*DISCLAIMER: This is a transcript of episode 7 – To Inspire CBD Science, Community and Hope – CannMed Conference Review and Takeaways from our Full Spectrum Living with CBD podcast. Click here to listen to the podcast episode Advocating for CBD or click here to watch the video.
Ep7_CANNMED CONFERENCE REVIEW AND TAKEAWAYS
Meredith [00:00:06] All right. Welcome back, everyone to full spectrum living with CBD.
Meredith [00:00:09] I am your co-host, Meredith, and I’m here with our hosts, Jessica and Adriane, and they are stoked because they have just gotten back from a massive conference called CannMed. And I think they have a ton to share with us today about the conference and everything that they learned while they were down there. So they’re actually arguing about who is going to jump in and share first before we started the episode today. So I think Adriane is going to kick us off with what, what it is CannMed and why did you guys decide to go down there?
Adriane [00:00:40] I was very excited. I won the coin toss, by the way, it’s a medical cannabis conference. Actually, it started in 2016. So it’s still pretty young. But it was really interesting because there were several focus areas from cultivation, to lab and science, to the medical aspects of it. So anybody interested can go to this event and focus in the areas that they’re business, or quite possibly even just their interest as a cannabis consumer, whether it’s CBD or THC products. So it’s really, really interesting. And it was a microcosm, to be honest. So what you see out in the cannabis industry as a whole is you’re going to see science more focused on isolation of cannabinoids and looking from a pharmaceutical standpoint. But largely you have people like us who are focused more on the botanical side of it, the more natural full spectrum side. And we really saw that take place at this conference. And it was really interesting. I couldn’t give you an exact breakdown percentage wise. I was trying to think, is it 75, 25 or more are focus on the full spectrum. But honestly, I’d like to say 90 10, because there was some focus on the really science isolation part of it. And there was a little grumbling from the audience with regards to that. And a lot of the medical doctors were focused, well, I’d say, Jessica, correct me if I’m wrong, probably 100 percent of the medical doctors there were focused on full spectrum. They said this. Yeah, there’s a place for the isolation. There’s a place for it in pharma. But full spectrum cannabis extracts like ours is going to be the place where people are gonna get their relief.
Meredith [00:02:21] That’s incredible. So the conference has been going on for a few years then, I would assume. But this is the first time that you all decided to go to it. Is that right?
Adriane [00:02:31] This is our first year and we were really kind of fangirling, nerding out on some of the presenters because again, we follow them and we were very excited to meet some of them. You know, Ralph Mechoulam was there. Doctor Dustin Slack was there. Bonnie Goldstein was there. We were very excited, but we were also introduced to some new ones that we hadn’t been following. So we can even kind of delve into what we learned from them as well, for sure.
Meredith [00:02:58] So, Jessica, what was your first impressions of being at CannMed?.
Jessica [00:03:04] Well, it was super exciting. I wanted to add to it that its first year in 2016 was actually at Harvard Medical School.
Jessica [00:03:10] So this is something that has a lot of industry leaders, not just from the states, but around the world who are in attendance and advisors on the board to help you really curate the content of the event to be, like Adriane said, a microcosm of the cannabis industry and all things cannabis because there are so many topics. But my impression was certainly, like Adriane said, seemed to be, for one, it was incredibly informative, very enjoyable, and kind of split in what people were there and passionate about. And I pointed out and would like to point out, you can kind of tell just by the keynote speakers, it kind of demonstrates that split. I feel like. So, for example, like Dr. Rafael Mechoulam, who is considered basically like the godfather of the industry, he’s been studying and researching this largely out of Israel for 50 years, more than 50 years, I think, and discovered a lot of the key components to the system that this makes up. And he was there speaking very much about the isolated forms, which has been the majority of his research and specifically a CBDa methyl Esther, which he’s working on. And that was really interesting, but it was certainly a representative of the direction where this tends to head more of a pharmaceutical industry. And then you had the second keynote speaker who spoke during the conference and his name was David Murray, Dr. David Murray, also a researcher. And his presentation was on the two kinds of cannabis that this could be, the pharmaceutical route and the full spectrum, whole plant, botanical route, and so his point being, you know, there’s room for both. There’s purpose for both. It does tend to be thought that the whole plant botanical version is going to be the most ideal for most people, most conditions as it has a broad range of effect in the body, but that the benefits to things like isolated CBD in a very specific serving or milligram dose could have a lot of applications for cancer. That was his main area of research. And then you got the third speaker, who is Stacy Gruber, who I’d love to talk more about in a minute.
Jessica [00:05:46] And she was someone that should have been on my radar and was not. And she’s amazing. I’m pumped to have learned about her. She was talking specifically about the need for research for whole plant botanical extracts. And she was really impressive. I think she actually has FDA approval for four or five different studies using whole plant derived botanical full spectrum, CBD rich, hemp extracts primarily for anxiety and dementia type conditions.
Meredith [00:06:24] So is that surprising to you that there was actually an FDA backing behind the study? I mean, is that kind of one of the first of that level that you’ve seen?
Adriane [00:06:33] It’s definitely one of the first. You remember up until here recently, it was a schedule one. So until the federal farm bill came and then approved or moved, those cannabis varieties that are under the point, three percent, you couldn’t study them in an FDA clinical trial. So she actually got the first and that’s where this is her specific trial is on CBD from hemp varieties. And she had some really interesting early results. Nothing’s out yet. She shared it with the crowd. Some really impressive things that they’re seeing with these extracts. But again, like Jessica said, one of the largest pushes. I feel like every person that went up there to speak, they always ended it with. But we need access. We need more trials. Do we need to do these things with humans, with people? You know, largely there are tons of studies out there with regards to cannabis and cannabinoids, but it’s largely animal focused. So we need to remove these restrictions so that we can have human clinical trials and really see the results that consumers are already reporting from their own use.
Jessica [00:07:39] I thought something that was interesting is there were several speakers that it almost seemed like a call for help, just like, “please, please, someone research these things like I’m only one person and I can only study so much.” We need this research to be happening. And it was really encouraging to see that a lot of research is happening. It was a lot to process just the vast amount that still needs to happen to really fully understand everything. I mean, clearly, we have a good understanding of its safety profile and there was a lot of talk to the difficulties in even finding a side effect to CBD. So that was encouraging, but so, so much more to actually study regarding cannabis.
Meredith [00:08:26] So is there any information that was shared that was really, really eye-opening to you? I mean, I’m sure you went in expecting that you were going to hear about research and that you were going to have the chance to meet some kind of industry leaders and things like that. But anything that was just like jaw dropping, like, whoa, you know, just really changed your thoughts or just blow your mind?
Adriane [00:08:52] I was going to say, go ahead, Jess….
Jessica [00:08:53] So, I mean, there was a lot. Jaw dropping, I’m not sure.
Jessica [00:08:57] But, you know, again, I’ll go back to Stacey Gruber. So I was incredibly excited to learn about her research. So for one, she works with Harvard Medical School and she’s an associate professor there. And so the quality of her research, I’m sure, is exactly the quality that we need to start showing these connections between things like anxiety and the efficacy for CBD. So I was shocked to learn that she’s the first ever to use brain imaging scans to show the effects of cannabis. And she has studied and is studying not just CBD rich hemp extracts, but she’s also been studying medical cannabis with higher THC content and recreational use and kind of comparing and contrasting. One thing that I thought was really interesting from her presentation was that she really shined a light on the fact that the majority of the existing research that has been done is really just getting the input from recreational cannabis users on what do they use? How do they use it and what are the effects and side effects and studying recreational use where the tendency is that you use a lot higher potency.
Jessica [00:10:17] The goal typically is intoxication, not not moderation like side effects. So there’s a big difference in the outcome in brain development and and the effects on your cognitive abilities. And she really highlighted that by talking about longitudinal studies where she’s compared medical cannabis and recreational cannabis and done brain imaging to show that the effects for cognitive like speed and impact are definitely not there with medical cannabis like people have assumed because of the recreational manner that we have.
Meredith [00:10:58] Well, that’s really interesting. How about you, Adriane? Anything that was really an eye opener for you.
Adriane [00:11:03] I was going to say, like none of her life changing an eye opener for sure. I did find it reaffirming and comforting. Right.
Adriane [00:11:11] So the direction that we’re heading, again, largely CBT focus, that being CBT is the most therapeutic cannabinoid out there again. THC having its spot and its definite benefit and its need to be in these extracts. But I did find that it was really interesting to kind of see that largely focused around CBT and looking into that. What I also love and again, this speaks to me as a mom who has a child who suffers from epilepsy or or did was listen to Dr. Bonnie Goldstein, who is focused on children and, you know, whether it’s autism or epilepsy. And it was her take on the FDA approved drug epidemics. And I always said I think I said it in a previous episode that it offended me as a parent that the FDA would approve such a drug because everybody knows that you shouldn’t give a child something that has alcohol in it. And Epidiolex has a 10 percent alcohol content. In addition to that, it has sucrose. Right. And so sucrose and alcohol can both have effects on the liver. No one from an inflammatory standpoint. And so you’re giving this to children. It’s FDA approved. And so she found it to be, again, as offensive as I did, which honestly just made me fangirl even more because it’s something that she doesn’t recommend for her patients. Again, she focuses on those high CBD botanical extracts, full spectrum that are as close to the plant as they can possibly get. And to me, it was just it was exciting. And I even met with her afterwards and told her that I thanked her and I’m thanking her for the parents that she deals with. I’m sure they thank her enough. But as she continues that fight to help push for that botanical product, for the more natural, for better, really for everybody.
Meredith [00:12:57] Mm hmm. So how it is going to this conference and gaining all of this information, you know, kind of getting that affirmation of your thoughts and beliefs and extension of your knowledge base. How are you guys going to bring that to the work that you do each day? Are you seeing that there’s some opportunities for you there?
Adriane [00:13:14] Oh, absolutely. Just just from learning and meeting new people and seeing the studies that they’re taking it.
Adriane [00:13:20] But there was also other people there from from industry, whether it was through lab equipment and through technologies that we were actually looking to implement in our own business. So it was really nice to be introduced to them because it’s a great event to go and see them and also to see that information with testing and pushing and so forth, with moving the industry forward to where possibly maybe we don’t have to have the FDA or the government into every. Business, again, as long as the industry is going to self regulate. So again, finding ways for us to expand upon that as a whole company to help push the industry forward. What I’m looking at from a business standpoint, in ways to help educate and keep the conversation moving forward. For me personally and about Jessica Guy.
Jessica [00:14:07] Absolutely. I mean, just the education for our clients and the resources to know like there are other physicians in this area even. And across the United States that are working towards getting this whole plant access for our clients. And so when, you know, we’re stumped that someone who’s not responding as positively as we can. I think this shines a light on how we can help them and resources to to potentially provide them to ensure their success.
Meredith [00:14:44] Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. So. Everything that you said you have. Do you have a favorite?
Adriane [00:14:50] I’m gonna say the dumplings. So that was not part of CannMed. But we really we have to give credit.
Adriane [00:14:58] We were walking by this place. We’re looking for some place to eat and had the best dumplings. So good that we went back the second day. And honestly, I can’t remember the name of the place, but I’m going to put it in the blog. It was amazing. More life changing.
Meredith [00:15:11] They were I was at the conferences in the Bay Area, is that right?
Adriane [00:15:14] It was in Pasadena.
Meredith [00:15:16] Oh, in Pasadena. OK, cool.
Jessica [00:15:18] Yeah, I can second that. I was denied dumplings the day before. That’s where this all started.
Jessica [00:15:25] So some really, really good food.
Jessica [00:15:29] And I want to add that I got to really fan girl and maybe with the.
Jessica [00:15:36] So Dr. Dustin Sulak was present and he’s just such an icon for specifically what we’re doing, where we’re offering the full spectrum, whole plant and and using it strictly for therapeutic potential.
Jessica [00:15:54] So he was there and I felt like he was kind of the rock star of the whole event. I mean, his main speech that he did on the second day got four or five rounds of applause and I think was the only one that got like interrupted with applause during the speech. So I think that kind of stood out.
Jessica [00:16:13] And it was mentioned by a lot of the other physicians multiple times in their presentations for the content that he had delivered throughout the event. He also was participating in the CMA course. So the continuing medical education aspect of Candyman, which was for credentialed hours for CMA, is for medical providers. And he, Bonnie Goldstein and Kevin spelled memoir hosting that segment, which was really a really nice part to be involved in as well. We were able to attend most of that.
Jessica [00:16:47] And yeah, I got to speak with him personally. So that was exciting. Got a little selfie that we composed.
Adriane [00:16:56] He’s very down to earth. Yes. Amazing land. Just to talk to you. And you can tell he’s very passionate. He believes everything just to end it. If you want to share what he kind of told you when you asked him a question about your son.
Jessica [00:17:07] Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, the more I experience CBT, the more I’ve mentioned before that I want to use it for preventative methods. And so I asked him I said, I have a three year old son. I would love to use CBT regularly for him as a preventative method just in a very small amount to help to protect him in a central nervous system. And I’m just scared that even though I live in a legal state, if something were to happen and he tested positive for any THC, then I don’t even want to go there at how scary that could get as a parent. And so I asked him, you know, what are your thoughts on prevention and using it in children? And essentially, he said, well, you know, you have to. That’s one thing. I don’t think it would be dangerous. But have you looked at his diet? Have you looked at his omega 3 to 6 balance? Like that’s where you start? It starts in the gut. It starts with your your proteins, with what you’re taking in. And there are more ways than supplementation through cannabis to effect positively your endocannabinoid system. So look at omega 3 to 6 ratios. Try for a 4 to 1 ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 I believe is the ratio he suggested.
Jessica [00:18:22] And that was really encouraging.
Jessica [00:18:23] Like, oh yeah, there’s there’s another thing that I could try that at least would it would in no way be harmful if we just share a positive step in the right direction for his health.
Meredith [00:18:35] Now it sounds like you guys had just a fantastic time and down there and that you’ve got a lot of content to share out now on the blog.
Meredith [00:18:41] But if someone wanted to know a little bit more about the work you do and how you’re applying what you learned at CannMed then where would they go to do that?
Adriane [00:18:50] Yeah, absolutely, so. Visit our website at bluegrasshempoil.com and definitely links to the blog because we’ll be updating and we’ll be adding some of the studies that we found that we weren’t privy to before.
Adriane [00:19:00] We didn’t know it existed in sharing kind of information that we found really promising and impressive.
Meredith [00:19:07] Fantastic. Well, for this episode of Full Spectrum Living with CBD, I am Meredith, your co-host here with our hosts, Jessica and Adriane. And we’ll see you next time.