A drug counselor from San Antonio who uses cannabidiol oil as part of her treatment regimen for multiple sclerosis has sued her ex-employer for sacking her following a positive result on a marijuana test.

The 48-year-old addiction counselor, Melanie Farr, works for a Management and Training Corporation in Utah, an institution offering rehabilitation programs that cater to incarcerated persons.

CBD oil for MS

Melanie Farr started using CBD oil last year, placing several drops under the tongue to alleviate her symptoms of multiple sclerosis. This condition is lifelong and debilitating, wherein the immune system starts attacking the body, resulting in damaged nerves in the spinal cord and brain.

In a statement to the San Antonio Express-News, Farr stated the CBD oil helped ease her pain and correct her gait, and even reduced her blood pressure.

The lawsuit filed by her legally cited her capability to perform on her job despite suffering from MS, stating that the disease could have had limited her from performing in her daily activities such as balancing, walking, working and caring for herself.

Farr stated her bosses knew that she was using CBD oil for her MS. She maintains that they have discussed it many times. She also pointed out that she has taken cannabidiol while working for the company for a long time.

She insisted that no one had ever asked or mentioned that she looked high while on the job.

Farr is a licensed counselor for chemical dependency since October 2018 and has been assigned to handle prisoners from the Dominguez State Jail in San Antonio. Her company is in contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

False-positive drug test

Farr’s physician suggested she try using cannabidiol to alleviate her MS symptoms. In the lawsuit, she stated that CBD oil has helped her walk better since her pain has lessened.

Last February 14, 2019, Farr underwent a random drug test sanctioned by her employer. She mentioned that she was taking CBD oil as per doctor’s recommendation to the administering technician. A week after the test, her results came back positive.

Despite providing a doctor’s note and several news articles showing false-positive incidences of CBD users being subjected to a drug test, the firm still fired Farr on March 8, 2019.

Atty. Michael V. Galo Jr., Farr’s lawyer, filed the lawsuit last February 20 in the San Antonio Federal Court. He cited the company’s unlawful discrimination against Farr’s condition.

The company is being accused of reckless indifference or malice towards the patient’s rights, which is stated on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In a report published by researches in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, a third of vape users with CBD-laced tinctures had gotten positive urine drug test results. The proponents hope the study will warn CBD users of the implications of drug testing, particularly when taking products that have unclear THC content.

John Hopkins School of Medicine associate professor Ryan Vandrey stated the perception that CBD products are THC-free is not always true. Roadside, workplace or criminal justice testing purposes could come up positive despite CBD being touted as non-intoxicating and legal under federal laws.

Some 800 dogs have started the 975-mile journey with their mushers to conquer the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday. Four-time winner Lance Mackey made news when he revealed giving CBD oil to his dogs against head veterinarian’s advice.

Mackey declined the suggestion, citing cannabidiol being excluded in the banned substances list found on the competition’s rulebook.

Enhancing recovery times

Lance Mackey, currently in fifth place at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, revealed to the Anchorage Daily News that he has been giving his race dogs cannabidiol oil to improve their performance and recovery times.

Iditarod head veterinarian Stuart Nelson has discouraged the use of CBD oil for competing dogs. Still, Mackey went against advice, saying there is nothing in the race’s rule book that mentions CBD oil as a banned substance.

Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is a derivative of Cannabis sativa L., which is also the source plant for marijuana, an addictive substance containing high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compound. On the other hand, CBD is non-intoxicating due to a shallow THC content that causes the high.

CBD for pets has become a famous market currently, with owners praising its health and wellness benefits for animals. It is commonly used to manage pain and treat seizures, among others, despite the federal government’s lack of official standards for the said substance.

Mackey, a cancer survivor, considered getting medical marijuana treatment throughout his four-year consecutive victories from 2007. However, Iditarod barred marijuana use by 2010. He reasoned the other mushers were jealous of his wins; that’s why the ban was enforced.

In 2011, a year after the marijuana ban, Mackey bags his fourth consecutive championship.

CBD oil for pets

CBD oil has gained popularity over recent years for being a miracle remedy for many illnesses. Users have been lauding its efficacy to health conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, anxiety and more.

CBD manufacturers have entered the market successfully, producing a variety of products like lotions, gummies, tinctures, and others. CBD pet products have also found a great reception from owners who are curious about cannabidiol for pets.

Cannabidiol-based products for pets are mostly in the form of treats or oil. They are said to deliver promising results for alleviating pain and anxiety. However, there aren’t many studies to solidify the effectiveness of these items.

Pet experts advise that it’s best to consult with the veterinarian about the pet’s specific condition and evaluate whether CBD oil can be one of the viable options to improve their well-being.

About Iditarod

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started on Sunday, with Paige Drobney, a Pennsylvania native from Cantwell Alaska, taking the lead last Wednesday. She was the first to leave among the mushers at the Ophir checkpoint.

The first to reach McGrath checkpoint was Jessie Royer who received handmade items as a token for the milestone.

The oldest musher to enter the race, Jim Lanier, 79 years old and a retired pathologist, withdrew from Iditarod last Tuesday at Rainy Pass for his well-being amid the virus outbreak.

The Finnish Food Authority has ordered shops to stop the sale of several cannabis-derived CBD or cannabidiol products. The agency cited that the products do not have the right authorization to be marketed as a foodstuff.

Cannabinoid extracts are considered novel foods in the EU, according to the Finnish Medicines Agency (FIMEA). Substances classified as such cannot be sold without a novel-food authorization. Additionally, CBD cannot be promoted using medical claims.

CBD in Finland

CBD-containing dietary supplements have been marketed across Finland in several health food stores, yet CBD oil is classified as a medicine by FIMEA. CBD or cannabis light as it is often called does not have the psychoactive component in marijuana, which is the tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.

Hamppumaa (translated as Hempland), a Finnish company manufacturing hemp product, plans to file a case against the Finnish Food Authority. It cites the decision of the agency to pull out the brand’s Sana CBD products off the marketplace as the main reason.

Finnish citizens may also encounter a legal gray area when ordering cannabidiol products online. FIMEA has given caution to CBD buyers using any online platform to buy their favorites since there is still a lot to be learned about the legalities.

CBD oil is a compound derived from cannabis, which is widespread across the US and Europe as a therapeutic cure-all against stress, pain, and other medical conditions. The CBD industry is now regarded as a high-value market amounting to billions of euros.

The World Health Organization recognizes the non-addictive property of cannabidiol and its potential to be included in the treatment regimen for drug addiction.

More on CBD

While CBD has amassed a considerable following over the past few years, there is still much confusion over the substance. It is closely related to marijuana, which is the addictive substance derived from the same plant species as hemp-derived CBD, Cannabis sativa L. The main difference is that CBD oil has minimal amounts of THC, while marijuana exceeds the legal THC limits.

Despite initial hesitation, many users have found CBD products to be somewhat effective in alleviating or curing several health issues with varying degrees of severity. Some of the common alleged therapeutic benefits include reduction of pain, anxiety and stress and promotion of sleep. It is also said to work for persons who have multiple sclerosis, cancer and more.

There are few pieces of evidence and studies about CBD, but many countries all over the world, particularly the US and Europe, are set on discovering more about the compound. However, consumers are warned to be careful about their purchase, because the industry is still troubled by unclear regulations.

As of writing, the only available CBD-incorporated medication legally sold in Finland is Sativex, an oral spray to treat muscle spasms that multiple sclerosis patients manifest. Other medical applications of CBD are handled on a case-to-case basis by FIMEA.