(16 Weeks)
I was struggling a bit about an appropriate subject to discuss today, the first full day of the new administration. While thinking about a strategy for surviving the next four years, I thought cannabis.
Cannabis (a.k.a. marijuana, weed, ganja, spliff, and MaryJane among various friend groups over the course of my life) became legal in Illinois five years ago this month just before the start of the pandemic. Perfect timing.
Cannabis is now fully legal in 30 states plus the District of Columbia, decriminalized in five more, with 8 of the remaining 15 providing legal status for medical use. If you are unlucky enough to live in the remaining seven, I’m sorry.
The discussion surrounding cannabis often evokes strong opinions, reflecting diverse experiences and societal implications. I’m sure I’ll get some sh*t from some for my laissez-faire view of the subject, but come on, how can alcohol consumption be so acceptable and cannabis such an issue? Alcohol has always been the real “gateway drug” after all. But most don’t want to talk about that.
The first time I smoked, I was 16 and away at a soccer tournament. It made me hungry and sleepy, but not high. That eventually changed. Throughout high school and college, I’d smoke it if it was around, but never purchased it myself. It was a nice alternative to alcohol; a nice buzz that would wear off quickly and maybe even give me a moment of inspiration helping me focus enough to finish that paper on which I’d been procrastinating.
Alcohol was easily accessible, and getting drunk, even underage, was much more socially acceptable – even by my parents – than cannabis ever would have been. So that was everyone’s go-to for a good time. Eventually I got sick of hangovers.
I remember the exact day I purchased cannabis for the first time. July 1, 1988. I know this because it was the day of the Hackensack Ford Fire and I was stuck in traffic the associated road closures caused and was very late meeting the friend of the friend of the friend with the weed. I already had anxiety over the illegality about what I was doing (I had always prided myself on being a rules follower).
Smoking marijuana stayed fairly low key. It became a cheaper, safer alternative to alcohol when I was a 20-something. Just a weekend indulgence that made a night more fun and people more interesting. We’d smoke in the parking lot before going into a bar, nurse a drink for a few hours, and the buzz would wear off before the drive home. No hangover.
Then I met Chris. He was a habitual weed smoker, card-carrying member of NORML and High Times subscriber. At one point he and his brother had a successful grow room in their mother’s basement. Consumption became a daily occurrence and too much of our weekends were spent binge-watching Beavis and Butthead and falling asleep on the couch.
I took to developing and regulating a more strategic approach: a limited schedule and strict budget. For me it simply became away to manage increasing job responsibilities by providing a good night’s sleep. I attribute it to not only helping me significantly limit my alcohol consumption, but my becoming a morning person which ultimately gave me space to become a runner. There were times – like when we decided to start a family – that the benefits no longer outweighed risks and I went years without smoking.
I tend to believe that all marijuana is basically medicinal. For Chris, it certainly was. I didn’t understand that completely until after his death. He suffered from anxiety and OCD and was honestly more bearable to be around when he was high. When money got tight, and I cut him off, he took his own life 8 months later.
Is cannabis in all it’s forms without health risks? Probably not. But the same certainly applies to alcohol – and chocolate! And a million other things we put in our bodies daily. Consumers need to do their research. We all should take responsibility for what we’re putting in our bodies. Everything. Do a personal risk analysis and understand things affect people in different ways. I have used a guideline from my pediatrician my entire life: “Everything in moderation.”
The conversation about cannabis cannot be isolated from personal experiences and individual needs. As someone living with ADHD, cannabis has proven to be remarkably beneficial, like prescription or over-the-counter medications for certain individuals. This perspective emphasizes that while cannabis may not be universally appropriate, it can serve as a lifeline for many, especially when accompanied by informed and responsible usage. Dispensaries are very knowledgeable and helpful. They educate and can clarify dosing and ensure a safer experience for consumers.
Personally, I appreciate that this is a subject I can discuss freely. I am also satisfied that – with this issue at least – we have a choice. Flower or edibles?
Did you really think this wasn’t going to include a fundraiser? It’s me. Of course it is! Over the course of these 60 weeks, I am hoping to raise $6000 for the children of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls (that’s just $100 a week!). To learn more about Mercy Home and my why, please visit my fundraising page. Thank you.
Ah yes… I too have smoked it but never bought it. One of my friends who was the CFO of the company I was working for would have it and I and several others would partake when he had social gatherings at his home. It always gave me the munchies and then fall asleep.
Now I buy organic CBD gummies (from Sunsoil based in Vermont) that help me fall asleep at night and I use liquid CBD on my face which makes the pre-cancerous spot disappear–so there are interesting benefits which mainstream doctors do not (or want) to discuss. It also speeds up any Red Ant bites I get, which I am extremely sensitive to. I have an older horseback riding friend in NY who’s doctor gave him a prescription for Cannabis which helps his back pain amazingly as regular drugs just made him feel drugged. I think the benefits outweigh the negatives. A good read as always, Mary!