Monday 3 November 2014

MY Views on Cannabis

When I say the word marijuana what is the first thing that pops into your head?? I'm sure the first picture that pops into your mind is that of a hippie, stoner getting high. Prior to having cancer, and realizing the merits of cannabis, I probably would have thought the same thing. I've said it before, that prior to having a cancer recurrence I had never done ANY drugs, nothing. I wasn't even a drinker. I had tunnel vision as to what the "appropriate" and the "right" way to live my life was.

Fast forward to today and my viewpoints have done a 180 degree turn. After my cancer came back I became invested in researching everything that may have some form of potential benefit. I was in pain. A lot of pain. I tried to brush it off as being nothing and continued to work a couple more months in that state. It wasn't until I picked up an infant and truly wanted to cry from the pain that I realized something was extremely wrong.

Cancer is one sneaky son of a bitch, and I have never liked sneaky sons of bitches before. Therefore, I became enthralled with trying to figure out what could potentially help me?? I can be sneaky too;) Cannabis oil repeatedly stuck out at me. Looking back, I wish that the first time I was diagnosed I would have tried it. Initially, and I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was scared of how others would view me if I started using marijuana? Here I was, in a respected profession in healthcare, and I was worried about what this could do to my "reputation?" Just saying that creates a lump in my throat. Why the hell would I give two shits what others think!!!! This was MY life, and in the end the only person who would need to live with the ramifications of what could happen was ME. We spend so much of our time constantly worried about being accepted, doing the "right" thing, and wanting others to respect us for being good people. Well, I've come to realize that just because I use marijuana doesn't make me any less of any of those things. I am a good person. I know that. Am I perfect? Nope. Never have been, and I don't expect to become perfect anytime soon. However, who the heck is??

Cannabis oil was the single medicine I could take that gave me pain relief, whilst still being functional. When I used to go to bed, my mind would wander, then I would get a hot flash, then I would be pissed off that I'm sweating and hot, and then I would be freezing. It sucked. Ok, it fuckin sucked!! Not being able to sleep does not work well into my life. I LOVE sleep, and I value a good nights sleep with all my being. Therefore, not wanting to take sleeping pills, I resorted to cannabis oil. I ended up having the best nights sleep ever!! I never once woke up, and yes I have continued to use it regularly every night, and I sleep remarkably well.

What continues to irk me is this stigma around marijuana, and it being a controlled substance that is viewed as dangerous. Firstly, this medicine does have merits. I'm living proof that it does. What bothers me is that due to this classification they can't do research into what the true potentials of it are in medicine. For myself, I had to experiment. There are many different strains and types. Some have higher levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient, and some have higher levels of CBD, which has zero psychoactive effects, but does show lots of potential in the field of medicine, specifically with seizure disorders. By not having research to back this up, I must admit that dosing has caused me to take a smidge bit too much at times. Once you take too much, the side effects are not pleasant at all. However, if they changed the label and stigma around marijuana they could do research and figure out adequate dosing, and what strains are good for what types of disorders.

This is not about religion. This is not about being a good person, and it is certainly not about pleasing others. I've tried to please everyone my whole life, and have come to realize that that's not possible. This is about me and finally doing something that allows me to live a little easier. I don't believe that anyone should need to suffer in any capacity if there's something out there that has shown to alleviate this. Do it. In the end, nobody will understand your suffering, only you.

I am not a fan of narcotics. I hate the side effects, and realistically the number of prescription narcotic overdoses that occur yearly are pretty scary. According to the CDC these are LEGAL medications, and they kill 15,000 people in the United States yearly!! However, people assume because a physician prescribed it that it is a peachy, rosy, treatment for pain. Fun fact: nobody has ever died from a marijuana overdose (people have reported raiding their fridge for snacks though. Ok, I made this bit up but I'm sure its happened).Well... while you are dazed, drowsy, and constipated from your prescription narcotics; I will be eating, laughing, pain free, and having the best nights sleep EVER!

I think it's time for change. Huge change pertaining to cannabis and its uses and potential benefits. When I hear politicians, uneducated on the health benefits of marijuana, blatantly not wanting legalization as they talk about it being a controlled substance, and the dangers, I want to smack them across their dumb nut faces!! I can only imagine how quickly their own viewpoints would change if they, or their loved one, got cancer and they had to view the devastation caused by it!! I think it's time for them to recognize the ignorance that their narrow minded heads has created. To allow some of the prescription narcotics that are on the market to be legal completely baffles me. These are drugs that are highly addictive, and have proven to kill, but it's ok???

I could go on and on about this, but I truly hope others in my shoes can find relief with cannabis. This is not about creating an uproar, or about stepping out of the box and skewing away from what's "right." This is about pain relief. About quality of life. About not suffering. I'm a firm believer that this is a right that every individual should be granted. Young and old. Rich or poor. This is about our basic right to have a good life, and I strongly feel that this is not a topic that should have any jurisdiction in politics. They are not healthcare workers, and have no clue what it means to witness suffering. Therefore, do what makes you happy, what reduces your suffering, and what you know in your heart makes your life a little easier. This is MY life, cancer is MY problem, and I'll choose to handle it the way I deem seems fit. I refuse to suffer, and don't give two shits what others may think!!

17 comments:

  1. Hi Judit!
    I came across your blog today and thought this post was great! I have the same views on cannabis oil. I'm 27 going through treatments for breast cancer and I use oil every night to help me sleep! It's amazing and I haven't had a bad sleep since I was DX! Wishing you all the best! Sarah

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    1. Hi Sarah, I'm so happy you find relief with it as well!! So many people endure unnecessary pain and insomnia from cancer and its treatments. May I ask what part of the world are you from? I'm sorry you have to deal with cancer at the age of 27, but I truly hope you are kicking cancers a** to the curb!!! All the best!!!

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    2. I live in Montreal, Quebec but originally from Ottawa! :)

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    3. Nice post mate, keep up the great work, just shared this with my friendz top dog cbd

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  2. Judit....you hippie you!!! You seriously need to get a column in the newspaper or get an interview with David Gray on the Eyeopener radio show!!! More people need to hear your thoughts. You are so good at articulating (and swearing...I love it!!! haha) and advocating not only for yourself but for others. You rock!!

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    1. Hahaha, I apologize for the cursing, but once I start it kind of just spews out of me!! Thanks for always commenting Danielle:)

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  3. <3 Utah is going to be a tough place for them to get this going, but we have considered moving for just this reason. Bravo. Loved this post, read it out loud to my husband.

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    1. Mandi, it really is unfortunate that due to Federal law, along with the fact that you live in a state that does not endorse medical marijuana that you would need to uproot your life for medicine that reduces suffering. During times of illness, you want to be around your loved ones, but due to politics and pure ignorance, in my eyes, you may need to move. This I feel is wrong, and I truly hope politicians can here the voices of people benefiting from cannabis and use it to enact change. I have a sneaking suspicion that before Obama's term is up as president that he may legalize it throughout the United States. Sadly, people are suffering right now and time is never on the side of people with metastatic cancer. Thanks for your comment, and I hope you are doing well:)

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  4. Your post is fantastic. 35 years ago my grandmother sent my mom on a mission to buy pot for her as she couldn't tolerate any more chemo. ( if you knew my mom this is pretty funny). Here we are 2014 and what the hell has changed, not a thing. You stay on your soapbox and continue your rants, they are awesome!!!

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    1. That's wonderful that your grandmother used it!! However, how sad is it that not much has changed!!!! You know me well, and I do have a tendency to rant a lot when there is something that I am wholeheartedly passionate about. NOBODY should be denied access to medicinal marijuana. Everyone can make their own choice as to whether they want to use it or not, however it should be an option offered to anyone who wants it.

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  5. I am sure I could easily look this up, but I feel like you have done more research and know it first hand. The low/no THC oil, are there long term effects known? Any changes behaviorally or neurologically? Is it addictive? Also, why do some people smoke medicinal marijuana vs take oil/pills? Is it expensive? Accessible? Just some things I think create barriers. I agree with you about the stigma and lack of research. I think many people (like me) see pot as a drug that makes you live in your basement of your parents house playing video games all day kind of drug... Or in better words makes you look like a loser. But street marijuana is what I think causes a lot of conservative people to stick up their nose at "marijuana" all together. One question I have for you as well is what do you think about people smoking marijuana or taking oil who are not in pain? Lastly... You mention a good night sleep.... Now is there a safe dose for my baby that can put him out for 12hrs every night ;)
    Xoxox Miss ya big time Super Judit

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    1. Oh Amanda where do I begin. Firstly, there's many different forms of marijuana. You can choose to smoke it, which I don't do because smoking anything is bad for your lungs, you can vaporize it, or use it as an oil. You can even get it in cream form to put on areas of pain. It is near impossible to get a very high CBD oil in Canada. I do get high CBD rich capsules which have zero effect on me neurologically. The oil I take does have some neurologic effects of feeling hungry and happy, hahaha. However, when I take a capsule with it it counteracts the psychoactive component of the oil, am I making sense??

      In terms of how to use it in regards to smoking or doing an oil it kind of depends what you are using it for. Smoking or vaporizing will give you immediate results, and you will know when to stop. Oils can take hours to know the effects. As well, I am taking it in oil form because it uses all parts of the plant, therefore it's significantly more potent. I started doing the oil for the purpose of slowing and possibly stopping cancer growth. Then I realized how much it also helped with pain and sleep.

      I have yet to hear anyone say they are addicted to cannabis. To put it into perspective, when you are fighting for your life, you will try anything with any possible potential that could "buy you time."

      Accessibility and cost can be issues. You do NOT buy medicinal marijuana on the street, but rather from dispensaries in which you must have a licence. Health issues such as cancer are a little easier because all you need is a letter which confirms your diagnosis from your physician. Otherwise, they would need to prescribe it and in Alberta I find physicians to be much more conservative. In terms of cost, it's not exactly cheap. For example; for 10mls of the specific oil I use it costs $60, however you begin with a single drop and work your way up as you tolerate, so it can last a while.

      Do barriers exist to access this medication, absolutely!! There are so many different strains that all work so differently that it really is unfortunate that the patient has to experiment because there is zero research in this field. Some strains cause you to be more alert and awake while others can cause you to be more subdued and sleepy.

      Honestly, I would have no problem with legalization and not just for medicinal purposes. Like I have stated before, nobody has ever died of a marijuana overdose, however how many people have died from prescription narcotics, alcohol, and cigarettes?? All of which are legal!!!

      Lastly, for now, don't give any to baby:)

      xoxo friend and I miss you too!!!!

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  6. My mother was given some form of THC pills way back in the 1980's when she was fighting ovarian and then colon cancer. Although I've had breast cancer 4 times over the years, I have never been prescribed any form of cannabis. Maybe different practices in different provinces? She was in Alberta, I am in BC. Best wishes for pain relief and a good night's sleep!

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    1. Hi, firstly I am very sorry that both you and your mother had to deal with cancer. Secondly, congratulations on surviving breast cancer four times, that's amazing!!!

      I'm not sure what type of cannabis your mom took, but if it was prescribed by her physician then they likely gave her the synthetic marijuana of marinol and/or nabilone in pill form. Honestly, these alternatives are nowhere close to the effectiveness of using cannabis oil due to the oils potency.

      I am in Alberta too, however I find this to be a very conservative province and many physicians will not prescribe it. One cancer specialist I spoke to about this came from Vancouver where he stated he prescribed cannabis quite regularly before coming to Calgary. Once he came here he never prescribed it as it was not viewed in the same manner. It's quite unfortunate that, once again, due to this stigma physicians become afraid of being penalized for possibly prescribing. Hence, we once again develop a barrier for patient's to access this medication.

      Thanks again for commenting and I hope you are doing well!!

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  7. Hello my name is Thomas Karol , my husband was suffering from liver cancer, and the doctor's told me that there is nothing they could do to save my beloved husband life. Then a friend told me about hemp oil , i told her that my husband liver cancer was in the last stage that i don’t think the hemp oil will be able to help, and she persuaded me to try, for the love of my husband, i decided to give it a try. I did some research and i found a doctor who helped me with the cannabis oil to cure my husband liver cancer and he assured me that after 3 months the liver cancer will be gone, and For the past one year my husband is perfectly okay and he is free from cancer, if you know any one who is suffering from cancer you can save his/her life by contacting Dr. Brown Nelson via his email : (brownnelson07@aol.com) it worked exactly as the doctor prescribed. Thanks to Dr. Brown Nelson for taking away sorrow in my life. God will bless Dr. Brown Nelson for helping me with cannabis oil and for his support and care. contact: (dr.brownnelson07@gmail.com), his lives in INDIA i will keep on help you to fight cancer in the World, all i have to say is THANK YOU LORD.

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