Host: Martin A. Lee

5 Sessions, Starts July 23

Learn from some of the world's leading medical experts how marijuana can be used for healing mind and body.

Discover the latest research that demonstrates cannabis' effectiveness as a medicinal herb.

Learn about recommended dosages for the treatment of specific conditions.

Hear why the national legalization of medical marijuana appears inevitable

Explore the many forms that legal cannabis will take -- from oils to ingestibles

Michelle Sexton - Naturopath, founder of PhytaLAB, and director of the Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy

Jahan Marcu, PhD - Director of Research and Development at Green Standard Diagnostics, and Vice-Chair of the Americans for Safe Access Multidisciplinary Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Dustin Sulak, D.O. - Licensed osteopathic physician and a practitioner and advocate of mind-body medicine, he is the Chief Medical Director of Integr8 Maine and Maine Integrative Health Care

Valerie Corral- Co-founder of the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM), the nation’s oldest continuously operating medical cannabis collective

Why the therapeutic impact of the whole cannabis plant is greater than the sum of its parts.

How the Endocannabinoid System is central to your health and opens up a new path to healing.

The importance of the right dosage, and why the wrong dosage could do more harm than good.

That the beneficial effects of acupuncture and other holistic healing modalities are mediated by the same brain receptors that respond to compounds in marijuana.

What doctors and other medical practitioners are finding from their own experiences with patients using medical marijuana.

What the future holds for cannabis as a health care product.

Over 5 sessions, Martin and his guests will share with you the most important practical information about medical marijuana, its potential risks and rewards, and how to use it for maximum benefit. Where else would you have access to the world's leading experts sharing the latest medical marijuana research and explaining its exciting implications?

In recent years, the health benefits of cannabis have been at the center of some of the most exciting -- and underreported -- developments in science. Medical research on marijuana has led directly to a much deeper understanding of human biology, health and disease. At the same time, a renewed awareness of the healing properties of components of the marijuana plant, including THC and CBD, are opening new vistas for treating scores of illnesses.Because it had been stigmatized and outlawed for much of the past century, research into the therapeutic use of marijuana was restricted, and knowledge of its medical utility was lost. But recently the tide has turned, with new discoveries taking place at a rapid pace.It was research on the effects of marijuana that led to the discovery of the Endocannabinoid System, a biochemical communication system in the body that supports many physiological processes. The detection of receptors in the brain that respond to cannabis – and the subsequent identification of endogenous cannabinoid compounds in our own bodies that bind to these receptors – have breathtaking implications for nearly every area of medical science.Few people are as well versed in the implications of medical marijuana research as author and activist Martin A. Lee. His recent book, Smoke Signals, is regarded by many as the best social history of marijuana yet written. As director of Project CBD, he provides an essential hub for the sharing of the latest research into the medical utility of cannabidiol (CBD) and other components of the cannabis plant.Martin has invited an all-star line up of doctors and researchers in the field of cannabis science and therapeutics to join him for this exciting 5-part course. The guests include:You will be part of the discussion, able to ask your questions on camera, just like a Skype call. If you happen to miss a live session, you can view a video recording at any time. These sessions will be filled with provocative information, honest testimonials, and practical advice from thinkers, writers, and doers at the leading edge of this inspiring new field.You will learn:





SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 23 - "The Entourage Effect"

Guest: Michelle Sexton

8:00 p.m. New York • 5:00 p.m. Los Angeles

In the first session, Martin will be joined by Michelle Sexton to discuss the medicinal components of the marijuana plant, focusing on cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD), flavonoids, and odiferous terpenes. Each of these components has unique medicinal attributes, but when combined they create a synergistic “entourage effect” so that the therapeutic impact of the whole plant is greater than the sum of its parts.

Martin and Michelle will unravel the "cannabis paradox" -- how the same herb can calm the hyper and invigorate the sluggish, dull pain and heighten sensory experience, assuage stress and exacerbate anxiety. Cannabis has “biphasic” properties, triggering opposite effects depending on dosage. This has significant, practical implications in terms of how cannabis can best be utilized as a healing herb.



In this session, we will explore:

How cannabis can be used as a healing herb

What dosage may be appropriate for your condition, and why the wrong dosage can undermine the benefits

Why cannabis is "adaptogenic," with innate qualities that reflect the needs of the person using it





Dr. Michelle Sexton is Founder and CEO of Phytalab, a Cannabis analytical laboratory in Washington State. She is a Naturopathic Doctor, herbalist and formerly a midwife in private practice in San Diego. She began her formal study of phytochemicals with a degree in horticulture, and has specialized in the phytochemical analysis of botanical medicines and their application to neuroinflammation, specifically the role of the endogenous cannabinoid signaling system. She completed a three-year NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington in the Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, completing a clinical study examining the effects of Cannabis use on some defined immune parameters in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. She has published original research in peer-reviewed journals and presented her research internationally.

Dr. Sexton recently served as an editor/advisor for the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia Cannabis monograph, and was a consultant to the Washington State liquor control Board on the quality control of Cannabis and related products.





Wednesday, July 30 - " The Endocannabinoid System for Beginners"

Guest: Jahan Marcu, Ph.D.

8:00 p.m. New York • 5:00 p.m. Los Angeles

For our second session, Martin's guest will be Jahan Marcu, one of the world's leading experts on the Endocannabinoid System. Research on marijuana’s effects led directly to the discovery of the Endocannabinoid System, a molecular signaling system in the human brain and body that plays a crucial role in regulating a broad range of physiological processes, including: hunger, sleep, inflammation, stress, blood pressure, body temperature, reproductive fertility, circadian rhythms, mood, and much more.

Within the scientific community, the discovery of the Endocannabinoid System is increasingly recognized as a seminal advance in our understanding of human biology. Cannabinoid science sheds light on why marijuana is such a versatile remedy and why it is the most sought-after illicit substance on the planet.

Martin and Jahan will examine the key components of the Endocannabinoid System, including the cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body; the endogenous compounds (our “inner cannabis”) that bind to these receptors and activate them; and the metabolic enzymes that synthesize and break down our endogenous compounds. Jahan has a rare ability to translate this complex science to make it accessible for lay people.

Scientific research has shown that deficient Endocannabinoid signaling underlies numerous pathological conditions, which can be treated by cannabis and other holistic healing modalities that enhance Endocannabinoid tone.

Discover how a better functioning Endocannabinoid System is necessary to restore health, and the importance of cannabis for those who have Endocannabinoid weakness.

Learn how our knowledge of the Endocannabinoid System -- master modulator of human physiology -- opens up a new path to healing.





Jahan Marcu, Ph.D., is currently the Director of Research and Development at Green Standard Diagnostics Inc. Dr. Marcu is the Senior Scientist at Americans for Safe Access, and on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Cannabinoids as Medicine (IACM). Jahan Marcu is also one of the auditors for the Patient Focused Certification (PFC) program. He received his Ph.D. for significant contributions to the study of the structure and function of the CB1 receptor, and the role of the endocannabinoid system in bone. An engaging speaker, Marcu effectively translates complex scientific concepts for a lay audience.





Wednesday, August 6 - “CBD: The Marijuana Miracle”

Martin A. Lee

8:00 p.m. New York • 5:00 p.m. Los Angeles

In our third session, Project CBD director Martin A. Lee will present scientific evidence that documents how and why Cannabidiol (CBD) is useful for specific medical conditions. CBD is a non-toxic, non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis that has a wide spectrum of action and enormous therapeutic potential. Unlike THC, it doesn't make you feel stoned. CBD has recently gained national attention because of its ability to prevent seizures in children with treatment-resistant epilepsy.

A CBD-rich extract is currently available by prescription in many countries (but not yet the U.S.) for people who suffer from chronic pain.. But scientific and clinical studies have shown that CBD could be therapeutic for many conditions, including cancer, anxiety, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, PTSD, sleep disorders, alcoholism, antibiotic-resistant infections, and neurological ailments.

We'll discuss reports from patients and doctors in the field, and find out in what situations CBD is more effective when combined with THC. In some U.S. states that have legalized medical marijuana, certified patients can access CBD in various forms: herb, edibles, topicals, tinctures, and capsules. Measured, dose-specific CBD-rich oil extracts (with varying ratios of cannabidiol and THC) are poised to play a more prominent role in the burgeoning medical marijuana industry, as providers and product-makers cater to a broad constituency in an effort to attract new clientele.

Many describe CBD as a kind of "miracle drug." Preclinical research indicates that CBD can shrink malignant tumors, alter gene expression, improve insulin sensitivity, normalize irregular heartbeat, and protect the brain against alcohol poisoning. Martin will take you through the competing claims, help you separate the solid science from the hype, and see how CBD can impact your life.









Wednesday, August 13 - “Cannabis Therapeutics & Holistic Healing”

Guest: Dustin Sulak, D.O.

8:00 p.m. New York • 5:00 p.m. Los Angeles

We will cover how:

All disease involves a dysfunction of the Endocannabinoid System

Diet and exercise directly impact cannabinoid receptor signaling

Cannabinoid science validates the wisdom of the ancients

We will also discuss the many ways to nourish the Endocannabinoid System, the cornerstone of health, without smoking or ingesting marijuana.





Dustin Sulak, D.O. is a licensed osteopathic physician. He is a practitioner and advocate of integrative medicine, the intelligent combination of conventional and alternative approaches to healthcare. Dr. Sulak holds the distinction of being a Diplomat of the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine. He lectures on medical marijuana and the Endocannabinoid System nationally. He is a clinical hypnotherapist, Reiki Sensei, practioner of chi kung and yoga, and has studied with numerous conventional and alternative healers and physicians.

For the fourth session, Martin will be joined by one of the foremost practitioners in cannabis medicine, Dr. Dustin Suluk, to explore the effectiveness of marijuana in a medical context. Physicians are seeing profound clinical responses in medical marijuana patients, and Dustin will share stories from his own practice.This class will focus on how to use cannabis intelligently in combination with conventional as well as alternative approaches to healthcare. We will discuss the optimal uses of medical marijuana, including appropriate dosage regimens for children, seniors, cannabis-naive patients, and chronic marijuana smokers.

Wednesday, August 20 - “Grassroots Medicine”

Guest: Valerie Corral

8:00 p.m. New York • 5:00 p.m. Los Angeles

Cannabis therapeutics is personalized medicine in the empirical tradition. It is useful for treating a wide range of conditions. There are many methods for administering cannabis, which with its own advantages and disadvantages. Martin and Valerie will explore:

How has cannabis been utilized in hospice care and pediatric medicine?

Are there established ratios of THC and CBD that work best for specific conditions?

How is oil extracted from the cannabis plant?

Are there negative effects from chronic cannabis use and, if so, how can these be mitigated?

What should you look for when buying a remedy in a medical marijuana dispensary? How should cannabis products be labeled?

Valerie Corral is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM) and Raha Kudo, Design for Dying Project. Corral sustained severe head injuries in a 1972 car accident, which left her suffering with daily grand mal seizures. After Corral replaced her 15-pill-a-day-regimen with marijuana, she has not suffered a full-blown seizure since. As a result of her personal experience, Corral has become a nationally renowned medical marijuana activist. Along with her husband Mike, the Corrals are pioneers in the development of nonprofit patient cooperatives. Founded in 1993, the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana is the nation’s oldest continuously operating medical cannabis collective, one that still serves as a model of truly compassionate care twenty years later.



ABOUT OUR HOST





Martin A. Lee has written several books, including Smoke Signals (Scribner, 2012), a comprehensive social history of marijuana, published by Scribner in August 2012. Historian Douglas Brinkley said of Smoke Signals : “Every American should read this landmark book!” Lee is the director of Project CBD, an information service that reports on cannabis science and therapeutics. He is also the associate editor of O’Shaughnessy’s, the journal of cannabis in clinical practice, and a contributing writer for BeyondTHC.com.

Martin’s first book, Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD – The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond (Grove Press, 1986), was hailed by Choice as “a landmark contribution to the sociopolitical history of the U.S.” The San Francisco Chronicle called it “a generalist’s history that should replace all others.” Martin received the Pope Foundation Award for Investigative Journalism for his work on The Beast Reawakens (Little, Brown 1997), a book about resurgent racism and neofascism. Martin is also the co-founder of the New York-based media research group FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting), former editor and publisher of FAIR’s magazine Extra! He has been a guest on CBS 48 Hours, CNN’s International Hour, BBC-TV and radio, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR’s Fresh Air, and C-Span, and has written for many publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Harper’s, and Rolling Stone.



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By participating in this online course, you will receive:

Five 60-minute live video seminars with Martin Lee and his guests on July 23, 30, and August 6, 13, and 20.

30 minutes of question and answer time following each seminar

Unlimited online access to recordings of all sessions

The passage of Proposition 215 in California in 1996 catalyzed a remarkable laboratory experiment in democracy in the Golden State involving the therapeutic use of cannabis. More than 20 states have followed California’s lead and legalized medical marijuana. What have physicians and patients learned about the clinical applications of cannabis since the enactment if 215? In this final session, Martin will be joined with one of medical marijuana's heroic pioneering visionaries, Valarie Corral. She is co-founder of the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana, the nation’s oldest continuously operating medical cannabis collective.