The late Dr Teresa Towpik was heralded as the “godmother of cannabis”, a “visionary” and a “true healer” as medical practitioners gathered for a conference in Sydney hosted by the company she co-founded, Medihuanna.
Dr Towpik passed away three weeks ago, having overseen the organisation of Medihuanna’s inaugural Medicinal Cannabis Prescriber Conference, an event co-hosted last weekend by the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM).
Speakers – including her son and Medihuanna co-founder Pavel Bulkiewicz – lined up to pay tribute to Dr Towpik who played an instrumental role in legitimising the field of medicinal cannabis.
ANTG chief scientific officer Justin Sinclair told delegates it was “with a heavy heart” that he gave his talk on cannabis ethnopharmacology.
“This was the talk I gave when I first met Dr Teresa Towpik many summers ago,” he said. “She was sitting right in the front row beaming her infectious smile, and I know that her passing has left a void in the hearts of many in this room.
“I dearly hope she is aware of the impact and inspiration that she provided to so many and the incredible legacy that she has left behind.
“This talk is dedicated to her.”
Dr Danny Cai, the medical director of Telegreen Medical, said Dr Towpik’s involvement in cannabis came at a time when it was “tangled in stigma and misunderstanding”.
“But she stood her ground, not for recognition, accolades or financial benefits but to ensure patients could access compassion, education and treatment options where conventional therapies has failed them,” he said.
“Because of that courage, nearly 5,000 healthcare practitioners have now been trained through Medihuanna. For many of us Teresa was not just the founder, she was the guiding light.
“Her vision legitimised a field once dismissed and her legacy continues to inspire how we practice today.”
Nurse practitioner Lisa Dick described Dr Towpik as her “role model” and the “godmother of cannabis”, while ACNEM chief executive Di Strang recalled how Dr Towpik “looked like a movie star” as they visited the beachside conference venue in Manly earlier this year.
“She was not very well, but had a red coat and red lipstick and she [swished her hair] as she got out of the car and I thought she’s such an extraordinary example of how you live your life,” she told delegates.
“Everything with her was bright and dynamic and when she looked over the beach from where we are today she said ‘look at those people swimming and running and laughing…living their life. That’s what these doctors get to do, they get to help their patients live their best life’.”
In a moving tribute, Bulkiewicz described her a “true healer and an educator…but also the greatest mother”.
“She gave the me the time, love and attention I needed to become the best version of myself,” he said.
“She understood that healing comes from many different sources and occurs on many levels. Together we explored many modalities of healing from meditation to breath work, cannabis, psychedelic medicine and much more.”
Even after being diagnosed with cancer, he said she continued to teach doctors how to prescribe medicinal cannabis for “thousands of patients”.
Bulkiewicz added it was “time to reflect” on the future of cannabis, and how it should be respected as a medicine.
“This weekend is a tribute to her work,” he said. “She opened a door, with the hope that others would walk through it with honour and integrity. Remember your duty and your responsibility. If you prescribe cannabis treat it with the respect it deserves.”