How I Medicate with Cannabis

It has been brought to my attention that I don't write enough. 😉
Its true. I don't write as much anymore now that I actually have the honour of working in the Cannabis Industry. It's bustling here in Fredericton!

Sometimes, selling cannabis is about the quick sale. Get in, get out, and get on with your day. But I've
had a few opportunities to spend more time with several customers recently. Those are some of my favourite days because there's a deeper connection when you stop and listen to what's going on in a persons secret life of struggle. It is like a gift they give me. I get a glimpse into their world. They had to decide if I was safe enough to trust. I realize they are standing judging me, to see if I'm worthy or even capable enough to help them. Its a big decision, and when I am trusted, I am honoured.

Sometimes I get to explain why and how I medicate. Thanks to one of my clients, this is exactly what I'm writing about today.

I medicate with Cannabis for a couple reasons. The first thing I noticed it did for me was relieve depression. Second was relieve pain. Third,  it reset my metabolism. The reason I wanted to try cannabis was to relieve pain so I could get off pain killers before they killed me. I succeeded. I'm off all other pain killers. Now, besides allergy meds, I'm off pharmaceuticals.

HOW do I medicate?

I don't know that I learned how to medicate from any one source, or person. It was an accumulation of information. I use a layering method, incorporating different modes of administering cannabis throughout the day. Capsules of infused oil, inhalation (Bud/Shatter/Hash), and topicals.

1. THC and CBD Capsules.

I've learned how to make infused THC and CBD oil caps. (See link on how to, here)
My current dosage: CBD - 17mg  x2/day
                  (Sativa) THC - 10mg in morning to keep me lifted
                  (Indica) THC - 35mg about an hour before bed, to keep me asleep

Eating infusions (or edibles, they act the same in the body) takes the longest time to kick in, up to an hour, sometimes two before the effects are felt. Your digestive tract health as well as how recently and what you ate are big factors in this. But, the effects last the longest too, 6 to 8 hours. This is a big benefit in that I can medicate with a "base layer" of oil. I then can taylor my THC needs throughout the day with smoke or shatter, depending on whether I am in more pain, or needing more happy, or less anxiety.

2. Inhalation of Cannabis

(Smoked or Vaped Flower, Shatter/Concentrates)

This is how I get my immediate THC needs throughout the day. Inhaling our medicine is the quickest
 delivery system. Its effects can be felt within minutes (I've smoked some that can take up to 30 minutes to be felt) but the down side is, the said effects typically only last an hour or two. And since nothing remains constant, except change I don't particularly find that to be a down side. In the course of a given day I can experience great anxiety from a sudden rush of customers to intense pain later on in my shoulder from an old injury. So I can medicate as I need for the moment almost by boosting either my THC or CBD with smoked flower or shatter.
And yes, I recognize I have an advantage working in a place that lets me medicate. Not everyone does. But that doesn't mean you can't medicate effectively for you throughout your day. You just need to find what works best for you.
* NOTE: Tinctures would work well in the case of needing a quick dose of medicine. Takes 15 to 20 minutes to kick in and can last three to four hours. For those of you who can not smoke or vape but need to medicate at work a CBD or THC/CBD 1:1 ratio could be a good option for you.

3. Topicals!

Our brains are not the only place with cannabinoid receptors. Our entire body has them. Topicals work, and do not get you high (you'd have to use a lot!)
I make my own coconut infused oil and apply it topically to my knees every day. The THC and CBD absorbs through the skin to receptors found in our skin, muscle, veins, bones, and nerves. Or as the pros say, the peripheral organs, and the central and peripheral nervous system as well as the immune system. From my experience I think it builds up in the system. If I use it regularly I have no big pain issues. If I forget for a couple days to apply the oil my knees suffer around day 3 and I finding I'm ingesting more.
The link to my original post about how to make topicals can be found here.

Myth Buster! CBD is not THC's enemy.

Layering your medicine is a big step to helping you feel better more consistently.

So is the use of CBD. I had the slight fear that upping my dosage of CBD would ruin the effect of the THC. Basically, I was afraid I wouldn't feel the high anymore.
I have to say, its not gone, but it is different. I actually like it better. Its more calming and happy than I expected. And it allows me to function better. Pain is less, inflammation is less. And frankly, I need less Sativa in the morning too. I'm loving the change and enjoying the benefits. Hardest part, as always, is my being consistent!

Please, if you have not yet tested CBD in your daily medical regime you definitely should. I have had several customers come back and actually thank me for putting them onto CBD. A big pat on the back goes to them though. Cuz I just told them. They are the ones who followed through and did the work to find what works for them. Bravo! Keep it up! I love how we work together for the benefit of each other and our community.
And I'm loving this community!

Any experience with CBD, topicals, or making your own infusions? Tell us your experiences. I'm no expert and love to hear what others have learned.
Any questions feel free to ask here, or my Facebook page.

Successful Surgery

I'm happy to report I managed to follow the rules this time and successfully encountered surgery as an
adult.
 A very strange experience being put under and waking. I remember details of both very clearly which I didn't expect. After the Dr. had the I.V. expertly inserted he said, "some patients say this is painful going in". I joked, " Oh, how fun!" Then the searing pain started to eat its way up my arm. I gasped, I held my breath. I arched my back and tried to hold back the words that were slipping past my lips, "HoooollllyyyFFffffff"  I was out. Mid swear. Proud moment.
The best description I can come up with of waking up after surgery is to describe it in opposite. It was like drowning in reverse. Like bubbles of reality were trying to break through the blackness. I distinctly remember colour filled bubbles of reality push in, grow bigger, absorb another bubble and then burst letting blackness dominate for just a second, until reality finally took over and the blackness was gone. The surge of noise and light and activity was disorienting. Slowly, or it felt slow, I was able to discern what was going on around me. I suppose, since I was dressed and out of there within a half hour of waking it wasn't very slow at all.

My knee? Oh ya.
Dr. Haene had to remove some floating cartilage that had been busy chewing up the remaining cartilage for the last ten months. There was more damage than we hoped, so I'm off work for four weeks to recover. I'm disappointed I can't be there, but I've got doctors orders. And pain...I've got pain that reminds me to sit. And I'm listening.

Speaking of pain and medicating. I didn't fill the Dr.s prescription for the Tylenol 3. I did take a Naproxen for a couple days. I'm using my usual oil caps. My CBD is 20mg twice a day and my day caps are 15mg each of Gods Green, I take 2. And my night time ones are 17mg each of an Indica, I take 2. I have noticed though that the amount of cannabis I need to consume has gone up since my surgery. I now have personal insight into maybe why some of my clients come in with the complaint that they don't feel anything from their edibles. Because its going to the places we need the healing perhaps? Like heat seeking missiles, and the brain just doesn't feel it to the same degree. That's my working
theory anyway.  Lastly, as these three little holes in my knee heal I'll be able to apply my cannabis coconut oil topically again. That should help speed healing as well.

So, I'm around. You might catch me in the store as a customer from time to time until my return to work. Thanks for checking in on me. Feel free to say hello on Facebook too.