5 minute read
Medical Marijuana – Getting Over the Stigma to Find Relief
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of taking medical marijuana is changing minds and overcoming the stigma associated with it. For those over fifty-five, the word marijuana conjures up images of Cheech & Chong or stoned college roommates, but medical marijuana is not like that at all. It is like any other prescription medication, and if you can get beyond the misconceptions, you may find that it may help you.
In 2016, Pennsylvania Act 16 was signed into law, and with the passing of that legislation, it allowed Pennsylvanians certified with certain medical conditions to obtain relief with quality medical marijuana products. Currently, medical marijuana is approved in Pennsylvania for 23 medical conditions among them ALS, epilepsy, intractable pain, neurodegenerative disorders, neuropathies and anxiety disorders. Solevo Wellness was Allegheny county’s first medical marijuana dispensary, opening in Squirrel Hill on February 15, 2018. Since then, Solevo has opened two other locations in Western Pennsylvania: Cranberry Township and Washington.
If you have some trepidation about trying medical marijuana because of the stigma associated with it, Amy Scott, one of the Clinical Pharmacists at Solevo, offers reassurance. “We always take a ‘start low and go slow’ approach to treatment,” said Ms. Scott. “All new patients must consult with a pharmacist at Solevo. We realize that every patient is different, so we take many factors into consideration, including the patient’s age and previous or current marijuana experience, as well as other medications they may be taking. We work with each new patient to find the right treatment for them.”
Many maladies that affect seniors such as chronic pain, anxiety, neurological disorders, neuropathies, glaucoma and Parkinson’s disease may be treated with medical marijuana. Also, those being treated for cancer may benefit.
There are more than 400 known cannabinoid compounds in the cannabis plant or what is more commonly known as marijuana. However, the two most prevalent compounds are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds secreted by cannabis flowers that provide relief to an array of symptoms including pain, nausea, anxiety and inflammation. These compounds found in cannabis work by imitating compounds our bodies naturally produce, called endocannabinoids, which work to maintain homeostasis within the body. Simply put, these cannabinoids interact with receptors on different cells, and when there is an imbalance within our Endocannabinoid System unpleasant symptoms and physical and mental complications can occur. One may use cannabis to influence our Endocannabinoid System to help regulate health and homeostasis. THC is the compound that causes the euphoric feeling most associated with marijuana while CBD does not change a person’s state of mind. CBD interacts with receptors in our body and helps with pain, inflammation and stiffness.
“My health has been a train wreck, but I’m so much better now,” said Carrie Bryson, 37, of Economy, who was bitten by a tick in October 2018, and although she tested negative for Lyme disease, her health steadily deteriorated after that. “My problems started slowly with pain in my ankles, and then it progressed to my knees. That’s when I went to see my doctor. Although they couldn’t confirm I had Lyme disease that’s when everything started,” said Carrie.
“It was like night and day,” said Justin Timpy, 41, of Butler about how he felt after being treated with medical marijuana. Justin was suffering with PTSD, depression and anxiety. The father of four had the classic symptoms of feeling down, lack of energy, and little joy. “I’d been taking prescription medications for a while, and my physician was the one who suggested trying medical marijuana to me,” said Justin.
“Pertaining to medical marijuana, the most important aspect of treating anxiety is to be sure the dosage is tightly controlled, as doses of medical marijuana that are too high can have a negative effect on a patient’s therapy,” said Richard Greer, Pharmacy Director for Solevo. “There is clear evidence that suggests the human endocannabinoid system has a regulatory effect on anxiety, so when dosed appropriately, medical marijuana is a reasonable medication option for patients who have had limited success with other treatments.”
Medical marijuana can be dispensed in many different forms from vaporized oils to capsules to tinctures that are absorbed by placing them under the tongue. The formulations vary in how fast they work and how long they last. Pharmacists also work to find the right ratio/combination of CBD to THC. “CBD and THC are shown to interact with the endocannabinoid system, aiding in pain relief and the reduction of inflammation among other things. The psychoactive properties of THC may also affect pain perception,” said Ms. Scott.
“It does take some time, and it’s a bit of a journey to get started with medical marijuana. We need to identify and titrate up slowly to the best dose and form for that individual,” said Ms. Scott, “but we’ve had patients with fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis, neuropathic pain, arthritis (inflammation) and migraines as well as cancer patients find relief. Sometimes patients are able to reduce their dose or even eliminate other pain medications or sometimes they use medical marijuana as an adjunct to their current therapy.”
The process for receiving medical marijuana is not complicated. Essentially, if you have one of the 23 qualifying conditions recorded on your medical records, you need only to present your medical records to a certifying physician, and if approved, apply for a medical marijuana card. Once you receive your card, you can come to Solevo Wellness and work with their professionals to identify the strain of medical marijuana that will benefit you most. The Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains a list of Medical Marijuana Approved Practitioners on its website if your physician is not certified. n
For more information about Solevo Wellness and how medical marijuana may help to alleviate pain, visit the website at: SolevoWellness.com.
By: Janice Lane Palko
