Cannabis, Health and the Cannabis Law Reform

Health Workshop

Presenter: Victoria Catherwood and Sue Grey LLB(Hons), BSc, RSHDipPHI

Suitable for: Adults only

Cannabis has been used for health benefits for thousands of years but remains illegal in New Zealand. Learn the biology of why cannabis can benefit so many different health conditions, and how to use it medicinally in ways that minimise harm. We’ll go over the New Zealand and world cannabis law reform over the last few years and the ongoing challenges therein.

This workshop will explain the current scientific and clinical evidence surrounding cannabis as a medicine.
Participants will gain an understanding of the endocannabinoid system, the largest neuromodulating system in the human body, as well as learning what research says and how to find the evidence. Guidance will be shared around how cannabis is currently being used to treat various medical conditions internationally. Participants will have the opportunity to ask health-related questions in a safe environment.

We’ll also look at the politics behind medicine and cannabis, and the holistic ways for managing chronic disorders and stabilising nervous and immune systems with this powerful plant.
2019 and 2020 are shaping up as important years for cannabis law reform with the imminent referendum. Plant sourced cannabinoids plays an important role in supplement the human endocannabinoid system, which helps to stabilise the nervous and immune system and manages an array of chronic disorders to promote wellness. The cannabis law reform referendum is a powerful opportunity for people to speak loudly, be heard, and to re-engage New Zealanders to help shape the future: for cannabis and using this as a model for other issues. How can we optimise people power. The politics behind medicine and cannabis “Modern pharmaceutical focused medicine” is fine for emergencies and acute problems. Let’s talk about more holistic ways for managing chronic disorders and promoting wellness.

Presenter Bio:

Victoria is currently a training doctor at the University of Otago. In 2017 she created an educational documentary called ‘Mum, Cannabis and Me’ to educate health professionals and medical students about cannabis as a medicine. Victoria has a professional interest in understanding how psychotropic medicines work to activate the human mind, body and spirit. She has presented at medical conferences (Australasian Integrative Medicine Association conference 2018, NZ Rural GP network conference 2017), given lectures at the University of Otago, Wellington and Dunedin Schools of Medicine and run workshops for the Integrative Medicine Otago Group. She completed an externship with Dr David Bearman, one of the world’s leading medicinal cannabis experts, in California, and is actively involved in cannabis research in New Zealand. For her Masters degree in Cell and Molecular biology, she researched MDMA and Salvia divinorum in rodents and cell models.

Sue is a lawyer based in Nelson who specialises in complex emerging issues, including medicinal cannabis law reform, encouraging more precautionary and responsible use of 1080 and other poisons and educating on and managing harm RF EMR from cellphones, wifi and radio and celltowers. She has tertiary qualifications in law, science (microbiology and biochemistry) and in environmental health. Sue’s passion is educating and empowering communities to unravel government processes and identify opportunities to disrupt the status quo to help nurture a better and more compassionate world.

Cannabis, Health and the Cannabis Law Reform