Submitted by Alex E. from Pinckney, Michigan

I am 29 years old and I am from Pinckney, Michigan. I have been dealing with chronic pain for 12 years, caused from a lower back injury, along with nausea for 6 years caused by gastroparesis.

My main challenges come from the bouts of nausea/vomiting caused by gastroparesis

During these flare-ups, it's common for me to lose upwards of 10 lbs and go 4-7 days with little to no eating. This often results in hospitalizations to help manage symptoms.

Before Cannabis, I had tried several medications to combat chronic pain,including prescription opiate painkillers

These only compounded my gastroparesis, further slowing my gastric emptying and causing increased nausea/vomiting. Cannabis helps by offering relief without excessive gastric emptying delay. Additionally, Cannabis also helps me combat nausea from gastroparesis with similar efficacy to that of prescribed medications such as ondansetron without potential side effects.

Mainly self-taught through various forums and YouTube accounts

I also attended LSSU for a Bachelor of Science in Cannabis Chemistry, where several professors helped solidify much of the knowledge I have on Cannabis and cannabinoids.

I’m a product of the DARE era

And one who had a direct family tie to anti-Cannabis stigma. Thankfully, I always saw myself as the black sheep of the family and rebelled! I remember realizing that much of the things I was first taught about Cannabis were wrong after the first few times consuming it.

Once entering the Cannabis industry, I worked to fight the stigma within my family by first getting my medical card and coming out of the "Cannabis closet." Nearly 10 years of working in the industry later and it is completely normalized within my family!

I prefer to use a live resin concentrate

I consumed it at a low temperature from a Puffco device or an e-nail to regulate the temps. I generally will titrate to the desired dose, meaning I will often take several small dabs, back-to-back, until the intended effect is felt.

Occasionally, I will use a 1:1 THC:CBD muscle cream to help with chronic pain and muscle soreness. During nights of insomnia, I will consume 150-200mg of THC gummy with 100mg of CBN included.

Before incorporating Cannabis for my condition

I was feeling down and depressed, not knowing if I would find a manageable treatment plan for my multiple conditions.

After incorporating Cannabis to address my health issues

I am able to live a more normal life. There's still highs and lows, and Cannabis is not a cure all, but it is significantly more effective than the previous stack of medications I was on.

This is Alex’s personal story and not meant to be medical advice. It is for informational purposes.

To work with a medical Cannabis professional, please visit our directory of coaches, educators, and medical professionals. Everyone's Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is different; good results start with the right approach. You don't have to figure it out on your own.

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