What does Cannabis/CBD do for me?

There are so many people against the devil's lettuce. Just simply it's "devil's lettuce". Others have tried it, and it wasn't for them. Totally understandable. Smoking cannabis or any activity isn't for everyone. For me, however, it does so much for me. Especially during this time, during chemotherapy and its side effects.

For starters, it helps my depression and anxiety. It doesn't matter if it's Indica (for those who don't know it's a sleepy, more relaxing strain) or Sativa (it gives you go-go) for me. When I smoke, it helps calm those thoughts and makes me think clearly. I don't hear all the thoughts jumbled into a messy pile. I'm able to take things one step at a time and focus. It allows me to breathe. For the depression, it mellows me out, and it helps create a brighter and funnier me.

Stress is a silent killer; however, with the help of cannabis and CBD, stress is a thing of the past. It helps calm the nerves, and like I stated above, it helps clear up the thoughts. It allows me to get things done, around the house, homework, or even writing an article.

Then the pain. Suffering from cancer comes with pain. One of the ways I relieve pain is by smoking. Not only does the pain come from the cancer, but the chemotherapy causes neuropathy in the hands and feet. Which I have both (it was in my feet before chemotherapy, but it appeared in my hands during chemotherapy). So when I smoke, I have not only full function of my hands, but able to walk around much better since there isn't pain in my feet. I'm not doubled over in pain from the cancer either. Now, one may ask, "But Jessie, don't you get pain management through oncology?"; yes, yes I do. However, they are strong substances, and I don't want to be on them long term. So I use them very sparingly. If cannabis were legal here, at least medically, I'm sure my doctors would sign me up asap!

Another cool thing about smoking while during chemotherapy is that it helps me get hungry. During Chemo, I was absolutely miserable and sometimes would refuse to eat. However, after taking a few hits from the smoking apparatus and "riding the giraffe" (talking about the CBD effects; just like how in "How I Met Your Mother" they said they were making sandwiches), I would be able to nibble on food and even hydrate better, too. Being able to eat and hydrate is what made me get through treatment and stay somewhat healthy.

Then, whenever you really need a good laugh and nothing else is working, I smoke a few bowls and sit and relax. When a funny moment arrives whether it's when we are playing D&D, or the children acting hilariously while trying to settle for bed (in example, Little man howls like my dog Lily, or the girls are in a giggle fit from over exhaustion), or something stupidly funny happens, I cannot tell you how hard I've laughed. It always makes me feel better after a long period of depression.

Some may say that I am a connoisseur in this department. I've tried all different types of methods and smoking preferences, then the different strains, their taste, and what they bring to the table. Honestly, if it weren't for the CBD that I am able to get here in Tennessee, I don't know if I would have made it through Chemotherapy. Or even deal with the pain levels that I deal with on a daily basis. It's natural and organic to.

Like I said at the beginning of this article, that cannabis/CBD isn't for everyone. This isn't some kind of peer pressure thing, more of an educational thing. No harm, no fowl.