Blog

Dr. Sacha Nemcov & Larry King – Southern California Medical Cannabis Pioneer, Cannabis Advocate and Entrepreneur

1,086

Who’s Who of Cannabis: “Dr. Sacha”

By Madison Miller

LA WEEKLY

Once Larry King lays a nickname on you, it sticks – just ask “Dr. Sacha,” his longtime friend, and business associate. Dr. Sacha Nemcov is a Hollywood psychotherapist, turned cannabis advocate and entrepreneur. Dr. Sacha received his nickname from Larry King for being one of the pioneers of the movement in Southern California to provide safe access to medical cannabis in accordance with Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, passed by the people of California in 1996.

Photo: Dr. Sacha Nemcov and Larry King

Dr. Sacha Nemcov and Larry King



































A powerful advocate for mainstreaming medical marijuana and beloved by numerous Hollywood celebrities for almost a decade, all-the-while maintaining his privacy, Dr. Sacha decided to come forward following a controversial appellate court case he was entangled in, following a October 2017 issue of USA Today about marijuana churches in America.

 

In the piece, Larry King takes journalist Dorian Keyes to visit Dr. Sacha at his private practice in Beverly Hills. On the wall is countless photos of celebrities Dr. Sacha helped acquire their first letter of recommendation for the use of medical marijuana. Though no longer a novelty since California’s Prop 64 legalized the adult use of cannabis, many cannabis users still keep their expired letters as a souvenir.

 

Dr. Sacha has come a long way since being a junior intern at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was inadvertently thrust into the world of medical marijuana in 2009. A close friend approached him, knowing he is always one to help. He had bad news, having been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Now, he was having serious trouble holding down the chemo pills. Dr. Sacha spent countless nights researching at USC’s Norris Medical Library with very little information available. This was during a time when medical school curriculums did not include cannabis and only a limited amount of studies were available; most of which were empirical or inconclusive. His friend learned that medical marijuana might be the only way for him to hold down the pills. Despite great efforts, he was unable to find a physician in Southern California who would even discuss medical marijuana as an option. Everyone was afraid of losing their medical license. Ironically, the few physicians who did write prescriptions for marijuana, were also not comfortable providing guidance as to what dosage one should take and unknowing of the potential side effects.

 

Eventually, Dr. Sacha found a physician in the San Francisco Bay Area who was amenable to the subject. They flew to Northern California to meet him. Not only were his friend’s medical needs addressed, but Dr. Sacha was able to convince the physician to open up his practice in L.A. one day per week. However, there was a catch – Dr. Sacha would have to run the location, and handle all of the business and administrative matters.

 

He agreed, and the first medical marijuana physician’s office in Beverly Hills was born. The demand was huge and within nine months he had helped 6 physicians open up their own offices.

 

California is the largest legal “weed” market in the world; making it easy for Californians to take for granted the easy access to a wide range of marijuana products. But medical marijuana patients need their medicine – and even today marijuana still cannot be found at local pharmacies – only “dispensaries.”

 

In addition to consulting with countless Hollywood celebrities, politicians, and entertainment executives, Dr. Sacha has consulted for many dispensaries and businesses in California and across the country, including Oregon, Illinois, Florida and Massachusetts to pass the strenuous statewide permitting process. Among his many professional accomplishments, he has helped launch a “Nugs For Needles” compassion program in San Francisco, which provides free cannabis for the homeless, in exchange for drug needles.

 

Since stepping into the spotlight in 2013, Dr. Sacha has become a household name in the cannabis industry. “Over the past decade, I have seen the industry grow to astronomical levels. I just hope that the work that I and others have done will help those who truly need it. Whether it is for someone battling cancer, or an adult who simply wants to enjoy nature’s healing plant”.

 

September 9, 2019 |

Cannabis Oil – a miracle cure for agonizing eczema?

676

Cheryl Halliburton, a 27-year-old mum suffering from severe eczema, discovered cannabis oil, a miracle cure for her problems.

At a certain point in her life, her skin woes got so out of hand that she had to seek medical treatment for it. At her wit’s end, she tried other ways of treating her condition, which includes inhaling cannabis oil through a vape pen. As luck would have it, it worked!

 

Ever since getting pregnant at 23 years old, her condition would go out of hand every so often. Every couple of days, her skin would flare up, and what she ate that day determined the severity of the situation. On certain days, it was so bad that she was unable to leave the house because of it.

 

After her dad suggested her to try CBD oil, her skin cleared up in two weeks, and there have been no flare-ups ever since. At first, she tried ingesting it in liquid form, but since the taste was not exactly to her liking, she moved on to inhaling it through a vape pen.

 

Reportedly, she is now also able to eat certain things she wasn’t able to eat before due to it having agitated her skin condition. Now, she can eat bread and drink wine without problems.

CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the main ingredients present in medical marijuana. Cannabis oil is also used to treat other medical conditions, including sleep problems, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, low appetite, and mental health problems.

 

Source:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/7072472/eczema-treatment-cure-cannabis-oil/

September 14, 2018 |

Marijuana now proven to alleviate symptoms of psychosis

40

Recreational marijuana consumption to relieve stress is a common practice. However, the recent research shows that marijuana may be much more than that – supposedly, it also helps alleviate symptoms of psychosis.

The research from King’s College London shows that even a single dose of CBD can affect people with psychosis symptoms on a significant level, reducing their abnormal brain function.

The researchers published the results of their research in the JAMA Psychiatry scientific journal.

A previous research published by KCL in 2017 found that CBD lowered the psychotic symptoms and improved the patients’ cognitive function. Moreover, there were hardly any side effects at all. Their research, however, did not explain why exactly this is the case.

Fast-forward to 2018, the new research involved 52 volunteers, with 33 of them known to experience psychotic symptoms (however, they had no official diagnosis). The rest 19 of them served as the control group. 16 of the participants received a pill containing a single dose of CBD, while all the others received a placebo.

 

The researchers used MRI to scan the participants’ brain activity (particularly, the regions previously linked to psychosis) while they were performing a memory-intensive task. They indeed detected abnormal brain activity in psychosis sufferers; however, it was much less pronounced than what is considered the norm. In other words, those who received the CBD pill were showing lowered symptoms of psychosis.

The research team concluded that CBD could, in fact, normalize the brain activity of psychosis sufferers.

 

Source:

https://futurism.com/cbd-psychosis/

September 14, 2018 |

Marijuana usage on the rise among baby boomers

12

A recent study published in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence Journal indicates that members of the baby boomer generation have doubled their marijuana usage since 2006.

In concrete numbers, 9% of adults between the ages of 50 and 64 reported using marijuana in the past year (55% of them stated they’ve tried it at least once in their lives). 3% of adults aged 65 and older reported using marijuana in the past year (with 22% of them admitted to having tried it at least once in their lives).

In total, 17,608 adults participated in the study which was run by dr. Benjamin Han and Dr. Joseph Palamar from the New York University. Since 1971, the survey has been conducted on an annual basis across 50 states.

 

The participants received various questions about their tobacco, drug, and alcohol usage, as well as those pertaining to their general state of health.

The baby boomer generation, in particular, consists of individuals born anywhere between 1946 and 1964. The study concluded that marijuana usage is getting more common among older individuals. At the same time, it found that users are also at high risk for using other types of drugs.

The baby boomer generation seems to be more open minded about marijuana use, which Dr. Palamar and Dr. Han don’t find too surprising. Even though the current marijuana users seem to belong to the younger adult generation, the baby boomer generation has had more experience with marijuana compared to other generations.

 

Source:

http://time.com/5390846/baby-boomer-marijuana-use/

September 14, 2018 |

Federal employees to carry marijuana without repercussions?

55

cannabis news

There’s a new bill in the works that would allow federal employees to use marijuana without the fear of legal repercussions.

Currently, marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. In other words, getting caught with it while on the job leads to contract termination. This is true even in case they reside in a state where marijuana is legal.

However, Congressman Charlie Crist introduced the “Fairness in Federal Drug Testing Under State Laws Act”, which would shake things up quite a bit in this regard.

Still, there are some notable exceptions in it. For example, if there were reasons to believe that the federal employee was under the influence of marijuana while on the job (rather than just possessing it), consequences would follow.

The U.S. is moving towards legalizing marijuana, including personal use. Currently, the District of Columbia makes recreational use completely legal, and it’s where many federal agencies and their staff reside.

Under the Obama administration, the states were free to make their own rules regarding marijuana usage, but ever since the Trump administration has come in effect, some of these benefits have been reversed.

Still, there has been some effort in Congress to legalize marijuana at the federal level, following the fact that many states have legalized it locally in one way or another.

Last month, Senator Charles Schumer introduced the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act. If it goes through, marijuana would effectively be removed from the list of controlled substances (at the federal level). At the time of writing, though, things are still the same.

Source:

https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/07/29/bill-protect-jobs-federal-employees-using-marijuana/

 

August 17, 2018 |

From now on, you will be eligible for a medical marijuana license if you’ve been diagnosed with one of the following 11 conditions

10

Cannabis Dispensary

The state of Michigan has added 11 new diagnoses to the list of “debilitating medical conditions” on the base of which you can get approved for a medical marijuana license.

The newly introduced list of medical conditions approved for medical marijuana treatment is as follows:

– Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

– Parkinson’s

– Chronic pain

– Tourette’s syndrome

– Autism

– Spinal cord injury

– Inflammatory bowel disease

– Arthritis

– Rheumatoid arthritis

– Ulcerative colitis

– Colitis

These changes take effect immediately and get appended to the list of currently valid ones:

– Hepatitis C

– Crohn’s disease

– Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

– Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease

– Nail Patella

– HIV

– Glaucoma

– Cancer

– AIDS

– Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

– Seizures

– Severe nausea

– Severe and chronic pain

– Severe muscle spasms

Ironically, the following medical conditions did not get approved:

– Diabetes

– Schizophrenia

– Brain injury

– Organ transplant

– Panic attacks

– Anxiety

– Non-chronic and non-severe pain

– Asthma

– Social anxiety disorder

– Depression

– Gastric ulcer

The changes to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act of 2008 were announced on Monday by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

According to Shelly Edgerton, director of LARA, the changes in the officially-approved list of medical conditions eligible for medical marijuana treatment were introduced due to the changes in state law. When deciding which ones to add to the list, the department examined the latest advancements in medical research, marijuana-infused products, and panel member recommendations.

Source:

http://upnorthlive.com/news/local/11-new-conditions-approved-for-medical-marijuana-treatment

https://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/07/11_new_conditions_qualify_for.html

 

 

August 15, 2018 |

Marijuana may pave the way to a life that’s free of cancer

21

cannabis directory

Are you a fan of getting high? Well, now you may have an objective reason to engage in your favorite pot smoking hobby.

It turns out that phytocannabinoid, a type of cannabinoid, may stop cancer cells from diving and invading the healthy tissue, as well as cut off the blood supply the tumor is getting. This is just one of the many compounds found in marijuana and it’s naturally present in the plant.

Furthermore, this particular compound could also have other effects that are beneficial for your health. Apart from actively treating the tumors already present in the body, it can also slow down their growth and spreading throughout the body.

The study was published in EurekAlert, a British journal, and was authored by professor Burkhard Hinz who works for the Rostock University Medical Center in Germany. Through his studies, he examined and exposed marijuana’s potential to be beneficial for our health.

The professor believes his findings should lead to further studies being conducted on the topic, examining it to an even greater detail. By investigating the effect of cannabinoids on caner growth and progression in patients, we’re going to be able to broaden our understanding of the subject and discover an answer to this dreaded disease. In other words, additional clinical studies are urgently required.

If you’re interested in the full scope of the study, you can read more about it at EurekAlert’s official website.

Source:

https://nypost.com/2018/07/18/marijuana-may-help-fight-cancer/

 

August 9, 2018 |

Boost Your Medical Marijuana Sales with a Listing from Us

22

If you are a supplier or retailer of medical cannabis and need to boost your sales and customer base, here is a guide that will help you achieve the sales and Return on Investment, ROI, you desire, while conducting business with us.

At Medical Marijuana Dispensary, we provide a platform for our customers, which allows them to reach their target market, no matter where in the US they are located. Our directory makes it easy for customers to locate information on your products and services, which you provide. In addition to having unlimited access to your business and what you offer, potential customers will also be able to get access to your terms and conditions to exactly what they are getting into before they do so.

While Cannabis seeds were generally used for recreational purposes in the past, with the change in direction that this recreational, now medical drugs has taken, as cannabis suppliers, you know that there are many different varieties to choose from and with our in depth directory listing, we can provide a list of your complete supply in a format that prospective customers will easily understand.

The use of medical cannabis as a medicine has gained great prominence in recent years, as there has been a lot of research on the way it’s processed and administered for medical purposes. The use of medical marijuana to manage pain caused by life threatening illnesses, such as cancer has gained medical cannabis a top rated spot on the list of medications preferred by ailing individuals and their families. With a listing on our website you increase your chance of being found and chosen by the people who need you the most.

Most users of medical cannabis are skeptical about cannabis dispensaries where they are expected to register before they buy. Therefore, by listing with us, whether you are a supplier of Cannabis or just the owner of one of the cannabis dispensaries dealing with retail, you will get the traffic you need.

The Medical Marijuana Dispensary Advantage

Our vast listing categories

We have a large database of businesses that cut across the entire platform of medical marijuana and its uses; therefore, we provide you with the option of listing in all or some of the following categories:

Listings within our Suppliers List

With a listing in our directory, you will get a boost to your business when you provide us with your USP.  If you are a legal supplier of Cannabis, why not make use of the advantage associated with providing us with the necessary information as it relates to your business and services.

We will project your product in a manner that will bring out the added advantage of safety as well as the unique cultivation and harvesting techniques related to your product.

Marijuana Dispensary Listing 

Most marijuana users are not aware of the legal implications associated with buying the product from unauthorized dealers. Our directory, therefore, seeks to not only list your products, we thrive to provide your clients with all the information and resources they need to make informed decisions on where they source their medical marijuana and how they use them.

Therefore, if you are a licensed  distributor of medical cannabis, why not take help from the experts in the field and achieve success in your business by getting the listing your medical dispensary deserves.

Medical Marijuana Delivery

Most of the medical dispensaries giving out cannabis have a problem with distribution.  We will ensure that our excellent distribution network works with you and gives your business the necessary boost.

Publishing Details Of Medical Marijuana Clinics

Whenever any patients suffer from a condition which requires medical cannabis, the first place they will look for it is on the internet.  We  will list your business in a way that it creates a greater awareness about your products and services.  So, why not make the most of it and gain expertise in this field?

December 29, 2017 |

How Certain Laws Restrict Cannabis Research

85

Even though marijuana is being continually legalized around the world for medicinal purposes, the United States still consider it to be a Schedule 1 substance, and thus, it’s considered to be illegal at the federal level. This makes it challenging to get clinical studies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This sort of creates a vicious cycle: due to a lack of enough federally funded research, the marijuana proponents are finding it hard to get the Schedule 1 classifications overturned. Generally speaking, the substances that fall under the Schedule 1 category have a high potential for abuse and offer no medical benefit, or so the government believes.

Many people share the opinion that the classification does not apply to marijuana, arguing that it has no addictive traits, at least not in the physical sense. They are also trying to make an argument that it’s a viable alternative to opiates.

Lately, there has been much interest in medical uses for marijuana. In the general sense, it comes in handy for managing all sorts of pain. It’s also useful for managing sleep deprivation, loss of appetite, nausea, and to treat the adverse effects of chemotherapy and HIV/AIDS treatment.

The researchers are trying to find out what other medical benefits are associated with medicinal use of marijuana. Recently, Pennsylvania’s health department launched a landmark registry for those who use merijuana for medical purposes. Alongside the introduction, a new website was launched, and it was designed as a one-stop-shop for caregivers, diespensaries, physicians, and labs. it’s estimated that by 2018, it should be possible for the applicants to pick up their prescriptions from anywhere in the state.

THC is the ingredient in marijuana that gets the most attention, even though, in reality, it has hundreds of components, and not all of them are psychoactive. CBD (or cannabidiol for short) can be found in many strains. This component can be used as an anti-psychotic, anti-convulsant, neuro-protectant, anti-inflammatory agent, a sedative, etc., without getting the user high.

CBD, in particular, is what makes marijuana a viable treatment for epilepsy, and in some cases, even children can benefit from it. It’s been known to help treat heart conditions and regulate insulate levels in diabetic patients. Since it’s not addictive, it’s shown great potential to treat heroin addiction and opioid crisis. One of its less-known benefits is that it helps cigarette smokers quit their habit.

Cannabis, THC vs CBD

Even the National Multiple Sclerosis Society supports the idea of there being more research on its medical benefits, and is in favor of marijuana being legalized at the state level. The organization even founded some marijuana studies of its own.

Currently, there are mixed opinions on the medical benefits of marijuana use for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but it’s known to be able to help those who are suffering from paranoia and anxiety. War veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress have also been using it to alleviate their condition, and earlier this year, the first FDA-approved trial of smoked marijuana for veterans affected by PTSD was launched.

Source:
http://www.newsweek.com/medical-marijuana-pain-illness-700303

December 29, 2017 |

War Vets Seeking Legal Access to Medical Marijuana

9

The results of a new survey indicate that the vast majority of war veterans want to have legal access to medical marijuana without being treated as criminals.

In concrete terms, 82% of them want marijuana as a federally-legal treatment, while 92% of them support medical research on marijuana and its health benefits. The survey was commissioned by the American Legion, and the group represents more than 2.4 million military veterans. The majority of these veterans were 60 years old or more.

The survey took place on the 8th of October and lasted for two days. There were 1,360 respondents, and 802 of them identified themselves as veterans or their caregivers.

Looking at additional results of the survey, it was revealed that 40% live in a state where it is legal to use marijuana for medical purposes. 22% of them are using marijuana themselves in order to alleviate the symptoms of a mental or a physical condition. And 78% of them do not use marijuana at all.

medical marijuana

According to the group’s resolution, more than 50% of states in the union have passed medical marijuana laws to this date. The American Legion urges the government to allow for medical use of marijuana among war veterans. The group, along with several other marijuana advocates, also want to encourage more research being done. The survey has a 95% confidence level.

A study on how marijuana affects PTSD sufferers has been prevented from reaching veterans at the Arizona VA Hospital in Phoenix. According to what the Legion wrote to the Secretary David Shulkin last month, 50 more participants are needed in the study. According to them, Phoenix VA is in a great position to assist. The Legion asked for his immediate attention and that the critical research be fully enabled.

The survey conducted by the group came to the conclusion that 92% of war veterans are in favor of supporting medical research on the health benefits of marijuana. During the conference in which the Legion released the survey’s results, several Congress members had a speech.

Congressman Matt Gaetz believes the Legion’s advocacy on the issue is very significant, and he believes it will help convince an increasing number of lawmakers to support the policy change. He also took a critical stance towards the words of Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, who compared cannabis laws to overprescription of opioids.

Gaetz believes these words were inaccurate, shortsighted, and that it is indefensible to suggest that the proliferation of medical cannabis can be compared to the opioid crisis, further strengthening his point by mentioning that cannabis is not only improving the quality of our lives, but also saving them.

He was also successful in predicting that the House Judiciary Committee, which he is also a member of, is planning on holding a hearing on expanding marijuana research by the end of the current year.

Last week, a group consisting of ten House Democrats wrote a letter to the VA, expressing a desire to expand medical research on marijuana.

Source:
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-poll-military-veterans-strongly-support-legal-access/

December 28, 2017 |
Skip to toolbar