I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to write for Cannariasmag, I’m passionate about sharing and enhancing knowledge, understanding and discovering lived experiences in the world of cannabis. I feel it is important for us to be allowed to explore and understand the true benefits, limitations and risks associated with cannabis. That way, as a movement, professionals, and individuals, we will have the research and evidence to help ourselves and others who choose to medicate with cannabis, whether alongside, or instead of, more conventional medicine and pharmaceutical treatments, and without attached stigma or consequences.
As a psychologist I specialise in Post Traumatic Growth, which as it sounds, is supporting people with trauma overcome their triggers and flourish through meaningful work (Cheney et al., 2008). I see first-hand how cannabis can help with the symptoms of trauma and help make life a little easier for people that have been through “experiences beyond what is considered normal”
(American Psychiatric Association, 2016). I’d like to highlight and discuss the impact of recreational and medicinal cannabis use, this includes but is not limited to, stigma of medicating with cannabis which is still illegal in many countries. The effect of compromising your morals for the relief that can be gained. The isolation felt by the divide of ethics, morals, and legalities. The trauma of losing families or freedom due to medicating in a way that is clearly working. How past ignorance and fake evidence means many professionals are still uneducated to modern research and we are fighting misrepresented, institutionalised beliefs (Felps et al., 2006).
Having said that cannabis is not always the wonder drug that some would like to believe.
Our mental health is a careful balance of lived experiences, coping strategies, our personality and genetics (Bonanno, 2004; Holmes, 1993; Holttum, 2017; Postmes & Jetten, 2006). I have also seen how people have medicated incorrectly for their ailments, tolerance, and/or contraindications, mostly due to a lack of understanding. We have an endocannabinoid system that contributes to the maintenance of homeostasis (Lipina & Hundal, 2016) (the body’s internal balance); however, we need to remember this does not mean everyone has the same tolerances to different cannabinoids.
Different cannabinoids interact with the body in different ways, and the effects change when consumed in various ways and activate within different time scales for example inhalation compared to edibles. Which makes it easy for a novice to go beyond their tolerance and for the media narrative to be that cannabis is bad.
As countries, states, and provinces decriminalise cannabis for medication it is also more widely available for recreational uses too. How can use and abuse be adequately and fairly assessed
when an industry is being created by people with no knowledge and lots of money, wanting to make more money, marketing miracles to desperate and vulnerable people. As we know from experience, commercialism and its infrastructure doesn’t care for you (Blandford & Laws, 2017), evidenced with previous advice to drink alcohol and smoke tobacco, which we now know are dangerous. I wanted those reading, to be more conscious of their wellbeing and consider their own use. We know cannabis itself is not addictive, although one may depend on the benefits to live a ‘normal’ life. We also know if we use it correctly, cannabis doesn’t make you ‘lazy’ and shouldn’t affect your work (recent Cambridge study), but how do we define the line between use and abuse?
There are many variables that determine addiction (Medicine, American Society of Addiction, 2011), dependency and use and many differing and contradictory studies, laws and policies. Instead, I want to point out how difficult it is to define use, dependency, addiction and abuse and why we all need to be conscious of it.
• Use; describing an action or situation that is done repeatedly OR to take or consume.
• Dependency; the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.
• Addiction; physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance OR enthusiastically devoted to a particular thing or activity.
• Abuse; the improper use of something OR cruel and violent treatment (including to self) (Colins, 2022)
However, this debate is far to long to for one issue there are many factors that create the picture of each of the above and we sometimes like to think we are using something and are in fact abusing it and making excuses.
I personally medicate, work within and advocate for medicinal cannabis. I live with, suffer, endure and survive various ailments, there are too many to mention, name and explain (assuming you enjoy reading) over the months I will use my own illnesses, experiences, knowledge, understanding and (where permitted) stories of friends, clients and random people (yes random strangers often tell me their life stories) to help share education and understanding of this medication and the conditions it can help and maybe together we can understand and inform others on the boundaries between use and abuse.
@msc_u_dont_know_me
mscudontknowme@gmail.com
MSc Occupational, Organisational and Business Psychologist
Post Traumatic Growth Specialist
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