ALDERVILLE FIRST NATION – In 2017, Medicine Wheel Natural Healing became the first Indigenous cannabis dispensary to open in Alderville, and the store became a beacon for medicinal cannabis and the movement for Indigenous economic sovereignty. With over 60,000 registered members, owner Rob Stevenson built the business with an eye to a seed-to-sale model that could withstand market cycles and maximize value for customers and Indigenous people alike. 

However, Stevenson did not anticipate how tough the COVID-19 pandemic would be for the Indigenous cannabis industry. When the pandemic started, Alderville First Nation was entirely  shut down, and all stores on the territory were completely closed for three months. With the store shuttered, Medicine Wheel had to lay off about 40 employees. All staff members were paid two weeks’ wages, and because the staff were all on payroll, they were eligible for COVID-19 financial support. 

When the community partially reopened several months later, Medicine Wheel moved more of its operations online, and created a click-and-collect program where customers can order online and pay by sending an e-transfer. When customers arrive at the store’s drive through, the orders are ready and brought to them by staff. In June of 2021, the store opened back up, but with smaller numbers of people allowed in at a time. “Now we’re able to open up, interact, have better social interactions and to consult with the people that are coming in to buy our products,” says Stevenson. 

Competition and the other stores in Alderville

The pandemic was not the only thing that changed business patterns in Alderville. When Medicine Wheel first opened its doors, the parking lot was regularly overflowing and the instore line up often stretched all the way to the road. That was when Medicine Wheel was the first and only cannabis dispensary in Alderville. Now there’s over a dozen dispensaries in the community. 

Stevenson has a positive outlook on the larger growth of the Indigenous cannabis industry. “One of the things that I have always done is to support other people in my community getting into the cannabis industry. That has definitely affected my business here in Alderville. It slowed Medicine Wheel’s growth down, but it spread the wealth around in our community, and I am okay with that. I’ve got enough to keep me happy, and I’m glad that other families and businesses are starting to prosper from this industry.”

It’s not just the dispensaries that make up the industry. In Alderville, there are at least four different businesses doing cannabis extractions and processing, many different growers, and increasingly, cooks and bakers. Stevenson estimates that of the 300 or so on-reserve members living in Alderville, about half are directly benefiting from the cannabis industry. These benefits come in many forms, including from owning a cannabis business, being employed by one, providing services like cleaning, security, or snow-clearing to the industry, or by benefiting from the increased traffic that’s been flooding into the community’s arts and crafts shops, convenience stores, and gas stations.

The Indigenous cannabis industry in Alderville is now facing bigger challenges and issues that require working together as a nation. Chief among them is responding to the competition of the more than 1000 cannabis shops licensed by the Province of Ontario. Stevenson considers the placement of some of these stores a deliberate strategy to reduce the economic gains of the “red market.”

“The government’s been very smart,” according to Stevenson. “They could have come after us, and just started raiding every single store, but that would have created push back from Indigenous communities. It would have created a lot of legal challenges and the media coverage would make them look bad. So instead, they’re surrounding the reserves with all of these Provincially licensed dispensaries and they’re trying to take us out through economic attrition. There’s five cannabis stores in Coburg, and in Peterborough there’s a dozen of them.” 

Stevenson continued: “It’s not the people across the road that are my competitors, they’re my neighbours. Our real competitors are the OCS government stores that are popping up around our community. The question becomes how do we draw people from urban areas that are used to having close access to government cannabis and shopping online? How can we bring them out to Indigenous communities and get them to spend their money here with us? That’s the tricky part now.”

Next Steps for growing the Indigenous Cannabis Market

The competition with government stores is not just being fought out in terms of pricing, quality, and the nature of the products and services being offered. Stevenson thinks that the real leverage that Indigenous people have in the cannabis industry lies in what he terms “jurisdictional arbitrage” – the ability of “Indigenous people to use our rights to benefit our community through control of our own laws, medicines, economy and lands.” With the right regulatory framework, the safety and quality of Indigenous products can be assured, and the wealth from the industry will stay within the Indigenous communities where it was created. 

Stevenson predicts that the next steps in the Indigenous industry will be an increase in Indigenous nation-to-nation trading and the growth of Indigenous cannabis brands. As the industry matures, Stevenson says that he would like to see Indigenous dispensaries selling only Indigenous products. “That way, the economic benefits will stay within our communities and we can prosper from this industry over the long term.” Already there has been a noticeable increase in the quality and number of products from Indigenous sources. 

However, Stevenson wants these products to be safe and tested, because “to compete with Canada, we have to rise to their level in our own way. We have a great advantage on the medicinal side because none of the Provincial recreational dispensaries are allowed to discuss the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Whereas for us, cannabis is a medicine. It might not be “traditional” but it’s a gift from creation, and it’s a powerful plant-based medicine that we have every right to use as we see fit.”

Because Indigenous producers don’t operate through Canada’s LP system, Medicine Wheel is able to create a whole array of medicinal products that you can’t get at OCS stores. Stevenson explains: “At the OCS, 10 milligrams of THC is the maximum dose that any serving of an edible can have. On First Nations territories we can go higher than that and I think it’s healthier to have higher doses for people that need to be medicated. I know I need a heck of a lot more than 10 mg of THC in an edible. So am I going to have to eat 10 OCS chocolate bars and get diabetes from all the sugar? Personally, I would rather have a higher dose edible and eat less of it to get the same effects.”

New Indigenous Brands lead the way

Medicine Wheel is focussed on replacing its non-Indigenous cannabis products with Indigenous ones that are centred on the medicinal aspects of cannabis. One way in which the store does this is through the Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) it manufactures. RSO is a strongly medicinal product which is mostly used to treat cancers or other serious medical problems. Medicine Wheel used to have a compassion program in place for people who couldn’t afford the $40 a gram price and this brought the price down to $25 a gram. Now, in order to make the product affordable to all, the RSO is $25 across the board and is manufactured locally on the territory. 

As Stevenson points out, the benefits of Medicine Wheel’s RSO go beyond its price. “Our RSO is food grade quality. There’s a minimum of three different varieties of flower mixed into the oil so it creates a robust full plant spectrum effect that provides the best entourage effects. A recent batch tested with levels of 71% THC. And it’s not green, it’s made from bud. It’s a fantastic product.”

Another line of products launched by the company is the ICR or Indigenous Cannabis Revolution. This brand carries high quality vape cartridges, hash, shatter and some other special concentrates like Delta-8 and CBD products. The ICR line of extracts join those of other Indigenous brands in the store. Igloo Brand, Alderville’s own Sid Viscous diamond sauce and diamond resin extracts, as well as the High Roller brand are all carried by Medicine Wheel and are available for online purchasing. Medicine Wheel is also selling 10 different kinds of Indigenous made hash, and 25 different vape cartridge flavours through the ICR line. 

Medicine Wheel hasn’t forgotten about flower either, with a selection of 25-45 high-quality flowers kep on hand at all times. Like other Indigenous dispensaries, the Wheel also offers $100 ounces, but with a twist: even the $100 ounces are safe, lab tested, and have their potency levels marked on the packaging. All flower strains are tested for potency, mold, and pesticides to ensure consumer safety. Prices range from the $6g range all the way to some $18g strains.

The flower is sold in childproof bags which keeps the project fresh and create less waste. Although other dispensaries will weigh out the product in front of customers, there’s a sanitary issue at play because every time you open that container to fill it for someone, you’re drying the product out and risking contamination. At Medicine Wheel, the flower is dried to the desired moisture level and packaged for sale.

Medicine Wheel has also continued the production of its award winning Mukwa line. This product line features a variety of different medicinal tinctures and topicals. The Mukwa brand was created in partnership with some Mohawks in Tyendinaga back in 2017, and according to Stevenson, “since day one it’s been one of our strongest selling brands.” The product is not super-high in THC, but it is created from a full spectrum cannabis extract rather than using isolates and distillates, which provides a powerful “entourage effect” from the wide variety of cannabinoids present in the tincture. 

Medicine Wheel also has its own line of THC and CBD gummies and also stocks those of Creator’s Choice in Wahnapitae. Next on the agenda is moving a baker and a chef into a specially made industrial kitchen to provide fresh THC edibles to be sold at the store.

After Covid 

Now that the Covid-19 Pandemic appears to be subsiding, Stevenson’s focus is returning to the Medicine Wheel store front as a place to not only educate consumers about the medicinal values of cannabis and the benefits of different Indigenous made products, but to promote Indigenous culture and traditions. 

The Medicine Wheel POS system that tracks every sale, all of our inventory and every single customer. With recent efforts to relaunch the Medicine Wheel website, the POS is now integrated with the online store, and enables a fast and easy online purchasing system. Purchases can still be picked up at the store, but they can also be shipped across Canada. 

According to Stevenson, the information held on the POS system “helps us to decide what products we want to carry, what products are working to treat what ailments, and it gives us a communication path to our members.” Medicine Wheel now has over 60,000 members now, and each new customer is registered and given a membership card. When customers come in their membership card is scanned and the purchase is made. As a way to bring even more benefits to members, Medicine Wheel has created a buy-in loyalty program. The program gives its members points for every purchase made, and these points allow you to get new items for free.

Community contributions

Medicine Wheel is always looking for new ways to give back to the community. One way the store has been doing that lately is through their Rainbow Railroad themed chocolate bars. $2 from every sale of the chocolate bar goes to help the company Rainbow Railroad fight for the rights of persecuted LGBTQ+ people. Medicine Wheel supports many other projects too. They’ve done a lot for the women’s shelter in Alderville and donated to the band office, food bank and sponsorships for various community activities. 
Stevenson explains why he thinks Indigenous dispensaries on the territory should be doing something for their people. 

“That way you can keep that balance. If you get obsessed with chasing money you lose sight of why we’re doing this. Some people might be doing it just for the money, and that’s fine, that’s their path. I want to be financially comfortable, but I’m doing this because I’m having fun. I see the benefits of helping people, and it just keeps me busy. There’s so many different projects to do, and so many different ways to go with cannabis. It’s a continual learning process.”

The contributions made by Medicine Wheel are not just financial either. As a way of benefiting the community, every staff member is trained in how to use the store’s AED defibrillator,  Naloxone kit and Epi pens. That way, if someone has a crisis on site there’s always someone ready to help. The same emergency supplies are available in the store’s security building out front to serve community members in crisis 24 hours a day. If anyone in the community has an emergency or OD’s at any time, these emergency kits can be accessed at any time. 

The post Medicine Wheel in the Age of Covid: an Interview with Rob Stevenson appeared first on Medicine Wheel Natural Healing.

DOSAGE INSTRUCTIONS

It usually takes the average person about 90 days to ingest the full 60 gram or 60 ml oil treatment. I suggest that people start with three doses per day, about the size of a half a grain of short grained dry rice. The patient should take this dosage every 8 hours, early in the morning, then again in the afternoon and then they should take their final dose of the day, about an hour before bedtime. It should also be noted that as a patient begins to ingest this oil, the patient does not normally feel the oils effects until about an hour after they have taken their dosage, so please be aware of this fact. A beginner’s dose such as I am describing would equal about ¼ of a drop.

After four days at this dosage which should be taken three times a day, most people are then able to increase their doses by doubling the amount of their dosage every four days. By following this simple procedure, many patients have reported that they felt that they had not experienced the high, which this oil can cause. But in truth no two of us are the same and we all have different tolerances, so some will be able to up their dosages more quickly than others. In reality, even if one does become what is commonly referred to as being high this will not harm them in any way, if the oil they are ingesting was produced from the sedative strains of Indica, which I recommend and the resulting oil was produced in the proper way.

It takes the average person anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks to get to the point where they can ingest 1 gram or 1 ml per day. Once they reach this dosage they can continue at this rate until their medical issues are brought under control. This means that after the patient has become accustomed to the oils use, each dose they are ingesting will equal 8 to 9 drops every 8 hours and in many cases, I have seen patients that have had no trouble ingesting even far more. It takes a dosage roughly the size of two grains of short grained dry rice to equal one drop, so once the patient has become accustomed to the oils use they are actually ingesting doses which equal 16 to 18 grains of rice per dose.

In some cases I have even seen patients who had no fear of this medication, ingest the full 60 gram treatment in one month and after doing so, many of them were declared to be cancer free.

By using the method which I am describing, it allows your body time to build up a tolerance for this medication slowly and once the patient becomes accustomed to the oils effects, most patients actually report that they enjoy taking it. We all have different tolerances for any medication and your size or body weight has little to do with your tolerance for hemp oil and even children can take the same dosage as adults, with no detrimental effects. 

WARNING ABOUT USING RSO WHEN USING OTHER DRUGS

We are not medical doctors, so for any questions regarding the use of RSO alongside various pharmaceuticals please consult a medical doctor who supports the use of medical cannabis and who has experience with it.

Be aware when commencing treatment with hemp oil that it will lower your blood pressure, so if you are currently taking blood pressure medication, it is very likely that you will no longer require its use. Often patient’s will try to continue using their blood pressure medication, but if it is taken along with the oil their combined effect, can bring the patient’s blood pressure down to uncomfortable levels. It’s a good idea for those beginning treatment with the oil, to check their blood pressure often and then reduce their intake of other blood pressure medications as their blood pressure levels reduce. In the event that a patient is already suffering with low blood pressure, I have had reports from people who have this condition and they stated that simply drinking some water when they began to feel uncomfortable did help to some degree. Those who have low blood pressure, may in some cases find it necessary to ingest even smaller doses of this medication and to increase their dosages accordingly. But since this medication really does not present a danger, I think that their bodies will adjust to the oils effects in a short time, after which they should experience little or no difficulty with its use.

Diabetics should also be aware that they will usually find that their need for insulin will be reduced and it may even decrease to the point, where they will no longer require its use at all and the same goes for most other pharmaceuticals as well. Diabetics are diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and no matter what type you suffer from, it is still beneficial to use this oil because not only will it decrease your need for insulin, it will also protect your body from all the other harm this disease can cause.

Also, please be aware that when the patient takes RSO ( Rick Simpsons Oil ) many people find if they are using any pharmaceuticals such as steroids/painkillers/morphine it makes horrible side effects when mixed, so many people reduce their medications by half on day one – then reduce and stop the medications over 7 to 14 days. Mixing the medications with the oil can produce undesirable side effects – the symptoms/side effects of the medications can be exacerbated.

The main conditions/medications we warn about are the heart, blood pressure and diabetes and to closely monitor the levels over 3 months or so. 

INGESTING YOUR DOSAGES

Many people suggest that patients should be placing the dosage they are ingesting under their tongue, or they should be sticking their dosage to their gums, which is now known as tacking. Although methods such as this can get the medicinal cannabinoids into the patient’s body, I really do not agree with these methods because oils can often have a bad taste that can linger in the mouth for quite some time. I feel that by simply placing the dosage in the patient’s mouth, would have benefits for those who have gum infections and problems of this nature, but in most cases I believe that their dosage should just be swallowed. The proper oil is a thick greasy substance, so when I ingest my dosage I simply put it on my finger and then place it on my teeth, after which I drink cold water and then use my tongue to remove it from my teeth and then I swallow. By using this method, I can usually take my dosages without hardly tasting the oil at all and I think that most patients would prefer to do the same, but there are also other simple methods which can be used to avoid the bad taste.

The patient’s dosage can be placed on a small piece of bread and the bread can then be folded over to cover the dosage and then it can be placed in the patient’s mouth and swallowed much like a pill with water. Another good method to avoid the taste, is to place the dosage between two thin slices of fruit such as bananas and then place it in the patient’s mouth so it can be swallowed as well. If the oil is produced properly, often it really does not have an unpleasant taste that will linger, but the simple methods I have described should help patients ingest their dosages more easily. The name of the game is to simply get the oil into the patient’s body in the easiest and most pleasant way possible, so I think following the methods I have described should be given serious consideration. 

SUPPOSITORIES

For quite some time now, many people have been showing an interest in using this medication in suppository form, because they think that by doing so they can avoid becoming high and for some, this might be somewhat true. I have used this oil in suppository form myself, but when I took quite a large dose in this manner I cannot say that I did not feel its effects. I actually think that in some cases using suppositories is a very good idea, since I believe the oil should be placed as close as possible, to the medical problem which is being treated.

Therefore, for someone who is suffering with something such as prostate or bowel cancer, I believe that it could be more beneficial for their medical problems, to use the oil in this manner.

But still, I have seen many patients with these same medical disorders, heal themselves by simply ingesting their dosages by mouth, so I will leave the method you wish to use up to you.

When the oil is used as a suppository, the medicinal cannabinoids this oil contains go directly into the blood stream by-passing the liver.

For those who are suffering with such things as stomach or liver cancer etc. I believe that it would be more beneficial to ingest the oil by mouth. If you intend to use suppositories to treat your medical problems, then the suppositories should contain the same amount of oil, you would normally ingest by mouth and the dosage should be increased in the same manner.

Suppositories are fairly simple to prepare, but one should be careful about how much oil they contain, so in the beginning it may take some effort on your part to get the dosage right. Usually drug stores will supply suppository molds and all you have to do, is use a substance such as shay butter and then apply heat until it becomes a liquid, at which point you can add the oil and then fill the molds. It’s a good idea to put the molds after being filled in a refrigerator, to allow the substance they now contain to harden up and after doing so, the suppositories are then ready for use. In addition, drug stores can usually supply empty gel caps and the patient’s dosage can be put into the gel caps and then used as a suppository or can be taken by mouth, the gel cap will then disintegrate leaving the oil where you need it to be placed.

As I stated I do think that suppositories do have their uses, but I find this method to be quite time consuming and one must be careful about the amount of oil being added, so I still prefer to take my doses by mouth.

It should also be mentioned that this oil has many anti-aging qualities and it can also rejuvenate vital organs. So don’t be surprised if the patient who is using it, begins to look a bit younger and any other problems they were having with their kidneys or other vital organs could simply disappear as well.

When people are ingesting the oil, I like to see them stay within their comfort zone, but the truth is, the faster you take the oil the better your chance of surviving, if you are suffering from a serious condition such as cancer.

MAINTENANCE DOSES

At the end of their treatment most people continue taking the oil, but at a much reduced rate. About 1 to 2 grams a month would be a good maintenance dose, just a drop or two at night before bedtime is all that is generally required to maintain good health. Often I am asked if this oil must be taken with food, but from my experience it seems to make little difference, so I will leave that for the patient themselves to decide. I feel that there is little need in most cases for anyone to overdose on the oil, unless they actually have a life threatening condition such as stage 4 cancer, which is putting their life in danger and they wish to bring this disease under control more quickly. Even in cases like this, it is usually not necessary to take overdoses but if one chooses to, then I really have no problem with them taking the oil in excess. Since in reality, unlike many pharmaceutical medications which our medical systems supply, an overdose of hemp oil really does not do any harm and cannot bring about your death.

The main side effect of this medication is sleep and rest, which plays a very important role in the healing process. Usually, within an hour or so after taking a dose, the oil is telling you to lay down and relax. Don’t try to fight the oils sleepy effects, just lay down and get comfortable, then allow the oil to give you the rest and relaxation you require to heal properly. The effects of the oil may cause your mind to wander a bit and often patients will be somewhat unsteady on their feet when they begin to use this medication. But as the patient builds up their tolerance, these effects will diminish quickly. Usually within 3 to 4 weeks, the daytime tiredness associated with this treatment after the patient takes their dosage just fades away, but the patient continues to sleep very well at night.

I also suggest that patients should not try to drive their cars, until they become more accustomed to the oils effects, after which they are then able to drive safely once more. Once you become used to the oils effects it does not impair your ability to drive in any way, because unlike alcohol and many pharmaceuticals, this oil does not impair your motor skills. 

DISCONTINUING DANGEROUS AND ADDICTIVE PAIN MEDICATIONS

The only time I would recommend that people start out with larger doses, would be if their life was really in danger or to get them off addictive and dangerous pain medications, supplied by the medical system.

When patients begin the oil treatment and they have been using these addictive medications to alleviate the pain, they usually cut their pain medications in half and they will also probably find that they no longer require the use of most other pharmaceutical drugs as well. Many dangerous pain medications like hydromorphine are very addictive in nature and patients will have a hard time ceasing their use due to the withdrawal symptoms they will suffer, because they have become badly addicted to these substances. The oil will allow patients who are ingesting it, to suffer much less withdrawal symptoms from the medications they were using and it can usually replace the use of these dangerous medications in 2 to 3 weeks and often even less time is required. The object is to ingest enough oil to reduce the pain and to help the patient get off these dangerous medications as quickly as possible.

For the most part, pharmaceuticals are little more than toxins anyway and once the patient begins ingesting the oil, often the presence of these toxic drugs can begin to give them stomach problems. This is caused because the oil recognizes these chemicals and poisons for what they really are and the oil wants to expel them from the patient’s body. Once the patient stops ingesting these so-called drugs, their stomach problems will then just disappear and in most cases they will find that the only medication they really require is the oil. For those who are suffering from terminal cancer, the oil will either cure their cancer or in cases where it is too late to affect a cure, the oil will allow them to experience little or no pain and at least then they can die with dignity. Even if a patient has been given only a short time to live by the doctors, do not think of their situation as being hopeless, for very often the oil is still able to bring them back to a state of good health.

If the cancer cannot be reversed with the use of this oil, it is not unusual for the patient to live on for many month’s longer than expected and during that extra time the oil gives them, they can often experience a very good quality of life. 

DOSAGE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE ON CHEMOTHERAPY OR RADIATION

Hemp oil has a very high success rate in the treatment of all forms of cancer. There is no shortage of testimonials available on the internet, from individuals who have used this oil successfully to do just that. But unfortunately, many people who came to me seeking help, had already been badly damaged from the chemotherapy and radiation treatments the medical system supplied. The damage such treatments can cause has a lasting effect and people who have suffered the effects of such treatments are the hardest to cure. But even those who have suffered all this horrible damage to their bodies, still have a good chance to make a full recovery, if they follow my instructions. When those who have been damaged from these so-called treatments ask for my advice, I tell them to ingest 180 grams or 180 ml’s of high quality oil, as quickly as they can and this will give them the best chance to survive.

The extra 120 grams or 120 ml’s that I advise them to ingest, is needed to undo all the damage that these horrible treatments have left behind in the patient’s body. Once the patient has become accustomed to the oils use, they should not encounter any problems ingesting 180 grams or 180 ml’s in 5 to 6 months and often they can even accomplish this much more quickly.

Medicine today is much more about money than it is about healing and this statement can be proved, by simply looking at the insane treatments that doctors tend to employ, in the treatment of serious conditions such as cancer. Both chemotherapy and radiation are well known to cause cancer, so in reality doctors are giving patients who are suffering from cancer, treatments which will cause the very disease they say they are trying to cure and often these horrible treatments, will help to spread the cancer to other parts of the patient’s body. It is true that these treatments can kill cancer cells, but while they are doing so they often kill the patient as well. Even if they do not kill the patient immediately, the effects from these treatments can allow the cancer to spread and in the end, this often brings about the patients demise.

Usually when these absurd treatments have failed the patient is said to have stage 4 cancer and at that point doctors tell the patient that there is nothing more that they can do to help and the patient is then sent home to die. But the doctors are usually happy to supply them, with vast amounts of dangerous and addictive pain killers until their death takes place. Because I expect that doctors only look at this, as being good for business. If all this does not sound like insanity to you, then what else could it be called and why do doctors employ the use of such things as CT and PET scans etc., when the radiation the patient is exposed to from these scans, can cause cancer as well?

In addition, from what I have learned it seems that most oncologists will not expose their bodies to the same treatments which they supply to us, if they were suffering from cancer themselves. So why do you suppose they would refuse these treatments themselves, when they seem to feel so free in providing the same treatments to us? Do you think that it could possibly have something to do with money and the fact that they already know the treatments they have been using do not work? It appears that our trusted doctors still have a great deal to learn about the art of healing, so if you are suffering from a serious condition such as cancer. I think that it would only be wise to put your faith in a natural medication, which has already been proven to work effectively and harmlessly.

If it sounds as though I have no faith in our current medical systems, to treat most serious conditions properly that would be quite correct and I don’t believe that anyone who is thinking rationally, could disagree with the statements I have made.

Properly produced hemp medicine is the greatest natural healer on this planet bar none. Once you experience what this medication can do, you will come to understand why both history and I call hemp medicine a cure all. 

TREATING SKIN CANCER

If you can acquire a small quantity of properly produced oil, it will definitely work to treat skin cancer effectively and usually it only takes a few grams of this oil to accomplish the task. Grow or purchase some good high quality bud from sleepy sedative strains of Indica, which have a THC content of 20% or more. Then take about 30 grams of this bud and produce the oil from it, following my instructions which I have made available on my website phoenixtears.ca.

It should also be mentioned that in the treatment of skin cancer, oils produced from Sativa strains can be used effectively as well, since when applied topically the patient does not experience its energizing effects.

This amount of starting material should produce 4 to 5 grams of high grade oil. Apply the oil to the skin cancer and cover it with a bandage, apply fresh oil and a new bandage every 3 or 4 days and the cancer should soon disappear. I always tell people to continue treatment until the cancer is gone, then they should continue to treat the area for about two more weeks just as if the cancer was still there, for this will eliminate any cancer cells which could still remain Doing this will ensure that all the cancer cells are dead and I have never seen a skin cancer return if my instructions are followed. If you’ve had skin cancer for quite some time and the cancer is well established, it may take some time to cure.

But usually even in quite severe cases the cancer will disappear in less than three weeks. In an extreme case it may take longer but if so, then just keep up the treatment until it is gone. Many people can cure their skin cancer in no time, but it all depends on your own rate of healing and how deeply embedded the cancer has become. One should also remember that I am not just talking about cancer here, apply this oil to a third degree burn and watch what happens, the burn heals painlessly in a very short time and leaves no scars. When one considers all the suffering that patients in burn units are put through, why is this simple herbal medication not available to burn victims? This is only the tip of the iceberg folks, for the simple truth is, if you have properly produced oils from the cannabis plant at your disposal, you will probably find that it is the most effective medication to treat any medical condition you can name. I do not call properly produced oils from different varieties of this plant, a cure all for no good reason and once the truth about its true healing powers become better known, I’m sure that everything I am now telling you will become common knowledge. 

TREATING YOUR PET’S CANCER

In my opinion, there is no better medicine to give to an animal. I treated my own dog with wonderful results.

It is a known fact that dogs have a much faster metabolism then humans. In many cases dogs heals so rapidly, that you can almost see it happening.

If you have the proper oil, I do not know of any treatment that is more effective to treat cancer in dogs or humans and usually dogs can be cured of this dreaded disease in a very short time. Usually dogs only require a few grams of this oil to rid themselves of cancer, so if I were you I would get the dog on the oil as soon as possible.

When treating dogs internally with the oil there is very little to be concerned about, for if the oil was produced from strong medicinal strains of Indica they have a very sedative effect and even if you gave a dog far too much it would simply go to sleep, but once the dog awakened you will find that it has not been harmed.

The oil cannot cause harm to the dog even if you were to give the dog far too much, if you have the proper oil all it would do is cause the dog to sleep and when it awakens it will be unharmed. If I were you I would start the treatment with two drops a day, once in the morning and once in the evening and then slightly increase the amount the dog is taking every four days until the dog is cured. As for treating the dog externally, all you have to do is apply the oil and cover it with a bandage and then apply more oil every three days, I hope this will answer your questions about treating this dog properly.

Dogs love to take the oil, but often cats can be somewhat indifferent so you may encounter some problems in getting the oil into the cat, so I would just try to mix a small amount of oil in with their food. Animals heal very quickly when compared to humans and since the oil presents no danger, there is no need to worry about the oil harming your cat, even if you were to give the animal far too much. I would start the cat off by giving it two doses a day twelve hours apart and I would give the cat about a half a drop per dose, then after four days at this dosage it can be raised to one drop per dose. I think you will find that your cat will respond very quickly to this treatment and don’t be concerned if the animal sleeps a great deal, for this is the effect the oil is supposed to cause.  It usually takes only a small amount of oil to heal a cat and once the animal has ingested one or two grams, I think you will witness quite a dramatic improvement in the animals overall health.

OTHER NATURAL REMEDIES

When patients used to come to me for oil to treat their cancer, the first thing I told them to do is change their diets. Try to stay away from animal protein as much as possible, since animal protein can promote cancer cell growth. Get a juicing machine and start eating as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible, because plant protein fights the growth of cancer. Stop using sugar and replace its use with natural sweeteners like raw honey.

Get the patient’s PH up as quickly as possible, cancer likes an acidic environment and when you raise the body’s PH, it makes it very hard for cancer cells to survive, or to spread to other areas of the body. There are many simple things that will aid a patient in getting their PH up. I have found that lemon juice, watermelon and even baking soda, when mixed with water can raise a patients PH quite rapidly.

Also start eating the seeds from two or three apples every day, this will give you a good daily dose of B17 also known as laetrile. B17 in its own right has a pretty good track record in the treatment of cancer and there are other natural things, such as wheat grass that you may find of benefit as well.

Many people who have used the oil to treat their cancers did not change a thing, but the oil still worked its magic and they were healed. But if you have a serious condition like cancer I think that it’s a good idea to take other natural things that may help the oil eradicate the cancer as well and give you a better chance to survive. But the most important thing of all is, people have to realize that for the most part, what the medical system provides does much more harm than good. That is the reason I tell people who contact me, if they want to survive its best to stay as far away from the medical system as possible. That is the sad state of affairs, the medical system we have today is in and it will not change until people who work within this system, finally come to realize that chemicals and poisons do not heal.

As far as I’m concerned what most doctor’s today practice is madness and not medicine and I think that it is high time that they all wised up and begin to practice their profession properly. The practice of medicine is based upon the Hippocratic Oath, which doctors swear and are supposed to follow and this oath openly states, first do no harm and as a doctor I shall not administer poison. So just exactly what, do most doctors of today think that they are doing and why are so many of them refusing to follow their own sacred oath? I think the answer to this has become quite clear to many of us and if those who practice medicine, will not follow their own sacred oath, then they actually have no right to even call themselves doctors.

Best Wishes, 

Rick Simpson

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As access and information become more open, many elders are increasingly choosing cannabis over pharmaceuticals.

However, seniors are perhaps the most underserved group when it comes to medical cannabis. Until recently, cannabis and cannabis-derived products have  been difficult to access for seniors, in part because of the deep stigma around cannabis that most seniors have grown up with. 

In urban spaces, dispensaries are geared towards a younger crowd. Often, the emphasis is on products with higher concentrations of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the part of the plant that is psychoactive and produces the “high” or feeling of euphoria. To complicate matters, medical cannabis strains are named in a way that reveals little about their medical properties. In these loud retail environments, getting adequate and accessible information can be a challenge for many seniors.

Cannabis is a plant that has the potential to not only treat, but also cure illness. The potential lies in the fact that medical cannabis users can become their own healers. This is because cannabis is perhaps the most powerful healing plant and simultaneously among the safest plant therapies. It is impossible to overdose on cannabis. 

For seniors wishing to take charge of their own healthcare, gaining freedom from the pharmaceutical industry is possible, and can be relatively simple, with access to medical cannabis. 

First, seniors require clear information about the active elements of the plant and what they treat. Taking a whole plant therapy approach, seniors should have access to a comprehensive set of information about CBD (cannabidiol) and THC, emphasizing the importance of CBD as the key medicinal chemical compound found in cannabis.

Second, seniors should be given the option to use THC in a way that is comfortable for them. For seniors suffering from arthritis, particularly in their hands – or seniors with any respiratory issues – opting for non-smoking options for THC use is ideal. Cannabis educators should take into account challenges with rolling joints and provide alternative options for use such as pre-roll joints, bongs, pipes, vaporizers, edibles, tinctures, and more.

Third, cannabis educators need to  be sensitive to the fact that many seniors do not want to ‘get high’. Instead, seniors could be introduced to the uses, effects and side effects of edibles. In small amounts, THC edibles can minimize the experience of feeling ‘high’ and achieve the necessary medical benefits. For seniors dealing with insomnia, eating edibles before bed has long-lasting effects that will help produce restful sleep through the night.

Fourthly, seniors would benefit from learning about the role of terpenes. Terpenes are essential to the treatment of illness through self-medication. Terpenes release the unique aroma identity of any cannabis plant. This means that learning to identify the dominant terpenes by becoming familiar with each strain’s aroma will help users identify the best therapeutic strain of cannabis.

Research suggests that seniors use medical cannabis primarily to treat chronic pain, insomnia and arthritis. There are particular, easy to identify, terpenes that treat these conditions effectively. The terpene Pinene, which smells like pine trees, treats chronic pain. Linalool, which smells like hops, treats arthritis. Myrcene, which smells fruity or sweet, treats insomnia.

Using this information, seniors can be supported to identify the dominant terpene by smell and be able to access medical cannabis to treat their conditions. Through education, seniors can become empowered to obtain the terpene-specific strains of cannabis flower or concentrates to treat and heal their common conditions. This approach recognizes that it is ultimately the patient who is aware of their own bodily needs. By empowering patients with information, cannabis educators can support the self-healing of seniors and emancipate them from the pharmaceutical industry.

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Even though cannabis is one of the safest plants – far less harmful to human health than mass produced corn, sugar cane, or wheat, for example – schools, churches, and the media have highly stigmatized the plant in the near 100 years that it has been illegal in Canada. 

This stigmatization has created a context in which the Government of Corporations Canada is preparing to “legalize” cannabis according to some of the most stringent regulations ever applied to a plant. Of course, the most glaring omission in the Canadian cannabis regulation system is that it completely ignores the perspective and wishes of Indigenous peoples when it comes to the presence and use of cannabis on their lands. 

In drafting Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, Canada breached its constitutionally required “duty to consult” with Indigenous peoples on matters relating to them. Indeed, the Canadian government has actually over-reached into Indigenous peoples’ jurisdiction to regulate their own use of natural medicines such as cannabis. 

The Federal Cannabis Act delegates the practical matter of regulating consumer access to cannabis to the Provinces and Territories. Under the Canadian system, Provinces don’t have jurisdiction on reserves, which are considered Federal Territory by Canada, and as sovereign, unceded land by the Indigenous peoples who call them home. This state of affairs, and the fact that Indigenous peoples are allies, not subjects of the Crown, is why taxes are not collected on reserves. 

So, in the matter of cannabis regulation, what is to be done? 

A sovereign people govern themselves and take responsibility for their actions. And as the Indigenous cannabis industry grows and matures we should expect to see increasing efforts at Indigenous self-governance and self-regulation. This is especially true because the alternative is for the Band Council system of the Canadian Government to claim jurisdiction and implement its own system of municipalization and taxation.

One clear example of Indigenous self-regulation is the Red Feather Certification process that has been launched by Medicine Wheel Natural Healing in Alderville First Nation.

The Red Feather certification guarantees that a given product has been made safely without the use of pesticides and herbicides, and that it has undergone a quality control process to be tested. The certification also indicates that the majority of the ingredients of a given product were sourced and manufactured Indigenously, and that a portion of the proceeds are returned to the community through a voluntary donation program. 

The full text of the Red Feather certification framework reads as follows:

 “Products bearing a Red Feather certification are made and sourced in a pure, sustainable, responsible, and beneficial way for Mother Earth and Indigenous peoples. In Native culture, the feather symbolizes Strength, Honor, Wisdom, Trust, and Freedom. Red Feather Certification honours these qualities in the following ways:

Strength: The majority of the ingredients are Indigenously sourced, and the end product is Indigenously made.

Honour: A portion of the proceeds are returned to the community and local Indigenous organizations.

Wisdom:The product has been thoroughly tested, and quality control has been exercised throughout the production process.

Trust: The source matter is organic, and no harmful pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals were used in its production.

Freedom: The Indigenous cannabis movement is a tremendous opportunity for independence and autonomy for Native people.

The Medicine Wheel encompasses all aspects of life and nature. The circle shows that all things are interconnected and related. Each quadrant represents core aspects and teachings of life, comprising all the different outlooks and perspectives that guide and shape the world where we live. In the middle is where all peoples, all teachings, and all ways of life meet in harmony and unity. By placing the Red Feather at the centre of the Medicine Wheel, we are identifying the importance of all of us working together for the betterment of everyone and for the preservation and enrichment of life and Earth.”

It is through efforts such as this that the Indigenous cannabis industry will stay true to its Indigenous identity and value system, and keep the people consuming its products safe and healthy. 

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Unlike THC, CDB does not have a psychoactive effect, thus making it safe and comfortable for our pets. Most animal CBD products are derived from hemp which contains no THC and has shown beneficial effects on both chronic and acute ailments.

CBD can help with treatments of: seizures, inflammation, nausea, stress and anxiety, arthritis, cancer, appetite stimulation, aggression, gastrointestinal issues, general pain.

Results may not be immediate depending on the ailment. 

CBD dosing methods

There are a variety of different methods by which pets can consume CBD products.

CBD Oils 

CBD oils allow for a more controlled dosage. Oil extracts are typically more concentrated compared to other CBD products. 

CBD oil is often used for the treatment of cancers as well as central nervous system disorders and other serious ailments.

Oils can be put directly into your pets mouth, or mixed in with food or a treat. 

Tinctures

Pet tinctures are usually based on coconut or other vegetable oils. They can be made with either hemp extract or CBD isolate. They tend to be less concentrated than CBD oils, making them ideal for daily use to alleviate milder symptoms such as muscle pain, nausea, stress and anxiety.

Similarly to oil, they can be put directly into your pet’s mouth, or mixed in with food or a treat.

Topicals

Infused topicals are remedies used for animals that suffer from bodily aches and pains or other external maladies. They are applied directly to the skin to deliver targeted, localized relief. Topicals help to relieve ailments such as: allergies, arthritis, skin irritations, muscle pain, joint pain, localized irritation and discomfort, bruising and abrasions.

Edibles

 Edible treats for pets are CBD infused treats which can be administered for a variety of ailments.

Edibles can be used for both chronic and acute diseases. 

Dosage levels

Dosage will be different each pet. The best way is to start off small and gradually work your way up to the recommended dosage level, based on what effects you see. 

Different CBD products will have different dosage instructions based on the concentration as well as what it is being used for. 

For dogs the most recommended starting dosage is 0.5mg per 10lbs of body weight per day. And for cats, it is 1mg per 10lbs of body weight.

Side effects

Although CBD has no known adverse side effects, trace amounts of THC from non-hemp sourced CBD may cause a change in your pet’s behaviour. If you observe any of the following in your pet, discontinue use: disorientation, unstable movement, vomiting, excessive sleepiness.

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THCA is the main constituent in raw cannabis. THCA converts to Δ9-THC when burned, vaporized, or heated at a certain temperature. THCA, CBDA, CBGA, and other acidic cannabinoids hold the most COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition, contributing to cannabis’ anti-inflammatory effects. This cannabinoid also acts as an antiproliferative and antispasmodic.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

The most abundant cannabinoid present in marijuana, THC is responsible for cannabis’ most well-known psychoactive effects. THC acts as a partial agonist at the CB1 and CB2 receptors. The compound is a mild analgesic, or painkiller, and cellular research has shown that it has antioxidant activity.

Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)

CBDA, similar to THCA, is the main constituent in cannabis with elevated CBD levels. CBDA selectively inhibits the COX-2 enzyme, contributing to cannabis’ anti-inflammatory effects.

Cannabidiol (CBD)

CBD has tremendous medical potential. This is particularly true when the correct ratio of CBD to THC is applied to treat a particular condition. CBD acts as an antagonist at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, yet it has a low binding affinity for both. This suggests that CBD’s mechanism of action is mediated by other receptors in the brain and body.

Cannabinol (CBN)

CBN is a mildly psychoactive cannabinoid that is produced from the degradation of THC. There is usually very little to no CBN in a fresh plant. CBN acts as a weak agonist at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, with greater affinity for CB2 receptors than CB1. The degradation of THC into CBN is often described as creating a sedative effect. 

Cannabigerol (CBG)

A non-psychoactive cannabinoid, CBG’s antibacterial effects can alter the overall effects of cannabis. CBG is thought to kill or slow bacterial growth, reduce inflammation, (particularly in its acidic CBGA form,) inhibit cell growth in tumor/cancer cells, and promote bone growth. It acts as a low-affinity antagonist at the CB1 receptor. 

Cannabichromene (CBC)

CBC is most frequently found in tropical cannabis varieties. CBC is known to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, inhibit cell growth in tumor/cancer cells, and promote bone growth. The effects of CBC appear to be mediated through non-cannabinoid receptor interactions.

Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)

THCV is a minor cannabinoid found in only some strains of cannabis. The only structural difference between THCV and THC is the presence of a propyl (3 carbon) group, rather than a pentyl (5 carbon) group, on the molecule. Though this variation may seem subtle, it causes THCV to produce very different effects than THC. These effects include a reduction in panic attacks, suppression of appetite, and the promotion of bone growth. THCV acts as an antagonist at the CB1 receptor and a partial agonist at the CB2 receptor.

Cannabidivarin (CBDV)

Like THCV, CBDV differs from CBD only by the substitution of a pentyl (5 carbon) for a propyl (3 carbon) sidechain. Although research on CBDV is still in its initial stages, recent studies have shown promise for its use in the management of epilepsy. This is due to its action at TRPV1 receptors and modulation of gene expression.

Source: Information provided by SCLabs

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 appeared first on Medicine Wheel Natural Healing.

Terpenes are found within the trichomes of cannabis; trichomes are the sticky crystals that contain and produce various cannabinoids and terpenes. 

Cannabis plants contain around 200 terpenes. The following are some of the most common types, while other terpenes are found in trace amounts.

Pinene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Linalool, Borneol, Delta-3- Carene, Geraniol, Eucalyptol, Humulene, Terpineol, and Nerolidol.

Each of the different terpenes offer their own beneficial effects. Some of the most common medicinal benefits of terpenes help with the treatment of inflammation, stress, pain, and insomnia.

It is important to not heat terpenes beyond their boiling points, as this may damage them and reduce their effectiveness. A carefully controlled vaporizer is ideal for reaping the maximum terpene benefits as well as their flavour. As we learn more about terpenes, cannabis experts are starting to move away from using the terms ‘indica’ and ‘sativa’ to categorize cannabis strains. 

Instead strains are now being categorized by their terpene profile, as the terpene profile is the most reliable method of profiling the effects of strains. 

These various terpenes have many effects and can be used for different treatments. For example, Pinene has been used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancer. Limonene helps with the absorption of the other terpenes, Caryophyllene is an excellent pain reliever and has shown promise in the treatment of auto-immune disorders due to its ability to bind to receptors in our bodies just like THC. 

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Microdosing is the act of taking what would have previously been thought of as sub-therapeutic doses of a medicine at regular intervals throughout the day. With higher doses, sometimes undesired side effects can occur. 

Microdosing allows patients to reap the medicinal benefits to alleviate their symptoms without these unwanted effects. With cannabis, and its primary psychoactive ingredient, THC, there is an interesting relationship between dosing strength and effect. This differs from many other more traditional pharmaceutical medicines.

For symptoms such as pain and anxiety, THC seems to have an effectiveness curve. At pre-dosing or extreme low dosing, there is little to no benefit. Then, as the dosage is increased to sub-therapeutic or microdosing levels, it begins to alleviate these symptoms. With most other medicines, increasing the dosage beyond this point yields increased effectiveness. If you have a headache, you take an aspirin. If you have a bad headache, you take two aspirin. 

However, for THC there is a point beyond which its pain relieving properties wane; increased dosages may instead lead to a decrease in effectiveness. Similarly for anxiety, at low and microdoses, THC can be an effective anti-anxiety medication. Yet, at higher doses it can have the opposite effect, causing increased anxiety and even paranoia. Microdosing can alleviate these effectiveness-curve problems, while simultaneously helping patients to remain clear-headed so that they feel productive, sharp, and functional throughout the day.

How to microdose

Finding the optimal dose can take some experimentation as every person will have a different tolerance and sensitivity to both THC and CBD, as well as differences within their own endocannabinoid system and their metabolism. 

A typical starting microdose is between 1 and 3 milligrams of THC. Ideally, this would be paired with an equal (1:1) dose of CBD to take advantage of both compounds’ entourage effect. The entourage effect describes how different compounds and terpenes within cannabis work together to create a specific effect. Therefore, different strains will give a different feeling and have different medicinal properties, despite having the same THC content. 

The idea behind microdosing is that patients can achieve the medicinal benefits they seek, such as pain or anxiety relief, improved appetite, or suppression of nausea, without feeling the psychoactive effects from the THC. This allows people to relieve their symptoms with little to no noticeable side effects. 

The key when selecting the appropriate dose is to start low and go slow. Start at a dose of between 1 and 3 milligrams of THC and take this for three to five days. If symptoms persist, increase by 1-2 milligrams and continue again for three to five days. Once the desired level of relief is achieved, continue at that level. If symptoms return, increase slightly, but remember to keep your dosage just at or under the level where psychoactive effects become apparent. You should feel better, but not “high.”

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