Cameron Bell’s Post

My Medication Is Crippling Me… With the cost of living crisis at the top of a lot of people's priorities, some are more concerned than others with rising costs, especially people who rely on medication to lead a "productive" life, health and well-being should be a right, not a privilege. As one of the first medical cannabis patients in the UK, (No. 11 on the medical cannabis registry), I’ve witnessed firsthand just how incredible the plant is, from my journey as well as hearing other patient stories. With the general election underway, it is time to shine more of a light on medical cannabis awareness. Cannabis saved my life over five stagnant policy years, while traditional meds offered little relief and severe side effects. Cannabis isn’t a panacea, but it’s a potent treatment that has revitalized many lives, mine included. Internationally, attitudes are shifting. Germany has rapidly progressed, and other G20 nations are embracing medical cannabis or revisiting their laws. Canada, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, and many US states have legalized cannabis for both recreational and medicinal use. After a regimen of 30 daily pills—opioids, benzos, SSRIs—that left me numb and at overdose risk, cannabis was a revelation. It halted my symptoms and gave me back control. Yet, the cost is prohibitive. Prescriptions start at £250/month, forcing patients to weigh health against basic needs—a harrowing choice. With 40k registered UK patients and over a million self-medicating, it’s time for a new approach. NHS cannabis could mitigate opioid addiction and policing costs while fostering a self-sustaining health model. The UK must discard old misconceptions. WHO and UN discredit the gateway drug theory; studies show cannabis can be integral to mental health treatment. As the world reassesses its views on cannabis, it’s time the UK sheds its outdated fears. Peer-reviewed studies from across the globe corroborate the positive impact of cannabinoidal medications. It’s not just anecdotal; it’s scientific fact. This election presents an opportunity for policy reform—to embrace modern knowledge and empathy. We must keep pace with global progress. #HealthCare #GeneralElection24 #TimeForChange

Cannabis: what we need to know to make healthy choices 🌿 As the cannabis industry expands into a $33 billion market, we are seeing a concerning rise in health issues linked to chronic use of increasingly potent products. Doctors are treating more patients for cannabis-related psychosis, delusions, paranoia, and a severe vomiting condition known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, which was once rare but is now alarmingly common. Legalization has brought a lot of enthusiasm, but as more people turn to cannabis for sleep, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, we also need to speak about the potential harms. ▪️𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸:  The cannabis products available today bear little resemblance to the marijuana of a generation ago. Products with up to 99% THC are now common, creating stronger, faster-acting highs that carry greater risk of side effects. ▪️𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀:  Many users, government officials, and even healthcare providers remain unaware of the dangers posed by heavy cannabis use. There are significant gaps in regulation and public health messaging, with only a handful of US states requiring warnings about the risks. ▪️𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:  An estimated 18 million Americans meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder, and ~81% of daily cannabis consumers aged 18-25 struggle with this problem. While cannabis can provide legitimate health benefits, we must address these growing concerns. We need better regulation, public education, and more research to ensure consumers are aware of the risks they are taking. --- 🔔 I have done >12 years of neuro/behavioral science research and consulting on cannabis - see examples under Publications in my profile. This post highlights some risks to advocate for safe use, but I am by no means anti-cannabis: have also studied therapeutic benefits, found certain products helpful for myself, and invested in responsible cannabis companies. I have a broad, science-informed view on the topic without taking sides. I am happy to answer questions, assist with studies, writing, product development, resolving a cannabis use issue, and a lot more! 💚 #cannabis #marijuana #publichealth #mentalhealth #addiction #cannabisusedisorder #healthawareness

ICYMI: The Alberta government is appointing an expert panel to review effects of cannabis on young brains. The CBC caught up with our very own Ivan Ross Vrána to get his take as someone with long-standing ties to both the cannabis industry and Health Canada. The bottom line? The more information the better. We need to utilize the budget the government has provide for a deeper understanding of cannabis, not only as a recreational substance but also as a medical product. More research will contribute to a safer, more effective framework that supports both public health and industry growth. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eg4DEyC6 #Alberta #Cannabis #Research #PublicHealth #PolicyMaking #HealthCanada #ResourceAllocation

Five years ago, in 2019, if you or a loved one needed access to medical cannabis in India, what options did you have? Your options were not only sparse but fraught with legal ambiguities and a significant stigma around cannabis use, even for medicinal purposes. As someone deeply embedded in this industry, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that patients faced in accessing treatments that could dramatically improve their quality of life. The availability of safe, tested, and legal cannabis products was virtually nonexistent. Patients and their families were often left in a dilemma—desperate for effective remedies, but constrained by access and regulatory frameworks. Qurist was born - not out of the desire to capitalise on a business opportunity, but to fill a glaring gap in our healthcare system. Our mission has been clear from the start: to ensure that individuals in need have legal, safe, and easy access to medical cannabis. Since then, we've seen gradual, yet positive changes in both public perception and the law. Today, I'm heartened to report that medical cannabis is not only legal but increasingly accessible in India. As we continue to make strides, I invite you to share your experiences and thoughts by participating in the Great Indian Cannabis Survey 2024. Fill up the quick 5 minute form below to help better the understanding around cannabis use in India.

I used cannabis every day in high schooI and graduated with a 94%. Before class. Before exams... I’m sharing this for 3 reasons: 1/ To show you where I came from. 2/ To challenge stereotypes about cannabis users. 3/ To share a hard-earned lesson about overuse. In second grade, they told me I was “gifted.” Scored in the 99th percentile. School was easy. My superpower? Creativity, especially with words. I wrote so well my teachers thought I plagiarized. My mom got called in because they couldn’t believe it was my work. Then I met cannabis. It was like pouring gasoline on a fire. Cannabis supercharged my creativity. And the stereotypes never fit. I had top grades, I was athletic, social… ‘well-rounded.’ But eventually, I started overdoing it. I became dependent. I didn’t want to do anything without cannabis. I’ve struggled with this since high school. Addiction runs in my family. But I never gave up on cannabis. Despite the overuse, I experienced real benefits. It opened me up. It comforted me. It accepted me. Yet, in excess, the balance tips. It held me back more than it helped. (You can harm yourself with overuse. Most enthusiasts won’t admit that.) We each have our reasons, limits, goals. But I’m a builder… I can’t thrive in a fog. I need clarity, focus. Yet cannabis still opens creative doors and offers deep healing... So, how do you tap into cannabis in a productive way? It’s an art and a science. It takes conscious practice, a mindful cadence. I’ve got battle scars, but I’m ready to share my wisdom. Because I know it can help others. Cannabis is incredible. But you can overdo it. The key isn’t to beat yourself up. It’s to be honest with yourself. Here’s the truth: No matter how you use cannabis, there’s nothing wrong with cannabis, and there’s nothing wrong with you. Most of us don’t fit the stereotypes. No shame, no stigma. Over time, you can unlock the full potential of cannabis without squandering yours. Ready to learn how? I put everything I learned into a course called Conscious Cannabis. Join the waitlist: https://lnkd.in/g_dpj5A2 🍵🐆 Jungle Jake PS - Can anyone relate?

Today I received this email at work. My colleagues have nominated me for Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of the Year for the work I’ve done in cannabis. I’ve been at Stanford for a little over 2 years now and if you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be working at Stanford, using my cannabis expertise, I would have never believed it. Not only do I use my cannabis expertise with patients, I also use it to educate staff. Word is out that there is an APP with cannabis expertise at Stanford and patients and providers request me specifically. This is more than an honor for me. It’s validating. From the beginning I recognized that patients were using cannabis. I felt they deserved to have a qualified healthcare professional guide them; one who could help identify the benefits and risks associated with cannabis so they could make an informed decision. The choice to become an APP with cannabis expertise was risky and isolating at first. Some of my colleagues stopped talking to me, others called me a pothead and a drug dealer. I even had my license threatened by a few who believed I was causing harm. Despite all of that, I couldn’t walk away from the thousands of patients who found relief from cannabis. One of my favorite stories happened right before I was hired at Stanford. Cannabis was all over my resume. I decided to embrace the work I had done for the last 10 years instead of hiding it. I was hoping that an employer would see my cannabis expertise as an asset and not a liability. During an interview at a different hospital, one of the hiring managers told me she wanted to go off script after they completed the standardized questions. The conversation went like this: “I’ve seen your resume and I know what you do. No judgement. No judgement. I need to know if I hire you, if you’ll be able to refrain from promoting marijuana. Because if you do, we could lose our federal funding.” I decided that was not the moment to correct her about Medicare/Federal funding and cannabis. It is a myth that continues to plague the healthcare industry. Instead, I told her that I would hope that if a patient was not using it safely or effectively, that I would be supported when educating that patient. It was clear that my expertise was not valued there and that leadership would not support me in a way that would ultimately help patients. Another example of how rejection is redirection/protection. So here I am, at Stanford, where my cannabis expertise has been embraced and now celebrated. Do I want to win? 100% yes! For me this nomination alone is a win. It legitimizes the work nurses and APP’s have done in the cannabis space. As the famous quote goes… First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Oh and in case you were wondering, Stanford has not lost its federal funding.

Breaking the Chains: The Urgent Need for Cannabis Rescheduling   The science is clear. The public is ready. Yet some politicians remain stuck in the past. Recent GOP efforts to block cannabis rescheduling aren't just misguided—they're dangerous. They ignore: • Overwhelming scientific evidence • Massive therapeutic potential • The will of the American people Cannabis and our endocannabinoid system hold the key to groundbreaking treatments for cancer, epilepsy, and more. But outdated policies keep these life-changing therapies out of reach.   This is not only about the efficacy of cannabis as a plant medicine and freedom of choice, it’s about • Trusting science over politics • Putting patients before ideology • Embracing progress, not fear   We can't let misinformation, vilification, and hesitation rob us of crucial research and medical breakthroughs. The time to reschedule cannabis is NOW!!!   We must demand evidence-based cannabis policy that unlocks the full potential of this remarkable plant. #CannabisReform #ScienceNotStigma #PatientsFirst #UnlockThePotential Your voice matters. Share this post and join the fight for rational, science-based cannabis legislation.

Absolutely tragic that in 2024 this is the messaging this plant is getting. We failed to build bridges outside of the core community. We failed to educate doctors and worst we have failed to educate consumers that everything can be addictive. The recreational market has destroyed the wellness conversation that so many people have been investing in for decades. The core messaging that brought cannabis progress was not recreational access, it was medicine. We have failed to keep that messaging front and center. We have failed to continue to push stories of those who benefit from cannabis in the spotlight. And as so many continue to peddle the notion cannabis is a replacement for alcohol, we paint an even bigger target on our backs. Even as opioids literally kill record breaking amounts of Americans. That cancer rates for young people are sky rocketing. Social media brain rot for the iPad kids and a solid half of the country does not trust doctors or modern medicine. The cannabis industry has got to get back to the unified messaging nationwide. We need to put captalism on the back burner. We need to get real about the benefits of medical cannabis and continue to push those stories into the mainstream. Our industry can and will cause societal harm if we fail consumers. The stigma is very real and we must remember always that bad press for the plant is bad press for us all. Medical cannabis brought us progress and we abandoned it. I’ve benefited from cannabis my entire adult life ,but I wasn’t using it at 12. I don’t even support use for some of my friends and family who have negative side effects. Both things can be true ,but it’s up to us to teach people how to be safe. How to put it down when it does not serve. It’s up to us to build bridges with medical professionals. This is on the industry now and I don’t have any faith in our leadership to understand the responsibility we face when they are so concerned with stock price. We’re going the wrong way and the bad press will follow. Cannabis is wellness and medicine. Always was and always will be. https://lnkd.in/gjCQ3EFu