Marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years now, though its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Cannabis is a safe, natural drug that is legal in the State of Ohio.
From insomnia to chronic pain, marijuana has proven to be highly effective in the treatment of many conditions and the symptoms that come with them. Many users also report that cannabis helps with productivity, mood, and even happiness.
Self medicating is very common, and has been around for hundreds of years. Self medication is “behavior that develops from habitual, long-term or chronic use of substances, medications, or narcotics to alleviate health problems or to feel good without medical authorization or guidance.”
Self Medicating vs Abuse
Everybody is different, and everybody reacts differently to medications including marijuana. Tolerance is a huge factor when discussing whether cannabis helps with a person’s health issues.
When THC enters our bodies, it can influence our reward system and provide our brains with a hit of dopamine. This can lead to somewhat of a dependence and can lead to misuse of the drug.
This is especially true for young adults. Self medicating might work short-term, but it can have long term effects.
Signs That Self-Medicating May Not be Right For You
Many people use cannabis for mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. However, cannabis is not for everyone. Some people say cannabis actually worsens dark thoughts and anxiety symptoms.
If you are using marijuana to self-medicate and feel increasingly irritable during use, it may be best to ease out of using cannabis for the time being.
If you start to feel like you are being short with others and have frequent depression or mood imbalances, it may be a sign to stop medicating for a while. Also, if you think about using cannabis frequently throughout your day, it may be a good idea to give it a rest.
If you begin to decline invitations to spend time with others because you would rather stay home and use cannabis, it may be best to ease out of marijuana-use for a while. You don’t want to feel dependent on the drug, as this could lead to misuse.
Also, if you crave cannabis every time you get upset or anxious, it might be a good idea to ease out of cannabis-use.
Questions to Ask Yourself
If you are not sure if you are abusing cannabis or just self medicating, here are some questions you can ask yourself:
Do you smoke or use cannabis for non-medical relief at all hours of the day, night, or daily?
Does self-medicating with weed cause financial difficulty?
Do you feel discouraged or embarrassed by your dependency on marijuana?
Does missing a dose cause persistent thoughts or lead to uncontrollable urges?
Are you using cannabis for official symptoms or health concerns?
Try Medical Marijuana Today
Although there are some risks associated with self medicating, millions of people use cannabis to self medicate safely every day. Each year, alcohol abuse causes almost 100,00 deaths, while there are no documented deaths attributed to cannabis use or abuse.
If you are still unsure about whether you want to try self medicating, your best bet is to talk to a licensed health professional. Luckily, we can help with this!
In Ohio, there are many conditions that may make you eligible for medical marijuana, and we hope the program continues to expand by adding more conditions soon! If you have questions about whether you qualify, we can help with that too!
In order to visit a dispensary in the State of Ohio, you will need your medical marijuana card. With telemedicine, you can even get your card from the comfort of your own home!
If you don’t already have your card, we can help! You can even have your appointment from the comfort of your own home and get your recommendation on the same day! Schedule an appointment with one of our physicians today to see if you qualify.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
Here at Ohio Marijuana Card, our goal is to help everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at (866) 457-5559, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Ohio Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.