How Weed Saved my Husband
Hello my fellow Steemians. Hope your day is going well. As I woke up this morning pondering a blog topic, as I am still trying to find my niche in this cyber-sphere, I thought that I would instead share a personal story with you all. My story is likely not unique but has been a major influence in where I am today and why I feel the way I do regarding some heavy-hitting topics.
It all started back in 2009 when my husband unfortunately lost is brother in a tragic pedestrian vs motor vehicle accident. This completely shook my husband to the core and he was in a state of shock for weeks. While they had been separated and brought back together a few times during childhood due to the result of divorced parents and ever-changing living arrangements, they had only recently began to reconnect and become close again in adulthood.
So after the accident, a couple of months go by and husband (Shane) develops a sinus infection. He noticed that his headache from that infection did not pass after a few days.. or a few weeks..or a few months. Doctor appointments with EENT specialists fell flat as they determined nothing related to the sinus cavity would be causing such bad headaches. This resulted in him being transferred to a neurologist for evaluation. 
This is when things started to get wonky. He was prescribed multiple medications sometimes 10-12 at a time which ultimately failed, new medications were added and discontinued sometimes monthly. Some meditations worked for a short while but to no avail ultimately lost their efficacy after a short duration. This process continued for about 5 years. At his lowest point, he weighed 250 pounds ( with a 5'10" frame), was in bed for probably 18-20 hours of any 24 hour day, and depression out of this world. Who wouldn't be depressed being an empty shell of a non-functional person whose only ability to feel was to feel pain!
Around 2014 Shane had decided enough was enough. He had read many things online indicating that marijuana could be helpful with the headaches and decided to try it. While I was very skeptical because at the time I was more conservative leaning than now in my libertarian leaning, I guess what had to convince me was that the proof was in the pudding..or in the papers. :) Forgive my corny joke, this is why I am not a comedian. The improvement was not immediate. It takes some time for someone to rise from that level of dormancy to become even remotely functional again but slow it has happened and is continuing to happen.
Fast-forward to today and you have a man that smokes weed every day and is on very few prescription medications. Happy for the most part with some slight twinges of depression occasionally. Weighing in at 165 pounds and currently enrolled in a certification program for massage therapy. This is the most functional he has been in years and is excited to pick up the pieces he left off and become a productive member of society again.
Injustices
- In medicine - Forgive me, I spent a greater deal of time than I planned talking about the events leading up to my displeasure, injustices surrounding the private use of marijuana. I suppose one of them isn't so much of an injustice as it is just ignorant. Shane had to give up his long term neurologist and find a new one because the old continued to make statements such as research hasn't shown marijuana to be helpful for pain. My thoughts on this were, I don't know maybe because it's so taboo it's not even studied much clinically. He also continued to assert that my husband was just looking for a reason to get high.
My theory is that medical professionals know that marijuana is helpful and that, my friends, would be bad for business. We are in a constant game of tug of war between any 2 entities at at anytime trying to tear us apart by the limbs. Doctors ($$$ business) want us sick!. Insurance companies ($$$ business) want us healthy. These are two complimentary businesses whose likelihood of success depends on the others failure.
- In the law - I find it fascinating how greatly marijuana and it's stigma differs from state to state. I don't understand how there is any justice in a system in which some states treat it as medication, others as candy, and others as heroin. Is it just that people who need it desperately to be forced to pack up and leave everything behind to move to a new state where it is acceptable or risk being arrested. What does that do to the housing and job markets on either end of the intake and exodus states.
- In society - I feel like to the societal norm of marijuana use is becoming more balanced but there is still a long way to go. I get why people are afraid to talk about it. It is illegal in most places. I still don't even like to talk about it with my own family. It should be talked about though. The war on drugs is an epic failure and we the people are only further held captive by these unwarranted laws.
Thanks for reading!
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Insurance companies don't want us healthy, they get their money one way or another. They are a middle man between people and their doctors that takes the majority of the profits.
If people were healthy then they may opt to go without insurance or only get catastrophic insurance.
Thank you for your perspective. Again, my post was strictly my own bias which I feel I may be able to re-evaluate to get more certainty. I have heard for a long time about Doctors having inappropriate relationships with insurance companies in the form of kickbacks for both to be able to capitalize. I know some of it may be bias journalism with a touch of conspiracy theory. Nonetheless, I appreciate all feedback :)
**Genuinely glad to hear Shane is doing better.. ** I'm more than certain that depression and grievance is far from a walk in the park, specially at the same time.. I believe that regardless of what we go through, we all just need to take things one at a time. Speaking of time, sometimes time itself is what heals us from life's unfortunate occurrences.. With that being said, we all have our way of coping and I think that marijuanas pros heavily outweigh its cons.. Only thing is, *don't abuse it or it will abuse you. * I wish anyone reading this the best.
Thank you for your reply :) I'll admit my post holds a great deal of bias regarding my opinion about it but I also understand that it may not be the best avenue for everyone. Abuse of marijuana has the potential for real consequences just like the abuse of anything else I suppose. I can only draw my opinion off of my own personal observations. I am an ICU nurse and have seen too many people die from the effects of alcoholism in their 30s and 40s. Additionally, an overwhelming majority of overdose cases I see are due to opiate and benzodiazapine combo of prescription medications. This is what is currently killing people. There may be some negative health effects to chronic marijuana use that is currently unknown but as it's rising in popularity there should be more studies trying to determine those findings.
No problem :) .. But yes I'm w/ you and couldn't have said it better myself.. We are still researching (though not extensively like we should be) the plant and its positive and negative long term effects.. But yet I think it's safe to say and most people would agree with me that marijuana use in moderation isn't killing people... There are real drugs out there like the ones you mentioned that people use all the time to "cope" or even for healing but unfortunately their lives are taken in the process.. I myself find that marijuana use may not only improve the quality of life if used responsibly, but it also does have its medicinal perks.. So more power to Shane.. Give him my regards will you :) and remind him about moderation.. Please do take care
As one who has covered the cannabis beat for the past five years, I can attest that stories like your husband's are very common. You hit the nail right on the head with your discussion about the stigma surrounding its use, even for medical purposes. Your husband's former doctor is not the only one who harbors prejudices based on the pseudoscience of decades past. Yet, millions of Americans know of the plant's benefits and keep quiet, for fear of judgment -- social judgment at least, and criminal judgment at worst. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for speaking up!
Thank you for your reply. It has been such a battle but I'm so pleased things are finally getting better for him!
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I love hearing that your husband is doing much better -- a different man... But, I get so ughhhh.... When I think of all the good marijuana could do with some more money... My 70 year old Mom sat and watched me vomit (excuse me) for 15-20 minutes straight, when I was having a little pancreas problem... I finally whipped out a joint and, literally, 1 minute later, I had stopped puking and was sitting up having a normal conversation with her. The look on her face was PRICELESS. Cheers!
Could not stop reading!! Great blog! So brave and confident!
like it :) thank you for sharing this... perhaps u find some graffiti u like on my blog .. have a look <3 kalipo
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Still some time left in the glass giveaway to get some glass for yourself or a loved one! Cannabis is helping so many and I love to see it. Great post!
Thanks for the reply! Entered and followed my friend. :)
did you have any negative reactions with the weed at any point?
Seems to me that if you wanted to avoid the stigma of "getting high" that CBD oil should have been tried instead of just plain 'ol smoking. The medical magic is in the oils.