Mara Gordon

GRAM recently had the opportunity to speak with Mara Gordon. She’s worked with over 1,000 cancer patients and used cannabis to treat her chronic pain and help countless others. She is passionate about the medical benefits of cannabis and its impact on the 7 billion people and animals that share our planet. She plans to continue to be involved with cannabis and making it available for those who need it for the rest of her life.

GRAM Tell us a little about yourself – what is your focus in the industry.

MG I am Mara Gordon and am the co-founder of Aunt Zelda’s, The Oil Plant, Zelda Therapeutics, and Calla Spring Wellness. My focus is in the development of cannabis treatment protocols for seriously ill patients in California, and I also use my platform to advocate for change in the healthcare system.

GRAM Tell us about how you got into cannabis.

MG: Before founding Aunt Zelda’s, I worked as a process engineer, helping Fortune 500 companies create intelligent software. Throughout my life, I have found myself to be the primary caregiver for friends and family who were facing catastrophic illnesses—my husband, Stewart Smith, and I also had our own health challenges, mostly debilitating back and neck pain. I personally was prescribed over 23 pharmaceuticals, including fentanyl, methadone, and Norco. Although we lived in states where cannabis has been legalized (Colorado and California), not a single physician mentioned cannabis as a pain treatment option.

A friend mentioned to me that she combatted her fiancé’s chronic neck pain with pot brownies, and after some initial skepticism, we decided to give cannabis a try. After experimentation in the kitchen with oil-heavy baked goods, we found my Aunt Zelda’s carrot cake recipe to be the perfect fit. Soon, friends began to comment on the health improvements they were seeing in us, and we were frequently asked to help these friends or their loved ones.

As a process engineer, I was looking for patterns and profiles in the usage of cannabis, and in order to make cannabis a reliable medicine, it was necessary to lab-test and track the usage, so we asked our friends to provide feedback as to how much they were taking and how they were feeling. The word of the carrot cake began to spread, and it was quickly clear that there was not a way to easily scale this baking operation, let alone consistently dose, so we began bottling and selling the oils on their own. Soon, the family of a 6-year-old with a brain tumor came to us for help, and from there, we began the manufacturing of extracts to address the needs of seriously ill patients.

GRAM You’ve worked with over 1,000 cancer patients, what can you tell us about cancer and cannabis?

MG Cannabis is one of the most important and interesting tools available to medical professionals and patients when addressing a cancer diagnosis. Many first come to Aunt Zelda’s looking for help dealing with the side effects of allopathic treatments. In many cases, as they see reduction of the tumors in size and speed of growth and metastasis, they increase the dose to a therapeutic cancer-killing dose. As for what that specific dose is, it depends on the individual. For example, a 40 year old woman with triple negative breast cancer may do well on < 100mg THC and 200mg CBD daily. Another woman with the same diagnosis may require a much higher dose—or lower. That is why, when establishing a therapeutic dose, it is important to keep an open dialogue going between the patient and medical provider—check the blood work to track liver counts and tumor markers, examine scans for tumor changes, determine whether the current dose is achieving the objective.

Once the objective has been established (side effects or cell death) we begin the treatment protocol with a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 or 2:1 taken in multiple doses throughout the day. These ratios are not the same as products with ratios. For example, a ratio of 1:1 may look something like this:

100mg THC taken in 2 doses (10mg in the morning, 90mg at bedtime)

100mg CBD taken in two doses (50mg late morning,| 50mg early evening)

As you can see, these are not in the same product, but instead a total daily consumption of 1:1. If a 2:1 ratio is recommended, which is the case in many types of cancers, then that protocol may look more like this:

100mg THC taken in 2 doses (10mg in the morning, 90mg at bedtime)

50mg CBD taken in two doses (25mg in the late morning, 25mg taken early evening)

Keep in mind these are examples that may differ widely from patient to patient.

GRAM What can you tell us about cannabis and cancer treatment in children?

MG We have found children to be very promising to work

with because there is no resistance associated with psychoactivity. Children tend to adjust quickly when titrating.

Also, we have seen children require far higher doses than adults for the same diagnosis. This may be related to metabolism and the presence of cannabinoid receptors in places not seen in adults. At this point, it is theoretical the reasons why. However, we are moving forward with treatments based upon outcomes. There is no fatal dose, so no risk of overdose if the amount given is in excess of what is required.

GRAM Do you think cannabis can aid in cancer prevention?

MG That is a very difficult question to answer as there have been no long term studies to prove out this hypothesis. One of the roles of the endocannabinoid system within the body is to regulate homeostasis. When everything is running smoothly there is less opportunity, theoretically, for malignant cells to multiply and spread. The same way regular exercise, a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, and community are all integral parts of maintaining our physical and mental health, adding activation of the CB1 and CB2 receptors makes sense. Does a healthy diet guarantee longevity or absence of disease? No, any more than any one treatment works for everyone. It does make sense to incorporate cannabis into one’s lifestyle, but it is not a panacea.

GRAM What would you recommend for patients new to cannabis?

MG I suggest patients begin with ⅓ to ½ a milligram of THC and no more than 5mg CBD when first beginning to use cannabis. In many instances topical applications are the best initial entry point as there is little if any psychoactivity. Many, in fact, find that as little as 2.5mg THC is the ideal dose for them—unless treating serious diseases. Aunt Zelda’s introduced a 1:1 ratio infused oil with 10mg THC and 10mg CBD per mL, which means each drop delivers 1/3mg of both THC and CBD. The CBD may modulate the effects leaving the patient feeling less effect without decreasing the health benefits.

I feel it is important to also mention that many patients report CBD making them feel anxious or sleepy. It is not as “without side effects” as many brands would like consumers to believe. Take it with caution.

GRAM Do you have a preference on type of consumption method when recommending cannabis?

MG My preferred methods of ingestion in the following order:

1. Sublingual or buccal infused oil or extract, 2. tincture, 3. certain types of edibles, 3. lab-tested flower, 4. vape unadulterated oils in safe devices. Aunt Zelda’s is producing a cartridge using the same oils patients ingest to be used with the Hanu Stone vaping device. It is important when vaping to be certain there are no additives in the oil, and that the device itself contains no toxic metals or chemicals. Also, the temperature used to heat the oil can be problematic.

GRAM Tell us about your company.

MG Aunt Zelda’s specializes in profile-specific, full-spectrum oils with high concentrations of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds. Our whole-plant extracts are produced using organic ethanol and our infused oils feature organic olive oil.

Our vision for treating patients is clear: start with organic material that has been accurately tested, process in a good manufacturing practice facility (c-GMP) to create high-quality medicines, have patients consult with medical professionals who are educated in the endocannabinoid system, understand dosing for different diagnoses, and educate budtenders, dispensaries, and the public. In harmony with traditional medical care, we continue to be committed to all patients who can benefit from optimal treatment with cannabis.

GRAM What makes you passionate about this industry?

MG It is not accurate to say I am passionate about the industry as much as I am passionate about the medical potential of cannabis. In fact, what I do has very little in common with much of ‘the industry’ as it is presently depicted. A woman recently told me how excited she was about her company’s commitment to releasing new SKUs each month through the end of the year. Creating new SKUs in order to compete for the finite recreational dollars is required in her industry. In mine, by contrast, we do extensive research and development on formulations based upon patient data showing efficacy in treating a variety of conditions. Once we do limited testing with patients, the product is then made available for sale. The road to market is not a quick one. However, the medical cannabis

patient uses the same product indefinitely as they treat their condition. Think of it this way—a recreational product is used to create an experience (happy, mellow, energized, etc.), and a medical product is used to remove something (pain, insomnia, inflammation, anxiety).

GRAM What changes do you hope to see in the cannabisindustry 5-10 years from now?

MG I hope to see cannabis descheduled in the USA with control kept at the state level for recreational products, and the FDA or equivalent for medical. Controls will be put in place to block large conglomerates from monopolizing the space. If I compare medical cannabis to the pharmaceutical industry, CVS and the independent compounding pharmacy each play an important role in health care. It doesn’t have to be either-or. There will be people who are happy with lower quality mass produced medicine, but there will also be many people with special needs that cannot be met by the mass market.

There are too many layers of licensing in CA with unreasonable fees and taxes throughout. Ideally, everyone will buy from a licensed regulated market. This is necessary in order to diminish safety concerns—both health and security. Education needs to be included in medical schools and nursing programs so professionals can converse intelligently with their patients, and monitor their cannabis use, and there needs to be a degree program similar to what is available for pharmacists and lab technicians in dispensaries (pharmacies). More accredited clinical trials will be completed. Products will be covered by a combination of health insurance and a Health Savings Account.

Also, I would like to see cannabis as a first line of defense instead of a Hail Mary when nothing else has worked. More lives will be saved, and quality increased, by this shift.

GRAM What are your future ambitions – where do you hope to go next?

MG There are 7 billion people on this planet with endocannabinoid systems—not to mention the animals—who can be helped by cannabis. Aunt Zelda’s will work to get medicine into the hands of everyone who needs it. I am 60 years old and plan to be involved with medical cannabis indefinitely. The next place I go is the next place that I am required to make this a reality.