On June 2017, Steve Giardina was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After surgery and 6 months of intense chemotherapy, Steve went into remission. Eight months later his cancer metastasized, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and was informed additional surgery wasn’t an option. Knowing he faced a more devastating round of chemotherapy, he started to look for ways to mitigate the debilitating side effects.
What he discovered was an integrated medical approach that included medical cannabis. “THE HILL WITCHES OF NEVADA COUNTY,” tells Steve’s compelling story, exploring the emotional roller coaster that cancer has put him and his family though, his evolution from abstaining from to embracing medical cannabis, how his collaborative relationship with the area’s leading oncologists/integrative medicine/oncologist has helped him understand and advocate for his care and well being, and the guidance and validation that he and his doctor receive by one of the area’s self-taught experts in medical cannabis, Wade Laughter - a self-proclaimed Hill Witch cultivator and extractor.
Along the way the story will be augmented with information of what science knows about cannabis, the “reefer madness” misinformation that permeates our culture, the pro-marijuana’s efforts to litigated the removal of marijuana from the list of Schedule One drugs, those passionately against it and their battle to keep dope off the streets and restrict its use, and the stories of other patients who have benefited from the use of medical cannabis to help with a variety of ailments including childhood epilepsy, glaucoma, and fibromyalgia.
Our Theme - Advocacy
We find it hard to believe that Steve is a unicorn, a lucky soul whose DNA is enabling him to maintain a co-existence with his cancer. There must be thousands and thousands of patients who could benefit from the use of cannabis. They just have to overcome the same "reefer madness" obstacles and misunderstanding Steve had about cannabis. Our hope is to get this documentary in front of those who can truly benefit from a cannabis supplement, to open their hearts and minds to the possibilities and then empower them to advocate for their health, to access help and seek out medical professionals that can they collaborate with to a healthier existence.
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