National Medical Cannabis Week
National Medical Cannabis Week is here. Are you ready to weed between the lines and discuss the high points of medical marijuana? It is a week of breaking down barriers to medically necessary cannabis use.
This week also means showing that the grass might actually be greener when people in pain get the natural medicine they need.
History of National Medical Cannabis Week
To understand the beginning of National Medical Cannabis Week, we must first do some time travel. Before we can discuss this week of advocacy, we first need to have a closer look at the long history of cannabis used for medicine. Using marijuana for pain relief isn’t a novel concept.
How long has it been used to treat medical conditions? Chinese Emperor Shen-Nung documented the Cannabis plant’s therapeutic properties in 2737 B.C. It didn’t take long before his ancient knowledge spread across cultures and continents.
If you’re into reading ancient medical texts, you’d also find a shout-out to Cannabis in the Ancient Egyptian Ebers Papyrus. Egyptians used weed for treating hemorrhoids.
It’s also mentioned in the ancient writings of Indian practitioners. Their patients used it for pain relief and gastrointestinal conditions.
Cannabis didn’t make its way into mainstream Western medicine until the 1830s. That was when an Irish physician and chemist, William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, learned about its medicinal properties. He learned about this therapy while teaching in India.
The resurgence of interest in cannabis for medical purposes occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. In these decades, reports from cancer and AIDS patients about its pain-relieving properties spurred renewed interest in it. The pain relief they experienced began a new era of advocating for legal access to medical cannabis.
The U.K.-based nonprofit Patient-Led Engagement for Access (PLEA) founded National Medical Cannabis Week. Its goal was to support equal access to cannabis-based medical products. This week-long observance invites participation from patients, doctors, organizations, and supporters.
The inclusive approach aims to increase education and reduce the unfair stigmas associated with using medical cannabis.
How to Celebrate National Medical Cannabis Week
Let’s roll into some ideas of how you can celebrate this week of education:
Educational Seminars and Workshops
Attend National Medical Cannabis Week seminars. Can’t make it in person? Join an online webinar. These sessions can help you deepen your understanding of medical cannabis.
These events will usually feature experts discussing the latest research, legalities, and medical applications of cannabis. Education is the key to reducing stigmas.
Join Community Discussions of Medical Cannabis
Organize or participate in community discussions during National Medical Cannabis Week. Sharing experiences and knowledge about using medical cannabis can help demystify its use and benefits.
Many don’t realize that the most common uses of medical cannabis surround managing chronic pain, chemotherapy side effects, and seizures. Once they fully understand how effective it is for these things, they might just become advocates for its use.
Creative Cooking with Cannabis
Host a cannabis cooking class. Even better, enjoy a Cannabis dinner party (if it’s legal under your local laws!) Explore recipes that use cannabis or CBD products in safe, legal ways. These home-cooked treats will reveal the key medicinal properties of Cannabis to your guests.
Art and Film
Discover art and films that explore the theme of medical cannabis. This can include documentaries on its history and its role in medicine.
You might also enjoy watching some feature films that touch on the subject. Here are a few intriguing documentaries to stream:
- The Union: The Business Behind Getting High (2007): This documentary helps you understand the growth and sale of legal marijuana. But it also looks at the dark side – illegal trafficking. It provides a good, all-around look at the underground market and the political, economic, and health issues that always seem to follow cannabis.
- The Culture High (2014): This documentary tears into the very center of the more recent marijuana debates. The documentary takes a balanced approach, taking a peek at the validity of the arguments and motives of those who support it. But it also looks into the “whys’ of those who oppose making cannabis legal.
- Super High Me (2007): A documentary by comedian Doug Benson, the title Super High Me is a riff on the title of the fast-food documentary Super Size Me. Benson uses his own body as a test subject. For thirty days he documents the effects of using cannabis. He also has a doctor do a physical exam before and after the thirty days with some intriguing results.
Volunteering
Offer your time at local dispensaries, healthcare facilities, or organizations focusing on medical cannabis. Volunteering can provide firsthand experience and insights into the world of medicinal cannabis.
Yoga and Wellness Sessions
Join or organize yoga and wellness sessions incorporating CBD products. These classes focus on both relaxation and pain relief.
Gardening and Plant Care
For those in regions where it’s legal, learn about growing medicinal cannabis plants. Understanding the cultivation process can be both therapeutic and educational.
Support Local Cannabis Businesses
Support local dispensaries and businesses that ethically source and sell medical cannabis products. This helps promote a responsible and community-oriented cannabis industry.
That’s right – we’re saying buy some legal CBD products and give them a try. You can judge the effectiveness for yourself.
