CANNABIS IN THE OUTDOORS

In the summer of 2003, my perception of cancer would change forever. Every year, we picked a place to go camping for a couple of weeks each summer as a family, exploring local areas, seeing the sights, and spending time in the great outdoors, away from familiar settings and routines. These trips bring back fond memories, even as I write this.

That summer was different though; it was during this trip that I learned that my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The news came as a shock to both my sister and I, having been sat down by our parents during one of the last nights of the camping trip. We had been told that the trip might get cut short but weren’t told why; now we knew. My mother’s doctors had said that they would not recommend waiting any longer.

Cancer changes things. It not only affects those diagnosed with it, but also those that feel the ripple effect of those changes. Cancer quite literally cut my summer camping trip in half (we went on the second “half” a few days later) and I will always remember that summer trip to the Outer Banks as full of those poignant moments where you try to soak up as much time with your loved ones as possible.

Whether you or your loved one received the news by a campfire or in a hospital bed, a diagnosis of cancer changes everything about your life. Specifically, it reignites a desire to spend as much time as possible with those that are closest to you, doing what you love for as long as you are able.

When my family received the news of my mother’s breast cancer, we could have stayed home, avoided any extracurriculars, and basically reduced her life to hospital beds and looking out of a window, but we didn’t. Instead, we packed up our belongings for

the second time that month and headed out for another camping trip, this time to the mountains of Asheville, NC. As a family, we decided that “making the most” of our time meant doing what we loved, and what she loved, as long as we could.

For many, cancer seems like a cruel sentence, handed down by those on high, explicating that you are no longer supposed to enjoy your favorite activities with the people around you. Thanks to cannabis, many patients now have an option for extending the time that they have with their loved ones and retaining their ability to go hike, camp, run, or even take a walk in the park. Not only is a cannabis regimen helpful in mitigating symptoms and enhancing quality of life during treatment, spending time in nature has also been shown to have an impact on a patient’s ability to fight diseases and expedite recovery time.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND NATURE’S IMPACT ON HEALTH

Studies have shown that the belief in nature’s healing powers isn’t just an old wive’s tale; there have been countless studies in the United States and worldwide that explicate the benefits of spending time in nature. One study examining twenty years’ of data on the role of nature in cancer patients’ lives found that the primary themes that naturally evolve from the research: “Connecting with what is valued; being elsewhere, seeing and feeling differently; exploration, inner and outer excursions; home and safe; symbolism, understanding and communicating differently; benefitting from old and new physical activities; and, enriching aesthetic experiences.” 1 These themes suggest a variety of benefits that patients experience when outside or exposed to nature.

The Japanese regularly encourage people to visit natural areas to help relieve stress and improve health in a practice known as shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” where you are encouraged to take in all that the forest atmosphere has to offer. The study mentioned above goes further, offering the following conclusion based on two decades of scientific research:

“Nature provides patients with unburdened physical and psychic space invested with personal significance. Findings propose nature’s role as a ‘secure base’ offering patients a familiar and nurturing context from which new perspectives can emerge and caring connections can be made with themselves, others, the past, and the future. As such, nature supported patients to navigate the clinical and personal consequences of cancer. Comprehensive representation of cancer patients’ nature experiences identified patient values and care opportunities embedded in clinical and personal environments, which may be considered for future research and care service development.” 1

Studies have shown that time spent in nature, among forests, or even simply having a window in your hospital room can impact immune health, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve your mood, help with focus and the reduction of attention fatigue or ADHD-like symptoms, and expedite recovery from surgery. Personally, hiking offers me a chance to regain balance and find clarity in my thoughts; I can get away from distractions, stimulate my senses, and be reminded of the beauty found in the simplest moments.

CANCER & CANNABIS

Taking a walk outdoors, going for a hike in nature, and even making sure to look out the window every now and then are great ways to take advantage of the benefits that nature can offer for our bodies, especially after a cancer diagnosis. Additionally, medical cannabis use has been shown to ease the symptoms of cancer and allow patients and their families to make the most of the time that they have. That could mean easing the nausea from cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation so that you can go camping for the weekend in spite of ongoing treatments or simply keeping up with a regular cannabis regimen so that your cancer stays in remission.

Not only is there anecdotal evidence to support these claims, science is beginning to back them up as well. Studies on cannabis use and cancer are showing that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has the ability to inhibit cancer cell growth in our bodies, which suggests that regular use could help keep cancer at bay and even help fight back. 2 Studies on patients that utilize cannabis for the treatment of cancer and the effects of cancer treatment symptoms report cannabis’ efficacy in helping with nausea 3 and related symptoms, as well as an increased life expectancy for those patients. 4

I was introduced to cannabis in the outdoors and believe that this association of nature with cannabis consumption allows us to reap the benefits of both our experience and our consumption in ways that either alone could not. If you have the ability to combine a cannabis treatment with your conventional cancer treatments, it is likely that you will experience a better quality of life and have the ability to participate in outdoor activities, even in small doses, due to cannabis’ ability to mitigate incapacitating aspects of the diagnosis. When combined with time spent in nature, these benefits can compound, helping you to focus, connect with loved ones, truly participate in the memories being made, and even expedite your recovery time.

Make sure to heed the tips above for a positive, memorable experience that is likely to also be beneficial to your health, and stay tuned to this column each issue for more news, tips, and research surrounding the benefits of using cannabis on your adventures in the great outdoors.

Even if you only spend a few minutes of time outside every day, take advantage of the increased mobility thanks to medicinal cannabis use and compound those benefits with the ones nature offers. To get you started, here’s a few helpful tips for making sure your outdoor outing is enjoyable, memorable, and accessible to everyone.

5 HELPFUL TIPS FOR GETTING OUTDOORS DURING TREATMENT

Choose an outing based on your ability; don’t over-exert yourself. The point of the adventure is to feel better, rather than exhausted and worse than before you left. If you are accompanying people who are in treatment, consider their abilities and plan an outing that will allow everyone to enjoy the experience.

Pick a destination worth seeing, especially if you or the other people in your group spend a lot of time indoors; make it a destination that everyone is excited to reach. Sometimes, it can be helpful to offer a few options to your group and see what catches their interest, as most people don’t have a ready-made list of destinations they want to visit.

Look for accessible trails and locations like Wilderness on Wheels, a handicapaccessible property in Grant, Colorado that features camping, fishing and a mile-long boardwalk hike accessible to all visitors. Accessible outings are great because everyone can participate, even if you require walking assistance or you’re confined to a wheelchair.

Know how cannabis affects you before consuming it for a public outing; take it slow if you’re nervous. Cannabis can help ease the aches, pains, and other symptoms associated with your diagnosis, but it can also be overwhelming when taken in excess and/or in new settings. You can always consume more, but you can’t consume less.

Take pictures or write about your adventure. One of the many things I was advised to do as a young scout was journal about my outings and adventures. At the time, it seemed silly, but, looking back, it is one of the things I am most grateful for from my family campouts and hikes. My mother has kept a journal of our family outings for as long as I can remember, and it is something that we treasure; it allows us to look back on fond memories, remember funny stories, and keep track of how we grow and develop as individuals. If you’re going on an outing with someone who has been given a terminal diagnosis, these jotted down memories and candid photographs can be an invaluable way to remember the good times you had together.

References: 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5445345/ “Blaschke, Sarah. “The role of nature in cancer patients’ lives: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.” BMC cancer vol. 17,1 370. 25 May. 2017. 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2360617/ Guzmán, M et al. “A pilot clinical study of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.” British journal of cancer vol. 95,2 (2006): 197-203. 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18816298 NL, Cluny et al. “The effects of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol on motion-induced emesis in Suncus murinus.” Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008 Aug;103(2):150-6. 4. https://www.gwpharm.com/about/news/gw-pharmaceuticals-achieves-positive-results-phase-2-proofconcept-study-glioma “GW Pharmaceuticals Achieves Positive Results in Phase 2 Proof of Concept Study in Glioma.” GW Pharmaceuticals Website. Feb. 7, 2017.