Do you, like one of our current Academy students, have questions regarding:
Industrial hemp oil vs whole plant cannabis oil?
THC + CBD synergy?
CBD tolerance + dosage?
Unless you’re an expert in the field, the chances are, you do. And, you’re not alone.
In fact, one of the greatest challenges the medicinal cannabis community faces, is separating long-standing assumptions from science-driven fact.
In our global effort to communicate, educate, and empower individuals to make thoughtful decisions about medical cannabis, the Holistic Cannabis Academy proudly partners and works closely with its expert faculty members to bring you the answers and clarity you seek.
QUESTION: [From my understanding] “hemp oil doesn’t even begin to compare to the medicinal uses of Cannabis”. [Is this true?]
ANSWER: I used to have this opinion as well. Then, I started using and recommending CBD. During the last three years I have found that over 90% of patients achieve major improvements in their conditions without any significant THC contained in high quality CBD extracts from industrial hemp. There may be ways to get around the psychoactive effects of THC but the vast majority of people with whom I contact do not want anything that interferes with their cognition for any amount of time.
QUESTION: “The research shows that THC and CBD work together synergistically.” [Does THC need to be paired with CBD to produce desired therapeutic results?]
ANSWER: It is true that some research shows this and other research shows that CBD alone is very effective in many conditions. The latter is consistent with my clinical experience as well. Unfortunately, I have not had much clinical experience with THC-containing cannabis products. With those few cases the individuals were unable to tell me any details about the product they were using in terms of CBD or THC, extraction methods, analysis, purity, or consistency. Perhaps that will change with time, legislation, regulation and expense. Full product analysis from third party testing by the batch is available from high quality industrial hemp CBD suppliers like Elixinol, Inc.
QUESTION: We all know that people build up a tolerance to the psychoactive effects of THC but there seems to be a question as to whether people build up a tolerance to the medicinal benefits of CBD. What have you seen or read in your experience?”
ANSWER: “If you mean that higher doses are required to achieve the same benefits I have seen no tolerance issues with CBD. In fact, there appears to be some reverse tolerance in that users can reduce the dose by 50-75% while maintaining the same benefits.
In addition, CBD appears to reduce the tolerance of opioids and other drugs, meaning a decrease in those drug requirements. The mechanism appears to be the modulation of opioid receptors rather than any change in drug levels of those substances. Furthermore, I have seen the reductions in addictive symptoms from opioids as well as reductions in withdrawal effects for opioids, nicotine and benzodiazepines. Recently, I learned from Dr. Bonnie Goldstein, MD, that in some cases of long duration of THC/CBD in epilepsy had sudden failure to control seizures which was corrected and resolved with skipping 4 doses of cannabis. The same occurred for one of my clients and was restored to effectiveness at a lower dose after 2 days off CBD.”
Learn more about the Holistic Cannabis Academy and get the insight, expertise and holistic cannabis education you need and deserve.
Three cheers for another (not so) small step for cannabis legislation and one giant leap for progressive US healthcare.
Without a doubt, Election Day 2016 was a transformational moment not only in American politics but also for the cannabis movement. Indeed, the people have spoken, and cannabis continues to gain acceptance and availability throughout the country.
This is not only great news for those states voting in favor of legalization, but for all who continue to wait for the Federal Government to reschedule or deschedule this ancient, medicinal plant. State by state, the entire country is being redefined. Surely, the Federal Government can’t be far behind.
As of now, 28 states plus the District of Columbia have some form of legalized cannabis use, demonstrating that most Americans recognize and favor the value of this medicinal plant. Regardless of where you live, this legislative success story means that cannabis continues to gain acceptance and become legally available throughout the country.
Here’s how it played out.
Medical Cannabis Gains Ground
Four states – Florida, Arkansas, Montana and North Dakota – gave the thumbs up to moving some form of medical cannabis legislation forward. This means more than half the US states (28 in total) plus DC now allow some type of access to medical marijuana. Keep in mind that as with all medical use legislation, every state has different specifics about qualifying medical conditions, grow and dispensary licensing, and retail availability.
Florida – This is exciting because two years ago, Florida narrowly missed achieving the 60% vote needed. In this past election, the cannabis referendum cleared the hurdle with a whopping 70% vote. Because the Sunshine State has such a large older population, which often requires health services, this win carries significance to the legislative movement.
North Dakota – An amendment was approved to allow medical use for certain health conditions and for patients to grow a small number of plants when they live more than 40 miles from a dispensary.
Arkansas – Interesting contrast here because although Donald Trump garnered 61 percent of the vote, Arkansas approved medical marijuana and became the first state in the Deep South to do so. A red state passing progressive legislation hopefully sends a signal to the feds.
Montana – The new law reverses an earlier ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that had limited providers to only three patients each and now adds PTSD to the list of qualifying health conditions.
Adult Use Cannabis Expands Before November 8th, four states had approved adult use marijuana – Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington State, and the District of Columbia. That number increased to seven with the addition of California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Maine. Arizona is the only state where adult use did not pass, so it remains a medical use only state.
California – Building on its existing medical use law, this is a huge win for cannabis advocates everywhere simply because of the state’s market size. Coupled with Washington and Oregon, the entire West Coast now has adult use laws in place. Many feel this will also influence cannabis progress in South American and Mexico. Additionally, it may put more pressure on the US government to make a sweeping federal change. Stay tuned!
New England Region – Though small in size, Maine’s progressive approach may trickle down and influence the rest of New England. Both Maine and Massachusetts took a step forward by expanding adult use to their existing medical programs. Is this the start of an East Coast movement?
Nevada – Already offering medical marijuana, this can only be a boon to Nevada’s already robust tourism business. This translates to more tax dollars and employment opportunities – positive moves for any state.
Here’s what it means to you
Simply put, these changes mean increased freedoms and increased choices. If ever there was an exciting time for personal and professional growth in the holistic cannabis industry, it’s now.
For millions of people suffering from immunity-related illness and their healthcare providers, this, and other critical questions deserve thoughtful consideration and understanding. Why? Because getting it right is not an option.
While this may seem like a small detail, it’s one of hundreds you and others will examine and discuss at the Holistic Cannabis Academy. If you’re looking for real information from creditable sources on topics that are important to you and your clients, we’ve got you covered.
You have questions, the Holistic Cannabis Academy has answers!
Canna-curious individuals and holistic practitioners just like you are asking all the right questions, and here’s a great example of the little gems you can uncover as a member of our Holistic Cannabis Academy community. Consider it a sneak look at the type of stimulating conversation taking place between our students and faculty in addition to the unique core training we offer. Check it out!
One of the Academy features is an interactive private Facebook page and one of our current Academy students, Ric Tyler, (who also happens to be a health coach in training), brought up a great question. Ric was wondering about what appeared to be an inconsistency in the patient education collateral materials provided by our faculty, Prashanti de Jager, for his presentation, The Ayurvedic + Vedic Constituents of Cannabis. Prashanti’s materials stated cannabis can compromise, not enhance, immunity and that seemed, well, counterintuitive.
We literally tracked Prashanti down while trekking in the Himalayas and his ever-so-gently edited response follows below.
“First of all, thank you for your participation and secondly for your clearly astute recognition of an apparent paradox in the Ayurvedic description. Allow me to explain.
We all have some amount of vitality, and that vitality helps to keep our immunity strong. This is a standard concept in the West. We also know that there is Western science that states Cannabis supports immunity. In Ayurveda, along with the concept of vitality, there is also the concept of Ojas, which is the density of vitality/immunity.
Just as a house has a facade and a foundation, so does vitality/immunity. The support of the facade is not necessarily the support of the foundation. And here the twain – the more superficial mass-centric world view Western concept and the deeper energy-centric world view Eastern model – diverge.
Ayurveda notices that Cannabis in many forms, but not all, attenuates Ojas by drying it, and thus the density, or if you wish, the deep endurance of immunity, is diminished. Thus long term use, especially in certain forms and certain constitutions, will surely diminish immunity.
So this is not so important in most medical marijuana situations as the treatments are, like any other herb, short in duration. In long-term frequent recreational use, however, such as either smoking or eating, this attenuation of immunity will occur, again, especially in certain constitutions.”
Does this sound like the type of cannabis education you’ve been looking for? Education that goes way beyond just the obvious and speaks to your intellect? If so, then this training is for you.
Academy registrants agree that there’s no better way to fully understand and appreciate the therapeutic aspects of cannabis than through the detailed and holistic-focused training available only through the Holistic Cannabis Academy. Our approach to cannabis education is truly unique and holistic in scope.
What’s in it for you? By aligning with this type of education, you’ll empower yourself, your family, clients and anyone you touch with this same forward-thinking approach to cannabis medicine.
We invite you to learn more and decide if this is online holistic cannabis education program is right for you. Browse through our curriculum to get the specifics on the fascinating topics we cover. View the academy details and get to know our esteemed faculty.
The DEA appeared to be on the verge of approving cannabis as a Schedule II drug – a move that would have drastically diminished the stigma and cannaphobia. What happened?
The Country was on the edge of its seat for cannabis rescheduling
Cannabis advocates, healthcare professionals, and patients were hopeful that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) would announce that this ancient plant would finally be redefined as a Schedule II substance. Instead, the DEA opted not to give the official green light, resulting in continued waiting for those who could benefit from the medicinal properties of cannabis. For now, cannabis remains classified under the severe restrictions of a Schedule I drug.
In a 26-page letter from the DEA, officials stated that they “hope to release its determination in the first half of 2016.” Yet, as we waited with baited breath for the DEA to make this historical revision in cannabis classification, the change never came.
The Difference between Schedule I and Schedule II Drug Classification
The DEA drug classification system ranges from Schedule I to Schedule V. Schedule I drugs are considered to have no medicinal value and be the most lethal and threatening categories. In that category, cannabis keeps company with heroin, LSD, and peyote, while cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone are classified as Schedule II drugs. Those who are convicted of trafficking any Schedule I drug are subject to the harshest punishments – a maximum fine between $1 million and $5 million and up to 20 years in prison.
What Experts Have to Say on the Scheduling
“Marijuana was scheduled among some of the most harmful and deleterious substances that affect the United States and its society,” says Robert Hoban, Holistic Cannabis Academy faculty and member of the Boulder, Colorado Marijuana Policy Advisory Committee and attorney with Hoban & Feola, one of the nation’s top cannabis law firms. “Today, marijuana is still defined as a schedule 1 controlled substance with no known medical uses despite the fact that a number of states have determined that cannabis does have medicinal properties that are far ranging.”
The Benefits of Cannabis Reclassification
Moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II would normalize the culture surrounding cannabis. Reclassifying the herb would open doors for medical researchers to conduct more studies about the plant, in turn encouraging opportune ties to advance theories of its medicinal benefits.
Yet, in order for marijuana to make the shift to Schedule II, it has to go through a lengthy eight-step bureaucratic process.
DEA makes a request for the Assistant Secretary of Health to reschedule the drug
Assistant Secretary of Health (ASH) needs to recommend rescheduling
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the rescheduling
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) conducts a scientific review
National Institute on Drug Abuse considers the recommendation and signs-off
Back to the FDA and ASH for another sign-off
DEA triples checks and the recommendation is officially published
DEA releases a final notices on the scheduling action.
What Made the DEA to Stop Short?
Unfortunately, the FDA stopped the recommendation before it even got to the CDER. Claiming that cannabis has a “high potential for abuse” and that it “lacked accepted safety for use under medical supervision.”
Despite the volume in petitions to reclassify marijuana and the growing number of states across the US legalizing both medical and adult use cannabis, there’s no telling if the Federal government will reevaluate their stance.
New Information = Newfound Determination.
A recent poll from Gallup indicates that that 60 percent of Americans support legalizing cannabis – the highest level of support recorded in 47 years. Particularly interesting is that favoring cannabis legislation is up among all age groups. Based on 2015 estimates, cannabis law reform results may impact about 82 million Americans.
“When Gallup first asked this question in 1969, 12% of Americans supported the legalization of marijuana use. In the late 1970s, support rose to 28% but began to retreat in the 1980s during the era of the “Just Say No” to drugs campaign. Support stayed in the 25% range through 1995, but increased to 31% in 2000 and has continued climbing since then.”
Is This the End of Cannaphobia as We Know it?
Could it be that cannaphobia is mitigating across the country? Will this sentiment combined with state legalization for a possible total of 29 states with medical marijuana laws – either medical, adult, or both – finally incite Congress to deschedule cannabis?
Get Out the Vote + Help Change the World
Will you be doing your part to vote for progressive cannabis laws this year? We sure hope so. As an enlightened and enthusiastic supporter of the Holistic Cannabis Network and Holistic Cannabis Academy, we highly encourage you to join with us to keep the ground-swell of support for legalized cannabis moving in the right direction. Your vote will make a difference and every voice needs to be heard. Casting your vote to legalize and let’s end the cannaphobia once and for all.
When it comes to holistic health practices, knowledge and conscious consumption are critical to success.
On August 22, integrative clinical nutritionist and co-founder of the Holistic Cannabis Network, Laura Lagano will share her in-depth knowledge of holistic medical cannabis and its many therapeutic uses with attendees at the upcoming the Alchemist’s Kitchen Evolver Learning Lab event.
This in-store event is aimed at helping members of their New York community learn about the health benefits of medical marijuana and incorporating cannabis a holistic lifestyle.
Laura Lagano, MS, RDN, CDN, has dedicated her life to helping create and hasten the paradigm shift regarding the treatment and prevention of chronic illness. As holistic-leaning modalities continue to garner respect and reach the masses as a viable and preferred healing modality, so too does medical marijuana.
Through the Holistic Cannabis Network, Laura provides all interested parties with medical cannabis education via an engaging series of learning modules through the Holistic Cannabis Academy.
Are you cannabis curious? If you’re in the NYC area, please join us at The Alchemist’s Kitchen on August 22nd and meet Laura or click the links below for more information on how you can become cannabis competent!
About the Holistic Cannabis Academy: The Holistic Cannabis Academy® (HCA) is an education, training, and mentoring program founded by two registered dietitian nutritionists who have always been ahead of the curve. First, in food and nutrition communications before the field became saturated with media dietitians. Second, in culinary nutrition before the field was even invented. Third, in functional medicine, which remains an emerging area of practice. And now, in cannabis as medical marijuana leads the way in natural medicine. Learn more about the Holistic Cannabis Academy
About The Alchemist’s Kitchen: The Alchemist’s Kitchen is dedicated to connecting its customers with the power of plants. Working with the finest herbalists, who produce high quality botanical medicines, herbal remedies, and whole plant beauty products, the Alchemist’s Kitchen celebrates artisanship, sustainability, and conscious living. The mission: to support the global need to increase plant diversity and to share of ancient wisdom from indigenous cultures. Learn more The Alchemist’s Kitchen
The formative years of adulthood – between 18 and 25 – is the time when you develop the blueprint for your lifelong personality. Research from the University of Haifa in Israel reveals that the use of cannabis during this period in the life cycle of rats can prevent the long-term, negative effects of early life stress.
“ …the endocannabinoid system has been suggested as a therapeutic target for the treatment of stress- and anxiety-related disorders. Here we examined whether cannabinoids administered during “late adolescence” (extensive cannabis use in humans at the ages 18-25) could reverse the long-term adverse effects of ES on neurocognitive function in adulthood.”
Scientists came to this discovery by exposing rats to stress during their post-natal period. Then they were injected with a cannabinoid CB1/2 receptor for a 2-week period – a time corresponding with late adolescence. Later, they were tested for memory and anxiety. It was discovered that the cannabis had prevented any “stress-induced impairments,” and they had lower anxiety levels in comparison to the rats who were not injected with cannabis.
This study serves as a reminder as to how important it is to practice compassion and empathy towards ourselves while we are developing into adults. Consuming cannabis is a viable approach in practicing self-care during this vulnerable time.
This study “Cannabinoids reverse the effects of early stress on neurocognitive performance in adulthood” was published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
