A Video Conversation with Dean Petkanas, CEO of Kannalife Sciences - Part II

Dean Petkanas

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Forging a new era for plant-based medical treatments

Dean Petkanas is the CEO of Kannalife Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company that researches and develops medical and therapeutic applications of cannabinoids—chemical compounds derived from the cannabis plant. Founded in 2010, Kannalife Sciences focuses its efforts on creating treatments for brain diseases, disorders, and conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, stroke, Arterial Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and more. The company has the distinction of holding an exclusive license with National Institutes of Health – Office of Technology Transfer (“NIH-OTT”) for the Commercialization of U.S. Patent #6630507, “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants.” Kannalife has earned recognition as medical innovator for its research on the use of cannabinoids as a neural protector to treat Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Numerous publications, including Sports Illustrated, have featured the company and identified its research as a possible solution for professional football players and other athletes who regularly suffer repeat brain injury.


Q. Can you tell us about some of Kannalife’s recent research, and how cannabinoid-based treatments can help NFL players and others who experience traumatic brain injury? Why have you chosen to focus on courting the NFL as a possible institution in which to launch these treatments?

DEAN PETKANAS: Well, it’s important for us from a socioeconomic perspective, because the NFL is such a popular organization. The trickle-down approach of knowledge is really important when it comes from a big institution like that. If they were able to separate themselves from the dogma of marijuana versus cannabidiol and embrace what we’re doing in terms of the research and development of a therapeutic agent to treat CTE, that would translate into the potential for use if and when we produce a product, or products become available—either from a pharmaceutical or a nutraceutical perspective—because then that gives confidence to families to put their kids on the playing field.

One of the things that has affected the NFL and has derided the prospect of putting more kids into a Pop Warner program in high school is now the high potential for long-term damage due to concussive injury. I always use this to make a point in absence of nothing something, but there is not a “something.” There’s a diagnostic program, there’s an acknowledgement now—finally—but there’s not an active protocol in terms of what is the NFL saying to its players, aside from the pushcart of pain management programs that are out there in post-combative environments—not pre-combative. When you regard cannabidiol as a neuroprotective, that becomes pre, and if they adopt an ideology that separates cannabidiol from the dogma of marijuana, it will resolve some of the problems I’m sure they’re having with team owners.

I mean, if I’m a team owner, I’m going to put on a pair of shoes and I’m going to wear that hat. I don’t want players taking products that are going to affect their ability, not only to show up at practice, but to perform, because they’re contractually obligated to perform at a high level. Something that takes away from their ability to perform would bring my judgment into question as to why I would sign an athlete—and this is not to take anything away from the Ricky Williamses and the Josh Gordons of the world—but if THC is a chemical that retards ability to perform—whether it be showing up at practice or playing at the highest level of performance—that’s where I think the dogmatic approach kicks in for the NFL. I could appreciate that, but they have to come to a point, scientifically and from a medical perspective, that CBD is not marijuana. CBD is its own chemical product and chemical entity. They have to come to that conclusion, and it’s a dynamic conclusion.

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