From Soil to Wellness: Unveiling the Top 9 Reasons for Choosing Organic Cannabis and CBD

The last thing you want to do when you’re trying to heal from illness or stay healthy is to bring more toxins into your body. That’s exactly what you may be doing if you are consuming cannabis or hemp-based CBD products without a certificate of analysis. This is unlikely if your product is organic or its equivalent.

Photo courtesy of Gabriel Jimenez on Unsplash

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program was established in 2000 as a result of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The USDA organic seal means the raw, fresh and processed products contain at least 95% organic ingredients.1 Farms have to implement organic practices before anything is planted, follow standards, keep records and be inspected periodically. Organic standards have been slightly weakened due to politics and lobbying of big corporations getting into the space.2,3 Farmers and advocates have renewed hope of moving the program to new heights as we realize how conventional agricultural practices destroy soil and contribute to climate change.4 

Cannabis and hemp are bioaccumulators. They absorb toxins from the soil, water and air. They also absorb toxins from the various products and the fertilizer used on them. They are known as phytoremediators. In fact, hemp was planted in 1998 at the site of the worst nuclear disaster in history to help remove radiation.7,8 Chernobyl, a nuclear plant in Ukraine, exploded on April 26, 1986, releasing four times more radiation than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.3  

Thus, it’s important that the cannabis and hemp you bring into your body is safe and clean. The highest safety standard for hemp is organic.4 Cannabis is not recognized as a legal crop due to its federal prohibition status under the Control Substances Act, therefore, cannot be called organic. Thankfully, at least two companies have stepped up to the plate to fill this void and more. Clean Green and Sun + Earth offer certifications for cannabis products.5,6 They go beyond organic and encompass regenerative practices which include consciously improving soil quality, protecting farm workers rights and community relations. Other companies are now following their lead.

In no particular order, let’s review why it’s so important to have a clean source of cannabis and hemp.

#1 No GMOs

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are animals, plants or microbes whose DNA has been changed using genetic engineering techniques.9,10 Often, two species that would never cross breed in nature are brought together using this technique. The promises of GMOs,  according to the food industry, were better looking, less expensive and longer lasting produce. One of the first GMO crops planted in America was the soybean by Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) in 1996. A bacteria was found to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup. The bacteria’s gene was then introduced into the soybean to allow farmers to spray Roundup with abandon and not harm their crops. Glyphosate interrupts the shikimate biochemical pathway in plants and fungi. It prevents them from synthesizing three essential amino acids or protein building blocks. Humans and animals don’t have this pathway. That’s why Monsanto assumed it would be safe for us. However, a new preclinical study shows some bacteria strains of our gut microbiome have this pathway. Thus, glyphosate is most likely disrupting our microbiome leading to cancer, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and depression.11 GMOs have also been associated with life-threatening food allergies, damage to liver, kidney and reproductive organs. It is also dangerous to marine life, other plants and insects. Thanks to glyphosate, milkweed is near extinct in the Midwest. Milkweed is the monarch butterfly's host plant. This has led to a major decline in the monarch butterfly population for the last two decades.12 Several multimillion dollar lawsuits against Monsanto have been decided in favor of the plaintiffs who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma. More lawsuits are pending.13

#2 Little to No Synthetic Pesticides 

Organic farmers are allowed to use pesticides that are primarily natural like horticultural vinegar, pheromones, seed fennel and lime sulfur for example. Depending on the dose and duration of exposure, many other pesticides, typically synthetic, can be very toxic. They may cause everything from irritation, inflammation, allergic reaction to lung, kidney, liver, nervous and immune system damage.11,12 Synthetic pesticides can cause cancer, birth defects, infertility and disrupt your hormones. This is why it’s so important for women who are pregnant or are trying to conceive to avoid as many toxins as possible.13,14

#3 Fewer Heavy Metals

Humans have used heavy metals for millennia as tools, art, and building materials. The heavy metals most dangerous to humans are lead (petroleum emissions), cadmium (cigarette smoke), mercury (fish) and arsenic (contaminated groundwater.)16 The earth's crust naturally contains organic arsenic. It can be used as an alloy in the processing of glass, pigments, textiles, and ammunition. Most humans are exposed to heavy metals via their food, dental amalgams, and cigarette smoke. Health effects include kidney failure, bone fractures and brain damage, including memory, loss, and behavioral disorders. Fetuses and children are at greatest risk for long-term exposure to heavy metals.17

Cannabis grown on farmland previously sprayed with pesticides may also contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and other toxic metals. This is why it’s important to test the soil before you plant.

Currently, approximately half of states require heavy-metal testing. Typically they only look for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Even if every state required heavy metal testing, we would still miss many exposures that occur with the operation of vape pens. Many e-cigarette type vape pens release heavy metals from their heating coils and other hardware. Components of the vape cartridges release heavy metals over time as they sit on dispensary shelves or in your home. An electronic vaporizer made for dry flower or oil, versus prepackaged vape pens, circumvents this danger.19

In addition, cannabis and hemp concentrates and edibles have increased in popularity. Heavy metals and other toxins may also get concentrated in these final products. This is why the final product should be tested as well.

#4 No Ionizing Radiation

Typically food is irradiated by industry to improve safety and extend shelf life by killing microorganisms and insects. The process of irradiation of food results in the loss of fat soluble antioxidants like vitamins A, E and K, as well as water soluble vitamins, B12 and C.20,21 Many companies also irradiate medical cannabis to protect immunocompromised individuals from harmful yeast, moles, and bacteria. A study showed that irradiation does not affect cannabinoid content. However, it does decrease the level of terpenes remaining in the cannabis or hemp.22 We know that terpenes possess healing properties. It appears one would be trading terpene healing potential for a more “sterile” plant product.

#5 No Synthetic Fertilizers

Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium among other things. Farmers can supply this with synthetic or organic fertilizer. They can also use regenerative practices. However, that is beyond the scope of this article. Synthetic fertilizers are fast acting and less expensive. However, they don’t “feed the soil.” They can burn and stress plants. They can decrease soil health, resulting in the need to use more chemicals. Synthetic fertilizers do not typically add nutrients outside of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They can add heavy metals, pollute groundwater, streams, lakes, and rivers, which adversely affect aquatic life.23

Organic fertilizers are more expensive and take longer to work. They require microorganisms to break them down before they can be absorbed by roots. They also nourish the soil, provide calcium and proteins to plants. Organic fertilizers decrease stress to plants. They increase their health which can decrease the need for pesticides and herbicides.24 Attention should be paid to the sourcing of even plant-based organic fertilizers. For example, arsenic levels can be high for standard sea kelp extract.25 Organic farmers are paradoxically allowed to use manure from conventionally raised animals as fertilizer. To keep heavy metals levels low, use manure from free range animals fed off certified organic land. 

#6 No Synthetic Hydrocarbon or GMO Solvents

The US Pharmacopeial Convention and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have divided extraction solvents into three groups: avoid completely, use with caution, and generally recognized as safe (GRAS).26,27 The most common commercial extraction methods used for cannabis and hemp are hydrocarbon solvents, supercritical CO2 and ethanol. They are all GRAS. 

Hydrocarbon solvents like butane and propane are very efficient in extracting cannabinoids while leaving unwanted plant materials behind. They have greater specificity and less toxicity than similar hydrocarbons. They are commonly used in the legal and illicit market. They are volatile, derived from fossil fuels, and are not without risk in the wrong hands. These solvents can also pull pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals from the plant if it wasn’t raised organically.

Organic food grade ethanol is safe, but less specific in its extraction products. Supercritical  CO2 is a gas that becomes liquid at very low temperatures. The FDA has approved CO2 extraction because it is safer and provides higher purity. Both organic ethanol and supercritical CO2 have been approved for organic hemp and cannabis.28,29, 30,31

#7 Better for the Environment

Conventional agricultural practices cause soil erosion, pollute our air, land and water. One third of US cropland has been abandoned due to soil erosion since 1950.32 It's estimated that the Earth only has 60 years of topsoil left for growing crops if agricultural practices don’t change. Organic farming practices enrich the soil and promote biodiversity.33

#8 Better for Farmers and Farmworkers

The commercial production of food from the land is one of the most hazardous careers in the United States. Excluding work-related injuries, which are significant and sometimes fatal, farmers and farmworkers are at increased risk for certain diseases while using conventional agricultural techniques. Exposure to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers increases farmers’ risk for Parkinson’s disease and certain cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.34,35,36

#9 Better for you

You can’t do or be anything well, if you don’t have good health. You can’t be a good mother, father, child, caretaker, wife, husband, partner, employer, employee, or active member of your spiritual community without optimal health. Thus, it makes sense that your medicine is not bringing additional toxins into your body.

When we consume conventionally raised food or medicine which contains GMOs, petrochemical byproducts, artificial preservatives and colorings, our microbiome doesn’t know what to do with them. We and the microbes that support us were never meant to consume these things. Therefore, the gut microbiome produces metabolites that have no place in our bodies and create inflammation, damages our bodies and creates diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cancer. 

Organic (or its equivalent), third-party tested hemp and cannabis is the highest quality you can consume. It is acknowledged that products in the legal cannabis and hemp markets are expensive due to overtaxation. While we wait for politicians to listen to advocates and the people, consider growing your own if you live in a state that allows it. Consider working or volunteering with organic farmers and growers. Take advantage of farmer’s markets that allow direct sales to consumers. Dr. Mark Hyman often states, “your body is the smartest doctor in the room.” Our body knows how to heal if we only get out of its way and give it what it needs.

Felecia L. Dawson, MD

Dr. Dawson, CEO of P.L.A.N.T.S. for Lyfe, is a board certified obstetrician gynecologist with expertise in holistic, integrative and functional medicine. She is a medical cannabis educator and consultant. She is co-author of a forthcoming book along with Oskii Chevanier, Jamaican Herbalist, COO and Marilyn Pierce, RN, CFO on holistic living using botanicals including cannabis. https://www.plantsforlyfe.com/ 

REFERENCES

1. Fact Sheet: Introduction to organic Practices | Agricultural Marketing Service. (n.d.). https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/introduction-organic-practices  

2.  Staff, A. (2022, April 12). The list of organic pesticides approved by the USDA |            AGDAILY.         https://www.agdaily.com/technology/the-list-of-pesticides-approved-for-organic-production/

3. Harris, E. A., & Strom, S. (2014, April 10). Walmart to sell organic food, undercutting big brands. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/10/business/walmart-to-offer-organic-line-of-food-at-cut-rate-prices.html?_r=0

4. Rodale Institute. (2022, December 9). Farming Systems Trial - Rodale Institute.       https://rodaleinstitute.org/science/farming-systems-trial/

5. Cavaliere, N., & Cavaliere, N. (2018). What does Clean Certified green mean? | Marijuana Marketing Xperts. Marijuana Marketing Xperts. https://www.marijuanamarketingxperts.com/clean-certified-green-how-your-dispensary-can-jump-on-marijuana-trend/ 

6. Sun+Earth. (2023, April 19). Sun+Earth. https://sunandearth.org/

7. Chernobyl: Disaster, response & fallout. (2018, April 24). HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/chernobylChernobyl  https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/chernobyl

8.Seeds, S. (2020). Hemp and the decontamination of radioactive soil. Sensi Seeds. https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/hemp-decontamination-radioactive-soil/

 9. Raman R. The impact of Genetically Modified (GM) crops in modern agriculture: A review. GM Crops Food. 2017 Oct 2;8(4):195-208. doi: 10.1080/21645698.2017.1413522. PMID: 29235937; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29235937/

10. Genetically modified organisms. (n.d.). https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/genetically-modified-organisms/

11. Leino, L., Tall, T., Helander, M., Saloniemi, I., Saikkonen, K., Ruuskanen, S., & Puigbò, P. (2021). Classification of the glyphosate target enzyme (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) for assessing sensitivity of organisms to the herbicide. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 408, 124556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124556

12. Center for Food Safety | Press Releases | | Farmworkers and Conservationists Sue EPA for Re-Approving Monsanto Cancer-Causing P. (n.d.). Center for Food Safety. Accessed 4/17/2023 https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/5965/farmworkers-and-conservationists-sue-epa-for-re-approving-monsanto-cancer-causing-pesticide

 13. Yan, H. (2018, August 18). Jurors give $289 million to a man they say got cancer from Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller. CNN.  https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/10/health/monsanto-johnson-trial-verdict/index.html

 14. Staff, A. (2022, April 12). The list of organic pesticides approved by the USDA | AGDAILY. AGDAILY. https://www.agdaily.com/technology/the-list-of-pesticides-approved-for-organic-production/

15. Potential health effects of pesticides. (n.d.). https://extension.psu.edu/potential-health-effects-of-pesticides

16. Jarup, L. (2003). Hazards of heavy metal contamination. British Medical Bulletin, 68(1), 167–182. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldg032

17. Heavy metal poisoning - About the Disease - Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. (n.d.).  https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6577/heavy-metal-poisoning

18. Park, H., & Pappalardo, A. (2022). Invited Perspective: Call to Action—Reduce Immigrants’ Disparities in Environmental Exposures and Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 130(9). https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp11003

19. Gajdosechova, Z., Marleau-Gillette, J., Turnbull, M. H., Petts, D. C., Jackson, S. E., Cabecinha, A., Abramovici, H., Waye, A., & Melanson, J. E. (2022). Evidence that metal particles in cannabis vape liquids limit measurement reproducibility. ACS Omega, 7(47), 42783–42792. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c03797

20. Thomas, G. (2019, May 28). Food Ionization it advantages and disadvantages. https://www.lorecentral.org/2019/05/food-ionization-it-advantages-and-disadvantages.html

21. Dionísio, A. P., Gomes, R. R., & Oetterer, M. (2009). Ionizing radiation effects on food vitamins: a review. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 52(5), 1267–1278. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1516-89132009000500026

22. Hazekamp A. Evaluating the Effects of Gamma-Irradiation for Decontamination of Medicinal Cannabis. Front Pharmacol. 2016 Apr 27;7:108. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00108. PMID: 27199751; PMCID: PMC4847121.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27199751/

23. Perterson, J. (2020, July 1). The Difference Between Organic vs Synthetic Fertilizers. Kellogg Garden OrganicsTM. https://www.kellogggarden.com/blog/fertilizer/the-difference-between-organic-vs-synthetic-fertilizers/

24. Drotleff, L. (2021, December 18). How to decide on synthetic versus organic fertilizers for cannabis plant nutrition. MJBizDaily. https://mjbizdaily.com/are-synthetic-or-organic-fertilizers-better-for-cannabis-plant-nutrition/

25. Team, A. O. (2021, July 13). Cannabis, fertilizers, and heavy metals - age old. Age Old. https://www.ageold.com/cannabis-fertilizers-and-heavy-metals/

26. The United States Pharmacopeial Convention. (2019). Interim Revision Announcement Official November 1, 2019; Official December 1, 2020. 467 Residual Solvents. Retrieved July 24, 2023, from https://www.uspnf.com/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/generalChapter467Current.pdf

27. Q3D(R2) ELEMENTAL IMPURITIES Guidance for Industry. (2022). In FDA. Retrieved July 24, 2023 https://www.fda.gov/media/148474/download

28. Chemical solvents used in cannabis extraction. (n.d.). Cannabis Tech. https://www.cannabistech.com/articles/chemical-solvents-used-in-cannabis-extraction/

29. Rebotanicals. (2020). USDA certified organic hemp CBD extraction and processing. Rebotanicals.  https://www.rebotanicals.com/usda-certified-organic-hemp-cbd-extraction-and-processing/

30. Hemp gets federally recognized | CCOF. (n.d.). https://www.ccof.org/hemp-gets-federally-recognized 

31. California Certified Organic Farmers. (n.d.). Hemp Gets Federally Recognized. ccof.org. Retrieved July 24, 2023. https://www.omri.org/hemp-production 

32. Rohila, A. K., Duhan, A., Maan, D., & Kumar, K. (2017). Impact of agricultural practices on environment. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315477961_Impact_of_agricultural_practices_on_environment

33. Rodale Institute. (2020, October 7). Why organic? - Rodale Institute. https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/

34. Rural Agricultural Health and Safety Overview - Rural Health Information Hub. (n.d.).  https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/agricultural-health-and-safety

35. Agricultural Safety | NIOSH | CDC. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aginjury/default.html

36. 2021 Updates | Study Updates. (n.d.). 

https://aghealth.nih.gov/news/2021.html 

11 Ways to a Healthier Gut Microbiome

Because life begins and ends in the gut.

Our gut microbiome is a massive community of bacteria, viruses and fungi that inhabit every crease and crevice of our gastrointestinal tract. This system significantly influences our metabolism, body weight, propensity to illness, immune system, appetite and mood. Most of these microbes live in the colon and outnumber all other cells in our body put together, 10 to 1. (1)  This population of microbiota can weigh approximately 3 pounds- constituting trillions of microorganisms, and expressing more than 3 million genes.

The gut microbiome controls the storage of fat, assists in activating genes in human cells that absorb nutrients, contributes enzymes we don’t possess and makes essential vitamins (e.g. B12). It plays a role in the creation of blood vessels as well as breaking down metabolism byproducts and toxins. We ingest approximately one million microbes in every gram of food, therefore, our diet directly impacts which species thrive in our gut microbiome. That means when we make the switch from a meat-based to a more plant-based diet, our microbiome changes in a good way. (2)

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates all of the other systems in our body (hormonal, nervous, immune, digestive, reproductive, etc.) This system makes cannabis-like molecules, endocannabinoids, that keep us in balance. The ECS is what cannabis interacts with inside our bodies and on the skin. Scientists have discovered that the ECS mediates the crosstalk between the body and brain via the gut microbiome.(3)  This bi-directional collaboration via the vagus nerve oversees caloric intake, inflammation and the integrity of the gut barrier. A gut microbiome lacking in diversity or containing too many of the wrong kind of microbes, dysbiosis, is correlated with leaky gut. This condition is linked to chronic inflammation which in turn contributes to many chronic diseases including obesity and depression. A balanced ECS decreases gut permeability, keeps bad microbes out, promotes healthy weight and optimal mental health.(4)

Here are some ways, in no particular order, in which you can optimize your gut microbiome for optimal health, body, mind and spirit:

1.      Eat a variety of seasonal fruit, vegetables, seeds and nuts. The health of your microbiome is directly related to its diversity. The more diverse your food is, the healthier your microbiome. Your plate should look like a rainbow. Phytonutrient and fiber content varies from plant to plant. Polyphenols are antioxidants that also act as fuel for microbes. Nuts, seeds, berries, olive oil, dark leafy vegetables and green tea all contain high levels of polyphenols.  Pay special attention to high fiber vegetables.  When undigested fiber makes it to the colon, beneficial bacteria use it as food (prebiotics) to make short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The cells lining our colon use SCFAs for fuel. SCFAs and other metabolites enter the bloodstream, traveling to other organs, where they act as signals for the brain-gut connection and regulate the immune system. High fiber vegetables include Jerusalem artichokes, onions, garlic and leeks. All vegetables are not created equally. For example, kale and mustard greens are more nutrient dense than iceberg lettuce. 

2.      Increase the intervals between meals by avoiding snacking, occasionally skipping meals and trying intermittent or extended fasting. This gives microbes time to rest and rejuvenate themselves.

3.      Incorporate microbe-rich food and drinks into your diet. These include kombucha, sauerkraut, yogurt (including plant-based), kimchi, kefir or homemade ginger beer.

4.      Stay away from artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame and saccharine. These artificial sweeteners disrupt the metabolism of microbes and reduce gut microbiome diversity. They have also been shown to lead to obesity and diabetes in animal studies.

5.      Avoid sugary and processed foods. These not only reduce the healthy strains in your gut microbiome, they help bad ones to flourish.

6.      Take your vitamins. Ideally, we would like to get the majority of our nutrition from whole food, organic, plant-based sources. However, conventional agricultural practices have depleted our soil of micronutrients. Thus, produce grown in this soil may also be deficient. Our lifestyle may keep many of us from getting enough sunshine, the best source to generate vitamin D in the skin. Supplementing with magnesium, B complex, vitamins C and D can be beneficial. Omega 3 fatty acids derived from fish or algae promote a healthy microbiome.

7.      Avoid overuse of antibiotics and hand sanitizers. These kill off the good and bad microorganisms. Soap and water still work!

8.      Reduce alcohol intake. While it may increase the fun in social situations, remember it is liquid sugar and can be toxic in excess. It promotes inflammation, dysbiosis, leaky gut and decreases immune function. (5)

9.      Play in the dirt. Healthy soil has a rich microbiome of its own. Gardening, outdoor activities and walking barefoot on the ground (or beach) is good for your microbiome. Studies show that people living in rural areas have healthier microbes than city-dwellers.

10.  Get a dog. Studies show dog owners have a more diverse microbiome.

11.  Consume toxin-free cannabis via a healthy delivery method. Healthier delivery methods include electronic vaporizers for dry flower, tinctures, capsules and edibles. Obese mice treated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for four weeks resulted in a beneficial change in gut microbiota, decreased weight gain, fat mass gain and food intake. (6)  A prospective study of human twins  (7) demonstrated that symptoms of depression correlated with increased palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) via the stool and decreased gut microbiome diversity. Higher levels of PEA have been correlated with good mood. PEA is a an endocannabinoid that inhibits fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzyme that can breakdown anandamide and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), our two most abundant endocannabinoids. Anandamide, in particular, makes us feel good and is named after the Sanskrit word for bliss.

 Dr. Dawson, CEO of P.L.A.N.T.S. for Lyfe, is a medical cannabis advocate, educator and consultant. She is co-author of a forthcoming book along with Oskii Chevanier, Jamaican Herbalist, COO and Marilyn Pierce, RN, CFO on holistic living using botanicals including cannabis. The acronym P.L.A.N.T.S stands for Plant-Based Lifestyle and Ancient Nutritional Treatment Strategies. P.L.A.N.T.S. for Lyfe is an evidence-based, educational platform to help people transition to a more plant-based lifestyle including CBD and cannabis.

A Letter to the Church About Cannabis: What Would Jesus Do?

Why should the church care about cannabis? I’ll give you three reasons: economics, justice and medicine. Let’s start with what is cannabis? Cannabis is a plant and there are two major types being talked about in this country: cannabis and hemp. Both are from the same family, the same species. They’re cousins. Cannabis can intoxicate you, make you high. The other, hemp, cannot. Cannabis has a lot of biologically active molecules called cannabinoids, for example THC and CBD. Hemp has fewer cannabinoids and is very low in THC.  Hemp can also be used as food, textiles, paper, rope, computer chips, fuel and car parts. It is said that hemp can be made into at least 25,000 different products. Both cannabis and hemp have medicinal properties. Both have been used for thousands of years by cultures all over the world as food, medicine, fiber and ritual.

Photo of original prescription for cannabis, dated November 27, 1916, taken at The Hash, Marijuana and Hemp Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, courtesy of author.

Cannabis first came to America as medicine in 1839 after an Irish physician observed doctors in India treating people for conditions that American physicians had no cure for, like migraines and seizures. Physicians, like myself, used to prescribe cannabis and medications containing cannabis from the mid-1800’s to approximately 1937. What changed? The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed. This was written and promoted primarily by this country ‘s first drug czar, Harry Anslinger, who also happened to be a racist. This tax effectively shut down cannabis as medicine and ultimately made it illegal to possess it. There was an influx of Mexicans entering America in 1910 due to a civil war in their country. They brought cannabis with them and smoked it. Americans were not familiar with smoking it. They were using it in as topicals and oral medicine.

Cannabis medicine available in America during the early 1900’s. Photo taken at The Hash, Marijuana and Hemp Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, courtesy of author.

Anslinger and his millionaire enablers used the media to create a whole propaganda around the corruption of Americans and their children by this “reefer madness.” He tricked Americans into thinking it was this new evil herb called marijuana. Americans did not know cannabis by this name, therefore, didn’t realize it was the medicine they had been using for almost a hundred years. What does this have to do with the church? 

The church has always been a safe haven for Black people. It was one place during slavery times where Black people could be themselves and escape the glare of the overseer and master. The church was a safe place for runaway slaves navigating the Underground Railroad. Many of the “conductors” of the Underground Railroad were white churchgoing allies who knew in their hearts that slavery was wrong, despite it being the law of the land. During the Civil Rights Movement, churches and synagogues produced most of our leaders and warriors. They lead the way in fighting for freedom and justice. Coretta Scott King said that Dr. King was not killed for his, “I Have A Dream” speech. He was killed because of his “The Other America” speech where he demanded economic inclusion for Black people. 

The church should care about cannabis because of the economic prosperity it promises. The cannabis and hemp industry made $3.4 billion dollars in 2014 and $15 billion in 2019. By 2024, it is estimated that $40 billion will be generated. Eighty-one percent of cannabis businesses are owned by white people. Only 4% of businesses are owned by Blacks, although, we make up 13% of the population. Why is that? A big part of it is the fact that systemic racism still exists. Even today as new states come on board for medical and adult use cannabis, the laws are written in favor of the wealthy, who tend to be white. You must have proof of capital, typically in the millions of dollars. Nonrefundable application fees range from a few hundred dollars to more typically, tens of thousands of dollars. Annual licensing fees are very high. Most laws are written barring felons for 10 years. I will circle back to this point in a moment. Wealthy whites tend to inherit their fortune 60% of the time. Much of that wealth was built on free slave labor.

Blacks rarely inherit wealth due to almost 400 years of slavery. Slavery then merely morphed into Jim Crow, Black Codes, lynching, segregation, red lining and mass incarceration. An example of how systemic racism kept Blacks from amassing wealth to pass down to their children is the topic of land ownership. In 1910, Blacks owned 14% of farmland or 16,000,000 acres. Today less than 1% of farms are Black-owned as a result of these farmers being tricked, scared or forced off their land. The largest civil rights settlement in US history occurred in 1999, Pickford versus Glickman. The United States Department of Agriculture settled a class action suit for $1.2 billion for years of denying Black farmers loans and emergency assistance that they readily gave to white farmers. We may not own much land now, however, we can still get in on the ground floor of the biggest thing to come along since the Internet. You are witnessing a new industry in cannabis and hemp like this country has never seen before and we deserve some of the wealth being generated by it.

 The second reason why the church should care about cannabis is justice. America is only 5% of the global population, yet we imprison 25% of our citizens. Forty per cent of the prison population is Black, though we are only 13% of the population. Blacks and whites use cannabis at similar rates. Nonetheless, our husbands, brothers, sons and grandsons are profiled, locked up and incarcerated for possession of cannabis four times more than white people. That’s not justice. A felon is prohibited from participating in the cannabis or hemp market in many states for 10 years despite having served their time. Felons not only lose out in the cannabis industry, they often can’t vote, apply for public housing or student loans. It really hurts them economically and that is by design. Laws are not being applied equitably. That’s not justice.

As mentioned earlier, cannabis became outlawed by the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937. In 1969, the Supreme Court overturned this law because it was found to be unconstitutional. Richard Nixon decided that Black people were getting a little too assertive after the Civil Rights movement as were white youths, protesting the Vietnam war. He couldn’t make being Black or a Vietnam protestor a crime, so he decided to make cannabis illegal again with the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. That way he could control these two populations more easily.

In addition to Nixon’s efforts and to further add insult to injury, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was created in 1973. This is a nonprofit entity composed of conservative legislators and corporate representatives. They come together and create model legislation to be shared with individual states in America. Their greatest hits include decreasing environmental regulations, increasing voter ID laws, decreasing labor unions, decreasing gun control and increasing the prison industrial complex. They came up with the three-strikes law and the Prison Industries Act. For example, if you get caught for example with a small amount of cannabis and it’s your third offense, you could get life in prison. Once you’re in prison, you can work for corporations for pennies on the dollar. They tell you it’s to make prisoners more ready to return to civilian life, give them something to do and cut down on state costs of incarceration. It’s actually the Thirteenth Amendment in action.

Oftentimes, 40 to 50% of their meager wages are skimmed off the top and now that money is being diverted to build more prisons. In 2011, there was public outcry that corporations were having an undue influence on our laws. Thus, some legislators and corporations dropped out of ALEC but it is still functioning today. Some of the companies that remain include Koch Industries, Pfizer, Bank of America, Procter & Gamble, Shell, UPS, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, American Airlines, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and up until 2015 even Whole Foods. Thanks to the model legislation that this collaboration feeds to state legislatures, the profit of the prison industry jumped from almost $400 million in 1980 to $1.3 billion in 1994. This is not justice.

The third reason why the church should care about cannabis is that it is medicine. You don’t have to get high to access the medicinal properties of cannabis or hemp. CBD is just one cannabinoid out of over 150 that are present in the cannabis plant. Cannabis also contains other substances like terpenes, flavonoids and vitamins that also have health promoting properties in their own right. Cannabis decreases pain, inflammation, seizures, muscle spasms, anxiety, and depression. It decreases beta amyloid deposition, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Cannabis is anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. That’s why this plant can treat so many different ailments.

CBD alone is giving veterans and sexual abuse survivors with PTSD their lives back. They can be more present with their families because the anxiety, depression and nightmares have resolved. Babies who were having hundreds of seizures a day, now have none or just a few a day. Autistic kids who were violent and not talking are now calm and socializing with their families. Kids and adults with brain tumors given a few months to live are living months to years well past their doctors’ predictions.

American research on cannabis dropped precipitously with Nixon’s renewal of the War on Drugs in 1970. Our government has, however, been funding Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli chemist, to research cannabis since 1964. In America, it is extremely difficult to do research on cannabis. For a very long time the only way you could get permission to research cannabis, after jumping through all the hoops, was if you were trying to prove that it was harmful. If your research revealed that cannabis was helpful, your funding was cut off. If your findings were favorable you might even have trouble getting your research published. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry has been creating synthetic versions of cannabis since 1985. The US government discovered in 1999 that CBD was actually an antioxidant and neuroprotectant. They were awarded a patent in 2003 for this work.

Recently, prohibition organizations like Smart Approaches to Marijuana have linked up with a chapter of the NAACP to promote decriminalization instead of legalization. They state that “this new addiction industry is already targeting communities of color like its predecessors Big Tobacco and the liquor industry have always done.” What they don’t state is that the pharmaceutical industry, police unions, private prisons and alcohol companies help fund many cannabis prohibition groups. Unlike tobacco and liquor, cannabis has never killed anyone. Not only do the former two have no medicinal value, they are more addictive. In addition, the White House anti-drug office revealed that in states that have legalized cannabis for adults, the rate of use by youth has actually declined.

Decriminalization of cannabis is not enough. That allows law enforcement to continue interacting with people of color and increases the risk of more police killings. Cannabis legalization is just one piece in the dismantling of systemic racism. However, it is an important one. The cannabis industry has a long way to go, like this country, before it lives up to its promise.

Our health is so important. Illness robs you of your energy, time, wealth and hope. Good health allows you to be all that you were meant to be. You’re able to be at your best for your mate, children, grandchildren, career, community and the world. A few decades ago, I read the New Testament from start to finish. As a physician, I was struck by the amount of time Jesus spent healing people. I believe that wellness is our birthright. Our bodies are very intelligent and know how to heal. If we would only get out of the way and give them what they need.

Cannabis, like many other plants, was placed on earth to assist us in healing. It is being kept from us because of greed and systemic racism. Jesus wasn’t just a healer; he was a revolutionary. He spoke truth to power. He was willing to die for what he believed. Jesus spoke to those who had come—high priests, Temple police, religion leaders: “What is this, jumping me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal?” (Luke 22:52)

We must educate ourselves about the medicinal properties of this plant. We must create more meaningful social equity cannabis programs on the front end with sufficient structure to make sure they get implemented as planned. We must work together to invest in quality startups. We should consider investing in well-researched cannabis and hemp stocks on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchange. We must register and vote like we have never voted before. Run for political office in your community. Our leadership should reflect the diversity of this country. We need leaders that will help us reimagine policing, dismantle systemic racism and the prison industrial complex. Federal prohibition of cannabis must end. Physicians and scientists must be free to do cannabis research. The church should care about cannabis for its promise of prosperity, justice and healing. The church should care about cannabis because it may help us fulfill Dr. King’s dream of economic inclusion. The church should care about cannabis because it can bring us closer to enjoying “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Dr. Dawson is a medical cannabis advocate, educator, speaker and consultant. She has dual board certification in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as integrative (holistic) medicine. She offers online educational consultations regarding medical cannabis, CBD and holistic gynecology.

The Endocannabinoid System Part 1

As a holistic physician, I care about your body, mind and spirit. The cannabis plant can heal your body, mind and spirit. Humans have used plants as food and medicine since we’ve been on Mother Earth. Over the next few months, I will tell you about the endocannabinoid system. This system allows our physiology to interact with the cannabis plant like a hand and glove. All humans and mammals have an endocannabinoid system. It helps us maintain balance and equilibrium. It helps govern our nervous, immune, hormonal and many other systems of the body. The endocannabinoid system plays a role in everything from our ability to think, move and digest; to our ability to fight off infections and cancer; to our ability to experience pleasure. We are finding out new things about this system daily. Its initial components were discovered between 1990 and 1997 while scientists were trying to figure out why cannabis affects us the way it does. They discovered that we make molecules that resemble and behave just like the ones in the cannabis plant! Professor Di Marzo summarized the endocannabinoid system in 1998 as one that helps us “relax, eat, sleep, forget and protect”.
 
The abbreviation for the endocannabinoid system is ECS.  We can also use the letters "E", "C", "S" to help us remember its components. “E” stands for enzymes. “C” stands for cannabinoids. “S“ stands for so many receptors!

Let’s start in reverse order. “S" stands for so many receptors! Receptors receive righteous cannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system’s receptors are the most numerous of all the systems in your body. They act like locks waiting for the keys or cannabinoids. They are distributed throughout your body from your brain to your skin, except for one place. This place is your brain stem. This is an area just below your brain that controls your heart rate and breathing. There are very few cannabinoid receptors in your brain stem. In contrast, there are many opioid receptors in the brain stem. That’s how people die of an opioid overdose. They stop breathing. This does not happen with cannabis. There has never been a death due to cannabis, EVER. The receptors are called CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily in the brain, spinal cord and organs. CB2 receptors are found primarily in the immune and peripheral nervous systems. This brings us to the “C”.
 
“C“ stands for cannabinoids. Cannabinoids create calm. They are biologically active fatty molecules. Their chemical structure resembles omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil. There are three types of cannabinoids: phytocannabinoids, endocannabinoids, and synthetic cannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant. “Phyto” means of plants. Endocannabinoids are found within our bodies. “Endo” means inside. Synthetic cannabinoids are made by pharmaceutical companies. They are a poor substitutes for the real, whole cannabis plant. Several endocannabinoids have been discovered in humans. The first two discovered were named N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol        (2-AG). AEA was nicknamed anandamide after the Sanskrit word for bliss  Our bodies are always making a baseline level of anandamide which contributes to our “endocannabinoid tone”. We will come back to this later. 2-AG, as well as anandamide, can be made on demand, when we need them. For example, if we get hurt or become ill, our production of endocannabinoids increases. The endocannabinoids act like keys and insert into the receptors (locks). That's when the magic happens. Endocannabinoids can decrease pain and inflammation. They help us sleep and lift our mood. They can kill bacteria, viruses and even cancer cells. This brings us to our last component. 

“E” stands for enzymes. Enzymes enable existence. Enzymes help create reactions and molecules. They can also stop a reaction and breakdown molecules. Scientists are still working to identify the various enzymes that help create our endocannabinoids. However, we do know which ones break them down once their job is done. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) breaks down anandamide. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) breaks down 2-AG. Do you know why we feel good when we eat dark chocolate? Dark chocolate blocks the enzyme FAAH which allows our levels of anandamide to increase. That makes us feel good!  
 
Remember, ECS stands for the endocannabinoid system. "E", "C", "S" can also help us remember the key components of this system. "E” is for enzymes. “C” is for cannabinoids. “S” is for so many receptors! Disease manifests when our endocannabinoid system isn’t functioning properly or “endocannabinoid tone” is low. In 2004, Dr. Ethan Russo hypothesized that diseases like chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, migraines, anxiety, depression and even PTSD, are due to inadequate endocannabinoid system function. He called it “Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome”. Research now supports his theory. This is why supplementing with phytocannabinoids or cannabis gives relief to so many people with autoimmune conditions, mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases like those mentioned above. Over the coming months, I will discuss what you can do to improve your endocannabinoid tone.
 
Thomas Edison stated in 1902, “there were never so many able, active minds at work on the problems of disease as now, and all their discoveries are trending toward the simple truth, that you can’t improve on nature”. Truer words have never been spoken.