Recreational vs Medicinal
This post might be informative for anyone seeking advice, counselling or access to medicinal mary-jane and the associated products like CBD oils
Yesterday I was summoned forth by runes arcane and words of power I won't describe to a local (local as in 1.5 hours away) branch of the Canadian Cannabis Clinic.
My doctor and I have been working together to find 'the best fit' for chronic pain, migraines and for surgical recovery. Listen, I'm all for "whatever kills the pain" but the recent rise of opioids as The Devils Plaything in the media had me reading a lot of product monographs and examining the various studies done on the effectiveness (alone and in combination with other drugs). About a week ago I put in a request to get the interview and assessment process going for medicinal pot.
Ok, I'm not after 22% THC, couchlock, brainbox, stop the charging bear, drymouth, Brad Pitt smoking a honey-bear-bong ... I'm after CBD oil produced in a lab not by some backyard Breaking Bad wanna be gangsta ... (I know enough organic chem to procreate myself up just with butane and a glass tube thank you very much!). Why do I want this? Migraines, chronic knee pain and pain management following sugery. I also like the fact that the aches and pains of a misspent youth disappear (it ain't easy being a roadie, sound and light technician, concert truck loader and unloader, roofer, circus strongman etc) and my joints are limbered up again and I feel ... *better* but not *high*. There's very little THC in this oil product and it's administered orally as a drop under the tongue or in food.
My wife and I discussed the "intent determines usage" concept last night after I got home. She is a 2 puff OMG my pain is GONE type of smoker. I'm a little more chronic and enjoy the uplifting effects all the time
But...that's recreational use. I intend to get stoned, my intent determines my usage. Ie, I will smoke x variety mixed with y variety in a 1) bone 2) pipe 3) joint 4) vaporizer 5) tea (these are "OR" options, not "AND" for me)
The recipe might be slightly different if my intent was "I need to kill my migraine but still be able to swing a hammer and measure and know that Im framing roof trusses or that hot metal is hot...". Some might call it an 'englithened perspective evolved from the 'get shitfacedness' of youth'...some might call bullpuckey
For those interested my experience followed these steps:
DIscussed pain management options with my surgeon
Researched viable drug treatments + natural methods
Requested a consultation through my GP for Medicinal Mary Jane use.
Received a call that afternoon for an appointment the next day (I had to put it off a week--reasons)
1 week later I arrived at the clinic for my scheduled appointment
Did a pee-in-cup drug test
filled out a questionairre
read the caution material and warnings and side effects brochure
signed my life away for access to my medical history
was interviewed by a nurse practitioner
--total time to here 1hour
waited for a doctors consult when the nurse determined that I wasn't Procreateing around trying to get a weed hookup
doctors consult via Skype where we dicussed the various OTHER treatment options, the benefits and side effects, talked about the benefits and side effects of medicinal CBD, went into a bit of medical history and drug/alcohol usage over the last 20 years, discussed the impact the products *might* have on diabetes suffering/kidney/liver function, discussed how to properly use and what to do if you use a bit too much (no one's ever overdosed on weed ... go ahead and try it...you'll be Willy Nelson smiley then Neil Young sleepy and eventually you'll want to be woken up 'when september ends')
-total time to here 2 hours (most of which was the doctor consult)
counsellor time with a long discussion on where to order, what to order, how the process works, what your carry and possession limits are, how to identify that you are medically prescribed this substance and what to use to identify yourself, talked about growing safely (oh, there's a post n a half there) then *I* walked him through the various production methods I've consulted on in the past ... SOG grows, Closet, Lollipopping, light towers, butane extraction with vaccuum purge, CO2 extraction and fractional distilation, cold water extraction of glandular tricomes, dry ice extraction techniques, afghani and pakistani drum techniques, hot press, cold press, resination and concentrations via alcohol (vodka please) and freezing...
counsellor and I then placed a 'dummy order' so wee what products I would most be interested in.
I'm awaiting a call from the licensed producer in the next day or so that I might complete my order of CBD oil products and ignore his recommendations on which dry products to purchase (Emam and Amy have a much better stock and as business goes--they'll likely be financing an adventure of mine after my recovery)
--total time in the office, including waiting and getting a coffee at Tim's...
3.5 hours. It was busy as all hell too! I didn't sit around the waiting room either, I was filling in papers, signing things and reading as much as I could while Doctor S.Gupta (did I spell that right?) went on and on and on from the TV on the benefits and the side effects of the medicinal devils lettuce.
LIMITS
I know, I know, you might be thinking 'great, get your doc to send you to the clinic and walk away with free access to weed'
This is not the purpose of these assessment clinics and legal licensing under the AMR regs.
The doctors MUST set a limit on the number of grams per day. You may only order up to X for a supply to keep on-hand besides what you are using.
The doctors CAN set a limit on the upper level of THC the weed contains--ie, if you're in for chemo therapy weed, they might not set a limit. If you're in for migraines, you may have a limit of 18% THC
You MUST be reassessed within 1 year to continue your license. I will be reassessed 3 months to the day following my surgery on
nov 16, 2018
Just so we're clear...a license to consume medicinal mary jane does NOT exclude you from legal penalties of driving under the influence or supplying ANYONE with your medicinal supply.
Observations
The process was long. I don't know why a similar process isn't in place for heavy pharma?
I can see folks just saying "to he'll with medical weed, street levels fine n ill self medicate...." but....why? The programs are here to help you access it AND keep you safe with wisdom and knowledge overseen by medical practitioners under gov regs....
I'm looking forward to seeing how CBD oil has changed in 10 years. The last time I had the product it was not made by a licensed producer but I experienced some pretty radical health effects including but not limited to pain reduction, joint and muscle relief, migraine relief, anxiety relief and better sleeping.
More to come but...what are your thoughts? Would YOU use a medicinal product made from Marijuana that was NOT psychoactive if it gave you some health benefits? (keeping in mind there are some clinics treating opioid addiction with medicinal pot...which I didn't know but doesn't surprise me)
Beyond possibly being a good cure for charging brown bears, what would you use medicinal MaryJane for?
Ouro