2019 August

As far back as the 1800s,scientistsrealized that there arevaluable effects incannabis. Extensive research in the United States and England on cannabis in the 1930s came to a halt with the beginning of World War II and did not pick up again afterwards due to the various laws and regulations that classified the plant as a drug.Legal issuescontinued to inhibit serious study until half a century ago, when Prof. Raphael Mechoulam (b. 1930) of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem isolated and synthesized the main psychoactive compound in cannabis: THC.

Back then, accessing cannabis for research purposes was not necessarily simple. Prof. Mechoulam contacted a friend who worked for the police, who provided him with seized hashish (which also originates from marijuana) for Mechoulam’s medical research.

In the early 60s, Mechoulam and his research partners had full knowledge of the structure of CBD(cannabidiol), an important cannabis ingredient. In the next few years they managed to isolate THC, establish its structure and synthesize it.Further years of collaborative research demonstrated that THC is the main ingredient which triggers specific receptors in the brain in the similar way to chemicals in the human body. Together with the cell’s receptors, these compounds work to protect against many conditions as well as syndromes.

The important discoveries made by Prof. Mechoulam and his team not only changed Prof. Mechoulam’s life path, but also the lives of millions of patients around the world – the ability to isolate the active substance in cannabis formed the foundation for an entire industry basedsolely on a single plant and the variations within its’ strains. Thecannabis plant is now being studied at an unprecedented pace.

The long list of medical conditions which medical cannabis helps to alleviate is all thanks to the revolutionary discoveries made by Prof. Mechoulam and his team in the early 60s. Based on such revelations, programs such as the one established byIsraeli Ministry of Health are able to provide eligible patients with the necessary permits to legally purchase medical cannabis.

Signs of Prof. Mechoulam’s sensational discovery are evident to this day – Israel is seen as a major player in the field of medical cannabis and has been at the forefront of the study of the plant’s virtues. More clinical trials in cannabis are currently being conducted in this tiny countrythan in any other country across the globe. The conclusions of these studies have benefited the lives of countless patients around the world – from oncology patients, through children with autism, epilepsy, post-traumatic patients, to elderly people with Parkinson’s.

Now in his 80s and still very much active I his field of research, Prof. Mechoulam will give a keynote lecture on his current findings and outlook on the cannabinoid system and where we stand todayon September 9during CannX Tel Aviv, an annual conference series focusing to the most relevant developments, innovations and opportunities in this medical field. To learn more about CannX, click here.

As medical marijuana continues to blaze its path all throughout Canada and the rest of North America, demand for its products and accessories continue to grow. Recent waves of legalization have opened up new opportunities for patients who have long been suffering from various illnesses and disorders of all types. CBD hemp treatments have shown great promise and effectiveness in helping people with a broad range of issues.

Not only has this form of therapy become a popular agent for physical problems such as chronic pain, insomnia, and fibromyalgia, as well as the side effects from cancer treatments, it has also been effective in treating neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. And that’s not all; psychological disorders such as Anorexia, ADHD, and bulimia, have been shown to respond well to medical cannabis prescriptions, as have even some emotional conditions like depression and anxiety.

The first step to beginning this course of therapy is to apply for and receive approval for a medical marijuana prescription. The process is not a difficult one, but it needs to be done correctly all the way from filling out the paperwork accurately and sending it to the proper agencies which handle the applications, to having the medical professional’s recommendation for this type of treatment for your condition.

Obtaining a Prescription

The first thing that is needed before you have your initial consultation regarding medicinal cannabis therapy and whether or not it is the right choice for you, is a copy of your medical file and treatment history. This can be acquired by a simple request to your current personal or family physician. Often times patients may be hesitant or nervous about asking for such a document for fear of having to answer a bunch of questions or justify their request. There is no need to feel this way.

These are your records concerning your body. You have a legal right to access them at any time without providing any reason or further information regarding why you need them. The worst case scenario is that your doctor might require a written, formal request for the purposes of record keeping. Other than that, you should face no further issues. While this is not necessary if your primary physician is the one you will be consulting with regard to the possibility of medical cannabis treatments, for people seeking other opinions these files will be necessary.

Working with Specialty Clinics and Doctors

It can be advantageous to partner up with health facilities that specialize in this form of therapy as their superior knowledge in the field, and access to larger varieties of specific strains can be much more helpful when deciding which particular medication would be best for your condition(s). For medical practitioners who offer CBD products as only one of many options, their lack of expertise can often times result in an inefficient treatment program.

Filling Your Prescription

As previously mentioned, this is another advantage of working with one of the specialized health and wellness centres whose doctors and staff focus solely on medical cannabis. In addition to the fact that many of them have years of experience studying various medical conditions and how different individual strains work to treat and manage each symptom, they also have access to Licensed Providers which offer a higher quality grade of medicines than are available in retail outlets and dispensaries.

In addition to the fact that these clinics take the guesswork out of which strands to purchase for the patient, they also continue to work with them all throughout the course of the treatment, monitoring their progress and making any changes or adjustments that may be necessary, such as trying different prescriptions or adjusting the dosage based on the individual’s evolving needs.