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Why Are People Afraid to Try Marijuana
People often ask how they should approach a loved one who is scared to try medical marijuana. The truth is, it’s common to be hesitant about starting cannabis.
I didn’t try MMJ until my mother convinced me to which is ironic because I tried every deadly pharmaceutical the doctor prescribed first.
The fear of cannabis isn’t surprising because we’ve been taught (…er brainwashed?) for 80 years that marijuana is dangerous. But those claims were myths.
It’s not surprising humans got it wrong. Remember, there was a time when we believed cigarettes were healthy, and women douched with Lysol.
Cannabis laws are based on fiction, racism, and stigma.
Cannabis Truths
- Research demonstrates that medical marijuana offers incredible benefits. Cannabis can help treat PTSD, pain, chronic inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease, stress, cancer, and more
- New research demonstrates cannabis is safer than many pharmaceuticals.
- New research demonstrates that cannabis is safer than tobacco and
- Research shows that cannabis is significantly safer than alcohol.
- That doesn’t mean there aren’t risks. Like all substances, even coffee, cannabis does have risks, but often the benefits outweigh them.
Moving beyond the fear.
In order for patients to benefits from medical marijuana, they need to move past fear to try it. Responsible education can help alleviate many of the fears associated with marijuana use.
Reasons people fear cannabis:
- Stigma
- Feeling High/Out of Control
- Anxiety
- Gateway Myth
MMJ Isn’t Like Stoners On TV
Sometimes people don’t realize that using medical marijuana is different than stereotypical recreational cannabis use.
Cannabis patients don’t walk around like they’re stoned all the time. Patients can often use small amounts of cannabis to achieve therapeutic effects.
Marijuana use is very individualized. Suitable cultivars/strains and the ideal dosage varies from individual to individual.
Cannabis use often takes trial and error to find the perfect cultivar/strain and dose.
Gateway Myth
The idea that marijuana increases use of other substances is fiction. It’s made up. It’s not true now and never was. In fact, research shows that cannabis can act as an exit drug, fighting addiction.
Anyone who still believes that marijuana is a gateway drug should read this excerpt from The Myth That Won’t Die.
“The idea that marijuana may be the first step in a longer career of drug use seems plausible at first: when addicts tell their histories, many begin with a story about marijuana. And there’s a strong correlation between marijuana use and other drug use: a person who smokes marijuana is more than 104 times more likely to use cocaine than a person who never tries pot, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The problem here is that correlation isn’t cause. Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang members are probably more 104 times more likely to have ridden a bicycle as a kid than those who don’t become Hell’s Angels, but that doesn’t mean that riding a two-wheeler is a “gateway” to joining a motorcycle gang. It simply means that most people ride bikes and the kind of people who don’t are highly unlikely to ever ride a motorcycle.”
Conclusion
If you’re a candidate, but you’re afraid to try marijuana, try to see past the stigma and myths. Be brave and try it under the guidance of a licensed health care provider. It’s an an excellent medication that can relieve symptoms for a variety of health conditions.Trending Now