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RECAP: The Eighth National Clinical Conference On Cannabis Therapeutics

The Eighth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics recently concluded after an educational three days of presentations. From May 8-10, hundreds of doctors learned about how the endocannabinoid system is somehow connected to nearly every major disease and how phytocannabinoids can play a role in treatment.

The theme of the Conference was “The Endocannabinoid System and Age-Related Illnesses”, and the vast majority of presentations remained focused on this topic.

Day One: Targeted Workshops

patients out of timeThe first day of the Conference on Thursday consisted of workshops targeted to different groups, including doctors, nurses, and lawyers. At the doctors workshop, physicians from many fields discussed the science and real-world applications of cannabis medicine.

Dr. Dustin Sulak was a crowd favorite, with his inspiring energy and intelligent grasp of the endocannabinoid system. He presented on the ECS’ role in postsynaptic feedback and how endocannabinoids are synthesized on demand to complete the circuit of cellular communication.

Dr. Jeffrey Hergenrather, who addressed the scientific mechanisms behind how cannabinoids kill and inhibit various cancers.”

Other doctors talked about the role of cannabinoids in pain management, cardiovascular health, and cancer.

Leading the way on the cancer front was Dr. Jeffrey Hergenrather, who addressed the scientific mechanisms behind how cannabinoids kill and inhibit various cancers. Most excitingly, he presented on the actual use of extracts to treat cancer in humans, including more details about Dr. William Courtney’s well-known child brain cancer patient.

Dr. Hergenrather then pulled up a slide listing other cancers sensitive to cannabis therapy, which included nearly all major, common forms of cancer. He talked about other cases he’d seen success with and the importance of various THC:CBD ratios; Dr. Hergenrather later confirmed that his list was derived from patients he was actually working with and not just the promising cellular scientific studies of cannabinoids treating those cancers.

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Day Two: Formal Presentations

Friday was the start of the main presentations, which included the use of cannabis as an adaptogen and its application in treating pain, Alzheimer’s, hepatitis C, and more. There were also two presentations on cannabis and cancer, the second of which was led by Dr. Donald Abrams.

Dr. Abrams’ presentation was mainly focused on the use of cannabis to alleviate side effects of chemotherapy and cancer symptoms (palliative), he did finish by addressing the use of cannabis oil for cancer.

Historically, Dr. Abrams has been highly skeptical of cannabis actually treating cancer in humans, but he did not at all demean the growing use of cannabis extracts for direct cancer treatment. He instead focused on the reasons why cannabis oil research has been prevented, although he did point out that smoking alone won’t fight cancer.

Dr. Abrams’ lack of criticism, combined with other subtle details and the way he presented this topic, told me that he’s starting to see the healing power of cannabis.

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Day Three: More Presentations and the Patient Panel

Saturday featured presentations on cannabinoids for cardiovascular, osteoporosis, and more on cancer. There was also discussion about general endocannabinoid topics. Dr. Sulak made his presenting debut to the main conference audience, explaining clinical approaches to maximizing benefit and minimizing harm with cannabis.

There were three great 20-minute presentations by Dr. Hergenrather, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, and Valerie Corral of the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana. Their presentations were also focused around the use of cannabis for elderly patients or in palliative settings. Dr. Aggarwal’s presentation was remarkably elegant and conveyed the power of cannabis for palliative care in an emotionally significant way.

“Valerie presented six patient cases in which extracts were actually fighting terminal cancers, reportedly putting several into remission.”

Arguably, the most revolutionary presentation came from Valerie, who talked about patients using cannabis to face death. Valerie is known for making an extract called Milagro (miracle) oil and has treated many patients, including Michelle Aldrich.

After discussing palliative benefits along similar lines as Dr. Aggarwal, Valerie presented six patient cases in which extracts were actually fighting terminal cancers, reportedly putting several into remission. Not surprisingly, her presentation drew a standing ovation.

The patient panel featured testimonies from two patients, including Debbie Wilson, who has used high-CBD oil and raw cannabis extracts rich in THC-A and CBD-A to reverse brain trauma. Debbie experienced dementia, seizures, anxiety, and other problems for decades due to brain injury, and was considered one of the most severe TBI patients in the country. Her success is highly indicative of the potential success other brain injury patients could experience with cannabis medicine.

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Behind-The-Scenes Conversations

There were several other highlights to the conference besides presentations. Mike Mullins and Jenifer Valley of Stoney Girl Gardens were in attendance, telling attendees of the 90% cancer remission success rate they are observing through cannabis extract treatment. Jenifer also informally shared her story of beating terminal thyroid cancer on more than one occasion.

Frankly, it was stunning how many people at the conference had observed anti-cancer effects. For example, on Saturday afternoon I came upon Mara Gordon and Stewart Smith of Aunt Zelda’s sharing a new scan from one of their terminal brain cancer patients, demonstrating near elimination of the tumor.

“Hundreds of doctors are now taking seriously the fact that cannabis can fight cancer in humans.”

Hundreds of doctors are now taking seriously the fact that cannabis can fight cancer in humans, and dozens of new relationships were formed between the people who can take this mainstream.

Perhaps most exciting is the potential of five females in the cannabis extract movement – Mara Gordon, Constance Finley, Valerie Corral, Jenifer Valley, and Erin Wallace (part of the team who treated Brave Mykayla. All are responsible for saving lives and raising awareness of this movement in unparalleled ways.

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Justin D Kander Research & Development Coordinator of The Oil Plant (formerly Aunt Zelda’s)

Justin Kander is the Research & Development Coordinator for The Oil Plant, a licensed California cannabis manufacturer specializing in the production of cannabis extracts, cannabis-infused olive oils, and cannabis topicals. He joined the company in …

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National Clinical Conference On Cannabis Therapeutics

The Eighth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics is a 3-day educational conference held in Oregon May 8-10. The theme of this year’s conference was “The Endocannabinoid System and Age-Related Illnesses”. MANTIS_RECOMMEND = { property: …