Please tell me everything you know about....

[Dixiedoll23]

Medical Marijuana.

I am not a smoker, never have been.However,I've recently heard some great things about using and how beneficial MM can be.Especially for someone like me who have run out of treatment options.The only thing I have left to try is cimzia.The GI says he has little hope in that since it's so similiar to Humira and I've already failed it.
Soo, what does MM do for someone with crohns exactly?
How is it consumed? Smoking? Eating? The oil?
Benefits?

Please explain in terms of medical marijuana for dummies.LOL

Thanks in advance.I look forward to your replies...
Jamie

 

[FrancisK7]

Although it's a long read, you can start with the MMJ thread in Treatment. It has a lot of information (that is repeated a few times throughout) that you will undoubtedly find useful.

Here it is:
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=18359

Shouldn't take too long to read all 37 pages.

Here is a helpful summary:

The cannabis plant produces molecules called cannabinoids. It manufactures over 85 different types. Each type of cannabinoid has the potential to interact with our body in various ways. Some cannabinoids can influence hunger, sleep patterns, peristalsis (intestine mobility), pain perception, sensory perception, etc.

The two cannabinoids of interest for people with IBD (or any inflammatory problem) is THC and CBD. Both have potent anti-inflammatory properties that, when consumed daily, can maintain a colitis in full remission.

Smoking is proscribed and not encouraged because it's damaging to the lungs. The "proper" way to use inhalation as a delivery method is via vaporization. For this you need a vaporizer, which is a small apparatus that can cost anywhere from $140USD to many hundreds of dollars for the fancier model. It allows you to vaporize the cannabinoids at the proper temperature without combusting the entire plant. In the end you're left with dark brown herbs instead of nothing.

The best delivery method is ingestion. It requires that you first extract the cannabinoids out of the plant into a proper solvent or substance. Usually butter, oil (coconut preferred, olive works too) or 94%+ alcohol. Then you use that cannabutter, cannaoil or tincture to prepare whatever edible you want. Or you can scoop a teaspoon in your coffee, your morning smoothie, your pancake batter, your salad dressing... possibilities are limitless. The point is that ingestion is best because it delivers the cannabinoids directly into the gut, and the release is slow but long acting. Whereas inhalation is fast but short acting.

Inhalation = best as a palliative delivery method (you're in pain and need relief right now)
Ingestion = best for long term treatment

The good news is that you could possibly be in remission in six months, but you need to adopt a daily regimen for this to happen.

You have a lot of reading to do. Hop to it.

 

[Dixiedoll23]

Thank you! I will start on that now! xoxo