A Monthly column intended to address the questions and concerns of the general public who are CannaCurious but still forced to stay in hiding about their stance because of the dangerous stigma that has plagued this nation since the birth of Prohibition.

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This Month, Canna Conflicted in Columbia Writes….

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Dear G.I. Mary Jane,

I need some knowledgeable advice about medical weed. My son is 16 and has a pretty serious sleeping issue and doesn’t want to take a sleeping pill and I am considering weed as an alternative. He has never done it, I believe that to be true he really has no reason to lie to me about it we’re pretty open and we are discussing it so I think he would’ve told me if he has. So I’m not even sure if it would work for him and I’m just exploring the possibility… Anyway do you know anything about this in particular? And I’m pretty sure I’ve looked at this before but that’s not something I can probably get him a prescription for here in Maryland, correct? Thanks for anything you can help me with.

Sincerely,
Canna Curious in Columbia

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Dear Canna Curious In Columbia,

First let me start by saying you are so brave for even being able to have this conversation with your son. With the stigma being as thick as it is, it’s often hard for children to talk to their parents about cannabis and vice versa. I applaud you for breaking through the stigma with just having had the conversation! Despite medical cannabis being legal for children with doctors recommendations in 31 states, The idea of giving a child under 18 medical cannabis can still make a lot of parents uneasy. Even after parents have consulted with a medical professional and determined that cannabis is right for their child, they fear the backlash of when the community finds out.

I’ve heard stories of parents being ostracized from their communities, PTA and other school organizations and even their own families! The thought of being shunned in such a way can easily discourage parents from reaching out to medical professionals. But like with most parents, after speaking with a doctor and seeing their children's health improve through cannabis their concern for their child's well being exceeds the social ramifications.

Now, I’m no medical professional so I had to turn to the experts on this one. In terms of children with chronic illness, In a survey of pediatric oncology providers published in Pediatrics, 85% of providers who were certified to provide access to medical marijuana would be willing to help children with cancer access it [1] so the medical professional seem to be behind it! At least in terms of cancer treatment.

I consulted with Dawn Marie Steenstra, LPN, SDC, QA & SCC as well as The National Ambassador of United Patients Group who personally DOES NOT recommend cannabis for teens unless in the event of serious illness or seizures. She has seen cases in teenagers where symptoms of a potentially un-diagnosed psychiatric issues have been exacerbated when using cannabis so very special considerations must be made on an individual basis when dealing with those under the age of 21. In terms of “depression, anxiety etc. in a teenager (the benefits) need to be weighed against the risks.” She also submits the “sleep (problems) are not a qualifying condition” for medical cannabis for teens.

It’s clear that more research needs to be done, but in order for that to be a reality cannabis must be removed from the controlled substance act. Different strains of cannabis works differently based on their chemical breakdown and terpene content. Dawn Marie says that “with insomnia (patients) tend to prefer higher concentrations of cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating ingredient in cannabis”. Differences in reactions to different strains of cannabis vs. conditions being managed through cannabis is one of the many reasons why the nation needs legal access to legitimate research and funding committed to educating medical professionals.

All that being said Canna Curious in Columbia, at the end of the day, everyone's bodies react differently to cannabis. We all have our own unique endocannabinoid system which dictates what terpenes and cannabinoids our bodies need based on the ailments we live with. Studies have shown serious danger with teenage cannabis use but they have also shown success rates. The best thing to do is to consult with a physician and assess all the risks and benefits. There are other natural means of treating sleep conditions. I recommend reaching out to a doctor whos also familiar with natural holistic healing like our beloved Dr. Sharma from Arya Wellness.

I wish you and your son the best of luck in finding relief for his sleep issues. Being able to give our bodies the proper amount of sleep is monumental in overall wellness. If you (or anyone reading) would like to consult with Dr. Sharma he can be reached at 1-877-862-0303

Sincerely,

G.I. Mary Jane
#armedwithtruth