The Research

As Neil deGrasse Tyson discussed on the series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Robert Hooke famously reported to the British Royal Society in 1689 that he had been experimenting with cannabis and that a sea captain friend of his "had so often experimented with it that there is no cause of fear, though possibly there may be of laughter." It may be of no surprise to find that sentiment in Cosmos, as Carl Sagan, author of the original Cosmos series, wrote in 1969, "The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world." Though our modern societies have been debating the acceptability of cannabis use, the safety and potential of this versatile plant has been well-known by humankind for thousands of years. Cannabis is evidenced to have been used as far back as 10,000 years ago for a wide variety of purposes such as using hemp for rope, clothing, and more. Archeologic evidence of it's medicinal use dates back 2,500 years. We understand the need for caution, but we also value evidence and changing our views with new information. That's why we here at Swahn Balanced Health endeavor to bring treatments that not only eliminate suffering, but are safe and improve quality of life. We find it baffling that the model of Western Medicine can condemn a substance with healing properties merely because it has pleasant psychoactive effects. It's time that drug policy shifts to focusing on harm reduction as it was intended to do and away from demonizing substances that are enjoyable while also improving lives.