Established in 2015 the Epilepsy Research Association (ERA) is committed
to devoting its’ energy to passionate advocation for epilepsy research
through created charities and giving back to the communities we encounter.
We have had fundraising events at Differential Brewery, Main Event,
Smith’s Inspiring Donations (please visit Smith’s Inspiring Donations online
and choose the Epilepsy Research Association from Smith’s Inspiring Donations
portal to give free donations), Ultra Health, as well as many other local
contributing businesses. We are currently working with the UNM Director of
Chemistry and a group of students to research the unique chemical compound
odor emitted prior to a seizure for the possible identification of a biomarker
for epilepsy research. Epilepsy is one of the least understood neurological
disorders so there is a lot of innovative work to be done. Chances
are, you know of someone whose life has been touched by epilepsy. ERA
can help. Please consider supporting the cause.
Kurple asks Curtis Breitner, local and
founder New Mexico’s of Epileptic
Research Association, about his
journey and experience with
Epilepsy.
What are you currently up to?
I am working as a buyer for Calma in West
Hollywood. Living in Echo Park Los Angeles.
I have been spending my time working
on a blog that I intend to launch eventually.
When were you diagnosed with Epilepsy?
I was 17, in high school.
How has Epilepsy impacted your life?
I suffered two major grand mal seizures.
One in the spring of 2013 and again in the
summer, about two months later. Both on
the soccer field.
You think you are invincible and then bam
– you have seizures. It was humbling. One
thing that may be different about my condition
is that it came later in life, I was not
born with it. The brain can still incur epilepsy
later in development. Anyone can
experience a seizure.
Besides the blow to my ego, the side effects
of medication and search for answers
has impacted my life greatly. Luckily,
you can turn these into net positives, I
would encourage people to join Brandon
Schneiders community of Living with
Epilepsy.
What is your experience in the
Cannabis industry, and why do you
choose this path?
I spent my time smoking marijuana and
playing with computers, which my parents
told me not to, but now that is how I make
money.
I was a budtender in Los Angeles for a
couple of months before working in Abbot
Kinney in cannabis Operations. I worked
there for about one year before being
promoted to Assistant Buyer at a corporate
level. Working as an assistant to both
sourcing and purchasing departments, I
was able to learn cannabis supply chain
hands-on.
From there I worked with Shryne Group,
AKA “Stiiizy,” in downtown LA handling
METRC (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking
Reporting Compliance) inventory of
bulk flower. We would accept, and then
process pounds of flower to be made into
distillate, concentrate sauce, packaged
1/8ths, etc.
I am now the buyer for Calma in West Hollywood.
We are a young shop, only been
open four months, but we have plans to
grow.
Tell us more about Calma and your role
there. What does the typical day of a
buyer for a recreational Cannabis company
look like?
Calma is a licensed retail dispensary in
West Hollywood. We have a great team
and a beautiful space and are a female
forward and LGBTQ friendly space. The
typical day for a buyer within the recreational
Cannabis industry consists of
reviewing sales data, placing purchase
orders with vendors, and meeting with
internal departments as well as outside
vendors as needed.
What cannabis cultivars (strains) have you
found that are the most therapeutic and
medicinal for your epilepsy?
I find Tikun to be the best cultivar in the
realm of therapeutic and medicinal cannabis.
There are some classic strains like
The Gift which many have grown, and
I felt The Gift to be calming and therapeutic.
I have tasted some very delicious
strains from classic LA cultivars that are
recreational oriented. Tikun is launching
more recreational oriented strains that I
really enjoy.
It has been shown that CBD is effective in
mitigating the symptoms of Epilepsy. Are
you aware that there are a few pharmaceutical
medications on the market that
are cannabinoid based? If so, have you
ever been recommended by a doctor to
take them?
I am aware, although I have never been
recommended by a doctor to take them.
I would consider transitioning to a CBD
based epilepsy drug, I would do it under
a schedule. In the current medicinal landscape,
you have to bring it up with your
doctor or neurologist, drugs for epilepsy are so established and controlled by Big
Pharma that CBD based drugs are labeled
“alternative” and not often suggested. It is
up to us the patients to move there.
What are some words of advice you would
give to someone with Epilepsy?
Relax. Breathe. If you feel the aura come on just
know you will be ok on the other side of
the seizure. If you have a support group
around you, they are there to help. If you
do not, please become a part of a group
or community that has your best interests
at heart. There are a lot out there, and
the best ones are peer to peer Epilepsy
groups.
Early on for me, living with Epilepsy seemed
crushing, and daunting to live with. It’s not.
I really enjoy who I am, as a person with
Epilepsy.
Take medicine. Take the right medicine.
There are a lot of prescription drugs on the
market, and it’s a lot to trudge through.
I went through several pharmaceuticals
before I found what worked for me. I never
talk with Neurologists I don’t trust. Never let
anyone tell you what you should or should
not be taking for your body.
We at ERA would like to thank
John-Luck for his time and insight on
living with Epilepsy. Follow us on social
media for new events and upcoming
articles with fellow epileptics!
Do you want to share your journey with
Epilepsy? Contact us today!
Be recognized as one of an Official
Affiliate and Core Sponsors!
Contact us today!
Executive Director:
Curtis Breitner
E-mail: info@epilepsyra.org
Phone #: (505) 507-5776
