Ounce Oklahoma January/ February 2019 by Ounce Magazine

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PURE QUALITY.

In the past few weeks, I’ve visited various physician’s offices across the state, interviewing people from all walks of life who have one thing in common. They are all seeking medical cannabis recommendations. One man was born in the 1930’s. He was waiting to speak with the doctor about cannabis as a last resort for his pain. In another office, a young woman held her child and told me about her hope that cannabis could help her daughter. Another woman was facing cancer. I could continue on, but you get the idea. So do the people of Oklahoma. Thanks to SQ788—and the rapid pace the State has set to launch the program,— Oklahomans don’t have to treat cannabis as

EDITORIAL Corey Hunt corey@ouncemag.com

a last resort. And, they don’t have to become criminals simply because they are patients who need relief. This magazine is meant to be used as a tool in the ongoing effort to re-educate the people around you—family, co-workers, doctors, and friends—about medical cannabis. Now that Oklahoma has taken this step forward, you can step into the light and have discussions that weren’t comfortable to have just last year. Please, share this with someone you love and let’s spark the conversation!

Courtney Boze courtney@ouncemag.com Shannon Anderson, Co-Founder CONTRIBUTORS Kaitlan Connolly Pepper Hernandez ND, PHD, CNHP, NHC Pamela Street, BSN/RN Christie Sintic, RN Rachel Bussett Kyle Felling, PHD Kris Sparky Molskness Courtney Boze Josh Winningham, Pharm.D David Bearman, MD Justin Kander Ellis Smith Ricardo Pereyda

Corey Hunt, Co-founder

Ron Marlett Teresa Grossnicklaus

ADVERTISING (918) 303-2552 sales@ouncemag.com

Erika Ross Gee egee@wlj.com 501.212.1305 heartlandcannabislawyers.com

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A Thousand Dispensaries, a Historic Action, and a Word from the Medical Community

For 118 years we’ve helped clients prepare for growth, so when it comes to cannabis we know what to expect. Our multi-disciplinary team of attorneys, led by Erika

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OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

CONTENTS 7

A SIT DOWN WITH DR. PEPPER

CANNABIS & THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENT

BUT HIPAA PROTECTS ME, RIGHT?

SPARK THIS!

JUICING CANNABIS FOR CROHN’S

HUMMING HUMMUS & PEACH COBBLER

THE FIVE W’S OF CANNABIS TESTING IN OK

NURSE TALK: NO APOLOGIES

FREE PATIENT REGISTRATION HELPS 150

ROADBLOCKS TO RESEARCH

A FIGHTING CHANCE [FEATURE]

LEAVING THE SECRET GARDEN

GOODBYE, CHEMO BLANKET

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

A CALL TO REASON

GET LEGAL IN OKLAHOMA!

ASK DR. DAVE

TERPENE OF THE MONTH: HUMULENE

Advocacy alert! have you talked to your legislators? the 2019 legislative session starts february 4th. visit OUNCEMAG.COM/ ADVOCATE

Ounce is the first magazine in Oklahoma to focus on medical cannabis patients, industry, and legislation. Printed in full color and delivered old school. Distributed in retail shops, medical clinics, and events throughout the state. For advertising information please visit www.ouncemag.com.

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A SIT DOWN WITH DR. PEPPER

o better understand how medical cannabis education is getting to health care professionals, we sat down with Pepper Hernandez. Dr. Pepper is a naturopath, holistic health practitioner, and cannabis therapy educator and spends most of her time researching how the brain works. Provide us with a brief introduction of yourself and the work you do. What services do you provide in health and wellness? I am the CEO of the Cannabis Holistic Institute. I work individually with clients in my office located in Humboldt County Arcata, CA and worldwide, virtually and phone consults. I teach courses such as the Cannabis Therapy Program and Holistic Health Practitioner Program live and also virtually. I am the host of a Podcast, The Quantum Alignment Podcast, where we connect with local healers and share their knowledge with listeners. So basically I love health, wellness, healing and abundance for all humans. As a holistic health practitioner, what is your opinion on athlete care and medicating with cannabis? I have several athletes in my practice and fully believe that cannabis is essential to health and wellness. Cannabis, as we know, creates homeostasis in the body which helps our body develop a highly honed ability to achieve an internal state of equilibrium. This system of checks and balances help to keep you functioning on an even keel and is influenced by the endocannabinoid system. Both internal (endogenous) and external cannabinoids (those found in cannabis) affect the cannabinoid system, which means they have a role in this balancing act. This is

very important for an athlete or any other human being working towards optimal health. “ How would you recommend cannabis medication for athletes? What areas of their health and wellness do you think cannabis can make the most positive impact? I would highly suggest an athletic to check with their primary care physician before beginning any program and work with a cannabis consultant to ensure the proper program. With that being said I have found using CBD internally, which is non-psychoactive and legal to help

create and maintain our bodies natural homeostasis. This can help the body heal faster and allow someone to recover much quicker. Other suggestions usually include topicals high in THC, CBD and CBN. These compounds are known to help with muscle spasms, reducing inflammation and also promotes bone growth. Along with this suggestion, the food regiment and plenty of rest for the body to rebalance and repair. If the salve is needed for pain I would suggest using

cannabis strains that contain THC, CBD, CBN and CBC.” What positive effects can CBD and THC in cannabis deliver to the human body? What are the risks or adverse effects if misused? Both CBD and THC have the exact same molecular structure: 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. Both are chemically similar to your body’s own endocannabinoids. This allows them to interact with your cannabinoid receptors. The interaction impacts the release of neurotransmitters in your brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals responsible for relaying messages between cells. As far as risks are concerned, I have noticed in my research that CBD is well tolerated, even in large doses. Research suggests any side effects that do occur, CBD use is likely the result of drug-todrug interactions between CBD and other medications you may be taking. THC, on the other hand, may have temporary side effects, such as increased heart rate, coordination problems, dry mouth, red eyes, slower reaction times, memory loss and are all part of the compound’s psychoactive properties. What is your opinion on recreational cannabis use of athletes? What can you advise since there are doping regulations and cannabis use is still far from legal for athletes? I honestly think that athletes could benefit from using cannabis for its recovery properties and you can find versions that are legal. If you are in a legal state consider yourself lucky and research how this could be helpful in your self-care program. An increasing number of athletes are using specific cannabis cultivars to enhance their performance

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

due to its ability to enhance focus, reduce anxiety and eliminate feelings of fatigue. Smoking cannabis can affect athletes with the most physically demanding sports like football, basketball, combat sports like boxing and MMA, track and field sports for examples. What other methods ideal methods of consumption would you recommend if ever they wish to enjoy recreational cannabis? It is rare that I suggest inhaling cannabis to anyone, there are so many other forms or ways to use cannabis. I would typically suggest tropicals, tinctures, edibles and concentrates coming from high-quality local farms. There are have been claims of adverse effects of cannabis. What are your opinions on the reported negative effects? At this time I do not think there is enough research done to support that and I believe that every personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body is so different, every cultivar of cannabis is so different and combinations of those two things are equally different. There needs to be more research on this particular topic.

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

Of course, there can be negative effects if a person has not used the specific cultivar, dosage, and application into the system that is perfect for them and their body composition. This needs to be handled in a more delicate way in my opinion. Lastly, what do you see in the use of cannabis for medical treatments in the future? As a holistic health practitioner what future projects for cannabis would you like to accomplish? I personally see cannabis finding its way into everything from skin care, to immune support, to regenerative. There is no cap on cannabis and its healing abilities. The more research that is done the more we will find uses for it. I would like to see more people with proper knowledge of application, dosage and helping others on the finite details of making this work for each and every human wanting it. There is a desperate need for more educators in the communities that are newly legalizing this plant. Teaching the medicinal differences between hemp and cannabis. That is why I created my

Cannabis Therapy Program and The Cannabis Holistic Institute because there is so much to learn, know and do to help others. People need to be able to speak with someone who has that knowledge. I plan to educate more physicians, nurses and health care providers through this program so ultimately they can give the best, up to date, accurate, information on a persons discomfort.

CANNABIS EVALUATIONS • CONCIERGE MEDICINE • TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY • SPA SERVICES

y e l i a B Dr.

EVOLVEDHEALTHANDWELLNESS OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

A NURSE’S PERSPECTIVE:

Cannabis & The Immunocompromised Patient BY CHRISTY SINTIC, RN

or immunocompromised patients, it can be dangerous to assume that because medical cannabis is legal throughout most of the United States and that it can be bought in dispensaries, that it is safe. However, the only thing that can deem medical cannabis as safe is full spectrum lab testing. Your average patient probably doesn’t care much about lab tested cannabis. People have been consuming cannabis for centuries without it being lab tested. So why is it so important that lab testing is done on medical cannabis now? Answer: The immunocompromised patient. Patients consume medical cannabis for a variety of reasons such as epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, eating disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, glaucoma, nausea, anxiety, pain, PTSD, and more. Some patients use medical cannabis for the treatment of diseases that compromise their immune systems. Patients on chemo or radiation, malnourished patients, uncontrolled diabetics, those with AIDS,

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

immune complex diseases, autoimmune disorders, etc., for these people with compromised immune systems moldy or

contaminated cannabis can lead to major complications like infection or pneumonia and it can even lead to death.

Immunocompromised people are often advised to avoid exposure to soil, plants, and cut flowers due to the presence of microbes. Think of an intensive care unit where flowers and plants are not allowed because the patients in those units are likely to be immunocompromised and exposure to certain microbes could have serious consequences for these patients. So how do immunocompromised patients know which medical cannabis won’t harm them? Answer: Lab testing! Full spectrum lab testing will reveal any contaminants such as mold, fungus, yeast, chemical residues, heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and E. coli. Lab testing allows cannabis professionals to proudly stand behind their product as one that won’t harm immunocompromised patients. Even though most contaminants are only detectable by lab testing inspection prior to purchase is very important. Inspection of medical cannabis before

purchase will let a patient know if there are possible contaminants in the cannabis. Patients should check for things such as the dryness of the cannabis. Moist cannabis can be a breeding ground for microbes. Gently squeezing the bud can give the patient an idea of the moisture content of the cannabis. Another way to check for dry cannabis is by breaking the stem, the stem should break not bend. Patients should look at the color of the cannabis, looking for any fuzzy green or gray areas that could indicate mold or mildew. Cannabis is well-known for its potent smells, one thing you do not want your cannabis to smell like is fresh cut grass. This is a sign that the cannabis has not been dried properly and as stated above moist cannabis is a breeding ground for microbes. Cannabis should generally smell Pleasant any strong musky or mildew odors are signs of contamination. The patient should always perform an inspection of cannabis before purchase with or without

lab testing results being available. Most importantly patients should trust their guts. If something doesn’t seem right then it probably isn’t. In conclusion, medical cannabis professionals should be willing to provide full spectrum lab testing reports on all their products to ensure the safety of patients. Immunocompromised patients that choose medical cannabis as treatment should be demanding lab-tested cannabis, their lives depend on it. 1. Thompson, G.R III. “A Microbe Assessment of Medical Marijuana.” Clinical Microbiology and Infection: the official publication of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, L. Leibovici, Vol:23, Issue: 4, Plumx Metrics, 2017. Pg 269-270. www.plu.mx December 2nd, 2018

Christy Sintic, RN is a patient advocate that has been in nursing for 22 years, 15 years as an RN. She is currently working independently as a cannabis nurse doing independent consultations and education for patients and cannabis professionals throughout Oklahoma. She is also a cannabis advocate, cultivator, and patient herself. Christy currently sits on the board of the Oklahoma Cannabis Nurses Association to assist with patient advocacy, education, and advancing cannabis as a medicine.

2. Beadle, Alexander. “Sources and Risks of Common Cannabis Contaminants.” July 18, 2018. www.annalyticalcannabis.com December 2, 2018 3. McHardy, Ian. “Infectious risk associated with medical cannabis: potential implications for immunocompromised patients?” The Journal of Infection, Vol:76, Issue:5, Plumx Metrics, 2018. Pg: 500- 501. Https://plu.mx. December 2, 2018 4. Royal Queen Seeds. “Contaminated Cannabis and How to Detect It.” September 10, 2018, www.royalqueenseeds.com/ blogs December 2, 2018

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But, HIPAA protects me, right? WELL, ACTUALLY…NO. BY RACHEL BUSSETT

hat in the world is HIPAA and what does it do? I hear this question a lot and have learned over the years that many people do not understand what HIPAA is and what rights it protects. With the passage of SQ 788 and everyone’s questions about privacy, legality, guns, and jobs regarding cannabis I thought it was important that we talk about what HIPAA is and what it does. First, HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. No one wants to write that long title out let alone remember it so it was quickly abbreviated to HIPAA. The law has five titles or sections which address different things relating to health care and health insurance (as seen in the inset.) Most people in their everyday life are concerned about the Privacy Rules. Have you tried to obtain your medical records recently? It seems similar to getting a mortgage. You have to provide everything but the blood type of your first born especially if you are trying to obtain records for someone other than yourself. The reason this is such a pain in the privacy rules of HIPAA. First, the Privacy Rule only applies to “covered entities.” If a business does not meet the definition of a “covered entity” under HIPAA they are not subject to the HIPAA privacy rule or the so-called protections against the disclosure of your health information. Your lawyer is not a covered entity. DHS is not a covered entity. Your friend’s mother’s sister’s cousin who saw your health records is not a covered

HIPAA:

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

Title I Health Insurance for displaced workers, pre-existing condition limitations, continued coverage Title II Administrative simplification of health care by creating national standardized health care coding & transactions, reduction of fraud, and creation of “covered entities.” It also established the Privacy Rule. Title III Pre-tax medical spending accounts Title IV Group health plan guidelines Title V Company-owned life insurance policies.

entity. It may not be appropriate for them to disclose certain health information but the disclosure does not violate HIPAA if they are not a covered entity. So who are covered entities? They are health plans, health clearinghouses, and health care providers who transmit health information in electronic forms. The US Health and Human Services website www. hhs.gov has a great information sheet that provides a lot of information about the privacy rule and how it applies. I’ve seen lots of statements recently about the OMMA or OSBI “violating HIPAA” if they give over certain information. IF the OMMA or OSBI do not satisfy the definition of health plans, health clearinghouses, and health care providers who transmit health information in electronic forms then they aren’t HIPAA covered entities and your information is not protected from disclosure due to HIPAA. The HHS information sheet gives exact definitions of these entities. Another way to know if a business or organization is a HIPAA covered entity is by considering whether the entity gave you notice of your rights and the privacy practices. HIPAA requires covered entities to provide notice of their privacy practices to consumers. This is why when you go to your doctor’s office you get a packet of information that says “Notice Of Privacy Rights” across the top or front of the document. The notice is required to advise the patient the ways that the protected health information may be used and disclosed. If you did not get a Notice of Privacy Rights from your lawyer, state

agency or other entity then it’s time to start questioning whether they are in fact a covered entity. Again if not a covered entity then you don’t have HIPAA privacy rights. Notice must be provided at the beginning of services being offered, by posting notice at the facility, by furnishing it as soon as practical in emergency situations, upon request and electronically available on the entity’s website. Covered entities that directly treat a patient must obtain a written acknowledgment of receipt of privacy rights. So, if on the first instance you use someone you believe is a provider and if you don’t receive the HIPAA privacy rules at the beginning of your appointment, if they aren’t posted at the facility, if they aren’t on the website and/or no one gave you a form to sign acknowledging that you were provided these rights, then this is a very good indication that you are not dealing with a HIPAA covered entity. If after all that and you still think you are dealing with a HIPAA-covered entity and you haven’t been advised of your rights, the lawyer’s

advice is to run quickly in the other direction because the provider doesn’t know what is supposed to be done. Additionally, when HIPAA was enacted Congress acted so as to “preempt the field” on this issue. What this means is Congress took the required affirmative action necessary to say that they are the only arbiters of this area of law and conflicting state law is trumped by federal law. Your state cannot have a state provision making a business or agency a HIPAA entity when the agency doesn’t meet the definitions under federal law. If you will now notice there are no HIPAA privacy disclosure on the OMMA website or the OSBI website. This is because the OMMA and the OSBI are not HIPAA covered entities. Therefore, if these entities give out your information they are not violating HIPAA in doing it. Medical cannabis businesses are not covered entities. Medical cannabis businesses are illegal under federal law and HIPAA is federal law. Your patient information is only as private with these entities as you keep it and that they take efforts to protect. This means that it is possible for law enforcement to get copies of patient listings and harass you and it doesn’t violate HIPAA. OMMA can send notice to your employer and it doesn’t violate HIPAA. OMMA can broadcast your entire medical history to everyone and it doesn’t violate HIPAA because OMMA is not a HIPAA covered entity and is therefore not subject to the privacy protection

requirements in the law. If you search the OMMA website for “HIPAA” it returns “No results were found for HIPAA” All of this is important to know so that when you are dealing with your private health care information you understand who can and cannot disclose information. Additionally, if you as the patient put your information out into the public realm such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, there are no social media HIPAA protections to prohibit redisclosure by unscrupulous individuals. HIPAA is not the be all or end all on the protection of your private health information. You are the protector of that information. If you do not want the government to have that information or for a friend to have it then you have to understand that your rights under the legalization of cannabis under SQ 788 are very limited and that much of the information can be disclosed. If you do not want that information getting out into the public realm and then you as a consumer have to decide who is going to know your information and to what extent. A broad federal law is not going to jump in and save you from yourself and your own disclosure of information.

Rachel Bussett-Simco is a trial attorney and has been practicing law in Oklahoma for the last 15 years. She is the owner of Bussett Legal Group a boutique full-service law firm in Oklahoma City. Rachel and her team are the attorneys leading the fight to ensure proper implementation of SQ 788 in Oklahoma and are poised to be one of the only law firms in Oklahoma able to provide services to all aspects of the medical cannabis industry in state. The firm practices in all areas including civil litigation, business law, employment, criminal, family, personal injury, bankruptcy, social security, and tribal matters. Rachel is licensed to practice in all of Oklahoma’s state and federal courts, the 10th circuit court of appeals, the Chickasaw Nation, and the State of Missouri. In addition to her legal practice, Rachel is the President of Scissortail Acceleration Company, a preeminent cannabis consulting business in Oklahoma.

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

BY KRIS “SPARKY” MOLSKNESS

VETERANS HELPING VETERANS It has often been said that it takes a special type of individual to serve in the military. Actually, if you think about it being in the military and being a cannabis activist aren’t that far apart— except the part about the bullets. We work long hours in extreme hot and cold temperatures. We sit in the wind and the rain while performing our tasks, and at the end of the day, we ultimately want to help those too tired, weak, or scared to help themselves. In 2012, the Oklahoma Veterans’ Cannabis Collective was founded with the purpose of helping others heal themselves with cannabis as we moved yet another family out to Colorado. The founders wanted to do something to make a difference and help those unable to help themselves so we began educating those willing to learn. While the collective began to come together, members spread out across Oklahoma helping carry the first of the petitions starting with the decriminalization petition. At first, our goal was to assist with cannabis education and get as many voters registered as the petitions kept coming, all while fighting to change things so the exodus of families leaving to legal states would hopefully end. Now with the passage of SQ 788, our mission focus has started to evolve. Moving forward, the primary mission of the Veteran’s Cannabis Collective will be to provide low-cost affordable cannabis to Veterans and their dependents while also cultivating a variety of produce and other crops. Besides cultivating medical cannabis the collective will also be

retraining Veterans through internships. These internships will allow Veterans to develop the skills necessary to obtain employment in the cannabis and hemp industry or simply give them the tools to take care of their personal garden. The collective is structured as a Notfor-profit corporation. This serves a dual purpose by allowing a safe place for Veterans to come together and work to better themselves and the community. We are focused on fighting the stigma that cannabis currently holds and make our neighborhoods a safer place. In 2019 the Veterans’ Cannabis Collective will continue the legislative discussions started in 2018 with lawmakers to ensure certain protections for veterans and patient collectives across the state. For Oklahoma, education means just as much as safe access, and for that reason alone we will continue to stand on those front lines fighting for patients everywhere.

AN EVER-GROWING BUSINESS Nine years ago, Marc and Janine Bradley started Organics OKC Garden supply store. If you could corner Marc for a few minutes out of his busy day, he would tell you it was mostly born out of frustration. “The only garden supply store in town at the time barely carried any product— and had very limited knowledge of the ones they did carry.” So with a few hundred dollars in his pocket, Marc set out to open the business that everyone knows today. In the beginning, it was very tight quarters in the original store, but Marc and Janine had a passion to make a difference in the growing community—and that passion has been a driving force behind their

long relationship with this community. In the early days of the grassroots efforts to change the laws here in Oklahoma, Organics OKC opened their doors to the community. Activists meet there to turn in petitions and talk about current efforts starting with the decriminalization petition and others. Organics OKC hosts different types of informative hands-on classes throughout the year as well, so if you’re new to gardening don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty because Marc, Janine, and their staff are there to help you out. The hardworking staff at Organics OKC is dedicated ready to help you with all of your growing needs. Several of the employees working there are also students at OSU-OKC in various botany or horticulture areas of study. If you need some tips on growing, be it Cannabis, produce or ornamentals, just stop on by and say hello. You’ll be stepping into the longest running grow supply store in Oklahoma City and chances are you will be greeted by Janine with a warm smile and a friendly “Welcome to Organics OKC” Depending on whose in the shop at the time you may get to visit with some of the local farm owners and learn some lessons from the pros. Sparky is a U.S. Army veteran (1991-1994) and a medical cannabis patient since suffering a traumatic brain injury in 1998. He has been growing for more than 17 years and has a background in physical medicine. He is the owner of Okie Tokie Farms, Inc. and Smoke Moore Cannabis Co. and a co-founder of the Oklahoma Veteran’s Cannabis Collective.

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

BY JUSTIN KANDER

ustine understands

Meader

intimately

Over the last several years, others

and CBDA are non-psychotropic and

how

devastating

have replicated the positive results he

patients can ingest large quantities without feeling a “high”.

Crohn’s disease can be. As a

observed. For example, Katie Marsh used

chronic inflammatory condition of the

cannabis juicing to almost completely heal

gastrointestinal

debilitating rheumatoid arthritis.

tract,

Crohn’s

disease

HOW JUSTINE MEADER BEAT CROHN’S DISEASE WITH CANNABIS JUICE

often results in a host of debilitating

Unlike traditional cannabis oils, which

symptoms including abdominal cramps,

are heated and decarboxylated, cannabis

malabsorption of nutrients, fatigue, and

juice preserves the cannabinoids in their

Justine Meader was diagnosed with

bowel problems.

raw, acidic forms. Therefore, juicing is an

Crohn’s disease at age 13. After all the

efficient way to ingest large quantities of

pharmaceuticals failed her, she became a

Over time, the colon or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract become

legal medicinal cannabis patient in Maine

inflamed, leading to increasingly worse

in 2011.

The phytocannabinoids from this plant augment the body’s attempt to restore and increase function to a normal level. Thus it mimics the regulatory system of cellular physiology.”

symptoms. Justine fought symptoms of Crohn’s disease for over fifteen years with pharmaceutical drugs like oxycodone, sulfasalazine, Pentasa, Remicade, Humira, Cimzia,

Zofran,

tramadol,

prednisone,

Flagyl, 6 MP, and Imuran, all of which failed to control her symptoms. Now, she is “wicked proud” that cannabis juicing alone has put her disease into remission, and is doing everything she can to spread the word.

THE BENEFITS OF CANNABIS JUICING The

first

person

—William Courtney, M.D.

Maine was the fifth state to provide for dispensaries of medical grade cannabis for persons with debilitating and chronic medical conditions. According to Justine, smoking cannabis helped alleviate nausea and pain to a small extent, but significant problems remained. Two years later, Justine learned about cannabis juicing from her boss at the dispensary where she worked. She and her husband studied the benefits of juicing and decided it was the right course to take. Justine acquired some cannabis leaves and bought a juicer. On June 13, 2013, she

significantly

officially began juicing. She began feeling

publicize the benefits of juicing was Dr.

better within seven days, and coworkers

William Courtney. In his documentary

tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and

remarked on her increased color and

Leaf, he described how his wife Kristen

cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which have been

energy.

overcame a terminal lupus diagnosis by

shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory

juicing cannabis.

and anti-cancer properties. Because THCA

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

Previous blood work from May 24, 2013,

indicated

Justine’s

C-reactive

protein level was 22, which is a sign of intense inflammation – a level of less than 8 is normal. By July 12th, the CRP marker had dropped to 7.4. Before juicing, her symptoms included loss of appetite, diarrhea 10-12 times a day, and extreme fatigue. Justine currently has none of those symptoms. Furthermore, by November 4, 2014, multiple medical tests eventually showed completely normal blood and a healthy colon. Justine’s juicing process is quick and easy. She simply takes one cup of cannabis leaves from her stored supply, juices it in her machine, then drinks the juice immediately. “I am grateful to have found a way to alleviate my Crohn’s symptoms naturally. The only side effect is my happiness.” If Justine had not learned about cannabis juicing and was still on a dozen pharmaceuticals, it is hard to imagine she would currently be so healthy. She hopes her story will inspire others across the world to try this innovative treatment and give hope to those who previously had none.

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COOKING WITH

Cannabis! BY BRANDI HEMPMOTHER SWING

HUMMING HUMMUS Skill level: Easy Preparation time: 10 min. Cook time: About 5 min. Servings: 20 Ingredients: 1/3 cup MagicalButter coconut oil 2 cans (16 oz.) chickpeas, rinsed and drained 1 tbs. chopped fresh parsley (or raw cannabis leafs) ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 3 tablespoons Tahini sesame paste 2 cloves roasted garlic, crushed

HEMPMOTHER’S MAGICAL PEACH COBBLER Skill level: Medium Preparation time: 10 min. Cook time: About 40 min. Servings: 6 Ingredients: ½ cup magical butter, melted 1 cup milk 8 peaches or 29 oz can of sliced peaches in heavy syrup, undrained 2 pre-made pie crusts 1 cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla

WHAT EXACTLY IS A MAGICALBUTTER® MACHINE? The MagicalButter machine is the world’s first countertop Botanical Extractor™, designed for creating fantastic recipes, infusing the essence of healthy herbs into butter, oil, grain alcohol, lotions, and more! How does it work? MagicalButter (MB) machine is scienti18 The OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 fically designed for a specific purpose: creating

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper ¼ teaspoon hot smoked paprika In a food processor or blender, process the chickpeas for 1 minute on high while slowly adding the coconut oil. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend for 2-3 minutes. Plate, serve, and enjoy your Humming Hummus with your favorite chips or raw vegetables!

Spray a 13x9 inch baking dish. Place the first layer of crust in then butter lightly. Pour peaches with juice over butter. In a bowl, combine sugars. Add milk and combine till no clumps are seen. Pour batter evenly into pie crust then place second crust on top making small cuts to vent. Bake at 375° for 40 minutes or until golden brown. A sprinkling of nutmeg or cinnamon (about ½ tsp) can be put on top before baking.

incredible recipes and botanical infusions with little or no labor. The MagicalButter machine combines an immersion blender with a digital thermostat and heating unit. The MB grinds, heats, stirs, and steeps your herbal extract, all at the correct time intervals and temperature. So, you achieve your desired infusion easily, safely, and consistently. Get your own MagicalButter machine at www.MagicalButter.com. Use the coupon code “OUNCEMAG” to save $30

THE FIVE W’S OF

CANNABIS TESTING in Oklahoma BY KYLE FELLING, PH.D.

s owner and operator of F.A.S.T. Laboratories, an analytical testing lab for cannabis, I receive questions daily regarding all facets of testing cannabis for efficacy and contaminants. In this article, I want to attempt to summarize some of the most common questions using the famous 5 W’s (Who, What, When, Where, and Why).

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TESTING? This is a fairly common question. Who is responsible for testing cannabis products? The dispensary, processor, or grower? The answer is a little more complicated than you might think, and I would answer as all three. The grower is responsible for testing their plants to ensure that they are free of contaminants and have the desired qualities that they were attempting to achieve. The processor is responsible for testing their products (both the concentrates they use and the end products) in order to make sure that the desired (and effective) cannabinoid content is achieved and that they have not introduced (or enhanced) any contaminants due to the processing of the growers’ materials. The dispensary is responsible for testing as a last line of defense for the patients and to keep growers and processors in check.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE TESTED? The answer is something that not many want to hear. Cannabis and its’ products need to be tested anytime a “transformation” of the material occurs. At a minimum, the first time is when the material is ready to be sold from the grower to a processor and/or a dispensary. At a processor, if a concentrate is made, then

it needs to be tested again. Concentrating the cannabinoids also concentrates any potential pesticides and/or heavy metals. So, although they may not have been detected in the flower, they can sometimes easily be detected in the concentrate. Once that concentrate is made into a final product, it must be tested again, at a minimum for potency, although the contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals should be fine at this point.

WHEN DOES CANNABIS NEED TO BE TESTED? The answer is relatively simple. Test it in the form it is immediately before being transformed and/or sold. For growers, this would be dry, cured flower. For processors, this would be a concentrate before using it for other products and for final products. There is too much that could change the product if it tested before reaching these states. For a dispensary, at a minimum, spot check your grower or processor in order to make sure that the laboratory they are using is producing reliable results.

WHERE DOES CANNABIS NEED TO BE TESTED? Cannabis needs to be tested in an analytical laboratory that is staffed by knowledgeable personnel. Not

everyone that has money to put in a laboratory and/or purchase equipment is qualified to run a laboratory. Ask questions of your lab. Ask about the background of the staff. A laboratory is typically only as good as the training of its management and their ability to pass that knowledge to their employees. Ask that your laboratory seek ISO accreditation. Although it doesn’t “guarantee” that all the laboratory staff is necessarily proficient, it is a tedious step that any laboratory should take in order to show some competency in the methods being used. However, be patient with your lab. ISO accreditation can sometimes take upwards of a year to obtain. The main point is to use a lab that you can trust their results and one that isn’t just giving you the results they think you want to see.

WHY DOES CANNABIS NEED TO BE TESTED? The State of Oklahoma is a medical cannabis state. This means that patients will be using these products. People who are sick and/or suffering from some to several different ailments do not need to become sicker because of ingesting medicine that is supposed to treat and/ or heal them. A good laboratory always keeps this in mind. It isn’t about the bottom line as much as it is about the patient. If all the groups in this industry keep this in mind, then the bottom line will be there. I can speak for my laboratory in saying that patients come before profits. Our hope is that others will follow this lead as well. Kyle Felling, Ph.D. is an inorganic/ analytical chemist with extensive industrial and academic laboratory experience. Kyle is the owner and operator of F.A.S.T. Laboratories. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

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CANNABIS CONSULTING

SOLUTIONS

NURSE TALK:

No Apologies BY PAMELA STREET, BSN/RN (RETIRED)

lowly redefined in medicine, religion, law, and education are traditional words and concepts like ethics, oaths, preventative healthcare, clean water, real food, patient rights, and the least invasive and most compassionate medicine. Changed is the understanding of how the physiology of the human body is meant to seek homeostasis, kill cancer, support the immune and nervous system function when provided nutrients. Instead, we are told we are faulty due to our genetics or lifestyles and that modern medicine is the answer to the symptoms of modern life. The concept of disease prevention has been redefined to something, after-the-fact. Veterans are killing themselves and mental illness is criminalized. The first chemo treatment is scheduled at diagnosis. Food staples have been genetically altered to work with pesticides and industrial waste is found in food, water, and medicine. Even our sins, like tobacco, wouldn’t be as dangerous without the 200 added chemicals. In a day when allopathic medicine is a leading contributor to causes of death...what is real? The dissonance is real...and unhealthy. We need reverse osmosis of truth and common sense. At the State Capitol, you will gain an impression that ethics are more about

conflicts of interest or campaign tactics, not the classic definition of equality and compassion for the suffering. Religion has become a tax-free pass to righteously judge others and consequently effect law. The Physician’s Code of Ethics doesn’t promote selectively ignoring physiology, nutrition and cannabis research to instead praise and/or fear professional associations. Universities only teach what the “bosses of knowledge” acknowledge. If ever, now is the time to re-redefine patient rights and the physician’s visit. We have been desensitized away from appropriate care. We settle for 15 minutes of disregard. The words from your mouth are as important as skewed science. Just say ‘no’ to being defined by medical codes and recipes. Do we fashion a tin foil hat? Not yet. For now, we stand on the power we have recently gained, we eat and sleep well, we journal or participate in cannabis research, we introduce ourselves to legislators and preachers with pride, we ask for citizen representation and become impervious to judgment and control. We learn to discern the truth as we feed the endocannabinoid system for resiliency to resist and change unjust practices that often, in time, become familiar. Remember, judges do not apologize.

2018 Free Patient Drive Assists Nearly 150 Oklahomans

unday, November 18th, 2018 was a historic day for Oklahoma! Strange Leaf Dispensary, Leafly, Guerilla Grow Supply, and Ounce Magazine held Oklahoma’s first ever free medical cannabis patient recommendation drive. Organized by Samantha Richardson and with the help of around 50 volunteers and four amazing physicians, Dr. Brandon Bailey, Dr. Erick Kaufman, Dr. Meredith Woodward, and Dr. Margaret Stripling we were able to assist 148 patients with getting their Medical Marijuana recommendations completely free of charge. We were also able to help more than half of those patients with submitting their applications through the OMMA website. It was a wonderful day and we are very proud of what we were able to achieve for the patients of Oklahoma on that day and plan to do similar events in the future. Thank you to the physicians and volunteers who made this patient drive a success!

DR. MEREDITH WOODWARD 918-907-5527 527 W. Washington St., Broken Arrow

DR. MARGARET STRIPLING 918-585-1550 3606 N. MLK Jr. Blvd., Tulsa

LOOKING FOR MORE CANNABIS NEWS? LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! @OUNCEOK

DR. BRANDON BAILEY 918- 268-1014 721 W Queens St, Broken Arrow

DR. ERICK KAUFMAN 405-367-5638 eric.kaufman@docsofcannabis.com

ROADBLOCKS to Research BY JOSH WINNINGHAM, PHARMD

ne of the most common questions asked by healthcare professionals regarding medical cannabis is “Where are the clinical trials that show cannabis has medical benefit?” This can be difficult to answer as cannabis does not have the same scientific backing that medical professionals are accustomed to seeing. A typical medication approved by the FDA will have clinical trials involving thousands of patients showing the benefits and risks of taking said medication. Accepted studies are blinded, placebocontrolled, randomized, and unbiased. Medications approved by the FDA have gone through rigorous studies showing repeatable and consistent results. Due to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) listing cannabis as a schedule I drug, it is nearly impossible to obtain this same level of research on cannabis in the United States. In order to conduct a study on cannabis as medicine, and/or support rescheduling, the federal government must grant approval to conduct the research. Even if a researcher is able to get federal approval, there are still other entities that must approve the research. A new clinical trial may need to get approval from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), institutional review boards, state-level departments, state boards of medical examiners, and/or potential funders. At any point in the approval process, just one of these groups can roadblock a potential clini-

cal study. For example, the NIDA’s focus is on the cause and effect of drug addiction and abuse. They are not tasked with finding therapeutic benefits of currently illegal drugs. Less than 20% of the cannabis research funded by the NIDA in 2015 focused on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. Once a clinical study gains all the approvals needed, more hurdles await. The

The status of cannabis as a schedule I entity ensures hurdles will remain in place until the DEA reschedules cannabis.”

only facility federally allowed to cultivate cannabis is the University of Mississippi. Any federally approved research must be approved by the NIDA before a product can be requested from this facility. Historically, the quality of a product produced at the University of Mississippi has not been

equivalent to the products being cultivated and sold at dispensaries in medical and recreational states. The product received by researchers has often been frozen for long periods which can affect the potency of the product. Some researchers have reported waiting extended periods of time (up to years) to receive cannabis product after their request only to find it contains mold and is unusable. The University of Mississippi also lacks the variety of products that is available in dispensaries, thus limiting the applicability of clinical trial results. Due to these frustrations, researchers have put pressure on the federal government to loosen regulations on cannabis research. The NIDA has instructed the University of Mississippi to look at cultivating various THC concentration plants, and the DEA has increased the number of licenses allowed to grow cannabis for research purposes (although at this time, they have not awarded any further licenses). After a clinical trial has obtained the needed approvals and has received usable cannabis from the University of Mississippi, researchers still face an uphill battle on getting the study to be accepted by the medical community. One of the hallmarks of a widely accepted clinical trial is “blinding” of patients. “Blinding” refers to a patient, and researchers in “double-blinding”, not being aware if they are getting active treatment or a placebo treatment. In the case of cannabis research, adequate blinding can be difficult. The NIDA does provide a very low dose cannabis product (0.001% THC)

that still has terpenes intact to retain the smell, but it is still difficult to truly blind patients due to the psychoactive properties of cannabis. If researchers do not assess whether patients were properly blinded, or if it is later determined that patients were not adequately blinded, the results will not be widely accepted by the medical community. Without wide acceptance of the medical community, national medical organizations will not come forward to support the use of cannabis as medicine. These hurdles make it nearly impossible for adequate research to be performed on cannabis-as-medicine. The status of cannabis as a schedule I entity ensures that these hurdles will remain in place until the DEA reschedules cannabis. Mounting evidence from countries other than the United States, including Great Britain and Israel, as well as small-scale results from statesanctioned medical and/or recreational cannabis programs, may help shift the tide in favor of rescheduling for research purposes. But, until this occurs, research from within the United States will remain limited. The National Academies of Science, Medicine, and Engineering states that “In short, such barriers represent a public health problem.” National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24625. “Scientists say the government’s only pot farm has moldy samples - PBS.” 8 Mar. 2017, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/scientists-say-governments-pot-farm-moldy-samples-no-guidelines. Accessed 3 Jan. 2019.

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A FIGHTING CHANCE BY KAITLAN CONNOLLY

SEAN Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;G

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OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

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ight Boxing

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veryone has something that on to challenge Hilmer Kenty in a fifteenhappened in their life that has round bout for the WBA World Champion shaped who they are and what Title on April 12, 1981 and won the they do. And for Sean O’Grady, Lightweight Championship Belt, by unanimous decision. Boxing Champion of the World, this is no He was entered into the World Boxing Hall different. of Fame in 1992 with Sean was born a final record of 81-5 into a life of boxing; with a total of 70 I wonder what this trainer Pat O’Grady wins by knockout. and promoter Being an could have done for Jeannie O’Grady, Amateur and me during my career with his first fight at Professional Boxer in boxing…or what the young age of 9 for over 24 years, the years old… it is safe stresses from boxing it could have done to say, boxing ran proved to have for my dad, a WWII through his blood! lasting effects, far Born in Texas, beyond the end of combat veteran who Sean and his family Sean’s professional fought PTSD for most settled in Oklahoma boxing career. Pain of his life.” City when he was and soreness were 11 years old. It was things he had grown —Sean O’Grady here, that he spent accustomed to and his days in the quickly became his boxing gym with way of life. During his father as he trained other competitors training, his father would use a homemade and took in everything he saw. Sean would topical ointment to help alleviate as much spar with anyone that would let him, of his pain as possible after each fight. regardless of their size or experience. Those This remedy was a concoction of rubbing that watched him fight, knew they were alcohol, wintergreen, and an assortment of watching a “champion” in the making. His other ingredients. determination, impressive movements and Even in Sean’s retirement today, the professionalism was proven every day. stresses endured during his career are still That champion, the “Green Machine,” present, suffering from chronic foot and made his professional boxing debut on back pain, and arthritis in his hands and January 21, 1975. A scheduled ten-round knees. One day his wife, Robin, purchased bout that lasted just one, didn’t leave his a cannabidiol (CBD) topical ointment for fans disappointed. People everywhere, him to apply to his hands and feet. Sean did especially his hometown fans in Oklahoma, notice some improvement from CBD so on were enthusiastic about the potential of a trip to Colorado he purchased a medical this young boxer. Fighting every two weeks, cannabis topical ointment containing both emerging victorious more often than not, CBD and tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC). The Sean fought only a few bouts lasting more results of medical cannabis were instant, than a couple of rounds. Sean was a force to allowing Sean to start running and workouts be reckoned with – and his opponents knew while reducing his pain. it. After an already successful professional Unlike the old “homemade” topical career, Sean went from a 15-year-old club ointment the medical cannabis topical fighter to a world champion boxer. He went ointment wasn’t harsh to his skin and CONT’D ON NEXT PAGE

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

rehydrated it as well. Sean couldn’t help but think, “I wonder what this could have done for me during my career in boxing”, he reflects on this for a moment and continues, “Or what it could have done for my dad, a WWII combat veteran, who fought PTSD for most of his life.” Sean’s father, Pat, joined the United States Marine Corp to serve in the South Pacific during World War II. Pat was in the First Marine Division and saw combat in Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He was affected for the rest of his life and like many from that era, he would never talk about the things he saw and the friends he lost during his time served. He, suffered from PTSD. The effects of war continued until he died in 1988. Pat relied on the use of opioids for pain and anxiety relief and today there are entirely too many cases, similar to Pat’s that result in a path of addiction of these opioids or barbiturates, sometimes even leading to death. Sean says, “The possibilities of medical cannabis, in ointment, edible, tincture, or one of the many other products, could be beneficial for ANYONE suffering.” With the shifting attitudes towards this inspiring social movement of medical cannabis, Sean knew he wanted to help, but overturning decades of stigmatization of cannabis as a gateway drug will be no easy task. It’s these moments in life that shape you and make you who are today. For Sean, finding that pain relief he needed and knowing he is able to help others do the same, is what makes him most proud of where this journey has led him and his family today. “I want to use my platform to help educate people on the potential benefits of cannabis and to help patients who have been waiting far too long for the opportunity to legally obtain this medication.” For a boxer like Sean, medical cannabis topicals and tinctures have improved his life dramatically. He feels relief from the years of wearing his body down every day in the ring. Having the knowledge now, that THC and CBD can help as an anti-inflammatory along with pain relieving properties, and witnessing the effects first-hand, is why Sean decided to embark on this new journey and open Ringside Medical Cannabis Dispensary, located at 14201 N. May in Oklahoma City. Knowing that cannabis can also lessen anxiety and insomnia and help those with PTSD live happy, healthy lives is yet another reason why cannabis education has become his passion. He wants to be able to give any former or current athlete, professional or recreational, and any patient that needs help—that fighting chance.

Kaitlan Connolly is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Marketing for

PHOTO LOCATIONS:

Title Boxing Gym EDMOND, OK Western Avenue Boxing Gym OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

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PHOTO: RANDY CARR

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DO YOU HAVE A SECRET LIFE?

LEAVING THE SECRET GARDEN BY DANIEL VICTOR BOYINGTON

aving a secret cannabis life that you are afraid to discuss with others can be a hindrance and unhealthy. It can hinder you from building meaningful relationships with people because you are afraid to be judged if they knew you consumed cannabis. It can cause you to pre-judge others for thinking they might judge you in the first place. It can hinder you from getting out because in your mind you feel that you can only be your true self in your home so you would rather stay there. It can cause you to lie to people you love and keep secrets from them. For the last 4 years I have lived in a neighborhood filled with teachers, nurses, law enforcement, people who work in oil and gas, and a lot of people who work in corporate America. I was always afraid to get to know my neighbors on a personal level because it would become more people that I had to hide my cannabis use from. With SQ788 coming along and the creation of Tokie Tees, my mindset changed though and so did others. I knew for SQ788 to pass and for the stigma surrounding cannabis to end, some of us who were afraid to come out of the secret garden, had to take that scary first step out. We had to inform and educate people that just because you use

cannabis, it doesn’t mean you are a bad person. We couldn’t let the stereotypical “stoner” who never cared that people knew about their cannabis use be the face of this new movement. We had to show people that we are active contributors to our society. That we are members of your local church. That we are members of your local PTA. We build your houses. We cook your dinners at restaurants. We treat your kids at the hospital. We run next to you in the local 5k Fun Run. We volunteer at homeless shelters. We are everywhere. The 57% spoke up in a voting booth and got medical legalization passed here in Oklahoma but I saw that people were still

afraid to step out of the dark. I wanted to help change that. This last 4/20 weekend, one of my best friends and now business partner, Brent and I went to Cannabis Cup SoCal and I purchased one of the coolest cannabis T-shirts I’d seen. Well leading up to SQ788 I wore that thing everywhere to let people know I was pro-cannabis. I wore it to the store, to pick up pizza, to the gym, and also I wore it to the first annual Mid America Medical Cannabis Convention they had at the OKC fair grounds this last May. People kept coming up to me and complimenting me on it and asking where I got it and asking if they could buy it online. It started so many conversations which got the wheels in my head turning. Then, I noticed at that event and the next local cannabis event I went to, that there were absolutely no quality cannabis tees being sold. That’s when I knew that there was a need for local cannabis-themed shirts and I wanted to help fill that need. An Okie is described as someone who is a native or inhabitant of Oklahoma. Being an Okie is something I’ve ALWAYS been proud to announce. Being an Okie who likes to “toke” cannabis though? Not so much. When my mindset changed, I then wanted everyone who I came in contact with to know that I’m not just an Okie, but I’m a “Toking” Okie! CONT’D ON NEXT PAGE

And I wanted to do that with a shirt. That’s when I pitched the idea to my friend Brent. We wanted other cannabis users to know

Having a secret cannabis life can be an unhealthy hindrance—you are essentially hiding a portion of your life from your family, friends, or neighbors.”

they aren’t alone. We didn’t want our shirts screaming “I AM A POTHEAD” though. We wanted to create a t-shirt that we, and oth-

ers could wear that didn’t throw cannabis in your face, but had designs that gently whispered off the skin soft material “Hey, I’m pro-cannabis.” So we created our first few designs and Tokie Tees was born. Before our first designs were printed, I posted on my neighborhood Facebook page about these new T-shirt’s and asked if anyone wanted to buy one. I did it of course to get some early sales, but I also did it to see how people responded to weed shirts being sold in their HOA neighborhood. People responded with open arms to me and open wallets to our T-shirt’s. I’ve had neighbors who don’t or can’t consume cannabis telling me how they support it and also wanted to support our business by buying a shirt for themselves or a family member. I’ve had neighbors tell me how they were scared to even ask how to get a medical card because they didn’t want anyone to know they were pro-cannabis, but once they saw my shirt post they knew they could ask me.

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

I’ve had neighbors tell me they voted no on SQ788 but now since talking to me they are no longer against cannabis. I’ve been in so many conversations about cannabis and have built so many meaningful relationships in the last few months and it’s all because of a T-shirt.

YOU COULD REACH A LOT OF PEOPLE!

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

Goodbye, Chemo Blanket BY TERESA GROSSNICKLAUS

t seems like not too long ago there was an entire underworld of cannabis patients that have suddenly surfaced and the skeptics are equally baffled and scared by who exactly they are. I was lucky enough to be a part of watching cannabis work firsthand on a 7-year-old little girl battling anaplastic medulloblastoma with an amplified myc gene. Anaplastic medulloblastoma with an amplified myc gene translates to large cell brain cancer with the potential to grow rapidly. She was diagnosed January of 2014 at the age of six. Alexa “Lex” was feeling under the weather with it being a Friday, her mom Lindsey decided the best thing to do was take her to nearby urgent care clinic where she was diagnosed with a virus and sent home. It didn’t get better and like all good moms it was instinctive her constant mommy nerves kicked in and it was the ER just two days after. Tests were run and they were still believing it could just be a virus but suggested a cat scan. There wasn’t much hesitation on the doctors part, they rushed back in and said she had hydrocephalus (excess fluid around the brain) and was to be transferred to a larger hospital. We were all still optimistic realizing that the fluid could be virus related we weren’t prepared for what was to come. It wasn’t long before MRI results determined there were a mass and the cause of the excessive fluid. Our hearts sank but held on to the idea that it could, in fact, be malignant. Surgery was scheduled to remove what was a 2 cm mass

coming off the cerebellum between the spinal cord. Surgery seemed to have lasted an eternity when they came back and even before doing a biopsy they knew exactly what it was. My mother, my father, my cousin, sister and our close pastor friend Danny. We all huddled up bursting into tears. My head was spinning as I rush outside to call my older sister. My mother blaming herself as a two-time cancer survivor and us assuring her it was impossible. I still remember what I said and I don’t know why it came to me. I told them it was a war and we just survived our first battle. She survived the surgery with no serious damage a small shaving on her cerebellum that made her unsteady for a few days but they managed to get it all during surgery. I told them we needed to celebrate every

battle because we weren’t going to fight this all at once. We still didn’t know what type but we feared the worst. My sister blankly staring, me, googling trying to comprehend what I could. I was watching my baby sister’s world come tumbling in a slow-motion explosion and she stared the same stare I saw throughout her entire treatment. I don’t even want to emphasize how bad the treatment was but for six weeks she did back to back chemotherapy and proton radiation. The recommended treatment was laid out in a detailed plan that was going to take 18 months first round was 6 weeks both proton radiation and chemotherapy and a second round and third round just chemotherapy. It burns everything. Her little head was charred. My heart—I can’t describe what that was like to watch. I’d seen images or movies of these weak angelic frail cancer kids that stirred sadness in my mind but this was not Lex. It didn’t matter how many shots or how many times her port was accessed it was always a fight. Confident that if she fought cancer in the same way she fought nurses she was going to prevail. She did better than we expected but due to a weakened immune system, she gets shingles. CONT’D ON PAGE 34

Cannabis allowed Alexa Grossnicklaus to gain weight and find her smile again, despite grueling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

It was shortly after finishing a round of antiviral medication they proceed to start her second round of chemo. It was two treatments in that the neuropathy (nerve pain) was uncontrollable. They tried several medications but nothing was helping. Lindsey recalls the night she heard her praying her voice hoarse from all the screaming she did during her burning attacks. They were hitting her every thirty minutes and they couldn’t find a medication that could tackle it. She was down on her knees pleading with Jesus, “Jesus wake up, why aren’t you listening?” Our Pastor Danny had been pushing for my family to consider moving her to Colorado he had the experience of working as a chaplain for hospice and had seen a lot of families looking for other methods to medicate. The number of elderly people consuming cannabis continues to grow. I decided, as the black sheep, I would be the one to test this. So, I took her, rather than letting my sister risk losing her. After one

dose she was able to sleep for six hours. Through the help of the National Cancer Society after googling our rights I consulted them about moving her and they helped properly switched doctors and obtain all medical records as well. In the state of Oklahoma, parents risk losing their children if they don’t follow through with the recommended treatment. I watched a thirty-two-pound emptyeyed little girl become a goofy kid all over again. We had honorary family in the Denver area so we were lucky she had a place to stay. She gained seven pounds within the first month she was there. I was able to make it out for her last chemo and she was bummed she left her chemo blanket in Oklahoma so of course, it was an excuse to buy a new blanket. We couldn’t just get a blanket without matching pajamas, Lex dressed as Batman and I am dressed as Superman. “This isn’t my chemo blanket, this is my party blanket.” On the last day of chemo, we’re scrambling around in a house full of non-

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

morning people we managed to make it out of the house with everything. I look back Lex is smiling I ask her, “Lex did you pack your new chemo blanket?” Without hesitation, she’s quick to correct me, “This isn’t my chemo blanket, this is my party blanket.” She jokes about how “gangster” she is because she tried cannabis at age 7. I am pretty proud of this kid and know her strength is so apparent at such an early age as she continues to heal from the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation. It saddens me that there exists a stigma, a drug that causes so much damage to kids isn’t frowned upon but only because it doesn’t make them feel good.

Teresa Grossnicklaus is a mother, artist, and advocate for medical cannabis. She is using her passion for plant-based extracts to educate others through her company T3 Cannivation.

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Integrated Pest Management BY ELLIS SMITH

hat is Integrated Pest Management or what commercial cannabis growers refer to as IPM? Per Growers Network, “Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the careful consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are justified economically and reduce or minimize risks to human health and the environment. IPM emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agri-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.” Everyone has a different approach to treating plants for pests and mold/mildew. The goal behind IPM is to consistently treat plants with a proactive approach versus waiting to treat plants until issues arise and in turn reactively scrambling to attempt to mitigate the outbreak. Here are seven helpful plant management tips to ensure a strong IPM regiment.

1. INSPECTION Immediately establish a routine scouting schedule for walking your grow and inspecting plants for signs of issues. It all starts with meaningful observation and careful inspection of your plants. Many of the insects you will be scouting for are nearly microscopic so a “jeweler’s loupe” or magnifying glass will be needed to

complete a thorough visual inspection. The optimum time to scout is as soon as you arrive every day as this will give you time to address any issues that come to light.

2. PREVENTIVE ACTION Preventative action in cannabis cultivation consists of a multi-faceted approach. Make certain your building envelope is tight with no leaks. Building leaks in a cannabis grow can account for the presence of pests and environmental differences/changes. Be sure to have anyone entering the grow area change clothing and shoes before entering. Failure to do this can result in an infestation as insects can be introduced by a clinging

to a visitors’ clothing. Hair and beard nets are inexpensive and will help to ensure a cleaner growing environment. Cleanliness is key in a grow facility and you should treat your grow space like a constantly sanitized hospital operating room. The preventative action of maintaining a clean space can significantly reduce the need to use harmful pesticides.

3. IDENTIFICATION Accurate pest identification is critical! You will have a difficult time managing your IPM without a high degree of accuracy in identifying insects and the problems can quickly multiply until it is out of control. Be sure to understand that the plant damage being observed is being caused by the pest(s) you are identifying.

4. ANALYSIS If you identify a problem in your canopy you must determine what is the root cause? Are staff and/or visitors bringing in pests from their own personal grows? Are there holes or openings to the outside that are allowing pests to be introduced into the cultivation rooms? Do you have inadequate environmental controls? Take a step back and look closely at plants. Quite simply put, analyze for success.

5. TREATMENT SELECTION IPM emphasizes the use of nonchemical control methods. Our team prefers to use bio-controls or other CONT’D ON NEXT PAGE

insects and safer approaches to remove unwanted pests, mold and mildew. If you do experience problems in the removal of unwanted pests with these alternative uses, then chemical treatments can be introduced to help mitigate the issues on hand. Once outbreaks are under control you can return to utilizing less toxic alternative measures.

A Call to Reason BY RICARDO PEREYDA

6. MONITORING It is important to keep a close eye on your crop. Monitoring the success of treatments will keep you on top of your IPM game. Remember the preventative process requires a consistent proactive approach, as you will have an uphill battle trying to exterminate the problems once they do occur.

7. DOCUMENTATION Regulations are a major factor in what drives the success of the cannabis industry. Keeping concise and accurate logs of your pesticide use and storage will help ensure that the operation is in good standing with the state and city ordinances and laws. Regulators will be looking to inspect your records, so documentation is extremely important. Keep up to date with tracking and the documentation of how you treat the plants because Big Brother is always watching.

CONCLUSION This is a very high level look at what IPM is and how to execute an effective plan. Be diligent with every process mentioned as this road map, when followed correctly, can help save you headaches as well as money. The key is to be proactive, not reactive, with your IPM program.

Ellis Smith is the Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer of American Cannabis Company.

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

s Veterans of the United States Armed Forces we call on the Veterans Health Administration (V.H.A.) to fully recognize cannabis as a viable treatment option, which is a far less toxic alternative to commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals. Leaders are increasingly aware of the devastation to former military members (and their families) caused by the inappropriate prescription of opiates, SSRIs, Benzodiazepines, and other pharmaceuticals. In 2011 the V.H.A. established internal policy officially outlining their position on cannabis, allowing physicians in “legal” states to discuss its use with their patients, at their own discretion. Multiple attempts have been made to resolve the inability of veterans to incorporate cannabis into their official treatment plans. Each and every one of these attempts has been sabotaged. The V.H.A. needs to take action on this issue. Federal leadership in the Executive and Legislative branches of our government need to understand the enormity of this pharmaceutical impact and available remedy. The fact is, veterans are selfmedicating with cannabis. Most turn to cannabis after pharmaceutical options, some of which include warnings of suicidal ideation, fail. This situation is untenable. Because the V.H.A. is a federal program, operating in all fifty states, veterans are federal patients and require equal medical treatment/access to cannabis, regardless of state laws. Accordingly, an expansion of the existing V.H.A. policy

which would meet our needs is in order. The status quo is medically unethical. We request and require: • Unobstructed ability to engage in open and honest dialogue with our V.H.A. Primary Care Teams about our use of cannabis, where we can then develop proper treatment plans, documenting our experiences. • The ability to participate in research programs conducted by V.H.A., which would further assist us in our understanding of medical cannabis, and how to best introduce it into our treatment regimen. • The ability to receive recommendations for cannabis from our V.H.A. Doctors, should that be the agreed upon treatment plan. • Prescriptions from the V.H.A. filled at local dispensaries, or where dispensaries are not located/permitted, getting those scripts filled at the V.H.A. Pharmacy. • A cannabis farm at every major V.H.A. healthcare facility designed to teach veterans about their medication, how to grow it, and to supply the hospital Pharmacy. This discussion, this reform, is long overdue.

A native of Tucson, Ricardo Pereyda is a veteran of the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. After returning home from combat in Iraq, he used his G.I. Bill to attend The University of Arizona, where he studied public management and policy, with an emphasis in criminal justice. As a Fellow of the Flinn-Brown Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, Ricardo has made cannabis reform his principle focus.

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

HOW TO GET LEGAL IN OKLAHOMA IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU MAY CALL THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL MARIJUANA AUTHORITY DIRECTLY AT (405) 522-6662 OR EMAIL THEM AT OMMA@OK.GOV.

COMPLETE APPLICATION

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

Print and complete the patient information portion of the physician recommendation form.

Schedule an appointment with an Oklahoma Board Certified MD or DO. During your visit present the Physician Recommendation Form for your doctor to complete and sign. Note: Minor patients need a recommendation from two physicians.

You can download a copy here: http://omma.ok.gov HOW TO REGISTER AS A CAREGIVER If you are homebound you may choose to designate a caregiver. Complete the Adult Patient Caregiver Designation Form. You may withdraw your designated caregiver at any time using the Patient Withdrawal of Caregiver Form.

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This is NOT a prescription, your doctor’s signature is simply certifying you have a medical condition and may receive therapeutic benefits from the use of medical cannabis. This form must be submitted to OMMA within 30 days of the physician’s signature to be valid.

Register with OMMA. Access the patient portal and create an account. Please note whichever email address designated to log in will be used by OMMA to send notices once the account is created. The application fee is $100 (Medicaid patients will pay a reduced fee of $20) and can be paid using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card. This fee is nonrefundable. You will receive an approval letter including your Patient Identification Card within 14 days of submitting the application.

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Ask Dr. Dave Dear Dr. Dave, Following brain surgery, I suffer the effects of a severe concussion. I use cannabis to control my mood swings and to stop the associated “flying off the handle” episodes. My question, what would be the medical explanation of why this works so well? -Craig in New Zealand

Dear Craig, Numerous studies show cannabis is a neuroprotective in the cases of brain injury and stroke. Dr. Rapahael Mechoulam developed semi-synthetic Dexabinol based on research of this neuroprotective effect. Brain surgery certainly bears some resemblance to traumatic brain injury (TBI). I would not be surprised that the ordeal of the reason for the surgery itself caused post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both TBI and PTSD affect the brain to increase the speed of neurotransmission. This gives the mid-brain more influence in thinking. The more the mid-brain (or reptilian brain) has control, the less opportunity there is for the fore-brain to use more rational thought to override it—meaning more ‘acting first and thinking later.’ By slowing down the speed of neurotransmission through retrograde inhibition via cannabis use, the fore-brain has the proper time to respond to rationalize and control the urges. Due to the frequency of his impulsive behavior, it seems clear President Trump suffers from endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome that could be controlled with cannabis. He is both angry and impulsive and almost certainly would derive benefit from cannabis use.

For more on cannabis and retrograde inhibition, I suggest reading the work in O’Shaughnessy’s by the late Dr. Tod Mikuriya as well as the 2004 Scientific American Article “The Brain’s Own Marijuana” by Alger and Nichol. This should be a good start in better understanding impulse control issues associated with brain surgery and the potential benefits derived from medical cannabis. —Dr. Dave Got A Question for Dr. Dave? This question was submitted by someone just like you! Visit www.ouncemag.com/drdave to submit a question.

David Bearman, M.D. is one of the most clinically knowledgeable physicians in the U.S. in the field of medicinal cannabis. He has spent 40 years working in substance and drug abuse treatment and prevention programs. Dr. Bearman was a pioneer in the free and community clinic movement. His career includes public health, administrative medicine, provision of primary care, pain management and cannabinology.

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

HUMULENE BY COURTNEY BOZE

ew healthcare options are causing patients across the state to forget about side effects such as, hair loss, memory loss, tremors in hands and legs, and nodding off (to name a few). Dispensaries around the state are now open with a variety of medicine. Oklahomans can begin to custom fit their medical treatment in a way that hasn’t been mainstream before. Cannabis is able to help so many people, from so many backgrounds, in so many different ways due to the wide variety of cultivars (also called “strains”) available. You may have heard some of these wacky names, but none of them really matter. In legal states, unsavory dispensaries have been known to slap a popular name on an unpopular cultivar to move it more quickly. While there is no reason to believe this practice is happening in Oklahoma, patients are encouraged to seek medicine with lab testing. Some patients, such as those with compromised immune systems, should look for a full analysis with moisture content, pesticides, heavy metals, and toxins and also residual solvents on concentrates. At a minimum, terpenes and potency should be available. Terpenes have just as much medical value as the cannabinoids also found in the cannabis plant. It’s important for new patients to journal. This will help them find which terpene profiles work best for their

condition or desired outcome. The same cultivars may not always be available, but if a patient knows which terpene profile they are looking for they will be able to achieve their goal. Some terpenes even act like cannabinoids! Tetrahydrocannabivarin or THCv it is similar to THC but it has a 3-carbon side chain instead of THC’s 5-carbon which produces different results. THCv has been shown to be an appetite suppressant (reverse munchies). Research from 2013 indicates THCV may be a breakthrough Type 2 Diabetes treatment. THCv is a minor cannabinoid, meaning it is not found in all cultivars. THCv is found mainly in African landrace sativas, making it quite rare in the States. On a recent trip to Nevada, I met with a patient consultant and asked about THCv. He informed me this was not a cannabinoid they normally saw, however, the terpene Humulene also worked as an appetite suppressant and was much easier to come across. Humulene was first discovered in Humulus lupulus, commonly known as hops. In addition to cannabis, Humulene is also found in ginseng and sage. It is an isomer of beta-caryophyllene and works synergistically together for an excellent anti-inflammatory, specifically allergic inflammation. Research even suggests this synergy may result in anti-cancer activity.

OunceMag.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

Oklahoma is currently ranked #3 in adult obesity (8) with over 36% of adults affected by the disease. A lot of patients could potentially benefit from the appetite suppressing qualities of cultivars high in Humulene. However, while lack of hunger and insulin regulation may be needed in a patient also suffering Type 2 Diabetes, a patient with a wasting disease such as AIDS would not want this type of effect. It is important for patients/caregivers to have a good relationship with knowledgeable cannabis care center agents to avoid dangerous interactions. With a little help and a little journaling some patients can achieve homeostasis. Start the conversation with your healthcare provider today! 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabivarin 2 Nutr Diabetes. 2013 May; 3(5): e68. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671751/ 3 https://www.massroots.com/learn/tetrahydrocannabivarinTHCV/ 4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humulene 5 http://humulene.info/ 6 Rogerio AP, BR J Pharmacol, 2009 Oct;158(4):1074-87 https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19438512 7 Legault J J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007 Dec;59 https://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/pubmed/18053325/ 8 https://stateofobesity.org/states/ok/

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