All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may make a commission. I do not accept money in exchange for positive reviews or a quick feature.

Cannabidiol, CBD is quickly becoming a buzz word in skincare and wellness.  The Cannabis Industry is exciting. We’re seeing some progress in medical research but clearly its been under-studied for years.  The new term for cannabis is Lifestyle Medicine. Cannabis is  a wellness medicine.  Not everyone who uses it is a Pothead. We need to get that stigma out of our heads.  Using CBD during your post-operative plastic surgery recovery instead of opiate drugs, is much healthier and does not lead to addiction. Surgeons are prescribing too many opiates post-op. Patients get nauseous and  feel lousy when they are taking too many pain killers.

Currently, nine states plus D.C. have legalized recreational weed, and 29 states have legalized medical marajuna . Legal marijuana is a serious, fast-growing industry, one that’s estimated to have generated almost $9 billion in U.S. revenue last year. New York and Illinois, which are poised to allow medical marijuana to be recommended as a substitute for opioids that have been prescribed for pain.

Even more exciting, Monday the Food and Drug Administration announced the country’s first drug derived from marijuana, a medication that treats two rare and devastating forms of epilepsy. This is promising.

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Unfortunately  Cannabis is still federally illegal and a schedule one drug in the same class as Heroin!  This makes little sense to me.  Because it is illegal doctors cannot prescribe it to you, but under your first amendment  right they can recommend it.

On the other hand, a lack of FDA and DEA approval has hardly prevented an industry of beauty and wellness companies from using CBD in everything from mascara to bath bombs.

I became interested in the benefits of medical cannabis about  a year ago because I saw an opportunity to educate my plastic surgery patients about CBD and THC for their mind and body before and after plastic surgery.  I also found it a fascinating plant, nothing like the weed I remember in the 1960’s. I never realized how complex the cannabis plant is and knew nothing about the endocannabinoid system. 

Here’s what I discovered:

1. The cannabis industry has attracted many women from various professional backgrounds.  Maybe being a female plant and a challenging new industry is a contributing factor.  Women like challenges and have creative out of the box thinking ( not that men don’t). Infact the cannabis industry has one of the highest rates of women in executive and founder roles. Most of the people whom I’ve met are women with a great passion for the plant and it’s amazing medicinal  qualities.
2. Cannabis, Mental Health and Yoga is another trend that’s getting lots of buzz. There are Ganja Yoga classes cropping up all over San Francisco.
3. Women are using high doses of CBD to THC to treat depression, anxiety and for overall wellness. Also as a substitute  for ant-depressant  drugs.
4. CBD is a pain reliever and its anti-inflammatory
5. CBD in the right ratio of THC can replace any opiate drugs and much healthier for you.
6. Cannabis creates an overall feeling of wellness tapping into our body’s receptors.

There are new cannabis derived skincare products entering the market.  A recent editorial appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology  about how cannabinoids applied topically may treat a variety of dermatologic conditions, including sever itching, inflammatory skin disease, and skin cancer. Hopefully we will begin to see this products in our doctor’s office.

The industry is huge and exciting.  Know what you are buying and who you are buying CBD and THC from.

Be Happy and Healthy.