Last night I kind-of chickened out! I felt nervous about “smoking” marijuana (I actually have a vaporizer, I don’t think I’d be able to or even want to, for that matter, smoke it!). I know that in medicinal marijuana the THC is much lower than the THC in marijuana found on the street; often two to three (or even more) times lower, but I still didn’t do it before bed. Also, I was so tired that I could hardly keep my eyes open anyway, so I didn’t really need it for sleep. I did find the courage to move past my old, ingrained belief that marijuana is bad and I tried it twice today. I did two “puffs” like my dr said to start with, but I  didn’t notice anything  significant on the 9:9 ratio. Once my little man is asleep, I will be trying the 18:1. 

Okay, as you know by now, my memory is shot!! So, please forgive me if I am repeating any information from yesterday!

Jenn’s Medicinal Marijuana 101:

In medicinal marijuana, the growers manipulate the chemical ratio between the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). The THC action very specific known as cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are found throughout our bodies, in most tissues and organs, but there are numerous in the brain and nervous system. These receptors are involved in the regulation of many bodily functions including: brain and nervous system activity, heart rate and blood pressure, digestion, inflammation, immune system activity, PERCEPTION OF PAIN, reproduction, wake/sleep cycle, regulation of stress and emotional state and many other functions, which I don’t want to go on and on about here. If you want more information consult the “Information for Health Care Professionals: Cannabis (marijuana, marihuana) and the Cannabinoids”
The above information was taken from the “Health Canada Consumer Information on Cannabis (Marihuana, Marijuana)” pamphlet.

Some critics of medicinal marijuana say that the man made pills (there are actually quite a few if you search it.) that mirror the chemical content of the CBD  (Cesamet or Nabilone is the one I was on 5 or so weeks ago) or those that follow the same the same pathways as marijuana, etc. are all a patient needs. They don’t think that the THC or smoking are necessary or healthy and that those who do smoke medicinal marijuana are doing so because they just want to get “high”. Otherwise, why wouldn’t they just take one or more of the pharmaceuticals that are similar to the Cannabinoids? However, there is also new research coming out that is showing that there is something about the interaction between  THC and CBD that makes it more effective for pain treatment. My pain dr has been in his profession for over 25 years and, in his opinion, based on observations he has made through the years, the medicinal marijuana just works better for neuropathic pain. I absolutely trust him and, frankly, I just want the pain to STOP and if that means I’m “vaping”(as the cool people call it – lol!!) medicinal marijuana, then that’s just what I’ll do!! Whatever helps!!

Wow, isn’t this a long post!!! Please remember I AM NOT AN EXPERT!!! I’m just learning about these things myself. Much of what I’ve written today was either things I’ve read, information from the pamphlet I have, things I’ve heard, from my doctor, my husband (Hee Hee!!), etc. I am on the opposite side of the experts!!! And now, I’m off to get high! LOL!! Only joking!!! Sort-of…

To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”

Hopefully once day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!