There are so many misunderstandings about Cannabis, especially CBD. We want to provide a guide for consumers to understand the exploding CBD market and help weed (ha!) through the thousands of products available. Determining which product is the best for you can be overwhelming. For me, it’s like going to The Cheesecake Factory and trying to pick just one item from the thirty-page menu.
I only recently became interested in Cannabis and related products. I lived a very sheltered life when I was young. I went to an all-girls’ Catholic school, and I wasn’t exposed to marijuana at all when I was there. In college, I saw it only from a distance. I didn’t consider it a part of my life until my mother was diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer is a horrible disease, and watching it claim a loved one is a horrible process. It is a never-ending stream of stress, pain, frustration, blood tests, scans, chemo ports, hair loss, isolation, anxiety, and fear. The list of experiences is endless. It’s something for the patient to endure, and the caregivers as well. It’s excruciating
for everyone involved.
I watched a confident, calm, happy, physically strong, mischievous jokester turn into a frail, sad woman who at times suffered panic attacks. One minute she would be fine, and the next she
would be crying uncontrollably.
She had stage four cancer and, on a bad day, could not get out of bed. She often suffered from uncontrollable coughing fits. She resisted taking pain meds for as long as she could. As a former ER nurse, she feared a dependency to opiates more than she feared dying. She didn’t want to fall or feel groggy. After all, she had to keep her mind sharp for her Friday night bingo games!
Refilling her pain meds required an office visit and a urine test. This seemed ridiculous to me. She was in too much pain to get out of bed. We needed to find an alternative. I started reading everything I could get my hands on about Cannabis. If it wasn’t in print, I would call people or knock on their doors to get answers. I flew to California and Colorado. All along, I was grateful for being able to make her life a little more bearable.
If you know me, you know that this led to a million different questions. Where can you buy Cannabis? What is CBD? What is THC? Is it legal? Can I mail it? Can I take it on a plane? Is it toxic? Can you overdose? Can it be combined with other drugs? What if you don’t have time to apply for a medical card? What is the best way to use CBD? Are all CBD products the same? What are the side effects? How do you know which product is the best for you? Can it affect your security clearance? Will it show up on a drug test?
The questions were endless. But so were the answers. One step at a time, I brought her different types of CBD and THC products to try. We were in this together. She was so much happier. Her mood changed. I witnessed the anxiety associated with cancer lessen. Her appetite increased, and she slept like a log. Once she opened up about her discovery, the other women in her building showed her their stash! How sad – they all felt scared and worried they would be judged, but they all loved their products. Wouldn’t it have been better if they had been able to tell others how much these products had helped them? They all felt better in so many ways and they could have helped others feel better, too.
After my mother passed away, I decided I wanted to share this gift with as many people as I could. I made the decision to become an advocate and educator of Cannabis. It was the best gift I could offer her during the most painful time in her life. As a Master Mind Performance Coach, a Neuropsychologist, and Human Development Specialist, I have a particularized understanding of the wellness, psychological, and physiological aspects of Cannabis. I want to use this book to help people get the most out of their Cannabis experiences.
As consumers, we have so many questions, and not enough answers. I always recommend consulting with a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about CBD before adding it to your life and your other medications. Get as much information as you can before making a decision about what is right for you. Not all CBD products are the same. Select CBD products based on your individual needs. When my Mom was suffering with cancer, I looked for comfort for her pain. What was the easiest method that would work for her and her individual needs? There is no one-size-fits-all solution for any given condition. What works for me might not work for you.