I was trained in Western Medicine as a traditional pharmacist. I was initially skeptical that cannabis could be used as a true medication. In pharmacy school, I even wrote a research paper disputing the medical benefits of cannabis!
In 2015, I was diagnosed with chronic pericarditis, a complication of Lyme Disease. The condition is caused by a virus, which creates inflammation in the lining of the heart. It is a very painful, debilitating condition. As I traveled back and forth to the emergency room with painful flare-ups, the only option that was given to me to control the pain was 12 ibuprofen a day and narcotics which I could not tolerate. I knew that these options were dangerous, long-term solutions to treat my condition. After another trip to the ER, my husband had the foresight to ask our neighbors if they had any cannabis. At that point, we were desperate for a solution. Cannabis had just become legal in Oregon and lucky for us, they had a pain relieving strain to share with me. The pain was gone almost immediately.
The next time I had a flare-up, I wasn't as lucky. The cannabis I procured from our local dispensary did not help my pain, at all. I did not realize that each strain has a complex ratio of cannabinoids and terpenes which, in combination, offers a variety of different effects. It took 6 months of research, trial and error and many dollars spent before I found the appropriate medication to treat my pain. Best of all, the ratio of cannabinoids that I was using did not make me “high”, so I could function in my everyday life.
It didn't take long for me to share this information with the patients in my Lyme Disease groups. Not only had the pain in my chest finally go away, but I was having relief overall in my Lyme Disease symptoms. Within 6 months, after daily use of cannabis, I was finally feeling like my old self. I had numerous Lyme Disease patients reaching out to me for advice on using cannabis to manage their symptoms. And just like that, I became an advocate for cannabis as medication.
Over time, the scope of medical conditions became more complex. Former mental health clients needed help with insomnia and anxiety, parents seeking treatment for Lyme-induced seizures, ADHD, Autism and behavioral disorders, etc. The questions were growing more and more complex, so much so, that I had to hire a research assistant to assist me with the medical research, so I could develop protocols to help these folks out. Adding to the complexity, each person responds to cannabis differently, so many of the protocols have to be adjusted for each individual.
Then, in May of 2018, I was hit with devastating news. I had breast cancer. Once again, I began to research the specific cannabis medication that I could use. I needed help managing the anxiety and insomnia that came with the diagnosis, help with pain from surgery, something to soothe the burns from radiation treatment and an anti-tumor protocol to suppress the tumor until surgery. I reached out to the local cannabis physicians for the cancer protocol and utilized DNA testing to determine protocols for each of my needs. Cannabis was my miracle medicine throughout my entire treatment.
Once I completed radiation treatment, I knew that my medical knowledge as a pharmacist, my advocacy work in mental health, and my experiences using cannabis as a cancer and Lyme Disease patient could truly benefit others, and Sage Advice was born! I look forward to helping you navigate your journey to better health with cannabis!
ABOUT SAGE LIFE
Victoria Starr, R.Ph., Licensed Pharmacist
I am a registered pharmacist with 28 years of experience. I have 8 years, combined experience, working as a pharmaceutical sales representative with Eli Lilly and Company and with Johnson & Johnson, promoting and educating mental health professionals on psychotropic medications.
After leaving Big Pharma, I became partners in ProStarr, LLC., creating employer owned pharmacy operations for large employer groups. Throughout these years, I was also the Pharmacist in charge for the MonaCare Pharmacy at Monaco Coach, spending time caring for patients and creating disease state management initiatives. During this time, I built the pharmacy operations for Slocum Clinic in Eugene, Oregon and for Monaco Coach in Indiana.
In 2009, I was hired to create a mental health pharmacy operation for Lane County Behavioral Health Clinic in Eugene, Oregon. This opportunity led to 5 years of clinical pharmacy experience in psychiatric medication. I spent these years enjoying direct interaction with clients, providing intense medication management and acting as a mental health advocate.
My experience working in the pharmaceutical industry led me to spend 10 years working undercover on behalf of the Federal Government and to become a whistleblower in a major lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. Once the case was over, I moved to the Portland area, and served on the Board of Directors for NAMI SW Washington for 2 years, raising funds and increasing awareness on mental health issues. I also volunteered my time at NAMI SW Washington for 5 years meeting with clients as a consultant pharmacist, presenting and educating at Family to Family meetings, interpreting pharmacogenomic test results and working as an advocate for clients.
Over the last 8 years I have had the opportunity to use a variety of integrative approaches on my healing journey with chronic pericarditis, Lyme disease and its manifestations, breast cancer, radiation treatment, insomnia and anxiety. All of these difficult diagnoses have brought me a deep respect for my health and wellbeing and it has been the catalyst to being open to exploring the many facets of various medication therapies, starting with medical cannabis and then expanding into other modalities. These experiences led me to work with Gesundheit Foods/Form Factory as their staff pharmacist helping to create meaningful cannabis formulations. For 3 years, I acted as a cannabis advocate, dispelling myths, educating the general public, providing valuable resources for patients seeking cannabis for medicinal use, and collaborating with other cannabis-educated healthcare providers. Now, with Sagelife, LLC, it is my hope to combine the lessons of my own healing journey, along with my many years of pharmacy experience into a unique and personal, concierge practice to share with my community.
Caroline, Research Assistant
Caroline was born and raised in Weston, Connecticut. She is a 2025 PharmD candidate enrolled currently at the UConn School of Pharmacy. She will receive a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Studies this spring of 2023. She worked as a scientific communications intern writing blog posts for Element Apothec and Dr. Peace Lily. She also worked as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens and is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a clinical pharmacist. She enjoys hiking, baking and spending time outside. She hopes to eventually get into a residency program after becoming a licensed pharmacist.