In 2010, Turlocker Dennis Hill received terrible news. The biochemist had been diagnosed with aggressive, Stage III adenocarcinoma – prostate cancer. He considered his options from radiation to chemotherapy, but after reading a published study which detailed the use of cannabis to treat inoperable brain cancer in humans, he decided to try the alternative therapy.
Seven months later, Hill was cancer-free, and now hopes to educate the community about the benefits cannabis can have for those suffering from cancer through an informational class taught at Turlock Vitamins & More.
The health foods store has been serving the Turlock area since 1947, and according to owner Lee Duchscherer, Hill’s success story with cannabis isn’t the first the store has seen.
“He’s been cancer free for quite a while now, and I hear a lot of this from customers that we sell CBD oil to,” said Duchscherer. “We have a lot of people that come in who have gotten rid of all kinds of different cancer.”
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in marijuana. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects, or the “high” commonly associated with marijuana. Instead, CBD is the part of the cannabis plant that holds the highest medicinal value, with research concluding it to be effective for treating inflammation, pain, anxiety and spasms associated with multiple sclerosis.
Lately, research has also pointed toward cannabis being an effective treatment for stopping the spread of cancer cells. According to projectcbd.org, doctors at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute have found that CBD is a potent inhibitor of cancer, since it stops the ID-1 protein gene – a major conductor of cancer cells.
In cases like Hill’s, CBD has proven to slow and stop the metastasis in patients suffering from cancer. After just nine weeks of use, Hill noticed other benefits to CBD oil as well, including relief from chronic intestinal distress and an increase in physical vitality, allowing him to run for exercise instead of walk, as he did previously.
“Cannabis can only help. It doesn’t have any side effects or complications like medicines…it’s like a natural Ibuprofen,” said Duchscherer. “Who knows, it may be a cure for cancer all the way around.”
At Turlock Vitamins & More, the shop sells different CBD oils, along with cannabis sprays. When Hill, a customer of the shop, noticed that Vitamins & More was carrying the oils, he offered to host a class to share his story with those curious about the use of CBD oil to treat cancer. He has now been cancer-free for over six years.
“He really is a cannabis expert when it comes to cancer,” said Duchscherer.
The class, scheduled for Sept. 14, will begin at 6 p.m. at Turlock Vitamins & More, 3055 N. Tegner Rd. The class is expected to last about an hour, said Duchscherer, and those who plan on attending must RSVP first by calling the store at 209-634-7765. Afterward, the store will host a 15-minute flash sale, where attendees can purchase CBD oils for 20 percent off.
