MEDICINE
seem a step too far for some , Phivida feels that the potential benefits must be recognised and taken into account . Belfontaine has met families with children suffering from epilepsy experiencing up to 450 seizures a week , typically suffering broken bones due to the nature of their drop-down seizures .
“ Most of them are 95 % terminal and don ’ t make it over the age of 15 due to liver failure from the ant-seizure drugs they ’ re taking ,” he says . “ The families are typically in financial ruin due to being under-insured . After seeing these families use full spectrum hemp oil ( a product that has no THC but is rich in cannabinoids that are not psychoactive ) for a 30-day period , these children go from catatonic and potentially terminal to coming back to life . Mothers talk about meeting their children ‘ for the first time ’ at the age of 10 when , thanks to a simple plant medicine , they finally have the opportunity to go to school after being prisoners in their own bodies for so long . There ’ s a bright horizon . We all have an element of wanting to do some good in the world and that ’ s why we ’ ve
“ The Phivida Families Program will subsidise and support any family with a child under the age of 18 or elderly parent over the age of 65 that ’ s under insured and give them the product for free ”
– John-David Belfontaine , Founder and CEO of Phivida
attracted such a great team .”
Has Phivida hit on wider potential to more widely use cannabinoids in chidlren ’ s healthcare as well as for adults ? Belfontaine identifies a triple mission for Phivida : to be a leader in the healthcare sector with its alternative products , to educate through research and to partner with scientists to further the understanding of what ’ s possible in the field of plant health . An important element is the Phivida Families Program with its three pillars of education , research and subsidy . “ The
46 April 2018