One thing I do not like about California Medical Marijuana is that it is not standardized like normal FDA approved medication.
Marijuana can make someone with PTSD Psychotic!!!
There is a correct way for someone with PTSD to use Medical Marijuana.
Only Indica strains. The Indica strain is known for being the "dopey" or "sleepy" strain. Sativa is known for being stimulating and creative (last thing you want to add to your andreniline and racing mind). Before the doctor told me this, Marijuana I smoked in the past made my PTSD much worse and even lead to Marijuana Psychosis.
Once the doctor explain to only use the Indica strains, I stopped getting anxious or worsening PTSD symptoms. The good thing about the cannabis clubs is that you can gaurentee the strain you are buying is Indica. After 6 weeks of theraputic use with Indica strains, I got back to BASELINE!
Once in a while I tried a Sativa and within about 3 days (say if I bought an 1/8), I would develop anxiety and worsening PTSD symptoms. I even tried a few hybrids and those too, over 6 days of use, would lead to worsening PTSD symptoms and anxiety. The Indica never builds up in my system like that and only helps. It actually bring me back to baseline!
Vaporizing every three hours is best because you do not expose your lungs to burning plant material or carbon. You only absorbe THC and water vapor. There are actually 4 active ingredients in Cannabis, THC activates and releases at 200 degrees while other ingredients activate and release at 250 degrees. What this means is that when vaporizing, you mainly get just THC and you leave out the dopey/sleepy side affects out. With just the THC, I feel alert and clearheaded, baseline; not like I'm on drugs. When you smoke it, while one might wish to do at bed time or when anxious or triggered, you get those dopey ingredients (and the carbon/smoke)
So, vaporizing every three hours with Indica is recommended for full theraputic use.
Eating marijuana is also very importiant for full theraputic use.
Smoked THC metabolizes in about 3 hours where orally ingested THC metabolizes in 6 hours. By eating a marijuana brownie at bed time, one will maintain a theraputic level of THC for most of the night. This will aid in sleep and help block nightmares and night terrors. It will also block negative thinking and racing thoughts. What worked best for me was to eat 1/2 a brownie at bed (10:00pm) , then the other early in the morning, six hours later (4:00am). This would keep my amygdala and depression under control when waking up. I actually would wake up happy.
Now be very careful, eating THC can cause Marijuana Psychosis because it builds up in the blood fast and takes longer to metabolize. Only eat it at night and if you can bake your own, make them weak. You do not need to eat very much.
Now I probably sound like a professional long time pothead. I'm not, I grew up with Nancy Reagan teaching drugs are bad. If I had things my way, I would not have PSTD and never smoke pot.
So just to be clear, what works best for me and according to my doctors:
* Only use Indica Strains of Cannabis
* Vaporize (or smoke) every three hours during the day
* Eat a Cannabis Brownie (edible cannabis) at bed time (one dose)
- you can also eat 1/2 a dose at bed and the other 1/2 dose 6 hours later
* Indica hash or hash oil can be added during a trigger event or for pain managment
(when the body's pain management system gets turned off)
* NO DRIVING
I hope this helps because it has helped me more than anything.
