Hi Joe,

{{Cannabis is one of those topics I am quite ambivalent about – I have tried it before and I didn’t really have any good experiences from it. Perhaps it was a bad strain of cannabis, who knows – because of these bad experiences (paranoia, mistrust, worsening anxiety), the negative pre-conceptions I had about cannabis use and living with parasitical housemates who smoked it all the time (amongst other things), I don’t think I have any desire to try it again.}}

In honesty, Joe, I also am ambivalent about marijuana, or have mixed feelings. I just got the medical marijuana card this year, and have tried four different strains. I can legally grow, but do not at this point. I learned recently that there are two major strains, Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Your response sparked me to look up the differences. My experiences have been mixed too. The strains definitely make a difference. At times I have felt that the plant is beneficial, at others not.

{{Having said this, I have read about some of the medical benefits. I have deduced that cannabis probably isn’t for everybody – I am not a cannabis person, sometimes I wish I was but I’m not. Some people are able to have great experiences with it. I have had bad experiences with it.}}

I am glad to know your experiences, Joe. With my mixed feelings already leaning away from it, this just leans me further in that direction. I am still interested in the farm community, but would not make it Cannabis based. Some of what I found when I did the search:

“Today, it is widely accepted that marijuana has two different species: Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa. Cross-breeding of the two types has led to a wide variety of hybrid strains with unique characteristics.

“The differences between indica and sativa remain a subject of much debate, especially among scientists who study the plant. However, most agree that indica and sativa plants are distinct in a number of ways.

“Scientists that have studied the differences between indica and sativa have come up with a number of theories based on genetics. One prevailing theory focuses on the genetic production of THC and CBD.”

“Cannabis indica was specifically recognized as a therapeutic in Western medicine during the 1800s.”

http://www.leafscience.com/2014/06/19/indica-vs-sativa-understanding-differences/

Anne,

I am glad to hear that. I still prefer medicinal cannabis to be administered when appropriate over petrochemical pharmaceuticals.

I have also seen what you have and it is a dilemma. With my wife, a nurse in Germany for many years, as objective observer — we have both seen cannabis bring out my higher qualities as well, in individual ‘sessions.’ It relieved pain. Other ‘sessions’ were less positive, but none detrimental. I think it has much to do with the strain and method of ingestion. Smoking is not the ultimate. I haven’t tried other ways such as in teas, butter or edibles – or as oil vaporized – but am open to experimenting some. My view at this point is that cannabis was just a bridge for me. I do not see using it long term. That could shift the other way were I to encounter a farm community where growing is organic and the people are conscious and self-responsible. But that seems ideal and unrealistic from what I have seen.

Thanks much for responding and sharing honestly.

Hi Joe,

I highly (not a pun) respect your feeling about cannabis and am the last to persuade anyone. My own feelings towards marijuana are mixed – not for myself, as I trust my self-awareness and self-responsibility. But I could not participate in something that is detrimental to others such as living on a farm that sells cannabis in a way which people widely abuse. I would rather not participate in the money or consumerism system at all, as well.

I live on a property where medical cannabis is legally grown for personal use. This is new, as of this Spring. There has been no harvest yet. I have distanced myself from the growing without knowing why. Just a feeling. My partner, an empath and wise woman, sees the plants on a deeper level. She is not a user, but finds the plants attractive and beneficial. When I look at them, I also see the beauty and strength of the plants.

I am realizing that the issue with cannabis is not the plant at all but with two factors. One is that it has been hybridized extensively to produce certain outcomes, which interferes with the natural design. The other is that in general people do not have the emotional maturity to be self-responsible when using marijuana.

Joe, I am glad for you that you could have quite easily gone down this route but luckily you didn’t. Because I have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of pharmaceutical psychotropics, and read about some beneficial results from medical cannabis, I stay open-minded to that limited use. I highly question the wisdom of recreational use at all.

“In your opinion, what do you think is the best way of taking cannabis? I still have no desire to try cannabis again but I would love to read more about the differences and effects from taking it with different methods (I know you have said you haven’t really tried taking it in other ways). What were your positive experiences like?”

I would be speculating on the best way since all I have experienced is smoking. That is not a way for me. I can feel the detriment to my lungs. If I do experiment with other means of ingestion, I will write again. In my positive experiences, my thoughts were slowed, steady and alert. Correction of imbalanced thoughts occurred naturally and I was able to think in more detail, perhaps due to the slowed thought process. I was more aware of the detail of my surroundings. I had that same expanded feeling with heightened awareness when I let go of judgment while soaking in a natural hot springs in southern Spain. The cannabis (with a higher ratio of CBD to THC [1]) brought out qualities of being relaxed and confident – but I don’t want to rely on substance for that. I did not have any particular insights and in the end felt the experience was just okay. It left me with a feeling of wanting to experiment further, with appropriate caution. Thank you again for responding. I continue to enjoy our inter-actions, Joe.

[1] “Most people have heard of a chemical called THC, which is the ingredient in marijuana that gets users high. But recently, attention has shifted to another compound in marijuana called CBD — and for good reason.

“Because while doctors can’t seem to look past certain side effects of THC, CBD doesn’t appear to present that problem. On the other hand, evidence of CBD’s medical benefits continues to grow.”

http://www.leafscience.com/2014/02/23/5-must-know-facts-cannabidiol-cbd/