The Food Heals Podcast with Allison Melody and Suzy Hardy

It’s hard to believe today, but up until 1937, marijuana was available over the counter in every pharmacy in the country. But for various political and business reasons, this ancient remedy was vilified, demonized, and marginalized. It’s now classed by the government as a Schedule 1 substance, putting it in the same category as heroin. Thankfully, the tide is shifting once more to recognizing the marijuana’s medical potential. Working in ER, Dr. Rachna Patel would see many patients come in suffering as a result of accidental or intentional opioid overdose. She also witnessed patients become addicted to these pharmaceutical painkillers. Marijuana had never been mentioned in medical school, but when Rachna came across a study that showed marijuana could reduce patients’ dependence on opioids, she knew it was time to change direction. In 2012, Dr. Rachna Patel opened up her own clinic. She now helps patients in the Bay area California to safely use medical marijuana to treat a range of conditions from chronic