Medical marijuana

[Deleted member 42935]

Hi All, I just want to ask if anyone ever tried using medical cannabis as an alternative meds? I have read many articles about medical marijuana and how it can help you in terms of chronic pain, glaucoma, eating disorder/anorexia, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, inflammation, even cancer and a lot more. Cbd and thc are also new to me and I don't even smoke. If this is true I cant find any solid conclusive evidence that speaks to its efficacy. Any personal experience or testimonial would be highly appreciated. Thanks

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

Welcome, @Cipherus Cicada!
What a name! Lol! Heck, yes! There are many of us who have tried, and used marijuana to manage our symptoms, and are still "self medicating" with it. It can help, and it can hinder. Overuse, is a trap, just like using tranquilizers, alcohol, or food are overused for soothing our pain, emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental.

Personally, I believe it should be as legal as alcohol, along with the same age restrictions. I smoked for 40 years, and I have to say that it DID help me survive some of my worst days. I did find that it also hindered my progress as well. Used in high quantities (pun intended ;)) it is very numbing, and can "paralyze" the user, therefore making healing impossible. For me, quitting was very liberating, as I carried guilt and shame about smoking it.

Using it in the edible form is the best way I found, but it is not legal where I live, and probably won't be for quite a few years, which is ridiculous. The States surrounding mine have legalized it, so it just takes a drive across state lines to get to it. Alcohol is so much more dangerous, but because it is legal, it is widely used. Marijuana does not ravage the body anywhere near the way alcohol does, although smoking does obviously damage the lungs. A lot of people use "vaping", which seems to be less harmful. I prefer any method...LOL! Yes, I miss it, and enjoyed it for 10 days this year when I visited my good friend in California. I haven't laughed like that since I quit! I am not tempted to resume the habit though. I think it's sad that it is vilified because it makes people feel happy, and laugh! Being high IS FUN, and that is why I think it IS useful when treating PTSD, though it can intensify depression and anxiety when over used.

I have chronic pain issues, and marijuana DOES help those issues. When I stopped smoking, my doctor increased my pain medication, since she knew that my pain would increase without the marijuana. It definitely helped my muscle spasms, and took my mind off the pain for awhile anyway. I wish that it was legal and available, because people have a right to be able to at least try it.

I hope this helps a bit.
AKJ

 

[joeylittle]

Hi, @Cipherus Cicada. Do you have PTSD?

 

[Cannottakethis]

I have been using medical marijuana since February (legal in my state) for my ptsd symptoms and it has helped. It's helped me cut down on taking benzos (Ativan and klonipin) by more than half, so far, and I sleep much better with a rare nightmare. I still take prazosin for nightmares but eventually I'd like to go off of that as well. In my state there are no edibles, only dry material. I haven't vaped yet but planning on it. It's way better for the lungs. @AngelkeeperJ/AKJ, I hope you get access soon.

 

[LisawithPTSD]

Yes! Its about the only thing that give me relief! Highly recommend. Opt for eating it vs smoking. I find its more calming and longer lasting to eat it and certainly saves your lungs. Takes about 1-2 hours for the weed to kick in after eating. Grind it up, cook it on low in butter for a few hours then use the butter in recipes.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

I am PRAYING that someday it will be legal in ALL States! Then edibles would be a more realistic option...

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

I wish the press would advertise that NO ONE EVER overdosed on marijuana, unlike OPIOIDS!!!!!!

 

[mumstheword]

I wish we had the knowledge of strains and unique properties like some places.
I gave up because I couldn't handle the inconsistency around the differing strains and levels of thc to cbd's. Not to mention that I found the legal status nerve-wrecking.

It's now legal for some medical users here but try finding a doctor's to back you and even then, there are not licensed suppliers.

I can't stand the smell anymore either, as it is a reminder of my history of abuse and neglect at the hands of (primarily) my ex.

I did find it sometimes helpful when I used it and sometimes utterly frightening, debilitating, dissociating, psychosis inducing and lung hurting.

But at the same time, it helped me get over near mutism and extreme social inhibition, anorexic tendencies, chronic depression and cutting and other self harm and extreme juvenile alcoholism. It also helped open my creative channels, primarily my.music.

Pot opened the door to healing, for me, but it also exacerbated my c-PTSD symptom. So it's extremely confusing, conflicting and uncertainty-producing, for me.

I really don't know where I stand on it, although, some of my most illuminated and positive-self forming experiences were under the influence of.

I don't get the same creative flows or sense of well-being that it sometimes gave me now that I don't use anymore. I guess I miss that. But I don't miss the extreme dissociation, derealization, depersonalization, paranoia, black-outs, feeling like I was dying, dry mouth, near lung collapse, hacking painful lungs, racing thoughts and psychosis that too much thc sometimes caused.

We can't really access the clean cbd oil and low cbd bud here, and even.if we could, it's hugely expensive and not through legit suppliers.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

@mumstheword
I agree with the difficulty in not having consistent and predictable availability of the "right" product.

When I went to California earlier this year, I discovered that the dispensaries are quite sophisticated, and knowledgeable about the specific effects of the strains available. I couldn't believe how much everything has changed since I was a young adult. I understand that Colorado is the same.

I also don't miss the anxiety and paranoia that I sometimes felt, and my lungs were a mess. I would prefer the vaping, or edibles.

I do miss the muscle relaxing and pain reducing benefits, and am sure that I would be on less of a narcotic patch if I had access to the medicinal herb.

Time will tell what happens in the future. I would NEVER want to be as psychologically dependent as I was for 40 years...