“Not asking for easy” was the theme of CannMed 2017, advancing Medical Cannabis through Science, Knowledge, and Community. I was given the great pleasure of traveling to Boston and attending CannMed at Harvard Medical School, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in medical cannabis research.
Over two days’ presenters talked about research developments in understanding the mechanisms of cannabinoids in our endocannabinoid system to better understand treatment for a variety of medical conditions. I really enjoyed learning about the advancements that have been made in treating cancer, neurological disorders, and epilepsy with cannabis. There were also some engaging presentations on cannabis as a solution for the opioid epidemic and challenges clinicians face when treating medical patients with cannabis.
Some of the most exciting research is coming out of Israel, looking at matching an effective cannabis strain with a specific subtype of cancer. There was a panel discussion with former NFL players advocating for cannabis use in the NFL to help professional athletes stay away from opioids and recover faster from injuries.
Overall, everyone involved in the industry is a part of a bigger goal, and it is inspiring to know we are all sticking it out knowing this is an uphill battle and it isn’t going to be easy. There has been a lot of forward progress and I know we can continue to pour our hearts into what we believe in, to make major changes and understand everything we can about medical cannabis.
Feel free to reach out to me while at CMT dropping off samples or in an email if there is anything that interests you!