Marijuana is a safe, natural and legal alternative medicine with many benefits. However, cannabis is still a drug and it is possible for people to abuse it. It is important to know the difference between self-medicating and abusing medical marijuana.
Many people choose to self medicate due to pain, but others self medicate due to mental illness. People with mental illnesses are also much more susceptible to substance abuse, because they are dealing with issues that are not easily treatable.
If you want to self medicate, it is important to talk to a doctor before you do. Marijuana is a legitimate medicine that can help with a whole slew of ailments and symptoms, but it is important to make sure you are not crossing the line of misuse.
Self Medicating for Pain
One of the most common uses for medical marijuana is chronic pain. Self medication with cannabis for painful symptoms can be extremely helpful.
When we talk about problematic self medication behaviors, we are mostly talking about people who self medicate to deal with mental illness such as depression or anxiety.
Problematic Self Medicating Behaviors
There are some things you should consider if you are self medicating with medical marijuana:
Do you only ever smoke alone?
There is nothing wrong with using marijuana by yourself, but if the only time you ever use it is when you are alone, it could be a means of self isolation.
Is smoking the first thing you do when you are upset?
If you feel the need to use marijuana when you are upset or going through a stressful situation, this could be a problem. This can become a pattern, and it is not easy to break.
Do you feel worse when the high wears off?
Many people tend to get irritable when their high is wearing off. The relief that marijuana offers is only temporary, and if you feel extremely worse when you are coming down from the high, it may be a sign to give it a rest.
How often do you smoke?
If you feel the need to smoke throughout the day, it can be a sign of misuse or abuse of marijuana.
Is it affecting your finances significantly?
Medical marijuana is costly. If you are using it all the time, you will start to need to purchase more in order to keep yourself from running out. Are you spending too much money on your medicine, to the point where it is affecting your finances in a negative way?
Have your family or friends said anything to you regarding your marijuana use?
Your friends and family care about you. If the people closest to you have voiced concerns about how often you are using cannabis, it may be time to think about why they feel the need to do so.
Self Medication for Depression and Anxiety
If you have anxiety or depression, it may be tempting to self medicate with marijuana. However, cannabis is not for everyone, and it affects people differently depending on a variety of factors.
Your personality, mental stability, weight, gender, dosage, delivery method, and so much more can affect the way marijuana impacts you. If you have a qualifying condition in the State of Virginia and also have anxiety or depression, just proceed with caution when using cannabis.
As previously mentioned, those with mental illness are more susceptible to drug abuse, so you just want to make sure you are not crossing the line between self medication and misuse or abuse.
Try Medical Marijuana Today
Marijuana is a safe, legal, natural alternative medicine with many added benefits. If you think it may be right for you, talk to a licensed physician!
In order to access any dispensary in the State of Virginia, you need your medical marijuana card. If you don’t already have it, we can help!
It is now easier than ever to get your medical marijuana card in Virginia, and more dispensaries are opening up to make access to medicine even easier.
In Virginia, any inhibiting condition could qualify you for your medical card. If you don’t already have it, we can help! Schedule an evaluation online today and we’ll make an appointment for you with one of our knowledgeable, compassionate doctors.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness
safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on
education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by
providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.
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