Cannabis
I will start by saying that I do believe in medical cannabis, but I believe we went about it all wrong. I will also say that I believe cannabis should be legal. Mostly because it doesn’t make sense to me to have something as detrimental as alcohol legal, but not a plant that typically makes people more hungry and giggle. Some people report that cannabis reduces anxiety, and increases enjoyment. However, there are other side effects such as increased anxiety or psychosis. Just because it is natural, does not mean it is for everyone. I recently listened to a podcast in which they highlighted a particular user becoming dependent on it, even though it started as fun. The dependency was that he needed more of it to feel the same level of fun as before. They also highlighted that in this user’s case, it seemed that the continued use could be inhibiting their ability to grow, that it was creating a plateau for them. The more they used, the less inclined they were to challenge themselves. For this user, other side effects are shown, such as dependence and an inability to see how it is stunting us.
My intention in this piece is to educate and inform. My concern with the legal medical use of cannabis is in regards to the THC content, which is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid, and the component that makes one feel “high”. During the late 1960s, the THC content in plants was about 4%. In today's cannabis, the THC content is about 15-20%, with the highest at 25%. The issue here is that medical cannabis is loaded with a component that produces a high. What is missing is CBD which is the primary medical cannabinoid that reduces anxiety, chronic pain, inflammation, and helps with insomnia, among other things. How is something truly medicinal, if it carries very little medicine? It comes as no surprise to me that we did what humans do and changed the plant to better reflect our wants. We changed it so that it would give us a high, and in doing so, we left out the medicine that it can provide. What I would like to see instead, is for all medical cannabis to have a higher CBD content, and a lower THC content, especially for mental health.
My second concern is that PTSD is the only mental health diagnosis currently on the list of reasons to carry a medical card. People who use cannabis and have PTSD have reported less dreams/nightmares, better ability to sleep and increased appetite. They also report ongoing anxiety related symptoms such as inability to sleep or eat, excessive worry, and overall anxiety. Which could lead to dependence. We have created a culture that believes THC is the best medicine, simply because we solicited a desire for recreational cannabis under the mask of medical use. For those with PTSD, high levels of THC can inhibit their own healing. It essentially “numbs” us to what we feel temporarily. In addition, THC affects our orbitofrontal cortex as well as the limbic system, which is also the areas that EMDR targets. I typically advise all of my clients who use THC to stop use at least 24 hours prior to meeting to better ensure that the mind is more clear. Even further though, I urge my clients to take a look at their THC use, and if they are hoping it helps with anxiety, to perhaps switch to CBD instead. Not to mention, THC is illegal, unless you have a medical card, and CBD is currently legal and easily attained in Ohio.
I personally use CBD at times of high anxiety, and if needed will use it to help me sleep. I haven’t noticed any side effects from it, except for a reduction in anxiety. I also have used THC, and for me it created more anxiety, which wasn’t really helping. I also no longer wanted to numb what I was feeling. I wanted to face it, by feeling it, and truly letting those emotions and pain go. I did a meditation recently where the speaker guided us to imagine burying whichever negative emotion or aspect of life was causing distress, then watch it bud and grow into a plant. That way we can simply sit with that plant(emotion), noticing it, without being a part of it. In this visual we can walk away from that emotion when we are ready, or return and notice if needed. This is just one example of a coping skill that can be used instead of using THC. If this information resonated with you, feel free to pass it along, or do your own research - know the medicine you choose to fuel your body.
Sincerely,
Sarah
