By Herbert M. Green - How medical cannabis patients propelled the global discussion with great force.
The locks are open! The train has left the station. The ghost is out of the bottle and there is no way to put it back. The momentum of the Cannabis Legalization Wave cannot be stopped after decades of slowness. But, who should we thank for this sudden and never-ending pressure in the discussion of whether cannabis should be legal and accessible to everyone? You would logically assume that it was the countless thousands of individual cannabis activists or the multitude of larger, nationally and internationally operating cannabis advocacy groups, such as NORMAL of Cannabis Europe, who carried the torch for cannabis liberation. And for the most part, you are right. Years of hard work and unyielding persistence have kept the “green dream” alive, but there is another, even greater driving force behind the changing perception of cannabis….
Cannabis activism as a solid basis
You see, where activists were fighting and still fighting for their love of the plant and their individual rights to consume it without hindrance or persecution, patients fight for something else; their lives. And it is precisely for this reason that the call for worldwide legalization of cannabis has received as much attention as it has. Urgency.
That's not to say the decades of hard work of activists and their continuous struggle were in vain. On the contrary, that work has laid the foundation for the discussion we are having on a global scale today. But alone, the activist community would not have been able to get the agenda behind it so quickly and with so much weight if the patients - and their parents, in the case of children who urgently needed medical alternatives - had not stood up. to make their voices heard.
Trust lost confidence in Big Pharma
When we say "patients" we mean those who suffer from illnesses such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma, chronic pain, or people undergoing cancer or HIV / AIDS treatment.
Most of these patients have one big thing in common; they are disillusioned with “Big Pharma”. The drugs these companies produce do not work or no longer work or cause numerous other problems, such as serious side effects or dependence problems. Of course, many looked for alternatives and eventually found relief in cannabis.
Chelsea Leyland
One such patient, who has become a spokesperson and advocate for medicinal cannabis, is Chelsea Leyland† This British DJ, actress, fashion icon and now activist suffers from a type of epilepsy called 'Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy' (JME), which she has been battling since her early teens. A few years ago she discovered CBD (a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis) and since then she has completely rid herself of pharmaceutical anti-epilepsy drugs and treated her epilepsy exclusively with medicinal cannabis.
Today she uses her fame and influence, as well as experience, to break the taboo around epilepsy and medicinal cannabis.
As a speaker at the upcoming edition of Cannabis Capital Convention (3C) On 30 October in Amsterdam, Chelsea shares her life story, her fight against epilepsy, as well as her experiences and approach as a medical cannabis lawyer. If you want to hear more of her fascinating story, visit the Cannabis Capital Conventionwebsite and reserve yourself today tickets. The ticket also gives you access to great networking opportunities with cannabis investors, influencers and emerging entrepreneurs.
Keynote / guest of honor: Jim Belushi
James Adam “Jim” Belushi is an American actor, voice actor, comedian, singer and musician.
Jim is the founder of Belushi's Farm cannabis and an outspoken advocate for the beneficial properties of the cannabis plant. Jim advocates for patient rights and adult legalization.
World wide wave. What can you expect from the Cannabis Capital Convention tomorrow?
WWhat can we learn from legalized markets?
Whe is next?
Ware the investment opportunities?
This year's theme will emphasize the World Wide Wave in cannabis legalization, with an emphasis on Europe. What can other countries, such as the Netherlands, learn from this wave and who is next? And what are the investment opportunities that this wave entails.
We will take a look at the European companies to see what they have to offer. We are going to explore and learn how they thrive despite operating in a legal gray zone and how they will compete and thrive in a global marketplace when barriers are removed. We will also keep the focus on the North American brands to discuss the lessons they have learned.
We bring together the knowledge of North American cannabis investors and seasoned veterans of the European cannabis market in our Cannabis Capital Convention. Second, we will provide a platform to discuss different ideas and visions within the industry. Think activists, farmers and professors who will all broaden your perspective!
New this year is the Pitch Lab where startups present their thoughts and ideas about the evolving cannabis industry.
De Cannabis Capital Convention takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 30 October in Amsterdam.
See you tomorrow?
