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cannapatientcare.com july/august 2022
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cannabis patient care
nurse focus
can be finding the right product and dosage that works best
for a particular patient and ailment. The rewards for patients
struggling to find relief can be life changing.
For example, Peter Skertich is an engineer from Katy, Texas
who has struggled with rheumatoid arthritis for more than 10
years. His treatment regimen has included multiple pharma-
ceuticals, many with potentially dangerous long-term health
impacts. None of the drugs have fully alleviated his symp-
toms. In late 2019, he was diagnosed with Lupus which was at-
tacking his liver and kidneys. He knew he could not continue
with an ineffective drug treatment considering his new diag-
nosis. During a two-week visit to Colorado and under the guid-
ance of medical cannabis professionals, Peter discovered how
cannabis can provide the relief he was seeking.
"By the end of the two weeks, it was apparent that cannabis
was my solution and it alleviated 95% of the symptoms," he said.
"There was only one problem, cannabis was not legal in Texas for
my conditions and the Texas Medical Marijuana Program does
not afford enough THC to help my condition. However, hemp is
legal and specifically delta-8 THC is legal in Texas. So, I have now
been using delta-8 THC for two years safely and effectively."
Peter uses 10 mg of delta-8 THC in the evening and 5 mg
during the day if needed. He consults with his internal med-
icine physician and Leaf411 to refine his regimen or if he is
experiencing any issues. As with any cannabis regimen, the
mantra of "start low, go slow" applies. Because everyone's en-
docannabinoid system reacts differently, cannabis impacts
different individuals in different ways. Most likely, a combina-
tion of CBD, THC, other cannabinoids, and terpenes will prove
most effective since autoimmune diseases often result in a
variety of symptoms. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, THC
is bound to play a pivotal role in any treatment. Until a pa-
tient is completely comfortable with the effects of any canna-
bis treatment, consumption should be conducted at home or
other safe location where no travel will be required.
References
(1) https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autoimmune/
index.cfm#:~:text=Scientists%20know%20about%20more%20
than,before%20getting%20a%20proper%20diagnosis.
(2) S. Rossi, G. Bernardi, and D. Centonze, (2010). The endocannabinoid
system in the inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes of
multiple sclerosis and of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Experimental
neurology, 224(1), 92–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2010.03.030.
(3) E. D. Gonçalves, and R. C. Dutra, (2019). Cannabinoid receptors as therapeutic
targets for autoimmune diseases: where do we stand?. Drug discovery
today, 24(9), 1845–1853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2019.05.023.
(4) V. Giorgi, D. Marotto, A. Batticciotto, F. Atzeni, S. Bongiovanni,
and P. Sarzi-Puttini, (2021). Cannabis and Autoimmunity:
Possible Mechanisms of Action. ImmunoTargets and
therapy, 10, 261–271. https://doi.org/10.2147/ITT.S267905.
(5) M. Guillouard, N. Authier, B. Pereira, M. Soubrier, and S. Mathieu, (2021).
Cannabis use assessment and its impact on pain in rheumatologic
diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford,
England), 60(2), 549–556. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaa534.
(6) M. Weber, B. Goldman, and S. Truniger, (2010). Tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) for cramps in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomised,
double-blind crossover trial. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and
psychiatry, 81(10), 1135–1140. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2009.200642.
(7) B. Hsiao, and L. Fraenkel, (2019). Patient preferences for rheumatoid
arthritis treatment. Current opinion in rheumatology, 31(3),
256–263. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOR.0000000000000591.
(8) G. Nahler, Co-Medication with Cannabidiol May Slow down the Progression of
Motor Neuron Disease: A Case Report. Journal of General Practice 2017, 05(4).
(9) https://leaf411.org.
about the author
ELOISE THEISEN is a board certified adult geriatric
nurse practitioner who specializes in cannabis
therapy. For more than 20 years, Theisen has
worked primarily with cancer, dementia, and
chronic pain patients. In the last eight years, she
has focused her efforts on cannabinoid
therapies. Eloise has worked with more than 7,500 patients to help
them effectively treat age-related and chronic illness with cannabis.
She is a co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Radicle Health
and Radicle Health Clinician Network and currently serves as Chief
Nursing Officer and Board President of Leaf411. Eloise also works in
Palliative Medicine at Stanford Health Care.
