Cannabis education company Viz Medicinal is set to hold the first in a planned series of training events for healthcare practitioners, taking place in Bangalow, NSW later this month.
Flowers: prescribing and dispensing medicinal cannabis for women will be held both in person and online on April 30, featuring speakers including Dr Orit Holtzman (Leura Wellness), Chloe Jean Teh and Dr John Teh (PlantMed Clinics) and Dr Amy Carmichael.
Dr Holtzman said: "As we strive to improve women's health, it's crucial to understand the role of the endocannabinoid system and its potential in medicinal cannabis prescribing."
The event is open to health professionals registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) who want to broaden their understanding of medicinal cannabis, with a particular emphasis on its application in women's health.
Chloe Jean Teh added: "What's remarkable about the medicinal cannabis community is our spirit of curiosity and open-mindedness. Together, we can unlock the full potential of this plant and create a brighter future for women's health for generations to come."
Dr Carmichael echoed that sentiment. She said: "It can be overwhelming, but curiosity and collaboration can lead to transformative progress in this field."
Viz Medicinal CEO and founder Natalie D'Alessandro added: "We welcome health professionals who are eager to learn, as well as those who are eager to share their knowledge and experiences with our community of AHPRA-registered practitioners.
"We are excited to foster an environment of collaborative discussion and knowledge sharing about the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis for women."
Early bird tickets are available now via this link.
UPDATE (April 18, 2023): Viz Medicinal will also launch its new program, MediBias, at the Flowers event.
The MediBias program is designed to tackle the stigma that surrounds cannabis within the health industry.
Drawing on principles from neuroscience, the program offers a straightforward process through which individuals can identify and confront stigmatising beliefs that may prevent them from viewing cannabis objectively as a medicine for patients presenting with a range of symptoms.
D'Alessandro said: "The MediBias program is a helpful tool in helping to shift the stigma around cannabis as medicine. It's time to move beyond outdated beliefs and misinformation and empower health professionals to make choices that are evidence-based.
"Inviting our doctors, nurses and pharmacists to check their own beliefs is a bold step towards creating a more open-minded and informed outlook on cannabis and its appropriate application for patients with the proper care."
