HOW TIKUN OLAM, AN ISRALI COMPANY, GROWS MEDICAL MARIJUANA WHICH DOESN'T GET YOU HIGH, BUT RETAINS ALL THE MEDICAL BENEFITS

MOTTO:  "This is the GOD'S doing ; it's marvelous in our eyes​​"

Situated in an undisclosed location near Tzfat, northern Israel, is a government-approved medical marijuana plantation which was founded in 2004 by a retired biology teacher. Named Tikun Olam, the plantation has created a new cannabis strain which contains very low traces of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main constituent in cannabis responsible for making people feel "stoned". By virtually eliminating THC in the new strain, Tikun Olam can now offer the drug's medicinal benefits to those patients who wish to keep a clear head.

Tikun Olam began operations in 2004 on a small scale by a retired biology teacher (Click Image To Enlarge)

Tikun Olam is situated in a secret location somewhere near Tzfat in northern Israel (Click Image To Enlarge)

The Tikun Olam facility includes a 11,000 sq meter growing field, several greenhouses, a cloning facility and a harvesting facility (Click Image To Enlarge)

Marijuana contains over 60 constituents named cannabinoids and though THC is the most famous due to its psychoactive effects, another important constituent is cannabidiol (CBD).

 

CBD is believed by some researchers to offer anti-inflammatory benefits, thus offering the potential to relieve pain without making patients intoxicated, if the THC-to-CBD concentrations can be correctly balanced.

The new cannabis strain offers the drug's medicinal benefits to patients who do not wish to feel intoxicated (Click Image To Enlarge)

Some researchers believe CBD may produce anti-inflammatory effects in patients, resulting in the potential to relieve pain without making patients intoxicated (Click Image To Enlarge)

Some daily users of medical marijuana find it a hindrance to performing every day activities (Click Image To Enlarge)

The new strain of marijuana created at Tikun Olam does just that. Dubbed Avidekel, it contains less than one percent THC, compared to the company's most popular strain Erez, which contains 23 percent THC. Avidekel couples this with an increased concentration of CBD, said to be almost 16 percent. How real-world use of Avidekel compares to existing medical marijuana products designed to limit intoxication, such as the under the tongue spray Sativex, is still unclear.

Although many patients feel the intoxicating effects of THC to be a beneficial element of medical marijuana use, others find it a hindrance to performing every day activities and so welcome the opportunity to take the marijuana while maintaining sobriety.

One of the ten patients to make use of the Avidekel strain in the last six months, while speaking to Reuters said.

"It's a huge advantage.  I can smoke during the day, function with a lot less pain and still be focused, work and drive. It is a great gift."

Recreational use of cannabis is prohibited under Israeli law, however the drug is currently used medically to treat roughly 9,000 people suffering from illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease.

The promotional video below sheds more light on the Tikun Olam plantation.

 

COMMENTARY:  

About Tikun Olam

Tikun Olam is the first and foremost supplier of medical Cannabis in Israel and the flag bearer for the medical use of Cannabis in Israel.

Since the day of its founding the company has stood for dedicated quality care for its patients while developing professional standards for growing medical grade Cannabis.

In the field of production – emphasis is put on special methods which focus on increasing production of the active ingredient (mainly THC and CBD) so that medical grade plants may be grown.

The medical Cannabis is produced in a careful and sterile way, beginning with the stages of planting, harvesting, processing and until it reaches the patient.

In the field of treatment – the company has developed a unique treatment method (on a global scale) which views treatment with medical Cannabis as a central part of a caring, compassionate and humane treatment for its patients who are coping with a terrible disease, whether chronic or terminal.

Ti​kun Olam has vast accumulated experience (perhaps the most extensive in the world) in personal instruction of patients in safe and effective use of medical Cannabis.

Over the years Tikkun Olam has initiated and maintained cooperation and working relations with doctors, scientists, department heads, nursing facilities and other medical institutes in Israel and abroad.

The company continuously strives to increase awareness among the patients, doctors and the general public.

The company’s facilities (growing and processing) are located in the northern part of the country and are secured according to the highest standards.

In 2007 the Ministry of Health gave license to the Cohen family to grow approximately 50 plants for patients who were given permits for the use of medical Cannabis, all on a voluntary basis.

Half of their home in [unclear] became a greenhouse for the growing and processing the medication and simultaneously the system for treatment and dispensing began to form.

The treatment with Cannabis gained momentum, both because of the high quality of the treatment and immediate feedback from patients and because of the media campaign which the Foundation and the patients embarked on.

During this time (in September 2009) Channel 2 aired the documentary film “Grass by doctor’s orders” directed by Tzach Klein and hosted by television presenter and journalist Avri Gilad.

In 2010, by decision of the Ministry of Health and after five deliberations at the Knesset’s Labor Welfare and Heath Committee, a monthly cost of 360 NIS per patient was set. (Today the price is 370 NIS).

In light of this decision Tikkun Olam Ltd. has opened the first store in Israel for the sale and distribution of medical Cannabis and its products to those possessing legal permits.

The store was opened at 138 Ibn Gabirol St. in Tel Aviv, and to this day it is the only store of its kind in Israel.

In 2012 the company was granted a standards association mark, the first of its kind, ISO 9001 in the field of growing, production, sale and distribution of medical Cannabis and instructing patients.

Tikun Olam's moto is:  "This is the GOD'S doing ; it's marvelous in our eyes​​"

What is Medical Marijuana

Cannabis is a plant with unique medical properties, and refers to the parts of the plant which are used in medicine.

The medical grade is determined by several factors: 

• Manner of organic growing. 
• Maintaining a high concentration of active ingredients. 
• Hybridizing while performing continuous laboratory examinations. 
• Matching and designating various strains to various diseases together with the patient.

Until the 1930’s medications which contained extracts of the plant were part of the world’s pharmacopeia, only in 1937 was medical use of Cannabis in the United States halted.

In Europe, medical use of Cannabis products continued until the early 1970’s.

The plant contains more than 462 substances, from which more than 100 cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenoids have been identified.

Most famous among the cannabinoids is the THC, which was first identified and isolated in 1964 at the Weisman Institute by Professors Yehiel Gaoni and Rephael Mechoulam, who received the Israel Prize for his research of Cannabis.

Different strains of Cannabis contain different concentrations and ratios of the active ingredients.

 

How Marijuana Affects The Brain

Click Image To Enlarge

Diseases and Medical Conditions Benefiting From Cannibus

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• ALS
• Anxiety
• Appetite
• Fibromyalgia
• Nausea
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Arthritis
• Pain
• Sleep
• Crohn's Disease
• Tremor
• HIV
• Alzheimer Disease
• Tourette
• Parkinson

Cannibus Strains

Tikun Olam is focused on the unique methods to increase production of the active ingredients, and especially THC - CBD in order to grow standard medicinal plants.

Medicinal cannabis is produced in a very careful and sterile, from the stage of planting, harvesting and processing until it reaches the patient.

The company's researchers have created the following medicinal cannibus strains:

• Indica Strains - This cannibus class consists of four different strains.
  • EREZ - ​This Strain is composed of 70% Indica 30% Sativa, responds to a wide range of symptoms and illnesses.  This species was developed by Tikun Olam, in its early years, and is named after the first patient.
  • ERAN ALMOG - This Strainis composed of 80% Indica 20% Sativa.
    
  • DORIT - This Strainis is composed of 70% Indica 30% Sativa.  This Strainis was named in the name of Dorit Cohen, the mother of "Tikun Olam".
  • GOG y MAGOG - This Strain is is composed of 70% Indica 30% Sativa.
    
  • LITTLE DEVIL - This Strain is is composed of 70% Indica 30% Sativa.
    
  • JASMIN - This Strain is is composed of 70% Indica 30% Sativa.
    
  • OR - This Strainis is composed of 70% Indica 30% Sativa.
    
• Sativa Strains - This cannibus class consists of three different strains.
  • ALASKA - This Strainis is composed of 70% sativa 30% Indica.
  • MINDATE - This Strainis contains 12% of CBD and 12% THC​, and is composed primarily of Sativa.
  • AL-NA - This Strain is is composed of 70% sativa 30% Indica.
• CBD Strains - This cannibus class consists of two different strains.
  • AVIDEKEL - This Sativa Strain contains 16% CBD without any THC.
  • RAFAEL - This Sativa Strain contains 18% CBD and 1% THC.

Products ​

Tikun Olam is focused on the unique methods to increase production of the active ingredients, and especially THC - CBD in order to grow standard medicinal plants.

An array of Tikun Olam products (Click Image To Enlarge)

Medicinal cannabis is produced in a very careful and sterile, from the stage of planting, harvesting and processing until it reaches the patient.

• Smoking Substitutes - Consumption of medical cannabis in the gut (or through the mucous membranes of the mouth) is much slower and changing from one person that change also depends on the "state" of the stomach during use (full / empty, etc..), Therefore, it is more difficult to control the dosage and without the need many careful attempts to obtain effective, and thus consumption, is recommended for patients not want to smoke or can not physically do it (mental difficulties, if any, to be overcome in training).
  • Cannabis Oil Drops - Medical cannabis extract based on olive oil.
  • Cannabis Powder - Medical cannabis flowers ground and filtered.
  • Capsules - Capsules filled with medical cannabis flowers ground and filtered.
  • Powder oil - Medical cannabis oil available in 1/2/3 grams which contains about 30% THC.
• Delicacies - Cannabis Consumption hrough the gut (or through the mucous membranes of the mouth) is much slower and varies from one person to another, also depends on the "state" of the stomach during use (full / empty, etc..).
  • Chocolate Praline - Fine dairy chocolate made with medical cannabis butter and containing about 40 mg/g THC.
    
  • Pastries - Based on medical cannabis butter and available in several sizes and dosages.
    
  • Tahini Cookies - Organic tahini based on medical cannabis butter and containing 13.5 mg / g THC. 
• Special Products - Cannabis Consumption hrough the gut (or through the mucous membranes of the mouth) is much slower and varies from one person to another, also depends on the "state" of the stomach during use (full / empty, etc..)).
  • Toffee - Toffee sweets based on medical cannabis extract and containing 2mg/g THC.
    
  • Gum - Sweet and sour gum filled with medical cannabis extract and containing 2 mg/g THC. 
    
  • Honey​ - Fine honey based on medical cannabispowder and containing 10.3 mg/g THC.
    
  • Sugar - Brown and white sugar based on medical cannabis powder and containing 7.1 mg/g THC.
    
  • Ointment - Based on herbal ointment medical cannabis for external use and containing about 0.4% THC.
    

Courtesy of an article dated July 6, 2012 appearing in GizMag