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Cannabis Patience Care March/April

On this month’s episode, we are joined by Otha Smith III, the CEO and founder of Tetragram. We discuss Otha’s history in the industry as both a patient and an entrepreneur, obstacles he’s overcome, exciting research endeavors, and more.

Noid Knowledge, Ep 6: Tetragram: How Patient Data Is Powering Research

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Cannabis Research for Chronic Pain

Check out our December issue focused on veterans and PTSD

Cannabis Patient Care December

Check out our October/November focused on breast cancer

Cannabis Patient Care October/November

Thai Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, announced in a May 8 Facebook post that the Thai government will distribute 1,000,000 cannabis plants to households for free starting June 9 (1). Thailand residents will be able grow “as many cannabis plants” as they like in their own homes for medical purposes only, according to Charnvirakul (2). Reportedly, licensing will not be required for home cultivation, unlike commercial cannabis and hemp companies in the country. Large-scale enterprises will still need permission from the country’s Food and Drug Administration to make cannabis products (3).

In an additional Facebook post on May 10, Charnvirakul noted that Thai companies registered to do so could sell cannabis products that contained less than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). “This will enable people and the government to generate more than 10 billion baht ($288,846,200 per year) in revenue from marijuana and hemp,” Charnvirakul said. “Meanwhile, people can showcase their cannabis and hemp-related products and wisdom and sell their products nationwide” (1).

In 2018, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize cannabis for medical research and use, and last January it became the first country in Asia to legally allow cannabis. The intention is to redefine cannabis as a “household crop,” and is the latest step in Thailand’s plan to transform cannabis into a cash crop (2).

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/asia/million-free-cannabis-plants-to-be-distributed-to-thai-households-intl-hnk/index.html

https://hightimes.com/news/thailand-to-give-away-1-million-free-cannabis-plants-for-home-cultivation/

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/thailand-providing-free-cannabis-plants-home-cultivation-84645779

Articles

Thai Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, announced in a May Facebook post that the Thai government will distribute 1,000,000 cannabis plants for medical purposes to households across the nation for free starting in June.

Thailand to Distribute One Million Cannabis Plants for Medical Purposes to Households

Last week, CannMed held their 2022 annual conference in Pasadena, California from May 3–5. The event, fully in person, included a full-day medical practicum workshop, dozens of exhibitors, and thought-provoking keynote presentations in the four focus areas of medicine, science, cultivation, and safety. Attendees and presenters had the chance to network and mingle at the VIP dinner and the cocktail hour. Several presenters and guests were interviewed throughout the conference the at the CannMed Coffee Talk Lounge, including Megan L’Heureux, Group Editorial Director for 

A few interesting talks to note included the presentation by Jaime Brambila of Grace Health and Wellness titled “Raising Awareness: The Successful Implementation of Natural Plant Based Medicines Used as Adjunct Therapies with Standard Treatments for Metastatic Breast Cancer.” Brambila shared his wife, Nicole DiMonda’s, personal journey through cancer treatment and the success she had with medical cannabis and psychedelics. At the end, DiMonda shared a passionate statement about how this industry helped save her life. DiMonda and Brambila have partnered with several universities and research groups to expand their experience into clinical trials for others.

In addition, Dr. Marion McNabb of the Cannabis Center of Excellence highlighted some of the initial findings from her healthcare provider study in which her company surveyed healthcare professionals across the country on their knowledge and interest surrounding medical cannabis. The study is still open to healthcare providers through August 2022. Some of Dr. McNabb’s initial findings include:

354 healthcare providers responded, the majority of whom were nurses

42% of respondents also reported using medical cannabis themselves

37% believe cannabis can be a first line treatment

Alongside presentations on the medical aspects of cannabis, there were also many talks on the latest advancements in cultivation, testing, extraction, and research. Seth Crawford, co-founder of Oregon CBD, explained in his keynote address, “Cannabis 2022: The Golden Age of Discovery?” the methods of selective breeding of certain hemp plants on his farms, plus the potential innovations these seeds and plants can provide to farmers and researchers.

Grace Bandong, Scientific Strategy Leader for Contaminants for Eurofins Food Integrity and Innovations, gave another keynote presentation titled “Risk Based Hazards Analysis: A Tool for Building a Comprehensive Analytical Testing Program.” Bandong’s presentation explained how to create an effective yet economical risk-based framework of analysis of products, plus an explanation of the unexpected threats that hazards such as mycotoxins, heavy metals, and pesticides can pose to products.

For more information on CannMed or to learn more about the talks and speakers from this year’s event, please visit: 

https://cannmedevents.com/cannmed-schedule/

Last week, CannMed held their 2022 medical practicum and science conference in Pasadena, California from May 3 – 5.

CannMed’s 2022 Conference Further Promotes Mission to Inspire Science, Community, and Hope

Overview of Research on Cannabis for Chronic Pain

The Doctor Who Changed Her Patient–Doctor Paradigm Through Cannabis

Read the Research: What One Medical Writer Can Tell Us from Years of Compiling Data on Medical Cannabis Use for Chronic Pain Treatment, Opioid Addiction Management, and Enhancing Mindfulness 

Eyewitness: Cannabis Should Be the Chronic Pain Treatment Choice

Chronic Pain Advocacy: It’s Time to Testify! 

Cannabinoids in a Pill? One Company’s Research to Find the Next Cannabinoid-Based Medication

View our interactive March/April 2022 digital edition.

March/April 2022 Digital Edition

Recently, Medicare Plans, a patient support center that helps provide resources for understanding Medicare, conducted a survey of current Medicare recipients on their opinions of Medicare coverage for medical cannabis treatment and products (1). The survey was conducted online with 1250 Americans ages 65 and over surveyed. It covered topics such as past and current cannabis use, political affiliations, and how much patients spent on cannabis products per month. Medicare Plans released their survey results this month.

Some of the most prominent findings, according to Medicare Plans, included:

1 in 5 Medicare recipients currently use medical cannabis

23% have used medical cannabis in the past

66% of Medicare recipients “strongly agree” or “agree” that Medicare should cover medical cannabis

59% of those who support Medicare coverage for medical cannabis say it's because it can be effective where other treatments fail

38% of Medicare recipients who use medical cannabis do not want Medicare coverage because they fear it will increase the price

Medicare Plans pointed out that currently the use of medical cannabis is legal in 37 states, four territories, and the District of Columbia. However, because cannabis is both illegal at the federal level and, in most cases, not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), health insurance does not pay for it. Medicare Plans also noted that with the recent passing of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in the House of Representatives, the question of whether insurance should cover medical cannabis may soon need to be addressed.

To see the survey results in detail, please visit: 

https://www.medicareplans.com/1-in-5-medicare-recipients-use-medical-marijuana/

Medicare Plans, a patient support center that provides resources for better understanding Medicare, recently conducted a survey about the idea of Medicare coverage for medical cannabis treatment and products. Here are some highlights from their results.

Medicare Plans Releases Survey Results Regarding Medical Cannabis Coverage

Meg is the Group Editorial Director for Cannabis Patient Care and Cannabis Science and Technology magazines at MJH Life Sciences.

The upcoming CannMed conference—taking place May 3–5 in Pasadena, California—will feature an exciting full-day medical practicum organized by Bonni Goldstein, MD, (the practicum’s originator); Dustin Sulak, DO; Kevin Spelman, PhD, MCPP; and Eloise Theisen, NP, AGPCNP-BC. During this practicum, each of the presenters will share the latest research, their clinical experience, and practice guidelines related to cannabinoid therapeutics. 

This course is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing for 9.5 contact hours.**

In this interview series, we speak to each of the organizers to learn more about them and what attendees can expect from the practicum. Here in Part III, Dr. Dustin Sulak shares some of the clinical applications for medical cannabis, dosing information, how cannabis can be used to stop opioid addiction, and more of his insight.

What are some of the clinical applications for medical cannabis?

: Chronic pain, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nausea, and vomiting are certainly the most common, but a typical cannabis practice is full of refractory conditions from every other field in medicine, for example, psychiatry, gastroenterology, oncology, neurology, rheumatology, and so forth. Overall, cannabis is often an effective treatment when everything else has failed.

How is medical cannabis dosed and what methods are being used by patients?

: Cannabis is highly versatile and allows for individualized treatments that can often be fine-tuned to allow for all benefit and no adverse side effects. This fine-tuning includes delivery methods (oral, oromucosal, inhaled, topical), numerous varieties of cannabis with distinct properties. You can find more info at: 

https://healer.com/using-medical-cannabis-delivery-systems/

Can cannabis be used to get you off opioid addiction?

: Lots of data prove yes in chronic pain: 

https://healer.com/category/cannabis-and-opioids/

. Less data suggests it’s helpful in opioid use disorder, but I have seen this work in my patients.

How does cannabis interact with other prescription medications?

: Very few interactions except at high doses of cannabis. The blood thinner warfarin is a common one to watch out for—patients should have their blood checked after starting cannabis.

How is cannabis used to treat acute and chronic pain?

: Cannabis is very effective at treating chronic pain and associated symptoms. It can be useful in acute pain, but it also has the potential to intensify acute pain, especially in people who are new to cannabis. Despite this, one study showed that administering tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to trauma patients in the hospital, including those with no prior experience using cannabis, improved their symptoms and decreased their requirements for opioids.

How is medical cannabis being used in pediatric patients? Is there clinical evidence for using cannabis to treat anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

: Small studies have shown benefit in anxiety and trauma-related disorders with THC, an analog of THC called nabilone, and cannabidiol (CBD). There’s even less data for ADHD. Anecdotally, I have seen cannabis help these conditions in hundreds of patients. These are both great examples of conditions cannabis clinicians successfully treat all the time but are lacking peer-reviewed clinical studies.

To find out more about CannMed’s medical practicum, please visit: 

**CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS: This course is provider-approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider number 16845, for 9.5 contact hours.

In this interview series, we speak to each of the organizers to learn more about them and what attends can expect from the practicum. Here in Part III, Dr. Dustin Sulak shares his insights.

CannMed 2022: Medical Practicum Organizers Share Their Insight, Part III: Dr. Dustin Sulak 

Can you tell us about your background and your role with Americans for Safe Access (ASA)?

: At Americans for Safe Access, I am the Director of Government Affairs. I oversee our policy and advocacy in all 50 states as well as at the federal government level. It's our mission to provide safe, equitable legal access to medical cannabis for patients across the United States.

Prior to joining ASA in September 2021, I worked for almost four years at the Epilepsy Foundation, where I worked on a lot of access to care issues, including access to medical cannabis, in all 50 states and at the federal level. Before joining the Epilepsy Foundation, I worked at the state level in New York, where I was involved in passing the Compassionate Care Act.

I have about eight years of experience within cannabis policy and almost as many years in patient advocacy. I'm really enjoying my role at ASA, where I get to combine my passions for patient advocacy and cannabis policy to help ensure that patients across the country have access to treatment options.

What are ASA’s goals and plans for medical cannabis advocacy in the next few years?

 We have a lot of really exciting plans. First and foremost, our goal for the past 20 years has been, and will continue to be, getting access to patients. Not only access to medical cannabis, but access to legal protections and other measures that will help patients.

We've seen a majority of the states across the country pass medical cannabis programs, but that's really just the start of medical cannabis advocacy. It's not the end. We’ve achieved one goal, but we are continuously working to improve these programs and to improve the legal protections such as housing and custody protections within these programs.

We are striving to improve things like affordability and the financial obligations that patients are required to meet. We're also trying to ensure that underserved areas have access to medical cannabis. One of our top priorities is to continue to pass these programs where they don't exist, while also improving programs across the United States.

At the federal level, we're looking to pass legislation that will protect patients and that will fix some of the federal laws that conflict with state laws. For example, the fact that cannabis is a Schedule I drug means that through the Drug Free School Zone Act, children and adolescents who use medical cannabis cannot access their treatment on school grounds. We’re also focusing on employment protections for federal employees who are medical cannabis patients and on housing protections, particularly for those who receive housing through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

We’re also looking to set up some sort of national coordinating entity or government agency that will be able to help coordinate access to medical cannabis across the United States to set the basic requirements for what these programs must provide for patients. The states will then be able to go above and beyond that while still making sure that no matter where patients are in the country, they can rely on a minimum standard of care when it comes to cannabis.

In terms of research, we are working to improve policies to make it easier for researchers to work with cannabis and get data that the United States is sorely lacking.

Can you tell us more about how ASA has helped improve access to cannabis for research?

 One of our top priorities at the federal level is to help remove some of the barriers for research, including removing cannabis from Schedule I to a different schedule to allow researchers to access it easier.

We’re also invested in helping to pass other policies such as the Feinstein/Grassley/Schatz bill (Cannabidiol and Marijuana Research Expansion Act) or the Blumenauer bill (Medical Marijuana Research Act) that can help researchers. Because one thing that I hear most from doctors, and also lawmakers, is that we need more data, but the data is extremely hard to get, so ASA is continuing to put priority on making medical research happen.

Right now, any cannabis policy on the federal level is slow moving, and so we're doing our best and hopefully something will pass soon to help alleviate those burdens for researchers.

ASA’s State of the States report for 2021 was released in February (1). What is the goal of this annual report?

 The biggest goal is to give people a snapshot of what medical cannabis access looks like across the country. Every year, we give all 50 states and five territories a letter grade based on how well the medical cannabis program serves and protects patients in that state or territory.

This year, we revamped the whole report based on a lot of feedback from patients, legislators, and other advocates around the country. We looked at our report from previous years and thought that it no longer accurately reflected the patient experience, and so we re-evaluated and reassigned points. We added categories and included a penalties category. We graded all states and territories on 120 different metrics that range from patient rights, civil protections, and affordability to consumer protections and health and social equity so you can see which states have the best medical cannabis programs and which states have the worst. We also provide each state with recommendations on things that they can do to improve their program.

The report cards are the main feature of the report, but the report itself is a great resource for policymakers, advocates, and patients across the country to learn why all 120 metrics are important to patients. There are also legislation models or regulation language in there for policymakers and other recommendations on things that they can do to improve patient lives. So, each year the report is published to help educate lawmakers on where we are, how we've improved since last year, but also how we can we keep improving in the future.

How the report is unique compared to other assessments of medical cannabis programs?

 We don't look at just one aspect of a medical cannabis program. I know that there are a lot of reports out there that look at equity within medical cannabis programs and we look at equity as well, but we really try to look at it from a 360° patient view. What are all of the things that a patient may experience or that may impact their ability to have access to cannabis? Every year we also release a patient survey to gather feedback from real patients about their state’s program and we incorporate that into our report as well.

How is the data for the report collected, organized, and analyzed?

 That is a big question. It's done over many, many months. We start by looking at the previous year's rubric to see if there's anything that we want to tweak, to reassign points for, or if there are any categories that we want to add. We check to see if there were any oversights left out the year before or if there’s an emerging issue that is important now.

Then we finalize the rubric and assign the points. Once we do all that, we dive straight into research. We have a giant Excel document that has all 50 states and territories and on each of those is all 120 metrics. We start by researching, reading the law, reading the regulations, and trying to find the provisions in the laws and regulations that correspond with our rubric.

And then we assign points to it based on another written rubric. You can find it on our website: 

 . For all 120 categories, we explain why this metric is important and how we graded it. In our other spreadsheet, we assign a grade to it and then leave a note on that spreadsheet with the citation or the legislative regulatory language as our source.

Then once that's done, we go back through and see if there's anything that we missed or anything that has passed while we were doing our initial research. That's something that happened a couple of times this year. We would give a state one grade, but while we were grading, the legislature passed something or the governor signed something and we went back and changed the grade.

Since the report came out, have any states been surprised by their scores, especially considering the new grading rubric you implemented?

 I'm not sure if any states have been surprised, but it seems like Colorado has been the most interested in their change of score. Just the change in grading alone lowered its score, but Colorado this year also passed a piece of legislation that is the single largest rollback of any state medical cannabis program that we've seen in the country. They lost a ton of points because of that rollback and as a result Colorado has been really interested in their new score considering the rubric and that legislation.

What most surprised or encouraged you about the results of the report?

I think what most surprised me was how the data we have on affordability matches exactly what patients tell us day in and day out. I have never doubted a patient who has told me that medical cannabis is expensive in their state and that they have trouble affording it because I know how much this can cost. I hear every day about affordability being a problem.

When we looked at policies that states can have to help patients with affordability, it's just crazy to me that it’s the lowest scoring category overall out of all of them. The highest scoring state in that category only received a 60%. I know the states hear every day about affordability being a problem, and yet they're not doing anything to help out with it. On the one hand, it was most surprising to me just because the scores in that category were so low. But on the other hand, it wasn't surprising because it just confirmed what our patient advocates are telling us. It is really hard to see that states are falling behind so far in that.

One other thing that has surprised me is the reactions we’re getting. Even though a lot of the grades for the states are lower than they have been in years past, we've been hearing a lot of positive things like, “I'm glad that you revamped the rubric because I think this grade is more accurate than last year's grade was.” That's made me feel great about our change in rubric. Our goal was to show what matters to patients. And what we're hearing from both policy makers and patients is that our new grading scale has achieved that and gives a more accurate insight into the program.

One thing that did encourage me about the report is that one of the highest categories overall is civil rights and patient protections. A lot of states are doing really well in providing for patients in that way. It's great that states are really working to legally protect patients because that was a big problem for a long time.

What would best help improve the affordability of medical cannabis? For example, do you think medical reimbursement will happen one day?

 It is my dream that medical reimbursement will not only happen one day, but one day soon. I think that might be a little bit of a stretch—at least the “soon” part. But I do think eventually medical reimbursement will happen for medical cannabis patients, especially when insurance companies can look to the fact that if medical cannabis is treating someone, it's keeping them out of a hospital and it's keeping them out of emergency rooms. It could keep them from needing additional surgeries or other treatments.

Helping patients to afford medical cannabis now could help insurance costs in the long run. States can and should right now help to provide financial assistance, real substantial financial assistance, especially to low income, elderly veteran individuals to help them afford the product.

Additionally, a lot of states allowed telehealth visits during the initial lockdowns of COVID-19, but a lot of states have since let that lapse and no longer allow telehealth. So, then patients also have the hurdle of actually traveling to a doctor to get that recommendation when it's something that they could easily do 15 minutes on their computer from home. And if you go to a doctor specifically for a cannabis recommendation, some insurance will not cover that visit.

Another important thing states can do is do away with their registration fees. It can be a big hurdle for patients to have to pay to even be able to access cannabis in the first place. That's especially true in states that have passed recreational adult use laws.

There's no need for patients to be paying for the same access that adults have. For example, Oregon charges patients $200 every year to register for their medical cannabis program, but because they also have recreational adult use, any adult in the state can walk into a dispensary for free. It's not the same to say, “Well, don't pay the $200, just go to a recreational dispensary,” because by being a registered medical cannabis patient, patients receive extra legal protections and other things that don't exist in the recreational market. Patients need the protections of the medical cannabis program, especially when Oregon is making hand over fist revenue on the recreational cannabis side. There's just no reason for them to also have the highest registration fee for patients in the country.

Have you seen an increased need for patient advocacy in states that have medical programs but have also legalized cannabis for adult use? Are you seeing less focus on medical protections in those states?

 Absolutely. One trap that a lot of states seem to fall into is thinking that passing recreational adult use cannabis replaces the medical cannabis program; that there's no need for medical cannabis if a state legalizes recreational adult use, but that is not the case.

A recreational adult use law can and should, in my opinion, coexist with a medical cannabis program. But they should remain separate because there are protections and other measures in medical cannabis programs that protect patients that are not present in recreational programs.

Furthermore, recreational adult use is only for individuals 21 and older. There are many children, adolescents, and young adults who do use medical cannabis. So, when states put all their regulatory effort in recreational adult use and let the medical cannabis program fizzle out, they're doing a big disservice to a lot of patients in the country. They're also adding another financial burden to patients because if they go through the recreational retailers, they have to pay the sales tax and the excise tax, which can be a huge amount that they wouldn’t have to pay in medical dispensaries.

Can you give us some examples of places where or how medical cannabis programs are growing?

This year in our State of the States report, every state—except four—and territory that has a medical cannabis program all grew. The vast majority of them are growing. These programs are still valuable, and the rights and protections afforded in the program are still necessary for patients. So, it's nice to see that all over the country, these programs are growing. In a lot of states, they are just growing naturally.

Other states passed additional legislation in the past year or so that expanded the qualifying condition list. We encourage states to continue expanding the qualifying condition list, to reevaluate their policies, and to look at the hurdles that patients have to jump over in order to register for this program to help facilitate this growth.

You noted the need for a national coordination agency for patient rights and protections. Can you tell us what that would look like and why it's so important to set up?

 This would be a national coordinating agency or a sub agency, probably under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

I could ask five people what agency they think of for cannabis enforcement, and they could each say a different agency and still all be right. You could say Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because the FDA has jurisdiction over dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. You could say Department of Justice (DOJ) because of cannabis prosecution. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the one responsible for awarding the Schedule I research grants for researchers and does some cannabis enforcement too. The point is that each agency has a little piece of the pie. The agencies aren't the best at communicating with each other, so there's a lot of finger-pointing and delaying when you need to do anything with cannabis.

First and foremost, this national coordinating agency, an Office of Medical Cannabis Control or something of that sort, would take all those cannabis responsibilities from the other agencies and house them in one department and the people who work there would be the governmental experts on cannabis policy. It would not be an oversight agency for medical cannabis programs, but one that helps states coordinate nationally. This can include things like allowing interstate commerce and allowing products to travel from one state to the other to help fill dispensaries and ensure that patients have access.

What more needs to be done for patient rights, protections, and access to cannabis in the United States? In this interview, Abbey Roudebush, Director of Government Affairs for Americans for Safe Access (ASA), explains the goals of ASA and provides an in-depth analysis of their annual State of the States report. She explains why medical cannabis access is a pertinent issue, the myriad obstacles patients still face in securing protections, and how to advocate for the rights of medical cannabis patients.

Medical Cannabis Is Here and It's Here to Stay: How Americans for Safe Access, the Nation’s Largest Member-Based Cannabis Advocacy Organization, Protects Patient Rights

The Veterans Action Council (VAC), an organization founded in 2020 to promote veteran health and access to alternative medical treatment such as cannabis, recently sent Attorney General Merrick Garland a request to remove cannabis from the federal controlled substances list (1).

According to their press release, the VAC highlighted the United Nations (UN) removal of cannabis and cannabis resins from their Schedule IV scheduling in December 2020. The VAC said that in response to being notified in 2021 of that removal, “the Office of the US Attorney General has taken no action, thus far, as required by USA law to reschedule cannabis.”

“Given this significant treaty reform we are disappointed that a year later nothing has been done so we are taking this extraordinary step of sending the enclosed letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland insisting that he take immediate steps to initiate the required action necessary to reschedule cannabis pursuant to USA federal law,” the VAC stated (1).

The VAC also added that removing cannabis from schedule 1 and 2 will solve many serious issues facing Americans. “Veterans will get cannabis recommendations from their federal government doctors,” said the VAC (1). “Medical patients will no longer be kicked out of their federal housing, medical cannabis patients will no longer be kicked off of transplant lists. Cannabis will be scheduled on par with its own ‘active ingredient’ ending the decades old disparity. Medical cannabis patients will begin to have their second amendment rights respected.”

For more about the VAC and this announcement, please visit 

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/565525225/the-veterans-action-council-vac-writes-open-letter-to-attorney-general

The Veterans Action Council (VAC) recently sent US Attorney General Merrick Garland a request to remove cannabis from the federal controlled substances list.

The Veterans Action Council Sends Letter to Attorney General Requesting Rescheduling of Cannabis

Madeline Colli is the Associate Editor for Cannabis Patient Care and Cannabis Science and Technology magazines at MJH Life Sciences.

Inesa Ponomariovaite, founder of Nesas Hemp.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

 I was born and raised in Lithuania where I experienced many challenges as a child. In my early 20s, I immigrated to the US and settled in Chicago, Illinois. By working extremely hard, I was able to make my dreams come true, including launching 

, which is the world's first living, organic cannabidiolic acid (

) hemp extract. Like many children, my dream was to make the world a better place, which is exactly what I am trying to do with Nesas Hemp

The medicinal and therapeutic properties of CBDA are helping people live happier and healthier lives thanks to its ability to reduce chronic aches and pains, promote better sleep, improve digestion, help stabilize moods, and ease mental tension.

How did you get involved in the cannabis and hemp industries?

 As a holistic coach, I grew frustrated by the lack of high-quality, organic products that my clients could use. This frustration boiled over after my mom was diagnosed with cancer because none of the cannabidiol (CBD) products that she used lived up to their promise. As a result, I decided to begin doing my own research. After visiting multiple facilities and many of the biggest companies in the industry, I discovered that many of the cannabis products on the market didn’t help improve people’s mental and physical health. The products were often mass-produced, used low-quality cannabis, and didn’t do what they claimed. After discovering this, I immediately knew I couldn’t risk my mom’s health and I didn’t want others to be in the same situation. After spending thousands of hours researching cannabis, including discussions with the world’s top cannabis researchers, I was able to produce a safer, purer, and more effective hemp product. Today, I feel at peace knowing that my product meets the highest quality standards and is good enough for my mother and other patients to use.

Can you tell us about your company you founded called Nesas Hemp?

 hemp extract to help people improve their mental and physical health. For those who haven’t heard of CBD before, it is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis after tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Unlike THC, which is the chemical responsible for most of cannabis’s psychoactive effects, CBD is derived directly from the hemp plant during the extraction process or manufactured in a laboratory and does not cause psychoactive effects—in other words, it won’t cause you to get high. For many, CBD is associated with the healing properties of cannabis, whereas THC is the psychoactive property found in the plant.

While CBD has become popular among people looking for alternative therapies, in recent years, more and more research has shown that 

. The big difference between CBD and CBDA is that most CBD products use extreme temperatures and other harmful processes to extract cannabinoids from the hemp plant through the extraction process, to produce hemp extract, also known as hemp oil. CBDA on the other hand, is a natural precursor cannabinoid to CBD and is found in unheated raw cannabis flowers. In fact, CBD is a compound formed in cannabis plants under certain influences like heat or solvent processes and doesn’t appear naturally in the plant. Put more simply—CBD is derived from CBDA.

This small, but significant difference is the driving force behind why I created 

,full-spectrum CBDA hemp extract. We are one of the few companies in the US that offer customers certified organic hemp oil made with CBDA, rather than CBD. Our product has been certified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registered laboratories and includes a safety seal to ensure the product is safe. Nesas Hemp is created through a 

 to preserve all the healing compounds of the hemp plant, which helps to restore the body to its natural state and promote healing.

Researchers from Oregon State University recently published a study in 

 (1,2) about two cannabinoids—cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA)—preventing COVID-19 infection. Can you tell us about some of the study’s findings?

 I always knew that the initial form of cannabinoids CBDA and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) were much more effective than regular CBD at improving people’s mental and physical health, including their immune system. That’s why I created Nesas hemp extract years ago, while the entire industry was focused on CBD. The study done by researchers at Oregon State University underscores what I’ve known for years—CBDA has medicinal properties. The big takeaway from this study, however, is that the compounds that help prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human cells are CBGA and CBDA, not the generic CBD compounds that are found in so many hemp products today. That's because CBGA and CBDA are produced using raw, living hemp, which ensures the healthy compounds that naturally occur in the plant end up in the final product that is eventually consumed by people. Regular CBD products are often made by burning the plant, which is not only carcinogenic but also damages the molecular structure of the plant and changes its medicinal properties. In fact, research shows CBDA is 1,000 times more potent than CBD and helps reduce inflammation, improve digestion, improve sleep, and can stabilize moods.

How do you feel this helps cannabis shed its negative image?

 This study adds to the growing body of evidence that shows CBDA has medicinal properties that can help people live happier and healthier lives. I have seen firsthand the benefits of CBDA that have helped people improve their health, from relieving chronic aches and pains to easing their mental tension and improving their mood. I expect that more studies like this will continue to show us that CBDA is an effective alternative to traditional pharmaceutical drugs that often have unwanted side effects.

How did providing COVID-19 patients with the cannabinoid, CBDA, help them get better?

 While I was not part of the study, nor am I a doctor, people who have had COVID-19 and used our CBDA hemp extra have reported improvement in their breathing, fewer body aches, and faster recovery times. Some people that used our hemp extract consistently before getting COVID-19 also reported very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Why is CBDA better to use than other traditional CBD or other cannabinoid products?

 There has been a lot of research over the past few years that shows CBDA is more effective than regular CBD. One study indicated that 

 an affinity as compared to processed CBD (5). The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor is the active target for the popular class of antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Several studies also report CBDA is a superior anti-nausea and anti-emetic agent compared to CBD. The action of CBDA on the serotonin system measures 1,000 times more potent than that of CBD, and so may play an important role in helping cancer patients survive treatment and feel better while reducing potential drug interactions and side effects. CBDA and THCA can begin breaking down at high temperatures (above the boiling point of water) and exposure to the elements; therefore, products containing CBDA must be produced, shipped, and stored gently, in cool, airtight containers without exposure to daylight. When it comes to hemp for health, the wisdom is in the living plant, with the quality and purity shown best in the certificate of authentication (CoA) essay numbers. The best products will always be the ones with the best balance of the right compounds and none of the wrong ones.

Have you seen other benefits to using cannabis in the COVID-19 pandemic?

 Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans have reported increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness and it’s likely to only get worse as the pandemic drags on. In fact, last year the

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 reported that at least 41 percent of US adults struggled with their mental health, with 31 percent reporting anxiety symptoms because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pharmaceuticals, such as sleep aids and anti-anxiety or anti-depression medications might be effective for some; however, the negative side effects and the possibility of addiction are common fears and occurrences. Because of the negative side effects from over-the-counter medications, many Americans are choosing alternative therapies such as hemp-based products that include CBD and, more recently, 

. While CBD has become popular among people looking for alternative therapies, in recent years, more and more research has shown that 

Since launching the product, it has been used by thousands of people worldwide to help them deal with a wide range of mental health challenges, including helping to promote better sleep, stabilize their moods, ease mental tension, increase focus, and help cope with stress. The health benefits offered by Nesas Hemp are also backed by a 

 that shows products that use CBDA can help

 improve the amount of serotonin activity

 in the brain, which helps to moderate emotions and balance people’s moods. CBDA has also been shown to have 

 (5-HT) affinity compared to processed CBD.

What would you like to see change in the cannabis industry in the next 5 years?

 I would love to see more people understand the medicinal and therapeutic value of CBDA. Our world is inundated with traditional pharmaceutical drugs, and I firmly believe that there are plenty of alternative therapies such as CBDA that can help people live happier and healthier lives without the negative side effects caused by traditional drugs. I would also like to see the cannabis industry put people ahead of profits and produce better quality products. This will likely require more regulation and a push from consumers for more transparency.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

 I hope more and more people will soon realize how powerful CBDA is for the mind, body, and soul, and that if used consistently, it can help people live happier and healthier lives. To learn more about Nesas Hemp and why CBDA is better for you than CBD please visit my 

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/new-laboratory-study-shows-covid-19-infection-prevented-by-cannabis-compounds

https://fortune.com/2022/01/12/cannabis-compounds-stop-covid-virus-infecting-human-cells-lab-study/

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/groundbreaking-covid-19-study-shows-cbd-may-help-inhibit-infection

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/gb-sciences-shares-potential-cannabinoid-based-covid-19-treatment-as-omicron-variant-surges-worldwide

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181988/pdf/DialoguesClinNeurosci-12-471.pdf

As time passes and more research comes to light regarding COVID-19, additional research is also needed for cannabis and its various cannabinoids. Through new data, cannabis has shown that it has more to offer than the stigma it has been clouded by. In this interview, Inesa Ponomariovaite, founder of Nesas Hemp and a holistic health coach, discusses the untapped medicinal properties of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabigerolic acid (CGBA) for COVID-19 prevention and treatment and why CBDA is the top cannabinoid.

CBDA and CBGA Promote Milder COVID-19 Symptoms Among Other Medicinal Health Benefits

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced his plans to file a bill in April 2022 to federally legalize cannabis (1,2). He also said in a letter to colleagues that he and other senators have already received comments on the draft from a broad array of relevant sources and are requesting input from leaders of relevant committees and from senators who have dealt with legalization in their own states.

Schumer first disclosed details about his Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act (CAOA), which he unveiled in draft form for public comment in July 2021, and he expects committee hearings on the proposal shortly after it’s formally filed.

“One major hurdle continues to stand in the way of states’ ability to make their own decisions about cannabis—the continued prohibition of marijuana at the federal level,” said Schumer. “As more and more states move to legalize cannabis for both adult and medical use, the federal government has an important role to play. Hundreds of millions of Americans live in states that have legalized cannabis in some form while it remains illegal at the federal level.”

The proposal would federally deschedule cannabis, expunge prior convictions, allow people to petition for resentencing, maintain the authority of states to set their own cannabis policies, and remove collateral consequences such as immigration-related penalties for people who’ve been criminalized over the plant.

The bill would also impose a federal tax on cannabis products and direct some of that revenue to grant programs meant to support people from communities most impacted by the prohibition who want to participate in the industry. It would transfer regulatory authority over cannabis from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/schumer-plans-to-file-marijuana-legalization-bill-in-april-as-top-house-lawmaker-details-his-own-reform-plan/

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/schumer-asks-senators-to-help-shape-marijuana-legalization-bill-he-plans-to-file-soon/

In February, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer explained in a press conference and in a letter to colleagues the details of his bill to federally legalize cannabis and announced his plan to introduce it in the coming weeks.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Announces Updates to Bill to Federally Legalize Cannabis

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) recently released their annual report on the medical cannabis laws in each US state and territory, called the State of the States report (1). ASA distributes the report each year to legislators and regulators in every state as well as to hundreds of health organizations and patient organizations with the goal of providing a solution-oriented platform for advocating patient needs and rights to elected officials.

The report evaluated the effectiveness of each state cannabis program from a patient perspective and assigns a grade using a rubric that reflects key categories affecting patients, such as:

New to the report this year, were the evaluations of affordability as well as health and social equity. In addition, penalties were included for policies that actively harm patients.

In tandem with the report, ASA also hosted an editorial board webinar intended to provide an in-depth analysis of the data and a broader understanding of the issues that patients currently face. The webinar opened with comments from Steph Sherer, founder and President of ASA, who stated, “This report definitely underlines the amount of work we all still have to do.”

The webinar also featured commentary from Pennsylvania State Representative Chris Rabb and Nikki Lawley, a traumatic brain injury survivor, LPN, and medical cannabis patient. Abbey Roudebush, ASA’s Director of Government Affairs, led the deep dive analysis into the data. The average grade among states was 44%, the highest score was 76% and a 0% grade was given to the states with full prohibition on cannabis. Roudebush also listed several important takeaways to remember while analyzing the data. For example, she noted that most medical cannabis programs in the US are growing and accepting more patients, the need to maintain and promote medical cannabis programs while legalizing recreational use is still important, and also that state medical cannabis programs cannot reach their full potential without change in federal law.

“With a decline in legislative improvements in state medical cannabis programs, millions of patients are left with limited or no access. It is ASA’s hope that the report will inspire a renewed commitment to patients by policymakers to improve state laws and end the federal prohibition once and for all,” said Debbie Churgai, Executive Director of ASA.

For more information on the report or ASA, please visit: 

https://www.safeaccessnow.org/nation_s_largest_medical_cannabis_patient_organization_releases_report_on_efficacy_of_state_medical_cannabis_laws

https://www.safeaccessnow.org/sos21_webinar_record?utm_campaign=sos21_webinar_recording&utm_medium=email&utm_source=americansforsafeaccess

Americans for Safe Access’s (ASA) State of the States report evaluates each state cannabis program from a patient perspective and assigns a grade that reflects patient rights and access to medical cannabis. ASA has released the report annually since 2014 and included two new core categories in the rubric for 2021. This year marks 25 years since the first implementation of a state cannabis law in the US and 20 years since ASA began working with state officials on medical cannabis laws.

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