Medicinal cannabis; a better way forward

For the first time ever, I am living my truths and no one is trying to hurt me because of it. This is a much better way. 

It hasn’t always been like this. 

I’ve been having continual hospitalisations, mostly owing to suicide attempts, since the age of 14. And a few years ago, I stopped speaking for a while as a result of being re-traumatised by various medical ‘professionals’. 

Thankfully, I have finally found something that not only helps me, but has also given me a new lease of life. 

At 45 I am the happiest and most well I have ever been. And prescribed medicinal cannabis is a major contributing factor for my recovery. 

For example, I’ve been diagnosed with an array of mental health disorders, ranging from bi-polar disorder, depression, anxiety and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). 

These mental health problems are exacerbated by my physical illness, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). This is a connective tissue disorder causing chronic pain. The pain can be immobilising and completely debilitating. And this pain in turn aggravates my numerous mental health disorders. It is quite a cycle.  

Prescribed medicinal cannabis

But now, all of these problems are efficaciously treated predominately with prescribed medicinal cannabis. 

However, my journey has not been an easy one. I am a woman of colour, which puts me at an immediate disadvantage. Unsurprisingly, my experiences of the hospital system and the medical model have mostly been far from positive. 

Repeatedly I was not believed. And while some medical professionals have helped me, sometimes to great effect, most have not. 

For example, under the medical model, I’ve encountered a lack of genuine compassion and care, overt disrespect, unprofessionalism, unhelpful moral biases and a stark absence of kindness. 

These experiences, at times, made me want to end my life. And I did try. However, I survived. 

My condition deteriorated because no one believed my truths. But I persisted. 

A deep and dark crisis

For decades I used pharmaceutical medications, adhering exclusively to the medical model. But it wasn’t working, and by 2019 I was engulfed in an overwhelmingly deep and dark crisis. 

This dark time was not helped by the fact I was repeatedly labelled a ‘drug-seeker’ by many doctors, some of whom refused to provide me with any pain relief at all. 

Being in chronic pain means zero sleep, which impacts general wellbeing. So, I was regressing badly. And I was in so much pain. For example, on the pain scale I was always a ten. 

During this time, I was admitted to several psychiatric facilities. A few times I was even sectioned. 

Finally feeling heard

For months I suffered from unrelenting pain, until finally a doctor believed me. He conducted numerous examinations, including MRI and a CT scans. He observed that I ‘lit up like a Christmas tree’ in terms of where the painful areas were. I finally felt heard. 

In order to help with my recovery, I was prescribed what one of my doctors later dubbed ‘the party pack’. This included: Endone, Oxycontin, Ketamine and Valium. At different times I’ve also been prescribed Lyrica, Tramadol, Codeine and Morphine. 

Additionally, I had several ‘nerve blocker’ injections, some of which went into my neck and spine. A deeply painful process.  

Yet, in spite of all these medications and nerve blocker injections, I remained in excruciating pain. Often, I couldn’t walk, couldn’t sleep, and sometimes I couldn’t talk. It was a living hell. 

Today my pain is successfully managed, predominantly through the use of medicinal cannabis. I do not use any of the prescription medications described earlier, nor do I require nerve blockers. 

Why did it take so long?

So why did it take me so long?

My unwavering loyalty to the medical model was a barrier. I’d read that having an underlying genetic predisposition towards mental disorders meant I was not a suitable candidate for medicinal cannabis, because I would likely trigger my underlying mental health problems, and could induce a psychosis. So, I persisted with the medical model. But it was not working. 

In desperation I went to see my pain specialist. He suggested I try medicinal cannabis to treat not only my physical pain, but to also help with my mental health. 

I was extremely wary, so I spoke with one of my GPs – who agreed with my pain specialist! 

And now, I’ve been successfully using medicinal cannabis for over two years. This decision saved my life and has been life-changing. 

Alongside other medications, medicinal cannabis helps to stabilise me, while also alleviating the majority of my physical ailments. This means I am no longer in immobilising physical pain. Instead, I am progressively getting better and better. 

I am evidence there is hope for a better way. And I am yet more evidence that it’s time to change the fucking laws. 

Legalise cannabis. It’s a much better way.