Dr. Terel Newton, as the Florida Medical Director for Trulieve and a board-certified anesthesiologist with extensive experience in medical cannabis and interventional pain management, is well-positioned to provide valuable insights into plant-based medicine. His expertise spans over a decade in medical cannabis research, education, and advocacy, making him a leading authority in this field. Below are eight topics related to plant-based medicine that Dr. Newton would be highly qualified to discuss, tailored to add value for untrained doctors and patients:

1. Therapeutic Applications of Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain Management
   Dr. Newton’s background in interventional pain procedures and his role at Trulieve equip him to explain how medical cannabis can serve as an alternative or complement to traditional pain management strategies. He can discuss specific cannabinoids (e.g., THC, CBD) and their mechanisms in alleviating chronic pain, supported by his experience in performing over 10,000 pain procedures and his focus on non-opioid solutions. This topic would help untrained doctors understand dosing, delivery methods (e.g., inhalation, edibles, tinctures), and patient selection, while patients learn about safe, effective pain relief options.mmcarefl.comterelnewton.com

2. Medical Cannabis for Anxiety and PTSD
   With his certifications in addiction medicine and extensive work with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Dr. Newton can educate on the role of cannabis in managing anxiety and PTSD symptoms. He can cover strain selection, potential side effects, and how to monitor patient responses, offering practical guidance for doctors new to cannabis-based treatments and empowering patients with knowledge about symptom relief.terelnewton.comlearncannabisnow.com

3. Reducing Polypharmacy in Older Adults with Medical Cannabis
   Dr. Newton has addressed polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications, particularly in older adults, and its associated risks like frailty and adverse drug events. He can discuss how medical cannabis can reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals, providing case studies and protocols for integrating cannabis to simplify treatment regimens. This is valuable for doctors aiming to minimize medication interactions and for patients seeking safer alternatives.fmcce.com

4. Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Strategy in the Opioid Epidemic
   As a leader in combating the opioid epidemic, Dr. Newton can elaborate on how medical cannabis serves as a harm reduction tool by reducing opioid dependency. He can provide evidence from his retrospective analyses and clinical experience, guiding doctors on transitioning patients to cannabis-based therapies and informing patients about its role in addiction recovery.mmcarefl.comterelnewton.com

5. Patient-Centric Dosing and Administration of Medical Cannabis
   Dr. Newton’s patient-centric approach and extensive dispensary tours (over 20 in Florida) make him adept at discussing individualized dosing strategies and administration methods (e.g., sublingual, topical, inhalation). He can offer practical tips for doctors on tailoring treatments to patient needs and educate patients on how to use cannabis products effectively and safely.terelnewton.comlearncannabisnow.com

6. Navigating Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Medical Cannabis in Florida
   With his role as Trulieve’s Medical Director and expertise in Florida Statute 381.986, Dr. Newton can guide untrained doctors on compliance with state regulations for prescribing and managing medical cannabis. For patients, he can clarify eligibility, qualifying conditions, and the process of obtaining a medical marijuana card, demystifying legal barriers.learncannabisnow.com

7. Cannabis for Chronic Conditions Beyond Pain (e.g., MS, Cancer, Autoimmune Diseases)
   Dr. Newton’s research and conference presentations cover the use of cannabis for conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer-related symptoms, and autoimmune diseases. He can provide insights into how cannabis mitigates symptoms like spasticity, nausea, or inflammation, offering doctors evidence-based applications and patients hope for symptom management.terelnewton.comlearncannabisnow.com

8. Educating Healthcare Providers and Patients on Cannabis Safety and Side Effects
   Drawing from his anesthesiology background and focus on patient safety, Dr. Newton can discuss how to monitor and manage potential side effects of medical cannabis (e.g., cognitive effects, dependency risks). He can train doctors on patient education protocols and provide patients with clear guidelines on safe use, enhancing confidence in plant-based treatments.

Eight New Research Applications of Plant-Based Medicine in 2025 by Dr. Terel Newton

1. Cannabinoid-Based Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases
   Emerging 2025 research highlights the potential of cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and THC-A in slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Dr. Newton can evaluate studies on their neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, guiding doctors on clinical trial data and dosing protocols, while informing patients about potential benefits for cognitive health.

2. Plant-Derived Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery
   Recent advancements in plant-based nanotechnology, such as nanoparticles derived from plants like Nicotiana benthamiana, show promise for delivering therapeutics with precision in 2025. Dr. Newton can assess their application in treating chronic conditions, offering doctors insights into scalable, sustainable drug delivery systems and patients an understanding of enhanced treatment efficacy.

3. Kratom Alkaloids for Opioid-Sparing Pain Management
   New 2025 studies explore kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) alkaloids like mitragynine for pain relief and opioid withdrawal support. With his addiction medicine expertise, Dr. Newton can evaluate these findings, providing doctors with guidance on safe integration into pain management protocols and educating patients on risks and benefits as an opioid alternative.

4. Turmeric-Derived Curcuminoids for Cancer Adjunct Therapy
   Research in 2025 emphasizes curcuminoids from turmeric (Curcuma longa) for their anti-cancer properties, targeting pathways like angiogenesis and metastasis. Dr. Newton can analyze these studies, offering doctors evidence-based adjunct therapy strategies and helping patients incorporate curcumin into cancer care plans safely.

5. Psychedelic Plant Medicines (e.g., Psilocybin) for Mental Health
   The 2025 Plant Medicine Track at Psychedelic Science highlights psilocybin and other plant-based psychedelics for depression and PTSD. Dr. Newton’s experience with mental health disorders enables him to evaluate their therapeutic potential, guiding doctors on emerging protocols and informing patients about access and expected outcomes.

6. Plant-Based Biopharmaceuticals via Molecular Farming
   Advances in molecular farming using plants like Nicotiana benthamiana to produce vaccines and monoclonal antibodies are gaining traction in 2025. Dr. Newton can assess their scalability and safety, providing doctors with insights into plant-derived biologics and patients with knowledge of accessible, cost-effective treatments.

7. Ginger and Polyphenol Combinations for Chronic Inflammation
   2025 research explores synergistic effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and plant polyphenols (e.g., flavonoids) in managing chronic inflammation in conditions like arthritis. Dr. Newton can evaluate these combinations, offering doctors practical supplementation strategies and patients guidance on dietary integration for symptom relief.

8. Cannabis-Derived Acidic Cannabinoids for Autoimmune Disorders
   Emerging studies in 2025 focus on acidic cannabinoids like CBD-A and CBG-A for autoimmune conditions due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Dr. Newton’s expertise in cannabis research allows him to assess their clinical potential, advising doctors on therapeutic applications and educating patients on safe, targeted use.