I think mj like any 'medicine' has both some positive and negative effects that vary from one to another. I've had both positive and negative experiences over the decades past. I'm a very addictive personality so I was always challenged to not over use. I thought it was great for calming anxiety and stimulating creative thinking and even energizing me if that's what I wanted. It was staying within the limits of 'good medicine' that I had a hard time with. I'd progressively smoke more and until I was stoned all the time and sinking into depression. For me, I'd say used sparingly it can be helpful but too much and it can make me sicker.

The newest research points to dosage as the key factor determining effectiveness..... At least in studies related to depression. Determining an effective dosage is pretty hit and miss given how one usually sources and takes the drug. Unless you growing your own or buy direct from a grower you know then you can't know what growth hormones and pesticides and other mystery chemicals have been added. We used to grow our own outdoors organically. I can tell you its quite different than what's on the street. Especially now a days. It's not a hippy drug anymore. It's crossing into narcotic territory with all the lacing that goes on. Makes me worry about what's in that stuff on the street that so many people are buying blindly from who knows where.

I also read recently something I'd heard many years back about MJ versus cigarettes. One joint of MJ equals 20 filtered cigarettes in terms of tar. Levels of chemicals common to both... like chlorine... are much higher in MJ. They also had a list of other deadly chemicals found in MJ that are not found in cigarettes.

So while mj may be effective for some people it should not be used for long periods of time. It should be seen as a transitional or short term medication. At very least regular breaks in routine use should be taken. Dosage needs to be closely monitored, quality should be assured -- know your grower, alternatives to smoking should be used -- food, teas. A careful study of how mj may react to other medications being used or considered would be important too.

Glad you found some relief.... just don't forget its still a drug and needs to be taken with care.