Today's show is brought to you by the Essential RX segment with Dr. Lametra Scott. The VitaminSC3 Podcast is powered by the Sickle Cell Community Consortium.

The conversation on the Podcast today explores THC and cannabis. Dr. Lametra Scott and Dr. Swathi Varanasi, an integrative health pharmacist and entrepreneur discuss Puff, Puff or Pass: The role of cannabis in the management of sickle cell disease.

Dr. Swathi Varanasi, or Dr. Swathi, is an integrative health pharmacist and entrepreneur. She is a plant-based wellness specialist; a medical expert and advisory board member for CBD, adaptogen, and food brands; a published author; a peer-reviewed clinical researcher; and a multimedia content contributor for print/online publications.

As a healthcare disrupter, she looks for opportunities to break barriers and challenge her western-trained colleagues to think beyond the conventional scope of their practice. Through the many modalities of integrative medicine and patient-centered shared decision-making, she believes that health and wellness is achievable for everyone. Emphasizing an evidence-based approach, Dr. Swathi is passionate about educating practitioners, students, patients, and consumers, and strives to empower everyone to be the best, most authentic version of themselves.

Dr. Swathi co-founded and is Chief Scientific Officer of Element Apothec, an innovative CBD botanical wellness brand dedicated to evidence-based education and formulations for everyone. She studied at the Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC), Cornell University T. Colin Campbell Center of Nutrition Studies (Ithaca, NY), and Carleton College (Northfield, MN). Dr. Swathi serves as Director of Science of the largest statewide cannabis patient advocacy non-profit organization, LA NORML, and as distinguished adjunct faculty and speaker at colleges of pharmacy, colleges of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and undergraduate institutions, and at conferences, respectively. In her free time, she can be found planning her next trip (30 countries and counting!).

During this episode you will learn the following answers and tips about cannabis and the management of Sickle Cell Disease:

• What is cannabis?
• What is THC?
• Broad Testing technically means no THC
• Certificate of Analysis (COA) testing transparency should be easily visible on the companies website. It's also one of the ways to vet the company that you're buying from. 
• It is essential to know who you're buying from before you make your first purchase.

Follow our guest Dr. Swathi Varanasi:

• Website: https://elementapothec.com
• Instagram @elementapothec & @DrSwathi
• Facebook ElementApothec

Follow our guest Dr. Lametra Scott:

• Website: Breaking The SSickle Cell Cycle Foundation
• Instagram @brkthesscycle
• Facebook brkthesscycle

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Did you enjoy listening to this episode? If so, please consider donating to keep this podcast going. Donations are tax deductible and are made to the Sickle Cell Community Consortium. 

The next episode of the Vitamin SC3 Podcast drops on Monday

Please tune in next week for a new episode we will hear from the segment Creative Elixir with Mia Robinson. 

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