My CBD story is private as I am an introvert and prefer to be anonymous. I agreed to let this be published if my name is not used and a stock photo is shown instead of my own so that I can speak freely and without inhibition. I am a fifty-something female who like many lost some family and friends to the pandemic and for other reasons besides the virus. It was life-changing for so many of us, all of us to whatever extent, and as a result, so many like myself are searching for healthier ideas for our life and especially our immune system.
I have health issues that were here before the pandemic and are still an issue. I heard of CBD when it gained national attention in 2019 and how it had many health benefits and is available without the THC ingredient that makes you high. I prefer a natural high but to each their own.
I could not rely on the hype of some companies that "this is the best CBD" on the market, etc. etc. so I did my homework and my research helped in making an informed decision as to which company and product seemed to be a good fit before buying it.
As a UCLA graduate/alumni I was impressed when I learned that they were the first to develop a research project called the Cannabis Research Initiative. Their mission brings together experts from diverse fields to advance the understanding of the plant’s impact on body, brain, and society.
There has been a of of controversy about cannabis especially since it is a grass roots ( no pun intended) movement to provide health benefits in a culture dominated by Big Pharma and big government wanted to control what we choose to use to improve our health.
This has caused so many funding barriers from government restrictions that we could have been so much further in the development of research over so many years, but it is what it is, and we still have those brave pioneers who will keep moving forward such as the Cannabis Research Initiative.
However, science and research will prove what I and so many others have experienced in health benefits. I will not list the personal testimonials here as you can easily find the benefits on Google. Wherever this is published, I do not want the publisher to get heat for medical claims etc. Research is another thing - until further conclusive studies are completed, the pre-clinical studies are published and show the potential novel clinical utility of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating component of the cannabis plant, as a safe and effective pharmacotherapy for RA".
Here are just one of UCLA's ongoing research studies that give a glimpse into the therapeutic benefits of CBD.
"Therapeutic Response of Cannabidiol in Rheumatoid Arthritis"
Funded by: Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (648557)
Role: Principal Investigator (MPI: Dr. Cooper [PI] and Dr. Ranganath [PD/PI])
"Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a rare autoimmune destructive arthritic disease, affecting 0.5-1% of the total population. RA patients suffer from joint pain, joint deformity, stiffness, swelling, fatigue, impaired function, and decreased quality of life. Presently, there is no cure for RA and clinical remission is only achieved by 1-33% patients. There is a critical need for non-toxic, well tolerated, and efficacious adjunctive medications that can aide in the treatment of the RA patient to reduce pain and inflammation-induced joint damage. Preclinical studies support the potential novel clinical utility of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating component of the cannabis plant, as a safe and effective pharmacotherapy for RA. The overall goal of this proof-of-principle proposal is to examine the efficacy and safety of CBD treatment as adjunctive to the medical management of RA patients with moderate to severe disease activity. The results of this study will inform a future larger clinical trial to apprise the public and physicians on whether CBD truly reduces RA synovial inflammation."