CANNAHEALTH Cannabis 101: Patient & Caregiver | Page 17

We’re Stronger Together and We Need You

Patients Out of Time has served as a springboard for other cannabis organizations such as the American Cannabis Nurses Association, the Society of Cannabis Clinicians (started by the late Tod Mikuryia, MD), the Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine, the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabis and Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access. We also fully support the educational efforts of the International Association of Cannabinoid Medicine, which operates out of Germany.

As more and more states pass medical cannabis laws we have seen a troubling change in the movement to end the cannabis prohibition. For decades, there have been pioneer activists (mostly patients) taking risks to fight for safe access to cannabis. As cannabis is becoming more acceptable to the public and legally available (per state laws), “corporate money” is entering the fight. Laws and regulations have been passed that demand big money up front to get licenses for growing or dispensing cannabis. This action pushes the local grower or provider of quality cannabis products out of the market and allows profit-driven companies to take over. Many of these companies see more profit in the recreational market and are willing to focus their products towards that market and away from medicinal grade cannabis. Many of the large cannabis companies boast of their profits, yet contribute little to nothing to non-profit organizations such as Patients Out of Time. The cannabis expos are often flashy events where cannabis businesses can market their products to the consumers, but patient concerns are secondary.

Since our inception, Patients Out of Time has been working to end the prohibition through education so that healthcare providers will understand the ECS and how to use cannabis and patients can have safe and legal access to the plant or herbal remedies made from the plant. We have not been supported by big business because we wanted to remain true to our mission and not obligated to another entity. In order to stay viable, we have started a membership program to ensure ongoing support as we move to develop a paid staff that can work full-time to strengthen our voice and our outreach. We strive to do our work on behalf of all patients and we believe Patients Out of Time is YOUR organization. Cannabis is a terrific food source as well as a medicine. If you are not ill at this time, cannabis can help you stay healthy and protect you from future stressors.

Please review our resolution calling for the de-scheduling (ending the prohibition) of the plant (http://patientsoutoftime.org/resolution-in-support-of-the-de-scheduling-of-cannabis/ ). Download it and share it with your family, friends, legislators, and healthcare providers.

There is no need to make wild claims about this plant and some will not find it helpful to them. But history and science supports the numerous attributes of this plant and it has been the key factor in healing many patients suffering from various health problems. The cannabis prohibition is a crime against all of us. We have to wonder how we live in a country that brags about freedom, while we