[emmababy]

There is a lot of confusion about cannabis. Apparently. I'm not talking about comments I have been reading on this forum in particular. But in general, people tend to think of stoned out people when they think of pot. Well, there are many strains of cannabis and many ways to prepare it. Some cannabis has no THC and is used for alleviating pain. It also works (for me) as an anti anxiety substitute for benzos - which my doctor and Big Pharma are only too glad to hand out to me. I am weaning off of the ativan by using cannabis oil and reducing the ativan very slowly per the pharmacy. I started taking the cannabis oil capsules by breaking them open and trying just a few drops of oil, then gradually increasing it to one capsule. Pain that I have now & then from having a double mastectomcy for breast cancer 6 six ago is GONE..sometimes after exercising, lifting or a lot of activity I am really hurting. I think it's awesome that a natural plant can do this and I think it's a crime that big pharma and the medical world in general are withholding this wonderful plant from people because, well, it is simply too diffcult for big pharma to patent something that can grow anywhere, isn't it? If some big pharma folks or docs are reading this, please wise up and put your patients first. I don't get my oil from an MD (OF COURSE!!) because big pharma via the drug pusher pharma reps do not explain how cannabis works or that it DOES work. Why would they? There is no money in it for them. Now, folks who say they get paranoid from cannabis need to know that there are different types of cannabis and you don't have to take the type that makes you stoned or paranoid. Cannabis is NOT addictive!! I have known people who have used it for years and they quit whenever they want to w/o withdrawal symptoms. It is simply propaganda to keep people taking poison drugs, and look how many people are hooked on garbage that SHOULD BE BANNED!! Like ATIVAN!! But money is made off of suffering, isn't it? I am really pissed at the medical world and I do not trust them one bit. I worked in that world for a long time and I have completely turned my back on them because they know nothing about keeping people healthy. All they know is how to write an Rx and they don't even know the serious side effects that they are giving people. I got sucked in but I'm wised up now and I am so glad that I am getting off of Ativan with the help of cannabis oil.

The first thing the medical world (do no harm, right ) convinced me I needed when dx with breast cancer was -- drugs!! So, legal drugs that harm you are ok.....but illegal drugs that help like cannabis oil are labeled not ok? Something is very twisted here.....

I was put on an antidepressant even though I said I didn't need it...that I was anxious not depressed. Sertraline. I took the crappola for a year..it did not do a thing except stress my liver so I took myself off and have not needed it since. If I sound angry that's because I am at what the medical world has done to me. I HATE drug companies. They are a plague and are making people all around the world sick. Now, I'm not saying that everyone should stop their meds and take cannabis oil. I am saying that there just might be a natural alternative to drugs to help alleviate mental health concerns. A lot of mental health issues are a lack of nutrients because many of us don't eat right and are deficient in so many essential vitamins and minerals. Have you wondered why mental health issues are at an all time high? (No pun intended lol) Benzos mess with the natural GABA in your brain. There is GABA available at health food stores. My belief is that there is a natural remedy to any health issue...you cannot treat mental health issues with chemicals. I mean, look at all these people on this forum with LEGAL drug addictions!! You get dx with a mental illness then they dump drugs into your system which makes you - what? Better? If big pharma has their way, everyone will be on drugs. There are over 20 MILLION people just in the US hooked on benzos. That is purely evil and the drug companies don't give a $hit. I sued a drug company and won but it was a fight. Let's see if the mods let this post get published. I'd like to know how open for discussion this issue really is. This is an epidemic, not ebola, and legal drug addiction is ruining people's lives and the doctors are in league with the big pharmacies. This has to stop. Natural pharmacies are being shut down. Why? They actually HELP people to get well, not sick. You know the best way to stay well and happy? Stay the heck away from doctors and hospitals. Check out a good naturopath who is registered and ask for alternative remedies for your issues. Just my opinion.

[kaliope]

thanks for the info.....

[AncientMelody]

It would be fantastic to be able to focus on the benefits of cannabis oil except the benefits were drowned out at the venom you were spewing at the medical community. In sorry for the disservice a that were five to you but you paint with too broad a brush. Many medical professionals are PRO medical marijuana and natural remedies, exercise, nutrition, etc. holistic care is really gaining ground. That's not to say there aren't bad medical practitioners or that the system is not flawed, but there are, unfortunately, bad people in every profession

[emmababy]

Well, sorry AncientMelody, but if you had been screwed over like I have been with the medical community you'd be spewing too. Did I mention that besides doctors' willingness to put people on addictive drugs I am an DES Daughter? Know what that is? A drug given to women in the 40s and 50s to prevent miscarriage. It did no such thing and the medical community knew it as well as the FDA. What did DES do for me? Well, let's seee....it's a synthetic estrogen. It gave me breast cancer. I was literally swimming in synthetic estrogen before I was born. Millions of women took this drug and there are millions of women with cancer and reproductive problems because of DES. Thank you, Eli Lilly and the rest of you money grubbing jerk offs. So NO, I do not trust the medical community nary a bit. Yes, there are some who are into holistic remedies but doctors are heavily influenced by Big Pharma. Legal drugs are a huge problem especially in N. America and sorry, but I blame the medical community. There are not enough good docs who care about preventing illness because illness is a money maker. I worked in the lovely medical community for a number of years and so I do know what I am talking about. If you want to negate the benefits of cannabis oil because I am angry at what the medical community has done to me and thousands of other people, so be it. I was trying to make a point - the point being that legal pills are not the answer, and for people suffering from anxiety, there are alternatives. Just don't ask your average doctor becasue they know nada. The medical community (and I put big pharma in that group) has also made up a huge number of fictictious mental diseases that do not exist and were never heard of even 20 yrs ago. Everyone has to be labeled now and given a designer drug to fit their problem. I think it's a crime to put children on drugs and label them ADD just because they aren't another brick in the wall. Yes, there are some good doctors but they are few and very far in between. The medical world is a tight brotherhood and everyone must conform, or else. My doctor did not tell me about cannabis oil nor does she want to become informed on the benefits because she is tied into big pharma - who have our best interests at heart, of course I do not mince words, I say it like it is....at my age, I have earned that right. Life is too short to sugar coat things. Ativan is a dangerous drug. Cannabis is not. Everyone has the choice to do what they want to do and what works for them. Addictive drugs like ativan do not work for me. I don't want big pharma to make one cent from me. They have already made enough from me being on chemo from their DES drug. Had you gone through a similar experience and walked a mile in my shoes, perhaps you would understand. But - it's ok with me if you don't. Have a great night!

[AncientMelody]

First and foremost, I am sorry that you have suffered. Yes I am aware of DES and its devastating effects on a generation of women. And though I am fortunate enough not to be afflicted with addiction myself, I grew up with an alcoholic father. I understand how painful addiction can be...

You should look up the "No Free Lunch" NO FREE LUNCH. It's a program in the medical community that bands together in limiting influence by the pharmaceutical industry. They accept no lunches, no pens or trinkets, do not take drug reps into their offices at all. It's a good program.

If you want to negate the benefits of cannabis oil because I am angry at what the medical community has done to me and thousands of other people, so be it.

where did I, even once, argue any benefits? I merely stated that I felt your message was kind of lost. Actually, I voted for the legalization of medical marijuana in my state. I definitely feel it and its compounds have medicinal benefit.

I think it's a crime to put children on drugs and label them ADD just because they aren't another brick in the wall.

No argument there. I feel ADD is a legit condition, but I think overdiagnosis is rampant and that is a travesty.

people are hooked on garbage that SHOULD BE BANNED!! Like ATIVAN!!

Ativan is a dangerous drug. Cannabis is not. Everyone has the choice to do what they want to do and what works for them.

Two statements that are in DIRECT contradiction with each other. Do you think Ativan should be banned or do you think "everyone" has the choice to use it if they find it beneficial to them?

I think it's AWESOME that the cannabis oil is helpful for you, I wish you nothing but the best and am sorry you had such a terrible time with Ativan. I feel the same way about the benefits of fish oil...great for cognitive functioning and it's been very helpful.

Ativan has been a very useful medication for me, I'm glad it hasn't been banned! It shouldn't be prescribed willy-nilly (and in fact most of the practitioners I know are very hesitant in overprescribing this type of thing....and ironically many other anxiety patients dislike doctors for THAT reason). But with the right dosage in the right person, it can make a difference. I've had no dependence or psychological addiction, my last bottle has lasted four months.

Best wishes to you in your journey and I'm glad you're finding a beneficial treatment towards healing or at least alleviating your suffering,

[Altered Moment]

My dad is a pharmacist, my brother and sister in law are both pharmacist. My brother in law was a drug rep for pfizer for many years. A year or so ago he was told he could no longer give pens, food, or gifts of any kind to doctors. I am not sure if this was a law change or some voluntary program pfizer decided to participate in. A short time thereafter both him and his boss were let go. He was the lead salesman for his area for many years. They have one guy covering the territory that five covered before. What really happened is that they decided to change tactics and put their money in marketing directly to patients and not doctors. They figured out this is more effective. I have never heard of any kick backs but I am sure they happen. Many of the doctors on his route refused to see him no matter what he did. He wasn't authorized to give kick backs. His tactic was food and pens and stupid little gifts. According to him the best way in was bringing lots of food to the staff all the time. I don't trust big pharma or the fda either. the fda is in their back pocket. big pharma and the insurance companies wrote the medicare part d legislation. as soon as it was passed the head of the committee billy tozin when to work for big pharma and their head lobbyist. the corruption exist at the federal level and not so much at the doctor level.

In spite of all this our system has come out with many beneficial and life saving drugs over the years.

On pot. Pot with THC can be addictive for some people for sure. I was addicted to it for many years. It may not cause physical dependance like opiates but it can for sure be psychologically addictive. When I quit I did not have withdrawals but I had very strong urges to pick up again. If you are prone to addiction it can be addictive for sure. As far as CBD oil without THC I do not know. I have experimented with pot for anxiety and depression. It does not work for me for depression. For anxiety it works if it is the exact right strain. I have not played around enough to find a constant source of the exact right strain. And I don't want to become a daily or weekly user again because of addiction issues. Yet I am taking klonopin. In my opinion if CBD oil of even pot with THC worked for my anxiety it would be a safer alternative to benzo's. I don't think big pharma is making any money off of benzo's. They have been out for decades and are all generic. Unless they are buying up the generic companies which they have been doing with some drugs. You can get 60 tabs of ativan for 8.66 at walmart. not big profit.