Welcome to the Cannaba Verum podcast, the cannabis truth podcast. I speak the language of cannabis freely uncensored while educating my audience on the safe use of this live Plant Therapy. 

You should know what’s in your cannabis. what’s good and what’s not. It does not come with an FDA stamp of approval yet. Using cannabis mindfully as medication is a different concept in western healthcare philosophy, specifically of the past 100 years. There’s a lot to learn and reconsider. 

The information you’ll find here comes straight from the scientists and clinicians doing the work and reporting their findings in real time through various online outlets. The scientific truth that cannabis is good for us is finally getting out and is wide open for all to see at respected medical sites like pubmed.gov and JAMA, the Journal of American Medical Association. And I’m right there in the thick of it with all those titans of medicine… as a fly on the wall. Because I’m not a doctor. I didn’t go to med school. I took dozens of private cannabis courses offered by cannabis scientists online over the past few years. And slowly began to understand the bigger picture. But I’m not a medical doctor or scientist. Oh, I can talk to one about cannabis and hopefully inspire more doctors and patients alike to research the facts as we know them today and decide alternative health paths for themselves. 

This is Honey Smith Walls, a 21st century cannabis shaman, not a doctor, not a scientist, just here to explain this great big story and the language of cannabis in its historical, political and scientific terms, so you can make educated decisions about the medicine you choose to ingest. 

(Guest Promo?)

Seg 1

Hello, my friends. I wonder if you can hear the fan running in the background, kind of a hot day, even though it’s late in the fall. Of course, I’m in Florida and sitting outside on the lanai. I just wanted to remind you that we’re about to jump back into a conversation that started in the last episode. 

But before we go there. I just want to remind you about your Cannaba Verum PSA for the day. Here it is. If you’re having issues with your meds. Talk to your pharmacist. Yes, that’s it. That’s who studied all those chemicals for fun and for a whole lot longer than your primary care physicians did your pharmacists, they understand more drugs than God. So talk to your pharmacist, it’s totally free, and could possibly lift your quality of life, gone. When they ask you the next time you go pick up your drugs if they want to, if you need to talk about anything, say yes and park the car and go inside and have a little consult about all of those meds you’re taken, especially if you’re having some issues with them. You’ll be surprised at how they can help you so quickly. 

Now back to our peek behind the curtain of relationships between medical professionals and patients. Boy, we have a lot of work to do. Let me just remind you who were listening to… Dr Leah Johnson, known to the cannabis community is Dr Leah is a formally trained clinical cannabis pharmacist and the owner and CEO of Alchemist Cannabis Consulting, LLC. She’s also an accomplished highly driven, clinical, long term care and rehabilitation pharmacist with a primary focus in pain, mental health, depression, anxiety, insomnia, sexual health and medication management. 

Just reminding you that in the last episode, she helped me with a lot of those things that I just mentioned. After I’d seen that terrible movie and was having ridiculous flashbacks. 

Anyway, go listen to that other episode… The one before this and you’ll understand what I’m talking about. She was amazingly helpful with me through that. 

Anyway, she holds three patents for natural herbal remedy tinctures, which she helped develop as the head of Research and Development for an herbal supplement company. Dr Leah believes that complete physical, mental health and well being, can be influenced by the utilization of cannabis, as well as other herbal remedies and supplements in conjunction with pharmaceutical medicines. That means all of those synthetics that you get from your pharmacist. She believes that most patients are given too many, and inappropriate prescription medications, while not being given the knowledge for utilizing effective herbals and supplements to reduce pill burden. She also believes that many patients are unable to get full relief of their ailments due to the missing components in their medication regimens. 

In an effort to improve the overall health and well being of patients. Dr Leah works with patients and their healthcare providers from all over the country to reduce the amount of medications taken, altering timing and dosing of medications to improve effectiveness, and identify medications which could be causing issues. See how glorious all of that could be for you. She works with cannabis companies to advise them on dose and safety interactions and how to better help their customers and improve with the use of their products. She holds a doctorate degree in pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and you’re about to hear her distress of how the public views their pharmacists! Here we go.

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 6:40

Oh, it kills me. I think that the methods in the state of California…which I have to be honest, I am very disappointed with the way that California has gone with cannabis, I that the patients were forgotten and I think the focus got very financial and I feel people’s focus is where we can make money on it. And the only reason people even had medical cannabis was because your only way to access before it was adult use or recreational was to get a card for what I learned from so many patients, and from some of the cannabis physicians who I actually work with a lot. 

You will pretty much go in to a dispensary, I mean in California you go to a doctor, pretty much any physician, even without any credentials in cannabis, who were absolutely allowed to write a card for medicinal cannabis which is crazy, because for a lot of cannabis patients, it’s really it’s not a good recommendation for them. And then on top of it, they wouldn’t look at the patient’s meds, they wouldn’t look at the patient’s past medical history, they wouldn’t look at any sort of comprehensive medical review or anything that I do with my patients to make sure we’re putting them on the best therapy possible. They ignore all of that they just say, Why do you think you need cannabis therapy? I have insomnia. That sounds great. Give me 60 bucks… here’s the card. That’s ridiculous.

Honey Smith Walls 8:15

No down here in Florida, we call them $100 pot docs. Yeah, pot doctors because exactly what you just described is exactly the scenario here… and I went through $100, for a new cannabis doctor to give me a card, because the first one I went to charged me $250. Right. And he was fly by night. I never saw him again.

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 8:42

And that’s what always happens. Instead of making sure that patients have somebody to talk to, you make sure that people are certified and credentialed to have these things. The state’s only focus on, really, for lack of better terms, making sure kids don’t get it and don’t get me wrong, I think it’s very important that we make sure that our children and adolescents do not get access to cannabis, unless they have a medical ailment or medical condition that deems that they need to have it… such as autism or if they have a seizure disorder or something like that. 

So I do absolutely agree with that point of view, but the focus was really not on the patient, it was on preventing others from being harmed by it but it was never patient focused, even when it was an additional only. And so states like Connecticut… states like Pennsylvania, the ones who have said, per federal law, a pharmacist is the only healthcare professional who is allowed to dispense medication. 

That means, physicians are not allowed to, nurse practitioners are not allowed to. Nobody’s allowed to besides pharmacists by federal law. So if that’s true, that’s why Connecticut and Pennsylvania said… well, cannabis is medicine. Medicine can only be dispensed by a pharmacist. So, our dispensaries must have a pharmacist in it, it just makes common sense…

Honey Smith Walls 10:05

Seems logical to me.

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 10:07

Right, and so that is the model of that of cannabis therapy that I am all about. And I know that the issue out in California is well pharmacists are expensive. I don’t want to have to pay for a pharmacist. And now some states have health care professionals that are not pharmacists, and you know what… as long as they are trained professionally, and they have their professional training, and they know how to utilize cannabis properly… While reviewing medications and other, and other comorbidities and so on and so forth. Absolutely, then it doesn’t have to be a pharmacist. It just has to be somebody knowledgeable in helping patients with their cannabis therapy, and the fact that California does not require any health care professionals, not just pharmacists, but any is just absurd and there were many states that went this way where they only that, you know pretty much only a, you know, that they don’t really need a health care professional because it’s not required by law, if it’s not required by law, why should they waste the money.

Honey Smith Walls 11:08

So how nice it would be to walk into a dispensary and purchase the product from a real pharmacist and say oh by the way, I’m still having nausea, even though I’m using, you know, I haven’t found out why I’m having nausea, even though I’ve been using cannabis to help with the nausea, but could it be a pill I’m taking? And then give a list of the pills you’re taking to that cannabis pharmacist to look over, and, you know, so I see 1000 scenarios in my head instantly, and oh by the way that little test that we were going to run on Facebook I did…

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 11:55

I saw that… I saw somebody go like… all crazy about pharmacists. I’m like, either he’s a pharmacist or he works directly with them.

Honey Smith Walls 12:01

The other ones though… you hit it right on the head. The nurse, this one guy says nurse does all the work takes all your vitals listens to your medical problem makes notes on your chart. Doctor rushes in for 10 seconds after reading the nurses notes hands your prescription since you for six tests quickly runs out before you can ask any follow up questions and pharmacist puts arthritis pills in a bottle with a childproof cap.

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 12:26

Ahhh! And that makes me so upset because that means they don’t know what a pharmacist does. And that’s a problem, sadly of society where this is always what I say to people, what would you feel about your doctor’s office, if while they were having consultations, you could see the doctor talking to the patient? What would it be like if you could see what the doctor was doing every second that you were in the doctor’s office where the whole scheme of the layout of the office is open?

Break

Bling 

Commercial

Bling 

Seg 2

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 13:09

You can see what they’re doing in their office you can see what they’re doing with other patients you can see what they’re doing with the nurses, and that’s exactly what pharmacy is, it’s an open air model so everybody can see what we’re doing at every single time. 

So if doctors could be seen doing everything they’re doing. People would be like… why are they doing that? Well obviously they’re just joking around, obviously that ends like… you know what they’re not though, they’re actually actively doing things, but the fact that you can see them, you have the ability to make a judgement of what they do.

As a pharmacist and if all pharmacies were closed, were completely closed off, there was a consultation room but people couldn’t see the technicians couldn’t see the pills, everything was blocked off and all you had was your little window to like a like a side window where it’s like, oh, this is where I go to for consultations and then this is a different window I go to pick up but I can’t see inside the pharmacy I can’t see what’s happening behind this pharmacist? Then that would change the whole model, because people always assume because they can see everything that they know what’s going on. So, what do people see a pharmacist do they see a pharmacist talk on the phone, talk to the technicians and talk and and and look at pills. So that’s what their assumption is they don’t know that we’re making sure that this medication which, you know, the doctor wrote for you is, is actually really dangerous causing heart attack. They don’t know…

Honey Smith Walls 14:30

Yeah, there’s nothing reminding the patients that you have gone through all of these years of education in chemical knowledge. Yeah, what they’re doing, inside the human body. And I think it’s such an under rated service for society.

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 14:56

Your Dr. Ao, Doctor, doctor, or I’ll do it the other way. Dr. Allen, Dr Codi, myself, Dr. Melanie like I’m just using first names because that seems to be, I guess I guess when we’re, when people call our doctors, even though we are a doctor, I am Dr. Johnson, it always ends up being first name that they seem to use for pharmacists, which is fine.

Honey Smith Walls 15:18

Is that because we’re just friendlier younger, more youthful or not so pretentious, or because….  I struggle, you know I struggle with that first name thing for all of you doctors. I love you all, I stand in awe. I’m so grateful to you know be a fly on the wall in this circle but, you know, you and I are becoming personal friends… that’s different. I, I’m so grateful for that, but it does, you know, it doesn’t really reflect the, the years of struggle that you’ve… and sacrifice that you’ve given to us to become a doctor to help us.

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 16:00

And I think a lot of the pharmacists have gone with first names because a lot of times will be run into a physician, if we use the term or any practice, to be honest any provider, and I use the terminology provider, referring to anybody who can write a prescription who diagnosis an ailment, for you who writes prescription so that pretty much at this point in most states limits you to physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants. 

Mind you, There are fantastic providers out there who absolutely utilize pharmacists. I have some providers that are like, I’m not going to make this decision by myself. You’re the drug expert I need your help and it’s like, I always appreciate these types of providers because they understand their job is diagnostics, that’s not my job, I don’t know diagnostics, as well as they do. I know some but not to their level but we know meds better than them and these providers understand, and that’s amazing. But for a lot of providers, they get this competitive kind of side where they feel like to call you a doctor is just like a slap in the face. 

Like I’m a physician so for them to… so it’s not usually PAs or NPs. NPs and                  PAs only usually kind of get frustrated, they don’t want to call you doctor because they’re not, they don’t have a doctorate. Nurse Practitioners, every once in a while, they can be a DNP which then means they are a doctor nurse practitioner. But a lot of Nurse Practitioners are just APRNs, or not just but are NPs nurse practitioners without that doctorate, so they get angry that you’re a doctor, but they’re not the doctor and that physical therapists are often doctors but, You know, NPs, and PAs. So sometimes, again, I have worked with so many amazing physicians and so many amazing NPs and PAs out there…

Honey Smith Walls 17:53

You know that sounds like a coaching philosophy problem that should be fixed. Absolutely,

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 17:59

I mean, the way I see it is… Why aren’t we leaning on the profession that helps what we have wrong with us… like for example, if I get injured in a car accident, Why would I go to my general practitioner for my pain in my muscle… why wouldn’t I go to a physical therapist… that’s their job. The physical therapist…they know the human body, they know how to help when you have muscles and issues in those areas… they know how to fix that. So why are we going to a physician or PA or an NP for treatment for our muscle issues? No, we need to go to a PT. So when you have med issues, why are you going to another?

Honey Smith Walls 18:45

Part of the problem, patient education has gotten so fractured for what doctors and different levels of medical professionals are trained to do we don’t really know… so we just go to the one guy who tells us where to go. 

Guest Expert: Dr. Leah 19:02

The providers that I find to be a little bit more hesitant against pharmacists are usually the ones that are actually not the ones that have their own issues with providing… with writing for medications. It’s almost like they’re embarrassed to ask for the help, embarrassed to say that they need it. 

So, education for patients is so important, but a lot of times the provider, the person who would educate the patient or the providers to say hey you know what I’m going to start you on this. 

In my opinion… this is what most pharmacists believe the doctor should say:

“Hey, you’ve got this wrong with you, I’m going to start you on this medication. However, please make sure to speak with your pharmacist before you take your medications because your pharmacist will explain the side effects. Your pharmacist will explain the interactions with your other meds, and your pharmacist will help you and totally explain to you when to take it and what to expect.” 

If physicians just… and providers, not just physicians… if providers just did that with every prescription they write, they tell them, hey, here’s this prescription all information about this medicine can be answered to you by your pharmacist, then people would actually ask their pharmacist questions. But the providers don’t go out of their way to explain that the pharmacist is the one that knows about the medication.

Honey Smith Walls 20:29

Hey friends, we’re gonna stop here so you can go live your life for a minute, but want you to know that we’ll be back to continue this series with our good friend Dr Leah Johnson, who takes us behind the curtain of not only our medical industry culture, but the pharmacology of cannabis, and how it works for us. And friends, Dr Leah is only a text message away to help you quell your tummy issues, understand your personal chemical mixology, and help you figure out a solution to your medical pharmacology issues. 

If you’re not satisfied with your quality of life on that handful of prescription pills. Then just text Dr Leah and she’ll follow up with a free 15 minute chat, all about you. She’ll look at your mess of pills and work with your physician to make you more comfortable while educating you about the needs of your body.  Invest in your health by texting. Area code 408-418-8802 Don’t bother writing it down, I’ll put it in the show notes, but I’m going to tell you anyway. And you can also email her at Dr Leah that’s D R L E A H, one word, the at sign AlchemistCannabisConsulting.com drleah@alchemistcannabisconsulting.com Don’t bother, writing it down… you know where it is… in my show notes. Also it will be on my website so thank you for hanging out with us. And a personal note to our dear friend, Dr Leah. Thank you for helping me through this particular moment. Gosh, I appreciate you so much. 

Pax Vobiscum everybody. 

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

MOOOOOOO!!

Outro’

You’ve been listening to another Cannaba Verum podcast with 21st century cannabis shaman Honey Smith Walls (that’s me) about the importance of using verifiably safe products. The process of becoming diagnosed for problems and taking your records to a cannabis specialist can lead you to the correct cannabinoid therapy for those issues. 

Otherwise, you’re just your own guinea pig looking for answers without any foundational knowledge or ability to determine the best choices or strategies to find help in a cannabis expert in your area. Visit cannabisclinicians.org 

And unless otherwise proven by a reputable third party lab test, please be advised that all street weed is contaminated. It may do grave harm to a patient with a delicate immune system who already has inflammatory issues like arthritis, IBS, fibromyalgia or worse. 

It would mean the world to me for you to join my dear audience. If you subscribe to the podcast, you won’t miss the latest news about cannabis straight from the source. And if you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ll be part of a project to understand the effects of cannabis on the public. Your anecdotal cannabis testimonies are priceless to me. So it’s not just you learning. It’s me learning what you need to learn. Then I can make that happen for you and show you the way without being repetitive for those advanced patients. There’s so much to learn. And it’s fascinating. Come on along on this cannabis journey with us and be part of a real time study. I’ll report back to the scientist about you informally, of course, and they’ll report their new discoveries to us. I love the synergy in the heart of the moment. You’ll find medical citations posted on my podcast blog when you visit to subscribe at CannabaVerum.com  That’s CANNABAVERUM.com 

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

MOOOOOOO!!

Sources:

Cannaba Verum is Latin for Cannabis Truth. Sourcing factual information about cannabis hasn’t always been easy for a variety of reasons. However now because of modern innovations, it is. My sources are from historical and modern leaders in cannabis science: 

Roger Adams, U.S. Organic Chemist who isolated the structure of CBD, 

Raphael Mechoulam, Israeli Organic Chemist who isolated the structure of THC,

Ethan Russo, Dir R&D International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute 

Dustin Sulak, DO – my favorite doctor at healer.com, teaching the art of Cannabis Healing to the world, and other industry greats like: 

Rev. Dr. Kymron DeCesare, Ed Rosenthal, Jack Herer, Michael Backes, and Michael Pollen and so many more… plus I use classical sites like: PubMed.com, JAMA.com, ResearchGate.com. I listen to several daily podcasts to keep up with the latest cannabis news across the nation and throughout the world like:  The Great Shea Gunther at MJTodayDaily.com and MarijuanaMoment.net.  I trust the CBDProject.org and CannabisScienceTech.com. I watch the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) at: thecannabisindustry.org and many more.  

You’ll find Citations available on my podcast blog at cannabaverum.com 

PS: Helping society get past the fear of using cannabis will be a lifelong journey for me. This industry is just opening up and both patients and doctors are completely cannabis naive and need help understanding where to turn for trustworthy information. If you need help opening that cannabis discussion with your family doctor,  please reach out and grab the Dear Doctor Letter I wrote for this exact purpose. It will explain your decision to try cannabis and ask for their help in monitoring your labs and progress. It will also show them where they can find medical research on the subject of your diagnosis and the effects of cannabis. You’ll find that letter here: CannabaVerum.com  

1. Microdosing – https://healer.com/cbd-cannabis-dosage-guide-project-cbd-interview-with-dr-sulak/
2. Concentrates – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29307505/ 
3. Cannabis Helps Dementia Podcast – Anchor.FM/cannabishelpsdementia
4. Society of Cannabis Clinicians – https://www.cannabisclinicians.org/
5. Take the Pledge – GreenTakeover.com 
6. HoneySmithWalls.com 
7. Handbook for Clinicians – Principles and Practice – https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393714180
8. Dr. Leah Johnson: Email: drleah@alchemistcannabisconsulting.com and (Text Only: 408-418-8802)
9. Pharmacists Cannabis Coalition of California (PCCC): Brand New…Check Dr. Leah’s site and LinkedIn for official link.
10.  Dr. Alan Ao can be found at another new org: CannabisPharmacists.org 

All opinions are my own and should not be mistaken as medical advice.