Why use Natural Therapies, and why use Medicinal Cannabis?
I am on a personal journey to heal my physical system from a diagnosis of Chron’s disease. I recently had a very severe, and very unexpected, episode of Chrons symptomatology, which lasted almost 6 years. I now manage my symptomatology, and the underlying auto-immune disorder, with natural therapies, including medicinal cbd.
During my illness I had several major surgeries, and I experienced coming very close to death on several occasions. I wasn’t expected by my specialist team to survive even the first surgery, in 2017. I lived with a colostomy bag for three years. I experienced a whole other kind of hell from the medical system, including medical misadventure and neglect, bullying from medical professionals, unprofessional behaviour, being given the wrong medication which made me even sicker, and completely inappropriate and illogical advice and treatments. When I tried to advocate for myself in the hospital system, and tried to get them to work with me and my naturopath using nutritional medicine, I was told by a gastrointestinal specialist, at the top of her voice, in a very patronising manner, that ‘There is absolutely NO link between diet and health, Louisa!’. A surgeon also said to me ‘Good luck getting that in hospital!’
During my healing journey with natural therapies, including medicinal cbd, a lot of people have raised questions such as - isn’t cannabis the gateway drug, and why cannabis, instead of pharmaceuticals as prescribed by doctors?
Well, to answer the first question - no, cannabis is not a gateway drug to anything. It is not as addictive as coffee, or even sugar, which is said to be more addictive than heroin and cocaine (newhallhospital.co.uk). Yes, of course there are people who experience addiction - however, this is usually in the face of multiple drug and alcohol use, and a diagnosed addictive personality type, rather than the addictive nature of cannabis itself.
Why cannabis? When I was in hospital, the last time, I had such an incredibly awful experience. A lot of this was due to medical neglect, and unprofessional behaviour, and extreme lack of knowledge and understanding of clinical signs. I could not believe that this was happening, in this day and age, especially as an ex-nurse myself. I had lost a lot of faith in the medical system over the years, working as a clinician - I had experienced being yelled at by psychiatrists when I was advocating for clients to have medication reviews to reduce their medication, which had often not been changed for over twenty years. I had seen what medications did to people in the mental health system, especially in the absence of nutritious foods, opportunities for exercise and fun, and the more gentle healing arts generally; and I was questioning the whole philosophy of having to achieve clinical outcomes which were impossible in the environment.
When I experienced my own hell in the hospital system, a lot of which could have been avoided, I knew that I had to take control of my own healing, because I had to walk away from the western medical system. I was already using cannabis to my own knowledge, in foods, inhalations, and healing skin balms, but I now had a serious health condition to heal, and I had to step up my knowledge.
I began to question the philosophy - if cannabis is so bad - why is it on the planet? If god, papatuanuku, whoever, has put everything on the earth that we need, what is it here for? And if it is so bad, harmful, dangerous, etc - why is it actually legal and fine to use freely in some parts of the world? In some parts of the world, they are reaping the economic benefits of legalising cannabis. In the US alone, the legal cannabis industry was valued at USD 13.2 billion in 2022 (www.grandviewresearch.com). Cannabis continues to break records as the fastest growing industry in the US (www.flowerhire.com), employing 428,059 full time workers in 2021.
The research on cannabis shows a gentle, holistic, plant, with many health and healing properties, which works with our own body’s endocannabinoid system, to ensure balance of body systems. The body’s endocannabinoid system is a system of receptors, which are particularly attuned to the blend of cannabinoids and tetrahydrocannabinol from the cannabis plant. Thus, it makes total sense to use it for healing, and for ongoing health and wellbeing- almost as if it was put on earth for that purpose!
It is now widely known that there was mass political and commercial propaganda to demonise cannabis, and hemp, so that other commercial interests could flourish, eg the paper and cotton industry (visualcapitalist.com). Previous to this, both hemp and cannabis were widely used in daily life, as a natural addition to diet, the garden, the kitchen, the first aid kit, and were considered a normal part of everyday life. Hemp was used for textiles, for clothing, human and animal food, composting material, oils, and for essential garden health.
As I researched, and learned, I realised how cannabis had been demonised, and how incredibly healing it actually is, for many many health conditions. I realise that it had been constantly used before propaganda took over, and started pushing poisons: tobacco, sugar, and pharmaceuticals. Ever since then, health statistics show an alarming rise in lifestyle illnesses and mental health disorders. There has also been a huge increase in the long-term use of anti depressants, anti anxiety medications, anti psychotic medications - which are commonly used to treat people with poor sleep, or chronic pain. Research also shows an alarming report that these medications are not working - and they are not designed for long term use, yet they are being used daily for decades. Children and babies are being prescribed heavy duty anti depressants and anti anxiety medications, which are not recommended for use in people under 18, and I am horrified at this, in this day and age, with all our knowledge of health and well-being (www.medsafe.govt.nz; www.verywellmind.com). Current Western medicine is a failing system in my opinion.
Hemp has the amazing ability to cleanse the soil from any heavy duty toxic chemicals or metals, making it the perfect plant to grow annually in your garden. Hemp has the ability to take up high concentrations of heavy metals from contaminated environments, such as mines (www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov), making it the perfect plant to help cleanse soil and contribute to regenerative agriculture. It is relatively easy to grow, almost worldwide, and it provides amazing nourishment for humans and animals. It has a short growing cycle - spring to autumn - and relatively low maintenance requirements. It is easy to harvest and process, and I long for the days when everybody has a few hemp plants, as well as cannabis plants, in their garden
Cannabis is freely legal in these countries:
The Netherlands permits the sale and consumption of cannabis in coffee shops, but you can’t carry it home.
In Canada, those 18 years and above can legally possess up to 30gm weed in public, and can legally grow up to four plants at home.
Uruguay have pharmacies which sell cannabis. Recreational use was legalised for people 18 years and above in 2013.
South Africa decriminalised the possession, growing and usage of cannabis by adults in private in 2018.
Jamaica decriminalised cannabis in 2015 and permits the use for medicinal and religious purposes. There are no quantity limits for Rastafarians.
While selling cannabis is illegal in Columbia, it is permitted to grow up to 20 plants for personal use.
Spain fully legalised smoking clubs in 2018. There are no penalties or fines for freely smoking.
Belize decriminalised cannabis in 2017, and certain permissions are required but this is a small restriction, not a ban.
The Czech Republic has legalised medicinal use of cannabis for quite a while, and has decriminalised possession up to 15gm.
(www.curlytales.com)