Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Marijuana


I have never tried marijuana, except if you include the time when I was 10 yrs old and 2nd hand smoke was continuously blown in my face, while I was pinned down….I don’t remember much of an effect though.
I have to admit.   When I think of pot...I remember images I have seen from the movies of what being "high" looked like.   Glazed eyes, slurred speech and the unmistakable urge to eat Doritos.   "Pot Heads" was always what they were referred to and these people were reckless and irresponsible. (And they usually had to 'do their business' illegally)


Don't stop reading and get angry -- Like I have said before, I am a work in progress.

Recently, in Colorado, the buying and selling of Marijuana has become legal.   I wasn't shocked that our news has reported "record sales" and "lines around the block" from people who can finally use this stuff, without worrying about going to jail.  
All the reports and studies taken from people who smoke weed, indicated the stuff is safe.   FAR better (and safer) than alcohol, and much more preferred than prescription medication.

I have a lot of friends that use marijuana...I thought I understood why they used it....But it wasn't until I REALLY began reading about it, that I understood the real reason.   It isn't about just some relaxing - stress-relieving side-effect...Although, that is a bonus.
Every-Single-Person I have talked to, told me about how marijuana relieves their pain...Reduces their headaches...and helps them get better sleep.
Below you'll find a sampling of responses from several of my online friends – most, but not all, claiming or hoping marijuana, medical or otherwise, can help with NF symptoms, including headaches, tumors, and better sleep. Some say it reduces tumors, but I hesitate to sign off on that without more medical studies to back it up.
I can't say I'm ready to run down to the local MJ Shop and plop down $250 for a few ounces of weed, and I'm not sure I'd even go after a medical prescription. At least not at this point in my life.

But my husband asked me if I'd accept a medical marijuana prescription for our oldest daughter, who, now 18, suffers more than any of us, between back pain, headaches, and frequent nausea. It made me think, and think that I just might.

In the end, of course, I can only judge for me and my family. And with only two states on board with marijuana outside legitimate medical usage, I certainly won't advise you to do anything that will land you behind bars.

But perhaps the time for the old Cheech & Chong stereotype is over – and we need to recognize that correct usage by responsible adults may be no more harmful than having a beer as you watch the game, and may be dramatically more helpful than the medicine cabinet worth of prescriptions doctors seem to have little problems prescribing.
Thrive On – and inhale if you must :)


So many responses:

Anonymous - My son is about to turn 12 and has NF1. He has had multiple surgeries and has twitches and stings up and down the body plus most all other NF symptoms. He uses the whole Marijuana plant dried and ground and put into capsules. I have a medical card for myself this is how I get it for him. It helps him not have nerve stings and helps him stop his pain. instead of taking oxy, hydro, or Neurontin that he is prescribed. I also use an oil high in CBD and low in THC which is medicinal without the "high" involved. He likes his plant medicine above the pharmacy meds.
Anonymous - My son tried it and said that it made the pain worse. He is in chronic pain all the time and is also requesting that the nerves in his spin be severed to stop the pain in his legs.
Anonymous - I have NF1, and I was just diagnosed with RA/PsA and Raynauds Disease/Erthromelalegia all things that are very painful and progressive. I really can't do Narcs for the type of pain it causes me these new diagnosis on top of all the NF, BS hasn't left me with a very good prognosis and a family member recently started me on smoking a little here and there. Not a lot to lose my brain but just enough to try and take the edge off and maybe be able to relax. I do think they should make it a legal medicine as they do for cancer and some other diseases. I do feel ashamed and sometimes guilty about it at times and I would hate for my 13yr old son to ever know and my boyfriend even asked my DR in front of me if it would be ok if he got some for me and the DR said just don't tell him about it when we do...I don't do it all the time and I never drive when I do so at least I try to be responsible about but still struggle feeling guilty.
Anonymous - Its really amazing for pain. Better than other pain killers. I find that I can function more than with painkillers
Anonymous - I am trying like mad to get a medical marijuana permit here in Vermont. I have never touched the stuff until my husband convinced me about 3 months ago. He had a guy at work make me a "choc" candy (like a Reese's cup I could only eat part of it.. it took about 1/2 hour to work. will have to tell you something, this is the best sleep I have gotten in years. It was able to take the pain off -so that I was able to relax. I have had 3 choc. since and a candy like a life saver. We know how to make our own choc. so if we want to we can. I want to get legal as I am afraid to go to jail I have so much pain for a straight week at a time only 1 time a month.
Anonymous - I personally use it and it does help with my pain more than medication-- it does not relieve all the pain but it definitely helps more the medication.
Anonymous - Hey Kristi.......I treat myself with marijuana for NF pain. I've been going to a Pain Clinic in NH (I live in VT, and am closer border wise to NH than VT). NH won't give me a prescription, b/c I live in VT and they are in NH. If I were to go to a VT pain clinic, I would have to travel 1 1/2 hours.........IT DOES HELP!!!! I wish I could get people to understand this.
Hetty - My hubby uses cannabis and amino acids to manage chronic pain as a result of 20 plus surgeries due to NF1.

Michelle - here in VT we can apply for a medical permit, I am trying got get a permit as I speak.. you don't have to smoke it you can make it into candy, choc. or anything. For me, well lets just say I hope I can get legal. I have never gotten better rest and relief of pain

Amber - If I could use it for medical use I would. I've never heard bad things about it unless you abuse it – duh - lol

George - Weed is a magical herb it helps with pain, anxiety, depression, glaucoma, eating disorders, anger issues, insomnia, Yeah this shouldn't be legal but you got cigarettes that kill people, alcohol that makes people violent and over dosing on it all the time, pills that people take a hand full of and go to sleep and not wake up. It's impossible to over dose on pot you'd have to smoke like 10,000 blunts good sized ones at that and even then you'd over dose on carbon monoxide not THC. Who knows maybe if processed properly weed can help cure cancer and aids... it helps everything else why not give it a shot.


Lisa - It helps me a lot I had spinal cord surgery to remove tumors off my spine- I have ten more tumors in and out of my spine. Surgeries to remove them are dangerous and only be done when critical doctor took me off of pain meds. Afraid when I decline nothing will work, then pain meds have messed up my stomach so weed helps a lot with stomach and chronic pain

Curran - In California you just pay a doctor hundred bucks and they give you a green card - it's real simple here

Derek - Definitely helps with pain and muscle spasm. I am not sure but maybe have shrink in tumors.

Kivalina - I know someone who swears it keeps the tumors from growing.

Cindi - My daughter has NF and uses--she said it helps with the pain of NF

Ayanna - If I knew it would help my NF I would get a card and take it in medical form like candies.

Suzie - I used to smoke quite a bit and then stopped when I moved to a new country and didn't have a source. This coincided with the time that all my tumors grew on my back and chest, when I turned 30. I was symptom-less until then (apart from cafe au laits) and was only diagnosed at that point - suggests to me it may help defeat tumor growth.

Thank You all for your responses...

17 comments:

  1. I'd like to get high with you.

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  2. I was born with NF1, i am 25 and been smoking Ganja from i was 13, i do think it helps prevent the rapid growth of the tumors and somewhat ease the pain, my nerve pains just started a year ago in my left arm its horrible and Ganja does help somewhat to not make the pain as intense, i live in Jamaica so Marijuana is everywhere n easy to get, but still illegal.

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  3. Thanks for writing this. I'm advocating for it in Florida. I dystonia and it is supposed to help the muscle spasms and pain, and of course I'd like it available for my son who has NF1 if he wants to use it in the future.

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  4. there is a blog spot in which a family whos child has tuberous sclerosis that gave the kid medical marajuana to help with seizures TS is a similar diseases to NF

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  5. I,m 50 years old, female and have a severe case of nf1. pulmonary issues, nf lung, liver, kidney, heart involvement, essential hbp, nf related spine conditions, internal tumors of head and neck, breast, limbs, spine, and so on. pelvic tumors pelvic bones cysts, false joint problems.severe full body pain,etc,etc. yes, I use medical cannabis(I have a license to do so). I was told I would be buried by 34 years old.I truly believe if I would have went on the meds the docs wanted me on so many years ago , yes, maybe I would have expired around that age. I've used mmj everyday since the age of 20,also smoked a little at younger ages.true it does not take the pain completely away but does dramaticly ease it.i take no meds for any other of my symptoms, cannabis deals with all that for me too..i do believe its a safe alternative and is a far better choice than the poisons the phamasudical companys deal to society...I also believe because of the severty of my illnesses if I was to stop using mmj tomorrow. wether I went on society excepted drugs then or nothing at all I would be dead in less than a year. after all GOD created, it can be pulled straight from the ground and used in so many ways for so many good things. phamys are created by man that wanna play god.

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  6. I have NF 1 I have 7 brain tumors will it work for me?

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    1. Is anybody still reading this? I would like some info. and knowledge of your experience with NF and pot. Thanks. My daughter is 16, has NF1, two optic gliomas . wonder if it's true if it helps the tumors not grow. she is not in pain. My problem with pot for use in such a young age is it makes you stupid. makes your grades not so great, unless your a genius or something

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    2. Hey Brenda I have NF1 i use medical cannabis and it helps me immensely... I have paid from my tumors and it helps with the pain....it does also slow the growth of tumors and depending on certain ways you use it..it can shrink them... I have some that grow and show on the outside of my body and used oils and they have shrank in size... It's not true that it makes you stupid... I used cannibis ay a young age and I'm pretty smart..no genius but cannibis never made me stupid.... Maybe if you were a heavy user of it but used the right way that's not true...cannibis has helped me very much in what I go through with my NF..and in greatful to it....if you have any questions I'll answer the best I can

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    3. Hey Brenda I have NF1 i use medical cannabis and it helps me immensely... I have paid from my tumors and it helps with the pain....it does also slow the growth of tumors and depending on certain ways you use it..it can shrink them... I have some that grow and show on the outside of my body and used oils and they have shrank in size... It's not true that it makes you stupid... I used cannibis ay a young age and I'm pretty smart..no genius but cannibis never made me stupid.... Maybe if you were a heavy user of it but used the right way that's not true...cannibis has helped me very much in what I go through with my NF..and in greatful to it....if you have any questions I'll answer the best I can

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  7. I have NF1. I use it once or twice a week.

    It's not legal in my state. I believe they've decriminalized it so as long as you don't have too much on you, it's just a fine and a misdemeanor. Like a scarlet letter traffic ticket.

    Luckily I don't feel too much pain from NF1. I use it because I'm an emotional wreck. The pot helps with that immensely. "don't worry, about a thing......"

    It is a much better alternative than drinking. No hangovers. It doesn't dehydrate me as much. I sleep tons better. I wake up feeling awesome after smoking. Refreshed, clear headed and ready to start the day. Even when I'm high I have much more clarity than I would have if I were drinking.

    Sleep is another plus. Usually when I go to sleep drunk, I wake up feeling unmistakably worse than I did when I went to sleep. Physically and emotionally.

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  8. After reading all you guys remarks it makes me fell like I have hope. I'm 33 and just got dismiss for the nursing program for have 35 ng/ml is my system. I have NF 1. I have nodules from head to toe. Had I known that it would of showed up in could of did a different measure. If any one could help me debate why it stayed in my body systems after 30 days please help. My email address is midgettelashodna@gmail.com

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  9. I hope everyone finds relief from medical cannabis.I'm 44 yrs old and was diagnosed at 6 months of age with nerofibromatosis and had countless surgeries. I'm tired after the lifetime fight. I want medical cannabis in TN for all of us suffering.

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  10. I hope everyone finds relief from medical cannabis.I'm 44 yrs old and was diagnosed at 6 months of age with nerofibromatosis and had countless surgeries. I'm tired after the lifetime fight. I want medical cannabis in TN for all of us suffering.

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  11. My name is Lissette in 24 and I was born with nf1 as I got older a plexiform spine tumer nf1 stared to grow between my spine and growing in to the pelvic it causes pain so I can sleep on my back and my pelvic area is also in pain because the tumor I'm just kind of trying to find how to get prescribed medical marijuana I've been smoking marijuana since I was about 15 years old

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  12. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here... click here

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  13. Yes I have neurofibromatosis type 1 I be in so much pain pills make me feel sick marijuana is the only thing that can help me I'm currently going through my treatment trying to get me a card money been so hard to come by life it's self is hard living with NF noone to help me I definitely need help

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