Is Medical Marijuana Really Medicine?

Posted on September 15, 2010

Hello my friends! I was just reading one of the comments, and have decided to address the issue of medical marijuana as actual medicine. I would like to begin by sharing how I found out for myself this could truly be used for pain medication.
When my brother came to live with me two and a half years ago, I was prescribed 520 mg of methadone and 32 mg of dilaudid, each day. I would get an infection in the open wounds on my feet at least every four to six weeks.  During these “pain cycles,” I would take all of the medication that had been prescribed to me. Too often, it was not enough. I would get in so much pain, I would have difficulty breathing. I would feel like I was going to lose my mind if the pain increased any further. Of course, it always got worse! My brother was with me on this particular day. I was crying in my wheel chair. There was nothing else I could think to do. I had gotten my medical marijuana prescription many years ago, and had been smoking for relief since. I would load my pipe and smoke it until I felt a little high in my head. It helped relax me, and helped me cope with the pain. On this day, I had already taken my dose of methadone and dilaudid. I had smoked my pipe, and I am sitting there crying, tears rolling down my face, when my brother hands me a joint. He says, “Smoke the whole thing!” I took a couple of hits, got relaxed and stopped smoking. He tapped me on the shoulder and said, “No, I said smoke the WHOLE thing!!!” When I got a little over two-thirds of the way through, a funny thing happened …… I stopped crying, started breathing. even laughed at a joke my brother made … and by some miracle felt actual pain relief. After years of smoking my pipe and receiving minimal relief, I began to think this might be true pain medicine. It worked when 520 mg of methadone didn’t!
After this experience, I tried smoking a joint instead of taking a dose of my dilaudid. I realized it was possible, I could take a lot less of the opiate medication, if I increased my cannibas intake. The problem I faced was how expensive it is. I believe for those of us in this much pain who use marijuana as our medication, the only feasible way to provide what we need may be to grow it ourselves. This is at least until the insurance companies, and doctors start seeing it as medication.
Frequently when I would go to the dispensary to purchase medication, I would try one of their new edibles. I was very blessed to find a large dispensary in Santa Rosa, CA that had delicious food with cannibas in it. The edibles always helped with my pain, however with their prices, I could not afford, at the time to use the edibles as part of my daily routine.
When I purchased medicine at the dispensary I would keep track of the type of medicine I used and what it helped with. Every time I bought a new strain I would write down the results in a book. I found some strains were really good for nausea, while others were helpful with muscle pain. Some increased my appetite, while others helped me sleep. I found there was almost always one that would help with whatever symptom I was having, not the least of which was help with my anxiety and pain.
On one trip to the dispensary, I purchased a new balm they were selling. I took it home, and when the nerve in my right foot turned on, and would not shut off, I rubbed balm all over the area where the nerve was hurting. I was shocked, and amazed 15 minutes later when the nerve relaxed and stopped hurting completely!! I now knew, for the first time in nearly twelve years, I could actually get nerve pain relief. I had tried other prescription creams, pills and endless procedures prescribed by my doctor. Nothing had ever relieved the nerve pain, when it turned on like this. I was thrilled, and more determined than ever that I would take as little opiate medication as possible.

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On one trip to the dispensary, I purchased a new balm they were selling. I took it home, and when the nerve in my right foot turned on, and would not shut off, I rubbed balm all over the area where the nerve was hurting. I was shocked, and amazed 15 minutes later when the nerve relaxed and stopped hurting completely!! I now knew, for the first time in nearly twelve years, I could actually get nerve pain relief. I had tried other prescription creams, pills and endless procedures prescribed by my doctor. Nothing had ever relieved the nerve pain, when it turned on like this. I was thrilled, and more determined than ever that I would take as little opiate medication as possible.
As I increased my cannibas intake, and began using the balm regularly I was more than pleased with the results. Every drop I made in the opiate medication made me feel like I was coming back to life. I felt like I was becoming smarter. I began to get some of my focus back, which made it possible to actually start managing my pain. I cannot describe what it’s like to be in so much pain, you are willing to do ANYTHING for just a little relief. Even if relief only lasts an hour, that is one hour I can breathe, think and feel something other than my pain. The problem, for me, with using opiates as a tool for my pain, they make it impossible for me to manage and cope with the pain, when the pill wears off … which is almost always before I can safely take more! Once I realized this, I knew I would drop the opiate medication as much as I possibly could. In truth, I was in so much pain, I did not believe it was possible I would ever be able to live without the opiate medication. I just thought I would see how low I could go.
About a year ago, I started baking with the oil and butter, infused with cannibas. I used to bake a lot, before my illness. I love to bake. I had not baked in over seven years. I had some friends who were growing on their own prescriptions, and I began to learn what I could, in order to start growing myself. I got a hold of some leaves, made some butter and began baking. At first, I didn’t like much of the food I cooked with the butter. It just didn’t taste all that great. I found it difficult to eat enough of the sweets to relieve my pain, significantly.
In January, of this year, I was given a considerable amount of olive oil, infused with cannibas. I started baking with the oil. I found a recipe for seven layer bars in my grandmother’s cook book. To my surprise they were absolutely delicious! I started trying other recipes. I began using the edibles every day. Honestly, at the time, I had no clue how much they were helping.
In April just after I cut my opiate medication in half, I went on vacation to visit my sister. I had been using the edibles regularly for four months. I ran out of what I had a couple of days after I got to my sister’s. An unusual cold spell, for this time of year, hit hard when I arrived. I realized I had met my pain, once again. The pain in my legs had been mostly manageable since the wounds had closed.
When my feet and legs get cold … things can get bad, if I do not find a way to warm my legs. At first, it feels like I am walking in ice buckets. As time goes on, the nerves in my feet turn on. If I don’t find a way to get warm, they will eventually go numb. But the nerve pain will continue. So … I run out of edibles. I knew they were helping, just didn’t know how much. My pain began to grow … and I knew I had to find a way to address it, or end up in a terrible pain cycle. I was blessed beyond measure when a dear friend, gave me a bag of leaves, so I could make oil to cook with. As soon as I began using the edibles again, my pain became bearable, once again. I was amazed … I knew part of the trick for managing my pain on little or no opiates would be using the edibles on a regular basis.
As I returned home, from this vacation, I entered another pain cycle. I did not know at the time my disease had progressed to my upper body. I believed the pain in my abdomen, which felt like impending death, to be caused by withdrawal. I had been aggressively tapering for about five months. I became convinced the only way to stop the pain was to detox completely.

If I am completely honest with you, and myself, I am not sure what I would have chosen if I had known the new pain was the disease, not withdrawal. Which is one reason I am glad I did not know. When I made the decision to completely eliminate my opiate medication, I was deep in a pain cycle. I was depressed. I was afraid I would die if I continued to taper. I was on 30 mg of oxycodone a day, at the time. I tried to find a treatment or detox center that would help me. No one would treat me without putting me on another opiate. As in the day when methadone was found to help heroin addicts, they have found a new drug to help those addicted to the average opiate. The latest craze in drug treatment programs is a subutex/suboxone regiment. They take you off the drug you are addicted to, as they put you on the new one. I did some research. What I found scared me. It turns out many patients described the withdrawal and detox from this new medication as being much worse than the drug they were originally addicted to. Today methadone addiction is a serious problem for many. I was concerned this might eventually be the case for this new treatment. I did not believe this new drug regiment would work for me. My big problem was my dependency on the opiates, as well as the consequence to my body for taking them so regularly.

I then tried to get help from my pain specialist. I was shocked at his unwillingness to help me rid myself of the drug he so freely prescribed, that I believed was causing my pain. Out of desperation, I turned to my family. I cannot begin to tell you what great pride and appreciation I have for them, and their willingness to help me through this.

Detoxing from the opiates was a difficult process. I was convinced the new pain in my abdomen, chest and organs was a result of withdrawal. This drove me to detox completely, after nearly twelve years of using opiates as my main tool for pain control. What a journey this was! During my detox, I experienced the highest high, and the lowest low. I got a few medications from my primary care to help with the worst of the withdrawal symptoms. I got several herbs to boost my energy, and help with the pain. I drank tea, and ate scrambled eggs, and chocolate protein shakes with cannibas oil in them. Most helpful, were the baths. I would put three tablespoons of oil in a very warm bath. I would soak my entire body for at least twenty minutes, two or three times a day, if necessary. I was amazed at my ability to deal with the pain this way. I knew without a doubt. during my detox … marijuana IS medicine.
Many who are trying to use medical marijuana for pain relief, do not know how to use it effectively as medicine. It was only through trial and error I came to the following conclusion: Ingesting the cannibas in my food is like taking an extended release medication such as methadone, ms contin or oxycontin. Smoking it, for me, is like taking an instant release medication such as vicodin, dilaudid, or oxycodone. The balms, tinctures and baths are part of my pain management regiment. I believe with further study we will find even more helpful ways to use this medication effectively.
For anyone reading this who is on a considerable amount of opiate medication, it is likely way too much to consider eliminating them at this time. For me, when I truly started using marijuana for my medication, I just added it to my tool chest. Most of us suffering with this extreme level of chronic pain need every tool we can find, as our pain is chronic. Our pain is persistent, and finds its way through every blockade we build against it. It is resilient, and seemingly so very strong. For me … my resolve to manage it is stronger!
I highly recommend anyone considering this path get themselves a prescription. The law is changing, as are the attitudes towards cannibas. As more of us use this tool, and educate those who love us, and don’t wish to see us suffer, I believe the law and the attitude of society will continue to change for the better. I met a woman on the train, while on vacation. We were chatting, and I shared a little of my story with her. She looked at me and told me she had never met anyone who actually used marijuana for medicine. She had only known those who used it to get “high.” She for the first time believed it was medicine, and offered to vote for its legalization when it hit the ballot. I believe if we will share our stories, people will learn, and have compassion. I believe most of what people are afraid of with marijuana is a result of bad information, and a lack of education. Because it is such a taboo subject, and mostly practiced in hiding, we have not learned the true nature and ability of this medicine. Also … part of the “attitude” of society, in my opinion, comes from the fact that most people smoke marijuana when using it for their pain. Many just cannot get past the fact that it has been used in this way as a “recreational” drug by so many, for so long. I can tell you without a doubt, you do not have to smoke it to get relief from it. Use it in your food, rub the balm anywhere you have pain.Take a bath in the oil. There are also tinctures and pills made from cannibas concentrate, that are very helpful. All of these are effective pain management tools. It is not a requirement to smoke it. That is a personal preference for some.
For a few, even after hearing my story, it will be difficult to see marijuana as medicine. We have been told for quite some time it is no different from any other street drug. If that is the case for you … I would challenge you to ask yourself why you still believe it is not medicine? If you would be willing to take a pain pill prescribed by your primary care doctor, what is the actual difference between taking that pill and eating some food with cannibas in it?? For starters, the pill likely takes your ability to think straight from you. If you take too many pills, it will kill you. If you have been taking the pills for a long time, and just stop taking them, it could kill you. The pills likely cause other problems in your body … such as constipation, itching, mental cloudiness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and so much more. The pill might give you some relief, but mostly it will numb the brain so you don’t care that it still hurts. At least, this was my experience. When the pill wears off, you will likely have to wait a bit, while suffering in pain, before it is safe to take more.
Now let’s examine what happens if you use medical marijuana instead of a pain pill. If you eat something with cannibas in it, you could get tired or hungry, depending on your tolerance and the type of medication you used to make the oil or butter. If you take too much of it, you will pass out, get some sleep and likely feel much better when you wake up. There is not one case documented where someone has died from an overdose of marijuana. If you don’t take enough of it, or skip a dose, or even stop taking it cold turkey … you will likely get a headache, and probably be irritable. If the effect wears off, you can take more, without deadly consequences. I challenge you to consider … could it be … medical marijuana is actually medicine? Can we learn to be use in effective ways to treat our pain?
I am not a doctor, and I do not have statistics to back up what I am saying, yet. That is one reason for the non-profit charity I am starting. I do intend to do the research and provide the statistics. For now … these are my opinions. Take what works for you, and leave the rest. While I do not have an MD behind my name, I have my experience … which is great. I ask you to open your heart, and your mind. Consider what you would be willing to do for your parent, spouse or child was suffering every day with debilitating pain? Would you consider it medicine then? Would you not hand your sister a joint and say, “Smoke the whole thing?”
I am working closely with others who are researching the medicinal benefits of medicinal marijuana on chronic pain. I believe we continue to find ways to use this to treat our pain. I believe those who wish to can live a life without opiates, and still get relief from their pain. I would invite others to begin a dialogue