Israeli firm a global innovator in medical cannabis

“Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people ….”

                           – Book of Ruth

With these words, which we recited a couple of weeks ago on Shavuot, Ruth, a Moabite woman and a widow, follows her mother-in-law, Naomi, an Israelite and a lonely widow herself, to the Jewish people. With this act of lovingkindness, Ruth endeavors to repair Naomi’s broken world. With her actions, Ruth embraces tikkun olam.

Today, a pioneering Israeli company named Tikun Olam is bringing a new dimension to the practice of repairing the world (in Hebrew, tikkun olam) by delivering health benefits from breakthrough strains of medical cannabis.

Tikun Olam’s medical cannabis (marijuana) has been taken by more than 20,000 Israelis to relieve chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety and a variety of other symptoms associated with illness or the side effects of medical treatments.

The use of medical cannabis in Israel is highly regulated by the Ministry of Health. What differentiates Tikun Olam from other businesses in the medical cannabis industry is leading-edge research, patient experience data, state-of-the-art growing techniques, global distribution and government-sanctioned clinical trials.

Tikun Olam, which is building a reputation for world leadership in the rapidly expanding market for products that improve health and wellness, is a growing Israeli intellectual property success story. 

The company is poised for growth as more countries gain a deeper understanding of the health benefits associated with medical cannabis. Tikun Olam operates outside of Israel through partnerships in Canada, Australia and the United States. Tikun Olam Global currently serves seven states in the U.S. and is developing a partnership with MariMed Advisors, in Rhode Island, which plans to offer the company’s products by the end of the year.

Tikun Olam was the first cannabis supplier in Israel founded as a nonprofit, in 2006, and is now the largest, with 12,000 active patients. In Israel, the company delivers health-care services directly through clinics and nursing centers.

Cannabis has two primary chemical agents: THC, which delivers the “high,” and CBD, which provides the health benefits. Avidekel is a strain of medical cannabis developed by Tikun Olam that has less than 1 percent THC and 16 percent CBD. This brand can be consumed as a smokeless product, which is more acceptable for geriatric and pediatric patients. Tikun Olam also has dozens of other strains of cannabis, created by varying the THC/CBD ratio, along with trace elements. Today, six primary strains are marketed outside of Israel.

Clinical trials and extensive patient studies have shown that medical cannabis can help manage conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, colitis, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and nausea associated with chemotherapy.  

The majority of the research on medical cannabis takes place outside the U.S., which restricts such studies. Recent large population studies, described in respected journals such as The European Journal of Internal Medicine, have demonstrated the efficacy of medical cannabis. In one study of approximately 3,000 cancer patients, some 36 percent were able to successfully eliminate opioid use. Another study, of an elderly population, found an opioid-reduction rate of 18 percent.

Some patients say that the most significant advantage of using organically grown cannabis is that it gives them some control over treatment for chronic conditions. Loss of control is a common fear associated with illness. Medical cannabis can be used as little or as frequently as the patient chooses, under the supervision of a health-care professional. 

In the U.S. to date, 29 states have approved cannabis for medical use (nine states have legalized it for both medical and recreational uses). Cannabis remains classified as a Drug Enforcement Administration Schedule 1 drug – considered to have a high potential for abuse and no medical value – and the Justice Department is committed to preserving this status. The schism between the states and the federal government on this issue could prove to be a headwind for the industry.

Social acceptance is also an impediment for those who associate cannabis with “reefer madness” and “stoners” like Cheech and Chong. Tikun Olam believes a core part of its mission is to provide evidence of the drug’s health benefits that is data-driven and supported by government-sanctioned studies.

Recent endorsements of medical cannabis from respected U.S. political leaders may reduce the stigma of cannabis use and accelerate its legal status. Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld and former Speaker of the House John Boehner both recently announced their support for medical cannabis. In a podcast interview on “P&L With Pimm Fox and Lisa Abramowicz” on April 20, Weld stated that 94 percent of Americans favor legalization of cannabis for medical purposes.

Market research by Cowan and Company, a leading investment bank, estimates that the U.S. market for cannabis will reach $75 billion by 2030. Nationwide legalization or decriminalization, if they occur, are likely to bring more businesses into the market, driving down prices and margins. 

Tikun Olam assumes the responsibility implied by its name. Repairing the world by reducing suffering and improving health and wellness is a large mission. Tikun Olam is fulfilling this promise by operating as a trusted partner, global innovator and accomplished representative of Israel. For more information, go to tikunolamusa.com.

This article is a business profile of Tikun Olam and is in no way an informed medical opinion, product representation or endorsement. As always, before using any products, seek advice from your medical professional.

MARC RUSSMAN (marc.russman@gmail.com) is a student of Jewish thought and interpretation.