By Jon Hiltz

 

The cannabis industry is full of healers, individuals who set out to solve significant medical problems and found marijuana to be the natural solution.

One cannabis entrepreneur based in Toronto aptly named Charlene Freedom, is a pioneer in the oil and cream sector, and she plans on expanding her business as the marijuana community grows over the crumbled walls of prohibition.

“I’m a certified natural health practitioner and I specialize in treating clients with aromatherapy, massage and reflexology,” says Charlene.  “When I originally started my practice I was more focused on doing massage and aromatherapy; I wasn’t into the product-making side of it.”

Charlene goes on to describe that during her studies in college to be a health practitioner, she learned how to make traditional topical creams and oils.  As part of her grade, she needed to create a regular treatment plan for a client utilizing these types of products.  One of her clients was a medical marijuana patient at the time and asked if she could include his medicine in the ointments. “I went to my teacher, and they said absolutely not, it’s totally illegal.  This was back in 2002.”

Charlene forgot all about the idea of these cannabis treatments until she was involved in a hit and run accident in 2012.  “I was walking across the street and someone made a left-hand turn, drove into me and then kept going.”  Charlene sustained significant injuries and spent several months recovering in the hospital and years of additional treatment for her pain.

In 2014, Charlene was inspired by a friend’s discovery from the Champs Expo in Toronto. “A friend of mine went to [the Expo]and brought me this pamphlet about the many different ways you can ingest cannabis and, topical cream was on it.  I suddenly had this flashback to the client in 2002 and thought, I wonder if this is legal now and I wonder if it works.”

With 12 years of experience making creams and topicals, it didn’t take long before Charlene discovered how to infuse marijuana into her healing recipes.

“I wanted to see if it worked on my knee.  The first time I used it, my knee was so swollen and [after using the cream]I watched the swelling go down after 45 minutes.”  Charlene started using the cream every day, it was very effective and exactly what her body needed.

She then went into her medical marijuana doctor to let him know of the amazing success she was having, and he was quite impressed.  At the time, the legalities of going into business for something like cannabis oils were still much on the side of the old laws, but Charlene and her doctor agreed that if and when things loosen up, he would be open to referring his patients to her.

As time went on the laws were relaxed, Charlene went into business making topical oils and creams using Health Canada approved cannabis, based on referrals from her doctor.  Orders kept growing and interest picked up with the legalization of marijuana extracts. “Once extracts were legalized last year I did my first workshop teaching patients how to make their own oils, tinctures, creams, body butters.”

Charlene now makes a line of “ten to twelve” different products including a cannabis salve for people with psoriasis, anti-aging cream, pain and inflammation cream, cannabis massage oil, cannabis lube, and even a suppository for women with menstrual cramps.

Currently, Charlene’s products are available through her website and at Queens of Cannabis Dispensary at 848 Bloor Street West in Toronto.  She currently works with medical marijuana patients but has big plans to expand once legalization happens.  “I’m already trying to prepare for it by looking at what Health Canada will require for cannabis cosmetic approval.”  She notes that it seems Health Canada’s rules will be quite excessive, but her goal is to get their approval nonetheless.