Medicating with Marijuana

[lexinonomous]

I will be the first to admit that I have a Marijuana Recommendation. After visiting with a doctor, they approved my card and allowed me to visit various dispensaries in my area. I love having my medical card and have found it to be quite helpful when it comes to my anxiety. The tinctures that they offer are the most helpful, since they are high in CBD and help with a lot of my pain and general anxiety. I feel like marijuana has been a god sent for me, since I really am fearful to touch prescription medication.


Growing up, my mother suffered from severe anxiety and was constantly having outbursts. I remember her quitting medication and calming down more so than when she was taking it. She started taking therapy classes and it really helped her get through her anxiety attacks. This is what makes me so fearful of prescriptions. My mother was always angry or completely calm and out of it when she was on medications (which is why she ended up quitting.)


Does anyone else use marijuana to medicate?


Have you thought about it?


What do you like or dislike about it?

 

[RichE8475]

I am one of those people that cannot use Marijuana. Instead of calming me down my heart starts racing, and I become even more anxious then when I started. I was told that this was mainly from a chemical imbalance in my brain, and that my mind would react differently to certain medications: Similar to having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I am not one to condone the use of illegal substances, but if it medically helps a person relieve anxiety or pain, then I think it should be prescribed. I live in West Virginia so we are not allowed to be given a prescription for this anyway. However, I think that if you find something that helps, then by all means "do what you gotta do:.

 

[redpanda]

I've had horrible, horrible insomnia and nightmares since I was a kid. Marijuana is the ONLY thing that allows me to sleep normally without me feeling super drugged and out of it in the morning. I use very little and I vape (I don't like smoking in general). I have found marijuana to be useful for anxiety in the past but it's depended on the strain. I don't currently live in a legal state so I just use enough to sleep and that's about it. Occasionally, I vape to calm down if I'm super panicky. I'm in the process of moving to a state where it's completely legalized so things will get easier for me soon. I hate that doctors here would rather me get addicted to clonazepam than vape a tiny amount of marijuana. I have a rather addictive personality but it oddly doesn't apply to cannabis. I had zero issues when I went on vacation---I had to drug myself with clonazepam and trazodone in order to sleep but I had no cravings or other symptoms. I wish the US would just legalize it .

 

[SAHM2011]

I have thought about this in the past but have not had the nerve to ask about it. I'm not entirely sure on how it would work, what to do to get it, or anything. I just know that I struggle with Depression and anxiety, I have a service dog to help, and I am on a lot of different medications for chronic pain, depression and anxiety. I would love to decrease my medicine intake, but not sure if medical marijuana is the right way to go. Any advice on this would be very helpful to me as well!

 

[Androlo]

Most people who I know that use Marijuana use it for pain relief or for it's relaxing effects to help them sleep. Aside from that, nearly everybody I know who has tried using Marijuana for anxiety issues has had very bad experiences with it, especially long-term. The truth is that Marijuana really doesn't do any justice for anxiety in most cases so in that respect, you should probably consider yourself lucky - not that you suffer with anxiety but that Marijuana actually seems to help it. I know quite a few people who start getting anxious, paranoid and having panic attacks as soon as they go anywhere near marijuana and it's generally well known that long-term use of Marijuana can exacerbate those symptoms exponentially.

 

[gracer]

Hi lexinonomous! First off let me commend you for your courage in revealing that you are into Marijuana medication. There are still a lot of arguments regarding its use in the field of medicine but there are also those who can attest to the effectivity of the herb in alleviating their medical conditions. This herb has been around for a very long time now and our ancestors have definitely used it before for medicinal purposes. I have also witnessed old folks in my area use it as a form of pain medication and it has served its purpose well to them.

 

[John Snort]

From experience I know marijuana isn't the answer for everyone with anxiety. There are people who will find it helpful and there are others who won't. For the latter group instead of marijuana helping, it actually makes their problem worse. Different reactions. If someone wants to try marijuana then you should do so with caution. After using marijuana if you find out that you feel even more anxious then let it be the last time you use it.

 

[LittleAnna]

I live in a state where marijuana is not legal, but I wish it was legal. If nothing else, it would give those who are suffering with chronic pain and anxiety more options for treatment. My state was raved by the 'opioid epidemic,' and many people are simply terrified of controlled substances. This is especially true for lawmakers and prescribing entities. The end result is that so many people suffer with limited options to be treated.

 

[shcoo]

I use it in moderation - a few hits once or twice a week usually. My rule is that I cannot smoke if I have anything on my "to-do list." Shirking those duties in favor of weed would cause MORE anxiety in the long run. But I find it definitely helps me unwind and avoid harmful manic episodes. I have several friends who were prescribed several different medications and nothing worked for their mental issues for years until they tried smoking. Now they seem much more well-adjusted, although I would never smoke daily like them.

 

[rz3300]

Well I used to use it a lot more than I do now, and really I do not smoke anything anymore, which is am thankful to be able to say. When I used to use marijuana, I always asked myself why on God's green earth is this stuff illegal? I know that a lot of people ask themselves that, and a lot more are doing it these days as well, and some of them are people in power, but it still has that stigma. I just know that it helped me a lot to calm down and ease my nerves, in certain situations. I did have times when it backfired and I got a bad high, as they call it. Overall though, I consider it harmless and have no issues with anyone feeling that it can help them and using it.

 

[Jean Thomas]

I use marijuana for medication. Only indica strains because sativa makes me more anxious since it's a 'head high'.


But any strain with indica relaxes my anxious thoughts. It also helps me sleep since I have insomnia.


I see marijuana simply as another herb that can relax the body. Such as green tea or chai tea or sage or Rosemary.

 

[TyCole8]

I am one of those people that cannot use Marijuana. Instead of calming me down my heart starts racing, and I become even more anxious then when I started. I was told that this was mainly from a chemical imbalance in my brain, and that my mind would react differently to certain medications: Similar to having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I am not one to condone the use of illegal substances, but if it medically helps a person relieve anxiety or pain, then I think it should be prescribed. I live in West Virginia so we are not allowed to be given a prescription for this anyway. However, I think that if you find something that helps, then by all means "do what you gotta do:.

Regardless of how you feel about it, the biggest side effect of “feeling high,” doesn't have to contribute to the pros and cons of utilizing the medicinal purposes of marijuana. There are two different components to the plant itself. One is mostly associated as the psychoactive (THC), and the other one, CBD, is responsible for holding most of the medicinal benefits without causing lack of cognitive function.


They sell CBD pills and tablets that you can take like daily vitamins and help with symptoms such as anxiety, inflammation, and depression among many others.

 

[hades_leae]

Have you thought about it? What do you like or dislike about it?

Well since you ask, I truthfully dislike it because in other countries where weed has never been legal, people with anxiety problems don't seek drugs for medication. They have other methods for getting rid of their problems.


I have heard many people in America say that marijuana is a real problem solver but I disagree, it makes you high. I never been high, and I don't knock the solution, I just find that many people have excuses to use something that they don't need but want to use because it makes them feel good. Weed doesn't actually make the problem go away, it just does temporary work. Over time nothing will most likely change for anyone who uses it on a regular basis.


I got nothing against you. You asked for opinions so I gave you mines.

 

[pwarbi]

While it might be true that marijuana isn't a cure for the problem, a lot of people aren't looking for a cure, they're looking for something to ease the pain of the situation they are in, just like you'd take paracetamol to relieve the pain of a headache. It's easy for people to come out and say that it's wrong to take marijuana because it's illegal, but at the same time just because it's illegal doesn't make it wrong.


If a person feels that marijuana helps them, then who are we to judge and tell them that they shouldn't do something that is making their lives better? If marijuana was legal and always had been then I don't think there would be as much of an issue over it's use as what there is now, and it would just be seen as another form of medication that people could go to the doctor and get prescribed.

 

[Androlo]

Do they product CBD tablets, pills or medicines or anything like that? You would think so, considering that it's the CBD in Marijuana which has such marvellous medical properties and benefits. Yet I've never seen or heard of CBD-based products, only medical Marijuana (which still has a certain amount of THC in it). If it's the THC which causes the head high and which leads to feelings and thoughts of paranoia, then you would think that they would eliminate the THC all together, wouldn't you? Why not just product CBD-based pharmaceuticals instead of using medical Marijuana?

 

[cecejailer]

I medicate with weed and I absolutely love it. The trick is to not smoke during the day, only at night. I used to smoke during the day and it made my depression worse, I was feeling like a zombie, couldn't get out of the bed, basic stoner routine. I stopped smoking during the day and now it's the best thing I've ever done to help my depression, only because it's relaxing. I don't think it cures depression or works as an anti-depressant, but it does keep you relaxed therefore less anxious. But I don't think weed is for everyone, some people tend to freak out and become completely paranoid, so I guess everyone should try it at least once to see how it feels for them.

 

[kgord]

Well for those who aren't interested in the getting high aspects of the drug..CBD Oil which is 100 percent legal in the United States may work for you in terms of easing your anxiety and have other benefits as well. It is simply one of the products that those who want to get the help that Marijuana can give you without having to get a prescription or feeling like they are doing anything wrong. CBD Oil has all the THC removed, so it a superior aspect to what you have used before. It can be administered in a variety of forms gums, tinctures, vapes and many more.

 

[RichE8475]

Have you thought about it? What do you like or dislike about it?

Well since you ask, I truthfully dislike it because in other countries where weed has never been legal, people with anxiety problems don't seek drugs for medication. They have other methods for getting rid of their problems.


I have heard many people in America say that marijuana is a real problem solver but I disagree, it makes you high. I never been high, and I don't knock the solution, I just find that many people have excuses to use something that they don't need but want to use because it makes them feel good. Weed doesn't actually make the problem go away, it just does temporary work. Over time nothing will most likely change for anyone who uses it on a regular basis.


I got nothing against you. You asked for opinions so I gave you mines.

What methods have you heard, or experienced yourself, that helps those individuals with anxiety? As i previously stated, Marijuana does not help me, it actually causes the opposite reaction. Here in America there is just not enough of a voice for Mental Health, in my opinion. Thank you for stating your opinion, and I hope that this forum will continue to allow people to give their thoughts. I know I get nervous about writing something, and worry others are going to get upset with something I wrote. Everyone experience things differently, and I would like to think that If we all combine those experiences we can learn something. Obviously, people are going to disagree; it is just the yin yang of life.


I have tried everything from imagery, muscle relaxation techniques, and i am on medication. I wish I had never gotten attached to my ativan, because it has just added to my anxiety. When I start to get low or its time to go see my physician for refills I am afraid one day i will be told they cannot give it to me anymore. My last doctors visit I was told that I had to make a choice between my pain medications or my anxiety medicine. I told her I would rather be in pain than have a panic attack. There was a study that was done exposing the dangers, and deaths caused by, opiods being taken the same time with benzo's. It is just going to be difficult because I have been on this combination of drugs for fifteen years now.


Thank you for your statement that "people have excuses to use something they don't need". I agree with you, but I disagree, because there are those of us that really want to be better. A life with Anxiety is not a life, and if there is something out there that works (whatever it may be) I say go for it. I hope that you continue to contribute, and let us know what you have learned from your experiences with anxiety.

 

[RichE8475]

I am one of those people that cannot use Marijuana. Instead of calming me down my heart starts racing, and I become even more anxious then when I started. I was told that this was mainly from a chemical imbalance in my brain, and that my mind would react differently to certain medications: Similar to having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I am not one to condone the use of illegal substances, but if it medically helps a person relieve anxiety or pain, then I think it should be prescribed. I live in West Virginia so we are not allowed to be given a prescription for this anyway. However, I think that if you find something that helps, then by all means "do what you gotta do:.

I did not know about the CBD part of the drug. I know that I have nothing against individuals that utilize this medication. As I stated, my experience with this as never really made me "high", but it makes my heart race and i get sick. I will have to look into the information you provided. I know that no matter the condition someone is in, cancer/anxiety/HIV, our bodies accept or reject certain things. I know that I do not look at Marijuana as just a "get High: drug, and I know people that truly benefit from its affects. I think if you find something and it works for you, then you should be able to utilize it ( monitored by a physician of course).

 

[aimeepoo]

I am one that tends to freak out when I have smoked it in the past. Of course that was potent strains. A few months ago I tried it again (first time in many many years) and it helped me as I was in a very bad place at the time. So..I am in the process of seeking medicinal marijuana. I have to go to the doctor who prescribes it soon when I am able to afford to do so. I would much rather use marijuana than all of the chemical laden medications there are.