Marijuana Really Helps Me

[anni]

For or against, Adam?

You do know, right, that's not an actual question? :)

 

[snugglepuss]

This was an interesting thread to read so far. Nice to see that people here like to laugh, and when people disagree with one's opinion, it is the opinion that is debated, not the person themselves.

I am starting to do some more research in regards to medicinal marijuana. I live in British Columbia, so I could apply for a licence. I have chronic headaches which happen at least once per week. Not sure what causes them, but I also have a bulging disc in my neck, which I suspect might have something to do with it.

My cPTSD means that I have depression, anxiety, and an all round low mood for the most part, as well as no energy. I felt like something was organically off with me for the past little while, so I just went to the dr's and asked them to do bloodwork, specifically looking at my liver enzymes, my thyroid. It came back that I am borderline diabetic, with elevated liver enzymes and triglyceride levels.

I currently am taking Wellbutrin SR 300mg, Effexor SR (can't remember the dose), trazadone 50mg, and the dreaded Seroquel 25mg (I have just told my psychiatrist that I do not want to take that drug anymore). I have major problems with my sleep still. If I take a higher amount of the Trazadone, I will sleep for way more than 9 hours, and the same thing if I use the Seroquel. I have to take the Seroquel a good 13 hours ahead of when I need to be up in the morning, or I feel groggy and fuzzy and cotton-wool-brained. (not to mention the hunger that comes with that damn drug, which causes me to get out of bed during the night to eat when i am literally half asleep). I have been waking myself up from how bad I am grinding my teeth at night.

I do have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, but am coming up on 4 years clean and sober in mid Jan. I know that there is no way I can ever drink again. That is the drug of choice for me, and it was a way to escape.

A few months ago, I went to a small gathering of people that lasted a weekend. The hostess had made pot butter, and she uses it for her fibromyalgia. She said I could try it if I was interested. I had talked with my therapist about being around drugs and alcohol before, and specifically about pot, and she said that there is no comparison between pot and anything else, especially alcohol. So, bearing those words in mind, I tried a very small amount of the butter.

And it was incredible.

I didn't feel anxious like I usually do. I felt kind of warm and fuzzy. I had no physical pain. I actually felt more energetic and was able to talk with the other people at the house more openly. There was no sense of being out of control. I didn't feel high. And, I slept like a baby that night. And woke up feeling relaxed, and happy, and finally had that feeling of a good sleep...I guess I felt rested.

So, I am curious about trying pot butter a couple more times, just to see how it goes. I would love to be able to get off the Seroquel and the Trazadone, and also to get off the effexor. All of these meds are not good, and they cause a very real, very dangerous physical addiction, as anyone who has missed their Effexor dose, or had to take it later than normal, can attest.

Great thread! :cool:

 

[AdamAnt]

I know someone who quit effexor cold turkey a few years back, and they feel lucky to be alive!

Snugglepuss, funny you should mention pot butter, I remember a member who was looking for information about that very thing...Toast....tooost.....PToastSD I thinbk his name was.....

 

[Jade-]

it was incredible.I didn't feel anxious like I usually do. I felt kind of warm and fuzzy. I had no physical pain. I actually felt more energetic There was no sense of being out of control. I didn't feel high.

I can so relate to your description. It's the same for me too. For me it feels the same as scratching that itch you can't seem to reach, or having that first cup of coffee in the morning, it just feels so soothing.

 

[snugglepuss]

Adam, the people who had the butter were quite skilled at making it LOL A friend of theirs who shares the house with them has major lung problems and has a lot of pain. And she obviously can't smoke it.

They use a slow cooker to make theirs. That way the heat never gets too high, and they leave it for a few hours (like, 8 hours). They don't mess around. They skimmed the butter, strained it, and then poured the butter into small silicone ice cube trays (they got them from Ikea), and then put those into the fridge to get a little more solid.

The trays were shapes, like stars. One star would work for about 10 people. LOL

 

[Jade-]

Butter is better.....

 

[Jade-]

I've known people who said they felt weird all their life until they smoked pot, and then for the first time they felt normal..

The first time I smoked it, even though I was pretty young, I felt that 'normal' feeling. I finally knew what it was like to not have the anxiety for awhile, the flashbacks, that shit in my head......

 

[snugglepuss]

Butter is better.....

I was really hesitant to try it, given my anxiety in general. I used to smoke pot all the time, and haven't touched it in almost 7 years. I didn't like how it made me feel.

But the butter experience, because it was not about getting high, was incredible. I was thinking about it last night, and the best way I could describe it is to imagine myself as prickly, or all angles when I am feeling distressed and/or anxious. The pot butter was like a gentle scrubby that sloughed off those pointy edges.

 

[Trinomial]

Not at all jadebear. I'm a recovering addict. I used to smoke all the time and then swear every word that came out of my mouth was 'mine' and 'freeing'.

It wasn't me talking --- it was marijuana. And it's not been prescribed to you. If it had been prescribed as beneficial then maybe you could say it is. But it's not been prescribed. Thus - self medicating.

Re-reading the thread and I caught this post.

I know people who are prescribed narcotics for their back pain. I also know that more than half of the people in rehab for opiate abuse started out on prescription pain killers.

Do you still believe it is OK if it is prescribed? Because I still believe it comes down to personal responsibility and making educated decisions.

 

[Trinomial]

It has been explained to me by two therapists that marijuana is akin to a moodstabilizer, only there are fewer negative side effects.

It's also been explained to me as an aid in meditation of the more spiritual journey nature. Silly spiritual people using an natural herb that's been used by medicine men and women for thousands of years. What are they thinking? /sarcasm

It's only illegal because it is harder to regulate and tax and there's too much money to made by making drug busts and reselling it illegally, by the government. Not to mention it's potential to expand consciousness. Good grief, what would happen if people began thinking less mainstream??

 

[snugglepuss]

So, I initiated getting a medical marijuana licence tonight. There is a Canadian website that helps you find pot compassionate doctors to help you with the application forms, and then they can also help connect you with growers in your area. The growers have been working with the site for a long time, and they have been checked out, as well as their product has been checked to make sure that they don't use pesticides/chemicals to grow it. The site wants to help people who are sick and need the help can get it, and at a price that is affordable to people who are often receiving disability or welfare. I am sick of being on all these meds, and all the side effects I am dealing with which are incredibly serious.

Apparently the wait time for the licence is about 8 months long, after they tell you they received the 16-30 page application :eek: and of course, not every person is approved. i find it pretty neat though that the local compassion club here uses only organic marijuana, and he has everything from bud to smoke or use in a vapourizer, to cookies, truffles, bliss balls, salves for topical use, olive oil, coconut oil, and tincture.

 

[snugglepuss]

I just found another site that helps people fill out all the forms, puts them in touch with compassionate doctors, and connects them with growers. They reimburse you for the cost of the two passport type photos you need for your card, and they also reimburse you for the cost of shipping the package of forms to them as well. And they send it all off to health Canada.

It is really amazing, to me!