Tributes from across the medicinal cannabis industry have been paid to Medihuanna co-founder Dr Teresa Towpik who has passed away after a long battle with cancer.
One of the industry’s most passionate and inspiring figures, Dr Towpik was recognised as a pioneer of medicinal cannabis since its legalisation a decade ago.
Announcing her passing, Medihuanna said Dr Towpik’s “passion, courage and vision will continue to inspire us all”.
“It is with heavy hearts that we farewell Dr Teresa Towpik, co-founder of Medihuanna, a true pioneer of medicinal cannabis treatment in Australia,” the company wrote on LinkedIn.
“She bravely faced cancer for many years while dedicating her life to breaking stigma and bringing knowledge to health professionals. Her legacy will continue to inspire.”
Such sentiments were shared across the industry with Dr Towpik variously described as “indomitable”, “remarkable” and “one of the industry greats”.
She also inspired many people beyond medicinal cannabis, providing a source of comfort and encouragement through her book, Cancer, My Greatest Teacher, which chronicled her journey with the disease and the “inner strength” she discovered.
Dr Towpik also authored an Introduction to Medicinal Cannabis which became an invaluable source of information for healthcare practitioners looking to learn about the medicine.
A GP in Australia since 1993 after graduating from the Medical University of Gdańsk in her native Poland, Dr Cowpik worked for various medical centres before joining Compass Cannabis Clinic in 2018 as global chief medical officer.
By then, in 2016, she had co-founded education platform Medihuanna with her son, Pavel Bulkiewicz, with a vision to “change the stigma of cannabis through education” and to have it seen as an “important medicine that should be integrated into modern medicine”, especially in the management of chronic debilitating pain.
In testament to the continuing work over the years of Dr Towpik, Pavel, and the wider Medihuanna team, it picked up the award for best education and engagement initiative for two consecutive years as the Cannabiz Awards.
Yet prior to legalisation, Dr Towpik had been a sceptic, admitting she initially viewed cannabis as a “drug of addiction, dangerous and to be avoided.”
Legalisation had come as a surprise, she later said.
“However, once I started to do my research, I realised how wrong and ignorant I had been,” she wrote on the website of advocacy group Drive Change, of which she became an ambassador. “It soon became clear to me that I was now dealing with an amazing herb that has incredible medicinal and healing properties. I felt touched and inspired by patients’ stories, especially children suffering from intractable epilepsy. I began to see cannabis as a sophisticated plant.
“In learning all this, I discovered that I wasn’t able to be passive and conveniently wait for others to speak up about this. I decided to become an advocate of cannabis and committed to long hours learning about this plant.”
Among those paying tribute was Cannatrek chief medical officer Dr Jim Connell, describing Dr Towpik as “someone I will miss dearly”.
“She will be dancing in the stars and laughing at the moon,” he wrote. “Her indomitable spirit and ferocity for life will live on through her friends and family. Thinking of you all during this sad time.”
Dr Imran Khan, a founding member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Cannabinoid Practitioners, said: “I am so sad to hear the news. She was my mentor and inspired me with the strength, will and fight she showed during her illness. A remarkable human being. I will reflect on the spiritual conversations Teresa and I had. She was an amazing teacher not of just medicine but life.”
Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia chairman Kristin Viccars called her “an incredible human being whose impactful work will live on”, while medicinal cannabis consultant Clare Barker said she was a “remarkable woman who gave of herself with amazing energy and optimism”.
Cymra Life Sciences chief commercial officer Beatriz Garabelli told how she will remember Dr Towpik for her “courage in standing up for what she believed in at a time when many in the medical field were still hesitant about medicinal cannabis”.
“She was a true pioneer, and her impact will never be forgotten,” she added.
Pharmacist and Greencare operations manager Daniella Shirley lauded Dr Towpik as “one of the greats in this industry who fought early for patients to gain access to medicinal cannabis”.
ECS Botanics MSL Rachel Clark described her as an “amazing soul that touched many hearts and minds and has undoubtably left her beautiful mark in this world”.
Consultant and senior business development at NICM Health Research Institute Depina Lord recalled Dr Towpik’s “positive spirit and optimism”.
“Teresa’s genuine care for her patients and unshakeable zest for life was evident in all she did,” Lord wrote. “She truly lived life to the fullest. Her legacy lives on in the work, the many patients she’s supported and in all her colleagues…always remembered with inspiration and love. RIP Teresa, keep dancing in the stars.”
Emeritus professor and foundation director at NICM, Alan Bensoussan, said Dr Towpik will be remembered as an “amazingly motived and engaging woman and doctor”.
Little Green Pharma chief executive Paul Long said her legacy will “absolutely live on” while LGP head of marketing and communications Celia Young described her passing as “heartbreaking”.
“My deepest condolences to Pavel and the rest of Dr Teresa’s family,” she wrote. “The industry would not be where it is today without her patience and determination to help with access and education. She will be sorely missed and am very thankful for all her assistance over the years.”
Also among the many paying tribute was Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association chairwoman Teresa Nicoletti and former MCIA chair and Epilepsy Action Australia CEO Carol Ireland.
Nicoletti remembered Dr Towpik as “one of the early pioneers to embrace the therapeutic value of medicinal cannabis”.
Meanwhile, Ireland said: “I have many fond memories of Teresa and Pavel from our early work in the medicinal cannabis space. A lovely and inspirational woman.”
Echoing the thoughts of many, Aleafiate Clinics operations and clinical strategy manager Danielle Holloway called Dr Towpik’s passing as a “huge loss to the cannabis community”. But stressed her pioneering role will remain front and centre.
“We will all carry on her incredible work and continue the journey to fight disease through research and the gift of the plant,” she said.