Searching for CBD by Elevate Nevada Magazine

MAY 2016

CBD vs. THC

SEARCHING for CBD

Why is cannabis’ most potent healing compound hard to find in Nevada?

THE WHEEL DEAL FOR CHARTING A COURSE OF TREATMENT WITH CANNABIS

DUI LAWS & CANNABIS:

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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from the editor Publisher Guy Bertuzzi, guy@elevatenv.com

Editor-In-Chief Beth Schwartz, beth@finetheagency.com

Creative Director Brooke Bertuzzi, brooke@finetheagency.com

Contributing Writers: Derek Connor, Sandra Mallut, Dr. Pouya Mohajer, Lissa Townsend Rodgers, Mona Lisa Samuelson

Media Consultant Shanna Perry, shanna@elevatenv.com

ELEVATION PUBLISHING LLC President Jonathan Fine

Chief Financial Officer Cassandra Lupo

FINE THE AGENCY Partner Kelli Maruca, kelli@finetheagency.com

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Elevate Nevada magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors, false data or omissions. Elevate Nevada assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in this publication or in any advertisement. Elevate Nevada magazine does not encourage the illegal use of any of the products or advertisements within. Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. 7120 Rafael Ridge Way, Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: 702.737.8464 | Email: info@elevatenv.com

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Last month the cannabis community was abuzz (forgive the pun) with the announcement that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would decide in the first half of 2016 if it would reclassify marijuana. Rescheduling cannabis from schedule I to schedule II would move it from being lumped in with heroin, LSD and ecstasy to the company of Ritalin, Adderal and oxycodone. Its reclassification would also allow medical researchers to more easily conduct scientific study of cannabis’ medicinal benefits. Since 2010, an average of nine researchers a year was approved to conduct studies using cannabis from the federal government’s University of Mississippi marijuana farm. In a Washington Post article, cannabis policy expert John Hudak of the Brookings Institution said the small number of researchers working with marijuana is less a function of the government turning down applications, and more a function of an onerous, convoluted application process -- one that requires approval from multiple government agencies and deters academics from even pursuing this type of research. "People just aren't applying because of all the headaches involved," Hudak explained to the Post. "It's a huge disincentive for the academic community.” The medical community supports any chance to relieve the research burdens on cannabis. The American Medical Association told ABC News that the group backs the review "to help facilitate scientific research and the development of cannabinoid-based medicines. While studies related to a limited number of medical conditions have shown promise for new cannabinoid-based prescription

products, the scope of rigorous research needs to be expanded to a broader range of medical conditions for such products." Although the ability to do more research on cannabis is hugely beneficial for patients, rescheduling the plant does come with a downside – more government oversight – which takes us right back to the drawing board. If the federal government determines that the FDA should become involved in cannabis’ regulation, products requiring FDA approval could languish for years as they wait to jump through FDA hoops, not to mention the almost $1 billion dollar product-approval process. But, in spite of potential for FDA oversight, some are still optimistic. "It's past due for the DEA to reconsider marijuana's status. I am hopeful that antiquated ideology won't continue to stand in the way of science and that the DEA will reschedule marijuana to schedule II," U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement after the DEA’s announcement. Sen. Gillibrand is not the only one who sees the federal government’s view of cannabis as antiquated. Last month Pennsylvania became the 24th state to legalize medical cannabis, which means more than half of all Americans will live in a medical marijuana state. That speaks volumes. But in the end, none of the fuss about rescheduling really matters. As prolific cannabis breeder DJ Short told me last year when we’re discussing federal prohibition, “we (referring to the medical cannabis community) are seeping in from the sides.” With an open mind,

CONTENTS 4 4 Elevate Your State

Cannabis updates from across the United States

8 Cooking with Cannabis

Pesto, Pepper Nectarine & Bacon Burger on a Potato Bun

10 Up in Smoke

Latest cannabis consumption innovations make ingestion healthier

13 Dispensary Spotlight Euphoria Wellness

14 Legalease

The law and driving under the influence of cannabis

20 The Search for CBD

Why is cannabisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most potent healing compound so hard to find in Nevada?

10 26 Patient Primer

The wheel deal for charting a course of treatment with cannabis

34 Dispensary Map

A patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guide to finding medical cannabis in the Las Vegas Valley

38 Elevating the Conversation with Dr. Michele Ross

ELEVATE YOUR STATE

Medical cannabis updates from across the United States

PENNSYLVANIA: As of April 17, Pennsylvania is the 24th state to legalize medical marijuana. Democrats and Republicans flanked Governor Wolf as he made history in Harrisburg and signed the Medical Marijuana Act (SB 3) into law. With the enactment of Pennsylvania’s law, more than half of all Americans will live in a medical marijuana state. Supporters from both parties lobbied to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. With a prescription, patients suffering from 17 conditions, including seizures, cancer and chronic pain, will have access to medical marijuana. The DOH has been given the power to authorize up to 150 dispensaries across the state. Pennsylvania’s law takes effect next month and then the department of health has six months to craft temporary regulations.

OREGON: Governor Kate Brown signed four pieces of cannabisrelated legislation this year, including two last month. HB 4094 will ensure that financial institutions serving both medical and nonmedical cannabis businesses will not be subject to state criminal laws. SB 1524 will make it easier for veterans who receive services from the VA health system to renew medical marijuana registrations. SB 1511 includes provisions that will allow businesses serving adult consumers to provide medical marijuana products. It will also allow medical marijuana dispensaries to sell concentrates to adult consumers. Along with other changes, HB 4014 allows out-of-state investors to invest in marijuana-related businesses.

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LOUISIANA: In March, Mayor Mitch Landrieu signed into law an ordinance decriminalizing marijuana possession in the city of New Orleans. The City Council unanimously passed Councilwoman Susan Guidry’s measure, which would become Sec. 54-505 of the NOLA Code. The ordinance reduces penalties if convicted in court with offenders being subject to the following fines: $40 for a first offense, $60 for a second, $80 for a third, and $100 for any subsequent offenses. Offenders would not be subject to jail time, and courts would be given the discretion to impose alternative penalties — such as community service — for those defendants who cannot afford to pay fines. The measure expands upon a 2010 law, also sponsored by Guidry, that currently gives New Orleans police officers (NOPD) the discretion to issue a summons to appear in court instead of making an arrest for a first-time marijuana possession offense and is extended to all subsequent marijuana possession offenses.The ordinance will go into effect on June 21st.

NEW YORK: In mid-April, the Assembly Health Committee advanced two pieces of legislation that would expand the state’s medical marijuana program. The bills, sponsored by Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, who chairs the chamber's health committee and is one of the architects of the state’s Compassionate Care Act, would eliminate the requirement that the registered organizations charged with growing and distributing marijuana be vertically integrated and would also double the amount of companies in the state’s program. Gottfried’s bill would increase medical cannabis companies that are currently operating in the state from four to eight. According to Politico New York, both bills were reported out of committee, readying them for a vote on the Assembly floor.

SOUTH CAROLINA: The South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Committee voted 9-2 against the South Carolina Medical Marijuana Program Act (S. 672), killing the legislation. There is a possibility the House will take action on its version of the bill — H. 4037 — which was approved by a House subcommittee by a vote of 3-1 last year. House Bill 4037 would allow patients with certain serious medical conditions to use and safely access medical cannabis. In addition, the legislation would create a regulated system of access through growers, processors, dispensers, and certified labs.

Looking for a medical marijuana dispensary? Go with the original. We’re Las Vegas’ first legal medical marijuana dispensary, offering the biggest variety of flowers, concentrates, pre-rolls and edibles. All products are 100% lab tested to ensure the highest quality medicine. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff is here 7 days a week to assist you in finding the right medicine for your needs. • FREE express delivery valley-wide! (with valid Nevada medical patient card and valid Nevada ID) • Call ahead and have your order waiting for you when you arrive! • We accept out-of-state cards! Check out our entire menu at euphoriawellnessnv.com Mon – Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sun: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 702.960.7200 7780 South Jones Blvd. (at Jones & Robindale) Las Vegas, NV 89139

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HEALING THE POWER OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

PATIENT ROLLS THE DICE ON CBD OIL IN HER BATTLE TO

OVERCOME DEPRESSION AND NEUROPATHY

“It’s been a nightmare,” said 56-year-old Janie Jones, “I was actually at the point where I would just go back to bed every morning and be in tears and isolate myself for the last 20 years.” Jones (who asked that her real name not be used) has suffered from major depressive disorder for two decades. “It started when I went into perimenopause. I thought the best way to treat it was to try antidepressants and I am treatment-resistant and so after a couple of years of taking them that did not work for me,” she explained. “I have had horrible, horrible experiences trying to take medication for depression and anxiety and it has just caused worse side effects including neuropathy. After taking horrible mediation for so many years, I couldn’t even fall asleep at night because my legs were just in so much pain.” Jones, who has never had a drink in her life nor a cigarette, definitely had never considered cannabis as a solution for her. “The bottom line is medical marijuana is something that really wasn’t even in my brain. I never even thought of doing anything like that,” she said. “I told my doctor, I wouldn’t want to go down to one of those dispensaries. I just didn’t want to smoke anything. It’s just not me.”

But the native Las Vegan kept hearing positive things about medical cannabis. “Finally I was so desperate, I was ready to try anything so we decided to see if I could even get a medical marijuana card. I told my psychiatrist and he was 100% supportive. He said, ‘Janie, if you can find anything that helps you I am behind you all the way.’ I am lucky he is very open-minded compared to many doctors.” Last October, Jones started taking a gel cap of CBD oil before she went to bed each night. “Once I started taking it, I was immediately able to fall asleep and shut my brain off because the pain

either. It’s been slow but I am starting to see other progressive, good things happening other than not having the pain and being able to sleep at night. I am finally able to function a little bit better,” explained Jones, who recently started working two to three days a week. After her success with CBD oil, Jones has changed her mind about cannabis. “Now my belief is I am taking something that is natural and plant-based, that’s not killing me like all the other stuff I have taken,” she

Now my belief is I am taking something that is natural and plantbased, that’s not killing me like all the other stuff I have taken." immediately went away. Being able to fall asleep the very first night of taking it was like a miracle,” she recalled. “Of course not,” Jones said emphatically as to whether she thought it would work or not. “I felt like I had done it all and this wouldn’t work

acknowledged. “It has really changed my quality of life tremendously. I still have a ways to go to where I want to be but it’s nice to not have pain and to be able to sleep. “CBD oil has been the biggest blessing ever,” she concluded.

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Cooking Cannabis

PESTO, PEPPER NECTARINE & BACON BURGER ON POTATO BUN BY SANDRA MALLUT,

OWNER/CHEF OF CULINARY BUTLER CONSULTING SERVICES, CULINARYBUTLERCONSULTING.COM

POTATO BUN INGREDIENTS (MAKES 3 DOZEN): 1 cup white sugar 1 cup russet mashed potatoes 1/2 cup vegetable shortening 3 eggs, beaten 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1-1/2 to 2 packs instant yeast 1 cup warm water (can substitute ¼ cup of water for vegetable or beef broth for extra taste) 5 cups all-purpose flour (bread flour can make them tough) 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Optional: You can also add fresh chopped herbs to the dough.

BUN DIRECTIONS:

Mix together sugar, potatoes, vegetable shortening, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Dissolve yeast in 1 cup warm water (broth); add to above mixture. Stir in about 3 cups flour (add the fresh chopped herbs here if using). Add the remaining 2 cups flour while kneading. Knead until the dough is no longer sticky but moist to touch. Let rise until doubled. Preheat oven to 325°F. Roll out dough to a ¾- to 1-inch thickness. Cut into bun shapes with the bottom of a jar or a biscuit cutter and arrange about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets greased with cannabis butter. Let them rise until puffy but not doubled and try not to let them touch during baking. Brush with cannabis butter. Bake until lightly golden brown, about 12 minutes. (Option: A couple of minutes before you take out of oven, sprinkle with kosher salt and put back into oven to bake a bit more for a salty taste.)

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The perfect weather for cooking outdoors has arrived and nothing tastes better than a delicious burger right off the grill. Chef Sandra Mallut has shared a wonderful recipe that will take your Memorial Day celebration to the next level with a gourmet style burger full of the most flavorful toppings. You can also consider making potato chips for a tasty side. There are cannabis chips available or you can make your own by using cannabis oil to fry them. You can also whip up a batch of French fries by using frozen ones and adding your own season blend or just olive oil, salt and herbs.

BURGER PATTY INGREDIENTS (MAKES 4 SERVINGS): 1 egg ½ kosher salt, season right before putting in pan ½ teaspoon ground black pepper (fresh is best), season right before putting in pan 1 lb. ground beef, 80/20 beef/fat blend ½ cup breadcrumbs (with or without seasoning) 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1-2 Tablespoon(s) brown sugar, set extra aside to caramelize burger (optional) pinch of red pepper flakes ¼ cup chopped par cooked bacon (it gets mixed into ground beef and will finish cooking in the burger) 6-8 bacon slices, cooked (hold aside for burger assembly) ⅛ - ¼ cup chopped browned red onion (sauté in cannabis butter) pinch-1 teaspoon chopped Italian Parsley (or other fresh herbs you would like) ¼-½ teaspoon Dijon mustard 2–4 Tablespoons cannabis butter for brushing burger patties

BURGER PATTY DIRECTIONS:

Preheat grill or pan on high heat and be sure it’s lightly oiled (cannabis oil) so the burger patty does not stick and fall apart and cook unevenly. In a large bowl, add egg, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, herbs, red pepper flakes, sautéed or raw red onion, Dijon mustard, and set aside. Place ground beef, chopped bacon and breadcrumbs into the mixture with your hands or use a fork to blend ingredients well. Form into 4 patties that are about ¾-inch thick with a thumbprint in middle of patty to leave an indent and then put on grill or pan. Cover and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes per side or to desired temperature. Brush patties with cannabis butter to make more tasty and juicy.

PESTO MAYO INGREDIENTS: ¼-½ cup pesto ¼ cup cannabis olive oil 1 ¼ -½ cup whole fat mayonnaise pinch of salt and ground pepper

PESTO MAYO DIRECTIONS: Mix, taste, and use to coat both sides of potato bun. PEPPER NECTARINE MIX INGREDIENTS 1 red pepper, sliced like sticks 1 green pepper, sliced like sticks 1 small red onion, chopped 1 jalapeño pepper, sliced long way 1 Tablespoon chopped garlic 1 cup sliced button mushrooms 2 nectarines, sliced thinly but not too thin so they don’t disintegrate 6-8 pieces of bacon, chopped and added to mix 2–4 Tablespoons of cannabis olive oil (to keep pan or griddle moist so vegetables don’t stick but not so much that you are saturating – use extra olive oil or cannabis olive oil as needed) 1-2 Tablespoons cannabis butter for taste ½ teaspoon Kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground fresh pepper 2-3 Tablespoons brown sugar

PEPPER NECTARINE MIX DIRECTIONS: Heat griddle or pan until very hot; add oil, butter and put all hard vegetables in first, toss around and sauté, adding mushrooms and nectarines last. Season as desired per taste and keep moving in the pan or griddle to cook evenly and thoroughly. Don’t overcook, the goal is to keep vegetables firm and crispy. Once cooked, remove from heat and set aside for burger assembly.

BURGER ASSEMBLY: Brush potato buns with cannabis butter on top and inside, and toast until slightly browned. Brush liberally with Pesto Mayo on both sides of bun. Place burger patty down first. Add a generous amount of the Pepper Nectarine Mix to burger and spoon on more Pesto Mayo – I love it so much I practically bathe in the stuff. Cover with top bun and enjoy!

Please remember when cooking with medicinal cannabis you are cooking with a medicine and the medicine amount and portions of the food ingested should always be taken into consideration. Always start out with small portions or doses and wait 30 minutes to an hour before eating any additional portions of food that has been medicated.

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UP IN SMOKE Latest cannabis innovations make ingestion healthier by Lissa Townsend Rodgers

By its very nature, the cannabis industry has always drawn those who don’t accept the norm, who seek new ways of doing things. That inclination can extend to the medicine itself because, while cannabis may be good for you, the usual way of consuming it—smoking—isn’t so salubrious. Here are three companies who are trying to make taking your medicine easier and healthier. Edibles can sometimes be a bit difficult to manage— dosing can be uncertain in prepackaged products and all manner of things can go wrong while making them at home. Pot-O-Coffee tries to make it as easy as possible, with cannabis-infused coffee in a Keurig-style cup. Mark Englestead, founder of Pot-O-Coffee, cites “the convenience factor, the fact that most of the adult-use markets require single-serve portions” and “issues with proper dosing of edibles. It really made sense to focus

on the single-serve product.” For those who only have a traditional coffee machine, Pot-O-Coffee is also available in one-serving pouches and they make tea, cocoa, and a decaf

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blend. Some of Englestead’s partners used to run a coffee company in Florida, so they are as familiar with the bean as they are the bud. Pot-O-Coffee also offers CBD-specific products and is working on developing more variety in both flavors and medical effects. “We’re working on some limited-edition strain-specific blends—maybe a Chocolope chocolate coffee or a Tangie orange zinger tea,” says Englestead, adding that, “We want to use the purest possible concentrates and with current technology those very pure concentrates are kind of devoid of most of the terpenes and flavanoids…we’re looking at what terpenes we can add back in that will give a beneficial result without affecting the flavor of the coffee or tea.” Pot-O-Coffee is currently available in California, is expanding into Colorado and is hoping to finalize a deal for the Nevada market. Many cannabis consumers are comfortable using the classic methods, but wish smoking could be a little less stressful on the lungs and other body parts. KashIt offers a variety of accessories that “make smoking more convenient,” according to John Sethi, president of KashIt Inventions, who wanted to find a method of “cooling the smoke down, making it smoother, easier on the patients… we felt that medicating, especially with herbs was very harsh on the lungs.” Thus, the KashIt Cool, a mouthpiece with a coil condenser chills the smoke, as well as antimicrobial properties. “For patients with medical issues like arthritis or PTSD, our gadgets are actually very convenient for them,” says Sethi. KashIt makes a vacuum pipe/device cleaner that saves effort (and delicate glassware) and is developing an electronic grinder. “It’s targeted toward medical patients who have intense joint pain. It’s going to be the first USB rechargeable grinder where you simply press a button and it grinds your product for you,” he explains. Of course there are some methods of smoking cannabis

that go past modifications and straight into inventing something new. The CannaCloud is a vaporizer system that uses pre-packaged “cannacups” of product, much like a Keurig coffee machine. The idea was born when CannaKorp CIO Michael Bourque tried medical marijuana and found that the experience of buying and smoking it “was horrible,” he says, “I realized there isn’t a really simple way to do this. I tried 20 or so different types of vaporizers—every new one was like learning to play another musical instrument.”

OPEN HOUSE

may 6th OPEN TO TH E PUBLIC Since Bourque is an engineer, he began building prototypes on a 3-D printer and had his eureka moment: “If we could put it in a small container, build a vaporizer, make these things work together—we could offer ease of use, simplicity, convenience, we could control dosage.” Since CannaKorp, the development company is located in Boston, the home of Keurig, “we could leverage a lot of the ecosystem,” according to COO James Winokur, and former Keurig designers and executives have been involved in the project. “I think there’s a lot of room for different kinds of devices and delivery systems,” he says, “ours is a much more approachable, more controlled experience.” CannaCloud vaporizers and CannaCup pods will be available in dozens of strains and varieties in select markets in late 2016/early 2017. “To do what we’re doing is pretty hard, but we’re going to make it easy for the consumer,” says Bourque. Sethi agrees, stating that “one of the things we’re most excited about is the untapped creativity in the market.” And who knows where—or what—that creativity will lead to next.

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DISPENSARY SPOTLIGHT Euphoria Wellness www.euphoriawellnessnv.com 7780 South Jones Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89139 702.960.7200 Photos by Hector Leyva, SugarMill Studios

TOP SELLING STRAINS strains from Deep Roots Harvest TOP SELLING CONCENTRATES Vape cartridges and Pure Tonic waxes TOP SELLING EDIBLES various Evergreen Organix Edibles TOPICALS CBD for Life and Plus CBD MISSION STATEMENT | Euphoria Wellness’ mission is three-fold: healing, education and discovery. RANGE OF PRODUCTS | Euphoria Wellness offers a wide range of high

quality cannabis products including flower, concentrate and edibles. They also carry accessories and devices that aid in ingestion of cannabis products. REASON FOR THE NAME | Euphoria Wellness’ owners were the founders of Euphoria Salons and Day Spas. As the name has been synonymous with wellness in the Las Vegas Valley for over 20 years, the decision was made to brand the dispensary as Euphoria Wellness. STAFF EDUCATION | Euphoria strives to be the first stop for patients on the road to wellness by offering patients one-on-one treatment, according to

Darlene Purdy, Euphoria Wellness’ Managing Director. The Euphoria Wellness experience starts the second the patient walks into the dispensary and is welcomed by its highly trained staff. No matter how long a patient has been medicating, Euphoria’s wellness guides will lead each patient from beginning to end with knowledge and advice. Not only do Euphoria’s wellness guides educate patients on strains and the various products they carry, but the dispensary also provides laboratory test results in order to assist the patient in finding the best possible medication for their condition. The team at Euphoria guarantees safety and security throughout a patient’s entire visit by providing a security escort to every patient. CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS | Euphoria fundraises on behalf of Helping Our Brothers and Sisters (HOBS). The dispensary routinely donates to Meds for Kids, Hep B Free Las Vegas and St. Joseph Catholic High School. Additionally, Euphoria has a standing discount program for veterans and they offer disabled veterans discounts based on level of disability as stated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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LEGALEASE

THE LAW AND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CANNABIS

By Derek J. Connor, Esquire

n my law practice medical marijuana patients often approach me with questions regarding their rights. One issue that often comes up is whether or not a patient using cannabis is allowed to drive. The simple answer is that it is perfectly legal under Nevada state law for a medical marijuana patient to maintain their driver’s license. Unfortunately, the law regarding marijuana use and driving isn’t that simple and this article is meant to address common concerns associated with medical cannabis use and operating a motor vehicle.

Can a medical marijuana patient be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of marijuana? Yes. Even though Nevada state law protects a legal marijuana patient’s right to use and possess marijuana for medical purposes, you can still be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) if you are found to be in “actual physical control” of a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. Whether you are found to be in actual physical control of a vehicle depends on a variety of factors, but it is generally defined as the ability to make the vehicle operate. Nevada makes no distinction between illegal marijuana users and state legal medical marijuana patients when it comes to driving under the influence. Patients need to understand that a patient card offers no protection from prosecution for DUI. If you are found to be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana, you may be arrested and charged with DUI.

SHATTER / LOZENGES / CHOCOLATE

KABunky medical cannabis

kabunky.com Ask For KabunkyAt A Nevada Dispensary Near You Today.

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What is driving while impaired? If a person cannot safely drive a motor vehicle due to the use of marijuana, or other drugs, they may be charged with a DUI. To be charged with driving while impaired, the arresting officer will look at the totality of the circumstances to determine if the drug/substance rendered the driver incapable of driving safely. The officer often determines your level of impairment through field sobriety tests (FST). Most people do not realize that a FST is optional and can be refused. Regardless, if you are found to be impaired to a degree that prevents you from operating your vehicle safely, you may be arrested and charged with DUI.

What is a per se violation? Even if you are not impaired, you may be charged with, and convicted of, a DUI under a per se rule violation. The term per se is a Latin phrase that translates to “in itself.” With regard to a DUI charge, a per se violation occurs simply because you have greater than an arbitrarily set limit of a substance in your body at the time of the offense, even if you are not impaired at all. With respect to a marijuana DUI, if the prosecution can prove you had a certain amount of active marijuana, or marijuana metabolite, in your system while driving, they can establish a DUI per se violation. A demonstration of either of the following may result in a marijuana DUI conviction: • •

A marijuana concentration of two nanograms per milliliter of blood or more. A marijuana metabolite concentration of five nanograms per milliliter of blood.

Unfortunately, if you use cannabis for any reason, the chances are very good that you could trigger one of the per se limits and be convicted of a DUI even if you were not impaired at the time of your arrest.

What can patients do to protect themselves and prevent a cannabis DUI? Obviously, you should never drive while under the influence of cannabis. If possible, never carry your medicine or paraphernalia in your vehicle, other than to transport your medicine from a dispensary to your home. Never store your medicine in plain view inside of your vehicle; if possible store your medicine in the trunk of your car in a locked case. Never smoke or otherwise use your medicine in your vehicle, even if it is parked. Do not notify the officer of your status as a medical marijuana patient unless you need to demonstrate the fact that you are legally allowed to possess cannabis. Do not consent to a search of your vehicle, home, or person. Never consent to a blood draw without a valid warrant. Remember, always be polite to the officer, there is no reason to instigate a confrontation. Finally, you have a constitutional right to remain silent, use it. If you have been charged with a DUI, contact Connor & Connor at 702.750.9139 to discuss your options or email info@connorpllc.com.

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THE ART OF CANNABIS WITH MONA LISA

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THC THE TRUTH ABOUT CANNABIS AS A WHOLE-PLANT MEDICINE by Mona Lisa Samuelson

When I first started using cannabis for medicinal purposes 10 years ago, no one talked about CBD. The discovery of the chemical compound wasn’t yet common knowledge and, even, today most people aren’t aware of the important role CBD plays in the medicinal use of cannabis and how it translates into a practical application. Making matters worse, the hype surrounding CBD only adds to the confusion of what, otherwise, really should be seen as the graceful simplicity (and perfection) of nature. Simply put, cannabis is a whole-plant medicine. Keep in mind that when discussing CBD-rich applications, we’re generally speaking about edible extractions or infusions made from the leaves of the cannabis plant, not the ripened flowers or buds. It’s been well-documented through chemical analysis that the leaves of the cannabis plant run a much richer CBD to THC ratio than the flowers themselves, and the CBD to THC ratio is what ultimately dictates an extraction’s (or infusion’s) ability to act as an effective pain regulator and psychoactive potentiate. What does this mean in a practical sense? It means medical patients primarily rely upon the leaves of the cannabis plant in making the most effective edible medicines, not the bud. General consensus agrees cannabis potency is measured through THC levels. But what isn’t as widely understood is that in order to ingest and maintain higher (medicinal) levels of THC comfortably, one must also

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ingest a quantity of CBD. This is especially true when it comes to eating cannabis. Patients who ingest high doses of THC often experience confusion, tension, anxiety, nausea, or paranoia, as the higher psychoactive levels of THC enter the bloodstream and begin to take hold. But CBD, when utilized properly, acts as a symbiotic modulator bringing a calming balance to THC levels allowing for synergistic cooperation between cannabinoids. By nature’s careful design, CBD grants THC a relaxed audience which, in turn, encourages better healing. This is why all medical patients who suffer from maladies and require the ingestion of high and/or prolonged levels of THC must learn to understand CBD’s important contribution to the healing process. Patients should learn how to achieve the right cannabinoid profile intake or they’ll experience uneasy feelings which could ultimately cause them to lower the effective dose or stop using cannabis. Because medicinal application(s) not only must be effective in treating maladies, but also address the patient’s personal preference to THC tolerance levels, cannabis is a highly personalized medicine that requires depth of understanding. Sensitivity to THC and its psychoactive effects is a key factor in determining an appropriate CBD to THC ratio and in setting the dosage of CBD-rich cannabis medicine. Even at a 1:1 ratio, which is considered to be

CBD-potent, patients must already be very accustomed and comfortable with experiencing the “high” associated with THC. Whereas an 18:1 concentration of CBD:THC is reportedly the ideal starting point for patients who don’t want to experience any psychoactive effect. So now that you know “CBD-rich” literally translates into “made using leaves,” you should be able to glean just some of the struggle many medical cannabis patients now face in Nevada. When legislation removed the patients’

"WHAT ISN’T AS WIDELY UNDERSTOOD IS THAT IN ORDER TO INGEST AND MAINTAIN HIGHER (MEDICINAL) LEVELS OF THC COMFORTABLY, ONE MUST ALSO INGEST A QUANTITY OF CBD." right to grow, creators of the law didn’t understand how cannabis is used as a whole-plant medicine. As a result, the dispensaries in Nevada are currently restricted in selling

cannabis flowers (i.e. bud), but medical cannabis patients need access to leaves, whole plants, and fresh, unprocessed plant matter in order to cook it, eat it, and juice it in its freshest form. That’s just one of the reasons that when it comes to the truth about CBD and how it relates to medical cannabis patients, things tend to get a little complicated. But the fact is cannabis is a whole-plant medicine. A licensed medical cannabis patient since 2008, Mona Lisa Samuelson was Nevada’s first medical cannabis patient advocate and started her own YouTube channel, MonaLisaLuvsMaryJane, for patients in search of practical cannabis knowledge.

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Hui Wang

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Derrick Palma Laboratory Technician

Born and raised in the Las Vegas Valley, Palma attended Whittier College to pursue a degree in biology, later transferring to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he found a love for chemistry with a primary focus in physical chemistry. Palma is excited to be working in the medical marijuana field, especially in the area that applies science to help ensure the quality of medicine for patients and help to establish new research findings.

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ven though Nevada’s cannabis industry is still very much in its infancy, there is much speculation as to why CBD-rich strains aren’t that plentiful. Some believe dispensary owners are driving the demand for high THC products. Others suggest patients just aren’t educated enough about CBD-dominant strains. While still others contend that there have been strain limitations because the State of Nevada requires commercial cultivators to source their product solely from the state’s patient-growers. No matter what the reason is there seems to be a disconnect with regard to cannabis’ two most prominent cannabinoid compounds: THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). So far demand has been largely for THC-dominant products rather than the more healing CBD.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY “Word on the street is everyone is truly focused on the THC content to create a value for some of these strains,” explained Darin Carpenter, Director of Cultivation for Tryke Companies. “In Nevada it seems there’s this artificial inflation of value based off of THC content versus CBD content. There is more of a focus on how much more bang for the buck I can get versus how much of a medicating effect can I give to someone.” Carpenter attributes it to a lack of cannabis expertise and savvy. “There are some owners in the industry here in Nevada who aren’t as experienced and they see THC as a value and it’s not necessarily that -- the value comes from the full profile of the product, especially the effect it can give to a particular patient. Some of the other growers that we have met with or had brief discussions with are kind of on the same wavelength as we are.” Silver Sage Wellness’ Braly Joy agrees that value has a lot to do with the absence of CBD medicine in the state. “There aren’t too many people out there producing their own CBD-specific products because there’s not money in it, really. The CBD strains, the good ones, aren’t big yielders. Most cultivation facilities aren’t going to waste their time growing CBD, but we have CBD growing in every one of our rooms all the time,” Joy offered of Silver Sage’s grow where his team is cultivating 42 strains with five that are CBD-specific and four more in the works. Joy also attributes the lack of CBD-rich strains to state regulations that mandate where cultivators are able to to get their plants from. “I also think it is because of the regs on acquiring genetics here in Nevada. You have to pull from patients here in Nevada, and unless you are lucky enough to come across patients who were educated and were specifically growing these strains, they are not that easy to find. “It’s not a high volume product, but it’s something that is so very appreciated by the few that are getting it that really do need it,“ Braly said of CBD-based products.

IT’S A NEVADA THING Much easier to find are a lot of THC-dominant strains. Steve Wenger, owner of Las Vegas Herbal Growers, contends that's because patients are looking for big THC numbers. “When you walk into our dispensary in Colorado you see glass cases full of jars and you see the beauty of the Alien OG and how it glows from being so green and you see all of the characteristics. I grow a strain called Grape Crush, it is absolutely the most beautiful purple pot you have ever seen in your life. In Colorado Springs when we put it on our shelves, it usually

may | elevatenv.com 21

lasts for an hour or a couple of hours,” mused Wenger. “Here in Nevada you only get to see about a gram and that has no influence whatsoever. I believe what is happening is patients are sitting in front of big-screen TVs looking at the menus and the high THC is the only thing making things stand out when they are reviewing all of their choices. “I am not saying it’s wrong,” continued Wenger who has two CBD-dominant strains, Medical Mass and ACDC, out of the 14 strains he is cultivating, “it’s probably the best way to go especially in a medical environment where we really need to keep things hermetically sealed, but it’s just not what the industry is used to. Even buying weed on the black market, you look in the sack and see what you are getting. Seeing one gram that a dozen people have shaken, where most of the trichomes have fallen off, and all of the things that make up a really good-looking purchase are gone.”

Carpenter notes that patient demand in Nevada is much different than what is happening at Tryke’s Arizona dispensary. “It really seems to be a Nevada thing. I hate to pigeonhole Nevada, but in Arizona we had all walks of life coming in, there’s the people who just want to get high and then there’s a huge population of people who want medicine and they want medicine with a therapeutic effect,” said Carpenter, who is currently growing 56 strains with four of them CBDdominant and currently on the hunt for more. “It’s totally different to what we are accustomed to; it’s not a bad thing, it’s just educating the patients and some of the providers too.” Highland Medical’s Rick Turner, too, believes it’s a matter of patient education. “People have just simplified everything by going with the old historical buzzwords and the myth that marijuana is simply THC, but it’s not. “THC is just one of the compounds

and not any more important than the other compounds. When you are just looking at THC with the equivalent of a smattering of CBD, you don’t have a menu at all -- it’s a buffet that only has meat.”

THE REST OF THE BUFFET

Not to say THC isn’t important. It’s one of at least 85 cannabinoid compounds in cannabis, many of which have documented medical value, that make up the rest of the buffet to create cannabis’ entourage effect. “The compounds can do more together than they can do individually. They complement and enhance each other and have an effect that is more and different than the effects of each of the individual compounds by themselves. So that’s what we are looking for,” explained Turner, who is the master grower at Highland Medical, a Las Vegas continued on page 29

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SILVER SAGE WELLNESS OPENS WITH FOCUS ON CBD-SPECIFIC MEDICINE by Beth Schwartz

“If we could wave a magic wand and be known for something at the end of the day, we want to be known as the place to come for medicinal purposes and for being able to offer high-end unique products,” said Braly Joy, general manager of Silver Sage Wellness dispensary, located at Charleston and Decatur. Because Silver Sage Wellness has both cultivation and production licenses they are in the position to put their money where their mouth is and develop their own custom products, primarily with a CBD focus. Of the 42 strains Silver Sage is currently growing in their 26,000-square-foot facility, five are CBD-specific and four more CBD-dominant strains are on the way. “CBD and medicinal products is what Silver Sage Wellness is all about, all the way through. They (owners Jim and Pam Blasco) got into this business specifically for those reasons. It was only after they did much research and looked into it thoroughly that they even got involved in this industry,” said Joy. “They want to do everything they can to bring it to Las Vegas and especially to the special needs community. We are working as hard as we can to find groups to try and get some studies and testing going so that we can find ways to utilize CBD and cannabis in general to help patients find alternative methods.” Some of the alternative methods Silver Sage has been developing include prerolls that are a mix of strains. For instance, one of Silver Sage’s pre-rolls will contain CBD-dominant strain Channel 2 (a hybrid of Charlotte’s Web), and ISS Island Sweet Skunk. Combining the two strains allows the pre-roll to potentially treat seizures, anxiety, depression and anti-inflammatory issues. “We are going to hand-roll them,” Joy offered of the pre-rolls. “Instead of throwing the two strains in together and just grinding it up and making pre-rolls that way, we want to make sure it is fairly consistent and all the way through the pre-roll so that when you are smoking it, you aren’t getting hits of just the THC strain and the next few hits are just CBD. We want to have those burn together as easily as we can.” Uncommon to mix strains in a pre-roll, Joy has “never seen it done for the purpose of mixing in CBD to create that entourage effect.” Silver Sage Wellness will also have its own version of Rick Simpson Oil (RSO). Named for the Blasco’s oldest son who is autistic, Jimmy B Oil has been testing at a CBD:THC ratio that is 10 to 1. The dispensary will also offer wax and shatter in CBD-specific strains ACDC and Channel 2. “We don’t even know if there is a market out there for it,” Joy said of the concentrates, “But we will put it out there and if people really do want that high dosage of CBD-specific concentrated cannabinoid profiles than we are going to have that available. “I am hoping we can keep pushing the envelope with CBDs and cannabinoid profiles and continue to come up with alternatives,” concluded Joy.

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Patient Primer: THE WHEEL DEAL FOR CHARTING A COURSE OF TREATMENT WITH CANNABIS

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If you are new to the world of medicating with cannabis, it can be much like falling down a rabbit hole overrun with an alphabet soup of acronyms like CBD, CBN, CBG, THC and THCA. Figuring out which one or ones will treat your particular symptoms or disease can be a confusing prospect. Cannabis wheels have become a popular source of information for patients, caregivers, and physicians seeking that knowledge. These visual aids are popular because they illustrate the wide spectrum of cannabinoids and the various conditions they treat. The main focus of the visual aids are cannabinoids which are chemical compounds that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the body and affect neurotransmitter production, cannabinoid transportation, and chemical reaction at the cannabinoid receptors. To date there have been over 100 cannabinoids identified in the cannabis plant with the two most well-known being

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classification and grouping of different cannabinoids. One such chart (see page 26) shows the benefit of several different types of cannabinoids. Of all the cannabinoids listed in this chart, Î&#x201D;9-THC and CBD are the ones with the most robust research behind them. Leafly.com2 has also created a helpful chart that is more extensive in the symptoms and medical conditions that can be treated using different cannabinoids. The most comprehensive tool is the interactive Weed Wheel by CannabiScope3 found at www.cannabiscope.com. This interactive chart allows the user to start with either the medical condition or the flavor of the strain. The health section is further divided by physical or mental symptoms, or the user can chose specific therapies such as pain relief or sleep aid. Eventually subdivisions lead to an array of strains that have been reported to work for the certain symptom the user has chosen. Once a strain is identified, some information on the properties of the strain can be obtained. The exact cannabinoid composition of each strain

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Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).1 Cannabinoids can be categorized by their origin: endocannabinoids are synthetized in the body, plants produce phytocannabinoids, and synthetic cannabinoids are manufactured artificially. Cannabinoids exert their effect by interacting with a complex system in the body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which interacts with virtually every other organ system in the body. Cannabinoids bind to specific receptors called endocannabinoid receptors (CB-1 and CB-2), which are present in different concentrations throughout the body. For example, there is an abundance of CB-1 receptors in the brain while CB-2 receptors are primarily expressed in the immune system. The affinity of different cannabinoids at these receptor points can lead to various outcomes observed with different strains. THC and CBD are the two major phytocannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids are either chemically similar to THC (Marinol) or to endocannabinoids. As more researchers look at cannabinoids other than THC, or even more closely at CBD, new information is being discovered as far as their efficacy in treating certain symptoms and ailments. Several companies have taken on the arduous task of developing tools to aid in the

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will be a key factor in the future for standardization of strain classification. In turn, patients will not have to rely on just a strain name. For individuals who prefer to choose a particular flavor to reach a similar endpoint, they can start with the flavor section of CannabiScope’s Wheel. This is a great tool to help patients, caregivers, physicians, and cannabis aficionados obtain valuable information on cannabis. However, the general classification of such strains needs to be looked at cautiously. There are many generalized claims associated with specific strains. The composition makeup of the strains is important as many strains might bear the same name and have a completely different composition of cannabinoids. Because Nevada requires strict laboratory testing of cannabis, medicine that is sold here will offer strain consistency and reproducibility values with certain cannabinoid concentrations documented on the label. With further research, the amount of information that will be available to patients and healthcare providers will further aid in narrowing the scope of cannabis-based treatments. Dr. Pouya Mohajer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology with a subspecialty in pain medicine, and founder of Nevada Cannabis Medical Association.

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REFERENCES 1. ElSohly, M. A.; Gul, W. In Handbook of Cannabis; Pertwee, R. G., Ed.; Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 2014; Chapter 1, pp 3−22. 2. www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabinoids-101-what-makes-cannabis-medicine 3. www.cannabiscope.com

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continued from page 22

cultivation focused solely on medicinal products that all have some degree of THC:CBD balance. “There’s a synergy that occurs when there is a balance of THC and CBD. We are looking for that balance and, as a patient with my own personal experience having tried a lot of this, there is a definite difference in the product that is balanced to some degree and the product that is heavily loaded on one end." Carpenter agreed. “A lot of experienced growers and people in the industry know that the concentration of THC isn’t necessarily a sign of quality or medication. People who like the real high THC are looking to extract it or just looking to get extremely high, they are not looking for the synergistic effects of the terpenes, it’s just a number,” he relayed. “There’s a synergistic effect of the THC with the various terpenes and CBDs and the biosynthetic pathways of cannabinoids and terpenoids.” Wenger acknowledged the entourage effect too. “It’s not that I am against THC, but there is more than one cannabinoid -- it’s not just THC, it’s not just CBD. There’s 85 of them and each one creates a leg of the entourage. It is amazing how many different things it can address. I believe in what’s real and I have seen the real effects of these cannabinoids when they are working in unison.”

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Turner looks forward to the day when state regulations require laboratories to list all of cannabis’ compounds. “Right now the state just quantifies THC, CBD and CGN during lab testing. I would like for patients to be able to see a whole bunch of other compounds listed on their medicine because we have found the benefits of those compounds and now we can seek out focused product for our specific needs,” he noted. But before more disclosure happens on labeling, all agree that putting the onus on patients to educate themselves on which cannabis compounds work best for their disease or condition will need to happen. Not only will patients better understand how their medicine works but it may be the best way to create a demand for CBD. “It really comes down to patient education, understanding what the medication is used for and educating the distributors in what they are trying to sell, not everyone is looking for THC,” concluded Tryke’s Carpenter. “We have real patients who want real medicine and CBD is absolutely that.”

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OPEN FOR BUSINESS Reef Dispensary, located at 3400 Western Avenue, is open now and serving patients. The 5,000-square-foot dispensary located just off the Strip offers on-site patient consultants and a large selection of medicinal strains for targeted relief. Reef’s premium product lines include Tryke: Black, Tryke Exotics by Berner, #hashtag, Indigo, and Terps. reefdispensaries.com Silver Sage Wellness has opened in central Las Vegas at 4626 W. Charleston Blvd. The dispensary features a holistic seed-to-sale production format by cultivating and processing its own plants that include 30 strains handpicked for their high medicinal THC and CBD content. Strains include Northern Lights, OuterSpace, Gumbo and high-CBD strain Harlequin. All extracts and concentrates carried by Silver Sage Wellness are created in-house in a state-of-the-art cultivation and production center, including the highest quality bubble hash, shatter, waxes, and oils. Also available are selections of tinctures, topicals, and edibles. sswlv.com Medizin, located at 4580 W. Sunset Road, officially opened on April 1. medizinlv.com Essence Vegas has opened its third location in the Las Vegas Valley at 4300 E. Sunset Road in Henderson. Essence – Henderson will offer more than 20 premium strains (flower and pre-rolls), vape pens, cannabutter, a variety of topicals and oils and a wide variety of edibles, including vegan pills, cookies, brownies, honey, and chocolate. Essence Vegas provides free delivery for orders of $100 or more (delivery for orders under $100 will include a $5 fee). essencevegas.com The Grove’s Las Vegas location opened in April. Located at 4647 Swenson Street across from the Thomas & Mack at UNLV, the Grove is a vertically integrated medical marijuana enterprise that is the Nevada distributor of O.penVAPE and has renowned PTSD research Dr. Sue Sisley as its medical director. thegrovenv.com

laws in 2016, combined with the fact that the Nevada market is still in its infancy, allowing for great first-mover advantage for brands that can solidify their presence,” said Tripp Keber, CEO of Dixie Brands, Inc. “We couldn’t be more proud and humbled to be partnered with Silver State Wellness, an organization that truly defines the meaning of integrity in business. Together, we look forward to establishing Dixie as one of the first and highest quality products available to Nevada’s medical cannabis patients.” Silver State Wellness is currently developing a stateof-the-art cultivation facility and product manufacturing center in Las Vegas. The relationship with Dixie is the company’s first foray into infused product manufacturing. “As a leader in the Nevada market, the combined strengths of our two organizations creates a true force to be reckoned with,” said Ross Goodman, a founder of Silver State Wellness. “We look forward to leveraging Dixie’s expertise and our local knowledge to establish a lasting presence in the Nevada cannabis market.”

DIXIE BRANDS INC. ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE WITH SILVER STATE WELLNESS Dixie Elixirs & Edibles has formed a joint venture agreement with Nevada’s Silver State Wellness, LLC. The February announcement highlighted plans to bring a line of eight different edible, vapable and topical cannabis products to the Nevada market by late May. “The market opportunities for Dixie in Nevada are tremendous between the potential passage of adult-use

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DISPENSARY MAP

A Patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guide to Medical Cannabis in Southern Nevada 1. Apothecarium

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12. Sahara Wellness

3. CannaCopia

13. Silver Sage Wellness

4. Euphoria Wellness

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apothecariumlvcom 702.778.7987 7885 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89117 theapothecaryshoppe.com 702.740.4372 4240 W. Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89103

cannacopialv.com 702.487.6776 6332 S. Rainbow Blvd #105 Las Vegas, NV 89118 euphoriawellnessnv.com 702.960.7200 7780 S. Jones Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89139

5. Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary inyolasvegas.com 702.707.8888 2520 S. Maryland Pkwy Ste #2 Las Vegas, NV 89109

6. Oasis Medical

oasismedicalcannabis.com 702.420.2405 1800 Industrial Rd Ste #180 Las Vegas, NV 89102

7. Las Vegas ReLeaf lasvegasreleaf.com 702.209.2400 2244 Paradise Rd Las Vegas, NV 89104

8. Medizin

medizinlv.com 702.206.1313 4850 W. Sunset Rd Ste #130 Las Vegas, NV 89118

9a. Nevada Medical Marijuana nevadamedicalmarijuana.com 702.737.7777 3195 St. Rose Pkwy Ste #212 Henderson, NV 89052

9b. Nevada Medical Marijuana nevadamedicalmarijuana.com 702.737.7777 1975 S. Casino Dr Laughlin, NV 89029

reefdispensaries.com 702.475.6520 3400 Western Ave Las Vegas, NV 89109

420sahara.com 702.478.5533 420 East Sahara Ave Las Vegas , NV 89104

sswlv.com 702.802.3757 4626 W Charleston Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89102

thegreenhouselv.com 702.420.7301 6540 Blue Diamond Rd Las Vegas, NV 89139

15. The Source

thesourcenv.com 702.708.2000 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd Ste #8 Las Vegas, NV 89146

16a. The Grove

TheGroveNV.com 775.556.0100 1541 E. Basin Ave Pahrump, NV 89048

16b. The Grove

TheGroveNV.com 702.463.5777 4647 Swenson St Las Vegas, NV 89119

17a. Thrive Cannabis Marketplace thrivenevada.com 702.776.4144 2755 W. Cheyenne Ave Ste #103 North Las Vegas, NV 89032

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18. Blum 19. Getting Legal 20. Nevada Wellness Center 21. ShowGrow

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may | industry connect | elevatenv.com 35

Elevating the Conversation

with Dr. Michele Ross

r. Michele Ross founded the IMPACT Network, a Denver-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing clinical cannabis research and educating patients, healthcare professionals and policymakers about the medical benefits of cannabis. Armed with a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dr. Ross is also the author of “Vitamin Weed: a 4-Step Plan to Prevent and Reverse Endocannabinoid Deficiency,.”

WHY DID YOU WRITE “VITAMIN WEED”? When I would talk to doctors it was appalling how little they knew about CBD and THC, even here in Colorado. You talk to doctors and 99 percent don’t even know what a CBD is and you have to tell them it’s that thing that helps seizures. I had actually written a previous book, “Train Your Brain to Get Thin: Prime Your Gray Cells for Weight Loss, Wellness, and Exercise,” which was basically a manual using neuroscience to overcome cravings and create this lifestyle shift to ensure weight loss and maintain a healthy lifestyle. So I applied that same reasoning to cannabis. I noticed that a lot of patients, especially out in California, thought you could smoke a joint and be cured of cancer or smoke a joint and your diabetes would be gone. People didn’t really understand that sometimes when you are really sick it takes a lot of holistic healing and a complete lifestyle change to go from totally chronically ill to well. There was no real how-to guide on cannabis that walks both the patient and the healthcare provider through it. WHAT CAUSES THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM TO BECOME COMPROMISED? Cannabis has many beneficial properties, but if you are really sick, have a bad diet, are stressed out all the time and you are taking medications that harm your endocannabinoid system, there’s really no way you can

actually benefit from cannabis. We have seen non-responders who take cannabis oil and it doesn’t do anything for them. The endocannabinoid system is set up to initiate self-healing. I really equate it to people whose endocannabinoid systems are so broken they can’t be receptive to cannabis. Patients have to really understand their bodies and how their endocannabinoid system works and understand there has to be a commitment to change. People think you just take this oil and everything will be okay. It’s just not like that. WHY DO YOU THINK MEDICAL SCHOOLS’ CURRICULUM DOESN’T INCLUDE STUDY OF THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM? When you look at the other things they do teach in medical schools, it seems like the systems they can prescribe drugs for are the ones that they cover -- like the dopamine and serotonin systems because there are drug targets for them. Up until this point, the only drug you could prescribe for the endocannabinoid system was Marinol and that was only used for oncology patients. If there were no pharmaceuticals you could prescribe for, it wasn’t really involved in the conversation because it’s a Schedule Ⅰ drug. We don’t cover Ecstasy or have lectures on cocaine, and it’s a lower schedule than marijuana. So really when the conversation is about cannabis, it’s just as a drug to avoid; we don’t talk about the endocannabinoid

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system even though it regulates every other neurotransmitter in the body. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST FASCINATING CANNABIS DISCOVERY TO DATE? Cannabis surprises me every day. My favorite fact is that the raw version of CBD or cannabidiol is called CBD-A and it actually works as a COX-2 inhibitor. COX-2 is an enzyme that causes inflammation and pain so if you inhibit it, you inhibit pain and inflammation when you actually have prescription drugs on the market that work as COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex, etc. These drugs have actually been tested in clinical trials to both treat and prevent different types of cancer so there’s a possibility that this raw cannabinoid, CBD-A, can actually treat and prevent cancer, specifically breast cancer and color cancer. CBD-A and CGA are just two raw cannabinoids that we know of but there’s a whole bunch of them. Every time we learn of a new cannabinoid, we find out this one works for bone healing or this one helps with menopause. To me it’s fascinating, we have never had a class of drugs before that almost every single one has not only one, but multiple medicinal benefits. I feel like we could be researching the benefits of these cannabinoids for decades and still not even know everything about them. To read the entire interview with Dr. Michele Ross, visit elevatenv.com/ Elevating_the_Conversation.

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