Submitted by Joyce M. from Texas

Cannabis helped my PTSD and helped relieve some of my anxiety. In addition to that biggie, it also helped with my arthritis pain and racing thoughts (what I call my monkey mind) and relieved some minor skin issues.

I am 54 years old. I am from Texas. I am a leukemia survivor. I have been working on learning about Cannabis and its benefits for a while now. I guess since about the time my mom passed from Parkinson’s Disease in 2016. 

I wish I had known more about Cannabis at that time

I can't imagine how much easier her last few years would have been if I had been more educated then. But I didn't know where to turn for solid and reliable information during those years. It is a dilemma in a state that doesn't have forthcoming information about adult use or medical Cannabis. So, I tried to learn. Here and there, as best, I could. 

On vacations in adult-use states, I would stop and talk to the dispensary folks

I figured they were the most knowledgeable. I learned that this is not always the case. Years passed as I learned what small drops of knowledge I managed to find. Not truly knowing if what they told me was accurate. 

When my dad passed suddenly in 2019, I went into a whirlwind of grief and sudden major responsibilities.

I was in way over my head

Too much of everything. I had so much anxiety I was avoiding pretty much anything that felt remotely uncomfortable in the realm of trudging through the day-to-day tasks of laying the last parent to rest. 

When I say, it was a lot, folks....It was a fucking LOT!! We are still dealing with some of the last of it today. I want it all done by the 5-year mark. 

At least now, I have help in the form of Cannabis

In 2022 I somehow managed to get approved for the Texas Compassionate Use Program. Apparently, I have some PTSD. Go figure. 

All the symptoms really accumulated over time when I was looking out for my parents (being the main, go-to person for those years. I lived closest). 

My senior dogs passing in 2016 within 3 months of each other. They had cancer. Different from each other. 

My Mom also passing of Parkinson’s in 2016 after that long illness. Dad passing in 2019. Dad passed of heart failure. I am the one who found him. I knew I would be the one. I had told my sisters what would happen. And it did. Having that instinctual premonition still did not prepare me for how it would unfold or feel like. It was the hardest fucking thing I have ever dealt with in my life. And I am a cancer survivor. It's no wonder I have PTSD issues. 

Covid kicked off 2020 my mother-in-law's passing during a Covid shutdown in 2021 was a lot of grief to carry in normal times. However, the Pandemic just managed to heighten all of it. Making it all more terrifying, more stressful and more difficult. Let’s just call those my *EXTRA* years. Cause they sure were extra! 

Since that time, I found more people that are coaches and educators in the Cannabis world

I have even taken some Cannabis classes to be sure I have the correct and accurate science behind the plant. Knowing the right, sound, accurate information was very important to me. 

The world has opened up again!

So here I am in 2023, in better shape mentally and emotionally than I have been in a long time. That's not to say life isn't stressful, and there are no challenges. There are. At least I can better deal with them now thanks to Talk Doc time (my therapist) and Cannabis.

Now to do more learning and growing and get moving in a way that suits me. 

Before Cannabis, I was anxious all the time. Fearful. 

The kind that sits in your stomach and makes you think it is all too much to deal with. Bad dreams. Sleeping too much. Or worse, insomnia and sleeping too little. The sound of a fire engine would set me on a crying tangent for an hour or more. It was a trigger. Crazy but true. I believe this happened due to my father’s death and all that surrounded that. That’s still so difficult to talk about. 

I tried the CBD oil drops from the health food store

When it came to physical pain, I turned to the CBD drops early on. I wanted them to help so badly. They really didn't. I had access to anxiety meds that worked but also knocked me out. I didn't want to be in LaLa Land. Plus, I didn't want to rely on something so addictive. It literally says on the label, addictive. So, I didn't use them often. Only in emergencies. 

I did find some CBD salve that helped with my arthritis. So that was a happy find. Was thrilled to bits when I learned to make a better salve! 

I guess my Cannabis education came from a little bit of everywhere

Some of my own digging. Finding documentaries. Lordy, please don't ask me which ones. Knowledgeable, smart people on Instagram. 

But it helped most when I ran into a friend from back when I was fundraising for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Of all places, we saw each other at a musical! She was one row behind me! Amy Matthews, you will always be my Cannabis angel. You showed me more of what Cannabis and Cannabis education can do and taught me that I could make my own more effective CBD salve. This was huge for me! 

She was starting her journey as a Cannabis coach and educator, and I was thrilled to listen to all the exciting things she was learning. I don’t think she knew what I was dealing with. I happily listened and acted like a sponge. My mind was frequently blown. 

Whether we like it or not, there is still a huge stigma around Cannabis

There is. There just is. The 80's DARE programs and being "scared straight" by the commercials of the time. For example, "This is your brain on drugs" as the egg hits the hot frying pan. It was effective. It sure made me think twice and thrice. 

I struggle with coming out of the green closet

I want to share what I have learned and the stories I've been told. However, not all people are ready for it. They don't want to know. It's Illegal, they say. It will destroy my brain cells, they say. Well, some of it is illegal here in Texas. But there is plenty that is completely legal. And...EFFECTIVE! So, I am in the place of, Know Your Audience. LoL

I've tried several ingestion methods

Gummies, tinctures, smoking, vaporizing. Gotta figure out what works! I currently utilize the THC Indica Gummies I get through the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP). 

I usually take it after lunch. It helps calm my monkey mind, and I can focus better and complete tasks. How an “Indica” gummy doesn't make me sleep is amazing to me. It actually allows me to focus and get shit done! Now, the whole Indica/Sativa/Hybrid terminology thing may be changing at some point (and controversial for some), but it is how the state of Texas labels their products at this time.  

I use a THC/CBN 1:1 ratio or a 5mg square of a THC chocolate bar for sleep. I am in the process of figuring out which one of those work best for me. 

I also utilize CBD flower in my dry herb vaporizer. There are so many nice flowers out there, and I enjoy the vapor and smoking-like process. It's also a faster way to get relief. 

I use my own homemade CBD salve as well. I try to incorporate CBD, CBDa, CBG and CBGa. Also, whatever legal tiny amounts of THC are in the CBD flower help as well. A well-rounded whole plant synergistic balm. Sometimes I impress myself. 

I am still trying to figure out what terpenes work best for me. That will be an ongoing personal study.

Before Cannabis, I was more reliant on addictive pharmaceuticals

Whether that be pain or anxiety meds. I was under such stress and anxiousness I felt like I was shutting down. Going inside myself. Shutting out the pain of loss instead of dealing with it. 

After I found more reliable medicine in Cannabis, I was able to calm myself easier

Calming myself in a way that still left me upright and able to open up and deal with the hard things. Actually, go through the pain and heartache of losing both my parents. Do the work required to come out the other side as a whole person. 

This process is still evolving with me. I still feel relatively new to the whole Cannabis experience. I don’t get to talk about it as much as some. So, writing it down has its place.  Yay!

I am here for it

Not only for what the plant can do for me but for others I know. I don’t have all the answers, but I am willing to bet I can find someone who does have more clarification on the subject at hand. Education folks, it's a powerful tool.

This is Joyce’s personal story and not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes.

To work with a medical Cannabis professional, please visit our directory of coaches, educators, and medical professionals. Everyone's Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is different; good results start with the right approach. You don't have to figure it out on your own.

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Effective Cannabis Newsletter is a platform to educate on the vital role of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in one's health. The information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained in or available through this newsletter is for general information purposes only. It is not medical advice; it is health awareness.