{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/pharmacannis/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2497-markdown","title":"Cannabis & Cancer: One Caregiver’s Story","slug":"cannabis-and-cancer-one-caregivers-story","content":"New York’s medical cannabis program currently serves over 33,000 registered patients. Samantha Rishel has been taking care of her father, who has cancer and has been using medical cannabis since September 2017. This is her family’s story about how medical cannabis has helped with her father’s pain management, appetite and loss of sleep.\r\n\r\nSamantha’s 70-year-old father, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, was feeling tired and weak the day we scheduled our call so she spoke on his behalf. It wasn’t her first time in the role of advocate for her dad, who became a certified New York medical cannabis patient in early September.\r\n\r\n### Trying Cannabis as an Alternative to Percoset\r\n\r\n“He started to use it for pain management specifically,” Samantha began, explaining that the Percoset he’d been using for pain was causing side effects. “He would actually let his pain get to a point where it was a lot and then take the Percoset, because while he knew it would relieve the pain, he was going to get the accompanying constipation.” \r\n\r\nRELATED: [OPIOID-INDUCED CONSTIPATION](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/opioid-induced-constipation)\r\n\r\nAfter a friend shared his personal experience taking cannabis as a cancer patient, Samantha started researching the medicine as an alternative to Percoset—which contains both opioid and non-opioid painkillers. She was aware of the state’s program and that her father had a qualifying condition, but she would soon face her first obstacle. \r\n\r\n“The Department of Health lists all of the doctor referrals within each county, and there are zero in Jefferson County,” she says, “so my concern was, how do I do this? Do we go to his doctor, and he has doctors in Oneida County, in any county but this one?”\r\n\r\nThrough researching online, she discovered a potential solution: Not only did Vermont have medical cannabis program, but the state had decriminalized cannabis. “I was looking into driving up there to see what I could find in terms of tinctures and whatever,” Samantha says with a chuckle, “and hopefully not get picked up for speeding.” \r\n\r\nBut instead of having to drive three hours to Burlington, VT, Samantha connected with a pharmacist at [PharmaCannis in Liverpool](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/pharmacannis-liverpool). “He explained to me how to go on and register (for the medical cannabis program), and the various things that cannabis would probably help with,” she says. “I just thought this this would be better than what the opioids were doing to my dad.” Samantha now had everything she needed to broach the subject with her father.\r\n\r\nHe was receptive but hesitant. “My father was concerned about a possible psychotropic effect, which I understand,” she recalls, “but after speaking to numerous people at the dispensary, that’s not what happens. You’re not going to get goofy.”\r\n\r\nWithin a few days of receiving the information, her father was ready to sign up. “I think at that point he had done the research he wanted to do and didn’t feel I was just pushing him, like “C’mon dad, smoke some weed!” she laughs.\r\n\r\n### Becoming a Cannabis Advocate\r\n\r\nAfter getting certified in September and adjusting the dosages to suit his needs, the progress started quickly. “It improved his appetite greatly. He’s less anxious. It has definitely helped with the pain management as he hasn’t had a Percoset in 10 days. He hasn’t had a need or desire for it,” Samantha says. “The constipation is completely gone, so everything we had hoped that it would do, it has done for him.”\r\n\r\nHer father first started using tinctures and had recently introduced vaping into his regime. “He took to it really well, more so than I thought he might,” Samantha says, adding, “He was a little resistant at first, what with the culture surrounding vaping.” But the quick delivery provided by this form of administration soon eliminated any concerns.\r\n\r\nRELATED: [BENEFITS OF VAPING MEDICAL MARIJUANA](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/the-benefits-of-vaping-medical-marijuana)\r\n\r\nSamantha now drives two hours roundtrip every three weeks to pick up medicine for her father at PharmaCannis’ Liverpool dispensary. Her father’s progress makes every trip worth it and has turned Samantha into a passionate advocate.\r\n\r\n“I just wish people were more accepting of [medical marijuana],” she says. “Every medical person we have come into contact with—with my father’s hospitalizations, with various patient navigators, and actually we met with and are working with hospice at this point—we have had zero negative feedback.” \r\n\r\nSamantha is in the process of connecting the hospice facility with PharmaCannis to hopefully have the dispensary provide education and outreach at a local Wellness Fair in her community. “I just think more people need to know, and I’ve become this advocate. Anybody that we’ve spoken to, they have a lot of questions, and I’m trying to direct them and get it set up so that people up here can partake in this and know about it as an option.”\r\n\r\n### Stigma Aside, Marijuana Has Made a Difference\r\n\r\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/59fb788e5aae0c003fa554c9/embedded_images/59fb78905aae0c003fa554ca/image1.png)\r\n\r\nSamantha wanted to share a few important messages from her family about her father’s progress with medical cannabis. “My mother asked me to tell you that she definitely sees a difference in [my father’s] appetite, the fact that he’s sleeping through the night, and then obviously with the pain management,” she says. “He hasn’t had a Percoset in 10 days now. No need for it.”\r\n\r\nThe second message comes from her father, first about getting certified as a patient. “It was extremely easy to register for this,” she emphasized on his behalf. “The referral [via video call with a HelloMD doctor] was very easy and went quickly.” \r\n\r\nHe also wanted people to understand that titrating the medicine is part of the process and takes time. “You’re really working with body weight, and what might work for somebody who’s 100 pounds might not work for someone who’s 180 pounds,” Samantha explains. “It was really just jumping around with the dosage, and they found a dosage that works.”\r\n\r\nSamantha had one more thought to add before signing off. “There’s a stigma on this that shouldn’t be, and the stigma is because it’s marijuana,” she says. “It’s not bad. It has helped my father in every possible way that we could have hoped.”\r\n\r\n### Prologue: A Painless Passing\r\n\r\nDays after our conversation, Samantha let us know that her father had not taken or needed a Percoset in 20 days. “That is [to all of us] incredible,” she wrote in her note.\r\n\r\nFive days later, Samantha sent the following note:\r\n\r\n> _I wanted to let you know that my father died this afternoon. His entire pain management program, following his decision to end chemotherapy, was medicinal cannabis. He continued to use the MC in conjunction with morphine and Atavan over his final three days and experienced what we observed to be a painless passing._\r\n\r\n> _Again, thank you for your interest in our story. My family is thankful for the immense relief the MC provided for my father (and us). It made this entire experience more tolerable in that my father was spared the harsh side effects he experienced early on from the opioids he was prescribed._ \r\n\r\n> _Feel free to incorporate this information into your article. I believe it’s important and should be shared._\r\n\r\n> _Thanks again,_\r\n\r\n> _Samantha Rishel_\r\n\r\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/ee604/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.png","srcSet":"/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/69585/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.png 200w,\n/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/497c6/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.png 400w,\n/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/ee604/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.png 800w,\n/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/05d05/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.png 1080w","srcWebp":"/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/58556/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/61e93/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.webp 200w,\n/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/1f5c5/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.webp 400w,\n/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/58556/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.webp 800w,\n/static/2120ce50c14619571bf94927151b4f98/54d25/b3f8632caf3af56e4d8969967617a3b3.webp 1080w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2282-markdown","title":"What to Expect out of New York’s Medical Marijuana Program","slug":"what-to-expect-out-of-new-yorks-medical-marijuana-program","content":"Despite the wealth of information on the [New York Department of Health’s (DOH) website](https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/patients/), folks unfamiliar with the state’s medical marijuana program may still be left wondering what the actual experience of becoming medical marijuana patient is like. We spoke to one of the state’s Registered Organizations (ROs) to learn more about what people can expect during the patient onboarding process.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Learning about the Program\n\nResidents can call their local RO, even if they aren’t certified as patients yet, to get answers to questions about the medical marijuana program. “I get at least a dozen calls a day”, says Warren McReddie, PharmaCannis physician patient outreach specialist for New York. “People ask, ‘How do I go about getting a card, how do I register, how does this all work, it’s new to me?’ so I go over the process.”\n\nThis initial conversation is an opportunity for specialists like Warren to educate people about how simple the patient certification process is. “Usually I first ask if they’ve talk to their physician and how they feel about being registered,” Warren says. “Then I tell them to go on the website and view the step-by-step video.” \n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI0fhJS2Ft8`\n\nWarren informs callers that a video chat with HelloMD will put the patient in touch with a certified physician who determines whether the patient has a qualifying condition. “Once they qualify,” he says, “they’ll have the process of getting through the New York Department of Health.” Patients who qualify are issued a certification number and recommendation prescription by HelloMD, kicking off the next step of visiting the DOH website to submit their certification information.\n\n“Once you complete the process, it’s about two weeks until you get a card,” adds Warren. “Then once you get a card, it allows you to come into our dispensaries and purchase the products recommended by the HelloMD doctor.”\n\nAnna Poulin, manager of physician and patient outreach with PharmaCannis, emphasizes that the RO will keep supporting patients along the way, sending email updates to remind you of where you are in the process. “When a patient finishes their phone call and their Skype with HelloMD, we send an email telling them that they’re not done and the next step is to go onto New York DOH online to put in their information,” Anna explains.\n\n“The second email is educational and talks about the dispensary experience,” she adds. “Then as it gets closer to them getting a card, we remind them to make an appointment once they get their card.”\n\n### Consultation & the First Visit to the Dispensary\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/59ef6c66e6bbba2a588008d1/embedded_images/59ef6c67e6bbba2a588008d2/image1.jpg)\n\nOnce a patient’s certified, it’s time to receive a consultation with a patient care representative—a process that’s the same whether conducted in person or over the phone, as Nelson Cuevas, PharmaCannis general manager and head pharmacist explains. \n\n“We do a full patient assessment and intake; we get their medical history. I can access their certification securely and then I review that with them and we go over dosing. At that point, I answer any questions that they may have.” \n\nPatients are encouraged to reach out if they have additional questions after their consultation ends. “We offer them the ability to call us any time with any questions,” says Nelson. “Our patient care representatives are fully trained; they answer most of the questions, and if they can’t, they’re referred back to me and I take care of it.”\n\nThis time with a patient care representative is more than about providing information; it also reassures patients who feel anxious about the unknown. “I’ve had several patients that are intimidated,” says Nelson, “but then we sit down, and we discuss the whole process with them, how safe it is, and we share some success stories which eases their anxiety.”\n\n### After You Leave the Dispensary\n\nDuring their consultation, patients are shown the different forms of administration and learn about dosing. From there, they can purchase their medication. And the support continues long after they’ve gone home and started taking their medicine.\n\n“Once they get their medication, we do follow up calls normally about three days after their initial visit just to make sure that everything is OK,” says Nelson. This is an opportunity for patients to comfortably address questions or concerns.\n\n“We do a second follow-up call about 10 days after that to see if they’re happy with their medication, if they want to come back in, if they need a consultation, and if they want to set up some type of delivery or pre-order.”\n\nPatients new to medical marijuana can rest assured that New York’s program is ready to serve them as quickly and efficiently as possible, and that ROs like PharmaCannis are there to help every step of the way.\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.36986301369863,"src":"/static/0ccbe7ce2eebed7e2cafe6145687f13d/3d7ec/6f8db436e7b5d4d1c74517f10010e113.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0ccbe7ce2eebed7e2cafe6145687f13d/f836f/6f8db436e7b5d4d1c74517f10010e113.jpg 200w,\n/static/0ccbe7ce2eebed7e2cafe6145687f13d/2244e/6f8db436e7b5d4d1c74517f10010e113.jpg 400w,\n/static/0ccbe7ce2eebed7e2cafe6145687f13d/3d7ec/6f8db436e7b5d4d1c74517f10010e113.jpg 693w","srcWebp":"/static/0ccbe7ce2eebed7e2cafe6145687f13d/81cc1/6f8db436e7b5d4d1c74517f10010e113.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0ccbe7ce2eebed7e2cafe6145687f13d/61e93/6f8db436e7b5d4d1c74517f10010e113.webp 200w,\n/static/0ccbe7ce2eebed7e2cafe6145687f13d/1f5c5/6f8db436e7b5d4d1c74517f10010e113.webp 400w,\n/static/0ccbe7ce2eebed7e2cafe6145687f13d/81cc1/6f8db436e7b5d4d1c74517f10010e113.webp 693w","sizes":"(max-width: 693px) 100vw, 693px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2466-markdown","title":"How Cannabis Helps Reduce Chronic Pain","slug":"how-cannabis-helps-reduce-chronic-pain","content":"The results of a study conducted by the University of New Mexico reports that [patients taking legal cannabis to treat their chronic pain are more likely to reduce their use of prescriptions drugs](http://blog.norml.org/2017/09/18/study-medical-cannabis-registrants-reduce-their-prescription-drug-use/). When compared with patients who didn’t use cannabis, 36% of those who did consume marijuana used fewer prescription medications by the end of the study. Meanwhile, 34% stopped using prescription drugs entirely. As legalization continues to expand, news from this and [other studies](http://norml.org/aboutmarijuana/item/relationship-between-marijuana-and-opioids) reinforce cannabis’s ability to not only effectively treat certain illnesses, but also reduce patients’ dependence on prescription medications.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nChronic pain is the most recent addition to New York’s list of qualifying conditions, and after the release of the study’s results we spoke to [Nelson Cuevas](https://www.hellomd.com/people/nelsonc), general manager and head pharmacist at PharmaCannis to learn more about how cannabis helps patients with chronic pain.\n\n### What Is Chronic Pain?\n\nThe purpose of pain is to inform the body that it’s sick or injured, and when the illness or injury heals, the pain is supposed to go away. The difference with chronic pain is that it lingers. “We define chronic pain as something that the patient suffers from on a daily basis for months, even years,” Nelson says. Common ailments that many people deal with regularly may also fall into this category. “Chronic pain can be arthritis,” adds Nelson. “Even migraines can be considered chronic pain.”\n\nRELATED: [NEW RESEARCH PROVES MARIJUANA EFFECTIVELY CONTROLS CHRONIC PAIN](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/598f893156ef1d0031b26cb0/new-research-proves-marijuana-effectively-controls-chronic-pain)\n\n### The Cannabis Solution for Chronic Pain\n\nWhile patients dealing with chronic pain have to find ways to manage their physical symptoms, they’re also faced with the emotional and mental burden that comes with constantly being in pain. Medical cannabis can offer pain relief while also giving patients strain variations that can help with sleep and lift their spirits. \n\nFor chronic pain sufferers, method of ingestion is key. “Cannabis works best when taken orally,” Nelson says. “When you ingest a dose of tincture, it’s processed through your liver, and it extends the duration of action from six to eight hours per dosing.” Dosing in this way makes it easier for patients to receive up to 24 hours of relief. Says Nelson, “That’s huge for patients who are suffering from chronic pain.” \n\nThe ability for patients to layer multiple forms of ingestion to address their pain management needs is one of the most significant benefits of medical cannabis. “The normal pain wave for a patient with chronic pain is that it’s up and down all day long,” says Nelson. “A strategy that we love to use here at PharmaCannis is, along with the tincture, we also recommend for the patient to use a vape for any breakthrough pain that the he or she may go through.”\n\nPatients start with the oral form first to establish a baseline of pain relief that lasts for several hours, then use the vape to offer on-demand relief if needed. “The benefit is that since they already have a baseline of cannabis in their body via the tincture or capsule, they tend to vape less; so they’re not constantly vaping,” says Nelson.\n\nPatients can safely use a vape in tandem with an oral method because cannabis isn’t considered to be addictive in nature, offering them peace of mind in addition to flexibility and convenience. “The peak is not as high because the patient already has that baseline of cannabis in their system, so the amount of pain is just not as sharp, and cannabis will help the patient to even better bring the pain down to a good equilibrium.”\n\n### Best Methods of Ingesting Marijuana\n\nFor patients considering medical cannabis for chronic pain, oral forms of administration are the way to go. “The best methods of ingestion are tincture or pill,” Nelson says, “which are ingested and processed by the body the same way. The key is to take medical cannabis orally so [patients] can get a longer duration of action, supplemented with a vape for breakthrough pain.”\n\nPharmaCannis offers an assortment of tinctures, capsules and vape oils. \n\n**Tinctures:**\n>* 20:1 THC to CBD\n>* 2:1 THC to CBD\n>* 1:1 THC to CBD\n>* 1:4 THC to CBD\n>* 1:20 THC to CBD\n\n**High-THC Capsules:**\n>* 5 mg capsules\n>* 9.5 mg capsules (similar to the 20:1 THC to CBD tincture, which has 9.5 mg of THC to less than 0.5 mg of CBD)\n\n**High-THC Vape Oils:**\n>* Sativa: energizing, uplifting\n>* Indica: relaxation\n>* Hybrid: combination relaxation and uplifting\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  \n\nPhoto credit: [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/kurdphotos/36160158563/in/photolist-X6mgkH-XwPmtN-gciLsa-RPeq34-Wxet2J-RRxVH5-URkrj5-dU9ewP-dU92RF-YLseXw-rG1K7X-qorV9z-VMqQiS-TNWW7t-qRjFXD-DTAQh-URWHc3-psgbhA-rd7jpk-eDCsEC-bxsnoV-eduEZc-6FCNnd-diHFma-UkkDCt-poMyYt-VGWwgx-5rq2CG-Hh6Vpq-YSo63z-8rctdN-VdQggA-k1vW6k-U3Mxtr-e1fevJ-5iTiaq-8weWgy-kQczVi-Xs6paY-XK6w5h-Vh963L-6WkUxr-V2Vfs3-ihyYk3-SVLRTU-6g28FU-kykJM-9KDpmJ-WNk6oK-8MDMtn)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/14b42/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/f836f/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 200w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/2244e/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 400w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/14b42/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 800w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/47498/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 1200w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/3e6ba/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.jpg 1535w","srcWebp":"/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/58556/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/61e93/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 200w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/1f5c5/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 400w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/58556/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 800w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/99238/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 1200w,\n/static/6f69f5558d95dfe1a96c17de7a854ed4/83e09/a5c2b0dd9450e2ab8aabc06cdbf87f8f.webp 1535w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2254-markdown","title":"Putting Patients First: Q&A with PharmaCannis’s Jeff Starr","slug":"putting-patients-first-qanda-with-pharmacanniss-jeff-starr","content":"Jeff Starr has been aPharmaCannis patient care representative since the company opened its Bronx location in 2016. He’s a self-professed people person who tested his mettle working for a retail pharmacy as a technician and eventually a wellness consultant, making outreach and education an ongoing focus in his work with patients. A proud military veteran with a background working with disabled adults and at-risk youth, Jeff’s deeply personal family history with medical cannabis serves as daily inspiration in his work. We spoke to Jeff to learn more about his experience transitioning from the traditional retail pharmacy environment to medical cannabis.\n\n### Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.\n\nA: I’ve always enjoyed helping people: That’s what led me to health and human services. I started out working with developmentally disabled adults and high-risk youth before becoming a certified nursing assistant. Eventually I decided it would be great to work for a pharmacy, so I worked for Rite Aid for five years first as a cashier, then as a full-time technician. Then I was promoted to wellness ambassador.\n\nAs wellness ambassador, I was responsible for flu shots and different community outreach programs, making sure that we were visible within the community. A lot of people still recognize me from those days.\n\nIn the interim, my mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, and she developed cachexia, the wasting disease. I asked her doctor what we could do to help with the nausea and appetite loss, and he whispered in my ear, “Get your mom some pot.”\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/59a7368cad8203003bcab54a/embedded_images/59a7368ead8203003bcab54b/Screen_Shot_2017-08-30_at_2.48.34_PM.png)\nPatient Care Representative Jeff Starr helps educates folks coming to PharmaCannis.\n\nThis was before medical cannabis had come to the East Coast. It didn’t take my siblings and me two minutes to think about it. We said, “You know what, let’s give it a shot because that’s our mom.” It gave her a couple of years to be with her grandchildren, and that’s all that matters.\n\nWhile working for Rite Aid, I met PharmaCannis General Manager and Head Pharmacist Nelson Cuevas. I worked for him for two years as a tech. We stayed in touch after he left, and last year the opportunity with PharmaCannis presented itself. \n\n### Q: Were you working in medical cannabis prior to PharmaCannis?\n\nA: No, this is my first time.\n\n### Q: What does it mean to be a patient care representative? \n\nA: Individuals come into this therapy from many different perspectives. You have those who have never thought of cannabis as anything; they never thought about using it recreationally or as a medicinal therapy. And then you have people with a lot of experience with cannabis. As a patient care representative, I bridge that gap. \n\nI’m a liaison for individuals learning about cannabis and for individuals who are fully versed. I talk to people about their perspectives, then I get the chance to share what I know with them—to show and educate patients specifically about what cannabis is, which strain and ratio might work for them, because those are determining factors for what our pharmacist would recommend to them.\n\n### Q: What are the biggest differences and challenges you’ve experienced between your work in conventional healthcare and your work in cannabis so far?\n\nA: The biggest difference is accessibility. In a pharmacy, anybody can walk up to you at any time, which is a good thing and a bad thing. When I worked at Rite Aid, the opioid epidemic had already started. We saw patients who were normal people when they first got their prescription for a car accident or a simple fall, and those opioids changed so many people in front of our eyes. It was very uncomfortable being there. \n\nWith PharmaCannis, patients have done their homework, gone to their doctor, sought out the certification, talked to or gone online to the Department of Health, and then paid their $50. These patients aren’t coming in to waste your time or get something for free, where I’m quite sure if we were open access, it would be a different ball game.\n\n### Q: In your opinion, how is PharmaCannis improving the cannabis experience for New Yorkers?\n\nA: Vastly. There are things that the company learned from the Illinois market before we moved into New York. It’s also the atmosphere that Nelson created; he’s very much an educational pharmacist. Taking the time to educate patients about the medicine is especially important because it’s such a new therapy.\n\nWe also don’t push patients to buy. I’m not trying to sell you something. I would rather you have the information and be equipped no matter where you go. We really do care about our patients.\n\nAnother thing we don’t do is push to try to get them to buy a lot of medicine the first time. During the first visit, we’re really trying to get the patient’s right ratio, but that may take a few tries. So instead of me charging the patient $500 to $600 and telling them to come back next week or month and we’ll try something else, I’ll recommend they try a seven- to 10-day supply of that medicine and see how the body reacts to it. If all goes well, and it’s the right ratio, great. But if not, the patient hasn’t invested hundreds of dollars.\n\nRemember, medical cannabis isn’t covered by insurance; patients pay out of pocket. The Bronx isn’t the most socioeconomically strong borough in New York City. We have people on fixed incomes, people for whom spending $150 is a lot.\n\n### Q: As a patient care representative, what do you think it will take to ensure more participation from patients and healthcare providers? \n\nA: The slow start has to do with education. There was no big ad campaign; it was part of New York’s criteria not to allow dispensaries or registered organizations to do heavy advertising. But the word gets out to people. It’s one thing for a person to hear it on CNN or read it in the newspapers, but when the lady next door or your sister- or brother-in-law says they’re trying medical cannabis and it works, the word of mouth is really good as well.\n\nI think the focus should be on more patients. Yes, the physicians are very important, but it’s going to the patients. This is a business of relationships—people have to trust you in order to come to you so that they can feel better.\n\n### Q: What’s the most common misconception doctors—and patients—have about cannabis?\n\nA: Because of the “War on Drugs,” we’ve been fed that cannabis is bad, and once it’s bad, it’s always bad. If we look at cannabis historically, before prohibition, it was part of the pharmacology all over the world and was used for many things. \n\n### Q: Can you share a success story or anecdote of treating a patient with medical cannabis?\n\nA: I had a patient with multiple sclerosis; her husband rolled her into our office in a wheelchair. He told us specifically that he wasn’t sure that he was happy with this opportunity because they’re Latino. They’d been served the stigma for many years while growing up in New York, and they’ve seen what real drugs like heroin, cocaine and crack do to people. So because this family lumped all drugs together, they thought that cannabis was bad like heroin. \n\nAfter two months of his wife receiving the treatment, when he comes in and gladly pays her bill, he shakes our hands and says,  “Thank you for giving my wife her life back.” That touched my heart. I wasn’t able to articulate that with my mom because it was still a secret—I couldn’t tell anyone that my mom used cannabis to get better, but now I can.\n\nAcross the board—with multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV, chronic pain—all of these patients have said that they’re better off with the medicine we offer them as opposed to the medicine that they’re taking from Big Pharma.\n\n### Q: What are you passionate about?\n\nA: At heart, I’m an artist and am passionate about the arts. I love Shakespeare, plays, music, paintings, museums.\n\nI’m most passionate about human beings, my fellow man, the people who have touched my life, and the people whose lives I’ve touched. It’s not about cannabis, it’s about people. At the end of the day, if I can help one person, that’s great.\n\n### Q: Finally, where should people go if they want to learn more about accessing cannabis in New York?\n\nA: Come to PharmaCannis, reach out to our dispensary by phone, and we take emails. We’re willing to hold your hand and help you through process. The [New York State Department of Health website](https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/) is also very good. And I’ve heard good things about the care that patients get from the doctors and physicians through HelloMD. \n\nCannabis works. If the government changes the scheduling and we were able to have colleges and universities study this medicine more in depth, without being worried about being shutdown by the Feds, we would be in a better place as far as helping people. \n\nHave questions about the New York State medical marijuana program? Check out our expert answers on who and what the NY MMJ program covers.\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/14b42/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/f836f/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.jpg 200w,\n/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/2244e/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.jpg 400w,\n/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/14b42/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.jpg 800w,\n/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/47498/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.jpg 1200w,\n/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/54ac5/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/58556/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/61e93/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.webp 200w,\n/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/1f5c5/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.webp 400w,\n/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/58556/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.webp 800w,\n/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/99238/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.webp 1200w,\n/static/e42ec452f968e22a019309dca4253b6e/5e0b8/0d3343326ad01e2c8fdaf04e1923919f.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2272-markdown","title":"Cannabis Capsules: Why They Might Be Right for You","slug":"cannabis-capsules-why-they-might-be-right-for-you","content":"Anyone who has purchased over-the-counter (OTC) medication has likely taken at least one capsule in their lifetime. After all, capsules dominate the OTC medicine aisles of most pharmacies. This common method of administration, which is available for patients in New York, involves the encapsulation of a dose of powdered or liquid medicine inside of a single or two-piece shell, which the patient can ingest orally or as a suppository.\r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\nThe capsule reportedly dates back to the ancient Egyptians, making it one of the oldest forms of pharmaceutical dosing. A travel account from 1730 mentioned the first capsule available in Europe, attributed to Viennese pharmacist de Paul who produced capsules in order to cover up the foul taste of the turpentine he prescribed for patients with gout.\r\n\r\nIn 1834, the patent for the first gelatin capsule was granted to pharmacist Joseph Gérard Auguste Dublanc and pharmacy student François Achille Barnabé Mothès, sparking the adoption of capsules all over the world.  In 1931, Arthur Colton successfully designed a machine on behalf of Parke, Davis & Co. that was able to simultaneously manufacture and assemble hard-shell capsules, enabling mass production applying processes still used to this day.\r\n\r\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/599a4c1a6dfe300c0a8bac1e/embedded_images/599a4c1c6dfe300c0a8bac1f/Screen_Shot_2017-08-20_at_10.56.35_PM.png)\r\nCannabis capsules come in different shapes, sizes and colors. \r\n\r\n### The FDA’s Only Approved Cannabinoid\r\n\r\nThe one cannabinoid that can be legally marketed in the U.S. is actually available only in capsule form. The drug Marinol was approved by the FDA in 1985 as treatment for cancer patients suffering from nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. A synthetic form of THC, the cannabinoid primarily responsible for cannabis’s psychoactive effects, Marinol’s approval was a result of the National Cancer Institute’s testing and subsequent reporting of the drug’s effects on cancer patients for whom other anti-vomiting medication was ineffective.\r\n\r\nRELATED: [MARINOL VERSUS CANNABIS: WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE?]( https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/marinol-versus-cannabis-which-is-more-effective)\r\n\r\nMarinol has since remained on the market as a viable treatment for nausea, vomiting and cachexia (weight loss) in patients suffering from cancer or AIDS. However, its use of synthetic THC without any of the other therapeutic cannabinoids present in natural cannabis doesn’t provide complete holistic relief for all patients.\r\n\r\n### Who Benefits Most from Cannabis Capsules\r\n\r\nBecause capsules provide reliable and consistent dosing, they may be an ideal fit for those patients suffering from “chronic pain, cancer or HIV,” says [Nelson Cuevas](https://www.hellomd.com/people/nelsonc), general manager and head pharmacist at [PharmaCannis](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/pharmacannis-bronx). \r\n\r\nA capsule is a safe way to ingest cannabis that doesn’t involve smoking or vaping. As such, it represents a feasible choice for older patients, children and people with respiratory issues. The lack of smoke and the ability of a patient to ingest a capsule anywhere, any time makes it an even more discreet option than vaping and tinctures.\r\n\r\nAnd because capsules contain no unnecessary calories or ingredients, patients reap all of the holistic benefits of the medicine without having to be concerned about added sugar and fat commonly used in cannabis edibles. They are also a great choice for patients who are new to cannabis, have never used tinctures or vaporizers before, and simply feel more comfortable using a medication form that they’re already familiar with.\r\n\r\nPatients also appreciate the precise dosing that capsules provide. As Nelson explains, “candidates that benefit from capsules or tablets are folks who already know what their exact dosing will be, whether it’s 5 mg 3 times a day or 9.5 mg 3 times a day, and they don’t have to worry about titrating up or down.”\r\n\r\nCapsules have the ability to deliver exactly what the patient needs every single time, offering consistent treatment without the need to adjust based on trial and error. “The patient knows exactly what works for them,” Nelson adds, “that’s what they take, and they don’t have to worry about titrating up or down.”\r\n\r\n### The Drawbacks of Cannabis Capsules\r\n\r\nThe slower onset of a capsule’s effects may present challenges for patients needing immediate relief for their symptoms. Because a capsule is swallowed, it takes longer for the body to absorb the medicine. “It’s similar to the tincture [in terms of activation]—it takes a little bit longer to dissolve,” says Nelson. “That is called the ‘rate-limiting step’, which is the absorption of a capsule.”\r\n\r\nPatients considering capsules will want to plan their administration accordingly since this isn’t a fast-acting solution. “Liquefying that capsule is what changes the absorption, so it’s not like they’ll be waiting for hours, but it will take15 minutes more than a tincture would,” adds Nelson.\r\n\r\nWhile exact, consistent dosing is very appealing to some, patients who appreciate the flexible dosing that tinctures and vaping provide might find capsules aren’t right for them. This is because they’re more difficult to titrate due to the slower onset of the medication. Additionally, while cannabis capsules can help with nausea and weight loss, patients seeking relief for these symptoms may have trouble swallowing and keeping down foods and liquids, potentially making this form of ingestion a poor choice for those trying to manage such ailments.\r\n\r\nThat said, the ability to layer multiple forms of cannabis medication to suit your individual needs doesn’t disappear with capsules: Patients can safely use a vape to quickly address their symptoms, while they wait for the effects of a capsule to kick in.\r\n\r\n[PharmaCannis](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/pharmacannis-bronx) offers the following high-THC capsules:\r\n>* 5 mg capsules\r\n>* 9.5 mg capsules (similar to the 20:1 THC to CBD tincture, which has 9.5 mg of THC to less than 0.5 mg of CBD)\r\n\r\nCapsules are a reliable and consistent form of administration that’s ideal for patients seeking medical marijuana that can be taken discreetly, doesn’t introduce harmful smoke or unnecessary ingredients into the body, and takes the guesswork out of dosing. As with all forms of cannabis administration, you should research your options and inform your healthcare provider if you believe capsules are the best option for your particular circumstances.\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  \r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/14b42/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/f836f/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.jpg 200w,\n/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/2244e/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.jpg 400w,\n/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/14b42/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.jpg 800w,\n/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/47498/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.jpg 1200w,\n/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/54ac5/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/58556/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/61e93/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.webp 200w,\n/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/1f5c5/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.webp 400w,\n/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/58556/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.webp 800w,\n/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/99238/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.webp 1200w,\n/static/7600254e88d23905aad7a7bca83de3b6/5e0b8/fd832d022af76186c204ed361ddafced.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2363-markdown","title":"Cannabis Tinctures: What They Are and Why You Want Them","slug":"cannabis-tinctures-what-they-are-and-why-you-want-them","content":"When it comes to cannabis, there’s no single means of ingestion and, in cases where a specific dosage isn’t recommended by their doctor, patients can adjust dosages or layer with other forms of ingestion to suit their individual needs. But this variety can be confusing for some, particularly for those new to medical cannabis. In this article, we take a closer look at tinctures, considered the first form of cannabis to enter Western medicine.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \n\nSo, what’s a tincture? Defined as “a solution of a medicinal substance in an alcoholic solvent”, high-proof alcohol is used to essentially break down the plant matter and its chemicals, resulting in a liquid medicine (aka tincture) that can be taken orally. \n\n### Cannabis Tinctures Trace Back Almost 200 Years\n\nTinctures may not receive the fanfare that edibles and flowers do, but before prohibition it was the primary form of cannabis medicine. Its roots in Western medicine trace back to Irish doctor WB O’Shaughnessy, who witnessed cannabis’s use in India and subsequently wrote about hemp tincture in a report published in 1839. When O’Shaughnessy returned to England in 1842, he brought cannabis with him to educate pharmacists and doctors about its healing properties, exposing the Western world to the plant in the process.\n\nRELATED:[HOW TO GET YOUR MEDICAL CARD IN NEW YORK STATE](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59683dbc1ebad11ae965b491/how-to-get-your-medical-marijuana-card-in-new-york-state)\n\nSoon after, doctors were prescribing it to patients everywhere—Queen Victoria herself was reportedly prescribed cannabis for relief from the pain of menstrual cramps—and by 1850 cannabis was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia as a treatment for a range of ailments including tetanus, alcoholism, opiate addiction, rabies and much more.\n\nTinctures would gradually become less fashionable with the increasing usage of opiates and the introduction of the syringe in the late 19th century, but it was the onset of prohibition in 1937 that took cannabis tinctures out of the mainstream and away from medicine cabinets. Still, the tincture persisted as a viable option for medical cannabis patients, enduring even as new and more innovative methods of ingestion continue to emerge.\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/598c7958c760c43045c3375c/embedded_images/598c7ec012f4432d21adf9da/Screen_Shot_2017-08-10_at_8.40.33_AM.png)\nTinctures are often appealing to novice users of cannabis.\n \n### Who Benefits Most from Taking a Cannabis Tincture?\n\nCertified medical cannabis patients in New York have access to multiple options for [administering their medicine](http://www.pharmacannis.com/ny/how-to-use-medical-marijuana), either by inhalation through vaporizer and inhalers, or by oral methods in the forms of capsules, oils, oromucosal sprays or tinctures. But if each of these administrations is effective, how does a certified healthcare provider know what to recommend to their patient?\n\n“Tinctures are very appealing for novice users of cannabis,” says Nelson Cuevas, general manager and pharmacist at PharmaCannis. “One of the main reasons is because we can really find out the exact dosing for the patient. We can tweak it—give a little more, a little less—to get the maximum amount of relief for the patient.”\n\nThe ability to adjust the amount of liquid is beneficial to newer patients getting used to medical cannabis. While a certified provider may provide dosage recommendations, no two patients react to cannabis in the same way. Anything from the method of consumption to the patient’s biochemistry to their mindset can impact the effect. As Nelson explains, “It’s a little easier to titrate to the exact dose when you’re using a liquid over a pill.”\n\nAnother appealing feature for patients is that tinctures are flexible enough to be taken in two different ways: sublingually, which is when you place drops of liquid under the tongue and allow it to dissolve through a process called osmosis, or by mixing it into a beverage and drinking it.\n\nOf course, the amount of time it takes for the medicine to kick in differs slightly between these two methods. “If you put it under the tongue, you’ll get a quicker onset,” Nelson explains. “You’ll start feeling the effects in about 15 to 30 minutes. When ingesting it [by mixing the medicine into a beverage], the onset will take about 30 minutes.” \n\nPatients using oral methods of ingestion should anticipate feeling the effects for several hours, and the way a cannabis tincture is administered can also influence the amount of time the patient feels its effects. “The duration of action changes when they use it sublingually,” he continues. “The duration of action is about four to five hours when they use it sublingually as opposed to ingesting it, which will last about six to eight hours.”\n\n### What Are the Advantages of Cannabis Tinctures?\n\nAside from a tincture’s flexibility and its appeal to cannabis newbies, patients also appreciate that it’s easy to accurately measure the dosage every time by simply using a dropper. It’s a discrete means of taking cannabis since there’s no telltale odor, with the added benefit of eliminating the impact on the lungs that comes with smoking.\n\nA tincture is portable enough to be carried anywhere, and while a patient can choose to ingest a tincture in a beverage, digestion isn’t required in order for the medicine to work. It’s also an ideal option for patients who may be too young, too old, or too sick to vape or swallow a capsule.\n\nBut a tincture isn’t for everyone, particularly patients dealing with nausea or appetite loss. “The drawback of it is the taste,” says Nelson. “It’s a tincture, and the oil is a natural product; there’s nothing mixed into it to make it more palatable. When you’re taking it sublingually, the taste might be a little bit bitter. With mixing it into a beverage, you can mask the taste a little better.”\n\nFor those patients who don’t find the taste off-putting, tinctures provide relief with any number of ailments. “Tinctures higher in THC can be helpful for patients with muscular and skeletal ailments,” says Nelson, “while those higher in CBD are anti-inflammatory and effective at treating neurologic pain, spasms, and chronic pain.” \n\nPharmaCannis offers multiple tinctures in varying ratios:\n\n>* 20:1 THC to CBD\n>* 2:1 THC to CBD\n>* 1:1 THC to CBD \n>* 1:4 THC to CBD\n>* 1:20 THC to CBD\n\nWhatever the condition, patients must see a registered practitioner in order to receive a recommendation, but they’re also encouraged to do research into their options. “It is recommended you discuss your preferred mode of administration with your practitioner at the time of your certification,” according to [Rachel Schepart](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/597fa7a18fd2d222e36b5292/helping-new-york-patients-in-need-qanda-with-rachel-schepart-rph), an RPh with PharmaCannis. So let your doctor know if you think a tincture might be right for you. \n\nTinctures have managed to endure cannabis’s long, complicated history and are a fixture in dispensaries everywhere. Even though tinctures don’t always get the spotlight, they’re widely used by medical cannabis patients seeking effective medicine that activates quickly, can be dosed reliably and consistently, and is long lasting. \n\nTo learn more about obtaining and using medical cannabis in New York, [check out Rachel’s answers to our community’s questions](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/597fa7a18fd2d222e36b5292/helping-new-york-patients-in-need-qanda-with-rachel-schepart-rph?_ga=2.73830928.383845224.1557162237-609595524.1553723963).\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/14b42/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/f836f/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.jpg 200w,\n/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/2244e/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.jpg 400w,\n/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/14b42/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.jpg 800w,\n/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/47498/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.jpg 1200w,\n/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/54ac5/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/58556/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/61e93/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.webp 200w,\n/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/1f5c5/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.webp 400w,\n/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/58556/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.webp 800w,\n/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/99238/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.webp 1200w,\n/static/f18a20aabaafb42dd1d76ece1e9bfb9f/5e0b8/c736e5f58eb554508d2b7c91ef9bed09.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2490-markdown","title":"Helping New York Patients in Need: Q&A with Rachel Schepart, RPh","slug":"helping-new-york-patients-in-need-qanda-with-rachel-schepart-rph","content":"Backed by almost 25 years of experience, Rachel Schepart leads the way as the first New York pharmacist to join the cannabis industry. More specifically, she’s joined the PharmaCannis team as their lead pharmacist, dispensary and operations manager. Passionate about giving back to the community, Rachel sees cannabis treatments offer a more complete and holistic approach to helping patients who are suffering. We asked her a few questions to get her insights on the crossover between conventional healthcare and medical cannabis.\n\n### Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.\n\nA: I’ve been a practicing pharmacist for almost 25 years. I’ve focused my career on helping those in need. First educating HIV patients in the’ 90s, then providing assistance to hospice and cancer patients to name a few.\n\n### Q: Were you working in medical cannabis prior to PharmaCannis?\n\nA: I opened the first dispensary for PharmaCannis in New York on Jan. 1, 2016. I knew this was my calling, and I could really help patients that really needed alternative treatments. This program once again aligned with helping the most needy patients.\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/597fa7a18fd2d222e36b5292/embedded_images/597fa7a38fd2d222e36b5293/Screen_Shot_2017-07-31_at_2.55.52_PM.png)\nInside a PharmaCannis dispensary\n \n### Q: How did you initially learn how to prescribe cannabis? \n\nA: When I first began with Pharmacannis, I spent many hours reading and learning from journal articles, patient testimonials—really as many things as I could find to read and research. Nonetheless, I’ve learned the most from helping patients directly and these one-on-one relationships have been a vital part of the education process.\n\n### Q: What does it mean to be a New York-based pharmacist in cannabis? \n\nA: Honestly, this has been the most rewarding role of my professional career. What it means to be a pharmacist who specializes in cannabis is really stepping out of your comfort zone and integrating what knowledge base you already have with new information and melding the two together to gain something much better than before, a more complete and holistic approach to practice.\n \n### Q: What are the biggest differences and challenges you’ve experienced between your work in conventional healthcare and your work in cannabis so far? \n\nA: Patients have been frustrated with issues around the program such as physician access and cost. I think working in the industry, we all feel frustrated when we have limitations helping someone. I’m excited that some of these barriers are diminishing. \n\n### Q: In your opinion, how is PharmaCannis improving the cannabis experience for New Yorkers? \n\nA: Pharmacannis is offering many new products, and I feel our strength is clear. We always have time for patients. You won’t feel rushed at our locations.\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/597fa7a18fd2d222e36b5292/embedded_images/597fa88852dc0f1650255eec/Screen_Shot_2017-07-31_at_2.54.40_PM.png) \nInside a PharmaCannis grow facility\n\n### Q: What’s the most common misconception doctors—and patients—have about cannabis?\n\nA: I think the New York state cannabis program is different from other programs in one defining way: available routes of administration. Because we’re not licensed to sell leaf/flower or edibles, our program’s very different. Patients and practitioners should feel comfortable knowing that a more traditional model of medicine lends itself to a very controllable dosing. Patients are more comfortable taking what will feel and look like a very traditional dosage form. This really is medicine and when patients come to us unsure about what they’re taking, they feel relieved when we review their other medications and show them this is real medicine.\n\n### Q: Can you share a success story or anecdote of treating a patient with medical cannabis? \n\nA: I think one of my first patients was the most memorable. This gentleman came in to the dispensary in a wheelchair; he had many health issues. Within two weeks, he walked in with a cane. We all almost fell off our seats. This is only one story, but medical cannabis can often help those when nothing else could.\n\n### Q: What are you passionate about? \n\nA: Family is really important to me. I have four wonderful children and two grandchildren. I enjoy painting and working out at the gym.\n\n### Q: Finally, where should people go if they want to learn more about accessing cannabis in New York?\n\nA: The New York State Department of Health website provides basic information about the program. If you contact any of our four dispensary locations in New York, the Bronx, Liverpool, Amherst, and Albany. Everyone at each location is very knowledgeable and will help answer all of your questions.\n\nQ: Do I have to see a registered practitioner in NY to get approved for a medical certification?\n\nA: Yes, It is legal for a patient to get a medical consult to get certified and get a recommendation from a certified healthcare provider through a TeleMed call...[see more](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/593ef93dfb464119ac5cbb50/do-i-have-to-see-a-registered-practitioner-in-person-to-get-approved)\n\nQ: What kinds and amounts of cannabis are allowed in New York if I am approved?\n\nA: The approved cannabis products and routes of administration in New York State are (1) Liquid or oil preparations for metered oromucosal or sublingual administration or administration per tube...[see more](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/593ef21ffb46410c7f5cbb8a/what-kinds-and-amounts-of-medical-cannabis-are-allowed-in-new-york-if-i-am-approved)\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/14b42/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/f836f/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.jpg 200w,\n/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/2244e/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.jpg 400w,\n/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/14b42/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.jpg 800w,\n/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/47498/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.jpg 1200w,\n/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/54ac5/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/58556/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/61e93/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.webp 200w,\n/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/1f5c5/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.webp 400w,\n/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/58556/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.webp 800w,\n/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/99238/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.webp 1200w,\n/static/22fe30bef11c68e04474116a7da6607b/5e0b8/88b36d242117a6fd72713683614b3a3c.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2358-markdown","title":"PharmaCannis: The Future of Cannabis in New York","slug":"pharmacannis-the-future-of-cannabis-in-new-york","content":"### New York Expands the Cannabis Market\n\nFinally!  Good news for New York cannabis patients.\nAccess to critical cannabis therapies is increasing before our eyes due to an expanding list of qualifying conditions and new medical dispensaries opening up across the state.  \n\n[PharmaCannis](https://hellomd.com/brands/5ade6948531eba0006265736), a New York and Illinois-based dispensary group, is a shining example of the eastern US cannabis scene, complete with state-of-the-art production facilities, professionals from the pharmaceutical industry, and an eye towards making cannabis a part of the future of healthcare. With eight dispensaries and three cultivation centers across New York and Illinois, PharmaCannis is fast taking the lead in showing the world how cannabinoid-based therapies are a part of healthcare.\n\n### Cannabis in the Eastern United States\n\nState-specific regulations have a major impact on the direction of cannabis companies and their offerings. The license application process in eastern states is intense; licenses are few and far between.  In 2015, PharmaCannis received one of only five licenses awarded in New York State.  \n\nOne of the major differences in the eastern market is the requirement for vertical integration. Each medical cannabis provider has each stage of the business from seed to sale.  This includes the cannabis grow and processing facilities, and the dispensaries, that are instrumental in the treatment of patients.  Because Pharmacannis has built its business within the stricter regulations of the eastern United States, the company’s approach promises a clean, safe, and medicinal environment. \n\nWorking to sign up patients and doctors is the next major step for the cannabis industry.  Just last week, [HelloMD launched in New York](https://www.hellomd.com/new-york), providing a brand new channel for New Yorkers to obtain a medical marijuana recommendation from a physician or other qualified healthcare practitioner.  New York’s list of qualifying conditions recently expanded to include chronic pain, which can increase the number of potential patients.  PTSD will potentially be added next, continuing to drive growth in the market. \n\n### Educating and Treating Patients\n\nOne remaining challenge is educating physicians and patients who are not aware of how cannabinoid-based therapies may be used in the healing process.  PharmaCannis tackles this problem by offering education for both patients and doctors while providing the highest quality care.  Patients have access to guidelines on how to use medical cannabis, while physicians are offered a “Clinical Cannabinoid Medicine Curriculum,” and continuing education courses.\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/594ed83ea33c8d1135ef82c1/embedded_images/594ed8c0338c5805f723a1ac/PCinterior.png) \nThe interior of a PharmaCannis dispensary.\n\nEach PharmaCannis dispensary in New York is managed by a licensed pharmacist, and all Patient Care Representatives go through a rigorous two-day training when hired.  \n“We distinguish ourselves on a personal, one-to-one healthcare consultation model, where a patient has the ability, if desired, to spend time individually and privately with a pharmacist or patient care representative at the dispensary,” says [Jeremy Unruh](https://www.hellomd.com/people/jeremyu), General Counsel of PharmaCannis.\n\nNew patients might expect the opportunity to have an extended 30-45 minute consultation on a first visit.  Medical cannabis products resemble a prescription one might receive at a pharmacy or physician’s office.  “Our patients benefit from quality-control tested, accurately labeled products in tamper-evident, child-resistant packaging.  These are the consumer protections that PharmaCannis patients are able to take for granted,” says Unruh.  Follow-up outreach and compassion care are the final steps of the process, to ensure patients get what they need and help them stay educated on what is available.\n\n### Pharmaceutical Expertise\n\n“The driving goal at PharmaCannis is to be the national leader in driving medical marijuana to take its place, whatever that may be, in healthcare” says CEO Teddy Scott.  PharmaCannis brings together experts from the medical, pharmaceutical, and cannabis fields into its facilities, blending the art and science of growing cannabis with the precise manufacturing processes of the pharmaceutical world.  \n\nAmong the senior staff are cultivation manager Brendon Hershey, who used to work for DuPont Pioneer, a major national agricultural products producer seed producer, and Louis Mejias, a Big Pharma scientist who is responsible for PharmaCannis’ extraction process.  “I transitioned my career into medical cannabis because I believe in the science. It’s a natural product made from a natural process in a highly secure and regulated way,” Mejias is on record telling the New York Post.\n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/594ed83ea33c8d1135ef82c1/embedded_images/594ed8c2338c5805f723a1ad/PC_grow.png) \nPharmaCannis cultivates their own plants.\n\nAt present, New York’s medical cannabis program only allows medical cannabis to be administered in the form of a tincture, oil, or pill.  PharmaCannis currently offers tinctures and vape cartridges, with plans to introduce tablets and capsules soon.  Consistent dosage is a key issue across all of medical cannabis, and PharmaCannis ensures this with a tightly-controlled extraction process that mirrors a pharmaceutical lab.\n \n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/594ed83ea33c8d1135ef82c1/embedded_images/594ed8c5338c5805f723a1af/growoperation.png)\nPharmaCannis has over 250,000 square feet of processing and production space.\n\n“We honor the culture that has come before us in the cannabis world, but we also recognize that it takes an additional level of sophistication to provide consistent patient outcomes,” says Unruh.  According to the New York Post:  “The entire facility runs like a lab operated by scientists like Mejias who have decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.”\n\n### State-of-the-Art Facilities\n\nPharmacannis has over 250,000 square feet of processing and production space.  The magnitude of the production capacity, advanced technology used, and level of professionalism show a side of cannabis that many have never seen.  \nGiving tours of the production facility is Unruh’s favorite part of the job because “Nobody, and I mean nobody, leaves a PharmaCannis cultivation and processing center thinking the same way about the cannabis industry as when they entered.”  \n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/594ed83ea33c8d1135ef82c1/embedded_images/594ed8c3338c5805f723a1ae/lab.png)\nPharmaCannis labs are similar to those within a pharmaceutical company.\n\nCurrently, Pharmacannis has major capacity moving forward:  “We can easily handle all the patients in New York state right now and for the foreseeable future,” says Unruh. \nPharmacannis appears to be well on their way to reaching their goal of being a leader of medical cannabis in healthcare, and ready to face any challenges that lie ahead.  Unruh looks towards the future,“We’ve come a long way, but we’re just getting started.”\n\n### View PharmaCannis New York Locations\n\n[PharmaCannis Montgomery, NY](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/pharmacannis)\n\n [PharmaCannis Liverpool, NY](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/pharmacannis-liverpool)\n\n[PharmaCannis Amherst, NY](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/pharmacannis-amherst)\n\n[PharmaCannis Albany, NY](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/pharmacannis-albany)\n\n[PharmaCannis Bronx, NY](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/pharmacannis-bronx)\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAPABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIEAf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAAGqO3Bxy4//xAAZEAEBAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgADETH/2gAIAQEAAQUCUx3VNnkJmyRw5z//xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARESMf/aAAgBAwEBPwF7BQ//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARL/2gAIAQIBAT8BjT//xAAbEAABBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIQEyIxUf/aAAgBAQAGPwLAbVYaEIDuR//EABsQAAMAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABESFBYTFR/9oACAEBAAE/IZZToz4+7HbdJV4QzZ9AFkwf/9oADAMBAAIAAwAAABA/z//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAUf/aAAgBAwEBPxABhKv/xAAXEQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABABEx/9oACAECAQE/EEJr2Df/xAAcEAEAAwACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABABEhMUFRYYH/2gAIAQEAAT8QCLYXRjVv0W4uxipbBfCCOvjqcfD41sTRQqf/2Q==","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/14b42/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.jpg","srcSet":"/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/f836f/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.jpg 200w,\n/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/2244e/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.jpg 400w,\n/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/14b42/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.jpg 800w,\n/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/47498/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.jpg 1200w,\n/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/54ac5/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/58556/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/61e93/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.webp 200w,\n/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/1f5c5/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.webp 400w,\n/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/58556/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.webp 800w,\n/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/99238/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.webp 1200w,\n/static/42ab06e69a31dfbcf67707e647a97ef9/5e0b8/0012c9d177977fc202a7457453066f9d.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5634,"name":"Pharmacannis","slug":"pharmacannis","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}