‘Confessions’ of a cannabis advocate

CANNABIS advocate “Kimmi” CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The cannabis plant, or marijuana, has had various nicknames in modern society. In the ’70s, it was called “weed” (damo in the vernacular), and “smoking a joint” was the oft-used phrase that referred to its recreational use. In the Philippines, marijuana, whose leaves and flowers are hallucinogenic, is an illegal substance, and possession, cultivation and use of the plant is considered a crime, the corresponding punishment of which is equivalent to those who use other prohibited substances such as heroin, “shabu,” or cocaine.

However, there has been an increasing clamor globally for the legalization of marijuana, at least for medical use. In the United States, 20 states have adopted initiatives to exempt from state criminal penalties  patients who use marijuana under a physician’s supervision. That call is now echoed by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, who plans to file a bill in March that would legalize the sale and purchase of cannabis strictly for medical use.

Various research around the world have favorable findings that cannabis can be used to relieve pain from nerve damage, stimulate appetite among HIV-AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immune deficiency syndrome) patients and protect the body from some types of malignant tumors as well.

The journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences) had published a discovery of natural marijuana cannabinoids having the capacity to literally quell the brain inflammation responsible for causing cognitive decline, neural failure and brain degeneration. Gary Wenk, a professor of neuroscience, immunology and medical genetics at Ohio State University who helped with the research, was quoted by Naturalnews.com as saying: “I think that the perception about this drug is changing and in the future people will be less fearful.”

In 2013, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (one of the world’s premier herbal research organizations) announced the publication of an official cannabis monograph—set to be installed in two parts—establishing a solid groundwork for the full integration of cannabis therapy into modern medicine.

Nutritional expert, book author and raw food guru David Wolfe shares that hemp and marijuana are both classified as Cannabis sativa, a species with hundreds of subspecies.

Wolfe wrote in his book “Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future”: “That the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, may be used as a superfood initially surprises some people. The government and media have largely restricted knowledge of hemp to its unique variants of marijuana. Marijuana, with its leaf and flower content of the psychoactive substance delta-9-tetrahydroannabinol, has become illegal … and labeled a ‘drug’ while other very serious and extremely dangerous drugs such as hard liquor and pharmaceuticals (with known dangerous side effects) are legal.”

Inquirer Science/Health recently interviewed “Kimmi,” 35, one of the staunchest cannabis advocates in the country. Due to the sensitivity of the subject, Kimmi requested that her real identity remain unpublished.

Inquirer Science/Health: When did you first learn about marijuana having medicinal qualities/properties?

Kimmi: My curiosity started in my early 20s. I knew marijuana was illegal and considered dangerous. So I researched on the reasons why it was so. It was said to be highly addictive and had no known medicinal properties. My research led me to a series of eye-opening studies and historical findings that marijuana was, in fact, used as medicine even in ancient history. Eventually, I came across political reasons why marijuana became illegal in the United States, and unfortunately, the rest of the world followed.

IS: How certain were you that marijuana had medicinal uses?

K: I have seen how it has remarkably improved the lives of people, including children with epilepsy and cancer. Epilepsy is something that most people think they would just have to deal with, that there is nothing to be done to stop it. The same goes with cancer. As a matter of fact, there are now a lot of cases where cannabis cured cancer with no side effects. There are a lot of successful cases in other countries. Why can’t we have the same option here in the Philippines?

IS: What is the proper medical term for marijuana? Cannabis?

K: Basically, hemp is cannabis. The word marijuana was just slang in the States in the 1930s to confuse people. When we say “hemp,” it is often associated with industrial uses. Cannabis is used when referring to its medicinal properties.

IS: What is your stand on the legalization of marijuana?

K: Frankly, the Filipino consciousness is not ready for its legalization. The mere mention of the word “marijuana” stirs a lot of negative reactions; that legalizing it is like legalizing murder. We have a lot of people who base their comments on opinions and not on proper information. We are not pushing for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, what we are pushing for is medical marijuana. There should be strict laws in terms of acquiring and administering it as medicine. It’s a great challenge in the way laws are implemented in the country.

IS: How did you form and how did you become the head/founder of Moms for Marijuana and the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society and International Women’s Cannabis Coalition?

K: I have been a health advocate at the same time I became a cannabis advocate. My personal research led me to Moms for Marijuana International in late 2012. I researched on the group, and felt it was just right for me to get in touch with other mothers with the same advocacy. I wrote them a letter to apply for a local chapter. After a few months of waiting, I was granted the position of the local chapter for the Philippines in April 2013. Due to the overwhelming support, I initiated the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society. I also got involved in the International Women’s Cannabis Coalition, which consists of the former boards and chapter leaders of Moms for Marijuana International.