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I participate as well, and absolutely not to minors! They are still developing and it could screw them over! On top of that, weed, like any drug, can bring forth certain mental health conditions so you need to know when to moderate
One of the unfortunate side effects of marijuana prohibition is that it increased access to minors. I’m glad I live where it’s legal, safe and can find the products I need for my symptoms.
There are very very rare cases in which marijuana is used to treat minors but that’s typically in cases like terminal cancer, but yeah, kids should not be smoking weed.
We used it for my cousin who was dying of brain cancer. Was odd seeing my family who previously hated weed give it to a 4-6 year old but it kept him eating and less nausea than opiates.
But for mental health? No. Being young is the time to build healthy coping skills. I mean. There are of course sometimes extreme cases, but edibles are wonderful for physical pain. You can’t therapize and listen to calming music physical pain away.
Poor guy. I’m so sorry. My MIL died of pancreatic cancer in 2017. She had never even smoked a cigarette in her life but the opioids gave her such severe hallucinations she tried weed. Medical wasn’t legal here so we had a friend drive to Colorado. It helped her so much. Within a few weeks their house smelled like a frat. It was such an awful time and I remember cracking up at the wall of weed behind the front door.
Yeah you're right man. Wish I could make it to a point I don't need to get violently stoned every day but I also wish I wasn't trafficked so
your comment is what my paragraphs-long rant about harm reduction started as in my brain 😂
I mean I do honestly think getting violently stoned is some pretty great harm reduction 😂😂
no but like literally sometimes it is hahaha that’s why I have to accept that this is where I’m at in life. I’m not glorifying weed it per se but eating a bunch of bagels and watching catfish all night is objectively better than hurting myself
ETA: (acceptance and change, i heart dbt, whatever whatever, I’m in like 4 hrs of therapy a week, skills are important …AND sometimes getting violently stoned is harm reduction!!)
Omg yes right ! I feel that so hard, and god bless Nev, the man who taught a generation to do their own detective work 😂 Like I'm not out in public rocking rasta colors yelling 420 BLAZE IT MFERS but it is definitely way better than doing something crazy and stupid and I'd rather not white knuckle life 🤷♀️
So real, I’ve always thought about it like I can have once vice ag a time so if my vice is cannabis, it can’t be self harm or other risky behavior, so now I get stoned way too often but I crochet, and I don’t work rn bc if immigration stuff so like, I’m in real world psych hold bc I just do what I want and babysit here and there for cash (under the table) I consider it okay bc for me compared to what it could be if I wasn’t stoned, risky behavior wise. I am medicated but as funny as it is, my anti psychotic is hurting my liver more than my use is hurting my lungs
Preach!! DBT helped me a ton, I’ve been in therapy for years and it’s my most valuable tool by far but medication, both traditional antidepressants and cannabis, are still valuable to me.
Also sometimes it just feels good to be stoned and watch Bee and PuppyCat. I deserve that.
I totally feel that, like we can have all the tools we need in our tool belt but sometimes we just need a little 🤏 bit of external help as well
You ABSOLUTELY deserve that my friend ! 👏 life is hard enough, if it's not hurting anyone and brings you joy enjoy it mi amigo 🎉
It's also not comparable to someone who uses alcohol to cope.
My therapist sees nothing wrong me my weed use. I've managed to not get addicted to pills, which I truly love, and I'm coping. It's all about survival for many of us. Doing our best to survive this moment by doing the least amount of self harm we can. Weed is perfect for that.
It also helps calm my racing thoughts so I can choose what I want to think about and process. It helps me eat when my anxiety is so bad, that even drinking water makes me want to vomit.
I'm honestly sick of people telling me weed is bad, I've heard that way more often than people "glorifying" it, whatever that means.
Also I'm sorry to hear your story u/Emma_Stoneddd while I was not trafficked, my mom groomed me and allowed access to me. I can empathize with the damage that does.
I've managed to not get addicted to pills, which I truly love, and I'm coping. It's all about survival for many of us. Doing our best to survive this moment by doing the least amount of self harm we can. Weed is perfect for that.
Thank you for saying this. I feel guilty for smoking weed but the truth is weed helped me healing from an ED, an addiction to benzos, and binging alcohol. Before weed I was on antidepressants, benzos and antipsychotics. If I wasn’t on weed I’d probably need antidepressants and I’d be back to alcohol. So… the bottom line here is exactly that, surviving with the least amount of harm
Its not wrong to use a substance but it’s important to be honest with ourselves why we use it. And to really determine if something is truly helping or hindering our progress in life
I'm sorry to hear you experienced that curiouspenguin 💜 it is damage that lasts a life time, and we deserve anything that brings us comfort and isn't damaging.
It absolutely isn't comparable! I have a cousin that peaked in high-school and is a basic white girl alcoholic and she makes fun of me for smoking weed and playing video games or being heavily involved in the rave scene - and all i could think is how can you judge me when you spend your free time on your balcony chainsmoking watching tiktoks and looking at your exes social media
That is amazing you found something that helps you eat and eases your mind without any side effects, I struggle in a lot of the same ways and I love how you put that "Doing our best to survive this moment by doing the least amount of self harm we can" I also struggled with pills a bit but have generally been clean for the past 5 years all thanks to my medical Marijuana card !!
stoned rn on my birthday to keep it as a happy day 😭😭
Happy birthday hun!!! 🎉 wishing you much happiness in the days to come💕
Yeah. Weed helps me avoid suicide.
'Violently stoned' is my new favorite oxymoron.
Not that I had an old favorite. But I have one now.
I feel this comment so much. I wasn’t trafficked but I have a family history full of trauma and abuse. Cannabis has helped keep me alive and mostly stable for the last 25 years. Yes maybe high quality and effective mental health services may have been more appropriate, but who tf has access to that in this underfunded world of shit?
Plus, the effects of 25 years of cannabis abuse are NOTHING compared to the effects of 25 years of alcohol abuse. I don’t drink, I just blaze, and I’m pretty fucking healthy all things considered. My brother just drinks and doesn’t do much else and has had a collapsed lung, every knuckle broken due to pub brawls, and now has the early stages of cirrhosis. He also looks 25 years older than me.
Oh my god babe 😔 I’m addicted as well, I was sexually assaulted as a child by my stepfather. If you need a place to vent hit me up!
right. so many men get stoned and end up being really aggressive.
does weed negatively affect some people?
totally
can weed be addictive?
totally, humans can get addicted to literally anything
can it be compared to alcohol?
absolutely not
This comment. Thank you. And I’m sorry, and I’m happy you have something to provide relief even tho some stranger on the internet doesn’t approve.
Real comment 🤣 I was also trafficked and weed prevents me from killing myself
Not sure that generalizing, black and white thinking, judgment, and unsolicited advice are productive for healing.
THIS!
100%
yeah, exactly. I don’t think that talking about your individual experience w/ weed & how it has helped you is equal to “glamorizing” it. I use it therapeutically for anxiety and pain, and I’m one of those people who actually feel energized with the right terpenes - which keeps me away from other stimulants that would be more detrimental to my health. There’s gonna be irresponsible users w/ every substance, but there are also responsible ones. & I think that this black & white thinking is a result of trauma in general that needs to be reflected upon. Just because you don’t enjoy it doesn’t mean it’s bad (“you” is used generally here, not to anyone specific)
I smoke because it helps me feel my feelings that I disassociate from otherwise. Is it for everyone? No. Does it work for me and will I recommend it to other adults who share similar trauma to me? Absolutely.
For me it helps me to slow down and focus on my feelings as well, unfortunately too many other negative side effects, plus paranoia about getting drug tested if and when I switch jobs in the future. I ended up getting in a cycle of using it to mask my side effects and then I knew I had to be done
Comparing two substances that have zero phytochemistry in common, and therefore they have none of the same effects on brain receptors or bodily responses really isn't the way here. It just becomes a glorification of an Idealistic state of "Sobriety" as opposed to recognizing that since the dawn of human existence, people have used some kind of plant or substances for both medical and inebriating purposes. That has far more historical and anthropological evidence as being considered the "natural state" of human behavior than any Idealisms of a "sober life." What is considered "Functional" within the current society model is directly measured by labor output and profits generated for employers by the worker's labor, rather than measured by the personal contentment or stability of the individual.
I can’t upvote this enough. There’s a glorification of sobriety in this Puritanical society that forces us to live in pain despite therapies that can lessen it. I don’t understand this sadistic attitude. If there’s a Creator to this world, surely this Creator left us medicines in the form of plants, fungi, and others to lessen this pain. Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system that works specifically with weed. If that’s not a sign, I dunno what is.
I agree very much. I'm against all ideals held over the individual, and all for the individual learning and deciding for themselves how and which medicines to use.
Couldn't have said it better myself. Taking things into our bodies to change how we think and feel is natural for humans. It can be profoundly helpful too, a lot of us need something like that. Like how a lot of ADHD folks need things like Adderall, or people with MDD might need antidepressants. It can be taken too far and there's a level of danger, I wouldn't recommend these things to people all willy nilly, but I wouldn't discount the potential benefits either.
I'm someone who does struggle with my weed use. I take it too far, it gets in the way of my recovery. It's also one of the best ways I have for regulating my extremely volatile emotions that threaten to drown me on the regular. It's not all black and white.
Your point about our current framework of "functionality" being rooted in the capitalist system of valuation regarding productivity and profit generation is on point too. We've been conditioned to view anything that makes us fit in less with the systemic order of things as being "bad". Fuck that shit. I don't live to make the lives of my "superiors" easy. They can eat my ass. I live for me and for the people I care about.
I very much agree with you. I believe all substances can be both therapeutic or harmful to the individual depending on how it's used. All medicine is poison, all poison is medicine. It's merely dose, timing, extraction/preparation, route of administration, and correct illness that separates healing from harming.
Yes THIS. I love myself far more on cannabis because I can see myself more objectively, my life more objectively, while I'm on it. Still, the bitter pill is that I can't live there all the time. I work on myself or just enjoy being in my body while on cannabis. It gives me a body high often too which is great relief from all the trauma stored in my body, not to mention it soothes the pain of my aching hips from osteoarthritis and makes me feel so much relief I feel safe in my body and less "bound up". I will always be walking the line between use and abuse I'm sure. But my worst self on weed is better than my best self without it. And as long as that's true, I'm gonna enjoy it and try to do as much work on myself as possible while on it.
Can you please run for president
Thanks but I'm against this entire power structure, capitalism, and nation states. I'd prefer maximum individual autonomy, affinity groups, and local autonomous communities making all decisions for themselves as opposed to any centralized authority of any kind.
My body reacts poorly to most meds. I've tanked on most of them and ended up in a mental health crisis. I was hospitalized shortly 2 times because of it. Cannabis is Rx by my Dr. and I use it as needed. What I've learned through therapy is that everyone's path to healing is different. You worry about you and your trauma, and I'll worry me and mine.
While that may be true, some people use cannabis as medicine. In that case it’s no different than me taking a prescription for my mental health issues, those are medicinal and so is my cannabis.
Marijuana has helped me recover, not inhibit me. You can face your demons and smoke cannabis at the same time as long as you aren’t using cannabis to block your feelings out.
Jesus, I would argue that marijuana is the one thing that has helped me actually get in touch with and feel and calmly communicate my feelings...
I smoked weed as a teen and it made me paranoid, amplifying my shame and fear from childhood abuse. As a 50 yo who recently got weed prescribed through my addiction Dr, it helps me navigate uncomfortable feelings with different perspectives. Very colorful, cartoonish perspectives.
Weed allows me to really feel my feelings. My emotional wall is not so rigid when I’m stoned
Fully agree. Using cannabis medically was the first time I’ve been able to understand what it means to feel your feelings instead of blocking them out, which I am prone to.
100% same. It helps me actually face my feelings.
(OP blocked me so I had to come onto another account)
I would say the same! It’s a completely different experience than alcohol or cocaine is and how it affects how we feel and communicate.
I have to wait until my big emotions pass before consuming but usually that allows me to move forward with clarity and calmness.
I can't stand when people open dialogue like this with such black and white thinking then just block people that disagree. It's like they don't care about having a discussion but just want to pass judgement on others and feel vindicated in their decisions.
It is absolutely nothing like alcohol and using alcohol as crutch. Medical marijuana is completely valid for helping those with complex PTSD, it's prescribed for people with it and has been shown to be really helpful. I know that one of the biggest ways it helps me is helping me manage my insomnia and my nightmare disorder. It's one of the only things that blocks out dreams so I can actually get a decent night's sleep. My physical health was actually being quite severely impacted by my severe insomnia since childhood before that.
Yep same it’s medicine and better then addictive sleeping pills.
Cbn/thc 10 mg gummy allows me to sleep like a normal person, not be a zombie like sleeping pills. And bonus points for no night terrors.
It will not help you recover, it will pause your recovery til you get sober and start face your demons.
This is definitely the case for some people, but i dont think its a healthy blanket statement to make because for plenty of other people, using weed as a medication has literally been their life saver. I am and know other people who are healing amazingly while using weed as a medication. It really just depends on how much weed affects the ways you can check in with yourself/do daily things as to whether or not you can be harmed by it. Its comparable to adderall, for some people it'll shut off all distractions and make their brain go into super productive mode and feel great, but for others itll just drain all the energy they have to do anything other than focus on xyz thing, and once they're done they just feel empty.
Glorifying it over any other substance is wrong, true. But I'm curious if you have the same opinion towards all pharmaceuticals?
I'm legally prescribed klonopin for my anxiety. I take it periodically as needed. But it's also a benzoate, which can be abused recreationally and can be highly addictive. Does that make it an inherently bad substance? No. Obviously.
Marijuana has had a lot of scientific research put into it, and cannabinoids have been found to have a lot of therapeutic benefits for varying conditions....while alcohol has not. You're arguing with scientific consensus. They're not the same substance and do not have the same risks or effects. One of them, for instance, can literally kill you.
THC can be unhealthy if taken too frequently or in high quantities, but the same can be said for many psychiatric medications or other pharmaceuticals, and I think it's just as harmful to disparage people who find benefit from an often legally prescribed substance as it is to encourage people to abuse marijuana. Caution them? Absolutely. Tell them that it's an inherently bad thing that no one should ever use and is equivalent to alcoholism? That's irresponsible.
Smoking weed keeps my anxiety at bay, treats my depression and opens my mind but I respect your point of view. We’re all different.
I’m thankful everyday for my Legally Dr prescribed marijuana and my government (Canada) supplied license to grow it. Your view on it seems very aggressive and is riddled with falsehoods and an obvious distain for it.
That being said it has saved countless lives from suicide (mine included) and chronic pain everyday.
I find your post offensive and attacking of people who use it but also who go by proven facts and proven results.
It is completely different from alcohol and “getting drunk everyday”.
Your own body naturally makes Cannabinoids everyday! Especially when you have just had an orgasm, that awesome feeling you feel after having one is your body flooding itself with cannabinoids. Is why you feel so great after.
Your facts are not facts but are just your perceptions and feelings which are fine but also completely skewed. If you have never tried it as a prescribed treatment then do you really have an opinion on the matter?
My doctor and my therapist are both aware of my medical cannabis use and are completely on board with it as a treatment option. Since getting my medical card, I have trained my own service dog, graduated from our training program, and have since begun a formal apprenticeship so that I can help other disabled folks train their own service dogs. Not only that, but I’ve made huge strides in therapy as well. If cannabis is so harmful, then why has my life improved immensely since I begun using it?
I completely agree that cannabis isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but there isn’t a single medication out there that is. Calling people who use cannabis as a prescribed medicine “addicts” is a truly ableist and judgmental take.
I agree. It’s inappropriate to label us addicts or say that doing what works for us is “another excuse to do drugs.”
And no mention of other prescription drugs…? I guess those are fine according to OP. Only weed is the bad kind of drug.
Note: I take prescription drugs as well, just making a point.
Same (other prescriptions also) but you’re 💯 on point.
To also add..because we say “ we are also in other meds” you then some may ask “well how do we know our marijuana actually helps?”
Because (for me personally) it was the biggest overall drop in the harshest symptoms etc and enhanced other needs like needing to eat, being calmer, being able to focus more on one thing instead of 485 things swirling in my brain at one time. Helped me think clearer and to try and not be so reactive in the moment. Helped with my anxiety (have to use the right strain for that individually). Helped with my panic attacks. Helped with my insomnia (not to sleep but to shut my brain down better to be able to get to sleep (again strain based) Helped with my pain, not so much the actual pain but my brains way of processing it and it overwhelming me.
Also it’s not just about thc, can get no thc with just cbd etc etc.
It is completely different from alcohol, polar opposites just about. Not to mention, Weed helps save plenty of people from alcoholism. It's not a cure-all but without weed I'd be turning to alcohol, just like my mom drunk all day every day.
That being said, I will say the percentages of THC in products is a bit insane these days. I think it's becoming problematic alongside the fact that other important cannabinoids are missing in favor of THC. It's no wonder a lot of people are having terrible experiences with weed products nowadays!
This is something I've talked to my therapist about. Weed is my single largest bill, but it's mitigated about 6 other problems from a combo of trauma and chronic pain. I'm aware it's not great, but I would not be functional at this point without it. I'm aware it's not the best solution, but it's the best I have at the moment.
It is actually incredibly different. Anyone who has had an ED or had their appetite suppressed medically can attest to that. Some of us need it to eat food.
Yep I would’ve starved to death or live with a tube if it wasn’t for pot, my grandmother would’ve starved to death as well without it (she had cancer and lost her appetite, she used weed as a last resort and she got the munchies. She still died from cancer, but she didn’t die hungry. It also helped her with the pain and aches)
Seriously. I use it for many reasons. Chronic migraines, severe anxiety, back pain, chronic nausea, and appetite stimulation for my ARFID.
This !!
I absolutely agree. I swear the thing that most helped me to recover from my ED was smoking weed. It helped my appetite, plus food tastes better when high so I actually learned to love some food again. It also helped in diminishing rumination and obsessive thoughts.
I definitely think people need to be knowledgeable about both the pros and cons of marijuana especially if using it medicinally. But I find it strange no one has this take for people who need to take antidepressants or anti anxiety meds to relieve their symptoms.
I don’t think you should be stoned all day but there are many medicinal benefits of marijuana.
I’ve suffered from life long insomnia and marijuana is the only thing that helps me sleep and actually get rest. It also helps calm me down if I’m feeling anxious or triggered.
Everyone reacts differently but I don’t think we can compare being stoned to being drunk
I use it to sleep too. It’s the only thing that works consistently. Alcohol will make my anxiety much worse
Some substances, like weed, have been researched extensively when it comes to helping mental health issues, and the results are overwhelmingly positive. The conversation isn't about this, but MDMA specifically has recently been considered a breakthrough therapy for PTSD. It shouldn't be packaged as a cure all, and the weed/psychedelic bros who put those substances on a pedestal - as if they are the most perfect thing in the world, everyone should do them, while bashing anyone who uses any other substance/gets addicted to any substance for being weak, gross, overall inferior, have made the spreading of information about substances and it's positive effects incredibly dangerous. They refuse to talk about any negative effects, or the fact that some people react really negatively to substances, and that's not them being a failure. But people relying on substances to recover isn't a bad thing, it doesn't make their recovery any less valid. Some people legitimately need substances to function, to even begin a road to recovery at all. Some people need substances to recover, and what will "pause" their recovery is getting sober. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We just need outlets to make substance use safer.
wouldn't recommend it, but personally it's either be stoned + productive or unproductive and spiraling
OP has to make an edit asking others to be respectful and asking them to stay on topic meanwhile they’re comparing marijuana to cocaine and being disrespectful themselves.
I also found that ironic. OP has called us addicts without knowing our stories and is trying to paint us as disrespectful because we responded in earnest.
sorry I had to come onto another account because OP blocked me after I made that comment.
OP needs to do better and understand the nuance in cannabis. people are being more than respectful in the comments, it’s OP who’s trashing and shitting on people who don’t agree with them.
It's not highly addictive, but people do tend to gloss over the fact that for a few unlucky people weed causes paranoia, derealization, depersonalization and deepens problems with delusions. It absolutely is not harmless, and I'm saying that as a former pothead from decades ago. Also weed is always getting more potent and it seems like a lot of people don't know anything about different strains, or to be careful about THC percentages, or that different delivery methods can have dramatically different effects on people. I don't have a problem with people talking about how much it helped them or recommending it in cases where it seems appropriate, but I WISH they would acknowledge everything that I stated here and to curb their enthusiasm and consider whether or not the person they're talking to would benefit from the endorsement.
Edited to add: when I say I've been a longtime smoker, I mean I started in the 90s and was a regular smoker up until a few years ago because they started making it too strong and legalization made it way too expensive. Plus they stopped growing my favorite strain! Point is, I know what I'm talking about.
Curious what your favorite strain was. I really loved a strain called nebula and I never see it anymore 😭
Alpha Blue. Won the "High Times" Cannabis Cup five years in a row. I miss it sooo much!! It would clear my head, give me energy and make me joyful. I could get three times as much done in a day because it allowed me to focus and let my anxieties fall into proper perspective. And in higher amounts it would make me spectacularly stoned. OF COURSE people stopped growing it. No one's even heard of it anymore. It was an important part of my mental health care and I really suffer without it.
I really appreciated your thoughtful post about this. It’s a nuanced topic. I wish I knew about this when I was younger or that weed impacts a developing brain (smoked so much in high school). I also think dosage is important, I very much enjoy my smoke but I can’t deal with anything more than a one hitters worth of the stuff nowadays every couple of hours. Thc is bonkers high like 40% what? Have you ever thought of looking for a seed of the strain you’re missing and growing it yourself? You could get clones from that and practically have a stash for life if you have the time and space to spare to grow
I wish I had thought about that when it was available. I can't seem to find anyone who has even heard of it, but I haven't explored how/if seed banks and real growers online might help.
If it won high times five years in a row I’m betting that not only have growers heard of it but they might have some seeds. I know a famous dispensary that found a seed to a strain from the early 2000s, and many reviews mentioned that people hadn’t seen it in decades. Might be hard to track down, and you might have to talk someone into selling you some if they don’t have many on hand, but im hoping you have good luck
Tbf alcohol also does paranoia, dissociation and psychosis in certain people, and for everyone else it just makes them an annoying twat
I have to be careful with the more Indica strains since it can cause depersonalization in me. I tend to stick to Sativa to help with my brain fog I still have leftover from covid
Cannabis is in a weird place right now where people have realized it's not as bad as their parents and governments have been telling them for decades, yet it's not without its dangers that some people are now downplaying. My take is that one should treat it the same way as alcohol: responsibly. See it as a way to relax or socialise on occasions but don't make it a habit. And don't push it on people.
A sensible take.
Speaking for myself -
Weed is the first tool I found that enabled me to partially detach from my feelings so that I could simultaneously feel them and think about them. It has been an invaluable tool for allowing me to understand why I react the way I do and to build new reaction pathways.
That has been my experience too. It doesn't numb or suppress my feelings like booze or even the meds prescribed for depression and anxiety! Benzos in particular only seem to make anxiety worse in the long term IME. Weed in fact made me face the anxiety and uncomfortability in my body and wouldn't let me ignore it, but also softened the edges of the painful parts. In fact the only time I've had a bad response or gotten paranoid on it was when I was actively trying to suppress or ignore big feelings.
Detachment without disassociation! I can inspect my feeling like a physical object and really figure out what happened there
You say if you can't stay respectful to leave, but you're getting upset in the comments with everyone who says it helps them. And then when someone respectfully (but passionately) disagrees, you're saying it's the same as cocaine?
No one is glorifying it in this way. But when someone asks me what has helped, I say weed. Truthfully, if someone said cocaine, I still wouldn't judge them. You don't get to judge people for how they cope. Get off of your high horse. We won't judge you for however you cope, and there's no need to judge us.
ANY medication or even treatments (DBT, EMDR...) may not work for everyone. Individual plans are essential for something such as (C) PTSD. This can include weed. You also know that all of us have experienced trauma, and we may carry shame or guilt. How the fuck are you going to shame people on this sub?
Clearly, you are intent on shaming people likely because you were triggered by someone saying weed helps them. So you either had bad experiences personally with drugs, including weed, or a loved one. And if I'm wrong, then you really need to work on being way less judgmental.
Finally, if you are not a medical professional in neuro or psych, then you need to stop telling people what is okay for them or not.
All love here, but respectfully no.
War on drugs propaganda goes so hard. I was dependent to weed before I got pregnant, suffering from severe gastroparesis and trying to deal with the last 18 years of my life finally catching up with me, and I felt better when I quit. But at the end of the day it’s medicine, and it’s possible to use it medicinally and healthily. After I stopped breastfeeding I applied and got my medical card, and it has been the best decision for my mental and physical health. It’s possible to reframe your mindset and, just like with other medication, use it healthily. A lot of people with trauma suffer from chronic pain, which THC and CBD can help with. It sounds like you aren’t very educated on the cannabis industry (especially pertaining to medical use), and it’s of COURSE true that weed isn’t for everyone, like any medicine it has different affects on different people. But it might be more helpful to do some research, talk to budtenders and other folks who use legally, learn about different strains and the like, broaden your horizons.
Diff strokes for diff folks. We could go to our docs and get hooked on a whole variety of innocent drugs that are seemingly harmless some of us have just chosen weed.
You sound pretty against it. But I don’t feel it numbs me out at all quite the opposite really and it does help slow down some of the self hatred and such in my head.
I dunno you view maybe accurate with some individuals but is pretty far off for many others.
I’d consider being more open minded there are a lot of alternative therapies to treat ailments etc.
I see your point of view but people need to make their own choices. It's called harm reduction. The reality weed has helped a lot of us. You don't have to smoke it.
This is like the 3rd post I have seen in a random, non weed related group about weed being addictive.
Don't smoke or participate in weed stuff, so that's a little odd.
Weed is not physically addictive it just doesn't work that way. Mentally, it can be. Anything that hits the pleasure center of the brain can cause addiction type behavior. That goes for things like shopping, eating, gaming, sexual behaviors. You do any of those every day to cope it will result in the same response and reward behavior pattern.
Marijuana is a substance that can only cause real harm in mind-bogglingly excessive levels and can treat anything from anxiety to eating disorders to chemo nausea to glaucoma.
It wasn't made illegal on the federal level due to the danger it posed. Making it illegal allowed the federal government to get involved in law enforcement operations they wouldn't have been able to otherwise.
Edit - Also, the "face your demons" concept is an outdated therapeutic idea. There is very little evidence that forcing yourself to deal with the horror of the root cause of anxiety will help. Often, it just re-traumatized the individual.
Yeah I’ve noticed an uptick in anti-weed posts across different subreddits, which makes me think all of this might not be entirely organic, so to speak
Exactly.
A bit of anti-weed astroturf.
We do have an election coming up in the states.
My daily life was so incredibly stressful, painful and exhausting that weed saved my life. Psychiatric medications also have side effects, withdrawals, etc. but no one would say anything about those if I were on the cocktail prescribed to me by doctors who don’t care to solve my problems but numb me into submission. So yeah, I choose to dull the physical and emotional pain that cptsd has left me with when it becomes too much to bear. I agree that it is awful that I have to do so, but I don’t shame people for speaking about a way to stay alive when their life has been fucking hell. It’s not the same as alcohol in the way it affects the body and spreading misinformation is dangerous in any direction. Have some empathy; not everyone can escape the situations that cause them to suffer and just find a way to heal perfectly. Some people are stuck where they are. Some people have physical pain from trauma that cannot be alleviated without medication and choosing to self medicate with something that’s been used for centuries instead of medications that literally cause “electric shocks” in the brain if you miss a couple pills isn’t the end of the world. Have some empathy and stop shaming people who are already suffering.
Ok well this is LOADED with misleading information and some very WRONG information… all ima say is if weed helps you manage your ptsd symptoms go for it, if you’re under 25 use with caution.
Cannabis is literally the only reason I'm still alive and able to do the things I need to do to heal and take care of my mental health. I will glorify it to the end of time because without it I would have been dead years ago.
Sure, it is definitely a bit addictive and can cause withdrawal, but literally SAME WITH COFFEE FOOL. Do you go around bitching about people who talk about needing their coffee in the morning?? Do you get pissed when people recommend it for waking up and being productive??
I have severe CPTSD and smoking cannabis was the first thing in 25 years of my life that allowed my nervous system to chill out and show me that feeling something other than an intense state of dread, fear, and anxiety was possible.
Stop being such a judgy weirdo. It needs to be used in moderation but it is not the devil. And people have been self medicating for as long as we have existed with all manner of things. It is not your place to judge people for what they choose to do, and it's definitely not your place to say it's more harmful than helpful.
... Theres literally medical marijuana which is prescribed for among other things cptsd treatment. I agree with you that a substance alone is not a treatment that can solve everything but the black and white statements and demonization is also not helping
Edit: anecdotally it helped me greatly in my recovery, not inhibit. People react differently to substances.
No one should be shamed for seeking to “get a relief” from the things we have to deal with.
If you have a firsthand account to share about the problems that can come from only using substances to manage your mood, and/or specific firsthand information about your experiences with weed, by all means share it when the question is asked. Otherwise, let’s not judge others’ journeys…we’re all just trying to figure this out.
Mmj helps me live a decent life. It completely cures my insomnia which alone is life saving. I'm 57 and have not smoked for most my years. Those were the worser years. I've tried many prescription meds, alcohol and illegal drugs and all made my life worse. Mmj makes it better, by a long shot. Life saving medicine in my case.
And you are doing the same kind of preaching by trying to take away medicine for people it helps and then arguing with people in the comments. Medical marijuana helps some people. If it doesn’t help you, don’t do it. No reason to yuck someone else’s yum. Good grief.
People have crutches every day, many people take SSRI or other meds every day and are technically addicted because you cant chemically give it up. At least with weed, you CAN pick it up and put it down cold turkey even if it sucks without it.
I would rather smoke weed in moderation than rely on big pharma and the weird side effects those have.
I disagree. I have a medical marijuana card for my PTSD. I think weed saves a lot of people from trying to find relief in super destructive substances like heroine. It does help with the symptoms, and there are way fewer side effects than alcohol or other substances. I look at it more like taking anti anxiety meds or anti depressants. Yeah, ideally I’d like to just be 100% fine being totally sober all the time. But I was victimized by things that weren’t my fault, and if I need extra help sometimes by safe substances that are prescribed to help lessen the symptoms, I’m ok with using them when I need to.
Now apply this logic to pharmaceutical meds…
Some background on the histocial demonization in America. Villifying recreational MJ has roots in racism in fact. Mexican immigrants introduced MJ for rec use in the 1900’s and people who were racist and xenophobic latched on to creating a negative association to MJ.
“During the Great Depression, massive unemployment increased public resentment and fear of Mexican immigrants, escalating public and governmental concern about the problem of marijuana. This instigated a flurry of research which linked the use of marijuana with violence, crime and other socially deviant behaviors, primarily committed by "racially inferior" or underclass communities. By 1931, 29 states had outlawed marijuana.” MJ timeline in the US
Marijuana was legal in the states for medicinal purposes until the 70’s. Edibles got my teen son through chemo with no nausea and maintained his appetite for a year. Marijuana has its place in medicine.
Just like anything else, overindulgence leads to problems. People can use substances in moderation and have no problems with it. The problem with younger people using substances to self-medicate is that they’re not learning distress tolerance or emotional intelligence. They’re just escaping. Thats the core of addiction to anything. It hurts too much so I need to escape. It becomes dysfunctional.
For some people (like me) it triggers anxiety and we just can’t use it. For some people (my husband) they can use it every day for decades and have no problems. Individual mileage will vary.
1st thing my doctor asked me "have you tried medical marijuana?"
Actual Physician > internet random. sorry, not sorry.
I see these posts a lot and it makes me think of my experience with antidepressants. I used to take one medication that made me angry and more inclined to self harm, then I switched to a new one and its a completely different experience. The prescribed medicine I originally took is prescribed to many people and has helped others, but it just didn’t work for me. I feel like that would be the same for weed? It may work for some and not others.
I think it’s important to discuss our own experiences to maybe help each other. But I’m okay without the judgement, which I typically see when these posts come up… I know I’m just trying to survive in this world and some days are easier than others. I can’t imagine being upset with someone because they found something that works for them. This is coming from a non-weed user who has had to take multiple types of prescription medication to find what worked for me.
Peace and love.
Love how you put this and I'm glad you found meds that work for you 🙏
you have been propagandised by the war on drugs and its demonisation of marijuana. it’s demonstrably better than alcohol
Weed withdrawals and alcohol withdrawals are completely different though, you can literally die if you quit alcohol cold turkey. Meanwhile with weed you get nightsweats and trouble sleeping for a week.
Yeh weed it’s like gee bummer I have no weed alcohol it literally can send ya to the er and kill ya.
I wonder if op was ever an alcoholic to fully understand it. Or ever a weed addict to fully comprehend it and compare the two.
Now granted in the addict world one man’s poison is one drug and another’s is another drug. So it’s logical that 2 people could be recovering from addiction to each of these substances and both have a hard time.
But overall? Alcohol is so so incredibly worse for people and societies it’s not even funny.
Alcohol is some pretty bad stuff for sure.
But some are capable of consuming it and not having a problem. Personally I cannot.
Idk all the anti psychotics did for me were help me kill my liver. Instead of being mad at weed why aren’t we mad at the monsters that gave us these burdens to deal with how we see fit.
Yes and no.
Talking people on a public internet forum into taking drugs (without recommendations by a medical professional) is a garbage thing to do.
However not all drugs are escapism. Yeah getting blazed out of your mind won't accomplish anything but if I need to break out of my current frame of mind (survival mode, high anxiety, oops-all-maths, etc. any mood where I lost touch with my own emotions) I have few tools that accomplish that as quickly and reliably as a smaller dose of weed. Just the adverse side-effects make it - like most tools - not the right one for most jobs.
But yeah, working through shit you have to do sober.
Strongly disagree.
I use the devil weed as medication.
I have insomnia, my mother’s schizophrenia fits were mostly at night, so I spent my childhood not sleeping well and barracked my bedroom door, to not be attacked.
Not sleeping sucks bad!
I take cbn/thc 10 mg gummy every night and I telling you sleeping pills are addictive and didn’t work well for me.
The devil weed allows me to actually sleep like a normal human and without night terrors.
I would like to see more long term studies done
Weird take. No other medication has made me as able to process my trauma as much as weed has. Hadnt ever tried it until my 30s
How did you come to these conclusions?
I've been a stoner for close to 30 years and I can honestly say that weed is the only reason I'm still living.
I hear you.
I also agree in part; cannabis most definitely assists with repressing of feelings and emotions.
However; cannabis is medicinal. Alcohol is a literal toxin. I'm not sure equating the two is fair.
I smoked from age 14-41 on a daily basis and truly would have taken my own life without its assistance.
I quit and yep, trauma is surfacing more along with many childhood memories and I'm now in trauma therapy.
The huge and main difference between these two very different substances is that alcohol destroys EVERY organ in the body whereas cannabis has numerous proven health benefits.
I understand your feelings; but you have to acknowledge that your experience doesn't mirror all of reality. It can be quite helpful when used as a treatment adjunct. It has a weird quasi-medical effect. It doesn't do the same things to the body that alcohol addiction does. THC addiction is more psycho-social versus physiological. You feel like shit because you're sobering up, not because you're going through withdrawal.
Weed only amplified anxiety and paranoia and unhealthy passiveness for me, which my "friends" quickly capitalised upon. Im not young though, I'm 34. Seeing how they played upon my weaknesses was very unpleasant for me...
Did u ever try weed? It's not necessary a mask, u can have dysfunctional endocannabinoid system and weed is a substitution for chemicals that u should produce in optimal quantity. That's a medication.
In my experience cannabinoids have numerous effects on people. I'm in agreement that people shouldn't glorify anything without having facts to back it up. For me, It magnifies my inner most emotions. I find balance using it from trauma caused through previous injuries sustained in the past. I'm aware of my emotions. I understand people's thoughts and opinions. It's a serious subject that requires more discussion, study and research.
I've recently been prescribed oils from an organisation in the UK and you'd not believe how much better I feel overall. That's after a week of general use. My body feels alert and more awake than ever 🙏🏻
I don’t glorify it but I find it incredibly therapeutic. It’s not at all like getting drunk to numb yourself.
Your mind and thoughts behave differently or ‘tune in to a different channel’. It often helps me see a different perspective.
It’s a slippery slope and one can overuse it. It’s like a tool - think of a hammer, you can use it to build a house or you can hit yourself in the dick with it.
It’s all about how you use it.
i have had some of my best epiphanies in regards to my trauma and healing journey while high. when i’m drunk i just get clumsy and ashamed of myself. they are not the same.
I have PTSD and some intense phobias and I have to say cannabis helps me with sleep, but also puts me in a state where I can't feel fear while I cognitively process things, for example a fear of going to the dentist. I would get stoned and watch dental cleanings and it helped me to be able to go eventually because I no longer associated fear with what was happening. Also the nightmares and insomnia are reduced by using cannabis. I also have autism and it helps with sensory issues when I'm chilling at home and the buzzing of the appliances are stressing me out.
Alcohol and cannabis are quite different. Comparing them for medical use is kinda,,, not right. Both are drugs, both do completely different things. With medication, you and your doctor have to weigh the positive and negative effects.
Drugs can be medication. Most meds have negative effects, but you need to weight the risks to how much the meds will help. I’d risk the negative effects of my SSRI because I’d rather not be suicidal, but it could make me even more suicidal.
I completely agree and understand your point, however I would like to clarify a bit that; yes; weeds more natural and "earthy" so it def does get a pass, however the plant itself isn't addictive. One CAN get addicted to it - if they have addictive traits/ characteristics / genetics, "family history of substance use and abuse", or are severely troubled/ traumatized and trying to numb their pain and so forth.
But the plant itself is NOT addicting. It's how one would treat and use it that can BECOME an addiction. Not the other way around. Not saying those who are addicted are solely troubled folks looking for release, nor that weed can't make one addicted to some degree, but I feel like a distinction is needed.
And whoever does try and prescribe it to minors are absolute scum. Even if their Intentions are from a good place.
It’s very very different to using alcohol, but I agree it shouldn’t be recommended to under 18s. It’s known to affect brain development in adolescence.
I’ll take my weed over being a narrow minded, bitter, judgmental miserable human who comes to a TRAUMA group to make sweeping generalizations about something I have very little knowledge of which you are doing. I want to say much more but I’ve already wasted enough time reading this asinine post.
Just reflecting after reading some of your comments: It’s totally understandable that you’re frustrated with what you see as glorification of a substance that doesn’t work for you. It’s hurtful and it’s not useful to criticize other people who are offering an opposing view in a forum like this. Especially on this sub. I appreciate your perspective, it is absolutely valid, and the perspective of those who disagree with you are just as valid.
it saved my life. it took me a long time to get over the stigma. what you're saying has consequences on people who are already heavily traumatized and terrified of judgement like this. i'm sorry that someone hurting about this probably read this.
i smoke every day like all the time currently. i have had friends where they smoked once and it triggered serious mental health issues. or a parent smoked and it triggered debilitating bp1. other friends, and my babe smoke constantly and is healthy and a mature adult.
it’s so person to person. i find that the people where it triggered mental health issues were holding sooo much unfelt emotion inside of them. the floodgate opened because the weed like made them vulnerable.
i have a complicated relationship w it. but i currently really love it and appreciate its presence in my life. it’s not healthy to smoke all the time for anyone, so i know i’m doing that to myself and my lungs, which sucks, but like jesus christ shit is fucked up in the world, in life, society!!! at least i can be high lol. i enjoy it.
it has historically really worsened my paranoia and anxiety, i’ve had many weed induced anxiety attacks in the past. i know my limits now, i only smoke indica, and i’ve healed out a lot of my shit.
i think it’s ok to not like it. i think it’s ok if it makes you uncomfortable. but it’s also okay that it doesn’t make other people uncomfortable 🤷🏼♂️ it’s ok that some ppl love it
I mean are you saying that taking medication to alleviate distress or unwellness because a lot of people are taking Zoloft, propranolol, and other psychopharmacological remedies and that works?
There's no difference between a doctor medicating you and you self medicating except the degree and the privilege. Some folks don't have the $$ or insurance or means to be in therapy with doctors so they do the best they can.
Some are actively prescribed weed by doctors in legalized states.
All I'm hearing when I hear arguments like OP's is privilege and a lack of awareness of the harm reduction movement, which has been around since the 70s.
This is not the take you think it is. While I do agree we shouldn’t encourage substance abuse, what is often happening for traumatized people smoking weed is using it to self medicate. Contrary to popular belief, there’s a difference between that and addiction, which. Is also a mental illness.
It’s a lot of why I advocate for the legalization of medical marijuana—it is a proven effective treatment in people with PTSD, and I think working with a clinician to discuss healthy usage habits is really helpful. I’m also for decriminalization for the same reasons on other substances—if we can erase shame and offer safer places for people to recover from addiction, we may have a better base from which to treat people.
Alcohol can have its time and place for usage as well—but again there’s a difference between imbibing for fun and imbibing because you’ll lose your mind without it.
ETA: you’re also REALLY defensive and cagey in this post. You’re allowed to be wrong, and I’m also allowed to think that you’re wrong. The block button is free.
Yeah, maybe I should go back to being on the medication’s that make me like a zombie. The medication’s that didn’t do anything for me. Or the ones that actually do the opposite of what they’re supposed to do.
But for right now, I’m just gonna smoke a bowl, sit on my couch and not want to drive my car into a tree 🤷🏻♀️
Afaik, most adults don’t “glorify weed” to young people - I’m assuming you mean teens and kids. I’ve never seen any of my adult friends (nor have I) ask their kids or any other teen/young adult if they want to smoke or get high or bro down or whatever. As an alternative to pills I personally found it works better for me. Me. It also seems to work for a handful of other people. And let’s also not overlook the withdrawals from prescriptions as well. I have been given many prescribed drugs over my 40+ years and there’s a reason they tell you not to straight up stop taking them. I understand what you’re getting at, but with all due respect, I have to disagree.
I’m not condoning either, but it needs to be pointed out that booze takes a huge toll on your mind and body and alters decision making. Alcohol is exponentially worse on many levels. Besides terrorizing the internal organs and throwing metabolism off whack, there’s hanxiety and all the mental and social consequences of drinking. Weed may have its issues but pales in comparison to the damage from alcohol.
P.S. I have a special needs child who gets prescription THC for his spasticity and seizures. He’s been on it for years because it helps!
It is actually extremely different from getting drunk to do all those things. It’s literally a different chemical process.
Cannabis is the only thing (and I’ve tried….many things, prescribed and not) to help me ground myself in my body, investigate trauma cycles, and be curious about my own growth and health. I have friends that have run themselves into the ground with prescription medication who have had similar experiences with cannabis.
Anything used in excess can be unhelpful and dangerous. That’s why they’re tools, not magic solutions. Black and white judgement and generalizations aren’t the way, my friend.
I prefer smoking tiny amounts of weed and taking regular breaks for my PTSD because it actually works and means I can leave my house and actually chill out sometimes. I don’t drink and I’ve worked on my mental health for years I will always stay on top of it because I’m an adult that needs it. I’ve never had any issues with it , the same as I wouldn’t take too many antidepressants I wouldn’t green out on weed every day. Substance abuse is just that. I’m actually really suffering atm because weed is extremely expensive and illegal to buy in my country so sometimes I’m lucky and have a bit of weed and get to be happy and normal but other times I’m just pushing really hard to stay happy and to wash myself. It’s nothing like alcohol and I will continue to recommend safe use of it because I like seeing people happy.
It's fair as someone who's a teen with cpstd and some other letters, I smoked a few times, and in my personal opinion, it works like a charm.
I only take one or two hits because I don't intentionally get high above the clouds, and it works a lot better than my meds I used to take. I don't smoke anymore because you're correct about becoming an addiction. It does feel so good that you continue consuming it because it does a lot of good. For me, it clears my head so much better, and I feel so relaxed. And that's coming from somebody who's a minor. Do I still smoke? No, because I realized how addictive it can be for me.
using thc and getting drunk are not the same. you can’t die from thc.
I agree with you to an extent but I'd like to point out some misinformation. Disclaimer: I've spent the last 4 years working in the legal cannabis industry and consumed heavily through the second half of 2020 and all of 2021. Until recently, I consumed lightly and now don't consume at all. I had a medical card for ptsd because I couldn't find a better option to help me sleep that didn't leave me hung over the next day.
Cannabis consumption is very different from getting drunk to feel better because it is dramatically less dangerous. It's much harder to get addicted to than alcohol. It's definitely something that can be addictive now that thc quantities are so much higher but aside from emotional dependence, it takes long term, consistently heavy use to get to the point where your body has withdrawal symptoms when quitting. It's also far less likely to kill you.
Alcohol damages your body when consumed regularly or in higher quantities and you can drink yourself to death in one sitting. Weed is nearly impossible to overdose on because it requires consuming an extremely large quantity to shut your body down. You'd have to ingest something like 13g of pure thc (or consume 10,000mg of edibles) all at once as an average sized adult to get into that territory. Thats nearly impossible to do. Weed also does less damage to your body especially in smaller quantities for adults over the age of 25. Smoking it consistently hurts your lungs and heart for the same reason that smoking tobacco does. The other main harm is that some people who consume high quantities (like consuming upwards of 400-500mg of edibles or ingesting high potency concentrates enough to be high all day) on a daily basis for an extended period of time get a reaction called cannabis hyperemesis syndrome and vomit uncontrollably.
An important thing to note is that it absolutely does damage to brain development the younger the consumer is. Do not under any circumstances consume younger than 15. I also don't think anyone should be consuming before 18 but it's slightly less harmful as the brain has completed more development. I think it's mostly safe to consume in small quantities from 18-20 but agree with most legal states having 21 as the legal minimum age. I am glad I didn't have consistent access until 21.
However unlike most drugs and any alcohol use, cannabis is showing potential to be helpful in treating PTSD, particularly with the hallmark symptom of sleep disturbances. We 100% need more research on it. But, unlike alcohol weed actually does have the potential to be more than just getting intoxicated to avoid thinking about what we experienced that caused our ptsd.
If you must have a mind altering substance, please go for safer options like weed instead of alcohol or hard drugs. I don't recommend consuming in areas where you do not have access to state regulated cannabis, but I also know that sometimes there just isn't a better option. Always consume safely and responsibly and never ever give it to children or use/store it where a child can access it.
Mmj user here.
I agree with not recommending to minors. Because that's messed up, and we shouldn't be encouraging minors to do anything illegal.
I don't entirely agree on it being the same as alcohol. Of course, this is person dependent, but unless we are looping in prescription medication in the drugs comment, I much prefer to use mmj over any medication prescribed by a doctor for my cptsd. Specifically for sleep. I was prescribed ambien, and I'll take mmj a million times over ambien.
I won't even recommend mmj om a general basis, but if someone struggles with sleep and tells me they didn't like ambien, I will suggest mmj.
Agreed in principle, but comparison to alcohol is also incorrect. Cannabis is over 100x safer than alcohol and doesn’t lead to violence. It’s not an equivalence, it’s far safer and that is why it’s glorified compared to alcohol or heroin etc.
There is a major difference between drugs that act of serotonin and drugs that act on dopamine.
While it’s true that it’s used as an escape, it does allow more healing with far less damage and has a place in a society that does not provide enough care for those that suffer. There are dangers and it should not be recommended to young people, but as the lesser of evils it’s a much better option than the others.
Dude. Just consider yourself lucky that your PTSD is manageable to an extent, and that you don’t need to get high as hell to keep head above water like I do. Self-medicating may be wrong but it’s also cheap and effective
Weed can help in moderation, just like psych meds can. It isn't a fix-all, it does have side effects and it can be addictive, but that doesn't negate the positive effects it has for some people.
I don't like the glorification either but I think we need to be wary about going to the other extreme and stigmatizing something that can be used as a very helpful medication.
It’s actually a lot different than alcohol. Nothing wrong with taking something natural to ease tension. Drugs affect everyone differently, so it’s totally fine if you don’t like it. But it’s not addictive and you can’t OD on it. Literally anything can be habit-forming.
After a whole day of dealing with C-PTSD, I need an escape.
I thought weed was helping with my anxiety for a decade but what it was axtually doing was just supercharging my dissociative stuff. I quit last year and I miss it but there was no moving forward with trauma stuff til I did.
Honestly I see your point of view, I’m the exact opposite, where it did help me a lot but people need to get through their heads that cannabis is not for everyone, same with alcohol and other medications, I tried all benzos and antidepressants and anti psychotics and none of them work like cannabis did, so I feel like maybe cannabis should be a last resort medical solution, alas I respect your views and can see why it irks you and on my behalf of the community I apologize we shove a lot down peoples throats way too much, be safe big dawg, you matter
I hear you but a last resort? Benzos more preferable to weed? It just couldn't be so in my mind. I would never recommend someone pick up any vice, but weed is by far the most harmless. By millions of miles.
It irks me to see this archaic way of thinking about weed.
Weed helps, just like my duloxetine and my propranolol. It’s less addicting than either of those meds that are prescribed to me. It helps me more than either of the meds prescribed to me and just like the food I eat in the morning and the coffee I titrate into my blood stream throughout the day, weed is one of those things that improves my quality of life to a point where I can function like a normal human being.
Do I completely understand it? No, but it’s frustrating to try and explain myself over and over again to people who refuse to look at the overall picture and demonize this plant. Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but neither are all these other things that you’d rather I’d be doing than smoking weed.
Girl I have a chronic illness
Great, now do Rx! Everything you said about Marijuana could easily be said about any Rx prescribed for symptoms associated with CPTSD/PTSD.
Marijuana is actually helpful for night terrors associated with PTSD. As with any medicine, it’s best to take in moderation. As with any medication, it’s a good idea to be informed and weigh the pros and cons for you personally. As with any medication it may not be for you and that’s okay.
As with all medications, it should be used as a tool not a crutch. While you work on the trauma in others ways. Whichever way you find that works for you.
I personally no longer use it. But it did help while I was using it.
I would worry less about what other ppl do or say and focus on yourself and your healing. Sometimes we focus on what’s going on around us as a distraction from inner work. Good luck.
Medical marijuana is not a drug.
It's not the same as alcohol though, not all drugs are the same. I don't think weed will solve all of someone's problems, but alcohol is very different.
I just want to say that implying to people they're wrong for how they cope and that you are morally superior is really not cool in a trauma centered group. If I wanted to be yelled at for my adult decisions under the guise of "THE CHILDREN!!" I'd probably still in contact with the people who hurt me originally. Using recreationally and talking about their personal story is not "recommending it to young people." I don't think this is very supportive peer behavior.
Weed is a medicine. Recreational use and medicinal use is different, has different purposes and has different results.
You can get prescribed a lot heavier medicines than weed, are you against people who say that they get help by a medication?
Some doctors are for weed, hemp etc.
It helped me a lot during the time I went through some heavy depressions, partly from traumas. I might not be alive today if I didn't use it back then.
Sorry, but I definitely disagree about withdrawals when stopping. I'm a regular weed user and I'm definitely not physically addicted to it. I've stopped cold turkey for travel, and sure I miss the habit and feeling chill, but certainly not withdrawal.
I don't think people under 25 should use heavily due to its possible effects on growing brain. But, it's definitely not comparable to alcohol in its negative side effects on the body or mind. It also has been proven to help with various medical issues, unlike alcohol. Personally, I suffer from mental health issues, but like many people , rx drugs aren't effective or the side effects are too difficult.
We are all individuals and no one can judge what helps another person or what's right for them. If it wasn't for weed, I wouldn't be here.
Weed was what gave me the capacity to actually process my trauma. It took me out of fight/flight long enough to actually confront what had happened to me. I didn't use it to avoid the feelings, I used to to dive into them head first so I could come out the other side.
If it doesn't work for you, that's fine. It's definetely not a cure-all. But you shouldn't vilify it, either, because for some of us, it actually did help us heal.
Nothing is black and white.
Weed helped me survive when my ptsd was at its worst. I got therapy alongside it and when the therapy started to work, I stopped using weed so much.
I’d say weed is a lot different from alcohol obviously weed isn’t for everyone and I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone but unlike alcohol which just numbs you’re emotions I feel that weed calms me down enough so I can process my emotions and get a better perspective so I can work through them but that’s just me and it effects everyone differently
I smoked weed nearly every day for 24 years, big joints of the best bud all to myself…I smoked a LOT. I decided to stop, I just didnt like how it made me feel anymore. Personally, I never felt a single symptom of withdrawal. Just wanted to add this since everyone is different.
Regarding using weed as a coping tool: I started smoking at 18, and by my 20s realized I was at least in part using it to quiet my brain, and it was really effective at that. It was also really effective at helping me be introspective and see past or current situations in a way that was different than when I was high, and in a good way. As I got into my 40s, things started to change and my brain was not being quieted, and my perspective on things once high was actually worse than when I was sober. I’ve always smoked Indica if/when given the choice, so I don’t think it was a Sativa/Indica thing. It was me that had changed. It’s been about six years now, and the only time I’ve felt a pang of FOMO is when I’ve been on vacation, get high at the beach, ya know?
I have to take more pharma drugs now to fall asleep, I have to take migraine meds about 15x more than I used to, I have nausea and stomach problems I never had before or didn’t notice before. I have to take more psych meds now, I have to wrangle my brain in ways that I hadn’t since I was a teenager. I don’t regret quitting, my body chose that for me, but it’s certainly created new challenges to no longer have that coping mechanism/ tool.
Drugs, whether pharmaceutically designed, or in their natural state, effect people differently.
Some people love psychedelics. I always had bad trips. A few years ago I started Ketamine therapy, and it actually worked really well, but I hated the part where I had to take the ketamine at the clinic-I didn’t like how it made me feel. So eventually I stopped doing it. I’ll probably try micro-dosing (probably psilocybin) as soon as I can get it all figured out. My insurance won’t cover ketamine nasal spray (like spravato).
Just one perspective.
I agree that it shouldn't be promoted to minors, but comparing it to alcohol is weird imo. It's more comparable to anti depressants or other mental health drugs. It comes with its own side effects, you can be dependent on it, it genuinely works for some and for others it doesn't. Just like every other psychiatric drug. It's why medical marijuana is a legit thing and medical alcohol use isn't(for drinking obvi, not sterilization and such). If it doesn't work for you then such is life, but speaking abt it like no one could possibly medically benefit from it just seems misleading.
It's no different from getting drunk in order to numb all your feelings / get a relief / feel confident / feel relaxed.
It is completely different. Weed does literally the exact opposite for me. It allows me to relax enough to feel/process my emotions.
Drugs is an escape
This whole thing reads like it was written by a 45 year old suburban mom on facebook. If you don't understand weed don't talk about it
There's a huge difference between weed and alcohol. Huge. Alcohol has a physical addiction that can literally kill you and it is literal poison. Even in moderation, alcohol is harmful to you no matter what. There are no "medicinal" or helpful effects for drinking alcohol. Weed is the opposite. Of course people shouldn't be steeling CHILDREN to use it, but to compare it to alcohol is a major false equivalence and dangerous.
I microdose THC:CBD 1:5 or 1:10 (literally 1 mg of thc). Huge help--not stoned at all. It stops the hyper reactivity so I CAN think clearly, instead of in a panic. Now I can remember the abuse and deal with it without having to physically relive it. It's like tuning in the radio instead of cranking the volume up to listen through the static.
That said, anyone under 25 should proceed with much caution--even smaller doses like mine. My general practitioner knows I use cannabis and has given me her blessing. No more anti-anxiety meds and down 1/4 of my SSRI so far. I'm so grateful for the relief.
Who is telling kids about marijuana ? My niece found out at age 11 as her friends from school were smoking it. And no I don't think that's cool but hey I would rather her smoke than drink and drive. Kids are not stupid . I smoke every day. My DOC when I was 21 was Coke. A shit ton. I wanted to die so for me I did not give AF. I get marijuana is not for everyone but for some like me and oxy users, it's a life saver. My niece and nephew have no clue I smoke . I think they don't and it does freak me out to think about if they do. I have a mmj card. I use it for sleeping the entire night and to help me enjoy food instead of just eating to live. I am also on Zoloft and lamotrine . It helps me relax so I can sleep. I don't drink as much as I did as I recognize I have a wee bit of a problem with it. I will drink and drink and drink. So short story long , it depends on the person .
I have been prescribed bupropion (still take), sertraline (weaned off), nortriptyline (weaned off), and lorazepam (a benzodiazepine I no longer take) for PTSD, MDD, and anxiety.
Personally, I have benefited from cannabis edibles. It hasn’t been physically addictive for me. I have gone weeks taking 10 mg/night but can also go several months without taking them. Everyone is different
I'm on the harm reduction bandwagon. I was a meth addict 20+ years ago. Some really scary stuff was happening at the time. I kept trying to sober up, but every time I hit REM sleep, I'd wake up screaming. There were several people in my home who were doing some really bad things to me, all working together to keep the gaslighting part at its peak. The only thing that made quitting possible was them all moving out at once. They were trying to leave me in a financial hole without them contributing to rent, but they were already not paying me anything, so that didn't have the impact they thought it would.
Once I didn't have them around, sabotaging me in every way and putting drugs in front of me daily, getting sober was pretty easy.
I've worked with survivors of everything imaginable. If they're using an unprescribed substance to help them cope, I'll focus on helping in whatever way I can.
I also think the pharmaceutical, medical and insurance industries put way too much emphasis on demonizing any mind-altering substance that isn't developed, prescribed and sold by them. People do drugs because they help them feel better (or feel numb) up until they don't. I won't advocate for taking that away.
Please don’t make shit up just because you don’t like weed. The fact you’re comparing drinking and taking benzos to weed is pretty clear you have 0 intention of actually understanding anything and instead are just looking to shame people for something you don’t like.
“Oh you guys take ADHD medication every day? Would you recommend people take heroin everyday?”
There are so many resources that explain not only why what you said is wrong, but also how the kinds of things you said were from anti-drug propaganda.
I think my favorite part of this post is OP saying ‘if you can’t stay respectful and be a supportive peer, you can leave,’ all while being disrespectful to different, exceedingly well thought out, respectful opinions and being the opposite of a supportive peer. Smh OP, I think you’re the one who needs to leave this thread lol.
This post reeks of bias and judgment, OP.
First: I’m sorry you’ve seen enough of this that you were driven to write this post. Your feelings are legitimate. However.
In case it matters to you, this rhetoric doesn’t help. Judging and insulting people who you believe need help doesn’t help them. Might make you feel better in the moment, but it’s essentially punching sideways or down if you really believe anyone who smokes needs help. My assumption is that you want to help, or why make the post?
Some of these concerns are fair. However, the way you presented them doesn’t help your argument. It just makes you seem deeply judgmental, and the black and white thinking is generally not applicable to actual daily life. Life is nuance.
So, the lack of acknowledgment of nuance or the fact that we’re all different sucks. The self-righteous superiority complex sucks. The dismissal of the very real medical uses of cannabis sucks. The demonization of people struggling with addiction sucks. The comparison of cannabis and cannabis addiction to an actually glorified and fully legal substance (alcohol) that kills people from usage and withdrawal is just silly.
Some people glorify substances. That’s absolutely true, and it can be very harmful. But are you conflating people simply speaking positively about their experiences with cannabis and “glorifying” it? Because in that case, we simply disagree on what glorifying something means. And I suspect that’s the case based on how unyielding a stance you’ve taken here.
Some examples:
I take lamictal. It has in the most literal sense saved my life. My best friend took lamictal and she almost died from one of the side effects. This does not mean she believes lamictal should be demonized or that they are bad because it didn’t work for her. She does not believe people shouldn’t speak on their good experiences with it just because she had a bad one.
Some people get chronic pain relief from SSRIs. I was given one for chronic pain and my bladder has been absolutely fucked ever since. This does not mean I believe SSRIs should be demonized or that they are bad because they didn’t work for me.
My friend has severe chronic pain, but doctors no longer prescribe opioids to pain patients because of the conflation of prescribed use and street addiction. She uses weed to allow her to eat, sleep and function. Zero anxiety attached to it. Meanwhile if my brother smokes, he gets anxious and paranoid.
See where I’m going with this? Nuance and understanding that our experience, bodies and brain chemistry are all different is crucial to being empathetic and kind to the people around you. You are right that negative impacts are under discussed, but that’s true of a lot more than weed and very much includes pharmaceutical medicines. That seems to be a problem that’s true for humanity in general.
Be well.
Nobody should glorify it, but it CAN genuinely be helpful and an option, although I would generally be careful with recommend it to people who’s brain isn’t fully developed (yes myself included, context)
As someone that went trough an alcohol addiction and rehab for it at age 15, and abused other substances as well, I am now 17 and smoke daily since months, don’t drink or anything else, is it good for my over all health? Definitely no, but it’s the only thing making my ptsd and suicidal thoughts somewhat tolerable. I still get high, where I gotta admit tho, my tolerance is fucked due to tempering down from anti depressants, Medication doesn’t work for me, neither does therapy, I’ve tried very many different ones it didn’t work with and there’s almost no therapists here, especially no trauma therapists.
I first smoked after I got raped and If I wouldn’t have some way to escape my thoughts I’d be dead. Weed definitely saved me, it’s not good for my health but the alternative would be way worse. I am a very impulsive Person so I’d probably relapse with worse stuff. The withdrawal isn’t at all comparable to alcohol or other drugs. The withdrawal is very slight and barely has any affect on your overall health, while with alcohol you can Literally die, my body was barely physically addicted to alcohol when I detoxed and it was still absolutely misserable. depending on where you’re from alcohol is VERY normalized as well. My MH while abusing alcohol was absolute the worst, with weed it hasn’t changed at all, never had any psychotic symptoms with it although I am someone prone to psychosis, which other drugs did induce, or even when I was fully sober.
I guess what I am saying, there is so many people it is incredibly helpful to, everything is only good in moderation but just like any other medication it can be very helpful for people who are struggling, so don’t judge it too harshly. As with all I believe it’s a personal thing, for some it works, for some it doesn’t, for some they have a bunch of side effects, some have none. But even if you have side effects they’re way less severe than with almost any other drug.
I’m with ya!! I was heavily addicted to alcohol I spent about 7 years stone cold sober living life the healthy way. But I had debilitating pain anxiety and depression. I knew that meant meds meds and more meds. I really didn’t wanna go that route. I went back to weed. I knew alcohol would kill me for sure.
Weed is the gateway home for many of us. People don’t understand that while weed may not be perfect it’s sooo much better than the game I was playing before.
It’s also pretty common knowledge and been studied in study after study that it helps with a variety of problems ptsd being one of the most notable given the context of this thread.
Hang in there sending you peace and love.
Thank you, this is EXACTLY what I mean, I am glad although sorry someone understands, wishing you the best
Yep some people don’t realize the alternatives woulda killed some of us. Some folks are struggling so much they are on a ton of meds to stay stable as possible. Others have taken so many they choose weed as it’s the only thing that keeps them stable and won’t kill them.
It’s a matter of perspective. If op had that perspective he’d have a better understanding of views like yours.
Sometimes it may not seem to make sense to someone but it truely is the best choice for someone else at a certain point in time.
Even doctors will prescribe meds that may. It be the best choice but given the situation they are.
Others are on heavy duty meds till they get stable and then get off them etc. some are on meds there whole life will never get off them.
Weeds a pretty safe choice. I will argue tho that smoking is probably not the healthiest option to consume it but beyond that it is what it is.
The amount of ignorance surrounding plant medicine is astounding. Waving the ignorance around like a badge is unsurprising.
I used to smoke at least 5 times a day and completely stopped all at once and never experienced any sort of withdrawal so idk where you’re getting that from…
If it didn’t have any sort of medicinal benefits I might be more inclined to agree with you. Not really sure how you’re going to argue that when a looooot of people have been experiencing relief from symptoms of other illnesses, especially PTSD.
idk id rather smoke weed than be on xanax my entire life so….
Just know that if you disagree with this person they will block you. save your energy.
Yup happened to me lol
I would like to say that it was once and still sometimes is alcohol that is glorified. Where I’m from, police recommended it as a calm me down at the end of a terrible event. My parents generation all seem to be very functional alcoholics.
It’s everywhere in one way or another. I smoke cannabis and I wouldn’t glorify or promote it. I wouldn’t say it would ‘help’ a healed version of me but it certainly eases my personal hyper vigilance and nightmares. I think choosing to educate yourself on that and strains, how you smoke, how often, what you do when you smoke etc to try and make it as positive as you can, it makes all the difference.
We’re grown adults making informed decisions then. I’m sorry you’re seeing so much promotion of drugs and that it’s annoying you so much, I don’t think it should be glamorised, it can be the biggest hindrance just like anything if you allow it that much space.
This was a stupid thing to post.
I use cannabis medically for pain.
Specifically, body pain.
Low doses, medically supervised even if the sativa is from a dispensary.
There’s caution and care use with this, though.
All pain is pain when processed by the brain.
In one sense that’s a good thing. Means there are pathways to deal with distress regardless of type.
But at the same time it means painkillers work to mask psych pain and that’s where danger lies.
Physical pain can decrease. Surgery on my foot is healing. Pain ebbs and flows but is on a downward trajectory. Pain meds ease that.
But psych pain.. It’s only deferred with a high rate of interest. And when that loan shark comes to collect… it ain’t good.
Cannabis has a better safety profile than nearly any mind alterant. Addictions are psychological rather than physiological, for example, and to my knowledge no adult has ever died primarily (aka from the substance) from cannabis.
But anything used as an escape can potentially become an addiction that’s abused.
Our beliefs, values, assumptions are usually based on our own life experiences, emotions and behaviours. And it sounds like the use of “drugs” has left a bad taste in your mouth. And that’s understandable. We see a lot of the negative side effects of addiction. And yes, they are often used for escapism. But here’s the thing, if you aren’t processing pain, chances are pretty good you are using something to cope with and avoid that pain. Be it busyness, shopping, gambling, porn, eating, drinking, sex, raging etc, they all serve the same purpose. To escape our pain. And considering the amount of pain we are carrying, it’s hard not to feel compassion for those trying to avoid it.
The question to ask is, why? Why are people seeking to escape? And what are they escaping from? Our own pain is the thing we are most afraid of, yet to feel it, is the way out of it. There is no other way. This is why addiction is progressive and often leads into more powerful drugs and heavier use of them. That pain wants to be felt and it gets more persistent and powerful the more we try to resist it. If a person never becomes aware of this, and they continue to seek more and heavier, overdose ensues. The pain is stronger than the body. There is a strong connection between trauma(emotional pain) and chronic (physical) pain. The body cannot sustain the weight of trauma indefinitely.
I have used both MDMA and THC, therapeutically. One slight tweak of intention totally changes the game. And “drugs” become a healing medicine. I have released dump truck loads of trauma. These “drugs” have taken me from surviving to thriving, and they have brought me to my pain, not distanced me from it.
There is a reason there is a lot of buzz around the psychedelic therapies. And it’s because they work for a lot of people. More than any other modality I have tried without them. That said, it’s a partnership, not an alternative to the therapeutic modalities. In my experience these “drugs” have expedited the healing process for me. But I am intentional and mindful of their power. I don’t use any of them outside of the therapeutic scope. Once every 3 or so months I go into an MDMA session, and about once every one to three weeks I use THC/PSIP. I never use either of them outside of a session.
Perhaps I was fortunate that drugs scared me enough to never go that route. And using them for healing was a hurdle of fear I had to overcome because I was desperate to overcome the trauma. It wasn’t an easy decision or process. But I am extremely grateful that I made that choice.
The trauma that is left within me can now only be healed through healthy, loving and supportive relationships. Drugs have more or less served their purpose, but I continue the sessions because it opens my heart to growth and change. But I know that if I could never obtain these drugs again, my healing would continue and I would never go backwards. The worst of it is over.
Please know that I am here just to share my experience and perspective, and not to influence or invalidate yours or anyone else’s opinions or perspectives. But I also think it’s important to look at both sides of the coin. It isn’t one or the other. Drugs can serve to destroy OR they can serve to heal. There isn’t just one way to heal, there is no magic pill or modality. We each have to find our own path, this was mine.
Regardless of the potential healing nature of the medicines, it is advised against youth using them even for healing, as their brain is still in development. But even so, sometimes it’s still a matter of risk vs reward. I would sooner see a teenager use a drug to cope today, than to hear of them taking their life tomorrow.
Also, while I don’t believe that the daily use of weed is helpful for progress, it is often used much in the same way that pharmaceuticals are, but without the toxic effects. That’s not to say there is zero side effects with weed, but given the alternative, it’s still a much, much safer drug. My hope would be for those using it to manage their anxiety or other symptoms of trauma, to consider using it with a healing intention. It’s a very simple transition from using it on its own to including a modality such as PSIP, and getting the weed to work for them in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Weed lets me face my demons and has been instrumental in my healing process. I’m not running from shit. I was running when I refused to acknowledge I was traumatized and destroying myself and my life and hurting people around me. I have an alcoholic mother who pickled her brain (shrinkage) and I see her fight for sobriety every day and she uses weed to help with that. I’m dependent, but I wouldn’t say I’m addicted because I’ve stopped for years at a time before without much trouble. I have all the same trauma symptoms most of us deal with and like most of us I have physical comorbids plus a bunch of health conditions from being a premature baby with birth defects 40 years ago that have followed me most of my life. My husband has a similar history, close in age to me. We go through maybe an ounce a month + edibles. We’re regimented and have rules around use and we’ve maintained about the same consumption rate for 2+ years. I’d be dead if not for weed and shrooms helping me be able to recall my past and process it with therapeutic help. I will likely never stop. I accept the consequences - lack of REM sleep, loss of memory, and with enough prolonged use probably some intellect impact. I’m good to be an addict if I get to live. I want to live and weed helps me do that.
I’ll recommend it to ANYONE for responsible exploration with therapy for support.
I know that weed doesn’t really improve my mental health and related symptoms but it makes them so much easier to get through every day.
Weed has induced psychosis in me in very high doses multiple times. I still smoke on occassion because I still like the feeling in a casual setting and I know my limits even though I know I shouldn't at all. It still on occassion triggers derealization for me and that is scary. Weed can really mess with your mind & I don't know why that isn't talked about enough...
Regular 40-something user here. I don't recommend it to anyone well into their adult years.
Hell, I first tried it when I was 24 and couldn't deal with the anxiety (we watched Wedding Crashers the only thing keeping me calm was Rachel McAdams' face) and I didn't try again for over a decade.
Opioids are used as medication, but it is a drug. Dialectical thinking is very important!!!
No. I smoke weed and do the 12 steps with a sponsor, whose sponsor also respects what is required for my mental health. My experience is my experience.
Experience varies wildly. It depends on who you are, your personal chemistry and what you need in your life. I don’t use it because I’m already dissociative and keep to myself/introverted. Using it would keep me in that state. What I need is…coke. (Kidding!)
I had quite the opposite experience when I was prescribed medicinal weed (sublingual oil and also vape) for my PTSD.
I used it for around 6 months whilst undergoing EMDR: oil twice a day, vape as required for acute symptoms. I never became dependent on it, never craved it. Since I stopped using it, i haven't touched it since.
It kept me calm, reduced my symptoms, and enabled me to undertake therapy to resolve the worst of my triggers.
My younger brother stopped smoking weed and then turned to alcohol. He is no longer with us. Liver gave out. I might have turned him on to weed indirectly when we were youths. He looked up to me and I loved to grow stuff. I feel survivors guilt. I quit smoking weed, never smoked much, but he didn’t until much later. I discovered I hate weed and just like growing stuff lol. Long before medicinal cannabis. I wish I knew why he quit smoking weed. Maybe he would still be with us. I moved to a different state so was not sure what he was doing. I guess I feel survivors guilt about that to. Maybe if I had stayed I could have done something to help. RIP bro.
It depends on how you use it. Getting drunk just numbed me further and made everything worse. When I discovered weed for medicinal purposes, about 2 years ago, I found it was actually a safe way for me to really process those thoughts and feelings I had been burying for years and years. It got me to a point where I am now in group counseling for my trauma, and it really is helping. Your body can become chemically dependent on alcohol, but as far as I’m aware, weed is only a mental addiction.
I completely agree that those under age should not be using. You need to have the maturity to use it responsibly and safely. I only use it in the privacy of my own home at night and do not go out when I use.
I smoke and don't have a medical card, but I've always treated it like medicine. I smoke once at night before bed, and occasionally when I really need it (aka bad bout of anxiety, depression, can't sleep, can't breathe, or in a ton of pain) and thats it. I can make an 8th of an oz last 6 months.
I am very aware it isn't for everyone. I even started out very anti weed. I've known people who have poor reactions to it and even some who are straight up allergic to it. I smoke outside and keep it out of reach of my kid.
I "glorify" it in a way that I'll tell people that it helps me and how. I don't push anyone to smoke, especially if they've made it clear they aren't comfortable.
I always tell people if they decide to give it a try to start small.
It does have good properties that can help people, but like everything there is such thing as too much of a good thing. So everything in moderation.
But I'd much rather smoke than deal with multiple medications for my many mental health issues, or play guinea pig to figuring out which one will help me at what dose and which ones will make it worse. Like weed, those meds also run the risk of major side effects as well as being dependent on the. Plus, I only just now got insurance, so cost and availability was also a factor.
Medical cannabis user here. I would never recommend it to minors. That’s just wrong.