Cannabis, the cure all?

canigraduate · Apr 20, 2015

Personal anecdotes: I know end-of-life, chemo, chronic pain, and seizure sufferers that have been helped by marijuana.

I also know recreational users who have killed others in traffic accidents because of slowed reaction time.

It all depends on the use and/or abuse.

Seriousness aside, I used to know a guy who swore by it for every thing from cold sores to birth control!

I know a few other people who swear smoking a joint helps with their asthma. I'd seriously need to see some studies on that before I believed it, I just can't wrap my head around unfiltered smoke inhalation being beneficial in a health sense (spiritually, sure).

I also knew someone who was so allergic to it she would get hives and andioedema (in the form of duck lip a la Michelle Pfeiffer) anytime she hugged a stoner relative. Weird.

TU RN, DNP, CRNA · Apr 20, 2015

Are you not concerned about drug testing?

They don't give random drug tests where I work. They're more so done within reasonable suspicion when the quality of somebody's work or behavior is on the decline. The quality of my work has, on the contrary, been the subject of praise. I don't attribute this added success to any substance abuse (including caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, et cetera) taking place hours or days before scheduled work time, nor would I attribute failures to the same substances in the same time frame. Now that I'm job searching, I have put aside my "testable" indulgences for concern of failing. So all in all, to answer your question, no and yes.

I think smoking weed has degraded your ability to do math.
You can't give 150% of yourself.

Maybe not smoking weed has made your attempt at rebutting my post sort of lame. It was an exaggeration. Come back when you have a real counterargument. Or an actual point to make at all, for that matter.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 20, 2015

The reason for my thread is that, I was just reading on Facebook, once again, all the things cannabis cures. I couldn't help myself but to start a thread at my favorite website!

Has nothing to do with today being 4/20...well in 22 minutes at least.

Farawyn · Apr 20, 2015

Maybe not smoking weed has made your attempt at rebutting my post sort of lame. It was an exaggeration. Come back when you have a real counterargument. Or an actual point to make at all, for that matter.

I thought it was cute. Relax....have a brownie...

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2015

Has nothing to do with today being 4/20...well in 22 minutes at least.

It's a state holiday here in Colorado! Sadly, I still have to go to work.

Libby1987 · Apr 20, 2015

OP missed ACV.

It certainly has its value in symptom mgmt, but people lose respect for the way issuance of cards is handled. My son's friend got one, for vision. Healthy 19 yr old. My own kids found it ridiculous.

I'm torn on legalization but lean towards making it legal and regulated. The torn part comes from the complications and costs associated with govt regulation but I suppose it's working in other states without big problems and expense?

Farawyn · Apr 20, 2015

I'm for legalization. Regulate it like tobacco. 21 and over. Tax it, export it, FDA regulated. That cuts out the drug dealers.

It could be a huge cash crop.

We can simultaneously start mass producing Cheetos as well, ya know, just as a side thing.

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 20, 2015

"Weed will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no weed" Freewheeling Franklin. And I wasn't always a nurse......

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Apr 20, 2015

I am of the opinion that alcohol leads to many more risky behaviors that weed. I have been a HS nurse for many years and have seen the carnage that alcohol causes; accidents, death, suicide, STI's, unplanned pregnancies, date rape the list goes on and on. The kids who smoke, even on a regular basis, are rarely discipline problems and don't usually have attendance issues. Long term? Not sure, but many kids who were stoners in HS are out and working in jobs and getting married and having families.

Do I think it should be freely available, heck no!!! Legalize, regulate and tax it!

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 20, 2015

Weed brownies made with coconut oil is my rec.

Haha, chocolate, marijuana and coconut oil! Now THAT is a cure-all!!!

Joking aside, i'd love to see recreational marijuana legalized and regulated like cigarettes and alcohol. I think the current trend of legalizing "medical" marijuana, while undoubtedly helpful for those who need it, really just cheapens the whole idea of medical marijuana. When a healthy 25 year old can get a card for "insomnia," it undermines the legitimacy of the cancer patient who really needs it to help control chemo side effects.

The 25 year old should just be able to go to the neighborhood dispensary and get some damn pot, without the charade. And the chemo patient should be able to get their drug in a controlled format that is tested (and maybe standardized) for active compounds, if they so wish.

I'm about to trial CBD with my 8 year old who has ataxia telangiectasia. I've got nothing to go on except the testimonials of a few other parents who have used it with GREAT success with their A-T kids. But really we've got nothing to lose, so why not. Blanket legalization (at the federal level) will help spur advances in medical applications, and I am 150% in support of that.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Apr 20, 2015

In 30 years we will back at these times and laugh at how uptight we all were with it. I have seen it do amazing things for people. It is not a cure all for everything, but it should have a role in our world.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 20, 2015

It's a state holiday here in Colorado! Sadly, I still have to go to work.

All my friends in college went to CU. I never joined in but just watching was something else.

And I have to work too. Wonder what we will get coming in tonight.