Madge Love Talks is a series of live conversations and discussions held on Instagram where various dimensions of women’s wellness are unpacked and explored by experts and members of our community. The series supplements and enhances the educational information available on Madge Love, our blog and community platform, while advancing MADGE AND MERCER’s mission to destigmatize cannabis and other topics related to women’s wellness including aging, perimenopause and menopause, stress and anxiety, intimacy issues and many more.  

For our second episode of Madge Love Talks, MADGE AND MERCER founder and CEO Shauna Levy was joined by Dr. Marni Brooks, a family physician with a focused practice in cannabinoid medicine. She is founder and Chair of the Medical Interest Group in Cannabinoid Medicine in Canada at the Ontario Medical Association, the first and only group of its kind in Canada. Dr. Brooks is also an integral part of the team of experts who provided support and guidance in the formulation and development of MADGE AND MERCER MODERN APOTHECARY products. We were so grateful to have the chance to hear directly from her to address common misconceptions about safe cannabis consumption and hear her perspective on how opinions towards cannabis are evolving. The full conversation, as always, is saved as an IGTV but below we compiled some of our favourite moments.

Tell us about what it means to be a physician with a focused practice in cannabinoid medicine 

Coming from a background in addiction medicine, I now work at Canabo Medical Clinic, providing cannabinoid medicine treatment through virtual care for patients aged 1 to 105, treating conditions in almost every system of the body. I was one of the first doctors to enter the field, which is now growing but there’s still a long way to go to get other physicians on board. I created the first and only Medical Interest Group in Cannabinoid Medicine at the OMA because I felt a need to get more physicians and patients informed about how and why cannabis can be a good treatment option. 

What do you see as the main reason that women may be reticent to use cannabis for wellness reasons? 

There’s a general lack of understanding when it comes to cannabis. Many people - patients and physicians alike - don’t understand the distinction between CBD and THC, and think of all cannabis as marijuana you inhale to get high. In addition to the lack of understanding, a further barrier is the lack of funding within the industry to conduct randomized, double-blind studies. This makes it hard to get accurate, verified information out. There has been more acceptance amongst patients, primary care givers and specialists in recent years, but there’s still a long way to go. 

Any tips for someone trying cannabis for the first time? 

Mindset is important when trying cannabis. Everyone responds differently to cannabis, so going into it with realistic expectations and an understanding that the first product you try won’t necessarily be optimal and that it will be a process of trial and error to find the dosage and format the is best suited to your needs, is helpful. Legal dispensaries are a good place to go if you are interested in experimenting, especially with  CBD products. Otherwise, talking to a physician who understands cannabis and can prescribe specific strains and modalities is the best approach.  

Is there a general approach when it comes to dosing CBD oil? 

A standard dosing schedule would be starting with 0.25ml in the morning and at night (12 hours apart), and increasing by 0.25 ml increments. If worried about side effects, then dose slower, at 0.1ml increments. Starting low and going slow is the best approach here, as it is unpredictable how the product will impact someone.  

What’s the difference between hemp and CBD? 

Hemp CBD is not medical CBD, which is something people don’t realize, unlike CBD derived from cannabis, which is an active ingredient. When people use hemp CBD, the effect is largely placebo. 

All MADGE AND MERCER MODERN APOTHECARY PRODUCTS include a micro amount of THC and select terpenes along with the CBD to encourage the “entourage effect,” can you explain what that is? 

Within in any given strain of cannabis there are thousands of compounds - cannabinoids CBD and THC and non-cannabinoids. The “entourage effect” is a theory that all the compounds in cannabis activate each other, which is why if you’re looking to benefit from the therapeutic effects of cannabis, you don’t want a CBD product that has no THC. 

How do you think the stigma surrounding cannabis can be reduced? 

Time is key - it’s already happening as we’re seeing less and less stigma over time. 

What are the essential items in your self-care toolkit? 

Facial products - a cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum and moisturizer. I tried MM 004 ÉMOLLIENT and will be adding it into my routine, you’ve succesfully taken out the cannabis smell, which you never see.  
 

Thank you again to Dr. Brooks for your time and insights. Be sure to watch the full conversation to hear her additional thoughts on upcoming trends in cannabis and wellness that she’s excited about.   

In wellness, 

Madge Love 

PS: If you’re looking to read more about cannabis as a tool for wellness, check out our Cannabis 101 post.