An Interview with Mindy Madeo, PMP at WholesomeCo Medical Cannabis Dispensary
With more than 20 years as a mainstream pharmacist behind her, Mindy Madeo found herself completely frustrated with our medical system where so many patients are overmedicated, or living without access to health care. A graduate of the University of Utah Pharmacy School, Madeo says this has been particularly true during Utah’s ‘Opidemic’ where opioid related deaths are the state’s greatestnumber one threat.
Madeo’s frustration pulled her out of retirement and focused her attention on developing better pain treatments. She does this with cannabis, as Pharmacist in Charge at WholesomeCo Medical Cannabis Dispensary in Bountiful, Utah. Madeo career choice was largely due to what she’d seen two of her patients go through, two, specifically, out of many. “They were living a very poor quality of life due to opioid treatment.”
One of the downers of opioid treatment is that the regimen can actually intensify rather than reduce pain, especially after a tolerance to the medication is built up, which Madeo says, can happen very rapidly. Ultimately, such opioid use can leave patients with an excruciating condition known as Opioid-induced Hyperalgesia (OIH).
“Although some people do well on opioids, many patients live in a fog without good pain control. 5 mg very quickly isn’t enough.”
Mindy Madeo, PMP at WholesomeCo Medical Cannabis Dispensary
What happened to those two patients she mentioned? Turns out, both of them self-medicated with cannabis to mitigate their pain, which gradually freed them from pain meds altogether. Madeo truly lit up with excitement while sharing their stories.
Recognizing cannabis as an excellent treatment for pain, Madeo saw an unexpectedly positive affect on those who were treating their ADHD with Adderall. By eliminating pain, cannabis can also remove some of the anxiety that travels with ADHD. Though anxiety is not a qualifying condition at present, Madeo said it is often hidden, or tied to many with qualifying conditions.
Though Madeo’s biggest passion is opioid reduction, she’s also excited to see the possibility of cannabis becoming an Autism treatment. She said that current research points to a significant connection between the Endocannabinoid System (eCB) and other, similar, Central Nervous System (CNS) issues, like Autism. Keep in mind that science knows the eCB plays an important role in our emotional and social responses and cognitive function. (1)
Madeo’s keen interest in the benefits of medical cannabis started to bubble right about the time she met the good people at WholesomeCo two years ago. Madeo says she couldn’t imagine a better job than counseling patients about the uses and benefits of medical cannabis at WholesomeCo. “It’s local, and we share similar ideals.”
Since then, Madeo has actively counseled patients with a strong emphasis on finding better treatments for pain, starting with microdosing cannabis products. Start small, she says.
Related Article: Salt-Baked Patient Profile | Managing Autism and Blindness with Cannabis
Madeo also mentioned that many of her patients come to her searching for a way to rid themselves of heavy pain meds that aren’t working. If this sounds even remotely familiar, get this, a Utah Department of Health Medical Cannabis Patient Survey polled in November ranks pain among the most frequently occurring qualifying conditions for medical cannabis cards in Utah.
Combining cannabis and opioids can be an effective treatment for pain, Madeo said, but it’s not just pain with which patients are suffering. There are many “comorbid” conditions that go with pain. It is often accompanied by whomping doses of anxiety and sleeplessness, yet, despite how potentially damaging these difficult symptoms are, neither of them are qualifying conditions.
There are more chemicals within a cannabis plant than we understand Madeo, explained with what an air of pure scientific fascination. “We know THC Delta-9 is a really good pain reliever; good for pain, sleep, and anxiety.” She went on to explain that the flavorful terpenes we know and love are equally important to unlocking the benefits of medical cannabis and pain treatment.
Think about an old-world remedy you may be familiar with. You know linalool in Lavender helps with anxiety, but did you know that it was also once used to treat seizures? Similarly, as Madeo explains, “one component of cannabis that helps with anxiety is CBD, which is sold all over the place, but for it to be really effective, you need to combine it with THC.”
Published in Salt Baked City Print Magazine – Spring 2021
