Editor’s note: This commentary is provided by the Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI) of Florida A&M University.
While traveling, Natasha Acoff experienced numbness on her left side, leading to an ER visit and a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. Given a pamphlet on the disease, she recalled feeling terrified for her future.
MS is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, causing symptoms like vision problems, muscle weakness, fatigue, and cognitive impairments. Though its cause is unknown, some research points to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection as a leading candidate, with women more likely to be diagnosed than men.
Since her diagnosis, Ms. Acoff has become a National Multiple Sclerosis Society ambassador and founded On My Nerves Inc., a Tallahassee nonprofit supporting MS patients. She has been on a disease-modifying therapy for 11 years but recently considered medical marijuana as a treatment option after speaking with Dr. Terel Newton.
Dr. Newton is a board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain specialist based in Jacksonville. He serves as Florida’s medical director for Trulieve, is a certified medical marijuana physician, and authored Endocannabinoid Medicine & Pharmacology: A Guide for Physicians and Pharmacists. “Cannabis can serve as a rescue treatment for many patients,” he says.
Medical cannabis options include cannabidiol (CBD) for inflammation and low-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) products like topicals, edibles, and capsules. Dr. Newton emphasizes that patients should consult their doctors before using cannabis. He also recommends exercise, vitamin D, and an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce flare-ups.
Ms. Acoff highlights the importance of education and treatment options, “It’s really helpful for a lot of people with MS … to understand the best way we can treat ourselves.”
Visit https://bit.ly/MMERIMarch2025 to watch MMERI’s Conversations on Cannabis Virtual Forum featuring Nataha Acoff and Dr. Terel Newton discussing “Cannabis and Multiple Sclerosis.”
