Very, very true! Cannabis has helped me use less pain meds, which is a huge plus. But if I had to choose just one or the other, I would reluctantly has to choose the pain meds. Cannabis just does pack enough pain relief properties in it. Maybe if I consumed massive amounts of cannabis it might help more but then I would be a walking zombie. I'd be smoking/eating cannabis 24/7. For some patients you can find a tolerable combination of both, it takes some experimenting and time but it can be done fairly easy. I know some patients that just can not tolerate cannabis- it's not for them. The same is true with all the different pain meds. Find what works with the least amount of side effects and try not to keep upping your dose.
I find this to be an asinine statement.
"I know some patients who cannot tolerate cannabis." But does everyone tolerate opiates and perscription meds the same?? No, they start everyone off on the same dosage AND GUESS WHAT SOME PEOPLE CAN'T HANDLE THAT. Check the long term affects on your liver for taking opiates over 5 years.
20- 32 mg of cannabis has shown to be a true standard DOSE. Where as the average person body starts to respond to the active chemicals in the THC. And no, if you ingested cannabis at such a high rate to where you were a ZOMBIE you would sleeping. Pain meds make Zombies.
90% of people on opiates HATE IT and the rest are people addicted to the high, sorry but its true. I've never found one person who's takin opiates over 3 years straight and said they liked it for any other reason than they're addicted. I work daily 11 hrs a day with patients, who I've been working with for over 3 years. Most of them don't even smoke. Many have been on opiates for 5 years AT LEAST. Everyday and night, try that and then speak on it.
I could ingest a large dose of cannabis at a time, probably more than you I GUARANTEE and I sir do not eat 24/7 but pretty much everyday. My average dosage per day is about 250- 375 mg through out the day. Plus amoking concentrates inbetween helping patients. There's nothing wrong with using cannabis. But I do see a problem with popping pills 24/7 which you would be doing the same way you claim you would need to with cannabis. YOU GET IMMUNE to Those opiates quick and need higher mg.
i also have a patient who's been taki opiates for over 15 years cause she HAS TO and now she needs Botox injections in her throat so she can swallow. BECAUSE THE OPIATES MADE HER VOMIT CONSTANTLY DESTROYING THE MISC,E IN ER ESOPHAGUS.
I'm not bashing, I'm saying you could get MOST results using the right kind of cannabis correctly. No don't go wild and just dose yourself crazy, see what works. Slowly using your pain meds, and as you progress subtract and add until you find a safe and effective use.
I'm not bashing people who use them, I'm bashing the people who prescribe them making you think youre getting better, and that's the only way. When often times, I've found you trade one sickness for another.
Cannabis is a real medication, if you're growing it and don't believe what it does; then I'm sorry but you really are the criminal type making caregivers look bad. We're trying to provide a better quality of life for people, not for our bank accounts.