CNN Exclusive

(CNN) – Elana Frankel had retreated to bed rest for a year, having been shocked out of modern life with a traumatic brain injury.

"After I finished a round of anti-seizure medications, there weren't any other pharmaceuticals available to help me with my brain injury," Frankel said. "All of the neurosurgeons [who] I consulted said I needed bed rest until the inflammation goes down."

As a mother and wife who needed to function, Frankel became restless as she struggled with pain due to the swelling in her brain. Then her husband stumbled upon CBD, a natural anti-inflammatory derived from the cannabis plant that could, perhaps, offer some hope.

"The idea of finding relief through plant-based therapy was extremely appealing at the time. I knew about cannabis, but I wasn't educated about all of the plant's therapeutic components."

CBD helped ease Frankel's inflammation, which had persisted as a result of her brain injury. And as the pain dissipated, she embarked upon a mission to help educate others about cannabis' potential to provide pain relief in ways that modern medicine was unable to do. Her newly published book, "Women and Weed," offers a primer to those interested in incorporating cannabis into their lives.

READ THE FULL STORY ON CNN: www.cnn.com

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