Art published in Go Outside magazine.
Surfer and marijuana. We can't say for sure which of these two things has faced more stereotypes and prejudices historically. Surfing has recently become an Olympic sport and is popular in Brazil and around the world, while marijuana is legal in at least 22 countries. However, in our country, many people still consider it taboo even though its extensive benefits have been scientifically proven and its use dates back centuries, even in religious contexts. As a medicine, it is recognized in Brazil, and every day new sources of prescribing doctors are emerging. There are also associations that have been working to obtain medication for hundreds of people for years, all under the guise of a still prohibitionist policy. Did you know that 6.9 million Brazilians are eligible and could benefit from cannabis consumption? In short, the cannabinoid revolution has arrived, and below you will discover how marijuana can be used for good health.
Imagine this scenario: you ride a giant Pipeline wave, then catch a flight to Maui for a tow-in session at Pe'ahi (better known as Jaws), and return to the North Shore of Oahu the same night to surf at Banzai Pipeline again the next morning. In an episode of his vlog, Hawaiian professional surfer Nathan Florence, 28, says "My body is beaten down. My back and biceps are really sore. I'm still tense because of the waves at Pe'ahi, but Pipeline has epic waves, so let's catch some barrels." Nathan Florence then puts on his wetsuit and takes a dropper of CBD oil to his dry, cracked lips, releasing a few drops under his tongue. "Two full droppers," he says, "I hope they reduce the inflammation from traveling and surfing Pe'ahi and constantly testing my limits."
In recent years, professional surfer Nathan Florence and many of his colleagues, along with hundreds of high-performance athletes from various sports around the world, have started using phytocannabinoids from cannabis as a supplement to their grueling routines. Scientific research has proven the beneficial effects of phytocannabinoids in combating physical and mental stress experienced by athletes. However, even amateurs are feeling the positive effects of cannabis. In general, anyone can improve their quality of life with the help of phytocannabinoids from this ancient plant, which is already considered central to 21st-century medicine. We spoke with experts and explored this universe of immense possibilities so that you can better understand how cannabinoids can improve health and athletic performance.
THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM
"In my research concept, the person who benefits most from cannabis is the average human - the healthy one, of course. But those with acute or chronic crises can use the medicine forever," says Dr. Sandra Freitas, who has an extensive background in various health areas: chemical engineer, specialist in integrative medicine and its foundations in health, phytotherapy with medicinal plants, living pharmacy, and functional gastronomy, clinical psychoanalyst, CEO of Laboratório de Diálogos, executive consultant, and scientific director of the Centro de Excelência Canabinoide (CEC) Research and Education Institute.
Sandra explains that we are constantly seeking self-regulation, whether we stress too much or get too depressed. Homeostasis, as this constant search is called, is a continuous condition, like a pendulum, adjusting things whenever we are challenged. According to her, it is impossible to talk about the body's balance without considering the endocannabinoid system, which is the central system of the human body (also present in other mammals), the great "maestro" that connects us with the hundreds of phytocannabinoids present in the plant.
"The endocannabinoid system is part of the metabolism related to numerous physiological functions, and that's why it has so many medical applications, because it is indeed at a kind of metabolic crossroads between different processes, with effects on the immune response, appetite, sleep, anxiety, emotion, pain, locomotion, cardiovascular and respiratory functions, intraocular pressure, inflammation, reproduction, sex, neural circuit remodeling, formation of new memories, extinction of traumatic memories, neuroprotection, neurogenesis, motor coordination, perception, flow of thoughts, creativity, motivation, etc. In fact, it is very difficult to point out a single aspect of human cognition, human mental life, and even health that is not related to the endocannabinoid system," details neuroscientist Sidarta Ribeiro in the first class of the V Medicinal Cannabis Course, MovRecam, held in partnership with Unifesp.
Simplistically, the endocannabinoid system is spread throughout the entire body, with CB1 and CB2 receptors. Phytocannabinoids connect to these receptors, regulating all other body systems. "Endocannabinoid compounds work with us to sustain homeostasis - an action necessary for every human species," explains Sandra, "so I see cannabis as a regulatory resource for life, which I can use as a corrective for certain refractory syndromes."
ENTOURAGE EFFECT
Central to understanding the endocannabinoid system, the entourage effect is the result of the interaction of cannabis terpenes, phytocannabinoids, and cannaflavins. When they enter the human body, they promote a synergy known to provide better medicinal and therapeutic properties compared to the isolated consumption of active principles. The term, coined by Israeli researcher Shimmon Ben-Shabat, originated from the phenomenon discovered by Raphael Mechoulam in 1998.
Products that offer the entourage effect are called full-spectrum, gathering all components of cannabis in different concentration levels. There are also broad-spectrum products, which are CBD oils that contain phytocannabinoids and terpenes, contributing to the entourage effect. The most common ones are isolated CBD oils, which carry a wide range of medicinal properties and have no psychotropic effects.
According to Kaya Mind, specialized in transforming information and data into insights and analyses for the cannabis, hemp, and peripheral sectors, patients have reported that products delivering this synergy are more effective than isolates, which show a decrease in the natural concentration of substances.
The longboarder Kassia Meador, who discovered the CBD for treating her mother who suffered from multiple sclerosis.
DISCOVER YOUR MEDICINE
Whether a surfer or not, we can all benefit from cannabis, provided there is clarity about which chemical molecule best connects with our receptors. "If it doesn't fit, our body is wise and reacts by mobilizing its army to attack, and then you'll be unprotected in another scenario and lose energy. In other words, something that would be good for your body will only stress you out," explains Sandra.
That's why doctors insist: it's essential for people to educate themselves, know themselves, and be accompanied by competent professionals who are well-informed about cannabis. This is also the reason why many cannabis enthusiasts and health experts talk about using cannabis within an integrative approach, always focused on individuality.
"If the athlete is monitored and takes care of the entirety of their medicine, they will have results; not a result that will improve their performance due to some chemical compound, but rather their endocannabinoid system that, if healthy, will promote more health," emphasizes Marcelo De Vita Grecco, who was involved in the creation and development of startups like The Green Hub, CEC, and ANELLA (a management software that offers dosage suggestions and best practices for therapeutic cannabis use). He served as the CEO of the Centro de Excelência Canabinoide and currently works as a speaker, being a reference in the cannabis industry. It was through his experiences prescribing treatments at The Green Hub that he came up with the idea of an integrative approach to maximize the plant's benefits.
"They say CBD, for example, is not good for someone with a blood clot. You need a very good understanding to follow the correct treatment with the right product, along with proper nutrition and exercise, and the right tests for it to be a successful treatment. That's how we work, and it's with this seriousness that we would like all doctors to work for the expansion of cannabinoid medicine. It's the medicine of the future, which sees the patient as an equal; it empowers them with control over their life and delivers health results," says Marcelo.
For Marcelo, the cannabis era marks the farewell to the old medicine, the so-called 1.0 industry, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy foods, and treatments that enrich an industry little concerned about quality of life. "With phytocannabinoids, we enter the health industry: we regulate the endocannabinoid system to achieve homeostasis and work integratively to promote health all the time," says the specialist.
Approaching 60 years old, Sandra uses medicinal oil: "Besides the effects of menopause, I don't want to suffer from aging, and I know I can relieve myself. I use three drops every 11, 12 days and I feel well. Did someone teach me? No. I understand the chemical aspects, but I need to know the frequency and type, and it's my prescribing doctor who needs to be close and interested in guiding me. In Europe, I bought an oil I picked off a shelf, but I have knowledge. If someone dares to take a random dose, which could be too much or too little, they will have the impression that the treatment doesn't work."
Above, businessman Fernando Paternostro, one of the pioneers in Brazil in the use of phytocannabinoids within the sports context. Photo: personal archive.
AND THE ATHLETE? A SUMMARY
An athlete is someone who demands more from their physical organization: they experience more inflammations and injuries due to the demands of movement. All of this stresses their physical organization because it asks the body for more than it is prepared to offer. When we run, according to Sandra, the body receives a warning signal: are we attacking or fleeing? As a result, cortisol and adrenaline levels rise, and we exit homeostasis. To minimize the stressful activity that can lead to the dysfunctions athletes must deal with in their training and competition routines, the modulating function of phytocannabinoids comes into play.
"Endocannabinoid receptors make themselves available to receive external resources that come from the environment to regulate what needs to be adjusted. Normally, we do this ourselves: if there's a cortisol spike, dopamine or noradrenaline comes and adjusts. These are compounds that are within us. But if I go beyond my limits, what can I bring from the outside that will make this compensation? The great insight in the 1960s was recognizing some assets that favored this, one of the merits of Israeli organic chemist Raphael Mechoulam, also known as 'the father of cannabis research'," explains the doctor.
Orthopedics is also benefiting from the effects of CBD. Jimmy Fardin Rocha, an orthopedic specialist in cannabinoid medicine in sports, is one of those who emphasizes the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD in the recovery of professional athletes dealing with pain. In 2016, he volunteered at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, when the therapeutic potential of cannabis was not widely discussed. "Now, seeing the excellent results in my patients, I wonder about those athletes we treated in Rio: if they had access to phytocannabinoids at that time, the number of injuries and the muscular and neurological problems of the competitors would certainly have been lower," he speculates.
CANNABINOID REVOLUTION
Even with so many proven positive effects, leading a reckless lifestyle and expecting cannabis to act as a miracle cure is futile. "It's not magic, but an opportunity to change your lifestyle. It's no use being a smoker, having a poor diet, an unhappy job, neglecting sleep, and thinking that oil alone will change your life for the better," warns Fernando Paternostro, amateur triathlete and founder of the Athlete Cannabis community, as well as the CEO of the myGrazz app, a hub for medicinal cannabis in Brazil.
Before medicating with cannabis, Fernando used to take anti-inflammatory pills with supplements: Cataflam with Centrum daily. Gastritis resulted from this combination, leading him to more medications, which still didn't prevent constant inflammations such as shin splints and plantar fasciitis. After introducing cannabis into his routine, the businessman saw his REM sleep – that precious stage of sleep when our memories and knowledge are processed, and when there's also increased oxygen circulation in the blood – jump from 20 minutes to an hour and a half.
His anxiety levels also decreased, and he felt the effects in his family relationships and at work. He started meditating, improved his diet, and embraced vegetarianism.
Using his professional project to improve his own life, he launched the Athlete Cannabis Protocol, through which a combination of phytocannabinoids is used to maximize sports performance and improve muscle recovery, control the inflammatory process, and optimize sleep quality.
Like all athletes supported by the Athlete Cannabis project, Fernando has an individualized protocol: he takes nothing before training. Once a week, he takes 25 mg of THC before a three-and-a-half-hour workout. Every day, after lunch, he takes 1,200 mg of CBG to control the inflammatory process. Always after training, full-spectrum CBD (0.5 mL), and at night, 20 mg of CBN to improve sleep quality.
During training, he uses CBC gummies during the two-hour transition. He also invests in topicals, such as creams, ointments, and gel: "I apply them on specific points when I have inflammation or on my entire leg post-training. I also use cannabis-based moisturizers and an eye cream," he adds.
The only supplementation Fernando adds to his cannabinoid arsenal is creatine: "I undergo medical examinations constantly, and my health is excellent. I always suggest that people have a consultation, so the doctor can tell them if cannabis treatment is suitable for them and what the best protocol to adopt is," he advises.
On his list of upcoming acquisitions is the first kinesio tape with CBD, which Fernando is bringing exclusively to Brazil. With 30 mg of CBD per strip and other phytotherapeutic assets like menthol and camphor, they are designed for specific applications on more fatigued body points and areas with contractions, for example.
CANNABIS FOR ALL
For a vast number of experts continually delving into the subject, anyone whose physical activity surpasses the primary metabolic standard will benefit from cannabis use. According to Sandra, the plant fills the "gaps" that the body opens due to excessive activity. Thus, athletes are individuals with the lowest risk of adverse reactions. With a millennia-old knowledge and a pushback against prejudice, we can go farther than ever before.
DROPS OF HISTORY
Get to know a bit more about the origins of the use and study involving the marijuana plant and its derivatives.
Cultivated for millennia around the Himalayas, marijuana spread to all regions of the globe and its medicinal potential was recognized very early on: it was probably not only one of the first remedies but also the first fabric, the first rope. In the 1550s BC, in Ancient Egypt, the plant's power was known to reduce inflammatory processes, as evidenced archaeologically in the Ebers Papyrus.
Egyptian goddess Seshat (above). Responsible for giving life to sacred constructions, protector deity of royal records; the goddess also appeared as the patroness of the so-called "Houses of Life," where scribes were initiated, and where ancient knowledge was stored. There is some controversy regarding the symbol she had on her head. Even today, researchers do not reach a consensus on this.
Egyptian goddess Seshat (above). Responsible for giving life to sacred constructions, protector deity of royal records; the goddess also appears as the patroness of the so-called "Houses of Life," where scribes were initiated and ancient knowledge was kept. There are some controversies regarding the symbol she had on her head. Even today, researchers do not agree on this. Today, we know that marijuana contains many substances with therapeutic potential (some with psychotropic effects, others not), with various properties of medicinal interest because they are analgesic, bone growth stimulants, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive in some cases, antiepileptic, antiproliferative, antibacterial.
Traditionally, for millennia, marijuana has been planted to obtain fiber – in the form of hemp – but also in other varieties, from which the production of resins and lipids is expected, which are psychoactive, medicinal, and therapeutic.
Not surprisingly, many ancient cultures have an intimate relationship with cannabis: in Egypt, the goddess of knowledge and writing, Seshat, wore a cannabis leaf on her head. Even today, in India, there is the traditional use of marijuana in the form of bhang, an extremely potent tea, manufactured and consumed abundantly, including within the religious practices of Sadhus.
THE MOLECULE OF HAPPINESS
In 1964, Israeli organic chemist Raphael Mechoulam from the Weizmann Institute in Israel identified that one of marijuana's lipids, called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is responsible for many of its psychoactive effects. A simple way to demonstrate this was by baking a cake with THC and offering it to members of the laboratory and his family.
In the late 1980s, the first known cannabinoid receptor, CB1, was cloned. This receptor is concentrated in the brain: in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and caudate nuclei. Cloning allowed the study of cannabinoids' effects on the brain through this molecule, which is the receptor – a giant protein inserted into the neuron cell membrane that receives it. You can think of it as a lock that receives a key, which would be the cannabinoid.
In 1992, anandamide was discovered (its name derives from the Sanskrit word "ananda," which means "happiness" or "extreme pleasure"). It is an endogenous cannabinoid produced by the brain itself. In other words, the brain produces substances similar to those found in the plant. This endogenous key that fits into the lock is the CB1 receptor. Both were discovered by researchers within the scope of Professor Raphael's research and have since revolutionized science and medicine.
Source: Sidarta Ribeiro, in the V Medicinal Cannabis Course – MovRecam
LET'S GO TOGETHER
By Maria Eugenia Riscala, founder of Kaya Mind
"I discovered medicinal cannabis in Spain in 2014, motivated by my sister's case, who has an intellectual disability. First, I investigated hemp and was shocked by the multitude of things that can be produced from it. From airplanes and gasoline to cosmetics.
I was very impressed that this ingredient was prohibited. Then I discovered CBD, which has no contraindications and is prescribed for a much larger number of people than THC, which, although also has therapeutic properties, will work well for some people and be terrible for others.
At that time, my sister was taking Ritalin, and I always thought the medication made her groggy. We started with cannabis, and she reacted superbly. At that time, I started going to all her medical appointments and arguing with all the neurologists who said I couldn't medicate her, that it was forbidden. I replied that what was forbidden was something else, something that doesn't save anyone's life. That's when I joined activism. I have been studying cannabis since 2014 and started working with it in 2015.
Kaya Mind was born to bring answers, translate data, information, and insights: in Brazil, everything we had was centered on each individual's experience or scientific studies in English, with 16 words per sentence that no one understood. In other words, knowledge was in the hands of the individual or the scientist. After all, what good can cannabis do for any of us? It all boils down to its therapeutic properties.
That's why we need to rethink regulations so that they encompass more people. The big word is together, everyone together. The person who wants to grow at home along with the person who wants to buy at the pharmacy because in the end, everyone wants the same substance. And there are many people who want to use cosmetics, wear a hemp shirt, take a plant-based protein. Although they are different things, in the end, all of this is marijuana, it's cannabis, and it needs to be discussed together.
Look at Kaya Mind's data:
67,349 is the number of people registered with Anvisa (until April 2022) to use therapeutic cannabis in Brazil;
6.9 million is the number of eligible Brazilians who could benefit from cannabis consumption;
R$9.5 billion is the estimated value that the production of CBD and other cannabis phytocannabinoids for medicinal purposes could generate in Brazil, in the fourth year after the implementation of broader regulations.
* Originally published in Go Outside magazine #175.
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