A Big Moment in History~Cannabis Rescheduled

I think we all know that right now is a big time in history for so many reasons. It's such an unprecedented time with so much social injustice happening, simultaneous disregard for our judicial system, gaping lack of attention from standing lawmakers allowing this level of tyrancy to exist, infringements on natural spaces, rights being take away that were voted on so long ago, I'm not even sure why they're up for discussion. 

Then....in the midst of it all to have Cannabis rescheduled as Schedule 3 and not classified as a Schedule 1 drug anymore is such a win that it's difficult to really grasp amidst such chaos happening everywhere. But this is a win, it' a really big win!

Our students are aware of the deceit that took place in order for it to be classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the first place. They also know Cannabis wasn't always classified this way and that it used to be an integral part of American Pharmacopia. Doctors prescribed it for patients who suffered with insomnia and pain. 

When the DEA started the prohibition, they made up the word, ‘Marijuana,’ to pass the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, making it illegal. They used the most common Mexican girl name, ‘Mary’ and they used the most common Mexican boy name, ‘Juan’ and put them together to make ‘Marijuana.’

Dr. Woodward of the American Medical Association is on record saying that they (the MDs) would have tried to protest that law from passing if they had known it was Cannabis because they were aware of the benefits. Making Cannabis illegal removed a valuable tool from their medicine belt.  

But now... now with this reclassification, doors will open for Cannabis patients! Not only will they not feel like they are utilizing the benefits of a compound in the same class as heroin, but they will hopefully have more access and be able to have coverage on their medicine from their insurance provider!

With this new classification, Cannabis will have the same funding possibilities for research as any other herb. When I completed the Clinical Cannabinoid Medicine Curriculum in 2017, we were taught that there were over 80 cannabinoids found in the plant. As the years progressed, that number grew to over 100, then 112, now we are aware of 120 different cannabinoids found in the plant.

And who knows, through more research maybe we'll discover even more! When I was writing the Cannabis Edition of Discover The Essence Of Plant Medicine, The Five Principles Of Lifesaving Herbs, research was released on the effects of CBD and CBG cannabinoids confirming they prevented the Covid virus from penetrating human cells. What a breakthrough discovery! I wonder what else they'll discover about this amazing plant with more research...

Cannabinoid receptors are virtually absent in brainstem cardiorespiratory centers meaning there’s 
NO LETHAL OVERDOSE!

The beauty of Cannabis medicine for me is the fact that noone has ever died from it. It's safe medicine. It's effective, works fast and does not include debilitating side effects. 

When I was a kid, there was a commercial with an egg frying in a frying pan and they said this was your brain on drugs meaning Cannabis. We were told that it's bad for your brain, makes you dumb, kills your brain cells and you never get more...but now we know the exact opposite is true through years of research.

The US goverment actually got a patent in 2003 for utilizing cannabinoids for neurological disorders.

Neural Plasiticity

Are you familiar with neural plasiticity?

This involves the sprouting and pruning of synapses; changes in dendritic spine density and changes neurotransmitter pathways, gives rise to all types of adaptive learning such as recovering after a stroke and the conscious act of learning a new skill or unconscious acquisition of new emotional response or a pathological process central sensitization for pain.

Ways by which cannabinoids modulate neural plasticity include neurogenesis and the formation of new neurons. From the Department of Health and Human Services on a patent on the use of cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants: the author describes the benefits of using cannabinoids in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, etc.

There are over 250 different medicial conditions that we now of that are a result of an Endocannabinoid deficiency~Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Huntington's, IBS, Crohn's disease, PMS, hormonal imbalances, seizure disorders, migraines, etc., the list goes on. 

Endocannabinoid System and Pain 

The functioning of this system is the ‘first line of defense’ against pain. The Endocannabinoid System is heavily involved in pain signaling.

Preclinical models have shown that Endocannabinoid activation causes antinociceptive in the major types of pain: Acute Pain, Persistent Pain Persistent Inflammatory, Neuropathic Pain. The antinociceptive effects of Cannabis involve many mechanisms; Central Nervous System, Spinal Cord, Peripheral Nervous System.

Utilizing the Descending Pain Inhibitory Pathway in the brain is the mechanism by which cannabinoids are able to decrease nociception and decrease the perception of pain. Cannabinoids signaling CB1 receptors will decrease the release of activators and sensitizers around the site of injury.

Cannabis and C@N(er

THC’s Special Abilities 

• Kills c@N(er cells- causes apoptosis, cell suicide, instant death
• Prevents angiogenesis: the growth of new blood vessels to feed the tumor
• Anti-proliferative:prevents spread and growth of tumors
• Lasts longer than our own cannabinoids

Research

If you're wondering how research has been performed, many discoveries have come from Israel where a clinic is utilizing cannabinoid medicine with amazing results including stories of recovery and healing. It's been around for a long time. Dr. Rapheal Mechulun, the father of Cannabis research was an amazing doctor with an incredible research team that we owe much of our knowledge about Cannabis to. The first one in the 1960's to reveal the structure of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), identifying the Endocannabinoid System. 

Psychoactivity

The major difference between Hemp and Cannabis is the psychoactivity. CBD has no psychoactive effect whereas Cannabis does because of it's higher THC content.

To some people psychoactive means, 'being high,’ means you act silly, laugh alot, smile, eat a lot of food... right?  This is what most people consider, 'being high’ or that's what they think it is, anyway.  And for some, depending on their consumption, and many other factors, this can be what it's like. Especially, for a 'recreational user,' who is just trying to have fun.

But, what if, the people who were afraid of a psychoactive component didn't have anything to be afraid of? 

• What if, 'psychoactive' meant having a different way of looking at things...
• What if, 'psychoactive' meant being more creative...
• What if, 'psychoactive' meant feeling more relaxed...
• What if 'psychoactive' meant having more patience...
• What if 'psychoactive' meant that it gave you a different perspective...
• What if 'psychoactive' meant that you were stimulating parts of your brain that you never have before?

Psychocactive does not have to be detrimental, remember that.

Ratios  

CBD mitigates the effects of THC...meaning that it prevents you from getting super high or having extreme psychoactivity. It evens it out for you, which is great for someone who needs the benefits of THC, but feels paranoia or anxiety or just a ‘high’ that they don’t want to experience.

And who has no desire to turn to pharmaceuticals, these patients can experiment with CBD and THC together. By finding that perfect balance for yourself, you can not only balance out the effects of the THC, but also gain the benefits of the CBD. So, by balancing out one, you are not losing anything, you are actually gaining. Combining the two actually stimulates what’s called ‘The Entourage Effect,’ and the benefits on the body are 2x-4x greater when combined.

Safe for children and recommended for children with ADHD or Autism

They have found that children with an ADHD and Autism diagnoses function better, communicate more clearly and are more vocal using CBD/THC oil versus pharmaceutical medications that have never been tested on children, because that would be illegal and unethical.

Opiods and Cannabis

Prevents building tolerance with opioids and dose escalation.

Assisted in weaning off of narcotics.

What do you think?

I'm really hoping that if you didn't know before that you know now how many possible benefits you may receive from the properties of the Cannabis plant!