Patel's and go to her website CLICK HERE to email Jim Jensen -
In this podcast I feature cuts from the very best podcasts of 2017. It was a great year with some outstanding guests that include in order of appearance: Sugar and Shwa Giggles of Giggle Therapeutics from episode 28 - How The Giggles Turned Medical Cannabis Edibles Into a New Lifestyle Jack Kungel from episode 36 - How Jack Kungel Beat Cancer and Chronic Pain With Cannabis Yours Truly from episode 37 - How to Create an Effective Medical Cannabis Dosing and Treatment Strategy Joe Shrank, founder of High Sobriety on episode 30 - How High Sobriety Treatment Uses Cannabis as an Exit Drug April Merritt Pace from episode 29 - How Two South Carolina Moms are Fighting for Medical Cannabis Karen Munkacy MD, founder of Garden Remedies Dispensary from episode 35 - How Dr. Karen Munkacy set the standard for medical cannabis dispensaries Me doing my hemp CBD Oil company Rant Sugar and Shwa Giggles Sage Amdahl of Sage Advice from episode 36 - Sage Advice for Making and Treating Yourself with Medical Cannabis Jack Kungel again talking about how he started taking cannabis Me pontificating on the merits of micro-dosing from episode 37 Joe Shrank of High Sobriety April Merritt Pace Sage Amdahl again talking about using cannabis to treat cancer Chris Grisolia of Something Has to Change and Now on episode 31 - How a Grief-Stricken Father is Fighting for Medical Cannabis … NOW! Melanie Deher, the RN who was involved in the studies of pregnant mothers using cannabis down in Jamaica. Episode 32 - Is it Safe to Use Cannabis While You Are Pregnant? Karen Munkacy MD again talking about why many doctors do not know about the endocannabinoid system and the benefits of medical cannabis. Deborah Caldwell, founder of Topicanna Sungrown topicals, A wonderful company with a great product. Deborah was on episode 34 - Why You Will Love Medical Cannabis Topicals Gary Stein, an author and medical cannabis advocate who has worked closely with the Florida legislature trying to help them to enact a meaningful medical cannabis program. He was on episode 33 - Is Florida Failing Its Voters With Medical Cannabis? Melanie Deher talking more about her studies on cannabis down in Jamaica Deborah Caldwell telling us how medical cannabis works topically Karen Munkacy MD talking about treating cancer with cannabis Sage Amdahl talks about treating glaucoma with medical cannabis Dr. Munkacy offering her advice for new patients to medical cannabis With a final word from Joe Shrank, of High Sobriety, sharing his thoughts on medical cannabis as an exit drug I want to thank all of my amazing guests from 2017 and I’m really looking forward to a lot more excellent guests in 2018… And I want to give a HUGE shoutout to my very good buddy Dave Hydie, for the great background music to this episode. He is the master of the blues. CLICK HERE to check out the Medical Pot Guide Members Community!
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In episode 37 I share with you my system on how to create an effective medical cannabis dosing and treatment strategy.
Be sure to download the FREE 24 page accompanying PDF and checklist!
How to Create an Effective Medical Cannabis Dosing and Treatment Strategy
by clicking the button below
Send Me My FREE PDF!Be sure to download the FREE PDF
The New Cannabis Patients Roadmap
by clicking the button below
Send Me My FREE PDF! -
In episode 36, I am very honored to have Sage Amdahl, as my guest on the medical pot guide.
I really think you will love this interview as it is filled with great tips and advice for all of you who want to make your own medicine along with excellent advice on how to treat many of the conditions that you may be struggling with.
Sage is the CEO of Sage Advice LLC and has helped thousands of people dealing with a variety of conditions such as cancer, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, arthritis, IBS, anxiety, PTSD, lupus, Lyme's disease, glaucoma, seizure disorders, and dementia.
Sage has over 20 years experience in the field of cannabis therapy recipe creation where she has successfully combined her knowledge of medical cannabis with her love of culinary science, medicinal herbs, and essential oils.
Sage has successfully treated her own glaucoma, with the help of cannabis edibles. Sage is a treasure and has a wealth of information about medical cannabis and shares many golden nuggets of advice in this value-laden interview.
In this interview Sage answers the following questions: Will you share your story of how you became interested in medical cannabis by treating yourself with medical cannabis. How do you recommend people treat their own glaucoma? It seems to me one of the stumbling blocks for many people is that glaucoma is best treated with cannabis when there is a consistent level of cannabis in your system, yet many people do not want to be high all the time. How would you address this issue? You list in your bio that you’re an independent researcher for medical cannabis. Will you tell us about that? What do you think is the biggest misconception that people have about medical cannabis? Hint ... decarboxylation! You have a lot of experience with pairing therapeutic herbs with cannabis. Can you share with us you’re your most effective pairings and how you use them? Let’s talk about carrier oils. What they are, why they are important, and what should we know about them? What are your favorite medical cannabis strains? why, and for what? Do you ever use raw cannabis in your treatments? What Is your approach or protocol for dosing? What tips do you have for people who are making and using edibles? You’ve worked with many people who are fighting cancer. Can you share with us the important considerations of treating cancer with cannabis? What are the biggest mistakes that most people make when trying to treat themselves with cannabis? What is your opinion of Hemp CBD oil vs full-plant non-hemp CBD oil? Tell us about your consulting business. Is there anything else that you’d like to share with us as far as projects that you are involved with? Do you have any final advice for anybody who is trying to make their own medicine with cannabis? CLICK HERE to contact Sage CLICK HERE to go to Sage's Website CLICK HERE to go to Sage's Facebook Page CLICK HERE to read the research study on how temperature affects cannabinoids. -
Listen to this! n this episode, I am honored to have Dr. Karen Munkacy as my guest. Dr Munkacy, after years of preparation, launched the very first physician-owned medical cannabis dispensary in Massachusetts. This is a model that has set the standard for medical cannabis dispensaries.
In this interview, Dr. Munkacy talks in depth about the present state of the medical healthcare system in regards to cannabis. She provides us a unique perspective, from a doctors point of view, as well as a cancer survivor.
Dr. Karen Munkacy is the founder and president of Garden Remedies, the only medical cannabis dispensary in Massachusetts founded and operated by a physician.
She is a former faculty member at UCLA and USC Medical Centers in Los Angeles, and has worked as a researcher and international medical consultant.
As a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Munkacy’s personal experience battling pain management ignited her passion and advocacy for medical cannabis , eventually leading her to start her own dispensary in 2016.
She has a very unique story to tell.
In the Interview Dr. Munkacy answers the following questions: You were diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2004. Will you tell us about your experience with chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries and how this inspired you to take a serious look at medical cannabis? Do you think that chemotherapy can be an effective treatment for cancer? For many decades, the US medical community has been very reticent to embrace medical cannabis as a viable treatment option. In fact, I think it is only recently that medical schools started teaching students about the endocannabinoid system. So obviously, medical professional education is a very important key changing the medical landscape here in the US. So, where are doctors at now and how do you see this changing? Many people believe that the pharmaceutical industry has way too much influence on our health care system because of the influence and financial incentives that they provide to doctors. What is your view on this? You are an anesthesiologist and a pain management specialist. What would be your approach to treating somebody struggling with chronic pain with medical cannabis? Do you use medical cannabis yourself? Can you walk us through the process of obtaining medical cannabis through your dispensary? What is the future of medical cannabis? How has your dispensary been received by your community? What parting advice do you have for somebody who is suffering from a chronic condition that may be treated with medical cannabis, yet they are very reticent to try it? CLICK HERE to go to Garden Remedies CLICK HERE to contact Dr. Karen Munkacy CLICK HERE to go to Garden Remedies Facebook Page -
In episode 34, I’m very pleased to present Deborah Caldwell, who is the co-founder, along with her surfer-dude husband Bruce, of Topicanna Sun Grown, a very special medical cannabis topical company out of San Luis Obisbo, California.
Deborah holds a degree in Kinesiology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with a long history of working with athletes and patients.
17 years ago, she became very interested in creating topicals made out of herbs and in 2001 she created a topical formula to help patients manage inflammation between sessions. Thousands of batches later in 2011, she added cannabis to her amazing topicals thus elevating her Synergy Formula to its current glory.
Up to now, topicals have been existing in the shadow of their sexier smoke-able and edible counter-parts. But all that is about to change big-time with the legalization of adult-use cannabis.
In this interview Deborah answers the following questions:
Will you tell us the story of how you became interested in topicals leading to you creating Topicanna Sun Grown. Tell us about your topicals and why they are so unique. How many products do you have? Are there any psychoactive properties to your topicals? So how do topicals work? What conditions can topicals treat? And how effective are they? How have your topicals been received from within the medical community? How do you determine the proper dosing when using topicals? How safe are topicals? How have your topicals been received from within the cannabis industry? Where are your products available? How do you think that the roll-out of California’s legal adult use in 2018 will affect your business? -
I am very honored to welcome Gary Stein as my guest on episode 33. Gary is on the front lines, working with the legislators in Florida, trying to get the laws to support Amendment 2, which was overwhelmingly passed by the voters, in place to enable the people of Florida to have easy access to medical cannabis.
Less than a week ago, his latest attempt at this fell through leaving the fate of medical cannabis in Florida up in the air.
Gary has a Masters in Public Health degree and is a native of Detroit. He has been a blogger for the Huffington Post since 2009. He has also written for Context Florida, Health News Florida, Florida Politics, and Politics of Pot.
He is currently working a book abot medical cannabis called, "The Great Green Hope" which will be available later this year.
Gary has worked as an advocate and consultant on issues of health and health equity including Medicaid expansion, needle exchange programs, gun violence and increased access to healthcare.
He was Executive Director of Health Equity Connections , a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that worked to promote Health, Wellness and greater access to appropriate, cost-effective Healthcare for vulnerable populations and save Medicaid and Medicare millions and reduce the millions in uncompensated care to healthcare providers.
Health Equity Connections also seeks to promote an employment model to hire and train the blind and visually disabled so that they can earn an appropriate living wage by telecommuting.
Gary also worked for decades in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, working on HIV/STD/TB and for the Florida Department of Health in Tobacco Control Programs and the Department of Health Equity. He also served as the Director of Public Policy for the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology Seeking to get Assistive and Adaptive Technology to the physically, visually and audible impaired to improve their education, chance for employment and a higher quality of life.
Gary's wife, Monique, suffers from Stickler syndrome, a rare disorder that's caused her to go blind. Gary and his family had gone into debt to afford procedures for their daughters to save their eyesight. The Huffington Post community donated over $30,000 to the Stein family in October to help them cope with their overwhelming medical bills.
Gary is now on a mission to ensure that easy access to medical cannabis is the law of the land for the people of Florida.
In this interview Gary answers the following questions:
Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do. Will you tell us about the history of Florida’s attempts at getting medical cannabis and why it has failed until last November? Will you talk a bit about the existing law, Amendment 2, that was recently passed by the voters to legalize medical cannabis in Florida, what it is, where it’s at and what is happening with it? Who is really the muscle behind the anti-cannabis pressure in Florida and why? You were involved with trying to get the legislation through that would add some teeth to Amendment 2, and that bill was just defeated. What was it? And what happened? According to John Morgan, the “political godfather” of the 2014 and 2016 medical cannabis amendments, Ben Pollara, your groups campaign manager, is responsible for defeating this latest attempt due to some back-room deals. How would you respond to that? How has Pam Bondi, Florida’s Attorney General, responded to your latest attempts at making Amendment 2 work? What are the most important take-aways from this last campaign? What is the next legal action for Florida and Amendment 2? The voters of Florida, who approved amendment 2, are now wondering what this all means for them now. What does their program look like right now and when will they have access? What can the people of Florida do to help this cause? Are there any final words that you like to share with the people of Florida, especially those who could most benefit from cannabis?CLICK HERE to go to Gary's Web Page
CLICK HERE to go to Gary's Facebook Page CLICK HERE to go to information on the Amendment 2 in Florida -
In episode 32, I am very honored and excited to have Melanie Dreher, PhD, RN, FAAN as my guest on the medical pot guide.
Melanie, as she likes to be called, describes herself as the unlikely combination of a nurse and anthropologist.
She is a retired nurse educator who was the Dean and Professor of the College of Nursing at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois.
She is a graduate, magna cum laude, of the Long Island University School of Nursing and holds a doctorate in anthropology from Teachers College and Columbia University where she completed her dissertation with distinction.
In addition to her role as Dean, Melanie has had a distinguished research career as the principal investigator of several community-based studies examining the health and development of women and children in Jamaica.
Her research interests also include cross-cultural studies of the health care systems, the organization and financing of community health care and the effects of substance use on the health, development and task performance in adults and children.
Melanie’s research took place many years ago but it is now drawing a lot of attention with the growing movement to legalize cannabis. She is most known for her compelling, yet controversial, studies, looking at the effects of cannabis on the mothers and babies in Jamaica. She is now a very strong advocate for the legalization of cannabis.
In this interview, Melanie talks in detail about her earlier studies in Jamaica which examined the effects of cannabis on it's working men, leading to the later long term studies where she focused on the effects of cannabis on pregnant women and their babies.
This interview will give you a look inside the anti-cannabis government bureaucracy as she shares how and why the government shut down her studies.
Melanie then shares how the medical community reacted to her study and why they have been so slow to embrace cannabis as a viable medical treatment.
She ends the conversation by sharing her advice for women who may be considering cannabis to help them with their pregnancy.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Melanie Dreher's research study. CLICK HERE to purchase Melanie Dreher's Books. - Show more
