Bud, THC, CBD, vaping, Sativa, Indica --- all new words and expressions two months ago and now used almost daily in my vocabulary!
More about those in a little while. I'll give some info as I understand them now as a new student of the substance. And post some pictures of what I have and how I use it. (That's the reason why this post is private as well.) Many people have asked for information, and how to start or consider using medical marijuana themselves.
The first prescription the doctor gave me was for 7 grams of marijuana per month. I was hoping to get some of the oil, which would be a month's supply, or then 30 days. I would be allowed to order 7 grams of product every thirty days, which is how Tilray's oil is packaged. The dried herb from Tilray is packaged in multiples of 5 grams.
[Side note: Tilray is just one of the legal suppliers of medical marijuana in Canada. All of them have an application process and the need of a doctor to sign off before approval.]
For several days after being approved, I tried to order the oil (or drops), but I was too late every time. The demand was too high and they kept running out. So, in order to not waste the first weeks of my three month trial period, I ordered 5 grams of dried herb (or bud), equal to 20 days on my prescription.
As posted before on this blog (The Bud and I below this post), I've used the dried herb by vaping. What is THAT, you say? Well, I refused to try medical marijuana if I had to smoke it. So vaporizing was the next logical step. A device heats a bit of the dried product, ground in a special grinder, to a high enough temperature for extracting the THC and CBD but too low to develop potentially harmful toxins. At this point, it seems a much safer option than smoking, and also cuts down on the odor.
My setup
In the picture above, there is about 0.25 g (my daily prescribed dose) on the small scale. From there, it would be put into the grinder which in this case consists of two parts with metal teeth. Moving the parts together like opening and closing a jar, the herb is broken down into much smaller pieces.
The herb is then poured into the top of the removable glass tube on top of the vaporizer. A remote control is used to turn on the heat and to adjust the temperature. I started off heating to about 200 degrees C, but have found that I prefer the process when "cooked" at around 196 degrees. This was when I used Elwyn,
What is the optimal temperature for heating cannabis?
Quote: "The range of temperature in which all cannabinoids evaporate lies between 157 and 220 degrees Celsius. As all cannabinoids have different boiling points, vaporizing the same bowl of herb at different temperatures will generate different results." (1)
The tube is then connected to the vaporizer, the fan turned on and the bag fills with vapour. I prefer to let it fill slowly, and might adjust the temperature after a few minutes. There's no rhyme or reason, really.
When the bag is full, the vaporizer fan is turned off, the bag with tube disconnected and I just hold my thumb over the open end until ready to breathe or inhale the air. Something like breathing air from a balloon, I guess, but there is no pressure as from a balloon.
Usually I take about an hour to slowly inhale the vapour, while watching a movie on the iPad. And no, I've never felt "high" when I do it this way. Only once, when in a hurry, did I feel a little bit swimming or light-headed. That's the beauty of vapourizing, really - the effect is quick and can be stopped immediately when undesired symptoms are felt. At that point, I just sealed the tube with plastic and tape and left it for the next day.
The drama started when I couldn't refill my prescription at the end of the 20 days. I still had 2 grams left, but had to buy a minimum of 5 grams - which the system wouldn't allow. Even phoning Tilray and explaining the situation, didn't help. I had to wait for a next appointment with the prescribing doctor to ask him to adjust my prescription.
It was not a total waste of time, though, since they welcomed the feedback about not being able to get the oil. I now have a little bit more leeway to order either dried herb or drops, and to be able to order again before the 30 days run out.
Drops - finally!
As usual, it is feast or famine, and my order of the drops plus dried herb arrived together on the same day. The picture below shows the two items together.
Elwyn, my first order, was a Sativa strain. Bubba Kush is an Indica strain, with higher THC where Elwyn has a higher CBD.
Indica seems to be most often used for pain relief and to relax and help with sleeping or anxiety. Sativa can be useful when taken during the day, to fight depression and also to control pain and anxiety.
There are also Hybrids, where the supplier mixes the two strains together to generate a desired target for a specific range of medical problems.
THC and CBD: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and Cannabidiol (CBD) are the two main ingredients in the marijuana plant. CBD and THC are compounds known as cannabinoids. THC is the most well-known cannabinoid, but CBD has gathered attention from the medical community. THC is generally regarded as the psycho-active ingredient, while CBD is non-psycho-active.
In the picture above, it is clear that my first try with the drops is an equal balance between THC and CBD. My daily prescription is just under 1 mL of oil per day. The advice is to start slowly, with only a few drops, and to wait up to two hours to see what the results or effects might be.
I drew up about 0.3 mL of oil, squirted it directly under my tongue and waited a minute before swallowing. There was no unwanted reaction and no "high" or anything I don't want. Later in the day I took a few more drops, to come to less than 0.5 mL of oil - still almost half my daily dose.
The container and dropper from Tilray are very easy to use. I draw the 0.9 mL into the dropper when I take my first dose, squirt about half under my tongue and put the dropper back without emptying it. Whatever is left, is then my second dose. At this point I still prefer to split the daily dose rather than taking it all at once.
Results
After a few days of using the oil, there is definite improvement. I'll do a post on the open blog about trying to wean off Cymbalta, and the miserable withdrawal my body goes through in the process. I started weaning off in April, but it is a slow process. It seems the marijuana helps to even out my mood, helps me sleep better, and I definitely have more energy. It has only been a few days, though.
The oil can be added to "medibles" (edibile cannabis), put in yogurt or a smoothie. It can be used topically on painful joints. I prefer to take it straight up under the tongue. Much less hassle than vaping, much quicker, and easier to control.
Copied from Edibles 101:
Many of us new to cannabis-infused foods (also known as "edibles") fall victim to the same mistake: we eat too much. Edibles are a great choice for patients when consumed responsibly; they're potent and body-focused, meaning they're perfect for people who suffer from pain, nausea, or lack of appetite.BOTTOM LINE
Unfortunately, they can easily lead to disaster if you’re not careful. You eat a whole brownie and feel normal for an hour, then all of a sudden you startle at a police siren and think everyone in the room is secretly laughing at you.
(Link )
Each person is different. If you consider using medical marijuana for a certain condition, my advice is to read and research, ask questions, and to go slow. Whatever you do, don't be alone for the first try. It takes a while before the effect can be seen, just as with many prescribed medications.
DISCLAIMER
This blog is purely to share my experiences as I journey into the new world (for us!) of marijuana for controlling my various medical issues. Only a few months ago it was something I would never even consider, but already see the benefit. And hubby, staunch protester about the use of cannabis, now encourages me when it is time to take another dose. He notices a positive difference.
