Ep 54: How to Destigmatize Cannabis with Mara Gordon of Aunt Zelda’s

Problem: What is the truth about cannabis?

There is shame and stain around the cannabis and hemp industries, but why? There are so many uses for each. Mara Gordon of Aunt Zelda’s talks about the difference between cannabis and hemp, as well as what we can do to destigmatize it as a whole.

The Steps to Destigmatizing Hemp

Step 1: Educate yourself

One of Mara’s pet peeves is the inaccurate use of the terms around cannabis. After all, the difference between the terms cannabis and hemp are subjective. There is no actual difference. Each term has a specific stigma attached to it. That is only one of the reasons why everyone needs to educate themselves on the topic of cannabis. 

There are terms and phrases thrown around without the knowledge to back them up. One example is the argument that cannabis causes psychoactivities. However, psychoactivities aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Coffee, wine, and activities like running give you psychoactivities.

The hemp market and industry has really done a huge disservice to patients

Mara would love to see cannabis expand as medication. There are so many different uses for hemp in our everyday lives as well as to help with global issues.

Step 2: Know where to go to get information

There are so many opportunities for people to learn about the uses of cannabis and hemp these days. You just need to know where to look. Aunt Zelda’s FAQ page is a great start. But if you want to know more and go deeper, there are many sources for information including the documentary that Mara was a part of called, “Weed the People”.

We have to undo the damage of the drug war.

Step 3: Keep up-to-date with the latest medical information

Mara collects imperial data on patients, lab results, and follow-ups with the patients. She has been able to get some great data. In the beginning, she did not get any respect from other doctors. However, with the changing times, she has had a better response over the years. There are a few doctors and nurses who are grateful for Mara, who is a great source of knowledge for the industry.

When you have enough people, you can start looking at the other data points to figure out the differences, in order to make a difference with this one.

Calla Spring Wellness

Mara launched Calla Spring Wellness, a telemedicine platform and clinical service utilized by physicians and nurses to guide them on incorporating cannabinoid-based medicines into their standard treatment plans. Calla Spring Wellness is fueled by her careful data collection through Aunt Zelda’s, along with years of research and development in consultation with knowledgeable physicians and world-renowned researchers.