Update: Midori-no-wa Project - 2 years of partnership
Share
Since June 2020 Always Pure Organics have been supporting the “Midori-no-wa (Green Circle) project for children with intractable epilepsy in Japan” with Green Zone Japan.
Now supporting 50 participants, ranging in age from 6 months to 28 years old, we’re pleased to update on the project’s success 2 years on and the plans in 2022 and beyond.
Background to the project
The challenging cannabis landscape in Japan is well reported(1) (for further reading see Naoki Miki’s article and as such CBD products have been available on the island only relatively recently – since 2013.
Japan has rates of epilepsy patients of 600,000 – 1million (5-8 people out of 1,000). In the first years following legal availability of CBD, there was no subsequent reporting on the efficacy of CBD in epilepsy symptom management in Japan. Yuji Masataka, MD states that this ‘could be due to the quality of the CBD in these early years, or due to the fact that the cost was prohibitive.’ In order to achieve high enough dosage, the cost was at a prohibitive £40+ a day, meaning it was not readily accessible to most suitable candidates.
Green Zone Japan was formed in July 2017 by Yuji Masataka, MD and Naoko Miki, in response to a need for advocacy within the medical community on the benefits of using the cannabis plant and its derivatives.
Naoko Miki(2) one of the founders explains ‘the need for legal reform is obvious, if Japanese people are to enjoy the many gifts the cannabis plant offers. But in order for politicians to listen, we need more than a small group of advocates. We need doctors to want to use it for their patients. This was why Green Zone Japan (GZJ) was founded in 2017 by my colleague Yuji Masataka, MD, and myself, with the aim of bringing the most up-to-date evidence-based information on medical cannabis to Japanese audiences – particularly medical professionals. As part of its education effort, Green Zone Japan is bringing California-based Project CBD to Japan by creating a Japanese mirror site. Project CBD, a non-profit organisation which has taken a leading role in making the world aware of the potential of CBD and medical cannabis, is a perfect resource to educate Japanese people about CBD within the larger context of medical cannabis.’
In 2018 the parents of a 6-month-old child, diagnosed with intractable epilepsy contacted Dr Masataka after coming across his YouTube film(3). The child had become an inpatient, surgery was unfortunately not an option and other treatments were not working. The parents were researching alternative ways to improve the wellbeing of their child and were looking into the possibility of CBD as an option. Dr Masataka then began contacting CBD companies and requesting samples.
During this initial project, the participant received 18mg/kg doses of CBD, the largest on record in Japan at this time. Following the success of the trial and the subsequent publishing of the findings, the team at Green Zone Japan were more determined than ever to open the project wider and allow more affected children to benefit from CBD in this way, which in turn leverages the advocation of the fantastic results that CBD can contribute to in this and other diseases.
In Partnership with Always Pure Organics
As such, Midori-no-wa (Green Circle) programme for children with intractable epilepsy was formed in June 2020 under Green Zone Japan. As previously discussed, due to the legal landscape of cannabis in Japan, sourcing and importing the product at high enough doses to be therapeutically effective was generally cost-prohibitive for participants. This led Midori-no-wa to seek a special supplier partnership in order maximise the benefits of the project, as well as the reach. Whilst in search for a supplier to help move the project forward, Dr Masataka connected with Chikako Yoshida – Regional Director– Asia, Always Pure Organics and thus began the partnership.
Gavin Ogilvie – CEO Always Pure Organics explains ‘Always Pure Organics supports by providing paediatric patients access to therapeutic level doses of CBD products at well below the market rate, whilst supporting the research and recording of the effects. We do this with the understanding and consent of the patients’ primary doctors so as not to disturb their treatment regimen or to cause adverse drug interactions.’
Initially starting with 30 participants, the numbers benefitting from the partnership programme are now reaching 50+, including a girl of two and a half years whose seizures were completely eliminated by Always Pure Organics’ THC-Free Distillate.
Whilst Dr Masataka’s recent report has been rejected for publication in Japan – as cannabis is still somewhat of a taboo academically in the region-in Europe it is well known and news of the project is widespread, with notable inclusions in the New York Times (4) amongst others. The report is also under submission with Neurology Asia.
Building on Success
With more than 50% of current participants reporting improvements and 10% experiencing significant effects – such as the case of 2 years old girl with West Syndrome. She underwent brain surgery and sadly her seizures continued. Following her participation and use of CBD, she is now seizure-free(5) It is clear the increasing the reach of the project could have life-changing impact on many more sufferers. As a result, the Midori-no-wa Green Zone project have now created PCAT (6) – an extension to the initial programme. PCAT allows the patient’s parents to become ambassadors and help with lobbying the voices of the patients. Similar projects of this kind have been successful in lobbying real change with CBD legislation– such as Realm of Caring(7) in Colorado USA, success that PCAT hopes to replicate from 2022 onwards.
The next phase of the project involves increasing and broadening the scope of diseases and embrace more indications, offering support to a greater number and more diverse range of participants. PCAT will allow not only a strong support network for the families involved, but also leverage the power of the collective to positively influence policies and ultimately allow the benefits of cannabis derived products to more of those in need.
To find out more about how Always Pure Organics can support your business on its CBD journey, or to discuss our bespoke formulations, email info@alwayspureorganics.com, call us on (+44) 0800 9991562 or follow us on LinkedIn , YouTube and Instagram.
REFS:
1. https://www.alwayspureorganics.com/cannabis-hemp-cbd-the-japanese-cannabis-landscape
2. https://www.youtube.com/watchv=bzjoH3XXmYc&list=PLs2sTm5cifQalzplt_evULInghVJQTPvA&index=1
3. https://youtu.be/OgrHgTQOHGs
4. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/27/business/cbd-japan-cannabis-marijuana.html
5. https://youtu.be/_vMq44rUhzc
6. https://www.pcat-japan.com/
7. https://realmofcaring.org/
Since June 2020 Always Pure Organics have been supporting the “Midori-no-wa (Green Circle) project for children with intractable epilepsy in Japan” with Green Zone Japan.
Now supporting 50 participants, ranging in age from 6 months to 28 years old, we’re pleased to update on the project’s success 2 years on and the plans in 2022 and beyond.
Background to the project
The challenging cannabis landscape in Japan is well reported(1) (for further reading see Naoki Miki’s article and as such CBD products have been available on the island only relatively recently – since 2013.
Japan has rates of epilepsy patients of 600,000 – 1million (5-8 people out of 1,000). In the first years following legal availability of CBD, there was no subsequent reporting on the efficacy of CBD in epilepsy symptom management in Japan. Yuji Masataka, MD states that this ‘could be due to the quality of the CBD in these early years, or due to the fact that the cost was prohibitive.’ In order to achieve high enough dosage, the cost was at a prohibitive £40+ a day, meaning it was not readily accessible to most suitable candidates.
Green Zone Japan was formed in July 2017 by Yuji Masataka, MD and Naoko Miki, in response to a need for advocacy within the medical community on the benefits of using the cannabis plant and its derivatives.
Naoko Miki(2) one of the founders explains ‘the need for legal reform is obvious, if Japanese people are to enjoy the many gifts the cannabis plant offers. But in order for politicians to listen, we need more than a small group of advocates. We need doctors to want to use it for their patients. This was why Green Zone Japan (GZJ) was founded in 2017 by my colleague Yuji Masataka, MD, and myself, with the aim of bringing the most up-to-date evidence-based information on medical cannabis to Japanese audiences – particularly medical professionals. As part of its education effort, Green Zone Japan is bringing California-based Project CBD to Japan by creating a Japanese mirror site. Project CBD, a non-profit organisation which has taken a leading role in making the world aware of the potential of CBD and medical cannabis, is a perfect resource to educate Japanese people about CBD within the larger context of medical cannabis.’
In 2018 the parents of a 6-month-old child, diagnosed with intractable epilepsy contacted Dr Masataka after coming across his YouTube film(3). The child had become an inpatient, surgery was unfortunately not an option and other treatments were not working. The parents were researching alternative ways to improve the wellbeing of their child and were looking into the possibility of CBD as an option. Dr Masataka then began contacting CBD companies and requesting samples.
During this initial project, the participant received 18mg/kg doses of CBD, the largest on record in Japan at this time. Following the success of the trial and the subsequent publishing of the findings, the team at Green Zone Japan were more determined than ever to open the project wider and allow more affected children to benefit from CBD in this way, which in turn leverages the advocation of the fantastic results that CBD can contribute to in this and other diseases.
In Partnership with Always Pure Organics
As such, Midori-no-wa (Green Circle) programme for children with intractable epilepsy was formed in June 2020 under Green Zone Japan. As previously discussed, due to the legal landscape of cannabis in Japan, sourcing and importing the product at high enough doses to be therapeutically effective was generally cost-prohibitive for participants. This led Midori-no-wa to seek a special supplier partnership in order maximise the benefits of the project, as well as the reach. Whilst in search for a supplier to help move the project forward, Dr Masataka connected with Chikako Yoshida – Regional Director– Asia, Always Pure Organics and thus began the partnership.
Gavin Ogilvie – CEO Always Pure Organics explains ‘Always Pure Organics supports by providing paediatric patients access to therapeutic level doses of CBD products at well below the market rate, whilst supporting the research and recording of the effects. We do this with the understanding and consent of the patients’ primary doctors so as not to disturb their treatment regimen or to cause adverse drug interactions.’
Initially starting with 30 participants, the numbers benefitting from the partnership programme are now reaching 50+, including a girl of two and a half years whose seizures were completely eliminated by Always Pure Organics’ THC-Free Distillate.
Whilst Dr Masataka’s recent report has been rejected for publication in Japan – as cannabis is still somewhat of a taboo academically in the region-in Europe it is well known and news of the project is widespread, with notable inclusions in the New York Times (4) amongst others. The report is also under submission with Neurology Asia.
Building on Success
With more than 50% of current participants reporting improvements and 10% experiencing significant effects – such as the case of 2 years old girl with West Syndrome. She underwent brain surgery and sadly her seizures continued. Following her participation and use of CBD, she is now seizure-free(5) It is clear the increasing the reach of the project could have life-changing impact on many more sufferers. As a result, the Midori-no-wa Green Zone project have now created PCAT (6) – an extension to the initial programme. PCAT allows the patient’s parents to become ambassadors and help with lobbying the voices of the patients. Similar projects of this kind have been successful in lobbying real change with CBD legislation– such as Realm of Caring(7) in Colorado USA, success that PCAT hopes to replicate from 2022 onwards.
The next phase of the project involves increasing and broadening the scope of diseases and embrace more indications, offering support to a greater number and more diverse range of participants. PCAT will allow not only a strong support network for the families involved, but also leverage the power of the collective to positively influence policies and ultimately allow the benefits of cannabis derived products to more of those in need.
To find out more about how Always Pure Organics can support your business on its CBD journey, or to discuss our bespoke formulations, email info@alwayspureorganics.com, call us on (+44) 0800 9991562 or follow us on LinkedIn , YouTube and Instagram.
REFS:
1. https://www.alwayspureorganics.com/cannabis-hemp-cbd-the-japanese-cannabis-landscape
2. https://www.youtube.com/watchv=bzjoH3XXmYc&list=PLs2sTm5cifQalzplt_evULInghVJQTPvA&index=1
3. https://youtu.be/OgrHgTQOHGs
4. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/27/business/cbd-japan-cannabis-marijuana.html
5. https://youtu.be/_vMq44rUhzc
6. https://www.pcat-japan.com/
7. https://realmofcaring.org/
Share
