{"id":9970,"date":"2020-08-31T14:41:24","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T18:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=9970"},"modified":"2022-08-18T15:07:50","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T19:07:50","slug":"veriheals-innovation-in-cannabis-scholarship-2020-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/veriheals-innovation-in-cannabis-scholarship-2020-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Veriheal\u2019s 2020 Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Veriheal, education and diversity are at the center of our core values. Yet we know how expensive college can be. Add on to that the difficulty of these unprecedented times, as a minority-owned business, we\u2019re making it our priority to pay it forward and invest in the future leaders of cannabis who will break barriers and pave the way for innovation in this burgeoning industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Choosing only 10 winners for the $10,000 in scholarships among the strong applications we received from multiple disciplines and concentrations in higher education\u2014from students of all backgrounds and interests\u2014was extremely difficult. Winners were chosen based on their essay submissions, which were scored based on knowledge, originality, and proposed implementation of groundbreaking ideas for progressing the cannabis industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It brings us great pleasure to present the 10 winners of Veriheal\u2019s Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship 2020<\/a>. These students showed knowledge and passion for the future of cannabis and posed revolutionary ideas<\/span> rooted in their training across business, agriculture, biochemistry, public health, pharmacology, medicine, and liberal arts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We are humbled to introduce you to them and their exceptional ideas, ranging from community grassroots mental health efforts designed to empower historically vulnerable communities of color, to research plans for identifying strain specific genetics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Veriheal\u2019s Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship 2020 Winners\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Nishtha Tripathi<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\"NishthaEssay:<\/strong> \u201cIntegrating Research and Medicine: Cannabis Related Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

School: <\/b>George Washington University<\/span><\/p>\n

About Nishtha: <\/strong>Nishtha is pursuing neurology to become a physician-scientist in honor of her grandmother Nani who suffered from Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a>. She is entering the 8-year Dual Admit B.S.\/M.D. Program between St. Bonaventure University and George Washington University School of Medicine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay Summary: <\/strong>Nishtha wants to further research into THC<\/a> treatment for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer\u2019s and epilepsy<\/a>, both of which cause neuron death. Alzheimer\u2019s and epilepsy are caused by hippocampal damage\/atrophy, and THC is known to affect the functioning of the hippocampus and the orbitofrontal cortex\u2014which is why it alleviates anxiety<\/a> and depression<\/a>. How would such cannabis medications be made effective and affordable? Can cannabis be further integrated into mainstream healthcare in medications for neurodegenerative diseases formulated to target and strengthen hippocampal function? Nishtha\u2019s argument shows why we need cannabis research to understand if it can prevent rapid memory loss, assist memory function, and increase temporal awareness prior to the onset of diseases like Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sinibaldo Romero Arocha\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n

\"SinibaldoEssay:<\/strong> \u201cDiversity is Vital in the Cannabis Industry\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

School:<\/strong> University of Minnesota\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About Sinibaldo:\u00a0<\/strong>Sinibaldo is an aspiring healthcare professional and a biomedical researcher in the Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D.\/Ph.D.) at the University of Minnesota Medical School.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He was exposed to alternative herbal options during his volunteer work as a Spanish interpreter at migrant clinics, and he became interested in medical cannabis when his mother asked him about CBD<\/a> oil and cannabis as alternative options for her daily shoulder pain<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay Summary:<\/strong> Although doctors\u2019 offices are full of pamphlets and flyers about mainstream pharmaceuticals in both English and Spanish, there is a lack of information for Hispanic patients seeking relief with cannabis and CBD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Data shows that Hispanic Americans are more interested in using cannabis and CBD for wellness than other groups and \u201cis believed to be in part due to the connections between the Hispanic community and nature.\u201d However, social and economic barriers like racial stereotypes and lack of access to care centers have historically barred Hispanic community members from seeking medical cannabis and participating in clinical trials. Sinibaldo advocates for providing information in Spanish in a culturally sensitive matter to make alternative cannabis medicine more accessible to Hispanics and other minority communities as well as ensure that these communities are represented in clinical trials.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDiversity is vital in the cannabis industry,\u201d and \u201csupport from the industry to Hispanic and other minority communities can help normalize its legal utilization to a broader audience of consumers.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Task forces equipped to translate information to Hispanic communities, creation of educational materials for healthcare professionals (so they can better answer patients\u2019 questions), and institutional\/informational websites with Spanish versions of their content on the benefits of cannabis are examples of the solutions Sinibaldo proposes. \u201cCommunities, patients, and the cannabis industry can all mutually benefit from these partnerships\u201d among patients, cannabis companies, research centers, and medical practices, Sinibaldo explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Maha Haq\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"MahaEssay:<\/strong> \u201cCombining Social Sciences and Pharmacology to Make a Positive Social Impact in Cannabis\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

School:<\/strong> University of Maryland<\/span><\/p>\n

About Maha: <\/strong>Maha is a graduate student in the Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics <\/span>at the University of Maryland, the first-ever graduate program dedicated to studying cannabis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maha was the founder and president of UCLA\u2019s first registered cannabis student group, Cannaclub. The club now has 3,000 members nationwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay Summary:\u00a0<\/strong>Maha envisions making a positive social impact on California\u2019s cannabis industry through patient advocacy, cannabis education, social research, and R&D. Her impressive background includes working in medical dispensaries in Los Angeles under Prop 215 in and prior to legalization and regulation under Prop 64. Maha saw a knowledge gap in supporting medical cannabis patients and developed training processes for dispensary personnel as well as courses for medical cannabis education in healthcare professional school programs. She plans to use her background in cannabis education and pharmacology to address the disparities between recreational and medical marijuana options for medical cannabis patients. For example, products at recreational dispensaries are more expensive than at medical dispensaries, because of mandated taxes, and recreational dispensaries do not always offer products that cater to the needs of medical cannabis patients. Looking forward, Maha aims to develop accredited cannabis courses in universities to develop cannabis education for future cannabis professionals. She hopes to use her knowledge and research abilities in social sciences, pharmacology, and R&D to bridge the gap between medical and social cannabis research while perfecting products for patients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Vaibhav Duggal\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"VaibhavEssay:<\/strong> \u201cCan Cannabis Improve Patient Experience Post-Surgery?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

School:<\/strong> Texas A&M University\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About Vaibhav: <\/strong>Vaibhav is an undergraduate researcher in biology, studying the psychological effects of morphine on post-spinal cord injury<\/a>, on track to becoming a future anesthesiologist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay Summary:\u00a0<\/strong>Vaibhav identifies the need for future research into the potential for pain reduction with medical cannabis during surgeries in which patients need to remain conscious. Drugs like propofol are used by anesthesiologists during surgery to keep patients unconscious, but these drugs cannot be used for neurological cases in which a patient must remain conscious. Additionally, the current anesthetic drugs that anesthesiologists rely upon have side effects, and there can be a risk of overdosing the patient. Meanwhile, cannabis is a promising option for pain reduction, especially when millions of Americans suffer from opioid addiction<\/a> each year. Not only could medical cannabis be used to make patients more comfortable, but the use of cannabis in professional medical niches like surgery could reduce stigma against the plant and the cannabis community. \u201cDiffering brands of marijuana could interact with the already current use of general anesthesia,\u201d Vaibhav theorizes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFuture generations [may be] ridiculing us for not using cannabis sooner in a wider variety within medicine. With more mainstream usage, especially professional as in medicine, comes more industry and recognition, better public relations, better profits, funded research…and just generally a happier America and world overall.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Clinton Ransom\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"ClintonEssay:<\/strong> \u201cTrying Medical Marijuana, the Right Way\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

School:<\/strong> Miami University of Ohio<\/span><\/p>\n

About Clinton:<\/strong> Clinton is an undergraduate student studying business.<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay Summary: <\/strong>Clinton postulates that if more patients were able to try medical cannabis in a safe, supervised program that it could reduce stigma and reluctance to legalization. Clinton describes how doctors at certified medical offices would guide patients through sampling cannabis for the purpose of deciding if they would like to obtain a medical marijuana card. The doctors would determine the dosage for the trial and follow up with the patient to see if they would like to continue using medical cannabis for their symptoms. \u201cBy giving people a safe and legal way to try this medicine, many people will have their minds opened up to what cannabis can do for them mentally and physically,\u201d and expose them to safe and natural healing, Clinton writes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Such a program would further educate and expose patients to medical cannabis who may be able to benefit from it as a substitute for addictive opioid medications and experience relief from conditions like migraines<\/a>, anxiety, seizures, back pain<\/a>, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis can help change the way people look at the substance. No longer will people look at cannabis and think about those commercials where the person sinks into their couch. They\u2019ll instead think about how great marijuana can be in reducing their back pain, preventing their seizures, stopping the constant pain from their migraines, making them feel less anxious throughout the day, or whatever helpful outcome it may be.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Ruth Dickey-Chasins\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"RuthEssay:<\/strong> \u201cGrassroots Mental Health Efforts Aimed at Empowering Local Communities with Medical Cannabis\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

School:<\/strong> George Washington University<\/span><\/p>\n

About Ruth: <\/strong>Ruth is going into a master\u2019s program in Public Health with a focus in Global Environmental Health at the Milken Institute of Public Health (GWSPH) at George Washington University.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay Summary: <\/strong>Implementing her training in public health that evaluates trends in large populations, Ruth identifies the lack of grassroots efforts aimed at improving the mental health of vulnerable communities with medical cannabis. Ruth\u2019s essay argues for a community-based coalition made up of cannabis companies, mental health providers, and local organizations to support positive mental health for underserved communities that have been disproportionately penalized for cannabis use and oftentimes strongly impacted by climate change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This proposal would empower mental health providers to develop their knowledge of medical cannabis and identify how it could help community members. Inclusion of local organizations would mean that they could tailor efforts and approaches for individual, vulnerable communities that experience anxiety, depression, and PTSD<\/a>. The coalition would strengthen the cannabis industry by informing and educating more practitioners about the mental health benefits of cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe industry will be able to advance their cause in a manner that increases equity, as many of the local organizations and practitioners in the vulnerable communities impacted by climate change are people of color. The industry will be able to be an active player in working to empower those communities that have for so long been unjustly penalized and criminalized for cannabis usage, and at the same time provide mental health resources for areas that are often sorely neglected.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Jack Devanna\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"JohnEssay:<\/strong> \u201cThe Nature of Hemp and Law: Hazy Regulation\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

School:<\/strong> The University of Rhode Island<\/span><\/p>\n

About Jack: <\/strong>Jack\u00a0<\/span>is an undergraduate student studying marketing.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Essay Summary:\u00a0<\/strong>Jack outlines the Hemp Farming Act, passed in December of 2018, and the implications of the bill for hemp companies and farmers. Previously a Schedule I substance, hemp was reclassified; hemp has extremely low levels of THC (less than 0.3%). To put this into perspective, farmers compare THC levels in hemp to trace amounts of alcohol in nonalcoholic beer. There are restrictions on where and when hemp can be grown. Due to popular misconceptions, law-abiding companies still face obstacles as they try to expand nationwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jack defines many issues with the bill:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n