One year ago, three friends sat on a porch somewhere in the picturesque hills of Bohemia and decided it was high time to launch a cannabis magazine dedicated purely to the medical aspects of this plant.
They had behind them many years of experience in publishing, in fact they were the core of the editorial team of Legalizace magazine based in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 2010. In order to materialize their new vision, they hired renowned professionals, approached local as well as international experts, and within three months, a printed bimonthly came into existence: Konopí [Cannabis].
Cannabis Therapy Magazine aspires to become a worldwide bridge between medical users and experts.
It was an immediate success. Cannabis patients of all generations appreciated the informed way they were introduced to a broad range of medical themes, and today, there are thousands of doctors, nurses and medical students in the country who wish to educate themselves in the blossoming field of cannabis treatment and who receive free copies. A miracle!
Shifting attitudes
In fact, the original reason these three friends – long-term cannabis patients themselves – decided that the time was ripe for such an endeavor was they noticed a major shift in the attitude of health-care professionals of various specialties. Even two or three years ago, it was unthinkable that a specialist would reply in the media to a simple question concerning any kind of cannabis treatment; doctors often claimed there was no scientific evidence for the efficacy of cannabis therapy, and some of them were concerned their engagement in the cannabis media might be frowned upon by the medical community.
No, cannabis is not a miraculous cure-all, we never make such a claim.
Nevertheless, the hopeful trickle of new studies and research presently became a steady flow. Now there are interesting findings from cannabis research being published literally every day. A miracle!
Reaching globally
In 2019, these three friends – Robert Veverka, Lukas Hurt and Bob Hýsek – decided to advance their tried and tested project to another stage and to introduce their magazine to the global audience, since there was no such English periodical in the world that would summarize the available medical knowledge in a comprehensible and attractive way. Scientific journals (such as Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, Journal of Cannabis Research and Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids) are too scientific for ordinary patients who need to be introduced to the basic facts – and the rest of the cannabis magazines, quite naturally, choose to focus mainly on lifestyle, business and growing.
The hopeful trickle of new studies and research presently became a steady flow.
Let’s become Number One, they said! And miraculously enough, their efforts soon brought forth this digital version of a cannabis magazine that aspires to become a worldwide bridge between medical users and experts. Of course, one ought to highlight the role of their advertising partners, whose support made it possible to publish this selection of articles free of charge.
More humane horizons
No, cannabis is not a miraculous cure-all, we never make such a claim. It is a medicinal plant with incredibly complex beneficial effects, and the mechanisms of how its countless active substances affect our minds and bodies are too intricate to be synthesized into one formula for all.
The miracle, however, is that cannabis makes today’s medicine not only more effective, but also more humane, more personalized – and that there are never-ending horizons waiting to be explored now. Once a stigmatized drug, today a respected medicine – what do you call that?
Please enjoy the magazine and feel free to share the link with your friends and family.
Author: Bob Hýsek, Editor-in-Chief
