Category: University

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Medicinal Cannabis Education: Empowering Patients and Transforming Society

Medicinal cannabis use is rapidly expanding globally, driven by increasing research and growing public acceptance. However, unlocking the full potential of this therapy requires a cornerstone element: medicinal cannabis education. This education targets various stakeholders across society, impacting individuals, healthcare professionals, and the broader public sphere.

Empowering Patients:

  • Informed Decisions: Educational programs equip patients with knowledge about cannabis strains, potential benefits and risks, and proper dosing and consumption methods. This empowers patients to actively participate in their treatment plans and make informed decisions about using medicinal cannabis.
  • Improved Outcomes: Understanding potential side effects and interactions with other medications allows patients to work effectively with healthcare professionals to manage their conditions and avoid complications.
  • Reduced Stigma: Education helps patients navigate societal misconceptions and overcome anxieties associated with cannabis use, fostering a sense of empowerment and control over their health.

Transforming Healthcare Professionals:

  • Knowledge Base: Educational programs equip doctors, nurses, and pharmacists with a solid understanding of the science behind medicinal cannabis, its therapeutic potential, and best practices for integrating it into treatment plans. This bridges the knowledge gap that may exist due to limited training in conventional medical education.
  • Improved Patient Care: Healthcare professionals gain the confidence to discuss cannabis as a treatment option with their patients, leading to more informed and personalized care plans.
  • Reduced Reliance on Traditional Medication: By offering a viable alternative for specific conditions, medicinal cannabis education can help reduce dependence on potentially addictive or less-tolerated pharmaceutical drugs.

Shifting Public Perception:

  • Combating Stigma: Public education campaigns can dispel myths surrounding cannabis and highlight its potential therapeutic benefits. This fosters a more informed and accepting societal view of medicinal cannabis use.
  • Safety Awareness: Educating the public about responsible use and potential risks associated with medicinal cannabis can promote safe and responsible patient behavior.
  • Policy Development: Increased public understanding can influence policy changes, leading to regulations that facilitate safe access and responsible use of medicinal cannabis.

The Ripple Effect:

The impact of medicinal cannabis education extends beyond individual patients and healthcare professionals. It creates a ripple effect, fostering broader societal acceptance, influencing legislation, and paving the way for a more informed and responsible approach to medicinal cannabis use.

The Road Ahead:

While significant progress has been made, the field of medicinal cannabis education is still evolving. Continued research, development of educational resources, and ongoing public awareness campaigns are crucial to ensure patients, healthcare professionals, and the public are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of medicinal cannabis use. By prioritizing education, we can unlock the full potential of this therapy and ensure its safe and effective integration into modern healthcare systems.

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Study: “Hemp as a potential raw material toward a sustainable world: A review”

“Hemp as a potential raw material toward a sustainable world: A review”
A T M Faiz Ahmed, Md Zahidul Islam, Md Sultan Mahmud, Md Emdad Sarker, Md Reajul Islam *
Faculty of Textile Engineering, Bangladesh University of Textiles, Dhaka, Bangladesh

ARTICLE INFO

Keywords: Bio-composites, Biofuel, Hemp paper, Hemp textiles, Hempcrete, Sustainability

ABSTRACT

Global warming as a result of climate change has become a major concern for people all over the world. It has recently drawn the attention of the entire conscious community, with the fear that if not addressed properly, it will result in the extinction of numerous species around the world. At the same time, it will pose a threat to human health, food security, living environment and standard of living. Thereby, possible solutions are being explored accordingly; regulations have been imposed in places binding green production practices, limiting the emission of CO2 and emphasis is given on renewable resources along with the search for alternatives to carbon-positive materials. Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) has received a lot of attention because of its multipurpose usability, short production cycle, low capital demand in cultivation, possibility of carbon-negative transformation and easy carbon sequestering material. This paper reviews hemp as a very promising renewable resource including its
potential uses in paper, textiles, composites, biofuel, and food industry.

Read the full paper here.

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Texas A&M Receives Grant for Hempcrete Material Study

A plan from Texas A&M University researchers to 3D print new resilient buildings using hempcrete has the potential to lower the environmental impact of traditional construction methods and make housing more affordable and available.

The project will be funded by a $3.74 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Harnessing Emissions into Structures Taking Inputs from the Atmosphere (HESTIA) program.

Petros Sideris, assistant professor of the Zachry department of civil and environmental engineering, will lead the project as principal investigator to develop residential and potential commercial construction designs. His team consists of Assistant Professor Maria Koliou, Department Head and Professor Zachary Grasley, Professor Anand Puppala, Associate Professor Manish Dixit and Professor Wei Yan of the Texas A&M College of Architecture.

Hempcrete is made by mixing hemp powder, fibers or shives with lime and water, creating a lightweight, green building material.

“While production of conventional construction materials such as concrete requires large amounts of energy and releases large amounts of CO2 [carbon dioxide], hempcrete is a net carbon-negative material, which can provide major environmental benefits,” Sideris said.

Sustainability will be further promoted by designing hempcrete structures more resilient to natural hazards than commonly used lightweight wood frame construction.

“Resilience to natural hazards is intertwined with environmental sustainability because building damage and subsequent repairs due to extreme events such as hurricanes result in major environmental impacts,” Sideris said.

Hempcrete has already been used globally in residential construction and prefabricated modular construction.

“Hempcrete has excellent fire resistance and thermal insulating properties that can reduce heating and cooling energy demands,” he said. “It is water-resistant and offers good acoustic properties.”

As part of the project, building designs will be printable and created to achieve structural and energy performance that will comply with modern design codes. Sideris said digital designs of printable hempcrete buildings will facilitate adoption by the construction industry.

“The advancements of this project will contribute to the U.S. maintaining its worldwide leadership in advanced construction methods and infrastructure sustainability and resilient technologies,” he said.

The funding is part of HESTIA, which prioritizes overcoming barriers associated with carbon-storing buildings, including scarce, expensive and geographically limited building materials. The HESTIA program aims to increase the total amount of carbon stored in buildings to create carbon sinks, which absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than released during construction.

TUE JULY 12, 2022 – WEST EDITION #15
TEXAS A&M
Construction Equipment Guide