By Vanessa Orr
The use of CBD and medical cannabis products is booming; in fact, 57 percent of patients 55 years old and older have used CBD or marijuana for medical reasons, and interest continues to grow. Yet for many physicians and allied healthcare professionals, this is still an untapped area, mainly because of a lack of targeted information on how to use these substances in their practices.
On March 14-15, 2020, the American College of CBD & Cannabis (ACCC) will present its first annual Spring Congress in Orlando, FL, targeted to helping practitioners learn more about the medical benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) and medicinal cannabis. Unlike similar conferences, the Spring Congress will provide an opportunity to learn more about CBD and medical cannabis equally.
Dr. Mark Hashim 
Dr. Michelle Weiner
“We are really excited about this event because while most conferences are focused on medical cannabis and only provide about an hour of information on CBD, we’re taking a 50-50 approach in order to fill everyone’s thirst for knowledge,” said Jordan Desnick, founder of the American College of CBD & Cannabis. “Our physician presenters will be providing real-life examples of how they incorporate CBD and medical cannabis into their own practices.”
According to Desnick, physicians are often uncomfortable prescribing CBD and cannabis because they don’t have the information they need. “There are a lot of questions out there about dosages, and how much cannabis that patients should use,” he said. “Before patients go to a dispensary, they need to know how much and how often, and if there may be any drug interactions. Physicians can’t find this information in the media or at medical schools. We wanted to fill this gap.”
To do this, the Spring Congress has brought in experienced presenters, including Mark Hashim, M.D., diplomat, the American Board of Anesthesiologists, from the Intervention Pain Institute of West Florida and The Herbal Clinic, and Michelle Weiner, DO, a double board-certified physician in interventional pain management and physical medicine & rehabilitation from Spine and Wellness Centers of America.
According to Desnick, Dr. Hashim is regarded by his colleagues and clients as the leader in the Florida medical marijuana industry and is considered a pioneer in the field, having been active with medical cannabis since its inception.
“His presentations are engaging and thought-provoking, and are changing the way we view cannabis and influencing the industry as a whole,” said Desnick.
Dr. Hashim specializes in pain management and has more than 23 years of experience helping thousands of patients manage their chronic painful medical conditions. He was one of the first physicians in the state of Florida to qualify with the Department of Health to be a provider for medical cannabis. In December of 2016, he was invited to speak as the sole physician to the Florida Senate Health Committee and provide his expertise and advice on recommendations to create the statute for Amendment 2 and ways to improve the registry site for the state of Florida.
Dr. Michelle Weiner is the chair of the Florida Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee and founder of the Cannabinoid Health Institute. Known as South Florida’s medical cannabis and CBD expert and educator, she practices personalized medicine focusing on the etiology and offering individualized holistic treatment options.
Dr. Weiner serves on the faculty at Nova Southeastern University and at Florida International University, where she conducts research on using cannabis as a substitute for opioids in chronic pain patients. She is currently participating in research at University of Arizona evaluating the pharmacokinetics of water-soluble, nano-cannabinoid and terpene products.
“We have brought the best and brightest to the Spring Congress, so that we can help every different type of clinical practice,” said Desnick, adding that a wide range of practice groups, including pathologists, chiropractors and more, have registered for the conference.
Up to 14 CME credits are available to attendees, who will also have the opportunity to visit the Exhibit Hall, directly next to the session rooms, to learn more about products from Green Roads, OnePlant and other cannabis and CBD companies.
An early-bird discount is still available for attendees registering for the conference, which will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, FL. Cannabis News Florida readers can also save 20 percent on registration by using code CNF20 when signing up.
For more information on the ACCC Spring Congress, visit www.accbd.com or call 800-383-6034.
