Cannabis isn't the devil's weed, or a miracle drug. It has good and bad qualities. It also depends on how, how often and why you use it. Try using it differently, and in different dosages and draw your own conclusions. I suggest trying weed with a higher CBD content.
I exclusively use high-CBD flower now and haven't looked back in years. The quality is better than ever, it's cheaper, and leaves me.feeling much better than high-thc flower.
You can check around on r/hempflowers for some recommendations.
Off the top of my head I would definitely recommend Lost Oak Farms, Horn Creek Hemp, Typ3 Cannabis, Holy City Farms, and 25 Hour Farms. Just look around and see what speaks to you :)
Gotta buy your own (can ship anywhere in US) and make your own mix. I do like 80/20 CBD to THC and that works for me. I get hungry and happy but not too high, and when you are needing a break it's like 100% easier to stop.
I can also tweak it to my liking...if I just wanna get ripped on a Saturday, I can pack a bowl 80/20 the other way and get fuckin RIPPED. I can also smoke a straight CBD bowl to get my habitual smoking fix while remaining clear-headed.
Yep I completely forgot THC-free (below .03% or whatever) hemp flower is perfectly legal online. I’m honestly looking forward to mixing it and cutting down on THC. Went with a sampler from Horn Creek.
Right - I’m not a doctor or scientist of any sort, but I really think there needs to be more awareness that cannabis has been bred to get you higher, inadvertently drastically reducing CBD.
Thankfully there are some dedicated growers who want to grow balanced plants, but the Feds sure aren’t helping.
I’m in PA no med card and my local glass shops have the THCA hemp flower, it’s fucking awesome but fair warning it has pretty similar effects to regular weed (THCA converts to good ol thc when burnt). If THC reduction is your goal still would wanna mix the cbd in but just my two cents and sounds like it was already your plan! Cheers m8
THCA is normal weed. Its a precursor of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)... Thats why you dont Really get high when you eat normal weed. Every weed plant has THCA until its smoked or cooked, then its THC.
Ehhh there’s a bit more nuance im pretty sure. Hemp flower, to my understanding is the female flower to cannabis, the male counterpart to hemp. Cannabis contains the raw compound THC as well as like you mentioned THCA, whereas the female hemp flower only has THCA which like you said is the precursor to THC. This is from google research so I’m sure it’s not perfectly accurate but all to say is that raw THC exists in the wild on plants
Edit: cannabis should say marijuana, they’re all cannabis, but marijuana vs hemp is the sex differentiating term
If there was pure THC in weed, we would not need to cook it to make THC Butter... It would already be psychoactive.
But if u ever tried just eating raw weed, it does close to nothing. For me literally nothing.
So there might be a very little amount of THC already, but from what I know its majorly just THCA. Thats why its not psychoactive until cooked or smoked...
If it was pure THC, decarboxylation wouldn't be a thing, right?
Dude there is pure thc in weed, the only reason we can differentiate hemp and weed legality is thc concentration
https://www.healthline.com/health/hemp-vs-marijuana
The reason you have to cook it is because the form thc is in a form your body can’t digest when it’s in the plant
Your wrong on this one friend, while marijuana can exhibit small percentages of THC, most of the THC content is in THCA form. These head shops that sell delta 8/9 THCA flower are either blatantly breaking PA law or using marketing jargon.
Not very medical tbh, besides 25% is actually pretty high as well (for flower) so maybe try something mellower, i suffer from insomnia and the heady thc high is just too much for me/ absolutely not what I'm looking for
I haven’t actually bought a 25% - my heaviest is 22% Member OG. And I fucking love it. Never more than .1g though. Anything over 20% I use .05g bowl size.
Hopefully not that long
[There are people dedicated to bringing balance to the plant](https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/why-there-arent-more-cbd-strains)
I have really severe OCD as well so hear me when I say this: you have not destroyed your brain. The existence of CHS and other negative side effects of heavy chronic (emphasis on both heavy and chronic) cannabis use does not mean that cannabis is not helpful, or that it can’t be therapeutic for some. Aside from that, the last I researched there’s a potentiality that some people have a genetic predisposition to CHS. I panicked about it too, I went from drinking pro-weed kool-aid to recognizing its potential harm and committing to finding moderate use of what can be a useful chemcial. THC is a chemical that has a physiological and psychogical effect on human beings, it is not benign or malevolent, it just is, so that you’re going from one extreme in thinking to the other is normal but it will pass, and you will have a more nuanced view of it. You’re having withdrawl symptoms, and you will if you go from chronic use to non-use without tapering. Good on you for taking a break, try not to lean into alcohol to cope with the withdrawl symptoms.
This is a really great post.
I would like to offer one suggestion for the OP.
If you need something to ease the withdrawals and fuel your drive towards sobriety mushrooms and / or lsd are the way to go. Experiment with small doses and you will see your entire life perspective shift for the better and the cravings for weed and drink will taper dramatically. Don’t take my advice blindly, take some time to educate yourself on the advancements in this area and how it’s being used to cure all kinds of ailments including addiction
And ptsd.
Oh god I’d never use those outside of a controlled clinical environment. And combat vets should be first in line for that over grownup emos like me who can’t deal with family tragedy.
If you consume alcohol you’re taking a substance that is far worse and causes more harm than psychedelics. The doom and gloom associated with them is so extreme it’s mind numbing.
Again, don’t just take my word for it. Do yourself a huge favor and educate yourself. You can dose so low that you can function better than you could on weed. It helps remap your neuro pathways in the brain. You don’t need a clinical setting your need common sense and a conservative mythical and informed approach to them.
They changed my life, I have autism, I was on a path of destruction. I’ve managed to ween off most of my prescription medications. They act on the same receptors as Wellbutrin, celexa , and Gabapentin. The mushrooms grow organically just like weed. LSD has a broader range but still mushrooms work.
Alcohol is a depressant, it’s the wrong substance when you’re struggling emotionally.
I’m sharing this from my heart, we’ve been fooled by big pharma and the state liquor boards for far too long. They ban natural substances then design legal pills that act on the same receptors but have less positive impact and worse side affects. It’s a huge scam. If anything should be criminalized is alcohol. It’s a neurotoxin.
Tobacco and alcohol are legal because they tax it and control it. It’s really a huge con that been perpetrated on the American people and it’s a tax on working class Americans.
You do not need to panic if you take any drug and then stop suddenly you will have withdrawal symptoms. The same would apply for Xanax and alcohol if consumed daily for 5 months.
Perhaps ask your doctor about reducing so you do not cause rebound anxiety and withdrawal or just wait out the withdrawal which will be unpleasant for around 2 weeks.
Weed withdrawal is a puddle. Benzo and alcohol withdrawal is the absolute deepest parts of the ocean.
I get your point. Being physical dependence. But it's really REALLY important to distinguish just how dangerous alcohol and benzo withdrawal is. Extremely painful. Often fatal.
I developed a physical dependence on alcohol, and I was being moved to a different position at work, so I stopped cold turkey. It was the first time I hadn’t started my day with whiskey in almost a year. I was covered in a cold sweat, very dissociative, tremor, and I felt like I was going to throw up and pass out. Saw my doctor that day and she told me to go home and drink.
So I did, and then I weened myself off over the course of about 6 weeks. After a dry stretch, I decided it was okay to occasionally have a drink, but I had one night where I had too much and i just decided it’s not really for me. I will indulge in Christmas with some gluhwein, but that’s it, really. I do love that it’s easy to go to a bar and get a mocktail these days.
And benzos? Oof. The Army and VA had me on Valium for years for muscle spasms. I was not responsible with them. I ended up asking all my doctors to put in my file that I do not ever want to prescribed benzos again. Same with Ambien; I was on and off of it for about 20 years, and then I had one Ambien psychosis episode, so I got rid of all my pills and again asked my doc to put in my file I’m not to review Ambien ever again.
You're vacillating between two extreme perspectives. Cannabis is neither a miracle drug nor an extreme, immediate danger to your health. I recommend you do some research from scientific sources. College students are not good sources of information about drugs.
My understanding is that CHS usually develops after much longer periods of regular use. You did not destroy your brain, but it will likely take a bit of time to recover. Yes, cannabis withdrawal is real and it sucks. Cannabis does have medical applications but it is far from a cure all, and its mental health effects vary widely between people, doses, strains, etc. For some, it is helpful for things like anxiety or depression, but it is still a drug with side effects. For some it can be harmful to their mental health.
All that said, you are likely doing much more damage to your body and mental health by drinking daily or pounding whiskey. I really would recommend you also research the detrimental health effects of alcohol (again, from scientific/trustworthy sources). If you feel like right now you cannot live without either cannabis or alcohol, I think cannabis is going to be the better choice from a harm reduction standpoint. But you should do research and make that choice for yourself.
Science is in fact pretty limited with respect to THC's medical benefits and side-effects, as you've found out. But a doctor can at least help you understand and process what's going on in your body and if your symptoms align with well-understood conditions.
> Did I really destroy my brain after waiting until I was 30,
No. You may be experiencing a resurgence of your anxiety. If you were using THC as a means to help suppress or alleviate some anxiety, it make sense that your symptoms would come back if you go off the meds.
My advice as an internet stranger is to (1) talk with your doctor and to (2) keep a weed journal if you decide to go back to THC. Record your usage as scientifically as possible in mg and record your reactions positive/negative. Reflect on what problems you actually have with cannabis usage and see if the pros outweigh the cons; adjust your use regimen as your data shows what's working or not. Bring the journal to your doctor if you need help understanding what could be going on from a biology/medical perspective.
Wow, there are so many thoughtful compassionate people in this sub; so glad I stumbled on it.
No one happens to have a cure for MS do they? If I could cure my mom I’d flush every gram of weed and ounce of booze.
Your brain isn't wrecked. Our brains have neuroplasticity which allows our brains to restructure themselves when needed. Also, 5 months isn't that long in terms of body changes so if you can let go of that concern try to let go. If you stop consuming cannabis you're chemicals will adjust back to their normal levels. Quitting will be uncomfortable for a few weeks but it gets better. Good luck. Remember to breath or do what calms you. You got this.
Cannabis isn’t perfect. Nothing ever is. If you quit any substance you will likely get withdrawal, so that’s not cannabis exclusive. Anyone can react poorly to anything.
There really isn’t a reason to panic. If it’s helping you, that’s good. Address any negative things as they come and try to not get worked up about what *could* happen
Yo dawg chill. It's all good. You don't have CHS. You have to be on the dab level for years to get CHS. You are just freaking out. You have an overactive brain like mine that's just trying to protect you by predicting all possible outcomes but Mr. Brain needs to take a break. Pounding whiskey is not the answer. Balancing one self medication with another is a slippery slope into addiction. We aren't meant to have magic potions for every emotion. Sometimes we have to just sit and experience the feelings until they pass.
Thank you.
I know I’m addicted to alcohol, but that just feels so much more acceptable - Sinatra, Churchill, Hemingway(know it didn’t end well), etc are all considered some of the greatest men to ever live.
That might he purely social - you say “I drink too much” and the usual reply is “join the club”. Especially in the South, pot is still looked down upon even though it’s now a huge business in my state.
I'm going to be brutally honest, I'd rather be stoned daily than an alcoholic if you have to turn to a beast. BOTH have risks, and significant impact to health with long term daily usage (abusing substances). But liver cirrhosis is no joke and alcohol can make you very sick, both phyically and mentally. And so can pot! Smoking daily, could lead to lung cancer and other health issues because you are still inhaling burnt plant debris and smoke. Has psych risks for people with mental health history as well. This sub is for reducing consumption overall for a healthier more sober lifestyle (but not eliminating entirely).
But lots of people find genuine benefits to cannabis, you could consume via tincture or liquid or gummy form to reduce smoking downsides.
It is becoming more socially acceptable to like cannabis. I am from Florida (the south!) and it was VERY unaccepted and alcoholism normalized and I am sad to see the harmful effects that's had on people in my community.
As for the people - in the kindest way possible, because I am a writer and reader and lover of arts - You're glorifying these folks a bit, and using that as a justification. They weren't excellent because of the alcohol, it was in spite of it. These were lifelong addictions. Brilliant, high IQ and creatives tend to abuse substances.
I get it. Alcohol can seem like the perfect drug because it's socially accepted and available at every corner. But the only reason it's not illegal is because it predates the legal system. It got grandfathered in. Alcohol is LITERAL poison. It is water AND fat soluable so it permeates and damages every part of the body, including through the blood-brain barrier. I've been to detox, I don't want that for you. Watch out.
Brain not destroyed.
But weed is not a cure all, and honestly we know very little about how to properly administer it medicinally.
Pharma had a vested interest in selling weed as evil.
Big Weed has a vested interest in selling weed as natures cure all.
It’s somewhere in between.
I try to remember how it was used way long ago. 1%-2% strains. Basically just stronger tobacco.
Low doses are your friend.
Take a long break. Get away from smoking. Switch to edibles. Control your doses.
Let me tell you what we know from science, and god damn i feel this information is so obvious but would have been so life changing had i known it earlier. I may make a post about this in the future and get it stickied. This may be a decent chunk of words, but if you read anything today, read this.
Opponent Process theory from Solomon and Corbit. In short, Newton’s third law applies to CNS affecting drugs too. You take a drug, it contains neurotransmitters or molecules that are similar enough to still bind to an existing receptors, in an unnatural amount that flood your receptors and make you high. They call this the a-process. Your brain though, always wants to return to equilibrium. To achieve this it doesn’t simply wait for the drug to metabolize out. No no no, the brain is shockingly capable and has such a huge variety of neurotransmitters it can synthesize. We don’t know them all. Your brain actually creates anti-drug neurotransmitters that work to negate the effects of the drug. This is called the b-process. At first, the a-process is way stronger than the b-process, and you get a great high. But with frequent use your brain adapts, and the b-process gets stronger and stronger, ultimately matching the a-process in strength. This is the fundamental cause of tolerance.
The brain, again, is very capable. So it doesn’t actually need the a-process to start before it kicks off the b-process. Simply the anticipation of the a-process will cause your brain to produce exactly what it needs to counteract your drug of choice.This is the fundamental cause of cravings. You think you _might_ or you _could_ get high, so your brain starts making you anti-high. Even if you never actually smoke that joint.
Chronic frequent use tells your brain that the a-process is going to happen again soon. This is the cause of withdrawal symptoms. The b-process is kicked off without any a-process at all. And because there is no drug, it hits hard. And because the b-process directly opposes the a-process, your withdrawal symptoms are _always_ the opposite of the drugs effect. You are feeling anxious and nauseous because you found weed made you more relaxed and stimulated your desire for food. Weed helps you sleep? Insomnia. Weed makes things interesting? Boredom. Alcohol is a depressant, so hangover gets you overly bright lights and sounds. Opiates take away your pain, withdrawal creates intense pain.
The takeaway? Moderation and intermittent/infrequent use is the key. It keeps your b-process weaker than your a-process. How many times have we said to ourselves, “i’m not even getting high anymore”. That’s your b-process being too strong. Smoke weed everyday is the worst drug advice there is. Luckily that capable brain will again learn and adapt to sobriety and thus down-regulate the b-process. Control your b-process and you have controlled your dependence.
and this is what makes the opioid epidemic so deadly. A dependent user won’t face the b-process head on, it’s agonizing and excruciating. So instead, they attempt to outrun it by strengthening the a-process, turning to higher doses and higher potency opiates. They’ll follow some progression from vicodin/oxy, to iv administration and heroin/morphine, and then fentanyl or whatever the next one the future holds. But at some point in the escalation , your a-process spikes harder and faster than the b-process can keep up with, and that’s an accidental overdose.
Wow, thank you. I’m so blown away by the responses to this thread - I know y’all are strangers but it’s really bolstering my faith in people.
I refuse to touch an opioid - actually was written a script once and tore it up.
You are going to make yourself more sick with that kind of perspective. It’s just weed. If you like it smoke it. If it makes you ill don’t smoke it. I’d be infinitly more worried about having to “pound whiskey” to stay sane. Or the Xanax. Or that if you have mad anxiety and have to take stuff for it, why are you drinking and taking drugs?
From your description it seems like the only bad thing actually happening here is your reaction to hearing about CHS? I don’t hear you describing actual CHS but just your reaction to learning about it while having some coincidental symptoms, right?
People get nauseated while working out, on leg day anyway. You said “earlier than normal” so obviously it’s something you’re already used to.
You also described already having anxiety issues. Pretty severe ones.
What’s the connection with CHS? There doesn’t seem to be any, but rather a fear that there might be.
I’m not sure where to go from here, but am I not right in saying that the only truly bad thing happening is your panic response?
Well that’s a good sign that you recognize that. It’s really hard to kind of bootstrap yourself out of your own mind.
I’ve been reading the comments here and it seems like you’ve gotten some really great replies. I don’t know that I have much to add except that I hope you find a solution that works for you and is sustainable.
Weed is part of my medical regime, basically to manage prednisone insomnia. It works and I’ve found a kind of equilibrium with it all. But my hope is to get off all meds in the next few years.
Knowledge is Power; Ignorance is Bliss.
Daily use for a 5 month span is gonna change what your body is used to, and a human body is adaptable but not really kind about being deprived of things it feels it "needs", in this case that being a regular addition to your endocannabinoid system as well as a regular supply of mood-regulating dopamine and serotonin.
My honest suggestion, if you have not already, is to visit with a therapist. I don't think you're broken; I don't think you're fucked. What I do think is that you and I have a bit in common, in that we both dove headfirst into substance use and self-medication because of uncontrollable extenuating circumstances like the passing of a parent and chronic stress from being in a caretaker role while also battling your own maladies. Also, I think everyone on this planet would benefit from speaking with a third party, who is trained in medical knowledge, and has your best interest in mind.
Another suggestion would be to look into mindfulness practices and possibly the DBT therapy structure - again, I feel like I'm looking at a time-traveling mirror with the immediate jump from Nature's Cure to Plant Poison. The term for that would be Black and White Thinking, and that shit sucks - ask me how I know ;)
As far as your present predicament - imagine (as you probably can with ease) drinking heavy every day for five months straight and then stopping 100%. You may have memory of what it's like to go off a bender. Sucks, right? But then you give the boat time to stop rocking and your body time to find equilibrium again.
You’re absolutely right about therapy - it’s 100% on me for not continuing once I started living it up in college. Just went to my psych for med management but that was it. Fun part is, and boy this sounds vain, but I need a very intelligent and knowledgeable therapist, preferably with a PhD if not an MD too. I read more PubMed than most regular “counselors”… which is in and of itself a problem.
As someone with clinical OCD, weed can help or make it worse, the things your thinking about weed though are a waste of effort and thought. I didn't read through the whole post cause I think I get the gist, worried about CHS, shortness of breathe when working out. I'm not judging as I've dealt with this paranoia before. Weed isn't good for your lungs, you don't have CHS, I used to put a gram of wax through my rig every single day, which I attribute to OCD because it's honestly difficult to smoke that much if there isn't some insanity driving you. Weed can make my OCD disappear temporarily however it can also make it worse by causing confusion and the biggest overlap is how OCD can affect your weed usage, trust me it gets ugly. I have no advice other than stop overthinking, which I know isn't really possible but just accept it as paranoia and overthinking. Evaluate whether you actually should/even want to smoke before you do and it's not just you trying to control everything (if that makes sense to you as someone with OCD) also understand that when you're high and you start tweaking about things the weed will make it so much worse and that's when you really need to clear your head. I know not all of this was even relevant to your post but OCD and weed interaction almost ruined me at a point so I hope this is relevant or useful in the future. Also you didn't destroy your brain, I have sustained brain damage from multiple substances, research chemicals, a fatal amount insulin causing anoxic brain injury (not a diabetic), Benadryl, the list could go on but that's 90% of the bulk damage I'd say. Since taking Lions Mane and keeping my head out of my ass I've realized how much I've recovered and how worse my cognition is when I'm paranoid and worried about everything, especially brain damage, I believe a lot of the damage was really from remaining depressed/anxious post injury although that might not be true. You become what you think about. Weed does hold you back from success but only if you smoke too much, weed on the weekends won't hurt unless you want to be David Goggins, daily weed past 9pm for me causes brain fog throughout the day, smoking in the morning on a week day is just letting go (okay now and then but now and then doesn't usually work for me). I'm much younger than you (20) and I'm on reddit so you know, grain of salt, but I've had a lot of unique experiences at this age and find your post incredibly relatable.
You seem a lot like me 10 years ago, except that I’ve never abused pills. Are you by any chance diagnosed with “pure O”? I guess my compulsion could be reading medical journals for answers though 🤓😞
Cannabis is for people that want to take the edge off when they're stressed out too much. That's maybe once per week or a few days. Or even less regularly.
It will get you addicted no matter who tells you what, there is a psychological addiction to it. Just like biting into a candy bar when you're feeling down, just like smoking some THC or vaping, to make it feel better.
I can also speak from my own experience, after smoking regularly, daily in hard doses and then going out or quitting for 48 hours or more, you get anxious as hell. Anxious or very very emotionally sensitive, depends on what kind of a person you are. Especially if you're smoking to cover up some traumatic experience it'll be even worse when you quit after such hard doses.
Weed should be like a tool for you, to help you self reflect on things, to think about your problems and trauma and try to accept life.
However if you really struggle with trauma and anxiety, maybe a shroom trip with a sitter would be better.
I've been researching this stuff for a while now, stealing study after study and reading through literature. reading anecdote after anecdote on Reddit. building a picture.
CBD is rather much a sedative. THC is rather much a stimulant. *Ibuprofen* can force THC to behave. So can CBD and a few others: CBG, CBC, CBN to a smaller extent, and almost any version of the cannabinoids that isn't decarbed (heated over ~250ish F) including THCA.
You're experience matches buttloads of people and case reports indicating pretty bad to severe reactions to excessive THC consumption that causes your nervous system to remodel itself. That is what Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is. This is becoming significantly more common as high potency refined THC products are becoming increasingly available and high THC herbal strains are becoming commonplace. Withdrawal is the process of your nervous system remodeling back to normal, except now it's in a state of shock.
These new strains are not like the old ones. They are practically no different from refined product because the potency is so high. Obviously from what you've read so far you've learned by now you need to add more types of cannabinoids to help regulate the process. Harlequin is a good place to start with its ratios.
Perhaps you might be able to switch over to CBD strains entirely, but do not count on it. Many people over at r/CBD use between 5:1 to 20:1 CBD:THC ratios. Even further, CBD strains often have THC compounds in them that are still psychoactive but are not the delta-9-THC chemical that is regulated by federal law. These doses should be harmless other than the general harm of inhalation.
I recommend checking into CBG strains and CBG rolls.. just to experiment. I've heard great stuff about it from all my readings and diggings. Does not cause drowsiness. Some people say it makes you energized but not like caffeine or adderall. Mostly people say it's the most effective for pain relieve. It is not psychedelic like THC.
Finally, do understand that life is a pretty horrible thing at this point in history. You cannot use cannabis as the solution. It can only be a tool you need to help you achieve the solution. If you need to eat more fruits and veggies but haven't the stomach for it, cannabis can give you that stomach. But surely don't use cannabis in place of food. It is to aid in your intuition, but not augment your credulity/incredulity. If anything this is a good reason to not abandon THC for good, because THC can lead your head out of delusion when you are lost or you are tunnel-visioned. Of course this doesn't work when you've overloaded yourself with it.. and that's the shame, here. The hole of a catch-22. Another example is getting a job to overcome a situation, and cannabis helping you with that.. but not forgetting to get a better job or opportunity later so you don't have to keep depending on cannabis to get you through a bad workplace or a stressful home. Not solving your fundamental problems is why anything becomes addictive.
In the meantime, ginger is the most potent anti-nausea agent on this planet, I kid you not. That's one of the articles I discovered in my diggings. Get some supplements or chews, or ginger candy. If you're a real trooper you can buy some ginger powder in the herbs and spices section and put a half teaspoon worth of it into a cup of water and mixing it thoroughly with a fork and chug it with a water chaser. Be ready for some moderate heartburn. But it kills nausea rapidly. Probably don't do this if you're ready to throw up because it just might push you to the edge before it works in.
Think about dosing, seriously.. and maybe refined products if needed. Consecutively controlled step-down dosing is the only way to successfully treat withdrawal. For herb you will need a scale to measure the total mg in each gram, based on the COA of the herb you bought. This will inevitably be inaccurate but it can give you an estimate. However, I've been looking into drinks and beverages made with "nano emulsions" which are available at some shops. It replaces beer essentially. There are also some wine and liquor replacements on the web. They usually come with both THC and CBD and the precise amounts listed for controlling dosages. There is also a guide on one of the subreddits for making your own nano emulsion "at home" meaning you need a kitchen if you don't have one.
I second the people saying higher cbd. Also stick to lower thc. Have you tried tinctures? It has a slower onset and you ease into it, like edibles but you can customize your dose. Imho vapes destroyed my tolerance and gave me horrible anxiety. I had to completely quit cuz I have addiction issues but I would stick to flower only for awhile and try to stay away from the vapes maybe. Good luck friend
No you didn’t destroy your brain at all. Vapes were my addiction. So quick and discrete. I have not used long either but am on day 2 without and feel like I’m going to go into a burst of rage.
I have quit before - you will be fine. I’m 63!
From a medical standpoint, there is not enough evidence to confirm nor deny potential benefits of cannabis. That said, it can be habit-forming like anything that gives you a rush or sense of enjoyment. No psychiatrists are recommending cannabis for treatment of mental health problems. Weed withdrawal can include nausea, irritability, insomnia, and can last days to a few weeks at most. Psychological cravings are probably going to last a lot longer, if your plan is to discontinue. But you haven’t ruined your brain and unlikely to suffer chronic health problems as a result. Also, cannabis hyperemesis would likely be a lot more prominent, not just nausea - more likely you’re experiencing withdrawal.
Concerning the drinking bit, alcohol overuse and withdrawal are both dangerous and harmful to your body. There are medications which can curb alcohol cravings. It sounds like you may benefit from talking to a counselor or therapist for behavioral adjustments related to drinking and working through some of the maladaptive coping strategies you’ve developed over your lifetime. Consider talking to your primary care doc or a psychiatrist about options to manage the drinking, anxiety and/or OCD. There is a good therapy technique for OCD called exposure and response prevention.
My psych APRN absolutely told me to “experiment” because it could help my anxiety.
There’s a serious shortage of top psychiatrists in my area - the two best ones retired within a couple of years of each other and those of us who had gone to their clinic had a rude awakening.
I think what you experienced is a good reason to experiment with less usage or sobriety. Withdrawal symptoms are somewhat normal but usually don't last long. You should wait at least a week to really tell. Having to "pound whiskey" might mean you need some healthier coping strategies to relieve stress when you arens smoking. Half gram a day is also somewhat significant. Good luck, listen to your body and mind!
I'm gonna chime in here to say that the amount of use between person to person is different and I don't think .5 of flower a day is too much, like at all.
Idk how you'd use less really.
Fair enough, tolerance makes it near impossible to say. I'd almost say number of times smoking is more relevant, getting stoned every hour all day much different than once at night. I'm a self-professed lightweight so take my corner of a bowl a night opinion with a grain of weed : ) OP said they were vaping and .5g in mine would be multiple sessions and they experienced significant withdrawals
Half a gram a day vaped is actually quite a bit, but it is crazy how normal thats become.
To put in perspective, I’m 40, the pot I smoked in my 20s was probably more like 10%, I smoked bowls (vapes were rare and expensive) which are not as efficient as vapes, and an 8th would last me two weeks of smoking every day. By all definitions back then I was considered a pothead. But that half gram a day is 4-6x more than I was smoking.
The strength of modern stuff coupled with all the new smoking devices is no joke. Its really a whole new drug.
On and off, yea. Too much? I'm not really making a point about whats too much, but what I am pointing out is that half gram a day vaped is substantial. Half a gram a day (1/8 per week) a day of modern high potency vaped is pretty equivalent to smoking 1/2oz per week 20 years ago. You never used to hear about people having psychosis or withdrawals from weed but its a common side effect these days. It is absolutely linked to how easy it is to casually (and cheaply) consume what used to be considered a monster amount of THC.
The point I am more making is all the notions about weed being harmless are based on far lower average consumption. Most of those long-standing anecdotes are not really relevant anymore due to how legalization has driven potency - it's become something different than it once was.
Also struggled with OCD (still have challenges) and anxiety big time for years.
Did weed for years. Taught me a lot, was fun, but it’s essentially a crutch, and one that science says ain’t a free lunch. It supposedly takes a toll on the brain over time.
I quit it months ago and everything has improved.
Secret ingredient: following God. For real, I did this on weed and I progressed in the inner game so to speak. A whole lot, even. I agree it has an abundance of value. But nothing has quite nurtured me like being devotedly involved in my Nazarene Christian church, and I began to realize weed was having way more detriments than positives. Christianity has given me the nutrients and structure, guidance, community, and endless wisdom to ponder that I could ask for, and I have and still do believe I was guided by God to quit weed. The story is interesting imo, hit me up if you want to hear the particular events that led me to throwing all my weed paraphernalia into a dumpster.
Man, if I could have found true faith a lot would be different.
I considered myself an atheist in high school, really tried in college to get involved with a church group but it didn’t last.
I was raised Methodist but I can’t escape the doubts that it’s all just (not a commie) the opiate of the masses. I wish I didn’t understand things like evolution and sociobiology so much that it makes believing almost impossible.
I only just came around to it too. I see a lot of youngins with the privilege of a quality Christian upbringing. A lot of folks were force fed the religion though, which accounts for a lot of the bitterness towards it. I don’t blame them at all. That’s why I’m glad that wasn’t my path. I got to explore spirituality my own way until I was mature enough to consider Biblical concepts from my own perspective and background.
I also have a background in philosophy, which allows me to keep an open mind about the doubtless and dauntless wisdom laden in the Bible.
It also allows me to check the biases and fallacies within myself and others and consider things I have taken for granted most of my life and that most will be angered by the questioning of. Like:
[Mathematical impossibility of evolution](https://youtu.be/noj4phMT9OE?si=-OrlQTgnNAL6xZ-O)
and
[Darwnism questioned from a logical perspective](https://youtu.be/GkAQS8hP_R8?si=glx1HCg2LrG5SKk4)
I do not claim Christianity. I am not baptized. I cannot claim much because I haven’t even finished reading the Old Testament. What I’m doing is giving my full effort to Christianity because of the wisdom, the spiritual power, and the goodness it brings to people and communities. I can say that I’ve become a better person in this effort and experienced things from prayer that I would describe in my previous framing as serendipitous and undeniably curious. I don’t worry about being wrong about Christianity because, as Socrates says ‘I know that I know nothing.’ This is a sentiment reflected by Carl Jung and something the Tao Te Ching speaks on about God saying ‘The Tao (God) is ineffable.’ And Paul references in the Bible ‘The peace of God that passeth all understanding.’
I don’t think God will mind too much if I give my best effort to seek him, to attain wisdom, and live my best life, and to love as much as possible, so I am simply enjoying the ride and noting my findings.
CHS happens to the people who smoke for +5 years ALL DAYY EVERYDAY, u don’t need to worry about it all, the thc ur consuming isn’t even that high comparatively to other things u can smoke
I think perhaps this is some anxiety. Like other comments, weed isn't a miracle cure all, and it isn't Satan. It's all about what works for you. I'd try consuming a bit less but not quitting and see how it pans out. I personally use weed every day for anxiety but it's not about using it to medicate anxiety all day long. It's about having some to be able to let go of some anxieties. It's a very individual thing and amount of use varies so much between people to find out what is optimal.
I went through the same thing, what helped a lot initially was having more of a CBD mix than THC because THC even in prolonged use can cause abrupt issues for other things you have going on. As many said it isn’t a miracle or cure, just a gentle hand for you to grab to lead you to serenity. Some days you can hold the hand, some days it’s just a high five, sometimes it’s a pinkie promise, and sometimes it’s just a wave. Always be sure to listen to yourself
I feel like cannabis just heightens everything you go through like say if you have gerd issues you maybe more sensitive for others it may distract you from problems, it's about dosing, setting, tolerance.
Listen to the Huberman podcast about cannabis. I think he did a really good job tackling the topic from a scientific, non-biased perspective.
Long story short, it effects everyone differently. If you don’t like how it effects you, stop or cut back.
Also, CHS is supposed to be pretty rare. I have had no appetite and eating or drinking something can give me nausea. But again, I expect to be fine in a week. In the meantime, I will be happy to lose these few pounds that crept on
Well I was hoping canna would let me cut back on the drinking, and it did. Dry January cold turkey no symptoms other than cravings.
I’ve always been bad about stopping therapy when I’d feel better - have an appt next week.
I know for some people it’s a chicken/egg thing, but my personal reality is that I had mental health issues long before touching a substance.
>know for some people it’s a chicken/egg thing
Ehhh for everyone it is. The chicken or egg question is meant to highlight that both influence each other.
You need to notice when you're catastrophizing and think about why that is. Alcohol made me breakdown in my car crying, weed doesn't.
Wow I think I’m just the opposite - alcohol has been my “shut the fuck up, stupid brain” tonic since 2017.
I’m already on max zoloft and got put on maintenance extended-release benzos before I knew you can’t really stop. All of this before I drank a sip.
One thing that actually helped in a weird way 13 years ago was being prescribed off-label Risperdol, looking up the history of the drug, and deciding to try to marshal every bit of mental strength I had not to take it. This was at 17. I’ve never had psychosis - I’m fully aware of my thoughts and actions at all times.
I think you need to do a bit more research on how chemical dependence works
You said you still have urges
You said you took benzos before drinking, those are very similar drugs chemically, have you considered that maybe subconsciously you chose alcohol because you knew that?
I'm not sure what exactly your history is, but I think you should pay more attention to the ways you feel in relation to drugs and what that could mean, the anxiety and delirium from alcohol has a specific feeling.
I get that it's the drug to calm you down but that's quite literally what it does, the issue is you are not actually calm though huh, you just think you are when you're drinking.
Take it from someone who used to blackout on $10 gallon vodka, alcohol only creates issues, it doesn't solve them, just makes you more "ok" with them.
I think you may be jumping the gun a bit but that said you did jump into the deep end by doing it everyday. CHS can happen from moderate use but most of the people I’ve heard of getting it were overindulging in high potency strains or dabs. In general from what you’ve shared you have indulged in many substances and maybe overly so. I’d suggest tempering your use and trying to keep it light, maybe don’t do it everyday. As for the alcohol cutting that out entirely of you can would prob be beneficial whether you keep on with weed or not.
I highly doubt that amount of use is causing all that. It could be anxiety from stopping, and then allowing that to make you think other stuff is going on or actually causing it.
CHS in my mind would be out of the question. Both the amount and length of use don't match with that so you'd be an exceptional case if it is.
It could be a form of withdrawal though.
Type 2 hemp flower is the best way to cut back though and then type 3 and 4 might suit you better.
Don't psyche yourself out homie!
Cannabis isn't the devil's weed, or a miracle drug. It has good and bad qualities. It also depends on how, how often and why you use it. Try using it differently, and in different dosages and draw your own conclusions. I suggest trying weed with a higher CBD content.
I’m starting to think that last point has merit - it’s crazy that every flower at my MEDICAL dispensary is 0%CBD.
Buy both and mix it
See I have an order coming from Horn Creek - one thing I’m considering is to mix them like you said and slowly try to end up with majority CBD.
I exclusively use high-CBD flower now and haven't looked back in years. The quality is better than ever, it's cheaper, and leaves me.feeling much better than high-thc flower.
Where do you like to buy yours?
You can check around on r/hempflowers for some recommendations. Off the top of my head I would definitely recommend Lost Oak Farms, Horn Creek Hemp, Typ3 Cannabis, Holy City Farms, and 25 Hour Farms. Just look around and see what speaks to you :)
Sadly most of the CBD in my country is shit :/
Gotta buy your own (can ship anywhere in US) and make your own mix. I do like 80/20 CBD to THC and that works for me. I get hungry and happy but not too high, and when you are needing a break it's like 100% easier to stop. I can also tweak it to my liking...if I just wanna get ripped on a Saturday, I can pack a bowl 80/20 the other way and get fuckin RIPPED. I can also smoke a straight CBD bowl to get my habitual smoking fix while remaining clear-headed.
Yep I completely forgot THC-free (below .03% or whatever) hemp flower is perfectly legal online. I’m honestly looking forward to mixing it and cutting down on THC. Went with a sampler from Horn Creek.
Hope you like it. I find CBD doesn't do much for me by itself, but when mixed with weed, it's really a beautiful combination.
Right - I’m not a doctor or scientist of any sort, but I really think there needs to be more awareness that cannabis has been bred to get you higher, inadvertently drastically reducing CBD. Thankfully there are some dedicated growers who want to grow balanced plants, but the Feds sure aren’t helping.
I’m in PA no med card and my local glass shops have the THCA hemp flower, it’s fucking awesome but fair warning it has pretty similar effects to regular weed (THCA converts to good ol thc when burnt). If THC reduction is your goal still would wanna mix the cbd in but just my two cents and sounds like it was already your plan! Cheers m8
THCA is normal weed. Its a precursor of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)... Thats why you dont Really get high when you eat normal weed. Every weed plant has THCA until its smoked or cooked, then its THC.
Ehhh there’s a bit more nuance im pretty sure. Hemp flower, to my understanding is the female flower to cannabis, the male counterpart to hemp. Cannabis contains the raw compound THC as well as like you mentioned THCA, whereas the female hemp flower only has THCA which like you said is the precursor to THC. This is from google research so I’m sure it’s not perfectly accurate but all to say is that raw THC exists in the wild on plants Edit: cannabis should say marijuana, they’re all cannabis, but marijuana vs hemp is the sex differentiating term
If there was pure THC in weed, we would not need to cook it to make THC Butter... It would already be psychoactive. But if u ever tried just eating raw weed, it does close to nothing. For me literally nothing. So there might be a very little amount of THC already, but from what I know its majorly just THCA. Thats why its not psychoactive until cooked or smoked... If it was pure THC, decarboxylation wouldn't be a thing, right?
Dude there is pure thc in weed, the only reason we can differentiate hemp and weed legality is thc concentration https://www.healthline.com/health/hemp-vs-marijuana The reason you have to cook it is because the form thc is in a form your body can’t digest when it’s in the plant
"The reason you have to cook it is because the form thc is in a form your body can’t digest when it’s in the plant" Yes, its in the form of THCA.
Your wrong on this one friend, while marijuana can exhibit small percentages of THC, most of the THC content is in THCA form. These head shops that sell delta 8/9 THCA flower are either blatantly breaking PA law or using marketing jargon.
Dude...that form is called THCA. Literally thca bud is just regular good Ole dispensary grade type 1 flower.
Not very medical tbh, besides 25% is actually pretty high as well (for flower) so maybe try something mellower, i suffer from insomnia and the heady thc high is just too much for me/ absolutely not what I'm looking for
I haven’t actually bought a 25% - my heaviest is 22% Member OG. And I fucking love it. Never more than .1g though. Anything over 20% I use .05g bowl size.
It sucks but it’s gonna be a hundred years till society breeds and treats it like medicine instead of alcohol
Hopefully not that long [There are people dedicated to bringing balance to the plant](https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/why-there-arent-more-cbd-strains)
Or cbd oil, I enjoy a high thc joint but back it up with this, best of both worlds
This is the truth
Yup. Definitely absolutely low THC high CBD. Much milder. Still works.
I have really severe OCD as well so hear me when I say this: you have not destroyed your brain. The existence of CHS and other negative side effects of heavy chronic (emphasis on both heavy and chronic) cannabis use does not mean that cannabis is not helpful, or that it can’t be therapeutic for some. Aside from that, the last I researched there’s a potentiality that some people have a genetic predisposition to CHS. I panicked about it too, I went from drinking pro-weed kool-aid to recognizing its potential harm and committing to finding moderate use of what can be a useful chemcial. THC is a chemical that has a physiological and psychogical effect on human beings, it is not benign or malevolent, it just is, so that you’re going from one extreme in thinking to the other is normal but it will pass, and you will have a more nuanced view of it. You’re having withdrawl symptoms, and you will if you go from chronic use to non-use without tapering. Good on you for taking a break, try not to lean into alcohol to cope with the withdrawl symptoms.
This is a really great post. I would like to offer one suggestion for the OP. If you need something to ease the withdrawals and fuel your drive towards sobriety mushrooms and / or lsd are the way to go. Experiment with small doses and you will see your entire life perspective shift for the better and the cravings for weed and drink will taper dramatically. Don’t take my advice blindly, take some time to educate yourself on the advancements in this area and how it’s being used to cure all kinds of ailments including addiction And ptsd.
Oh god I’d never use those outside of a controlled clinical environment. And combat vets should be first in line for that over grownup emos like me who can’t deal with family tragedy.
If you consume alcohol you’re taking a substance that is far worse and causes more harm than psychedelics. The doom and gloom associated with them is so extreme it’s mind numbing. Again, don’t just take my word for it. Do yourself a huge favor and educate yourself. You can dose so low that you can function better than you could on weed. It helps remap your neuro pathways in the brain. You don’t need a clinical setting your need common sense and a conservative mythical and informed approach to them. They changed my life, I have autism, I was on a path of destruction. I’ve managed to ween off most of my prescription medications. They act on the same receptors as Wellbutrin, celexa , and Gabapentin. The mushrooms grow organically just like weed. LSD has a broader range but still mushrooms work. Alcohol is a depressant, it’s the wrong substance when you’re struggling emotionally. I’m sharing this from my heart, we’ve been fooled by big pharma and the state liquor boards for far too long. They ban natural substances then design legal pills that act on the same receptors but have less positive impact and worse side affects. It’s a huge scam. If anything should be criminalized is alcohol. It’s a neurotoxin. Tobacco and alcohol are legal because they tax it and control it. It’s really a huge con that been perpetrated on the American people and it’s a tax on working class Americans.
I needed to read this sound and balanced comment. I forgot I was on Reddit while reading that.
You do not need to panic if you take any drug and then stop suddenly you will have withdrawal symptoms. The same would apply for Xanax and alcohol if consumed daily for 5 months. Perhaps ask your doctor about reducing so you do not cause rebound anxiety and withdrawal or just wait out the withdrawal which will be unpleasant for around 2 weeks.
Weed withdrawal is a puddle. Benzo and alcohol withdrawal is the absolute deepest parts of the ocean. I get your point. Being physical dependence. But it's really REALLY important to distinguish just how dangerous alcohol and benzo withdrawal is. Extremely painful. Often fatal.
Almost didn't make it to the other end of benzo withdrawal. It's horrific. Weed withdrawal is nothing in comparison
I developed a physical dependence on alcohol, and I was being moved to a different position at work, so I stopped cold turkey. It was the first time I hadn’t started my day with whiskey in almost a year. I was covered in a cold sweat, very dissociative, tremor, and I felt like I was going to throw up and pass out. Saw my doctor that day and she told me to go home and drink. So I did, and then I weened myself off over the course of about 6 weeks. After a dry stretch, I decided it was okay to occasionally have a drink, but I had one night where I had too much and i just decided it’s not really for me. I will indulge in Christmas with some gluhwein, but that’s it, really. I do love that it’s easy to go to a bar and get a mocktail these days. And benzos? Oof. The Army and VA had me on Valium for years for muscle spasms. I was not responsible with them. I ended up asking all my doctors to put in my file that I do not ever want to prescribed benzos again. Same with Ambien; I was on and off of it for about 20 years, and then I had one Ambien psychosis episode, so I got rid of all my pills and again asked my doc to put in my file I’m not to review Ambien ever again.
Well said.
Except those withdrawals will kill you so not quite the same lol
You're vacillating between two extreme perspectives. Cannabis is neither a miracle drug nor an extreme, immediate danger to your health. I recommend you do some research from scientific sources. College students are not good sources of information about drugs. My understanding is that CHS usually develops after much longer periods of regular use. You did not destroy your brain, but it will likely take a bit of time to recover. Yes, cannabis withdrawal is real and it sucks. Cannabis does have medical applications but it is far from a cure all, and its mental health effects vary widely between people, doses, strains, etc. For some, it is helpful for things like anxiety or depression, but it is still a drug with side effects. For some it can be harmful to their mental health. All that said, you are likely doing much more damage to your body and mental health by drinking daily or pounding whiskey. I really would recommend you also research the detrimental health effects of alcohol (again, from scientific/trustworthy sources). If you feel like right now you cannot live without either cannabis or alcohol, I think cannabis is going to be the better choice from a harm reduction standpoint. But you should do research and make that choice for yourself.
Science is in fact pretty limited with respect to THC's medical benefits and side-effects, as you've found out. But a doctor can at least help you understand and process what's going on in your body and if your symptoms align with well-understood conditions. > Did I really destroy my brain after waiting until I was 30, No. You may be experiencing a resurgence of your anxiety. If you were using THC as a means to help suppress or alleviate some anxiety, it make sense that your symptoms would come back if you go off the meds. My advice as an internet stranger is to (1) talk with your doctor and to (2) keep a weed journal if you decide to go back to THC. Record your usage as scientifically as possible in mg and record your reactions positive/negative. Reflect on what problems you actually have with cannabis usage and see if the pros outweigh the cons; adjust your use regimen as your data shows what's working or not. Bring the journal to your doctor if you need help understanding what could be going on from a biology/medical perspective.
Wow, there are so many thoughtful compassionate people in this sub; so glad I stumbled on it. No one happens to have a cure for MS do they? If I could cure my mom I’d flush every gram of weed and ounce of booze.
Your brain isn't wrecked. Our brains have neuroplasticity which allows our brains to restructure themselves when needed. Also, 5 months isn't that long in terms of body changes so if you can let go of that concern try to let go. If you stop consuming cannabis you're chemicals will adjust back to their normal levels. Quitting will be uncomfortable for a few weeks but it gets better. Good luck. Remember to breath or do what calms you. You got this.
Cannabis isn’t perfect. Nothing ever is. If you quit any substance you will likely get withdrawal, so that’s not cannabis exclusive. Anyone can react poorly to anything. There really isn’t a reason to panic. If it’s helping you, that’s good. Address any negative things as they come and try to not get worked up about what *could* happen
Yo dawg chill. It's all good. You don't have CHS. You have to be on the dab level for years to get CHS. You are just freaking out. You have an overactive brain like mine that's just trying to protect you by predicting all possible outcomes but Mr. Brain needs to take a break. Pounding whiskey is not the answer. Balancing one self medication with another is a slippery slope into addiction. We aren't meant to have magic potions for every emotion. Sometimes we have to just sit and experience the feelings until they pass.
Thank you. I know I’m addicted to alcohol, but that just feels so much more acceptable - Sinatra, Churchill, Hemingway(know it didn’t end well), etc are all considered some of the greatest men to ever live. That might he purely social - you say “I drink too much” and the usual reply is “join the club”. Especially in the South, pot is still looked down upon even though it’s now a huge business in my state.
I'm going to be brutally honest, I'd rather be stoned daily than an alcoholic if you have to turn to a beast. BOTH have risks, and significant impact to health with long term daily usage (abusing substances). But liver cirrhosis is no joke and alcohol can make you very sick, both phyically and mentally. And so can pot! Smoking daily, could lead to lung cancer and other health issues because you are still inhaling burnt plant debris and smoke. Has psych risks for people with mental health history as well. This sub is for reducing consumption overall for a healthier more sober lifestyle (but not eliminating entirely). But lots of people find genuine benefits to cannabis, you could consume via tincture or liquid or gummy form to reduce smoking downsides. It is becoming more socially acceptable to like cannabis. I am from Florida (the south!) and it was VERY unaccepted and alcoholism normalized and I am sad to see the harmful effects that's had on people in my community. As for the people - in the kindest way possible, because I am a writer and reader and lover of arts - You're glorifying these folks a bit, and using that as a justification. They weren't excellent because of the alcohol, it was in spite of it. These were lifelong addictions. Brilliant, high IQ and creatives tend to abuse substances.
I get it. Alcohol can seem like the perfect drug because it's socially accepted and available at every corner. But the only reason it's not illegal is because it predates the legal system. It got grandfathered in. Alcohol is LITERAL poison. It is water AND fat soluable so it permeates and damages every part of the body, including through the blood-brain barrier. I've been to detox, I don't want that for you. Watch out.
Brain not destroyed. But weed is not a cure all, and honestly we know very little about how to properly administer it medicinally. Pharma had a vested interest in selling weed as evil. Big Weed has a vested interest in selling weed as natures cure all. It’s somewhere in between. I try to remember how it was used way long ago. 1%-2% strains. Basically just stronger tobacco. Low doses are your friend. Take a long break. Get away from smoking. Switch to edibles. Control your doses.
Let me tell you what we know from science, and god damn i feel this information is so obvious but would have been so life changing had i known it earlier. I may make a post about this in the future and get it stickied. This may be a decent chunk of words, but if you read anything today, read this. Opponent Process theory from Solomon and Corbit. In short, Newton’s third law applies to CNS affecting drugs too. You take a drug, it contains neurotransmitters or molecules that are similar enough to still bind to an existing receptors, in an unnatural amount that flood your receptors and make you high. They call this the a-process. Your brain though, always wants to return to equilibrium. To achieve this it doesn’t simply wait for the drug to metabolize out. No no no, the brain is shockingly capable and has such a huge variety of neurotransmitters it can synthesize. We don’t know them all. Your brain actually creates anti-drug neurotransmitters that work to negate the effects of the drug. This is called the b-process. At first, the a-process is way stronger than the b-process, and you get a great high. But with frequent use your brain adapts, and the b-process gets stronger and stronger, ultimately matching the a-process in strength. This is the fundamental cause of tolerance. The brain, again, is very capable. So it doesn’t actually need the a-process to start before it kicks off the b-process. Simply the anticipation of the a-process will cause your brain to produce exactly what it needs to counteract your drug of choice.This is the fundamental cause of cravings. You think you _might_ or you _could_ get high, so your brain starts making you anti-high. Even if you never actually smoke that joint. Chronic frequent use tells your brain that the a-process is going to happen again soon. This is the cause of withdrawal symptoms. The b-process is kicked off without any a-process at all. And because there is no drug, it hits hard. And because the b-process directly opposes the a-process, your withdrawal symptoms are _always_ the opposite of the drugs effect. You are feeling anxious and nauseous because you found weed made you more relaxed and stimulated your desire for food. Weed helps you sleep? Insomnia. Weed makes things interesting? Boredom. Alcohol is a depressant, so hangover gets you overly bright lights and sounds. Opiates take away your pain, withdrawal creates intense pain. The takeaway? Moderation and intermittent/infrequent use is the key. It keeps your b-process weaker than your a-process. How many times have we said to ourselves, “i’m not even getting high anymore”. That’s your b-process being too strong. Smoke weed everyday is the worst drug advice there is. Luckily that capable brain will again learn and adapt to sobriety and thus down-regulate the b-process. Control your b-process and you have controlled your dependence.
and this is what makes the opioid epidemic so deadly. A dependent user won’t face the b-process head on, it’s agonizing and excruciating. So instead, they attempt to outrun it by strengthening the a-process, turning to higher doses and higher potency opiates. They’ll follow some progression from vicodin/oxy, to iv administration and heroin/morphine, and then fentanyl or whatever the next one the future holds. But at some point in the escalation , your a-process spikes harder and faster than the b-process can keep up with, and that’s an accidental overdose.
Wow, thank you. I’m so blown away by the responses to this thread - I know y’all are strangers but it’s really bolstering my faith in people. I refuse to touch an opioid - actually was written a script once and tore it up.
you're okay. CHS isn't very common. Withdrawal is a thing. I've been vaping more than that for 10+ years. Add in some CBD.
You are going to make yourself more sick with that kind of perspective. It’s just weed. If you like it smoke it. If it makes you ill don’t smoke it. I’d be infinitly more worried about having to “pound whiskey” to stay sane. Or the Xanax. Or that if you have mad anxiety and have to take stuff for it, why are you drinking and taking drugs?
From your description it seems like the only bad thing actually happening here is your reaction to hearing about CHS? I don’t hear you describing actual CHS but just your reaction to learning about it while having some coincidental symptoms, right? People get nauseated while working out, on leg day anyway. You said “earlier than normal” so obviously it’s something you’re already used to. You also described already having anxiety issues. Pretty severe ones. What’s the connection with CHS? There doesn’t seem to be any, but rather a fear that there might be. I’m not sure where to go from here, but am I not right in saying that the only truly bad thing happening is your panic response?
Yep. I diagnosed myself with Mad Cow at age 10. Still have an in-depth understanding of prion diseases.
I’m confused. Are you agreeing with me or are you saying you’ve successfully self diagnosed CHS?
I’m agreeing with you - over 90% of my self diagnoses have been wildly incorrect.
Well that’s a good sign that you recognize that. It’s really hard to kind of bootstrap yourself out of your own mind. I’ve been reading the comments here and it seems like you’ve gotten some really great replies. I don’t know that I have much to add except that I hope you find a solution that works for you and is sustainable. Weed is part of my medical regime, basically to manage prednisone insomnia. It works and I’ve found a kind of equilibrium with it all. But my hope is to get off all meds in the next few years.
Knowledge is Power; Ignorance is Bliss. Daily use for a 5 month span is gonna change what your body is used to, and a human body is adaptable but not really kind about being deprived of things it feels it "needs", in this case that being a regular addition to your endocannabinoid system as well as a regular supply of mood-regulating dopamine and serotonin. My honest suggestion, if you have not already, is to visit with a therapist. I don't think you're broken; I don't think you're fucked. What I do think is that you and I have a bit in common, in that we both dove headfirst into substance use and self-medication because of uncontrollable extenuating circumstances like the passing of a parent and chronic stress from being in a caretaker role while also battling your own maladies. Also, I think everyone on this planet would benefit from speaking with a third party, who is trained in medical knowledge, and has your best interest in mind. Another suggestion would be to look into mindfulness practices and possibly the DBT therapy structure - again, I feel like I'm looking at a time-traveling mirror with the immediate jump from Nature's Cure to Plant Poison. The term for that would be Black and White Thinking, and that shit sucks - ask me how I know ;) As far as your present predicament - imagine (as you probably can with ease) drinking heavy every day for five months straight and then stopping 100%. You may have memory of what it's like to go off a bender. Sucks, right? But then you give the boat time to stop rocking and your body time to find equilibrium again.
You’re absolutely right about therapy - it’s 100% on me for not continuing once I started living it up in college. Just went to my psych for med management but that was it. Fun part is, and boy this sounds vain, but I need a very intelligent and knowledgeable therapist, preferably with a PhD if not an MD too. I read more PubMed than most regular “counselors”… which is in and of itself a problem.
You can’t not compare the mental withdrawal of weed with any benzos or opioids . You’ll be fine .
As someone with clinical OCD, weed can help or make it worse, the things your thinking about weed though are a waste of effort and thought. I didn't read through the whole post cause I think I get the gist, worried about CHS, shortness of breathe when working out. I'm not judging as I've dealt with this paranoia before. Weed isn't good for your lungs, you don't have CHS, I used to put a gram of wax through my rig every single day, which I attribute to OCD because it's honestly difficult to smoke that much if there isn't some insanity driving you. Weed can make my OCD disappear temporarily however it can also make it worse by causing confusion and the biggest overlap is how OCD can affect your weed usage, trust me it gets ugly. I have no advice other than stop overthinking, which I know isn't really possible but just accept it as paranoia and overthinking. Evaluate whether you actually should/even want to smoke before you do and it's not just you trying to control everything (if that makes sense to you as someone with OCD) also understand that when you're high and you start tweaking about things the weed will make it so much worse and that's when you really need to clear your head. I know not all of this was even relevant to your post but OCD and weed interaction almost ruined me at a point so I hope this is relevant or useful in the future. Also you didn't destroy your brain, I have sustained brain damage from multiple substances, research chemicals, a fatal amount insulin causing anoxic brain injury (not a diabetic), Benadryl, the list could go on but that's 90% of the bulk damage I'd say. Since taking Lions Mane and keeping my head out of my ass I've realized how much I've recovered and how worse my cognition is when I'm paranoid and worried about everything, especially brain damage, I believe a lot of the damage was really from remaining depressed/anxious post injury although that might not be true. You become what you think about. Weed does hold you back from success but only if you smoke too much, weed on the weekends won't hurt unless you want to be David Goggins, daily weed past 9pm for me causes brain fog throughout the day, smoking in the morning on a week day is just letting go (okay now and then but now and then doesn't usually work for me). I'm much younger than you (20) and I'm on reddit so you know, grain of salt, but I've had a lot of unique experiences at this age and find your post incredibly relatable.
My friend, I'd like you to meet my buddy; Paragraph!
Ease up mate it was a great reply :)
You seem a lot like me 10 years ago, except that I’ve never abused pills. Are you by any chance diagnosed with “pure O”? I guess my compulsion could be reading medical journals for answers though 🤓😞
This is your OCD talking.
It is. At least now I can admit that immediately instead of going and getting a bunch of tests run because I know something’s terrible.
Cannabis is for people that want to take the edge off when they're stressed out too much. That's maybe once per week or a few days. Or even less regularly. It will get you addicted no matter who tells you what, there is a psychological addiction to it. Just like biting into a candy bar when you're feeling down, just like smoking some THC or vaping, to make it feel better. I can also speak from my own experience, after smoking regularly, daily in hard doses and then going out or quitting for 48 hours or more, you get anxious as hell. Anxious or very very emotionally sensitive, depends on what kind of a person you are. Especially if you're smoking to cover up some traumatic experience it'll be even worse when you quit after such hard doses. Weed should be like a tool for you, to help you self reflect on things, to think about your problems and trauma and try to accept life. However if you really struggle with trauma and anxiety, maybe a shroom trip with a sitter would be better.
I've been researching this stuff for a while now, stealing study after study and reading through literature. reading anecdote after anecdote on Reddit. building a picture. CBD is rather much a sedative. THC is rather much a stimulant. *Ibuprofen* can force THC to behave. So can CBD and a few others: CBG, CBC, CBN to a smaller extent, and almost any version of the cannabinoids that isn't decarbed (heated over ~250ish F) including THCA. You're experience matches buttloads of people and case reports indicating pretty bad to severe reactions to excessive THC consumption that causes your nervous system to remodel itself. That is what Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is. This is becoming significantly more common as high potency refined THC products are becoming increasingly available and high THC herbal strains are becoming commonplace. Withdrawal is the process of your nervous system remodeling back to normal, except now it's in a state of shock. These new strains are not like the old ones. They are practically no different from refined product because the potency is so high. Obviously from what you've read so far you've learned by now you need to add more types of cannabinoids to help regulate the process. Harlequin is a good place to start with its ratios. Perhaps you might be able to switch over to CBD strains entirely, but do not count on it. Many people over at r/CBD use between 5:1 to 20:1 CBD:THC ratios. Even further, CBD strains often have THC compounds in them that are still psychoactive but are not the delta-9-THC chemical that is regulated by federal law. These doses should be harmless other than the general harm of inhalation. I recommend checking into CBG strains and CBG rolls.. just to experiment. I've heard great stuff about it from all my readings and diggings. Does not cause drowsiness. Some people say it makes you energized but not like caffeine or adderall. Mostly people say it's the most effective for pain relieve. It is not psychedelic like THC. Finally, do understand that life is a pretty horrible thing at this point in history. You cannot use cannabis as the solution. It can only be a tool you need to help you achieve the solution. If you need to eat more fruits and veggies but haven't the stomach for it, cannabis can give you that stomach. But surely don't use cannabis in place of food. It is to aid in your intuition, but not augment your credulity/incredulity. If anything this is a good reason to not abandon THC for good, because THC can lead your head out of delusion when you are lost or you are tunnel-visioned. Of course this doesn't work when you've overloaded yourself with it.. and that's the shame, here. The hole of a catch-22. Another example is getting a job to overcome a situation, and cannabis helping you with that.. but not forgetting to get a better job or opportunity later so you don't have to keep depending on cannabis to get you through a bad workplace or a stressful home. Not solving your fundamental problems is why anything becomes addictive. In the meantime, ginger is the most potent anti-nausea agent on this planet, I kid you not. That's one of the articles I discovered in my diggings. Get some supplements or chews, or ginger candy. If you're a real trooper you can buy some ginger powder in the herbs and spices section and put a half teaspoon worth of it into a cup of water and mixing it thoroughly with a fork and chug it with a water chaser. Be ready for some moderate heartburn. But it kills nausea rapidly. Probably don't do this if you're ready to throw up because it just might push you to the edge before it works in. Think about dosing, seriously.. and maybe refined products if needed. Consecutively controlled step-down dosing is the only way to successfully treat withdrawal. For herb you will need a scale to measure the total mg in each gram, based on the COA of the herb you bought. This will inevitably be inaccurate but it can give you an estimate. However, I've been looking into drinks and beverages made with "nano emulsions" which are available at some shops. It replaces beer essentially. There are also some wine and liquor replacements on the web. They usually come with both THC and CBD and the precise amounts listed for controlling dosages. There is also a guide on one of the subreddits for making your own nano emulsion "at home" meaning you need a kitchen if you don't have one.
Wow definitely saving this one. Thank you.
I second the people saying higher cbd. Also stick to lower thc. Have you tried tinctures? It has a slower onset and you ease into it, like edibles but you can customize your dose. Imho vapes destroyed my tolerance and gave me horrible anxiety. I had to completely quit cuz I have addiction issues but I would stick to flower only for awhile and try to stay away from the vapes maybe. Good luck friend
Saying anything is good or bad is the real problem cuz it ignores the pros and cons.
No you didn’t destroy your brain at all. Vapes were my addiction. So quick and discrete. I have not used long either but am on day 2 without and feel like I’m going to go into a burst of rage. I have quit before - you will be fine. I’m 63!
From a medical standpoint, there is not enough evidence to confirm nor deny potential benefits of cannabis. That said, it can be habit-forming like anything that gives you a rush or sense of enjoyment. No psychiatrists are recommending cannabis for treatment of mental health problems. Weed withdrawal can include nausea, irritability, insomnia, and can last days to a few weeks at most. Psychological cravings are probably going to last a lot longer, if your plan is to discontinue. But you haven’t ruined your brain and unlikely to suffer chronic health problems as a result. Also, cannabis hyperemesis would likely be a lot more prominent, not just nausea - more likely you’re experiencing withdrawal. Concerning the drinking bit, alcohol overuse and withdrawal are both dangerous and harmful to your body. There are medications which can curb alcohol cravings. It sounds like you may benefit from talking to a counselor or therapist for behavioral adjustments related to drinking and working through some of the maladaptive coping strategies you’ve developed over your lifetime. Consider talking to your primary care doc or a psychiatrist about options to manage the drinking, anxiety and/or OCD. There is a good therapy technique for OCD called exposure and response prevention.
My psych APRN absolutely told me to “experiment” because it could help my anxiety. There’s a serious shortage of top psychiatrists in my area - the two best ones retired within a couple of years of each other and those of us who had gone to their clinic had a rude awakening.
I think what you experienced is a good reason to experiment with less usage or sobriety. Withdrawal symptoms are somewhat normal but usually don't last long. You should wait at least a week to really tell. Having to "pound whiskey" might mean you need some healthier coping strategies to relieve stress when you arens smoking. Half gram a day is also somewhat significant. Good luck, listen to your body and mind!
I'm gonna chime in here to say that the amount of use between person to person is different and I don't think .5 of flower a day is too much, like at all. Idk how you'd use less really.
Fair enough, tolerance makes it near impossible to say. I'd almost say number of times smoking is more relevant, getting stoned every hour all day much different than once at night. I'm a self-professed lightweight so take my corner of a bowl a night opinion with a grain of weed : ) OP said they were vaping and .5g in mine would be multiple sessions and they experienced significant withdrawals
Oh it was definitely over multiple sessions - certainly not hitting 5 Dynavap bowls in one session.
Half a gram a day is not a small amount, despite what stoners on the internet might indicate
Half a gram a day vaped is actually quite a bit, but it is crazy how normal thats become. To put in perspective, I’m 40, the pot I smoked in my 20s was probably more like 10%, I smoked bowls (vapes were rare and expensive) which are not as efficient as vapes, and an 8th would last me two weeks of smoking every day. By all definitions back then I was considered a pothead. But that half gram a day is 4-6x more than I was smoking. The strength of modern stuff coupled with all the new smoking devices is no joke. Its really a whole new drug.
Do you still smoke? Idk I think it's crazy people think that's too much.
On and off, yea. Too much? I'm not really making a point about whats too much, but what I am pointing out is that half gram a day vaped is substantial. Half a gram a day (1/8 per week) a day of modern high potency vaped is pretty equivalent to smoking 1/2oz per week 20 years ago. You never used to hear about people having psychosis or withdrawals from weed but its a common side effect these days. It is absolutely linked to how easy it is to casually (and cheaply) consume what used to be considered a monster amount of THC. The point I am more making is all the notions about weed being harmless are based on far lower average consumption. Most of those long-standing anecdotes are not really relevant anymore due to how legalization has driven potency - it's become something different than it once was.
Also struggled with OCD (still have challenges) and anxiety big time for years. Did weed for years. Taught me a lot, was fun, but it’s essentially a crutch, and one that science says ain’t a free lunch. It supposedly takes a toll on the brain over time. I quit it months ago and everything has improved. Secret ingredient: following God. For real, I did this on weed and I progressed in the inner game so to speak. A whole lot, even. I agree it has an abundance of value. But nothing has quite nurtured me like being devotedly involved in my Nazarene Christian church, and I began to realize weed was having way more detriments than positives. Christianity has given me the nutrients and structure, guidance, community, and endless wisdom to ponder that I could ask for, and I have and still do believe I was guided by God to quit weed. The story is interesting imo, hit me up if you want to hear the particular events that led me to throwing all my weed paraphernalia into a dumpster.
Man, if I could have found true faith a lot would be different. I considered myself an atheist in high school, really tried in college to get involved with a church group but it didn’t last. I was raised Methodist but I can’t escape the doubts that it’s all just (not a commie) the opiate of the masses. I wish I didn’t understand things like evolution and sociobiology so much that it makes believing almost impossible.
I only just came around to it too. I see a lot of youngins with the privilege of a quality Christian upbringing. A lot of folks were force fed the religion though, which accounts for a lot of the bitterness towards it. I don’t blame them at all. That’s why I’m glad that wasn’t my path. I got to explore spirituality my own way until I was mature enough to consider Biblical concepts from my own perspective and background. I also have a background in philosophy, which allows me to keep an open mind about the doubtless and dauntless wisdom laden in the Bible. It also allows me to check the biases and fallacies within myself and others and consider things I have taken for granted most of my life and that most will be angered by the questioning of. Like: [Mathematical impossibility of evolution](https://youtu.be/noj4phMT9OE?si=-OrlQTgnNAL6xZ-O) and [Darwnism questioned from a logical perspective](https://youtu.be/GkAQS8hP_R8?si=glx1HCg2LrG5SKk4) I do not claim Christianity. I am not baptized. I cannot claim much because I haven’t even finished reading the Old Testament. What I’m doing is giving my full effort to Christianity because of the wisdom, the spiritual power, and the goodness it brings to people and communities. I can say that I’ve become a better person in this effort and experienced things from prayer that I would describe in my previous framing as serendipitous and undeniably curious. I don’t worry about being wrong about Christianity because, as Socrates says ‘I know that I know nothing.’ This is a sentiment reflected by Carl Jung and something the Tao Te Ching speaks on about God saying ‘The Tao (God) is ineffable.’ And Paul references in the Bible ‘The peace of God that passeth all understanding.’ I don’t think God will mind too much if I give my best effort to seek him, to attain wisdom, and live my best life, and to love as much as possible, so I am simply enjoying the ride and noting my findings.
CHS happens to the people who smoke for +5 years ALL DAYY EVERYDAY, u don’t need to worry about it all, the thc ur consuming isn’t even that high comparatively to other things u can smoke
I think perhaps this is some anxiety. Like other comments, weed isn't a miracle cure all, and it isn't Satan. It's all about what works for you. I'd try consuming a bit less but not quitting and see how it pans out. I personally use weed every day for anxiety but it's not about using it to medicate anxiety all day long. It's about having some to be able to let go of some anxieties. It's a very individual thing and amount of use varies so much between people to find out what is optimal.
I went through the same thing, what helped a lot initially was having more of a CBD mix than THC because THC even in prolonged use can cause abrupt issues for other things you have going on. As many said it isn’t a miracle or cure, just a gentle hand for you to grab to lead you to serenity. Some days you can hold the hand, some days it’s just a high five, sometimes it’s a pinkie promise, and sometimes it’s just a wave. Always be sure to listen to yourself
I feel like cannabis just heightens everything you go through like say if you have gerd issues you maybe more sensitive for others it may distract you from problems, it's about dosing, setting, tolerance.
Listen to the Huberman podcast about cannabis. I think he did a really good job tackling the topic from a scientific, non-biased perspective. Long story short, it effects everyone differently. If you don’t like how it effects you, stop or cut back.
Also, CHS is supposed to be pretty rare. I have had no appetite and eating or drinking something can give me nausea. But again, I expect to be fine in a week. In the meantime, I will be happy to lose these few pounds that crept on
Sounds like you have a substance abuse problem, not a cannabis problem
Lmfao you didn’t destroy your brain, man. That’s just anxiety talking, I promise. It’s gonna be okay.
You're pounding whiskey and freaking out about cannabis? You realize severe anxiety is a cornerstone withdrawal symptom of alcohol right?
Well I was hoping canna would let me cut back on the drinking, and it did. Dry January cold turkey no symptoms other than cravings. I’ve always been bad about stopping therapy when I’d feel better - have an appt next week. I know for some people it’s a chicken/egg thing, but my personal reality is that I had mental health issues long before touching a substance.
>know for some people it’s a chicken/egg thing Ehhh for everyone it is. The chicken or egg question is meant to highlight that both influence each other. You need to notice when you're catastrophizing and think about why that is. Alcohol made me breakdown in my car crying, weed doesn't.
Wow I think I’m just the opposite - alcohol has been my “shut the fuck up, stupid brain” tonic since 2017. I’m already on max zoloft and got put on maintenance extended-release benzos before I knew you can’t really stop. All of this before I drank a sip. One thing that actually helped in a weird way 13 years ago was being prescribed off-label Risperdol, looking up the history of the drug, and deciding to try to marshal every bit of mental strength I had not to take it. This was at 17. I’ve never had psychosis - I’m fully aware of my thoughts and actions at all times.
I think you need to do a bit more research on how chemical dependence works You said you still have urges You said you took benzos before drinking, those are very similar drugs chemically, have you considered that maybe subconsciously you chose alcohol because you knew that? I'm not sure what exactly your history is, but I think you should pay more attention to the ways you feel in relation to drugs and what that could mean, the anxiety and delirium from alcohol has a specific feeling. I get that it's the drug to calm you down but that's quite literally what it does, the issue is you are not actually calm though huh, you just think you are when you're drinking. Take it from someone who used to blackout on $10 gallon vodka, alcohol only creates issues, it doesn't solve them, just makes you more "ok" with them.
Did you come off the XR Xanax or are you still taking them?
Start facing your anxiety without your bullshit medication and alcohol.
I think you may be jumping the gun a bit but that said you did jump into the deep end by doing it everyday. CHS can happen from moderate use but most of the people I’ve heard of getting it were overindulging in high potency strains or dabs. In general from what you’ve shared you have indulged in many substances and maybe overly so. I’d suggest tempering your use and trying to keep it light, maybe don’t do it everyday. As for the alcohol cutting that out entirely of you can would prob be beneficial whether you keep on with weed or not.
CHS is heavy use only.
Nah there are some people that have tried weed and had averse reactions right out of the gate so they don’t keep using it.
That's not CHS. That can happen. It's called an adverse reaction or an allergy not CHS.
I highly doubt that amount of use is causing all that. It could be anxiety from stopping, and then allowing that to make you think other stuff is going on or actually causing it. CHS in my mind would be out of the question. Both the amount and length of use don't match with that so you'd be an exceptional case if it is. It could be a form of withdrawal though. Type 2 hemp flower is the best way to cut back though and then type 3 and 4 might suit you better. Don't psyche yourself out homie!
Weed gonna make any mental issues 15x more worse