Medical Cannabis Coach and Consultant | Medical Author
Dr. Abe Benavides is a passionate advocate for medical cannabis education and law reform. His interests lie in cannabis medicine, public health advocacy, and patient education. Currently, Dr. Abe works at GW Center for Integrative Medicine, where he provides remote cannabis consultations. He values empowering patients with knowledge about this fascinating herbal medicine, helping them understand cannabinoid and terpene science, and guiding them in developing personalized action plans.
At GW Center for Integrative medicine:
Through GW CIM, Dr. Benavides meets with patients remotely as a cannabis consultant to:
- Answer cannabis-related questions
- Give patient education about cannabis and terpene science
- Discuss strategies for dosing, product choice, routes of administration, and healthy consumption
- Help develop personalized, in-depth cannabis action plans
- Do follow ups as needed and for referrals by other Integrative Medicine providers
- Team work with Dr. Mikhail Kogan and cannabis couch Joelle Rabion
Accomplishments and Awards:
- Founder of the Cannabis as Medicine Interest Group at GWU SMHS, the first of its kind at a US medical school (2016).
- Earned a Health Policy Track certificate focused on advancing Hispanic public health and representing 50,000 US Hispanic physicians on Capitol Hill.
- Author of cannabis e-books and Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses for Veriheal, the largest online provider of medical cannabis cards in the US.
- Lead medical reviewer and researcher for multiple cannabis and CBD organizations globally.
- Costa Rica’s #1 Cannabis Scholar – Cannabis Science & Industry Center of the Americas (CSICA)
Publications and Research Experience
- Author, Veriheal’s Ultimate Guide to Medical Cannabis, 2022
- Author, Understanding Terpenes and Cannabinoids, 2022
- Author, Veriheal’s 6-Module CME Medical Cannabis Class, 2022
- Lead Medical Reviewer, Advisor, and Cannabis Science Analyst, CannaKeys 360 Research Group. 2022 – Present
- Speaker, “El Sistema Endocannabinoide y Sus Usos Potenciales”, 2023 CSICA International Open House
- GW CIM Medical Cannabis Education for Health Professionals, “What is CBG, Cannabigerol?” and “CBDV – Cannabidivarin”
- Speaker, From Costa Rica and Back Again, 2022 Inaugural Cannabis Congress of Costa Rica, Society of Cannabis Clinicians & CSICA
- GW CIM & CME Co-Presenter, 14th National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, 2021
- First Author, “Medical Students are Unprepared to Counsel Patients About Medical Cannabis and Want to Learn More”, 2020
Affiliations
- The George Washington University Center for Integrative Medicine
- Member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians and Latin America Chapter
- Cannabis Science & Industry Center of the Americas
Education:
- Doctor of Medicine (MD), George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (2019)
- Studied Biology and Business Administration, Boston University
Personal Journey
Dr. Abe’s personal journey has greatly influenced his professional path. After surviving a severe COVID-19 infection during his Family Medicine residency, he now lives with Long COVID, POTS, and PTSD. This experience has motivated him to move to Costa Rica, where he focuses on healing, spending time with family, and enhancing his quality of life.
Beyond professional life
Dr. Abe cherishes time spent in nature and at the beach with his wife and their pug, Bruschetta. He believes in the importance of balance and connection, both personally and professionally.
Testimonials:
“Dr. Benavides not only exceeded my expectations of informing me, but he also had the patience to listen through my recent convoluted medical history. And he understood completely. ” – Alan F. on 5/18/2023
“I had a very informative and pleasant consultation with Dr. Abe who helped me understand my cannabis options”. – Shelly D. 0n 3/25/2023
“I really appreciate having Dr. Benavides as a trustworthy and knowledgable source of information about medical cannabis use. He helped me figure out the best treatment approach for my needs.” – E. A. on 8/1/ 2022
Submit New Patient Inquiry FormIn this 6 min video Dr. Abe dives into the science of these powerful compounds found in cannabis, from common ones like CBD and THC to lesser-known cannabinoids like CBG, THCA, and CBC. Learn how these compounds interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to regulate mood, sleep, and more. Dr. Abe talks about the therapeutic benefits, potential side effects, and the unique properties of each cannabinoid. Plus, get practical tips on choosing the right cannabinoid profile for your specific needs.