From the Front Lines by Chip Paul

Let’s talk first to see if we fit 405.402.1602

From the Front Lines

by Chip Paul Forensic Researcher & Endocannabinoid Health Science

At this writing 2020 is coming to an end. Perhaps the craziest year of my lifetime.

In addition to not knowing the truth about a mask, we cannot even conclude a Presidential election. We are beginning to learn about numerous foreign influences in our politics and major institutions. I would wager there will be accountability and justice soon. Let’s just hope this doesn’t hit too close to home.

Our cannabis industry was thankfully and necessarily declared an “essential” business that needed to stay open even during the worst of the china flu. Man have we come a long way since this all kicked off in 2014.

So what will happen with cannabis in Oklahoma in 2021? Here are my predictions: • we will increase our patient count to 15% of our overall population • the number of active and open cannabis commercial business will decrease • an adult use bill will be considered by the

Oklahoma State Legislature • the OMMA will greatly increase inspections • the OMMA will partner with industry groups and trade organizations to help educate patients • Oklahoma will continue to lead the cannabis market with new innovations • TRUE marijuana research will begin in

Oklahoma -education will continue to be a huge issue in the gap between medicine and cannabis

Happy new year everyone! Good bye and good riddance to 2020! Let’s make 2021 a rebuilding and renewing year. 30

Lessons Learned

by Cassie Alexander

I think it’s pretty safe to say that we are all happy that 2020 is behind us now. It was definitely a year to remember, and for most of us, we won’t remember it fondly.

When the pandemic hit, so much of our lives changed. We worked from home, the kids did virtual school, concerts were cancelled, theaters closed, sports seasons ended early, and we were told to isolate. It felt like the lives we had been working so hard to build for ourselves had been stripped from us.

In recent years, our society has put a lot of emphasis on finding ways to have inner peace. Uncomfortable emotions are often dealt with by ignoring them, or searching for ways to make them go away.

But, discomfort challenges us to evaluate what we will and won’t accept. If one of the things we accept is that it is ok to be uncomfortable, we could change our perspective and see that 2020 was a difficult year, yet we persevered. It could be perceived as the year that you learned which parts of life you find to be the most important, or it could be that your discomfort led you to an emotional awareness you’ve been missing.

Whatever the case, as the new year begins, I encourage you to lean in to the discomfort that 2020 brought and absorb what you have learned from it. Maybe none of us would ever choose to live 2020 all over again, but we can look back on it as the year discomfort made us better.