BY REMMY DIAGBARE

Princess Lami’ah Momoh, our cover personality today, is a woman who wears many hats.

She is a lawyer, former SSA to Ex-Governor Adams Oshiomole, on the MDGs, consultant to several blue-chip companies, leading network marketer and businesswoman extraordinaire.

She has expertise in Planning, implementation and monitoring the provisions of the Millennium Development Goals, now known as the Sustainable Development Goals.

From the Royal Family in Etsako, Edo state, Lami’ah has over 21 years experience in business analysis, change management, training, Stakeholder engagement, Management, project planning and implementation skills.

In 2017, she introduced Cannabis Oil as a remedy for several health challenges, including cancer and severe pain.

In this interview, she sheds more light on Cannabinoid Oil.

Would you say women are enough in decision making positions in Nigeria, if no, how would you advocate for more women participation in politics and decision making positions?

Women’s right to equal participation has been agreed internationally across a range of human rights treaties, international resolutions, national constitutions and laws. However, there’s a long way to go before this right becomes a reality for women in Nigeria.
Although, following the inclusion of an indicator on women’s representation in national legislatures in the Millennium Development Goals, efforts were made in Nigeria as far back as President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to increase the number of women in politics and decision-making. However, The political landscape in the country demonstrates that women are still grossly under-represented in governance and decision making.
Sustainable development Goal 5 Speaks on Gender Equality and Bridging the Gap. If Nigeria is to meet these goals, especially the part of ensuring women’s full and active participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life; we need to Sensitise women to understand their leadership and decision-making roles better, and ensure that they participate more effectively in politics and governance.
While improving the representation of women in national and international leadership, the local level also needs to be put into consideration, because they make all the decisions affecting women’s lives. It is crucial that women speak at the community and local levels. Informal, community space and local women’s groups are essential arenas for developing leaders, providing skills, experience, relationships and networks for women to become public and political leaders themselves. Political parties should adopt internal quotas, to ensure that women are proportionately represented in local offices, and on electoral rolls.

You, seem to wear many hats. You are a lawyer, politician, business consultant to many blue chip companies, local and international, and you are also the leading network marketer in Nigeria. So, which one are you most passionate about, and in which do you excel the most?

I am a lawyer by education; I held a political appointment; I would not call myself a politician. I have worked professionally as a Business Consultant to various Blue Chip Companies in the UK, and Yes I am a business Woman, who uses the Network Marketing platform to distribute products.

I am most passionate about Network Marketing. I love Network Marketing. The strategy used in the Network Marketing model is brilliant. It is a proven viral marketing strategy that not only provides consumers with products or services of value, it minimises the middlemen and also provides an exceptional income opportunity, on a level playing field, to large numbers of people, instead of only a few at the top. The entry level is low, so anyone who is hardworking, persistent and coachable can make something out of network marketing, but it takes hard work.

Anyone who says it is easy is not telling the truth, and that’s why a lot of people join Network Marketing companies with the wrong perception. When they discover that they cannot just sit at home twiddling their thumbs and money will fall into their laps, they quit. It is not a get rich quick scheme; you will have to work hard at it. Working from home or being your boss comes with discipline. No one is going to tell you when to start or stop working, carry out specific duties or go for breaks, etc. like a regular job. Here, you have to set your own goals every day, create your to-do list, prioritise your work and get it done.

Network Marketing is a journey of self-development. Self-development skills are invaluable. You learn mentoring, teamwork, sales skills, how to give presentations, leadership skills, and so much more. These skills are priceless. As a leader, I had spent a lot of money travelling to different countries attending various personal development training classes, events and seminars, years before I started in Network Marketing, and I keep learning. The money you spend on self-development is always money well spent.
I do well at whatever I set my mind upon, but Network Marketing is my passion. I see it as a form of empowerment; a way to serve, help people achieve their goals in life, without having to resort to waiting around for handouts. I have worked with teams of over 35,000 distributors and seen people soar to the top position of the company. It is a very rewarding industry, which is also why I have started my own network marketing company in the health and wellness industry. The enthusiasm is contagious. Our products are the ever so popular CBD products, which I first introduced to Nigeria in 2017. As I always say I can only speak for my brand, which is the Sterling Herbal brand. It is a fantastic product because it helps address a variety of health ailments.

What kind of health benefits can one get from Cannabis?
CBD Oil is very popular in the western world, and people have had the advantage of benefiting from this precious plant for a long time, while we are still trying to play catch up in Nigeria.
We make no medical claims. However various testimonials on different health ailments have been recorded from the use of the CBD Oil, ranging from cancer, insomnia, epilepsy, autism, Parkinson’s, diabetes, high BP, high cholesterol, stroke, pain, arthritis, fibroid.
I have several doctors who have partnered with me and offer CBD Oil to their patients, and the testimonials keep pouring in.

You talked about the use of cannabis for health benefits. A lot of people see Indian hemp as igbo , pure and simple. And, igbo turns people ‘s head. What is this new thinking about igbo?

There are over 23,000 studies that show the benefits of medical cannabis for a variety of diseases and health conditions. It has the backing of an enormous body of scientific research, enthusiastic public opinion, and more progressive cannabis laws, which is giving cannabis the reputation it deserves as a groundbreaking health solution.

Marijuana is what we refer to as “ igbo” or weed, in Nigeria. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the content in marijuana that gives the psychoactive effect (makes people high or stoned) Even though some people may misuse it, you cannot ignore the health benefits of Medical Marijuana.
In America, some doctors prescribe Medical Marijuana treat patients when everything else fails.
Cannabidiol known as CBD is from Cannabis or industrial hemp, it is from the same plant with marijuana. Cannabis does not suggest marijuana. However, it is the genus name and general umbrella term which all types of cannabis and hemp fall. Hemp has no value as a recreational drug. Smoking large amounts of hemp flowers can produce a significant headache, but not a high.
CBD is becoming increasingly popular for having a broad scope of medicinal benefits – due to clinical reports and mounds of test data showing little to no side effects and a lack of psychoactivity (typically associated with marijuana products and high THC). CBD has been shown to help with everything from PTSD and anxiety to MS and epilepsy — without getting you high.

People all over the world including Nigeria are taking the plunge and experiencing the health benefits of CBD Oil in their everyday life. When I first started with CBD Oil in the later part of 2017, it was still extremely new to Nigeria; now I notice more people are becoming aware of the benefits of CBD Oil.
I am a strong advocate of the use of CBD (Cannabidiol )Oil because I have seen it work in my life and the lives of others. It helped address my chronic insomnia (sleeping condition) of over 35 years.

How is the cannabis distilled and what are the testimonies about its efficacy?
Efficacy is proportionate to the process of extracting the CBD Oil. My brand Sterling Herbal CBD Oil uses the CO2 extraction method, which is the most superior method of extraction. CO2 extraction is a process that uses pressurised Carbon Dioxide to pull the desired phytochemicals from a plant. In the world of cannabis, this process removes all of the essential cannabinoids, terpene oils and waxes out of the plant material. The extraction process creates an amber-coloured oil (CO2 oil). The superior CO2 extraction method is a way to produce pure, clean, quality oil, which doesn’t involve post-processing.

Sterling Herbal CBD Oil plants are from internationally pedigreed proprietary certified seed stock. It is the highest quality available and grown in the USA. It is full spectrum which means that the oil contains all the benefits of the cannabis plant CBD, CBC, CBG & CBN. Our CBD Oil is from Non-GMO, organically grown, Pesticide free, CO2 extracted hemp oil. Non-additive and no side effects and manufactured in an FDA approved facility.
As for testimonials, we do not make any medical claims. I speak based on my personal experience, the testimonials I have received from doctors and consumers. We have had testimonials on various ailments, ranging from, High blood pressure, insomnia, the onset of Parkinson’s, pain, asthma, seizures, stroke, autism, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, high cholesterol, fibroid, the testimonials keep coming in; the list is endless.

How does one distinguish between the genuine and the fake one?
There are a few things to be aware of, in determining if the CBD Oil is fake or genuine
1. How is the CBD Oil extracted? The best way is the C02 extraction method.
2. What colour is it? Should be a deep golden colour
3. Where is it sourced? US grown hemp is the best, as US hemp is under stringent conditions and US farmers are required to get certified by state departments of agriculture.
4. Check the bottle for the ingredients. Should not be mixed with coconut oil, olive oil or water.
Ask to see 3rd party lab tests and a certificate of analysis; this will precisely state what is in the bottle.

What other ways or form is it prepared?

Aside from taking CBD Oil sublingually, it is also in the tea form; tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. CBD infused tea is excellent for digestion, pain relief and relaxation. Another way is to vape it, through the CBD Vape Pen. Vaping is a quicker way of experiencing the benefits of CBD Oil.
In the western world, Coca-cola has stated that they will be making CBD infused drinks. Marlboro cigarette manufacturers have started manufacturing CBD cigarettes. American farmers are moving away from planting tobacco because the tobacco sales are falling as everyone is bent on moving towards a healthy lifestyle, so the cigarette manufacturers are getting creative. There is CBD Beer, Heineken now manufactures Hemp beer, as do so many other major beer manufacturers. There is CBD water, CBD milk, CBD sweets, CBD chocolates, CBD honey. CBD roll on, CBD lip balm.

You talked about vaping. Can you shed more light on vaping?
Vaping is for when you need something on the go. Vaporising with a vape pen offers the same immediate effects of smoking. A vaporiser heats the CBD Oil without burning it; you inhale the active ingredients, and no smoke is involved. It makes it a healthier alternative to smoking. Plus of course, it does not contain any nicotine. When inhaled, CBD is absorbed by the lungs, into the blood, and across the blood-brain barrier. The first effects of inhaled cannabinoid oil usually occur within a few minutes. Vaping is often sufficient for helping acute symptoms that need to be addressed quickly, such as painful spasms, nausea, vomiting etc People like vaping, because not only does it give fast relief but it allows users to remain discrete and consume CBD Oil in public without having to open their mouths and put the tincture under their tongue.

Are there no side effects and what about dosage and possibility of overdosing?
There are no known side effects of taking CBD Oil in any form. You cannot overdose, even if you swallow all the contents of a 30ml bottle at a sitting. Taking CBD Oil in the vape form means you are consuming fewer amounts of CBD as the vape pens can only hold a certain quantity; so there is no possibility of overdosing.

There is currently an epidemic of drug abuse in Nigeria, where young people are getting hooked on drugs. Some even go as far as using cough mixture to get high, is Cannabis Oil a remedy for these misguided youths?

One of the many uses of CBD Oil is to combat addiction, so it doesn’t matter if the dependency is on alcohol, cigarettes or drugs, CBD Oil can help address it. Dr Sanjay Gupta, the CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, who is a strong advocate of Cannabis Oil, talked extensively on the period drug abuse and how Cannabis Oil can help.

Tell me about your operations. Do you grow your local or you have to import?

Our brand name is called Sterling Herbal, and we source and import our CBD OIL from the best hands in America. CBD Oil is not cheap especially if you want premium quality. A lot of work also goes into sourcing the oil; there are a lot of manufacturers in America who make CBD Oil, and not all of them are of good quality or efficiency. Some of the CBD Oil does not even contain CBD in them; some get their oil from China and CBD Oil from China, includes a lot of heavy metals and contaminants, which no one should be putting in their bodies. In order not to cut corners and get the best, we have had to put in a lot of work, a lot of travelling, testing, etc. It is essential that due diligence is carried out because of the nature of the supplement; a step in the wrong direction can be vital to people’s health including mine.

What’s the response from medical professionals in Nigeria?
As with everything else, some of them are aware of CBD Oil, and some are not. We have partnered with a lot of medical professionals. They come to us because they need a reliable, valid and authentic source of CBD Oil, that they can offer to their patients with ease, and without having to get into the nitty-gritty of doing the research, travelling all over the world to test the various CBD Oil sources before making a final decision on which one to get. It saves them a lot of time and money.

Where do you see cannabis oil in another five years?
There are so many predictions, especially by Forbes about where CBD Oil will be in a few years times. However, I pray that in Nigeria, we will use our specie of the cannabis plant (which is said to be the best) to our advantage and become the biggest producer and exporter of CBD Oil and Medical Marijuana.