In a previous post, I mentioned both my dad and oldest brother died horribly painful deaths from cancer. I don’t want to dwell too much on the negatives, but it really helps establish my “why” and ultimately why I care so much about medical cannabis. Read on, and I’ll address how I intend to help other people avoid their experience.
It bears mentioning my dad was an engineer for NASA for 34 years. His last role was managing one of their supercomputer centers. He was no slouch academically. After retirement, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Both of his lungs were peppered with tumors with some approaching one centimeter. While he persevered through chemotherapy and radiation treatment, I also watched him decline very slowly. In his last six months , he had a horrible time managing the opioids prescribed to treat his pain.
I remember helping him set a timer on his cell phone so he could remember to take the next dose so he wouldn’t be writhing in pain one hour later. A former engineer from NASA couldn’t fathom how to reset a cell phone timer! The medications dulled his senses so severely that it was beyond his understanding. Additionally, he lost interest in food and shed nearly 20 pounds in just a few months. While I appreciate the efficacy of opioids for chronic pain, the overall impact was completely devastating.
Somewhat similarly, my oldest brother was diagnosed with a different type of cancer. His cancer spread so quickly and wracked so much of his body, he only lasted a few months. His treatment regimen befuddled him to the point where I could barely have a conversation with him.
My last example is an acquaintance that runs his own company. After a devastating disease diagnosis, he had an organ surgically removed. He was in excruciating pain for months after the surgery. He spent most of his time at home or shuttling to the hospital for a different opioid regimen – every two weeks! His doctor finally referred him for cannabis options. Within months of starting cannabis products, he was mostly off the opioids and back to running his company. It took a few months, but he has restored a significant portion of his life.
What’s my “why”? To help other people avoid detrimental treatment programs (as much as possible) so they can enjoy a higher quality of life.
The need for more formal research
I shared a few anecdotes earlier. We could open the flood gates with related experiences. The litany of medical uses is growing continuously. Some examples include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer tumors being devoured
- Crohn’s disease
- Eating disorders
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- PTSD
- Multiple sclerosis
- Pain management
- Seizure reduction
The industry is in desperate need of additional research. Some of the current cannabis treatments are simply best practices. With proper research, the medical industry will be even more advanced. Treatment options will likely include specialized cultivars, specific strengths, dedicated preparations and potentiated therapies. We also need to validate specific molecules compared to full-spectrum products. Unfortunately, mistaken regulations are hindering formal research that can both alter and save lives.
What I’ll be doing
To help optimize the production of cultivars and improve consistency, I plan on leveraging my strength in data, analytics, technology and automation. Our products will support more consistent growth and predictable outcomes for specific cultivars. We’ll help automate repeatable actions. Even more importantly, we’ll enable A/B testing so growers can identify and recall optimal grow recipes for their cultivars, environments and preferred nutrients.
The growth and formalization of medical cannabis will require more controlled growth. My simple goal is to help enable that so others can enjoy their lives.
