‘Cannabis is Medicine’
Cannabis is inherently medicinal, the end. So let’s talk about cannabis being an aid in healing. Most people have some kind of trauma or pain that’s occurred or is occurring that ends up being a wound in their life. This wound requires a process to heal. Journeying through healing can look differently for all of us. Processing emotions, understanding our feelings, expressing ourselves, acceptance, forgiveness, healthy communication, and reflection aren’t always easy. These things can actually be pretty difficult to work through depending on where we are mentally and emotionally. Our own efforts as well as the therapeutic and holistic value of cannabis can make the work easier. The effects of thc, terpenes and other cannabinoids within the plant can provide relaxation, sedation, mental relief, and uplift our mood to name a few. It’s medicine, just natural.
With cannabis we can:
* Slow Down
* Be Present/Mindful
* Feel our Feelings
* Navigate Emotions
Slowing Down
Cannabis can contribute to us feeling more in our bodies due to its psychological and physiological effects. Our mind and body are engaged when we consume. There’s a heightened awareness that comes with consumption--- slowing down to hear our thoughts, our body, and our environment.
Be Present
Cannabis can bring forth more moments of mindfulness which allow us to be present. When we are present we are focused and immersed in the now, not before or later. It’s a peaceful feeling, to be fully present.
Feel Our Feelings
Cannabis can help us sit in the feeling of something. Along with being present comes taking personal inventory on how we are feeling. We can assess what we’re experiencing at the moment and what that may mean.
Navigate Emotions
Cannabis can provide support to help us navigate our emotions. Our consumption can help us remain calm, balanced, and less anxious while navigating tough times or difficult emotions. Along with slowing down as mentioned above, we are able to reflect.
Mindful cannabis consumption is key. It’s all about finding what works for you. There are many paths to take when choosing your ideal consumption method(s). There’s flower, thc pens, tinctures, topicals, edibles, infused beverages, and concentrates. Exploring cannabis always starts with knowing your body. We have to know how our body communicates to us and what makes our bodies feel taken care of. This allows our experience to be more informed and tailored to our needs. Maybe you have trouble sleeping at night so smoking before bed is great. Maybe you don’t enjoy the psychoactive effects of thc so you prefer cbd gummies. Check-in with yourself. How’s my holistic health? What am I feeling before, during, and post using cannabis? What methods of consumption does my body prefer? What strains work best for me?
Knowing our bodies in relation to cannabis allows us to advocate for ourselves. Verbalizing what we need and/or want becomes easier when we know what works best. For example, if we know we prefer indica or tinctures, we research and seek out more indica and tinctures that are most in alignment with our desired experience. Understanding how our body and mind respond to cannabis is how we maximize our experience. We become our own expert. We can discern what strains, consumption methods, and frequencies we enjoy.
But still, at the end of the day, we have to do the work. Cannabis can’t do it all for us. It’s an aid yes, just not the entire solution to our healing. Our consumption is maximized through healthy boundaries. When we don’t have boundaries, we can miss the opportunity to maximize our experience. Having boundaries means being honest and being aware. Assessing how we feel before, during and after consumption, knowing our levels, being intentional, and remembering the medicinal value are essential.
Resources
Advocacy
Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use
NORML Cannabis Advocacy Certificate
Healing
Cannabis & Main: 'Sound Healing [and] Cannabis Can Get…
Stigma
(PDF) Waiting to Inhale: Reducing Stigma in the Medical Cannabis Industry
Total Wellness Mind & Body
Splendor in the Grass? A Pilot Study Assessing the Impact of Medical Marijuana on Executive Function
Can marijuana ease mental health conditions?
Undoing
Drug Policy Alliance Annual Report
HR3884 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): MORE Act of 2020 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
